Upon hearing Serenity’s accusation, Kai frowned slightly. “Your grandfather’s condition?” he asked, his voice calm but genuinely puzzled. “I wasn’t aware that he was ill.” For the first time since he had confronted him, Serenity’s deadly gaze flickered. The change lasted only for a moment, but Kai noticed it. Her eyes studied him with razor-sharp intensity, searching his face for the smallest trace of deception. She examined the calmness in his expression, the relaxed position of his shoulders, and the complete absence of fear in his eyes. Her hand remained tightly wrapped around the grip of her customized golden pistol. The knuckles beneath her military gloves had turned pale from the pressure. “You think I’m lying?” Serenity asked. Her laugh was cold, but there was a sharp edge beneath it, as though his answer had unsettled her more than she wanted to admit. Kai said nothing. “Very well,” she continued, her eyes narrowing. “Follow me, since you’re so determined to see him.”

At that moment, Jessica’s lips curved into a mocking smile. “Oh, this is rich.” Her perfectly manicured nails tapped lightly against the doorframe as she looked toward the midnight-black Phantom Spirit Ultra waiting in the driveway. “How much did it cost to rent that car and hire this... assistant?” she asked, her voice dripping with ridicule. Kai did not respond to her. He rose quietly from his seat and straightened his simple healer’s robes. “Uncle Bernard, thank you for your hospitality.” “But Kai, we haven’t even had tea,” Bernard said, clearly reluctant to let him leave so soon. Kai smiled faintly. “Some matters cannot wait.” He gave Bernard a respectful bow. “I’ll visit again when time permits.” Jessica’s laughter followed him down the stone path. “Did you really think we would fall for such an obvious act?” she called after him. “A village doctor arriving in a Phantom Spirit Ultra? How ridiculous.” Kai neither paused nor turned around. He simply nodded once to the

“If you’re this concerned about the marriage,” Kai said quietly, adjusting the sleeve of his robe without bothering to meet Jessica’s eyes, “you don’t need to be. I’ll inform Uncle Bernard today that the engagement is over.” The color rose in Jessica’s cheeks, clashing sharply with her expensive foundation. Her fingers tightened around her Fendi clutch until her knuckles turned white. “Oh. My. God.” Victoria seized her friend’s arm. “Jessica, he’s totally using reverse psychology! My ex tried the same trick last month.” Jessica’s shock immediately transformed into fury. “I see right through you,” she hissed, stepping closer. Her designer perfume hung between them like another weapon. “Playing hard to get? Acting mysterious and disinterested?” She released a sharp, humorless laugh. “What dating guide did you get that from?” Jessica tossed her highlighted hair over one shoulder and raised her voice so that the nearby valets and guests could hear. “First, you rent a luxury car a

The words **“Supreme Black Card”** rippled through the lobby like a stone dropped into still water. Conversations halted mid-sentence. Private bankers emerged from their offices, while even the security guards straightened instinctively. “The Supreme Black Card...” someone whispered reverently. “Only forty-eight exist worldwide.” Customers began gathering discreetly, pretending to examine deposit slips while stealing glances at Kai. The card’s obsidian surface seemed to absorb the light, while its platinum inlays reflected the glow of the crystal chandeliers. Jessica, who was standing near the VIP counter, froze. Her transaction forgotten, she turned slowly toward the commotion. That simple village doctor was holding one of the most exclusive banking cards in the world. Her perfectly shaped brows furrowed in confusion. She had always believed Kai was poor. So how had he obtained something that even the wealthiest families would struggle to possess? “Sir, if you would kindly ve

“Sophia.” Kai answered simply, stepping over Ryan, who was still frantically wiping his mouth with trembling hands. Sophia went straight to the point. “I’ve reserved the Emperor’s Chamber at Crystal Bay,” she said. “The VIP entrance will be expecting you in twenty minutes.” The reaction was immediate. Victoria’s perfectly manicured fingers lost their grip on her crystal champagne flute. The expensive glass shattered against the marble floor. Jessica’s face cycled through shock, disbelief, and something dangerously close to fear. “Sophia?” someone stammered. “The Nathaniel family’s only granddaughter?” “The Emperor’s Chamber?” another socialite asked. A woman clutched her Hermès bag like a lifeline, her knuckles turning white. “My father has been on the waiting list for two weeks,” she whispered. “He still hasn’t been approved.” Ryan lurched to his feet. His earlier confidence had vanished, though he was desperately trying to recover it. His face remained green, his designer