Confucius Ads Library: ScrapeResults

695

Scrape	25
Id	695
Active	1
Created Epoch	1,714,669,266
Modified Epoch	1,734,958,292
Scrape Epoch	1,714,727,042
Created	5/2/24, 12:01 PM
Modified	12/23/24, 6:51 AM
Status	completed
Notes
Dataset External No	vIzf77TNyUFHTKBjd
Filename

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Id	Active	Status	Created	Modified	Created Epoch	Modified Epoch	Scrape Result Id	Adarchiveid	Collationcount	Collationid	Enddate	Entitytype	Gatedtype	Hidedatastatus	Isaaaeligible	Isactive	Isprofilepage	Pageid	Pageisdeleted	Pagename	Ad Creative Id	Caption	Cta Text	Effective Authorization Category	Display Format	Title	Link Description	Link Url	Page Welcome Message	Creation Time	Page Id	Page Name	Page Profile Picture Url	Page Entity Type	Page Is Profile Page	Instagram Actor Name	Instagram Profile Pic Url	Is Reshared	Version	Body	Current Page Name	Page Like Count	Page Profile Uri	Cta Type	Startdate	Actions
1666929	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	6/4/25, 1:09 AM	1714727711	1749017378	695	427671266514354		1.7452277726815E+15	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	545775132233909	0	The Late Show with Stephen Colbert	120209652393010021			NONE	video	Rescue Dog Rescue With Daniel Radcliffe				1713525802	5.4577513223391E+14	The Late Show with Stephen Colbert	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436305427_362832982832106_1788990092240463573_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=-uzzglted9wQ7kNvgHpW-nQ&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCuK63loVDCH0mwPGVbUIkWbki28zOLtgRjrRbW4Edn9g&oe=663A75C1	person_profile	0	The Late Show	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436163846_7857536297613080_4613549340236591312_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tgeQdxBIaC4Q7kNvgE4n6HW&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBWeasIfqMEuxVuA1PMplBU28FdlwNtdnv1mBWGX8hXXQ&oe=663A872E	0	3	It's ok to tell a few lies if it helps get these pups from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/theanimalleague">North Shore Animal League America</a> adopted, right? Find your new best friend at <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.colbertlateshow.com%2Frescuedogrescue&h=AT24hbv961oJqAJCUXGdPWCacNjZdgh7PFZU3WFSRNex6n3jSddAIU7vbEIhiYNOG8EFh_-99xDQXJvL35I6EGc8ikQUWfeYDTI8IjZEo4dpGVBWim8ZB2C4ncuX3qXsVbExvVjcmQxcQz3JknWJbMsRbtOtBEBmNHhufw" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">http://www.colbertlateshow.com/rescuedogrescue</a> today! #Colbert <br /> <br /> Paid partnership with <a href="https://www.facebook.com/simparicatrio">Simparica Trio</a>	The Late Show with Stephen Colbert	1952031	https://facebook.com/colbertlateshow		1713510000	View Edit Delete
1667539	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	6/7/25, 5:21 AM	1714727727	1749291681	695	7316197208416949		2.6564703992983E+14	1710918000	person_profile	taken-down	NONE	1	0	0	214429651760593	0	Cassey Edmonds World	120206525816890638	www.dealwbig.top	Learn more	NONE	video	A drop witnesses the rocket ascending – this is the best gift for yourself.🥰❤️		https://www.dealwbig.top/products/dthgfgghfhfgjgjn		1710937040	2.1442965176059E+14	Cassey Edmonds World	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434059035_431604159264075_9209842322437943663_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=rJRaB6jAPhEQ7kNvgEYIG_K&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCyH9ZLskWCQDU3vtlDSSEwr7bDZrOb2VpaNJIe_Y77Eg&oe=663A878C	person_profile	0	Cassey Edmonds World	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432465152_424429646932892_7822572108135239136_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yQlmAmumCZAQ7kNvgFLg9j7&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfDmtJ3J-rUiTTzGJoMpHOM7wtofbPNvAIp8MF-0glszaQ&oe=663A5F62	0	3	A drop witnesses the rocket ascending – this is the best gift for yourself.🥰❤️<br /> Click on the link below to receive your best gift for half price🥰❤️😍<br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dealwbig.top%2Fproducts%2Fdthgfgghfhfgjgjn&h=AT08ePcQ2mkYFdtb7Jgs6F4DbKc1jKbH88zQYG7kMsg4hxnbKc4QwYeS1cM9RBGBZDbm0UQTt8HOmjloscAheJAKNDI_iX5V_ks4tTsaFjOxdYo3fQdGqj4fW_7We_-CSGgTgv6p-WxT9m2ni36oyQ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://www.dealwbig.top/products/dthgfgghfhfgjgjn</a>	Cassey Edmonds World	4	https://facebook.com/61556118337565	LEARN_MORE	1710918000	View Edit Delete
1666999	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727713	1734958293	695	1143833703459581	1	9.6716752541011E+14	1713250800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	423699414390350	0	Hiya toys	120207249585580645	instagram.com	Visit Instagram Profile	NONE	carousel			https://www.instagram.com/_u/hiya_toys		1712918182	4.2369941439035E+14	Hiya toys	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435890169_455637816898997_1400948676440987007_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=enJzOTtGs74Q7kNvgEND7Ve&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDsEK7oEKAPeswN9DkeXT45es296YDO8P_g-wlGUK5MxA&oe=663A7047	person_profile	0	Hiyatoys	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435899196_1161301881532746_9040978709044126875_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=10QEwVHzp1EQ7kNvgG2c2QN&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBJX62wdycYEyXS85zgJ7mOnJO-ccPudCj6knfanMUV6g&oe=663A8370	0	3		Hiya toys	19504	https://facebook.com/Hiyatoys	VIEW_INSTAGRAM_PROFILE	1712905200	View Edit Delete
1667004	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727713	1734958293	695	1143833703459581	1	9.6716752541011E+14	1713250800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	423699414390350	0	Hiya toys	120207249585580645	instagram.com	Visit Instagram Profile	NONE	carousel			https://www.instagram.com/_u/hiya_toys		1712918182	4.2369941439035E+14	Hiya toys	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435890169_455637816898997_1400948676440987007_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=enJzOTtGs74Q7kNvgEND7Ve&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDsEK7oEKAPeswN9DkeXT45es296YDO8P_g-wlGUK5MxA&oe=663A7047	person_profile	0	Hiyatoys	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435899196_1161301881532746_9040978709044126875_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=10QEwVHzp1EQ7kNvgG2c2QN&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBJX62wdycYEyXS85zgJ7mOnJO-ccPudCj6knfanMUV6g&oe=663A8370	0	3		Hiya toys	19504	https://facebook.com/Hiyatoys	VIEW_INSTAGRAM_PROFILE	1712905200	View Edit Delete
1667023	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727714	1734958295	695	1464847257762584	3	3.2845536023858E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	892588401116730	0	Practice Anywhere	120207328534580376	accubow.com	Shop Now	NONE	carousel	Scope-to-Phone Crosshair Sight		https://accubow.com/		1710617225	8.9258840111673E+14	Practice Anywhere	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431950026_712364067761625_8500033827148086301_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WSNdntC_kecQ7kNvgE6r10o&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBs4bvzDKNJJTlXvScamlqQNysPDHMuDOlqy2dPA1Nwqw&oe=663A88BC	person_profile	0	Official AccuBow®	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431972926_397577752988272_9068572841206466590_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=1MztnTPFOfEQ7kNvgGEknP9&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDYi0nzjelcubNt8-3kZbsLBcacITp7kNzhDUdlAch3cg&oe=663A8FF1	0	3		Practice Anywhere	9807	https://facebook.com/practiceanywherenow	SHOP_NOW	1712905200	View Edit Delete
1666826	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727707	1734958297	695	413765634941992	1	1.7026320702705E+15	1713769200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	226177680578601	0	Adoread	120207811552110265	client.adoread.com	Learn more	NONE	image	🔥🔥🔥 Read More👉	Hottest novel👉👉👉	https://client.adoread.com/book/loading/page/adoread/19161308412?utm_campaign={{campaign.id}}&utm_content={{campaign.name}}		1713710196	2.261776805786E+14	Adoread	https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438676505_459563796647243_7838648700587245501_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=68ajwnz0dd0Q7kNvgGYRcTa&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDXOrM_Hb2L8zt4jHbBNymcpupsNa4BN6s_Us-INDcLHg&oe=663A6689	person_profile	0	Adoread	https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437953319_348354498226227_4112059402185505203_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=u3QnOKXKQHQQ7kNvgHgDHX9&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBC-tt6C32J67v1b1D9T9KWpxfRVVYVYVMXm0le0X_QTA&oe=663A6866	0	3	"Wesley, are you trying to harm me? You useless piece of trash, can't even make a decent cup of coffee, can you?"<br /> Madison Blair lifted her coffee cup and splashed it directly onto Wesley Harrington's face.<br /> "What are you looking at, you spineless waste? Your name sounds so lofty? I might as well call you a waste."<br /> Glancing at the grotesque expression of his wife's mother, Wesley pulled out his phone to check the time.<br /> Exactly twelve o'clock. It had been five full years since he married Taylor Reed.<br /> The appointed time had come.<br /> He had fulfilled his promise, safeguarding the Reed family for five years, transforming them from a family living off fishing to one perceived as affluent by the common folk.<br /> Wiping the coffee off his face, he turned and walked away.<br /> "Where do you think you're going? Go fetch some more coffee," Madison shouted.<br /> "Madison, didn't you say this waste is obedient at home, doing whatever he's told? I don't think he's taking it lying down."<br /> Madison grew angrier. "Wesley, you stop right there. My family has fed and housed you. If you dare disobey, I'll have you thrown out!"<br /> Ignoring her, Wesley continued downstairs.<br /> "When Taylor comes back, I'll immediately have you two divorced. Do you hear me? Stay right there," Madison threatened, "I'll let you know your place today."<br /> Grabbing a golf club, Madison swiftly charged towards Wesley.<br /> Seeing Wesley heading downstairs, she swung the club viciously at his back.<br /> Without turning back, Wesley gently sidestepped.<br /> Losing her balance, Madison tumbled forward, rolling down the stairs with a series of thumps.<br /> "Ouch... it hurts, it hurts so much!"<br /> As Madison reached the ground floor, she wailed in pain and her sister immediately rushed to her.<br /> "Wesley, what have you done? How dare you hit my sister!" Madison's sister hurried down, checking on Madison's condition.<br /> Wesley remained silent, observing the scene.<br /> "Quick, call Taylor. Tell her to come back. Today, she must divorce this waste." Madison glared at Wesley. "How dare you hit me? Not only will I let Taylor divorce you, but I'll make sure you leave in disgrace."<br /> "Mum, what's wrong?" At that moment, a gent and a lady walked in.<br /> The lady was Taylor, Madison's daughter.<br /> She ran towards Madison.<br /> As Madison pointed at Wesley, tears streamed down her face. "Taylor, he hit me, he hit me! When you're not home, he changes his attitude, scolding and hitting me in the slightest displeasure. He even pushed me down the stairs just now. Alexis can testify."<br /> Madison's sister, Alexis Blair, chimed in. "Yes, Wesley, this trash not only hit your mother but also threatened to hit me too. We cannot tolerate such trash."<br /> "Taylor, I have been telling you to divorce him for years. You've been supporting him, treating him like a Lord at home, but he's an ungrateful wolf in sheep's clothing."<br /> Helping Madison up, Taylor noticed the scrapes on Madison's arms and legs, her expression turning cold.<br /> "Wesley, why did you hit my mother? You better give me an explanation."<br /> Wesley looked at Taylor, his wife.<br /> Five years had passed, and she had never shown him kindness.<br /> Taylor dressed impeccably, a paragon of a successful lady, with a face that could be deemed angelic, yet whether her heart was as angelic remained a mystery.<br /> Her figure, too, left countless men yearning.<br /> For five years, Wesley had thought he might develop feelings for this lady, but in reality, it never happened.<br /> "There are surveillance cameras in the house," Wesley stated calmly before descending the stairs into the hallway.<br /> Despite residing in a three-story villa, Wesley's living quarters were confined to the stairwell.<br /> He harbored no resentment towards this arrangement. It was merely a promise. It was just that Taylor failed to appreciate him.<br /> This home held little value that he wished to cling onto.<br /> Retrieving a wooden box from beneath his pillow, Wesley extracted two documents. Casting a fleeting glance at the modest abode he had called home for five years, Wesley smiled faintly.<br /> He thought, "Finally... I'm free."<br /> Pushing the door ajar, Wesley was met by Taylor's piercing gaze. "I've reviewed the surveillance footage. Yes, my mother intended to strike you, but even if she did, what difference would it make?"<br /> "She's a lady. How much could her blows hurt you? Why did you dodge?"<br /> "If you hadn't dodged, my mother wouldn't have tumbled down." Wesley stared at Taylor, unable to comprehend her thought process.<br /> He had no interest in engaging in these arguments. Handing over the two documents to Taylor, he remarked, "The divorce agreement. I've already signed it. Take a look. I'm leaving with nothing."<br /> "With your current influence, there's no need for you to visit the city hall. Someone will handle it for you, right?"<br /> Madison was taken aback. She swiftly snatched the divorce agreement, flipping through it hastily.<br /> The contents were indeed straightforward. Both parties willingly divorced, with Wesley relinquishing all claims and having already signed.<br /> In an instant, Madison's pain seemed to dissipate. "Taylor, sign it quickly. Sign it."<br /> Taylor was still in a daze.<br /> She pondered.<br /> "A divorce agreement? Wesley has already prepared a divorce agreement. On what grounds?"<br /> "What gives him the right to initiate a divorce? All these years, he's done nothing at home, lacking any ambition. Always practicing martial arts, what right does he have to seek a divorce?"<br /> "If anyone should initiate it, it should be me. Moreover, now that I'm back to discussing this matter with him. Could it be that word got out, and Wesley, for the sake of his pride, rushed to prepare a divorce agreement first?"<br /> "It must be so, but... No!"<br /> "Wanting to leave with nothing, is he retreating to advance? As the chairman of the Reed Group, how could I be served with a divorce?"<br /> "Hey Wesley, I never expected this from you. Have I not treated you well enough? You seek a divorce, attempting to turn your retreat into advance, aiming to embarrass me?"<br /> Taylor glared at Wesley. "I'm telling you, it's impossible."<br /> Snatching the divorce agreement, she tore it to shreds.<br /> "Taylor, what are you doing? Such a great opportunity. Why not just sign it and let him leave?" Madison grew anxious.<br /> "Mom, I do intend to divorce this trash, but the decision must come from me. I returned specifically to address this matter."<br /> With that, Taylor produced two documents. "Wesley, remember that it's me who's divorcing you. It's me who no longer wants you. Initially, out of marital obligation, I had considered offering you some compensation. Now, you don't even need to think about it. Sign the divorce agreement and leave my home."<br /> Wesley offered a faint smile as he accepted the divorce agreement.<br /> "What are you laughing at?" Taylor demanded angrily.<br /> Wesley's smile seemed to mock her, fueling her rage.<br /> Ignoring her entirely, Wesley signed the document and handed it over.<br /> "What are you laughing at? Answer me! Who do you think you are?" Taylor roared once more.<br /> Wesley glanced at her before striding towards the exit.<br /> "Stop!" The gent who had accompanied Taylor stepped forward, blocking Wesley's path. "Taylor asked you a question, and... Your previous attitude displeased me. Apologize to Taylor, or I'll have you leave in disgrace!"<br /> Chapter 2 The Unspoken Truth<br /> <br /> "Yes, let him leave in disgrace. He thought he could just hit me and walk away so easily," Madison joined in the commotion, also noticing the gent blocking Wesley's path.<br /> Madison had a keen interest in luxury goods, having frequented various high-end establishments over the years as the Reed family's living conditions improved. The gent was wearing an expensive watch and dressed head to toe in high-end luxury brands.<br /> Seeing Madison's gaze, the gent spoke. "Rest assured, today Wesley must pay the price."<br /> The gent introduced himself, looking at Wesley, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Henry Clark, the eldest son of the Clark family and the general manager of the Clark Group in the North District."<br /> "From now on, I will accompany Taylor on her journey of life, and I will not allow anyone to bully her."<br /> "My identity carries weight. You should understand that. Now, apologize to Taylor. Apologize! Did you hear me? Apologize!"<br /> Madison's eyes lit up. She hadn't expected the gent before her to hold such a high status. She continued to shout, "Did you hear that? Taylor will be with Mr. Clark from now on. Apologize now."<br /> Wesley glanced at Henry, then at Taylor. He thought, "Have they been together all along?" Wesley had wanted to ask but decided against it because there was no need. He simply gave them a glance and continued walking towards the exit.<br /> "Are you ignoring me?" Henry's face turned cold as he reached out to grab Wesley. Henry's hand froze mid-air as he received a solid hit.<br /> "Until I sign the divorce papers, Taylor and I are still wife and husband. I don't care to investigate whether you two had any intimate relationship during that time, but don't provoke me, or I won't hesitate to make you regret it." Wesley's gaze was icy, and as Henry met his eyes, he felt a twinge of fear and swallowed his words.<br /> Taylor was also stunned. She knew exactly what Wesley had been like over the past five years. There were many surveillance cameras in the house, and she would often check them.<br /> Even when Taylor wasn't home, despite how her family treated Wesley, he always obeyed without complaint, especially towards her. He had never raised his voice, no matter how they treated him.<br /> Today, not only did Wesley dodge when her mother struck, but he also initiated the divorce and now even struck Henry. <br /> Taylor was at a loss for words, thinking, "How could this cowardly gent dare? On what grounds does he dare?"<br /> This change was difficult for Taylor to accept as if she didn't truly understand this guy. The gent who used to be obedient to her, completely submissive, now revealed this side of himself. She watched Wesley walk away in a daze, feeling a strange discomfort in her heart.<br /> "Isn't he leaving with nothing?" Alexis pointed at the wooden box Wesley was holding. "What is he taking with him?"<br /> Madison also realized. Over the past five years, Wesley had always treasured this wooden box, carrying it with him wherever he went. She thought there must be something valuable inside.<br /> Realizing this, Madison hurriedly followed. "Wesley, stop right there, leave the wooden box."<br /> Wesley paused, glanced at Madison, and said, "This is my personal belonging."<br /> "Nonsense, what personal belonging could you possibly have after marrying into the Reed family? Everything you've eaten, worn, and lived in over the years has been provided by the Reed family. Put it down."<br /> As she spoke, Madison reached out to grab the wooden box.<br /> "Ah..." A scream rang out as Madison quickly retracted her hand, a gash appearing on her palm, a crimson liquid dripping.<br /> The wooden box was now stained with the same crimson liquid, trembling lightly in Wesley's hand.<br /> "It's not the right time yet, the day you thirst for this crimson liquid will come," Wesley murmured softly, patting the box before turning to continue his stride towards the exit.<br /> "Monster! A monster!" Madison screamed, causing Taylor and the others to rush out. Seeing the wound in Madison's hand, Taylor was filled with rage.<br /> "Wesley, aren't you going to say something?" Wesley halted once more, contemplating before meeting Taylor's gaze.<br /> "Just stay out of my way from now on. Consider this a warning to you."<br /> "Taylor, that wooden box of his has a mechanism. It must hold something valuable! We can't let him take it with him," Madison, enduring the pain, reminded them.<br /> "Mom, your injury is important. We'll deal with him later. Let me take you to the hospital first." Taylor comforted Madison before calling out to the retreating Wesley.<br /> "Our marriage is over! Yet, you dared to hurt my mother! This won't be the end of it! I will make you regret it!" Ignoring her, Wesley continued walking out.<br /> "Rest assured, I promise he won't see the light of day tomorrow." Henry stepped forward to console. "Let's focus on getting your wound treated first."<br /> "I want him to regret ever existing in this world, to apologize to me in repentance," Madison roared.<br /> "Mom, trust me, I will make him do just that." Taylor looked at Madison with a mix of pity and determination. "Let's go to the hospital first."<br /> In the villa area, Wesley halted, his voice cold. "Get out."<br /> An elderly gent leaped down from a tree, appearing to be in his seventies, yet landing silently from a height of around ten feet.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, your father wants you to come home and take charge."<br /> "He stopped being my father five years ago. He's my enemy."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you misunderstood your father. He had his reasons back then. I swear in my life, once you know the truth, you will forgive him."<br /> "Huh!" Wesley smirked coldly, saying, "I nearly passed away back then. Is that also a misunderstanding?"<br /> The old gent pleaded, "Mr. Harrington, this situation is truly not as you perceive it."<br /> Wesley didn't engage further with the old guy. The events of that year were etched in his memory forever. He was the one who had been abandoned. If not for that incident, why would he have stayed with the Reed family for five years?<br /> Watching Wesley walk away, the old gent had tears silently streaming down his face. "Mr. Harrington, I truly... I truly can't bring myself to speak the truth, but you have misunderstood your father. He also bears burdens and endures pains beyond what an ordinary person can handle."<br /> As Wesley's figure disappeared, the old gent stood up, hesitated for a moment, then dialed a number on his phone.<br /> "Mr. Harrington is now divorced. I've given you the news firsthand. If your daughter is truly together with Mr. Harrington, you must fulfill the promise and let her persuade Mr. Harrington to come home."<br /> After hanging up, a middle-aged gent in a luxurious estate jumped up excitedly. Calming himself, he immediately made another call. "My dear, you're at Yeadeo, right?<br /> "Go find Wesley now. Don't mention the engagement for now. Use every means to get close to him, make him fall in love with you."<br /> "Dad, I don't have time."<br /> "No matter what you are busy with, you must go find Wesley now. No matter what reason you approach him, you must leave a good impression the first time."<br /> "Dad, I'm in trouble right now. If I don't handle it well, I might be good as gone. I have to deal with it immediately. I'm hanging up."<br /> Chapter 3 You're Nothing<br /> The middle-aged gent's voice lowered significantly. "Is there a big incident happening? You didn't tell me? What happened?"<br /> "Quinn Kingsley from Yeadeo, Mr. Kingsley, used our product and now has one foot on the grave. If something really happens to him..."<br /> "You mean Quinn, the uncontested leader of Yeadeo?"<br /> "Yes."<br /> "In that case, you should go find Wesley. Trust me, in this world, there is no problem that Wesley can't solve. As long as he's willing to help, you'll be fine. Listen to me, go find Wesley immediately."<br /> The lady fell silent for a moment before saying, "Okay."<br /> At Yeadeo Harbor, a gent with a large flaxen chain and a watch, sporting a crew cut, hurriedly disembarked, accompanied by a dozen gentlemen.<br /> "Mr. Reed, wherever that trash is, we will find him and tear him apart."<br /> "Yes, that guy dared to harm your mother. We'll make sure he pays for it."<br /> Frank Reed's face turned cold. "Wesley, you coward, thinking you can overturn the world? How dare you touch my mom? Just wait until I find you, you're finished."<br /> "We've found him. Wesley got into a taxi, and our boys followed him."<br /> "Let's go!" Frank waved his hand, leading dozens of men who boarded the car with harpoons, steel pipes, and other weapons.<br /> Inside the taxi, Wesley gazed at the scenery outside, feeling a strange sense of tranquility.<br /> He thought to himself, "I never imagined that while I was secretly paving the way for the Reed family, Taylor, after progressing so rapidly, would start looking down on me more and more."<br /> "Those ladies who know my true identity, which one of them isn't trying to throw themselves at me? Ladies like that don't interest me."<br /> "Being an ordinary gent is truly difficult," Wesley murmured, smiling faintly and deciding not to dwell on these matters anymore. He had important things to attend to and no time to waste on personal affairs.<br /> "Young lad, are you going to Feidgeuo Manor for a job interview?" The driver, curious about Wesley's destination, inquired.<br /> Feidgeuo Manor was Yeadeo's most mysterious private area. Originally a villa area, it was bought at a huge cost five years ago and completely renovated. It was said to have cost a trillion dollars. The former villa area was now Feidgeuo Manor.<br /> "That's my home," Wesley replied nonchalantly.<br /> The driver was taken aback by this revelation, silently cursing Wesley for bragging. After a couple of minutes, the driver regained his composure. "It seems like you and I both prefer to keep a low profile. My car usually gathers dust at home, so I occasionally drive a taxi to experience life."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "My car has been driven by my assistant for the past few years, so it's not gathering dust."<br /> "Haha..." The driver laughed. "We should get together sometime and see whose car is more impressive."<br /> "Sure, whenever we have the time."<br /> As they chatted, the vehicle soon arrived near Feidgeuo Manor, where the massive head of the Feidgeuo Peak protruded, creating a unique landscape in Yeadeo.<br /> The driver asked with a smile, "Since you're the owner here, it's fine if I drive in, right?"<br /> "Of course," Wesley replied.<br /> As soon as Wesley spoke, several cars caught up from behind.<br /> The cars surrounded the one Wesley was in, with the front vehicles braking to force the car to a stop.<br /> When numerous people descended from cars wielding harpoons and steel pipes, the driver's face paled.<br /> Frank and his group got out of the cars, instantly closing in, and without hesitation, started attacking, the steel pipes and harpoons thudding against the car.<br /> Frank's henchman yanked open the door of Wesley's car, poised to stab Wesley with a harpoon, but Wesley swiftly exited the vehicle.<br /> With a firm step on the ground, he launched a swift hit.<br /> A muffled sound echoed as the henchman was hit away.<br /> "What are you looking at?" Frank noticed his henchmen were all staring at him. "All of you, attack together and take him down!"<br /> As he commanded, the henchmen Frank brought with him surged forward.<br /> The taxi driver, trembling, took out his phone to call the police, but Frank glared at him. "I am Frank Reed from Yeadeo Harbor. If you dare, go ahead and make that call."<br /> Frank, leveraging his sister Taylor's status, had been causing trouble in Yeadeo Harbor, and no one dared to provoke him.<br /> Upon hearing Frank's name, the driver hastily put away his phone. "Mr. Reed, I'll just check the time, you guys continue."<br /> "Huh!" Frank snorted coldly, casting his gaze towards the surrounded Wesley.<br /> The sounds of thuds continued to ring out incessantly. Because Wesley was completely surrounded, Frank was unable to see the situation inside clearly, but he could imagine it. After all, in Frank's mind, the henchmen under his command were not to be trifled with.<br /> "Hit him hard for me!"<br /> Another muffled sound and a figure flew out. At that moment, Frank finally saw the situation clearly, and his face turned pale.<br /> Frank knew that Wesley liked to practice martial arts, but he had never expected Wesley to be this skilled. It wasn't Wesley who had been beaten, but his own men by Wesley alone.<br /> Frantically, Frank turned and ran to retrieve a crossbow from the car.<br /> "Clear the way." Frank bellowed, aiming the crossbow at Wesley.<br /> "You scumbag, you think you can fight? Move one more time, and I'll end your life! Surrender!"<br /> Wesley, holding a wooden box, stared at Frank. Ignoring the crossbow in his hand, Wesley said, "Tell your henchmen to back off, or you'll all see the light from above!"<br /> "You're really good at pretending to be tough." Frank took two steps forward. "See the light? Move a muscle and see if I can end your life or not! If you don't have the guts, apologize now!"<br /> Wesley turned his head and looked at the approaching cars, with two expensive ones in the lead, two more in the rear, and another one in the middle.<br /> "Keep acting tough, and I'll put a hole in your head." Frank spoke while glancing at the five cars. "What, looking for help?"<br /> "Let me tell you, those who ride in these cars are not the kind of weaklings like you who rely on connections. With me here, in Yeadeo's social hierarchy, even those who ride in such cars wouldn't dare meddle in this matter. And let me make it clear, without my sister, you're nothing."<br /> Chapter 4 Is He Worthy?<br /> As Frank's words faded, the five cars came to a halt.<br /> A bodyguard opened the door of the one in the middle, revealing a dazzling pair of shining shoes catching everyone's eye.<br /> The shining shoe encased a beautiful foot. Above, the skirt's hem was adorned with lace.<br /> Then, like a fairy stepping out of a painting, she appeared before everyone's eyes.<br /> The lady was beautiful!<br /> Frank was mesmerized. Ever since the Reed family rose to prominence, he had been surrounded by ladies, but compared to the elegant lady before him, they were worlds apart.<br /> It wasn't just a difference in appearance but an incomparable gap in demeanor.<br /> The lady descending from the Maybach seemed like a celestial being untouched by mortal affairs.<br /> The embodiment of a fairy in the mundane world.<br /> She simply stood there after getting out of the car, perfectly embodying what it meant to be graceful and elegant.<br /> The lady glanced at Wesley, then at Frank.<br /> Frank grinned, saying, "May I have the honor of knowing the name of this esteemed lady? I am Frank..."<br /> The lady spoke calmly. "Disrespect Mr. Harrington, and you're done for."<br /> Her bodyguards, unfazed by Frank's crossbow, swiftly overwhelmed him, sending him crashing to the ground.<br /> The henchmen who had come with Frank, previously defeated by Wesley, now scrambled to their feet and fled in all directions.<br /> Who would dare provoke someone who could afford such a car?<br /> "My sister is Taylor Reed, the chairperson of Reed Group," Frank shouted, clutching his head.<br /> Ignoring him, one of the bodyguards dragged him to the roadside grass while another used a belt to tighten around Frank's neck, exerting pressure.<br /> "Enough, a lesson is all that's needed." Wesley spoke calmly, and only when the lady gestured did the bodyguards release Frank.<br /> Frank lay there, already unconscious.<br /> Wesley turned to the lady. "Who are you?"<br /> "I am Mia Roberts, the general manager of Vinver Business Alliance's Yeadeo branch." She looked at Wesley and continued, "Mr. Harrington, my father mentioned that you have miraculous healing skills and earnestly requested your assistance. A generous reward awaits."<br /> Wesley furrowed his brow slightly, thinking, "There are indeed people who recognize my abilities and status, yet I've rarely intervened in the past five years. Today, shortly after I divorced Taylor, she is here. Whose arrangement is this?"<br /> "Mr. Harrington, my father also mentioned that you are benevolent and has raised the banner of compassion among healers, serving as a role model and benchmark for all in the medical field."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "You have a way with words. Tell me the specifics."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, please get in the car first. I will explain in detail on the way."<br /> The phrase "compassionate healer" held significant weight for Wesley, who had saved countless lives from the brink of death.<br /> Without further ado, he got into the car.<br /> Inside, after Mia brewed coffee for Wesley, she began. "Vinver Business Alliance has a wide range of business operations, and I mainly oversee the health supplement sector, which has seen some success in recent years.<br /> "Recently, Quinn Kingsley started using our medicines, and now there's an accident."<br /> As she spoke, Mia kept her gaze fixed on Wesley.<br /> Quinn, the undisputed leader of Yeadeo, was a figure of immense influence.<br /> Upon hearing this name, Wesley showed no particular reaction. "If the city's leader faces issues with your products, it is indeed a concern. Let's go and see."<br /> With just a sentence, Wesley leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest.<br /> Mia was secretly alarmed, thinking, "He knows who Quinn is, yet he seems indifferent. Who is this Wesley, really? No wonder Dad has instructed me to find a way to win his favor." Mia's inner resistance toward Wesley quietly shifted.<br /> Wesley had piqued her curiosity.<br /> As the vehicle was moving, Wesley's phone rang.<br /> Wesley opened his eyes and took out his phone to see Taylor calling.<br /> Pressing the answer button, he asked, "What's the matter?"<br /> On the other end of the line, Taylor, driving towards Feidgeuo Manor, had a grim expression.<br /> She thought, "Has Wesley ever spoken to me in such a cold tone before? Is he really this heartless right after our divorce?"<br /> Already furious, she snapped. "Wesley, do you even consider yourself a human being?<br /> "Today, not only did you lay hands on my mother, but you also had someone attack my brother. Do you not remember our past at all?"<br /> Wesley calmly replied, "Do we have a past to remember?"<br /> "You truly are a heartless scumbag, just as my mother said. You are an ungrateful and vicious person I raised for five years. Even a pet would wag its tail at me!"<br /> Taylor wanted to continue her tirade, but the phone line had already turned busy.<br /> This only fueled her anger further.<br /> Just now, she had received a call from Frank's underlings, informing her that Wesley had sent people to attack Frank and even intended to end him.<br /> Taylor wanted to demand answers, but...<br /> As Taylor was clutching her fists, her gaze turned icy.<br /> After a moment, she picked up her phone again. "Wesley, you are so narrow-minded. You have no ambition. Any lady would steer clear of you."<br /> "Just because I dumped you, you are doing this on purpose to make me feel sick. Pretending to be aloof and seeking revenge? Do you even deserve it?"<br /> "In Yeadeo, squashing you would be as easy as squashing an ant. You're asking for it! If anything happens to my brother, I will make you wish you were ending!"<br /> Her furious voice message echoed in the car.<br /> Wesley chuckled and put away his phone.<br /> Beside him, Mia seemed contemplative. Before coming, she had already ordered a swift investigation into Wesley.<br /> She was curious, thinking, "How could someone valued by my father could be the one 'marrying into' the Reed family."<br /> Being tactful, Mia chose not to ask and pretended not to have heard.<br /> After about forty minutes, they arrived at the Kingsley Manor.<br /> The Kingsley family members, upon seeing Mia alight from the car, all wore grim expressions.<br /> Mia greeted them with a smile, "Everyone, this is Wesley Harrington, Mr. Harrington, the miraculous healer I specially invited to treat Mr. Kingsley."<br /> "Him? The gent who married into the Reed family?"<br /> "A miraculous healer? Is he even worthy? Are healers so worthless now?"<br /> "A useless gent who mooches off of the Reed family? How dare he call himself a miraculous healer? Truly a joke among all jokes."<br /> Chapter 5 Compassionate Healer<br /> Amanda Kingsley, Quinn's granddaughter, stared coldly at Wesley and Mia.<br /> This lady, dressed in a smart suit, also held significant fame in Yeadeo, overseeing the region's business activities, including investment attraction and various local business negotiations.<br /> Amanda had a favorable view of Taylor, who had risen swiftly in recent times, and they had interacted frequently.<br /> She was aware of Wesley's existence and had advised Taylor to part ways with him early on.<br /> But Amanda never imagined that Mia would bring someone like Wesley, a complete waste, and claim he was a miraculous healer.<br /> Glaring at Mia, she said, "Mia, once my grandfather is well, it's best for your Roberts family to leave Yeadeo."<br /> "As for you..." She glanced at Wesley. "I will advise Taylor to divorce you. You have deceived Taylor's feelings and now shamelessly made your way into my family. You are a despicable creature."<br /> After reprimanding Mia and Wesley, she turned to an elderly gent beside her, and her tone and attitude completely changed. "Mr. Phillips, sorry to trouble you. My grandfather is inside, please."<br /> Mia looked at the elderly gent, who was already in his twilight years, feeling deeply shocked.<br /> Scott Phillips, the 38th generation heir of the Healing Clinic, was now ninety-two years old.<br /> Renowned as a miraculous healer, he was a respected figure in the medical community of Yeadeo and even nationally.<br /> He no longer conducted consultations personally due to his old age. Mia had visited him specifically to pay her respects once she had arrived in Yeadeo but had not met Scott.<br /> She never expected Scott to appear in person. It was understandable, as Quinn held a prominent position in the city. Despite the profound influence of the Phillips family, they still had to show respect to Quinn.<br /> Mia looked at Wesley, feeling conflicted and thinking, "Dad has confidently claimed that Wesley has extraordinary abilities, but does he really?"<br /> She harbored doubts, but out of propriety, Mia spoke. "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the trouble."<br /> Wesley smiled, "It's fine. As long as the person can be healed."<br /> His open-mindedness impressed Mia.<br /> After about half an hour, Amanda emerged from the room. All eyes instantly turned towards her.<br /> It was evident that Amanda had wailed out, with traces of tears still visible.<br /> "Amanda, how is it?" A middle-aged gent anxiously asked her.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family who had rushed back also focused their attention on her.<br /> "Mr. Phillips said that there's little hope of recovery. He could only use acupuncture to wake grandfather for half an hour. When grandfather wakes up, let's all go in and see if he has any final instructions."<br /> Everyone was shocked.<br /> "How could this be?"<br /> "Is Mr. Phillips also helpless?"<br /> The members of the Kingsley family found it hard to accept this reality, especially since Quinn had always treated his juniors well.<br /> The thought of Quinn departing saddened some, and tears silently fell.<br /> Publicly, Quinn's status was the foundation of the Kingsley family's prominence in Yeadeo.<br /> If Quinn were to pass away, the Kingsley family would undoubtedly decline.<br /> The atmosphere within the Kingsley family was somber.<br /> Amanda looked at her family members, opened her mouth, but said nothing, silently turning back into the room.<br /> "Stop crying," A middle-aged gent said sternly, "Dad wouldn't want to see you all in tears. If he's really leaving, we mustn't let him worry about us. Pull yourselves together."<br /> After these words, the middle-aged gent also entered the room.<br /> The younger members of the Kingsley family wiped their tears vigorously, trying to force smiles, but in truth, they looked better at crying than pretending to be happy.<br /> Mia's spirit plummeted as she realized the gravity of the situation. Even if an ordinary person passed away from consuming health supplements, it spelled big trouble for those who sold them. And when the deceased happened to be Quinn, the stakes were even higher.<br /> She understood that it would be difficult for this branch to stay in Yeadeo, and even the headquarters might face repercussions.<br /> "Let's go in and have a look." Wesley glanced at Mia. "There might still be a chance."<br /> "Ah..." Mia stared at Wesley in surprise. Seeing him already heading towards the room, she quickly followed suit.<br /> Inside the room, the members of the Kingsley family stood around the mattress, maintaining a certain distance.<br /> Scott lit the alcohol lamp and took out the needles, his expression solemn.<br /> He looked at the members of the Kingsley family. "Think about what you want to say to Mr. Kingsley later. Once you're ready, let me know, and then I'll proceed with the acupuncture."<br /> As he said this, tears welled up in many eyes.<br /> "If you don't mind, let me take a look. I have a way." Wesley spoke up, drawing everyone's attention.<br /> Amanda's face darkened. "Who let you in? Get out!"<br /> "Mia, have you lost your mind? Tricked by this trash and actually brought him here as a miracle healer. Get out with him! I'll settle the score with you in a couple of days."<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, at a loss for words.<br /> "Even Mr. Phillips is unable to reverse the situation. What use are you? Get out." Another younger member of the Kingsley family angrily rebuked.<br /> The middle-aged gent added, "We're in no mood right now. You better leave immediately."<br /> "I understand your narrow-mindedness," Wesley continued, "But as a healer, once I see a patient, I cannot stand by and watch him draw his last breath."<br /> "Wesley, you're quite the charlatan. Do you really want to be gone right now?" Amanda's voice was filled with anger.<br /> "Amanda, let me say a few words," Scott interjected, and Amanda fell silent.<br /> Looking at Wesley, Scott began. "Young lad, at my age, I've seen a lot and have a broad perspective. Today, however, I find it hard to remain indifferent. I practiced medicine from the age of sixteen until I stopped seeing patients for a total of seventy years."<br /> "I've saved countless patients from various illnesses. I never easily declare a patient's fate, nor do I believe I have the right to do so."<br /> "But from your recent remarks, it seems like you're accusing me of such actions. Young people wanting to make a name for themselves by stepping on the shoulders of their predecessors, I can understand."<br /> "But this kind of behavior displeases me."<br /> "My displeasure, what does it mean to you? Do you understand?"<br /> "Even if you are a healer, your career will be ruined because of this."<br /> Chapter 6 Hand of Hell<br /> In the face of Scott's veiled threats, Wesley simply smiled and brushed them off.<br /> Looking at Scott, he asked, "I've always focused on the issue at hand rather than attacking individuals. I have a few questions for you. If you can't administer the needles, how long do you think Quinn can hold on?"<br /> "Seven days, but he will remain unconscious," Scott replied bluntly.<br /> "Then let me ask you this, is there anyone in the world with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "Outrageous," Amanda coldly interjected, "Mr. Phillips is unparalleled in his medical expertise."<br /> Scott glanced at Amanda. "Amanda, let me handle this question."<br /> Continuing to address Wesley, he said, "I don't underestimate myself, nor do I overestimate. There are countless talented individuals in the world, like stars in the sky. I may not dare claim to be the best in medical skills, but those who surpass me are few."<br /> "That means there are some," Wesley calmly remarked, causing Scott's expression to shift slightly, "Indeed, there are."<br /> "Then let me ask you this. Do you think within seven days, the Kingsley family won't find someone with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "If they do find someone, do you believe there is an illness that you cannot cure, but this person can?"<br /> Wesley's questions were sharp and resounding.<br /> Scott's face changed once more as he was rendered speechless.<br /> "Even if there is, that person will never be you." Amanda's face turned icy. "Now get out. Don't spout your eloquence here. Your deceitful behavior is repulsive."<br /> "Your understanding of me is merely hearsay, isn't it?" Wesley retorted, his gaze mocking Amanda, "Has your background and education taught you such arrogance and prejudice?"<br /> "Arrogance?" Amanda's face grew colder as she disdainfully looked at Wesley. "Prejudice?<br /> "Did I say something wrong just now? You are nothing but stagnant waste, a parasite living off others. If it weren't for Taylor, you would have starved on the streets long ago."<br /> "Relying on sweet words, deceiving Taylor. She, with her kind heart, can't bear to divorce you, but don't push your luck. If it weren't for Taylor's sake, you would have been sent out long ago."<br /> Scott interrupted Amanda, "Amanda, although I find this lad a bit annoying, what he said does hold some truth. There are indeed individuals with better medical skills than me. Your grandfather can hold on for seven days. Try reaching out to see if someone can come over. I'll help you make connections."<br /> "If it really doesn't work out after seven days, I'll administer the needles to your grandfather. However, at that point, I can only buy you three minutes."<br /> As soon as Scott spoke, the faces of the Kingsley family members grew even more solemn. True healers were rare and not easily summoned.<br /> While the Kingsley family had connections in Yeadeo, their influence waned outside of it.<br /> "Mr. Phillips, please administer the needles. Life has its ups and downs, and we understand that. Just buy my father a bit more time." The middle-aged gent spoke up.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family nodded in agreement.<br /> Amanda looked at Scott. "Mr. Phillips, please."<br /> "In that case, please have everyone unrelated leave. I need silence," Scott calmly stated.<br /> Amanda glared at Wesley, her eyes speaking volumes without a word.<br /> The unrelated individuals were, naturally, Wesley and Mia.<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, intending to leave, but she suddenly hesitated.<br /> Instead of leaving, Wesley moved forward.<br /> "What are you doing?" A young member of the Kingsley family stepped forward with a stern expression, pushing Wesley.<br /> In one swift motion, Wesley executed a clean shoulder throw, toppling the young gent to the ground, his own expression turning cold.<br /> "A bunch of fools! If it weren't for my teacher's teachings about not turning a blind eye to those in need, I wouldn't bother with you ignorant lot," Wesley remarked with disdain.<br /> As Wesley effortlessly took down one individual from the Kingsley family, the others seemed slow to react.<br /> By the time they realized what was happening, Wesley had already picked up the needle next to Scott and casually flicked his wrist.<br /> The needle flew out of his hand, piercing Quinn's temple, followed by a second needle, a third needle, and so on.<br /> "What are you doing? Stop!" Amanda's voice rose in urgency, echoed by the rest of the Kingsley family members who rushed forward to restrain Wesley.<br /> "Stay back, everyone. Wait." Scott suddenly stood up, blocking the others. "Let him try."<br /> Amanda and the others were left dumbfounded, thinking, "What does this mean?"<br /> Despite their confusion, they heeded Scott's words.<br /> After Scott stopped the members of the Kingsley family, he fixed his gaze on Wesley.<br /> Wesley proceeded to use eighteen needles in succession, symbolizing the levels of pain.<br /> Even if someone had descended into the depths of hell, they must be brought back.<br /> The final needle, also piercing a vital point, caused Quinn's body to tremble suddenly, resonating with the previous eighteen needles.<br /> Scott's eyes widened, his body trembling slightly. His reaction left Amanda and the others even more puzzled, but none dared to interrupt.<br /> Moments later, Wesley placed a palm on Quinn's chest, causing all eighteen needles to be shaken off. When all the needles landed on the ground, the part of the skin where the needles had pierced turned dark.<br /> Wesley then dragged Quinn to the edge of the mattress, flipped him over with his head facing downwards, and gave him a firm pat on the back.<br /> Quinn spat out a mouthful of black liquid. When Wesley flipped him back to lie flat, his complexion had regained some color.<br /> "The Hand of Darkness... It's the Hand of Darkness!" Scott exclaimed with excitement, his body quivering, "It's the Hand that descends into the dark world, snatching people from the hands of the Evil!"<br /> "You do have some knowledge, recognizing the Hand of Darkness." Wesley glanced at Scott.<br /> Scott's gaze towards Wesley had undergone a drastic change. He respectfully clasped his hands together.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thirty years ago, I had the honor of attending a teaching conference held by Mr. Vanderbilt. I saw the Hand of Darkness, but my limited aptitude only allowed me to grasp the basics."<br /> "I have been blind and ignorant. I apologize for my earlier offenses. Please forgive me, Mr. Harrington."<br /> The Mr. Vanderbilt Scott referred to was Wesley's teacher, Ulysses Vanderbilt. He generously imparted his skills to others, but the ability to learn depended on one's innate talent.<br /> In this world, few could learn Ulysses' skills.<br /> Scott had been fortunate to receive guidance from Ulysses, which had elevated his medical skills. However, the Hand of Darkness, a miraculous ability, was beyond his comprehension.<br /> Wesley smiled faintly, "Your actions earlier are understandable. I appreciate your words."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you must be an exceptional disciple of Mr. Vanderbilt, possessing unparalleled magnanimity. Impressive," Scott continued.<br /> "Enough with the flattery at your age."<br /> "You are mistaken, Mr. Harrington. Every word I speak is sincere."<br /> Mia, Amanda, and the others stood bewildered by the unfolding situation.<br /> "Mr. Phillips... he... he..." Amanda's words faltered.<br /> Scott turned to the members of the Kingsley family. "Meeting Mr. Harrington was Quinn's luck. His symptoms have been cured by Mr. Harrington. With a few days of rest, he will be fine."<br /> The waste Taylor had previously said was called Mr. Harrington by Scott!<br /> Recalling their previous attitudes, Amanda hurriedly apologized, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> The members of the Kingsley family all apologized in unison, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> Chapter 7 Eight Plates of Noodles<br /> With a faint smile, Wesley remarked, "As family members of a patient, your actions earlier are understandable. There's no need for such formality."<br /> Amanda's perplexity deepened as she thought, "Where is the cowardly waste that Taylor described? This display of magnanimity and breadth is far from it."<br /> Mia, too, felt a shiver of realization, thinking, "No wonder Dad has insisted on my proximity to Wesley.<br /> This guy..."<br /> She gazed at Wesley, her curiosity piqued, a sense of exploration stirring within her.<br /> "Mia has brought you here, Mr. Harrington, to cure my grandfather. The Kingsley family will never forget this act. However, considering that my grandfather's ailment stemmed from the health supplements produced by the Vinver Business Alliance, we will be conducting an investigation into it."<br /> Amanda continued, looking at Wesley, "What do you think... of this approach?"<br /> It was Mia who had invited Wesley, so Amanda had grown wiser, refraining from asking for a direct punishment of the Vinver Business Alliance.<br /> As Mia heard Amanda's words, her heart skipped a beat, realizing trouble was brewing.<br /> "On the way here, Ms. Roberts briefed me on the situation. You conducted experiments on mice, correct?"<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes, the health supplements we received were exclusively provided by the Roberts family. There were no similar cases on the market, so we used mice for testing.<br /> "All the mice that ingested this supplement were gone."<br /> She looked at Mia and added, her voice turned colder. "Before the experiment, I specifically contacted Mia to inquire about the testing methods during the development phase, which involved mice."<br /> "There have been individuals eyeing my grandfather's position, some even wishing for his demise. I never imagined that the Vinver Business Alliance, which I attracted for investment, would become a weapon in someone else's hands."<br /> "Do you have any of the remaining medicine?" Wesley inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes."<br /> "Bring some over."<br /> Immediately, someone fetched the medicine. After it was brought to him, Wesley took out a supplement and swallowed it directly.<br /> This scene left Amanda and the others dumbfounded.<br /> Scott, too, was bewildered. "Mr. Harrington, what are you doing?"<br /> Wesley smiled, "Just proving that this medicine is not toxic."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thank you," Mia thanked sincerely, feeling like sobbing at that moment.<br /> Amanda, with a puzzled expression, looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, are you suggesting that my grandfather's condition wasn't caused by the Vinver Business Alliance's medicine? What about the mice?"<br /> The rest were equally puzzled.<br /> "Yes, but not entirely," Wesley said, leaving everyone even more bewildered.<br /> Mia's emotions were like a rollercoaster ride, from relief to immediate tension.<br /> "This medicine itself is not toxic, but when taken with another substance made from a certain plant, it results in Quinn's condition. The mice would die immediately, while humans could endure a few more days."<br /> Wesley continued to explain, "The plant used in this concoction is originally meant for crafting slow-acting toxins, not for human consumption."<br /> Looking at Amanda, Wesley said, "During this period, whoever had access to your grandfather and the mice will better understand why these events occurred."<br /> The gaze of members of the Kingsley family immediately focused on a lady.<br /> Amanda, somewhat incredulous, looked at her. "Can you offer an explanation?"<br /> The lady was the wife of Amanda's deceased brother. She found it hard to accept, as did the rest of the Kingsley family.<br /> This lady had been named the exemplary lady who served her family well this year, not due to her connection with the Kingsley family but because she genuinely deserved it.<br /> "What do you mean? Amanda, what explanation do you want from me?"<br /> The lady stared at Amanda. "Am I the only one who had access to Grandfather and the mice? You, and you... and you, who didn't have access?"<br /> "You all claim to treat me as family. Since I married into the Kingsley family, I have worked diligently, contributing my share even if not acknowledged."<br /> "Amanda, it has been over a year since your brother passed, and I never once considered remarrying. Now, just because of his words, you demand an explanation from me?"<br /> Pointing at Wesley, the lady questioned, "Just because he accuses me of poisoning, you suspect me? Tell me, did I poison him?" The lady glared at Wesley.<br /> "I am merely analyzing the facts. As for concluding this case, it's not within my purview," Wesley addressed the members of the Kingsley family, saying, "You should conduct a thorough investigation into this matter.<br /> "I will write a prescription. Have Quinn take it on time, and he will recover in seven days."<br /> Amanda hurried to fetch paper and pen while Wesley prepared the prescription. Once done, he was ready to leave.<br /> Amanda said hurriedly, "Mr. Harrington, I've already made arrangements for lunch."<br /> "No need," Wesley smiled.<br /> The Kingsley family sought to build closer ties with Wesley, given his extraordinary medical skills. Wesley was well aware of this.<br /> Looking at Amanda and the others, Wesley remarked, "In the future, if you encounter any difficult medical cases that others cannot solve, seek me out. Remember, cases others cannot solve."<br /> The gaze of the Kingsley family members toward Wesley changed once again. Many renowned healers had eccentric personalities and were difficult to engage.<br /> They hadn't expected Wesley to possess such remarkable medical skills without any airs.<br /> As Wesley prepared to depart, the members of the Kingsley family did not dare to insist on his stay, so they accompanied him outside.<br /> "Oh, how could we forget such an important matter? Amanda, what about the consultation fee?" The middle-aged gent inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the oversight. Please wait a moment." Amanda hurried back inside and soon returned with a bank card in hand.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, there's one million dollars in here."<br /> Without hesitation, Wesley accepted the bank card and boarded Mia's car.<br /> During the journey, Mia boldly looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, you've helped me immensely. Can I treat you to a meal? Don't decline in a hurry. It's not a fancy restaurant, but it will leave you wanting more. It's a small place on the street, with only eight plates of noodles served each day, each plate containing different ingredients."<br /> "I managed to secure a reservation. Are you interested?"<br /> Wesley thought, "Eight Plates of Noodles?<br /> "Ah, Aaron's restaurant. It has been a while since I visited those old friends."<br /> Wesley nodded. "Let's go then."<br /> The restaurant, Eight Plates of Noodles, was located on Chanxold Street near the Yeadeo First Central Hospital.<br /> The establishment was small, serving only eight plates of noodles each day at a price of 10 thousand dollars each. Vernoic's television culinary program had specifically covered this incident.<br /> Reservations were a must to secure a plate.<br /> The restaurant's owner had a mysterious background. While the specifics were unknown, a high-ranking noble from the capital of Vernoic, Kingsland, had caused a scene there once.<br /> He had attempted to force his way in without a reservation. Although this incident hadn't been reported, rumors suggested that a garbage truck had to be called to dispose of the intruder's remains, as he was too shattered to be removed by conventional means.<br /> Since then, no one dared to cause trouble.<br /> On their way, Mia introduced Wesley to the background story.<br /> "Mr. Turner, two plates of noodles." Mia called out once they arrived.<br /> Aaron Turner didn't respond but visibly paused upon seeing Wesley beside Mia.<br /> A faint smile appeared on his usually stoic face. Though the flesh on the face seemed stiff, it was indeed a smile. "Coming right up."<br /> Chapter 8 You Are Blushing<br /> Mia glanced at Aaron with a hint of surprise, thinking, "When does he become so warm and enthusiastic?<br /> His tone seemed a bit agitated earlier, didn't it?"<br /> Soon enough, Aaron brought two plates of noodles to the table. One steaming hot and the other devoid of any warmth.<br /> As Mia observed Aaron placing the plate without steam in front of Wesley, her expression changed slightly.<br /> It was a plate of instant noodles having soaked in cold water, with the seasoning barely dissolved.<br /> She felt a sense of panic. Mia had wanted to leave a good impression on Wesley, which was why she had chosen this place.<br /> However, Aaron had served such a plate of noodles.<br /> She dared not question Aaron. The type of noodles served here was not determined by the guests but by Aaron's mood.<br /> "This lass named Mia is quite something, living up to her name, and quite kind-hearted," Aaron remarked, looking at Wesley.<br /> "Get lost," Wesley retorted, using his fork to pick up the noodles and devouring them.<br /> Mia's face turned pale instantly. Disrespecting Aaron was akin to risking Wesley's life.<br /> To her astonishment, Aaron chuckled, tears welling up in his eyes.<br /> He wiped them away. "Alright, I'll leave you to your meal."<br /> Before departing, he gave Mia a thumbs-up. "Seize the opportunity."<br /> The eight plates of noodles symbolized the eight comrades who had faced life and hardships together.<br /> Wesley ate voraciously. Initially, they had only one pack of instant noodles to share among the eight of them, forcing them to divide it.<br /> Despite the circumstances, they devoured the noodles joyfully.<br /> Aaron had promised that once they survived, each one would have the most delicious plate of noodles.<br /> However, five of the eight had perished.<br /> Wesley had come dangerously close to life-threatening situations, but managed to cling to life.<br /> For him, the plate of noodles was not food but the bond of friendship that had shielded him from harm.<br /> "Do you... know each other?" Mia couldn't help but ask, her voice low and curious.<br /> "Some things are better left unknown," Wesley replied.<br /> Mia nodded in understanding, falling silent as they continued eating noodles. She couldn't help stealing glances at Wesley throughout the meal.<br /> This gent had piqued her curiosity even more.<br /> "Wesley, I see. No wonder you agreed to the divorce so readily. You've already found someone else outside."<br /> A sharp voice interrupted their meal.<br /> Taylor approached with a cold expression, accompanied by Henry.<br /> Taylor's mother was in the nearby hospital, and she had just picked up Frank, planning to buy some food when she unexpectedly saw Wesley.<br /> Of course, she saw Mia, too.<br /> Seeing Wesley dining with a lady more attractive than herself, so soon after the divorce felt like a dagger twisting in Taylor's heart.<br /> Her anger was uncontrollable.<br /> Wesley merely glanced at Taylor, disinterested in engaging with her.<br /> Taylor was stung by his indifferent gaze. She stepped forward, glaring at Wesley. "Are you not going to explain to me?"<br /> Mia looked at Taylor, silently cursing her as a foolish lady.<br /> Wesley continued eating his noodles, lowering his head. "Get lost. Don't disturb me, or I won't hesitate to hit you."<br /> "What did you say?" Henry stepped forward, enraged. "Wesley, try laying a hand on her! Is that all you're capable of? Laying hands on ladies?"<br /> "No wonder Taylor looks down on you. You're truly disgusting trash. Apologize to Taylor now, or else you'll regret coming into this world."<br /> "And how will he regret it? Tell me." Aaron emerged, carrying a cleaver, smiling as he faced Henry and Taylor.<br /> "Mr. Turner, we dare not cause trouble in your place, but this guy is just..."<br /> Henry attempted to speak but was cut off as Aaron's cleaver struck his face, sending him sprawling to the ground.<br /> "Mr. Turner, sorry, we'll leave now." Taylor hastily helped Henry up and hurriedly left.<br /> These two individuals were fortunate to know the legendary story behind Eight Plates of Noodles and had successfully made reservations to dine here multiple times.<br /> Having distanced themselves a bit, Henry covered his face and pointed at Wesley. "Wesley, we have some unfinished business. If you're smart, come over here now and apologize."<br /> "Wesley, I've seen through you as well. I never expected that for the past five years, you've been using my money to keep a lady on the side. We'll settle the score slowly."<br /> As the two noticed Aaron glancing their way, they quickly shut their mouths and hurriedly left.<br /> Once they were out of eyeshots, Aaron fixed his gaze on Wesley. "Your dad doesn't know about your divorce yet, does he?"<br /> "What difference would it make if he did?" Wesley stretched lazily. "I've fulfilled my promise. I've given enough."<br /> Aaron nodded in acknowledgment without saying anything further.<br /> This piqued Mia's curiosity even more. "Is it like what the novels depict? Did you marry Taylor due to some special event?"<br /> Seeing Wesley's glare, Mia lowered her head to focus on her noodles. "I won't ask anymore."<br /> "For the past five years, you've been staying in the stairwell. It has been hard for you, but at least you're still untouched," Aaron remarked before swiftly departing.<br /> Mia stared at Wesley in disbelief, realizing that Aaron's words were meant for her ears.<br /> "What are you staring at? Eat your noodles," Wesley said. Mia chuckled.<br /> "Why are you laughing?"<br /> "You're blushing."<br /> "Nonsense," Wesley retorted.<br /> Unable to contain herself, Mia burst into laughter. She had tried to hold it in, but seeing Wesley's flushed face made it impossible.<br /> Ten minutes later, Mia left on her own accord, sensing that Wesley had something to discuss with Aaron.<br /> Inside Aaron's small shop, Wesley opened a bottle of wine. "Still single?"<br /> "I look too old, no one's interested," Aaron replied, opening a bottle of liquor as well.<br /> "Then why are you meddling in my love lives?"<br /> "Leave a child behind, even if you pass away, someone will remember you." Aaron took a sip. "I've actually investigated this Mia."<br /> "You investigated her?"<br /> "I knew you'd get a divorce. I've been keeping an eye on the pretty ones. This girl had done a lot of good deeds before coming to Yeadeo. Once, she saved three people in a flood and nearly lost her life. Opportunities are rare. You have to seize them."<br /> "When you've figured things out and are ready to marry, then we can discuss our affairs. That's the condition." Wesley downed the entire bottle of liquor.<br /> "Otherwise, don't bother meddling. We're on a one-way path and can't drag others along."<br /> "You..." Aaron sighed as he watched Wesley's retreating figure.<br /> On the road leading to the Feidgeuo Manor, Taylor stood gazing blankly at the entrance not far away.<br /> Twice in one day, she had come here.<br /> The first time was to pick up Frank, and this time was because Frank had lost his expensive watch. She and Henry hadn't even had a meal, rushing over to find it.<br /> The first time, she had come in a hurry when Frank was injured and left quickly as well.<br /> But this time, as Taylor looked at the entrance ahead, an infinite longing sprouted within her.<br /> "If only... I could live here, how wonderful that would be."<br /> Henry looked at her. "One day, I'll definitely build an estate more magnificent than this, and you'll be the lady of the house."<br /> As they conversed, a taxi drove by, stopping at the entrance. The person who got out of the taxi left Taylor stunned.<br /> She rubbed her eyes.	Adoread	147	https://facebook.com/61556400142540	LEARN_MORE	1713682800	View Edit Delete
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1667188	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727718	1734958303	695	690004706465416	1	4.5303494043365E+14	1712300400	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	127476320437895	0	Joylit Novel	120209381871910155	cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more	NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712247653	1.274763204379E+14	Joylit Novel	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434556834_303239556118622_5498646322134783509_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fyvSd_m28f4Q7kNvgEKv_Qb&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCP9A_38GSDQONI7tO33ZpCYXuFr_e8pZc267-PjCpHCA&oe=663A7332	person_profile	0	Joylit Novel	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435508956_1469620883907092_7033058298699478901_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UKT-n3PqydIQ7kNvgEYxz2w&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDg730V2RjPrIRwQyuQeALkcGx19tTTdQ_IO7v0QOhqdA&oe=663A8622	0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: 'Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.'<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> 'If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,' he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. 'Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.' <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> 'We are going to fight,' I tell him through signing. 'The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.'<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. 'You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.'<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> 'Don’t do it,' I warn her. 'Don’t cross him.'<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I'm banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> 'Take him to the infirmary,' I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, 'I will be here for a while.'<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> 'I don’t know how you can hear me,' I say coldly, 'and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.'<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. 'Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.'<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> "I can't leave," I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. "I... this is the only home I know."<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. 'It doesn't matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.'<br /> I shake my head. "I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?"<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can't bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it's just because he can't stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it's because he doesn't want me to see something.<br /> "Tell me," I urge him. "What's the problem? You know it's not my fault."<br /> 'It doesn't matter,' he finally says. 'It has to end here. I'm sorry, Claudia.'<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what's remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don't want to go, that I shouldn't. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don't know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don't know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it's Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * <br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. 'I have done my best. I protected the people—'<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> 'I’m afraid I don’t understand,' I sign to her. 'The battle ended there.'<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 6<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> I wake up with a gasp, sitting up abruptly like a marionette whose strings got yanked. My head starts to spin, but it’s not because there was no gentle introduction to the waking world.<br /> It’s because of the dream.<br /> Because of Claudia.<br /> I clutch my chest and feel that my heart is going haywire. My back is slick with sweat and I can almost feel it soaking my sheets. I close my eyes for a moment, gathering my thoughts, but the first thing I see in the darkness is Claudia’s face. Her voice is ringing in my ears, the first voice I have heard in so many years.<br /> She’s the Siren, the Moon Goddess said. The Alpha’s Voice.<br /> What does that mean? What does it have to do with me? What does that make her? I have more questions than answers and the frustration building up inside me is turning into anger. I don’t want that. I have to focus.<br /> Because if there is one thing I know, it’s that I fucked up by demanding her to leave.<br /> And I need to get her back.<br /> Fueled by the sudden fiery desire to chase after her and hold her down in the castle if I need to, I jump out of bed. I push open the door and startle the guards. I can see them mouthing, “What is the trouble, Alpha?”<br /> I ignore all of them. I just run along the hallway until I find Kiernan’s room. The guards step aside when they see me, so I push open the door, stumbling inside like a sweaty, clumsy ogre.<br /> Meanwhile, Kiernan is still awake, staring through the window. My heart sinks when I see that it’s already daylight outside, but I still have to try. I need to.<br /> Kiernan turns around, frowns at me, and asks, “Your Majesty. What brings you here?”<br /> He knows that it irks me when he calls me that, but I ignore it anyway. 'I need to find the maid, Claudia.'<br /> I thought he would ask why, but he just narrows his eyes. “The maid you kicked out last night? I found her in the freezing cold, just staring into the distance like she couldn’t believe what happened. I actually told her I would talk to you about it, but when I got to your room, you were already asleep.”<br /> His words hit me like arrows to the heart. I can almost picture Claudia standing where I left her, crying and wondering what she did wrong, all the while I was sleeping soundly with no care in the world….<br /> No. I can’t think about that. It hurts too much.<br /> I step back, the tightness in my chest so extreme that I have to inhale and exhale slowly. Every time I blink I see her distraught face and hear her broken voice, appealing her case and showing me that she deserved to stay.<br /> And what did I do? I kicked her right out like she meant nothing.<br /> Like we never had anything together.<br /> I swallow hard. ‘I need her back here. I made a mistake.’<br /> “Then let’s go to the maids’ quarters,” Kiernan offers. “Maybe she’s still there.”<br /> I nod, and together, we barge into the lower floor where the maids stay. The rooms are already empty as they start their day at dawn. Every empty room we pass makes me want to punch something in regret, but I can still catch the sweet scent of Claudia in the air, lingering like a whisper. Finally, we arrive at her room, where her scent is strongest. The door is still closed.<br /> Kiernan lifts his hand to knock, but I’m desperate. I open the door.<br /> And there is one person inside the room. But it’s not Claudia.<br /> It’s a maid I remember as Maia, her best friend here. She whips around as soon as we get in, and I immediately see her swollen eyes and red face.<br /> “Alpha,” she mutters, sinking into a bow. “Gamma. I will go to work as soon as possible.”<br /> “No, take the time you need,” Kiernan says. “You are obviously in distress. What happened?”<br /> My breath gets stuck in my throat. I already know what she’s going to say, but I find myself searching the room in hopes of finding any proof that Claudia actually chose to stay.<br /> However, the room is blissfully empty. Vacated for the next maid.<br /> “Claudia left, Gamma,” she answers. “She said she needed to go back to her family. It was just so unexpected. I asked her if it had something to do with the meeting, and she said no. She said she’s tired of working. I don’t believe that. She always loved working here….”<br /> I freeze in shock. Kiernan glances at me pointedly before turning back to Maia. “I completely understand. Please, take the day off and rest. The Alpha and I will get going now.”<br /> He grabs me by the arm and pulls me out of the room, closing the door behind us. I can’t even walk properly. I can’t believe what I just heard.<br /> After all the bad things I said to her, she still chose to cover for me.<br /> I stop moving as soon as we reach the foyer. I hold onto the stair banister for support, my throat closed up.<br /> Kiernan stands next to me. “What happened, Your Majesty?”<br /> ‘Don’t call me that,’ I sign to him. ‘Go prepare a carriage—no. A horse. Ready a horse for me. I will be setting out soon—’<br /> “No, you’re not,” he interjects, his eyebrows scrunched up. “You are the Alpha King. Do you know what it would mean to the Rogues if they took down the head of the whole land? The revolution would be over!”<br /> ‘Fine, I will do it myself.’ I try to push past him but he blocks me. ‘Move out of my way. I need Claudia back here right now.’<br /> He shakes his head, putting a firm hand on my chest. “You’d have to kill me if you want to leave alone.”<br /> Kiernan is one of my oldest friends and most loyal men. We’ve butted heads many times before, but not like this. I can see his quiet anger, and I know from the look in his eyes that he can feel mine. Still, he stands his ground, staring at me like he’s daring me to attack him right now.<br /> And I almost want to. The thought of Claudia getting farther and farther away is tearing my soul apart.<br /> But I take a deep breath to steady myself. ‘You don’t understand.’<br /> “Then make me understand.”<br /> ‘Claudia is important to me,’ I tell him after a pause. ‘The Moon Goddess told me so. She is the Siren and the Alpha’s Voice. I have to get her back or else—’<br /> “Alpha Achilles.”<br /> He signals me to turn around. I see Carlos standing by the end of the stairs, his torso still wrapped in bandages.<br /> However, he’s not alone. Standing next to him are the Housekeeper and the Chief Butler. Both of them are carrying files, laid out as though they’re asking for advice.<br /> ‘What is this?’ I signal to Carlos. ‘I don’t need any interruptions right now. I have somewhere else to go.’<br /> Carlos shakes his head to stop me. “Alpha… today is the Winter Solstice festival. Our pack is hosting. You cannot go anywhere.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 7<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> The journey from Sangria Amori to my hometown feels long and short at the same time. As I sit there in the carriage watching the palace disappear behind a mountain in the distance and begin to see the tall magnolia trees surrounding the famous springs of my home, I can’t help but feel a mixture of longing and relief.<br /> Longing because it’s been my home for years and years. I have made good memories and bonded with amazing people. I overcame a lot of bad things. I met the one I thought I would know forever.<br /> But the relief comes from the loss of all of that. From the knowledge that from now on, I would be free from that palace and everyone in it.<br /> Especially Achilles.<br /> My heart still makes a little flip at the simple thought of his name. I still have to clench my hands and pierce my own palms with my nails to remind myself that I shouldn’t be thinking about him. But thankfully, I don’t have to acknowledge it because the carriage finally stops. The coachman Peter calls out from the front, smacking the carriage door with his cane. “You’re here now, girl. It’s time to move out.”<br /> I gather all my bags and sling them all on my shoulders, slightly struggling with the weight as I climb down the rickety old carriage. “Thank you so much, Peter.”<br /> I give him a happy salute, about to head to the arch that reads Nightshade Springs. But then, I hear him calling out, “Are you sure you’re going to be safe from here on?”<br /> That makes me pause. So far, throughout the whole journey, I haven’t sensed any Rogues at all. But Peter has a point. The infestation of Rogues is very much real and rampant, and I haven’t been to my hometown in five years. I honestly don’t know what’s waiting in store for me here.<br /> But still, I don’t want to bother him. If there is any danger out here, I would rather face it; I know that he has a family.<br /> So I just smile at him. “I got it, Peter. Thank you again and be careful on your way back!”<br /> He looks uncertain, but he leaves anyway, whipping the horses until they gallop faster. Soon enough, he’s gone.<br /> And I’m alone in the middle of the woods, surrounded by the familiar fresh scent of springs and pine.<br /> The scent of home.<br /> A soft smile appears on my face as I start to walk, following the stone path that leads to the edge of the village where the cemetery is.<br /> I suppose it’s a grim thing to start with, but I’ve been meaning to visit my parents’ graves for the past years. Grief and the start of the revolution put a halt to all of that, so now I feel quite happy that I get to see them, even if it’s just this way.<br /> My mom was a maid like I am. Or was. Either way, she served the palace too, specifically as a handmaiden to the former Queen. My dad was a gardener. She died from deadly flu five years ago, and he followed right after.<br /> Back then, I thought this was unfair. How could they leave me in this world alone? I was resentful. But eventually, I realized that it may have been out of love. He was never able to be apart from her for any period of time, and not even death could stop him from chasing after her.<br /> They told me that they met each other at a gathering for servants, and my father fell in love with my mother when he first heard her sing. I honestly can’t blame him. She had the most wonderful voice, and he always said that I had that beautiful voice too. I never really knew if he was just making that up, but the ones who heard me sing also told me that I do have a pretty voice.<br /> The memory brings a smile to my face, and as I approach their graves, I find myself humming along to the tune of my mother’s lullaby.<br /> Their graves are now covered in ivy. I sweep some of the leaves away and light a candle for them.<br /> I sit there for a while, watching the light flicker on their gravestones. I reach out and feel the warmth, opening my mouth to talk to them like I always did, but that’s when something strikes me.<br /> The sour, rotten smell.<br /> My entire body freezes. I shoot to my feet, clutching my bags closer to me as I look around. My heart is beating in my ears and I almost want to whimper, but it only gets worse when I finally see a single Rogue.<br /> It’s hiding behind gravestones in the distance, its eyes gleaming with hunger and malice as they focus on me. Its low growls make the ground hum. There’s tension in the air, thick and suffocating, telling me it’s been stalking me like prey for a while now. It’s still far but ready to spring. Ready to chase and feed.<br /> And I know that if I take one step back, it will come out and kill me.<br /> I slowly exhale, stepping back and feeling it move with me, keeping the distance between us the same.<br /> Bit by bit, I ease my bags off my shoulders and set them down. The eyes of the Rogue follow my movement like two laser pointers. I slip my hand in my pocket, looking for the silver knife that Maia gave me as a parting gift, ready to it down.<br /> As though on cue, the Rogue leaps into the air as soon as I raise the knife.<br /> But I’m ready this time. I don’t come to meet it. Instead, I stand my ground, waiting for the perfect moment. As soon as it flies midair to pounce on me, I duck right under it and run the knife along its throat.<br /> The Rogue falls to the ground with a whimper. It scrambles to get upright again, but before it can do so, I stomp its fragile head flat with my boot, its blood spattering everywhere.<br /> “Thank the gods,” I mutter, but that’s when I realize that I spoke too soon.<br /> As soon as the Rogue stops moving, the forest seems to come alive right before me. More Rogues emerge from the trees, sniffing and snarling, their eyes alight with joy when they see a perfectly good meal severely outnumbered.<br /> All at once, they jump toward me.<br /> A scream breaks out of my lips. I raise my bags to shield myself, but at this point, it’s only a matter of time before they take me down and feast on me. I’m only waiting for the pain now….<br /> But before it can come, I hear loud bangs in the distance. Gunshots. Followed by the loud thuds of the Rogues hitting the ground, dropping like dead flies.<br /> I lower my bags in horror. All the Rogues are dead, their heads bleeding from a single smoking puncture wound between their eyes. I’m about to turn around to see my savior, but then I feel the still-hot muzzle of the gun against my back.<br /> “Drop your knife if you want to live. Who are you and what do you need?”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 8<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The first thing that rises out of me is not frustration from being told what to do, but embarrassment from forgetting about the big event. I know that Carlos just had a bad injury that he’s still most likely dealing with, but I have a situation on my hands that I just can’t shake off, but I can't help but avert my gaze in shame.<br /> Carlos, Kiernan, and the two head staff are staring at me expectantly, and I just want to sink into the ground and never reappear.<br /> I look over at Kiernan, who gives me a small shrug like he’s telling me that it’s all up to me.<br /> The obvious thing to do is to just delay the festival and focus on the very important task of finding Claudia. But I know that my people are counting on this one single happy day among all the bad ones. They need this. And as much as I need Claudia here with me, they come first.<br /> I take a deep, steadying breath. ‘I apologize. It must have slipped my mind. Prepare the decorations and we shall have a lunch banquet in the throne room.’<br /> Carlos nods and repeats my words to the head staff. Then, he turns back to me and asks, “How about the evening celebrations?”<br /> ‘We’ll see,’ I sign to him.<br /> With that, the head staff both bow and leave. Now it’s only the three of us, and they look pained.<br /> “So what’s been happening?” Carlos splutters at last. “Where are you going?”<br /> Kiernan is the one who answers for him. “He kicked out the maid, Claudia, and now he has to bring her back because the Moon Goddess told him so in a dream. He wants to go out there himself.”<br /> ‘I have to,’ I tell them both. 'I still do, but with the festival..."<br /> And of course, they just look at me like they feel sorry for me. I’m about to tell them both to supervise so I can go, but then Kiernan sighs and says, “I’ll get some of our warriors, and we will go and find her.”<br /> Without giving me a chance to say anything about this, Kiernan leaves. Carlos then looks at me and beckons me to go up the stairs.<br /> “After you, Alpha. Let’s give the people a good celebration.”<br /> * *<br /> When I arrive at the throne room after changing into my formal suit, it is already decked with blue and silver decorations fit for the winter solstice theme. Food is flowing in, music is playing, and it seems that all the citizens are gathering.<br /> When Carlos and I enter, it takes me a whole while to notice that the throne room isn’t even halfway filled. As I sit on my throne, I see that my people are not eating, drinking, or having fun at all. They are just gathered at the little tables, engaged in serious conversation.<br /> More people are coming in, greeted by the butlers by the door. I keep thinking that this new batch will come and let loose, but they just gather like the rest of the guests.<br /> It’s starting to make me nervous. I agreed to this party thinking it would be best for their morale, but it seems that they’re just as uninterested in the occasion as I was.<br /> ‘This is not going well,’ I tell Carlos, who’s standing on my right side. He’s not fully recovered yet, but he insisted on coming here. ‘It would be best to cut this short.’<br /> As soon as I say those words, guilt starts to drum in my chest. I know that I should try to make things more festive instead of thinking about Claudia, but not knowing how things are on that front is almost as bad as being here and seeing my people feeling blue.<br /> “I think it would be best if you go down and communicate with them personally,” Carlos says, and I can’t believe I never thought of that before.<br /> I get up from my throne with the full intent of going around, but then I see a familiar face by the door. Someone I really don’t want to see.<br /> Alpha Tristan.<br /> He’s still wearing a coat, speckled with snow. The butler tries to take it from him but he pushes him away, which makes me tense up, immediately ready for a fight. However, he’s not alone. Walking behind him like lapdogs are the Alphas of his neighboring packs: Giorgio, Anthony, and Larkin.<br /> Their auras are so domineering and so distracting that the people in the throne room stop what they’re doing and just watch them approach me. But instead of meeting them halfway, I remain standing in front of the throne with the steps of the dais separating us.<br /> None of them bows down to me.<br /> “What are you doing here?” Carlos asks, and it perfectly reflects what’s in my mind, just more polite.<br /> Tristan flashes me a smirk. “We’re here because we’re tired of the preposterous games that Sangria Amori is playing. We need change!”<br /> Even though I can’t hear him, I can feel the vibrations of his scream on the walls and the floor. He’s livid, and because of this, the people in the room are tuning in.<br /> I don’t like the admiring and interested looks on their faces. I look at Carlos. ‘We shouldn’t have this talk here.’<br /> “Alpha Tristan.” Carlos gives him a strained smile, motioning him to come along. “We shall move this conversation to a more private location and perhaps—”<br /> “Get your hands off me.” Tristan pushes past him and squares up to me. “What you’re doing to these people is sickening. Making them show up here, forced to have fun, when they are suffering from problems you would never know about from your high throne. You’re making a mockery of their situation, flaunting your privilege in their faces.”<br /> I want to push him down the steps and pound his face into a pulp, but I restrain myself. Instead, I just sign something that Carlos translates with perfect contempt.<br /> “Get out, right now.”<br /> Tristan only scoffs, facing the people. “Last night, instead of meeting with the rest of the Alphas and coming up with a way to erase the Rogues, Alpha King Achilles was late. He left us on our own when we had a Rogue attack. It’s painfully obvious that his disabilities have made him selfish, and unfit to rule our land.”<br /> This time, my temper gets the best of me. I grab him by the arm with the full intent of punching him in the face as soon as he turns, but I stop when the people gasp.<br /> They’re now looking at me in horror.<br /> I slowly let him go. He starts to walk away, step by step, not taking his eyes off me. There’s a certain gleam in his eyes that I can’t identify, but the hairs on the back of my neck are standing on end.<br /> Only when he’s standing by the door do I know why.<br /> “We will no longer take orders from the Alpha King,” Tristan declares, his gaze still on me. “We will handle the Rogues our way, the right way. And those who want to join us would be offered full protection.”<br /> With that, he leaves.<br /> And I watch in horror as some of my citizens begin to get up from their seats, following him out.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 9<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> “Don’t shoot me,” I mutter, and I cringe when I hear the fear in my voice. I hate that I faced that single Rogue like a boss only to fold like this. “I’m not a danger to anyone. I’m a local here. I just moved for work at the palace…”<br /> I stop when I realize I’m about to ramble. I just drop the knife. As soon as it clatters on the floor, I feel the muzzle of the gun easing off my back. I take this as a cue to turn around, and I come face to face with a young man about my age, with straw-colored hair and brown eyes. He’s carrying a massive silver shotgun with rounds of big silver bullets around his body.<br /> He’s studying me closely, fixing his flannel shirt. “Who are you?”<br /> “Claudia Hale,” I say shakily. I even bow, which is dumb, but I guess it’s not so stupid if it stops him from shooting me. “I just came here to visit my parents.”<br /> At first, he doesn’t say anything. My nerves are starting to act up and I find myself basically skipping in my spot. But finally, he asks, “Hale, huh? Do you happen to be related to Ruth?”<br /> My eyes go wide. “Yes! Ruth is my cousin.”<br /> The man’s shoulders relax. He cracks a smile, and suddenly he doesn’t seem so scary anymore. “You must be the cousin she talks about a lot. The singer. I’m Max, by the way. Follow me.”<br /> We shake hands, and I can’t help but feel giddy.<br /> My cousin Ruth is here. I can’t believe it. We were very close as kids, even though we only saw each other over the summers. She left Nightshade Springs when we were both eighteen, and the last thing I heard about her was that she got married to a mason from the nearby village. We saw each other at my dad’s funeral, but we didn’t get to talk much because of my own grief.<br /> But now, I’m going to see her. I wonder if she has kids now.<br /> The thought of little babies running around makes me so excited, so much so that I almost forget to follow Max as he leads me out of the cemetery through an unfamiliar path. I quickly pick up the knife and run after him.<br /> I frown as I pull level with Max. "Why are we using this path?"<br /> The moment the question leaves my lips, the answer comes to me when we turn a corner.<br /> For the first time, I come face to face with the aftermath of the Rogue infestation.<br /> The village is now completely deserted. The houses are dilapidated, empty and broken. The smell of Rogues is present, but distant, which tells me that the place is visited frequently but they're not actually here. Dried blood is scattered all over the ground like paint.<br /> "That's animal blood," Max explains, following the direction of my gaze. "We vacated this place a long time ago. We still live in this area, but we decided to stick close together to protect ourselves from the Rogues. We figured that it would be best if we show them a strong front. The Kingdom doesn't really do much for us, so we have to take matters into our own hands."<br /> I swallow hard, averting my gaze as we turn another corner, a hidden path behind a small hill.<br /> "Does the Kingdom not visit the villages at all?" I ask.<br /> Max shakes his head. "Nope. Not at all. They send guards from time to time, but you see how many Rogues there are. You know how violent they can be. We needed weapons to protect ourselves, but they just won't provide that. I think they keep it to themselves, leave everyone else defenseless."<br /> I keep quiet. I don't know what to say. Part of me wants to defend the palace. I mean, I know they have it hard, and Achilles is doing his best. But then again, who am I to dismiss their suffering?<br /> I open my mouth to ask where they got their weapons, but then we arrive at a fenced part of the village. Barbed wires are set on tall metal walls, behind which small compact buildings stand proud.<br /> He opens the gate carefully, and we both enter. There are a couple of villages standing watch, carrying guns similar to his. They stare at me, and I have to lower my head to avoid the intensity of their looks.<br /> I want to tell Max that I just want to see Ruth, but before I can get the question out, I see two people running towards me.<br /> I look up and my heart nearly gives out when I see that it's Ruth, together with a tall bearded man who must be her husband.<br /> "Claudia!" she squeals, and before I can even drop my bags, she scoops me up into a big hug. "You're home! It's been so long!"<br /> I blink the tears away when she lets me go. "I figured it was time to retire and just stay here."<br /> I feel guilty. I lied to Maia and now I'm lying to Ruth.<br /> “You loved that job, but I do understand,” she says, and I can’t help but be thankful that she didn’t press me for more details. “This is my husband, Henry. We live in one of the apartments. You can stay with us if you like, but I think it would be best if you get your own room.”<br /> “It’s nice to meet you,” Henry says, taking my bags from me. “I will take these up to your room.”<br /> I smile. “Thank you so much.”<br /> He and Max leave, and Ruth takes my arm, steering me into a small structure at the foot of one of the buildings. I can hear cheers and smell food from outside, and I find myself relaxing when I see that it’s a pub. Men and women alike are laughing and talking, downing jugs of beer and eating fried food. It’s quite fascinating to see so much life and joy in a single space in this lost land, but I can’t help but feel grateful.<br /> Ruth and I sit on the counter. The bartender slides two jugs of beer and a platter of steaming chips. I grab the chips even though they’re hot, stuffing them all in my mouth and drinking the beer. Everything is strangely fresh, and I can’t help but gobble it all up. Ruth watches me with amusement as she sips her drink.<br /> “Do they not feed you up there?” she jokes, shaking her head. “Honestly, I don’t blame you for going home. It must have been hell there.”<br /> My appetite suddenly vanishes. “Well, it’s not so bad. But nothing like home, yes.” I clear my throat, desperate for a change of topic. “So, Max found me in the cemetery. He’s… an interesting character.”<br /> “I know, he mind-linked it to me.” She shrugs. “Max is kind of an asshole, but I get why. He had to step up as our leader when the palace guards left us. He looted all those guns that we use now, so the only thing we have to forge are bullets. Screw the Kingdom and that deaf-mute idiot who rules it.”<br /> My face goes hot. I want to defend Achilles. I want to tell Ruth not to call him that, but then again, he kicked me out for defending him.<br /> “Is everyone doing the same?” I start to ask, but then a small commotion breaks out in the corner of the pub where the entrance is.<br /> “Hey, keep that bastard out!” I hear some of the men yelling.<br /> “He barged right in and demanded entry!”<br /> “It’s one of those palace fuckers!”<br /> I freeze. Ruth and I both slide out of our stools, looking over at the chaos.<br /> My heart jumps right into my throat when I see Gamma Kiernan trying to force his way inside the pub.<br /> “Bring me Claudia Hale, and we will not have any problems.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 10<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Panic takes a hold of me. Suddenly, I feel my entire body going numb. I can feel Ruth beside me and I can hear her saying something, but it’s like my mind is tuning out. All I can hear are muffled voices. All I can feel is my heart hammering inside my ribs like it wants to get out.<br /> I blink a couple of times as we get pushed back by the ongoing commotion. For a moment I’m certain that I’m not seeing things correctly, but I’m wrong.<br /> Gamma Kiernan is really here, and he’s looking for me.<br /> “No way you’re getting in,” the men at the entrance keep telling him. “Pack it up and leave!”<br /> “I will not leave until you bring Claudia Hale here,” he insists. “I can smell her scent in the air. I know you’re hiding her. Back off, and no one gets hurt.”<br /> “How dare you threaten us?”<br /> With that, the chaos ensues. Now there are so many men blocking his way, and soon enough, women are clamoring to shoo him out of the pub too. I can see his expression. I know that he can take these men down if he wants to, but he’s restraining himself.<br /> The urge to step up and show myself before things get ugly overcomes me, but then Ruth wheels around and dunks my head down, preventing me from getting seen.<br /> “Why the hell are they looking for you?” Ruth demands. “Did you do something?”<br /> “No,” I begin to say, but that’s when I feel a strong hand dragging me back.<br /> “Ow!” I complain under my breath, feeling myself getting yanked back into the corner by this strong person. I turn around and see Max. He’s squeezing my arm so hard that I can almost feel the bruises appearing. “Let me go!”<br /> He just glares at me. “You are not going to show yourself to that upstart. You’re going to stay here behind the bar. Understand?”<br /> “No!” I snatch my arm back from him. “Do you want your people to get hurt?”<br /> His eyes flash with anger. “You’re really assuming we’re the ones who’d get hurt? You put too much faith in those men who don’t do anything but sit on their asses and command the lower people to fight for them.”<br /> I realize that he’s referring to the palace royals, including Achilles. His claims are so false that I square up to him, shoving him back. “You have no idea what you’re talking about! Those men risk their lives for us!”<br /> “Maybe for you,” Max growls dryly, “but never for me.”<br /> The next events happen so fast. So much so that I don’t even get the time to react. Max just grabs me by the shoulders, pushes me right into the broom closet, and props a chair against the doorknob to basically lock it from outside. I fall on the floor, flat on my behind, but then I spring up to my feet to try to ram it down.<br /> “Let me out!” I scream, but I doubt anyone would hear me from the absolute meltdown happening outside.<br /> I could shift into my wolf and break the door, but I think I would end up demolishing half the pub in the process. So even though I want to end this, I just stay by the door, pressing my ear against it and listening as best as I can.<br /> That’s when I hear Max announcing, “Silence, everyone. Let the man speak.”<br /> The people immediately shut up, which surprises me. It seems that everyone really recognizes him as their leader. I can almost picture him stepping up to Gamma Kiernan.<br /> “Thank you,” Gamma Kiernan says. “As I was trying to say before I got swarmed, I need Claudia Hale.”<br /> “Why?” Max asks in a calm, almost lazy tone.<br /> “Because the Alpha King says so,” Gamma Kiernan replies in a similar voice. “We don’t want any trouble with the King, do we?”<br /> “Oh, no, we don’t,” Max answers, but this time, he sounds perfectly sarcastic. I can hear the others around him letting out a laugh. “We really don’t. But you see, Claudia isn’t here.”<br /> Silence fills the air. I want to scream at the top of my lungs to alert everyone of my presence, but I’m stunned. Petrified, really. Did the Gamma really say that it’s Alpha Achilles who’s asking for me?<br /> But why? Why would he look for me? It hasn’t even been a day since I left. Does he regret all the things he did, all the things he said to me? Did he realize that I didn’t actually do anything wrong, and he punished me out of pure pride and possibly stupidity?<br /> Now that’s something I want to hear. I want him to say sorry.<br /> I’m about to scream when suddenly, I hear Gamma Kiernan saying, “I can smell her. Do not fucking lie to me.”<br /> Somehow, I’m able to sense something about to go wrong before it even transpires. I make a move to ram the door down before things can break out, but it’s too late.<br /> Before I can even do anything, I hear Max saying in a low voice, “Deal with this bastard.”<br /> And then, hell breaks loose.<br /> It’s so loud I can almost see it. The men in the pub all yell for battle and the sounds that follow root me to my spot. More screams. Thuds from bodies hitting the floor and the walls. Broken glass. Snapping wood. Arrows whizzing. Wolves howling. Gunshots. So many gunshots….<br /> Soon enough, the smell of blood fills the air, and my heart nearly stops.<br /> It seems to go on forever, the sound and the smell and the carnage. I can make out specific voices like Gamma Kiernan’s, telling his men to stand down and leave. I can hear Max telling his people to pursue them, to drive them back and make sure they learn their lesson. On and on and on it goes.<br /> But just when I think that it’s never going to end, silence follows.<br /> It’s almost eerie. One can hear a pin drop. Who got shot? Did anyone die?<br /> The thought of death because of me is what finally breaks me. I ram down the door without shifting into my wolf form, but when I arrive at the bar, it’s too late. I can hear the sound of horses whinnying outside, their hooves hitting the ground in loud thuds as they run fast. I see the flash of the red carriage through the broken windows.<br /> I look all over the floor to see if anyone has fallen, but aside from the smears of blood, it seems that everyone made it out alive.<br /> At least, from this party.<br /> I don’t know if I can say the same about the people from the palace.<br /> Suddenly, Max enters the pub, sporting a broken nose. He tears off a piece of his shirt and uses it to dab on the blood, but I march toward him and snatch it right out of his hand. “What did you do?”<br /> “Showed them that they have no business here,” he says simply, taking the strip of fabric back from me. “The only thing I should be hearing from you is thank you, unless…”<br /> Everyone in the pub looks at me.<br /> Ruth is the one who gets up and turns to me. “What did you do, Claudia? Why are they looking for you?”<br /> Max crosses his arms. "Give us a good reason why we shouldn't kick you out of here. Now."	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1667322	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727721	1734958303	695	1747617105765813	1	7.0785608589083E+15	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	118526244676341	0	Bauer Auction Service	120208286061570049	LIVE AUCTION Jim Trigg Estate, Lerna ,IL	INTERESTED	NONE	event	LIVE AUCTION Jim Trigg Estate, Lerna ,IL	Live Auction Jim Trigg Estate Live – – No Buyer’s Premium – – Public Auction 510 Lincoln Street, Lerna, IL Sunday, May 19th 2024 – 9:00 A.M. Ford Expedition – Ford Ranger – Camper – Snow Plow – Trailers 2007 Ford Expedition, 4×4, Good Rubber, 191k Miles; 2000 Ford Ranger Edge, 4WD, Automatic Needs Engine Work (As Is); 30’ Tandem Axle Bumper Hitch Camper Trailer Yellowstone Country Club Older Camper Needs Water Heater and It Is Ready for the Season; 8’ Western Snow Plow; Several Homemade Pull Type Trailers, Most Will Not Have Titles, 4’ x 8’ Single Axle, 4’ x 5’ Single Axle, 7’ x 10’ Single Axle, Chevrolet Box Van Cargo Trailer; J.D. Utility Tractor – – 3pt. Equipment – – Mowers – – L&G – – Wood Stove J.D. 401 Industrial/Utility Tractor, 3pt., 6’ Hyd. Bucket Front Loader; 3pt. Little Rhino 8’ Blade; 3pt. PTO Post Auger; 3pt. 4’ Disk; 3pt. 6’ Cultivator; Older Rack/Hay Wagon; U.S. Stove Co. Outdoor Wood Burning Stove; Hyd. Log Splitter; Gravely 8102 Lawn Tractor w/ Kohler Engine; Cub Cadet 1330 Lawn Tractor w/ 38” Deck; 12 Volt Sprayers; Wheelbarrows; 5 Bar Flex Harrow; Lawn Mower Jacks; Poulan Pro Rear Tire Garden Tiller; Husqvarna Chainsaw; Vinyl Fence; Black Powder Guns – – Reloading – – Camping – – Safe 10 Black Powder/Muzzle Loading Guns inc/ Rifles, Double Barrel Shotgun, Single Shot Pistols, .31cal Revolver; Powder Horns & Flasks; German Hunting Sword; Pocket & Sheath Knives; Crossbow; Holsters; Reloading Dies, Press; Case Trimmer; Holsters & Gun Belts; Burris Binoculars; Patch Knives; Slings; Sentinel Digital Combination Safe; Steel Key Lock Gun Cabinet; Deer Antlers; Electric Smoker; Camp Cooking Tripod; Cast Iron Camp Cookware; Large Marine Igloo Cooler; Deer Stand; Camping & Fishing Supplies; Stage Coach Gun Cart; Steel Targets Rail Road – – Guitars – – Music – – Man Cave Nice Gibson & Fender Guitars; Fender Acoustasonic-30 Guitar Amp; Live 6 Guitar Amp; Stereo; Pioneer Speakers; Guitar Case; Harmonicas; Microphones; Rail Road Switch Arm; 13’ Rail Road Arm Post; Rail Road Signs; Cast Iron Tractor Seat; Custom Wood Boxes & Trunks; Adirondack Chair; Snow Sled; Twin Size Sports Car Bed w/ New Mattress; Toy & Model Cars & Trucks; Johnny Cash Memorabilia; Drum Sticks; Record Albums; CD’s; Beer Sings; Older Garage Refrigerator; Belt Buckles; Construction Toys; Tire Ash Trays; Canes & Walking Sticks; Motorcycle Seats & Parts; Signs; Man Cave Decorations & Signs; Tools – – Garage & Shop Plunder – – & More 2 Rolls of Kemlite Wall Paneling; Ladders; Ramps; Battery Charger; Generators; Barrel Cart; Truck Boxes; Tool Boxes; Saw Horses; Engine Hoist/Cherry Picker; Fuel Cans; Older Car Parts; Ryobi Thickness Planer; Wood Working Tools; Poultry Wire; Lumber; Cabinet Drawers; LP Shop Heater; Strip Sander; Shop Vac; Compound Miter Saw; Pedestal Grinder; Shop & Garage Cabinets & Shelves; Hardware; Portable Air Compressor; Machinist Tools; Craftsman Tripod; 3 Wagon Loads of Garage & Shop Plunder Jim Trigg Estate, Age 74 Nancy Trigg, Seller	https://www.facebook.com/events/731604535752115/		1712181043	1.1852624467634E+14	Bauer Auction Service	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592519_1891398121378653_6333326535254774624_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wirKOsz4wp4Q7kNvgFmEhdD&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBMwt1NNdaqKCjskfo4h5doU9hy8RLfyayRC50rYDyKfQ&oe=663A7F7B	person_profile	0			0	3	Live Auction<br /> <br /> Jim Trigg Estate <br /> <br /> Live – – No Buyer’s Premium – – Public Auction<br /> <br /> 510 Lincoln Street, Lerna, IL<br /> <br /> Sunday, May 19th 2024 – 9:00 A.M.<br /> <br /> Ford Expedition – Ford Ranger – Camper – Snow Plow – Trailers<br /> <br /> 2007 Ford Expedition, 4×4, Good Rubber, 191k Miles; 2000 Ford Ranger Edge, 4WD, Automatic Needs Engine Work (As Is); 30’ Tandem Axle Bumper Hitch Camper Trailer Yellowstone Country Club Older Camper Needs Water Heater and It Is Ready for the Season; 8’ Western Snow Plow; Several Homemade Pull Type Trailers, Most Will Not Have Titles, 4’ x 8’ Single Axle, 4’ x 5’ Single Axle, 7’ x 10’ Single Axle, Chevrolet Box Van Cargo Trailer;<br /> <br /> J.D. Utility Tractor – – 3pt. Equipment – – Mowers – – L&G – – Wood Stove<br /> <br /> J.D. 401 Industrial/Utility Tractor, 3pt., 6’ Hyd. Bucket Front Loader; 3pt. Little Rhino 8’ Blade; 3pt. PTO Post Auger; 3pt. 4’ Disk; 3pt. 6’ Cultivator; Older Rack/Hay Wagon; U.S. Stove Co. Outdoor Wood Burning Stove; Hyd. Log Splitter; Gravely 8102 Lawn Tractor w/ Kohler Engine; Cub Cadet 1330 Lawn Tractor w/ 38” Deck; 12 Volt Sprayers; Wheelbarrows; 5 Bar Flex Harrow; Lawn Mower Jacks; Poulan Pro Rear Tire Garden Tiller; Husqvarna Chainsaw; Vinyl Fence; <br /> <br /> Black Powder Guns – – Reloading – – Camping – – Safe<br /> <br /> 10 Black Powder/Muzzle Loading Guns inc/ Rifles, Double Barrel Shotgun, Single Shot Pistols, .31cal Revolver; Powder Horns & Flasks; German Hunting Sword; Pocket & Sheath Knives; Crossbow; Holsters; Reloading Dies, Press; Case Trimmer; Holsters & Gun Belts; Burris Binoculars; Patch Knives; Slings; Sentinel Digital Combination Safe; Steel Key Lock Gun Cabinet; Deer Antlers; Electric Smoker; Camp Cooking Tripod; Cast Iron Camp Cookware; Large Marine Igloo Cooler; Deer Stand; Camping & Fishing Supplies; Stage Coach Gun Cart; Steel Targets<br /> <br /> Rail Road – – Guitars – – Music – – Man Cave<br /> <br /> Nice Gibson & Fender Guitars; Fender Acoustasonic-30 Guitar Amp; Live 6 Guitar Amp; Stereo; Pioneer Speakers; Guitar Case; Harmonicas; Microphones; Rail Road Switch Arm; 13’ Rail Road Arm Post; Rail Road Signs; Cast Iron Tractor Seat; Custom Wood Boxes & Trunks; Adirondack Chair; Snow Sled; Twin Size Sports Car Bed w/ New Mattress; Toy & Model Cars & Trucks; Johnny Cash Memorabilia; Drum Sticks; Record Albums; CD’s; Beer Sings; Older Garage Refrigerator; Belt Buckles; Construction Toys; Tire Ash Trays; Canes & Walking Sticks; Motorcycle Seats & Parts; Signs; Man Cave Decorations & Signs;<br /> <br /> Tools – – Garage & Shop Plunder – – & More<br /> <br /> 2 Rolls of Kemlite Wall Paneling; Ladders; Ramps; Battery Charger; Generators; Barrel Cart; Truck Boxes; Tool Boxes; Saw Horses; Engine Hoist/Cherry Picker; Fuel Cans; Older Car Parts; Ryobi Thickness Planer; Wood Working Tools; Poultry Wire; Lumber; Cabinet Drawers; LP Shop Heater; Strip Sander; Shop Vac; Compound Miter Saw; Pedestal Grinder; Shop & Garage Cabinets & Shelves; Hardware; Portable Air Compressor; Machinist Tools; Craftsman Tripod; 3 Wagon Loads of Garage & Shop Plunder<br /> <br /> Jim Trigg Estate, Age 74<br /> <br /> Nancy Trigg, Seller	Bauer Auction Service	631	https://facebook.com/AuctionBauer	EVENT_RSVP	1712127600	View Edit Delete
1667199	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727718	1734958303	695	1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	1	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120206467056180695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wIUp1RxOMgsQ7kNvgHEK-vi&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA2H7iSADMNk8MCYF1ym0uXzOcPX0fNN2MpeFBxq7bsgA&oe=663A6682	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PTUOqNz5HEcQ7kNvgHkIzxM&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBtzut547NTKrpRxXd_8ELDW8KXVCg2r4FIx3OTZiFVlA&oe=663A84D3	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1712214000	View Edit Delete
1667202	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727718	1734958304	695	1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	1	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120206467056180695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wIUp1RxOMgsQ7kNvgHEK-vi&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA2H7iSADMNk8MCYF1ym0uXzOcPX0fNN2MpeFBxq7bsgA&oe=663A6682	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PTUOqNz5HEcQ7kNvgHkIzxM&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBtzut547NTKrpRxXd_8ELDW8KXVCg2r4FIx3OTZiFVlA&oe=663A84D3	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1712214000	View Edit Delete
1667210	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727719	1734958304	695	1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	1	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120206467056180695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wIUp1RxOMgsQ7kNvgHEK-vi&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA2H7iSADMNk8MCYF1ym0uXzOcPX0fNN2MpeFBxq7bsgA&oe=663A6682	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PTUOqNz5HEcQ7kNvgHkIzxM&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBtzut547NTKrpRxXd_8ELDW8KXVCg2r4FIx3OTZiFVlA&oe=663A84D3	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1712214000	View Edit Delete
1667216	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727719	1734958304	695	1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	1	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120206467056180695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wIUp1RxOMgsQ7kNvgHEK-vi&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA2H7iSADMNk8MCYF1ym0uXzOcPX0fNN2MpeFBxq7bsgA&oe=663A6682	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PTUOqNz5HEcQ7kNvgHkIzxM&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBtzut547NTKrpRxXd_8ELDW8KXVCg2r4FIx3OTZiFVlA&oe=663A84D3	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1712214000	View Edit Delete
1667220	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727719	1734958304	695	1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	1	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120206467056180695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wIUp1RxOMgsQ7kNvgHEK-vi&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA2H7iSADMNk8MCYF1ym0uXzOcPX0fNN2MpeFBxq7bsgA&oe=663A6682	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PTUOqNz5HEcQ7kNvgHkIzxM&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBtzut547NTKrpRxXd_8ELDW8KXVCg2r4FIx3OTZiFVlA&oe=663A84D3	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1712214000	View Edit Delete
1667222	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727719	1734958304	695	1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	1	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120206467056180695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wIUp1RxOMgsQ7kNvgHEK-vi&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA2H7iSADMNk8MCYF1ym0uXzOcPX0fNN2MpeFBxq7bsgA&oe=663A6682	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PTUOqNz5HEcQ7kNvgHkIzxM&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBtzut547NTKrpRxXd_8ELDW8KXVCg2r4FIx3OTZiFVlA&oe=663A84D3	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1712214000	View Edit Delete
1667226	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727719	1734958304	695	1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	1	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120206467056180695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wIUp1RxOMgsQ7kNvgHEK-vi&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA2H7iSADMNk8MCYF1ym0uXzOcPX0fNN2MpeFBxq7bsgA&oe=663A6682	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PTUOqNz5HEcQ7kNvgHkIzxM&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBtzut547NTKrpRxXd_8ELDW8KXVCg2r4FIx3OTZiFVlA&oe=663A84D3	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1712214000	View Edit Delete
1667308	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727721	1734958304	695	1167149221389159		1.0750287970217E+15	1712214000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120206420869140695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152783	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592584_972723790858518_3132420980488247753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=MjOJ1Yl8A7EQ7kNvgHudTRa&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9MjEqQuP_zdpHhQpYHrQI0jFP6dwqMjYDNfBAg4JEYA&oe=663A82C7	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408133_1154690705677143_4842117877651758900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fnpW8hfkHEQQ7kNvgGh0N_Y&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC-Nt34ebqXUsD9MapE-qYTeSizzvMAJo2N-z7Fl5OUpQ&oe=663A6E86	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1712127600	View Edit Delete
1667231	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727719	1734958304	695	1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	1	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120206467056180695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wIUp1RxOMgsQ7kNvgHEK-vi&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA2H7iSADMNk8MCYF1ym0uXzOcPX0fNN2MpeFBxq7bsgA&oe=663A6682	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PTUOqNz5HEcQ7kNvgHkIzxM&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBtzut547NTKrpRxXd_8ELDW8KXVCg2r4FIx3OTZiFVlA&oe=663A84D3	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1712214000	View Edit Delete
1667239	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727719	1734958304	695	1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	1	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120206467056180695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wIUp1RxOMgsQ7kNvgHEK-vi&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA2H7iSADMNk8MCYF1ym0uXzOcPX0fNN2MpeFBxq7bsgA&oe=663A6682	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PTUOqNz5HEcQ7kNvgHkIzxM&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBtzut547NTKrpRxXd_8ELDW8KXVCg2r4FIx3OTZiFVlA&oe=663A84D3	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1712214000	View Edit Delete
1667242	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727719	1734958304	695	735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15	1712214000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120206420869110695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YNHyoVoJ7WMQ7kNvgEwmF4n&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBYl6HNhNzqauXTbndLXZ7WQD1Lod9rbJq0WBzeC6LUWQ&oe=663A7E48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QfW_9MlWNUsQ7kNvgFqMl01&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBUyEtoKSAIbSSniB1KbHbTAcpkSN2sn9WG_EQ7BCXTXQ&oe=663A6676	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1712127600	View Edit Delete
1667310	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727721	1734958304	695	1167149221389159		1.0750287970217E+15	1712214000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120206420869140695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152783	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592584_972723790858518_3132420980488247753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=MjOJ1Yl8A7EQ7kNvgHudTRa&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9MjEqQuP_zdpHhQpYHrQI0jFP6dwqMjYDNfBAg4JEYA&oe=663A82C7	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408133_1154690705677143_4842117877651758900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fnpW8hfkHEQQ7kNvgGh0N_Y&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC-Nt34ebqXUsD9MapE-qYTeSizzvMAJo2N-z7Fl5OUpQ&oe=663A6E86	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1712127600	View Edit Delete
1667337	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727721	1734958304	695	340889812301167	1	1.688994344959E+15	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	100365976129594	0	Puzzles & Chaos	120207063860930257	play.google.com	Play game	NONE	video	HEAD-ON CONFRONTATION		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1712056495	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434426176_271814722644057_5902529467878334776_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=gfZV9JxofYgQ7kNvgFrmPYu&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBWWdlj-HuB-e5zH19n36NBCylEveHW2-6kCyC19gHL6g&oe=663A965D	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434031940_389351653911100_1321867642699559227_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=bkQdDOleXFMQ7kNvgGt4BoU&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA0gYzfc5iYmgV4sXTCIq4ZlfhXKYZgXoh2XIRUIFQpzA&oe=663A797B	0	3	⚠Your allies have called you out! Match pieces to awaken heroes.	Puzzles & Chaos	12242	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	PLAY_GAME	1712041200	View Edit Delete
1667249	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727719	1734958304	695	735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15	1712214000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120206420869110695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YNHyoVoJ7WMQ7kNvgEwmF4n&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBYl6HNhNzqauXTbndLXZ7WQD1Lod9rbJq0WBzeC6LUWQ&oe=663A7E48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QfW_9MlWNUsQ7kNvgFqMl01&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBUyEtoKSAIbSSniB1KbHbTAcpkSN2sn9WG_EQ7BCXTXQ&oe=663A6676	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1712127600	View Edit Delete
1667287	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727721	1734958305	695	1167149221389159		1.0750287970217E+15	1712214000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120206420869140695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152783	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592584_972723790858518_3132420980488247753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=MjOJ1Yl8A7EQ7kNvgHudTRa&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9MjEqQuP_zdpHhQpYHrQI0jFP6dwqMjYDNfBAg4JEYA&oe=663A82C7	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408133_1154690705677143_4842117877651758900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fnpW8hfkHEQQ7kNvgGh0N_Y&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC-Nt34ebqXUsD9MapE-qYTeSizzvMAJo2N-z7Fl5OUpQ&oe=663A6E86	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1712127600	View Edit Delete
1667293	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727721	1734958305	695	1167149221389159		1.0750287970217E+15	1712214000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120206420869140695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152783	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592584_972723790858518_3132420980488247753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=MjOJ1Yl8A7EQ7kNvgHudTRa&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9MjEqQuP_zdpHhQpYHrQI0jFP6dwqMjYDNfBAg4JEYA&oe=663A82C7	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408133_1154690705677143_4842117877651758900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fnpW8hfkHEQQ7kNvgGh0N_Y&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC-Nt34ebqXUsD9MapE-qYTeSizzvMAJo2N-z7Fl5OUpQ&oe=663A6E86	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1712127600	View Edit Delete
1667295	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727721	1734958305	695	1167149221389159		1.0750287970217E+15	1712214000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120206420869140695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152783	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592584_972723790858518_3132420980488247753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=MjOJ1Yl8A7EQ7kNvgHudTRa&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9MjEqQuP_zdpHhQpYHrQI0jFP6dwqMjYDNfBAg4JEYA&oe=663A82C7	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408133_1154690705677143_4842117877651758900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fnpW8hfkHEQQ7kNvgGh0N_Y&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC-Nt34ebqXUsD9MapE-qYTeSizzvMAJo2N-z7Fl5OUpQ&oe=663A6E86	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1712127600	View Edit Delete
1667326	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727721	1734958306	695	777034797412062	1	8.3085824886508E+14	1713250800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	104585012734764	0	Fly-X-Treme	120210074916090230	amazon.com	Shop now	NONE	image	Fly-X-Treme		https://www.amazon.com/Bug-Gun-Hunting-Crossbow-Fly-X-Treme/dp/B0BRSCQXRL		1712074943	1.0458501273476E+14	Fly-X-Treme	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434658383_779273704157771_1017928527428056867_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fAuiX_H8Hh8Q7kNvgEQ_0su&_nc_oc=AdidKHf4cB8ikveWNFhKo1KrWcFAsU3sOnoyiHjJSpnXp7uuQqaU5VZJb4D9C6zekoSeZVOnSAS1Kyid9BcQiQFs&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBv-gOU1fpe2dXFyFi1FPBqfoe9lThzf6hK5WBtxfS2TQ&oe=663A8EE3	person_profile	0	Fly X-Treme	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434757941_1336269613737071_3889460656451262129_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=zbZfcYNP3lMQ7kNvgE0l1CG&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCWXUfAbR7bwB6dj53bzc6VrKr601e4Bwsrdex3mxrhpg&oe=663A94B0	0	3	Get your bug-shooting game on point with our Crossbow 🎯 Improve your bug-shooting skills with our Crossbow Bug Pistol, which is ideal for both target practice and hunting. ⚡ <br /> Don't wait to purchase yours; it will elevate your shooting experience to unprecedented heights!	Fly-X-Treme	417	https://facebook.com/100095261450512	SHOP_NOW	1712041200	View Edit Delete
1667358	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727722	1734958306	695	7919428941408795	2	4.4182487840779E+14	1711954800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	106401465673945	0	K9 Play and Stay	120209434186270204	cu130.com	Learn more	NONE	video			https://cu130.com/Webdesign?utm_source={{adset.id}}		1711793069	1.0640146567394E+14	K9 Play and Stay	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433251205_371646482509924_9167893818528105777_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jXf87gMEkn8Q7kNvgGFiNwv&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC0BlgsiUf_KR7QHlRy3PuBcg6niO3LS4gBLDog2BFeaA&oe=663A8DF1	person_profile	0	K9 Play and Stay	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434295418_792562652285263_6108522915737188328_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yk9OnTJMyKsQ7kNvgFUvU22&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAgR97e3IIk1sqANC0E_0ACKwEM4O6aHjhGqGrxLcZ77g&oe=663A74A8	0	3	Feel the raw passion of the hunt! Get your limited FREE recurve bow now and unleash your inner hero!	K9 Play and Stay	58	https://facebook.com/100088997360074	LEARN_MORE	1711782000	View Edit Delete
1667373	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727722	1734958306	695	1615672245917077	1	9.3356670827432E+14	1711782000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	217316998627741	0	Frost & Flame：King of Avalon	120207741418360751	itunes.apple.com	Install now	NONE	video	Play for FREE!		http://itunes.apple.com/app/id1084930849		1711625812	2.1731699862774E+14	Frost & Flame：King of Avalon	https://scontent.fdet1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433295733_1434885394119069_9210322066019447018_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=BNAIcIpns60Q7kNvgHXOwUo&_nc_ht=scontent.fdet1-2.fna&oh=00_AfANJ7IriEfD2epRvqLWqguiQZBOlFSV_IUUlfZMqpygBg&oe=663A8C4A	person_profile	0	King of Avalon	https://scontent.fdet1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182474_1652848275487580_8589992803339791858_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fX-AH9GjnsEQ7kNvgGkp9cM&_nc_ht=scontent.fdet1-2.fna&oh=00_AfBbwT15LCWLaP-GMBRJEj5xRI_axou5qiXgw0yXHi7ohQ&oe=663A7A99	0	3	That Game Everyone's Playing! Join Now!	Frost & Flame：King of Avalon	1210399	https://facebook.com/koadw	INSTALL_MOBILE_APP	1711609200	View Edit Delete
1667378	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727722	1734958306	695	762839158896609	4	1.1317853814759E+15	1711695600	person_profile	taken-down	NONE	1	0	0	102319128528352	0	522 Records	6610660599670	www.whoshwqw.shop	Learn more	NONE	video			https://www.whoshwqw.shop/products/manba?campaign_id=%7B%7Bcampaign.id%7D%7D&adset_id=%7B%7Badset.id%7D%7D&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D		1711634664	1.0231912852835E+14	522 Records	https://scontent.fdet1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434385781_754750006429048_9077005728782961464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=cd0RemHHT8wQ7kNvgEqrBdM&_nc_ht=scontent.fdet1-2.fna&oh=00_AfCp0MPP1WMgcATCrQx9S6z0jcOg0v8a0lJ_jmuDpJLV8A&oe=663A72B5	person_profile	0			0	3		522 Records	175	https://facebook.com/522Records	LEARN_MORE	1711609200	View Edit Delete
1667383	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727722	1734958306	695	1125513215240159	1	8.4535833093853E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	100365976129594	0	Puzzles & Chaos	120206829171340257	play.google.com	Play game	NONE	video	How good is your math?		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1711598214	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent.fdet1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434215893_1113643969839796_7807742451255371640_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=I1I7OvbeQh4Q7kNvgFrCvY2&_nc_ht=scontent.fdet1-2.fna&oh=00_AfB71wwf9aA2p0Wkag5ukR2PHorREXymM0BGAO88_-i5Dg&oe=663A85FA	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent.fdet1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434203273_1160640518185605_3920470166629187477_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6H-5hK_VLGUQ7kNvgHb0znT&_nc_ht=scontent.fdet1-2.fna&oh=00_AfDkpreWIyd0HuwKXNu1wCa954seo_finvLruU73F1t9eQ&oe=663A8630	0	3	Every decision matters. 🧮<br /> Try it yourself!	Puzzles & Chaos	12242	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	PLAY_GAME	1711522800	View Edit Delete
1667399	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727722	1734958307	695	816539033635440		1.1122950832506E+15	1711609200	regular_page	eligible	NONE	0	1	1	402966003129638	1	I love A.B. - andy biersack	120206221167720527	tunnelstudent.info	Get offer	NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711551794	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434256661_1463733681021061_55093729452205373_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LVoDCHWCp0QQ7kNvgGBmPyg&_nc_ht=scontent.fdet1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB2y7EwR7bSxGTAJIFZbIalK-OXuVUxebLmGt0wEfb5EA&oe=663A79BC	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434366407_772571294804336_2810863686494873373_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=abusvQ2dDEkQ7kNvgFznMJN&_nc_ht=scontent.fdet1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAIiuN-rUCJ9iHsPkRtb2sNTCZGa5umStwMN04HesGWWw&oe=663A6C92	0	3	If you're reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You're among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW	1711522800	View Edit Delete
1667400	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727722	1734958307	695	954517562685554		1.1122950832506E+15	1711609200	regular_page	eligible	NONE	0	1	1	402966003129638	1	I love A.B. - andy biersack	120206221168240527	tunnelstudent.info	Get offer	NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711551839	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent.fdet1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434192472_1433832683926688_7950283003444132288_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=F2MAAjL8GvYQ7kNvgH4um25&_nc_ht=scontent.fdet1-2.fna&oh=00_AfCLlo52omNYaPU_j9wm8E_y5k4aaagb11hKGs-NplC_Bg&oe=663A6383	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent.fdet1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434175979_1350379572343361_789189012292270197_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_hPUHIAO2pYQ7kNvgGI3CvZ&_nc_ht=scontent.fdet1-2.fna&oh=00_AfA9hghwWI37Jn3xQw5ziytQCvnCTDEclgDvtr7DuU8qzw&oe=663A727F	0	3	If you're reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You're among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW	1711522800	View Edit Delete
1667422	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727723	1734958307	695	7502487753122726	5	1.4906110848375E+15	1711868400	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	202204112986379	0	Surprise Savings	120207400705850770	swishairtime.info	Learn more	NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://swishairtime.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=BvP7v5dDKPCoGKFg8VfI&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711279759	2.0220411298638E+14	Surprise Savings	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434133400_929324591986217_407914846469227824_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=lpmlWIgB1QAQ7kNvgGeS-GG&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAkZj6d6SpqBUyJaKfTudxdZuENNGKzMTUNfetQFiZLew&oe=663A88CC	person_profile	0	Surprise Savings	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434218049_1855506298298586_2760266513041873713_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=GLBmT_sDWYYQ7kNvgHqiqQ4&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfBRkZ1OdoxqTiSbDeydh5v6Lr9WsZPK3r14QxMzlAptGA&oe=663A75FA	0	3	If you're reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You're among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a Ravin R29 Crossbow for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳	Surprise Savings	132	https://facebook.com/61557395454560	LEARN_MORE	1711263600	View Edit Delete
1667471	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727724	1734958308	695	1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14	1711177200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205964712910695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yNbiIxuKI2AQ7kNvgGfnmoy&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC6DrZOfOsYusJV1aeXABcnKCr6dm0EWgNc5Uz6lhlzLw&oe=663A66DC	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=T4NF_UPlt1EQ7kNvgFNI_Wf&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBA2PPo3TGH2NIEoH0rrftQ00OmraXdk03saYHfZD1eGA&oe=663A826A	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1711090800	View Edit Delete
1667779	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727738	1734958308	695	361684656586976		8.1286126393833E+14	1714114800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	892588401116730	0	Practice Anywhere	120204193096150376	accubow.com	Shop Now	NONE	carousel	Code:ACCU20	Limited Time!	https://accubow.com/		1705091021	8.9258840111673E+14	Practice Anywhere	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/419133673_310227124771438_972601204068737509_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Wgb2L5UgFkQQ7kNvgE4yzGx&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfA-EY_ZJGem1Y2UXFNn-bQtfJ1HxCZSmBVR17t7tKTP8g&oe=663A7BA3	person_profile	0	Practice anywhere	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/419119670_317631567934896_2992698053173032227_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ej_db64tn1IQ7kNvgG42NLd&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfA7cg7SEZcRGe2yhPcrCeZEY39sAAkMS9bdhjFhecdjlw&oe=663A7686	0	3	Limited Time!	Practice Anywhere	9807	https://facebook.com/practiceanywherenow	SHOP_NOW	1705132800	View Edit Delete
1667643	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727730	1734958310	695	6716169488484187		3.6457520324106E+15	1710918000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	107089802492332	0	Dauos	120206129599890072	thedauos.com	Shop now	NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542819	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431521315_1436964896934054_7575039674199463431_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=AVQFrWUZtIwQ7kNvgFVQhgN&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAup4svIaw0z6P_SLhKTXF60DEfgqc1Qe3j-cnpnpBrIg&oe=663A757A	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431211939_440698241631742_744714155624244372_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NT-9bmJvjQ4Q7kNvgEW0h_L&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCq9a2b_wUj5zZBUlkM0zHPUeX_7m_b5D554WGZZn7mlw&oe=663A7311	0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8" thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you're ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&h=AT1XbhPFJModTVJdKB-IJ4d6BhK-Q_0g0lH0CvoSmviiafgC2MFuQRejOvfHpZhLfNEaC_sPfCLDfYDrp79QfG4NJzfVrE7ytgCv67trtNFTZVcdE91iIlkiaXGdZf9jqPqUfTorUg_lu0s2IGSVtEQdMr7OxT0Pqzm43EjTdObRGhd2Xdc" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="async">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>	Dauos	393	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	SHOP_NOW	1710486000	View Edit Delete
1666705	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	6/9/25, 7:47 AM	1714727704	1749473243	695	1094288628340783	2	8.2606981289506E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	102078515372264	0	Ballista	120215882537070456	ballista.co	Learn more	NONE	video	Ready to elevate your fishing adventure?		https://ballista.co/		1714516400	1.0207851537226E+14	Ballista	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440956044_845238894105045_4860454695323446868_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qgrEeMfjPDsQ7kNvgH6fjzH&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCf3nDYGfnAwIGAX1ejNsnFnnNAOdwT86tJVX6YCp4PFg&oe=663A8CA5	person_profile	0	BALLISTA	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440946119_687252003475653_8712140835939875009_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ohCsWiBsFWIQ7kNvgHFnQrW&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCPSbcuUBqmgOS_b91mJIEH6CJw511pS0v3BkIOs2RrWw&oe=663A7D70	0	3	Your fishing buddy is boring. Leave the bobbers behind. Bowfishing is where the real adventure happens. <br /> <br /> Transform your fishing trips from passive pastime to active adventure. Join the bowfishing revolution today and experience the excitement of hunting the waters.<br /> <br /> Visit <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fballista.co%2F&h=AT1wQ0YbNl09smn2swrHL5DtWGtWfSV2xcaJYHWvwNd8Gaj62uqTisPcIwDx_Ljb8zGKhxPZIs70FWoz2LHnrUFAmcFZRRssLERL-ef8J0DOmgejC9jr1Wh4He6X6JUNkjEWtn1eNdF7pelCAyQZ4P0SMGKsgysjG4magg" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://ballista.co/</a> now to dive into the thrilling world of bowfishing.	Ballista	6004	https://facebook.com/ballista.archery	LEARN_MORE	1714460400	View Edit Delete
1667059	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727714	1734958313	695	740279021611050		3.2845536023858E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	892588401116730	0	Practice Anywhere	120207328534580376	accubow.com	Shop Now	NONE	carousel	Scope-to-Phone Crosshair Sight		https://accubow.com/		1710617225	8.9258840111673E+14	Practice Anywhere	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431950026_712364067761625_8500033827148086301_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WSNdntC_kecQ7kNvgE6r10o&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBs4bvzDKNJJTlXvScamlqQNysPDHMuDOlqy2dPA1Nwqw&oe=663A88BC	person_profile	0	Official AccuBow®	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431972926_397577752988272_9068572841206466590_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=1MztnTPFOfEQ7kNvgGEknP9&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDYi0nzjelcubNt8-3kZbsLBcacITp7kNzhDUdlAch3cg&oe=663A8FF1	0	3		Practice Anywhere	9807	https://facebook.com/practiceanywherenow	SHOP_NOW	1712905200	View Edit Delete
1667380	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727722	1734958313	695	25103877849227772		1.1317853814759E+15	1711695600	person_profile	taken-down	NONE	1	0	0	102319128528352	0	522 Records	6610660599670	www.whoshwqw.shop	Learn more	NONE	video			https://www.whoshwqw.shop/products/manba?campaign_id=%7B%7Bcampaign.id%7D%7D&adset_id=%7B%7Badset.id%7D%7D&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D		1711634664	1.0231912852835E+14	522 Records	https://scontent.fdet1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434385781_754750006429048_9077005728782961464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=cd0RemHHT8wQ7kNvgEqrBdM&_nc_ht=scontent.fdet1-2.fna&oh=00_AfCp0MPP1WMgcATCrQx9S6z0jcOg0v8a0lJ_jmuDpJLV8A&oe=663A72B5	person_profile	0			0	3		522 Records	175	https://facebook.com/522Records	LEARN_MORE	1711609200	View Edit Delete
1667784	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727738	1734958313	695	361684656586976		8.1286126393833E+14	1714114800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	892588401116730	0	Practice Anywhere	120204193096150376	accubow.com	Shop Now	NONE	carousel	Code:ACCU20	Limited Time!	https://accubow.com/		1705091021	8.9258840111673E+14	Practice Anywhere	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/419133673_310227124771438_972601204068737509_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Wgb2L5UgFkQQ7kNvgE4yzGx&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfA-EY_ZJGem1Y2UXFNn-bQtfJ1HxCZSmBVR17t7tKTP8g&oe=663A7BA3	person_profile	0	Practice anywhere	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/419119670_317631567934896_2992698053173032227_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ej_db64tn1IQ7kNvgG42NLd&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfA7cg7SEZcRGe2yhPcrCeZEY39sAAkMS9bdhjFhecdjlw&oe=663A7686	0	3	Limited Time!	Practice Anywhere	9807	https://facebook.com/practiceanywherenow	SHOP_NOW	1705132800	View Edit Delete
1667789	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727738	1734958313	695	1770689156768765	1	3.3766546059219E+15	1714719600	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	747021958709347	0	Music City Archery	6535603657907	musiccityarchery.com	Learn More	NONE	carousel	For All Your Archery Needs		http://musiccityarchery.com/		1706307745	7.4702195870935E+14	Music City Archery	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422264410_752229343444243_7706606627779637779_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Epsl_DRZkiQQ7kNvgHuC70k&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDR3ytSmjZOxqNo9SE1nokp6y5jaDDVMbhoJ_0mGcLIow&oe=663A6947	person_profile	0	Music City Archery	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422283653_1221340112157860_9010050063915198490_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ujXh3PxdE34Q7kNvgHNz6RL&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBEnMGLcnvh7O3JnzHaGDyB1RcGBKUUwVKagN8fxD8g8A&oe=663A8EB4	0	3		Music City Archery	2571	https://facebook.com/musiccityarchery	LEARN_MORE	1706256000	View Edit Delete
1666684	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727704	1734958292	695	742322244719487	1	8.0409230292861E+15	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	103802485224988	0	Multnomah County, OR	120208074488930371	play.google.com	Install Now	NONE	carousel	Man sentenced to six years in prison for ` Operation MistleTow '		https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.particlenews.newsbreak		1714551768	1.0380248522499E+14	Multnomah County, OR	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441028123_378083488554185_5989783673837775968_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PdhECjBa_WUQ7kNvgEG468O&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAzj6WC4xo5Ua0LAGRPAgicANbGfsvgV8RlKLPo3s2G7A&oe=663A62EE	person_profile	0	Multnomah County, OR	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441051103_378351378533762_3224734056622860642_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Lwl4lLff5doQ7kNvgG-Y6_l&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfD0j4kPiixqKbr3y8eBDGWFem0eYuqo9dtM4r-jTPR3dQ&oe=663A6179	0	3		Multnomah County, OR	110	https://facebook.com/100063741293865	INSTALL_MOBILE_APP	1714546800	View Edit Delete
1666673	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727703	1734958292	695	1115243159532875		9.7140145413333E+14	1714633200	regular_page	eligible	NONE	0	1	1	175000829206961	0	Elisabet Boutique	120208033549200123	shopelisabetboutique.com	Shop now	NONE	video	Live Sale!		https://shopelisabetboutique.com/		1714405346	1.7500082920696E+14	Elisabet Boutique	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440941501_792440199181416_4672176322497220176_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LZsBIOcEmm0Q7kNvgHG_z48&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDaLHuWEfneiP7buSPCMOw8Mgho9gtFkNj9H4DFVKvfTA&oe=663A85BA	person_profile	0	Elisabet Boutique Online	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440958980_2266594633683731_7831849394101558978_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=S54-EiQU9SIQ7kNvgE6fMl_&_nc_oc=AdgBYn8W8l9KCgW7qqUC_1Gq7pjC_dSE9XlYDqe3NyCpFRlKz3uwg6yIJrkRelhIje-1qJRPIz3aLIir1yUPJvGt&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBW9QWx3wrTLSZhJ7faQ5xvP0BHHW8vlZJpM-cU3dgMbQ&oe=663A727E	0	3	Live Sale!	Elisabet Boutique	35331	https://facebook.com/elisabetboutique	SHOP_NOW	1714633200	View Edit Delete
1666701	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727704	1734958292	695	1173091087378620	1	3.9938206290923E+14	1714633200	ig_ads_identity	eligible	NONE	0	1	1	100185195029038	0	exit_fame	120208302853900623	distrokid.com	Learn More	NONE	carousel			https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/exitfame/exit-hell		1714520230	1.0018519502904E+14	exit_fame	https://scontent-atl3-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-19/426600792_431752302627308_9181042578801762968_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s200x200&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=3fd06f&_nc_ohc=AYcfphoR1CQQ7kNvgFMHxU1&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.cdninstagram.com&oh=00_AfCCY_pksRS6o1R-rLXLZyrSd0KgkGV2lc54uB3GnhhRvw&oe=663A7550	ig_ads_identity	1	Exit Fame	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438081562_969239061159063_6215700093031474290_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jHub1Q-_mtEQ7kNvgHUXjOi&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAmaplPaOgieVgL9QVf_3ffX9OEo3079Mgep-zrQ4jtcg&oe=663A7BD6	0	3		exit_fame	0	https://www.instagram.com/_u/exit_fame	LEARN_MORE	1714460400	View Edit Delete
1666674	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727703	1734958292	695	2389844981209842		9.7140145413333E+14	1714633200	regular_page	eligible	NONE	0	1	1	175000829206961	0	Elisabet Boutique	120208033549200123	shopelisabetboutique.com	Shop now	NONE	video	Live Sale!		https://shopelisabetboutique.com/		1714405346	1.7500082920696E+14	Elisabet Boutique	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440941501_792440199181416_4672176322497220176_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LZsBIOcEmm0Q7kNvgHG_z48&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDaLHuWEfneiP7buSPCMOw8Mgho9gtFkNj9H4DFVKvfTA&oe=663A85BA	person_profile	0	Elisabet Boutique Online	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440958980_2266594633683731_7831849394101558978_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=S54-EiQU9SIQ7kNvgE6fMl_&_nc_oc=AdgBYn8W8l9KCgW7qqUC_1Gq7pjC_dSE9XlYDqe3NyCpFRlKz3uwg6yIJrkRelhIje-1qJRPIz3aLIir1yUPJvGt&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBW9QWx3wrTLSZhJ7faQ5xvP0BHHW8vlZJpM-cU3dgMbQ&oe=663A727E	0	3	Live Sale!	Elisabet Boutique	35331	https://facebook.com/elisabetboutique	SHOP_NOW	1714633200	View Edit Delete
1666679	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727704	1734958292	695	742322244719487	1	8.0409230292861E+15	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	103802485224988	0	Multnomah County, OR	120208074488930371	play.google.com	Install Now	NONE	carousel	Man sentenced to six years in prison for ` Operation MistleTow '		https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.particlenews.newsbreak		1714551768	1.0380248522499E+14	Multnomah County, OR	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441028123_378083488554185_5989783673837775968_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PdhECjBa_WUQ7kNvgEG468O&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAzj6WC4xo5Ua0LAGRPAgicANbGfsvgV8RlKLPo3s2G7A&oe=663A62EE	person_profile	0	Multnomah County, OR	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441051103_378351378533762_3224734056622860642_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Lwl4lLff5doQ7kNvgG-Y6_l&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfD0j4kPiixqKbr3y8eBDGWFem0eYuqo9dtM4r-jTPR3dQ&oe=663A6179	0	3		Multnomah County, OR	110	https://facebook.com/100063741293865	INSTALL_MOBILE_APP	1714546800	View Edit Delete
1666687	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727704	1734958293	695	742322244719487	1	8.0409230292861E+15	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	103802485224988	0	Multnomah County, OR	120208074488930371	play.google.com	Install Now	NONE	carousel	Man sentenced to six years in prison for ` Operation MistleTow '		https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.particlenews.newsbreak		1714551768	1.0380248522499E+14	Multnomah County, OR	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441028123_378083488554185_5989783673837775968_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PdhECjBa_WUQ7kNvgEG468O&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAzj6WC4xo5Ua0LAGRPAgicANbGfsvgV8RlKLPo3s2G7A&oe=663A62EE	person_profile	0	Multnomah County, OR	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441051103_378351378533762_3224734056622860642_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Lwl4lLff5doQ7kNvgG-Y6_l&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfD0j4kPiixqKbr3y8eBDGWFem0eYuqo9dtM4r-jTPR3dQ&oe=663A6179	0	3		Multnomah County, OR	110	https://facebook.com/100063741293865	INSTALL_MOBILE_APP	1714546800	View Edit Delete
1666690	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727704	1734958293	695	1725601427848192	1	4.2998038297142E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	1763877790521684	0	Altoona, PA Local - News Break	120210838700630012	www.newsbreakapp.com	Install now	NONE	image	Breaking news from Altoona!	Reconnect with your neighborhood! Daily news alerts for local news headlines!	https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.particlenews.newsbreak		1714549718	1.7638777905217E+15	Altoona, PA Local - News Break	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438254054_1575133009887155_266884729132910533_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=iHgQ3R2lhXoQ7kNvgFn18x0&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCueliuhdpmET6OviaMhCJhm4DVxva3fekLMt6pzjFg1Q&oe=663A9742	person_profile	0	Altoona, PA Local - News Break	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438254144_1117175886065613_7373407404192280417_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=1_G6u7f7xYMQ7kNvgHsz9Yn&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAmboUOGid1W0QeFKMLJzJKS8bJiOuFYhcR0Hjnh0wWNA&oe=663A7440	0	3	Altoona News: ‘I beat him’: Victim beaten with fists, toy crossbow at Altoona home, police report. Install news app trusted by millions to stay informed of latest Altoona local news!	Altoona, PA Local - News Break	2236	https://facebook.com/100067728575550	INSTALL_MOBILE_APP	1714546800	View Edit Delete
1667535	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727726	1734958293	695	983386476547788	5	2.6564703992983E+14	1710918000	person_profile	taken-down	NONE	1	0	0	214429651760593	0	Cassey Edmonds World	120206525817020638	www.dealwbig.top	Learn more	NONE	video	A drop witnesses the rocket ascending – this is the best gift for yourself.🥰❤️		https://www.dealwbig.top/products/dthgfgghfhfgjgjn		1710937039	2.1442965176059E+14	Cassey Edmonds World	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434061840_298553116589258_3849041646729052766_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=GKX1iItq7wIQ7kNvgHzl7K3&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDk74yCySzAQaYOi8U0yWB1R6J_qvpTNkbdVj4J4YeXBw&oe=663A7CE6	person_profile	0	Cassey Edmonds World	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433648115_1087994055783712_5916866709637000879_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=dm4xTeB7Ql4Q7kNvgFrORfZ&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfDaxQzdpgV74cgNqUsTdc0gAUKYY1KCPCS_rkMotTB3jA&oe=663A91FD	0	3	A drop witnesses the rocket ascending – this is the best gift for yourself.🥰❤️<br /> Click on the link below to receive your best gift for half price🥰❤️😍<br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dealwbig.top%2Fproducts%2Fdthgfgghfhfgjgjn&h=AT3Zm5BUcp-Y8y8dKlstU76pEjO-_0lBxP57pX6ZZFEGK7gPOXUIEu1fNOrtfhJmB-CrlBjsAAWs9TXwmKEw28Fkn5qVuJvbwmrLxxvCJBczwLlqb03If2X_EqTnuGXLcn_IpyBYno3WxNLwpM3xxQ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://www.dealwbig.top/products/dthgfgghfhfgjgjn</a>	Cassey Edmonds World	4	https://facebook.com/61556118337565	LEARN_MORE	1710918000	View Edit Delete
1667546	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727727	1734958293	695	283407764791687	5	8.2079270988312E+14	1710918000	person_profile	taken-down	NONE	1	0	0	229860183539319	0	Mizzy Online	120206257482540426	www.dealwbig.top	Learn more	NONE	video	A drop witnesses the rocket ascending – this is the best gift for yourself.🥰❤️		https://www.dealwbig.top/products/dthgfgghfhfgjgjn		1710936896	2.2986018353932E+14	Mizzy Online	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433622693_1149819412626278_2404317748277757400_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_XDVHhBfYEQQ7kNvgGcsTy2&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfAYsdajmQkm8axfBzeCL_7fNfxvmZRPQ_Q4ErvnV16wsw&oe=663A7A9B	person_profile	0	Mizzy Online	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433439872_2189025671437261_7075964822197577624_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FtDGhLUo7_YQ7kNvgEspl4y&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfBZLHXBrjtTon3cMxbtHsbGF9frUyztBPVIr7GCJ1oGog&oe=663A6EBB	0	3	A drop witnesses the rocket ascending – this is the best gift for yourself.🥰❤️<br /> Click on the link below to receive your best gift for half price🥰❤️😍<br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dealwbig.top%2Fproducts%2Fdthgfgghfhfgjgjn&h=AT37CYwuxtgw8Q6ndQoFx5oVQ0-KxpUI2R66UkligajZrRvtZKeLKUHE92vLVSUJu4DUx_K4PRSV6qPCCLw2HMl-0m7odRuqUpg_U0SVsTVSXHwVR8JKQJ1GniEkJH5AN2u-Zy_BqlVeiCW0JI2ZMw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://www.dealwbig.top/products/dthgfgghfhfgjgjn</a>	Mizzy Online	22	https://facebook.com/61555921441914	LEARN_MORE	1710918000	View Edit Delete
1667540	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727727	1734958293	695	367552646248518		2.6564703992983E+14	1710918000	person_profile	taken-down	NONE	1	0	0	214429651760593	0	Cassey Edmonds World	120206525816840638	www.dealwbig.top	Learn more	NONE	video	A drop witnesses the rocket ascending – this is the best gift for yourself.🥰❤️		https://www.dealwbig.top/products/dthgfgghfhfgjgjn		1710937041	2.1442965176059E+14	Cassey Edmonds World	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432057570_335349225716308_8511402710475645504_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=y9gnQf2yIaYQ7kNvgFunSf-&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfAJfBKqz63nDzV0NAyZmFbeU6hvx0D3ftA8M1ywuUvPqQ&oe=663A60E3	person_profile	0	Cassey Edmonds World	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432052985_1513053442587772_2069210872770648744_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Eo3UlIvzChIQ7kNvgGDBq-2&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDESB0bp58ljLyGmnINZ0cqebxyxH3Up0-OCfRAEJO-0g&oe=663A88FE	0	3	A drop witnesses the rocket ascending – this is the best gift for yourself.🥰❤️<br /> Click on the link below to receive your best gift for half price🥰❤️😍<br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dealwbig.top%2Fproducts%2Fdthgfgghfhfgjgjn&h=AT0SkKZGK6RVAzViUrFxZRa6rpcKxGGxn2JrjDMbXg5laWUIftCvF101XBZaTRG728skkoxqxLUty4Scwyv7JfmKm5Vwq5_t5KvxRU7_iB4rxdBxl2E08bALvqnkBtub40UR4yqD82TdYg6K8CBWOQ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://www.dealwbig.top/products/dthgfgghfhfgjgjn</a>	Cassey Edmonds World	4	https://facebook.com/61556118337565	LEARN_MORE	1710918000	View Edit Delete
1666928	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727711	1734958293	695	743867611070183		1.7452277726815E+15	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	545775132233909	0	The Late Show with Stephen Colbert	120209652394220021			NONE	video	Rescue Dog Rescue With Daniel Radcliffe				1713525758	5.4577513223391E+14	The Late Show with Stephen Colbert	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439111069_411970738391945_4082812105630891417_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ZozekJpz8GIQ7kNvgGpOVF7&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDyM6vjr30W1yUe1TgH_oPLuXw6jUb5UOINOa-3dEZPpQ&oe=663A7C47	person_profile	0	The Late Show	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439079664_1497594611164701_6044775610019628892_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=MT1HyySTW2EQ7kNvgETBUxL&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfB6YtyAk32WRJkUQWaHCIK3K9Pg4G-EmLRlTLUHki4AXA&oe=663A628B	0	3	It's ok to tell a few lies if it helps get these pups from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/theanimalleague">North Shore Animal League America</a> adopted, right? Find your new best friend at <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.colbertlateshow.com%2Frescuedogrescue&h=AT0ZRlSL_zYDR-KuR5hIEQIBqnAk1-CEv1LwoVVbogN36Lx0CQBsfe1LNLxUL0KkvK5dcv_PPgZ0wKJEqIQT_496T4fZopmof61f3YeyJ2IaMoHyYO5E2W-l1I-Zbi4toawTNTc7pWHoAAaitG-MQJ0Xd_BTR0raH0lhvA" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">http://www.colbertlateshow.com/rescuedogrescue</a> today! #Colbert <br /> <br /> Paid partnership with <a href="https://www.facebook.com/simparicatrio">Simparica Trio</a>	The Late Show with Stephen Colbert	1952031	https://facebook.com/colbertlateshow		1713510000	View Edit Delete
1666872	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727709	1734958293	695	443789338439097	2	8.2606981289506E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	102078515372264	0	Ballista	120215094759210456	ballista.co	Learn more	NONE	video	Ready to elevate your fishing adventure?		https://ballista.co/		1713577393	1.0207851537226E+14	Ballista	https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437473137_402214466090128_3480412939771166823_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FaprbB7JDeYQ7kNvgHu-QZ7&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAlaZkDUHUd9bWudZZNL8KAtLxO6eWgnxXNgwyP8Mk8AQ&oe=663A970F	person_profile	0	BALLISTA	https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438082855_3735740683411521_6658961041363535791_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ZZkZMPyga4AQ7kNvgERofFu&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAMkHibWzQQfel7AKdM2EzqLXhKFWqS5JBmZHlq3Rp8eg&oe=663A7C0C	0	3	Your fishing buddy is boring. Leave the bobbers behind. Bowfishing is where the real adventure happens. <br /> <br /> Transform your fishing trips from passive pastime to active adventure. Join the bowfishing revolution today and experience the excitement of hunting the waters.<br /> <br /> Visit <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fballista.co%2F&h=AT2i5orPiv085ByKqY9zMZ_Ac4gjwxmrq8LBp8pMumVvS2JSCiuY1KFZNI6YkGClpy_XquOnsFVENnnC6aSTQYHvUOKuWjT1Gg3DYM8QTKyaTtyvcvFTF3W6OWV2C4cPo0Rl3DP7e0q5rYnqKQS_5yYwldI" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://ballista.co/</a> now to dive into the thrilling world of bowfishing.	Ballista	6004	https://facebook.com/ballista.archery	LEARN_MORE	1713510000	View Edit Delete
1666997	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727713	1734958293	695	1143833703459581	1	9.6716752541011E+14	1713250800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	423699414390350	0	Hiya toys	120207249585580645	instagram.com	Visit Instagram Profile	NONE	carousel			https://www.instagram.com/_u/hiya_toys		1712918182	4.2369941439035E+14	Hiya toys	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435890169_455637816898997_1400948676440987007_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=enJzOTtGs74Q7kNvgEND7Ve&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDsEK7oEKAPeswN9DkeXT45es296YDO8P_g-wlGUK5MxA&oe=663A7047	person_profile	0	Hiyatoys	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435899196_1161301881532746_9040978709044126875_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=10QEwVHzp1EQ7kNvgG2c2QN&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBJX62wdycYEyXS85zgJ7mOnJO-ccPudCj6knfanMUV6g&oe=663A8370	0	3		Hiya toys	19504	https://facebook.com/Hiyatoys	VIEW_INSTAGRAM_PROFILE	1712905200	View Edit Delete
1666703	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727704	1734958293	695	1173091087378620	1	3.9938206290923E+14	1714633200	ig_ads_identity	eligible	NONE	0	1	1	100185195029038	0	exit_fame	120208302853900623	distrokid.com	Learn More	NONE	carousel			https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/exitfame/exit-hell		1714520230	1.0018519502904E+14	exit_fame	https://scontent-atl3-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-19/426600792_431752302627308_9181042578801762968_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s200x200&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=3fd06f&_nc_ohc=AYcfphoR1CQQ7kNvgFMHxU1&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.cdninstagram.com&oh=00_AfCCY_pksRS6o1R-rLXLZyrSd0KgkGV2lc54uB3GnhhRvw&oe=663A7550	ig_ads_identity	1	Exit Fame	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438081562_969239061159063_6215700093031474290_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jHub1Q-_mtEQ7kNvgHUXjOi&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAmaplPaOgieVgL9QVf_3ffX9OEo3079Mgep-zrQ4jtcg&oe=663A7BD6	0	3		exit_fame	0	https://www.instagram.com/_u/exit_fame	LEARN_MORE	1714460400	View Edit Delete
1667034	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727714	1734958293	695	762799398924244		3.2845536023858E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	892588401116730	0	Practice Anywhere	120207328534580376	accubow.com	Shop Now	NONE	carousel	Scope-to-Phone Crosshair Sight		https://accubow.com/		1710617225	8.9258840111673E+14	Practice Anywhere	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431950026_712364067761625_8500033827148086301_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WSNdntC_kecQ7kNvgE6r10o&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBs4bvzDKNJJTlXvScamlqQNysPDHMuDOlqy2dPA1Nwqw&oe=663A88BC	person_profile	0	Official AccuBow®	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431972926_397577752988272_9068572841206466590_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=1MztnTPFOfEQ7kNvgGEknP9&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDYi0nzjelcubNt8-3kZbsLBcacITp7kNzhDUdlAch3cg&oe=663A8FF1	0	3		Practice Anywhere	9807	https://facebook.com/practiceanywherenow	SHOP_NOW	1712905200	View Edit Delete
1666716	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727704	1734958293	695	337148285685241	2	9.5570610268791E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	1	0	1705569912922526	0	Archero	120208389189400591	play.google.com	Install now	NONE	video	One Man One War		https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.habby.archero		1714460942	1.7055699129225E+15	Archero	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438164168_957466929311064_4328551410735498022_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xwFC5xV0IrgQ7kNvgEi69mO&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCgyZvmzkXxAbWY6mMyBek_jIRdylpEgKVH1fH2h4aHPw&oe=663A8C52	person_profile	0	Archero	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438925452_742211121415249_8220584931254654942_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Daf3sXVTxvIQ7kNvgEDpQHs&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCJvsuq64lwvguo186E0WvpcLyT0NN29rAOWZlBk31WXA&oe=663A6D9F	0	3	Finally on level 9. I'm hooked...	Archero	694214	https://facebook.com/archerogame	INSTALL_MOBILE_APP	1714460400	View Edit Delete
1666717	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727704	1734958293	695	944588590787765	1	9.7967595647642E+14	1714719600	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	300512699811774	0	Jacob Le Vine	120208534792040701			NONE	video					1714432603	3.0051269981177E+14	Jacob Le Vine	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440120812_1353944428632706_2466394101190367686_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=eKk4T3rTXVgQ7kNvgFnmACB&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAOCmSjk6lTMPz3fQaAIYfTfXSRXy3DraBbTkir_6kuWQ&oe=663A8B99	person_profile	0	Jacob Le Vine	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440263324_450027477580348_8277294695930668170_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WLMYEUCu7VsQ7kNvgG033qi&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBipDkMvX3zrzZY1mG4guNmdARonxR2FVBVumfbsNODlQ&oe=663A7EB0	0	3	The NEW Strategy To Scale Facebook Ads in 2024	Jacob Le Vine	6	https://facebook.com/61559045041201		1714374000	View Edit Delete
1666651	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727703	1734958293	695	646258151024680	1	1.5267053348878E+15	1714719600	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	1	0	269620322892403	0	The Spellbound Archive	6558273558802	instagram.com	Visit Instagram Profile	NONE	carousel			http://instagram.com/spellbound_archive		1714702178	2.696203228924E+14	The Spellbound Archive	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440968574_1798000374030560_3003370305381287260_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LYekV0DdfNIQ7kNvgF_D5q3&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBirAu1p2FSKb-EA_z7R3vegqoGkosBmw7cKRFCgodMsw&oe=663A7840	person_profile	0	The Spellbound Archive D&D 5e Content	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440972729_971762634736311_1802869384665466207_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=OH9i-Tt0TSUQ7kNvgEz1Kfx&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfD5BTe16RiaFsLbRFG1fXJSdRplgiB5H4SnVT4R5oTwOQ&oe=663A6C86	0	3		The Spellbound Archive	2	https://facebook.com/61557003984252	VIEW_INSTAGRAM_PROFILE	1714633200	View Edit Delete
1666653	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727703	1734958294	695	646258151024680	1	1.5267053348878E+15	1714719600	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	1	0	269620322892403	0	The Spellbound Archive	6558273558802	instagram.com	Visit Instagram Profile	NONE	carousel			http://instagram.com/spellbound_archive		1714702178	2.696203228924E+14	The Spellbound Archive	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440968574_1798000374030560_3003370305381287260_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LYekV0DdfNIQ7kNvgF_D5q3&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBirAu1p2FSKb-EA_z7R3vegqoGkosBmw7cKRFCgodMsw&oe=663A7840	person_profile	0	The Spellbound Archive D&D 5e Content	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440972729_971762634736311_1802869384665466207_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=OH9i-Tt0TSUQ7kNvgEz1Kfx&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfD5BTe16RiaFsLbRFG1fXJSdRplgiB5H4SnVT4R5oTwOQ&oe=663A6C86	0	3		The Spellbound Archive	2	https://facebook.com/61557003984252	VIEW_INSTAGRAM_PROFILE	1714633200	View Edit Delete
1666657	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727703	1734958294	695	1573437606769166	1	1.0888080821798E+15	1714719600	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	100417419180980	0	National Archery & Outdoors	120207892585860160		Call now	NONE	video	Areas #1 Rated Pro Shop				1714690027	1.0041741918098E+14	National Archery & Outdoors	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440440384_963454232178882_34600791526767327_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=n8-0rU3A0doQ7kNvgFVnr9I&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAjzpM9BBuEe2HhNtq3OTLj_GLhbQ5MpVywNgGlM5F68A&oe=663A6B58	person_profile	0			0	3	Areas #1 rated archery pro shop with an indoor 3D range out to 40 yards! We are an Authorized Service Center for all your crossbow and compound repairs! With over 100 years combined bow technician experience, we have you covered!	National Archery & Outdoors	1489	https://facebook.com/nationalarcheryandoutdoors	CALL_NOW	1714633200	View Edit Delete
1666659	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727703	1734958294	695	806367687588005	1	1.4776515461807E+15	1714719600	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	2239723256093598	0	Community Hardware True Value	120208502347290675		Call now	NONE	multi_images					1714682165	2.2397232560936E+15	Community Hardware True Value	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440178357_2449348051930321_7929815377855838982_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Tx08ZBGDrXIQ7kNvgHZbwer&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAqOFl7oD2yOLpogHJ8QIOMxJFpXSU3A0gKGPBTilDC3A&oe=663A5F9D	person_profile	0	Community Hardware True Value	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441265806_1894155924362875_3131240061951340292_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ilELQ2XK9EoQ7kNvgE9KpEg&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCNk-NXWus_iP6IOgbUDghE0O5P-OEu2camEpqLG7vYTA&oe=663A67EB	0	3	HUGE sales this month on Weed Killers, Fertilizer, and 4 for 12 Mulch (Limited Time Only from 5/4/24 though 5/18/24)! Over 1000 bags in stock and ready to sell!<br /> Check out our ad and page for more details!<br /> We are located at 102 S Center St. Princeton, NC 27569; just outside of Goldsboro right off Highway 70.	Community Hardware True Value	1140	https://facebook.com/communityhdw	CALL_NOW	1714633200	View Edit Delete
1666661	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727703	1734958294	695	3071622202972461	2	4.4939550091101E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	804212676294898	0	Raiito.pronos	120208697342250010	pridewif.com	Get offer	NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://pridewif.com/landers/mfc/usa/RavinBlake?ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&adset_id=%7B%7Badset.id%7D%7D&campaign_id=%7B%7Bcampaign.id%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&source=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&cpid=662d2e1341f44e001229797d		1714667472	8.042126762949E+14	Raiito.pronos	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440589642_306259792516785_1110470227721803639_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XMOdfFEhun4Q7kNvgF6PCWC&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAtefBh8TuUV0khr_vEVvbEXsyZfliZPrDUvvX8V1qkEg&oe=663A5F0C	person_profile	0	Raiito.pronos	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440392909_3614682348860978_3326682123512222682_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=cmcJ3fQEhDEQ7kNvgHcB4fT&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCrdAS5HoTFaj2YoecZoU8uFEmHiRPB_yzZQJrv_DuKCA&oe=663A86BB	0	3	If you're reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You're among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a Ravin R29 Crossbow for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳	Raiito.pronos	2	https://facebook.com/61550669199113	GET_OFFER_VIEW	1714633200	View Edit Delete
1666663	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727703	1734958294	695	765755842346444	1	1.4464214459689E+15	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	100575081546002	0	Blue Sea	120209335374010581	play.google.com	Install now	NONE	video	To find out, listen to the audioseries 'Bloodbound' (FREE for a limited period of time) Click on the link below to download the PocketFM app, now!		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.radio.pocketfm		1714665942	1.00575081546E+14	Blue Sea	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440959704_444694161441722_7684145656439767473_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=R3_Nb3oQfxAQ7kNvgEE7qLR&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAWj4CejmLvqGFlmWeCKJLJ5qHJ5KexCdNC_58o7_n_IA&oe=663A9465	person_profile	0	Blue Sea	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440942516_1133980274609780_1697281810036521345_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=RC-mDWuON2YQ7kNvgGMi4T6&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAmTMrlkn62dEvYuORIidldral8J-uV-9Tk8AV9xLGM1w&oe=663A7BE0	0	3	Little red riding hood is on a mission to kill some werewolves.	Blue Sea	8527	https://facebook.com/100069599781612	INSTALL_MOBILE_APP	1714633200	View Edit Delete
1666666	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727703	1734958294	695	347540657917384	1	9.8569761648776E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	103802485224988	0	Multnomah County, OR	120208960676310028	www.newsbreakapp.com	Learn more	NONE	image	Breaking news from Multnomah County!	Reconnect with your neighborhood! Daily news alerts for local news headlines!	https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.particlenews.newsbreak		1714664693	1.0380248522499E+14	Multnomah County, OR	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440850298_985089186543446_2408046468004780587_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UMlxLTBMFVwQ7kNvgHSJ370&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDMQXv6DqKpCvHd8ZQlrRSaGK0GTd9pnBjmW2bFG0DKpg&oe=663A66D8	person_profile	0	Multnomah County, OR	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441252736_980212120336146_78119954538958208_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ULIwZVIGz6cQ7kNvgGQLrZK&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDYGrSoVwPaLIFO3r8CQxsKnQFojvz3Ib5pMxdg78OmoQ&oe=663A72DD	0	3	Multnomah County News: Oregon man gets life for killing victim with crossbow and hiding dismembered remains in shed. Install news app trusted by millions to stay informed of latest Multnomah County local news!	Multnomah County, OR	110	https://facebook.com/100063741293865	LEARN_MORE	1714633200	View Edit Delete
1666669	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727703	1734958294	695	469463928849833	1	9.6734336792414E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	1418258608408805	0	Killer Instinct Crossbows	120209598852670207	shop.killerinstinctcrossbows.com	Order now	NONE	image	KillerTech Broadheads	Killertech Broadheads bring strength, accuracy and deadly performance to crossbow hunting.	https://shop.killerinstinctcrossbows.com/broadheads/		1714657142	1.4182586084088E+15	Killer Instinct Crossbows	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441052617_994608788688188_171734859860258309_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=F-zmhMWQGUAQ7kNvgGOGFVI&_nc_oc=AdiCrLe_OrbAC9tbNWFQ_8SEDsKKCINj2Vdsb1SsmXovQ-u1E6h_ok-AUNawcc1tgjsYferRT7P_R1N3GpePsBCt&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB5QlFNlGZxQKsAwnvQIaHKyhfR-p3YScWaq6wmRFxb_A&oe=663A8169	person_profile	0	Killer Instinct Crossbows	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441033601_347053684632550_6356627405315293953_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=-QOYu9xVi64Q7kNvgEKqunu&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBrvuKcng0FLqk-x9ahLyyVGRD5YlPwYaOYPjuRPbnxjw&oe=663A6A35	0	3	Experience 50% thicker blades, dependable Speed-Lok blade retention system with no speed limits and unmatched accuracy.	Killer Instinct Crossbows	28338	https://facebook.com/killercrossbows	ORDER_NOW	1714633200	View Edit Delete
1666671	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727703	1734958294	695	994613625475885	1	3.6934113375483E+15	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	1418258608408805	0	Killer Instinct Crossbows	120209598832830207	shop.killerinstinctcrossbows.com	Order now	NONE	image	The Vital X 430	Ultra-narrow at rest, the Vital X 430 measures only 6.75 inches axle-to-axle when cocked, making it very comfortable to shoulder. The Vital X 430 was designed to be compact, well-balanced, and an easy to maneuver crossbow for any shooter.	https://shop.killerinstinctcrossbows.com/vital-x-430-elite-crossbow/		1714657110	1.4182586084088E+15	Killer Instinct Crossbows	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441213038_417191977771910_8916477991210027486_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5-dsmOp8lLQQ7kNvgEjWiVh&_nc_oc=AdhxL07CoMAB1LJJY9ltA72nh8JYGvLVFtx1SKCzgJ3YtpEV5B0rVPCdnZsdtQtq8aL4tckpZua7Dk-0oUHwNE51&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCset1WVvWVnA2h4Dn3I0AM9HwL480atS5PG7JgEwJohg&oe=663A62AD	person_profile	0	Killer Instinct Crossbows	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440162749_7748104238585408_6508725080154529579_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3JlA8PTF0d4Q7kNvgHq1mcv&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCRAuytnvA4jhQj5A2Pr136P5i-KOduA1i-nMdwS68cmw&oe=663A92D8	0	3	The Vital X 430 is the smoothest and easiest to draw 430 fps crossbow on the market!	Killer Instinct Crossbows	28338	https://facebook.com/killercrossbows	ORDER_NOW	1714633200	View Edit Delete
1666692	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727704	1734958294	695	1075388896885614	2	4.2323170033942E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	100575081546002	0	Blue Sea	120209164658160581	play.google.com	Install now	NONE	video	To find out, listen to the audioseries 'Of Bones and Ashes' (FREE for a limited period of time) Click on the link below to download the PocketFM app, now!		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.radio.pocketfm		1714209293	1.00575081546E+14	Blue Sea	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440789270_456482660159593_7672072889709671691_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ezEmiuOS9I4Q7kNvgHlEyDm&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAi5-WRQuvNpV_kLSvsU2NDTxZRe9OF6ONBESAoRY5FJw&oe=663A64A8	person_profile	0	Blue Sea	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747796_265815199858625_6840856249921164074_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=cLrep3C0il4Q7kNvgGfO8vE&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfA9_hJmjN_LVtEe78xT_lylXbS-bl3sj56PzT4ujVbszg&oe=663A8EBA	0	3	Snow White, a blood-sucking monster, framed her stepmother & took the throne. Now, the truth will be unleashed.	Blue Sea	8527	https://facebook.com/100069599781612	INSTALL_MOBILE_APP	1714460400	View Edit Delete
1666681	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727704	1734958294	695	742322244719487	1	8.0409230292861E+15	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	103802485224988	0	Multnomah County, OR	120208074488930371	play.google.com	Install Now	NONE	carousel	Man sentenced to six years in prison for ` Operation MistleTow '		https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.particlenews.newsbreak		1714551768	1.0380248522499E+14	Multnomah County, OR	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441028123_378083488554185_5989783673837775968_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PdhECjBa_WUQ7kNvgEG468O&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAzj6WC4xo5Ua0LAGRPAgicANbGfsvgV8RlKLPo3s2G7A&oe=663A62EE	person_profile	0	Multnomah County, OR	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441051103_378351378533762_3224734056622860642_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Lwl4lLff5doQ7kNvgG-Y6_l&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfD0j4kPiixqKbr3y8eBDGWFem0eYuqo9dtM4r-jTPR3dQ&oe=663A6179	0	3		Multnomah County, OR	110	https://facebook.com/100063741293865	INSTALL_MOBILE_APP	1714546800	View Edit Delete
1666694	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727704	1734958294	695	800041772039956		4.2323170033942E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	100575081546002	0	Blue Sea	120209164658160581	play.google.com	Install now	NONE	video	To find out, listen to the audioseries 'Of Bones and Ashes' (FREE for a limited period of time) Click on the link below to download the PocketFM app, now!		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.radio.pocketfm		1714209293	1.00575081546E+14	Blue Sea	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440789270_456482660159593_7672072889709671691_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ezEmiuOS9I4Q7kNvgHlEyDm&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAi5-WRQuvNpV_kLSvsU2NDTxZRe9OF6ONBESAoRY5FJw&oe=663A64A8	person_profile	0	Blue Sea	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747796_265815199858625_6840856249921164074_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=cLrep3C0il4Q7kNvgGfO8vE&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfA9_hJmjN_LVtEe78xT_lylXbS-bl3sj56PzT4ujVbszg&oe=663A8EBA	0	3	Snow White, a blood-sucking monster, framed her stepmother & took the throne. Now, the truth will be unleashed.	Blue Sea	8527	https://facebook.com/100069599781612	INSTALL_MOBILE_APP	1714374000	View Edit Delete
1666697	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727704	1734958294	695	1173091087378620	1	3.9938206290923E+14	1714633200	ig_ads_identity	eligible	NONE	0	1	1	100185195029038	0	exit_fame	120208302853900623	distrokid.com	Learn More	NONE	carousel			https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/exitfame/exit-hell		1714520230	1.0018519502904E+14	exit_fame	https://scontent-atl3-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-19/426600792_431752302627308_9181042578801762968_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s200x200&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=3fd06f&_nc_ohc=AYcfphoR1CQQ7kNvgFMHxU1&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.cdninstagram.com&oh=00_AfCCY_pksRS6o1R-rLXLZyrSd0KgkGV2lc54uB3GnhhRvw&oe=663A7550	ig_ads_identity	1	Exit Fame	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438081562_969239061159063_6215700093031474290_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jHub1Q-_mtEQ7kNvgHUXjOi&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAmaplPaOgieVgL9QVf_3ffX9OEo3079Mgep-zrQ4jtcg&oe=663A7BD6	0	3		exit_fame	0	https://www.instagram.com/_u/exit_fame	LEARN_MORE	1714460400	View Edit Delete
1666699	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727704	1734958294	695	1173091087378620	1	3.9938206290923E+14	1714633200	ig_ads_identity	eligible	NONE	0	1	1	100185195029038	0	exit_fame	120208302853900623	distrokid.com	Learn More	NONE	carousel			https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/exitfame/exit-hell		1714520230	1.0018519502904E+14	exit_fame	https://scontent-atl3-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-19/426600792_431752302627308_9181042578801762968_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s200x200&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=3fd06f&_nc_ohc=AYcfphoR1CQQ7kNvgFMHxU1&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.cdninstagram.com&oh=00_AfCCY_pksRS6o1R-rLXLZyrSd0KgkGV2lc54uB3GnhhRvw&oe=663A7550	ig_ads_identity	1	Exit Fame	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438081562_969239061159063_6215700093031474290_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jHub1Q-_mtEQ7kNvgHUXjOi&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAmaplPaOgieVgL9QVf_3ffX9OEo3079Mgep-zrQ4jtcg&oe=663A7BD6	0	3		exit_fame	0	https://www.instagram.com/_u/exit_fame	LEARN_MORE	1714460400	View Edit Delete
1666672	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727703	1734958294	695	406729642181195	3	9.7140145413333E+14	1714633200	regular_page	eligible	NONE	0	1	1	175000829206961	0	Elisabet Boutique	120208033549200123	shopelisabetboutique.com	Shop now	NONE	video	Live Sale!		https://shopelisabetboutique.com/		1714405346	1.7500082920696E+14	Elisabet Boutique	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440941501_792440199181416_4672176322497220176_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LZsBIOcEmm0Q7kNvgHG_z48&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDaLHuWEfneiP7buSPCMOw8Mgho9gtFkNj9H4DFVKvfTA&oe=663A85BA	person_profile	0	Elisabet Boutique Online	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440958980_2266594633683731_7831849394101558978_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=S54-EiQU9SIQ7kNvgE6fMl_&_nc_oc=AdgBYn8W8l9KCgW7qqUC_1Gq7pjC_dSE9XlYDqe3NyCpFRlKz3uwg6yIJrkRelhIje-1qJRPIz3aLIir1yUPJvGt&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBW9QWx3wrTLSZhJ7faQ5xvP0BHHW8vlZJpM-cU3dgMbQ&oe=663A727E	0	3	Live Sale!	Elisabet Boutique	35331	https://facebook.com/elisabetboutique	SHOP_NOW	1714633200	View Edit Delete
1666707	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727704	1734958294	695	1756129208210732	1	2.4770525830055E+14	1714719600	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	154393364597206	0	Surry Chemicals, Inc	6622834005664		Send message	NONE	multi_images					1714499021	1.5439336459721E+14	Surry Chemicals, Inc	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440223650_1363452207575240_1269610937770800188_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ULKa4p2-VUAQ7kNvgFv6WpE&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAGnV9MTiBNXEW3wdYejqUJouevueuZj2pvzLGDbzfTgg&oe=663A6744	person_profile	0	Surry Chemicals Inc	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440203380_343502528740346_2177639978323452002_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=BOzKzogbLacQ7kNvgGVsbJG&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDQ74EEn3lQm-M3V5PwMMI_RysT11mEr3eR0dyzEqFqsA&oe=663A7E24	0	3	In an effort to make it easier on our customers, we now have shelving in the lobby with lots of our consumer products! Anything from window cleaner and degreaser to antifreeze and ag chemicals… Come by and take a look! If you don’t see what you need just ask…. We hope to see you soon! 241 Hickory St in Mt Airy. #betterproducts #betterprices #thebestservice #hereforyou #chemicals #manufacturing #local #automotive	Surry Chemicals, Inc	1320	https://facebook.com/100063611591665	MESSAGE_PAGE	1714460400	View Edit Delete
1666710	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727704	1734958294	695	980662600346834	1	4.3109743952388E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	103802485224988	0	Multnomah County, OR	120207871296490368	www.newsbreakapp.com	Install now	NONE	image	Breaking news from Multnomah County!	Reconnect with your neighborhood! Daily news alerts for local news headlines!	https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.particlenews.newsbreak		1714468147	1.0380248522499E+14	Multnomah County, OR	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440388215_1599783480873358_4703980938562891789_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_cVCdKfcYW4Q7kNvgFUvSrc&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAp4t1NkVqdkvmdIlfyTakeYej7PhP8ghLie5gzL2SX3Q&oe=663A7AF3	person_profile	0	Multnomah County, OR	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438833975_954358462758888_2132377857357565187_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=kT3TfswfA9oQ7kNvgE2Mheg&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB2t4WBYbtwIJP7OwlrQlsOTvi_pctaTyXNfmAukE2ctw&oe=663A77E2	0	3	Multnomah County News: Oregon man gets life for killing victim with crossbow and hiding dismembered remains in shed. Install news app trusted by millions to stay informed of latest Multnomah County local news!	Multnomah County, OR	110	https://facebook.com/100063741293865	INSTALL_MOBILE_APP	1714460400	View Edit Delete
1666712	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727704	1734958294	695	1628870761260603	2	4.0207532931764E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	1	0	1705569912922526	0	Archero	120208389196620591	play.google.com	Install Now	NONE	dco	One Man One War	{{product.description}}	https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.habby.archero		1714461027	1.7055699129225E+15	Archero	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439921914_1154802665548466_744206028294062338_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CLSjN6KcokcQ7kNvgHBVoaC&_nc_oc=AdgGes_FKk-AG227H0gGp4cpvd6mzK1eLJwtckHOzDdUyJHjPjNoKaOJXniPPgZo-NXjXyF4QW8vW4EDfzvAPSlz&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDOhGX_BfAtwR93za4VDKHgRrbP-mCcgSlF_x9zZgfzbg&oe=663A7AF6	person_profile	0	Archero	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440350904_1613449449478031_2549544880645491586_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ojsZKTTyU40Q7kNvgFf66xc&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAolaicL7bhDXeCVoso4pEx7FUyAwKdlvE3sdiHNAckQA&oe=663A7817	0	3	Finally on level 9. I'm hooked...	Archero	694214	https://facebook.com/archerogame	INSTALL_MOBILE_APP	1714460400	View Edit Delete
1666714	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727704	1734958295	695	1628870761260603	2	4.0207532931764E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	1	0	1705569912922526	0	Archero	120208389196620591	play.google.com	Install Now	NONE	dco	One Man One War	{{product.description}}	https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.habby.archero		1714461027	1.7055699129225E+15	Archero	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439921914_1154802665548466_744206028294062338_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CLSjN6KcokcQ7kNvgHBVoaC&_nc_oc=AdgGes_FKk-AG227H0gGp4cpvd6mzK1eLJwtckHOzDdUyJHjPjNoKaOJXniPPgZo-NXjXyF4QW8vW4EDfzvAPSlz&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDOhGX_BfAtwR93za4VDKHgRrbP-mCcgSlF_x9zZgfzbg&oe=663A7AF6	person_profile	0	Archero	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440350904_1613449449478031_2549544880645491586_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ojsZKTTyU40Q7kNvgFf66xc&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAolaicL7bhDXeCVoso4pEx7FUyAwKdlvE3sdiHNAckQA&oe=663A7817	0	3	Finally on level 9. I'm hooked...	Archero	694214	https://facebook.com/archerogame	INSTALL_MOBILE_APP	1714460400	View Edit Delete
1666720	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727704	1734958295	695	410256971860466	1	1.2477275099464E+15	1714460400	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	136491149555680	0	FlameWitch	6598181197353	joyread.com	Learn more	NONE	image	The Alpha King And His Cursed Half-breed	"You are mine, little wolf. Deny our bond, and you defy the laws that govern us all," Azrael's words dripped with quiet menace. In a world where werewolves live amongst humans, Raven Wildheart has always been the outcast. Born a half-breed unable to fully shift, she faced ridicule and rejection from...	https://www.joyread.com/h5/7175/1?id=7175&lang=en&package_type=2001&uid=5299126		1714374836	1.3649114955568E+14	FlameWitch	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439237084_426481886682491_7163669719455130228_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Cf4-sPjxcggQ7kNvgF8qOq-&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCod-JT62O9WRTCtF93y4j5G5kE_7Q9VEvnlbgJZA4-wQ&oe=663A7905	person_profile	0	FlameWitch	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438119256_978082180509685_2224106422312830785_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FcPc8ggFb2oQ7kNvgGQDvF3&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAqDUOfYF7fERvmvmASQZPkSYXrI68YxPk_UOlZoB75tA&oe=663A91E7	0	3	"You are mine, little wolf. Deny our bond, and you defy the laws that govern us all," Azrael's words dripped with quiet menace.<br /> <br /> In a world where werewolves live amongst humans, Raven Wildheart has always been the outcast. Born a half-breed unable to fully shift, she faced ridicule and rejection from her pack, including three failed mate bonds. Scarred by her tragic past, Raven fled, embracing her human side—until fate intervened.<br /> <br /> *******************<br /> <br /> Raven's POV:<br /> <br /> "You honestly think, I, Kalen Blackmane, would take you as my mate? Is the Moon Goddess playing a sick joke on me?" he growled, his eyes shifting as I could tell he was battling his inner wolf. <br /> "I...I am sorry, I didn't—" I stammered, cowering under his intense gaze.<br /> <br /> "Oh, shut up, omega. How can I, the future Alpha of this pack, be mated to an omega like you? Worse, a half-breed who can't even shift?" His words cut deep as I sat in the corner, shoulders shaking, trying to hold back the tears threatening to spill.<br /> <br /> "Stand up," he commanded, his alpha tone compelling me to obey, even unwillingly. As an omega, those of alpha blood made us cower and submit. I quickly stood up, keeping a respectful distance. <br /> Kalen took a step back, his nose wrinkling in disgust. "You stink. When was the last time you even showered?" He spat the words like venom. How could I not reek when I woke at 4 am every day, worked like a slave in this pack house, and went to bed at 11 pm? It was summertime, for the Moon Goddess's sake—of course, I would sweat from such relentless labor under the unforgiving heat. But I knew better than to rebut this future alpha and held my tongue.<br /> <br /> "I, Kalen Blackmane, future alpha of the Novilian Pack, reject you, Raven Wildheart, as my mate and future luna." There, he said the words I knew were coming, the same words I had heard twice before. Oh yes, the Moon Goddess had been playing a sick joke on me ever since I turned 18, giving me mate after mate, only for Kalen to be the third rejection. They all rejected me because I was a weak half-breed who couldn't shift.<br /> <br /> "Say it," he growled, jolting me back from my thoughts. <br /> "I, Raven Wildheart, accept your rejection," I whispered, the pain searing through my heart like a hot blade. I had heard stories of how excruciating the pain was when rejected by one with alpha blood, but now I knew they were telling the truth. A searing agony ripped through my chest, as if someone had plunged a white-hot dagger into my heart and twisted it viciously. Every nerve ending felt like it was being set ablaze, the fiery torment spreading through my veins. I gasped for air, clutching my chest as waves of anguish crashed over me, threatening to drown me in a sea of torment.<br /> <br /> I could tell he was also in pain from breaking our mate bond, though not as severely as me. Breaking a mate bond was no easy feat, but these men had been doing it to me so easily. But hey, I didn't blame them—who would want me?<br /> <br /> Kalen stormed out of the storeroom, and as soon as he left, I fell to my knees, clutching my chest in agony, the searing pain refusing to subside. Tears streamed down my face as I curled into a ball on the cold, hard floor, my body wracked with sobs. How much more rejection could I endure before I shattered completely?<br /> <br /> I don't know how long I laid there, curled up on that cold, hard floor, body wracked with sobs. It could've been minutes or hours—the agony was so all-consuming that time ceased to have any meaning. This brutal rejection was just the latest in a long line of suffering I'd endured in my cursed life.<br /> <br /> My mother, Zahara Wildheart, was an omega who had dared to love a human man—my father, Ezra Ash, a skilled hunter. Their unconventional union had caused quite the scandal in our pack, the Novilian wolves, but my parents didn't care. They had me, and we were a happy little family, my father's human nature balancing out my mother's calmer omega wolf.<br /> <br /> But on my 18th birthday, the pivotal day I was supposed to undergo my first shift into a wolf...nothing happened. We stayed up all night, my parents trying in vain to coax out my wolf, to trigger that elusive first transformation. But no matter what we tried, I remained stubbornly human, a cruel reality that dawned on us with the rising sun.<br /> <br /> My mother held me as I sobbed, promising it didn't matter, that I was her precious daughter no matter what. My father stroked my hair, his warm, earthy scent enveloping me as he said we'd figure this out together. United, they vowed to stand by me, to protect me from those who would surely judge me as less for being the half-breed who couldn't shift.<br /> <br /> If only we'd known then just how fleeting that promise would be.<br /> That very night, rogue wolves—savage, feral ones with no pack—attacked our home. My father fought valiantly with his crossbow and blades, but how could a mere human hope to fend off monsters? I still have nightmares about the snarls, the snapping jaws, his anguished cries as they tore him apart before my eyes.<br /> My mother shifted with a terrifying roar, her deep auburn fur glistening in the moonlight as she threw herself at the rogues. I watched in horror as her blood spilled, staining her beautiful coat, but she kept fighting to allow me to escape. With her dying breaths, she screamed for me to run, to save myself.<br /> <br /> So I ran. I ran until my legs gave out, collapsing in the forest just as the sun began to peek over the horizon. When I awoke, I was surrounded by Novilian pack guards who had tracked the rogue scent. They brought me, broken and sobbing, back to the pack lands where Alpha Carter Blackmane took me in, his gruff words saying it was the honorable thing to do.<br /> <br /> But the "mercy" of giving me a home again in the pack was a cruel lie. Once there, I was treated as an outcast, a pitiful half-breed who had been too weak to manifest her wolf, too pathetic to save my own parents. The whispers, the mocking looks, the shoves when no one was watching—it never ended.<br /> <br /> For two years, I endured it all. The backbreaking labor them deemed fit for someone as low as me—cooking, cleaning, tending to their needs from sunrise to sunset. The unrelenting misery of being an omega with no wolf, a non-entity unworthy of being treated as anything more than vermin underfoot.<br /> <br /> Enough. I had endured enough suffering in my two decades of life. Scrambling to my feet, I didn't even try holding back the tears as I fled the storeroom, fled the mocking jeers and glares of the other wolves. Let them laugh—this would be the last time they ever saw me. <br /> <br /> I burst into the small room I'd been allocated and grabbed the tattered rucksack, flinging in the few meager possessions I owned—some clothes, a couple of precious mementos from my parents, and most importantly, the documents proving my human identity, my birth certificate and social security information.<br /> <br /> My hands shook as I quickly scribbled a note to Alpha Blackmane:<br /> "I quit. I'm leaving the pack. Don't try to find me—from this day on, I'll live among the humans as one of them. I am officially a rogue wolf, free from your judgment and cruelty."<br /> <br /> Slinging the rucksack over my shoulder, I cast one last glance around the cramped, dingy space that had been my whole world for far too long. Then, without a shred of regret, I turned and strode out, head held high.<br /> <br /> I marched through the Novilian pack village, drawing confused looks but no confrontation—even the cockiest of wolves wouldn't dare challenge a rogue, no matter how nonthreatening they might think me. My heart hammered in my chest, but I kept going, not allowing myself to pause or look back.<br /> <br /> Finally, I reached the tree line cloaking the eastern border of the territory. The boundary where Blackmane laws no longer applied. Drawing a deep, resolute breath, I stepped across that invisible line, leaving the world of my birth behind.<br /> I didn't stop walking until I'd made it halfway through the forest separating the pack lands from the nearest human town. Only then did I pause, sinking down to sit on a fallen log as the weight of what I'd done finally hit me.<br /> <br /> I was alone now. Utterly alone in the world, with no alpha's protection, no family, no home. Just me, a half-human girl with frail human limitations in a supernatural world of powerful wolves.<br /> But I was also free—free from the persecution, the daily torment of being seen as a defective mistake. Pulling my knees to my chest, I let the tears flow again, this time not from anguish but from the uplifting realization that I would choose my own path now.<br /> Resting my forehead on my knees, I whispered fiercely, "I have had enough, Goddess. I won't be coming back, not ever. I'll find my own way, with or without the wolf inside me."<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fpage.joyreadings.com%2Fh5-book-share.html%3Fid%3D7175%26lang%3Den%26is_from_myscroll%3D1%26is_composition_contest%3D0&h=AT3GBxucvPsS9cqqQlmvOV09WEks0vrta-dxis1KNUc33nGZQatcuCxxQDd6X0pE3d0NqMqxmqj2frXeMLGMuFm71xT3MSjZykmdmcC7f2hUVfB0A1gZRu3cFaOgzeGIe_b26N_HC93-Nbt7BumUtkjMRCg247OeAdNS1A" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://page.joyreadings.com/h5-book-share.html?id=7175&lang=en&is_from_myscroll=1&is_composition_contest=0</a>	FlameWitch	11	https://facebook.com/flamewitch	LEARN_MORE	1714374000	View Edit Delete
1666723	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727704	1734958295	695	922398232905030	1	1.5997476707837E+15	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	1	0	102045096204299	0	A knight of the seven kingdoms : the hedge knight	120208711919360253	instagram.com	Visit Instagram profile	NONE	video			http://instagram.com/westeroscontent_tunisia		1714358691	1.020450962043E+14	A knight of the seven kingdoms : the hedge knight	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440371921_1133158534497408_9176131048586790803_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=C0WfvoFt-CsQ7kNvgGMqcdu&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAX8VV_s0PheF2REgpdm7V3suKWfpDdLSW9TG2q8NFN9g&oe=663A84E2	person_profile	0	Haithem kefi : A song of ice and fire content	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440332084_747078404273620_2966547962644369017_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=r-ApjDsx1JMQ7kNvgEjDXtd&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBAbNyZ88xMOZ6jTdvNmKNEMa4tt2u5jaUehCUx08G5oQ&oe=663A94CC	0	3	"In game of thrones Season 4 finale, and in 'A Storm of Swords' Chapter 77, Tyrion kills his father Tywin Lannister. While the fate of Tywin remains consistent in both the books and the show, the circumstances leading to his death differ. <br /> In the show, the argument revolves around Shae, and Tywin's derogatory remark about her prompts Tyrion to take action. However, in the books, Tyrion's motive is rooted in the quest to find his wife Tysha. <br /> When questioning Tywin about her whereabouts, Tywin callously responds with 'wherever whores go.' <br /> This haunting phrase not only triggers Tyrion to kill his father but also becomes a recurring inquiry in his subsequent encounters, as he grapples with the haunting question, 'where do whores go?'"<br /> #got#asoiaf#asos#tywin#tyrion#lannister	A knight of the seven kingdoms : the hedge knight	6	https://facebook.com/100091856498706	VIEW_INSTAGRAM_PROFILE	1714287600	View Edit Delete
1666719	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727704	1734958295	695	419551707383929	1	1.0960149381216E+15	1714719600	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	108900037907095	0	Hunter’s Extravaganza	6539344518354		Send message	NONE	multi_images					1714396443	1.089000379071E+14	Hunter’s Extravaganza	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440966859_2190903874586262_4103264597911257937_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=0rPUkBd442UQ7kNvgFOGtRN&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCPZVwEgw1slA7c7W9OWSdt8T6Rzp0NVwpRx0AHO_JX7g&oe=663A831C	person_profile	0			0	3	📣📣📣IT'S TIME!📣📣📣<br /> <br /> 🎉🎉🎉TICKETS ARE LIVE!🎉🎉🎉<br /> <br /> Click the link below to buy your tickets now! The first 400 tickets sold will be entered in the Early Bird $250 drawing!<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Faccokeekvfd.square.site%2F&h=AT3xWigoARBjjH44FrphbTHp2wDgoicloyz_XgHOUiArAkDJVFO3vRa7ce-gZfX8TUXdoTran62IZtXn-0WPnrd5xBMs2-4fY5DawMF8ZzzKFyB3J-u1ffbVU66cXEJYdOjfCb0R0VtNTDsZVcBltOMT9FdNrMKAVQBokg" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://accokeekvfd.square.site/</a>	Hunter’s Extravaganza	384	https://facebook.com/huntersextravaganza	MESSAGE_PAGE	1714374000	View Edit Delete
1666729	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727705	1734958295	695	7613933381962663	2	4.1456613123646E+14	1714719600	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	100365976129594	0	Puzzles & Chaos	120209871520500763	play.google.com	Play game	NONE	video	Match-3, Fantasy, Strategy		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1714271757	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440356950_1350622012458942_5507172470065837165_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3KBuupV1XyAQ7kNvgEtyzr3&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDGGvz0v3NyqkFS0Kahu_N23wkktGWCXpKENZz-_GJN8A&oe=663A7EE5	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440235076_431607456478675_7547543159252901867_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=F2NUHQZ84FQQ7kNvgEsaBKz&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBK0pRp2AU5dc1rjLPromWcKAIMFTxKK7pY3rniHgBngQ&oe=663A7A05	0	3	Elemental magic, all at your fingertips.	Puzzles & Chaos	12242	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	PLAY_GAME	1714201200	View Edit Delete
1666821	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727707	1734958295	695	1392886664700475	1	1.5331988042692E+15	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	1705569912922526	0	Archero	120208161048930591	play.google.com	Install Now	NONE	dco	One Man One War	{{product.description}}	https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.habby.archero		1713768464	1.7055699129225E+15	Archero	https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438805517_761222229454567_861667326470849801_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=t-QvwBv-O78Q7kNvgHDC6Q-&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCoSAsgOB3NgarJShrjg8qY2i2YOKU4334o-7mxLZ8zbQ&oe=663A86A5	person_profile	0	Archero	https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438834379_1620914242073806_1374181507067281260_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QqJwhYtgka0Q7kNvgGp8Eow&_nc_oc=Adh_P7Mpwddxtxw4oicvdDZ09E1G-gn6jSlX11Fo4o9MfULcowlhM7278rIde6g8Rbk&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfD606rwGx3MIxjzGudxfXMIduMDewUjzwpCGOF8EvPgqQ&oe=663A73DB	0	3	Finally on level 9. I'm hooked...	Archero	694214	https://facebook.com/archerogame	INSTALL_MOBILE_APP	1713769200	View Edit Delete
1666730	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727705	1734958295	695	453614130474962	2	8.030801950336E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	100365976129594	0	Puzzles & Chaos	120209871483980763	play.google.com	Play game	NONE	video	Make smart decisions!		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1714271559	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437718805_999978451726982_6385447670520907582_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FQgzK1om_3YQ7kNvgE1D-ub&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDSoZWJcpN_xutao9r5DGa3X-Y341uidAr0d84Egv8jWQ&oe=663A6761	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438101453_1579510176174971_2090811575059943496_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Rc-DUC-v5QkQ7kNvgG0pHNY&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfCGcmNSeIEncS_MAhgVwRhUV8ahZKk2qXkXAtMmbzQj4w&oe=663A741A	0	3	Destroy enemy defenses with your wits!🧠	Puzzles & Chaos	12242	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	PLAY_GAME	1714201200	View Edit Delete
1666731	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727705	1734958295	695	422483403854358		8.030801950336E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	100365976129594	0	Puzzles & Chaos	120209871453120763	play.google.com	Play game	NONE	video	Make smart decisions!		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1714271414	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438087377_3614547085541978_4265520655745349814_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=nNPC4wtAWloQ7kNvgFJunS9&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBHpi0cLEO6cy7Vs_MnTVPGBQnRsl-4GX4eszbGhZ2FkQ&oe=663A6FDB	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438159544_2364935700380785_3072341276505142044_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=dfeaZCvL-JwQ7kNvgExoww2&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfD5tS-Hg3LhHRRRR_IWTGprmZcMwk78Tq8mce3MgyHMMg&oe=663A888C	0	3	Destroy enemy defenses with your wits!🧠	Puzzles & Chaos	12242	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	PLAY_GAME	1714201200	View Edit Delete
1666732	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727705	1734958295	695	3802509236697778	2	1.3884904818536E+15	1714719600	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	100365976129594	0	Puzzles & Chaos	120209871484050763	play.google.com	Play game	NONE	video	The winter is coming		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1714271560	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440939665_995386868866701_2548255130309884403_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=EJRKC7FN0o4Q7kNvgGb-yO-&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBTMqL-bbcJC2WUjuy_ZLircuFFKyiMugyOGPZXm6OdqA&oe=663A7EAC	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440860196_934117728195623_827037049870511773_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2I_DJFJ3hrQQ7kNvgFdhCYc&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBSr5TpoxvzoP1teJDjYmVZXUdUJWu5r-f92xovJNO84A&oe=663A8E07	0	3	Save your home through match-3 combat.⚠	Puzzles & Chaos	12242	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	PLAY_GAME	1714201200	View Edit Delete
1666735	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727705	1734958295	695	1035370847951354		1.3884904818536E+15	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	100365976129594	0	Puzzles & Chaos	120209871451720763	play.google.com	Play game	NONE	video	The winter is coming		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1714271400	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440249246_958835455771303_497700349176370997_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=soaVTnt7sUcQ7kNvgEoGIZd&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDxU4n6okb-aT9_VUrPhDGf1PIsn_u_Q4QzyHzzj-U0mQ&oe=663A6C97	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440234326_1619085028888163_8309286381098687106_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FzowPnDXEhkQ7kNvgHagivh&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBloKuRqwjZaM9o2ROtUri9SXVboJ6CJQtMbewmpAqEcg&oe=663A7A1B	0	3	Save your home through match-3 combat.⚠	Puzzles & Chaos	12242	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	PLAY_GAME	1714201200	View Edit Delete
1666738	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727705	1734958295	695	1863346554105790	2	8.0606067471342E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	100365976129594	0	Puzzles & Chaos	120209871483330763	play.google.com	Play game	NONE	video	Become a wizard!		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1714271555	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440741673_455354516933930_7335940074909228648_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mJvMvV1Xh1EQ7kNvgH3eXT4&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfCBrFBdS2fd13pxu9s5803X7daj5ddesVSPhIIrpaiExg&oe=663A7582	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440772341_1796052694208989_1306402526640894314_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vAgu8uk6EQ0Q7kNvgFnRZvz&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDQJW03mzK8VkqdHCFG9Yad4OxaZeqI6VSOM3ufACFg-A&oe=663A6DF8	0	3	👻I bet you've never seen a game like this before!	Puzzles & Chaos	12242	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	PLAY_GAME	1714201200	View Edit Delete
1666739	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727705	1734958295	695	1110331150077910		8.0606067471342E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	100365976129594	0	Puzzles & Chaos	120209871452810763	play.google.com	Play game	NONE	video	Become a wizard!		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1714271409	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440761857_476349781405002_693339547202576579_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5J3OPOPL2KQQ7kNvgF8_lfr&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfCdmjzHSduH92f6nk5qZtJ7YR5iQCcx5ysvD5UmCqO6MQ&oe=663A61D9	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440755395_1470062787273865_2054749281979774192_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tV0LfkpofroQ7kNvgFpJxkI&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBqNPozRbCxulo59qb3z9LQw3ylHixMd6KHXZlW4z4AjQ&oe=663A6846	0	3	👻I bet you've never seen a game like this before!	Puzzles & Chaos	12242	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	PLAY_GAME	1714201200	View Edit Delete
1666934	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727711	1734958295	695	1569167473625855	1	7.8162569706704E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	100365976129594	0	Puzzles & Chaos	120208137222680601	itunes.apple.com	Play game	NONE	video	HEAD-ON CONFRONTATION		http://itunes.apple.com/app/id6446389130		1713346040	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436317445_7717865694900632_4216141852749743204_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tS-ETmMX6UEQ7kNvgGap6iz&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDrSvoo4_QqmeJd0Q0q_lKWRq5hEGVIHpCX06clad_YVg&oe=663A62D5	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436430366_825104596102844_9026268228192707121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=exnjsVMAzhMQ7kNvgFXODof&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfD14FF8eUFMaoH90fOJqP9VIWcVUvKiuCKH6bJ8-rodqg&oe=663A773E	0	3	⚠Your allies have called you out! Match pieces to awaken heroes.	Puzzles & Chaos	12242	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	PLAY_GAME	1713337200	View Edit Delete
1666741	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727705	1734958295	695	825806252977611	2	9.7066829761991E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	100365976129594	0	Puzzles & Chaos	120209871482710763	play.google.com	Play game	NONE	video	Play anytime, anywhere!		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1714271550	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438240522_7392983200818107_4795451699900176486_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FGTW5s2ROXcQ7kNvgGmBhjv&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfB8NpbmDEfM84VZCC30UByuhDroihkMgO-OB8FGQbvEgQ&oe=663A8F1A	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438239548_1105009410750454_814270655626727559_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=F1HV-xbeHQMQ7kNvgGve_3f&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDL0L7t0EXlx0298pj9E08D0gv253QKMcjdZoDH-_qckw&oe=663A8B26	0	3	Turn the tables with one tap!🕹️	Puzzles & Chaos	12242	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	PLAY_GAME	1714201200	View Edit Delete
1666743	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727705	1734958295	695	966554028239386		9.7066829761991E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	100365976129594	0	Puzzles & Chaos	120209871450960763	play.google.com	Play game	NONE	video	Play anytime, anywhere!		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1714271388	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438096397_1292820248773479_2838493522396706003_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yHdn_LR73JgQ7kNvgF63Eyk&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfB2Sdnyl8XpO7AmSTPXQCwBPITpn_v1ukukflRwVedboA&oe=663A6999	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438093026_354002920984866_9216108758717577601_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9176_mjnZoQQ7kNvgFTmaLu&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfANlkPRsUQtCyFg6tYuEjeoDJJ4nMhY-8Z9VB8MmhSo4g&oe=663A77D9	0	3	Turn the tables with one tap!🕹️	Puzzles & Chaos	12242	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	PLAY_GAME	1714201200	View Edit Delete
1666745	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727705	1734958295	695	1611088246345376	1	1.3697343570301E+15	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	100365976129594	0	Puzzles & Chaos	120209871070580763	play.google.com	Play game	NONE	video	A viral mini-game!		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1714268874	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439702206_1002489697948447_8586065143261546285_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=OIgBGSAHNtIQ7kNvgG-gFId&_nc_oc=AdhvpXn3NzpGJvqmnF0BTe5sRUTVWeV3oAPPCtqGpdQ5XDsQudjEyHQ9PI3fj7eqj_h00iYyStoaxkXX6GLrZrVo&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDJMlghVck2VWqe1jzbkh_zDfHca-raylv8ocmql5bkmg&oe=663A8B9A	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440761822_834917481811140_6854726131889128430_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=cesmg-J7tNsQ7kNvgFvbCN4&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAFPIHnrb1seSLx5916l0pF_jxqw-d4icD9XGnZ9HvCGg&oe=663A9174	0	3	Why is this game so fun? 🕹️<br /> Give it a try!	Puzzles & Chaos	12242	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	PLAY_GAME	1714201200	View Edit Delete
