After lunch, Lynette and her family set off for the train station. They had booked a high speed train to Clearwater County Town .
From there, they would take a taxi for a twenty minutes drive to Greenvale Countryside.
They had booked a four-seater cabin with bunks on each side. Lynette took the window seat, her mother next to her, while Averia and her father sat across from them.
The high-speed train slowly began to move, signaling the start of their journey.
Their cabin buzzed with life, filled with Averia's bubbly chatter and their parents' laughter.
Lynette turned on her phone, put in her earpods, and listened to music.
While listening to music, she dozed off without realizing it.
When Lynette woke up, she realized she had fallen asleep with her earpods still in place. She stretched her body to ease the numbness, then turned her head.
Her mother was deep in a lively conversation with another woman –an elderly lady in her forties, round and chubby, with a face that screamed gossip.
After a brief glance, Lynette turned away, uninterested.
Looking across from her, Lynette saw her sister wearing an headphone, absorbed in a movie.
Their father had also dozed off, just like her, but his sleep looked uneasy. His brows were tightly furrowed, as though he was trapped in a troubled dream.
She wondered what was troubling him.
Before standing up to go to the restroom, Lynette checked her phone and realized they would arrive at Clearwater County Town in about an hour.
Her stomach fluttered with anticipation …or maybe it was just the urgent call of the restroom.
“ Ding.”
Lynette saw Lila Quinn had messaged her, asking if they'd arrived at Greenvale Countryside.
“ Not yet, arriving in one hour.”
“ Alright, stay safe.”
“ Okay.”
***
In the Hale family living room…
A beautiful lady sat on the sofa. She wore a simple, flawless gown with draped sleeves that fell with an effortless grace, almost divine, like a goddess.
The flawless white gown clung to her, accentuating her figure with an elegance that seemed designed to hide every flaw.
Every gesture, every posture appeared calculated, and each smiled looked rehearsed if one looked closely. Her entire demeanor screamed artificial –too perfect to be real.
Subtly glancing around the living room, her eyes gleamed with a hidden greed and desire at the wealth on display in the Hale household.
Everything sparkled, as if meticulously cared for by professionals.
It was her first time stepping into the Hale family home.
“ Miss Salmon, please have some juice.”
The elderly servant set the glass down with a gentle smile, her movement unhurried and practiced.
Her eyes lingered briefly on Daniella before shifting away, as though out of habit, showing no interest.
“ Oh…thank you.”
Daniella received the glass with a shy bow, her movements gentle and restrained, every bit the picture of a well-mannered young lady.
Her lashes lowered, hiding the careful thoughts stirring beneath her calm expression.
This was her second steps back into Alex's world, and she intended to make it count.
Setting the glass down gently, Daniella glanced around hesitantly, her fingers tightened slightly around the hem of her dress as if unsure whether she should ask.
Her head lowered, lashes fluttering in a quiet restraint, as she spoke in a soft, almost timid voice, carrying a trace of grievance that tugged at one's sympathy.
“ Is there anything i can help you with, Miss Salmon?” The elderly servant asked, her tone polite but her eyes were quietly assessing, taking in every carefully measured gesture of Daniella.
“ Um…is Young Master Alex around?”
“Miss Daniella, I'm afraid Young Master Alex isn't home at the moment,” She said, her voice gentle but firm.
“ Ah…I'm sorry,” Daniella said softly, her voice barely above a whisper, as though she feared saying the wrong thing.“ I didn't mean to be a bother.”
Her lashes fluttered as if she were struggling to hold back her tears.
To anyone watching, she looked like a young woman being pressured, even wronged.
Daniella pressed her lips together, then smiled faintly, a fragile curve that seemed ready to break at any moment.
Yet beneath her lowered gaze, a flicker of calculation passed through her eyes, swiftly and well-hidden.
Anyone entering the mansion at that moment might think she was being bullied.
Only those who looked closely would notice how her grip on the hem of her clothes never trembled.