Garrett seemed to notice I was watching him. He started walking toward me, but the closer he got, the more his guilt showed. He abruptly changed direction and went to greet someone else.


    It only confirmed my suspicions. He wasn''t Max. As for Max, he must have gone somewhere with Babur this morning, and Garrett had used the opportunity to pull a ssic bait and switch, luring him away.


    Just then, Helen approached me and whispered in my ear, "The real Mr. Hilton is being held up by Garrett''s men at the outer perimeter. Garrett came prepared. Mr. Hilton didn''t take many people with him when he left, so I''ve already sent our own men to bring him in."


    As she spoke, Garrett walked toward us again. The gentle expression was gone, reced by a cold, condescending look. "Figured it out already? How boring."


    He wore Max''s face but had dropped the act entirely, looking like a petnt child. He held out a ring box to me. "I borrowed this for a bit. It doesn''t really fit. Here, take it back."


    Then he turned to Helen. "My brother''s on his way. Don''t tell him I was impersonating him just now."


    He shot me a quick nce before snatching Lucky from my arms. "Might as well make the allergy pill worth it. Time for some serious petting."


    Helen and I watched him walk away, momentarily speechless. We looked at each other and couldn''t help butugh.


    "How do you think Mr. Hilton will punish him?" Helen asked, a hint of amusement in her voice.


    "Max rarely punishes anyone," I said. The Max I knew was always emotionally stable, unless I was the one who provoked him. He''d only get angry and call me by my full name, ire Floyd, if I ran off without telling him. Otherwise, I''d never seen him lose his temper.


    "Mr. Hilton will make him copy texts."


    I was taken aback.


    "Isn''t that a little too simple?"


    "Not at all," Helen exined. "Garrett''s training and education have all been in the Serythiannguage or other foreignnguages, He despises learning thenguage of Crestview Metropolis. So, Mr. Hilton makes him copy ssical poems. Three hundred of them


    every time."


    I gave her a thumbs-up. "He really does treat Garrett like a child. Ha! Copying three


    hundred poems is something you make kids do!"


    tw


    As Helen and wereughing, Max appeared, striding through the crowd in a deep blue evening suit. The deep blue fabric with a hint of sheen made him look even more enigmate His shit tie, and suit were all perfectly coordinated with tasteful sapphires, creating an exquisite yet rxed,


    French-inspired style that perfectly highlighted his exceptional physique and temperament.


    He was holding a bouquet of white flowers, and the smile on his lips deepened the closer he came.


    As he approached, the royal family


    members exchanged bewildered


    looks, as if they were all thinking,


    *Wasn''t that Ss who was just here? That was Garrett?


    They all started searching for Garrett, only to realize just how much he and Ss now resembled each other.


    Max knelt on one knee before me and presented the flowers with both hands. "A bted proposal."


    I pressed my lips together, trying to hide my triumphant smile. Behind Max, Garrett


    had started ring daggers at me the moment his brother knelt.


    I leaned forward, took the bouquet, and whispered, "Garrett is staring at me."


    Max rose to his feet and stood beside me. He narrowed his eyes and nced in Garrett''s direction. Garrett immediately looked away.


    "Don''t worry. A few rounds of copying poems will straighten him out."