Viole emerged from the restroom, her face a mix of unease and anger. She had changed into a white dress, but it did little to brighten her mood. Barlor noticed her tension immediately.
"What's wrong?" Barlor asked, his voice laced with concern.
Viole hesitated before speaking. "While I was changing, I saw Linda... with that man from before."
"Fern?" Barlor's tone sharpened.
Viole nodded, her expression grave. "They seemed... close. But maybe I'm just overthinking it. It's hard to imagine Linda knowing someone as dangerous as him."
Barlor's jaw tightened. He remembered Fern's interest in Linda from their previous encounters. The thought of Linda getting involved with someone like Fern—someone with a reputation that preceded him—made his chest constrict with an unexplainable frustration.
Moments later, Linda stepped out of the restroom, her expression casual, unaware of the tension building between Barlor and Viole. Barlor's eyes narrowed as he watched her, suspicion clouding his features.
"What were you doing in there?" Barlor asked, his voice low but firm.
Linda blinked, caught off guard by the sudden interrogation. "I was using the restroom," she replied, confusion evident in her tone.
Viole took a step closer to Linda, feigning concern as she reached for her hand. "Linda, I saw you with Fern. He's not someone you should trust. Please, be careful."
Linda instinctively pulled her hand back, unsettled by Viole's false display of sisterly care. Viole's hand hovered in the air, her expression turning wounded as she looked to Barlor for support.
"I didn't mean to cause trouble," Viole said softly, her voice quivering just enough to appear sincere. "I just don't want to see you get hurt by someone like him."
Linda's gaze hardened. "I'm fully aware of who Fern is. I don't need anyone's judgment," she said, her tone cold.
Viole bit her lip, her eyes glistening with what looked like genuine hurt. Barlor's expression darkened, and he spoke with a stern edge. "Viole's just trying to protect you, Linda. Getting involved with someone like Fern is a risk you shouldn't take."
Viole lightly tugged on Barlor's sleeve as if urging him to be kinder, but Barlor remained firm, his eyes locked on Linda.
Linda stared at them, her anger simmering beneath the surface. To any outsider, the scene would have looked like Barlor was protecting his true partner, Viole, while Linda stood on the sidelines, an outsider in her own life.
"Fern is trouble, Linda," Barlor continued. "You're an educated woman, someone who knows better. Associating with a man like him can only lead to danger."
Just then, the distinct sound of a cane striking the floor echoed through the hall, cutting through the tension. All eyes turned towards the source of the noise.
An elderly man with graying hair and a commanding presence stood in the center of the room. He was flanked by two imposing bodyguards, and his stern expression made it clear he was not someone to be trifled with.
Linda's breath caught in her throat as she recognized him. The old man who had been arranging the vases in the lobby earlier—now dressed in an impeccable suit and exuding authority—was none other than Kurt Lane.
The atmosphere in the room shifted as the man's identity became clear. One of the bodyguards stepped forward, announcing, "Ladies and gentlemen, this is Mr. Lane Senior."
The guests around them quickly raised their glasses in respect, but Viole's face paled. The man she had looked down on just moments ago was now revealed to be the powerful head of the Lane family.
Before anyone could fully process the revelation, Fern appeared at Kurt's side, offering his arm as support. The sight of Fern standing beside Kurt sent a jolt of dread through Linda. Something was terribly wrong.
Fern caught Linda's eye and smiled, a knowing look in his gaze.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Kurt's voice commanded the room, "I've gathered you here to make an important announcement. Fern is my grandson and the sole heir to the Lane family."
The words hung in the air like a thunderclap. Kurt's gaze then zeroed in on Viole, who visibly trembled under his scrutiny.
"And let me make one thing very clear," Kurt continued, his tone icy as he addressed Viole's earlier insult. "He is most certainly not an uncultured barbarian."
The room fell into stunned silence. Linda's heart pounded in her chest, her mind racing. The timeline was wrong—this revelation wasn't supposed to happen yet. How had everything spiraled out of control so quickly?
Linda realized something was amiss. In her previous life, Fern had only revealed his true identity three years after Kurt's death. Had her rebirth altered the timeline in some way?
Viole's face drained of color as Kurt spoke. Rumors had always claimed that Fern was an orphan. How could he be Kurt's grandson? And had Kurt overheard Viole's remarks? Offending Kurt could ruin her prospects in finance. Desperately, Viole turned to Barlor for help.
"Mr. Lane Senior, Viole spoke out of turn. Please forgive her; she's still young," Viole implored.
Kurt snorted dismissively. "I had heard that Mr. Wayne had a brilliant financial advisor, but it seems she's not as impressive as rumored."
Viole's face went even whiter. Clearly, she had lost favor with Kurt. Linda observed the exchange, noting that even if Barlor spoke up, Viole's fate seemed sealed. Kurt had already shown her leniency by not outright dismissing her.
Barlor remained silent, his lips pressed into a tight line. Kurt's gaze, however, softened as he looked at Linda. "You're from the Autumn family, correct?" he asked.
Linda nodded, snapping back to attention. "Yes, I'm Linda."
Kurt smiled, his tone nostalgic. "Maverick wasn't much to look at when he was young, but his granddaughter has turned out to be quite striking. Your grandfather and I were quite close over forty years ago. It's remarkable how time has flown."
