"Ah!!!" Landon yelled in pain, hopping on one leg while grumbling and swearing, "Your phone hit my foot! That hurts like hell! You can't even hold a phone properly. No wonder you had to have someone else give up their spot for you to get into Bloomington School." Yvonne's voice cut through the air, icy and sharp, "What did you just say? Say it again." Without warning, she shoved the chair aside, her gaze turning razor-sharp as she fixed it on him. Landon, caught off guard by the intensity in her eyes, felt his chest tighten. His words faltered, "I—I'm just speaking the truth." Crash! She sent the teacup flying off the table. The sharp crash echoed in the room, and he froze, too terrified to utter another word. "Enough!" she snapped, her eyes burning with fury. "If it weren't for me, you'd be dead from hunger by now. What gives you the right to criticize me?" I came into the world just ten minutes before you, yet somehow, I'm the one forced to carry the weight of the entire family. Why should that be my responsibility? He recoiled, his resentment bubbling up but silenced by the intensity of her stare. He mumbled, almost inaudibly, "It's all because of Seraphina." Yvonne shot him one last, venomous look before turning on her heel. Ignoring the judgmental eyes of the people around her, she stormed out of the slum, her path erratic as she fled into a quiet corner of the demolition zone, her sobs echoing in the emptiness. After a long while, as the sky darkened, she wiped the tears from her eyes. When she looked up, her gaze fell upon the funeral flowers scattered at her feet. Scanning the surroundings, a sense of horror gripped her as she realized that this was the very spot where Elvis' body had been discovered. Terrified, she bolted upright, her panic driving her to flee without direction. In her haste, her foot caught on debris, sending her sprawling to the ground. Caw! Caw! The eerie cries of crows echoed in the stillness, their ominous echoes freezing her for a moment. Adrenaline surged, and she clawed her way up, ignoring the sharp sting of her scraped palms and knees. Fear propelled her forward, her only thought to escape. Finally, emerging from the desolate demolition site, she stumbled onto a busy street, her chest heaving with exertion. The sight of bustling life—shops, cars, and people—felt like a lifeline, and she let out a shaky breath. Yet, as she wandered the lively streets, her gaze lingered on the cheerful faces of strangers, their carefree laughter a cruel reminder of what she had lost. Bitterness crept into her chest, a slow, insidious burn of resentment and envy. Then, as if from nowhere, a memory surfaced—Seraphina's chilling words rang in her mind, deliberate and taunting. 'When you've hit rock bottom, come to me. Maybe—just maybe—I'll offer you one more chance.' Rock bottom? Isn't this the situation I'm currently facing? Could it be… An ominous suspicion began to fester, dark and unrelenting. Could this all have been orchestrated? Had Seraphina foreseen this very moment, meticulously plotting our downfall from the start? The more Yvonne dwelled on it, the more the idea consumed her. She had always known Seraphina to be sharp, a master of cunning. But this? This level of cold calculation was beyond anything she'd imagined. The more Seraphina sought to bend her, the fiercer her resolve became. Her defiance burned brighter with every attempt to subdue her. Clenching her fists and grinding her teeth, Yvonne hissed under her breath, "If she thinks I'll bow down, she's delusional. Over my dead body!" Refusing to bow down had its consequences. The burden fell squarely on her, who had no choice but to venture out and earn her keep. Her struggles mirrored those of Linara and Aidan, whose lives were no less constrained. When Aidan's close friend, Caleb Jennings, arrived, Aidan greeted him with an enthusiastic wave. "Perfect timing! I was just about to call you, and here you are. Take a seat!" Linara asked softly, her voice carrying a gentle warmth, "Caleb, what would you like to drink?" Caleb replied casually, "Just some water, nothing fancy." She headed to the kitchen, filling a glass of water for their guest and preparing a juice for Aidan as well. Though her injuries had healed considerably, the weight of financial strain still lingered. She couldn't indulge in even the smallest luxuries, her days marked by frugality and restraint. Without a trace of hesitation or pretense, Aidan turned to his friend. "Caleb, I'm out of cash again. Spot me another 200,000." His tone lacked any trace of humility, as though the favor was a mere formality.