Nheless, crouching there for so long had left their legspletely numb.


    Eventually, Yasmine couldn''t take it any longer. "We don''t have to wait for Calvert. We can figure something else out-I''ll call someone toe get us."


    Vespera nodded. "Do it."


    That''s right—there was no reason to pin all their hopes on one person.


    Without hesitation, Yasmine reached out to a well-connected figure in Halewick.


    At the back entrance of the mansion, Emily personally saw Maude and her assistant off.


    "Ms. Wyndham, I''m truly sorry things didn''t go as nned today. It was my fault—I didn''t manage the arrangements properly."


    "It''s fine. There will be other chances," Maude replied.


    "I''ve offended the Reid family... My standing in Halewick is as good as gone. What am I supposed to do now?"


    "I''ve arranged a safe ce for you to lie low for now. As for Fawn-she''s my target, and I have a hundred ways to handle her. This setback will only make the next n even better. So, don''t be afraid of failure."


    Emily nodded quickly. Still, she couldn''t help but vent, "It was that woman in the green dress-if she hadn''t messed things up, everything would''ve gone smoothly. Her sharp tongue is a real problem."


    "What''s the point of a sharp tongue?" Maude leaned back. "It''s the most pointless of tools-other than feeding one''s ego or starting meaningless chatter, what does it actually achieve?"


    "I... guess that''s true."


    "Just wait for my signal."


    With that, the car door closed, and the vehicle quietly slipped away from the estate.


    In the dim interior, the ck mask was lifted, revealing Selena''s face as it emerged from the shadows.


    This time, she''d intended to kill three birds with one stone-manipte Felicia, sow doubt to undermine Fawn, and teach Vespera a hard lesson, making sure she was publicly humiliated in front of all of Halewick.


    But tonight''s failure made one thing painfully clear-she had underestimated Vespera.


    Next time, Vespera wouldn''t be so fortunate.


    A sinister smile yed on Selena''s lips.


    Dressed in a sleek gray gown, Maya asked, "Mrs. Locke, where shall we send Mrs. Dawson?"


    Selena leaned back wearily, releasing a sigh. "To Elysium."


    ...


    After rushing Fawn to the hospital, Calvert quickly made his way back to the estate. He called Vespera and the others repeatedly, but none of them answered.


    He searched the garden, but they were nowhere to be found.


    Growing more frantic, he stormed into the mansion, turning the ce upside down -but still, there was no trace of them.


    Finally, a message from Vespera popped up: "We''re already home."


    At first nce, the message seemedpletely normal, but something about it didn''t sit right.


    Vespera''s tone felt unusually cold.


    Calvert quickly typed out a response: "Vespera, I didn''t mean for any of this to happen. Mrs. Reid was at the banquet too, but when she left, she somehow fell into one of the outdoor ponds.


    "Mr. Reid and I rushed her to the hospital. He insisted Ie back immediately to pick you up and make sure you get home safely. I returned as quickly as I could, but none of youdies were answering my calls."


    After what felt like an eternity, Vespera finally replied: "Oh, alright. Thanks for exining."


    Calvert exhaled in relief.


    It seemed like she understood.


    Just then, another message from Vespera popped up: "It''s whatever."


    Vespera tossed her phone onto the couch after sending the reply.


    If Calvert hadn''t said anything, she would never have known that Dominic had gone to the estate too.


    But it was obvious now he hadn''te to help her. He''d gone for Fawn.


    Though Dominic wasn''t to me, Vespera couldn''t help but feel the sting of being cast aside.


    The more she reyed the message she had sent him, the deeper her regret sank.


    Without realizing it, she had thrown out one of those clichéd, impossible hypotheticals—if his mother and his girlfriend were both drowning, which one would he save first?


    The next day arrived quickly.


    The original n had been to catch a 9:00 am flight.


    Vespera had assumed the business trip might be canceled.


    At 7:00 am, she called Gerard. He told her they were on their way back from the


    hospital and that the n was still in ce.


    At the hospital, Gerard hung up and stepped back into the room.


    Dominic gave him a cold, indifferent nce.


    Gerard immediately understood, nodding slightly. "Yes, it was Vespera who called."