After countless hours of darkness, Alex’s eyes finally fluttered open.A dull ache pulsed through his entire body.“Alex, you’re awake?”The relief in Kelly’s voice practically echoed off the sterile hospital walls.Her eyes were brimming with unshed tears, and before he knew what was happening, she latched onto him in a fierce hug.“You had me scared half to death,” she whispered, voice trembling. “Don’t ever pull something like that again.”Alex gave a weak chuckle, trying to shift into a more comfortable position.“I’m fine, Kelly. Quit looking at me like I’m about to keel over any second. Where… where am I?”Before Kelly could respond, the door swung open with a loud click.Jasmine glided in, followed by Lyra, each looking polished and stunning in their own right.“Alex!” Jasmine exclaimed, her tone tinged with urgency. She rushed to his bedside. “Thank God you’re alright. We were worried.”Alex offered her a faint smile. “Little banged up, but I’ll live.”Jasmine’s gaze flickered

Florence forced on a syrupy smile for Dr. Foster, then wheeled around to face Alex with fire in her eyes.“Dr. Foster, please ignore this piece of garbage. He’s clueless.”“Alex, shut your damn mouth! You’re trying to sabotage Grandfather’s treatment, aren’t you? Trying to nab the inheritance early? Is that why you’d rather see Abraham die? God, you’re disgusting.”Alex merely shrugged, seemingly unfazed. “All I’m saying is if Dr. Foster doesn’t even notice there’s poison at play, then yeah, I question his qualifications.”Dr. Foster’s face hardened, his eyes flashing with indignation. “Boy, do you have any idea who you’re mouthing off to? That kind of disrespect can cost you dearly.”Alex crossed his arms. “I heard you’re Jonathan Owens’s apprentice—nothing more. If treatment’s needed, it should come from the master himself. You’re still wet behind the ears.”Florence gasped at Alex’s audacity.The rest of the family practically bristled with rage, while Charles, standing nearby, off

Charles wore an over-the-top humble expression, all but shrugging off the family’s astonishment.The room, once filled with the quiet hum of relief, was now heavy with tense curiosity.Dr. Vincent was still reeling from the shock when he practically shouted, “Of course! It was the Miracle Pill! That’s why it worked so damn fast!”Sophia’s brow furrowed. “Miracle Pill? Are we supposed to know what that is?”Vincent’s eyes glistened with something close to fanatic awe.“They call it a miracle for a reason. It’s so rare, it practically doesn’t exist. Legend says it was crafted by some old sage who lived—wait for it—five hundred years!”His words set the Lancaster family abuzz. Some whispered in disbelief; others stared, transfixed.“And the person who got it from,” Vincent added, voice low and dramatic, “claimed she nearly sold her soul just to lay hands on one.”A collective gasp rippled through the family.A pill so powerful it could haul someone back from death’s door? It sounded like

One of the Lancaster cronies hissed under his breath, “Hold up. Shouldn’t Dr. Owens be taking Alex’s head off? Why is he playing Whac-A-Mole with Vincent?”“You flaming halfwit! You dare use my name to inflate your puny ego? To con people who don’t know better? I’ll make sure you regret the day you learned to speak!”Dr. Owens only roared louder, launching a kick at Vincent that connected with a thud.Vincent sprawled like roadkill, blood streaming from his cracked lips.That smug grin he’d worn earlier? Now just a grotesque mask of pain and shame. Any bravado he had was beaten out of him in record time.Jonathan Owens turned, meeting Alex’s steady gaze.He could practically feel his own heart punching the inside of his ribcage. This was the man who had once saved his life, the person he’d spent years trying to find.And thanks to that useless pretender, he’d almost missed the chance to repay the biggest debt of his career—no, of his entire existence.Still shaken, Sophia ventured, “

“You think you scare me just ‘cause you are challenging me to a fight to the death? I might be old, but I’m not afraid to risk my life with the likes of you.”Her bold words completely clashed with the way she stumbled backward, nearly tripping over her own feet.If anyone bothered looking, they’d notice how badly her hands were shaking.Sophia, trying to defuse the tension, raised her palms.“Look, there’s no need to blow this out of proportion. Can we at least talk this through and figure out what happened before limbs start flying?”The man in white cocked an eyebrow and gestured at Jack like he was pointing at a piece of trash.“Why don’t you ask that genius what happened? He strolled in, grabbed my woman like a drooling dog, and threw punches at my men when they told him to back off.”“That’s more than enough reason to hand him a lesson. Now you show up like a pack of chihuahuas, yapping about calling more people to bust up my bar?”Sophia’s gaze swung to Jack. The idiot was stil