Gwh definitely didn''t want that man driving her home.


    Just looking at him, you could tell he wasn''t the friendly type. Best to avoid unnecessary trouble.


    "Mom, I really did run into some trouble today. But Gwyn saved me if it hadn''t been for her, even if Uncle hade to pick me up, it might''ve been toote."


    Leonie Everhart had already caught on to what Hawthorne was thinking. She was afraid he''d take Gwh away somewhere to interrogate her.


    Honestly, her uncle was a good man, just a little too overprotective of the Everhart family. It wasn''t just her-her brother, who was already in his twenties and running his own business, still had to put up with Uncle''s constant surveince.


    Every time she and her brother came home, seeing their uncle was like a pair of mice spotting a cat.


    "Oh my goodness, what happened? Did you run into someone dangerous?"


    Mrs. Everhart was pale with worry, and Mr. Everhart looked just as rmed.


    Even though their daughter was back safe and sound, standing right in front of them, they couldn''t hide their anxiety.


    "It''s alright, really. See? I''m perfectly fine. Last night, Gwyn and I went hiking, and it got dark before we could make it back. I couldn''t see where I was going, and if Gwyn hadn''t grabbed me just in time, I would''ve fallen and hurt myself."


    She lied through her teeth, sneaking a nce at her uncle''s warning gaze, then quickly looking away in guilt.


    Her uncle clearly wanted to take Gwh aside and question her. People he took away like that rarely showed up again.


    The reason Leonie was so determined to keep Gwh safe was simple-she looked uncannily like her idol, Vivian. Leonie would risk anything to keep Gwh out of her uncle''s clutches.


    Before he could speak up and expose her lie, Leonie''s eyes filled with tears as she looked at her parents pleadingly.


    "Dad, Mom, Gwyn just got to Greenvale, and she even saved me. She''s all alone here, and it''s not safe for a girl by herself. Why don''t we let her stay with us for a while?"


    Leonie shot Gwh desperate looks, ncing from her uncle to Gwh, eyes darting so fast she nearly gave herself a twitch.


    Gwh, quick on the uptake, understood immediately-if she didn''t ept this lifeline Leonie was tossing her, that man would absolutely drag her off for questioning.


    The memory of the bloodied man being carried away from the mountain shed through her mind. That guy was scary. Would he haul her off to some deserted ce and rough her up too?


    "No. How well do you even know her?"


    Hawthorne''s cold voice cut in, making Leonie''s eyes pool with tears as she turned to her mom for help.


    "Well, the important thing is Leonie''s back safe," Mrs. Everhart said gently. "And Miss Gwh seems like a very kind young woman-I''m sure she''s not a bad person."


    Hawthorne''s face remained stone cold, but Mr. Everhart cleared his throat and tried to smooth things over. "Hawthorne, Leonie''s still young. She''ll learn."


    Hawthorne fixed his brother with a sharp look, his lips barely moving. "She''s your daughter. It''s up to you and your wife."


    Then he announced he had to return to the office, refusing to even nce at Gwh again. As he turned to go, Leonie finally let out a sigh of relief and hurried to grab Gwh''s arm.


    "Let''s head up to my room."


    Mrs. Everhart beamed. "Go on, girls. I''ll have the housekeeper bring you some fruit and pastries in a bit."


    Leonie pulled Gwh upstairs. Gwh couldn''t help but notice the room was tastefully decorated, with ssic furnishings and several original paintings adorning the walls-each one worth at least a million dors.


    The Langford family was wealthy beyond belief, so naturally, Gwh''s own home wasn''t shabby. Butpared to the Everharts, it was no longer just about money.


    This ce radiated generations of culture and refinement, a beauty shaped by both deep family roots and the unique charm of the southern countryside.


    "I really shouldn''t intrude," Gwh said as soon as they reached Leonie''s room. "I''ve booked a hotel for the month. I was nning to head back soon."


    "No way you saw my uncle just now, right? Didn''t he scare you? He''s extremely thorough. Greenvale is a safe town and all, but every single person who gets close to me, he digs into their entire family history."


    Leonie was dead serious. “And since something happened to me, he''s definitely not going to let you off that easily. You really shouldn''t go back to your hotel-he has a lot of power in Greenvale. You won''t be able to avoid him."


    Gwh couldn''t help but find it a bit funny. "I did help you, but what''s he going to do-lock me up?"


    That man was definitely a bit


    intense, but there was something about the way he wore a suit that made him seem both refined and dangerouslypelling. Gwh couldn''t quite put her finger on it-he was the perfect blend of schrly elegance and ruthless authority. Even as she felt threatened by him, she couldn''t help but be a little intrigued.


    "You never know," Leonie replied, lowering her voice conspiratorially. "I''ve heard stories—my uncle has a reputation for tossing people who cross him into the Greenvale canal."


    Gwh blinked in surprise. Leonie really was a child at heart-how could she say something like that, especially about her own uncle? Not to mention, murder was a crime.


    "For your own safety, I have to protect you until my uncle decides you''re not a threat to me anymore. By the way, what does your family do in Starfall City? I''m worried my uncle might send someone to investigate."


    Gwh frowned. And what if he did?


    "My uncle really is something else. Don''t let that gentlemanly act fool you. He''s only in his thirties, but my mom says that even as a teenager, he was out making business deals with my grandpa and dad.”


    "There''s a McNeil Langford in


    Starfall City right? He''s got the


    ve


    samest name as you, and he''s a big deal. Back then, our Everhart family almost lost everything because of him. If he hadn''t run into trouble, and if my uncle hadn''t stepped in and saved the day, we''d be nothing now."


    “My uncle is always cautious—Dad says if it weren''t for him, the Everhart family would''ve been ruined by now. That''s why everyone in the family respects him so much."


    It was the first time in over a decade that Gwh had heard her father''s name spoken by a stranger. She couldn''t help the way her heart began to race.