Catherine''s sudden illness and death, Summer''s abrupt departure abroad, the link between these events isn''t hard to trace.


    It was initially thought that Summer''s twisted mentality was due to a wed worldview, but now it seems that cold-heartedness is simply in her nature.


    Mirabe''s voice was somewhat cold as she said, "Continue to track her whereabouts for me."


    "Right away, Miss Mira," As replied. "And the escapee..."


    "No need to search any further," Mirabe cut in directly.


    By this time, Santos had probably already left the country. Even if he hadn''t, no one would recognize him with his ever-changing face.


    To search or not, it made no difference.


    **


    Meanwhile, Santos was indeed on a ne back to the States, his face hidden behind yet another prosthetic mask.


    "Mr. Santos, you really can''t go out on your own again. We were lucky this time, but if something had happened, the doctor would have been furious."


    The foreign man standing beside Santos had a clear look of relief mixed with fear.


    Santos leaned back in his seat, gently swirling his ss of red wine, casting a sidelong nce at the man, "Don''t worry, I''m hard to kill. Nothing will happen."


    "I''m just worried about the ''what ifs''..." the man was still apprehensive.


    Santos took a sip of his wine, his gaze full of nonchnce, "But, I must say, your timely arrival was fortunate."


    Otherwise, he feared he might have had to spend more time in the country before being able to leave.


    "It was mostly thanks to Mr. Asa''s assistance," the foreign man quickly added.


    "Asa?" Santos'' eyes narrowed slightly, but after a moment, he nodded, "Arrange a meeting with him for meter."


    "Of course The man nodded. He looked at Santos, who seemed ina surprisingly good mood, hardly the demeanor of someone who had narrowly avoided imprisonment.


    Pondering, he asked, "Why are you in such high spirits?"


    "Because I''ve found something," Santos replied with a lightugh.


    The man''s curiosity was piqued, "What is it?"


    Santos didn''t answer, instead finishing his wine in one gulp, and sighed,


    "Unfortunately, this might be a bit difficult to obtain."


    Seeing that Santos wasn''t forting, the man beside him stopped pressing, though he was still puzzled.


    Santos seemed unaware of the man''s emotional turmoil, turning his head to look out the window, his expression turning deep.


    The secrets of the Stevenson family, after all, weren''t something those people could easilyy their hands on.


    **


    The next afternoon, Mirabe went to meet Paul at the hotel.


    He had arrived in Ashford today with As.


    Sitting on the sofa, it took Paul a


    bitter


    while before he spoke with had


    smile, I''m sorry, my dear. If it hadn''t beer for me that day, you might have..."


    het


    Mirabe''s expression remained calm, knowing what Morgan was trying to say, she directly interrupted, "Paul if time could be reversed, I would still make the same choice."