"Oh, right."


    Something seemed to ur to him, and he tilted his head, letting out a low chuckle. "Come to think of it, you''re quite impressive. Anyone else would''ve been eaten alive in the Lockwood family''s house, but not only did you make it out unscathed, you even managed to get Rnd Lockwood to back down for you. With skills like that, I doubt a little errand like this would trip you up."


    The moment Rnd''s name was mentioned, it was like a cold bucket of water dumped over Miranda''s head. She fell silent, the anger inside doused in an instant.


    The man kept speaking, his tonezy. "Of course, you could always refuse. But if you do―" He gave a crooked smile, "-well, I doubt Rnd''s patience is limitless. Not that I''d mind telling him all about your little escapades in Ennd. I''m sure he''d understand exactly how to discipline a disobedient wife."


    "Miranda, did you really think Jade Suthend could protect you and your family forever? She doesn''t have much time left."


    Miranda clenched her fists so hard her nails dug into her palms.


    Bastard!


    She wanted nothing more than to leap up and punch him in the face, but she didn''t dare. Against her will, Rnd''s smiling face shed through her mind, and a shiver ran down her spine.


    He was another monster.


    ...


    The more she thought, the angrier she got. But she bit back the curses on the tip of her tongue, unwilling to give him the satisfaction-or to let herself be manipted. And then there was Lysander''s proposal.


    After a long silence, she finally stammered out, "Are you... are you telling the truth? You''re not lying to me?"


    "What if I am?" He gave a mockingugh.


    Bastard. Bastard. Bastard!


    "Alright, it''s settled. I''ll be in touch." He turned abruptly. "And don''t even think about running or pulling any tricks. You know exactly what''ll happen if you do."


    With that, he walked away.


    His figure quickly disappeared behind the thick rose bushes. Miranda stared after him in a daze, barely able to process what had just happened.


    He just left?


    It''s settled?


    Who said anything was settled?!


    He''d vanished without warning, but Miranda felt no relief. She had no doubt he meant every word. If she tried anything reckless, those so-called consequences... Just one of them would be more than she could bear.


    Defeated, she slumped to the ground.


    She sat there, staring nkly for a long time, until she heard footsteps and voices nearby. Her heart froze-was heing back? She scrambled up and ducked into a nearby thicket of roses, only rxing when she recognized the voice.


    "M!"


    She tore off her mask and ran towards the sound.


    "Miranda?!"


    M Suthend, who''d been leading a small search party through the garden, froze in surprise. Her heart leapt as she shoved past the


    bodyguards in front of her, grane


    Miranda and scanning her upand down, worried and anxious. "What are you doing here?!"


    Just the thought that Lysander might still be lurking somewhere in the garden made M''s hands shake. Why would Miranda be out here when nearly everyone else was in the ballroom?


    "Oh, I..." Miranda hesitated, guilt creeping into her voice. "I just felt a little stuffy in there. Wanted some fresh air, that''s all... Wait, why are you out here?"


    She hadn''t figured out what to say yet, so she quickly changed the subject.


    It was only then, as she nced at the bodyguards positioned all around, that the tension in the air finally registered. What was going on? Why were there so many people? Did something happen?


    "We''re looking for someone." M''s


    answer was brisk, barely pausing to


    Ket


    exin. She used the same story


    Forrest Whitmore had given earlier,


    then instructed her team to


    spread


    out further and escort any remaining


    quests back into the ballroom.


    But Miranda understood.


    Now she was certain-positive, even-that the creep who''d forced M into that


    dance in the ballroom was Lysander.


    It really was that bastard!


    He''d actually faked his death and tricked M... She didn''t know why, but thinking about it, if anyone would pull a stunt like that, it''d be him.


    She couldn''t help but marvel-


    He was still as brazen as ever.


    It wasn''t enough for him to sneak into the estate; he had the nerve to brazenly flirt


    with M right under Jade''s nose. The man had no sense of fear at all.


    One thing was for sure: he''d been right-there was no escaping him.


    A wave of hopelessness crashed over her.


    Was there anything in the world this monster was afraid of?


    Miranda''s eyes drifted to M walking ahead, thoughts churning. Lysander''s words echoed in her mind.


    Maybe he had a point.


    Maybe, if she tried a different approach, things would actually change. She couldn''t go on living like this—always on edge, always looking over her shoulder.


    "Miranda? Miranda?"


    Lost in thought, she didn''t realize M had stopped in front of her, looking puzzled. "What are you thinking about? You''re totally zoned out."


    “Nothing,” Miranda replied quickly, forcing a smile. “What''s up?"


    “Oh, I just wanted to ask... When you were out here, did you see anyone strange? Not just someone in a


    cloak-anyone acting odd at all? et


    M sounded worried; maybe she was afraid the suspect had changed clothes.


    "Did you notice anything?"


    Forrest, standing nearby, looked over as well.