“There is still hope—but only if we act fast,” Richard said, his voice steady yet urgent. His eyes locked onto Rose’s, a flicker of determination in his gaze. “Get me a quarter pound of caterpillar, a quarter pound of cockroach, and a quarter pound of spider. Fry them, then place them in an airtight container.”Rose stood frozen, her mind reeling. She stared at Richard, her expression a mixture of disbelief and confusion. She had no idea what to make of his words. The thought of such bizarre ingredients was both unsettling and baffling. Was this really the way to save her mother?“Is that all you need?” she asked, her voice trembling slightly. She wanted to believe him—desperately—but everything felt too strange, too foreign.Richard met her gaze without hesitation. “Yes, this is just the first treatment,” he said calmly. “Once you have those, I’ll also need the back of a mango, the seed of a watermelon, cashew nuts, and water from a watermelon. Those will be used to prepare a concocti

Trevor stumbled back, his expression quickly morphing into one of forced composure. “Richard, I—this isn’t what it looks like. I was just talking to Rose, trying to understand what’s going on with her. I—” “Don’t lie to me,” Richard interrupted, stepping into the room, his tone sharp as a blade. “I’ve seen enough.” Rose sat frozen, too stunned to speak. She had heard Richard’s voice, but in this moment, the room felt suffocating, as if she were trapped between two opposing forces. Richard’s arrival should have been a relief, but now she found herself caught between them—between the man who had once been her ally and the man who had tried to control her every move. Richard’s eyes never left Trevor. “I know exactly what you’ve been doing, Trevor. You’ve been manipulating her. Pressuring her. And if you think for one second that I’ll allow this to continue, you’re gravely mistaken.” Trevor’s jaw clenched, his usual calm demeanor shattered. “You don’t understand,” he spat, taking a st

Richard turned to see who it was, and his eyes met those of the same woman he had bumped into earlier that day—Eliza. Her calm grace was undeniable, even more so in the classroom where her presence seemed to draw all attention. She moved with purpose, her every step deliberate, as if she knew the weight her presence carried. For a brief moment, her eyes met Richard’s, and for the second time that day, he felt a flicker of recognition between them. But before he could process it further, she began walking towards him. Just as it seemed she was about to take the seat beside him, the teacher walked in, breaking the tension. The class filled with the rustling of books and papers, students settling into their seats. Eliza, with a final glance in Richard’s direction, chose a seat a few rows behind him instead. But Charles and Oliver were watching closely, and as soon as the teacher began the lesson, they leaned in toward Richard, their curiosity palpable. “So, what’s the deal?” Charles wh

Richard walked up to the grand entrance of the mansion, and as the doors opened, he couldn’t help but let out a quiet breath of disbelief. The sprawling estate before him was a far cry from the modest apartment he had once lived. The mansion looked really majestic, its towering columns and ornate stonework giving off an air of grandeur that made Richard feel like he was stepping into another world—one that he wasn’t quite sure he belonged in.He couldn’t help but feel a pang of doubt as he looked around, taking in the perfectly manicured lawns, the lush greenery that framed the estate like an elegant painting, and the long, winding driveway leading up to the entrance. Everything here screamed wealth. Opulence. Power.“Is this really where Eliza lives?” he muttered to himself, almost in disbelief.He made his way up the stone steps toward the grand front doors, his mind still buzzing with the events of the day, and how much had already changed in his life. Yet tonight, the contrast was

Sebastian straightened. “Mr. Luggard, sorry to bother you—but I felt it was important. This young man here,” he gestured at Richard, “came to the event without an invitation. He’s not on the guest list. I believe he snuck in, and considering the nature of tonight’s celebration, I thought it best to alert you immediately.”Richard turned toward Mr. Luggard. “I was invited. By Eliza. Personally.”Luggard looked him over, expression unreadable. “What’s your name, son?”“Richard.”“Richard…?”Richard paused. His instincts told him to keep his identity sealed, to stay under the radar. So he simply said, “Just Richard, sir.”Sebastian chuckled under his breath, shaking his head.Luggard turned to one of the security guards. “Check the guest list.”The guard pulled out a digital tablet and began scrolling through names. After a moment, he shook his head.“No Richard listed, sir. No one by that name.”Luggard’s lips thinned. He turned back to Richard. “I’m afraid I can’t allow guests without