chapter 7 I have no business talking to you, so shut up ===

Mabel stormed into her room, feeling a mix of embarrassment and indignation. Meanwhile, Ulric, far from resting, was deep in thought about Mr. Dun's situation.
If it were just a simple venom, Ulric might have been able to handle it. But Mr. Dun's condition was clearly beyond his capabilities.
Whether Mr. Dun could survive the next month depended on whether his son Lennox could find the true culprit behind the venom attack.
As Ulric pondered, at the Dun residence, Wilma and her father stood guard by Old Master Dun's side. Although Old Master Dun was currently safe, neither father nor daughter dared to let their guard down.
"Grandpa, how are you feeling now?" Wilma asked.
Old Master Dun nodded. "Much better. I feel like I'm back to my younger days, completely at ease."
"Grandpa, tomorrow I'll bring that young man over to thank him personally for saving your life."
"Grandpa..."
Wilma wanted to speak the truth, but Lennox quickly chimed in, "Wilma, since Grandpa has spoken, you'll bring Ulric over tomorrow."
Wilma snapped back to reality and hastily agreed, "Yes, I understand."
As they walked out of the hall, Wilma asked Lennox, "Dad, why didn't you let me tell Grandpa the truth just now? Maybe he knows who poisoned him."
Lennox shook his head. "It's better for him not to know about this. I'm afraid it might weigh on his mind."
"But... we can't keep hiding it forever, can we? Grandpa will eventually realize that something's wrong."
Lennox sighed. "Let's cross that bridge when we come to it! By the way, were you able to contact Ulric?"
Wilma wasn't sure.
But since he was engaged to Mabel, he should be contactable.
"Tomorrow, I'll try to reach out to him and make sure to treat him well when the time comes."
Wilma nodded. "I got it!"
The next day!
Ulric woke up early and tasted the breakfast Mabel made—milk and bread—but he couldn't quite stomach it.
"What's wrong? Don't like my cooking?" Mabel asked.
"It's not that, I just don't have much of an appetite."
"If you don't feel like eating, then don't."
With a frosty demeanor, Ulric remained silent.
"Miss Flores, thank you for accommodating me last night. I'll be leaving now."
As Ulric got up, Mabel immediately reprimanded him, "Stop right there."
"What's wrong? Is there something else?"
"Ulric, I hope this is the last time we meet. I don't want to see you in Yorkvichill City again."
Ulric glanced at her for a moment before nodding. "I'll do my best. Goodbye."
Just as he reached the door, the doorbell rang. Mabel gave him a cold look. "Aren't you going to answer it?"
Ulric cursed silently. This woman's temper was...
Deciding not to argue with her, he simply opened the door.
Expecting to see her family, he was surprised to find Wilma instead.
Today, Wilma looked exceptionally striking in a red dress, both charming and alluring.
"Miss... Miss Dun, what are you doing here?" Ulric was equally surprised.
Originally intending to inquire about Ulric from Mabel, Wilma hadn't expected to run into him here.
Seeing his demeanor, as if he were about to leave, could it be...
"Who's at the door?" Mabel, who was having her meal, asked coldly when she saw Ulric standing by the door.
About to respond, Ulric was preempted by Wilma, who walked straight into the living room. "Mabel, it's me!"
Seeing the newcomer, Mabel became even more displeased. "Wilma, what are you doing here?"
"Don't get me wrong, I'm not here to see you!" Wilma replied coyly.
"Then who are you looking for?"
Wilma glanced flirtatiously at Ulric. Mabel frowned slightly. "You're looking for him? Do you two know each other?"
"Of course! Otherwise, why would I come here?" Mabel's expression turned icy.
Ulric tried to speak up but was immediately cut off by Mabel's angry rebuke. "You have no right to speak. Shut up."
Ulric was dumbfounded.
Seeing Mabel's treatment of Ulric, Wilma immediately stepped in to defend him. "Mabel, why are you yelling at him like that? Oh, I get it, he's here to break off the engagement with you, isn't he? That's why you're upset?"
"Let me tell you, even if we broke off the engagement, he has nothing to do with you anymore. You have no right to take it out on him."
Wilma's words caught Ulric off guard, and he was about to explain, but Mabel's next words left him speechless.
"Who told you we called off the engagement?"
Now it was Wilma's turn to frown. "What? You two didn't break up?"
"Heh, of course not! Otherwise, why would I let him stay here last night?"
Wilma looked astonished and then, after a moment, retorted defiantly, "Even if you didn't break up, so what? Ulric and I are friends. Can't I invite him over to my house?"
"No! My man needs my permission before he goes anywhere!" Mabel snapped back.
"You..."
The tension between them was palpable.
Ulric was speechless.
He had just said they had nothing to do with each other, that he didn't want to see her again, and now...
Ulric could see that the two women were about to start arguing, and he quickly intervened, "Can't you two stop fighting and talk like civilized people?"
"No!"
They both replied simultaneously, leaving Ulric feeling utterly helpless.
"Miss Flores, Miss Dun came to see me, so it must be something important. How about I go with her?" Ulric suggested, ostensibly defending Wilma but siding with Mabel. Mabel didn't want to make trouble for herself and agreed coldly, "Since you asked for my opinion, I'll allow you to go. But come back immediately after."
This...
Ulric hesitated for a moment. "Okay... Miss Dun, let's go!"
Wilma nodded. As she was about to leave, she couldn't resist needling Mabel one last time. "Mabel, everyone thinks you're too proud, but now it seems that's not the case."
Watching her smug figure walk away, Mabel's face turned icy.
Originally, she could have easily cut ties with Ulric, but Wilma's appearance forced her to get entangled with him again.
As enemies since high school, she couldn't let Wilma have her way with anything or anyone she was interested in. Even if she didn't like Ulric, she had to resist just to spite Wilma.
"Miss Dun, did your grandfather have any issues?"
Exiting Bloomfield Boulevard, Ulric got into Wilma's car.
"Not really, but my grandpa wants to meet you. Oh, by the way, were you... with her last night?"
Ulric didn't deny it.
"I thought you were going to break up with her? Why? Did you see her and change your mind because she's pretty?"
Ulric felt awkward. "Well, it's a long story. But what about you? How did you end up arguing with her as soon as you met?"
Wilma chuckled. "You'll have to ask your fiancée about that when you get back."
Ulric remained silent.
Nine o'clock in the morning!
The car drove into an alley and eventually stopped in front of the Dun Family's gate.
"Ulric, I... I need your help."
Just as Ulric was about to get out of the car, Wilma stopped him.
"What kind of help? Tell me!"
Wilma pondered for a moment. "My dad and I haven't told Grandpa the truth about what happened a month ago. I hope you..."
"Don't worry about it. I know what to say and what not to say."
Entering the yard, a frail old man was lying in a rocking chair with his eyes closed. Nearby, there was an old radio playing comedy sketches, and he seemed to be enjoying himself.
The old man was none other than Flynn Dun, the one Ulric had rescued—Old Master Dun.