The only family left out of the anonymous notices was Roderick's family, who had already been pushed to the margins. Every other household that received a slip of paper had shown up. In the Ashford house, Lilian was still sulking in her bedroom, refusing to come out, but the other three came neatly together. Knowing the risk of standing out, they blended into the crowd like everyone else, careful not to reveal they were the ones who had set this in motion. Under her mother's instructions, Rosalie darted around the house, stoking the fire of conversation and whispering fuel into people's ears. Meanwhile, Lilian huddled with a few familiar society wives, fanning the flames of unease and dread. The summer heat, the crowded room, and the dozens of candles only made tempers burn hotter. "She wiped out the Boltons today—what if it's one of us tomorrow?" "We can't live in fear like this. That new family has to go!" "For our lives and our property, we need to stand together!" Voices rose in unison until the whole hall rang with the condemnation of Natalie. Yet beneath the noise, the unity was thin. The crowd had numbers and volume, but the undercurrent was scattered. Everyone was wary, no one fully committed. Hidden among the crowd, the movie star Frederick noticed that Wilona was itching to join in. He quickly tugged her back, his face dark. "Did you forget what we agreed on? Don't provoke that fake cop. We came here to listen, nothing more. Why are you getting all worked up now?" Wilona rolled her eyes. "Look around—there are so many people here. The situation's nothing like before. What's there to be afraid of?"Frederick gave a sharp, humorless laugh. "You think picking a fight with her is as easy as slipping into my wife's nightgown to seduce me?" He shot her a cold glance. "Careful, or you'll end up catching a bullet straight to hell. You're good at being the other woman—fighting isn't your lane." His blunt words left Wilona fuming. What kind of boyfriend called his girlfriend a mistress to her face? "Do you have to be such a jerk every time you speak?" she snapped. Frederick shoved his hands in his pockets. "If I weren't a jerk, you and I wouldn't even be a thing." Wilona was left speechless. He scanned the passionate crowd around them, then leaned close, warning her again. "If you want to jump in, fine. But move out of my place first. I'm not letting you drag me down with you." She muttered a curse under her breath, but didn't say another word. She had to swallow it. He was her meal ticket, and she knew it. Sure, she had a villa here too, but deep down she knew the truth. None of the wealthy residents actually respected her. On the surface she was a glamorous star, but to these people, she was nothing. Without Frederick's protection, those society wives would never tolerate her staying in Hillside Villa District. Seeing her settle down, Frederick smirked and turned his attention back to the commotion. Arrogant by nature, he normally would never let himself be shouted down without retaliation. But if he had one redeeming quality, it was knowing when to back off. The night of the massacre, he had brushed closer to death than ever before. Of everyone in Hillside Villa District, no one was shaken by the Boltons massacre more than him. If fate had tilted just slightly, he would have been the first to die under that woman's gun. He figured his ancestors must've begged on their knees in the afterlife to keep him alive that night. Coming that close to dying was something Frederick would never forget. The only reason he had brought Wilona along tonight was out of curiosity. He just wanted to see what everyone else planned to do. He had no intention of sticking his own neck out. But the longer he listened, the clearer it became. These people had no strategy, only empty shouting. For all the noise, not one workable plan had been laid out. It was better to stay out of the picture. Not far from him, the Carters had also kept quiet. At first, Emerson had muttered a few indignant lines with the crowd, but Talia quickly clapped a hand over his mouth. "How many times have I told you? Don't get involved in Natalie's business." Emerson frowned, thinking she was letting personal feelings cloud her judgment. "I know you used to be close with Scarlett, but her daughter's a killer now. You can't keep making excuses for her." Talia sighed, exasperated. "What power do I have to make excuses for her? I just don't want to cross her. Besides, in times like these, who's really a killer? It's survival of the fittest, nothing more." Emerson gestured toward the crowd. "With this many people around, you really think she's going to come after you?" "So many people?" Talia gave a cold laugh. "The person who organized this gathering still hasn't shown their face. You know why that is, don't you?" Emerson froze for a moment, then the realization hit. He fell silent. Beside them, their daughter tugged at his sleeve. "Dad, just listen to Mom. We can't let ourselves get used as someone else's pawn."