Linda was taken aback. She remembered her grandfather as a carefree man who rarely engaged in family matters, and she had never heard of any connection between him and Kurt. Unsure of how to respond, she was caught off guard when Kurt asked, "Are you married?"
Linda replied, "Yes."
"To which young man?" Kurt's eyes narrowed as he glanced at Barlor. His expression soured immediately. "That rascal Peyton's grandson is despicable!"
Barlor, hearing this, offered a faint smile. "My grandfather spoke of you often, Mr. Lane Senior. It seems you were quite close."
Kurt scowled. "Close? I wouldn't say so."
As Kurt and Linda conversed, Viole stood awkwardly by, largely ignored. When Kurt eventually took his leave, Viole tugged at Barlor's sleeve. "Mr. Wayne, I'd like to go now."
Barlor checked his watch. "I'll drive you back."
Viole asked, "What about Linda?"
Barlor glanced over at Linda, who was engaged in lively conversation with Kurt. "She can find her own way."
Viole's eyes flickered with jealousy as she watched Linda enjoying Kurt's attention. It seemed unjust that Linda was receiving favor while she herself had been dismissed.
Linda watched as Barlor and Viole left the clubhouse. Larry approached her quietly. "Mr. Wayne will be taking Ms. Stale back to the dormitory."
"Thank you," Linda said, her demeanor calm despite the situation. Fern, noticing her tranquility, asked, "Is Mr. Wayne sending anyone else home?"
Linda shrugged. "It's clear."
She wasn't the only one who had seen Barlor disregard his wife to escort another woman home. The upper-class circles would surely buzz with rumors the next day. Fern, observing Linda's composed exterior, asked, "Aren't you upset?"
Linda shook her head. "Not at all. I've had enough of focusing solely on Barlor. I refuse to fall into the same trap again."
Fern studied her, noting the faint hint of loneliness in her eyes despite her nonchalance. "Ms. Autumn, may I offer you a ride home?"
Linda, relieved to leave the event, agreed. "Thank you, Mr. Lane."
Fern stood beside Linda as she followed him to the car, leaving Larry unsure of how to report back to Barlor. With Fern's influence, Vardy was driving, a surprising role reversal.
"Fern, did you really make me wait outside for hours while you were flirting inside?" Vardy grumbled.
Fern shrugged. "Let's drop Ms. Autumn off first."
Vardy started to protest but fell silent when Fern gave him a stern look through the rearview mirror. Linda asked, "Do you have plans later?"
"Nothing significant," Fern replied.
Linda offered to make her own way, but Fern insisted. "Celest may seem calm, but it's dangerous, especially for someone like you."
Linda raised an eyebrow. "Mr. Lane, Barlor is different from you. He's a legitimate businessman."
Fern's tone was flat. "Even someone like Mr. Wayne might not be completely clean in such a complicated environment."
Linda refrained from arguing. In her past life, despite being married to Barlor, she had been kept away from his business dealings. Though Barlor appeared respectable, no powerful figure in Celest City could be entirely untarnished.
Arriving at the Wayne residence, Vardy parked outside. The house was dark, signaling Barlor's absence. Linda thanked Fern and Vardy before heading inside.
As she entered, Linda immediately sensed something was off. Allie usually left the lights on for her, but tonight, they were out. Calling out, "Barlor? Are you back?" went unanswered. Just as Linda was about to leave, a strong hand clamped over her mouth.
"You wretched woman! You've cost me everything!" the man growled. Linda struggled, but his grip was too strong.
In her desperation, Linda managed to pull out a lighter and burn the man's wrist. He recoiled in pain, giving Linda a chance to flee.
"Barlor! Barlor!" Linda shouted as she ran, dialing Barlor's number.
"Hello?"
"Barlor! Come back quickly! Someone's in the house!" Before Linda could finish, her phone was knocked from her hand, and a van's headlights blinded her.
Barlor's frown deepened as he heard Linda's distress. "What's wrong?"
Viole, noticing his anxiety, asked, "What happened to Linda?"
Ignoring her, Barlor tried to recall the voice he had heard earlier. It sounded familiar, but he couldn't place it. He barked, "Turn around now!"
The driver hesitated. "But, Mr. Wayne, we're almost at the dormitory."
"Drive back!" Barlor ordered.
Viole, witnessing Barlor's unprecedented urgency, was shocked. "Linda is in trouble," Barlor confirmed.
At midnight, Vardy and Fern arrived at an abandoned factory, where Devon had yet to appear. Vardy swore under his breath, "Is that kid actually running late? He's asking for trouble."
Barlor lit a cigarette as a van approached, Devon scrambling out. "Mr. Lane! Mr. Foster, I-I was delayed."
"Where's the money?" Vardy demanded.
Devon stammered, "It's that woman's fault. I had to tie her up, which delayed me. I've already contacted her husband. If he doesn't deliver ten billion dollars, she's done for."
Fern's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Who did you kidnap?"
"Linda Autumn! She's Barlor's wife. It's all because she stole the land that could have been bought with seLindal billion dollars," Devon explained.
Barlor, fury in his eyes, kicked Devon hard, sending him stumbling. "Where is she?"