"Leah... honey, you're confused," Adam stammered, though his eyes were already darting toward his brother. "You've been asleep for so long. Jonah has been here every day, he—""No!" Leah’s voice cracked, her fingers digging into Adam’s arms with surprising strength. "I wasn't fully asleep, Adam! My body wouldn't move, but I could hear. I could feel it! The night we fell ill... we were at the summer house. Jonah came with Master Malachi. He told the girls they were getting 'vitamin shots.' When I tried to stop him, he held me down! He told Malachi to 'make it hurt' so you’d be desperate enough to sign anything!"Alistair stood back, his arms crossed, watching the drama unfold with the detached precision of a judge.He noted the way Jonah’s jugular vein was pulsing and the way the man's hands were frantically searching for the door handle behind his back."You lying bitch!" Jonah screamed, his voice breaking into a panicked shriek. "She’s hallucinating! The 'Grandmaster' drugged her! He

“You may see it as a small thing, but I do not. My wife and daughters are everything to me. Without them, I doubt I would be able to continue living in this world. So in a way, you have saved my life by saving theirs. For this, I am eternally grateful. The Smith family will not forget this act of yours.”“Alright then, do as you wish,” Alistair said, unwilling to exchange words over the matter. With that, Adam got back on his feet and walked over to check on Leah, his wife. “Dear, is this the man that saved us?” Leah asked with Adam nodding.“Yes, he is Grandmaster Zen.” Leah nodded in understanding before glancing at Alistair. “Thank you.”Alistair acknowledged her. “You're welcome.”“Get some rest, okay? I'll get the maids to prepare a warm bath and a hot meal for you and the girls, okay?” Adam said in a loving tone. It was clear to see that he was quite a loving husband. Leah planted a peck on his cheek before lying down next to her daughters.Seconds later, she drifted off in

Alistair paused, his fork hovering mid-air as he considered the invitation extended to him by Adam. "The largest mall in Haven," Alistair mused, setting his fork down. "A bold move, Mister Smith. The commercial sector here is quite... territorial. I assume you’ve already ruffled a few feathers just by breaking ground."Adam chuckled, though there was a sharp edge to his smile. "Feathers? I’ve plucked a few wings, Grandmaster. The local tycoons aren't fond of outside competition, especially not a behemoth like the Smith Group. They see Haven as their personal playground. I intend to show them that the playground is under new management."“I see. Well then, I see no reason to refuse.” Alistair said, his eyes meeting Adam’s. "However, I have no interest in the limelight. If I attend, I do so as myself—not as a mascot for your brand.""Of course," Adam replied quickly, sensing Alistair's boundary. "I wouldn't dream of parade-walking you in front of the press. Your presence alone is the s

Within minutes, the distinctive wail of a siren approached, and a black-and-white cruiser pulled up, its lights flashing.The crowd parted like the Red Sea as an officer stepped out.He was a barrel-chested man with a thick neck and a badge that looked a size too small for his uniform.His nameplate read Officer Miller.Miller didn't even look at the scene objectively. He walked straight to the woman on the ground, his expression one of exaggerated concern. "Are you alright, ma'am? What happened here?""Officer, thank God you’re here!" she gasped, clutching Miller’s trousers. "This man... he came out of nowhere! He hit me and then tried to drive off! When I stopped him, he started threatening me, saying he had powerful friends who would make me disappear!"Miller’s head snapped toward Alistair.His hand rested heavily on his holstered pistol. "Is that right, pal? You think having a nice car gives you the right to threaten citizens after you run them down?""I never threatened her," A

After Charlotte ended the call, Miller chuckled, more than satisfied with the response he'd gotten. Back at the Smith Manor, Adam was attending to his wife and daughters when he received a sudden call. “Boss, there's a problem.” A voice said over the phone.“What is it?” Adam asked. “Grandmaster Zen has been arrested. I did as you instructed and kept watch but he suddenly got into an accident. When the police arrived on the scene, they didn't hesitate to cuff him and take him away. Seemed a lot like someone was targeting him.”Adam nearly lost his temper as he jumped to his feet. “What did you just say? Someone dared to target my benefactor?”It didn't help that Grandmaster Zen just left his home. Was the person trying to mock Adam or did they think he would not act after hearing this? Adam's expression darkened."Which precinct?" Adam demanded, his voice dropping into a register of icy calm that terrified his subordinates more than any shout."The 4th Precinct, sir. Under Inspec