"I know."


    Coralie Quill lowered her gaze. A tear slipped from hershes,nding softly on the photograph. Her voice was barely a whisper. "Don''t worry, Mrs. Evans. I won''t do anything foolish. I''ll live a good life."


    Her family of nine had been reduced to just her. And she had made a promise to Ari... no matter what happened, she had to keep smiling and keep moving forward.


    See? She really had been happy these past few years.


    "The Director is being well taken care of," Mrs. Evans said gently. "The doctor treating him is excellent, so he''s stable for now. Try not to worry."


    "Mhm." Coralie tucked the photograph into her designer bag, the heavy, morous makeup on her face unable to mask the absence of her usual smile. "Do we know who was investigating me?"


    "The person''s identity is highly ssified." Mrs. Evans shook her head. "I have no idea."


    After leaving the Evans'' home, Coralie took the photograph out again. She studied it intently before making a phone call. "Look into where I can get an old, damaged photograph restored."


    She wanted to see what her parents and siblings looked like.


    A reply came quickly. There was an expert in Caelus who could do it, but the process would take about five days.


    "Alright," Coralie replied softly. "I''m wrapping up some work in Borealia. The second the restoration is finished, send it to me."


    ***


    Era City.


    An elite g was in full swing. Juniper Payne had been in a foul moodtely, so Shanley Schwartz hadpletely cleared his schedule to take her out and take her mind off things.


    "Shanley Schwartz and


    niper Payne areing?" Coralie swirled the


    ampagne


    in her ss, her voice husky. "Don''t touch that slice of cake. Save it for Mrs. Schwartz."


    "Ms. Quill, we had that cake specially flown in," her assistant said carefully. "Don''t you need to eat a piece every night just to fall asleep?"


    It was a strange quirk. Other people relied on alcohol or sleeping pills tobat insomnia. Coralie relied on this specific cake. She didn''t even eat much of it—just two or three bites. Rumor had it that herte boyfriend used to buy it for her, and it had be a ritualistic obsession.


    "Just do as I say," Coralie murmured, her eyes downcast.


    She had barely submitted a proposal before the Schwartz Group reached out to partner with her. She knew exactly why they were suddenly so amodating. Besides for some inexplicable reason, she felt a profound, maic draw toward that young girl. Just being in Juniper''s presence brought her a sense of absolute peace.


    Just then, amotion rippled near the entrance. Whispers cascaded through the crowd.


    "Mr. Schwartz is here."


    In an instant, every eye in the room darted toward the grand doors. A sleek ck sports car pulled up, and a tall, impably proportioned figure stepped out. Shanley wore a custom, dark navy suit that hugged his broad shoulders perfectly. He had foregone a tie, leaving the top few buttons of his crisp shirt undone. He exuded an aura of untouchable power, tempered by a careless elegance.


    "I heard his fiancée, Ms. Payne, is with him," someone murmured as the guests


    craned their necks to get a better look.


    Ever since the two had gone public


    with their rtionship, they hadn''t attended a formal event together.


    da


    The elite of Era City were dying to see what kind of woman had


    managed to conquer the heart of the city''s most ruthless billionaire.


    But as the woman beside him stepped into the light, the guests'' eyes widened in sheer disbelief.


    For an event this prestigious, Ms. Payne was wearing... a hoodie?


    Standing amidst a sea of perfectly tailored gowns, sparkling jewels, and wless blowouts, she stuck out like a sore thumb. If they hadn''t known this was an exclusive g, they would have assumed she was heading to a midnight drive-thru.


    And yet no one could deny her. Her raw, effortless beautypletely overshadowed the room. Her face was simply wless.


    "Hi, Ms. Payne!" Coralie almost choked on her champagne when she saw Juniper''s outfit. She strode over with a warm, radiant smile. "We really must be destined for each other. Look at us, running into each other again."


    Destined?


    Staring at Coralie, Shanley instantly recalled the woman''s exact words from theirst encounter.


    ''I''m very interested in Juniper.''


    Why was she here again? Was this woman haunting them?