Alex turned and walked away, leaving me feeling a bit helpless. "Forget it. Sometimes, you just have to swallow your pride to get by."


    I hurried after him as he headed back toward the banquet hall. But he was walking so fast like he had wheels under his feet that I could barely keep up. I quickened my pace, determined to catch him before he went upstairs.


    Suddenly, a figure entered my sight.


    It was Mia.


    She was holding her phone and looking flustered as she rushed toward the garden.


    I frowned slightly as I weighed my options.


    Betweenforting Alex and tracking down the mole, thetter was obviously


    more important. So, I turned around and followed Mia.


    "Yes, Mr. Hastings brought Serena with him," she said into her phone.


    "Who''s Lucas? I didn''t see him. No, this won''t work. Mr. Hastings is probably already suspicious of me."


    Hiding behind a rockery, Mia had no idea I was eavesdropping nearby. I slipped off my heels in one hand and reached for my phone with the other, nning to record the conversation. If I had solid evidence, it''d be easier to discuss with Alex how to deal with herter.


    Just as I brought my phone closer, it suddenly started ringing.


    The noise made Mia gopletely silent. I scrambled to silence my phone and saw that the caller was Alex.


    I hung up immediately in a panic. But when I peeked out again, Mia was already gone.


    "Are you looking for me?"


    A voice suddenly came from behind me, startling me so much that I spun around.


    Mia''s eyes were filled with suspicion as she sized me up. "Ms. Ashford, what are you doing here?"


    "I..." I forced an awkwardugh. "I was looking for Mr. Hastings."


    "Mr. Hastings?" She crossed her arms. "Why would he be here? Or were you eavesdropping on my phone call?"


    I thought she would panic after


    being caught red-handed. But to my surprise, she lookedpletely unfazed, even acting self-righteous. I was impressed by her


    shamelessness.


    "Yeah," I admitted outright. "Who were you talking to?"


    She took a step forward,pletely unbothered. "Just a friend. Ms. Ashford, sneaking around like this is hardly the way our


    "I told you was just passing by, but you didn''t believe me," I said, ying dumb. "Now, you''re using me of eavesdropping. So, what do you want from me?"


    My vague response seemed to make her anxious. "What exactly did you hear?"


    "Nothing." I rolled my eyes. "Who were you talking to that you''re so scared of being found out?"


    Her face paled slightly. I suddenly leaned in closer. "You''re not secretly seeing someone else''s man, are you?"


    "What nonsense are you talking about?" she snapped, immediately bing furious.


    "Serena? Ms. Anderson? What are you two doing here?"


    Just then, Patricia appeared, looking genuinely surprised.


    Everyone seemed to be good at acting. I didn''t believe for a second that she just happened to be passing by.


    I didn''t respond to her while Mia simply crossed her arms, looking aloof. It was as if she had no intention of acknowledging Patricia at all.