Lysander smiled, maintaining an aura of calm that only heightened Giselle''s unease. The moreposed he appeared, the more her heart raced with anxiety.


    She didn''t know much about what had happened seven years ago, only bits and pieces. What she did know was that after just a year abroad, Lysander had hurried back to continue his studies at Northpoint University. It wasn''t long before he and Forrest, who was nearing the end of his doctoral studies at the same institution, had a massive falling out.


    Rumor had it that it was quite a spectacle.


    From what she''d gathered, it had something to do with M, though the details were unclear.


    Not long after, Lysander had a whirlwind marriage, and Forrest abruptly left Northpoint University, disappearing overseas without a trace.


    She never expected that the mastermind behind this project would turn out to be Forrest!


    What she couldn''t stomach even more was that Forrest was rumored to be close to M, of all people! Why her?


    Just the thought of M filled Giselle with a burning resentment.


    Why her?


    Why did someone so insignificant and undeserving always seem to have such good fortune, daring topete with her for everything!


    This coboration was surely doomed.


    The more she thought about it, the more her resentment twisted her beautiful features. But aware of Lysander beside her, she took a deep breath and grasped his hand.


    "Lysander, what about us?"


    Lysander kept his reassuring smile, patting her hand gently. "No worries. Do you think Forrest is the only one in the world skilled in Al?"


    There were always other options.


    "Wait here for a bit. I''ll have someone take you home, and we''ll discuss the restter."


    With that, Lysander released her hand and strode out of the room, Leonard following closely behind, leaving Giselle alone.


    She looked down at her empty hands, dazed, until a cold smile crept across her face, eyes filled with icy hatred.


    She muttered with venom in her voice, "M, M, M!"


    Damn her!


    ...


    Once in the car, Lysander''s expression turned dark.


    "To the estate," hemanded.


    Leonard hesitated for a moment before speaking up, "Madam is currently at Crimson Gardens."


    "What''s she doing there?"


    Leonard paused, recounting a call he''d received just minutes before from Harper. Lysander''s expression was a storm cloud of anger, though he couldn''t help butugh.


    "Drive."


    The car sped through the orange glow of the setting sun toward Crimson Gardens, heedless of traffic lights.


    Meanwhile, at Crimson Gardens, M was in turmoil.


    Adrian held on to her purse, crying out in fury, "Mom, you lied to me! Where''s my gift? You''re a liar!"


    The more he cried, the louder he got.


    He had waited patiently in his room, but when his mother didn''t return, he went looking for her. He saw here out of the study, carrying a bag into another room, fiddling with something by the window.


    She hadn''te to find him at all!


    Realizing he might have been deceived, Adrian was furious.


    His cries grew louder, and M, afraid the guards downstairs would hear, tried desperately to soothe the little boy before her.


    "Adrian, don''t cry. I did get you a gift, but I just can''t find it right now. Please, don''t cry... I''m begging you."


    Despite her attempts to calm him, M''s eyes were red with frustration.


    "I don''t believe you!"


    "You''re just hiding it from me!"


    Adrian tugged fiercely at her purse, insisting on seeing its contents, convinced she had hidden the gift.


    Amidst the chaos, the bedroom door suddenly burst open with a loud crash, startling M. She looked up in a daze, meeting Lysander''s sly, almost mocking eyes.