The next day, Calista went to the manor on the hill, with Liam following her.They had grown somewhat acquainted over the past few days, but their discussions revolved around subjects other than the mysterious man.Whenever the topic of Mr. Mysterious arose, Liam would fall silent, keeping his thoughts to himself. There was no prying any helpful information from him.Liam had received strict instructions that prevented him from venturing upstairs in the manor. He simply walked Calista to the foot of the staircase.Usually, Calista would have ascended without a second thought.But today, she clung to the stair railing and asked, "Liam, ain't you the least bit interested in what Sir looks like?"The portrait had been restored today, and Calista had arranged to meet Mr. Mysterious.Liam replied, "Curiosity killed the cat."Calista rolled her eyes in mock disdain and said, "You are no fun."After that, she made her way up the stairs. Over time, she had become well-acquainted with
Liam appeared more aloof in his role as Mr. Mysterious than when he acted as Calista's bodyguard. He exuded an air of superiority as he looked at Calista."Ms. Everhart, we have a business relationship. I saved you in Apthon because it was profitable for me. I've invested a lot of money in you, and I can't just let it go to waste," he said, removing his hat and tidying his messy hair.He continued, "It's none of your concern whether someone is on the third floor. If there is, they're under my employ. You, Ms. Everhart, are merely hired hands doing tasks for money. Do you believe you have the right to interrogate my people?"Calista furrowed her brow and retorted, "I just wanna get the lowdown on anything connected to my mom. That was the deal when I signed up."Calista wouldn't have taken this job if it weren't for the photos and the impression that they knew some insider information.Liam frowned and replied, "You haven't unearthed anything yet, and you nearly bit the dust in Apt
Lucian pursed his lips and fell silent. They finished their meal in a strangely quiet atmosphere.Calista got up to pay the bill, but Lucian grabbed her hand and stopped her."David has already taken care of it."Lucian hadn't thought about holding Calista's hand because he believed he didn't have the right to do so, and he expected that Calista would disapprove.However, now that he had done it, he had no intention of letting go."The weather is nice tonight. How about taking a stroll?" He suggested.Calista glanced up at the pitch-black sky, unable to discern what was nice about the weather. The weather felt chilly, with the wind blowing and the temperature dropping."I'll pass," she replied.Calista had a lot on her mind, and after a long day, she was too tired to stroll around. All she wanted was to go home, bathe, and relax by watching TV. As Calista was about to withdraw her hand from Lucian's grasp, she heard him ask, "Don't you want to know who attacked you in Apthon?"
Calista wasn't acquainted with the newcomers, but she had encountered them before. The person leading the way had a commanding presence that had made a lasting impression on Calista.On the other hand, Calista was more acquainted with the person at the back. After all, they had met just yesterday and exchanged a few words.It was Ava. Calista turned to the newcomer and adjusted her posture."Madam Calloway." She greeted Patricia.Hector's mother looked at Calista with a composed and polite smile devoid of warmth."I happened to be around today for some business and thought of inviting Ms. Everhart for a coffee. But now, I don't think it's necessary. Ms. Everhart and Mr. Northwood are quite an item, it seems. When your second wedding rolls around, you can count on the Calloway family to show up with some fancy gifts and give you our congrats," Patricia quipped.Clearly, Patricia was warning Calista to stay away from Hector.She smiled gently and continued, "My son, bless his hear
Lucian held onto Calista's hand. Their proximity allowed Calista to see her reflection in his eyes as she looked up. Lucian wore a light-colored, long-sleeved shirt and dark trousers.Half his clothing was soaked from the rain, and the downpour dampened his hair.Despite being thoroughly wet, he carried himself with an aura of grace and refinement, showing no signs of disarray. Lucian's chilly fingers delicately caressed Calista's knuckles, creating an intimate sensation.He spoke softly, "Callie, ever since we tied the knot, the Northwood family and I have been your support."The emotion that Calista had felt due to Lucian's actions earlier disappeared as he spoke.She smiled wryly and replied, "Absolutely. This level of support is massive, to the point where it's almost hidden. It's like having an enormous safety net no one else knows about. It's truly remarkable, isn't it?"No one except a few close friends knew she and Lucian were married. Lucian gazed at her infuriated expre
Lucian's hand rested on the towel, seemingly about to put on a show for her. Calista quickly averted her gaze as if the sight burnt her. She walked past Lucian and pushed him out of the bedroom."Almost time's up, just a few more minutes. Remember, lock the door when you leave, and take the towel with you," Calista commanded.Calista closed the bedroom door behind her and stepped into the bathroom.The steam filled the air, carrying the familiar aroma of her shower gel and a subtle trace of Lucian's cologne, the one he typically wore. It left her with an indescribable sense of mixed feelings.In theory, this should have been a completely routine situation after three years of marriage. However, for Calista, it felt like an entirely new experience.Back at Everglade Manor, each room had a private bathroom and communal facilities. Lucian often stayed out late, so when he did come home, it was typically well past the usual hours.Consequently, they had never encountered a scenario w
Lucian's mocking of Ava caused Ava to spend the night angry and cursing Calista. When she heard someone knocking at the door early in the morning, Ava went to answer it without much thought.To her surprise, Hector, the man Ava had longed to see, was standing outside.She instinctively raised her hand to cover her bare face and exclaimed, "Hector? Can you wait a moment? I'll wash my face and be right with you."Just as Ava was about to dash back to her room for a quick touch-up, Hector stopped her with a firm tone."Hold on there, Ms. Moore. You bloody. I'll keep it brief. No need to fuss about looking your best."His harsh remarks took Ava aback."Hector, what did you just call me?"Ava was shocked, never expecting to hear such a derogatory and hurtful term from the man she had feelings for.With a blank expression, Hector offered a sincere apology, "My bad, I didn't mean that."Tears welled in Ava's eyes as she turned her face to show Hector her most appealing angle.Hector
As Lucian's tone slowed, the gentlemanly and dignified way he held himself as a scion became more obvious. He also carried himself with some nonchalance."Or, would you like to leave on foot with two cars following behind you?"Calista held her breath and shot him a glare."Are you crazy? Do you want to give me a lift that badly?"The man gave her a mirthless smirk."That's not necessarily the case."Alright, she knew what was going on. The two men had been competing in secret. And, she was being used as a bargaining chip."I drove here. I don't …" she started.Calista didn't need Lucian's help. They were free to follow her if they wanted.Her mother's murderer was a member of the Jacquez family from Apthon. She had already butted heads with a giant. Why would she be afraid of a human?However, before she could finish, David, who had appeared out of nowhere, cut her off."Allow me to help drive your car back for you, Madam Calista."Calista was rendered speechless. The enra