1666753	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727706	1734958295	695	3727590340817748	1	9.6638668831912E+14	1714633200	ig_ads_identity	eligible	NONE	1	1	1	106587555400137	0	tathletes_peformance	120212748946080370	instagram.com	Visit Instagram profile	NONE	video			http://instagram.com/tathletes_peformance		1714175306	1.0658755540014E+14	tathletes_peformance	https://scontent-sea1-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-19/440214031_3542045169439726_6195483002944464235_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s200x200&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=3fd06f&_nc_ohc=w-i9rjI_NLIQ7kNvgGRkIfv&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.cdninstagram.com&oh=00_AfCEt0NaqTP5KDtQrOcuv6waEzWdg69IChZbKvwOEUhqiA&oe=663A6382	ig_ads_identity	1	Tarek Joe Johnson \| TAP T-Athletes Performance	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440180659_975968406894013_3806282182845335302_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ONJJ-iWwu9EQ7kNvgHXwnCe&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDrQnYWS3vpms8WwkOKCniK--2l9wBVJG6Wiwc2bvDd5w&oe=663A8F79	0	3	Training<br /> <br /> #speed #speedtraining #agilitytraining #athlete #athletetraining #injureprevention #boxjump #injuryrecovery #preseason #preseasontraining #football #Footballdrill #slowfeetdonteat #soccertraining #soccer #explosivetraining #functionaltraining #basketball #baseball #rugby #hipflexors #personaltrainer #sportsperformance #strengthtraining #plyometrictraining #fastfootwork #sportsperformancecoach #coaching #speedandagilitytraining #trackandfield	tathletes_peformance	0	https://www.instagram.com/_u/tathletes_peformance	VIEW_INSTAGRAM_PROFILE	1714114800	View Edit Delete
1666754	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727706	1734958296	695	1620843542058177	1	9.5328042958127E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	1607795876146765	0	March Of Empires	120209039416500238	itunes.apple.com	Play Game	NONE	dco	Only one king can claim the throne! 👑	{{product.description}}	http://itunes.apple.com/app/id976688720		1714136128	1.6077958761468E+15	March Of Empires	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438815339_796120312102462_6552917674242682681_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hs_KJJ-KC7sQ7kNvgHAWZ7F&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAWru7Q9vo7rEpUbAQ9xcG4yavWHZJr8GIo-dH4lYXzqA&oe=663A6C1E	person_profile	0	Marchofempires	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438773475_943236467332684_7757301431742386367_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=7sW75yTih5UQ7kNvgGKJUv6&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAPnvG5V1QdjQr1qdccZ_Rctgb1eegsi9TxXyBW_sKPRA&oe=663A94C9	0	3	Shoguns from the East! Kings from the West! Tsars from the North! Sultans from the South!	March Of Empires	144404	https://facebook.com/MarchOfEmpires	PLAY_GAME	1714114800	View Edit Delete
1666755	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727706	1734958296	695	1620843542058177	1	9.5328042958127E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	1607795876146765	0	March Of Empires	120209039416500238	itunes.apple.com	Play Game	NONE	dco	Only one king can claim the throne! 👑	{{product.description}}	http://itunes.apple.com/app/id976688720		1714136128	1.6077958761468E+15	March Of Empires	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438815339_796120312102462_6552917674242682681_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hs_KJJ-KC7sQ7kNvgHAWZ7F&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAWru7Q9vo7rEpUbAQ9xcG4yavWHZJr8GIo-dH4lYXzqA&oe=663A6C1E	person_profile	0	Marchofempires	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438773475_943236467332684_7757301431742386367_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=7sW75yTih5UQ7kNvgGKJUv6&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAPnvG5V1QdjQr1qdccZ_Rctgb1eegsi9TxXyBW_sKPRA&oe=663A94C9	0	3	Shoguns from the East! Kings from the West! Tsars from the North! Sultans from the South!	March Of Empires	144404	https://facebook.com/MarchOfEmpires	PLAY_GAME	1714114800	View Edit Delete
1666756	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727706	1734958296	695	1620843542058177	1	9.5328042958127E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	1607795876146765	0	March Of Empires	120209039416500238	itunes.apple.com	Play Game	NONE	dco	Only one king can claim the throne! 👑	{{product.description}}	http://itunes.apple.com/app/id976688720		1714136128	1.6077958761468E+15	March Of Empires	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438815339_796120312102462_6552917674242682681_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hs_KJJ-KC7sQ7kNvgHAWZ7F&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAWru7Q9vo7rEpUbAQ9xcG4yavWHZJr8GIo-dH4lYXzqA&oe=663A6C1E	person_profile	0	Marchofempires	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438773475_943236467332684_7757301431742386367_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=7sW75yTih5UQ7kNvgGKJUv6&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAPnvG5V1QdjQr1qdccZ_Rctgb1eegsi9TxXyBW_sKPRA&oe=663A94C9	0	3	Shoguns from the East! Kings from the West! Tsars from the North! Sultans from the South!	March Of Empires	144404	https://facebook.com/MarchOfEmpires	PLAY_GAME	1714114800	View Edit Delete
1666757	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727706	1734958296	695	1620843542058177	1	9.5328042958127E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	1607795876146765	0	March Of Empires	120209039416500238	itunes.apple.com	Play Game	NONE	dco	Only one king can claim the throne! 👑	{{product.description}}	http://itunes.apple.com/app/id976688720		1714136128	1.6077958761468E+15	March Of Empires	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438815339_796120312102462_6552917674242682681_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hs_KJJ-KC7sQ7kNvgHAWZ7F&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAWru7Q9vo7rEpUbAQ9xcG4yavWHZJr8GIo-dH4lYXzqA&oe=663A6C1E	person_profile	0	Marchofempires	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438773475_943236467332684_7757301431742386367_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=7sW75yTih5UQ7kNvgGKJUv6&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAPnvG5V1QdjQr1qdccZ_Rctgb1eegsi9TxXyBW_sKPRA&oe=663A94C9	0	3	Shoguns from the East! Kings from the West! Tsars from the North! Sultans from the South!	March Of Empires	144404	https://facebook.com/MarchOfEmpires	PLAY_GAME	1714114800	View Edit Delete
1666758	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727706	1734958296	695	403201225810802	1	2.103091773423E+15	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	1607795876146765	0	March Of Empires	120209039185210238	itunes.apple.com	Play Game	NONE	dco	Only one king can claim the throne! 👑	{{product.description}}	http://itunes.apple.com/app/id976688720		1714135507	1.6077958761468E+15	March Of Empires	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439966702_746075870928683_6067575667977975145_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hV62VK242H8Q7kNvgFheQ8K&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfB_KP49Uj2uAySrl3fQV3OMEmOXROEfF7JVcv2BO6AjvQ&oe=663A7DD0	person_profile	0	Marchofempires	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439727103_752266106956752_4117928003105752669_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_mbw_ZgtvPUQ7kNvgHAMED-&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBlb6qYrOFHgRcG7nu_sDmHBfhI-n8g-UhZVlsYfoBNZg&oe=663A8EAA	0	3	Shoguns from the East! Kings from the West! Tsars from the North! Sultans from the South!	March Of Empires	144404	https://facebook.com/MarchOfEmpires	PLAY_GAME	1714114800	View Edit Delete
1666759	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727706	1734958296	695	403201225810802	1	2.103091773423E+15	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	1607795876146765	0	March Of Empires	120209039185210238	itunes.apple.com	Play Game	NONE	dco	Only one king can claim the throne! 👑	{{product.description}}	http://itunes.apple.com/app/id976688720		1714135507	1.6077958761468E+15	March Of Empires	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439966702_746075870928683_6067575667977975145_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hV62VK242H8Q7kNvgFheQ8K&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfB_KP49Uj2uAySrl3fQV3OMEmOXROEfF7JVcv2BO6AjvQ&oe=663A7DD0	person_profile	0	Marchofempires	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439727103_752266106956752_4117928003105752669_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_mbw_ZgtvPUQ7kNvgHAMED-&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBlb6qYrOFHgRcG7nu_sDmHBfhI-n8g-UhZVlsYfoBNZg&oe=663A8EAA	0	3	Shoguns from the East! Kings from the West! Tsars from the North! Sultans from the South!	March Of Empires	144404	https://facebook.com/MarchOfEmpires	PLAY_GAME	1714114800	View Edit Delete
1666760	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727706	1734958296	695	403201225810802	1	2.103091773423E+15	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	1607795876146765	0	March Of Empires	120209039185210238	itunes.apple.com	Play Game	NONE	dco	Only one king can claim the throne! 👑	{{product.description}}	http://itunes.apple.com/app/id976688720		1714135507	1.6077958761468E+15	March Of Empires	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439966702_746075870928683_6067575667977975145_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hV62VK242H8Q7kNvgFheQ8K&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfB_KP49Uj2uAySrl3fQV3OMEmOXROEfF7JVcv2BO6AjvQ&oe=663A7DD0	person_profile	0	Marchofempires	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439727103_752266106956752_4117928003105752669_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_mbw_ZgtvPUQ7kNvgHAMED-&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBlb6qYrOFHgRcG7nu_sDmHBfhI-n8g-UhZVlsYfoBNZg&oe=663A8EAA	0	3	Shoguns from the East! Kings from the West! Tsars from the North! Sultans from the South!	March Of Empires	144404	https://facebook.com/MarchOfEmpires	PLAY_GAME	1714114800	View Edit Delete
1666761	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727706	1734958296	695	403201225810802	1	2.103091773423E+15	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	1607795876146765	0	March Of Empires	120209039185210238	itunes.apple.com	Play Game	NONE	dco	Only one king can claim the throne! 👑	{{product.description}}	http://itunes.apple.com/app/id976688720		1714135507	1.6077958761468E+15	March Of Empires	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439966702_746075870928683_6067575667977975145_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hV62VK242H8Q7kNvgFheQ8K&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfB_KP49Uj2uAySrl3fQV3OMEmOXROEfF7JVcv2BO6AjvQ&oe=663A7DD0	person_profile	0	Marchofempires	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439727103_752266106956752_4117928003105752669_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_mbw_ZgtvPUQ7kNvgHAMED-&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBlb6qYrOFHgRcG7nu_sDmHBfhI-n8g-UhZVlsYfoBNZg&oe=663A8EAA	0	3	Shoguns from the East! Kings from the West! Tsars from the North! Sultans from the South!	March Of Empires	144404	https://facebook.com/MarchOfEmpires	PLAY_GAME	1714114800	View Edit Delete
1666762	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727706	1734958296	695	470906708696205	1	4.0000388962409E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	1	0	108215068960584	0	Sword Chronicles: Awaken	120209016472580057	play.google.com	Install now	NONE	image	⚠ WARNING-ADDICTIVE ⚠	100 pulls and 3 SSR heroes: Zhang Liao, LingQi and Zhuge Liang for beginners.	http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.qoolandgames.swordchronicles.gp.us		1714121162	1.0821506896058E+14	Sword Chronicles: Awaken	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438059704_1811318919294498_8814611532009892225_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=v4DctPhBR1AQ7kNvgEXKu9s&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfCiPK9g3QX9Nbg-GYslZVAjVjEOYQqDNhgHoRBqvSfrhQ&oe=663A8561	person_profile	0	Sword Chronicles: Awaken	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438059266_7387814914666422_1413135914725240296_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hJzD-PMCuXgQ7kNvgEnTMs7&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAP4Yr7ZKjkHEum4hubBB1JV3AacYIOhrDVbiWUZQi-NQ&oe=663A7DA1	0	3	🔥Join the battle for supremacy! <br /> 🌟Over 100 epic heroes, thousands of lineups!<br /> 🎁Beginners can get up to 100 pulls for FREE!	Sword Chronicles: Awaken	15254	https://facebook.com/SCAwaken	INSTALL_MOBILE_APP	1714114800	View Edit Delete
1666763	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727706	1734958296	695	422209127421740	1	1.7334117804002E+15	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	311511102683403	0	Filmy a serialy	120208295767480143	jordanalien.info	Get offer	NONE	video	Claim it now! (Ends tonight)		https://jordanalien.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=KUNLLHopuZEw0DbnSi2A&ad_id={{ad.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&placement={{placement}}&fbclid={{fbclid}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}		1714116157	3.115111026834E+14	Filmy a serialy	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440759169_1593237244786911_6047722278145429976_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=pzjC0KUKIEwQ7kNvgEH-A8P&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBQGxYfxpZEaLKJancVHhGQrXV9zgQDOC3bf7FVHXXIoQ&oe=663A8A65	person_profile	0	Filmy a serialy	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438749515_1474727400126290_2161231589683607329_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fy5icBSVNaYQ7kNvgFGqFHg&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfD2Vqox7_iQ8aL4gm2Ii3fOPNnekFqQi-K29NTWJh-KeA&oe=663A9507	0	3	If you are reading this, CONGRATULATIONS! 🤩. You are 1 of the 1.000 lucky people who have secured a NEW R29X Crossbow for $10 in our special offer 🗣🗣.	Filmy a serialy	1260	https://facebook.com/61551624031121	GET_OFFER_VIEW	1714114800	View Edit Delete
1666765	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727706	1734958296	695	417909677626759	1	9.48059220191E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	100575081546002	0	Blue Sea	120208984095730581	play.google.com	Install now	NONE	video	To find out, listen to the audioseries 'Rise of the Undead Legion' (FREE for a limited period of time) Click on the link below to download the PocketFM app, now!		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.radio.pocketfm		1713789542	1.00575081546E+14	Blue Sea	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438108439_418884794110999_1076706695648862533_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=RP-HAIeUw5UQ7kNvgGmsI8N&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBEDWwA1gyfKnUeWjtMmGeyR_U27CC1rZNvqL4Ks40NvA&oe=663A8A4F	person_profile	0	Blue Sea	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437517599_378661485152051_1941698592540170143_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8XuWpzxVyQ0Q7kNvgFfPlkG&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfCzGDf9jWZTOSPJe3Yt0IuT--H-4tbJSCo9G_XTuYpVvw&oe=663A8C70	0	3	Dave's life was going nowhere until he found his true purpose in virtual reality as leader of the Undead Kingdom	Blue Sea	8527	https://facebook.com/100069599781612	INSTALL_MOBILE_APP	1714028400	View Edit Delete
1666767	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727706	1734958296	695	449814504236278	1	1.2163052793348E+15	1714287600	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	177317582125576	0	Mobile Game Mania	120208602856580783	play.google.com	Install now	NONE	video	Play for FREE!		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.funplus.kingofavalon		1714043490	1.7731758212558E+14	Mobile Game Mania	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438773706_1140179577008459_4614785664353617785_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=G1ty44Sk-yAQ7kNvgGXLcZl&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfCPVUKAhBnE9Ch3VCAq4euc-jM1C0kcsHQL2H5Yro1jLQ&oe=663A7612	person_profile	0	Mobile Game Mania	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438805976_1429012881061467_5826666071058620856_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=zWVdwVhJZUYQ7kNvgGPO4cf&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAYTm2Is_XTjYrSMkBE4q3Zq7V-9bb2XEmKF8vu2-1nIA&oe=663A6EDF	0	3	Why is this game so fun?! Play Now!	Mobile Game Mania	105	https://facebook.com/61553758222172	INSTALL_MOBILE_APP	1714028400	View Edit Delete
1666777	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727706	1734958296	695	734366508779622	1	4.4500695123678E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	512287722140155	0	C n C Archery Pro Shop	120208132858380199	ccarchery.com	Shop Now	NONE	carousel	Quality Archery Products & Services \| CNC Archery		http://www.ccarchery.com/		1713983078	5.1228772214016E+14	C n C Archery Pro Shop	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438216123_1384875228890720_700281707806538744_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qY7f36mRYbAQ7kNvgHbDChh&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBo0_fBkmYoj3_rQFHBETQz2IM0Nj_LNWolQDdLEu1TEg&oe=663A8A9F	person_profile	0	CnC Archery Pro Shop	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438260184_3671743643099627_4137828531429499652_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=0lJC2qex_5cQ7kNvgGP-pOi&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDPZfBz4YTzN0Xq1UCkvcioH3cqo85Oedy16swc9-Ss0w&oe=663A7D4E	0	3		C n C Archery Pro Shop	1426	https://facebook.com/ccarchery	SHOP_NOW	1713942000	View Edit Delete
1666772	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727706	1734958296	695	734366508779622	1	4.4500695123678E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	512287722140155	0	C n C Archery Pro Shop	120208132858380199	ccarchery.com	Shop Now	NONE	carousel	Quality Archery Products & Services \| CNC Archery		http://www.ccarchery.com/		1713983078	5.1228772214016E+14	C n C Archery Pro Shop	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438216123_1384875228890720_700281707806538744_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qY7f36mRYbAQ7kNvgHbDChh&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBo0_fBkmYoj3_rQFHBETQz2IM0Nj_LNWolQDdLEu1TEg&oe=663A8A9F	person_profile	0	CnC Archery Pro Shop	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438260184_3671743643099627_4137828531429499652_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=0lJC2qex_5cQ7kNvgGP-pOi&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDPZfBz4YTzN0Xq1UCkvcioH3cqo85Oedy16swc9-Ss0w&oe=663A7D4E	0	3		C n C Archery Pro Shop	1426	https://facebook.com/ccarchery	SHOP_NOW	1713942000	View Edit Delete
1666773	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727706	1734958296	695	734366508779622	1	4.4500695123678E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	512287722140155	0	C n C Archery Pro Shop	120208132858380199	ccarchery.com	Shop Now	NONE	carousel	Quality Archery Products & Services \| CNC Archery		http://www.ccarchery.com/		1713983078	5.1228772214016E+14	C n C Archery Pro Shop	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438216123_1384875228890720_700281707806538744_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qY7f36mRYbAQ7kNvgHbDChh&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBo0_fBkmYoj3_rQFHBETQz2IM0Nj_LNWolQDdLEu1TEg&oe=663A8A9F	person_profile	0	CnC Archery Pro Shop	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438260184_3671743643099627_4137828531429499652_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=0lJC2qex_5cQ7kNvgGP-pOi&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDPZfBz4YTzN0Xq1UCkvcioH3cqo85Oedy16swc9-Ss0w&oe=663A7D4E	0	3		C n C Archery Pro Shop	1426	https://facebook.com/ccarchery	SHOP_NOW	1713942000	View Edit Delete
1666774	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727706	1734958296	695	734366508779622	1	4.4500695123678E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	512287722140155	0	C n C Archery Pro Shop	120208132858380199	ccarchery.com	Shop Now	NONE	carousel	Quality Archery Products & Services \| CNC Archery		http://www.ccarchery.com/		1713983078	5.1228772214016E+14	C n C Archery Pro Shop	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438216123_1384875228890720_700281707806538744_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qY7f36mRYbAQ7kNvgHbDChh&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBo0_fBkmYoj3_rQFHBETQz2IM0Nj_LNWolQDdLEu1TEg&oe=663A8A9F	person_profile	0	CnC Archery Pro Shop	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438260184_3671743643099627_4137828531429499652_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=0lJC2qex_5cQ7kNvgGP-pOi&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDPZfBz4YTzN0Xq1UCkvcioH3cqo85Oedy16swc9-Ss0w&oe=663A7D4E	0	3		C n C Archery Pro Shop	1426	https://facebook.com/ccarchery	SHOP_NOW	1713942000	View Edit Delete
1666776	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727706	1734958296	695	734366508779622	1	4.4500695123678E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	512287722140155	0	C n C Archery Pro Shop	120208132858380199	ccarchery.com	Shop Now	NONE	carousel	Quality Archery Products & Services \| CNC Archery		http://www.ccarchery.com/		1713983078	5.1228772214016E+14	C n C Archery Pro Shop	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438216123_1384875228890720_700281707806538744_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qY7f36mRYbAQ7kNvgHbDChh&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBo0_fBkmYoj3_rQFHBETQz2IM0Nj_LNWolQDdLEu1TEg&oe=663A8A9F	person_profile	0	CnC Archery Pro Shop	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438260184_3671743643099627_4137828531429499652_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=0lJC2qex_5cQ7kNvgGP-pOi&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDPZfBz4YTzN0Xq1UCkvcioH3cqo85Oedy16swc9-Ss0w&oe=663A7D4E	0	3		C n C Archery Pro Shop	1426	https://facebook.com/ccarchery	SHOP_NOW	1713942000	View Edit Delete
1666780	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727706	1734958296	695	988219549602205	1	3.3628846242712E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	151755314678403	0	BUDK Gifts	120207372054750408	budk.com	Shop Now	NONE	dco	Experience a new level of fun with the toothpick launcher crossbow! 🏹	Discover a new way to have fun with the toothpick launcher crossbow! With pinpoint accuracy, this unique gadget turns ordinary toothpicks into exciting projectiles. Perfect for target practice or just to impress your friends, it's a playful addition to your gadget collection. Ready, aim, and launch into fun! Get yours today!	https://www.budk.com/Budk-Gifts?sourcecode=BKGFCA24		1713981265	1.517553146784E+14	BUDK Gifts	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439797040_984410896380288_2616479791961781776_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=nOsB-QN2N6QQ7kNvgEfrqGu&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAPpeg1Hrw80WRkzYZGxc8G4fJjUUn9r6VzPUs7K_d3Sw&oe=663A9204	person_profile	0	BUDK Gifts	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439893962_1490001235252673_5176909179735014305_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=uyCzdJCoPGYQ7kNvgGNm-W0&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAhJXuc-nfGnd3SDOgu4IYNkcYKQm0LFeY4PgN7dmMGmA&oe=663A7089	0	3	Aim with precision! The toothpick launcher crossbow delivers pinpoint accuracy. Get yours today!	BUDK Gifts	1289	https://facebook.com/61551819670022	SHOP_NOW	1713942000	View Edit Delete
1666783	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727706	1734958296	695	988219549602205	1	3.3628846242712E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	151755314678403	0	BUDK Gifts	120207372054750408	budk.com	Shop Now	NONE	dco	Experience a new level of fun with the toothpick launcher crossbow! 🏹	Discover a new way to have fun with the toothpick launcher crossbow! With pinpoint accuracy, this unique gadget turns ordinary toothpicks into exciting projectiles. Perfect for target practice or just to impress your friends, it's a playful addition to your gadget collection. Ready, aim, and launch into fun! Get yours today!	https://www.budk.com/Budk-Gifts?sourcecode=BKGFCA24		1713981265	1.517553146784E+14	BUDK Gifts	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439797040_984410896380288_2616479791961781776_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=nOsB-QN2N6QQ7kNvgEfrqGu&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAPpeg1Hrw80WRkzYZGxc8G4fJjUUn9r6VzPUs7K_d3Sw&oe=663A9204	person_profile	0	BUDK Gifts	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439893962_1490001235252673_5176909179735014305_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=uyCzdJCoPGYQ7kNvgGNm-W0&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAhJXuc-nfGnd3SDOgu4IYNkcYKQm0LFeY4PgN7dmMGmA&oe=663A7089	0	3	Aim with precision! The toothpick launcher crossbow delivers pinpoint accuracy. Get yours today!	BUDK Gifts	1289	https://facebook.com/61551819670022	SHOP_NOW	1713942000	View Edit Delete
1666784	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727706	1734958296	695	988219549602205	1	3.3628846242712E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	151755314678403	0	BUDK Gifts	120207372054750408	budk.com	Shop Now	NONE	dco	Experience a new level of fun with the toothpick launcher crossbow! 🏹	Discover a new way to have fun with the toothpick launcher crossbow! With pinpoint accuracy, this unique gadget turns ordinary toothpicks into exciting projectiles. Perfect for target practice or just to impress your friends, it's a playful addition to your gadget collection. Ready, aim, and launch into fun! Get yours today!	https://www.budk.com/Budk-Gifts?sourcecode=BKGFCA24		1713981265	1.517553146784E+14	BUDK Gifts	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439797040_984410896380288_2616479791961781776_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=nOsB-QN2N6QQ7kNvgEfrqGu&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAPpeg1Hrw80WRkzYZGxc8G4fJjUUn9r6VzPUs7K_d3Sw&oe=663A9204	person_profile	0	BUDK Gifts	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439893962_1490001235252673_5176909179735014305_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=uyCzdJCoPGYQ7kNvgGNm-W0&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAhJXuc-nfGnd3SDOgu4IYNkcYKQm0LFeY4PgN7dmMGmA&oe=663A7089	0	3	Aim with precision! The toothpick launcher crossbow delivers pinpoint accuracy. Get yours today!	BUDK Gifts	1289	https://facebook.com/61551819670022	SHOP_NOW	1713942000	View Edit Delete
1666787	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727706	1734958296	695	988219549602205	1	3.3628846242712E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	151755314678403	0	BUDK Gifts	120207372054750408	budk.com	Shop Now	NONE	dco	Experience a new level of fun with the toothpick launcher crossbow! 🏹	Discover a new way to have fun with the toothpick launcher crossbow! With pinpoint accuracy, this unique gadget turns ordinary toothpicks into exciting projectiles. Perfect for target practice or just to impress your friends, it's a playful addition to your gadget collection. Ready, aim, and launch into fun! Get yours today!	https://www.budk.com/Budk-Gifts?sourcecode=BKGFCA24		1713981265	1.517553146784E+14	BUDK Gifts	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439797040_984410896380288_2616479791961781776_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=nOsB-QN2N6QQ7kNvgEfrqGu&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAPpeg1Hrw80WRkzYZGxc8G4fJjUUn9r6VzPUs7K_d3Sw&oe=663A9204	person_profile	0	BUDK Gifts	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439893962_1490001235252673_5176909179735014305_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=uyCzdJCoPGYQ7kNvgGNm-W0&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAhJXuc-nfGnd3SDOgu4IYNkcYKQm0LFeY4PgN7dmMGmA&oe=663A7089	0	3	Aim with precision! The toothpick launcher crossbow delivers pinpoint accuracy. Get yours today!	BUDK Gifts	1289	https://facebook.com/61551819670022	SHOP_NOW	1713942000	View Edit Delete
1666790	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727706	1734958296	695	988219549602205	1	3.3628846242712E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	151755314678403	0	BUDK Gifts	120207372054750408	budk.com	Shop Now	NONE	dco	Experience a new level of fun with the toothpick launcher crossbow! 🏹	Discover a new way to have fun with the toothpick launcher crossbow! With pinpoint accuracy, this unique gadget turns ordinary toothpicks into exciting projectiles. Perfect for target practice or just to impress your friends, it's a playful addition to your gadget collection. Ready, aim, and launch into fun! Get yours today!	https://www.budk.com/Budk-Gifts?sourcecode=BKGFCA24		1713981265	1.517553146784E+14	BUDK Gifts	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439797040_984410896380288_2616479791961781776_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=nOsB-QN2N6QQ7kNvgEfrqGu&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAPpeg1Hrw80WRkzYZGxc8G4fJjUUn9r6VzPUs7K_d3Sw&oe=663A9204	person_profile	0	BUDK Gifts	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439893962_1490001235252673_5176909179735014305_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=uyCzdJCoPGYQ7kNvgGNm-W0&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAhJXuc-nfGnd3SDOgu4IYNkcYKQm0LFeY4PgN7dmMGmA&oe=663A7089	0	3	Aim with precision! The toothpick launcher crossbow delivers pinpoint accuracy. Get yours today!	BUDK Gifts	1289	https://facebook.com/61551819670022	SHOP_NOW	1713942000	View Edit Delete
1666791	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727706	1734958296	695	988219549602205	1	3.3628846242712E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	151755314678403	0	BUDK Gifts	120207372054750408	budk.com	Shop Now	NONE	dco	Experience a new level of fun with the toothpick launcher crossbow! 🏹	Discover a new way to have fun with the toothpick launcher crossbow! With pinpoint accuracy, this unique gadget turns ordinary toothpicks into exciting projectiles. Perfect for target practice or just to impress your friends, it's a playful addition to your gadget collection. Ready, aim, and launch into fun! Get yours today!	https://www.budk.com/Budk-Gifts?sourcecode=BKGFCA24		1713981265	1.517553146784E+14	BUDK Gifts	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439797040_984410896380288_2616479791961781776_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=nOsB-QN2N6QQ7kNvgEfrqGu&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAPpeg1Hrw80WRkzYZGxc8G4fJjUUn9r6VzPUs7K_d3Sw&oe=663A9204	person_profile	0	BUDK Gifts	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439893962_1490001235252673_5176909179735014305_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=uyCzdJCoPGYQ7kNvgGNm-W0&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAhJXuc-nfGnd3SDOgu4IYNkcYKQm0LFeY4PgN7dmMGmA&oe=663A7089	0	3	Aim with precision! The toothpick launcher crossbow delivers pinpoint accuracy. Get yours today!	BUDK Gifts	1289	https://facebook.com/61551819670022	SHOP_NOW	1713942000	View Edit Delete
1666794	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727706	1734958296	695	988219549602205	1	3.3628846242712E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	151755314678403	0	BUDK Gifts	120207372054750408	budk.com	Shop Now	NONE	dco	Experience a new level of fun with the toothpick launcher crossbow! 🏹	Discover a new way to have fun with the toothpick launcher crossbow! With pinpoint accuracy, this unique gadget turns ordinary toothpicks into exciting projectiles. Perfect for target practice or just to impress your friends, it's a playful addition to your gadget collection. Ready, aim, and launch into fun! Get yours today!	https://www.budk.com/Budk-Gifts?sourcecode=BKGFCA24		1713981265	1.517553146784E+14	BUDK Gifts	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439797040_984410896380288_2616479791961781776_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=nOsB-QN2N6QQ7kNvgEfrqGu&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAPpeg1Hrw80WRkzYZGxc8G4fJjUUn9r6VzPUs7K_d3Sw&oe=663A9204	person_profile	0	BUDK Gifts	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439893962_1490001235252673_5176909179735014305_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=uyCzdJCoPGYQ7kNvgGNm-W0&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAhJXuc-nfGnd3SDOgu4IYNkcYKQm0LFeY4PgN7dmMGmA&oe=663A7089	0	3	Aim with precision! The toothpick launcher crossbow delivers pinpoint accuracy. Get yours today!	BUDK Gifts	1289	https://facebook.com/61551819670022	SHOP_NOW	1713942000	View Edit Delete
1666796	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727706	1734958296	695	988219549602205	1	3.3628846242712E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	151755314678403	0	BUDK Gifts	120207372054750408	budk.com	Shop Now	NONE	dco	Experience a new level of fun with the toothpick launcher crossbow! 🏹	Discover a new way to have fun with the toothpick launcher crossbow! With pinpoint accuracy, this unique gadget turns ordinary toothpicks into exciting projectiles. Perfect for target practice or just to impress your friends, it's a playful addition to your gadget collection. Ready, aim, and launch into fun! Get yours today!	https://www.budk.com/Budk-Gifts?sourcecode=BKGFCA24		1713981265	1.517553146784E+14	BUDK Gifts	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439797040_984410896380288_2616479791961781776_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=nOsB-QN2N6QQ7kNvgEfrqGu&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAPpeg1Hrw80WRkzYZGxc8G4fJjUUn9r6VzPUs7K_d3Sw&oe=663A9204	person_profile	0	BUDK Gifts	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439893962_1490001235252673_5176909179735014305_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=uyCzdJCoPGYQ7kNvgGNm-W0&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAhJXuc-nfGnd3SDOgu4IYNkcYKQm0LFeY4PgN7dmMGmA&oe=663A7089	0	3	Aim with precision! The toothpick launcher crossbow delivers pinpoint accuracy. Get yours today!	BUDK Gifts	1289	https://facebook.com/61551819670022	SHOP_NOW	1713942000	View Edit Delete
1666824	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727707	1734958296	695	394261433480953	1	1.184830962688E+15	1713769200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	226177680578601	0	Adoread	120207811548740265	client.adoread.com	Learn more	NONE	image	🔥🔥🔥 Read More👉	Hottest novel👉👉👉	https://client.adoread.com/book/loading/page/adoread/19161308412?utm_campaign={{campaign.id}}&utm_content={{campaign.name}}		1713710193	2.261776805786E+14	Adoread	https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438651864_7530847457032564_6605369090009264704_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=IzF_5iELN4AQ7kNvgEOKWN7&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBUO5PgCPgT3tQqbIhFhXD6o9YAe_SNHYM2AUYmRkSPHw&oe=663A87B0	person_profile	0	Adoread	https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438700786_815628357283055_6083367991029488978_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=dRb88IXgPfEQ7kNvgGMUXXD&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBFm5uHTriPEItk2pdQBscD4YgPAKsItlnPDfEeB4p4CA&oe=663A9000	0	3	"Wesley, are you trying to harm me? You useless piece of trash, can't even make a decent cup of coffee, can you?"<br /> Madison Blair lifted her coffee cup and splashed it directly onto Wesley Harrington's face.<br /> "What are you looking at, you spineless waste? Your name sounds so lofty? I might as well call you a waste."<br /> Glancing at the grotesque expression of his wife's mother, Wesley pulled out his phone to check the time.<br /> Exactly twelve o'clock. It had been five full years since he married Taylor Reed.<br /> The appointed time had come.<br /> He had fulfilled his promise, safeguarding the Reed family for five years, transforming them from a family living off fishing to one perceived as affluent by the common folk.<br /> Wiping the coffee off his face, he turned and walked away.<br /> "Where do you think you're going? Go fetch some more coffee," Madison shouted.<br /> "Madison, didn't you say this waste is obedient at home, doing whatever he's told? I don't think he's taking it lying down."<br /> Madison grew angrier. "Wesley, you stop right there. My family has fed and housed you. If you dare disobey, I'll have you thrown out!"<br /> Ignoring her, Wesley continued downstairs.<br /> "When Taylor comes back, I'll immediately have you two divorced. Do you hear me? Stay right there," Madison threatened, "I'll let you know your place today."<br /> Grabbing a golf club, Madison swiftly charged towards Wesley.<br /> Seeing Wesley heading downstairs, she swung the club viciously at his back.<br /> Without turning back, Wesley gently sidestepped.<br /> Losing her balance, Madison tumbled forward, rolling down the stairs with a series of thumps.<br /> "Ouch... it hurts, it hurts so much!"<br /> As Madison reached the ground floor, she wailed in pain and her sister immediately rushed to her.<br /> "Wesley, what have you done? How dare you hit my sister!" Madison's sister hurried down, checking on Madison's condition.<br /> Wesley remained silent, observing the scene.<br /> "Quick, call Taylor. Tell her to come back. Today, she must divorce this waste." Madison glared at Wesley. "How dare you hit me? Not only will I let Taylor divorce you, but I'll make sure you leave in disgrace."<br /> "Mum, what's wrong?" At that moment, a gent and a lady walked in.<br /> The lady was Taylor, Madison's daughter.<br /> She ran towards Madison.<br /> As Madison pointed at Wesley, tears streamed down her face. "Taylor, he hit me, he hit me! When you're not home, he changes his attitude, scolding and hitting me in the slightest displeasure. He even pushed me down the stairs just now. Alexis can testify."<br /> Madison's sister, Alexis Blair, chimed in. "Yes, Wesley, this trash not only hit your mother but also threatened to hit me too. We cannot tolerate such trash."<br /> "Taylor, I have been telling you to divorce him for years. You've been supporting him, treating him like a Lord at home, but he's an ungrateful wolf in sheep's clothing."<br /> Helping Madison up, Taylor noticed the scrapes on Madison's arms and legs, her expression turning cold.<br /> "Wesley, why did you hit my mother? You better give me an explanation."<br /> Wesley looked at Taylor, his wife.<br /> Five years had passed, and she had never shown him kindness.<br /> Taylor dressed impeccably, a paragon of a successful lady, with a face that could be deemed angelic, yet whether her heart was as angelic remained a mystery.<br /> Her figure, too, left countless men yearning.<br /> For five years, Wesley had thought he might develop feelings for this lady, but in reality, it never happened.<br /> "There are surveillance cameras in the house," Wesley stated calmly before descending the stairs into the hallway.<br /> Despite residing in a three-story villa, Wesley's living quarters were confined to the stairwell.<br /> He harbored no resentment towards this arrangement. It was merely a promise. It was just that Taylor failed to appreciate him.<br /> This home held little value that he wished to cling onto.<br /> Retrieving a wooden box from beneath his pillow, Wesley extracted two documents. Casting a fleeting glance at the modest abode he had called home for five years, Wesley smiled faintly.<br /> He thought, "Finally... I'm free."<br /> Pushing the door ajar, Wesley was met by Taylor's piercing gaze. "I've reviewed the surveillance footage. Yes, my mother intended to strike you, but even if she did, what difference would it make?"<br /> "She's a lady. How much could her blows hurt you? Why did you dodge?"<br /> "If you hadn't dodged, my mother wouldn't have tumbled down." Wesley stared at Taylor, unable to comprehend her thought process.<br /> He had no interest in engaging in these arguments. Handing over the two documents to Taylor, he remarked, "The divorce agreement. I've already signed it. Take a look. I'm leaving with nothing."<br /> "With your current influence, there's no need for you to visit the city hall. Someone will handle it for you, right?"<br /> Madison was taken aback. She swiftly snatched the divorce agreement, flipping through it hastily.<br /> The contents were indeed straightforward. Both parties willingly divorced, with Wesley relinquishing all claims and having already signed.<br /> In an instant, Madison's pain seemed to dissipate. "Taylor, sign it quickly. Sign it."<br /> Taylor was still in a daze.<br /> She pondered.<br /> "A divorce agreement? Wesley has already prepared a divorce agreement. On what grounds?"<br /> "What gives him the right to initiate a divorce? All these years, he's done nothing at home, lacking any ambition. Always practicing martial arts, what right does he have to seek a divorce?"<br /> "If anyone should initiate it, it should be me. Moreover, now that I'm back to discussing this matter with him. Could it be that word got out, and Wesley, for the sake of his pride, rushed to prepare a divorce agreement first?"<br /> "It must be so, but... No!"<br /> "Wanting to leave with nothing, is he retreating to advance? As the chairman of the Reed Group, how could I be served with a divorce?"<br /> "Hey Wesley, I never expected this from you. Have I not treated you well enough? You seek a divorce, attempting to turn your retreat into advance, aiming to embarrass me?"<br /> Taylor glared at Wesley. "I'm telling you, it's impossible."<br /> Snatching the divorce agreement, she tore it to shreds.<br /> "Taylor, what are you doing? Such a great opportunity. Why not just sign it and let him leave?" Madison grew anxious.<br /> "Mom, I do intend to divorce this trash, but the decision must come from me. I returned specifically to address this matter."<br /> With that, Taylor produced two documents. "Wesley, remember that it's me who's divorcing you. It's me who no longer wants you. Initially, out of marital obligation, I had considered offering you some compensation. Now, you don't even need to think about it. Sign the divorce agreement and leave my home."<br /> Wesley offered a faint smile as he accepted the divorce agreement.<br /> "What are you laughing at?" Taylor demanded angrily.<br /> Wesley's smile seemed to mock her, fueling her rage.<br /> Ignoring her entirely, Wesley signed the document and handed it over.<br /> "What are you laughing at? Answer me! Who do you think you are?" Taylor roared once more.<br /> Wesley glanced at her before striding towards the exit.<br /> "Stop!" The gent who had accompanied Taylor stepped forward, blocking Wesley's path. "Taylor asked you a question, and... Your previous attitude displeased me. Apologize to Taylor, or I'll have you leave in disgrace!"<br /> Chapter 2 The Unspoken Truth<br /> <br /> "Yes, let him leave in disgrace. He thought he could just hit me and walk away so easily," Madison joined in the commotion, also noticing the gent blocking Wesley's path.<br /> Madison had a keen interest in luxury goods, having frequented various high-end establishments over the years as the Reed family's living conditions improved. The gent was wearing an expensive watch and dressed head to toe in high-end luxury brands.<br /> Seeing Madison's gaze, the gent spoke. "Rest assured, today Wesley must pay the price."<br /> The gent introduced himself, looking at Wesley, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Henry Clark, the eldest son of the Clark family and the general manager of the Clark Group in the North District."<br /> "From now on, I will accompany Taylor on her journey of life, and I will not allow anyone to bully her."<br /> "My identity carries weight. You should understand that. Now, apologize to Taylor. Apologize! Did you hear me? Apologize!"<br /> Madison's eyes lit up. She hadn't expected the gent before her to hold such a high status. She continued to shout, "Did you hear that? Taylor will be with Mr. Clark from now on. Apologize now."<br /> Wesley glanced at Henry, then at Taylor. He thought, "Have they been together all along?" Wesley had wanted to ask but decided against it because there was no need. He simply gave them a glance and continued walking towards the exit.<br /> "Are you ignoring me?" Henry's face turned cold as he reached out to grab Wesley. Henry's hand froze mid-air as he received a solid hit.<br /> "Until I sign the divorce papers, Taylor and I are still wife and husband. I don't care to investigate whether you two had any intimate relationship during that time, but don't provoke me, or I won't hesitate to make you regret it." Wesley's gaze was icy, and as Henry met his eyes, he felt a twinge of fear and swallowed his words.<br /> Taylor was also stunned. She knew exactly what Wesley had been like over the past five years. There were many surveillance cameras in the house, and she would often check them.<br /> Even when Taylor wasn't home, despite how her family treated Wesley, he always obeyed without complaint, especially towards her. He had never raised his voice, no matter how they treated him.<br /> Today, not only did Wesley dodge when her mother struck, but he also initiated the divorce and now even struck Henry. <br /> Taylor was at a loss for words, thinking, "How could this cowardly gent dare? On what grounds does he dare?"<br /> This change was difficult for Taylor to accept as if she didn't truly understand this guy. The gent who used to be obedient to her, completely submissive, now revealed this side of himself. She watched Wesley walk away in a daze, feeling a strange discomfort in her heart.<br /> "Isn't he leaving with nothing?" Alexis pointed at the wooden box Wesley was holding. "What is he taking with him?"<br /> Madison also realized. Over the past five years, Wesley had always treasured this wooden box, carrying it with him wherever he went. She thought there must be something valuable inside.<br /> Realizing this, Madison hurriedly followed. "Wesley, stop right there, leave the wooden box."<br /> Wesley paused, glanced at Madison, and said, "This is my personal belonging."<br /> "Nonsense, what personal belonging could you possibly have after marrying into the Reed family? Everything you've eaten, worn, and lived in over the years has been provided by the Reed family. Put it down."<br /> As she spoke, Madison reached out to grab the wooden box.<br /> "Ah..." A scream rang out as Madison quickly retracted her hand, a gash appearing on her palm, a crimson liquid dripping.<br /> The wooden box was now stained with the same crimson liquid, trembling lightly in Wesley's hand.<br /> "It's not the right time yet, the day you thirst for this crimson liquid will come," Wesley murmured softly, patting the box before turning to continue his stride towards the exit.<br /> "Monster! A monster!" Madison screamed, causing Taylor and the others to rush out. Seeing the wound in Madison's hand, Taylor was filled with rage.<br /> "Wesley, aren't you going to say something?" Wesley halted once more, contemplating before meeting Taylor's gaze.<br /> "Just stay out of my way from now on. Consider this a warning to you."<br /> "Taylor, that wooden box of his has a mechanism. It must hold something valuable! We can't let him take it with him," Madison, enduring the pain, reminded them.<br /> "Mom, your injury is important. We'll deal with him later. Let me take you to the hospital first." Taylor comforted Madison before calling out to the retreating Wesley.<br /> "Our marriage is over! Yet, you dared to hurt my mother! This won't be the end of it! I will make you regret it!" Ignoring her, Wesley continued walking out.<br /> "Rest assured, I promise he won't see the light of day tomorrow." Henry stepped forward to console. "Let's focus on getting your wound treated first."<br /> "I want him to regret ever existing in this world, to apologize to me in repentance," Madison roared.<br /> "Mom, trust me, I will make him do just that." Taylor looked at Madison with a mix of pity and determination. "Let's go to the hospital first."<br /> In the villa area, Wesley halted, his voice cold. "Get out."<br /> An elderly gent leaped down from a tree, appearing to be in his seventies, yet landing silently from a height of around ten feet.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, your father wants you to come home and take charge."<br /> "He stopped being my father five years ago. He's my enemy."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you misunderstood your father. He had his reasons back then. I swear in my life, once you know the truth, you will forgive him."<br /> "Huh!" Wesley smirked coldly, saying, "I nearly passed away back then. Is that also a misunderstanding?"<br /> The old gent pleaded, "Mr. Harrington, this situation is truly not as you perceive it."<br /> Wesley didn't engage further with the old guy. The events of that year were etched in his memory forever. He was the one who had been abandoned. If not for that incident, why would he have stayed with the Reed family for five years?<br /> Watching Wesley walk away, the old gent had tears silently streaming down his face. "Mr. Harrington, I truly... I truly can't bring myself to speak the truth, but you have misunderstood your father. He also bears burdens and endures pains beyond what an ordinary person can handle."<br /> As Wesley's figure disappeared, the old gent stood up, hesitated for a moment, then dialed a number on his phone.<br /> "Mr. Harrington is now divorced. I've given you the news firsthand. If your daughter is truly together with Mr. Harrington, you must fulfill the promise and let her persuade Mr. Harrington to come home."<br /> After hanging up, a middle-aged gent in a luxurious estate jumped up excitedly. Calming himself, he immediately made another call. "My dear, you're at Yeadeo, right?<br /> "Go find Wesley now. Don't mention the engagement for now. Use every means to get close to him, make him fall in love with you."<br /> "Dad, I don't have time."<br /> "No matter what you are busy with, you must go find Wesley now. No matter what reason you approach him, you must leave a good impression the first time."<br /> "Dad, I'm in trouble right now. If I don't handle it well, I might be good as gone. I have to deal with it immediately. I'm hanging up."<br /> Chapter 3 You're Nothing<br /> The middle-aged gent's voice lowered significantly. "Is there a big incident happening? You didn't tell me? What happened?"<br /> "Quinn Kingsley from Yeadeo, Mr. Kingsley, used our product and now has one foot on the grave. If something really happens to him..."<br /> "You mean Quinn, the uncontested leader of Yeadeo?"<br /> "Yes."<br /> "In that case, you should go find Wesley. Trust me, in this world, there is no problem that Wesley can't solve. As long as he's willing to help, you'll be fine. Listen to me, go find Wesley immediately."<br /> The lady fell silent for a moment before saying, "Okay."<br /> At Yeadeo Harbor, a gent with a large flaxen chain and a watch, sporting a crew cut, hurriedly disembarked, accompanied by a dozen gentlemen.<br /> "Mr. Reed, wherever that trash is, we will find him and tear him apart."<br /> "Yes, that guy dared to harm your mother. We'll make sure he pays for it."<br /> Frank Reed's face turned cold. "Wesley, you coward, thinking you can overturn the world? How dare you touch my mom? Just wait until I find you, you're finished."<br /> "We've found him. Wesley got into a taxi, and our boys followed him."<br /> "Let's go!" Frank waved his hand, leading dozens of men who boarded the car with harpoons, steel pipes, and other weapons.<br /> Inside the taxi, Wesley gazed at the scenery outside, feeling a strange sense of tranquility.<br /> He thought to himself, "I never imagined that while I was secretly paving the way for the Reed family, Taylor, after progressing so rapidly, would start looking down on me more and more."<br /> "Those ladies who know my true identity, which one of them isn't trying to throw themselves at me? Ladies like that don't interest me."<br /> "Being an ordinary gent is truly difficult," Wesley murmured, smiling faintly and deciding not to dwell on these matters anymore. He had important things to attend to and no time to waste on personal affairs.<br /> "Young lad, are you going to Feidgeuo Manor for a job interview?" The driver, curious about Wesley's destination, inquired.<br /> Feidgeuo Manor was Yeadeo's most mysterious private area. Originally a villa area, it was bought at a huge cost five years ago and completely renovated. It was said to have cost a trillion dollars. The former villa area was now Feidgeuo Manor.<br /> "That's my home," Wesley replied nonchalantly.<br /> The driver was taken aback by this revelation, silently cursing Wesley for bragging. After a couple of minutes, the driver regained his composure. "It seems like you and I both prefer to keep a low profile. My car usually gathers dust at home, so I occasionally drive a taxi to experience life."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "My car has been driven by my assistant for the past few years, so it's not gathering dust."<br /> "Haha..." The driver laughed. "We should get together sometime and see whose car is more impressive."<br /> "Sure, whenever we have the time."<br /> As they chatted, the vehicle soon arrived near Feidgeuo Manor, where the massive head of the Feidgeuo Peak protruded, creating a unique landscape in Yeadeo.<br /> The driver asked with a smile, "Since you're the owner here, it's fine if I drive in, right?"<br /> "Of course," Wesley replied.<br /> As soon as Wesley spoke, several cars caught up from behind.<br /> The cars surrounded the one Wesley was in, with the front vehicles braking to force the car to a stop.<br /> When numerous people descended from cars wielding harpoons and steel pipes, the driver's face paled.<br /> Frank and his group got out of the cars, instantly closing in, and without hesitation, started attacking, the steel pipes and harpoons thudding against the car.<br /> Frank's henchman yanked open the door of Wesley's car, poised to stab Wesley with a harpoon, but Wesley swiftly exited the vehicle.<br /> With a firm step on the ground, he launched a swift hit.<br /> A muffled sound echoed as the henchman was hit away.<br /> "What are you looking at?" Frank noticed his henchmen were all staring at him. "All of you, attack together and take him down!"<br /> As he commanded, the henchmen Frank brought with him surged forward.<br /> The taxi driver, trembling, took out his phone to call the police, but Frank glared at him. "I am Frank Reed from Yeadeo Harbor. If you dare, go ahead and make that call."<br /> Frank, leveraging his sister Taylor's status, had been causing trouble in Yeadeo Harbor, and no one dared to provoke him.<br /> Upon hearing Frank's name, the driver hastily put away his phone. "Mr. Reed, I'll just check the time, you guys continue."<br /> "Huh!" Frank snorted coldly, casting his gaze towards the surrounded Wesley.<br /> The sounds of thuds continued to ring out incessantly. Because Wesley was completely surrounded, Frank was unable to see the situation inside clearly, but he could imagine it. After all, in Frank's mind, the henchmen under his command were not to be trifled with.<br /> "Hit him hard for me!"<br /> Another muffled sound and a figure flew out. At that moment, Frank finally saw the situation clearly, and his face turned pale.<br /> Frank knew that Wesley liked to practice martial arts, but he had never expected Wesley to be this skilled. It wasn't Wesley who had been beaten, but his own men by Wesley alone.<br /> Frantically, Frank turned and ran to retrieve a crossbow from the car.<br /> "Clear the way." Frank bellowed, aiming the crossbow at Wesley.<br /> "You scumbag, you think you can fight? Move one more time, and I'll end your life! Surrender!"<br /> Wesley, holding a wooden box, stared at Frank. Ignoring the crossbow in his hand, Wesley said, "Tell your henchmen to back off, or you'll all see the light from above!"<br /> "You're really good at pretending to be tough." Frank took two steps forward. "See the light? Move a muscle and see if I can end your life or not! If you don't have the guts, apologize now!"<br /> Wesley turned his head and looked at the approaching cars, with two expensive ones in the lead, two more in the rear, and another one in the middle.<br /> "Keep acting tough, and I'll put a hole in your head." Frank spoke while glancing at the five cars. "What, looking for help?"<br /> "Let me tell you, those who ride in these cars are not the kind of weaklings like you who rely on connections. With me here, in Yeadeo's social hierarchy, even those who ride in such cars wouldn't dare meddle in this matter. And let me make it clear, without my sister, you're nothing."<br /> Chapter 4 Is He Worthy?<br /> As Frank's words faded, the five cars came to a halt.<br /> A bodyguard opened the door of the one in the middle, revealing a dazzling pair of shining shoes catching everyone's eye.<br /> The shining shoe encased a beautiful foot. Above, the skirt's hem was adorned with lace.<br /> Then, like a fairy stepping out of a painting, she appeared before everyone's eyes.<br /> The lady was beautiful!<br /> Frank was mesmerized. Ever since the Reed family rose to prominence, he had been surrounded by ladies, but compared to the elegant lady before him, they were worlds apart.<br /> It wasn't just a difference in appearance but an incomparable gap in demeanor.<br /> The lady descending from the Maybach seemed like a celestial being untouched by mortal affairs.<br /> The embodiment of a fairy in the mundane world.<br /> She simply stood there after getting out of the car, perfectly embodying what it meant to be graceful and elegant.<br /> The lady glanced at Wesley, then at Frank.<br /> Frank grinned, saying, "May I have the honor of knowing the name of this esteemed lady? I am Frank..."<br /> The lady spoke calmly. "Disrespect Mr. Harrington, and you're done for."<br /> Her bodyguards, unfazed by Frank's crossbow, swiftly overwhelmed him, sending him crashing to the ground.<br /> The henchmen who had come with Frank, previously defeated by Wesley, now scrambled to their feet and fled in all directions.<br /> Who would dare provoke someone who could afford such a car?<br /> "My sister is Taylor Reed, the chairperson of Reed Group," Frank shouted, clutching his head.<br /> Ignoring him, one of the bodyguards dragged him to the roadside grass while another used a belt to tighten around Frank's neck, exerting pressure.<br /> "Enough, a lesson is all that's needed." Wesley spoke calmly, and only when the lady gestured did the bodyguards release Frank.<br /> Frank lay there, already unconscious.<br /> Wesley turned to the lady. "Who are you?"<br /> "I am Mia Roberts, the general manager of Vinver Business Alliance's Yeadeo branch." She looked at Wesley and continued, "Mr. Harrington, my father mentioned that you have miraculous healing skills and earnestly requested your assistance. A generous reward awaits."<br /> Wesley furrowed his brow slightly, thinking, "There are indeed people who recognize my abilities and status, yet I've rarely intervened in the past five years. Today, shortly after I divorced Taylor, she is here. Whose arrangement is this?"<br /> "Mr. Harrington, my father also mentioned that you are benevolent and has raised the banner of compassion among healers, serving as a role model and benchmark for all in the medical field."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "You have a way with words. Tell me the specifics."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, please get in the car first. I will explain in detail on the way."<br /> The phrase "compassionate healer" held significant weight for Wesley, who had saved countless lives from the brink of death.<br /> Without further ado, he got into the car.<br /> Inside, after Mia brewed coffee for Wesley, she began. "Vinver Business Alliance has a wide range of business operations, and I mainly oversee the health supplement sector, which has seen some success in recent years.<br /> "Recently, Quinn Kingsley started using our medicines, and now there's an accident."<br /> As she spoke, Mia kept her gaze fixed on Wesley.<br /> Quinn, the undisputed leader of Yeadeo, was a figure of immense influence.<br /> Upon hearing this name, Wesley showed no particular reaction. "If the city's leader faces issues with your products, it is indeed a concern. Let's go and see."<br /> With just a sentence, Wesley leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest.<br /> Mia was secretly alarmed, thinking, "He knows who Quinn is, yet he seems indifferent. Who is this Wesley, really? No wonder Dad has instructed me to find a way to win his favor." Mia's inner resistance toward Wesley quietly shifted.<br /> Wesley had piqued her curiosity.<br /> As the vehicle was moving, Wesley's phone rang.<br /> Wesley opened his eyes and took out his phone to see Taylor calling.<br /> Pressing the answer button, he asked, "What's the matter?"<br /> On the other end of the line, Taylor, driving towards Feidgeuo Manor, had a grim expression.<br /> She thought, "Has Wesley ever spoken to me in such a cold tone before? Is he really this heartless right after our divorce?"<br /> Already furious, she snapped. "Wesley, do you even consider yourself a human being?<br /> "Today, not only did you lay hands on my mother, but you also had someone attack my brother. Do you not remember our past at all?"<br /> Wesley calmly replied, "Do we have a past to remember?"<br /> "You truly are a heartless scumbag, just as my mother said. You are an ungrateful and vicious person I raised for five years. Even a pet would wag its tail at me!"<br /> Taylor wanted to continue her tirade, but the phone line had already turned busy.<br /> This only fueled her anger further.<br /> Just now, she had received a call from Frank's underlings, informing her that Wesley had sent people to attack Frank and even intended to end him.<br /> Taylor wanted to demand answers, but...<br /> As Taylor was clutching her fists, her gaze turned icy.<br /> After a moment, she picked up her phone again. "Wesley, you are so narrow-minded. You have no ambition. Any lady would steer clear of you."<br /> "Just because I dumped you, you are doing this on purpose to make me feel sick. Pretending to be aloof and seeking revenge? Do you even deserve it?"<br /> "In Yeadeo, squashing you would be as easy as squashing an ant. You're asking for it! If anything happens to my brother, I will make you wish you were ending!"<br /> Her furious voice message echoed in the car.<br /> Wesley chuckled and put away his phone.<br /> Beside him, Mia seemed contemplative. Before coming, she had already ordered a swift investigation into Wesley.<br /> She was curious, thinking, "How could someone valued by my father could be the one 'marrying into' the Reed family."<br /> Being tactful, Mia chose not to ask and pretended not to have heard.<br /> After about forty minutes, they arrived at the Kingsley Manor.<br /> The Kingsley family members, upon seeing Mia alight from the car, all wore grim expressions.<br /> Mia greeted them with a smile, "Everyone, this is Wesley Harrington, Mr. Harrington, the miraculous healer I specially invited to treat Mr. Kingsley."<br /> "Him? The gent who married into the Reed family?"<br /> "A miraculous healer? Is he even worthy? Are healers so worthless now?"<br /> "A useless gent who mooches off of the Reed family? How dare he call himself a miraculous healer? Truly a joke among all jokes."<br /> Chapter 5 Compassionate Healer<br /> Amanda Kingsley, Quinn's granddaughter, stared coldly at Wesley and Mia.<br /> This lady, dressed in a smart suit, also held significant fame in Yeadeo, overseeing the region's business activities, including investment attraction and various local business negotiations.<br /> Amanda had a favorable view of Taylor, who had risen swiftly in recent times, and they had interacted frequently.<br /> She was aware of Wesley's existence and had advised Taylor to part ways with him early on.<br /> But Amanda never imagined that Mia would bring someone like Wesley, a complete waste, and claim he was a miraculous healer.<br /> Glaring at Mia, she said, "Mia, once my grandfather is well, it's best for your Roberts family to leave Yeadeo."<br /> "As for you..." She glanced at Wesley. "I will advise Taylor to divorce you. You have deceived Taylor's feelings and now shamelessly made your way into my family. You are a despicable creature."<br /> After reprimanding Mia and Wesley, she turned to an elderly gent beside her, and her tone and attitude completely changed. "Mr. Phillips, sorry to trouble you. My grandfather is inside, please."<br /> Mia looked at the elderly gent, who was already in his twilight years, feeling deeply shocked.<br /> Scott Phillips, the 38th generation heir of the Healing Clinic, was now ninety-two years old.<br /> Renowned as a miraculous healer, he was a respected figure in the medical community of Yeadeo and even nationally.<br /> He no longer conducted consultations personally due to his old age. Mia had visited him specifically to pay her respects once she had arrived in Yeadeo but had not met Scott.<br /> She never expected Scott to appear in person. It was understandable, as Quinn held a prominent position in the city. Despite the profound influence of the Phillips family, they still had to show respect to Quinn.<br /> Mia looked at Wesley, feeling conflicted and thinking, "Dad has confidently claimed that Wesley has extraordinary abilities, but does he really?"<br /> She harbored doubts, but out of propriety, Mia spoke. "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the trouble."<br /> Wesley smiled, "It's fine. As long as the person can be healed."<br /> His open-mindedness impressed Mia.<br /> After about half an hour, Amanda emerged from the room. All eyes instantly turned towards her.<br /> It was evident that Amanda had wailed out, with traces of tears still visible.<br /> "Amanda, how is it?" A middle-aged gent anxiously asked her.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family who had rushed back also focused their attention on her.<br /> "Mr. Phillips said that there's little hope of recovery. He could only use acupuncture to wake grandfather for half an hour. When grandfather wakes up, let's all go in and see if he has any final instructions."<br /> Everyone was shocked.<br /> "How could this be?"<br /> "Is Mr. Phillips also helpless?"<br /> The members of the Kingsley family found it hard to accept this reality, especially since Quinn had always treated his juniors well.<br /> The thought of Quinn departing saddened some, and tears silently fell.<br /> Publicly, Quinn's status was the foundation of the Kingsley family's prominence in Yeadeo.<br /> If Quinn were to pass away, the Kingsley family would undoubtedly decline.<br /> The atmosphere within the Kingsley family was somber.<br /> Amanda looked at her family members, opened her mouth, but said nothing, silently turning back into the room.<br /> "Stop crying," A middle-aged gent said sternly, "Dad wouldn't want to see you all in tears. If he's really leaving, we mustn't let him worry about us. Pull yourselves together."<br /> After these words, the middle-aged gent also entered the room.<br /> The younger members of the Kingsley family wiped their tears vigorously, trying to force smiles, but in truth, they looked better at crying than pretending to be happy.<br /> Mia's spirit plummeted as she realized the gravity of the situation. Even if an ordinary person passed away from consuming health supplements, it spelled big trouble for those who sold them. And when the deceased happened to be Quinn, the stakes were even higher.<br /> She understood that it would be difficult for this branch to stay in Yeadeo, and even the headquarters might face repercussions.<br /> "Let's go in and have a look." Wesley glanced at Mia. "There might still be a chance."<br /> "Ah..." Mia stared at Wesley in surprise. Seeing him already heading towards the room, she quickly followed suit.<br /> Inside the room, the members of the Kingsley family stood around the mattress, maintaining a certain distance.<br /> Scott lit the alcohol lamp and took out the needles, his expression solemn.<br /> He looked at the members of the Kingsley family. "Think about what you want to say to Mr. Kingsley later. Once you're ready, let me know, and then I'll proceed with the acupuncture."<br /> As he said this, tears welled up in many eyes.<br /> "If you don't mind, let me take a look. I have a way." Wesley spoke up, drawing everyone's attention.<br /> Amanda's face darkened. "Who let you in? Get out!"<br /> "Mia, have you lost your mind? Tricked by this trash and actually brought him here as a miracle healer. Get out with him! I'll settle the score with you in a couple of days."<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, at a loss for words.<br /> "Even Mr. Phillips is unable to reverse the situation. What use are you? Get out." Another younger member of the Kingsley family angrily rebuked.<br /> The middle-aged gent added, "We're in no mood right now. You better leave immediately."<br /> "I understand your narrow-mindedness," Wesley continued, "But as a healer, once I see a patient, I cannot stand by and watch him draw his last breath."<br /> "Wesley, you're quite the charlatan. Do you really want to be gone right now?" Amanda's voice was filled with anger.<br /> "Amanda, let me say a few words," Scott interjected, and Amanda fell silent.<br /> Looking at Wesley, Scott began. "Young lad, at my age, I've seen a lot and have a broad perspective. Today, however, I find it hard to remain indifferent. I practiced medicine from the age of sixteen until I stopped seeing patients for a total of seventy years."<br /> "I've saved countless patients from various illnesses. I never easily declare a patient's fate, nor do I believe I have the right to do so."<br /> "But from your recent remarks, it seems like you're accusing me of such actions. Young people wanting to make a name for themselves by stepping on the shoulders of their predecessors, I can understand."<br /> "But this kind of behavior displeases me."<br /> "My displeasure, what does it mean to you? Do you understand?"<br /> "Even if you are a healer, your career will be ruined because of this."<br /> Chapter 6 Hand of Hell<br /> In the face of Scott's veiled threats, Wesley simply smiled and brushed them off.<br /> Looking at Scott, he asked, "I've always focused on the issue at hand rather than attacking individuals. I have a few questions for you. If you can't administer the needles, how long do you think Quinn can hold on?"<br /> "Seven days, but he will remain unconscious," Scott replied bluntly.<br /> "Then let me ask you this, is there anyone in the world with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "Outrageous," Amanda coldly interjected, "Mr. Phillips is unparalleled in his medical expertise."<br /> Scott glanced at Amanda. "Amanda, let me handle this question."<br /> Continuing to address Wesley, he said, "I don't underestimate myself, nor do I overestimate. There are countless talented individuals in the world, like stars in the sky. I may not dare claim to be the best in medical skills, but those who surpass me are few."<br /> "That means there are some," Wesley calmly remarked, causing Scott's expression to shift slightly, "Indeed, there are."<br /> "Then let me ask you this. Do you think within seven days, the Kingsley family won't find someone with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "If they do find someone, do you believe there is an illness that you cannot cure, but this person can?"<br /> Wesley's questions were sharp and resounding.<br /> Scott's face changed once more as he was rendered speechless.<br /> "Even if there is, that person will never be you." Amanda's face turned icy. "Now get out. Don't spout your eloquence here. Your deceitful behavior is repulsive."<br /> "Your understanding of me is merely hearsay, isn't it?" Wesley retorted, his gaze mocking Amanda, "Has your background and education taught you such arrogance and prejudice?"<br /> "Arrogance?" Amanda's face grew colder as she disdainfully looked at Wesley. "Prejudice?<br /> "Did I say something wrong just now? You are nothing but stagnant waste, a parasite living off others. If it weren't for Taylor, you would have starved on the streets long ago."<br /> "Relying on sweet words, deceiving Taylor. She, with her kind heart, can't bear to divorce you, but don't push your luck. If it weren't for Taylor's sake, you would have been sent out long ago."<br /> Scott interrupted Amanda, "Amanda, although I find this lad a bit annoying, what he said does hold some truth. There are indeed individuals with better medical skills than me. Your grandfather can hold on for seven days. Try reaching out to see if someone can come over. I'll help you make connections."<br /> "If it really doesn't work out after seven days, I'll administer the needles to your grandfather. However, at that point, I can only buy you three minutes."<br /> As soon as Scott spoke, the faces of the Kingsley family members grew even more solemn. True healers were rare and not easily summoned.<br /> While the Kingsley family had connections in Yeadeo, their influence waned outside of it.<br /> "Mr. Phillips, please administer the needles. Life has its ups and downs, and we understand that. Just buy my father a bit more time." The middle-aged gent spoke up.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family nodded in agreement.<br /> Amanda looked at Scott. "Mr. Phillips, please."<br /> "In that case, please have everyone unrelated leave. I need silence," Scott calmly stated.<br /> Amanda glared at Wesley, her eyes speaking volumes without a word.<br /> The unrelated individuals were, naturally, Wesley and Mia.<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, intending to leave, but she suddenly hesitated.<br /> Instead of leaving, Wesley moved forward.<br /> "What are you doing?" A young member of the Kingsley family stepped forward with a stern expression, pushing Wesley.<br /> In one swift motion, Wesley executed a clean shoulder throw, toppling the young gent to the ground, his own expression turning cold.<br /> "A bunch of fools! If it weren't for my teacher's teachings about not turning a blind eye to those in need, I wouldn't bother with you ignorant lot," Wesley remarked with disdain.<br /> As Wesley effortlessly took down one individual from the Kingsley family, the others seemed slow to react.<br /> By the time they realized what was happening, Wesley had already picked up the needle next to Scott and casually flicked his wrist.<br /> The needle flew out of his hand, piercing Quinn's temple, followed by a second needle, a third needle, and so on.<br /> "What are you doing? Stop!" Amanda's voice rose in urgency, echoed by the rest of the Kingsley family members who rushed forward to restrain Wesley.<br /> "Stay back, everyone. Wait." Scott suddenly stood up, blocking the others. "Let him try."<br /> Amanda and the others were left dumbfounded, thinking, "What does this mean?"<br /> Despite their confusion, they heeded Scott's words.<br /> After Scott stopped the members of the Kingsley family, he fixed his gaze on Wesley.<br /> Wesley proceeded to use eighteen needles in succession, symbolizing the levels of pain.<br /> Even if someone had descended into the depths of hell, they must be brought back.<br /> The final needle, also piercing a vital point, caused Quinn's body to tremble suddenly, resonating with the previous eighteen needles.<br /> Scott's eyes widened, his body trembling slightly. His reaction left Amanda and the others even more puzzled, but none dared to interrupt.<br /> Moments later, Wesley placed a palm on Quinn's chest, causing all eighteen needles to be shaken off. When all the needles landed on the ground, the part of the skin where the needles had pierced turned dark.<br /> Wesley then dragged Quinn to the edge of the mattress, flipped him over with his head facing downwards, and gave him a firm pat on the back.<br /> Quinn spat out a mouthful of black liquid. When Wesley flipped him back to lie flat, his complexion had regained some color.<br /> "The Hand of Darkness... It's the Hand of Darkness!" Scott exclaimed with excitement, his body quivering, "It's the Hand that descends into the dark world, snatching people from the hands of the Evil!"<br /> "You do have some knowledge, recognizing the Hand of Darkness." Wesley glanced at Scott.<br /> Scott's gaze towards Wesley had undergone a drastic change. He respectfully clasped his hands together.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thirty years ago, I had the honor of attending a teaching conference held by Mr. Vanderbilt. I saw the Hand of Darkness, but my limited aptitude only allowed me to grasp the basics."<br /> "I have been blind and ignorant. I apologize for my earlier offenses. Please forgive me, Mr. Harrington."<br /> The Mr. Vanderbilt Scott referred to was Wesley's teacher, Ulysses Vanderbilt. He generously imparted his skills to others, but the ability to learn depended on one's innate talent.<br /> In this world, few could learn Ulysses' skills.<br /> Scott had been fortunate to receive guidance from Ulysses, which had elevated his medical skills. However, the Hand of Darkness, a miraculous ability, was beyond his comprehension.<br /> Wesley smiled faintly, "Your actions earlier are understandable. I appreciate your words."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you must be an exceptional disciple of Mr. Vanderbilt, possessing unparalleled magnanimity. Impressive," Scott continued.<br /> "Enough with the flattery at your age."<br /> "You are mistaken, Mr. Harrington. Every word I speak is sincere."<br /> Mia, Amanda, and the others stood bewildered by the unfolding situation.<br /> "Mr. Phillips... he... he..." Amanda's words faltered.<br /> Scott turned to the members of the Kingsley family. "Meeting Mr. Harrington was Quinn's luck. His symptoms have been cured by Mr. Harrington. With a few days of rest, he will be fine."<br /> The waste Taylor had previously said was called Mr. Harrington by Scott!<br /> Recalling their previous attitudes, Amanda hurriedly apologized, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> The members of the Kingsley family all apologized in unison, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> Chapter 7 Eight Plates of Noodles<br /> With a faint smile, Wesley remarked, "As family members of a patient, your actions earlier are understandable. There's no need for such formality."<br /> Amanda's perplexity deepened as she thought, "Where is the cowardly waste that Taylor described? This display of magnanimity and breadth is far from it."<br /> Mia, too, felt a shiver of realization, thinking, "No wonder Dad has insisted on my proximity to Wesley.<br /> This guy..."<br /> She gazed at Wesley, her curiosity piqued, a sense of exploration stirring within her.<br /> "Mia has brought you here, Mr. Harrington, to cure my grandfather. The Kingsley family will never forget this act. However, considering that my grandfather's ailment stemmed from the health supplements produced by the Vinver Business Alliance, we will be conducting an investigation into it."<br /> Amanda continued, looking at Wesley, "What do you think... of this approach?"<br /> It was Mia who had invited Wesley, so Amanda had grown wiser, refraining from asking for a direct punishment of the Vinver Business Alliance.<br /> As Mia heard Amanda's words, her heart skipped a beat, realizing trouble was brewing.<br /> "On the way here, Ms. Roberts briefed me on the situation. You conducted experiments on mice, correct?"<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes, the health supplements we received were exclusively provided by the Roberts family. There were no similar cases on the market, so we used mice for testing.<br /> "All the mice that ingested this supplement were gone."<br /> She looked at Mia and added, her voice turned colder. "Before the experiment, I specifically contacted Mia to inquire about the testing methods during the development phase, which involved mice."<br /> "There have been individuals eyeing my grandfather's position, some even wishing for his demise. I never imagined that the Vinver Business Alliance, which I attracted for investment, would become a weapon in someone else's hands."<br /> "Do you have any of the remaining medicine?" Wesley inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes."<br /> "Bring some over."<br /> Immediately, someone fetched the medicine. After it was brought to him, Wesley took out a supplement and swallowed it directly.<br /> This scene left Amanda and the others dumbfounded.<br /> Scott, too, was bewildered. "Mr. Harrington, what are you doing?"<br /> Wesley smiled, "Just proving that this medicine is not toxic."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thank you," Mia thanked sincerely, feeling like sobbing at that moment.<br /> Amanda, with a puzzled expression, looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, are you suggesting that my grandfather's condition wasn't caused by the Vinver Business Alliance's medicine? What about the mice?"<br /> The rest were equally puzzled.<br /> "Yes, but not entirely," Wesley said, leaving everyone even more bewildered.<br /> Mia's emotions were like a rollercoaster ride, from relief to immediate tension.<br /> "This medicine itself is not toxic, but when taken with another substance made from a certain plant, it results in Quinn's condition. The mice would die immediately, while humans could endure a few more days."<br /> Wesley continued to explain, "The plant used in this concoction is originally meant for crafting slow-acting toxins, not for human consumption."<br /> Looking at Amanda, Wesley said, "During this period, whoever had access to your grandfather and the mice will better understand why these events occurred."<br /> The gaze of members of the Kingsley family immediately focused on a lady.<br /> Amanda, somewhat incredulous, looked at her. "Can you offer an explanation?"<br /> The lady was the wife of Amanda's deceased brother. She found it hard to accept, as did the rest of the Kingsley family.<br /> This lady had been named the exemplary lady who served her family well this year, not due to her connection with the Kingsley family but because she genuinely deserved it.<br /> "What do you mean? Amanda, what explanation do you want from me?"<br /> The lady stared at Amanda. "Am I the only one who had access to Grandfather and the mice? You, and you... and you, who didn't have access?"<br /> "You all claim to treat me as family. Since I married into the Kingsley family, I have worked diligently, contributing my share even if not acknowledged."<br /> "Amanda, it has been over a year since your brother passed, and I never once considered remarrying. Now, just because of his words, you demand an explanation from me?"<br /> Pointing at Wesley, the lady questioned, "Just because he accuses me of poisoning, you suspect me? Tell me, did I poison him?" The lady glared at Wesley.<br /> "I am merely analyzing the facts. As for concluding this case, it's not within my purview," Wesley addressed the members of the Kingsley family, saying, "You should conduct a thorough investigation into this matter.<br /> "I will write a prescription. Have Quinn take it on time, and he will recover in seven days."<br /> Amanda hurried to fetch paper and pen while Wesley prepared the prescription. Once done, he was ready to leave.<br /> Amanda said hurriedly, "Mr. Harrington, I've already made arrangements for lunch."<br /> "No need," Wesley smiled.<br /> The Kingsley family sought to build closer ties with Wesley, given his extraordinary medical skills. Wesley was well aware of this.<br /> Looking at Amanda and the others, Wesley remarked, "In the future, if you encounter any difficult medical cases that others cannot solve, seek me out. Remember, cases others cannot solve."<br /> The gaze of the Kingsley family members toward Wesley changed once again. Many renowned healers had eccentric personalities and were difficult to engage.<br /> They hadn't expected Wesley to possess such remarkable medical skills without any airs.<br /> As Wesley prepared to depart, the members of the Kingsley family did not dare to insist on his stay, so they accompanied him outside.<br /> "Oh, how could we forget such an important matter? Amanda, what about the consultation fee?" The middle-aged gent inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the oversight. Please wait a moment." Amanda hurried back inside and soon returned with a bank card in hand.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, there's one million dollars in here."<br /> Without hesitation, Wesley accepted the bank card and boarded Mia's car.<br /> During the journey, Mia boldly looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, you've helped me immensely. Can I treat you to a meal? Don't decline in a hurry. It's not a fancy restaurant, but it will leave you wanting more. It's a small place on the street, with only eight plates of noodles served each day, each plate containing different ingredients."<br /> "I managed to secure a reservation. Are you interested?"<br /> Wesley thought, "Eight Plates of Noodles?<br /> "Ah, Aaron's restaurant. It has been a while since I visited those old friends."<br /> Wesley nodded. "Let's go then."<br /> The restaurant, Eight Plates of Noodles, was located on Chanxold Street near the Yeadeo First Central Hospital.<br /> The establishment was small, serving only eight plates of noodles each day at a price of 10 thousand dollars each. Vernoic's television culinary program had specifically covered this incident.<br /> Reservations were a must to secure a plate.<br /> The restaurant's owner had a mysterious background. While the specifics were unknown, a high-ranking noble from the capital of Vernoic, Kingsland, had caused a scene there once.<br /> He had attempted to force his way in without a reservation. Although this incident hadn't been reported, rumors suggested that a garbage truck had to be called to dispose of the intruder's remains, as he was too shattered to be removed by conventional means.<br /> Since then, no one dared to cause trouble.<br /> On their way, Mia introduced Wesley to the background story.<br /> "Mr. Turner, two plates of noodles." Mia called out once they arrived.<br /> Aaron Turner didn't respond but visibly paused upon seeing Wesley beside Mia.<br /> A faint smile appeared on his usually stoic face. Though the flesh on the face seemed stiff, it was indeed a smile. "Coming right up."<br /> Chapter 8 You Are Blushing<br /> Mia glanced at Aaron with a hint of surprise, thinking, "When does he become so warm and enthusiastic?<br /> His tone seemed a bit agitated earlier, didn't it?"<br /> Soon enough, Aaron brought two plates of noodles to the table. One steaming hot and the other devoid of any warmth.<br /> As Mia observed Aaron placing the plate without steam in front of Wesley, her expression changed slightly.<br /> It was a plate of instant noodles having soaked in cold water, with the seasoning barely dissolved.<br /> She felt a sense of panic. Mia had wanted to leave a good impression on Wesley, which was why she had chosen this place.<br /> However, Aaron had served such a plate of noodles.<br /> She dared not question Aaron. The type of noodles served here was not determined by the guests but by Aaron's mood.<br /> "This lass named Mia is quite something, living up to her name, and quite kind-hearted," Aaron remarked, looking at Wesley.<br /> "Get lost," Wesley retorted, using his fork to pick up the noodles and devouring them.<br /> Mia's face turned pale instantly. Disrespecting Aaron was akin to risking Wesley's life.<br /> To her astonishment, Aaron chuckled, tears welling up in his eyes.<br /> He wiped them away. "Alright, I'll leave you to your meal."<br /> Before departing, he gave Mia a thumbs-up. "Seize the opportunity."<br /> The eight plates of noodles symbolized the eight comrades who had faced life and hardships together.<br /> Wesley ate voraciously. Initially, they had only one pack of instant noodles to share among the eight of them, forcing them to divide it.<br /> Despite the circumstances, they devoured the noodles joyfully.<br /> Aaron had promised that once they survived, each one would have the most delicious plate of noodles.<br /> However, five of the eight had perished.<br /> Wesley had come dangerously close to life-threatening situations, but managed to cling to life.<br /> For him, the plate of noodles was not food but the bond of friendship that had shielded him from harm.<br /> "Do you... know each other?" Mia couldn't help but ask, her voice low and curious.<br /> "Some things are better left unknown," Wesley replied.<br /> Mia nodded in understanding, falling silent as they continued eating noodles. She couldn't help stealing glances at Wesley throughout the meal.<br /> This gent had piqued her curiosity even more.<br /> "Wesley, I see. No wonder you agreed to the divorce so readily. You've already found someone else outside."<br /> A sharp voice interrupted their meal.<br /> Taylor approached with a cold expression, accompanied by Henry.<br /> Taylor's mother was in the nearby hospital, and she had just picked up Frank, planning to buy some food when she unexpectedly saw Wesley.<br /> Of course, she saw Mia, too.<br /> Seeing Wesley dining with a lady more attractive than herself, so soon after the divorce felt like a dagger twisting in Taylor's heart.<br /> Her anger was uncontrollable.<br /> Wesley merely glanced at Taylor, disinterested in engaging with her.<br /> Taylor was stung by his indifferent gaze. She stepped forward, glaring at Wesley. "Are you not going to explain to me?"<br /> Mia looked at Taylor, silently cursing her as a foolish lady.<br /> Wesley continued eating his noodles, lowering his head. "Get lost. Don't disturb me, or I won't hesitate to hit you."<br /> "What did you say?" Henry stepped forward, enraged. "Wesley, try laying a hand on her! Is that all you're capable of? Laying hands on ladies?"<br /> "No wonder Taylor looks down on you. You're truly disgusting trash. Apologize to Taylor now, or else you'll regret coming into this world."<br /> "And how will he regret it? Tell me." Aaron emerged, carrying a cleaver, smiling as he faced Henry and Taylor.<br /> "Mr. Turner, we dare not cause trouble in your place, but this guy is just..."<br /> Henry attempted to speak but was cut off as Aaron's cleaver struck his face, sending him sprawling to the ground.<br /> "Mr. Turner, sorry, we'll leave now." Taylor hastily helped Henry up and hurriedly left.<br /> These two individuals were fortunate to know the legendary story behind Eight Plates of Noodles and had successfully made reservations to dine here multiple times.<br /> Having distanced themselves a bit, Henry covered his face and pointed at Wesley. "Wesley, we have some unfinished business. If you're smart, come over here now and apologize."<br /> "Wesley, I've seen through you as well. I never expected that for the past five years, you've been using my money to keep a lady on the side. We'll settle the score slowly."<br /> As the two noticed Aaron glancing their way, they quickly shut their mouths and hurriedly left.<br /> Once they were out of eyeshots, Aaron fixed his gaze on Wesley. "Your dad doesn't know about your divorce yet, does he?"<br /> "What difference would it make if he did?" Wesley stretched lazily. "I've fulfilled my promise. I've given enough."<br /> Aaron nodded in acknowledgment without saying anything further.<br /> This piqued Mia's curiosity even more. "Is it like what the novels depict? Did you marry Taylor due to some special event?"<br /> Seeing Wesley's glare, Mia lowered her head to focus on her noodles. "I won't ask anymore."<br /> "For the past five years, you've been staying in the stairwell. It has been hard for you, but at least you're still untouched," Aaron remarked before swiftly departing.<br /> Mia stared at Wesley in disbelief, realizing that Aaron's words were meant for her ears.<br /> "What are you staring at? Eat your noodles," Wesley said. Mia chuckled.<br /> "Why are you laughing?"<br /> "You're blushing."<br /> "Nonsense," Wesley retorted.<br /> Unable to contain herself, Mia burst into laughter. She had tried to hold it in, but seeing Wesley's flushed face made it impossible.<br /> Ten minutes later, Mia left on her own accord, sensing that Wesley had something to discuss with Aaron.<br /> Inside Aaron's small shop, Wesley opened a bottle of wine. "Still single?"<br /> "I look too old, no one's interested," Aaron replied, opening a bottle of liquor as well.<br /> "Then why are you meddling in my love lives?"<br /> "Leave a child behind, even if you pass away, someone will remember you." Aaron took a sip. "I've actually investigated this Mia."<br /> "You investigated her?"<br /> "I knew you'd get a divorce. I've been keeping an eye on the pretty ones. This girl had done a lot of good deeds before coming to Yeadeo. Once, she saved three people in a flood and nearly lost her life. Opportunities are rare. You have to seize them."<br /> "When you've figured things out and are ready to marry, then we can discuss our affairs. That's the condition." Wesley downed the entire bottle of liquor.<br /> "Otherwise, don't bother meddling. We're on a one-way path and can't drag others along."<br /> "You..." Aaron sighed as he watched Wesley's retreating figure.<br /> On the road leading to the Feidgeuo Manor, Taylor stood gazing blankly at the entrance not far away.<br /> Twice in one day, she had come here.<br /> The first time was to pick up Frank, and this time was because Frank had lost his expensive watch. She and Henry hadn't even had a meal, rushing over to find it.<br /> The first time, she had come in a hurry when Frank was injured and left quickly as well.<br /> But this time, as Taylor looked at the entrance ahead, an infinite longing sprouted within her.<br /> "If only... I could live here, how wonderful that would be."<br /> Henry looked at her. "One day, I'll definitely build an estate more magnificent than this, and you'll be the lady of the house."<br /> As they conversed, a taxi drove by, stopping at the entrance. The person who got out of the taxi left Taylor stunned.<br /> She rubbed her eyes.	Adoread	147	https://facebook.com/61556400142540	LEARN_MORE	1713682800	View Edit Delete
1666799	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727707	1734958296	695	988219549602205	1	3.3628846242712E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	151755314678403	0	BUDK Gifts	120207372054750408	budk.com	Shop Now	NONE	dco	Experience a new level of fun with the toothpick launcher crossbow! 🏹	Discover a new way to have fun with the toothpick launcher crossbow! With pinpoint accuracy, this unique gadget turns ordinary toothpicks into exciting projectiles. Perfect for target practice or just to impress your friends, it's a playful addition to your gadget collection. Ready, aim, and launch into fun! Get yours today!	https://www.budk.com/Budk-Gifts?sourcecode=BKGFCA24		1713981265	1.517553146784E+14	BUDK Gifts	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439797040_984410896380288_2616479791961781776_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=nOsB-QN2N6QQ7kNvgEfrqGu&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAPpeg1Hrw80WRkzYZGxc8G4fJjUUn9r6VzPUs7K_d3Sw&oe=663A9204	person_profile	0	BUDK Gifts	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439893962_1490001235252673_5176909179735014305_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=uyCzdJCoPGYQ7kNvgGNm-W0&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAhJXuc-nfGnd3SDOgu4IYNkcYKQm0LFeY4PgN7dmMGmA&oe=663A7089	0	3	Aim with precision! The toothpick launcher crossbow delivers pinpoint accuracy. Get yours today!	BUDK Gifts	1289	https://facebook.com/61551819670022	SHOP_NOW	1713942000	View Edit Delete
1666800	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727707	1734958296	695	1395320154685330	1	4.5398251710412E+14	1714719600	regular_page	eligible	NONE	0	1	1	108936442103116	0	Kerri Henry	6557363542252		Buy now	NONE	image	Wii System Super Bundle Cleaned/Tested Selling Together		https://facebook.com/marketplace/item/2747379175413149/		1713927274	1.0893644210312E+14	Kerri Henry		regular_page	1	Kerri Henry	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438685153_408472195518734_5717672878292972479_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=96ilpcUKMqwQ7kNvgEn1Hon&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfCu40D46XWk8icpInkFq88xa4bKLXI1MpNtUrR2tZLsDQ&oe=663A75B9	1	3	Wii System Super Bundle Cleaned/Tested Selling Together - $360.00<br /> <br /> Description:<br /> White Wii - $60<br /> Blue and Black WiiMotes, 3 NunChuks, 1 Charging stand (no batteries)-$30<br /> Wireless Sensor Bar, Racing Wheel, and Shooter Controller Holder-$20<br /> AMF Bowling World Lanes-$6<br /> Animal Crossing City Folk-$16<br /> AYSTA5G-Back to School-$6<br /> AYSTA5G-Make The Grade-$5<br /> Avatar The Game-$7<br /> Band Hero-$8<br /> Battle Rage-$6<br /> Blazing Angels-$5<br /> COD Black Ops-$10<br /> COD MW3-$6<br /> Cars Toon Mater’s Tall Tales-$6<br /> Celebrity Sports Showdown-$5<br /> Chicken Blaster-$5<br /> Cooking Mama Cook Off-$6<br /> CSI Fatal Conspiracy-$6<br /> DDR Hottest Party 2-$10<br /> DDR Hottest Party 3-$10<br /> Dragon Blade-$6<br /> EA Active-$6<br /> Family Feud 2010-$6<br /> Fit in Six-$5<br /> Gold’s Gym Cardio Workout-$5<br /> Greg Hastings Paintball 2-$6<br /> Harry Potter Half Blood Prince-$7<br /> Harry Potter Order of the Phoenix-$7<br /> I Spy Spooky Mansion-$5<br /> Just Dance 2-$5<br /> Just Dance 3-$6<br /> Kevin Van Dam Big Bass Challenge-$8<br /> LEGO Star Wars Complete Saga-$6<br /> LEGO Star Wars 3 The Clone Wars-$6<br /> Link’s Crossbow Training-$6<br /> FULL GAME LIST CAN BE SUPPLIED UPON REQUEST<br /> Grand Value $715<br /> $360 Firm<br /> <br /> Location: Puyallup, WA<br /> Delivery Method: In-Person, Shipping<br /> <br /> Condition: Used - Good<br /> Brand: Nintendo<br /> <br /> Currently For Sale On Facebook Marketplace	Kerri Henry	0	/marketplace/?seller_profile=642499101	BUY_NOW	1713855600	View Edit Delete
1666802	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727707	1734958297	695	348956888160926	1	3.5857932150676E+15	1714719600	regular_page	eligible	NONE	0	1	1	108936442103116	0	Kerri Henry	6557363456452		Buy now	NONE	image	Red/White Wii BundleCleaned and TestedSelling Together		https://facebook.com/marketplace/item/311453428648385/		1713927257	1.0893644210312E+14	Kerri Henry		regular_page	1	Kerri Henry	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439043468_811706064195635_845633034990500761_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jNUvcGys2ZEQ7kNvgEU-zhC&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBYlxe1MCiGu2tV6CznhABetRXfho_pEeaAeDO3CV08tw&oe=663A89D6	1	3	Red/White Wii BundleCleaned and TestedSelling Together - $300.00<br /> <br /> Description:<br /> Red Wii (Refurbished)-$80<br /> White WiiMote w/ Motion Plus & 2 Nunchuks-$30<br /> Sensor Bar, Racing Wheel, and Baseball Bat-$10<br /> Active Life Explorer-$8<br /> Active Life Outdoor Challenge-$6<br /> Alvin and The Chipmunks The Squeakuel-$6<br /> ATV Quad Kings-$5<br /> Battle Rage-$6<br /> Blazing Angels-$5<br /> Boom Blox-$6<br /> Cabela's Big Game Hunter 2012-$7<br /> Cabela's Dangerous Hunts 2009-$5<br /> Cabela's Outdoor Adventures-$6<br /> Carnival MiniGolf-$7<br /> Cars 2-$6<br /> Cars Toon Mater’s Tall Tales-$6<br /> Chicken Blaster-$5<br /> Cooking Mama Cook Off-$6<br /> Deer Drive-$6<br /> Game Party-$6<br /> Game Party 2-$8<br /> Gold’s Gym Cardio Workout-$5<br /> Hannah Montana Spotlight-$4<br /> Heatseeker-$6<br /> Kidz Sports Crazy Golf-$5<br /> Kung Fu Panda-$5<br /> LEGO Harry Potter Years 1-4-$7<br /> LEGO RockBand-$10<br /> LEGO Star Wars Complete Saga-$6<br /> Link’s Crossbow Training-$6<br /> Littlest Pet Shop-$6<br /> Looney Tunes Acme Arsenal-$6<br /> Madden 10-$5<br /> Madden 12-$7<br /> Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games-$10<br /> Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games-$12<br /> Monster Hunter Tri-$9<br /> FULL LIST AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST<br /> Grand Value $458<br /> $300 Firm<br /> <br /> Location: Puyallup, WA<br /> Delivery Method: In-Person, Shipping<br /> <br /> Condition: Used - Good<br /> Brand: Nintendo<br /> <br /> Currently For Sale On Facebook Marketplace	Kerri Henry	0	/marketplace/?seller_profile=642499101	BUY_NOW	1713855600	View Edit Delete
1666805	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727707	1734958297	695	2757794211035516	3	1.616087215835E+15	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	265052230017125	0	Prize Palooza	120208208310810281	sickythegame.info	Learn more	NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://sickythegame.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=g01NOkVdLDUImKb4y2Rl&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1713903588	2.6505223001712E+14	Prize Palooza	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438079119_1282434809589391_7661099919065347333_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Riqu60ULaIIQ7kNvgFzwm-w&_nc_oc=AdjyaQcNO0U7J3meCsQG0k5Gtk1lRpctvOMSCHBP5RQOOgNcoUcheH6btlBTHHJEWWsVseM-YLBhLpPulmIWwE7J&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDNYur94-F37CTKMRAGOumRizpm7R9uzZFYkeS_UCgFtw&oe=663A6CBF	person_profile	0	Prize Palooza	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438109426_1480008262952141_2196940868432796721_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Zbsf5TgkPeMQ7kNvgFlmTe3&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfB3JARsInS5NHl9dQRBtqJDRd1KZXuxc3Ap3GdQID-bjg&oe=663A8B96	0	3	If you're reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You're among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a Ravin R29 Crossbow for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳	Prize Palooza	260	https://facebook.com/61556812859534	LEARN_MORE	1713942000	View Edit Delete
1666806	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727707	1734958297	695	3578146259076933		1.616087215835E+15	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	265052230017125	0	Prize Palooza	120207908743600451	sickythegame.info	Learn more	NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://sickythegame.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=g01NOkVdLDUImKb4y2Rl&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1713903584	2.6505223001712E+14	Prize Palooza	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437529027_327779696685350_5297052093788503702_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=J03n6LHXkxkQ7kNvgE0puGT&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfALQDPKGgRNcQxQcxtF2-sQZ9AzM7Lz3hoysOcDjHEAKQ&oe=663A6202	person_profile	0	Prize Palooza	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437653436_1082984736297232_6072804186913304850_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aNhL3I_ei3sQ7kNvgG6Ya2x&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAByTslzlmy2G1YNizOUjhwP9HzdB4_5Nnrzzlx3EfDRQ&oe=663A7344	0	3	If you're reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You're among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a Ravin R29 Crossbow for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳	Prize Palooza	260	https://facebook.com/61556812859534	LEARN_MORE	1713942000	View Edit Delete
1666807	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727707	1734958297	695	1082508946194366	1	4.1910292107656E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	100365976129594	0	Puzzles & Chaos	120209651167570763	play.google.com	Play game	NONE	video	A viral mini-game!		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1713841481	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438087504_2565467886956725_1622516903822409913_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=k8W_yFTXoxUQ7kNvgHB8xKF&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfC0naUp-YNkiNdRHAbfkO64yyqEeJ_9FOfvgYTvHOKHTQ&oe=663A6417	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437590069_991516082501403_3961662915910002331_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5cAwUfU8iV8Q7kNvgHZJwKz&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDoty4i9K7PQ-eAOWN0rLX8_kzgXKsovinFXwzyG2hGww&oe=663A6267	0	3	Can you maximize your strengths?💪	Puzzles & Chaos	12242	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	PLAY_GAME	1713769200	View Edit Delete
1666809	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727707	1734958297	695	3310426335928445	1	3.1595433464224E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	100365976129594	0	Puzzles & Chaos	120207910402690257	play.google.com	Play game	NONE	video	Make matches to unlock more!		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1713775840	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440273374_2189744578036631_2359940240915623482_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ha_Q2ltr66MQ7kNvgGMltoi&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfCtP0z9pkD72U2Pe9k6Q8BGb0kngARrDzYKoPG2GQWcPA&oe=663A87E2	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439920582_1379739949400135_4377905270018816581_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=72Ir-g5fjt8Q7kNvgFAzKZ1&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBuZigH2Hu4kHjIjLrh0qlUPUEG3vwEBJ7IlaPDUsbUtg&oe=663A86A4	0	3	🤔How high of an IQ do you need to beat the final level?	Puzzles & Chaos	12242	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	PLAY_GAME	1713769200	View Edit Delete
1666810	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727707	1734958297	695	458001693282139	1	1.0463250964471E+15	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	100365976129594	0	Puzzles & Chaos	120208658093510421	play.google.com	Play game	NONE	video	The winter is coming		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1713774975	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438680898_310002382116796_5288645328511622865_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XBBTwdRIPY8Q7kNvgE9QMjC&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfCyJLisSMOtKlZ_xtkluJLdxYUW50BTScv09jg3Q57SYA&oe=663A6ACE	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438705562_985740306306734_9003390110607044337_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=myyTOy1UCVwQ7kNvgGnqLv4&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAN2N5amIMyfW5TaObBa_Ky1l_d7w0v2BcflaSinnuNmw&oe=663A6E7D	0	3	Save your home through match-3 combat.⚠	Puzzles & Chaos	12242	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	PLAY_GAME	1713769200	View Edit Delete
1666812	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727707	1734958297	695	1083400909390950	1	8.6977076492254E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	100365976129594	0	Puzzles & Chaos	120208658093470421	play.google.com	Play game	NONE	video	The winter is coming		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1713774797	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437535318_469514472170408_4590730795672562247_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=MpzCB2_0zY4Q7kNvgG3053i&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBc-HnJDrW34NKuyroOat0bMQCTT0nKcYcUAxZ4qfgVEQ&oe=663A8C44	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435716585_309818681982679_6116293612149961392_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=b7xqESrRYZYQ7kNvgFLeZ8v&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAIW6Qz3dr5VQRStGPXk9uGR93kW0hZLCj8l5hnocSjEg&oe=663A831B	0	3	Save your home through match-3 combat.⚠	Puzzles & Chaos	12242	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	PLAY_GAME	1713769200	View Edit Delete
1666814	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727707	1734958297	695	3595506284096217	1	1.106328603937E+15	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	100365976129594	0	Puzzles & Chaos	120208658088630421	play.google.com	Play game	NONE	video	How good is your math?		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1713774775	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437528783_1589113705182723_6172436514727377435_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jxSE8L8oxI0Q7kNvgFwF9m2&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBu7iwiN-yxl1j3Z2c6GGxHfIStKL_0zCe_RTfc_H7D2A&oe=663A6A08	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438100811_1117550826168951_6619881078826338504_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X_Vjl7ucdhUQ7kNvgHhFneK&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBM9dzPyzzbIZaYTmufN9MymhqVpHB19ACbqSNFYHfwvQ&oe=663A8742	0	3	Every decision matters. 🧮<br /> Try it yourself!	Puzzles & Chaos	12242	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	PLAY_GAME	1713769200	View Edit Delete
1666815	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727707	1734958297	695	348453634426500	1	4.1612359091104E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	100365976129594	0	Puzzles & Chaos	120208658088800421	play.google.com	Play game	NONE	video	The winter is coming		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1713774772	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439748458_950947909692799_5170056420281612464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=29R0fDMOEWYQ7kNvgFN0RBY&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfADxpzVLDoDTDBRAOBMg5FxvSCtNxc-ObomATqhk93xhg&oe=663A8A33	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440115009_7433954496640416_5600448503302697971_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Y3eMNpqV4FoQ7kNvgF8Upi-&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBbl-Tfmic7hyCmwHcLG9iFOIKRIpvnpqkSFE78AYKx9A&oe=663A95BC	0	3	Save your home through match-3 combat.⚠	Puzzles & Chaos	12242	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	PLAY_GAME	1713769200	View Edit Delete
1666816	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727707	1734958297	695	938015984529638	4	9.4823273984871E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	100895368495588	0	Facdds	120208617130700110	jordanalien.info	Get offer	NONE	video	Claim it now! (Ends tonight)		https://jordanalien.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=KUNLLHopuZEw0DbnSi2A&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&fbclid=%7B%7Bfbclid%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D		1713771113	1.0089536849559E+14	Facdds	https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438817606_399303649613255_3680940955543325084_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=y9RFKdr2LYAQ7kNvgGt7MzH&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCfM8tB2DQjI4Wj75g4bP66bG8OKHUB2I5K_ftKb7uLSw&oe=663A76BC	person_profile	0	Facdds	https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438802277_1658786667989553_7935698109813414608_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=orSrnUywc9oQ7kNvgFJCPMc&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDEDUskiaRcO9XqJAAPO1XzeTvdbWxZ-IHqtqIADJkakg&oe=663A634D	0	3	If you are reading this, CONGRATULATIONS! 🤩. You are 1 of the 1.000 lucky people who have secured a NEW R29X Crossbow for $10 in our special offer 🗣🗣.	Facdds	1666	https://facebook.com/100066319796707	GET_OFFER_VIEW	1713769200	View Edit Delete
1666818	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727707	1734958297	695	812029490869738		9.4823273984871E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	100895368495588	0	Facdds	120208410145200606	jordanalien.info	Get offer	NONE	video	Claim it now! (Ends tonight)		https://jordanalien.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=KUNLLHopuZEw0DbnSi2A&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&fbclid=%7B%7Bfbclid%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D		1713683581	1.0089536849559E+14	Facdds	https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437408057_3665443477032160_3304495869910888922_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4DPZNt2rShoQ7kNvgFNPZMh&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAXs1CnGuB4HTEosoQQ8c2u7P47eq7wxYdM-66hXVXIcg&oe=663A8000	person_profile	0	Facdds	https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437574436_1633246434097349_3955441030007531481_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_Ixj492oItsQ7kNvgGdycw3&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDqmex6oiLEBWt3iCuHVoWPBpElVYCmmODKObhGOsEnIw&oe=663A820F	0	3	If you are reading this, CONGRATULATIONS! 🤩. You are 1 of the 1.000 lucky people who have secured a NEW R29X Crossbow for $10 in our special offer 🗣🗣.	Facdds	1666	https://facebook.com/100066319796707	GET_OFFER_VIEW	1713682800	View Edit Delete
1666819	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727707	1734958297	695	1157230458609417	1	1.090197422206E+15	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	1705569912922526	0	Archero	120208161046830591	play.google.com	Install now	NONE	video	One Man One War		https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.habby.archero		1713768437	1.7055699129225E+15	Archero	https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438680896_2685983904912243_7335877879566873188_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=cOPvWNNpq0gQ7kNvgHu6kSj&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBILxkNXhC3dvBrdjXlAQjLS1X-Lt2pdNKUkDEONihq0w&oe=663A94A3	person_profile	0	Archero	https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439895637_2215839365432592_7019632898374874174_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ensxTk4OE8IQ7kNvgHj7kqK&_nc_oc=AdjaTmdQPoFpCNHfdOFeW9rb5YxPsDrN1orYM8dgZ7_OrUygMmQZrB9bZjPNV7JnBHc&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfASt15MI1hdr45LDUS12gF6Dw6UpTmiBkW-y9NWctFaxA&oe=663A85C1	0	3	Finally on level 9. I'm hooked...	Archero	694214	https://facebook.com/archerogame	INSTALL_MOBILE_APP	1713769200	View Edit Delete
1666823	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727707	1734958297	695	448176224365612	1	1.3898008217129E+15	1713855600	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	106753190881844	0	Bargain Blitz Today	120209280325700032	v1.fastitemnew.space	Get offer	NONE	video	Claim Yours Now!		https://v1.fastitemnew.space/campaign/a8052f5f-841f-4fda-bc68-7df81e8d263f?ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&campaign_id={{campaign.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&gender={gender}&		1713712117	1.0675319088184E+14	Bargain Blitz Today	https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438840524_313196235202966_5958455823627591191_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=gt2eewSLHCsQ7kNvgF1Te6i&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDZqSQ8cfm-2QJ1GXPmHZXMPNWKOYhwKTcHnBC4YEA1Kw&oe=663A6CAB	person_profile	0	Bargain Blitz Today	https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437947195_3727147247531966_7673563431199616150_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=OrRMLsZra6UQ7kNvgH975eb&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA-P06Ywro0_vixOVJtELC3iMTOrWZtbh1rCsDwtJcdsw&oe=663A600A	0	3	Due to a lawsuit we are enforced to give away 5000 units to our loyal funs, you only need to pay for the shipping. Get yours today before they ran out.	Bargain Blitz Today	1702	https://facebook.com/100064112258637	GET_OFFER_VIEW	1713682800	View Edit Delete
1666822	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727707	1734958297	695	1392886664700475	1	1.5331988042692E+15	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	1705569912922526	0	Archero	120208161048930591	play.google.com	Install Now	NONE	dco	One Man One War	{{product.description}}	https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.habby.archero		1713768464	1.7055699129225E+15	Archero	https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438805517_761222229454567_861667326470849801_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=t-QvwBv-O78Q7kNvgHDC6Q-&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCoSAsgOB3NgarJShrjg8qY2i2YOKU4334o-7mxLZ8zbQ&oe=663A86A5	person_profile	0	Archero	https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438834379_1620914242073806_1374181507067281260_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QqJwhYtgka0Q7kNvgGp8Eow&_nc_oc=Adh_P7Mpwddxtxw4oicvdDZ09E1G-gn6jSlX11Fo4o9MfULcowlhM7278rIde6g8Rbk&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfD606rwGx3MIxjzGudxfXMIduMDewUjzwpCGOF8EvPgqQ&oe=663A73DB	0	3	Finally on level 9. I'm hooked...	Archero	694214	https://facebook.com/archerogame	INSTALL_MOBILE_APP	1713769200	View Edit Delete
1666829	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727707	1734958297	695	451779607385831	14	1.5597180248779E+15	1713769200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	226177680578601	0	Adoread	120207746049430265	client.adoread.com	Learn more	NONE	image	🔥🔥🔥 Read More👉	Hottest novel👉👉👉	https://client.adoread.com/book/loading/page/adoread/19161308412?utm_campaign={{campaign.id}}&utm_content={{campaign.name}}		1713519398	2.261776805786E+14	Adoread	https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437724011_960421695526729_1516574307485338648_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QHGXZ-huQfoQ7kNvgFl-bAK&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAhittaAtIybg_0Gi8UYNoalMt3uRDbIai0DNMlEMFrFg&oe=663A90F9	person_profile	0	Adoread	https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437891881_25238797299100336_7255863263127890524_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UeFxFDUJUZIQ7kNvgF1dGXL&_nc_oc=AdjBlORU46gPxHeMvSIJmXMDx_1afwh7kp2UWRl9K25HmyfzpiuTkbEBFfXJmbiDJ-c&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCl6BW-kaMuwg-TQzlAPyzBHYyw1d6F5gFbxwKZGONM2w&oe=663A61E5	0	3	"Wesley, are you trying to harm me? You useless piece of trash, can't even make a decent cup of coffee, can you?"<br /> Madison Blair lifted her coffee cup and splashed it directly onto Wesley Harrington's face.<br /> "What are you looking at, you spineless waste? Your name sounds so lofty? I might as well call you a waste."<br /> Glancing at the grotesque expression of his wife's mother, Wesley pulled out his phone to check the time.<br /> Exactly twelve o'clock. It had been five full years since he married Taylor Reed.<br /> The appointed time had come.<br /> He had fulfilled his promise, safeguarding the Reed family for five years, transforming them from a family living off fishing to one perceived as affluent by the common folk.<br /> Wiping the coffee off his face, he turned and walked away.<br /> "Where do you think you're going? Go fetch some more coffee," Madison shouted.<br /> "Madison, didn't you say this waste is obedient at home, doing whatever he's told? I don't think he's taking it lying down."<br /> Madison grew angrier. "Wesley, you stop right there. My family has fed and housed you. If you dare disobey, I'll have you thrown out!"<br /> Ignoring her, Wesley continued downstairs.<br /> "When Taylor comes back, I'll immediately have you two divorced. Do you hear me? Stay right there," Madison threatened, "I'll let you know your place today."<br /> Grabbing a golf club, Madison swiftly charged towards Wesley.<br /> Seeing Wesley heading downstairs, she swung the club viciously at his back.<br /> Without turning back, Wesley gently sidestepped.<br /> Losing her balance, Madison tumbled forward, rolling down the stairs with a series of thumps.<br /> "Ouch... it hurts, it hurts so much!"<br /> As Madison reached the ground floor, she wailed in pain and her sister immediately rushed to her.<br /> "Wesley, what have you done? How dare you hit my sister!" Madison's sister hurried down, checking on Madison's condition.<br /> Wesley remained silent, observing the scene.<br /> "Quick, call Taylor. Tell her to come back. Today, she must divorce this waste." Madison glared at Wesley. "How dare you hit me? Not only will I let Taylor divorce you, but I'll make sure you leave in disgrace."<br /> "Mum, what's wrong?" At that moment, a gent and a lady walked in.<br /> The lady was Taylor, Madison's daughter.<br /> She ran towards Madison.<br /> As Madison pointed at Wesley, tears streamed down her face. "Taylor, he hit me, he hit me! When you're not home, he changes his attitude, scolding and hitting me in the slightest displeasure. He even pushed me down the stairs just now. Alexis can testify."<br /> Madison's sister, Alexis Blair, chimed in. "Yes, Wesley, this trash not only hit your mother but also threatened to hit me too. We cannot tolerate such trash."<br /> "Taylor, I have been telling you to divorce him for years. You've been supporting him, treating him like a Lord at home, but he's an ungrateful wolf in sheep's clothing."<br /> Helping Madison up, Taylor noticed the scrapes on Madison's arms and legs, her expression turning cold.<br /> "Wesley, why did you hit my mother? You better give me an explanation."<br /> Wesley looked at Taylor, his wife.<br /> Five years had passed, and she had never shown him kindness.<br /> Taylor dressed impeccably, a paragon of a successful lady, with a face that could be deemed angelic, yet whether her heart was as angelic remained a mystery.<br /> Her figure, too, left countless men yearning.<br /> For five years, Wesley had thought he might develop feelings for this lady, but in reality, it never happened.<br /> "There are surveillance cameras in the house," Wesley stated calmly before descending the stairs into the hallway.<br /> Despite residing in a three-story villa, Wesley's living quarters were confined to the stairwell.<br /> He harbored no resentment towards this arrangement. It was merely a promise. It was just that Taylor failed to appreciate him.<br /> This home held little value that he wished to cling onto.<br /> Retrieving a wooden box from beneath his pillow, Wesley extracted two documents. Casting a fleeting glance at the modest abode he had called home for five years, Wesley smiled faintly.<br /> He thought, "Finally... I'm free."<br /> Pushing the door ajar, Wesley was met by Taylor's piercing gaze. "I've reviewed the surveillance footage. Yes, my mother intended to strike you, but even if she did, what difference would it make?"<br /> "She's a lady. How much could her blows hurt you? Why did you dodge?"<br /> "If you hadn't dodged, my mother wouldn't have tumbled down." Wesley stared at Taylor, unable to comprehend her thought process.<br /> He had no interest in engaging in these arguments. Handing over the two documents to Taylor, he remarked, "The divorce agreement. I've already signed it. Take a look. I'm leaving with nothing."<br /> "With your current influence, there's no need for you to visit the city hall. Someone will handle it for you, right?"<br /> Madison was taken aback. She swiftly snatched the divorce agreement, flipping through it hastily.<br /> The contents were indeed straightforward. Both parties willingly divorced, with Wesley relinquishing all claims and having already signed.<br /> In an instant, Madison's pain seemed to dissipate. "Taylor, sign it quickly. Sign it."<br /> Taylor was still in a daze.<br /> She pondered.<br /> "A divorce agreement? Wesley has already prepared a divorce agreement. On what grounds?"<br /> "What gives him the right to initiate a divorce? All these years, he's done nothing at home, lacking any ambition. Always practicing martial arts, what right does he have to seek a divorce?"<br /> "If anyone should initiate it, it should be me. Moreover, now that I'm back to discussing this matter with him. Could it be that word got out, and Wesley, for the sake of his pride, rushed to prepare a divorce agreement first?"<br /> "It must be so, but... No!"<br /> "Wanting to leave with nothing, is he retreating to advance? As the chairman of the Reed Group, how could I be served with a divorce?"<br /> "Hey Wesley, I never expected this from you. Have I not treated you well enough? You seek a divorce, attempting to turn your retreat into advance, aiming to embarrass me?"<br /> Taylor glared at Wesley. "I'm telling you, it's impossible."<br /> Snatching the divorce agreement, she tore it to shreds.<br /> "Taylor, what are you doing? Such a great opportunity. Why not just sign it and let him leave?" Madison grew anxious.<br /> "Mom, I do intend to divorce this trash, but the decision must come from me. I returned specifically to address this matter."<br /> With that, Taylor produced two documents. "Wesley, remember that it's me who's divorcing you. It's me who no longer wants you. Initially, out of marital obligation, I had considered offering you some compensation. Now, you don't even need to think about it. Sign the divorce agreement and leave my home."<br /> Wesley offered a faint smile as he accepted the divorce agreement.<br /> "What are you laughing at?" Taylor demanded angrily.<br /> Wesley's smile seemed to mock her, fueling her rage.<br /> Ignoring her entirely, Wesley signed the document and handed it over.<br /> "What are you laughing at? Answer me! Who do you think you are?" Taylor roared once more.<br /> Wesley glanced at her before striding towards the exit.<br /> "Stop!" The gent who had accompanied Taylor stepped forward, blocking Wesley's path. "Taylor asked you a question, and... Your previous attitude displeased me. Apologize to Taylor, or I'll have you leave in disgrace!"<br /> Chapter 2 The Unspoken Truth<br /> <br /> "Yes, let him leave in disgrace. He thought he could just hit me and walk away so easily," Madison joined in the commotion, also noticing the gent blocking Wesley's path.<br /> Madison had a keen interest in luxury goods, having frequented various high-end establishments over the years as the Reed family's living conditions improved. The gent was wearing an expensive watch and dressed head to toe in high-end luxury brands.<br /> Seeing Madison's gaze, the gent spoke. "Rest assured, today Wesley must pay the price."<br /> The gent introduced himself, looking at Wesley, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Henry Clark, the eldest son of the Clark family and the general manager of the Clark Group in the North District."<br /> "From now on, I will accompany Taylor on her journey of life, and I will not allow anyone to bully her."<br /> "My identity carries weight. You should understand that. Now, apologize to Taylor. Apologize! Did you hear me? Apologize!"<br /> Madison's eyes lit up. She hadn't expected the gent before her to hold such a high status. She continued to shout, "Did you hear that? Taylor will be with Mr. Clark from now on. Apologize now."<br /> Wesley glanced at Henry, then at Taylor. He thought, "Have they been together all along?" Wesley had wanted to ask but decided against it because there was no need. He simply gave them a glance and continued walking towards the exit.<br /> "Are you ignoring me?" Henry's face turned cold as he reached out to grab Wesley. Henry's hand froze mid-air as he received a solid hit.<br /> "Until I sign the divorce papers, Taylor and I are still wife and husband. I don't care to investigate whether you two had any intimate relationship during that time, but don't provoke me, or I won't hesitate to make you regret it." Wesley's gaze was icy, and as Henry met his eyes, he felt a twinge of fear and swallowed his words.<br /> Taylor was also stunned. She knew exactly what Wesley had been like over the past five years. There were many surveillance cameras in the house, and she would often check them.<br /> Even when Taylor wasn't home, despite how her family treated Wesley, he always obeyed without complaint, especially towards her. He had never raised his voice, no matter how they treated him.<br /> Today, not only did Wesley dodge when her mother struck, but he also initiated the divorce and now even struck Henry. <br /> Taylor was at a loss for words, thinking, "How could this cowardly gent dare? On what grounds does he dare?"<br /> This change was difficult for Taylor to accept as if she didn't truly understand this guy. The gent who used to be obedient to her, completely submissive, now revealed this side of himself. She watched Wesley walk away in a daze, feeling a strange discomfort in her heart.<br /> "Isn't he leaving with nothing?" Alexis pointed at the wooden box Wesley was holding. "What is he taking with him?"<br /> Madison also realized. Over the past five years, Wesley had always treasured this wooden box, carrying it with him wherever he went. She thought there must be something valuable inside.<br /> Realizing this, Madison hurriedly followed. "Wesley, stop right there, leave the wooden box."<br /> Wesley paused, glanced at Madison, and said, "This is my personal belonging."<br /> "Nonsense, what personal belonging could you possibly have after marrying into the Reed family? Everything you've eaten, worn, and lived in over the years has been provided by the Reed family. Put it down."<br /> As she spoke, Madison reached out to grab the wooden box.<br /> "Ah..." A scream rang out as Madison quickly retracted her hand, a gash appearing on her palm, a crimson liquid dripping.<br /> The wooden box was now stained with the same crimson liquid, trembling lightly in Wesley's hand.<br /> "It's not the right time yet, the day you thirst for this crimson liquid will come," Wesley murmured softly, patting the box before turning to continue his stride towards the exit.<br /> "Monster! A monster!" Madison screamed, causing Taylor and the others to rush out. Seeing the wound in Madison's hand, Taylor was filled with rage.<br /> "Wesley, aren't you going to say something?" Wesley halted once more, contemplating before meeting Taylor's gaze.<br /> "Just stay out of my way from now on. Consider this a warning to you."<br /> "Taylor, that wooden box of his has a mechanism. It must hold something valuable! We can't let him take it with him," Madison, enduring the pain, reminded them.<br /> "Mom, your injury is important. We'll deal with him later. Let me take you to the hospital first." Taylor comforted Madison before calling out to the retreating Wesley.<br /> "Our marriage is over! Yet, you dared to hurt my mother! This won't be the end of it! I will make you regret it!" Ignoring her, Wesley continued walking out.<br /> "Rest assured, I promise he won't see the light of day tomorrow." Henry stepped forward to console. "Let's focus on getting your wound treated first."<br /> "I want him to regret ever existing in this world, to apologize to me in repentance," Madison roared.<br /> "Mom, trust me, I will make him do just that." Taylor looked at Madison with a mix of pity and determination. "Let's go to the hospital first."<br /> In the villa area, Wesley halted, his voice cold. "Get out."<br /> An elderly gent leaped down from a tree, appearing to be in his seventies, yet landing silently from a height of around ten feet.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, your father wants you to come home and take charge."<br /> "He stopped being my father five years ago. He's my enemy."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you misunderstood your father. He had his reasons back then. I swear in my life, once you know the truth, you will forgive him."<br /> "Huh!" Wesley smirked coldly, saying, "I nearly passed away back then. Is that also a misunderstanding?"<br /> The old gent pleaded, "Mr. Harrington, this situation is truly not as you perceive it."<br /> Wesley didn't engage further with the old guy. The events of that year were etched in his memory forever. He was the one who had been abandoned. If not for that incident, why would he have stayed with the Reed family for five years?<br /> Watching Wesley walk away, the old gent had tears silently streaming down his face. "Mr. Harrington, I truly... I truly can't bring myself to speak the truth, but you have misunderstood your father. He also bears burdens and endures pains beyond what an ordinary person can handle."<br /> As Wesley's figure disappeared, the old gent stood up, hesitated for a moment, then dialed a number on his phone.<br /> "Mr. Harrington is now divorced. I've given you the news firsthand. If your daughter is truly together with Mr. Harrington, you must fulfill the promise and let her persuade Mr. Harrington to come home."<br /> After hanging up, a middle-aged gent in a luxurious estate jumped up excitedly. Calming himself, he immediately made another call. "My dear, you're at Yeadeo, right?<br /> "Go find Wesley now. Don't mention the engagement for now. Use every means to get close to him, make him fall in love with you."<br /> "Dad, I don't have time."<br /> "No matter what you are busy with, you must go find Wesley now. No matter what reason you approach him, you must leave a good impression the first time."<br /> "Dad, I'm in trouble right now. If I don't handle it well, I might be good as gone. I have to deal with it immediately. I'm hanging up."<br /> Chapter 3 You're Nothing<br /> The middle-aged gent's voice lowered significantly. "Is there a big incident happening? You didn't tell me? What happened?"<br /> "Quinn Kingsley from Yeadeo, Mr. Kingsley, used our product and now has one foot on the grave. If something really happens to him..."<br /> "You mean Quinn, the uncontested leader of Yeadeo?"<br /> "Yes."<br /> "In that case, you should go find Wesley. Trust me, in this world, there is no problem that Wesley can't solve. As long as he's willing to help, you'll be fine. Listen to me, go find Wesley immediately."<br /> The lady fell silent for a moment before saying, "Okay."<br /> At Yeadeo Harbor, a gent with a large flaxen chain and a watch, sporting a crew cut, hurriedly disembarked, accompanied by a dozen gentlemen.<br /> "Mr. Reed, wherever that trash is, we will find him and tear him apart."<br /> "Yes, that guy dared to harm your mother. We'll make sure he pays for it."<br /> Frank Reed's face turned cold. "Wesley, you coward, thinking you can overturn the world? How dare you touch my mom? Just wait until I find you, you're finished."<br /> "We've found him. Wesley got into a taxi, and our boys followed him."<br /> "Let's go!" Frank waved his hand, leading dozens of men who boarded the car with harpoons, steel pipes, and other weapons.<br /> Inside the taxi, Wesley gazed at the scenery outside, feeling a strange sense of tranquility.<br /> He thought to himself, "I never imagined that while I was secretly paving the way for the Reed family, Taylor, after progressing so rapidly, would start looking down on me more and more."<br /> "Those ladies who know my true identity, which one of them isn't trying to throw themselves at me? Ladies like that don't interest me."<br /> "Being an ordinary gent is truly difficult," Wesley murmured, smiling faintly and deciding not to dwell on these matters anymore. He had important things to attend to and no time to waste on personal affairs.<br /> "Young lad, are you going to Feidgeuo Manor for a job interview?" The driver, curious about Wesley's destination, inquired.<br /> Feidgeuo Manor was Yeadeo's most mysterious private area. Originally a villa area, it was bought at a huge cost five years ago and completely renovated. It was said to have cost a trillion dollars. The former villa area was now Feidgeuo Manor.<br /> "That's my home," Wesley replied nonchalantly.<br /> The driver was taken aback by this revelation, silently cursing Wesley for bragging. After a couple of minutes, the driver regained his composure. "It seems like you and I both prefer to keep a low profile. My car usually gathers dust at home, so I occasionally drive a taxi to experience life."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "My car has been driven by my assistant for the past few years, so it's not gathering dust."<br /> "Haha..." The driver laughed. "We should get together sometime and see whose car is more impressive."<br /> "Sure, whenever we have the time."<br /> As they chatted, the vehicle soon arrived near Feidgeuo Manor, where the massive head of the Feidgeuo Peak protruded, creating a unique landscape in Yeadeo.<br /> The driver asked with a smile, "Since you're the owner here, it's fine if I drive in, right?"<br /> "Of course," Wesley replied.<br /> As soon as Wesley spoke, several cars caught up from behind.<br /> The cars surrounded the one Wesley was in, with the front vehicles braking to force the car to a stop.<br /> When numerous people descended from cars wielding harpoons and steel pipes, the driver's face paled.<br /> Frank and his group got out of the cars, instantly closing in, and without hesitation, started attacking, the steel pipes and harpoons thudding against the car.<br /> Frank's henchman yanked open the door of Wesley's car, poised to stab Wesley with a harpoon, but Wesley swiftly exited the vehicle.<br /> With a firm step on the ground, he launched a swift hit.<br /> A muffled sound echoed as the henchman was hit away.<br /> "What are you looking at?" Frank noticed his henchmen were all staring at him. "All of you, attack together and take him down!"<br /> As he commanded, the henchmen Frank brought with him surged forward.<br /> The taxi driver, trembling, took out his phone to call the police, but Frank glared at him. "I am Frank Reed from Yeadeo Harbor. If you dare, go ahead and make that call."<br /> Frank, leveraging his sister Taylor's status, had been causing trouble in Yeadeo Harbor, and no one dared to provoke him.<br /> Upon hearing Frank's name, the driver hastily put away his phone. "Mr. Reed, I'll just check the time, you guys continue."<br /> "Huh!" Frank snorted coldly, casting his gaze towards the surrounded Wesley.<br /> The sounds of thuds continued to ring out incessantly. Because Wesley was completely surrounded, Frank was unable to see the situation inside clearly, but he could imagine it. After all, in Frank's mind, the henchmen under his command were not to be trifled with.<br /> "Hit him hard for me!"<br /> Another muffled sound and a figure flew out. At that moment, Frank finally saw the situation clearly, and his face turned pale.<br /> Frank knew that Wesley liked to practice martial arts, but he had never expected Wesley to be this skilled. It wasn't Wesley who had been beaten, but his own men by Wesley alone.<br /> Frantically, Frank turned and ran to retrieve a crossbow from the car.<br /> "Clear the way." Frank bellowed, aiming the crossbow at Wesley.<br /> "You scumbag, you think you can fight? Move one more time, and I'll end your life! Surrender!"<br /> Wesley, holding a wooden box, stared at Frank. Ignoring the crossbow in his hand, Wesley said, "Tell your henchmen to back off, or you'll all see the light from above!"<br /> "You're really good at pretending to be tough." Frank took two steps forward. "See the light? Move a muscle and see if I can end your life or not! If you don't have the guts, apologize now!"<br /> Wesley turned his head and looked at the approaching cars, with two expensive ones in the lead, two more in the rear, and another one in the middle.<br /> "Keep acting tough, and I'll put a hole in your head." Frank spoke while glancing at the five cars. "What, looking for help?"<br /> "Let me tell you, those who ride in these cars are not the kind of weaklings like you who rely on connections. With me here, in Yeadeo's social hierarchy, even those who ride in such cars wouldn't dare meddle in this matter. And let me make it clear, without my sister, you're nothing."<br /> Chapter 4 Is He Worthy?<br /> As Frank's words faded, the five cars came to a halt.<br /> A bodyguard opened the door of the one in the middle, revealing a dazzling pair of shining shoes catching everyone's eye.<br /> The shining shoe encased a beautiful foot. Above, the skirt's hem was adorned with lace.<br /> Then, like a fairy stepping out of a painting, she appeared before everyone's eyes.<br /> The lady was beautiful!<br /> Frank was mesmerized. Ever since the Reed family rose to prominence, he had been surrounded by ladies, but compared to the elegant lady before him, they were worlds apart.<br /> It wasn't just a difference in appearance but an incomparable gap in demeanor.<br /> The lady descending from the Maybach seemed like a celestial being untouched by mortal affairs.<br /> The embodiment of a fairy in the mundane world.<br /> She simply stood there after getting out of the car, perfectly embodying what it meant to be graceful and elegant.<br /> The lady glanced at Wesley, then at Frank.<br /> Frank grinned, saying, "May I have the honor of knowing the name of this esteemed lady? I am Frank..."<br /> The lady spoke calmly. "Disrespect Mr. Harrington, and you're done for."<br /> Her bodyguards, unfazed by Frank's crossbow, swiftly overwhelmed him, sending him crashing to the ground.<br /> The henchmen who had come with Frank, previously defeated by Wesley, now scrambled to their feet and fled in all directions.<br /> Who would dare provoke someone who could afford such a car?<br /> "My sister is Taylor Reed, the chairperson of Reed Group," Frank shouted, clutching his head.<br /> Ignoring him, one of the bodyguards dragged him to the roadside grass while another used a belt to tighten around Frank's neck, exerting pressure.<br /> "Enough, a lesson is all that's needed." Wesley spoke calmly, and only when the lady gestured did the bodyguards release Frank.<br /> Frank lay there, already unconscious.<br /> Wesley turned to the lady. "Who are you?"<br /> "I am Mia Roberts, the general manager of Vinver Business Alliance's Yeadeo branch." She looked at Wesley and continued, "Mr. Harrington, my father mentioned that you have miraculous healing skills and earnestly requested your assistance. A generous reward awaits."<br /> Wesley furrowed his brow slightly, thinking, "There are indeed people who recognize my abilities and status, yet I've rarely intervened in the past five years. Today, shortly after I divorced Taylor, she is here. Whose arrangement is this?"<br /> "Mr. Harrington, my father also mentioned that you are benevolent and has raised the banner of compassion among healers, serving as a role model and benchmark for all in the medical field."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "You have a way with words. Tell me the specifics."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, please get in the car first. I will explain in detail on the way."<br /> The phrase "compassionate healer" held significant weight for Wesley, who had saved countless lives from the brink of death.<br /> Without further ado, he got into the car.<br /> Inside, after Mia brewed coffee for Wesley, she began. "Vinver Business Alliance has a wide range of business operations, and I mainly oversee the health supplement sector, which has seen some success in recent years.<br /> "Recently, Quinn Kingsley started using our medicines, and now there's an accident."<br /> As she spoke, Mia kept her gaze fixed on Wesley.<br /> Quinn, the undisputed leader of Yeadeo, was a figure of immense influence.<br /> Upon hearing this name, Wesley showed no particular reaction. "If the city's leader faces issues with your products, it is indeed a concern. Let's go and see."<br /> With just a sentence, Wesley leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest.<br /> Mia was secretly alarmed, thinking, "He knows who Quinn is, yet he seems indifferent. Who is this Wesley, really? No wonder Dad has instructed me to find a way to win his favor." Mia's inner resistance toward Wesley quietly shifted.<br /> Wesley had piqued her curiosity.<br /> As the vehicle was moving, Wesley's phone rang.<br /> Wesley opened his eyes and took out his phone to see Taylor calling.<br /> Pressing the answer button, he asked, "What's the matter?"<br /> On the other end of the line, Taylor, driving towards Feidgeuo Manor, had a grim expression.<br /> She thought, "Has Wesley ever spoken to me in such a cold tone before? Is he really this heartless right after our divorce?"<br /> Already furious, she snapped. "Wesley, do you even consider yourself a human being?<br /> "Today, not only did you lay hands on my mother, but you also had someone attack my brother. Do you not remember our past at all?"<br /> Wesley calmly replied, "Do we have a past to remember?"<br /> "You truly are a heartless scumbag, just as my mother said. You are an ungrateful and vicious person I raised for five years. Even a pet would wag its tail at me!"<br /> Taylor wanted to continue her tirade, but the phone line had already turned busy.<br /> This only fueled her anger further.<br /> Just now, she had received a call from Frank's underlings, informing her that Wesley had sent people to attack Frank and even intended to end him.<br /> Taylor wanted to demand answers, but...<br /> As Taylor was clutching her fists, her gaze turned icy.<br /> After a moment, she picked up her phone again. "Wesley, you are so narrow-minded. You have no ambition. Any lady would steer clear of you."<br /> "Just because I dumped you, you are doing this on purpose to make me feel sick. Pretending to be aloof and seeking revenge? Do you even deserve it?"<br /> "In Yeadeo, squashing you would be as easy as squashing an ant. You're asking for it! If anything happens to my brother, I will make you wish you were ending!"<br /> Her furious voice message echoed in the car.<br /> Wesley chuckled and put away his phone.<br /> Beside him, Mia seemed contemplative. Before coming, she had already ordered a swift investigation into Wesley.<br /> She was curious, thinking, "How could someone valued by my father could be the one 'marrying into' the Reed family."<br /> Being tactful, Mia chose not to ask and pretended not to have heard.<br /> After about forty minutes, they arrived at the Kingsley Manor.<br /> The Kingsley family members, upon seeing Mia alight from the car, all wore grim expressions.<br /> Mia greeted them with a smile, "Everyone, this is Wesley Harrington, Mr. Harrington, the miraculous healer I specially invited to treat Mr. Kingsley."<br /> "Him? The gent who married into the Reed family?"<br /> "A miraculous healer? Is he even worthy? Are healers so worthless now?"<br /> "A useless gent who mooches off of the Reed family? How dare he call himself a miraculous healer? Truly a joke among all jokes."<br /> Chapter 5 Compassionate Healer<br /> Amanda Kingsley, Quinn's granddaughter, stared coldly at Wesley and Mia.<br /> This lady, dressed in a smart suit, also held significant fame in Yeadeo, overseeing the region's business activities, including investment attraction and various local business negotiations.<br /> Amanda had a favorable view of Taylor, who had risen swiftly in recent times, and they had interacted frequently.<br /> She was aware of Wesley's existence and had advised Taylor to part ways with him early on.<br /> But Amanda never imagined that Mia would bring someone like Wesley, a complete waste, and claim he was a miraculous healer.<br /> Glaring at Mia, she said, "Mia, once my grandfather is well, it's best for your Roberts family to leave Yeadeo."<br /> "As for you..." She glanced at Wesley. "I will advise Taylor to divorce you. You have deceived Taylor's feelings and now shamelessly made your way into my family. You are a despicable creature."<br /> After reprimanding Mia and Wesley, she turned to an elderly gent beside her, and her tone and attitude completely changed. "Mr. Phillips, sorry to trouble you. My grandfather is inside, please."<br /> Mia looked at the elderly gent, who was already in his twilight years, feeling deeply shocked.<br /> Scott Phillips, the 38th generation heir of the Healing Clinic, was now ninety-two years old.<br /> Renowned as a miraculous healer, he was a respected figure in the medical community of Yeadeo and even nationally.<br /> He no longer conducted consultations personally due to his old age. Mia had visited him specifically to pay her respects once she had arrived in Yeadeo but had not met Scott.<br /> She never expected Scott to appear in person. It was understandable, as Quinn held a prominent position in the city. Despite the profound influence of the Phillips family, they still had to show respect to Quinn.<br /> Mia looked at Wesley, feeling conflicted and thinking, "Dad has confidently claimed that Wesley has extraordinary abilities, but does he really?"<br /> She harbored doubts, but out of propriety, Mia spoke. "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the trouble."<br /> Wesley smiled, "It's fine. As long as the person can be healed."<br /> His open-mindedness impressed Mia.<br /> After about half an hour, Amanda emerged from the room. All eyes instantly turned towards her.<br /> It was evident that Amanda had wailed out, with traces of tears still visible.<br /> "Amanda, how is it?" A middle-aged gent anxiously asked her.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family who had rushed back also focused their attention on her.<br /> "Mr. Phillips said that there's little hope of recovery. He could only use acupuncture to wake grandfather for half an hour. When grandfather wakes up, let's all go in and see if he has any final instructions."<br /> Everyone was shocked.<br /> "How could this be?"<br /> "Is Mr. Phillips also helpless?"<br /> The members of the Kingsley family found it hard to accept this reality, especially since Quinn had always treated his juniors well.<br /> The thought of Quinn departing saddened some, and tears silently fell.<br /> Publicly, Quinn's status was the foundation of the Kingsley family's prominence in Yeadeo.<br /> If Quinn were to pass away, the Kingsley family would undoubtedly decline.<br /> The atmosphere within the Kingsley family was somber.<br /> Amanda looked at her family members, opened her mouth, but said nothing, silently turning back into the room.<br /> "Stop crying," A middle-aged gent said sternly, "Dad wouldn't want to see you all in tears. If he's really leaving, we mustn't let him worry about us. Pull yourselves together."<br /> After these words, the middle-aged gent also entered the room.<br /> The younger members of the Kingsley family wiped their tears vigorously, trying to force smiles, but in truth, they looked better at crying than pretending to be happy.<br /> Mia's spirit plummeted as she realized the gravity of the situation. Even if an ordinary person passed away from consuming health supplements, it spelled big trouble for those who sold them. And when the deceased happened to be Quinn, the stakes were even higher.<br /> She understood that it would be difficult for this branch to stay in Yeadeo, and even the headquarters might face repercussions.<br /> "Let's go in and have a look." Wesley glanced at Mia. "There might still be a chance."<br /> "Ah..." Mia stared at Wesley in surprise. Seeing him already heading towards the room, she quickly followed suit.<br /> Inside the room, the members of the Kingsley family stood around the mattress, maintaining a certain distance.<br /> Scott lit the alcohol lamp and took out the needles, his expression solemn.<br /> He looked at the members of the Kingsley family. "Think about what you want to say to Mr. Kingsley later. Once you're ready, let me know, and then I'll proceed with the acupuncture."<br /> As he said this, tears welled up in many eyes.<br /> "If you don't mind, let me take a look. I have a way." Wesley spoke up, drawing everyone's attention.<br /> Amanda's face darkened. "Who let you in? Get out!"<br /> "Mia, have you lost your mind? Tricked by this trash and actually brought him here as a miracle healer. Get out with him! I'll settle the score with you in a couple of days."<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, at a loss for words.<br /> "Even Mr. Phillips is unable to reverse the situation. What use are you? Get out." Another younger member of the Kingsley family angrily rebuked.<br /> The middle-aged gent added, "We're in no mood right now. You better leave immediately."<br /> "I understand your narrow-mindedness," Wesley continued, "But as a healer, once I see a patient, I cannot stand by and watch him draw his last breath."<br /> "Wesley, you're quite the charlatan. Do you really want to be gone right now?" Amanda's voice was filled with anger.<br /> "Amanda, let me say a few words," Scott interjected, and Amanda fell silent.<br /> Looking at Wesley, Scott began. "Young lad, at my age, I've seen a lot and have a broad perspective. Today, however, I find it hard to remain indifferent. I practiced medicine from the age of sixteen until I stopped seeing patients for a total of seventy years."<br /> "I've saved countless patients from various illnesses. I never easily declare a patient's fate, nor do I believe I have the right to do so."<br /> "But from your recent remarks, it seems like you're accusing me of such actions. Young people wanting to make a name for themselves by stepping on the shoulders of their predecessors, I can understand."<br /> "But this kind of behavior displeases me."<br /> "My displeasure, what does it mean to you? Do you understand?"<br /> "Even if you are a healer, your career will be ruined because of this."<br /> Chapter 6 Hand of Hell<br /> In the face of Scott's veiled threats, Wesley simply smiled and brushed them off.<br /> Looking at Scott, he asked, "I've always focused on the issue at hand rather than attacking individuals. I have a few questions for you. If you can't administer the needles, how long do you think Quinn can hold on?"<br /> "Seven days, but he will remain unconscious," Scott replied bluntly.<br /> "Then let me ask you this, is there anyone in the world with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "Outrageous," Amanda coldly interjected, "Mr. Phillips is unparalleled in his medical expertise."<br /> Scott glanced at Amanda. "Amanda, let me handle this question."<br /> Continuing to address Wesley, he said, "I don't underestimate myself, nor do I overestimate. There are countless talented individuals in the world, like stars in the sky. I may not dare claim to be the best in medical skills, but those who surpass me are few."<br /> "That means there are some," Wesley calmly remarked, causing Scott's expression to shift slightly, "Indeed, there are."<br /> "Then let me ask you this. Do you think within seven days, the Kingsley family won't find someone with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "If they do find someone, do you believe there is an illness that you cannot cure, but this person can?"<br /> Wesley's questions were sharp and resounding.<br /> Scott's face changed once more as he was rendered speechless.<br /> "Even if there is, that person will never be you." Amanda's face turned icy. "Now get out. Don't spout your eloquence here. Your deceitful behavior is repulsive."<br /> "Your understanding of me is merely hearsay, isn't it?" Wesley retorted, his gaze mocking Amanda, "Has your background and education taught you such arrogance and prejudice?"<br /> "Arrogance?" Amanda's face grew colder as she disdainfully looked at Wesley. "Prejudice?<br /> "Did I say something wrong just now? You are nothing but stagnant waste, a parasite living off others. If it weren't for Taylor, you would have starved on the streets long ago."<br /> "Relying on sweet words, deceiving Taylor. She, with her kind heart, can't bear to divorce you, but don't push your luck. If it weren't for Taylor's sake, you would have been sent out long ago."<br /> Scott interrupted Amanda, "Amanda, although I find this lad a bit annoying, what he said does hold some truth. There are indeed individuals with better medical skills than me. Your grandfather can hold on for seven days. Try reaching out to see if someone can come over. I'll help you make connections."<br /> "If it really doesn't work out after seven days, I'll administer the needles to your grandfather. However, at that point, I can only buy you three minutes."<br /> As soon as Scott spoke, the faces of the Kingsley family members grew even more solemn. True healers were rare and not easily summoned.<br /> While the Kingsley family had connections in Yeadeo, their influence waned outside of it.<br /> "Mr. Phillips, please administer the needles. Life has its ups and downs, and we understand that. Just buy my father a bit more time." The middle-aged gent spoke up.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family nodded in agreement.<br /> Amanda looked at Scott. "Mr. Phillips, please."<br /> "In that case, please have everyone unrelated leave. I need silence," Scott calmly stated.<br /> Amanda glared at Wesley, her eyes speaking volumes without a word.<br /> The unrelated individuals were, naturally, Wesley and Mia.<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, intending to leave, but she suddenly hesitated.<br /> Instead of leaving, Wesley moved forward.<br /> "What are you doing?" A young member of the Kingsley family stepped forward with a stern expression, pushing Wesley.<br /> In one swift motion, Wesley executed a clean shoulder throw, toppling the young gent to the ground, his own expression turning cold.<br /> "A bunch of fools! If it weren't for my teacher's teachings about not turning a blind eye to those in need, I wouldn't bother with you ignorant lot," Wesley remarked with disdain.<br /> As Wesley effortlessly took down one individual from the Kingsley family, the others seemed slow to react.<br /> By the time they realized what was happening, Wesley had already picked up the needle next to Scott and casually flicked his wrist.<br /> The needle flew out of his hand, piercing Quinn's temple, followed by a second needle, a third needle, and so on.<br /> "What are you doing? Stop!" Amanda's voice rose in urgency, echoed by the rest of the Kingsley family members who rushed forward to restrain Wesley.<br /> "Stay back, everyone. Wait." Scott suddenly stood up, blocking the others. "Let him try."<br /> Amanda and the others were left dumbfounded, thinking, "What does this mean?"<br /> Despite their confusion, they heeded Scott's words.<br /> After Scott stopped the members of the Kingsley family, he fixed his gaze on Wesley.<br /> Wesley proceeded to use eighteen needles in succession, symbolizing the levels of pain.<br /> Even if someone had descended into the depths of hell, they must be brought back.<br /> The final needle, also piercing a vital point, caused Quinn's body to tremble suddenly, resonating with the previous eighteen needles.<br /> Scott's eyes widened, his body trembling slightly. His reaction left Amanda and the others even more puzzled, but none dared to interrupt.<br /> Moments later, Wesley placed a palm on Quinn's chest, causing all eighteen needles to be shaken off. When all the needles landed on the ground, the part of the skin where the needles had pierced turned dark.<br /> Wesley then dragged Quinn to the edge of the mattress, flipped him over with his head facing downwards, and gave him a firm pat on the back.<br /> Quinn spat out a mouthful of black liquid. When Wesley flipped him back to lie flat, his complexion had regained some color.<br /> "The Hand of Darkness... It's the Hand of Darkness!" Scott exclaimed with excitement, his body quivering, "It's the Hand that descends into the dark world, snatching people from the hands of the Evil!"<br /> "You do have some knowledge, recognizing the Hand of Darkness." Wesley glanced at Scott.<br /> Scott's gaze towards Wesley had undergone a drastic change. He respectfully clasped his hands together.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thirty years ago, I had the honor of attending a teaching conference held by Mr. Vanderbilt. I saw the Hand of Darkness, but my limited aptitude only allowed me to grasp the basics."<br /> "I have been blind and ignorant. I apologize for my earlier offenses. Please forgive me, Mr. Harrington."<br /> The Mr. Vanderbilt Scott referred to was Wesley's teacher, Ulysses Vanderbilt. He generously imparted his skills to others, but the ability to learn depended on one's innate talent.<br /> In this world, few could learn Ulysses' skills.<br /> Scott had been fortunate to receive guidance from Ulysses, which had elevated his medical skills. However, the Hand of Darkness, a miraculous ability, was beyond his comprehension.<br /> Wesley smiled faintly, "Your actions earlier are understandable. I appreciate your words."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you must be an exceptional disciple of Mr. Vanderbilt, possessing unparalleled magnanimity. Impressive," Scott continued.<br /> "Enough with the flattery at your age."<br /> "You are mistaken, Mr. Harrington. Every word I speak is sincere."<br /> Mia, Amanda, and the others stood bewildered by the unfolding situation.<br /> "Mr. Phillips... he... he..." Amanda's words faltered.<br /> Scott turned to the members of the Kingsley family. "Meeting Mr. Harrington was Quinn's luck. His symptoms have been cured by Mr. Harrington. With a few days of rest, he will be fine."<br /> The waste Taylor had previously said was called Mr. Harrington by Scott!<br /> Recalling their previous attitudes, Amanda hurriedly apologized, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> The members of the Kingsley family all apologized in unison, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> Chapter 7 Eight Plates of Noodles<br /> With a faint smile, Wesley remarked, "As family members of a patient, your actions earlier are understandable. There's no need for such formality."<br /> Amanda's perplexity deepened as she thought, "Where is the cowardly waste that Taylor described? This display of magnanimity and breadth is far from it."<br /> Mia, too, felt a shiver of realization, thinking, "No wonder Dad has insisted on my proximity to Wesley.<br /> This guy..."<br /> She gazed at Wesley, her curiosity piqued, a sense of exploration stirring within her.<br /> "Mia has brought you here, Mr. Harrington, to cure my grandfather. The Kingsley family will never forget this act. However, considering that my grandfather's ailment stemmed from the health supplements produced by the Vinver Business Alliance, we will be conducting an investigation into it."<br /> Amanda continued, looking at Wesley, "What do you think... of this approach?"<br /> It was Mia who had invited Wesley, so Amanda had grown wiser, refraining from asking for a direct punishment of the Vinver Business Alliance.<br /> As Mia heard Amanda's words, her heart skipped a beat, realizing trouble was brewing.<br /> "On the way here, Ms. Roberts briefed me on the situation. You conducted experiments on mice, correct?"<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes, the health supplements we received were exclusively provided by the Roberts family. There were no similar cases on the market, so we used mice for testing.<br /> "All the mice that ingested this supplement were gone."<br /> She looked at Mia and added, her voice turned colder. "Before the experiment, I specifically contacted Mia to inquire about the testing methods during the development phase, which involved mice."<br /> "There have been individuals eyeing my grandfather's position, some even wishing for his demise. I never imagined that the Vinver Business Alliance, which I attracted for investment, would become a weapon in someone else's hands."<br /> "Do you have any of the remaining medicine?" Wesley inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes."<br /> "Bring some over."<br /> Immediately, someone fetched the medicine. After it was brought to him, Wesley took out a supplement and swallowed it directly.<br /> This scene left Amanda and the others dumbfounded.<br /> Scott, too, was bewildered. "Mr. Harrington, what are you doing?"<br /> Wesley smiled, "Just proving that this medicine is not toxic."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thank you," Mia thanked sincerely, feeling like sobbing at that moment.<br /> Amanda, with a puzzled expression, looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, are you suggesting that my grandfather's condition wasn't caused by the Vinver Business Alliance's medicine? What about the mice?"<br /> The rest were equally puzzled.<br /> "Yes, but not entirely," Wesley said, leaving everyone even more bewildered.<br /> Mia's emotions were like a rollercoaster ride, from relief to immediate tension.<br /> "This medicine itself is not toxic, but when taken with another substance made from a certain plant, it results in Quinn's condition. The mice would die immediately, while humans could endure a few more days."<br /> Wesley continued to explain, "The plant used in this concoction is originally meant for crafting slow-acting toxins, not for human consumption."<br /> Looking at Amanda, Wesley said, "During this period, whoever had access to your grandfather and the mice will better understand why these events occurred."<br /> The gaze of members of the Kingsley family immediately focused on a lady.<br /> Amanda, somewhat incredulous, looked at her. "Can you offer an explanation?"<br /> The lady was the wife of Amanda's deceased brother. She found it hard to accept, as did the rest of the Kingsley family.<br /> This lady had been named the exemplary lady who served her family well this year, not due to her connection with the Kingsley family but because she genuinely deserved it.<br /> "What do you mean? Amanda, what explanation do you want from me?"<br /> The lady stared at Amanda. "Am I the only one who had access to Grandfather and the mice? You, and you... and you, who didn't have access?"<br /> "You all claim to treat me as family. Since I married into the Kingsley family, I have worked diligently, contributing my share even if not acknowledged."<br /> "Amanda, it has been over a year since your brother passed, and I never once considered remarrying. Now, just because of his words, you demand an explanation from me?"<br /> Pointing at Wesley, the lady questioned, "Just because he accuses me of poisoning, you suspect me? Tell me, did I poison him?" The lady glared at Wesley.<br /> "I am merely analyzing the facts. As for concluding this case, it's not within my purview," Wesley addressed the members of the Kingsley family, saying, "You should conduct a thorough investigation into this matter.<br /> "I will write a prescription. Have Quinn take it on time, and he will recover in seven days."<br /> Amanda hurried to fetch paper and pen while Wesley prepared the prescription. Once done, he was ready to leave.<br /> Amanda said hurriedly, "Mr. Harrington, I've already made arrangements for lunch."<br /> "No need," Wesley smiled.<br /> The Kingsley family sought to build closer ties with Wesley, given his extraordinary medical skills. Wesley was well aware of this.<br /> Looking at Amanda and the others, Wesley remarked, "In the future, if you encounter any difficult medical cases that others cannot solve, seek me out. Remember, cases others cannot solve."<br /> The gaze of the Kingsley family members toward Wesley changed once again. Many renowned healers had eccentric personalities and were difficult to engage.<br /> They hadn't expected Wesley to possess such remarkable medical skills without any airs.<br /> As Wesley prepared to depart, the members of the Kingsley family did not dare to insist on his stay, so they accompanied him outside.<br /> "Oh, how could we forget such an important matter? Amanda, what about the consultation fee?" The middle-aged gent inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the oversight. Please wait a moment." Amanda hurried back inside and soon returned with a bank card in hand.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, there's one million dollars in here."<br /> Without hesitation, Wesley accepted the bank card and boarded Mia's car.<br /> During the journey, Mia boldly looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, you've helped me immensely. Can I treat you to a meal? Don't decline in a hurry. It's not a fancy restaurant, but it will leave you wanting more. It's a small place on the street, with only eight plates of noodles served each day, each plate containing different ingredients."<br /> "I managed to secure a reservation. Are you interested?"<br /> Wesley thought, "Eight Plates of Noodles?<br /> "Ah, Aaron's restaurant. It has been a while since I visited those old friends."<br /> Wesley nodded. "Let's go then."<br /> The restaurant, Eight Plates of Noodles, was located on Chanxold Street near the Yeadeo First Central Hospital.<br /> The establishment was small, serving only eight plates of noodles each day at a price of 10 thousand dollars each. Vernoic's television culinary program had specifically covered this incident.<br /> Reservations were a must to secure a plate.<br /> The restaurant's owner had a mysterious background. While the specifics were unknown, a high-ranking noble from the capital of Vernoic, Kingsland, had caused a scene there once.<br /> He had attempted to force his way in without a reservation. Although this incident hadn't been reported, rumors suggested that a garbage truck had to be called to dispose of the intruder's remains, as he was too shattered to be removed by conventional means.<br /> Since then, no one dared to cause trouble.<br /> On their way, Mia introduced Wesley to the background story.<br /> "Mr. Turner, two plates of noodles." Mia called out once they arrived.<br /> Aaron Turner didn't respond but visibly paused upon seeing Wesley beside Mia.<br /> A faint smile appeared on his usually stoic face. Though the flesh on the face seemed stiff, it was indeed a smile. "Coming right up."<br /> Chapter 8 You Are Blushing<br /> Mia glanced at Aaron with a hint of surprise, thinking, "When does he become so warm and enthusiastic?<br /> His tone seemed a bit agitated earlier, didn't it?"<br /> Soon enough, Aaron brought two plates of noodles to the table. One steaming hot and the other devoid of any warmth.<br /> As Mia observed Aaron placing the plate without steam in front of Wesley, her expression changed slightly.<br /> It was a plate of instant noodles having soaked in cold water, with the seasoning barely dissolved.<br /> She felt a sense of panic. Mia had wanted to leave a good impression on Wesley, which was why she had chosen this place.<br /> However, Aaron had served such a plate of noodles.<br /> She dared not question Aaron. The type of noodles served here was not determined by the guests but by Aaron's mood.<br /> "This lass named Mia is quite something, living up to her name, and quite kind-hearted," Aaron remarked, looking at Wesley.<br /> "Get lost," Wesley retorted, using his fork to pick up the noodles and devouring them.<br /> Mia's face turned pale instantly. Disrespecting Aaron was akin to risking Wesley's life.<br /> To her astonishment, Aaron chuckled, tears welling up in his eyes.<br /> He wiped them away. "Alright, I'll leave you to your meal."<br /> Before departing, he gave Mia a thumbs-up. "Seize the opportunity."<br /> The eight plates of noodles symbolized the eight comrades who had faced life and hardships together.<br /> Wesley ate voraciously. Initially, they had only one pack of instant noodles to share among the eight of them, forcing them to divide it.<br /> Despite the circumstances, they devoured the noodles joyfully.<br /> Aaron had promised that once they survived, each one would have the most delicious plate of noodles.<br /> However, five of the eight had perished.<br /> Wesley had come dangerously close to life-threatening situations, but managed to cling to life.<br /> For him, the plate of noodles was not food but the bond of friendship that had shielded him from harm.<br /> "Do you... know each other?" Mia couldn't help but ask, her voice low and curious.<br /> "Some things are better left unknown," Wesley replied.<br /> Mia nodded in understanding, falling silent as they continued eating noodles. She couldn't help stealing glances at Wesley throughout the meal.<br /> This gent had piqued her curiosity even more.<br /> "Wesley, I see. No wonder you agreed to the divorce so readily. You've already found someone else outside."<br /> A sharp voice interrupted their meal.<br /> Taylor approached with a cold expression, accompanied by Henry.<br /> Taylor's mother was in the nearby hospital, and she had just picked up Frank, planning to buy some food when she unexpectedly saw Wesley.<br /> Of course, she saw Mia, too.<br /> Seeing Wesley dining with a lady more attractive than herself, so soon after the divorce felt like a dagger twisting in Taylor's heart.<br /> Her anger was uncontrollable.<br /> Wesley merely glanced at Taylor, disinterested in engaging with her.<br /> Taylor was stung by his indifferent gaze. She stepped forward, glaring at Wesley. "Are you not going to explain to me?"<br /> Mia looked at Taylor, silently cursing her as a foolish lady.<br /> Wesley continued eating his noodles, lowering his head. "Get lost. Don't disturb me, or I won't hesitate to hit you."<br /> "What did you say?" Henry stepped forward, enraged. "Wesley, try laying a hand on her! Is that all you're capable of? Laying hands on ladies?"<br /> "No wonder Taylor looks down on you. You're truly disgusting trash. Apologize to Taylor now, or else you'll regret coming into this world."<br /> "And how will he regret it? Tell me." Aaron emerged, carrying a cleaver, smiling as he faced Henry and Taylor.<br /> "Mr. Turner, we dare not cause trouble in your place, but this guy is just..."<br /> Henry attempted to speak but was cut off as Aaron's cleaver struck his face, sending him sprawling to the ground.<br /> "Mr. Turner, sorry, we'll leave now." Taylor hastily helped Henry up and hurriedly left.<br /> These two individuals were fortunate to know the legendary story behind Eight Plates of Noodles and had successfully made reservations to dine here multiple times.<br /> Having distanced themselves a bit, Henry covered his face and pointed at Wesley. "Wesley, we have some unfinished business. If you're smart, come over here now and apologize."<br /> "Wesley, I've seen through you as well. I never expected that for the past five years, you've been using my money to keep a lady on the side. We'll settle the score slowly."<br /> As the two noticed Aaron glancing their way, they quickly shut their mouths and hurriedly left.<br /> Once they were out of eyeshots, Aaron fixed his gaze on Wesley. "Your dad doesn't know about your divorce yet, does he?"<br /> "What difference would it make if he did?" Wesley stretched lazily. "I've fulfilled my promise. I've given enough."<br /> Aaron nodded in acknowledgment without saying anything further.<br /> This piqued Mia's curiosity even more. "Is it like what the novels depict? Did you marry Taylor due to some special event?"<br /> Seeing Wesley's glare, Mia lowered her head to focus on her noodles. "I won't ask anymore."<br /> "For the past five years, you've been staying in the stairwell. It has been hard for you, but at least you're still untouched," Aaron remarked before swiftly departing.<br /> Mia stared at Wesley in disbelief, realizing that Aaron's words were meant for her ears.<br /> "What are you staring at? Eat your noodles," Wesley said. Mia chuckled.<br /> "Why are you laughing?"<br /> "You're blushing."<br /> "Nonsense," Wesley retorted.<br /> Unable to contain herself, Mia burst into laughter. She had tried to hold it in, but seeing Wesley's flushed face made it impossible.<br /> Ten minutes later, Mia left on her own accord, sensing that Wesley had something to discuss with Aaron.<br /> Inside Aaron's small shop, Wesley opened a bottle of wine. "Still single?"<br /> "I look too old, no one's interested," Aaron replied, opening a bottle of liquor as well.<br /> "Then why are you meddling in my love lives?"<br /> "Leave a child behind, even if you pass away, someone will remember you." Aaron took a sip. "I've actually investigated this Mia."<br /> "You investigated her?"<br /> "I knew you'd get a divorce. I've been keeping an eye on the pretty ones. This girl had done a lot of good deeds before coming to Yeadeo. Once, she saved three people in a flood and nearly lost her life. Opportunities are rare. You have to seize them."<br /> "When you've figured things out and are ready to marry, then we can discuss our affairs. That's the condition." Wesley downed the entire bottle of liquor.<br /> "Otherwise, don't bother meddling. We're on a one-way path and can't drag others along."<br /> "You..." Aaron sighed as he watched Wesley's retreating figure.<br /> On the road leading to the Feidgeuo Manor, Taylor stood gazing blankly at the entrance not far away.<br /> Twice in one day, she had come here.<br /> The first time was to pick up Frank, and this time was because Frank had lost his expensive watch. She and Henry hadn't even had a meal, rushing over to find it.<br /> The first time, she had come in a hurry when Frank was injured and left quickly as well.<br /> But this time, as Taylor looked at the entrance ahead, an infinite longing sprouted within her.<br /> "If only... I could live here, how wonderful that would be."<br /> Henry looked at her. "One day, I'll definitely build an estate more magnificent than this, and you'll be the lady of the house."<br /> As they conversed, a taxi drove by, stopping at the entrance. The person who got out of the taxi left Taylor stunned.<br /> She rubbed her eyes.	Adoread	147	https://facebook.com/61556400142540	LEARN_MORE	1713682800	View Edit Delete
1666839	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727708	1734958297	695	986509269078080		1.5597180248779E+15	1713769200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	226177680578601	0	Adoread	120207746049430265	client.adoread.com	Learn more	NONE	image	🔥🔥🔥 Read More👉	Hottest novel👉👉👉	https://client.adoread.com/book/loading/page/adoread/19161308412?utm_campaign={{campaign.id}}&utm_content={{campaign.name}}		1713519398	2.261776805786E+14	Adoread	https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437724011_960421695526729_1516574307485338648_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QHGXZ-huQfoQ7kNvgFl-bAK&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAhittaAtIybg_0Gi8UYNoalMt3uRDbIai0DNMlEMFrFg&oe=663A90F9	person_profile	0	Adoread	https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437891881_25238797299100336_7255863263127890524_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UeFxFDUJUZIQ7kNvgF1dGXL&_nc_oc=AdjBlORU46gPxHeMvSIJmXMDx_1afwh7kp2UWRl9K25HmyfzpiuTkbEBFfXJmbiDJ-c&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCl6BW-kaMuwg-TQzlAPyzBHYyw1d6F5gFbxwKZGONM2w&oe=663A61E5	0	3	"Wesley, are you trying to harm me? You useless piece of trash, can't even make a decent cup of coffee, can you?"<br /> Madison Blair lifted her coffee cup and splashed it directly onto Wesley Harrington's face.<br /> "What are you looking at, you spineless waste? Your name sounds so lofty? I might as well call you a waste."<br /> Glancing at the grotesque expression of his wife's mother, Wesley pulled out his phone to check the time.<br /> Exactly twelve o'clock. It had been five full years since he married Taylor Reed.<br /> The appointed time had come.<br /> He had fulfilled his promise, safeguarding the Reed family for five years, transforming them from a family living off fishing to one perceived as affluent by the common folk.<br /> Wiping the coffee off his face, he turned and walked away.<br /> "Where do you think you're going? Go fetch some more coffee," Madison shouted.<br /> "Madison, didn't you say this waste is obedient at home, doing whatever he's told? I don't think he's taking it lying down."<br /> Madison grew angrier. "Wesley, you stop right there. My family has fed and housed you. If you dare disobey, I'll have you thrown out!"<br /> Ignoring her, Wesley continued downstairs.<br /> "When Taylor comes back, I'll immediately have you two divorced. Do you hear me? Stay right there," Madison threatened, "I'll let you know your place today."<br /> Grabbing a golf club, Madison swiftly charged towards Wesley.<br /> Seeing Wesley heading downstairs, she swung the club viciously at his back.<br /> Without turning back, Wesley gently sidestepped.<br /> Losing her balance, Madison tumbled forward, rolling down the stairs with a series of thumps.<br /> "Ouch... it hurts, it hurts so much!"<br /> As Madison reached the ground floor, she wailed in pain and her sister immediately rushed to her.<br /> "Wesley, what have you done? How dare you hit my sister!" Madison's sister hurried down, checking on Madison's condition.<br /> Wesley remained silent, observing the scene.<br /> "Quick, call Taylor. Tell her to come back. Today, she must divorce this waste." Madison glared at Wesley. "How dare you hit me? Not only will I let Taylor divorce you, but I'll make sure you leave in disgrace."<br /> "Mum, what's wrong?" At that moment, a gent and a lady walked in.<br /> The lady was Taylor, Madison's daughter.<br /> She ran towards Madison.<br /> As Madison pointed at Wesley, tears streamed down her face. "Taylor, he hit me, he hit me! When you're not home, he changes his attitude, scolding and hitting me in the slightest displeasure. He even pushed me down the stairs just now. Alexis can testify."<br /> Madison's sister, Alexis Blair, chimed in. "Yes, Wesley, this trash not only hit your mother but also threatened to hit me too. We cannot tolerate such trash."<br /> "Taylor, I have been telling you to divorce him for years. You've been supporting him, treating him like a Lord at home, but he's an ungrateful wolf in sheep's clothing."<br /> Helping Madison up, Taylor noticed the scrapes on Madison's arms and legs, her expression turning cold.<br /> "Wesley, why did you hit my mother? You better give me an explanation."<br /> Wesley looked at Taylor, his wife.<br /> Five years had passed, and she had never shown him kindness.<br /> Taylor dressed impeccably, a paragon of a successful lady, with a face that could be deemed angelic, yet whether her heart was as angelic remained a mystery.<br /> Her figure, too, left countless men yearning.<br /> For five years, Wesley had thought he might develop feelings for this lady, but in reality, it never happened.<br /> "There are surveillance cameras in the house," Wesley stated calmly before descending the stairs into the hallway.<br /> Despite residing in a three-story villa, Wesley's living quarters were confined to the stairwell.<br /> He harbored no resentment towards this arrangement. It was merely a promise. It was just that Taylor failed to appreciate him.<br /> This home held little value that he wished to cling onto.<br /> Retrieving a wooden box from beneath his pillow, Wesley extracted two documents. Casting a fleeting glance at the modest abode he had called home for five years, Wesley smiled faintly.<br /> He thought, "Finally... I'm free."<br /> Pushing the door ajar, Wesley was met by Taylor's piercing gaze. "I've reviewed the surveillance footage. Yes, my mother intended to strike you, but even if she did, what difference would it make?"<br /> "She's a lady. How much could her blows hurt you? Why did you dodge?"<br /> "If you hadn't dodged, my mother wouldn't have tumbled down." Wesley stared at Taylor, unable to comprehend her thought process.<br /> He had no interest in engaging in these arguments. Handing over the two documents to Taylor, he remarked, "The divorce agreement. I've already signed it. Take a look. I'm leaving with nothing."<br /> "With your current influence, there's no need for you to visit the city hall. Someone will handle it for you, right?"<br /> Madison was taken aback. She swiftly snatched the divorce agreement, flipping through it hastily.<br /> The contents were indeed straightforward. Both parties willingly divorced, with Wesley relinquishing all claims and having already signed.<br /> In an instant, Madison's pain seemed to dissipate. "Taylor, sign it quickly. Sign it."<br /> Taylor was still in a daze.<br /> She pondered.<br /> "A divorce agreement? Wesley has already prepared a divorce agreement. On what grounds?"<br /> "What gives him the right to initiate a divorce? All these years, he's done nothing at home, lacking any ambition. Always practicing martial arts, what right does he have to seek a divorce?"<br /> "If anyone should initiate it, it should be me. Moreover, now that I'm back to discussing this matter with him. Could it be that word got out, and Wesley, for the sake of his pride, rushed to prepare a divorce agreement first?"<br /> "It must be so, but... No!"<br /> "Wanting to leave with nothing, is he retreating to advance? As the chairman of the Reed Group, how could I be served with a divorce?"<br /> "Hey Wesley, I never expected this from you. Have I not treated you well enough? You seek a divorce, attempting to turn your retreat into advance, aiming to embarrass me?"<br /> Taylor glared at Wesley. "I'm telling you, it's impossible."<br /> Snatching the divorce agreement, she tore it to shreds.<br /> "Taylor, what are you doing? Such a great opportunity. Why not just sign it and let him leave?" Madison grew anxious.<br /> "Mom, I do intend to divorce this trash, but the decision must come from me. I returned specifically to address this matter."<br /> With that, Taylor produced two documents. "Wesley, remember that it's me who's divorcing you. It's me who no longer wants you. Initially, out of marital obligation, I had considered offering you some compensation. Now, you don't even need to think about it. Sign the divorce agreement and leave my home."<br /> Wesley offered a faint smile as he accepted the divorce agreement.<br /> "What are you laughing at?" Taylor demanded angrily.<br /> Wesley's smile seemed to mock her, fueling her rage.<br /> Ignoring her entirely, Wesley signed the document and handed it over.<br /> "What are you laughing at? Answer me! Who do you think you are?" Taylor roared once more.<br /> Wesley glanced at her before striding towards the exit.<br /> "Stop!" The gent who had accompanied Taylor stepped forward, blocking Wesley's path. "Taylor asked you a question, and... Your previous attitude displeased me. Apologize to Taylor, or I'll have you leave in disgrace!"<br /> Chapter 2 The Unspoken Truth<br /> <br /> "Yes, let him leave in disgrace. He thought he could just hit me and walk away so easily," Madison joined in the commotion, also noticing the gent blocking Wesley's path.<br /> Madison had a keen interest in luxury goods, having frequented various high-end establishments over the years as the Reed family's living conditions improved. The gent was wearing an expensive watch and dressed head to toe in high-end luxury brands.<br /> Seeing Madison's gaze, the gent spoke. "Rest assured, today Wesley must pay the price."<br /> The gent introduced himself, looking at Wesley, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Henry Clark, the eldest son of the Clark family and the general manager of the Clark Group in the North District."<br /> "From now on, I will accompany Taylor on her journey of life, and I will not allow anyone to bully her."<br /> "My identity carries weight. You should understand that. Now, apologize to Taylor. Apologize! Did you hear me? Apologize!"<br /> Madison's eyes lit up. She hadn't expected the gent before her to hold such a high status. She continued to shout, "Did you hear that? Taylor will be with Mr. Clark from now on. Apologize now."<br /> Wesley glanced at Henry, then at Taylor. He thought, "Have they been together all along?" Wesley had wanted to ask but decided against it because there was no need. He simply gave them a glance and continued walking towards the exit.<br /> "Are you ignoring me?" Henry's face turned cold as he reached out to grab Wesley. Henry's hand froze mid-air as he received a solid hit.<br /> "Until I sign the divorce papers, Taylor and I are still wife and husband. I don't care to investigate whether you two had any intimate relationship during that time, but don't provoke me, or I won't hesitate to make you regret it." Wesley's gaze was icy, and as Henry met his eyes, he felt a twinge of fear and swallowed his words.<br /> Taylor was also stunned. She knew exactly what Wesley had been like over the past five years. There were many surveillance cameras in the house, and she would often check them.<br /> Even when Taylor wasn't home, despite how her family treated Wesley, he always obeyed without complaint, especially towards her. He had never raised his voice, no matter how they treated him.<br /> Today, not only did Wesley dodge when her mother struck, but he also initiated the divorce and now even struck Henry. <br /> Taylor was at a loss for words, thinking, "How could this cowardly gent dare? On what grounds does he dare?"<br /> This change was difficult for Taylor to accept as if she didn't truly understand this guy. The gent who used to be obedient to her, completely submissive, now revealed this side of himself. She watched Wesley walk away in a daze, feeling a strange discomfort in her heart.<br /> "Isn't he leaving with nothing?" Alexis pointed at the wooden box Wesley was holding. "What is he taking with him?"<br /> Madison also realized. Over the past five years, Wesley had always treasured this wooden box, carrying it with him wherever he went. She thought there must be something valuable inside.<br /> Realizing this, Madison hurriedly followed. "Wesley, stop right there, leave the wooden box."<br /> Wesley paused, glanced at Madison, and said, "This is my personal belonging."<br /> "Nonsense, what personal belonging could you possibly have after marrying into the Reed family? Everything you've eaten, worn, and lived in over the years has been provided by the Reed family. Put it down."<br /> As she spoke, Madison reached out to grab the wooden box.<br /> "Ah..." A scream rang out as Madison quickly retracted her hand, a gash appearing on her palm, a crimson liquid dripping.<br /> The wooden box was now stained with the same crimson liquid, trembling lightly in Wesley's hand.<br /> "It's not the right time yet, the day you thirst for this crimson liquid will come," Wesley murmured softly, patting the box before turning to continue his stride towards the exit.<br /> "Monster! A monster!" Madison screamed, causing Taylor and the others to rush out. Seeing the wound in Madison's hand, Taylor was filled with rage.<br /> "Wesley, aren't you going to say something?" Wesley halted once more, contemplating before meeting Taylor's gaze.<br /> "Just stay out of my way from now on. Consider this a warning to you."<br /> "Taylor, that wooden box of his has a mechanism. It must hold something valuable! We can't let him take it with him," Madison, enduring the pain, reminded them.<br /> "Mom, your injury is important. We'll deal with him later. Let me take you to the hospital first." Taylor comforted Madison before calling out to the retreating Wesley.<br /> "Our marriage is over! Yet, you dared to hurt my mother! This won't be the end of it! I will make you regret it!" Ignoring her, Wesley continued walking out.<br /> "Rest assured, I promise he won't see the light of day tomorrow." Henry stepped forward to console. "Let's focus on getting your wound treated first."<br /> "I want him to regret ever existing in this world, to apologize to me in repentance," Madison roared.<br /> "Mom, trust me, I will make him do just that." Taylor looked at Madison with a mix of pity and determination. "Let's go to the hospital first."<br /> In the villa area, Wesley halted, his voice cold. "Get out."<br /> An elderly gent leaped down from a tree, appearing to be in his seventies, yet landing silently from a height of around ten feet.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, your father wants you to come home and take charge."<br /> "He stopped being my father five years ago. He's my enemy."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you misunderstood your father. He had his reasons back then. I swear in my life, once you know the truth, you will forgive him."<br /> "Huh!" Wesley smirked coldly, saying, "I nearly passed away back then. Is that also a misunderstanding?"<br /> The old gent pleaded, "Mr. Harrington, this situation is truly not as you perceive it."<br /> Wesley didn't engage further with the old guy. The events of that year were etched in his memory forever. He was the one who had been abandoned. If not for that incident, why would he have stayed with the Reed family for five years?<br /> Watching Wesley walk away, the old gent had tears silently streaming down his face. "Mr. Harrington, I truly... I truly can't bring myself to speak the truth, but you have misunderstood your father. He also bears burdens and endures pains beyond what an ordinary person can handle."<br /> As Wesley's figure disappeared, the old gent stood up, hesitated for a moment, then dialed a number on his phone.<br /> "Mr. Harrington is now divorced. I've given you the news firsthand. If your daughter is truly together with Mr. Harrington, you must fulfill the promise and let her persuade Mr. Harrington to come home."<br /> After hanging up, a middle-aged gent in a luxurious estate jumped up excitedly. Calming himself, he immediately made another call. "My dear, you're at Yeadeo, right?<br /> "Go find Wesley now. Don't mention the engagement for now. Use every means to get close to him, make him fall in love with you."<br /> "Dad, I don't have time."<br /> "No matter what you are busy with, you must go find Wesley now. No matter what reason you approach him, you must leave a good impression the first time."<br /> "Dad, I'm in trouble right now. If I don't handle it well, I might be good as gone. I have to deal with it immediately. I'm hanging up."<br /> Chapter 3 You're Nothing<br /> The middle-aged gent's voice lowered significantly. "Is there a big incident happening? You didn't tell me? What happened?"<br /> "Quinn Kingsley from Yeadeo, Mr. Kingsley, used our product and now has one foot on the grave. If something really happens to him..."<br /> "You mean Quinn, the uncontested leader of Yeadeo?"<br /> "Yes."<br /> "In that case, you should go find Wesley. Trust me, in this world, there is no problem that Wesley can't solve. As long as he's willing to help, you'll be fine. Listen to me, go find Wesley immediately."<br /> The lady fell silent for a moment before saying, "Okay."<br /> At Yeadeo Harbor, a gent with a large flaxen chain and a watch, sporting a crew cut, hurriedly disembarked, accompanied by a dozen gentlemen.<br /> "Mr. Reed, wherever that trash is, we will find him and tear him apart."<br /> "Yes, that guy dared to harm your mother. We'll make sure he pays for it."<br /> Frank Reed's face turned cold. "Wesley, you coward, thinking you can overturn the world? How dare you touch my mom? Just wait until I find you, you're finished."<br /> "We've found him. Wesley got into a taxi, and our boys followed him."<br /> "Let's go!" Frank waved his hand, leading dozens of men who boarded the car with harpoons, steel pipes, and other weapons.<br /> Inside the taxi, Wesley gazed at the scenery outside, feeling a strange sense of tranquility.<br /> He thought to himself, "I never imagined that while I was secretly paving the way for the Reed family, Taylor, after progressing so rapidly, would start looking down on me more and more."<br /> "Those ladies who know my true identity, which one of them isn't trying to throw themselves at me? Ladies like that don't interest me."<br /> "Being an ordinary gent is truly difficult," Wesley murmured, smiling faintly and deciding not to dwell on these matters anymore. He had important things to attend to and no time to waste on personal affairs.<br /> "Young lad, are you going to Feidgeuo Manor for a job interview?" The driver, curious about Wesley's destination, inquired.<br /> Feidgeuo Manor was Yeadeo's most mysterious private area. Originally a villa area, it was bought at a huge cost five years ago and completely renovated. It was said to have cost a trillion dollars. The former villa area was now Feidgeuo Manor.<br /> "That's my home," Wesley replied nonchalantly.<br /> The driver was taken aback by this revelation, silently cursing Wesley for bragging. After a couple of minutes, the driver regained his composure. "It seems like you and I both prefer to keep a low profile. My car usually gathers dust at home, so I occasionally drive a taxi to experience life."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "My car has been driven by my assistant for the past few years, so it's not gathering dust."<br /> "Haha..." The driver laughed. "We should get together sometime and see whose car is more impressive."<br /> "Sure, whenever we have the time."<br /> As they chatted, the vehicle soon arrived near Feidgeuo Manor, where the massive head of the Feidgeuo Peak protruded, creating a unique landscape in Yeadeo.<br /> The driver asked with a smile, "Since you're the owner here, it's fine if I drive in, right?"<br /> "Of course," Wesley replied.<br /> As soon as Wesley spoke, several cars caught up from behind.<br /> The cars surrounded the one Wesley was in, with the front vehicles braking to force the car to a stop.<br /> When numerous people descended from cars wielding harpoons and steel pipes, the driver's face paled.<br /> Frank and his group got out of the cars, instantly closing in, and without hesitation, started attacking, the steel pipes and harpoons thudding against the car.<br /> Frank's henchman yanked open the door of Wesley's car, poised to stab Wesley with a harpoon, but Wesley swiftly exited the vehicle.<br /> With a firm step on the ground, he launched a swift hit.<br /> A muffled sound echoed as the henchman was hit away.<br /> "What are you looking at?" Frank noticed his henchmen were all staring at him. "All of you, attack together and take him down!"<br /> As he commanded, the henchmen Frank brought with him surged forward.<br /> The taxi driver, trembling, took out his phone to call the police, but Frank glared at him. "I am Frank Reed from Yeadeo Harbor. If you dare, go ahead and make that call."<br /> Frank, leveraging his sister Taylor's status, had been causing trouble in Yeadeo Harbor, and no one dared to provoke him.<br /> Upon hearing Frank's name, the driver hastily put away his phone. "Mr. Reed, I'll just check the time, you guys continue."<br /> "Huh!" Frank snorted coldly, casting his gaze towards the surrounded Wesley.<br /> The sounds of thuds continued to ring out incessantly. Because Wesley was completely surrounded, Frank was unable to see the situation inside clearly, but he could imagine it. After all, in Frank's mind, the henchmen under his command were not to be trifled with.<br /> "Hit him hard for me!"<br /> Another muffled sound and a figure flew out. At that moment, Frank finally saw the situation clearly, and his face turned pale.<br /> Frank knew that Wesley liked to practice martial arts, but he had never expected Wesley to be this skilled. It wasn't Wesley who had been beaten, but his own men by Wesley alone.<br /> Frantically, Frank turned and ran to retrieve a crossbow from the car.<br /> "Clear the way." Frank bellowed, aiming the crossbow at Wesley.<br /> "You scumbag, you think you can fight? Move one more time, and I'll end your life! Surrender!"<br /> Wesley, holding a wooden box, stared at Frank. Ignoring the crossbow in his hand, Wesley said, "Tell your henchmen to back off, or you'll all see the light from above!"<br /> "You're really good at pretending to be tough." Frank took two steps forward. "See the light? Move a muscle and see if I can end your life or not! If you don't have the guts, apologize now!"<br /> Wesley turned his head and looked at the approaching cars, with two expensive ones in the lead, two more in the rear, and another one in the middle.<br /> "Keep acting tough, and I'll put a hole in your head." Frank spoke while glancing at the five cars. "What, looking for help?"<br /> "Let me tell you, those who ride in these cars are not the kind of weaklings like you who rely on connections. With me here, in Yeadeo's social hierarchy, even those who ride in such cars wouldn't dare meddle in this matter. And let me make it clear, without my sister, you're nothing."<br /> Chapter 4 Is He Worthy?<br /> As Frank's words faded, the five cars came to a halt.<br /> A bodyguard opened the door of the one in the middle, revealing a dazzling pair of shining shoes catching everyone's eye.<br /> The shining shoe encased a beautiful foot. Above, the skirt's hem was adorned with lace.<br /> Then, like a fairy stepping out of a painting, she appeared before everyone's eyes.<br /> The lady was beautiful!<br /> Frank was mesmerized. Ever since the Reed family rose to prominence, he had been surrounded by ladies, but compared to the elegant lady before him, they were worlds apart.<br /> It wasn't just a difference in appearance but an incomparable gap in demeanor.<br /> The lady descending from the Maybach seemed like a celestial being untouched by mortal affairs.<br /> The embodiment of a fairy in the mundane world.<br /> She simply stood there after getting out of the car, perfectly embodying what it meant to be graceful and elegant.<br /> The lady glanced at Wesley, then at Frank.<br /> Frank grinned, saying, "May I have the honor of knowing the name of this esteemed lady? I am Frank..."<br /> The lady spoke calmly. "Disrespect Mr. Harrington, and you're done for."<br /> Her bodyguards, unfazed by Frank's crossbow, swiftly overwhelmed him, sending him crashing to the ground.<br /> The henchmen who had come with Frank, previously defeated by Wesley, now scrambled to their feet and fled in all directions.<br /> Who would dare provoke someone who could afford such a car?<br /> "My sister is Taylor Reed, the chairperson of Reed Group," Frank shouted, clutching his head.<br /> Ignoring him, one of the bodyguards dragged him to the roadside grass while another used a belt to tighten around Frank's neck, exerting pressure.<br /> "Enough, a lesson is all that's needed." Wesley spoke calmly, and only when the lady gestured did the bodyguards release Frank.<br /> Frank lay there, already unconscious.<br /> Wesley turned to the lady. "Who are you?"<br /> "I am Mia Roberts, the general manager of Vinver Business Alliance's Yeadeo branch." She looked at Wesley and continued, "Mr. Harrington, my father mentioned that you have miraculous healing skills and earnestly requested your assistance. A generous reward awaits."<br /> Wesley furrowed his brow slightly, thinking, "There are indeed people who recognize my abilities and status, yet I've rarely intervened in the past five years. Today, shortly after I divorced Taylor, she is here. Whose arrangement is this?"<br /> "Mr. Harrington, my father also mentioned that you are benevolent and has raised the banner of compassion among healers, serving as a role model and benchmark for all in the medical field."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "You have a way with words. Tell me the specifics."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, please get in the car first. I will explain in detail on the way."<br /> The phrase "compassionate healer" held significant weight for Wesley, who had saved countless lives from the brink of death.<br /> Without further ado, he got into the car.<br /> Inside, after Mia brewed coffee for Wesley, she began. "Vinver Business Alliance has a wide range of business operations, and I mainly oversee the health supplement sector, which has seen some success in recent years.<br /> "Recently, Quinn Kingsley started using our medicines, and now there's an accident."<br /> As she spoke, Mia kept her gaze fixed on Wesley.<br /> Quinn, the undisputed leader of Yeadeo, was a figure of immense influence.<br /> Upon hearing this name, Wesley showed no particular reaction. "If the city's leader faces issues with your products, it is indeed a concern. Let's go and see."<br /> With just a sentence, Wesley leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest.<br /> Mia was secretly alarmed, thinking, "He knows who Quinn is, yet he seems indifferent. Who is this Wesley, really? No wonder Dad has instructed me to find a way to win his favor." Mia's inner resistance toward Wesley quietly shifted.<br /> Wesley had piqued her curiosity.<br /> As the vehicle was moving, Wesley's phone rang.<br /> Wesley opened his eyes and took out his phone to see Taylor calling.<br /> Pressing the answer button, he asked, "What's the matter?"<br /> On the other end of the line, Taylor, driving towards Feidgeuo Manor, had a grim expression.<br /> She thought, "Has Wesley ever spoken to me in such a cold tone before? Is he really this heartless right after our divorce?"<br /> Already furious, she snapped. "Wesley, do you even consider yourself a human being?<br /> "Today, not only did you lay hands on my mother, but you also had someone attack my brother. Do you not remember our past at all?"<br /> Wesley calmly replied, "Do we have a past to remember?"<br /> "You truly are a heartless scumbag, just as my mother said. You are an ungrateful and vicious person I raised for five years. Even a pet would wag its tail at me!"<br /> Taylor wanted to continue her tirade, but the phone line had already turned busy.<br /> This only fueled her anger further.<br /> Just now, she had received a call from Frank's underlings, informing her that Wesley had sent people to attack Frank and even intended to end him.<br /> Taylor wanted to demand answers, but...<br /> As Taylor was clutching her fists, her gaze turned icy.<br /> After a moment, she picked up her phone again. "Wesley, you are so narrow-minded. You have no ambition. Any lady would steer clear of you."<br /> "Just because I dumped you, you are doing this on purpose to make me feel sick. Pretending to be aloof and seeking revenge? Do you even deserve it?"<br /> "In Yeadeo, squashing you would be as easy as squashing an ant. You're asking for it! If anything happens to my brother, I will make you wish you were ending!"<br /> Her furious voice message echoed in the car.<br /> Wesley chuckled and put away his phone.<br /> Beside him, Mia seemed contemplative. Before coming, she had already ordered a swift investigation into Wesley.<br /> She was curious, thinking, "How could someone valued by my father could be the one 'marrying into' the Reed family."<br /> Being tactful, Mia chose not to ask and pretended not to have heard.<br /> After about forty minutes, they arrived at the Kingsley Manor.<br /> The Kingsley family members, upon seeing Mia alight from the car, all wore grim expressions.<br /> Mia greeted them with a smile, "Everyone, this is Wesley Harrington, Mr. Harrington, the miraculous healer I specially invited to treat Mr. Kingsley."<br /> "Him? The gent who married into the Reed family?"<br /> "A miraculous healer? Is he even worthy? Are healers so worthless now?"<br /> "A useless gent who mooches off of the Reed family? How dare he call himself a miraculous healer? Truly a joke among all jokes."<br /> Chapter 5 Compassionate Healer<br /> Amanda Kingsley, Quinn's granddaughter, stared coldly at Wesley and Mia.<br /> This lady, dressed in a smart suit, also held significant fame in Yeadeo, overseeing the region's business activities, including investment attraction and various local business negotiations.<br /> Amanda had a favorable view of Taylor, who had risen swiftly in recent times, and they had interacted frequently.<br /> She was aware of Wesley's existence and had advised Taylor to part ways with him early on.<br /> But Amanda never imagined that Mia would bring someone like Wesley, a complete waste, and claim he was a miraculous healer.<br /> Glaring at Mia, she said, "Mia, once my grandfather is well, it's best for your Roberts family to leave Yeadeo."<br /> "As for you..." She glanced at Wesley. "I will advise Taylor to divorce you. You have deceived Taylor's feelings and now shamelessly made your way into my family. You are a despicable creature."<br /> After reprimanding Mia and Wesley, she turned to an elderly gent beside her, and her tone and attitude completely changed. "Mr. Phillips, sorry to trouble you. My grandfather is inside, please."<br /> Mia looked at the elderly gent, who was already in his twilight years, feeling deeply shocked.<br /> Scott Phillips, the 38th generation heir of the Healing Clinic, was now ninety-two years old.<br /> Renowned as a miraculous healer, he was a respected figure in the medical community of Yeadeo and even nationally.<br /> He no longer conducted consultations personally due to his old age. Mia had visited him specifically to pay her respects once she had arrived in Yeadeo but had not met Scott.<br /> She never expected Scott to appear in person. It was understandable, as Quinn held a prominent position in the city. Despite the profound influence of the Phillips family, they still had to show respect to Quinn.<br /> Mia looked at Wesley, feeling conflicted and thinking, "Dad has confidently claimed that Wesley has extraordinary abilities, but does he really?"<br /> She harbored doubts, but out of propriety, Mia spoke. "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the trouble."<br /> Wesley smiled, "It's fine. As long as the person can be healed."<br /> His open-mindedness impressed Mia.<br /> After about half an hour, Amanda emerged from the room. All eyes instantly turned towards her.<br /> It was evident that Amanda had wailed out, with traces of tears still visible.<br /> "Amanda, how is it?" A middle-aged gent anxiously asked her.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family who had rushed back also focused their attention on her.<br /> "Mr. Phillips said that there's little hope of recovery. He could only use acupuncture to wake grandfather for half an hour. When grandfather wakes up, let's all go in and see if he has any final instructions."<br /> Everyone was shocked.<br /> "How could this be?"<br /> "Is Mr. Phillips also helpless?"<br /> The members of the Kingsley family found it hard to accept this reality, especially since Quinn had always treated his juniors well.<br /> The thought of Quinn departing saddened some, and tears silently fell.<br /> Publicly, Quinn's status was the foundation of the Kingsley family's prominence in Yeadeo.<br /> If Quinn were to pass away, the Kingsley family would undoubtedly decline.<br /> The atmosphere within the Kingsley family was somber.<br /> Amanda looked at her family members, opened her mouth, but said nothing, silently turning back into the room.<br /> "Stop crying," A middle-aged gent said sternly, "Dad wouldn't want to see you all in tears. If he's really leaving, we mustn't let him worry about us. Pull yourselves together."<br /> After these words, the middle-aged gent also entered the room.<br /> The younger members of the Kingsley family wiped their tears vigorously, trying to force smiles, but in truth, they looked better at crying than pretending to be happy.<br /> Mia's spirit plummeted as she realized the gravity of the situation. Even if an ordinary person passed away from consuming health supplements, it spelled big trouble for those who sold them. And when the deceased happened to be Quinn, the stakes were even higher.<br /> She understood that it would be difficult for this branch to stay in Yeadeo, and even the headquarters might face repercussions.<br /> "Let's go in and have a look." Wesley glanced at Mia. "There might still be a chance."<br /> "Ah..." Mia stared at Wesley in surprise. Seeing him already heading towards the room, she quickly followed suit.<br /> Inside the room, the members of the Kingsley family stood around the mattress, maintaining a certain distance.<br /> Scott lit the alcohol lamp and took out the needles, his expression solemn.<br /> He looked at the members of the Kingsley family. "Think about what you want to say to Mr. Kingsley later. Once you're ready, let me know, and then I'll proceed with the acupuncture."<br /> As he said this, tears welled up in many eyes.<br /> "If you don't mind, let me take a look. I have a way." Wesley spoke up, drawing everyone's attention.<br /> Amanda's face darkened. "Who let you in? Get out!"<br /> "Mia, have you lost your mind? Tricked by this trash and actually brought him here as a miracle healer. Get out with him! I'll settle the score with you in a couple of days."<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, at a loss for words.<br /> "Even Mr. Phillips is unable to reverse the situation. What use are you? Get out." Another younger member of the Kingsley family angrily rebuked.<br /> The middle-aged gent added, "We're in no mood right now. You better leave immediately."<br /> "I understand your narrow-mindedness," Wesley continued, "But as a healer, once I see a patient, I cannot stand by and watch him draw his last breath."<br /> "Wesley, you're quite the charlatan. Do you really want to be gone right now?" Amanda's voice was filled with anger.<br /> "Amanda, let me say a few words," Scott interjected, and Amanda fell silent.<br /> Looking at Wesley, Scott began. "Young lad, at my age, I've seen a lot and have a broad perspective. Today, however, I find it hard to remain indifferent. I practiced medicine from the age of sixteen until I stopped seeing patients for a total of seventy years."<br /> "I've saved countless patients from various illnesses. I never easily declare a patient's fate, nor do I believe I have the right to do so."<br /> "But from your recent remarks, it seems like you're accusing me of such actions. Young people wanting to make a name for themselves by stepping on the shoulders of their predecessors, I can understand."<br /> "But this kind of behavior displeases me."<br /> "My displeasure, what does it mean to you? Do you understand?"<br /> "Even if you are a healer, your career will be ruined because of this."<br /> Chapter 6 Hand of Hell<br /> In the face of Scott's veiled threats, Wesley simply smiled and brushed them off.<br /> Looking at Scott, he asked, "I've always focused on the issue at hand rather than attacking individuals. I have a few questions for you. If you can't administer the needles, how long do you think Quinn can hold on?"<br /> "Seven days, but he will remain unconscious," Scott replied bluntly.<br /> "Then let me ask you this, is there anyone in the world with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "Outrageous," Amanda coldly interjected, "Mr. Phillips is unparalleled in his medical expertise."<br /> Scott glanced at Amanda. "Amanda, let me handle this question."<br /> Continuing to address Wesley, he said, "I don't underestimate myself, nor do I overestimate. There are countless talented individuals in the world, like stars in the sky. I may not dare claim to be the best in medical skills, but those who surpass me are few."<br /> "That means there are some," Wesley calmly remarked, causing Scott's expression to shift slightly, "Indeed, there are."<br /> "Then let me ask you this. Do you think within seven days, the Kingsley family won't find someone with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "If they do find someone, do you believe there is an illness that you cannot cure, but this person can?"<br /> Wesley's questions were sharp and resounding.<br /> Scott's face changed once more as he was rendered speechless.<br /> "Even if there is, that person will never be you." Amanda's face turned icy. "Now get out. Don't spout your eloquence here. Your deceitful behavior is repulsive."<br /> "Your understanding of me is merely hearsay, isn't it?" Wesley retorted, his gaze mocking Amanda, "Has your background and education taught you such arrogance and prejudice?"<br /> "Arrogance?" Amanda's face grew colder as she disdainfully looked at Wesley. "Prejudice?<br /> "Did I say something wrong just now? You are nothing but stagnant waste, a parasite living off others. If it weren't for Taylor, you would have starved on the streets long ago."<br /> "Relying on sweet words, deceiving Taylor. She, with her kind heart, can't bear to divorce you, but don't push your luck. If it weren't for Taylor's sake, you would have been sent out long ago."<br /> Scott interrupted Amanda, "Amanda, although I find this lad a bit annoying, what he said does hold some truth. There are indeed individuals with better medical skills than me. Your grandfather can hold on for seven days. Try reaching out to see if someone can come over. I'll help you make connections."<br /> "If it really doesn't work out after seven days, I'll administer the needles to your grandfather. However, at that point, I can only buy you three minutes."<br /> As soon as Scott spoke, the faces of the Kingsley family members grew even more solemn. True healers were rare and not easily summoned.<br /> While the Kingsley family had connections in Yeadeo, their influence waned outside of it.<br /> "Mr. Phillips, please administer the needles. Life has its ups and downs, and we understand that. Just buy my father a bit more time." The middle-aged gent spoke up.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family nodded in agreement.<br /> Amanda looked at Scott. "Mr. Phillips, please."<br /> "In that case, please have everyone unrelated leave. I need silence," Scott calmly stated.<br /> Amanda glared at Wesley, her eyes speaking volumes without a word.<br /> The unrelated individuals were, naturally, Wesley and Mia.<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, intending to leave, but she suddenly hesitated.<br /> Instead of leaving, Wesley moved forward.<br /> "What are you doing?" A young member of the Kingsley family stepped forward with a stern expression, pushing Wesley.<br /> In one swift motion, Wesley executed a clean shoulder throw, toppling the young gent to the ground, his own expression turning cold.<br /> "A bunch of fools! If it weren't for my teacher's teachings about not turning a blind eye to those in need, I wouldn't bother with you ignorant lot," Wesley remarked with disdain.<br /> As Wesley effortlessly took down one individual from the Kingsley family, the others seemed slow to react.<br /> By the time they realized what was happening, Wesley had already picked up the needle next to Scott and casually flicked his wrist.<br /> The needle flew out of his hand, piercing Quinn's temple, followed by a second needle, a third needle, and so on.<br /> "What are you doing? Stop!" Amanda's voice rose in urgency, echoed by the rest of the Kingsley family members who rushed forward to restrain Wesley.<br /> "Stay back, everyone. Wait." Scott suddenly stood up, blocking the others. "Let him try."<br /> Amanda and the others were left dumbfounded, thinking, "What does this mean?"<br /> Despite their confusion, they heeded Scott's words.<br /> After Scott stopped the members of the Kingsley family, he fixed his gaze on Wesley.<br /> Wesley proceeded to use eighteen needles in succession, symbolizing the levels of pain.<br /> Even if someone had descended into the depths of hell, they must be brought back.<br /> The final needle, also piercing a vital point, caused Quinn's body to tremble suddenly, resonating with the previous eighteen needles.<br /> Scott's eyes widened, his body trembling slightly. His reaction left Amanda and the others even more puzzled, but none dared to interrupt.<br /> Moments later, Wesley placed a palm on Quinn's chest, causing all eighteen needles to be shaken off. When all the needles landed on the ground, the part of the skin where the needles had pierced turned dark.<br /> Wesley then dragged Quinn to the edge of the mattress, flipped him over with his head facing downwards, and gave him a firm pat on the back.<br /> Quinn spat out a mouthful of black liquid. When Wesley flipped him back to lie flat, his complexion had regained some color.<br /> "The Hand of Darkness... It's the Hand of Darkness!" Scott exclaimed with excitement, his body quivering, "It's the Hand that descends into the dark world, snatching people from the hands of the Evil!"<br /> "You do have some knowledge, recognizing the Hand of Darkness." Wesley glanced at Scott.<br /> Scott's gaze towards Wesley had undergone a drastic change. He respectfully clasped his hands together.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thirty years ago, I had the honor of attending a teaching conference held by Mr. Vanderbilt. I saw the Hand of Darkness, but my limited aptitude only allowed me to grasp the basics."<br /> "I have been blind and ignorant. I apologize for my earlier offenses. Please forgive me, Mr. Harrington."<br /> The Mr. Vanderbilt Scott referred to was Wesley's teacher, Ulysses Vanderbilt. He generously imparted his skills to others, but the ability to learn depended on one's innate talent.<br /> In this world, few could learn Ulysses' skills.<br /> Scott had been fortunate to receive guidance from Ulysses, which had elevated his medical skills. However, the Hand of Darkness, a miraculous ability, was beyond his comprehension.<br /> Wesley smiled faintly, "Your actions earlier are understandable. I appreciate your words."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you must be an exceptional disciple of Mr. Vanderbilt, possessing unparalleled magnanimity. Impressive," Scott continued.<br /> "Enough with the flattery at your age."<br /> "You are mistaken, Mr. Harrington. Every word I speak is sincere."<br /> Mia, Amanda, and the others stood bewildered by the unfolding situation.<br /> "Mr. Phillips... he... he..." Amanda's words faltered.<br /> Scott turned to the members of the Kingsley family. "Meeting Mr. Harrington was Quinn's luck. His symptoms have been cured by Mr. Harrington. With a few days of rest, he will be fine."<br /> The waste Taylor had previously said was called Mr. Harrington by Scott!<br /> Recalling their previous attitudes, Amanda hurriedly apologized, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> The members of the Kingsley family all apologized in unison, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> Chapter 7 Eight Plates of Noodles<br /> With a faint smile, Wesley remarked, "As family members of a patient, your actions earlier are understandable. There's no need for such formality."<br /> Amanda's perplexity deepened as she thought, "Where is the cowardly waste that Taylor described? This display of magnanimity and breadth is far from it."<br /> Mia, too, felt a shiver of realization, thinking, "No wonder Dad has insisted on my proximity to Wesley.<br /> This guy..."<br /> She gazed at Wesley, her curiosity piqued, a sense of exploration stirring within her.<br /> "Mia has brought you here, Mr. Harrington, to cure my grandfather. The Kingsley family will never forget this act. However, considering that my grandfather's ailment stemmed from the health supplements produced by the Vinver Business Alliance, we will be conducting an investigation into it."<br /> Amanda continued, looking at Wesley, "What do you think... of this approach?"<br /> It was Mia who had invited Wesley, so Amanda had grown wiser, refraining from asking for a direct punishment of the Vinver Business Alliance.<br /> As Mia heard Amanda's words, her heart skipped a beat, realizing trouble was brewing.<br /> "On the way here, Ms. Roberts briefed me on the situation. You conducted experiments on mice, correct?"<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes, the health supplements we received were exclusively provided by the Roberts family. There were no similar cases on the market, so we used mice for testing.<br /> "All the mice that ingested this supplement were gone."<br /> She looked at Mia and added, her voice turned colder. "Before the experiment, I specifically contacted Mia to inquire about the testing methods during the development phase, which involved mice."<br /> "There have been individuals eyeing my grandfather's position, some even wishing for his demise. I never imagined that the Vinver Business Alliance, which I attracted for investment, would become a weapon in someone else's hands."<br /> "Do you have any of the remaining medicine?" Wesley inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes."<br /> "Bring some over."<br /> Immediately, someone fetched the medicine. After it was brought to him, Wesley took out a supplement and swallowed it directly.<br /> This scene left Amanda and the others dumbfounded.<br /> Scott, too, was bewildered. "Mr. Harrington, what are you doing?"<br /> Wesley smiled, "Just proving that this medicine is not toxic."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thank you," Mia thanked sincerely, feeling like sobbing at that moment.<br /> Amanda, with a puzzled expression, looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, are you suggesting that my grandfather's condition wasn't caused by the Vinver Business Alliance's medicine? What about the mice?"<br /> The rest were equally puzzled.<br /> "Yes, but not entirely," Wesley said, leaving everyone even more bewildered.<br /> Mia's emotions were like a rollercoaster ride, from relief to immediate tension.<br /> "This medicine itself is not toxic, but when taken with another substance made from a certain plant, it results in Quinn's condition. The mice would die immediately, while humans could endure a few more days."<br /> Wesley continued to explain, "The plant used in this concoction is originally meant for crafting slow-acting toxins, not for human consumption."<br /> Looking at Amanda, Wesley said, "During this period, whoever had access to your grandfather and the mice will better understand why these events occurred."<br /> The gaze of members of the Kingsley family immediately focused on a lady.<br /> Amanda, somewhat incredulous, looked at her. "Can you offer an explanation?"<br /> The lady was the wife of Amanda's deceased brother. She found it hard to accept, as did the rest of the Kingsley family.<br /> This lady had been named the exemplary lady who served her family well this year, not due to her connection with the Kingsley family but because she genuinely deserved it.<br /> "What do you mean? Amanda, what explanation do you want from me?"<br /> The lady stared at Amanda. "Am I the only one who had access to Grandfather and the mice? You, and you... and you, who didn't have access?"<br /> "You all claim to treat me as family. Since I married into the Kingsley family, I have worked diligently, contributing my share even if not acknowledged."<br /> "Amanda, it has been over a year since your brother passed, and I never once considered remarrying. Now, just because of his words, you demand an explanation from me?"<br /> Pointing at Wesley, the lady questioned, "Just because he accuses me of poisoning, you suspect me? Tell me, did I poison him?" The lady glared at Wesley.<br /> "I am merely analyzing the facts. As for concluding this case, it's not within my purview," Wesley addressed the members of the Kingsley family, saying, "You should conduct a thorough investigation into this matter.<br /> "I will write a prescription. Have Quinn take it on time, and he will recover in seven days."<br /> Amanda hurried to fetch paper and pen while Wesley prepared the prescription. Once done, he was ready to leave.<br /> Amanda said hurriedly, "Mr. Harrington, I've already made arrangements for lunch."<br /> "No need," Wesley smiled.<br /> The Kingsley family sought to build closer ties with Wesley, given his extraordinary medical skills. Wesley was well aware of this.<br /> Looking at Amanda and the others, Wesley remarked, "In the future, if you encounter any difficult medical cases that others cannot solve, seek me out. Remember, cases others cannot solve."<br /> The gaze of the Kingsley family members toward Wesley changed once again. Many renowned healers had eccentric personalities and were difficult to engage.<br /> They hadn't expected Wesley to possess such remarkable medical skills without any airs.<br /> As Wesley prepared to depart, the members of the Kingsley family did not dare to insist on his stay, so they accompanied him outside.<br /> "Oh, how could we forget such an important matter? Amanda, what about the consultation fee?" The middle-aged gent inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the oversight. Please wait a moment." Amanda hurried back inside and soon returned with a bank card in hand.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, there's one million dollars in here."<br /> Without hesitation, Wesley accepted the bank card and boarded Mia's car.<br /> During the journey, Mia boldly looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, you've helped me immensely. Can I treat you to a meal? Don't decline in a hurry. It's not a fancy restaurant, but it will leave you wanting more. It's a small place on the street, with only eight plates of noodles served each day, each plate containing different ingredients."<br /> "I managed to secure a reservation. Are you interested?"<br /> Wesley thought, "Eight Plates of Noodles?<br /> "Ah, Aaron's restaurant. It has been a while since I visited those old friends."<br /> Wesley nodded. "Let's go then."<br /> The restaurant, Eight Plates of Noodles, was located on Chanxold Street near the Yeadeo First Central Hospital.<br /> The establishment was small, serving only eight plates of noodles each day at a price of 10 thousand dollars each. Vernoic's television culinary program had specifically covered this incident.<br /> Reservations were a must to secure a plate.<br /> The restaurant's owner had a mysterious background. While the specifics were unknown, a high-ranking noble from the capital of Vernoic, Kingsland, had caused a scene there once.<br /> He had attempted to force his way in without a reservation. Although this incident hadn't been reported, rumors suggested that a garbage truck had to be called to dispose of the intruder's remains, as he was too shattered to be removed by conventional means.<br /> Since then, no one dared to cause trouble.<br /> On their way, Mia introduced Wesley to the background story.<br /> "Mr. Turner, two plates of noodles." Mia called out once they arrived.<br /> Aaron Turner didn't respond but visibly paused upon seeing Wesley beside Mia.<br /> A faint smile appeared on his usually stoic face. Though the flesh on the face seemed stiff, it was indeed a smile. "Coming right up."<br /> Chapter 8 You Are Blushing<br /> Mia glanced at Aaron with a hint of surprise, thinking, "When does he become so warm and enthusiastic?<br /> His tone seemed a bit agitated earlier, didn't it?"<br /> Soon enough, Aaron brought two plates of noodles to the table. One steaming hot and the other devoid of any warmth.<br /> As Mia observed Aaron placing the plate without steam in front of Wesley, her expression changed slightly.<br /> It was a plate of instant noodles having soaked in cold water, with the seasoning barely dissolved.<br /> She felt a sense of panic. Mia had wanted to leave a good impression on Wesley, which was why she had chosen this place.<br /> However, Aaron had served such a plate of noodles.<br /> She dared not question Aaron. The type of noodles served here was not determined by the guests but by Aaron's mood.<br /> "This lass named Mia is quite something, living up to her name, and quite kind-hearted," Aaron remarked, looking at Wesley.<br /> "Get lost," Wesley retorted, using his fork to pick up the noodles and devouring them.<br /> Mia's face turned pale instantly. Disrespecting Aaron was akin to risking Wesley's life.<br /> To her astonishment, Aaron chuckled, tears welling up in his eyes.<br /> He wiped them away. "Alright, I'll leave you to your meal."<br /> Before departing, he gave Mia a thumbs-up. "Seize the opportunity."<br /> The eight plates of noodles symbolized the eight comrades who had faced life and hardships together.<br /> Wesley ate voraciously. Initially, they had only one pack of instant noodles to share among the eight of them, forcing them to divide it.<br /> Despite the circumstances, they devoured the noodles joyfully.<br /> Aaron had promised that once they survived, each one would have the most delicious plate of noodles.<br /> However, five of the eight had perished.<br /> Wesley had come dangerously close to life-threatening situations, but managed to cling to life.<br /> For him, the plate of noodles was not food but the bond of friendship that had shielded him from harm.<br /> "Do you... know each other?" Mia couldn't help but ask, her voice low and curious.<br /> "Some things are better left unknown," Wesley replied.<br /> Mia nodded in understanding, falling silent as they continued eating noodles. She couldn't help stealing glances at Wesley throughout the meal.<br /> This gent had piqued her curiosity even more.<br /> "Wesley, I see. No wonder you agreed to the divorce so readily. You've already found someone else outside."<br /> A sharp voice interrupted their meal.<br /> Taylor approached with a cold expression, accompanied by Henry.<br /> Taylor's mother was in the nearby hospital, and she had just picked up Frank, planning to buy some food when she unexpectedly saw Wesley.<br /> Of course, she saw Mia, too.<br /> Seeing Wesley dining with a lady more attractive than herself, so soon after the divorce felt like a dagger twisting in Taylor's heart.<br /> Her anger was uncontrollable.<br /> Wesley merely glanced at Taylor, disinterested in engaging with her.<br /> Taylor was stung by his indifferent gaze. She stepped forward, glaring at Wesley. "Are you not going to explain to me?"<br /> Mia looked at Taylor, silently cursing her as a foolish lady.<br /> Wesley continued eating his noodles, lowering his head. "Get lost. Don't disturb me, or I won't hesitate to hit you."<br /> "What did you say?" Henry stepped forward, enraged. "Wesley, try laying a hand on her! Is that all you're capable of? Laying hands on ladies?"<br /> "No wonder Taylor looks down on you. You're truly disgusting trash. Apologize to Taylor now, or else you'll regret coming into this world."<br /> "And how will he regret it? Tell me." Aaron emerged, carrying a cleaver, smiling as he faced Henry and Taylor.<br /> "Mr. Turner, we dare not cause trouble in your place, but this guy is just..."<br /> Henry attempted to speak but was cut off as Aaron's cleaver struck his face, sending him sprawling to the ground.<br /> "Mr. Turner, sorry, we'll leave now." Taylor hastily helped Henry up and hurriedly left.<br /> These two individuals were fortunate to know the legendary story behind Eight Plates of Noodles and had successfully made reservations to dine here multiple times.<br /> Having distanced themselves a bit, Henry covered his face and pointed at Wesley. "Wesley, we have some unfinished business. If you're smart, come over here now and apologize."<br /> "Wesley, I've seen through you as well. I never expected that for the past five years, you've been using my money to keep a lady on the side. We'll settle the score slowly."<br /> As the two noticed Aaron glancing their way, they quickly shut their mouths and hurriedly left.<br /> Once they were out of eyeshots, Aaron fixed his gaze on Wesley. "Your dad doesn't know about your divorce yet, does he?"<br /> "What difference would it make if he did?" Wesley stretched lazily. "I've fulfilled my promise. I've given enough."<br /> Aaron nodded in acknowledgment without saying anything further.<br /> This piqued Mia's curiosity even more. "Is it like what the novels depict? Did you marry Taylor due to some special event?"<br /> Seeing Wesley's glare, Mia lowered her head to focus on her noodles. "I won't ask anymore."<br /> "For the past five years, you've been staying in the stairwell. It has been hard for you, but at least you're still untouched," Aaron remarked before swiftly departing.<br /> Mia stared at Wesley in disbelief, realizing that Aaron's words were meant for her ears.<br /> "What are you staring at? Eat your noodles," Wesley said. Mia chuckled.<br /> "Why are you laughing?"<br /> "You're blushing."<br /> "Nonsense," Wesley retorted.<br /> Unable to contain herself, Mia burst into laughter. She had tried to hold it in, but seeing Wesley's flushed face made it impossible.<br /> Ten minutes later, Mia left on her own accord, sensing that Wesley had something to discuss with Aaron.<br /> Inside Aaron's small shop, Wesley opened a bottle of wine. "Still single?"<br /> "I look too old, no one's interested," Aaron replied, opening a bottle of liquor as well.<br /> "Then why are you meddling in my love lives?"<br /> "Leave a child behind, even if you pass away, someone will remember you." Aaron took a sip. "I've actually investigated this Mia."<br /> "You investigated her?"<br /> "I knew you'd get a divorce. I've been keeping an eye on the pretty ones. This girl had done a lot of good deeds before coming to Yeadeo. Once, she saved three people in a flood and nearly lost her life. Opportunities are rare. You have to seize them."<br /> "When you've figured things out and are ready to marry, then we can discuss our affairs. That's the condition." Wesley downed the entire bottle of liquor.<br /> "Otherwise, don't bother meddling. We're on a one-way path and can't drag others along."<br /> "You..." Aaron sighed as he watched Wesley's retreating figure.<br /> On the road leading to the Feidgeuo Manor, Taylor stood gazing blankly at the entrance not far away.<br /> Twice in one day, she had come here.<br /> The first time was to pick up Frank, and this time was because Frank had lost his expensive watch. She and Henry hadn't even had a meal, rushing over to find it.<br /> The first time, she had come in a hurry when Frank was injured and left quickly as well.<br /> But this time, as Taylor looked at the entrance ahead, an infinite longing sprouted within her.<br /> "If only... I could live here, how wonderful that would be."<br /> Henry looked at her. "One day, I'll definitely build an estate more magnificent than this, and you'll be the lady of the house."<br /> As they conversed, a taxi drove by, stopping at the entrance. The person who got out of the taxi left Taylor stunned.<br /> She rubbed her eyes.	Adoread	147	https://facebook.com/61556400142540	LEARN_MORE	1713682800	View Edit Delete
