Ace's gaze often lingered on Lola when she wasn't looking, his mind racing with questions. How could she smile so easily despite the storm raging within her? Was she aware of her condition? Did she feel the weight of it, or was she blissfully unaware?
Dame Wasp had confirmed the grim truth: sooner or later, Lola's body would reach its limit. When that time came, her body would naturally attempt to condense all the accumulated negative feelings in her heart into a curse core. If successful, she would emerge as a powerful curse master, an extraordinary but rare phenomenon. However, if she failed, the negative energy would explode out of her, birthing a powerful curseling so destructive that it would massacre everyone in the town in its wake.
Ace clenched his fists whenever this thought crossed his mind. The idea of such a gentle, hardworking girl being burdened with something so dangerous weighed heavily on him. As he watched Lola now, chatting with Mandy and Danny with a shy but genuine smile, he vowed silently to protect his family from her—to ensure she would never be able to bring forth the dark fate Dame Wasp had predicted. However, he wasn't sure of what to do with Lola, kill her, or help her successfully transition into a curse master when it was time, so he decided to befriend her first. But his mind kept leaning toward the latter as it was an easier solution.
"Why are so many people gathered over there? Whose stall is that?" Danny asked, his eyes narrowing as he scrutinized the jam-packed crowd encircling a brightly decorated booth.
"Ah, that's Brooke Rockworth's stall," Lola replied, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear as she glanced at the commotion. "She's hosting a 'Gold Bar Challenge'—it's for charity and her YouTube channel. The winner gets a Polaris Ranger XP 1000, but you have to $100 to participate." Having spent hours helping her parents set up their stall earlier, Lola had scouted every booth beforehand. Brooke's stall, being the loudest and most popular, had naturally stood out.
Now that Lola had pieced together the odd dynamic between Mandy and Ace, who shared a peculiar aunt-nephew relationship, she found herself enjoying her time with them more than she expected.
"My dad bought one of those a few months ago," Danny said, leaning casually against the nearby table in an obvious attempt to flaunt his father's wealth. He shot a smug smile at Lola, hoping to impress her. She, however, remained unfazed, her expression unreadable. Mandy, on the other hand, rolled her eyes, her lips twitching with amusement at her nephew's lackluster attempts at charm. She couldn't help but think that instead of gifting him a silicone adult doll for his last birthday, she should've given him a crash course in talking to women.
"That sounds interesting," Mandy said, her lips curling into a mischievous grin. Fishing a crisp hundred-dollar bill from her wallet, she handed it to Ace with a dramatic flourish. "Nephew, here's $100. Go win your auntie a Polaris Ranger XP 1000." Her tone was light, but her expression hinted at an odd blend of confidence and mischief, as though she genuinely believed Ace might pull it off.
Ace took the bill with a bemused look. "Auntie, what do you need that for? My dad could use it more," he said, his voice brimming with overconfidence as he folded the money and tucked it into his pocket before Mandy could snatch it back.
Mandy's expression shifted from smug amusement to barely restrained irritation. "You better win," she snapped, jabbing a finger toward the stall. She didn't actually expect Ace to succeed. All she wanted was for him to try—and, if possible, rip off a Rockworth in the process.
"Yes, Your Highness," Ace said with a mock salute before diving into the bustling crowd. He maneuvered his way through until he reached Brooke's stall, which was nothing short of dazzling. Strings of twinkling lights framed the booth, drawing attention to the centerpiece: a large glass case housing a gleaming gold bar. Behind it, on a stage of neatly stacked hay bales, stood a Polaris Ranger XP 1000, its pristine exterior shining under the spotlights. Brooke, brimming with energy, was working the crowd, while her brother Brock efficiently manned the ticket counter.
Ace didn't rush to sign up. Instead, he hung back, observing as only a few participants stepped forward. The steep $100 entry fee seemed to deter most, leaving the majority content to spectate. Ace crossed his arms and leaned casually against a nearby post, watching Brooke expertly play the crowd.
"Come on, people!" Brooke called out, her voice clear and enthusiastic. "Don't let the entry fee scare you. Every single dollar goes to charity! And who knows? You might just walk away with that Polaris Ranger." Her sharp eyes scanned the audience, locking onto a man who looked well-off but hesitant. She smiled sweetly, tilting her head as she pointed to him. "Sir, you look like you've got the skill. Want to give it a shot? It's for a great cause!"
Ace smirked, recognizing Brooke's tactic. She wasn't above using peer pressure to nudge potential participants into coughing up the entry fee. Her approach was clever—target those who looked affluent enough to afford the gamble but unlikely to win.
What no one knows but only the Rockworth twins knew, was that the odds of winning were practically nonexistent. Brooke had borrowed her father's Polaris Ranger to drum up excitement for the event and draw in more donations. She had no intention of letting anyone take it home, which was precisely why the challenge carried such a steep price.
Mandy suddenly appeared next to Ace, her presence as dramatic as ever. Grabbing his right wrist and hoisting it into the air, she shouted loudly, "Over here! A Lander will accept the challenge!" Her voice carried over the murmurs of the crowd, turning heads instantly.
The reaction was immediate. The locals, well-versed in the longstanding feud between the Rockworths and the Landers, exchanged amused glances. Whispers and chuckles rippled through the audience as they anticipated what promised to be an entertaining clash.
Meanwhile, Brooke's cheerful demeanor evaporated in an instant. Her eyes narrowed, and her jaw tightened as if she were biting back a sharp retort. Beside her, Brock mirrored her reaction, his clenched fists resting on the counter as he stared daggers at Mandy and Ace.