"Thank you, but she can serve herself." Halbert spoke up, his tone polite yet pointed. "As for you, Tracy, this was originally intended to be a private family dinner. I was worried we wouldn't be able to host you properly. Is there anything here you like? If not, I can have the private kitchen prepare a few more dishes." His words were a courtesy on the surface, but the underlying message was clear: he was warning Tracy not to overstep her bounds as a guest. Tracy offered a forced smile. "I understand. I'm not a picky eater. I like whatever she likes, so I can eat any of this." Her response carried a double meaning, but Eliza chose to ignore it. She focused instead on the fact that Tristan had gone out of his way to ensure the kitchen prepared all her favorites. "Thank you." Eliza lowered her head to eat, and Tristan nodded slightly. "Back in Westbrook, I was at peace knowing Nolan was looking after you. Now that you're home, the household staff may not be fully acquainted with your preferences yet. If anything is not to your liking, tell your brothers directly, and they will see to it." "Thank you. You're always so thoughtful." Eliza was dying to ask about her mother, but with Tracy and Zayden present, she didn't know how to broach the subject. Tristan seemed to read her mind. He turned his gaze toward Tracy and said indifferently, "I just remembered—your studies in Westbrook aren't finished yet. Is it really alright for you to be flying back and forth like this?" Tracy had been back for two days, and since Tristan hadn't mentioned it until now, she assumed he didn't care. Caught off guard by the question about her academics, she could only stammer, "I've already mastered the material at Westbrook. Whether I attend class or not doesn't make much of a difference. I have a proxy sign in for me every day; it won't be an issue." "I believe academics should remain the priority. You are the one who should be in class, not a proxy." "I... yes." "I've already had Christian arrange your flight. You're heading back tonight." The news hit Tracy like a physical blow. She looked up sharply. "But I haven't even—" "You can come back once the semester is over. One shouldn't leave things half-finished. Since you insisted on attending the Finance University, you should know that your studies come first." "...Understood." "I'll have someone pack your bags now. You need to catch your flight; it departs in an hour. I'll have the driver take you to the airport immediately." Ronaldo merely wiped the corners of his mouth. Tracy was stunned; she hadn't expected to be sent away so abruptly. Zayden made no move to stand. Tracy reached out, intending to pull him along with her, but Tristan spoke again. "Zayden doesn't need to go with you. I am sending you there to study, not to pursue a romance. Zayden will be staying here for the time being." Tracy was completely frozen. She had never seen Zayden and Tristan interact, yet Tristan was suddenly demanding he stay behind. She glanced between Zayden and Tristan, a sinking feeling in her gut that Zayden had done something behind her back. However, since Tristan had given the order, she had no grounds to argue. She could only follow the maid out of the room. Once Tracy was gone, Tristan turned to Zayden. "Go upstairs and wait for me in the study." "Yes, sir." Zayden complied obediently and headed upstairs. Eliza found the interaction strange. It seemed Zayden and Tristan had reached some sort of agreement. "What's going on?" she asked. Tristan turned to her. "Zayden's mother’s death was inextricably linked to Saint Corp. Consequently, he is more than willing to work for me." Eliza vividly remembered Zayden's mother dying in a car accident right in front of her. The driver had been caught, and nothing suspicious had been found at the time. Why would Zayden suddenly suspect Saint Corp? "I know what you're thinking," Tristan said. "Saint Corp has always been a loyal corporate front for the Redemption organization. Cramer currently manages their operations, but essentially, he's just a laborer for Redemption. That organization has existed for many years. Your mother was already investigating them before she died. She had just reached Wendy’s level of the hierarchy when she met her tragic end. We haven't stopped investigating them all these years, hoping that one day we can catch the killers so your mother can finally rest in peace.""So, you've known about Redemption all this time? You never stopped investigating them... you seem to know just as much as Wendy did."