The man''s face froze like a statue made of ice, as if he''d just been hit with a st of cold air.


    The officer caught his reaction. "Why the big reaction? Do you know her?"


    The man''s previously stoic face flickered with life and a touch of arrogance. "She''s no one important. Why are you ying messenger for her? You want me to meet her?"


    "What next? Should I start entertaining every random person who wants a piece of my time?"


    The officer was momentarily stunned.


    "Um, well," he mumbled, trying to regain hisposure.


    "I''m just trying to help you out here. You''ve been locked up for quite a while, and no one''se to see you. Now, a rich heiress wants to visit. Meeting her might keep you connected to the world outside. It could make your time here a bit more bearable."


    "I won''t meet her," the man replied, his voice firm and unwavering.


    The officer looked disappointed. "Really? You don''t want to see her?"


    The manpsed into an odd silence.


    Did he really not want to see her?


    Of course, he did.


    He dreamed of seeing her.


    But what good would it do?


    Would he admit he was the one pulling Nathan''s strings? Or show her the face behind the sunsses?


    And then what?


    Nothing.


    He couldn''t even begin to imagine the awful fallout.


    If Nathalie discovered the truth-that beneath his polished surfacey a scarred, sinister soul-how disappointed would she be?


    "I won''t see her," he growled, his voice low and rough.


    "Why would I want to meet a stranger?"


    The officer squinted, scrutinizing him. "You seem pretty worked up whenever she''s brought up."


    The man shot him a dark look. "I''ll say it again, don''t bother me with irrelevant people."


    The officer sighed, feeling at a loss.


    "I thought maybe there was something more between you two."


    The man stormed off, frustration radiating from him.


    paperwork


    when she got a messa from Officer Ashburn: Ashburn: "Sorry, No. 13 taking visitors."


    isn''t


    Nathalie''s heart skipped a beat, a jolt of unexpected emotion.


    Why did this news unsettle her so?


    She felt an odd sympathy for this


    man, who had family and friends yet chose to shut himself away like a castaway on a deserted ind.


    Who could understand his loneliness, his istion?


    Or maybe it was the fact that this lead had dried up, leaving her at a loss for the next step in reviving Nathan.


    Nathalie shot back a message to Officer Ashburn: "Let''s take it slow."


    After sending the text, she ced her phone face down on the desk.


    Suddenly, the office door swung open, and Greta strutted in, all business and confidence.


    "Nathalie," she greeted warmly, as if they were close sisters.


    "What are you doing here?" Nathalie asked, surprise etched on her face.


    Greta, with a gracious air, exined, "Uncle''s worried about yourck of qualifications and asked me to lend a hand."


    Nathalie was floored.


    "My dad arranged for you to join the Stewart familypany?"


    Greta smirked. "Yep, Uncle really values my education. You know, he graduated from the top university in the capital, so he takes academics seriously. Even though you''re his daughter, your credentials don''t quite cut it. Naturally, he favors me more." Greta knew exactly how to twist the knife in Nathalie''s wound.


    Nathalie felt a wave of anger crash over her.


    The humiliating memories ofpeting with Greta for their husband''s attention


    surged back...