Had someone already rescued Caitlin?

Who? Who could it have been?

Who had the power to get someone out from under Audley's nose without his involvement?

"Yes, my lord," Ham said with a bow. "I'll find out at once!"

Minutes later, Ham came running back into the room, his face pale. "My lord! Something terrible has happened!"

"What is it?" Will demanded.

Ham was sweating, his voice strained. "At the Royal Police Department... everyone, from the Chief down to Captain Audley, has been dismissed! Audley, in particular, they say he offended a great benefactor and nearly caused a major disaster. He's been thrown into the dark room himself."

"And Freya?" Will pressed.

Ham looked at him. "The new head of the department said... said Miss Gonzales was personally escorted out by the Queen. And it seems the massive staff change at the department is related to this incident."

Caitlin was escorted out by Sally?

Will barely registered the second half of Ham's report. He stared in disbelief. "Are you certain Freya left with the Queen?"

"That's what the department told me," Ham confirmed.

Will's mind was reeling, a buzzing sound filling his ears. He had believed the situation was entirely under his control. He never expected such a development.

How did someone with Caitlin's background even know Queen Sally?

He pressed his temples. "Get the car ready!"

Ham was momentarily confused. "W-where are you going, my lord?"

"I'm going to the Royal Police Department myself!" Will declared. He had to get to the bottom of this.

Meanwhile, at Vance Castle, Rosemary and Dowager Vance were reclining in massage chairs, enjoying the services of professional masseuses.

The Dowager closed her eyes in contentment. "To the left. Yes, that's it. A little harder."

"Yes, Madam."

The masseuse increased the pressure on her hands.

The next second, the Dowager's expression twisted, and she slapped the masseuse across the face. "I said a little harder, not 'try to kill me'!"

The slap stunned the young woman. She clutched her cheek, tears welling in her eyes as she apologized. "I'm so sorry, Madam. I didn't mean to. Please give me another chance!"

The Dowager rubbed the sore spot on her shoulder and shot the girl a look of disgust. "Get out. And don't bother coming back tomorrow. Useless thing!"

The masseuse covered her face and ran out, humiliated. It was her first job, and she had thought Vance

Castle would be a good place to net

work. But in less than a month, she

had beef struck twice. The upper class truly didn't see people like her as human.

After this minor interruption, Rosemary seemed to remember

something. She turned to her.

mother. "By the way, Mom, have your spoken to Audley? Has Frey@signed the confession yet?"

The Dowager shook her head. "That little bitch hasn't signed, but Audley told me

he's already moved her to the maximum-security dark room."

"The maximum-security dark room?" Rosemary's face lit up with malicious glee. "Well, it looks like that little bitch is as good as dead."

That place was legendary, said to be a living hell.

The Dowager snorted. "I had someone check. The Gonzales family's plane lands at six tomorrow morning. I can't wait to see their faces when they hear the news."

The scene would surely be spectacular. The Dowager chuckled at the thought. Rosemary smiled. "It seems all we have to do now is wait for the Richards and Gonzales families to come crawling to us."

After all, without the Vances' permission, no one would be able to get Caitlin out of that cell.

Once, the Vance family was looked down upon by the Richards. Now, the Vances were far beyond their reach.

Rosemary's eyes narrowed. "It would be even better if we could find the benefactor around the same time. That would be a double celebration for our family."

Almost as soon as she said it, the butler came rushing in from outside, his voice filled with alarm as he shouted, "Madam! Madam!"

Hearing his voice, the Dowager sat up abruptly. It was late. For the butler to be in such a panic, it must mean that Rosemary's people had found the benefactor.

At the thought, the Dowager's heart began to race. A noble title! The heavens were finally smiling upon the Vance family.

Clearly, Rosemary had the same thought. She looked at the approaching butler, her voice trembling with excitement. "Have you found the benefactor?"

The butler nodded. "Yes, yes, but..."

Before he could finish, Rosemary grabbed his arm and started pulling him toward the door. "Where is this person? Quick! Take me to them!"

But the butler didn't budge.

Rosemary turned back, annoyed. "Let's go! What are you waiting for? Didn't you say you found the benefactor?"

The butler wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. "Miss, you misunderstand. It wasn't us who found the benefactor. The royal

family found them first Annet

now.

our castle is surrounded by the Royal Guard!"

The Dowager frowned. "The royals found their benefactor. Why would they surround Vance Castle? Butler, are you sure you're not mistaken?"

"There's no mistake," the butler said, looking up at the Dowager. "Do you know who the royal family was looking for? It's... Miss Freya Gonzales!" Freya Gonzales?

At the name, it felt as though all the strength was ripped from the Dowager's body. Her face went deathly pale. "Who... who did you say the benefactor is?"