Nina hung up without a second thought. Greta stared at her phone, now echoing the busy tone, her face drained of color. Refusing to give up, she dialed again. This time, Nina picked up once more. "Aunt, didn''t I say? Dad''s swamped and can''t get to you right now. I''m busy too, can''t pass your messages."


    Trying to soften her tone, Greta pleaded, "Nina, Auntie''s not feeling well and really needs your dad toe to the hospital..."


    "Why should I care if you''re not well? Stop bugging me while I''m gaming."


    "Nina, how can you be so mean at your age?" Greta snapped.


    Nina paused, then said, "Learned it from you." Her voice, void of childhood innocence, carried a maturity far beyond her years.


    The shock made Greta drop her phone onto the bed. The doctor, seeing her distress, just shook his head and left.


    Meanwhile, Nathalie stumbled home and crashed into bed, sleeping for what felt like a century. She was beyond tired. Days of running around had worn her out not just physically, but emotionally too.


    When she finally woke up, the first thing she said to Lizzy was, "I want to visit the prison again."


    Lizzy was taken aback. "Sis, who are you nning to see this time?"


    Nathalie, looking defeated, replied, "I don''t know his name or what he looks like. But I have a hunch... he''s No. 13."


    Suddenly, Lizzy remembered something and fetched a familiar package from the corner, cing it in front of Nathalie.


    Nathalie recognized it as the gift she''d asked her staff to prepare for No. 13 during herst visit. "Wasn''t it delivered?" she asked, surprised.


    Lizzy sighed. "Officer Ashburn said he turned your gift down."


    et 1.n


    Nathalie opened the package and, seeing the ordinary gifts inside, seemed to realize why. Everyone, from Jaime Benjamin to Greta,- spoke of him as a rare genius. If he had the talent to dismantle the defenses of the four great families, he was surely someone of


    exceptional standing. These humble items didn''t suit his stature.  swnovel


    "Lizzy, let''s get something fancier," Nathalie said, handing her a card. "Go all out."


    Lizzy pouted, "Who is this guy? So high-maintenance."


    Nathalie chuckled softly, "Yeah, why so high-maintenance?" Her tone was gentle,cking any real sting.


    This time, Lizzy went to the swankiest mall in the Capital, unabashedly asking the staff to show her their priciest everyday items.


    She came back w


    with a massive bag, having dropped a small fortune. Lizzy felt the pinch and couldn''t stop grumbling to Nathalie, "Sis, he can''t possibly find fault this time. He''ll be thrilled with these gifts. He''s so lucky. Even you wouldn''t splurge on such luxuries for yourself?"  swnovel


    Nathalieughed, "If he''s a big shot from the Rond or McCoy family, he probably grew up in thep of luxury. It''s only natural he''d have high standards."


    Lizzy nodded, "Since we have the gifts, should I set up the visit?"


    "Yes, please," Nathalie said, feeling an unexpected eagerness to visit the prison again.


    Over at the hospital, Greta had been there for days, and the medical bills were skyrocketing. The doctor reminded her, "Ms. Nellie, make sure your family covers the bill. Your ount''s overdrawn."


    Greta, feeling awkward, just nodded, "Sure."


    Once the doctor left, she couldn''t


    hold her tears back any longer. The truth was, she''d been trying to call Cameron multiple times a day, but Nina kept intercepting the calls For some reason, Cameron never called back.


    swnovel