Seeing his expression, Ann reluctantly went upstairs to pack her belongings while Tammie waited for her in the lobby.

***

In Valerium, Celia was ecstatic to hear that Stuart had woken up. Caitlin was her best friend now, after all.

"Joie," she said to her assistant, "arrange the jet. I'm flying to Eldermere immediately."

"To The Capital, Miss Palmer?"

"Yes." She had to congratulate Caitlin in person. The Palmer family had a private jet, and by that afternoon, Celia was in the air.

***

Back in The Capital, Tammie brought Ann to his villa. "From now on, the third floor

is all yours. You can decorate it however you like."

"Okay. Thank you, Tammie."

"I'm heading to Valerium tomorrow to see Celia," he added. "You should come with me. It'll be a nice change of scenery."

"Alright," Ann agreed. "I'll go get ready."

"Go on."

Just then, Tammie's phone buzzed with a new message. A smirk played on his lips as he read it. "Ann, on second thought, you can stop packing."

"Huh?" A flicker of disappointment crossed her face. "Why?" Was he backing out of his promise to get the medallion?

Tammie grinned. "Celia is already on her way to The Capital."

"Really?" Ann was surprised. "Why is she coming here all of a sudden?"

A look of smug satisfaction settled on Tammie's face. "She probably heard I was here and decided to follow me." So many of Celia's decisions revolved around him. This was just another example.

Ann smiled. "Miss Palmer must really like you! Tammie, you should just give her a chance. Then she could be my family."

He waved a dismissive hand. "We'll see about that. I'm not thinking about a relationship right now. Just get ready. We'll go see her tomorrow morning." He knew where Celia. stayed in the city: If it weren'tfor Ann, he would never lower himself to seek her out. The last thing he needed was Celia getting the wrong idea and thinking he returned her feelings.

The next morning, Tammie took Ann to Palmer Manor. As they approached the

main gate, a guard stopped them. "Do you have an access pass?"

An access pass? Ann scoffed at the guard. "My cousin is the man your Miss Palmer is in love with. Does he really need an access pass?"

"In love with?" The guard burst out laughing. "Don't flatter yourself. Our Miss Palmer is a noble from Valerium. You think she'd be interested in someone like him?" Tammie was handsome, sure, but Valerium had no shortage of handsome

men.

Ann was about to retort when Tammie stopped her. "Ann, don't argue with him. I'll just text Celia and have her come get us."

The guard's sneer deepened. "You? Worthy of Miss Palmer coming to greet you personally? Keep dreaming."

Tammie ignored him and pulled out his phone, typing out a message to Celia on WhatsApp.

[I'm at the gate of Palmer Manor. You have three minutes to come out and get me.]

Celia, dressed in an elegant gown, was just heading out with her two assistants to visit Stuart at the Gonzales estate. Her phone buzzed. She glanced at the message from Tammie and her brow furrowed in disgust. *Let her go get him?* The audacity. If he hadn't texted, she would have forgotten he even existed.

She blocked his number and deleted the chat without a second thought. She was completely over him. The man was a repulsive narcissist, and she would never waste another moment on him.

Tammie pocketed his phone, a confident smirk on his face.

"Tammie, will she really come?" Ann asked eagerly.

"Of course. She'll be here within three minutes," he said, adjusting his tie.

The guard snorted. "In your dreams."

The seconds ticked by. Three minutes passed.

Suddenly, Ann's eyes lit up. "Look, she's coming! Miss Palmer is really here!"

The guard turned, and his face went pale. He couldn't believe it. Maybe this guy really was the object of Celia's affection. How strange. She had somany handsome suitors chasing her, yet she fell for this. arrogant pretty boy shaking off his shock, he quickly opened the gate. "My sincerest apologies, sir, miss. I was blind. Please, come in. Don't mind an ignorant fool like me."

Ann shot the guard a triumphant glare.

Tammie strode confidently up to Celia, stopping in front of her with an air of superiority. "Celia, I'm giving you a chance to get close to me. Go get the medallion back from Freya and give it to Ann. Then, you will host a grand party in her honor, right here in The Capital."