As Ryan stepped outside, he pulled Megan up from her spot on the boulder where she was resting. "Come on, Megan," he said. "I''ve got all the herbal remedies for cramps-twenty packets in total. Eight for you and twelve for ra."


    Ryan had never been one for equal distribution; ra always took priority in his mind. Megan trailed behind him as they headed down the mountain, listening to Ryan rave about ra the entire way. ra was beautiful, an amazing cook, and super talented at work-he just couldn''t stop listing her qualities during the two- hour descent.


    Megan''s mood was souring, and she kept offering him candies from her bag, which Ryan happily epted. Once they reached the car, Ryan pulled out some bread he had stashed and insisted Megan eat a bit, reminding her they still had a six-hour drive back to the Capital ahead.


    Megan left her stash of candies in the car. "Ryan, if you ever get too caught up and forget to eat, just have some of these candies. They''ll keep your blood sugar stable, and it''s safer when you''re driving."


    "Thanks, Megan," Ryan said with genuine appreciation. He hadn''t stopped to rest all day, driving over ten hours and hiking several more, but the thought of ra''s praise kept him energized.


    They rolled into the Capital around 7 p.m., and Ryan dropped Megan off at her ce first. As she stepped out, Megan reminded him, "Don''t forget the candies- keep your energy up while driving."


    "Got it, thanks, Megan," Ryan replied, handing her the eight herbal packets through the window. Megan smiled, thanked him, and watched as the car disappeared down the road. Once it was out of sight, her smile faded, reced by a cold, hard stare.


    From the shadows, a voiceced with sarcasm broke the silence. "You''re quite the actress. No wonder ra hasn''t caught on to who you really are."


    Megan tossed the herbal packets into a nearby trash bin, her face unreadable. "I only make my move when it matters. Unlike you, I don''t make a spectacle of myself. Don''te looking for me again; you''re too reckless, and I won''t let you drag me down."


    The figure in the shadows bristled with anger. "Megan! You think you''re better? You''re just a rat in the gutter. You''ve got a thing for Dn, right? As if someone like you could ever dream of being with him. Do you even know what he''s really like? He''s a monster, and anyone who gets close to him ends up terribly."


    In a sh, Megan''s hand was around the woman''s throat, her eyes fierce and unyielding. "Whether Dn is a monster or not is none of your business. You, a madwoman, have no right to judge him. I''m not like ra-I know what I want and I go after it. Now that you''re out, watch how I win this."


    Gasping for air, the woman was filled with terror. She had underestimated Megan, thinking she was just a timid girl, not realizing the strength she hid beneath her calm exterior. When Megan finally released her, she copsed, coughing and shocked.


    Megan crouched down, not holding back as she lightly pped her cheek. "Quinn, if I had your background, there''d be nothing I couldn''t achieve. Your problem is you''re too obvious your foolishness and greed are your downfall. People like you always meet a swift end. Don''te looking for me again. If you end up dead in some alley, the Bradford family won''t even notice. Right?"


    Quinn''s face went pale, and she scrambled back, horror-stricken by the woman standing over her. Megan, unfazed, stood up, wiping her hands with a tissue as if Quinn was contagious. Quinn didn''t dare retaliate; she suddenly realized she was the one truly outmatched.


    Megan walked into the alley, unbothered by its reputation as a slum in the Capital. She was confident that one day, she would seize everything she desired.