21Cersei stood there, her whole body trembling with a mixture of rage, humiliation, and an overwhelming sense of defeat. Her mind was a tumultuous storm of thoughts and emotions, each wave crashing harder than the last. She clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms, drawing blood. Her teeth gritted so hard she feared they might crack. "No," she whispered fiercely to herself, "I won't give them the satisfaction."Lavinia, her brow arched in expectation, extended her hand. "The combination, Cersei. Now," she demanded, her voice cold and commanding.Cersei's eyes rolled defiantly, her pride the last vestige of her crumbling facade. "Never," she spat out, her voice quivering with a mix of fear and defiance. "You'll never get it from me."Lavinia glared at her, her eyes cold. "Pride will be your downfall, Cersei. Do not test me further." But Cersei was past the point of reason, consumed by wounded ego and spite. "You think you've won?" she sneered. "You know nothin

23Darien entered the room, his heart heavy with the decision he had made. The weight of the Golden Apple in his pocket was a constant reminder of the choice that lay ahead.The brother, noticing Darien's approach, stood up abruptly, his eyes wary. "Who are you?" he demanded, his voice edged with tension."I'm someone who wants to help," Darien replied, his voice calm and steady. He observed the sister lying on the bed, her breaths shallow, her skin pale. The sight stirred a deep sadness within him."Why should we trust you?" the brother's fists clenched at his sides, his body tense, prepared for any threat.Darien reached into his pocket and pulled out the half of the Golden Apple, its surface gleaming softly in the dim light of the hospital room. "Because I have this," he said, holding it out for them to see.The sister's eyes widened with a mix of hope and disbelief. "Is that...?" she began, her voice trailing off."The Golden Apple," Darien finished for her. "It has the power to h

25Cersei seethed as the guards led her away in handcuffs. Her cheek still burned from the slaps as she replayed the humiliating scene over and over in her mind. How could it have all fallen apart so quickly? She had been so close to securing power over this town. As the jail cell door slammed shut behind her, Cersei collapsed on the hard bed, tears of rage and despair streaming down her face. 'That witch Lavinia has ruined me,' she thought bitterly. 'And Darien, with his smug smiles and secrets. I'll make them pay for this humiliation.' In the wake of Cersei's arrest, news rippled through the city with the swiftness of a wildfire. Whispers turned to discussions, and discussions into debates. The tale of her dramatic downfall at the plaza was recounted with varying shades of incredulity and schadenfreude.---**At the Smith Household**Marcella sat in her living room, her fingers wrapped tightly around a cup of tea, though it had long since gone cold. Her knuckles were white from th

27Darien and Lavinia spent the entire night in a makeshift lab they had set up in Darien's living room, surrounded by herbs, plants, and ancient texts scattered across every available surface. The dim light from the oil lamp cast long shadows, adding to the intense atmosphere as they worked tirelessly to find an antidote to the poison.Darien, with his extensive knowledge of traditional medicine, crushed herbs with a mortar and pestle, his movements precise but increasingly desperate as each concoction failed to neutralize the poison. He wiped the sweat from his brow, refusing to look at Lavinia, fearing he'd see disappointment in her eyes.Lavinia, on the other hand, paced back and forth like a caged animal, her frustration growing with each passing moment. She watched Darien work, her hands clenched into fists at her sides, her nails digging into her palms. "This isn't working," Lavinia finally burst out, her voice sharp with irritation. She stopped pacing and glared at the useles

29The intensity of the situation escalated with each passing second. Darien could feel the eyes of the crowd on them, the air thick with tension.Suddenly, Lavinia appeared at Darien's side. Her presence was like a calm in the storm, her gaze fixed on Marcella and Bennett. "Is there a problem here?" she asked, her voice cool and collected.Marcella, taken aback by Lavinia's sudden appearance, hesitated for a moment. Her anger, however, quickly returned. "Your friend here seems to think he can just walk into people without consequence."Lavinia arched an eyebrow, her stance protective beside Darien. "An accident, from what I saw. And already apologized for."Bennett's anger seemed to grow, his breaths coming in short, rapid bursts. "This isn't over," he hissed, his eyes locked on Darien.Darien met Bennett's gaze, his own eyes unflinching. "If you're looking for trouble, you won't find it here. Not tonight."As the tension between Darien and Marcella escalated, the crowd at the mayor'