Abner''s weather forecast was spot-on, and that very night, the skies opened up in a torrential downpour.


    Carol was jolted awake by the sound of thunder. She got up and peered outside.


    The rain wasing down in sheets, drumming against the windowpanes with such intensity that it was almost musical. She nced down at the ground floor and saw Felix still kneeling there.


    It seemed the servants had taken pity on him, for they hadn''t turned off the lights downstairs.


    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    With her sharp eyes, Carol noticed a bunch of flowers discarded not too far away, now being pelted by the rain, their petals scattered all over the ground.


    She clutched the curtain, suddenly caught up in fervent prayer.


    She wished that the heavens would unleash a few more bolts of lightning, preferably enough to strike him down once and for all. But when the skies actually began to rumble with thunder, she found herself unable to sleep.


    What if he really did get struck by lightning? Tossing and turning, she eventually drifted off into a fitful slumber.


    She awoke the next day around ten in the morning.


    Immediately, she went to the window, and there he was, still kneeling.


    Taking a deep breath, she headed downstairs for breakfast.


    The servants lingered nearby, hesitant to speak. She pretended not to notice.


    After breakfast, Carol decided to head out for sfun.


    But these days, she didn''t have manypanions to call on. Ian was keeping a close watch on Maja, paranoid about her every move, especially with the baby on the way.


    So she dialed Ynda''s number instead.


    The phone rang for a good while, but Ynda didn''t pick up.


    Carol frowned. It had been almost two months since theyst spoke.


    She tried calling her uncle, but there was no answer there either.


    Just as Carol was debating whether she should drop by and check on them, Ynda called back, her voice barely above a whisper. "Sis." "Ynda, what have you been up totely?" "I''m attending sses at school." Ynda was always the free spirit, thest person to enjoy the confines of a ssroom. Something didn''t add up.


    Carol''s frown deepened, sensing that things were amiss.


    "Don''t get yourself into any more trouble." "Sis, I swear, I''m actually going to sses. I took a hiatus, remember? Now I''m nning to finish up my credits and get a decent job." Carol let out a sigh of relief. "d you''ve cto your senses." "Sis, and you? Is Felix giving you a hard time?" "No." They chatted for a bit longer before hanging up.


    Carol sat on the curb, not wanting to go hand with nowhere else to turn.


    Eventually, she found herself at Greenfield Gardens.


    Maja was listening to Corne et Elvis give an update on thepany''s recent affairs. When Maja saw Carol approaching she looked somewhat surprised.


    Carol hastily mustered a smile. "I hope I''m not interrupting anything?" Maja quickly offered her a seat. "Have you had lunch?" "Yeah, I have." Carol had intended to talk to Maja about Felix, but with Cornelia and Elvis present, she hesitated to bring it up.


    Elvis seemed to notice she had something on her mind and closed his folder.


    "Mr. Pennyfeather, that''s the current situation. Do you have anything to add?" Maja waved a hand dismissively, turning to Cornelia. "Cornelia, try to stay out of the tabloids, will you?" Cornelia looked innocently perplexed. "All I did was post a mon that young hunk''s ab-show-off post. I had no idea in et would blow up like this, Mr. Pennyfeather. It''s been handled, though." Content belongs englishWon Maja massaged her temples. "Elvis, take control of her social media for now. Don''t let her log in herself until things have cooled down." Elvis nodded, pushing up his wire-rimmed sses, thinking to himself how odd it was that Omar had been unting his six-packtely, putting on an uncharacteristically sultry show.