1666936	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727711	1734958297	695	1143347723480342	1	9.5390578311059E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	100365976129594	0	Puzzles & Chaos	120208137222710601	itunes.apple.com	Play game	NONE	video	HEAD-ON CONFRONTATION		http://itunes.apple.com/app/id6446389130		1713345943	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438902911_749372950636499_8421172953328460713_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Wr6UxDl6T6QQ7kNvgEXWUsx&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCNkw8hSpsX8H5xc6za4maM7h4U3XxiTS9tGrow_XUiqA&oe=663A76DA	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437789932_2648944475266371_5165297124271236601_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UlMY5eBQM-YQ7kNvgG9Un8U&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBmlxlxAXjGBQYPpKcVo2EaEZX5ZjChREEkfmiGu9UKBA&oe=663A9512	0	3	⚠Your allies have called you out! Match pieces to awaken heroes.	Puzzles & Chaos	12242	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	PLAY_GAME	1713337200	View Edit Delete
1666841	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727708	1734958298	695	414062668156291		1.5597180248779E+15	1713769200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	226177680578601	0	Adoread	120207746049430265	client.adoread.com	Learn more	NONE	image	🔥🔥🔥 Read More👉	Hottest novel👉👉👉	https://client.adoread.com/book/loading/page/adoread/19161308412?utm_campaign={{campaign.id}}&utm_content={{campaign.name}}		1713519398	2.261776805786E+14	Adoread	https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437724011_960421695526729_1516574307485338648_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QHGXZ-huQfoQ7kNvgFl-bAK&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAhittaAtIybg_0Gi8UYNoalMt3uRDbIai0DNMlEMFrFg&oe=663A90F9	person_profile	0	Adoread	https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437891881_25238797299100336_7255863263127890524_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UeFxFDUJUZIQ7kNvgF1dGXL&_nc_oc=AdjBlORU46gPxHeMvSIJmXMDx_1afwh7kp2UWRl9K25HmyfzpiuTkbEBFfXJmbiDJ-c&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCl6BW-kaMuwg-TQzlAPyzBHYyw1d6F5gFbxwKZGONM2w&oe=663A61E5	0	3	"Wesley, are you trying to harm me? You useless piece of trash, can't even make a decent cup of coffee, can you?"<br /> Madison Blair lifted her coffee cup and splashed it directly onto Wesley Harrington's face.<br /> "What are you looking at, you spineless waste? Your name sounds so lofty? I might as well call you a waste."<br /> Glancing at the grotesque expression of his wife's mother, Wesley pulled out his phone to check the time.<br /> Exactly twelve o'clock. It had been five full years since he married Taylor Reed.<br /> The appointed time had come.<br /> He had fulfilled his promise, safeguarding the Reed family for five years, transforming them from a family living off fishing to one perceived as affluent by the common folk.<br /> Wiping the coffee off his face, he turned and walked away.<br /> "Where do you think you're going? Go fetch some more coffee," Madison shouted.<br /> "Madison, didn't you say this waste is obedient at home, doing whatever he's told? I don't think he's taking it lying down."<br /> Madison grew angrier. "Wesley, you stop right there. My family has fed and housed you. If you dare disobey, I'll have you thrown out!"<br /> Ignoring her, Wesley continued downstairs.<br /> "When Taylor comes back, I'll immediately have you two divorced. Do you hear me? Stay right there," Madison threatened, "I'll let you know your place today."<br /> Grabbing a golf club, Madison swiftly charged towards Wesley.<br /> Seeing Wesley heading downstairs, she swung the club viciously at his back.<br /> Without turning back, Wesley gently sidestepped.<br /> Losing her balance, Madison tumbled forward, rolling down the stairs with a series of thumps.<br /> "Ouch... it hurts, it hurts so much!"<br /> As Madison reached the ground floor, she wailed in pain and her sister immediately rushed to her.<br /> "Wesley, what have you done? How dare you hit my sister!" Madison's sister hurried down, checking on Madison's condition.<br /> Wesley remained silent, observing the scene.<br /> "Quick, call Taylor. Tell her to come back. Today, she must divorce this waste." Madison glared at Wesley. "How dare you hit me? Not only will I let Taylor divorce you, but I'll make sure you leave in disgrace."<br /> "Mum, what's wrong?" At that moment, a gent and a lady walked in.<br /> The lady was Taylor, Madison's daughter.<br /> She ran towards Madison.<br /> As Madison pointed at Wesley, tears streamed down her face. "Taylor, he hit me, he hit me! When you're not home, he changes his attitude, scolding and hitting me in the slightest displeasure. He even pushed me down the stairs just now. Alexis can testify."<br /> Madison's sister, Alexis Blair, chimed in. "Yes, Wesley, this trash not only hit your mother but also threatened to hit me too. We cannot tolerate such trash."<br /> "Taylor, I have been telling you to divorce him for years. You've been supporting him, treating him like a Lord at home, but he's an ungrateful wolf in sheep's clothing."<br /> Helping Madison up, Taylor noticed the scrapes on Madison's arms and legs, her expression turning cold.<br /> "Wesley, why did you hit my mother? You better give me an explanation."<br /> Wesley looked at Taylor, his wife.<br /> Five years had passed, and she had never shown him kindness.<br /> Taylor dressed impeccably, a paragon of a successful lady, with a face that could be deemed angelic, yet whether her heart was as angelic remained a mystery.<br /> Her figure, too, left countless men yearning.<br /> For five years, Wesley had thought he might develop feelings for this lady, but in reality, it never happened.<br /> "There are surveillance cameras in the house," Wesley stated calmly before descending the stairs into the hallway.<br /> Despite residing in a three-story villa, Wesley's living quarters were confined to the stairwell.<br /> He harbored no resentment towards this arrangement. It was merely a promise. It was just that Taylor failed to appreciate him.<br /> This home held little value that he wished to cling onto.<br /> Retrieving a wooden box from beneath his pillow, Wesley extracted two documents. Casting a fleeting glance at the modest abode he had called home for five years, Wesley smiled faintly.<br /> He thought, "Finally... I'm free."<br /> Pushing the door ajar, Wesley was met by Taylor's piercing gaze. "I've reviewed the surveillance footage. Yes, my mother intended to strike you, but even if she did, what difference would it make?"<br /> "She's a lady. How much could her blows hurt you? Why did you dodge?"<br /> "If you hadn't dodged, my mother wouldn't have tumbled down." Wesley stared at Taylor, unable to comprehend her thought process.<br /> He had no interest in engaging in these arguments. Handing over the two documents to Taylor, he remarked, "The divorce agreement. I've already signed it. Take a look. I'm leaving with nothing."<br /> "With your current influence, there's no need for you to visit the city hall. Someone will handle it for you, right?"<br /> Madison was taken aback. She swiftly snatched the divorce agreement, flipping through it hastily.<br /> The contents were indeed straightforward. Both parties willingly divorced, with Wesley relinquishing all claims and having already signed.<br /> In an instant, Madison's pain seemed to dissipate. "Taylor, sign it quickly. Sign it."<br /> Taylor was still in a daze.<br /> She pondered.<br /> "A divorce agreement? Wesley has already prepared a divorce agreement. On what grounds?"<br /> "What gives him the right to initiate a divorce? All these years, he's done nothing at home, lacking any ambition. Always practicing martial arts, what right does he have to seek a divorce?"<br /> "If anyone should initiate it, it should be me. Moreover, now that I'm back to discussing this matter with him. Could it be that word got out, and Wesley, for the sake of his pride, rushed to prepare a divorce agreement first?"<br /> "It must be so, but... No!"<br /> "Wanting to leave with nothing, is he retreating to advance? As the chairman of the Reed Group, how could I be served with a divorce?"<br /> "Hey Wesley, I never expected this from you. Have I not treated you well enough? You seek a divorce, attempting to turn your retreat into advance, aiming to embarrass me?"<br /> Taylor glared at Wesley. "I'm telling you, it's impossible."<br /> Snatching the divorce agreement, she tore it to shreds.<br /> "Taylor, what are you doing? Such a great opportunity. Why not just sign it and let him leave?" Madison grew anxious.<br /> "Mom, I do intend to divorce this trash, but the decision must come from me. I returned specifically to address this matter."<br /> With that, Taylor produced two documents. "Wesley, remember that it's me who's divorcing you. It's me who no longer wants you. Initially, out of marital obligation, I had considered offering you some compensation. Now, you don't even need to think about it. Sign the divorce agreement and leave my home."<br /> Wesley offered a faint smile as he accepted the divorce agreement.<br /> "What are you laughing at?" Taylor demanded angrily.<br /> Wesley's smile seemed to mock her, fueling her rage.<br /> Ignoring her entirely, Wesley signed the document and handed it over.<br /> "What are you laughing at? Answer me! Who do you think you are?" Taylor roared once more.<br /> Wesley glanced at her before striding towards the exit.<br /> "Stop!" The gent who had accompanied Taylor stepped forward, blocking Wesley's path. "Taylor asked you a question, and... Your previous attitude displeased me. Apologize to Taylor, or I'll have you leave in disgrace!"<br /> Chapter 2 The Unspoken Truth<br /> <br /> "Yes, let him leave in disgrace. He thought he could just hit me and walk away so easily," Madison joined in the commotion, also noticing the gent blocking Wesley's path.<br /> Madison had a keen interest in luxury goods, having frequented various high-end establishments over the years as the Reed family's living conditions improved. The gent was wearing an expensive watch and dressed head to toe in high-end luxury brands.<br /> Seeing Madison's gaze, the gent spoke. "Rest assured, today Wesley must pay the price."<br /> The gent introduced himself, looking at Wesley, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Henry Clark, the eldest son of the Clark family and the general manager of the Clark Group in the North District."<br /> "From now on, I will accompany Taylor on her journey of life, and I will not allow anyone to bully her."<br /> "My identity carries weight. You should understand that. Now, apologize to Taylor. Apologize! Did you hear me? Apologize!"<br /> Madison's eyes lit up. She hadn't expected the gent before her to hold such a high status. She continued to shout, "Did you hear that? Taylor will be with Mr. Clark from now on. Apologize now."<br /> Wesley glanced at Henry, then at Taylor. He thought, "Have they been together all along?" Wesley had wanted to ask but decided against it because there was no need. He simply gave them a glance and continued walking towards the exit.<br /> "Are you ignoring me?" Henry's face turned cold as he reached out to grab Wesley. Henry's hand froze mid-air as he received a solid hit.<br /> "Until I sign the divorce papers, Taylor and I are still wife and husband. I don't care to investigate whether you two had any intimate relationship during that time, but don't provoke me, or I won't hesitate to make you regret it." Wesley's gaze was icy, and as Henry met his eyes, he felt a twinge of fear and swallowed his words.<br /> Taylor was also stunned. She knew exactly what Wesley had been like over the past five years. There were many surveillance cameras in the house, and she would often check them.<br /> Even when Taylor wasn't home, despite how her family treated Wesley, he always obeyed without complaint, especially towards her. He had never raised his voice, no matter how they treated him.<br /> Today, not only did Wesley dodge when her mother struck, but he also initiated the divorce and now even struck Henry. <br /> Taylor was at a loss for words, thinking, "How could this cowardly gent dare? On what grounds does he dare?"<br /> This change was difficult for Taylor to accept as if she didn't truly understand this guy. The gent who used to be obedient to her, completely submissive, now revealed this side of himself. She watched Wesley walk away in a daze, feeling a strange discomfort in her heart.<br /> "Isn't he leaving with nothing?" Alexis pointed at the wooden box Wesley was holding. "What is he taking with him?"<br /> Madison also realized. Over the past five years, Wesley had always treasured this wooden box, carrying it with him wherever he went. She thought there must be something valuable inside.<br /> Realizing this, Madison hurriedly followed. "Wesley, stop right there, leave the wooden box."<br /> Wesley paused, glanced at Madison, and said, "This is my personal belonging."<br /> "Nonsense, what personal belonging could you possibly have after marrying into the Reed family? Everything you've eaten, worn, and lived in over the years has been provided by the Reed family. Put it down."<br /> As she spoke, Madison reached out to grab the wooden box.<br /> "Ah..." A scream rang out as Madison quickly retracted her hand, a gash appearing on her palm, a crimson liquid dripping.<br /> The wooden box was now stained with the same crimson liquid, trembling lightly in Wesley's hand.<br /> "It's not the right time yet, the day you thirst for this crimson liquid will come," Wesley murmured softly, patting the box before turning to continue his stride towards the exit.<br /> "Monster! A monster!" Madison screamed, causing Taylor and the others to rush out. Seeing the wound in Madison's hand, Taylor was filled with rage.<br /> "Wesley, aren't you going to say something?" Wesley halted once more, contemplating before meeting Taylor's gaze.<br /> "Just stay out of my way from now on. Consider this a warning to you."<br /> "Taylor, that wooden box of his has a mechanism. It must hold something valuable! We can't let him take it with him," Madison, enduring the pain, reminded them.<br /> "Mom, your injury is important. We'll deal with him later. Let me take you to the hospital first." Taylor comforted Madison before calling out to the retreating Wesley.<br /> "Our marriage is over! Yet, you dared to hurt my mother! This won't be the end of it! I will make you regret it!" Ignoring her, Wesley continued walking out.<br /> "Rest assured, I promise he won't see the light of day tomorrow." Henry stepped forward to console. "Let's focus on getting your wound treated first."<br /> "I want him to regret ever existing in this world, to apologize to me in repentance," Madison roared.<br /> "Mom, trust me, I will make him do just that." Taylor looked at Madison with a mix of pity and determination. "Let's go to the hospital first."<br /> In the villa area, Wesley halted, his voice cold. "Get out."<br /> An elderly gent leaped down from a tree, appearing to be in his seventies, yet landing silently from a height of around ten feet.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, your father wants you to come home and take charge."<br /> "He stopped being my father five years ago. He's my enemy."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you misunderstood your father. He had his reasons back then. I swear in my life, once you know the truth, you will forgive him."<br /> "Huh!" Wesley smirked coldly, saying, "I nearly passed away back then. Is that also a misunderstanding?"<br /> The old gent pleaded, "Mr. Harrington, this situation is truly not as you perceive it."<br /> Wesley didn't engage further with the old guy. The events of that year were etched in his memory forever. He was the one who had been abandoned. If not for that incident, why would he have stayed with the Reed family for five years?<br /> Watching Wesley walk away, the old gent had tears silently streaming down his face. "Mr. Harrington, I truly... I truly can't bring myself to speak the truth, but you have misunderstood your father. He also bears burdens and endures pains beyond what an ordinary person can handle."<br /> As Wesley's figure disappeared, the old gent stood up, hesitated for a moment, then dialed a number on his phone.<br /> "Mr. Harrington is now divorced. I've given you the news firsthand. If your daughter is truly together with Mr. Harrington, you must fulfill the promise and let her persuade Mr. Harrington to come home."<br /> After hanging up, a middle-aged gent in a luxurious estate jumped up excitedly. Calming himself, he immediately made another call. "My dear, you're at Yeadeo, right?<br /> "Go find Wesley now. Don't mention the engagement for now. Use every means to get close to him, make him fall in love with you."<br /> "Dad, I don't have time."<br /> "No matter what you are busy with, you must go find Wesley now. No matter what reason you approach him, you must leave a good impression the first time."<br /> "Dad, I'm in trouble right now. If I don't handle it well, I might be good as gone. I have to deal with it immediately. I'm hanging up."<br /> Chapter 3 You're Nothing<br /> The middle-aged gent's voice lowered significantly. "Is there a big incident happening? You didn't tell me? What happened?"<br /> "Quinn Kingsley from Yeadeo, Mr. Kingsley, used our product and now has one foot on the grave. If something really happens to him..."<br /> "You mean Quinn, the uncontested leader of Yeadeo?"<br /> "Yes."<br /> "In that case, you should go find Wesley. Trust me, in this world, there is no problem that Wesley can't solve. As long as he's willing to help, you'll be fine. Listen to me, go find Wesley immediately."<br /> The lady fell silent for a moment before saying, "Okay."<br /> At Yeadeo Harbor, a gent with a large flaxen chain and a watch, sporting a crew cut, hurriedly disembarked, accompanied by a dozen gentlemen.<br /> "Mr. Reed, wherever that trash is, we will find him and tear him apart."<br /> "Yes, that guy dared to harm your mother. We'll make sure he pays for it."<br /> Frank Reed's face turned cold. "Wesley, you coward, thinking you can overturn the world? How dare you touch my mom? Just wait until I find you, you're finished."<br /> "We've found him. Wesley got into a taxi, and our boys followed him."<br /> "Let's go!" Frank waved his hand, leading dozens of men who boarded the car with harpoons, steel pipes, and other weapons.<br /> Inside the taxi, Wesley gazed at the scenery outside, feeling a strange sense of tranquility.<br /> He thought to himself, "I never imagined that while I was secretly paving the way for the Reed family, Taylor, after progressing so rapidly, would start looking down on me more and more."<br /> "Those ladies who know my true identity, which one of them isn't trying to throw themselves at me? Ladies like that don't interest me."<br /> "Being an ordinary gent is truly difficult," Wesley murmured, smiling faintly and deciding not to dwell on these matters anymore. He had important things to attend to and no time to waste on personal affairs.<br /> "Young lad, are you going to Feidgeuo Manor for a job interview?" The driver, curious about Wesley's destination, inquired.<br /> Feidgeuo Manor was Yeadeo's most mysterious private area. Originally a villa area, it was bought at a huge cost five years ago and completely renovated. It was said to have cost a trillion dollars. The former villa area was now Feidgeuo Manor.<br /> "That's my home," Wesley replied nonchalantly.<br /> The driver was taken aback by this revelation, silently cursing Wesley for bragging. After a couple of minutes, the driver regained his composure. "It seems like you and I both prefer to keep a low profile. My car usually gathers dust at home, so I occasionally drive a taxi to experience life."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "My car has been driven by my assistant for the past few years, so it's not gathering dust."<br /> "Haha..." The driver laughed. "We should get together sometime and see whose car is more impressive."<br /> "Sure, whenever we have the time."<br /> As they chatted, the vehicle soon arrived near Feidgeuo Manor, where the massive head of the Feidgeuo Peak protruded, creating a unique landscape in Yeadeo.<br /> The driver asked with a smile, "Since you're the owner here, it's fine if I drive in, right?"<br /> "Of course," Wesley replied.<br /> As soon as Wesley spoke, several cars caught up from behind.<br /> The cars surrounded the one Wesley was in, with the front vehicles braking to force the car to a stop.<br /> When numerous people descended from cars wielding harpoons and steel pipes, the driver's face paled.<br /> Frank and his group got out of the cars, instantly closing in, and without hesitation, started attacking, the steel pipes and harpoons thudding against the car.<br /> Frank's henchman yanked open the door of Wesley's car, poised to stab Wesley with a harpoon, but Wesley swiftly exited the vehicle.<br /> With a firm step on the ground, he launched a swift hit.<br /> A muffled sound echoed as the henchman was hit away.<br /> "What are you looking at?" Frank noticed his henchmen were all staring at him. "All of you, attack together and take him down!"<br /> As he commanded, the henchmen Frank brought with him surged forward.<br /> The taxi driver, trembling, took out his phone to call the police, but Frank glared at him. "I am Frank Reed from Yeadeo Harbor. If you dare, go ahead and make that call."<br /> Frank, leveraging his sister Taylor's status, had been causing trouble in Yeadeo Harbor, and no one dared to provoke him.<br /> Upon hearing Frank's name, the driver hastily put away his phone. "Mr. Reed, I'll just check the time, you guys continue."<br /> "Huh!" Frank snorted coldly, casting his gaze towards the surrounded Wesley.<br /> The sounds of thuds continued to ring out incessantly. Because Wesley was completely surrounded, Frank was unable to see the situation inside clearly, but he could imagine it. After all, in Frank's mind, the henchmen under his command were not to be trifled with.<br /> "Hit him hard for me!"<br /> Another muffled sound and a figure flew out. At that moment, Frank finally saw the situation clearly, and his face turned pale.<br /> Frank knew that Wesley liked to practice martial arts, but he had never expected Wesley to be this skilled. It wasn't Wesley who had been beaten, but his own men by Wesley alone.<br /> Frantically, Frank turned and ran to retrieve a crossbow from the car.<br /> "Clear the way." Frank bellowed, aiming the crossbow at Wesley.<br /> "You scumbag, you think you can fight? Move one more time, and I'll end your life! Surrender!"<br /> Wesley, holding a wooden box, stared at Frank. Ignoring the crossbow in his hand, Wesley said, "Tell your henchmen to back off, or you'll all see the light from above!"<br /> "You're really good at pretending to be tough." Frank took two steps forward. "See the light? Move a muscle and see if I can end your life or not! If you don't have the guts, apologize now!"<br /> Wesley turned his head and looked at the approaching cars, with two expensive ones in the lead, two more in the rear, and another one in the middle.<br /> "Keep acting tough, and I'll put a hole in your head." Frank spoke while glancing at the five cars. "What, looking for help?"<br /> "Let me tell you, those who ride in these cars are not the kind of weaklings like you who rely on connections. With me here, in Yeadeo's social hierarchy, even those who ride in such cars wouldn't dare meddle in this matter. And let me make it clear, without my sister, you're nothing."<br /> Chapter 4 Is He Worthy?<br /> As Frank's words faded, the five cars came to a halt.<br /> A bodyguard opened the door of the one in the middle, revealing a dazzling pair of shining shoes catching everyone's eye.<br /> The shining shoe encased a beautiful foot. Above, the skirt's hem was adorned with lace.<br /> Then, like a fairy stepping out of a painting, she appeared before everyone's eyes.<br /> The lady was beautiful!<br /> Frank was mesmerized. Ever since the Reed family rose to prominence, he had been surrounded by ladies, but compared to the elegant lady before him, they were worlds apart.<br /> It wasn't just a difference in appearance but an incomparable gap in demeanor.<br /> The lady descending from the Maybach seemed like a celestial being untouched by mortal affairs.<br /> The embodiment of a fairy in the mundane world.<br /> She simply stood there after getting out of the car, perfectly embodying what it meant to be graceful and elegant.<br /> The lady glanced at Wesley, then at Frank.<br /> Frank grinned, saying, "May I have the honor of knowing the name of this esteemed lady? I am Frank..."<br /> The lady spoke calmly. "Disrespect Mr. Harrington, and you're done for."<br /> Her bodyguards, unfazed by Frank's crossbow, swiftly overwhelmed him, sending him crashing to the ground.<br /> The henchmen who had come with Frank, previously defeated by Wesley, now scrambled to their feet and fled in all directions.<br /> Who would dare provoke someone who could afford such a car?<br /> "My sister is Taylor Reed, the chairperson of Reed Group," Frank shouted, clutching his head.<br /> Ignoring him, one of the bodyguards dragged him to the roadside grass while another used a belt to tighten around Frank's neck, exerting pressure.<br /> "Enough, a lesson is all that's needed." Wesley spoke calmly, and only when the lady gestured did the bodyguards release Frank.<br /> Frank lay there, already unconscious.<br /> Wesley turned to the lady. "Who are you?"<br /> "I am Mia Roberts, the general manager of Vinver Business Alliance's Yeadeo branch." She looked at Wesley and continued, "Mr. Harrington, my father mentioned that you have miraculous healing skills and earnestly requested your assistance. A generous reward awaits."<br /> Wesley furrowed his brow slightly, thinking, "There are indeed people who recognize my abilities and status, yet I've rarely intervened in the past five years. Today, shortly after I divorced Taylor, she is here. Whose arrangement is this?"<br /> "Mr. Harrington, my father also mentioned that you are benevolent and has raised the banner of compassion among healers, serving as a role model and benchmark for all in the medical field."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "You have a way with words. Tell me the specifics."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, please get in the car first. I will explain in detail on the way."<br /> The phrase "compassionate healer" held significant weight for Wesley, who had saved countless lives from the brink of death.<br /> Without further ado, he got into the car.<br /> Inside, after Mia brewed coffee for Wesley, she began. "Vinver Business Alliance has a wide range of business operations, and I mainly oversee the health supplement sector, which has seen some success in recent years.<br /> "Recently, Quinn Kingsley started using our medicines, and now there's an accident."<br /> As she spoke, Mia kept her gaze fixed on Wesley.<br /> Quinn, the undisputed leader of Yeadeo, was a figure of immense influence.<br /> Upon hearing this name, Wesley showed no particular reaction. "If the city's leader faces issues with your products, it is indeed a concern. Let's go and see."<br /> With just a sentence, Wesley leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest.<br /> Mia was secretly alarmed, thinking, "He knows who Quinn is, yet he seems indifferent. Who is this Wesley, really? No wonder Dad has instructed me to find a way to win his favor." Mia's inner resistance toward Wesley quietly shifted.<br /> Wesley had piqued her curiosity.<br /> As the vehicle was moving, Wesley's phone rang.<br /> Wesley opened his eyes and took out his phone to see Taylor calling.<br /> Pressing the answer button, he asked, "What's the matter?"<br /> On the other end of the line, Taylor, driving towards Feidgeuo Manor, had a grim expression.<br /> She thought, "Has Wesley ever spoken to me in such a cold tone before? Is he really this heartless right after our divorce?"<br /> Already furious, she snapped. "Wesley, do you even consider yourself a human being?<br /> "Today, not only did you lay hands on my mother, but you also had someone attack my brother. Do you not remember our past at all?"<br /> Wesley calmly replied, "Do we have a past to remember?"<br /> "You truly are a heartless scumbag, just as my mother said. You are an ungrateful and vicious person I raised for five years. Even a pet would wag its tail at me!"<br /> Taylor wanted to continue her tirade, but the phone line had already turned busy.<br /> This only fueled her anger further.<br /> Just now, she had received a call from Frank's underlings, informing her that Wesley had sent people to attack Frank and even intended to end him.<br /> Taylor wanted to demand answers, but...<br /> As Taylor was clutching her fists, her gaze turned icy.<br /> After a moment, she picked up her phone again. "Wesley, you are so narrow-minded. You have no ambition. Any lady would steer clear of you."<br /> "Just because I dumped you, you are doing this on purpose to make me feel sick. Pretending to be aloof and seeking revenge? Do you even deserve it?"<br /> "In Yeadeo, squashing you would be as easy as squashing an ant. You're asking for it! If anything happens to my brother, I will make you wish you were ending!"<br /> Her furious voice message echoed in the car.<br /> Wesley chuckled and put away his phone.<br /> Beside him, Mia seemed contemplative. Before coming, she had already ordered a swift investigation into Wesley.<br /> She was curious, thinking, "How could someone valued by my father could be the one 'marrying into' the Reed family."<br /> Being tactful, Mia chose not to ask and pretended not to have heard.<br /> After about forty minutes, they arrived at the Kingsley Manor.<br /> The Kingsley family members, upon seeing Mia alight from the car, all wore grim expressions.<br /> Mia greeted them with a smile, "Everyone, this is Wesley Harrington, Mr. Harrington, the miraculous healer I specially invited to treat Mr. Kingsley."<br /> "Him? The gent who married into the Reed family?"<br /> "A miraculous healer? Is he even worthy? Are healers so worthless now?"<br /> "A useless gent who mooches off of the Reed family? How dare he call himself a miraculous healer? Truly a joke among all jokes."<br /> Chapter 5 Compassionate Healer<br /> Amanda Kingsley, Quinn's granddaughter, stared coldly at Wesley and Mia.<br /> This lady, dressed in a smart suit, also held significant fame in Yeadeo, overseeing the region's business activities, including investment attraction and various local business negotiations.<br /> Amanda had a favorable view of Taylor, who had risen swiftly in recent times, and they had interacted frequently.<br /> She was aware of Wesley's existence and had advised Taylor to part ways with him early on.<br /> But Amanda never imagined that Mia would bring someone like Wesley, a complete waste, and claim he was a miraculous healer.<br /> Glaring at Mia, she said, "Mia, once my grandfather is well, it's best for your Roberts family to leave Yeadeo."<br /> "As for you..." She glanced at Wesley. "I will advise Taylor to divorce you. You have deceived Taylor's feelings and now shamelessly made your way into my family. You are a despicable creature."<br /> After reprimanding Mia and Wesley, she turned to an elderly gent beside her, and her tone and attitude completely changed. "Mr. Phillips, sorry to trouble you. My grandfather is inside, please."<br /> Mia looked at the elderly gent, who was already in his twilight years, feeling deeply shocked.<br /> Scott Phillips, the 38th generation heir of the Healing Clinic, was now ninety-two years old.<br /> Renowned as a miraculous healer, he was a respected figure in the medical community of Yeadeo and even nationally.<br /> He no longer conducted consultations personally due to his old age. Mia had visited him specifically to pay her respects once she had arrived in Yeadeo but had not met Scott.<br /> She never expected Scott to appear in person. It was understandable, as Quinn held a prominent position in the city. Despite the profound influence of the Phillips family, they still had to show respect to Quinn.<br /> Mia looked at Wesley, feeling conflicted and thinking, "Dad has confidently claimed that Wesley has extraordinary abilities, but does he really?"<br /> She harbored doubts, but out of propriety, Mia spoke. "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the trouble."<br /> Wesley smiled, "It's fine. As long as the person can be healed."<br /> His open-mindedness impressed Mia.<br /> After about half an hour, Amanda emerged from the room. All eyes instantly turned towards her.<br /> It was evident that Amanda had wailed out, with traces of tears still visible.<br /> "Amanda, how is it?" A middle-aged gent anxiously asked her.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family who had rushed back also focused their attention on her.<br /> "Mr. Phillips said that there's little hope of recovery. He could only use acupuncture to wake grandfather for half an hour. When grandfather wakes up, let's all go in and see if he has any final instructions."<br /> Everyone was shocked.<br /> "How could this be?"<br /> "Is Mr. Phillips also helpless?"<br /> The members of the Kingsley family found it hard to accept this reality, especially since Quinn had always treated his juniors well.<br /> The thought of Quinn departing saddened some, and tears silently fell.<br /> Publicly, Quinn's status was the foundation of the Kingsley family's prominence in Yeadeo.<br /> If Quinn were to pass away, the Kingsley family would undoubtedly decline.<br /> The atmosphere within the Kingsley family was somber.<br /> Amanda looked at her family members, opened her mouth, but said nothing, silently turning back into the room.<br /> "Stop crying," A middle-aged gent said sternly, "Dad wouldn't want to see you all in tears. If he's really leaving, we mustn't let him worry about us. Pull yourselves together."<br /> After these words, the middle-aged gent also entered the room.<br /> The younger members of the Kingsley family wiped their tears vigorously, trying to force smiles, but in truth, they looked better at crying than pretending to be happy.<br /> Mia's spirit plummeted as she realized the gravity of the situation. Even if an ordinary person passed away from consuming health supplements, it spelled big trouble for those who sold them. And when the deceased happened to be Quinn, the stakes were even higher.<br /> She understood that it would be difficult for this branch to stay in Yeadeo, and even the headquarters might face repercussions.<br /> "Let's go in and have a look." Wesley glanced at Mia. "There might still be a chance."<br /> "Ah..." Mia stared at Wesley in surprise. Seeing him already heading towards the room, she quickly followed suit.<br /> Inside the room, the members of the Kingsley family stood around the mattress, maintaining a certain distance.<br /> Scott lit the alcohol lamp and took out the needles, his expression solemn.<br /> He looked at the members of the Kingsley family. "Think about what you want to say to Mr. Kingsley later. Once you're ready, let me know, and then I'll proceed with the acupuncture."<br /> As he said this, tears welled up in many eyes.<br /> "If you don't mind, let me take a look. I have a way." Wesley spoke up, drawing everyone's attention.<br /> Amanda's face darkened. "Who let you in? Get out!"<br /> "Mia, have you lost your mind? Tricked by this trash and actually brought him here as a miracle healer. Get out with him! I'll settle the score with you in a couple of days."<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, at a loss for words.<br /> "Even Mr. Phillips is unable to reverse the situation. What use are you? Get out." Another younger member of the Kingsley family angrily rebuked.<br /> The middle-aged gent added, "We're in no mood right now. You better leave immediately."<br /> "I understand your narrow-mindedness," Wesley continued, "But as a healer, once I see a patient, I cannot stand by and watch him draw his last breath."<br /> "Wesley, you're quite the charlatan. Do you really want to be gone right now?" Amanda's voice was filled with anger.<br /> "Amanda, let me say a few words," Scott interjected, and Amanda fell silent.<br /> Looking at Wesley, Scott began. "Young lad, at my age, I've seen a lot and have a broad perspective. Today, however, I find it hard to remain indifferent. I practiced medicine from the age of sixteen until I stopped seeing patients for a total of seventy years."<br /> "I've saved countless patients from various illnesses. I never easily declare a patient's fate, nor do I believe I have the right to do so."<br /> "But from your recent remarks, it seems like you're accusing me of such actions. Young people wanting to make a name for themselves by stepping on the shoulders of their predecessors, I can understand."<br /> "But this kind of behavior displeases me."<br /> "My displeasure, what does it mean to you? Do you understand?"<br /> "Even if you are a healer, your career will be ruined because of this."<br /> Chapter 6 Hand of Hell<br /> In the face of Scott's veiled threats, Wesley simply smiled and brushed them off.<br /> Looking at Scott, he asked, "I've always focused on the issue at hand rather than attacking individuals. I have a few questions for you. If you can't administer the needles, how long do you think Quinn can hold on?"<br /> "Seven days, but he will remain unconscious," Scott replied bluntly.<br /> "Then let me ask you this, is there anyone in the world with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "Outrageous," Amanda coldly interjected, "Mr. Phillips is unparalleled in his medical expertise."<br /> Scott glanced at Amanda. "Amanda, let me handle this question."<br /> Continuing to address Wesley, he said, "I don't underestimate myself, nor do I overestimate. There are countless talented individuals in the world, like stars in the sky. I may not dare claim to be the best in medical skills, but those who surpass me are few."<br /> "That means there are some," Wesley calmly remarked, causing Scott's expression to shift slightly, "Indeed, there are."<br /> "Then let me ask you this. Do you think within seven days, the Kingsley family won't find someone with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "If they do find someone, do you believe there is an illness that you cannot cure, but this person can?"<br /> Wesley's questions were sharp and resounding.<br /> Scott's face changed once more as he was rendered speechless.<br /> "Even if there is, that person will never be you." Amanda's face turned icy. "Now get out. Don't spout your eloquence here. Your deceitful behavior is repulsive."<br /> "Your understanding of me is merely hearsay, isn't it?" Wesley retorted, his gaze mocking Amanda, "Has your background and education taught you such arrogance and prejudice?"<br /> "Arrogance?" Amanda's face grew colder as she disdainfully looked at Wesley. "Prejudice?<br /> "Did I say something wrong just now? You are nothing but stagnant waste, a parasite living off others. If it weren't for Taylor, you would have starved on the streets long ago."<br /> "Relying on sweet words, deceiving Taylor. She, with her kind heart, can't bear to divorce you, but don't push your luck. If it weren't for Taylor's sake, you would have been sent out long ago."<br /> Scott interrupted Amanda, "Amanda, although I find this lad a bit annoying, what he said does hold some truth. There are indeed individuals with better medical skills than me. Your grandfather can hold on for seven days. Try reaching out to see if someone can come over. I'll help you make connections."<br /> "If it really doesn't work out after seven days, I'll administer the needles to your grandfather. However, at that point, I can only buy you three minutes."<br /> As soon as Scott spoke, the faces of the Kingsley family members grew even more solemn. True healers were rare and not easily summoned.<br /> While the Kingsley family had connections in Yeadeo, their influence waned outside of it.<br /> "Mr. Phillips, please administer the needles. Life has its ups and downs, and we understand that. Just buy my father a bit more time." The middle-aged gent spoke up.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family nodded in agreement.<br /> Amanda looked at Scott. "Mr. Phillips, please."<br /> "In that case, please have everyone unrelated leave. I need silence," Scott calmly stated.<br /> Amanda glared at Wesley, her eyes speaking volumes without a word.<br /> The unrelated individuals were, naturally, Wesley and Mia.<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, intending to leave, but she suddenly hesitated.<br /> Instead of leaving, Wesley moved forward.<br /> "What are you doing?" A young member of the Kingsley family stepped forward with a stern expression, pushing Wesley.<br /> In one swift motion, Wesley executed a clean shoulder throw, toppling the young gent to the ground, his own expression turning cold.<br /> "A bunch of fools! If it weren't for my teacher's teachings about not turning a blind eye to those in need, I wouldn't bother with you ignorant lot," Wesley remarked with disdain.<br /> As Wesley effortlessly took down one individual from the Kingsley family, the others seemed slow to react.<br /> By the time they realized what was happening, Wesley had already picked up the needle next to Scott and casually flicked his wrist.<br /> The needle flew out of his hand, piercing Quinn's temple, followed by a second needle, a third needle, and so on.<br /> "What are you doing? Stop!" Amanda's voice rose in urgency, echoed by the rest of the Kingsley family members who rushed forward to restrain Wesley.<br /> "Stay back, everyone. Wait." Scott suddenly stood up, blocking the others. "Let him try."<br /> Amanda and the others were left dumbfounded, thinking, "What does this mean?"<br /> Despite their confusion, they heeded Scott's words.<br /> After Scott stopped the members of the Kingsley family, he fixed his gaze on Wesley.<br /> Wesley proceeded to use eighteen needles in succession, symbolizing the levels of pain.<br /> Even if someone had descended into the depths of hell, they must be brought back.<br /> The final needle, also piercing a vital point, caused Quinn's body to tremble suddenly, resonating with the previous eighteen needles.<br /> Scott's eyes widened, his body trembling slightly. His reaction left Amanda and the others even more puzzled, but none dared to interrupt.<br /> Moments later, Wesley placed a palm on Quinn's chest, causing all eighteen needles to be shaken off. When all the needles landed on the ground, the part of the skin where the needles had pierced turned dark.<br /> Wesley then dragged Quinn to the edge of the mattress, flipped him over with his head facing downwards, and gave him a firm pat on the back.<br /> Quinn spat out a mouthful of black liquid. When Wesley flipped him back to lie flat, his complexion had regained some color.<br /> "The Hand of Darkness... It's the Hand of Darkness!" Scott exclaimed with excitement, his body quivering, "It's the Hand that descends into the dark world, snatching people from the hands of the Evil!"<br /> "You do have some knowledge, recognizing the Hand of Darkness." Wesley glanced at Scott.<br /> Scott's gaze towards Wesley had undergone a drastic change. He respectfully clasped his hands together.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thirty years ago, I had the honor of attending a teaching conference held by Mr. Vanderbilt. I saw the Hand of Darkness, but my limited aptitude only allowed me to grasp the basics."<br /> "I have been blind and ignorant. I apologize for my earlier offenses. Please forgive me, Mr. Harrington."<br /> The Mr. Vanderbilt Scott referred to was Wesley's teacher, Ulysses Vanderbilt. He generously imparted his skills to others, but the ability to learn depended on one's innate talent.<br /> In this world, few could learn Ulysses' skills.<br /> Scott had been fortunate to receive guidance from Ulysses, which had elevated his medical skills. However, the Hand of Darkness, a miraculous ability, was beyond his comprehension.<br /> Wesley smiled faintly, "Your actions earlier are understandable. I appreciate your words."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you must be an exceptional disciple of Mr. Vanderbilt, possessing unparalleled magnanimity. Impressive," Scott continued.<br /> "Enough with the flattery at your age."<br /> "You are mistaken, Mr. Harrington. Every word I speak is sincere."<br /> Mia, Amanda, and the others stood bewildered by the unfolding situation.<br /> "Mr. Phillips... he... he..." Amanda's words faltered.<br /> Scott turned to the members of the Kingsley family. "Meeting Mr. Harrington was Quinn's luck. His symptoms have been cured by Mr. Harrington. With a few days of rest, he will be fine."<br /> The waste Taylor had previously said was called Mr. Harrington by Scott!<br /> Recalling their previous attitudes, Amanda hurriedly apologized, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> The members of the Kingsley family all apologized in unison, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> Chapter 7 Eight Plates of Noodles<br /> With a faint smile, Wesley remarked, "As family members of a patient, your actions earlier are understandable. There's no need for such formality."<br /> Amanda's perplexity deepened as she thought, "Where is the cowardly waste that Taylor described? This display of magnanimity and breadth is far from it."<br /> Mia, too, felt a shiver of realization, thinking, "No wonder Dad has insisted on my proximity to Wesley.<br /> This guy..."<br /> She gazed at Wesley, her curiosity piqued, a sense of exploration stirring within her.<br /> "Mia has brought you here, Mr. Harrington, to cure my grandfather. The Kingsley family will never forget this act. However, considering that my grandfather's ailment stemmed from the health supplements produced by the Vinver Business Alliance, we will be conducting an investigation into it."<br /> Amanda continued, looking at Wesley, "What do you think... of this approach?"<br /> It was Mia who had invited Wesley, so Amanda had grown wiser, refraining from asking for a direct punishment of the Vinver Business Alliance.<br /> As Mia heard Amanda's words, her heart skipped a beat, realizing trouble was brewing.<br /> "On the way here, Ms. Roberts briefed me on the situation. You conducted experiments on mice, correct?"<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes, the health supplements we received were exclusively provided by the Roberts family. There were no similar cases on the market, so we used mice for testing.<br /> "All the mice that ingested this supplement were gone."<br /> She looked at Mia and added, her voice turned colder. "Before the experiment, I specifically contacted Mia to inquire about the testing methods during the development phase, which involved mice."<br /> "There have been individuals eyeing my grandfather's position, some even wishing for his demise. I never imagined that the Vinver Business Alliance, which I attracted for investment, would become a weapon in someone else's hands."<br /> "Do you have any of the remaining medicine?" Wesley inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes."<br /> "Bring some over."<br /> Immediately, someone fetched the medicine. After it was brought to him, Wesley took out a supplement and swallowed it directly.<br /> This scene left Amanda and the others dumbfounded.<br /> Scott, too, was bewildered. "Mr. Harrington, what are you doing?"<br /> Wesley smiled, "Just proving that this medicine is not toxic."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thank you," Mia thanked sincerely, feeling like sobbing at that moment.<br /> Amanda, with a puzzled expression, looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, are you suggesting that my grandfather's condition wasn't caused by the Vinver Business Alliance's medicine? What about the mice?"<br /> The rest were equally puzzled.<br /> "Yes, but not entirely," Wesley said, leaving everyone even more bewildered.<br /> Mia's emotions were like a rollercoaster ride, from relief to immediate tension.<br /> "This medicine itself is not toxic, but when taken with another substance made from a certain plant, it results in Quinn's condition. The mice would die immediately, while humans could endure a few more days."<br /> Wesley continued to explain, "The plant used in this concoction is originally meant for crafting slow-acting toxins, not for human consumption."<br /> Looking at Amanda, Wesley said, "During this period, whoever had access to your grandfather and the mice will better understand why these events occurred."<br /> The gaze of members of the Kingsley family immediately focused on a lady.<br /> Amanda, somewhat incredulous, looked at her. "Can you offer an explanation?"<br /> The lady was the wife of Amanda's deceased brother. She found it hard to accept, as did the rest of the Kingsley family.<br /> This lady had been named the exemplary lady who served her family well this year, not due to her connection with the Kingsley family but because she genuinely deserved it.<br /> "What do you mean? Amanda, what explanation do you want from me?"<br /> The lady stared at Amanda. "Am I the only one who had access to Grandfather and the mice? You, and you... and you, who didn't have access?"<br /> "You all claim to treat me as family. Since I married into the Kingsley family, I have worked diligently, contributing my share even if not acknowledged."<br /> "Amanda, it has been over a year since your brother passed, and I never once considered remarrying. Now, just because of his words, you demand an explanation from me?"<br /> Pointing at Wesley, the lady questioned, "Just because he accuses me of poisoning, you suspect me? Tell me, did I poison him?" The lady glared at Wesley.<br /> "I am merely analyzing the facts. As for concluding this case, it's not within my purview," Wesley addressed the members of the Kingsley family, saying, "You should conduct a thorough investigation into this matter.<br /> "I will write a prescription. Have Quinn take it on time, and he will recover in seven days."<br /> Amanda hurried to fetch paper and pen while Wesley prepared the prescription. Once done, he was ready to leave.<br /> Amanda said hurriedly, "Mr. Harrington, I've already made arrangements for lunch."<br /> "No need," Wesley smiled.<br /> The Kingsley family sought to build closer ties with Wesley, given his extraordinary medical skills. Wesley was well aware of this.<br /> Looking at Amanda and the others, Wesley remarked, "In the future, if you encounter any difficult medical cases that others cannot solve, seek me out. Remember, cases others cannot solve."<br /> The gaze of the Kingsley family members toward Wesley changed once again. Many renowned healers had eccentric personalities and were difficult to engage.<br /> They hadn't expected Wesley to possess such remarkable medical skills without any airs.<br /> As Wesley prepared to depart, the members of the Kingsley family did not dare to insist on his stay, so they accompanied him outside.<br /> "Oh, how could we forget such an important matter? Amanda, what about the consultation fee?" The middle-aged gent inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the oversight. Please wait a moment." Amanda hurried back inside and soon returned with a bank card in hand.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, there's one million dollars in here."<br /> Without hesitation, Wesley accepted the bank card and boarded Mia's car.<br /> During the journey, Mia boldly looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, you've helped me immensely. Can I treat you to a meal? Don't decline in a hurry. It's not a fancy restaurant, but it will leave you wanting more. It's a small place on the street, with only eight plates of noodles served each day, each plate containing different ingredients."<br /> "I managed to secure a reservation. Are you interested?"<br /> Wesley thought, "Eight Plates of Noodles?<br /> "Ah, Aaron's restaurant. It has been a while since I visited those old friends."<br /> Wesley nodded. "Let's go then."<br /> The restaurant, Eight Plates of Noodles, was located on Chanxold Street near the Yeadeo First Central Hospital.<br /> The establishment was small, serving only eight plates of noodles each day at a price of 10 thousand dollars each. Vernoic's television culinary program had specifically covered this incident.<br /> Reservations were a must to secure a plate.<br /> The restaurant's owner had a mysterious background. While the specifics were unknown, a high-ranking noble from the capital of Vernoic, Kingsland, had caused a scene there once.<br /> He had attempted to force his way in without a reservation. Although this incident hadn't been reported, rumors suggested that a garbage truck had to be called to dispose of the intruder's remains, as he was too shattered to be removed by conventional means.<br /> Since then, no one dared to cause trouble.<br /> On their way, Mia introduced Wesley to the background story.<br /> "Mr. Turner, two plates of noodles." Mia called out once they arrived.<br /> Aaron Turner didn't respond but visibly paused upon seeing Wesley beside Mia.<br /> A faint smile appeared on his usually stoic face. Though the flesh on the face seemed stiff, it was indeed a smile. "Coming right up."<br /> Chapter 8 You Are Blushing<br /> Mia glanced at Aaron with a hint of surprise, thinking, "When does he become so warm and enthusiastic?<br /> His tone seemed a bit agitated earlier, didn't it?"<br /> Soon enough, Aaron brought two plates of noodles to the table. One steaming hot and the other devoid of any warmth.<br /> As Mia observed Aaron placing the plate without steam in front of Wesley, her expression changed slightly.<br /> It was a plate of instant noodles having soaked in cold water, with the seasoning barely dissolved.<br /> She felt a sense of panic. Mia had wanted to leave a good impression on Wesley, which was why she had chosen this place.<br /> However, Aaron had served such a plate of noodles.<br /> She dared not question Aaron. The type of noodles served here was not determined by the guests but by Aaron's mood.<br /> "This lass named Mia is quite something, living up to her name, and quite kind-hearted," Aaron remarked, looking at Wesley.<br /> "Get lost," Wesley retorted, using his fork to pick up the noodles and devouring them.<br /> Mia's face turned pale instantly. Disrespecting Aaron was akin to risking Wesley's life.<br /> To her astonishment, Aaron chuckled, tears welling up in his eyes.<br /> He wiped them away. "Alright, I'll leave you to your meal."<br /> Before departing, he gave Mia a thumbs-up. "Seize the opportunity."<br /> The eight plates of noodles symbolized the eight comrades who had faced life and hardships together.<br /> Wesley ate voraciously. Initially, they had only one pack of instant noodles to share among the eight of them, forcing them to divide it.<br /> Despite the circumstances, they devoured the noodles joyfully.<br /> Aaron had promised that once they survived, each one would have the most delicious plate of noodles.<br /> However, five of the eight had perished.<br /> Wesley had come dangerously close to life-threatening situations, but managed to cling to life.<br /> For him, the plate of noodles was not food but the bond of friendship that had shielded him from harm.<br /> "Do you... know each other?" Mia couldn't help but ask, her voice low and curious.<br /> "Some things are better left unknown," Wesley replied.<br /> Mia nodded in understanding, falling silent as they continued eating noodles. She couldn't help stealing glances at Wesley throughout the meal.<br /> This gent had piqued her curiosity even more.<br /> "Wesley, I see. No wonder you agreed to the divorce so readily. You've already found someone else outside."<br /> A sharp voice interrupted their meal.<br /> Taylor approached with a cold expression, accompanied by Henry.<br /> Taylor's mother was in the nearby hospital, and she had just picked up Frank, planning to buy some food when she unexpectedly saw Wesley.<br /> Of course, she saw Mia, too.<br /> Seeing Wesley dining with a lady more attractive than herself, so soon after the divorce felt like a dagger twisting in Taylor's heart.<br /> Her anger was uncontrollable.<br /> Wesley merely glanced at Taylor, disinterested in engaging with her.<br /> Taylor was stung by his indifferent gaze. She stepped forward, glaring at Wesley. "Are you not going to explain to me?"<br /> Mia looked at Taylor, silently cursing her as a foolish lady.<br /> Wesley continued eating his noodles, lowering his head. "Get lost. Don't disturb me, or I won't hesitate to hit you."<br /> "What did you say?" Henry stepped forward, enraged. "Wesley, try laying a hand on her! Is that all you're capable of? Laying hands on ladies?"<br /> "No wonder Taylor looks down on you. You're truly disgusting trash. Apologize to Taylor now, or else you'll regret coming into this world."<br /> "And how will he regret it? Tell me." Aaron emerged, carrying a cleaver, smiling as he faced Henry and Taylor.<br /> "Mr. Turner, we dare not cause trouble in your place, but this guy is just..."<br /> Henry attempted to speak but was cut off as Aaron's cleaver struck his face, sending him sprawling to the ground.<br /> "Mr. Turner, sorry, we'll leave now." Taylor hastily helped Henry up and hurriedly left.<br /> These two individuals were fortunate to know the legendary story behind Eight Plates of Noodles and had successfully made reservations to dine here multiple times.<br /> Having distanced themselves a bit, Henry covered his face and pointed at Wesley. "Wesley, we have some unfinished business. If you're smart, come over here now and apologize."<br /> "Wesley, I've seen through you as well. I never expected that for the past five years, you've been using my money to keep a lady on the side. We'll settle the score slowly."<br /> As the two noticed Aaron glancing their way, they quickly shut their mouths and hurriedly left.<br /> Once they were out of eyeshots, Aaron fixed his gaze on Wesley. "Your dad doesn't know about your divorce yet, does he?"<br /> "What difference would it make if he did?" Wesley stretched lazily. "I've fulfilled my promise. I've given enough."<br /> Aaron nodded in acknowledgment without saying anything further.<br /> This piqued Mia's curiosity even more. "Is it like what the novels depict? Did you marry Taylor due to some special event?"<br /> Seeing Wesley's glare, Mia lowered her head to focus on her noodles. "I won't ask anymore."<br /> "For the past five years, you've been staying in the stairwell. It has been hard for you, but at least you're still untouched," Aaron remarked before swiftly departing.<br /> Mia stared at Wesley in disbelief, realizing that Aaron's words were meant for her ears.<br /> "What are you staring at? Eat your noodles," Wesley said. Mia chuckled.<br /> "Why are you laughing?"<br /> "You're blushing."<br /> "Nonsense," Wesley retorted.<br /> Unable to contain herself, Mia burst into laughter. She had tried to hold it in, but seeing Wesley's flushed face made it impossible.<br /> Ten minutes later, Mia left on her own accord, sensing that Wesley had something to discuss with Aaron.<br /> Inside Aaron's small shop, Wesley opened a bottle of wine. "Still single?"<br /> "I look too old, no one's interested," Aaron replied, opening a bottle of liquor as well.<br /> "Then why are you meddling in my love lives?"<br /> "Leave a child behind, even if you pass away, someone will remember you." Aaron took a sip. "I've actually investigated this Mia."<br /> "You investigated her?"<br /> "I knew you'd get a divorce. I've been keeping an eye on the pretty ones. This girl had done a lot of good deeds before coming to Yeadeo. Once, she saved three people in a flood and nearly lost her life. Opportunities are rare. You have to seize them."<br /> "When you've figured things out and are ready to marry, then we can discuss our affairs. That's the condition." Wesley downed the entire bottle of liquor.<br /> "Otherwise, don't bother meddling. We're on a one-way path and can't drag others along."<br /> "You..." Aaron sighed as he watched Wesley's retreating figure.<br /> On the road leading to the Feidgeuo Manor, Taylor stood gazing blankly at the entrance not far away.<br /> Twice in one day, she had come here.<br /> The first time was to pick up Frank, and this time was because Frank had lost his expensive watch. She and Henry hadn't even had a meal, rushing over to find it.<br /> The first time, she had come in a hurry when Frank was injured and left quickly as well.<br /> But this time, as Taylor looked at the entrance ahead, an infinite longing sprouted within her.<br /> "If only... I could live here, how wonderful that would be."<br /> Henry looked at her. "One day, I'll definitely build an estate more magnificent than this, and you'll be the lady of the house."<br /> As they conversed, a taxi drove by, stopping at the entrance. The person who got out of the taxi left Taylor stunned.<br /> She rubbed her eyes.	Adoread	147	https://facebook.com/61556400142540	LEARN_MORE	1713510000	View Edit Delete
1666843	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727708	1734958298	695	441063688580311		1.5597180248779E+15	1713596400	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	226177680578601	0	Adoread	120207746049430265	client.adoread.com	Learn more	NONE	image	🔥🔥🔥 Read More👉	Hottest novel👉👉👉	https://client.adoread.com/book/loading/page/adoread/19161308412?utm_campaign={{campaign.id}}&utm_content={{campaign.name}}		1713519398	2.261776805786E+14	Adoread	https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437724011_960421695526729_1516574307485338648_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QHGXZ-huQfoQ7kNvgFl-bAK&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAhittaAtIybg_0Gi8UYNoalMt3uRDbIai0DNMlEMFrFg&oe=663A90F9	person_profile	0	Adoread	https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437891881_25238797299100336_7255863263127890524_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UeFxFDUJUZIQ7kNvgF1dGXL&_nc_oc=AdjBlORU46gPxHeMvSIJmXMDx_1afwh7kp2UWRl9K25HmyfzpiuTkbEBFfXJmbiDJ-c&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCl6BW-kaMuwg-TQzlAPyzBHYyw1d6F5gFbxwKZGONM2w&oe=663A61E5	0	3	"Wesley, are you trying to harm me? You useless piece of trash, can't even make a decent cup of coffee, can you?"<br /> Madison Blair lifted her coffee cup and splashed it directly onto Wesley Harrington's face.<br /> "What are you looking at, you spineless waste? Your name sounds so lofty? I might as well call you a waste."<br /> Glancing at the grotesque expression of his wife's mother, Wesley pulled out his phone to check the time.<br /> Exactly twelve o'clock. It had been five full years since he married Taylor Reed.<br /> The appointed time had come.<br /> He had fulfilled his promise, safeguarding the Reed family for five years, transforming them from a family living off fishing to one perceived as affluent by the common folk.<br /> Wiping the coffee off his face, he turned and walked away.<br /> "Where do you think you're going? Go fetch some more coffee," Madison shouted.<br /> "Madison, didn't you say this waste is obedient at home, doing whatever he's told? I don't think he's taking it lying down."<br /> Madison grew angrier. "Wesley, you stop right there. My family has fed and housed you. If you dare disobey, I'll have you thrown out!"<br /> Ignoring her, Wesley continued downstairs.<br /> "When Taylor comes back, I'll immediately have you two divorced. Do you hear me? Stay right there," Madison threatened, "I'll let you know your place today."<br /> Grabbing a golf club, Madison swiftly charged towards Wesley.<br /> Seeing Wesley heading downstairs, she swung the club viciously at his back.<br /> Without turning back, Wesley gently sidestepped.<br /> Losing her balance, Madison tumbled forward, rolling down the stairs with a series of thumps.<br /> "Ouch... it hurts, it hurts so much!"<br /> As Madison reached the ground floor, she wailed in pain and her sister immediately rushed to her.<br /> "Wesley, what have you done? How dare you hit my sister!" Madison's sister hurried down, checking on Madison's condition.<br /> Wesley remained silent, observing the scene.<br /> "Quick, call Taylor. Tell her to come back. Today, she must divorce this waste." Madison glared at Wesley. "How dare you hit me? Not only will I let Taylor divorce you, but I'll make sure you leave in disgrace."<br /> "Mum, what's wrong?" At that moment, a gent and a lady walked in.<br /> The lady was Taylor, Madison's daughter.<br /> She ran towards Madison.<br /> As Madison pointed at Wesley, tears streamed down her face. "Taylor, he hit me, he hit me! When you're not home, he changes his attitude, scolding and hitting me in the slightest displeasure. He even pushed me down the stairs just now. Alexis can testify."<br /> Madison's sister, Alexis Blair, chimed in. "Yes, Wesley, this trash not only hit your mother but also threatened to hit me too. We cannot tolerate such trash."<br /> "Taylor, I have been telling you to divorce him for years. You've been supporting him, treating him like a Lord at home, but he's an ungrateful wolf in sheep's clothing."<br /> Helping Madison up, Taylor noticed the scrapes on Madison's arms and legs, her expression turning cold.<br /> "Wesley, why did you hit my mother? You better give me an explanation."<br /> Wesley looked at Taylor, his wife.<br /> Five years had passed, and she had never shown him kindness.<br /> Taylor dressed impeccably, a paragon of a successful lady, with a face that could be deemed angelic, yet whether her heart was as angelic remained a mystery.<br /> Her figure, too, left countless men yearning.<br /> For five years, Wesley had thought he might develop feelings for this lady, but in reality, it never happened.<br /> "There are surveillance cameras in the house," Wesley stated calmly before descending the stairs into the hallway.<br /> Despite residing in a three-story villa, Wesley's living quarters were confined to the stairwell.<br /> He harbored no resentment towards this arrangement. It was merely a promise. It was just that Taylor failed to appreciate him.<br /> This home held little value that he wished to cling onto.<br /> Retrieving a wooden box from beneath his pillow, Wesley extracted two documents. Casting a fleeting glance at the modest abode he had called home for five years, Wesley smiled faintly.<br /> He thought, "Finally... I'm free."<br /> Pushing the door ajar, Wesley was met by Taylor's piercing gaze. "I've reviewed the surveillance footage. Yes, my mother intended to strike you, but even if she did, what difference would it make?"<br /> "She's a lady. How much could her blows hurt you? Why did you dodge?"<br /> "If you hadn't dodged, my mother wouldn't have tumbled down." Wesley stared at Taylor, unable to comprehend her thought process.<br /> He had no interest in engaging in these arguments. Handing over the two documents to Taylor, he remarked, "The divorce agreement. I've already signed it. Take a look. I'm leaving with nothing."<br /> "With your current influence, there's no need for you to visit the city hall. Someone will handle it for you, right?"<br /> Madison was taken aback. She swiftly snatched the divorce agreement, flipping through it hastily.<br /> The contents were indeed straightforward. Both parties willingly divorced, with Wesley relinquishing all claims and having already signed.<br /> In an instant, Madison's pain seemed to dissipate. "Taylor, sign it quickly. Sign it."<br /> Taylor was still in a daze.<br /> She pondered.<br /> "A divorce agreement? Wesley has already prepared a divorce agreement. On what grounds?"<br /> "What gives him the right to initiate a divorce? All these years, he's done nothing at home, lacking any ambition. Always practicing martial arts, what right does he have to seek a divorce?"<br /> "If anyone should initiate it, it should be me. Moreover, now that I'm back to discussing this matter with him. Could it be that word got out, and Wesley, for the sake of his pride, rushed to prepare a divorce agreement first?"<br /> "It must be so, but... No!"<br /> "Wanting to leave with nothing, is he retreating to advance? As the chairman of the Reed Group, how could I be served with a divorce?"<br /> "Hey Wesley, I never expected this from you. Have I not treated you well enough? You seek a divorce, attempting to turn your retreat into advance, aiming to embarrass me?"<br /> Taylor glared at Wesley. "I'm telling you, it's impossible."<br /> Snatching the divorce agreement, she tore it to shreds.<br /> "Taylor, what are you doing? Such a great opportunity. Why not just sign it and let him leave?" Madison grew anxious.<br /> "Mom, I do intend to divorce this trash, but the decision must come from me. I returned specifically to address this matter."<br /> With that, Taylor produced two documents. "Wesley, remember that it's me who's divorcing you. It's me who no longer wants you. Initially, out of marital obligation, I had considered offering you some compensation. Now, you don't even need to think about it. Sign the divorce agreement and leave my home."<br /> Wesley offered a faint smile as he accepted the divorce agreement.<br /> "What are you laughing at?" Taylor demanded angrily.<br /> Wesley's smile seemed to mock her, fueling her rage.<br /> Ignoring her entirely, Wesley signed the document and handed it over.<br /> "What are you laughing at? Answer me! Who do you think you are?" Taylor roared once more.<br /> Wesley glanced at her before striding towards the exit.<br /> "Stop!" The gent who had accompanied Taylor stepped forward, blocking Wesley's path. "Taylor asked you a question, and... Your previous attitude displeased me. Apologize to Taylor, or I'll have you leave in disgrace!"<br /> Chapter 2 The Unspoken Truth<br /> <br /> "Yes, let him leave in disgrace. He thought he could just hit me and walk away so easily," Madison joined in the commotion, also noticing the gent blocking Wesley's path.<br /> Madison had a keen interest in luxury goods, having frequented various high-end establishments over the years as the Reed family's living conditions improved. The gent was wearing an expensive watch and dressed head to toe in high-end luxury brands.<br /> Seeing Madison's gaze, the gent spoke. "Rest assured, today Wesley must pay the price."<br /> The gent introduced himself, looking at Wesley, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Henry Clark, the eldest son of the Clark family and the general manager of the Clark Group in the North District."<br /> "From now on, I will accompany Taylor on her journey of life, and I will not allow anyone to bully her."<br /> "My identity carries weight. You should understand that. Now, apologize to Taylor. Apologize! Did you hear me? Apologize!"<br /> Madison's eyes lit up. She hadn't expected the gent before her to hold such a high status. She continued to shout, "Did you hear that? Taylor will be with Mr. Clark from now on. Apologize now."<br /> Wesley glanced at Henry, then at Taylor. He thought, "Have they been together all along?" Wesley had wanted to ask but decided against it because there was no need. He simply gave them a glance and continued walking towards the exit.<br /> "Are you ignoring me?" Henry's face turned cold as he reached out to grab Wesley. Henry's hand froze mid-air as he received a solid hit.<br /> "Until I sign the divorce papers, Taylor and I are still wife and husband. I don't care to investigate whether you two had any intimate relationship during that time, but don't provoke me, or I won't hesitate to make you regret it." Wesley's gaze was icy, and as Henry met his eyes, he felt a twinge of fear and swallowed his words.<br /> Taylor was also stunned. She knew exactly what Wesley had been like over the past five years. There were many surveillance cameras in the house, and she would often check them.<br /> Even when Taylor wasn't home, despite how her family treated Wesley, he always obeyed without complaint, especially towards her. He had never raised his voice, no matter how they treated him.<br /> Today, not only did Wesley dodge when her mother struck, but he also initiated the divorce and now even struck Henry. <br /> Taylor was at a loss for words, thinking, "How could this cowardly gent dare? On what grounds does he dare?"<br /> This change was difficult for Taylor to accept as if she didn't truly understand this guy. The gent who used to be obedient to her, completely submissive, now revealed this side of himself. She watched Wesley walk away in a daze, feeling a strange discomfort in her heart.<br /> "Isn't he leaving with nothing?" Alexis pointed at the wooden box Wesley was holding. "What is he taking with him?"<br /> Madison also realized. Over the past five years, Wesley had always treasured this wooden box, carrying it with him wherever he went. She thought there must be something valuable inside.<br /> Realizing this, Madison hurriedly followed. "Wesley, stop right there, leave the wooden box."<br /> Wesley paused, glanced at Madison, and said, "This is my personal belonging."<br /> "Nonsense, what personal belonging could you possibly have after marrying into the Reed family? Everything you've eaten, worn, and lived in over the years has been provided by the Reed family. Put it down."<br /> As she spoke, Madison reached out to grab the wooden box.<br /> "Ah..." A scream rang out as Madison quickly retracted her hand, a gash appearing on her palm, a crimson liquid dripping.<br /> The wooden box was now stained with the same crimson liquid, trembling lightly in Wesley's hand.<br /> "It's not the right time yet, the day you thirst for this crimson liquid will come," Wesley murmured softly, patting the box before turning to continue his stride towards the exit.<br /> "Monster! A monster!" Madison screamed, causing Taylor and the others to rush out. Seeing the wound in Madison's hand, Taylor was filled with rage.<br /> "Wesley, aren't you going to say something?" Wesley halted once more, contemplating before meeting Taylor's gaze.<br /> "Just stay out of my way from now on. Consider this a warning to you."<br /> "Taylor, that wooden box of his has a mechanism. It must hold something valuable! We can't let him take it with him," Madison, enduring the pain, reminded them.<br /> "Mom, your injury is important. We'll deal with him later. Let me take you to the hospital first." Taylor comforted Madison before calling out to the retreating Wesley.<br /> "Our marriage is over! Yet, you dared to hurt my mother! This won't be the end of it! I will make you regret it!" Ignoring her, Wesley continued walking out.<br /> "Rest assured, I promise he won't see the light of day tomorrow." Henry stepped forward to console. "Let's focus on getting your wound treated first."<br /> "I want him to regret ever existing in this world, to apologize to me in repentance," Madison roared.<br /> "Mom, trust me, I will make him do just that." Taylor looked at Madison with a mix of pity and determination. "Let's go to the hospital first."<br /> In the villa area, Wesley halted, his voice cold. "Get out."<br /> An elderly gent leaped down from a tree, appearing to be in his seventies, yet landing silently from a height of around ten feet.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, your father wants you to come home and take charge."<br /> "He stopped being my father five years ago. He's my enemy."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you misunderstood your father. He had his reasons back then. I swear in my life, once you know the truth, you will forgive him."<br /> "Huh!" Wesley smirked coldly, saying, "I nearly passed away back then. Is that also a misunderstanding?"<br /> The old gent pleaded, "Mr. Harrington, this situation is truly not as you perceive it."<br /> Wesley didn't engage further with the old guy. The events of that year were etched in his memory forever. He was the one who had been abandoned. If not for that incident, why would he have stayed with the Reed family for five years?<br /> Watching Wesley walk away, the old gent had tears silently streaming down his face. "Mr. Harrington, I truly... I truly can't bring myself to speak the truth, but you have misunderstood your father. He also bears burdens and endures pains beyond what an ordinary person can handle."<br /> As Wesley's figure disappeared, the old gent stood up, hesitated for a moment, then dialed a number on his phone.<br /> "Mr. Harrington is now divorced. I've given you the news firsthand. If your daughter is truly together with Mr. Harrington, you must fulfill the promise and let her persuade Mr. Harrington to come home."<br /> After hanging up, a middle-aged gent in a luxurious estate jumped up excitedly. Calming himself, he immediately made another call. "My dear, you're at Yeadeo, right?<br /> "Go find Wesley now. Don't mention the engagement for now. Use every means to get close to him, make him fall in love with you."<br /> "Dad, I don't have time."<br /> "No matter what you are busy with, you must go find Wesley now. No matter what reason you approach him, you must leave a good impression the first time."<br /> "Dad, I'm in trouble right now. If I don't handle it well, I might be good as gone. I have to deal with it immediately. I'm hanging up."<br /> Chapter 3 You're Nothing<br /> The middle-aged gent's voice lowered significantly. "Is there a big incident happening? You didn't tell me? What happened?"<br /> "Quinn Kingsley from Yeadeo, Mr. Kingsley, used our product and now has one foot on the grave. If something really happens to him..."<br /> "You mean Quinn, the uncontested leader of Yeadeo?"<br /> "Yes."<br /> "In that case, you should go find Wesley. Trust me, in this world, there is no problem that Wesley can't solve. As long as he's willing to help, you'll be fine. Listen to me, go find Wesley immediately."<br /> The lady fell silent for a moment before saying, "Okay."<br /> At Yeadeo Harbor, a gent with a large flaxen chain and a watch, sporting a crew cut, hurriedly disembarked, accompanied by a dozen gentlemen.<br /> "Mr. Reed, wherever that trash is, we will find him and tear him apart."<br /> "Yes, that guy dared to harm your mother. We'll make sure he pays for it."<br /> Frank Reed's face turned cold. "Wesley, you coward, thinking you can overturn the world? How dare you touch my mom? Just wait until I find you, you're finished."<br /> "We've found him. Wesley got into a taxi, and our boys followed him."<br /> "Let's go!" Frank waved his hand, leading dozens of men who boarded the car with harpoons, steel pipes, and other weapons.<br /> Inside the taxi, Wesley gazed at the scenery outside, feeling a strange sense of tranquility.<br /> He thought to himself, "I never imagined that while I was secretly paving the way for the Reed family, Taylor, after progressing so rapidly, would start looking down on me more and more."<br /> "Those ladies who know my true identity, which one of them isn't trying to throw themselves at me? Ladies like that don't interest me."<br /> "Being an ordinary gent is truly difficult," Wesley murmured, smiling faintly and deciding not to dwell on these matters anymore. He had important things to attend to and no time to waste on personal affairs.<br /> "Young lad, are you going to Feidgeuo Manor for a job interview?" The driver, curious about Wesley's destination, inquired.<br /> Feidgeuo Manor was Yeadeo's most mysterious private area. Originally a villa area, it was bought at a huge cost five years ago and completely renovated. It was said to have cost a trillion dollars. The former villa area was now Feidgeuo Manor.<br /> "That's my home," Wesley replied nonchalantly.<br /> The driver was taken aback by this revelation, silently cursing Wesley for bragging. After a couple of minutes, the driver regained his composure. "It seems like you and I both prefer to keep a low profile. My car usually gathers dust at home, so I occasionally drive a taxi to experience life."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "My car has been driven by my assistant for the past few years, so it's not gathering dust."<br /> "Haha..." The driver laughed. "We should get together sometime and see whose car is more impressive."<br /> "Sure, whenever we have the time."<br /> As they chatted, the vehicle soon arrived near Feidgeuo Manor, where the massive head of the Feidgeuo Peak protruded, creating a unique landscape in Yeadeo.<br /> The driver asked with a smile, "Since you're the owner here, it's fine if I drive in, right?"<br /> "Of course," Wesley replied.<br /> As soon as Wesley spoke, several cars caught up from behind.<br /> The cars surrounded the one Wesley was in, with the front vehicles braking to force the car to a stop.<br /> When numerous people descended from cars wielding harpoons and steel pipes, the driver's face paled.<br /> Frank and his group got out of the cars, instantly closing in, and without hesitation, started attacking, the steel pipes and harpoons thudding against the car.<br /> Frank's henchman yanked open the door of Wesley's car, poised to stab Wesley with a harpoon, but Wesley swiftly exited the vehicle.<br /> With a firm step on the ground, he launched a swift hit.<br /> A muffled sound echoed as the henchman was hit away.<br /> "What are you looking at?" Frank noticed his henchmen were all staring at him. "All of you, attack together and take him down!"<br /> As he commanded, the henchmen Frank brought with him surged forward.<br /> The taxi driver, trembling, took out his phone to call the police, but Frank glared at him. "I am Frank Reed from Yeadeo Harbor. If you dare, go ahead and make that call."<br /> Frank, leveraging his sister Taylor's status, had been causing trouble in Yeadeo Harbor, and no one dared to provoke him.<br /> Upon hearing Frank's name, the driver hastily put away his phone. "Mr. Reed, I'll just check the time, you guys continue."<br /> "Huh!" Frank snorted coldly, casting his gaze towards the surrounded Wesley.<br /> The sounds of thuds continued to ring out incessantly. Because Wesley was completely surrounded, Frank was unable to see the situation inside clearly, but he could imagine it. After all, in Frank's mind, the henchmen under his command were not to be trifled with.<br /> "Hit him hard for me!"<br /> Another muffled sound and a figure flew out. At that moment, Frank finally saw the situation clearly, and his face turned pale.<br /> Frank knew that Wesley liked to practice martial arts, but he had never expected Wesley to be this skilled. It wasn't Wesley who had been beaten, but his own men by Wesley alone.<br /> Frantically, Frank turned and ran to retrieve a crossbow from the car.<br /> "Clear the way." Frank bellowed, aiming the crossbow at Wesley.<br /> "You scumbag, you think you can fight? Move one more time, and I'll end your life! Surrender!"<br /> Wesley, holding a wooden box, stared at Frank. Ignoring the crossbow in his hand, Wesley said, "Tell your henchmen to back off, or you'll all see the light from above!"<br /> "You're really good at pretending to be tough." Frank took two steps forward. "See the light? Move a muscle and see if I can end your life or not! If you don't have the guts, apologize now!"<br /> Wesley turned his head and looked at the approaching cars, with two expensive ones in the lead, two more in the rear, and another one in the middle.<br /> "Keep acting tough, and I'll put a hole in your head." Frank spoke while glancing at the five cars. "What, looking for help?"<br /> "Let me tell you, those who ride in these cars are not the kind of weaklings like you who rely on connections. With me here, in Yeadeo's social hierarchy, even those who ride in such cars wouldn't dare meddle in this matter. And let me make it clear, without my sister, you're nothing."<br /> Chapter 4 Is He Worthy?<br /> As Frank's words faded, the five cars came to a halt.<br /> A bodyguard opened the door of the one in the middle, revealing a dazzling pair of shining shoes catching everyone's eye.<br /> The shining shoe encased a beautiful foot. Above, the skirt's hem was adorned with lace.<br /> Then, like a fairy stepping out of a painting, she appeared before everyone's eyes.<br /> The lady was beautiful!<br /> Frank was mesmerized. Ever since the Reed family rose to prominence, he had been surrounded by ladies, but compared to the elegant lady before him, they were worlds apart.<br /> It wasn't just a difference in appearance but an incomparable gap in demeanor.<br /> The lady descending from the Maybach seemed like a celestial being untouched by mortal affairs.<br /> The embodiment of a fairy in the mundane world.<br /> She simply stood there after getting out of the car, perfectly embodying what it meant to be graceful and elegant.<br /> The lady glanced at Wesley, then at Frank.<br /> Frank grinned, saying, "May I have the honor of knowing the name of this esteemed lady? I am Frank..."<br /> The lady spoke calmly. "Disrespect Mr. Harrington, and you're done for."<br /> Her bodyguards, unfazed by Frank's crossbow, swiftly overwhelmed him, sending him crashing to the ground.<br /> The henchmen who had come with Frank, previously defeated by Wesley, now scrambled to their feet and fled in all directions.<br /> Who would dare provoke someone who could afford such a car?<br /> "My sister is Taylor Reed, the chairperson of Reed Group," Frank shouted, clutching his head.<br /> Ignoring him, one of the bodyguards dragged him to the roadside grass while another used a belt to tighten around Frank's neck, exerting pressure.<br /> "Enough, a lesson is all that's needed." Wesley spoke calmly, and only when the lady gestured did the bodyguards release Frank.<br /> Frank lay there, already unconscious.<br /> Wesley turned to the lady. "Who are you?"<br /> "I am Mia Roberts, the general manager of Vinver Business Alliance's Yeadeo branch." She looked at Wesley and continued, "Mr. Harrington, my father mentioned that you have miraculous healing skills and earnestly requested your assistance. A generous reward awaits."<br /> Wesley furrowed his brow slightly, thinking, "There are indeed people who recognize my abilities and status, yet I've rarely intervened in the past five years. Today, shortly after I divorced Taylor, she is here. Whose arrangement is this?"<br /> "Mr. Harrington, my father also mentioned that you are benevolent and has raised the banner of compassion among healers, serving as a role model and benchmark for all in the medical field."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "You have a way with words. Tell me the specifics."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, please get in the car first. I will explain in detail on the way."<br /> The phrase "compassionate healer" held significant weight for Wesley, who had saved countless lives from the brink of death.<br /> Without further ado, he got into the car.<br /> Inside, after Mia brewed coffee for Wesley, she began. "Vinver Business Alliance has a wide range of business operations, and I mainly oversee the health supplement sector, which has seen some success in recent years.<br /> "Recently, Quinn Kingsley started using our medicines, and now there's an accident."<br /> As she spoke, Mia kept her gaze fixed on Wesley.<br /> Quinn, the undisputed leader of Yeadeo, was a figure of immense influence.<br /> Upon hearing this name, Wesley showed no particular reaction. "If the city's leader faces issues with your products, it is indeed a concern. Let's go and see."<br /> With just a sentence, Wesley leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest.<br /> Mia was secretly alarmed, thinking, "He knows who Quinn is, yet he seems indifferent. Who is this Wesley, really? No wonder Dad has instructed me to find a way to win his favor." Mia's inner resistance toward Wesley quietly shifted.<br /> Wesley had piqued her curiosity.<br /> As the vehicle was moving, Wesley's phone rang.<br /> Wesley opened his eyes and took out his phone to see Taylor calling.<br /> Pressing the answer button, he asked, "What's the matter?"<br /> On the other end of the line, Taylor, driving towards Feidgeuo Manor, had a grim expression.<br /> She thought, "Has Wesley ever spoken to me in such a cold tone before? Is he really this heartless right after our divorce?"<br /> Already furious, she snapped. "Wesley, do you even consider yourself a human being?<br /> "Today, not only did you lay hands on my mother, but you also had someone attack my brother. Do you not remember our past at all?"<br /> Wesley calmly replied, "Do we have a past to remember?"<br /> "You truly are a heartless scumbag, just as my mother said. You are an ungrateful and vicious person I raised for five years. Even a pet would wag its tail at me!"<br /> Taylor wanted to continue her tirade, but the phone line had already turned busy.<br /> This only fueled her anger further.<br /> Just now, she had received a call from Frank's underlings, informing her that Wesley had sent people to attack Frank and even intended to end him.<br /> Taylor wanted to demand answers, but...<br /> As Taylor was clutching her fists, her gaze turned icy.<br /> After a moment, she picked up her phone again. "Wesley, you are so narrow-minded. You have no ambition. Any lady would steer clear of you."<br /> "Just because I dumped you, you are doing this on purpose to make me feel sick. Pretending to be aloof and seeking revenge? Do you even deserve it?"<br /> "In Yeadeo, squashing you would be as easy as squashing an ant. You're asking for it! If anything happens to my brother, I will make you wish you were ending!"<br /> Her furious voice message echoed in the car.<br /> Wesley chuckled and put away his phone.<br /> Beside him, Mia seemed contemplative. Before coming, she had already ordered a swift investigation into Wesley.<br /> She was curious, thinking, "How could someone valued by my father could be the one 'marrying into' the Reed family."<br /> Being tactful, Mia chose not to ask and pretended not to have heard.<br /> After about forty minutes, they arrived at the Kingsley Manor.<br /> The Kingsley family members, upon seeing Mia alight from the car, all wore grim expressions.<br /> Mia greeted them with a smile, "Everyone, this is Wesley Harrington, Mr. Harrington, the miraculous healer I specially invited to treat Mr. Kingsley."<br /> "Him? The gent who married into the Reed family?"<br /> "A miraculous healer? Is he even worthy? Are healers so worthless now?"<br /> "A useless gent who mooches off of the Reed family? How dare he call himself a miraculous healer? Truly a joke among all jokes."<br /> Chapter 5 Compassionate Healer<br /> Amanda Kingsley, Quinn's granddaughter, stared coldly at Wesley and Mia.<br /> This lady, dressed in a smart suit, also held significant fame in Yeadeo, overseeing the region's business activities, including investment attraction and various local business negotiations.<br /> Amanda had a favorable view of Taylor, who had risen swiftly in recent times, and they had interacted frequently.<br /> She was aware of Wesley's existence and had advised Taylor to part ways with him early on.<br /> But Amanda never imagined that Mia would bring someone like Wesley, a complete waste, and claim he was a miraculous healer.<br /> Glaring at Mia, she said, "Mia, once my grandfather is well, it's best for your Roberts family to leave Yeadeo."<br /> "As for you..." She glanced at Wesley. "I will advise Taylor to divorce you. You have deceived Taylor's feelings and now shamelessly made your way into my family. You are a despicable creature."<br /> After reprimanding Mia and Wesley, she turned to an elderly gent beside her, and her tone and attitude completely changed. "Mr. Phillips, sorry to trouble you. My grandfather is inside, please."<br /> Mia looked at the elderly gent, who was already in his twilight years, feeling deeply shocked.<br /> Scott Phillips, the 38th generation heir of the Healing Clinic, was now ninety-two years old.<br /> Renowned as a miraculous healer, he was a respected figure in the medical community of Yeadeo and even nationally.<br /> He no longer conducted consultations personally due to his old age. Mia had visited him specifically to pay her respects once she had arrived in Yeadeo but had not met Scott.<br /> She never expected Scott to appear in person. It was understandable, as Quinn held a prominent position in the city. Despite the profound influence of the Phillips family, they still had to show respect to Quinn.<br /> Mia looked at Wesley, feeling conflicted and thinking, "Dad has confidently claimed that Wesley has extraordinary abilities, but does he really?"<br /> She harbored doubts, but out of propriety, Mia spoke. "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the trouble."<br /> Wesley smiled, "It's fine. As long as the person can be healed."<br /> His open-mindedness impressed Mia.<br /> After about half an hour, Amanda emerged from the room. All eyes instantly turned towards her.<br /> It was evident that Amanda had wailed out, with traces of tears still visible.<br /> "Amanda, how is it?" A middle-aged gent anxiously asked her.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family who had rushed back also focused their attention on her.<br /> "Mr. Phillips said that there's little hope of recovery. He could only use acupuncture to wake grandfather for half an hour. When grandfather wakes up, let's all go in and see if he has any final instructions."<br /> Everyone was shocked.<br /> "How could this be?"<br /> "Is Mr. Phillips also helpless?"<br /> The members of the Kingsley family found it hard to accept this reality, especially since Quinn had always treated his juniors well.<br /> The thought of Quinn departing saddened some, and tears silently fell.<br /> Publicly, Quinn's status was the foundation of the Kingsley family's prominence in Yeadeo.<br /> If Quinn were to pass away, the Kingsley family would undoubtedly decline.<br /> The atmosphere within the Kingsley family was somber.<br /> Amanda looked at her family members, opened her mouth, but said nothing, silently turning back into the room.<br /> "Stop crying," A middle-aged gent said sternly, "Dad wouldn't want to see you all in tears. If he's really leaving, we mustn't let him worry about us. Pull yourselves together."<br /> After these words, the middle-aged gent also entered the room.<br /> The younger members of the Kingsley family wiped their tears vigorously, trying to force smiles, but in truth, they looked better at crying than pretending to be happy.<br /> Mia's spirit plummeted as she realized the gravity of the situation. Even if an ordinary person passed away from consuming health supplements, it spelled big trouble for those who sold them. And when the deceased happened to be Quinn, the stakes were even higher.<br /> She understood that it would be difficult for this branch to stay in Yeadeo, and even the headquarters might face repercussions.<br /> "Let's go in and have a look." Wesley glanced at Mia. "There might still be a chance."<br /> "Ah..." Mia stared at Wesley in surprise. Seeing him already heading towards the room, she quickly followed suit.<br /> Inside the room, the members of the Kingsley family stood around the mattress, maintaining a certain distance.<br /> Scott lit the alcohol lamp and took out the needles, his expression solemn.<br /> He looked at the members of the Kingsley family. "Think about what you want to say to Mr. Kingsley later. Once you're ready, let me know, and then I'll proceed with the acupuncture."<br /> As he said this, tears welled up in many eyes.<br /> "If you don't mind, let me take a look. I have a way." Wesley spoke up, drawing everyone's attention.<br /> Amanda's face darkened. "Who let you in? Get out!"<br /> "Mia, have you lost your mind? Tricked by this trash and actually brought him here as a miracle healer. Get out with him! I'll settle the score with you in a couple of days."<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, at a loss for words.<br /> "Even Mr. Phillips is unable to reverse the situation. What use are you? Get out." Another younger member of the Kingsley family angrily rebuked.<br /> The middle-aged gent added, "We're in no mood right now. You better leave immediately."<br /> "I understand your narrow-mindedness," Wesley continued, "But as a healer, once I see a patient, I cannot stand by and watch him draw his last breath."<br /> "Wesley, you're quite the charlatan. Do you really want to be gone right now?" Amanda's voice was filled with anger.<br /> "Amanda, let me say a few words," Scott interjected, and Amanda fell silent.<br /> Looking at Wesley, Scott began. "Young lad, at my age, I've seen a lot and have a broad perspective. Today, however, I find it hard to remain indifferent. I practiced medicine from the age of sixteen until I stopped seeing patients for a total of seventy years."<br /> "I've saved countless patients from various illnesses. I never easily declare a patient's fate, nor do I believe I have the right to do so."<br /> "But from your recent remarks, it seems like you're accusing me of such actions. Young people wanting to make a name for themselves by stepping on the shoulders of their predecessors, I can understand."<br /> "But this kind of behavior displeases me."<br /> "My displeasure, what does it mean to you? Do you understand?"<br /> "Even if you are a healer, your career will be ruined because of this."<br /> Chapter 6 Hand of Hell<br /> In the face of Scott's veiled threats, Wesley simply smiled and brushed them off.<br /> Looking at Scott, he asked, "I've always focused on the issue at hand rather than attacking individuals. I have a few questions for you. If you can't administer the needles, how long do you think Quinn can hold on?"<br /> "Seven days, but he will remain unconscious," Scott replied bluntly.<br /> "Then let me ask you this, is there anyone in the world with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "Outrageous," Amanda coldly interjected, "Mr. Phillips is unparalleled in his medical expertise."<br /> Scott glanced at Amanda. "Amanda, let me handle this question."<br /> Continuing to address Wesley, he said, "I don't underestimate myself, nor do I overestimate. There are countless talented individuals in the world, like stars in the sky. I may not dare claim to be the best in medical skills, but those who surpass me are few."<br /> "That means there are some," Wesley calmly remarked, causing Scott's expression to shift slightly, "Indeed, there are."<br /> "Then let me ask you this. Do you think within seven days, the Kingsley family won't find someone with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "If they do find someone, do you believe there is an illness that you cannot cure, but this person can?"<br /> Wesley's questions were sharp and resounding.<br /> Scott's face changed once more as he was rendered speechless.<br /> "Even if there is, that person will never be you." Amanda's face turned icy. "Now get out. Don't spout your eloquence here. Your deceitful behavior is repulsive."<br /> "Your understanding of me is merely hearsay, isn't it?" Wesley retorted, his gaze mocking Amanda, "Has your background and education taught you such arrogance and prejudice?"<br /> "Arrogance?" Amanda's face grew colder as she disdainfully looked at Wesley. "Prejudice?<br /> "Did I say something wrong just now? You are nothing but stagnant waste, a parasite living off others. If it weren't for Taylor, you would have starved on the streets long ago."<br /> "Relying on sweet words, deceiving Taylor. She, with her kind heart, can't bear to divorce you, but don't push your luck. If it weren't for Taylor's sake, you would have been sent out long ago."<br /> Scott interrupted Amanda, "Amanda, although I find this lad a bit annoying, what he said does hold some truth. There are indeed individuals with better medical skills than me. Your grandfather can hold on for seven days. Try reaching out to see if someone can come over. I'll help you make connections."<br /> "If it really doesn't work out after seven days, I'll administer the needles to your grandfather. However, at that point, I can only buy you three minutes."<br /> As soon as Scott spoke, the faces of the Kingsley family members grew even more solemn. True healers were rare and not easily summoned.<br /> While the Kingsley family had connections in Yeadeo, their influence waned outside of it.<br /> "Mr. Phillips, please administer the needles. Life has its ups and downs, and we understand that. Just buy my father a bit more time." The middle-aged gent spoke up.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family nodded in agreement.<br /> Amanda looked at Scott. "Mr. Phillips, please."<br /> "In that case, please have everyone unrelated leave. I need silence," Scott calmly stated.<br /> Amanda glared at Wesley, her eyes speaking volumes without a word.<br /> The unrelated individuals were, naturally, Wesley and Mia.<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, intending to leave, but she suddenly hesitated.<br /> Instead of leaving, Wesley moved forward.<br /> "What are you doing?" A young member of the Kingsley family stepped forward with a stern expression, pushing Wesley.<br /> In one swift motion, Wesley executed a clean shoulder throw, toppling the young gent to the ground, his own expression turning cold.<br /> "A bunch of fools! If it weren't for my teacher's teachings about not turning a blind eye to those in need, I wouldn't bother with you ignorant lot," Wesley remarked with disdain.<br /> As Wesley effortlessly took down one individual from the Kingsley family, the others seemed slow to react.<br /> By the time they realized what was happening, Wesley had already picked up the needle next to Scott and casually flicked his wrist.<br /> The needle flew out of his hand, piercing Quinn's temple, followed by a second needle, a third needle, and so on.<br /> "What are you doing? Stop!" Amanda's voice rose in urgency, echoed by the rest of the Kingsley family members who rushed forward to restrain Wesley.<br /> "Stay back, everyone. Wait." Scott suddenly stood up, blocking the others. "Let him try."<br /> Amanda and the others were left dumbfounded, thinking, "What does this mean?"<br /> Despite their confusion, they heeded Scott's words.<br /> After Scott stopped the members of the Kingsley family, he fixed his gaze on Wesley.<br /> Wesley proceeded to use eighteen needles in succession, symbolizing the levels of pain.<br /> Even if someone had descended into the depths of hell, they must be brought back.<br /> The final needle, also piercing a vital point, caused Quinn's body to tremble suddenly, resonating with the previous eighteen needles.<br /> Scott's eyes widened, his body trembling slightly. His reaction left Amanda and the others even more puzzled, but none dared to interrupt.<br /> Moments later, Wesley placed a palm on Quinn's chest, causing all eighteen needles to be shaken off. When all the needles landed on the ground, the part of the skin where the needles had pierced turned dark.<br /> Wesley then dragged Quinn to the edge of the mattress, flipped him over with his head facing downwards, and gave him a firm pat on the back.<br /> Quinn spat out a mouthful of black liquid. When Wesley flipped him back to lie flat, his complexion had regained some color.<br /> "The Hand of Darkness... It's the Hand of Darkness!" Scott exclaimed with excitement, his body quivering, "It's the Hand that descends into the dark world, snatching people from the hands of the Evil!"<br /> "You do have some knowledge, recognizing the Hand of Darkness." Wesley glanced at Scott.<br /> Scott's gaze towards Wesley had undergone a drastic change. He respectfully clasped his hands together.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thirty years ago, I had the honor of attending a teaching conference held by Mr. Vanderbilt. I saw the Hand of Darkness, but my limited aptitude only allowed me to grasp the basics."<br /> "I have been blind and ignorant. I apologize for my earlier offenses. Please forgive me, Mr. Harrington."<br /> The Mr. Vanderbilt Scott referred to was Wesley's teacher, Ulysses Vanderbilt. He generously imparted his skills to others, but the ability to learn depended on one's innate talent.<br /> In this world, few could learn Ulysses' skills.<br /> Scott had been fortunate to receive guidance from Ulysses, which had elevated his medical skills. However, the Hand of Darkness, a miraculous ability, was beyond his comprehension.<br /> Wesley smiled faintly, "Your actions earlier are understandable. I appreciate your words."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you must be an exceptional disciple of Mr. Vanderbilt, possessing unparalleled magnanimity. Impressive," Scott continued.<br /> "Enough with the flattery at your age."<br /> "You are mistaken, Mr. Harrington. Every word I speak is sincere."<br /> Mia, Amanda, and the others stood bewildered by the unfolding situation.<br /> "Mr. Phillips... he... he..." Amanda's words faltered.<br /> Scott turned to the members of the Kingsley family. "Meeting Mr. Harrington was Quinn's luck. His symptoms have been cured by Mr. Harrington. With a few days of rest, he will be fine."<br /> The waste Taylor had previously said was called Mr. Harrington by Scott!<br /> Recalling their previous attitudes, Amanda hurriedly apologized, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> The members of the Kingsley family all apologized in unison, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> Chapter 7 Eight Plates of Noodles<br /> With a faint smile, Wesley remarked, "As family members of a patient, your actions earlier are understandable. There's no need for such formality."<br /> Amanda's perplexity deepened as she thought, "Where is the cowardly waste that Taylor described? This display of magnanimity and breadth is far from it."<br /> Mia, too, felt a shiver of realization, thinking, "No wonder Dad has insisted on my proximity to Wesley.<br /> This guy..."<br /> She gazed at Wesley, her curiosity piqued, a sense of exploration stirring within her.<br /> "Mia has brought you here, Mr. Harrington, to cure my grandfather. The Kingsley family will never forget this act. However, considering that my grandfather's ailment stemmed from the health supplements produced by the Vinver Business Alliance, we will be conducting an investigation into it."<br /> Amanda continued, looking at Wesley, "What do you think... of this approach?"<br /> It was Mia who had invited Wesley, so Amanda had grown wiser, refraining from asking for a direct punishment of the Vinver Business Alliance.<br /> As Mia heard Amanda's words, her heart skipped a beat, realizing trouble was brewing.<br /> "On the way here, Ms. Roberts briefed me on the situation. You conducted experiments on mice, correct?"<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes, the health supplements we received were exclusively provided by the Roberts family. There were no similar cases on the market, so we used mice for testing.<br /> "All the mice that ingested this supplement were gone."<br /> She looked at Mia and added, her voice turned colder. "Before the experiment, I specifically contacted Mia to inquire about the testing methods during the development phase, which involved mice."<br /> "There have been individuals eyeing my grandfather's position, some even wishing for his demise. I never imagined that the Vinver Business Alliance, which I attracted for investment, would become a weapon in someone else's hands."<br /> "Do you have any of the remaining medicine?" Wesley inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes."<br /> "Bring some over."<br /> Immediately, someone fetched the medicine. After it was brought to him, Wesley took out a supplement and swallowed it directly.<br /> This scene left Amanda and the others dumbfounded.<br /> Scott, too, was bewildered. "Mr. Harrington, what are you doing?"<br /> Wesley smiled, "Just proving that this medicine is not toxic."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thank you," Mia thanked sincerely, feeling like sobbing at that moment.<br /> Amanda, with a puzzled expression, looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, are you suggesting that my grandfather's condition wasn't caused by the Vinver Business Alliance's medicine? What about the mice?"<br /> The rest were equally puzzled.<br /> "Yes, but not entirely," Wesley said, leaving everyone even more bewildered.<br /> Mia's emotions were like a rollercoaster ride, from relief to immediate tension.<br /> "This medicine itself is not toxic, but when taken with another substance made from a certain plant, it results in Quinn's condition. The mice would die immediately, while humans could endure a few more days."<br /> Wesley continued to explain, "The plant used in this concoction is originally meant for crafting slow-acting toxins, not for human consumption."<br /> Looking at Amanda, Wesley said, "During this period, whoever had access to your grandfather and the mice will better understand why these events occurred."<br /> The gaze of members of the Kingsley family immediately focused on a lady.<br /> Amanda, somewhat incredulous, looked at her. "Can you offer an explanation?"<br /> The lady was the wife of Amanda's deceased brother. She found it hard to accept, as did the rest of the Kingsley family.<br /> This lady had been named the exemplary lady who served her family well this year, not due to her connection with the Kingsley family but because she genuinely deserved it.<br /> "What do you mean? Amanda, what explanation do you want from me?"<br /> The lady stared at Amanda. "Am I the only one who had access to Grandfather and the mice? You, and you... and you, who didn't have access?"<br /> "You all claim to treat me as family. Since I married into the Kingsley family, I have worked diligently, contributing my share even if not acknowledged."<br /> "Amanda, it has been over a year since your brother passed, and I never once considered remarrying. Now, just because of his words, you demand an explanation from me?"<br /> Pointing at Wesley, the lady questioned, "Just because he accuses me of poisoning, you suspect me? Tell me, did I poison him?" The lady glared at Wesley.<br /> "I am merely analyzing the facts. As for concluding this case, it's not within my purview," Wesley addressed the members of the Kingsley family, saying, "You should conduct a thorough investigation into this matter.<br /> "I will write a prescription. Have Quinn take it on time, and he will recover in seven days."<br /> Amanda hurried to fetch paper and pen while Wesley prepared the prescription. Once done, he was ready to leave.<br /> Amanda said hurriedly, "Mr. Harrington, I've already made arrangements for lunch."<br /> "No need," Wesley smiled.<br /> The Kingsley family sought to build closer ties with Wesley, given his extraordinary medical skills. Wesley was well aware of this.<br /> Looking at Amanda and the others, Wesley remarked, "In the future, if you encounter any difficult medical cases that others cannot solve, seek me out. Remember, cases others cannot solve."<br /> The gaze of the Kingsley family members toward Wesley changed once again. Many renowned healers had eccentric personalities and were difficult to engage.<br /> They hadn't expected Wesley to possess such remarkable medical skills without any airs.<br /> As Wesley prepared to depart, the members of the Kingsley family did not dare to insist on his stay, so they accompanied him outside.<br /> "Oh, how could we forget such an important matter? Amanda, what about the consultation fee?" The middle-aged gent inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the oversight. Please wait a moment." Amanda hurried back inside and soon returned with a bank card in hand.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, there's one million dollars in here."<br /> Without hesitation, Wesley accepted the bank card and boarded Mia's car.<br /> During the journey, Mia boldly looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, you've helped me immensely. Can I treat you to a meal? Don't decline in a hurry. It's not a fancy restaurant, but it will leave you wanting more. It's a small place on the street, with only eight plates of noodles served each day, each plate containing different ingredients."<br /> "I managed to secure a reservation. Are you interested?"<br /> Wesley thought, "Eight Plates of Noodles?<br /> "Ah, Aaron's restaurant. It has been a while since I visited those old friends."<br /> Wesley nodded. "Let's go then."<br /> The restaurant, Eight Plates of Noodles, was located on Chanxold Street near the Yeadeo First Central Hospital.<br /> The establishment was small, serving only eight plates of noodles each day at a price of 10 thousand dollars each. Vernoic's television culinary program had specifically covered this incident.<br /> Reservations were a must to secure a plate.<br /> The restaurant's owner had a mysterious background. While the specifics were unknown, a high-ranking noble from the capital of Vernoic, Kingsland, had caused a scene there once.<br /> He had attempted to force his way in without a reservation. Although this incident hadn't been reported, rumors suggested that a garbage truck had to be called to dispose of the intruder's remains, as he was too shattered to be removed by conventional means.<br /> Since then, no one dared to cause trouble.<br /> On their way, Mia introduced Wesley to the background story.<br /> "Mr. Turner, two plates of noodles." Mia called out once they arrived.<br /> Aaron Turner didn't respond but visibly paused upon seeing Wesley beside Mia.<br /> A faint smile appeared on his usually stoic face. Though the flesh on the face seemed stiff, it was indeed a smile. "Coming right up."<br /> Chapter 8 You Are Blushing<br /> Mia glanced at Aaron with a hint of surprise, thinking, "When does he become so warm and enthusiastic?<br /> His tone seemed a bit agitated earlier, didn't it?"<br /> Soon enough, Aaron brought two plates of noodles to the table. One steaming hot and the other devoid of any warmth.<br /> As Mia observed Aaron placing the plate without steam in front of Wesley, her expression changed slightly.<br /> It was a plate of instant noodles having soaked in cold water, with the seasoning barely dissolved.<br /> She felt a sense of panic. Mia had wanted to leave a good impression on Wesley, which was why she had chosen this place.<br /> However, Aaron had served such a plate of noodles.<br /> She dared not question Aaron. The type of noodles served here was not determined by the guests but by Aaron's mood.<br /> "This lass named Mia is quite something, living up to her name, and quite kind-hearted," Aaron remarked, looking at Wesley.<br /> "Get lost," Wesley retorted, using his fork to pick up the noodles and devouring them.<br /> Mia's face turned pale instantly. Disrespecting Aaron was akin to risking Wesley's life.<br /> To her astonishment, Aaron chuckled, tears welling up in his eyes.<br /> He wiped them away. "Alright, I'll leave you to your meal."<br /> Before departing, he gave Mia a thumbs-up. "Seize the opportunity."<br /> The eight plates of noodles symbolized the eight comrades who had faced life and hardships together.<br /> Wesley ate voraciously. Initially, they had only one pack of instant noodles to share among the eight of them, forcing them to divide it.<br /> Despite the circumstances, they devoured the noodles joyfully.<br /> Aaron had promised that once they survived, each one would have the most delicious plate of noodles.<br /> However, five of the eight had perished.<br /> Wesley had come dangerously close to life-threatening situations, but managed to cling to life.<br /> For him, the plate of noodles was not food but the bond of friendship that had shielded him from harm.<br /> "Do you... know each other?" Mia couldn't help but ask, her voice low and curious.<br /> "Some things are better left unknown," Wesley replied.<br /> Mia nodded in understanding, falling silent as they continued eating noodles. She couldn't help stealing glances at Wesley throughout the meal.<br /> This gent had piqued her curiosity even more.<br /> "Wesley, I see. No wonder you agreed to the divorce so readily. You've already found someone else outside."<br /> A sharp voice interrupted their meal.<br /> Taylor approached with a cold expression, accompanied by Henry.<br /> Taylor's mother was in the nearby hospital, and she had just picked up Frank, planning to buy some food when she unexpectedly saw Wesley.<br /> Of course, she saw Mia, too.<br /> Seeing Wesley dining with a lady more attractive than herself, so soon after the divorce felt like a dagger twisting in Taylor's heart.<br /> Her anger was uncontrollable.<br /> Wesley merely glanced at Taylor, disinterested in engaging with her.<br /> Taylor was stung by his indifferent gaze. She stepped forward, glaring at Wesley. "Are you not going to explain to me?"<br /> Mia looked at Taylor, silently cursing her as a foolish lady.<br /> Wesley continued eating his noodles, lowering his head. "Get lost. Don't disturb me, or I won't hesitate to hit you."<br /> "What did you say?" Henry stepped forward, enraged. "Wesley, try laying a hand on her! Is that all you're capable of? Laying hands on ladies?"<br /> "No wonder Taylor looks down on you. You're truly disgusting trash. Apologize to Taylor now, or else you'll regret coming into this world."<br /> "And how will he regret it? Tell me." Aaron emerged, carrying a cleaver, smiling as he faced Henry and Taylor.<br /> "Mr. Turner, we dare not cause trouble in your place, but this guy is just..."<br /> Henry attempted to speak but was cut off as Aaron's cleaver struck his face, sending him sprawling to the ground.<br /> "Mr. Turner, sorry, we'll leave now." Taylor hastily helped Henry up and hurriedly left.<br /> These two individuals were fortunate to know the legendary story behind Eight Plates of Noodles and had successfully made reservations to dine here multiple times.<br /> Having distanced themselves a bit, Henry covered his face and pointed at Wesley. "Wesley, we have some unfinished business. If you're smart, come over here now and apologize."<br /> "Wesley, I've seen through you as well. I never expected that for the past five years, you've been using my money to keep a lady on the side. We'll settle the score slowly."<br /> As the two noticed Aaron glancing their way, they quickly shut their mouths and hurriedly left.<br /> Once they were out of eyeshots, Aaron fixed his gaze on Wesley. "Your dad doesn't know about your divorce yet, does he?"<br /> "What difference would it make if he did?" Wesley stretched lazily. "I've fulfilled my promise. I've given enough."<br /> Aaron nodded in acknowledgment without saying anything further.<br /> This piqued Mia's curiosity even more. "Is it like what the novels depict? Did you marry Taylor due to some special event?"<br /> Seeing Wesley's glare, Mia lowered her head to focus on her noodles. "I won't ask anymore."<br /> "For the past five years, you've been staying in the stairwell. It has been hard for you, but at least you're still untouched," Aaron remarked before swiftly departing.<br /> Mia stared at Wesley in disbelief, realizing that Aaron's words were meant for her ears.<br /> "What are you staring at? Eat your noodles," Wesley said. Mia chuckled.<br /> "Why are you laughing?"<br /> "You're blushing."<br /> "Nonsense," Wesley retorted.<br /> Unable to contain herself, Mia burst into laughter. She had tried to hold it in, but seeing Wesley's flushed face made it impossible.<br /> Ten minutes later, Mia left on her own accord, sensing that Wesley had something to discuss with Aaron.<br /> Inside Aaron's small shop, Wesley opened a bottle of wine. "Still single?"<br /> "I look too old, no one's interested," Aaron replied, opening a bottle of liquor as well.<br /> "Then why are you meddling in my love lives?"<br /> "Leave a child behind, even if you pass away, someone will remember you." Aaron took a sip. "I've actually investigated this Mia."<br /> "You investigated her?"<br /> "I knew you'd get a divorce. I've been keeping an eye on the pretty ones. This girl had done a lot of good deeds before coming to Yeadeo. Once, she saved three people in a flood and nearly lost her life. Opportunities are rare. You have to seize them."<br /> "When you've figured things out and are ready to marry, then we can discuss our affairs. That's the condition." Wesley downed the entire bottle of liquor.<br /> "Otherwise, don't bother meddling. We're on a one-way path and can't drag others along."<br /> "You..." Aaron sighed as he watched Wesley's retreating figure.<br /> On the road leading to the Feidgeuo Manor, Taylor stood gazing blankly at the entrance not far away.<br /> Twice in one day, she had come here.<br /> The first time was to pick up Frank, and this time was because Frank had lost his expensive watch. She and Henry hadn't even had a meal, rushing over to find it.<br /> The first time, she had come in a hurry when Frank was injured and left quickly as well.<br /> But this time, as Taylor looked at the entrance ahead, an infinite longing sprouted within her.<br /> "If only... I could live here, how wonderful that would be."<br /> Henry looked at her. "One day, I'll definitely build an estate more magnificent than this, and you'll be the lady of the house."<br /> As they conversed, a taxi drove by, stopping at the entrance. The person who got out of the taxi left Taylor stunned.<br /> She rubbed her eyes.	Adoread	147	https://facebook.com/61556400142540	LEARN_MORE	1713510000	View Edit Delete
1666844	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727708	1734958298	695	443042404849526		1.5597180248779E+15	1713769200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	226177680578601	0	Adoread	120207746049430265	client.adoread.com	Learn more	NONE	image	🔥🔥🔥 Read More👉	Hottest novel👉👉👉	https://client.adoread.com/book/loading/page/adoread/19161308412?utm_campaign={{campaign.id}}&utm_content={{campaign.name}}		1713519398	2.261776805786E+14	Adoread	https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437724011_960421695526729_1516574307485338648_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QHGXZ-huQfoQ7kNvgFl-bAK&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAhittaAtIybg_0Gi8UYNoalMt3uRDbIai0DNMlEMFrFg&oe=663A90F9	person_profile	0	Adoread	https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437891881_25238797299100336_7255863263127890524_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UeFxFDUJUZIQ7kNvgF1dGXL&_nc_oc=AdjBlORU46gPxHeMvSIJmXMDx_1afwh7kp2UWRl9K25HmyfzpiuTkbEBFfXJmbiDJ-c&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCl6BW-kaMuwg-TQzlAPyzBHYyw1d6F5gFbxwKZGONM2w&oe=663A61E5	0	3	"Wesley, are you trying to harm me? You useless piece of trash, can't even make a decent cup of coffee, can you?"<br /> Madison Blair lifted her coffee cup and splashed it directly onto Wesley Harrington's face.<br /> "What are you looking at, you spineless waste? Your name sounds so lofty? I might as well call you a waste."<br /> Glancing at the grotesque expression of his wife's mother, Wesley pulled out his phone to check the time.<br /> Exactly twelve o'clock. It had been five full years since he married Taylor Reed.<br /> The appointed time had come.<br /> He had fulfilled his promise, safeguarding the Reed family for five years, transforming them from a family living off fishing to one perceived as affluent by the common folk.<br /> Wiping the coffee off his face, he turned and walked away.<br /> "Where do you think you're going? Go fetch some more coffee," Madison shouted.<br /> "Madison, didn't you say this waste is obedient at home, doing whatever he's told? I don't think he's taking it lying down."<br /> Madison grew angrier. "Wesley, you stop right there. My family has fed and housed you. If you dare disobey, I'll have you thrown out!"<br /> Ignoring her, Wesley continued downstairs.<br /> "When Taylor comes back, I'll immediately have you two divorced. Do you hear me? Stay right there," Madison threatened, "I'll let you know your place today."<br /> Grabbing a golf club, Madison swiftly charged towards Wesley.<br /> Seeing Wesley heading downstairs, she swung the club viciously at his back.<br /> Without turning back, Wesley gently sidestepped.<br /> Losing her balance, Madison tumbled forward, rolling down the stairs with a series of thumps.<br /> "Ouch... it hurts, it hurts so much!"<br /> As Madison reached the ground floor, she wailed in pain and her sister immediately rushed to her.<br /> "Wesley, what have you done? How dare you hit my sister!" Madison's sister hurried down, checking on Madison's condition.<br /> Wesley remained silent, observing the scene.<br /> "Quick, call Taylor. Tell her to come back. Today, she must divorce this waste." Madison glared at Wesley. "How dare you hit me? Not only will I let Taylor divorce you, but I'll make sure you leave in disgrace."<br /> "Mum, what's wrong?" At that moment, a gent and a lady walked in.<br /> The lady was Taylor, Madison's daughter.<br /> She ran towards Madison.<br /> As Madison pointed at Wesley, tears streamed down her face. "Taylor, he hit me, he hit me! When you're not home, he changes his attitude, scolding and hitting me in the slightest displeasure. He even pushed me down the stairs just now. Alexis can testify."<br /> Madison's sister, Alexis Blair, chimed in. "Yes, Wesley, this trash not only hit your mother but also threatened to hit me too. We cannot tolerate such trash."<br /> "Taylor, I have been telling you to divorce him for years. You've been supporting him, treating him like a Lord at home, but he's an ungrateful wolf in sheep's clothing."<br /> Helping Madison up, Taylor noticed the scrapes on Madison's arms and legs, her expression turning cold.<br /> "Wesley, why did you hit my mother? You better give me an explanation."<br /> Wesley looked at Taylor, his wife.<br /> Five years had passed, and she had never shown him kindness.<br /> Taylor dressed impeccably, a paragon of a successful lady, with a face that could be deemed angelic, yet whether her heart was as angelic remained a mystery.<br /> Her figure, too, left countless men yearning.<br /> For five years, Wesley had thought he might develop feelings for this lady, but in reality, it never happened.<br /> "There are surveillance cameras in the house," Wesley stated calmly before descending the stairs into the hallway.<br /> Despite residing in a three-story villa, Wesley's living quarters were confined to the stairwell.<br /> He harbored no resentment towards this arrangement. It was merely a promise. It was just that Taylor failed to appreciate him.<br /> This home held little value that he wished to cling onto.<br /> Retrieving a wooden box from beneath his pillow, Wesley extracted two documents. Casting a fleeting glance at the modest abode he had called home for five years, Wesley smiled faintly.<br /> He thought, "Finally... I'm free."<br /> Pushing the door ajar, Wesley was met by Taylor's piercing gaze. "I've reviewed the surveillance footage. Yes, my mother intended to strike you, but even if she did, what difference would it make?"<br /> "She's a lady. How much could her blows hurt you? Why did you dodge?"<br /> "If you hadn't dodged, my mother wouldn't have tumbled down." Wesley stared at Taylor, unable to comprehend her thought process.<br /> He had no interest in engaging in these arguments. Handing over the two documents to Taylor, he remarked, "The divorce agreement. I've already signed it. Take a look. I'm leaving with nothing."<br /> "With your current influence, there's no need for you to visit the city hall. Someone will handle it for you, right?"<br /> Madison was taken aback. She swiftly snatched the divorce agreement, flipping through it hastily.<br /> The contents were indeed straightforward. Both parties willingly divorced, with Wesley relinquishing all claims and having already signed.<br /> In an instant, Madison's pain seemed to dissipate. "Taylor, sign it quickly. Sign it."<br /> Taylor was still in a daze.<br /> She pondered.<br /> "A divorce agreement? Wesley has already prepared a divorce agreement. On what grounds?"<br /> "What gives him the right to initiate a divorce? All these years, he's done nothing at home, lacking any ambition. Always practicing martial arts, what right does he have to seek a divorce?"<br /> "If anyone should initiate it, it should be me. Moreover, now that I'm back to discussing this matter with him. Could it be that word got out, and Wesley, for the sake of his pride, rushed to prepare a divorce agreement first?"<br /> "It must be so, but... No!"<br /> "Wanting to leave with nothing, is he retreating to advance? As the chairman of the Reed Group, how could I be served with a divorce?"<br /> "Hey Wesley, I never expected this from you. Have I not treated you well enough? You seek a divorce, attempting to turn your retreat into advance, aiming to embarrass me?"<br /> Taylor glared at Wesley. "I'm telling you, it's impossible."<br /> Snatching the divorce agreement, she tore it to shreds.<br /> "Taylor, what are you doing? Such a great opportunity. Why not just sign it and let him leave?" Madison grew anxious.<br /> "Mom, I do intend to divorce this trash, but the decision must come from me. I returned specifically to address this matter."<br /> With that, Taylor produced two documents. "Wesley, remember that it's me who's divorcing you. It's me who no longer wants you. Initially, out of marital obligation, I had considered offering you some compensation. Now, you don't even need to think about it. Sign the divorce agreement and leave my home."<br /> Wesley offered a faint smile as he accepted the divorce agreement.<br /> "What are you laughing at?" Taylor demanded angrily.<br /> Wesley's smile seemed to mock her, fueling her rage.<br /> Ignoring her entirely, Wesley signed the document and handed it over.<br /> "What are you laughing at? Answer me! Who do you think you are?" Taylor roared once more.<br /> Wesley glanced at her before striding towards the exit.<br /> "Stop!" The gent who had accompanied Taylor stepped forward, blocking Wesley's path. "Taylor asked you a question, and... Your previous attitude displeased me. Apologize to Taylor, or I'll have you leave in disgrace!"<br /> Chapter 2 The Unspoken Truth<br /> <br /> "Yes, let him leave in disgrace. He thought he could just hit me and walk away so easily," Madison joined in the commotion, also noticing the gent blocking Wesley's path.<br /> Madison had a keen interest in luxury goods, having frequented various high-end establishments over the years as the Reed family's living conditions improved. The gent was wearing an expensive watch and dressed head to toe in high-end luxury brands.<br /> Seeing Madison's gaze, the gent spoke. "Rest assured, today Wesley must pay the price."<br /> The gent introduced himself, looking at Wesley, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Henry Clark, the eldest son of the Clark family and the general manager of the Clark Group in the North District."<br /> "From now on, I will accompany Taylor on her journey of life, and I will not allow anyone to bully her."<br /> "My identity carries weight. You should understand that. Now, apologize to Taylor. Apologize! Did you hear me? Apologize!"<br /> Madison's eyes lit up. She hadn't expected the gent before her to hold such a high status. She continued to shout, "Did you hear that? Taylor will be with Mr. Clark from now on. Apologize now."<br /> Wesley glanced at Henry, then at Taylor. He thought, "Have they been together all along?" Wesley had wanted to ask but decided against it because there was no need. He simply gave them a glance and continued walking towards the exit.<br /> "Are you ignoring me?" Henry's face turned cold as he reached out to grab Wesley. Henry's hand froze mid-air as he received a solid hit.<br /> "Until I sign the divorce papers, Taylor and I are still wife and husband. I don't care to investigate whether you two had any intimate relationship during that time, but don't provoke me, or I won't hesitate to make you regret it." Wesley's gaze was icy, and as Henry met his eyes, he felt a twinge of fear and swallowed his words.<br /> Taylor was also stunned. She knew exactly what Wesley had been like over the past five years. There were many surveillance cameras in the house, and she would often check them.<br /> Even when Taylor wasn't home, despite how her family treated Wesley, he always obeyed without complaint, especially towards her. He had never raised his voice, no matter how they treated him.<br /> Today, not only did Wesley dodge when her mother struck, but he also initiated the divorce and now even struck Henry. <br /> Taylor was at a loss for words, thinking, "How could this cowardly gent dare? On what grounds does he dare?"<br /> This change was difficult for Taylor to accept as if she didn't truly understand this guy. The gent who used to be obedient to her, completely submissive, now revealed this side of himself. She watched Wesley walk away in a daze, feeling a strange discomfort in her heart.<br /> "Isn't he leaving with nothing?" Alexis pointed at the wooden box Wesley was holding. "What is he taking with him?"<br /> Madison also realized. Over the past five years, Wesley had always treasured this wooden box, carrying it with him wherever he went. She thought there must be something valuable inside.<br /> Realizing this, Madison hurriedly followed. "Wesley, stop right there, leave the wooden box."<br /> Wesley paused, glanced at Madison, and said, "This is my personal belonging."<br /> "Nonsense, what personal belonging could you possibly have after marrying into the Reed family? Everything you've eaten, worn, and lived in over the years has been provided by the Reed family. Put it down."<br /> As she spoke, Madison reached out to grab the wooden box.<br /> "Ah..." A scream rang out as Madison quickly retracted her hand, a gash appearing on her palm, a crimson liquid dripping.<br /> The wooden box was now stained with the same crimson liquid, trembling lightly in Wesley's hand.<br /> "It's not the right time yet, the day you thirst for this crimson liquid will come," Wesley murmured softly, patting the box before turning to continue his stride towards the exit.<br /> "Monster! A monster!" Madison screamed, causing Taylor and the others to rush out. Seeing the wound in Madison's hand, Taylor was filled with rage.<br /> "Wesley, aren't you going to say something?" Wesley halted once more, contemplating before meeting Taylor's gaze.<br /> "Just stay out of my way from now on. Consider this a warning to you."<br /> "Taylor, that wooden box of his has a mechanism. It must hold something valuable! We can't let him take it with him," Madison, enduring the pain, reminded them.<br /> "Mom, your injury is important. We'll deal with him later. Let me take you to the hospital first." Taylor comforted Madison before calling out to the retreating Wesley.<br /> "Our marriage is over! Yet, you dared to hurt my mother! This won't be the end of it! I will make you regret it!" Ignoring her, Wesley continued walking out.<br /> "Rest assured, I promise he won't see the light of day tomorrow." Henry stepped forward to console. "Let's focus on getting your wound treated first."<br /> "I want him to regret ever existing in this world, to apologize to me in repentance," Madison roared.<br /> "Mom, trust me, I will make him do just that." Taylor looked at Madison with a mix of pity and determination. "Let's go to the hospital first."<br /> In the villa area, Wesley halted, his voice cold. "Get out."<br /> An elderly gent leaped down from a tree, appearing to be in his seventies, yet landing silently from a height of around ten feet.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, your father wants you to come home and take charge."<br /> "He stopped being my father five years ago. He's my enemy."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you misunderstood your father. He had his reasons back then. I swear in my life, once you know the truth, you will forgive him."<br /> "Huh!" Wesley smirked coldly, saying, "I nearly passed away back then. Is that also a misunderstanding?"<br /> The old gent pleaded, "Mr. Harrington, this situation is truly not as you perceive it."<br /> Wesley didn't engage further with the old guy. The events of that year were etched in his memory forever. He was the one who had been abandoned. If not for that incident, why would he have stayed with the Reed family for five years?<br /> Watching Wesley walk away, the old gent had tears silently streaming down his face. "Mr. Harrington, I truly... I truly can't bring myself to speak the truth, but you have misunderstood your father. He also bears burdens and endures pains beyond what an ordinary person can handle."<br /> As Wesley's figure disappeared, the old gent stood up, hesitated for a moment, then dialed a number on his phone.<br /> "Mr. Harrington is now divorced. I've given you the news firsthand. If your daughter is truly together with Mr. Harrington, you must fulfill the promise and let her persuade Mr. Harrington to come home."<br /> After hanging up, a middle-aged gent in a luxurious estate jumped up excitedly. Calming himself, he immediately made another call. "My dear, you're at Yeadeo, right?<br /> "Go find Wesley now. Don't mention the engagement for now. Use every means to get close to him, make him fall in love with you."<br /> "Dad, I don't have time."<br /> "No matter what you are busy with, you must go find Wesley now. No matter what reason you approach him, you must leave a good impression the first time."<br /> "Dad, I'm in trouble right now. If I don't handle it well, I might be good as gone. I have to deal with it immediately. I'm hanging up."<br /> Chapter 3 You're Nothing<br /> The middle-aged gent's voice lowered significantly. "Is there a big incident happening? You didn't tell me? What happened?"<br /> "Quinn Kingsley from Yeadeo, Mr. Kingsley, used our product and now has one foot on the grave. If something really happens to him..."<br /> "You mean Quinn, the uncontested leader of Yeadeo?"<br /> "Yes."<br /> "In that case, you should go find Wesley. Trust me, in this world, there is no problem that Wesley can't solve. As long as he's willing to help, you'll be fine. Listen to me, go find Wesley immediately."<br /> The lady fell silent for a moment before saying, "Okay."<br /> At Yeadeo Harbor, a gent with a large flaxen chain and a watch, sporting a crew cut, hurriedly disembarked, accompanied by a dozen gentlemen.<br /> "Mr. Reed, wherever that trash is, we will find him and tear him apart."<br /> "Yes, that guy dared to harm your mother. We'll make sure he pays for it."<br /> Frank Reed's face turned cold. "Wesley, you coward, thinking you can overturn the world? How dare you touch my mom? Just wait until I find you, you're finished."<br /> "We've found him. Wesley got into a taxi, and our boys followed him."<br /> "Let's go!" Frank waved his hand, leading dozens of men who boarded the car with harpoons, steel pipes, and other weapons.<br /> Inside the taxi, Wesley gazed at the scenery outside, feeling a strange sense of tranquility.<br /> He thought to himself, "I never imagined that while I was secretly paving the way for the Reed family, Taylor, after progressing so rapidly, would start looking down on me more and more."<br /> "Those ladies who know my true identity, which one of them isn't trying to throw themselves at me? Ladies like that don't interest me."<br /> "Being an ordinary gent is truly difficult," Wesley murmured, smiling faintly and deciding not to dwell on these matters anymore. He had important things to attend to and no time to waste on personal affairs.<br /> "Young lad, are you going to Feidgeuo Manor for a job interview?" The driver, curious about Wesley's destination, inquired.<br /> Feidgeuo Manor was Yeadeo's most mysterious private area. Originally a villa area, it was bought at a huge cost five years ago and completely renovated. It was said to have cost a trillion dollars. The former villa area was now Feidgeuo Manor.<br /> "That's my home," Wesley replied nonchalantly.<br /> The driver was taken aback by this revelation, silently cursing Wesley for bragging. After a couple of minutes, the driver regained his composure. "It seems like you and I both prefer to keep a low profile. My car usually gathers dust at home, so I occasionally drive a taxi to experience life."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "My car has been driven by my assistant for the past few years, so it's not gathering dust."<br /> "Haha..." The driver laughed. "We should get together sometime and see whose car is more impressive."<br /> "Sure, whenever we have the time."<br /> As they chatted, the vehicle soon arrived near Feidgeuo Manor, where the massive head of the Feidgeuo Peak protruded, creating a unique landscape in Yeadeo.<br /> The driver asked with a smile, "Since you're the owner here, it's fine if I drive in, right?"<br /> "Of course," Wesley replied.<br /> As soon as Wesley spoke, several cars caught up from behind.<br /> The cars surrounded the one Wesley was in, with the front vehicles braking to force the car to a stop.<br /> When numerous people descended from cars wielding harpoons and steel pipes, the driver's face paled.<br /> Frank and his group got out of the cars, instantly closing in, and without hesitation, started attacking, the steel pipes and harpoons thudding against the car.<br /> Frank's henchman yanked open the door of Wesley's car, poised to stab Wesley with a harpoon, but Wesley swiftly exited the vehicle.<br /> With a firm step on the ground, he launched a swift hit.<br /> A muffled sound echoed as the henchman was hit away.<br /> "What are you looking at?" Frank noticed his henchmen were all staring at him. "All of you, attack together and take him down!"<br /> As he commanded, the henchmen Frank brought with him surged forward.<br /> The taxi driver, trembling, took out his phone to call the police, but Frank glared at him. "I am Frank Reed from Yeadeo Harbor. If you dare, go ahead and make that call."<br /> Frank, leveraging his sister Taylor's status, had been causing trouble in Yeadeo Harbor, and no one dared to provoke him.<br /> Upon hearing Frank's name, the driver hastily put away his phone. "Mr. Reed, I'll just check the time, you guys continue."<br /> "Huh!" Frank snorted coldly, casting his gaze towards the surrounded Wesley.<br /> The sounds of thuds continued to ring out incessantly. Because Wesley was completely surrounded, Frank was unable to see the situation inside clearly, but he could imagine it. After all, in Frank's mind, the henchmen under his command were not to be trifled with.<br /> "Hit him hard for me!"<br /> Another muffled sound and a figure flew out. At that moment, Frank finally saw the situation clearly, and his face turned pale.<br /> Frank knew that Wesley liked to practice martial arts, but he had never expected Wesley to be this skilled. It wasn't Wesley who had been beaten, but his own men by Wesley alone.<br /> Frantically, Frank turned and ran to retrieve a crossbow from the car.<br /> "Clear the way." Frank bellowed, aiming the crossbow at Wesley.<br /> "You scumbag, you think you can fight? Move one more time, and I'll end your life! Surrender!"<br /> Wesley, holding a wooden box, stared at Frank. Ignoring the crossbow in his hand, Wesley said, "Tell your henchmen to back off, or you'll all see the light from above!"<br /> "You're really good at pretending to be tough." Frank took two steps forward. "See the light? Move a muscle and see if I can end your life or not! If you don't have the guts, apologize now!"<br /> Wesley turned his head and looked at the approaching cars, with two expensive ones in the lead, two more in the rear, and another one in the middle.<br /> "Keep acting tough, and I'll put a hole in your head." Frank spoke while glancing at the five cars. "What, looking for help?"<br /> "Let me tell you, those who ride in these cars are not the kind of weaklings like you who rely on connections. With me here, in Yeadeo's social hierarchy, even those who ride in such cars wouldn't dare meddle in this matter. And let me make it clear, without my sister, you're nothing."<br /> Chapter 4 Is He Worthy?<br /> As Frank's words faded, the five cars came to a halt.<br /> A bodyguard opened the door of the one in the middle, revealing a dazzling pair of shining shoes catching everyone's eye.<br /> The shining shoe encased a beautiful foot. Above, the skirt's hem was adorned with lace.<br /> Then, like a fairy stepping out of a painting, she appeared before everyone's eyes.<br /> The lady was beautiful!<br /> Frank was mesmerized. Ever since the Reed family rose to prominence, he had been surrounded by ladies, but compared to the elegant lady before him, they were worlds apart.<br /> It wasn't just a difference in appearance but an incomparable gap in demeanor.<br /> The lady descending from the Maybach seemed like a celestial being untouched by mortal affairs.<br /> The embodiment of a fairy in the mundane world.<br /> She simply stood there after getting out of the car, perfectly embodying what it meant to be graceful and elegant.<br /> The lady glanced at Wesley, then at Frank.<br /> Frank grinned, saying, "May I have the honor of knowing the name of this esteemed lady? I am Frank..."<br /> The lady spoke calmly. "Disrespect Mr. Harrington, and you're done for."<br /> Her bodyguards, unfazed by Frank's crossbow, swiftly overwhelmed him, sending him crashing to the ground.<br /> The henchmen who had come with Frank, previously defeated by Wesley, now scrambled to their feet and fled in all directions.<br /> Who would dare provoke someone who could afford such a car?<br /> "My sister is Taylor Reed, the chairperson of Reed Group," Frank shouted, clutching his head.<br /> Ignoring him, one of the bodyguards dragged him to the roadside grass while another used a belt to tighten around Frank's neck, exerting pressure.<br /> "Enough, a lesson is all that's needed." Wesley spoke calmly, and only when the lady gestured did the bodyguards release Frank.<br /> Frank lay there, already unconscious.<br /> Wesley turned to the lady. "Who are you?"<br /> "I am Mia Roberts, the general manager of Vinver Business Alliance's Yeadeo branch." She looked at Wesley and continued, "Mr. Harrington, my father mentioned that you have miraculous healing skills and earnestly requested your assistance. A generous reward awaits."<br /> Wesley furrowed his brow slightly, thinking, "There are indeed people who recognize my abilities and status, yet I've rarely intervened in the past five years. Today, shortly after I divorced Taylor, she is here. Whose arrangement is this?"<br /> "Mr. Harrington, my father also mentioned that you are benevolent and has raised the banner of compassion among healers, serving as a role model and benchmark for all in the medical field."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "You have a way with words. Tell me the specifics."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, please get in the car first. I will explain in detail on the way."<br /> The phrase "compassionate healer" held significant weight for Wesley, who had saved countless lives from the brink of death.<br /> Without further ado, he got into the car.<br /> Inside, after Mia brewed coffee for Wesley, she began. "Vinver Business Alliance has a wide range of business operations, and I mainly oversee the health supplement sector, which has seen some success in recent years.<br /> "Recently, Quinn Kingsley started using our medicines, and now there's an accident."<br /> As she spoke, Mia kept her gaze fixed on Wesley.<br /> Quinn, the undisputed leader of Yeadeo, was a figure of immense influence.<br /> Upon hearing this name, Wesley showed no particular reaction. "If the city's leader faces issues with your products, it is indeed a concern. Let's go and see."<br /> With just a sentence, Wesley leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest.<br /> Mia was secretly alarmed, thinking, "He knows who Quinn is, yet he seems indifferent. Who is this Wesley, really? No wonder Dad has instructed me to find a way to win his favor." Mia's inner resistance toward Wesley quietly shifted.<br /> Wesley had piqued her curiosity.<br /> As the vehicle was moving, Wesley's phone rang.<br /> Wesley opened his eyes and took out his phone to see Taylor calling.<br /> Pressing the answer button, he asked, "What's the matter?"<br /> On the other end of the line, Taylor, driving towards Feidgeuo Manor, had a grim expression.<br /> She thought, "Has Wesley ever spoken to me in such a cold tone before? Is he really this heartless right after our divorce?"<br /> Already furious, she snapped. "Wesley, do you even consider yourself a human being?<br /> "Today, not only did you lay hands on my mother, but you also had someone attack my brother. Do you not remember our past at all?"<br /> Wesley calmly replied, "Do we have a past to remember?"<br /> "You truly are a heartless scumbag, just as my mother said. You are an ungrateful and vicious person I raised for five years. Even a pet would wag its tail at me!"<br /> Taylor wanted to continue her tirade, but the phone line had already turned busy.<br /> This only fueled her anger further.<br /> Just now, she had received a call from Frank's underlings, informing her that Wesley had sent people to attack Frank and even intended to end him.<br /> Taylor wanted to demand answers, but...<br /> As Taylor was clutching her fists, her gaze turned icy.<br /> After a moment, she picked up her phone again. "Wesley, you are so narrow-minded. You have no ambition. Any lady would steer clear of you."<br /> "Just because I dumped you, you are doing this on purpose to make me feel sick. Pretending to be aloof and seeking revenge? Do you even deserve it?"<br /> "In Yeadeo, squashing you would be as easy as squashing an ant. You're asking for it! If anything happens to my brother, I will make you wish you were ending!"<br /> Her furious voice message echoed in the car.<br /> Wesley chuckled and put away his phone.<br /> Beside him, Mia seemed contemplative. Before coming, she had already ordered a swift investigation into Wesley.<br /> She was curious, thinking, "How could someone valued by my father could be the one 'marrying into' the Reed family."<br /> Being tactful, Mia chose not to ask and pretended not to have heard.<br /> After about forty minutes, they arrived at the Kingsley Manor.<br /> The Kingsley family members, upon seeing Mia alight from the car, all wore grim expressions.<br /> Mia greeted them with a smile, "Everyone, this is Wesley Harrington, Mr. Harrington, the miraculous healer I specially invited to treat Mr. Kingsley."<br /> "Him? The gent who married into the Reed family?"<br /> "A miraculous healer? Is he even worthy? Are healers so worthless now?"<br /> "A useless gent who mooches off of the Reed family? How dare he call himself a miraculous healer? Truly a joke among all jokes."<br /> Chapter 5 Compassionate Healer<br /> Amanda Kingsley, Quinn's granddaughter, stared coldly at Wesley and Mia.<br /> This lady, dressed in a smart suit, also held significant fame in Yeadeo, overseeing the region's business activities, including investment attraction and various local business negotiations.<br /> Amanda had a favorable view of Taylor, who had risen swiftly in recent times, and they had interacted frequently.<br /> She was aware of Wesley's existence and had advised Taylor to part ways with him early on.<br /> But Amanda never imagined that Mia would bring someone like Wesley, a complete waste, and claim he was a miraculous healer.<br /> Glaring at Mia, she said, "Mia, once my grandfather is well, it's best for your Roberts family to leave Yeadeo."<br /> "As for you..." She glanced at Wesley. "I will advise Taylor to divorce you. You have deceived Taylor's feelings and now shamelessly made your way into my family. You are a despicable creature."<br /> After reprimanding Mia and Wesley, she turned to an elderly gent beside her, and her tone and attitude completely changed. "Mr. Phillips, sorry to trouble you. My grandfather is inside, please."<br /> Mia looked at the elderly gent, who was already in his twilight years, feeling deeply shocked.<br /> Scott Phillips, the 38th generation heir of the Healing Clinic, was now ninety-two years old.<br /> Renowned as a miraculous healer, he was a respected figure in the medical community of Yeadeo and even nationally.<br /> He no longer conducted consultations personally due to his old age. Mia had visited him specifically to pay her respects once she had arrived in Yeadeo but had not met Scott.<br /> She never expected Scott to appear in person. It was understandable, as Quinn held a prominent position in the city. Despite the profound influence of the Phillips family, they still had to show respect to Quinn.<br /> Mia looked at Wesley, feeling conflicted and thinking, "Dad has confidently claimed that Wesley has extraordinary abilities, but does he really?"<br /> She harbored doubts, but out of propriety, Mia spoke. "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the trouble."<br /> Wesley smiled, "It's fine. As long as the person can be healed."<br /> His open-mindedness impressed Mia.<br /> After about half an hour, Amanda emerged from the room. All eyes instantly turned towards her.<br /> It was evident that Amanda had wailed out, with traces of tears still visible.<br /> "Amanda, how is it?" A middle-aged gent anxiously asked her.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family who had rushed back also focused their attention on her.<br /> "Mr. Phillips said that there's little hope of recovery. He could only use acupuncture to wake grandfather for half an hour. When grandfather wakes up, let's all go in and see if he has any final instructions."<br /> Everyone was shocked.<br /> "How could this be?"<br /> "Is Mr. Phillips also helpless?"<br /> The members of the Kingsley family found it hard to accept this reality, especially since Quinn had always treated his juniors well.<br /> The thought of Quinn departing saddened some, and tears silently fell.<br /> Publicly, Quinn's status was the foundation of the Kingsley family's prominence in Yeadeo.<br /> If Quinn were to pass away, the Kingsley family would undoubtedly decline.<br /> The atmosphere within the Kingsley family was somber.<br /> Amanda looked at her family members, opened her mouth, but said nothing, silently turning back into the room.<br /> "Stop crying," A middle-aged gent said sternly, "Dad wouldn't want to see you all in tears. If he's really leaving, we mustn't let him worry about us. Pull yourselves together."<br /> After these words, the middle-aged gent also entered the room.<br /> The younger members of the Kingsley family wiped their tears vigorously, trying to force smiles, but in truth, they looked better at crying than pretending to be happy.<br /> Mia's spirit plummeted as she realized the gravity of the situation. Even if an ordinary person passed away from consuming health supplements, it spelled big trouble for those who sold them. And when the deceased happened to be Quinn, the stakes were even higher.<br /> She understood that it would be difficult for this branch to stay in Yeadeo, and even the headquarters might face repercussions.<br /> "Let's go in and have a look." Wesley glanced at Mia. "There might still be a chance."<br /> "Ah..." Mia stared at Wesley in surprise. Seeing him already heading towards the room, she quickly followed suit.<br /> Inside the room, the members of the Kingsley family stood around the mattress, maintaining a certain distance.<br /> Scott lit the alcohol lamp and took out the needles, his expression solemn.<br /> He looked at the members of the Kingsley family. "Think about what you want to say to Mr. Kingsley later. Once you're ready, let me know, and then I'll proceed with the acupuncture."<br /> As he said this, tears welled up in many eyes.<br /> "If you don't mind, let me take a look. I have a way." Wesley spoke up, drawing everyone's attention.<br /> Amanda's face darkened. "Who let you in? Get out!"<br /> "Mia, have you lost your mind? Tricked by this trash and actually brought him here as a miracle healer. Get out with him! I'll settle the score with you in a couple of days."<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, at a loss for words.<br /> "Even Mr. Phillips is unable to reverse the situation. What use are you? Get out." Another younger member of the Kingsley family angrily rebuked.<br /> The middle-aged gent added, "We're in no mood right now. You better leave immediately."<br /> "I understand your narrow-mindedness," Wesley continued, "But as a healer, once I see a patient, I cannot stand by and watch him draw his last breath."<br /> "Wesley, you're quite the charlatan. Do you really want to be gone right now?" Amanda's voice was filled with anger.<br /> "Amanda, let me say a few words," Scott interjected, and Amanda fell silent.<br /> Looking at Wesley, Scott began. "Young lad, at my age, I've seen a lot and have a broad perspective. Today, however, I find it hard to remain indifferent. I practiced medicine from the age of sixteen until I stopped seeing patients for a total of seventy years."<br /> "I've saved countless patients from various illnesses. I never easily declare a patient's fate, nor do I believe I have the right to do so."<br /> "But from your recent remarks, it seems like you're accusing me of such actions. Young people wanting to make a name for themselves by stepping on the shoulders of their predecessors, I can understand."<br /> "But this kind of behavior displeases me."<br /> "My displeasure, what does it mean to you? Do you understand?"<br /> "Even if you are a healer, your career will be ruined because of this."<br /> Chapter 6 Hand of Hell<br /> In the face of Scott's veiled threats, Wesley simply smiled and brushed them off.<br /> Looking at Scott, he asked, "I've always focused on the issue at hand rather than attacking individuals. I have a few questions for you. If you can't administer the needles, how long do you think Quinn can hold on?"<br /> "Seven days, but he will remain unconscious," Scott replied bluntly.<br /> "Then let me ask you this, is there anyone in the world with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "Outrageous," Amanda coldly interjected, "Mr. Phillips is unparalleled in his medical expertise."<br /> Scott glanced at Amanda. "Amanda, let me handle this question."<br /> Continuing to address Wesley, he said, "I don't underestimate myself, nor do I overestimate. There are countless talented individuals in the world, like stars in the sky. I may not dare claim to be the best in medical skills, but those who surpass me are few."<br /> "That means there are some," Wesley calmly remarked, causing Scott's expression to shift slightly, "Indeed, there are."<br /> "Then let me ask you this. Do you think within seven days, the Kingsley family won't find someone with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "If they do find someone, do you believe there is an illness that you cannot cure, but this person can?"<br /> Wesley's questions were sharp and resounding.<br /> Scott's face changed once more as he was rendered speechless.<br /> "Even if there is, that person will never be you." Amanda's face turned icy. "Now get out. Don't spout your eloquence here. Your deceitful behavior is repulsive."<br /> "Your understanding of me is merely hearsay, isn't it?" Wesley retorted, his gaze mocking Amanda, "Has your background and education taught you such arrogance and prejudice?"<br /> "Arrogance?" Amanda's face grew colder as she disdainfully looked at Wesley. "Prejudice?<br /> "Did I say something wrong just now? You are nothing but stagnant waste, a parasite living off others. If it weren't for Taylor, you would have starved on the streets long ago."<br /> "Relying on sweet words, deceiving Taylor. She, with her kind heart, can't bear to divorce you, but don't push your luck. If it weren't for Taylor's sake, you would have been sent out long ago."<br /> Scott interrupted Amanda, "Amanda, although I find this lad a bit annoying, what he said does hold some truth. There are indeed individuals with better medical skills than me. Your grandfather can hold on for seven days. Try reaching out to see if someone can come over. I'll help you make connections."<br /> "If it really doesn't work out after seven days, I'll administer the needles to your grandfather. However, at that point, I can only buy you three minutes."<br /> As soon as Scott spoke, the faces of the Kingsley family members grew even more solemn. True healers were rare and not easily summoned.<br /> While the Kingsley family had connections in Yeadeo, their influence waned outside of it.<br /> "Mr. Phillips, please administer the needles. Life has its ups and downs, and we understand that. Just buy my father a bit more time." The middle-aged gent spoke up.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family nodded in agreement.<br /> Amanda looked at Scott. "Mr. Phillips, please."<br /> "In that case, please have everyone unrelated leave. I need silence," Scott calmly stated.<br /> Amanda glared at Wesley, her eyes speaking volumes without a word.<br /> The unrelated individuals were, naturally, Wesley and Mia.<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, intending to leave, but she suddenly hesitated.<br /> Instead of leaving, Wesley moved forward.<br /> "What are you doing?" A young member of the Kingsley family stepped forward with a stern expression, pushing Wesley.<br /> In one swift motion, Wesley executed a clean shoulder throw, toppling the young gent to the ground, his own expression turning cold.<br /> "A bunch of fools! If it weren't for my teacher's teachings about not turning a blind eye to those in need, I wouldn't bother with you ignorant lot," Wesley remarked with disdain.<br /> As Wesley effortlessly took down one individual from the Kingsley family, the others seemed slow to react.<br /> By the time they realized what was happening, Wesley had already picked up the needle next to Scott and casually flicked his wrist.<br /> The needle flew out of his hand, piercing Quinn's temple, followed by a second needle, a third needle, and so on.<br /> "What are you doing? Stop!" Amanda's voice rose in urgency, echoed by the rest of the Kingsley family members who rushed forward to restrain Wesley.<br /> "Stay back, everyone. Wait." Scott suddenly stood up, blocking the others. "Let him try."<br /> Amanda and the others were left dumbfounded, thinking, "What does this mean?"<br /> Despite their confusion, they heeded Scott's words.<br /> After Scott stopped the members of the Kingsley family, he fixed his gaze on Wesley.<br /> Wesley proceeded to use eighteen needles in succession, symbolizing the levels of pain.<br /> Even if someone had descended into the depths of hell, they must be brought back.<br /> The final needle, also piercing a vital point, caused Quinn's body to tremble suddenly, resonating with the previous eighteen needles.<br /> Scott's eyes widened, his body trembling slightly. His reaction left Amanda and the others even more puzzled, but none dared to interrupt.<br /> Moments later, Wesley placed a palm on Quinn's chest, causing all eighteen needles to be shaken off. When all the needles landed on the ground, the part of the skin where the needles had pierced turned dark.<br /> Wesley then dragged Quinn to the edge of the mattress, flipped him over with his head facing downwards, and gave him a firm pat on the back.<br /> Quinn spat out a mouthful of black liquid. When Wesley flipped him back to lie flat, his complexion had regained some color.<br /> "The Hand of Darkness... It's the Hand of Darkness!" Scott exclaimed with excitement, his body quivering, "It's the Hand that descends into the dark world, snatching people from the hands of the Evil!"<br /> "You do have some knowledge, recognizing the Hand of Darkness." Wesley glanced at Scott.<br /> Scott's gaze towards Wesley had undergone a drastic change. He respectfully clasped his hands together.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thirty years ago, I had the honor of attending a teaching conference held by Mr. Vanderbilt. I saw the Hand of Darkness, but my limited aptitude only allowed me to grasp the basics."<br /> "I have been blind and ignorant. I apologize for my earlier offenses. Please forgive me, Mr. Harrington."<br /> The Mr. Vanderbilt Scott referred to was Wesley's teacher, Ulysses Vanderbilt. He generously imparted his skills to others, but the ability to learn depended on one's innate talent.<br /> In this world, few could learn Ulysses' skills.<br /> Scott had been fortunate to receive guidance from Ulysses, which had elevated his medical skills. However, the Hand of Darkness, a miraculous ability, was beyond his comprehension.<br /> Wesley smiled faintly, "Your actions earlier are understandable. I appreciate your words."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you must be an exceptional disciple of Mr. Vanderbilt, possessing unparalleled magnanimity. Impressive," Scott continued.<br /> "Enough with the flattery at your age."<br /> "You are mistaken, Mr. Harrington. Every word I speak is sincere."<br /> Mia, Amanda, and the others stood bewildered by the unfolding situation.<br /> "Mr. Phillips... he... he..." Amanda's words faltered.<br /> Scott turned to the members of the Kingsley family. "Meeting Mr. Harrington was Quinn's luck. His symptoms have been cured by Mr. Harrington. With a few days of rest, he will be fine."<br /> The waste Taylor had previously said was called Mr. Harrington by Scott!<br /> Recalling their previous attitudes, Amanda hurriedly apologized, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> The members of the Kingsley family all apologized in unison, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> Chapter 7 Eight Plates of Noodles<br /> With a faint smile, Wesley remarked, "As family members of a patient, your actions earlier are understandable. There's no need for such formality."<br /> Amanda's perplexity deepened as she thought, "Where is the cowardly waste that Taylor described? This display of magnanimity and breadth is far from it."<br /> Mia, too, felt a shiver of realization, thinking, "No wonder Dad has insisted on my proximity to Wesley.<br /> This guy..."<br /> She gazed at Wesley, her curiosity piqued, a sense of exploration stirring within her.<br /> "Mia has brought you here, Mr. Harrington, to cure my grandfather. The Kingsley family will never forget this act. However, considering that my grandfather's ailment stemmed from the health supplements produced by the Vinver Business Alliance, we will be conducting an investigation into it."<br /> Amanda continued, looking at Wesley, "What do you think... of this approach?"<br /> It was Mia who had invited Wesley, so Amanda had grown wiser, refraining from asking for a direct punishment of the Vinver Business Alliance.<br /> As Mia heard Amanda's words, her heart skipped a beat, realizing trouble was brewing.<br /> "On the way here, Ms. Roberts briefed me on the situation. You conducted experiments on mice, correct?"<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes, the health supplements we received were exclusively provided by the Roberts family. There were no similar cases on the market, so we used mice for testing.<br /> "All the mice that ingested this supplement were gone."<br /> She looked at Mia and added, her voice turned colder. "Before the experiment, I specifically contacted Mia to inquire about the testing methods during the development phase, which involved mice."<br /> "There have been individuals eyeing my grandfather's position, some even wishing for his demise. I never imagined that the Vinver Business Alliance, which I attracted for investment, would become a weapon in someone else's hands."<br /> "Do you have any of the remaining medicine?" Wesley inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes."<br /> "Bring some over."<br /> Immediately, someone fetched the medicine. After it was brought to him, Wesley took out a supplement and swallowed it directly.<br /> This scene left Amanda and the others dumbfounded.<br /> Scott, too, was bewildered. "Mr. Harrington, what are you doing?"<br /> Wesley smiled, "Just proving that this medicine is not toxic."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thank you," Mia thanked sincerely, feeling like sobbing at that moment.<br /> Amanda, with a puzzled expression, looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, are you suggesting that my grandfather's condition wasn't caused by the Vinver Business Alliance's medicine? What about the mice?"<br /> The rest were equally puzzled.<br /> "Yes, but not entirely," Wesley said, leaving everyone even more bewildered.<br /> Mia's emotions were like a rollercoaster ride, from relief to immediate tension.<br /> "This medicine itself is not toxic, but when taken with another substance made from a certain plant, it results in Quinn's condition. The mice would die immediately, while humans could endure a few more days."<br /> Wesley continued to explain, "The plant used in this concoction is originally meant for crafting slow-acting toxins, not for human consumption."<br /> Looking at Amanda, Wesley said, "During this period, whoever had access to your grandfather and the mice will better understand why these events occurred."<br /> The gaze of members of the Kingsley family immediately focused on a lady.<br /> Amanda, somewhat incredulous, looked at her. "Can you offer an explanation?"<br /> The lady was the wife of Amanda's deceased brother. She found it hard to accept, as did the rest of the Kingsley family.<br /> This lady had been named the exemplary lady who served her family well this year, not due to her connection with the Kingsley family but because she genuinely deserved it.<br /> "What do you mean? Amanda, what explanation do you want from me?"<br /> The lady stared at Amanda. "Am I the only one who had access to Grandfather and the mice? You, and you... and you, who didn't have access?"<br /> "You all claim to treat me as family. Since I married into the Kingsley family, I have worked diligently, contributing my share even if not acknowledged."<br /> "Amanda, it has been over a year since your brother passed, and I never once considered remarrying. Now, just because of his words, you demand an explanation from me?"<br /> Pointing at Wesley, the lady questioned, "Just because he accuses me of poisoning, you suspect me? Tell me, did I poison him?" The lady glared at Wesley.<br /> "I am merely analyzing the facts. As for concluding this case, it's not within my purview," Wesley addressed the members of the Kingsley family, saying, "You should conduct a thorough investigation into this matter.<br /> "I will write a prescription. Have Quinn take it on time, and he will recover in seven days."<br /> Amanda hurried to fetch paper and pen while Wesley prepared the prescription. Once done, he was ready to leave.<br /> Amanda said hurriedly, "Mr. Harrington, I've already made arrangements for lunch."<br /> "No need," Wesley smiled.<br /> The Kingsley family sought to build closer ties with Wesley, given his extraordinary medical skills. Wesley was well aware of this.<br /> Looking at Amanda and the others, Wesley remarked, "In the future, if you encounter any difficult medical cases that others cannot solve, seek me out. Remember, cases others cannot solve."<br /> The gaze of the Kingsley family members toward Wesley changed once again. Many renowned healers had eccentric personalities and were difficult to engage.<br /> They hadn't expected Wesley to possess such remarkable medical skills without any airs.<br /> As Wesley prepared to depart, the members of the Kingsley family did not dare to insist on his stay, so they accompanied him outside.<br /> "Oh, how could we forget such an important matter? Amanda, what about the consultation fee?" The middle-aged gent inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the oversight. Please wait a moment." Amanda hurried back inside and soon returned with a bank card in hand.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, there's one million dollars in here."<br /> Without hesitation, Wesley accepted the bank card and boarded Mia's car.<br /> During the journey, Mia boldly looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, you've helped me immensely. Can I treat you to a meal? Don't decline in a hurry. It's not a fancy restaurant, but it will leave you wanting more. It's a small place on the street, with only eight plates of noodles served each day, each plate containing different ingredients."<br /> "I managed to secure a reservation. Are you interested?"<br /> Wesley thought, "Eight Plates of Noodles?<br /> "Ah, Aaron's restaurant. It has been a while since I visited those old friends."<br /> Wesley nodded. "Let's go then."<br /> The restaurant, Eight Plates of Noodles, was located on Chanxold Street near the Yeadeo First Central Hospital.<br /> The establishment was small, serving only eight plates of noodles each day at a price of 10 thousand dollars each. Vernoic's television culinary program had specifically covered this incident.<br /> Reservations were a must to secure a plate.<br /> The restaurant's owner had a mysterious background. While the specifics were unknown, a high-ranking noble from the capital of Vernoic, Kingsland, had caused a scene there once.<br /> He had attempted to force his way in without a reservation. Although this incident hadn't been reported, rumors suggested that a garbage truck had to be called to dispose of the intruder's remains, as he was too shattered to be removed by conventional means.<br /> Since then, no one dared to cause trouble.<br /> On their way, Mia introduced Wesley to the background story.<br /> "Mr. Turner, two plates of noodles." Mia called out once they arrived.<br /> Aaron Turner didn't respond but visibly paused upon seeing Wesley beside Mia.<br /> A faint smile appeared on his usually stoic face. Though the flesh on the face seemed stiff, it was indeed a smile. "Coming right up."<br /> Chapter 8 You Are Blushing<br /> Mia glanced at Aaron with a hint of surprise, thinking, "When does he become so warm and enthusiastic?<br /> His tone seemed a bit agitated earlier, didn't it?"<br /> Soon enough, Aaron brought two plates of noodles to the table. One steaming hot and the other devoid of any warmth.<br /> As Mia observed Aaron placing the plate without steam in front of Wesley, her expression changed slightly.<br /> It was a plate of instant noodles having soaked in cold water, with the seasoning barely dissolved.<br /> She felt a sense of panic. Mia had wanted to leave a good impression on Wesley, which was why she had chosen this place.<br /> However, Aaron had served such a plate of noodles.<br /> She dared not question Aaron. The type of noodles served here was not determined by the guests but by Aaron's mood.<br /> "This lass named Mia is quite something, living up to her name, and quite kind-hearted," Aaron remarked, looking at Wesley.<br /> "Get lost," Wesley retorted, using his fork to pick up the noodles and devouring them.<br /> Mia's face turned pale instantly. Disrespecting Aaron was akin to risking Wesley's life.<br /> To her astonishment, Aaron chuckled, tears welling up in his eyes.<br /> He wiped them away. "Alright, I'll leave you to your meal."<br /> Before departing, he gave Mia a thumbs-up. "Seize the opportunity."<br /> The eight plates of noodles symbolized the eight comrades who had faced life and hardships together.<br /> Wesley ate voraciously. Initially, they had only one pack of instant noodles to share among the eight of them, forcing them to divide it.<br /> Despite the circumstances, they devoured the noodles joyfully.<br /> Aaron had promised that once they survived, each one would have the most delicious plate of noodles.<br /> However, five of the eight had perished.<br /> Wesley had come dangerously close to life-threatening situations, but managed to cling to life.<br /> For him, the plate of noodles was not food but the bond of friendship that had shielded him from harm.<br /> "Do you... know each other?" Mia couldn't help but ask, her voice low and curious.<br /> "Some things are better left unknown," Wesley replied.<br /> Mia nodded in understanding, falling silent as they continued eating noodles. She couldn't help stealing glances at Wesley throughout the meal.<br /> This gent had piqued her curiosity even more.<br /> "Wesley, I see. No wonder you agreed to the divorce so readily. You've already found someone else outside."<br /> A sharp voice interrupted their meal.<br /> Taylor approached with a cold expression, accompanied by Henry.<br /> Taylor's mother was in the nearby hospital, and she had just picked up Frank, planning to buy some food when she unexpectedly saw Wesley.<br /> Of course, she saw Mia, too.<br /> Seeing Wesley dining with a lady more attractive than herself, so soon after the divorce felt like a dagger twisting in Taylor's heart.<br /> Her anger was uncontrollable.<br /> Wesley merely glanced at Taylor, disinterested in engaging with her.<br /> Taylor was stung by his indifferent gaze. She stepped forward, glaring at Wesley. "Are you not going to explain to me?"<br /> Mia looked at Taylor, silently cursing her as a foolish lady.<br /> Wesley continued eating his noodles, lowering his head. "Get lost. Don't disturb me, or I won't hesitate to hit you."<br /> "What did you say?" Henry stepped forward, enraged. "Wesley, try laying a hand on her! Is that all you're capable of? Laying hands on ladies?"<br /> "No wonder Taylor looks down on you. You're truly disgusting trash. Apologize to Taylor now, or else you'll regret coming into this world."<br /> "And how will he regret it? Tell me." Aaron emerged, carrying a cleaver, smiling as he faced Henry and Taylor.<br /> "Mr. Turner, we dare not cause trouble in your place, but this guy is just..."<br /> Henry attempted to speak but was cut off as Aaron's cleaver struck his face, sending him sprawling to the ground.<br /> "Mr. Turner, sorry, we'll leave now." Taylor hastily helped Henry up and hurriedly left.<br /> These two individuals were fortunate to know the legendary story behind Eight Plates of Noodles and had successfully made reservations to dine here multiple times.<br /> Having distanced themselves a bit, Henry covered his face and pointed at Wesley. "Wesley, we have some unfinished business. If you're smart, come over here now and apologize."<br /> "Wesley, I've seen through you as well. I never expected that for the past five years, you've been using my money to keep a lady on the side. We'll settle the score slowly."<br /> As the two noticed Aaron glancing their way, they quickly shut their mouths and hurriedly left.<br /> Once they were out of eyeshots, Aaron fixed his gaze on Wesley. "Your dad doesn't know about your divorce yet, does he?"<br /> "What difference would it make if he did?" Wesley stretched lazily. "I've fulfilled my promise. I've given enough."<br /> Aaron nodded in acknowledgment without saying anything further.<br /> This piqued Mia's curiosity even more. "Is it like what the novels depict? Did you marry Taylor due to some special event?"<br /> Seeing Wesley's glare, Mia lowered her head to focus on her noodles. "I won't ask anymore."<br /> "For the past five years, you've been staying in the stairwell. It has been hard for you, but at least you're still untouched," Aaron remarked before swiftly departing.<br /> Mia stared at Wesley in disbelief, realizing that Aaron's words were meant for her ears.<br /> "What are you staring at? Eat your noodles," Wesley said. Mia chuckled.<br /> "Why are you laughing?"<br /> "You're blushing."<br /> "Nonsense," Wesley retorted.<br /> Unable to contain herself, Mia burst into laughter. She had tried to hold it in, but seeing Wesley's flushed face made it impossible.<br /> Ten minutes later, Mia left on her own accord, sensing that Wesley had something to discuss with Aaron.<br /> Inside Aaron's small shop, Wesley opened a bottle of wine. "Still single?"<br /> "I look too old, no one's interested," Aaron replied, opening a bottle of liquor as well.<br /> "Then why are you meddling in my love lives?"<br /> "Leave a child behind, even if you pass away, someone will remember you." Aaron took a sip. "I've actually investigated this Mia."<br /> "You investigated her?"<br /> "I knew you'd get a divorce. I've been keeping an eye on the pretty ones. This girl had done a lot of good deeds before coming to Yeadeo. Once, she saved three people in a flood and nearly lost her life. Opportunities are rare. You have to seize them."<br /> "When you've figured things out and are ready to marry, then we can discuss our affairs. That's the condition." Wesley downed the entire bottle of liquor.<br /> "Otherwise, don't bother meddling. We're on a one-way path and can't drag others along."<br /> "You..." Aaron sighed as he watched Wesley's retreating figure.<br /> On the road leading to the Feidgeuo Manor, Taylor stood gazing blankly at the entrance not far away.<br /> Twice in one day, she had come here.<br /> The first time was to pick up Frank, and this time was because Frank had lost his expensive watch. She and Henry hadn't even had a meal, rushing over to find it.<br /> The first time, she had come in a hurry when Frank was injured and left quickly as well.<br /> But this time, as Taylor looked at the entrance ahead, an infinite longing sprouted within her.<br /> "If only... I could live here, how wonderful that would be."<br /> Henry looked at her. "One day, I'll definitely build an estate more magnificent than this, and you'll be the lady of the house."<br /> As they conversed, a taxi drove by, stopping at the entrance. The person who got out of the taxi left Taylor stunned.<br /> She rubbed her eyes.	Adoread	147	https://facebook.com/61556400142540	LEARN_MORE	1713510000	View Edit Delete
