Hope Newton stepped out of her room and spotted the familiar lunch boxes on the dining table downstairs. The embroidered covers had a new pattern—not the ones from last night.

She went downstairs and opened a box. Fresh lunch, just as expected. The portions were bigger than dinner—enough for two. Uncle Dragon must have prepared it for her and Easton.

No message from Easton, so he was probably still home.

Hope went back upstairs and knocked on the study door. She could hear faint movement inside, but no one opened.

Her worry spiked. Easton wouldn’t ignore her like this—could the Farrell family be scheming again while he’s here? Poison, maybe?...