Chapter 2: The Wicked Man Who Refused to Leave

Butler Sowden had only tossed out that line to brush Celia Greaves off. He never expected her to call him on it. Did she really think she deserved to have the madam and the young miss prepare things for her personally? Who did she think she was? Worse, Butler Sowden even worried that Celia Greaves's things would dirty the car he had driven over. The more he thought about it, the colder his expression became. He skipped past the topic entirely and sneered, "So what do you want, then? Forgive me for being blunt, but the junk you're using right now? If you bring it to the Greaves family and it dirties their floors, you won't be the one who comes out looking good. I'm sure Miss Celia doesn't want to go home only to be disliked by sir and madam the moment she steps through the door, does she?" Celia Greaves caught every shred of his contempt. Her eyes stayed pale and calm, yet there was a faint, chilly amusement in them. "If you can't speak like a decent human being, then send someone who can. Where are my biological parents? They found their own daughter, and they can't even be bothered to come take one look?" Butler Sowden had assumed she would shrink back and compromise. After all, she was just some country girl. "As long as Miss Celia has come to her senses. I'm doing this for your own good…" He paused, then jerked. "What? You want sir and madam to come in person?" Once it sank in what she meant, he nearly laughed from sheer irritation. "Sir and madam are people of status. How could they possibly lower themselves to come to a dump like this?" He was about to pile on a few more barbs when he met Celia Greaves's gaze, dark and cold as a winter pool. Something in his chest twitched. He couldn't help recalling what had happened earlier. In truth, he hadn't listened to the village chief at first. The chief had warned him that anyone from the village who went up that mountain got lost, and that there was no signal up there. Butler Sowden hadn't taken it seriously. He brought men with him and went anyway. Then the damnedest thing happened. Before they even reached the halfway point, they lost their bearings. Their phones had no signal, and even the compass went dead. They had nearly been trapped in the mountains for good. It had taken everything to stumble back down. Only then had he abandoned the idea of going up to find Celia Greaves and waited in the village like he'd been told. With that cool, faintly mocking look on her face, he felt a chill crawl over his skin. The words jammed in his throat, refusing to come out. "Safe travels. Don't let me keep you." Celia Greaves shrugged. Even after hearing his pointed, degrading insinuations, she acted as if it didn't matter. Not a trace of inferiority showed on her face. She was making it crystal clear. She wasn't going with him today. But if he didn't bring her back, he'd have no way to answer to sir and madam. Butler Sowden clenched his jaw, then finally spat, "Fine! Miss Celia, I'll wait for you!" ------------------------------ In early March, Phoenix Mountain was still wrapped in the bite of early spring. No one would have guessed that Phoenix Valley, hidden deep within layers of forested peaks, held a world of its own. At the center of the valley lay an oval lake, pale blue and shallow. Unknown plants bloomed riotously along the shore, and dozens of trees that bled dark red sap formed a ring around the water. Celia Greaves walked at an unhurried pace into the wooden cabin by the lake. The moment she saw the figure lounging against the wall, the smile on her face faded. Her brows tightened into a hard knot. "You still haven't left?" The man leaning there had skin like porcelain and jade, features so exquisite they bordered on wicked. His cool, thin lips curved slightly, lazy and unrestrained. His black shirt was only fastened with two buttons. The collar hung open, exposing a slice of taut, strong chest. Even the simplest movement looked effortlessly noble on him, as if refinement had been carved into his bones. If not for that ruinous face of his, she wouldn't have softened for a moment and saved him seven days ago. Hearing her, he tilted his head, wearing a lazy, roguish grin. "I think I can stay a little longer. Recover properly." Celia Greaves's eyelid twitched. She studied him with a thoughtful seriousness. "If you 'recover' any more, you'll turn into a pig." Turn into a pig. That was a first. Ray Reves's mouth twitched, then he let out a low laugh. His tone stayed languid, irritatingly so. "Little one, you still want to kick me out that badly?" Celia Greaves stepped aside and cleared the doorway, her stance unmistakable. "Door's right there. Don't let me stop you." It was obvious her patience had run out. Ray Reves lifted a shoulder and pushed himself upright, strolling to a stop in front of her. "Don't be mad. I'm leaving." As he spoke, he took a silver pendant from his pocket and placed it in her palm. "If you need anything, bring this to Crown Garden, Pine City and find me." His fingertips brushed her hand. Ray Reves narrowed his eyes slightly, his mood inexplicably brightening. Celia Greaves gave a quiet "Mm," but she didn't take his words to heart. Swallowing the "good riddance" that nearly slipped out, she pulled a small bronze triangle from her pocket. "Follow the direction it points. Be out of the mountain before eight tonight." With that, she turned and walked straight back into the cabin. Ray Reves glanced over his shoulder. The girl had already gone to the desk. A brush was poised in her hand, and her delicate, stunning face never turned his way again. Her pale fingers caught the sunlight in fine, scattered glints. Even the way she moved the brush was eye-catching. Ray Reves gave a soft, amused snort. His gaze paused on the red string around her wrist, then he finally strode out on those long, straight legs and headed down the mountain the way she'd said. Before he even reached the foot of the mountain, he ran into Evan Quinny and the others wandering around the mid-slope. They were filthy and drawn, looking thoroughly battered. The moment Evan Quinny saw him, his eyes lit up and he rushed over. "Ray, are you okay?" He looked Ray Reves up and down, checking him carefully. Only after confirming he was fine did he finally breathe out. He and this lord of his had come out here to find someone. Neither of them had expected an attack. Ray Reves had been injured, and then they'd gotten separated. If anything had happened to him, Evan Quinny didn't even dare imagine whether the old master of the Reves family back in the Imperial Capital would come charging over with a blade to take his head off. So seeing Ray Reves safe made Evan Quinny happier than anyone. But that relief didn't last long. Evan Quinny's face fell again. He opened his mouth, almost unable to meet Ray Reves's eyes. "Ray… there's more bad news. We've been lost for days." Ray Reves raised a brow, still lazy as ever. "Oh?" Evan Quinny couldn't help spilling it all at once. "Ray, what the hell is this place? No signal, and even your private positioning satellite looked like it got blocked by something. And this mountain's creepy as hell. We've been looping around the same area for days and can't get out. Ray, you got turned around too, right?" Thinking of the days he'd spent at little one's place, Ray Reves's gaze flickered. Facing Evan Quinny's righteous indignation, he didn't feel the slightest bit guilty. He simply hummed, "Mm," then smoothly changed the subject. "I know the way out. Let's go." Evan Quinny was overjoyed. The way he looked at Ray Reves grew even more sincere, the admiration almost reverent… ------------------------------ The next day, Celia Greaves appeared in front of Butler Sowden with a small bag on her back, still dressed in the same plain, clean style. Butler Sowden was already seated in the car. He flicked a glance at her and let out a cold laugh. He'd thought she was going to pack clothes and necessities. Instead, she showed up with nothing but a small bag. Clearly, yesterday she'd been putting on airs on purpose. So young, yet her thoughts were already that deep. And she was that intolerant of others, too. Once she arrived at the Greaves family, who knew how badly Miss Chloe would be bullied by her? Convinced he'd seen through her, Butler Sowden sneered and spoke. "Didn't Miss Celia say you were going to pack your things? What precious item was worth running up the mountain to fetch? Why don't you let me have a look too?"