By the time Simon stepped forward, it was already meaningless.

Lying on the ground, Mandy coughed up another mouthful of blood. She reached out and clutched the hem of Simon’s pants, her voice barely audible as she pleaded, “Simon, please… help me.”

She didn’t want to die. But the pain in her body kept intensifying.

Simon looked down at her. No matter what she’d done, Mandy had been his father Bronx’s apprentice. They’d grown up together like childhood sweethearts.

There was no way he could just stand there and watch her die. “The doctor’s on the way. Hang in there,” Simon said, trying to steady her.

He had a powerful drug on him, something that could bring a person back from the brink of death. He ordered someone nearby to bring it over and quickly injected it into Mandy’s body.

The effect was instant. The agony inside her eased just enough for her to catch her breath.

But then Shermaine’s gaze swept over, and Mandy’s entire body froze. Panic clawed its way up her throat.

The next second, the pain surged back with brutal force. Worse than before, actually. It was as if something inside her had exploded. Her muscles spasmed. Blood gushed from her mouth. Her veins bulged all over her body, like they were seconds from bursting open.

“Simon, help me!” she screamed, desperate.

Simon turned toward her, startled. He frowned, confused. The drug he’d given her was no ordinary medicine. It was a life–saving serum, a priceless treasure in the Kingdom of Xyperia. And yet… it wasn’t working.

He didn’t know what Boa had done to her, but Mandy’s vitals were clearly fading fast. “Ms. Hanks,” Simon said, “for my sake, could you let Mandy go? Please?”

Shermaine looked over, her face unreadable. ‘His sake? What kind of clout does he think he has?’ If it weren’t for Mandy, she wouldn’t even remember who Simon was.

“I’ll make it up to you. Whatever you want, I’ll give it to you,” Simon added. “And I’ll make sure she never shows her face in front of you again. Is that enough?”

Gracie had already fallen asleep.

Shermaine held her gently, adjusting her position slightly, and then gave a short, amused laugh. “And why would I let someone who nearly killed my daughter off the hook… just because you asked me to?

“If it weren’t for you,” she said sharply, “that woman wouldn’t have gone this far. You dragged her into this mess, and now you’re asking me to go easy on her?”

The air around her turned frigid. “The fact that I’m not holding you accountable is already me being gracious. And you think you have the right to negotiate with me?”

Simon’s expression stiffened. He’d never had a woman talk to him like that. He was trying to be civil, more polite than he’d ever been with anyone, but Shermaine clearly had no intention of meeting him halfway.

And on top of that, Joshua still had his arm wrapped around her waist, and she hadn’t pulled away once.

Simon had never felt jealousy like this in his life.

Maybe he really had fallen for her. That would explain why his emotions kept spiraling. Every time she lashed out, he only felt more drawn to her, more eager to give in, to indulge her, to win her over.

As for Mandy… she no longer seemed that important. In fact, if Mandy’s death could make Shermaine happy, then so be it.

“I’m sorry,” Simon said quietly. “I didn’t think this through.”

Shermaine blinked, momentarily caught off guard. She hadn’t expected Simon to actually apologize. Her gaze shifted to Mandy, who was still writhing in pain on the floor. A flicker of curiosity crossed her face, followed by something that looked almost like pity.

“What Mandy did,” Simon continued, his tone low and almost coaxing, “there’s no excuse. I won’t plead for her again. Please…. don’t be upset.”

Shermaine didn’t respond. Her gaze grew more amused, watching him like he was a particularly pathetic joke, and thinking, ‘He is truly something else, ruthless and gutless all in one.’

Joshua’s eyes darkened slightly. He let out a quiet, derisive breath. ‘So this was the man trying to pursue his Sheary? Trash like that didn’t even deserve to say her name, let alone love her.’

Maybe no one else could read Shermaine’s expression. But Mandy could. She could feel that dismissiveness. Her body kept getting colder, her vision fading.

Tears slid from the corners of her eyes as she finally let go of Simon’s pant leg. “Simon,” she choked out, “you’re going to regret this.”