Although Lyanna had invited Tessa over for dinner as thanks, Tessa didn’t think it would be right to show up empty-handed. So, she bought a pair of hair clips as a gift.

Besides, she knew that little girls like Cassandra loved all kinds of sparkly and pink accessories.

“Ms. Yates, why don’t I lead you to our private room?” Lyanna said with a smile.

“Sure.”

Since the private room was on the third floor, Tessa and Lyanna took the elevator up.

As soon as the elevator doors slid shut, Cassandra waved the hair clips in the air and looked up at Lyanna. “Mom, can you help me put them on?”

“Oh, you little rascal,” Lyanna huffed as a resigned smile appeared on her face. Then, she took the hair clips and wove them into Cassandra’s hair, placing one on each side of her head.

“You look lovely,” Tessa praised unabashedly.

Lyanna said in return, “Thank you so much for the gift, Ms. Yates.”

“You’re very welcome,” Tessa tittered.

The elevator arrived on the third floor before long, and Lyanna promptly led Tessa to their private room.

Tessa couldn’t help but freeze when the door swung open as there were other people in attendance.

There were a total of four people waiting for her inside.

Lester rose to his feet and greeted her with a smile. “Why, good evening, Ms. Yates.”

Lyanna teased him, “Look at you sounding so formal. We all know each other, don’t we? Just call her Tess.”

Then, she batted her lashes at Tessa playfully. “Lester happened to be handling some business nearby and hadn’t had dinner, so I invited him to join us. I hope you don’t mind, Ms. Yates.”

Tessa shook her head. “Not at all.”

Nevertheless, there remained three other unknowns waiting for her in the private room—an elderly couple smiling genially at her and an elegant-looking middle- aged man in a suit.

The man stood up and extended his hand in greeting before introducing himself, “Hello, Ms. Yates. I’m Cain Gobert, Cassie’s father. Thank you so much for helping us find Cassie.”

Tessa immediately pieced the puzzle together.

It seemed that Cain was Lyanna’s husband, Cassie’s father, and also Lester’s uncle by marriage.

Tessa responded courteously, “Well met, Mr. Gobert.”

After Cain had spoken, the elderly woman smiled gratefully and said, “Ms. Yates, we’re truly thankful for what you did. Those awful traffickers would’ve abducted Cassie if it weren’t for you.”

Judging by her age and appearance, this elderly woman had to be Lester’s grandmother.

Tessa replied, “You’re too kind, really. Anyone in my shoes would’ve done the same.”

“Don’t just stand there, Ms. Yates. Please have a seat,” Lester’s grandfather interjected cheerfully.

“Of course.” Tessa pulled out a chair for herself and sat down.

The table in the private room was large because it was meant for ten people. However, there were only seven of them in total, including Cassandra. As a result, there were three empty seats left.

Tessa had taken a seat with empty chairs on both sides.

Lyanna shot Lester a look, signaling him to take the seat next to Tessa’s.

Lester couldn’t help but shake his head helplessly.

Tessa noticed the strange atmosphere between them. She tilted her head

curiously and asked, “What’s wrong, Mr. Cooper?”

She had instinctively addressed him as though they were still at work.

Lester adjusted his glasses, unfazed despite getting caught. “It’s nothing. My aunt thought it’d be easier for us to talk if we sat together. I figured she has a point so… What do you think, Ms. Yates?”

Tessa chuckled before replying, “You’re my trusted partner. I’d be more than pleased to sit next to you. How could I say no to that, Mr. Cooper? Now that I think about it, I do want to go over that Helio case with you.”

Lester rose to his feet, walked over, and sat beside her. “Sure. What did you want to talk about?”

Lyanna, who was sitting nearby, smiled like a cat that had gotten the canary when she saw Lester and Tessa sitting side by side. Her eyes gleamed with joy as she murmured under her breath, “Oh, they look so good together.”