Mystery: Gray Walker

Chapter 53 The Truth Behind the Tea Party

Looking at the two young people's 'awkward' yet 'tacit' appearance, Mrs. Hannah not only had no doubts, but also showed a more gratified and understanding expression.

In her view, this was clearly an adorable display of young people having mutual attraction at first sight, yet being shy and hesitant.

She smiled and smoothed things over, saying, "Alright, alright, it was Auntie who was being nosy. Come on, don't stand, sit down."

Aunt Sylvia also breathed a sigh of relief. She had felt a little strange for a moment, but Mrs. Hannah's explanation and the two young people's reactions made her more willing to believe that it was just a "chemistry" between young people.

She pulled Emily and Sura to sit down on the sofa next to Mrs. Hannah.

Under Mrs. Hannah's "enthusiastic" arrangement, Green and "Isabella" were guided to sit on two adjacent wicker chairs, separated only by a small side table with tea sets.

The servants respectfully refilled everyone's bone china teacups with hot tea.

Mrs. Hannah began to chat amiably with Sylvia, the conversation naturally shifting from the weather and the rare tulips in the garden to the children's education and current situation.

Her gaze occasionally swept over this side with affection, clearly quite satisfied with the effect of the 'first meeting'.

Emily sipped her black tea quietly, her posture impeccable, her gaze constantly sweeping across the entire sunroom—this was the life she had always dreamed of.

Sula was completely captivated by the dazzling array of pastries before her, taking small bites of the scones sprinkled with frosting, her eyes crinkling into crescent moons with happiness.

On the surface, the sunroom was a picture of harmony. The aroma of tea wafted through the air, the sunlight was warm and inviting, and the ladies chatted softly and pleasantly.

Underneath the table, however, lay a completely different scene.

Just as Green picked up his teacup, he felt something hard lightly touch his calf. He paused, knowing without looking that it was the tip of the 'lady' next to him's shoe.

As he set down his teacup, he tilted his head slightly and squeezed out a question through gritted teeth: "...What the hell is going on, Lillian!"

Lillian gracefully added a small piece of lemon cake to herself with a silver clip, seemingly engrossed in the moment.

Her lips barely moved, but the same faint voice drifted into Green's ears: "...That's what I should be asking you, Green Morris. A temporary worker at the Port Authority? The 'clean-hearted, hardworking, and caring young man' my dear aunt described?"

She gritted her teeth, "You didn't tell me you were a 'decent person' who needed to be set up on blind dates."

"I didn't even tell my aunt that the 'good girl' she so admired was actually a member of 'Prosperous Garden' who could turn into a cat, talked a lot about deals, and liked to spy on other people's family disputes!"

Green retorted, while simultaneously having to smile at the concerned look Mrs. Hannah gave him.

"Watch your words, Mr. Morris."

Lillian took a small bite of cake, chewing slowly, her voice turning cold. "Here, I'm just Isabella Winston. Watch your expression and your mouth, or my aunt will see through you..."

She didn't finish her sentence, but the threat was obvious.

"Likewise, Miss Isabella." Green picked up a cookie as well. "I'm also curious, which one is the real one, the distant niece of the Winston family or Lillian of 'Flourishing Gardens'? Does Mrs. Hannah know that her good niece sneaks into men's rooms through windows at night?"

Lillian's breath hitched, a cold glint flashing in her eyes, but a gentle, shy smile curved her lips as she nodded slightly to Lady Hannah, who was looking at them.

"It seems we both have quite a few secrets that we need to 'deepen' our understanding of, Mr. Morris."

She put down the cake fork, picked up a handkerchief embroidered with delicate lace, and gently wiped the corner of her mouth with an elegant gesture.

"However, for now, please focus on playing your role as a down-to-earth and ambitious young port authority member. As for the rest... we'll talk about it after the tea party."

Green knew she was right. This sudden, absurd encounter had placed them both in an extremely awkward and dangerous situation.

If any party is exposed, it could trigger a chain reaction, affecting their respective secret missions and the forces behind them.

He had to cooperate with her and keep the act going.

Green took a deep breath, and as he adjusted his posture, lowered his voice again, "...Was it you I saw at the coffee shop yesterday?"

"Otherwise what?"

As expected! Stay calm... stay composed...

