Chapter 17 LOUD AND CLEAR

Xina descended to the patio, where several family members gathered in small groups, engaged in quiet conversations. Her cousins and nieces were among them, along with Gaia and Stefan, while the older family members had already departed for the restaurant. It wasn’t unusual to see them huddled together, exchanging gossip, so Xina paid little attention as she walked past. But as she moved closer, their whispers reached her ears, and she couldn’t help but overhear what they were discussing. They were pointing at a luxurious car parked in front of the gate, where a man stood beside the door, his gaze fixed on the house as though waiting for someone. Xina didn’t recognize the man, but she knew the car—it was the same one that had brought her here. There was no mistaking it; this model was from a limited edition, the kind of car that wasn’t seen every day. “Who is that? Why is he staring at our house?” one of her nieces asked. “Oh, I recognize that car! Whoever owns it must be incredibly