She never expected Bernie’s name to be tangled up in this. She had yet to unravel his true identity. And now, Lois was tangled up in this as well. Moreover, Lois wasn’t just dangerous—she was decisive, unapologetically ruthless. This wasn’t normal.

Vincent nodded, his tone tinged with curiosity. “Exactly. That’s what puzzles me. But it also proves one thing—Bernie is probably more than he appears.”

It was said that Bernie had rescued Lois from some dangerous people during a trip.

But was it really just a simple rescue? Katelyn and Vincent didn’t buy that for a second.

Katelyn held the file in her hands, her thoughts swirling. This confirmed one thing—Bernie was far from ordinary.

A heavy weight settled in her chest. After all, Bernie was Alfy’s uncle. Whatever Bernie had done had nothing to do with Katelyn, but the connection alone made her uneasy.

Vincent watched her for a moment before speaking bluntly. “Bring Alfy here. If that’s not possible, have Jaxen take her home.”

This place was no longer safe for Alfy. If she stayed, she might end up getting hurt.

Katelyn knew taking Alfy away from Bernie would be difficult, but she still nodded. “I have to talk to Alfy first. Forcing her to leave won’t work.” After all, Bernie was her uncle. Whether Alfy would agree to leave was uncertain.

Vincent understood Katelyn’s concern. He placed a reassuring hand on her arm. “Maybe we’re overthinking it. What if this really is just a coincidence?”

Katelyn said nothing. They both knew that possibility was slim, even if they had no concrete proof yet.

Vincent gave her a gentle squeeze. He knew she was worried.

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After a moment, Katelyn took a deep breath and said, “I’ll call Alfy.” She had to be careful. If Bernie caught wind of this, he might become suspicious.

Vincent nodded in agreement.

Katelyn picked up her phone and dialed Alfy’s number.

The call connected almost immediately. Alfy was lounging on a chair in the estate garden when she answered.

“Katelyn? What’s up?” She was absentmindedly playing with a small puppy at her feet. The tiny creature wagged its tail excitedly, nudging her leg with its little head. Its fur was gray, and its eyes were bright and full of life.

Hearing Alfy’s voice, a soft smile touched Katelyn’s lips. “Alfy, are your exams over?”

Alfy let out a dramatic sigh. “Not yet. They’re next month. My uncle’s laid down the law—no going out until I pass. I can’t even visit you.” It was already mid-month, which meant there were still about ten days to go. Katelyn’s heart sank. A lot could happen in ten days. She couldn’t shake the nagging worry.

But with Bernie’s strict orders, taking Alfy away now would raise alarms. She couldn’t take that risk. Despite how well Bernie treated Alfy, there was no telling what he might do if provoked.

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