Inside the tent, Richard felt unbearably hot, his blood practically boiling and running the wrong way through his veins.

He sensed something was seriously wrong, and just then, a hand crept onto his shoulder from behind. "Richard, are you feeling uncomfortable?" Emily's voice sounded sweet but unsettling.

Richard immediately recognized Emily and snapped, gritting his teeth, "Get your filthy hands off me. Why the hell are you here?"

Emily just wouldn't take no for an answer. No matter how Richard tried to brush her off, her hand kept snaking back, and her crimson lips hovered dangerously close to his ear.

"I wasn't feeling great, so I slipped in here to rest. Didn't expect you'd show up too, Richard," she murmured. The latestepɪsodes are onthe FindNovel(.)net

"I overheard you weren't feeling well... Want me to take a look? I promise I'll be gentle."

Emily was going all out, shamelessly throwing herself at Richard, trying everything to get his attention.

That drug was crazy potent-Richard was totally caught up in its effects. Unless he hooked up with a woman, there was no way he could ride it out.

Richard's breathing was ragged as he seized Emily's wrist and flung her off him. "Get out!" he snapped, his voice ice-cold and furious.

Emily hit the ground hard, a jolt of pain shooting up her tailbone.

She snapped, "Quit pretending you can fight this. That aphrodisiac's completely undetectable- and powerful enough to overwhelm anyone. If you don't sleep with a woman, you'll die a horrible death."

Richard clenched his jaw, every nerve burning like a million ants biting at him. "Even if it kills me, I'll never let you get your way," he spat back.

Then, he seized Emily's shoulder, his grip so tight she thought he'd crush her shoulder blade.

She let out a sharp scream.

If what happened earlier hadn't grabbed their attention, Emily's sudden scream made sure Annabelle and Sophia couldn't miss it.

The two instantly stood up, shot each other a look, and Annabelle couldn't help but curse. "Damn!

"Wait, was that Emily's voice? Did that really come from our tent?" Annabelle said, eyes wide.

Sophia nodded solemnly. "Yeah."

Annabelle's mouth dropped open. "Wait a sec, isn't Uncle Richard supposed to be in that tent too? Oh my god, seriously-don't tellme...'

'There's no freaking way Uncle Richard would just lose it and get tangled up with Emily right under our noses, would he?' Annabelle thought, her mind racing with all sorts of wild scenarios.

'If he actually did that, I'll never, ever talk him up to Sophia again.

Dude's on his own from now on, she swore to herself.

Neither Sophia nor Annabelle dared picture what might be happening inside. Without hesitating, the two of them rushed straight toward the tent.

Just as Annabelle and Sophia got to the tent entrance, Emily came flying out-

Richard had straight-up tossed her like yesterday's trash.

She slammed headfirst into the ground with a loud thud, lying there dazed for so long she couldn't even pick herself up.

Annabelle and Sophia locked eyes, both totally dumbfounded as they stared at Emily, her clothes half torn and looking an utter mess.

Annabelle was furious. "Emily, seriously, have you got no shame?

You're already eyeing one guy, and now you can't help chasing after Uncle Richard too?"

Sophia didn't even bother looking at Emily. Her eyes shot straight to the tent, where Richard's ragged, uneven breaths echoed out.

Something was definitely off with him.

"Something's really wrong with Richard!' Sophia thought, her heart pounding a little faster in her chest.

"Mr. Sterling, what's going on? Are you feeling sick?" Sophia called out, her voice tense as she hurried a few steps closer to the tent.

As she moved closer, Richard's voice snatched out from the tent, laced with urgency and barely checked desperation. "Stay back!

I'm fine-really, don't come in."

But his tone was nothing like usual-dark and strained, like he was desperately

trying to keep some wild force under control.

Sophia stood there with her brows furrowed, debating with herself,

'Should I step in and see what's wrong with Richard, or would that just make things awkward?'

Through the faint glow, Richard

glimpsed Sophia's tall, slender figure

paused right outside the tent. He

couldn't help the way,

self-deprecating smile that crept

onto his lips.

'Figures, he sighed inwardly. 'All she ever offers me is the sort of care you'd give a

friend. She'd never step over that line, not for me."

Annabelle could feel the tension

crackling in the air, like something

about to explode. She stormed over,

grabbed Emily by the hair, and

vanked her head back hard

"Emily, what did you do to Uncle Richard?" Annabelle demanded, her voice cold and fierce.

'Uncle Richard wouldn't have thrown her out unless she seriously did something out of line, Annabelle thought, her mind spinning.

"And with how messed up Uncle Richard sounded, and the way he kept Sophia from getting close... No way... Could he really be-?

Annabelle's heart skipped, her thoughts ttumbling with worry and wild guesses.