“Fine.”Joseph could only relent. He knew his injuries were superficial, yet Alice and Mason Alvarez were acting as if he’d been mortally wounded.Was this what people meant by love turning to panic?Still, he let it go. He was genuinely depleted and needed fuel fast.He ate and drank heartily for half an hour, until the hollow in his stomach eased.Fortunately, Alice had prepared a feast. After dinner, they shooed him off to shower.Mason and Alice took the chance to grab a quick bite themselves.When Joseph came out of the bathroom, towel-dry and clean, he didn’t see them in the living room.Puzzled, he headed to his bedroom. It was still early—surely they weren’t turning in already.What were those two up to now?He eased his door open—and stopped short.Alice and Mason were both in his room.“Professor Wilson, you’re done. Come here. Sit. I’ll get the salve on.”Mason beckoned him in.“No need to rush, is there?”Joseph tried a smile.“Joseph, here’s hot tea. If you’re thirsty, ju

“Huh? Sleep with you? No—I’ll sleep down here!”“If I share the bed, I’ll bump your wounds. I toss and turn.”Alice shook her head hard, clutching her quilt like a fortress.“Then go to your own room. I’m not old or helpless. I can take care of myself.”Joseph sighed.“No. You’re a patient. If you need anything in the night, I’ll be right here to help.”Alice’s tone was adamant.He had no way to talk her down, yet the thought of her sleeping on the floor didn’t sit right.With a helpless shrug, he got out of bed, scooped her up, and deposited her on the mattress.“Joseph! What are you doing?”Alice startled.“Didn’t you say you were keeping me company?”“Sleeping on the floor doesn’t count. Sharing the bed does.”He grinned.“You’re covered in wounds and you’re still picking me up. What if you tear something?”She fretted.“Then stay put. If you climb back down there, I’ll just carry you up again.”He tucked the blanket around her, and they settled under the same quilt.“But when I’m

“Huh? That—I pressed the wrong button.”Maria Long’s voice faltered, a tremor of panic threading through it.“Even if you did, you pressed the wrong button that many times?”A thin smile curled across Charles Martin’s face. He clearly didn’t buy her story.“Well… my phone’s been acting up. It can’t even take calls. The moment I answer, it hangs up on its own.”Maria stumbled, then finally landed on something that sounded barely plausible.“Is that so?”Charles’s reply was ice-cold.“So, Charles, why are you calling? Is something the matter?”Maria pressed on.“Auntie, I asked you and Uncle to move out, remember? How’s that coming along?”Charles remained impeccably polite.“We started. Truly. It’s just… there’s so much stuff. Could you give us a few more days?”Maria’s tone softened into pleading.“Auntie, today’s the final deadline. I’ll be leaving the country in a few days. I need to turn the property over to professionals.”“You have to be out today. Otherwise, you’ll put me in a v

At Charles Martin’s words, the men finally let him go. He hurried to Peggy’s side and began a swift assessment.“Water. She needs water.”Once he’d gauged her condition, Charles spoke crisply.People scrambled to fetch it.“Charles… Charles Martin, I did hit her—but you hit me too. Let’s just call it even.”Maria Long’s face was swollen and bruised, waves of pain distorting her speech.“Charles, why not leave it at that? If not for our sake, at least for Fiona’s.”“We’ll move out immediately.”Sensing the tide turning, Stephen Cooper rushed to add his voice.“Even? How is this even?”“Save it for the police. The Cooper family may be a great house in Nova City, but this is wanton cruelty—you’re criminals.”“I don’t owe anyone that courtesy.”“Peggy came here at my behest. I am responsible for her. I’m no saint, but I always settle my debts.”Charles actually let out a short, incredulous laugh.“Charles Martin, you say we beat her and that makes it true? What evidence do you have?”Mari

“Captain Christopher, I’m done with what I had to do. I can give my statement now,” Charles Martin said as he approached.“Let’s go. I’ll handle this myself,” Captain Christopher replied, taking the lead. Charles fell in behind him.Moments later, they stepped into an interview room and got to work.Time ticked by, and afternoon deepened into evening.Around six, Fiona returned home after a long day. She sank onto the sofa, feeling her exhaustion finally begin to ease.“How’s Mr. Wilson?” she asked casually when Heidi came out of her room.“Much better—surprisingly fast. He’s not like most people,” Heidi said, a hint of admiration in her tone.She poured herself a glass of water, then filled one for Fiona as well.“You still haven’t told me how he got hurt,” Fiona said, sipping her water.“It was just a sparring match,” Heidi replied. “He’s good with his hands, as you know. He was exchanging moves with someone and got injured. That’s about it.” “If you want details, ask him yourse