HIS SILENT OBSESSION

THE UNEXPECTED TURN

The card machine emitted a single, authoritative beep, followed by a soft, melodic chime that signaled a successful transaction. The digital display didn't just say "Approved"-it flashed a sequence of authorization codes that made the assistant's face go deathly pale. She looked at the receipt, then at the card, and finally at Rose, her hands visibly trembling as she backed away from the register.

​"I... I am so incredibly sorry," the assistant stammered, her voice cracking.

"The system... the clearance was instantaneous. I had no idea."

Becky's face fell, the smug, triumphant sneer vanishing into a mask of pure shock.

"That's... that's impossible. It has to be a glitch Kelvin, tell her-"

​"Quiet," Kelvin whispered, staring at the receipt with wide, disbelieving eyes. He looked at R