Crises in Love (Zora and Jaylan) novel Chapter 525

Monique rolled her eyes, her voice dripping with a mix of defiance and pride. "Well, of course. My grandpa always said, 'To run this place, you've gotta know it like the back of your hand, down to the last mouse hole!'"

"That's a quote from your grandpa? Know every mouse hole and how to exploit it? You're impressing me now," I said in a tone blending amusement and irritation so that Monique took it for a compliment and let out a snort of laughter.

But as her laughter faded, she seemed to realize she might have let her guard down too much. She straightened up, trying to regain her composure.

As the others shot her displeased glances, she added defensively, "Well, it's true. I know anything about the Wood Manor you don't know."

Her words almost left me breathless with shock. Galen's words were like the gospel to her! But she was certainly taking it to the extreme, wasn't she? The little girl was too sharp-tongued for her own good.

I was trying to keep my temper in check. After all, Camilla was here, and I couldn't embarrass Monique too much. Thus, I silently vowed to deal with the situation once Camilla had left.

It was clear to me that this was all Monique's doing.

As if reading my thoughts, Monique blurted out without considering the consequences, "Don't be mad, Mom. It wasn't my idea. I was just joking around when I discovered a hole behind the Wood Manor during my patrol of Oldtown Avenue. I thought, 'If one day we need to slip away unnoticed, we could just squeeze through here and follow the bamboo-lined path right into the back study. That little trail is so well-hidden, not even the security cameras can catch it.'"

Her excitement was palpable. For a moment, I could see shades of the Dawson family in her. But this girl was leagues ahead of the Dawsons in cunning, with her imagination unhinged by my father's influence.

I wasn't sure whether to be proud or concerned. What a bittersweet feeling indeed!

"The day Hannah showed us the attic, I told them we'd call it our 'Hideaway Loft.' If we ever wanted to disappear, no one would be able to find us!" She was unyielding in her determination and thought herself quite clever.

My anger began to simmer. So, this was all her idea, her grand scheme. My daughter was too clever by half!

No wonder she had asked earlier with too much curiosity, "If Fidelia had run off on her own? Why?"