The Invincible Mystic Master

Chapter 003

“Why not?” Summer asked, her voice trembling. “If it's money, I'll pay whatever you want.”

“It's not about the money.”

Will's expression remained firm.

“The Order of the Veil has rules. We aren't supposed to interfere with another person's fate without good reason. Keeping someone alive when they're meant to die can come with a price, and the backlash could weaken my powers.”

“Can't you make an exception? Just this once?”

Summer looked close to tears.

“Please. I'll do anything if you save my dad. My name is Summer Morton. I'm the CEO of Morton Group. I can give you a hundred and fifty thousand dollars. No, three quarters of a million!”

*Summer Morton?*

Will stared at her.

“Your father is Matthew Morton?”

She nodded.

For a moment Will could only marvel at his luck. He'd been wondering how on earth he was supposed to find his mysterious fiancée in a city this size, and she'd walked right into his path.

Helping an ordinary stranger was one thing. But Matthew Morton was his future father-in-law.

Even if treating him genuinely risked damaging Will's mystical abilities, he couldn't leave the man to die.

“All right,” he said at once. “Take me to him.”

Summer brightened, although a trace of contempt crept into her thoughts. So much for his lofty rules. The moment he'd heard her name, he'd changed his mind. Perhaps all that talk about a dangerous backlash had been a way to drive up his f*e.

Still, she knew better than to argue. If money was all it took to save Matthew, she'd gladly pay it.

She brought Will to the Morton estate.

“Wow,” he said as they passed through the gates.

The sprawling mansion looked like something out of a movie. Landscaped gardens surrounded the house, expensive sculptures lined the driveway, and luxury cars filled the forecourt.

Will had known the Mortons were wealthy. He hadn't realized just how wealthy.

*This place is bigger than the entire settlement where I grew up. My future father-in-law is loaded.*

They had barely entered when a housekeeper rushed toward them.

“Miss Morton! Thank goodness you're back. There's trouble!”

“What happened, Mrs. Lewis?” Summer asked.

“Your uncle brought the rest of the family. They're demanding a division of the assets. You need to come upstairs!”

Summer didn't even stop to take off her shoes. She hurried to her father's bedroom and found it crowded with relatives.

“What is everyone doing in here?” she demanded. “The doctors said Dad needs peace and quiet!”

Her uncle Joel Morton turned toward her with a thin smile.

“Good, you're here. We've been waiting. Your father has been unconscious for months. We've tried every specialist we could find, and nothing has worked. We have to face the possibility he doesn't have much time left.”

He paused, then continued in the same infuriatingly calm tone.

“That's why we've decided it's time to redistribute the company's shares and other assets.”

Summer's hands shook with anger.

Every person in the room was a Morton Group shareholder and a member of her family. Her uncles and aunts had grown rich alongside her father. Now, while he lay dying and the business teetered on the edge, their first concern was how much they could take for themselves.

What kind of family did that?

“No,” she said. “Absolutely not. My father built Morton Group. If he wants to give away everything he owns, that's his decision. But you're not taking a single cent while he's lying here helpless.”

Joel frowned.

“Watch your tone, Summer. Is that any way to speak to your elders? Your father has spoiled you rotten.”

“We're not asking for permission,” he added. “We're informing you of our decision. You can discuss it with us now, or we can take it to the board. I doubt you'll enjoy the outcome if we do.”

The threat was obvious. Summer had been appointed CEO in an emergency, not through a normal succession process. If Joel could rally enough directors against her, he could force her out of both the position and the company.

Her eyes stung, but she refused to let the tears fall.

Will, meanwhile, had heard enough.

Summer might not have accepted their engagement yet, but as far as he was concerned, she was his future wife. He had no intention of standing by while her relatives bullied her and carved up Matthew's fortune.

“Summer,” Joel said, softening his voice with obvious insincerity, “none of us wanted this to happen to your father. We're doing what we believe is best for the company and the family. If he recovered, of course, there would be no need for any of this.”

“Really?” Will asked.

All eyes turned toward him.

“If I bring Mr. Morton back to full health, does that mean you vultures will finally back off?”

Joel looked him up and down.

“Summer, who is this? Since when do we let strangers wander into our home?”

“This is Master Hartnett,” she said. “I brought him here to treat Dad.”

“To treat him?” Joel let out a bark of laughter.

The others joined in.

“What's a kid like that supposed to know about medicine?”

“Looks like a quack to me.”

“Be careful, Summer. Losing money to a con man is one thing. If he talks you into bed and gives you some disease, you'll disgrace the whole family.”

The insults were aimed at Will, but their real target was Summer. With Matthew apparently beyond saving, her relatives no longer felt any need to maintain even a pretense of respect.

“How dare you?” she snapped. “I brought Master Hartnett here because...”

Will stepped in front of her before she could finish.

“Why don't you worry about your own problems, you miserable old bastard?” he said, looking straight at Joel. “All those nights you've spent chasing women have finally caught up with you. At the rate you're going, the equipment downstairs will stop working altogether.”