Being On Guard ~Liam~ Upon arrival at the street, we noticed that everything remained undisturbed, just as we had left it.

The crime scene was still cordoned off with tape.

“Does it look the same as last night?” Justin inquired, and Josephine confirmed with a nod as he parked the van.

“I instructed them to maintain the integrity of the scene.

We can’t be sure if the perpetrators tampered with it as well, so let’s not give them any confidence that they followed my instructions,” Justin warned, and we all understood the importance of preserving the evidence and the likelihood that the pack members were corrupt.

“Marvin, Charlotte, Sebastien, and Oliver, you’ll investigate the exterior.

Check the tire tracks from grandma’s gate leading to the burnt van,” Justin directed.

“The rest of us will head inside.

Once you’re done outside, join us indoors to discuss your findings,” he continued, efficiently dividing us into two teams to make the most of our investigation.

Josephine, Noah, and I accompanied Justin as we entered the building for the investigation.

As soon as we stepped inside, Justin inquired about the location where the body was found, and I provided him with the details.

He and Josephine went to explore that particular room, while Noah and I were assigned to search other areas.

\ Investigating Grandma’s house felt bizarre.

Only a few weeks ago, I was living here peacefully, but now it had become a crime scene.

The question that haunted me was: why did they target the housekeeper? “I bet they thought your grandparents were home,” Noah commented, scanning the surroundings.

“But what did my grandparents ever do to them?” I questioned, seeking an explanation.

He simply shrugged in response.

“After watching that video where they mentioned instructing the council to do something for them, I wouldn’t be surprised if they had plans to target your grandparents.

Holding your girlfriend wouldn’t necessarily force your father or mine to comply with their demands.

It might pressure you, but you don’t have the final say.

Your grandparents, on the other hand, are a different story altogether.

Both our fathers would be more inclined to bend, especially yours.

Lady Stephanie is his mother, and I know I’d do anything to protect my own mother, just like you would for yours.

Now imagine your father’s situation,” Noah explained, connecting the dots eloquently.

“It was quick thinking to prevent them from coming home,” he praised, and hearing Noah piece everything together, I realised how much sense it made.

“Sophia isn’t my girlfriend,” I corrected him, and he nodded, chuckling.

“Yeah, right.

So we all got involved in something that wasn’t our business because you wanted some excitement, Li?” he questioned, leaving me unsure of how to respond.

He then revealed something embarrassing, saying, “Your mother told mine that you confessed your feelings for Sophia to her and your father.” My impulsive actions left me feeling utterly embarrassed.

In my defense, I tried to explain, “I wanted them to take the situation seriously.” Noah countered my argument, saying, “You didn’t need to confess your feelings unless they were genuine, Li.

You were planning to ask her out the night she went missing.

You’ve been through a lot of emotional trauma.” He paused and fixed me with a serious gaze.

It was an unusual expression for Noah, who, along with Sebastien, usually appeared playful and carefree.

However, their sharp eyes betrayed their keen awareness of their surroundings.

It was impossible to fool them; their ability to quickly piece things together made lying futile.

“You’re my cousin,” he sighed, “and so is Josephine,” he added, hinting at the direction of the conversation.

“I’m aware of what’s going on between you two.

Your silent gestures and secret mind links don’t fool me, which is why I brought up Sophia during breakfast.

I’d hate to see Jo hurt.

She’s kind-hearted and sweet, and she doesn’t deserve to be caught up in your issues with Sophia.

If she’s just a substitute until Sophia is found, I promise you, Li, you’ll have a problem with me, and I am sure it is the same for the others because we expect better from you.

Jo may seem tough, but she has a gentle soul that can be easily bruised.

I see the way she looks at you, the way she laughs and acts around you.

Li, and if you were oblivious to that fact before, I hope you understand it now and do

anyone’s substitute,” he said with genuine concern evident in

“She isn’t Sophia’s substitute.

I struggled to find the words, and he

this, you have to promise to

his brow, considering my words

had feelings for

confessed it to everyone and

I don’t have those feelings

and he remained silent, waiting for me

I are fated,” I blurted out, causing him to gasp, his eyes widening in

during dinner when we

I fought against it, but in the end, I decided to give fate a chance,”

she isn’t eighteen

You can’t know.

can’t know,” he argued, and

same at first, but fate seems

know, and I don’t intend to tell her anytime

if she wants me or not,” I explained, and he

want her?” he asked, and I nodded

I admitted, and he bowed his head in

“I believe you, Li.

flashed while you were talking

with Sophia, so I believe you,” he reassured me, taking note of the

secret is

her or anyone, and

said, and with those words, his serious

to believe that the Albert

just seemed the type

ones you invited to the picnic?”

climbers?” he chuckled,

didn’t know,”

but it

extras, but it’s just us, so we make

I find

for amusement,

with those boys,” he said, laughing, and I could

have seen Harper

guy just

had to tell him to literally shut the fuck up! You two missed it, but I guess you guys were busy in the romance department,” he added, slipping his hands into

realised my Eastern cousins were

traces of clues, we came to a surprising observation – someone had returned to

ground floor appeared immaculate, with the floors mopped and all surfaces

it was evident that the cleaning couldn’t

of Josephine

of disinfectants, indicating that the place

apparent that whoever was responsible for this had worked tirelessly throughout the night to achieve such a

both intrigued

seems like there’s nothing to

the room

and Justin appeared puzzled,

evident that someone did an exceptional cleaning job,” Justin remarked, and we nodded, already having reached

worked tirelessly through the night and ventilated the place,” Josephine added, acknowledging the

to rely heavily on the housekeeper waking up,” Noah suggested, and it dawned on me that we

house so meticulously, they could also take measures to prevent

feeling the

men from Lucland to guard her in the

I think we should stay with the housekeeper until they arrive

lengths to cover their tracks,

she didn’t see their faces, she might have interacted with them or overheard their conversation before they harmed her.” As I spoke, Justin’s eyes

through the mental link, instructing them to return

wasted no

wait for Justin to make the

on the first

the pleasantries

send Kappa Levi with at least

guard a witness,”

“Yes, your Highness.

it interesting that he didn’t ask for confirmation from my father

he trusted my

did he say?”

would send them

the situation and the

limitations on our requests,” Charlotte

enough time to clean grandma’s house thoroughly?”

there was no

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