Chapter 184

The entire surveillance system conveniently malfunctioned that exact night.

Not a single clue remained.

"What an unfortunate coincidence," remarked Sebastian.

"Only Victoria holds the answers now. Do you wish to confront her yourself, Nathaniel?"

"No. Handle this alone. Extract the truth from her," Nathaniel replied coldly.

Sebastian frowned deeply. "Then where are you going?"

They stepped out of the elevator into The Grand Monarch's opulent lobby.

Nathaniel's intense gaze was already fixed on the Phoenix Hotel across the boulevard.

"I have another pressing matter. Take Christopher with you."

"No! I want to stay with Daddy! Daddy promised we'd see Mommy!" Oliver instantly clung to Nathaniel's leg.

Nathaniel glanced down at the small boy attached to him. He gently patted his son's head.

"Be good. Your mother and I require some privacy. Do you truly wish to interrupt us?"

Oliver pouted, his expression stubborn. "I'll be quiet! I can sleep in the next room!"

"Go with Uncle Sebastian," Nathaniel persuaded softly. "I must locate your birth mother. I need to provide her compensation. Only then can your Mommy stay with us forever."

Oliver's face instantly brightened. That made perfect sense. If his birth mother returned, Mommy would have to leave. He couldn't let that happen. He adored her too much.

"Okay! I'll go!" He immediately grabbed Sebastian's hand and practically dragged him away.

Nathaniel slid into his sleek car and drove straight to the Phoenix Hotel.

While technically a five-star establishment, the Phoenix Hotel occupied the lower tier of luxury. The truly elite would never choose to stay there. Nathaniel himself had never set foot inside.

For Isabella, he was breaking that precedent.

In Room 909 of the Phoenix Hotel…

Isabella had managed a few forced bites of food. She waited with simmering impatience.

The doorbell finally chimed.

She peered through the peephole. A man in a sharp suit and polished leather shoes stood there. A brass name tag on his chest read 'Lawrence Chamberlain, Floor Manager'.

This was the manager Beatrice had mentioned.

Isabella opened the door and gestured for him to enter.

Manager Chamberlain stepped inside and offered a slight, respectful bow. "Ms. Montgomery. You requested my presence?"

"Yes. Please, have a seat."

Once he was inside, Isabella closed the door and took a seat opposite him on the sofa. She wasted no time. "I understand you are the manager for this floor. I'm told all comings and goings are meticulously registered."

"Our hotel policy mandates full registration for all visitors. Guest security and comfort are our utmost priority," Manager Chamberlain stated professionally. "We also provide a welcome gift for all our distinguished guests. Today's offering is a commemorative porcelain cup." He presented a beautifully wrapped box to her. "This system allows us to prepare personalized gifts from our inventory. It also requires us to record the primary guest's name and all accompanying visitors. We strive for complete customer satisfaction."

Isabella accepted the box. A vague memory surfaced. She had been offered a small gift upon leaving this very room five years ago.

Alexander had scoffed at the hotel's "tacky" offering. He'd sent her out to purchase something more suitable instead. At the time, she mistook his action for generosity. Now, she saw the truth. He hadn't wanted a single piece of evidence linking them to this place.

Every item could have been used against Victoria.

She pushed the bitter thought aside and focused on Manager Chamberlain. "Then, do you recall how many people were registered to this room over the past five years?"

Manager Chamberlain's polite smile faltered. His expression grew tense. "Well…"