Faux Vows, True Desires

After running a fair distance, Darlene finally allowed herself to breathe a sigh of relief when she realized Keith hadn't followed her.

She stopped by the roadside, opened the trunk of her car, and pulled out her cellphone to use its flashlight. Rifling through the stacks of cash inside the box, her fingers stumbled upon a tiny tracking device.

With a chuckle, she mused, "I knew you'd pull something like this."

She plucked the tracker from among the bills and flung it into the roadside brush. After a thorough second search to ensure there were no more bugs, she closed the trunk and restarted the car.

Keith had been convinced he'd gather enough proof to confirm she was the elusive Darlene. But the tracker had landed too close to the Moore residence for comfort. Without even checking, he knew Darlene had discovered his little spy gadget and tossed it aside.

Clever girl. Always on her toes. You don't get that kind of street smarts without a few years under your belt.

Keith's appreciation for Darlene grew, as did his intrigue. Her actions were peeling back the layers of his curiosity.

By day, she was Ms. Darlene, a vision of beauty with a gentle nature that could fool anyone into thinking she was a delicate flower. Such a girl, like a greenhouse bloom, deserved to be treasured and protected, not meant for the likes of him.

Keith's wife wouldn't need a prestigious family background or a stunning face, but she must be strong-willed. Otherwise, entering the Blue family would be a recipe for disaster, leaving her open to the same tragedies that befell his mother.

But if the masked woman was indeed Darlene, her wolf-in-sheep's-clothing act might just fit the bill. Her facade was dangerously deceptive-even he had been fooled. If Lucy hadn't been playing matchmaker, suspecting Darlene was the woman behind the mask, Keith might never have seen through her charade. Darlene had mentioned keeping tabs on him, indicating she had access to some serious intel. It would make sense if she were the mastermind behind Cipher Detectives. Only Lucy had known he was visiting the Moore estate prior to his arrival, and she had been with Darlene at the time. It must have been their overheard conversation that led Darlene to follow him there.

Through various tests, he and his sister had all but confirmed Darlene's secret identity. "One of these days, I'll peel off that mask myself and see who you really are," Keith muttered to himself before loading the money back into his car. Tomorrow, he would return it to the Anderson brothers.

of cash was not something to leave unattended. Keith slipped back to the Moore estate and was just about to sneak into his guest room when the motion-sensor light flicked on. The door to another room opened,

popping out like that? You scared the

instill in you? Typically, only a guilty person is so easily startled. What were

his mother had seen his interaction with Darlene, Keith hesitated between honesty

silver butterfly

there was no fooling her. Rubbing his

change the subject.

no point in hiding the truth any longer, Keith confessed, "I honestly don't know who she is. But, Mom, how

her son to follow.

mentioned their mother wanted her to keep an eye out for suitable girls for him. Now, Janice had caught a glimpse

five-minute encounter.

belongs to s

mother into her room. She pointed to a

and said

it's late. Can't we talk about this tomorrow?" Nonetheless, Keith

Moores, unlike the Blues

sofa set was a special purchase by Fiona Lewis Moore, intended for Janice's leisure-knowing full well that guest rooms at Ascend Estate were

Keith replied. Without pouring the water, Janice sat opposite him,