Please make yourselffortable.


    Ill leave you to enjoy the evening.


    With that, he turned and walked away.


    Be, ncing nervously at the bustling hall, couldnt conceal her unease.


    Ste, do you think Matthew and the others even got the invitation? Or..


    what if Matthew still hasnt woken up? Stes brows furrowed as she considered Bes concerns.


    After a moment of thought, she replied calmly, I dont think theyd lie about something like this.


    If they invited us to the party, it must be part of a bigger n.


    Lets wait and see. Reassured by her own reasoning, Ste led Be to a rtively quiet corner of the hall, where they both sat down to wait.


    But as time passed, their unease only deepened.


    Not only was there still no sign of Matthew, but even the secretary and Howard had vanished without a trace.


    Ste felt a growing unease creeping over her.


    After a moment of contemtion, she decided it might be wiser to take the initiativeperhaps walking around would help her gather some useful information.


    She stood and gestured for Be to follow as they began meandering through the banquet hall.


    However, most of the conversations they overheard revolved around the food, the wine, and other superficial small talk.


    There was nothing even remotely connected to the Archer familys affairs.


    Stes already dwindling enthusiasm plummeted further.


    With a resigned sigh, she turned to Be and said, Mom, it doesnt seem like were going to learn anything useful here. Lets just head back.


    But just as they were about to Leave, a suddenmotion erupted in the hall.


    The mingling crowd froze in surprise before scattering in all directions, startled by the unexpected disturbance.


    Stes heart skipped a beat.


    Her first instinct was to protect the baby she was carrying, panic rising at the thought of someone colliding with her in the chaos.


    Amid the chaos, she lost sight of Be, and the two were separated.


    Desperately scanning the crowd for her mother, Ste felt a sudden, firm grip on her wrist.


    Before she could react, she was pulled into a dimly lit corridor.


    Once she steadied herself, she turned sharply to see who had dragged her away. The figure before her was masked, their facepletely concealed.


    Her voice carried a wary edge as she asked, Are you one of Howards people? Why are you sneaking around like this? What do you want, me or Matthew? Her questions hung in the air, unanswered, as though she were speaking to a void, Unable: to shake her unease, Ste studied the mysterious figure intently.


    Aftera long, tense moment, something about them struck her as oddly familiar.


    Without thinking, she blurted out, You remind me of someone I know.


    Sanford froze slightly at her words, his body stiffening for just a moment.


    As it turned out, Den had received urgent news about a problem with a business deal in Lyllmann shortly before the party began.


    With no choice but to leave early, he instructed Sanford to stay behind and handle the situation.


    Sanford didnt fully understand the ns Den and Howard were concocting, but he was certain of one thing-whatever they were plotting, it wasnt good for Ste.


    When he saw Ste arrive at the party, an uncontroble urge to warn her took hold of him.