EVIL EYE ACTIVATED. HOSTILITY DIRECTED AT HOST WITHIN TWENTY-METER RADIUS. QUEST: FIND. NEUTRALIZE BEFORE THREAT GROWS. WARNING: HOST IS REQUIRED TO PERFORM PERMANENT NEUTRALIZATION. FAILURE WILL HAVE CONSEQUENCES. Arthur paused mid-step. This wasn’t like before. The system had always been blunt, cold, efficient—but never this explicit. Never consequences. The word sat heavy in his mind, like a loaded gun pressed against his temple. Permanent neutralization. Arthur’s jaw tightened. This meant the threat wasn’t a reckless punk or a loudmouth with money. This was someone who wouldn’t stop. Someone who would keep coming until either Arthur was dead… or they were erased. A deep frown settled onto his face. Jessica noticed immediately. She was still clutching the bouquet to her chest, the petals trembling slightly with every breath she took. She had been riding the high of the moment—of the crowd, the cheers, the way Arthur had chosen her—until she felt the shift. Something ab

Christine was midway through a follow-up round when her phone rang.She glanced at the screen, hesitated briefly, then answered.“Hello?”“Christine!”Jason’s voice came through immediately—tight, rushed, stripped of its usual arrogance. “Come over right now. We need you.”Christine stopped walking.Her delicate brows dipped slightly, her expression cooling. Around her, a few nurses slowed unconsciously, sensing the shift in atmosphere.“Dr Jason,” she said calmly. “You know the procedures. I cannot attend to a patient unless the request comes from the higher-ups and passes through the necessary channels.”“That’s not needed,” Jason snapped, barely holding himself together. “This is bigger than protocol. It’s about our reputation.”Christine leaned lightly against the corridor wall, unbothered.“My license is at stake,” Jason continued, voice sharp. “And if anything happens to it, I won’t let you off. I swear.”Her eyes hardened.“Is that a threat, Dr Jason?” she asked coolly.The air

“Dr Christine,” Jason called out sharply, panic slipping into his voice. “We asked you to come here to treat him—not to curse Mr Darwin’s son.”Dr Jason is right,” another doctor added quickly. “You’re the best after all. This shouldn’t be beyond you.”“Yes,” someone else chimed in, voice strained. “You can’t claim to be the best doctor and then say there’s nothing you can do, right?”Their eyes turned to Christine almost in unison.She didn’t respond.She stood where she was, still and composed, her gaze fixed on Darwin alone, as though the rest of them didn’t exist.Darwin noticed.The panic on their faces wasn’t subtle. Sweat glistened at their temples, voices overlapping, excuses stacking on top of each other too quickly. From that alone, he could already tell who was lying.His expression darkened.“So,” Darwin said slowly, “you’ve all been lying to me?”“No—no, sir!” one doctor blurted out, wiping his brow. “That’s not what I meant.”“Yes, exactly,” another rushed in. “We only m

The stage lights burned down hard, press cameras flashing like gunfire. Beatrice’s heels clicked as she was herded forward. Microphones thrust at her, questions firing. “Bea, how do you feel with your sudden rise in popularity?” “Is it true your fan, Hot Potato, donated nine million?” “Do you know him personally?” “Are people right to say he’s your sugar daddy?” Her stomach tightened. Every question was a probe, every flash a tiny accusation. Her hands clenched instinctively, but she forced her composure, a practiced smile hiding the tension. Before Beatrice could respond, her agent stepped in sharply, voice cutting through the chaos. “All questions will be answered professionally. But any journalist or guest who intentionally slanders Beatrice will face lawsuits. Proceed with respect or step back.” The press murmured uneasily. Microphones wavered. Cameras hesitated. The agent’s presence drew a firm line—authority in motion. Beatrice exhaled slightly, tension easing, but her eyes

Arthur didn’t answer immediately. He stood there with one hand loosely at his side, posture relaxed, eyes steady. The kind of calm that didn’t invite conversation—only mistakes. Valery’s smile wavered when he didn’t react the way she expected. Jessica shifted uncomfortably. “Valery,” she said quietly, “This is Arthur, but we are here to eat so please excuse us, I won't be able to entertain you.” “To eat?” Valery echoed, brows lifting as she laughed softly. “Here?” She glanced around again, as if the restaurant itself might object. “Wow. I guess people really do change after graduation.” Her boyfriend, Zion, followed her gaze, finally taking a proper look at Arthur. His eyes were sharp, assessing, the way men like him were taught to measure worth in fabric, watches, and posture. “And this is?” he asked, tone indifferent.In just a few minutes of knowing him, Zion already looked down on this country bum already. It wasn't because he hated Arthur, but because Jessica was too beaut