ra was practically drenched in sweat, her clothes clinging to her as she
slumped into a chair in the grand foyer. Only then did she finally let herself pass
out, her face going ck with relief.
The staff moved fast. Someone called the doctor, while others fussed politely over
Megan, offering her tea and soft words.
It was Megan''s first time at Palm Bay. After weeks of going out of her mind,
unable to reach ra no matter how many times she tried, she''d never expected
things to turn out like this. Instead of endless waiting, she''d suddenly found
herself standing in Dn''s home.
She''d always watched him from a distance before-never close enough to truly
touch anything that belonged to his world. But now, she could run her fingers over
the banister he''d gripped, walk the floors he''d paced, and breathe in the air he''d
left behind. The feeling gave her a weird, giddy sense of satisfaction.
Sure, Tara was still around-her rival, the other obstacle. But honestly, Megan
didn''t waste much time worrying about her. To her, Tara was just as clueless as
Eden-both of them hopelessly out of their depth.
A slow, secretive smile tugged at Megan''s lips. She turned to a maid nearby. "Is
Mr. Dning home today?"
The maid shook her head. "Sir won''t be back for a few days."
Megan raised her eyebrows. She''d heard enough rumors floating aroundtely-
Dn and ra marrying, then divorcing, word that Dn might be heading to
North America. ces like Moonlight were always swirling with gossip; after all,
everyone there was someone important.
That was exactly why she never quit her job there. Staying at Moonlight meant
staying close to Dn. She''d yed the long game, keeping her feelings hidden,
acting like ra''s loyal friend, waiting for the right moment.
She''d always believed that if she was patient enough, she''d eventually find her
way to Dn''s side.
Now, with ra missing for nearly two months, her chance had finally arrived.
Megan was determined this time-she wasn''t letting it slip by.
She followed the doctor upstairs, eyes red and watery as she hovered anxiously
by ra''s bedside.
"How is ra?" she managed, her voice trembling.
The doctor worked quietly, removing the bullet from ra''s thigh, then cleaning
and dressing the wound on her palm.
Megan wiped her tears, sliding into the chair next to ra. "Let me help. I''ll stay
here and look after her for the next few days."
The staff were clearly grateful, but one still asked gently, "Miss, are you a friend of
thedy of the house?"
The title made something flicker in Megan''s eyes-something sharp and
possessive. One day, she thought, that title will be mine.
"Yes," she said, steady and sure. "I''m her best friend. I was the one who saved
her tonight. I''d like to stay."
Of course. As thedy''s friend, you''re wee here," the maid replied with a
smile.
Megan turned her attention to ra, lying pale and unconscious in bed. How
lucky could one girl get? She was no one special, just some illegitimate child, yet
even the staff at Palm Bay adored her.
Why did ra get everything so easily?
Megan pushed down all her
resentment and jealousy, making
sure not a trace of it showed. She
busied herself wiping ra''s face,
giving orders for medicine, moving
around the room with the quiet
authority of someone who belonged.
It wasn''t until noon the next day that ra''s fever finally broke.
A maid saw the exhaustion written all over Megan''s face and spoke up. "Ms.
Megan, you should really get some rest. We''ve prepared a guest room for you."
Megan nodded, rubbing her temples, her voice scratchy fromck of sleep.
"Thank you. I''m just really worried about ra. Please let me know the moment
she wakes up, okay?"
The maid nodded, clearly touched. What a wonderful friend, she thought.
But night came, and ra still didn''t wake up.
The staff changed her bandages once, all of them wincing when they saw the
wound on her palm.
When Megan woke from a nap and found out ra was still unconscious, she
decided she needed some air and asked if she could walk around outside.
Palm Bay was huge, with several houses clustered around the main one every
single one belonging to Dn. The maid nodded.
"Feel free to look around, Ms. Megan. Just make sure you''re back for dinner."
A shadow crossed Megan''s face, but she smiled and headed out.
She wandered for a while before she heard a woman singing somewhere nearby.
Curious, she edged closer to one of the houses, but before she could get too
close, someone appeared out of nowhere.
"Please return to the main house," the man said, his tone icy.
Megan startled, stepping back several paces before realizing it was one of the
estate''s security guards.
That''s when it hit her-Palm Bay was crawling with staff and security, most of
them hidden in the shadows.
Thank God she hadn''t let her mask slip when she thought she was alone. If
anyone had seen how she really felt about ra, she would''ve blown her cover.
Megan drew a shaky breath and
patted her chest, acting the part of
the startled guest. "I''m ra''s friend,
just out for a walk. Sorry, I just
wanted to know-who''s singing
upstairs?"
The guard''s expression didn''t change. "That''s not your concern."
Megan''s smile faltered. So much for
being able to go anywhere she
wanted just because she was
ra''s friend. Clearly, Dn had
secrets tucked away everywhere.
She couldn''t help but wonder what
exactly was he hiding?