Marcus stood motionless, his dark gaze fixed on David, who looked practically ready to foam at the mouth with rage. He neither moved nor spoke, simply letting the frantic accusations hang in the air.Should I step in? he pondered briefly.The thought vanished as quickly as it came. David's behavior was completely beyond reason, and attempting to talk sense into him would be a complete waste of time."You think you're better than me, Marcus?" David spat, his voice echoing sharply down the hall. His rumpled clothing and wild appearance made him look like a desperate man clinging to the last shreds of his dignity. "Walking around here like you own the place! Guards, grab him! I'm telling you, he's sneaking out without paying! Look at him, does he look like someone who can afford to eat here?"Marcus remained silent, his steady composure contrasting sharply with David's chaotic outburst. He noticed the guards exchanging glances, a flicker of uncertainty entering their eyes.The head guard

Not long after the staff member slipped away, he returned to whisper a quick message into the doorman's ear. The doorman snapped upright, the stiff tension melting instantly from his shoulders. He turned toward Marcus with a respectful, sweeping bow and a warm, apologetic smile."My sincerest apologies, sir," the doorman announced smoothly. "We've verified everything directly with Miss Erica Blackwood. Please, step right this way."The hushed chatter surrounding the entrance died down instantly, replaced by a wave of stunned silence as Marcus strolled through the massive doors with effortless confidence.Anita's face hardened as she watched him glide past, completely unbothered by the spectacle at the gates.'How on earth did that happen?' she wondered, her mind spinning as she tried to make sense of the situation. She glanced over at the doorman, desperately searching for a rational explanation. 'Did they let him through simply because he arrived in the same car as us? That has to be

Anita stood frozen in place, her self-assurance fragmenting as she mentally replayed the encounter. Grek’s baffling reaction toward Marcus had caught her off guard. Rather than tearing Marcus down as she had meticulously planned, Grek had addressed him with a tone bordering on quiet deference or sheer caution.Her thoughts raced in confusion.'Why on earth would Grek back off? He never holds back, especially when he was furious over Marcus daring to drop Erica Blackwood's name. Why act like Marcus is someone to be feared?'Across the garden, Marcus straightened his attire and turned away, taking steady, measured steps toward the interior. He offered Anita no lingering glance, his complete indifference stinging far more than a sharp insult.Anita balled her hands into tight fists as he walked away, feeling utterly humiliated while her rage bubbled over."What is with this guy? How does he manage to slip through every time? First Julius, and now Grek?" she muttered under her breath.As

The hum of the motor provided a steady backdrop as Stephanie and John sat across from each other in the rear of the private sedan. Dark privacy glass masked them from the outside world while the driver skillfully maneuvered through the evening traffic.Stephanie maintained an imposing posture, her gaze directed out the front windshield. "The objective of this trip is straightforward," she stated, keeping her tone direct. "I must track down the individual who cured Erica's grandfather. Though my previous conversation with Erica yielded nothing useful, approaching her household directly will yield better results. They will prove reasonable once they understand the situation."John shifted in his seat and adjusted his designer coat, his expression steeped in doubt. "Do you genuinely believe such a practitioner exists?" he asked, his tone polite yet clearly skeptical. "We are referring to an ailment that even Dr. Kyle proved powerless to fix. How could an unknown figure succeed where top

John sat behind his desk, one hand resting on the head of his walking stick.Across from him stood Erica.He had asked her to come alone.For a while, the old man said nothing. His eyes remained fixed on his granddaughter.“Erica.”“Yes, Grandpa?”“Who exactly is that young man?”Erica already knew who he meant.“Marcus?”John nodded slowly.“I have been watching you since he arrived. You pay attention to him in a way you don't pay attention to the other guests. You made sure he was allowed into this house without being questioned. And when Stephanie came here looking for the person who treated me, you were determined to protect his identity.”He leaned back.“I know I owe that young man my life. But there is something else you're not telling me.”Erica lowered her eyes.John knew her too well.“Grandpa, I wanted to tell you.”“Then why didn't you?”“Because you were sick.”The answer immediately softened his expression.Erica walked closer to the desk.“When everything happened with