The photo wasbeled "Meredith", with a date from 13 years ago.


    At that time, L hadn''t yet met Kieran.


    "Uncle Kieran," she said, trying to keep her voice casual. "I couldn''t sleep, so I thought I''d find a book to read."


    Kieran had already cleaned himself up, and he was wearing a gray suit that made him appear even more refined and distinguished.


    With broad shoulders and a narrow waist, his figure was perfectly proportioned.


    He approached her, bending down to pick up the photo.


    L nced at it—it was a picture of a girl in a white dress.


    "If you want to look at it, you can take it to your room. Sitting on the floor like this might give you a chill."


    L nodded. "I''ll take it with me then."


    She walked toward the door with the book, and out of the corner of her eye, she saw Kieran carefully ce the photo on the desk.


    ...


    Back in her room, her phone rang.


    She realized she had forgotten to reply to Amelia''s message from yesterday.


    She seemed unaffected though, sending another message today.


    "Vivian was brought back to the country overnight. They said she was sent back to the Locke residence and punished by kneeling in the yard."


    L still wasn''t sure how to respond when Amelia asked her a question.


    "Did Uncle Kieran take action? He probably wants to force Pierre to show up. The only person he has any conscience left for is his sister. It''s a shame that this sister wasn''t raised well.


    One didn''t treat women as people, and another treated men like a gamble.


    L thought for a moment before replying, "I guess that''s what family is like— same mindset, same principles."


    Amelia quickly replied, "No matter what, take care of yourself. I won''t be around these next couple of days, so stay safe."


    L instinctively asked, "What are you busy with?"


    There was no response from Amelia, so L sent a message to Charlotte to check on Amelia.


    The reply came quickly. "She went out with her matchmaker."


    L was dumbfounded.


    She wanted to ask who it was, wondering if Charlotte simply didn''t want to say.


    After a moment of indecision, she decided not to press further.


    Charlotte expected her to keep asking, but she was caught off guard when L simply thanked her and said goodbye instead.


    She turned to Benjamin, confused. "She''s not even curious? A girl at that age


    should be a gossip expert like Amelia, right?"


    Benjamin smiled. "Though L is young, she''s much moreposed than Amelia."


    His eyes held a clear sense of affection and admiration.


    Charlotte recalled the shock she had felt when she first learned Amelia had been chasing another girl around the world.


    She almost thought the Joyce family wouldn''t have any heirs left.


    But now, seeing her husband''s


    approving expression, she had specifically asked about L and


    stood why Benjamin and


    Amelia liked L so much.


    Charlotte didn''t say much more after that. After all, it would always be a secret,


    whether it was about Amelia dating or getting married.


    Meanwhile, L feltpletely drained.


    This morning, she had almost seen the girl''s face.


    Shey in bed, her expression weary.


    Who exactly was that girl?


    With only three days to go before


    applying for the marriage license et


    could the return of someone


    el?


    important to Kieran jeopardize everything?


    L''s chest tightened after realizing what she was thinking.


    She felt like a stranger, trying to pry into someone else''s secrets, hiding in a dark, damp basement where such thoughts should never see the light of day.


    She and Kieran never should have been together, right?


    What exactly was she upset about?


    Someone suddenly knocked on the door, causing her to jump in surprise.