The butler didn't even blink, just pulled out a stack of new sheet music from his sleeve and placed it on the table.
"We've printed a thousand sheets, Miss Lowell. Whenever you're done tearing them, we'll start practicing."
Cora Lowell's breath hitched.
This whole family is insane.
"Get out!"
"I have to hear you play it completely before leaving. It's an order from the master, I can't go back empty-handed."
Cora Lowell's gaze instantly turned cold.
An hour later, she picked up the Jade Flute with an expression full of disdain.
She played it only once before the butler waved everyone away.
"Miss Lowell is indeed talented; the master will be very pleased."
"Get out!"
"Alright, I'll have dinner sent up shortly. Enjoy your meal."
Bam.
Quillan, Aethelgard Villa.
In front of a nearly two-hundred-square-foot curved floor-to-ceiling window, Landon Lockwood's face was overcast.
Ethan Nash and more than a dozen bodyguards stood with their heads down, not daring to make a sound.
Who could have thought?
They actually met their match in a small place like Quillan.
"Could she just not be local? Just passing through on a business trip?"
Ethan Nash couldn't hold back any longer and spoke up.
Landon Lockwood cast him a cold glance, "Her accent is local."
Ethan Nash scratched his head, his brow furrowed tightly.
"That's impossible, in such a small place, if she's local, where could she hide?"
"Mr. Lockwood, it's fixed."
With a swish.
The man abruptly stood up.
His movements were crisp and decisive, with not a hint of hesitation.
The screen flickered, and a previously non-existent surveillance video appeared.
Landon Lockwood stared at that face, his gaze suddenly deepening.
No matter how many times he's seen it, those eyes still send a chill through his heart.
"It's her."
Ethan Nash immediately took a screenshot and uploaded it to the system.
The next second, his expression turned peculiar.
Landon Lockwood impatiently waited, "Speak."
He didn't raise his voice, but the words sent a chill down Ethan Nash's spine.
The air seemed to be sucked out, the room was so quiet you could hear the hum of the equipment operating.
Ethan Nash opened his mouth, throat dry, his voice stuck midway.
"Boss... the system shows she's a prisoner, locked up in Quillan Prison..."
The air instantly froze.
Landon Lockwood sneered, "Ridiculous, if she's really in prison, who was with me that night?"
Ethan Nash opened his mouth but couldn't answer.
He knew best how strong Landon Lockwood's memory was.
The Lockwood family's intelligence vault was built over five generations, a foundation worth billions, crafting the world's most secure system, from underground archives to satellite tracking, from financial flows to biological information, never making a mistake in twenty years.
"Go to the police station and find out."
Landon Lockwood pointed to the three words on the screen.
"And by the way, dig into the Lowell Family as well."
Three days later.
On the day of the Lowell Family's banquet.
Mrs. Lowell, Yvonne Cheney, had been missing for several days and finally showed up the morning of the banquet.
She was draped in a shining white fox fur coat, the fluffy collar wrapped around her neck, and she carried a pearl-white handbag, instantly becoming that meticulously dressed lady again.
Without a word, Yvonne Cheney ruthlessly inserted a hairpin into Cora Lowell's bun.
"I told you, when I return, you won't have a peaceful day."
Cora Lowell watched her through the mirror, "Aren't you going to stab down? You should be very skilled at things like this, right?"
"Shut up!" Yvonne Cheney stepped back abruptly just as Lana Lowell came over.
She immediately noticed Cora Lowell dressed in a finely crafted dress.
She stood at the door, hands on her hips: "Why did you make her dress so beautifully? Always stealing my spotlight!"
Yvonne Cheney sneered, "What would you know? If she's not dressed decently, how will she sell for a good price? In the old days, only performers and hostesses dressed like this."
Lana Lowell turned to Cora Lowell, "Did you hear that? Mom said you're just a cheap entertainer!"
Cora Lowell chuckled lightly, "Don't get too pleased, you're next, or... you know you're too ugly to sell and simply resigned to your fate?"
Lana Lowell was jumping with rage, "Cora Lowell! Why don't you just die!"
"Thanks, when you all die, I'll surely follow."
Amidst the quarrel, Tristan Lowell arrived.
"What are you causing a scene about?"
Tristan Lowell didn't speak much, but his grip grew stronger.
Cora Lowell tilted her head studying his twisted and restrained face, her grin widening.
"Oh no, the banquet's about to start, you can't keep hitting me. But you seem so angry, why not... just call it off?"
Tristan Lowell's stare was icy.
"After the banquet, come to B2 to see me!"
Useless.
The Lowell Family backyard.
Landon Lockwood sat in a corner surrounded by bamboo, a small stage set up with an ancient style, light veils and wind chimes hanging near.
The wind blew, the veils drifting, the chimes jingling.
Anyone who's been to a nightclub knows that this set-up is for performing.
The Lowell Family always valued appearances, yet now they set up such a scene in their own backyard.
When the banquet started, whispers filled the air.
"I heard the one going on stage is the Lowell Family's Miss Lowell? The fake heiress that was switched by mistake?"
"No wonder, a fake could never compare to the real deal. The Lowells are using her as bait, trying to hook a big catch?"
"Haven't you noticed? Everyone here tonight is related to the artificial intelligence project."
"Who else could it be? Tristan Lowell's been getting close with the Croft Family's Hayden Croft lately, focusing on artificial intelligence. We're just here to make up the numbers."
"Not a wasted trip, I've heard Cora Lowell... is quite a gem?"
Ethan Nash was sweating profusely from listening, sneaking a glance at Landon Lockwood's expression.
"Boss, don't get upset, this Miss Lowell might not be the person you're looking for."
Landon Lockwood gave him a cursory glance: "Do I look angry to you?"
Ethan Nash, "..."
Heavens, he could see perfectly well with both eyes.
There was no polite banter; each table served one person, everyone drank tea or wine at their own pleasure.
Amidst the excitement, Cora Lowell made her entrance.
She had changed into a moonlight white gauzy long dress, the hem cascading in layers, holding a Jade Flute under Tristan Lowell's introduction, playing a tender, lingering Sutherlyn melody.
Beautiful, yet completely different from her that night.
Landon Lockwood just found it dull.
He had wasted days over a woman willing to perform publicly.
Utterly foolish!
"Let's go."
But just then.
The gentle tune abruptly shifted!
A fierce "Night Parade of a Hundred Demons" suddenly exploded.
Cora Lowell tore off her outer skirt, revealing a fully black outfit underneath!
The fragments of white gauze fluttered to the ground, the black robe billowing in the wind, making her complexion appear even more pale.
She stood in the center, gripping the Jade Flute, her gaze cold as an icy pool.
"My goodness, what's Miss Lowell doing?"
Night Parade of a Hundred Demons, clad in black, a funeral send-off.
She's intending to—
Turn celebration into mourning, turn the feast into a funeral!
This level of performance is exceptional!
Eclipsing those esteemed experts from legitimate academies.
This woman is intriguing!
The scene instantly plunged into chaos, screams echoing non-stop.