The young man retreated with a flushed face. Behind him, several people who had secretly hoped to buy many pills for resale immediately lowered their heads and pretended to check their phones. The tone of the crowd began to change. Those who had been pushing forward now praised Peter for not being like expensive doctors. Some said he was more humane, while others said one million was still cheap if the body could truly feel lighter. Peter stopped the praise before it could turn into a new commotion. “These pills help the body recover. They don’t give you permission to eat recklessly, drink all night, then come crying in front of my door.” Several people laughed awkwardly because they felt slapped by the words. At the corner of the yard, the female neighbor who had lost face earlier now stood farther away, but her eyes still followed every payment that came in. The first pouch of pil

Peter heard everything. He did not stop, because answering residents like that would only give them an honor they had not earned themselves. To him, Bernadus Gardens was not a higher world. It was more like an expensive cage, where people learned to sniff out shoe brands faster than they could smell the rot of intentions inside their own living rooms. House number seventeen stood at the corner of the road with a tall gate and a lawn trimmed too neatly. In front of the garage, a black BMW, a silver Mercedes, and a white Lexus were parked like a row of family emblems. Peter parked his rented electric bike to the side where it would not block anything. The contrast was too obvious. Its small wheels and cheap body looked like a stain on an expensive painting, making two servants near the side door immediately glance at each other. One of the servants almost stepped forward to stop him. However, he paused

Helena was the first to speak. “You finally came. One hour late, then you walked in without the slightest shame, Peter Davis.” Peter stopped in front of the sofa without sitting down. “I was indeed late, Madam Helena. There were patients who still wanted to live, and I’m not used to abandoning sick people just so I can arrive on time to be scolded.” Helena’s face tightened. The sentence was not loud, but it made several servants lower their heads because they clearly heard the comparison Peter had slipped in. Amanda’s father tapped his finger against the sofa arm. “Don’t use patients as an excuse to cover your poor attitude. The Bernadus family has already given you too many chances.” “If the Bernadus family thinks sick people are lower than the event of scolding me, I’m beginning to understand the values guarded in this house,&r

Vincent was still lying on the marble floor when the Bernadus family living room lost the courage to laugh. The servants who had been standing neatly now busied themselves holding their breath, while Amanda gripped Helena’s arm with a pale face, as if Vincent’s fall had also torn open the great curtain that had been covering the shame of this house.Amanda’s father pointed at Peter, but his finger trembled before his voice did. “You attacked a member of the Bernadus family inside our own home. You truly don’t know your place anymore.”Peter did not chase after Vincent, did not display his victory, and did not give that accusation room to become a new stage. He only looked at Helena, who sat in the main chair, then said flatly, “I am still Peter Davis. It’s just that I’m no longer cheap enough for you to arrange.”Helena gripped the armrest. Her eyes were no longer filled with anger alone, because a hard-to-hide astonishment had begun to appear there. “The Peter Davis I knew lowered hi

Richard stood in the center of the living room with his sleeves rolled up, revealing muscles that had indeed been shaped by training. He moved his shoulders and neck, then looked at Peter as if the Bernadus family living room had already become an arena, while the family who had briefly lost their voices once again found a reason to feel victorious. “I was the runner-up in the Wada City martial arts tournament last year,” Richard said. “I’m not Vincent, who is only strong in the gym, so before your body regrets it, you’d better apologize to Amanda and her family.” Peter observed his stance. Richard was not empty. His waist and shoulders had been trained, his steps had foundation, and his breathing rhythm was more stable than Vincent’s, who had fallen earlier because he trusted too much in the size of his muscles. However, training did not erase the body’s weaknesses, especially when emotion beg