​Alexander’s brows furrowed, his arrogant edge flaring up. "What the hell is that supposed to mean? Look, lady, I’m having a really bad day, so if you’re trying to pick a fight—"

​"I’m not here to fight, Mr. Greels," April interrupted smoothly, her voice dropping into a low, calm cadence.

​The moment his last name left her lips, Alexander stiffened. His eyes narrowed, his entire posture turning guarded.

"Who are you? Did my uncle send you? If this is another one of his pathetic attempts to stall me—"

​"Your uncle is much more short-sighted than I am," April said, a faint, dangerous smirk touching her lips. "If I were trying to stall you, I’d tell you to go change your tires. But since I’m in a good mood today, I’ll give you a piece of advice for free."

​She leaned in slightly, her voice cutting through his chaotic thoughts like a razor through silk.

"Do not go to the private family hospital garage tonight. If you drive into that lower parking level to confront the board, you won’t make it to the elevator. You’ll be spending tomorrow morning in an emergency ward instead of the succession meeting."

​Alexander froze, the blood draining from his face. The hot-tempered, rowdy heir felt a sudden, terrifying chill run down his spine. How did she know he was going to the hospital? How did she know about the succession meeting tomorrow morning? He hadn’t told a single soul outside of his immediate, trusted circle.

And the company hadn’t announced it either.

​"What joke is this?" Alexander demanded, stepping closer, trying to use his height to intimidate her, though his voice shook slightly. "Who the hell told you that? Tell me!"

​April didn’t flinch. She simply took a step back, her expression returning to one of smooth, effortless indifference. She checked the time on her new phone, completely disregarding his outburst.

​"Consider it a free trial, Alexander," she whispered, her eyes gleaming like a trap of innocence. "I just saved your life, but it’s up to you to listen. My services never come cheap—in fact, they increase in folds with every future I alter. But I always give my clients a little taste of the main course before I send the bill."

She snatched his phone before he could react, and from her phone, she sent her number over to him and saved it as ’Seer’.

"If you want to keep your grandfather’s empire, I suggest you take a taxi tonight, lock your bedroom door, and try to reach out to me."

​"Wait—hold on!" Alexander reached out to grab her arm, completely desperate and bewildered, but April smoothly stepped out of his reach.

​"Don’t touch the merchandise before you pay for it," she chuckled softly, crossing her index finger over her lips. "Well then, I’ll be waiting for your call."

Just before he could go after her again, the intercoms announced.

"THE MALL WILL BE CLOSING IN THIRTY MINUTES. PLEASE, CONCLUDE YOUR TRANSACTIONS AND MAKE YOUR WAY OUT. THANK YOU."

The announcement disrupted him for a second, but the moment he turned to look at her again, she was gone. He turned around, searching, but he could not find her.

He palmed his forehead, staring at the number she had saved. His heart was racing, and he felt panicked, staring at the name ’Seer’.

"What the hell?!" he exclaimed. He felt those words were a load of bullshit. She was insane. She had to be a lunatic. But as he looked down at his car keys, a deep, primal survival instinct told him that if he ignored her warning, he would lose everything before sunrise.

He couldn’t underestimate what lengths his uncle would go to just to get rid of him, and the meeting was just the next morning.

He would hold out. Even if he feared his grandfather was having a seizure, he could hold out and trust the doctors to do their jobs.

Just this once, he would stay back. He would listen to her warning, and then when it’s all over, he would find this girl and make her spill out everything she knew.

April was standing behind a corner with a stunned Samuel, who was still holding her shopping bags.

He wanted to know what she had said to Alexander. He was curious, and it was eating him up, but he recalled her warning not to care for things that didn’t concern him, so he swallowed it, keeping his professionalism up.

​April turned her head to Samuel, her smirk widening into a victorious smile.

​"Let’s go back, Samuel. We’re done here," she said, her voice light and refreshed. I’ve sown the seeds. Now, we just have to wait for the rain.

They headed back to the vehicle, the valet handing the keys over to Samuel, who packed the trunk with her new purchases.

The drive back up to the Upper Crest Hills was quiet. Samuel remained tight-lipped, his knuckles slightly white on the steering wheel, desperately burying the burning curiosity eating at his core.

What did she say to Mr. Greels?

​When the sedan finally pulled up to the grand glass entryway of the mansion, Samuel immediately stepped out to open her door.

​"The staff has finished preparing your quarters, Miss April," Samuel said, his voice perfectly smooth as he retrieved her bags from the trunk. "You won’t be needing the guest room tonight. Please, let me escort you."

​He led her up to the residential floor, bypassing the guest wing entirely, and stopped before a massive set of double doors.

When he pushed them open, April found herself looking at a sprawling master suite. It featured a plush king-sized bed, a private lounge area, and a massive bathroom complete with a deep marble soaking tub.

Samuel carefully placed her shopping bags on the chaise lounge and bowed, overseeing the maids dropping the rest carefully as well.

​"Dinner will be served in the main dining hall downstairs in forty-five minutes, Miss April. Take your time."

​"Thank you, Samuel," April murmured.

​Once the doors clicked shut, she finally let out a breath. She grabbed her new pajamas from the bags and locked herself in the bathroom. Running a hot bath, she sank into the steaming water, letting the residual exhaustion of her past life and the hectic pacing of the day dissolve completely.

For the first time in years, she felt safe, clean, and incredibly wealthy. And she was going to strive for this same comfort even during the apocalypse.