Chapter 1103

Even Celine, who was usually unflappable, was stunned by Ralph's words.

"What secret?" Celine's quiet voice was nonetheless overheard by Heather's sharp ears. "Who's next to you?"

Ralph silenced Celine with a gesture, then shooed her away before hurrying back into his room and closing the door. Celine, anxious about her phone and piqued by the mystery, wanted to follow but was too late.

Ralph's secretive behavior and veiled threat toward Heather were unsettling. Weren't they about to be married? What was happening? Celine pressed her ear to the door, straining to hear anything.

Inside, Ralph lowered his voice, covering his mouth before speaking. "Okay, no one's around. We can talk seriously now."

"Since when did you learn to be serious?" Heather sneered. She hadn't expected his call, especially from another number after blocking him. He was shameless.

"All right, enough taunting. I know what's going on. I understand your hot-and-cold behavior. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone your secret, but you'll cooperate with me." Ralph's threat was thinly veiled. He needed a backup plan. His previous attempt to steal Alexander's handbook had backfired, teaching him a valuable lesson about contingency.

"Did I hear that right? What right do you have to demand my cooperation?" Heather nearly laughed. Had he lost his mind? "It's based on the fact that I know your secret. If the kickboxers and outsiders find out, do you think you'll still be able to hold your head up high as the daughter of the Riggs family?" Ralph alluded to the potential consequences of her secret becoming public.

However, Heather didn't take his words seriously, attributing them to his rambling. The more he spoke, the more she suspected he knew about her secret with Hannah. It wasn't impossible; Hannah loved him, and might have confided in him. If he revealed their secret, it would jeopardize Heather's status and expose the Riggs family's secrets, including the ancient curse.

This realization caused Heather to sit up straight, her mocking tone replaced by seriousness. "What secret do you think you know?"

"Enough with the act. I saw it the other day. I won't share it, but we've worked together this far. It'd be a shame to end things now, wouldn't it?" Ralph continued, "We should continue working together. You'll get what you want, and I'll get what I want."

"Hilarious. I already have what I want. Why would I need your help? Didn't I make it clear the other day?" She glanced at the secret handbook, finding his words incoherent.