"Who knows what kind of nasty stuff was in that box? You were clearly jealous that Mr. Cole was treating me well, so you slipped poison in when I wasn't looking!"

"Mr. Cole, call the police! She tried to poison me on purpose!"

I nearly laughed out loud in disbelief. “You bought the frogs off the street?” I then pulled out my phone and opened the video I had just saved.

On screen, Cassey was grinning with excitement, holding a golden-yellow toad with striking black spots between a pair of tongs, proudly showing it off to the camera.

“Look! A golden toad! It's a super rare wild delicacy!” she gushed. “I hit the jackpot today, girls! Got it from some old lady—word is, eating it brings wealth and good luck! Mr. Cole, want to try something exotic?”

In the next moment, the golden toad was unceremoniously tossed into a pot of boiling soup.

Cassey then turned to the camera, made a peace sign and said in a sickly sweet voice, “Hotpot time! It's made of golden toad's broth. Let's wish Mr. Cole skyrocketing success and endless fortune!”

By now, a crowd had gathered and exchanged whispers among them.

“Damn... so she did steal it? Plus, she posted it on her socials? Is she stupid?”

“That toad is actually gold, gold! Ew, it looks freaky. Definitely not your regular frog. I'm not surprised it it's actually poisonous.”

“Serves her right! She stole someone’s stuff and then accuses the owner. What a twisted woman!”

Those comments easily reached Cassey’s ears. Her face instantly turned bright red with fury. “You! How dare you spy on me! Mr. Cole, she—"

"Enough!" Gavin barked, cutting her off.

Clearly, Gavin was livid, more with embarrassment and frustration than anger. He clearly hadn’t expected his sweet little assistant to be stupid enough to steal something and post a video outing herself.

He took a deep breath, then turned to me. Warmth no longer appeared on his gaze. “You know, Aria? Cassey did take your stuff and she is in the wrong. But it’s done now. She’s already paid a heavy price.”

“Let’s just get back to why we’re here. The whole matchmaking meet up was my parents' idea anyway. Now that things had blew up this way, I don’t think there’s any point in us continuing.”

He reached out and gently patted Cassey’s by the hand that clung tightly onto his arm. A flicker of tenderness crossed his eyes.

“You must be able to relate, Cassey’s a woman. And her looks are everything. Sure, you didn’t poison her, but the toad did come from your box." He continued, "So here’s what we’ll do: you compensate her with 3 million for facial reconstruction and we’ll call it even.”

“Call it even?” I repeated the phrase simply.

If I didn't know Gavin's grandpa; If Grandpa Mich wasn't a close friend of my grandpa; I wouldn’t have agreed to this blind date in the first place.

Looking at Gavin’s self-righteousness, whatever my restrain to end this problem politely had vanished.

I let out a mocking smile. “What makes you think I’d agree to that, Gavin?”

By that, I meant paying the 3 million. Yet, Gavin seemed to interpret it another way, he actually thought I was still clinging to the idea of being with him.

His lips curled into a sneer. “Aria, be realistic. You’re just a photographer who spends her days hiking through the wilderness. You think you’re good enough to be Mrs. Cole?”

“Do yourself a favor and let's end this meeting with some dignity and pay the money. If not, the Coles have plenty of ways to make sure your family are blacklisted in all corners of Blue Vale. You won’t even be able to get a decent job, let alone continue your little photography career.”

Gavin didn't shout those threats out loud, but it was enough for the onlookers to catch it and created gossips.

“The Coles? As in Cole Tech, the tech giant conglomerate? She’s in serious trouble now…”

“Three million crowns? There's no way she can pay that even if she sold herself!”

“Poor girl. Her blind date kicks her out over some secretary. Now he even demands money?”

Those whispers boosted Cassey's confidence. Even more so now that Gavin was siding with her.

“That's right! I’ve spent millions maintaining this face over the years! And now you’ve ruined it. Honestly, three million is a bargain! Can a broke little nobody like you even afford that? If not, you might as well start preparing for prison!”

Then her eyes lit up with a twisted idea. She pointed at the scraps of toad still floating in the pot and sneered, “I've figured you can’t afford it. How about this? Eat the rest of that frog soup and get on your knees and beg.”

“Maybe if I’m in a good mood, I’ll even cut you a discount.”

Gavin just stared at me coldly, clearly not planning to stop Cassey. There was a cruel gleam in his eyes, like he was waiting for me to break down.

All eyes in the restaurant were on me—curious, pitying and secretly thrilled. Everyone wanted to see how this poor, no-name photographer would collapse under pressure from the heir to Cole Tech and his rabid little secretary.

What none of them knew was that my grandfather was a decorated war hero who received a first-class military honor in our country. My parents were senior engineers working in classified government tech divisions. Low-profile, yes, but nowhere near powerless. And my family were definitely not one to be looked down on like this.

That simmering anger I’d been swallowing finally boiled over. I calmly reached into my canvas shoulder bag and pulled out my phone.

“All right, I’ll pay,” I said calmly. “But first, you owe me compensation.”

