"… Do you think so?" Angus scoffed, his voice a low drawl.
"But, since you're worried about alarming him, you only brought me and Sam back. He's getting older, and it wouldn't be right to have him do it. It only makes sense to leave it to me, doesn't it?"
Angus didn't answer right away. Liesa pressed on, her patience wearing thin. "As for the equipment in Silas's room, I might not be able to avoid detection, but we can cut off his connection to the devices, right?"
She leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a whisper as she explained her plan.
She waited, her eyes locking with his, trying to convey every ounce of sincerity she could. Angus met her gaze, his dark eyes unreadable.
The silence between them stretched, thick and heavy, until he finally spoke, his tone calm but piercing.
"You're willing to risk everything for me?"
"Of course," Liesa replied without hesitation, her voice steady.
"Why?"
Liesa blinked, caught off guard by the question.
But saying what was truly on her mind might sound strange.
She gave him a soft smile, adding a touch of playful sincerity as she replied, "Because I like you. Didn't I mention that before?"
Angus held her gaze, and for a moment, Liesa thought her words might have been too much—that she'd slipped up.
But after what felt like an eternity, he spoke, his voice barely above a whisper. "Alright. Sam and I will help you. If you succeed..."
A wicked smile curled at the corner of Angus's lips, his eyes flashing with something dangerous. But just as quickly, he masked it, as if nothing had happened. "I'll give you what you want."
Liesa paused for a moment, then smiled. "Alright."
She thought about it for a second—
But once his resentment was gone, she figured she probably wouldn't get to enjoy it anyway.
Angus watched her smile impassively, his gaze cold and calculating, like a wolf eyeing a fat, unsuspecting rabbit. He skillfully concealed the darkness and intensity brewing inside him, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
Yet, the rabbit seemed completely unaware of the danger, still bouncing around in front of him, casually discussing plans, oblivious to the trap set in place for her.
The night of the birthday banquet arrived, and the atmosphere was thick with chatter and clinking glasses.
Richard, who had spent the last few days recovering, was now busy introducing his eldest son to everyone.
In contrast to the lively scene around him, Angus looked like an outsider, almost as if he weren't part of the family at all.
Apart from the elderly members of the Romano family, everyone else either kept their distance, intimidated by his dark aura, or busied themselves with flattering Richard and Silas.
No one seemed interested in approaching Angus.
"Angus, it's too stuffy in here. I'm going for a walk," Liesa whispered in his ear.
She wore a light blue dress that made her pale skin glow, her lips a soft red and her teeth a bright contrast. The expensive butterfly brooch on her chest added an elegant touch, making her look like a delicate butterfly in the otherwise gloomy hall.
The cool breeze brushed against Liesa's ears, and Angus's eyes flickered as he glanced at her brooch. He nodded slightly, his voice calm but firm. "Go."
Liesa flashed him a smile and immediately walked out.
As soon as she left, Silas's eyes lit up with a greedy gleam.
Liesa had proven to be more than just a tool—she was the most valuable source of information he had ever encountered.
Not only did she report back on Angus's every move, but she even showed more care and attention than Nina ever had.
Though Richard usually kept him on a tight leash, Silas was still a man. With someone like Liesa showering him with attention, how could he not be swayed?
Especially when she had so boldly invited him.
His phone buzzed in his pocket, and a wide grin spread across his face. He quickly found an excuse to dismiss Richard and Nina, then rushed outside. Once he checked his location, he made his way to the backyard.
When he reached the agreed-upon room and saw the figure in the blue dress, his pulse quickened.
He stepped in without hesitation, closing the door behind him. After a brief pause, he used the key hanging on the door to lock it and entered with a smirk. "Liesa!"
The room, bathed in the soft light filtered through sheer curtains, seemed to grow quieter as he pushed his way through.
When he reached the figure, his face paled. "Who are you?"
"Hm?" The person, Sam, wearing the same blue dress as Liesa but several sizes larger, turned around. Despite his age, he still maintained the professional elegance and composure of a butler. "Mr. Silas Romano, how do you do?"
Silas stood frozen, his mouth agape.
"Why are you here?" Silas glared at the elderly butler, his expression darkening.
Sam smiled calmly, his eyes never wavering. "I'm just handling a few things. What brings you here?"
"Handling what?" Silas frowned, his gaze narrowing as he noticed Sam was wearing the same dress as Liesa. The dim lighting in the room, paired with the sheer curtains, made him momentarily mistake the old man for a woman.
Sam didn't answer. Instead, he tilted his head slightly, his voice casual. "Shouldn't Mr. Silas Romano be at the party?"
Silas's eyes narrowed further as a realization dawned on him. If he couldn't see through this now, then he was done for.
He subtly slipped his hand into his pocket, backing away. "The party was stuffy. I came out for some fresh air. I won't disturb you any longer."
He turned to leave, but as luck would have it, he ran straight into two bodyguards.
Silas froze, realizing his attempt to leave was futile for now. His tone sharp, he barked, "What's going on here?"
Sam, unbothered, simply replied, "I was just handling some company secrets. Seems like you overheard quite a bit. I wonder if you recorded it—how about handing over your phone for a quick check?"