That very day, Lucille said goodbye to Madeline, packed her things, and transferred to Jamieson Group.

The moment she arrived, Cecilia ditched Nathaniel and dragged her out for a shopping spree.

Concerned, Nathaniel offered, “I’ll come with you.”

Cecilia shook her head immediately. “It’s girls’ shopping time. A grown man tagging along would just make things awkward. Lucy wouldn’t be able to relax—she’d feel like a third wheel.”

Nathaniel sighed softly. “Then I’ll have Mason come over.”

“Mason still has work to do,” Cecilia replied with a playful smile. “And you promised to help with my tasks so I could actually take a break and have some fun, remember?”

The longer Nathaniel looked at her bright smile, the more uneasy he felt.