As the crackling fire filled the room with warmth, the burning paper disintegrated into ashes, dissipating into an inky void. Oliver's clenched fist opened, revealing nothing but ash. He let out a deep, heavy sigh as he dusted his hands.

     Unexpectedly, a creak echoes through the room, interrupting the silence. Sophia enters the green drawing room, accompanied by Sarrah and Bethany. Pamphlets pile up on their hands, and each stack towers over them.

"Oli," Sophia called out as she approached him.

"Sophia?" Oliver responded calmly. "What're those in your hands?"

Sophia glanced at Sarrah and Bethany before answering. "We have something to show you..."

"What is it?" Oliver became curious. "What is it that you want to show me?" Oliver approached Sophia.

"We don't 'want' to show it. We 'need' to show it..." Sophia glanced at the floor as she emphasized her words.

Oliver glanced at the papers in the girls' hands. "Pamphlets? Wait, are those about..." he gasped.

"Yes, they're about you," Sophia continued, handing the pamphlets to Oliver.

"There are more," Bethany added, presenting another stack of pamphlets.

"There seems to be an endless supply," Sarrah commented as she handed some to Oliver. "They're countless."

     Oliver begins reviewing the pamphlets as he flips the sheets. His anger grows as he examines each paper, leaving him breathless and fuming. Oliver glares at the drawings as he puffs out air through his mouth loudly.

"Hideous!" Oliver grunted, his brow furrowing. "What are these? They are nothing but deceitful fabrications!"

"Can I help you review those?" Gregory stepped towards Oliver and stood behind him, looking over his shoulder as he spoke kindly.

Oliver glanced at Gregory. "...Only if you can stomach the sight of me in a state of... undress," Oliver muttered timidly.

     Oliver and Gregory exchange quivering glances. They look at each other as Oliver turns towards Gregory's direction. Slowly, Gregory grabs the entire stack of pamphlets from Oliver's hand and carries it. Nodding at his friend, Gregory turns around and returns to the sofa.

     Once comfortably seated, Gregory reviews the contents of the pamphlets. His face instantly shifts to a crimson hue as his eyes widen. The speed at which he flips through the pages increases, exchanging them from front to back rapidly. However, sensing his cousin's curiosity, Gregory pauses abruptly, swiftly concealing the papers from Edgar's view.

"I know. Those are totally disgusting," Sophia sighed. "They are undoubtedly false, correct?"

"Yes, every single one of them is false!" Oliver frustratedly groaned as he continued reviewing more pamphlets.

Sophia hesitated for a moment before cautiously continuing with her voice lowered. "All those drawings depict you engaging in intimate activities with numerous women... and..." she trailed off.

     Oliver's body froze like a block of ice. He huffed out a shivering breath. His hands began to tremble and quiver.

     The sight before him on the pamphlet sent flames into Oliver's core. It is a drawing of him and his dear companion, Gregory, locked in an embrace on a canopy bed with their shirts off, surrounded by a pack of men. Oliver's breath shivers as his eyes lower and inspect the detail, seeing himself and his friend baring their torsos as they cradle one another.

"Men..." Oliver hesitantly murmured, venturing Sophia's words.

"Hm..." Sophia glanced away as she placed a hand on her mouth.

"What!?" Gregory exclaimed, caught off guard. He abruptly released the pamphlets from his hands and swiftly moved in front of Oliver, snatching the paper to examine the drawing.

"Greg—" Oliver panicked. "Please! No!"

Gregory's eyes narrowed as he studied the drawings, his brows furrowing in disbelief. "...This... this is..."

Oliver took a step back. "I know..." Oliver's face slowly turned red.

"This is outrageously preposterous! So absurd! How dare they depict such behaviour involving you!" Gregory's anger surged, lashing out furiously.

"..." Oliver replied bashfully, keeping his gaze on the floor. "... I... I have no words to speak..."

"No..." Gregory mumbled with his gaze fixed on the drawing, unable to tear himself away from the shocking image.

     Gregory's eyes roved over the pages of the pamphlet. As he peered into the illustration, he focused on a depiction of a dark-haired bearded man cuddling with the sketch of his friend. His brow furrowed in concentration until a sudden realization pierced through his thought. He realized that he and Oliver were portrayed together on the paper.

"What in the..." Gregory gasped.

"Greg..." Oliver's cheeks flushed as he crossed his arms.

"Is this me next to you??" Gregory questioned as he stared at the drawing.

     Oliver hurried to the door, swayed it open, and slammed it close. His footsteps echoed, and his vigorous pace shuddered the mansion's floors. Slowly, the room fell silently still.

     Meanwhile, Gregory stood still, gawking at the drawing with his jaw open. He continued to lock his gaze on the pamphlet. It took him so long to stare at it that it felt like forever until he heard his cousin, Edgar, who peeked at the paper, gasping from behind.