ra was practically drenched in sweat, her clothes clinging to her as she

    slumped into a chair in the grand foyer. Only then did she finally let herself pass

    out, her face going ck with relief.

    The staff moved fast. Someone called the doctor, while others fussed politely over

    Megan, offering her tea and soft words.

    It was Megan''s first time at Palm Bay. After weeks of going out of her mind,

    unable to reach ra no matter how many times she tried, she''d never expected

    things to turn out like this. Instead of endless waiting, she''d suddenly found

    herself standing in Dn''s home.

    She''d always watched him from a distance before-never close enough to truly

    touch anything that belonged to his world. But now, she could run her fingers over

    the banister he''d gripped, walk the floors he''d paced, and breathe in the air he''d

    left behind. The feeling gave her a weird, giddy sense of satisfaction.

    Sure, Tara was still around-her rival, the other obstacle. But honestly, Megan

    didn''t waste much time worrying about her. To her, Tara was just as clueless as

    Eden-both of them hopelessly out of their depth.

    A slow, secretive smile tugged at Megan''s lips. She turned to a maid nearby. "Is

    Mr. Dning home today?"

    The maid shook her head. "Sir won''t be back for a few days."

    Megan raised her eyebrows. She''d heard enough rumors floating aroundtely-

    Dn and ra marrying, then divorcing, word that Dn might be heading to

    North America. ces like Moonlight were always swirling with gossip; after all,

    everyone there was someone important.

    That was exactly why she never quit her job there. Staying at Moonlight meant

    staying close to Dn. She''d yed the long game, keeping her feelings hidden,

    acting like ra''s loyal friend, waiting for the right moment.

    She''d always believed that if she was patient enough, she''d eventually find her

    way to Dn''s side.

    Now, with ra missing for nearly two months, her chance had finally arrived.

    Megan was determined this time-she wasn''t letting it slip by.

    She followed the doctor upstairs, eyes red and watery as she hovered anxiously

    by ra''s bedside.

    "How is ra?" she managed, her voice trembling.

    The doctor worked quietly, removing the bullet from ra''s thigh, then cleaning

    and dressing the wound on her palm.

    Megan wiped her tears, sliding into the chair next to ra. "Let me help. I''ll stay

    here and look after her for the next few days."

    The staff were clearly grateful, but one still asked gently, "Miss, are you a friend of

    thedy of the house?"

    The title made something flicker in Megan''s eyes-something sharp and

    possessive. One day, she thought, that title will be mine.

    "Yes," she said, steady and sure. "I''m her best friend. I was the one who saved

    her tonight. I''d like to stay."

    Of course. As thedy''s friend, you''re wee here," the maid replied with a

    smile.

    Megan turned her attention to ra, lying pale and unconscious in bed. How

    lucky could one girl get? She was no one special, just some illegitimate child, yet

    even the staff at Palm Bay adored her.

    Why did ra get everything so easily?

    Megan pushed down all her

    resentment and jealousy, making

    sure not a trace of it showed. She

    busied herself wiping ra''s face,

    giving orders for medicine, moving

    around the room with the quiet

    authority of someone who belonged.

    It wasn''t until noon the next day that ra''s fever finally broke.

    A maid saw the exhaustion written all over Megan''s face and spoke up. "Ms.

    Megan, you should really get some rest. We''ve prepared a guest room for you."

    Megan nodded, rubbing her temples, her voice scratchy fromck of sleep.

    "Thank you. I''m just really worried about ra. Please let me know the moment

    she wakes up, okay?"

    The maid nodded, clearly touched. What a wonderful friend, she thought.

    But night came, and ra still didn''t wake up.

    The staff changed her bandages once, all of them wincing when they saw the

    wound on her palm.

    When Megan woke from a nap and found out ra was still unconscious, she

    decided she needed some air and asked if she could walk around outside.

    Palm Bay was huge, with several houses clustered around the main one every

    single one belonging to Dn. The maid nodded.

    "Feel free to look around, Ms. Megan. Just make sure you''re back for dinner."

    A shadow crossed Megan''s face, but she smiled and headed out.

    She wandered for a while before she heard a woman singing somewhere nearby.

    Curious, she edged closer to one of the houses, but before she could get too

    close, someone appeared out of nowhere.

    "Please return to the main house," the man said, his tone icy.

    Megan startled, stepping back several paces before realizing it was one of the

    estate''s security guards.

    That''s when it hit her-Palm Bay was crawling with staff and security, most of

    them hidden in the shadows.

    Thank God she hadn''t let her mask slip when she thought she was alone. If

    anyone had seen how she really felt about ra, she would''ve blown her cover.

    Megan drew a shaky breath and

    patted her chest, acting the part of

    the startled guest. "I''m ra''s friend,

    just out for a walk. Sorry, I just

    wanted to know-who''s singing

    upstairs?"

    The guard''s expression didn''t change. "That''s not your concern."

    Megan''s smile faltered. So much for

    being able to go anywhere she

    wanted just because she was

    ra''s friend. Clearly, Dn had

    secrets tucked away everywhere.

    She couldn''t help but wonder what

    exactly was he hiding?