When they were all gone, Katelyn sank into her chair and exhaled deeply. She had finally found a moment of peace, though it didn’t feel like enough. The storm they had caused still echoed in her mind, leaving her with a throbbing headache.

Jaxen turned to Katelyn, concern evident on his face.

“Are you okay?” He knew how hard the night had been for her.

Katelyn waved her hand, brushing off the concern.

“I’m fine. There’s no need to worry.”

At that moment, an official from the jewelry competition stepped forward, addressing her.

“Miss Bailey, what should we do about the plagiarism issue with Lise’s work?”

With Lise now in custody, they needed Katelyn’s decision on the matter.

She responded without hesitation, “Follow the standard procedures.” Everyone was responsible for their actions. No one should bear the consequences of someone else’s mistakes.

The official let out a collective sigh of relief. This was the answer they had hoped for, as anything else could have damaged their reputation. Katelyn offered a calm apology.

“I’m sorry for all the trouble today.”

She knew the chaos must have scared them, but the Bailey family’s dramas were nothing new to her. It hardly fazed her anymore. The officials exchanged glances before one spoke with a kind tone.

“It’s no trouble at all. Do you need to see a doctor for your injuries?” No one could say just how badly she had been hurt.

Jaxen’s face darkened, his concern turning to anger.

“Did they hurt you again?”

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At that moment, a surge of cold fury gripped him. He wanted nothing more than to drag Lise back and show her what she deserved.

Katelyn gave him a reassuring smile.

“I’m fine. Now that they have been caught, your friend would definitely be very happy if she knew.” Jaxen paused, his thoughts heavy. He didn’t respond immediately. He wasn’t sure if his friend would feel happy, but one thing was certain—his friend had lost her life, and there was no way Lise could ever make up for that.

Katelyn, sensing his sorrow, gave his shoulder a comforting pat.

Looking at her watch, she noted the time. It was nearly noon, and both the Housing Bureau and the notary office would soon close for a lunch break.

She turned to Jaxen with a suggestion.

“Come have lunch with me, and then you can join me somewhere this afternoon.”

Jaxen, still lost in his sorrow, turned to her, his curiosity piqued.

“Where are we going?”

Katelyn offered a small, enigmatic smile.

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