“So this is what the Cross family has become,” he said finally, his voice low but carrying easily through the hall. “Arrogant. Blind. Too proud to recognize who stands before them. You’ve all forgotten your place.”The laughter died quickly this time. The weight of his words, spoken so calmly, pressed against their chests like iron. For a moment, no one spoke, trying to decipher what the fuck he was talking about.Just then, the heavy oak doors at the far end creaked open. Heels clicked against marble, and a familiar voice, syrupy with triumph, cut through the silence.“Well, well. Isn’t this quite the scene?”Vanessa Lang stepped into the hall, her dress clinging to her curves, her lips painted in a smirk that screamed victory. At her side swaggered Bobby Jackson, flashing his gold watch like a teenager, his tacky grin as wide as ever. Their presence was like salt rubbed into an open wound.Helen’s face paled. Adrian’s eyes flicked toward them briefly, cold as ice.Vanessa’s gaze fou

They soon entered John Cross’s chamber. The once-vibrant patriarch now lay pale against the pillows, his breathing shallow, his face drawn. The room smelled faintly of antiseptic and old wood, the curtains drawn tight to keep out the night.Petrovic strode to the bedside, pulling a stethoscope from his case with deliberate slowness, as though each gesture were part of a performance. He pressed it to John’s chest, his brow furrowed theatrically. He lifted eyelids, checked his pulse, then straightened with a soft sigh, turning back to the family.Everyone watched, assured he was going to take care of this. Because of course he should. Being the disciple of Dr. Nalson was not a small feat. One of the Cross family members bragged that he would tattoo the title on his forehead if he were the one bearing that title.“It’s a stroke,” Petrovic declared. His voice was calm, almost bored, as though he had diagnosed a hundred such cases before breakfast. “A mild one. Simple treatment, rest, and

“Remarkable,” someone else murmured. “Dr. Petrovic, taking interest in a complete nobody? Such a kind soul. Adrian should count himself blessed.”Compliments spread through the room like ripples in water. Some of the cousins, who moments ago were sneering, now looked at Adrian with a strange mixture of envy and curiosity. To them, it appeared as though Petrovic was extending a rare kindness, a chance for Adrian to learn under a man regarded as one of the city’s greatest physicians.John’s wife even clasped her hands together and sighed. “It warms the heart to see such generosity from a man of Dr. Petrovic’s stature. To think he would waste time on someone as ordinary as Adrian… truly, it shows the goodness of his soul.”Adrian’s calm silence only fueled their assumptions. To the onlookers, his quiet expression was the awe of a student finally recognized.But standing off to the side, Vanessa’s nails dug into her palm. She couldn’t force a smile the way the others did. Her lips pressed

The family turned their heads instinctively. Through the glass panes, in the dim night, dark shadows wheeled in the air. They weren’t sure what was going on between both men, but a few kids saw black crows circling restlessly, perching along the fence posts. A few vultures hovered higher, their silhouettes stark against the moonlight.A hush fell over the room. Petrovic’s face drained of color as realization hit him. The smell. The birds. He had ignored them as coincidences, background noise. But no—Adrian was right. The signs had been there all along.Adrian shook his head slowly, disappointment heavy in his voice. “You let arrogance blind you. A bribe clouded your judgment. And in doing so, you nearly condemned this man to death.”Petrovic staggered back half a step, his lips pressed into a tight line. The sting of truth burned worse than any insult.Adrian turned, his expression calm once more. “Fetch me three herbs. Jadefire Root, Moonveil Blossom, and Blackthorn Resin. Bring them

Ethan’s sneer widened, feeding off their submission. “From this day forward,” he announced, his tone dripping with arrogance, “Helen and her family will vacate the Cross estate. You will live in an apartment on the outskirts of the city—far away from the heart of our family business. Consider it mercy that I don’t cut ties with you entirely.”Whispers and murmurs spread through the crowd. None spoke in Helen’s defense. Almost every face in the room was already painted with Ethan’s gold, their loyalty bought and sealed.“And one more thing,” Ethan continued, his eyes narrowing on Helen like a hawk sizing up its prey. “The matter of your marriage has been decided. You will marry Fabio Romano. This is the Cross family’s will, and it will strengthen our bonds with the Romano family. You do not have a say in this!”The words landed like a bomb. For a second, the room was silent, everyone craning to see Helen’s reaction. Her heart sank, her stomach twisting. Her hands curled into fists. “No