As they stepped out of the conference hall, the cool evening breeze greeted them. The city lights shimmered in the distance, and the sound of distant chatter filled the air. Doctor Orchis, still buzzing with excitement, walked between Nathan and Taylor, his chest puffed with pride.“Nathan,” he started, glancing at the young man with admiration, “I must say, today was extraordinary! Absolutely extraordinary! I knew you were skilled, but this? Hah! You had every single one of those old men shivering at just the sound of your voice! Did you see Robert? I swear, if he had a tail, he would’ve tucked it between his legs and fled!”Taylor chuckled softly. Nathan, however, only offered a small, knowing smile.Orchis clapped his hands together and shook his head in amazement. “And now, not only am I your admirer, but your student too! Can you imagine? The great Doctor Orchis, now a student of the young master Nathan! Hah! If someone told me this a week ago, I’d have called them insane!”Natha

Nathan didn’t even flinch when he saw Natalia and James. His expression remained impassive, his strides unbroken as he continued supporting Taylor toward the exit. He acted as if they were nothing more than air, his focus solely on Taylor, whose fingers now clung lightly to his arm.But Natalia saw them. And she felt it—a sharp, unwelcome pang in her chest.She had told herself it didn’t matter. That Nathan was free to do whatever he wanted. But the moment she saw Taylor leaning into him, saw the effortless way they stood together, the way Taylor’s fingers lingered on his arm like she belonged there—her stomach twisted.And he hadn’t even responded to her message.Her grip on her clutch tightened as she stepped forward, her voice laced with unrestrained bitterness. “I see now why you were too busy to respond to my message, Nathan. You were with your new love interest.”Nathan finally stopped. His face remained calm, unreadable. “She’s a friend,” he said smoothly. “That’s all.”Taylor,

A dark silence stretched between them.Kacper’s gaze remained piercing, and impenetrable.Finally, he hummed. “Is that so?”James swallowed hard, his head pounding as he struggled to keep himself upright. His entire body ached, sharp pain radiating from every inch of his battered frame. He let out a trembling breath, his face smeared with blood and dirt. His lips quivered as he stammered, “Y…yes, I've got a perfect plan for that.”One of Kacper’s men scoffed. “Capping,” he muttered, spitting on the ground beside James.Kacper let out a low chuckle, turning his back to James. His fingers drummed lazily against his wrist as he mused. "I don’t like being lied to, James," he said smoothly.At his unspoken command, the men surged forward again.James barely had time to scream before fists and boots landed on him. He curled into himself, coughing violently as a solid kick slammed into his ribs. “P—please!” he gasped, spitting blood. "I swear on my family’s name, I have a plan! A real plan

After leaving the restaurant, Nathan returned home, his body tense but his mind calm. The acupuncture technique he had used on Frank earlier had drained a significant amount of his energy. Even though he had managed to suppress Frank during the medical conference, he knew that his opponent wouldn’t stay down for long. He needed to replenish his strength—quickly.Stepping inside his villa, he exhaled deeply, rolling his shoulders to relieve the lingering stiffness in his muscles. He needed to cultivate. But this time, the usual space inside the house at the rooftop wouldn’t suffice. He needed a better place so he started looking around for it. He didn't want any stagnation in his progress. Nathan moved toward the balcony, looking out at the vast land surrounding his property. A cool breeze rustled through the trees, and his sharp eyes scanned the terrain. As he turned to leave, a faint, almost imperceptible pull caught his attention. It was subtle but distinct, like a whisper calling

Clarke's smile faltered for a fraction of a second. She had hoped to go with them so she could see Robert Gaius. This was a rare opportunity to meet one of the city's famous moguls in person and it has slipped.Reluctantly, she agreed. "Alright, then. I wish you both the best."As James led Natalia out, Clarke watched them drive off, smiling so widely in admiration.James drove with a quiet smirk, one hand on the wheel, the other resting casually against the gear shift. The hum of the engine filled the space between them as they left the city behind.Natalia, lost in thought, barely noticed the change in route—until she glanced out the window. The roads were unfamiliar. The urban scenery had faded, replaced by open roads and sparse buildings.She frowned slightly. "James, this isn’t the way to Gaius Group."James, still calm, glanced at her from the corner of his eye. "I know. Robert Gaius prefers to discuss matters in a more private setting. He arranged for us to meet at a different