Regina accused the previous doctors of frightening her so she would agree to an expensive operation. Peter neither defended nor criticized them. “Surgery remains a valid medical option,” he explained. “Especially if the mass grows, ruptures, twists, causes bleeding, or interferes with organ function.” He described the risks without exaggeration. The pain could worsen, bleeding might occur, bodily functions could be disrupted, and certain changes would require immediate hospital treatment. Peter did not connect the condition to morality, personal relationships, or sensitive history without evidence. He only asked about alcohol consumption, sleep patterns, stress, weight changes, and medication that might affect her symptoms. Regina began answering more seriously. She admitted that she often endured the pain because of her filming schedule and feared that news about her health m

Peter found the stagnation more severe than his initial assessment suggested. He did not connect the problem to morality or personal relationships. Illness, exhaustion, medication, stress, and an unhealthy routine could all make it difficult for the body to recover. He explained that the next point was closer to Regina’s lower abdomen. The area required the covering to be adjusted and her consent to be obtained again before he touched her. Regina immediately became tense. “Is there no other way?” “There are supporting points,” Peter replied, “but they may not be enough for the pain you are experiencing now.” He indicated the general location without opening the covering. He explained which parts of her body would remain covered, who would remain in the room, and that she had the right to refuse. Toby tried to decide o

Toby looked at Regina with curiosity he no longer tried to hide. Her statement about profit made him forget that only minutes earlier he had been panicking over her condition. “What do you mean?” he asked. “What benefit are you waiting to receive from Bobby?” Regina leaned back against the examination chair. Her face was still pale, but the reduction in pain had made her voice steadier. “Bobby always talks about the future,” she said. “Not a small future. He promises position, access, a house, and a life where I no longer have to struggle through filming schedules until midnight.” Toby stepped half a pace closer. “Because of Sandra Steel?” Regina did not answer immediately. She looked at Peter, who was counting the used needles before placing them into the sharps container. Peter

The Malone Corporation building stood in the heart of Wada City’s business district, with dark glass walls and a silver logo rising two stories high. From the outside, the company looked like a modern financial institution built on discipline, growth, and trust.Its main lobby was filled with photographs of charity events, business awards, and large slogans about community empowerment. One wall displayed a picture of Bobby Malone distributing food supplies to local residents, while another corner held a plaque that read, Family Growth Partner of Wada City.Front office employees were trained to call every customer a partner. Words such as debtor, delinquent borrower, and seizure were never used in the public area.The head receptionist, a woman named Clara, sat upright behind the marble desk. Her gaze always dropped to a visitor’s shoes and clothing before reaching their face. However, her smile immediately became warm whenever she noticed an expensive watch, a corporate folder, or a

Bobby carried the list of potential early winners into the marketing room. As soon as the door opened, walls covered in slogans about prosperity came into view.One poster showed a smiling family standing in front of a large house. Another displayed a car, a bank balance, and a sentence claiming that the courage to seize an opportunity was what separated rich people from ordinary ones.Some of the photographs came from paid stock image catalogs. Several testimonials had been created using actors who were paid for a single day of work.The marketing manager, Yudi, immediately stood. He was always the first to laugh whenever Bobby made a comment and often repeated his superior’s words so they would sound like his own conclusions.“Mr. Malone arrived at exactly the right time,” he said. “The team is finishing the company’s largest social initiative.”Bobby looked at the design on the screen. One testimonial showed a balance of two hundred million after an investment of ten million.“Lowe