Alex stood atop the Harlan mansion, surveying the pandemonium below.Down on the street, he spotted Marco racing along as if a rabid dog were nipping at his heels.But that wasn’t Alex’s concern.Yes, Marco had scammed the Lancasters, but Alex had warned everyone. They’d chosen not to listen. They’d let it happen.His time was better spent on his own pursuits: finding more money, securing more elixir, leveling up.There was a battle on the horizon, and his parents’ enemy wouldn’t wait forever. Careful progress was the only way forward.A sudden buzz from his phone cut through his thoughts.“Alex?” came the familiar voice of Ruth, the matron of the orphanage.“Hey, Ruth. Everything okay?” he asked.“Are you in Vancouver?”“Yes. Need something?”Ruth sighed audibly. “Josephine’s in Vancouver on business, and now she’s lost. Her phone battery died, and she can’t find her way back. Could you help her?”“Of course,” he replied without pause. “Send me her number, and I’ll track her last kno

Kelvin stood there with a cocky smirk etched across his slimy face, practically dripping arrogance.“Now get down on your knees,” he ordered, voice laced with poisonous glee.“Beg for forgiveness. Grovel enough, and maybe I’ll let you crawl out of here when I’m done using you.” Safe under Scarface’s shadow, Kelvin felt no fear.Josephine’s stomach churned.She never expected Kelvin to come on this strong, and the ugly confidence in his eyes sent a chill racing up her spine.One of his goons sneered, relishing her discomfort. “Didn’t you hear the man, girlie? Hit the floor and start begging, or I can’t promise you’ll keep all your limbs.”Josephine stood stubbornly; she would never kneel!Kelvin, still puffed up with self-importance, turned to Scarface.“See that, Mr. Scarface? They’re not paying you any respect. People like this only learn their lesson when they’re looking their own graves in the eye.”The way Kelvin drawled those words, the way he licked his lips, told everyone he ha

“What the hell are you doing?!” Megan yelled as the cold drink drenched her from head to toe.Josephine replied without missing a beat. “Right back at you, you psycho! Why’d you come here just to harass people? What’s your problem?”Megan narrowed her eyes. “Do you know who this guy is?”Josephine shot her a bright grin. “Sure do. He’s my bestie. If you’ve got an issue with him, you’ll have to deal with me first.”“He’s a scammer—a total gigolo! He trashed his ex-wife’s company out of petty jealousy because Jessica Hilton treated him like a toy boy. Ask him if I’m lying!” Megan pointed a furious finger at Alex.Josephine placed her hands on her hips, meeting Megan’s glare with a fearless smirk. “I don’t believe a single word coming out of your mouth. So scram, crazy woman.”Megan opened her mouth to retort, but all that came out was a frustrated hiss.Her cheeks burned with anger. “Oh, so that’s how it is, huh? Alex, big man that you are, always hiding behind a woman.”She shot him a

Lyra leaned back with a smirk curling her lips. “Well, Uncle Raymond, I’m not sure you resemble anything in particular… but I trust Alex’s opinion on the matter.”Raymond snorted so hard it nearly rattled the phone line. “Huh! I have no idea how that tiny fraud managed to brainwash you. What’s his secret?”She shrugged with practiced indifference.“Beats me. Maybe it was just meant to be. Anyway, the clock is ticking. You’ve got half a day left before our bet closes. If you’re still as healthy as an ox by sunset, I’ll hand over the goods I promised. But I hope you’ve set aside your ‘payment’ for the cure if—and when—you need it.”Raymond’s voice turned coarse. “Payment? You’re not talking about those rare herbs from my vault, are you?”Lyra’s eyes rolled skyward as if she couldn’t believe his stupidity.“Don’t get confused, Uncle. The bet is simple: I wager my entire herb plantation; you wager that precious stash of yours. That’s separate from any cure you might suddenly find yourself

“Uncle Raymond.” Lyra crossed her arms and leaned back with a casual sneer.“Truth be told, I don’t believe in anything but cold, hard cash,” she said.“Speaking of which, how about the Cheval Blanc Hotel paperwork? Let’s skip the drama. Why don’t you have Alex sign and hand it over?”Raymond went deathly pale.Cheval Blanc had always been his golden goose—he’d never let go of that gem without a fight.But he forced a thin, unconvincing smile. “My lawyers are handling it,” he lied, fishing for time. In truth, he’d already told his bodyguards: if Alex refuses to cooperate, use force—hostage, murder, whatever it takes to cure him.Yet, the Plan needed to be changed, everyone suddenly realize Alex was no easy mark.One slap could kill a man, and the bodyguards seemed hesitant to test him again.Raymond realized he’d have to shift gears before things turned ugly.“Fine,” he spat, snatching his phone and barking at his legal team through a video call, “Draft the transfer papers for Cheval