The setting sun cast the world in gold and crimson.


    Stained ss windows shimmered in the dying light, scattering vibrant colors across the empty, echoing room. The ce was deserted-no trace of anyone remained.


    Both the man and the woman were gone.


    Just then, one of the stained ss panels creaked open. A slender figure, dressed in deep red, slipped in through the window andnded lightly inside. She made her way to a shadowed corner, finally stopping before a single rose. The rainbow light painted her crimson trousers with shifting hues.


    She stooped down.


    She picked up the only object left behind in the room.


    A ck rose.


    Turning the flower thoughtfully in her hand, she breathed in the lingering, heady fragrance, covering her nose with her fingers for a moment. Then, with a faint, amusedugh, she murmured, "So that''s... Cossio, huh?"


    What an interesting person.


    ...


    The party outside was as lively as ever.


    But inside the surveince room, tension hung heavy in the air. More than a dozen people sat in silence, eyes fixed on the shifting security feeds, searching for anything out of ce. Forrest and Conrad were among them, clicking through camera angles, the only sound their rapid keystrokes.


    Suddenly, the oppressive quiet shattered as M burst through the door. Without hesitation, she seized Conrad by the cor, her face dark with anger. Her voice was low and sharp. "What exactly were you thinking?"


    She was furious, barely keeping it in check.


    How many times had she warned them? Told them not toe, begged them to stay away? If the insisted on me ng, the least they could do was keep her safe. But now, right under their noses, she had vanished.


    If anyone tried to tell her this wasn''t deliberate, she wouldn''t believe it for a second.


    "You were right beside her. How could you not notice-" M''s eyes brimmed with unshed tears as she stared at the man before her, his face hidden as he looked down. She ground out each word, voice trembling with rage, "She''s your wife. You know exactly what''ll happen if she''s taken. Have you lost your mind?"


    Or is this some madness you and Lysander share?


    For Felicity to disappear at a time like this... There was only one person who could pull it off.


    Cossio was here.


    "That man''s a lunatic!" M nearly shouted.


    "...I know."


    Atst, Conrad spoke, his voice rough. He slowly raised his head, revealing a handsome face drained of emotion, though his eyes were rimmed red. Still, his tone was calm.


    "She''ll be alright."


    “What is that supposed to mean?” M pressed him. "What are you people really after?"


    How could she be alright?


    This was Cossio they were dealing with a man who kept wolves and thought nothing of a human life, brutal and unpredictable. M had seen it herself in the old manor, witnessed firsthand just how much more dangerous he was than Lysander, how little regard he had for anyone''s life.


    Felicity used to be the only thing that kept him in check.


    And now, they''d let him take her.


    M never doubted for a second who was behind this. From the moment she learned Felicity was missing, she knew... it had to be Cossio.


    Who else would dare?


    Who else would challenge the Montgomery family head-on?


    This time, Conrad fell silent. He tried to pry M''s fingers from his cor; as he lifted his hand, Forrest gently caught his wrist. With a mild smile, Forrest said, "Chairman Montgomery, let''s not hurt Mimi."


    As if a simple hand could do any harm.


    Conrad said nothing.


    After a moment, he sighed, "Would a little respect for your elders kill you?" He was, after all, technically their senior.


    "Sorry, sir, but you''re not my family," Forrest replied with a polite smile.


    M, of course, didn''t bother with apologies.


    A bunch of unruly kids.


    And yet, when Conrad thought about who was really to me for this mess, his mood darkened further. That bastard at home was the root of it all. He said tly, "Either way, she disappeared while she was with you."


    At that, M''s eyes immediately filled with angry tears.


    Seeing she was about to explode, Conrad quickly added, "It was his idea."


    There was no need to say who.


    All three understood perfectly.


    M''s heart clenched.


    She felt fury burning in her throat, unable to let it out.


    Lysander, that bastard!


    Was he insane?


    Without another word, Conrad suddenly stepped back, pulling his cor free. Before anyone could protest, he strode out of the room, not even sparing a nce at the monitors-as if he''d onlye to deliver that one message.


    "Calm down," he called over his shoulder.


    Forrest reached out, gently rubbing M''s back, voice soft and soothing. "Don''t worry. I''ve already sent people out searching. This isn''t your fault-the Montgomerys insisted oning, after all..."


    M forced herself to breathe. "Just find her. Don''t just look in the manor-check


    outside as well, and keep an eye out for any suspicious vehicles."


    It wouldn''t be easy to smuggle someone away.


    "Of course."


    Forrest agreed at once, then turned to Howard, who stood by the door. "Don''t stop the party. We can''t cause a panje. Stick to the original n. Let the guests stay overnight, and keep watch on the garage and all exits..."


    He handled the rest of the arrangements, making up for anything M missed.


    "It''ll be alright."


    Once everything was set in motion,


    Forrest turned back to M, who was still staring at the screens. "Ifè Conrad could walk away so calmly, without even checking the monitors, he must have had something nned. They wouldn''t risk Mrs. Fontaine-she''s his wife, and the mother of his child."


    They couldn''t possibly be that reckless.


    "I know," M murmured.


    She understood, logically.


    But she still couldn''t shake the unease. This time, she was genuinely scared...


    She had no idea what the Montgomery family would do next. And now Felicity had been dragged into it all.