She was clearly annoyed, but Dn just looked at her, a small, almost teasing smile tugging at his lips.


    ra couldn''t help but notice he seemed off today-something must have happened to put him in such a mood, and now he was taking it out on her in his own yful way.


    What on earth had happened to him?


    She took a breath, forcing herself to calm down. Reaching out, she grabbed his wrist and moved his hand away.


    He didn''t resist; he just let her do it, his touch loosening until he let gopletely.


    The candy he''d given her had already melted on her tongue, its sweetness lingering in her mouth-just like his worries, dissolving little by little.


    Without another word, Dn turned and walked toward the main house.


    ra didn''t follow. She touched her lips, still tasting that unexpected sweetness, and nced at the table where a few more candies sat, still in their wrappers.


    What kind of candy was that, anyway? It was actually really good.


    Dn entered the main house. In his study, he just stared at his fingers, lost in thought.


    Aiden came in, dropping a stack of files onto Dn''s desk. "Mr. Ferguson, these are the reports you need to review this afternoon. Dinner at the old manor is at six sharp."


    Dn didn''t even look up. He kept staring at his hand,pletely out of it.


    Aiden just sighed.


    *


    Ada''s funeral was over almost as quickly as it began. Once thest of the Fergusons left, Simon ordered the ashes to be taken away.


    Michael watched his son, who hadn''t shed a single tear throughout the whole thing. Simon looked dazed,pletely checked out, and that coldness gnawed at Michael''s heart.


    Honestly, he and Ada had never gotten along, but she''d given everything she had to Simon.


    Michael knew he was no saint-he''d always treated women like toys, keeping around whoever made him happiest.


    But this son of his? Somehow, Simon seemed even colder.


    "Simon, aren''t you going to visit your mother''s grave?"


    Michael had picked out the plot himself. Simon hadn''t lifted a finger to help.


    Simon just stood by his car and got in. "I have things to take care of."


    Michael was furious, but he held it in. He''d have to rely on Simon in the future, after all.


    But Simon couldn''t focus on anything. One address kept shing through his mind.


    He drove for two hours, heading out to a cemetery on the outskirts of the city. Shelly had been buried here years ago—this was the most exclusive cemetery in the whole Capital. Normal people didn''t stand a chance of getting in.


    Eden had written this address in her notebook, but why a cemetery?


    Did that mean the child was already gone?


    No way.


    He remembered overhearing Eden and Dn fighting-Dn had always treated Eden differently, and it was all because of that child.


    If the kid was gone, why would Dn still care so much? There had to be more to the story.


    Whatever Dn was hiding about his child, it had to be huge.


    Suddenly, Simon


    remembered Dn hade to this cemetery a few times over the years, but everyone assumed he was only visiting Shelly''s grave That''s why the rumors about him never getting over Shelly wouldn''t die, and Dn never bothered to clear things up.


    Was he really just using the gossip to hide a deeper secret?


    Simon couldn''t let this go now. He was determined to bring Dn down, no matter what.


    He hung around, watching the entrance. Everyoneing and going was from


    the city''s elite; even some big-name officials showed up.


    Most people buried here were from powerful families or had some kind of distinguished service.


    The hero''s section was separate from the family tombs, and Simon had never been over there. People said it was under military control, no outsiders allowed.


    He wandered among the family graves, pretending to be there for someone, but his eyes kept drifting toward a narrow path that led up another hill. Even from a distance, it looked serious-guards everywhere.


    He pressed his lips together and forced himself to walk that way, but a group of


    men in uniform stopped him.


    They knew Simon—or at least, they knew everyone who came through here.


    "Mr. Simon, do you have a reservation?"


    Simon lowered his gaze, remembering that some of his grandfather''s friends were buried here.


    "I''m here to pay my respects to a few of my grandfather''s old friends."


    "You''ll need to call Walter, sir. Visits to this section are by appointment only."


    Simon immediately pulled out his phone and called Michael.


    He told Michael to move Ada''s burial to this cemetery. Michael was livid.


    "We already discussed the plot! We''re on our way there right now, and you want


    to change itst minute? Do you know howplicated this is?"


    Simon''s expression turned cold. "Dad, I told you toe, so just


    you don''t care about luck or any of


    that superstition. Let''s stop


    pretending.”


    Michael was silent for a moment, chilled by just how cold and heartless his son


    could be.