"You don''t have to keep protecting me. I can walk beside you." Her voice was barely audible.


    Kieran slightly lowered his head, listening carefully to her words. He nodded but


    didn''t let go.


    "Uncle Kieran." Vivian walked over with a ss of wine. "I heard Aunt L is here, so I came to see her. I hope you don''t mind."


    After finishing her sentence, she turned to L, seemingly unable to resistplimenting her. "You''re so beautiful, Aunt L."


    L looked at her, and when her gaze met Vivian''s eyes, which were strikingly simr to Pierre''s, her pupils shifted slightly.


    "Uncle Kieran, you''ve been talking business the whole time, so it must be boring for Aunt L to listen. How about I take her to the Locke family''s courtyard? There''s no one out there, and there''s food. Is that okay?"


    Vivian''s expression was sincere, and there was no sign of anything unusual. But before L could decline, a familiar voice interrupted. "Ms. Locke, I thank you on L''s behalf for your kind offer, but you do not need to take her. She''ll be with me."


    L turned around and saw Amelia dressed in a ck gown. Her long hair, usually loose around her shoulders, was now elegantly pinned up, giving her a more regal look. She already had an elegant andmanding presence, but now, she resembled a noble princess.


    With her n disrupted, Vivian didn''t show any sign of difort. "You two cane together. Wouldn''t it be better if I showed you around the Locke residence?"


    However, Shannon, who was lingering on the outskirts of the crowd, had a cold look in her eyes.


    Kieran looked at L and gently asked, "If you don''t want to go, then stay by my side. If you''re tired, we can sit over there for a while."


    Amelia tugged at L''s sleeve. "Don''t worry. With Vince around, there''s no point in staying with Kieran to talk business. I''m more curious to see what Shannon wants to do."


    L nced around the crowd and, sure enough, saw Shannon''s icy gaze fixed on her. She then looked up to the second floor, where the ufortable gaze from earlier was now gone.


    She reassured herself mentally, telling herself not to be afraid. Once she took the first step, the fear would vanish.


    "I''ll go rest outside for a while. I''ll


    softly fo


    ???


    you soon," L replied


    Kieran. He nodded, said


    nothing more, and quickly sent a message to Cole outside.


    She followed Amelia out, Vivian trailing behind them. As they were heading to meet up with Vince, Amelia turned to Vivian. "Why are you following us around?"


    "Why? Uncle Kieran didn''t say I couldn''t. I''m with Aunt L. Why are you so upset?" Vivian raised her gazezily.


    Amelia frowned but didn''t respond. In her mind, she muttered, "Boot licker."


    However, when they reached the spot where Vince had been, he was nowhere to be found.


    "Where''s Vince?" Amelia asked, confused.


    L scanned the surroundings. "Maybe he had something else to take care of."


    They didn''t go anywhere else and found an empty spot to sit. Vivian sat across from them and pushed two sses of wine toward them.


    "Have a taste?"


    L looked into her eyes, still feeling uneasy. She pursed her lips and nced at the pale pink drink, feeling a sense of wariness.


    Amelia nced at it, then took a sip. "It''s nothing special."


    Vivian smiled lightly. "This is the regr kind. If you want something better, I''ll get


    you a bottle from the Locke family''s reserve."


    She stood up, seemingly about to


    go. Then, she turned back. "Ms. Joyce, how about youe with me? Those are Grandpa''s favorites, and if youe along, at least I''ll have an exnation."


    Amelia, who was thinking about Shannon inside, stood up. "L, stay here. Vince


    should be back soon, and I''ll be back quickly, too."


    L lightly pressed her lips together


    and scanned the area. There were


    still quite a few people around. Even


    if Pierre came over, she would have a chance to call for help.