Kingston Hospital stood among the most prestigious hospitals in Cloud City, the obsidian glass of the towering edifice reflecting the morning sunlight while hundreds of patients, doctors, nurses, and visitors moved through its numerous entrances.Ambulances arrived one after another at the emergency entrance, their sirens cutting through the morning traffic as medical personnel rushed forward with stretchers.“Clear the way!”“Trauma patient coming through!”“Get the operating room ready!”The emergency department was already overflowing with activity.Doctors hurried between wards carrying medical charts, nurses pushed medication carts through crowded corridors, and anxious relatives gathered around consultation rooms, waiting desperately for news about their loved ones.Despite the chaos, Kingston Hospital maintained an atmosphere of refined professionalism.The floors were polished to a mirror-like shine, the walls were lined with expensive artwork, and enormous electronic displays

Evelyn stepped into the bedroom and immediately felt the atmosphere change.The room was quiet, almost unnaturally so, and the only sounds came from the faint beeping of the monitors beside the bed and Juliette's shallow, uneven breathing.The young woman lying underneath the white sheets looked nothing like someone from the powerful Montclair family.Her skin was unnaturally pale, almost translucent beneath the soft lighting, while dark circles surrounded her closed eyes.Several thin tubes ran from her body to the medical equipment beside the bed, monitoring her heart rate, blood oxygen and other vital signs.Evelyn's expression became serious as she approached the bed and pulled a chair closer."How long has she been like this?""Almost eight months," Charles answered quietly."And when did her condition begin deteriorating?""About four months ago."Evelyn frowned, then, without wasting time, she began with a physical examination.She checked Juliette's pulse, listened carefully t

The Black Dragon Floor of the Nine Dragons Pavilion was quiet, the massive training chamber illuminated only by the soft golden sunlight that filtered through the enormous windows, casting long shadows across the polished floor.Sebastian sat cross-legged at the center of the room, his eyes closed and his breathing slow and measured.A faint mist of steam rose from his bare upper body, curling around his shoulders and chest before disappearing into the cool air.His muscular frame was still glistening with sweat from the intense circulation of his inner energy.For several minutes, he remained completely motionless, then he slowly exhaled.A long breath escaped his lungs as the energy circulating through his meridians gradually settled, and Sebastian opened his eyes.The sharpness in his gaze had returned, and his dark eyes shone brightly for a brief moment before returning to their usual shine.He lowered his hands and allowed himself a moment to assess his condition.His injuries fr

Lisa stared at Sebastian as though he had just said something completely absurd.“Not your gift?” she repeated incredulously. “Are you being serious right now?”“Yes. You heard me.” Sebastian's expression remained cold.Lisa pointed toward the open box on the table.“Then what exactly are you trying to say?”“Are you deaf? I’m saying that I didn’t buy that.” Sebastian replied icily.Lisa let out a mocking laugh.“Oh, please. Greg already told us his father sent the gifts. There’s no reason for you to keep lying about something this obvious.”Sebastian's eyes narrowed slightly.“I’m not lying.”“Then what are you doing?” Lisa demanded. “Trying to take credit for Greg’s gift?”Sebastian's gaze shifted toward Greg.“And you? Didn’t you hear what she said?”Greg, who was calmly watching the quarrel between both of them, frowned at Sebastian’s question.“I think you should just drop this.” Greg answered calmly, but there was a tinge of pity in his voice.“Drop it?” Sebastian asked frostily

Meanwhile, across the city, Sebastian sat alone in the back seat of the Cadillac Escalade-V, his expression unusually cold.The encounter at the Lockwood Manor that morning had left a sour taste in his mouth—one he couldn’t quite wash away.He had gone there simply to make sure Amelia had received the gift he had chosen for her.Instead, he had been treated as though he were attempting to steal credit for someone else's generosity.Worse still, Amelia had believed them.Sebastian leaned back against the leather seat and stared through the tinted window.For the first time since accepting the engagement, he seriously considered whether it was worth continuing.He had never cared much about marriage, and he certainly didn't need it.After all, if it weren't for his father's last wishes, he wouldn't have become involved with Amelia in the first place.There were far more qualified women for him to choose as a partner if it ever came down to that, and he couldn't help but wonder what had