Even the familiar ringtone made him jump. His fingers trembled as he reached for the phone… Malvin stared at the glowing phone screen, dread crawling across his spine. It was Lucien. His breath faltered. He hesitated for half a second and then answered. “Where are you?” Lucien’s voice cut through the speaker. “I want to see you. Now.” Malvin swallowed hard. “L-Lucien… It’s—it’s midnight.” “I said now,” Lucien snapped. “You have sixty minutes to get here.” The line went dead. Malvin sat frozen for three seconds… then exhaled shakily, dragging both palms down his sweating face. He forced himself up, grabbed his coat, and stepped into the night. Lucien’s mansion glowed ahead. Malvin entered through the side door, trying to steady his breathing. Lucien was waiting in the sitting room, one hand resting lazily on the armrest, the other swirling a glass of red wine. “I have given the Aldridge family enough grace,” Lucien said without looking at him. “Enough time. Enough warni

The needle plunged into his arm.Within seconds, Gerald’s muscles twisted violently. His back arched against the chair as spasms ripped through him.“DAD!” Elena screamed. “STOP! YOU’RE KILLING HIM!”Gerald’s face contorted in agony as he bit back a scream, sweat pouring down his skin.Sophia’s tears flooded down her cheeks.Her voice cracked like glass.“STOP IT! PLEASE! LUCIEN PLEASE!”Lucien leaned close to her ear.“Beg,” he whispered. “Beg properly.”Sophia broke.“Fine!” she cried. “I’ll sign! I’ll sign—just stop hurting them!”Elena sobbed, and Sarah whimpered as they looked at their father, who was convulsing.Lucien smiled and held out the contract.One of his men placed a pen in Sophia’s trembling hand.She gripped it weakly, her entire body shaking.Her hand lowered toward the paper.As the pen was about to touch the paper, a sudden, unnatural wind roared through the warehouse.The flames in the lamps flickered violently and then died.Every light went out at once.Darkness

Adrian had already hung up.Ten minutes later, the Aldridge mansion’s doors burst open.Adrian stormed inside, his coat swinging as he moved faster than the guards could react.“Where are they?” he demanded.“Sir... inside... this way—!” the guard stammered.He had been warned never to allow Adrian near the mansion, but the Aldridge family was dying.Adrian shoved past him.When he reached the living room, his breath caught in his throat.Sophia lay on the floor, shaking and gasping, tears streaking down her cheeks.Elena was curled beside her, vomiting... And her vomit has blood in it.Sarah lay half-conscious, breathing in short, choked wheezes.Gerald slumped on the couch, clutching his chest, his skin turning dangerously pale.The family doctor was kneeling beside them, completely filled with panic.He flipped through medical equipment.“ I-I don’t know what’s happening!” the doctor cried. “Their vitals are crashing, but I... I can’t diagnose it! I’ve never seen anything like this

Lucien’s words were like poidonAdrian’s fingers tightened around his throat, the pressure enough to crush bone... Yet Lucien only smiled wider, enjoying every second of Adrian’s rage.Adrian hissed through clenched teeth, “Over my dead body.”Luciem let out a vicious laugh. “There it is,” he whispered. “The answer I expected from you.”Then his smile sharpened.“But you forget something, Adrian.”He tapped Adrian’s wrist with two fingers, calm despite being pinned to the wall.“The virus… cannot be cured with modern science.”Adrian’s eyes darkened.Lucien continued, savoring every word.“The only other cure aside from the antidote in my vault… is the Dragon Root.”Adrian didn’t move.Lucien leaned closer, voice dropping to a cruel whisper.“A mystical herb possessed only by the Dragon Clan.”Adrian’s jaw tightened but he stayed silent.Lucien chuckled. “But we both know the Dragon Clan went extinct centuries ago,” he said softly. “So your options are very simple.”He raised one fing

Color slowly returned to the Aldridge family’s faces.Sophia was the first to open her eyes fully. Her gaze darted around the room until it found Adrian, and she let out a soft breath.“Adrian…” she whispered, voice cracked but alive.He didn’t speak. He gently placed a hand on her shoulder before moving to check on Gerald.Gerald inhaled sharply and coughed loudly as he gripped Adrian’s arm trying to sit upright.“You… saved us,” Gerald whispered, disbelief coating every word.Sarah wiped her tears, shaking violently. “Adrian… thank you,” she whispered, the words trembling.Elena was crying softly on the couch. “We would all be dead without you,” she said. “Thank you, Adrian. Truly.”Adrian brushed dirt from his palms and stood slowly.“You’re safe now,” he said. “All of you.”There was a moment of silence—deep, thick, heavy with emotion.Then Sarah spoke again.“But that…” she stammered, lifting her chin stiffly as she met his eyes, “…that doesn’t mean you are a friend of this famil