The newly released movie flopped, attracting no interest and pulled from theaters after only three days. Camila's recent endorsements were withdrawn, and her newly acquired resources swiftly appropriated by others. In short, her sudden rise was brutally reversed. The mysterious backer who had propelled her retreated, leaving her, once proud, reduced to a laughingstock.
However, the real gossip wasn't her fluctuating fortunes. The news that ignited public intrigue was her presence in Ablil, repeatedly seen entering and exiting the Glover residence. The Glovers, Ablil's unrivaled rulers, were second only to the Russell family of Seldvale in wealth, status, and power—a family with a notoriously contentious relationship with the Glovers. Camila's apparent alliance with the Glovers sparked intense speculation: had she offended the Russells? Was her mysterious backer a Glover? Theories abounded.
Despite intense public scrutiny and investigations, no concrete information emerged. Naturally, the public concluded that Camila, now a Glover favorite, was poised for a swift comeback. What they didn't know was that, at that very moment, their "new favorite" was scrubbing the floor of the Glover residence.
The elegant Glover residence boasted naturally formed underground hot springs, emitting a constant, luxurious steam. Exhausted, Camila scrubbed, unable to straighten her back. Unseen, she discarded her rag, preparing to stretch, when the sound of a wheelchair rolling across the stone bridge between the springs reached her ears. He was coming.
Terror seized her. She frantically resumed scrubbing, her body trembling despite her efforts to remain composed. The wheelchair's approach grew louder. A gust of wind dispersed the mist, revealing the silhouette: a young, exceptionally handsome man, seemingly in his late twenties. His pale skin, rarely touched by sunlight, contrasted with the faint color of his thin lips. His sharp eyebrows and dark eyes were unreadable, unsettling, even demonic in their intensity. This was Maurice Glover, head of the family.
While Maurice, or "Mr. Glover," was known for his ruthlessness and decisiveness, his infirmity—his confinement to a wheelchair—remained unknown. Camila held her breath, kneeling obediently, head bowed, awaiting his passage. Unexpectedly, the wheelchair stopped.
A voice, from above, inquired, "Why are you trembling? Are you afraid of me?" She shuddered, unable to control her fear. A month ago, Stephan's words, "Smarten up," had revealed her lies and the ephemeral nature of her stolen dreams.