The day after the auction.
Crimson Gardens.
Leonard, sporting arge bandage across his forehead, knocked on the study door before entering to deliver his usual report on the surveince at Willow House.
"Sir, Mrs. Bet hasn''t left Willow House at all today."
Seated behind his desk, Lysander looked up, his expression unreadable, his sharp eyes slightly narrowed. "So, she''s nning to hole up in there until her new ID is ready."
Today was April first.
In four more days, the fifteen-day waiting period imposed by the local authorities would be up, and M would be able to collect her new identification documents. Once she had those, getting recements for everything else would be a breeze. A shadow flickered across Lysander''s eyes. He spoke, almost to himself, "I can''t let her leave the country." After a moment''s thought, he looked up at Leonard, a slow, calcting smile forming on his lips.
"My dear inws haven''t seen their daughter in years, I imagine they must miss her terribly. Invite them over. It''s time for a family reunion."
Leonard frowned instinctively, but quickly lowered his gaze and replied, "Yes, sir."
Just then, Lysander''s phone began to buzz on the desk. He answered it without looking, and Ryan''s boisterous voice came through the line.
"Lysander! You guys really had my back while my brother was away. Tonight''s on me—we''re all gathering at Nathaniel''s club for dinner. You absolutely have to be there."
"...Alright."
After he hung up, Leonard reminded him, "Sir, your head''s only just healed. You shouldn''t be drinking."
Lysander''s tone was cool. "A little won''t hurt."
He hadn''t exactly been in a good moodtely.
As soon as Ryan knew Lysander woulde, he called Giselle.
"Giselle, I did what you asked-Lysander''s in for tonight." He hesitated, then asked, "Why not invite him yourself?"
Given how much Lysander valued Giselle, he''d never refuse if she asked him out to dinner.
Giselleughed softly. "I want to surprise him. If he knows it''s my idea, it won''t be the same."
Ryan felt a stab of envy, but didn''t say much. He chatted with Giselle a bit longer before reluctantly hanging up.
...
That evening.
N Laugh, private lounge.
Lysander and his group of friends—including Giselle—sat in a circle, drinking andughing. It wasn''t often they all got together, so the atmosphere was festive and rxed.
The drinks went around quickly, and with everyone so close and familiar, nothing was off-limits. Someone, emboldened by the wine, called out to Lysander, who was sitting beside Giselle.
"Hey Lysander, how much longer are you going to keep Giselle waiting? When''s the big day?"
"Yeah, seriously!"
"We''re all just waiting for your wedding so we can celebrate, you know!"
The group erupted in good-natured teasing.
Giselle and Lysander had been promised to each other since childhood, and everyone here had grown up together. Their families were well matched, and everyone saw them as the perfect couple.
When Lysander had married M—a nobody from a humble background— everyone had been stunned. And when they found out M had trapped him into marriage by getting pregnant, their disapproval only grew. To them, M was nothing but trouble for their friend.
For years, they''d all agreed: some people just aren''t meant for polite society.
So when Giselle came back from abroad and everyone realized she''d been waiting for Lysander all this time, it seemed obvious to their childhood friends— this was the real deal.
A perfect match-equal in status, talent, and looks.
And Lysander certainly didn''t seem to mind.
As the teasing continued, Giselle''s cheeks flushed a delicate pink, like the glow of sunset. She looked exquisite, stealing nces at Lysander from the corner of her eye, searching for any hint of his reaction.
Lysander merely swirled his wine ss and smiled, saying nothing.
Ryan, unable to restrain himself, was about to blurt out a question about when Lysander would finally get divorced-but Nathaniel, sitting beside him, quickly pulled him back.