Nigel wasn't fond of pack gatherings, especially ones filled with layered hierarchy and constant social pressure. So when he found himself looking after Anastasia's child in the designated pup-safe area, it felt like a quiet relief from the shifting dominance games inside the estate.
At that moment, a waitress approached me with a polite bow. "Miss Tillman, Old Madam Presgrave requests your presence at the poolside."
I paused, slightly surprised. My instincts immediately sharpened, sensing inconsistency. Old Madam Presgrave had been seated inside moments ago. Still, when I glanced toward the main hall and saw her absence, I nodded slowly.
"Alright. Thank you for informing me."
As I stepped away from the banquet hall, I felt it before I saw it—eyes tracking me.
Erica watched from a distance, her lips curling faintly. There was something wrong in her expression, something too satisfied, too certain. A planned outcome unfolding exactly as expected.
Hayley's influence.
