Chapter 496

Maeve felt a bump from someone's shoulder. She stepped back and straightened. She saw Aeolian blocking Zephyr.

Aeolian glared at Maeve, then said to Zephyr, "I've been looking for you. Why are you here?"

Zephyr replied gently, "I had too much to drink, so I came out for some air. What's wrong?"

"Mr. Morris and the others are looking for you. They couldn't reach you, so I came to help," Aeolian said, using her body to shield Maeve. She took Zephyr's arm and wheedled, "You owe me." Zephyr laughed. "Alright, pick a gift later and put it on my tab."

Aeolian, though willful, was his much-loved younger sister. He readily agreed to her request.

"You're the best!" Aeolian said sweetly, giving Maeve a smug look.

Maeve was speechless. She didn't understand Aeolian's display. Is she showing off her good brother?

Zephyr then said to Maeve, "Ms. Reese, I'll take my leave."

Maeve swallowed her retort and nodded. "Goodbye."

After he left, Maeve was about to leave when Aeolian stopped her.

"Are you targeting our family? Flattering my uncle is one thing, but flirting with Zephyr? Do you want to get them all?" Aeolian, without pretense, questioned her fiercely.

Maeve looked at her coldly. "I think you're not short-sighted, but blind. Vicious people assume ulterior motives in everything."

"Am I wrong? Didn't you always come to my house and coax my uncle for things? Now you pretend to be obedient in front of Zephyr!"

Aeolian, remembering what she'd seen, felt suffocated. She lowered her voice, warning, "I know what you're thinking. Don't think you can get close to Zephyr just because you're pretty. With me around, dream on!"

Maeve wasn't one to be trifled with. She sneered, "Since you say so, if I don't use my looks to seduce Zephyr, wouldn't it be a waste of the 'crime' you've given me?"

"You! I knew you were up to no good, you slut!"

Aeolian raised her hand to slap Maeve, but a voice stopped her.

"Aeolian, stop."

Hearing the familiar voice, Maeve stiffened. Zephyr had returned, having overheard much of their conversation.

Chapter 496

Help. Did he hear me deliberately antagonize Aeolian? Maeve thought.

Aeolian's face was filled with schadenfreude as she complained impatiently, "Zephyr, did you hear what she said? Stay away from such a scheming woman. Otherwise, you won't even know when she's scheming against you!" Zephyr's expression didn't change, but he didn't look at Maeve. He waved at Aeolian. "Come back with me. Don't cause trouble."

Aeolian pouted. "I didn't. I even chased away bad luck for you!"

"Let's go."

The siblings left, leaving Maeve standing awkwardly among the flowers.

If I'd known I'd be overheard, I wouldn't have provoked Aeolian so much.

But it wasn't my fault. Did I have to be polite to such a mean person?

She'd thought Zephyr would see reason, but unexpectedly...

Forget it. I'll stay away from them in the future.

Maeve checked her phone, only to find it dead. She realized she'd been gone a long time without contacting Byron. She shuddered. I'm doomed.

Ignoring the party, Maeve grabbed her bag and left the garden.

Passing the parking lot, she saw a dark figure leaning over a car, a silver tool flashing in the moonlight.

Maeve hid, only emerging after the person left. The person wore a mask and cap, not looking like a party guest. But if a driver, why the tool?

Maeve approached the car. Unsure what the person had done, she left a warning note between the door handles.

After the party, Zephyr, with his jacket over his arm, opened his car door for Aeolian. He then felt something in his hand—a crumpled piece of paper.

Zephyr frowned, about to open it.

"Zephyr, hurry up. I want to shower. I'm tired," Aeolian urged impatiently.

Zephyr laughed, got in, and instructed the driver to go.

Chapter 496

Zephyr opened the note.

[I saw someone tampering with your car with a tool. Please check for safety. -Nameless Good Person]

Zephyr's expression changed. He looked at the back; there was no other information.

He stopped the car and asked the driver to check.

Aeolian, tired and with aching feet, complained, "We're almost out of the manor. Why stop now? I need to remove my makeup and skincare!"

Zephyr ignored her, staring out the window.

The driver, sweating profusely, ran to the window. "Mr. Soar, the brakes seem faulty. It's drivable, but with many bends, brake failure would send us into the sea..."

Zephyr frowned. Aeolian was shocked. "What? You didn't check before we left? We could have died!"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry! It was my negligence!"

"It's not entirely your fault," Zephyr said coldly. "If not for a kind person's warning, we wouldn't have escaped today."

"A kind person? Who?" Aeolian asked.

Zephyr handed her the note, then got out to call for help. They couldn't escape responsibility for what happened at the Morris manor.

Meanwhile, Maeve had returned to the hotel, bathed, and video chatted with her children.

It was almost ten o'clock when they finished. She urged them to bed and hung up, only to sit up in shock.

Byron!

She called him. The first call, the second, the third…

"What's the matter?" Byron's cold, distant voice answered.