Instead of following her father back home, Maeve was taken to one of the council's safe houses, which was heavily protected. Moreover, it was a place Maeve preferred to stay compared to her own home, where she would be alone.
'He couldn't kill me here even if he wanted to,' Maeve thought to herself with a smug smile as she sat in the garden, sipping on a warm cup of tea. The early morning sunlight cast a warm glow over the vibrant flowers around her. Despite the initial fear, she couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. Her plan had gone smoothly, and Zane was left confused and vulnerable, exactly as she had intended. With Stella gone, there were no witnesses to contradict her story, and the council's focus on a potential heir had bought her valuable time.