Not only would it be useless, but Gerard would probably get yelled at too. He


    could already picture Dominicshing out with venom. And of course, none of that venom would be aimed at Vespera or Calvert. Every bit of it wouldnd squarely on him.


    He adjusted his suit and leaned against the car window.


    Noticing how dazed Gerard looked, Calvert asked, "Gerard, are you alright? Are you low on sugar?"<fnc5e0> The rightful source is Find1Novel</fnc5e0>


    Without waiting for an answer, Calvert unwrapped a piece of candy and popped it into Gerard''s mouth. He added, "Here. I have more if you need it."


    Gerard sighed again. In the backseat, Vespera sighed as well. Her thoughts had already drifted to Dominic. Where could he be right now?


    Evelyn leaned in and rested her head on Vespera''s shoulder. She said, "Don''t worry, Vera. Vance is with him the entire time. Nothing is going to happen."


    At that, Vespera stiffened. Vance was with Dominic the entire time? That made her even more anxious. Still, she had to admit that Vance was useful because his father was the duke and had a high status. If tagging along meant keeping Dominic safe, Vespera could live with it.


    Evelyn''s fingers lightly brushed along the curve of Vespera''s neck, her gaze inadvertently passed by thetter''s chest. She said, "Your skin is so smooth."


    Vespera wasn''t in the mood to talk about beauty and skincare. She said absently, "Yours is nice too."


    With a smile, Evelyn answered, "Thank you."


    Then, she yawned and closed her eyes. "I''m sleepy. I''m going to nap here for a while."


    Vespera responded, "Alright."


    She stared out the window, thoughts tangled like knots.


    About 20 minutester, the car pulled up in front of a hotel. Vespera gently nudged Evelyn awake.


    The two men led them through the building and into an elevator. It went straight up to the rooftop where a helicopter waited, des already spinning. Their hair whipped around, and jackets pped.


    "This way," said the man, who sat in the passenger seat moments ago. Meanwhile, the driver stood by the helicopter''s open door.


    Vespera and the others hopped into the helicopter. As soon as they were buckled in, they were told to turn off their phones and put on blindfolds.


    Calvert was displeased, but Vespera gave him a look and whispered, "We need to follow their rules. If we don''t cooperate, we don''t get in. And if we don''t get in, how are we supposed to protect Mr. Reid?"


    Upon hearing that, Calvert did as he was told. Vespera slipped her blindfold on, deliberately leaving the strap loose enough to allow a narrow gap beneath her eyshes. Her head was small, so it looked snug from the outside, and no one noticed.


    She sat by the window, pretending to nap, while stealing nces through the small slit. The helicopter wasn''t flying too high, and she could still make out some of the scenery below.


    Time passed in silence. Eventually, the ocean came into view. As it was raining, the water below was dark and restless. Waves crashed in the distance, and the horizon looked apocalyptic.


    The helicopter descended on an ind. As it descended, Vespera spotted a house in the mountains. Its warm lights were glowing against the stormy backdrop.


    "We''re here."


    Their blindfolds were removed. Calvert and Evelyn looked like they had just woken from naps. Vespera and Gerard could only wonder how they were this chill.


    After getting out of the helicopter, all four instinctively looked up at the illuminated castle perched at the peak of the ind. They all thought, "Wouldn''t it be easier to justnd up there?"


    Behind them, the helicopter lifted off again, roaring into the sky. The two men remained by the roadside. Soon, a carriage arrived.


    Vespera thought, "They''re reallymitting to this aesthetic, huh?"


    But it didn''t take long to realize this wasn''t just for show. The carriage wasn''t


    headed up to the castle. It was taking them somewhere else on the ind.


    As it climbed a winding path, they passed clusters of houses nestled among trees. Eventually, it stopped in front of a building.


    The four of them stepped inside. Before leaving, the man, who sat in the passenger seat previously, said, "The g begins at 7:00 pm. Please be dressed and ready by 6:30 pm."


    The moment the door clicked shut, Gerard copsed onto the couch. Heined, "Ouch, my back! What kind of journey was that? First a car, then a helicopter, now a carriage?"


    "Quit whining and look at the time," said Vespera, pointing at the clock on the wall. It was already 6:00 pm.


    Everyone sprang into motion. They only had 30 minutes to get ready.


    Elsewhere on the ind, Dominic stood silently by a floor-to-ceiling window, gazing out at the sea. Just for more hours until Vespera was home. That thought alone calmed the storm in his chest. Unbeknownst to him, she was nearby, racing against the clock to get dressed.


    "Dom, that color looks amazing on you," said Vance, stepping out after changing his clothes.


    When Vance caught sight of Dominic in a dark purple velvet suit, his eyes lit up. He couldn''t avert his gaze at all.


    Dominic turned slightly. Dryly, he said, "It makes me look like a walking eggnt. What''s so great about it?"