"Please!" Claire's voice dripped with contempt even as she moaned. "Ethan is the most pathetic man I have ever met. Working three jobs like a dog and still living in that moldy studio apartment. I cannot believe I had to let him touch me for six months."Then a smile cuts through her face. "Well, it paid off." The man pulled back slightly, and Ethan was finally able to see his face clearly. Brandon Steele. Ethan recognized him from Claire's social media. She had always claimed Brandon was just an old friend from college after long chats with him. Nothing to worry about. Brandon reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a thick envelope. "Fifty thousand cash, just like you promised. I already wired it to the Cayman account this morning. My father's company will handle the laundering." Claire squealed with delight, snatching the envelope and fanning the bills. "Oh baby, you are incredible. I cannot believe that idiot actually gave me his entire life savings without even thi

The silence in room 407 stretched on for what felt like an eternity. Every person stood frozen, staring at Sarah Vale as she sat upright in bed, her face glowing with health and vitality that had been absent for months.The doctor's face cycled through shock, disbelief, and finally a creeping horror as the reality of what he had just witnessed settled into his bones. The nurses exchanged terrified glances, their earlier mockery transforming into suffocating embarrassment. The administrator's mouth opened and closed like a fish gasping for air, unable to form coherent words.Sarah Vale stood up from the bed, testing her legs. She took a few tentative steps, then smiled with wonder. "I feel twenty years younger. Ethan, what did you do?"She embraced her son tightly, tears of joy streaming down her face. Ethan held her gently, exhaustion clear on his face but satisfaction burning in his eyes.He turned to face the doctor, his voice cold and cutting. "We will not be needing your services

Marcus forced a harsh laugh, but his hands trembled. The sound came out hollow, desperate."You're guessing! Making wild accusations to seem credible!" His voice rose with each word.Richard stepped beside his nephew, arms crossed. "Classic con artist tactics. Throw out dramatic claims and watch people panic."But Sophia watched her brother carefully. The way sweat beaded on his upper lip despite the climate-controlled room. How his hand kept moving to his lower back, massaging the area unconsciously. The slight wince when he shifted his weight.She had seen these signs for months. Dismissed them as stress from work."I've never had kidney problems in my life," Marcus said, but he wouldn't meet anyone's eyes.A nurse whispered to her colleague. "He has been looking unwell lately. Lost weight too."One of the specialists frowned, studying Marcus with new attention. Professional concern replaced his earlier smugness.Sophia's sharp gaze shifted from her brother to Ethan. The young man s

"What on earth is going on in here? I'm awake and alive! Why is no one happy?"It was a strange and unsettling sight for Thomas Ashford to behold when he woke with a start, feeling 30 years younger after being incredibly sick, and no one - not his daughter Sophia, not his son Marcus and not his brother Richard - was excited.Not even the doctors, Chen or Volkov, were ecstatic.He'd been near death and had suddenly gone from that state to total wellness, yet somehow his family didn't seem to notice it. Neither did the medical staff.He'd given them a few minutes to react but the more he waited, all he could see were shocked faces and expressions of confusion.Thomas Ashford was a man who was used to lighting up the room with his presence. Having been a billionaire for decades, he was used to seeing bright faces whenever he walked into a room because everyone knew he had enough cash to change any man's life.So to have been as terribly ill as he was and then wake up feeling better only

"Well, where on earth could she be? It's been 5 hours already."There was a scene of tension and unrest in the Ashford Family Mansion. Earlier that day, Thomas Ashford had been miraculously healed of the Crimson Red Syndrome when Ethan Vale had laid his hands on him.Upon waking up, Thomas Ashford had sent his brother, Richard Ashford, his son, Marcus and his daughter Sophia to find Ethan, who'd somehow put the guards who were watching over him to sleep.Richard had failed and Marcus had been denied the chance to even try due to Ethan's magic. Sophia had made her own attempt.That was by 11am in the morning. But now at 4pm, 5 hours later, she was still not back.Thomas Ashford was pacing the floor, wearing a bathrobe, while Richard and Marcus sat together on the couch."Perhaps that bastard has kidnapped her," Marcus said, "he's so broke it's a possibility."Richard thoughtfully shook his head. "I doubt it. The man, with all his mysterious abilities, seems to have no other motives tha