As June left the morgue, ra found herself at a loss for words. She wanted to help sort out things for South Ashford, but June just shook her head and insisted on taking the bus. ra didn''t push further and simply stood there offering, "If you need anything, just give me a call." June nodded from the bus window, leaned back in her seat, and drifted off to sleep.


    ra lingered a bit, then turned to Simon, who looked worse for wear. His forehead glistened with sweat, and his lips were a ghostly white. Just as ra was about to ask what was wrong, Simon copsed. Panicked, she rushed him to the hospital, and when the doctor lifted his shirt, her heart sank at the sight of the brutal whip marks crisscrossing his back. Some were so deep they reached the bone. How could anyone be so cruel to someone from the Ferguson family?


    Still in shock, ra covered her mouth. The Ferguson family wasted no time, and Ada was the first to arrive. Seeing ra, Ada lunged to p her but ra caught her wrist. Ada trembled with anger, "You jinx! If it weren''t for you, Simon wouldn''t be in this mess!"


    ra almostughed at the absurdity. She didn''t even know what had happened to Simon, let alone how it was her fault. Before she could respond, Lincoln, whom she had seen earlier, walked in. His gaze made her uneasy, like a predator eyeing its prey, a smirk tugging at his lips. "ra, maybe you don''t know, but Simon burst into the family estate tonight, begging his grandfather to call off his engagement to Quinn. He confessed he had regrets and imed to love you instead. His grandfather had set the wedding date, invitations were sent. Canceling now would be a p in his face, and the Ferguson family would be humiliated. So, his grandfather invoked the familyw. Not many can endure it."


    ra''s expression darkened. Simon was out of his mind! He''d been secretly involved with Quinn for ages, and now, on the brink of marrying her, he says he''s changed his mind? All because of some recent video of Quinn, and now he ims to like ra-aplete joke.


    She turned to leave, but Ada snagged her arm. "ra, you can''t just walk away. You have to stay until Simon wakes up, or I''ll never let this go."


    ra took a deep breath, reminding herself that Simon had at least tried to help her this time. So, she stayed, waiting quietly for him to wake up. Simon''s injuries were severe. Doctors spent three long hours attending to his back wounds, especially where fabric had stuck to the raw skin, tearing it off. Even in his unconscious state, Simon couldn''t help but flinch.


    ra sat in the hallway until dawn, her phone buzzing with a message from Z, "I know everything, don''t think I don''t." She had been feeling down, but this message brought a smile to her face. This guy...


    She exined everything, reassuring him, "I''ll get you a giftter, don''t be mad. I won''t get tangled up with him again." His reply was prompt, as always, showing how much he valued her. It warmed her heart. She didn''t like letting people down, and his sincerity had softened her resistance.


    "I''m not mad, but you can always count on me." ra smiled to herself, thinking, "What can a waiter do?" He probably didn''t grasp the extent of the Ferguson family''s influence. But surely, working in that kind of ce, he must''ve picked up on some high society gossip, right?