"Emily, I know why you're here it's about the amusement park rights, isn't it?" Isabella Austin's tone was almost sympathetic. "Honestly, I'd let it go if I were you. Director Parker... well, he doesn't exactly have the best impression of you. The odds of him selling you the rights are pretty much zero."

Emily Blair smiled, not missing a beat. "Mrs. Lane, maybe you should spend less time worrying about me and more time revisiting your own family drama. I'm fine over here, but your brothers from the Austin family? I hear they're about to land themselves in prison. You might want to hurry home and check on them. With the authorities cracking down so hard lately, they should really be careful—tell them to stay away from the clubs for now."

She was referring, of course, to the Austin family members who'd dragged Elizabeth Wilson to a nightclub five years ago.

Call it karma, but even marrying into the Lane family couldn't stop the Austins' decline.

Their family business was bleeding profits year after year, and they'd already lost several major clients.

A while back, some of the Austin brothers opened a few nightclubs that skirted the edge of legality. This year, the police finally came down on them. The clubs were shut, and the founders hauled in for questioning. To this day, the Austins still hadn't managed to get their people out.

Isabella's throat tightened. "How did you—”

She cut herself off, swallowing her words with a practiced smile. “I appreciate your concern, but I can handle my own family."

Her tone grew layered, almost pointed. "Even if I didn't, I'm sure Andrew would step in for me."

Emily's eyes sparkled with a humorless smile. "Let's hope so."

Isabella's gaze darkened. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Emily didn't bother to sugarcoat her words. "With Mr. Lane's resources—and the Lane family's reputation—you'd think they could get someone out of police custody in less than a week. Maybe you should remind him, Mrs. Lane. Maybe he's just got too much on his mind these days."

Isabella's smile faded completely.

Emily gave a little nod, still smiling. "Well then, I'll be heading back."

Later, in the car, Tristan Davis lounged in the passenger seat, chin propped on his hand, watching Emily. "You really don't have it easy, do you?"

Emily shot him a look. "Why? Got something you want to say?"

Tristan leaned in, grinning mischievously. “Poor girl, growing up surrounded by so many monsters and villains..."

Emily pressed her lips together, giving him a sidelong glance that said, Don't even try it. I know exactly what you're up to.

Tristan grinned wider. "Honestly, I'm impressed, Ms. Blair. You spent years living at the Lane estate, and you still turned out perfectly normal-better than normal, actually."

"Keep getting sentimental and I'll pack your bags and put you on the next flight back to the capital," Emily threatened.

Tristan, undeterred, scooted closer, voice dropping to a mock-conspiratorial whisper. "Hey, my family's nothing like that. My granddad might be a little gruff, but he's all bark and no bite. My parents are great-friendly, down-to-earth, and my siblings are all perfectly sane. As long as you—"

"What are you rambling about?" Emily cut him off, smacking him lightly across the face. "Enough with the nonsense."

Tristan, face half-covered by her hand, slowly raised an OK sign in surrender.

Early the next morning, as soon as the city zoo opened its gates on the east side of town, Emily and Tristan were already waiting at the entrance, watching waves of visitors pour in.

Emily lingered in the shade of a tree, keeping a lookout. Before long, she spotted a group of foreigners, clustered around a young blonde girl in a short skirt, panda backpack, and matching panda hair clips, striding confidently toward the VIP entrance.

But there was no sign of Mr. Parker.