As Ryan drove back, he couldn''t wait to call ra. "ra, I''ve got the herbal medicine," he announced eagerly.


    ra was at the vi, waiting for him. As soon as she saw him looking exhausted and travel-worn, she knew he hadn''t paused for a single break. "Hand it over, and then go upstairs to shower and get some sleep," she instructed gently.


    Ryan really needed the rest; his eyes were bloodshot with fatigue. "Heh, ra, did I do well this time?" he asked, like a kid seeking approval.


    It was always like this. Every time he aplished something, he looked to ra for praise, though she rarely gave it. ra smiled and tousled his hair. "You did great, Ryan. You''re really growing up."


    Feeling that all his effort had been worth it, Ryan quickly dozed off on the couch. ra draped a nket over him, picked up the herbal remedy meant to help with insomnia, and headed to Palm Bay.


    The guard at the gate recognized her and let her in. Dn wasn''t home yet, and after saying hello to the housekeeper, ra got to work in the kitchen, carefully following the old alternative medicine expert''s handwritten instructions.


    As Dn entered, the rich smell of herbs filled the air. He frowned slightly while maneuvering his wheelchair towards the living room. Eden, who hade back with him, waved a hand in front of her nose. "Dn, what''s that smell?" she asked.


    Right then, ra walked out from the kitchen, and Eden''s eyes shed with anger. "ra! What are you doing at Palm Bay?!"


    Since the incident at Azure Shores, Dn hadn''t answered her calls for days. Just as things were getting better, here was ra, stirring things up again. Eden''s chest heaved with anger, and she bit her lip hard, holding back the urge tosh out because Dn was there.


    ra hadn''t expected Eden to be there but carried on, presenting the remedy. "Mr. Dn, Ryan went to great lengths to get this remedy from an old expert. It''s supposed to help with insomnia. Try it for a few days, and if it works, we''ll get more."


    She walked past Eden, intending to set the bowl down to cool. But Eden, provoked, knocked it from her hands. The hot liquid spilled over ra''s hand, leaving an instant red mark.


    Eden smirked. "Serves you right! I know what you''re up to. You''re just trying to win Dn over to fix the Bradford Group''s mess!"


    She stepped back, standing by Dn. "Dn, don''t fall for it!"


    Dn''s gaze lingered on ra''s reddened hand. After a moment, he spoke coldly, "Apologize."


    ra thought he was talking to her and was about to say something when he rified, "Eden, apologize."


    Eden stared at him, stunned, tears welling in her eyes. "I won''t apologize! Can''t you see her real intentions, Dn? She''s vile! She''s the reason you lost your legs, why your sister died, why Quinn ended up in a mental hospital. I can''t believe she has the nerve to show up here! Someone like her should just disappear!"


    She was almost hysterical, refusing to apologize to ra. Meanwhile, ra hade intending to apologize herself, needing something from them. So, she couldn''t afford to stand her ground against Eden and quickly spoke up.