"Are you stupid? There’s no such thing as a secret that doesn't leak," Raymond Kim sneered. "We’re talking about the Morgan family here—a force that dominates both politics and business across Elysia. Their wealth alone could crush you to death.""You think the Morgans are like your pathetic Zhang family? You must be out of your mind." "No matter what, I’ll never gamble my entire family’s future. If anything happens, my father would kill me himself.""And the entire Kim family would fall with me. Tell me, is it worth the risk?" Raymond Kim ranted as he slapped Griffin Bailey across the face repeatedly, forcing him to shield his head and take the blows.After venting his anger, Raymond felt much better. Indeed, happiness often came at the expense of others' suffering."Mr. Kim, I believe we can still use the fact that he was a live-in son-in-law against him," Jonathan spoke up again."But that's just one angle; we need more dirt to make it stick," he added."Can you say anything

Joseph listened in silence before speaking again.“Cancer remains one of the most formidable illnesses in the world. Even with my master’s abilities, curing your condition would’ve been no easy feat.”This was the reality of cancer—it wasn’t like in those fictional tales where a miracle doctor could cure it with a single acupuncture session. To Joseph, such stories were nothing more than fantasy.“You’re right. But your master was truly remarkable. He used his extraordinary methods to keep me alive for years. Still, he couldn’t completely cure me.”“Though I was alive, I lived in constant agony, hiding away in hospital rooms, unwilling to face people. Only your master and I knew the truth of my illness.”“To the outside world—to my sons and grandchildren—I was simply growing weaker by the day. They were just waiting for me to die so they could tear each other apart for power.”“But as long as I was alive, they didn’t dare act openly. If they had known I was terminal, known exactly whe

"For example, if you're not willing, I won't use this so-called request to make you marry Heidi.""Heidi, that girl—she was a beauty since childhood. Now that she’s grown, her looks rival her sister’s. She may seem a bit headstrong, but in truth, she’s a kind and gentle soul. The only problem is, her standards are too high. The only man she’s ever truly admired… is you."Though Old Mr. Cooper said he wouldn’t push, everything in his tone hinted otherwise."Uh… and what makes you so sure she even likes me?" Joseph blinked, caught off guard."Come now, that’s just you being oblivious. Anyone with a pair of eyes can see how deeply Heidi feels for you," the old man replied, a hint of reproach in his tone.Joseph fell silent.Reflecting on his interactions with Heidi, it would be dishonest to say he hadn’t noticed anything. But she always cloaked her affection in jokes and teasing, making it easy to overlook.Now that Old Mr. Cooper had laid it bare, Joseph couldn’t deny it. His mind felt c

“To win over your stupid heart, of course. Satisfied now? Come on, let’s eat!”Heidi grabbed Joseph’s hand and tugged him toward the dining hall.Truth be told, her cooking had improved remarkably—so fast, in fact, that it caught Joseph off guard. He had once claimed that people who disliked cooking rarely had a talent for it. Clearly, he had been wrong.Though her dishes weren’t exactly gourmet, they were undoubtedly tasty—and far better than anything Charles Martin, the so-called alchemy master, could conjure up.Maybe this is what they call talent.After the meal, Heidi continued to cling to Joseph’s arm, insisting on walking him to the door.She always did this—Joseph had grown used to it by now.But this time, halfway there, she suddenly veered off course and led Joseph into a small courtyard tucked within the vast Cooper estate.It was well-maintained, yet bore the quiet stillness of a place long uninhabited. The Cooper family’s ancestral home was expansive, with many such seclu

Hearing Old Mr. Cooper's words, a soft flush crept across Heidi’s cheeks.“Grandpa, how do you always seem to know everything? Don’t tell me you were hiding somewhere, spying on us?”She asked bashfully, her voice tinged with playful suspicion.“Hahaha… You little rascal. Spying? What nonsense.”“There’s a saying, my dear—read between the lines and observe the subtle cues. Life teaches you much if you’re willing to watch and listen.”Old Mr. Cooper chuckled, clearly amused.“So, how did your talk go?”He gave her hand a gentle pat, eyes filled with warmth.Judging by her expression, he could already guess things hadn’t gone too badly—otherwise, she wouldn’t be smiling now.“He’s always been a softie. That’s just the way he is—too kind for his own good. I pushed a little, coaxed him a bit, and he gave in.”She tried to sound casual, though her eyes flickered. Of course, she wasn’t going to admit she'd cried in front of Joseph. That would be far too embarrassing.But despite her efforts