There happened to be a cozy café right across the street.

As the three of them settled into a patio table, Lemira pulled out her phone and sent Orion a text: [Are you off work yet?]

The moment she hit send, a flutter of nerves erupted in her chest.

“Is this too forward?” she asked, second-guessing herself.

Stella laughed. “The way Orion looks at you? Trust me, the second he sees that message, he’s going to sprint out of that lobby.”

Janice, who was staring at the corporate high-rise, slapped the table. “Speak of the devil! Here he comes.”

Lemira looked up and immediately spotted Orion walking out.

But he wasn’t alone. Two women were hurrying after him—it was Mrs. Amanda and Mrs. Amelia!

Mrs. Amelia was decked out in a massive sun hat and dark sunglasses, looking terrified of being recognized. She cut Orion off, gesturing wildly as if arguing with him.

Orion stood by his car, his expression unreadable.

Lemira frowned as she watched the scene unfold. It seemed the Sinclair family had figured out what Orion had been doing behind the scenes.

That explained the desperation.

It also perfectly explained why Sophia had been rage-shopping at the mall.

Suddenly, without warning, Mrs. Amanda raised her hand and delivered a hard slap across Orion’s face.

Lemira’s heart dropped. Without a second thought, she sprinted across the street. As she neared, Mrs. Amanda’s furious voice echoed through the air. “Orion Everhart, how dare you speak to your Aunt Amelia that way? Apologize to her right now!”

Lemira took in the bright red mark on Orion’s cheek. An intense wave of

protectiveness surged through her as she stepped squarely in front of him, shielding him from his own mother.

She glared at Mrs. Amanda. “Mrs. Amanda, use your words. What gives you the right to hit him?”

“I am disciplining my own son! I’ll hit him if I want to!”

Mrs. Amanda was livid. Not only had her best friend been abducted, but she had

also been filmed in a compromising situation. It was utterly sickening.

When she realized it was Lemira, her expression faltered, growing incredibly complicated, though her tone softened slightly. This whole mess started because of you. Since you’re here, let’s talk.”

“There’s nothing to discuss.”

Orion grabbed Lemira’s hand, his gaze turning freezing cold as he looked at his mother. “Mom, a life for a life that is justice. You have no

tight to demand Lemira settle for anything less.”

“That’s not what I’m saying. I just know there has to be a misunderstanding. Amelia isn’t that kind of monster. She was conned by that driver, too!”

Lemira let out a bitter laugh. “I know you want to protect your best friend, but the law operates on evidence. It doesn’t care about blind loyalty.”

Standing off to the side, Mrs. Amelia stared at Lemira with pure, unadulterated venom.

She had just found out that Lemira and Orion were the masterminds behind her kidnapping!

She wanted nothing more than to tear Lemira apart. Why didn’t that wretched girl die in the crash alongside her parents?

If Lemira had just died, everything would be so much simpler. There would be no drama, and no one to steal her daughter’s future husband.

Lemira easily caught the murderous glare leveled at her.

Her tone was chilling. “Isn’t that right, Mrs. Amelia?”

Mrs. Amelia gritted her teeth. “I didn’t do it! That driver acted on his own and got your parents killed. All you have is the word of a criminal. You have absolutely zero proof!”

Lemira met her gaze dead-on. “I will very soon.”

If Evelina’s father claimed he had evidence, she believed him.

A flicker of panic crossed Mrs.

elet

Amelia’s face. She quickly pivoted the conversation, “Even without proof, you had the audacity to kidnap me and film me in a compromising position! That is a felony, do you hear me?”

“Who said I filmed anything compromising? Do you have any proof?”

Lemira blinked, looking perfectly innocent.