"Then...which one is your true identity? Isabella Winston? Or Lillian de la Nott?"

Upon hearing this, Lillian turned her head and gave him a smile that appeared shy to others but was quite sly to him.

Her lips moved slightly, her voice barely audible, "Yes."

Green frowned, instinctively retorting, "Impossible. You made a 'contract' with me, I saw your signature..."

He was referring to the parchment scroll written in strange ink, the transaction document that carried a mysterious sense of constraint.

Lillian glanced at Mrs. Hannah, who was chatting happily with Aunt Sylvia a short distance away, occasionally casting approving glances at her, and only after confirming that their attention was not on this matter for the moment did she move a little closer and whisper in a lower, faster voice:

"That was a lie."

Those five short words were like a blow to the back of Green's head.

hum-

Green's mind went blank for a moment, followed by intense dizziness and an unbelievable sense of absurdity.

The other party used "The Nightingale's Sigh" as collateral in exchange for a month's use of his "Silent Messenger"... Is it a lie?!

"Fuck you, you son of a bitch..."

Extreme shock and anger at being fooled almost made him lose control, and his body instinctively leaned forward, almost lunging forward to grab her collar and demand an explanation.

Lillian reacted quickly, immediately raising a slender finger and placing it to her lips, making a very obvious and warning 'shut up' gesture.

Her gaze instantly sharpened, no longer displaying the feigned gentleness and shyness, but rather the oppressive aura of 'Lillian'.

Green was startled by the coldness in her eyes, abruptly stopping his movements and freezing in place, his chest heaving violently.

At this moment, Mrs. Hannah seemed to notice the subtle movement and looked over with concern:

"What's wrong, children? Is the tea and snacks not to your liking?"

Lillian instantly switched to 'Isabella' mode, her face flushing again, and said somewhat shyly in a soft voice, "It's nothing, Aunt. It's just... Mr. Morris seems to have choked on his scones."

As she spoke, she even 'thoughtfully' pushed the cup of tea in front of Green towards him.

Green's throat was dry, and he could only manage an awkward smile, nod to Mrs. Hannah, and then pick up the glass of water and gulp it down.

Mrs. Hannah had no doubts; on the contrary, she found the "awkward" interaction between the young people amusing. She smiled, shook her head, and turned back to continue chatting with Sylvia.

Taking advantage of this brief moment, Lillian leaned closer again, this time with a hint of pitying mockery in her voice:

"...You don't really believe that a goddess who rules the 'moon' and 'secrets' would care about and respond to the insignificant 'pleas' and 'deals' of an ordinary person who has no spirituality and has just stepped into the extraordinary world, do you?"

She tilted her head slightly, looking at Green's face, which had turned pale in an instant, and his pupils, which had suddenly contracted, as if admiring the artistic effect of her masterpiece.

"The so-called 'contract' is nothing more than a 'psychological suggestion' I created by using a little harmless 'misleading' technique, combined with your own awe and imagination of the mysterious world. Its only purpose is to make you feel that the 'connection' between us is unbreakable, making you... more obedient."

She chuckled softly, a laugh that carried little malice, yet sent a chill down Green's spine.

He got tricked again.

Green felt like a complete fool, being manipulated at will.

All the anxiety, all the weighing of options, all the fear of that 'contract'... it turned out to be a meticulously designed scam?

"Why?" he squeezed out the three words through gritted teeth.

"Why?" she repeated.

"Because I need a 'reason' to justify exchanging the right to use that sealed artifact, and I also need a 'shackle' to make you feel that I won't deceive you. And a seemingly mysterious and harsh 'contract' can just satisfy both of these points. This can save a lot of unnecessary explanations and trouble."

She paused, her gaze sweeping over Green's tense face, her tone softening:

"Glen Morris, you should know that although I lied to you, I didn't completely deceive you. I used 'The Nightingale's Sigh' as ​​collateral, which already showed my sincerity. Isn't that reasonable?"

"As for 'Isabella'..."

Her gaze drifted toward Mrs. Hannah, who was having a pleasant conversation, and her eyes seemed to soften a little.

"That was my anchor in this 'world,' a rare warmth and protection given to me by Aunt Hannah. It was just as real as 'Lillian.' The only difference was which one you needed to see, and when you saw it."