Ja?inine swept out of the mansion''s towering entrance, heart pounding as she spotted Alex waiting by the ornate gates.


    Without a word, she wrapped her arms around him, pressing her face against his chest.


    "Just... let me stay like this," she whispered shakily. "I need it more than I can say."


    Alex held her close, voice gentle. "You''re doing better than you think."


    Tears pricked at Jasmine''s eyes.


    "Why, Alex? Why is this happening to us? Why can''t we justugh like we used to, back when everything was simple? Why does it have to be this vicious fight?"


    He sighed, resting his chin against her hair. "You know the answer-you have to protect yourself."


    Her words trembled with bitterness. "I hate what I''ve turned into, but there''s no other way."


    Hourster, the two found themselves by the rolling surf at the beach.


    Moonlight glittered on dark waves.


    Alex breathed in the salty air, trying to calm Jasmine''s anxious spirit.


    Then both their smartwatches buzzed.


    "A message from Charles," Alex muttered, scanning the screen. He read the text in a dry, mocking tone:


    "I won''t forget the humiliation you threw in my face today, Alex! You''d better pray you never cross my path again!""


    Alex shook his head in exasperation.


    "The bastard still hasn''t learned a thing." He nced at Jasmine. "You get one too?"


    Jasmine checked hers. Her expression darkened as she read:


    "Jasmine, you''d better fix the Skin Dew Essence crisis fast. Otherwise, don''t me me if I drag you in front of the board!""


    They locked eyes. A slow sigh escaped them both.


    "He''s just as stubborn as ever," Alex muttered. Then he gave Jasmine a questioning look. "So... what exactly is Skin Dew Essence?"


    Jasmine''s shoulders tensed. "It''s the crown jewel of Kingston Pharmaceuticals-an absolute game-changer for my family''s ns. Everything was going so smoothly until one of our own turned traitor. I''m almost certain it''s Charles."


    "He bribed our key people to jump ship to Jericho Kane''spany. They stole our research and left us scrambling. Our main project-Skin Dew Essence-is practically in their hands now."


    A cold rage flickered in her eyes.


    "They not only swiped top employees but ran off with our research documents.


    And the patent... They''ve somehow transferred it to Jericho. We''d have to start from zero. The medical expo is next month. We''re not


    remotely ready."


    The tension felt as thick as the scent of ocean brine.


    Alex kept his gaze steady on her. "So if either you or Jericho perfects SkinDew Essence first, will rule the market?"


    She nodded, swallowing hard. "Exactly. Kingston Pharmacy and Kane Pharmacy own most of the market here."


    "Whichever product wins at the next big fair gets it all. But how can wepete if everything''s been stolen? Our top scientists, our data, our head start... it''s gone. We''re stuck."


    Alex rubbed his chin, thinking. "I''m not an expert in modern research, but I came across an ancient form with very simr effects to Skin Dew. It''s called Emerald Elixir."


    Jasmine''s eyes glinted, desperate hope shining through. "Emerald Elixir? And you think it matches SkinDew?"


    He nodded slowly. "From what I''ve read, it helps prolong life and retain youth. It''s not something average doctors talk about-this is ancient, nearly forgotten knowledge."


    Jasmine grabbed his arm. "That''s perfect. If there''s even a slim chance, let''s do it. Tell me what you need. I''ll get it all."


    Alex scribbled down a short list of ingredients on a notepad.


    Jasmine skimmed the list. "They''re mostly standard. The only tricky one is Verdantheart Root. I''ll have Kelly help you secure it."


    "Kelly?" Alex asked, arching a brow.


    "Yeah," Jasmine replied, already dialing the number. "Any problem with that?"


    "No," Alex said neutrally, waiting as she made the call.


    Momentster, Kelly''s voice crackled through. "I''ve checked all possible vendors at the medicine market. We might find it in a ce called King of Herbal."


    "Great," Jasmine said, ending the call. "Take Alex with you tomorrow. I need to handle some things here."


    The next day


    Kelly parked outside King of Herbal, a bustling shop with the air thick from dried roots and exotic nts. They hurried inside, weaving through shelves stacked high with ingredients.


    Frazzled staff dashed in every direction, trying to keep up with the crowd. "Where''s your boss?" Kelly demanded, scanning the ce. We have an appointment."


    A harried employee waved her off. "He''s in the back, serving a VIP. We''re swamped. You''ll have to wait."


    Kelly didn''t bother waiting. She nodded for Alex to follow and marched straight into the shop''s inner section, where rare and costly herbs were kept under tight watch.


    Halfway through the room, Kelly froze in shock. A store clerk was handing over a small wooden box to another customer-and inside it was the unmistakable glow of Verdantheart Root.


    "Stop!" she barked, voice slicing through the mor.


    20


    Alex turned to see who she was confronting-and felt his stomach twist.


    Across from them stood Sophia, Florence and Jack


    The very people he''d hoped never toy eyes on again.


    He let out a weary breath, resignation flickering in his gaze


    No matter how hard he tried to dodge them, fate kept dragging these toxic figures


    back into his life.