Margaret let out a short laugh and turned back to the desk. "Hurry up. My son doesn't have time to wait like these people."She flicked her wrist, her gold bracelets clattering loudly, as if reminding everyone who she was."Of course, Mrs. Margaret," the staff member said quickly. "I'll call the pediatrician right now." Her tone turned respectful in an instant.A man sitting nearby clenched his hands. "This is insane. We've been waiting for over an hour," he muttered, his voice low and hesitant.Margaret shot him a look filled with contempt. "Then keep waiting. If you can't afford better care, don't complain!"Callen finally raised his head. His gaze locked onto the staff member. "Register my daughter now," he demanded.The staff member frowned. "Sir, I already explained. Please don't make this harder than it has to be."Callen took one step forward. "I'm not the one making it hard."Before she could answer, the automatic doors slid open. A middle-aged man in a suit hurried inside. Th

The next morning, Ivy rushed inside with hurried steps the moment she saw Lily lying on the bed. Callen stood beside her with a composed expression that only made Ivy more anxious. Ivy's eyes moved quickly between Lily and Callen, unable to decide which one worried her more.Ivy stepped closer and placed her palm gently on Lily's forehead, checking her temperature with careful fingers."How are you feeling now, Lily?" Ivy asked softly, though her voice still trembled. "Dad said you had a fever last night."Lily slowly opened her eyes and smiled, her expression calm despite the paleness on her face. "I'm fine, Mom. I'm a strong kid, so I'll be okay!"Hearing that, Ivy finally let out the breath she had been holding since she arrived. She brushed Lily's hair back and leaned down to kiss her forehead."Don't scare me like that again..."Standing nearby, Callen cleared his throat lightly, drawing Ivy's attention. "She's really alright," Callen said calmly. "The doctor already checked her,

The bodyguards moved in unison, their formation tight and practiced as they surged forward to seize Callen. Heavy footsteps echoed across the ground, and the air itself seemed to tense as several cultivation auras locked onto him at once. Before any of them could even reach out, Callen's figure blurred and vanished from their sight."Where did he go?" one of the bodyguards shouted, his voice cracking as he spun around in panic.Another man cursed under his breath, his eyes darting wildly as sweat began to form on his temple. None of them could sense Callen's presence, as if he had never been there at all.A mocking voice suddenly sounded behind them. "Is this the best Noble Order veterans can do?" The words were calm, almost bored, and they struck the group harder than any physical blow.One bodyguard turned sharply, only to be met with a single finger pressed against his chest. A dull shockwave erupted, sending him flying backward into two others as all three crashed to the ground in

Shock rippled through the crowd of neighbors as the last echoes of the impact faded, and several of them stared at Callen as if they were seeing a completely different person. Whispered voice could be heard as people leaned closer to one another."Did you see that?" someone muttered. "He beat all of them alone."Another neighbor swallowed hard, eyes still fixed on the cracked ground. "Those weren't street thugs," he whispered back. "They moved like real fighters." His voice dropped further as he added, "How can someone like Callen be this strong?"A woman standing near the front frowned as she recalled Callen's earlier words."He said the Hayes family couldn't even hire better people," she said slowly. "Doesn't that sound strange?"Her brows knitted together. "Isn't the Hayes family supposed to be one of the most powerful noble families in the empire?"That question spread quietly, causing more confusion than clarity. A man scratched his head and said, "If they're really that powerful

The moment Callen and Ivy arrived at the hospital room, Lily's eyes lit up like stars. She pushed herself upright on the bed and stretched her arms toward them."Daddy, Mommy!!" Lily called happily, her voice full of energy.Callen walked over at once and lifted her gently, while Ivy checked her forehead with worried fingers."I'm really okay," Lily said quickly, afraid Ivy would worry again. "I'm strong, remember?"Her eyes then shifted to Ivy with curiosity. "Mommy, is your work okay now?"Ivy smiled softly and brushed Lily's hair back. "Everything's fine. I'll go back to the office after I take you to see our new house."Lily's mouth opened in excitement, and she immediately clung to Callen's neck. "Can I run around when we get there?" she asked eagerly.Callen chuckled and nodded. "You'll love it. Just wait until you see it."After the discharge process was completed, the three of them left the hospital together, Lily holding both Ivy's and Callen's hands as if afraid to let go. T