Dr. Hoffman stared at the sealed container. "This is it? This is the herb?""Yes."She picked it up carefully, examining it through the clear material. The pale white root inside, almost translucent. "I have never seen anything like this.""You need to prepare Lily for treatment immediately.""Mr. Cross, you can barely stand. You need rest""After the treatment."Dr. Hoffman looked at him for a long moment. Saw the determination in his eyes. The absolute refusal to compromise."Fine," she said. "Give me twenty minutes to prepare the room."Ethan nodded and walked to Lily's room.She was still in the coma. Machines monitoring her vitals. IV lines running into her arms. Her face was pale. Peaceful. Like she was just sleeping.But the monitors told a different story. Organ function declining slowly. Brain activity decreasing.She was dying.Ethan sat in the chair beside her bed and closed his eyes. He needed to center himself. Channel what little qi he had left. This treatment would be e

Dr. Hoffman signed the discharge papers and handed them to Ethan."She is fully healed," Dr. Hoffman said. "I still do not understand how, but her vision is perfect. Better than most people who have never had vision problems."Ethan took the papers. "Thank you for everything.""Mr. Cross." Dr. Hoffman stopped him before he could leave. "What you did for your sister... what you accomplished with those herbs and that treatment... I have practiced medicine for twenty years and I have never seen anything like it.""Ancient techniques. Passed down through generations.""Will you teach me?"Ethan looked at her. "Maybe someday."He walked back to Lily's room. She was already dressed in the clean clothes Claire had brought yesterday. Simple jeans and a soft blue sweater. Her hair was brushed. Her face was bright with excitement."Ready?" Ethan asked."So ready." Lily stood and grabbed the small bag containing her few belongings. "I have been staring at these walls for a week. I want to see ev

The next morning, Ethan woke before sunrise. He went to the gym and spent an hour preparing. Moving equipment. Setting up the training mats. Planning which techniques to teach Lily first. She was completely untrained. No martial arts background. And she had only regained her sight a few days ago. He would need to start with the absolute basics. At seven AM, Lily entered the gym wearing the workout clothes Sophia had bought for her. Simple gray pants and a fitted black shirt. "Ready?" Ethan asked. "Nervous. But ready." "Good. Nervousness means you are taking this seriously." He started with breathing exercises. Taught her how to center herself. How to calm her mind before physical exertion. Then he moved to stances. Showed her how to stand with proper balance. How to distribute her weight. How to move without losing stability. Lily watched carefully and tried to copy his movements. She was clumsy at first. Her body did not respond the way she wanted. But she kept trying. "Wid

Ethan woke to his phone vibrating nonstop on the nightstand.He checked the time. Six thirty in the morning.Twelve missed calls. Twenty-three text messages. All from numbers he did not recognize.He opened the first text message.*Is it true you're dating Claire Sterling?*He frowned and deleted it. Opened the next one.*How long have you been living in her villa?*Another one.*Sterling Global stock is crashing. Any comment?*Ethan sat up. What was happening?He opened his news app and froze.The top headline was from City Chronicle, published two hours ago:STERLING GLOBAL CEO'S SECRET AFFAIR WITH EX-CONVICT!Below the headline were photos. Clear, high-resolution images of him and Claire at the villa. Claire helping him move in. Claire standing beside him in the doorway. Claire giving them a tour.The article text was worse.*Claire Sterling, CEO of Sterling Global Corporation, has been secretly housing Ethan Cross, a recently released convict, in a luxury villa worth 50 million do

The paparazzi pressed closer, cameras raised, microphones thrust forward.Ethan looked directly at the nearest camera."Claire Sterling is a friend," he said clearly. "Nothing more. She helped me and my sister when we needed it. That is the entire story. Now leave her alone."A reporter immediately shouted back. "Then why are you living in her villa?""Because she offered it and we accepted. There is no relationship. No scandal. Just one person helping another.""But the photos show—""The photos show exactly what I just told you. A friend helping a friend. That is all."Another reporter pushed forward. "What about Sophia Cole? She publicly defended you today. Are you in a relationship with her?""No.""Then why would she defend you?""Because I helped her family. And she is a decent person who does not believe tabloid lies.""So you are not dating either of them?""No.""Then why—""I have answered your questions," Ethan said. His voice was still calm but something in it made the rep