"Do you think you''re in any position to talk about my mother? She gave birth to me, so she loves me more than anyone else. No matter what I do, she will


    understand.


    "And that man from the Locke family... how dare a bastard like him call himself my father?"


    L scratched at Pierre''s hand, leaving bloody marks behind.


    She knew she shouldn''t provoke him any further, yet she couldn''t stop herself fromughing coldly.


    "Why do you hate your father so much? Is it because he kept a mistress and ruined your family?


    "Your mother didn''t actuallymit suicide, did she? Was she driven to death by your father, your grandfather, or someone else from the family?"


    Her hoarse voice nearly pushed Pierre to the edge of madness. He clenched his fist tighter, and L''s face turned red from the pressure.


    Suddenly, the sharp sound of ss shattering echoed behind them.


    The broken ss cut into her face and hands. Pierre instinctively flinched as he absorbed most of the impact, while the driver quickly pulled him away.


    L stumbled out when the car door opened, doubling over with a violent coughing fit.


    Holding a brick in his hand, the driver stood in front of her protectively.


    "I''ve already called the police! Murder is a serious crime, you know. If you behave, maybe we can convince them to spare you!"


    He had just witnessed Pierre choking L.


    Hearing the distant sound of sirens, Pierre calmly wiped the blood from his hand.


    He chuckled. "L, do you believe me now? You can check it yourself. I''m waiting for you toe find me."


    With that, he turned and disappeared into the night.


    L leaned against a tree, barely avoiding copsing from exhaustion.


    By the time the police arrived, Pierre was long gone. She and the others were briefly questioned before being allowed to leave.


    L returned to Evergreen Heights, where Kieran was still sitting in the living room, waiting for her to return.


    When he saw the dark bruises on her neck, his expression darkened immediately. "What happened?"


    His voice was colder than usual, carrying the chill of the winter air that seemed to creep in with the snow.


    L''s voice was hoarse, strained from the ordeal.


    "I ran into Pierre."


    The simple statement brought a sharper chill to Kieran''s eyes.


    Was the Locke family backing Pierre, or was he nning something more extreme?


    Either way clear-


    had to be found


    quid thing was . But that rat in the guttel


    y too good at hiding.


    Kieran


    es applied bruise-healing


    was


    to L''s neck. The sting her lose her train of thought moment.


    "I hope it fades before we get our marriage license."


    She froze the moment the words left her mouth.


    What was she saying?


    "I mean, it''d be strange to take wedding photos like this."


    The exnation came out almost automatically, making her feel even more embarrassed.


    Clearly, she shouldn''t speak when her mind wasn''t fully clear.


    But Kieran hummed softly, his gaze on her deep and hard to read.


    L didn''t dare to look up, and the silence made her feel oddly unsettled.


    Suddenly, she remembered the girl in the white dress from that day.


    She recalled seeing a girl in a white dress on Kieran''s phone long ago.


    It was just a quick nce at his photo album...


    There was a knock at the door before she could remember more about the blurry image.


    Kieran opened it, and the person


    the other side let out a high-pitched


    scream, chipmunk.


    most like a


    He then darted into the room and dropped to his knees in front of L.


    L''s eye twitched in surprise.


    Before Kieran could say anything, his phone buzzed with a message from Cole.


    His eyes instantly darkened.


    "Ms. Hart gave her contact to a young man at a bar today."