My heart leaped with joy as I gazed at him standing in front of me. Though he was still in that white sweater shirt and jeans he had since day one, he looked more attractive than ever.

"I missed you too, Amber." He gave me a sad smile, then his brows knitted in confusion. "But what are you doing here?"

"I wanted to thank you for what you did for me," I mumbled, biting my lip. "I got out of the case."

"I'm glad to hear that." He jammed his hands in his pocket. "I'm sorry to cause you trouble-"

"It wasn't your fault." I averted my gaze down. "I came to apologize for what I said that day. I-I didn't mean to..."

"I know." I watched him getting closer to me.

"But you left me." I peeked into his ocean eyes I missed so much.

"I didn't mean to." He sighed. "After your burst out I thought of giving you some time and I went to get rid of those hair strands."

"How did you do it?"

"A magician never reveals his secret." He winked, making me scoff. "You did great at the court and I didn't know you recorded Candice-"

"Wait... What?" I frowned, and he gave me a sheepish smile. "You were at the hearing?" He nodded. "But I didn't see you there."

"I hid from you because I didn't want to add any fuel to the situation." He ran his fingers through his hair. "I thought of coming back to you..."

"Then why didn't you?" I whispered.

"The next day I felt them moving me. I went to check and turned out they were departing me. I don't know how, but my body kind of pulled me towards it, and the last thing I know I was here."

"Makes sense," I nodded.

"What?"

"I read souls tend to be near their bodies." I shrugged. "That's how I figured you'd be here."

"You came to Scotland to apologize to me?" He raised his brows.

"Yup." I gave him a toothy grin. "And also to put you back in your body."

"What?" He looked at me in disbelief.

"I solved half of the mystery. I couldn't back up without getting to the end. After all..." I smirked. "I'm an investigative journalist."

"Half of it?" He tilted his head.

"The reason I can see you is that you saved my life," I told him the story of when I drowned. "I don't believe in destiny, but I think this explains why I can see you."

"To return the favor." He mumbled.

"Now it's my turn to save you."

"What are you planning?"

"I'm going to start with who got you in that accident." I eyed the castle.

"How are you going to get in?"

"Just watch me." I took a deep breath and climbed the stairs.

I grabbed the antique brass door knocker and banged it into the huge wooden door. The noise echoed inside and nothing happened.

"By the way, who lives here?" I asked Finlay, and he snorted.

"Many people."

I opened my mouth to question him but stopped when I heard footsteps coming towards us. The door creaked and an old guy dressed in a formal suit came into view.

"May ah help ye, youn' lady?" He asked in a Scottish accent and dragged his sharp gaze over my figure.

"He's the butler," Finlay said beside me.

"Right," I cleared my throat. "Dear Sir. I'm Amber Katz here to meet..." I trailed off, not sure if I should mention Fergus or not.

"Dolina." Finlay helped me out. "She's my grandmother."

"Dolina." The butler raised his brows at me. "I have a business to discuss with her."

"An' may ah ask ye whit business is tha'?"

"It's confidential." I held my head high.

The butler watched me with a calculated gaze and looked around to see if I was alone.

"Come in." He stepped aside, and I entered. "Follow meh."

My eyes almost fell out of their sockets when I saw the interior. My boots clicked on the black and white chess-shaped marbles and the immense windows, giving me a view of the fields. The off-white walls and ceiling were designed with golden stars and patterns.

I was busy staring at the ceiling when I bumped into someone. I backed away as Mr. Butler cleared his throat, getting my attention.

"Thiz way." I nodded and apologized for bumping into him, at which he rolled his eyes.

Ok.

He doesn't like me.

We entered a foyer that had a massive staircase going up and two halls to my left and right. He went to the right, and I stepped inside with him to see a tremendous drawing room.

"Ye may hae a sea'."

"Um... Thank you." I mumbled and took a seat on the expensive-looking royal blue sofa.

Mr. Butler picked up the intercom and dialed some number. "Ther' iz a gues' ere. Assis' er while I ge' Madame."

He placed the phone and walked out of the drawing room. I took the time to observe the huge crystal chandelier dangling from the ceiling. The walls were the same as in the hallway, with a golden design on off-white paint.

"Do you know anything about your family?"

"I've learned a lot about them in the past days."

"Care to share the details?" I asked Finlay, who was leaning next to the window.

A woman in a maid's uniform entered the room with a serving trolley. She gave me a sweet smile, which I returned, and she began pouring tea into the cup.

"Dolina, my grandmother is the head of the house since Henry, my grandfather, died a few years ago-"

"Suga'?" the maid interpreted.

"One please." I beamed looking at the cube.

"They have four children, including my father. The eldest one died. I don't know how then my father, an uncle who is still single, and their little divorce sister-"

"Ere ye gae." The maid passed me the cup, and Finlay narrowed his eyes at her.

"Thank you." I took a sip of it and side-glanced at Finlay.

"The divorced sister also lives here with her daughter-"

"Would ye like somethin' tae ea'?" She asked, gesturing towards the pastries, biscuits, and croissants.

"Seriously?" Finlay threw his hands.

"Thank you, but I'm fine." She nodded and placed the trolley beside the sofa and left the room.

"She has naw manners," Finlay grumbled.

"Don't blame her. She can't see you." I rolled my eyes and placed the cup on the table in front of me. "What about your cousins?"

"My eldest uncle got two sons. The eldest one is engaged, and the other is a druggie."

"Oh, wow." I whistled lowly.

"Then we have Neil, my half-brother." He blew a breath. "Living here with my stepmother."

"Where's your father?"

"Don't know." He shrugged. "I haven't seen him since I came here-"

Finlay halted when we heard wheels coming toward the room. I turned my head and looked at the door to see a beautiful brunette woman nudging the wheelchair on which sat an old lady watching me curiously.

"That's my stepmother, Rosa," Finlay said, and I stood from my seat.

"Good evening." I plastered a smile on. "It's nice to meet you Mrs. Cock-"

"Co."

"Mrs. Coburn," I pronounced it as Finlay told me.

"Whit business does ae American girl hae with meh?" The old lady said in a thick Scottish accent.

"I'm here for Finlay," I said, and both women raised their brows at me.

"An' who er ye?" His stepmother asked me.

"I'm his fiancée." I grinned, and it almost faltered when Finlay beside me coughed like a dying cat.

"How do we ken ye'er telling the truth?" The brunette woman narrowed her sharp gaze at me.

"Why would I lie?" I looked at them hurt and extended my right hand towards them. Both women gasped when they saw Finlay's mother's ring on my hand and I smirk internally.

That was easy.

• • • • •

A/N

She's finally in!

And as his fiancée 👀

Let's see if she finds who is behind all this or gets into another trouble 🤐

I'm going to keep the Scottish dialect minimal so it'll be easy to understand. I know it's not necessary but it's fun to write different accents 😂