HIS REGRET (Ex-Husband wants Me Back) novel Chapter 906

That morning, Black Tower was still bustling with members of the Obsidian Circle moving in and out of the conference room, which had been converted into a dedicated command center. Since sunrise, new reports had continued pouring in from every corner of Carrington Bay, yet not a single one had brought them any closer to Lydia or Naomi.

Cale stood in front of the long table as he put on the thin black suit jacket Gio had just handed him. His face showed signs of exhaustion, sleeplessness, and strain, but he concealed them well. He didn't want anyone to know how many thoughts were raging inside his mind.

After straightening the cuffs of his shirt, he picked up his car keys and phone from the table. He had barely taken two steps toward the door when Vincent blocked his path.

"Sir, I'm coming with you."

Cale stopped walking, lifted his gaze, and looked at his assistant with clear displeasure. "There's no need."

Vincent let out a rough breath. "Mr. Cale, I'm worried that what Mr. Hector calls a meeting could actually be a trap. You rarely have any dealings with government officials, yet he suddenly contacted you. He asked to meet, but only if you came alone. And you're planning to go without an escort?"

"Yes," Cale replied flatly.

"But, Sir," Vincent persisted, doing everything he could to convince him. "I won't go into the meeting itself. I'll stay a few hundred meters away from the location."

"Stay out of it."

Vincent rubbed his face in frustration. "Mr. Cale..."

"I need you here."

Those words left Vincent silent for a moment.

Without changing his tone, Cale continued, "Finding Lydia and Naomi is far more important than keeping an eye on me. Continue searching the entire radius around their last known location. If there's even the slightest new development, I want to know about it immediately."

Vincent still looked unwilling to accept it. "What if something happens to you?"

Cale looked him straight in the eye. "If something really does happen to me, you're the only one who can take over the entire search operation."

That statement left Vincent with no argument to offer.

On the other side of the room, Paula, who had been quietly watching their conversation, finally walked over with a tablet tucked against her chest.

"You should go with an escort, Mr. Cale. I can set up a mobile surveillance network from a distance."

Cale shook his head. "You're staying here."

Paula frowned.

"All of our tracking systems are in your hands."

"But..."

"If Hector really has information about Lydia, there's a good chance someone else is already making a move." Cale's gaze shifted to the monitors covering the walls of the room. "I don't want to lose a single signal because our lead operator happens to be outside."

Paula finally let out a quiet sigh. "All right."

Brandon, who had just received a call from one of his trusted men, suddenly quickened his pace toward the conference room. His expression was far more serious than it had been just a few minutes earlier.

"Mr. Miller."

Cale turned toward him.

"We have an update." Brandon held up his phone. "A report just came in from our network. One of the devices Falcon has been using just transmitted a signal."

Cale gave only a slight nod before walking out of Black Tower.

About forty minutes later, the black car he was driving entered the outskirts of the city. The roads became quieter, and the rows of tall buildings gave way to old shops lining both sides of the street. At the end of a bend stood a small, classic-style café overlooking a narrow river.

The place looked perfectly ordinary. It wasn't particularly crowded, it wasn't conspicuous, and it seemed far too unremarkable for someone like Hector Graham.

Cale parked across the street. His eyes surveyed the surrounding area for several seconds. There were no suspicious vehicles, no one who appeared to be deliberately watching the place, only a few customers enjoying their morning coffee.

He then crossed the street and pushed open the café's glass door.

The soft chime of a small bell rang out. The aroma of freshly ground coffee immediately filled the air. In the corner by the window, a middle-aged man sat alone, reading the news on a tablet. A cup of black coffee beside him was still sending up thin wisps of steam.

Without needing an introduction, Cale recognized the face immediately.

Hector Graham.

The man didn't look up right away. He turned another page of the news first, took a small sip of his coffee, and only then glanced over when Cale stopped directly in front of his table.

Their eyes met briefly, prompting Hector to slowly close his tablet. A faint smile formed at the corner of his lips, one that was difficult to interpret.

"You actually came."

He studied the area behind Cale for several seconds, as though making sure of something. Then his gaze locked onto Cale's eyes once more.

"You... came alone, didn't you?"