The journey to Drake Mansion took nearly two hours. And by then, night had fallen.The black car left the bustle of the city behind, traveling along an increasingly deserted highway before entering a hilly area far from any settlements. The farther they drove, the fewer house lights and other vehicles they saw. Nothing but stretches of dark trees and a star-filled night sky accompanied them.Thaddeus sat silently in the back seat. Beside him, Julian Hart barely spoke. The man occasionally glanced out the window, as if making sure no one was following them. The black token in Thaddeus’s pocket felt increasingly warm the farther they traveled. The heat in his chest had returned as well, this time more stable, as though it were responding to something drawing closer.“We’re almost there, Young Master,” Julian said quietly.Thaddeus merely nodded. His mind was still filled with thoughts. He had left his in-laws’ home without giving them a proper explanation. Yilna, the children, and the e

The two attackers who tried to surround him were forced to halt their advance. One of them was too late. The shadow of the blade sliced across his right shoulder, causing the dragon blood—darker than ordinary human blood—to spray into the air.“He… he knows a forbidden technique?!” one of them shouted.Julian, standing outside the circle, stared in disbelief. The technique Thaddeus had just unleashed was not something taught casually, even within the Drake family. Some of them were techniques that only core heirs were permitted to learn after undergoing special rituals. Yet tonight, every one of them flowed from Thaddeus’s body as though they had been embedded in him since birth.The battle grew increasingly brutal.Thaddeus was no longer merely defending himself. He began attacking with patterns that were difficult to predict. A low kick forced one attacker’s knee to buckle. A sweeping strike infused with dragon pressure cracked another opponent’s chest. His movements were not as ref

Elder Zeph stared at his grandson for quite some time.“Take it easy,” he said. His voice was steady, without a hint of coercion. “The arranged marriage will not be forced upon you. I will not demand that you abandon the life you have built, or the woman you call your wife.”Aelira lowered her gaze in silence. She did not argue. The two elders standing behind Zeph exchanged a brief glance but remained silent.Zeph continued, “Focus on the life you have now. Your wife. Your two children. That part is real, and I will not take it away from you tonight.”Thaddeus’s shoulders relaxed slightly, though the wariness remained on his face.“However,” Zeph said, his tone growing heavier, “there is one thing you cannot refuse.”He slowly stepped closer.“The Drake bloodline is not a gift you can simply set aside. The knowledge, the power stored within your blood, the businesses, the wealth, and the responsibilities that have been waiting for twenty-seven years—all of them belong to you. You must

Thaddeus leaned his head against the headrest with a smile. He couldn't help thinking about how bold the manager and owner of the restaurant had been to fire him unilaterally.“Well, yesterday, I was thrown out like trash. Tomorrow, I can go back,” he said softly.The journey continued in silenceThe car finally entered the residential area where the Kincaid family lived. The streets were already bustling with morning traffic. Julian slowed down a few hundred meters before the house's gate.“I'll drop you off here, Young Master,” Julian said. “It's safer if I don't drive all the way to the front door. The fewer people who see us together, the better.”Thaddeus nodded. He opened the door and stepped out.Before closing the door, Julian spoke once more.“Don't let your emotions force the dragon blood out in front of people who shouldn't see it, Young Master.”Thaddeus looked at him for a moment. “I'll try.”Julian gave him a respectful nod, then the black car slowly drove away, leaving

The rest of the day felt longer than usual.Throughout the day, Thaddeus took care of the house as usual. He did the piles of laundry, cleaned the kitchen, swept the floors, and made sure Xalia and Raxy had everything they needed. Yilna spent most of her time in the bedroom or living room with her phone in hand. Every now and then, she would walk by and give him brief instructions about groceries or the children’s schedule, as if nothing had happened that morning.Noura and Hans also didn’t bring up Eden. To them, the biggest issues were still Thaddeus’s job and the “loss of face” from the night before. Shein even joked about having a husband who was too jealous, then laughed at her own joke.Thaddeus didn’t argue with anyone. He simply did whatever he could.That afternoon, he played with Xalia and Raxy in the living room for a while before giving them a bath. As he dried Xalia’s wet hair, the little girl looked up at him.“Daddy, Mommy didn’t give me any milk last night.”Thaddeus f