The United Kingdom was in turmoil. News had broken that the country was facing a widespread outbreak of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE)—widely known as "mad cow disease"—alongside its deadly human equivalent, variant Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease (vCJD).
The media buzzed with panic. Supermarkets scrambled to remove contaminated products. Families across Britain stared at their dinner plates with unease.
When Richard heard the news, he froze—staring at the headline for a moment longer than necessary. Then, without hesitation, he issued a sweeping order.
"Effective immediately," he said, "no one under the Maddox Group and Manchester City—staff, players, executives, or family—is to consume British beef. Not a bite. Not a risk!"
Both Marina and Miss Heysen exchanged glances.
Even at the Manchester City training ground, chefs and staff catering were instructed to purge every trace of beef from the kitchen. Menus were rewritten overnight.
