Chapter 564 Six Numbers, Three Sets of Passwords, Three Chances
Back in her room, Cecily took a shower and changed into a fresh outfit, her face no longer bearing the fainthearted, haggard look.
Though her encounter with danger was real, her weakness and exhaustion were all feigned. She'd spent the night with Darian at his home.
It was a group of Evander's fervent fans who had swarmed around her, screaming wildly, "Destroy her face and see if she can still marry Evander!"
"Look at yourselves, thinking you could marry Evander. Is that someone like you can even dream of? What makes you think you, an old woman, could marry Evander?"
These young girls, in their 20s, seemed ready to devour Cecily alive.
Unable to defend herself, Cecily was forced to fight back. Darian, however, was close by, and when the crowd lunged at her, he and his men quickly surrounded them.
None of the assailants escaped. They were now in police custody.
Thinking about the conversation Karen and Percy had downstairs, Cecily realized they must have believed Josep had kidnapped her. So, she had decided to play along and say nothing more than what was necessary.
During lunch, Percy proposed moving the wedding date forward.
"Let's set it for the day after tomorrow. I've already instructed my staff to speed up the arrangements. Everything will be ready by tomorrow. Evander will be back tomorrow, and I haven't sent out the invitations yet. I'll just change the date to the day after tomorrow and send them out today."
Percy spoke, still firm in his decision, merely informing Cecily rather than seeking her approval.
Cecily raised an eyebrow and asked with a hint of mockery, "Is it really so urgent? Are you afraid I might escape again?"
Percy dismissed her question with a wave of his hand. "No, of course not. It's just that after so many recent events, we should have something to celebrate."
Cecily took a bite of her food and didn't continue the conversation.
The smile on Percy's face faded a bit as he looked at her. "What do you think?"
Karen also looked at Cecily, the atmosphere tense for a moment.
It was only after Cecily swallowed her bite of food that she looked up. "Since you've already made your decision, I don't have any objections, but the time crunch might mean things aren't perfect. It could cause some issues, so we'd better be prepared."
Percy waved dismissively. "That won't happen."
Everyone jumped at the sudden clatter of tableware as Bella slammed her utensils down.
Bella's face was stern, clearly displeased. "You all can eat. I'm done."
"Mother?" Karen quickly stood to support Bella, but Bella pushed her hand away, leaning on her cane as she slowly made her way upstairs.
Percy's face darkened. He knew Bella was actually against the marriage but hadn't opposed it publicly to spare his feelings. However, the situation had finally become too much for her, so she stormed off.
Cecily finished her meal and put down her utensils. "I'm going upstairs to see what's wrong with Grandmother Lockwood."
Upstairs, Bella sat alone in her room, her back to the door, her posture one of indignation.
Cecily knocked gently on the door, "Grandmother Lockwood, may I come in?"
Bella glanced at Cecily, nodded, and said, "Come in, and close the door behind you."
Bella's expression was far from pleasant, her old eyes looking at Cecily with a mix of resignation and frustration.
"Cecily, I'll be frank with you. I like you very much, but I don't want you to marry Evander."
Cecily pressed her lips tightly together, remaining silent.
She didn't want this. But her heart brimmed with resentment. She needed to make Percy lose everything at the very last moment. She wanted this grand wedding to reveal Percy and Josep for who they truly were—one driven by ambition and ruthless, the other consumed by greed and fratricide. She wanted everyone to see their true colors and feel they got what they deserved.
Bella sighed and continued, "But Cecily, it's not that I look down on you because you're a widow with children and all. It's just that you have too many ties. Darian might have forgotten you now, but what if he remembers someday? You'd regret it too late. And then there's Percy."
Bella looked into Cecily's eyes, opening her mouth as if to say more, but she stopped herself, leaving Percy's ambitions and plans unsaid.
Cecily watched Bella's tears fall, then moved closer to gently pat Bella's back in comfort.
