Listening to the endless chatter of Lysander''s childhood friends as they


    disparaged M, Giselle felt tears welling up in her eyes, though her spirits were oddly lifted.


    She dabbed at her eyes and excused herself under the pretense of washing her face, slipping into the stairwell for some privacy.


    Once she confirmed she was alone, her expression turned cold. She quickly wiped away her tears and dialed a number.


    When the call connected, she spoke tersely, "I need you to look into something for me."


    "I want you to dig into what happened seven years ago at Northpoint University between Lysander, M, and Forrest. I need every detail."


    Until now, she hadn''t paid much attention to events from seven years ago.


    Back then, she had assumed Lysander''s whirlwind marriage to M was just a way of getting back at her for not returning home with him. But now, she realized there was more to it.


    Lysander clearly cared deeply about what happened back then.


    This left her unsettled.


    She had to understand what had transpired between those three while she was studying abroad.


    Regardless of Lysander''s feelings for M, once she had all the information, she was determined to erase that woman from his heart entirely.


    In terms of family background, status, and ability, she and Lysander were the perfect match. M was just a woman who depended on men-what did she even amount to?


    And as for Forrest, she needed to figure out how to bring him to her side as well. Whatever the reason, she needed to understand this man better.


    "For Forrest, I want aplete dossier-from childhood to now."


    A man who could be interested in M was a man she could surely win over. After all, there had never been a man Giselle couldn''t win over.


    As the night deepened, a line of ck cars rolled into Bamboo Grove, following the path of garden lights, and stopped in front of a vi.


    As M stepped out of the car, the night breeze ruffled her hair. She gazed at the familiar scenery, lost in thought.


    How long had it been since shest came here?


    It hadn''t been long, yet it felt like ages had passed.


    After a brief hesitation, she started walking towards Lillian''s Manor, her own home, but a gentle tug on her arm made her pause and look back in confusion.


    "When Lysander wakes up, he''ll definitelye looking for you," a voice said.


    She understood.


    In the past, she might have questioned Lysander''s inexplicable obsession with her. Not anymore. She didn''t know why, but she was certain it was something he would do.


    He had lost his mind.


    The vi had been purchased not under her name, but it wouldn''t take long for someone to trace it back to her.


    It wasn''t safe.


    Forrest spoke up at the right moment, "Why don''t you stay at my ce for now? I''ll keep you safe."


    He stepped aside, revealing the vi behind him. The light from the gardenmps glinted off his sses, and his face held a gentle, restrained smile.


    M stared at the vi across from hers, momentarily dazed. "The neighbor who''s a returned Ph.D. graduate... it''s you..."


    Forrest chuckled softly.


    "Though I''m not sure what you''re referring to, I did buy this house when I returned at the start of the year."


    So, the garden lights were his doing too.


    She wanted to ask about the embroidered sachet with ''May Mimi be safe and happy for all eternity'' she found at the church. Was that his doing as well?


    But a strange reluctance in her heart stopped her from voicing the question.


    After a long pause, she only managed to ask, "Since you came back earlier and live so close, why didn''t you...e see me?"