With that final admonishment, Richie swept out of the room, leaving Valeria alone once more with her tears and the weight of her despair. She watched him go, her heart heavy with a sense of resignation as she resigned herself to the cruel reality of her existence—a reality in which she was nothing more than a pawn in Richie's game of power and control. 

As Richie turned to leave, a glint of cunning flashed in his eyes, and he paused, as if struck by a sudden idea. He pivoted back towards ...