Chapter 18

The viral success of the embassy's videos didn't just boost its public profile—it also sparked genuine curiosity and admiration for their country from international viewers around the world. Everyone in the embassy was thrilled about it. Outside the embassy, there was someone whose reaction was far from celebratory. Benedict stared at the video of Minerva and Lucas leaning close together, his heart tightening with bitterness. He had been living near the embassy for over a month, yet he hadn't caught even a single glimpse of Minerva. Worse still, his lingering presence and erratic behavior had drawn suspicion, so much so that he had received an official warning from the embassy. If the Robertson family hadn't quietly pulled some strings behind the scenes, he might have been detained already. As days passed and his desperation grew, Benedict stumbled upon one of the embassy's now-viral videos. It was the first time he had ever seen Minerva at work. It was the first time he caught a