"Grandma Lockwood, actually..."
"Mom!" Percy's voice cut through, his tone anxious as he appeared at Bella's door.
Bella looked at him with disappointment.
"Everyone out. I need to take a nap," she said wearily, waving them away.
Cecily stood up. "Rest well. Call us if you need anything."
With that, Cecily limped out with Percy, leaning on her crutch.
Percy asked, "What did she say to you?"
"Nothing much," Cecily replied.
Percy shrugged it off. "She's old, and you're about to get married. She's just emotional."
Cecily nodded, feeling the pressure of the wedding being moved up to the day after tomorrow. Her plans needed to be accelerated.
That night, Lockwood Manor was quiet. Bella had retired to her room after dinner, Karen was in the living room, Landon was outside preparing for the wedding, and Percy had gone to the office for work.
An opportunity Cecily couldn't afford to miss.
Her phone buzzed with a message from Griffin: [Mommy, the Lockwood Manor's security cameras are offline. No one will notice you.]
Cecily replied with a simple "OK," glanced at Karen sitting in the living room, and quickly headed for Percy's study.
She didn't turn on the lights but used a flashlight instead. Cecily bypassed the drawers, knowing that something so crucial would be hidden in a safe. Her task was to locate Percy's safe.
Approaching the solid wood desk, she pulled out the chair and crouched down, opening the side cabinets.
A black safe emerged with a keyhole and a rotating dial. It was a mechanical safe.
Cecily dialed a number, and Blaise's lazy voice answered, "What's up?"
Cecily eyed the safe. "Do you know how to pick locks? Can you handle a mechanical safe?"
Blaise yawned. "Did you switch careers to become a thief?"
Cecily grinned. "Yeah, you're next on my list."
Blaise chuckled. "Alright, what's the setup?"
Cecily described the safe's construction in detail, keeping a wary eye on the door for any signs of interruption. She was nervous, her palms sweating.
"Check if there's a small notch next to the rotating dial."
"There is. What now?"
"Find a screwdriver and unscrew it."
Cecily hesitated.
"Blaise, I'm not joking. I'm freaking out here. Please, I need your help."
Her voice trembled as she pleaded.
Blaise's tone turned serious. "This is a mechanical safe, which means you need to rotate the dial to align the notches with the numbers. It's a six-digit code split into three sets. Each combination must align with the previous one to open it.
"But since you mentioned there's a control panel, this safe is even more secure. It's equipped with remote control capabilities, and if you enter the wrong code three times, it'll automatically lock and trigger an alarm."
Cecily's heart sank. "So, is it even possible for me to get this open?"
"There's a chance. With six digits and three sets of codes, you get three attempts. Listen carefully to the clicks, align the notches, and remember: if the dial feels loose, you've got the right number. And when you turn one set, make sure the next set doesn't overlap with the first. Otherwise, it's a failed attempt."
"What's the probability of getting it right?" Cecily asked, her voice tight with anxiety. Three attempts felt like an uphill battle, especially for a rookie like her.
"To be honest, it's zero for you."
Cecily's spirits dropped.
"But with my guidance, you might have a slim chance." Blaise went over the details again. Cecily removed her headphones, carefully moved the safe into view, swallowed hard, and began her attempts.
With only three tries, each turn of the dial and the accompanying clicks felt like a hammer pounding her heart, causing her pulse to race uncontrollably.
First attempt.
Following Blaise's instructions, Cecily painstakingly turned each set of numbers, her heart in her throat as she twisted the handle.
It didn't work!
A wave of despair hit her. Shaking, she clenched her fists, took a deep breath, and prepared for her second try.
In the stillness of the room, her own heartbeat seemed to echo loudly in her ears. She inhaled sharply, trying to steady herself.
Then she heard footsteps approaching outside the door.
Cecily's brow furrowed in alarm.
A sliver of light began to seep in through the crack of the door.
The door suddenly swung open.
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