ra squared her shoulders, staring down the skiny shopkeeper with unwavering confidence.


    "What''s with that look?" ra demanded. "Think I can''t afford whatever it is I want? Just name your price."


    The shopkeepet taised his hand, spreading five skinny fingers. "If you truly want it, I won''t stop you. But it''ll cost fifty grand."


    "Fifty grand?" Florance eyebrows shot up. "Half a million dors? You must be crazy. What do you think this stuff is-gold?"


    Florence''s mind spinning at the amount. She had guessed it would be high, but hearing the price out loud made her stomach drop.


    "The price is fair at half a million," the shopkeeper said firmly. "Trust me, this is the best deal you''ll get. Qualityes at a cost."


    Florence tried a gentler approach. "Is there any way to lower it a little? That''s... steep."


    But her plea only seemed to irritate him. "You must be new here. Our store''s called The King of Herbal for a reason. We don''t do haggling. If you want to bargain, go haggle with the Grim Reaper when your time''s up see if he cuts you a deal."


    He exhaled sharply. "Take it or leave it."


    "But-"


    Florence was about to speak again when ra cut her off.


    "Enough! Sister Florence, don''t make a scene. It''s just half a million dors. We''re buying it." ra rolled her eyes. "Haggling over such a precious item...have some pride."


    The shopkeeper''s tense demeanor vanished, reced by an eager grin. "I like that spirit, Miss."


    He disappeared behind the counter. "I''ll fetch the Verdantheart Root right now."


    Jack, standing near his mother, shook his head. He scoffed, Pride, huh? If you so proud, why don''t you use your own money?"


    ra narrowed her eyes at him. "Florence, you should teach your son some manners. I''m offering you all a chance to profit, yet he acts ungrateful. No wonder he''s always a failure."


    The shopkeeper returned, hands wrapped around arge wooden box.


    He set it on the counter with the care of someone handling a priceless artifact. "Here it is the Verdantheart Root. Feel free to inspect it. So, will you be paying with cash or card?"


    "Not buying," Jack said tly, his voice cutting through the tense air in the cramped shop. ra''s face darkened with anger.


    "If you''ve got so much money, why don''t you buy it yourself?" Jack added, his tone sharp.


    ra snapped, "Florence, control your son!"


    "Fine, fine! Jack, enough!" Florence hissed, shooting him a warning re as she fumbled for her wallet. With a sharp breath, she pulled out her credit card.


    "I''ll pay by card," she dered firmly.


    ra smirked with smug satisfaction. "Go ahead, Sister Florence."


    Just then, a shout from the doorway turned every head in the room.


    "Wait!" a woman''s voice rang out. "That Verdantheart Root belongs to us!"


    All eyes fell on a couple stepping inside: Alex and Kelly.


    Sophia, who''d been standing behind ra, stiffened in surprise.


    "Alex? What''re you doing here?" She caught sight of Kelly clinging close to him, and a pang of jealousy tightened in her chest.


    "He''s already got Jasmine. Now Kelly too? Unbelievable," she thought, scowling


    "Men are all the same."


    Kelly spotted Sophia, and her polite smile vanished into an icy re.


    In her mind, Sophia was the greatest threat to Alex''s affection-a woman she simply couldn''t let linger too close.


    Florence folded her arms, her disdainful gaze flicking to Alex and Kelly. "What luck. We bump into them again."


    Jack sneered, mostly out of envy. "Alex, you can''t be satisfied with one girl, can you? Jasmine''s not enough, so you''ve moved on to Kelly? Some guys have all the luck..."


    ra, meanwhile, sized up the neers with thinly veiled annoyance.


    "Was that your shouting outside?" she asked coolly.


    Kelly stepped forward, chin high. "It was me. Boss," she addressed the shopkeeper pointedly, "we need that Verdantheart Root. Name your price."


    "Ha!" ra''sugh was sharp. "You think you can waltz in and im it? Who do you think you are? I''ve already paid half a million for it."


    Kelly stayed calm. "We''re in urgent need. Would you be willing to do us a favor? We''ll pay double whatever you paid."


    "Double?" ra snapped. "Do I look broke to you? I''m not about to beg for your change."


    Kelly nced at the shopkeeper. "Half a million, right? I''ll give you a million dors."


    A murmur rippled among the other customers, and the shopkeeper''s eyes lit up with dor signs.


    ra bristled. "You''re intentionally trying to start trouble, aren''t you?"


    Kelly turned her gaze on ra. "This herb is worth a higher price. I''m just stating facts."


    "Fine!" ra snarled back. "Two million!"


    Florence felt her heart plummet. Half a million was barely within reach.


    Two million would ruin her. But ra showed no hesitation.


    Kelly''s voice remained calm-too calm. "Four million."


    ra''s eyes gleamed. "Five million, and that''s final. Boss, his root is already mine. Firste, first served. If you dare sell it to someone else, I''ll make sure this ce goes under." She snatched the wooden box, practically Jugging it to her chest.


    Despite the tension, the shopkeeper was obviously thrilled by the bidding war.


    Yet he turned to Kelly with a shrug. "I''m sorry, Miss. She arrived first, and we closed the deal, Fate''s on her side."


    ra smirked, triumphant. "Hear that? Money can''t always buy what''s already mine."


    She sent Kelly a self-satisfied re. Meanwhile, Florence, standing just behind ra, was close to tears.


    Five million would empty her ount.


    Kelly tried onest time, voice urgent. "I''ll pay ten million for you. I''m serious-l need it."


    ra clutched the wooden box tighter, lifting her chin defiantly. "I don''t care if you offer me a hundred million. You''re not taking my Verdantheart Root."


    Kelly''s frustration broke through her practicedposure


    "You-!" She bit back the insult before it left her lips.


    Turning to Alex, she shook her head in frustration. "Alex, do you know of any other herb that works like the Verdantheart Root? We''re already here-let''s find an alternative. There''s no point wasting time arguing with this woman."


    "Ten million!" Jack shouted. "I''ll sell it to you!"


    Without hesitation, he snatched the Verdantheart Root from ra''s hands.