Chapter 1102

He planned to publicly denounce Alexander's Russell lineage and expel him from the family. His promise to his mother, however, depended on Alexander's behavior and Ralph's own feelings. A nagging unease stemming from his mother prompted him to remain at home, avoiding the Russell estate and the risk of Alexander alerting Margaret. While idly scrolling through his phone, he encountered Heather's number, and his smile vanished. This woman was a nightmare, a formidable and vicious force unlike any he'd ever known. His recent sighting of "Heather" at the hospital's neurology department had provided a chilling explanation: she suffered from schizophrenia. This explained her unpredictable shifts between gentleness and ferocity.

He'd once found her volatility exciting. Now, the potential dangers of marrying a schizophrenic—the risks to himself and future generations—weighed heavily. Yet, the allure of her family's wealth persisted.

Heather's formidable kickboxing skills had been her shield for years, concealing her illness. No one suspected the Riggs heiress harbored a mental illness. Such a skilled martial artist, potentially unstable, posed a significant societal risk. The revelation would send shockwaves through the city.

Ralph rolled his eyes, opened WhatsApp, and typed, "I know your secret." Instantly, a notification flashed: the message failed to send. "Huh? Why isn't my text going through? Did she block me?!" His initial excitement evaporated. She'd blocked him—swiftly, decisively. He'd glimpsed a flicker of change during his hospital visit, but this was unexpected.

His anger simmered, fueled by the unsent message. He decided to call. Only then did he realize she'd blocked his number as well. His fury escalated, and he stormed downstairs, phone in hand. He found Celine preparing to leave. "Celine!"

He approached her. "Where's your phone?"

"Here—" Before she could react, he snatched it.

"Hey! What are you—"

"I need it to make a call!" He spun and fled.

Celine pursued him, shouting, "Don't you have your own phone? Why are you taking mine? Who are you calling? Give me back my phone! I'm in a hurry! Ralph, what are you doing?!" His long strides quickly distanced him from the shorter Celine, who could not retrieve her phone. She continued her frantic cries, "Have you lost your mind?! You've been cooped up at home for two days, and now you're stealing my phone?! What are you trying to do?!"

He spun around, snapping impatiently, "I'll give it back as soon as I make a call! My phone's not working."

Stunned by his outburst, Celine watched as he put the phone to his ear and said, "Heather Riggs, I know your secret."