I unlocked my phone, swiped to an encrypted album and tapped open a few photos.

They had been taken just days ago—shots I risked my life for at the edge of the Black Foothills rainforest, during a thunderstorm and landslide alert. Three nearly extinct golden-yellow toads with distinct black star-shaped markings rested quietly on damp moss. Each photo was labeled with their scientific names and tracking numbers.

I looked up, gaze meeting Gavin and Cassey’s squarely as I spoke clearly,

“They are Golden-Spined Mountain Toad. Critically endangered species under national Class One protection. Fewer than fifty are known to exist in the wild.”

“This species has global conservation significance and immense research value. Each individual specimen is valued between 1.2 to 1.8 million crowns.”

My eyes flicked to the pot in front of Cassey—then locked onto Gavin’s visibly paling face.

“Considering I rescued those toads alive during extreme weather and documented them for a national research database, these were living specimens, with high breeding and scientific potential.”

“I’m not asking for much. One and a half million crowns per toad. That’s 4.5 million crowns for all three. So, what's it's gonna be? Cash or card?”

Everyone was stunned silent by the news. Expressions of shock, disbelief and awe were present in the room.

“Four and a half million? For frogs?”

“That’s insane! I don't think a literal solid gold frog would worth that much!”

“Golden-Spined what? Never heard of it. Is this girl making stuff up because she’s desperate?”

Gavin’s face turned stone gray. He slammed a hand on the table and shouted, “Aria Linfield! Are you fucking insane? You think you can extort me with some photos of frogs? Four and a half million? Why not just rob a bank while you’re at it?! You’ve lost your goddamn mind!”

Cassey looked smug and jumped in right after Gavin.

“Aria, you’ve really lost your mind. Four and a half million crowns? For those three nasty, warty frogs? Please! Don't tell me you're getting delusional after Mr. Cole dumped you?"

"Conservation? Endangered species? Pfft! They were just three ugly, worthless freaks. They don't mean much and better off be cooked!”

Gavin stood on his spot with arms crossed. He watched me as cold smirk crossed his lips. I could tell he was waiting to see how I’d backpedal. He was convinced I’d made up the price tag to bluff my way out of paying.

I didn’t bother arguing with those fools. Instead, I calmly pulled out my phone and dialed a long, complex number—one that wasn’t stored in my contacts.

It was a direct emergency line to the highest level of the MESC—the Ministry of Ecological Security and Conservation.

The phone rang once before a composed, authoritative male voice picked up. “Emergency Command, what is your situation.”

I turned slightly and lowered my voice, just enough for the receiver.

“I'm calling from Blue Vale, at the Magma Boiling Point Hotpot Restaurant, Table 18. There's a Class One Emergency.”

“Three critically endangered live specimens—designated Golden-Spined Mountain Toads, IDs 07, 11 and 13—have just been illegally killed and cooked on-site.”

For a second, the other end of the line fell into complete silence.

Then, that steady voice suddenly snapped into a mix of disbelief and rage. “WHAT did you say?! Specimen numbers 7, 11 and 13 were eaten?! Are you absolutely certain?!”

“Affirmative, Sir,” I replied, my voice flat and emotionless.

“We have physical remains, full video footage and social media posts confirming the act. The individual responsible is named Cassey Blinks. Her employer, Gavin Cole, witnessed the crime, failed to intervene and is now attempting to cover it up. Both are on-site, uncooperative and have shown no remorse.”

“Unbelievable! Lawless savages!” the man roared. “Secure the scene! Nobody leaves the site! Not a single damn fly!”

“This is a Level One Response! Mobilize the Wildlife Protection Tactical Unit! Alert SWAT and the City Command! Lock down the entire block around the restaurant! Initiate Class A Emergency Containment Protocol! I’m leading the response myself. ETA—screw five minutes, I’ll be there in three!”

Then the call abruptly cut off with a sharp click.

For a second, everything was dead silent. Then the crowd got loud once more.

“Wait… was that for real?”

“SWAT? Class A lockdown? What the hell is going on?!”

“Those toads… they really were worth that much?”

Cassey rolled her eyes and let out a loud, mocking scoff.

“Please! Keep acting! Let’s see how long you can fake it! You think you’re the only one who knows how to put on a show?”

But Gavin… Gavin was starting to sweat. There was a flicker of fear in his eyes. He glared at me like he was trying to drill through my skull.

“Aria… all those acts, just to dodge paying three million? Have you no shame? Grandpa Troy gave his whole life to serve this country and you... you’re out here spouting lies like a con artist!”

“What the hell are you trying to pull? A phone call and some wildlife sob story and you think—”

He didn’t get to finish. Because just then, a wall of blaring sirens erupted in the distance. Not one, not a few. Dozens. Closing in from every direction.

Then came the sound of boots—rushing like a thunderous drumline moving in. Armored vehicles, decked out in deep green tactical camo with bold Ecological Enforcement and SWAT insignia, screeched to a halt right in front of the restaurant.

They were like steel beasts awakened for war.