1666847	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727708	1734958298	695	443510458257226		1.5597180248779E+15	1713596400	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	226177680578601	0	Adoread	120207746049430265	client.adoread.com	Learn more	NONE	image	🔥🔥🔥 Read More👉	Hottest novel👉👉👉	https://client.adoread.com/book/loading/page/adoread/19161308412?utm_campaign={{campaign.id}}&utm_content={{campaign.name}}		1713519398	2.261776805786E+14	Adoread	https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437724011_960421695526729_1516574307485338648_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QHGXZ-huQfoQ7kNvgFl-bAK&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAhittaAtIybg_0Gi8UYNoalMt3uRDbIai0DNMlEMFrFg&oe=663A90F9	person_profile	0	Adoread	https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437891881_25238797299100336_7255863263127890524_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UeFxFDUJUZIQ7kNvgF1dGXL&_nc_oc=AdjBlORU46gPxHeMvSIJmXMDx_1afwh7kp2UWRl9K25HmyfzpiuTkbEBFfXJmbiDJ-c&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCl6BW-kaMuwg-TQzlAPyzBHYyw1d6F5gFbxwKZGONM2w&oe=663A61E5	0	3	"Wesley, are you trying to harm me? You useless piece of trash, can't even make a decent cup of coffee, can you?"<br /> Madison Blair lifted her coffee cup and splashed it directly onto Wesley Harrington's face.<br /> "What are you looking at, you spineless waste? Your name sounds so lofty? I might as well call you a waste."<br /> Glancing at the grotesque expression of his wife's mother, Wesley pulled out his phone to check the time.<br /> Exactly twelve o'clock. It had been five full years since he married Taylor Reed.<br /> The appointed time had come.<br /> He had fulfilled his promise, safeguarding the Reed family for five years, transforming them from a family living off fishing to one perceived as affluent by the common folk.<br /> Wiping the coffee off his face, he turned and walked away.<br /> "Where do you think you're going? Go fetch some more coffee," Madison shouted.<br /> "Madison, didn't you say this waste is obedient at home, doing whatever he's told? I don't think he's taking it lying down."<br /> Madison grew angrier. "Wesley, you stop right there. My family has fed and housed you. If you dare disobey, I'll have you thrown out!"<br /> Ignoring her, Wesley continued downstairs.<br /> "When Taylor comes back, I'll immediately have you two divorced. Do you hear me? Stay right there," Madison threatened, "I'll let you know your place today."<br /> Grabbing a golf club, Madison swiftly charged towards Wesley.<br /> Seeing Wesley heading downstairs, she swung the club viciously at his back.<br /> Without turning back, Wesley gently sidestepped.<br /> Losing her balance, Madison tumbled forward, rolling down the stairs with a series of thumps.<br /> "Ouch... it hurts, it hurts so much!"<br /> As Madison reached the ground floor, she wailed in pain and her sister immediately rushed to her.<br /> "Wesley, what have you done? How dare you hit my sister!" Madison's sister hurried down, checking on Madison's condition.<br /> Wesley remained silent, observing the scene.<br /> "Quick, call Taylor. Tell her to come back. Today, she must divorce this waste." Madison glared at Wesley. "How dare you hit me? Not only will I let Taylor divorce you, but I'll make sure you leave in disgrace."<br /> "Mum, what's wrong?" At that moment, a gent and a lady walked in.<br /> The lady was Taylor, Madison's daughter.<br /> She ran towards Madison.<br /> As Madison pointed at Wesley, tears streamed down her face. "Taylor, he hit me, he hit me! When you're not home, he changes his attitude, scolding and hitting me in the slightest displeasure. He even pushed me down the stairs just now. Alexis can testify."<br /> Madison's sister, Alexis Blair, chimed in. "Yes, Wesley, this trash not only hit your mother but also threatened to hit me too. We cannot tolerate such trash."<br /> "Taylor, I have been telling you to divorce him for years. You've been supporting him, treating him like a Lord at home, but he's an ungrateful wolf in sheep's clothing."<br /> Helping Madison up, Taylor noticed the scrapes on Madison's arms and legs, her expression turning cold.<br /> "Wesley, why did you hit my mother? You better give me an explanation."<br /> Wesley looked at Taylor, his wife.<br /> Five years had passed, and she had never shown him kindness.<br /> Taylor dressed impeccably, a paragon of a successful lady, with a face that could be deemed angelic, yet whether her heart was as angelic remained a mystery.<br /> Her figure, too, left countless men yearning.<br /> For five years, Wesley had thought he might develop feelings for this lady, but in reality, it never happened.<br /> "There are surveillance cameras in the house," Wesley stated calmly before descending the stairs into the hallway.<br /> Despite residing in a three-story villa, Wesley's living quarters were confined to the stairwell.<br /> He harbored no resentment towards this arrangement. It was merely a promise. It was just that Taylor failed to appreciate him.<br /> This home held little value that he wished to cling onto.<br /> Retrieving a wooden box from beneath his pillow, Wesley extracted two documents. Casting a fleeting glance at the modest abode he had called home for five years, Wesley smiled faintly.<br /> He thought, "Finally... I'm free."<br /> Pushing the door ajar, Wesley was met by Taylor's piercing gaze. "I've reviewed the surveillance footage. Yes, my mother intended to strike you, but even if she did, what difference would it make?"<br /> "She's a lady. How much could her blows hurt you? Why did you dodge?"<br /> "If you hadn't dodged, my mother wouldn't have tumbled down." Wesley stared at Taylor, unable to comprehend her thought process.<br /> He had no interest in engaging in these arguments. Handing over the two documents to Taylor, he remarked, "The divorce agreement. I've already signed it. Take a look. I'm leaving with nothing."<br /> "With your current influence, there's no need for you to visit the city hall. Someone will handle it for you, right?"<br /> Madison was taken aback. She swiftly snatched the divorce agreement, flipping through it hastily.<br /> The contents were indeed straightforward. Both parties willingly divorced, with Wesley relinquishing all claims and having already signed.<br /> In an instant, Madison's pain seemed to dissipate. "Taylor, sign it quickly. Sign it."<br /> Taylor was still in a daze.<br /> She pondered.<br /> "A divorce agreement? Wesley has already prepared a divorce agreement. On what grounds?"<br /> "What gives him the right to initiate a divorce? All these years, he's done nothing at home, lacking any ambition. Always practicing martial arts, what right does he have to seek a divorce?"<br /> "If anyone should initiate it, it should be me. Moreover, now that I'm back to discussing this matter with him. Could it be that word got out, and Wesley, for the sake of his pride, rushed to prepare a divorce agreement first?"<br /> "It must be so, but... No!"<br /> "Wanting to leave with nothing, is he retreating to advance? As the chairman of the Reed Group, how could I be served with a divorce?"<br /> "Hey Wesley, I never expected this from you. Have I not treated you well enough? You seek a divorce, attempting to turn your retreat into advance, aiming to embarrass me?"<br /> Taylor glared at Wesley. "I'm telling you, it's impossible."<br /> Snatching the divorce agreement, she tore it to shreds.<br /> "Taylor, what are you doing? Such a great opportunity. Why not just sign it and let him leave?" Madison grew anxious.<br /> "Mom, I do intend to divorce this trash, but the decision must come from me. I returned specifically to address this matter."<br /> With that, Taylor produced two documents. "Wesley, remember that it's me who's divorcing you. It's me who no longer wants you. Initially, out of marital obligation, I had considered offering you some compensation. Now, you don't even need to think about it. Sign the divorce agreement and leave my home."<br /> Wesley offered a faint smile as he accepted the divorce agreement.<br /> "What are you laughing at?" Taylor demanded angrily.<br /> Wesley's smile seemed to mock her, fueling her rage.<br /> Ignoring her entirely, Wesley signed the document and handed it over.<br /> "What are you laughing at? Answer me! Who do you think you are?" Taylor roared once more.<br /> Wesley glanced at her before striding towards the exit.<br /> "Stop!" The gent who had accompanied Taylor stepped forward, blocking Wesley's path. "Taylor asked you a question, and... Your previous attitude displeased me. Apologize to Taylor, or I'll have you leave in disgrace!"<br /> Chapter 2 The Unspoken Truth<br /> <br /> "Yes, let him leave in disgrace. He thought he could just hit me and walk away so easily," Madison joined in the commotion, also noticing the gent blocking Wesley's path.<br /> Madison had a keen interest in luxury goods, having frequented various high-end establishments over the years as the Reed family's living conditions improved. The gent was wearing an expensive watch and dressed head to toe in high-end luxury brands.<br /> Seeing Madison's gaze, the gent spoke. "Rest assured, today Wesley must pay the price."<br /> The gent introduced himself, looking at Wesley, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Henry Clark, the eldest son of the Clark family and the general manager of the Clark Group in the North District."<br /> "From now on, I will accompany Taylor on her journey of life, and I will not allow anyone to bully her."<br /> "My identity carries weight. You should understand that. Now, apologize to Taylor. Apologize! Did you hear me? Apologize!"<br /> Madison's eyes lit up. She hadn't expected the gent before her to hold such a high status. She continued to shout, "Did you hear that? Taylor will be with Mr. Clark from now on. Apologize now."<br /> Wesley glanced at Henry, then at Taylor. He thought, "Have they been together all along?" Wesley had wanted to ask but decided against it because there was no need. He simply gave them a glance and continued walking towards the exit.<br /> "Are you ignoring me?" Henry's face turned cold as he reached out to grab Wesley. Henry's hand froze mid-air as he received a solid hit.<br /> "Until I sign the divorce papers, Taylor and I are still wife and husband. I don't care to investigate whether you two had any intimate relationship during that time, but don't provoke me, or I won't hesitate to make you regret it." Wesley's gaze was icy, and as Henry met his eyes, he felt a twinge of fear and swallowed his words.<br /> Taylor was also stunned. She knew exactly what Wesley had been like over the past five years. There were many surveillance cameras in the house, and she would often check them.<br /> Even when Taylor wasn't home, despite how her family treated Wesley, he always obeyed without complaint, especially towards her. He had never raised his voice, no matter how they treated him.<br /> Today, not only did Wesley dodge when her mother struck, but he also initiated the divorce and now even struck Henry. <br /> Taylor was at a loss for words, thinking, "How could this cowardly gent dare? On what grounds does he dare?"<br /> This change was difficult for Taylor to accept as if she didn't truly understand this guy. The gent who used to be obedient to her, completely submissive, now revealed this side of himself. She watched Wesley walk away in a daze, feeling a strange discomfort in her heart.<br /> "Isn't he leaving with nothing?" Alexis pointed at the wooden box Wesley was holding. "What is he taking with him?"<br /> Madison also realized. Over the past five years, Wesley had always treasured this wooden box, carrying it with him wherever he went. She thought there must be something valuable inside.<br /> Realizing this, Madison hurriedly followed. "Wesley, stop right there, leave the wooden box."<br /> Wesley paused, glanced at Madison, and said, "This is my personal belonging."<br /> "Nonsense, what personal belonging could you possibly have after marrying into the Reed family? Everything you've eaten, worn, and lived in over the years has been provided by the Reed family. Put it down."<br /> As she spoke, Madison reached out to grab the wooden box.<br /> "Ah..." A scream rang out as Madison quickly retracted her hand, a gash appearing on her palm, a crimson liquid dripping.<br /> The wooden box was now stained with the same crimson liquid, trembling lightly in Wesley's hand.<br /> "It's not the right time yet, the day you thirst for this crimson liquid will come," Wesley murmured softly, patting the box before turning to continue his stride towards the exit.<br /> "Monster! A monster!" Madison screamed, causing Taylor and the others to rush out. Seeing the wound in Madison's hand, Taylor was filled with rage.<br /> "Wesley, aren't you going to say something?" Wesley halted once more, contemplating before meeting Taylor's gaze.<br /> "Just stay out of my way from now on. Consider this a warning to you."<br /> "Taylor, that wooden box of his has a mechanism. It must hold something valuable! We can't let him take it with him," Madison, enduring the pain, reminded them.<br /> "Mom, your injury is important. We'll deal with him later. Let me take you to the hospital first." Taylor comforted Madison before calling out to the retreating Wesley.<br /> "Our marriage is over! Yet, you dared to hurt my mother! This won't be the end of it! I will make you regret it!" Ignoring her, Wesley continued walking out.<br /> "Rest assured, I promise he won't see the light of day tomorrow." Henry stepped forward to console. "Let's focus on getting your wound treated first."<br /> "I want him to regret ever existing in this world, to apologize to me in repentance," Madison roared.<br /> "Mom, trust me, I will make him do just that." Taylor looked at Madison with a mix of pity and determination. "Let's go to the hospital first."<br /> In the villa area, Wesley halted, his voice cold. "Get out."<br /> An elderly gent leaped down from a tree, appearing to be in his seventies, yet landing silently from a height of around ten feet.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, your father wants you to come home and take charge."<br /> "He stopped being my father five years ago. He's my enemy."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you misunderstood your father. He had his reasons back then. I swear in my life, once you know the truth, you will forgive him."<br /> "Huh!" Wesley smirked coldly, saying, "I nearly passed away back then. Is that also a misunderstanding?"<br /> The old gent pleaded, "Mr. Harrington, this situation is truly not as you perceive it."<br /> Wesley didn't engage further with the old guy. The events of that year were etched in his memory forever. He was the one who had been abandoned. If not for that incident, why would he have stayed with the Reed family for five years?<br /> Watching Wesley walk away, the old gent had tears silently streaming down his face. "Mr. Harrington, I truly... I truly can't bring myself to speak the truth, but you have misunderstood your father. He also bears burdens and endures pains beyond what an ordinary person can handle."<br /> As Wesley's figure disappeared, the old gent stood up, hesitated for a moment, then dialed a number on his phone.<br /> "Mr. Harrington is now divorced. I've given you the news firsthand. If your daughter is truly together with Mr. Harrington, you must fulfill the promise and let her persuade Mr. Harrington to come home."<br /> After hanging up, a middle-aged gent in a luxurious estate jumped up excitedly. Calming himself, he immediately made another call. "My dear, you're at Yeadeo, right?<br /> "Go find Wesley now. Don't mention the engagement for now. Use every means to get close to him, make him fall in love with you."<br /> "Dad, I don't have time."<br /> "No matter what you are busy with, you must go find Wesley now. No matter what reason you approach him, you must leave a good impression the first time."<br /> "Dad, I'm in trouble right now. If I don't handle it well, I might be good as gone. I have to deal with it immediately. I'm hanging up."<br /> Chapter 3 You're Nothing<br /> The middle-aged gent's voice lowered significantly. "Is there a big incident happening? You didn't tell me? What happened?"<br /> "Quinn Kingsley from Yeadeo, Mr. Kingsley, used our product and now has one foot on the grave. If something really happens to him..."<br /> "You mean Quinn, the uncontested leader of Yeadeo?"<br /> "Yes."<br /> "In that case, you should go find Wesley. Trust me, in this world, there is no problem that Wesley can't solve. As long as he's willing to help, you'll be fine. Listen to me, go find Wesley immediately."<br /> The lady fell silent for a moment before saying, "Okay."<br /> At Yeadeo Harbor, a gent with a large flaxen chain and a watch, sporting a crew cut, hurriedly disembarked, accompanied by a dozen gentlemen.<br /> "Mr. Reed, wherever that trash is, we will find him and tear him apart."<br /> "Yes, that guy dared to harm your mother. We'll make sure he pays for it."<br /> Frank Reed's face turned cold. "Wesley, you coward, thinking you can overturn the world? How dare you touch my mom? Just wait until I find you, you're finished."<br /> "We've found him. Wesley got into a taxi, and our boys followed him."<br /> "Let's go!" Frank waved his hand, leading dozens of men who boarded the car with harpoons, steel pipes, and other weapons.<br /> Inside the taxi, Wesley gazed at the scenery outside, feeling a strange sense of tranquility.<br /> He thought to himself, "I never imagined that while I was secretly paving the way for the Reed family, Taylor, after progressing so rapidly, would start looking down on me more and more."<br /> "Those ladies who know my true identity, which one of them isn't trying to throw themselves at me? Ladies like that don't interest me."<br /> "Being an ordinary gent is truly difficult," Wesley murmured, smiling faintly and deciding not to dwell on these matters anymore. He had important things to attend to and no time to waste on personal affairs.<br /> "Young lad, are you going to Feidgeuo Manor for a job interview?" The driver, curious about Wesley's destination, inquired.<br /> Feidgeuo Manor was Yeadeo's most mysterious private area. Originally a villa area, it was bought at a huge cost five years ago and completely renovated. It was said to have cost a trillion dollars. The former villa area was now Feidgeuo Manor.<br /> "That's my home," Wesley replied nonchalantly.<br /> The driver was taken aback by this revelation, silently cursing Wesley for bragging. After a couple of minutes, the driver regained his composure. "It seems like you and I both prefer to keep a low profile. My car usually gathers dust at home, so I occasionally drive a taxi to experience life."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "My car has been driven by my assistant for the past few years, so it's not gathering dust."<br /> "Haha..." The driver laughed. "We should get together sometime and see whose car is more impressive."<br /> "Sure, whenever we have the time."<br /> As they chatted, the vehicle soon arrived near Feidgeuo Manor, where the massive head of the Feidgeuo Peak protruded, creating a unique landscape in Yeadeo.<br /> The driver asked with a smile, "Since you're the owner here, it's fine if I drive in, right?"<br /> "Of course," Wesley replied.<br /> As soon as Wesley spoke, several cars caught up from behind.<br /> The cars surrounded the one Wesley was in, with the front vehicles braking to force the car to a stop.<br /> When numerous people descended from cars wielding harpoons and steel pipes, the driver's face paled.<br /> Frank and his group got out of the cars, instantly closing in, and without hesitation, started attacking, the steel pipes and harpoons thudding against the car.<br /> Frank's henchman yanked open the door of Wesley's car, poised to stab Wesley with a harpoon, but Wesley swiftly exited the vehicle.<br /> With a firm step on the ground, he launched a swift hit.<br /> A muffled sound echoed as the henchman was hit away.<br /> "What are you looking at?" Frank noticed his henchmen were all staring at him. "All of you, attack together and take him down!"<br /> As he commanded, the henchmen Frank brought with him surged forward.<br /> The taxi driver, trembling, took out his phone to call the police, but Frank glared at him. "I am Frank Reed from Yeadeo Harbor. If you dare, go ahead and make that call."<br /> Frank, leveraging his sister Taylor's status, had been causing trouble in Yeadeo Harbor, and no one dared to provoke him.<br /> Upon hearing Frank's name, the driver hastily put away his phone. "Mr. Reed, I'll just check the time, you guys continue."<br /> "Huh!" Frank snorted coldly, casting his gaze towards the surrounded Wesley.<br /> The sounds of thuds continued to ring out incessantly. Because Wesley was completely surrounded, Frank was unable to see the situation inside clearly, but he could imagine it. After all, in Frank's mind, the henchmen under his command were not to be trifled with.<br /> "Hit him hard for me!"<br /> Another muffled sound and a figure flew out. At that moment, Frank finally saw the situation clearly, and his face turned pale.<br /> Frank knew that Wesley liked to practice martial arts, but he had never expected Wesley to be this skilled. It wasn't Wesley who had been beaten, but his own men by Wesley alone.<br /> Frantically, Frank turned and ran to retrieve a crossbow from the car.<br /> "Clear the way." Frank bellowed, aiming the crossbow at Wesley.<br /> "You scumbag, you think you can fight? Move one more time, and I'll end your life! Surrender!"<br /> Wesley, holding a wooden box, stared at Frank. Ignoring the crossbow in his hand, Wesley said, "Tell your henchmen to back off, or you'll all see the light from above!"<br /> "You're really good at pretending to be tough." Frank took two steps forward. "See the light? Move a muscle and see if I can end your life or not! If you don't have the guts, apologize now!"<br /> Wesley turned his head and looked at the approaching cars, with two expensive ones in the lead, two more in the rear, and another one in the middle.<br /> "Keep acting tough, and I'll put a hole in your head." Frank spoke while glancing at the five cars. "What, looking for help?"<br /> "Let me tell you, those who ride in these cars are not the kind of weaklings like you who rely on connections. With me here, in Yeadeo's social hierarchy, even those who ride in such cars wouldn't dare meddle in this matter. And let me make it clear, without my sister, you're nothing."<br /> Chapter 4 Is He Worthy?<br /> As Frank's words faded, the five cars came to a halt.<br /> A bodyguard opened the door of the one in the middle, revealing a dazzling pair of shining shoes catching everyone's eye.<br /> The shining shoe encased a beautiful foot. Above, the skirt's hem was adorned with lace.<br /> Then, like a fairy stepping out of a painting, she appeared before everyone's eyes.<br /> The lady was beautiful!<br /> Frank was mesmerized. Ever since the Reed family rose to prominence, he had been surrounded by ladies, but compared to the elegant lady before him, they were worlds apart.<br /> It wasn't just a difference in appearance but an incomparable gap in demeanor.<br /> The lady descending from the Maybach seemed like a celestial being untouched by mortal affairs.<br /> The embodiment of a fairy in the mundane world.<br /> She simply stood there after getting out of the car, perfectly embodying what it meant to be graceful and elegant.<br /> The lady glanced at Wesley, then at Frank.<br /> Frank grinned, saying, "May I have the honor of knowing the name of this esteemed lady? I am Frank..."<br /> The lady spoke calmly. "Disrespect Mr. Harrington, and you're done for."<br /> Her bodyguards, unfazed by Frank's crossbow, swiftly overwhelmed him, sending him crashing to the ground.<br /> The henchmen who had come with Frank, previously defeated by Wesley, now scrambled to their feet and fled in all directions.<br /> Who would dare provoke someone who could afford such a car?<br /> "My sister is Taylor Reed, the chairperson of Reed Group," Frank shouted, clutching his head.<br /> Ignoring him, one of the bodyguards dragged him to the roadside grass while another used a belt to tighten around Frank's neck, exerting pressure.<br /> "Enough, a lesson is all that's needed." Wesley spoke calmly, and only when the lady gestured did the bodyguards release Frank.<br /> Frank lay there, already unconscious.<br /> Wesley turned to the lady. "Who are you?"<br /> "I am Mia Roberts, the general manager of Vinver Business Alliance's Yeadeo branch." She looked at Wesley and continued, "Mr. Harrington, my father mentioned that you have miraculous healing skills and earnestly requested your assistance. A generous reward awaits."<br /> Wesley furrowed his brow slightly, thinking, "There are indeed people who recognize my abilities and status, yet I've rarely intervened in the past five years. Today, shortly after I divorced Taylor, she is here. Whose arrangement is this?"<br /> "Mr. Harrington, my father also mentioned that you are benevolent and has raised the banner of compassion among healers, serving as a role model and benchmark for all in the medical field."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "You have a way with words. Tell me the specifics."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, please get in the car first. I will explain in detail on the way."<br /> The phrase "compassionate healer" held significant weight for Wesley, who had saved countless lives from the brink of death.<br /> Without further ado, he got into the car.<br /> Inside, after Mia brewed coffee for Wesley, she began. "Vinver Business Alliance has a wide range of business operations, and I mainly oversee the health supplement sector, which has seen some success in recent years.<br /> "Recently, Quinn Kingsley started using our medicines, and now there's an accident."<br /> As she spoke, Mia kept her gaze fixed on Wesley.<br /> Quinn, the undisputed leader of Yeadeo, was a figure of immense influence.<br /> Upon hearing this name, Wesley showed no particular reaction. "If the city's leader faces issues with your products, it is indeed a concern. Let's go and see."<br /> With just a sentence, Wesley leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest.<br /> Mia was secretly alarmed, thinking, "He knows who Quinn is, yet he seems indifferent. Who is this Wesley, really? No wonder Dad has instructed me to find a way to win his favor." Mia's inner resistance toward Wesley quietly shifted.<br /> Wesley had piqued her curiosity.<br /> As the vehicle was moving, Wesley's phone rang.<br /> Wesley opened his eyes and took out his phone to see Taylor calling.<br /> Pressing the answer button, he asked, "What's the matter?"<br /> On the other end of the line, Taylor, driving towards Feidgeuo Manor, had a grim expression.<br /> She thought, "Has Wesley ever spoken to me in such a cold tone before? Is he really this heartless right after our divorce?"<br /> Already furious, she snapped. "Wesley, do you even consider yourself a human being?<br /> "Today, not only did you lay hands on my mother, but you also had someone attack my brother. Do you not remember our past at all?"<br /> Wesley calmly replied, "Do we have a past to remember?"<br /> "You truly are a heartless scumbag, just as my mother said. You are an ungrateful and vicious person I raised for five years. Even a pet would wag its tail at me!"<br /> Taylor wanted to continue her tirade, but the phone line had already turned busy.<br /> This only fueled her anger further.<br /> Just now, she had received a call from Frank's underlings, informing her that Wesley had sent people to attack Frank and even intended to end him.<br /> Taylor wanted to demand answers, but...<br /> As Taylor was clutching her fists, her gaze turned icy.<br /> After a moment, she picked up her phone again. "Wesley, you are so narrow-minded. You have no ambition. Any lady would steer clear of you."<br /> "Just because I dumped you, you are doing this on purpose to make me feel sick. Pretending to be aloof and seeking revenge? Do you even deserve it?"<br /> "In Yeadeo, squashing you would be as easy as squashing an ant. You're asking for it! If anything happens to my brother, I will make you wish you were ending!"<br /> Her furious voice message echoed in the car.<br /> Wesley chuckled and put away his phone.<br /> Beside him, Mia seemed contemplative. Before coming, she had already ordered a swift investigation into Wesley.<br /> She was curious, thinking, "How could someone valued by my father could be the one 'marrying into' the Reed family."<br /> Being tactful, Mia chose not to ask and pretended not to have heard.<br /> After about forty minutes, they arrived at the Kingsley Manor.<br /> The Kingsley family members, upon seeing Mia alight from the car, all wore grim expressions.<br /> Mia greeted them with a smile, "Everyone, this is Wesley Harrington, Mr. Harrington, the miraculous healer I specially invited to treat Mr. Kingsley."<br /> "Him? The gent who married into the Reed family?"<br /> "A miraculous healer? Is he even worthy? Are healers so worthless now?"<br /> "A useless gent who mooches off of the Reed family? How dare he call himself a miraculous healer? Truly a joke among all jokes."<br /> Chapter 5 Compassionate Healer<br /> Amanda Kingsley, Quinn's granddaughter, stared coldly at Wesley and Mia.<br /> This lady, dressed in a smart suit, also held significant fame in Yeadeo, overseeing the region's business activities, including investment attraction and various local business negotiations.<br /> Amanda had a favorable view of Taylor, who had risen swiftly in recent times, and they had interacted frequently.<br /> She was aware of Wesley's existence and had advised Taylor to part ways with him early on.<br /> But Amanda never imagined that Mia would bring someone like Wesley, a complete waste, and claim he was a miraculous healer.<br /> Glaring at Mia, she said, "Mia, once my grandfather is well, it's best for your Roberts family to leave Yeadeo."<br /> "As for you..." She glanced at Wesley. "I will advise Taylor to divorce you. You have deceived Taylor's feelings and now shamelessly made your way into my family. You are a despicable creature."<br /> After reprimanding Mia and Wesley, she turned to an elderly gent beside her, and her tone and attitude completely changed. "Mr. Phillips, sorry to trouble you. My grandfather is inside, please."<br /> Mia looked at the elderly gent, who was already in his twilight years, feeling deeply shocked.<br /> Scott Phillips, the 38th generation heir of the Healing Clinic, was now ninety-two years old.<br /> Renowned as a miraculous healer, he was a respected figure in the medical community of Yeadeo and even nationally.<br /> He no longer conducted consultations personally due to his old age. Mia had visited him specifically to pay her respects once she had arrived in Yeadeo but had not met Scott.<br /> She never expected Scott to appear in person. It was understandable, as Quinn held a prominent position in the city. Despite the profound influence of the Phillips family, they still had to show respect to Quinn.<br /> Mia looked at Wesley, feeling conflicted and thinking, "Dad has confidently claimed that Wesley has extraordinary abilities, but does he really?"<br /> She harbored doubts, but out of propriety, Mia spoke. "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the trouble."<br /> Wesley smiled, "It's fine. As long as the person can be healed."<br /> His open-mindedness impressed Mia.<br /> After about half an hour, Amanda emerged from the room. All eyes instantly turned towards her.<br /> It was evident that Amanda had wailed out, with traces of tears still visible.<br /> "Amanda, how is it?" A middle-aged gent anxiously asked her.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family who had rushed back also focused their attention on her.<br /> "Mr. Phillips said that there's little hope of recovery. He could only use acupuncture to wake grandfather for half an hour. When grandfather wakes up, let's all go in and see if he has any final instructions."<br /> Everyone was shocked.<br /> "How could this be?"<br /> "Is Mr. Phillips also helpless?"<br /> The members of the Kingsley family found it hard to accept this reality, especially since Quinn had always treated his juniors well.<br /> The thought of Quinn departing saddened some, and tears silently fell.<br /> Publicly, Quinn's status was the foundation of the Kingsley family's prominence in Yeadeo.<br /> If Quinn were to pass away, the Kingsley family would undoubtedly decline.<br /> The atmosphere within the Kingsley family was somber.<br /> Amanda looked at her family members, opened her mouth, but said nothing, silently turning back into the room.<br /> "Stop crying," A middle-aged gent said sternly, "Dad wouldn't want to see you all in tears. If he's really leaving, we mustn't let him worry about us. Pull yourselves together."<br /> After these words, the middle-aged gent also entered the room.<br /> The younger members of the Kingsley family wiped their tears vigorously, trying to force smiles, but in truth, they looked better at crying than pretending to be happy.<br /> Mia's spirit plummeted as she realized the gravity of the situation. Even if an ordinary person passed away from consuming health supplements, it spelled big trouble for those who sold them. And when the deceased happened to be Quinn, the stakes were even higher.<br /> She understood that it would be difficult for this branch to stay in Yeadeo, and even the headquarters might face repercussions.<br /> "Let's go in and have a look." Wesley glanced at Mia. "There might still be a chance."<br /> "Ah..." Mia stared at Wesley in surprise. Seeing him already heading towards the room, she quickly followed suit.<br /> Inside the room, the members of the Kingsley family stood around the mattress, maintaining a certain distance.<br /> Scott lit the alcohol lamp and took out the needles, his expression solemn.<br /> He looked at the members of the Kingsley family. "Think about what you want to say to Mr. Kingsley later. Once you're ready, let me know, and then I'll proceed with the acupuncture."<br /> As he said this, tears welled up in many eyes.<br /> "If you don't mind, let me take a look. I have a way." Wesley spoke up, drawing everyone's attention.<br /> Amanda's face darkened. "Who let you in? Get out!"<br /> "Mia, have you lost your mind? Tricked by this trash and actually brought him here as a miracle healer. Get out with him! I'll settle the score with you in a couple of days."<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, at a loss for words.<br /> "Even Mr. Phillips is unable to reverse the situation. What use are you? Get out." Another younger member of the Kingsley family angrily rebuked.<br /> The middle-aged gent added, "We're in no mood right now. You better leave immediately."<br /> "I understand your narrow-mindedness," Wesley continued, "But as a healer, once I see a patient, I cannot stand by and watch him draw his last breath."<br /> "Wesley, you're quite the charlatan. Do you really want to be gone right now?" Amanda's voice was filled with anger.<br /> "Amanda, let me say a few words," Scott interjected, and Amanda fell silent.<br /> Looking at Wesley, Scott began. "Young lad, at my age, I've seen a lot and have a broad perspective. Today, however, I find it hard to remain indifferent. I practiced medicine from the age of sixteen until I stopped seeing patients for a total of seventy years."<br /> "I've saved countless patients from various illnesses. I never easily declare a patient's fate, nor do I believe I have the right to do so."<br /> "But from your recent remarks, it seems like you're accusing me of such actions. Young people wanting to make a name for themselves by stepping on the shoulders of their predecessors, I can understand."<br /> "But this kind of behavior displeases me."<br /> "My displeasure, what does it mean to you? Do you understand?"<br /> "Even if you are a healer, your career will be ruined because of this."<br /> Chapter 6 Hand of Hell<br /> In the face of Scott's veiled threats, Wesley simply smiled and brushed them off.<br /> Looking at Scott, he asked, "I've always focused on the issue at hand rather than attacking individuals. I have a few questions for you. If you can't administer the needles, how long do you think Quinn can hold on?"<br /> "Seven days, but he will remain unconscious," Scott replied bluntly.<br /> "Then let me ask you this, is there anyone in the world with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "Outrageous," Amanda coldly interjected, "Mr. Phillips is unparalleled in his medical expertise."<br /> Scott glanced at Amanda. "Amanda, let me handle this question."<br /> Continuing to address Wesley, he said, "I don't underestimate myself, nor do I overestimate. There are countless talented individuals in the world, like stars in the sky. I may not dare claim to be the best in medical skills, but those who surpass me are few."<br /> "That means there are some," Wesley calmly remarked, causing Scott's expression to shift slightly, "Indeed, there are."<br /> "Then let me ask you this. Do you think within seven days, the Kingsley family won't find someone with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "If they do find someone, do you believe there is an illness that you cannot cure, but this person can?"<br /> Wesley's questions were sharp and resounding.<br /> Scott's face changed once more as he was rendered speechless.<br /> "Even if there is, that person will never be you." Amanda's face turned icy. "Now get out. Don't spout your eloquence here. Your deceitful behavior is repulsive."<br /> "Your understanding of me is merely hearsay, isn't it?" Wesley retorted, his gaze mocking Amanda, "Has your background and education taught you such arrogance and prejudice?"<br /> "Arrogance?" Amanda's face grew colder as she disdainfully looked at Wesley. "Prejudice?<br /> "Did I say something wrong just now? You are nothing but stagnant waste, a parasite living off others. If it weren't for Taylor, you would have starved on the streets long ago."<br /> "Relying on sweet words, deceiving Taylor. She, with her kind heart, can't bear to divorce you, but don't push your luck. If it weren't for Taylor's sake, you would have been sent out long ago."<br /> Scott interrupted Amanda, "Amanda, although I find this lad a bit annoying, what he said does hold some truth. There are indeed individuals with better medical skills than me. Your grandfather can hold on for seven days. Try reaching out to see if someone can come over. I'll help you make connections."<br /> "If it really doesn't work out after seven days, I'll administer the needles to your grandfather. However, at that point, I can only buy you three minutes."<br /> As soon as Scott spoke, the faces of the Kingsley family members grew even more solemn. True healers were rare and not easily summoned.<br /> While the Kingsley family had connections in Yeadeo, their influence waned outside of it.<br /> "Mr. Phillips, please administer the needles. Life has its ups and downs, and we understand that. Just buy my father a bit more time." The middle-aged gent spoke up.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family nodded in agreement.<br /> Amanda looked at Scott. "Mr. Phillips, please."<br /> "In that case, please have everyone unrelated leave. I need silence," Scott calmly stated.<br /> Amanda glared at Wesley, her eyes speaking volumes without a word.<br /> The unrelated individuals were, naturally, Wesley and Mia.<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, intending to leave, but she suddenly hesitated.<br /> Instead of leaving, Wesley moved forward.<br /> "What are you doing?" A young member of the Kingsley family stepped forward with a stern expression, pushing Wesley.<br /> In one swift motion, Wesley executed a clean shoulder throw, toppling the young gent to the ground, his own expression turning cold.<br /> "A bunch of fools! If it weren't for my teacher's teachings about not turning a blind eye to those in need, I wouldn't bother with you ignorant lot," Wesley remarked with disdain.<br /> As Wesley effortlessly took down one individual from the Kingsley family, the others seemed slow to react.<br /> By the time they realized what was happening, Wesley had already picked up the needle next to Scott and casually flicked his wrist.<br /> The needle flew out of his hand, piercing Quinn's temple, followed by a second needle, a third needle, and so on.<br /> "What are you doing? Stop!" Amanda's voice rose in urgency, echoed by the rest of the Kingsley family members who rushed forward to restrain Wesley.<br /> "Stay back, everyone. Wait." Scott suddenly stood up, blocking the others. "Let him try."<br /> Amanda and the others were left dumbfounded, thinking, "What does this mean?"<br /> Despite their confusion, they heeded Scott's words.<br /> After Scott stopped the members of the Kingsley family, he fixed his gaze on Wesley.<br /> Wesley proceeded to use eighteen needles in succession, symbolizing the levels of pain.<br /> Even if someone had descended into the depths of hell, they must be brought back.<br /> The final needle, also piercing a vital point, caused Quinn's body to tremble suddenly, resonating with the previous eighteen needles.<br /> Scott's eyes widened, his body trembling slightly. His reaction left Amanda and the others even more puzzled, but none dared to interrupt.<br /> Moments later, Wesley placed a palm on Quinn's chest, causing all eighteen needles to be shaken off. When all the needles landed on the ground, the part of the skin where the needles had pierced turned dark.<br /> Wesley then dragged Quinn to the edge of the mattress, flipped him over with his head facing downwards, and gave him a firm pat on the back.<br /> Quinn spat out a mouthful of black liquid. When Wesley flipped him back to lie flat, his complexion had regained some color.<br /> "The Hand of Darkness... It's the Hand of Darkness!" Scott exclaimed with excitement, his body quivering, "It's the Hand that descends into the dark world, snatching people from the hands of the Evil!"<br /> "You do have some knowledge, recognizing the Hand of Darkness." Wesley glanced at Scott.<br /> Scott's gaze towards Wesley had undergone a drastic change. He respectfully clasped his hands together.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thirty years ago, I had the honor of attending a teaching conference held by Mr. Vanderbilt. I saw the Hand of Darkness, but my limited aptitude only allowed me to grasp the basics."<br /> "I have been blind and ignorant. I apologize for my earlier offenses. Please forgive me, Mr. Harrington."<br /> The Mr. Vanderbilt Scott referred to was Wesley's teacher, Ulysses Vanderbilt. He generously imparted his skills to others, but the ability to learn depended on one's innate talent.<br /> In this world, few could learn Ulysses' skills.<br /> Scott had been fortunate to receive guidance from Ulysses, which had elevated his medical skills. However, the Hand of Darkness, a miraculous ability, was beyond his comprehension.<br /> Wesley smiled faintly, "Your actions earlier are understandable. I appreciate your words."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you must be an exceptional disciple of Mr. Vanderbilt, possessing unparalleled magnanimity. Impressive," Scott continued.<br /> "Enough with the flattery at your age."<br /> "You are mistaken, Mr. Harrington. Every word I speak is sincere."<br /> Mia, Amanda, and the others stood bewildered by the unfolding situation.<br /> "Mr. Phillips... he... he..." Amanda's words faltered.<br /> Scott turned to the members of the Kingsley family. "Meeting Mr. Harrington was Quinn's luck. His symptoms have been cured by Mr. Harrington. With a few days of rest, he will be fine."<br /> The waste Taylor had previously said was called Mr. Harrington by Scott!<br /> Recalling their previous attitudes, Amanda hurriedly apologized, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> The members of the Kingsley family all apologized in unison, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> Chapter 7 Eight Plates of Noodles<br /> With a faint smile, Wesley remarked, "As family members of a patient, your actions earlier are understandable. There's no need for such formality."<br /> Amanda's perplexity deepened as she thought, "Where is the cowardly waste that Taylor described? This display of magnanimity and breadth is far from it."<br /> Mia, too, felt a shiver of realization, thinking, "No wonder Dad has insisted on my proximity to Wesley.<br /> This guy..."<br /> She gazed at Wesley, her curiosity piqued, a sense of exploration stirring within her.<br /> "Mia has brought you here, Mr. Harrington, to cure my grandfather. The Kingsley family will never forget this act. However, considering that my grandfather's ailment stemmed from the health supplements produced by the Vinver Business Alliance, we will be conducting an investigation into it."<br /> Amanda continued, looking at Wesley, "What do you think... of this approach?"<br /> It was Mia who had invited Wesley, so Amanda had grown wiser, refraining from asking for a direct punishment of the Vinver Business Alliance.<br /> As Mia heard Amanda's words, her heart skipped a beat, realizing trouble was brewing.<br /> "On the way here, Ms. Roberts briefed me on the situation. You conducted experiments on mice, correct?"<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes, the health supplements we received were exclusively provided by the Roberts family. There were no similar cases on the market, so we used mice for testing.<br /> "All the mice that ingested this supplement were gone."<br /> She looked at Mia and added, her voice turned colder. "Before the experiment, I specifically contacted Mia to inquire about the testing methods during the development phase, which involved mice."<br /> "There have been individuals eyeing my grandfather's position, some even wishing for his demise. I never imagined that the Vinver Business Alliance, which I attracted for investment, would become a weapon in someone else's hands."<br /> "Do you have any of the remaining medicine?" Wesley inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes."<br /> "Bring some over."<br /> Immediately, someone fetched the medicine. After it was brought to him, Wesley took out a supplement and swallowed it directly.<br /> This scene left Amanda and the others dumbfounded.<br /> Scott, too, was bewildered. "Mr. Harrington, what are you doing?"<br /> Wesley smiled, "Just proving that this medicine is not toxic."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thank you," Mia thanked sincerely, feeling like sobbing at that moment.<br /> Amanda, with a puzzled expression, looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, are you suggesting that my grandfather's condition wasn't caused by the Vinver Business Alliance's medicine? What about the mice?"<br /> The rest were equally puzzled.<br /> "Yes, but not entirely," Wesley said, leaving everyone even more bewildered.<br /> Mia's emotions were like a rollercoaster ride, from relief to immediate tension.<br /> "This medicine itself is not toxic, but when taken with another substance made from a certain plant, it results in Quinn's condition. The mice would die immediately, while humans could endure a few more days."<br /> Wesley continued to explain, "The plant used in this concoction is originally meant for crafting slow-acting toxins, not for human consumption."<br /> Looking at Amanda, Wesley said, "During this period, whoever had access to your grandfather and the mice will better understand why these events occurred."<br /> The gaze of members of the Kingsley family immediately focused on a lady.<br /> Amanda, somewhat incredulous, looked at her. "Can you offer an explanation?"<br /> The lady was the wife of Amanda's deceased brother. She found it hard to accept, as did the rest of the Kingsley family.<br /> This lady had been named the exemplary lady who served her family well this year, not due to her connection with the Kingsley family but because she genuinely deserved it.<br /> "What do you mean? Amanda, what explanation do you want from me?"<br /> The lady stared at Amanda. "Am I the only one who had access to Grandfather and the mice? You, and you... and you, who didn't have access?"<br /> "You all claim to treat me as family. Since I married into the Kingsley family, I have worked diligently, contributing my share even if not acknowledged."<br /> "Amanda, it has been over a year since your brother passed, and I never once considered remarrying. Now, just because of his words, you demand an explanation from me?"<br /> Pointing at Wesley, the lady questioned, "Just because he accuses me of poisoning, you suspect me? Tell me, did I poison him?" The lady glared at Wesley.<br /> "I am merely analyzing the facts. As for concluding this case, it's not within my purview," Wesley addressed the members of the Kingsley family, saying, "You should conduct a thorough investigation into this matter.<br /> "I will write a prescription. Have Quinn take it on time, and he will recover in seven days."<br /> Amanda hurried to fetch paper and pen while Wesley prepared the prescription. Once done, he was ready to leave.<br /> Amanda said hurriedly, "Mr. Harrington, I've already made arrangements for lunch."<br /> "No need," Wesley smiled.<br /> The Kingsley family sought to build closer ties with Wesley, given his extraordinary medical skills. Wesley was well aware of this.<br /> Looking at Amanda and the others, Wesley remarked, "In the future, if you encounter any difficult medical cases that others cannot solve, seek me out. Remember, cases others cannot solve."<br /> The gaze of the Kingsley family members toward Wesley changed once again. Many renowned healers had eccentric personalities and were difficult to engage.<br /> They hadn't expected Wesley to possess such remarkable medical skills without any airs.<br /> As Wesley prepared to depart, the members of the Kingsley family did not dare to insist on his stay, so they accompanied him outside.<br /> "Oh, how could we forget such an important matter? Amanda, what about the consultation fee?" The middle-aged gent inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the oversight. Please wait a moment." Amanda hurried back inside and soon returned with a bank card in hand.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, there's one million dollars in here."<br /> Without hesitation, Wesley accepted the bank card and boarded Mia's car.<br /> During the journey, Mia boldly looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, you've helped me immensely. Can I treat you to a meal? Don't decline in a hurry. It's not a fancy restaurant, but it will leave you wanting more. It's a small place on the street, with only eight plates of noodles served each day, each plate containing different ingredients."<br /> "I managed to secure a reservation. Are you interested?"<br /> Wesley thought, "Eight Plates of Noodles?<br /> "Ah, Aaron's restaurant. It has been a while since I visited those old friends."<br /> Wesley nodded. "Let's go then."<br /> The restaurant, Eight Plates of Noodles, was located on Chanxold Street near the Yeadeo First Central Hospital.<br /> The establishment was small, serving only eight plates of noodles each day at a price of 10 thousand dollars each. Vernoic's television culinary program had specifically covered this incident.<br /> Reservations were a must to secure a plate.<br /> The restaurant's owner had a mysterious background. While the specifics were unknown, a high-ranking noble from the capital of Vernoic, Kingsland, had caused a scene there once.<br /> He had attempted to force his way in without a reservation. Although this incident hadn't been reported, rumors suggested that a garbage truck had to be called to dispose of the intruder's remains, as he was too shattered to be removed by conventional means.<br /> Since then, no one dared to cause trouble.<br /> On their way, Mia introduced Wesley to the background story.<br /> "Mr. Turner, two plates of noodles." Mia called out once they arrived.<br /> Aaron Turner didn't respond but visibly paused upon seeing Wesley beside Mia.<br /> A faint smile appeared on his usually stoic face. Though the flesh on the face seemed stiff, it was indeed a smile. "Coming right up."<br /> Chapter 8 You Are Blushing<br /> Mia glanced at Aaron with a hint of surprise, thinking, "When does he become so warm and enthusiastic?<br /> His tone seemed a bit agitated earlier, didn't it?"<br /> Soon enough, Aaron brought two plates of noodles to the table. One steaming hot and the other devoid of any warmth.<br /> As Mia observed Aaron placing the plate without steam in front of Wesley, her expression changed slightly.<br /> It was a plate of instant noodles having soaked in cold water, with the seasoning barely dissolved.<br /> She felt a sense of panic. Mia had wanted to leave a good impression on Wesley, which was why she had chosen this place.<br /> However, Aaron had served such a plate of noodles.<br /> She dared not question Aaron. The type of noodles served here was not determined by the guests but by Aaron's mood.<br /> "This lass named Mia is quite something, living up to her name, and quite kind-hearted," Aaron remarked, looking at Wesley.<br /> "Get lost," Wesley retorted, using his fork to pick up the noodles and devouring them.<br /> Mia's face turned pale instantly. Disrespecting Aaron was akin to risking Wesley's life.<br /> To her astonishment, Aaron chuckled, tears welling up in his eyes.<br /> He wiped them away. "Alright, I'll leave you to your meal."<br /> Before departing, he gave Mia a thumbs-up. "Seize the opportunity."<br /> The eight plates of noodles symbolized the eight comrades who had faced life and hardships together.<br /> Wesley ate voraciously. Initially, they had only one pack of instant noodles to share among the eight of them, forcing them to divide it.<br /> Despite the circumstances, they devoured the noodles joyfully.<br /> Aaron had promised that once they survived, each one would have the most delicious plate of noodles.<br /> However, five of the eight had perished.<br /> Wesley had come dangerously close to life-threatening situations, but managed to cling to life.<br /> For him, the plate of noodles was not food but the bond of friendship that had shielded him from harm.<br /> "Do you... know each other?" Mia couldn't help but ask, her voice low and curious.<br /> "Some things are better left unknown," Wesley replied.<br /> Mia nodded in understanding, falling silent as they continued eating noodles. She couldn't help stealing glances at Wesley throughout the meal.<br /> This gent had piqued her curiosity even more.<br /> "Wesley, I see. No wonder you agreed to the divorce so readily. You've already found someone else outside."<br /> A sharp voice interrupted their meal.<br /> Taylor approached with a cold expression, accompanied by Henry.<br /> Taylor's mother was in the nearby hospital, and she had just picked up Frank, planning to buy some food when she unexpectedly saw Wesley.<br /> Of course, she saw Mia, too.<br /> Seeing Wesley dining with a lady more attractive than herself, so soon after the divorce felt like a dagger twisting in Taylor's heart.<br /> Her anger was uncontrollable.<br /> Wesley merely glanced at Taylor, disinterested in engaging with her.<br /> Taylor was stung by his indifferent gaze. She stepped forward, glaring at Wesley. "Are you not going to explain to me?"<br /> Mia looked at Taylor, silently cursing her as a foolish lady.<br /> Wesley continued eating his noodles, lowering his head. "Get lost. Don't disturb me, or I won't hesitate to hit you."<br /> "What did you say?" Henry stepped forward, enraged. "Wesley, try laying a hand on her! Is that all you're capable of? Laying hands on ladies?"<br /> "No wonder Taylor looks down on you. You're truly disgusting trash. Apologize to Taylor now, or else you'll regret coming into this world."<br /> "And how will he regret it? Tell me." Aaron emerged, carrying a cleaver, smiling as he faced Henry and Taylor.<br /> "Mr. Turner, we dare not cause trouble in your place, but this guy is just..."<br /> Henry attempted to speak but was cut off as Aaron's cleaver struck his face, sending him sprawling to the ground.<br /> "Mr. Turner, sorry, we'll leave now." Taylor hastily helped Henry up and hurriedly left.<br /> These two individuals were fortunate to know the legendary story behind Eight Plates of Noodles and had successfully made reservations to dine here multiple times.<br /> Having distanced themselves a bit, Henry covered his face and pointed at Wesley. "Wesley, we have some unfinished business. If you're smart, come over here now and apologize."<br /> "Wesley, I've seen through you as well. I never expected that for the past five years, you've been using my money to keep a lady on the side. We'll settle the score slowly."<br /> As the two noticed Aaron glancing their way, they quickly shut their mouths and hurriedly left.<br /> Once they were out of eyeshots, Aaron fixed his gaze on Wesley. "Your dad doesn't know about your divorce yet, does he?"<br /> "What difference would it make if he did?" Wesley stretched lazily. "I've fulfilled my promise. I've given enough."<br /> Aaron nodded in acknowledgment without saying anything further.<br /> This piqued Mia's curiosity even more. "Is it like what the novels depict? Did you marry Taylor due to some special event?"<br /> Seeing Wesley's glare, Mia lowered her head to focus on her noodles. "I won't ask anymore."<br /> "For the past five years, you've been staying in the stairwell. It has been hard for you, but at least you're still untouched," Aaron remarked before swiftly departing.<br /> Mia stared at Wesley in disbelief, realizing that Aaron's words were meant for her ears.<br /> "What are you staring at? Eat your noodles," Wesley said. Mia chuckled.<br /> "Why are you laughing?"<br /> "You're blushing."<br /> "Nonsense," Wesley retorted.<br /> Unable to contain herself, Mia burst into laughter. She had tried to hold it in, but seeing Wesley's flushed face made it impossible.<br /> Ten minutes later, Mia left on her own accord, sensing that Wesley had something to discuss with Aaron.<br /> Inside Aaron's small shop, Wesley opened a bottle of wine. "Still single?"<br /> "I look too old, no one's interested," Aaron replied, opening a bottle of liquor as well.<br /> "Then why are you meddling in my love lives?"<br /> "Leave a child behind, even if you pass away, someone will remember you." Aaron took a sip. "I've actually investigated this Mia."<br /> "You investigated her?"<br /> "I knew you'd get a divorce. I've been keeping an eye on the pretty ones. This girl had done a lot of good deeds before coming to Yeadeo. Once, she saved three people in a flood and nearly lost her life. Opportunities are rare. You have to seize them."<br /> "When you've figured things out and are ready to marry, then we can discuss our affairs. That's the condition." Wesley downed the entire bottle of liquor.<br /> "Otherwise, don't bother meddling. We're on a one-way path and can't drag others along."<br /> "You..." Aaron sighed as he watched Wesley's retreating figure.<br /> On the road leading to the Feidgeuo Manor, Taylor stood gazing blankly at the entrance not far away.<br /> Twice in one day, she had come here.<br /> The first time was to pick up Frank, and this time was because Frank had lost his expensive watch. She and Henry hadn't even had a meal, rushing over to find it.<br /> The first time, she had come in a hurry when Frank was injured and left quickly as well.<br /> But this time, as Taylor looked at the entrance ahead, an infinite longing sprouted within her.<br /> "If only... I could live here, how wonderful that would be."<br /> Henry looked at her. "One day, I'll definitely build an estate more magnificent than this, and you'll be the lady of the house."<br /> As they conversed, a taxi drove by, stopping at the entrance. The person who got out of the taxi left Taylor stunned.<br /> She rubbed her eyes.	Adoread	147	https://facebook.com/61556400142540	LEARN_MORE	1713510000	View Edit Delete
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1666849	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727708	1734958298	695	461795603088837		1.5597180248779E+15	1713769200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	226177680578601	0	Adoread	120207746049430265	client.adoread.com	Learn more	NONE	image	🔥🔥🔥 Read More👉	Hottest novel👉👉👉	https://client.adoread.com/book/loading/page/adoread/19161308412?utm_campaign={{campaign.id}}&utm_content={{campaign.name}}		1713519398	2.261776805786E+14	Adoread	https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437724011_960421695526729_1516574307485338648_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QHGXZ-huQfoQ7kNvgFl-bAK&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAhittaAtIybg_0Gi8UYNoalMt3uRDbIai0DNMlEMFrFg&oe=663A90F9	person_profile	0	Adoread	https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437891881_25238797299100336_7255863263127890524_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UeFxFDUJUZIQ7kNvgF1dGXL&_nc_oc=AdjBlORU46gPxHeMvSIJmXMDx_1afwh7kp2UWRl9K25HmyfzpiuTkbEBFfXJmbiDJ-c&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCl6BW-kaMuwg-TQzlAPyzBHYyw1d6F5gFbxwKZGONM2w&oe=663A61E5	0	3	"Wesley, are you trying to harm me? You useless piece of trash, can't even make a decent cup of coffee, can you?"<br /> Madison Blair lifted her coffee cup and splashed it directly onto Wesley Harrington's face.<br /> "What are you looking at, you spineless waste? Your name sounds so lofty? I might as well call you a waste."<br /> Glancing at the grotesque expression of his wife's mother, Wesley pulled out his phone to check the time.<br /> Exactly twelve o'clock. It had been five full years since he married Taylor Reed.<br /> The appointed time had come.<br /> He had fulfilled his promise, safeguarding the Reed family for five years, transforming them from a family living off fishing to one perceived as affluent by the common folk.<br /> Wiping the coffee off his face, he turned and walked away.<br /> "Where do you think you're going? Go fetch some more coffee," Madison shouted.<br /> "Madison, didn't you say this waste is obedient at home, doing whatever he's told? I don't think he's taking it lying down."<br /> Madison grew angrier. "Wesley, you stop right there. My family has fed and housed you. If you dare disobey, I'll have you thrown out!"<br /> Ignoring her, Wesley continued downstairs.<br /> "When Taylor comes back, I'll immediately have you two divorced. Do you hear me? Stay right there," Madison threatened, "I'll let you know your place today."<br /> Grabbing a golf club, Madison swiftly charged towards Wesley.<br /> Seeing Wesley heading downstairs, she swung the club viciously at his back.<br /> Without turning back, Wesley gently sidestepped.<br /> Losing her balance, Madison tumbled forward, rolling down the stairs with a series of thumps.<br /> "Ouch... it hurts, it hurts so much!"<br /> As Madison reached the ground floor, she wailed in pain and her sister immediately rushed to her.<br /> "Wesley, what have you done? How dare you hit my sister!" Madison's sister hurried down, checking on Madison's condition.<br /> Wesley remained silent, observing the scene.<br /> "Quick, call Taylor. Tell her to come back. Today, she must divorce this waste." Madison glared at Wesley. "How dare you hit me? Not only will I let Taylor divorce you, but I'll make sure you leave in disgrace."<br /> "Mum, what's wrong?" At that moment, a gent and a lady walked in.<br /> The lady was Taylor, Madison's daughter.<br /> She ran towards Madison.<br /> As Madison pointed at Wesley, tears streamed down her face. "Taylor, he hit me, he hit me! When you're not home, he changes his attitude, scolding and hitting me in the slightest displeasure. He even pushed me down the stairs just now. Alexis can testify."<br /> Madison's sister, Alexis Blair, chimed in. "Yes, Wesley, this trash not only hit your mother but also threatened to hit me too. We cannot tolerate such trash."<br /> "Taylor, I have been telling you to divorce him for years. You've been supporting him, treating him like a Lord at home, but he's an ungrateful wolf in sheep's clothing."<br /> Helping Madison up, Taylor noticed the scrapes on Madison's arms and legs, her expression turning cold.<br /> "Wesley, why did you hit my mother? You better give me an explanation."<br /> Wesley looked at Taylor, his wife.<br /> Five years had passed, and she had never shown him kindness.<br /> Taylor dressed impeccably, a paragon of a successful lady, with a face that could be deemed angelic, yet whether her heart was as angelic remained a mystery.<br /> Her figure, too, left countless men yearning.<br /> For five years, Wesley had thought he might develop feelings for this lady, but in reality, it never happened.<br /> "There are surveillance cameras in the house," Wesley stated calmly before descending the stairs into the hallway.<br /> Despite residing in a three-story villa, Wesley's living quarters were confined to the stairwell.<br /> He harbored no resentment towards this arrangement. It was merely a promise. It was just that Taylor failed to appreciate him.<br /> This home held little value that he wished to cling onto.<br /> Retrieving a wooden box from beneath his pillow, Wesley extracted two documents. Casting a fleeting glance at the modest abode he had called home for five years, Wesley smiled faintly.<br /> He thought, "Finally... I'm free."<br /> Pushing the door ajar, Wesley was met by Taylor's piercing gaze. "I've reviewed the surveillance footage. Yes, my mother intended to strike you, but even if she did, what difference would it make?"<br /> "She's a lady. How much could her blows hurt you? Why did you dodge?"<br /> "If you hadn't dodged, my mother wouldn't have tumbled down." Wesley stared at Taylor, unable to comprehend her thought process.<br /> He had no interest in engaging in these arguments. Handing over the two documents to Taylor, he remarked, "The divorce agreement. I've already signed it. Take a look. I'm leaving with nothing."<br /> "With your current influence, there's no need for you to visit the city hall. Someone will handle it for you, right?"<br /> Madison was taken aback. She swiftly snatched the divorce agreement, flipping through it hastily.<br /> The contents were indeed straightforward. Both parties willingly divorced, with Wesley relinquishing all claims and having already signed.<br /> In an instant, Madison's pain seemed to dissipate. "Taylor, sign it quickly. Sign it."<br /> Taylor was still in a daze.<br /> She pondered.<br /> "A divorce agreement? Wesley has already prepared a divorce agreement. On what grounds?"<br /> "What gives him the right to initiate a divorce? All these years, he's done nothing at home, lacking any ambition. Always practicing martial arts, what right does he have to seek a divorce?"<br /> "If anyone should initiate it, it should be me. Moreover, now that I'm back to discussing this matter with him. Could it be that word got out, and Wesley, for the sake of his pride, rushed to prepare a divorce agreement first?"<br /> "It must be so, but... No!"<br /> "Wanting to leave with nothing, is he retreating to advance? As the chairman of the Reed Group, how could I be served with a divorce?"<br /> "Hey Wesley, I never expected this from you. Have I not treated you well enough? You seek a divorce, attempting to turn your retreat into advance, aiming to embarrass me?"<br /> Taylor glared at Wesley. "I'm telling you, it's impossible."<br /> Snatching the divorce agreement, she tore it to shreds.<br /> "Taylor, what are you doing? Such a great opportunity. Why not just sign it and let him leave?" Madison grew anxious.<br /> "Mom, I do intend to divorce this trash, but the decision must come from me. I returned specifically to address this matter."<br /> With that, Taylor produced two documents. "Wesley, remember that it's me who's divorcing you. It's me who no longer wants you. Initially, out of marital obligation, I had considered offering you some compensation. Now, you don't even need to think about it. Sign the divorce agreement and leave my home."<br /> Wesley offered a faint smile as he accepted the divorce agreement.<br /> "What are you laughing at?" Taylor demanded angrily.<br /> Wesley's smile seemed to mock her, fueling her rage.<br /> Ignoring her entirely, Wesley signed the document and handed it over.<br /> "What are you laughing at? Answer me! Who do you think you are?" Taylor roared once more.<br /> Wesley glanced at her before striding towards the exit.<br /> "Stop!" The gent who had accompanied Taylor stepped forward, blocking Wesley's path. "Taylor asked you a question, and... Your previous attitude displeased me. Apologize to Taylor, or I'll have you leave in disgrace!"<br /> Chapter 2 The Unspoken Truth<br /> <br /> "Yes, let him leave in disgrace. He thought he could just hit me and walk away so easily," Madison joined in the commotion, also noticing the gent blocking Wesley's path.<br /> Madison had a keen interest in luxury goods, having frequented various high-end establishments over the years as the Reed family's living conditions improved. The gent was wearing an expensive watch and dressed head to toe in high-end luxury brands.<br /> Seeing Madison's gaze, the gent spoke. "Rest assured, today Wesley must pay the price."<br /> The gent introduced himself, looking at Wesley, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Henry Clark, the eldest son of the Clark family and the general manager of the Clark Group in the North District."<br /> "From now on, I will accompany Taylor on her journey of life, and I will not allow anyone to bully her."<br /> "My identity carries weight. You should understand that. Now, apologize to Taylor. Apologize! Did you hear me? Apologize!"<br /> Madison's eyes lit up. She hadn't expected the gent before her to hold such a high status. She continued to shout, "Did you hear that? Taylor will be with Mr. Clark from now on. Apologize now."<br /> Wesley glanced at Henry, then at Taylor. He thought, "Have they been together all along?" Wesley had wanted to ask but decided against it because there was no need. He simply gave them a glance and continued walking towards the exit.<br /> "Are you ignoring me?" Henry's face turned cold as he reached out to grab Wesley. Henry's hand froze mid-air as he received a solid hit.<br /> "Until I sign the divorce papers, Taylor and I are still wife and husband. I don't care to investigate whether you two had any intimate relationship during that time, but don't provoke me, or I won't hesitate to make you regret it." Wesley's gaze was icy, and as Henry met his eyes, he felt a twinge of fear and swallowed his words.<br /> Taylor was also stunned. She knew exactly what Wesley had been like over the past five years. There were many surveillance cameras in the house, and she would often check them.<br /> Even when Taylor wasn't home, despite how her family treated Wesley, he always obeyed without complaint, especially towards her. He had never raised his voice, no matter how they treated him.<br /> Today, not only did Wesley dodge when her mother struck, but he also initiated the divorce and now even struck Henry. <br /> Taylor was at a loss for words, thinking, "How could this cowardly gent dare? On what grounds does he dare?"<br /> This change was difficult for Taylor to accept as if she didn't truly understand this guy. The gent who used to be obedient to her, completely submissive, now revealed this side of himself. She watched Wesley walk away in a daze, feeling a strange discomfort in her heart.<br /> "Isn't he leaving with nothing?" Alexis pointed at the wooden box Wesley was holding. "What is he taking with him?"<br /> Madison also realized. Over the past five years, Wesley had always treasured this wooden box, carrying it with him wherever he went. She thought there must be something valuable inside.<br /> Realizing this, Madison hurriedly followed. "Wesley, stop right there, leave the wooden box."<br /> Wesley paused, glanced at Madison, and said, "This is my personal belonging."<br /> "Nonsense, what personal belonging could you possibly have after marrying into the Reed family? Everything you've eaten, worn, and lived in over the years has been provided by the Reed family. Put it down."<br /> As she spoke, Madison reached out to grab the wooden box.<br /> "Ah..." A scream rang out as Madison quickly retracted her hand, a gash appearing on her palm, a crimson liquid dripping.<br /> The wooden box was now stained with the same crimson liquid, trembling lightly in Wesley's hand.<br /> "It's not the right time yet, the day you thirst for this crimson liquid will come," Wesley murmured softly, patting the box before turning to continue his stride towards the exit.<br /> "Monster! A monster!" Madison screamed, causing Taylor and the others to rush out. Seeing the wound in Madison's hand, Taylor was filled with rage.<br /> "Wesley, aren't you going to say something?" Wesley halted once more, contemplating before meeting Taylor's gaze.<br /> "Just stay out of my way from now on. Consider this a warning to you."<br /> "Taylor, that wooden box of his has a mechanism. It must hold something valuable! We can't let him take it with him," Madison, enduring the pain, reminded them.<br /> "Mom, your injury is important. We'll deal with him later. Let me take you to the hospital first." Taylor comforted Madison before calling out to the retreating Wesley.<br /> "Our marriage is over! Yet, you dared to hurt my mother! This won't be the end of it! I will make you regret it!" Ignoring her, Wesley continued walking out.<br /> "Rest assured, I promise he won't see the light of day tomorrow." Henry stepped forward to console. "Let's focus on getting your wound treated first."<br /> "I want him to regret ever existing in this world, to apologize to me in repentance," Madison roared.<br /> "Mom, trust me, I will make him do just that." Taylor looked at Madison with a mix of pity and determination. "Let's go to the hospital first."<br /> In the villa area, Wesley halted, his voice cold. "Get out."<br /> An elderly gent leaped down from a tree, appearing to be in his seventies, yet landing silently from a height of around ten feet.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, your father wants you to come home and take charge."<br /> "He stopped being my father five years ago. He's my enemy."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you misunderstood your father. He had his reasons back then. I swear in my life, once you know the truth, you will forgive him."<br /> "Huh!" Wesley smirked coldly, saying, "I nearly passed away back then. Is that also a misunderstanding?"<br /> The old gent pleaded, "Mr. Harrington, this situation is truly not as you perceive it."<br /> Wesley didn't engage further with the old guy. The events of that year were etched in his memory forever. He was the one who had been abandoned. If not for that incident, why would he have stayed with the Reed family for five years?<br /> Watching Wesley walk away, the old gent had tears silently streaming down his face. "Mr. Harrington, I truly... I truly can't bring myself to speak the truth, but you have misunderstood your father. He also bears burdens and endures pains beyond what an ordinary person can handle."<br /> As Wesley's figure disappeared, the old gent stood up, hesitated for a moment, then dialed a number on his phone.<br /> "Mr. Harrington is now divorced. I've given you the news firsthand. If your daughter is truly together with Mr. Harrington, you must fulfill the promise and let her persuade Mr. Harrington to come home."<br /> After hanging up, a middle-aged gent in a luxurious estate jumped up excitedly. Calming himself, he immediately made another call. "My dear, you're at Yeadeo, right?<br /> "Go find Wesley now. Don't mention the engagement for now. Use every means to get close to him, make him fall in love with you."<br /> "Dad, I don't have time."<br /> "No matter what you are busy with, you must go find Wesley now. No matter what reason you approach him, you must leave a good impression the first time."<br /> "Dad, I'm in trouble right now. If I don't handle it well, I might be good as gone. I have to deal with it immediately. I'm hanging up."<br /> Chapter 3 You're Nothing<br /> The middle-aged gent's voice lowered significantly. "Is there a big incident happening? You didn't tell me? What happened?"<br /> "Quinn Kingsley from Yeadeo, Mr. Kingsley, used our product and now has one foot on the grave. If something really happens to him..."<br /> "You mean Quinn, the uncontested leader of Yeadeo?"<br /> "Yes."<br /> "In that case, you should go find Wesley. Trust me, in this world, there is no problem that Wesley can't solve. As long as he's willing to help, you'll be fine. Listen to me, go find Wesley immediately."<br /> The lady fell silent for a moment before saying, "Okay."<br /> At Yeadeo Harbor, a gent with a large flaxen chain and a watch, sporting a crew cut, hurriedly disembarked, accompanied by a dozen gentlemen.<br /> "Mr. Reed, wherever that trash is, we will find him and tear him apart."<br /> "Yes, that guy dared to harm your mother. We'll make sure he pays for it."<br /> Frank Reed's face turned cold. "Wesley, you coward, thinking you can overturn the world? How dare you touch my mom? Just wait until I find you, you're finished."<br /> "We've found him. Wesley got into a taxi, and our boys followed him."<br /> "Let's go!" Frank waved his hand, leading dozens of men who boarded the car with harpoons, steel pipes, and other weapons.<br /> Inside the taxi, Wesley gazed at the scenery outside, feeling a strange sense of tranquility.<br /> He thought to himself, "I never imagined that while I was secretly paving the way for the Reed family, Taylor, after progressing so rapidly, would start looking down on me more and more."<br /> "Those ladies who know my true identity, which one of them isn't trying to throw themselves at me? Ladies like that don't interest me."<br /> "Being an ordinary gent is truly difficult," Wesley murmured, smiling faintly and deciding not to dwell on these matters anymore. He had important things to attend to and no time to waste on personal affairs.<br /> "Young lad, are you going to Feidgeuo Manor for a job interview?" The driver, curious about Wesley's destination, inquired.<br /> Feidgeuo Manor was Yeadeo's most mysterious private area. Originally a villa area, it was bought at a huge cost five years ago and completely renovated. It was said to have cost a trillion dollars. The former villa area was now Feidgeuo Manor.<br /> "That's my home," Wesley replied nonchalantly.<br /> The driver was taken aback by this revelation, silently cursing Wesley for bragging. After a couple of minutes, the driver regained his composure. "It seems like you and I both prefer to keep a low profile. My car usually gathers dust at home, so I occasionally drive a taxi to experience life."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "My car has been driven by my assistant for the past few years, so it's not gathering dust."<br /> "Haha..." The driver laughed. "We should get together sometime and see whose car is more impressive."<br /> "Sure, whenever we have the time."<br /> As they chatted, the vehicle soon arrived near Feidgeuo Manor, where the massive head of the Feidgeuo Peak protruded, creating a unique landscape in Yeadeo.<br /> The driver asked with a smile, "Since you're the owner here, it's fine if I drive in, right?"<br /> "Of course," Wesley replied.<br /> As soon as Wesley spoke, several cars caught up from behind.<br /> The cars surrounded the one Wesley was in, with the front vehicles braking to force the car to a stop.<br /> When numerous people descended from cars wielding harpoons and steel pipes, the driver's face paled.<br /> Frank and his group got out of the cars, instantly closing in, and without hesitation, started attacking, the steel pipes and harpoons thudding against the car.<br /> Frank's henchman yanked open the door of Wesley's car, poised to stab Wesley with a harpoon, but Wesley swiftly exited the vehicle.<br /> With a firm step on the ground, he launched a swift hit.<br /> A muffled sound echoed as the henchman was hit away.<br /> "What are you looking at?" Frank noticed his henchmen were all staring at him. "All of you, attack together and take him down!"<br /> As he commanded, the henchmen Frank brought with him surged forward.<br /> The taxi driver, trembling, took out his phone to call the police, but Frank glared at him. "I am Frank Reed from Yeadeo Harbor. If you dare, go ahead and make that call."<br /> Frank, leveraging his sister Taylor's status, had been causing trouble in Yeadeo Harbor, and no one dared to provoke him.<br /> Upon hearing Frank's name, the driver hastily put away his phone. "Mr. Reed, I'll just check the time, you guys continue."<br /> "Huh!" Frank snorted coldly, casting his gaze towards the surrounded Wesley.<br /> The sounds of thuds continued to ring out incessantly. Because Wesley was completely surrounded, Frank was unable to see the situation inside clearly, but he could imagine it. After all, in Frank's mind, the henchmen under his command were not to be trifled with.<br /> "Hit him hard for me!"<br /> Another muffled sound and a figure flew out. At that moment, Frank finally saw the situation clearly, and his face turned pale.<br /> Frank knew that Wesley liked to practice martial arts, but he had never expected Wesley to be this skilled. It wasn't Wesley who had been beaten, but his own men by Wesley alone.<br /> Frantically, Frank turned and ran to retrieve a crossbow from the car.<br /> "Clear the way." Frank bellowed, aiming the crossbow at Wesley.<br /> "You scumbag, you think you can fight? Move one more time, and I'll end your life! Surrender!"<br /> Wesley, holding a wooden box, stared at Frank. Ignoring the crossbow in his hand, Wesley said, "Tell your henchmen to back off, or you'll all see the light from above!"<br /> "You're really good at pretending to be tough." Frank took two steps forward. "See the light? Move a muscle and see if I can end your life or not! If you don't have the guts, apologize now!"<br /> Wesley turned his head and looked at the approaching cars, with two expensive ones in the lead, two more in the rear, and another one in the middle.<br /> "Keep acting tough, and I'll put a hole in your head." Frank spoke while glancing at the five cars. "What, looking for help?"<br /> "Let me tell you, those who ride in these cars are not the kind of weaklings like you who rely on connections. With me here, in Yeadeo's social hierarchy, even those who ride in such cars wouldn't dare meddle in this matter. And let me make it clear, without my sister, you're nothing."<br /> Chapter 4 Is He Worthy?<br /> As Frank's words faded, the five cars came to a halt.<br /> A bodyguard opened the door of the one in the middle, revealing a dazzling pair of shining shoes catching everyone's eye.<br /> The shining shoe encased a beautiful foot. Above, the skirt's hem was adorned with lace.<br /> Then, like a fairy stepping out of a painting, she appeared before everyone's eyes.<br /> The lady was beautiful!<br /> Frank was mesmerized. Ever since the Reed family rose to prominence, he had been surrounded by ladies, but compared to the elegant lady before him, they were worlds apart.<br /> It wasn't just a difference in appearance but an incomparable gap in demeanor.<br /> The lady descending from the Maybach seemed like a celestial being untouched by mortal affairs.<br /> The embodiment of a fairy in the mundane world.<br /> She simply stood there after getting out of the car, perfectly embodying what it meant to be graceful and elegant.<br /> The lady glanced at Wesley, then at Frank.<br /> Frank grinned, saying, "May I have the honor of knowing the name of this esteemed lady? I am Frank..."<br /> The lady spoke calmly. "Disrespect Mr. Harrington, and you're done for."<br /> Her bodyguards, unfazed by Frank's crossbow, swiftly overwhelmed him, sending him crashing to the ground.<br /> The henchmen who had come with Frank, previously defeated by Wesley, now scrambled to their feet and fled in all directions.<br /> Who would dare provoke someone who could afford such a car?<br /> "My sister is Taylor Reed, the chairperson of Reed Group," Frank shouted, clutching his head.<br /> Ignoring him, one of the bodyguards dragged him to the roadside grass while another used a belt to tighten around Frank's neck, exerting pressure.<br /> "Enough, a lesson is all that's needed." Wesley spoke calmly, and only when the lady gestured did the bodyguards release Frank.<br /> Frank lay there, already unconscious.<br /> Wesley turned to the lady. "Who are you?"<br /> "I am Mia Roberts, the general manager of Vinver Business Alliance's Yeadeo branch." She looked at Wesley and continued, "Mr. Harrington, my father mentioned that you have miraculous healing skills and earnestly requested your assistance. A generous reward awaits."<br /> Wesley furrowed his brow slightly, thinking, "There are indeed people who recognize my abilities and status, yet I've rarely intervened in the past five years. Today, shortly after I divorced Taylor, she is here. Whose arrangement is this?"<br /> "Mr. Harrington, my father also mentioned that you are benevolent and has raised the banner of compassion among healers, serving as a role model and benchmark for all in the medical field."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "You have a way with words. Tell me the specifics."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, please get in the car first. I will explain in detail on the way."<br /> The phrase "compassionate healer" held significant weight for Wesley, who had saved countless lives from the brink of death.<br /> Without further ado, he got into the car.<br /> Inside, after Mia brewed coffee for Wesley, she began. "Vinver Business Alliance has a wide range of business operations, and I mainly oversee the health supplement sector, which has seen some success in recent years.<br /> "Recently, Quinn Kingsley started using our medicines, and now there's an accident."<br /> As she spoke, Mia kept her gaze fixed on Wesley.<br /> Quinn, the undisputed leader of Yeadeo, was a figure of immense influence.<br /> Upon hearing this name, Wesley showed no particular reaction. "If the city's leader faces issues with your products, it is indeed a concern. Let's go and see."<br /> With just a sentence, Wesley leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest.<br /> Mia was secretly alarmed, thinking, "He knows who Quinn is, yet he seems indifferent. Who is this Wesley, really? No wonder Dad has instructed me to find a way to win his favor." Mia's inner resistance toward Wesley quietly shifted.<br /> Wesley had piqued her curiosity.<br /> As the vehicle was moving, Wesley's phone rang.<br /> Wesley opened his eyes and took out his phone to see Taylor calling.<br /> Pressing the answer button, he asked, "What's the matter?"<br /> On the other end of the line, Taylor, driving towards Feidgeuo Manor, had a grim expression.<br /> She thought, "Has Wesley ever spoken to me in such a cold tone before? Is he really this heartless right after our divorce?"<br /> Already furious, she snapped. "Wesley, do you even consider yourself a human being?<br /> "Today, not only did you lay hands on my mother, but you also had someone attack my brother. Do you not remember our past at all?"<br /> Wesley calmly replied, "Do we have a past to remember?"<br /> "You truly are a heartless scumbag, just as my mother said. You are an ungrateful and vicious person I raised for five years. Even a pet would wag its tail at me!"<br /> Taylor wanted to continue her tirade, but the phone line had already turned busy.<br /> This only fueled her anger further.<br /> Just now, she had received a call from Frank's underlings, informing her that Wesley had sent people to attack Frank and even intended to end him.<br /> Taylor wanted to demand answers, but...<br /> As Taylor was clutching her fists, her gaze turned icy.<br /> After a moment, she picked up her phone again. "Wesley, you are so narrow-minded. You have no ambition. Any lady would steer clear of you."<br /> "Just because I dumped you, you are doing this on purpose to make me feel sick. Pretending to be aloof and seeking revenge? Do you even deserve it?"<br /> "In Yeadeo, squashing you would be as easy as squashing an ant. You're asking for it! If anything happens to my brother, I will make you wish you were ending!"<br /> Her furious voice message echoed in the car.<br /> Wesley chuckled and put away his phone.<br /> Beside him, Mia seemed contemplative. Before coming, she had already ordered a swift investigation into Wesley.<br /> She was curious, thinking, "How could someone valued by my father could be the one 'marrying into' the Reed family."<br /> Being tactful, Mia chose not to ask and pretended not to have heard.<br /> After about forty minutes, they arrived at the Kingsley Manor.<br /> The Kingsley family members, upon seeing Mia alight from the car, all wore grim expressions.<br /> Mia greeted them with a smile, "Everyone, this is Wesley Harrington, Mr. Harrington, the miraculous healer I specially invited to treat Mr. Kingsley."<br /> "Him? The gent who married into the Reed family?"<br /> "A miraculous healer? Is he even worthy? Are healers so worthless now?"<br /> "A useless gent who mooches off of the Reed family? How dare he call himself a miraculous healer? Truly a joke among all jokes."<br /> Chapter 5 Compassionate Healer<br /> Amanda Kingsley, Quinn's granddaughter, stared coldly at Wesley and Mia.<br /> This lady, dressed in a smart suit, also held significant fame in Yeadeo, overseeing the region's business activities, including investment attraction and various local business negotiations.<br /> Amanda had a favorable view of Taylor, who had risen swiftly in recent times, and they had interacted frequently.<br /> She was aware of Wesley's existence and had advised Taylor to part ways with him early on.<br /> But Amanda never imagined that Mia would bring someone like Wesley, a complete waste, and claim he was a miraculous healer.<br /> Glaring at Mia, she said, "Mia, once my grandfather is well, it's best for your Roberts family to leave Yeadeo."<br /> "As for you..." She glanced at Wesley. "I will advise Taylor to divorce you. You have deceived Taylor's feelings and now shamelessly made your way into my family. You are a despicable creature."<br /> After reprimanding Mia and Wesley, she turned to an elderly gent beside her, and her tone and attitude completely changed. "Mr. Phillips, sorry to trouble you. My grandfather is inside, please."<br /> Mia looked at the elderly gent, who was already in his twilight years, feeling deeply shocked.<br /> Scott Phillips, the 38th generation heir of the Healing Clinic, was now ninety-two years old.<br /> Renowned as a miraculous healer, he was a respected figure in the medical community of Yeadeo and even nationally.<br /> He no longer conducted consultations personally due to his old age. Mia had visited him specifically to pay her respects once she had arrived in Yeadeo but had not met Scott.<br /> She never expected Scott to appear in person. It was understandable, as Quinn held a prominent position in the city. Despite the profound influence of the Phillips family, they still had to show respect to Quinn.<br /> Mia looked at Wesley, feeling conflicted and thinking, "Dad has confidently claimed that Wesley has extraordinary abilities, but does he really?"<br /> She harbored doubts, but out of propriety, Mia spoke. "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the trouble."<br /> Wesley smiled, "It's fine. As long as the person can be healed."<br /> His open-mindedness impressed Mia.<br /> After about half an hour, Amanda emerged from the room. All eyes instantly turned towards her.<br /> It was evident that Amanda had wailed out, with traces of tears still visible.<br /> "Amanda, how is it?" A middle-aged gent anxiously asked her.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family who had rushed back also focused their attention on her.<br /> "Mr. Phillips said that there's little hope of recovery. He could only use acupuncture to wake grandfather for half an hour. When grandfather wakes up, let's all go in and see if he has any final instructions."<br /> Everyone was shocked.<br /> "How could this be?"<br /> "Is Mr. Phillips also helpless?"<br /> The members of the Kingsley family found it hard to accept this reality, especially since Quinn had always treated his juniors well.<br /> The thought of Quinn departing saddened some, and tears silently fell.<br /> Publicly, Quinn's status was the foundation of the Kingsley family's prominence in Yeadeo.<br /> If Quinn were to pass away, the Kingsley family would undoubtedly decline.<br /> The atmosphere within the Kingsley family was somber.<br /> Amanda looked at her family members, opened her mouth, but said nothing, silently turning back into the room.<br /> "Stop crying," A middle-aged gent said sternly, "Dad wouldn't want to see you all in tears. If he's really leaving, we mustn't let him worry about us. Pull yourselves together."<br /> After these words, the middle-aged gent also entered the room.<br /> The younger members of the Kingsley family wiped their tears vigorously, trying to force smiles, but in truth, they looked better at crying than pretending to be happy.<br /> Mia's spirit plummeted as she realized the gravity of the situation. Even if an ordinary person passed away from consuming health supplements, it spelled big trouble for those who sold them. And when the deceased happened to be Quinn, the stakes were even higher.<br /> She understood that it would be difficult for this branch to stay in Yeadeo, and even the headquarters might face repercussions.<br /> "Let's go in and have a look." Wesley glanced at Mia. "There might still be a chance."<br /> "Ah..." Mia stared at Wesley in surprise. Seeing him already heading towards the room, she quickly followed suit.<br /> Inside the room, the members of the Kingsley family stood around the mattress, maintaining a certain distance.<br /> Scott lit the alcohol lamp and took out the needles, his expression solemn.<br /> He looked at the members of the Kingsley family. "Think about what you want to say to Mr. Kingsley later. Once you're ready, let me know, and then I'll proceed with the acupuncture."<br /> As he said this, tears welled up in many eyes.<br /> "If you don't mind, let me take a look. I have a way." Wesley spoke up, drawing everyone's attention.<br /> Amanda's face darkened. "Who let you in? Get out!"<br /> "Mia, have you lost your mind? Tricked by this trash and actually brought him here as a miracle healer. Get out with him! I'll settle the score with you in a couple of days."<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, at a loss for words.<br /> "Even Mr. Phillips is unable to reverse the situation. What use are you? Get out." Another younger member of the Kingsley family angrily rebuked.<br /> The middle-aged gent added, "We're in no mood right now. You better leave immediately."<br /> "I understand your narrow-mindedness," Wesley continued, "But as a healer, once I see a patient, I cannot stand by and watch him draw his last breath."<br /> "Wesley, you're quite the charlatan. Do you really want to be gone right now?" Amanda's voice was filled with anger.<br /> "Amanda, let me say a few words," Scott interjected, and Amanda fell silent.<br /> Looking at Wesley, Scott began. "Young lad, at my age, I've seen a lot and have a broad perspective. Today, however, I find it hard to remain indifferent. I practiced medicine from the age of sixteen until I stopped seeing patients for a total of seventy years."<br /> "I've saved countless patients from various illnesses. I never easily declare a patient's fate, nor do I believe I have the right to do so."<br /> "But from your recent remarks, it seems like you're accusing me of such actions. Young people wanting to make a name for themselves by stepping on the shoulders of their predecessors, I can understand."<br /> "But this kind of behavior displeases me."<br /> "My displeasure, what does it mean to you? Do you understand?"<br /> "Even if you are a healer, your career will be ruined because of this."<br /> Chapter 6 Hand of Hell<br /> In the face of Scott's veiled threats, Wesley simply smiled and brushed them off.<br /> Looking at Scott, he asked, "I've always focused on the issue at hand rather than attacking individuals. I have a few questions for you. If you can't administer the needles, how long do you think Quinn can hold on?"<br /> "Seven days, but he will remain unconscious," Scott replied bluntly.<br /> "Then let me ask you this, is there anyone in the world with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "Outrageous," Amanda coldly interjected, "Mr. Phillips is unparalleled in his medical expertise."<br /> Scott glanced at Amanda. "Amanda, let me handle this question."<br /> Continuing to address Wesley, he said, "I don't underestimate myself, nor do I overestimate. There are countless talented individuals in the world, like stars in the sky. I may not dare claim to be the best in medical skills, but those who surpass me are few."<br /> "That means there are some," Wesley calmly remarked, causing Scott's expression to shift slightly, "Indeed, there are."<br /> "Then let me ask you this. Do you think within seven days, the Kingsley family won't find someone with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "If they do find someone, do you believe there is an illness that you cannot cure, but this person can?"<br /> Wesley's questions were sharp and resounding.<br /> Scott's face changed once more as he was rendered speechless.<br /> "Even if there is, that person will never be you." Amanda's face turned icy. "Now get out. Don't spout your eloquence here. Your deceitful behavior is repulsive."<br /> "Your understanding of me is merely hearsay, isn't it?" Wesley retorted, his gaze mocking Amanda, "Has your background and education taught you such arrogance and prejudice?"<br /> "Arrogance?" Amanda's face grew colder as she disdainfully looked at Wesley. "Prejudice?<br /> "Did I say something wrong just now? You are nothing but stagnant waste, a parasite living off others. If it weren't for Taylor, you would have starved on the streets long ago."<br /> "Relying on sweet words, deceiving Taylor. She, with her kind heart, can't bear to divorce you, but don't push your luck. If it weren't for Taylor's sake, you would have been sent out long ago."<br /> Scott interrupted Amanda, "Amanda, although I find this lad a bit annoying, what he said does hold some truth. There are indeed individuals with better medical skills than me. Your grandfather can hold on for seven days. Try reaching out to see if someone can come over. I'll help you make connections."<br /> "If it really doesn't work out after seven days, I'll administer the needles to your grandfather. However, at that point, I can only buy you three minutes."<br /> As soon as Scott spoke, the faces of the Kingsley family members grew even more solemn. True healers were rare and not easily summoned.<br /> While the Kingsley family had connections in Yeadeo, their influence waned outside of it.<br /> "Mr. Phillips, please administer the needles. Life has its ups and downs, and we understand that. Just buy my father a bit more time." The middle-aged gent spoke up.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family nodded in agreement.<br /> Amanda looked at Scott. "Mr. Phillips, please."<br /> "In that case, please have everyone unrelated leave. I need silence," Scott calmly stated.<br /> Amanda glared at Wesley, her eyes speaking volumes without a word.<br /> The unrelated individuals were, naturally, Wesley and Mia.<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, intending to leave, but she suddenly hesitated.<br /> Instead of leaving, Wesley moved forward.<br /> "What are you doing?" A young member of the Kingsley family stepped forward with a stern expression, pushing Wesley.<br /> In one swift motion, Wesley executed a clean shoulder throw, toppling the young gent to the ground, his own expression turning cold.<br /> "A bunch of fools! If it weren't for my teacher's teachings about not turning a blind eye to those in need, I wouldn't bother with you ignorant lot," Wesley remarked with disdain.<br /> As Wesley effortlessly took down one individual from the Kingsley family, the others seemed slow to react.<br /> By the time they realized what was happening, Wesley had already picked up the needle next to Scott and casually flicked his wrist.<br /> The needle flew out of his hand, piercing Quinn's temple, followed by a second needle, a third needle, and so on.<br /> "What are you doing? Stop!" Amanda's voice rose in urgency, echoed by the rest of the Kingsley family members who rushed forward to restrain Wesley.<br /> "Stay back, everyone. Wait." Scott suddenly stood up, blocking the others. "Let him try."<br /> Amanda and the others were left dumbfounded, thinking, "What does this mean?"<br /> Despite their confusion, they heeded Scott's words.<br /> After Scott stopped the members of the Kingsley family, he fixed his gaze on Wesley.<br /> Wesley proceeded to use eighteen needles in succession, symbolizing the levels of pain.<br /> Even if someone had descended into the depths of hell, they must be brought back.<br /> The final needle, also piercing a vital point, caused Quinn's body to tremble suddenly, resonating with the previous eighteen needles.<br /> Scott's eyes widened, his body trembling slightly. His reaction left Amanda and the others even more puzzled, but none dared to interrupt.<br /> Moments later, Wesley placed a palm on Quinn's chest, causing all eighteen needles to be shaken off. When all the needles landed on the ground, the part of the skin where the needles had pierced turned dark.<br /> Wesley then dragged Quinn to the edge of the mattress, flipped him over with his head facing downwards, and gave him a firm pat on the back.<br /> Quinn spat out a mouthful of black liquid. When Wesley flipped him back to lie flat, his complexion had regained some color.<br /> "The Hand of Darkness... It's the Hand of Darkness!" Scott exclaimed with excitement, his body quivering, "It's the Hand that descends into the dark world, snatching people from the hands of the Evil!"<br /> "You do have some knowledge, recognizing the Hand of Darkness." Wesley glanced at Scott.<br /> Scott's gaze towards Wesley had undergone a drastic change. He respectfully clasped his hands together.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thirty years ago, I had the honor of attending a teaching conference held by Mr. Vanderbilt. I saw the Hand of Darkness, but my limited aptitude only allowed me to grasp the basics."<br /> "I have been blind and ignorant. I apologize for my earlier offenses. Please forgive me, Mr. Harrington."<br /> The Mr. Vanderbilt Scott referred to was Wesley's teacher, Ulysses Vanderbilt. He generously imparted his skills to others, but the ability to learn depended on one's innate talent.<br /> In this world, few could learn Ulysses' skills.<br /> Scott had been fortunate to receive guidance from Ulysses, which had elevated his medical skills. However, the Hand of Darkness, a miraculous ability, was beyond his comprehension.<br /> Wesley smiled faintly, "Your actions earlier are understandable. I appreciate your words."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you must be an exceptional disciple of Mr. Vanderbilt, possessing unparalleled magnanimity. Impressive," Scott continued.<br /> "Enough with the flattery at your age."<br /> "You are mistaken, Mr. Harrington. Every word I speak is sincere."<br /> Mia, Amanda, and the others stood bewildered by the unfolding situation.<br /> "Mr. Phillips... he... he..." Amanda's words faltered.<br /> Scott turned to the members of the Kingsley family. "Meeting Mr. Harrington was Quinn's luck. His symptoms have been cured by Mr. Harrington. With a few days of rest, he will be fine."<br /> The waste Taylor had previously said was called Mr. Harrington by Scott!<br /> Recalling their previous attitudes, Amanda hurriedly apologized, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> The members of the Kingsley family all apologized in unison, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> Chapter 7 Eight Plates of Noodles<br /> With a faint smile, Wesley remarked, "As family members of a patient, your actions earlier are understandable. There's no need for such formality."<br /> Amanda's perplexity deepened as she thought, "Where is the cowardly waste that Taylor described? This display of magnanimity and breadth is far from it."<br /> Mia, too, felt a shiver of realization, thinking, "No wonder Dad has insisted on my proximity to Wesley.<br /> This guy..."<br /> She gazed at Wesley, her curiosity piqued, a sense of exploration stirring within her.<br /> "Mia has brought you here, Mr. Harrington, to cure my grandfather. The Kingsley family will never forget this act. However, considering that my grandfather's ailment stemmed from the health supplements produced by the Vinver Business Alliance, we will be conducting an investigation into it."<br /> Amanda continued, looking at Wesley, "What do you think... of this approach?"<br /> It was Mia who had invited Wesley, so Amanda had grown wiser, refraining from asking for a direct punishment of the Vinver Business Alliance.<br /> As Mia heard Amanda's words, her heart skipped a beat, realizing trouble was brewing.<br /> "On the way here, Ms. Roberts briefed me on the situation. You conducted experiments on mice, correct?"<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes, the health supplements we received were exclusively provided by the Roberts family. There were no similar cases on the market, so we used mice for testing.<br /> "All the mice that ingested this supplement were gone."<br /> She looked at Mia and added, her voice turned colder. "Before the experiment, I specifically contacted Mia to inquire about the testing methods during the development phase, which involved mice."<br /> "There have been individuals eyeing my grandfather's position, some even wishing for his demise. I never imagined that the Vinver Business Alliance, which I attracted for investment, would become a weapon in someone else's hands."<br /> "Do you have any of the remaining medicine?" Wesley inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes."<br /> "Bring some over."<br /> Immediately, someone fetched the medicine. After it was brought to him, Wesley took out a supplement and swallowed it directly.<br /> This scene left Amanda and the others dumbfounded.<br /> Scott, too, was bewildered. "Mr. Harrington, what are you doing?"<br /> Wesley smiled, "Just proving that this medicine is not toxic."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thank you," Mia thanked sincerely, feeling like sobbing at that moment.<br /> Amanda, with a puzzled expression, looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, are you suggesting that my grandfather's condition wasn't caused by the Vinver Business Alliance's medicine? What about the mice?"<br /> The rest were equally puzzled.<br /> "Yes, but not entirely," Wesley said, leaving everyone even more bewildered.<br /> Mia's emotions were like a rollercoaster ride, from relief to immediate tension.<br /> "This medicine itself is not toxic, but when taken with another substance made from a certain plant, it results in Quinn's condition. The mice would die immediately, while humans could endure a few more days."<br /> Wesley continued to explain, "The plant used in this concoction is originally meant for crafting slow-acting toxins, not for human consumption."<br /> Looking at Amanda, Wesley said, "During this period, whoever had access to your grandfather and the mice will better understand why these events occurred."<br /> The gaze of members of the Kingsley family immediately focused on a lady.<br /> Amanda, somewhat incredulous, looked at her. "Can you offer an explanation?"<br /> The lady was the wife of Amanda's deceased brother. She found it hard to accept, as did the rest of the Kingsley family.<br /> This lady had been named the exemplary lady who served her family well this year, not due to her connection with the Kingsley family but because she genuinely deserved it.<br /> "What do you mean? Amanda, what explanation do you want from me?"<br /> The lady stared at Amanda. "Am I the only one who had access to Grandfather and the mice? You, and you... and you, who didn't have access?"<br /> "You all claim to treat me as family. Since I married into the Kingsley family, I have worked diligently, contributing my share even if not acknowledged."<br /> "Amanda, it has been over a year since your brother passed, and I never once considered remarrying. Now, just because of his words, you demand an explanation from me?"<br /> Pointing at Wesley, the lady questioned, "Just because he accuses me of poisoning, you suspect me? Tell me, did I poison him?" The lady glared at Wesley.<br /> "I am merely analyzing the facts. As for concluding this case, it's not within my purview," Wesley addressed the members of the Kingsley family, saying, "You should conduct a thorough investigation into this matter.<br /> "I will write a prescription. Have Quinn take it on time, and he will recover in seven days."<br /> Amanda hurried to fetch paper and pen while Wesley prepared the prescription. Once done, he was ready to leave.<br /> Amanda said hurriedly, "Mr. Harrington, I've already made arrangements for lunch."<br /> "No need," Wesley smiled.<br /> The Kingsley family sought to build closer ties with Wesley, given his extraordinary medical skills. Wesley was well aware of this.<br /> Looking at Amanda and the others, Wesley remarked, "In the future, if you encounter any difficult medical cases that others cannot solve, seek me out. Remember, cases others cannot solve."<br /> The gaze of the Kingsley family members toward Wesley changed once again. Many renowned healers had eccentric personalities and were difficult to engage.<br /> They hadn't expected Wesley to possess such remarkable medical skills without any airs.<br /> As Wesley prepared to depart, the members of the Kingsley family did not dare to insist on his stay, so they accompanied him outside.<br /> "Oh, how could we forget such an important matter? Amanda, what about the consultation fee?" The middle-aged gent inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the oversight. Please wait a moment." Amanda hurried back inside and soon returned with a bank card in hand.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, there's one million dollars in here."<br /> Without hesitation, Wesley accepted the bank card and boarded Mia's car.<br /> During the journey, Mia boldly looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, you've helped me immensely. Can I treat you to a meal? Don't decline in a hurry. It's not a fancy restaurant, but it will leave you wanting more. It's a small place on the street, with only eight plates of noodles served each day, each plate containing different ingredients."<br /> "I managed to secure a reservation. Are you interested?"<br /> Wesley thought, "Eight Plates of Noodles?<br /> "Ah, Aaron's restaurant. It has been a while since I visited those old friends."<br /> Wesley nodded. "Let's go then."<br /> The restaurant, Eight Plates of Noodles, was located on Chanxold Street near the Yeadeo First Central Hospital.<br /> The establishment was small, serving only eight plates of noodles each day at a price of 10 thousand dollars each. Vernoic's television culinary program had specifically covered this incident.<br /> Reservations were a must to secure a plate.<br /> The restaurant's owner had a mysterious background. While the specifics were unknown, a high-ranking noble from the capital of Vernoic, Kingsland, had caused a scene there once.<br /> He had attempted to force his way in without a reservation. Although this incident hadn't been reported, rumors suggested that a garbage truck had to be called to dispose of the intruder's remains, as he was too shattered to be removed by conventional means.<br /> Since then, no one dared to cause trouble.<br /> On their way, Mia introduced Wesley to the background story.<br /> "Mr. Turner, two plates of noodles." Mia called out once they arrived.<br /> Aaron Turner didn't respond but visibly paused upon seeing Wesley beside Mia.<br /> A faint smile appeared on his usually stoic face. Though the flesh on the face seemed stiff, it was indeed a smile. "Coming right up."<br /> Chapter 8 You Are Blushing<br /> Mia glanced at Aaron with a hint of surprise, thinking, "When does he become so warm and enthusiastic?<br /> His tone seemed a bit agitated earlier, didn't it?"<br /> Soon enough, Aaron brought two plates of noodles to the table. One steaming hot and the other devoid of any warmth.<br /> As Mia observed Aaron placing the plate without steam in front of Wesley, her expression changed slightly.<br /> It was a plate of instant noodles having soaked in cold water, with the seasoning barely dissolved.<br /> She felt a sense of panic. Mia had wanted to leave a good impression on Wesley, which was why she had chosen this place.<br /> However, Aaron had served such a plate of noodles.<br /> She dared not question Aaron. The type of noodles served here was not determined by the guests but by Aaron's mood.<br /> "This lass named Mia is quite something, living up to her name, and quite kind-hearted," Aaron remarked, looking at Wesley.<br /> "Get lost," Wesley retorted, using his fork to pick up the noodles and devouring them.<br /> Mia's face turned pale instantly. Disrespecting Aaron was akin to risking Wesley's life.<br /> To her astonishment, Aaron chuckled, tears welling up in his eyes.<br /> He wiped them away. "Alright, I'll leave you to your meal."<br /> Before departing, he gave Mia a thumbs-up. "Seize the opportunity."<br /> The eight plates of noodles symbolized the eight comrades who had faced life and hardships together.<br /> Wesley ate voraciously. Initially, they had only one pack of instant noodles to share among the eight of them, forcing them to divide it.<br /> Despite the circumstances, they devoured the noodles joyfully.<br /> Aaron had promised that once they survived, each one would have the most delicious plate of noodles.<br /> However, five of the eight had perished.<br /> Wesley had come dangerously close to life-threatening situations, but managed to cling to life.<br /> For him, the plate of noodles was not food but the bond of friendship that had shielded him from harm.<br /> "Do you... know each other?" Mia couldn't help but ask, her voice low and curious.<br /> "Some things are better left unknown," Wesley replied.<br /> Mia nodded in understanding, falling silent as they continued eating noodles. She couldn't help stealing glances at Wesley throughout the meal.<br /> This gent had piqued her curiosity even more.<br /> "Wesley, I see. No wonder you agreed to the divorce so readily. You've already found someone else outside."<br /> A sharp voice interrupted their meal.<br /> Taylor approached with a cold expression, accompanied by Henry.<br /> Taylor's mother was in the nearby hospital, and she had just picked up Frank, planning to buy some food when she unexpectedly saw Wesley.<br /> Of course, she saw Mia, too.<br /> Seeing Wesley dining with a lady more attractive than herself, so soon after the divorce felt like a dagger twisting in Taylor's heart.<br /> Her anger was uncontrollable.<br /> Wesley merely glanced at Taylor, disinterested in engaging with her.<br /> Taylor was stung by his indifferent gaze. She stepped forward, glaring at Wesley. "Are you not going to explain to me?"<br /> Mia looked at Taylor, silently cursing her as a foolish lady.<br /> Wesley continued eating his noodles, lowering his head. "Get lost. Don't disturb me, or I won't hesitate to hit you."<br /> "What did you say?" Henry stepped forward, enraged. "Wesley, try laying a hand on her! Is that all you're capable of? Laying hands on ladies?"<br /> "No wonder Taylor looks down on you. You're truly disgusting trash. Apologize to Taylor now, or else you'll regret coming into this world."<br /> "And how will he regret it? Tell me." Aaron emerged, carrying a cleaver, smiling as he faced Henry and Taylor.<br /> "Mr. Turner, we dare not cause trouble in your place, but this guy is just..."<br /> Henry attempted to speak but was cut off as Aaron's cleaver struck his face, sending him sprawling to the ground.<br /> "Mr. Turner, sorry, we'll leave now." Taylor hastily helped Henry up and hurriedly left.<br /> These two individuals were fortunate to know the legendary story behind Eight Plates of Noodles and had successfully made reservations to dine here multiple times.<br /> Having distanced themselves a bit, Henry covered his face and pointed at Wesley. "Wesley, we have some unfinished business. If you're smart, come over here now and apologize."<br /> "Wesley, I've seen through you as well. I never expected that for the past five years, you've been using my money to keep a lady on the side. We'll settle the score slowly."<br /> As the two noticed Aaron glancing their way, they quickly shut their mouths and hurriedly left.<br /> Once they were out of eyeshots, Aaron fixed his gaze on Wesley. "Your dad doesn't know about your divorce yet, does he?"<br /> "What difference would it make if he did?" Wesley stretched lazily. "I've fulfilled my promise. I've given enough."<br /> Aaron nodded in acknowledgment without saying anything further.<br /> This piqued Mia's curiosity even more. "Is it like what the novels depict? Did you marry Taylor due to some special event?"<br /> Seeing Wesley's glare, Mia lowered her head to focus on her noodles. "I won't ask anymore."<br /> "For the past five years, you've been staying in the stairwell. It has been hard for you, but at least you're still untouched," Aaron remarked before swiftly departing.<br /> Mia stared at Wesley in disbelief, realizing that Aaron's words were meant for her ears.<br /> "What are you staring at? Eat your noodles," Wesley said. Mia chuckled.<br /> "Why are you laughing?"<br /> "You're blushing."<br /> "Nonsense," Wesley retorted.<br /> Unable to contain herself, Mia burst into laughter. She had tried to hold it in, but seeing Wesley's flushed face made it impossible.<br /> Ten minutes later, Mia left on her own accord, sensing that Wesley had something to discuss with Aaron.<br /> Inside Aaron's small shop, Wesley opened a bottle of wine. "Still single?"<br /> "I look too old, no one's interested," Aaron replied, opening a bottle of liquor as well.<br /> "Then why are you meddling in my love lives?"<br /> "Leave a child behind, even if you pass away, someone will remember you." Aaron took a sip. "I've actually investigated this Mia."<br /> "You investigated her?"<br /> "I knew you'd get a divorce. I've been keeping an eye on the pretty ones. This girl had done a lot of good deeds before coming to Yeadeo. Once, she saved three people in a flood and nearly lost her life. Opportunities are rare. You have to seize them."<br /> "When you've figured things out and are ready to marry, then we can discuss our affairs. That's the condition." Wesley downed the entire bottle of liquor.<br /> "Otherwise, don't bother meddling. We're on a one-way path and can't drag others along."<br /> "You..." Aaron sighed as he watched Wesley's retreating figure.<br /> On the road leading to the Feidgeuo Manor, Taylor stood gazing blankly at the entrance not far away.<br /> Twice in one day, she had come here.<br /> The first time was to pick up Frank, and this time was because Frank had lost his expensive watch. She and Henry hadn't even had a meal, rushing over to find it.<br /> The first time, she had come in a hurry when Frank was injured and left quickly as well.<br /> But this time, as Taylor looked at the entrance ahead, an infinite longing sprouted within her.<br /> "If only... I could live here, how wonderful that would be."<br /> Henry looked at her. "One day, I'll definitely build an estate more magnificent than this, and you'll be the lady of the house."<br /> As they conversed, a taxi drove by, stopping at the entrance. The person who got out of the taxi left Taylor stunned.<br /> She rubbed her eyes.	Adoread	147	https://facebook.com/61556400142540	LEARN_MORE	1713510000	View Edit Delete
1666851	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727709	1734958298	695	751138667155593		1.5597180248779E+15	1713769200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	226177680578601	0	Adoread	120207746049430265	client.adoread.com	Learn more	NONE	image	🔥🔥🔥 Read More👉	Hottest novel👉👉👉	https://client.adoread.com/book/loading/page/adoread/19161308412?utm_campaign={{campaign.id}}&utm_content={{campaign.name}}		1713519398	2.261776805786E+14	Adoread	https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437724011_960421695526729_1516574307485338648_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QHGXZ-huQfoQ7kNvgFl-bAK&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAhittaAtIybg_0Gi8UYNoalMt3uRDbIai0DNMlEMFrFg&oe=663A90F9	person_profile	0	Adoread	https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437891881_25238797299100336_7255863263127890524_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UeFxFDUJUZIQ7kNvgF1dGXL&_nc_oc=AdjBlORU46gPxHeMvSIJmXMDx_1afwh7kp2UWRl9K25HmyfzpiuTkbEBFfXJmbiDJ-c&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCl6BW-kaMuwg-TQzlAPyzBHYyw1d6F5gFbxwKZGONM2w&oe=663A61E5	0	3	"Wesley, are you trying to harm me? You useless piece of trash, can't even make a decent cup of coffee, can you?"<br /> Madison Blair lifted her coffee cup and splashed it directly onto Wesley Harrington's face.<br /> "What are you looking at, you spineless waste? Your name sounds so lofty? I might as well call you a waste."<br /> Glancing at the grotesque expression of his wife's mother, Wesley pulled out his phone to check the time.<br /> Exactly twelve o'clock. It had been five full years since he married Taylor Reed.<br /> The appointed time had come.<br /> He had fulfilled his promise, safeguarding the Reed family for five years, transforming them from a family living off fishing to one perceived as affluent by the common folk.<br /> Wiping the coffee off his face, he turned and walked away.<br /> "Where do you think you're going? Go fetch some more coffee," Madison shouted.<br /> "Madison, didn't you say this waste is obedient at home, doing whatever he's told? I don't think he's taking it lying down."<br /> Madison grew angrier. "Wesley, you stop right there. My family has fed and housed you. If you dare disobey, I'll have you thrown out!"<br /> Ignoring her, Wesley continued downstairs.<br /> "When Taylor comes back, I'll immediately have you two divorced. Do you hear me? Stay right there," Madison threatened, "I'll let you know your place today."<br /> Grabbing a golf club, Madison swiftly charged towards Wesley.<br /> Seeing Wesley heading downstairs, she swung the club viciously at his back.<br /> Without turning back, Wesley gently sidestepped.<br /> Losing her balance, Madison tumbled forward, rolling down the stairs with a series of thumps.<br /> "Ouch... it hurts, it hurts so much!"<br /> As Madison reached the ground floor, she wailed in pain and her sister immediately rushed to her.<br /> "Wesley, what have you done? How dare you hit my sister!" Madison's sister hurried down, checking on Madison's condition.<br /> Wesley remained silent, observing the scene.<br /> "Quick, call Taylor. Tell her to come back. Today, she must divorce this waste." Madison glared at Wesley. "How dare you hit me? Not only will I let Taylor divorce you, but I'll make sure you leave in disgrace."<br /> "Mum, what's wrong?" At that moment, a gent and a lady walked in.<br /> The lady was Taylor, Madison's daughter.<br /> She ran towards Madison.<br /> As Madison pointed at Wesley, tears streamed down her face. "Taylor, he hit me, he hit me! When you're not home, he changes his attitude, scolding and hitting me in the slightest displeasure. He even pushed me down the stairs just now. Alexis can testify."<br /> Madison's sister, Alexis Blair, chimed in. "Yes, Wesley, this trash not only hit your mother but also threatened to hit me too. We cannot tolerate such trash."<br /> "Taylor, I have been telling you to divorce him for years. You've been supporting him, treating him like a Lord at home, but he's an ungrateful wolf in sheep's clothing."<br /> Helping Madison up, Taylor noticed the scrapes on Madison's arms and legs, her expression turning cold.<br /> "Wesley, why did you hit my mother? You better give me an explanation."<br /> Wesley looked at Taylor, his wife.<br /> Five years had passed, and she had never shown him kindness.<br /> Taylor dressed impeccably, a paragon of a successful lady, with a face that could be deemed angelic, yet whether her heart was as angelic remained a mystery.<br /> Her figure, too, left countless men yearning.<br /> For five years, Wesley had thought he might develop feelings for this lady, but in reality, it never happened.<br /> "There are surveillance cameras in the house," Wesley stated calmly before descending the stairs into the hallway.<br /> Despite residing in a three-story villa, Wesley's living quarters were confined to the stairwell.<br /> He harbored no resentment towards this arrangement. It was merely a promise. It was just that Taylor failed to appreciate him.<br /> This home held little value that he wished to cling onto.<br /> Retrieving a wooden box from beneath his pillow, Wesley extracted two documents. Casting a fleeting glance at the modest abode he had called home for five years, Wesley smiled faintly.<br /> He thought, "Finally... I'm free."<br /> Pushing the door ajar, Wesley was met by Taylor's piercing gaze. "I've reviewed the surveillance footage. Yes, my mother intended to strike you, but even if she did, what difference would it make?"<br /> "She's a lady. How much could her blows hurt you? Why did you dodge?"<br /> "If you hadn't dodged, my mother wouldn't have tumbled down." Wesley stared at Taylor, unable to comprehend her thought process.<br /> He had no interest in engaging in these arguments. Handing over the two documents to Taylor, he remarked, "The divorce agreement. I've already signed it. Take a look. I'm leaving with nothing."<br /> "With your current influence, there's no need for you to visit the city hall. Someone will handle it for you, right?"<br /> Madison was taken aback. She swiftly snatched the divorce agreement, flipping through it hastily.<br /> The contents were indeed straightforward. Both parties willingly divorced, with Wesley relinquishing all claims and having already signed.<br /> In an instant, Madison's pain seemed to dissipate. "Taylor, sign it quickly. Sign it."<br /> Taylor was still in a daze.<br /> She pondered.<br /> "A divorce agreement? Wesley has already prepared a divorce agreement. On what grounds?"<br /> "What gives him the right to initiate a divorce? All these years, he's done nothing at home, lacking any ambition. Always practicing martial arts, what right does he have to seek a divorce?"<br /> "If anyone should initiate it, it should be me. Moreover, now that I'm back to discussing this matter with him. Could it be that word got out, and Wesley, for the sake of his pride, rushed to prepare a divorce agreement first?"<br /> "It must be so, but... No!"<br /> "Wanting to leave with nothing, is he retreating to advance? As the chairman of the Reed Group, how could I be served with a divorce?"<br /> "Hey Wesley, I never expected this from you. Have I not treated you well enough? You seek a divorce, attempting to turn your retreat into advance, aiming to embarrass me?"<br /> Taylor glared at Wesley. "I'm telling you, it's impossible."<br /> Snatching the divorce agreement, she tore it to shreds.<br /> "Taylor, what are you doing? Such a great opportunity. Why not just sign it and let him leave?" Madison grew anxious.<br /> "Mom, I do intend to divorce this trash, but the decision must come from me. I returned specifically to address this matter."<br /> With that, Taylor produced two documents. "Wesley, remember that it's me who's divorcing you. It's me who no longer wants you. Initially, out of marital obligation, I had considered offering you some compensation. Now, you don't even need to think about it. Sign the divorce agreement and leave my home."<br /> Wesley offered a faint smile as he accepted the divorce agreement.<br /> "What are you laughing at?" Taylor demanded angrily.<br /> Wesley's smile seemed to mock her, fueling her rage.<br /> Ignoring her entirely, Wesley signed the document and handed it over.<br /> "What are you laughing at? Answer me! Who do you think you are?" Taylor roared once more.<br /> Wesley glanced at her before striding towards the exit.<br /> "Stop!" The gent who had accompanied Taylor stepped forward, blocking Wesley's path. "Taylor asked you a question, and... Your previous attitude displeased me. Apologize to Taylor, or I'll have you leave in disgrace!"<br /> Chapter 2 The Unspoken Truth<br /> <br /> "Yes, let him leave in disgrace. He thought he could just hit me and walk away so easily," Madison joined in the commotion, also noticing the gent blocking Wesley's path.<br /> Madison had a keen interest in luxury goods, having frequented various high-end establishments over the years as the Reed family's living conditions improved. The gent was wearing an expensive watch and dressed head to toe in high-end luxury brands.<br /> Seeing Madison's gaze, the gent spoke. "Rest assured, today Wesley must pay the price."<br /> The gent introduced himself, looking at Wesley, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Henry Clark, the eldest son of the Clark family and the general manager of the Clark Group in the North District."<br /> "From now on, I will accompany Taylor on her journey of life, and I will not allow anyone to bully her."<br /> "My identity carries weight. You should understand that. Now, apologize to Taylor. Apologize! Did you hear me? Apologize!"<br /> Madison's eyes lit up. She hadn't expected the gent before her to hold such a high status. She continued to shout, "Did you hear that? Taylor will be with Mr. Clark from now on. Apologize now."<br /> Wesley glanced at Henry, then at Taylor. He thought, "Have they been together all along?" Wesley had wanted to ask but decided against it because there was no need. He simply gave them a glance and continued walking towards the exit.<br /> "Are you ignoring me?" Henry's face turned cold as he reached out to grab Wesley. Henry's hand froze mid-air as he received a solid hit.<br /> "Until I sign the divorce papers, Taylor and I are still wife and husband. I don't care to investigate whether you two had any intimate relationship during that time, but don't provoke me, or I won't hesitate to make you regret it." Wesley's gaze was icy, and as Henry met his eyes, he felt a twinge of fear and swallowed his words.<br /> Taylor was also stunned. She knew exactly what Wesley had been like over the past five years. There were many surveillance cameras in the house, and she would often check them.<br /> Even when Taylor wasn't home, despite how her family treated Wesley, he always obeyed without complaint, especially towards her. He had never raised his voice, no matter how they treated him.<br /> Today, not only did Wesley dodge when her mother struck, but he also initiated the divorce and now even struck Henry. <br /> Taylor was at a loss for words, thinking, "How could this cowardly gent dare? On what grounds does he dare?"<br /> This change was difficult for Taylor to accept as if she didn't truly understand this guy. The gent who used to be obedient to her, completely submissive, now revealed this side of himself. She watched Wesley walk away in a daze, feeling a strange discomfort in her heart.<br /> "Isn't he leaving with nothing?" Alexis pointed at the wooden box Wesley was holding. "What is he taking with him?"<br /> Madison also realized. Over the past five years, Wesley had always treasured this wooden box, carrying it with him wherever he went. She thought there must be something valuable inside.<br /> Realizing this, Madison hurriedly followed. "Wesley, stop right there, leave the wooden box."<br /> Wesley paused, glanced at Madison, and said, "This is my personal belonging."<br /> "Nonsense, what personal belonging could you possibly have after marrying into the Reed family? Everything you've eaten, worn, and lived in over the years has been provided by the Reed family. Put it down."<br /> As she spoke, Madison reached out to grab the wooden box.<br /> "Ah..." A scream rang out as Madison quickly retracted her hand, a gash appearing on her palm, a crimson liquid dripping.<br /> The wooden box was now stained with the same crimson liquid, trembling lightly in Wesley's hand.<br /> "It's not the right time yet, the day you thirst for this crimson liquid will come," Wesley murmured softly, patting the box before turning to continue his stride towards the exit.<br /> "Monster! A monster!" Madison screamed, causing Taylor and the others to rush out. Seeing the wound in Madison's hand, Taylor was filled with rage.<br /> "Wesley, aren't you going to say something?" Wesley halted once more, contemplating before meeting Taylor's gaze.<br /> "Just stay out of my way from now on. Consider this a warning to you."<br /> "Taylor, that wooden box of his has a mechanism. It must hold something valuable! We can't let him take it with him," Madison, enduring the pain, reminded them.<br /> "Mom, your injury is important. We'll deal with him later. Let me take you to the hospital first." Taylor comforted Madison before calling out to the retreating Wesley.<br /> "Our marriage is over! Yet, you dared to hurt my mother! This won't be the end of it! I will make you regret it!" Ignoring her, Wesley continued walking out.<br /> "Rest assured, I promise he won't see the light of day tomorrow." Henry stepped forward to console. "Let's focus on getting your wound treated first."<br /> "I want him to regret ever existing in this world, to apologize to me in repentance," Madison roared.<br /> "Mom, trust me, I will make him do just that." Taylor looked at Madison with a mix of pity and determination. "Let's go to the hospital first."<br /> In the villa area, Wesley halted, his voice cold. "Get out."<br /> An elderly gent leaped down from a tree, appearing to be in his seventies, yet landing silently from a height of around ten feet.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, your father wants you to come home and take charge."<br /> "He stopped being my father five years ago. He's my enemy."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you misunderstood your father. He had his reasons back then. I swear in my life, once you know the truth, you will forgive him."<br /> "Huh!" Wesley smirked coldly, saying, "I nearly passed away back then. Is that also a misunderstanding?"<br /> The old gent pleaded, "Mr. Harrington, this situation is truly not as you perceive it."<br /> Wesley didn't engage further with the old guy. The events of that year were etched in his memory forever. He was the one who had been abandoned. If not for that incident, why would he have stayed with the Reed family for five years?<br /> Watching Wesley walk away, the old gent had tears silently streaming down his face. "Mr. Harrington, I truly... I truly can't bring myself to speak the truth, but you have misunderstood your father. He also bears burdens and endures pains beyond what an ordinary person can handle."<br /> As Wesley's figure disappeared, the old gent stood up, hesitated for a moment, then dialed a number on his phone.<br /> "Mr. Harrington is now divorced. I've given you the news firsthand. If your daughter is truly together with Mr. Harrington, you must fulfill the promise and let her persuade Mr. Harrington to come home."<br /> After hanging up, a middle-aged gent in a luxurious estate jumped up excitedly. Calming himself, he immediately made another call. "My dear, you're at Yeadeo, right?<br /> "Go find Wesley now. Don't mention the engagement for now. Use every means to get close to him, make him fall in love with you."<br /> "Dad, I don't have time."<br /> "No matter what you are busy with, you must go find Wesley now. No matter what reason you approach him, you must leave a good impression the first time."<br /> "Dad, I'm in trouble right now. If I don't handle it well, I might be good as gone. I have to deal with it immediately. I'm hanging up."<br /> Chapter 3 You're Nothing<br /> The middle-aged gent's voice lowered significantly. "Is there a big incident happening? You didn't tell me? What happened?"<br /> "Quinn Kingsley from Yeadeo, Mr. Kingsley, used our product and now has one foot on the grave. If something really happens to him..."<br /> "You mean Quinn, the uncontested leader of Yeadeo?"<br /> "Yes."<br /> "In that case, you should go find Wesley. Trust me, in this world, there is no problem that Wesley can't solve. As long as he's willing to help, you'll be fine. Listen to me, go find Wesley immediately."<br /> The lady fell silent for a moment before saying, "Okay."<br /> At Yeadeo Harbor, a gent with a large flaxen chain and a watch, sporting a crew cut, hurriedly disembarked, accompanied by a dozen gentlemen.<br /> "Mr. Reed, wherever that trash is, we will find him and tear him apart."<br /> "Yes, that guy dared to harm your mother. We'll make sure he pays for it."<br /> Frank Reed's face turned cold. "Wesley, you coward, thinking you can overturn the world? How dare you touch my mom? Just wait until I find you, you're finished."<br /> "We've found him. Wesley got into a taxi, and our boys followed him."<br /> "Let's go!" Frank waved his hand, leading dozens of men who boarded the car with harpoons, steel pipes, and other weapons.<br /> Inside the taxi, Wesley gazed at the scenery outside, feeling a strange sense of tranquility.<br /> He thought to himself, "I never imagined that while I was secretly paving the way for the Reed family, Taylor, after progressing so rapidly, would start looking down on me more and more."<br /> "Those ladies who know my true identity, which one of them isn't trying to throw themselves at me? Ladies like that don't interest me."<br /> "Being an ordinary gent is truly difficult," Wesley murmured, smiling faintly and deciding not to dwell on these matters anymore. He had important things to attend to and no time to waste on personal affairs.<br /> "Young lad, are you going to Feidgeuo Manor for a job interview?" The driver, curious about Wesley's destination, inquired.<br /> Feidgeuo Manor was Yeadeo's most mysterious private area. Originally a villa area, it was bought at a huge cost five years ago and completely renovated. It was said to have cost a trillion dollars. The former villa area was now Feidgeuo Manor.<br /> "That's my home," Wesley replied nonchalantly.<br /> The driver was taken aback by this revelation, silently cursing Wesley for bragging. After a couple of minutes, the driver regained his composure. "It seems like you and I both prefer to keep a low profile. My car usually gathers dust at home, so I occasionally drive a taxi to experience life."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "My car has been driven by my assistant for the past few years, so it's not gathering dust."<br /> "Haha..." The driver laughed. "We should get together sometime and see whose car is more impressive."<br /> "Sure, whenever we have the time."<br /> As they chatted, the vehicle soon arrived near Feidgeuo Manor, where the massive head of the Feidgeuo Peak protruded, creating a unique landscape in Yeadeo.<br /> The driver asked with a smile, "Since you're the owner here, it's fine if I drive in, right?"<br /> "Of course," Wesley replied.<br /> As soon as Wesley spoke, several cars caught up from behind.<br /> The cars surrounded the one Wesley was in, with the front vehicles braking to force the car to a stop.<br /> When numerous people descended from cars wielding harpoons and steel pipes, the driver's face paled.<br /> Frank and his group got out of the cars, instantly closing in, and without hesitation, started attacking, the steel pipes and harpoons thudding against the car.<br /> Frank's henchman yanked open the door of Wesley's car, poised to stab Wesley with a harpoon, but Wesley swiftly exited the vehicle.<br /> With a firm step on the ground, he launched a swift hit.<br /> A muffled sound echoed as the henchman was hit away.<br /> "What are you looking at?" Frank noticed his henchmen were all staring at him. "All of you, attack together and take him down!"<br /> As he commanded, the henchmen Frank brought with him surged forward.<br /> The taxi driver, trembling, took out his phone to call the police, but Frank glared at him. "I am Frank Reed from Yeadeo Harbor. If you dare, go ahead and make that call."<br /> Frank, leveraging his sister Taylor's status, had been causing trouble in Yeadeo Harbor, and no one dared to provoke him.<br /> Upon hearing Frank's name, the driver hastily put away his phone. "Mr. Reed, I'll just check the time, you guys continue."<br /> "Huh!" Frank snorted coldly, casting his gaze towards the surrounded Wesley.<br /> The sounds of thuds continued to ring out incessantly. Because Wesley was completely surrounded, Frank was unable to see the situation inside clearly, but he could imagine it. After all, in Frank's mind, the henchmen under his command were not to be trifled with.<br /> "Hit him hard for me!"<br /> Another muffled sound and a figure flew out. At that moment, Frank finally saw the situation clearly, and his face turned pale.<br /> Frank knew that Wesley liked to practice martial arts, but he had never expected Wesley to be this skilled. It wasn't Wesley who had been beaten, but his own men by Wesley alone.<br /> Frantically, Frank turned and ran to retrieve a crossbow from the car.<br /> "Clear the way." Frank bellowed, aiming the crossbow at Wesley.<br /> "You scumbag, you think you can fight? Move one more time, and I'll end your life! Surrender!"<br /> Wesley, holding a wooden box, stared at Frank. Ignoring the crossbow in his hand, Wesley said, "Tell your henchmen to back off, or you'll all see the light from above!"<br /> "You're really good at pretending to be tough." Frank took two steps forward. "See the light? Move a muscle and see if I can end your life or not! If you don't have the guts, apologize now!"<br /> Wesley turned his head and looked at the approaching cars, with two expensive ones in the lead, two more in the rear, and another one in the middle.<br /> "Keep acting tough, and I'll put a hole in your head." Frank spoke while glancing at the five cars. "What, looking for help?"<br /> "Let me tell you, those who ride in these cars are not the kind of weaklings like you who rely on connections. With me here, in Yeadeo's social hierarchy, even those who ride in such cars wouldn't dare meddle in this matter. And let me make it clear, without my sister, you're nothing."<br /> Chapter 4 Is He Worthy?<br /> As Frank's words faded, the five cars came to a halt.<br /> A bodyguard opened the door of the one in the middle, revealing a dazzling pair of shining shoes catching everyone's eye.<br /> The shining shoe encased a beautiful foot. Above, the skirt's hem was adorned with lace.<br /> Then, like a fairy stepping out of a painting, she appeared before everyone's eyes.<br /> The lady was beautiful!<br /> Frank was mesmerized. Ever since the Reed family rose to prominence, he had been surrounded by ladies, but compared to the elegant lady before him, they were worlds apart.<br /> It wasn't just a difference in appearance but an incomparable gap in demeanor.<br /> The lady descending from the Maybach seemed like a celestial being untouched by mortal affairs.<br /> The embodiment of a fairy in the mundane world.<br /> She simply stood there after getting out of the car, perfectly embodying what it meant to be graceful and elegant.<br /> The lady glanced at Wesley, then at Frank.<br /> Frank grinned, saying, "May I have the honor of knowing the name of this esteemed lady? I am Frank..."<br /> The lady spoke calmly. "Disrespect Mr. Harrington, and you're done for."<br /> Her bodyguards, unfazed by Frank's crossbow, swiftly overwhelmed him, sending him crashing to the ground.<br /> The henchmen who had come with Frank, previously defeated by Wesley, now scrambled to their feet and fled in all directions.<br /> Who would dare provoke someone who could afford such a car?<br /> "My sister is Taylor Reed, the chairperson of Reed Group," Frank shouted, clutching his head.<br /> Ignoring him, one of the bodyguards dragged him to the roadside grass while another used a belt to tighten around Frank's neck, exerting pressure.<br /> "Enough, a lesson is all that's needed." Wesley spoke calmly, and only when the lady gestured did the bodyguards release Frank.<br /> Frank lay there, already unconscious.<br /> Wesley turned to the lady. "Who are you?"<br /> "I am Mia Roberts, the general manager of Vinver Business Alliance's Yeadeo branch." She looked at Wesley and continued, "Mr. Harrington, my father mentioned that you have miraculous healing skills and earnestly requested your assistance. A generous reward awaits."<br /> Wesley furrowed his brow slightly, thinking, "There are indeed people who recognize my abilities and status, yet I've rarely intervened in the past five years. Today, shortly after I divorced Taylor, she is here. Whose arrangement is this?"<br /> "Mr. Harrington, my father also mentioned that you are benevolent and has raised the banner of compassion among healers, serving as a role model and benchmark for all in the medical field."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "You have a way with words. Tell me the specifics."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, please get in the car first. I will explain in detail on the way."<br /> The phrase "compassionate healer" held significant weight for Wesley, who had saved countless lives from the brink of death.<br /> Without further ado, he got into the car.<br /> Inside, after Mia brewed coffee for Wesley, she began. "Vinver Business Alliance has a wide range of business operations, and I mainly oversee the health supplement sector, which has seen some success in recent years.<br /> "Recently, Quinn Kingsley started using our medicines, and now there's an accident."<br /> As she spoke, Mia kept her gaze fixed on Wesley.<br /> Quinn, the undisputed leader of Yeadeo, was a figure of immense influence.<br /> Upon hearing this name, Wesley showed no particular reaction. "If the city's leader faces issues with your products, it is indeed a concern. Let's go and see."<br /> With just a sentence, Wesley leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest.<br /> Mia was secretly alarmed, thinking, "He knows who Quinn is, yet he seems indifferent. Who is this Wesley, really? No wonder Dad has instructed me to find a way to win his favor." Mia's inner resistance toward Wesley quietly shifted.<br /> Wesley had piqued her curiosity.<br /> As the vehicle was moving, Wesley's phone rang.<br /> Wesley opened his eyes and took out his phone to see Taylor calling.<br /> Pressing the answer button, he asked, "What's the matter?"<br /> On the other end of the line, Taylor, driving towards Feidgeuo Manor, had a grim expression.<br /> She thought, "Has Wesley ever spoken to me in such a cold tone before? Is he really this heartless right after our divorce?"<br /> Already furious, she snapped. "Wesley, do you even consider yourself a human being?<br /> "Today, not only did you lay hands on my mother, but you also had someone attack my brother. Do you not remember our past at all?"<br /> Wesley calmly replied, "Do we have a past to remember?"<br /> "You truly are a heartless scumbag, just as my mother said. You are an ungrateful and vicious person I raised for five years. Even a pet would wag its tail at me!"<br /> Taylor wanted to continue her tirade, but the phone line had already turned busy.<br /> This only fueled her anger further.<br /> Just now, she had received a call from Frank's underlings, informing her that Wesley had sent people to attack Frank and even intended to end him.<br /> Taylor wanted to demand answers, but...<br /> As Taylor was clutching her fists, her gaze turned icy.<br /> After a moment, she picked up her phone again. "Wesley, you are so narrow-minded. You have no ambition. Any lady would steer clear of you."<br /> "Just because I dumped you, you are doing this on purpose to make me feel sick. Pretending to be aloof and seeking revenge? Do you even deserve it?"<br /> "In Yeadeo, squashing you would be as easy as squashing an ant. You're asking for it! If anything happens to my brother, I will make you wish you were ending!"<br /> Her furious voice message echoed in the car.<br /> Wesley chuckled and put away his phone.<br /> Beside him, Mia seemed contemplative. Before coming, she had already ordered a swift investigation into Wesley.<br /> She was curious, thinking, "How could someone valued by my father could be the one 'marrying into' the Reed family."<br /> Being tactful, Mia chose not to ask and pretended not to have heard.<br /> After about forty minutes, they arrived at the Kingsley Manor.<br /> The Kingsley family members, upon seeing Mia alight from the car, all wore grim expressions.<br /> Mia greeted them with a smile, "Everyone, this is Wesley Harrington, Mr. Harrington, the miraculous healer I specially invited to treat Mr. Kingsley."<br /> "Him? The gent who married into the Reed family?"<br /> "A miraculous healer? Is he even worthy? Are healers so worthless now?"<br /> "A useless gent who mooches off of the Reed family? How dare he call himself a miraculous healer? Truly a joke among all jokes."<br /> Chapter 5 Compassionate Healer<br /> Amanda Kingsley, Quinn's granddaughter, stared coldly at Wesley and Mia.<br /> This lady, dressed in a smart suit, also held significant fame in Yeadeo, overseeing the region's business activities, including investment attraction and various local business negotiations.<br /> Amanda had a favorable view of Taylor, who had risen swiftly in recent times, and they had interacted frequently.<br /> She was aware of Wesley's existence and had advised Taylor to part ways with him early on.<br /> But Amanda never imagined that Mia would bring someone like Wesley, a complete waste, and claim he was a miraculous healer.<br /> Glaring at Mia, she said, "Mia, once my grandfather is well, it's best for your Roberts family to leave Yeadeo."<br /> "As for you..." She glanced at Wesley. "I will advise Taylor to divorce you. You have deceived Taylor's feelings and now shamelessly made your way into my family. You are a despicable creature."<br /> After reprimanding Mia and Wesley, she turned to an elderly gent beside her, and her tone and attitude completely changed. "Mr. Phillips, sorry to trouble you. My grandfather is inside, please."<br /> Mia looked at the elderly gent, who was already in his twilight years, feeling deeply shocked.<br /> Scott Phillips, the 38th generation heir of the Healing Clinic, was now ninety-two years old.<br /> Renowned as a miraculous healer, he was a respected figure in the medical community of Yeadeo and even nationally.<br /> He no longer conducted consultations personally due to his old age. Mia had visited him specifically to pay her respects once she had arrived in Yeadeo but had not met Scott.<br /> She never expected Scott to appear in person. It was understandable, as Quinn held a prominent position in the city. Despite the profound influence of the Phillips family, they still had to show respect to Quinn.<br /> Mia looked at Wesley, feeling conflicted and thinking, "Dad has confidently claimed that Wesley has extraordinary abilities, but does he really?"<br /> She harbored doubts, but out of propriety, Mia spoke. "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the trouble."<br /> Wesley smiled, "It's fine. As long as the person can be healed."<br /> His open-mindedness impressed Mia.<br /> After about half an hour, Amanda emerged from the room. All eyes instantly turned towards her.<br /> It was evident that Amanda had wailed out, with traces of tears still visible.<br /> "Amanda, how is it?" A middle-aged gent anxiously asked her.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family who had rushed back also focused their attention on her.<br /> "Mr. Phillips said that there's little hope of recovery. He could only use acupuncture to wake grandfather for half an hour. When grandfather wakes up, let's all go in and see if he has any final instructions."<br /> Everyone was shocked.<br /> "How could this be?"<br /> "Is Mr. Phillips also helpless?"<br /> The members of the Kingsley family found it hard to accept this reality, especially since Quinn had always treated his juniors well.<br /> The thought of Quinn departing saddened some, and tears silently fell.<br /> Publicly, Quinn's status was the foundation of the Kingsley family's prominence in Yeadeo.<br /> If Quinn were to pass away, the Kingsley family would undoubtedly decline.<br /> The atmosphere within the Kingsley family was somber.<br /> Amanda looked at her family members, opened her mouth, but said nothing, silently turning back into the room.<br /> "Stop crying," A middle-aged gent said sternly, "Dad wouldn't want to see you all in tears. If he's really leaving, we mustn't let him worry about us. Pull yourselves together."<br /> After these words, the middle-aged gent also entered the room.<br /> The younger members of the Kingsley family wiped their tears vigorously, trying to force smiles, but in truth, they looked better at crying than pretending to be happy.<br /> Mia's spirit plummeted as she realized the gravity of the situation. Even if an ordinary person passed away from consuming health supplements, it spelled big trouble for those who sold them. And when the deceased happened to be Quinn, the stakes were even higher.<br /> She understood that it would be difficult for this branch to stay in Yeadeo, and even the headquarters might face repercussions.<br /> "Let's go in and have a look." Wesley glanced at Mia. "There might still be a chance."<br /> "Ah..." Mia stared at Wesley in surprise. Seeing him already heading towards the room, she quickly followed suit.<br /> Inside the room, the members of the Kingsley family stood around the mattress, maintaining a certain distance.<br /> Scott lit the alcohol lamp and took out the needles, his expression solemn.<br /> He looked at the members of the Kingsley family. "Think about what you want to say to Mr. Kingsley later. Once you're ready, let me know, and then I'll proceed with the acupuncture."<br /> As he said this, tears welled up in many eyes.<br /> "If you don't mind, let me take a look. I have a way." Wesley spoke up, drawing everyone's attention.<br /> Amanda's face darkened. "Who let you in? Get out!"<br /> "Mia, have you lost your mind? Tricked by this trash and actually brought him here as a miracle healer. Get out with him! I'll settle the score with you in a couple of days."<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, at a loss for words.<br /> "Even Mr. Phillips is unable to reverse the situation. What use are you? Get out." Another younger member of the Kingsley family angrily rebuked.<br /> The middle-aged gent added, "We're in no mood right now. You better leave immediately."<br /> "I understand your narrow-mindedness," Wesley continued, "But as a healer, once I see a patient, I cannot stand by and watch him draw his last breath."<br /> "Wesley, you're quite the charlatan. Do you really want to be gone right now?" Amanda's voice was filled with anger.<br /> "Amanda, let me say a few words," Scott interjected, and Amanda fell silent.<br /> Looking at Wesley, Scott began. "Young lad, at my age, I've seen a lot and have a broad perspective. Today, however, I find it hard to remain indifferent. I practiced medicine from the age of sixteen until I stopped seeing patients for a total of seventy years."<br /> "I've saved countless patients from various illnesses. I never easily declare a patient's fate, nor do I believe I have the right to do so."<br /> "But from your recent remarks, it seems like you're accusing me of such actions. Young people wanting to make a name for themselves by stepping on the shoulders of their predecessors, I can understand."<br /> "But this kind of behavior displeases me."<br /> "My displeasure, what does it mean to you? Do you understand?"<br /> "Even if you are a healer, your career will be ruined because of this."<br /> Chapter 6 Hand of Hell<br /> In the face of Scott's veiled threats, Wesley simply smiled and brushed them off.<br /> Looking at Scott, he asked, "I've always focused on the issue at hand rather than attacking individuals. I have a few questions for you. If you can't administer the needles, how long do you think Quinn can hold on?"<br /> "Seven days, but he will remain unconscious," Scott replied bluntly.<br /> "Then let me ask you this, is there anyone in the world with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "Outrageous," Amanda coldly interjected, "Mr. Phillips is unparalleled in his medical expertise."<br /> Scott glanced at Amanda. "Amanda, let me handle this question."<br /> Continuing to address Wesley, he said, "I don't underestimate myself, nor do I overestimate. There are countless talented individuals in the world, like stars in the sky. I may not dare claim to be the best in medical skills, but those who surpass me are few."<br /> "That means there are some," Wesley calmly remarked, causing Scott's expression to shift slightly, "Indeed, there are."<br /> "Then let me ask you this. Do you think within seven days, the Kingsley family won't find someone with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "If they do find someone, do you believe there is an illness that you cannot cure, but this person can?"<br /> Wesley's questions were sharp and resounding.<br /> Scott's face changed once more as he was rendered speechless.<br /> "Even if there is, that person will never be you." Amanda's face turned icy. "Now get out. Don't spout your eloquence here. Your deceitful behavior is repulsive."<br /> "Your understanding of me is merely hearsay, isn't it?" Wesley retorted, his gaze mocking Amanda, "Has your background and education taught you such arrogance and prejudice?"<br /> "Arrogance?" Amanda's face grew colder as she disdainfully looked at Wesley. "Prejudice?<br /> "Did I say something wrong just now? You are nothing but stagnant waste, a parasite living off others. If it weren't for Taylor, you would have starved on the streets long ago."<br /> "Relying on sweet words, deceiving Taylor. She, with her kind heart, can't bear to divorce you, but don't push your luck. If it weren't for Taylor's sake, you would have been sent out long ago."<br /> Scott interrupted Amanda, "Amanda, although I find this lad a bit annoying, what he said does hold some truth. There are indeed individuals with better medical skills than me. Your grandfather can hold on for seven days. Try reaching out to see if someone can come over. I'll help you make connections."<br /> "If it really doesn't work out after seven days, I'll administer the needles to your grandfather. However, at that point, I can only buy you three minutes."<br /> As soon as Scott spoke, the faces of the Kingsley family members grew even more solemn. True healers were rare and not easily summoned.<br /> While the Kingsley family had connections in Yeadeo, their influence waned outside of it.<br /> "Mr. Phillips, please administer the needles. Life has its ups and downs, and we understand that. Just buy my father a bit more time." The middle-aged gent spoke up.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family nodded in agreement.<br /> Amanda looked at Scott. "Mr. Phillips, please."<br /> "In that case, please have everyone unrelated leave. I need silence," Scott calmly stated.<br /> Amanda glared at Wesley, her eyes speaking volumes without a word.<br /> The unrelated individuals were, naturally, Wesley and Mia.<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, intending to leave, but she suddenly hesitated.<br /> Instead of leaving, Wesley moved forward.<br /> "What are you doing?" A young member of the Kingsley family stepped forward with a stern expression, pushing Wesley.<br /> In one swift motion, Wesley executed a clean shoulder throw, toppling the young gent to the ground, his own expression turning cold.<br /> "A bunch of fools! If it weren't for my teacher's teachings about not turning a blind eye to those in need, I wouldn't bother with you ignorant lot," Wesley remarked with disdain.<br /> As Wesley effortlessly took down one individual from the Kingsley family, the others seemed slow to react.<br /> By the time they realized what was happening, Wesley had already picked up the needle next to Scott and casually flicked his wrist.<br /> The needle flew out of his hand, piercing Quinn's temple, followed by a second needle, a third needle, and so on.<br /> "What are you doing? Stop!" Amanda's voice rose in urgency, echoed by the rest of the Kingsley family members who rushed forward to restrain Wesley.<br /> "Stay back, everyone. Wait." Scott suddenly stood up, blocking the others. "Let him try."<br /> Amanda and the others were left dumbfounded, thinking, "What does this mean?"<br /> Despite their confusion, they heeded Scott's words.<br /> After Scott stopped the members of the Kingsley family, he fixed his gaze on Wesley.<br /> Wesley proceeded to use eighteen needles in succession, symbolizing the levels of pain.<br /> Even if someone had descended into the depths of hell, they must be brought back.<br /> The final needle, also piercing a vital point, caused Quinn's body to tremble suddenly, resonating with the previous eighteen needles.<br /> Scott's eyes widened, his body trembling slightly. His reaction left Amanda and the others even more puzzled, but none dared to interrupt.<br /> Moments later, Wesley placed a palm on Quinn's chest, causing all eighteen needles to be shaken off. When all the needles landed on the ground, the part of the skin where the needles had pierced turned dark.<br /> Wesley then dragged Quinn to the edge of the mattress, flipped him over with his head facing downwards, and gave him a firm pat on the back.<br /> Quinn spat out a mouthful of black liquid. When Wesley flipped him back to lie flat, his complexion had regained some color.<br /> "The Hand of Darkness... It's the Hand of Darkness!" Scott exclaimed with excitement, his body quivering, "It's the Hand that descends into the dark world, snatching people from the hands of the Evil!"<br /> "You do have some knowledge, recognizing the Hand of Darkness." Wesley glanced at Scott.<br /> Scott's gaze towards Wesley had undergone a drastic change. He respectfully clasped his hands together.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thirty years ago, I had the honor of attending a teaching conference held by Mr. Vanderbilt. I saw the Hand of Darkness, but my limited aptitude only allowed me to grasp the basics."<br /> "I have been blind and ignorant. I apologize for my earlier offenses. Please forgive me, Mr. Harrington."<br /> The Mr. Vanderbilt Scott referred to was Wesley's teacher, Ulysses Vanderbilt. He generously imparted his skills to others, but the ability to learn depended on one's innate talent.<br /> In this world, few could learn Ulysses' skills.<br /> Scott had been fortunate to receive guidance from Ulysses, which had elevated his medical skills. However, the Hand of Darkness, a miraculous ability, was beyond his comprehension.<br /> Wesley smiled faintly, "Your actions earlier are understandable. I appreciate your words."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you must be an exceptional disciple of Mr. Vanderbilt, possessing unparalleled magnanimity. Impressive," Scott continued.<br /> "Enough with the flattery at your age."<br /> "You are mistaken, Mr. Harrington. Every word I speak is sincere."<br /> Mia, Amanda, and the others stood bewildered by the unfolding situation.<br /> "Mr. Phillips... he... he..." Amanda's words faltered.<br /> Scott turned to the members of the Kingsley family. "Meeting Mr. Harrington was Quinn's luck. His symptoms have been cured by Mr. Harrington. With a few days of rest, he will be fine."<br /> The waste Taylor had previously said was called Mr. Harrington by Scott!<br /> Recalling their previous attitudes, Amanda hurriedly apologized, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> The members of the Kingsley family all apologized in unison, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> Chapter 7 Eight Plates of Noodles<br /> With a faint smile, Wesley remarked, "As family members of a patient, your actions earlier are understandable. There's no need for such formality."<br /> Amanda's perplexity deepened as she thought, "Where is the cowardly waste that Taylor described? This display of magnanimity and breadth is far from it."<br /> Mia, too, felt a shiver of realization, thinking, "No wonder Dad has insisted on my proximity to Wesley.<br /> This guy..."<br /> She gazed at Wesley, her curiosity piqued, a sense of exploration stirring within her.<br /> "Mia has brought you here, Mr. Harrington, to cure my grandfather. The Kingsley family will never forget this act. However, considering that my grandfather's ailment stemmed from the health supplements produced by the Vinver Business Alliance, we will be conducting an investigation into it."<br /> Amanda continued, looking at Wesley, "What do you think... of this approach?"<br /> It was Mia who had invited Wesley, so Amanda had grown wiser, refraining from asking for a direct punishment of the Vinver Business Alliance.<br /> As Mia heard Amanda's words, her heart skipped a beat, realizing trouble was brewing.<br /> "On the way here, Ms. Roberts briefed me on the situation. You conducted experiments on mice, correct?"<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes, the health supplements we received were exclusively provided by the Roberts family. There were no similar cases on the market, so we used mice for testing.<br /> "All the mice that ingested this supplement were gone."<br /> She looked at Mia and added, her voice turned colder. "Before the experiment, I specifically contacted Mia to inquire about the testing methods during the development phase, which involved mice."<br /> "There have been individuals eyeing my grandfather's position, some even wishing for his demise. I never imagined that the Vinver Business Alliance, which I attracted for investment, would become a weapon in someone else's hands."<br /> "Do you have any of the remaining medicine?" Wesley inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes."<br /> "Bring some over."<br /> Immediately, someone fetched the medicine. After it was brought to him, Wesley took out a supplement and swallowed it directly.<br /> This scene left Amanda and the others dumbfounded.<br /> Scott, too, was bewildered. "Mr. Harrington, what are you doing?"<br /> Wesley smiled, "Just proving that this medicine is not toxic."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thank you," Mia thanked sincerely, feeling like sobbing at that moment.<br /> Amanda, with a puzzled expression, looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, are you suggesting that my grandfather's condition wasn't caused by the Vinver Business Alliance's medicine? What about the mice?"<br /> The rest were equally puzzled.<br /> "Yes, but not entirely," Wesley said, leaving everyone even more bewildered.<br /> Mia's emotions were like a rollercoaster ride, from relief to immediate tension.<br /> "This medicine itself is not toxic, but when taken with another substance made from a certain plant, it results in Quinn's condition. The mice would die immediately, while humans could endure a few more days."<br /> Wesley continued to explain, "The plant used in this concoction is originally meant for crafting slow-acting toxins, not for human consumption."<br /> Looking at Amanda, Wesley said, "During this period, whoever had access to your grandfather and the mice will better understand why these events occurred."<br /> The gaze of members of the Kingsley family immediately focused on a lady.<br /> Amanda, somewhat incredulous, looked at her. "Can you offer an explanation?"<br /> The lady was the wife of Amanda's deceased brother. She found it hard to accept, as did the rest of the Kingsley family.<br /> This lady had been named the exemplary lady who served her family well this year, not due to her connection with the Kingsley family but because she genuinely deserved it.<br /> "What do you mean? Amanda, what explanation do you want from me?"<br /> The lady stared at Amanda. "Am I the only one who had access to Grandfather and the mice? You, and you... and you, who didn't have access?"<br /> "You all claim to treat me as family. Since I married into the Kingsley family, I have worked diligently, contributing my share even if not acknowledged."<br /> "Amanda, it has been over a year since your brother passed, and I never once considered remarrying. Now, just because of his words, you demand an explanation from me?"<br /> Pointing at Wesley, the lady questioned, "Just because he accuses me of poisoning, you suspect me? Tell me, did I poison him?" The lady glared at Wesley.<br /> "I am merely analyzing the facts. As for concluding this case, it's not within my purview," Wesley addressed the members of the Kingsley family, saying, "You should conduct a thorough investigation into this matter.<br /> "I will write a prescription. Have Quinn take it on time, and he will recover in seven days."<br /> Amanda hurried to fetch paper and pen while Wesley prepared the prescription. Once done, he was ready to leave.<br /> Amanda said hurriedly, "Mr. Harrington, I've already made arrangements for lunch."<br /> "No need," Wesley smiled.<br /> The Kingsley family sought to build closer ties with Wesley, given his extraordinary medical skills. Wesley was well aware of this.<br /> Looking at Amanda and the others, Wesley remarked, "In the future, if you encounter any difficult medical cases that others cannot solve, seek me out. Remember, cases others cannot solve."<br /> The gaze of the Kingsley family members toward Wesley changed once again. Many renowned healers had eccentric personalities and were difficult to engage.<br /> They hadn't expected Wesley to possess such remarkable medical skills without any airs.<br /> As Wesley prepared to depart, the members of the Kingsley family did not dare to insist on his stay, so they accompanied him outside.<br /> "Oh, how could we forget such an important matter? Amanda, what about the consultation fee?" The middle-aged gent inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the oversight. Please wait a moment." Amanda hurried back inside and soon returned with a bank card in hand.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, there's one million dollars in here."<br /> Without hesitation, Wesley accepted the bank card and boarded Mia's car.<br /> During the journey, Mia boldly looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, you've helped me immensely. Can I treat you to a meal? Don't decline in a hurry. It's not a fancy restaurant, but it will leave you wanting more. It's a small place on the street, with only eight plates of noodles served each day, each plate containing different ingredients."<br /> "I managed to secure a reservation. Are you interested?"<br /> Wesley thought, "Eight Plates of Noodles?<br /> "Ah, Aaron's restaurant. It has been a while since I visited those old friends."<br /> Wesley nodded. "Let's go then."<br /> The restaurant, Eight Plates of Noodles, was located on Chanxold Street near the Yeadeo First Central Hospital.<br /> The establishment was small, serving only eight plates of noodles each day at a price of 10 thousand dollars each. Vernoic's television culinary program had specifically covered this incident.<br /> Reservations were a must to secure a plate.<br /> The restaurant's owner had a mysterious background. While the specifics were unknown, a high-ranking noble from the capital of Vernoic, Kingsland, had caused a scene there once.<br /> He had attempted to force his way in without a reservation. Although this incident hadn't been reported, rumors suggested that a garbage truck had to be called to dispose of the intruder's remains, as he was too shattered to be removed by conventional means.<br /> Since then, no one dared to cause trouble.<br /> On their way, Mia introduced Wesley to the background story.<br /> "Mr. Turner, two plates of noodles." Mia called out once they arrived.<br /> Aaron Turner didn't respond but visibly paused upon seeing Wesley beside Mia.<br /> A faint smile appeared on his usually stoic face. Though the flesh on the face seemed stiff, it was indeed a smile. "Coming right up."<br /> Chapter 8 You Are Blushing<br /> Mia glanced at Aaron with a hint of surprise, thinking, "When does he become so warm and enthusiastic?<br /> His tone seemed a bit agitated earlier, didn't it?"<br /> Soon enough, Aaron brought two plates of noodles to the table. One steaming hot and the other devoid of any warmth.<br /> As Mia observed Aaron placing the plate without steam in front of Wesley, her expression changed slightly.<br /> It was a plate of instant noodles having soaked in cold water, with the seasoning barely dissolved.<br /> She felt a sense of panic. Mia had wanted to leave a good impression on Wesley, which was why she had chosen this place.<br /> However, Aaron had served such a plate of noodles.<br /> She dared not question Aaron. The type of noodles served here was not determined by the guests but by Aaron's mood.<br /> "This lass named Mia is quite something, living up to her name, and quite kind-hearted," Aaron remarked, looking at Wesley.<br /> "Get lost," Wesley retorted, using his fork to pick up the noodles and devouring them.<br /> Mia's face turned pale instantly. Disrespecting Aaron was akin to risking Wesley's life.<br /> To her astonishment, Aaron chuckled, tears welling up in his eyes.<br /> He wiped them away. "Alright, I'll leave you to your meal."<br /> Before departing, he gave Mia a thumbs-up. "Seize the opportunity."<br /> The eight plates of noodles symbolized the eight comrades who had faced life and hardships together.<br /> Wesley ate voraciously. Initially, they had only one pack of instant noodles to share among the eight of them, forcing them to divide it.<br /> Despite the circumstances, they devoured the noodles joyfully.<br /> Aaron had promised that once they survived, each one would have the most delicious plate of noodles.<br /> However, five of the eight had perished.<br /> Wesley had come dangerously close to life-threatening situations, but managed to cling to life.<br /> For him, the plate of noodles was not food but the bond of friendship that had shielded him from harm.<br /> "Do you... know each other?" Mia couldn't help but ask, her voice low and curious.<br /> "Some things are better left unknown," Wesley replied.<br /> Mia nodded in understanding, falling silent as they continued eating noodles. She couldn't help stealing glances at Wesley throughout the meal.<br /> This gent had piqued her curiosity even more.<br /> "Wesley, I see. No wonder you agreed to the divorce so readily. You've already found someone else outside."<br /> A sharp voice interrupted their meal.<br /> Taylor approached with a cold expression, accompanied by Henry.<br /> Taylor's mother was in the nearby hospital, and she had just picked up Frank, planning to buy some food when she unexpectedly saw Wesley.<br /> Of course, she saw Mia, too.<br /> Seeing Wesley dining with a lady more attractive than herself, so soon after the divorce felt like a dagger twisting in Taylor's heart.<br /> Her anger was uncontrollable.<br /> Wesley merely glanced at Taylor, disinterested in engaging with her.<br /> Taylor was stung by his indifferent gaze. She stepped forward, glaring at Wesley. "Are you not going to explain to me?"<br /> Mia looked at Taylor, silently cursing her as a foolish lady.<br /> Wesley continued eating his noodles, lowering his head. "Get lost. Don't disturb me, or I won't hesitate to hit you."<br /> "What did you say?" Henry stepped forward, enraged. "Wesley, try laying a hand on her! Is that all you're capable of? Laying hands on ladies?"<br /> "No wonder Taylor looks down on you. You're truly disgusting trash. Apologize to Taylor now, or else you'll regret coming into this world."<br /> "And how will he regret it? Tell me." Aaron emerged, carrying a cleaver, smiling as he faced Henry and Taylor.<br /> "Mr. Turner, we dare not cause trouble in your place, but this guy is just..."<br /> Henry attempted to speak but was cut off as Aaron's cleaver struck his face, sending him sprawling to the ground.<br /> "Mr. Turner, sorry, we'll leave now." Taylor hastily helped Henry up and hurriedly left.<br /> These two individuals were fortunate to know the legendary story behind Eight Plates of Noodles and had successfully made reservations to dine here multiple times.<br /> Having distanced themselves a bit, Henry covered his face and pointed at Wesley. "Wesley, we have some unfinished business. If you're smart, come over here now and apologize."<br /> "Wesley, I've seen through you as well. I never expected that for the past five years, you've been using my money to keep a lady on the side. We'll settle the score slowly."<br /> As the two noticed Aaron glancing their way, they quickly shut their mouths and hurriedly left.<br /> Once they were out of eyeshots, Aaron fixed his gaze on Wesley. "Your dad doesn't know about your divorce yet, does he?"<br /> "What difference would it make if he did?" Wesley stretched lazily. "I've fulfilled my promise. I've given enough."<br /> Aaron nodded in acknowledgment without saying anything further.<br /> This piqued Mia's curiosity even more. "Is it like what the novels depict? Did you marry Taylor due to some special event?"<br /> Seeing Wesley's glare, Mia lowered her head to focus on her noodles. "I won't ask anymore."<br /> "For the past five years, you've been staying in the stairwell. It has been hard for you, but at least you're still untouched," Aaron remarked before swiftly departing.<br /> Mia stared at Wesley in disbelief, realizing that Aaron's words were meant for her ears.<br /> "What are you staring at? Eat your noodles," Wesley said. Mia chuckled.<br /> "Why are you laughing?"<br /> "You're blushing."<br /> "Nonsense," Wesley retorted.<br /> Unable to contain herself, Mia burst into laughter. She had tried to hold it in, but seeing Wesley's flushed face made it impossible.<br /> Ten minutes later, Mia left on her own accord, sensing that Wesley had something to discuss with Aaron.<br /> Inside Aaron's small shop, Wesley opened a bottle of wine. "Still single?"<br /> "I look too old, no one's interested," Aaron replied, opening a bottle of liquor as well.<br /> "Then why are you meddling in my love lives?"<br /> "Leave a child behind, even if you pass away, someone will remember you." Aaron took a sip. "I've actually investigated this Mia."<br /> "You investigated her?"<br /> "I knew you'd get a divorce. I've been keeping an eye on the pretty ones. This girl had done a lot of good deeds before coming to Yeadeo. Once, she saved three people in a flood and nearly lost her life. Opportunities are rare. You have to seize them."<br /> "When you've figured things out and are ready to marry, then we can discuss our affairs. That's the condition." Wesley downed the entire bottle of liquor.<br /> "Otherwise, don't bother meddling. We're on a one-way path and can't drag others along."<br /> "You..." Aaron sighed as he watched Wesley's retreating figure.<br /> On the road leading to the Feidgeuo Manor, Taylor stood gazing blankly at the entrance not far away.<br /> Twice in one day, she had come here.<br /> The first time was to pick up Frank, and this time was because Frank had lost his expensive watch. She and Henry hadn't even had a meal, rushing over to find it.<br /> The first time, she had come in a hurry when Frank was injured and left quickly as well.<br /> But this time, as Taylor looked at the entrance ahead, an infinite longing sprouted within her.<br /> "If only... I could live here, how wonderful that would be."<br /> Henry looked at her. "One day, I'll definitely build an estate more magnificent than this, and you'll be the lady of the house."<br /> As they conversed, a taxi drove by, stopping at the entrance. The person who got out of the taxi left Taylor stunned.<br /> She rubbed her eyes.	Adoread	147	https://facebook.com/61556400142540	LEARN_MORE	1713510000	View Edit Delete
1666856	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727709	1734958298	695	782088020555336		1.5597180248779E+15	1713769200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	226177680578601	0	Adoread	120207746049430265	client.adoread.com	Learn more	NONE	image	🔥🔥🔥 Read More👉	Hottest novel👉👉👉	https://client.adoread.com/book/loading/page/adoread/19161308412?utm_campaign={{campaign.id}}&utm_content={{campaign.name}}		1713519398	2.261776805786E+14	Adoread	https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437724011_960421695526729_1516574307485338648_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QHGXZ-huQfoQ7kNvgFl-bAK&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAhittaAtIybg_0Gi8UYNoalMt3uRDbIai0DNMlEMFrFg&oe=663A90F9	person_profile	0	Adoread	https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437891881_25238797299100336_7255863263127890524_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UeFxFDUJUZIQ7kNvgF1dGXL&_nc_oc=AdjBlORU46gPxHeMvSIJmXMDx_1afwh7kp2UWRl9K25HmyfzpiuTkbEBFfXJmbiDJ-c&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCl6BW-kaMuwg-TQzlAPyzBHYyw1d6F5gFbxwKZGONM2w&oe=663A61E5	0	3	"Wesley, are you trying to harm me? You useless piece of trash, can't even make a decent cup of coffee, can you?"<br /> Madison Blair lifted her coffee cup and splashed it directly onto Wesley Harrington's face.<br /> "What are you looking at, you spineless waste? Your name sounds so lofty? I might as well call you a waste."<br /> Glancing at the grotesque expression of his wife's mother, Wesley pulled out his phone to check the time.<br /> Exactly twelve o'clock. It had been five full years since he married Taylor Reed.<br /> The appointed time had come.<br /> He had fulfilled his promise, safeguarding the Reed family for five years, transforming them from a family living off fishing to one perceived as affluent by the common folk.<br /> Wiping the coffee off his face, he turned and walked away.<br /> "Where do you think you're going? Go fetch some more coffee," Madison shouted.<br /> "Madison, didn't you say this waste is obedient at home, doing whatever he's told? I don't think he's taking it lying down."<br /> Madison grew angrier. "Wesley, you stop right there. My family has fed and housed you. If you dare disobey, I'll have you thrown out!"<br /> Ignoring her, Wesley continued downstairs.<br /> "When Taylor comes back, I'll immediately have you two divorced. Do you hear me? Stay right there," Madison threatened, "I'll let you know your place today."<br /> Grabbing a golf club, Madison swiftly charged towards Wesley.<br /> Seeing Wesley heading downstairs, she swung the club viciously at his back.<br /> Without turning back, Wesley gently sidestepped.<br /> Losing her balance, Madison tumbled forward, rolling down the stairs with a series of thumps.<br /> "Ouch... it hurts, it hurts so much!"<br /> As Madison reached the ground floor, she wailed in pain and her sister immediately rushed to her.<br /> "Wesley, what have you done? How dare you hit my sister!" Madison's sister hurried down, checking on Madison's condition.<br /> Wesley remained silent, observing the scene.<br /> "Quick, call Taylor. Tell her to come back. Today, she must divorce this waste." Madison glared at Wesley. "How dare you hit me? Not only will I let Taylor divorce you, but I'll make sure you leave in disgrace."<br /> "Mum, what's wrong?" At that moment, a gent and a lady walked in.<br /> The lady was Taylor, Madison's daughter.<br /> She ran towards Madison.<br /> As Madison pointed at Wesley, tears streamed down her face. "Taylor, he hit me, he hit me! When you're not home, he changes his attitude, scolding and hitting me in the slightest displeasure. He even pushed me down the stairs just now. Alexis can testify."<br /> Madison's sister, Alexis Blair, chimed in. "Yes, Wesley, this trash not only hit your mother but also threatened to hit me too. We cannot tolerate such trash."<br /> "Taylor, I have been telling you to divorce him for years. You've been supporting him, treating him like a Lord at home, but he's an ungrateful wolf in sheep's clothing."<br /> Helping Madison up, Taylor noticed the scrapes on Madison's arms and legs, her expression turning cold.<br /> "Wesley, why did you hit my mother? You better give me an explanation."<br /> Wesley looked at Taylor, his wife.<br /> Five years had passed, and she had never shown him kindness.<br /> Taylor dressed impeccably, a paragon of a successful lady, with a face that could be deemed angelic, yet whether her heart was as angelic remained a mystery.<br /> Her figure, too, left countless men yearning.<br /> For five years, Wesley had thought he might develop feelings for this lady, but in reality, it never happened.<br /> "There are surveillance cameras in the house," Wesley stated calmly before descending the stairs into the hallway.<br /> Despite residing in a three-story villa, Wesley's living quarters were confined to the stairwell.<br /> He harbored no resentment towards this arrangement. It was merely a promise. It was just that Taylor failed to appreciate him.<br /> This home held little value that he wished to cling onto.<br /> Retrieving a wooden box from beneath his pillow, Wesley extracted two documents. Casting a fleeting glance at the modest abode he had called home for five years, Wesley smiled faintly.<br /> He thought, "Finally... I'm free."<br /> Pushing the door ajar, Wesley was met by Taylor's piercing gaze. "I've reviewed the surveillance footage. Yes, my mother intended to strike you, but even if she did, what difference would it make?"<br /> "She's a lady. How much could her blows hurt you? Why did you dodge?"<br /> "If you hadn't dodged, my mother wouldn't have tumbled down." Wesley stared at Taylor, unable to comprehend her thought process.<br /> He had no interest in engaging in these arguments. Handing over the two documents to Taylor, he remarked, "The divorce agreement. I've already signed it. Take a look. I'm leaving with nothing."<br /> "With your current influence, there's no need for you to visit the city hall. Someone will handle it for you, right?"<br /> Madison was taken aback. She swiftly snatched the divorce agreement, flipping through it hastily.<br /> The contents were indeed straightforward. Both parties willingly divorced, with Wesley relinquishing all claims and having already signed.<br /> In an instant, Madison's pain seemed to dissipate. "Taylor, sign it quickly. Sign it."<br /> Taylor was still in a daze.<br /> She pondered.<br /> "A divorce agreement? Wesley has already prepared a divorce agreement. On what grounds?"<br /> "What gives him the right to initiate a divorce? All these years, he's done nothing at home, lacking any ambition. Always practicing martial arts, what right does he have to seek a divorce?"<br /> "If anyone should initiate it, it should be me. Moreover, now that I'm back to discussing this matter with him. Could it be that word got out, and Wesley, for the sake of his pride, rushed to prepare a divorce agreement first?"<br /> "It must be so, but... No!"<br /> "Wanting to leave with nothing, is he retreating to advance? As the chairman of the Reed Group, how could I be served with a divorce?"<br /> "Hey Wesley, I never expected this from you. Have I not treated you well enough? You seek a divorce, attempting to turn your retreat into advance, aiming to embarrass me?"<br /> Taylor glared at Wesley. "I'm telling you, it's impossible."<br /> Snatching the divorce agreement, she tore it to shreds.<br /> "Taylor, what are you doing? Such a great opportunity. Why not just sign it and let him leave?" Madison grew anxious.<br /> "Mom, I do intend to divorce this trash, but the decision must come from me. I returned specifically to address this matter."<br /> With that, Taylor produced two documents. "Wesley, remember that it's me who's divorcing you. It's me who no longer wants you. Initially, out of marital obligation, I had considered offering you some compensation. Now, you don't even need to think about it. Sign the divorce agreement and leave my home."<br /> Wesley offered a faint smile as he accepted the divorce agreement.<br /> "What are you laughing at?" Taylor demanded angrily.<br /> Wesley's smile seemed to mock her, fueling her rage.<br /> Ignoring her entirely, Wesley signed the document and handed it over.<br /> "What are you laughing at? Answer me! Who do you think you are?" Taylor roared once more.<br /> Wesley glanced at her before striding towards the exit.<br /> "Stop!" The gent who had accompanied Taylor stepped forward, blocking Wesley's path. "Taylor asked you a question, and... Your previous attitude displeased me. Apologize to Taylor, or I'll have you leave in disgrace!"<br /> Chapter 2 The Unspoken Truth<br /> <br /> "Yes, let him leave in disgrace. He thought he could just hit me and walk away so easily," Madison joined in the commotion, also noticing the gent blocking Wesley's path.<br /> Madison had a keen interest in luxury goods, having frequented various high-end establishments over the years as the Reed family's living conditions improved. The gent was wearing an expensive watch and dressed head to toe in high-end luxury brands.<br /> Seeing Madison's gaze, the gent spoke. "Rest assured, today Wesley must pay the price."<br /> The gent introduced himself, looking at Wesley, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Henry Clark, the eldest son of the Clark family and the general manager of the Clark Group in the North District."<br /> "From now on, I will accompany Taylor on her journey of life, and I will not allow anyone to bully her."<br /> "My identity carries weight. You should understand that. Now, apologize to Taylor. Apologize! Did you hear me? Apologize!"<br /> Madison's eyes lit up. She hadn't expected the gent before her to hold such a high status. She continued to shout, "Did you hear that? Taylor will be with Mr. Clark from now on. Apologize now."<br /> Wesley glanced at Henry, then at Taylor. He thought, "Have they been together all along?" Wesley had wanted to ask but decided against it because there was no need. He simply gave them a glance and continued walking towards the exit.<br /> "Are you ignoring me?" Henry's face turned cold as he reached out to grab Wesley. Henry's hand froze mid-air as he received a solid hit.<br /> "Until I sign the divorce papers, Taylor and I are still wife and husband. I don't care to investigate whether you two had any intimate relationship during that time, but don't provoke me, or I won't hesitate to make you regret it." Wesley's gaze was icy, and as Henry met his eyes, he felt a twinge of fear and swallowed his words.<br /> Taylor was also stunned. She knew exactly what Wesley had been like over the past five years. There were many surveillance cameras in the house, and she would often check them.<br /> Even when Taylor wasn't home, despite how her family treated Wesley, he always obeyed without complaint, especially towards her. He had never raised his voice, no matter how they treated him.<br /> Today, not only did Wesley dodge when her mother struck, but he also initiated the divorce and now even struck Henry. <br /> Taylor was at a loss for words, thinking, "How could this cowardly gent dare? On what grounds does he dare?"<br /> This change was difficult for Taylor to accept as if she didn't truly understand this guy. The gent who used to be obedient to her, completely submissive, now revealed this side of himself. She watched Wesley walk away in a daze, feeling a strange discomfort in her heart.<br /> "Isn't he leaving with nothing?" Alexis pointed at the wooden box Wesley was holding. "What is he taking with him?"<br /> Madison also realized. Over the past five years, Wesley had always treasured this wooden box, carrying it with him wherever he went. She thought there must be something valuable inside.<br /> Realizing this, Madison hurriedly followed. "Wesley, stop right there, leave the wooden box."<br /> Wesley paused, glanced at Madison, and said, "This is my personal belonging."<br /> "Nonsense, what personal belonging could you possibly have after marrying into the Reed family? Everything you've eaten, worn, and lived in over the years has been provided by the Reed family. Put it down."<br /> As she spoke, Madison reached out to grab the wooden box.<br /> "Ah..." A scream rang out as Madison quickly retracted her hand, a gash appearing on her palm, a crimson liquid dripping.<br /> The wooden box was now stained with the same crimson liquid, trembling lightly in Wesley's hand.<br /> "It's not the right time yet, the day you thirst for this crimson liquid will come," Wesley murmured softly, patting the box before turning to continue his stride towards the exit.<br /> "Monster! A monster!" Madison screamed, causing Taylor and the others to rush out. Seeing the wound in Madison's hand, Taylor was filled with rage.<br /> "Wesley, aren't you going to say something?" Wesley halted once more, contemplating before meeting Taylor's gaze.<br /> "Just stay out of my way from now on. Consider this a warning to you."<br /> "Taylor, that wooden box of his has a mechanism. It must hold something valuable! We can't let him take it with him," Madison, enduring the pain, reminded them.<br /> "Mom, your injury is important. We'll deal with him later. Let me take you to the hospital first." Taylor comforted Madison before calling out to the retreating Wesley.<br /> "Our marriage is over! Yet, you dared to hurt my mother! This won't be the end of it! I will make you regret it!" Ignoring her, Wesley continued walking out.<br /> "Rest assured, I promise he won't see the light of day tomorrow." Henry stepped forward to console. "Let's focus on getting your wound treated first."<br /> "I want him to regret ever existing in this world, to apologize to me in repentance," Madison roared.<br /> "Mom, trust me, I will make him do just that." Taylor looked at Madison with a mix of pity and determination. "Let's go to the hospital first."<br /> In the villa area, Wesley halted, his voice cold. "Get out."<br /> An elderly gent leaped down from a tree, appearing to be in his seventies, yet landing silently from a height of around ten feet.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, your father wants you to come home and take charge."<br /> "He stopped being my father five years ago. He's my enemy."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you misunderstood your father. He had his reasons back then. I swear in my life, once you know the truth, you will forgive him."<br /> "Huh!" Wesley smirked coldly, saying, "I nearly passed away back then. Is that also a misunderstanding?"<br /> The old gent pleaded, "Mr. Harrington, this situation is truly not as you perceive it."<br /> Wesley didn't engage further with the old guy. The events of that year were etched in his memory forever. He was the one who had been abandoned. If not for that incident, why would he have stayed with the Reed family for five years?<br /> Watching Wesley walk away, the old gent had tears silently streaming down his face. "Mr. Harrington, I truly... I truly can't bring myself to speak the truth, but you have misunderstood your father. He also bears burdens and endures pains beyond what an ordinary person can handle."<br /> As Wesley's figure disappeared, the old gent stood up, hesitated for a moment, then dialed a number on his phone.<br /> "Mr. Harrington is now divorced. I've given you the news firsthand. If your daughter is truly together with Mr. Harrington, you must fulfill the promise and let her persuade Mr. Harrington to come home."<br /> After hanging up, a middle-aged gent in a luxurious estate jumped up excitedly. Calming himself, he immediately made another call. "My dear, you're at Yeadeo, right?<br /> "Go find Wesley now. Don't mention the engagement for now. Use every means to get close to him, make him fall in love with you."<br /> "Dad, I don't have time."<br /> "No matter what you are busy with, you must go find Wesley now. No matter what reason you approach him, you must leave a good impression the first time."<br /> "Dad, I'm in trouble right now. If I don't handle it well, I might be good as gone. I have to deal with it immediately. I'm hanging up."<br /> Chapter 3 You're Nothing<br /> The middle-aged gent's voice lowered significantly. "Is there a big incident happening? You didn't tell me? What happened?"<br /> "Quinn Kingsley from Yeadeo, Mr. Kingsley, used our product and now has one foot on the grave. If something really happens to him..."<br /> "You mean Quinn, the uncontested leader of Yeadeo?"<br /> "Yes."<br /> "In that case, you should go find Wesley. Trust me, in this world, there is no problem that Wesley can't solve. As long as he's willing to help, you'll be fine. Listen to me, go find Wesley immediately."<br /> The lady fell silent for a moment before saying, "Okay."<br /> At Yeadeo Harbor, a gent with a large flaxen chain and a watch, sporting a crew cut, hurriedly disembarked, accompanied by a dozen gentlemen.<br /> "Mr. Reed, wherever that trash is, we will find him and tear him apart."<br /> "Yes, that guy dared to harm your mother. We'll make sure he pays for it."<br /> Frank Reed's face turned cold. "Wesley, you coward, thinking you can overturn the world? How dare you touch my mom? Just wait until I find you, you're finished."<br /> "We've found him. Wesley got into a taxi, and our boys followed him."<br /> "Let's go!" Frank waved his hand, leading dozens of men who boarded the car with harpoons, steel pipes, and other weapons.<br /> Inside the taxi, Wesley gazed at the scenery outside, feeling a strange sense of tranquility.<br /> He thought to himself, "I never imagined that while I was secretly paving the way for the Reed family, Taylor, after progressing so rapidly, would start looking down on me more and more."<br /> "Those ladies who know my true identity, which one of them isn't trying to throw themselves at me? Ladies like that don't interest me."<br /> "Being an ordinary gent is truly difficult," Wesley murmured, smiling faintly and deciding not to dwell on these matters anymore. He had important things to attend to and no time to waste on personal affairs.<br /> "Young lad, are you going to Feidgeuo Manor for a job interview?" The driver, curious about Wesley's destination, inquired.<br /> Feidgeuo Manor was Yeadeo's most mysterious private area. Originally a villa area, it was bought at a huge cost five years ago and completely renovated. It was said to have cost a trillion dollars. The former villa area was now Feidgeuo Manor.<br /> "That's my home," Wesley replied nonchalantly.<br /> The driver was taken aback by this revelation, silently cursing Wesley for bragging. After a couple of minutes, the driver regained his composure. "It seems like you and I both prefer to keep a low profile. My car usually gathers dust at home, so I occasionally drive a taxi to experience life."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "My car has been driven by my assistant for the past few years, so it's not gathering dust."<br /> "Haha..." The driver laughed. "We should get together sometime and see whose car is more impressive."<br /> "Sure, whenever we have the time."<br /> As they chatted, the vehicle soon arrived near Feidgeuo Manor, where the massive head of the Feidgeuo Peak protruded, creating a unique landscape in Yeadeo.<br /> The driver asked with a smile, "Since you're the owner here, it's fine if I drive in, right?"<br /> "Of course," Wesley replied.<br /> As soon as Wesley spoke, several cars caught up from behind.<br /> The cars surrounded the one Wesley was in, with the front vehicles braking to force the car to a stop.<br /> When numerous people descended from cars wielding harpoons and steel pipes, the driver's face paled.<br /> Frank and his group got out of the cars, instantly closing in, and without hesitation, started attacking, the steel pipes and harpoons thudding against the car.<br /> Frank's henchman yanked open the door of Wesley's car, poised to stab Wesley with a harpoon, but Wesley swiftly exited the vehicle.<br /> With a firm step on the ground, he launched a swift hit.<br /> A muffled sound echoed as the henchman was hit away.<br /> "What are you looking at?" Frank noticed his henchmen were all staring at him. "All of you, attack together and take him down!"<br /> As he commanded, the henchmen Frank brought with him surged forward.<br /> The taxi driver, trembling, took out his phone to call the police, but Frank glared at him. "I am Frank Reed from Yeadeo Harbor. If you dare, go ahead and make that call."<br /> Frank, leveraging his sister Taylor's status, had been causing trouble in Yeadeo Harbor, and no one dared to provoke him.<br /> Upon hearing Frank's name, the driver hastily put away his phone. "Mr. Reed, I'll just check the time, you guys continue."<br /> "Huh!" Frank snorted coldly, casting his gaze towards the surrounded Wesley.<br /> The sounds of thuds continued to ring out incessantly. Because Wesley was completely surrounded, Frank was unable to see the situation inside clearly, but he could imagine it. After all, in Frank's mind, the henchmen under his command were not to be trifled with.<br /> "Hit him hard for me!"<br /> Another muffled sound and a figure flew out. At that moment, Frank finally saw the situation clearly, and his face turned pale.<br /> Frank knew that Wesley liked to practice martial arts, but he had never expected Wesley to be this skilled. It wasn't Wesley who had been beaten, but his own men by Wesley alone.<br /> Frantically, Frank turned and ran to retrieve a crossbow from the car.<br /> "Clear the way." Frank bellowed, aiming the crossbow at Wesley.<br /> "You scumbag, you think you can fight? Move one more time, and I'll end your life! Surrender!"<br /> Wesley, holding a wooden box, stared at Frank. Ignoring the crossbow in his hand, Wesley said, "Tell your henchmen to back off, or you'll all see the light from above!"<br /> "You're really good at pretending to be tough." Frank took two steps forward. "See the light? Move a muscle and see if I can end your life or not! If you don't have the guts, apologize now!"<br /> Wesley turned his head and looked at the approaching cars, with two expensive ones in the lead, two more in the rear, and another one in the middle.<br /> "Keep acting tough, and I'll put a hole in your head." Frank spoke while glancing at the five cars. "What, looking for help?"<br /> "Let me tell you, those who ride in these cars are not the kind of weaklings like you who rely on connections. With me here, in Yeadeo's social hierarchy, even those who ride in such cars wouldn't dare meddle in this matter. And let me make it clear, without my sister, you're nothing."<br /> Chapter 4 Is He Worthy?<br /> As Frank's words faded, the five cars came to a halt.<br /> A bodyguard opened the door of the one in the middle, revealing a dazzling pair of shining shoes catching everyone's eye.<br /> The shining shoe encased a beautiful foot. Above, the skirt's hem was adorned with lace.<br /> Then, like a fairy stepping out of a painting, she appeared before everyone's eyes.<br /> The lady was beautiful!<br /> Frank was mesmerized. Ever since the Reed family rose to prominence, he had been surrounded by ladies, but compared to the elegant lady before him, they were worlds apart.<br /> It wasn't just a difference in appearance but an incomparable gap in demeanor.<br /> The lady descending from the Maybach seemed like a celestial being untouched by mortal affairs.<br /> The embodiment of a fairy in the mundane world.<br /> She simply stood there after getting out of the car, perfectly embodying what it meant to be graceful and elegant.<br /> The lady glanced at Wesley, then at Frank.<br /> Frank grinned, saying, "May I have the honor of knowing the name of this esteemed lady? I am Frank..."<br /> The lady spoke calmly. "Disrespect Mr. Harrington, and you're done for."<br /> Her bodyguards, unfazed by Frank's crossbow, swiftly overwhelmed him, sending him crashing to the ground.<br /> The henchmen who had come with Frank, previously defeated by Wesley, now scrambled to their feet and fled in all directions.<br /> Who would dare provoke someone who could afford such a car?<br /> "My sister is Taylor Reed, the chairperson of Reed Group," Frank shouted, clutching his head.<br /> Ignoring him, one of the bodyguards dragged him to the roadside grass while another used a belt to tighten around Frank's neck, exerting pressure.<br /> "Enough, a lesson is all that's needed." Wesley spoke calmly, and only when the lady gestured did the bodyguards release Frank.<br /> Frank lay there, already unconscious.<br /> Wesley turned to the lady. "Who are you?"<br /> "I am Mia Roberts, the general manager of Vinver Business Alliance's Yeadeo branch." She looked at Wesley and continued, "Mr. Harrington, my father mentioned that you have miraculous healing skills and earnestly requested your assistance. A generous reward awaits."<br /> Wesley furrowed his brow slightly, thinking, "There are indeed people who recognize my abilities and status, yet I've rarely intervened in the past five years. Today, shortly after I divorced Taylor, she is here. Whose arrangement is this?"<br /> "Mr. Harrington, my father also mentioned that you are benevolent and has raised the banner of compassion among healers, serving as a role model and benchmark for all in the medical field."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "You have a way with words. Tell me the specifics."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, please get in the car first. I will explain in detail on the way."<br /> The phrase "compassionate healer" held significant weight for Wesley, who had saved countless lives from the brink of death.<br /> Without further ado, he got into the car.<br /> Inside, after Mia brewed coffee for Wesley, she began. "Vinver Business Alliance has a wide range of business operations, and I mainly oversee the health supplement sector, which has seen some success in recent years.<br /> "Recently, Quinn Kingsley started using our medicines, and now there's an accident."<br /> As she spoke, Mia kept her gaze fixed on Wesley.<br /> Quinn, the undisputed leader of Yeadeo, was a figure of immense influence.<br /> Upon hearing this name, Wesley showed no particular reaction. "If the city's leader faces issues with your products, it is indeed a concern. Let's go and see."<br /> With just a sentence, Wesley leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest.<br /> Mia was secretly alarmed, thinking, "He knows who Quinn is, yet he seems indifferent. Who is this Wesley, really? No wonder Dad has instructed me to find a way to win his favor." Mia's inner resistance toward Wesley quietly shifted.<br /> Wesley had piqued her curiosity.<br /> As the vehicle was moving, Wesley's phone rang.<br /> Wesley opened his eyes and took out his phone to see Taylor calling.<br /> Pressing the answer button, he asked, "What's the matter?"<br /> On the other end of the line, Taylor, driving towards Feidgeuo Manor, had a grim expression.<br /> She thought, "Has Wesley ever spoken to me in such a cold tone before? Is he really this heartless right after our divorce?"<br /> Already furious, she snapped. "Wesley, do you even consider yourself a human being?<br /> "Today, not only did you lay hands on my mother, but you also had someone attack my brother. Do you not remember our past at all?"<br /> Wesley calmly replied, "Do we have a past to remember?"<br /> "You truly are a heartless scumbag, just as my mother said. You are an ungrateful and vicious person I raised for five years. Even a pet would wag its tail at me!"<br /> Taylor wanted to continue her tirade, but the phone line had already turned busy.<br /> This only fueled her anger further.<br /> Just now, she had received a call from Frank's underlings, informing her that Wesley had sent people to attack Frank and even intended to end him.<br /> Taylor wanted to demand answers, but...<br /> As Taylor was clutching her fists, her gaze turned icy.<br /> After a moment, she picked up her phone again. "Wesley, you are so narrow-minded. You have no ambition. Any lady would steer clear of you."<br /> "Just because I dumped you, you are doing this on purpose to make me feel sick. Pretending to be aloof and seeking revenge? Do you even deserve it?"<br /> "In Yeadeo, squashing you would be as easy as squashing an ant. You're asking for it! If anything happens to my brother, I will make you wish you were ending!"<br /> Her furious voice message echoed in the car.<br /> Wesley chuckled and put away his phone.<br /> Beside him, Mia seemed contemplative. Before coming, she had already ordered a swift investigation into Wesley.<br /> She was curious, thinking, "How could someone valued by my father could be the one 'marrying into' the Reed family."<br /> Being tactful, Mia chose not to ask and pretended not to have heard.<br /> After about forty minutes, they arrived at the Kingsley Manor.<br /> The Kingsley family members, upon seeing Mia alight from the car, all wore grim expressions.<br /> Mia greeted them with a smile, "Everyone, this is Wesley Harrington, Mr. Harrington, the miraculous healer I specially invited to treat Mr. Kingsley."<br /> "Him? The gent who married into the Reed family?"<br /> "A miraculous healer? Is he even worthy? Are healers so worthless now?"<br /> "A useless gent who mooches off of the Reed family? How dare he call himself a miraculous healer? Truly a joke among all jokes."<br /> Chapter 5 Compassionate Healer<br /> Amanda Kingsley, Quinn's granddaughter, stared coldly at Wesley and Mia.<br /> This lady, dressed in a smart suit, also held significant fame in Yeadeo, overseeing the region's business activities, including investment attraction and various local business negotiations.<br /> Amanda had a favorable view of Taylor, who had risen swiftly in recent times, and they had interacted frequently.<br /> She was aware of Wesley's existence and had advised Taylor to part ways with him early on.<br /> But Amanda never imagined that Mia would bring someone like Wesley, a complete waste, and claim he was a miraculous healer.<br /> Glaring at Mia, she said, "Mia, once my grandfather is well, it's best for your Roberts family to leave Yeadeo."<br /> "As for you..." She glanced at Wesley. "I will advise Taylor to divorce you. You have deceived Taylor's feelings and now shamelessly made your way into my family. You are a despicable creature."<br /> After reprimanding Mia and Wesley, she turned to an elderly gent beside her, and her tone and attitude completely changed. "Mr. Phillips, sorry to trouble you. My grandfather is inside, please."<br /> Mia looked at the elderly gent, who was already in his twilight years, feeling deeply shocked.<br /> Scott Phillips, the 38th generation heir of the Healing Clinic, was now ninety-two years old.<br /> Renowned as a miraculous healer, he was a respected figure in the medical community of Yeadeo and even nationally.<br /> He no longer conducted consultations personally due to his old age. Mia had visited him specifically to pay her respects once she had arrived in Yeadeo but had not met Scott.<br /> She never expected Scott to appear in person. It was understandable, as Quinn held a prominent position in the city. Despite the profound influence of the Phillips family, they still had to show respect to Quinn.<br /> Mia looked at Wesley, feeling conflicted and thinking, "Dad has confidently claimed that Wesley has extraordinary abilities, but does he really?"<br /> She harbored doubts, but out of propriety, Mia spoke. "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the trouble."<br /> Wesley smiled, "It's fine. As long as the person can be healed."<br /> His open-mindedness impressed Mia.<br /> After about half an hour, Amanda emerged from the room. All eyes instantly turned towards her.<br /> It was evident that Amanda had wailed out, with traces of tears still visible.<br /> "Amanda, how is it?" A middle-aged gent anxiously asked her.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family who had rushed back also focused their attention on her.<br /> "Mr. Phillips said that there's little hope of recovery. He could only use acupuncture to wake grandfather for half an hour. When grandfather wakes up, let's all go in and see if he has any final instructions."<br /> Everyone was shocked.<br /> "How could this be?"<br /> "Is Mr. Phillips also helpless?"<br /> The members of the Kingsley family found it hard to accept this reality, especially since Quinn had always treated his juniors well.<br /> The thought of Quinn departing saddened some, and tears silently fell.<br /> Publicly, Quinn's status was the foundation of the Kingsley family's prominence in Yeadeo.<br /> If Quinn were to pass away, the Kingsley family would undoubtedly decline.<br /> The atmosphere within the Kingsley family was somber.<br /> Amanda looked at her family members, opened her mouth, but said nothing, silently turning back into the room.<br /> "Stop crying," A middle-aged gent said sternly, "Dad wouldn't want to see you all in tears. If he's really leaving, we mustn't let him worry about us. Pull yourselves together."<br /> After these words, the middle-aged gent also entered the room.<br /> The younger members of the Kingsley family wiped their tears vigorously, trying to force smiles, but in truth, they looked better at crying than pretending to be happy.<br /> Mia's spirit plummeted as she realized the gravity of the situation. Even if an ordinary person passed away from consuming health supplements, it spelled big trouble for those who sold them. And when the deceased happened to be Quinn, the stakes were even higher.<br /> She understood that it would be difficult for this branch to stay in Yeadeo, and even the headquarters might face repercussions.<br /> "Let's go in and have a look." Wesley glanced at Mia. "There might still be a chance."<br /> "Ah..." Mia stared at Wesley in surprise. Seeing him already heading towards the room, she quickly followed suit.<br /> Inside the room, the members of the Kingsley family stood around the mattress, maintaining a certain distance.<br /> Scott lit the alcohol lamp and took out the needles, his expression solemn.<br /> He looked at the members of the Kingsley family. "Think about what you want to say to Mr. Kingsley later. Once you're ready, let me know, and then I'll proceed with the acupuncture."<br /> As he said this, tears welled up in many eyes.<br /> "If you don't mind, let me take a look. I have a way." Wesley spoke up, drawing everyone's attention.<br /> Amanda's face darkened. "Who let you in? Get out!"<br /> "Mia, have you lost your mind? Tricked by this trash and actually brought him here as a miracle healer. Get out with him! I'll settle the score with you in a couple of days."<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, at a loss for words.<br /> "Even Mr. Phillips is unable to reverse the situation. What use are you? Get out." Another younger member of the Kingsley family angrily rebuked.<br /> The middle-aged gent added, "We're in no mood right now. You better leave immediately."<br /> "I understand your narrow-mindedness," Wesley continued, "But as a healer, once I see a patient, I cannot stand by and watch him draw his last breath."<br /> "Wesley, you're quite the charlatan. Do you really want to be gone right now?" Amanda's voice was filled with anger.<br /> "Amanda, let me say a few words," Scott interjected, and Amanda fell silent.<br /> Looking at Wesley, Scott began. "Young lad, at my age, I've seen a lot and have a broad perspective. Today, however, I find it hard to remain indifferent. I practiced medicine from the age of sixteen until I stopped seeing patients for a total of seventy years."<br /> "I've saved countless patients from various illnesses. I never easily declare a patient's fate, nor do I believe I have the right to do so."<br /> "But from your recent remarks, it seems like you're accusing me of such actions. Young people wanting to make a name for themselves by stepping on the shoulders of their predecessors, I can understand."<br /> "But this kind of behavior displeases me."<br /> "My displeasure, what does it mean to you? Do you understand?"<br /> "Even if you are a healer, your career will be ruined because of this."<br /> Chapter 6 Hand of Hell<br /> In the face of Scott's veiled threats, Wesley simply smiled and brushed them off.<br /> Looking at Scott, he asked, "I've always focused on the issue at hand rather than attacking individuals. I have a few questions for you. If you can't administer the needles, how long do you think Quinn can hold on?"<br /> "Seven days, but he will remain unconscious," Scott replied bluntly.<br /> "Then let me ask you this, is there anyone in the world with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "Outrageous," Amanda coldly interjected, "Mr. Phillips is unparalleled in his medical expertise."<br /> Scott glanced at Amanda. "Amanda, let me handle this question."<br /> Continuing to address Wesley, he said, "I don't underestimate myself, nor do I overestimate. There are countless talented individuals in the world, like stars in the sky. I may not dare claim to be the best in medical skills, but those who surpass me are few."<br /> "That means there are some," Wesley calmly remarked, causing Scott's expression to shift slightly, "Indeed, there are."<br /> "Then let me ask you this. Do you think within seven days, the Kingsley family won't find someone with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "If they do find someone, do you believe there is an illness that you cannot cure, but this person can?"<br /> Wesley's questions were sharp and resounding.<br /> Scott's face changed once more as he was rendered speechless.<br /> "Even if there is, that person will never be you." Amanda's face turned icy. "Now get out. Don't spout your eloquence here. Your deceitful behavior is repulsive."<br /> "Your understanding of me is merely hearsay, isn't it?" Wesley retorted, his gaze mocking Amanda, "Has your background and education taught you such arrogance and prejudice?"<br /> "Arrogance?" Amanda's face grew colder as she disdainfully looked at Wesley. "Prejudice?<br /> "Did I say something wrong just now? You are nothing but stagnant waste, a parasite living off others. If it weren't for Taylor, you would have starved on the streets long ago."<br /> "Relying on sweet words, deceiving Taylor. She, with her kind heart, can't bear to divorce you, but don't push your luck. If it weren't for Taylor's sake, you would have been sent out long ago."<br /> Scott interrupted Amanda, "Amanda, although I find this lad a bit annoying, what he said does hold some truth. There are indeed individuals with better medical skills than me. Your grandfather can hold on for seven days. Try reaching out to see if someone can come over. I'll help you make connections."<br /> "If it really doesn't work out after seven days, I'll administer the needles to your grandfather. However, at that point, I can only buy you three minutes."<br /> As soon as Scott spoke, the faces of the Kingsley family members grew even more solemn. True healers were rare and not easily summoned.<br /> While the Kingsley family had connections in Yeadeo, their influence waned outside of it.<br /> "Mr. Phillips, please administer the needles. Life has its ups and downs, and we understand that. Just buy my father a bit more time." The middle-aged gent spoke up.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family nodded in agreement.<br /> Amanda looked at Scott. "Mr. Phillips, please."<br /> "In that case, please have everyone unrelated leave. I need silence," Scott calmly stated.<br /> Amanda glared at Wesley, her eyes speaking volumes without a word.<br /> The unrelated individuals were, naturally, Wesley and Mia.<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, intending to leave, but she suddenly hesitated.<br /> Instead of leaving, Wesley moved forward.<br /> "What are you doing?" A young member of the Kingsley family stepped forward with a stern expression, pushing Wesley.<br /> In one swift motion, Wesley executed a clean shoulder throw, toppling the young gent to the ground, his own expression turning cold.<br /> "A bunch of fools! If it weren't for my teacher's teachings about not turning a blind eye to those in need, I wouldn't bother with you ignorant lot," Wesley remarked with disdain.<br /> As Wesley effortlessly took down one individual from the Kingsley family, the others seemed slow to react.<br /> By the time they realized what was happening, Wesley had already picked up the needle next to Scott and casually flicked his wrist.<br /> The needle flew out of his hand, piercing Quinn's temple, followed by a second needle, a third needle, and so on.<br /> "What are you doing? Stop!" Amanda's voice rose in urgency, echoed by the rest of the Kingsley family members who rushed forward to restrain Wesley.<br /> "Stay back, everyone. Wait." Scott suddenly stood up, blocking the others. "Let him try."<br /> Amanda and the others were left dumbfounded, thinking, "What does this mean?"<br /> Despite their confusion, they heeded Scott's words.<br /> After Scott stopped the members of the Kingsley family, he fixed his gaze on Wesley.<br /> Wesley proceeded to use eighteen needles in succession, symbolizing the levels of pain.<br /> Even if someone had descended into the depths of hell, they must be brought back.<br /> The final needle, also piercing a vital point, caused Quinn's body to tremble suddenly, resonating with the previous eighteen needles.<br /> Scott's eyes widened, his body trembling slightly. His reaction left Amanda and the others even more puzzled, but none dared to interrupt.<br /> Moments later, Wesley placed a palm on Quinn's chest, causing all eighteen needles to be shaken off. When all the needles landed on the ground, the part of the skin where the needles had pierced turned dark.<br /> Wesley then dragged Quinn to the edge of the mattress, flipped him over with his head facing downwards, and gave him a firm pat on the back.<br /> Quinn spat out a mouthful of black liquid. When Wesley flipped him back to lie flat, his complexion had regained some color.<br /> "The Hand of Darkness... It's the Hand of Darkness!" Scott exclaimed with excitement, his body quivering, "It's the Hand that descends into the dark world, snatching people from the hands of the Evil!"<br /> "You do have some knowledge, recognizing the Hand of Darkness." Wesley glanced at Scott.<br /> Scott's gaze towards Wesley had undergone a drastic change. He respectfully clasped his hands together.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thirty years ago, I had the honor of attending a teaching conference held by Mr. Vanderbilt. I saw the Hand of Darkness, but my limited aptitude only allowed me to grasp the basics."<br /> "I have been blind and ignorant. I apologize for my earlier offenses. Please forgive me, Mr. Harrington."<br /> The Mr. Vanderbilt Scott referred to was Wesley's teacher, Ulysses Vanderbilt. He generously imparted his skills to others, but the ability to learn depended on one's innate talent.<br /> In this world, few could learn Ulysses' skills.<br /> Scott had been fortunate to receive guidance from Ulysses, which had elevated his medical skills. However, the Hand of Darkness, a miraculous ability, was beyond his comprehension.<br /> Wesley smiled faintly, "Your actions earlier are understandable. I appreciate your words."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you must be an exceptional disciple of Mr. Vanderbilt, possessing unparalleled magnanimity. Impressive," Scott continued.<br /> "Enough with the flattery at your age."<br /> "You are mistaken, Mr. Harrington. Every word I speak is sincere."<br /> Mia, Amanda, and the others stood bewildered by the unfolding situation.<br /> "Mr. Phillips... he... he..." Amanda's words faltered.<br /> Scott turned to the members of the Kingsley family. "Meeting Mr. Harrington was Quinn's luck. His symptoms have been cured by Mr. Harrington. With a few days of rest, he will be fine."<br /> The waste Taylor had previously said was called Mr. Harrington by Scott!<br /> Recalling their previous attitudes, Amanda hurriedly apologized, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> The members of the Kingsley family all apologized in unison, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> Chapter 7 Eight Plates of Noodles<br /> With a faint smile, Wesley remarked, "As family members of a patient, your actions earlier are understandable. There's no need for such formality."<br /> Amanda's perplexity deepened as she thought, "Where is the cowardly waste that Taylor described? This display of magnanimity and breadth is far from it."<br /> Mia, too, felt a shiver of realization, thinking, "No wonder Dad has insisted on my proximity to Wesley.<br /> This guy..."<br /> She gazed at Wesley, her curiosity piqued, a sense of exploration stirring within her.<br /> "Mia has brought you here, Mr. Harrington, to cure my grandfather. The Kingsley family will never forget this act. However, considering that my grandfather's ailment stemmed from the health supplements produced by the Vinver Business Alliance, we will be conducting an investigation into it."<br /> Amanda continued, looking at Wesley, "What do you think... of this approach?"<br /> It was Mia who had invited Wesley, so Amanda had grown wiser, refraining from asking for a direct punishment of the Vinver Business Alliance.<br /> As Mia heard Amanda's words, her heart skipped a beat, realizing trouble was brewing.<br /> "On the way here, Ms. Roberts briefed me on the situation. You conducted experiments on mice, correct?"<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes, the health supplements we received were exclusively provided by the Roberts family. There were no similar cases on the market, so we used mice for testing.<br /> "All the mice that ingested this supplement were gone."<br /> She looked at Mia and added, her voice turned colder. "Before the experiment, I specifically contacted Mia to inquire about the testing methods during the development phase, which involved mice."<br /> "There have been individuals eyeing my grandfather's position, some even wishing for his demise. I never imagined that the Vinver Business Alliance, which I attracted for investment, would become a weapon in someone else's hands."<br /> "Do you have any of the remaining medicine?" Wesley inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes."<br /> "Bring some over."<br /> Immediately, someone fetched the medicine. After it was brought to him, Wesley took out a supplement and swallowed it directly.<br /> This scene left Amanda and the others dumbfounded.<br /> Scott, too, was bewildered. "Mr. Harrington, what are you doing?"<br /> Wesley smiled, "Just proving that this medicine is not toxic."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thank you," Mia thanked sincerely, feeling like sobbing at that moment.<br /> Amanda, with a puzzled expression, looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, are you suggesting that my grandfather's condition wasn't caused by the Vinver Business Alliance's medicine? What about the mice?"<br /> The rest were equally puzzled.<br /> "Yes, but not entirely," Wesley said, leaving everyone even more bewildered.<br /> Mia's emotions were like a rollercoaster ride, from relief to immediate tension.<br /> "This medicine itself is not toxic, but when taken with another substance made from a certain plant, it results in Quinn's condition. The mice would die immediately, while humans could endure a few more days."<br /> Wesley continued to explain, "The plant used in this concoction is originally meant for crafting slow-acting toxins, not for human consumption."<br /> Looking at Amanda, Wesley said, "During this period, whoever had access to your grandfather and the mice will better understand why these events occurred."<br /> The gaze of members of the Kingsley family immediately focused on a lady.<br /> Amanda, somewhat incredulous, looked at her. "Can you offer an explanation?"<br /> The lady was the wife of Amanda's deceased brother. She found it hard to accept, as did the rest of the Kingsley family.<br /> This lady had been named the exemplary lady who served her family well this year, not due to her connection with the Kingsley family but because she genuinely deserved it.<br /> "What do you mean? Amanda, what explanation do you want from me?"<br /> The lady stared at Amanda. "Am I the only one who had access to Grandfather and the mice? You, and you... and you, who didn't have access?"<br /> "You all claim to treat me as family. Since I married into the Kingsley family, I have worked diligently, contributing my share even if not acknowledged."<br /> "Amanda, it has been over a year since your brother passed, and I never once considered remarrying. Now, just because of his words, you demand an explanation from me?"<br /> Pointing at Wesley, the lady questioned, "Just because he accuses me of poisoning, you suspect me? Tell me, did I poison him?" The lady glared at Wesley.<br /> "I am merely analyzing the facts. As for concluding this case, it's not within my purview," Wesley addressed the members of the Kingsley family, saying, "You should conduct a thorough investigation into this matter.<br /> "I will write a prescription. Have Quinn take it on time, and he will recover in seven days."<br /> Amanda hurried to fetch paper and pen while Wesley prepared the prescription. Once done, he was ready to leave.<br /> Amanda said hurriedly, "Mr. Harrington, I've already made arrangements for lunch."<br /> "No need," Wesley smiled.<br /> The Kingsley family sought to build closer ties with Wesley, given his extraordinary medical skills. Wesley was well aware of this.<br /> Looking at Amanda and the others, Wesley remarked, "In the future, if you encounter any difficult medical cases that others cannot solve, seek me out. Remember, cases others cannot solve."<br /> The gaze of the Kingsley family members toward Wesley changed once again. Many renowned healers had eccentric personalities and were difficult to engage.<br /> They hadn't expected Wesley to possess such remarkable medical skills without any airs.<br /> As Wesley prepared to depart, the members of the Kingsley family did not dare to insist on his stay, so they accompanied him outside.<br /> "Oh, how could we forget such an important matter? Amanda, what about the consultation fee?" The middle-aged gent inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the oversight. Please wait a moment." Amanda hurried back inside and soon returned with a bank card in hand.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, there's one million dollars in here."<br /> Without hesitation, Wesley accepted the bank card and boarded Mia's car.<br /> During the journey, Mia boldly looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, you've helped me immensely. Can I treat you to a meal? Don't decline in a hurry. It's not a fancy restaurant, but it will leave you wanting more. It's a small place on the street, with only eight plates of noodles served each day, each plate containing different ingredients."<br /> "I managed to secure a reservation. Are you interested?"<br /> Wesley thought, "Eight Plates of Noodles?<br /> "Ah, Aaron's restaurant. It has been a while since I visited those old friends."<br /> Wesley nodded. "Let's go then."<br /> The restaurant, Eight Plates of Noodles, was located on Chanxold Street near the Yeadeo First Central Hospital.<br /> The establishment was small, serving only eight plates of noodles each day at a price of 10 thousand dollars each. Vernoic's television culinary program had specifically covered this incident.<br /> Reservations were a must to secure a plate.<br /> The restaurant's owner had a mysterious background. While the specifics were unknown, a high-ranking noble from the capital of Vernoic, Kingsland, had caused a scene there once.<br /> He had attempted to force his way in without a reservation. Although this incident hadn't been reported, rumors suggested that a garbage truck had to be called to dispose of the intruder's remains, as he was too shattered to be removed by conventional means.<br /> Since then, no one dared to cause trouble.<br /> On their way, Mia introduced Wesley to the background story.<br /> "Mr. Turner, two plates of noodles." Mia called out once they arrived.<br /> Aaron Turner didn't respond but visibly paused upon seeing Wesley beside Mia.<br /> A faint smile appeared on his usually stoic face. Though the flesh on the face seemed stiff, it was indeed a smile. "Coming right up."<br /> Chapter 8 You Are Blushing<br /> Mia glanced at Aaron with a hint of surprise, thinking, "When does he become so warm and enthusiastic?<br /> His tone seemed a bit agitated earlier, didn't it?"<br /> Soon enough, Aaron brought two plates of noodles to the table. One steaming hot and the other devoid of any warmth.<br /> As Mia observed Aaron placing the plate without steam in front of Wesley, her expression changed slightly.<br /> It was a plate of instant noodles having soaked in cold water, with the seasoning barely dissolved.<br /> She felt a sense of panic. Mia had wanted to leave a good impression on Wesley, which was why she had chosen this place.<br /> However, Aaron had served such a plate of noodles.<br /> She dared not question Aaron. The type of noodles served here was not determined by the guests but by Aaron's mood.<br /> "This lass named Mia is quite something, living up to her name, and quite kind-hearted," Aaron remarked, looking at Wesley.<br /> "Get lost," Wesley retorted, using his fork to pick up the noodles and devouring them.<br /> Mia's face turned pale instantly. Disrespecting Aaron was akin to risking Wesley's life.<br /> To her astonishment, Aaron chuckled, tears welling up in his eyes.<br /> He wiped them away. "Alright, I'll leave you to your meal."<br /> Before departing, he gave Mia a thumbs-up. "Seize the opportunity."<br /> The eight plates of noodles symbolized the eight comrades who had faced life and hardships together.<br /> Wesley ate voraciously. Initially, they had only one pack of instant noodles to share among the eight of them, forcing them to divide it.<br /> Despite the circumstances, they devoured the noodles joyfully.<br /> Aaron had promised that once they survived, each one would have the most delicious plate of noodles.<br /> However, five of the eight had perished.<br /> Wesley had come dangerously close to life-threatening situations, but managed to cling to life.<br /> For him, the plate of noodles was not food but the bond of friendship that had shielded him from harm.<br /> "Do you... know each other?" Mia couldn't help but ask, her voice low and curious.<br /> "Some things are better left unknown," Wesley replied.<br /> Mia nodded in understanding, falling silent as they continued eating noodles. She couldn't help stealing glances at Wesley throughout the meal.<br /> This gent had piqued her curiosity even more.<br /> "Wesley, I see. No wonder you agreed to the divorce so readily. You've already found someone else outside."<br /> A sharp voice interrupted their meal.<br /> Taylor approached with a cold expression, accompanied by Henry.<br /> Taylor's mother was in the nearby hospital, and she had just picked up Frank, planning to buy some food when she unexpectedly saw Wesley.<br /> Of course, she saw Mia, too.<br /> Seeing Wesley dining with a lady more attractive than herself, so soon after the divorce felt like a dagger twisting in Taylor's heart.<br /> Her anger was uncontrollable.<br /> Wesley merely glanced at Taylor, disinterested in engaging with her.<br /> Taylor was stung by his indifferent gaze. She stepped forward, glaring at Wesley. "Are you not going to explain to me?"<br /> Mia looked at Taylor, silently cursing her as a foolish lady.<br /> Wesley continued eating his noodles, lowering his head. "Get lost. Don't disturb me, or I won't hesitate to hit you."<br /> "What did you say?" Henry stepped forward, enraged. "Wesley, try laying a hand on her! Is that all you're capable of? Laying hands on ladies?"<br /> "No wonder Taylor looks down on you. You're truly disgusting trash. Apologize to Taylor now, or else you'll regret coming into this world."<br /> "And how will he regret it? Tell me." Aaron emerged, carrying a cleaver, smiling as he faced Henry and Taylor.<br /> "Mr. Turner, we dare not cause trouble in your place, but this guy is just..."<br /> Henry attempted to speak but was cut off as Aaron's cleaver struck his face, sending him sprawling to the ground.<br /> "Mr. Turner, sorry, we'll leave now." Taylor hastily helped Henry up and hurriedly left.<br /> These two individuals were fortunate to know the legendary story behind Eight Plates of Noodles and had successfully made reservations to dine here multiple times.<br /> Having distanced themselves a bit, Henry covered his face and pointed at Wesley. "Wesley, we have some unfinished business. If you're smart, come over here now and apologize."<br /> "Wesley, I've seen through you as well. I never expected that for the past five years, you've been using my money to keep a lady on the side. We'll settle the score slowly."<br /> As the two noticed Aaron glancing their way, they quickly shut their mouths and hurriedly left.<br /> Once they were out of eyeshots, Aaron fixed his gaze on Wesley. "Your dad doesn't know about your divorce yet, does he?"<br /> "What difference would it make if he did?" Wesley stretched lazily. "I've fulfilled my promise. I've given enough."<br /> Aaron nodded in acknowledgment without saying anything further.<br /> This piqued Mia's curiosity even more. "Is it like what the novels depict? Did you marry Taylor due to some special event?"<br /> Seeing Wesley's glare, Mia lowered her head to focus on her noodles. "I won't ask anymore."<br /> "For the past five years, you've been staying in the stairwell. It has been hard for you, but at least you're still untouched," Aaron remarked before swiftly departing.<br /> Mia stared at Wesley in disbelief, realizing that Aaron's words were meant for her ears.<br /> "What are you staring at? Eat your noodles," Wesley said. Mia chuckled.<br /> "Why are you laughing?"<br /> "You're blushing."<br /> "Nonsense," Wesley retorted.<br /> Unable to contain herself, Mia burst into laughter. She had tried to hold it in, but seeing Wesley's flushed face made it impossible.<br /> Ten minutes later, Mia left on her own accord, sensing that Wesley had something to discuss with Aaron.<br /> Inside Aaron's small shop, Wesley opened a bottle of wine. "Still single?"<br /> "I look too old, no one's interested," Aaron replied, opening a bottle of liquor as well.<br /> "Then why are you meddling in my love lives?"<br /> "Leave a child behind, even if you pass away, someone will remember you." Aaron took a sip. "I've actually investigated this Mia."<br /> "You investigated her?"<br /> "I knew you'd get a divorce. I've been keeping an eye on the pretty ones. This girl had done a lot of good deeds before coming to Yeadeo. Once, she saved three people in a flood and nearly lost her life. Opportunities are rare. You have to seize them."<br /> "When you've figured things out and are ready to marry, then we can discuss our affairs. That's the condition." Wesley downed the entire bottle of liquor.<br /> "Otherwise, don't bother meddling. We're on a one-way path and can't drag others along."<br /> "You..." Aaron sighed as he watched Wesley's retreating figure.<br /> On the road leading to the Feidgeuo Manor, Taylor stood gazing blankly at the entrance not far away.<br /> Twice in one day, she had come here.<br /> The first time was to pick up Frank, and this time was because Frank had lost his expensive watch. She and Henry hadn't even had a meal, rushing over to find it.<br /> The first time, she had come in a hurry when Frank was injured and left quickly as well.<br /> But this time, as Taylor looked at the entrance ahead, an infinite longing sprouted within her.<br /> "If only... I could live here, how wonderful that would be."<br /> Henry looked at her. "One day, I'll definitely build an estate more magnificent than this, and you'll be the lady of the house."<br /> As they conversed, a taxi drove by, stopping at the entrance. The person who got out of the taxi left Taylor stunned.<br /> She rubbed her eyes.	Adoread	147	https://facebook.com/61556400142540	LEARN_MORE	1713510000	View Edit Delete
