I really didn''t want Hawk Corporation''s shares, but tempting Frances was just as true.


    Facing such temptation, Frances didn''t even pretend to think it over. She immediately agreed. I knew she wouldn''t resist


    1 had already spoken with Dous about slowly transferring the shares to her. We would always keep it just "a little short".


    When it was so close, people tended to lose their patience. It would be easier to manipte them.


    I smiled as I watched her leave. I didn''t tell Frances to go find Nichs at Hawk Corporation. She should know better than I did where he was.


    Back in my bedroom, I called my friend Deena, who was abroad. She sounded tired but excited. After some small talk, I got straight to the point.


    "Do you still know anyone reliable in the country? I want to test some herbal tonic."


    Deena immediately grew serious, her voice taking on the professional calmness of a doctor. "If I were back home, I would test it for you myself. Tell me, what happened?"


    Honestly, I wasn''t sure what was happening, but something about Frances''s expression earlier felt off. Her sincerity seemed real. But she talked too much, and there were too many little movements.


    In the past, if Frances had handed me a bowl of poison with a smile, I would''ve trusted her and drunk it without a second thought. But now, even if it were a bowl of dessert, I wouldn''t touch it.


    "Recently, I''ve been feeling unwell, and someone sent me some herbal tonics. I just want to check if they''re really beneficial..."


    That night, I woke up from a nightmare. I dreamed of Nichs jumping off a tall building. Even after waking, I could still vividly recall the blood sttering in front of me.


    It took me a long time to calm down. Alone in the dark, I blinked and reached out to touch the cold sheets beside me.


    Nichs had been discharged, but he still hadn''te home. I realized there was no point in staying at his house anymore. I could go back to the house Dad left me. After getting dressed and packing a few things, I stopped outside udia''s room.


    I remembered how, not too long ago, I had felt like there were secrets between her and Nichs in that room. I had once lingered outside her door, only to be caught by Frances


    But now, I could go wherever I wanted in this manor. Nichs wasn''t home, and Frances was eager to please me. The maids walked around, pretending not to exist. Yet, despite all this freedom, I had no desire to explore anything anymore.


    I used to think that after Daniel left, my days here would be unbearable. But what I didn''t expect was Nichs ignoring mepletely, granting me such overwhelming freedom. I felt strange. I had even asked Pete for an update, and he told me nothing had changed at Hawk


    Perhaps I was testing his limits Or maybe I had to adest that, after that dream, theck of news was making me uneasy. So I called NichsContent property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    The phone rang for a long time Just as I was about to hang up, someone picked up.


    "Ariana? What is it? Why are you calling sote? Do you ever let anyone sleep?"


    I nced at the time. It was 1:58 am. I heard udia''s voice on the


    end


    unsure what to say


    of Nichs''s phone. I felthee


    "Hello? Why aren''t you speaking? If you''re not going to talk, I''m hanging up!"


    I cleared my throat and finally spoke, "Let me talk to Nichs."


    There was a rustling sound, like someone pulling back covers. It was followed by udia''s gentle voice


    waking him up


    "Nick wake up. Ariana called "


    In those few seconds, my mind went nk..


    Nichs finally spoke with a hoarse voice. "What is it?"


    "I''m leaving the manor.


    "Do as you like"


    He urged, "If there''s nothing else, I''m hanging up."


    "Wait!" I shouted before he could end the call. My voice echoed through the manor and startled me.


    I calmed down and softly asked, "Are you sleeping next to udia?"


    It wasn''t the first time he had slept near her, but this time, something felt different.


    Nichs''s voice remained indifferent. "Yes. We''re in the same room."


    I was speechless and simply nodded to myself.


    "When will youe back? Let''s finalize the divorce."


    Nichs sighed deeply, sounding impatient. "Got it. Wait for news."


    I hung up after getting his answer. Was there really nothing between Nichs and udia besides sibling affection?


    With Daniel gone, the one thing that


    ve


    stood between them has disappeared. As soon as Nichota''s was discharged, he couldn''t wait to be with her.


    Was I right about them? I didn''t know, and I didn''t care. The divorce was all that mattered now.