41Dylan schooled his features before opening the door, stepping out with deliberate calm. His eyes flicked between the two guards—one broad and stiff, the other wiry but just as rigid.“Gentlemen,” he greeted, slipping his hands into his pockets. “What’s the problem?”The first guard, the burly one, squared his shoulders. “We need to check your pockets, sir.”Dylan let out a slow, amused whistle. “Wow. No hello? No ‘how’s your shopping experience?’ Straight to accusations?”The younger guard narrowed his eyes. “A staff member saw you hiding something in your jacket.”Dylan tilted his head slightly, pretending to be deep in thought. “Did they now?” He looked over his shoulder toward where Gregory had conveniently positioned himself near the register, pretending to be busy but obviously watching. “Let me guess… was it him?”Neither guard answered. Their silence was answer enough.Dylan sighed. “Okay. I see what’s happening here.” He spread his arms slightly, making a slow turn. “If you

43But Dylan wasn’t about to step back. He pushed forward, his eyes narrowed. “You’re doing it all wrong!” he shouted, his voice cutting through the tension. “You’re giving her the wrong treatment! You’re going to kill her!”The doctor shot a venomous look at him, snapping, “You’re the one who’s causing damage here! Just stay out of the way!”Dylan ignored him, crouching again as he muttered under his breath. His hands trembled slightly as he began applying pressure to the woman’s chest, using a traditional healing technique that involved manipulating the body’s energy flow. He wasn’t doing it properly by modern medical standards—he was working from instinct, pressing in ways that helped align the body’s natural rhythms.But it was clear to the doctor and bystanders that Dylan was failing to stabilize the woman. His movements were erratic, the healing slow and not precise enough to address her deteriorating condition.“You’re just making it worse!” the doctor barked again, stepping in

45Dylan turned sharply to the assistant, his voice unwavering. “Bring me a clean knife and a small glass bottle. Now.”The assistant hesitated, his eyes darting nervously toward the doctor. “I—should I?”The doctor, still reeling from how rapidly the woman’s condition had deteriorated under his care—and just as quickly stabilized under Dylan’s—clenched his jaw. His pride screamed at him to refuse, but the proof was undeniable.“Do it,” he ground out, his voice tight with humiliation.Gasps rippled through the crowd at his reluctant admission. The same doctor who had barked orders with absolute confidence was now deferring to the man he had called an amateur.The assistant scrambled away, returning moments later with the requested items. The tension in the room was suffocating, the onlookers frozen in stunned anticipation.Gregory scoffed, crossing his arms. “Oh, so now you’re playing butcher? What next? Gonna do a rain dance too? Maybe chant a magic spell while you’re at it?”A few p

47Dylan froze, his hand already on the car door. He turned slowly, half expecting it to be one of the lingering skeptics, trying to further dissect his actions.The woman was rushing toward him now, her eyes wide with gratitude but still filled with confusion. Her steps faltered slightly, but she pushed through, her voice clear and urgent. “Please—thank you. For what you did. I… I need to know why you helped me.”Dylan stood still, his gaze meeting hers. For a moment, the time seemed to still, the chaos of earlier falling away as he looked into her eyes—eyes that held a mixture of disbelief, relief, and something else.He could hear her breathing unevenly, still recovering from the ordeal, but she stood firm.“Don’t thank me,” he said, his voice surprisingly soft for all the anger that still burned in him. “I didn’t do it for your gratitude. I just did what needed to be done.”The woman’s brows furrowed in confusion. “But… Gregory said—he said you were a fraud. That you were just pla

49A few minutes later, they arrived at a large, wrought-iron gate. The gate was imposing—tall and intricately designed, the kind of thing you’d expect to see in a place that had been standing for decades, if not centuries. Olivia slowed the car, pressing a button on the dashboard to open the gate. It creaked open slowly, revealing a long, tree-lined driveway leading up to a massive mansion in the distance.Dylan’s eyes widened just slightly, though he tried to keep his expression neutral. The house in front of him was magnificent. It was a sprawling two-story estate, with gleaming stone and large windows that reflected the evening sky. It looked like something out of a dream—or a movie. He could feel the weight of the place, a kind of quiet opulence that commanded attention.As they pulled up in front of the house, Olivia parked the car and turned to him. “Welcome to my home,” she said softly, her voice almost reverent as she looked up at the mansion. “I know it’s a lot. But… it’s wh