A sharp slap rang through the dining room, sending Leon Ashford stumbling backward, his cheek burning from the impact.“You useless bastard!” Gerald Hartwell, his father-in-law, spat, his face twisted in disgust. “How dare you talk back to me? You’re living under my roof, eating my food, and you think you have the right to speak?”Leon stood there with a lowered gaze, his breath heavy. He had learned long ago that resistance only led to more pain. The last time he tried, Gerald used a knife on him, and til now, the scar still remained on his right arm.His dull green eyes flickered toward his wife, Isabella Hartwell, who sat quietly with her head bowed.“Dad, please…” she murmured.“Stay out of this, Isabella!” Miranda Hartwell, Isabella’s mother, snapped. “You should be ashamed! You married this pathetic man, and look what he has done to our family name! It’s time that we let go of this burden you call a husband! Victor Marston is the perfect match for you, and you will divorce this

Isabella stood on the porch, anxiously waiting for Leon to return. The night was restless, and so was she. Sleep refused to come as worry gnawed at her.“Where is he?” she muttered in frustration, her eyes fixed on the gate, hoping he would walk through at any moment. The rain poured heavily, and the wind was sharp, making her shiver in the cold. “Did he find shelter somewhere? He didn’t even take an umbrella. Not that it would’ve helped in this weather. Is the place he went really that far? Where exactly did Victor send him?”She clenched her fists. “He should’ve listened to me. He shouldn’t have gone.”After waiting a while longer, the cold became unbearable. With a sigh, she turned back inside and retreated to her room, finally drifting off to sleep.The next morning, Isabella woke with a start and hurried downstairs, hoping to find Leon home. But he was nowhere in sight.“Sara, is Leon back?” she asked one of the maids.Sara shook her head with a scoff. “No, Miss Isabella. He was

“Sir,” the receptionist began, her patience wearing thin. “You should leave now that we’re trying to be polite or we’ll let the security handle the job.”Leon glared at them. ‘If I had my full power, they would kneel before me without question.’ He sighed, restraining his frustration. ‘How am I supposed to meet this so-called friend of mine in such a world?’“Are you deaf? I said leave.” The nurse pointed toward the exit, her voice sharper this time. “Unless you have an appointment, you have no business here. Now go back to scrubbing your in-laws’ floors.” She let out a mocking laugh.Just then, the elevator doors slid open with a soft chime. A man stepped out, carrying a frail young girl in his arms, a woman following closely behind, tears streaming down her face. And behind them—“Dante Cole.”Leon smirked, stepping forward with ease. “Ah, just the man I was looking for.”Dante’s eyes widened at the sight of him. “Leon? What are you doing here? Are you ill?”Leon scoffed. “Ill? Me?

Dante frowned at Leon’s reaction to his question and immediately threw a book at him. “Oh, come on! Wipe that face off. I know possession isn’t real. I’m just trying to make sense of whatever sorcery you pulled back there.”Leon raised a brow, and blinked in realization. ‘Oh, it was a joke. He thinks it’s a joke. That’s… convenient.’“Let’s just say I’ve been occupied,” Leon said, voice calm, unbothered. “I need power. I need wealth. And in this world, I need to understand how to take it.”Dante chuckled, shaking his head. “Wow… I see. No wonder. The way I see it, you’re already on the right track. I mean, you have fifty million now, Leon. Fifty. In a single day, you’ve become a millionaire, and that’s beyond insane. With this new skills of yours, Leon, I think you can have all the wealth in the world.”“Healing skills?” Leon furrowed his brows. “It’s a great deal here, huh?”Dante laughed. “Are you kidding? Today, you cured an illness that should have been impossible with a touch. An

Gerald Hartwell had just returned from work, and while Leon remained in his room, the rest of the family gathered in his spacious study for an important discussion.Seated across from her parents on the couch, Isabella straightened her posture and cleared her throat. “Dad, Mom, I’ve made my decision.”Gerald and Miranda glanced at each other in confusion. Gerald leaned forward slightly, his gaze sharp. “What decision? It better be the right one,” he warned.Isabella sighed before speaking. “I’ve decided… to accept Victor’s proposal.”Miranda’s confusion instantly melted into delight, her brown eyes lighting up as a wide smile stretched across her face. “Are you serious? You really mean it?”Isabella gave a firm nod. “Yes, Mom. I understand my responsibility as your only daughter. I don’t want the rest of our so-called family thinking they can take anything from us just because I’m tied to Leon. I won’t let that happen. I won’t be the reason we lose everything.”Gerald’s lips curled in