"You... you''repletely out of your mind!"


    Keen felt a flicker of guilt, though he tried to hide it, tossing out the words before hurrying away.


    Jasper Wilkinson was rescued not long after-thanks to Rachel.


    When Jasper was released, only Rachel was there to meet him.


    Her expression was dark and clouded.


    Haynie had refused to pull strings for Jasper, so Rachel had been forced to turn to someone else.


    She really hadn''t wanted to reach out to that person.


    Just the thought of him sent a chill down her spine.


    Sometimes, Rachel suspected the man was downright unhinged.


    With her head lowered, she stared anxiously at an earring in her palm.


    If...


    If he ever found out that the person he was looking for wasn''t actually her-


    She''d be ruined. Worse than ruined.


    His methods were terrifying.


    Rachel knew she was making a deal with the devil.


    She had to marry Haynie as soon as possible.


    If that madman ever tracked down the real owner of the other earring, and realized she''d lied-


    She didn''t want to imagine what would happen.


    But this was a big city. Finding one person wasn''t easy.


    If it were, he never would havee to her in the first ce.


    Her thoughts were spinning wildly when Jasper''s excited voice snapped her back to reality.


    "Rachel! Didn''t Haynie say he wouldn''t get me out? Did he change his mind?"


    Rachel blinked, her face tense. "No. It wasn''t Haynie."


    "Not Haynie?" Jasper''s eyes widened. "Was it Foreman, then?"


    Foreman Richards''wyer had visited him, too—told Jasper it was better toy low for a while, let the heat die down.


    But who actually wanted to hide out in a ce like that?


    He''d sent message after message to both Haynie and Foreman, but neither had lifted a finger to help him.


    Jasper had resigned himself to a long stay.


    He never expected to be released today.


    Rachel''s eyes flickered. "I asked an old friend from university to pull some strings for you."


    "Your old friend?" Jasper scratched his head. "To get me out at a time like this, he must have some serious influence. Rachel, you have to introduce me sometime- I need to thank him in person."


    Rachel brushed him off. "He''s already gone back to Solmaris. Maybe some other time."


    But Rachel hadn''t forgotten why she''d worked so hard to get Jasper out.


    "Jasper, after everything that happened, Ste''s be a bit of a sensation. She''s already received several invitations to music festivals and showcases."


    Jasper grinned. "Rachel, do you want to go to those events too? Easy-I can get you a few invitations."


    Rachel was speechless for a moment.


    Jasper was quick to act, but not exactly sharp.


    "That''s not the point. I don''t need invitations. I''m saying that Ste''s gotten a huge advantage from all this—even Haynie ended up outmaneuvered by her. Next time, if we want to go after her, it''ll only be more difficult."


    Rachel''s worry deepened. "But I''ve noticed Haynie''s attitude toward her has changed... He didn''t help you, but he didn''t go after Ste either. I''m worried..."


    Jasper shrugged it off. "Haynie only likes women who are talented and exceptional. Ste''s got none of that what are you worried about? Still, she''s gotten a little too full of herselftely. We need to put her back in her ce. Sure, she''s popr with her little fan club, but in our circles, a woman without connections is nothing. All she can do is rile up the crowd-she doesn''t have any way to retaliate against us."


    He paused, a malicious smile slowly spreading across his face.


    "Rachel, as a matter of fact, I think I''ve got just the thing..."