Heidi's POV: I lay on the hospital bed, restless. It had been days since I'd last seen Caden. Ever since that day—when Wendy had come to the hospital and Caden left with her—he hadn't returned. Then came the shocking news that Wendy had attempted suicide by slashing her wrists. I called Caden over and over, but he never answered. Frustrated, I called Yale. He answered, but his voice sounded distracted. "What's the matter, Ms. Tessford?" he asked, his tone curt. "Yale, where's Caden? Why can't I reach him? Is he at the office?" I demanded. Yale's voice grew low and serious. "The CEO went to Yerkshire for disaster relief." "What?" I gasped. "He went to Yerkshire?" Rosaline was in Yerkshire too. "Yes," Yale replied, his voice steady. "There was a major earthquake in Yerkshire. Eclipse Group has always been involved in charity work. The CEO went personally to assist with the relief efforts. It's part of our company's strategy to boost its image." I sank back, my disappointment sinking deeper. "Alright. Thanks, Yale." The call ended, and the hollow feeling in my chest grew. I hadn't expected Caden to go to Yerkshire. What bothered me most was why he went. Was it really for the disaster relief ... or was it for Rosaline? The thought of her ignited the flames of jealousy inside me. At that moment, my phone buzzed. I checked the message, and my face hardened further. I quickly changed out of my hospital gown, threw on a dress, grabbed my purse, and walked out of the room. "Ms. Tessford, what are you doing?" The werewolf nurse looked at me in shock.I forced a smile. "I've been lying down all day. I need to get some air." The nurse frowned, still concerned. "Be careful, Ms. Tessford. You're still weak. Don't walk around too much." "I'll be fine," I said, brushing off her worries. I stepped outside the hospital, and there, parked directly in front of me, was a black car. The door opened, and a werewolf bodyguard in black motioned to me. "Get in, Ms. Tessford." I glanced around, seeing nothing unusual, and slipped into the car. The vehicle sped through the city, eventually heading out to the suburbs. It stopped in front of a villa, nestled by the mountains and a calm lake. "We've arrived, Ms. Tessford," the werewolf driver said, opening the door for me. "Thanks," I muttered, stepping out and making my way toward the villa. In the villa's living room, a tall werewolf sat on the sofa. He wore a charcoal gray suit, his face cold and his expression grim. It was Everett. He lifted his eyes when I stepped inside. "You made it." I hesitated before speaking softly, "Everett." "Did anyone see you come?" His voice was icy, sharp. I shook my head quickly. "No, I was careful." "Then why hasn't the job been done?!" Everett suddenly rose, looming over me. His presence pressed down on me like a storm, and I trembled. My voice quivered. "I'll try harder, I promise." "I don't want your ‘try.' I want results!" The coldness in his tone sent a chill through me. He picked up a thick vine and stepped toward me slowly. "For years, I've trained you, and I eventually turned you into Tessa. I had you get close to Caden, gain his trust, make him fall for you. And yet, after all this time, you're still stuck. No progress!" "No, there's progress!" I swallowed hard, fear creeping into my chest. "I've faked late-stage stomach cancer. It worked. Caden softened. He broke up with Rosaline. He loves me now. Everett, you have to believe me. I'll make it work, I swear.""Is that so?" His voice dripped with sarcasm. "Then where is Caden now?" "He's in Yerkshire, doing disaster relief. It has nothing to do with Rosaline," I backed away, anxiety tightening around my throat. "It better be the truth," Everett's eyes narrowed, his voice colder. "Heidi, you know what happens to those who fail." Fear shot through me, freezing my body. I fell to my knees, gripping his leg with trembling hands. "Everett, please ... give me more time. I'll finish the task, I swear!" "Fine. One last chance," Everett's voice was low, a threat hiding behind every word. "But if you disappoint me again, it'll be like this teacup." He swung the vine, smashing it down onto the teacup on the table. The cup shattered with a loud crash. I gasped, terror clawing at my insides. This man—he was a devil. "Go back. Don't raise any suspicion," Everett ordered, sitting back down, his gaze hard. "Yes, Everett. I'll go back now." I exhaled, the weight lifting slightly as I walked out of the villa. My mind spun. Caden's tall, lean figure flashed before me, and I bit my lip as a pang of longing struck deep. I was nothing more than a pawn in Everett's cruel game. My adoptive father had taken me in to turn me into Tessa, to get close to Caden and extract secrets from the Eclipse Pack. Everett, the son of my adoptive father, was my so-called brother. But he had always treated me with disdain. If I didn't meet his expectations, he'd lash out without mercy. Why had my life come to this? A puppet, bound to the strings of others.