The bedroom was empty. Adam stood in the doorway and called softly, “Celine, are you still in there?” There was no response. He raised his hand to knock, but the bathroom door opened on its own. He paused, then stepped inside. The large bathtub was empty; Celine had vanished. Where could she have gone?

Adam walked back out. At that moment, the maid entered. “Mr. Alvarez, Mrs. Alvarez has already left.”

“She left? Just like that?” Adam’s eyes fell on the untouched ice pack. “She didn’t use the ice for her face?”

“No, Mrs. Alvarez said she didn’t need it.”

A note was pinned under the bedside lamp. Adam picked it up. It contained just two words: Thank you. She had left quietly, leaving only those two simple words behind.

Adam placed his hands on his hips and let out a humorless laugh. The maid excused herself, leaving Adam alone. He leaned lazily against the desk and pulled out a pack of cigarettes. Lighting one with a flick of his lighter, he inhaled. His tall, broad shoulders slumped slightly as he exhaled a puff of smoke. Adam rarely smoked, but his frustration demanded the numbing comfort of nicotine.

A short while later, Leo appeared. “Mr. Alvarez, Ms. Tate has returned home. As for Mr. Zander—”

Adam tapped his cigarette into the ashtray, his gaze falling on a faint bite mark on his arm, left by Celine. Frowning, he said, “If Henry calls again, tell him just one thing—”

Carly stepped into the living room of Tate Manor, where Henry and Victoria stood to greet her. “Ms. Tate, where is my son? Did Mr. Alvarez agree to release him?”

Hayden and Lucy glanced toward the door. “Carly, didn’t you come back with Elijah?” They had assumed she would. Seeing no sign of him, they were bewildered.

Carly glanced at the four eager faces. Her mood was sour, and her tone sharp. “Mr. Zander, Mrs. Zander, I’m sorry, but Adam refused to release him.”

What? Henry, Victoria, Hayden, and Lucy froze in shock.

“What’s going on, Ms. Tate?” Henry asked. “Aren’t you supposed to be Mr. Alvarez’s favorite? His so-called sweetheart?”

Victoria’s face was filled with disappointment. “Henry, we clearly trusted the wrong person. Favorite sweetheart? She can’t even sway Mr. Alvarez. What a fraud.” Hetty added, “Ms. Tate, you’ve wasted our time.”

Henry and Victoria started to leave. Hayden and Lucy tried to stop them. “Mr. Zander, Mrs. Zander, please wait.”

Henry and Victoria stopped. “Take everything we brought with us,” Henry ordered. The black-suited bodyguards immediately began removing the piles of luxury gifts.

“Mr. Zander! Mrs. Zander!” Hayden panicked.

“Carly, what is going on here?” Lucy was equally incredulous. “Carly, you spoke to him yourself, and Adam still didn’t agree to release him?”

Their earlier arrogance turned into unbearable humiliation. Carly dug her fingernails into her palms. “Celine,” she thought. “The game between us has officially begun.”