Chapter 452

Leslie Green shielded Sienna Ackerley as they slipped out from the crowd of reporters. It was 10:30 at night, right when everyone's glued to their phones. Work’s done, kids are asleep, nightlife just getting started—and well, it’s summer, no one’s going to bed early. That night, the top trending headline all over Windmere was: "Second Young Master of the Ackerleys Dies Over Love Rival Drama." "Whoa, rich dude dies for a woman—classic case of dying under a peony, huh?" Basically, the juicier the headline, the more people clicked. Walter and Matilda Ackerley had already gone to bed, typical for their age. So, of course, they didn't hear a thing. But the maids at the old estate? Their hearts sank when they saw the news. Wait, what? Just gone, just like that? Over at Reginald Ackerley's place, the family had obviously seen it. He burst out laughing. Edward Ackerley grinned in satisfaction too. It had been his idea from the start. Back at the club, when he caught Eleanor Fairfax and Miles A