As Keith completed the payment process for the Sacred Heart Herb, the auction house's VIP lounge buzzed with whispered conversations about the mysterious young bidder who had just spent fifty million dollars without blinking.A tall, impeccably dressed man in his early thirties approached Keith with the confident stride of someone accustomed to getting his way.His expensive suit was tailored to perfection, and his cold eyes held the calculating intelligence of a predator sizing up potential prey."Impressive display back there," the man said with a smile that didn't reach his eyes."Marcus Chen, heir to the Chen pharmaceutical dynasty. And you are?"Keith regarded Marcus with polite but distant professionalism."Keith Cross. Pleased to meet you.""Keith Cross," Marcus repeated thoughtfully, as if testing the name for hidden significance. "Fifty million dollars is serious money for someone so young. Most people your age are still figuring out how to pay off student loans."This man is

As Keith's Mercedes pulled away from the Grand Meridian Hotel, three black SUVs maintained careful distance behind him through the city's winding streets.Inside the lead vehicle, Marcus Chen's head of security, Viktor Kozlov, spoke into his radio with professional precision."Target is maintaining normal speed toward the Northhill district," Viktor reported, his Russian accent thick with years of military training."No indication he's aware of surveillance."Marcus Chen's voice crackled through the radio from his penthouse office."Stay with him, Viktor. I need to know everything about this mysterious young man who thinks he can outbid the Chen family.""Understood, boss," Viktor replied, signaling his drivers to maintain their positions."We'll find out exactly who Keith Cross really is."Fifty million dollars for a single herb, Marcus thought as he paced his office like a caged predator.Nobody spends that kind of money unless they know something the rest of us don't.The surveilla

Keith was driving through the city streets toward St. Augustine Memorial Hospital when his phone rang. Yona's name appeared on the screen, and he answered immediately."Keith, where are you right now?" Yona's voice carried urgent concern."I'm on my way to the hospital," Keith replied, navigating through evening traffic. "Dr. Harrison called me saying Emilia is causing a scene, threatening to shut down the hospital because they can't find a donor for Laurent.""Keith, stop!" Yona's voice rose with panic. "Don't go to the hospital! It's a trap!"Keith's grip tightened on the steering wheel. "What do you mean, a trap?""Denver bribed Dr. Harrison to put on an act!" Yona explained frantically. "He's pretending the Richardson family is threatening the hospital to lure you there!"Those manipulative bastards, Keith thought, his anger beginning to simmer. They're still trying to use me."Yona, are you certain about this?" Keith demanded."I heard them planning it myself!" Yona's voice crack

Emilia's face burned with humiliation and rage as she whirled around to confront the security guards one final time, her voice rising to a shrill pitch that echoed across the hospital's entrance."Who is this so-called important personality who has the audacity to throw us out of a hospital while my brother is dying inside?" she demanded, her manicured finger jabbing aggressively at the lead guard's chest.The guard stepped back slightly, maintaining his professional composure despite her aggressive stance. "Ma'am, I cannot provide that information. It's not within my authority to discuss our benefactors."Denver stepped forward, puffing out his chest in a pathetic attempt to reassert his diminished authority. "Do you people have any idea who I am? I'm Denver Walsh, heir to a B-tier family with significant influence throughout this city!"His voice cracked with desperation as he continued. "If my family's power can't make this hospital reconsider, then exactly how much influence does t

"Please!" she begged, all pretense of dignity abandoned. "You have to give us the contact information for this powerful individual! We need to speak with them directly!"The guard looked down at her with a mixture of professional detachment and mild pity. "Ma'am, I don't have their contact information. Even the hospital manager doesn't have direct access to this person.""What do you mean the manager doesn't have their contact?" Denver demanded incredulously. "How can someone control a hospital without the management having their phone number?"The second guard stepped forward, his expression growing more serious. "The orders came through a higher authority at the hospital who received instructions from the powerful individual. It's all handled through intermediaries."These people operate on a completely different level, Emilia realized with growing dread. They don't even need direct contact to control entire institutions."So you're telling us," Melaine said slowly, her voice hollow