Listening to the endless chatter of Lysander’s childhood friends as they disparaged Mila, Giselle felt tears welling up in her eyes, though her spirits were oddly lifted.
She dabbed at her eyes and excused herself under the pretense of washing her face, slipping into the stairwell for some privacy.
Once she confirmed she was alone, her expression turned cold. She quickly wiped away her tears and dialed a number.
When the call connected, she spoke tersely, I need you to look into something for me.
I want you to dig into what happened seven years ago at Northpoint University between Lysander, Mila, and Forrest. I need every detail.
Until now, she hadn’t paid much attention to events from seven years ago.
Back then, she had assumed Lysander’s whirlwind marriage to Mila was just a way of getting back at her for not returning home with him. But now, she realized there was more to it.
Lysander clearly cared deeply about what happened back then.
This left her unsettled.
She had to understand what had transpired between those three while she was studying abroad.
Regardless of Lysander’s feelings for Mila, once she had all the information, she was determined to erase that woman from his heart entirely.
In terms of family background, status, and ability, she and Lysander were the perfect match. Mila was just a woman who depended on men—what did she even amount to?
And as for Forrest, she needed to figure out how to bring him to her side as well. Whatever the reason, she needed to understand this man better.
For Forrest, I want a complete dossier—from childhood to now.
A man who could be interested in Mila was a man she could surely win over. After all, there had never been a man Giselle couldn’t win over.
…
As the night deepened, a line of black cars rolled into Bamboo Grove, following the path of garden lights, and stopped in front of a villa.
As Mila stepped out of the car, the night breeze ruffled her hair. She gazed at the familiar scenery, lost in thought.
He stepped aside, revealing the villa behind him. The light from the garden lamps glinted off his glasses, and his face held a gentle, restrained smile.
Mila stared at the villa across from hers, momentarily dazed. The neighbor who’s a returned Ph.D. graduate… it’s you…
Forrest chuckled softly.
Though I’m not sure what you’re referring to, I did buy this house when I returned at the start of the year.
So, the garden lights were his doing too.
She wanted to ask about the embroidered sachet with ‘May Mimi be safe and happy for all eternity’ she found at the church. Was that his doing as well?
But a strange reluctance in her heart stopped her from voicing the question.
After a long pause, she only managed to ask, Since you came back earlier and live so close, why didn’t you… come see me?