1666859	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727709	1734958298	695	700752415368625	3	7.7096681837594E+14	1713769200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	226177680578601	0	Adoread	120207811548930265	client.adoread.com	Learn more	NONE	image	🔥🔥🔥 Read More👉	Hottest novel👉👉👉	https://client.adoread.com/book/loading/page/adoread/19161308412?utm_campaign={{campaign.id}}&utm_content={{campaign.name}}		1713710194	2.261776805786E+14	Adoread	https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437607258_1159916378688199_4518339552377818328_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=faagEhnM38wQ7kNvgG-72PJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA_O4n-9aqsTSQ1M37dCLQ05sheiW1Rfj-N2FglxGN48w&oe=663A9260	person_profile	0	Adoread	https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437554888_1569151020292567_2410505486774402524_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=RMUySwTkFLkQ7kNvgFdpCpb&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBEKs7r8qBFc0VIGTVu-C6825VsYXhe3ZdxXeobsggSkg&oe=663A8B65	0	3	"Wesley, are you trying to harm me? You useless piece of trash, can't even make a decent cup of coffee, can you?"<br /> Madison Blair lifted her coffee cup and splashed it directly onto Wesley Harrington's face.<br /> "What are you looking at, you spineless waste? Your name sounds so lofty? I might as well call you a waste."<br /> Glancing at the grotesque expression of his wife's mother, Wesley pulled out his phone to check the time.<br /> Exactly twelve o'clock. It had been five full years since he married Taylor Reed.<br /> The appointed time had come.<br /> He had fulfilled his promise, safeguarding the Reed family for five years, transforming them from a family living off fishing to one perceived as affluent by the common folk.<br /> Wiping the coffee off his face, he turned and walked away.<br /> "Where do you think you're going? Go fetch some more coffee," Madison shouted.<br /> "Madison, didn't you say this waste is obedient at home, doing whatever he's told? I don't think he's taking it lying down."<br /> Madison grew angrier. "Wesley, you stop right there. My family has fed and housed you. If you dare disobey, I'll have you thrown out!"<br /> Ignoring her, Wesley continued downstairs.<br /> "When Taylor comes back, I'll immediately have you two divorced. Do you hear me? Stay right there," Madison threatened, "I'll let you know your place today."<br /> Grabbing a golf club, Madison swiftly charged towards Wesley.<br /> Seeing Wesley heading downstairs, she swung the club viciously at his back.<br /> Without turning back, Wesley gently sidestepped.<br /> Losing her balance, Madison tumbled forward, rolling down the stairs with a series of thumps.<br /> "Ouch... it hurts, it hurts so much!"<br /> As Madison reached the ground floor, she wailed in pain and her sister immediately rushed to her.<br /> "Wesley, what have you done? How dare you hit my sister!" Madison's sister hurried down, checking on Madison's condition.<br /> Wesley remained silent, observing the scene.<br /> "Quick, call Taylor. Tell her to come back. Today, she must divorce this waste." Madison glared at Wesley. "How dare you hit me? Not only will I let Taylor divorce you, but I'll make sure you leave in disgrace."<br /> "Mum, what's wrong?" At that moment, a gent and a lady walked in.<br /> The lady was Taylor, Madison's daughter.<br /> She ran towards Madison.<br /> As Madison pointed at Wesley, tears streamed down her face. "Taylor, he hit me, he hit me! When you're not home, he changes his attitude, scolding and hitting me in the slightest displeasure. He even pushed me down the stairs just now. Alexis can testify."<br /> Madison's sister, Alexis Blair, chimed in. "Yes, Wesley, this trash not only hit your mother but also threatened to hit me too. We cannot tolerate such trash."<br /> "Taylor, I have been telling you to divorce him for years. You've been supporting him, treating him like a Lord at home, but he's an ungrateful wolf in sheep's clothing."<br /> Helping Madison up, Taylor noticed the scrapes on Madison's arms and legs, her expression turning cold.<br /> "Wesley, why did you hit my mother? You better give me an explanation."<br /> Wesley looked at Taylor, his wife.<br /> Five years had passed, and she had never shown him kindness.<br /> Taylor dressed impeccably, a paragon of a successful lady, with a face that could be deemed angelic, yet whether her heart was as angelic remained a mystery.<br /> Her figure, too, left countless men yearning.<br /> For five years, Wesley had thought he might develop feelings for this lady, but in reality, it never happened.<br /> "There are surveillance cameras in the house," Wesley stated calmly before descending the stairs into the hallway.<br /> Despite residing in a three-story villa, Wesley's living quarters were confined to the stairwell.<br /> He harbored no resentment towards this arrangement. It was merely a promise. It was just that Taylor failed to appreciate him.<br /> This home held little value that he wished to cling onto.<br /> Retrieving a wooden box from beneath his pillow, Wesley extracted two documents. Casting a fleeting glance at the modest abode he had called home for five years, Wesley smiled faintly.<br /> He thought, "Finally... I'm free."<br /> Pushing the door ajar, Wesley was met by Taylor's piercing gaze. "I've reviewed the surveillance footage. Yes, my mother intended to strike you, but even if she did, what difference would it make?"<br /> "She's a lady. How much could her blows hurt you? Why did you dodge?"<br /> "If you hadn't dodged, my mother wouldn't have tumbled down." Wesley stared at Taylor, unable to comprehend her thought process.<br /> He had no interest in engaging in these arguments. Handing over the two documents to Taylor, he remarked, "The divorce agreement. I've already signed it. Take a look. I'm leaving with nothing."<br /> "With your current influence, there's no need for you to visit the city hall. Someone will handle it for you, right?"<br /> Madison was taken aback. She swiftly snatched the divorce agreement, flipping through it hastily.<br /> The contents were indeed straightforward. Both parties willingly divorced, with Wesley relinquishing all claims and having already signed.<br /> In an instant, Madison's pain seemed to dissipate. "Taylor, sign it quickly. Sign it."<br /> Taylor was still in a daze.<br /> She pondered.<br /> "A divorce agreement? Wesley has already prepared a divorce agreement. On what grounds?"<br /> "What gives him the right to initiate a divorce? All these years, he's done nothing at home, lacking any ambition. Always practicing martial arts, what right does he have to seek a divorce?"<br /> "If anyone should initiate it, it should be me. Moreover, now that I'm back to discussing this matter with him. Could it be that word got out, and Wesley, for the sake of his pride, rushed to prepare a divorce agreement first?"<br /> "It must be so, but... No!"<br /> "Wanting to leave with nothing, is he retreating to advance? As the chairman of the Reed Group, how could I be served with a divorce?"<br /> "Hey Wesley, I never expected this from you. Have I not treated you well enough? You seek a divorce, attempting to turn your retreat into advance, aiming to embarrass me?"<br /> Taylor glared at Wesley. "I'm telling you, it's impossible."<br /> Snatching the divorce agreement, she tore it to shreds.<br /> "Taylor, what are you doing? Such a great opportunity. Why not just sign it and let him leave?" Madison grew anxious.<br /> "Mom, I do intend to divorce this trash, but the decision must come from me. I returned specifically to address this matter."<br /> With that, Taylor produced two documents. "Wesley, remember that it's me who's divorcing you. It's me who no longer wants you. Initially, out of marital obligation, I had considered offering you some compensation. Now, you don't even need to think about it. Sign the divorce agreement and leave my home."<br /> Wesley offered a faint smile as he accepted the divorce agreement.<br /> "What are you laughing at?" Taylor demanded angrily.<br /> Wesley's smile seemed to mock her, fueling her rage.<br /> Ignoring her entirely, Wesley signed the document and handed it over.<br /> "What are you laughing at? Answer me! Who do you think you are?" Taylor roared once more.<br /> Wesley glanced at her before striding towards the exit.<br /> "Stop!" The gent who had accompanied Taylor stepped forward, blocking Wesley's path. "Taylor asked you a question, and... Your previous attitude displeased me. Apologize to Taylor, or I'll have you leave in disgrace!"<br /> Chapter 2 The Unspoken Truth<br /> <br /> "Yes, let him leave in disgrace. He thought he could just hit me and walk away so easily," Madison joined in the commotion, also noticing the gent blocking Wesley's path.<br /> Madison had a keen interest in luxury goods, having frequented various high-end establishments over the years as the Reed family's living conditions improved. The gent was wearing an expensive watch and dressed head to toe in high-end luxury brands.<br /> Seeing Madison's gaze, the gent spoke. "Rest assured, today Wesley must pay the price."<br /> The gent introduced himself, looking at Wesley, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Henry Clark, the eldest son of the Clark family and the general manager of the Clark Group in the North District."<br /> "From now on, I will accompany Taylor on her journey of life, and I will not allow anyone to bully her."<br /> "My identity carries weight. You should understand that. Now, apologize to Taylor. Apologize! Did you hear me? Apologize!"<br /> Madison's eyes lit up. She hadn't expected the gent before her to hold such a high status. She continued to shout, "Did you hear that? Taylor will be with Mr. Clark from now on. Apologize now."<br /> Wesley glanced at Henry, then at Taylor. He thought, "Have they been together all along?" Wesley had wanted to ask but decided against it because there was no need. He simply gave them a glance and continued walking towards the exit.<br /> "Are you ignoring me?" Henry's face turned cold as he reached out to grab Wesley. Henry's hand froze mid-air as he received a solid hit.<br /> "Until I sign the divorce papers, Taylor and I are still wife and husband. I don't care to investigate whether you two had any intimate relationship during that time, but don't provoke me, or I won't hesitate to make you regret it." Wesley's gaze was icy, and as Henry met his eyes, he felt a twinge of fear and swallowed his words.<br /> Taylor was also stunned. She knew exactly what Wesley had been like over the past five years. There were many surveillance cameras in the house, and she would often check them.<br /> Even when Taylor wasn't home, despite how her family treated Wesley, he always obeyed without complaint, especially towards her. He had never raised his voice, no matter how they treated him.<br /> Today, not only did Wesley dodge when her mother struck, but he also initiated the divorce and now even struck Henry. <br /> Taylor was at a loss for words, thinking, "How could this cowardly gent dare? On what grounds does he dare?"<br /> This change was difficult for Taylor to accept as if she didn't truly understand this guy. The gent who used to be obedient to her, completely submissive, now revealed this side of himself. She watched Wesley walk away in a daze, feeling a strange discomfort in her heart.<br /> "Isn't he leaving with nothing?" Alexis pointed at the wooden box Wesley was holding. "What is he taking with him?"<br /> Madison also realized. Over the past five years, Wesley had always treasured this wooden box, carrying it with him wherever he went. She thought there must be something valuable inside.<br /> Realizing this, Madison hurriedly followed. "Wesley, stop right there, leave the wooden box."<br /> Wesley paused, glanced at Madison, and said, "This is my personal belonging."<br /> "Nonsense, what personal belonging could you possibly have after marrying into the Reed family? Everything you've eaten, worn, and lived in over the years has been provided by the Reed family. Put it down."<br /> As she spoke, Madison reached out to grab the wooden box.<br /> "Ah..." A scream rang out as Madison quickly retracted her hand, a gash appearing on her palm, a crimson liquid dripping.<br /> The wooden box was now stained with the same crimson liquid, trembling lightly in Wesley's hand.<br /> "It's not the right time yet, the day you thirst for this crimson liquid will come," Wesley murmured softly, patting the box before turning to continue his stride towards the exit.<br /> "Monster! A monster!" Madison screamed, causing Taylor and the others to rush out. Seeing the wound in Madison's hand, Taylor was filled with rage.<br /> "Wesley, aren't you going to say something?" Wesley halted once more, contemplating before meeting Taylor's gaze.<br /> "Just stay out of my way from now on. Consider this a warning to you."<br /> "Taylor, that wooden box of his has a mechanism. It must hold something valuable! We can't let him take it with him," Madison, enduring the pain, reminded them.<br /> "Mom, your injury is important. We'll deal with him later. Let me take you to the hospital first." Taylor comforted Madison before calling out to the retreating Wesley.<br /> "Our marriage is over! Yet, you dared to hurt my mother! This won't be the end of it! I will make you regret it!" Ignoring her, Wesley continued walking out.<br /> "Rest assured, I promise he won't see the light of day tomorrow." Henry stepped forward to console. "Let's focus on getting your wound treated first."<br /> "I want him to regret ever existing in this world, to apologize to me in repentance," Madison roared.<br /> "Mom, trust me, I will make him do just that." Taylor looked at Madison with a mix of pity and determination. "Let's go to the hospital first."<br /> In the villa area, Wesley halted, his voice cold. "Get out."<br /> An elderly gent leaped down from a tree, appearing to be in his seventies, yet landing silently from a height of around ten feet.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, your father wants you to come home and take charge."<br /> "He stopped being my father five years ago. He's my enemy."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you misunderstood your father. He had his reasons back then. I swear in my life, once you know the truth, you will forgive him."<br /> "Huh!" Wesley smirked coldly, saying, "I nearly passed away back then. Is that also a misunderstanding?"<br /> The old gent pleaded, "Mr. Harrington, this situation is truly not as you perceive it."<br /> Wesley didn't engage further with the old guy. The events of that year were etched in his memory forever. He was the one who had been abandoned. If not for that incident, why would he have stayed with the Reed family for five years?<br /> Watching Wesley walk away, the old gent had tears silently streaming down his face. "Mr. Harrington, I truly... I truly can't bring myself to speak the truth, but you have misunderstood your father. He also bears burdens and endures pains beyond what an ordinary person can handle."<br /> As Wesley's figure disappeared, the old gent stood up, hesitated for a moment, then dialed a number on his phone.<br /> "Mr. Harrington is now divorced. I've given you the news firsthand. If your daughter is truly together with Mr. Harrington, you must fulfill the promise and let her persuade Mr. Harrington to come home."<br /> After hanging up, a middle-aged gent in a luxurious estate jumped up excitedly. Calming himself, he immediately made another call. "My dear, you're at Yeadeo, right?<br /> "Go find Wesley now. Don't mention the engagement for now. Use every means to get close to him, make him fall in love with you."<br /> "Dad, I don't have time."<br /> "No matter what you are busy with, you must go find Wesley now. No matter what reason you approach him, you must leave a good impression the first time."<br /> "Dad, I'm in trouble right now. If I don't handle it well, I might be good as gone. I have to deal with it immediately. I'm hanging up."<br /> Chapter 3 You're Nothing<br /> The middle-aged gent's voice lowered significantly. "Is there a big incident happening? You didn't tell me? What happened?"<br /> "Quinn Kingsley from Yeadeo, Mr. Kingsley, used our product and now has one foot on the grave. If something really happens to him..."<br /> "You mean Quinn, the uncontested leader of Yeadeo?"<br /> "Yes."<br /> "In that case, you should go find Wesley. Trust me, in this world, there is no problem that Wesley can't solve. As long as he's willing to help, you'll be fine. Listen to me, go find Wesley immediately."<br /> The lady fell silent for a moment before saying, "Okay."<br /> At Yeadeo Harbor, a gent with a large flaxen chain and a watch, sporting a crew cut, hurriedly disembarked, accompanied by a dozen gentlemen.<br /> "Mr. Reed, wherever that trash is, we will find him and tear him apart."<br /> "Yes, that guy dared to harm your mother. We'll make sure he pays for it."<br /> Frank Reed's face turned cold. "Wesley, you coward, thinking you can overturn the world? How dare you touch my mom? Just wait until I find you, you're finished."<br /> "We've found him. Wesley got into a taxi, and our boys followed him."<br /> "Let's go!" Frank waved his hand, leading dozens of men who boarded the car with harpoons, steel pipes, and other weapons.<br /> Inside the taxi, Wesley gazed at the scenery outside, feeling a strange sense of tranquility.<br /> He thought to himself, "I never imagined that while I was secretly paving the way for the Reed family, Taylor, after progressing so rapidly, would start looking down on me more and more."<br /> "Those ladies who know my true identity, which one of them isn't trying to throw themselves at me? Ladies like that don't interest me."<br /> "Being an ordinary gent is truly difficult," Wesley murmured, smiling faintly and deciding not to dwell on these matters anymore. He had important things to attend to and no time to waste on personal affairs.<br /> "Young lad, are you going to Feidgeuo Manor for a job interview?" The driver, curious about Wesley's destination, inquired.<br /> Feidgeuo Manor was Yeadeo's most mysterious private area. Originally a villa area, it was bought at a huge cost five years ago and completely renovated. It was said to have cost a trillion dollars. The former villa area was now Feidgeuo Manor.<br /> "That's my home," Wesley replied nonchalantly.<br /> The driver was taken aback by this revelation, silently cursing Wesley for bragging. After a couple of minutes, the driver regained his composure. "It seems like you and I both prefer to keep a low profile. My car usually gathers dust at home, so I occasionally drive a taxi to experience life."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "My car has been driven by my assistant for the past few years, so it's not gathering dust."<br /> "Haha..." The driver laughed. "We should get together sometime and see whose car is more impressive."<br /> "Sure, whenever we have the time."<br /> As they chatted, the vehicle soon arrived near Feidgeuo Manor, where the massive head of the Feidgeuo Peak protruded, creating a unique landscape in Yeadeo.<br /> The driver asked with a smile, "Since you're the owner here, it's fine if I drive in, right?"<br /> "Of course," Wesley replied.<br /> As soon as Wesley spoke, several cars caught up from behind.<br /> The cars surrounded the one Wesley was in, with the front vehicles braking to force the car to a stop.<br /> When numerous people descended from cars wielding harpoons and steel pipes, the driver's face paled.<br /> Frank and his group got out of the cars, instantly closing in, and without hesitation, started attacking, the steel pipes and harpoons thudding against the car.<br /> Frank's henchman yanked open the door of Wesley's car, poised to stab Wesley with a harpoon, but Wesley swiftly exited the vehicle.<br /> With a firm step on the ground, he launched a swift hit.<br /> A muffled sound echoed as the henchman was hit away.<br /> "What are you looking at?" Frank noticed his henchmen were all staring at him. "All of you, attack together and take him down!"<br /> As he commanded, the henchmen Frank brought with him surged forward.<br /> The taxi driver, trembling, took out his phone to call the police, but Frank glared at him. "I am Frank Reed from Yeadeo Harbor. If you dare, go ahead and make that call."<br /> Frank, leveraging his sister Taylor's status, had been causing trouble in Yeadeo Harbor, and no one dared to provoke him.<br /> Upon hearing Frank's name, the driver hastily put away his phone. "Mr. Reed, I'll just check the time, you guys continue."<br /> "Huh!" Frank snorted coldly, casting his gaze towards the surrounded Wesley.<br /> The sounds of thuds continued to ring out incessantly. Because Wesley was completely surrounded, Frank was unable to see the situation inside clearly, but he could imagine it. After all, in Frank's mind, the henchmen under his command were not to be trifled with.<br /> "Hit him hard for me!"<br /> Another muffled sound and a figure flew out. At that moment, Frank finally saw the situation clearly, and his face turned pale.<br /> Frank knew that Wesley liked to practice martial arts, but he had never expected Wesley to be this skilled. It wasn't Wesley who had been beaten, but his own men by Wesley alone.<br /> Frantically, Frank turned and ran to retrieve a crossbow from the car.<br /> "Clear the way." Frank bellowed, aiming the crossbow at Wesley.<br /> "You scumbag, you think you can fight? Move one more time, and I'll end your life! Surrender!"<br /> Wesley, holding a wooden box, stared at Frank. Ignoring the crossbow in his hand, Wesley said, "Tell your henchmen to back off, or you'll all see the light from above!"<br /> "You're really good at pretending to be tough." Frank took two steps forward. "See the light? Move a muscle and see if I can end your life or not! If you don't have the guts, apologize now!"<br /> Wesley turned his head and looked at the approaching cars, with two expensive ones in the lead, two more in the rear, and another one in the middle.<br /> "Keep acting tough, and I'll put a hole in your head." Frank spoke while glancing at the five cars. "What, looking for help?"<br /> "Let me tell you, those who ride in these cars are not the kind of weaklings like you who rely on connections. With me here, in Yeadeo's social hierarchy, even those who ride in such cars wouldn't dare meddle in this matter. And let me make it clear, without my sister, you're nothing."<br /> Chapter 4 Is He Worthy?<br /> As Frank's words faded, the five cars came to a halt.<br /> A bodyguard opened the door of the one in the middle, revealing a dazzling pair of shining shoes catching everyone's eye.<br /> The shining shoe encased a beautiful foot. Above, the skirt's hem was adorned with lace.<br /> Then, like a fairy stepping out of a painting, she appeared before everyone's eyes.<br /> The lady was beautiful!<br /> Frank was mesmerized. Ever since the Reed family rose to prominence, he had been surrounded by ladies, but compared to the elegant lady before him, they were worlds apart.<br /> It wasn't just a difference in appearance but an incomparable gap in demeanor.<br /> The lady descending from the Maybach seemed like a celestial being untouched by mortal affairs.<br /> The embodiment of a fairy in the mundane world.<br /> She simply stood there after getting out of the car, perfectly embodying what it meant to be graceful and elegant.<br /> The lady glanced at Wesley, then at Frank.<br /> Frank grinned, saying, "May I have the honor of knowing the name of this esteemed lady? I am Frank..."<br /> The lady spoke calmly. "Disrespect Mr. Harrington, and you're done for."<br /> Her bodyguards, unfazed by Frank's crossbow, swiftly overwhelmed him, sending him crashing to the ground.<br /> The henchmen who had come with Frank, previously defeated by Wesley, now scrambled to their feet and fled in all directions.<br /> Who would dare provoke someone who could afford such a car?<br /> "My sister is Taylor Reed, the chairperson of Reed Group," Frank shouted, clutching his head.<br /> Ignoring him, one of the bodyguards dragged him to the roadside grass while another used a belt to tighten around Frank's neck, exerting pressure.<br /> "Enough, a lesson is all that's needed." Wesley spoke calmly, and only when the lady gestured did the bodyguards release Frank.<br /> Frank lay there, already unconscious.<br /> Wesley turned to the lady. "Who are you?"<br /> "I am Mia Roberts, the general manager of Vinver Business Alliance's Yeadeo branch." She looked at Wesley and continued, "Mr. Harrington, my father mentioned that you have miraculous healing skills and earnestly requested your assistance. A generous reward awaits."<br /> Wesley furrowed his brow slightly, thinking, "There are indeed people who recognize my abilities and status, yet I've rarely intervened in the past five years. Today, shortly after I divorced Taylor, she is here. Whose arrangement is this?"<br /> "Mr. Harrington, my father also mentioned that you are benevolent and has raised the banner of compassion among healers, serving as a role model and benchmark for all in the medical field."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "You have a way with words. Tell me the specifics."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, please get in the car first. I will explain in detail on the way."<br /> The phrase "compassionate healer" held significant weight for Wesley, who had saved countless lives from the brink of death.<br /> Without further ado, he got into the car.<br /> Inside, after Mia brewed coffee for Wesley, she began. "Vinver Business Alliance has a wide range of business operations, and I mainly oversee the health supplement sector, which has seen some success in recent years.<br /> "Recently, Quinn Kingsley started using our medicines, and now there's an accident."<br /> As she spoke, Mia kept her gaze fixed on Wesley.<br /> Quinn, the undisputed leader of Yeadeo, was a figure of immense influence.<br /> Upon hearing this name, Wesley showed no particular reaction. "If the city's leader faces issues with your products, it is indeed a concern. Let's go and see."<br /> With just a sentence, Wesley leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest.<br /> Mia was secretly alarmed, thinking, "He knows who Quinn is, yet he seems indifferent. Who is this Wesley, really? No wonder Dad has instructed me to find a way to win his favor." Mia's inner resistance toward Wesley quietly shifted.<br /> Wesley had piqued her curiosity.<br /> As the vehicle was moving, Wesley's phone rang.<br /> Wesley opened his eyes and took out his phone to see Taylor calling.<br /> Pressing the answer button, he asked, "What's the matter?"<br /> On the other end of the line, Taylor, driving towards Feidgeuo Manor, had a grim expression.<br /> She thought, "Has Wesley ever spoken to me in such a cold tone before? Is he really this heartless right after our divorce?"<br /> Already furious, she snapped. "Wesley, do you even consider yourself a human being?<br /> "Today, not only did you lay hands on my mother, but you also had someone attack my brother. Do you not remember our past at all?"<br /> Wesley calmly replied, "Do we have a past to remember?"<br /> "You truly are a heartless scumbag, just as my mother said. You are an ungrateful and vicious person I raised for five years. Even a pet would wag its tail at me!"<br /> Taylor wanted to continue her tirade, but the phone line had already turned busy.<br /> This only fueled her anger further.<br /> Just now, she had received a call from Frank's underlings, informing her that Wesley had sent people to attack Frank and even intended to end him.<br /> Taylor wanted to demand answers, but...<br /> As Taylor was clutching her fists, her gaze turned icy.<br /> After a moment, she picked up her phone again. "Wesley, you are so narrow-minded. You have no ambition. Any lady would steer clear of you."<br /> "Just because I dumped you, you are doing this on purpose to make me feel sick. Pretending to be aloof and seeking revenge? Do you even deserve it?"<br /> "In Yeadeo, squashing you would be as easy as squashing an ant. You're asking for it! If anything happens to my brother, I will make you wish you were ending!"<br /> Her furious voice message echoed in the car.<br /> Wesley chuckled and put away his phone.<br /> Beside him, Mia seemed contemplative. Before coming, she had already ordered a swift investigation into Wesley.<br /> She was curious, thinking, "How could someone valued by my father could be the one 'marrying into' the Reed family."<br /> Being tactful, Mia chose not to ask and pretended not to have heard.<br /> After about forty minutes, they arrived at the Kingsley Manor.<br /> The Kingsley family members, upon seeing Mia alight from the car, all wore grim expressions.<br /> Mia greeted them with a smile, "Everyone, this is Wesley Harrington, Mr. Harrington, the miraculous healer I specially invited to treat Mr. Kingsley."<br /> "Him? The gent who married into the Reed family?"<br /> "A miraculous healer? Is he even worthy? Are healers so worthless now?"<br /> "A useless gent who mooches off of the Reed family? How dare he call himself a miraculous healer? Truly a joke among all jokes."<br /> Chapter 5 Compassionate Healer<br /> Amanda Kingsley, Quinn's granddaughter, stared coldly at Wesley and Mia.<br /> This lady, dressed in a smart suit, also held significant fame in Yeadeo, overseeing the region's business activities, including investment attraction and various local business negotiations.<br /> Amanda had a favorable view of Taylor, who had risen swiftly in recent times, and they had interacted frequently.<br /> She was aware of Wesley's existence and had advised Taylor to part ways with him early on.<br /> But Amanda never imagined that Mia would bring someone like Wesley, a complete waste, and claim he was a miraculous healer.<br /> Glaring at Mia, she said, "Mia, once my grandfather is well, it's best for your Roberts family to leave Yeadeo."<br /> "As for you..." She glanced at Wesley. "I will advise Taylor to divorce you. You have deceived Taylor's feelings and now shamelessly made your way into my family. You are a despicable creature."<br /> After reprimanding Mia and Wesley, she turned to an elderly gent beside her, and her tone and attitude completely changed. "Mr. Phillips, sorry to trouble you. My grandfather is inside, please."<br /> Mia looked at the elderly gent, who was already in his twilight years, feeling deeply shocked.<br /> Scott Phillips, the 38th generation heir of the Healing Clinic, was now ninety-two years old.<br /> Renowned as a miraculous healer, he was a respected figure in the medical community of Yeadeo and even nationally.<br /> He no longer conducted consultations personally due to his old age. Mia had visited him specifically to pay her respects once she had arrived in Yeadeo but had not met Scott.<br /> She never expected Scott to appear in person. It was understandable, as Quinn held a prominent position in the city. Despite the profound influence of the Phillips family, they still had to show respect to Quinn.<br /> Mia looked at Wesley, feeling conflicted and thinking, "Dad has confidently claimed that Wesley has extraordinary abilities, but does he really?"<br /> She harbored doubts, but out of propriety, Mia spoke. "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the trouble."<br /> Wesley smiled, "It's fine. As long as the person can be healed."<br /> His open-mindedness impressed Mia.<br /> After about half an hour, Amanda emerged from the room. All eyes instantly turned towards her.<br /> It was evident that Amanda had wailed out, with traces of tears still visible.<br /> "Amanda, how is it?" A middle-aged gent anxiously asked her.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family who had rushed back also focused their attention on her.<br /> "Mr. Phillips said that there's little hope of recovery. He could only use acupuncture to wake grandfather for half an hour. When grandfather wakes up, let's all go in and see if he has any final instructions."<br /> Everyone was shocked.<br /> "How could this be?"<br /> "Is Mr. Phillips also helpless?"<br /> The members of the Kingsley family found it hard to accept this reality, especially since Quinn had always treated his juniors well.<br /> The thought of Quinn departing saddened some, and tears silently fell.<br /> Publicly, Quinn's status was the foundation of the Kingsley family's prominence in Yeadeo.<br /> If Quinn were to pass away, the Kingsley family would undoubtedly decline.<br /> The atmosphere within the Kingsley family was somber.<br /> Amanda looked at her family members, opened her mouth, but said nothing, silently turning back into the room.<br /> "Stop crying," A middle-aged gent said sternly, "Dad wouldn't want to see you all in tears. If he's really leaving, we mustn't let him worry about us. Pull yourselves together."<br /> After these words, the middle-aged gent also entered the room.<br /> The younger members of the Kingsley family wiped their tears vigorously, trying to force smiles, but in truth, they looked better at crying than pretending to be happy.<br /> Mia's spirit plummeted as she realized the gravity of the situation. Even if an ordinary person passed away from consuming health supplements, it spelled big trouble for those who sold them. And when the deceased happened to be Quinn, the stakes were even higher.<br /> She understood that it would be difficult for this branch to stay in Yeadeo, and even the headquarters might face repercussions.<br /> "Let's go in and have a look." Wesley glanced at Mia. "There might still be a chance."<br /> "Ah..." Mia stared at Wesley in surprise. Seeing him already heading towards the room, she quickly followed suit.<br /> Inside the room, the members of the Kingsley family stood around the mattress, maintaining a certain distance.<br /> Scott lit the alcohol lamp and took out the needles, his expression solemn.<br /> He looked at the members of the Kingsley family. "Think about what you want to say to Mr. Kingsley later. Once you're ready, let me know, and then I'll proceed with the acupuncture."<br /> As he said this, tears welled up in many eyes.<br /> "If you don't mind, let me take a look. I have a way." Wesley spoke up, drawing everyone's attention.<br /> Amanda's face darkened. "Who let you in? Get out!"<br /> "Mia, have you lost your mind? Tricked by this trash and actually brought him here as a miracle healer. Get out with him! I'll settle the score with you in a couple of days."<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, at a loss for words.<br /> "Even Mr. Phillips is unable to reverse the situation. What use are you? Get out." Another younger member of the Kingsley family angrily rebuked.<br /> The middle-aged gent added, "We're in no mood right now. You better leave immediately."<br /> "I understand your narrow-mindedness," Wesley continued, "But as a healer, once I see a patient, I cannot stand by and watch him draw his last breath."<br /> "Wesley, you're quite the charlatan. Do you really want to be gone right now?" Amanda's voice was filled with anger.<br /> "Amanda, let me say a few words," Scott interjected, and Amanda fell silent.<br /> Looking at Wesley, Scott began. "Young lad, at my age, I've seen a lot and have a broad perspective. Today, however, I find it hard to remain indifferent. I practiced medicine from the age of sixteen until I stopped seeing patients for a total of seventy years."<br /> "I've saved countless patients from various illnesses. I never easily declare a patient's fate, nor do I believe I have the right to do so."<br /> "But from your recent remarks, it seems like you're accusing me of such actions. Young people wanting to make a name for themselves by stepping on the shoulders of their predecessors, I can understand."<br /> "But this kind of behavior displeases me."<br /> "My displeasure, what does it mean to you? Do you understand?"<br /> "Even if you are a healer, your career will be ruined because of this."<br /> Chapter 6 Hand of Hell<br /> In the face of Scott's veiled threats, Wesley simply smiled and brushed them off.<br /> Looking at Scott, he asked, "I've always focused on the issue at hand rather than attacking individuals. I have a few questions for you. If you can't administer the needles, how long do you think Quinn can hold on?"<br /> "Seven days, but he will remain unconscious," Scott replied bluntly.<br /> "Then let me ask you this, is there anyone in the world with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "Outrageous," Amanda coldly interjected, "Mr. Phillips is unparalleled in his medical expertise."<br /> Scott glanced at Amanda. "Amanda, let me handle this question."<br /> Continuing to address Wesley, he said, "I don't underestimate myself, nor do I overestimate. There are countless talented individuals in the world, like stars in the sky. I may not dare claim to be the best in medical skills, but those who surpass me are few."<br /> "That means there are some," Wesley calmly remarked, causing Scott's expression to shift slightly, "Indeed, there are."<br /> "Then let me ask you this. Do you think within seven days, the Kingsley family won't find someone with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "If they do find someone, do you believe there is an illness that you cannot cure, but this person can?"<br /> Wesley's questions were sharp and resounding.<br /> Scott's face changed once more as he was rendered speechless.<br /> "Even if there is, that person will never be you." Amanda's face turned icy. "Now get out. Don't spout your eloquence here. Your deceitful behavior is repulsive."<br /> "Your understanding of me is merely hearsay, isn't it?" Wesley retorted, his gaze mocking Amanda, "Has your background and education taught you such arrogance and prejudice?"<br /> "Arrogance?" Amanda's face grew colder as she disdainfully looked at Wesley. "Prejudice?<br /> "Did I say something wrong just now? You are nothing but stagnant waste, a parasite living off others. If it weren't for Taylor, you would have starved on the streets long ago."<br /> "Relying on sweet words, deceiving Taylor. She, with her kind heart, can't bear to divorce you, but don't push your luck. If it weren't for Taylor's sake, you would have been sent out long ago."<br /> Scott interrupted Amanda, "Amanda, although I find this lad a bit annoying, what he said does hold some truth. There are indeed individuals with better medical skills than me. Your grandfather can hold on for seven days. Try reaching out to see if someone can come over. I'll help you make connections."<br /> "If it really doesn't work out after seven days, I'll administer the needles to your grandfather. However, at that point, I can only buy you three minutes."<br /> As soon as Scott spoke, the faces of the Kingsley family members grew even more solemn. True healers were rare and not easily summoned.<br /> While the Kingsley family had connections in Yeadeo, their influence waned outside of it.<br /> "Mr. Phillips, please administer the needles. Life has its ups and downs, and we understand that. Just buy my father a bit more time." The middle-aged gent spoke up.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family nodded in agreement.<br /> Amanda looked at Scott. "Mr. Phillips, please."<br /> "In that case, please have everyone unrelated leave. I need silence," Scott calmly stated.<br /> Amanda glared at Wesley, her eyes speaking volumes without a word.<br /> The unrelated individuals were, naturally, Wesley and Mia.<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, intending to leave, but she suddenly hesitated.<br /> Instead of leaving, Wesley moved forward.<br /> "What are you doing?" A young member of the Kingsley family stepped forward with a stern expression, pushing Wesley.<br /> In one swift motion, Wesley executed a clean shoulder throw, toppling the young gent to the ground, his own expression turning cold.<br /> "A bunch of fools! If it weren't for my teacher's teachings about not turning a blind eye to those in need, I wouldn't bother with you ignorant lot," Wesley remarked with disdain.<br /> As Wesley effortlessly took down one individual from the Kingsley family, the others seemed slow to react.<br /> By the time they realized what was happening, Wesley had already picked up the needle next to Scott and casually flicked his wrist.<br /> The needle flew out of his hand, piercing Quinn's temple, followed by a second needle, a third needle, and so on.<br /> "What are you doing? Stop!" Amanda's voice rose in urgency, echoed by the rest of the Kingsley family members who rushed forward to restrain Wesley.<br /> "Stay back, everyone. Wait." Scott suddenly stood up, blocking the others. "Let him try."<br /> Amanda and the others were left dumbfounded, thinking, "What does this mean?"<br /> Despite their confusion, they heeded Scott's words.<br /> After Scott stopped the members of the Kingsley family, he fixed his gaze on Wesley.<br /> Wesley proceeded to use eighteen needles in succession, symbolizing the levels of pain.<br /> Even if someone had descended into the depths of hell, they must be brought back.<br /> The final needle, also piercing a vital point, caused Quinn's body to tremble suddenly, resonating with the previous eighteen needles.<br /> Scott's eyes widened, his body trembling slightly. His reaction left Amanda and the others even more puzzled, but none dared to interrupt.<br /> Moments later, Wesley placed a palm on Quinn's chest, causing all eighteen needles to be shaken off. When all the needles landed on the ground, the part of the skin where the needles had pierced turned dark.<br /> Wesley then dragged Quinn to the edge of the mattress, flipped him over with his head facing downwards, and gave him a firm pat on the back.<br /> Quinn spat out a mouthful of black liquid. When Wesley flipped him back to lie flat, his complexion had regained some color.<br /> "The Hand of Darkness... It's the Hand of Darkness!" Scott exclaimed with excitement, his body quivering, "It's the Hand that descends into the dark world, snatching people from the hands of the Evil!"<br /> "You do have some knowledge, recognizing the Hand of Darkness." Wesley glanced at Scott.<br /> Scott's gaze towards Wesley had undergone a drastic change. He respectfully clasped his hands together.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thirty years ago, I had the honor of attending a teaching conference held by Mr. Vanderbilt. I saw the Hand of Darkness, but my limited aptitude only allowed me to grasp the basics."<br /> "I have been blind and ignorant. I apologize for my earlier offenses. Please forgive me, Mr. Harrington."<br /> The Mr. Vanderbilt Scott referred to was Wesley's teacher, Ulysses Vanderbilt. He generously imparted his skills to others, but the ability to learn depended on one's innate talent.<br /> In this world, few could learn Ulysses' skills.<br /> Scott had been fortunate to receive guidance from Ulysses, which had elevated his medical skills. However, the Hand of Darkness, a miraculous ability, was beyond his comprehension.<br /> Wesley smiled faintly, "Your actions earlier are understandable. I appreciate your words."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you must be an exceptional disciple of Mr. Vanderbilt, possessing unparalleled magnanimity. Impressive," Scott continued.<br /> "Enough with the flattery at your age."<br /> "You are mistaken, Mr. Harrington. Every word I speak is sincere."<br /> Mia, Amanda, and the others stood bewildered by the unfolding situation.<br /> "Mr. Phillips... he... he..." Amanda's words faltered.<br /> Scott turned to the members of the Kingsley family. "Meeting Mr. Harrington was Quinn's luck. His symptoms have been cured by Mr. Harrington. With a few days of rest, he will be fine."<br /> The waste Taylor had previously said was called Mr. Harrington by Scott!<br /> Recalling their previous attitudes, Amanda hurriedly apologized, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> The members of the Kingsley family all apologized in unison, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> Chapter 7 Eight Plates of Noodles<br /> With a faint smile, Wesley remarked, "As family members of a patient, your actions earlier are understandable. There's no need for such formality."<br /> Amanda's perplexity deepened as she thought, "Where is the cowardly waste that Taylor described? This display of magnanimity and breadth is far from it."<br /> Mia, too, felt a shiver of realization, thinking, "No wonder Dad has insisted on my proximity to Wesley.<br /> This guy..."<br /> She gazed at Wesley, her curiosity piqued, a sense of exploration stirring within her.<br /> "Mia has brought you here, Mr. Harrington, to cure my grandfather. The Kingsley family will never forget this act. However, considering that my grandfather's ailment stemmed from the health supplements produced by the Vinver Business Alliance, we will be conducting an investigation into it."<br /> Amanda continued, looking at Wesley, "What do you think... of this approach?"<br /> It was Mia who had invited Wesley, so Amanda had grown wiser, refraining from asking for a direct punishment of the Vinver Business Alliance.<br /> As Mia heard Amanda's words, her heart skipped a beat, realizing trouble was brewing.<br /> "On the way here, Ms. Roberts briefed me on the situation. You conducted experiments on mice, correct?"<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes, the health supplements we received were exclusively provided by the Roberts family. There were no similar cases on the market, so we used mice for testing.<br /> "All the mice that ingested this supplement were gone."<br /> She looked at Mia and added, her voice turned colder. "Before the experiment, I specifically contacted Mia to inquire about the testing methods during the development phase, which involved mice."<br /> "There have been individuals eyeing my grandfather's position, some even wishing for his demise. I never imagined that the Vinver Business Alliance, which I attracted for investment, would become a weapon in someone else's hands."<br /> "Do you have any of the remaining medicine?" Wesley inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes."<br /> "Bring some over."<br /> Immediately, someone fetched the medicine. After it was brought to him, Wesley took out a supplement and swallowed it directly.<br /> This scene left Amanda and the others dumbfounded.<br /> Scott, too, was bewildered. "Mr. Harrington, what are you doing?"<br /> Wesley smiled, "Just proving that this medicine is not toxic."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thank you," Mia thanked sincerely, feeling like sobbing at that moment.<br /> Amanda, with a puzzled expression, looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, are you suggesting that my grandfather's condition wasn't caused by the Vinver Business Alliance's medicine? What about the mice?"<br /> The rest were equally puzzled.<br /> "Yes, but not entirely," Wesley said, leaving everyone even more bewildered.<br /> Mia's emotions were like a rollercoaster ride, from relief to immediate tension.<br /> "This medicine itself is not toxic, but when taken with another substance made from a certain plant, it results in Quinn's condition. The mice would die immediately, while humans could endure a few more days."<br /> Wesley continued to explain, "The plant used in this concoction is originally meant for crafting slow-acting toxins, not for human consumption."<br /> Looking at Amanda, Wesley said, "During this period, whoever had access to your grandfather and the mice will better understand why these events occurred."<br /> The gaze of members of the Kingsley family immediately focused on a lady.<br /> Amanda, somewhat incredulous, looked at her. "Can you offer an explanation?"<br /> The lady was the wife of Amanda's deceased brother. She found it hard to accept, as did the rest of the Kingsley family.<br /> This lady had been named the exemplary lady who served her family well this year, not due to her connection with the Kingsley family but because she genuinely deserved it.<br /> "What do you mean? Amanda, what explanation do you want from me?"<br /> The lady stared at Amanda. "Am I the only one who had access to Grandfather and the mice? You, and you... and you, who didn't have access?"<br /> "You all claim to treat me as family. Since I married into the Kingsley family, I have worked diligently, contributing my share even if not acknowledged."<br /> "Amanda, it has been over a year since your brother passed, and I never once considered remarrying. Now, just because of his words, you demand an explanation from me?"<br /> Pointing at Wesley, the lady questioned, "Just because he accuses me of poisoning, you suspect me? Tell me, did I poison him?" The lady glared at Wesley.<br /> "I am merely analyzing the facts. As for concluding this case, it's not within my purview," Wesley addressed the members of the Kingsley family, saying, "You should conduct a thorough investigation into this matter.<br /> "I will write a prescription. Have Quinn take it on time, and he will recover in seven days."<br /> Amanda hurried to fetch paper and pen while Wesley prepared the prescription. Once done, he was ready to leave.<br /> Amanda said hurriedly, "Mr. Harrington, I've already made arrangements for lunch."<br /> "No need," Wesley smiled.<br /> The Kingsley family sought to build closer ties with Wesley, given his extraordinary medical skills. Wesley was well aware of this.<br /> Looking at Amanda and the others, Wesley remarked, "In the future, if you encounter any difficult medical cases that others cannot solve, seek me out. Remember, cases others cannot solve."<br /> The gaze of the Kingsley family members toward Wesley changed once again. Many renowned healers had eccentric personalities and were difficult to engage.<br /> They hadn't expected Wesley to possess such remarkable medical skills without any airs.<br /> As Wesley prepared to depart, the members of the Kingsley family did not dare to insist on his stay, so they accompanied him outside.<br /> "Oh, how could we forget such an important matter? Amanda, what about the consultation fee?" The middle-aged gent inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the oversight. Please wait a moment." Amanda hurried back inside and soon returned with a bank card in hand.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, there's one million dollars in here."<br /> Without hesitation, Wesley accepted the bank card and boarded Mia's car.<br /> During the journey, Mia boldly looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, you've helped me immensely. Can I treat you to a meal? Don't decline in a hurry. It's not a fancy restaurant, but it will leave you wanting more. It's a small place on the street, with only eight plates of noodles served each day, each plate containing different ingredients."<br /> "I managed to secure a reservation. Are you interested?"<br /> Wesley thought, "Eight Plates of Noodles?<br /> "Ah, Aaron's restaurant. It has been a while since I visited those old friends."<br /> Wesley nodded. "Let's go then."<br /> The restaurant, Eight Plates of Noodles, was located on Chanxold Street near the Yeadeo First Central Hospital.<br /> The establishment was small, serving only eight plates of noodles each day at a price of 10 thousand dollars each. Vernoic's television culinary program had specifically covered this incident.<br /> Reservations were a must to secure a plate.<br /> The restaurant's owner had a mysterious background. While the specifics were unknown, a high-ranking noble from the capital of Vernoic, Kingsland, had caused a scene there once.<br /> He had attempted to force his way in without a reservation. Although this incident hadn't been reported, rumors suggested that a garbage truck had to be called to dispose of the intruder's remains, as he was too shattered to be removed by conventional means.<br /> Since then, no one dared to cause trouble.<br /> On their way, Mia introduced Wesley to the background story.<br /> "Mr. Turner, two plates of noodles." Mia called out once they arrived.<br /> Aaron Turner didn't respond but visibly paused upon seeing Wesley beside Mia.<br /> A faint smile appeared on his usually stoic face. Though the flesh on the face seemed stiff, it was indeed a smile. "Coming right up."<br /> Chapter 8 You Are Blushing<br /> Mia glanced at Aaron with a hint of surprise, thinking, "When does he become so warm and enthusiastic?<br /> His tone seemed a bit agitated earlier, didn't it?"<br /> Soon enough, Aaron brought two plates of noodles to the table. One steaming hot and the other devoid of any warmth.<br /> As Mia observed Aaron placing the plate without steam in front of Wesley, her expression changed slightly.<br /> It was a plate of instant noodles having soaked in cold water, with the seasoning barely dissolved.<br /> She felt a sense of panic. Mia had wanted to leave a good impression on Wesley, which was why she had chosen this place.<br /> However, Aaron had served such a plate of noodles.<br /> She dared not question Aaron. The type of noodles served here was not determined by the guests but by Aaron's mood.<br /> "This lass named Mia is quite something, living up to her name, and quite kind-hearted," Aaron remarked, looking at Wesley.<br /> "Get lost," Wesley retorted, using his fork to pick up the noodles and devouring them.<br /> Mia's face turned pale instantly. Disrespecting Aaron was akin to risking Wesley's life.<br /> To her astonishment, Aaron chuckled, tears welling up in his eyes.<br /> He wiped them away. "Alright, I'll leave you to your meal."<br /> Before departing, he gave Mia a thumbs-up. "Seize the opportunity."<br /> The eight plates of noodles symbolized the eight comrades who had faced life and hardships together.<br /> Wesley ate voraciously. Initially, they had only one pack of instant noodles to share among the eight of them, forcing them to divide it.<br /> Despite the circumstances, they devoured the noodles joyfully.<br /> Aaron had promised that once they survived, each one would have the most delicious plate of noodles.<br /> However, five of the eight had perished.<br /> Wesley had come dangerously close to life-threatening situations, but managed to cling to life.<br /> For him, the plate of noodles was not food but the bond of friendship that had shielded him from harm.<br /> "Do you... know each other?" Mia couldn't help but ask, her voice low and curious.<br /> "Some things are better left unknown," Wesley replied.<br /> Mia nodded in understanding, falling silent as they continued eating noodles. She couldn't help stealing glances at Wesley throughout the meal.<br /> This gent had piqued her curiosity even more.<br /> "Wesley, I see. No wonder you agreed to the divorce so readily. You've already found someone else outside."<br /> A sharp voice interrupted their meal.<br /> Taylor approached with a cold expression, accompanied by Henry.<br /> Taylor's mother was in the nearby hospital, and she had just picked up Frank, planning to buy some food when she unexpectedly saw Wesley.<br /> Of course, she saw Mia, too.<br /> Seeing Wesley dining with a lady more attractive than herself, so soon after the divorce felt like a dagger twisting in Taylor's heart.<br /> Her anger was uncontrollable.<br /> Wesley merely glanced at Taylor, disinterested in engaging with her.<br /> Taylor was stung by his indifferent gaze. She stepped forward, glaring at Wesley. "Are you not going to explain to me?"<br /> Mia looked at Taylor, silently cursing her as a foolish lady.<br /> Wesley continued eating his noodles, lowering his head. "Get lost. Don't disturb me, or I won't hesitate to hit you."<br /> "What did you say?" Henry stepped forward, enraged. "Wesley, try laying a hand on her! Is that all you're capable of? Laying hands on ladies?"<br /> "No wonder Taylor looks down on you. You're truly disgusting trash. Apologize to Taylor now, or else you'll regret coming into this world."<br /> "And how will he regret it? Tell me." Aaron emerged, carrying a cleaver, smiling as he faced Henry and Taylor.<br /> "Mr. Turner, we dare not cause trouble in your place, but this guy is just..."<br /> Henry attempted to speak but was cut off as Aaron's cleaver struck his face, sending him sprawling to the ground.<br /> "Mr. Turner, sorry, we'll leave now." Taylor hastily helped Henry up and hurriedly left.<br /> These two individuals were fortunate to know the legendary story behind Eight Plates of Noodles and had successfully made reservations to dine here multiple times.<br /> Having distanced themselves a bit, Henry covered his face and pointed at Wesley. "Wesley, we have some unfinished business. If you're smart, come over here now and apologize."<br /> "Wesley, I've seen through you as well. I never expected that for the past five years, you've been using my money to keep a lady on the side. We'll settle the score slowly."<br /> As the two noticed Aaron glancing their way, they quickly shut their mouths and hurriedly left.<br /> Once they were out of eyeshots, Aaron fixed his gaze on Wesley. "Your dad doesn't know about your divorce yet, does he?"<br /> "What difference would it make if he did?" Wesley stretched lazily. "I've fulfilled my promise. I've given enough."<br /> Aaron nodded in acknowledgment without saying anything further.<br /> This piqued Mia's curiosity even more. "Is it like what the novels depict? Did you marry Taylor due to some special event?"<br /> Seeing Wesley's glare, Mia lowered her head to focus on her noodles. "I won't ask anymore."<br /> "For the past five years, you've been staying in the stairwell. It has been hard for you, but at least you're still untouched," Aaron remarked before swiftly departing.<br /> Mia stared at Wesley in disbelief, realizing that Aaron's words were meant for her ears.<br /> "What are you staring at? Eat your noodles," Wesley said. Mia chuckled.<br /> "Why are you laughing?"<br /> "You're blushing."<br /> "Nonsense," Wesley retorted.<br /> Unable to contain herself, Mia burst into laughter. She had tried to hold it in, but seeing Wesley's flushed face made it impossible.<br /> Ten minutes later, Mia left on her own accord, sensing that Wesley had something to discuss with Aaron.<br /> Inside Aaron's small shop, Wesley opened a bottle of wine. "Still single?"<br /> "I look too old, no one's interested," Aaron replied, opening a bottle of liquor as well.<br /> "Then why are you meddling in my love lives?"<br /> "Leave a child behind, even if you pass away, someone will remember you." Aaron took a sip. "I've actually investigated this Mia."<br /> "You investigated her?"<br /> "I knew you'd get a divorce. I've been keeping an eye on the pretty ones. This girl had done a lot of good deeds before coming to Yeadeo. Once, she saved three people in a flood and nearly lost her life. Opportunities are rare. You have to seize them."<br /> "When you've figured things out and are ready to marry, then we can discuss our affairs. That's the condition." Wesley downed the entire bottle of liquor.<br /> "Otherwise, don't bother meddling. We're on a one-way path and can't drag others along."<br /> "You..." Aaron sighed as he watched Wesley's retreating figure.<br /> On the road leading to the Feidgeuo Manor, Taylor stood gazing blankly at the entrance not far away.<br /> Twice in one day, she had come here.<br /> The first time was to pick up Frank, and this time was because Frank had lost his expensive watch. She and Henry hadn't even had a meal, rushing over to find it.<br /> The first time, she had come in a hurry when Frank was injured and left quickly as well.<br /> But this time, as Taylor looked at the entrance ahead, an infinite longing sprouted within her.<br /> "If only... I could live here, how wonderful that would be."<br /> Henry looked at her. "One day, I'll definitely build an estate more magnificent than this, and you'll be the lady of the house."<br /> As they conversed, a taxi drove by, stopping at the entrance. The person who got out of the taxi left Taylor stunned.<br /> She rubbed her eyes.	Adoread	147	https://facebook.com/61556400142540	LEARN_MORE	1713682800	View Edit Delete
1666862	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727709	1734958298	695	1597233100849625	4	1.1651477813066E+15	1713769200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	226177680578601	0	Adoread	120207811551870265	client.adoread.com	Learn more	NONE	image	🔥🔥🔥 Read More👉	Hottest novel👉👉👉	https://client.adoread.com/book/loading/page/adoread/19161308412?utm_campaign={{campaign.id}}&utm_content={{campaign.name}}		1713710196	2.261776805786E+14	Adoread	https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439137083_705875514848972_1521927203609273452_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=dpdY2-qNu4EQ7kNvgGTmzAR&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBbWsO2felM1frkGsqVNgTAxkjQYgEHVkef_HkilMUWwQ&oe=663A6560	person_profile	0	Adoread	https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439090625_357556136755269_6995260149405022411_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=IKf2IDdCziIQ7kNvgEebUUc&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDnYvV3uqe53A8a1xRll41NImZAQo6JkjjvIOlG8EbKfg&oe=663A707D	0	3	"Wesley, are you trying to harm me? You useless piece of trash, can't even make a decent cup of coffee, can you?"<br /> Madison Blair lifted her coffee cup and splashed it directly onto Wesley Harrington's face.<br /> "What are you looking at, you spineless waste? Your name sounds so lofty? I might as well call you a waste."<br /> Glancing at the grotesque expression of his wife's mother, Wesley pulled out his phone to check the time.<br /> Exactly twelve o'clock. It had been five full years since he married Taylor Reed.<br /> The appointed time had come.<br /> He had fulfilled his promise, safeguarding the Reed family for five years, transforming them from a family living off fishing to one perceived as affluent by the common folk.<br /> Wiping the coffee off his face, he turned and walked away.<br /> "Where do you think you're going? Go fetch some more coffee," Madison shouted.<br /> "Madison, didn't you say this waste is obedient at home, doing whatever he's told? I don't think he's taking it lying down."<br /> Madison grew angrier. "Wesley, you stop right there. My family has fed and housed you. If you dare disobey, I'll have you thrown out!"<br /> Ignoring her, Wesley continued downstairs.<br /> "When Taylor comes back, I'll immediately have you two divorced. Do you hear me? Stay right there," Madison threatened, "I'll let you know your place today."<br /> Grabbing a golf club, Madison swiftly charged towards Wesley.<br /> Seeing Wesley heading downstairs, she swung the club viciously at his back.<br /> Without turning back, Wesley gently sidestepped.<br /> Losing her balance, Madison tumbled forward, rolling down the stairs with a series of thumps.<br /> "Ouch... it hurts, it hurts so much!"<br /> As Madison reached the ground floor, she wailed in pain and her sister immediately rushed to her.<br /> "Wesley, what have you done? How dare you hit my sister!" Madison's sister hurried down, checking on Madison's condition.<br /> Wesley remained silent, observing the scene.<br /> "Quick, call Taylor. Tell her to come back. Today, she must divorce this waste." Madison glared at Wesley. "How dare you hit me? Not only will I let Taylor divorce you, but I'll make sure you leave in disgrace."<br /> "Mum, what's wrong?" At that moment, a gent and a lady walked in.<br /> The lady was Taylor, Madison's daughter.<br /> She ran towards Madison.<br /> As Madison pointed at Wesley, tears streamed down her face. "Taylor, he hit me, he hit me! When you're not home, he changes his attitude, scolding and hitting me in the slightest displeasure. He even pushed me down the stairs just now. Alexis can testify."<br /> Madison's sister, Alexis Blair, chimed in. "Yes, Wesley, this trash not only hit your mother but also threatened to hit me too. We cannot tolerate such trash."<br /> "Taylor, I have been telling you to divorce him for years. You've been supporting him, treating him like a Lord at home, but he's an ungrateful wolf in sheep's clothing."<br /> Helping Madison up, Taylor noticed the scrapes on Madison's arms and legs, her expression turning cold.<br /> "Wesley, why did you hit my mother? You better give me an explanation."<br /> Wesley looked at Taylor, his wife.<br /> Five years had passed, and she had never shown him kindness.<br /> Taylor dressed impeccably, a paragon of a successful lady, with a face that could be deemed angelic, yet whether her heart was as angelic remained a mystery.<br /> Her figure, too, left countless men yearning.<br /> For five years, Wesley had thought he might develop feelings for this lady, but in reality, it never happened.<br /> "There are surveillance cameras in the house," Wesley stated calmly before descending the stairs into the hallway.<br /> Despite residing in a three-story villa, Wesley's living quarters were confined to the stairwell.<br /> He harbored no resentment towards this arrangement. It was merely a promise. It was just that Taylor failed to appreciate him.<br /> This home held little value that he wished to cling onto.<br /> Retrieving a wooden box from beneath his pillow, Wesley extracted two documents. Casting a fleeting glance at the modest abode he had called home for five years, Wesley smiled faintly.<br /> He thought, "Finally... I'm free."<br /> Pushing the door ajar, Wesley was met by Taylor's piercing gaze. "I've reviewed the surveillance footage. Yes, my mother intended to strike you, but even if she did, what difference would it make?"<br /> "She's a lady. How much could her blows hurt you? Why did you dodge?"<br /> "If you hadn't dodged, my mother wouldn't have tumbled down." Wesley stared at Taylor, unable to comprehend her thought process.<br /> He had no interest in engaging in these arguments. Handing over the two documents to Taylor, he remarked, "The divorce agreement. I've already signed it. Take a look. I'm leaving with nothing."<br /> "With your current influence, there's no need for you to visit the city hall. Someone will handle it for you, right?"<br /> Madison was taken aback. She swiftly snatched the divorce agreement, flipping through it hastily.<br /> The contents were indeed straightforward. Both parties willingly divorced, with Wesley relinquishing all claims and having already signed.<br /> In an instant, Madison's pain seemed to dissipate. "Taylor, sign it quickly. Sign it."<br /> Taylor was still in a daze.<br /> She pondered.<br /> "A divorce agreement? Wesley has already prepared a divorce agreement. On what grounds?"<br /> "What gives him the right to initiate a divorce? All these years, he's done nothing at home, lacking any ambition. Always practicing martial arts, what right does he have to seek a divorce?"<br /> "If anyone should initiate it, it should be me. Moreover, now that I'm back to discussing this matter with him. Could it be that word got out, and Wesley, for the sake of his pride, rushed to prepare a divorce agreement first?"<br /> "It must be so, but... No!"<br /> "Wanting to leave with nothing, is he retreating to advance? As the chairman of the Reed Group, how could I be served with a divorce?"<br /> "Hey Wesley, I never expected this from you. Have I not treated you well enough? You seek a divorce, attempting to turn your retreat into advance, aiming to embarrass me?"<br /> Taylor glared at Wesley. "I'm telling you, it's impossible."<br /> Snatching the divorce agreement, she tore it to shreds.<br /> "Taylor, what are you doing? Such a great opportunity. Why not just sign it and let him leave?" Madison grew anxious.<br /> "Mom, I do intend to divorce this trash, but the decision must come from me. I returned specifically to address this matter."<br /> With that, Taylor produced two documents. "Wesley, remember that it's me who's divorcing you. It's me who no longer wants you. Initially, out of marital obligation, I had considered offering you some compensation. Now, you don't even need to think about it. Sign the divorce agreement and leave my home."<br /> Wesley offered a faint smile as he accepted the divorce agreement.<br /> "What are you laughing at?" Taylor demanded angrily.<br /> Wesley's smile seemed to mock her, fueling her rage.<br /> Ignoring her entirely, Wesley signed the document and handed it over.<br /> "What are you laughing at? Answer me! Who do you think you are?" Taylor roared once more.<br /> Wesley glanced at her before striding towards the exit.<br /> "Stop!" The gent who had accompanied Taylor stepped forward, blocking Wesley's path. "Taylor asked you a question, and... Your previous attitude displeased me. Apologize to Taylor, or I'll have you leave in disgrace!"<br /> Chapter 2 The Unspoken Truth<br /> <br /> "Yes, let him leave in disgrace. He thought he could just hit me and walk away so easily," Madison joined in the commotion, also noticing the gent blocking Wesley's path.<br /> Madison had a keen interest in luxury goods, having frequented various high-end establishments over the years as the Reed family's living conditions improved. The gent was wearing an expensive watch and dressed head to toe in high-end luxury brands.<br /> Seeing Madison's gaze, the gent spoke. "Rest assured, today Wesley must pay the price."<br /> The gent introduced himself, looking at Wesley, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Henry Clark, the eldest son of the Clark family and the general manager of the Clark Group in the North District."<br /> "From now on, I will accompany Taylor on her journey of life, and I will not allow anyone to bully her."<br /> "My identity carries weight. You should understand that. Now, apologize to Taylor. Apologize! Did you hear me? Apologize!"<br /> Madison's eyes lit up. She hadn't expected the gent before her to hold such a high status. She continued to shout, "Did you hear that? Taylor will be with Mr. Clark from now on. Apologize now."<br /> Wesley glanced at Henry, then at Taylor. He thought, "Have they been together all along?" Wesley had wanted to ask but decided against it because there was no need. He simply gave them a glance and continued walking towards the exit.<br /> "Are you ignoring me?" Henry's face turned cold as he reached out to grab Wesley. Henry's hand froze mid-air as he received a solid hit.<br /> "Until I sign the divorce papers, Taylor and I are still wife and husband. I don't care to investigate whether you two had any intimate relationship during that time, but don't provoke me, or I won't hesitate to make you regret it." Wesley's gaze was icy, and as Henry met his eyes, he felt a twinge of fear and swallowed his words.<br /> Taylor was also stunned. She knew exactly what Wesley had been like over the past five years. There were many surveillance cameras in the house, and she would often check them.<br /> Even when Taylor wasn't home, despite how her family treated Wesley, he always obeyed without complaint, especially towards her. He had never raised his voice, no matter how they treated him.<br /> Today, not only did Wesley dodge when her mother struck, but he also initiated the divorce and now even struck Henry. <br /> Taylor was at a loss for words, thinking, "How could this cowardly gent dare? On what grounds does he dare?"<br /> This change was difficult for Taylor to accept as if she didn't truly understand this guy. The gent who used to be obedient to her, completely submissive, now revealed this side of himself. She watched Wesley walk away in a daze, feeling a strange discomfort in her heart.<br /> "Isn't he leaving with nothing?" Alexis pointed at the wooden box Wesley was holding. "What is he taking with him?"<br /> Madison also realized. Over the past five years, Wesley had always treasured this wooden box, carrying it with him wherever he went. She thought there must be something valuable inside.<br /> Realizing this, Madison hurriedly followed. "Wesley, stop right there, leave the wooden box."<br /> Wesley paused, glanced at Madison, and said, "This is my personal belonging."<br /> "Nonsense, what personal belonging could you possibly have after marrying into the Reed family? Everything you've eaten, worn, and lived in over the years has been provided by the Reed family. Put it down."<br /> As she spoke, Madison reached out to grab the wooden box.<br /> "Ah..." A scream rang out as Madison quickly retracted her hand, a gash appearing on her palm, a crimson liquid dripping.<br /> The wooden box was now stained with the same crimson liquid, trembling lightly in Wesley's hand.<br /> "It's not the right time yet, the day you thirst for this crimson liquid will come," Wesley murmured softly, patting the box before turning to continue his stride towards the exit.<br /> "Monster! A monster!" Madison screamed, causing Taylor and the others to rush out. Seeing the wound in Madison's hand, Taylor was filled with rage.<br /> "Wesley, aren't you going to say something?" Wesley halted once more, contemplating before meeting Taylor's gaze.<br /> "Just stay out of my way from now on. Consider this a warning to you."<br /> "Taylor, that wooden box of his has a mechanism. It must hold something valuable! We can't let him take it with him," Madison, enduring the pain, reminded them.<br /> "Mom, your injury is important. We'll deal with him later. Let me take you to the hospital first." Taylor comforted Madison before calling out to the retreating Wesley.<br /> "Our marriage is over! Yet, you dared to hurt my mother! This won't be the end of it! I will make you regret it!" Ignoring her, Wesley continued walking out.<br /> "Rest assured, I promise he won't see the light of day tomorrow." Henry stepped forward to console. "Let's focus on getting your wound treated first."<br /> "I want him to regret ever existing in this world, to apologize to me in repentance," Madison roared.<br /> "Mom, trust me, I will make him do just that." Taylor looked at Madison with a mix of pity and determination. "Let's go to the hospital first."<br /> In the villa area, Wesley halted, his voice cold. "Get out."<br /> An elderly gent leaped down from a tree, appearing to be in his seventies, yet landing silently from a height of around ten feet.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, your father wants you to come home and take charge."<br /> "He stopped being my father five years ago. He's my enemy."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you misunderstood your father. He had his reasons back then. I swear in my life, once you know the truth, you will forgive him."<br /> "Huh!" Wesley smirked coldly, saying, "I nearly passed away back then. Is that also a misunderstanding?"<br /> The old gent pleaded, "Mr. Harrington, this situation is truly not as you perceive it."<br /> Wesley didn't engage further with the old guy. The events of that year were etched in his memory forever. He was the one who had been abandoned. If not for that incident, why would he have stayed with the Reed family for five years?<br /> Watching Wesley walk away, the old gent had tears silently streaming down his face. "Mr. Harrington, I truly... I truly can't bring myself to speak the truth, but you have misunderstood your father. He also bears burdens and endures pains beyond what an ordinary person can handle."<br /> As Wesley's figure disappeared, the old gent stood up, hesitated for a moment, then dialed a number on his phone.<br /> "Mr. Harrington is now divorced. I've given you the news firsthand. If your daughter is truly together with Mr. Harrington, you must fulfill the promise and let her persuade Mr. Harrington to come home."<br /> After hanging up, a middle-aged gent in a luxurious estate jumped up excitedly. Calming himself, he immediately made another call. "My dear, you're at Yeadeo, right?<br /> "Go find Wesley now. Don't mention the engagement for now. Use every means to get close to him, make him fall in love with you."<br /> "Dad, I don't have time."<br /> "No matter what you are busy with, you must go find Wesley now. No matter what reason you approach him, you must leave a good impression the first time."<br /> "Dad, I'm in trouble right now. If I don't handle it well, I might be good as gone. I have to deal with it immediately. I'm hanging up."<br /> Chapter 3 You're Nothing<br /> The middle-aged gent's voice lowered significantly. "Is there a big incident happening? You didn't tell me? What happened?"<br /> "Quinn Kingsley from Yeadeo, Mr. Kingsley, used our product and now has one foot on the grave. If something really happens to him..."<br /> "You mean Quinn, the uncontested leader of Yeadeo?"<br /> "Yes."<br /> "In that case, you should go find Wesley. Trust me, in this world, there is no problem that Wesley can't solve. As long as he's willing to help, you'll be fine. Listen to me, go find Wesley immediately."<br /> The lady fell silent for a moment before saying, "Okay."<br /> At Yeadeo Harbor, a gent with a large flaxen chain and a watch, sporting a crew cut, hurriedly disembarked, accompanied by a dozen gentlemen.<br /> "Mr. Reed, wherever that trash is, we will find him and tear him apart."<br /> "Yes, that guy dared to harm your mother. We'll make sure he pays for it."<br /> Frank Reed's face turned cold. "Wesley, you coward, thinking you can overturn the world? How dare you touch my mom? Just wait until I find you, you're finished."<br /> "We've found him. Wesley got into a taxi, and our boys followed him."<br /> "Let's go!" Frank waved his hand, leading dozens of men who boarded the car with harpoons, steel pipes, and other weapons.<br /> Inside the taxi, Wesley gazed at the scenery outside, feeling a strange sense of tranquility.<br /> He thought to himself, "I never imagined that while I was secretly paving the way for the Reed family, Taylor, after progressing so rapidly, would start looking down on me more and more."<br /> "Those ladies who know my true identity, which one of them isn't trying to throw themselves at me? Ladies like that don't interest me."<br /> "Being an ordinary gent is truly difficult," Wesley murmured, smiling faintly and deciding not to dwell on these matters anymore. He had important things to attend to and no time to waste on personal affairs.<br /> "Young lad, are you going to Feidgeuo Manor for a job interview?" The driver, curious about Wesley's destination, inquired.<br /> Feidgeuo Manor was Yeadeo's most mysterious private area. Originally a villa area, it was bought at a huge cost five years ago and completely renovated. It was said to have cost a trillion dollars. The former villa area was now Feidgeuo Manor.<br /> "That's my home," Wesley replied nonchalantly.<br /> The driver was taken aback by this revelation, silently cursing Wesley for bragging. After a couple of minutes, the driver regained his composure. "It seems like you and I both prefer to keep a low profile. My car usually gathers dust at home, so I occasionally drive a taxi to experience life."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "My car has been driven by my assistant for the past few years, so it's not gathering dust."<br /> "Haha..." The driver laughed. "We should get together sometime and see whose car is more impressive."<br /> "Sure, whenever we have the time."<br /> As they chatted, the vehicle soon arrived near Feidgeuo Manor, where the massive head of the Feidgeuo Peak protruded, creating a unique landscape in Yeadeo.<br /> The driver asked with a smile, "Since you're the owner here, it's fine if I drive in, right?"<br /> "Of course," Wesley replied.<br /> As soon as Wesley spoke, several cars caught up from behind.<br /> The cars surrounded the one Wesley was in, with the front vehicles braking to force the car to a stop.<br /> When numerous people descended from cars wielding harpoons and steel pipes, the driver's face paled.<br /> Frank and his group got out of the cars, instantly closing in, and without hesitation, started attacking, the steel pipes and harpoons thudding against the car.<br /> Frank's henchman yanked open the door of Wesley's car, poised to stab Wesley with a harpoon, but Wesley swiftly exited the vehicle.<br /> With a firm step on the ground, he launched a swift hit.<br /> A muffled sound echoed as the henchman was hit away.<br /> "What are you looking at?" Frank noticed his henchmen were all staring at him. "All of you, attack together and take him down!"<br /> As he commanded, the henchmen Frank brought with him surged forward.<br /> The taxi driver, trembling, took out his phone to call the police, but Frank glared at him. "I am Frank Reed from Yeadeo Harbor. If you dare, go ahead and make that call."<br /> Frank, leveraging his sister Taylor's status, had been causing trouble in Yeadeo Harbor, and no one dared to provoke him.<br /> Upon hearing Frank's name, the driver hastily put away his phone. "Mr. Reed, I'll just check the time, you guys continue."<br /> "Huh!" Frank snorted coldly, casting his gaze towards the surrounded Wesley.<br /> The sounds of thuds continued to ring out incessantly. Because Wesley was completely surrounded, Frank was unable to see the situation inside clearly, but he could imagine it. After all, in Frank's mind, the henchmen under his command were not to be trifled with.<br /> "Hit him hard for me!"<br /> Another muffled sound and a figure flew out. At that moment, Frank finally saw the situation clearly, and his face turned pale.<br /> Frank knew that Wesley liked to practice martial arts, but he had never expected Wesley to be this skilled. It wasn't Wesley who had been beaten, but his own men by Wesley alone.<br /> Frantically, Frank turned and ran to retrieve a crossbow from the car.<br /> "Clear the way." Frank bellowed, aiming the crossbow at Wesley.<br /> "You scumbag, you think you can fight? Move one more time, and I'll end your life! Surrender!"<br /> Wesley, holding a wooden box, stared at Frank. Ignoring the crossbow in his hand, Wesley said, "Tell your henchmen to back off, or you'll all see the light from above!"<br /> "You're really good at pretending to be tough." Frank took two steps forward. "See the light? Move a muscle and see if I can end your life or not! If you don't have the guts, apologize now!"<br /> Wesley turned his head and looked at the approaching cars, with two expensive ones in the lead, two more in the rear, and another one in the middle.<br /> "Keep acting tough, and I'll put a hole in your head." Frank spoke while glancing at the five cars. "What, looking for help?"<br /> "Let me tell you, those who ride in these cars are not the kind of weaklings like you who rely on connections. With me here, in Yeadeo's social hierarchy, even those who ride in such cars wouldn't dare meddle in this matter. And let me make it clear, without my sister, you're nothing."<br /> Chapter 4 Is He Worthy?<br /> As Frank's words faded, the five cars came to a halt.<br /> A bodyguard opened the door of the one in the middle, revealing a dazzling pair of shining shoes catching everyone's eye.<br /> The shining shoe encased a beautiful foot. Above, the skirt's hem was adorned with lace.<br /> Then, like a fairy stepping out of a painting, she appeared before everyone's eyes.<br /> The lady was beautiful!<br /> Frank was mesmerized. Ever since the Reed family rose to prominence, he had been surrounded by ladies, but compared to the elegant lady before him, they were worlds apart.<br /> It wasn't just a difference in appearance but an incomparable gap in demeanor.<br /> The lady descending from the Maybach seemed like a celestial being untouched by mortal affairs.<br /> The embodiment of a fairy in the mundane world.<br /> She simply stood there after getting out of the car, perfectly embodying what it meant to be graceful and elegant.<br /> The lady glanced at Wesley, then at Frank.<br /> Frank grinned, saying, "May I have the honor of knowing the name of this esteemed lady? I am Frank..."<br /> The lady spoke calmly. "Disrespect Mr. Harrington, and you're done for."<br /> Her bodyguards, unfazed by Frank's crossbow, swiftly overwhelmed him, sending him crashing to the ground.<br /> The henchmen who had come with Frank, previously defeated by Wesley, now scrambled to their feet and fled in all directions.<br /> Who would dare provoke someone who could afford such a car?<br /> "My sister is Taylor Reed, the chairperson of Reed Group," Frank shouted, clutching his head.<br /> Ignoring him, one of the bodyguards dragged him to the roadside grass while another used a belt to tighten around Frank's neck, exerting pressure.<br /> "Enough, a lesson is all that's needed." Wesley spoke calmly, and only when the lady gestured did the bodyguards release Frank.<br /> Frank lay there, already unconscious.<br /> Wesley turned to the lady. "Who are you?"<br /> "I am Mia Roberts, the general manager of Vinver Business Alliance's Yeadeo branch." She looked at Wesley and continued, "Mr. Harrington, my father mentioned that you have miraculous healing skills and earnestly requested your assistance. A generous reward awaits."<br /> Wesley furrowed his brow slightly, thinking, "There are indeed people who recognize my abilities and status, yet I've rarely intervened in the past five years. Today, shortly after I divorced Taylor, she is here. Whose arrangement is this?"<br /> "Mr. Harrington, my father also mentioned that you are benevolent and has raised the banner of compassion among healers, serving as a role model and benchmark for all in the medical field."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "You have a way with words. Tell me the specifics."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, please get in the car first. I will explain in detail on the way."<br /> The phrase "compassionate healer" held significant weight for Wesley, who had saved countless lives from the brink of death.<br /> Without further ado, he got into the car.<br /> Inside, after Mia brewed coffee for Wesley, she began. "Vinver Business Alliance has a wide range of business operations, and I mainly oversee the health supplement sector, which has seen some success in recent years.<br /> "Recently, Quinn Kingsley started using our medicines, and now there's an accident."<br /> As she spoke, Mia kept her gaze fixed on Wesley.<br /> Quinn, the undisputed leader of Yeadeo, was a figure of immense influence.<br /> Upon hearing this name, Wesley showed no particular reaction. "If the city's leader faces issues with your products, it is indeed a concern. Let's go and see."<br /> With just a sentence, Wesley leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest.<br /> Mia was secretly alarmed, thinking, "He knows who Quinn is, yet he seems indifferent. Who is this Wesley, really? No wonder Dad has instructed me to find a way to win his favor." Mia's inner resistance toward Wesley quietly shifted.<br /> Wesley had piqued her curiosity.<br /> As the vehicle was moving, Wesley's phone rang.<br /> Wesley opened his eyes and took out his phone to see Taylor calling.<br /> Pressing the answer button, he asked, "What's the matter?"<br /> On the other end of the line, Taylor, driving towards Feidgeuo Manor, had a grim expression.<br /> She thought, "Has Wesley ever spoken to me in such a cold tone before? Is he really this heartless right after our divorce?"<br /> Already furious, she snapped. "Wesley, do you even consider yourself a human being?<br /> "Today, not only did you lay hands on my mother, but you also had someone attack my brother. Do you not remember our past at all?"<br /> Wesley calmly replied, "Do we have a past to remember?"<br /> "You truly are a heartless scumbag, just as my mother said. You are an ungrateful and vicious person I raised for five years. Even a pet would wag its tail at me!"<br /> Taylor wanted to continue her tirade, but the phone line had already turned busy.<br /> This only fueled her anger further.<br /> Just now, she had received a call from Frank's underlings, informing her that Wesley had sent people to attack Frank and even intended to end him.<br /> Taylor wanted to demand answers, but...<br /> As Taylor was clutching her fists, her gaze turned icy.<br /> After a moment, she picked up her phone again. "Wesley, you are so narrow-minded. You have no ambition. Any lady would steer clear of you."<br /> "Just because I dumped you, you are doing this on purpose to make me feel sick. Pretending to be aloof and seeking revenge? Do you even deserve it?"<br /> "In Yeadeo, squashing you would be as easy as squashing an ant. You're asking for it! If anything happens to my brother, I will make you wish you were ending!"<br /> Her furious voice message echoed in the car.<br /> Wesley chuckled and put away his phone.<br /> Beside him, Mia seemed contemplative. Before coming, she had already ordered a swift investigation into Wesley.<br /> She was curious, thinking, "How could someone valued by my father could be the one 'marrying into' the Reed family."<br /> Being tactful, Mia chose not to ask and pretended not to have heard.<br /> After about forty minutes, they arrived at the Kingsley Manor.<br /> The Kingsley family members, upon seeing Mia alight from the car, all wore grim expressions.<br /> Mia greeted them with a smile, "Everyone, this is Wesley Harrington, Mr. Harrington, the miraculous healer I specially invited to treat Mr. Kingsley."<br /> "Him? The gent who married into the Reed family?"<br /> "A miraculous healer? Is he even worthy? Are healers so worthless now?"<br /> "A useless gent who mooches off of the Reed family? How dare he call himself a miraculous healer? Truly a joke among all jokes."<br /> Chapter 5 Compassionate Healer<br /> Amanda Kingsley, Quinn's granddaughter, stared coldly at Wesley and Mia.<br /> This lady, dressed in a smart suit, also held significant fame in Yeadeo, overseeing the region's business activities, including investment attraction and various local business negotiations.<br /> Amanda had a favorable view of Taylor, who had risen swiftly in recent times, and they had interacted frequently.<br /> She was aware of Wesley's existence and had advised Taylor to part ways with him early on.<br /> But Amanda never imagined that Mia would bring someone like Wesley, a complete waste, and claim he was a miraculous healer.<br /> Glaring at Mia, she said, "Mia, once my grandfather is well, it's best for your Roberts family to leave Yeadeo."<br /> "As for you..." She glanced at Wesley. "I will advise Taylor to divorce you. You have deceived Taylor's feelings and now shamelessly made your way into my family. You are a despicable creature."<br /> After reprimanding Mia and Wesley, she turned to an elderly gent beside her, and her tone and attitude completely changed. "Mr. Phillips, sorry to trouble you. My grandfather is inside, please."<br /> Mia looked at the elderly gent, who was already in his twilight years, feeling deeply shocked.<br /> Scott Phillips, the 38th generation heir of the Healing Clinic, was now ninety-two years old.<br /> Renowned as a miraculous healer, he was a respected figure in the medical community of Yeadeo and even nationally.<br /> He no longer conducted consultations personally due to his old age. Mia had visited him specifically to pay her respects once she had arrived in Yeadeo but had not met Scott.<br /> She never expected Scott to appear in person. It was understandable, as Quinn held a prominent position in the city. Despite the profound influence of the Phillips family, they still had to show respect to Quinn.<br /> Mia looked at Wesley, feeling conflicted and thinking, "Dad has confidently claimed that Wesley has extraordinary abilities, but does he really?"<br /> She harbored doubts, but out of propriety, Mia spoke. "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the trouble."<br /> Wesley smiled, "It's fine. As long as the person can be healed."<br /> His open-mindedness impressed Mia.<br /> After about half an hour, Amanda emerged from the room. All eyes instantly turned towards her.<br /> It was evident that Amanda had wailed out, with traces of tears still visible.<br /> "Amanda, how is it?" A middle-aged gent anxiously asked her.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family who had rushed back also focused their attention on her.<br /> "Mr. Phillips said that there's little hope of recovery. He could only use acupuncture to wake grandfather for half an hour. When grandfather wakes up, let's all go in and see if he has any final instructions."<br /> Everyone was shocked.<br /> "How could this be?"<br /> "Is Mr. Phillips also helpless?"<br /> The members of the Kingsley family found it hard to accept this reality, especially since Quinn had always treated his juniors well.<br /> The thought of Quinn departing saddened some, and tears silently fell.<br /> Publicly, Quinn's status was the foundation of the Kingsley family's prominence in Yeadeo.<br /> If Quinn were to pass away, the Kingsley family would undoubtedly decline.<br /> The atmosphere within the Kingsley family was somber.<br /> Amanda looked at her family members, opened her mouth, but said nothing, silently turning back into the room.<br /> "Stop crying," A middle-aged gent said sternly, "Dad wouldn't want to see you all in tears. If he's really leaving, we mustn't let him worry about us. Pull yourselves together."<br /> After these words, the middle-aged gent also entered the room.<br /> The younger members of the Kingsley family wiped their tears vigorously, trying to force smiles, but in truth, they looked better at crying than pretending to be happy.<br /> Mia's spirit plummeted as she realized the gravity of the situation. Even if an ordinary person passed away from consuming health supplements, it spelled big trouble for those who sold them. And when the deceased happened to be Quinn, the stakes were even higher.<br /> She understood that it would be difficult for this branch to stay in Yeadeo, and even the headquarters might face repercussions.<br /> "Let's go in and have a look." Wesley glanced at Mia. "There might still be a chance."<br /> "Ah..." Mia stared at Wesley in surprise. Seeing him already heading towards the room, she quickly followed suit.<br /> Inside the room, the members of the Kingsley family stood around the mattress, maintaining a certain distance.<br /> Scott lit the alcohol lamp and took out the needles, his expression solemn.<br /> He looked at the members of the Kingsley family. "Think about what you want to say to Mr. Kingsley later. Once you're ready, let me know, and then I'll proceed with the acupuncture."<br /> As he said this, tears welled up in many eyes.<br /> "If you don't mind, let me take a look. I have a way." Wesley spoke up, drawing everyone's attention.<br /> Amanda's face darkened. "Who let you in? Get out!"<br /> "Mia, have you lost your mind? Tricked by this trash and actually brought him here as a miracle healer. Get out with him! I'll settle the score with you in a couple of days."<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, at a loss for words.<br /> "Even Mr. Phillips is unable to reverse the situation. What use are you? Get out." Another younger member of the Kingsley family angrily rebuked.<br /> The middle-aged gent added, "We're in no mood right now. You better leave immediately."<br /> "I understand your narrow-mindedness," Wesley continued, "But as a healer, once I see a patient, I cannot stand by and watch him draw his last breath."<br /> "Wesley, you're quite the charlatan. Do you really want to be gone right now?" Amanda's voice was filled with anger.<br /> "Amanda, let me say a few words," Scott interjected, and Amanda fell silent.<br /> Looking at Wesley, Scott began. "Young lad, at my age, I've seen a lot and have a broad perspective. Today, however, I find it hard to remain indifferent. I practiced medicine from the age of sixteen until I stopped seeing patients for a total of seventy years."<br /> "I've saved countless patients from various illnesses. I never easily declare a patient's fate, nor do I believe I have the right to do so."<br /> "But from your recent remarks, it seems like you're accusing me of such actions. Young people wanting to make a name for themselves by stepping on the shoulders of their predecessors, I can understand."<br /> "But this kind of behavior displeases me."<br /> "My displeasure, what does it mean to you? Do you understand?"<br /> "Even if you are a healer, your career will be ruined because of this."<br /> Chapter 6 Hand of Hell<br /> In the face of Scott's veiled threats, Wesley simply smiled and brushed them off.<br /> Looking at Scott, he asked, "I've always focused on the issue at hand rather than attacking individuals. I have a few questions for you. If you can't administer the needles, how long do you think Quinn can hold on?"<br /> "Seven days, but he will remain unconscious," Scott replied bluntly.<br /> "Then let me ask you this, is there anyone in the world with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "Outrageous," Amanda coldly interjected, "Mr. Phillips is unparalleled in his medical expertise."<br /> Scott glanced at Amanda. "Amanda, let me handle this question."<br /> Continuing to address Wesley, he said, "I don't underestimate myself, nor do I overestimate. There are countless talented individuals in the world, like stars in the sky. I may not dare claim to be the best in medical skills, but those who surpass me are few."<br /> "That means there are some," Wesley calmly remarked, causing Scott's expression to shift slightly, "Indeed, there are."<br /> "Then let me ask you this. Do you think within seven days, the Kingsley family won't find someone with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "If they do find someone, do you believe there is an illness that you cannot cure, but this person can?"<br /> Wesley's questions were sharp and resounding.<br /> Scott's face changed once more as he was rendered speechless.<br /> "Even if there is, that person will never be you." Amanda's face turned icy. "Now get out. Don't spout your eloquence here. Your deceitful behavior is repulsive."<br /> "Your understanding of me is merely hearsay, isn't it?" Wesley retorted, his gaze mocking Amanda, "Has your background and education taught you such arrogance and prejudice?"<br /> "Arrogance?" Amanda's face grew colder as she disdainfully looked at Wesley. "Prejudice?<br /> "Did I say something wrong just now? You are nothing but stagnant waste, a parasite living off others. If it weren't for Taylor, you would have starved on the streets long ago."<br /> "Relying on sweet words, deceiving Taylor. She, with her kind heart, can't bear to divorce you, but don't push your luck. If it weren't for Taylor's sake, you would have been sent out long ago."<br /> Scott interrupted Amanda, "Amanda, although I find this lad a bit annoying, what he said does hold some truth. There are indeed individuals with better medical skills than me. Your grandfather can hold on for seven days. Try reaching out to see if someone can come over. I'll help you make connections."<br /> "If it really doesn't work out after seven days, I'll administer the needles to your grandfather. However, at that point, I can only buy you three minutes."<br /> As soon as Scott spoke, the faces of the Kingsley family members grew even more solemn. True healers were rare and not easily summoned.<br /> While the Kingsley family had connections in Yeadeo, their influence waned outside of it.<br /> "Mr. Phillips, please administer the needles. Life has its ups and downs, and we understand that. Just buy my father a bit more time." The middle-aged gent spoke up.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family nodded in agreement.<br /> Amanda looked at Scott. "Mr. Phillips, please."<br /> "In that case, please have everyone unrelated leave. I need silence," Scott calmly stated.<br /> Amanda glared at Wesley, her eyes speaking volumes without a word.<br /> The unrelated individuals were, naturally, Wesley and Mia.<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, intending to leave, but she suddenly hesitated.<br /> Instead of leaving, Wesley moved forward.<br /> "What are you doing?" A young member of the Kingsley family stepped forward with a stern expression, pushing Wesley.<br /> In one swift motion, Wesley executed a clean shoulder throw, toppling the young gent to the ground, his own expression turning cold.<br /> "A bunch of fools! If it weren't for my teacher's teachings about not turning a blind eye to those in need, I wouldn't bother with you ignorant lot," Wesley remarked with disdain.<br /> As Wesley effortlessly took down one individual from the Kingsley family, the others seemed slow to react.<br /> By the time they realized what was happening, Wesley had already picked up the needle next to Scott and casually flicked his wrist.<br /> The needle flew out of his hand, piercing Quinn's temple, followed by a second needle, a third needle, and so on.<br /> "What are you doing? Stop!" Amanda's voice rose in urgency, echoed by the rest of the Kingsley family members who rushed forward to restrain Wesley.<br /> "Stay back, everyone. Wait." Scott suddenly stood up, blocking the others. "Let him try."<br /> Amanda and the others were left dumbfounded, thinking, "What does this mean?"<br /> Despite their confusion, they heeded Scott's words.<br /> After Scott stopped the members of the Kingsley family, he fixed his gaze on Wesley.<br /> Wesley proceeded to use eighteen needles in succession, symbolizing the levels of pain.<br /> Even if someone had descended into the depths of hell, they must be brought back.<br /> The final needle, also piercing a vital point, caused Quinn's body to tremble suddenly, resonating with the previous eighteen needles.<br /> Scott's eyes widened, his body trembling slightly. His reaction left Amanda and the others even more puzzled, but none dared to interrupt.<br /> Moments later, Wesley placed a palm on Quinn's chest, causing all eighteen needles to be shaken off. When all the needles landed on the ground, the part of the skin where the needles had pierced turned dark.<br /> Wesley then dragged Quinn to the edge of the mattress, flipped him over with his head facing downwards, and gave him a firm pat on the back.<br /> Quinn spat out a mouthful of black liquid. When Wesley flipped him back to lie flat, his complexion had regained some color.<br /> "The Hand of Darkness... It's the Hand of Darkness!" Scott exclaimed with excitement, his body quivering, "It's the Hand that descends into the dark world, snatching people from the hands of the Evil!"<br /> "You do have some knowledge, recognizing the Hand of Darkness." Wesley glanced at Scott.<br /> Scott's gaze towards Wesley had undergone a drastic change. He respectfully clasped his hands together.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thirty years ago, I had the honor of attending a teaching conference held by Mr. Vanderbilt. I saw the Hand of Darkness, but my limited aptitude only allowed me to grasp the basics."<br /> "I have been blind and ignorant. I apologize for my earlier offenses. Please forgive me, Mr. Harrington."<br /> The Mr. Vanderbilt Scott referred to was Wesley's teacher, Ulysses Vanderbilt. He generously imparted his skills to others, but the ability to learn depended on one's innate talent.<br /> In this world, few could learn Ulysses' skills.<br /> Scott had been fortunate to receive guidance from Ulysses, which had elevated his medical skills. However, the Hand of Darkness, a miraculous ability, was beyond his comprehension.<br /> Wesley smiled faintly, "Your actions earlier are understandable. I appreciate your words."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you must be an exceptional disciple of Mr. Vanderbilt, possessing unparalleled magnanimity. Impressive," Scott continued.<br /> "Enough with the flattery at your age."<br /> "You are mistaken, Mr. Harrington. Every word I speak is sincere."<br /> Mia, Amanda, and the others stood bewildered by the unfolding situation.<br /> "Mr. Phillips... he... he..." Amanda's words faltered.<br /> Scott turned to the members of the Kingsley family. "Meeting Mr. Harrington was Quinn's luck. His symptoms have been cured by Mr. Harrington. With a few days of rest, he will be fine."<br /> The waste Taylor had previously said was called Mr. Harrington by Scott!<br /> Recalling their previous attitudes, Amanda hurriedly apologized, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> The members of the Kingsley family all apologized in unison, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> Chapter 7 Eight Plates of Noodles<br /> With a faint smile, Wesley remarked, "As family members of a patient, your actions earlier are understandable. There's no need for such formality."<br /> Amanda's perplexity deepened as she thought, "Where is the cowardly waste that Taylor described? This display of magnanimity and breadth is far from it."<br /> Mia, too, felt a shiver of realization, thinking, "No wonder Dad has insisted on my proximity to Wesley.<br /> This guy..."<br /> She gazed at Wesley, her curiosity piqued, a sense of exploration stirring within her.<br /> "Mia has brought you here, Mr. Harrington, to cure my grandfather. The Kingsley family will never forget this act. However, considering that my grandfather's ailment stemmed from the health supplements produced by the Vinver Business Alliance, we will be conducting an investigation into it."<br /> Amanda continued, looking at Wesley, "What do you think... of this approach?"<br /> It was Mia who had invited Wesley, so Amanda had grown wiser, refraining from asking for a direct punishment of the Vinver Business Alliance.<br /> As Mia heard Amanda's words, her heart skipped a beat, realizing trouble was brewing.<br /> "On the way here, Ms. Roberts briefed me on the situation. You conducted experiments on mice, correct?"<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes, the health supplements we received were exclusively provided by the Roberts family. There were no similar cases on the market, so we used mice for testing.<br /> "All the mice that ingested this supplement were gone."<br /> She looked at Mia and added, her voice turned colder. "Before the experiment, I specifically contacted Mia to inquire about the testing methods during the development phase, which involved mice."<br /> "There have been individuals eyeing my grandfather's position, some even wishing for his demise. I never imagined that the Vinver Business Alliance, which I attracted for investment, would become a weapon in someone else's hands."<br /> "Do you have any of the remaining medicine?" Wesley inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes."<br /> "Bring some over."<br /> Immediately, someone fetched the medicine. After it was brought to him, Wesley took out a supplement and swallowed it directly.<br /> This scene left Amanda and the others dumbfounded.<br /> Scott, too, was bewildered. "Mr. Harrington, what are you doing?"<br /> Wesley smiled, "Just proving that this medicine is not toxic."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thank you," Mia thanked sincerely, feeling like sobbing at that moment.<br /> Amanda, with a puzzled expression, looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, are you suggesting that my grandfather's condition wasn't caused by the Vinver Business Alliance's medicine? What about the mice?"<br /> The rest were equally puzzled.<br /> "Yes, but not entirely," Wesley said, leaving everyone even more bewildered.<br /> Mia's emotions were like a rollercoaster ride, from relief to immediate tension.<br /> "This medicine itself is not toxic, but when taken with another substance made from a certain plant, it results in Quinn's condition. The mice would die immediately, while humans could endure a few more days."<br /> Wesley continued to explain, "The plant used in this concoction is originally meant for crafting slow-acting toxins, not for human consumption."<br /> Looking at Amanda, Wesley said, "During this period, whoever had access to your grandfather and the mice will better understand why these events occurred."<br /> The gaze of members of the Kingsley family immediately focused on a lady.<br /> Amanda, somewhat incredulous, looked at her. "Can you offer an explanation?"<br /> The lady was the wife of Amanda's deceased brother. She found it hard to accept, as did the rest of the Kingsley family.<br /> This lady had been named the exemplary lady who served her family well this year, not due to her connection with the Kingsley family but because she genuinely deserved it.<br /> "What do you mean? Amanda, what explanation do you want from me?"<br /> The lady stared at Amanda. "Am I the only one who had access to Grandfather and the mice? You, and you... and you, who didn't have access?"<br /> "You all claim to treat me as family. Since I married into the Kingsley family, I have worked diligently, contributing my share even if not acknowledged."<br /> "Amanda, it has been over a year since your brother passed, and I never once considered remarrying. Now, just because of his words, you demand an explanation from me?"<br /> Pointing at Wesley, the lady questioned, "Just because he accuses me of poisoning, you suspect me? Tell me, did I poison him?" The lady glared at Wesley.<br /> "I am merely analyzing the facts. As for concluding this case, it's not within my purview," Wesley addressed the members of the Kingsley family, saying, "You should conduct a thorough investigation into this matter.<br /> "I will write a prescription. Have Quinn take it on time, and he will recover in seven days."<br /> Amanda hurried to fetch paper and pen while Wesley prepared the prescription. Once done, he was ready to leave.<br /> Amanda said hurriedly, "Mr. Harrington, I've already made arrangements for lunch."<br /> "No need," Wesley smiled.<br /> The Kingsley family sought to build closer ties with Wesley, given his extraordinary medical skills. Wesley was well aware of this.<br /> Looking at Amanda and the others, Wesley remarked, "In the future, if you encounter any difficult medical cases that others cannot solve, seek me out. Remember, cases others cannot solve."<br /> The gaze of the Kingsley family members toward Wesley changed once again. Many renowned healers had eccentric personalities and were difficult to engage.<br /> They hadn't expected Wesley to possess such remarkable medical skills without any airs.<br /> As Wesley prepared to depart, the members of the Kingsley family did not dare to insist on his stay, so they accompanied him outside.<br /> "Oh, how could we forget such an important matter? Amanda, what about the consultation fee?" The middle-aged gent inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the oversight. Please wait a moment." Amanda hurried back inside and soon returned with a bank card in hand.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, there's one million dollars in here."<br /> Without hesitation, Wesley accepted the bank card and boarded Mia's car.<br /> During the journey, Mia boldly looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, you've helped me immensely. Can I treat you to a meal? Don't decline in a hurry. It's not a fancy restaurant, but it will leave you wanting more. It's a small place on the street, with only eight plates of noodles served each day, each plate containing different ingredients."<br /> "I managed to secure a reservation. Are you interested?"<br /> Wesley thought, "Eight Plates of Noodles?<br /> "Ah, Aaron's restaurant. It has been a while since I visited those old friends."<br /> Wesley nodded. "Let's go then."<br /> The restaurant, Eight Plates of Noodles, was located on Chanxold Street near the Yeadeo First Central Hospital.<br /> The establishment was small, serving only eight plates of noodles each day at a price of 10 thousand dollars each. Vernoic's television culinary program had specifically covered this incident.<br /> Reservations were a must to secure a plate.<br /> The restaurant's owner had a mysterious background. While the specifics were unknown, a high-ranking noble from the capital of Vernoic, Kingsland, had caused a scene there once.<br /> He had attempted to force his way in without a reservation. Although this incident hadn't been reported, rumors suggested that a garbage truck had to be called to dispose of the intruder's remains, as he was too shattered to be removed by conventional means.<br /> Since then, no one dared to cause trouble.<br /> On their way, Mia introduced Wesley to the background story.<br /> "Mr. Turner, two plates of noodles." Mia called out once they arrived.<br /> Aaron Turner didn't respond but visibly paused upon seeing Wesley beside Mia.<br /> A faint smile appeared on his usually stoic face. Though the flesh on the face seemed stiff, it was indeed a smile. "Coming right up."<br /> Chapter 8 You Are Blushing<br /> Mia glanced at Aaron with a hint of surprise, thinking, "When does he become so warm and enthusiastic?<br /> His tone seemed a bit agitated earlier, didn't it?"<br /> Soon enough, Aaron brought two plates of noodles to the table. One steaming hot and the other devoid of any warmth.<br /> As Mia observed Aaron placing the plate without steam in front of Wesley, her expression changed slightly.<br /> It was a plate of instant noodles having soaked in cold water, with the seasoning barely dissolved.<br /> She felt a sense of panic. Mia had wanted to leave a good impression on Wesley, which was why she had chosen this place.<br /> However, Aaron had served such a plate of noodles.<br /> She dared not question Aaron. The type of noodles served here was not determined by the guests but by Aaron's mood.<br /> "This lass named Mia is quite something, living up to her name, and quite kind-hearted," Aaron remarked, looking at Wesley.<br /> "Get lost," Wesley retorted, using his fork to pick up the noodles and devouring them.<br /> Mia's face turned pale instantly. Disrespecting Aaron was akin to risking Wesley's life.<br /> To her astonishment, Aaron chuckled, tears welling up in his eyes.<br /> He wiped them away. "Alright, I'll leave you to your meal."<br /> Before departing, he gave Mia a thumbs-up. "Seize the opportunity."<br /> The eight plates of noodles symbolized the eight comrades who had faced life and hardships together.<br /> Wesley ate voraciously. Initially, they had only one pack of instant noodles to share among the eight of them, forcing them to divide it.<br /> Despite the circumstances, they devoured the noodles joyfully.<br /> Aaron had promised that once they survived, each one would have the most delicious plate of noodles.<br /> However, five of the eight had perished.<br /> Wesley had come dangerously close to life-threatening situations, but managed to cling to life.<br /> For him, the plate of noodles was not food but the bond of friendship that had shielded him from harm.<br /> "Do you... know each other?" Mia couldn't help but ask, her voice low and curious.<br /> "Some things are better left unknown," Wesley replied.<br /> Mia nodded in understanding, falling silent as they continued eating noodles. She couldn't help stealing glances at Wesley throughout the meal.<br /> This gent had piqued her curiosity even more.<br /> "Wesley, I see. No wonder you agreed to the divorce so readily. You've already found someone else outside."<br /> A sharp voice interrupted their meal.<br /> Taylor approached with a cold expression, accompanied by Henry.<br /> Taylor's mother was in the nearby hospital, and she had just picked up Frank, planning to buy some food when she unexpectedly saw Wesley.<br /> Of course, she saw Mia, too.<br /> Seeing Wesley dining with a lady more attractive than herself, so soon after the divorce felt like a dagger twisting in Taylor's heart.<br /> Her anger was uncontrollable.<br /> Wesley merely glanced at Taylor, disinterested in engaging with her.<br /> Taylor was stung by his indifferent gaze. She stepped forward, glaring at Wesley. "Are you not going to explain to me?"<br /> Mia looked at Taylor, silently cursing her as a foolish lady.<br /> Wesley continued eating his noodles, lowering his head. "Get lost. Don't disturb me, or I won't hesitate to hit you."<br /> "What did you say?" Henry stepped forward, enraged. "Wesley, try laying a hand on her! Is that all you're capable of? Laying hands on ladies?"<br /> "No wonder Taylor looks down on you. You're truly disgusting trash. Apologize to Taylor now, or else you'll regret coming into this world."<br /> "And how will he regret it? Tell me." Aaron emerged, carrying a cleaver, smiling as he faced Henry and Taylor.<br /> "Mr. Turner, we dare not cause trouble in your place, but this guy is just..."<br /> Henry attempted to speak but was cut off as Aaron's cleaver struck his face, sending him sprawling to the ground.<br /> "Mr. Turner, sorry, we'll leave now." Taylor hastily helped Henry up and hurriedly left.<br /> These two individuals were fortunate to know the legendary story behind Eight Plates of Noodles and had successfully made reservations to dine here multiple times.<br /> Having distanced themselves a bit, Henry covered his face and pointed at Wesley. "Wesley, we have some unfinished business. If you're smart, come over here now and apologize."<br /> "Wesley, I've seen through you as well. I never expected that for the past five years, you've been using my money to keep a lady on the side. We'll settle the score slowly."<br /> As the two noticed Aaron glancing their way, they quickly shut their mouths and hurriedly left.<br /> Once they were out of eyeshots, Aaron fixed his gaze on Wesley. "Your dad doesn't know about your divorce yet, does he?"<br /> "What difference would it make if he did?" Wesley stretched lazily. "I've fulfilled my promise. I've given enough."<br /> Aaron nodded in acknowledgment without saying anything further.<br /> This piqued Mia's curiosity even more. "Is it like what the novels depict? Did you marry Taylor due to some special event?"<br /> Seeing Wesley's glare, Mia lowered her head to focus on her noodles. "I won't ask anymore."<br /> "For the past five years, you've been staying in the stairwell. It has been hard for you, but at least you're still untouched," Aaron remarked before swiftly departing.<br /> Mia stared at Wesley in disbelief, realizing that Aaron's words were meant for her ears.<br /> "What are you staring at? Eat your noodles," Wesley said. Mia chuckled.<br /> "Why are you laughing?"<br /> "You're blushing."<br /> "Nonsense," Wesley retorted.<br /> Unable to contain herself, Mia burst into laughter. She had tried to hold it in, but seeing Wesley's flushed face made it impossible.<br /> Ten minutes later, Mia left on her own accord, sensing that Wesley had something to discuss with Aaron.<br /> Inside Aaron's small shop, Wesley opened a bottle of wine. "Still single?"<br /> "I look too old, no one's interested," Aaron replied, opening a bottle of liquor as well.<br /> "Then why are you meddling in my love lives?"<br /> "Leave a child behind, even if you pass away, someone will remember you." Aaron took a sip. "I've actually investigated this Mia."<br /> "You investigated her?"<br /> "I knew you'd get a divorce. I've been keeping an eye on the pretty ones. This girl had done a lot of good deeds before coming to Yeadeo. Once, she saved three people in a flood and nearly lost her life. Opportunities are rare. You have to seize them."<br /> "When you've figured things out and are ready to marry, then we can discuss our affairs. That's the condition." Wesley downed the entire bottle of liquor.<br /> "Otherwise, don't bother meddling. We're on a one-way path and can't drag others along."<br /> "You..." Aaron sighed as he watched Wesley's retreating figure.<br /> On the road leading to the Feidgeuo Manor, Taylor stood gazing blankly at the entrance not far away.<br /> Twice in one day, she had come here.<br /> The first time was to pick up Frank, and this time was because Frank had lost his expensive watch. She and Henry hadn't even had a meal, rushing over to find it.<br /> The first time, she had come in a hurry when Frank was injured and left quickly as well.<br /> But this time, as Taylor looked at the entrance ahead, an infinite longing sprouted within her.<br /> "If only... I could live here, how wonderful that would be."<br /> Henry looked at her. "One day, I'll definitely build an estate more magnificent than this, and you'll be the lady of the house."<br /> As they conversed, a taxi drove by, stopping at the entrance. The person who got out of the taxi left Taylor stunned.<br /> She rubbed her eyes.	Adoread	147	https://facebook.com/61556400142540	LEARN_MORE	1713682800	View Edit Delete
1666865	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727709	1734958298	695	3414564868689836		1.1651477813066E+15	1713769200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	226177680578601	0	Adoread	120207811552000265	client.adoread.com	Learn more	NONE	image	🔥🔥🔥 Read More👉	Hottest novel👉👉👉	https://client.adoread.com/book/loading/page/adoread/19161308412?utm_campaign={{campaign.id}}&utm_content={{campaign.name}}		1713710195	2.261776805786E+14	Adoread	https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437529040_1653145982124317_3494258949883237087_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Aw9B7ipSc_YQ7kNvgFmnEDT&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDzZgPW_oBxFJYttEnsPaskylxABe9Up1guvlwrlZiQ1g&oe=663A88DB	person_profile	0	Adoread	https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437504529_809995853794812_4047635765531555308_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=GG29Z2HAAQ0Q7kNvgHFVBRe&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBt-GnfL7N4df1C1QUeIsZgCX3wg2ZQyrxOr3poxG8ySw&oe=663A94E8	0	3	"Wesley, are you trying to harm me? You useless piece of trash, can't even make a decent cup of coffee, can you?"<br /> Madison Blair lifted her coffee cup and splashed it directly onto Wesley Harrington's face.<br /> "What are you looking at, you spineless waste? Your name sounds so lofty? I might as well call you a waste."<br /> Glancing at the grotesque expression of his wife's mother, Wesley pulled out his phone to check the time.<br /> Exactly twelve o'clock. It had been five full years since he married Taylor Reed.<br /> The appointed time had come.<br /> He had fulfilled his promise, safeguarding the Reed family for five years, transforming them from a family living off fishing to one perceived as affluent by the common folk.<br /> Wiping the coffee off his face, he turned and walked away.<br /> "Where do you think you're going? Go fetch some more coffee," Madison shouted.<br /> "Madison, didn't you say this waste is obedient at home, doing whatever he's told? I don't think he's taking it lying down."<br /> Madison grew angrier. "Wesley, you stop right there. My family has fed and housed you. If you dare disobey, I'll have you thrown out!"<br /> Ignoring her, Wesley continued downstairs.<br /> "When Taylor comes back, I'll immediately have you two divorced. Do you hear me? Stay right there," Madison threatened, "I'll let you know your place today."<br /> Grabbing a golf club, Madison swiftly charged towards Wesley.<br /> Seeing Wesley heading downstairs, she swung the club viciously at his back.<br /> Without turning back, Wesley gently sidestepped.<br /> Losing her balance, Madison tumbled forward, rolling down the stairs with a series of thumps.<br /> "Ouch... it hurts, it hurts so much!"<br /> As Madison reached the ground floor, she wailed in pain and her sister immediately rushed to her.<br /> "Wesley, what have you done? How dare you hit my sister!" Madison's sister hurried down, checking on Madison's condition.<br /> Wesley remained silent, observing the scene.<br /> "Quick, call Taylor. Tell her to come back. Today, she must divorce this waste." Madison glared at Wesley. "How dare you hit me? Not only will I let Taylor divorce you, but I'll make sure you leave in disgrace."<br /> "Mum, what's wrong?" At that moment, a gent and a lady walked in.<br /> The lady was Taylor, Madison's daughter.<br /> She ran towards Madison.<br /> As Madison pointed at Wesley, tears streamed down her face. "Taylor, he hit me, he hit me! When you're not home, he changes his attitude, scolding and hitting me in the slightest displeasure. He even pushed me down the stairs just now. Alexis can testify."<br /> Madison's sister, Alexis Blair, chimed in. "Yes, Wesley, this trash not only hit your mother but also threatened to hit me too. We cannot tolerate such trash."<br /> "Taylor, I have been telling you to divorce him for years. You've been supporting him, treating him like a Lord at home, but he's an ungrateful wolf in sheep's clothing."<br /> Helping Madison up, Taylor noticed the scrapes on Madison's arms and legs, her expression turning cold.<br /> "Wesley, why did you hit my mother? You better give me an explanation."<br /> Wesley looked at Taylor, his wife.<br /> Five years had passed, and she had never shown him kindness.<br /> Taylor dressed impeccably, a paragon of a successful lady, with a face that could be deemed angelic, yet whether her heart was as angelic remained a mystery.<br /> Her figure, too, left countless men yearning.<br /> For five years, Wesley had thought he might develop feelings for this lady, but in reality, it never happened.<br /> "There are surveillance cameras in the house," Wesley stated calmly before descending the stairs into the hallway.<br /> Despite residing in a three-story villa, Wesley's living quarters were confined to the stairwell.<br /> He harbored no resentment towards this arrangement. It was merely a promise. It was just that Taylor failed to appreciate him.<br /> This home held little value that he wished to cling onto.<br /> Retrieving a wooden box from beneath his pillow, Wesley extracted two documents. Casting a fleeting glance at the modest abode he had called home for five years, Wesley smiled faintly.<br /> He thought, "Finally... I'm free."<br /> Pushing the door ajar, Wesley was met by Taylor's piercing gaze. "I've reviewed the surveillance footage. Yes, my mother intended to strike you, but even if she did, what difference would it make?"<br /> "She's a lady. How much could her blows hurt you? Why did you dodge?"<br /> "If you hadn't dodged, my mother wouldn't have tumbled down." Wesley stared at Taylor, unable to comprehend her thought process.<br /> He had no interest in engaging in these arguments. Handing over the two documents to Taylor, he remarked, "The divorce agreement. I've already signed it. Take a look. I'm leaving with nothing."<br /> "With your current influence, there's no need for you to visit the city hall. Someone will handle it for you, right?"<br /> Madison was taken aback. She swiftly snatched the divorce agreement, flipping through it hastily.<br /> The contents were indeed straightforward. Both parties willingly divorced, with Wesley relinquishing all claims and having already signed.<br /> In an instant, Madison's pain seemed to dissipate. "Taylor, sign it quickly. Sign it."<br /> Taylor was still in a daze.<br /> She pondered.<br /> "A divorce agreement? Wesley has already prepared a divorce agreement. On what grounds?"<br /> "What gives him the right to initiate a divorce? All these years, he's done nothing at home, lacking any ambition. Always practicing martial arts, what right does he have to seek a divorce?"<br /> "If anyone should initiate it, it should be me. Moreover, now that I'm back to discussing this matter with him. Could it be that word got out, and Wesley, for the sake of his pride, rushed to prepare a divorce agreement first?"<br /> "It must be so, but... No!"<br /> "Wanting to leave with nothing, is he retreating to advance? As the chairman of the Reed Group, how could I be served with a divorce?"<br /> "Hey Wesley, I never expected this from you. Have I not treated you well enough? You seek a divorce, attempting to turn your retreat into advance, aiming to embarrass me?"<br /> Taylor glared at Wesley. "I'm telling you, it's impossible."<br /> Snatching the divorce agreement, she tore it to shreds.<br /> "Taylor, what are you doing? Such a great opportunity. Why not just sign it and let him leave?" Madison grew anxious.<br /> "Mom, I do intend to divorce this trash, but the decision must come from me. I returned specifically to address this matter."<br /> With that, Taylor produced two documents. "Wesley, remember that it's me who's divorcing you. It's me who no longer wants you. Initially, out of marital obligation, I had considered offering you some compensation. Now, you don't even need to think about it. Sign the divorce agreement and leave my home."<br /> Wesley offered a faint smile as he accepted the divorce agreement.<br /> "What are you laughing at?" Taylor demanded angrily.<br /> Wesley's smile seemed to mock her, fueling her rage.<br /> Ignoring her entirely, Wesley signed the document and handed it over.<br /> "What are you laughing at? Answer me! Who do you think you are?" Taylor roared once more.<br /> Wesley glanced at her before striding towards the exit.<br /> "Stop!" The gent who had accompanied Taylor stepped forward, blocking Wesley's path. "Taylor asked you a question, and... Your previous attitude displeased me. Apologize to Taylor, or I'll have you leave in disgrace!"<br /> Chapter 2 The Unspoken Truth<br /> <br /> "Yes, let him leave in disgrace. He thought he could just hit me and walk away so easily," Madison joined in the commotion, also noticing the gent blocking Wesley's path.<br /> Madison had a keen interest in luxury goods, having frequented various high-end establishments over the years as the Reed family's living conditions improved. The gent was wearing an expensive watch and dressed head to toe in high-end luxury brands.<br /> Seeing Madison's gaze, the gent spoke. "Rest assured, today Wesley must pay the price."<br /> The gent introduced himself, looking at Wesley, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Henry Clark, the eldest son of the Clark family and the general manager of the Clark Group in the North District."<br /> "From now on, I will accompany Taylor on her journey of life, and I will not allow anyone to bully her."<br /> "My identity carries weight. You should understand that. Now, apologize to Taylor. Apologize! Did you hear me? Apologize!"<br /> Madison's eyes lit up. She hadn't expected the gent before her to hold such a high status. She continued to shout, "Did you hear that? Taylor will be with Mr. Clark from now on. Apologize now."<br /> Wesley glanced at Henry, then at Taylor. He thought, "Have they been together all along?" Wesley had wanted to ask but decided against it because there was no need. He simply gave them a glance and continued walking towards the exit.<br /> "Are you ignoring me?" Henry's face turned cold as he reached out to grab Wesley. Henry's hand froze mid-air as he received a solid hit.<br /> "Until I sign the divorce papers, Taylor and I are still wife and husband. I don't care to investigate whether you two had any intimate relationship during that time, but don't provoke me, or I won't hesitate to make you regret it." Wesley's gaze was icy, and as Henry met his eyes, he felt a twinge of fear and swallowed his words.<br /> Taylor was also stunned. She knew exactly what Wesley had been like over the past five years. There were many surveillance cameras in the house, and she would often check them.<br /> Even when Taylor wasn't home, despite how her family treated Wesley, he always obeyed without complaint, especially towards her. He had never raised his voice, no matter how they treated him.<br /> Today, not only did Wesley dodge when her mother struck, but he also initiated the divorce and now even struck Henry. <br /> Taylor was at a loss for words, thinking, "How could this cowardly gent dare? On what grounds does he dare?"<br /> This change was difficult for Taylor to accept as if she didn't truly understand this guy. The gent who used to be obedient to her, completely submissive, now revealed this side of himself. She watched Wesley walk away in a daze, feeling a strange discomfort in her heart.<br /> "Isn't he leaving with nothing?" Alexis pointed at the wooden box Wesley was holding. "What is he taking with him?"<br /> Madison also realized. Over the past five years, Wesley had always treasured this wooden box, carrying it with him wherever he went. She thought there must be something valuable inside.<br /> Realizing this, Madison hurriedly followed. "Wesley, stop right there, leave the wooden box."<br /> Wesley paused, glanced at Madison, and said, "This is my personal belonging."<br /> "Nonsense, what personal belonging could you possibly have after marrying into the Reed family? Everything you've eaten, worn, and lived in over the years has been provided by the Reed family. Put it down."<br /> As she spoke, Madison reached out to grab the wooden box.<br /> "Ah..." A scream rang out as Madison quickly retracted her hand, a gash appearing on her palm, a crimson liquid dripping.<br /> The wooden box was now stained with the same crimson liquid, trembling lightly in Wesley's hand.<br /> "It's not the right time yet, the day you thirst for this crimson liquid will come," Wesley murmured softly, patting the box before turning to continue his stride towards the exit.<br /> "Monster! A monster!" Madison screamed, causing Taylor and the others to rush out. Seeing the wound in Madison's hand, Taylor was filled with rage.<br /> "Wesley, aren't you going to say something?" Wesley halted once more, contemplating before meeting Taylor's gaze.<br /> "Just stay out of my way from now on. Consider this a warning to you."<br /> "Taylor, that wooden box of his has a mechanism. It must hold something valuable! We can't let him take it with him," Madison, enduring the pain, reminded them.<br /> "Mom, your injury is important. We'll deal with him later. Let me take you to the hospital first." Taylor comforted Madison before calling out to the retreating Wesley.<br /> "Our marriage is over! Yet, you dared to hurt my mother! This won't be the end of it! I will make you regret it!" Ignoring her, Wesley continued walking out.<br /> "Rest assured, I promise he won't see the light of day tomorrow." Henry stepped forward to console. "Let's focus on getting your wound treated first."<br /> "I want him to regret ever existing in this world, to apologize to me in repentance," Madison roared.<br /> "Mom, trust me, I will make him do just that." Taylor looked at Madison with a mix of pity and determination. "Let's go to the hospital first."<br /> In the villa area, Wesley halted, his voice cold. "Get out."<br /> An elderly gent leaped down from a tree, appearing to be in his seventies, yet landing silently from a height of around ten feet.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, your father wants you to come home and take charge."<br /> "He stopped being my father five years ago. He's my enemy."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you misunderstood your father. He had his reasons back then. I swear in my life, once you know the truth, you will forgive him."<br /> "Huh!" Wesley smirked coldly, saying, "I nearly passed away back then. Is that also a misunderstanding?"<br /> The old gent pleaded, "Mr. Harrington, this situation is truly not as you perceive it."<br /> Wesley didn't engage further with the old guy. The events of that year were etched in his memory forever. He was the one who had been abandoned. If not for that incident, why would he have stayed with the Reed family for five years?<br /> Watching Wesley walk away, the old gent had tears silently streaming down his face. "Mr. Harrington, I truly... I truly can't bring myself to speak the truth, but you have misunderstood your father. He also bears burdens and endures pains beyond what an ordinary person can handle."<br /> As Wesley's figure disappeared, the old gent stood up, hesitated for a moment, then dialed a number on his phone.<br /> "Mr. Harrington is now divorced. I've given you the news firsthand. If your daughter is truly together with Mr. Harrington, you must fulfill the promise and let her persuade Mr. Harrington to come home."<br /> After hanging up, a middle-aged gent in a luxurious estate jumped up excitedly. Calming himself, he immediately made another call. "My dear, you're at Yeadeo, right?<br /> "Go find Wesley now. Don't mention the engagement for now. Use every means to get close to him, make him fall in love with you."<br /> "Dad, I don't have time."<br /> "No matter what you are busy with, you must go find Wesley now. No matter what reason you approach him, you must leave a good impression the first time."<br /> "Dad, I'm in trouble right now. If I don't handle it well, I might be good as gone. I have to deal with it immediately. I'm hanging up."<br /> Chapter 3 You're Nothing<br /> The middle-aged gent's voice lowered significantly. "Is there a big incident happening? You didn't tell me? What happened?"<br /> "Quinn Kingsley from Yeadeo, Mr. Kingsley, used our product and now has one foot on the grave. If something really happens to him..."<br /> "You mean Quinn, the uncontested leader of Yeadeo?"<br /> "Yes."<br /> "In that case, you should go find Wesley. Trust me, in this world, there is no problem that Wesley can't solve. As long as he's willing to help, you'll be fine. Listen to me, go find Wesley immediately."<br /> The lady fell silent for a moment before saying, "Okay."<br /> At Yeadeo Harbor, a gent with a large flaxen chain and a watch, sporting a crew cut, hurriedly disembarked, accompanied by a dozen gentlemen.<br /> "Mr. Reed, wherever that trash is, we will find him and tear him apart."<br /> "Yes, that guy dared to harm your mother. We'll make sure he pays for it."<br /> Frank Reed's face turned cold. "Wesley, you coward, thinking you can overturn the world? How dare you touch my mom? Just wait until I find you, you're finished."<br /> "We've found him. Wesley got into a taxi, and our boys followed him."<br /> "Let's go!" Frank waved his hand, leading dozens of men who boarded the car with harpoons, steel pipes, and other weapons.<br /> Inside the taxi, Wesley gazed at the scenery outside, feeling a strange sense of tranquility.<br /> He thought to himself, "I never imagined that while I was secretly paving the way for the Reed family, Taylor, after progressing so rapidly, would start looking down on me more and more."<br /> "Those ladies who know my true identity, which one of them isn't trying to throw themselves at me? Ladies like that don't interest me."<br /> "Being an ordinary gent is truly difficult," Wesley murmured, smiling faintly and deciding not to dwell on these matters anymore. He had important things to attend to and no time to waste on personal affairs.<br /> "Young lad, are you going to Feidgeuo Manor for a job interview?" The driver, curious about Wesley's destination, inquired.<br /> Feidgeuo Manor was Yeadeo's most mysterious private area. Originally a villa area, it was bought at a huge cost five years ago and completely renovated. It was said to have cost a trillion dollars. The former villa area was now Feidgeuo Manor.<br /> "That's my home," Wesley replied nonchalantly.<br /> The driver was taken aback by this revelation, silently cursing Wesley for bragging. After a couple of minutes, the driver regained his composure. "It seems like you and I both prefer to keep a low profile. My car usually gathers dust at home, so I occasionally drive a taxi to experience life."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "My car has been driven by my assistant for the past few years, so it's not gathering dust."<br /> "Haha..." The driver laughed. "We should get together sometime and see whose car is more impressive."<br /> "Sure, whenever we have the time."<br /> As they chatted, the vehicle soon arrived near Feidgeuo Manor, where the massive head of the Feidgeuo Peak protruded, creating a unique landscape in Yeadeo.<br /> The driver asked with a smile, "Since you're the owner here, it's fine if I drive in, right?"<br /> "Of course," Wesley replied.<br /> As soon as Wesley spoke, several cars caught up from behind.<br /> The cars surrounded the one Wesley was in, with the front vehicles braking to force the car to a stop.<br /> When numerous people descended from cars wielding harpoons and steel pipes, the driver's face paled.<br /> Frank and his group got out of the cars, instantly closing in, and without hesitation, started attacking, the steel pipes and harpoons thudding against the car.<br /> Frank's henchman yanked open the door of Wesley's car, poised to stab Wesley with a harpoon, but Wesley swiftly exited the vehicle.<br /> With a firm step on the ground, he launched a swift hit.<br /> A muffled sound echoed as the henchman was hit away.<br /> "What are you looking at?" Frank noticed his henchmen were all staring at him. "All of you, attack together and take him down!"<br /> As he commanded, the henchmen Frank brought with him surged forward.<br /> The taxi driver, trembling, took out his phone to call the police, but Frank glared at him. "I am Frank Reed from Yeadeo Harbor. If you dare, go ahead and make that call."<br /> Frank, leveraging his sister Taylor's status, had been causing trouble in Yeadeo Harbor, and no one dared to provoke him.<br /> Upon hearing Frank's name, the driver hastily put away his phone. "Mr. Reed, I'll just check the time, you guys continue."<br /> "Huh!" Frank snorted coldly, casting his gaze towards the surrounded Wesley.<br /> The sounds of thuds continued to ring out incessantly. Because Wesley was completely surrounded, Frank was unable to see the situation inside clearly, but he could imagine it. After all, in Frank's mind, the henchmen under his command were not to be trifled with.<br /> "Hit him hard for me!"<br /> Another muffled sound and a figure flew out. At that moment, Frank finally saw the situation clearly, and his face turned pale.<br /> Frank knew that Wesley liked to practice martial arts, but he had never expected Wesley to be this skilled. It wasn't Wesley who had been beaten, but his own men by Wesley alone.<br /> Frantically, Frank turned and ran to retrieve a crossbow from the car.<br /> "Clear the way." Frank bellowed, aiming the crossbow at Wesley.<br /> "You scumbag, you think you can fight? Move one more time, and I'll end your life! Surrender!"<br /> Wesley, holding a wooden box, stared at Frank. Ignoring the crossbow in his hand, Wesley said, "Tell your henchmen to back off, or you'll all see the light from above!"<br /> "You're really good at pretending to be tough." Frank took two steps forward. "See the light? Move a muscle and see if I can end your life or not! If you don't have the guts, apologize now!"<br /> Wesley turned his head and looked at the approaching cars, with two expensive ones in the lead, two more in the rear, and another one in the middle.<br /> "Keep acting tough, and I'll put a hole in your head." Frank spoke while glancing at the five cars. "What, looking for help?"<br /> "Let me tell you, those who ride in these cars are not the kind of weaklings like you who rely on connections. With me here, in Yeadeo's social hierarchy, even those who ride in such cars wouldn't dare meddle in this matter. And let me make it clear, without my sister, you're nothing."<br /> Chapter 4 Is He Worthy?<br /> As Frank's words faded, the five cars came to a halt.<br /> A bodyguard opened the door of the one in the middle, revealing a dazzling pair of shining shoes catching everyone's eye.<br /> The shining shoe encased a beautiful foot. Above, the skirt's hem was adorned with lace.<br /> Then, like a fairy stepping out of a painting, she appeared before everyone's eyes.<br /> The lady was beautiful!<br /> Frank was mesmerized. Ever since the Reed family rose to prominence, he had been surrounded by ladies, but compared to the elegant lady before him, they were worlds apart.<br /> It wasn't just a difference in appearance but an incomparable gap in demeanor.<br /> The lady descending from the Maybach seemed like a celestial being untouched by mortal affairs.<br /> The embodiment of a fairy in the mundane world.<br /> She simply stood there after getting out of the car, perfectly embodying what it meant to be graceful and elegant.<br /> The lady glanced at Wesley, then at Frank.<br /> Frank grinned, saying, "May I have the honor of knowing the name of this esteemed lady? I am Frank..."<br /> The lady spoke calmly. "Disrespect Mr. Harrington, and you're done for."<br /> Her bodyguards, unfazed by Frank's crossbow, swiftly overwhelmed him, sending him crashing to the ground.<br /> The henchmen who had come with Frank, previously defeated by Wesley, now scrambled to their feet and fled in all directions.<br /> Who would dare provoke someone who could afford such a car?<br /> "My sister is Taylor Reed, the chairperson of Reed Group," Frank shouted, clutching his head.<br /> Ignoring him, one of the bodyguards dragged him to the roadside grass while another used a belt to tighten around Frank's neck, exerting pressure.<br /> "Enough, a lesson is all that's needed." Wesley spoke calmly, and only when the lady gestured did the bodyguards release Frank.<br /> Frank lay there, already unconscious.<br /> Wesley turned to the lady. "Who are you?"<br /> "I am Mia Roberts, the general manager of Vinver Business Alliance's Yeadeo branch." She looked at Wesley and continued, "Mr. Harrington, my father mentioned that you have miraculous healing skills and earnestly requested your assistance. A generous reward awaits."<br /> Wesley furrowed his brow slightly, thinking, "There are indeed people who recognize my abilities and status, yet I've rarely intervened in the past five years. Today, shortly after I divorced Taylor, she is here. Whose arrangement is this?"<br /> "Mr. Harrington, my father also mentioned that you are benevolent and has raised the banner of compassion among healers, serving as a role model and benchmark for all in the medical field."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "You have a way with words. Tell me the specifics."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, please get in the car first. I will explain in detail on the way."<br /> The phrase "compassionate healer" held significant weight for Wesley, who had saved countless lives from the brink of death.<br /> Without further ado, he got into the car.<br /> Inside, after Mia brewed coffee for Wesley, she began. "Vinver Business Alliance has a wide range of business operations, and I mainly oversee the health supplement sector, which has seen some success in recent years.<br /> "Recently, Quinn Kingsley started using our medicines, and now there's an accident."<br /> As she spoke, Mia kept her gaze fixed on Wesley.<br /> Quinn, the undisputed leader of Yeadeo, was a figure of immense influence.<br /> Upon hearing this name, Wesley showed no particular reaction. "If the city's leader faces issues with your products, it is indeed a concern. Let's go and see."<br /> With just a sentence, Wesley leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest.<br /> Mia was secretly alarmed, thinking, "He knows who Quinn is, yet he seems indifferent. Who is this Wesley, really? No wonder Dad has instructed me to find a way to win his favor." Mia's inner resistance toward Wesley quietly shifted.<br /> Wesley had piqued her curiosity.<br /> As the vehicle was moving, Wesley's phone rang.<br /> Wesley opened his eyes and took out his phone to see Taylor calling.<br /> Pressing the answer button, he asked, "What's the matter?"<br /> On the other end of the line, Taylor, driving towards Feidgeuo Manor, had a grim expression.<br /> She thought, "Has Wesley ever spoken to me in such a cold tone before? Is he really this heartless right after our divorce?"<br /> Already furious, she snapped. "Wesley, do you even consider yourself a human being?<br /> "Today, not only did you lay hands on my mother, but you also had someone attack my brother. Do you not remember our past at all?"<br /> Wesley calmly replied, "Do we have a past to remember?"<br /> "You truly are a heartless scumbag, just as my mother said. You are an ungrateful and vicious person I raised for five years. Even a pet would wag its tail at me!"<br /> Taylor wanted to continue her tirade, but the phone line had already turned busy.<br /> This only fueled her anger further.<br /> Just now, she had received a call from Frank's underlings, informing her that Wesley had sent people to attack Frank and even intended to end him.<br /> Taylor wanted to demand answers, but...<br /> As Taylor was clutching her fists, her gaze turned icy.<br /> After a moment, she picked up her phone again. "Wesley, you are so narrow-minded. You have no ambition. Any lady would steer clear of you."<br /> "Just because I dumped you, you are doing this on purpose to make me feel sick. Pretending to be aloof and seeking revenge? Do you even deserve it?"<br /> "In Yeadeo, squashing you would be as easy as squashing an ant. You're asking for it! If anything happens to my brother, I will make you wish you were ending!"<br /> Her furious voice message echoed in the car.<br /> Wesley chuckled and put away his phone.<br /> Beside him, Mia seemed contemplative. Before coming, she had already ordered a swift investigation into Wesley.<br /> She was curious, thinking, "How could someone valued by my father could be the one 'marrying into' the Reed family."<br /> Being tactful, Mia chose not to ask and pretended not to have heard.<br /> After about forty minutes, they arrived at the Kingsley Manor.<br /> The Kingsley family members, upon seeing Mia alight from the car, all wore grim expressions.<br /> Mia greeted them with a smile, "Everyone, this is Wesley Harrington, Mr. Harrington, the miraculous healer I specially invited to treat Mr. Kingsley."<br /> "Him? The gent who married into the Reed family?"<br /> "A miraculous healer? Is he even worthy? Are healers so worthless now?"<br /> "A useless gent who mooches off of the Reed family? How dare he call himself a miraculous healer? Truly a joke among all jokes."<br /> Chapter 5 Compassionate Healer<br /> Amanda Kingsley, Quinn's granddaughter, stared coldly at Wesley and Mia.<br /> This lady, dressed in a smart suit, also held significant fame in Yeadeo, overseeing the region's business activities, including investment attraction and various local business negotiations.<br /> Amanda had a favorable view of Taylor, who had risen swiftly in recent times, and they had interacted frequently.<br /> She was aware of Wesley's existence and had advised Taylor to part ways with him early on.<br /> But Amanda never imagined that Mia would bring someone like Wesley, a complete waste, and claim he was a miraculous healer.<br /> Glaring at Mia, she said, "Mia, once my grandfather is well, it's best for your Roberts family to leave Yeadeo."<br /> "As for you..." She glanced at Wesley. "I will advise Taylor to divorce you. You have deceived Taylor's feelings and now shamelessly made your way into my family. You are a despicable creature."<br /> After reprimanding Mia and Wesley, she turned to an elderly gent beside her, and her tone and attitude completely changed. "Mr. Phillips, sorry to trouble you. My grandfather is inside, please."<br /> Mia looked at the elderly gent, who was already in his twilight years, feeling deeply shocked.<br /> Scott Phillips, the 38th generation heir of the Healing Clinic, was now ninety-two years old.<br /> Renowned as a miraculous healer, he was a respected figure in the medical community of Yeadeo and even nationally.<br /> He no longer conducted consultations personally due to his old age. Mia had visited him specifically to pay her respects once she had arrived in Yeadeo but had not met Scott.<br /> She never expected Scott to appear in person. It was understandable, as Quinn held a prominent position in the city. Despite the profound influence of the Phillips family, they still had to show respect to Quinn.<br /> Mia looked at Wesley, feeling conflicted and thinking, "Dad has confidently claimed that Wesley has extraordinary abilities, but does he really?"<br /> She harbored doubts, but out of propriety, Mia spoke. "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the trouble."<br /> Wesley smiled, "It's fine. As long as the person can be healed."<br /> His open-mindedness impressed Mia.<br /> After about half an hour, Amanda emerged from the room. All eyes instantly turned towards her.<br /> It was evident that Amanda had wailed out, with traces of tears still visible.<br /> "Amanda, how is it?" A middle-aged gent anxiously asked her.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family who had rushed back also focused their attention on her.<br /> "Mr. Phillips said that there's little hope of recovery. He could only use acupuncture to wake grandfather for half an hour. When grandfather wakes up, let's all go in and see if he has any final instructions."<br /> Everyone was shocked.<br /> "How could this be?"<br /> "Is Mr. Phillips also helpless?"<br /> The members of the Kingsley family found it hard to accept this reality, especially since Quinn had always treated his juniors well.<br /> The thought of Quinn departing saddened some, and tears silently fell.<br /> Publicly, Quinn's status was the foundation of the Kingsley family's prominence in Yeadeo.<br /> If Quinn were to pass away, the Kingsley family would undoubtedly decline.<br /> The atmosphere within the Kingsley family was somber.<br /> Amanda looked at her family members, opened her mouth, but said nothing, silently turning back into the room.<br /> "Stop crying," A middle-aged gent said sternly, "Dad wouldn't want to see you all in tears. If he's really leaving, we mustn't let him worry about us. Pull yourselves together."<br /> After these words, the middle-aged gent also entered the room.<br /> The younger members of the Kingsley family wiped their tears vigorously, trying to force smiles, but in truth, they looked better at crying than pretending to be happy.<br /> Mia's spirit plummeted as she realized the gravity of the situation. Even if an ordinary person passed away from consuming health supplements, it spelled big trouble for those who sold them. And when the deceased happened to be Quinn, the stakes were even higher.<br /> She understood that it would be difficult for this branch to stay in Yeadeo, and even the headquarters might face repercussions.<br /> "Let's go in and have a look." Wesley glanced at Mia. "There might still be a chance."<br /> "Ah..." Mia stared at Wesley in surprise. Seeing him already heading towards the room, she quickly followed suit.<br /> Inside the room, the members of the Kingsley family stood around the mattress, maintaining a certain distance.<br /> Scott lit the alcohol lamp and took out the needles, his expression solemn.<br /> He looked at the members of the Kingsley family. "Think about what you want to say to Mr. Kingsley later. Once you're ready, let me know, and then I'll proceed with the acupuncture."<br /> As he said this, tears welled up in many eyes.<br /> "If you don't mind, let me take a look. I have a way." Wesley spoke up, drawing everyone's attention.<br /> Amanda's face darkened. "Who let you in? Get out!"<br /> "Mia, have you lost your mind? Tricked by this trash and actually brought him here as a miracle healer. Get out with him! I'll settle the score with you in a couple of days."<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, at a loss for words.<br /> "Even Mr. Phillips is unable to reverse the situation. What use are you? Get out." Another younger member of the Kingsley family angrily rebuked.<br /> The middle-aged gent added, "We're in no mood right now. You better leave immediately."<br /> "I understand your narrow-mindedness," Wesley continued, "But as a healer, once I see a patient, I cannot stand by and watch him draw his last breath."<br /> "Wesley, you're quite the charlatan. Do you really want to be gone right now?" Amanda's voice was filled with anger.<br /> "Amanda, let me say a few words," Scott interjected, and Amanda fell silent.<br /> Looking at Wesley, Scott began. "Young lad, at my age, I've seen a lot and have a broad perspective. Today, however, I find it hard to remain indifferent. I practiced medicine from the age of sixteen until I stopped seeing patients for a total of seventy years."<br /> "I've saved countless patients from various illnesses. I never easily declare a patient's fate, nor do I believe I have the right to do so."<br /> "But from your recent remarks, it seems like you're accusing me of such actions. Young people wanting to make a name for themselves by stepping on the shoulders of their predecessors, I can understand."<br /> "But this kind of behavior displeases me."<br /> "My displeasure, what does it mean to you? Do you understand?"<br /> "Even if you are a healer, your career will be ruined because of this."<br /> Chapter 6 Hand of Hell<br /> In the face of Scott's veiled threats, Wesley simply smiled and brushed them off.<br /> Looking at Scott, he asked, "I've always focused on the issue at hand rather than attacking individuals. I have a few questions for you. If you can't administer the needles, how long do you think Quinn can hold on?"<br /> "Seven days, but he will remain unconscious," Scott replied bluntly.<br /> "Then let me ask you this, is there anyone in the world with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "Outrageous," Amanda coldly interjected, "Mr. Phillips is unparalleled in his medical expertise."<br /> Scott glanced at Amanda. "Amanda, let me handle this question."<br /> Continuing to address Wesley, he said, "I don't underestimate myself, nor do I overestimate. There are countless talented individuals in the world, like stars in the sky. I may not dare claim to be the best in medical skills, but those who surpass me are few."<br /> "That means there are some," Wesley calmly remarked, causing Scott's expression to shift slightly, "Indeed, there are."<br /> "Then let me ask you this. Do you think within seven days, the Kingsley family won't find someone with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "If they do find someone, do you believe there is an illness that you cannot cure, but this person can?"<br /> Wesley's questions were sharp and resounding.<br /> Scott's face changed once more as he was rendered speechless.<br /> "Even if there is, that person will never be you." Amanda's face turned icy. "Now get out. Don't spout your eloquence here. Your deceitful behavior is repulsive."<br /> "Your understanding of me is merely hearsay, isn't it?" Wesley retorted, his gaze mocking Amanda, "Has your background and education taught you such arrogance and prejudice?"<br /> "Arrogance?" Amanda's face grew colder as she disdainfully looked at Wesley. "Prejudice?<br /> "Did I say something wrong just now? You are nothing but stagnant waste, a parasite living off others. If it weren't for Taylor, you would have starved on the streets long ago."<br /> "Relying on sweet words, deceiving Taylor. She, with her kind heart, can't bear to divorce you, but don't push your luck. If it weren't for Taylor's sake, you would have been sent out long ago."<br /> Scott interrupted Amanda, "Amanda, although I find this lad a bit annoying, what he said does hold some truth. There are indeed individuals with better medical skills than me. Your grandfather can hold on for seven days. Try reaching out to see if someone can come over. I'll help you make connections."<br /> "If it really doesn't work out after seven days, I'll administer the needles to your grandfather. However, at that point, I can only buy you three minutes."<br /> As soon as Scott spoke, the faces of the Kingsley family members grew even more solemn. True healers were rare and not easily summoned.<br /> While the Kingsley family had connections in Yeadeo, their influence waned outside of it.<br /> "Mr. Phillips, please administer the needles. Life has its ups and downs, and we understand that. Just buy my father a bit more time." The middle-aged gent spoke up.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family nodded in agreement.<br /> Amanda looked at Scott. "Mr. Phillips, please."<br /> "In that case, please have everyone unrelated leave. I need silence," Scott calmly stated.<br /> Amanda glared at Wesley, her eyes speaking volumes without a word.<br /> The unrelated individuals were, naturally, Wesley and Mia.<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, intending to leave, but she suddenly hesitated.<br /> Instead of leaving, Wesley moved forward.<br /> "What are you doing?" A young member of the Kingsley family stepped forward with a stern expression, pushing Wesley.<br /> In one swift motion, Wesley executed a clean shoulder throw, toppling the young gent to the ground, his own expression turning cold.<br /> "A bunch of fools! If it weren't for my teacher's teachings about not turning a blind eye to those in need, I wouldn't bother with you ignorant lot," Wesley remarked with disdain.<br /> As Wesley effortlessly took down one individual from the Kingsley family, the others seemed slow to react.<br /> By the time they realized what was happening, Wesley had already picked up the needle next to Scott and casually flicked his wrist.<br /> The needle flew out of his hand, piercing Quinn's temple, followed by a second needle, a third needle, and so on.<br /> "What are you doing? Stop!" Amanda's voice rose in urgency, echoed by the rest of the Kingsley family members who rushed forward to restrain Wesley.<br /> "Stay back, everyone. Wait." Scott suddenly stood up, blocking the others. "Let him try."<br /> Amanda and the others were left dumbfounded, thinking, "What does this mean?"<br /> Despite their confusion, they heeded Scott's words.<br /> After Scott stopped the members of the Kingsley family, he fixed his gaze on Wesley.<br /> Wesley proceeded to use eighteen needles in succession, symbolizing the levels of pain.<br /> Even if someone had descended into the depths of hell, they must be brought back.<br /> The final needle, also piercing a vital point, caused Quinn's body to tremble suddenly, resonating with the previous eighteen needles.<br /> Scott's eyes widened, his body trembling slightly. His reaction left Amanda and the others even more puzzled, but none dared to interrupt.<br /> Moments later, Wesley placed a palm on Quinn's chest, causing all eighteen needles to be shaken off. When all the needles landed on the ground, the part of the skin where the needles had pierced turned dark.<br /> Wesley then dragged Quinn to the edge of the mattress, flipped him over with his head facing downwards, and gave him a firm pat on the back.<br /> Quinn spat out a mouthful of black liquid. When Wesley flipped him back to lie flat, his complexion had regained some color.<br /> "The Hand of Darkness... It's the Hand of Darkness!" Scott exclaimed with excitement, his body quivering, "It's the Hand that descends into the dark world, snatching people from the hands of the Evil!"<br /> "You do have some knowledge, recognizing the Hand of Darkness." Wesley glanced at Scott.<br /> Scott's gaze towards Wesley had undergone a drastic change. He respectfully clasped his hands together.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thirty years ago, I had the honor of attending a teaching conference held by Mr. Vanderbilt. I saw the Hand of Darkness, but my limited aptitude only allowed me to grasp the basics."<br /> "I have been blind and ignorant. I apologize for my earlier offenses. Please forgive me, Mr. Harrington."<br /> The Mr. Vanderbilt Scott referred to was Wesley's teacher, Ulysses Vanderbilt. He generously imparted his skills to others, but the ability to learn depended on one's innate talent.<br /> In this world, few could learn Ulysses' skills.<br /> Scott had been fortunate to receive guidance from Ulysses, which had elevated his medical skills. However, the Hand of Darkness, a miraculous ability, was beyond his comprehension.<br /> Wesley smiled faintly, "Your actions earlier are understandable. I appreciate your words."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you must be an exceptional disciple of Mr. Vanderbilt, possessing unparalleled magnanimity. Impressive," Scott continued.<br /> "Enough with the flattery at your age."<br /> "You are mistaken, Mr. Harrington. Every word I speak is sincere."<br /> Mia, Amanda, and the others stood bewildered by the unfolding situation.<br /> "Mr. Phillips... he... he..." Amanda's words faltered.<br /> Scott turned to the members of the Kingsley family. "Meeting Mr. Harrington was Quinn's luck. His symptoms have been cured by Mr. Harrington. With a few days of rest, he will be fine."<br /> The waste Taylor had previously said was called Mr. Harrington by Scott!<br /> Recalling their previous attitudes, Amanda hurriedly apologized, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> The members of the Kingsley family all apologized in unison, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> Chapter 7 Eight Plates of Noodles<br /> With a faint smile, Wesley remarked, "As family members of a patient, your actions earlier are understandable. There's no need for such formality."<br /> Amanda's perplexity deepened as she thought, "Where is the cowardly waste that Taylor described? This display of magnanimity and breadth is far from it."<br /> Mia, too, felt a shiver of realization, thinking, "No wonder Dad has insisted on my proximity to Wesley.<br /> This guy..."<br /> She gazed at Wesley, her curiosity piqued, a sense of exploration stirring within her.<br /> "Mia has brought you here, Mr. Harrington, to cure my grandfather. The Kingsley family will never forget this act. However, considering that my grandfather's ailment stemmed from the health supplements produced by the Vinver Business Alliance, we will be conducting an investigation into it."<br /> Amanda continued, looking at Wesley, "What do you think... of this approach?"<br /> It was Mia who had invited Wesley, so Amanda had grown wiser, refraining from asking for a direct punishment of the Vinver Business Alliance.<br /> As Mia heard Amanda's words, her heart skipped a beat, realizing trouble was brewing.<br /> "On the way here, Ms. Roberts briefed me on the situation. You conducted experiments on mice, correct?"<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes, the health supplements we received were exclusively provided by the Roberts family. There were no similar cases on the market, so we used mice for testing.<br /> "All the mice that ingested this supplement were gone."<br /> She looked at Mia and added, her voice turned colder. "Before the experiment, I specifically contacted Mia to inquire about the testing methods during the development phase, which involved mice."<br /> "There have been individuals eyeing my grandfather's position, some even wishing for his demise. I never imagined that the Vinver Business Alliance, which I attracted for investment, would become a weapon in someone else's hands."<br /> "Do you have any of the remaining medicine?" Wesley inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes."<br /> "Bring some over."<br /> Immediately, someone fetched the medicine. After it was brought to him, Wesley took out a supplement and swallowed it directly.<br /> This scene left Amanda and the others dumbfounded.<br /> Scott, too, was bewildered. "Mr. Harrington, what are you doing?"<br /> Wesley smiled, "Just proving that this medicine is not toxic."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thank you," Mia thanked sincerely, feeling like sobbing at that moment.<br /> Amanda, with a puzzled expression, looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, are you suggesting that my grandfather's condition wasn't caused by the Vinver Business Alliance's medicine? What about the mice?"<br /> The rest were equally puzzled.<br /> "Yes, but not entirely," Wesley said, leaving everyone even more bewildered.<br /> Mia's emotions were like a rollercoaster ride, from relief to immediate tension.<br /> "This medicine itself is not toxic, but when taken with another substance made from a certain plant, it results in Quinn's condition. The mice would die immediately, while humans could endure a few more days."<br /> Wesley continued to explain, "The plant used in this concoction is originally meant for crafting slow-acting toxins, not for human consumption."<br /> Looking at Amanda, Wesley said, "During this period, whoever had access to your grandfather and the mice will better understand why these events occurred."<br /> The gaze of members of the Kingsley family immediately focused on a lady.<br /> Amanda, somewhat incredulous, looked at her. "Can you offer an explanation?"<br /> The lady was the wife of Amanda's deceased brother. She found it hard to accept, as did the rest of the Kingsley family.<br /> This lady had been named the exemplary lady who served her family well this year, not due to her connection with the Kingsley family but because she genuinely deserved it.<br /> "What do you mean? Amanda, what explanation do you want from me?"<br /> The lady stared at Amanda. "Am I the only one who had access to Grandfather and the mice? You, and you... and you, who didn't have access?"<br /> "You all claim to treat me as family. Since I married into the Kingsley family, I have worked diligently, contributing my share even if not acknowledged."<br /> "Amanda, it has been over a year since your brother passed, and I never once considered remarrying. Now, just because of his words, you demand an explanation from me?"<br /> Pointing at Wesley, the lady questioned, "Just because he accuses me of poisoning, you suspect me? Tell me, did I poison him?" The lady glared at Wesley.<br /> "I am merely analyzing the facts. As for concluding this case, it's not within my purview," Wesley addressed the members of the Kingsley family, saying, "You should conduct a thorough investigation into this matter.<br /> "I will write a prescription. Have Quinn take it on time, and he will recover in seven days."<br /> Amanda hurried to fetch paper and pen while Wesley prepared the prescription. Once done, he was ready to leave.<br /> Amanda said hurriedly, "Mr. Harrington, I've already made arrangements for lunch."<br /> "No need," Wesley smiled.<br /> The Kingsley family sought to build closer ties with Wesley, given his extraordinary medical skills. Wesley was well aware of this.<br /> Looking at Amanda and the others, Wesley remarked, "In the future, if you encounter any difficult medical cases that others cannot solve, seek me out. Remember, cases others cannot solve."<br /> The gaze of the Kingsley family members toward Wesley changed once again. Many renowned healers had eccentric personalities and were difficult to engage.<br /> They hadn't expected Wesley to possess such remarkable medical skills without any airs.<br /> As Wesley prepared to depart, the members of the Kingsley family did not dare to insist on his stay, so they accompanied him outside.<br /> "Oh, how could we forget such an important matter? Amanda, what about the consultation fee?" The middle-aged gent inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the oversight. Please wait a moment." Amanda hurried back inside and soon returned with a bank card in hand.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, there's one million dollars in here."<br /> Without hesitation, Wesley accepted the bank card and boarded Mia's car.<br /> During the journey, Mia boldly looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, you've helped me immensely. Can I treat you to a meal? Don't decline in a hurry. It's not a fancy restaurant, but it will leave you wanting more. It's a small place on the street, with only eight plates of noodles served each day, each plate containing different ingredients."<br /> "I managed to secure a reservation. Are you interested?"<br /> Wesley thought, "Eight Plates of Noodles?<br /> "Ah, Aaron's restaurant. It has been a while since I visited those old friends."<br /> Wesley nodded. "Let's go then."<br /> The restaurant, Eight Plates of Noodles, was located on Chanxold Street near the Yeadeo First Central Hospital.<br /> The establishment was small, serving only eight plates of noodles each day at a price of 10 thousand dollars each. Vernoic's television culinary program had specifically covered this incident.<br /> Reservations were a must to secure a plate.<br /> The restaurant's owner had a mysterious background. While the specifics were unknown, a high-ranking noble from the capital of Vernoic, Kingsland, had caused a scene there once.<br /> He had attempted to force his way in without a reservation. Although this incident hadn't been reported, rumors suggested that a garbage truck had to be called to dispose of the intruder's remains, as he was too shattered to be removed by conventional means.<br /> Since then, no one dared to cause trouble.<br /> On their way, Mia introduced Wesley to the background story.<br /> "Mr. Turner, two plates of noodles." Mia called out once they arrived.<br /> Aaron Turner didn't respond but visibly paused upon seeing Wesley beside Mia.<br /> A faint smile appeared on his usually stoic face. Though the flesh on the face seemed stiff, it was indeed a smile. "Coming right up."<br /> Chapter 8 You Are Blushing<br /> Mia glanced at Aaron with a hint of surprise, thinking, "When does he become so warm and enthusiastic?<br /> His tone seemed a bit agitated earlier, didn't it?"<br /> Soon enough, Aaron brought two plates of noodles to the table. One steaming hot and the other devoid of any warmth.<br /> As Mia observed Aaron placing the plate without steam in front of Wesley, her expression changed slightly.<br /> It was a plate of instant noodles having soaked in cold water, with the seasoning barely dissolved.<br /> She felt a sense of panic. Mia had wanted to leave a good impression on Wesley, which was why she had chosen this place.<br /> However, Aaron had served such a plate of noodles.<br /> She dared not question Aaron. The type of noodles served here was not determined by the guests but by Aaron's mood.<br /> "This lass named Mia is quite something, living up to her name, and quite kind-hearted," Aaron remarked, looking at Wesley.<br /> "Get lost," Wesley retorted, using his fork to pick up the noodles and devouring them.<br /> Mia's face turned pale instantly. Disrespecting Aaron was akin to risking Wesley's life.<br /> To her astonishment, Aaron chuckled, tears welling up in his eyes.<br /> He wiped them away. "Alright, I'll leave you to your meal."<br /> Before departing, he gave Mia a thumbs-up. "Seize the opportunity."<br /> The eight plates of noodles symbolized the eight comrades who had faced life and hardships together.<br /> Wesley ate voraciously. Initially, they had only one pack of instant noodles to share among the eight of them, forcing them to divide it.<br /> Despite the circumstances, they devoured the noodles joyfully.<br /> Aaron had promised that once they survived, each one would have the most delicious plate of noodles.<br /> However, five of the eight had perished.<br /> Wesley had come dangerously close to life-threatening situations, but managed to cling to life.<br /> For him, the plate of noodles was not food but the bond of friendship that had shielded him from harm.<br /> "Do you... know each other?" Mia couldn't help but ask, her voice low and curious.<br /> "Some things are better left unknown," Wesley replied.<br /> Mia nodded in understanding, falling silent as they continued eating noodles. She couldn't help stealing glances at Wesley throughout the meal.<br /> This gent had piqued her curiosity even more.<br /> "Wesley, I see. No wonder you agreed to the divorce so readily. You've already found someone else outside."<br /> A sharp voice interrupted their meal.<br /> Taylor approached with a cold expression, accompanied by Henry.<br /> Taylor's mother was in the nearby hospital, and she had just picked up Frank, planning to buy some food when she unexpectedly saw Wesley.<br /> Of course, she saw Mia, too.<br /> Seeing Wesley dining with a lady more attractive than herself, so soon after the divorce felt like a dagger twisting in Taylor's heart.<br /> Her anger was uncontrollable.<br /> Wesley merely glanced at Taylor, disinterested in engaging with her.<br /> Taylor was stung by his indifferent gaze. She stepped forward, glaring at Wesley. "Are you not going to explain to me?"<br /> Mia looked at Taylor, silently cursing her as a foolish lady.<br /> Wesley continued eating his noodles, lowering his head. "Get lost. Don't disturb me, or I won't hesitate to hit you."<br /> "What did you say?" Henry stepped forward, enraged. "Wesley, try laying a hand on her! Is that all you're capable of? Laying hands on ladies?"<br /> "No wonder Taylor looks down on you. You're truly disgusting trash. Apologize to Taylor now, or else you'll regret coming into this world."<br /> "And how will he regret it? Tell me." Aaron emerged, carrying a cleaver, smiling as he faced Henry and Taylor.<br /> "Mr. Turner, we dare not cause trouble in your place, but this guy is just..."<br /> Henry attempted to speak but was cut off as Aaron's cleaver struck his face, sending him sprawling to the ground.<br /> "Mr. Turner, sorry, we'll leave now." Taylor hastily helped Henry up and hurriedly left.<br /> These two individuals were fortunate to know the legendary story behind Eight Plates of Noodles and had successfully made reservations to dine here multiple times.<br /> Having distanced themselves a bit, Henry covered his face and pointed at Wesley. "Wesley, we have some unfinished business. If you're smart, come over here now and apologize."<br /> "Wesley, I've seen through you as well. I never expected that for the past five years, you've been using my money to keep a lady on the side. We'll settle the score slowly."<br /> As the two noticed Aaron glancing their way, they quickly shut their mouths and hurriedly left.<br /> Once they were out of eyeshots, Aaron fixed his gaze on Wesley. "Your dad doesn't know about your divorce yet, does he?"<br /> "What difference would it make if he did?" Wesley stretched lazily. "I've fulfilled my promise. I've given enough."<br /> Aaron nodded in acknowledgment without saying anything further.<br /> This piqued Mia's curiosity even more. "Is it like what the novels depict? Did you marry Taylor due to some special event?"<br /> Seeing Wesley's glare, Mia lowered her head to focus on her noodles. "I won't ask anymore."<br /> "For the past five years, you've been staying in the stairwell. It has been hard for you, but at least you're still untouched," Aaron remarked before swiftly departing.<br /> Mia stared at Wesley in disbelief, realizing that Aaron's words were meant for her ears.<br /> "What are you staring at? Eat your noodles," Wesley said. Mia chuckled.<br /> "Why are you laughing?"<br /> "You're blushing."<br /> "Nonsense," Wesley retorted.<br /> Unable to contain herself, Mia burst into laughter. She had tried to hold it in, but seeing Wesley's flushed face made it impossible.<br /> Ten minutes later, Mia left on her own accord, sensing that Wesley had something to discuss with Aaron.<br /> Inside Aaron's small shop, Wesley opened a bottle of wine. "Still single?"<br /> "I look too old, no one's interested," Aaron replied, opening a bottle of liquor as well.<br /> "Then why are you meddling in my love lives?"<br /> "Leave a child behind, even if you pass away, someone will remember you." Aaron took a sip. "I've actually investigated this Mia."<br /> "You investigated her?"<br /> "I knew you'd get a divorce. I've been keeping an eye on the pretty ones. This girl had done a lot of good deeds before coming to Yeadeo. Once, she saved three people in a flood and nearly lost her life. Opportunities are rare. You have to seize them."<br /> "When you've figured things out and are ready to marry, then we can discuss our affairs. That's the condition." Wesley downed the entire bottle of liquor.<br /> "Otherwise, don't bother meddling. We're on a one-way path and can't drag others along."<br /> "You..." Aaron sighed as he watched Wesley's retreating figure.<br /> On the road leading to the Feidgeuo Manor, Taylor stood gazing blankly at the entrance not far away.<br /> Twice in one day, she had come here.<br /> The first time was to pick up Frank, and this time was because Frank had lost his expensive watch. She and Henry hadn't even had a meal, rushing over to find it.<br /> The first time, she had come in a hurry when Frank was injured and left quickly as well.<br /> But this time, as Taylor looked at the entrance ahead, an infinite longing sprouted within her.<br /> "If only... I could live here, how wonderful that would be."<br /> Henry looked at her. "One day, I'll definitely build an estate more magnificent than this, and you'll be the lady of the house."<br /> As they conversed, a taxi drove by, stopping at the entrance. The person who got out of the taxi left Taylor stunned.<br /> She rubbed her eyes.	Adoread	147	https://facebook.com/61556400142540	LEARN_MORE	1713682800	View Edit Delete
1666869	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727709	1734958298	695	1700818443659091	1	1.1646586514952E+15	1713769200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	226177680578601	0	Adoread	120207811554700265	client.adoread.com	Learn more	NONE	image	🔥🔥🔥 Read More👉	Hottest novel👉👉👉	https://client.adoread.com/book/loading/page/adoread/19161308412?utm_campaign={{campaign.id}}&utm_content={{campaign.name}}		1713710197	2.261776805786E+14	Adoread	https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439755586_1803011836844474_6137525718417294590_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=lK7DCaBZylwQ7kNvgEHJ7xb&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDUu-5HnA3J4-1oN1RrpMPM8jcz5hI57aZr0phZ-P1dOQ&oe=663A7F72	person_profile	0	Adoread	https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437100160_1504449816807307_8876218648802913966_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UeieWbVzFisQ7kNvgG6orv5&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDjx3ju_WmU87BHbYcERg5at5fvI_w1AWHyo-tDkMIFKw&oe=663A87E5	0	3	"Wesley, are you trying to harm me? You useless piece of trash, can't even make a decent cup of coffee, can you?"<br /> Madison Blair lifted her coffee cup and splashed it directly onto Wesley Harrington's face.<br /> "What are you looking at, you spineless waste? Your name sounds so lofty? I might as well call you a waste."<br /> Glancing at the grotesque expression of his wife's mother, Wesley pulled out his phone to check the time.<br /> Exactly twelve o'clock. It had been five full years since he married Taylor Reed.<br /> The appointed time had come.<br /> He had fulfilled his promise, safeguarding the Reed family for five years, transforming them from a family living off fishing to one perceived as affluent by the common folk.<br /> Wiping the coffee off his face, he turned and walked away.<br /> "Where do you think you're going? Go fetch some more coffee," Madison shouted.<br /> "Madison, didn't you say this waste is obedient at home, doing whatever he's told? I don't think he's taking it lying down."<br /> Madison grew angrier. "Wesley, you stop right there. My family has fed and housed you. If you dare disobey, I'll have you thrown out!"<br /> Ignoring her, Wesley continued downstairs.<br /> "When Taylor comes back, I'll immediately have you two divorced. Do you hear me? Stay right there," Madison threatened, "I'll let you know your place today."<br /> Grabbing a golf club, Madison swiftly charged towards Wesley.<br /> Seeing Wesley heading downstairs, she swung the club viciously at his back.<br /> Without turning back, Wesley gently sidestepped.<br /> Losing her balance, Madison tumbled forward, rolling down the stairs with a series of thumps.<br /> "Ouch... it hurts, it hurts so much!"<br /> As Madison reached the ground floor, she wailed in pain and her sister immediately rushed to her.<br /> "Wesley, what have you done? How dare you hit my sister!" Madison's sister hurried down, checking on Madison's condition.<br /> Wesley remained silent, observing the scene.<br /> "Quick, call Taylor. Tell her to come back. Today, she must divorce this waste." Madison glared at Wesley. "How dare you hit me? Not only will I let Taylor divorce you, but I'll make sure you leave in disgrace."<br /> "Mum, what's wrong?" At that moment, a gent and a lady walked in.<br /> The lady was Taylor, Madison's daughter.<br /> She ran towards Madison.<br /> As Madison pointed at Wesley, tears streamed down her face. "Taylor, he hit me, he hit me! When you're not home, he changes his attitude, scolding and hitting me in the slightest displeasure. He even pushed me down the stairs just now. Alexis can testify."<br /> Madison's sister, Alexis Blair, chimed in. "Yes, Wesley, this trash not only hit your mother but also threatened to hit me too. We cannot tolerate such trash."<br /> "Taylor, I have been telling you to divorce him for years. You've been supporting him, treating him like a Lord at home, but he's an ungrateful wolf in sheep's clothing."<br /> Helping Madison up, Taylor noticed the scrapes on Madison's arms and legs, her expression turning cold.<br /> "Wesley, why did you hit my mother? You better give me an explanation."<br /> Wesley looked at Taylor, his wife.<br /> Five years had passed, and she had never shown him kindness.<br /> Taylor dressed impeccably, a paragon of a successful lady, with a face that could be deemed angelic, yet whether her heart was as angelic remained a mystery.<br /> Her figure, too, left countless men yearning.<br /> For five years, Wesley had thought he might develop feelings for this lady, but in reality, it never happened.<br /> "There are surveillance cameras in the house," Wesley stated calmly before descending the stairs into the hallway.<br /> Despite residing in a three-story villa, Wesley's living quarters were confined to the stairwell.<br /> He harbored no resentment towards this arrangement. It was merely a promise. It was just that Taylor failed to appreciate him.<br /> This home held little value that he wished to cling onto.<br /> Retrieving a wooden box from beneath his pillow, Wesley extracted two documents. Casting a fleeting glance at the modest abode he had called home for five years, Wesley smiled faintly.<br /> He thought, "Finally... I'm free."<br /> Pushing the door ajar, Wesley was met by Taylor's piercing gaze. "I've reviewed the surveillance footage. Yes, my mother intended to strike you, but even if she did, what difference would it make?"<br /> "She's a lady. How much could her blows hurt you? Why did you dodge?"<br /> "If you hadn't dodged, my mother wouldn't have tumbled down." Wesley stared at Taylor, unable to comprehend her thought process.<br /> He had no interest in engaging in these arguments. Handing over the two documents to Taylor, he remarked, "The divorce agreement. I've already signed it. Take a look. I'm leaving with nothing."<br /> "With your current influence, there's no need for you to visit the city hall. Someone will handle it for you, right?"<br /> Madison was taken aback. She swiftly snatched the divorce agreement, flipping through it hastily.<br /> The contents were indeed straightforward. Both parties willingly divorced, with Wesley relinquishing all claims and having already signed.<br /> In an instant, Madison's pain seemed to dissipate. "Taylor, sign it quickly. Sign it."<br /> Taylor was still in a daze.<br /> She pondered.<br /> "A divorce agreement? Wesley has already prepared a divorce agreement. On what grounds?"<br /> "What gives him the right to initiate a divorce? All these years, he's done nothing at home, lacking any ambition. Always practicing martial arts, what right does he have to seek a divorce?"<br /> "If anyone should initiate it, it should be me. Moreover, now that I'm back to discussing this matter with him. Could it be that word got out, and Wesley, for the sake of his pride, rushed to prepare a divorce agreement first?"<br /> "It must be so, but... No!"<br /> "Wanting to leave with nothing, is he retreating to advance? As the chairman of the Reed Group, how could I be served with a divorce?"<br /> "Hey Wesley, I never expected this from you. Have I not treated you well enough? You seek a divorce, attempting to turn your retreat into advance, aiming to embarrass me?"<br /> Taylor glared at Wesley. "I'm telling you, it's impossible."<br /> Snatching the divorce agreement, she tore it to shreds.<br /> "Taylor, what are you doing? Such a great opportunity. Why not just sign it and let him leave?" Madison grew anxious.<br /> "Mom, I do intend to divorce this trash, but the decision must come from me. I returned specifically to address this matter."<br /> With that, Taylor produced two documents. "Wesley, remember that it's me who's divorcing you. It's me who no longer wants you. Initially, out of marital obligation, I had considered offering you some compensation. Now, you don't even need to think about it. Sign the divorce agreement and leave my home."<br /> Wesley offered a faint smile as he accepted the divorce agreement.<br /> "What are you laughing at?" Taylor demanded angrily.<br /> Wesley's smile seemed to mock her, fueling her rage.<br /> Ignoring her entirely, Wesley signed the document and handed it over.<br /> "What are you laughing at? Answer me! Who do you think you are?" Taylor roared once more.<br /> Wesley glanced at her before striding towards the exit.<br /> "Stop!" The gent who had accompanied Taylor stepped forward, blocking Wesley's path. "Taylor asked you a question, and... Your previous attitude displeased me. Apologize to Taylor, or I'll have you leave in disgrace!"<br /> Chapter 2 The Unspoken Truth<br /> <br /> "Yes, let him leave in disgrace. He thought he could just hit me and walk away so easily," Madison joined in the commotion, also noticing the gent blocking Wesley's path.<br /> Madison had a keen interest in luxury goods, having frequented various high-end establishments over the years as the Reed family's living conditions improved. The gent was wearing an expensive watch and dressed head to toe in high-end luxury brands.<br /> Seeing Madison's gaze, the gent spoke. "Rest assured, today Wesley must pay the price."<br /> The gent introduced himself, looking at Wesley, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Henry Clark, the eldest son of the Clark family and the general manager of the Clark Group in the North District."<br /> "From now on, I will accompany Taylor on her journey of life, and I will not allow anyone to bully her."<br /> "My identity carries weight. You should understand that. Now, apologize to Taylor. Apologize! Did you hear me? Apologize!"<br /> Madison's eyes lit up. She hadn't expected the gent before her to hold such a high status. She continued to shout, "Did you hear that? Taylor will be with Mr. Clark from now on. Apologize now."<br /> Wesley glanced at Henry, then at Taylor. He thought, "Have they been together all along?" Wesley had wanted to ask but decided against it because there was no need. He simply gave them a glance and continued walking towards the exit.<br /> "Are you ignoring me?" Henry's face turned cold as he reached out to grab Wesley. Henry's hand froze mid-air as he received a solid hit.<br /> "Until I sign the divorce papers, Taylor and I are still wife and husband. I don't care to investigate whether you two had any intimate relationship during that time, but don't provoke me, or I won't hesitate to make you regret it." Wesley's gaze was icy, and as Henry met his eyes, he felt a twinge of fear and swallowed his words.<br /> Taylor was also stunned. She knew exactly what Wesley had been like over the past five years. There were many surveillance cameras in the house, and she would often check them.<br /> Even when Taylor wasn't home, despite how her family treated Wesley, he always obeyed without complaint, especially towards her. He had never raised his voice, no matter how they treated him.<br /> Today, not only did Wesley dodge when her mother struck, but he also initiated the divorce and now even struck Henry. <br /> Taylor was at a loss for words, thinking, "How could this cowardly gent dare? On what grounds does he dare?"<br /> This change was difficult for Taylor to accept as if she didn't truly understand this guy. The gent who used to be obedient to her, completely submissive, now revealed this side of himself. She watched Wesley walk away in a daze, feeling a strange discomfort in her heart.<br /> "Isn't he leaving with nothing?" Alexis pointed at the wooden box Wesley was holding. "What is he taking with him?"<br /> Madison also realized. Over the past five years, Wesley had always treasured this wooden box, carrying it with him wherever he went. She thought there must be something valuable inside.<br /> Realizing this, Madison hurriedly followed. "Wesley, stop right there, leave the wooden box."<br /> Wesley paused, glanced at Madison, and said, "This is my personal belonging."<br /> "Nonsense, what personal belonging could you possibly have after marrying into the Reed family? Everything you've eaten, worn, and lived in over the years has been provided by the Reed family. Put it down."<br /> As she spoke, Madison reached out to grab the wooden box.<br /> "Ah..." A scream rang out as Madison quickly retracted her hand, a gash appearing on her palm, a crimson liquid dripping.<br /> The wooden box was now stained with the same crimson liquid, trembling lightly in Wesley's hand.<br /> "It's not the right time yet, the day you thirst for this crimson liquid will come," Wesley murmured softly, patting the box before turning to continue his stride towards the exit.<br /> "Monster! A monster!" Madison screamed, causing Taylor and the others to rush out. Seeing the wound in Madison's hand, Taylor was filled with rage.<br /> "Wesley, aren't you going to say something?" Wesley halted once more, contemplating before meeting Taylor's gaze.<br /> "Just stay out of my way from now on. Consider this a warning to you."<br /> "Taylor, that wooden box of his has a mechanism. It must hold something valuable! We can't let him take it with him," Madison, enduring the pain, reminded them.<br /> "Mom, your injury is important. We'll deal with him later. Let me take you to the hospital first." Taylor comforted Madison before calling out to the retreating Wesley.<br /> "Our marriage is over! Yet, you dared to hurt my mother! This won't be the end of it! I will make you regret it!" Ignoring her, Wesley continued walking out.<br /> "Rest assured, I promise he won't see the light of day tomorrow." Henry stepped forward to console. "Let's focus on getting your wound treated first."<br /> "I want him to regret ever existing in this world, to apologize to me in repentance," Madison roared.<br /> "Mom, trust me, I will make him do just that." Taylor looked at Madison with a mix of pity and determination. "Let's go to the hospital first."<br /> In the villa area, Wesley halted, his voice cold. "Get out."<br /> An elderly gent leaped down from a tree, appearing to be in his seventies, yet landing silently from a height of around ten feet.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, your father wants you to come home and take charge."<br /> "He stopped being my father five years ago. He's my enemy."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you misunderstood your father. He had his reasons back then. I swear in my life, once you know the truth, you will forgive him."<br /> "Huh!" Wesley smirked coldly, saying, "I nearly passed away back then. Is that also a misunderstanding?"<br /> The old gent pleaded, "Mr. Harrington, this situation is truly not as you perceive it."<br /> Wesley didn't engage further with the old guy. The events of that year were etched in his memory forever. He was the one who had been abandoned. If not for that incident, why would he have stayed with the Reed family for five years?<br /> Watching Wesley walk away, the old gent had tears silently streaming down his face. "Mr. Harrington, I truly... I truly can't bring myself to speak the truth, but you have misunderstood your father. He also bears burdens and endures pains beyond what an ordinary person can handle."<br /> As Wesley's figure disappeared, the old gent stood up, hesitated for a moment, then dialed a number on his phone.<br /> "Mr. Harrington is now divorced. I've given you the news firsthand. If your daughter is truly together with Mr. Harrington, you must fulfill the promise and let her persuade Mr. Harrington to come home."<br /> After hanging up, a middle-aged gent in a luxurious estate jumped up excitedly. Calming himself, he immediately made another call. "My dear, you're at Yeadeo, right?<br /> "Go find Wesley now. Don't mention the engagement for now. Use every means to get close to him, make him fall in love with you."<br /> "Dad, I don't have time."<br /> "No matter what you are busy with, you must go find Wesley now. No matter what reason you approach him, you must leave a good impression the first time."<br /> "Dad, I'm in trouble right now. If I don't handle it well, I might be good as gone. I have to deal with it immediately. I'm hanging up."<br /> Chapter 3 You're Nothing<br /> The middle-aged gent's voice lowered significantly. "Is there a big incident happening? You didn't tell me? What happened?"<br /> "Quinn Kingsley from Yeadeo, Mr. Kingsley, used our product and now has one foot on the grave. If something really happens to him..."<br /> "You mean Quinn, the uncontested leader of Yeadeo?"<br /> "Yes."<br /> "In that case, you should go find Wesley. Trust me, in this world, there is no problem that Wesley can't solve. As long as he's willing to help, you'll be fine. Listen to me, go find Wesley immediately."<br /> The lady fell silent for a moment before saying, "Okay."<br /> At Yeadeo Harbor, a gent with a large flaxen chain and a watch, sporting a crew cut, hurriedly disembarked, accompanied by a dozen gentlemen.<br /> "Mr. Reed, wherever that trash is, we will find him and tear him apart."<br /> "Yes, that guy dared to harm your mother. We'll make sure he pays for it."<br /> Frank Reed's face turned cold. "Wesley, you coward, thinking you can overturn the world? How dare you touch my mom? Just wait until I find you, you're finished."<br /> "We've found him. Wesley got into a taxi, and our boys followed him."<br /> "Let's go!" Frank waved his hand, leading dozens of men who boarded the car with harpoons, steel pipes, and other weapons.<br /> Inside the taxi, Wesley gazed at the scenery outside, feeling a strange sense of tranquility.<br /> He thought to himself, "I never imagined that while I was secretly paving the way for the Reed family, Taylor, after progressing so rapidly, would start looking down on me more and more."<br /> "Those ladies who know my true identity, which one of them isn't trying to throw themselves at me? Ladies like that don't interest me."<br /> "Being an ordinary gent is truly difficult," Wesley murmured, smiling faintly and deciding not to dwell on these matters anymore. He had important things to attend to and no time to waste on personal affairs.<br /> "Young lad, are you going to Feidgeuo Manor for a job interview?" The driver, curious about Wesley's destination, inquired.<br /> Feidgeuo Manor was Yeadeo's most mysterious private area. Originally a villa area, it was bought at a huge cost five years ago and completely renovated. It was said to have cost a trillion dollars. The former villa area was now Feidgeuo Manor.<br /> "That's my home," Wesley replied nonchalantly.<br /> The driver was taken aback by this revelation, silently cursing Wesley for bragging. After a couple of minutes, the driver regained his composure. "It seems like you and I both prefer to keep a low profile. My car usually gathers dust at home, so I occasionally drive a taxi to experience life."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "My car has been driven by my assistant for the past few years, so it's not gathering dust."<br /> "Haha..." The driver laughed. "We should get together sometime and see whose car is more impressive."<br /> "Sure, whenever we have the time."<br /> As they chatted, the vehicle soon arrived near Feidgeuo Manor, where the massive head of the Feidgeuo Peak protruded, creating a unique landscape in Yeadeo.<br /> The driver asked with a smile, "Since you're the owner here, it's fine if I drive in, right?"<br /> "Of course," Wesley replied.<br /> As soon as Wesley spoke, several cars caught up from behind.<br /> The cars surrounded the one Wesley was in, with the front vehicles braking to force the car to a stop.<br /> When numerous people descended from cars wielding harpoons and steel pipes, the driver's face paled.<br /> Frank and his group got out of the cars, instantly closing in, and without hesitation, started attacking, the steel pipes and harpoons thudding against the car.<br /> Frank's henchman yanked open the door of Wesley's car, poised to stab Wesley with a harpoon, but Wesley swiftly exited the vehicle.<br /> With a firm step on the ground, he launched a swift hit.<br /> A muffled sound echoed as the henchman was hit away.<br /> "What are you looking at?" Frank noticed his henchmen were all staring at him. "All of you, attack together and take him down!"<br /> As he commanded, the henchmen Frank brought with him surged forward.<br /> The taxi driver, trembling, took out his phone to call the police, but Frank glared at him. "I am Frank Reed from Yeadeo Harbor. If you dare, go ahead and make that call."<br /> Frank, leveraging his sister Taylor's status, had been causing trouble in Yeadeo Harbor, and no one dared to provoke him.<br /> Upon hearing Frank's name, the driver hastily put away his phone. "Mr. Reed, I'll just check the time, you guys continue."<br /> "Huh!" Frank snorted coldly, casting his gaze towards the surrounded Wesley.<br /> The sounds of thuds continued to ring out incessantly. Because Wesley was completely surrounded, Frank was unable to see the situation inside clearly, but he could imagine it. After all, in Frank's mind, the henchmen under his command were not to be trifled with.<br /> "Hit him hard for me!"<br /> Another muffled sound and a figure flew out. At that moment, Frank finally saw the situation clearly, and his face turned pale.<br /> Frank knew that Wesley liked to practice martial arts, but he had never expected Wesley to be this skilled. It wasn't Wesley who had been beaten, but his own men by Wesley alone.<br /> Frantically, Frank turned and ran to retrieve a crossbow from the car.<br /> "Clear the way." Frank bellowed, aiming the crossbow at Wesley.<br /> "You scumbag, you think you can fight? Move one more time, and I'll end your life! Surrender!"<br /> Wesley, holding a wooden box, stared at Frank. Ignoring the crossbow in his hand, Wesley said, "Tell your henchmen to back off, or you'll all see the light from above!"<br /> "You're really good at pretending to be tough." Frank took two steps forward. "See the light? Move a muscle and see if I can end your life or not! If you don't have the guts, apologize now!"<br /> Wesley turned his head and looked at the approaching cars, with two expensive ones in the lead, two more in the rear, and another one in the middle.<br /> "Keep acting tough, and I'll put a hole in your head." Frank spoke while glancing at the five cars. "What, looking for help?"<br /> "Let me tell you, those who ride in these cars are not the kind of weaklings like you who rely on connections. With me here, in Yeadeo's social hierarchy, even those who ride in such cars wouldn't dare meddle in this matter. And let me make it clear, without my sister, you're nothing."<br /> Chapter 4 Is He Worthy?<br /> As Frank's words faded, the five cars came to a halt.<br /> A bodyguard opened the door of the one in the middle, revealing a dazzling pair of shining shoes catching everyone's eye.<br /> The shining shoe encased a beautiful foot. Above, the skirt's hem was adorned with lace.<br /> Then, like a fairy stepping out of a painting, she appeared before everyone's eyes.<br /> The lady was beautiful!<br /> Frank was mesmerized. Ever since the Reed family rose to prominence, he had been surrounded by ladies, but compared to the elegant lady before him, they were worlds apart.<br /> It wasn't just a difference in appearance but an incomparable gap in demeanor.<br /> The lady descending from the Maybach seemed like a celestial being untouched by mortal affairs.<br /> The embodiment of a fairy in the mundane world.<br /> She simply stood there after getting out of the car, perfectly embodying what it meant to be graceful and elegant.<br /> The lady glanced at Wesley, then at Frank.<br /> Frank grinned, saying, "May I have the honor of knowing the name of this esteemed lady? I am Frank..."<br /> The lady spoke calmly. "Disrespect Mr. Harrington, and you're done for."<br /> Her bodyguards, unfazed by Frank's crossbow, swiftly overwhelmed him, sending him crashing to the ground.<br /> The henchmen who had come with Frank, previously defeated by Wesley, now scrambled to their feet and fled in all directions.<br /> Who would dare provoke someone who could afford such a car?<br /> "My sister is Taylor Reed, the chairperson of Reed Group," Frank shouted, clutching his head.<br /> Ignoring him, one of the bodyguards dragged him to the roadside grass while another used a belt to tighten around Frank's neck, exerting pressure.<br /> "Enough, a lesson is all that's needed." Wesley spoke calmly, and only when the lady gestured did the bodyguards release Frank.<br /> Frank lay there, already unconscious.<br /> Wesley turned to the lady. "Who are you?"<br /> "I am Mia Roberts, the general manager of Vinver Business Alliance's Yeadeo branch." She looked at Wesley and continued, "Mr. Harrington, my father mentioned that you have miraculous healing skills and earnestly requested your assistance. A generous reward awaits."<br /> Wesley furrowed his brow slightly, thinking, "There are indeed people who recognize my abilities and status, yet I've rarely intervened in the past five years. Today, shortly after I divorced Taylor, she is here. Whose arrangement is this?"<br /> "Mr. Harrington, my father also mentioned that you are benevolent and has raised the banner of compassion among healers, serving as a role model and benchmark for all in the medical field."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "You have a way with words. Tell me the specifics."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, please get in the car first. I will explain in detail on the way."<br /> The phrase "compassionate healer" held significant weight for Wesley, who had saved countless lives from the brink of death.<br /> Without further ado, he got into the car.<br /> Inside, after Mia brewed coffee for Wesley, she began. "Vinver Business Alliance has a wide range of business operations, and I mainly oversee the health supplement sector, which has seen some success in recent years.<br /> "Recently, Quinn Kingsley started using our medicines, and now there's an accident."<br /> As she spoke, Mia kept her gaze fixed on Wesley.<br /> Quinn, the undisputed leader of Yeadeo, was a figure of immense influence.<br /> Upon hearing this name, Wesley showed no particular reaction. "If the city's leader faces issues with your products, it is indeed a concern. Let's go and see."<br /> With just a sentence, Wesley leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest.<br /> Mia was secretly alarmed, thinking, "He knows who Quinn is, yet he seems indifferent. Who is this Wesley, really? No wonder Dad has instructed me to find a way to win his favor." Mia's inner resistance toward Wesley quietly shifted.<br /> Wesley had piqued her curiosity.<br /> As the vehicle was moving, Wesley's phone rang.<br /> Wesley opened his eyes and took out his phone to see Taylor calling.<br /> Pressing the answer button, he asked, "What's the matter?"<br /> On the other end of the line, Taylor, driving towards Feidgeuo Manor, had a grim expression.<br /> She thought, "Has Wesley ever spoken to me in such a cold tone before? Is he really this heartless right after our divorce?"<br /> Already furious, she snapped. "Wesley, do you even consider yourself a human being?<br /> "Today, not only did you lay hands on my mother, but you also had someone attack my brother. Do you not remember our past at all?"<br /> Wesley calmly replied, "Do we have a past to remember?"<br /> "You truly are a heartless scumbag, just as my mother said. You are an ungrateful and vicious person I raised for five years. Even a pet would wag its tail at me!"<br /> Taylor wanted to continue her tirade, but the phone line had already turned busy.<br /> This only fueled her anger further.<br /> Just now, she had received a call from Frank's underlings, informing her that Wesley had sent people to attack Frank and even intended to end him.<br /> Taylor wanted to demand answers, but...<br /> As Taylor was clutching her fists, her gaze turned icy.<br /> After a moment, she picked up her phone again. "Wesley, you are so narrow-minded. You have no ambition. Any lady would steer clear of you."<br /> "Just because I dumped you, you are doing this on purpose to make me feel sick. Pretending to be aloof and seeking revenge? Do you even deserve it?"<br /> "In Yeadeo, squashing you would be as easy as squashing an ant. You're asking for it! If anything happens to my brother, I will make you wish you were ending!"<br /> Her furious voice message echoed in the car.<br /> Wesley chuckled and put away his phone.<br /> Beside him, Mia seemed contemplative. Before coming, she had already ordered a swift investigation into Wesley.<br /> She was curious, thinking, "How could someone valued by my father could be the one 'marrying into' the Reed family."<br /> Being tactful, Mia chose not to ask and pretended not to have heard.<br /> After about forty minutes, they arrived at the Kingsley Manor.<br /> The Kingsley family members, upon seeing Mia alight from the car, all wore grim expressions.<br /> Mia greeted them with a smile, "Everyone, this is Wesley Harrington, Mr. Harrington, the miraculous healer I specially invited to treat Mr. Kingsley."<br /> "Him? The gent who married into the Reed family?"<br /> "A miraculous healer? Is he even worthy? Are healers so worthless now?"<br /> "A useless gent who mooches off of the Reed family? How dare he call himself a miraculous healer? Truly a joke among all jokes."<br /> Chapter 5 Compassionate Healer<br /> Amanda Kingsley, Quinn's granddaughter, stared coldly at Wesley and Mia.<br /> This lady, dressed in a smart suit, also held significant fame in Yeadeo, overseeing the region's business activities, including investment attraction and various local business negotiations.<br /> Amanda had a favorable view of Taylor, who had risen swiftly in recent times, and they had interacted frequently.<br /> She was aware of Wesley's existence and had advised Taylor to part ways with him early on.<br /> But Amanda never imagined that Mia would bring someone like Wesley, a complete waste, and claim he was a miraculous healer.<br /> Glaring at Mia, she said, "Mia, once my grandfather is well, it's best for your Roberts family to leave Yeadeo."<br /> "As for you..." She glanced at Wesley. "I will advise Taylor to divorce you. You have deceived Taylor's feelings and now shamelessly made your way into my family. You are a despicable creature."<br /> After reprimanding Mia and Wesley, she turned to an elderly gent beside her, and her tone and attitude completely changed. "Mr. Phillips, sorry to trouble you. My grandfather is inside, please."<br /> Mia looked at the elderly gent, who was already in his twilight years, feeling deeply shocked.<br /> Scott Phillips, the 38th generation heir of the Healing Clinic, was now ninety-two years old.<br /> Renowned as a miraculous healer, he was a respected figure in the medical community of Yeadeo and even nationally.<br /> He no longer conducted consultations personally due to his old age. Mia had visited him specifically to pay her respects once she had arrived in Yeadeo but had not met Scott.<br /> She never expected Scott to appear in person. It was understandable, as Quinn held a prominent position in the city. Despite the profound influence of the Phillips family, they still had to show respect to Quinn.<br /> Mia looked at Wesley, feeling conflicted and thinking, "Dad has confidently claimed that Wesley has extraordinary abilities, but does he really?"<br /> She harbored doubts, but out of propriety, Mia spoke. "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the trouble."<br /> Wesley smiled, "It's fine. As long as the person can be healed."<br /> His open-mindedness impressed Mia.<br /> After about half an hour, Amanda emerged from the room. All eyes instantly turned towards her.<br /> It was evident that Amanda had wailed out, with traces of tears still visible.<br /> "Amanda, how is it?" A middle-aged gent anxiously asked her.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family who had rushed back also focused their attention on her.<br /> "Mr. Phillips said that there's little hope of recovery. He could only use acupuncture to wake grandfather for half an hour. When grandfather wakes up, let's all go in and see if he has any final instructions."<br /> Everyone was shocked.<br /> "How could this be?"<br /> "Is Mr. Phillips also helpless?"<br /> The members of the Kingsley family found it hard to accept this reality, especially since Quinn had always treated his juniors well.<br /> The thought of Quinn departing saddened some, and tears silently fell.<br /> Publicly, Quinn's status was the foundation of the Kingsley family's prominence in Yeadeo.<br /> If Quinn were to pass away, the Kingsley family would undoubtedly decline.<br /> The atmosphere within the Kingsley family was somber.<br /> Amanda looked at her family members, opened her mouth, but said nothing, silently turning back into the room.<br /> "Stop crying," A middle-aged gent said sternly, "Dad wouldn't want to see you all in tears. If he's really leaving, we mustn't let him worry about us. Pull yourselves together."<br /> After these words, the middle-aged gent also entered the room.<br /> The younger members of the Kingsley family wiped their tears vigorously, trying to force smiles, but in truth, they looked better at crying than pretending to be happy.<br /> Mia's spirit plummeted as she realized the gravity of the situation. Even if an ordinary person passed away from consuming health supplements, it spelled big trouble for those who sold them. And when the deceased happened to be Quinn, the stakes were even higher.<br /> She understood that it would be difficult for this branch to stay in Yeadeo, and even the headquarters might face repercussions.<br /> "Let's go in and have a look." Wesley glanced at Mia. "There might still be a chance."<br /> "Ah..." Mia stared at Wesley in surprise. Seeing him already heading towards the room, she quickly followed suit.<br /> Inside the room, the members of the Kingsley family stood around the mattress, maintaining a certain distance.<br /> Scott lit the alcohol lamp and took out the needles, his expression solemn.<br /> He looked at the members of the Kingsley family. "Think about what you want to say to Mr. Kingsley later. Once you're ready, let me know, and then I'll proceed with the acupuncture."<br /> As he said this, tears welled up in many eyes.<br /> "If you don't mind, let me take a look. I have a way." Wesley spoke up, drawing everyone's attention.<br /> Amanda's face darkened. "Who let you in? Get out!"<br /> "Mia, have you lost your mind? Tricked by this trash and actually brought him here as a miracle healer. Get out with him! I'll settle the score with you in a couple of days."<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, at a loss for words.<br /> "Even Mr. Phillips is unable to reverse the situation. What use are you? Get out." Another younger member of the Kingsley family angrily rebuked.<br /> The middle-aged gent added, "We're in no mood right now. You better leave immediately."<br /> "I understand your narrow-mindedness," Wesley continued, "But as a healer, once I see a patient, I cannot stand by and watch him draw his last breath."<br /> "Wesley, you're quite the charlatan. Do you really want to be gone right now?" Amanda's voice was filled with anger.<br /> "Amanda, let me say a few words," Scott interjected, and Amanda fell silent.<br /> Looking at Wesley, Scott began. "Young lad, at my age, I've seen a lot and have a broad perspective. Today, however, I find it hard to remain indifferent. I practiced medicine from the age of sixteen until I stopped seeing patients for a total of seventy years."<br /> "I've saved countless patients from various illnesses. I never easily declare a patient's fate, nor do I believe I have the right to do so."<br /> "But from your recent remarks, it seems like you're accusing me of such actions. Young people wanting to make a name for themselves by stepping on the shoulders of their predecessors, I can understand."<br /> "But this kind of behavior displeases me."<br /> "My displeasure, what does it mean to you? Do you understand?"<br /> "Even if you are a healer, your career will be ruined because of this."<br /> Chapter 6 Hand of Hell<br /> In the face of Scott's veiled threats, Wesley simply smiled and brushed them off.<br /> Looking at Scott, he asked, "I've always focused on the issue at hand rather than attacking individuals. I have a few questions for you. If you can't administer the needles, how long do you think Quinn can hold on?"<br /> "Seven days, but he will remain unconscious," Scott replied bluntly.<br /> "Then let me ask you this, is there anyone in the world with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "Outrageous," Amanda coldly interjected, "Mr. Phillips is unparalleled in his medical expertise."<br /> Scott glanced at Amanda. "Amanda, let me handle this question."<br /> Continuing to address Wesley, he said, "I don't underestimate myself, nor do I overestimate. There are countless talented individuals in the world, like stars in the sky. I may not dare claim to be the best in medical skills, but those who surpass me are few."<br /> "That means there are some," Wesley calmly remarked, causing Scott's expression to shift slightly, "Indeed, there are."<br /> "Then let me ask you this. Do you think within seven days, the Kingsley family won't find someone with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "If they do find someone, do you believe there is an illness that you cannot cure, but this person can?"<br /> Wesley's questions were sharp and resounding.<br /> Scott's face changed once more as he was rendered speechless.<br /> "Even if there is, that person will never be you." Amanda's face turned icy. "Now get out. Don't spout your eloquence here. Your deceitful behavior is repulsive."<br /> "Your understanding of me is merely hearsay, isn't it?" Wesley retorted, his gaze mocking Amanda, "Has your background and education taught you such arrogance and prejudice?"<br /> "Arrogance?" Amanda's face grew colder as she disdainfully looked at Wesley. "Prejudice?<br /> "Did I say something wrong just now? You are nothing but stagnant waste, a parasite living off others. If it weren't for Taylor, you would have starved on the streets long ago."<br /> "Relying on sweet words, deceiving Taylor. She, with her kind heart, can't bear to divorce you, but don't push your luck. If it weren't for Taylor's sake, you would have been sent out long ago."<br /> Scott interrupted Amanda, "Amanda, although I find this lad a bit annoying, what he said does hold some truth. There are indeed individuals with better medical skills than me. Your grandfather can hold on for seven days. Try reaching out to see if someone can come over. I'll help you make connections."<br /> "If it really doesn't work out after seven days, I'll administer the needles to your grandfather. However, at that point, I can only buy you three minutes."<br /> As soon as Scott spoke, the faces of the Kingsley family members grew even more solemn. True healers were rare and not easily summoned.<br /> While the Kingsley family had connections in Yeadeo, their influence waned outside of it.<br /> "Mr. Phillips, please administer the needles. Life has its ups and downs, and we understand that. Just buy my father a bit more time." The middle-aged gent spoke up.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family nodded in agreement.<br /> Amanda looked at Scott. "Mr. Phillips, please."<br /> "In that case, please have everyone unrelated leave. I need silence," Scott calmly stated.<br /> Amanda glared at Wesley, her eyes speaking volumes without a word.<br /> The unrelated individuals were, naturally, Wesley and Mia.<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, intending to leave, but she suddenly hesitated.<br /> Instead of leaving, Wesley moved forward.<br /> "What are you doing?" A young member of the Kingsley family stepped forward with a stern expression, pushing Wesley.<br /> In one swift motion, Wesley executed a clean shoulder throw, toppling the young gent to the ground, his own expression turning cold.<br /> "A bunch of fools! If it weren't for my teacher's teachings about not turning a blind eye to those in need, I wouldn't bother with you ignorant lot," Wesley remarked with disdain.<br /> As Wesley effortlessly took down one individual from the Kingsley family, the others seemed slow to react.<br /> By the time they realized what was happening, Wesley had already picked up the needle next to Scott and casually flicked his wrist.<br /> The needle flew out of his hand, piercing Quinn's temple, followed by a second needle, a third needle, and so on.<br /> "What are you doing? Stop!" Amanda's voice rose in urgency, echoed by the rest of the Kingsley family members who rushed forward to restrain Wesley.<br /> "Stay back, everyone. Wait." Scott suddenly stood up, blocking the others. "Let him try."<br /> Amanda and the others were left dumbfounded, thinking, "What does this mean?"<br /> Despite their confusion, they heeded Scott's words.<br /> After Scott stopped the members of the Kingsley family, he fixed his gaze on Wesley.<br /> Wesley proceeded to use eighteen needles in succession, symbolizing the levels of pain.<br /> Even if someone had descended into the depths of hell, they must be brought back.<br /> The final needle, also piercing a vital point, caused Quinn's body to tremble suddenly, resonating with the previous eighteen needles.<br /> Scott's eyes widened, his body trembling slightly. His reaction left Amanda and the others even more puzzled, but none dared to interrupt.<br /> Moments later, Wesley placed a palm on Quinn's chest, causing all eighteen needles to be shaken off. When all the needles landed on the ground, the part of the skin where the needles had pierced turned dark.<br /> Wesley then dragged Quinn to the edge of the mattress, flipped him over with his head facing downwards, and gave him a firm pat on the back.<br /> Quinn spat out a mouthful of black liquid. When Wesley flipped him back to lie flat, his complexion had regained some color.<br /> "The Hand of Darkness... It's the Hand of Darkness!" Scott exclaimed with excitement, his body quivering, "It's the Hand that descends into the dark world, snatching people from the hands of the Evil!"<br /> "You do have some knowledge, recognizing the Hand of Darkness." Wesley glanced at Scott.<br /> Scott's gaze towards Wesley had undergone a drastic change. He respectfully clasped his hands together.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thirty years ago, I had the honor of attending a teaching conference held by Mr. Vanderbilt. I saw the Hand of Darkness, but my limited aptitude only allowed me to grasp the basics."<br /> "I have been blind and ignorant. I apologize for my earlier offenses. Please forgive me, Mr. Harrington."<br /> The Mr. Vanderbilt Scott referred to was Wesley's teacher, Ulysses Vanderbilt. He generously imparted his skills to others, but the ability to learn depended on one's innate talent.<br /> In this world, few could learn Ulysses' skills.<br /> Scott had been fortunate to receive guidance from Ulysses, which had elevated his medical skills. However, the Hand of Darkness, a miraculous ability, was beyond his comprehension.<br /> Wesley smiled faintly, "Your actions earlier are understandable. I appreciate your words."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you must be an exceptional disciple of Mr. Vanderbilt, possessing unparalleled magnanimity. Impressive," Scott continued.<br /> "Enough with the flattery at your age."<br /> "You are mistaken, Mr. Harrington. Every word I speak is sincere."<br /> Mia, Amanda, and the others stood bewildered by the unfolding situation.<br /> "Mr. Phillips... he... he..." Amanda's words faltered.<br /> Scott turned to the members of the Kingsley family. "Meeting Mr. Harrington was Quinn's luck. His symptoms have been cured by Mr. Harrington. With a few days of rest, he will be fine."<br /> The waste Taylor had previously said was called Mr. Harrington by Scott!<br /> Recalling their previous attitudes, Amanda hurriedly apologized, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> The members of the Kingsley family all apologized in unison, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> Chapter 7 Eight Plates of Noodles<br /> With a faint smile, Wesley remarked, "As family members of a patient, your actions earlier are understandable. There's no need for such formality."<br /> Amanda's perplexity deepened as she thought, "Where is the cowardly waste that Taylor described? This display of magnanimity and breadth is far from it."<br /> Mia, too, felt a shiver of realization, thinking, "No wonder Dad has insisted on my proximity to Wesley.<br /> This guy..."<br /> She gazed at Wesley, her curiosity piqued, a sense of exploration stirring within her.<br /> "Mia has brought you here, Mr. Harrington, to cure my grandfather. The Kingsley family will never forget this act. However, considering that my grandfather's ailment stemmed from the health supplements produced by the Vinver Business Alliance, we will be conducting an investigation into it."<br /> Amanda continued, looking at Wesley, "What do you think... of this approach?"<br /> It was Mia who had invited Wesley, so Amanda had grown wiser, refraining from asking for a direct punishment of the Vinver Business Alliance.<br /> As Mia heard Amanda's words, her heart skipped a beat, realizing trouble was brewing.<br /> "On the way here, Ms. Roberts briefed me on the situation. You conducted experiments on mice, correct?"<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes, the health supplements we received were exclusively provided by the Roberts family. There were no similar cases on the market, so we used mice for testing.<br /> "All the mice that ingested this supplement were gone."<br /> She looked at Mia and added, her voice turned colder. "Before the experiment, I specifically contacted Mia to inquire about the testing methods during the development phase, which involved mice."<br /> "There have been individuals eyeing my grandfather's position, some even wishing for his demise. I never imagined that the Vinver Business Alliance, which I attracted for investment, would become a weapon in someone else's hands."<br /> "Do you have any of the remaining medicine?" Wesley inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes."<br /> "Bring some over."<br /> Immediately, someone fetched the medicine. After it was brought to him, Wesley took out a supplement and swallowed it directly.<br /> This scene left Amanda and the others dumbfounded.<br /> Scott, too, was bewildered. "Mr. Harrington, what are you doing?"<br /> Wesley smiled, "Just proving that this medicine is not toxic."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thank you," Mia thanked sincerely, feeling like sobbing at that moment.<br /> Amanda, with a puzzled expression, looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, are you suggesting that my grandfather's condition wasn't caused by the Vinver Business Alliance's medicine? What about the mice?"<br /> The rest were equally puzzled.<br /> "Yes, but not entirely," Wesley said, leaving everyone even more bewildered.<br /> Mia's emotions were like a rollercoaster ride, from relief to immediate tension.<br /> "This medicine itself is not toxic, but when taken with another substance made from a certain plant, it results in Quinn's condition. The mice would die immediately, while humans could endure a few more days."<br /> Wesley continued to explain, "The plant used in this concoction is originally meant for crafting slow-acting toxins, not for human consumption."<br /> Looking at Amanda, Wesley said, "During this period, whoever had access to your grandfather and the mice will better understand why these events occurred."<br /> The gaze of members of the Kingsley family immediately focused on a lady.<br /> Amanda, somewhat incredulous, looked at her. "Can you offer an explanation?"<br /> The lady was the wife of Amanda's deceased brother. She found it hard to accept, as did the rest of the Kingsley family.<br /> This lady had been named the exemplary lady who served her family well this year, not due to her connection with the Kingsley family but because she genuinely deserved it.<br /> "What do you mean? Amanda, what explanation do you want from me?"<br /> The lady stared at Amanda. "Am I the only one who had access to Grandfather and the mice? You, and you... and you, who didn't have access?"<br /> "You all claim to treat me as family. Since I married into the Kingsley family, I have worked diligently, contributing my share even if not acknowledged."<br /> "Amanda, it has been over a year since your brother passed, and I never once considered remarrying. Now, just because of his words, you demand an explanation from me?"<br /> Pointing at Wesley, the lady questioned, "Just because he accuses me of poisoning, you suspect me? Tell me, did I poison him?" The lady glared at Wesley.<br /> "I am merely analyzing the facts. As for concluding this case, it's not within my purview," Wesley addressed the members of the Kingsley family, saying, "You should conduct a thorough investigation into this matter.<br /> "I will write a prescription. Have Quinn take it on time, and he will recover in seven days."<br /> Amanda hurried to fetch paper and pen while Wesley prepared the prescription. Once done, he was ready to leave.<br /> Amanda said hurriedly, "Mr. Harrington, I've already made arrangements for lunch."<br /> "No need," Wesley smiled.<br /> The Kingsley family sought to build closer ties with Wesley, given his extraordinary medical skills. Wesley was well aware of this.<br /> Looking at Amanda and the others, Wesley remarked, "In the future, if you encounter any difficult medical cases that others cannot solve, seek me out. Remember, cases others cannot solve."<br /> The gaze of the Kingsley family members toward Wesley changed once again. Many renowned healers had eccentric personalities and were difficult to engage.<br /> They hadn't expected Wesley to possess such remarkable medical skills without any airs.<br /> As Wesley prepared to depart, the members of the Kingsley family did not dare to insist on his stay, so they accompanied him outside.<br /> "Oh, how could we forget such an important matter? Amanda, what about the consultation fee?" The middle-aged gent inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the oversight. Please wait a moment." Amanda hurried back inside and soon returned with a bank card in hand.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, there's one million dollars in here."<br /> Without hesitation, Wesley accepted the bank card and boarded Mia's car.<br /> During the journey, Mia boldly looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, you've helped me immensely. Can I treat you to a meal? Don't decline in a hurry. It's not a fancy restaurant, but it will leave you wanting more. It's a small place on the street, with only eight plates of noodles served each day, each plate containing different ingredients."<br /> "I managed to secure a reservation. Are you interested?"<br /> Wesley thought, "Eight Plates of Noodles?<br /> "Ah, Aaron's restaurant. It has been a while since I visited those old friends."<br /> Wesley nodded. "Let's go then."<br /> The restaurant, Eight Plates of Noodles, was located on Chanxold Street near the Yeadeo First Central Hospital.<br /> The establishment was small, serving only eight plates of noodles each day at a price of 10 thousand dollars each. Vernoic's television culinary program had specifically covered this incident.<br /> Reservations were a must to secure a plate.<br /> The restaurant's owner had a mysterious background. While the specifics were unknown, a high-ranking noble from the capital of Vernoic, Kingsland, had caused a scene there once.<br /> He had attempted to force his way in without a reservation. Although this incident hadn't been reported, rumors suggested that a garbage truck had to be called to dispose of the intruder's remains, as he was too shattered to be removed by conventional means.<br /> Since then, no one dared to cause trouble.<br /> On their way, Mia introduced Wesley to the background story.<br /> "Mr. Turner, two plates of noodles." Mia called out once they arrived.<br /> Aaron Turner didn't respond but visibly paused upon seeing Wesley beside Mia.<br /> A faint smile appeared on his usually stoic face. Though the flesh on the face seemed stiff, it was indeed a smile. "Coming right up."<br /> Chapter 8 You Are Blushing<br /> Mia glanced at Aaron with a hint of surprise, thinking, "When does he become so warm and enthusiastic?<br /> His tone seemed a bit agitated earlier, didn't it?"<br /> Soon enough, Aaron brought two plates of noodles to the table. One steaming hot and the other devoid of any warmth.<br /> As Mia observed Aaron placing the plate without steam in front of Wesley, her expression changed slightly.<br /> It was a plate of instant noodles having soaked in cold water, with the seasoning barely dissolved.<br /> She felt a sense of panic. Mia had wanted to leave a good impression on Wesley, which was why she had chosen this place.<br /> However, Aaron had served such a plate of noodles.<br /> She dared not question Aaron. The type of noodles served here was not determined by the guests but by Aaron's mood.<br /> "This lass named Mia is quite something, living up to her name, and quite kind-hearted," Aaron remarked, looking at Wesley.<br /> "Get lost," Wesley retorted, using his fork to pick up the noodles and devouring them.<br /> Mia's face turned pale instantly. Disrespecting Aaron was akin to risking Wesley's life.<br /> To her astonishment, Aaron chuckled, tears welling up in his eyes.<br /> He wiped them away. "Alright, I'll leave you to your meal."<br /> Before departing, he gave Mia a thumbs-up. "Seize the opportunity."<br /> The eight plates of noodles symbolized the eight comrades who had faced life and hardships together.<br /> Wesley ate voraciously. Initially, they had only one pack of instant noodles to share among the eight of them, forcing them to divide it.<br /> Despite the circumstances, they devoured the noodles joyfully.<br /> Aaron had promised that once they survived, each one would have the most delicious plate of noodles.<br /> However, five of the eight had perished.<br /> Wesley had come dangerously close to life-threatening situations, but managed to cling to life.<br /> For him, the plate of noodles was not food but the bond of friendship that had shielded him from harm.<br /> "Do you... know each other?" Mia couldn't help but ask, her voice low and curious.<br /> "Some things are better left unknown," Wesley replied.<br /> Mia nodded in understanding, falling silent as they continued eating noodles. She couldn't help stealing glances at Wesley throughout the meal.<br /> This gent had piqued her curiosity even more.<br /> "Wesley, I see. No wonder you agreed to the divorce so readily. You've already found someone else outside."<br /> A sharp voice interrupted their meal.<br /> Taylor approached with a cold expression, accompanied by Henry.<br /> Taylor's mother was in the nearby hospital, and she had just picked up Frank, planning to buy some food when she unexpectedly saw Wesley.<br /> Of course, she saw Mia, too.<br /> Seeing Wesley dining with a lady more attractive than herself, so soon after the divorce felt like a dagger twisting in Taylor's heart.<br /> Her anger was uncontrollable.<br /> Wesley merely glanced at Taylor, disinterested in engaging with her.<br /> Taylor was stung by his indifferent gaze. She stepped forward, glaring at Wesley. "Are you not going to explain to me?"<br /> Mia looked at Taylor, silently cursing her as a foolish lady.<br /> Wesley continued eating his noodles, lowering his head. "Get lost. Don't disturb me, or I won't hesitate to hit you."<br /> "What did you say?" Henry stepped forward, enraged. "Wesley, try laying a hand on her! Is that all you're capable of? Laying hands on ladies?"<br /> "No wonder Taylor looks down on you. You're truly disgusting trash. Apologize to Taylor now, or else you'll regret coming into this world."<br /> "And how will he regret it? Tell me." Aaron emerged, carrying a cleaver, smiling as he faced Henry and Taylor.<br /> "Mr. Turner, we dare not cause trouble in your place, but this guy is just..."<br /> Henry attempted to speak but was cut off as Aaron's cleaver struck his face, sending him sprawling to the ground.<br /> "Mr. Turner, sorry, we'll leave now." Taylor hastily helped Henry up and hurriedly left.<br /> These two individuals were fortunate to know the legendary story behind Eight Plates of Noodles and had successfully made reservations to dine here multiple times.<br /> Having distanced themselves a bit, Henry covered his face and pointed at Wesley. "Wesley, we have some unfinished business. If you're smart, come over here now and apologize."<br /> "Wesley, I've seen through you as well. I never expected that for the past five years, you've been using my money to keep a lady on the side. We'll settle the score slowly."<br /> As the two noticed Aaron glancing their way, they quickly shut their mouths and hurriedly left.<br /> Once they were out of eyeshots, Aaron fixed his gaze on Wesley. "Your dad doesn't know about your divorce yet, does he?"<br /> "What difference would it make if he did?" Wesley stretched lazily. "I've fulfilled my promise. I've given enough."<br /> Aaron nodded in acknowledgment without saying anything further.<br /> This piqued Mia's curiosity even more. "Is it like what the novels depict? Did you marry Taylor due to some special event?"<br /> Seeing Wesley's glare, Mia lowered her head to focus on her noodles. "I won't ask anymore."<br /> "For the past five years, you've been staying in the stairwell. It has been hard for you, but at least you're still untouched," Aaron remarked before swiftly departing.<br /> Mia stared at Wesley in disbelief, realizing that Aaron's words were meant for her ears.<br /> "What are you staring at? Eat your noodles," Wesley said. Mia chuckled.<br /> "Why are you laughing?"<br /> "You're blushing."<br /> "Nonsense," Wesley retorted.<br /> Unable to contain herself, Mia burst into laughter. She had tried to hold it in, but seeing Wesley's flushed face made it impossible.<br /> Ten minutes later, Mia left on her own accord, sensing that Wesley had something to discuss with Aaron.<br /> Inside Aaron's small shop, Wesley opened a bottle of wine. "Still single?"<br /> "I look too old, no one's interested," Aaron replied, opening a bottle of liquor as well.<br /> "Then why are you meddling in my love lives?"<br /> "Leave a child behind, even if you pass away, someone will remember you." Aaron took a sip. "I've actually investigated this Mia."<br /> "You investigated her?"<br /> "I knew you'd get a divorce. I've been keeping an eye on the pretty ones. This girl had done a lot of good deeds before coming to Yeadeo. Once, she saved three people in a flood and nearly lost her life. Opportunities are rare. You have to seize them."<br /> "When you've figured things out and are ready to marry, then we can discuss our affairs. That's the condition." Wesley downed the entire bottle of liquor.<br /> "Otherwise, don't bother meddling. We're on a one-way path and can't drag others along."<br /> "You..." Aaron sighed as he watched Wesley's retreating figure.<br /> On the road leading to the Feidgeuo Manor, Taylor stood gazing blankly at the entrance not far away.<br /> Twice in one day, she had come here.<br /> The first time was to pick up Frank, and this time was because Frank had lost his expensive watch. She and Henry hadn't even had a meal, rushing over to find it.<br /> The first time, she had come in a hurry when Frank was injured and left quickly as well.<br /> But this time, as Taylor looked at the entrance ahead, an infinite longing sprouted within her.<br /> "If only... I could live here, how wonderful that would be."<br /> Henry looked at her. "One day, I'll definitely build an estate more magnificent than this, and you'll be the lady of the house."<br /> As they conversed, a taxi drove by, stopping at the entrance. The person who got out of the taxi left Taylor stunned.<br /> She rubbed her eyes.	Adoread	147	https://facebook.com/61556400142540	LEARN_MORE	1713682800	View Edit Delete
