Derek Morrison had never felt this bone-weary in his life.After the endless ordeal at the West residence, his body was finally crying out for the rest he had been actively pushing aside. Treating Old Master West, putting Bosworth Junior in his place, dealing with the thugs who ambushed him, and fending off questions he had zero interest in answering had completely drained his energy reserves. All he wanted now was a quiet room, a clean bed, and several hours of unbroken sleep.As Derek trudged along the evening street, his mind drifted back to the parting gifts the four women had given him before he left the mountain. Sophia had gifted him twelve Grade Seven pure-gold acupuncture needles, while Madison had handed over six extraordinarily rare medicinal compounds. Savannah hadn't given him anything practical for a night like this, though she had made it fiercely clear that she expected him to stay alive until their next meeting.Then there was Brooklyn.Reaching into his pocket, Derek

The moment the voice echoed across the lobby, the receptionist froze in place. Her hand hovered near the button as she turned, her arrogant demeanor evaporating instantly at the sight of Clinton, the hotel's general manager, standing a few paces away."Mr. Clinton!" Her face lit up with relief as she hurried out from behind the desk, bowing her head in respectful deference. "Thank goodness you are here."Clinton frowned, taking in the chaotic energy around the front desk. "What happened?"Pointing an accusing finger directly at Derek, the receptionist rushed to lay out her side of the story. "I just caught an impostor. He came in here with a fake card and tried to deceive everyone. I told him to leave quietly, but he refused and kept causing a scene." She turned slightly, gesturing toward Anita. "And look at this beautiful lady. She came here properly prepared to pay for a room, but this man has been harassing and disturbing her."Anita stood with her arms folded across her chest, a s

The Imperial Crown Hotel had seen its share of luxury cars. Bentleys arrived almost every day, while Rolls-Royces, Maybachs, Ferraris, and custom-made SUVs were routine sights around the grand entrance.That morning, however, a distinct shift settled over the driveway as a long line of black vehicles turned into the grounds. At the front moved a massive black Rolls-Royce Phantom with tinted windows and a polished finish that mirrored the morning sunlight. Two Maybachs followed directly behind, trailing a line of matching black SUVs. The convoy glided in perfect formation, moving without a sound.At the entrance, the security guards instantly snapped to attention. Behind the front desk, the receptionist’s fingers froze over her keyboard, and guests crossing the lobby slowed their pace, turning toward the floor-to-ceiling glass doors."What family is that?" someone whispered nearby."I don't know," came a hushed reply. "Look at those cars."The convoy rolled to a stop directly in front

Derek did not waste another second at the hotel. The moment Patricia mentioned her grandfather slipping back into a coma, he walked straight out, ignoring Harold entirely. Without explaining where he was going, he climbed into the first available car and drove toward the West mansion.His face remained expressionless during the drive, but his mind raced through the sequence of events. He had personally treated Old Master West, purging a massive amount of poison from his system and warning the family that the remainder required meticulous care. For the old man to collapse again so quickly was no accident.When Derek arrived, the mood at the mansion was completely transformed. Luxury cars crowded the courtyard, and members of the West family moved frantically between the front entrance and the old master's quarters. Servants lined the corridors, panic written all over their faces. Several people turned as Derek stepped inside, but nobody dared move to stop him. He ignored them all and k

The room remained quiet after Derek finished speaking. Old Master West leaned back against the headboard, his breathing noticeably steadier than before, while Patricia stood by the bed, still trying to process what had just happened. Her grandfather had given Derek unrestricted access to the West mansion. It was no small privilege. Certain offices, archives, private storage rooms, and secured areas were strictly off-limits, forbidden even to extended family members without explicit permission. Yet Derek had just been given free rein to walk through all of them. Patricia opened her mouth to object, but before she could speak, the bedroom door swung open. Her parents walked in, her father leading the way with her mother right behind him. The moment Patricia's father saw Old Master West sitting upright, visible relief washed over his features. He hurried over to the bedside, placing a hand on the frame. "Father, are you feeling better now?" "Yes, I'm getting better," Old Master West r