Chapter Sixty-Nine

“I finally understand why he doesn’t like you,” Yingyue said calmly, her gaze steady on Maria.

Maria’s delicate face darkened at those words, her jaw clenched so tightly it made a grinding sound. Her hands balled into fists, slender nails digging into her palms as she struggled to quell the anger and resentment surging within her. After a moment, her blood-red lips curved into a bewitching smile. “Is that so? Go ahead, let’s hear it.”

“Isn’t it obvious?” Yingyue cast her a sidelong glance and turned to leave.

“Stop right there! Do you think you can come and go as you please in my place?” Maria’s voice rose with frustration, and the two men outside the door immediately collapsed before Yingyue.

Yingyue glanced at them without looking at Maria, tilting her head slightly. “If you have something to say, speak quickly. I think your time is running out.”

“Oh? And what makes you so sure my time is running out?”

“It’s been a day since I disappeared. Do you think he’d simply let that pass?”

“Yes, you’ve been missing a day now. Do you really think his abilities are so feeble?”

“How do you know? Perhaps he’s only letting this happen to amuse me.”

“To amuse you?” Maria echoed.

Yingyue didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she strolled leisurely to the sofa, her slender, fair finger hooking Maria’s delicate chin. “Don’t you know? It’s lonely staying in Lilith’s Castle all by oneself. Unfortunately, he never feels at ease about me, never lets me go out.” Yingyue released Maria’s chin, sat down gracefully on the sofa, picked up the red wine and crystal glass from the side table, and poured herself a drink with an air of contentment. She swirled the wine elegantly, brought the glass to her petite nose to savor the bouquet, then smiled lightly. “It truly is an excellent vintage.” With that, her slender neck arched, and the wine traced a graceful line down her throat.

Watching Yingyue drink wine so elegantly, Maria felt an unexplainable wave ripple through her heart, an emotion she couldn’t name suddenly welling up inside. Forcing herself to turn away, Maria’s tone grew stiff. “Hmph, don’t get ahead of yourself. Which of us is right will soon be clear enough.”

As Maria finished speaking, a knock sounded at the door. “Come in,” she commanded.

A refined, shrewd-looking man entered. At the sight of him, Maria’s expression tightened. He approached her, leaned down, and murmured a few words in her ear. At once, Maria’s unnatural composure faded, her face turning pale. With a wave of her hand, she dismissed the man.

She turned back, glaring fiercely at Yingyue, though now her gaze was colored by a host of unspoken emotions.

Yingyue set her glass aside and looked at Maria. “What’s wrong? Don’t tell me the game is over so soon?”

“As if,” Maria spat through clenched teeth.

“I’m afraid that’s not up to you,” came a sudden voice, as the wooden door of Maria’s room fell from its hinges. Through a cloud of dust, a tall, powerfully built figure appeared, his sharp features coming into view—Arthur.

“I should have known you wouldn’t be able to sit still the moment I left,” Arthur said coldly, fixing Maria with a chilling gaze. “Miss Spencer.”

At the mention of Spencer, Maria’s entire body trembled, her face ashen.

“See? Wasn’t I right?” Yingyue strolled up to Maria with a mischievous smile, lifting her chin and breathing softly against her skin. Then, with a flourish, she even stroked Maria’s smooth cheek with playful insolence.

“Come here,” Arthur barked, his anger barely contained as he watched Yingyue’s gesture. He reached out, pulled Yingyue into his arms, shot her a warning look, then glared furiously at Maria.

What on earth had this woman done to his precious darling? Yingyue had always been a gentle, docile little lamb—how had a single day in Maria’s company transformed her into such a seductive, enigmatic woman?

“What exactly did you do to her?”