Jarod Lei couldn't believe what he was witnessing.
He thought his mother was being forced and threatened by Aric. He couldn't allow this debauchery to continue.
The very idea that his mother, who was married to his father, would be involved with Aric was intolerable. It would make his father a cuckold.
Moreover, Jarod had always harbored an intense, possessive love for his mother. Her beauty had always made him feel that she belonged only to him.
As his mother entered Aric's room, Jarod's rage reached its peak. Unable to tolerate the situation any longer, he burst into the room, his emotions boiling over.
"What is going on here?" Jarod demanded, his voice filled with fury.
Aric and Ulsa turned to face him. The tension in the room was palpable.
"Jarod, this isn't what it looks like," Ulsa began, but Jarod cut her off.
"Mother, how could you? And with him?" he shouted, his eyes blazing with anger.
Aric stepped forward, a smug smile on his face. "Careful, Jarod. You don't know who you're dealing with."
Ignoring Aric, Jarod turned to his mother. "Mother, come with me. We need to leave now."
But Ulsa shook her head. "No, Jarod. You don't understand. Aric is... he's different now."
Enraged, Jarod lunged at Aric, attempting to attack him. But Aric had grown stronger, and with ease, he dodged Jarod's attacks, his movements swift and precise.
"Enough!" Aric's voice was cold and commanding. "You can't touch me, Jarod. You're outmatched."
Before Jarod could respond, Ulsa stepped between them and slapped her son hard across the face. Jarod was stunned, both by the physical blow and by the betrayal he felt.
"Mother... why?" Jarod's voice was a whisper, filled with pain.
"Because, Jarod, you don't understand," Ulsa said, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and sadness. "Aric is my beloved. He is the one who truly cares for me."
Jarod's eyes widened in shock. "You... you love him?"
Ulsa nodded, her eyes softening as she looked at Aric. "Yes, Jarod. I love him, and I will do anything for him."
Jarod's heart sank. His mother, the woman he loved and cherished, was declaring her love for his greatest enemy. The betrayal cut deep, but he couldn't give up on her.
"Mother, please," Jarod pleaded, his voice breaking. "He's manipulating you. He doesn't care about you the way I do."
Ulsa's expression hardened. "You don't know anything about Aric. He has shown me more love and care than anyone else ever has."
Desperation surged through Jarod. He couldn't lose his mother to this villain. "Mother, come with me now. We can leave this place together. I'll protect you from him."
Aric laughed, a cruel sound that sent chills down Jarod's spine. "Protect her? You can't even protect yourself, Jarod."
Jarod ignored him, focusing on his mother. "Please, Mother. I love you. I won't let him hurt you."
Ulsa's eyes filled with tears, but she shook her head. "It's too late, Jarod. My heart belongs to Aric now."
Jarod felt a wave of dizziness wash over him. Unbeknownst to him, his mother had poisoned his food earlier. As he struggled to stay conscious, his master's voice echoed in his mind.
"Jarod, listen to me," the soul of Ryan Chen, the Divine Transformation seventh stage master, spoke urgently. "You need to leave now. Go back to your quarters where I can treat you."
Jarod tried to focus, his vision blurring. "But... Mother..."
"Go, now!" Ryan Chen commanded.
With great effort, Jarod turned and stumbled out of the villa, his mind swirling with confusion and betrayal.
He made his way back to his own quarters, collapsing onto his bed as his master's spirit began to work on purging the poison from his system.
Meanwhile, in Aric's villa, Aric reveled in his victory. The conflict had earned him a significant number of villain points, and the bond between mother and son was irreparably broken.
Aric turned to Ulsa, a predatory gleam in his eyes. "Now, my dear Ulsa, it's time for you to show me just how loyal you are."
Ulsa's eyes sparkled with adoration as she looked at Aric. "Anything for you, Aric. You are my everything."
Aric smirked, pulling her closer. "Good. Tonight, you will prove your loyalty and love."