1666873	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727709	1734958298	695	261213703653482	3	8.0864714465225E+14	1713596400	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	226177680578601	0	Adoread	120207756044660265	client.adoread.com	Learn more	NONE	image	🔥🔥🔥 Read More👉	Hottest novel👉👉👉	https://client.adoread.com/book/loading/page/adoread/19161308412?utm_campaign={{campaign.id}}&utm_content={{campaign.name}}		1713536884	2.261776805786E+14	Adoread	https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437701264_456851220189074_3845705834667566214_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=m32RCif6CSYQ7kNvgFuSMzE&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCmVrRi7D_6QxqLraydxk9xxyh6Zau59WEd4nFQJ5eDPw&oe=663A7EAC	person_profile	0	Adoread	https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437535262_290944307391189_4921748547238139313_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KJXuaibgO0kQ7kNvgHwhV8i&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfATakPSBx-fqbicHle13ul0O_vFoRlBQ3pbXnQblr-tBQ&oe=663A712A	0	3	"Wesley, are you trying to harm me? You useless piece of trash, can't even make a decent cup of coffee, can you?"<br /> Madison Blair lifted her coffee cup and splashed it directly onto Wesley Harrington's face.<br /> "What are you looking at, you spineless waste? Your name sounds so lofty? I might as well call you a waste."<br /> Glancing at the grotesque expression of his wife's mother, Wesley pulled out his phone to check the time.<br /> Exactly twelve o'clock. It had been five full years since he married Taylor Reed.<br /> The appointed time had come.<br /> He had fulfilled his promise, safeguarding the Reed family for five years, transforming them from a family living off fishing to one perceived as affluent by the common folk.<br /> Wiping the coffee off his face, he turned and walked away.<br /> "Where do you think you're going? Go fetch some more coffee," Madison shouted.<br /> "Madison, didn't you say this waste is obedient at home, doing whatever he's told? I don't think he's taking it lying down."<br /> Madison grew angrier. "Wesley, you stop right there. My family has fed and housed you. If you dare disobey, I'll have you thrown out!"<br /> Ignoring her, Wesley continued downstairs.<br /> "When Taylor comes back, I'll immediately have you two divorced. Do you hear me? Stay right there," Madison threatened, "I'll let you know your place today."<br /> Grabbing a golf club, Madison swiftly charged towards Wesley.<br /> Seeing Wesley heading downstairs, she swung the club viciously at his back.<br /> Without turning back, Wesley gently sidestepped.<br /> Losing her balance, Madison tumbled forward, rolling down the stairs with a series of thumps.<br /> "Ouch... it hurts, it hurts so much!"<br /> As Madison reached the ground floor, she wailed in pain and her sister immediately rushed to her.<br /> "Wesley, what have you done? How dare you hit my sister!" Madison's sister hurried down, checking on Madison's condition.<br /> Wesley remained silent, observing the scene.<br /> "Quick, call Taylor. Tell her to come back. Today, she must divorce this waste." Madison glared at Wesley. "How dare you hit me? Not only will I let Taylor divorce you, but I'll make sure you leave in disgrace."<br /> "Mum, what's wrong?" At that moment, a gent and a lady walked in.<br /> The lady was Taylor, Madison's daughter.<br /> She ran towards Madison.<br /> As Madison pointed at Wesley, tears streamed down her face. "Taylor, he hit me, he hit me! When you're not home, he changes his attitude, scolding and hitting me in the slightest displeasure. He even pushed me down the stairs just now. Alexis can testify."<br /> Madison's sister, Alexis Blair, chimed in. "Yes, Wesley, this trash not only hit your mother but also threatened to hit me too. We cannot tolerate such trash."<br /> "Taylor, I have been telling you to divorce him for years. You've been supporting him, treating him like a Lord at home, but he's an ungrateful wolf in sheep's clothing."<br /> Helping Madison up, Taylor noticed the scrapes on Madison's arms and legs, her expression turning cold.<br /> "Wesley, why did you hit my mother? You better give me an explanation."<br /> Wesley looked at Taylor, his wife.<br /> Five years had passed, and she had never shown him kindness.<br /> Taylor dressed impeccably, a paragon of a successful lady, with a face that could be deemed angelic, yet whether her heart was as angelic remained a mystery.<br /> Her figure, too, left countless men yearning.<br /> For five years, Wesley had thought he might develop feelings for this lady, but in reality, it never happened.<br /> "There are surveillance cameras in the house," Wesley stated calmly before descending the stairs into the hallway.<br /> Despite residing in a three-story villa, Wesley's living quarters were confined to the stairwell.<br /> He harbored no resentment towards this arrangement. It was merely a promise. It was just that Taylor failed to appreciate him.<br /> This home held little value that he wished to cling onto.<br /> Retrieving a wooden box from beneath his pillow, Wesley extracted two documents. Casting a fleeting glance at the modest abode he had called home for five years, Wesley smiled faintly.<br /> He thought, "Finally... I'm free."<br /> Pushing the door ajar, Wesley was met by Taylor's piercing gaze. "I've reviewed the surveillance footage. Yes, my mother intended to strike you, but even if she did, what difference would it make?"<br /> "She's a lady. How much could her blows hurt you? Why did you dodge?"<br /> "If you hadn't dodged, my mother wouldn't have tumbled down." Wesley stared at Taylor, unable to comprehend her thought process.<br /> He had no interest in engaging in these arguments. Handing over the two documents to Taylor, he remarked, "The divorce agreement. I've already signed it. Take a look. I'm leaving with nothing."<br /> "With your current influence, there's no need for you to visit the city hall. Someone will handle it for you, right?"<br /> Madison was taken aback. She swiftly snatched the divorce agreement, flipping through it hastily.<br /> The contents were indeed straightforward. Both parties willingly divorced, with Wesley relinquishing all claims and having already signed.<br /> In an instant, Madison's pain seemed to dissipate. "Taylor, sign it quickly. Sign it."<br /> Taylor was still in a daze.<br /> She pondered.<br /> "A divorce agreement? Wesley has already prepared a divorce agreement. On what grounds?"<br /> "What gives him the right to initiate a divorce? All these years, he's done nothing at home, lacking any ambition. Always practicing martial arts, what right does he have to seek a divorce?"<br /> "If anyone should initiate it, it should be me. Moreover, now that I'm back to discussing this matter with him. Could it be that word got out, and Wesley, for the sake of his pride, rushed to prepare a divorce agreement first?"<br /> "It must be so, but... No!"<br /> "Wanting to leave with nothing, is he retreating to advance? As the chairman of the Reed Group, how could I be served with a divorce?"<br /> "Hey Wesley, I never expected this from you. Have I not treated you well enough? You seek a divorce, attempting to turn your retreat into advance, aiming to embarrass me?"<br /> Taylor glared at Wesley. "I'm telling you, it's impossible."<br /> Snatching the divorce agreement, she tore it to shreds.<br /> "Taylor, what are you doing? Such a great opportunity. Why not just sign it and let him leave?" Madison grew anxious.<br /> "Mom, I do intend to divorce this trash, but the decision must come from me. I returned specifically to address this matter."<br /> With that, Taylor produced two documents. "Wesley, remember that it's me who's divorcing you. It's me who no longer wants you. Initially, out of marital obligation, I had considered offering you some compensation. Now, you don't even need to think about it. Sign the divorce agreement and leave my home."<br /> Wesley offered a faint smile as he accepted the divorce agreement.<br /> "What are you laughing at?" Taylor demanded angrily.<br /> Wesley's smile seemed to mock her, fueling her rage.<br /> Ignoring her entirely, Wesley signed the document and handed it over.<br /> "What are you laughing at? Answer me! Who do you think you are?" Taylor roared once more.<br /> Wesley glanced at her before striding towards the exit.<br /> "Stop!" The gent who had accompanied Taylor stepped forward, blocking Wesley's path. "Taylor asked you a question, and... Your previous attitude displeased me. Apologize to Taylor, or I'll have you leave in disgrace!"<br /> Chapter 2 The Unspoken Truth<br /> <br /> "Yes, let him leave in disgrace. He thought he could just hit me and walk away so easily," Madison joined in the commotion, also noticing the gent blocking Wesley's path.<br /> Madison had a keen interest in luxury goods, having frequented various high-end establishments over the years as the Reed family's living conditions improved. The gent was wearing an expensive watch and dressed head to toe in high-end luxury brands.<br /> Seeing Madison's gaze, the gent spoke. "Rest assured, today Wesley must pay the price."<br /> The gent introduced himself, looking at Wesley, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Henry Clark, the eldest son of the Clark family and the general manager of the Clark Group in the North District."<br /> "From now on, I will accompany Taylor on her journey of life, and I will not allow anyone to bully her."<br /> "My identity carries weight. You should understand that. Now, apologize to Taylor. Apologize! Did you hear me? Apologize!"<br /> Madison's eyes lit up. She hadn't expected the gent before her to hold such a high status. She continued to shout, "Did you hear that? Taylor will be with Mr. Clark from now on. Apologize now."<br /> Wesley glanced at Henry, then at Taylor. He thought, "Have they been together all along?" Wesley had wanted to ask but decided against it because there was no need. He simply gave them a glance and continued walking towards the exit.<br /> "Are you ignoring me?" Henry's face turned cold as he reached out to grab Wesley. Henry's hand froze mid-air as he received a solid hit.<br /> "Until I sign the divorce papers, Taylor and I are still wife and husband. I don't care to investigate whether you two had any intimate relationship during that time, but don't provoke me, or I won't hesitate to make you regret it." Wesley's gaze was icy, and as Henry met his eyes, he felt a twinge of fear and swallowed his words.<br /> Taylor was also stunned. She knew exactly what Wesley had been like over the past five years. There were many surveillance cameras in the house, and she would often check them.<br /> Even when Taylor wasn't home, despite how her family treated Wesley, he always obeyed without complaint, especially towards her. He had never raised his voice, no matter how they treated him.<br /> Today, not only did Wesley dodge when her mother struck, but he also initiated the divorce and now even struck Henry. <br /> Taylor was at a loss for words, thinking, "How could this cowardly gent dare? On what grounds does he dare?"<br /> This change was difficult for Taylor to accept as if she didn't truly understand this guy. The gent who used to be obedient to her, completely submissive, now revealed this side of himself. She watched Wesley walk away in a daze, feeling a strange discomfort in her heart.<br /> "Isn't he leaving with nothing?" Alexis pointed at the wooden box Wesley was holding. "What is he taking with him?"<br /> Madison also realized. Over the past five years, Wesley had always treasured this wooden box, carrying it with him wherever he went. She thought there must be something valuable inside.<br /> Realizing this, Madison hurriedly followed. "Wesley, stop right there, leave the wooden box."<br /> Wesley paused, glanced at Madison, and said, "This is my personal belonging."<br /> "Nonsense, what personal belonging could you possibly have after marrying into the Reed family? Everything you've eaten, worn, and lived in over the years has been provided by the Reed family. Put it down."<br /> As she spoke, Madison reached out to grab the wooden box.<br /> "Ah..." A scream rang out as Madison quickly retracted her hand, a gash appearing on her palm, a crimson liquid dripping.<br /> The wooden box was now stained with the same crimson liquid, trembling lightly in Wesley's hand.<br /> "It's not the right time yet, the day you thirst for this crimson liquid will come," Wesley murmured softly, patting the box before turning to continue his stride towards the exit.<br /> "Monster! A monster!" Madison screamed, causing Taylor and the others to rush out. Seeing the wound in Madison's hand, Taylor was filled with rage.<br /> "Wesley, aren't you going to say something?" Wesley halted once more, contemplating before meeting Taylor's gaze.<br /> "Just stay out of my way from now on. Consider this a warning to you."<br /> "Taylor, that wooden box of his has a mechanism. It must hold something valuable! We can't let him take it with him," Madison, enduring the pain, reminded them.<br /> "Mom, your injury is important. We'll deal with him later. Let me take you to the hospital first." Taylor comforted Madison before calling out to the retreating Wesley.<br /> "Our marriage is over! Yet, you dared to hurt my mother! This won't be the end of it! I will make you regret it!" Ignoring her, Wesley continued walking out.<br /> "Rest assured, I promise he won't see the light of day tomorrow." Henry stepped forward to console. "Let's focus on getting your wound treated first."<br /> "I want him to regret ever existing in this world, to apologize to me in repentance," Madison roared.<br /> "Mom, trust me, I will make him do just that." Taylor looked at Madison with a mix of pity and determination. "Let's go to the hospital first."<br /> In the villa area, Wesley halted, his voice cold. "Get out."<br /> An elderly gent leaped down from a tree, appearing to be in his seventies, yet landing silently from a height of around ten feet.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, your father wants you to come home and take charge."<br /> "He stopped being my father five years ago. He's my enemy."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you misunderstood your father. He had his reasons back then. I swear in my life, once you know the truth, you will forgive him."<br /> "Huh!" Wesley smirked coldly, saying, "I nearly passed away back then. Is that also a misunderstanding?"<br /> The old gent pleaded, "Mr. Harrington, this situation is truly not as you perceive it."<br /> Wesley didn't engage further with the old guy. The events of that year were etched in his memory forever. He was the one who had been abandoned. If not for that incident, why would he have stayed with the Reed family for five years?<br /> Watching Wesley walk away, the old gent had tears silently streaming down his face. "Mr. Harrington, I truly... I truly can't bring myself to speak the truth, but you have misunderstood your father. He also bears burdens and endures pains beyond what an ordinary person can handle."<br /> As Wesley's figure disappeared, the old gent stood up, hesitated for a moment, then dialed a number on his phone.<br /> "Mr. Harrington is now divorced. I've given you the news firsthand. If your daughter is truly together with Mr. Harrington, you must fulfill the promise and let her persuade Mr. Harrington to come home."<br /> After hanging up, a middle-aged gent in a luxurious estate jumped up excitedly. Calming himself, he immediately made another call. "My dear, you're at Yeadeo, right?<br /> "Go find Wesley now. Don't mention the engagement for now. Use every means to get close to him, make him fall in love with you."<br /> "Dad, I don't have time."<br /> "No matter what you are busy with, you must go find Wesley now. No matter what reason you approach him, you must leave a good impression the first time."<br /> "Dad, I'm in trouble right now. If I don't handle it well, I might be good as gone. I have to deal with it immediately. I'm hanging up."<br /> Chapter 3 You're Nothing<br /> The middle-aged gent's voice lowered significantly. "Is there a big incident happening? You didn't tell me? What happened?"<br /> "Quinn Kingsley from Yeadeo, Mr. Kingsley, used our product and now has one foot on the grave. If something really happens to him..."<br /> "You mean Quinn, the uncontested leader of Yeadeo?"<br /> "Yes."<br /> "In that case, you should go find Wesley. Trust me, in this world, there is no problem that Wesley can't solve. As long as he's willing to help, you'll be fine. Listen to me, go find Wesley immediately."<br /> The lady fell silent for a moment before saying, "Okay."<br /> At Yeadeo Harbor, a gent with a large flaxen chain and a watch, sporting a crew cut, hurriedly disembarked, accompanied by a dozen gentlemen.<br /> "Mr. Reed, wherever that trash is, we will find him and tear him apart."<br /> "Yes, that guy dared to harm your mother. We'll make sure he pays for it."<br /> Frank Reed's face turned cold. "Wesley, you coward, thinking you can overturn the world? How dare you touch my mom? Just wait until I find you, you're finished."<br /> "We've found him. Wesley got into a taxi, and our boys followed him."<br /> "Let's go!" Frank waved his hand, leading dozens of men who boarded the car with harpoons, steel pipes, and other weapons.<br /> Inside the taxi, Wesley gazed at the scenery outside, feeling a strange sense of tranquility.<br /> He thought to himself, "I never imagined that while I was secretly paving the way for the Reed family, Taylor, after progressing so rapidly, would start looking down on me more and more."<br /> "Those ladies who know my true identity, which one of them isn't trying to throw themselves at me? Ladies like that don't interest me."<br /> "Being an ordinary gent is truly difficult," Wesley murmured, smiling faintly and deciding not to dwell on these matters anymore. He had important things to attend to and no time to waste on personal affairs.<br /> "Young lad, are you going to Feidgeuo Manor for a job interview?" The driver, curious about Wesley's destination, inquired.<br /> Feidgeuo Manor was Yeadeo's most mysterious private area. Originally a villa area, it was bought at a huge cost five years ago and completely renovated. It was said to have cost a trillion dollars. The former villa area was now Feidgeuo Manor.<br /> "That's my home," Wesley replied nonchalantly.<br /> The driver was taken aback by this revelation, silently cursing Wesley for bragging. After a couple of minutes, the driver regained his composure. "It seems like you and I both prefer to keep a low profile. My car usually gathers dust at home, so I occasionally drive a taxi to experience life."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "My car has been driven by my assistant for the past few years, so it's not gathering dust."<br /> "Haha..." The driver laughed. "We should get together sometime and see whose car is more impressive."<br /> "Sure, whenever we have the time."<br /> As they chatted, the vehicle soon arrived near Feidgeuo Manor, where the massive head of the Feidgeuo Peak protruded, creating a unique landscape in Yeadeo.<br /> The driver asked with a smile, "Since you're the owner here, it's fine if I drive in, right?"<br /> "Of course," Wesley replied.<br /> As soon as Wesley spoke, several cars caught up from behind.<br /> The cars surrounded the one Wesley was in, with the front vehicles braking to force the car to a stop.<br /> When numerous people descended from cars wielding harpoons and steel pipes, the driver's face paled.<br /> Frank and his group got out of the cars, instantly closing in, and without hesitation, started attacking, the steel pipes and harpoons thudding against the car.<br /> Frank's henchman yanked open the door of Wesley's car, poised to stab Wesley with a harpoon, but Wesley swiftly exited the vehicle.<br /> With a firm step on the ground, he launched a swift hit.<br /> A muffled sound echoed as the henchman was hit away.<br /> "What are you looking at?" Frank noticed his henchmen were all staring at him. "All of you, attack together and take him down!"<br /> As he commanded, the henchmen Frank brought with him surged forward.<br /> The taxi driver, trembling, took out his phone to call the police, but Frank glared at him. "I am Frank Reed from Yeadeo Harbor. If you dare, go ahead and make that call."<br /> Frank, leveraging his sister Taylor's status, had been causing trouble in Yeadeo Harbor, and no one dared to provoke him.<br /> Upon hearing Frank's name, the driver hastily put away his phone. "Mr. Reed, I'll just check the time, you guys continue."<br /> "Huh!" Frank snorted coldly, casting his gaze towards the surrounded Wesley.<br /> The sounds of thuds continued to ring out incessantly. Because Wesley was completely surrounded, Frank was unable to see the situation inside clearly, but he could imagine it. After all, in Frank's mind, the henchmen under his command were not to be trifled with.<br /> "Hit him hard for me!"<br /> Another muffled sound and a figure flew out. At that moment, Frank finally saw the situation clearly, and his face turned pale.<br /> Frank knew that Wesley liked to practice martial arts, but he had never expected Wesley to be this skilled. It wasn't Wesley who had been beaten, but his own men by Wesley alone.<br /> Frantically, Frank turned and ran to retrieve a crossbow from the car.<br /> "Clear the way." Frank bellowed, aiming the crossbow at Wesley.<br /> "You scumbag, you think you can fight? Move one more time, and I'll end your life! Surrender!"<br /> Wesley, holding a wooden box, stared at Frank. Ignoring the crossbow in his hand, Wesley said, "Tell your henchmen to back off, or you'll all see the light from above!"<br /> "You're really good at pretending to be tough." Frank took two steps forward. "See the light? Move a muscle and see if I can end your life or not! If you don't have the guts, apologize now!"<br /> Wesley turned his head and looked at the approaching cars, with two expensive ones in the lead, two more in the rear, and another one in the middle.<br /> "Keep acting tough, and I'll put a hole in your head." Frank spoke while glancing at the five cars. "What, looking for help?"<br /> "Let me tell you, those who ride in these cars are not the kind of weaklings like you who rely on connections. With me here, in Yeadeo's social hierarchy, even those who ride in such cars wouldn't dare meddle in this matter. And let me make it clear, without my sister, you're nothing."<br /> Chapter 4 Is He Worthy?<br /> As Frank's words faded, the five cars came to a halt.<br /> A bodyguard opened the door of the one in the middle, revealing a dazzling pair of shining shoes catching everyone's eye.<br /> The shining shoe encased a beautiful foot. Above, the skirt's hem was adorned with lace.<br /> Then, like a fairy stepping out of a painting, she appeared before everyone's eyes.<br /> The lady was beautiful!<br /> Frank was mesmerized. Ever since the Reed family rose to prominence, he had been surrounded by ladies, but compared to the elegant lady before him, they were worlds apart.<br /> It wasn't just a difference in appearance but an incomparable gap in demeanor.<br /> The lady descending from the Maybach seemed like a celestial being untouched by mortal affairs.<br /> The embodiment of a fairy in the mundane world.<br /> She simply stood there after getting out of the car, perfectly embodying what it meant to be graceful and elegant.<br /> The lady glanced at Wesley, then at Frank.<br /> Frank grinned, saying, "May I have the honor of knowing the name of this esteemed lady? I am Frank..."<br /> The lady spoke calmly. "Disrespect Mr. Harrington, and you're done for."<br /> Her bodyguards, unfazed by Frank's crossbow, swiftly overwhelmed him, sending him crashing to the ground.<br /> The henchmen who had come with Frank, previously defeated by Wesley, now scrambled to their feet and fled in all directions.<br /> Who would dare provoke someone who could afford such a car?<br /> "My sister is Taylor Reed, the chairperson of Reed Group," Frank shouted, clutching his head.<br /> Ignoring him, one of the bodyguards dragged him to the roadside grass while another used a belt to tighten around Frank's neck, exerting pressure.<br /> "Enough, a lesson is all that's needed." Wesley spoke calmly, and only when the lady gestured did the bodyguards release Frank.<br /> Frank lay there, already unconscious.<br /> Wesley turned to the lady. "Who are you?"<br /> "I am Mia Roberts, the general manager of Vinver Business Alliance's Yeadeo branch." She looked at Wesley and continued, "Mr. Harrington, my father mentioned that you have miraculous healing skills and earnestly requested your assistance. A generous reward awaits."<br /> Wesley furrowed his brow slightly, thinking, "There are indeed people who recognize my abilities and status, yet I've rarely intervened in the past five years. Today, shortly after I divorced Taylor, she is here. Whose arrangement is this?"<br /> "Mr. Harrington, my father also mentioned that you are benevolent and has raised the banner of compassion among healers, serving as a role model and benchmark for all in the medical field."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "You have a way with words. Tell me the specifics."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, please get in the car first. I will explain in detail on the way."<br /> The phrase "compassionate healer" held significant weight for Wesley, who had saved countless lives from the brink of death.<br /> Without further ado, he got into the car.<br /> Inside, after Mia brewed coffee for Wesley, she began. "Vinver Business Alliance has a wide range of business operations, and I mainly oversee the health supplement sector, which has seen some success in recent years.<br /> "Recently, Quinn Kingsley started using our medicines, and now there's an accident."<br /> As she spoke, Mia kept her gaze fixed on Wesley.<br /> Quinn, the undisputed leader of Yeadeo, was a figure of immense influence.<br /> Upon hearing this name, Wesley showed no particular reaction. "If the city's leader faces issues with your products, it is indeed a concern. Let's go and see."<br /> With just a sentence, Wesley leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest.<br /> Mia was secretly alarmed, thinking, "He knows who Quinn is, yet he seems indifferent. Who is this Wesley, really? No wonder Dad has instructed me to find a way to win his favor." Mia's inner resistance toward Wesley quietly shifted.<br /> Wesley had piqued her curiosity.<br /> As the vehicle was moving, Wesley's phone rang.<br /> Wesley opened his eyes and took out his phone to see Taylor calling.<br /> Pressing the answer button, he asked, "What's the matter?"<br /> On the other end of the line, Taylor, driving towards Feidgeuo Manor, had a grim expression.<br /> She thought, "Has Wesley ever spoken to me in such a cold tone before? Is he really this heartless right after our divorce?"<br /> Already furious, she snapped. "Wesley, do you even consider yourself a human being?<br /> "Today, not only did you lay hands on my mother, but you also had someone attack my brother. Do you not remember our past at all?"<br /> Wesley calmly replied, "Do we have a past to remember?"<br /> "You truly are a heartless scumbag, just as my mother said. You are an ungrateful and vicious person I raised for five years. Even a pet would wag its tail at me!"<br /> Taylor wanted to continue her tirade, but the phone line had already turned busy.<br /> This only fueled her anger further.<br /> Just now, she had received a call from Frank's underlings, informing her that Wesley had sent people to attack Frank and even intended to end him.<br /> Taylor wanted to demand answers, but...<br /> As Taylor was clutching her fists, her gaze turned icy.<br /> After a moment, she picked up her phone again. "Wesley, you are so narrow-minded. You have no ambition. Any lady would steer clear of you."<br /> "Just because I dumped you, you are doing this on purpose to make me feel sick. Pretending to be aloof and seeking revenge? Do you even deserve it?"<br /> "In Yeadeo, squashing you would be as easy as squashing an ant. You're asking for it! If anything happens to my brother, I will make you wish you were ending!"<br /> Her furious voice message echoed in the car.<br /> Wesley chuckled and put away his phone.<br /> Beside him, Mia seemed contemplative. Before coming, she had already ordered a swift investigation into Wesley.<br /> She was curious, thinking, "How could someone valued by my father could be the one 'marrying into' the Reed family."<br /> Being tactful, Mia chose not to ask and pretended not to have heard.<br /> After about forty minutes, they arrived at the Kingsley Manor.<br /> The Kingsley family members, upon seeing Mia alight from the car, all wore grim expressions.<br /> Mia greeted them with a smile, "Everyone, this is Wesley Harrington, Mr. Harrington, the miraculous healer I specially invited to treat Mr. Kingsley."<br /> "Him? The gent who married into the Reed family?"<br /> "A miraculous healer? Is he even worthy? Are healers so worthless now?"<br /> "A useless gent who mooches off of the Reed family? How dare he call himself a miraculous healer? Truly a joke among all jokes."<br /> Chapter 5 Compassionate Healer<br /> Amanda Kingsley, Quinn's granddaughter, stared coldly at Wesley and Mia.<br /> This lady, dressed in a smart suit, also held significant fame in Yeadeo, overseeing the region's business activities, including investment attraction and various local business negotiations.<br /> Amanda had a favorable view of Taylor, who had risen swiftly in recent times, and they had interacted frequently.<br /> She was aware of Wesley's existence and had advised Taylor to part ways with him early on.<br /> But Amanda never imagined that Mia would bring someone like Wesley, a complete waste, and claim he was a miraculous healer.<br /> Glaring at Mia, she said, "Mia, once my grandfather is well, it's best for your Roberts family to leave Yeadeo."<br /> "As for you..." She glanced at Wesley. "I will advise Taylor to divorce you. You have deceived Taylor's feelings and now shamelessly made your way into my family. You are a despicable creature."<br /> After reprimanding Mia and Wesley, she turned to an elderly gent beside her, and her tone and attitude completely changed. "Mr. Phillips, sorry to trouble you. My grandfather is inside, please."<br /> Mia looked at the elderly gent, who was already in his twilight years, feeling deeply shocked.<br /> Scott Phillips, the 38th generation heir of the Healing Clinic, was now ninety-two years old.<br /> Renowned as a miraculous healer, he was a respected figure in the medical community of Yeadeo and even nationally.<br /> He no longer conducted consultations personally due to his old age. Mia had visited him specifically to pay her respects once she had arrived in Yeadeo but had not met Scott.<br /> She never expected Scott to appear in person. It was understandable, as Quinn held a prominent position in the city. Despite the profound influence of the Phillips family, they still had to show respect to Quinn.<br /> Mia looked at Wesley, feeling conflicted and thinking, "Dad has confidently claimed that Wesley has extraordinary abilities, but does he really?"<br /> She harbored doubts, but out of propriety, Mia spoke. "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the trouble."<br /> Wesley smiled, "It's fine. As long as the person can be healed."<br /> His open-mindedness impressed Mia.<br /> After about half an hour, Amanda emerged from the room. All eyes instantly turned towards her.<br /> It was evident that Amanda had wailed out, with traces of tears still visible.<br /> "Amanda, how is it?" A middle-aged gent anxiously asked her.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family who had rushed back also focused their attention on her.<br /> "Mr. Phillips said that there's little hope of recovery. He could only use acupuncture to wake grandfather for half an hour. When grandfather wakes up, let's all go in and see if he has any final instructions."<br /> Everyone was shocked.<br /> "How could this be?"<br /> "Is Mr. Phillips also helpless?"<br /> The members of the Kingsley family found it hard to accept this reality, especially since Quinn had always treated his juniors well.<br /> The thought of Quinn departing saddened some, and tears silently fell.<br /> Publicly, Quinn's status was the foundation of the Kingsley family's prominence in Yeadeo.<br /> If Quinn were to pass away, the Kingsley family would undoubtedly decline.<br /> The atmosphere within the Kingsley family was somber.<br /> Amanda looked at her family members, opened her mouth, but said nothing, silently turning back into the room.<br /> "Stop crying," A middle-aged gent said sternly, "Dad wouldn't want to see you all in tears. If he's really leaving, we mustn't let him worry about us. Pull yourselves together."<br /> After these words, the middle-aged gent also entered the room.<br /> The younger members of the Kingsley family wiped their tears vigorously, trying to force smiles, but in truth, they looked better at crying than pretending to be happy.<br /> Mia's spirit plummeted as she realized the gravity of the situation. Even if an ordinary person passed away from consuming health supplements, it spelled big trouble for those who sold them. And when the deceased happened to be Quinn, the stakes were even higher.<br /> She understood that it would be difficult for this branch to stay in Yeadeo, and even the headquarters might face repercussions.<br /> "Let's go in and have a look." Wesley glanced at Mia. "There might still be a chance."<br /> "Ah..." Mia stared at Wesley in surprise. Seeing him already heading towards the room, she quickly followed suit.<br /> Inside the room, the members of the Kingsley family stood around the mattress, maintaining a certain distance.<br /> Scott lit the alcohol lamp and took out the needles, his expression solemn.<br /> He looked at the members of the Kingsley family. "Think about what you want to say to Mr. Kingsley later. Once you're ready, let me know, and then I'll proceed with the acupuncture."<br /> As he said this, tears welled up in many eyes.<br /> "If you don't mind, let me take a look. I have a way." Wesley spoke up, drawing everyone's attention.<br /> Amanda's face darkened. "Who let you in? Get out!"<br /> "Mia, have you lost your mind? Tricked by this trash and actually brought him here as a miracle healer. Get out with him! I'll settle the score with you in a couple of days."<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, at a loss for words.<br /> "Even Mr. Phillips is unable to reverse the situation. What use are you? Get out." Another younger member of the Kingsley family angrily rebuked.<br /> The middle-aged gent added, "We're in no mood right now. You better leave immediately."<br /> "I understand your narrow-mindedness," Wesley continued, "But as a healer, once I see a patient, I cannot stand by and watch him draw his last breath."<br /> "Wesley, you're quite the charlatan. Do you really want to be gone right now?" Amanda's voice was filled with anger.<br /> "Amanda, let me say a few words," Scott interjected, and Amanda fell silent.<br /> Looking at Wesley, Scott began. "Young lad, at my age, I've seen a lot and have a broad perspective. Today, however, I find it hard to remain indifferent. I practiced medicine from the age of sixteen until I stopped seeing patients for a total of seventy years."<br /> "I've saved countless patients from various illnesses. I never easily declare a patient's fate, nor do I believe I have the right to do so."<br /> "But from your recent remarks, it seems like you're accusing me of such actions. Young people wanting to make a name for themselves by stepping on the shoulders of their predecessors, I can understand."<br /> "But this kind of behavior displeases me."<br /> "My displeasure, what does it mean to you? Do you understand?"<br /> "Even if you are a healer, your career will be ruined because of this."<br /> Chapter 6 Hand of Hell<br /> In the face of Scott's veiled threats, Wesley simply smiled and brushed them off.<br /> Looking at Scott, he asked, "I've always focused on the issue at hand rather than attacking individuals. I have a few questions for you. If you can't administer the needles, how long do you think Quinn can hold on?"<br /> "Seven days, but he will remain unconscious," Scott replied bluntly.<br /> "Then let me ask you this, is there anyone in the world with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "Outrageous," Amanda coldly interjected, "Mr. Phillips is unparalleled in his medical expertise."<br /> Scott glanced at Amanda. "Amanda, let me handle this question."<br /> Continuing to address Wesley, he said, "I don't underestimate myself, nor do I overestimate. There are countless talented individuals in the world, like stars in the sky. I may not dare claim to be the best in medical skills, but those who surpass me are few."<br /> "That means there are some," Wesley calmly remarked, causing Scott's expression to shift slightly, "Indeed, there are."<br /> "Then let me ask you this. Do you think within seven days, the Kingsley family won't find someone with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "If they do find someone, do you believe there is an illness that you cannot cure, but this person can?"<br /> Wesley's questions were sharp and resounding.<br /> Scott's face changed once more as he was rendered speechless.<br /> "Even if there is, that person will never be you." Amanda's face turned icy. "Now get out. Don't spout your eloquence here. Your deceitful behavior is repulsive."<br /> "Your understanding of me is merely hearsay, isn't it?" Wesley retorted, his gaze mocking Amanda, "Has your background and education taught you such arrogance and prejudice?"<br /> "Arrogance?" Amanda's face grew colder as she disdainfully looked at Wesley. "Prejudice?<br /> "Did I say something wrong just now? You are nothing but stagnant waste, a parasite living off others. If it weren't for Taylor, you would have starved on the streets long ago."<br /> "Relying on sweet words, deceiving Taylor. She, with her kind heart, can't bear to divorce you, but don't push your luck. If it weren't for Taylor's sake, you would have been sent out long ago."<br /> Scott interrupted Amanda, "Amanda, although I find this lad a bit annoying, what he said does hold some truth. There are indeed individuals with better medical skills than me. Your grandfather can hold on for seven days. Try reaching out to see if someone can come over. I'll help you make connections."<br /> "If it really doesn't work out after seven days, I'll administer the needles to your grandfather. However, at that point, I can only buy you three minutes."<br /> As soon as Scott spoke, the faces of the Kingsley family members grew even more solemn. True healers were rare and not easily summoned.<br /> While the Kingsley family had connections in Yeadeo, their influence waned outside of it.<br /> "Mr. Phillips, please administer the needles. Life has its ups and downs, and we understand that. Just buy my father a bit more time." The middle-aged gent spoke up.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family nodded in agreement.<br /> Amanda looked at Scott. "Mr. Phillips, please."<br /> "In that case, please have everyone unrelated leave. I need silence," Scott calmly stated.<br /> Amanda glared at Wesley, her eyes speaking volumes without a word.<br /> The unrelated individuals were, naturally, Wesley and Mia.<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, intending to leave, but she suddenly hesitated.<br /> Instead of leaving, Wesley moved forward.<br /> "What are you doing?" A young member of the Kingsley family stepped forward with a stern expression, pushing Wesley.<br /> In one swift motion, Wesley executed a clean shoulder throw, toppling the young gent to the ground, his own expression turning cold.<br /> "A bunch of fools! If it weren't for my teacher's teachings about not turning a blind eye to those in need, I wouldn't bother with you ignorant lot," Wesley remarked with disdain.<br /> As Wesley effortlessly took down one individual from the Kingsley family, the others seemed slow to react.<br /> By the time they realized what was happening, Wesley had already picked up the needle next to Scott and casually flicked his wrist.<br /> The needle flew out of his hand, piercing Quinn's temple, followed by a second needle, a third needle, and so on.<br /> "What are you doing? Stop!" Amanda's voice rose in urgency, echoed by the rest of the Kingsley family members who rushed forward to restrain Wesley.<br /> "Stay back, everyone. Wait." Scott suddenly stood up, blocking the others. "Let him try."<br /> Amanda and the others were left dumbfounded, thinking, "What does this mean?"<br /> Despite their confusion, they heeded Scott's words.<br /> After Scott stopped the members of the Kingsley family, he fixed his gaze on Wesley.<br /> Wesley proceeded to use eighteen needles in succession, symbolizing the levels of pain.<br /> Even if someone had descended into the depths of hell, they must be brought back.<br /> The final needle, also piercing a vital point, caused Quinn's body to tremble suddenly, resonating with the previous eighteen needles.<br /> Scott's eyes widened, his body trembling slightly. His reaction left Amanda and the others even more puzzled, but none dared to interrupt.<br /> Moments later, Wesley placed a palm on Quinn's chest, causing all eighteen needles to be shaken off. When all the needles landed on the ground, the part of the skin where the needles had pierced turned dark.<br /> Wesley then dragged Quinn to the edge of the mattress, flipped him over with his head facing downwards, and gave him a firm pat on the back.<br /> Quinn spat out a mouthful of black liquid. When Wesley flipped him back to lie flat, his complexion had regained some color.<br /> "The Hand of Darkness... It's the Hand of Darkness!" Scott exclaimed with excitement, his body quivering, "It's the Hand that descends into the dark world, snatching people from the hands of the Evil!"<br /> "You do have some knowledge, recognizing the Hand of Darkness." Wesley glanced at Scott.<br /> Scott's gaze towards Wesley had undergone a drastic change. He respectfully clasped his hands together.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thirty years ago, I had the honor of attending a teaching conference held by Mr. Vanderbilt. I saw the Hand of Darkness, but my limited aptitude only allowed me to grasp the basics."<br /> "I have been blind and ignorant. I apologize for my earlier offenses. Please forgive me, Mr. Harrington."<br /> The Mr. Vanderbilt Scott referred to was Wesley's teacher, Ulysses Vanderbilt. He generously imparted his skills to others, but the ability to learn depended on one's innate talent.<br /> In this world, few could learn Ulysses' skills.<br /> Scott had been fortunate to receive guidance from Ulysses, which had elevated his medical skills. However, the Hand of Darkness, a miraculous ability, was beyond his comprehension.<br /> Wesley smiled faintly, "Your actions earlier are understandable. I appreciate your words."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you must be an exceptional disciple of Mr. Vanderbilt, possessing unparalleled magnanimity. Impressive," Scott continued.<br /> "Enough with the flattery at your age."<br /> "You are mistaken, Mr. Harrington. Every word I speak is sincere."<br /> Mia, Amanda, and the others stood bewildered by the unfolding situation.<br /> "Mr. Phillips... he... he..." Amanda's words faltered.<br /> Scott turned to the members of the Kingsley family. "Meeting Mr. Harrington was Quinn's luck. His symptoms have been cured by Mr. Harrington. With a few days of rest, he will be fine."<br /> The waste Taylor had previously said was called Mr. Harrington by Scott!<br /> Recalling their previous attitudes, Amanda hurriedly apologized, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> The members of the Kingsley family all apologized in unison, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> Chapter 7 Eight Plates of Noodles<br /> With a faint smile, Wesley remarked, "As family members of a patient, your actions earlier are understandable. There's no need for such formality."<br /> Amanda's perplexity deepened as she thought, "Where is the cowardly waste that Taylor described? This display of magnanimity and breadth is far from it."<br /> Mia, too, felt a shiver of realization, thinking, "No wonder Dad has insisted on my proximity to Wesley.<br /> This guy..."<br /> She gazed at Wesley, her curiosity piqued, a sense of exploration stirring within her.<br /> "Mia has brought you here, Mr. Harrington, to cure my grandfather. The Kingsley family will never forget this act. However, considering that my grandfather's ailment stemmed from the health supplements produced by the Vinver Business Alliance, we will be conducting an investigation into it."<br /> Amanda continued, looking at Wesley, "What do you think... of this approach?"<br /> It was Mia who had invited Wesley, so Amanda had grown wiser, refraining from asking for a direct punishment of the Vinver Business Alliance.<br /> As Mia heard Amanda's words, her heart skipped a beat, realizing trouble was brewing.<br /> "On the way here, Ms. Roberts briefed me on the situation. You conducted experiments on mice, correct?"<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes, the health supplements we received were exclusively provided by the Roberts family. There were no similar cases on the market, so we used mice for testing.<br /> "All the mice that ingested this supplement were gone."<br /> She looked at Mia and added, her voice turned colder. "Before the experiment, I specifically contacted Mia to inquire about the testing methods during the development phase, which involved mice."<br /> "There have been individuals eyeing my grandfather's position, some even wishing for his demise. I never imagined that the Vinver Business Alliance, which I attracted for investment, would become a weapon in someone else's hands."<br /> "Do you have any of the remaining medicine?" Wesley inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes."<br /> "Bring some over."<br /> Immediately, someone fetched the medicine. After it was brought to him, Wesley took out a supplement and swallowed it directly.<br /> This scene left Amanda and the others dumbfounded.<br /> Scott, too, was bewildered. "Mr. Harrington, what are you doing?"<br /> Wesley smiled, "Just proving that this medicine is not toxic."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thank you," Mia thanked sincerely, feeling like sobbing at that moment.<br /> Amanda, with a puzzled expression, looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, are you suggesting that my grandfather's condition wasn't caused by the Vinver Business Alliance's medicine? What about the mice?"<br /> The rest were equally puzzled.<br /> "Yes, but not entirely," Wesley said, leaving everyone even more bewildered.<br /> Mia's emotions were like a rollercoaster ride, from relief to immediate tension.<br /> "This medicine itself is not toxic, but when taken with another substance made from a certain plant, it results in Quinn's condition. The mice would die immediately, while humans could endure a few more days."<br /> Wesley continued to explain, "The plant used in this concoction is originally meant for crafting slow-acting toxins, not for human consumption."<br /> Looking at Amanda, Wesley said, "During this period, whoever had access to your grandfather and the mice will better understand why these events occurred."<br /> The gaze of members of the Kingsley family immediately focused on a lady.<br /> Amanda, somewhat incredulous, looked at her. "Can you offer an explanation?"<br /> The lady was the wife of Amanda's deceased brother. She found it hard to accept, as did the rest of the Kingsley family.<br /> This lady had been named the exemplary lady who served her family well this year, not due to her connection with the Kingsley family but because she genuinely deserved it.<br /> "What do you mean? Amanda, what explanation do you want from me?"<br /> The lady stared at Amanda. "Am I the only one who had access to Grandfather and the mice? You, and you... and you, who didn't have access?"<br /> "You all claim to treat me as family. Since I married into the Kingsley family, I have worked diligently, contributing my share even if not acknowledged."<br /> "Amanda, it has been over a year since your brother passed, and I never once considered remarrying. Now, just because of his words, you demand an explanation from me?"<br /> Pointing at Wesley, the lady questioned, "Just because he accuses me of poisoning, you suspect me? Tell me, did I poison him?" The lady glared at Wesley.<br /> "I am merely analyzing the facts. As for concluding this case, it's not within my purview," Wesley addressed the members of the Kingsley family, saying, "You should conduct a thorough investigation into this matter.<br /> "I will write a prescription. Have Quinn take it on time, and he will recover in seven days."<br /> Amanda hurried to fetch paper and pen while Wesley prepared the prescription. Once done, he was ready to leave.<br /> Amanda said hurriedly, "Mr. Harrington, I've already made arrangements for lunch."<br /> "No need," Wesley smiled.<br /> The Kingsley family sought to build closer ties with Wesley, given his extraordinary medical skills. Wesley was well aware of this.<br /> Looking at Amanda and the others, Wesley remarked, "In the future, if you encounter any difficult medical cases that others cannot solve, seek me out. Remember, cases others cannot solve."<br /> The gaze of the Kingsley family members toward Wesley changed once again. Many renowned healers had eccentric personalities and were difficult to engage.<br /> They hadn't expected Wesley to possess such remarkable medical skills without any airs.<br /> As Wesley prepared to depart, the members of the Kingsley family did not dare to insist on his stay, so they accompanied him outside.<br /> "Oh, how could we forget such an important matter? Amanda, what about the consultation fee?" The middle-aged gent inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the oversight. Please wait a moment." Amanda hurried back inside and soon returned with a bank card in hand.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, there's one million dollars in here."<br /> Without hesitation, Wesley accepted the bank card and boarded Mia's car.<br /> During the journey, Mia boldly looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, you've helped me immensely. Can I treat you to a meal? Don't decline in a hurry. It's not a fancy restaurant, but it will leave you wanting more. It's a small place on the street, with only eight plates of noodles served each day, each plate containing different ingredients."<br /> "I managed to secure a reservation. Are you interested?"<br /> Wesley thought, "Eight Plates of Noodles?<br /> "Ah, Aaron's restaurant. It has been a while since I visited those old friends."<br /> Wesley nodded. "Let's go then."<br /> The restaurant, Eight Plates of Noodles, was located on Chanxold Street near the Yeadeo First Central Hospital.<br /> The establishment was small, serving only eight plates of noodles each day at a price of 10 thousand dollars each. Vernoic's television culinary program had specifically covered this incident.<br /> Reservations were a must to secure a plate.<br /> The restaurant's owner had a mysterious background. While the specifics were unknown, a high-ranking noble from the capital of Vernoic, Kingsland, had caused a scene there once.<br /> He had attempted to force his way in without a reservation. Although this incident hadn't been reported, rumors suggested that a garbage truck had to be called to dispose of the intruder's remains, as he was too shattered to be removed by conventional means.<br /> Since then, no one dared to cause trouble.<br /> On their way, Mia introduced Wesley to the background story.<br /> "Mr. Turner, two plates of noodles." Mia called out once they arrived.<br /> Aaron Turner didn't respond but visibly paused upon seeing Wesley beside Mia.<br /> A faint smile appeared on his usually stoic face. Though the flesh on the face seemed stiff, it was indeed a smile. "Coming right up."<br /> Chapter 8 You Are Blushing<br /> Mia glanced at Aaron with a hint of surprise, thinking, "When does he become so warm and enthusiastic?<br /> His tone seemed a bit agitated earlier, didn't it?"<br /> Soon enough, Aaron brought two plates of noodles to the table. One steaming hot and the other devoid of any warmth.<br /> As Mia observed Aaron placing the plate without steam in front of Wesley, her expression changed slightly.<br /> It was a plate of instant noodles having soaked in cold water, with the seasoning barely dissolved.<br /> She felt a sense of panic. Mia had wanted to leave a good impression on Wesley, which was why she had chosen this place.<br /> However, Aaron had served such a plate of noodles.<br /> She dared not question Aaron. The type of noodles served here was not determined by the guests but by Aaron's mood.<br /> "This lass named Mia is quite something, living up to her name, and quite kind-hearted," Aaron remarked, looking at Wesley.<br /> "Get lost," Wesley retorted, using his fork to pick up the noodles and devouring them.<br /> Mia's face turned pale instantly. Disrespecting Aaron was akin to risking Wesley's life.<br /> To her astonishment, Aaron chuckled, tears welling up in his eyes.<br /> He wiped them away. "Alright, I'll leave you to your meal."<br /> Before departing, he gave Mia a thumbs-up. "Seize the opportunity."<br /> The eight plates of noodles symbolized the eight comrades who had faced life and hardships together.<br /> Wesley ate voraciously. Initially, they had only one pack of instant noodles to share among the eight of them, forcing them to divide it.<br /> Despite the circumstances, they devoured the noodles joyfully.<br /> Aaron had promised that once they survived, each one would have the most delicious plate of noodles.<br /> However, five of the eight had perished.<br /> Wesley had come dangerously close to life-threatening situations, but managed to cling to life.<br /> For him, the plate of noodles was not food but the bond of friendship that had shielded him from harm.<br /> "Do you... know each other?" Mia couldn't help but ask, her voice low and curious.<br /> "Some things are better left unknown," Wesley replied.<br /> Mia nodded in understanding, falling silent as they continued eating noodles. She couldn't help stealing glances at Wesley throughout the meal.<br /> This gent had piqued her curiosity even more.<br /> "Wesley, I see. No wonder you agreed to the divorce so readily. You've already found someone else outside."<br /> A sharp voice interrupted their meal.<br /> Taylor approached with a cold expression, accompanied by Henry.<br /> Taylor's mother was in the nearby hospital, and she had just picked up Frank, planning to buy some food when she unexpectedly saw Wesley.<br /> Of course, she saw Mia, too.<br /> Seeing Wesley dining with a lady more attractive than herself, so soon after the divorce felt like a dagger twisting in Taylor's heart.<br /> Her anger was uncontrollable.<br /> Wesley merely glanced at Taylor, disinterested in engaging with her.<br /> Taylor was stung by his indifferent gaze. She stepped forward, glaring at Wesley. "Are you not going to explain to me?"<br /> Mia looked at Taylor, silently cursing her as a foolish lady.<br /> Wesley continued eating his noodles, lowering his head. "Get lost. Don't disturb me, or I won't hesitate to hit you."<br /> "What did you say?" Henry stepped forward, enraged. "Wesley, try laying a hand on her! Is that all you're capable of? Laying hands on ladies?"<br /> "No wonder Taylor looks down on you. You're truly disgusting trash. Apologize to Taylor now, or else you'll regret coming into this world."<br /> "And how will he regret it? Tell me." Aaron emerged, carrying a cleaver, smiling as he faced Henry and Taylor.<br /> "Mr. Turner, we dare not cause trouble in your place, but this guy is just..."<br /> Henry attempted to speak but was cut off as Aaron's cleaver struck his face, sending him sprawling to the ground.<br /> "Mr. Turner, sorry, we'll leave now." Taylor hastily helped Henry up and hurriedly left.<br /> These two individuals were fortunate to know the legendary story behind Eight Plates of Noodles and had successfully made reservations to dine here multiple times.<br /> Having distanced themselves a bit, Henry covered his face and pointed at Wesley. "Wesley, we have some unfinished business. If you're smart, come over here now and apologize."<br /> "Wesley, I've seen through you as well. I never expected that for the past five years, you've been using my money to keep a lady on the side. We'll settle the score slowly."<br /> As the two noticed Aaron glancing their way, they quickly shut their mouths and hurriedly left.<br /> Once they were out of eyeshots, Aaron fixed his gaze on Wesley. "Your dad doesn't know about your divorce yet, does he?"<br /> "What difference would it make if he did?" Wesley stretched lazily. "I've fulfilled my promise. I've given enough."<br /> Aaron nodded in acknowledgment without saying anything further.<br /> This piqued Mia's curiosity even more. "Is it like what the novels depict? Did you marry Taylor due to some special event?"<br /> Seeing Wesley's glare, Mia lowered her head to focus on her noodles. "I won't ask anymore."<br /> "For the past five years, you've been staying in the stairwell. It has been hard for you, but at least you're still untouched," Aaron remarked before swiftly departing.<br /> Mia stared at Wesley in disbelief, realizing that Aaron's words were meant for her ears.<br /> "What are you staring at? Eat your noodles," Wesley said. Mia chuckled.<br /> "Why are you laughing?"<br /> "You're blushing."<br /> "Nonsense," Wesley retorted.<br /> Unable to contain herself, Mia burst into laughter. She had tried to hold it in, but seeing Wesley's flushed face made it impossible.<br /> Ten minutes later, Mia left on her own accord, sensing that Wesley had something to discuss with Aaron.<br /> Inside Aaron's small shop, Wesley opened a bottle of wine. "Still single?"<br /> "I look too old, no one's interested," Aaron replied, opening a bottle of liquor as well.<br /> "Then why are you meddling in my love lives?"<br /> "Leave a child behind, even if you pass away, someone will remember you." Aaron took a sip. "I've actually investigated this Mia."<br /> "You investigated her?"<br /> "I knew you'd get a divorce. I've been keeping an eye on the pretty ones. This girl had done a lot of good deeds before coming to Yeadeo. Once, she saved three people in a flood and nearly lost her life. Opportunities are rare. You have to seize them."<br /> "When you've figured things out and are ready to marry, then we can discuss our affairs. That's the condition." Wesley downed the entire bottle of liquor.<br /> "Otherwise, don't bother meddling. We're on a one-way path and can't drag others along."<br /> "You..." Aaron sighed as he watched Wesley's retreating figure.<br /> On the road leading to the Feidgeuo Manor, Taylor stood gazing blankly at the entrance not far away.<br /> Twice in one day, she had come here.<br /> The first time was to pick up Frank, and this time was because Frank had lost his expensive watch. She and Henry hadn't even had a meal, rushing over to find it.<br /> The first time, she had come in a hurry when Frank was injured and left quickly as well.<br /> But this time, as Taylor looked at the entrance ahead, an infinite longing sprouted within her.<br /> "If only... I could live here, how wonderful that would be."<br /> Henry looked at her. "One day, I'll definitely build an estate more magnificent than this, and you'll be the lady of the house."<br /> As they conversed, a taxi drove by, stopping at the entrance. The person who got out of the taxi left Taylor stunned.<br /> She rubbed her eyes.	Adoread	147	https://facebook.com/61556400142540	LEARN_MORE	1713510000	View Edit Delete
1666875	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727709	1734958298	695	320547577718775		8.0864714465225E+14	1713769200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	226177680578601	0	Adoread	120207756044660265	client.adoread.com	Learn more	NONE	image	🔥🔥🔥 Read More👉	Hottest novel👉👉👉	https://client.adoread.com/book/loading/page/adoread/19161308412?utm_campaign={{campaign.id}}&utm_content={{campaign.name}}		1713536884	2.261776805786E+14	Adoread	https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437701264_456851220189074_3845705834667566214_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=m32RCif6CSYQ7kNvgFuSMzE&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCmVrRi7D_6QxqLraydxk9xxyh6Zau59WEd4nFQJ5eDPw&oe=663A7EAC	person_profile	0	Adoread	https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437535262_290944307391189_4921748547238139313_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KJXuaibgO0kQ7kNvgHwhV8i&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfATakPSBx-fqbicHle13ul0O_vFoRlBQ3pbXnQblr-tBQ&oe=663A712A	0	3	"Wesley, are you trying to harm me? You useless piece of trash, can't even make a decent cup of coffee, can you?"<br /> Madison Blair lifted her coffee cup and splashed it directly onto Wesley Harrington's face.<br /> "What are you looking at, you spineless waste? Your name sounds so lofty? I might as well call you a waste."<br /> Glancing at the grotesque expression of his wife's mother, Wesley pulled out his phone to check the time.<br /> Exactly twelve o'clock. It had been five full years since he married Taylor Reed.<br /> The appointed time had come.<br /> He had fulfilled his promise, safeguarding the Reed family for five years, transforming them from a family living off fishing to one perceived as affluent by the common folk.<br /> Wiping the coffee off his face, he turned and walked away.<br /> "Where do you think you're going? Go fetch some more coffee," Madison shouted.<br /> "Madison, didn't you say this waste is obedient at home, doing whatever he's told? I don't think he's taking it lying down."<br /> Madison grew angrier. "Wesley, you stop right there. My family has fed and housed you. If you dare disobey, I'll have you thrown out!"<br /> Ignoring her, Wesley continued downstairs.<br /> "When Taylor comes back, I'll immediately have you two divorced. Do you hear me? Stay right there," Madison threatened, "I'll let you know your place today."<br /> Grabbing a golf club, Madison swiftly charged towards Wesley.<br /> Seeing Wesley heading downstairs, she swung the club viciously at his back.<br /> Without turning back, Wesley gently sidestepped.<br /> Losing her balance, Madison tumbled forward, rolling down the stairs with a series of thumps.<br /> "Ouch... it hurts, it hurts so much!"<br /> As Madison reached the ground floor, she wailed in pain and her sister immediately rushed to her.<br /> "Wesley, what have you done? How dare you hit my sister!" Madison's sister hurried down, checking on Madison's condition.<br /> Wesley remained silent, observing the scene.<br /> "Quick, call Taylor. Tell her to come back. Today, she must divorce this waste." Madison glared at Wesley. "How dare you hit me? Not only will I let Taylor divorce you, but I'll make sure you leave in disgrace."<br /> "Mum, what's wrong?" At that moment, a gent and a lady walked in.<br /> The lady was Taylor, Madison's daughter.<br /> She ran towards Madison.<br /> As Madison pointed at Wesley, tears streamed down her face. "Taylor, he hit me, he hit me! When you're not home, he changes his attitude, scolding and hitting me in the slightest displeasure. He even pushed me down the stairs just now. Alexis can testify."<br /> Madison's sister, Alexis Blair, chimed in. "Yes, Wesley, this trash not only hit your mother but also threatened to hit me too. We cannot tolerate such trash."<br /> "Taylor, I have been telling you to divorce him for years. You've been supporting him, treating him like a Lord at home, but he's an ungrateful wolf in sheep's clothing."<br /> Helping Madison up, Taylor noticed the scrapes on Madison's arms and legs, her expression turning cold.<br /> "Wesley, why did you hit my mother? You better give me an explanation."<br /> Wesley looked at Taylor, his wife.<br /> Five years had passed, and she had never shown him kindness.<br /> Taylor dressed impeccably, a paragon of a successful lady, with a face that could be deemed angelic, yet whether her heart was as angelic remained a mystery.<br /> Her figure, too, left countless men yearning.<br /> For five years, Wesley had thought he might develop feelings for this lady, but in reality, it never happened.<br /> "There are surveillance cameras in the house," Wesley stated calmly before descending the stairs into the hallway.<br /> Despite residing in a three-story villa, Wesley's living quarters were confined to the stairwell.<br /> He harbored no resentment towards this arrangement. It was merely a promise. It was just that Taylor failed to appreciate him.<br /> This home held little value that he wished to cling onto.<br /> Retrieving a wooden box from beneath his pillow, Wesley extracted two documents. Casting a fleeting glance at the modest abode he had called home for five years, Wesley smiled faintly.<br /> He thought, "Finally... I'm free."<br /> Pushing the door ajar, Wesley was met by Taylor's piercing gaze. "I've reviewed the surveillance footage. Yes, my mother intended to strike you, but even if she did, what difference would it make?"<br /> "She's a lady. How much could her blows hurt you? Why did you dodge?"<br /> "If you hadn't dodged, my mother wouldn't have tumbled down." Wesley stared at Taylor, unable to comprehend her thought process.<br /> He had no interest in engaging in these arguments. Handing over the two documents to Taylor, he remarked, "The divorce agreement. I've already signed it. Take a look. I'm leaving with nothing."<br /> "With your current influence, there's no need for you to visit the city hall. Someone will handle it for you, right?"<br /> Madison was taken aback. She swiftly snatched the divorce agreement, flipping through it hastily.<br /> The contents were indeed straightforward. Both parties willingly divorced, with Wesley relinquishing all claims and having already signed.<br /> In an instant, Madison's pain seemed to dissipate. "Taylor, sign it quickly. Sign it."<br /> Taylor was still in a daze.<br /> She pondered.<br /> "A divorce agreement? Wesley has already prepared a divorce agreement. On what grounds?"<br /> "What gives him the right to initiate a divorce? All these years, he's done nothing at home, lacking any ambition. Always practicing martial arts, what right does he have to seek a divorce?"<br /> "If anyone should initiate it, it should be me. Moreover, now that I'm back to discussing this matter with him. Could it be that word got out, and Wesley, for the sake of his pride, rushed to prepare a divorce agreement first?"<br /> "It must be so, but... No!"<br /> "Wanting to leave with nothing, is he retreating to advance? As the chairman of the Reed Group, how could I be served with a divorce?"<br /> "Hey Wesley, I never expected this from you. Have I not treated you well enough? You seek a divorce, attempting to turn your retreat into advance, aiming to embarrass me?"<br /> Taylor glared at Wesley. "I'm telling you, it's impossible."<br /> Snatching the divorce agreement, she tore it to shreds.<br /> "Taylor, what are you doing? Such a great opportunity. Why not just sign it and let him leave?" Madison grew anxious.<br /> "Mom, I do intend to divorce this trash, but the decision must come from me. I returned specifically to address this matter."<br /> With that, Taylor produced two documents. "Wesley, remember that it's me who's divorcing you. It's me who no longer wants you. Initially, out of marital obligation, I had considered offering you some compensation. Now, you don't even need to think about it. Sign the divorce agreement and leave my home."<br /> Wesley offered a faint smile as he accepted the divorce agreement.<br /> "What are you laughing at?" Taylor demanded angrily.<br /> Wesley's smile seemed to mock her, fueling her rage.<br /> Ignoring her entirely, Wesley signed the document and handed it over.<br /> "What are you laughing at? Answer me! Who do you think you are?" Taylor roared once more.<br /> Wesley glanced at her before striding towards the exit.<br /> "Stop!" The gent who had accompanied Taylor stepped forward, blocking Wesley's path. "Taylor asked you a question, and... Your previous attitude displeased me. Apologize to Taylor, or I'll have you leave in disgrace!"<br /> Chapter 2 The Unspoken Truth<br /> <br /> "Yes, let him leave in disgrace. He thought he could just hit me and walk away so easily," Madison joined in the commotion, also noticing the gent blocking Wesley's path.<br /> Madison had a keen interest in luxury goods, having frequented various high-end establishments over the years as the Reed family's living conditions improved. The gent was wearing an expensive watch and dressed head to toe in high-end luxury brands.<br /> Seeing Madison's gaze, the gent spoke. "Rest assured, today Wesley must pay the price."<br /> The gent introduced himself, looking at Wesley, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Henry Clark, the eldest son of the Clark family and the general manager of the Clark Group in the North District."<br /> "From now on, I will accompany Taylor on her journey of life, and I will not allow anyone to bully her."<br /> "My identity carries weight. You should understand that. Now, apologize to Taylor. Apologize! Did you hear me? Apologize!"<br /> Madison's eyes lit up. She hadn't expected the gent before her to hold such a high status. She continued to shout, "Did you hear that? Taylor will be with Mr. Clark from now on. Apologize now."<br /> Wesley glanced at Henry, then at Taylor. He thought, "Have they been together all along?" Wesley had wanted to ask but decided against it because there was no need. He simply gave them a glance and continued walking towards the exit.<br /> "Are you ignoring me?" Henry's face turned cold as he reached out to grab Wesley. Henry's hand froze mid-air as he received a solid hit.<br /> "Until I sign the divorce papers, Taylor and I are still wife and husband. I don't care to investigate whether you two had any intimate relationship during that time, but don't provoke me, or I won't hesitate to make you regret it." Wesley's gaze was icy, and as Henry met his eyes, he felt a twinge of fear and swallowed his words.<br /> Taylor was also stunned. She knew exactly what Wesley had been like over the past five years. There were many surveillance cameras in the house, and she would often check them.<br /> Even when Taylor wasn't home, despite how her family treated Wesley, he always obeyed without complaint, especially towards her. He had never raised his voice, no matter how they treated him.<br /> Today, not only did Wesley dodge when her mother struck, but he also initiated the divorce and now even struck Henry. <br /> Taylor was at a loss for words, thinking, "How could this cowardly gent dare? On what grounds does he dare?"<br /> This change was difficult for Taylor to accept as if she didn't truly understand this guy. The gent who used to be obedient to her, completely submissive, now revealed this side of himself. She watched Wesley walk away in a daze, feeling a strange discomfort in her heart.<br /> "Isn't he leaving with nothing?" Alexis pointed at the wooden box Wesley was holding. "What is he taking with him?"<br /> Madison also realized. Over the past five years, Wesley had always treasured this wooden box, carrying it with him wherever he went. She thought there must be something valuable inside.<br /> Realizing this, Madison hurriedly followed. "Wesley, stop right there, leave the wooden box."<br /> Wesley paused, glanced at Madison, and said, "This is my personal belonging."<br /> "Nonsense, what personal belonging could you possibly have after marrying into the Reed family? Everything you've eaten, worn, and lived in over the years has been provided by the Reed family. Put it down."<br /> As she spoke, Madison reached out to grab the wooden box.<br /> "Ah..." A scream rang out as Madison quickly retracted her hand, a gash appearing on her palm, a crimson liquid dripping.<br /> The wooden box was now stained with the same crimson liquid, trembling lightly in Wesley's hand.<br /> "It's not the right time yet, the day you thirst for this crimson liquid will come," Wesley murmured softly, patting the box before turning to continue his stride towards the exit.<br /> "Monster! A monster!" Madison screamed, causing Taylor and the others to rush out. Seeing the wound in Madison's hand, Taylor was filled with rage.<br /> "Wesley, aren't you going to say something?" Wesley halted once more, contemplating before meeting Taylor's gaze.<br /> "Just stay out of my way from now on. Consider this a warning to you."<br /> "Taylor, that wooden box of his has a mechanism. It must hold something valuable! We can't let him take it with him," Madison, enduring the pain, reminded them.<br /> "Mom, your injury is important. We'll deal with him later. Let me take you to the hospital first." Taylor comforted Madison before calling out to the retreating Wesley.<br /> "Our marriage is over! Yet, you dared to hurt my mother! This won't be the end of it! I will make you regret it!" Ignoring her, Wesley continued walking out.<br /> "Rest assured, I promise he won't see the light of day tomorrow." Henry stepped forward to console. "Let's focus on getting your wound treated first."<br /> "I want him to regret ever existing in this world, to apologize to me in repentance," Madison roared.<br /> "Mom, trust me, I will make him do just that." Taylor looked at Madison with a mix of pity and determination. "Let's go to the hospital first."<br /> In the villa area, Wesley halted, his voice cold. "Get out."<br /> An elderly gent leaped down from a tree, appearing to be in his seventies, yet landing silently from a height of around ten feet.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, your father wants you to come home and take charge."<br /> "He stopped being my father five years ago. He's my enemy."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you misunderstood your father. He had his reasons back then. I swear in my life, once you know the truth, you will forgive him."<br /> "Huh!" Wesley smirked coldly, saying, "I nearly passed away back then. Is that also a misunderstanding?"<br /> The old gent pleaded, "Mr. Harrington, this situation is truly not as you perceive it."<br /> Wesley didn't engage further with the old guy. The events of that year were etched in his memory forever. He was the one who had been abandoned. If not for that incident, why would he have stayed with the Reed family for five years?<br /> Watching Wesley walk away, the old gent had tears silently streaming down his face. "Mr. Harrington, I truly... I truly can't bring myself to speak the truth, but you have misunderstood your father. He also bears burdens and endures pains beyond what an ordinary person can handle."<br /> As Wesley's figure disappeared, the old gent stood up, hesitated for a moment, then dialed a number on his phone.<br /> "Mr. Harrington is now divorced. I've given you the news firsthand. If your daughter is truly together with Mr. Harrington, you must fulfill the promise and let her persuade Mr. Harrington to come home."<br /> After hanging up, a middle-aged gent in a luxurious estate jumped up excitedly. Calming himself, he immediately made another call. "My dear, you're at Yeadeo, right?<br /> "Go find Wesley now. Don't mention the engagement for now. Use every means to get close to him, make him fall in love with you."<br /> "Dad, I don't have time."<br /> "No matter what you are busy with, you must go find Wesley now. No matter what reason you approach him, you must leave a good impression the first time."<br /> "Dad, I'm in trouble right now. If I don't handle it well, I might be good as gone. I have to deal with it immediately. I'm hanging up."<br /> Chapter 3 You're Nothing<br /> The middle-aged gent's voice lowered significantly. "Is there a big incident happening? You didn't tell me? What happened?"<br /> "Quinn Kingsley from Yeadeo, Mr. Kingsley, used our product and now has one foot on the grave. If something really happens to him..."<br /> "You mean Quinn, the uncontested leader of Yeadeo?"<br /> "Yes."<br /> "In that case, you should go find Wesley. Trust me, in this world, there is no problem that Wesley can't solve. As long as he's willing to help, you'll be fine. Listen to me, go find Wesley immediately."<br /> The lady fell silent for a moment before saying, "Okay."<br /> At Yeadeo Harbor, a gent with a large flaxen chain and a watch, sporting a crew cut, hurriedly disembarked, accompanied by a dozen gentlemen.<br /> "Mr. Reed, wherever that trash is, we will find him and tear him apart."<br /> "Yes, that guy dared to harm your mother. We'll make sure he pays for it."<br /> Frank Reed's face turned cold. "Wesley, you coward, thinking you can overturn the world? How dare you touch my mom? Just wait until I find you, you're finished."<br /> "We've found him. Wesley got into a taxi, and our boys followed him."<br /> "Let's go!" Frank waved his hand, leading dozens of men who boarded the car with harpoons, steel pipes, and other weapons.<br /> Inside the taxi, Wesley gazed at the scenery outside, feeling a strange sense of tranquility.<br /> He thought to himself, "I never imagined that while I was secretly paving the way for the Reed family, Taylor, after progressing so rapidly, would start looking down on me more and more."<br /> "Those ladies who know my true identity, which one of them isn't trying to throw themselves at me? Ladies like that don't interest me."<br /> "Being an ordinary gent is truly difficult," Wesley murmured, smiling faintly and deciding not to dwell on these matters anymore. He had important things to attend to and no time to waste on personal affairs.<br /> "Young lad, are you going to Feidgeuo Manor for a job interview?" The driver, curious about Wesley's destination, inquired.<br /> Feidgeuo Manor was Yeadeo's most mysterious private area. Originally a villa area, it was bought at a huge cost five years ago and completely renovated. It was said to have cost a trillion dollars. The former villa area was now Feidgeuo Manor.<br /> "That's my home," Wesley replied nonchalantly.<br /> The driver was taken aback by this revelation, silently cursing Wesley for bragging. After a couple of minutes, the driver regained his composure. "It seems like you and I both prefer to keep a low profile. My car usually gathers dust at home, so I occasionally drive a taxi to experience life."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "My car has been driven by my assistant for the past few years, so it's not gathering dust."<br /> "Haha..." The driver laughed. "We should get together sometime and see whose car is more impressive."<br /> "Sure, whenever we have the time."<br /> As they chatted, the vehicle soon arrived near Feidgeuo Manor, where the massive head of the Feidgeuo Peak protruded, creating a unique landscape in Yeadeo.<br /> The driver asked with a smile, "Since you're the owner here, it's fine if I drive in, right?"<br /> "Of course," Wesley replied.<br /> As soon as Wesley spoke, several cars caught up from behind.<br /> The cars surrounded the one Wesley was in, with the front vehicles braking to force the car to a stop.<br /> When numerous people descended from cars wielding harpoons and steel pipes, the driver's face paled.<br /> Frank and his group got out of the cars, instantly closing in, and without hesitation, started attacking, the steel pipes and harpoons thudding against the car.<br /> Frank's henchman yanked open the door of Wesley's car, poised to stab Wesley with a harpoon, but Wesley swiftly exited the vehicle.<br /> With a firm step on the ground, he launched a swift hit.<br /> A muffled sound echoed as the henchman was hit away.<br /> "What are you looking at?" Frank noticed his henchmen were all staring at him. "All of you, attack together and take him down!"<br /> As he commanded, the henchmen Frank brought with him surged forward.<br /> The taxi driver, trembling, took out his phone to call the police, but Frank glared at him. "I am Frank Reed from Yeadeo Harbor. If you dare, go ahead and make that call."<br /> Frank, leveraging his sister Taylor's status, had been causing trouble in Yeadeo Harbor, and no one dared to provoke him.<br /> Upon hearing Frank's name, the driver hastily put away his phone. "Mr. Reed, I'll just check the time, you guys continue."<br /> "Huh!" Frank snorted coldly, casting his gaze towards the surrounded Wesley.<br /> The sounds of thuds continued to ring out incessantly. Because Wesley was completely surrounded, Frank was unable to see the situation inside clearly, but he could imagine it. After all, in Frank's mind, the henchmen under his command were not to be trifled with.<br /> "Hit him hard for me!"<br /> Another muffled sound and a figure flew out. At that moment, Frank finally saw the situation clearly, and his face turned pale.<br /> Frank knew that Wesley liked to practice martial arts, but he had never expected Wesley to be this skilled. It wasn't Wesley who had been beaten, but his own men by Wesley alone.<br /> Frantically, Frank turned and ran to retrieve a crossbow from the car.<br /> "Clear the way." Frank bellowed, aiming the crossbow at Wesley.<br /> "You scumbag, you think you can fight? Move one more time, and I'll end your life! Surrender!"<br /> Wesley, holding a wooden box, stared at Frank. Ignoring the crossbow in his hand, Wesley said, "Tell your henchmen to back off, or you'll all see the light from above!"<br /> "You're really good at pretending to be tough." Frank took two steps forward. "See the light? Move a muscle and see if I can end your life or not! If you don't have the guts, apologize now!"<br /> Wesley turned his head and looked at the approaching cars, with two expensive ones in the lead, two more in the rear, and another one in the middle.<br /> "Keep acting tough, and I'll put a hole in your head." Frank spoke while glancing at the five cars. "What, looking for help?"<br /> "Let me tell you, those who ride in these cars are not the kind of weaklings like you who rely on connections. With me here, in Yeadeo's social hierarchy, even those who ride in such cars wouldn't dare meddle in this matter. And let me make it clear, without my sister, you're nothing."<br /> Chapter 4 Is He Worthy?<br /> As Frank's words faded, the five cars came to a halt.<br /> A bodyguard opened the door of the one in the middle, revealing a dazzling pair of shining shoes catching everyone's eye.<br /> The shining shoe encased a beautiful foot. Above, the skirt's hem was adorned with lace.<br /> Then, like a fairy stepping out of a painting, she appeared before everyone's eyes.<br /> The lady was beautiful!<br /> Frank was mesmerized. Ever since the Reed family rose to prominence, he had been surrounded by ladies, but compared to the elegant lady before him, they were worlds apart.<br /> It wasn't just a difference in appearance but an incomparable gap in demeanor.<br /> The lady descending from the Maybach seemed like a celestial being untouched by mortal affairs.<br /> The embodiment of a fairy in the mundane world.<br /> She simply stood there after getting out of the car, perfectly embodying what it meant to be graceful and elegant.<br /> The lady glanced at Wesley, then at Frank.<br /> Frank grinned, saying, "May I have the honor of knowing the name of this esteemed lady? I am Frank..."<br /> The lady spoke calmly. "Disrespect Mr. Harrington, and you're done for."<br /> Her bodyguards, unfazed by Frank's crossbow, swiftly overwhelmed him, sending him crashing to the ground.<br /> The henchmen who had come with Frank, previously defeated by Wesley, now scrambled to their feet and fled in all directions.<br /> Who would dare provoke someone who could afford such a car?<br /> "My sister is Taylor Reed, the chairperson of Reed Group," Frank shouted, clutching his head.<br /> Ignoring him, one of the bodyguards dragged him to the roadside grass while another used a belt to tighten around Frank's neck, exerting pressure.<br /> "Enough, a lesson is all that's needed." Wesley spoke calmly, and only when the lady gestured did the bodyguards release Frank.<br /> Frank lay there, already unconscious.<br /> Wesley turned to the lady. "Who are you?"<br /> "I am Mia Roberts, the general manager of Vinver Business Alliance's Yeadeo branch." She looked at Wesley and continued, "Mr. Harrington, my father mentioned that you have miraculous healing skills and earnestly requested your assistance. A generous reward awaits."<br /> Wesley furrowed his brow slightly, thinking, "There are indeed people who recognize my abilities and status, yet I've rarely intervened in the past five years. Today, shortly after I divorced Taylor, she is here. Whose arrangement is this?"<br /> "Mr. Harrington, my father also mentioned that you are benevolent and has raised the banner of compassion among healers, serving as a role model and benchmark for all in the medical field."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "You have a way with words. Tell me the specifics."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, please get in the car first. I will explain in detail on the way."<br /> The phrase "compassionate healer" held significant weight for Wesley, who had saved countless lives from the brink of death.<br /> Without further ado, he got into the car.<br /> Inside, after Mia brewed coffee for Wesley, she began. "Vinver Business Alliance has a wide range of business operations, and I mainly oversee the health supplement sector, which has seen some success in recent years.<br /> "Recently, Quinn Kingsley started using our medicines, and now there's an accident."<br /> As she spoke, Mia kept her gaze fixed on Wesley.<br /> Quinn, the undisputed leader of Yeadeo, was a figure of immense influence.<br /> Upon hearing this name, Wesley showed no particular reaction. "If the city's leader faces issues with your products, it is indeed a concern. Let's go and see."<br /> With just a sentence, Wesley leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest.<br /> Mia was secretly alarmed, thinking, "He knows who Quinn is, yet he seems indifferent. Who is this Wesley, really? No wonder Dad has instructed me to find a way to win his favor." Mia's inner resistance toward Wesley quietly shifted.<br /> Wesley had piqued her curiosity.<br /> As the vehicle was moving, Wesley's phone rang.<br /> Wesley opened his eyes and took out his phone to see Taylor calling.<br /> Pressing the answer button, he asked, "What's the matter?"<br /> On the other end of the line, Taylor, driving towards Feidgeuo Manor, had a grim expression.<br /> She thought, "Has Wesley ever spoken to me in such a cold tone before? Is he really this heartless right after our divorce?"<br /> Already furious, she snapped. "Wesley, do you even consider yourself a human being?<br /> "Today, not only did you lay hands on my mother, but you also had someone attack my brother. Do you not remember our past at all?"<br /> Wesley calmly replied, "Do we have a past to remember?"<br /> "You truly are a heartless scumbag, just as my mother said. You are an ungrateful and vicious person I raised for five years. Even a pet would wag its tail at me!"<br /> Taylor wanted to continue her tirade, but the phone line had already turned busy.<br /> This only fueled her anger further.<br /> Just now, she had received a call from Frank's underlings, informing her that Wesley had sent people to attack Frank and even intended to end him.<br /> Taylor wanted to demand answers, but...<br /> As Taylor was clutching her fists, her gaze turned icy.<br /> After a moment, she picked up her phone again. "Wesley, you are so narrow-minded. You have no ambition. Any lady would steer clear of you."<br /> "Just because I dumped you, you are doing this on purpose to make me feel sick. Pretending to be aloof and seeking revenge? Do you even deserve it?"<br /> "In Yeadeo, squashing you would be as easy as squashing an ant. You're asking for it! If anything happens to my brother, I will make you wish you were ending!"<br /> Her furious voice message echoed in the car.<br /> Wesley chuckled and put away his phone.<br /> Beside him, Mia seemed contemplative. Before coming, she had already ordered a swift investigation into Wesley.<br /> She was curious, thinking, "How could someone valued by my father could be the one 'marrying into' the Reed family."<br /> Being tactful, Mia chose not to ask and pretended not to have heard.<br /> After about forty minutes, they arrived at the Kingsley Manor.<br /> The Kingsley family members, upon seeing Mia alight from the car, all wore grim expressions.<br /> Mia greeted them with a smile, "Everyone, this is Wesley Harrington, Mr. Harrington, the miraculous healer I specially invited to treat Mr. Kingsley."<br /> "Him? The gent who married into the Reed family?"<br /> "A miraculous healer? Is he even worthy? Are healers so worthless now?"<br /> "A useless gent who mooches off of the Reed family? How dare he call himself a miraculous healer? Truly a joke among all jokes."<br /> Chapter 5 Compassionate Healer<br /> Amanda Kingsley, Quinn's granddaughter, stared coldly at Wesley and Mia.<br /> This lady, dressed in a smart suit, also held significant fame in Yeadeo, overseeing the region's business activities, including investment attraction and various local business negotiations.<br /> Amanda had a favorable view of Taylor, who had risen swiftly in recent times, and they had interacted frequently.<br /> She was aware of Wesley's existence and had advised Taylor to part ways with him early on.<br /> But Amanda never imagined that Mia would bring someone like Wesley, a complete waste, and claim he was a miraculous healer.<br /> Glaring at Mia, she said, "Mia, once my grandfather is well, it's best for your Roberts family to leave Yeadeo."<br /> "As for you..." She glanced at Wesley. "I will advise Taylor to divorce you. You have deceived Taylor's feelings and now shamelessly made your way into my family. You are a despicable creature."<br /> After reprimanding Mia and Wesley, she turned to an elderly gent beside her, and her tone and attitude completely changed. "Mr. Phillips, sorry to trouble you. My grandfather is inside, please."<br /> Mia looked at the elderly gent, who was already in his twilight years, feeling deeply shocked.<br /> Scott Phillips, the 38th generation heir of the Healing Clinic, was now ninety-two years old.<br /> Renowned as a miraculous healer, he was a respected figure in the medical community of Yeadeo and even nationally.<br /> He no longer conducted consultations personally due to his old age. Mia had visited him specifically to pay her respects once she had arrived in Yeadeo but had not met Scott.<br /> She never expected Scott to appear in person. It was understandable, as Quinn held a prominent position in the city. Despite the profound influence of the Phillips family, they still had to show respect to Quinn.<br /> Mia looked at Wesley, feeling conflicted and thinking, "Dad has confidently claimed that Wesley has extraordinary abilities, but does he really?"<br /> She harbored doubts, but out of propriety, Mia spoke. "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the trouble."<br /> Wesley smiled, "It's fine. As long as the person can be healed."<br /> His open-mindedness impressed Mia.<br /> After about half an hour, Amanda emerged from the room. All eyes instantly turned towards her.<br /> It was evident that Amanda had wailed out, with traces of tears still visible.<br /> "Amanda, how is it?" A middle-aged gent anxiously asked her.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family who had rushed back also focused their attention on her.<br /> "Mr. Phillips said that there's little hope of recovery. He could only use acupuncture to wake grandfather for half an hour. When grandfather wakes up, let's all go in and see if he has any final instructions."<br /> Everyone was shocked.<br /> "How could this be?"<br /> "Is Mr. Phillips also helpless?"<br /> The members of the Kingsley family found it hard to accept this reality, especially since Quinn had always treated his juniors well.<br /> The thought of Quinn departing saddened some, and tears silently fell.<br /> Publicly, Quinn's status was the foundation of the Kingsley family's prominence in Yeadeo.<br /> If Quinn were to pass away, the Kingsley family would undoubtedly decline.<br /> The atmosphere within the Kingsley family was somber.<br /> Amanda looked at her family members, opened her mouth, but said nothing, silently turning back into the room.<br /> "Stop crying," A middle-aged gent said sternly, "Dad wouldn't want to see you all in tears. If he's really leaving, we mustn't let him worry about us. Pull yourselves together."<br /> After these words, the middle-aged gent also entered the room.<br /> The younger members of the Kingsley family wiped their tears vigorously, trying to force smiles, but in truth, they looked better at crying than pretending to be happy.<br /> Mia's spirit plummeted as she realized the gravity of the situation. Even if an ordinary person passed away from consuming health supplements, it spelled big trouble for those who sold them. And when the deceased happened to be Quinn, the stakes were even higher.<br /> She understood that it would be difficult for this branch to stay in Yeadeo, and even the headquarters might face repercussions.<br /> "Let's go in and have a look." Wesley glanced at Mia. "There might still be a chance."<br /> "Ah..." Mia stared at Wesley in surprise. Seeing him already heading towards the room, she quickly followed suit.<br /> Inside the room, the members of the Kingsley family stood around the mattress, maintaining a certain distance.<br /> Scott lit the alcohol lamp and took out the needles, his expression solemn.<br /> He looked at the members of the Kingsley family. "Think about what you want to say to Mr. Kingsley later. Once you're ready, let me know, and then I'll proceed with the acupuncture."<br /> As he said this, tears welled up in many eyes.<br /> "If you don't mind, let me take a look. I have a way." Wesley spoke up, drawing everyone's attention.<br /> Amanda's face darkened. "Who let you in? Get out!"<br /> "Mia, have you lost your mind? Tricked by this trash and actually brought him here as a miracle healer. Get out with him! I'll settle the score with you in a couple of days."<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, at a loss for words.<br /> "Even Mr. Phillips is unable to reverse the situation. What use are you? Get out." Another younger member of the Kingsley family angrily rebuked.<br /> The middle-aged gent added, "We're in no mood right now. You better leave immediately."<br /> "I understand your narrow-mindedness," Wesley continued, "But as a healer, once I see a patient, I cannot stand by and watch him draw his last breath."<br /> "Wesley, you're quite the charlatan. Do you really want to be gone right now?" Amanda's voice was filled with anger.<br /> "Amanda, let me say a few words," Scott interjected, and Amanda fell silent.<br /> Looking at Wesley, Scott began. "Young lad, at my age, I've seen a lot and have a broad perspective. Today, however, I find it hard to remain indifferent. I practiced medicine from the age of sixteen until I stopped seeing patients for a total of seventy years."<br /> "I've saved countless patients from various illnesses. I never easily declare a patient's fate, nor do I believe I have the right to do so."<br /> "But from your recent remarks, it seems like you're accusing me of such actions. Young people wanting to make a name for themselves by stepping on the shoulders of their predecessors, I can understand."<br /> "But this kind of behavior displeases me."<br /> "My displeasure, what does it mean to you? Do you understand?"<br /> "Even if you are a healer, your career will be ruined because of this."<br /> Chapter 6 Hand of Hell<br /> In the face of Scott's veiled threats, Wesley simply smiled and brushed them off.<br /> Looking at Scott, he asked, "I've always focused on the issue at hand rather than attacking individuals. I have a few questions for you. If you can't administer the needles, how long do you think Quinn can hold on?"<br /> "Seven days, but he will remain unconscious," Scott replied bluntly.<br /> "Then let me ask you this, is there anyone in the world with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "Outrageous," Amanda coldly interjected, "Mr. Phillips is unparalleled in his medical expertise."<br /> Scott glanced at Amanda. "Amanda, let me handle this question."<br /> Continuing to address Wesley, he said, "I don't underestimate myself, nor do I overestimate. There are countless talented individuals in the world, like stars in the sky. I may not dare claim to be the best in medical skills, but those who surpass me are few."<br /> "That means there are some," Wesley calmly remarked, causing Scott's expression to shift slightly, "Indeed, there are."<br /> "Then let me ask you this. Do you think within seven days, the Kingsley family won't find someone with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "If they do find someone, do you believe there is an illness that you cannot cure, but this person can?"<br /> Wesley's questions were sharp and resounding.<br /> Scott's face changed once more as he was rendered speechless.<br /> "Even if there is, that person will never be you." Amanda's face turned icy. "Now get out. Don't spout your eloquence here. Your deceitful behavior is repulsive."<br /> "Your understanding of me is merely hearsay, isn't it?" Wesley retorted, his gaze mocking Amanda, "Has your background and education taught you such arrogance and prejudice?"<br /> "Arrogance?" Amanda's face grew colder as she disdainfully looked at Wesley. "Prejudice?<br /> "Did I say something wrong just now? You are nothing but stagnant waste, a parasite living off others. If it weren't for Taylor, you would have starved on the streets long ago."<br /> "Relying on sweet words, deceiving Taylor. She, with her kind heart, can't bear to divorce you, but don't push your luck. If it weren't for Taylor's sake, you would have been sent out long ago."<br /> Scott interrupted Amanda, "Amanda, although I find this lad a bit annoying, what he said does hold some truth. There are indeed individuals with better medical skills than me. Your grandfather can hold on for seven days. Try reaching out to see if someone can come over. I'll help you make connections."<br /> "If it really doesn't work out after seven days, I'll administer the needles to your grandfather. However, at that point, I can only buy you three minutes."<br /> As soon as Scott spoke, the faces of the Kingsley family members grew even more solemn. True healers were rare and not easily summoned.<br /> While the Kingsley family had connections in Yeadeo, their influence waned outside of it.<br /> "Mr. Phillips, please administer the needles. Life has its ups and downs, and we understand that. Just buy my father a bit more time." The middle-aged gent spoke up.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family nodded in agreement.<br /> Amanda looked at Scott. "Mr. Phillips, please."<br /> "In that case, please have everyone unrelated leave. I need silence," Scott calmly stated.<br /> Amanda glared at Wesley, her eyes speaking volumes without a word.<br /> The unrelated individuals were, naturally, Wesley and Mia.<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, intending to leave, but she suddenly hesitated.<br /> Instead of leaving, Wesley moved forward.<br /> "What are you doing?" A young member of the Kingsley family stepped forward with a stern expression, pushing Wesley.<br /> In one swift motion, Wesley executed a clean shoulder throw, toppling the young gent to the ground, his own expression turning cold.<br /> "A bunch of fools! If it weren't for my teacher's teachings about not turning a blind eye to those in need, I wouldn't bother with you ignorant lot," Wesley remarked with disdain.<br /> As Wesley effortlessly took down one individual from the Kingsley family, the others seemed slow to react.<br /> By the time they realized what was happening, Wesley had already picked up the needle next to Scott and casually flicked his wrist.<br /> The needle flew out of his hand, piercing Quinn's temple, followed by a second needle, a third needle, and so on.<br /> "What are you doing? Stop!" Amanda's voice rose in urgency, echoed by the rest of the Kingsley family members who rushed forward to restrain Wesley.<br /> "Stay back, everyone. Wait." Scott suddenly stood up, blocking the others. "Let him try."<br /> Amanda and the others were left dumbfounded, thinking, "What does this mean?"<br /> Despite their confusion, they heeded Scott's words.<br /> After Scott stopped the members of the Kingsley family, he fixed his gaze on Wesley.<br /> Wesley proceeded to use eighteen needles in succession, symbolizing the levels of pain.<br /> Even if someone had descended into the depths of hell, they must be brought back.<br /> The final needle, also piercing a vital point, caused Quinn's body to tremble suddenly, resonating with the previous eighteen needles.<br /> Scott's eyes widened, his body trembling slightly. His reaction left Amanda and the others even more puzzled, but none dared to interrupt.<br /> Moments later, Wesley placed a palm on Quinn's chest, causing all eighteen needles to be shaken off. When all the needles landed on the ground, the part of the skin where the needles had pierced turned dark.<br /> Wesley then dragged Quinn to the edge of the mattress, flipped him over with his head facing downwards, and gave him a firm pat on the back.<br /> Quinn spat out a mouthful of black liquid. When Wesley flipped him back to lie flat, his complexion had regained some color.<br /> "The Hand of Darkness... It's the Hand of Darkness!" Scott exclaimed with excitement, his body quivering, "It's the Hand that descends into the dark world, snatching people from the hands of the Evil!"<br /> "You do have some knowledge, recognizing the Hand of Darkness." Wesley glanced at Scott.<br /> Scott's gaze towards Wesley had undergone a drastic change. He respectfully clasped his hands together.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thirty years ago, I had the honor of attending a teaching conference held by Mr. Vanderbilt. I saw the Hand of Darkness, but my limited aptitude only allowed me to grasp the basics."<br /> "I have been blind and ignorant. I apologize for my earlier offenses. Please forgive me, Mr. Harrington."<br /> The Mr. Vanderbilt Scott referred to was Wesley's teacher, Ulysses Vanderbilt. He generously imparted his skills to others, but the ability to learn depended on one's innate talent.<br /> In this world, few could learn Ulysses' skills.<br /> Scott had been fortunate to receive guidance from Ulysses, which had elevated his medical skills. However, the Hand of Darkness, a miraculous ability, was beyond his comprehension.<br /> Wesley smiled faintly, "Your actions earlier are understandable. I appreciate your words."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you must be an exceptional disciple of Mr. Vanderbilt, possessing unparalleled magnanimity. Impressive," Scott continued.<br /> "Enough with the flattery at your age."<br /> "You are mistaken, Mr. Harrington. Every word I speak is sincere."<br /> Mia, Amanda, and the others stood bewildered by the unfolding situation.<br /> "Mr. Phillips... he... he..." Amanda's words faltered.<br /> Scott turned to the members of the Kingsley family. "Meeting Mr. Harrington was Quinn's luck. His symptoms have been cured by Mr. Harrington. With a few days of rest, he will be fine."<br /> The waste Taylor had previously said was called Mr. Harrington by Scott!<br /> Recalling their previous attitudes, Amanda hurriedly apologized, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> The members of the Kingsley family all apologized in unison, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> Chapter 7 Eight Plates of Noodles<br /> With a faint smile, Wesley remarked, "As family members of a patient, your actions earlier are understandable. There's no need for such formality."<br /> Amanda's perplexity deepened as she thought, "Where is the cowardly waste that Taylor described? This display of magnanimity and breadth is far from it."<br /> Mia, too, felt a shiver of realization, thinking, "No wonder Dad has insisted on my proximity to Wesley.<br /> This guy..."<br /> She gazed at Wesley, her curiosity piqued, a sense of exploration stirring within her.<br /> "Mia has brought you here, Mr. Harrington, to cure my grandfather. The Kingsley family will never forget this act. However, considering that my grandfather's ailment stemmed from the health supplements produced by the Vinver Business Alliance, we will be conducting an investigation into it."<br /> Amanda continued, looking at Wesley, "What do you think... of this approach?"<br /> It was Mia who had invited Wesley, so Amanda had grown wiser, refraining from asking for a direct punishment of the Vinver Business Alliance.<br /> As Mia heard Amanda's words, her heart skipped a beat, realizing trouble was brewing.<br /> "On the way here, Ms. Roberts briefed me on the situation. You conducted experiments on mice, correct?"<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes, the health supplements we received were exclusively provided by the Roberts family. There were no similar cases on the market, so we used mice for testing.<br /> "All the mice that ingested this supplement were gone."<br /> She looked at Mia and added, her voice turned colder. "Before the experiment, I specifically contacted Mia to inquire about the testing methods during the development phase, which involved mice."<br /> "There have been individuals eyeing my grandfather's position, some even wishing for his demise. I never imagined that the Vinver Business Alliance, which I attracted for investment, would become a weapon in someone else's hands."<br /> "Do you have any of the remaining medicine?" Wesley inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes."<br /> "Bring some over."<br /> Immediately, someone fetched the medicine. After it was brought to him, Wesley took out a supplement and swallowed it directly.<br /> This scene left Amanda and the others dumbfounded.<br /> Scott, too, was bewildered. "Mr. Harrington, what are you doing?"<br /> Wesley smiled, "Just proving that this medicine is not toxic."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thank you," Mia thanked sincerely, feeling like sobbing at that moment.<br /> Amanda, with a puzzled expression, looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, are you suggesting that my grandfather's condition wasn't caused by the Vinver Business Alliance's medicine? What about the mice?"<br /> The rest were equally puzzled.<br /> "Yes, but not entirely," Wesley said, leaving everyone even more bewildered.<br /> Mia's emotions were like a rollercoaster ride, from relief to immediate tension.<br /> "This medicine itself is not toxic, but when taken with another substance made from a certain plant, it results in Quinn's condition. The mice would die immediately, while humans could endure a few more days."<br /> Wesley continued to explain, "The plant used in this concoction is originally meant for crafting slow-acting toxins, not for human consumption."<br /> Looking at Amanda, Wesley said, "During this period, whoever had access to your grandfather and the mice will better understand why these events occurred."<br /> The gaze of members of the Kingsley family immediately focused on a lady.<br /> Amanda, somewhat incredulous, looked at her. "Can you offer an explanation?"<br /> The lady was the wife of Amanda's deceased brother. She found it hard to accept, as did the rest of the Kingsley family.<br /> This lady had been named the exemplary lady who served her family well this year, not due to her connection with the Kingsley family but because she genuinely deserved it.<br /> "What do you mean? Amanda, what explanation do you want from me?"<br /> The lady stared at Amanda. "Am I the only one who had access to Grandfather and the mice? You, and you... and you, who didn't have access?"<br /> "You all claim to treat me as family. Since I married into the Kingsley family, I have worked diligently, contributing my share even if not acknowledged."<br /> "Amanda, it has been over a year since your brother passed, and I never once considered remarrying. Now, just because of his words, you demand an explanation from me?"<br /> Pointing at Wesley, the lady questioned, "Just because he accuses me of poisoning, you suspect me? Tell me, did I poison him?" The lady glared at Wesley.<br /> "I am merely analyzing the facts. As for concluding this case, it's not within my purview," Wesley addressed the members of the Kingsley family, saying, "You should conduct a thorough investigation into this matter.<br /> "I will write a prescription. Have Quinn take it on time, and he will recover in seven days."<br /> Amanda hurried to fetch paper and pen while Wesley prepared the prescription. Once done, he was ready to leave.<br /> Amanda said hurriedly, "Mr. Harrington, I've already made arrangements for lunch."<br /> "No need," Wesley smiled.<br /> The Kingsley family sought to build closer ties with Wesley, given his extraordinary medical skills. Wesley was well aware of this.<br /> Looking at Amanda and the others, Wesley remarked, "In the future, if you encounter any difficult medical cases that others cannot solve, seek me out. Remember, cases others cannot solve."<br /> The gaze of the Kingsley family members toward Wesley changed once again. Many renowned healers had eccentric personalities and were difficult to engage.<br /> They hadn't expected Wesley to possess such remarkable medical skills without any airs.<br /> As Wesley prepared to depart, the members of the Kingsley family did not dare to insist on his stay, so they accompanied him outside.<br /> "Oh, how could we forget such an important matter? Amanda, what about the consultation fee?" The middle-aged gent inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the oversight. Please wait a moment." Amanda hurried back inside and soon returned with a bank card in hand.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, there's one million dollars in here."<br /> Without hesitation, Wesley accepted the bank card and boarded Mia's car.<br /> During the journey, Mia boldly looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, you've helped me immensely. Can I treat you to a meal? Don't decline in a hurry. It's not a fancy restaurant, but it will leave you wanting more. It's a small place on the street, with only eight plates of noodles served each day, each plate containing different ingredients."<br /> "I managed to secure a reservation. Are you interested?"<br /> Wesley thought, "Eight Plates of Noodles?<br /> "Ah, Aaron's restaurant. It has been a while since I visited those old friends."<br /> Wesley nodded. "Let's go then."<br /> The restaurant, Eight Plates of Noodles, was located on Chanxold Street near the Yeadeo First Central Hospital.<br /> The establishment was small, serving only eight plates of noodles each day at a price of 10 thousand dollars each. Vernoic's television culinary program had specifically covered this incident.<br /> Reservations were a must to secure a plate.<br /> The restaurant's owner had a mysterious background. While the specifics were unknown, a high-ranking noble from the capital of Vernoic, Kingsland, had caused a scene there once.<br /> He had attempted to force his way in without a reservation. Although this incident hadn't been reported, rumors suggested that a garbage truck had to be called to dispose of the intruder's remains, as he was too shattered to be removed by conventional means.<br /> Since then, no one dared to cause trouble.<br /> On their way, Mia introduced Wesley to the background story.<br /> "Mr. Turner, two plates of noodles." Mia called out once they arrived.<br /> Aaron Turner didn't respond but visibly paused upon seeing Wesley beside Mia.<br /> A faint smile appeared on his usually stoic face. Though the flesh on the face seemed stiff, it was indeed a smile. "Coming right up."<br /> Chapter 8 You Are Blushing<br /> Mia glanced at Aaron with a hint of surprise, thinking, "When does he become so warm and enthusiastic?<br /> His tone seemed a bit agitated earlier, didn't it?"<br /> Soon enough, Aaron brought two plates of noodles to the table. One steaming hot and the other devoid of any warmth.<br /> As Mia observed Aaron placing the plate without steam in front of Wesley, her expression changed slightly.<br /> It was a plate of instant noodles having soaked in cold water, with the seasoning barely dissolved.<br /> She felt a sense of panic. Mia had wanted to leave a good impression on Wesley, which was why she had chosen this place.<br /> However, Aaron had served such a plate of noodles.<br /> She dared not question Aaron. The type of noodles served here was not determined by the guests but by Aaron's mood.<br /> "This lass named Mia is quite something, living up to her name, and quite kind-hearted," Aaron remarked, looking at Wesley.<br /> "Get lost," Wesley retorted, using his fork to pick up the noodles and devouring them.<br /> Mia's face turned pale instantly. Disrespecting Aaron was akin to risking Wesley's life.<br /> To her astonishment, Aaron chuckled, tears welling up in his eyes.<br /> He wiped them away. "Alright, I'll leave you to your meal."<br /> Before departing, he gave Mia a thumbs-up. "Seize the opportunity."<br /> The eight plates of noodles symbolized the eight comrades who had faced life and hardships together.<br /> Wesley ate voraciously. Initially, they had only one pack of instant noodles to share among the eight of them, forcing them to divide it.<br /> Despite the circumstances, they devoured the noodles joyfully.<br /> Aaron had promised that once they survived, each one would have the most delicious plate of noodles.<br /> However, five of the eight had perished.<br /> Wesley had come dangerously close to life-threatening situations, but managed to cling to life.<br /> For him, the plate of noodles was not food but the bond of friendship that had shielded him from harm.<br /> "Do you... know each other?" Mia couldn't help but ask, her voice low and curious.<br /> "Some things are better left unknown," Wesley replied.<br /> Mia nodded in understanding, falling silent as they continued eating noodles. She couldn't help stealing glances at Wesley throughout the meal.<br /> This gent had piqued her curiosity even more.<br /> "Wesley, I see. No wonder you agreed to the divorce so readily. You've already found someone else outside."<br /> A sharp voice interrupted their meal.<br /> Taylor approached with a cold expression, accompanied by Henry.<br /> Taylor's mother was in the nearby hospital, and she had just picked up Frank, planning to buy some food when she unexpectedly saw Wesley.<br /> Of course, she saw Mia, too.<br /> Seeing Wesley dining with a lady more attractive than herself, so soon after the divorce felt like a dagger twisting in Taylor's heart.<br /> Her anger was uncontrollable.<br /> Wesley merely glanced at Taylor, disinterested in engaging with her.<br /> Taylor was stung by his indifferent gaze. She stepped forward, glaring at Wesley. "Are you not going to explain to me?"<br /> Mia looked at Taylor, silently cursing her as a foolish lady.<br /> Wesley continued eating his noodles, lowering his head. "Get lost. Don't disturb me, or I won't hesitate to hit you."<br /> "What did you say?" Henry stepped forward, enraged. "Wesley, try laying a hand on her! Is that all you're capable of? Laying hands on ladies?"<br /> "No wonder Taylor looks down on you. You're truly disgusting trash. Apologize to Taylor now, or else you'll regret coming into this world."<br /> "And how will he regret it? Tell me." Aaron emerged, carrying a cleaver, smiling as he faced Henry and Taylor.<br /> "Mr. Turner, we dare not cause trouble in your place, but this guy is just..."<br /> Henry attempted to speak but was cut off as Aaron's cleaver struck his face, sending him sprawling to the ground.<br /> "Mr. Turner, sorry, we'll leave now." Taylor hastily helped Henry up and hurriedly left.<br /> These two individuals were fortunate to know the legendary story behind Eight Plates of Noodles and had successfully made reservations to dine here multiple times.<br /> Having distanced themselves a bit, Henry covered his face and pointed at Wesley. "Wesley, we have some unfinished business. If you're smart, come over here now and apologize."<br /> "Wesley, I've seen through you as well. I never expected that for the past five years, you've been using my money to keep a lady on the side. We'll settle the score slowly."<br /> As the two noticed Aaron glancing their way, they quickly shut their mouths and hurriedly left.<br /> Once they were out of eyeshots, Aaron fixed his gaze on Wesley. "Your dad doesn't know about your divorce yet, does he?"<br /> "What difference would it make if he did?" Wesley stretched lazily. "I've fulfilled my promise. I've given enough."<br /> Aaron nodded in acknowledgment without saying anything further.<br /> This piqued Mia's curiosity even more. "Is it like what the novels depict? Did you marry Taylor due to some special event?"<br /> Seeing Wesley's glare, Mia lowered her head to focus on her noodles. "I won't ask anymore."<br /> "For the past five years, you've been staying in the stairwell. It has been hard for you, but at least you're still untouched," Aaron remarked before swiftly departing.<br /> Mia stared at Wesley in disbelief, realizing that Aaron's words were meant for her ears.<br /> "What are you staring at? Eat your noodles," Wesley said. Mia chuckled.<br /> "Why are you laughing?"<br /> "You're blushing."<br /> "Nonsense," Wesley retorted.<br /> Unable to contain herself, Mia burst into laughter. She had tried to hold it in, but seeing Wesley's flushed face made it impossible.<br /> Ten minutes later, Mia left on her own accord, sensing that Wesley had something to discuss with Aaron.<br /> Inside Aaron's small shop, Wesley opened a bottle of wine. "Still single?"<br /> "I look too old, no one's interested," Aaron replied, opening a bottle of liquor as well.<br /> "Then why are you meddling in my love lives?"<br /> "Leave a child behind, even if you pass away, someone will remember you." Aaron took a sip. "I've actually investigated this Mia."<br /> "You investigated her?"<br /> "I knew you'd get a divorce. I've been keeping an eye on the pretty ones. This girl had done a lot of good deeds before coming to Yeadeo. Once, she saved three people in a flood and nearly lost her life. Opportunities are rare. You have to seize them."<br /> "When you've figured things out and are ready to marry, then we can discuss our affairs. That's the condition." Wesley downed the entire bottle of liquor.<br /> "Otherwise, don't bother meddling. We're on a one-way path and can't drag others along."<br /> "You..." Aaron sighed as he watched Wesley's retreating figure.<br /> On the road leading to the Feidgeuo Manor, Taylor stood gazing blankly at the entrance not far away.<br /> Twice in one day, she had come here.<br /> The first time was to pick up Frank, and this time was because Frank had lost his expensive watch. She and Henry hadn't even had a meal, rushing over to find it.<br /> The first time, she had come in a hurry when Frank was injured and left quickly as well.<br /> But this time, as Taylor looked at the entrance ahead, an infinite longing sprouted within her.<br /> "If only... I could live here, how wonderful that would be."<br /> Henry looked at her. "One day, I'll definitely build an estate more magnificent than this, and you'll be the lady of the house."<br /> As they conversed, a taxi drove by, stopping at the entrance. The person who got out of the taxi left Taylor stunned.<br /> She rubbed her eyes.	Adoread	147	https://facebook.com/61556400142540	LEARN_MORE	1713510000	View Edit Delete
1666877	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727709	1734958298	695	377298025300408	2	1.7334133138173E+15	1713769200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	226177680578601	0	Adoread	120207756044620265	client.adoread.com	Learn more	NONE	image	🔥🔥🔥 Read More👉	Hottest novel👉👉👉	https://client.adoread.com/book/loading/page/adoread/19161308412?utm_campaign={{campaign.id}}&utm_content={{campaign.name}}		1713536880	2.261776805786E+14	Adoread	https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438162152_827264979441253_8630164044163185256_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=HK7RWWhztOQQ7kNvgGoE2HF&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBL2cS_hkbk_hOxdLeu8feSgfGoAad1TUBtWlUCmSbHDQ&oe=663A6AEE	person_profile	0	Adoread	https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438058317_2237734986570683_1472772240083529734_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UdgbCrYSEvYQ7kNvgGRV1_3&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBNapYIQOZ9589-Y_1EfPPJqWQGY0fKvR4xv6Tk2WKaBQ&oe=663A7510	0	3	"Wesley, are you trying to harm me? You useless piece of trash, can't even make a decent cup of coffee, can you?"<br /> Madison Blair lifted her coffee cup and splashed it directly onto Wesley Harrington's face.<br /> "What are you looking at, you spineless waste? Your name sounds so lofty? I might as well call you a waste."<br /> Glancing at the grotesque expression of his wife's mother, Wesley pulled out his phone to check the time.<br /> Exactly twelve o'clock. It had been five full years since he married Taylor Reed.<br /> The appointed time had come.<br /> He had fulfilled his promise, safeguarding the Reed family for five years, transforming them from a family living off fishing to one perceived as affluent by the common folk.<br /> Wiping the coffee off his face, he turned and walked away.<br /> "Where do you think you're going? Go fetch some more coffee," Madison shouted.<br /> "Madison, didn't you say this waste is obedient at home, doing whatever he's told? I don't think he's taking it lying down."<br /> Madison grew angrier. "Wesley, you stop right there. My family has fed and housed you. If you dare disobey, I'll have you thrown out!"<br /> Ignoring her, Wesley continued downstairs.<br /> "When Taylor comes back, I'll immediately have you two divorced. Do you hear me? Stay right there," Madison threatened, "I'll let you know your place today."<br /> Grabbing a golf club, Madison swiftly charged towards Wesley.<br /> Seeing Wesley heading downstairs, she swung the club viciously at his back.<br /> Without turning back, Wesley gently sidestepped.<br /> Losing her balance, Madison tumbled forward, rolling down the stairs with a series of thumps.<br /> "Ouch... it hurts, it hurts so much!"<br /> As Madison reached the ground floor, she wailed in pain and her sister immediately rushed to her.<br /> "Wesley, what have you done? How dare you hit my sister!" Madison's sister hurried down, checking on Madison's condition.<br /> Wesley remained silent, observing the scene.<br /> "Quick, call Taylor. Tell her to come back. Today, she must divorce this waste." Madison glared at Wesley. "How dare you hit me? Not only will I let Taylor divorce you, but I'll make sure you leave in disgrace."<br /> "Mum, what's wrong?" At that moment, a gent and a lady walked in.<br /> The lady was Taylor, Madison's daughter.<br /> She ran towards Madison.<br /> As Madison pointed at Wesley, tears streamed down her face. "Taylor, he hit me, he hit me! When you're not home, he changes his attitude, scolding and hitting me in the slightest displeasure. He even pushed me down the stairs just now. Alexis can testify."<br /> Madison's sister, Alexis Blair, chimed in. "Yes, Wesley, this trash not only hit your mother but also threatened to hit me too. We cannot tolerate such trash."<br /> "Taylor, I have been telling you to divorce him for years. You've been supporting him, treating him like a Lord at home, but he's an ungrateful wolf in sheep's clothing."<br /> Helping Madison up, Taylor noticed the scrapes on Madison's arms and legs, her expression turning cold.<br /> "Wesley, why did you hit my mother? You better give me an explanation."<br /> Wesley looked at Taylor, his wife.<br /> Five years had passed, and she had never shown him kindness.<br /> Taylor dressed impeccably, a paragon of a successful lady, with a face that could be deemed angelic, yet whether her heart was as angelic remained a mystery.<br /> Her figure, too, left countless men yearning.<br /> For five years, Wesley had thought he might develop feelings for this lady, but in reality, it never happened.<br /> "There are surveillance cameras in the house," Wesley stated calmly before descending the stairs into the hallway.<br /> Despite residing in a three-story villa, Wesley's living quarters were confined to the stairwell.<br /> He harbored no resentment towards this arrangement. It was merely a promise. It was just that Taylor failed to appreciate him.<br /> This home held little value that he wished to cling onto.<br /> Retrieving a wooden box from beneath his pillow, Wesley extracted two documents. Casting a fleeting glance at the modest abode he had called home for five years, Wesley smiled faintly.<br /> He thought, "Finally... I'm free."<br /> Pushing the door ajar, Wesley was met by Taylor's piercing gaze. "I've reviewed the surveillance footage. Yes, my mother intended to strike you, but even if she did, what difference would it make?"<br /> "She's a lady. How much could her blows hurt you? Why did you dodge?"<br /> "If you hadn't dodged, my mother wouldn't have tumbled down." Wesley stared at Taylor, unable to comprehend her thought process.<br /> He had no interest in engaging in these arguments. Handing over the two documents to Taylor, he remarked, "The divorce agreement. I've already signed it. Take a look. I'm leaving with nothing."<br /> "With your current influence, there's no need for you to visit the city hall. Someone will handle it for you, right?"<br /> Madison was taken aback. She swiftly snatched the divorce agreement, flipping through it hastily.<br /> The contents were indeed straightforward. Both parties willingly divorced, with Wesley relinquishing all claims and having already signed.<br /> In an instant, Madison's pain seemed to dissipate. "Taylor, sign it quickly. Sign it."<br /> Taylor was still in a daze.<br /> She pondered.<br /> "A divorce agreement? Wesley has already prepared a divorce agreement. On what grounds?"<br /> "What gives him the right to initiate a divorce? All these years, he's done nothing at home, lacking any ambition. Always practicing martial arts, what right does he have to seek a divorce?"<br /> "If anyone should initiate it, it should be me. Moreover, now that I'm back to discussing this matter with him. Could it be that word got out, and Wesley, for the sake of his pride, rushed to prepare a divorce agreement first?"<br /> "It must be so, but... No!"<br /> "Wanting to leave with nothing, is he retreating to advance? As the chairman of the Reed Group, how could I be served with a divorce?"<br /> "Hey Wesley, I never expected this from you. Have I not treated you well enough? You seek a divorce, attempting to turn your retreat into advance, aiming to embarrass me?"<br /> Taylor glared at Wesley. "I'm telling you, it's impossible."<br /> Snatching the divorce agreement, she tore it to shreds.<br /> "Taylor, what are you doing? Such a great opportunity. Why not just sign it and let him leave?" Madison grew anxious.<br /> "Mom, I do intend to divorce this trash, but the decision must come from me. I returned specifically to address this matter."<br /> With that, Taylor produced two documents. "Wesley, remember that it's me who's divorcing you. It's me who no longer wants you. Initially, out of marital obligation, I had considered offering you some compensation. Now, you don't even need to think about it. Sign the divorce agreement and leave my home."<br /> Wesley offered a faint smile as he accepted the divorce agreement.<br /> "What are you laughing at?" Taylor demanded angrily.<br /> Wesley's smile seemed to mock her, fueling her rage.<br /> Ignoring her entirely, Wesley signed the document and handed it over.<br /> "What are you laughing at? Answer me! Who do you think you are?" Taylor roared once more.<br /> Wesley glanced at her before striding towards the exit.<br /> "Stop!" The gent who had accompanied Taylor stepped forward, blocking Wesley's path. "Taylor asked you a question, and... Your previous attitude displeased me. Apologize to Taylor, or I'll have you leave in disgrace!"<br /> Chapter 2 The Unspoken Truth<br /> <br /> "Yes, let him leave in disgrace. He thought he could just hit me and walk away so easily," Madison joined in the commotion, also noticing the gent blocking Wesley's path.<br /> Madison had a keen interest in luxury goods, having frequented various high-end establishments over the years as the Reed family's living conditions improved. The gent was wearing an expensive watch and dressed head to toe in high-end luxury brands.<br /> Seeing Madison's gaze, the gent spoke. "Rest assured, today Wesley must pay the price."<br /> The gent introduced himself, looking at Wesley, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Henry Clark, the eldest son of the Clark family and the general manager of the Clark Group in the North District."<br /> "From now on, I will accompany Taylor on her journey of life, and I will not allow anyone to bully her."<br /> "My identity carries weight. You should understand that. Now, apologize to Taylor. Apologize! Did you hear me? Apologize!"<br /> Madison's eyes lit up. She hadn't expected the gent before her to hold such a high status. She continued to shout, "Did you hear that? Taylor will be with Mr. Clark from now on. Apologize now."<br /> Wesley glanced at Henry, then at Taylor. He thought, "Have they been together all along?" Wesley had wanted to ask but decided against it because there was no need. He simply gave them a glance and continued walking towards the exit.<br /> "Are you ignoring me?" Henry's face turned cold as he reached out to grab Wesley. Henry's hand froze mid-air as he received a solid hit.<br /> "Until I sign the divorce papers, Taylor and I are still wife and husband. I don't care to investigate whether you two had any intimate relationship during that time, but don't provoke me, or I won't hesitate to make you regret it." Wesley's gaze was icy, and as Henry met his eyes, he felt a twinge of fear and swallowed his words.<br /> Taylor was also stunned. She knew exactly what Wesley had been like over the past five years. There were many surveillance cameras in the house, and she would often check them.<br /> Even when Taylor wasn't home, despite how her family treated Wesley, he always obeyed without complaint, especially towards her. He had never raised his voice, no matter how they treated him.<br /> Today, not only did Wesley dodge when her mother struck, but he also initiated the divorce and now even struck Henry. <br /> Taylor was at a loss for words, thinking, "How could this cowardly gent dare? On what grounds does he dare?"<br /> This change was difficult for Taylor to accept as if she didn't truly understand this guy. The gent who used to be obedient to her, completely submissive, now revealed this side of himself. She watched Wesley walk away in a daze, feeling a strange discomfort in her heart.<br /> "Isn't he leaving with nothing?" Alexis pointed at the wooden box Wesley was holding. "What is he taking with him?"<br /> Madison also realized. Over the past five years, Wesley had always treasured this wooden box, carrying it with him wherever he went. She thought there must be something valuable inside.<br /> Realizing this, Madison hurriedly followed. "Wesley, stop right there, leave the wooden box."<br /> Wesley paused, glanced at Madison, and said, "This is my personal belonging."<br /> "Nonsense, what personal belonging could you possibly have after marrying into the Reed family? Everything you've eaten, worn, and lived in over the years has been provided by the Reed family. Put it down."<br /> As she spoke, Madison reached out to grab the wooden box.<br /> "Ah..." A scream rang out as Madison quickly retracted her hand, a gash appearing on her palm, a crimson liquid dripping.<br /> The wooden box was now stained with the same crimson liquid, trembling lightly in Wesley's hand.<br /> "It's not the right time yet, the day you thirst for this crimson liquid will come," Wesley murmured softly, patting the box before turning to continue his stride towards the exit.<br /> "Monster! A monster!" Madison screamed, causing Taylor and the others to rush out. Seeing the wound in Madison's hand, Taylor was filled with rage.<br /> "Wesley, aren't you going to say something?" Wesley halted once more, contemplating before meeting Taylor's gaze.<br /> "Just stay out of my way from now on. Consider this a warning to you."<br /> "Taylor, that wooden box of his has a mechanism. It must hold something valuable! We can't let him take it with him," Madison, enduring the pain, reminded them.<br /> "Mom, your injury is important. We'll deal with him later. Let me take you to the hospital first." Taylor comforted Madison before calling out to the retreating Wesley.<br /> "Our marriage is over! Yet, you dared to hurt my mother! This won't be the end of it! I will make you regret it!" Ignoring her, Wesley continued walking out.<br /> "Rest assured, I promise he won't see the light of day tomorrow." Henry stepped forward to console. "Let's focus on getting your wound treated first."<br /> "I want him to regret ever existing in this world, to apologize to me in repentance," Madison roared.<br /> "Mom, trust me, I will make him do just that." Taylor looked at Madison with a mix of pity and determination. "Let's go to the hospital first."<br /> In the villa area, Wesley halted, his voice cold. "Get out."<br /> An elderly gent leaped down from a tree, appearing to be in his seventies, yet landing silently from a height of around ten feet.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, your father wants you to come home and take charge."<br /> "He stopped being my father five years ago. He's my enemy."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you misunderstood your father. He had his reasons back then. I swear in my life, once you know the truth, you will forgive him."<br /> "Huh!" Wesley smirked coldly, saying, "I nearly passed away back then. Is that also a misunderstanding?"<br /> The old gent pleaded, "Mr. Harrington, this situation is truly not as you perceive it."<br /> Wesley didn't engage further with the old guy. The events of that year were etched in his memory forever. He was the one who had been abandoned. If not for that incident, why would he have stayed with the Reed family for five years?<br /> Watching Wesley walk away, the old gent had tears silently streaming down his face. "Mr. Harrington, I truly... I truly can't bring myself to speak the truth, but you have misunderstood your father. He also bears burdens and endures pains beyond what an ordinary person can handle."<br /> As Wesley's figure disappeared, the old gent stood up, hesitated for a moment, then dialed a number on his phone.<br /> "Mr. Harrington is now divorced. I've given you the news firsthand. If your daughter is truly together with Mr. Harrington, you must fulfill the promise and let her persuade Mr. Harrington to come home."<br /> After hanging up, a middle-aged gent in a luxurious estate jumped up excitedly. Calming himself, he immediately made another call. "My dear, you're at Yeadeo, right?<br /> "Go find Wesley now. Don't mention the engagement for now. Use every means to get close to him, make him fall in love with you."<br /> "Dad, I don't have time."<br /> "No matter what you are busy with, you must go find Wesley now. No matter what reason you approach him, you must leave a good impression the first time."<br /> "Dad, I'm in trouble right now. If I don't handle it well, I might be good as gone. I have to deal with it immediately. I'm hanging up."<br /> Chapter 3 You're Nothing<br /> The middle-aged gent's voice lowered significantly. "Is there a big incident happening? You didn't tell me? What happened?"<br /> "Quinn Kingsley from Yeadeo, Mr. Kingsley, used our product and now has one foot on the grave. If something really happens to him..."<br /> "You mean Quinn, the uncontested leader of Yeadeo?"<br /> "Yes."<br /> "In that case, you should go find Wesley. Trust me, in this world, there is no problem that Wesley can't solve. As long as he's willing to help, you'll be fine. Listen to me, go find Wesley immediately."<br /> The lady fell silent for a moment before saying, "Okay."<br /> At Yeadeo Harbor, a gent with a large flaxen chain and a watch, sporting a crew cut, hurriedly disembarked, accompanied by a dozen gentlemen.<br /> "Mr. Reed, wherever that trash is, we will find him and tear him apart."<br /> "Yes, that guy dared to harm your mother. We'll make sure he pays for it."<br /> Frank Reed's face turned cold. "Wesley, you coward, thinking you can overturn the world? How dare you touch my mom? Just wait until I find you, you're finished."<br /> "We've found him. Wesley got into a taxi, and our boys followed him."<br /> "Let's go!" Frank waved his hand, leading dozens of men who boarded the car with harpoons, steel pipes, and other weapons.<br /> Inside the taxi, Wesley gazed at the scenery outside, feeling a strange sense of tranquility.<br /> He thought to himself, "I never imagined that while I was secretly paving the way for the Reed family, Taylor, after progressing so rapidly, would start looking down on me more and more."<br /> "Those ladies who know my true identity, which one of them isn't trying to throw themselves at me? Ladies like that don't interest me."<br /> "Being an ordinary gent is truly difficult," Wesley murmured, smiling faintly and deciding not to dwell on these matters anymore. He had important things to attend to and no time to waste on personal affairs.<br /> "Young lad, are you going to Feidgeuo Manor for a job interview?" The driver, curious about Wesley's destination, inquired.<br /> Feidgeuo Manor was Yeadeo's most mysterious private area. Originally a villa area, it was bought at a huge cost five years ago and completely renovated. It was said to have cost a trillion dollars. The former villa area was now Feidgeuo Manor.<br /> "That's my home," Wesley replied nonchalantly.<br /> The driver was taken aback by this revelation, silently cursing Wesley for bragging. After a couple of minutes, the driver regained his composure. "It seems like you and I both prefer to keep a low profile. My car usually gathers dust at home, so I occasionally drive a taxi to experience life."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "My car has been driven by my assistant for the past few years, so it's not gathering dust."<br /> "Haha..." The driver laughed. "We should get together sometime and see whose car is more impressive."<br /> "Sure, whenever we have the time."<br /> As they chatted, the vehicle soon arrived near Feidgeuo Manor, where the massive head of the Feidgeuo Peak protruded, creating a unique landscape in Yeadeo.<br /> The driver asked with a smile, "Since you're the owner here, it's fine if I drive in, right?"<br /> "Of course," Wesley replied.<br /> As soon as Wesley spoke, several cars caught up from behind.<br /> The cars surrounded the one Wesley was in, with the front vehicles braking to force the car to a stop.<br /> When numerous people descended from cars wielding harpoons and steel pipes, the driver's face paled.<br /> Frank and his group got out of the cars, instantly closing in, and without hesitation, started attacking, the steel pipes and harpoons thudding against the car.<br /> Frank's henchman yanked open the door of Wesley's car, poised to stab Wesley with a harpoon, but Wesley swiftly exited the vehicle.<br /> With a firm step on the ground, he launched a swift hit.<br /> A muffled sound echoed as the henchman was hit away.<br /> "What are you looking at?" Frank noticed his henchmen were all staring at him. "All of you, attack together and take him down!"<br /> As he commanded, the henchmen Frank brought with him surged forward.<br /> The taxi driver, trembling, took out his phone to call the police, but Frank glared at him. "I am Frank Reed from Yeadeo Harbor. If you dare, go ahead and make that call."<br /> Frank, leveraging his sister Taylor's status, had been causing trouble in Yeadeo Harbor, and no one dared to provoke him.<br /> Upon hearing Frank's name, the driver hastily put away his phone. "Mr. Reed, I'll just check the time, you guys continue."<br /> "Huh!" Frank snorted coldly, casting his gaze towards the surrounded Wesley.<br /> The sounds of thuds continued to ring out incessantly. Because Wesley was completely surrounded, Frank was unable to see the situation inside clearly, but he could imagine it. After all, in Frank's mind, the henchmen under his command were not to be trifled with.<br /> "Hit him hard for me!"<br /> Another muffled sound and a figure flew out. At that moment, Frank finally saw the situation clearly, and his face turned pale.<br /> Frank knew that Wesley liked to practice martial arts, but he had never expected Wesley to be this skilled. It wasn't Wesley who had been beaten, but his own men by Wesley alone.<br /> Frantically, Frank turned and ran to retrieve a crossbow from the car.<br /> "Clear the way." Frank bellowed, aiming the crossbow at Wesley.<br /> "You scumbag, you think you can fight? Move one more time, and I'll end your life! Surrender!"<br /> Wesley, holding a wooden box, stared at Frank. Ignoring the crossbow in his hand, Wesley said, "Tell your henchmen to back off, or you'll all see the light from above!"<br /> "You're really good at pretending to be tough." Frank took two steps forward. "See the light? Move a muscle and see if I can end your life or not! If you don't have the guts, apologize now!"<br /> Wesley turned his head and looked at the approaching cars, with two expensive ones in the lead, two more in the rear, and another one in the middle.<br /> "Keep acting tough, and I'll put a hole in your head." Frank spoke while glancing at the five cars. "What, looking for help?"<br /> "Let me tell you, those who ride in these cars are not the kind of weaklings like you who rely on connections. With me here, in Yeadeo's social hierarchy, even those who ride in such cars wouldn't dare meddle in this matter. And let me make it clear, without my sister, you're nothing."<br /> Chapter 4 Is He Worthy?<br /> As Frank's words faded, the five cars came to a halt.<br /> A bodyguard opened the door of the one in the middle, revealing a dazzling pair of shining shoes catching everyone's eye.<br /> The shining shoe encased a beautiful foot. Above, the skirt's hem was adorned with lace.<br /> Then, like a fairy stepping out of a painting, she appeared before everyone's eyes.<br /> The lady was beautiful!<br /> Frank was mesmerized. Ever since the Reed family rose to prominence, he had been surrounded by ladies, but compared to the elegant lady before him, they were worlds apart.<br /> It wasn't just a difference in appearance but an incomparable gap in demeanor.<br /> The lady descending from the Maybach seemed like a celestial being untouched by mortal affairs.<br /> The embodiment of a fairy in the mundane world.<br /> She simply stood there after getting out of the car, perfectly embodying what it meant to be graceful and elegant.<br /> The lady glanced at Wesley, then at Frank.<br /> Frank grinned, saying, "May I have the honor of knowing the name of this esteemed lady? I am Frank..."<br /> The lady spoke calmly. "Disrespect Mr. Harrington, and you're done for."<br /> Her bodyguards, unfazed by Frank's crossbow, swiftly overwhelmed him, sending him crashing to the ground.<br /> The henchmen who had come with Frank, previously defeated by Wesley, now scrambled to their feet and fled in all directions.<br /> Who would dare provoke someone who could afford such a car?<br /> "My sister is Taylor Reed, the chairperson of Reed Group," Frank shouted, clutching his head.<br /> Ignoring him, one of the bodyguards dragged him to the roadside grass while another used a belt to tighten around Frank's neck, exerting pressure.<br /> "Enough, a lesson is all that's needed." Wesley spoke calmly, and only when the lady gestured did the bodyguards release Frank.<br /> Frank lay there, already unconscious.<br /> Wesley turned to the lady. "Who are you?"<br /> "I am Mia Roberts, the general manager of Vinver Business Alliance's Yeadeo branch." She looked at Wesley and continued, "Mr. Harrington, my father mentioned that you have miraculous healing skills and earnestly requested your assistance. A generous reward awaits."<br /> Wesley furrowed his brow slightly, thinking, "There are indeed people who recognize my abilities and status, yet I've rarely intervened in the past five years. Today, shortly after I divorced Taylor, she is here. Whose arrangement is this?"<br /> "Mr. Harrington, my father also mentioned that you are benevolent and has raised the banner of compassion among healers, serving as a role model and benchmark for all in the medical field."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "You have a way with words. Tell me the specifics."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, please get in the car first. I will explain in detail on the way."<br /> The phrase "compassionate healer" held significant weight for Wesley, who had saved countless lives from the brink of death.<br /> Without further ado, he got into the car.<br /> Inside, after Mia brewed coffee for Wesley, she began. "Vinver Business Alliance has a wide range of business operations, and I mainly oversee the health supplement sector, which has seen some success in recent years.<br /> "Recently, Quinn Kingsley started using our medicines, and now there's an accident."<br /> As she spoke, Mia kept her gaze fixed on Wesley.<br /> Quinn, the undisputed leader of Yeadeo, was a figure of immense influence.<br /> Upon hearing this name, Wesley showed no particular reaction. "If the city's leader faces issues with your products, it is indeed a concern. Let's go and see."<br /> With just a sentence, Wesley leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest.<br /> Mia was secretly alarmed, thinking, "He knows who Quinn is, yet he seems indifferent. Who is this Wesley, really? No wonder Dad has instructed me to find a way to win his favor." Mia's inner resistance toward Wesley quietly shifted.<br /> Wesley had piqued her curiosity.<br /> As the vehicle was moving, Wesley's phone rang.<br /> Wesley opened his eyes and took out his phone to see Taylor calling.<br /> Pressing the answer button, he asked, "What's the matter?"<br /> On the other end of the line, Taylor, driving towards Feidgeuo Manor, had a grim expression.<br /> She thought, "Has Wesley ever spoken to me in such a cold tone before? Is he really this heartless right after our divorce?"<br /> Already furious, she snapped. "Wesley, do you even consider yourself a human being?<br /> "Today, not only did you lay hands on my mother, but you also had someone attack my brother. Do you not remember our past at all?"<br /> Wesley calmly replied, "Do we have a past to remember?"<br /> "You truly are a heartless scumbag, just as my mother said. You are an ungrateful and vicious person I raised for five years. Even a pet would wag its tail at me!"<br /> Taylor wanted to continue her tirade, but the phone line had already turned busy.<br /> This only fueled her anger further.<br /> Just now, she had received a call from Frank's underlings, informing her that Wesley had sent people to attack Frank and even intended to end him.<br /> Taylor wanted to demand answers, but...<br /> As Taylor was clutching her fists, her gaze turned icy.<br /> After a moment, she picked up her phone again. "Wesley, you are so narrow-minded. You have no ambition. Any lady would steer clear of you."<br /> "Just because I dumped you, you are doing this on purpose to make me feel sick. Pretending to be aloof and seeking revenge? Do you even deserve it?"<br /> "In Yeadeo, squashing you would be as easy as squashing an ant. You're asking for it! If anything happens to my brother, I will make you wish you were ending!"<br /> Her furious voice message echoed in the car.<br /> Wesley chuckled and put away his phone.<br /> Beside him, Mia seemed contemplative. Before coming, she had already ordered a swift investigation into Wesley.<br /> She was curious, thinking, "How could someone valued by my father could be the one 'marrying into' the Reed family."<br /> Being tactful, Mia chose not to ask and pretended not to have heard.<br /> After about forty minutes, they arrived at the Kingsley Manor.<br /> The Kingsley family members, upon seeing Mia alight from the car, all wore grim expressions.<br /> Mia greeted them with a smile, "Everyone, this is Wesley Harrington, Mr. Harrington, the miraculous healer I specially invited to treat Mr. Kingsley."<br /> "Him? The gent who married into the Reed family?"<br /> "A miraculous healer? Is he even worthy? Are healers so worthless now?"<br /> "A useless gent who mooches off of the Reed family? How dare he call himself a miraculous healer? Truly a joke among all jokes."<br /> Chapter 5 Compassionate Healer<br /> Amanda Kingsley, Quinn's granddaughter, stared coldly at Wesley and Mia.<br /> This lady, dressed in a smart suit, also held significant fame in Yeadeo, overseeing the region's business activities, including investment attraction and various local business negotiations.<br /> Amanda had a favorable view of Taylor, who had risen swiftly in recent times, and they had interacted frequently.<br /> She was aware of Wesley's existence and had advised Taylor to part ways with him early on.<br /> But Amanda never imagined that Mia would bring someone like Wesley, a complete waste, and claim he was a miraculous healer.<br /> Glaring at Mia, she said, "Mia, once my grandfather is well, it's best for your Roberts family to leave Yeadeo."<br /> "As for you..." She glanced at Wesley. "I will advise Taylor to divorce you. You have deceived Taylor's feelings and now shamelessly made your way into my family. You are a despicable creature."<br /> After reprimanding Mia and Wesley, she turned to an elderly gent beside her, and her tone and attitude completely changed. "Mr. Phillips, sorry to trouble you. My grandfather is inside, please."<br /> Mia looked at the elderly gent, who was already in his twilight years, feeling deeply shocked.<br /> Scott Phillips, the 38th generation heir of the Healing Clinic, was now ninety-two years old.<br /> Renowned as a miraculous healer, he was a respected figure in the medical community of Yeadeo and even nationally.<br /> He no longer conducted consultations personally due to his old age. Mia had visited him specifically to pay her respects once she had arrived in Yeadeo but had not met Scott.<br /> She never expected Scott to appear in person. It was understandable, as Quinn held a prominent position in the city. Despite the profound influence of the Phillips family, they still had to show respect to Quinn.<br /> Mia looked at Wesley, feeling conflicted and thinking, "Dad has confidently claimed that Wesley has extraordinary abilities, but does he really?"<br /> She harbored doubts, but out of propriety, Mia spoke. "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the trouble."<br /> Wesley smiled, "It's fine. As long as the person can be healed."<br /> His open-mindedness impressed Mia.<br /> After about half an hour, Amanda emerged from the room. All eyes instantly turned towards her.<br /> It was evident that Amanda had wailed out, with traces of tears still visible.<br /> "Amanda, how is it?" A middle-aged gent anxiously asked her.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family who had rushed back also focused their attention on her.<br /> "Mr. Phillips said that there's little hope of recovery. He could only use acupuncture to wake grandfather for half an hour. When grandfather wakes up, let's all go in and see if he has any final instructions."<br /> Everyone was shocked.<br /> "How could this be?"<br /> "Is Mr. Phillips also helpless?"<br /> The members of the Kingsley family found it hard to accept this reality, especially since Quinn had always treated his juniors well.<br /> The thought of Quinn departing saddened some, and tears silently fell.<br /> Publicly, Quinn's status was the foundation of the Kingsley family's prominence in Yeadeo.<br /> If Quinn were to pass away, the Kingsley family would undoubtedly decline.<br /> The atmosphere within the Kingsley family was somber.<br /> Amanda looked at her family members, opened her mouth, but said nothing, silently turning back into the room.<br /> "Stop crying," A middle-aged gent said sternly, "Dad wouldn't want to see you all in tears. If he's really leaving, we mustn't let him worry about us. Pull yourselves together."<br /> After these words, the middle-aged gent also entered the room.<br /> The younger members of the Kingsley family wiped their tears vigorously, trying to force smiles, but in truth, they looked better at crying than pretending to be happy.<br /> Mia's spirit plummeted as she realized the gravity of the situation. Even if an ordinary person passed away from consuming health supplements, it spelled big trouble for those who sold them. And when the deceased happened to be Quinn, the stakes were even higher.<br /> She understood that it would be difficult for this branch to stay in Yeadeo, and even the headquarters might face repercussions.<br /> "Let's go in and have a look." Wesley glanced at Mia. "There might still be a chance."<br /> "Ah..." Mia stared at Wesley in surprise. Seeing him already heading towards the room, she quickly followed suit.<br /> Inside the room, the members of the Kingsley family stood around the mattress, maintaining a certain distance.<br /> Scott lit the alcohol lamp and took out the needles, his expression solemn.<br /> He looked at the members of the Kingsley family. "Think about what you want to say to Mr. Kingsley later. Once you're ready, let me know, and then I'll proceed with the acupuncture."<br /> As he said this, tears welled up in many eyes.<br /> "If you don't mind, let me take a look. I have a way." Wesley spoke up, drawing everyone's attention.<br /> Amanda's face darkened. "Who let you in? Get out!"<br /> "Mia, have you lost your mind? Tricked by this trash and actually brought him here as a miracle healer. Get out with him! I'll settle the score with you in a couple of days."<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, at a loss for words.<br /> "Even Mr. Phillips is unable to reverse the situation. What use are you? Get out." Another younger member of the Kingsley family angrily rebuked.<br /> The middle-aged gent added, "We're in no mood right now. You better leave immediately."<br /> "I understand your narrow-mindedness," Wesley continued, "But as a healer, once I see a patient, I cannot stand by and watch him draw his last breath."<br /> "Wesley, you're quite the charlatan. Do you really want to be gone right now?" Amanda's voice was filled with anger.<br /> "Amanda, let me say a few words," Scott interjected, and Amanda fell silent.<br /> Looking at Wesley, Scott began. "Young lad, at my age, I've seen a lot and have a broad perspective. Today, however, I find it hard to remain indifferent. I practiced medicine from the age of sixteen until I stopped seeing patients for a total of seventy years."<br /> "I've saved countless patients from various illnesses. I never easily declare a patient's fate, nor do I believe I have the right to do so."<br /> "But from your recent remarks, it seems like you're accusing me of such actions. Young people wanting to make a name for themselves by stepping on the shoulders of their predecessors, I can understand."<br /> "But this kind of behavior displeases me."<br /> "My displeasure, what does it mean to you? Do you understand?"<br /> "Even if you are a healer, your career will be ruined because of this."<br /> Chapter 6 Hand of Hell<br /> In the face of Scott's veiled threats, Wesley simply smiled and brushed them off.<br /> Looking at Scott, he asked, "I've always focused on the issue at hand rather than attacking individuals. I have a few questions for you. If you can't administer the needles, how long do you think Quinn can hold on?"<br /> "Seven days, but he will remain unconscious," Scott replied bluntly.<br /> "Then let me ask you this, is there anyone in the world with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "Outrageous," Amanda coldly interjected, "Mr. Phillips is unparalleled in his medical expertise."<br /> Scott glanced at Amanda. "Amanda, let me handle this question."<br /> Continuing to address Wesley, he said, "I don't underestimate myself, nor do I overestimate. There are countless talented individuals in the world, like stars in the sky. I may not dare claim to be the best in medical skills, but those who surpass me are few."<br /> "That means there are some," Wesley calmly remarked, causing Scott's expression to shift slightly, "Indeed, there are."<br /> "Then let me ask you this. Do you think within seven days, the Kingsley family won't find someone with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "If they do find someone, do you believe there is an illness that you cannot cure, but this person can?"<br /> Wesley's questions were sharp and resounding.<br /> Scott's face changed once more as he was rendered speechless.<br /> "Even if there is, that person will never be you." Amanda's face turned icy. "Now get out. Don't spout your eloquence here. Your deceitful behavior is repulsive."<br /> "Your understanding of me is merely hearsay, isn't it?" Wesley retorted, his gaze mocking Amanda, "Has your background and education taught you such arrogance and prejudice?"<br /> "Arrogance?" Amanda's face grew colder as she disdainfully looked at Wesley. "Prejudice?<br /> "Did I say something wrong just now? You are nothing but stagnant waste, a parasite living off others. If it weren't for Taylor, you would have starved on the streets long ago."<br /> "Relying on sweet words, deceiving Taylor. She, with her kind heart, can't bear to divorce you, but don't push your luck. If it weren't for Taylor's sake, you would have been sent out long ago."<br /> Scott interrupted Amanda, "Amanda, although I find this lad a bit annoying, what he said does hold some truth. There are indeed individuals with better medical skills than me. Your grandfather can hold on for seven days. Try reaching out to see if someone can come over. I'll help you make connections."<br /> "If it really doesn't work out after seven days, I'll administer the needles to your grandfather. However, at that point, I can only buy you three minutes."<br /> As soon as Scott spoke, the faces of the Kingsley family members grew even more solemn. True healers were rare and not easily summoned.<br /> While the Kingsley family had connections in Yeadeo, their influence waned outside of it.<br /> "Mr. Phillips, please administer the needles. Life has its ups and downs, and we understand that. Just buy my father a bit more time." The middle-aged gent spoke up.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family nodded in agreement.<br /> Amanda looked at Scott. "Mr. Phillips, please."<br /> "In that case, please have everyone unrelated leave. I need silence," Scott calmly stated.<br /> Amanda glared at Wesley, her eyes speaking volumes without a word.<br /> The unrelated individuals were, naturally, Wesley and Mia.<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, intending to leave, but she suddenly hesitated.<br /> Instead of leaving, Wesley moved forward.<br /> "What are you doing?" A young member of the Kingsley family stepped forward with a stern expression, pushing Wesley.<br /> In one swift motion, Wesley executed a clean shoulder throw, toppling the young gent to the ground, his own expression turning cold.<br /> "A bunch of fools! If it weren't for my teacher's teachings about not turning a blind eye to those in need, I wouldn't bother with you ignorant lot," Wesley remarked with disdain.<br /> As Wesley effortlessly took down one individual from the Kingsley family, the others seemed slow to react.<br /> By the time they realized what was happening, Wesley had already picked up the needle next to Scott and casually flicked his wrist.<br /> The needle flew out of his hand, piercing Quinn's temple, followed by a second needle, a third needle, and so on.<br /> "What are you doing? Stop!" Amanda's voice rose in urgency, echoed by the rest of the Kingsley family members who rushed forward to restrain Wesley.<br /> "Stay back, everyone. Wait." Scott suddenly stood up, blocking the others. "Let him try."<br /> Amanda and the others were left dumbfounded, thinking, "What does this mean?"<br /> Despite their confusion, they heeded Scott's words.<br /> After Scott stopped the members of the Kingsley family, he fixed his gaze on Wesley.<br /> Wesley proceeded to use eighteen needles in succession, symbolizing the levels of pain.<br /> Even if someone had descended into the depths of hell, they must be brought back.<br /> The final needle, also piercing a vital point, caused Quinn's body to tremble suddenly, resonating with the previous eighteen needles.<br /> Scott's eyes widened, his body trembling slightly. His reaction left Amanda and the others even more puzzled, but none dared to interrupt.<br /> Moments later, Wesley placed a palm on Quinn's chest, causing all eighteen needles to be shaken off. When all the needles landed on the ground, the part of the skin where the needles had pierced turned dark.<br /> Wesley then dragged Quinn to the edge of the mattress, flipped him over with his head facing downwards, and gave him a firm pat on the back.<br /> Quinn spat out a mouthful of black liquid. When Wesley flipped him back to lie flat, his complexion had regained some color.<br /> "The Hand of Darkness... It's the Hand of Darkness!" Scott exclaimed with excitement, his body quivering, "It's the Hand that descends into the dark world, snatching people from the hands of the Evil!"<br /> "You do have some knowledge, recognizing the Hand of Darkness." Wesley glanced at Scott.<br /> Scott's gaze towards Wesley had undergone a drastic change. He respectfully clasped his hands together.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thirty years ago, I had the honor of attending a teaching conference held by Mr. Vanderbilt. I saw the Hand of Darkness, but my limited aptitude only allowed me to grasp the basics."<br /> "I have been blind and ignorant. I apologize for my earlier offenses. Please forgive me, Mr. Harrington."<br /> The Mr. Vanderbilt Scott referred to was Wesley's teacher, Ulysses Vanderbilt. He generously imparted his skills to others, but the ability to learn depended on one's innate talent.<br /> In this world, few could learn Ulysses' skills.<br /> Scott had been fortunate to receive guidance from Ulysses, which had elevated his medical skills. However, the Hand of Darkness, a miraculous ability, was beyond his comprehension.<br /> Wesley smiled faintly, "Your actions earlier are understandable. I appreciate your words."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you must be an exceptional disciple of Mr. Vanderbilt, possessing unparalleled magnanimity. Impressive," Scott continued.<br /> "Enough with the flattery at your age."<br /> "You are mistaken, Mr. Harrington. Every word I speak is sincere."<br /> Mia, Amanda, and the others stood bewildered by the unfolding situation.<br /> "Mr. Phillips... he... he..." Amanda's words faltered.<br /> Scott turned to the members of the Kingsley family. "Meeting Mr. Harrington was Quinn's luck. His symptoms have been cured by Mr. Harrington. With a few days of rest, he will be fine."<br /> The waste Taylor had previously said was called Mr. Harrington by Scott!<br /> Recalling their previous attitudes, Amanda hurriedly apologized, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> The members of the Kingsley family all apologized in unison, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> Chapter 7 Eight Plates of Noodles<br /> With a faint smile, Wesley remarked, "As family members of a patient, your actions earlier are understandable. There's no need for such formality."<br /> Amanda's perplexity deepened as she thought, "Where is the cowardly waste that Taylor described? This display of magnanimity and breadth is far from it."<br /> Mia, too, felt a shiver of realization, thinking, "No wonder Dad has insisted on my proximity to Wesley.<br /> This guy..."<br /> She gazed at Wesley, her curiosity piqued, a sense of exploration stirring within her.<br /> "Mia has brought you here, Mr. Harrington, to cure my grandfather. The Kingsley family will never forget this act. However, considering that my grandfather's ailment stemmed from the health supplements produced by the Vinver Business Alliance, we will be conducting an investigation into it."<br /> Amanda continued, looking at Wesley, "What do you think... of this approach?"<br /> It was Mia who had invited Wesley, so Amanda had grown wiser, refraining from asking for a direct punishment of the Vinver Business Alliance.<br /> As Mia heard Amanda's words, her heart skipped a beat, realizing trouble was brewing.<br /> "On the way here, Ms. Roberts briefed me on the situation. You conducted experiments on mice, correct?"<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes, the health supplements we received were exclusively provided by the Roberts family. There were no similar cases on the market, so we used mice for testing.<br /> "All the mice that ingested this supplement were gone."<br /> She looked at Mia and added, her voice turned colder. "Before the experiment, I specifically contacted Mia to inquire about the testing methods during the development phase, which involved mice."<br /> "There have been individuals eyeing my grandfather's position, some even wishing for his demise. I never imagined that the Vinver Business Alliance, which I attracted for investment, would become a weapon in someone else's hands."<br /> "Do you have any of the remaining medicine?" Wesley inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes."<br /> "Bring some over."<br /> Immediately, someone fetched the medicine. After it was brought to him, Wesley took out a supplement and swallowed it directly.<br /> This scene left Amanda and the others dumbfounded.<br /> Scott, too, was bewildered. "Mr. Harrington, what are you doing?"<br /> Wesley smiled, "Just proving that this medicine is not toxic."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thank you," Mia thanked sincerely, feeling like sobbing at that moment.<br /> Amanda, with a puzzled expression, looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, are you suggesting that my grandfather's condition wasn't caused by the Vinver Business Alliance's medicine? What about the mice?"<br /> The rest were equally puzzled.<br /> "Yes, but not entirely," Wesley said, leaving everyone even more bewildered.<br /> Mia's emotions were like a rollercoaster ride, from relief to immediate tension.<br /> "This medicine itself is not toxic, but when taken with another substance made from a certain plant, it results in Quinn's condition. The mice would die immediately, while humans could endure a few more days."<br /> Wesley continued to explain, "The plant used in this concoction is originally meant for crafting slow-acting toxins, not for human consumption."<br /> Looking at Amanda, Wesley said, "During this period, whoever had access to your grandfather and the mice will better understand why these events occurred."<br /> The gaze of members of the Kingsley family immediately focused on a lady.<br /> Amanda, somewhat incredulous, looked at her. "Can you offer an explanation?"<br /> The lady was the wife of Amanda's deceased brother. She found it hard to accept, as did the rest of the Kingsley family.<br /> This lady had been named the exemplary lady who served her family well this year, not due to her connection with the Kingsley family but because she genuinely deserved it.<br /> "What do you mean? Amanda, what explanation do you want from me?"<br /> The lady stared at Amanda. "Am I the only one who had access to Grandfather and the mice? You, and you... and you, who didn't have access?"<br /> "You all claim to treat me as family. Since I married into the Kingsley family, I have worked diligently, contributing my share even if not acknowledged."<br /> "Amanda, it has been over a year since your brother passed, and I never once considered remarrying. Now, just because of his words, you demand an explanation from me?"<br /> Pointing at Wesley, the lady questioned, "Just because he accuses me of poisoning, you suspect me? Tell me, did I poison him?" The lady glared at Wesley.<br /> "I am merely analyzing the facts. As for concluding this case, it's not within my purview," Wesley addressed the members of the Kingsley family, saying, "You should conduct a thorough investigation into this matter.<br /> "I will write a prescription. Have Quinn take it on time, and he will recover in seven days."<br /> Amanda hurried to fetch paper and pen while Wesley prepared the prescription. Once done, he was ready to leave.<br /> Amanda said hurriedly, "Mr. Harrington, I've already made arrangements for lunch."<br /> "No need," Wesley smiled.<br /> The Kingsley family sought to build closer ties with Wesley, given his extraordinary medical skills. Wesley was well aware of this.<br /> Looking at Amanda and the others, Wesley remarked, "In the future, if you encounter any difficult medical cases that others cannot solve, seek me out. Remember, cases others cannot solve."<br /> The gaze of the Kingsley family members toward Wesley changed once again. Many renowned healers had eccentric personalities and were difficult to engage.<br /> They hadn't expected Wesley to possess such remarkable medical skills without any airs.<br /> As Wesley prepared to depart, the members of the Kingsley family did not dare to insist on his stay, so they accompanied him outside.<br /> "Oh, how could we forget such an important matter? Amanda, what about the consultation fee?" The middle-aged gent inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the oversight. Please wait a moment." Amanda hurried back inside and soon returned with a bank card in hand.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, there's one million dollars in here."<br /> Without hesitation, Wesley accepted the bank card and boarded Mia's car.<br /> During the journey, Mia boldly looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, you've helped me immensely. Can I treat you to a meal? Don't decline in a hurry. It's not a fancy restaurant, but it will leave you wanting more. It's a small place on the street, with only eight plates of noodles served each day, each plate containing different ingredients."<br /> "I managed to secure a reservation. Are you interested?"<br /> Wesley thought, "Eight Plates of Noodles?<br /> "Ah, Aaron's restaurant. It has been a while since I visited those old friends."<br /> Wesley nodded. "Let's go then."<br /> The restaurant, Eight Plates of Noodles, was located on Chanxold Street near the Yeadeo First Central Hospital.<br /> The establishment was small, serving only eight plates of noodles each day at a price of 10 thousand dollars each. Vernoic's television culinary program had specifically covered this incident.<br /> Reservations were a must to secure a plate.<br /> The restaurant's owner had a mysterious background. While the specifics were unknown, a high-ranking noble from the capital of Vernoic, Kingsland, had caused a scene there once.<br /> He had attempted to force his way in without a reservation. Although this incident hadn't been reported, rumors suggested that a garbage truck had to be called to dispose of the intruder's remains, as he was too shattered to be removed by conventional means.<br /> Since then, no one dared to cause trouble.<br /> On their way, Mia introduced Wesley to the background story.<br /> "Mr. Turner, two plates of noodles." Mia called out once they arrived.<br /> Aaron Turner didn't respond but visibly paused upon seeing Wesley beside Mia.<br /> A faint smile appeared on his usually stoic face. Though the flesh on the face seemed stiff, it was indeed a smile. "Coming right up."<br /> Chapter 8 You Are Blushing<br /> Mia glanced at Aaron with a hint of surprise, thinking, "When does he become so warm and enthusiastic?<br /> His tone seemed a bit agitated earlier, didn't it?"<br /> Soon enough, Aaron brought two plates of noodles to the table. One steaming hot and the other devoid of any warmth.<br /> As Mia observed Aaron placing the plate without steam in front of Wesley, her expression changed slightly.<br /> It was a plate of instant noodles having soaked in cold water, with the seasoning barely dissolved.<br /> She felt a sense of panic. Mia had wanted to leave a good impression on Wesley, which was why she had chosen this place.<br /> However, Aaron had served such a plate of noodles.<br /> She dared not question Aaron. The type of noodles served here was not determined by the guests but by Aaron's mood.<br /> "This lass named Mia is quite something, living up to her name, and quite kind-hearted," Aaron remarked, looking at Wesley.<br /> "Get lost," Wesley retorted, using his fork to pick up the noodles and devouring them.<br /> Mia's face turned pale instantly. Disrespecting Aaron was akin to risking Wesley's life.<br /> To her astonishment, Aaron chuckled, tears welling up in his eyes.<br /> He wiped them away. "Alright, I'll leave you to your meal."<br /> Before departing, he gave Mia a thumbs-up. "Seize the opportunity."<br /> The eight plates of noodles symbolized the eight comrades who had faced life and hardships together.<br /> Wesley ate voraciously. Initially, they had only one pack of instant noodles to share among the eight of them, forcing them to divide it.<br /> Despite the circumstances, they devoured the noodles joyfully.<br /> Aaron had promised that once they survived, each one would have the most delicious plate of noodles.<br /> However, five of the eight had perished.<br /> Wesley had come dangerously close to life-threatening situations, but managed to cling to life.<br /> For him, the plate of noodles was not food but the bond of friendship that had shielded him from harm.<br /> "Do you... know each other?" Mia couldn't help but ask, her voice low and curious.<br /> "Some things are better left unknown," Wesley replied.<br /> Mia nodded in understanding, falling silent as they continued eating noodles. She couldn't help stealing glances at Wesley throughout the meal.<br /> This gent had piqued her curiosity even more.<br /> "Wesley, I see. No wonder you agreed to the divorce so readily. You've already found someone else outside."<br /> A sharp voice interrupted their meal.<br /> Taylor approached with a cold expression, accompanied by Henry.<br /> Taylor's mother was in the nearby hospital, and she had just picked up Frank, planning to buy some food when she unexpectedly saw Wesley.<br /> Of course, she saw Mia, too.<br /> Seeing Wesley dining with a lady more attractive than herself, so soon after the divorce felt like a dagger twisting in Taylor's heart.<br /> Her anger was uncontrollable.<br /> Wesley merely glanced at Taylor, disinterested in engaging with her.<br /> Taylor was stung by his indifferent gaze. She stepped forward, glaring at Wesley. "Are you not going to explain to me?"<br /> Mia looked at Taylor, silently cursing her as a foolish lady.<br /> Wesley continued eating his noodles, lowering his head. "Get lost. Don't disturb me, or I won't hesitate to hit you."<br /> "What did you say?" Henry stepped forward, enraged. "Wesley, try laying a hand on her! Is that all you're capable of? Laying hands on ladies?"<br /> "No wonder Taylor looks down on you. You're truly disgusting trash. Apologize to Taylor now, or else you'll regret coming into this world."<br /> "And how will he regret it? Tell me." Aaron emerged, carrying a cleaver, smiling as he faced Henry and Taylor.<br /> "Mr. Turner, we dare not cause trouble in your place, but this guy is just..."<br /> Henry attempted to speak but was cut off as Aaron's cleaver struck his face, sending him sprawling to the ground.<br /> "Mr. Turner, sorry, we'll leave now." Taylor hastily helped Henry up and hurriedly left.<br /> These two individuals were fortunate to know the legendary story behind Eight Plates of Noodles and had successfully made reservations to dine here multiple times.<br /> Having distanced themselves a bit, Henry covered his face and pointed at Wesley. "Wesley, we have some unfinished business. If you're smart, come over here now and apologize."<br /> "Wesley, I've seen through you as well. I never expected that for the past five years, you've been using my money to keep a lady on the side. We'll settle the score slowly."<br /> As the two noticed Aaron glancing their way, they quickly shut their mouths and hurriedly left.<br /> Once they were out of eyeshots, Aaron fixed his gaze on Wesley. "Your dad doesn't know about your divorce yet, does he?"<br /> "What difference would it make if he did?" Wesley stretched lazily. "I've fulfilled my promise. I've given enough."<br /> Aaron nodded in acknowledgment without saying anything further.<br /> This piqued Mia's curiosity even more. "Is it like what the novels depict? Did you marry Taylor due to some special event?"<br /> Seeing Wesley's glare, Mia lowered her head to focus on her noodles. "I won't ask anymore."<br /> "For the past five years, you've been staying in the stairwell. It has been hard for you, but at least you're still untouched," Aaron remarked before swiftly departing.<br /> Mia stared at Wesley in disbelief, realizing that Aaron's words were meant for her ears.<br /> "What are you staring at? Eat your noodles," Wesley said. Mia chuckled.<br /> "Why are you laughing?"<br /> "You're blushing."<br /> "Nonsense," Wesley retorted.<br /> Unable to contain herself, Mia burst into laughter. She had tried to hold it in, but seeing Wesley's flushed face made it impossible.<br /> Ten minutes later, Mia left on her own accord, sensing that Wesley had something to discuss with Aaron.<br /> Inside Aaron's small shop, Wesley opened a bottle of wine. "Still single?"<br /> "I look too old, no one's interested," Aaron replied, opening a bottle of liquor as well.<br /> "Then why are you meddling in my love lives?"<br /> "Leave a child behind, even if you pass away, someone will remember you." Aaron took a sip. "I've actually investigated this Mia."<br /> "You investigated her?"<br /> "I knew you'd get a divorce. I've been keeping an eye on the pretty ones. This girl had done a lot of good deeds before coming to Yeadeo. Once, she saved three people in a flood and nearly lost her life. Opportunities are rare. You have to seize them."<br /> "When you've figured things out and are ready to marry, then we can discuss our affairs. That's the condition." Wesley downed the entire bottle of liquor.<br /> "Otherwise, don't bother meddling. We're on a one-way path and can't drag others along."<br /> "You..." Aaron sighed as he watched Wesley's retreating figure.<br /> On the road leading to the Feidgeuo Manor, Taylor stood gazing blankly at the entrance not far away.<br /> Twice in one day, she had come here.<br /> The first time was to pick up Frank, and this time was because Frank had lost his expensive watch. She and Henry hadn't even had a meal, rushing over to find it.<br /> The first time, she had come in a hurry when Frank was injured and left quickly as well.<br /> But this time, as Taylor looked at the entrance ahead, an infinite longing sprouted within her.<br /> "If only... I could live here, how wonderful that would be."<br /> Henry looked at her. "One day, I'll definitely build an estate more magnificent than this, and you'll be the lady of the house."<br /> As they conversed, a taxi drove by, stopping at the entrance. The person who got out of the taxi left Taylor stunned.<br /> She rubbed her eyes.	Adoread	147	https://facebook.com/61556400142540	LEARN_MORE	1713510000	View Edit Delete
