"My kidneys are perfectly fine." Julian let out a cold snort. "And I certainly don't suffer from urinary incontinence.""Stop spreading nonsense." He pointed a finger straight at Veyron. "If you continue slandering me, I'll sue you for defamation."Veyron merely raised an eyebrow. He neither argued nor explained himself. Instead, the faint smile on his lips grew even deeper.Seeing that smile, Julian's irritation immediately flared. "You—! What are you smiling at? Do you really think this is funny?"Just then, one of the bodyguards stepped closer."Young Master..." He hesitated. His expression looked rather strange.Julian frowned impatiently. "What?"The bodyguard awkwardly scratched his head. "I think you're..."Before he could finish, Julian barked. "Don't interrupt me! Can't you see I'm talking?"The bodyguard immediately fell silent. However, his eyes kept drifting downward. His expression became increasingly awkward.At that exact moment, a woman pushing a shopping cart walked p

"I can't believe that bitch has been so lucky lately." Catherine Blackwell snapped her compact mirror shut with an irritated click. Her freshly painted lips twisted into a resentful sneer."Not only did she get those projects back... she somehow secured funding for them as well. Tell me... how does a useless woman suddenly become so lucky?""And now..." She scoffed. "...she doesn't even bother pretending to care about this family anymore."Victor Blackwell frowned deeply. His fingers tapped absentmindedly against the car's bonnet as though something had been bothering him for quite some time."Catherine... Have you noticed something?""What?""Ever since Iris married that useless ex-convict..." He slowly narrowed his eyes. "...everything around her seems to have changed. One problem after another keeps getting resolved.""Whenever she's cornered, she somehow finds a way out." Victor's brows knitted tightly. "Don't you think that's strange?"Catherine blinked. Now that he mentioned it,

"Iris..." Veyron's calm voice flowed through the phone like still water. "Listen to me. Take a slow, deep breath and let it out."For a brief moment, Iris obeyed instinctively. She inhaled deeply, then exhaled.The suffocating tightness in her chest eased ever so slightly. Her trembling gradually subsided.But the moment she remembered that her mother was still with the Blackwell family, the panic returned with even greater force."Veyron..." Her voice quivered. "What am I going to do? They'll hurt her... I know they will... They—""Listen to me." His steady voice interrupted her gently. "I'm coming to the hospital now. I'll pick you up. Then we'll go to the Blackwell family together."His tone wasn't loud nor was it hurried. Yet somehow, it carried an indescribable sense of reassurance. It was as though as long as he was coming, everything would eventually be alright.Iris bit her lip and nodded even though he couldn't see her. "...Okay.""Wait for me and don't go anywhere."Those we

"Oh no..." Iris' pupils contracted. A terrible realization struck her like a bolt of lightning.'Veyron... He's walking straight into their trap.'Panic surged through her chest. She couldn't allow him to come here. This was her family's mess. She refused to let him get dragged into it.Without another thought, she hurriedly reached into her handbag and pulled out her phone. Her trembling fingers had barely unlocked the screen when—SWOOSH!Julian lunged forward. He snatched the phone from her hand before she could dial a single number."Julian!"CRASH!Without the slightest hesitation, he smashed the phone onto the marble floor. The screen shattered instantly. Fragments scattered in every direction."No!" Iris' face turned pale as she stared at the broken phone. That had been her only chance to warn Veyron."You bitch!" Julian's expression twisted with fury. "You were trying to warn him!"Before she could react—THWACK!His palm struck her face with brutal force. The slap echoed thro

"You..." Iris frowned deeply. "What exactly do you mean?""Don't be so impatient." Julian smiled leisurely. The smile on his face only made him appear more sinister. He slowly snapped his fingers. "You may come in."Everyone instinctively looked toward the entrance. A moment later, another man walked into the living room.He was dressed in an expensive dark suit, with neatly combed hair and a pair of gold-rimmed glasses resting on his nose.His appearance was refined. Yet the calculating look hidden behind his eyes instantly gave people an uncomfortable feeling.Iris knitted her brows. She was certain she had never seen this man before.Julian noticed the confusion on her face and chuckled. "It seems you don't recognize him.""Allow me to introduce him." His smile widened. "This is Mr. Collins. The Director of Highmont's Quality and Standards Bureau."He casually placed a hand on the man's shoulder. "And... He happens to be an old friend of my father's."Iris' heart suddenly sank. She