The moment Sylvia Lancaster mentioned Flynn Adler, Clara Hayes instinctively frowned. She disliked Flynn from the bottom of her heart and wanted nothing to do with him.

Clara was obsessed with looks; she only liked handsome men, and with Flynn Adler’s appearance, she couldn’t bring herself to be with him. Even though they were engaged, Clara refused to live with him, keeping her distance as much as possible.

But as she listened to Sylvia’s analysis, point by point, Clara felt that what she was saying made more and more sense...

’Sylvia is right,’ Clara thought. ’Flynn and I are in a partnership of mutual interest. He’s the only one who won’t betray me. Besides, he’s capable. He’ll definitely help me!’

Seeing the moved expression on Clara’s face, Sylvia continued to persuade her. "Clara, Flynn Adler is a smart man who’s been navigating the social world for years. He has a whole crew of followers. If he wanted to deal with Melody Summers, he would certainly have more methods than we do. With his help, this matter will be handled flawlessly."

Clara nodded repeatedly as she listened. Just as Sylvia said, in these chaotic, disastrous times, Flynn Adler was indeed someone she could rely on.

Thinking of this, Clara felt her aversion to Flynn lessen slightly.

With a sense of relief, Clara took Sylvia’s hand and said, "Sylvia, thank goodness I have you. Otherwise, I really wouldn’t know what to do."

Sylvia smiled and shook her head. "It’s nothing, Clara. We’re best friends. Best friends are supposed to help each other out."

Looking at Sylvia’s sincere gaze, Clara thought, ’I wish Sylvia really were my sister... I truly wish I had a sister by my side.’

Just then, the sound of a door opening and closing came from downstairs.

Clara was puzzled. Who would be coming home at this hour?

She called over a young maid who had just come upstairs and asked, ""

The maid shook her head and answered, "The master isn’t back yet. It’s Miss Lily. She’s probably here to get things ready, since the master is expected to return tonight."

Hearing the name "Lily," Clara frowned and waved the young maid away.

Noticing Clara’s displeased expression, Sylvia asked curiously, "Clara, what’s wrong?"

Clara huffed and said to Sylvia, "This Lily Adler is my father’s mistress. She’s completely shameless. She was already his other woman while my mother was still alive."

When Clara was little, she’d often heard her parents fighting about his affairs.

Hector Hayes had cheated repeatedly during his marriage, and even after being discovered by Mrs. Hayes, he showed no remorse.

Mrs. Hayes lived in a state of long-term grief and anger, and she passed away not long after giving birth to Hugh Hayes.

After Mrs. Hayes died, there was no one left in the world who truly cared about Clara. That’s why the one thing Clara hated most in this world was homewreckers who destroyed other people’s families.

Clara hated homewreckers, and she also hated people who meddled in other people’s families, which is why she detested Melody Summers for trying to steal Sylvia Lancaster’s family away.

The mere thought of Lily Adler irritated Clara. She said to Sylvia, "Sylvia, this Lily Adler is incredibly annoying. She’s always been scheming to marry my father and become the legitimate Mrs. Hayes. You’re staying with me for a few days, so if you happen to run into her... just ignore her!"

Sylvia smiled at her words. She squeezed Clara’s hand and replied gently, "Don’t worry, Clara. Your enemy is my enemy. No matter what, I’ll always be on your side. Anyone you don’t like, I won’t like either."

Hearing Sylvia say this, Clara felt a wave of warmth rise from the bottom of her heart. She squeezed Sylvia’s hand back and nodded, moved as if she had found a true ally.

******

Lily Adler, carrying a bespoke designer handbag, stepped gracefully out of a sports car.

She wore a black, form-fitting dress that outlined her slender waist. On her feet were a pair of high heels that made her already tall figure seem even more slender and elegant.

As soon as she entered the Hayes family villa, a group of maids swarmed her, eagerly taking her handbag and bringing her slippers, fawning over her.

Lily calmly changed into her slippers and walked toward her own exclusive room in the villa. She turned to a maid following her and asked, "The master is coming home for dinner tonight. Are the dishes I asked for earlier all prepared?"

She thought for a moment and added, "The master mentioned his throat was bothering him today, so don’t serve those two spicy dishes."