1666879	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727709	1734958298	695	409315208529547		1.7334133138173E+15	1713769200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	226177680578601	0	Adoread	120207756044620265	client.adoread.com	Learn more	NONE	image	🔥🔥🔥 Read More👉	Hottest novel👉👉👉	https://client.adoread.com/book/loading/page/adoread/19161308412?utm_campaign={{campaign.id}}&utm_content={{campaign.name}}		1713536880	2.261776805786E+14	Adoread	https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438162152_827264979441253_8630164044163185256_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=HK7RWWhztOQQ7kNvgGoE2HF&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBL2cS_hkbk_hOxdLeu8feSgfGoAad1TUBtWlUCmSbHDQ&oe=663A6AEE	person_profile	0	Adoread	https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438058317_2237734986570683_1472772240083529734_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UdgbCrYSEvYQ7kNvgGRV1_3&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBNapYIQOZ9589-Y_1EfPPJqWQGY0fKvR4xv6Tk2WKaBQ&oe=663A7510	0	3	"Wesley, are you trying to harm me? You useless piece of trash, can't even make a decent cup of coffee, can you?"<br /> Madison Blair lifted her coffee cup and splashed it directly onto Wesley Harrington's face.<br /> "What are you looking at, you spineless waste? Your name sounds so lofty? I might as well call you a waste."<br /> Glancing at the grotesque expression of his wife's mother, Wesley pulled out his phone to check the time.<br /> Exactly twelve o'clock. It had been five full years since he married Taylor Reed.<br /> The appointed time had come.<br /> He had fulfilled his promise, safeguarding the Reed family for five years, transforming them from a family living off fishing to one perceived as affluent by the common folk.<br /> Wiping the coffee off his face, he turned and walked away.<br /> "Where do you think you're going? Go fetch some more coffee," Madison shouted.<br /> "Madison, didn't you say this waste is obedient at home, doing whatever he's told? I don't think he's taking it lying down."<br /> Madison grew angrier. "Wesley, you stop right there. My family has fed and housed you. If you dare disobey, I'll have you thrown out!"<br /> Ignoring her, Wesley continued downstairs.<br /> "When Taylor comes back, I'll immediately have you two divorced. Do you hear me? Stay right there," Madison threatened, "I'll let you know your place today."<br /> Grabbing a golf club, Madison swiftly charged towards Wesley.<br /> Seeing Wesley heading downstairs, she swung the club viciously at his back.<br /> Without turning back, Wesley gently sidestepped.<br /> Losing her balance, Madison tumbled forward, rolling down the stairs with a series of thumps.<br /> "Ouch... it hurts, it hurts so much!"<br /> As Madison reached the ground floor, she wailed in pain and her sister immediately rushed to her.<br /> "Wesley, what have you done? How dare you hit my sister!" Madison's sister hurried down, checking on Madison's condition.<br /> Wesley remained silent, observing the scene.<br /> "Quick, call Taylor. Tell her to come back. Today, she must divorce this waste." Madison glared at Wesley. "How dare you hit me? Not only will I let Taylor divorce you, but I'll make sure you leave in disgrace."<br /> "Mum, what's wrong?" At that moment, a gent and a lady walked in.<br /> The lady was Taylor, Madison's daughter.<br /> She ran towards Madison.<br /> As Madison pointed at Wesley, tears streamed down her face. "Taylor, he hit me, he hit me! When you're not home, he changes his attitude, scolding and hitting me in the slightest displeasure. He even pushed me down the stairs just now. Alexis can testify."<br /> Madison's sister, Alexis Blair, chimed in. "Yes, Wesley, this trash not only hit your mother but also threatened to hit me too. We cannot tolerate such trash."<br /> "Taylor, I have been telling you to divorce him for years. You've been supporting him, treating him like a Lord at home, but he's an ungrateful wolf in sheep's clothing."<br /> Helping Madison up, Taylor noticed the scrapes on Madison's arms and legs, her expression turning cold.<br /> "Wesley, why did you hit my mother? You better give me an explanation."<br /> Wesley looked at Taylor, his wife.<br /> Five years had passed, and she had never shown him kindness.<br /> Taylor dressed impeccably, a paragon of a successful lady, with a face that could be deemed angelic, yet whether her heart was as angelic remained a mystery.<br /> Her figure, too, left countless men yearning.<br /> For five years, Wesley had thought he might develop feelings for this lady, but in reality, it never happened.<br /> "There are surveillance cameras in the house," Wesley stated calmly before descending the stairs into the hallway.<br /> Despite residing in a three-story villa, Wesley's living quarters were confined to the stairwell.<br /> He harbored no resentment towards this arrangement. It was merely a promise. It was just that Taylor failed to appreciate him.<br /> This home held little value that he wished to cling onto.<br /> Retrieving a wooden box from beneath his pillow, Wesley extracted two documents. Casting a fleeting glance at the modest abode he had called home for five years, Wesley smiled faintly.<br /> He thought, "Finally... I'm free."<br /> Pushing the door ajar, Wesley was met by Taylor's piercing gaze. "I've reviewed the surveillance footage. Yes, my mother intended to strike you, but even if she did, what difference would it make?"<br /> "She's a lady. How much could her blows hurt you? Why did you dodge?"<br /> "If you hadn't dodged, my mother wouldn't have tumbled down." Wesley stared at Taylor, unable to comprehend her thought process.<br /> He had no interest in engaging in these arguments. Handing over the two documents to Taylor, he remarked, "The divorce agreement. I've already signed it. Take a look. I'm leaving with nothing."<br /> "With your current influence, there's no need for you to visit the city hall. Someone will handle it for you, right?"<br /> Madison was taken aback. She swiftly snatched the divorce agreement, flipping through it hastily.<br /> The contents were indeed straightforward. Both parties willingly divorced, with Wesley relinquishing all claims and having already signed.<br /> In an instant, Madison's pain seemed to dissipate. "Taylor, sign it quickly. Sign it."<br /> Taylor was still in a daze.<br /> She pondered.<br /> "A divorce agreement? Wesley has already prepared a divorce agreement. On what grounds?"<br /> "What gives him the right to initiate a divorce? All these years, he's done nothing at home, lacking any ambition. Always practicing martial arts, what right does he have to seek a divorce?"<br /> "If anyone should initiate it, it should be me. Moreover, now that I'm back to discussing this matter with him. Could it be that word got out, and Wesley, for the sake of his pride, rushed to prepare a divorce agreement first?"<br /> "It must be so, but... No!"<br /> "Wanting to leave with nothing, is he retreating to advance? As the chairman of the Reed Group, how could I be served with a divorce?"<br /> "Hey Wesley, I never expected this from you. Have I not treated you well enough? You seek a divorce, attempting to turn your retreat into advance, aiming to embarrass me?"<br /> Taylor glared at Wesley. "I'm telling you, it's impossible."<br /> Snatching the divorce agreement, she tore it to shreds.<br /> "Taylor, what are you doing? Such a great opportunity. Why not just sign it and let him leave?" Madison grew anxious.<br /> "Mom, I do intend to divorce this trash, but the decision must come from me. I returned specifically to address this matter."<br /> With that, Taylor produced two documents. "Wesley, remember that it's me who's divorcing you. It's me who no longer wants you. Initially, out of marital obligation, I had considered offering you some compensation. Now, you don't even need to think about it. Sign the divorce agreement and leave my home."<br /> Wesley offered a faint smile as he accepted the divorce agreement.<br /> "What are you laughing at?" Taylor demanded angrily.<br /> Wesley's smile seemed to mock her, fueling her rage.<br /> Ignoring her entirely, Wesley signed the document and handed it over.<br /> "What are you laughing at? Answer me! Who do you think you are?" Taylor roared once more.<br /> Wesley glanced at her before striding towards the exit.<br /> "Stop!" The gent who had accompanied Taylor stepped forward, blocking Wesley's path. "Taylor asked you a question, and... Your previous attitude displeased me. Apologize to Taylor, or I'll have you leave in disgrace!"<br /> Chapter 2 The Unspoken Truth<br /> <br /> "Yes, let him leave in disgrace. He thought he could just hit me and walk away so easily," Madison joined in the commotion, also noticing the gent blocking Wesley's path.<br /> Madison had a keen interest in luxury goods, having frequented various high-end establishments over the years as the Reed family's living conditions improved. The gent was wearing an expensive watch and dressed head to toe in high-end luxury brands.<br /> Seeing Madison's gaze, the gent spoke. "Rest assured, today Wesley must pay the price."<br /> The gent introduced himself, looking at Wesley, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Henry Clark, the eldest son of the Clark family and the general manager of the Clark Group in the North District."<br /> "From now on, I will accompany Taylor on her journey of life, and I will not allow anyone to bully her."<br /> "My identity carries weight. You should understand that. Now, apologize to Taylor. Apologize! Did you hear me? Apologize!"<br /> Madison's eyes lit up. She hadn't expected the gent before her to hold such a high status. She continued to shout, "Did you hear that? Taylor will be with Mr. Clark from now on. Apologize now."<br /> Wesley glanced at Henry, then at Taylor. He thought, "Have they been together all along?" Wesley had wanted to ask but decided against it because there was no need. He simply gave them a glance and continued walking towards the exit.<br /> "Are you ignoring me?" Henry's face turned cold as he reached out to grab Wesley. Henry's hand froze mid-air as he received a solid hit.<br /> "Until I sign the divorce papers, Taylor and I are still wife and husband. I don't care to investigate whether you two had any intimate relationship during that time, but don't provoke me, or I won't hesitate to make you regret it." Wesley's gaze was icy, and as Henry met his eyes, he felt a twinge of fear and swallowed his words.<br /> Taylor was also stunned. She knew exactly what Wesley had been like over the past five years. There were many surveillance cameras in the house, and she would often check them.<br /> Even when Taylor wasn't home, despite how her family treated Wesley, he always obeyed without complaint, especially towards her. He had never raised his voice, no matter how they treated him.<br /> Today, not only did Wesley dodge when her mother struck, but he also initiated the divorce and now even struck Henry. <br /> Taylor was at a loss for words, thinking, "How could this cowardly gent dare? On what grounds does he dare?"<br /> This change was difficult for Taylor to accept as if she didn't truly understand this guy. The gent who used to be obedient to her, completely submissive, now revealed this side of himself. She watched Wesley walk away in a daze, feeling a strange discomfort in her heart.<br /> "Isn't he leaving with nothing?" Alexis pointed at the wooden box Wesley was holding. "What is he taking with him?"<br /> Madison also realized. Over the past five years, Wesley had always treasured this wooden box, carrying it with him wherever he went. She thought there must be something valuable inside.<br /> Realizing this, Madison hurriedly followed. "Wesley, stop right there, leave the wooden box."<br /> Wesley paused, glanced at Madison, and said, "This is my personal belonging."<br /> "Nonsense, what personal belonging could you possibly have after marrying into the Reed family? Everything you've eaten, worn, and lived in over the years has been provided by the Reed family. Put it down."<br /> As she spoke, Madison reached out to grab the wooden box.<br /> "Ah..." A scream rang out as Madison quickly retracted her hand, a gash appearing on her palm, a crimson liquid dripping.<br /> The wooden box was now stained with the same crimson liquid, trembling lightly in Wesley's hand.<br /> "It's not the right time yet, the day you thirst for this crimson liquid will come," Wesley murmured softly, patting the box before turning to continue his stride towards the exit.<br /> "Monster! A monster!" Madison screamed, causing Taylor and the others to rush out. Seeing the wound in Madison's hand, Taylor was filled with rage.<br /> "Wesley, aren't you going to say something?" Wesley halted once more, contemplating before meeting Taylor's gaze.<br /> "Just stay out of my way from now on. Consider this a warning to you."<br /> "Taylor, that wooden box of his has a mechanism. It must hold something valuable! We can't let him take it with him," Madison, enduring the pain, reminded them.<br /> "Mom, your injury is important. We'll deal with him later. Let me take you to the hospital first." Taylor comforted Madison before calling out to the retreating Wesley.<br /> "Our marriage is over! Yet, you dared to hurt my mother! This won't be the end of it! I will make you regret it!" Ignoring her, Wesley continued walking out.<br /> "Rest assured, I promise he won't see the light of day tomorrow." Henry stepped forward to console. "Let's focus on getting your wound treated first."<br /> "I want him to regret ever existing in this world, to apologize to me in repentance," Madison roared.<br /> "Mom, trust me, I will make him do just that." Taylor looked at Madison with a mix of pity and determination. "Let's go to the hospital first."<br /> In the villa area, Wesley halted, his voice cold. "Get out."<br /> An elderly gent leaped down from a tree, appearing to be in his seventies, yet landing silently from a height of around ten feet.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, your father wants you to come home and take charge."<br /> "He stopped being my father five years ago. He's my enemy."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you misunderstood your father. He had his reasons back then. I swear in my life, once you know the truth, you will forgive him."<br /> "Huh!" Wesley smirked coldly, saying, "I nearly passed away back then. Is that also a misunderstanding?"<br /> The old gent pleaded, "Mr. Harrington, this situation is truly not as you perceive it."<br /> Wesley didn't engage further with the old guy. The events of that year were etched in his memory forever. He was the one who had been abandoned. If not for that incident, why would he have stayed with the Reed family for five years?<br /> Watching Wesley walk away, the old gent had tears silently streaming down his face. "Mr. Harrington, I truly... I truly can't bring myself to speak the truth, but you have misunderstood your father. He also bears burdens and endures pains beyond what an ordinary person can handle."<br /> As Wesley's figure disappeared, the old gent stood up, hesitated for a moment, then dialed a number on his phone.<br /> "Mr. Harrington is now divorced. I've given you the news firsthand. If your daughter is truly together with Mr. Harrington, you must fulfill the promise and let her persuade Mr. Harrington to come home."<br /> After hanging up, a middle-aged gent in a luxurious estate jumped up excitedly. Calming himself, he immediately made another call. "My dear, you're at Yeadeo, right?<br /> "Go find Wesley now. Don't mention the engagement for now. Use every means to get close to him, make him fall in love with you."<br /> "Dad, I don't have time."<br /> "No matter what you are busy with, you must go find Wesley now. No matter what reason you approach him, you must leave a good impression the first time."<br /> "Dad, I'm in trouble right now. If I don't handle it well, I might be good as gone. I have to deal with it immediately. I'm hanging up."<br /> Chapter 3 You're Nothing<br /> The middle-aged gent's voice lowered significantly. "Is there a big incident happening? You didn't tell me? What happened?"<br /> "Quinn Kingsley from Yeadeo, Mr. Kingsley, used our product and now has one foot on the grave. If something really happens to him..."<br /> "You mean Quinn, the uncontested leader of Yeadeo?"<br /> "Yes."<br /> "In that case, you should go find Wesley. Trust me, in this world, there is no problem that Wesley can't solve. As long as he's willing to help, you'll be fine. Listen to me, go find Wesley immediately."<br /> The lady fell silent for a moment before saying, "Okay."<br /> At Yeadeo Harbor, a gent with a large flaxen chain and a watch, sporting a crew cut, hurriedly disembarked, accompanied by a dozen gentlemen.<br /> "Mr. Reed, wherever that trash is, we will find him and tear him apart."<br /> "Yes, that guy dared to harm your mother. We'll make sure he pays for it."<br /> Frank Reed's face turned cold. "Wesley, you coward, thinking you can overturn the world? How dare you touch my mom? Just wait until I find you, you're finished."<br /> "We've found him. Wesley got into a taxi, and our boys followed him."<br /> "Let's go!" Frank waved his hand, leading dozens of men who boarded the car with harpoons, steel pipes, and other weapons.<br /> Inside the taxi, Wesley gazed at the scenery outside, feeling a strange sense of tranquility.<br /> He thought to himself, "I never imagined that while I was secretly paving the way for the Reed family, Taylor, after progressing so rapidly, would start looking down on me more and more."<br /> "Those ladies who know my true identity, which one of them isn't trying to throw themselves at me? Ladies like that don't interest me."<br /> "Being an ordinary gent is truly difficult," Wesley murmured, smiling faintly and deciding not to dwell on these matters anymore. He had important things to attend to and no time to waste on personal affairs.<br /> "Young lad, are you going to Feidgeuo Manor for a job interview?" The driver, curious about Wesley's destination, inquired.<br /> Feidgeuo Manor was Yeadeo's most mysterious private area. Originally a villa area, it was bought at a huge cost five years ago and completely renovated. It was said to have cost a trillion dollars. The former villa area was now Feidgeuo Manor.<br /> "That's my home," Wesley replied nonchalantly.<br /> The driver was taken aback by this revelation, silently cursing Wesley for bragging. After a couple of minutes, the driver regained his composure. "It seems like you and I both prefer to keep a low profile. My car usually gathers dust at home, so I occasionally drive a taxi to experience life."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "My car has been driven by my assistant for the past few years, so it's not gathering dust."<br /> "Haha..." The driver laughed. "We should get together sometime and see whose car is more impressive."<br /> "Sure, whenever we have the time."<br /> As they chatted, the vehicle soon arrived near Feidgeuo Manor, where the massive head of the Feidgeuo Peak protruded, creating a unique landscape in Yeadeo.<br /> The driver asked with a smile, "Since you're the owner here, it's fine if I drive in, right?"<br /> "Of course," Wesley replied.<br /> As soon as Wesley spoke, several cars caught up from behind.<br /> The cars surrounded the one Wesley was in, with the front vehicles braking to force the car to a stop.<br /> When numerous people descended from cars wielding harpoons and steel pipes, the driver's face paled.<br /> Frank and his group got out of the cars, instantly closing in, and without hesitation, started attacking, the steel pipes and harpoons thudding against the car.<br /> Frank's henchman yanked open the door of Wesley's car, poised to stab Wesley with a harpoon, but Wesley swiftly exited the vehicle.<br /> With a firm step on the ground, he launched a swift hit.<br /> A muffled sound echoed as the henchman was hit away.<br /> "What are you looking at?" Frank noticed his henchmen were all staring at him. "All of you, attack together and take him down!"<br /> As he commanded, the henchmen Frank brought with him surged forward.<br /> The taxi driver, trembling, took out his phone to call the police, but Frank glared at him. "I am Frank Reed from Yeadeo Harbor. If you dare, go ahead and make that call."<br /> Frank, leveraging his sister Taylor's status, had been causing trouble in Yeadeo Harbor, and no one dared to provoke him.<br /> Upon hearing Frank's name, the driver hastily put away his phone. "Mr. Reed, I'll just check the time, you guys continue."<br /> "Huh!" Frank snorted coldly, casting his gaze towards the surrounded Wesley.<br /> The sounds of thuds continued to ring out incessantly. Because Wesley was completely surrounded, Frank was unable to see the situation inside clearly, but he could imagine it. After all, in Frank's mind, the henchmen under his command were not to be trifled with.<br /> "Hit him hard for me!"<br /> Another muffled sound and a figure flew out. At that moment, Frank finally saw the situation clearly, and his face turned pale.<br /> Frank knew that Wesley liked to practice martial arts, but he had never expected Wesley to be this skilled. It wasn't Wesley who had been beaten, but his own men by Wesley alone.<br /> Frantically, Frank turned and ran to retrieve a crossbow from the car.<br /> "Clear the way." Frank bellowed, aiming the crossbow at Wesley.<br /> "You scumbag, you think you can fight? Move one more time, and I'll end your life! Surrender!"<br /> Wesley, holding a wooden box, stared at Frank. Ignoring the crossbow in his hand, Wesley said, "Tell your henchmen to back off, or you'll all see the light from above!"<br /> "You're really good at pretending to be tough." Frank took two steps forward. "See the light? Move a muscle and see if I can end your life or not! If you don't have the guts, apologize now!"<br /> Wesley turned his head and looked at the approaching cars, with two expensive ones in the lead, two more in the rear, and another one in the middle.<br /> "Keep acting tough, and I'll put a hole in your head." Frank spoke while glancing at the five cars. "What, looking for help?"<br /> "Let me tell you, those who ride in these cars are not the kind of weaklings like you who rely on connections. With me here, in Yeadeo's social hierarchy, even those who ride in such cars wouldn't dare meddle in this matter. And let me make it clear, without my sister, you're nothing."<br /> Chapter 4 Is He Worthy?<br /> As Frank's words faded, the five cars came to a halt.<br /> A bodyguard opened the door of the one in the middle, revealing a dazzling pair of shining shoes catching everyone's eye.<br /> The shining shoe encased a beautiful foot. Above, the skirt's hem was adorned with lace.<br /> Then, like a fairy stepping out of a painting, she appeared before everyone's eyes.<br /> The lady was beautiful!<br /> Frank was mesmerized. Ever since the Reed family rose to prominence, he had been surrounded by ladies, but compared to the elegant lady before him, they were worlds apart.<br /> It wasn't just a difference in appearance but an incomparable gap in demeanor.<br /> The lady descending from the Maybach seemed like a celestial being untouched by mortal affairs.<br /> The embodiment of a fairy in the mundane world.<br /> She simply stood there after getting out of the car, perfectly embodying what it meant to be graceful and elegant.<br /> The lady glanced at Wesley, then at Frank.<br /> Frank grinned, saying, "May I have the honor of knowing the name of this esteemed lady? I am Frank..."<br /> The lady spoke calmly. "Disrespect Mr. Harrington, and you're done for."<br /> Her bodyguards, unfazed by Frank's crossbow, swiftly overwhelmed him, sending him crashing to the ground.<br /> The henchmen who had come with Frank, previously defeated by Wesley, now scrambled to their feet and fled in all directions.<br /> Who would dare provoke someone who could afford such a car?<br /> "My sister is Taylor Reed, the chairperson of Reed Group," Frank shouted, clutching his head.<br /> Ignoring him, one of the bodyguards dragged him to the roadside grass while another used a belt to tighten around Frank's neck, exerting pressure.<br /> "Enough, a lesson is all that's needed." Wesley spoke calmly, and only when the lady gestured did the bodyguards release Frank.<br /> Frank lay there, already unconscious.<br /> Wesley turned to the lady. "Who are you?"<br /> "I am Mia Roberts, the general manager of Vinver Business Alliance's Yeadeo branch." She looked at Wesley and continued, "Mr. Harrington, my father mentioned that you have miraculous healing skills and earnestly requested your assistance. A generous reward awaits."<br /> Wesley furrowed his brow slightly, thinking, "There are indeed people who recognize my abilities and status, yet I've rarely intervened in the past five years. Today, shortly after I divorced Taylor, she is here. Whose arrangement is this?"<br /> "Mr. Harrington, my father also mentioned that you are benevolent and has raised the banner of compassion among healers, serving as a role model and benchmark for all in the medical field."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "You have a way with words. Tell me the specifics."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, please get in the car first. I will explain in detail on the way."<br /> The phrase "compassionate healer" held significant weight for Wesley, who had saved countless lives from the brink of death.<br /> Without further ado, he got into the car.<br /> Inside, after Mia brewed coffee for Wesley, she began. "Vinver Business Alliance has a wide range of business operations, and I mainly oversee the health supplement sector, which has seen some success in recent years.<br /> "Recently, Quinn Kingsley started using our medicines, and now there's an accident."<br /> As she spoke, Mia kept her gaze fixed on Wesley.<br /> Quinn, the undisputed leader of Yeadeo, was a figure of immense influence.<br /> Upon hearing this name, Wesley showed no particular reaction. "If the city's leader faces issues with your products, it is indeed a concern. Let's go and see."<br /> With just a sentence, Wesley leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest.<br /> Mia was secretly alarmed, thinking, "He knows who Quinn is, yet he seems indifferent. Who is this Wesley, really? No wonder Dad has instructed me to find a way to win his favor." Mia's inner resistance toward Wesley quietly shifted.<br /> Wesley had piqued her curiosity.<br /> As the vehicle was moving, Wesley's phone rang.<br /> Wesley opened his eyes and took out his phone to see Taylor calling.<br /> Pressing the answer button, he asked, "What's the matter?"<br /> On the other end of the line, Taylor, driving towards Feidgeuo Manor, had a grim expression.<br /> She thought, "Has Wesley ever spoken to me in such a cold tone before? Is he really this heartless right after our divorce?"<br /> Already furious, she snapped. "Wesley, do you even consider yourself a human being?<br /> "Today, not only did you lay hands on my mother, but you also had someone attack my brother. Do you not remember our past at all?"<br /> Wesley calmly replied, "Do we have a past to remember?"<br /> "You truly are a heartless scumbag, just as my mother said. You are an ungrateful and vicious person I raised for five years. Even a pet would wag its tail at me!"<br /> Taylor wanted to continue her tirade, but the phone line had already turned busy.<br /> This only fueled her anger further.<br /> Just now, she had received a call from Frank's underlings, informing her that Wesley had sent people to attack Frank and even intended to end him.<br /> Taylor wanted to demand answers, but...<br /> As Taylor was clutching her fists, her gaze turned icy.<br /> After a moment, she picked up her phone again. "Wesley, you are so narrow-minded. You have no ambition. Any lady would steer clear of you."<br /> "Just because I dumped you, you are doing this on purpose to make me feel sick. Pretending to be aloof and seeking revenge? Do you even deserve it?"<br /> "In Yeadeo, squashing you would be as easy as squashing an ant. You're asking for it! If anything happens to my brother, I will make you wish you were ending!"<br /> Her furious voice message echoed in the car.<br /> Wesley chuckled and put away his phone.<br /> Beside him, Mia seemed contemplative. Before coming, she had already ordered a swift investigation into Wesley.<br /> She was curious, thinking, "How could someone valued by my father could be the one 'marrying into' the Reed family."<br /> Being tactful, Mia chose not to ask and pretended not to have heard.<br /> After about forty minutes, they arrived at the Kingsley Manor.<br /> The Kingsley family members, upon seeing Mia alight from the car, all wore grim expressions.<br /> Mia greeted them with a smile, "Everyone, this is Wesley Harrington, Mr. Harrington, the miraculous healer I specially invited to treat Mr. Kingsley."<br /> "Him? The gent who married into the Reed family?"<br /> "A miraculous healer? Is he even worthy? Are healers so worthless now?"<br /> "A useless gent who mooches off of the Reed family? How dare he call himself a miraculous healer? Truly a joke among all jokes."<br /> Chapter 5 Compassionate Healer<br /> Amanda Kingsley, Quinn's granddaughter, stared coldly at Wesley and Mia.<br /> This lady, dressed in a smart suit, also held significant fame in Yeadeo, overseeing the region's business activities, including investment attraction and various local business negotiations.<br /> Amanda had a favorable view of Taylor, who had risen swiftly in recent times, and they had interacted frequently.<br /> She was aware of Wesley's existence and had advised Taylor to part ways with him early on.<br /> But Amanda never imagined that Mia would bring someone like Wesley, a complete waste, and claim he was a miraculous healer.<br /> Glaring at Mia, she said, "Mia, once my grandfather is well, it's best for your Roberts family to leave Yeadeo."<br /> "As for you..." She glanced at Wesley. "I will advise Taylor to divorce you. You have deceived Taylor's feelings and now shamelessly made your way into my family. You are a despicable creature."<br /> After reprimanding Mia and Wesley, she turned to an elderly gent beside her, and her tone and attitude completely changed. "Mr. Phillips, sorry to trouble you. My grandfather is inside, please."<br /> Mia looked at the elderly gent, who was already in his twilight years, feeling deeply shocked.<br /> Scott Phillips, the 38th generation heir of the Healing Clinic, was now ninety-two years old.<br /> Renowned as a miraculous healer, he was a respected figure in the medical community of Yeadeo and even nationally.<br /> He no longer conducted consultations personally due to his old age. Mia had visited him specifically to pay her respects once she had arrived in Yeadeo but had not met Scott.<br /> She never expected Scott to appear in person. It was understandable, as Quinn held a prominent position in the city. Despite the profound influence of the Phillips family, they still had to show respect to Quinn.<br /> Mia looked at Wesley, feeling conflicted and thinking, "Dad has confidently claimed that Wesley has extraordinary abilities, but does he really?"<br /> She harbored doubts, but out of propriety, Mia spoke. "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the trouble."<br /> Wesley smiled, "It's fine. As long as the person can be healed."<br /> His open-mindedness impressed Mia.<br /> After about half an hour, Amanda emerged from the room. All eyes instantly turned towards her.<br /> It was evident that Amanda had wailed out, with traces of tears still visible.<br /> "Amanda, how is it?" A middle-aged gent anxiously asked her.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family who had rushed back also focused their attention on her.<br /> "Mr. Phillips said that there's little hope of recovery. He could only use acupuncture to wake grandfather for half an hour. When grandfather wakes up, let's all go in and see if he has any final instructions."<br /> Everyone was shocked.<br /> "How could this be?"<br /> "Is Mr. Phillips also helpless?"<br /> The members of the Kingsley family found it hard to accept this reality, especially since Quinn had always treated his juniors well.<br /> The thought of Quinn departing saddened some, and tears silently fell.<br /> Publicly, Quinn's status was the foundation of the Kingsley family's prominence in Yeadeo.<br /> If Quinn were to pass away, the Kingsley family would undoubtedly decline.<br /> The atmosphere within the Kingsley family was somber.<br /> Amanda looked at her family members, opened her mouth, but said nothing, silently turning back into the room.<br /> "Stop crying," A middle-aged gent said sternly, "Dad wouldn't want to see you all in tears. If he's really leaving, we mustn't let him worry about us. Pull yourselves together."<br /> After these words, the middle-aged gent also entered the room.<br /> The younger members of the Kingsley family wiped their tears vigorously, trying to force smiles, but in truth, they looked better at crying than pretending to be happy.<br /> Mia's spirit plummeted as she realized the gravity of the situation. Even if an ordinary person passed away from consuming health supplements, it spelled big trouble for those who sold them. And when the deceased happened to be Quinn, the stakes were even higher.<br /> She understood that it would be difficult for this branch to stay in Yeadeo, and even the headquarters might face repercussions.<br /> "Let's go in and have a look." Wesley glanced at Mia. "There might still be a chance."<br /> "Ah..." Mia stared at Wesley in surprise. Seeing him already heading towards the room, she quickly followed suit.<br /> Inside the room, the members of the Kingsley family stood around the mattress, maintaining a certain distance.<br /> Scott lit the alcohol lamp and took out the needles, his expression solemn.<br /> He looked at the members of the Kingsley family. "Think about what you want to say to Mr. Kingsley later. Once you're ready, let me know, and then I'll proceed with the acupuncture."<br /> As he said this, tears welled up in many eyes.<br /> "If you don't mind, let me take a look. I have a way." Wesley spoke up, drawing everyone's attention.<br /> Amanda's face darkened. "Who let you in? Get out!"<br /> "Mia, have you lost your mind? Tricked by this trash and actually brought him here as a miracle healer. Get out with him! I'll settle the score with you in a couple of days."<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, at a loss for words.<br /> "Even Mr. Phillips is unable to reverse the situation. What use are you? Get out." Another younger member of the Kingsley family angrily rebuked.<br /> The middle-aged gent added, "We're in no mood right now. You better leave immediately."<br /> "I understand your narrow-mindedness," Wesley continued, "But as a healer, once I see a patient, I cannot stand by and watch him draw his last breath."<br /> "Wesley, you're quite the charlatan. Do you really want to be gone right now?" Amanda's voice was filled with anger.<br /> "Amanda, let me say a few words," Scott interjected, and Amanda fell silent.<br /> Looking at Wesley, Scott began. "Young lad, at my age, I've seen a lot and have a broad perspective. Today, however, I find it hard to remain indifferent. I practiced medicine from the age of sixteen until I stopped seeing patients for a total of seventy years."<br /> "I've saved countless patients from various illnesses. I never easily declare a patient's fate, nor do I believe I have the right to do so."<br /> "But from your recent remarks, it seems like you're accusing me of such actions. Young people wanting to make a name for themselves by stepping on the shoulders of their predecessors, I can understand."<br /> "But this kind of behavior displeases me."<br /> "My displeasure, what does it mean to you? Do you understand?"<br /> "Even if you are a healer, your career will be ruined because of this."<br /> Chapter 6 Hand of Hell<br /> In the face of Scott's veiled threats, Wesley simply smiled and brushed them off.<br /> Looking at Scott, he asked, "I've always focused on the issue at hand rather than attacking individuals. I have a few questions for you. If you can't administer the needles, how long do you think Quinn can hold on?"<br /> "Seven days, but he will remain unconscious," Scott replied bluntly.<br /> "Then let me ask you this, is there anyone in the world with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "Outrageous," Amanda coldly interjected, "Mr. Phillips is unparalleled in his medical expertise."<br /> Scott glanced at Amanda. "Amanda, let me handle this question."<br /> Continuing to address Wesley, he said, "I don't underestimate myself, nor do I overestimate. There are countless talented individuals in the world, like stars in the sky. I may not dare claim to be the best in medical skills, but those who surpass me are few."<br /> "That means there are some," Wesley calmly remarked, causing Scott's expression to shift slightly, "Indeed, there are."<br /> "Then let me ask you this. Do you think within seven days, the Kingsley family won't find someone with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "If they do find someone, do you believe there is an illness that you cannot cure, but this person can?"<br /> Wesley's questions were sharp and resounding.<br /> Scott's face changed once more as he was rendered speechless.<br /> "Even if there is, that person will never be you." Amanda's face turned icy. "Now get out. Don't spout your eloquence here. Your deceitful behavior is repulsive."<br /> "Your understanding of me is merely hearsay, isn't it?" Wesley retorted, his gaze mocking Amanda, "Has your background and education taught you such arrogance and prejudice?"<br /> "Arrogance?" Amanda's face grew colder as she disdainfully looked at Wesley. "Prejudice?<br /> "Did I say something wrong just now? You are nothing but stagnant waste, a parasite living off others. If it weren't for Taylor, you would have starved on the streets long ago."<br /> "Relying on sweet words, deceiving Taylor. She, with her kind heart, can't bear to divorce you, but don't push your luck. If it weren't for Taylor's sake, you would have been sent out long ago."<br /> Scott interrupted Amanda, "Amanda, although I find this lad a bit annoying, what he said does hold some truth. There are indeed individuals with better medical skills than me. Your grandfather can hold on for seven days. Try reaching out to see if someone can come over. I'll help you make connections."<br /> "If it really doesn't work out after seven days, I'll administer the needles to your grandfather. However, at that point, I can only buy you three minutes."<br /> As soon as Scott spoke, the faces of the Kingsley family members grew even more solemn. True healers were rare and not easily summoned.<br /> While the Kingsley family had connections in Yeadeo, their influence waned outside of it.<br /> "Mr. Phillips, please administer the needles. Life has its ups and downs, and we understand that. Just buy my father a bit more time." The middle-aged gent spoke up.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family nodded in agreement.<br /> Amanda looked at Scott. "Mr. Phillips, please."<br /> "In that case, please have everyone unrelated leave. I need silence," Scott calmly stated.<br /> Amanda glared at Wesley, her eyes speaking volumes without a word.<br /> The unrelated individuals were, naturally, Wesley and Mia.<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, intending to leave, but she suddenly hesitated.<br /> Instead of leaving, Wesley moved forward.<br /> "What are you doing?" A young member of the Kingsley family stepped forward with a stern expression, pushing Wesley.<br /> In one swift motion, Wesley executed a clean shoulder throw, toppling the young gent to the ground, his own expression turning cold.<br /> "A bunch of fools! If it weren't for my teacher's teachings about not turning a blind eye to those in need, I wouldn't bother with you ignorant lot," Wesley remarked with disdain.<br /> As Wesley effortlessly took down one individual from the Kingsley family, the others seemed slow to react.<br /> By the time they realized what was happening, Wesley had already picked up the needle next to Scott and casually flicked his wrist.<br /> The needle flew out of his hand, piercing Quinn's temple, followed by a second needle, a third needle, and so on.<br /> "What are you doing? Stop!" Amanda's voice rose in urgency, echoed by the rest of the Kingsley family members who rushed forward to restrain Wesley.<br /> "Stay back, everyone. Wait." Scott suddenly stood up, blocking the others. "Let him try."<br /> Amanda and the others were left dumbfounded, thinking, "What does this mean?"<br /> Despite their confusion, they heeded Scott's words.<br /> After Scott stopped the members of the Kingsley family, he fixed his gaze on Wesley.<br /> Wesley proceeded to use eighteen needles in succession, symbolizing the levels of pain.<br /> Even if someone had descended into the depths of hell, they must be brought back.<br /> The final needle, also piercing a vital point, caused Quinn's body to tremble suddenly, resonating with the previous eighteen needles.<br /> Scott's eyes widened, his body trembling slightly. His reaction left Amanda and the others even more puzzled, but none dared to interrupt.<br /> Moments later, Wesley placed a palm on Quinn's chest, causing all eighteen needles to be shaken off. When all the needles landed on the ground, the part of the skin where the needles had pierced turned dark.<br /> Wesley then dragged Quinn to the edge of the mattress, flipped him over with his head facing downwards, and gave him a firm pat on the back.<br /> Quinn spat out a mouthful of black liquid. When Wesley flipped him back to lie flat, his complexion had regained some color.<br /> "The Hand of Darkness... It's the Hand of Darkness!" Scott exclaimed with excitement, his body quivering, "It's the Hand that descends into the dark world, snatching people from the hands of the Evil!"<br /> "You do have some knowledge, recognizing the Hand of Darkness." Wesley glanced at Scott.<br /> Scott's gaze towards Wesley had undergone a drastic change. He respectfully clasped his hands together.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thirty years ago, I had the honor of attending a teaching conference held by Mr. Vanderbilt. I saw the Hand of Darkness, but my limited aptitude only allowed me to grasp the basics."<br /> "I have been blind and ignorant. I apologize for my earlier offenses. Please forgive me, Mr. Harrington."<br /> The Mr. Vanderbilt Scott referred to was Wesley's teacher, Ulysses Vanderbilt. He generously imparted his skills to others, but the ability to learn depended on one's innate talent.<br /> In this world, few could learn Ulysses' skills.<br /> Scott had been fortunate to receive guidance from Ulysses, which had elevated his medical skills. However, the Hand of Darkness, a miraculous ability, was beyond his comprehension.<br /> Wesley smiled faintly, "Your actions earlier are understandable. I appreciate your words."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you must be an exceptional disciple of Mr. Vanderbilt, possessing unparalleled magnanimity. Impressive," Scott continued.<br /> "Enough with the flattery at your age."<br /> "You are mistaken, Mr. Harrington. Every word I speak is sincere."<br /> Mia, Amanda, and the others stood bewildered by the unfolding situation.<br /> "Mr. Phillips... he... he..." Amanda's words faltered.<br /> Scott turned to the members of the Kingsley family. "Meeting Mr. Harrington was Quinn's luck. His symptoms have been cured by Mr. Harrington. With a few days of rest, he will be fine."<br /> The waste Taylor had previously said was called Mr. Harrington by Scott!<br /> Recalling their previous attitudes, Amanda hurriedly apologized, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> The members of the Kingsley family all apologized in unison, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> Chapter 7 Eight Plates of Noodles<br /> With a faint smile, Wesley remarked, "As family members of a patient, your actions earlier are understandable. There's no need for such formality."<br /> Amanda's perplexity deepened as she thought, "Where is the cowardly waste that Taylor described? This display of magnanimity and breadth is far from it."<br /> Mia, too, felt a shiver of realization, thinking, "No wonder Dad has insisted on my proximity to Wesley.<br /> This guy..."<br /> She gazed at Wesley, her curiosity piqued, a sense of exploration stirring within her.<br /> "Mia has brought you here, Mr. Harrington, to cure my grandfather. The Kingsley family will never forget this act. However, considering that my grandfather's ailment stemmed from the health supplements produced by the Vinver Business Alliance, we will be conducting an investigation into it."<br /> Amanda continued, looking at Wesley, "What do you think... of this approach?"<br /> It was Mia who had invited Wesley, so Amanda had grown wiser, refraining from asking for a direct punishment of the Vinver Business Alliance.<br /> As Mia heard Amanda's words, her heart skipped a beat, realizing trouble was brewing.<br /> "On the way here, Ms. Roberts briefed me on the situation. You conducted experiments on mice, correct?"<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes, the health supplements we received were exclusively provided by the Roberts family. There were no similar cases on the market, so we used mice for testing.<br /> "All the mice that ingested this supplement were gone."<br /> She looked at Mia and added, her voice turned colder. "Before the experiment, I specifically contacted Mia to inquire about the testing methods during the development phase, which involved mice."<br /> "There have been individuals eyeing my grandfather's position, some even wishing for his demise. I never imagined that the Vinver Business Alliance, which I attracted for investment, would become a weapon in someone else's hands."<br /> "Do you have any of the remaining medicine?" Wesley inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes."<br /> "Bring some over."<br /> Immediately, someone fetched the medicine. After it was brought to him, Wesley took out a supplement and swallowed it directly.<br /> This scene left Amanda and the others dumbfounded.<br /> Scott, too, was bewildered. "Mr. Harrington, what are you doing?"<br /> Wesley smiled, "Just proving that this medicine is not toxic."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thank you," Mia thanked sincerely, feeling like sobbing at that moment.<br /> Amanda, with a puzzled expression, looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, are you suggesting that my grandfather's condition wasn't caused by the Vinver Business Alliance's medicine? What about the mice?"<br /> The rest were equally puzzled.<br /> "Yes, but not entirely," Wesley said, leaving everyone even more bewildered.<br /> Mia's emotions were like a rollercoaster ride, from relief to immediate tension.<br /> "This medicine itself is not toxic, but when taken with another substance made from a certain plant, it results in Quinn's condition. The mice would die immediately, while humans could endure a few more days."<br /> Wesley continued to explain, "The plant used in this concoction is originally meant for crafting slow-acting toxins, not for human consumption."<br /> Looking at Amanda, Wesley said, "During this period, whoever had access to your grandfather and the mice will better understand why these events occurred."<br /> The gaze of members of the Kingsley family immediately focused on a lady.<br /> Amanda, somewhat incredulous, looked at her. "Can you offer an explanation?"<br /> The lady was the wife of Amanda's deceased brother. She found it hard to accept, as did the rest of the Kingsley family.<br /> This lady had been named the exemplary lady who served her family well this year, not due to her connection with the Kingsley family but because she genuinely deserved it.<br /> "What do you mean? Amanda, what explanation do you want from me?"<br /> The lady stared at Amanda. "Am I the only one who had access to Grandfather and the mice? You, and you... and you, who didn't have access?"<br /> "You all claim to treat me as family. Since I married into the Kingsley family, I have worked diligently, contributing my share even if not acknowledged."<br /> "Amanda, it has been over a year since your brother passed, and I never once considered remarrying. Now, just because of his words, you demand an explanation from me?"<br /> Pointing at Wesley, the lady questioned, "Just because he accuses me of poisoning, you suspect me? Tell me, did I poison him?" The lady glared at Wesley.<br /> "I am merely analyzing the facts. As for concluding this case, it's not within my purview," Wesley addressed the members of the Kingsley family, saying, "You should conduct a thorough investigation into this matter.<br /> "I will write a prescription. Have Quinn take it on time, and he will recover in seven days."<br /> Amanda hurried to fetch paper and pen while Wesley prepared the prescription. Once done, he was ready to leave.<br /> Amanda said hurriedly, "Mr. Harrington, I've already made arrangements for lunch."<br /> "No need," Wesley smiled.<br /> The Kingsley family sought to build closer ties with Wesley, given his extraordinary medical skills. Wesley was well aware of this.<br /> Looking at Amanda and the others, Wesley remarked, "In the future, if you encounter any difficult medical cases that others cannot solve, seek me out. Remember, cases others cannot solve."<br /> The gaze of the Kingsley family members toward Wesley changed once again. Many renowned healers had eccentric personalities and were difficult to engage.<br /> They hadn't expected Wesley to possess such remarkable medical skills without any airs.<br /> As Wesley prepared to depart, the members of the Kingsley family did not dare to insist on his stay, so they accompanied him outside.<br /> "Oh, how could we forget such an important matter? Amanda, what about the consultation fee?" The middle-aged gent inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the oversight. Please wait a moment." Amanda hurried back inside and soon returned with a bank card in hand.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, there's one million dollars in here."<br /> Without hesitation, Wesley accepted the bank card and boarded Mia's car.<br /> During the journey, Mia boldly looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, you've helped me immensely. Can I treat you to a meal? Don't decline in a hurry. It's not a fancy restaurant, but it will leave you wanting more. It's a small place on the street, with only eight plates of noodles served each day, each plate containing different ingredients."<br /> "I managed to secure a reservation. Are you interested?"<br /> Wesley thought, "Eight Plates of Noodles?<br /> "Ah, Aaron's restaurant. It has been a while since I visited those old friends."<br /> Wesley nodded. "Let's go then."<br /> The restaurant, Eight Plates of Noodles, was located on Chanxold Street near the Yeadeo First Central Hospital.<br /> The establishment was small, serving only eight plates of noodles each day at a price of 10 thousand dollars each. Vernoic's television culinary program had specifically covered this incident.<br /> Reservations were a must to secure a plate.<br /> The restaurant's owner had a mysterious background. While the specifics were unknown, a high-ranking noble from the capital of Vernoic, Kingsland, had caused a scene there once.<br /> He had attempted to force his way in without a reservation. Although this incident hadn't been reported, rumors suggested that a garbage truck had to be called to dispose of the intruder's remains, as he was too shattered to be removed by conventional means.<br /> Since then, no one dared to cause trouble.<br /> On their way, Mia introduced Wesley to the background story.<br /> "Mr. Turner, two plates of noodles." Mia called out once they arrived.<br /> Aaron Turner didn't respond but visibly paused upon seeing Wesley beside Mia.<br /> A faint smile appeared on his usually stoic face. Though the flesh on the face seemed stiff, it was indeed a smile. "Coming right up."<br /> Chapter 8 You Are Blushing<br /> Mia glanced at Aaron with a hint of surprise, thinking, "When does he become so warm and enthusiastic?<br /> His tone seemed a bit agitated earlier, didn't it?"<br /> Soon enough, Aaron brought two plates of noodles to the table. One steaming hot and the other devoid of any warmth.<br /> As Mia observed Aaron placing the plate without steam in front of Wesley, her expression changed slightly.<br /> It was a plate of instant noodles having soaked in cold water, with the seasoning barely dissolved.<br /> She felt a sense of panic. Mia had wanted to leave a good impression on Wesley, which was why she had chosen this place.<br /> However, Aaron had served such a plate of noodles.<br /> She dared not question Aaron. The type of noodles served here was not determined by the guests but by Aaron's mood.<br /> "This lass named Mia is quite something, living up to her name, and quite kind-hearted," Aaron remarked, looking at Wesley.<br /> "Get lost," Wesley retorted, using his fork to pick up the noodles and devouring them.<br /> Mia's face turned pale instantly. Disrespecting Aaron was akin to risking Wesley's life.<br /> To her astonishment, Aaron chuckled, tears welling up in his eyes.<br /> He wiped them away. "Alright, I'll leave you to your meal."<br /> Before departing, he gave Mia a thumbs-up. "Seize the opportunity."<br /> The eight plates of noodles symbolized the eight comrades who had faced life and hardships together.<br /> Wesley ate voraciously. Initially, they had only one pack of instant noodles to share among the eight of them, forcing them to divide it.<br /> Despite the circumstances, they devoured the noodles joyfully.<br /> Aaron had promised that once they survived, each one would have the most delicious plate of noodles.<br /> However, five of the eight had perished.<br /> Wesley had come dangerously close to life-threatening situations, but managed to cling to life.<br /> For him, the plate of noodles was not food but the bond of friendship that had shielded him from harm.<br /> "Do you... know each other?" Mia couldn't help but ask, her voice low and curious.<br /> "Some things are better left unknown," Wesley replied.<br /> Mia nodded in understanding, falling silent as they continued eating noodles. She couldn't help stealing glances at Wesley throughout the meal.<br /> This gent had piqued her curiosity even more.<br /> "Wesley, I see. No wonder you agreed to the divorce so readily. You've already found someone else outside."<br /> A sharp voice interrupted their meal.<br /> Taylor approached with a cold expression, accompanied by Henry.<br /> Taylor's mother was in the nearby hospital, and she had just picked up Frank, planning to buy some food when she unexpectedly saw Wesley.<br /> Of course, she saw Mia, too.<br /> Seeing Wesley dining with a lady more attractive than herself, so soon after the divorce felt like a dagger twisting in Taylor's heart.<br /> Her anger was uncontrollable.<br /> Wesley merely glanced at Taylor, disinterested in engaging with her.<br /> Taylor was stung by his indifferent gaze. She stepped forward, glaring at Wesley. "Are you not going to explain to me?"<br /> Mia looked at Taylor, silently cursing her as a foolish lady.<br /> Wesley continued eating his noodles, lowering his head. "Get lost. Don't disturb me, or I won't hesitate to hit you."<br /> "What did you say?" Henry stepped forward, enraged. "Wesley, try laying a hand on her! Is that all you're capable of? Laying hands on ladies?"<br /> "No wonder Taylor looks down on you. You're truly disgusting trash. Apologize to Taylor now, or else you'll regret coming into this world."<br /> "And how will he regret it? Tell me." Aaron emerged, carrying a cleaver, smiling as he faced Henry and Taylor.<br /> "Mr. Turner, we dare not cause trouble in your place, but this guy is just..."<br /> Henry attempted to speak but was cut off as Aaron's cleaver struck his face, sending him sprawling to the ground.<br /> "Mr. Turner, sorry, we'll leave now." Taylor hastily helped Henry up and hurriedly left.<br /> These two individuals were fortunate to know the legendary story behind Eight Plates of Noodles and had successfully made reservations to dine here multiple times.<br /> Having distanced themselves a bit, Henry covered his face and pointed at Wesley. "Wesley, we have some unfinished business. If you're smart, come over here now and apologize."<br /> "Wesley, I've seen through you as well. I never expected that for the past five years, you've been using my money to keep a lady on the side. We'll settle the score slowly."<br /> As the two noticed Aaron glancing their way, they quickly shut their mouths and hurriedly left.<br /> Once they were out of eyeshots, Aaron fixed his gaze on Wesley. "Your dad doesn't know about your divorce yet, does he?"<br /> "What difference would it make if he did?" Wesley stretched lazily. "I've fulfilled my promise. I've given enough."<br /> Aaron nodded in acknowledgment without saying anything further.<br /> This piqued Mia's curiosity even more. "Is it like what the novels depict? Did you marry Taylor due to some special event?"<br /> Seeing Wesley's glare, Mia lowered her head to focus on her noodles. "I won't ask anymore."<br /> "For the past five years, you've been staying in the stairwell. It has been hard for you, but at least you're still untouched," Aaron remarked before swiftly departing.<br /> Mia stared at Wesley in disbelief, realizing that Aaron's words were meant for her ears.<br /> "What are you staring at? Eat your noodles," Wesley said. Mia chuckled.<br /> "Why are you laughing?"<br /> "You're blushing."<br /> "Nonsense," Wesley retorted.<br /> Unable to contain herself, Mia burst into laughter. She had tried to hold it in, but seeing Wesley's flushed face made it impossible.<br /> Ten minutes later, Mia left on her own accord, sensing that Wesley had something to discuss with Aaron.<br /> Inside Aaron's small shop, Wesley opened a bottle of wine. "Still single?"<br /> "I look too old, no one's interested," Aaron replied, opening a bottle of liquor as well.<br /> "Then why are you meddling in my love lives?"<br /> "Leave a child behind, even if you pass away, someone will remember you." Aaron took a sip. "I've actually investigated this Mia."<br /> "You investigated her?"<br /> "I knew you'd get a divorce. I've been keeping an eye on the pretty ones. This girl had done a lot of good deeds before coming to Yeadeo. Once, she saved three people in a flood and nearly lost her life. Opportunities are rare. You have to seize them."<br /> "When you've figured things out and are ready to marry, then we can discuss our affairs. That's the condition." Wesley downed the entire bottle of liquor.<br /> "Otherwise, don't bother meddling. We're on a one-way path and can't drag others along."<br /> "You..." Aaron sighed as he watched Wesley's retreating figure.<br /> On the road leading to the Feidgeuo Manor, Taylor stood gazing blankly at the entrance not far away.<br /> Twice in one day, she had come here.<br /> The first time was to pick up Frank, and this time was because Frank had lost his expensive watch. She and Henry hadn't even had a meal, rushing over to find it.<br /> The first time, she had come in a hurry when Frank was injured and left quickly as well.<br /> But this time, as Taylor looked at the entrance ahead, an infinite longing sprouted within her.<br /> "If only... I could live here, how wonderful that would be."<br /> Henry looked at her. "One day, I'll definitely build an estate more magnificent than this, and you'll be the lady of the house."<br /> As they conversed, a taxi drove by, stopping at the entrance. The person who got out of the taxi left Taylor stunned.<br /> She rubbed her eyes.	Adoread	147	https://facebook.com/61556400142540	LEARN_MORE	1713510000	View Edit Delete
1666882	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727709	1734958298	695	409722025021163			1713596400	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	226177680578601	0	Adoread	120207746049430265	client.adoread.com	Learn more	NONE	image	🔥🔥🔥 Read More👉	Hottest novel👉👉👉	https://client.adoread.com/book/loading/page/adoread/19161308412?utm_campaign={{campaign.id}}&utm_content={{campaign.name}}		1713519398	2.261776805786E+14	Adoread	https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437724011_960421695526729_1516574307485338648_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QHGXZ-huQfoQ7kNvgFl-bAK&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAhittaAtIybg_0Gi8UYNoalMt3uRDbIai0DNMlEMFrFg&oe=663A90F9	person_profile	0	Adoread	https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437891881_25238797299100336_7255863263127890524_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UeFxFDUJUZIQ7kNvgF1dGXL&_nc_oc=AdjBlORU46gPxHeMvSIJmXMDx_1afwh7kp2UWRl9K25HmyfzpiuTkbEBFfXJmbiDJ-c&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCl6BW-kaMuwg-TQzlAPyzBHYyw1d6F5gFbxwKZGONM2w&oe=663A61E5	0	3	"Wesley, are you trying to harm me? You useless piece of trash, can't even make a decent cup of coffee, can you?"<br /> Madison Blair lifted her coffee cup and splashed it directly onto Wesley Harrington's face.<br /> "What are you looking at, you spineless waste? Your name sounds so lofty? I might as well call you a waste."<br /> Glancing at the grotesque expression of his wife's mother, Wesley pulled out his phone to check the time.<br /> Exactly twelve o'clock. It had been five full years since he married Taylor Reed.<br /> The appointed time had come.<br /> He had fulfilled his promise, safeguarding the Reed family for five years, transforming them from a family living off fishing to one perceived as affluent by the common folk.<br /> Wiping the coffee off his face, he turned and walked away.<br /> "Where do you think you're going? Go fetch some more coffee," Madison shouted.<br /> "Madison, didn't you say this waste is obedient at home, doing whatever he's told? I don't think he's taking it lying down."<br /> Madison grew angrier. "Wesley, you stop right there. My family has fed and housed you. If you dare disobey, I'll have you thrown out!"<br /> Ignoring her, Wesley continued downstairs.<br /> "When Taylor comes back, I'll immediately have you two divorced. Do you hear me? Stay right there," Madison threatened, "I'll let you know your place today."<br /> Grabbing a golf club, Madison swiftly charged towards Wesley.<br /> Seeing Wesley heading downstairs, she swung the club viciously at his back.<br /> Without turning back, Wesley gently sidestepped.<br /> Losing her balance, Madison tumbled forward, rolling down the stairs with a series of thumps.<br /> "Ouch... it hurts, it hurts so much!"<br /> As Madison reached the ground floor, she wailed in pain and her sister immediately rushed to her.<br /> "Wesley, what have you done? How dare you hit my sister!" Madison's sister hurried down, checking on Madison's condition.<br /> Wesley remained silent, observing the scene.<br /> "Quick, call Taylor. Tell her to come back. Today, she must divorce this waste." Madison glared at Wesley. "How dare you hit me? Not only will I let Taylor divorce you, but I'll make sure you leave in disgrace."<br /> "Mum, what's wrong?" At that moment, a gent and a lady walked in.<br /> The lady was Taylor, Madison's daughter.<br /> She ran towards Madison.<br /> As Madison pointed at Wesley, tears streamed down her face. "Taylor, he hit me, he hit me! When you're not home, he changes his attitude, scolding and hitting me in the slightest displeasure. He even pushed me down the stairs just now. Alexis can testify."<br /> Madison's sister, Alexis Blair, chimed in. "Yes, Wesley, this trash not only hit your mother but also threatened to hit me too. We cannot tolerate such trash."<br /> "Taylor, I have been telling you to divorce him for years. You've been supporting him, treating him like a Lord at home, but he's an ungrateful wolf in sheep's clothing."<br /> Helping Madison up, Taylor noticed the scrapes on Madison's arms and legs, her expression turning cold.<br /> "Wesley, why did you hit my mother? You better give me an explanation."<br /> Wesley looked at Taylor, his wife.<br /> Five years had passed, and she had never shown him kindness.<br /> Taylor dressed impeccably, a paragon of a successful lady, with a face that could be deemed angelic, yet whether her heart was as angelic remained a mystery.<br /> Her figure, too, left countless men yearning.<br /> For five years, Wesley had thought he might develop feelings for this lady, but in reality, it never happened.<br /> "There are surveillance cameras in the house," Wesley stated calmly before descending the stairs into the hallway.<br /> Despite residing in a three-story villa, Wesley's living quarters were confined to the stairwell.<br /> He harbored no resentment towards this arrangement. It was merely a promise. It was just that Taylor failed to appreciate him.<br /> This home held little value that he wished to cling onto.<br /> Retrieving a wooden box from beneath his pillow, Wesley extracted two documents. Casting a fleeting glance at the modest abode he had called home for five years, Wesley smiled faintly.<br /> He thought, "Finally... I'm free."<br /> Pushing the door ajar, Wesley was met by Taylor's piercing gaze. "I've reviewed the surveillance footage. Yes, my mother intended to strike you, but even if she did, what difference would it make?"<br /> "She's a lady. How much could her blows hurt you? Why did you dodge?"<br /> "If you hadn't dodged, my mother wouldn't have tumbled down." Wesley stared at Taylor, unable to comprehend her thought process.<br /> He had no interest in engaging in these arguments. Handing over the two documents to Taylor, he remarked, "The divorce agreement. I've already signed it. Take a look. I'm leaving with nothing."<br /> "With your current influence, there's no need for you to visit the city hall. Someone will handle it for you, right?"<br /> Madison was taken aback. She swiftly snatched the divorce agreement, flipping through it hastily.<br /> The contents were indeed straightforward. Both parties willingly divorced, with Wesley relinquishing all claims and having already signed.<br /> In an instant, Madison's pain seemed to dissipate. "Taylor, sign it quickly. Sign it."<br /> Taylor was still in a daze.<br /> She pondered.<br /> "A divorce agreement? Wesley has already prepared a divorce agreement. On what grounds?"<br /> "What gives him the right to initiate a divorce? All these years, he's done nothing at home, lacking any ambition. Always practicing martial arts, what right does he have to seek a divorce?"<br /> "If anyone should initiate it, it should be me. Moreover, now that I'm back to discussing this matter with him. Could it be that word got out, and Wesley, for the sake of his pride, rushed to prepare a divorce agreement first?"<br /> "It must be so, but... No!"<br /> "Wanting to leave with nothing, is he retreating to advance? As the chairman of the Reed Group, how could I be served with a divorce?"<br /> "Hey Wesley, I never expected this from you. Have I not treated you well enough? You seek a divorce, attempting to turn your retreat into advance, aiming to embarrass me?"<br /> Taylor glared at Wesley. "I'm telling you, it's impossible."<br /> Snatching the divorce agreement, she tore it to shreds.<br /> "Taylor, what are you doing? Such a great opportunity. Why not just sign it and let him leave?" Madison grew anxious.<br /> "Mom, I do intend to divorce this trash, but the decision must come from me. I returned specifically to address this matter."<br /> With that, Taylor produced two documents. "Wesley, remember that it's me who's divorcing you. It's me who no longer wants you. Initially, out of marital obligation, I had considered offering you some compensation. Now, you don't even need to think about it. Sign the divorce agreement and leave my home."<br /> Wesley offered a faint smile as he accepted the divorce agreement.<br /> "What are you laughing at?" Taylor demanded angrily.<br /> Wesley's smile seemed to mock her, fueling her rage.<br /> Ignoring her entirely, Wesley signed the document and handed it over.<br /> "What are you laughing at? Answer me! Who do you think you are?" Taylor roared once more.<br /> Wesley glanced at her before striding towards the exit.<br /> "Stop!" The gent who had accompanied Taylor stepped forward, blocking Wesley's path. "Taylor asked you a question, and... Your previous attitude displeased me. Apologize to Taylor, or I'll have you leave in disgrace!"<br /> Chapter 2 The Unspoken Truth<br /> <br /> "Yes, let him leave in disgrace. He thought he could just hit me and walk away so easily," Madison joined in the commotion, also noticing the gent blocking Wesley's path.<br /> Madison had a keen interest in luxury goods, having frequented various high-end establishments over the years as the Reed family's living conditions improved. The gent was wearing an expensive watch and dressed head to toe in high-end luxury brands.<br /> Seeing Madison's gaze, the gent spoke. "Rest assured, today Wesley must pay the price."<br /> The gent introduced himself, looking at Wesley, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Henry Clark, the eldest son of the Clark family and the general manager of the Clark Group in the North District."<br /> "From now on, I will accompany Taylor on her journey of life, and I will not allow anyone to bully her."<br /> "My identity carries weight. You should understand that. Now, apologize to Taylor. Apologize! Did you hear me? Apologize!"<br /> Madison's eyes lit up. She hadn't expected the gent before her to hold such a high status. She continued to shout, "Did you hear that? Taylor will be with Mr. Clark from now on. Apologize now."<br /> Wesley glanced at Henry, then at Taylor. He thought, "Have they been together all along?" Wesley had wanted to ask but decided against it because there was no need. He simply gave them a glance and continued walking towards the exit.<br /> "Are you ignoring me?" Henry's face turned cold as he reached out to grab Wesley. Henry's hand froze mid-air as he received a solid hit.<br /> "Until I sign the divorce papers, Taylor and I are still wife and husband. I don't care to investigate whether you two had any intimate relationship during that time, but don't provoke me, or I won't hesitate to make you regret it." Wesley's gaze was icy, and as Henry met his eyes, he felt a twinge of fear and swallowed his words.<br /> Taylor was also stunned. She knew exactly what Wesley had been like over the past five years. There were many surveillance cameras in the house, and she would often check them.<br /> Even when Taylor wasn't home, despite how her family treated Wesley, he always obeyed without complaint, especially towards her. He had never raised his voice, no matter how they treated him.<br /> Today, not only did Wesley dodge when her mother struck, but he also initiated the divorce and now even struck Henry. <br /> Taylor was at a loss for words, thinking, "How could this cowardly gent dare? On what grounds does he dare?"<br /> This change was difficult for Taylor to accept as if she didn't truly understand this guy. The gent who used to be obedient to her, completely submissive, now revealed this side of himself. She watched Wesley walk away in a daze, feeling a strange discomfort in her heart.<br /> "Isn't he leaving with nothing?" Alexis pointed at the wooden box Wesley was holding. "What is he taking with him?"<br /> Madison also realized. Over the past five years, Wesley had always treasured this wooden box, carrying it with him wherever he went. She thought there must be something valuable inside.<br /> Realizing this, Madison hurriedly followed. "Wesley, stop right there, leave the wooden box."<br /> Wesley paused, glanced at Madison, and said, "This is my personal belonging."<br /> "Nonsense, what personal belonging could you possibly have after marrying into the Reed family? Everything you've eaten, worn, and lived in over the years has been provided by the Reed family. Put it down."<br /> As she spoke, Madison reached out to grab the wooden box.<br /> "Ah..." A scream rang out as Madison quickly retracted her hand, a gash appearing on her palm, a crimson liquid dripping.<br /> The wooden box was now stained with the same crimson liquid, trembling lightly in Wesley's hand.<br /> "It's not the right time yet, the day you thirst for this crimson liquid will come," Wesley murmured softly, patting the box before turning to continue his stride towards the exit.<br /> "Monster! A monster!" Madison screamed, causing Taylor and the others to rush out. Seeing the wound in Madison's hand, Taylor was filled with rage.<br /> "Wesley, aren't you going to say something?" Wesley halted once more, contemplating before meeting Taylor's gaze.<br /> "Just stay out of my way from now on. Consider this a warning to you."<br /> "Taylor, that wooden box of his has a mechanism. It must hold something valuable! We can't let him take it with him," Madison, enduring the pain, reminded them.<br /> "Mom, your injury is important. We'll deal with him later. Let me take you to the hospital first." Taylor comforted Madison before calling out to the retreating Wesley.<br /> "Our marriage is over! Yet, you dared to hurt my mother! This won't be the end of it! I will make you regret it!" Ignoring her, Wesley continued walking out.<br /> "Rest assured, I promise he won't see the light of day tomorrow." Henry stepped forward to console. "Let's focus on getting your wound treated first."<br /> "I want him to regret ever existing in this world, to apologize to me in repentance," Madison roared.<br /> "Mom, trust me, I will make him do just that." Taylor looked at Madison with a mix of pity and determination. "Let's go to the hospital first."<br /> In the villa area, Wesley halted, his voice cold. "Get out."<br /> An elderly gent leaped down from a tree, appearing to be in his seventies, yet landing silently from a height of around ten feet.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, your father wants you to come home and take charge."<br /> "He stopped being my father five years ago. He's my enemy."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you misunderstood your father. He had his reasons back then. I swear in my life, once you know the truth, you will forgive him."<br /> "Huh!" Wesley smirked coldly, saying, "I nearly passed away back then. Is that also a misunderstanding?"<br /> The old gent pleaded, "Mr. Harrington, this situation is truly not as you perceive it."<br /> Wesley didn't engage further with the old guy. The events of that year were etched in his memory forever. He was the one who had been abandoned. If not for that incident, why would he have stayed with the Reed family for five years?<br /> Watching Wesley walk away, the old gent had tears silently streaming down his face. "Mr. Harrington, I truly... I truly can't bring myself to speak the truth, but you have misunderstood your father. He also bears burdens and endures pains beyond what an ordinary person can handle."<br /> As Wesley's figure disappeared, the old gent stood up, hesitated for a moment, then dialed a number on his phone.<br /> "Mr. Harrington is now divorced. I've given you the news firsthand. If your daughter is truly together with Mr. Harrington, you must fulfill the promise and let her persuade Mr. Harrington to come home."<br /> After hanging up, a middle-aged gent in a luxurious estate jumped up excitedly. Calming himself, he immediately made another call. "My dear, you're at Yeadeo, right?<br /> "Go find Wesley now. Don't mention the engagement for now. Use every means to get close to him, make him fall in love with you."<br /> "Dad, I don't have time."<br /> "No matter what you are busy with, you must go find Wesley now. No matter what reason you approach him, you must leave a good impression the first time."<br /> "Dad, I'm in trouble right now. If I don't handle it well, I might be good as gone. I have to deal with it immediately. I'm hanging up."<br /> Chapter 3 You're Nothing<br /> The middle-aged gent's voice lowered significantly. "Is there a big incident happening? You didn't tell me? What happened?"<br /> "Quinn Kingsley from Yeadeo, Mr. Kingsley, used our product and now has one foot on the grave. If something really happens to him..."<br /> "You mean Quinn, the uncontested leader of Yeadeo?"<br /> "Yes."<br /> "In that case, you should go find Wesley. Trust me, in this world, there is no problem that Wesley can't solve. As long as he's willing to help, you'll be fine. Listen to me, go find Wesley immediately."<br /> The lady fell silent for a moment before saying, "Okay."<br /> At Yeadeo Harbor, a gent with a large flaxen chain and a watch, sporting a crew cut, hurriedly disembarked, accompanied by a dozen gentlemen.<br /> "Mr. Reed, wherever that trash is, we will find him and tear him apart."<br /> "Yes, that guy dared to harm your mother. We'll make sure he pays for it."<br /> Frank Reed's face turned cold. "Wesley, you coward, thinking you can overturn the world? How dare you touch my mom? Just wait until I find you, you're finished."<br /> "We've found him. Wesley got into a taxi, and our boys followed him."<br /> "Let's go!" Frank waved his hand, leading dozens of men who boarded the car with harpoons, steel pipes, and other weapons.<br /> Inside the taxi, Wesley gazed at the scenery outside, feeling a strange sense of tranquility.<br /> He thought to himself, "I never imagined that while I was secretly paving the way for the Reed family, Taylor, after progressing so rapidly, would start looking down on me more and more."<br /> "Those ladies who know my true identity, which one of them isn't trying to throw themselves at me? Ladies like that don't interest me."<br /> "Being an ordinary gent is truly difficult," Wesley murmured, smiling faintly and deciding not to dwell on these matters anymore. He had important things to attend to and no time to waste on personal affairs.<br /> "Young lad, are you going to Feidgeuo Manor for a job interview?" The driver, curious about Wesley's destination, inquired.<br /> Feidgeuo Manor was Yeadeo's most mysterious private area. Originally a villa area, it was bought at a huge cost five years ago and completely renovated. It was said to have cost a trillion dollars. The former villa area was now Feidgeuo Manor.<br /> "That's my home," Wesley replied nonchalantly.<br /> The driver was taken aback by this revelation, silently cursing Wesley for bragging. After a couple of minutes, the driver regained his composure. "It seems like you and I both prefer to keep a low profile. My car usually gathers dust at home, so I occasionally drive a taxi to experience life."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "My car has been driven by my assistant for the past few years, so it's not gathering dust."<br /> "Haha..." The driver laughed. "We should get together sometime and see whose car is more impressive."<br /> "Sure, whenever we have the time."<br /> As they chatted, the vehicle soon arrived near Feidgeuo Manor, where the massive head of the Feidgeuo Peak protruded, creating a unique landscape in Yeadeo.<br /> The driver asked with a smile, "Since you're the owner here, it's fine if I drive in, right?"<br /> "Of course," Wesley replied.<br /> As soon as Wesley spoke, several cars caught up from behind.<br /> The cars surrounded the one Wesley was in, with the front vehicles braking to force the car to a stop.<br /> When numerous people descended from cars wielding harpoons and steel pipes, the driver's face paled.<br /> Frank and his group got out of the cars, instantly closing in, and without hesitation, started attacking, the steel pipes and harpoons thudding against the car.<br /> Frank's henchman yanked open the door of Wesley's car, poised to stab Wesley with a harpoon, but Wesley swiftly exited the vehicle.<br /> With a firm step on the ground, he launched a swift hit.<br /> A muffled sound echoed as the henchman was hit away.<br /> "What are you looking at?" Frank noticed his henchmen were all staring at him. "All of you, attack together and take him down!"<br /> As he commanded, the henchmen Frank brought with him surged forward.<br /> The taxi driver, trembling, took out his phone to call the police, but Frank glared at him. "I am Frank Reed from Yeadeo Harbor. If you dare, go ahead and make that call."<br /> Frank, leveraging his sister Taylor's status, had been causing trouble in Yeadeo Harbor, and no one dared to provoke him.<br /> Upon hearing Frank's name, the driver hastily put away his phone. "Mr. Reed, I'll just check the time, you guys continue."<br /> "Huh!" Frank snorted coldly, casting his gaze towards the surrounded Wesley.<br /> The sounds of thuds continued to ring out incessantly. Because Wesley was completely surrounded, Frank was unable to see the situation inside clearly, but he could imagine it. After all, in Frank's mind, the henchmen under his command were not to be trifled with.<br /> "Hit him hard for me!"<br /> Another muffled sound and a figure flew out. At that moment, Frank finally saw the situation clearly, and his face turned pale.<br /> Frank knew that Wesley liked to practice martial arts, but he had never expected Wesley to be this skilled. It wasn't Wesley who had been beaten, but his own men by Wesley alone.<br /> Frantically, Frank turned and ran to retrieve a crossbow from the car.<br /> "Clear the way." Frank bellowed, aiming the crossbow at Wesley.<br /> "You scumbag, you think you can fight? Move one more time, and I'll end your life! Surrender!"<br /> Wesley, holding a wooden box, stared at Frank. Ignoring the crossbow in his hand, Wesley said, "Tell your henchmen to back off, or you'll all see the light from above!"<br /> "You're really good at pretending to be tough." Frank took two steps forward. "See the light? Move a muscle and see if I can end your life or not! If you don't have the guts, apologize now!"<br /> Wesley turned his head and looked at the approaching cars, with two expensive ones in the lead, two more in the rear, and another one in the middle.<br /> "Keep acting tough, and I'll put a hole in your head." Frank spoke while glancing at the five cars. "What, looking for help?"<br /> "Let me tell you, those who ride in these cars are not the kind of weaklings like you who rely on connections. With me here, in Yeadeo's social hierarchy, even those who ride in such cars wouldn't dare meddle in this matter. And let me make it clear, without my sister, you're nothing."<br /> Chapter 4 Is He Worthy?<br /> As Frank's words faded, the five cars came to a halt.<br /> A bodyguard opened the door of the one in the middle, revealing a dazzling pair of shining shoes catching everyone's eye.<br /> The shining shoe encased a beautiful foot. Above, the skirt's hem was adorned with lace.<br /> Then, like a fairy stepping out of a painting, she appeared before everyone's eyes.<br /> The lady was beautiful!<br /> Frank was mesmerized. Ever since the Reed family rose to prominence, he had been surrounded by ladies, but compared to the elegant lady before him, they were worlds apart.<br /> It wasn't just a difference in appearance but an incomparable gap in demeanor.<br /> The lady descending from the Maybach seemed like a celestial being untouched by mortal affairs.<br /> The embodiment of a fairy in the mundane world.<br /> She simply stood there after getting out of the car, perfectly embodying what it meant to be graceful and elegant.<br /> The lady glanced at Wesley, then at Frank.<br /> Frank grinned, saying, "May I have the honor of knowing the name of this esteemed lady? I am Frank..."<br /> The lady spoke calmly. "Disrespect Mr. Harrington, and you're done for."<br /> Her bodyguards, unfazed by Frank's crossbow, swiftly overwhelmed him, sending him crashing to the ground.<br /> The henchmen who had come with Frank, previously defeated by Wesley, now scrambled to their feet and fled in all directions.<br /> Who would dare provoke someone who could afford such a car?<br /> "My sister is Taylor Reed, the chairperson of Reed Group," Frank shouted, clutching his head.<br /> Ignoring him, one of the bodyguards dragged him to the roadside grass while another used a belt to tighten around Frank's neck, exerting pressure.<br /> "Enough, a lesson is all that's needed." Wesley spoke calmly, and only when the lady gestured did the bodyguards release Frank.<br /> Frank lay there, already unconscious.<br /> Wesley turned to the lady. "Who are you?"<br /> "I am Mia Roberts, the general manager of Vinver Business Alliance's Yeadeo branch." She looked at Wesley and continued, "Mr. Harrington, my father mentioned that you have miraculous healing skills and earnestly requested your assistance. A generous reward awaits."<br /> Wesley furrowed his brow slightly, thinking, "There are indeed people who recognize my abilities and status, yet I've rarely intervened in the past five years. Today, shortly after I divorced Taylor, she is here. Whose arrangement is this?"<br /> "Mr. Harrington, my father also mentioned that you are benevolent and has raised the banner of compassion among healers, serving as a role model and benchmark for all in the medical field."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "You have a way with words. Tell me the specifics."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, please get in the car first. I will explain in detail on the way."<br /> The phrase "compassionate healer" held significant weight for Wesley, who had saved countless lives from the brink of death.<br /> Without further ado, he got into the car.<br /> Inside, after Mia brewed coffee for Wesley, she began. "Vinver Business Alliance has a wide range of business operations, and I mainly oversee the health supplement sector, which has seen some success in recent years.<br /> "Recently, Quinn Kingsley started using our medicines, and now there's an accident."<br /> As she spoke, Mia kept her gaze fixed on Wesley.<br /> Quinn, the undisputed leader of Yeadeo, was a figure of immense influence.<br /> Upon hearing this name, Wesley showed no particular reaction. "If the city's leader faces issues with your products, it is indeed a concern. Let's go and see."<br /> With just a sentence, Wesley leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest.<br /> Mia was secretly alarmed, thinking, "He knows who Quinn is, yet he seems indifferent. Who is this Wesley, really? No wonder Dad has instructed me to find a way to win his favor." Mia's inner resistance toward Wesley quietly shifted.<br /> Wesley had piqued her curiosity.<br /> As the vehicle was moving, Wesley's phone rang.<br /> Wesley opened his eyes and took out his phone to see Taylor calling.<br /> Pressing the answer button, he asked, "What's the matter?"<br /> On the other end of the line, Taylor, driving towards Feidgeuo Manor, had a grim expression.<br /> She thought, "Has Wesley ever spoken to me in such a cold tone before? Is he really this heartless right after our divorce?"<br /> Already furious, she snapped. "Wesley, do you even consider yourself a human being?<br /> "Today, not only did you lay hands on my mother, but you also had someone attack my brother. Do you not remember our past at all?"<br /> Wesley calmly replied, "Do we have a past to remember?"<br /> "You truly are a heartless scumbag, just as my mother said. You are an ungrateful and vicious person I raised for five years. Even a pet would wag its tail at me!"<br /> Taylor wanted to continue her tirade, but the phone line had already turned busy.<br /> This only fueled her anger further.<br /> Just now, she had received a call from Frank's underlings, informing her that Wesley had sent people to attack Frank and even intended to end him.<br /> Taylor wanted to demand answers, but...<br /> As Taylor was clutching her fists, her gaze turned icy.<br /> After a moment, she picked up her phone again. "Wesley, you are so narrow-minded. You have no ambition. Any lady would steer clear of you."<br /> "Just because I dumped you, you are doing this on purpose to make me feel sick. Pretending to be aloof and seeking revenge? Do you even deserve it?"<br /> "In Yeadeo, squashing you would be as easy as squashing an ant. You're asking for it! If anything happens to my brother, I will make you wish you were ending!"<br /> Her furious voice message echoed in the car.<br /> Wesley chuckled and put away his phone.<br /> Beside him, Mia seemed contemplative. Before coming, she had already ordered a swift investigation into Wesley.<br /> She was curious, thinking, "How could someone valued by my father could be the one 'marrying into' the Reed family."<br /> Being tactful, Mia chose not to ask and pretended not to have heard.<br /> After about forty minutes, they arrived at the Kingsley Manor.<br /> The Kingsley family members, upon seeing Mia alight from the car, all wore grim expressions.<br /> Mia greeted them with a smile, "Everyone, this is Wesley Harrington, Mr. Harrington, the miraculous healer I specially invited to treat Mr. Kingsley."<br /> "Him? The gent who married into the Reed family?"<br /> "A miraculous healer? Is he even worthy? Are healers so worthless now?"<br /> "A useless gent who mooches off of the Reed family? How dare he call himself a miraculous healer? Truly a joke among all jokes."<br /> Chapter 5 Compassionate Healer<br /> Amanda Kingsley, Quinn's granddaughter, stared coldly at Wesley and Mia.<br /> This lady, dressed in a smart suit, also held significant fame in Yeadeo, overseeing the region's business activities, including investment attraction and various local business negotiations.<br /> Amanda had a favorable view of Taylor, who had risen swiftly in recent times, and they had interacted frequently.<br /> She was aware of Wesley's existence and had advised Taylor to part ways with him early on.<br /> But Amanda never imagined that Mia would bring someone like Wesley, a complete waste, and claim he was a miraculous healer.<br /> Glaring at Mia, she said, "Mia, once my grandfather is well, it's best for your Roberts family to leave Yeadeo."<br /> "As for you..." She glanced at Wesley. "I will advise Taylor to divorce you. You have deceived Taylor's feelings and now shamelessly made your way into my family. You are a despicable creature."<br /> After reprimanding Mia and Wesley, she turned to an elderly gent beside her, and her tone and attitude completely changed. "Mr. Phillips, sorry to trouble you. My grandfather is inside, please."<br /> Mia looked at the elderly gent, who was already in his twilight years, feeling deeply shocked.<br /> Scott Phillips, the 38th generation heir of the Healing Clinic, was now ninety-two years old.<br /> Renowned as a miraculous healer, he was a respected figure in the medical community of Yeadeo and even nationally.<br /> He no longer conducted consultations personally due to his old age. Mia had visited him specifically to pay her respects once she had arrived in Yeadeo but had not met Scott.<br /> She never expected Scott to appear in person. It was understandable, as Quinn held a prominent position in the city. Despite the profound influence of the Phillips family, they still had to show respect to Quinn.<br /> Mia looked at Wesley, feeling conflicted and thinking, "Dad has confidently claimed that Wesley has extraordinary abilities, but does he really?"<br /> She harbored doubts, but out of propriety, Mia spoke. "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the trouble."<br /> Wesley smiled, "It's fine. As long as the person can be healed."<br /> His open-mindedness impressed Mia.<br /> After about half an hour, Amanda emerged from the room. All eyes instantly turned towards her.<br /> It was evident that Amanda had wailed out, with traces of tears still visible.<br /> "Amanda, how is it?" A middle-aged gent anxiously asked her.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family who had rushed back also focused their attention on her.<br /> "Mr. Phillips said that there's little hope of recovery. He could only use acupuncture to wake grandfather for half an hour. When grandfather wakes up, let's all go in and see if he has any final instructions."<br /> Everyone was shocked.<br /> "How could this be?"<br /> "Is Mr. Phillips also helpless?"<br /> The members of the Kingsley family found it hard to accept this reality, especially since Quinn had always treated his juniors well.<br /> The thought of Quinn departing saddened some, and tears silently fell.<br /> Publicly, Quinn's status was the foundation of the Kingsley family's prominence in Yeadeo.<br /> If Quinn were to pass away, the Kingsley family would undoubtedly decline.<br /> The atmosphere within the Kingsley family was somber.<br /> Amanda looked at her family members, opened her mouth, but said nothing, silently turning back into the room.<br /> "Stop crying," A middle-aged gent said sternly, "Dad wouldn't want to see you all in tears. If he's really leaving, we mustn't let him worry about us. Pull yourselves together."<br /> After these words, the middle-aged gent also entered the room.<br /> The younger members of the Kingsley family wiped their tears vigorously, trying to force smiles, but in truth, they looked better at crying than pretending to be happy.<br /> Mia's spirit plummeted as she realized the gravity of the situation. Even if an ordinary person passed away from consuming health supplements, it spelled big trouble for those who sold them. And when the deceased happened to be Quinn, the stakes were even higher.<br /> She understood that it would be difficult for this branch to stay in Yeadeo, and even the headquarters might face repercussions.<br /> "Let's go in and have a look." Wesley glanced at Mia. "There might still be a chance."<br /> "Ah..." Mia stared at Wesley in surprise. Seeing him already heading towards the room, she quickly followed suit.<br /> Inside the room, the members of the Kingsley family stood around the mattress, maintaining a certain distance.<br /> Scott lit the alcohol lamp and took out the needles, his expression solemn.<br /> He looked at the members of the Kingsley family. "Think about what you want to say to Mr. Kingsley later. Once you're ready, let me know, and then I'll proceed with the acupuncture."<br /> As he said this, tears welled up in many eyes.<br /> "If you don't mind, let me take a look. I have a way." Wesley spoke up, drawing everyone's attention.<br /> Amanda's face darkened. "Who let you in? Get out!"<br /> "Mia, have you lost your mind? Tricked by this trash and actually brought him here as a miracle healer. Get out with him! I'll settle the score with you in a couple of days."<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, at a loss for words.<br /> "Even Mr. Phillips is unable to reverse the situation. What use are you? Get out." Another younger member of the Kingsley family angrily rebuked.<br /> The middle-aged gent added, "We're in no mood right now. You better leave immediately."<br /> "I understand your narrow-mindedness," Wesley continued, "But as a healer, once I see a patient, I cannot stand by and watch him draw his last breath."<br /> "Wesley, you're quite the charlatan. Do you really want to be gone right now?" Amanda's voice was filled with anger.<br /> "Amanda, let me say a few words," Scott interjected, and Amanda fell silent.<br /> Looking at Wesley, Scott began. "Young lad, at my age, I've seen a lot and have a broad perspective. Today, however, I find it hard to remain indifferent. I practiced medicine from the age of sixteen until I stopped seeing patients for a total of seventy years."<br /> "I've saved countless patients from various illnesses. I never easily declare a patient's fate, nor do I believe I have the right to do so."<br /> "But from your recent remarks, it seems like you're accusing me of such actions. Young people wanting to make a name for themselves by stepping on the shoulders of their predecessors, I can understand."<br /> "But this kind of behavior displeases me."<br /> "My displeasure, what does it mean to you? Do you understand?"<br /> "Even if you are a healer, your career will be ruined because of this."<br /> Chapter 6 Hand of Hell<br /> In the face of Scott's veiled threats, Wesley simply smiled and brushed them off.<br /> Looking at Scott, he asked, "I've always focused on the issue at hand rather than attacking individuals. I have a few questions for you. If you can't administer the needles, how long do you think Quinn can hold on?"<br /> "Seven days, but he will remain unconscious," Scott replied bluntly.<br /> "Then let me ask you this, is there anyone in the world with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "Outrageous," Amanda coldly interjected, "Mr. Phillips is unparalleled in his medical expertise."<br /> Scott glanced at Amanda. "Amanda, let me handle this question."<br /> Continuing to address Wesley, he said, "I don't underestimate myself, nor do I overestimate. There are countless talented individuals in the world, like stars in the sky. I may not dare claim to be the best in medical skills, but those who surpass me are few."<br /> "That means there are some," Wesley calmly remarked, causing Scott's expression to shift slightly, "Indeed, there are."<br /> "Then let me ask you this. Do you think within seven days, the Kingsley family won't find someone with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "If they do find someone, do you believe there is an illness that you cannot cure, but this person can?"<br /> Wesley's questions were sharp and resounding.<br /> Scott's face changed once more as he was rendered speechless.<br /> "Even if there is, that person will never be you." Amanda's face turned icy. "Now get out. Don't spout your eloquence here. Your deceitful behavior is repulsive."<br /> "Your understanding of me is merely hearsay, isn't it?" Wesley retorted, his gaze mocking Amanda, "Has your background and education taught you such arrogance and prejudice?"<br /> "Arrogance?" Amanda's face grew colder as she disdainfully looked at Wesley. "Prejudice?<br /> "Did I say something wrong just now? You are nothing but stagnant waste, a parasite living off others. If it weren't for Taylor, you would have starved on the streets long ago."<br /> "Relying on sweet words, deceiving Taylor. She, with her kind heart, can't bear to divorce you, but don't push your luck. If it weren't for Taylor's sake, you would have been sent out long ago."<br /> Scott interrupted Amanda, "Amanda, although I find this lad a bit annoying, what he said does hold some truth. There are indeed individuals with better medical skills than me. Your grandfather can hold on for seven days. Try reaching out to see if someone can come over. I'll help you make connections."<br /> "If it really doesn't work out after seven days, I'll administer the needles to your grandfather. However, at that point, I can only buy you three minutes."<br /> As soon as Scott spoke, the faces of the Kingsley family members grew even more solemn. True healers were rare and not easily summoned.<br /> While the Kingsley family had connections in Yeadeo, their influence waned outside of it.<br /> "Mr. Phillips, please administer the needles. Life has its ups and downs, and we understand that. Just buy my father a bit more time." The middle-aged gent spoke up.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family nodded in agreement.<br /> Amanda looked at Scott. "Mr. Phillips, please."<br /> "In that case, please have everyone unrelated leave. I need silence," Scott calmly stated.<br /> Amanda glared at Wesley, her eyes speaking volumes without a word.<br /> The unrelated individuals were, naturally, Wesley and Mia.<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, intending to leave, but she suddenly hesitated.<br /> Instead of leaving, Wesley moved forward.<br /> "What are you doing?" A young member of the Kingsley family stepped forward with a stern expression, pushing Wesley.<br /> In one swift motion, Wesley executed a clean shoulder throw, toppling the young gent to the ground, his own expression turning cold.<br /> "A bunch of fools! If it weren't for my teacher's teachings about not turning a blind eye to those in need, I wouldn't bother with you ignorant lot," Wesley remarked with disdain.<br /> As Wesley effortlessly took down one individual from the Kingsley family, the others seemed slow to react.<br /> By the time they realized what was happening, Wesley had already picked up the needle next to Scott and casually flicked his wrist.<br /> The needle flew out of his hand, piercing Quinn's temple, followed by a second needle, a third needle, and so on.<br /> "What are you doing? Stop!" Amanda's voice rose in urgency, echoed by the rest of the Kingsley family members who rushed forward to restrain Wesley.<br /> "Stay back, everyone. Wait." Scott suddenly stood up, blocking the others. "Let him try."<br /> Amanda and the others were left dumbfounded, thinking, "What does this mean?"<br /> Despite their confusion, they heeded Scott's words.<br /> After Scott stopped the members of the Kingsley family, he fixed his gaze on Wesley.<br /> Wesley proceeded to use eighteen needles in succession, symbolizing the levels of pain.<br /> Even if someone had descended into the depths of hell, they must be brought back.<br /> The final needle, also piercing a vital point, caused Quinn's body to tremble suddenly, resonating with the previous eighteen needles.<br /> Scott's eyes widened, his body trembling slightly. His reaction left Amanda and the others even more puzzled, but none dared to interrupt.<br /> Moments later, Wesley placed a palm on Quinn's chest, causing all eighteen needles to be shaken off. When all the needles landed on the ground, the part of the skin where the needles had pierced turned dark.<br /> Wesley then dragged Quinn to the edge of the mattress, flipped him over with his head facing downwards, and gave him a firm pat on the back.<br /> Quinn spat out a mouthful of black liquid. When Wesley flipped him back to lie flat, his complexion had regained some color.<br /> "The Hand of Darkness... It's the Hand of Darkness!" Scott exclaimed with excitement, his body quivering, "It's the Hand that descends into the dark world, snatching people from the hands of the Evil!"<br /> "You do have some knowledge, recognizing the Hand of Darkness." Wesley glanced at Scott.<br /> Scott's gaze towards Wesley had undergone a drastic change. He respectfully clasped his hands together.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thirty years ago, I had the honor of attending a teaching conference held by Mr. Vanderbilt. I saw the Hand of Darkness, but my limited aptitude only allowed me to grasp the basics."<br /> "I have been blind and ignorant. I apologize for my earlier offenses. Please forgive me, Mr. Harrington."<br /> The Mr. Vanderbilt Scott referred to was Wesley's teacher, Ulysses Vanderbilt. He generously imparted his skills to others, but the ability to learn depended on one's innate talent.<br /> In this world, few could learn Ulysses' skills.<br /> Scott had been fortunate to receive guidance from Ulysses, which had elevated his medical skills. However, the Hand of Darkness, a miraculous ability, was beyond his comprehension.<br /> Wesley smiled faintly, "Your actions earlier are understandable. I appreciate your words."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you must be an exceptional disciple of Mr. Vanderbilt, possessing unparalleled magnanimity. Impressive," Scott continued.<br /> "Enough with the flattery at your age."<br /> "You are mistaken, Mr. Harrington. Every word I speak is sincere."<br /> Mia, Amanda, and the others stood bewildered by the unfolding situation.<br /> "Mr. Phillips... he... he..." Amanda's words faltered.<br /> Scott turned to the members of the Kingsley family. "Meeting Mr. Harrington was Quinn's luck. His symptoms have been cured by Mr. Harrington. With a few days of rest, he will be fine."<br /> The waste Taylor had previously said was called Mr. Harrington by Scott!<br /> Recalling their previous attitudes, Amanda hurriedly apologized, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> The members of the Kingsley family all apologized in unison, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> Chapter 7 Eight Plates of Noodles<br /> With a faint smile, Wesley remarked, "As family members of a patient, your actions earlier are understandable. There's no need for such formality."<br /> Amanda's perplexity deepened as she thought, "Where is the cowardly waste that Taylor described? This display of magnanimity and breadth is far from it."<br /> Mia, too, felt a shiver of realization, thinking, "No wonder Dad has insisted on my proximity to Wesley.<br /> This guy..."<br /> She gazed at Wesley, her curiosity piqued, a sense of exploration stirring within her.<br /> "Mia has brought you here, Mr. Harrington, to cure my grandfather. The Kingsley family will never forget this act. However, considering that my grandfather's ailment stemmed from the health supplements produced by the Vinver Business Alliance, we will be conducting an investigation into it."<br /> Amanda continued, looking at Wesley, "What do you think... of this approach?"<br /> It was Mia who had invited Wesley, so Amanda had grown wiser, refraining from asking for a direct punishment of the Vinver Business Alliance.<br /> As Mia heard Amanda's words, her heart skipped a beat, realizing trouble was brewing.<br /> "On the way here, Ms. Roberts briefed me on the situation. You conducted experiments on mice, correct?"<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes, the health supplements we received were exclusively provided by the Roberts family. There were no similar cases on the market, so we used mice for testing.<br /> "All the mice that ingested this supplement were gone."<br /> She looked at Mia and added, her voice turned colder. "Before the experiment, I specifically contacted Mia to inquire about the testing methods during the development phase, which involved mice."<br /> "There have been individuals eyeing my grandfather's position, some even wishing for his demise. I never imagined that the Vinver Business Alliance, which I attracted for investment, would become a weapon in someone else's hands."<br /> "Do you have any of the remaining medicine?" Wesley inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes."<br /> "Bring some over."<br /> Immediately, someone fetched the medicine. After it was brought to him, Wesley took out a supplement and swallowed it directly.<br /> This scene left Amanda and the others dumbfounded.<br /> Scott, too, was bewildered. "Mr. Harrington, what are you doing?"<br /> Wesley smiled, "Just proving that this medicine is not toxic."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thank you," Mia thanked sincerely, feeling like sobbing at that moment.<br /> Amanda, with a puzzled expression, looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, are you suggesting that my grandfather's condition wasn't caused by the Vinver Business Alliance's medicine? What about the mice?"<br /> The rest were equally puzzled.<br /> "Yes, but not entirely," Wesley said, leaving everyone even more bewildered.<br /> Mia's emotions were like a rollercoaster ride, from relief to immediate tension.<br /> "This medicine itself is not toxic, but when taken with another substance made from a certain plant, it results in Quinn's condition. The mice would die immediately, while humans could endure a few more days."<br /> Wesley continued to explain, "The plant used in this concoction is originally meant for crafting slow-acting toxins, not for human consumption."<br /> Looking at Amanda, Wesley said, "During this period, whoever had access to your grandfather and the mice will better understand why these events occurred."<br /> The gaze of members of the Kingsley family immediately focused on a lady.<br /> Amanda, somewhat incredulous, looked at her. "Can you offer an explanation?"<br /> The lady was the wife of Amanda's deceased brother. She found it hard to accept, as did the rest of the Kingsley family.<br /> This lady had been named the exemplary lady who served her family well this year, not due to her connection with the Kingsley family but because she genuinely deserved it.<br /> "What do you mean? Amanda, what explanation do you want from me?"<br /> The lady stared at Amanda. "Am I the only one who had access to Grandfather and the mice? You, and you... and you, who didn't have access?"<br /> "You all claim to treat me as family. Since I married into the Kingsley family, I have worked diligently, contributing my share even if not acknowledged."<br /> "Amanda, it has been over a year since your brother passed, and I never once considered remarrying. Now, just because of his words, you demand an explanation from me?"<br /> Pointing at Wesley, the lady questioned, "Just because he accuses me of poisoning, you suspect me? Tell me, did I poison him?" The lady glared at Wesley.<br /> "I am merely analyzing the facts. As for concluding this case, it's not within my purview," Wesley addressed the members of the Kingsley family, saying, "You should conduct a thorough investigation into this matter.<br /> "I will write a prescription. Have Quinn take it on time, and he will recover in seven days."<br /> Amanda hurried to fetch paper and pen while Wesley prepared the prescription. Once done, he was ready to leave.<br /> Amanda said hurriedly, "Mr. Harrington, I've already made arrangements for lunch."<br /> "No need," Wesley smiled.<br /> The Kingsley family sought to build closer ties with Wesley, given his extraordinary medical skills. Wesley was well aware of this.<br /> Looking at Amanda and the others, Wesley remarked, "In the future, if you encounter any difficult medical cases that others cannot solve, seek me out. Remember, cases others cannot solve."<br /> The gaze of the Kingsley family members toward Wesley changed once again. Many renowned healers had eccentric personalities and were difficult to engage.<br /> They hadn't expected Wesley to possess such remarkable medical skills without any airs.<br /> As Wesley prepared to depart, the members of the Kingsley family did not dare to insist on his stay, so they accompanied him outside.<br /> "Oh, how could we forget such an important matter? Amanda, what about the consultation fee?" The middle-aged gent inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the oversight. Please wait a moment." Amanda hurried back inside and soon returned with a bank card in hand.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, there's one million dollars in here."<br /> Without hesitation, Wesley accepted the bank card and boarded Mia's car.<br /> During the journey, Mia boldly looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, you've helped me immensely. Can I treat you to a meal? Don't decline in a hurry. It's not a fancy restaurant, but it will leave you wanting more. It's a small place on the street, with only eight plates of noodles served each day, each plate containing different ingredients."<br /> "I managed to secure a reservation. Are you interested?"<br /> Wesley thought, "Eight Plates of Noodles?<br /> "Ah, Aaron's restaurant. It has been a while since I visited those old friends."<br /> Wesley nodded. "Let's go then."<br /> The restaurant, Eight Plates of Noodles, was located on Chanxold Street near the Yeadeo First Central Hospital.<br /> The establishment was small, serving only eight plates of noodles each day at a price of 10 thousand dollars each. Vernoic's television culinary program had specifically covered this incident.<br /> Reservations were a must to secure a plate.<br /> The restaurant's owner had a mysterious background. While the specifics were unknown, a high-ranking noble from the capital of Vernoic, Kingsland, had caused a scene there once.<br /> He had attempted to force his way in without a reservation. Although this incident hadn't been reported, rumors suggested that a garbage truck had to be called to dispose of the intruder's remains, as he was too shattered to be removed by conventional means.<br /> Since then, no one dared to cause trouble.<br /> On their way, Mia introduced Wesley to the background story.<br /> "Mr. Turner, two plates of noodles." Mia called out once they arrived.<br /> Aaron Turner didn't respond but visibly paused upon seeing Wesley beside Mia.<br /> A faint smile appeared on his usually stoic face. Though the flesh on the face seemed stiff, it was indeed a smile. "Coming right up."<br /> Chapter 8 You Are Blushing<br /> Mia glanced at Aaron with a hint of surprise, thinking, "When does he become so warm and enthusiastic?<br /> His tone seemed a bit agitated earlier, didn't it?"<br /> Soon enough, Aaron brought two plates of noodles to the table. One steaming hot and the other devoid of any warmth.<br /> As Mia observed Aaron placing the plate without steam in front of Wesley, her expression changed slightly.<br /> It was a plate of instant noodles having soaked in cold water, with the seasoning barely dissolved.<br /> She felt a sense of panic. Mia had wanted to leave a good impression on Wesley, which was why she had chosen this place.<br /> However, Aaron had served such a plate of noodles.<br /> She dared not question Aaron. The type of noodles served here was not determined by the guests but by Aaron's mood.<br /> "This lass named Mia is quite something, living up to her name, and quite kind-hearted," Aaron remarked, looking at Wesley.<br /> "Get lost," Wesley retorted, using his fork to pick up the noodles and devouring them.<br /> Mia's face turned pale instantly. Disrespecting Aaron was akin to risking Wesley's life.<br /> To her astonishment, Aaron chuckled, tears welling up in his eyes.<br /> He wiped them away. "Alright, I'll leave you to your meal."<br /> Before departing, he gave Mia a thumbs-up. "Seize the opportunity."<br /> The eight plates of noodles symbolized the eight comrades who had faced life and hardships together.<br /> Wesley ate voraciously. Initially, they had only one pack of instant noodles to share among the eight of them, forcing them to divide it.<br /> Despite the circumstances, they devoured the noodles joyfully.<br /> Aaron had promised that once they survived, each one would have the most delicious plate of noodles.<br /> However, five of the eight had perished.<br /> Wesley had come dangerously close to life-threatening situations, but managed to cling to life.<br /> For him, the plate of noodles was not food but the bond of friendship that had shielded him from harm.<br /> "Do you... know each other?" Mia couldn't help but ask, her voice low and curious.<br /> "Some things are better left unknown," Wesley replied.<br /> Mia nodded in understanding, falling silent as they continued eating noodles. She couldn't help stealing glances at Wesley throughout the meal.<br /> This gent had piqued her curiosity even more.<br /> "Wesley, I see. No wonder you agreed to the divorce so readily. You've already found someone else outside."<br /> A sharp voice interrupted their meal.<br /> Taylor approached with a cold expression, accompanied by Henry.<br /> Taylor's mother was in the nearby hospital, and she had just picked up Frank, planning to buy some food when she unexpectedly saw Wesley.<br /> Of course, she saw Mia, too.<br /> Seeing Wesley dining with a lady more attractive than herself, so soon after the divorce felt like a dagger twisting in Taylor's heart.<br /> Her anger was uncontrollable.<br /> Wesley merely glanced at Taylor, disinterested in engaging with her.<br /> Taylor was stung by his indifferent gaze. She stepped forward, glaring at Wesley. "Are you not going to explain to me?"<br /> Mia looked at Taylor, silently cursing her as a foolish lady.<br /> Wesley continued eating his noodles, lowering his head. "Get lost. Don't disturb me, or I won't hesitate to hit you."<br /> "What did you say?" Henry stepped forward, enraged. "Wesley, try laying a hand on her! Is that all you're capable of? Laying hands on ladies?"<br /> "No wonder Taylor looks down on you. You're truly disgusting trash. Apologize to Taylor now, or else you'll regret coming into this world."<br /> "And how will he regret it? Tell me." Aaron emerged, carrying a cleaver, smiling as he faced Henry and Taylor.<br /> "Mr. Turner, we dare not cause trouble in your place, but this guy is just..."<br /> Henry attempted to speak but was cut off as Aaron's cleaver struck his face, sending him sprawling to the ground.<br /> "Mr. Turner, sorry, we'll leave now." Taylor hastily helped Henry up and hurriedly left.<br /> These two individuals were fortunate to know the legendary story behind Eight Plates of Noodles and had successfully made reservations to dine here multiple times.<br /> Having distanced themselves a bit, Henry covered his face and pointed at Wesley. "Wesley, we have some unfinished business. If you're smart, come over here now and apologize."<br /> "Wesley, I've seen through you as well. I never expected that for the past five years, you've been using my money to keep a lady on the side. We'll settle the score slowly."<br /> As the two noticed Aaron glancing their way, they quickly shut their mouths and hurriedly left.<br /> Once they were out of eyeshots, Aaron fixed his gaze on Wesley. "Your dad doesn't know about your divorce yet, does he?"<br /> "What difference would it make if he did?" Wesley stretched lazily. "I've fulfilled my promise. I've given enough."<br /> Aaron nodded in acknowledgment without saying anything further.<br /> This piqued Mia's curiosity even more. "Is it like what the novels depict? Did you marry Taylor due to some special event?"<br /> Seeing Wesley's glare, Mia lowered her head to focus on her noodles. "I won't ask anymore."<br /> "For the past five years, you've been staying in the stairwell. It has been hard for you, but at least you're still untouched," Aaron remarked before swiftly departing.<br /> Mia stared at Wesley in disbelief, realizing that Aaron's words were meant for her ears.<br /> "What are you staring at? Eat your noodles," Wesley said. Mia chuckled.<br /> "Why are you laughing?"<br /> "You're blushing."<br /> "Nonsense," Wesley retorted.<br /> Unable to contain herself, Mia burst into laughter. She had tried to hold it in, but seeing Wesley's flushed face made it impossible.<br /> Ten minutes later, Mia left on her own accord, sensing that Wesley had something to discuss with Aaron.<br /> Inside Aaron's small shop, Wesley opened a bottle of wine. "Still single?"<br /> "I look too old, no one's interested," Aaron replied, opening a bottle of liquor as well.<br /> "Then why are you meddling in my love lives?"<br /> "Leave a child behind, even if you pass away, someone will remember you." Aaron took a sip. "I've actually investigated this Mia."<br /> "You investigated her?"<br /> "I knew you'd get a divorce. I've been keeping an eye on the pretty ones. This girl had done a lot of good deeds before coming to Yeadeo. Once, she saved three people in a flood and nearly lost her life. Opportunities are rare. You have to seize them."<br /> "When you've figured things out and are ready to marry, then we can discuss our affairs. That's the condition." Wesley downed the entire bottle of liquor.<br /> "Otherwise, don't bother meddling. We're on a one-way path and can't drag others along."<br /> "You..." Aaron sighed as he watched Wesley's retreating figure.<br /> On the road leading to the Feidgeuo Manor, Taylor stood gazing blankly at the entrance not far away.<br /> Twice in one day, she had come here.<br /> The first time was to pick up Frank, and this time was because Frank had lost his expensive watch. She and Henry hadn't even had a meal, rushing over to find it.<br /> The first time, she had come in a hurry when Frank was injured and left quickly as well.<br /> But this time, as Taylor looked at the entrance ahead, an infinite longing sprouted within her.<br /> "If only... I could live here, how wonderful that would be."<br /> Henry looked at her. "One day, I'll definitely build an estate more magnificent than this, and you'll be the lady of the house."<br /> As they conversed, a taxi drove by, stopping at the entrance. The person who got out of the taxi left Taylor stunned.<br /> She rubbed her eyes.	Adoread	147	https://facebook.com/61556400142540	LEARN_MORE	1713510000	View Edit Delete
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1666884	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727709	1734958298	695	412447015046198			1713682800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	226177680578601	0	Adoread	120207746049430265	client.adoread.com	Learn more	NONE	image	🔥🔥🔥 Read More👉	Hottest novel👉👉👉	https://client.adoread.com/book/loading/page/adoread/19161308412?utm_campaign={{campaign.id}}&utm_content={{campaign.name}}		1713519398	2.261776805786E+14	Adoread	https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437724011_960421695526729_1516574307485338648_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QHGXZ-huQfoQ7kNvgFl-bAK&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAhittaAtIybg_0Gi8UYNoalMt3uRDbIai0DNMlEMFrFg&oe=663A90F9	person_profile	0	Adoread	https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437891881_25238797299100336_7255863263127890524_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UeFxFDUJUZIQ7kNvgF1dGXL&_nc_oc=AdjBlORU46gPxHeMvSIJmXMDx_1afwh7kp2UWRl9K25HmyfzpiuTkbEBFfXJmbiDJ-c&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCl6BW-kaMuwg-TQzlAPyzBHYyw1d6F5gFbxwKZGONM2w&oe=663A61E5	0	3	"Wesley, are you trying to harm me? You useless piece of trash, can't even make a decent cup of coffee, can you?"<br /> Madison Blair lifted her coffee cup and splashed it directly onto Wesley Harrington's face.<br /> "What are you looking at, you spineless waste? Your name sounds so lofty? I might as well call you a waste."<br /> Glancing at the grotesque expression of his wife's mother, Wesley pulled out his phone to check the time.<br /> Exactly twelve o'clock. It had been five full years since he married Taylor Reed.<br /> The appointed time had come.<br /> He had fulfilled his promise, safeguarding the Reed family for five years, transforming them from a family living off fishing to one perceived as affluent by the common folk.<br /> Wiping the coffee off his face, he turned and walked away.<br /> "Where do you think you're going? Go fetch some more coffee," Madison shouted.<br /> "Madison, didn't you say this waste is obedient at home, doing whatever he's told? I don't think he's taking it lying down."<br /> Madison grew angrier. "Wesley, you stop right there. My family has fed and housed you. If you dare disobey, I'll have you thrown out!"<br /> Ignoring her, Wesley continued downstairs.<br /> "When Taylor comes back, I'll immediately have you two divorced. Do you hear me? Stay right there," Madison threatened, "I'll let you know your place today."<br /> Grabbing a golf club, Madison swiftly charged towards Wesley.<br /> Seeing Wesley heading downstairs, she swung the club viciously at his back.<br /> Without turning back, Wesley gently sidestepped.<br /> Losing her balance, Madison tumbled forward, rolling down the stairs with a series of thumps.<br /> "Ouch... it hurts, it hurts so much!"<br /> As Madison reached the ground floor, she wailed in pain and her sister immediately rushed to her.<br /> "Wesley, what have you done? How dare you hit my sister!" Madison's sister hurried down, checking on Madison's condition.<br /> Wesley remained silent, observing the scene.<br /> "Quick, call Taylor. Tell her to come back. Today, she must divorce this waste." Madison glared at Wesley. "How dare you hit me? Not only will I let Taylor divorce you, but I'll make sure you leave in disgrace."<br /> "Mum, what's wrong?" At that moment, a gent and a lady walked in.<br /> The lady was Taylor, Madison's daughter.<br /> She ran towards Madison.<br /> As Madison pointed at Wesley, tears streamed down her face. "Taylor, he hit me, he hit me! When you're not home, he changes his attitude, scolding and hitting me in the slightest displeasure. He even pushed me down the stairs just now. Alexis can testify."<br /> Madison's sister, Alexis Blair, chimed in. "Yes, Wesley, this trash not only hit your mother but also threatened to hit me too. We cannot tolerate such trash."<br /> "Taylor, I have been telling you to divorce him for years. You've been supporting him, treating him like a Lord at home, but he's an ungrateful wolf in sheep's clothing."<br /> Helping Madison up, Taylor noticed the scrapes on Madison's arms and legs, her expression turning cold.<br /> "Wesley, why did you hit my mother? You better give me an explanation."<br /> Wesley looked at Taylor, his wife.<br /> Five years had passed, and she had never shown him kindness.<br /> Taylor dressed impeccably, a paragon of a successful lady, with a face that could be deemed angelic, yet whether her heart was as angelic remained a mystery.<br /> Her figure, too, left countless men yearning.<br /> For five years, Wesley had thought he might develop feelings for this lady, but in reality, it never happened.<br /> "There are surveillance cameras in the house," Wesley stated calmly before descending the stairs into the hallway.<br /> Despite residing in a three-story villa, Wesley's living quarters were confined to the stairwell.<br /> He harbored no resentment towards this arrangement. It was merely a promise. It was just that Taylor failed to appreciate him.<br /> This home held little value that he wished to cling onto.<br /> Retrieving a wooden box from beneath his pillow, Wesley extracted two documents. Casting a fleeting glance at the modest abode he had called home for five years, Wesley smiled faintly.<br /> He thought, "Finally... I'm free."<br /> Pushing the door ajar, Wesley was met by Taylor's piercing gaze. "I've reviewed the surveillance footage. Yes, my mother intended to strike you, but even if she did, what difference would it make?"<br /> "She's a lady. How much could her blows hurt you? Why did you dodge?"<br /> "If you hadn't dodged, my mother wouldn't have tumbled down." Wesley stared at Taylor, unable to comprehend her thought process.<br /> He had no interest in engaging in these arguments. Handing over the two documents to Taylor, he remarked, "The divorce agreement. I've already signed it. Take a look. I'm leaving with nothing."<br /> "With your current influence, there's no need for you to visit the city hall. Someone will handle it for you, right?"<br /> Madison was taken aback. She swiftly snatched the divorce agreement, flipping through it hastily.<br /> The contents were indeed straightforward. Both parties willingly divorced, with Wesley relinquishing all claims and having already signed.<br /> In an instant, Madison's pain seemed to dissipate. "Taylor, sign it quickly. Sign it."<br /> Taylor was still in a daze.<br /> She pondered.<br /> "A divorce agreement? Wesley has already prepared a divorce agreement. On what grounds?"<br /> "What gives him the right to initiate a divorce? All these years, he's done nothing at home, lacking any ambition. Always practicing martial arts, what right does he have to seek a divorce?"<br /> "If anyone should initiate it, it should be me. Moreover, now that I'm back to discussing this matter with him. Could it be that word got out, and Wesley, for the sake of his pride, rushed to prepare a divorce agreement first?"<br /> "It must be so, but... No!"<br /> "Wanting to leave with nothing, is he retreating to advance? As the chairman of the Reed Group, how could I be served with a divorce?"<br /> "Hey Wesley, I never expected this from you. Have I not treated you well enough? You seek a divorce, attempting to turn your retreat into advance, aiming to embarrass me?"<br /> Taylor glared at Wesley. "I'm telling you, it's impossible."<br /> Snatching the divorce agreement, she tore it to shreds.<br /> "Taylor, what are you doing? Such a great opportunity. Why not just sign it and let him leave?" Madison grew anxious.<br /> "Mom, I do intend to divorce this trash, but the decision must come from me. I returned specifically to address this matter."<br /> With that, Taylor produced two documents. "Wesley, remember that it's me who's divorcing you. It's me who no longer wants you. Initially, out of marital obligation, I had considered offering you some compensation. Now, you don't even need to think about it. Sign the divorce agreement and leave my home."<br /> Wesley offered a faint smile as he accepted the divorce agreement.<br /> "What are you laughing at?" Taylor demanded angrily.<br /> Wesley's smile seemed to mock her, fueling her rage.<br /> Ignoring her entirely, Wesley signed the document and handed it over.<br /> "What are you laughing at? Answer me! Who do you think you are?" Taylor roared once more.<br /> Wesley glanced at her before striding towards the exit.<br /> "Stop!" The gent who had accompanied Taylor stepped forward, blocking Wesley's path. "Taylor asked you a question, and... Your previous attitude displeased me. Apologize to Taylor, or I'll have you leave in disgrace!"<br /> Chapter 2 The Unspoken Truth<br /> <br /> "Yes, let him leave in disgrace. He thought he could just hit me and walk away so easily," Madison joined in the commotion, also noticing the gent blocking Wesley's path.<br /> Madison had a keen interest in luxury goods, having frequented various high-end establishments over the years as the Reed family's living conditions improved. The gent was wearing an expensive watch and dressed head to toe in high-end luxury brands.<br /> Seeing Madison's gaze, the gent spoke. "Rest assured, today Wesley must pay the price."<br /> The gent introduced himself, looking at Wesley, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Henry Clark, the eldest son of the Clark family and the general manager of the Clark Group in the North District."<br /> "From now on, I will accompany Taylor on her journey of life, and I will not allow anyone to bully her."<br /> "My identity carries weight. You should understand that. Now, apologize to Taylor. Apologize! Did you hear me? Apologize!"<br /> Madison's eyes lit up. She hadn't expected the gent before her to hold such a high status. She continued to shout, "Did you hear that? Taylor will be with Mr. Clark from now on. Apologize now."<br /> Wesley glanced at Henry, then at Taylor. He thought, "Have they been together all along?" Wesley had wanted to ask but decided against it because there was no need. He simply gave them a glance and continued walking towards the exit.<br /> "Are you ignoring me?" Henry's face turned cold as he reached out to grab Wesley. Henry's hand froze mid-air as he received a solid hit.<br /> "Until I sign the divorce papers, Taylor and I are still wife and husband. I don't care to investigate whether you two had any intimate relationship during that time, but don't provoke me, or I won't hesitate to make you regret it." Wesley's gaze was icy, and as Henry met his eyes, he felt a twinge of fear and swallowed his words.<br /> Taylor was also stunned. She knew exactly what Wesley had been like over the past five years. There were many surveillance cameras in the house, and she would often check them.<br /> Even when Taylor wasn't home, despite how her family treated Wesley, he always obeyed without complaint, especially towards her. He had never raised his voice, no matter how they treated him.<br /> Today, not only did Wesley dodge when her mother struck, but he also initiated the divorce and now even struck Henry. <br /> Taylor was at a loss for words, thinking, "How could this cowardly gent dare? On what grounds does he dare?"<br /> This change was difficult for Taylor to accept as if she didn't truly understand this guy. The gent who used to be obedient to her, completely submissive, now revealed this side of himself. She watched Wesley walk away in a daze, feeling a strange discomfort in her heart.<br /> "Isn't he leaving with nothing?" Alexis pointed at the wooden box Wesley was holding. "What is he taking with him?"<br /> Madison also realized. Over the past five years, Wesley had always treasured this wooden box, carrying it with him wherever he went. She thought there must be something valuable inside.<br /> Realizing this, Madison hurriedly followed. "Wesley, stop right there, leave the wooden box."<br /> Wesley paused, glanced at Madison, and said, "This is my personal belonging."<br /> "Nonsense, what personal belonging could you possibly have after marrying into the Reed family? Everything you've eaten, worn, and lived in over the years has been provided by the Reed family. Put it down."<br /> As she spoke, Madison reached out to grab the wooden box.<br /> "Ah..." A scream rang out as Madison quickly retracted her hand, a gash appearing on her palm, a crimson liquid dripping.<br /> The wooden box was now stained with the same crimson liquid, trembling lightly in Wesley's hand.<br /> "It's not the right time yet, the day you thirst for this crimson liquid will come," Wesley murmured softly, patting the box before turning to continue his stride towards the exit.<br /> "Monster! A monster!" Madison screamed, causing Taylor and the others to rush out. Seeing the wound in Madison's hand, Taylor was filled with rage.<br /> "Wesley, aren't you going to say something?" Wesley halted once more, contemplating before meeting Taylor's gaze.<br /> "Just stay out of my way from now on. Consider this a warning to you."<br /> "Taylor, that wooden box of his has a mechanism. It must hold something valuable! We can't let him take it with him," Madison, enduring the pain, reminded them.<br /> "Mom, your injury is important. We'll deal with him later. Let me take you to the hospital first." Taylor comforted Madison before calling out to the retreating Wesley.<br /> "Our marriage is over! Yet, you dared to hurt my mother! This won't be the end of it! I will make you regret it!" Ignoring her, Wesley continued walking out.<br /> "Rest assured, I promise he won't see the light of day tomorrow." Henry stepped forward to console. "Let's focus on getting your wound treated first."<br /> "I want him to regret ever existing in this world, to apologize to me in repentance," Madison roared.<br /> "Mom, trust me, I will make him do just that." Taylor looked at Madison with a mix of pity and determination. "Let's go to the hospital first."<br /> In the villa area, Wesley halted, his voice cold. "Get out."<br /> An elderly gent leaped down from a tree, appearing to be in his seventies, yet landing silently from a height of around ten feet.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, your father wants you to come home and take charge."<br /> "He stopped being my father five years ago. He's my enemy."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you misunderstood your father. He had his reasons back then. I swear in my life, once you know the truth, you will forgive him."<br /> "Huh!" Wesley smirked coldly, saying, "I nearly passed away back then. Is that also a misunderstanding?"<br /> The old gent pleaded, "Mr. Harrington, this situation is truly not as you perceive it."<br /> Wesley didn't engage further with the old guy. The events of that year were etched in his memory forever. He was the one who had been abandoned. If not for that incident, why would he have stayed with the Reed family for five years?<br /> Watching Wesley walk away, the old gent had tears silently streaming down his face. "Mr. Harrington, I truly... I truly can't bring myself to speak the truth, but you have misunderstood your father. He also bears burdens and endures pains beyond what an ordinary person can handle."<br /> As Wesley's figure disappeared, the old gent stood up, hesitated for a moment, then dialed a number on his phone.<br /> "Mr. Harrington is now divorced. I've given you the news firsthand. If your daughter is truly together with Mr. Harrington, you must fulfill the promise and let her persuade Mr. Harrington to come home."<br /> After hanging up, a middle-aged gent in a luxurious estate jumped up excitedly. Calming himself, he immediately made another call. "My dear, you're at Yeadeo, right?<br /> "Go find Wesley now. Don't mention the engagement for now. Use every means to get close to him, make him fall in love with you."<br /> "Dad, I don't have time."<br /> "No matter what you are busy with, you must go find Wesley now. No matter what reason you approach him, you must leave a good impression the first time."<br /> "Dad, I'm in trouble right now. If I don't handle it well, I might be good as gone. I have to deal with it immediately. I'm hanging up."<br /> Chapter 3 You're Nothing<br /> The middle-aged gent's voice lowered significantly. "Is there a big incident happening? You didn't tell me? What happened?"<br /> "Quinn Kingsley from Yeadeo, Mr. Kingsley, used our product and now has one foot on the grave. If something really happens to him..."<br /> "You mean Quinn, the uncontested leader of Yeadeo?"<br /> "Yes."<br /> "In that case, you should go find Wesley. Trust me, in this world, there is no problem that Wesley can't solve. As long as he's willing to help, you'll be fine. Listen to me, go find Wesley immediately."<br /> The lady fell silent for a moment before saying, "Okay."<br /> At Yeadeo Harbor, a gent with a large flaxen chain and a watch, sporting a crew cut, hurriedly disembarked, accompanied by a dozen gentlemen.<br /> "Mr. Reed, wherever that trash is, we will find him and tear him apart."<br /> "Yes, that guy dared to harm your mother. We'll make sure he pays for it."<br /> Frank Reed's face turned cold. "Wesley, you coward, thinking you can overturn the world? How dare you touch my mom? Just wait until I find you, you're finished."<br /> "We've found him. Wesley got into a taxi, and our boys followed him."<br /> "Let's go!" Frank waved his hand, leading dozens of men who boarded the car with harpoons, steel pipes, and other weapons.<br /> Inside the taxi, Wesley gazed at the scenery outside, feeling a strange sense of tranquility.<br /> He thought to himself, "I never imagined that while I was secretly paving the way for the Reed family, Taylor, after progressing so rapidly, would start looking down on me more and more."<br /> "Those ladies who know my true identity, which one of them isn't trying to throw themselves at me? Ladies like that don't interest me."<br /> "Being an ordinary gent is truly difficult," Wesley murmured, smiling faintly and deciding not to dwell on these matters anymore. He had important things to attend to and no time to waste on personal affairs.<br /> "Young lad, are you going to Feidgeuo Manor for a job interview?" The driver, curious about Wesley's destination, inquired.<br /> Feidgeuo Manor was Yeadeo's most mysterious private area. Originally a villa area, it was bought at a huge cost five years ago and completely renovated. It was said to have cost a trillion dollars. The former villa area was now Feidgeuo Manor.<br /> "That's my home," Wesley replied nonchalantly.<br /> The driver was taken aback by this revelation, silently cursing Wesley for bragging. After a couple of minutes, the driver regained his composure. "It seems like you and I both prefer to keep a low profile. My car usually gathers dust at home, so I occasionally drive a taxi to experience life."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "My car has been driven by my assistant for the past few years, so it's not gathering dust."<br /> "Haha..." The driver laughed. "We should get together sometime and see whose car is more impressive."<br /> "Sure, whenever we have the time."<br /> As they chatted, the vehicle soon arrived near Feidgeuo Manor, where the massive head of the Feidgeuo Peak protruded, creating a unique landscape in Yeadeo.<br /> The driver asked with a smile, "Since you're the owner here, it's fine if I drive in, right?"<br /> "Of course," Wesley replied.<br /> As soon as Wesley spoke, several cars caught up from behind.<br /> The cars surrounded the one Wesley was in, with the front vehicles braking to force the car to a stop.<br /> When numerous people descended from cars wielding harpoons and steel pipes, the driver's face paled.<br /> Frank and his group got out of the cars, instantly closing in, and without hesitation, started attacking, the steel pipes and harpoons thudding against the car.<br /> Frank's henchman yanked open the door of Wesley's car, poised to stab Wesley with a harpoon, but Wesley swiftly exited the vehicle.<br /> With a firm step on the ground, he launched a swift hit.<br /> A muffled sound echoed as the henchman was hit away.<br /> "What are you looking at?" Frank noticed his henchmen were all staring at him. "All of you, attack together and take him down!"<br /> As he commanded, the henchmen Frank brought with him surged forward.<br /> The taxi driver, trembling, took out his phone to call the police, but Frank glared at him. "I am Frank Reed from Yeadeo Harbor. If you dare, go ahead and make that call."<br /> Frank, leveraging his sister Taylor's status, had been causing trouble in Yeadeo Harbor, and no one dared to provoke him.<br /> Upon hearing Frank's name, the driver hastily put away his phone. "Mr. Reed, I'll just check the time, you guys continue."<br /> "Huh!" Frank snorted coldly, casting his gaze towards the surrounded Wesley.<br /> The sounds of thuds continued to ring out incessantly. Because Wesley was completely surrounded, Frank was unable to see the situation inside clearly, but he could imagine it. After all, in Frank's mind, the henchmen under his command were not to be trifled with.<br /> "Hit him hard for me!"<br /> Another muffled sound and a figure flew out. At that moment, Frank finally saw the situation clearly, and his face turned pale.<br /> Frank knew that Wesley liked to practice martial arts, but he had never expected Wesley to be this skilled. It wasn't Wesley who had been beaten, but his own men by Wesley alone.<br /> Frantically, Frank turned and ran to retrieve a crossbow from the car.<br /> "Clear the way." Frank bellowed, aiming the crossbow at Wesley.<br /> "You scumbag, you think you can fight? Move one more time, and I'll end your life! Surrender!"<br /> Wesley, holding a wooden box, stared at Frank. Ignoring the crossbow in his hand, Wesley said, "Tell your henchmen to back off, or you'll all see the light from above!"<br /> "You're really good at pretending to be tough." Frank took two steps forward. "See the light? Move a muscle and see if I can end your life or not! If you don't have the guts, apologize now!"<br /> Wesley turned his head and looked at the approaching cars, with two expensive ones in the lead, two more in the rear, and another one in the middle.<br /> "Keep acting tough, and I'll put a hole in your head." Frank spoke while glancing at the five cars. "What, looking for help?"<br /> "Let me tell you, those who ride in these cars are not the kind of weaklings like you who rely on connections. With me here, in Yeadeo's social hierarchy, even those who ride in such cars wouldn't dare meddle in this matter. And let me make it clear, without my sister, you're nothing."<br /> Chapter 4 Is He Worthy?<br /> As Frank's words faded, the five cars came to a halt.<br /> A bodyguard opened the door of the one in the middle, revealing a dazzling pair of shining shoes catching everyone's eye.<br /> The shining shoe encased a beautiful foot. Above, the skirt's hem was adorned with lace.<br /> Then, like a fairy stepping out of a painting, she appeared before everyone's eyes.<br /> The lady was beautiful!<br /> Frank was mesmerized. Ever since the Reed family rose to prominence, he had been surrounded by ladies, but compared to the elegant lady before him, they were worlds apart.<br /> It wasn't just a difference in appearance but an incomparable gap in demeanor.<br /> The lady descending from the Maybach seemed like a celestial being untouched by mortal affairs.<br /> The embodiment of a fairy in the mundane world.<br /> She simply stood there after getting out of the car, perfectly embodying what it meant to be graceful and elegant.<br /> The lady glanced at Wesley, then at Frank.<br /> Frank grinned, saying, "May I have the honor of knowing the name of this esteemed lady? I am Frank..."<br /> The lady spoke calmly. "Disrespect Mr. Harrington, and you're done for."<br /> Her bodyguards, unfazed by Frank's crossbow, swiftly overwhelmed him, sending him crashing to the ground.<br /> The henchmen who had come with Frank, previously defeated by Wesley, now scrambled to their feet and fled in all directions.<br /> Who would dare provoke someone who could afford such a car?<br /> "My sister is Taylor Reed, the chairperson of Reed Group," Frank shouted, clutching his head.<br /> Ignoring him, one of the bodyguards dragged him to the roadside grass while another used a belt to tighten around Frank's neck, exerting pressure.<br /> "Enough, a lesson is all that's needed." Wesley spoke calmly, and only when the lady gestured did the bodyguards release Frank.<br /> Frank lay there, already unconscious.<br /> Wesley turned to the lady. "Who are you?"<br /> "I am Mia Roberts, the general manager of Vinver Business Alliance's Yeadeo branch." She looked at Wesley and continued, "Mr. Harrington, my father mentioned that you have miraculous healing skills and earnestly requested your assistance. A generous reward awaits."<br /> Wesley furrowed his brow slightly, thinking, "There are indeed people who recognize my abilities and status, yet I've rarely intervened in the past five years. Today, shortly after I divorced Taylor, she is here. Whose arrangement is this?"<br /> "Mr. Harrington, my father also mentioned that you are benevolent and has raised the banner of compassion among healers, serving as a role model and benchmark for all in the medical field."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "You have a way with words. Tell me the specifics."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, please get in the car first. I will explain in detail on the way."<br /> The phrase "compassionate healer" held significant weight for Wesley, who had saved countless lives from the brink of death.<br /> Without further ado, he got into the car.<br /> Inside, after Mia brewed coffee for Wesley, she began. "Vinver Business Alliance has a wide range of business operations, and I mainly oversee the health supplement sector, which has seen some success in recent years.<br /> "Recently, Quinn Kingsley started using our medicines, and now there's an accident."<br /> As she spoke, Mia kept her gaze fixed on Wesley.<br /> Quinn, the undisputed leader of Yeadeo, was a figure of immense influence.<br /> Upon hearing this name, Wesley showed no particular reaction. "If the city's leader faces issues with your products, it is indeed a concern. Let's go and see."<br /> With just a sentence, Wesley leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest.<br /> Mia was secretly alarmed, thinking, "He knows who Quinn is, yet he seems indifferent. Who is this Wesley, really? No wonder Dad has instructed me to find a way to win his favor." Mia's inner resistance toward Wesley quietly shifted.<br /> Wesley had piqued her curiosity.<br /> As the vehicle was moving, Wesley's phone rang.<br /> Wesley opened his eyes and took out his phone to see Taylor calling.<br /> Pressing the answer button, he asked, "What's the matter?"<br /> On the other end of the line, Taylor, driving towards Feidgeuo Manor, had a grim expression.<br /> She thought, "Has Wesley ever spoken to me in such a cold tone before? Is he really this heartless right after our divorce?"<br /> Already furious, she snapped. "Wesley, do you even consider yourself a human being?<br /> "Today, not only did you lay hands on my mother, but you also had someone attack my brother. Do you not remember our past at all?"<br /> Wesley calmly replied, "Do we have a past to remember?"<br /> "You truly are a heartless scumbag, just as my mother said. You are an ungrateful and vicious person I raised for five years. Even a pet would wag its tail at me!"<br /> Taylor wanted to continue her tirade, but the phone line had already turned busy.<br /> This only fueled her anger further.<br /> Just now, she had received a call from Frank's underlings, informing her that Wesley had sent people to attack Frank and even intended to end him.<br /> Taylor wanted to demand answers, but...<br /> As Taylor was clutching her fists, her gaze turned icy.<br /> After a moment, she picked up her phone again. "Wesley, you are so narrow-minded. You have no ambition. Any lady would steer clear of you."<br /> "Just because I dumped you, you are doing this on purpose to make me feel sick. Pretending to be aloof and seeking revenge? Do you even deserve it?"<br /> "In Yeadeo, squashing you would be as easy as squashing an ant. You're asking for it! If anything happens to my brother, I will make you wish you were ending!"<br /> Her furious voice message echoed in the car.<br /> Wesley chuckled and put away his phone.<br /> Beside him, Mia seemed contemplative. Before coming, she had already ordered a swift investigation into Wesley.<br /> She was curious, thinking, "How could someone valued by my father could be the one 'marrying into' the Reed family."<br /> Being tactful, Mia chose not to ask and pretended not to have heard.<br /> After about forty minutes, they arrived at the Kingsley Manor.<br /> The Kingsley family members, upon seeing Mia alight from the car, all wore grim expressions.<br /> Mia greeted them with a smile, "Everyone, this is Wesley Harrington, Mr. Harrington, the miraculous healer I specially invited to treat Mr. Kingsley."<br /> "Him? The gent who married into the Reed family?"<br /> "A miraculous healer? Is he even worthy? Are healers so worthless now?"<br /> "A useless gent who mooches off of the Reed family? How dare he call himself a miraculous healer? Truly a joke among all jokes."<br /> Chapter 5 Compassionate Healer<br /> Amanda Kingsley, Quinn's granddaughter, stared coldly at Wesley and Mia.<br /> This lady, dressed in a smart suit, also held significant fame in Yeadeo, overseeing the region's business activities, including investment attraction and various local business negotiations.<br /> Amanda had a favorable view of Taylor, who had risen swiftly in recent times, and they had interacted frequently.<br /> She was aware of Wesley's existence and had advised Taylor to part ways with him early on.<br /> But Amanda never imagined that Mia would bring someone like Wesley, a complete waste, and claim he was a miraculous healer.<br /> Glaring at Mia, she said, "Mia, once my grandfather is well, it's best for your Roberts family to leave Yeadeo."<br /> "As for you..." She glanced at Wesley. "I will advise Taylor to divorce you. You have deceived Taylor's feelings and now shamelessly made your way into my family. You are a despicable creature."<br /> After reprimanding Mia and Wesley, she turned to an elderly gent beside her, and her tone and attitude completely changed. "Mr. Phillips, sorry to trouble you. My grandfather is inside, please."<br /> Mia looked at the elderly gent, who was already in his twilight years, feeling deeply shocked.<br /> Scott Phillips, the 38th generation heir of the Healing Clinic, was now ninety-two years old.<br /> Renowned as a miraculous healer, he was a respected figure in the medical community of Yeadeo and even nationally.<br /> He no longer conducted consultations personally due to his old age. Mia had visited him specifically to pay her respects once she had arrived in Yeadeo but had not met Scott.<br /> She never expected Scott to appear in person. It was understandable, as Quinn held a prominent position in the city. Despite the profound influence of the Phillips family, they still had to show respect to Quinn.<br /> Mia looked at Wesley, feeling conflicted and thinking, "Dad has confidently claimed that Wesley has extraordinary abilities, but does he really?"<br /> She harbored doubts, but out of propriety, Mia spoke. "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the trouble."<br /> Wesley smiled, "It's fine. As long as the person can be healed."<br /> His open-mindedness impressed Mia.<br /> After about half an hour, Amanda emerged from the room. All eyes instantly turned towards her.<br /> It was evident that Amanda had wailed out, with traces of tears still visible.<br /> "Amanda, how is it?" A middle-aged gent anxiously asked her.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family who had rushed back also focused their attention on her.<br /> "Mr. Phillips said that there's little hope of recovery. He could only use acupuncture to wake grandfather for half an hour. When grandfather wakes up, let's all go in and see if he has any final instructions."<br /> Everyone was shocked.<br /> "How could this be?"<br /> "Is Mr. Phillips also helpless?"<br /> The members of the Kingsley family found it hard to accept this reality, especially since Quinn had always treated his juniors well.<br /> The thought of Quinn departing saddened some, and tears silently fell.<br /> Publicly, Quinn's status was the foundation of the Kingsley family's prominence in Yeadeo.<br /> If Quinn were to pass away, the Kingsley family would undoubtedly decline.<br /> The atmosphere within the Kingsley family was somber.<br /> Amanda looked at her family members, opened her mouth, but said nothing, silently turning back into the room.<br /> "Stop crying," A middle-aged gent said sternly, "Dad wouldn't want to see you all in tears. If he's really leaving, we mustn't let him worry about us. Pull yourselves together."<br /> After these words, the middle-aged gent also entered the room.<br /> The younger members of the Kingsley family wiped their tears vigorously, trying to force smiles, but in truth, they looked better at crying than pretending to be happy.<br /> Mia's spirit plummeted as she realized the gravity of the situation. Even if an ordinary person passed away from consuming health supplements, it spelled big trouble for those who sold them. And when the deceased happened to be Quinn, the stakes were even higher.<br /> She understood that it would be difficult for this branch to stay in Yeadeo, and even the headquarters might face repercussions.<br /> "Let's go in and have a look." Wesley glanced at Mia. "There might still be a chance."<br /> "Ah..." Mia stared at Wesley in surprise. Seeing him already heading towards the room, she quickly followed suit.<br /> Inside the room, the members of the Kingsley family stood around the mattress, maintaining a certain distance.<br /> Scott lit the alcohol lamp and took out the needles, his expression solemn.<br /> He looked at the members of the Kingsley family. "Think about what you want to say to Mr. Kingsley later. Once you're ready, let me know, and then I'll proceed with the acupuncture."<br /> As he said this, tears welled up in many eyes.<br /> "If you don't mind, let me take a look. I have a way." Wesley spoke up, drawing everyone's attention.<br /> Amanda's face darkened. "Who let you in? Get out!"<br /> "Mia, have you lost your mind? Tricked by this trash and actually brought him here as a miracle healer. Get out with him! I'll settle the score with you in a couple of days."<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, at a loss for words.<br /> "Even Mr. Phillips is unable to reverse the situation. What use are you? Get out." Another younger member of the Kingsley family angrily rebuked.<br /> The middle-aged gent added, "We're in no mood right now. You better leave immediately."<br /> "I understand your narrow-mindedness," Wesley continued, "But as a healer, once I see a patient, I cannot stand by and watch him draw his last breath."<br /> "Wesley, you're quite the charlatan. Do you really want to be gone right now?" Amanda's voice was filled with anger.<br /> "Amanda, let me say a few words," Scott interjected, and Amanda fell silent.<br /> Looking at Wesley, Scott began. "Young lad, at my age, I've seen a lot and have a broad perspective. Today, however, I find it hard to remain indifferent. I practiced medicine from the age of sixteen until I stopped seeing patients for a total of seventy years."<br /> "I've saved countless patients from various illnesses. I never easily declare a patient's fate, nor do I believe I have the right to do so."<br /> "But from your recent remarks, it seems like you're accusing me of such actions. Young people wanting to make a name for themselves by stepping on the shoulders of their predecessors, I can understand."<br /> "But this kind of behavior displeases me."<br /> "My displeasure, what does it mean to you? Do you understand?"<br /> "Even if you are a healer, your career will be ruined because of this."<br /> Chapter 6 Hand of Hell<br /> In the face of Scott's veiled threats, Wesley simply smiled and brushed them off.<br /> Looking at Scott, he asked, "I've always focused on the issue at hand rather than attacking individuals. I have a few questions for you. If you can't administer the needles, how long do you think Quinn can hold on?"<br /> "Seven days, but he will remain unconscious," Scott replied bluntly.<br /> "Then let me ask you this, is there anyone in the world with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "Outrageous," Amanda coldly interjected, "Mr. Phillips is unparalleled in his medical expertise."<br /> Scott glanced at Amanda. "Amanda, let me handle this question."<br /> Continuing to address Wesley, he said, "I don't underestimate myself, nor do I overestimate. There are countless talented individuals in the world, like stars in the sky. I may not dare claim to be the best in medical skills, but those who surpass me are few."<br /> "That means there are some," Wesley calmly remarked, causing Scott's expression to shift slightly, "Indeed, there are."<br /> "Then let me ask you this. Do you think within seven days, the Kingsley family won't find someone with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "If they do find someone, do you believe there is an illness that you cannot cure, but this person can?"<br /> Wesley's questions were sharp and resounding.<br /> Scott's face changed once more as he was rendered speechless.<br /> "Even if there is, that person will never be you." Amanda's face turned icy. "Now get out. Don't spout your eloquence here. Your deceitful behavior is repulsive."<br /> "Your understanding of me is merely hearsay, isn't it?" Wesley retorted, his gaze mocking Amanda, "Has your background and education taught you such arrogance and prejudice?"<br /> "Arrogance?" Amanda's face grew colder as she disdainfully looked at Wesley. "Prejudice?<br /> "Did I say something wrong just now? You are nothing but stagnant waste, a parasite living off others. If it weren't for Taylor, you would have starved on the streets long ago."<br /> "Relying on sweet words, deceiving Taylor. She, with her kind heart, can't bear to divorce you, but don't push your luck. If it weren't for Taylor's sake, you would have been sent out long ago."<br /> Scott interrupted Amanda, "Amanda, although I find this lad a bit annoying, what he said does hold some truth. There are indeed individuals with better medical skills than me. Your grandfather can hold on for seven days. Try reaching out to see if someone can come over. I'll help you make connections."<br /> "If it really doesn't work out after seven days, I'll administer the needles to your grandfather. However, at that point, I can only buy you three minutes."<br /> As soon as Scott spoke, the faces of the Kingsley family members grew even more solemn. True healers were rare and not easily summoned.<br /> While the Kingsley family had connections in Yeadeo, their influence waned outside of it.<br /> "Mr. Phillips, please administer the needles. Life has its ups and downs, and we understand that. Just buy my father a bit more time." The middle-aged gent spoke up.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family nodded in agreement.<br /> Amanda looked at Scott. "Mr. Phillips, please."<br /> "In that case, please have everyone unrelated leave. I need silence," Scott calmly stated.<br /> Amanda glared at Wesley, her eyes speaking volumes without a word.<br /> The unrelated individuals were, naturally, Wesley and Mia.<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, intending to leave, but she suddenly hesitated.<br /> Instead of leaving, Wesley moved forward.<br /> "What are you doing?" A young member of the Kingsley family stepped forward with a stern expression, pushing Wesley.<br /> In one swift motion, Wesley executed a clean shoulder throw, toppling the young gent to the ground, his own expression turning cold.<br /> "A bunch of fools! If it weren't for my teacher's teachings about not turning a blind eye to those in need, I wouldn't bother with you ignorant lot," Wesley remarked with disdain.<br /> As Wesley effortlessly took down one individual from the Kingsley family, the others seemed slow to react.<br /> By the time they realized what was happening, Wesley had already picked up the needle next to Scott and casually flicked his wrist.<br /> The needle flew out of his hand, piercing Quinn's temple, followed by a second needle, a third needle, and so on.<br /> "What are you doing? Stop!" Amanda's voice rose in urgency, echoed by the rest of the Kingsley family members who rushed forward to restrain Wesley.<br /> "Stay back, everyone. Wait." Scott suddenly stood up, blocking the others. "Let him try."<br /> Amanda and the others were left dumbfounded, thinking, "What does this mean?"<br /> Despite their confusion, they heeded Scott's words.<br /> After Scott stopped the members of the Kingsley family, he fixed his gaze on Wesley.<br /> Wesley proceeded to use eighteen needles in succession, symbolizing the levels of pain.<br /> Even if someone had descended into the depths of hell, they must be brought back.<br /> The final needle, also piercing a vital point, caused Quinn's body to tremble suddenly, resonating with the previous eighteen needles.<br /> Scott's eyes widened, his body trembling slightly. His reaction left Amanda and the others even more puzzled, but none dared to interrupt.<br /> Moments later, Wesley placed a palm on Quinn's chest, causing all eighteen needles to be shaken off. When all the needles landed on the ground, the part of the skin where the needles had pierced turned dark.<br /> Wesley then dragged Quinn to the edge of the mattress, flipped him over with his head facing downwards, and gave him a firm pat on the back.<br /> Quinn spat out a mouthful of black liquid. When Wesley flipped him back to lie flat, his complexion had regained some color.<br /> "The Hand of Darkness... It's the Hand of Darkness!" Scott exclaimed with excitement, his body quivering, "It's the Hand that descends into the dark world, snatching people from the hands of the Evil!"<br /> "You do have some knowledge, recognizing the Hand of Darkness." Wesley glanced at Scott.<br /> Scott's gaze towards Wesley had undergone a drastic change. He respectfully clasped his hands together.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thirty years ago, I had the honor of attending a teaching conference held by Mr. Vanderbilt. I saw the Hand of Darkness, but my limited aptitude only allowed me to grasp the basics."<br /> "I have been blind and ignorant. I apologize for my earlier offenses. Please forgive me, Mr. Harrington."<br /> The Mr. Vanderbilt Scott referred to was Wesley's teacher, Ulysses Vanderbilt. He generously imparted his skills to others, but the ability to learn depended on one's innate talent.<br /> In this world, few could learn Ulysses' skills.<br /> Scott had been fortunate to receive guidance from Ulysses, which had elevated his medical skills. However, the Hand of Darkness, a miraculous ability, was beyond his comprehension.<br /> Wesley smiled faintly, "Your actions earlier are understandable. I appreciate your words."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you must be an exceptional disciple of Mr. Vanderbilt, possessing unparalleled magnanimity. Impressive," Scott continued.<br /> "Enough with the flattery at your age."<br /> "You are mistaken, Mr. Harrington. Every word I speak is sincere."<br /> Mia, Amanda, and the others stood bewildered by the unfolding situation.<br /> "Mr. Phillips... he... he..." Amanda's words faltered.<br /> Scott turned to the members of the Kingsley family. "Meeting Mr. Harrington was Quinn's luck. His symptoms have been cured by Mr. Harrington. With a few days of rest, he will be fine."<br /> The waste Taylor had previously said was called Mr. Harrington by Scott!<br /> Recalling their previous attitudes, Amanda hurriedly apologized, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> The members of the Kingsley family all apologized in unison, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> Chapter 7 Eight Plates of Noodles<br /> With a faint smile, Wesley remarked, "As family members of a patient, your actions earlier are understandable. There's no need for such formality."<br /> Amanda's perplexity deepened as she thought, "Where is the cowardly waste that Taylor described? This display of magnanimity and breadth is far from it."<br /> Mia, too, felt a shiver of realization, thinking, "No wonder Dad has insisted on my proximity to Wesley.<br /> This guy..."<br /> She gazed at Wesley, her curiosity piqued, a sense of exploration stirring within her.<br /> "Mia has brought you here, Mr. Harrington, to cure my grandfather. The Kingsley family will never forget this act. However, considering that my grandfather's ailment stemmed from the health supplements produced by the Vinver Business Alliance, we will be conducting an investigation into it."<br /> Amanda continued, looking at Wesley, "What do you think... of this approach?"<br /> It was Mia who had invited Wesley, so Amanda had grown wiser, refraining from asking for a direct punishment of the Vinver Business Alliance.<br /> As Mia heard Amanda's words, her heart skipped a beat, realizing trouble was brewing.<br /> "On the way here, Ms. Roberts briefed me on the situation. You conducted experiments on mice, correct?"<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes, the health supplements we received were exclusively provided by the Roberts family. There were no similar cases on the market, so we used mice for testing.<br /> "All the mice that ingested this supplement were gone."<br /> She looked at Mia and added, her voice turned colder. "Before the experiment, I specifically contacted Mia to inquire about the testing methods during the development phase, which involved mice."<br /> "There have been individuals eyeing my grandfather's position, some even wishing for his demise. I never imagined that the Vinver Business Alliance, which I attracted for investment, would become a weapon in someone else's hands."<br /> "Do you have any of the remaining medicine?" Wesley inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes."<br /> "Bring some over."<br /> Immediately, someone fetched the medicine. After it was brought to him, Wesley took out a supplement and swallowed it directly.<br /> This scene left Amanda and the others dumbfounded.<br /> Scott, too, was bewildered. "Mr. Harrington, what are you doing?"<br /> Wesley smiled, "Just proving that this medicine is not toxic."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thank you," Mia thanked sincerely, feeling like sobbing at that moment.<br /> Amanda, with a puzzled expression, looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, are you suggesting that my grandfather's condition wasn't caused by the Vinver Business Alliance's medicine? What about the mice?"<br /> The rest were equally puzzled.<br /> "Yes, but not entirely," Wesley said, leaving everyone even more bewildered.<br /> Mia's emotions were like a rollercoaster ride, from relief to immediate tension.<br /> "This medicine itself is not toxic, but when taken with another substance made from a certain plant, it results in Quinn's condition. The mice would die immediately, while humans could endure a few more days."<br /> Wesley continued to explain, "The plant used in this concoction is originally meant for crafting slow-acting toxins, not for human consumption."<br /> Looking at Amanda, Wesley said, "During this period, whoever had access to your grandfather and the mice will better understand why these events occurred."<br /> The gaze of members of the Kingsley family immediately focused on a lady.<br /> Amanda, somewhat incredulous, looked at her. "Can you offer an explanation?"<br /> The lady was the wife of Amanda's deceased brother. She found it hard to accept, as did the rest of the Kingsley family.<br /> This lady had been named the exemplary lady who served her family well this year, not due to her connection with the Kingsley family but because she genuinely deserved it.<br /> "What do you mean? Amanda, what explanation do you want from me?"<br /> The lady stared at Amanda. "Am I the only one who had access to Grandfather and the mice? You, and you... and you, who didn't have access?"<br /> "You all claim to treat me as family. Since I married into the Kingsley family, I have worked diligently, contributing my share even if not acknowledged."<br /> "Amanda, it has been over a year since your brother passed, and I never once considered remarrying. Now, just because of his words, you demand an explanation from me?"<br /> Pointing at Wesley, the lady questioned, "Just because he accuses me of poisoning, you suspect me? Tell me, did I poison him?" The lady glared at Wesley.<br /> "I am merely analyzing the facts. As for concluding this case, it's not within my purview," Wesley addressed the members of the Kingsley family, saying, "You should conduct a thorough investigation into this matter.<br /> "I will write a prescription. Have Quinn take it on time, and he will recover in seven days."<br /> Amanda hurried to fetch paper and pen while Wesley prepared the prescription. Once done, he was ready to leave.<br /> Amanda said hurriedly, "Mr. Harrington, I've already made arrangements for lunch."<br /> "No need," Wesley smiled.<br /> The Kingsley family sought to build closer ties with Wesley, given his extraordinary medical skills. Wesley was well aware of this.<br /> Looking at Amanda and the others, Wesley remarked, "In the future, if you encounter any difficult medical cases that others cannot solve, seek me out. Remember, cases others cannot solve."<br /> The gaze of the Kingsley family members toward Wesley changed once again. Many renowned healers had eccentric personalities and were difficult to engage.<br /> They hadn't expected Wesley to possess such remarkable medical skills without any airs.<br /> As Wesley prepared to depart, the members of the Kingsley family did not dare to insist on his stay, so they accompanied him outside.<br /> "Oh, how could we forget such an important matter? Amanda, what about the consultation fee?" The middle-aged gent inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the oversight. Please wait a moment." Amanda hurried back inside and soon returned with a bank card in hand.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, there's one million dollars in here."<br /> Without hesitation, Wesley accepted the bank card and boarded Mia's car.<br /> During the journey, Mia boldly looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, you've helped me immensely. Can I treat you to a meal? Don't decline in a hurry. It's not a fancy restaurant, but it will leave you wanting more. It's a small place on the street, with only eight plates of noodles served each day, each plate containing different ingredients."<br /> "I managed to secure a reservation. Are you interested?"<br /> Wesley thought, "Eight Plates of Noodles?<br /> "Ah, Aaron's restaurant. It has been a while since I visited those old friends."<br /> Wesley nodded. "Let's go then."<br /> The restaurant, Eight Plates of Noodles, was located on Chanxold Street near the Yeadeo First Central Hospital.<br /> The establishment was small, serving only eight plates of noodles each day at a price of 10 thousand dollars each. Vernoic's television culinary program had specifically covered this incident.<br /> Reservations were a must to secure a plate.<br /> The restaurant's owner had a mysterious background. While the specifics were unknown, a high-ranking noble from the capital of Vernoic, Kingsland, had caused a scene there once.<br /> He had attempted to force his way in without a reservation. Although this incident hadn't been reported, rumors suggested that a garbage truck had to be called to dispose of the intruder's remains, as he was too shattered to be removed by conventional means.<br /> Since then, no one dared to cause trouble.<br /> On their way, Mia introduced Wesley to the background story.<br /> "Mr. Turner, two plates of noodles." Mia called out once they arrived.<br /> Aaron Turner didn't respond but visibly paused upon seeing Wesley beside Mia.<br /> A faint smile appeared on his usually stoic face. Though the flesh on the face seemed stiff, it was indeed a smile. "Coming right up."<br /> Chapter 8 You Are Blushing<br /> Mia glanced at Aaron with a hint of surprise, thinking, "When does he become so warm and enthusiastic?<br /> His tone seemed a bit agitated earlier, didn't it?"<br /> Soon enough, Aaron brought two plates of noodles to the table. One steaming hot and the other devoid of any warmth.<br /> As Mia observed Aaron placing the plate without steam in front of Wesley, her expression changed slightly.<br /> It was a plate of instant noodles having soaked in cold water, with the seasoning barely dissolved.<br /> She felt a sense of panic. Mia had wanted to leave a good impression on Wesley, which was why she had chosen this place.<br /> However, Aaron had served such a plate of noodles.<br /> She dared not question Aaron. The type of noodles served here was not determined by the guests but by Aaron's mood.<br /> "This lass named Mia is quite something, living up to her name, and quite kind-hearted," Aaron remarked, looking at Wesley.<br /> "Get lost," Wesley retorted, using his fork to pick up the noodles and devouring them.<br /> Mia's face turned pale instantly. Disrespecting Aaron was akin to risking Wesley's life.<br /> To her astonishment, Aaron chuckled, tears welling up in his eyes.<br /> He wiped them away. "Alright, I'll leave you to your meal."<br /> Before departing, he gave Mia a thumbs-up. "Seize the opportunity."<br /> The eight plates of noodles symbolized the eight comrades who had faced life and hardships together.<br /> Wesley ate voraciously. Initially, they had only one pack of instant noodles to share among the eight of them, forcing them to divide it.<br /> Despite the circumstances, they devoured the noodles joyfully.<br /> Aaron had promised that once they survived, each one would have the most delicious plate of noodles.<br /> However, five of the eight had perished.<br /> Wesley had come dangerously close to life-threatening situations, but managed to cling to life.<br /> For him, the plate of noodles was not food but the bond of friendship that had shielded him from harm.<br /> "Do you... know each other?" Mia couldn't help but ask, her voice low and curious.<br /> "Some things are better left unknown," Wesley replied.<br /> Mia nodded in understanding, falling silent as they continued eating noodles. She couldn't help stealing glances at Wesley throughout the meal.<br /> This gent had piqued her curiosity even more.<br /> "Wesley, I see. No wonder you agreed to the divorce so readily. You've already found someone else outside."<br /> A sharp voice interrupted their meal.<br /> Taylor approached with a cold expression, accompanied by Henry.<br /> Taylor's mother was in the nearby hospital, and she had just picked up Frank, planning to buy some food when she unexpectedly saw Wesley.<br /> Of course, she saw Mia, too.<br /> Seeing Wesley dining with a lady more attractive than herself, so soon after the divorce felt like a dagger twisting in Taylor's heart.<br /> Her anger was uncontrollable.<br /> Wesley merely glanced at Taylor, disinterested in engaging with her.<br /> Taylor was stung by his indifferent gaze. She stepped forward, glaring at Wesley. "Are you not going to explain to me?"<br /> Mia looked at Taylor, silently cursing her as a foolish lady.<br /> Wesley continued eating his noodles, lowering his head. "Get lost. Don't disturb me, or I won't hesitate to hit you."<br /> "What did you say?" Henry stepped forward, enraged. "Wesley, try laying a hand on her! Is that all you're capable of? Laying hands on ladies?"<br /> "No wonder Taylor looks down on you. You're truly disgusting trash. Apologize to Taylor now, or else you'll regret coming into this world."<br /> "And how will he regret it? Tell me." Aaron emerged, carrying a cleaver, smiling as he faced Henry and Taylor.<br /> "Mr. Turner, we dare not cause trouble in your place, but this guy is just..."<br /> Henry attempted to speak but was cut off as Aaron's cleaver struck his face, sending him sprawling to the ground.<br /> "Mr. Turner, sorry, we'll leave now." Taylor hastily helped Henry up and hurriedly left.<br /> These two individuals were fortunate to know the legendary story behind Eight Plates of Noodles and had successfully made reservations to dine here multiple times.<br /> Having distanced themselves a bit, Henry covered his face and pointed at Wesley. "Wesley, we have some unfinished business. If you're smart, come over here now and apologize."<br /> "Wesley, I've seen through you as well. I never expected that for the past five years, you've been using my money to keep a lady on the side. We'll settle the score slowly."<br /> As the two noticed Aaron glancing their way, they quickly shut their mouths and hurriedly left.<br /> Once they were out of eyeshots, Aaron fixed his gaze on Wesley. "Your dad doesn't know about your divorce yet, does he?"<br /> "What difference would it make if he did?" Wesley stretched lazily. "I've fulfilled my promise. I've given enough."<br /> Aaron nodded in acknowledgment without saying anything further.<br /> This piqued Mia's curiosity even more. "Is it like what the novels depict? Did you marry Taylor due to some special event?"<br /> Seeing Wesley's glare, Mia lowered her head to focus on her noodles. "I won't ask anymore."<br /> "For the past five years, you've been staying in the stairwell. It has been hard for you, but at least you're still untouched," Aaron remarked before swiftly departing.<br /> Mia stared at Wesley in disbelief, realizing that Aaron's words were meant for her ears.<br /> "What are you staring at? Eat your noodles," Wesley said. Mia chuckled.<br /> "Why are you laughing?"<br /> "You're blushing."<br /> "Nonsense," Wesley retorted.<br /> Unable to contain herself, Mia burst into laughter. She had tried to hold it in, but seeing Wesley's flushed face made it impossible.<br /> Ten minutes later, Mia left on her own accord, sensing that Wesley had something to discuss with Aaron.<br /> Inside Aaron's small shop, Wesley opened a bottle of wine. "Still single?"<br /> "I look too old, no one's interested," Aaron replied, opening a bottle of liquor as well.<br /> "Then why are you meddling in my love lives?"<br /> "Leave a child behind, even if you pass away, someone will remember you." Aaron took a sip. "I've actually investigated this Mia."<br /> "You investigated her?"<br /> "I knew you'd get a divorce. I've been keeping an eye on the pretty ones. This girl had done a lot of good deeds before coming to Yeadeo. Once, she saved three people in a flood and nearly lost her life. Opportunities are rare. You have to seize them."<br /> "When you've figured things out and are ready to marry, then we can discuss our affairs. That's the condition." Wesley downed the entire bottle of liquor.<br /> "Otherwise, don't bother meddling. We're on a one-way path and can't drag others along."<br /> "You..." Aaron sighed as he watched Wesley's retreating figure.<br /> On the road leading to the Feidgeuo Manor, Taylor stood gazing blankly at the entrance not far away.<br /> Twice in one day, she had come here.<br /> The first time was to pick up Frank, and this time was because Frank had lost his expensive watch. She and Henry hadn't even had a meal, rushing over to find it.<br /> The first time, she had come in a hurry when Frank was injured and left quickly as well.<br /> But this time, as Taylor looked at the entrance ahead, an infinite longing sprouted within her.<br /> "If only... I could live here, how wonderful that would be."<br /> Henry looked at her. "One day, I'll definitely build an estate more magnificent than this, and you'll be the lady of the house."<br /> As they conversed, a taxi drove by, stopping at the entrance. The person who got out of the taxi left Taylor stunned.<br /> She rubbed her eyes.	Adoread	147	https://facebook.com/61556400142540	LEARN_MORE	1713510000	View Edit Delete
1666886	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727709	1734958298	695	784530640277657	1	4.4216960835188E+14	1713769200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	226177680578601	0	Adoread	120207756048100265	client.adoread.com	Learn more	NONE	image	🔥🔥🔥 Read More👉	Hottest novel👉👉👉	https://client.adoread.com/book/loading/page/adoread/19161308412?utm_campaign={{campaign.id}}&utm_content={{campaign.name}}		1713536896	2.261776805786E+14	Adoread	https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439606906_2656882387827663_562685039997462304_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=gPYlqiiaQEUQ7kNvgH7xff7&_nc_oc=AdjP0cXYb5fVNVy63e5cdSj0FcFpB5q7z-WmOg7PPjFhHJyw4gbL3iNzxgqzRz7uVLA&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAZ9icIXvTrZh6Pdtbs2gGUQXZeuDPzrcsaS4fhjvN5kw&oe=663A833E	person_profile	0	Adoread	https://scontent.fcae1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437357658_399583896184678_5243927110637583618_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FDmAPIEvPt4Q7kNvgHqf3PT&_nc_ht=scontent.fcae1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBuTYza_X7Ql6t1yGNuxLJskZtGCpGhGTWOa5LtyNHhug&oe=663A90F3	0	3	"Wesley, are you trying to harm me? You useless piece of trash, can't even make a decent cup of coffee, can you?"<br /> Madison Blair lifted her coffee cup and splashed it directly onto Wesley Harrington's face.<br /> "What are you looking at, you spineless waste? Your name sounds so lofty? I might as well call you a waste."<br /> Glancing at the grotesque expression of his wife's mother, Wesley pulled out his phone to check the time.<br /> Exactly twelve o'clock. It had been five full years since he married Taylor Reed.<br /> The appointed time had come.<br /> He had fulfilled his promise, safeguarding the Reed family for five years, transforming them from a family living off fishing to one perceived as affluent by the common folk.<br /> Wiping the coffee off his face, he turned and walked away.<br /> "Where do you think you're going? Go fetch some more coffee," Madison shouted.<br /> "Madison, didn't you say this waste is obedient at home, doing whatever he's told? I don't think he's taking it lying down."<br /> Madison grew angrier. "Wesley, you stop right there. My family has fed and housed you. If you dare disobey, I'll have you thrown out!"<br /> Ignoring her, Wesley continued downstairs.<br /> "When Taylor comes back, I'll immediately have you two divorced. Do you hear me? Stay right there," Madison threatened, "I'll let you know your place today."<br /> Grabbing a golf club, Madison swiftly charged towards Wesley.<br /> Seeing Wesley heading downstairs, she swung the club viciously at his back.<br /> Without turning back, Wesley gently sidestepped.<br /> Losing her balance, Madison tumbled forward, rolling down the stairs with a series of thumps.<br /> "Ouch... it hurts, it hurts so much!"<br /> As Madison reached the ground floor, she wailed in pain and her sister immediately rushed to her.<br /> "Wesley, what have you done? How dare you hit my sister!" Madison's sister hurried down, checking on Madison's condition.<br /> Wesley remained silent, observing the scene.<br /> "Quick, call Taylor. Tell her to come back. Today, she must divorce this waste." Madison glared at Wesley. "How dare you hit me? Not only will I let Taylor divorce you, but I'll make sure you leave in disgrace."<br /> "Mum, what's wrong?" At that moment, a gent and a lady walked in.<br /> The lady was Taylor, Madison's daughter.<br /> She ran towards Madison.<br /> As Madison pointed at Wesley, tears streamed down her face. "Taylor, he hit me, he hit me! When you're not home, he changes his attitude, scolding and hitting me in the slightest displeasure. He even pushed me down the stairs just now. Alexis can testify."<br /> Madison's sister, Alexis Blair, chimed in. "Yes, Wesley, this trash not only hit your mother but also threatened to hit me too. We cannot tolerate such trash."<br /> "Taylor, I have been telling you to divorce him for years. You've been supporting him, treating him like a Lord at home, but he's an ungrateful wolf in sheep's clothing."<br /> Helping Madison up, Taylor noticed the scrapes on Madison's arms and legs, her expression turning cold.<br /> "Wesley, why did you hit my mother? You better give me an explanation."<br /> Wesley looked at Taylor, his wife.<br /> Five years had passed, and she had never shown him kindness.<br /> Taylor dressed impeccably, a paragon of a successful lady, with a face that could be deemed angelic, yet whether her heart was as angelic remained a mystery.<br /> Her figure, too, left countless men yearning.<br /> For five years, Wesley had thought he might develop feelings for this lady, but in reality, it never happened.<br /> "There are surveillance cameras in the house," Wesley stated calmly before descending the stairs into the hallway.<br /> Despite residing in a three-story villa, Wesley's living quarters were confined to the stairwell.<br /> He harbored no resentment towards this arrangement. It was merely a promise. It was just that Taylor failed to appreciate him.<br /> This home held little value that he wished to cling onto.<br /> Retrieving a wooden box from beneath his pillow, Wesley extracted two documents. Casting a fleeting glance at the modest abode he had called home for five years, Wesley smiled faintly.<br /> He thought, "Finally... I'm free."<br /> Pushing the door ajar, Wesley was met by Taylor's piercing gaze. "I've reviewed the surveillance footage. Yes, my mother intended to strike you, but even if she did, what difference would it make?"<br /> "She's a lady. How much could her blows hurt you? Why did you dodge?"<br /> "If you hadn't dodged, my mother wouldn't have tumbled down." Wesley stared at Taylor, unable to comprehend her thought process.<br /> He had no interest in engaging in these arguments. Handing over the two documents to Taylor, he remarked, "The divorce agreement. I've already signed it. Take a look. I'm leaving with nothing."<br /> "With your current influence, there's no need for you to visit the city hall. Someone will handle it for you, right?"<br /> Madison was taken aback. She swiftly snatched the divorce agreement, flipping through it hastily.<br /> The contents were indeed straightforward. Both parties willingly divorced, with Wesley relinquishing all claims and having already signed.<br /> In an instant, Madison's pain seemed to dissipate. "Taylor, sign it quickly. Sign it."<br /> Taylor was still in a daze.<br /> She pondered.<br /> "A divorce agreement? Wesley has already prepared a divorce agreement. On what grounds?"<br /> "What gives him the right to initiate a divorce? All these years, he's done nothing at home, lacking any ambition. Always practicing martial arts, what right does he have to seek a divorce?"<br /> "If anyone should initiate it, it should be me. Moreover, now that I'm back to discussing this matter with him. Could it be that word got out, and Wesley, for the sake of his pride, rushed to prepare a divorce agreement first?"<br /> "It must be so, but... No!"<br /> "Wanting to leave with nothing, is he retreating to advance? As the chairman of the Reed Group, how could I be served with a divorce?"<br /> "Hey Wesley, I never expected this from you. Have I not treated you well enough? You seek a divorce, attempting to turn your retreat into advance, aiming to embarrass me?"<br /> Taylor glared at Wesley. "I'm telling you, it's impossible."<br /> Snatching the divorce agreement, she tore it to shreds.<br /> "Taylor, what are you doing? Such a great opportunity. Why not just sign it and let him leave?" Madison grew anxious.<br /> "Mom, I do intend to divorce this trash, but the decision must come from me. I returned specifically to address this matter."<br /> With that, Taylor produced two documents. "Wesley, remember that it's me who's divorcing you. It's me who no longer wants you. Initially, out of marital obligation, I had considered offering you some compensation. Now, you don't even need to think about it. Sign the divorce agreement and leave my home."<br /> Wesley offered a faint smile as he accepted the divorce agreement.<br /> "What are you laughing at?" Taylor demanded angrily.<br /> Wesley's smile seemed to mock her, fueling her rage.<br /> Ignoring her entirely, Wesley signed the document and handed it over.<br /> "What are you laughing at? Answer me! Who do you think you are?" Taylor roared once more.<br /> Wesley glanced at her before striding towards the exit.<br /> "Stop!" The gent who had accompanied Taylor stepped forward, blocking Wesley's path. "Taylor asked you a question, and... Your previous attitude displeased me. Apologize to Taylor, or I'll have you leave in disgrace!"<br /> Chapter 2 The Unspoken Truth<br /> <br /> "Yes, let him leave in disgrace. He thought he could just hit me and walk away so easily," Madison joined in the commotion, also noticing the gent blocking Wesley's path.<br /> Madison had a keen interest in luxury goods, having frequented various high-end establishments over the years as the Reed family's living conditions improved. The gent was wearing an expensive watch and dressed head to toe in high-end luxury brands.<br /> Seeing Madison's gaze, the gent spoke. "Rest assured, today Wesley must pay the price."<br /> The gent introduced himself, looking at Wesley, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Henry Clark, the eldest son of the Clark family and the general manager of the Clark Group in the North District."<br /> "From now on, I will accompany Taylor on her journey of life, and I will not allow anyone to bully her."<br /> "My identity carries weight. You should understand that. Now, apologize to Taylor. Apologize! Did you hear me? Apologize!"<br /> Madison's eyes lit up. She hadn't expected the gent before her to hold such a high status. She continued to shout, "Did you hear that? Taylor will be with Mr. Clark from now on. Apologize now."<br /> Wesley glanced at Henry, then at Taylor. He thought, "Have they been together all along?" Wesley had wanted to ask but decided against it because there was no need. He simply gave them a glance and continued walking towards the exit.<br /> "Are you ignoring me?" Henry's face turned cold as he reached out to grab Wesley. Henry's hand froze mid-air as he received a solid hit.<br /> "Until I sign the divorce papers, Taylor and I are still wife and husband. I don't care to investigate whether you two had any intimate relationship during that time, but don't provoke me, or I won't hesitate to make you regret it." Wesley's gaze was icy, and as Henry met his eyes, he felt a twinge of fear and swallowed his words.<br /> Taylor was also stunned. She knew exactly what Wesley had been like over the past five years. There were many surveillance cameras in the house, and she would often check them.<br /> Even when Taylor wasn't home, despite how her family treated Wesley, he always obeyed without complaint, especially towards her. He had never raised his voice, no matter how they treated him.<br /> Today, not only did Wesley dodge when her mother struck, but he also initiated the divorce and now even struck Henry. <br /> Taylor was at a loss for words, thinking, "How could this cowardly gent dare? On what grounds does he dare?"<br /> This change was difficult for Taylor to accept as if she didn't truly understand this guy. The gent who used to be obedient to her, completely submissive, now revealed this side of himself. She watched Wesley walk away in a daze, feeling a strange discomfort in her heart.<br /> "Isn't he leaving with nothing?" Alexis pointed at the wooden box Wesley was holding. "What is he taking with him?"<br /> Madison also realized. Over the past five years, Wesley had always treasured this wooden box, carrying it with him wherever he went. She thought there must be something valuable inside.<br /> Realizing this, Madison hurriedly followed. "Wesley, stop right there, leave the wooden box."<br /> Wesley paused, glanced at Madison, and said, "This is my personal belonging."<br /> "Nonsense, what personal belonging could you possibly have after marrying into the Reed family? Everything you've eaten, worn, and lived in over the years has been provided by the Reed family. Put it down."<br /> As she spoke, Madison reached out to grab the wooden box.<br /> "Ah..." A scream rang out as Madison quickly retracted her hand, a gash appearing on her palm, a crimson liquid dripping.<br /> The wooden box was now stained with the same crimson liquid, trembling lightly in Wesley's hand.<br /> "It's not the right time yet, the day you thirst for this crimson liquid will come," Wesley murmured softly, patting the box before turning to continue his stride towards the exit.<br /> "Monster! A monster!" Madison screamed, causing Taylor and the others to rush out. Seeing the wound in Madison's hand, Taylor was filled with rage.<br /> "Wesley, aren't you going to say something?" Wesley halted once more, contemplating before meeting Taylor's gaze.<br /> "Just stay out of my way from now on. Consider this a warning to you."<br /> "Taylor, that wooden box of his has a mechanism. It must hold something valuable! We can't let him take it with him," Madison, enduring the pain, reminded them.<br /> "Mom, your injury is important. We'll deal with him later. Let me take you to the hospital first." Taylor comforted Madison before calling out to the retreating Wesley.<br /> "Our marriage is over! Yet, you dared to hurt my mother! This won't be the end of it! I will make you regret it!" Ignoring her, Wesley continued walking out.<br /> "Rest assured, I promise he won't see the light of day tomorrow." Henry stepped forward to console. "Let's focus on getting your wound treated first."<br /> "I want him to regret ever existing in this world, to apologize to me in repentance," Madison roared.<br /> "Mom, trust me, I will make him do just that." Taylor looked at Madison with a mix of pity and determination. "Let's go to the hospital first."<br /> In the villa area, Wesley halted, his voice cold. "Get out."<br /> An elderly gent leaped down from a tree, appearing to be in his seventies, yet landing silently from a height of around ten feet.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, your father wants you to come home and take charge."<br /> "He stopped being my father five years ago. He's my enemy."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you misunderstood your father. He had his reasons back then. I swear in my life, once you know the truth, you will forgive him."<br /> "Huh!" Wesley smirked coldly, saying, "I nearly passed away back then. Is that also a misunderstanding?"<br /> The old gent pleaded, "Mr. Harrington, this situation is truly not as you perceive it."<br /> Wesley didn't engage further with the old guy. The events of that year were etched in his memory forever. He was the one who had been abandoned. If not for that incident, why would he have stayed with the Reed family for five years?<br /> Watching Wesley walk away, the old gent had tears silently streaming down his face. "Mr. Harrington, I truly... I truly can't bring myself to speak the truth, but you have misunderstood your father. He also bears burdens and endures pains beyond what an ordinary person can handle."<br /> As Wesley's figure disappeared, the old gent stood up, hesitated for a moment, then dialed a number on his phone.<br /> "Mr. Harrington is now divorced. I've given you the news firsthand. If your daughter is truly together with Mr. Harrington, you must fulfill the promise and let her persuade Mr. Harrington to come home."<br /> After hanging up, a middle-aged gent in a luxurious estate jumped up excitedly. Calming himself, he immediately made another call. "My dear, you're at Yeadeo, right?<br /> "Go find Wesley now. Don't mention the engagement for now. Use every means to get close to him, make him fall in love with you."<br /> "Dad, I don't have time."<br /> "No matter what you are busy with, you must go find Wesley now. No matter what reason you approach him, you must leave a good impression the first time."<br /> "Dad, I'm in trouble right now. If I don't handle it well, I might be good as gone. I have to deal with it immediately. I'm hanging up."<br /> Chapter 3 You're Nothing<br /> The middle-aged gent's voice lowered significantly. "Is there a big incident happening? You didn't tell me? What happened?"<br /> "Quinn Kingsley from Yeadeo, Mr. Kingsley, used our product and now has one foot on the grave. If something really happens to him..."<br /> "You mean Quinn, the uncontested leader of Yeadeo?"<br /> "Yes."<br /> "In that case, you should go find Wesley. Trust me, in this world, there is no problem that Wesley can't solve. As long as he's willing to help, you'll be fine. Listen to me, go find Wesley immediately."<br /> The lady fell silent for a moment before saying, "Okay."<br /> At Yeadeo Harbor, a gent with a large flaxen chain and a watch, sporting a crew cut, hurriedly disembarked, accompanied by a dozen gentlemen.<br /> "Mr. Reed, wherever that trash is, we will find him and tear him apart."<br /> "Yes, that guy dared to harm your mother. We'll make sure he pays for it."<br /> Frank Reed's face turned cold. "Wesley, you coward, thinking you can overturn the world? How dare you touch my mom? Just wait until I find you, you're finished."<br /> "We've found him. Wesley got into a taxi, and our boys followed him."<br /> "Let's go!" Frank waved his hand, leading dozens of men who boarded the car with harpoons, steel pipes, and other weapons.<br /> Inside the taxi, Wesley gazed at the scenery outside, feeling a strange sense of tranquility.<br /> He thought to himself, "I never imagined that while I was secretly paving the way for the Reed family, Taylor, after progressing so rapidly, would start looking down on me more and more."<br /> "Those ladies who know my true identity, which one of them isn't trying to throw themselves at me? Ladies like that don't interest me."<br /> "Being an ordinary gent is truly difficult," Wesley murmured, smiling faintly and deciding not to dwell on these matters anymore. He had important things to attend to and no time to waste on personal affairs.<br /> "Young lad, are you going to Feidgeuo Manor for a job interview?" The driver, curious about Wesley's destination, inquired.<br /> Feidgeuo Manor was Yeadeo's most mysterious private area. Originally a villa area, it was bought at a huge cost five years ago and completely renovated. It was said to have cost a trillion dollars. The former villa area was now Feidgeuo Manor.<br /> "That's my home," Wesley replied nonchalantly.<br /> The driver was taken aback by this revelation, silently cursing Wesley for bragging. After a couple of minutes, the driver regained his composure. "It seems like you and I both prefer to keep a low profile. My car usually gathers dust at home, so I occasionally drive a taxi to experience life."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "My car has been driven by my assistant for the past few years, so it's not gathering dust."<br /> "Haha..." The driver laughed. "We should get together sometime and see whose car is more impressive."<br /> "Sure, whenever we have the time."<br /> As they chatted, the vehicle soon arrived near Feidgeuo Manor, where the massive head of the Feidgeuo Peak protruded, creating a unique landscape in Yeadeo.<br /> The driver asked with a smile, "Since you're the owner here, it's fine if I drive in, right?"<br /> "Of course," Wesley replied.<br /> As soon as Wesley spoke, several cars caught up from behind.<br /> The cars surrounded the one Wesley was in, with the front vehicles braking to force the car to a stop.<br /> When numerous people descended from cars wielding harpoons and steel pipes, the driver's face paled.<br /> Frank and his group got out of the cars, instantly closing in, and without hesitation, started attacking, the steel pipes and harpoons thudding against the car.<br /> Frank's henchman yanked open the door of Wesley's car, poised to stab Wesley with a harpoon, but Wesley swiftly exited the vehicle.<br /> With a firm step on the ground, he launched a swift hit.<br /> A muffled sound echoed as the henchman was hit away.<br /> "What are you looking at?" Frank noticed his henchmen were all staring at him. "All of you, attack together and take him down!"<br /> As he commanded, the henchmen Frank brought with him surged forward.<br /> The taxi driver, trembling, took out his phone to call the police, but Frank glared at him. "I am Frank Reed from Yeadeo Harbor. If you dare, go ahead and make that call."<br /> Frank, leveraging his sister Taylor's status, had been causing trouble in Yeadeo Harbor, and no one dared to provoke him.<br /> Upon hearing Frank's name, the driver hastily put away his phone. "Mr. Reed, I'll just check the time, you guys continue."<br /> "Huh!" Frank snorted coldly, casting his gaze towards the surrounded Wesley.<br /> The sounds of thuds continued to ring out incessantly. Because Wesley was completely surrounded, Frank was unable to see the situation inside clearly, but he could imagine it. After all, in Frank's mind, the henchmen under his command were not to be trifled with.<br /> "Hit him hard for me!"<br /> Another muffled sound and a figure flew out. At that moment, Frank finally saw the situation clearly, and his face turned pale.<br /> Frank knew that Wesley liked to practice martial arts, but he had never expected Wesley to be this skilled. It wasn't Wesley who had been beaten, but his own men by Wesley alone.<br /> Frantically, Frank turned and ran to retrieve a crossbow from the car.<br /> "Clear the way." Frank bellowed, aiming the crossbow at Wesley.<br /> "You scumbag, you think you can fight? Move one more time, and I'll end your life! Surrender!"<br /> Wesley, holding a wooden box, stared at Frank. Ignoring the crossbow in his hand, Wesley said, "Tell your henchmen to back off, or you'll all see the light from above!"<br /> "You're really good at pretending to be tough." Frank took two steps forward. "See the light? Move a muscle and see if I can end your life or not! If you don't have the guts, apologize now!"<br /> Wesley turned his head and looked at the approaching cars, with two expensive ones in the lead, two more in the rear, and another one in the middle.<br /> "Keep acting tough, and I'll put a hole in your head." Frank spoke while glancing at the five cars. "What, looking for help?"<br /> "Let me tell you, those who ride in these cars are not the kind of weaklings like you who rely on connections. With me here, in Yeadeo's social hierarchy, even those who ride in such cars wouldn't dare meddle in this matter. And let me make it clear, without my sister, you're nothing."<br /> Chapter 4 Is He Worthy?<br /> As Frank's words faded, the five cars came to a halt.<br /> A bodyguard opened the door of the one in the middle, revealing a dazzling pair of shining shoes catching everyone's eye.<br /> The shining shoe encased a beautiful foot. Above, the skirt's hem was adorned with lace.<br /> Then, like a fairy stepping out of a painting, she appeared before everyone's eyes.<br /> The lady was beautiful!<br /> Frank was mesmerized. Ever since the Reed family rose to prominence, he had been surrounded by ladies, but compared to the elegant lady before him, they were worlds apart.<br /> It wasn't just a difference in appearance but an incomparable gap in demeanor.<br /> The lady descending from the Maybach seemed like a celestial being untouched by mortal affairs.<br /> The embodiment of a fairy in the mundane world.<br /> She simply stood there after getting out of the car, perfectly embodying what it meant to be graceful and elegant.<br /> The lady glanced at Wesley, then at Frank.<br /> Frank grinned, saying, "May I have the honor of knowing the name of this esteemed lady? I am Frank..."<br /> The lady spoke calmly. "Disrespect Mr. Harrington, and you're done for."<br /> Her bodyguards, unfazed by Frank's crossbow, swiftly overwhelmed him, sending him crashing to the ground.<br /> The henchmen who had come with Frank, previously defeated by Wesley, now scrambled to their feet and fled in all directions.<br /> Who would dare provoke someone who could afford such a car?<br /> "My sister is Taylor Reed, the chairperson of Reed Group," Frank shouted, clutching his head.<br /> Ignoring him, one of the bodyguards dragged him to the roadside grass while another used a belt to tighten around Frank's neck, exerting pressure.<br /> "Enough, a lesson is all that's needed." Wesley spoke calmly, and only when the lady gestured did the bodyguards release Frank.<br /> Frank lay there, already unconscious.<br /> Wesley turned to the lady. "Who are you?"<br /> "I am Mia Roberts, the general manager of Vinver Business Alliance's Yeadeo branch." She looked at Wesley and continued, "Mr. Harrington, my father mentioned that you have miraculous healing skills and earnestly requested your assistance. A generous reward awaits."<br /> Wesley furrowed his brow slightly, thinking, "There are indeed people who recognize my abilities and status, yet I've rarely intervened in the past five years. Today, shortly after I divorced Taylor, she is here. Whose arrangement is this?"<br /> "Mr. Harrington, my father also mentioned that you are benevolent and has raised the banner of compassion among healers, serving as a role model and benchmark for all in the medical field."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "You have a way with words. Tell me the specifics."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, please get in the car first. I will explain in detail on the way."<br /> The phrase "compassionate healer" held significant weight for Wesley, who had saved countless lives from the brink of death.<br /> Without further ado, he got into the car.<br /> Inside, after Mia brewed coffee for Wesley, she began. "Vinver Business Alliance has a wide range of business operations, and I mainly oversee the health supplement sector, which has seen some success in recent years.<br /> "Recently, Quinn Kingsley started using our medicines, and now there's an accident."<br /> As she spoke, Mia kept her gaze fixed on Wesley.<br /> Quinn, the undisputed leader of Yeadeo, was a figure of immense influence.<br /> Upon hearing this name, Wesley showed no particular reaction. "If the city's leader faces issues with your products, it is indeed a concern. Let's go and see."<br /> With just a sentence, Wesley leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest.<br /> Mia was secretly alarmed, thinking, "He knows who Quinn is, yet he seems indifferent. Who is this Wesley, really? No wonder Dad has instructed me to find a way to win his favor." Mia's inner resistance toward Wesley quietly shifted.<br /> Wesley had piqued her curiosity.<br /> As the vehicle was moving, Wesley's phone rang.<br /> Wesley opened his eyes and took out his phone to see Taylor calling.<br /> Pressing the answer button, he asked, "What's the matter?"<br /> On the other end of the line, Taylor, driving towards Feidgeuo Manor, had a grim expression.<br /> She thought, "Has Wesley ever spoken to me in such a cold tone before? Is he really this heartless right after our divorce?"<br /> Already furious, she snapped. "Wesley, do you even consider yourself a human being?<br /> "Today, not only did you lay hands on my mother, but you also had someone attack my brother. Do you not remember our past at all?"<br /> Wesley calmly replied, "Do we have a past to remember?"<br /> "You truly are a heartless scumbag, just as my mother said. You are an ungrateful and vicious person I raised for five years. Even a pet would wag its tail at me!"<br /> Taylor wanted to continue her tirade, but the phone line had already turned busy.<br /> This only fueled her anger further.<br /> Just now, she had received a call from Frank's underlings, informing her that Wesley had sent people to attack Frank and even intended to end him.<br /> Taylor wanted to demand answers, but...<br /> As Taylor was clutching her fists, her gaze turned icy.<br /> After a moment, she picked up her phone again. "Wesley, you are so narrow-minded. You have no ambition. Any lady would steer clear of you."<br /> "Just because I dumped you, you are doing this on purpose to make me feel sick. Pretending to be aloof and seeking revenge? Do you even deserve it?"<br /> "In Yeadeo, squashing you would be as easy as squashing an ant. You're asking for it! If anything happens to my brother, I will make you wish you were ending!"<br /> Her furious voice message echoed in the car.<br /> Wesley chuckled and put away his phone.<br /> Beside him, Mia seemed contemplative. Before coming, she had already ordered a swift investigation into Wesley.<br /> She was curious, thinking, "How could someone valued by my father could be the one 'marrying into' the Reed family."<br /> Being tactful, Mia chose not to ask and pretended not to have heard.<br /> After about forty minutes, they arrived at the Kingsley Manor.<br /> The Kingsley family members, upon seeing Mia alight from the car, all wore grim expressions.<br /> Mia greeted them with a smile, "Everyone, this is Wesley Harrington, Mr. Harrington, the miraculous healer I specially invited to treat Mr. Kingsley."<br /> "Him? The gent who married into the Reed family?"<br /> "A miraculous healer? Is he even worthy? Are healers so worthless now?"<br /> "A useless gent who mooches off of the Reed family? How dare he call himself a miraculous healer? Truly a joke among all jokes."<br /> Chapter 5 Compassionate Healer<br /> Amanda Kingsley, Quinn's granddaughter, stared coldly at Wesley and Mia.<br /> This lady, dressed in a smart suit, also held significant fame in Yeadeo, overseeing the region's business activities, including investment attraction and various local business negotiations.<br /> Amanda had a favorable view of Taylor, who had risen swiftly in recent times, and they had interacted frequently.<br /> She was aware of Wesley's existence and had advised Taylor to part ways with him early on.<br /> But Amanda never imagined that Mia would bring someone like Wesley, a complete waste, and claim he was a miraculous healer.<br /> Glaring at Mia, she said, "Mia, once my grandfather is well, it's best for your Roberts family to leave Yeadeo."<br /> "As for you..." She glanced at Wesley. "I will advise Taylor to divorce you. You have deceived Taylor's feelings and now shamelessly made your way into my family. You are a despicable creature."<br /> After reprimanding Mia and Wesley, she turned to an elderly gent beside her, and her tone and attitude completely changed. "Mr. Phillips, sorry to trouble you. My grandfather is inside, please."<br /> Mia looked at the elderly gent, who was already in his twilight years, feeling deeply shocked.<br /> Scott Phillips, the 38th generation heir of the Healing Clinic, was now ninety-two years old.<br /> Renowned as a miraculous healer, he was a respected figure in the medical community of Yeadeo and even nationally.<br /> He no longer conducted consultations personally due to his old age. Mia had visited him specifically to pay her respects once she had arrived in Yeadeo but had not met Scott.<br /> She never expected Scott to appear in person. It was understandable, as Quinn held a prominent position in the city. Despite the profound influence of the Phillips family, they still had to show respect to Quinn.<br /> Mia looked at Wesley, feeling conflicted and thinking, "Dad has confidently claimed that Wesley has extraordinary abilities, but does he really?"<br /> She harbored doubts, but out of propriety, Mia spoke. "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the trouble."<br /> Wesley smiled, "It's fine. As long as the person can be healed."<br /> His open-mindedness impressed Mia.<br /> After about half an hour, Amanda emerged from the room. All eyes instantly turned towards her.<br /> It was evident that Amanda had wailed out, with traces of tears still visible.<br /> "Amanda, how is it?" A middle-aged gent anxiously asked her.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family who had rushed back also focused their attention on her.<br /> "Mr. Phillips said that there's little hope of recovery. He could only use acupuncture to wake grandfather for half an hour. When grandfather wakes up, let's all go in and see if he has any final instructions."<br /> Everyone was shocked.<br /> "How could this be?"<br /> "Is Mr. Phillips also helpless?"<br /> The members of the Kingsley family found it hard to accept this reality, especially since Quinn had always treated his juniors well.<br /> The thought of Quinn departing saddened some, and tears silently fell.<br /> Publicly, Quinn's status was the foundation of the Kingsley family's prominence in Yeadeo.<br /> If Quinn were to pass away, the Kingsley family would undoubtedly decline.<br /> The atmosphere within the Kingsley family was somber.<br /> Amanda looked at her family members, opened her mouth, but said nothing, silently turning back into the room.<br /> "Stop crying," A middle-aged gent said sternly, "Dad wouldn't want to see you all in tears. If he's really leaving, we mustn't let him worry about us. Pull yourselves together."<br /> After these words, the middle-aged gent also entered the room.<br /> The younger members of the Kingsley family wiped their tears vigorously, trying to force smiles, but in truth, they looked better at crying than pretending to be happy.<br /> Mia's spirit plummeted as she realized the gravity of the situation. Even if an ordinary person passed away from consuming health supplements, it spelled big trouble for those who sold them. And when the deceased happened to be Quinn, the stakes were even higher.<br /> She understood that it would be difficult for this branch to stay in Yeadeo, and even the headquarters might face repercussions.<br /> "Let's go in and have a look." Wesley glanced at Mia. "There might still be a chance."<br /> "Ah..." Mia stared at Wesley in surprise. Seeing him already heading towards the room, she quickly followed suit.<br /> Inside the room, the members of the Kingsley family stood around the mattress, maintaining a certain distance.<br /> Scott lit the alcohol lamp and took out the needles, his expression solemn.<br /> He looked at the members of the Kingsley family. "Think about what you want to say to Mr. Kingsley later. Once you're ready, let me know, and then I'll proceed with the acupuncture."<br /> As he said this, tears welled up in many eyes.<br /> "If you don't mind, let me take a look. I have a way." Wesley spoke up, drawing everyone's attention.<br /> Amanda's face darkened. "Who let you in? Get out!"<br /> "Mia, have you lost your mind? Tricked by this trash and actually brought him here as a miracle healer. Get out with him! I'll settle the score with you in a couple of days."<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, at a loss for words.<br /> "Even Mr. Phillips is unable to reverse the situation. What use are you? Get out." Another younger member of the Kingsley family angrily rebuked.<br /> The middle-aged gent added, "We're in no mood right now. You better leave immediately."<br /> "I understand your narrow-mindedness," Wesley continued, "But as a healer, once I see a patient, I cannot stand by and watch him draw his last breath."<br /> "Wesley, you're quite the charlatan. Do you really want to be gone right now?" Amanda's voice was filled with anger.<br /> "Amanda, let me say a few words," Scott interjected, and Amanda fell silent.<br /> Looking at Wesley, Scott began. "Young lad, at my age, I've seen a lot and have a broad perspective. Today, however, I find it hard to remain indifferent. I practiced medicine from the age of sixteen until I stopped seeing patients for a total of seventy years."<br /> "I've saved countless patients from various illnesses. I never easily declare a patient's fate, nor do I believe I have the right to do so."<br /> "But from your recent remarks, it seems like you're accusing me of such actions. Young people wanting to make a name for themselves by stepping on the shoulders of their predecessors, I can understand."<br /> "But this kind of behavior displeases me."<br /> "My displeasure, what does it mean to you? Do you understand?"<br /> "Even if you are a healer, your career will be ruined because of this."<br /> Chapter 6 Hand of Hell<br /> In the face of Scott's veiled threats, Wesley simply smiled and brushed them off.<br /> Looking at Scott, he asked, "I've always focused on the issue at hand rather than attacking individuals. I have a few questions for you. If you can't administer the needles, how long do you think Quinn can hold on?"<br /> "Seven days, but he will remain unconscious," Scott replied bluntly.<br /> "Then let me ask you this, is there anyone in the world with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "Outrageous," Amanda coldly interjected, "Mr. Phillips is unparalleled in his medical expertise."<br /> Scott glanced at Amanda. "Amanda, let me handle this question."<br /> Continuing to address Wesley, he said, "I don't underestimate myself, nor do I overestimate. There are countless talented individuals in the world, like stars in the sky. I may not dare claim to be the best in medical skills, but those who surpass me are few."<br /> "That means there are some," Wesley calmly remarked, causing Scott's expression to shift slightly, "Indeed, there are."<br /> "Then let me ask you this. Do you think within seven days, the Kingsley family won't find someone with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "If they do find someone, do you believe there is an illness that you cannot cure, but this person can?"<br /> Wesley's questions were sharp and resounding.<br /> Scott's face changed once more as he was rendered speechless.<br /> "Even if there is, that person will never be you." Amanda's face turned icy. "Now get out. Don't spout your eloquence here. Your deceitful behavior is repulsive."<br /> "Your understanding of me is merely hearsay, isn't it?" Wesley retorted, his gaze mocking Amanda, "Has your background and education taught you such arrogance and prejudice?"<br /> "Arrogance?" Amanda's face grew colder as she disdainfully looked at Wesley. "Prejudice?<br /> "Did I say something wrong just now? You are nothing but stagnant waste, a parasite living off others. If it weren't for Taylor, you would have starved on the streets long ago."<br /> "Relying on sweet words, deceiving Taylor. She, with her kind heart, can't bear to divorce you, but don't push your luck. If it weren't for Taylor's sake, you would have been sent out long ago."<br /> Scott interrupted Amanda, "Amanda, although I find this lad a bit annoying, what he said does hold some truth. There are indeed individuals with better medical skills than me. Your grandfather can hold on for seven days. Try reaching out to see if someone can come over. I'll help you make connections."<br /> "If it really doesn't work out after seven days, I'll administer the needles to your grandfather. However, at that point, I can only buy you three minutes."<br /> As soon as Scott spoke, the faces of the Kingsley family members grew even more solemn. True healers were rare and not easily summoned.<br /> While the Kingsley family had connections in Yeadeo, their influence waned outside of it.<br /> "Mr. Phillips, please administer the needles. Life has its ups and downs, and we understand that. Just buy my father a bit more time." The middle-aged gent spoke up.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family nodded in agreement.<br /> Amanda looked at Scott. "Mr. Phillips, please."<br /> "In that case, please have everyone unrelated leave. I need silence," Scott calmly stated.<br /> Amanda glared at Wesley, her eyes speaking volumes without a word.<br /> The unrelated individuals were, naturally, Wesley and Mia.<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, intending to leave, but she suddenly hesitated.<br /> Instead of leaving, Wesley moved forward.<br /> "What are you doing?" A young member of the Kingsley family stepped forward with a stern expression, pushing Wesley.<br /> In one swift motion, Wesley executed a clean shoulder throw, toppling the young gent to the ground, his own expression turning cold.<br /> "A bunch of fools! If it weren't for my teacher's teachings about not turning a blind eye to those in need, I wouldn't bother with you ignorant lot," Wesley remarked with disdain.<br /> As Wesley effortlessly took down one individual from the Kingsley family, the others seemed slow to react.<br /> By the time they realized what was happening, Wesley had already picked up the needle next to Scott and casually flicked his wrist.<br /> The needle flew out of his hand, piercing Quinn's temple, followed by a second needle, a third needle, and so on.<br /> "What are you doing? Stop!" Amanda's voice rose in urgency, echoed by the rest of the Kingsley family members who rushed forward to restrain Wesley.<br /> "Stay back, everyone. Wait." Scott suddenly stood up, blocking the others. "Let him try."<br /> Amanda and the others were left dumbfounded, thinking, "What does this mean?"<br /> Despite their confusion, they heeded Scott's words.<br /> After Scott stopped the members of the Kingsley family, he fixed his gaze on Wesley.<br /> Wesley proceeded to use eighteen needles in succession, symbolizing the levels of pain.<br /> Even if someone had descended into the depths of hell, they must be brought back.<br /> The final needle, also piercing a vital point, caused Quinn's body to tremble suddenly, resonating with the previous eighteen needles.<br /> Scott's eyes widened, his body trembling slightly. His reaction left Amanda and the others even more puzzled, but none dared to interrupt.<br /> Moments later, Wesley placed a palm on Quinn's chest, causing all eighteen needles to be shaken off. When all the needles landed on the ground, the part of the skin where the needles had pierced turned dark.<br /> Wesley then dragged Quinn to the edge of the mattress, flipped him over with his head facing downwards, and gave him a firm pat on the back.<br /> Quinn spat out a mouthful of black liquid. When Wesley flipped him back to lie flat, his complexion had regained some color.<br /> "The Hand of Darkness... It's the Hand of Darkness!" Scott exclaimed with excitement, his body quivering, "It's the Hand that descends into the dark world, snatching people from the hands of the Evil!"<br /> "You do have some knowledge, recognizing the Hand of Darkness." Wesley glanced at Scott.<br /> Scott's gaze towards Wesley had undergone a drastic change. He respectfully clasped his hands together.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thirty years ago, I had the honor of attending a teaching conference held by Mr. Vanderbilt. I saw the Hand of Darkness, but my limited aptitude only allowed me to grasp the basics."<br /> "I have been blind and ignorant. I apologize for my earlier offenses. Please forgive me, Mr. Harrington."<br /> The Mr. Vanderbilt Scott referred to was Wesley's teacher, Ulysses Vanderbilt. He generously imparted his skills to others, but the ability to learn depended on one's innate talent.<br /> In this world, few could learn Ulysses' skills.<br /> Scott had been fortunate to receive guidance from Ulysses, which had elevated his medical skills. However, the Hand of Darkness, a miraculous ability, was beyond his comprehension.<br /> Wesley smiled faintly, "Your actions earlier are understandable. I appreciate your words."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you must be an exceptional disciple of Mr. Vanderbilt, possessing unparalleled magnanimity. Impressive," Scott continued.<br /> "Enough with the flattery at your age."<br /> "You are mistaken, Mr. Harrington. Every word I speak is sincere."<br /> Mia, Amanda, and the others stood bewildered by the unfolding situation.<br /> "Mr. Phillips... he... he..." Amanda's words faltered.<br /> Scott turned to the members of the Kingsley family. "Meeting Mr. Harrington was Quinn's luck. His symptoms have been cured by Mr. Harrington. With a few days of rest, he will be fine."<br /> The waste Taylor had previously said was called Mr. Harrington by Scott!<br /> Recalling their previous attitudes, Amanda hurriedly apologized, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> The members of the Kingsley family all apologized in unison, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> Chapter 7 Eight Plates of Noodles<br /> With a faint smile, Wesley remarked, "As family members of a patient, your actions earlier are understandable. There's no need for such formality."<br /> Amanda's perplexity deepened as she thought, "Where is the cowardly waste that Taylor described? This display of magnanimity and breadth is far from it."<br /> Mia, too, felt a shiver of realization, thinking, "No wonder Dad has insisted on my proximity to Wesley.<br /> This guy..."<br /> She gazed at Wesley, her curiosity piqued, a sense of exploration stirring within her.<br /> "Mia has brought you here, Mr. Harrington, to cure my grandfather. The Kingsley family will never forget this act. However, considering that my grandfather's ailment stemmed from the health supplements produced by the Vinver Business Alliance, we will be conducting an investigation into it."<br /> Amanda continued, looking at Wesley, "What do you think... of this approach?"<br /> It was Mia who had invited Wesley, so Amanda had grown wiser, refraining from asking for a direct punishment of the Vinver Business Alliance.<br /> As Mia heard Amanda's words, her heart skipped a beat, realizing trouble was brewing.<br /> "On the way here, Ms. Roberts briefed me on the situation. You conducted experiments on mice, correct?"<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes, the health supplements we received were exclusively provided by the Roberts family. There were no similar cases on the market, so we used mice for testing.<br /> "All the mice that ingested this supplement were gone."<br /> She looked at Mia and added, her voice turned colder. "Before the experiment, I specifically contacted Mia to inquire about the testing methods during the development phase, which involved mice."<br /> "There have been individuals eyeing my grandfather's position, some even wishing for his demise. I never imagined that the Vinver Business Alliance, which I attracted for investment, would become a weapon in someone else's hands."<br /> "Do you have any of the remaining medicine?" Wesley inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes."<br /> "Bring some over."<br /> Immediately, someone fetched the medicine. After it was brought to him, Wesley took out a supplement and swallowed it directly.<br /> This scene left Amanda and the others dumbfounded.<br /> Scott, too, was bewildered. "Mr. Harrington, what are you doing?"<br /> Wesley smiled, "Just proving that this medicine is not toxic."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thank you," Mia thanked sincerely, feeling like sobbing at that moment.<br /> Amanda, with a puzzled expression, looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, are you suggesting that my grandfather's condition wasn't caused by the Vinver Business Alliance's medicine? What about the mice?"<br /> The rest were equally puzzled.<br /> "Yes, but not entirely," Wesley said, leaving everyone even more bewildered.<br /> Mia's emotions were like a rollercoaster ride, from relief to immediate tension.<br /> "This medicine itself is not toxic, but when taken with another substance made from a certain plant, it results in Quinn's condition. The mice would die immediately, while humans could endure a few more days."<br /> Wesley continued to explain, "The plant used in this concoction is originally meant for crafting slow-acting toxins, not for human consumption."<br /> Looking at Amanda, Wesley said, "During this period, whoever had access to your grandfather and the mice will better understand why these events occurred."<br /> The gaze of members of the Kingsley family immediately focused on a lady.<br /> Amanda, somewhat incredulous, looked at her. "Can you offer an explanation?"<br /> The lady was the wife of Amanda's deceased brother. She found it hard to accept, as did the rest of the Kingsley family.<br /> This lady had been named the exemplary lady who served her family well this year, not due to her connection with the Kingsley family but because she genuinely deserved it.<br /> "What do you mean? Amanda, what explanation do you want from me?"<br /> The lady stared at Amanda. "Am I the only one who had access to Grandfather and the mice? You, and you... and you, who didn't have access?"<br /> "You all claim to treat me as family. Since I married into the Kingsley family, I have worked diligently, contributing my share even if not acknowledged."<br /> "Amanda, it has been over a year since your brother passed, and I never once considered remarrying. Now, just because of his words, you demand an explanation from me?"<br /> Pointing at Wesley, the lady questioned, "Just because he accuses me of poisoning, you suspect me? Tell me, did I poison him?" The lady glared at Wesley.<br /> "I am merely analyzing the facts. As for concluding this case, it's not within my purview," Wesley addressed the members of the Kingsley family, saying, "You should conduct a thorough investigation into this matter.<br /> "I will write a prescription. Have Quinn take it on time, and he will recover in seven days."<br /> Amanda hurried to fetch paper and pen while Wesley prepared the prescription. Once done, he was ready to leave.<br /> Amanda said hurriedly, "Mr. Harrington, I've already made arrangements for lunch."<br /> "No need," Wesley smiled.<br /> The Kingsley family sought to build closer ties with Wesley, given his extraordinary medical skills. Wesley was well aware of this.<br /> Looking at Amanda and the others, Wesley remarked, "In the future, if you encounter any difficult medical cases that others cannot solve, seek me out. Remember, cases others cannot solve."<br /> The gaze of the Kingsley family members toward Wesley changed once again. Many renowned healers had eccentric personalities and were difficult to engage.<br /> They hadn't expected Wesley to possess such remarkable medical skills without any airs.<br /> As Wesley prepared to depart, the members of the Kingsley family did not dare to insist on his stay, so they accompanied him outside.<br /> "Oh, how could we forget such an important matter? Amanda, what about the consultation fee?" The middle-aged gent inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the oversight. Please wait a moment." Amanda hurried back inside and soon returned with a bank card in hand.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, there's one million dollars in here."<br /> Without hesitation, Wesley accepted the bank card and boarded Mia's car.<br /> During the journey, Mia boldly looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, you've helped me immensely. Can I treat you to a meal? Don't decline in a hurry. It's not a fancy restaurant, but it will leave you wanting more. It's a small place on the street, with only eight plates of noodles served each day, each plate containing different ingredients."<br /> "I managed to secure a reservation. Are you interested?"<br /> Wesley thought, "Eight Plates of Noodles?<br /> "Ah, Aaron's restaurant. It has been a while since I visited those old friends."<br /> Wesley nodded. "Let's go then."<br /> The restaurant, Eight Plates of Noodles, was located on Chanxold Street near the Yeadeo First Central Hospital.<br /> The establishment was small, serving only eight plates of noodles each day at a price of 10 thousand dollars each. Vernoic's television culinary program had specifically covered this incident.<br /> Reservations were a must to secure a plate.<br /> The restaurant's owner had a mysterious background. While the specifics were unknown, a high-ranking noble from the capital of Vernoic, Kingsland, had caused a scene there once.<br /> He had attempted to force his way in without a reservation. Although this incident hadn't been reported, rumors suggested that a garbage truck had to be called to dispose of the intruder's remains, as he was too shattered to be removed by conventional means.<br /> Since then, no one dared to cause trouble.<br /> On their way, Mia introduced Wesley to the background story.<br /> "Mr. Turner, two plates of noodles." Mia called out once they arrived.<br /> Aaron Turner didn't respond but visibly paused upon seeing Wesley beside Mia.<br /> A faint smile appeared on his usually stoic face. Though the flesh on the face seemed stiff, it was indeed a smile. "Coming right up."<br /> Chapter 8 You Are Blushing<br /> Mia glanced at Aaron with a hint of surprise, thinking, "When does he become so warm and enthusiastic?<br /> His tone seemed a bit agitated earlier, didn't it?"<br /> Soon enough, Aaron brought two plates of noodles to the table. One steaming hot and the other devoid of any warmth.<br /> As Mia observed Aaron placing the plate without steam in front of Wesley, her expression changed slightly.<br /> It was a plate of instant noodles having soaked in cold water, with the seasoning barely dissolved.<br /> She felt a sense of panic. Mia had wanted to leave a good impression on Wesley, which was why she had chosen this place.<br /> However, Aaron had served such a plate of noodles.<br /> She dared not question Aaron. The type of noodles served here was not determined by the guests but by Aaron's mood.<br /> "This lass named Mia is quite something, living up to her name, and quite kind-hearted," Aaron remarked, looking at Wesley.<br /> "Get lost," Wesley retorted, using his fork to pick up the noodles and devouring them.<br /> Mia's face turned pale instantly. Disrespecting Aaron was akin to risking Wesley's life.<br /> To her astonishment, Aaron chuckled, tears welling up in his eyes.<br /> He wiped them away. "Alright, I'll leave you to your meal."<br /> Before departing, he gave Mia a thumbs-up. "Seize the opportunity."<br /> The eight plates of noodles symbolized the eight comrades who had faced life and hardships together.<br /> Wesley ate voraciously. Initially, they had only one pack of instant noodles to share among the eight of them, forcing them to divide it.<br /> Despite the circumstances, they devoured the noodles joyfully.<br /> Aaron had promised that once they survived, each one would have the most delicious plate of noodles.<br /> However, five of the eight had perished.<br /> Wesley had come dangerously close to life-threatening situations, but managed to cling to life.<br /> For him, the plate of noodles was not food but the bond of friendship that had shielded him from harm.<br /> "Do you... know each other?" Mia couldn't help but ask, her voice low and curious.<br /> "Some things are better left unknown," Wesley replied.<br /> Mia nodded in understanding, falling silent as they continued eating noodles. She couldn't help stealing glances at Wesley throughout the meal.<br /> This gent had piqued her curiosity even more.<br /> "Wesley, I see. No wonder you agreed to the divorce so readily. You've already found someone else outside."<br /> A sharp voice interrupted their meal.<br /> Taylor approached with a cold expression, accompanied by Henry.<br /> Taylor's mother was in the nearby hospital, and she had just picked up Frank, planning to buy some food when she unexpectedly saw Wesley.<br /> Of course, she saw Mia, too.<br /> Seeing Wesley dining with a lady more attractive than herself, so soon after the divorce felt like a dagger twisting in Taylor's heart.<br /> Her anger was uncontrollable.<br /> Wesley merely glanced at Taylor, disinterested in engaging with her.<br /> Taylor was stung by his indifferent gaze. She stepped forward, glaring at Wesley. "Are you not going to explain to me?"<br /> Mia looked at Taylor, silently cursing her as a foolish lady.<br /> Wesley continued eating his noodles, lowering his head. "Get lost. Don't disturb me, or I won't hesitate to hit you."<br /> "What did you say?" Henry stepped forward, enraged. "Wesley, try laying a hand on her! Is that all you're capable of? Laying hands on ladies?"<br /> "No wonder Taylor looks down on you. You're truly disgusting trash. Apologize to Taylor now, or else you'll regret coming into this world."<br /> "And how will he regret it? Tell me." Aaron emerged, carrying a cleaver, smiling as he faced Henry and Taylor.<br /> "Mr. Turner, we dare not cause trouble in your place, but this guy is just..."<br /> Henry attempted to speak but was cut off as Aaron's cleaver struck his face, sending him sprawling to the ground.<br /> "Mr. Turner, sorry, we'll leave now." Taylor hastily helped Henry up and hurriedly left.<br /> These two individuals were fortunate to know the legendary story behind Eight Plates of Noodles and had successfully made reservations to dine here multiple times.<br /> Having distanced themselves a bit, Henry covered his face and pointed at Wesley. "Wesley, we have some unfinished business. If you're smart, come over here now and apologize."<br /> "Wesley, I've seen through you as well. I never expected that for the past five years, you've been using my money to keep a lady on the side. We'll settle the score slowly."<br /> As the two noticed Aaron glancing their way, they quickly shut their mouths and hurriedly left.<br /> Once they were out of eyeshots, Aaron fixed his gaze on Wesley. "Your dad doesn't know about your divorce yet, does he?"<br /> "What difference would it make if he did?" Wesley stretched lazily. "I've fulfilled my promise. I've given enough."<br /> Aaron nodded in acknowledgment without saying anything further.<br /> This piqued Mia's curiosity even more. "Is it like what the novels depict? Did you marry Taylor due to some special event?"<br /> Seeing Wesley's glare, Mia lowered her head to focus on her noodles. "I won't ask anymore."<br /> "For the past five years, you've been staying in the stairwell. It has been hard for you, but at least you're still untouched," Aaron remarked before swiftly departing.<br /> Mia stared at Wesley in disbelief, realizing that Aaron's words were meant for her ears.<br /> "What are you staring at? Eat your noodles," Wesley said. Mia chuckled.<br /> "Why are you laughing?"<br /> "You're blushing."<br /> "Nonsense," Wesley retorted.<br /> Unable to contain herself, Mia burst into laughter. She had tried to hold it in, but seeing Wesley's flushed face made it impossible.<br /> Ten minutes later, Mia left on her own accord, sensing that Wesley had something to discuss with Aaron.<br /> Inside Aaron's small shop, Wesley opened a bottle of wine. "Still single?"<br /> "I look too old, no one's interested," Aaron replied, opening a bottle of liquor as well.<br /> "Then why are you meddling in my love lives?"<br /> "Leave a child behind, even if you pass away, someone will remember you." Aaron took a sip. "I've actually investigated this Mia."<br /> "You investigated her?"<br /> "I knew you'd get a divorce. I've been keeping an eye on the pretty ones. This girl had done a lot of good deeds before coming to Yeadeo. Once, she saved three people in a flood and nearly lost her life. Opportunities are rare. You have to seize them."<br /> "When you've figured things out and are ready to marry, then we can discuss our affairs. That's the condition." Wesley downed the entire bottle of liquor.<br /> "Otherwise, don't bother meddling. We're on a one-way path and can't drag others along."<br /> "You..." Aaron sighed as he watched Wesley's retreating figure.<br /> On the road leading to the Feidgeuo Manor, Taylor stood gazing blankly at the entrance not far away.<br /> Twice in one day, she had come here.<br /> The first time was to pick up Frank, and this time was because Frank had lost his expensive watch. She and Henry hadn't even had a meal, rushing over to find it.<br /> The first time, she had come in a hurry when Frank was injured and left quickly as well.<br /> But this time, as Taylor looked at the entrance ahead, an infinite longing sprouted within her.<br /> "If only... I could live here, how wonderful that would be."<br /> Henry looked at her. "One day, I'll definitely build an estate more magnificent than this, and you'll be the lady of the house."<br /> As they conversed, a taxi drove by, stopping at the entrance. The person who got out of the taxi left Taylor stunned.<br /> She rubbed her eyes.	Adoread	147	https://facebook.com/61556400142540	LEARN_MORE	1713510000	View Edit Delete
