Bianca leaned in and asked, “Why would Dennis suddenly leak those videos? Did you have a fight with him recently?”

Lillian gave a wateryugh, tears streaming down her face. “Not really. After I broke up with him, I just cut him offpletely. He tried to reach out a few times, but I ignored him. I didn’t want to get dragged into a mess with him again.” She wiped her cheeks, her voice cracking. “And those videos–1 deleted everything, I have no idea how he managed to recover them.”

“Are you sure you didn’t piss someone off?” Yvonne frowned, puzzled.

Lillian shook her head. “Who could I have possibly offended? Ever since I joined Aurelion Group, I’ve thrown myself into work. My social circle is tiny and straightforward.”

What was done was done. There was no point now in figuring out how it had happened.

Bianca had already made up her mind beforeing. “We’ll send her abroad,” she said quietly.

“No! I don’t want to leave,” Lillian protested, panic ring in her voice. “I’d bepletely alone over there. I don’t know anyone, I don’t want to go!”

“It’s not up to you,” Yvonne cut in, her tone final. “Until this all blows over, you can’te back.”

It was clear she’d lost all say in the matter. The decision was made, and there was no changing it

now.

Lillian copsed back onto the bed, eyes vacant with despair. “How long?” she whispered.

“At least three years,” Yvonne replied, her voice guarded.

And that was being optimistic. Those videos were too damaging–time would barely dull their impact.

When Lillian heard “at least three years,” whatever hope she’d been holding onto vanished. She looked utterly defeated.

Bianca tried tofort her. “Once things settle down here, I’ll figure out a way to bring you back. It won’t be long, I promise. Besides, you know Seth and I are getting engaged soon.”

That seemed to spark a tiny light in Lillian’s eyes. She grabbed Bianca’s hand, voice trembling.

“Promise me, cousin. You’ll get me back as soon as you can.”

す

Bianca squeezed her hand reassuringly. “I promise. It’ll be soon.”

April first. Noreen was on her way to a meeting at Ascendancy Group.

The weather wasn’t cooperating. Rain poured down and the temperature had plummeted.

She realized she’d left her umbre in the car, but Sophia had already driven off to park. With a sigh, Noreen decided to make a dash for the building.

Suddenly, a ck umbre appeared over her head, shielding her from the downpour.

She turned and saw Seth.

20:05

He’d materialized out of nowhere, offering the umbre with practiced ease, the canopy tilted protectively toward her.

His face was unreadable, his expression cool and distant. He looked like he’d done this a thousand

times before.

Had he gotten this good at it from walking Bianca to work?

Noreen couldn’t make sense of his behavior. After a moment’s pause, she asked, “Mr. Harcourt, is this your idea of an April Fool’s joke?”

Her calm voice was carried to Seth on the wind. “If it is, you’re actually pretty funny.”

After her dry assessment, she broke into a jog and hurried inside the building. fn371b Fresh chapters posted on fin?novel/fn371b

While waiting for Sophia, Noreen dabbed the raindrops from her hair with a tissue.

“Noreen, did you forget your umbre again?” Sophia called as she rushed in, spotting Noreen’s umbre left behind in the backseat.

Thankfully, the car hadn’t been far and the rain wasn’t too heavy.

Sophia smoothed back the wet strands of hair clinging to Noreen’s forehead.

Gazing out at the rain, Noreen asked, “Do you think dissociative identity disorder actually exists?” The question caught Sophia off guard. “What? Who’s got a split personality?”

“I was just wondering,” Noreen replied airily.

“I’ve never seen it myself,” Sophia said, shaking her head, “but I’ve heard experts say it’s a serious mental illness. If you ever run into someone like that, steer clear!”

Noreen nodded emphatically. “Exactly. Best to stay far, far away.”