Phyllis spent the days leading up to the New Year's Gala almost entirely immersed in the Yafei family castle's archives. Not only did she have to analyze the clues John provided about the "Shadow" organization, but she also had to contend with the various troubles stirred up by Uncle Osmond and Leonardo within the family. Rumors about John's mental breakdown and her being merely his "private plaything" spread like invisible venomous snakes throughout the group, placing immense pressure on her work and daily life. But Phyllis ignored them. She knew this was no time for arguments; only by successfully thwarting the "Shadow" organization's plot could these rumors be completely crushed.
During the day, she handled various tasks at the resort. At night, she returned to the castle's archives, using her agent skills to meticulously sift through countless documents. Although John remained out of sight, he sent new encrypted files and instructions through Kevin daily, like an invisible net securely enveloping the entire Yafei Group and Phyllis herself. He had analyzed every corner of the castle, every possible entry point, and even the background information of every guest with absolute precision. Phyllis had to admit that John's intelligence and strategic planning capabilities far exceeded her imagination.
Just three days before the New Year's Gala, Phyllis discovered an anomaly at a hidden surveillance point within the castle. It was a "blind spot" even Lynn didn't know about, which she had identified on John's provided blueprints based on her years of agent experience. She immediately reported the situation to John.
"The 'Shadow' organization has infiltrated," John's voice came through the encrypted communicator, tinged with coldness. "They're more cunning than we imagined."
"I need to go to the site to confirm," Phyllis stated firmly.
"No, it's too dangerous," John's voice carried an undeniable command. "I'll have Kevin take his men to handle it."
"No!" Phyllis countered John's order for the first time, her voice resolute. "Only I could have found that blind spot, and only I can deal with it. If Kevin's men go, it might alert them or even expose our plan!"
John was silent for a moment, then quietly said, "Be careful." Phyllis knew this was his greatest concession and a sign of his trust in her. She immediately grabbed her gear and quietly infiltrated the castle.
The blind spot was located deep within a disused underground wine cellar, the air thick with mold and decay. Phyllis advanced cautiously, every step filled with heightened vigilance. Indeed, deep in the wine cellar, she found a secret entrance disguised as a wine barrel. Beyond the entrance was a narrow passage leading to the castle's exterior. Fresh dirt and almost imperceptible footprints remained in the passage. Phyllis's heart sank; the "Shadow" organization's people had already infiltrated the castle ahead of time! She followed the passage and soon arrived at a hidden exit. Outside the exit lay a dense forest. In the forest, Phyllis discovered some discarded tools, food scraps, and some nearly invisible communication devices. She knew this was a secret stronghold of the "Shadow" organization, where they were making their final preparations.
Just as Phyllis was about to investigate further, her private encrypted phone suddenly rang. It was Ryan. Ryan's intelligence confirmed John's prediction—the "Shadow" organization's target was indeed the New Year's Gala. Ryan demanded she evacuate immediately, as it was an Interpol order; the Yafei family's affairs were too deep, and the "Shadow" organization was more dangerous than they had imagined. But Phyllis refused; she couldn't abandon John. Ryan finally, reluctantly, agreed, promising to do his best to buy her time but requiring her to provide more detailed intelligence on the "Shadow" organization.
Hanging up the phone, Phyllis felt a heavy weight of pressure. Ryan's intervention had complicated the situation further. She not only had to face the threat of the "Shadow" organization but also pressure from official channels. She looked up at the Yafei family castle not far away, brightly lit, like a magnificent yet deadly trap. She knew the New Year's Gala would be a true battle of life and death between her, John, and the "Shadow" organization! She took a deep breath, her eyes determined. She had to fight with all her might to help John, uncover the truth, and then, only then, could she decide whether there was love or hate between them.
Late at night, only Phyllis remained in the castle's archives. She was staring at a complex network topology map on the computer screen, trying to pinpoint the "Shadow" organization's final infiltration route into the castle. Outside the window, the night was deep, broken only by the occasional cry of a night bird in the distance. Suddenly, the lights in the archives flickered violently, then went out completely, plunging the entire room into darkness. At the same time, the door clicked softly, locked from the outside.
Phyllis's heart clenched, her body instantly tensing, adrenaline surging. She made no sound, relying on her agent instincts to quickly grope for the desk drawer and pull out the hidden pistol. In the darkness, her eyes, like a nocturnal animal's, quickly adjusted to the faint light. She could feel a cold presence coming from outside the window; a shadowy figure was trying to pry open the window, attempting to sneak in silently.
She held her breath, gripping the pistol, ready to counterattack at any moment. However, before the shadowy figure could fully approach the window, a faster silhouette suddenly emerged from the darkness, subduing the intruder like a ghost. There was a dull thud, and the shadow fell to the ground, motionless, clearly unconscious. Kevin's movements were exceptionally swift and professional, far beyond the scope of a regular bodyguard; every move was precise and lethal, carrying the same cold efficiency Phyllis had only seen in John. Phyllis's heart tightened. This was no mere assistant; this was a highly trained elite agent!
"Miss Phyllis, you're safe," Kevin's voice was low and calm, as if everything that had just happened was a trivial interlude. He walked over to the fallen intruder, expertly tied him up, and checked his identity.
Phyllis lowered her pistol, looking at Kevin with complex emotions. She knew this was no coincidence. Kevin's men had always appeared just in time when she faced threats at the resort before.
"Mr. John... he knows?" Phyllis asked softly, her voice carrying a subtle tremor.
Kevin straightened up, looking at Phyllis expressionlessly, his eyes deep and calm, as if he could see into her soul. He didn't answer directly, simply stating, briefly and powerfully: "Mr. John knows everything."
Phyllis's heart leaped. He knows everything? What did that mean? He knew she was investigating here, knew the dangers she faced, and even knew the "Shadow" organization had infiltrated? He claimed not to know her, his eyes cold, yet he protected her so meticulously, even preemptively removing every potential danger around her. This contradiction made her understand him less and less. What was he hiding? Was his "control" purely for protection, or for some deeper purpose?
Kevin didn't linger. After dealing with the intruder, he left the archives with his men, leaving Phyllis alone in the relit room, facing the silence and the surging waves within her. She walked to the window, gazing out at the deep night, her heart a mix of emotions.