International Airport.
While Leonard was on a call, not far from him, a car rolled slowly along the circr drive. The window slid down, revealing Johnnie''s profile at the wheel.
He nced at Leonard, who stood by his car on the lowerne, back turned, headset clipped over his ear as he spoke quietly into the phone. Johnnie''s own voice was hushed when he spoke, "Father, M''s left the country. She took Forrest with her. They''re headed to Eldermere."
A low chuckle slipped out.
M had messaged him earlier that day, saying she was calling off that matchmaking arrangement she''d mentioned before. He hadn''t pressed for details then, but now everything clicked into ce.
Interesting.
Cossio''s measured tone reached him through the Bluetooth earpiece. "You know Eldermere well. Arrange for someone you trust to keep an eye on things. See if the Montgomery family stirs. If anything''s amiss, this time we''ll know."
"Understood."
Johnnie knew exactly what was worrying his father.
He''d never met Lysander himself, but stories about the man were legendary in the Cossio family.
It was said that while still a university student, Lysander, apanied only by Leonard, had brazenly infiltrated the Cossio family''s ancestral estate and shed violently with Johnnie''s father. No one knew the precise details, but the incredible part was that despite being gravely injured, Lysander managed to escape.
Monthster, he came back.
That time, the Cossio family was in the throes of civil war. A rogue faction had risen up, decrying Cossio''s ruthless, authoritarian methods. Lysander, operating in the shadows, backed them with money, weapons, and heavy artillery.
The fallout from that brutal uprising was catastrophic. Johnnie''s father, Cossio, was dered dangerously unstable and forciblymitted to a psychiatric hospital, locked away under the pretense of severe mental illness.
Two years ago, Cossio''s maternal rtives orchestrated a daring rescue, smuggling him out of the asylum. He returned to the family''s stronghold and, in a sweeping purge, eradicated those who''d conspired with Lysander. Only then did he truly regain control of the family.
That was why Cossio still dreaded Lysander-even more than a year after the man''s alleged death, he refused to act rashly.
Just in case Lysander had left onest trick up his sleeve.
Johnnie could understand his father''s caution. Even from the stories whispered within the family, he could piece together a portrait: cunning, ruthless, unpredictable.
But this time, an opportunity had presented itself.
If there truly was a hidden scheme-if Lysander''s death a year ago had left any
loose threads-M''s return home, withpany, would surely force them into the open.
And if nothing happened-
"Father, you''ll be here soon enough," Johnnie said with a smile, tapping his fingers-red thread still wound around his wrist-against the steering wheel, clearly in a good mood.
The car rolled out of the airport''s loop and into the city.
As he drove away, Leonard seemed to sense the weight of someone''s gaze. He slowly turned to look up at the circr drive above him, catching only the bustle of passing cars.
He ended his call.
His eyes were cold, expression set.
Ennd.
After nearly a full day in the air, they finallynded at Eldermere Airport the following afternoon.
"M, over here!"
As M and Forrest exited the VIP arrivals lounge, they were greeted by Miranda Wayne, who waved brightly—at least until she caught sight of Forrest at M''s side. Her hand faltered mid-air, surprise sweeping across her face.
"What''s he doing here?"
While Forrest was stowing the luggage in the trunk, Miranda tugged M aside, lowering her voice. "When did he get involved?"
"I''ll exinter. But you-" M shot
her friend a pointed look, keeping her own voice low. "What''s going on with you and Rnd Lockwood? ran into him a few times at the g while I was home. He kept asking about you. What''s the story there?"
"You didn''t tell him anything, did you?" Miranda''s eyes flickered with worry.
"Of course not," M replied. She barely knew Rnd-her loyalty was to Miranda, no question.
Still, the whole situation was bizarre.
Thinking back, even when they''d first left for Ennd, things had beenplicated between Miranda and Rnd. Miranda had wanted to help M, sure, but she''d also been running away from problems back home. Then, half a year ago, Miranda''s parents had summoned her back to Ennd, using her father''s illness as an excuse.
M had stayed behind to care for her great-aunt, who had just recovered from
surgery.
Barely a monthter, Miranda
returned to Ennd, and that''s when M heard the bombshell: her
staunchly marriage-averse best
friend had gotten married-quickly, quietly, and to none other than Rnd Lockwood. M had honestly thought it was some kind of prank. Hadn''t Miranda sworn to avoid anything to do with the Lockwood family? And she hadn''t even mentioned the wedding! M had
joked that it was payback for her
own secret marriage, but in truth, she was stunned.
Later, Miranda filled her in.
Turns out, that month back home had been wild. The youngest Lockwood son, Ryan, had suddenly announced his intention to marry Giselle Harvey-the Harvey family''s golden child. He even set a date and booked avish venue.
Rnd was dead set against it.
To make things even more absurd, Giselle and her family publicly refused the match, saying they saw Ryan as nothing more than a kid brother.
M had no idea how heartbroken Ryan was, but she knew one thing: the glitzy wedding went ahead, only with a twist-the bride and groom swapped at thest minute. Miranda and Rnd took their ce at the altar.
That was when the Waynes and the Lockwoods formally announced their alliance.
For weeks, the Lockwood brothers'' drama was the talk of high society-everyone spected, gossiped, dissected every detail. Strangely, the Lockwoods didn''t even bother to clear up the rumors.
If that were all, M might have just been shocked and moved on. After all, it was Miranda''s choice.