Upon checking into the hotel, Seraphina's phone buzzed with a message. Along with it came a set of photographs sent by the private investigator. Seated comfortably in a chair, she leisurely flipped through the images. In them, two figures appeared, entering and leaving a room together. The proximity and ease between them spoke of an undeniable closeness. A faint smile curved Seraphina's lips. She tapped on the screen, enlarging one particular photo. Her focus settled on Aidan's deep and affectionate gaze. How interesting. This one, she mused, was worth preserving. Names flitted through her mind: Aidan, Linara, Theron, Rowan... A tapestry of intrigue began to weave itself before her. "How delightful," she murmured, reaching for a small glass bottle on the table. She tilted it back and forth, watching as shriveled tails floated inside. She played idly with it as a mischievous glint danced in her eyes. "It's time to bring everyone together. A game, perhaps. But which one? Hmm..." Her voice trailed off into a lilting hum. Meanwhile, Yvonne returned home, only to be met with chaos. Her drunken brother sprawled in one corner while her father writhed on the floor, his face contorted in pain. "Yvonne, help me," he gasped, desperation clouding his features. Her eyes flicked over him briefly before she turned away. "Yvonne!" he called after her. The night wore on, and his cries for help persisted, filling the house with anguished pleas. Sleep eluded him entirely as the torment in his body offered no reprieve. His only solace was to writhe and groan, a pitiful attempt to lessen the pain. By morning, the neighbors were already talking. Spotting Yvonne as she stepped out, they wasted no time confronting her. "Yvonne, how could you leave your father like that?" "Yvonne, even if he prefers boys over girls, he's still your father. Are you just going to let him die in agony?" "You're heartless! He cried for you all night, and you didn't feel even a twinge of guilt?" Yvonne said nothing. She lowered her head, her steps quickening as she walked away. What could she possibly do? What power did she even have? The previous night's ordeal had drained her. She'd barely slept, and her mind was a fog at work. A careless mistake—spilling coffee on a customer—cost her not just her wages but also her job. By the end of the day, she found herself sitting on a street corner, her head in her hands. Hopelessness and exhaustion weighed on her like a heavy shroud. As she sat there, her gaze drifted across the street. A familiar figure caught her eye—Seraphina. She wasn't alone. Evelyn and Dora accompanied her, their radiant smiles a stark contrast to Yvonne's despair.Why? Why were they so blessed? While she toiled endlessly, they lived lives of comfort and ease. At the same age, they were treated like royalty, while she was slaving away. The bitterness in her chest surged. Yvonne rose to her feet. One deliberate step after another, she closed the distance between herself and Seraphina. Noticing her approach, Evelyn gently nudged Seraphina and murmured, "Yvonne is coming this way." Dora, ever vigilant, stepped forward with a wary glare. "What do you want? If you're planning anything against Seraphina, you'll have to get through us first." Her sharp eyes took in Yvonne's disheveled appearance—coffee-stained clothes and an air of desperation. Ignoring Dora entirely, Yvonne fixed her gaze on Seraphina. "I need to speak with you. Alone," she said. Dora's protest was immediate. "Don't go! She's not to be trusted. Women like her always have schemes up their sleeves."Seraphina merely shrugged and reassured Dora. "It's fine," she said. The two walked off, heading toward a nearby park. Dora watched them go, her unease plain. She turned to Evelyn. "Aren't you worried? Yvonne's dangerous." Evelyn chuckled softly. "I'd be more worried about Yvonne." She knew just how amazing Seraphina was and didn't think Yvonne was a threat to Seraphina. The park was quiet, save for the occasional chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves. On a bench beneath the shade of an old tree, Yvonne and Seraphina sat. "Was this all part of your plan?" Yvonne asked.