The Sovereign

Chapter 3

Aunt Audie suddenly chimed in, "The timing is too perfect. It means he returned a while ago and has been spying on us from nearby!"

"Call the police! Call the police and have him arrested!"

In an instant, Fugaku became the target of a public condemnation. The entire Vegas family turned on him. His timing was indeed terrible; Dimitri had just fallen into a coma, hovering on the brink of death. Fugaku's arrival at this precise moment was deeply suspicious.

Amidst the fierce accusations, Fugaku offered no defense, his face a mask of calm.

Seeing this, Beckham, who had been pale with fear, slowly regained his composure. He sneered vindictively, "It seems Uncle has raised a thankless wolf."

At his words, Shanny's expression soured, and she glared at Fugaku with hatred. "I never thought he was this kind of person either."

"Mother, Shanny, Elders." At that moment, Fugaku, who had been silent, finally spoke. He looked at everyone with sincerity, his voice deep. "I know I am the one who brought ruin upon the Vegas family all those years ago. I have failed you all. I will give you an explanation for this, but now is not the time to assign blame."

"An explanation? What is there to explain? Are you going to confess to your crimes?" Shanny's aunt’s eyes were filled with malice. "Let me tell you, not even dying a second time could erase your sins!"

"Exactly," Shanny's uncle agreed. "Besides, the hospital already said my brother won't make it through the day. What could you possibly do to save him?"

"Uncle, Aunt, please don't say any more. My mother is right here." The thought of her father's impending death made Shanny's nose sting. Her gaze toward Fugaku grew even more hateful. "Fugaku is the one who harmed Father!"

"If you hadn't fled the wedding years ago, the Diningrat family wouldn't have been so enraged as to destroy us. Father wouldn't have suffered a heart attack from the anger! You jinx, I'll kill you!"

A sharp scream tore through the air. Putri, having lost all control, snatched a fruit knife from a table and lunged at Fugaku.

"Mother, stop!"

"Auntie, he's not worth it!" Shanny and Beckham rushed to restrain her.

Waving the knife wildly, Putri struggled against them, screaming hysterically, "Someone like you deserves a miserable death! Think of how Dimitri treated you, like his own son. I told him you were a Meteor, not a Vegas! I told him not to be so good to you, but he wouldn't listen. Now, this is his reward!"

"Mother, please, don't say any more…" The words seemed to trigger Shanny's own memories, and her eyes turned red. The deeper the memory, the deeper the hatred. In an instant, the hall was filled with a profound sadness.

"Mother." Fugaku looked at Putri with a calm expression, his voice gentle. "Father saved my life. Please, just let me see him. What if he can still be saved?"

"You…" Putri was about to say more but was stopped by Beckham.

"Auntie, since Fugaku has returned, let him take responsibility for what happened," he said. Then, he turned to Fugaku. "You can go see Uncle Dimitri, but you must admit to all the crimes you've committed."

"Crimes?" The word made Fugaku's gaze turn ice-cold.

"Yes." Beckham didn't specify what crimes, only provoked, "Do you dare?"

Fugaku fell silent. He knew Beckham's game. If Father recovered, everyone would be happy. But if Father died, he would be made the scapegoat. Nevertheless, he had to find out what had happened.

"Fine." Fugaku agreed without hesitation.

Seeing him agree, a flash of surprise crossed Beckham's eyes. He quickly clapped his hands together. "Good. A true man has the courage to take responsibility for his actions. Go on in."

Fugaku strode inside. This time, no one stopped him.

Putri looked worried. "Beckham, you?"

Beckham gave her a reassuring look. "Auntie, do you not trust me? Just leave it to me." After comforting her, he walked to a secluded spot and dialed a number.

"Who is it?" A panting man's voice came from the other end, mixed with the pained cries of a woman.

"Mr. Sam, I've handled the things you asked for. And there's another surprise I'm sure you'll be interested in hearing." Beckham's voice was sycophantic.

The woman's cries on the phone grew louder, and the man's voice became impatient. "Spit it out, I'm busy."

"Fugaku has returned. Should I have someone come over?" A cold light glinted in Beckham's eyes as he made a throat-slitting gesture.

Fugaku entered the master bedroom on the second floor. A middle-aged man with graying hair and faint breath lay on the bed. It was Dimitri. Dimitri Vegas. His eyes were closed, his breathing shallow—only inhaling, with no perceptible exhale.

A sudden murderous intent flashed in Fugaku's eyes. His father, who had been so strong and healthy, was now reduced to this. Fugaku sat beside the bed, preparing to check Dimitri's pulse. But Shanny, who had just entered, grabbed his hand. "What are you doing? Do you even know medicine?"

"I've learned a bit these past two years. Enough to know the basics," Fugaku said with a slight smile.

"Are you trying to kill my father?" His words, however, only made Shanny raise her voice. "You've only 'learned a bit' and you dare to treat someone? Do you have a medical license?"

"Shanny, Fugaku is just putting on a show." Beckham, who had just arrived, pulled Shanny back and comforted her.

"But…" Shanny was still uneasy.

In that brief moment, Fugaku took Dimitri's pulse. A few seconds later, he released his hand and produced a case of silver needles.

"What? You're going to treat my father with silver needles? How is that possible?" Seeing this, Shanny was furious. Even the most advanced surgery at the hospital couldn't save him. How could a few silver needles possibly bring her dying father back to life?

"Shanny, he is your father, and he is mine. How could I possibly harm him?"

"Hmph, who knows what your intentions are!"

Fugaku ignored her, swiftly inserting three silver needles into acupuncture points on Dimitri's chest. His movements were fluid—selecting the point, inserting the needle—all without a single pause. The entire process was as smooth as flowing water, rhythmic and precise.

"Hmph, still pretending. Do you really think you're some master physician? In this day and age, what good is traditional medicine? Just be careful you don't treat him to death!" Jane, Audie, and the others muttered disdainfully. Beckham stood in the corner, a smirk on his face.

As time passed, more and more silver needles adorned Dimitri's body, and Fugaku's expression grew increasingly focused.

CRASH!

Just as Fugaku was concentrating on his technique, a loud noise erupted from outside.

A van had smashed through the Vegas family's iron gate and screeched to a halt in the courtyard. A group of men in black poured out of the van, stormed into the house, and began smashing everything in sight. In an instant, the house was filled with the sound of shattering objects, and the floor was littered with broken glass.