Rhea glanced at the recent messages, noting her mother's expression of longing. Maria had lost their house and awaited her daughter's return. Rhea pursed her lips, closing the app. Though impatient with the messages, a profound feeling lingered. She'd always craved her mother's attention, a craving unmet during her youth. No matter what Rhea said, her mother prioritized Anastasia.

Over time, Rhea ceased seeking her mother's approval, deeming it futile. When Rhea no longer needed her mother's attention, Maria sought reconciliation. To Rhea, it was too late. Restless, she tossed her phone aside, returning to her experiment. Only her experiments offered joy and a sense of accomplishment. She didn't need anyone's attention, only the fear her name would inspire. The only sounds in the laboratory were her tinkering and the drip of liquid; her phone lay silent on the table.

Meanwhile, several men gathered around a piece of equipment at Alexander's house. A silence followed their recent conversation.

Mike switched off the equipment. "That was a recording of their conversation, but it's scant information. What do you think?"

"I think there's...quite a lot of information here," Austin replied, glancing at Ross's calm demeanor.

"So you planted a bug in her phone?" the prince asked, surprising the others with his focus.

Mike cleared his throat. "Not exactly. I installed a virus on my phone. Rhea's phone was infected when she sent the formula to herself. Now we can monitor her conversations and data." Ross raised an eyebrow in surprise. "So you hacked her phone."

"That's right," Austin confirmed. "But do you understand what they said?"

"Yes. Rick and Rhea were discussing who they were working for..." the prince summarized.