Vespera snorted and said, "His mother has never liked me. She''s looking for a woman from a wealthy family. She wants someone who canpare to the Reid family. Even if I''m right and she finds out I''m the one who saved her, do you honestly think she would be happy about it?

"Don''t be so naive. It would onlyplicate things more. She might even think I nned the whole thing. She would think that I knew she would be there that night and waited at the entrance on purpose, staging the whole encounter."

"Vera, can you try being a little optimistic?" Reba thought that Vespera was too pessimistic. She added, "Let''s just say you''re right. What if this changes how she sees you? What if she stops objecting to you and Dominic being together?"

"People don''t change their minds that easily. If it were that simple, Felicia would have epted me years ago," said Vespera with an indifferent expression. Reba couldn''t say anything because Vespera was right. Back when Vespera was married to Luke, she had bent over backward to be the perfect daughter-in-w. She had carried the burden of both family and career withoutint. Vespera was always doing more than her share. And yet, Felicia had never once truly epted Vespera. To Felicia, Vespera was always just a woman from an ordinary background who was never quite good enough.

And the Reid family''s social standing was even higher. It was no surprise that Vespera had such a bleak outlook.

Vespera smiled and said, "Anyway, it''s just a theory. I''m probably overthinking things."

"And what if you aren''t?" Reba asked. "What if she really is looking for you?"fnc48e Official source is fin?novel/fnc48e

"I''ll deal with it when it happens," answered Vespera with a shrug. "But I''m not going to look for her myself."

If Vespera was right and she reached out first, it would look like she was scheming and trying to win favor. Once that suspicion took root, no exnation would be enough to clear it.

Reba nodded, agreeing with Vespera''s way of handling it. With a smile, she said, "Let''s not dwell on it, then. Whether it''s true or not, we''ll just pretend we don''t know anything."

Then, Reba started the car. As they drove off, Fawn and the others happened toe down. When the car turned, Vespera saw them from the rearview mirror. This time, she could see them more clearly, and the woman was indeed the same one from that night.

Now that Vespera was paying closer attention, she noticed the other two people beside the woman more clearly. The tall young woman had simr eyes to Dominic''s.

Behind Vespera and Reba, Natasha noticed Fawn''s sour mood and immediately tried to lighten things up.

Natasha said

Don''t be bad. If it truly bothers you, Harry and I will help you find her. go back to the store and have them check the surveince footage. If you see her face and

think she''s

the one we''ll track her

down right away."

to s

Fawn stayed quiet as she was still angry. As she was pampered by Samuel, whenever she had a request, the other person had to agree immediately.

Natasha shot Harry a desperate look, trying to tell him to do something. He looked like he would rather be anywhere else, but he still cooperated and said, "Yeah. We''ll find her."

It was only then that Fawn''s expression softened. She said, "If you don''t find me annoying, it''s good to search for her."

Natasha hugged Fawn''s arm and chirped, "Of course, we don''t find you annoying. How could we? We love you the most."

"You''re the best," said Fawn, patting Natasha''s cheek. Then, Fawn turned to Harry, who was still expressionless. She sighed and didn''t wish for him to sweet- talk.

...

Reba dropped Vespera off at her apartment first. She also swung by to pick up bags Vespera had brought back from Londarion.

As Reba was about to leave, something popped into her mind. She asked, "Is there any news about Tina? She has been on the run for days. Why does it seem like she had vanished off the face of the earth?

"A few days ago, I went to Ashford to check in with the police, since I''m still listed as the victim''s legal representative, but they didn''t give me much information. They just said she was still atrge.

"It has been so many days. Knowing her, if she were still in Halewick, she wouldn''t be able to lie low this long. She would have already tried to get back at you or confronted Luke and his mother. Dominic was right. Selena is definitely hiding her, but why? What is Selena nning?"  s

Vespera''s expression darkened. Connecting Reba''s words with Dominic''s recent shift in attitude toward the Sowle family, a few threads started toe together.

"A fugitive already doesn''t y by the rules, but when the fugitive has power and protection, they can do far more than we expect. Tina isn''t just anyone. She''s the daughter of the Sowle family. It seems that dise Ting until

Selena is going to use Tina until

there''s nothing left to squeeze said

Vespera.

s

Reba asked, "Are you saying that Selena wants to use Tina to control the

Sowle family?"