With an off-the-charts IQ and the crowd she kept around her... sheesh, she didn''t seem like your average girl at all.


    Ben leaned his head back, slouchedfortably in the car seat, and switched gears to a totally different topic: "I just finished fixing up my house in Clearview. I''ll hand you the keyster. You might want to invite your ssmates and friends over for a get-together."


    Hearing this, Lisa immediately caught on to the hidden message in his words. Offering a ce for a hangout was just a front; he was really nudging her to bring her friends, especially Mirabe, over.


    "Thanks, but no thanks," Lisa replied coolly.


    Ben didn''t seem bothered by her rejection. Instead, he smiled slightly, "I heard Gracie and Dad are thinking of heading abroad for the holidays."


    The mention of her mother made Lisa''s heart clench, "Ben, just spit it out. Don''t y these games with me!"


    She knew him too well; he had a knack for these maniptive mind games. Outwardly, it seemed like casual chit-chat, but every word carried an underlying warning.


    Ben clicked his tongue lightly, "You might not know, but some ces overseas are pretty unstable. Unrest isn''t umon, and innocent folks can easily get caught in the crossfire."


    Lisa''s eyes red with anger, "You''re unbelievable. My mom has treated you like her own for over a decade, better than she treated me, and you dare say something like that."


    "So, Gracie''s future is entirely in your hands," Ben said calmly.


    Lisa got his drift loud and clear. She bit down hard on her lip, and after a moment, said, "Don''t even think about using me to get Mirabe out. Not happening!"


    Ben pressed the gas pedal a bit harder, but his voice was as casual as ever, "Suit yourself. After all, you''ve only got one path to choose from."


    As his words sank in, Lisa went even paler, feeling like her blood was running backward. A wave of helplessness and despair washed over her. She knew Ben meant what he said.


    He was scary and relentless.


    Since stumbling upon his true nature, she hadn''t dared to get close to any ssmates. That''s why shecked real friends all these years, all because of him. More than once, she wondered if, had she never learned the truth about Ben, she might not have to live in constant fear.


    Meanwhile, James drove back to his ce.


    Getting out of the car, he scooped up some blueprints that had slipped under the back seat.


    Mirabe was busy texting on Messenger, looking like she had her hands full, so once they were inside, James, feeling a tad envious, thrust the blueprints into her arms.


    "Can you take these to the study?"


    Mirabe, interrupted, sent onest message to Cassandra before tucking her phone away, "Alright, sure."


    She took a couple of steps with the blueprints, then turned back to James, "Which room''s the study?"


    James pointed upstairs, "Second door on the left."


    Mirabe nodded, but as she nced at the blueprints, she couldn''t resist a


    yful jab, "What if I were a spy?"


    James raised an eyebrow, "I''ve got plenty more of these. If you want them, they''re all yours."


    Mirabe chuckled and headed upstairs.