When Bai Li An's mother arrived, she was startled to see the second young master smiling happily at Bai Yue. Her daughter had warned her against the man – the monster, as she called him. A sense of danger crawled up her skin and goosebumps sprang over her arms and the back of her neck. She shuddered and did her best not to show her unease. The man was dangerous. It was best not to show weakness.
"Second young master, why are you here?" she asked gently as she made her way to the carriage.
"Can't I be here?" he said instead of answering the question, his expression falsely amiable.
"O-of course, you can. I was merely curious. After all, there is no need for you to see us, unimportant people, off." She hastily climbed into the carriage, her eyes inadvertently landing on Bai Yue's three bags. She wondered which one contained the money.
