Johnny''s face lit up with joy. As soon as he hung up the phone, he let out a sigh. "Ryan, you should really take a page out of Quinn''s book. She''s only been in South Ashford for a week, and they are already calling to shower her with praise."


    Ryan smirked. "No surprise there. I always feel like whatever Quinn touches turns to gold."


    Johnny chuckled. With Quinn and Ryan poised to take the reins of thepany, he could finally kick back and enjoy a well-deserved retirement.


    He transferred eight million dors to Quinn''s ount as some pocket money, telling her to treat herself.


    When Quinn saw the deposit notification, she was a bit taken aback, but soon, a smile crept up her face. It looked like ra had taken the fall for her again. Well, that served her right.


    She nced at the farmers still gathered outside with nothing but disdain. These country folk worked their whole lives and would never see eight million dors. Who did they think they were blocking her car? They should be grateful she even acknowledged them.


    Without missing a beat, she called security to clear them out.


    The folks in South Ashford were used to doing things their way and didn''t take kindly to being pushed around. They got into it with the security guards, and someone even took a swing at her car, smashing the windows.


    It was only then that Quinn seemed to realize she was dealing with a bunch of unruly troublemakers. She let out a scream, immediately diving into Simon''s arms. Shards of ss nicked Simon''s face. As he held Quinn, he couldn''t help but think back to a night with ra when a big window had suddenly shattered. He''d been frozen in ce, and ra had shielded him without a second thought. ra had genuinely cared for him and protected him with all her heart.


    Now, here was Quinn, using him as a human shield.


    Simon felt a pang of difort at the stark contrast, but Quinn''s sobs brought him back to the moment. "Simon, I think I''m hurt."


    She raised her hand, showing a cut, snapping Simon back to reality.


    Officials soon arrived to help, escorting them out of the chaos.


    At the hospital, the South Ashford representative looked uneasy and gently suggested, "Miss Quinn, Mr. Simon, it might be best for you to head back to the Capital. People are seriously riled up here, and staying could mean real trouble."


    When a big crowd caused a ruckus, even the police could only do so much. They could handle a few troublemakers but not a whole mob.


    Simon took a deep breath. "What do you mean by that? Quinn''s been busting her tail on those live streams. Now that there''s been a hup with the apple quality, you''re pointing fingers at her?"


    The representative was also simmering with frustration. Hadn''t Quinn and those farmers stirred up this mess?


    First, Quinn had shelled out a million bucks to win those folks over and push ra out. Now that things had gone sideways, the two factions were tearing each other apart.


    Meanwhile, ra had headed to North Ashford and, word had it, sold all their apples. Reviews for North Ashford''s apples had picked up, while South Ashford''s reputation had tanked. Customers had been posting pictures of their orders. They all showed rotten, leaking apples.


    Quinn had promised a way to preserve them, but her so-called method of using ice packs and instion bags just jacked up the shipping costs and did zilch for the apples, leaving everyone with nothing but frustration.