Two days passed by quickly.

Eve Vaughn practiced the piano for over ten hours every day, until calluses formed on her fingertips.

Finally, she earned Mr. Lawson’s approval. "At last. You’re starting to have a bit of Joanna’s old flair!"

Eve Vaughn didn’t know whether she should feel happy or sad.

On the day of Mason Lawson’s birthday, Eve Vaughn used school as an excuse to leave early in the morning.

Eric Kendall had hired a professional makeup artist and even found a dress in the same style Joanna Sullivan had once worn. They began to get Eve Vaughn ready.

As evening fell, Mason Lawson sent Eve Vaughn a text, telling her he had a social engagement that night and wouldn’t be home for dinner.

Eve Vaughn felt inexplicably nervous.

’I wonder... will he be happy when he sees the surprise?’

’He... should be, right?’

Eve Vaughn suddenly felt a pang of disappointment. After all, her and Eric Kendall’s goal was simply to make sure Mason Lawson had a happy birthday.

But it was all on the condition that she imitate another woman.

The birthday party was held at the very hotel where Joanna Sullivan and Mason Lawson had first met.

Eric Kendall had booked the entire hotel for the night, even though the only people celebrating Mason Lawson’s birthday were his three best friends and Eve Vaughn.

At first, they did as they had in previous years—sitting together, chatting about everything under the sun, drinking, and singing.

Sometimes, Eric Kendall would even hire some celebrities or models to keep them company.

But today, there were no other women. After a few rounds of drinks, Eric Kendall pulled Mason Lawson aside and said mysteriously, "We have a big gift for you today!"

Mason Lawson guessed it had to be Eve Vaughn, and he couldn’t help but feel a tickle of anticipation.

Since they had prepared this mysterious surprise, he decided not to spoil it and played along. He asked with feigned confusion, "What big gift?"

Eric Kendall grinned from ear to ear and said, "A gift that’s guaranteed to surprise you! Let’s go, let’s go, you have to go unwrap it yourself!"

Hamilton Hale chimed in from the side, "Yeah, let’s go. Don’t waste any more time."

Jonah Spencer suddenly felt uneasy. Something just didn’t feel right.

But it was too late to stop them!

Eric Kendall and Hamilton Hale were already pushing Mason Lawson out the door, one on each arm.

Down on the hotel’s first floor, all the lights had been turned off. A single spotlight shone on the stage, brightly illuminating a black grand piano.

In front of the piano sat a girl in a white dress, looking as fresh and ethereal as a fairy descended to the mortal realm.

Soon, a familiar melody reached Mason Lawson’s ears. It was the piece she had played when he first met Joanna Sullivan.

Even the venue was the same—the place where the Rivaster Charity Gala had been held all those years ago.

The then 22-year-old Joanna Sullivan, as a special guest, had been the star of the show that day with her original piano composition.

It was also on that day that Mason Lawson first noticed her.

Soon after, they fell madly in love, for three whole years...

Memories of the past flooded his mind like a tidal wave, but as Mason Lawson’s dark, deep eyes fixed on the young girl on stage, he knew with perfect clarity that she was not Joanna Sullivan.

And yet, she was wearing the exact same dress as Joanna, playing the exact same song.

His three friends were secretly observing Mason Lawson’s expression.

Hamilton Hale whispered quietly in Eric Kendall’s ear, "Why does Mason look so expressionless? He... doesn’t seem very happy. Do you think our surprise didn’t quite hit the mark?"

Eric Kendall said with full confidence, "No way! Can’t you see he’s just stunned, totally floored? Let me ask you, this scene I’ve created—isn’t it exactly like the first time they met?"

Hamilton Hale nodded with a hint of admiration. "It’s a perfect replica!"

Eric Kendall smirked smugly and said, "Just you wait. Mason’s going to thank me properly tonight!"

Just as the two were whispering, Mason Lawson suddenly strode toward the stage.

Eve Vaughn was following Ms. Linton’s instructions, trying to lose herself in the music so she could play with emotion.

But suddenly, a large hand slammed down directly onto the piano keys.

A jarring, muffled CLANG made Eve Vaughn stop playing.

The three men in the audience finally realized something was wrong.

Eve Vaughn looked up and met Mason Lawson’s sharp, intimidating gaze.

She stammered, at a loss, "U...Uncle Mason."

Mason Lawson suppressed his anger and asked, "Whose idea was this?"

Hamilton Hale kicked Eric Kendall from behind, startling Eric into running over to salvage the situation. "M-my idea! It’s your birthday, I just wanted to make you happy, you know?"

Mason Lawson’s expression was terrifyingly cold. He didn’t say another word to Eric Kendall. Instead, he grabbed Eve Vaughn’s wrist and pulled her to her feet.

Just like that, under the gazes of the others, Mason Lawson dragged Eve Vaughn and strode out of the hotel.

Eric Kendall was stunned and turned to look back at his two friends.

Hamilton Hale quickly ran over and shoved him. "Go after them, hurry! With Mason in that state, that poor girl is in for a rough night."

"Right, right, we don’t want someone to get killed."

Eric Kendall said this as he started to chase after them.

But he returned a moment later, looking dazed. He said weakly, "Just now... Mason drove off with Eve Vaughn. I... I couldn’t catch up."

Jonah Spencer sighed. "I told you the other day this might not be a good idea, but you two wouldn’t listen. Now look what’s happened."

Hamilton Hale snapped irritably, "Stop with the ’I told you so’s’! We need to figure something out! If we don’t, Mason might be done with us for good!"

Hearing this, Eric Kendall asked nervously, "N-no way, right?"

"What do you think?" Jonah Spencer shot him a look. "Didn’t you see the look on Mason’s face when he left?"

Just then, their phones all pinged simultaneously.

Eric Kendall opened his phone, looked at it, and froze. "It’s over. Mason left the group chat!"

...

On the road, Mason Lawson was driving at a terrifying speed, and Eve Vaughn was scared out of her wits. He had the convertible top down, and the wind rushed into Eve’s ears with a deafening roar.

"Uncle Mason, can you please slow down?" the young girl shouted. "This is dangerous!"

The man’s restrained but cold command came: "Shut up!"

Terrified, Eve Vaughn squeezed her eyes shut, her heart about to leap out of her throat.

She had never seen Mason Lawson so out of control.

The Mason Lawson she knew was always calm and steady. It felt like as long as he was around, she had nothing to fear.

But now she was discovering that when Mason Lawson lost his sanity, he was terrifying.

He sped all the way back to the villa. After getting out, Mason Lawson walked to the other side of the car and dragged the stunned girl out.

All his movements were a single, fluid motion, without a single wasted word.

"Uncle Mason, let me go! You’re hurting me!" Eve Vaughn struggled ceaselessly.

The strength of Mason Lawson’s grip didn’t lessen in the slightest as he dragged Eve Vaughn into the master bedroom.

When he threw her onto the bed, Eve Vaughn’s head spun.

By the time her vision cleared, Mason Lawson’s long fingers were loosening his tie. The top buttons of his shirt were undone, revealing his firm, wheat-colored chest.

The man’s gaze was frighteningly gloomy. The way he removed his clothes, while not rough—one might even call it elegant—was enough to make Eve Vaughn’s heart pound with fear.