The maid nodded hastily. "Miss Lily, don’t you worry. The kitchen has prepared everything according to your instructions."

Lily Adler nodded and sat down at her vanity to remove her jewelry.

The mirror reflected Lily’s delicate face. While not a stunning beauty, she had a gentle and pleasant appearance that gave off a comfortable and approachable feeling—the very picture of a perfect homemaker.

Although she was over forty, time had left few traces on her face, only softening her temperament and making her seem more gentle.

Lily came from a poor background and had started working early. In an era when women were caked in heavy makeup, her fresh and understated elegance was like a lotus flower rising from the water.

Someone had even quipped, "When Lily Adler appears, the gaudy contest of cheap makeup and perfume comes to an end."

And so, she was quickly noticed by the underworld boss of the time, Hector Hayes. At a young age, she became his mistress and even became pregnant with his child.

But the Mrs. Hayes of that time was not to be trifled with.

Whenever Mrs. Hayes found out one of Hector’s women was pregnant, she would show up at their door and make them take the money and get an abortion.

Those who refused were, without exception, quietly dealt with by Mrs. Hayes.

With Mrs. Hayes’s formidable reputation, Lily didn’t dare tell anyone she was pregnant.

But she was unwilling to just get rid of the baby. She knew that for a woman like her, a child was an essential bargaining chip to change her fate.

So, Lily kept it a secret from everyone and quietly ran away.

Lily found a remote place, rented a room, and gave birth to the child all by herself.

A few years later, Mrs. Hayes died unexpectedly, and Lily found her way back.

As it happened, Hector Hayes had never forgotten her, and the two quickly became entangled again.

Lily was a master at reading people and had immense patience. She knew what Hector liked and was willing to spend the time and energy to attend to his every need.

Over the years, women came and went from Hector’s life, but only Lily’s care brought him the most comfort.

Lily knew his tastes, the right pressure for his massages—whenever Lily was around, he didn’t need to say a word. All his needs were always met instantly.

So, even though Lily’s youth had faded, Hector Hayes had always kept her by his side.

Although Lily never had an official title, she had been able to frequent the Hayes Family residence for several years and had successfully secured this exclusive room for herself in the villa.

Before her, out of consideration for his children, Hector never brought women home. Lily was the first woman allowed to enter the villa.

Combined with her skill in managing the household staff, using both carrot and stick, the maids and servants all treated Lily as a semi-mistress of the house, not daring to show her the slightest neglect.

The maid behind Lily spoke cautiously, "Miss Lily, you haven’t been here for a few days. The young miss brought a friend home, and she’s been staying here."

Lily paused, then looked up and asked, "A friend? ...A man or a woman?"

The maid flashed a sycophantic smile. "It’s a woman. She had a miscarriage and is here for her post-miscarriage confinement!"

Lily was surprised. "Post-miscarriage confinement here? What’s going on?"

Clara had just gotten engaged, yet she brought home a friend who was recovering from a miscarriage...

The maid’s smile turned contemptuous. "They say she’s the young lady from the once-wealthy Lancaster family. Her family went bankrupt, she lost the baby, and then she was kicked out by both her own family and her in-laws. With nowhere to go, she came here to recover."

CLATTER.

The small, delicate gemstone earring in Lily’s hand fell to the floor.

The maid didn’t notice the incredibly complex expression that flashed across Lily’s face and continued on her own, "I mean, really, this young miss of ours. She’s an engaged woman, not even married yet. What kind of person invites someone to their home to recover from a miscarriage? The young miss is so thoughtless. Miss Lily, you have to tell the master about this!"

Lily took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and replied, "I understand. You can go now."

Seeing Lily’s expression, the maid assumed she was angry at Clara’s behavior. Not daring to say more, she quickly walked out and closed the door.

Walking down the stairs, the maid felt a little smug. She knew Clara was always making trouble for Lily, openly or secretly. Although Lily always seemed tolerant of Clara, the maid was sure that, deep down, Lily couldn’t possibly not hate her.

’Clara is an engaged daughter who’ll be married off in a few days,’ the maid thought, ’while Lily Adler is, for all intents and purposes, the true mistress of the Hayes family.’

If she could curry favor with Lily now, Lily would surely remember this good deed in the future!