Patrick's limbs were beyond his control, his body betraying him as he followed Vivienne's retreating steps.

Behind him, Gillian's heart-wrenching cries for her father echoed through the air, but he was powerless to respond. Patrick finally felt the command of his body returned when they reached a secluded cabin on the ship.

But now, with both Percival and Anna guarding the door, escape was an impossibility.

"Kneel," Vivienne commanded, her voice serene as she sat on the seat representing authority.

Patrick fell to his knees with a thud, not out of compulsion but from the sheer force of Vivienne's presence.

His legs tingled with numbness, sharp pains shooting through his knees as if a thousand needles were pricking them.

Beads of sweat formed on his brow, trickling down his temples and disappearing onto his shoulders.

Vivienne sat with her legs crossed, her slender neck held high with disdain, a hint of scorn in her gaze.

As Patrick knelt, Vivienne wondered what her mother had seen in him. How could such a spineless man be entrusted with the critical technology of bionics?

She regarded him with contempt and curiosity, slowly pulling the small "Morning Glory" from her pocket and tossing it at Patrick.

Instinctively, he caught it, his forehead bulging with veins, paralyzed with fear.

When he saw what it was, he finally heaved a sigh of relief.

He had thought she had thrown a knife at him!

"Madam, what is this?" he stammered.

Vivienne raised an eyebrow, her voice calm. "A miniature bomb."

Shocked to his core, Patrick scrambled behind the couch for cover.

it was a knife, but it was even worse - a bomb! Vivienne was more reckless than

their right mind tosses a bomb around like

certain of his innocence regarding

on your ship," she stated, her legs shifting position as she lounged back on the

her, panting, "Madam, I swear I had no idea about this. Even if we set aside your presence on the ship, my

Vivienne murmured absentmindedly,

in relief and began to rise, "Could this be connected to the

gaze sharpened as she looked at him. "You know

just find it odd. After the engagement party fiasco, I cut all ties with the Boyd family. But for the sake of the bionic tech, I could not completely sever our relationship. I thought of sending an invite, and the Boyd family's head came to

apologize, claiming their matriarch was indisposed and that he would represent her. I agreed, and during preparations yesterday, my men told me the Boyd family's head wanted to drop off a flora arrangement. I did not question it, but it's suspicious now

a signal beeped

The shipment had arrived.

Patrick's phone buzzed with a message. He wanted to check it but could not do so in

yawned, her eyes closing.

that, she went

not to move. He knew Vivienne was not dozing off but contemplating

of the bomb had touched a nerve, and his

as his phone continued

had arrived,

Why bother messaging him?

the docks, sealing off all incoming shipments and detaining the dockworkers. "Percival, we found it—it's Keco," Thomas reported, handing over a bag

notorious new drug on the black market, identical to flour and often sold alongside grains

furrowed.

with Leopold before revealing an

"Three tons."

Anna gasped. "How much?"

"Three tons," Thomas repeated.

profit enough

had anticipated a significant haul but had not imagined it would be this

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