Watching the carefree girls beside her chat happily about shopping, Felicia felt a flicker of impatience.
But on the surface, her expression turned sorrowful.
"I'm sorry, Miranda, Celeste… I suddenly thought of my sister. I'm not feeling well. I want to be alone for a bit. You guys go ahead."
Miranda frowned. "Seriously? We finally finished exams and came out to relax, and now you're leaving? That's such a mood killer."
The more she spoke, the more dejected Felicia looked.
Celeste quickly pulled Miranda back and softened her tone. "It's fine. Felicia, go get some rest. We'll keep shopping. Just be careful, okay? Don't overthink things."
Felicia nodded quietly and walked off alone down another alley.
Watching her retreating figure, the two girls sighed.
She's too kind…
Even after being bullied by that fool, she still worries about her…
What they didn't know was—
The moment Felicia turned into the alley, she circled around and quietly followed behind Riley.
***
After buying all the herbs and loading them into her car, Riley drove off without a second thought, completely unaware she had been followed.
Felicia stood at the corner, staring at the departing sports car.
Something dark flickered in her eyes.
That woman…
She looked just like the one she had seen at the bar.
But this time, she wasn't wearing a mask.
And just now—
That side profile…
It was almost identical to Riley.
Impossible.
Riley is just a fool. I must be imagining things.
She bit her lip, her fingers tightening until her nails dug into her palm.
She didn't even feel the pain.
***
"Lucas, come down and help carry this."
Riley drove straight to his villa.
If she was going to make medicine for Adrian, this place was perfect—private and unlikely to raise suspicion.
Lucas was more than happy to play assistant.
He stood nearby, watching in fascination as Riley boiled herbs in a massive pot. The scent of the medicine filled the air.
At least, that's how it felt to him.
To Riley, it was another story.
She wore two layers of masks, her brows slightly furrowed.
The smell was too strong—too mixed.
She didn't like it.
The two of them spent an entire day refining the medicine.
By the end, everything had been condensed into a small bottle of pills.
Riley glanced at it with satisfaction, then tossed it to Lucas.
"Give this to your cousin. One pill a day. If he has an episode, take an extra."
Lucas uncapped the bottle and sniffed it. "Rye, what made you suddenly decide to make medicine for him?"
His eyes sparkled with excitement.
Whatever she had added, he was certain of one thing—
This would definitely help suppress Black Veil, at least temporarily.
Riley rolled her sore shoulders. "Isn't he going on a business trip? Better let him carry this, just in case. With his current condition, he might not even make it out the door alive."
Lucas nodded seriously. "That makes sense."
Then suddenly, he froze.
"Wait… how did you know he's going on a business trip?"
Riley's hand paused for a split second.
Her expression remained calm.
"He said it himself when he had an episode."
After all, she had been the only one there.
Whatever she said became the truth.
Lucas accepted it without much thought, muttering under his breath, "Didn't expect Adrian to have that kind of habit…"
Since he had missed Adrian's last episode, he knew he'd messed up badly.
He hadn't even dared answer Zachary's calls these past few days.
But now—
With Riley's medicine in hand—
He finally had the courage to go back and beg for forgiveness.
Thinking of that, his mood instantly lifted.