The man at the front looked troubled, ncing over his shoulder at Lysander standing in the doorway. "Sir?"


    Lysander raised an eyebrow. "Your mother?"


    A cold, almost cruel smile yed at his lips. "Isn''t your mother in—"


    "Lysander!"


    The sharp shout cut him off before he could finish.


    A hand shot out, grabbing his shoulder and yanking him into the hallway. The next moment, a fistnded hard across his jaw.


    Nathaniel was breathing hard, his face contorted in anger as he hissed through clenched teeth, "What the hell were you about to say?"


    It was spring-the time of year when families went out for fresh air and


    wildflowers. Nathaniel had nned to take M and the kids for a pic, but she hadn''t answered his calls all day. Worried, he''de over himself.


    And walked right into this mess.


    If he''d arrived a minuteter, what would Lysander have said to the child? Told him his mother killed his father and was now in prison?


    Was he out of his mind?


    Lysander turned his head, wiping a smear of blood from the corner of his mouth with his thumb, unbothered. "Just the truth."


    Nathaniel''s anger red.


    In this moment, years of friendship meant nothing. He lunged forward, fist raised. "Have you lost your mind?"


    Lysander blocked him effortlessly, shoving him aside. His eyes, usually sly, turned icy.


    "Is it me who''s crazy, or are you, Nathaniel, just hopelessly na?ve?" His voice was cold, each word deliberate. "Nathaniel, M is my wife. My wife. What are you doing dropping the kid off here? Do you think I''m blind?"


    Nathaniel''s face went pale.


    He took a few deep breaths, struggling to hold back his rage. "Lysander, you know what Julian''s going through. What choice did I have? What do you think I meant?"


    Lysander stared at him for a long moment, eyes hard. "It better be just that."


    With that, he turned and walked away.


    M wasn''t at the Forrest house. He''d have to keep searching.


    As soon as Lysander left, Nathaniel hurried into the studio and scooped up the sobbing child.


    "Mommy! Mommy..."


    Nathaniel''s eyes were red as he tried to soothe him. "It''s okay, Julian, it''s okay. Your mom will be back soon, I promise. Don''t be scared."


    The whole situation felt surreal.


    After all these years, he''d never realized what Lysander really felt for M.


    So what had thest seven years been about?


    The coldness, the indifference, the rumors, the dismissiveness, the smears... What did it all mean?


    It made no sense.


    Had everyone gone mad?


    ...


    That night, Lysander''s people nearly tore Bamboo Grove apart. It felt like they


    were about to dig up the earth itself.


    But there wasn''t a single trace of her.


    "How does a grown woman just vanish into thin air?"


    Under the pounding rain, Lysander leaned against the side of his car, soaked to


    the bone, his face pale, his eyes burning with restless anxiety.


    With weather like this, and M in her state, he couldn''t shake the fear that something had happened.


    "What about the security cameras? Did you check them?" he snapped at Leonard, who had just rushed back.


    Leonard shook his head. "The rain''s just too heavy. A tree came down on a power line nearby, knocked the electricity out. The cameras all went dead, and the rain washed away any tracks in the road. There''s nothing to follow."


    The wind and rain howled around them.


    As much as he hated to admit it, all the evidence pointed to the same conclusion.


    M was gone.


    Vanished, right under everyone''s nose.


    Lysander''s expression darkened. He ground his teeth. "Keep searching! Widen the search-turn over every stone if you have to, but find her!"


    This time, when he got M back, he wouldn''t let her out of his sight ever again.