The stock signing was scheduled for the next day, and Ryan was practically bouncing off the walls with excitement, chatting non-stop around ra. She kept her cool, though, staying a bit distant until she was sure everyst share Greysen had was now in Ryan''s name. Only then did she rx, letting Ryan send the money back.


    Once everything was wrapped up, Ryan even went out of his way to say goodbye to Greysen before he left. "Greysen, best of luck in the future," he said.


    Greysen shed a fake smile, giving Ryan a pat on the shoulder. "Your dad would be proud. Keep thepany on track, and it''s bound to thrive under your leadership."


    Ryan nodded, watching the car pull away before turning back to ra. "ra!" he called, his face lighting up with admiration. "How did you pull it off? You''re incredible!"


    ra looked at his sincere face and yfully ruffled his hair. She knew Greysen probably had some tricks hidden up his sleeve, but she wasn''t sure what they might be yet.


    Ryan, still buzzing with energy, asked as they headed home, "You''ve been with your boyfriend for ages now. Don''t you think it''s time I meet him? I am your only brother, after all!"


    ra sat in the passenger seat, her mind wandering, but she still reminded him, "Be careful with whatever you do next. I''ll have Cole keep an eye on things. He''s reliable, so don''t hesitate to ask him if you need help."


    She was cautiously optimistic. Back when Johnny was around, he''d hoped that one piece ofnd would save thepany, but now it was just dead weight. She needed to find new ways to secure business for the strugglingpany.


    Ryan''s excitement dimmed slightly at her words. "I know, I''ll work hard to learn," he promised.


    Just as he said this, his phone rang. It was Quinn. Startled, he quickly turned off the phone and stuffed it into his pocket.


    ra noticed his panic, frowning slightly. "Who was that?" she asked.


    "School," he replied. "I''ve signed up for some online courses, but there are a lot of group projects I need to help withtely."


    ra studied him but kept quiet. Ryan was a terrible liar, and sweat was starting to bead on his forehead. Just as he braced himself for ra to call him out, she simply said, "You''ll have to grow up eventually."


    His heart pounded with relief and a bit of hurt. If he couldn''t even trust his family, what kind of person would he be? ra was right-life was survival of the fittest. But he wanted to live by his own rules first.


    When they got home, ra noticed a few bodyguards outside her building. Inside, she spotted a familiar figure it was someone from the Ferguson family. Her heart sank.


    As expected, the bodyguards approached politely. "Ms. ra," they said.


    Walter wanted to see her again. Her brow furrowed as she followed them to the car. The bodyguards were careful, leaving her phone outside the building.


    ra wasn''t sure what Walter wanted this time, but she hoped Dn would head to the Ferguson family soon. But after about twenty minutes on the road, she realized they weren''t heading to the Ferguson estate.


    She nced at the bodyguard next to her. "Isn''t Walter expecting me?" she asked.


    The bodyguard was still polite. "It''s Ms. Eden."


    Ms. Eden? So it was Eden. Eden was obsessed with Dn, and who knew what she had nned.


    ra lowered hershes, discreetly slipping a nail from the car floor into her pocket. They arrived at a vi perched on a mountaintop.


    Two bodyguards grabbed her arms, leading her into a room. Inside, Eden sat in the center, dressed to the nines, holding a long whip. She sneered at ra, slowly getting up.


    "ra, I''ve heard some rumors. Are you really with Dn?" she asked.


    ra stepped back, but the room was filled with other guards. Eden''s face twisted with anger, ordering them, "Grab her!"


    The guards moved toward ra. She tried to run, but the door was already blocked. Two guards hoisted her onto a rack.


    Eden cracked the whip on the floor, the sound echoing loudly. She clearly knew how to use it.


    The guards left the room, reminding her before closing the door, "Ms. Eden, no serious harm."


    Dn had set the rule-no fatal injuries. Eden had always stuck to it.


    Sheshed the whip across ra''s body,ughing. "Did you know? I learned this from Dn. He''s so gentle with me, even says I have a knack for it. I didn''t want do this to you, but you''re just shameless. I told you to stay away from Dn, but you didn''t listen. Serves you right!"


    Eden''s face was full of malice as she delivered twentyshes, leaving ra''s skin raw and bloody. Satisfaction gleamed in her eyes.


    "I''m not going to kill you today. If you run to Dn, you''ll be disappointed. Dn and I have secrets. He needs me, I need him. No one cane between us. No matter how much I hurt you, he won''t punish me too harshly, maybe just skip a few meals."