Natalie didn't bother with formalities and just took the emerald ring. "I'm not taking it for free. Let's trade crocodile meat for this." Roderick quickly shook his head. "No! I said I'm not selling it. This is a gift to thank you for saving me." This guy is so stubborn. Natalie didn't argue and tucked the ring into her pocket. No way she was giving it back. She'd worked for it, so it wasn't exactly free. Once Roderick had rested, everyone said their goodbyes and headed home. ... Roderick dragged himself up to the hillside villas, exhausted. His wife, who had been cooking, came rushing out the moment she heard him. Seeing him covered in blood, she panicked. "Roderick! Are you okay?" "I'm fine. I ran into some robbers on the way, but luckily someone stepped in and saved me." Nadia Norman's eyes welled up instantly. "Thank God you're safe! If I'd known, I would've gone with you!" Seeing her so upset, Roderick pulled her into a hug. "Don't cry, Honey. I'm alright. Don't worry. I promised I'd take care of you forever—I meant it." He grabbed her hand. "Come on, help me bring all this inside. I hit the jackpot today—there's way too much for me to carry it all." Nadia followed him down the hill. Then, she saw their inflatable rescue boat hidden among the trees, loaded with supplies. Her eyes went wide in surprise. "You traded just those veggies for all this?" "Yes! You're smart and gorgeous, so your veggies are top-notch! Naturally, I scored plenty of meat and dry goods in return."Through her tears, Nadia laughed. "You smooth talker!" She waved him off to rest. "You don't need to lift a finger. I'll call Dominic to help move everything. Just go inside and relax." The hillside villas were safe for now, so Roderick didn't argue. "Alright, I'll leave it to you. I'll grab some fresh veggies later and drop some off for Mr. Holland." If Cassian hadn't let him stay in one of the villas and helped him out, he wouldn't be where he was now. Sure, Cassian didn't need the gifts, but Roderick wanted to show his gratitude. The villa district climbed along the mountainside. Roderick's house was the second-to-last on the lower half, while his boss' villa was at the very top—biggest and fanciest.Normally, there'd be staff and security everywhere, but everyone had been sent home. The villa was completely quiet. Roderick scanned his face at the grand gate, thinking about Rosalie's smug attitude. Hmph. What's she showing off for? My boss runs the number-one business in Northlorn and never acts like that. As he stepped into the villa, he faintly heard a woman's voice with a hint of crying coming from the media room. "I love the wrong person!" Roderick set the supplies down in the kitchen and followed the voice to the media room. He opened the door and spotted a man in black loungewear, sleeves rolled up and collar undone, sprawled lazily on a leather couch. That was his brilliant, charismatic boss, Cassian. He held a glass of red wine and was glued to The Legend of the Crowned Women.Roderick was speechless. What would a CEO do at home? Watching finance news? Keeping up with the headlines? Or worrying about global warming? Nope. Sometimes he just watched a 76-episode palace drama. Roderick figured it made sense. Unlike him, Cassian didn't have a wife or kids around. Alone in a massive villa, he probably got bored. Watching The Legend of the Crowned Women was a blast. The king had endless women, and the drama never stopped. It was super captivating. Roderick waited a moment, but Cassian was so focused, so he had to speak up. "Mr. Holland, I brought some supplies." Cassian looked up, frowning at the sight of Roderick—covered in blood and looking like a mess.He paused the drama. "What happened to you?" Roderick smiled. "I'm fine. I just went out to trade some veggies and ran into a few robbers." "Trading veggies?" Cassian's frown deepened. "A part-time job now?" "No, sir. My wife grows them at home, so I trade for meat and dry goods. I like having extra supplies around. I even brought some for you." "You don't need to give me anything. Keep it for yourself," Cassian said. Then he added, "What's it like out there these days?" Roderick answered honestly, "It's chaos. Compared to Greenhaven Mountain, it feels like a completely different world." He pointed to his cuts. "Robbery and murder are everyday things now. If I hadn't run into my lifesaver, I wouldn't have made it back." "Your lifesaver?"