Chapter 41Scene 1The deep night inside Garrick Mansion was unusually oppressive. The vast house, as majestic as it seemed by day, felt just as empty and cold once night fell. The corridors were shrouded in darkness, the curtains in the distant windows stirred lightly when the wind pushed against them, and the wooden floors would occasionally creak as if someone were treading unknowingly. Garrick could no longer dismiss these sounds as "just the house making its usual noises." He could no longer call them "just the house's normal sounds." One fear echoed in his mind—he was alone, and that loneliness made him the most vulnerable.But a heavy sound from the corridor shattered that thought. At first, the sound was distant, then it came a little closer, then stopped again. Garrick held his breath, listening. He couldn't be sure if it was the sound of someone walking or the muffled creak of the wooden floorboards, pushed by the wind. Still, his body was convinced—there was someone there.

Chapter 43 The atmosphere on the street had been different since morning. Large banners, white and blue ribbons, the hospital's name gleaming in letters—it was all a sign that today was no ordinary day. Media vans pulled up one after another, camera lenses panning around, the air growing thick with the hushed excitement of reporters.Standing beside the stage was Rosa. A confidence shone in her eyes and on her face, one she made no attempt to hide. She looked unusually resolute in her black formal dress. Though a few members of the hospital's board of directors stood nearby, Rosa's attention was fixed on the street.Suddenly, she spotted a familiar shadow of a car in the distance. The shiny, black luxury car was slowly rounding the street corner, heading right this way. The security vehicles accompanying it made a spark of excitement flicker in Rosa's eyes.She knew.This was the moment.Without a moment's hesitation, Rosa headed for the press corner. The journalists were still talki

Chapter 45The main hall of the hospital was still filled with light. The white and blue banners hanging from the ceiling swayed slowly in the gentle breeze. The hospital's name, written in large letters, held a different significance today than on other days. Even after the ceremony was over, a kind of subdued excitement lingered in the air. The journalists' cameras were still raised, flashes going off intermittently, and whispering voices blended into a strange hum.Marco stood at the front of the stage. Garrick had just finished his special address. Marco showed no clear reaction as he listened, but inside, he felt the meaning of every word. Garrick's voice was confident, yet it held a subtlety that wasn't easily missed. Even as the people in the hallroom applauded, Marco knew this event wasn't just about honor—there were many other calculations at play.Taking the microphone, Marco slowly stepped forward. A hush fell over the hallroom as he moved. The cameras all turned to him a

Chapter 47Jessica stood by the window that afternoon, pulling back the curtains to look outside. The trees in the Messina garden swayed silently, but it was not silent inside. She felt that if she didn't say it today, it would be even harder later.Marco was standing in a corner of the sitting room. He was folding his coat, as if he could not bear a single unnecessary crease. Jessica turned to him, cleared her throat."Marco, Grandma keeps talking about you," Jessica said.Marco looked up. "About me?""Yes," Jessica said slowly, "you haven't seen her in ages. It's been weeks."Marco paused for a moment. A look crossed his face, as if he were doing the sums—not of days, but of events. "It wasn't that I was avoiding her," he said. "Things… got out of hand."Jessica sensed the underlying pressure in his words. "Grandma knows that," she said. "But she wants you to go and see her. She likes you, Marco. She's just… getting tired of waiting."Marco replied in a calm voice, "I'll go, of cour

Chapter 49The moment Isabel stepped into the audition room, she felt a strange pressure in her chest. Although the glass-walled room was well-lit, the atmosphere was cold and detached. The executives seated across the long table had no warmth in their eyes, only a measuring gaze. Isabel straightened her posture, shoulders squared, trying to maintain a professional courtesy on her face.One of the executives put down her resume and looked at Isabel slowly."You look very familiar," she said.Isabel's heart skipped a beat at the words. She forced a professional smile."I've done some small jobs before," she replied, hiding her unease.Another executive looked over his glasses. "Small jobs?" he asked, his tone clearly skeptical. "Or are you the heir to the Moretti family?"The moment the name Moretti was spoken, an invisible wall seemed to rise in the room. Isabel's fingers clenched without her realizing it. She lowered her gaze, as if staring at the floor could hide the truth.The thir