Aurelia's reaction right now didn't make Caspian happy at all. He knew her best—whenever her emotions spilled over like this, it only meant they'd been bottled up to the breaking point.

She missed herself.

"I'm sorry." Caspian pulled her in tighter. All these years, it wasn't just her longing for him. He'd always been thinking of her, too.

It was just, for all kinds of reasons, he couldn't contact her.

"We…" Caspian's voice abruptly cut off, his eyes locking onto the man who'd just stepped out—a tall figure in a neatly pressed suit, his aura fierce and wild, exuding intensity. His sharp gaze was wolfish and piercing, fixed on him.

Caspian understood exactly what that look meant. He narrowed his eyes; after meeting the man's gaze for just a second, he looked away.

He glanced down at her. "Shall we go back?"

"Back where?" Aurelia's eyes, just washed clean by tears, were exceptionally bright as she looked at him steadily, a faint frown between her brows.

"Let me take you back first." Caspian started, but then cut himself off.

Because the frown between Aurelia's brows deepened.

"Where are you staying?" she asked.

Caspian knew what she was worried about and smiled. "I'm staying right here in Q City. I won't disappear without a word again, don't worry…"

But Aurelia didn't let him finish. Her eyes scanned along the curb, locked onto a car, and walked straight toward it.

Caspian shook his head helplessly.

Daisy whispered behind to Albert, "How did she know which car was Caspian's?"

Albert shrugged. "I wish I knew too."

In front of the school gates, Mason watched the car drive away, his eyes growing colder by the second.

It was that man.

The man in the photo.

In the car.

Caspian gripped the steering wheel, glancing at the car following them in the rearview mirror. His eyes narrowed, a hint of amusement flashing beneath the surface. Unconsciously, he pressed the gas a little harder.

Aurelia dialed Amanda Fuller, telling her something had come up and she was leaving first. Then she grabbed some tissues and wiped the tear-stained makeup from her face in the mirror.

She watched as the car passed through bustling streets and pulled up in front of a hotel.

"You're staying here, bro?" Aurelia got out and asked, her tone curious.

"Just got back. Haven't had time to look for a place yet, so I'm staying here for now." Caspian led her inside.

"I have a place here, nobody's living in it. You can stay there for now," Aurelia said offhandedly, following Caspian to the front desk to get an extra room.

Aurelia stared at the keycard in her hand and rode the elevator up with Caspian.

Caspian eyed her furrowed brow and sighed in resignation. "It's right next to my room, relax. I'm not about to bail on you in the middle of the night."

Aurelia arched an eyebrow, shooting him a dramatic look out of the corner of her eye. "If you run off again, you'll lose me as a sister."

Caspian ruffled her hair, his smile gentle and indulgent.

Aurelia turned her head to dodge, narrowing her eyes and glaring at that irritatingly mild face. "Could you not pretend to be so refined in front of me?"

Caspian: "…"

After all these years, his little sister still gave him no slack at all.

The door opened, and Aurelia followed Caspian into his room. As soon as they entered, she sat on the sofa with gravity, eyes locked on Caspian.

Caspian knew what this meant.

He set his keys down and took a seat on the sofa across from her. "Go ahead, ask whatever you want."

"Where have you been all these years?"

"M Nation."

Aurelia was taken aback. "Did you know I was in M Nation too?"

Caspian shook his head honestly. "I only found out about you recently from Albert."