Jeffery bid Rita farewell, offering her his arm for a brief stroll through the manor grounds. The night air was cool, crisp, carrying the scent of damp earth and distant flowers. They spoke little, but the silence was comfortable. When they reached the gates, she hesitated, as if wanting to say something, but in the end, she simply nodded. He returned the gesture and walked off into the night.By the time he arrived at his own manor, the warmth of the evening had faded. He loosened his tie, shrugging off the tailored suit with relief. The fabric had felt stifling all night. A warm bath came next, the heat soaking into his muscles, easing the tension in his shoulders.Afterward, dressed in simple, comfortable clothes, he settled into his study. The room was dimly lit, the only illumination coming from the flickering lamp beside him. He had intended to meditate, to delve into the alchemical inheritance carved into his mind, but his thoughts lingered elsewhere.Rita.She had stood u

Rita stood by the doorway, arms folded, watching Mr. Prescott clutch his abdomen. The pained expression on his face, contorted with agony, was a rare sight—one she hadn’t expected to witness so soon. Jeffery’s diagnosis had come true faster than she’d anticipated. Prescott had barged back into her manor, his steps unsteady, before she’d had him seated on the couch.A smirk tugged at the corner of her lips. “Back already?” she remarked, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Looks like you’re in pain. What happened to you, Mr. Prescott? You didn’t seem to have any trouble when you left.”Prescott ignored her jibe, his face twisted in discomfort. “Please, Rita,” he rasped, his voice strained. “Call your private doctors. I need help. Fast.”Rita’s smirk deepened. Her satisfaction was palpable, a quiet victory settling in her chest. She’d been waiting for this moment, and now it had arrived. Still, she didn’t intend to give him the satisfaction of receiving help from Jeffery, not when the man

Before Jeffery could respond, the driver stormed forward, his face twisted with frustration."Where the hell have you been?" the driver barked, his voice echoing through the room. "Do you even know we’ve been waiting for you all night?"Jeffery’s jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing into thin slits. Rage simmered beneath the surface, but for Rita’s sake, he swallowed it down. His voice was flat, controlled."I had something to deal with."The driver scoffed, undeterred. "What? Did you spend the night at some brothel? Is that what was so important?"Jeffery’s glare snapped to the driver like a whip. The room seemed to darken, the air growing heavier. His eyes, sharp as blades, bore into the man.The driver’s voice died in his throat. His bravado crumbled instantly. In his mind, Jeffery’s figure had grown—taller, broader, more imposing. Beads of sweat formed on his brow, his face turning pale as fear gripped him.He stumbled back, mouth snapping shut, trembling under Jeffery’s piercing gaz

Prescott sat on the cold floor, his breath steady now, but his mind in turmoil. The echoes of his own insults rang louder than the silence around him.“A worthless bastard… a thug in disguise…”His own words felt like shards digging into his pride. He’d been a fool—blind, arrogant. The memory of Rita’s sharp gaze, her calm disdain, sliced through him harder than any pain he’d felt moments ago.He sighed, his shoulders sagging. “She was right,” he muttered bitterly “Damn her foresight.”Jeffery’s skill wasn’t just impressive—it was terrifying. The kind of ability that defied logic, almost supernatural in its precision. A man like that wasn’t someone to insult. He was someone to respect… or fear.The thought of reconciliation crept in, unwelcome but necessary. Only a fool would walk away from this without trying to fix what he’d broken.Prescott stood, brushing dust from his trousers, and raised his hand to knock on Jeffery’s door. His fist hovered mid-air, hesitation freezing him. He

Bob’s gaze lingered on Jeffery.He took in the plain clothes, the unremarkable features, the lack of anything that might make him stand out.This is the guy Rita’s wasting her time with?The thought burned in his mind.No, she couldn’t be serious. This had to be some kind of joke—a distraction, nothing more.He forced a smile and extended a hand.“Bob Prescot,” he said, his voice carrying just enough edge to make it clear this wasn’t a friendly introduction.Jeffery eyed him for a moment, his expression unreadable, before taking the hand. “Jeffery,” he replied, his tone flat, uninterested.Bob’s smile tightened. He didn’t like the way Jeffery looked at him—like he was already bored of the conversation. Like he didn’t care.Who does this guy think he is?Bob’s grip tightened, his smirk deepening as he applied more pressure, expecting Jeffery to flinch. But Jeffery barely seemed to notice.Instead, he looked down at their joined hands with mild interest, like a scientist observing an in