Zinnia’s heart dropped with a jolt. She looked at Caitlin, shocked.


    She hadpletely underestimated Caitlin. With how intelligent and perceptive Gaitlin was, how could she ‘not‘ suspect that Zinnia had signed a death contract in order to leave Shadow Moon Pavilion?


    Right now, Zinnia realized one thing: lying to Caitlin would only raise her suspicions. It was better to tell the truth.


    Her eyes dimmed. She lowered her head slightly and murmured, “Yes… I did sign one. The condition is my family’s lives.”


    That was exactly what Caitlin had expected. She understood Zinnia well enough–she’d mentioned her family before. And Zinnia had always been someone who valued loyalty and kinship. Using her family as leverage was the most effective way <i>to </i>control her.


    “I see. So Zorro threatened your family’s safety to force your hand. But what exactly does he want you to do?”


    “He… he didn’t say. He just gave me a gun.”


    Zinnia couldn’t bring herself to admit the real task. She feared Caitlin would kick her out on the spot. And if she failed the mission, her


    family’s lives would truly be at risk.


    So she could only whisper a silent apology in her heart: *I’m sorry, Caitlin.*


    “I understand,” Caitlin said softly. “If he’s cast you aside, then stay with me. From now on, you’ll follow me.”


    She took Zinnia’s hand. In truth, Caitlin already had a clear idea of the mission Zinnia had been sent to carry out–but she didn’t confront her


    directly. Not yet.


    If she wanted Zinnia topletely switch loyalties, she’d need to earn her devotion step by step.


    Caitlin didn’t press further. Zinnia let out a silent sigh of relief.


    “Is there anything I can help you with now?” Zinnia asked.


    “Yes. I’m trying to trace any information on the *Yun’s Aromatic Codex* from within the Yuncey Family. I need you to help me investigate and quietly support my n.”


    Zinnia’s eyes lit up. This was precisely the mission she had been given–to find the Codex. If she could locate it ahead of time, it would be


    ideal.


    “I’m in. I’ll help however I can.”


    Caitlin didn’t speak further. In her mind, she was already plotting the next move. Whether or not she could retrieve the real Codex would depend on how her n yed out.


    Meanwhile, online public opinion about the Yuncey Family continued to spiral out of control.


    Just as the PR team managed to scrub the earlier scandal–Owen offering hush money to the victim’s family–a new video dropped.


    This time, it showed masked thugs breaking into the He family’s home, tying up Bailey, and attempting to assault Julie. The footage was


    partially censored but devastatingly clear.


    When paired with the earlier hush money scandal, the sequence of events became undeniable.


    11:40 Sun, 10 Aug


    <b>64</b><b>% </b>


    First came the attempted bribery when that failed, violence followed. The message was clear: the Yuncey Family would stop at nothing.


    The inte exploded again.


    [So when money didn’t work, they resorted to force? Absolutely disgusting.]


    [Being rich doesn’t mean you get to trample on people’s dignity!]


    \[Dous “must go to prison! He can’t walk away from this!]


    [Support for the victims! They deserve justice!]


    The Yuncey Family’s public image crumbled. As for Dous? Any chance at salvaging his reputation was long gone.


    But when it came to **Carmen**, who had been arrested for **murder**, she still stubbornly refused to confess.


    Caitlin, after getting updates from Shaw, requested a private meeting with Carmen at the station.


    Inside the interrogation room, Carmen was restrained in a metal chair. When she saw Caitlin being escorted in, her eyes red with rage.


    “Caitlin! You actually have the nerve toe here?!”


    She struggled against her cuffs, but they held firm.


    Caitlin calmly stepped forward, eyes cool and unbothered. “I came to see how you’re doing, Carmen. Is it cozy in here?”


    “Oh, cut the crap. You just wanted to see how pathetic I look, didn’t you? You did this to me and my brother. Who’s next, huh?”


    Carmen spat the words like venom.


    “Calm down, Carmen. I only came to talk.”


    Caitlin pulled out a chair and sat across from her. “You’ve got it all wrong. I didn’t *do* anything to you. You ended up here entirely through your own efforts. You killed someone. The police arrested you. Pretty straightforward.”


    “I didn’t kill anyone! I didn’t! I didn’t kill Zahra! Why would I? It’s a setup! You bribed Philip!”


    Carmen shrieked, utterly hysterical. Even the police had given up trying to reason with her. But Caitlin had her own ways.


    “I barely know Philip,” she said coolly. “We’ve never met in private, let alone made deals. But you, Carmen… your connection with Philip isn’t


    so simple, is it?”


    Carmen froze for a split second–but she quickly regained herposure. “I don’t know what you’re talking about! Stop making stuff up! You came into this house with nothing but bad intentions! You’re a damn gue on our family!”


    No matter how Carmen cursed her, Caitlin remainedposed, her eyes like still water.


    When Carmen’s fury finally subsided, Caitlin leaned forward.


    “Are you done? Good. Then it’s my turn.”


    Carmen red at her, breathing hard.


    “A few years back, you were dating someone, weren’t you?” Caitlin began casually. “Then something happened, and he dumped you. After that, you threw yourself into work, swearing off love.


    11:40 Sun, 10 Aug 9


    379 04201


    38)


    “But you’re still a woman, Carmen. You had your moments of loneliness. That’s when you turned to Philip–the strong, obedient house servant who would do anything you asked,”


    “Shut up! Shut your mouth! Don’t you dare make up stories about me and him!”


    “The more you scream, the more guilty you sound.”


    Caitlin’s voice didn’t rise. “You were even pregnant with Philip’s child once. But of course, a child with his blood couldn’t be allowed to exist. You got rid of it.”


    “Shut up, shut up!”


    Carmen looked terrified now, as if Caitlin were reciting her diary aloud.


    She never expected Caitlin to *know–to know this much.*


    But Carmen quickly snapped back into her defensive mode. Her eyes narrowed.


    “So what? You’re trying to use this against me, make me confess? It won’t work! I told you–I didn’t kill Zahra. I had no reason to! Why would !


    send Philip to kill her?”


    Caitlin’s eyes turned to ice.


    “Hmph. So you won’t admit it unless Iy out the proof, is that it?”


    AD