Chapter 424

Elian Ashcroft's move was nothing but deliberate.

He was staking his claim, making it crystal clear that all Sebastian's little tricks amounted to nothing.

With Elian making things official for everyone to see, Sebastian suddenly felt like the joke was on him.

He clenched his phone so tightly his knuckles went white, emotions storming in his eyes.

It was like one of those deep-sea currents-everything looks calm on the surface,

but beneath it, there's a maelstrom that could swallow anything whole.

He took a long breath, trying to reel himself back in.

Never in his life had his emotions gotten so out of hand.

Elian had tried to get under his skin before, plenty of times, but he'd always managed to keep his cool.

But today...

Today was different. The anger wouldn't go away.

Just then, his phone buzzed. Jasper Vane had sent another message.

“Hey, Sebastian Everhart, don't be too bummed out. Honestly, Miranda Lancaster and Elian kinda make a cute couple."

Sebastian stared at the message, deadpan, then promptly blocked Jasper.

Jasper blinked at his screen in disbelief as his message bounced back with an exclamation mark.

Wait, what?

Did he seriously just get blocked?

All he'd done was try to cheer Sebastian up-nothing more!

Jasper wasn't even trying to stir up drama this time. Sure, when Miranda was single, he'd been a little nosy, but now that she was clearly with Elian? No way. He wasn't about to poke that hornet's nest.

He had no desire to get on either of their bad sides. Joking around was one thing— making enemies of Miranda or Elian was a whole different story.

He'd genuinely just wanted to comfort Sebastian.

But Sebastian blocking him? Since when did Sebastian even block people?

"Anyway, since you've got nothing better to do, go keep an eye on that company for me.” Miranda said this to Carter Hawke without looking up from her iPad, which displayed Crystal's latest medicinal plant cultivation report.

Carter pulled a face, looking like someone had just told him Christmas was cancelled. “Watch the company? What, like, what position?"

Miranda shrugged. "Up to you. You can be the doorman for all I care." She took a sip of her milk. "Or, if that sounds too boring, you can go shovel manure for me and fertilize the field out back."

Carter didn't miss a beat. "Doorman it is."

Miranda glanced at him, unimpressed. "Good."

She shot him the company address. "Don't be late."

Carter glanced back at her with a look of deep betrayal, then slouched out the door.

Miranda wasn't fooled-she knew Carter was planning on freeloading for a while.

So she might as well put him to work; she didn't need him hovering around her all day.

As soon as he left, Miranda picked up her phone and called Marion Smith.

"Well, well, to what do I owe the honor, Princess?" Marion's voice was full of mischief.

Miranda rolled her eyes. "Speak English."

Marion chuckled. "What's up? Need someone fired again?"

Miranda sighed. "Can't I ever just call you to say hi?"

Marion snorted. “Sure you can. But you never do."

Miranda: "..."

Fair point.

"When are you getting to Virell?" she asked.

"Soon as I finish up here and get through one last meeting—I'll be there by tomorrow morning."

Miranda knew Marion was coming to Virell this week, planning to

oversee the projects there

even move some of their business

over permanently.

fo

She smirked. "I found you a new security guard. Do me a favor and whip him into shape."

Marion sounded alarmed. "What?"

"His name's Carter. I already sent him over to report in. You'll meet him tomorrow."

Marion groaned. What did he do to deserve this?

After making arrangements, Miranda got back to Crystal's data reports.

Crystal was now able to grow nearly

all the medicinal plants Miranda needed plants that wouldn't survive outside this environment and couldn't be mass-produced.

But to Miranda's surprise, Crystal had actually managed to increase their yield, even

cultivating a few new hybrid species.

That meant Miranda wouldn't have to worry about running out of supplies.

Soon, she'd be introducing a new batch of medicine to the black market-right on schedule.

A little while later, Crystal came back inside, looking around for Carter.

"That guy leave already?"

Miranda sipped her water. "Gave him a job to do."

Crystal raised an eyebrow, but didn't ask for details—just went back to her work.

"Oh, by the way,” Miranda called after her, "the hospital's short-staffed. Interested?"

Crystal paused halfway up the stairs. "Trying to get rid of me?"

Miranda grinned. "Just checking. Maybe you want a change of scenery."

Crystal's role was somewhere

between assistant and partner, but Miranda never wanted to hold her Back. Crystal was obsessed with. pharmacology and medicine-She was here because she loved it, not because she had to be.

Crystal shot her a glare. “I'm not going anywhere. You kick me out, I'll poison you."

Miranda: "...”

Crystal stomped up to her room, slamming the door a little harder than necessary.

Deliberately.

Miranda rubbed her nose. She hadn't meant anything by it.

Time flew, and soon it was the day of the Virell Museum exhibition.

Miranda had put off helping Sebastian catch the culprit for now, thanks to some urgent jobs from Crow's Eye and RapidForce.

Sebastian had tried to reach her, but they'd agreed to reschedule.

The Virell Museum exhibition was a big deal, drawing all sorts of important guests.

Miranda's "crew" had already infiltrated the museum, each under various aliases.

While the group chat buzzed with speculation about where Miranda had gone, she was just stepping out of a Rolls-Royce at the museum entrance.

"Ms. Lancaster, right this way."