"What’s wrong, Riley? You look like you’re afraid of ."
Yael smiled as he stepped closer.
On the surface, his smile was warm and harmless. But sothing in recoiled. My instincts never lied. Around the Carlyn brothers, my body always felt like prey standing too close to a trap.
To everyone else, he probably looked charming.
To , he looked like danger wrapped in silk.
I forced my lips to curve. "I’m just surprised. I didn’t expect to see you in Jaford."
He picked up a small plate and handed a slice of cake. "I ca with my brother for business. He thinks I’m old enough to start learning how the real world works." His eyes studied carefully. "Do you like cake?"
My fingers didn’t move.
There was no way I would eat sothing handed to so easily. Not from him. My mind ran wild with dark images. I imagined waking up sowhere unfamiliar, helpless.
"No, thank you," I said lightly. "I was hungry earlier, but I already ate. Cake is too sweet. I’m trying not to gain weight."
He pulled the plate back without offense. "I see. Then I’ll enjoy it myself."
He took a bite, calm and composed.
"How long will you stay in Jaford?" I asked, keeping my tone casual.
"That depends on my brother’s schedule," he replied. "I follow him."
Since Taylor was here, that ant Whitney could be close too.
"What about Whitney?" I asked carefully. "Is she here as well?"
Yael didn’t answer directly. Instead, he tilted his head slightly. "Why are you so concerned about her?"
I chose my words with care. "Last ti I saw her, she didn’t look well. She seed... fragile. I know what it’s like to feel trapped in your own mind. There was a ti I didn’t want to live anymore. So I worry about her."
His expression softened, but sothing about it felt too smooth. "You’re very kind," he said. "But don’t worry. Taylor cares about her. She’s fine."
If she were truly fine, she wouldn’t have looked so broken the last ti I saw her.
But I couldn’t push further.
"I should get back to my mate," I said. "Excuse ."
"Of course." He stepped aside gracefully.
Even as I walked away, I couldn’t find a single visible flaw in him. That was what made him terrifying.
After a few steps, I glanced back.
He was at the dessert table again, selecting another slice of cake this one topped with bright red jam. Against his pale skin, the red stain at the corner of his lips looked almost like blood. He slowly licked it away.
Then he looked up.
He was smiling at .
A chill slid down my spine, and I quickly turned away.
In the distance, I saw Theo standing outside a private room. The mont I saw soone from our side, my shoulders relaxed slightly.
"Theo, where’s Lewis?" I asked.
"He’s inside," he replied, reaching for the door.
I lifted my hand quickly. "He’s in a eting. I shouldn’t interrupt."
Theo gave a firm look. "You’re not an outsider."
With that, he opened the door.
Inside, Lewis sat across from a man dressed completely in black. Black suit. Black shirt. Black tie. Even the air around him felt heavy.
The mont I stepped in, his gaze shifted toward .
Cold.
Sharp.
Predatory.
For a second, my body froze. I didn’t know whether to step forward or backward. My instincts flared, warning that this man was powerful. Dangerous.
"Elena," Lewis’s voice cut through my fear. "Co here. This is Mr. Chapman."
I forced my legs to move and walked to his side. "Hello, Mr. Chapman."
He stood and extended his hand. "Marc Chapman."
His voice was low and steady. The kind of voice that carried authority without effort. He felt like soone who had walked through fire and survived.
"I’m Riley," I said softly. "Sorry for interrupting."
"It’s fine," Lewis said gently. "Mr. Chapman is not a stranger. We were discussing Bloodshade."
My chest tightened. "How did it go?"
Marc answered directly. "I led a strike against one of their main bases in Voshye. We cleared it out. But the Dark Rose wasn’t there."
Disappointnt must have shown on my face.
"They have branches all over the world," Lewis added. "They’re careful."
"Don’t worry," Marc said calmly. "If I get news, you’ll hear it."
He handed a sleek black and gold card. "If you need anything, contact ."
There was sothing about him that demanded respect. I nodded quickly. "Thank you, Mr. Chapman."
He left without another word.
Only after the door closed did I realize how stiff I had been sitting. My neck felt numb.
"Lewis," I whispered, "who is he? His presence is overwhelming."
Lewis’s expression turned thoughtful. "In Voshye, he controls almost everything. Bloodshade’s core operations were there. He thought he could crush them in one blow."
"But he has personal reasons, doesn’t he?"
Lewis’s eyes darkened slightly. "Bloodshade took his mate from him."
My breath caught.
"Do you think he hates them?" Lewis asked quietly.
"Yes," I replied without hesitation.
We fell silent for a mont.
Then I told him about Yael and the possibility that Whitney was nearby. "If she’s still in this country, this might be our best chance to help her."
"I’ll look into it," Lewis said.
Soon, we learned that Taylor had brought Whitney into the country under a different identity Alice. She had taken the place of the Whites’ illegitimate daughter.
Tonight was Mr. White’s birthday celebration.
"If she’s using that identity," I said quickly, "she might be here."
"Push outside," Lewis said.
My heart began to race. Every ti Whitney and I had crossed paths before, we didn’t know the truth. We missed each other again and again.
This ti, I wouldn’t.
We moved toward the garden area.
And then I saw her.
Whitney.
Before I could call out, Nina shoved her roughly to the ground. "You little rat," Nina sneered. "How dare you show up here? This place isn’t for you!"
She raised her hand to strike her.
"Stop!"
I rushed forward and grabbed Nina’s wrist before it could land.
"What are you doing?" I demanded.
Nina looked up and down with disgust. "You again? What’s your problem? Are you close to this little bastard?"
The insult made my blood boil. My instincts surged, hot and fierce. For a split second, I wanted to bare my fangs and let her feel exactly who she was speaking to.
Then I rembered.
The Whites believed Whitney was Alice.
They probably had no idea the real Alice was gone.
I turned to Whitney and reached out to help her up. Her dress was stained. She looked thinner than before. Fragile. Like she had been surviving, not living.
"Are you okay?" I asked softly.
She lifted her head slowly.
Our eyes t.
"It’s you," she whispered.
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