"Come on, just say it! We're all hanging here waiting for you."

Erin prodded impatiently when no one spoke up.

Ryan stayed silent.

Erin turned her attention to Ellie instead. "Oh, for crying out loud, if he won't talk, you spill the beans! What's the deal? Did you run into some jerk? Are there any messy love triangles going on? We're all friends here, nothing to hide, right?"

Ryan and Lewis exchanged confused glances, clearly ignored.

Oddly enough, Erin's directness made Ellie feel a bit lighter. She realized, why was she the one feeling bad? She wasn't the one who messed up.

She began, "I had a boyfriend... well, not really a boyfriend. More like someone I was interested in. He paid off my housekeeper to try and kill me because I've got a life insurance policy, and he's the beneficiary."

Erin bit into a pistachio. "Wait, hold on. This guy you're just into... and you made him the beneficiary of your life insurance? Girl, you're acting like a total simp."

Ellie blinked, taken aback. That word stung more than she expected.

She wanted to argue, but the words didn't come. And the more she thought about it, the more she realized Erin was right.

She looked down at her hands.

"No, seriously, what's going on with you? You're young and gorgeous, and you come from a great family. Why are you throwing yourself at some guy like this?"

Erin pressed on.

voice dropped. "Because... he saved my

I get it. A classic trauma bond. PTSD, right? Someone saves you, and now he's your hero,

You're not about to fall

an exasperated look. "Would

over here. He's got to watch out for both you Cobb siblings. Not only the brother but the sister, too? Wow,

I need to worry about... is

hands. "Oh no, no need! I'm into

"I don't like girls

If you did, maybe you'd finally give up on that jerk.

guy, and he turned around and paid your housekeeper

Ellie nodded.

"Did your car break

it's the

pressing, "What time did

to leave around 9:30, but someone told me the gate was blocked. I

told you the gate was

"The butler."

over at

meaning and quickly said, "The butler's

Keira's expression darkened.

at 10:00. If Ellie had gone downstairs even a minute earlier or later, Ryan wouldn't have gotten into that car, and the

timing was too perfect to be a

asked, "When you went downstairs, did someone prompt

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