1666889	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727710	1734958298	695	831251115697498			1713596400	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	226177680578601	0	Adoread	120207746049430265	client.adoread.com	Learn more	NONE	image	🔥🔥🔥 Read More👉	Hottest novel👉👉👉	https://client.adoread.com/book/loading/page/adoread/19161308412?utm_campaign={{campaign.id}}&utm_content={{campaign.name}}		1713519398	2.261776805786E+14	Adoread	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437724011_960421695526729_1516574307485338648_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QHGXZ-huQfoQ7kNvgHzczKd&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfA1G0W2GCJxETLnSTacq_-lPqPiWUWkbiLYII7Ir0AxBw&oe=663A90F9	person_profile	0	Adoread	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437891881_25238797299100336_7255863263127890524_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UeFxFDUJUZIQ7kNvgEeS_Bx&_nc_oc=AdiTRuuDuY6HRwjcUurcsHlsNxYlsWgvgJHiVXRjUHaZb6kg1K8E8f2HQ-z0coXk5QA8ZT6tVndcdcIOXE5PQdjL&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAumwy6FfvPM1CFZK2E_ded2st3Y2KINeCxuV2bVHiXTg&oe=663A61E5	0	3	"Wesley, are you trying to harm me? You useless piece of trash, can't even make a decent cup of coffee, can you?"<br /> Madison Blair lifted her coffee cup and splashed it directly onto Wesley Harrington's face.<br /> "What are you looking at, you spineless waste? Your name sounds so lofty? I might as well call you a waste."<br /> Glancing at the grotesque expression of his wife's mother, Wesley pulled out his phone to check the time.<br /> Exactly twelve o'clock. It had been five full years since he married Taylor Reed.<br /> The appointed time had come.<br /> He had fulfilled his promise, safeguarding the Reed family for five years, transforming them from a family living off fishing to one perceived as affluent by the common folk.<br /> Wiping the coffee off his face, he turned and walked away.<br /> "Where do you think you're going? Go fetch some more coffee," Madison shouted.<br /> "Madison, didn't you say this waste is obedient at home, doing whatever he's told? I don't think he's taking it lying down."<br /> Madison grew angrier. "Wesley, you stop right there. My family has fed and housed you. If you dare disobey, I'll have you thrown out!"<br /> Ignoring her, Wesley continued downstairs.<br /> "When Taylor comes back, I'll immediately have you two divorced. Do you hear me? Stay right there," Madison threatened, "I'll let you know your place today."<br /> Grabbing a golf club, Madison swiftly charged towards Wesley.<br /> Seeing Wesley heading downstairs, she swung the club viciously at his back.<br /> Without turning back, Wesley gently sidestepped.<br /> Losing her balance, Madison tumbled forward, rolling down the stairs with a series of thumps.<br /> "Ouch... it hurts, it hurts so much!"<br /> As Madison reached the ground floor, she wailed in pain and her sister immediately rushed to her.<br /> "Wesley, what have you done? How dare you hit my sister!" Madison's sister hurried down, checking on Madison's condition.<br /> Wesley remained silent, observing the scene.<br /> "Quick, call Taylor. Tell her to come back. Today, she must divorce this waste." Madison glared at Wesley. "How dare you hit me? Not only will I let Taylor divorce you, but I'll make sure you leave in disgrace."<br /> "Mum, what's wrong?" At that moment, a gent and a lady walked in.<br /> The lady was Taylor, Madison's daughter.<br /> She ran towards Madison.<br /> As Madison pointed at Wesley, tears streamed down her face. "Taylor, he hit me, he hit me! When you're not home, he changes his attitude, scolding and hitting me in the slightest displeasure. He even pushed me down the stairs just now. Alexis can testify."<br /> Madison's sister, Alexis Blair, chimed in. "Yes, Wesley, this trash not only hit your mother but also threatened to hit me too. We cannot tolerate such trash."<br /> "Taylor, I have been telling you to divorce him for years. You've been supporting him, treating him like a Lord at home, but he's an ungrateful wolf in sheep's clothing."<br /> Helping Madison up, Taylor noticed the scrapes on Madison's arms and legs, her expression turning cold.<br /> "Wesley, why did you hit my mother? You better give me an explanation."<br /> Wesley looked at Taylor, his wife.<br /> Five years had passed, and she had never shown him kindness.<br /> Taylor dressed impeccably, a paragon of a successful lady, with a face that could be deemed angelic, yet whether her heart was as angelic remained a mystery.<br /> Her figure, too, left countless men yearning.<br /> For five years, Wesley had thought he might develop feelings for this lady, but in reality, it never happened.<br /> "There are surveillance cameras in the house," Wesley stated calmly before descending the stairs into the hallway.<br /> Despite residing in a three-story villa, Wesley's living quarters were confined to the stairwell.<br /> He harbored no resentment towards this arrangement. It was merely a promise. It was just that Taylor failed to appreciate him.<br /> This home held little value that he wished to cling onto.<br /> Retrieving a wooden box from beneath his pillow, Wesley extracted two documents. Casting a fleeting glance at the modest abode he had called home for five years, Wesley smiled faintly.<br /> He thought, "Finally... I'm free."<br /> Pushing the door ajar, Wesley was met by Taylor's piercing gaze. "I've reviewed the surveillance footage. Yes, my mother intended to strike you, but even if she did, what difference would it make?"<br /> "She's a lady. How much could her blows hurt you? Why did you dodge?"<br /> "If you hadn't dodged, my mother wouldn't have tumbled down." Wesley stared at Taylor, unable to comprehend her thought process.<br /> He had no interest in engaging in these arguments. Handing over the two documents to Taylor, he remarked, "The divorce agreement. I've already signed it. Take a look. I'm leaving with nothing."<br /> "With your current influence, there's no need for you to visit the city hall. Someone will handle it for you, right?"<br /> Madison was taken aback. She swiftly snatched the divorce agreement, flipping through it hastily.<br /> The contents were indeed straightforward. Both parties willingly divorced, with Wesley relinquishing all claims and having already signed.<br /> In an instant, Madison's pain seemed to dissipate. "Taylor, sign it quickly. Sign it."<br /> Taylor was still in a daze.<br /> She pondered.<br /> "A divorce agreement? Wesley has already prepared a divorce agreement. On what grounds?"<br /> "What gives him the right to initiate a divorce? All these years, he's done nothing at home, lacking any ambition. Always practicing martial arts, what right does he have to seek a divorce?"<br /> "If anyone should initiate it, it should be me. Moreover, now that I'm back to discussing this matter with him. Could it be that word got out, and Wesley, for the sake of his pride, rushed to prepare a divorce agreement first?"<br /> "It must be so, but... No!"<br /> "Wanting to leave with nothing, is he retreating to advance? As the chairman of the Reed Group, how could I be served with a divorce?"<br /> "Hey Wesley, I never expected this from you. Have I not treated you well enough? You seek a divorce, attempting to turn your retreat into advance, aiming to embarrass me?"<br /> Taylor glared at Wesley. "I'm telling you, it's impossible."<br /> Snatching the divorce agreement, she tore it to shreds.<br /> "Taylor, what are you doing? Such a great opportunity. Why not just sign it and let him leave?" Madison grew anxious.<br /> "Mom, I do intend to divorce this trash, but the decision must come from me. I returned specifically to address this matter."<br /> With that, Taylor produced two documents. "Wesley, remember that it's me who's divorcing you. It's me who no longer wants you. Initially, out of marital obligation, I had considered offering you some compensation. Now, you don't even need to think about it. Sign the divorce agreement and leave my home."<br /> Wesley offered a faint smile as he accepted the divorce agreement.<br /> "What are you laughing at?" Taylor demanded angrily.<br /> Wesley's smile seemed to mock her, fueling her rage.<br /> Ignoring her entirely, Wesley signed the document and handed it over.<br /> "What are you laughing at? Answer me! Who do you think you are?" Taylor roared once more.<br /> Wesley glanced at her before striding towards the exit.<br /> "Stop!" The gent who had accompanied Taylor stepped forward, blocking Wesley's path. "Taylor asked you a question, and... Your previous attitude displeased me. Apologize to Taylor, or I'll have you leave in disgrace!"<br /> Chapter 2 The Unspoken Truth<br /> <br /> "Yes, let him leave in disgrace. He thought he could just hit me and walk away so easily," Madison joined in the commotion, also noticing the gent blocking Wesley's path.<br /> Madison had a keen interest in luxury goods, having frequented various high-end establishments over the years as the Reed family's living conditions improved. The gent was wearing an expensive watch and dressed head to toe in high-end luxury brands.<br /> Seeing Madison's gaze, the gent spoke. "Rest assured, today Wesley must pay the price."<br /> The gent introduced himself, looking at Wesley, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Henry Clark, the eldest son of the Clark family and the general manager of the Clark Group in the North District."<br /> "From now on, I will accompany Taylor on her journey of life, and I will not allow anyone to bully her."<br /> "My identity carries weight. You should understand that. Now, apologize to Taylor. Apologize! Did you hear me? Apologize!"<br /> Madison's eyes lit up. She hadn't expected the gent before her to hold such a high status. She continued to shout, "Did you hear that? Taylor will be with Mr. Clark from now on. Apologize now."<br /> Wesley glanced at Henry, then at Taylor. He thought, "Have they been together all along?" Wesley had wanted to ask but decided against it because there was no need. He simply gave them a glance and continued walking towards the exit.<br /> "Are you ignoring me?" Henry's face turned cold as he reached out to grab Wesley. Henry's hand froze mid-air as he received a solid hit.<br /> "Until I sign the divorce papers, Taylor and I are still wife and husband. I don't care to investigate whether you two had any intimate relationship during that time, but don't provoke me, or I won't hesitate to make you regret it." Wesley's gaze was icy, and as Henry met his eyes, he felt a twinge of fear and swallowed his words.<br /> Taylor was also stunned. She knew exactly what Wesley had been like over the past five years. There were many surveillance cameras in the house, and she would often check them.<br /> Even when Taylor wasn't home, despite how her family treated Wesley, he always obeyed without complaint, especially towards her. He had never raised his voice, no matter how they treated him.<br /> Today, not only did Wesley dodge when her mother struck, but he also initiated the divorce and now even struck Henry. <br /> Taylor was at a loss for words, thinking, "How could this cowardly gent dare? On what grounds does he dare?"<br /> This change was difficult for Taylor to accept as if she didn't truly understand this guy. The gent who used to be obedient to her, completely submissive, now revealed this side of himself. She watched Wesley walk away in a daze, feeling a strange discomfort in her heart.<br /> "Isn't he leaving with nothing?" Alexis pointed at the wooden box Wesley was holding. "What is he taking with him?"<br /> Madison also realized. Over the past five years, Wesley had always treasured this wooden box, carrying it with him wherever he went. She thought there must be something valuable inside.<br /> Realizing this, Madison hurriedly followed. "Wesley, stop right there, leave the wooden box."<br /> Wesley paused, glanced at Madison, and said, "This is my personal belonging."<br /> "Nonsense, what personal belonging could you possibly have after marrying into the Reed family? Everything you've eaten, worn, and lived in over the years has been provided by the Reed family. Put it down."<br /> As she spoke, Madison reached out to grab the wooden box.<br /> "Ah..." A scream rang out as Madison quickly retracted her hand, a gash appearing on her palm, a crimson liquid dripping.<br /> The wooden box was now stained with the same crimson liquid, trembling lightly in Wesley's hand.<br /> "It's not the right time yet, the day you thirst for this crimson liquid will come," Wesley murmured softly, patting the box before turning to continue his stride towards the exit.<br /> "Monster! A monster!" Madison screamed, causing Taylor and the others to rush out. Seeing the wound in Madison's hand, Taylor was filled with rage.<br /> "Wesley, aren't you going to say something?" Wesley halted once more, contemplating before meeting Taylor's gaze.<br /> "Just stay out of my way from now on. Consider this a warning to you."<br /> "Taylor, that wooden box of his has a mechanism. It must hold something valuable! We can't let him take it with him," Madison, enduring the pain, reminded them.<br /> "Mom, your injury is important. We'll deal with him later. Let me take you to the hospital first." Taylor comforted Madison before calling out to the retreating Wesley.<br /> "Our marriage is over! Yet, you dared to hurt my mother! This won't be the end of it! I will make you regret it!" Ignoring her, Wesley continued walking out.<br /> "Rest assured, I promise he won't see the light of day tomorrow." Henry stepped forward to console. "Let's focus on getting your wound treated first."<br /> "I want him to regret ever existing in this world, to apologize to me in repentance," Madison roared.<br /> "Mom, trust me, I will make him do just that." Taylor looked at Madison with a mix of pity and determination. "Let's go to the hospital first."<br /> In the villa area, Wesley halted, his voice cold. "Get out."<br /> An elderly gent leaped down from a tree, appearing to be in his seventies, yet landing silently from a height of around ten feet.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, your father wants you to come home and take charge."<br /> "He stopped being my father five years ago. He's my enemy."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you misunderstood your father. He had his reasons back then. I swear in my life, once you know the truth, you will forgive him."<br /> "Huh!" Wesley smirked coldly, saying, "I nearly passed away back then. Is that also a misunderstanding?"<br /> The old gent pleaded, "Mr. Harrington, this situation is truly not as you perceive it."<br /> Wesley didn't engage further with the old guy. The events of that year were etched in his memory forever. He was the one who had been abandoned. If not for that incident, why would he have stayed with the Reed family for five years?<br /> Watching Wesley walk away, the old gent had tears silently streaming down his face. "Mr. Harrington, I truly... I truly can't bring myself to speak the truth, but you have misunderstood your father. He also bears burdens and endures pains beyond what an ordinary person can handle."<br /> As Wesley's figure disappeared, the old gent stood up, hesitated for a moment, then dialed a number on his phone.<br /> "Mr. Harrington is now divorced. I've given you the news firsthand. If your daughter is truly together with Mr. Harrington, you must fulfill the promise and let her persuade Mr. Harrington to come home."<br /> After hanging up, a middle-aged gent in a luxurious estate jumped up excitedly. Calming himself, he immediately made another call. "My dear, you're at Yeadeo, right?<br /> "Go find Wesley now. Don't mention the engagement for now. Use every means to get close to him, make him fall in love with you."<br /> "Dad, I don't have time."<br /> "No matter what you are busy with, you must go find Wesley now. No matter what reason you approach him, you must leave a good impression the first time."<br /> "Dad, I'm in trouble right now. If I don't handle it well, I might be good as gone. I have to deal with it immediately. I'm hanging up."<br /> Chapter 3 You're Nothing<br /> The middle-aged gent's voice lowered significantly. "Is there a big incident happening? You didn't tell me? What happened?"<br /> "Quinn Kingsley from Yeadeo, Mr. Kingsley, used our product and now has one foot on the grave. If something really happens to him..."<br /> "You mean Quinn, the uncontested leader of Yeadeo?"<br /> "Yes."<br /> "In that case, you should go find Wesley. Trust me, in this world, there is no problem that Wesley can't solve. As long as he's willing to help, you'll be fine. Listen to me, go find Wesley immediately."<br /> The lady fell silent for a moment before saying, "Okay."<br /> At Yeadeo Harbor, a gent with a large flaxen chain and a watch, sporting a crew cut, hurriedly disembarked, accompanied by a dozen gentlemen.<br /> "Mr. Reed, wherever that trash is, we will find him and tear him apart."<br /> "Yes, that guy dared to harm your mother. We'll make sure he pays for it."<br /> Frank Reed's face turned cold. "Wesley, you coward, thinking you can overturn the world? How dare you touch my mom? Just wait until I find you, you're finished."<br /> "We've found him. Wesley got into a taxi, and our boys followed him."<br /> "Let's go!" Frank waved his hand, leading dozens of men who boarded the car with harpoons, steel pipes, and other weapons.<br /> Inside the taxi, Wesley gazed at the scenery outside, feeling a strange sense of tranquility.<br /> He thought to himself, "I never imagined that while I was secretly paving the way for the Reed family, Taylor, after progressing so rapidly, would start looking down on me more and more."<br /> "Those ladies who know my true identity, which one of them isn't trying to throw themselves at me? Ladies like that don't interest me."<br /> "Being an ordinary gent is truly difficult," Wesley murmured, smiling faintly and deciding not to dwell on these matters anymore. He had important things to attend to and no time to waste on personal affairs.<br /> "Young lad, are you going to Feidgeuo Manor for a job interview?" The driver, curious about Wesley's destination, inquired.<br /> Feidgeuo Manor was Yeadeo's most mysterious private area. Originally a villa area, it was bought at a huge cost five years ago and completely renovated. It was said to have cost a trillion dollars. The former villa area was now Feidgeuo Manor.<br /> "That's my home," Wesley replied nonchalantly.<br /> The driver was taken aback by this revelation, silently cursing Wesley for bragging. After a couple of minutes, the driver regained his composure. "It seems like you and I both prefer to keep a low profile. My car usually gathers dust at home, so I occasionally drive a taxi to experience life."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "My car has been driven by my assistant for the past few years, so it's not gathering dust."<br /> "Haha..." The driver laughed. "We should get together sometime and see whose car is more impressive."<br /> "Sure, whenever we have the time."<br /> As they chatted, the vehicle soon arrived near Feidgeuo Manor, where the massive head of the Feidgeuo Peak protruded, creating a unique landscape in Yeadeo.<br /> The driver asked with a smile, "Since you're the owner here, it's fine if I drive in, right?"<br /> "Of course," Wesley replied.<br /> As soon as Wesley spoke, several cars caught up from behind.<br /> The cars surrounded the one Wesley was in, with the front vehicles braking to force the car to a stop.<br /> When numerous people descended from cars wielding harpoons and steel pipes, the driver's face paled.<br /> Frank and his group got out of the cars, instantly closing in, and without hesitation, started attacking, the steel pipes and harpoons thudding against the car.<br /> Frank's henchman yanked open the door of Wesley's car, poised to stab Wesley with a harpoon, but Wesley swiftly exited the vehicle.<br /> With a firm step on the ground, he launched a swift hit.<br /> A muffled sound echoed as the henchman was hit away.<br /> "What are you looking at?" Frank noticed his henchmen were all staring at him. "All of you, attack together and take him down!"<br /> As he commanded, the henchmen Frank brought with him surged forward.<br /> The taxi driver, trembling, took out his phone to call the police, but Frank glared at him. "I am Frank Reed from Yeadeo Harbor. If you dare, go ahead and make that call."<br /> Frank, leveraging his sister Taylor's status, had been causing trouble in Yeadeo Harbor, and no one dared to provoke him.<br /> Upon hearing Frank's name, the driver hastily put away his phone. "Mr. Reed, I'll just check the time, you guys continue."<br /> "Huh!" Frank snorted coldly, casting his gaze towards the surrounded Wesley.<br /> The sounds of thuds continued to ring out incessantly. Because Wesley was completely surrounded, Frank was unable to see the situation inside clearly, but he could imagine it. After all, in Frank's mind, the henchmen under his command were not to be trifled with.<br /> "Hit him hard for me!"<br /> Another muffled sound and a figure flew out. At that moment, Frank finally saw the situation clearly, and his face turned pale.<br /> Frank knew that Wesley liked to practice martial arts, but he had never expected Wesley to be this skilled. It wasn't Wesley who had been beaten, but his own men by Wesley alone.<br /> Frantically, Frank turned and ran to retrieve a crossbow from the car.<br /> "Clear the way." Frank bellowed, aiming the crossbow at Wesley.<br /> "You scumbag, you think you can fight? Move one more time, and I'll end your life! Surrender!"<br /> Wesley, holding a wooden box, stared at Frank. Ignoring the crossbow in his hand, Wesley said, "Tell your henchmen to back off, or you'll all see the light from above!"<br /> "You're really good at pretending to be tough." Frank took two steps forward. "See the light? Move a muscle and see if I can end your life or not! If you don't have the guts, apologize now!"<br /> Wesley turned his head and looked at the approaching cars, with two expensive ones in the lead, two more in the rear, and another one in the middle.<br /> "Keep acting tough, and I'll put a hole in your head." Frank spoke while glancing at the five cars. "What, looking for help?"<br /> "Let me tell you, those who ride in these cars are not the kind of weaklings like you who rely on connections. With me here, in Yeadeo's social hierarchy, even those who ride in such cars wouldn't dare meddle in this matter. And let me make it clear, without my sister, you're nothing."<br /> Chapter 4 Is He Worthy?<br /> As Frank's words faded, the five cars came to a halt.<br /> A bodyguard opened the door of the one in the middle, revealing a dazzling pair of shining shoes catching everyone's eye.<br /> The shining shoe encased a beautiful foot. Above, the skirt's hem was adorned with lace.<br /> Then, like a fairy stepping out of a painting, she appeared before everyone's eyes.<br /> The lady was beautiful!<br /> Frank was mesmerized. Ever since the Reed family rose to prominence, he had been surrounded by ladies, but compared to the elegant lady before him, they were worlds apart.<br /> It wasn't just a difference in appearance but an incomparable gap in demeanor.<br /> The lady descending from the Maybach seemed like a celestial being untouched by mortal affairs.<br /> The embodiment of a fairy in the mundane world.<br /> She simply stood there after getting out of the car, perfectly embodying what it meant to be graceful and elegant.<br /> The lady glanced at Wesley, then at Frank.<br /> Frank grinned, saying, "May I have the honor of knowing the name of this esteemed lady? I am Frank..."<br /> The lady spoke calmly. "Disrespect Mr. Harrington, and you're done for."<br /> Her bodyguards, unfazed by Frank's crossbow, swiftly overwhelmed him, sending him crashing to the ground.<br /> The henchmen who had come with Frank, previously defeated by Wesley, now scrambled to their feet and fled in all directions.<br /> Who would dare provoke someone who could afford such a car?<br /> "My sister is Taylor Reed, the chairperson of Reed Group," Frank shouted, clutching his head.<br /> Ignoring him, one of the bodyguards dragged him to the roadside grass while another used a belt to tighten around Frank's neck, exerting pressure.<br /> "Enough, a lesson is all that's needed." Wesley spoke calmly, and only when the lady gestured did the bodyguards release Frank.<br /> Frank lay there, already unconscious.<br /> Wesley turned to the lady. "Who are you?"<br /> "I am Mia Roberts, the general manager of Vinver Business Alliance's Yeadeo branch." She looked at Wesley and continued, "Mr. Harrington, my father mentioned that you have miraculous healing skills and earnestly requested your assistance. A generous reward awaits."<br /> Wesley furrowed his brow slightly, thinking, "There are indeed people who recognize my abilities and status, yet I've rarely intervened in the past five years. Today, shortly after I divorced Taylor, she is here. Whose arrangement is this?"<br /> "Mr. Harrington, my father also mentioned that you are benevolent and has raised the banner of compassion among healers, serving as a role model and benchmark for all in the medical field."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "You have a way with words. Tell me the specifics."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, please get in the car first. I will explain in detail on the way."<br /> The phrase "compassionate healer" held significant weight for Wesley, who had saved countless lives from the brink of death.<br /> Without further ado, he got into the car.<br /> Inside, after Mia brewed coffee for Wesley, she began. "Vinver Business Alliance has a wide range of business operations, and I mainly oversee the health supplement sector, which has seen some success in recent years.<br /> "Recently, Quinn Kingsley started using our medicines, and now there's an accident."<br /> As she spoke, Mia kept her gaze fixed on Wesley.<br /> Quinn, the undisputed leader of Yeadeo, was a figure of immense influence.<br /> Upon hearing this name, Wesley showed no particular reaction. "If the city's leader faces issues with your products, it is indeed a concern. Let's go and see."<br /> With just a sentence, Wesley leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest.<br /> Mia was secretly alarmed, thinking, "He knows who Quinn is, yet he seems indifferent. Who is this Wesley, really? No wonder Dad has instructed me to find a way to win his favor." Mia's inner resistance toward Wesley quietly shifted.<br /> Wesley had piqued her curiosity.<br /> As the vehicle was moving, Wesley's phone rang.<br /> Wesley opened his eyes and took out his phone to see Taylor calling.<br /> Pressing the answer button, he asked, "What's the matter?"<br /> On the other end of the line, Taylor, driving towards Feidgeuo Manor, had a grim expression.<br /> She thought, "Has Wesley ever spoken to me in such a cold tone before? Is he really this heartless right after our divorce?"<br /> Already furious, she snapped. "Wesley, do you even consider yourself a human being?<br /> "Today, not only did you lay hands on my mother, but you also had someone attack my brother. Do you not remember our past at all?"<br /> Wesley calmly replied, "Do we have a past to remember?"<br /> "You truly are a heartless scumbag, just as my mother said. You are an ungrateful and vicious person I raised for five years. Even a pet would wag its tail at me!"<br /> Taylor wanted to continue her tirade, but the phone line had already turned busy.<br /> This only fueled her anger further.<br /> Just now, she had received a call from Frank's underlings, informing her that Wesley had sent people to attack Frank and even intended to end him.<br /> Taylor wanted to demand answers, but...<br /> As Taylor was clutching her fists, her gaze turned icy.<br /> After a moment, she picked up her phone again. "Wesley, you are so narrow-minded. You have no ambition. Any lady would steer clear of you."<br /> "Just because I dumped you, you are doing this on purpose to make me feel sick. Pretending to be aloof and seeking revenge? Do you even deserve it?"<br /> "In Yeadeo, squashing you would be as easy as squashing an ant. You're asking for it! If anything happens to my brother, I will make you wish you were ending!"<br /> Her furious voice message echoed in the car.<br /> Wesley chuckled and put away his phone.<br /> Beside him, Mia seemed contemplative. Before coming, she had already ordered a swift investigation into Wesley.<br /> She was curious, thinking, "How could someone valued by my father could be the one 'marrying into' the Reed family."<br /> Being tactful, Mia chose not to ask and pretended not to have heard.<br /> After about forty minutes, they arrived at the Kingsley Manor.<br /> The Kingsley family members, upon seeing Mia alight from the car, all wore grim expressions.<br /> Mia greeted them with a smile, "Everyone, this is Wesley Harrington, Mr. Harrington, the miraculous healer I specially invited to treat Mr. Kingsley."<br /> "Him? The gent who married into the Reed family?"<br /> "A miraculous healer? Is he even worthy? Are healers so worthless now?"<br /> "A useless gent who mooches off of the Reed family? How dare he call himself a miraculous healer? Truly a joke among all jokes."<br /> Chapter 5 Compassionate Healer<br /> Amanda Kingsley, Quinn's granddaughter, stared coldly at Wesley and Mia.<br /> This lady, dressed in a smart suit, also held significant fame in Yeadeo, overseeing the region's business activities, including investment attraction and various local business negotiations.<br /> Amanda had a favorable view of Taylor, who had risen swiftly in recent times, and they had interacted frequently.<br /> She was aware of Wesley's existence and had advised Taylor to part ways with him early on.<br /> But Amanda never imagined that Mia would bring someone like Wesley, a complete waste, and claim he was a miraculous healer.<br /> Glaring at Mia, she said, "Mia, once my grandfather is well, it's best for your Roberts family to leave Yeadeo."<br /> "As for you..." She glanced at Wesley. "I will advise Taylor to divorce you. You have deceived Taylor's feelings and now shamelessly made your way into my family. You are a despicable creature."<br /> After reprimanding Mia and Wesley, she turned to an elderly gent beside her, and her tone and attitude completely changed. "Mr. Phillips, sorry to trouble you. My grandfather is inside, please."<br /> Mia looked at the elderly gent, who was already in his twilight years, feeling deeply shocked.<br /> Scott Phillips, the 38th generation heir of the Healing Clinic, was now ninety-two years old.<br /> Renowned as a miraculous healer, he was a respected figure in the medical community of Yeadeo and even nationally.<br /> He no longer conducted consultations personally due to his old age. Mia had visited him specifically to pay her respects once she had arrived in Yeadeo but had not met Scott.<br /> She never expected Scott to appear in person. It was understandable, as Quinn held a prominent position in the city. Despite the profound influence of the Phillips family, they still had to show respect to Quinn.<br /> Mia looked at Wesley, feeling conflicted and thinking, "Dad has confidently claimed that Wesley has extraordinary abilities, but does he really?"<br /> She harbored doubts, but out of propriety, Mia spoke. "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the trouble."<br /> Wesley smiled, "It's fine. As long as the person can be healed."<br /> His open-mindedness impressed Mia.<br /> After about half an hour, Amanda emerged from the room. All eyes instantly turned towards her.<br /> It was evident that Amanda had wailed out, with traces of tears still visible.<br /> "Amanda, how is it?" A middle-aged gent anxiously asked her.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family who had rushed back also focused their attention on her.<br /> "Mr. Phillips said that there's little hope of recovery. He could only use acupuncture to wake grandfather for half an hour. When grandfather wakes up, let's all go in and see if he has any final instructions."<br /> Everyone was shocked.<br /> "How could this be?"<br /> "Is Mr. Phillips also helpless?"<br /> The members of the Kingsley family found it hard to accept this reality, especially since Quinn had always treated his juniors well.<br /> The thought of Quinn departing saddened some, and tears silently fell.<br /> Publicly, Quinn's status was the foundation of the Kingsley family's prominence in Yeadeo.<br /> If Quinn were to pass away, the Kingsley family would undoubtedly decline.<br /> The atmosphere within the Kingsley family was somber.<br /> Amanda looked at her family members, opened her mouth, but said nothing, silently turning back into the room.<br /> "Stop crying," A middle-aged gent said sternly, "Dad wouldn't want to see you all in tears. If he's really leaving, we mustn't let him worry about us. Pull yourselves together."<br /> After these words, the middle-aged gent also entered the room.<br /> The younger members of the Kingsley family wiped their tears vigorously, trying to force smiles, but in truth, they looked better at crying than pretending to be happy.<br /> Mia's spirit plummeted as she realized the gravity of the situation. Even if an ordinary person passed away from consuming health supplements, it spelled big trouble for those who sold them. And when the deceased happened to be Quinn, the stakes were even higher.<br /> She understood that it would be difficult for this branch to stay in Yeadeo, and even the headquarters might face repercussions.<br /> "Let's go in and have a look." Wesley glanced at Mia. "There might still be a chance."<br /> "Ah..." Mia stared at Wesley in surprise. Seeing him already heading towards the room, she quickly followed suit.<br /> Inside the room, the members of the Kingsley family stood around the mattress, maintaining a certain distance.<br /> Scott lit the alcohol lamp and took out the needles, his expression solemn.<br /> He looked at the members of the Kingsley family. "Think about what you want to say to Mr. Kingsley later. Once you're ready, let me know, and then I'll proceed with the acupuncture."<br /> As he said this, tears welled up in many eyes.<br /> "If you don't mind, let me take a look. I have a way." Wesley spoke up, drawing everyone's attention.<br /> Amanda's face darkened. "Who let you in? Get out!"<br /> "Mia, have you lost your mind? Tricked by this trash and actually brought him here as a miracle healer. Get out with him! I'll settle the score with you in a couple of days."<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, at a loss for words.<br /> "Even Mr. Phillips is unable to reverse the situation. What use are you? Get out." Another younger member of the Kingsley family angrily rebuked.<br /> The middle-aged gent added, "We're in no mood right now. You better leave immediately."<br /> "I understand your narrow-mindedness," Wesley continued, "But as a healer, once I see a patient, I cannot stand by and watch him draw his last breath."<br /> "Wesley, you're quite the charlatan. Do you really want to be gone right now?" Amanda's voice was filled with anger.<br /> "Amanda, let me say a few words," Scott interjected, and Amanda fell silent.<br /> Looking at Wesley, Scott began. "Young lad, at my age, I've seen a lot and have a broad perspective. Today, however, I find it hard to remain indifferent. I practiced medicine from the age of sixteen until I stopped seeing patients for a total of seventy years."<br /> "I've saved countless patients from various illnesses. I never easily declare a patient's fate, nor do I believe I have the right to do so."<br /> "But from your recent remarks, it seems like you're accusing me of such actions. Young people wanting to make a name for themselves by stepping on the shoulders of their predecessors, I can understand."<br /> "But this kind of behavior displeases me."<br /> "My displeasure, what does it mean to you? Do you understand?"<br /> "Even if you are a healer, your career will be ruined because of this."<br /> Chapter 6 Hand of Hell<br /> In the face of Scott's veiled threats, Wesley simply smiled and brushed them off.<br /> Looking at Scott, he asked, "I've always focused on the issue at hand rather than attacking individuals. I have a few questions for you. If you can't administer the needles, how long do you think Quinn can hold on?"<br /> "Seven days, but he will remain unconscious," Scott replied bluntly.<br /> "Then let me ask you this, is there anyone in the world with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "Outrageous," Amanda coldly interjected, "Mr. Phillips is unparalleled in his medical expertise."<br /> Scott glanced at Amanda. "Amanda, let me handle this question."<br /> Continuing to address Wesley, he said, "I don't underestimate myself, nor do I overestimate. There are countless talented individuals in the world, like stars in the sky. I may not dare claim to be the best in medical skills, but those who surpass me are few."<br /> "That means there are some," Wesley calmly remarked, causing Scott's expression to shift slightly, "Indeed, there are."<br /> "Then let me ask you this. Do you think within seven days, the Kingsley family won't find someone with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "If they do find someone, do you believe there is an illness that you cannot cure, but this person can?"<br /> Wesley's questions were sharp and resounding.<br /> Scott's face changed once more as he was rendered speechless.<br /> "Even if there is, that person will never be you." Amanda's face turned icy. "Now get out. Don't spout your eloquence here. Your deceitful behavior is repulsive."<br /> "Your understanding of me is merely hearsay, isn't it?" Wesley retorted, his gaze mocking Amanda, "Has your background and education taught you such arrogance and prejudice?"<br /> "Arrogance?" Amanda's face grew colder as she disdainfully looked at Wesley. "Prejudice?<br /> "Did I say something wrong just now? You are nothing but stagnant waste, a parasite living off others. If it weren't for Taylor, you would have starved on the streets long ago."<br /> "Relying on sweet words, deceiving Taylor. She, with her kind heart, can't bear to divorce you, but don't push your luck. If it weren't for Taylor's sake, you would have been sent out long ago."<br /> Scott interrupted Amanda, "Amanda, although I find this lad a bit annoying, what he said does hold some truth. There are indeed individuals with better medical skills than me. Your grandfather can hold on for seven days. Try reaching out to see if someone can come over. I'll help you make connections."<br /> "If it really doesn't work out after seven days, I'll administer the needles to your grandfather. However, at that point, I can only buy you three minutes."<br /> As soon as Scott spoke, the faces of the Kingsley family members grew even more solemn. True healers were rare and not easily summoned.<br /> While the Kingsley family had connections in Yeadeo, their influence waned outside of it.<br /> "Mr. Phillips, please administer the needles. Life has its ups and downs, and we understand that. Just buy my father a bit more time." The middle-aged gent spoke up.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family nodded in agreement.<br /> Amanda looked at Scott. "Mr. Phillips, please."<br /> "In that case, please have everyone unrelated leave. I need silence," Scott calmly stated.<br /> Amanda glared at Wesley, her eyes speaking volumes without a word.<br /> The unrelated individuals were, naturally, Wesley and Mia.<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, intending to leave, but she suddenly hesitated.<br /> Instead of leaving, Wesley moved forward.<br /> "What are you doing?" A young member of the Kingsley family stepped forward with a stern expression, pushing Wesley.<br /> In one swift motion, Wesley executed a clean shoulder throw, toppling the young gent to the ground, his own expression turning cold.<br /> "A bunch of fools! If it weren't for my teacher's teachings about not turning a blind eye to those in need, I wouldn't bother with you ignorant lot," Wesley remarked with disdain.<br /> As Wesley effortlessly took down one individual from the Kingsley family, the others seemed slow to react.<br /> By the time they realized what was happening, Wesley had already picked up the needle next to Scott and casually flicked his wrist.<br /> The needle flew out of his hand, piercing Quinn's temple, followed by a second needle, a third needle, and so on.<br /> "What are you doing? Stop!" Amanda's voice rose in urgency, echoed by the rest of the Kingsley family members who rushed forward to restrain Wesley.<br /> "Stay back, everyone. Wait." Scott suddenly stood up, blocking the others. "Let him try."<br /> Amanda and the others were left dumbfounded, thinking, "What does this mean?"<br /> Despite their confusion, they heeded Scott's words.<br /> After Scott stopped the members of the Kingsley family, he fixed his gaze on Wesley.<br /> Wesley proceeded to use eighteen needles in succession, symbolizing the levels of pain.<br /> Even if someone had descended into the depths of hell, they must be brought back.<br /> The final needle, also piercing a vital point, caused Quinn's body to tremble suddenly, resonating with the previous eighteen needles.<br /> Scott's eyes widened, his body trembling slightly. His reaction left Amanda and the others even more puzzled, but none dared to interrupt.<br /> Moments later, Wesley placed a palm on Quinn's chest, causing all eighteen needles to be shaken off. When all the needles landed on the ground, the part of the skin where the needles had pierced turned dark.<br /> Wesley then dragged Quinn to the edge of the mattress, flipped him over with his head facing downwards, and gave him a firm pat on the back.<br /> Quinn spat out a mouthful of black liquid. When Wesley flipped him back to lie flat, his complexion had regained some color.<br /> "The Hand of Darkness... It's the Hand of Darkness!" Scott exclaimed with excitement, his body quivering, "It's the Hand that descends into the dark world, snatching people from the hands of the Evil!"<br /> "You do have some knowledge, recognizing the Hand of Darkness." Wesley glanced at Scott.<br /> Scott's gaze towards Wesley had undergone a drastic change. He respectfully clasped his hands together.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thirty years ago, I had the honor of attending a teaching conference held by Mr. Vanderbilt. I saw the Hand of Darkness, but my limited aptitude only allowed me to grasp the basics."<br /> "I have been blind and ignorant. I apologize for my earlier offenses. Please forgive me, Mr. Harrington."<br /> The Mr. Vanderbilt Scott referred to was Wesley's teacher, Ulysses Vanderbilt. He generously imparted his skills to others, but the ability to learn depended on one's innate talent.<br /> In this world, few could learn Ulysses' skills.<br /> Scott had been fortunate to receive guidance from Ulysses, which had elevated his medical skills. However, the Hand of Darkness, a miraculous ability, was beyond his comprehension.<br /> Wesley smiled faintly, "Your actions earlier are understandable. I appreciate your words."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you must be an exceptional disciple of Mr. Vanderbilt, possessing unparalleled magnanimity. Impressive," Scott continued.<br /> "Enough with the flattery at your age."<br /> "You are mistaken, Mr. Harrington. Every word I speak is sincere."<br /> Mia, Amanda, and the others stood bewildered by the unfolding situation.<br /> "Mr. Phillips... he... he..." Amanda's words faltered.<br /> Scott turned to the members of the Kingsley family. "Meeting Mr. Harrington was Quinn's luck. His symptoms have been cured by Mr. Harrington. With a few days of rest, he will be fine."<br /> The waste Taylor had previously said was called Mr. Harrington by Scott!<br /> Recalling their previous attitudes, Amanda hurriedly apologized, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> The members of the Kingsley family all apologized in unison, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> Chapter 7 Eight Plates of Noodles<br /> With a faint smile, Wesley remarked, "As family members of a patient, your actions earlier are understandable. There's no need for such formality."<br /> Amanda's perplexity deepened as she thought, "Where is the cowardly waste that Taylor described? This display of magnanimity and breadth is far from it."<br /> Mia, too, felt a shiver of realization, thinking, "No wonder Dad has insisted on my proximity to Wesley.<br /> This guy..."<br /> She gazed at Wesley, her curiosity piqued, a sense of exploration stirring within her.<br /> "Mia has brought you here, Mr. Harrington, to cure my grandfather. The Kingsley family will never forget this act. However, considering that my grandfather's ailment stemmed from the health supplements produced by the Vinver Business Alliance, we will be conducting an investigation into it."<br /> Amanda continued, looking at Wesley, "What do you think... of this approach?"<br /> It was Mia who had invited Wesley, so Amanda had grown wiser, refraining from asking for a direct punishment of the Vinver Business Alliance.<br /> As Mia heard Amanda's words, her heart skipped a beat, realizing trouble was brewing.<br /> "On the way here, Ms. Roberts briefed me on the situation. You conducted experiments on mice, correct?"<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes, the health supplements we received were exclusively provided by the Roberts family. There were no similar cases on the market, so we used mice for testing.<br /> "All the mice that ingested this supplement were gone."<br /> She looked at Mia and added, her voice turned colder. "Before the experiment, I specifically contacted Mia to inquire about the testing methods during the development phase, which involved mice."<br /> "There have been individuals eyeing my grandfather's position, some even wishing for his demise. I never imagined that the Vinver Business Alliance, which I attracted for investment, would become a weapon in someone else's hands."<br /> "Do you have any of the remaining medicine?" Wesley inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes."<br /> "Bring some over."<br /> Immediately, someone fetched the medicine. After it was brought to him, Wesley took out a supplement and swallowed it directly.<br /> This scene left Amanda and the others dumbfounded.<br /> Scott, too, was bewildered. "Mr. Harrington, what are you doing?"<br /> Wesley smiled, "Just proving that this medicine is not toxic."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thank you," Mia thanked sincerely, feeling like sobbing at that moment.<br /> Amanda, with a puzzled expression, looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, are you suggesting that my grandfather's condition wasn't caused by the Vinver Business Alliance's medicine? What about the mice?"<br /> The rest were equally puzzled.<br /> "Yes, but not entirely," Wesley said, leaving everyone even more bewildered.<br /> Mia's emotions were like a rollercoaster ride, from relief to immediate tension.<br /> "This medicine itself is not toxic, but when taken with another substance made from a certain plant, it results in Quinn's condition. The mice would die immediately, while humans could endure a few more days."<br /> Wesley continued to explain, "The plant used in this concoction is originally meant for crafting slow-acting toxins, not for human consumption."<br /> Looking at Amanda, Wesley said, "During this period, whoever had access to your grandfather and the mice will better understand why these events occurred."<br /> The gaze of members of the Kingsley family immediately focused on a lady.<br /> Amanda, somewhat incredulous, looked at her. "Can you offer an explanation?"<br /> The lady was the wife of Amanda's deceased brother. She found it hard to accept, as did the rest of the Kingsley family.<br /> This lady had been named the exemplary lady who served her family well this year, not due to her connection with the Kingsley family but because she genuinely deserved it.<br /> "What do you mean? Amanda, what explanation do you want from me?"<br /> The lady stared at Amanda. "Am I the only one who had access to Grandfather and the mice? You, and you... and you, who didn't have access?"<br /> "You all claim to treat me as family. Since I married into the Kingsley family, I have worked diligently, contributing my share even if not acknowledged."<br /> "Amanda, it has been over a year since your brother passed, and I never once considered remarrying. Now, just because of his words, you demand an explanation from me?"<br /> Pointing at Wesley, the lady questioned, "Just because he accuses me of poisoning, you suspect me? Tell me, did I poison him?" The lady glared at Wesley.<br /> "I am merely analyzing the facts. As for concluding this case, it's not within my purview," Wesley addressed the members of the Kingsley family, saying, "You should conduct a thorough investigation into this matter.<br /> "I will write a prescription. Have Quinn take it on time, and he will recover in seven days."<br /> Amanda hurried to fetch paper and pen while Wesley prepared the prescription. Once done, he was ready to leave.<br /> Amanda said hurriedly, "Mr. Harrington, I've already made arrangements for lunch."<br /> "No need," Wesley smiled.<br /> The Kingsley family sought to build closer ties with Wesley, given his extraordinary medical skills. Wesley was well aware of this.<br /> Looking at Amanda and the others, Wesley remarked, "In the future, if you encounter any difficult medical cases that others cannot solve, seek me out. Remember, cases others cannot solve."<br /> The gaze of the Kingsley family members toward Wesley changed once again. Many renowned healers had eccentric personalities and were difficult to engage.<br /> They hadn't expected Wesley to possess such remarkable medical skills without any airs.<br /> As Wesley prepared to depart, the members of the Kingsley family did not dare to insist on his stay, so they accompanied him outside.<br /> "Oh, how could we forget such an important matter? Amanda, what about the consultation fee?" The middle-aged gent inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the oversight. Please wait a moment." Amanda hurried back inside and soon returned with a bank card in hand.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, there's one million dollars in here."<br /> Without hesitation, Wesley accepted the bank card and boarded Mia's car.<br /> During the journey, Mia boldly looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, you've helped me immensely. Can I treat you to a meal? Don't decline in a hurry. It's not a fancy restaurant, but it will leave you wanting more. It's a small place on the street, with only eight plates of noodles served each day, each plate containing different ingredients."<br /> "I managed to secure a reservation. Are you interested?"<br /> Wesley thought, "Eight Plates of Noodles?<br /> "Ah, Aaron's restaurant. It has been a while since I visited those old friends."<br /> Wesley nodded. "Let's go then."<br /> The restaurant, Eight Plates of Noodles, was located on Chanxold Street near the Yeadeo First Central Hospital.<br /> The establishment was small, serving only eight plates of noodles each day at a price of 10 thousand dollars each. Vernoic's television culinary program had specifically covered this incident.<br /> Reservations were a must to secure a plate.<br /> The restaurant's owner had a mysterious background. While the specifics were unknown, a high-ranking noble from the capital of Vernoic, Kingsland, had caused a scene there once.<br /> He had attempted to force his way in without a reservation. Although this incident hadn't been reported, rumors suggested that a garbage truck had to be called to dispose of the intruder's remains, as he was too shattered to be removed by conventional means.<br /> Since then, no one dared to cause trouble.<br /> On their way, Mia introduced Wesley to the background story.<br /> "Mr. Turner, two plates of noodles." Mia called out once they arrived.<br /> Aaron Turner didn't respond but visibly paused upon seeing Wesley beside Mia.<br /> A faint smile appeared on his usually stoic face. Though the flesh on the face seemed stiff, it was indeed a smile. "Coming right up."<br /> Chapter 8 You Are Blushing<br /> Mia glanced at Aaron with a hint of surprise, thinking, "When does he become so warm and enthusiastic?<br /> His tone seemed a bit agitated earlier, didn't it?"<br /> Soon enough, Aaron brought two plates of noodles to the table. One steaming hot and the other devoid of any warmth.<br /> As Mia observed Aaron placing the plate without steam in front of Wesley, her expression changed slightly.<br /> It was a plate of instant noodles having soaked in cold water, with the seasoning barely dissolved.<br /> She felt a sense of panic. Mia had wanted to leave a good impression on Wesley, which was why she had chosen this place.<br /> However, Aaron had served such a plate of noodles.<br /> She dared not question Aaron. The type of noodles served here was not determined by the guests but by Aaron's mood.<br /> "This lass named Mia is quite something, living up to her name, and quite kind-hearted," Aaron remarked, looking at Wesley.<br /> "Get lost," Wesley retorted, using his fork to pick up the noodles and devouring them.<br /> Mia's face turned pale instantly. Disrespecting Aaron was akin to risking Wesley's life.<br /> To her astonishment, Aaron chuckled, tears welling up in his eyes.<br /> He wiped them away. "Alright, I'll leave you to your meal."<br /> Before departing, he gave Mia a thumbs-up. "Seize the opportunity."<br /> The eight plates of noodles symbolized the eight comrades who had faced life and hardships together.<br /> Wesley ate voraciously. Initially, they had only one pack of instant noodles to share among the eight of them, forcing them to divide it.<br /> Despite the circumstances, they devoured the noodles joyfully.<br /> Aaron had promised that once they survived, each one would have the most delicious plate of noodles.<br /> However, five of the eight had perished.<br /> Wesley had come dangerously close to life-threatening situations, but managed to cling to life.<br /> For him, the plate of noodles was not food but the bond of friendship that had shielded him from harm.<br /> "Do you... know each other?" Mia couldn't help but ask, her voice low and curious.<br /> "Some things are better left unknown," Wesley replied.<br /> Mia nodded in understanding, falling silent as they continued eating noodles. She couldn't help stealing glances at Wesley throughout the meal.<br /> This gent had piqued her curiosity even more.<br /> "Wesley, I see. No wonder you agreed to the divorce so readily. You've already found someone else outside."<br /> A sharp voice interrupted their meal.<br /> Taylor approached with a cold expression, accompanied by Henry.<br /> Taylor's mother was in the nearby hospital, and she had just picked up Frank, planning to buy some food when she unexpectedly saw Wesley.<br /> Of course, she saw Mia, too.<br /> Seeing Wesley dining with a lady more attractive than herself, so soon after the divorce felt like a dagger twisting in Taylor's heart.<br /> Her anger was uncontrollable.<br /> Wesley merely glanced at Taylor, disinterested in engaging with her.<br /> Taylor was stung by his indifferent gaze. She stepped forward, glaring at Wesley. "Are you not going to explain to me?"<br /> Mia looked at Taylor, silently cursing her as a foolish lady.<br /> Wesley continued eating his noodles, lowering his head. "Get lost. Don't disturb me, or I won't hesitate to hit you."<br /> "What did you say?" Henry stepped forward, enraged. "Wesley, try laying a hand on her! Is that all you're capable of? Laying hands on ladies?"<br /> "No wonder Taylor looks down on you. You're truly disgusting trash. Apologize to Taylor now, or else you'll regret coming into this world."<br /> "And how will he regret it? Tell me." Aaron emerged, carrying a cleaver, smiling as he faced Henry and Taylor.<br /> "Mr. Turner, we dare not cause trouble in your place, but this guy is just..."<br /> Henry attempted to speak but was cut off as Aaron's cleaver struck his face, sending him sprawling to the ground.<br /> "Mr. Turner, sorry, we'll leave now." Taylor hastily helped Henry up and hurriedly left.<br /> These two individuals were fortunate to know the legendary story behind Eight Plates of Noodles and had successfully made reservations to dine here multiple times.<br /> Having distanced themselves a bit, Henry covered his face and pointed at Wesley. "Wesley, we have some unfinished business. If you're smart, come over here now and apologize."<br /> "Wesley, I've seen through you as well. I never expected that for the past five years, you've been using my money to keep a lady on the side. We'll settle the score slowly."<br /> As the two noticed Aaron glancing their way, they quickly shut their mouths and hurriedly left.<br /> Once they were out of eyeshots, Aaron fixed his gaze on Wesley. "Your dad doesn't know about your divorce yet, does he?"<br /> "What difference would it make if he did?" Wesley stretched lazily. "I've fulfilled my promise. I've given enough."<br /> Aaron nodded in acknowledgment without saying anything further.<br /> This piqued Mia's curiosity even more. "Is it like what the novels depict? Did you marry Taylor due to some special event?"<br /> Seeing Wesley's glare, Mia lowered her head to focus on her noodles. "I won't ask anymore."<br /> "For the past five years, you've been staying in the stairwell. It has been hard for you, but at least you're still untouched," Aaron remarked before swiftly departing.<br /> Mia stared at Wesley in disbelief, realizing that Aaron's words were meant for her ears.<br /> "What are you staring at? Eat your noodles," Wesley said. Mia chuckled.<br /> "Why are you laughing?"<br /> "You're blushing."<br /> "Nonsense," Wesley retorted.<br /> Unable to contain herself, Mia burst into laughter. She had tried to hold it in, but seeing Wesley's flushed face made it impossible.<br /> Ten minutes later, Mia left on her own accord, sensing that Wesley had something to discuss with Aaron.<br /> Inside Aaron's small shop, Wesley opened a bottle of wine. "Still single?"<br /> "I look too old, no one's interested," Aaron replied, opening a bottle of liquor as well.<br /> "Then why are you meddling in my love lives?"<br /> "Leave a child behind, even if you pass away, someone will remember you." Aaron took a sip. "I've actually investigated this Mia."<br /> "You investigated her?"<br /> "I knew you'd get a divorce. I've been keeping an eye on the pretty ones. This girl had done a lot of good deeds before coming to Yeadeo. Once, she saved three people in a flood and nearly lost her life. Opportunities are rare. You have to seize them."<br /> "When you've figured things out and are ready to marry, then we can discuss our affairs. That's the condition." Wesley downed the entire bottle of liquor.<br /> "Otherwise, don't bother meddling. We're on a one-way path and can't drag others along."<br /> "You..." Aaron sighed as he watched Wesley's retreating figure.<br /> On the road leading to the Feidgeuo Manor, Taylor stood gazing blankly at the entrance not far away.<br /> Twice in one day, she had come here.<br /> The first time was to pick up Frank, and this time was because Frank had lost his expensive watch. She and Henry hadn't even had a meal, rushing over to find it.<br /> The first time, she had come in a hurry when Frank was injured and left quickly as well.<br /> But this time, as Taylor looked at the entrance ahead, an infinite longing sprouted within her.<br /> "If only... I could live here, how wonderful that would be."<br /> Henry looked at her. "One day, I'll definitely build an estate more magnificent than this, and you'll be the lady of the house."<br /> As they conversed, a taxi drove by, stopping at the entrance. The person who got out of the taxi left Taylor stunned.<br /> She rubbed her eyes.	Adoread	147	https://facebook.com/61556400142540	LEARN_MORE	1713510000	View Edit Delete
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1666890	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727710	1734958298	695	952942516134228			1713596400	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	226177680578601	0	Adoread	120207746049430265	client.adoread.com	Learn more	NONE	image	🔥🔥🔥 Read More👉	Hottest novel👉👉👉	https://client.adoread.com/book/loading/page/adoread/19161308412?utm_campaign={{campaign.id}}&utm_content={{campaign.name}}		1713519398	2.261776805786E+14	Adoread	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437724011_960421695526729_1516574307485338648_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QHGXZ-huQfoQ7kNvgHzczKd&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfA1G0W2GCJxETLnSTacq_-lPqPiWUWkbiLYII7Ir0AxBw&oe=663A90F9	person_profile	0	Adoread	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437891881_25238797299100336_7255863263127890524_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UeFxFDUJUZIQ7kNvgEeS_Bx&_nc_oc=AdiTRuuDuY6HRwjcUurcsHlsNxYlsWgvgJHiVXRjUHaZb6kg1K8E8f2HQ-z0coXk5QA8ZT6tVndcdcIOXE5PQdjL&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAumwy6FfvPM1CFZK2E_ded2st3Y2KINeCxuV2bVHiXTg&oe=663A61E5	0	3	"Wesley, are you trying to harm me? You useless piece of trash, can't even make a decent cup of coffee, can you?"<br /> Madison Blair lifted her coffee cup and splashed it directly onto Wesley Harrington's face.<br /> "What are you looking at, you spineless waste? Your name sounds so lofty? I might as well call you a waste."<br /> Glancing at the grotesque expression of his wife's mother, Wesley pulled out his phone to check the time.<br /> Exactly twelve o'clock. It had been five full years since he married Taylor Reed.<br /> The appointed time had come.<br /> He had fulfilled his promise, safeguarding the Reed family for five years, transforming them from a family living off fishing to one perceived as affluent by the common folk.<br /> Wiping the coffee off his face, he turned and walked away.<br /> "Where do you think you're going? Go fetch some more coffee," Madison shouted.<br /> "Madison, didn't you say this waste is obedient at home, doing whatever he's told? I don't think he's taking it lying down."<br /> Madison grew angrier. "Wesley, you stop right there. My family has fed and housed you. If you dare disobey, I'll have you thrown out!"<br /> Ignoring her, Wesley continued downstairs.<br /> "When Taylor comes back, I'll immediately have you two divorced. Do you hear me? Stay right there," Madison threatened, "I'll let you know your place today."<br /> Grabbing a golf club, Madison swiftly charged towards Wesley.<br /> Seeing Wesley heading downstairs, she swung the club viciously at his back.<br /> Without turning back, Wesley gently sidestepped.<br /> Losing her balance, Madison tumbled forward, rolling down the stairs with a series of thumps.<br /> "Ouch... it hurts, it hurts so much!"<br /> As Madison reached the ground floor, she wailed in pain and her sister immediately rushed to her.<br /> "Wesley, what have you done? How dare you hit my sister!" Madison's sister hurried down, checking on Madison's condition.<br /> Wesley remained silent, observing the scene.<br /> "Quick, call Taylor. Tell her to come back. Today, she must divorce this waste." Madison glared at Wesley. "How dare you hit me? Not only will I let Taylor divorce you, but I'll make sure you leave in disgrace."<br /> "Mum, what's wrong?" At that moment, a gent and a lady walked in.<br /> The lady was Taylor, Madison's daughter.<br /> She ran towards Madison.<br /> As Madison pointed at Wesley, tears streamed down her face. "Taylor, he hit me, he hit me! When you're not home, he changes his attitude, scolding and hitting me in the slightest displeasure. He even pushed me down the stairs just now. Alexis can testify."<br /> Madison's sister, Alexis Blair, chimed in. "Yes, Wesley, this trash not only hit your mother but also threatened to hit me too. We cannot tolerate such trash."<br /> "Taylor, I have been telling you to divorce him for years. You've been supporting him, treating him like a Lord at home, but he's an ungrateful wolf in sheep's clothing."<br /> Helping Madison up, Taylor noticed the scrapes on Madison's arms and legs, her expression turning cold.<br /> "Wesley, why did you hit my mother? You better give me an explanation."<br /> Wesley looked at Taylor, his wife.<br /> Five years had passed, and she had never shown him kindness.<br /> Taylor dressed impeccably, a paragon of a successful lady, with a face that could be deemed angelic, yet whether her heart was as angelic remained a mystery.<br /> Her figure, too, left countless men yearning.<br /> For five years, Wesley had thought he might develop feelings for this lady, but in reality, it never happened.<br /> "There are surveillance cameras in the house," Wesley stated calmly before descending the stairs into the hallway.<br /> Despite residing in a three-story villa, Wesley's living quarters were confined to the stairwell.<br /> He harbored no resentment towards this arrangement. It was merely a promise. It was just that Taylor failed to appreciate him.<br /> This home held little value that he wished to cling onto.<br /> Retrieving a wooden box from beneath his pillow, Wesley extracted two documents. Casting a fleeting glance at the modest abode he had called home for five years, Wesley smiled faintly.<br /> He thought, "Finally... I'm free."<br /> Pushing the door ajar, Wesley was met by Taylor's piercing gaze. "I've reviewed the surveillance footage. Yes, my mother intended to strike you, but even if she did, what difference would it make?"<br /> "She's a lady. How much could her blows hurt you? Why did you dodge?"<br /> "If you hadn't dodged, my mother wouldn't have tumbled down." Wesley stared at Taylor, unable to comprehend her thought process.<br /> He had no interest in engaging in these arguments. Handing over the two documents to Taylor, he remarked, "The divorce agreement. I've already signed it. Take a look. I'm leaving with nothing."<br /> "With your current influence, there's no need for you to visit the city hall. Someone will handle it for you, right?"<br /> Madison was taken aback. She swiftly snatched the divorce agreement, flipping through it hastily.<br /> The contents were indeed straightforward. Both parties willingly divorced, with Wesley relinquishing all claims and having already signed.<br /> In an instant, Madison's pain seemed to dissipate. "Taylor, sign it quickly. Sign it."<br /> Taylor was still in a daze.<br /> She pondered.<br /> "A divorce agreement? Wesley has already prepared a divorce agreement. On what grounds?"<br /> "What gives him the right to initiate a divorce? All these years, he's done nothing at home, lacking any ambition. Always practicing martial arts, what right does he have to seek a divorce?"<br /> "If anyone should initiate it, it should be me. Moreover, now that I'm back to discussing this matter with him. Could it be that word got out, and Wesley, for the sake of his pride, rushed to prepare a divorce agreement first?"<br /> "It must be so, but... No!"<br /> "Wanting to leave with nothing, is he retreating to advance? As the chairman of the Reed Group, how could I be served with a divorce?"<br /> "Hey Wesley, I never expected this from you. Have I not treated you well enough? You seek a divorce, attempting to turn your retreat into advance, aiming to embarrass me?"<br /> Taylor glared at Wesley. "I'm telling you, it's impossible."<br /> Snatching the divorce agreement, she tore it to shreds.<br /> "Taylor, what are you doing? Such a great opportunity. Why not just sign it and let him leave?" Madison grew anxious.<br /> "Mom, I do intend to divorce this trash, but the decision must come from me. I returned specifically to address this matter."<br /> With that, Taylor produced two documents. "Wesley, remember that it's me who's divorcing you. It's me who no longer wants you. Initially, out of marital obligation, I had considered offering you some compensation. Now, you don't even need to think about it. Sign the divorce agreement and leave my home."<br /> Wesley offered a faint smile as he accepted the divorce agreement.<br /> "What are you laughing at?" Taylor demanded angrily.<br /> Wesley's smile seemed to mock her, fueling her rage.<br /> Ignoring her entirely, Wesley signed the document and handed it over.<br /> "What are you laughing at? Answer me! Who do you think you are?" Taylor roared once more.<br /> Wesley glanced at her before striding towards the exit.<br /> "Stop!" The gent who had accompanied Taylor stepped forward, blocking Wesley's path. "Taylor asked you a question, and... Your previous attitude displeased me. Apologize to Taylor, or I'll have you leave in disgrace!"<br /> Chapter 2 The Unspoken Truth<br /> <br /> "Yes, let him leave in disgrace. He thought he could just hit me and walk away so easily," Madison joined in the commotion, also noticing the gent blocking Wesley's path.<br /> Madison had a keen interest in luxury goods, having frequented various high-end establishments over the years as the Reed family's living conditions improved. The gent was wearing an expensive watch and dressed head to toe in high-end luxury brands.<br /> Seeing Madison's gaze, the gent spoke. "Rest assured, today Wesley must pay the price."<br /> The gent introduced himself, looking at Wesley, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Henry Clark, the eldest son of the Clark family and the general manager of the Clark Group in the North District."<br /> "From now on, I will accompany Taylor on her journey of life, and I will not allow anyone to bully her."<br /> "My identity carries weight. You should understand that. Now, apologize to Taylor. Apologize! Did you hear me? Apologize!"<br /> Madison's eyes lit up. She hadn't expected the gent before her to hold such a high status. She continued to shout, "Did you hear that? Taylor will be with Mr. Clark from now on. Apologize now."<br /> Wesley glanced at Henry, then at Taylor. He thought, "Have they been together all along?" Wesley had wanted to ask but decided against it because there was no need. He simply gave them a glance and continued walking towards the exit.<br /> "Are you ignoring me?" Henry's face turned cold as he reached out to grab Wesley. Henry's hand froze mid-air as he received a solid hit.<br /> "Until I sign the divorce papers, Taylor and I are still wife and husband. I don't care to investigate whether you two had any intimate relationship during that time, but don't provoke me, or I won't hesitate to make you regret it." Wesley's gaze was icy, and as Henry met his eyes, he felt a twinge of fear and swallowed his words.<br /> Taylor was also stunned. She knew exactly what Wesley had been like over the past five years. There were many surveillance cameras in the house, and she would often check them.<br /> Even when Taylor wasn't home, despite how her family treated Wesley, he always obeyed without complaint, especially towards her. He had never raised his voice, no matter how they treated him.<br /> Today, not only did Wesley dodge when her mother struck, but he also initiated the divorce and now even struck Henry. <br /> Taylor was at a loss for words, thinking, "How could this cowardly gent dare? On what grounds does he dare?"<br /> This change was difficult for Taylor to accept as if she didn't truly understand this guy. The gent who used to be obedient to her, completely submissive, now revealed this side of himself. She watched Wesley walk away in a daze, feeling a strange discomfort in her heart.<br /> "Isn't he leaving with nothing?" Alexis pointed at the wooden box Wesley was holding. "What is he taking with him?"<br /> Madison also realized. Over the past five years, Wesley had always treasured this wooden box, carrying it with him wherever he went. She thought there must be something valuable inside.<br /> Realizing this, Madison hurriedly followed. "Wesley, stop right there, leave the wooden box."<br /> Wesley paused, glanced at Madison, and said, "This is my personal belonging."<br /> "Nonsense, what personal belonging could you possibly have after marrying into the Reed family? Everything you've eaten, worn, and lived in over the years has been provided by the Reed family. Put it down."<br /> As she spoke, Madison reached out to grab the wooden box.<br /> "Ah..." A scream rang out as Madison quickly retracted her hand, a gash appearing on her palm, a crimson liquid dripping.<br /> The wooden box was now stained with the same crimson liquid, trembling lightly in Wesley's hand.<br /> "It's not the right time yet, the day you thirst for this crimson liquid will come," Wesley murmured softly, patting the box before turning to continue his stride towards the exit.<br /> "Monster! A monster!" Madison screamed, causing Taylor and the others to rush out. Seeing the wound in Madison's hand, Taylor was filled with rage.<br /> "Wesley, aren't you going to say something?" Wesley halted once more, contemplating before meeting Taylor's gaze.<br /> "Just stay out of my way from now on. Consider this a warning to you."<br /> "Taylor, that wooden box of his has a mechanism. It must hold something valuable! We can't let him take it with him," Madison, enduring the pain, reminded them.<br /> "Mom, your injury is important. We'll deal with him later. Let me take you to the hospital first." Taylor comforted Madison before calling out to the retreating Wesley.<br /> "Our marriage is over! Yet, you dared to hurt my mother! This won't be the end of it! I will make you regret it!" Ignoring her, Wesley continued walking out.<br /> "Rest assured, I promise he won't see the light of day tomorrow." Henry stepped forward to console. "Let's focus on getting your wound treated first."<br /> "I want him to regret ever existing in this world, to apologize to me in repentance," Madison roared.<br /> "Mom, trust me, I will make him do just that." Taylor looked at Madison with a mix of pity and determination. "Let's go to the hospital first."<br /> In the villa area, Wesley halted, his voice cold. "Get out."<br /> An elderly gent leaped down from a tree, appearing to be in his seventies, yet landing silently from a height of around ten feet.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, your father wants you to come home and take charge."<br /> "He stopped being my father five years ago. He's my enemy."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you misunderstood your father. He had his reasons back then. I swear in my life, once you know the truth, you will forgive him."<br /> "Huh!" Wesley smirked coldly, saying, "I nearly passed away back then. Is that also a misunderstanding?"<br /> The old gent pleaded, "Mr. Harrington, this situation is truly not as you perceive it."<br /> Wesley didn't engage further with the old guy. The events of that year were etched in his memory forever. He was the one who had been abandoned. If not for that incident, why would he have stayed with the Reed family for five years?<br /> Watching Wesley walk away, the old gent had tears silently streaming down his face. "Mr. Harrington, I truly... I truly can't bring myself to speak the truth, but you have misunderstood your father. He also bears burdens and endures pains beyond what an ordinary person can handle."<br /> As Wesley's figure disappeared, the old gent stood up, hesitated for a moment, then dialed a number on his phone.<br /> "Mr. Harrington is now divorced. I've given you the news firsthand. If your daughter is truly together with Mr. Harrington, you must fulfill the promise and let her persuade Mr. Harrington to come home."<br /> After hanging up, a middle-aged gent in a luxurious estate jumped up excitedly. Calming himself, he immediately made another call. "My dear, you're at Yeadeo, right?<br /> "Go find Wesley now. Don't mention the engagement for now. Use every means to get close to him, make him fall in love with you."<br /> "Dad, I don't have time."<br /> "No matter what you are busy with, you must go find Wesley now. No matter what reason you approach him, you must leave a good impression the first time."<br /> "Dad, I'm in trouble right now. If I don't handle it well, I might be good as gone. I have to deal with it immediately. I'm hanging up."<br /> Chapter 3 You're Nothing<br /> The middle-aged gent's voice lowered significantly. "Is there a big incident happening? You didn't tell me? What happened?"<br /> "Quinn Kingsley from Yeadeo, Mr. Kingsley, used our product and now has one foot on the grave. If something really happens to him..."<br /> "You mean Quinn, the uncontested leader of Yeadeo?"<br /> "Yes."<br /> "In that case, you should go find Wesley. Trust me, in this world, there is no problem that Wesley can't solve. As long as he's willing to help, you'll be fine. Listen to me, go find Wesley immediately."<br /> The lady fell silent for a moment before saying, "Okay."<br /> At Yeadeo Harbor, a gent with a large flaxen chain and a watch, sporting a crew cut, hurriedly disembarked, accompanied by a dozen gentlemen.<br /> "Mr. Reed, wherever that trash is, we will find him and tear him apart."<br /> "Yes, that guy dared to harm your mother. We'll make sure he pays for it."<br /> Frank Reed's face turned cold. "Wesley, you coward, thinking you can overturn the world? How dare you touch my mom? Just wait until I find you, you're finished."<br /> "We've found him. Wesley got into a taxi, and our boys followed him."<br /> "Let's go!" Frank waved his hand, leading dozens of men who boarded the car with harpoons, steel pipes, and other weapons.<br /> Inside the taxi, Wesley gazed at the scenery outside, feeling a strange sense of tranquility.<br /> He thought to himself, "I never imagined that while I was secretly paving the way for the Reed family, Taylor, after progressing so rapidly, would start looking down on me more and more."<br /> "Those ladies who know my true identity, which one of them isn't trying to throw themselves at me? Ladies like that don't interest me."<br /> "Being an ordinary gent is truly difficult," Wesley murmured, smiling faintly and deciding not to dwell on these matters anymore. He had important things to attend to and no time to waste on personal affairs.<br /> "Young lad, are you going to Feidgeuo Manor for a job interview?" The driver, curious about Wesley's destination, inquired.<br /> Feidgeuo Manor was Yeadeo's most mysterious private area. Originally a villa area, it was bought at a huge cost five years ago and completely renovated. It was said to have cost a trillion dollars. The former villa area was now Feidgeuo Manor.<br /> "That's my home," Wesley replied nonchalantly.<br /> The driver was taken aback by this revelation, silently cursing Wesley for bragging. After a couple of minutes, the driver regained his composure. "It seems like you and I both prefer to keep a low profile. My car usually gathers dust at home, so I occasionally drive a taxi to experience life."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "My car has been driven by my assistant for the past few years, so it's not gathering dust."<br /> "Haha..." The driver laughed. "We should get together sometime and see whose car is more impressive."<br /> "Sure, whenever we have the time."<br /> As they chatted, the vehicle soon arrived near Feidgeuo Manor, where the massive head of the Feidgeuo Peak protruded, creating a unique landscape in Yeadeo.<br /> The driver asked with a smile, "Since you're the owner here, it's fine if I drive in, right?"<br /> "Of course," Wesley replied.<br /> As soon as Wesley spoke, several cars caught up from behind.<br /> The cars surrounded the one Wesley was in, with the front vehicles braking to force the car to a stop.<br /> When numerous people descended from cars wielding harpoons and steel pipes, the driver's face paled.<br /> Frank and his group got out of the cars, instantly closing in, and without hesitation, started attacking, the steel pipes and harpoons thudding against the car.<br /> Frank's henchman yanked open the door of Wesley's car, poised to stab Wesley with a harpoon, but Wesley swiftly exited the vehicle.<br /> With a firm step on the ground, he launched a swift hit.<br /> A muffled sound echoed as the henchman was hit away.<br /> "What are you looking at?" Frank noticed his henchmen were all staring at him. "All of you, attack together and take him down!"<br /> As he commanded, the henchmen Frank brought with him surged forward.<br /> The taxi driver, trembling, took out his phone to call the police, but Frank glared at him. "I am Frank Reed from Yeadeo Harbor. If you dare, go ahead and make that call."<br /> Frank, leveraging his sister Taylor's status, had been causing trouble in Yeadeo Harbor, and no one dared to provoke him.<br /> Upon hearing Frank's name, the driver hastily put away his phone. "Mr. Reed, I'll just check the time, you guys continue."<br /> "Huh!" Frank snorted coldly, casting his gaze towards the surrounded Wesley.<br /> The sounds of thuds continued to ring out incessantly. Because Wesley was completely surrounded, Frank was unable to see the situation inside clearly, but he could imagine it. After all, in Frank's mind, the henchmen under his command were not to be trifled with.<br /> "Hit him hard for me!"<br /> Another muffled sound and a figure flew out. At that moment, Frank finally saw the situation clearly, and his face turned pale.<br /> Frank knew that Wesley liked to practice martial arts, but he had never expected Wesley to be this skilled. It wasn't Wesley who had been beaten, but his own men by Wesley alone.<br /> Frantically, Frank turned and ran to retrieve a crossbow from the car.<br /> "Clear the way." Frank bellowed, aiming the crossbow at Wesley.<br /> "You scumbag, you think you can fight? Move one more time, and I'll end your life! Surrender!"<br /> Wesley, holding a wooden box, stared at Frank. Ignoring the crossbow in his hand, Wesley said, "Tell your henchmen to back off, or you'll all see the light from above!"<br /> "You're really good at pretending to be tough." Frank took two steps forward. "See the light? Move a muscle and see if I can end your life or not! If you don't have the guts, apologize now!"<br /> Wesley turned his head and looked at the approaching cars, with two expensive ones in the lead, two more in the rear, and another one in the middle.<br /> "Keep acting tough, and I'll put a hole in your head." Frank spoke while glancing at the five cars. "What, looking for help?"<br /> "Let me tell you, those who ride in these cars are not the kind of weaklings like you who rely on connections. With me here, in Yeadeo's social hierarchy, even those who ride in such cars wouldn't dare meddle in this matter. And let me make it clear, without my sister, you're nothing."<br /> Chapter 4 Is He Worthy?<br /> As Frank's words faded, the five cars came to a halt.<br /> A bodyguard opened the door of the one in the middle, revealing a dazzling pair of shining shoes catching everyone's eye.<br /> The shining shoe encased a beautiful foot. Above, the skirt's hem was adorned with lace.<br /> Then, like a fairy stepping out of a painting, she appeared before everyone's eyes.<br /> The lady was beautiful!<br /> Frank was mesmerized. Ever since the Reed family rose to prominence, he had been surrounded by ladies, but compared to the elegant lady before him, they were worlds apart.<br /> It wasn't just a difference in appearance but an incomparable gap in demeanor.<br /> The lady descending from the Maybach seemed like a celestial being untouched by mortal affairs.<br /> The embodiment of a fairy in the mundane world.<br /> She simply stood there after getting out of the car, perfectly embodying what it meant to be graceful and elegant.<br /> The lady glanced at Wesley, then at Frank.<br /> Frank grinned, saying, "May I have the honor of knowing the name of this esteemed lady? I am Frank..."<br /> The lady spoke calmly. "Disrespect Mr. Harrington, and you're done for."<br /> Her bodyguards, unfazed by Frank's crossbow, swiftly overwhelmed him, sending him crashing to the ground.<br /> The henchmen who had come with Frank, previously defeated by Wesley, now scrambled to their feet and fled in all directions.<br /> Who would dare provoke someone who could afford such a car?<br /> "My sister is Taylor Reed, the chairperson of Reed Group," Frank shouted, clutching his head.<br /> Ignoring him, one of the bodyguards dragged him to the roadside grass while another used a belt to tighten around Frank's neck, exerting pressure.<br /> "Enough, a lesson is all that's needed." Wesley spoke calmly, and only when the lady gestured did the bodyguards release Frank.<br /> Frank lay there, already unconscious.<br /> Wesley turned to the lady. "Who are you?"<br /> "I am Mia Roberts, the general manager of Vinver Business Alliance's Yeadeo branch." She looked at Wesley and continued, "Mr. Harrington, my father mentioned that you have miraculous healing skills and earnestly requested your assistance. A generous reward awaits."<br /> Wesley furrowed his brow slightly, thinking, "There are indeed people who recognize my abilities and status, yet I've rarely intervened in the past five years. Today, shortly after I divorced Taylor, she is here. Whose arrangement is this?"<br /> "Mr. Harrington, my father also mentioned that you are benevolent and has raised the banner of compassion among healers, serving as a role model and benchmark for all in the medical field."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "You have a way with words. Tell me the specifics."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, please get in the car first. I will explain in detail on the way."<br /> The phrase "compassionate healer" held significant weight for Wesley, who had saved countless lives from the brink of death.<br /> Without further ado, he got into the car.<br /> Inside, after Mia brewed coffee for Wesley, she began. "Vinver Business Alliance has a wide range of business operations, and I mainly oversee the health supplement sector, which has seen some success in recent years.<br /> "Recently, Quinn Kingsley started using our medicines, and now there's an accident."<br /> As she spoke, Mia kept her gaze fixed on Wesley.<br /> Quinn, the undisputed leader of Yeadeo, was a figure of immense influence.<br /> Upon hearing this name, Wesley showed no particular reaction. "If the city's leader faces issues with your products, it is indeed a concern. Let's go and see."<br /> With just a sentence, Wesley leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest.<br /> Mia was secretly alarmed, thinking, "He knows who Quinn is, yet he seems indifferent. Who is this Wesley, really? No wonder Dad has instructed me to find a way to win his favor." Mia's inner resistance toward Wesley quietly shifted.<br /> Wesley had piqued her curiosity.<br /> As the vehicle was moving, Wesley's phone rang.<br /> Wesley opened his eyes and took out his phone to see Taylor calling.<br /> Pressing the answer button, he asked, "What's the matter?"<br /> On the other end of the line, Taylor, driving towards Feidgeuo Manor, had a grim expression.<br /> She thought, "Has Wesley ever spoken to me in such a cold tone before? Is he really this heartless right after our divorce?"<br /> Already furious, she snapped. "Wesley, do you even consider yourself a human being?<br /> "Today, not only did you lay hands on my mother, but you also had someone attack my brother. Do you not remember our past at all?"<br /> Wesley calmly replied, "Do we have a past to remember?"<br /> "You truly are a heartless scumbag, just as my mother said. You are an ungrateful and vicious person I raised for five years. Even a pet would wag its tail at me!"<br /> Taylor wanted to continue her tirade, but the phone line had already turned busy.<br /> This only fueled her anger further.<br /> Just now, she had received a call from Frank's underlings, informing her that Wesley had sent people to attack Frank and even intended to end him.<br /> Taylor wanted to demand answers, but...<br /> As Taylor was clutching her fists, her gaze turned icy.<br /> After a moment, she picked up her phone again. "Wesley, you are so narrow-minded. You have no ambition. Any lady would steer clear of you."<br /> "Just because I dumped you, you are doing this on purpose to make me feel sick. Pretending to be aloof and seeking revenge? Do you even deserve it?"<br /> "In Yeadeo, squashing you would be as easy as squashing an ant. You're asking for it! If anything happens to my brother, I will make you wish you were ending!"<br /> Her furious voice message echoed in the car.<br /> Wesley chuckled and put away his phone.<br /> Beside him, Mia seemed contemplative. Before coming, she had already ordered a swift investigation into Wesley.<br /> She was curious, thinking, "How could someone valued by my father could be the one 'marrying into' the Reed family."<br /> Being tactful, Mia chose not to ask and pretended not to have heard.<br /> After about forty minutes, they arrived at the Kingsley Manor.<br /> The Kingsley family members, upon seeing Mia alight from the car, all wore grim expressions.<br /> Mia greeted them with a smile, "Everyone, this is Wesley Harrington, Mr. Harrington, the miraculous healer I specially invited to treat Mr. Kingsley."<br /> "Him? The gent who married into the Reed family?"<br /> "A miraculous healer? Is he even worthy? Are healers so worthless now?"<br /> "A useless gent who mooches off of the Reed family? How dare he call himself a miraculous healer? Truly a joke among all jokes."<br /> Chapter 5 Compassionate Healer<br /> Amanda Kingsley, Quinn's granddaughter, stared coldly at Wesley and Mia.<br /> This lady, dressed in a smart suit, also held significant fame in Yeadeo, overseeing the region's business activities, including investment attraction and various local business negotiations.<br /> Amanda had a favorable view of Taylor, who had risen swiftly in recent times, and they had interacted frequently.<br /> She was aware of Wesley's existence and had advised Taylor to part ways with him early on.<br /> But Amanda never imagined that Mia would bring someone like Wesley, a complete waste, and claim he was a miraculous healer.<br /> Glaring at Mia, she said, "Mia, once my grandfather is well, it's best for your Roberts family to leave Yeadeo."<br /> "As for you..." She glanced at Wesley. "I will advise Taylor to divorce you. You have deceived Taylor's feelings and now shamelessly made your way into my family. You are a despicable creature."<br /> After reprimanding Mia and Wesley, she turned to an elderly gent beside her, and her tone and attitude completely changed. "Mr. Phillips, sorry to trouble you. My grandfather is inside, please."<br /> Mia looked at the elderly gent, who was already in his twilight years, feeling deeply shocked.<br /> Scott Phillips, the 38th generation heir of the Healing Clinic, was now ninety-two years old.<br /> Renowned as a miraculous healer, he was a respected figure in the medical community of Yeadeo and even nationally.<br /> He no longer conducted consultations personally due to his old age. Mia had visited him specifically to pay her respects once she had arrived in Yeadeo but had not met Scott.<br /> She never expected Scott to appear in person. It was understandable, as Quinn held a prominent position in the city. Despite the profound influence of the Phillips family, they still had to show respect to Quinn.<br /> Mia looked at Wesley, feeling conflicted and thinking, "Dad has confidently claimed that Wesley has extraordinary abilities, but does he really?"<br /> She harbored doubts, but out of propriety, Mia spoke. "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the trouble."<br /> Wesley smiled, "It's fine. As long as the person can be healed."<br /> His open-mindedness impressed Mia.<br /> After about half an hour, Amanda emerged from the room. All eyes instantly turned towards her.<br /> It was evident that Amanda had wailed out, with traces of tears still visible.<br /> "Amanda, how is it?" A middle-aged gent anxiously asked her.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family who had rushed back also focused their attention on her.<br /> "Mr. Phillips said that there's little hope of recovery. He could only use acupuncture to wake grandfather for half an hour. When grandfather wakes up, let's all go in and see if he has any final instructions."<br /> Everyone was shocked.<br /> "How could this be?"<br /> "Is Mr. Phillips also helpless?"<br /> The members of the Kingsley family found it hard to accept this reality, especially since Quinn had always treated his juniors well.<br /> The thought of Quinn departing saddened some, and tears silently fell.<br /> Publicly, Quinn's status was the foundation of the Kingsley family's prominence in Yeadeo.<br /> If Quinn were to pass away, the Kingsley family would undoubtedly decline.<br /> The atmosphere within the Kingsley family was somber.<br /> Amanda looked at her family members, opened her mouth, but said nothing, silently turning back into the room.<br /> "Stop crying," A middle-aged gent said sternly, "Dad wouldn't want to see you all in tears. If he's really leaving, we mustn't let him worry about us. Pull yourselves together."<br /> After these words, the middle-aged gent also entered the room.<br /> The younger members of the Kingsley family wiped their tears vigorously, trying to force smiles, but in truth, they looked better at crying than pretending to be happy.<br /> Mia's spirit plummeted as she realized the gravity of the situation. Even if an ordinary person passed away from consuming health supplements, it spelled big trouble for those who sold them. And when the deceased happened to be Quinn, the stakes were even higher.<br /> She understood that it would be difficult for this branch to stay in Yeadeo, and even the headquarters might face repercussions.<br /> "Let's go in and have a look." Wesley glanced at Mia. "There might still be a chance."<br /> "Ah..." Mia stared at Wesley in surprise. Seeing him already heading towards the room, she quickly followed suit.<br /> Inside the room, the members of the Kingsley family stood around the mattress, maintaining a certain distance.<br /> Scott lit the alcohol lamp and took out the needles, his expression solemn.<br /> He looked at the members of the Kingsley family. "Think about what you want to say to Mr. Kingsley later. Once you're ready, let me know, and then I'll proceed with the acupuncture."<br /> As he said this, tears welled up in many eyes.<br /> "If you don't mind, let me take a look. I have a way." Wesley spoke up, drawing everyone's attention.<br /> Amanda's face darkened. "Who let you in? Get out!"<br /> "Mia, have you lost your mind? Tricked by this trash and actually brought him here as a miracle healer. Get out with him! I'll settle the score with you in a couple of days."<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, at a loss for words.<br /> "Even Mr. Phillips is unable to reverse the situation. What use are you? Get out." Another younger member of the Kingsley family angrily rebuked.<br /> The middle-aged gent added, "We're in no mood right now. You better leave immediately."<br /> "I understand your narrow-mindedness," Wesley continued, "But as a healer, once I see a patient, I cannot stand by and watch him draw his last breath."<br /> "Wesley, you're quite the charlatan. Do you really want to be gone right now?" Amanda's voice was filled with anger.<br /> "Amanda, let me say a few words," Scott interjected, and Amanda fell silent.<br /> Looking at Wesley, Scott began. "Young lad, at my age, I've seen a lot and have a broad perspective. Today, however, I find it hard to remain indifferent. I practiced medicine from the age of sixteen until I stopped seeing patients for a total of seventy years."<br /> "I've saved countless patients from various illnesses. I never easily declare a patient's fate, nor do I believe I have the right to do so."<br /> "But from your recent remarks, it seems like you're accusing me of such actions. Young people wanting to make a name for themselves by stepping on the shoulders of their predecessors, I can understand."<br /> "But this kind of behavior displeases me."<br /> "My displeasure, what does it mean to you? Do you understand?"<br /> "Even if you are a healer, your career will be ruined because of this."<br /> Chapter 6 Hand of Hell<br /> In the face of Scott's veiled threats, Wesley simply smiled and brushed them off.<br /> Looking at Scott, he asked, "I've always focused on the issue at hand rather than attacking individuals. I have a few questions for you. If you can't administer the needles, how long do you think Quinn can hold on?"<br /> "Seven days, but he will remain unconscious," Scott replied bluntly.<br /> "Then let me ask you this, is there anyone in the world with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "Outrageous," Amanda coldly interjected, "Mr. Phillips is unparalleled in his medical expertise."<br /> Scott glanced at Amanda. "Amanda, let me handle this question."<br /> Continuing to address Wesley, he said, "I don't underestimate myself, nor do I overestimate. There are countless talented individuals in the world, like stars in the sky. I may not dare claim to be the best in medical skills, but those who surpass me are few."<br /> "That means there are some," Wesley calmly remarked, causing Scott's expression to shift slightly, "Indeed, there are."<br /> "Then let me ask you this. Do you think within seven days, the Kingsley family won't find someone with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "If they do find someone, do you believe there is an illness that you cannot cure, but this person can?"<br /> Wesley's questions were sharp and resounding.<br /> Scott's face changed once more as he was rendered speechless.<br /> "Even if there is, that person will never be you." Amanda's face turned icy. "Now get out. Don't spout your eloquence here. Your deceitful behavior is repulsive."<br /> "Your understanding of me is merely hearsay, isn't it?" Wesley retorted, his gaze mocking Amanda, "Has your background and education taught you such arrogance and prejudice?"<br /> "Arrogance?" Amanda's face grew colder as she disdainfully looked at Wesley. "Prejudice?<br /> "Did I say something wrong just now? You are nothing but stagnant waste, a parasite living off others. If it weren't for Taylor, you would have starved on the streets long ago."<br /> "Relying on sweet words, deceiving Taylor. She, with her kind heart, can't bear to divorce you, but don't push your luck. If it weren't for Taylor's sake, you would have been sent out long ago."<br /> Scott interrupted Amanda, "Amanda, although I find this lad a bit annoying, what he said does hold some truth. There are indeed individuals with better medical skills than me. Your grandfather can hold on for seven days. Try reaching out to see if someone can come over. I'll help you make connections."<br /> "If it really doesn't work out after seven days, I'll administer the needles to your grandfather. However, at that point, I can only buy you three minutes."<br /> As soon as Scott spoke, the faces of the Kingsley family members grew even more solemn. True healers were rare and not easily summoned.<br /> While the Kingsley family had connections in Yeadeo, their influence waned outside of it.<br /> "Mr. Phillips, please administer the needles. Life has its ups and downs, and we understand that. Just buy my father a bit more time." The middle-aged gent spoke up.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family nodded in agreement.<br /> Amanda looked at Scott. "Mr. Phillips, please."<br /> "In that case, please have everyone unrelated leave. I need silence," Scott calmly stated.<br /> Amanda glared at Wesley, her eyes speaking volumes without a word.<br /> The unrelated individuals were, naturally, Wesley and Mia.<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, intending to leave, but she suddenly hesitated.<br /> Instead of leaving, Wesley moved forward.<br /> "What are you doing?" A young member of the Kingsley family stepped forward with a stern expression, pushing Wesley.<br /> In one swift motion, Wesley executed a clean shoulder throw, toppling the young gent to the ground, his own expression turning cold.<br /> "A bunch of fools! If it weren't for my teacher's teachings about not turning a blind eye to those in need, I wouldn't bother with you ignorant lot," Wesley remarked with disdain.<br /> As Wesley effortlessly took down one individual from the Kingsley family, the others seemed slow to react.<br /> By the time they realized what was happening, Wesley had already picked up the needle next to Scott and casually flicked his wrist.<br /> The needle flew out of his hand, piercing Quinn's temple, followed by a second needle, a third needle, and so on.<br /> "What are you doing? Stop!" Amanda's voice rose in urgency, echoed by the rest of the Kingsley family members who rushed forward to restrain Wesley.<br /> "Stay back, everyone. Wait." Scott suddenly stood up, blocking the others. "Let him try."<br /> Amanda and the others were left dumbfounded, thinking, "What does this mean?"<br /> Despite their confusion, they heeded Scott's words.<br /> After Scott stopped the members of the Kingsley family, he fixed his gaze on Wesley.<br /> Wesley proceeded to use eighteen needles in succession, symbolizing the levels of pain.<br /> Even if someone had descended into the depths of hell, they must be brought back.<br /> The final needle, also piercing a vital point, caused Quinn's body to tremble suddenly, resonating with the previous eighteen needles.<br /> Scott's eyes widened, his body trembling slightly. His reaction left Amanda and the others even more puzzled, but none dared to interrupt.<br /> Moments later, Wesley placed a palm on Quinn's chest, causing all eighteen needles to be shaken off. When all the needles landed on the ground, the part of the skin where the needles had pierced turned dark.<br /> Wesley then dragged Quinn to the edge of the mattress, flipped him over with his head facing downwards, and gave him a firm pat on the back.<br /> Quinn spat out a mouthful of black liquid. When Wesley flipped him back to lie flat, his complexion had regained some color.<br /> "The Hand of Darkness... It's the Hand of Darkness!" Scott exclaimed with excitement, his body quivering, "It's the Hand that descends into the dark world, snatching people from the hands of the Evil!"<br /> "You do have some knowledge, recognizing the Hand of Darkness." Wesley glanced at Scott.<br /> Scott's gaze towards Wesley had undergone a drastic change. He respectfully clasped his hands together.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thirty years ago, I had the honor of attending a teaching conference held by Mr. Vanderbilt. I saw the Hand of Darkness, but my limited aptitude only allowed me to grasp the basics."<br /> "I have been blind and ignorant. I apologize for my earlier offenses. Please forgive me, Mr. Harrington."<br /> The Mr. Vanderbilt Scott referred to was Wesley's teacher, Ulysses Vanderbilt. He generously imparted his skills to others, but the ability to learn depended on one's innate talent.<br /> In this world, few could learn Ulysses' skills.<br /> Scott had been fortunate to receive guidance from Ulysses, which had elevated his medical skills. However, the Hand of Darkness, a miraculous ability, was beyond his comprehension.<br /> Wesley smiled faintly, "Your actions earlier are understandable. I appreciate your words."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you must be an exceptional disciple of Mr. Vanderbilt, possessing unparalleled magnanimity. Impressive," Scott continued.<br /> "Enough with the flattery at your age."<br /> "You are mistaken, Mr. Harrington. Every word I speak is sincere."<br /> Mia, Amanda, and the others stood bewildered by the unfolding situation.<br /> "Mr. Phillips... he... he..." Amanda's words faltered.<br /> Scott turned to the members of the Kingsley family. "Meeting Mr. Harrington was Quinn's luck. His symptoms have been cured by Mr. Harrington. With a few days of rest, he will be fine."<br /> The waste Taylor had previously said was called Mr. Harrington by Scott!<br /> Recalling their previous attitudes, Amanda hurriedly apologized, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> The members of the Kingsley family all apologized in unison, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> Chapter 7 Eight Plates of Noodles<br /> With a faint smile, Wesley remarked, "As family members of a patient, your actions earlier are understandable. There's no need for such formality."<br /> Amanda's perplexity deepened as she thought, "Where is the cowardly waste that Taylor described? This display of magnanimity and breadth is far from it."<br /> Mia, too, felt a shiver of realization, thinking, "No wonder Dad has insisted on my proximity to Wesley.<br /> This guy..."<br /> She gazed at Wesley, her curiosity piqued, a sense of exploration stirring within her.<br /> "Mia has brought you here, Mr. Harrington, to cure my grandfather. The Kingsley family will never forget this act. However, considering that my grandfather's ailment stemmed from the health supplements produced by the Vinver Business Alliance, we will be conducting an investigation into it."<br /> Amanda continued, looking at Wesley, "What do you think... of this approach?"<br /> It was Mia who had invited Wesley, so Amanda had grown wiser, refraining from asking for a direct punishment of the Vinver Business Alliance.<br /> As Mia heard Amanda's words, her heart skipped a beat, realizing trouble was brewing.<br /> "On the way here, Ms. Roberts briefed me on the situation. You conducted experiments on mice, correct?"<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes, the health supplements we received were exclusively provided by the Roberts family. There were no similar cases on the market, so we used mice for testing.<br /> "All the mice that ingested this supplement were gone."<br /> She looked at Mia and added, her voice turned colder. "Before the experiment, I specifically contacted Mia to inquire about the testing methods during the development phase, which involved mice."<br /> "There have been individuals eyeing my grandfather's position, some even wishing for his demise. I never imagined that the Vinver Business Alliance, which I attracted for investment, would become a weapon in someone else's hands."<br /> "Do you have any of the remaining medicine?" Wesley inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes."<br /> "Bring some over."<br /> Immediately, someone fetched the medicine. After it was brought to him, Wesley took out a supplement and swallowed it directly.<br /> This scene left Amanda and the others dumbfounded.<br /> Scott, too, was bewildered. "Mr. Harrington, what are you doing?"<br /> Wesley smiled, "Just proving that this medicine is not toxic."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thank you," Mia thanked sincerely, feeling like sobbing at that moment.<br /> Amanda, with a puzzled expression, looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, are you suggesting that my grandfather's condition wasn't caused by the Vinver Business Alliance's medicine? What about the mice?"<br /> The rest were equally puzzled.<br /> "Yes, but not entirely," Wesley said, leaving everyone even more bewildered.<br /> Mia's emotions were like a rollercoaster ride, from relief to immediate tension.<br /> "This medicine itself is not toxic, but when taken with another substance made from a certain plant, it results in Quinn's condition. The mice would die immediately, while humans could endure a few more days."<br /> Wesley continued to explain, "The plant used in this concoction is originally meant for crafting slow-acting toxins, not for human consumption."<br /> Looking at Amanda, Wesley said, "During this period, whoever had access to your grandfather and the mice will better understand why these events occurred."<br /> The gaze of members of the Kingsley family immediately focused on a lady.<br /> Amanda, somewhat incredulous, looked at her. "Can you offer an explanation?"<br /> The lady was the wife of Amanda's deceased brother. She found it hard to accept, as did the rest of the Kingsley family.<br /> This lady had been named the exemplary lady who served her family well this year, not due to her connection with the Kingsley family but because she genuinely deserved it.<br /> "What do you mean? Amanda, what explanation do you want from me?"<br /> The lady stared at Amanda. "Am I the only one who had access to Grandfather and the mice? You, and you... and you, who didn't have access?"<br /> "You all claim to treat me as family. Since I married into the Kingsley family, I have worked diligently, contributing my share even if not acknowledged."<br /> "Amanda, it has been over a year since your brother passed, and I never once considered remarrying. Now, just because of his words, you demand an explanation from me?"<br /> Pointing at Wesley, the lady questioned, "Just because he accuses me of poisoning, you suspect me? Tell me, did I poison him?" The lady glared at Wesley.<br /> "I am merely analyzing the facts. As for concluding this case, it's not within my purview," Wesley addressed the members of the Kingsley family, saying, "You should conduct a thorough investigation into this matter.<br /> "I will write a prescription. Have Quinn take it on time, and he will recover in seven days."<br /> Amanda hurried to fetch paper and pen while Wesley prepared the prescription. Once done, he was ready to leave.<br /> Amanda said hurriedly, "Mr. Harrington, I've already made arrangements for lunch."<br /> "No need," Wesley smiled.<br /> The Kingsley family sought to build closer ties with Wesley, given his extraordinary medical skills. Wesley was well aware of this.<br /> Looking at Amanda and the others, Wesley remarked, "In the future, if you encounter any difficult medical cases that others cannot solve, seek me out. Remember, cases others cannot solve."<br /> The gaze of the Kingsley family members toward Wesley changed once again. Many renowned healers had eccentric personalities and were difficult to engage.<br /> They hadn't expected Wesley to possess such remarkable medical skills without any airs.<br /> As Wesley prepared to depart, the members of the Kingsley family did not dare to insist on his stay, so they accompanied him outside.<br /> "Oh, how could we forget such an important matter? Amanda, what about the consultation fee?" The middle-aged gent inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the oversight. Please wait a moment." Amanda hurried back inside and soon returned with a bank card in hand.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, there's one million dollars in here."<br /> Without hesitation, Wesley accepted the bank card and boarded Mia's car.<br /> During the journey, Mia boldly looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, you've helped me immensely. Can I treat you to a meal? Don't decline in a hurry. It's not a fancy restaurant, but it will leave you wanting more. It's a small place on the street, with only eight plates of noodles served each day, each plate containing different ingredients."<br /> "I managed to secure a reservation. Are you interested?"<br /> Wesley thought, "Eight Plates of Noodles?<br /> "Ah, Aaron's restaurant. It has been a while since I visited those old friends."<br /> Wesley nodded. "Let's go then."<br /> The restaurant, Eight Plates of Noodles, was located on Chanxold Street near the Yeadeo First Central Hospital.<br /> The establishment was small, serving only eight plates of noodles each day at a price of 10 thousand dollars each. Vernoic's television culinary program had specifically covered this incident.<br /> Reservations were a must to secure a plate.<br /> The restaurant's owner had a mysterious background. While the specifics were unknown, a high-ranking noble from the capital of Vernoic, Kingsland, had caused a scene there once.<br /> He had attempted to force his way in without a reservation. Although this incident hadn't been reported, rumors suggested that a garbage truck had to be called to dispose of the intruder's remains, as he was too shattered to be removed by conventional means.<br /> Since then, no one dared to cause trouble.<br /> On their way, Mia introduced Wesley to the background story.<br /> "Mr. Turner, two plates of noodles." Mia called out once they arrived.<br /> Aaron Turner didn't respond but visibly paused upon seeing Wesley beside Mia.<br /> A faint smile appeared on his usually stoic face. Though the flesh on the face seemed stiff, it was indeed a smile. "Coming right up."<br /> Chapter 8 You Are Blushing<br /> Mia glanced at Aaron with a hint of surprise, thinking, "When does he become so warm and enthusiastic?<br /> His tone seemed a bit agitated earlier, didn't it?"<br /> Soon enough, Aaron brought two plates of noodles to the table. One steaming hot and the other devoid of any warmth.<br /> As Mia observed Aaron placing the plate without steam in front of Wesley, her expression changed slightly.<br /> It was a plate of instant noodles having soaked in cold water, with the seasoning barely dissolved.<br /> She felt a sense of panic. Mia had wanted to leave a good impression on Wesley, which was why she had chosen this place.<br /> However, Aaron had served such a plate of noodles.<br /> She dared not question Aaron. The type of noodles served here was not determined by the guests but by Aaron's mood.<br /> "This lass named Mia is quite something, living up to her name, and quite kind-hearted," Aaron remarked, looking at Wesley.<br /> "Get lost," Wesley retorted, using his fork to pick up the noodles and devouring them.<br /> Mia's face turned pale instantly. Disrespecting Aaron was akin to risking Wesley's life.<br /> To her astonishment, Aaron chuckled, tears welling up in his eyes.<br /> He wiped them away. "Alright, I'll leave you to your meal."<br /> Before departing, he gave Mia a thumbs-up. "Seize the opportunity."<br /> The eight plates of noodles symbolized the eight comrades who had faced life and hardships together.<br /> Wesley ate voraciously. Initially, they had only one pack of instant noodles to share among the eight of them, forcing them to divide it.<br /> Despite the circumstances, they devoured the noodles joyfully.<br /> Aaron had promised that once they survived, each one would have the most delicious plate of noodles.<br /> However, five of the eight had perished.<br /> Wesley had come dangerously close to life-threatening situations, but managed to cling to life.<br /> For him, the plate of noodles was not food but the bond of friendship that had shielded him from harm.<br /> "Do you... know each other?" Mia couldn't help but ask, her voice low and curious.<br /> "Some things are better left unknown," Wesley replied.<br /> Mia nodded in understanding, falling silent as they continued eating noodles. She couldn't help stealing glances at Wesley throughout the meal.<br /> This gent had piqued her curiosity even more.<br /> "Wesley, I see. No wonder you agreed to the divorce so readily. You've already found someone else outside."<br /> A sharp voice interrupted their meal.<br /> Taylor approached with a cold expression, accompanied by Henry.<br /> Taylor's mother was in the nearby hospital, and she had just picked up Frank, planning to buy some food when she unexpectedly saw Wesley.<br /> Of course, she saw Mia, too.<br /> Seeing Wesley dining with a lady more attractive than herself, so soon after the divorce felt like a dagger twisting in Taylor's heart.<br /> Her anger was uncontrollable.<br /> Wesley merely glanced at Taylor, disinterested in engaging with her.<br /> Taylor was stung by his indifferent gaze. She stepped forward, glaring at Wesley. "Are you not going to explain to me?"<br /> Mia looked at Taylor, silently cursing her as a foolish lady.<br /> Wesley continued eating his noodles, lowering his head. "Get lost. Don't disturb me, or I won't hesitate to hit you."<br /> "What did you say?" Henry stepped forward, enraged. "Wesley, try laying a hand on her! Is that all you're capable of? Laying hands on ladies?"<br /> "No wonder Taylor looks down on you. You're truly disgusting trash. Apologize to Taylor now, or else you'll regret coming into this world."<br /> "And how will he regret it? Tell me." Aaron emerged, carrying a cleaver, smiling as he faced Henry and Taylor.<br /> "Mr. Turner, we dare not cause trouble in your place, but this guy is just..."<br /> Henry attempted to speak but was cut off as Aaron's cleaver struck his face, sending him sprawling to the ground.<br /> "Mr. Turner, sorry, we'll leave now." Taylor hastily helped Henry up and hurriedly left.<br /> These two individuals were fortunate to know the legendary story behind Eight Plates of Noodles and had successfully made reservations to dine here multiple times.<br /> Having distanced themselves a bit, Henry covered his face and pointed at Wesley. "Wesley, we have some unfinished business. If you're smart, come over here now and apologize."<br /> "Wesley, I've seen through you as well. I never expected that for the past five years, you've been using my money to keep a lady on the side. We'll settle the score slowly."<br /> As the two noticed Aaron glancing their way, they quickly shut their mouths and hurriedly left.<br /> Once they were out of eyeshots, Aaron fixed his gaze on Wesley. "Your dad doesn't know about your divorce yet, does he?"<br /> "What difference would it make if he did?" Wesley stretched lazily. "I've fulfilled my promise. I've given enough."<br /> Aaron nodded in acknowledgment without saying anything further.<br /> This piqued Mia's curiosity even more. "Is it like what the novels depict? Did you marry Taylor due to some special event?"<br /> Seeing Wesley's glare, Mia lowered her head to focus on her noodles. "I won't ask anymore."<br /> "For the past five years, you've been staying in the stairwell. It has been hard for you, but at least you're still untouched," Aaron remarked before swiftly departing.<br /> Mia stared at Wesley in disbelief, realizing that Aaron's words were meant for her ears.<br /> "What are you staring at? Eat your noodles," Wesley said. Mia chuckled.<br /> "Why are you laughing?"<br /> "You're blushing."<br /> "Nonsense," Wesley retorted.<br /> Unable to contain herself, Mia burst into laughter. She had tried to hold it in, but seeing Wesley's flushed face made it impossible.<br /> Ten minutes later, Mia left on her own accord, sensing that Wesley had something to discuss with Aaron.<br /> Inside Aaron's small shop, Wesley opened a bottle of wine. "Still single?"<br /> "I look too old, no one's interested," Aaron replied, opening a bottle of liquor as well.<br /> "Then why are you meddling in my love lives?"<br /> "Leave a child behind, even if you pass away, someone will remember you." Aaron took a sip. "I've actually investigated this Mia."<br /> "You investigated her?"<br /> "I knew you'd get a divorce. I've been keeping an eye on the pretty ones. This girl had done a lot of good deeds before coming to Yeadeo. Once, she saved three people in a flood and nearly lost her life. Opportunities are rare. You have to seize them."<br /> "When you've figured things out and are ready to marry, then we can discuss our affairs. That's the condition." Wesley downed the entire bottle of liquor.<br /> "Otherwise, don't bother meddling. We're on a one-way path and can't drag others along."<br /> "You..." Aaron sighed as he watched Wesley's retreating figure.<br /> On the road leading to the Feidgeuo Manor, Taylor stood gazing blankly at the entrance not far away.<br /> Twice in one day, she had come here.<br /> The first time was to pick up Frank, and this time was because Frank had lost his expensive watch. She and Henry hadn't even had a meal, rushing over to find it.<br /> The first time, she had come in a hurry when Frank was injured and left quickly as well.<br /> But this time, as Taylor looked at the entrance ahead, an infinite longing sprouted within her.<br /> "If only... I could live here, how wonderful that would be."<br /> Henry looked at her. "One day, I'll definitely build an estate more magnificent than this, and you'll be the lady of the house."<br /> As they conversed, a taxi drove by, stopping at the entrance. The person who got out of the taxi left Taylor stunned.<br /> She rubbed her eyes.	Adoread	147	https://facebook.com/61556400142540	LEARN_MORE	1713510000	View Edit Delete
1666893	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727710	1734958298	695	3572526059679069			1713682800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	226177680578601	0	Adoread	120207746049430265	client.adoread.com	Learn more	NONE	image	🔥🔥🔥 Read More👉	Hottest novel👉👉👉	https://client.adoread.com/book/loading/page/adoread/19161308412?utm_campaign={{campaign.id}}&utm_content={{campaign.name}}		1713519398	2.261776805786E+14	Adoread	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437724011_960421695526729_1516574307485338648_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QHGXZ-huQfoQ7kNvgHzczKd&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfA1G0W2GCJxETLnSTacq_-lPqPiWUWkbiLYII7Ir0AxBw&oe=663A90F9	person_profile	0	Adoread	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437891881_25238797299100336_7255863263127890524_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UeFxFDUJUZIQ7kNvgEeS_Bx&_nc_oc=AdiTRuuDuY6HRwjcUurcsHlsNxYlsWgvgJHiVXRjUHaZb6kg1K8E8f2HQ-z0coXk5QA8ZT6tVndcdcIOXE5PQdjL&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAumwy6FfvPM1CFZK2E_ded2st3Y2KINeCxuV2bVHiXTg&oe=663A61E5	0	3	"Wesley, are you trying to harm me? You useless piece of trash, can't even make a decent cup of coffee, can you?"<br /> Madison Blair lifted her coffee cup and splashed it directly onto Wesley Harrington's face.<br /> "What are you looking at, you spineless waste? Your name sounds so lofty? I might as well call you a waste."<br /> Glancing at the grotesque expression of his wife's mother, Wesley pulled out his phone to check the time.<br /> Exactly twelve o'clock. It had been five full years since he married Taylor Reed.<br /> The appointed time had come.<br /> He had fulfilled his promise, safeguarding the Reed family for five years, transforming them from a family living off fishing to one perceived as affluent by the common folk.<br /> Wiping the coffee off his face, he turned and walked away.<br /> "Where do you think you're going? Go fetch some more coffee," Madison shouted.<br /> "Madison, didn't you say this waste is obedient at home, doing whatever he's told? I don't think he's taking it lying down."<br /> Madison grew angrier. "Wesley, you stop right there. My family has fed and housed you. If you dare disobey, I'll have you thrown out!"<br /> Ignoring her, Wesley continued downstairs.<br /> "When Taylor comes back, I'll immediately have you two divorced. Do you hear me? Stay right there," Madison threatened, "I'll let you know your place today."<br /> Grabbing a golf club, Madison swiftly charged towards Wesley.<br /> Seeing Wesley heading downstairs, she swung the club viciously at his back.<br /> Without turning back, Wesley gently sidestepped.<br /> Losing her balance, Madison tumbled forward, rolling down the stairs with a series of thumps.<br /> "Ouch... it hurts, it hurts so much!"<br /> As Madison reached the ground floor, she wailed in pain and her sister immediately rushed to her.<br /> "Wesley, what have you done? How dare you hit my sister!" Madison's sister hurried down, checking on Madison's condition.<br /> Wesley remained silent, observing the scene.<br /> "Quick, call Taylor. Tell her to come back. Today, she must divorce this waste." Madison glared at Wesley. "How dare you hit me? Not only will I let Taylor divorce you, but I'll make sure you leave in disgrace."<br /> "Mum, what's wrong?" At that moment, a gent and a lady walked in.<br /> The lady was Taylor, Madison's daughter.<br /> She ran towards Madison.<br /> As Madison pointed at Wesley, tears streamed down her face. "Taylor, he hit me, he hit me! When you're not home, he changes his attitude, scolding and hitting me in the slightest displeasure. He even pushed me down the stairs just now. Alexis can testify."<br /> Madison's sister, Alexis Blair, chimed in. "Yes, Wesley, this trash not only hit your mother but also threatened to hit me too. We cannot tolerate such trash."<br /> "Taylor, I have been telling you to divorce him for years. You've been supporting him, treating him like a Lord at home, but he's an ungrateful wolf in sheep's clothing."<br /> Helping Madison up, Taylor noticed the scrapes on Madison's arms and legs, her expression turning cold.<br /> "Wesley, why did you hit my mother? You better give me an explanation."<br /> Wesley looked at Taylor, his wife.<br /> Five years had passed, and she had never shown him kindness.<br /> Taylor dressed impeccably, a paragon of a successful lady, with a face that could be deemed angelic, yet whether her heart was as angelic remained a mystery.<br /> Her figure, too, left countless men yearning.<br /> For five years, Wesley had thought he might develop feelings for this lady, but in reality, it never happened.<br /> "There are surveillance cameras in the house," Wesley stated calmly before descending the stairs into the hallway.<br /> Despite residing in a three-story villa, Wesley's living quarters were confined to the stairwell.<br /> He harbored no resentment towards this arrangement. It was merely a promise. It was just that Taylor failed to appreciate him.<br /> This home held little value that he wished to cling onto.<br /> Retrieving a wooden box from beneath his pillow, Wesley extracted two documents. Casting a fleeting glance at the modest abode he had called home for five years, Wesley smiled faintly.<br /> He thought, "Finally... I'm free."<br /> Pushing the door ajar, Wesley was met by Taylor's piercing gaze. "I've reviewed the surveillance footage. Yes, my mother intended to strike you, but even if she did, what difference would it make?"<br /> "She's a lady. How much could her blows hurt you? Why did you dodge?"<br /> "If you hadn't dodged, my mother wouldn't have tumbled down." Wesley stared at Taylor, unable to comprehend her thought process.<br /> He had no interest in engaging in these arguments. Handing over the two documents to Taylor, he remarked, "The divorce agreement. I've already signed it. Take a look. I'm leaving with nothing."<br /> "With your current influence, there's no need for you to visit the city hall. Someone will handle it for you, right?"<br /> Madison was taken aback. She swiftly snatched the divorce agreement, flipping through it hastily.<br /> The contents were indeed straightforward. Both parties willingly divorced, with Wesley relinquishing all claims and having already signed.<br /> In an instant, Madison's pain seemed to dissipate. "Taylor, sign it quickly. Sign it."<br /> Taylor was still in a daze.<br /> She pondered.<br /> "A divorce agreement? Wesley has already prepared a divorce agreement. On what grounds?"<br /> "What gives him the right to initiate a divorce? All these years, he's done nothing at home, lacking any ambition. Always practicing martial arts, what right does he have to seek a divorce?"<br /> "If anyone should initiate it, it should be me. Moreover, now that I'm back to discussing this matter with him. Could it be that word got out, and Wesley, for the sake of his pride, rushed to prepare a divorce agreement first?"<br /> "It must be so, but... No!"<br /> "Wanting to leave with nothing, is he retreating to advance? As the chairman of the Reed Group, how could I be served with a divorce?"<br /> "Hey Wesley, I never expected this from you. Have I not treated you well enough? You seek a divorce, attempting to turn your retreat into advance, aiming to embarrass me?"<br /> Taylor glared at Wesley. "I'm telling you, it's impossible."<br /> Snatching the divorce agreement, she tore it to shreds.<br /> "Taylor, what are you doing? Such a great opportunity. Why not just sign it and let him leave?" Madison grew anxious.<br /> "Mom, I do intend to divorce this trash, but the decision must come from me. I returned specifically to address this matter."<br /> With that, Taylor produced two documents. "Wesley, remember that it's me who's divorcing you. It's me who no longer wants you. Initially, out of marital obligation, I had considered offering you some compensation. Now, you don't even need to think about it. Sign the divorce agreement and leave my home."<br /> Wesley offered a faint smile as he accepted the divorce agreement.<br /> "What are you laughing at?" Taylor demanded angrily.<br /> Wesley's smile seemed to mock her, fueling her rage.<br /> Ignoring her entirely, Wesley signed the document and handed it over.<br /> "What are you laughing at? Answer me! Who do you think you are?" Taylor roared once more.<br /> Wesley glanced at her before striding towards the exit.<br /> "Stop!" The gent who had accompanied Taylor stepped forward, blocking Wesley's path. "Taylor asked you a question, and... Your previous attitude displeased me. Apologize to Taylor, or I'll have you leave in disgrace!"<br /> Chapter 2 The Unspoken Truth<br /> <br /> "Yes, let him leave in disgrace. He thought he could just hit me and walk away so easily," Madison joined in the commotion, also noticing the gent blocking Wesley's path.<br /> Madison had a keen interest in luxury goods, having frequented various high-end establishments over the years as the Reed family's living conditions improved. The gent was wearing an expensive watch and dressed head to toe in high-end luxury brands.<br /> Seeing Madison's gaze, the gent spoke. "Rest assured, today Wesley must pay the price."<br /> The gent introduced himself, looking at Wesley, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Henry Clark, the eldest son of the Clark family and the general manager of the Clark Group in the North District."<br /> "From now on, I will accompany Taylor on her journey of life, and I will not allow anyone to bully her."<br /> "My identity carries weight. You should understand that. Now, apologize to Taylor. Apologize! Did you hear me? Apologize!"<br /> Madison's eyes lit up. She hadn't expected the gent before her to hold such a high status. She continued to shout, "Did you hear that? Taylor will be with Mr. Clark from now on. Apologize now."<br /> Wesley glanced at Henry, then at Taylor. He thought, "Have they been together all along?" Wesley had wanted to ask but decided against it because there was no need. He simply gave them a glance and continued walking towards the exit.<br /> "Are you ignoring me?" Henry's face turned cold as he reached out to grab Wesley. Henry's hand froze mid-air as he received a solid hit.<br /> "Until I sign the divorce papers, Taylor and I are still wife and husband. I don't care to investigate whether you two had any intimate relationship during that time, but don't provoke me, or I won't hesitate to make you regret it." Wesley's gaze was icy, and as Henry met his eyes, he felt a twinge of fear and swallowed his words.<br /> Taylor was also stunned. She knew exactly what Wesley had been like over the past five years. There were many surveillance cameras in the house, and she would often check them.<br /> Even when Taylor wasn't home, despite how her family treated Wesley, he always obeyed without complaint, especially towards her. He had never raised his voice, no matter how they treated him.<br /> Today, not only did Wesley dodge when her mother struck, but he also initiated the divorce and now even struck Henry. <br /> Taylor was at a loss for words, thinking, "How could this cowardly gent dare? On what grounds does he dare?"<br /> This change was difficult for Taylor to accept as if she didn't truly understand this guy. The gent who used to be obedient to her, completely submissive, now revealed this side of himself. She watched Wesley walk away in a daze, feeling a strange discomfort in her heart.<br /> "Isn't he leaving with nothing?" Alexis pointed at the wooden box Wesley was holding. "What is he taking with him?"<br /> Madison also realized. Over the past five years, Wesley had always treasured this wooden box, carrying it with him wherever he went. She thought there must be something valuable inside.<br /> Realizing this, Madison hurriedly followed. "Wesley, stop right there, leave the wooden box."<br /> Wesley paused, glanced at Madison, and said, "This is my personal belonging."<br /> "Nonsense, what personal belonging could you possibly have after marrying into the Reed family? Everything you've eaten, worn, and lived in over the years has been provided by the Reed family. Put it down."<br /> As she spoke, Madison reached out to grab the wooden box.<br /> "Ah..." A scream rang out as Madison quickly retracted her hand, a gash appearing on her palm, a crimson liquid dripping.<br /> The wooden box was now stained with the same crimson liquid, trembling lightly in Wesley's hand.<br /> "It's not the right time yet, the day you thirst for this crimson liquid will come," Wesley murmured softly, patting the box before turning to continue his stride towards the exit.<br /> "Monster! A monster!" Madison screamed, causing Taylor and the others to rush out. Seeing the wound in Madison's hand, Taylor was filled with rage.<br /> "Wesley, aren't you going to say something?" Wesley halted once more, contemplating before meeting Taylor's gaze.<br /> "Just stay out of my way from now on. Consider this a warning to you."<br /> "Taylor, that wooden box of his has a mechanism. It must hold something valuable! We can't let him take it with him," Madison, enduring the pain, reminded them.<br /> "Mom, your injury is important. We'll deal with him later. Let me take you to the hospital first." Taylor comforted Madison before calling out to the retreating Wesley.<br /> "Our marriage is over! Yet, you dared to hurt my mother! This won't be the end of it! I will make you regret it!" Ignoring her, Wesley continued walking out.<br /> "Rest assured, I promise he won't see the light of day tomorrow." Henry stepped forward to console. "Let's focus on getting your wound treated first."<br /> "I want him to regret ever existing in this world, to apologize to me in repentance," Madison roared.<br /> "Mom, trust me, I will make him do just that." Taylor looked at Madison with a mix of pity and determination. "Let's go to the hospital first."<br /> In the villa area, Wesley halted, his voice cold. "Get out."<br /> An elderly gent leaped down from a tree, appearing to be in his seventies, yet landing silently from a height of around ten feet.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, your father wants you to come home and take charge."<br /> "He stopped being my father five years ago. He's my enemy."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you misunderstood your father. He had his reasons back then. I swear in my life, once you know the truth, you will forgive him."<br /> "Huh!" Wesley smirked coldly, saying, "I nearly passed away back then. Is that also a misunderstanding?"<br /> The old gent pleaded, "Mr. Harrington, this situation is truly not as you perceive it."<br /> Wesley didn't engage further with the old guy. The events of that year were etched in his memory forever. He was the one who had been abandoned. If not for that incident, why would he have stayed with the Reed family for five years?<br /> Watching Wesley walk away, the old gent had tears silently streaming down his face. "Mr. Harrington, I truly... I truly can't bring myself to speak the truth, but you have misunderstood your father. He also bears burdens and endures pains beyond what an ordinary person can handle."<br /> As Wesley's figure disappeared, the old gent stood up, hesitated for a moment, then dialed a number on his phone.<br /> "Mr. Harrington is now divorced. I've given you the news firsthand. If your daughter is truly together with Mr. Harrington, you must fulfill the promise and let her persuade Mr. Harrington to come home."<br /> After hanging up, a middle-aged gent in a luxurious estate jumped up excitedly. Calming himself, he immediately made another call. "My dear, you're at Yeadeo, right?<br /> "Go find Wesley now. Don't mention the engagement for now. Use every means to get close to him, make him fall in love with you."<br /> "Dad, I don't have time."<br /> "No matter what you are busy with, you must go find Wesley now. No matter what reason you approach him, you must leave a good impression the first time."<br /> "Dad, I'm in trouble right now. If I don't handle it well, I might be good as gone. I have to deal with it immediately. I'm hanging up."<br /> Chapter 3 You're Nothing<br /> The middle-aged gent's voice lowered significantly. "Is there a big incident happening? You didn't tell me? What happened?"<br /> "Quinn Kingsley from Yeadeo, Mr. Kingsley, used our product and now has one foot on the grave. If something really happens to him..."<br /> "You mean Quinn, the uncontested leader of Yeadeo?"<br /> "Yes."<br /> "In that case, you should go find Wesley. Trust me, in this world, there is no problem that Wesley can't solve. As long as he's willing to help, you'll be fine. Listen to me, go find Wesley immediately."<br /> The lady fell silent for a moment before saying, "Okay."<br /> At Yeadeo Harbor, a gent with a large flaxen chain and a watch, sporting a crew cut, hurriedly disembarked, accompanied by a dozen gentlemen.<br /> "Mr. Reed, wherever that trash is, we will find him and tear him apart."<br /> "Yes, that guy dared to harm your mother. We'll make sure he pays for it."<br /> Frank Reed's face turned cold. "Wesley, you coward, thinking you can overturn the world? How dare you touch my mom? Just wait until I find you, you're finished."<br /> "We've found him. Wesley got into a taxi, and our boys followed him."<br /> "Let's go!" Frank waved his hand, leading dozens of men who boarded the car with harpoons, steel pipes, and other weapons.<br /> Inside the taxi, Wesley gazed at the scenery outside, feeling a strange sense of tranquility.<br /> He thought to himself, "I never imagined that while I was secretly paving the way for the Reed family, Taylor, after progressing so rapidly, would start looking down on me more and more."<br /> "Those ladies who know my true identity, which one of them isn't trying to throw themselves at me? Ladies like that don't interest me."<br /> "Being an ordinary gent is truly difficult," Wesley murmured, smiling faintly and deciding not to dwell on these matters anymore. He had important things to attend to and no time to waste on personal affairs.<br /> "Young lad, are you going to Feidgeuo Manor for a job interview?" The driver, curious about Wesley's destination, inquired.<br /> Feidgeuo Manor was Yeadeo's most mysterious private area. Originally a villa area, it was bought at a huge cost five years ago and completely renovated. It was said to have cost a trillion dollars. The former villa area was now Feidgeuo Manor.<br /> "That's my home," Wesley replied nonchalantly.<br /> The driver was taken aback by this revelation, silently cursing Wesley for bragging. After a couple of minutes, the driver regained his composure. "It seems like you and I both prefer to keep a low profile. My car usually gathers dust at home, so I occasionally drive a taxi to experience life."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "My car has been driven by my assistant for the past few years, so it's not gathering dust."<br /> "Haha..." The driver laughed. "We should get together sometime and see whose car is more impressive."<br /> "Sure, whenever we have the time."<br /> As they chatted, the vehicle soon arrived near Feidgeuo Manor, where the massive head of the Feidgeuo Peak protruded, creating a unique landscape in Yeadeo.<br /> The driver asked with a smile, "Since you're the owner here, it's fine if I drive in, right?"<br /> "Of course," Wesley replied.<br /> As soon as Wesley spoke, several cars caught up from behind.<br /> The cars surrounded the one Wesley was in, with the front vehicles braking to force the car to a stop.<br /> When numerous people descended from cars wielding harpoons and steel pipes, the driver's face paled.<br /> Frank and his group got out of the cars, instantly closing in, and without hesitation, started attacking, the steel pipes and harpoons thudding against the car.<br /> Frank's henchman yanked open the door of Wesley's car, poised to stab Wesley with a harpoon, but Wesley swiftly exited the vehicle.<br /> With a firm step on the ground, he launched a swift hit.<br /> A muffled sound echoed as the henchman was hit away.<br /> "What are you looking at?" Frank noticed his henchmen were all staring at him. "All of you, attack together and take him down!"<br /> As he commanded, the henchmen Frank brought with him surged forward.<br /> The taxi driver, trembling, took out his phone to call the police, but Frank glared at him. "I am Frank Reed from Yeadeo Harbor. If you dare, go ahead and make that call."<br /> Frank, leveraging his sister Taylor's status, had been causing trouble in Yeadeo Harbor, and no one dared to provoke him.<br /> Upon hearing Frank's name, the driver hastily put away his phone. "Mr. Reed, I'll just check the time, you guys continue."<br /> "Huh!" Frank snorted coldly, casting his gaze towards the surrounded Wesley.<br /> The sounds of thuds continued to ring out incessantly. Because Wesley was completely surrounded, Frank was unable to see the situation inside clearly, but he could imagine it. After all, in Frank's mind, the henchmen under his command were not to be trifled with.<br /> "Hit him hard for me!"<br /> Another muffled sound and a figure flew out. At that moment, Frank finally saw the situation clearly, and his face turned pale.<br /> Frank knew that Wesley liked to practice martial arts, but he had never expected Wesley to be this skilled. It wasn't Wesley who had been beaten, but his own men by Wesley alone.<br /> Frantically, Frank turned and ran to retrieve a crossbow from the car.<br /> "Clear the way." Frank bellowed, aiming the crossbow at Wesley.<br /> "You scumbag, you think you can fight? Move one more time, and I'll end your life! Surrender!"<br /> Wesley, holding a wooden box, stared at Frank. Ignoring the crossbow in his hand, Wesley said, "Tell your henchmen to back off, or you'll all see the light from above!"<br /> "You're really good at pretending to be tough." Frank took two steps forward. "See the light? Move a muscle and see if I can end your life or not! If you don't have the guts, apologize now!"<br /> Wesley turned his head and looked at the approaching cars, with two expensive ones in the lead, two more in the rear, and another one in the middle.<br /> "Keep acting tough, and I'll put a hole in your head." Frank spoke while glancing at the five cars. "What, looking for help?"<br /> "Let me tell you, those who ride in these cars are not the kind of weaklings like you who rely on connections. With me here, in Yeadeo's social hierarchy, even those who ride in such cars wouldn't dare meddle in this matter. And let me make it clear, without my sister, you're nothing."<br /> Chapter 4 Is He Worthy?<br /> As Frank's words faded, the five cars came to a halt.<br /> A bodyguard opened the door of the one in the middle, revealing a dazzling pair of shining shoes catching everyone's eye.<br /> The shining shoe encased a beautiful foot. Above, the skirt's hem was adorned with lace.<br /> Then, like a fairy stepping out of a painting, she appeared before everyone's eyes.<br /> The lady was beautiful!<br /> Frank was mesmerized. Ever since the Reed family rose to prominence, he had been surrounded by ladies, but compared to the elegant lady before him, they were worlds apart.<br /> It wasn't just a difference in appearance but an incomparable gap in demeanor.<br /> The lady descending from the Maybach seemed like a celestial being untouched by mortal affairs.<br /> The embodiment of a fairy in the mundane world.<br /> She simply stood there after getting out of the car, perfectly embodying what it meant to be graceful and elegant.<br /> The lady glanced at Wesley, then at Frank.<br /> Frank grinned, saying, "May I have the honor of knowing the name of this esteemed lady? I am Frank..."<br /> The lady spoke calmly. "Disrespect Mr. Harrington, and you're done for."<br /> Her bodyguards, unfazed by Frank's crossbow, swiftly overwhelmed him, sending him crashing to the ground.<br /> The henchmen who had come with Frank, previously defeated by Wesley, now scrambled to their feet and fled in all directions.<br /> Who would dare provoke someone who could afford such a car?<br /> "My sister is Taylor Reed, the chairperson of Reed Group," Frank shouted, clutching his head.<br /> Ignoring him, one of the bodyguards dragged him to the roadside grass while another used a belt to tighten around Frank's neck, exerting pressure.<br /> "Enough, a lesson is all that's needed." Wesley spoke calmly, and only when the lady gestured did the bodyguards release Frank.<br /> Frank lay there, already unconscious.<br /> Wesley turned to the lady. "Who are you?"<br /> "I am Mia Roberts, the general manager of Vinver Business Alliance's Yeadeo branch." She looked at Wesley and continued, "Mr. Harrington, my father mentioned that you have miraculous healing skills and earnestly requested your assistance. A generous reward awaits."<br /> Wesley furrowed his brow slightly, thinking, "There are indeed people who recognize my abilities and status, yet I've rarely intervened in the past five years. Today, shortly after I divorced Taylor, she is here. Whose arrangement is this?"<br /> "Mr. Harrington, my father also mentioned that you are benevolent and has raised the banner of compassion among healers, serving as a role model and benchmark for all in the medical field."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "You have a way with words. Tell me the specifics."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, please get in the car first. I will explain in detail on the way."<br /> The phrase "compassionate healer" held significant weight for Wesley, who had saved countless lives from the brink of death.<br /> Without further ado, he got into the car.<br /> Inside, after Mia brewed coffee for Wesley, she began. "Vinver Business Alliance has a wide range of business operations, and I mainly oversee the health supplement sector, which has seen some success in recent years.<br /> "Recently, Quinn Kingsley started using our medicines, and now there's an accident."<br /> As she spoke, Mia kept her gaze fixed on Wesley.<br /> Quinn, the undisputed leader of Yeadeo, was a figure of immense influence.<br /> Upon hearing this name, Wesley showed no particular reaction. "If the city's leader faces issues with your products, it is indeed a concern. Let's go and see."<br /> With just a sentence, Wesley leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest.<br /> Mia was secretly alarmed, thinking, "He knows who Quinn is, yet he seems indifferent. Who is this Wesley, really? No wonder Dad has instructed me to find a way to win his favor." Mia's inner resistance toward Wesley quietly shifted.<br /> Wesley had piqued her curiosity.<br /> As the vehicle was moving, Wesley's phone rang.<br /> Wesley opened his eyes and took out his phone to see Taylor calling.<br /> Pressing the answer button, he asked, "What's the matter?"<br /> On the other end of the line, Taylor, driving towards Feidgeuo Manor, had a grim expression.<br /> She thought, "Has Wesley ever spoken to me in such a cold tone before? Is he really this heartless right after our divorce?"<br /> Already furious, she snapped. "Wesley, do you even consider yourself a human being?<br /> "Today, not only did you lay hands on my mother, but you also had someone attack my brother. Do you not remember our past at all?"<br /> Wesley calmly replied, "Do we have a past to remember?"<br /> "You truly are a heartless scumbag, just as my mother said. You are an ungrateful and vicious person I raised for five years. Even a pet would wag its tail at me!"<br /> Taylor wanted to continue her tirade, but the phone line had already turned busy.<br /> This only fueled her anger further.<br /> Just now, she had received a call from Frank's underlings, informing her that Wesley had sent people to attack Frank and even intended to end him.<br /> Taylor wanted to demand answers, but...<br /> As Taylor was clutching her fists, her gaze turned icy.<br /> After a moment, she picked up her phone again. "Wesley, you are so narrow-minded. You have no ambition. Any lady would steer clear of you."<br /> "Just because I dumped you, you are doing this on purpose to make me feel sick. Pretending to be aloof and seeking revenge? Do you even deserve it?"<br /> "In Yeadeo, squashing you would be as easy as squashing an ant. You're asking for it! If anything happens to my brother, I will make you wish you were ending!"<br /> Her furious voice message echoed in the car.<br /> Wesley chuckled and put away his phone.<br /> Beside him, Mia seemed contemplative. Before coming, she had already ordered a swift investigation into Wesley.<br /> She was curious, thinking, "How could someone valued by my father could be the one 'marrying into' the Reed family."<br /> Being tactful, Mia chose not to ask and pretended not to have heard.<br /> After about forty minutes, they arrived at the Kingsley Manor.<br /> The Kingsley family members, upon seeing Mia alight from the car, all wore grim expressions.<br /> Mia greeted them with a smile, "Everyone, this is Wesley Harrington, Mr. Harrington, the miraculous healer I specially invited to treat Mr. Kingsley."<br /> "Him? The gent who married into the Reed family?"<br /> "A miraculous healer? Is he even worthy? Are healers so worthless now?"<br /> "A useless gent who mooches off of the Reed family? How dare he call himself a miraculous healer? Truly a joke among all jokes."<br /> Chapter 5 Compassionate Healer<br /> Amanda Kingsley, Quinn's granddaughter, stared coldly at Wesley and Mia.<br /> This lady, dressed in a smart suit, also held significant fame in Yeadeo, overseeing the region's business activities, including investment attraction and various local business negotiations.<br /> Amanda had a favorable view of Taylor, who had risen swiftly in recent times, and they had interacted frequently.<br /> She was aware of Wesley's existence and had advised Taylor to part ways with him early on.<br /> But Amanda never imagined that Mia would bring someone like Wesley, a complete waste, and claim he was a miraculous healer.<br /> Glaring at Mia, she said, "Mia, once my grandfather is well, it's best for your Roberts family to leave Yeadeo."<br /> "As for you..." She glanced at Wesley. "I will advise Taylor to divorce you. You have deceived Taylor's feelings and now shamelessly made your way into my family. You are a despicable creature."<br /> After reprimanding Mia and Wesley, she turned to an elderly gent beside her, and her tone and attitude completely changed. "Mr. Phillips, sorry to trouble you. My grandfather is inside, please."<br /> Mia looked at the elderly gent, who was already in his twilight years, feeling deeply shocked.<br /> Scott Phillips, the 38th generation heir of the Healing Clinic, was now ninety-two years old.<br /> Renowned as a miraculous healer, he was a respected figure in the medical community of Yeadeo and even nationally.<br /> He no longer conducted consultations personally due to his old age. Mia had visited him specifically to pay her respects once she had arrived in Yeadeo but had not met Scott.<br /> She never expected Scott to appear in person. It was understandable, as Quinn held a prominent position in the city. Despite the profound influence of the Phillips family, they still had to show respect to Quinn.<br /> Mia looked at Wesley, feeling conflicted and thinking, "Dad has confidently claimed that Wesley has extraordinary abilities, but does he really?"<br /> She harbored doubts, but out of propriety, Mia spoke. "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the trouble."<br /> Wesley smiled, "It's fine. As long as the person can be healed."<br /> His open-mindedness impressed Mia.<br /> After about half an hour, Amanda emerged from the room. All eyes instantly turned towards her.<br /> It was evident that Amanda had wailed out, with traces of tears still visible.<br /> "Amanda, how is it?" A middle-aged gent anxiously asked her.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family who had rushed back also focused their attention on her.<br /> "Mr. Phillips said that there's little hope of recovery. He could only use acupuncture to wake grandfather for half an hour. When grandfather wakes up, let's all go in and see if he has any final instructions."<br /> Everyone was shocked.<br /> "How could this be?"<br /> "Is Mr. Phillips also helpless?"<br /> The members of the Kingsley family found it hard to accept this reality, especially since Quinn had always treated his juniors well.<br /> The thought of Quinn departing saddened some, and tears silently fell.<br /> Publicly, Quinn's status was the foundation of the Kingsley family's prominence in Yeadeo.<br /> If Quinn were to pass away, the Kingsley family would undoubtedly decline.<br /> The atmosphere within the Kingsley family was somber.<br /> Amanda looked at her family members, opened her mouth, but said nothing, silently turning back into the room.<br /> "Stop crying," A middle-aged gent said sternly, "Dad wouldn't want to see you all in tears. If he's really leaving, we mustn't let him worry about us. Pull yourselves together."<br /> After these words, the middle-aged gent also entered the room.<br /> The younger members of the Kingsley family wiped their tears vigorously, trying to force smiles, but in truth, they looked better at crying than pretending to be happy.<br /> Mia's spirit plummeted as she realized the gravity of the situation. Even if an ordinary person passed away from consuming health supplements, it spelled big trouble for those who sold them. And when the deceased happened to be Quinn, the stakes were even higher.<br /> She understood that it would be difficult for this branch to stay in Yeadeo, and even the headquarters might face repercussions.<br /> "Let's go in and have a look." Wesley glanced at Mia. "There might still be a chance."<br /> "Ah..." Mia stared at Wesley in surprise. Seeing him already heading towards the room, she quickly followed suit.<br /> Inside the room, the members of the Kingsley family stood around the mattress, maintaining a certain distance.<br /> Scott lit the alcohol lamp and took out the needles, his expression solemn.<br /> He looked at the members of the Kingsley family. "Think about what you want to say to Mr. Kingsley later. Once you're ready, let me know, and then I'll proceed with the acupuncture."<br /> As he said this, tears welled up in many eyes.<br /> "If you don't mind, let me take a look. I have a way." Wesley spoke up, drawing everyone's attention.<br /> Amanda's face darkened. "Who let you in? Get out!"<br /> "Mia, have you lost your mind? Tricked by this trash and actually brought him here as a miracle healer. Get out with him! I'll settle the score with you in a couple of days."<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, at a loss for words.<br /> "Even Mr. Phillips is unable to reverse the situation. What use are you? Get out." Another younger member of the Kingsley family angrily rebuked.<br /> The middle-aged gent added, "We're in no mood right now. You better leave immediately."<br /> "I understand your narrow-mindedness," Wesley continued, "But as a healer, once I see a patient, I cannot stand by and watch him draw his last breath."<br /> "Wesley, you're quite the charlatan. Do you really want to be gone right now?" Amanda's voice was filled with anger.<br /> "Amanda, let me say a few words," Scott interjected, and Amanda fell silent.<br /> Looking at Wesley, Scott began. "Young lad, at my age, I've seen a lot and have a broad perspective. Today, however, I find it hard to remain indifferent. I practiced medicine from the age of sixteen until I stopped seeing patients for a total of seventy years."<br /> "I've saved countless patients from various illnesses. I never easily declare a patient's fate, nor do I believe I have the right to do so."<br /> "But from your recent remarks, it seems like you're accusing me of such actions. Young people wanting to make a name for themselves by stepping on the shoulders of their predecessors, I can understand."<br /> "But this kind of behavior displeases me."<br /> "My displeasure, what does it mean to you? Do you understand?"<br /> "Even if you are a healer, your career will be ruined because of this."<br /> Chapter 6 Hand of Hell<br /> In the face of Scott's veiled threats, Wesley simply smiled and brushed them off.<br /> Looking at Scott, he asked, "I've always focused on the issue at hand rather than attacking individuals. I have a few questions for you. If you can't administer the needles, how long do you think Quinn can hold on?"<br /> "Seven days, but he will remain unconscious," Scott replied bluntly.<br /> "Then let me ask you this, is there anyone in the world with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "Outrageous," Amanda coldly interjected, "Mr. Phillips is unparalleled in his medical expertise."<br /> Scott glanced at Amanda. "Amanda, let me handle this question."<br /> Continuing to address Wesley, he said, "I don't underestimate myself, nor do I overestimate. There are countless talented individuals in the world, like stars in the sky. I may not dare claim to be the best in medical skills, but those who surpass me are few."<br /> "That means there are some," Wesley calmly remarked, causing Scott's expression to shift slightly, "Indeed, there are."<br /> "Then let me ask you this. Do you think within seven days, the Kingsley family won't find someone with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "If they do find someone, do you believe there is an illness that you cannot cure, but this person can?"<br /> Wesley's questions were sharp and resounding.<br /> Scott's face changed once more as he was rendered speechless.<br /> "Even if there is, that person will never be you." Amanda's face turned icy. "Now get out. Don't spout your eloquence here. Your deceitful behavior is repulsive."<br /> "Your understanding of me is merely hearsay, isn't it?" Wesley retorted, his gaze mocking Amanda, "Has your background and education taught you such arrogance and prejudice?"<br /> "Arrogance?" Amanda's face grew colder as she disdainfully looked at Wesley. "Prejudice?<br /> "Did I say something wrong just now? You are nothing but stagnant waste, a parasite living off others. If it weren't for Taylor, you would have starved on the streets long ago."<br /> "Relying on sweet words, deceiving Taylor. She, with her kind heart, can't bear to divorce you, but don't push your luck. If it weren't for Taylor's sake, you would have been sent out long ago."<br /> Scott interrupted Amanda, "Amanda, although I find this lad a bit annoying, what he said does hold some truth. There are indeed individuals with better medical skills than me. Your grandfather can hold on for seven days. Try reaching out to see if someone can come over. I'll help you make connections."<br /> "If it really doesn't work out after seven days, I'll administer the needles to your grandfather. However, at that point, I can only buy you three minutes."<br /> As soon as Scott spoke, the faces of the Kingsley family members grew even more solemn. True healers were rare and not easily summoned.<br /> While the Kingsley family had connections in Yeadeo, their influence waned outside of it.<br /> "Mr. Phillips, please administer the needles. Life has its ups and downs, and we understand that. Just buy my father a bit more time." The middle-aged gent spoke up.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family nodded in agreement.<br /> Amanda looked at Scott. "Mr. Phillips, please."<br /> "In that case, please have everyone unrelated leave. I need silence," Scott calmly stated.<br /> Amanda glared at Wesley, her eyes speaking volumes without a word.<br /> The unrelated individuals were, naturally, Wesley and Mia.<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, intending to leave, but she suddenly hesitated.<br /> Instead of leaving, Wesley moved forward.<br /> "What are you doing?" A young member of the Kingsley family stepped forward with a stern expression, pushing Wesley.<br /> In one swift motion, Wesley executed a clean shoulder throw, toppling the young gent to the ground, his own expression turning cold.<br /> "A bunch of fools! If it weren't for my teacher's teachings about not turning a blind eye to those in need, I wouldn't bother with you ignorant lot," Wesley remarked with disdain.<br /> As Wesley effortlessly took down one individual from the Kingsley family, the others seemed slow to react.<br /> By the time they realized what was happening, Wesley had already picked up the needle next to Scott and casually flicked his wrist.<br /> The needle flew out of his hand, piercing Quinn's temple, followed by a second needle, a third needle, and so on.<br /> "What are you doing? Stop!" Amanda's voice rose in urgency, echoed by the rest of the Kingsley family members who rushed forward to restrain Wesley.<br /> "Stay back, everyone. Wait." Scott suddenly stood up, blocking the others. "Let him try."<br /> Amanda and the others were left dumbfounded, thinking, "What does this mean?"<br /> Despite their confusion, they heeded Scott's words.<br /> After Scott stopped the members of the Kingsley family, he fixed his gaze on Wesley.<br /> Wesley proceeded to use eighteen needles in succession, symbolizing the levels of pain.<br /> Even if someone had descended into the depths of hell, they must be brought back.<br /> The final needle, also piercing a vital point, caused Quinn's body to tremble suddenly, resonating with the previous eighteen needles.<br /> Scott's eyes widened, his body trembling slightly. His reaction left Amanda and the others even more puzzled, but none dared to interrupt.<br /> Moments later, Wesley placed a palm on Quinn's chest, causing all eighteen needles to be shaken off. When all the needles landed on the ground, the part of the skin where the needles had pierced turned dark.<br /> Wesley then dragged Quinn to the edge of the mattress, flipped him over with his head facing downwards, and gave him a firm pat on the back.<br /> Quinn spat out a mouthful of black liquid. When Wesley flipped him back to lie flat, his complexion had regained some color.<br /> "The Hand of Darkness... It's the Hand of Darkness!" Scott exclaimed with excitement, his body quivering, "It's the Hand that descends into the dark world, snatching people from the hands of the Evil!"<br /> "You do have some knowledge, recognizing the Hand of Darkness." Wesley glanced at Scott.<br /> Scott's gaze towards Wesley had undergone a drastic change. He respectfully clasped his hands together.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thirty years ago, I had the honor of attending a teaching conference held by Mr. Vanderbilt. I saw the Hand of Darkness, but my limited aptitude only allowed me to grasp the basics."<br /> "I have been blind and ignorant. I apologize for my earlier offenses. Please forgive me, Mr. Harrington."<br /> The Mr. Vanderbilt Scott referred to was Wesley's teacher, Ulysses Vanderbilt. He generously imparted his skills to others, but the ability to learn depended on one's innate talent.<br /> In this world, few could learn Ulysses' skills.<br /> Scott had been fortunate to receive guidance from Ulysses, which had elevated his medical skills. However, the Hand of Darkness, a miraculous ability, was beyond his comprehension.<br /> Wesley smiled faintly, "Your actions earlier are understandable. I appreciate your words."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you must be an exceptional disciple of Mr. Vanderbilt, possessing unparalleled magnanimity. Impressive," Scott continued.<br /> "Enough with the flattery at your age."<br /> "You are mistaken, Mr. Harrington. Every word I speak is sincere."<br /> Mia, Amanda, and the others stood bewildered by the unfolding situation.<br /> "Mr. Phillips... he... he..." Amanda's words faltered.<br /> Scott turned to the members of the Kingsley family. "Meeting Mr. Harrington was Quinn's luck. His symptoms have been cured by Mr. Harrington. With a few days of rest, he will be fine."<br /> The waste Taylor had previously said was called Mr. Harrington by Scott!<br /> Recalling their previous attitudes, Amanda hurriedly apologized, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> The members of the Kingsley family all apologized in unison, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> Chapter 7 Eight Plates of Noodles<br /> With a faint smile, Wesley remarked, "As family members of a patient, your actions earlier are understandable. There's no need for such formality."<br /> Amanda's perplexity deepened as she thought, "Where is the cowardly waste that Taylor described? This display of magnanimity and breadth is far from it."<br /> Mia, too, felt a shiver of realization, thinking, "No wonder Dad has insisted on my proximity to Wesley.<br /> This guy..."<br /> She gazed at Wesley, her curiosity piqued, a sense of exploration stirring within her.<br /> "Mia has brought you here, Mr. Harrington, to cure my grandfather. The Kingsley family will never forget this act. However, considering that my grandfather's ailment stemmed from the health supplements produced by the Vinver Business Alliance, we will be conducting an investigation into it."<br /> Amanda continued, looking at Wesley, "What do you think... of this approach?"<br /> It was Mia who had invited Wesley, so Amanda had grown wiser, refraining from asking for a direct punishment of the Vinver Business Alliance.<br /> As Mia heard Amanda's words, her heart skipped a beat, realizing trouble was brewing.<br /> "On the way here, Ms. Roberts briefed me on the situation. You conducted experiments on mice, correct?"<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes, the health supplements we received were exclusively provided by the Roberts family. There were no similar cases on the market, so we used mice for testing.<br /> "All the mice that ingested this supplement were gone."<br /> She looked at Mia and added, her voice turned colder. "Before the experiment, I specifically contacted Mia to inquire about the testing methods during the development phase, which involved mice."<br /> "There have been individuals eyeing my grandfather's position, some even wishing for his demise. I never imagined that the Vinver Business Alliance, which I attracted for investment, would become a weapon in someone else's hands."<br /> "Do you have any of the remaining medicine?" Wesley inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes."<br /> "Bring some over."<br /> Immediately, someone fetched the medicine. After it was brought to him, Wesley took out a supplement and swallowed it directly.<br /> This scene left Amanda and the others dumbfounded.<br /> Scott, too, was bewildered. "Mr. Harrington, what are you doing?"<br /> Wesley smiled, "Just proving that this medicine is not toxic."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thank you," Mia thanked sincerely, feeling like sobbing at that moment.<br /> Amanda, with a puzzled expression, looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, are you suggesting that my grandfather's condition wasn't caused by the Vinver Business Alliance's medicine? What about the mice?"<br /> The rest were equally puzzled.<br /> "Yes, but not entirely," Wesley said, leaving everyone even more bewildered.<br /> Mia's emotions were like a rollercoaster ride, from relief to immediate tension.<br /> "This medicine itself is not toxic, but when taken with another substance made from a certain plant, it results in Quinn's condition. The mice would die immediately, while humans could endure a few more days."<br /> Wesley continued to explain, "The plant used in this concoction is originally meant for crafting slow-acting toxins, not for human consumption."<br /> Looking at Amanda, Wesley said, "During this period, whoever had access to your grandfather and the mice will better understand why these events occurred."<br /> The gaze of members of the Kingsley family immediately focused on a lady.<br /> Amanda, somewhat incredulous, looked at her. "Can you offer an explanation?"<br /> The lady was the wife of Amanda's deceased brother. She found it hard to accept, as did the rest of the Kingsley family.<br /> This lady had been named the exemplary lady who served her family well this year, not due to her connection with the Kingsley family but because she genuinely deserved it.<br /> "What do you mean? Amanda, what explanation do you want from me?"<br /> The lady stared at Amanda. "Am I the only one who had access to Grandfather and the mice? You, and you... and you, who didn't have access?"<br /> "You all claim to treat me as family. Since I married into the Kingsley family, I have worked diligently, contributing my share even if not acknowledged."<br /> "Amanda, it has been over a year since your brother passed, and I never once considered remarrying. Now, just because of his words, you demand an explanation from me?"<br /> Pointing at Wesley, the lady questioned, "Just because he accuses me of poisoning, you suspect me? Tell me, did I poison him?" The lady glared at Wesley.<br /> "I am merely analyzing the facts. As for concluding this case, it's not within my purview," Wesley addressed the members of the Kingsley family, saying, "You should conduct a thorough investigation into this matter.<br /> "I will write a prescription. Have Quinn take it on time, and he will recover in seven days."<br /> Amanda hurried to fetch paper and pen while Wesley prepared the prescription. Once done, he was ready to leave.<br /> Amanda said hurriedly, "Mr. Harrington, I've already made arrangements for lunch."<br /> "No need," Wesley smiled.<br /> The Kingsley family sought to build closer ties with Wesley, given his extraordinary medical skills. Wesley was well aware of this.<br /> Looking at Amanda and the others, Wesley remarked, "In the future, if you encounter any difficult medical cases that others cannot solve, seek me out. Remember, cases others cannot solve."<br /> The gaze of the Kingsley family members toward Wesley changed once again. Many renowned healers had eccentric personalities and were difficult to engage.<br /> They hadn't expected Wesley to possess such remarkable medical skills without any airs.<br /> As Wesley prepared to depart, the members of the Kingsley family did not dare to insist on his stay, so they accompanied him outside.<br /> "Oh, how could we forget such an important matter? Amanda, what about the consultation fee?" The middle-aged gent inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the oversight. Please wait a moment." Amanda hurried back inside and soon returned with a bank card in hand.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, there's one million dollars in here."<br /> Without hesitation, Wesley accepted the bank card and boarded Mia's car.<br /> During the journey, Mia boldly looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, you've helped me immensely. Can I treat you to a meal? Don't decline in a hurry. It's not a fancy restaurant, but it will leave you wanting more. It's a small place on the street, with only eight plates of noodles served each day, each plate containing different ingredients."<br /> "I managed to secure a reservation. Are you interested?"<br /> Wesley thought, "Eight Plates of Noodles?<br /> "Ah, Aaron's restaurant. It has been a while since I visited those old friends."<br /> Wesley nodded. "Let's go then."<br /> The restaurant, Eight Plates of Noodles, was located on Chanxold Street near the Yeadeo First Central Hospital.<br /> The establishment was small, serving only eight plates of noodles each day at a price of 10 thousand dollars each. Vernoic's television culinary program had specifically covered this incident.<br /> Reservations were a must to secure a plate.<br /> The restaurant's owner had a mysterious background. While the specifics were unknown, a high-ranking noble from the capital of Vernoic, Kingsland, had caused a scene there once.<br /> He had attempted to force his way in without a reservation. Although this incident hadn't been reported, rumors suggested that a garbage truck had to be called to dispose of the intruder's remains, as he was too shattered to be removed by conventional means.<br /> Since then, no one dared to cause trouble.<br /> On their way, Mia introduced Wesley to the background story.<br /> "Mr. Turner, two plates of noodles." Mia called out once they arrived.<br /> Aaron Turner didn't respond but visibly paused upon seeing Wesley beside Mia.<br /> A faint smile appeared on his usually stoic face. Though the flesh on the face seemed stiff, it was indeed a smile. "Coming right up."<br /> Chapter 8 You Are Blushing<br /> Mia glanced at Aaron with a hint of surprise, thinking, "When does he become so warm and enthusiastic?<br /> His tone seemed a bit agitated earlier, didn't it?"<br /> Soon enough, Aaron brought two plates of noodles to the table. One steaming hot and the other devoid of any warmth.<br /> As Mia observed Aaron placing the plate without steam in front of Wesley, her expression changed slightly.<br /> It was a plate of instant noodles having soaked in cold water, with the seasoning barely dissolved.<br /> She felt a sense of panic. Mia had wanted to leave a good impression on Wesley, which was why she had chosen this place.<br /> However, Aaron had served such a plate of noodles.<br /> She dared not question Aaron. The type of noodles served here was not determined by the guests but by Aaron's mood.<br /> "This lass named Mia is quite something, living up to her name, and quite kind-hearted," Aaron remarked, looking at Wesley.<br /> "Get lost," Wesley retorted, using his fork to pick up the noodles and devouring them.<br /> Mia's face turned pale instantly. Disrespecting Aaron was akin to risking Wesley's life.<br /> To her astonishment, Aaron chuckled, tears welling up in his eyes.<br /> He wiped them away. "Alright, I'll leave you to your meal."<br /> Before departing, he gave Mia a thumbs-up. "Seize the opportunity."<br /> The eight plates of noodles symbolized the eight comrades who had faced life and hardships together.<br /> Wesley ate voraciously. Initially, they had only one pack of instant noodles to share among the eight of them, forcing them to divide it.<br /> Despite the circumstances, they devoured the noodles joyfully.<br /> Aaron had promised that once they survived, each one would have the most delicious plate of noodles.<br /> However, five of the eight had perished.<br /> Wesley had come dangerously close to life-threatening situations, but managed to cling to life.<br /> For him, the plate of noodles was not food but the bond of friendship that had shielded him from harm.<br /> "Do you... know each other?" Mia couldn't help but ask, her voice low and curious.<br /> "Some things are better left unknown," Wesley replied.<br /> Mia nodded in understanding, falling silent as they continued eating noodles. She couldn't help stealing glances at Wesley throughout the meal.<br /> This gent had piqued her curiosity even more.<br /> "Wesley, I see. No wonder you agreed to the divorce so readily. You've already found someone else outside."<br /> A sharp voice interrupted their meal.<br /> Taylor approached with a cold expression, accompanied by Henry.<br /> Taylor's mother was in the nearby hospital, and she had just picked up Frank, planning to buy some food when she unexpectedly saw Wesley.<br /> Of course, she saw Mia, too.<br /> Seeing Wesley dining with a lady more attractive than herself, so soon after the divorce felt like a dagger twisting in Taylor's heart.<br /> Her anger was uncontrollable.<br /> Wesley merely glanced at Taylor, disinterested in engaging with her.<br /> Taylor was stung by his indifferent gaze. She stepped forward, glaring at Wesley. "Are you not going to explain to me?"<br /> Mia looked at Taylor, silently cursing her as a foolish lady.<br /> Wesley continued eating his noodles, lowering his head. "Get lost. Don't disturb me, or I won't hesitate to hit you."<br /> "What did you say?" Henry stepped forward, enraged. "Wesley, try laying a hand on her! Is that all you're capable of? Laying hands on ladies?"<br /> "No wonder Taylor looks down on you. You're truly disgusting trash. Apologize to Taylor now, or else you'll regret coming into this world."<br /> "And how will he regret it? Tell me." Aaron emerged, carrying a cleaver, smiling as he faced Henry and Taylor.<br /> "Mr. Turner, we dare not cause trouble in your place, but this guy is just..."<br /> Henry attempted to speak but was cut off as Aaron's cleaver struck his face, sending him sprawling to the ground.<br /> "Mr. Turner, sorry, we'll leave now." Taylor hastily helped Henry up and hurriedly left.<br /> These two individuals were fortunate to know the legendary story behind Eight Plates of Noodles and had successfully made reservations to dine here multiple times.<br /> Having distanced themselves a bit, Henry covered his face and pointed at Wesley. "Wesley, we have some unfinished business. If you're smart, come over here now and apologize."<br /> "Wesley, I've seen through you as well. I never expected that for the past five years, you've been using my money to keep a lady on the side. We'll settle the score slowly."<br /> As the two noticed Aaron glancing their way, they quickly shut their mouths and hurriedly left.<br /> Once they were out of eyeshots, Aaron fixed his gaze on Wesley. "Your dad doesn't know about your divorce yet, does he?"<br /> "What difference would it make if he did?" Wesley stretched lazily. "I've fulfilled my promise. I've given enough."<br /> Aaron nodded in acknowledgment without saying anything further.<br /> This piqued Mia's curiosity even more. "Is it like what the novels depict? Did you marry Taylor due to some special event?"<br /> Seeing Wesley's glare, Mia lowered her head to focus on her noodles. "I won't ask anymore."<br /> "For the past five years, you've been staying in the stairwell. It has been hard for you, but at least you're still untouched," Aaron remarked before swiftly departing.<br /> Mia stared at Wesley in disbelief, realizing that Aaron's words were meant for her ears.<br /> "What are you staring at? Eat your noodles," Wesley said. Mia chuckled.<br /> "Why are you laughing?"<br /> "You're blushing."<br /> "Nonsense," Wesley retorted.<br /> Unable to contain herself, Mia burst into laughter. She had tried to hold it in, but seeing Wesley's flushed face made it impossible.<br /> Ten minutes later, Mia left on her own accord, sensing that Wesley had something to discuss with Aaron.<br /> Inside Aaron's small shop, Wesley opened a bottle of wine. "Still single?"<br /> "I look too old, no one's interested," Aaron replied, opening a bottle of liquor as well.<br /> "Then why are you meddling in my love lives?"<br /> "Leave a child behind, even if you pass away, someone will remember you." Aaron took a sip. "I've actually investigated this Mia."<br /> "You investigated her?"<br /> "I knew you'd get a divorce. I've been keeping an eye on the pretty ones. This girl had done a lot of good deeds before coming to Yeadeo. Once, she saved three people in a flood and nearly lost her life. Opportunities are rare. You have to seize them."<br /> "When you've figured things out and are ready to marry, then we can discuss our affairs. That's the condition." Wesley downed the entire bottle of liquor.<br /> "Otherwise, don't bother meddling. We're on a one-way path and can't drag others along."<br /> "You..." Aaron sighed as he watched Wesley's retreating figure.<br /> On the road leading to the Feidgeuo Manor, Taylor stood gazing blankly at the entrance not far away.<br /> Twice in one day, she had come here.<br /> The first time was to pick up Frank, and this time was because Frank had lost his expensive watch. She and Henry hadn't even had a meal, rushing over to find it.<br /> The first time, she had come in a hurry when Frank was injured and left quickly as well.<br /> But this time, as Taylor looked at the entrance ahead, an infinite longing sprouted within her.<br /> "If only... I could live here, how wonderful that would be."<br /> Henry looked at her. "One day, I'll definitely build an estate more magnificent than this, and you'll be the lady of the house."<br /> As they conversed, a taxi drove by, stopping at the entrance. The person who got out of the taxi left Taylor stunned.<br /> She rubbed her eyes.	Adoread	147	https://facebook.com/61556400142540	LEARN_MORE	1713510000	View Edit Delete
1666896	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727710	1734958298	695	7316599511786966			1713596400	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	226177680578601	0	Adoread	120207746049430265	client.adoread.com	Learn more	NONE	image	🔥🔥🔥 Read More👉	Hottest novel👉👉👉	https://client.adoread.com/book/loading/page/adoread/19161308412?utm_campaign={{campaign.id}}&utm_content={{campaign.name}}		1713519398	2.261776805786E+14	Adoread	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437724011_960421695526729_1516574307485338648_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QHGXZ-huQfoQ7kNvgHzczKd&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfA1G0W2GCJxETLnSTacq_-lPqPiWUWkbiLYII7Ir0AxBw&oe=663A90F9	person_profile	0	Adoread	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437891881_25238797299100336_7255863263127890524_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UeFxFDUJUZIQ7kNvgEeS_Bx&_nc_oc=AdiTRuuDuY6HRwjcUurcsHlsNxYlsWgvgJHiVXRjUHaZb6kg1K8E8f2HQ-z0coXk5QA8ZT6tVndcdcIOXE5PQdjL&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAumwy6FfvPM1CFZK2E_ded2st3Y2KINeCxuV2bVHiXTg&oe=663A61E5	0	3	"Wesley, are you trying to harm me? You useless piece of trash, can't even make a decent cup of coffee, can you?"<br /> Madison Blair lifted her coffee cup and splashed it directly onto Wesley Harrington's face.<br /> "What are you looking at, you spineless waste? Your name sounds so lofty? I might as well call you a waste."<br /> Glancing at the grotesque expression of his wife's mother, Wesley pulled out his phone to check the time.<br /> Exactly twelve o'clock. It had been five full years since he married Taylor Reed.<br /> The appointed time had come.<br /> He had fulfilled his promise, safeguarding the Reed family for five years, transforming them from a family living off fishing to one perceived as affluent by the common folk.<br /> Wiping the coffee off his face, he turned and walked away.<br /> "Where do you think you're going? Go fetch some more coffee," Madison shouted.<br /> "Madison, didn't you say this waste is obedient at home, doing whatever he's told? I don't think he's taking it lying down."<br /> Madison grew angrier. "Wesley, you stop right there. My family has fed and housed you. If you dare disobey, I'll have you thrown out!"<br /> Ignoring her, Wesley continued downstairs.<br /> "When Taylor comes back, I'll immediately have you two divorced. Do you hear me? Stay right there," Madison threatened, "I'll let you know your place today."<br /> Grabbing a golf club, Madison swiftly charged towards Wesley.<br /> Seeing Wesley heading downstairs, she swung the club viciously at his back.<br /> Without turning back, Wesley gently sidestepped.<br /> Losing her balance, Madison tumbled forward, rolling down the stairs with a series of thumps.<br /> "Ouch... it hurts, it hurts so much!"<br /> As Madison reached the ground floor, she wailed in pain and her sister immediately rushed to her.<br /> "Wesley, what have you done? How dare you hit my sister!" Madison's sister hurried down, checking on Madison's condition.<br /> Wesley remained silent, observing the scene.<br /> "Quick, call Taylor. Tell her to come back. Today, she must divorce this waste." Madison glared at Wesley. "How dare you hit me? Not only will I let Taylor divorce you, but I'll make sure you leave in disgrace."<br /> "Mum, what's wrong?" At that moment, a gent and a lady walked in.<br /> The lady was Taylor, Madison's daughter.<br /> She ran towards Madison.<br /> As Madison pointed at Wesley, tears streamed down her face. "Taylor, he hit me, he hit me! When you're not home, he changes his attitude, scolding and hitting me in the slightest displeasure. He even pushed me down the stairs just now. Alexis can testify."<br /> Madison's sister, Alexis Blair, chimed in. "Yes, Wesley, this trash not only hit your mother but also threatened to hit me too. We cannot tolerate such trash."<br /> "Taylor, I have been telling you to divorce him for years. You've been supporting him, treating him like a Lord at home, but he's an ungrateful wolf in sheep's clothing."<br /> Helping Madison up, Taylor noticed the scrapes on Madison's arms and legs, her expression turning cold.<br /> "Wesley, why did you hit my mother? You better give me an explanation."<br /> Wesley looked at Taylor, his wife.<br /> Five years had passed, and she had never shown him kindness.<br /> Taylor dressed impeccably, a paragon of a successful lady, with a face that could be deemed angelic, yet whether her heart was as angelic remained a mystery.<br /> Her figure, too, left countless men yearning.<br /> For five years, Wesley had thought he might develop feelings for this lady, but in reality, it never happened.<br /> "There are surveillance cameras in the house," Wesley stated calmly before descending the stairs into the hallway.<br /> Despite residing in a three-story villa, Wesley's living quarters were confined to the stairwell.<br /> He harbored no resentment towards this arrangement. It was merely a promise. It was just that Taylor failed to appreciate him.<br /> This home held little value that he wished to cling onto.<br /> Retrieving a wooden box from beneath his pillow, Wesley extracted two documents. Casting a fleeting glance at the modest abode he had called home for five years, Wesley smiled faintly.<br /> He thought, "Finally... I'm free."<br /> Pushing the door ajar, Wesley was met by Taylor's piercing gaze. "I've reviewed the surveillance footage. Yes, my mother intended to strike you, but even if she did, what difference would it make?"<br /> "She's a lady. How much could her blows hurt you? Why did you dodge?"<br /> "If you hadn't dodged, my mother wouldn't have tumbled down." Wesley stared at Taylor, unable to comprehend her thought process.<br /> He had no interest in engaging in these arguments. Handing over the two documents to Taylor, he remarked, "The divorce agreement. I've already signed it. Take a look. I'm leaving with nothing."<br /> "With your current influence, there's no need for you to visit the city hall. Someone will handle it for you, right?"<br /> Madison was taken aback. She swiftly snatched the divorce agreement, flipping through it hastily.<br /> The contents were indeed straightforward. Both parties willingly divorced, with Wesley relinquishing all claims and having already signed.<br /> In an instant, Madison's pain seemed to dissipate. "Taylor, sign it quickly. Sign it."<br /> Taylor was still in a daze.<br /> She pondered.<br /> "A divorce agreement? Wesley has already prepared a divorce agreement. On what grounds?"<br /> "What gives him the right to initiate a divorce? All these years, he's done nothing at home, lacking any ambition. Always practicing martial arts, what right does he have to seek a divorce?"<br /> "If anyone should initiate it, it should be me. Moreover, now that I'm back to discussing this matter with him. Could it be that word got out, and Wesley, for the sake of his pride, rushed to prepare a divorce agreement first?"<br /> "It must be so, but... No!"<br /> "Wanting to leave with nothing, is he retreating to advance? As the chairman of the Reed Group, how could I be served with a divorce?"<br /> "Hey Wesley, I never expected this from you. Have I not treated you well enough? You seek a divorce, attempting to turn your retreat into advance, aiming to embarrass me?"<br /> Taylor glared at Wesley. "I'm telling you, it's impossible."<br /> Snatching the divorce agreement, she tore it to shreds.<br /> "Taylor, what are you doing? Such a great opportunity. Why not just sign it and let him leave?" Madison grew anxious.<br /> "Mom, I do intend to divorce this trash, but the decision must come from me. I returned specifically to address this matter."<br /> With that, Taylor produced two documents. "Wesley, remember that it's me who's divorcing you. It's me who no longer wants you. Initially, out of marital obligation, I had considered offering you some compensation. Now, you don't even need to think about it. Sign the divorce agreement and leave my home."<br /> Wesley offered a faint smile as he accepted the divorce agreement.<br /> "What are you laughing at?" Taylor demanded angrily.<br /> Wesley's smile seemed to mock her, fueling her rage.<br /> Ignoring her entirely, Wesley signed the document and handed it over.<br /> "What are you laughing at? Answer me! Who do you think you are?" Taylor roared once more.<br /> Wesley glanced at her before striding towards the exit.<br /> "Stop!" The gent who had accompanied Taylor stepped forward, blocking Wesley's path. "Taylor asked you a question, and... Your previous attitude displeased me. Apologize to Taylor, or I'll have you leave in disgrace!"<br /> Chapter 2 The Unspoken Truth<br /> <br /> "Yes, let him leave in disgrace. He thought he could just hit me and walk away so easily," Madison joined in the commotion, also noticing the gent blocking Wesley's path.<br /> Madison had a keen interest in luxury goods, having frequented various high-end establishments over the years as the Reed family's living conditions improved. The gent was wearing an expensive watch and dressed head to toe in high-end luxury brands.<br /> Seeing Madison's gaze, the gent spoke. "Rest assured, today Wesley must pay the price."<br /> The gent introduced himself, looking at Wesley, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Henry Clark, the eldest son of the Clark family and the general manager of the Clark Group in the North District."<br /> "From now on, I will accompany Taylor on her journey of life, and I will not allow anyone to bully her."<br /> "My identity carries weight. You should understand that. Now, apologize to Taylor. Apologize! Did you hear me? Apologize!"<br /> Madison's eyes lit up. She hadn't expected the gent before her to hold such a high status. She continued to shout, "Did you hear that? Taylor will be with Mr. Clark from now on. Apologize now."<br /> Wesley glanced at Henry, then at Taylor. He thought, "Have they been together all along?" Wesley had wanted to ask but decided against it because there was no need. He simply gave them a glance and continued walking towards the exit.<br /> "Are you ignoring me?" Henry's face turned cold as he reached out to grab Wesley. Henry's hand froze mid-air as he received a solid hit.<br /> "Until I sign the divorce papers, Taylor and I are still wife and husband. I don't care to investigate whether you two had any intimate relationship during that time, but don't provoke me, or I won't hesitate to make you regret it." Wesley's gaze was icy, and as Henry met his eyes, he felt a twinge of fear and swallowed his words.<br /> Taylor was also stunned. She knew exactly what Wesley had been like over the past five years. There were many surveillance cameras in the house, and she would often check them.<br /> Even when Taylor wasn't home, despite how her family treated Wesley, he always obeyed without complaint, especially towards her. He had never raised his voice, no matter how they treated him.<br /> Today, not only did Wesley dodge when her mother struck, but he also initiated the divorce and now even struck Henry. <br /> Taylor was at a loss for words, thinking, "How could this cowardly gent dare? On what grounds does he dare?"<br /> This change was difficult for Taylor to accept as if she didn't truly understand this guy. The gent who used to be obedient to her, completely submissive, now revealed this side of himself. She watched Wesley walk away in a daze, feeling a strange discomfort in her heart.<br /> "Isn't he leaving with nothing?" Alexis pointed at the wooden box Wesley was holding. "What is he taking with him?"<br /> Madison also realized. Over the past five years, Wesley had always treasured this wooden box, carrying it with him wherever he went. She thought there must be something valuable inside.<br /> Realizing this, Madison hurriedly followed. "Wesley, stop right there, leave the wooden box."<br /> Wesley paused, glanced at Madison, and said, "This is my personal belonging."<br /> "Nonsense, what personal belonging could you possibly have after marrying into the Reed family? Everything you've eaten, worn, and lived in over the years has been provided by the Reed family. Put it down."<br /> As she spoke, Madison reached out to grab the wooden box.<br /> "Ah..." A scream rang out as Madison quickly retracted her hand, a gash appearing on her palm, a crimson liquid dripping.<br /> The wooden box was now stained with the same crimson liquid, trembling lightly in Wesley's hand.<br /> "It's not the right time yet, the day you thirst for this crimson liquid will come," Wesley murmured softly, patting the box before turning to continue his stride towards the exit.<br /> "Monster! A monster!" Madison screamed, causing Taylor and the others to rush out. Seeing the wound in Madison's hand, Taylor was filled with rage.<br /> "Wesley, aren't you going to say something?" Wesley halted once more, contemplating before meeting Taylor's gaze.<br /> "Just stay out of my way from now on. Consider this a warning to you."<br /> "Taylor, that wooden box of his has a mechanism. It must hold something valuable! We can't let him take it with him," Madison, enduring the pain, reminded them.<br /> "Mom, your injury is important. We'll deal with him later. Let me take you to the hospital first." Taylor comforted Madison before calling out to the retreating Wesley.<br /> "Our marriage is over! Yet, you dared to hurt my mother! This won't be the end of it! I will make you regret it!" Ignoring her, Wesley continued walking out.<br /> "Rest assured, I promise he won't see the light of day tomorrow." Henry stepped forward to console. "Let's focus on getting your wound treated first."<br /> "I want him to regret ever existing in this world, to apologize to me in repentance," Madison roared.<br /> "Mom, trust me, I will make him do just that." Taylor looked at Madison with a mix of pity and determination. "Let's go to the hospital first."<br /> In the villa area, Wesley halted, his voice cold. "Get out."<br /> An elderly gent leaped down from a tree, appearing to be in his seventies, yet landing silently from a height of around ten feet.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, your father wants you to come home and take charge."<br /> "He stopped being my father five years ago. He's my enemy."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you misunderstood your father. He had his reasons back then. I swear in my life, once you know the truth, you will forgive him."<br /> "Huh!" Wesley smirked coldly, saying, "I nearly passed away back then. Is that also a misunderstanding?"<br /> The old gent pleaded, "Mr. Harrington, this situation is truly not as you perceive it."<br /> Wesley didn't engage further with the old guy. The events of that year were etched in his memory forever. He was the one who had been abandoned. If not for that incident, why would he have stayed with the Reed family for five years?<br /> Watching Wesley walk away, the old gent had tears silently streaming down his face. "Mr. Harrington, I truly... I truly can't bring myself to speak the truth, but you have misunderstood your father. He also bears burdens and endures pains beyond what an ordinary person can handle."<br /> As Wesley's figure disappeared, the old gent stood up, hesitated for a moment, then dialed a number on his phone.<br /> "Mr. Harrington is now divorced. I've given you the news firsthand. If your daughter is truly together with Mr. Harrington, you must fulfill the promise and let her persuade Mr. Harrington to come home."<br /> After hanging up, a middle-aged gent in a luxurious estate jumped up excitedly. Calming himself, he immediately made another call. "My dear, you're at Yeadeo, right?<br /> "Go find Wesley now. Don't mention the engagement for now. Use every means to get close to him, make him fall in love with you."<br /> "Dad, I don't have time."<br /> "No matter what you are busy with, you must go find Wesley now. No matter what reason you approach him, you must leave a good impression the first time."<br /> "Dad, I'm in trouble right now. If I don't handle it well, I might be good as gone. I have to deal with it immediately. I'm hanging up."<br /> Chapter 3 You're Nothing<br /> The middle-aged gent's voice lowered significantly. "Is there a big incident happening? You didn't tell me? What happened?"<br /> "Quinn Kingsley from Yeadeo, Mr. Kingsley, used our product and now has one foot on the grave. If something really happens to him..."<br /> "You mean Quinn, the uncontested leader of Yeadeo?"<br /> "Yes."<br /> "In that case, you should go find Wesley. Trust me, in this world, there is no problem that Wesley can't solve. As long as he's willing to help, you'll be fine. Listen to me, go find Wesley immediately."<br /> The lady fell silent for a moment before saying, "Okay."<br /> At Yeadeo Harbor, a gent with a large flaxen chain and a watch, sporting a crew cut, hurriedly disembarked, accompanied by a dozen gentlemen.<br /> "Mr. Reed, wherever that trash is, we will find him and tear him apart."<br /> "Yes, that guy dared to harm your mother. We'll make sure he pays for it."<br /> Frank Reed's face turned cold. "Wesley, you coward, thinking you can overturn the world? How dare you touch my mom? Just wait until I find you, you're finished."<br /> "We've found him. Wesley got into a taxi, and our boys followed him."<br /> "Let's go!" Frank waved his hand, leading dozens of men who boarded the car with harpoons, steel pipes, and other weapons.<br /> Inside the taxi, Wesley gazed at the scenery outside, feeling a strange sense of tranquility.<br /> He thought to himself, "I never imagined that while I was secretly paving the way for the Reed family, Taylor, after progressing so rapidly, would start looking down on me more and more."<br /> "Those ladies who know my true identity, which one of them isn't trying to throw themselves at me? Ladies like that don't interest me."<br /> "Being an ordinary gent is truly difficult," Wesley murmured, smiling faintly and deciding not to dwell on these matters anymore. He had important things to attend to and no time to waste on personal affairs.<br /> "Young lad, are you going to Feidgeuo Manor for a job interview?" The driver, curious about Wesley's destination, inquired.<br /> Feidgeuo Manor was Yeadeo's most mysterious private area. Originally a villa area, it was bought at a huge cost five years ago and completely renovated. It was said to have cost a trillion dollars. The former villa area was now Feidgeuo Manor.<br /> "That's my home," Wesley replied nonchalantly.<br /> The driver was taken aback by this revelation, silently cursing Wesley for bragging. After a couple of minutes, the driver regained his composure. "It seems like you and I both prefer to keep a low profile. My car usually gathers dust at home, so I occasionally drive a taxi to experience life."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "My car has been driven by my assistant for the past few years, so it's not gathering dust."<br /> "Haha..." The driver laughed. "We should get together sometime and see whose car is more impressive."<br /> "Sure, whenever we have the time."<br /> As they chatted, the vehicle soon arrived near Feidgeuo Manor, where the massive head of the Feidgeuo Peak protruded, creating a unique landscape in Yeadeo.<br /> The driver asked with a smile, "Since you're the owner here, it's fine if I drive in, right?"<br /> "Of course," Wesley replied.<br /> As soon as Wesley spoke, several cars caught up from behind.<br /> The cars surrounded the one Wesley was in, with the front vehicles braking to force the car to a stop.<br /> When numerous people descended from cars wielding harpoons and steel pipes, the driver's face paled.<br /> Frank and his group got out of the cars, instantly closing in, and without hesitation, started attacking, the steel pipes and harpoons thudding against the car.<br /> Frank's henchman yanked open the door of Wesley's car, poised to stab Wesley with a harpoon, but Wesley swiftly exited the vehicle.<br /> With a firm step on the ground, he launched a swift hit.<br /> A muffled sound echoed as the henchman was hit away.<br /> "What are you looking at?" Frank noticed his henchmen were all staring at him. "All of you, attack together and take him down!"<br /> As he commanded, the henchmen Frank brought with him surged forward.<br /> The taxi driver, trembling, took out his phone to call the police, but Frank glared at him. "I am Frank Reed from Yeadeo Harbor. If you dare, go ahead and make that call."<br /> Frank, leveraging his sister Taylor's status, had been causing trouble in Yeadeo Harbor, and no one dared to provoke him.<br /> Upon hearing Frank's name, the driver hastily put away his phone. "Mr. Reed, I'll just check the time, you guys continue."<br /> "Huh!" Frank snorted coldly, casting his gaze towards the surrounded Wesley.<br /> The sounds of thuds continued to ring out incessantly. Because Wesley was completely surrounded, Frank was unable to see the situation inside clearly, but he could imagine it. After all, in Frank's mind, the henchmen under his command were not to be trifled with.<br /> "Hit him hard for me!"<br /> Another muffled sound and a figure flew out. At that moment, Frank finally saw the situation clearly, and his face turned pale.<br /> Frank knew that Wesley liked to practice martial arts, but he had never expected Wesley to be this skilled. It wasn't Wesley who had been beaten, but his own men by Wesley alone.<br /> Frantically, Frank turned and ran to retrieve a crossbow from the car.<br /> "Clear the way." Frank bellowed, aiming the crossbow at Wesley.<br /> "You scumbag, you think you can fight? Move one more time, and I'll end your life! Surrender!"<br /> Wesley, holding a wooden box, stared at Frank. Ignoring the crossbow in his hand, Wesley said, "Tell your henchmen to back off, or you'll all see the light from above!"<br /> "You're really good at pretending to be tough." Frank took two steps forward. "See the light? Move a muscle and see if I can end your life or not! If you don't have the guts, apologize now!"<br /> Wesley turned his head and looked at the approaching cars, with two expensive ones in the lead, two more in the rear, and another one in the middle.<br /> "Keep acting tough, and I'll put a hole in your head." Frank spoke while glancing at the five cars. "What, looking for help?"<br /> "Let me tell you, those who ride in these cars are not the kind of weaklings like you who rely on connections. With me here, in Yeadeo's social hierarchy, even those who ride in such cars wouldn't dare meddle in this matter. And let me make it clear, without my sister, you're nothing."<br /> Chapter 4 Is He Worthy?<br /> As Frank's words faded, the five cars came to a halt.<br /> A bodyguard opened the door of the one in the middle, revealing a dazzling pair of shining shoes catching everyone's eye.<br /> The shining shoe encased a beautiful foot. Above, the skirt's hem was adorned with lace.<br /> Then, like a fairy stepping out of a painting, she appeared before everyone's eyes.<br /> The lady was beautiful!<br /> Frank was mesmerized. Ever since the Reed family rose to prominence, he had been surrounded by ladies, but compared to the elegant lady before him, they were worlds apart.<br /> It wasn't just a difference in appearance but an incomparable gap in demeanor.<br /> The lady descending from the Maybach seemed like a celestial being untouched by mortal affairs.<br /> The embodiment of a fairy in the mundane world.<br /> She simply stood there after getting out of the car, perfectly embodying what it meant to be graceful and elegant.<br /> The lady glanced at Wesley, then at Frank.<br /> Frank grinned, saying, "May I have the honor of knowing the name of this esteemed lady? I am Frank..."<br /> The lady spoke calmly. "Disrespect Mr. Harrington, and you're done for."<br /> Her bodyguards, unfazed by Frank's crossbow, swiftly overwhelmed him, sending him crashing to the ground.<br /> The henchmen who had come with Frank, previously defeated by Wesley, now scrambled to their feet and fled in all directions.<br /> Who would dare provoke someone who could afford such a car?<br /> "My sister is Taylor Reed, the chairperson of Reed Group," Frank shouted, clutching his head.<br /> Ignoring him, one of the bodyguards dragged him to the roadside grass while another used a belt to tighten around Frank's neck, exerting pressure.<br /> "Enough, a lesson is all that's needed." Wesley spoke calmly, and only when the lady gestured did the bodyguards release Frank.<br /> Frank lay there, already unconscious.<br /> Wesley turned to the lady. "Who are you?"<br /> "I am Mia Roberts, the general manager of Vinver Business Alliance's Yeadeo branch." She looked at Wesley and continued, "Mr. Harrington, my father mentioned that you have miraculous healing skills and earnestly requested your assistance. A generous reward awaits."<br /> Wesley furrowed his brow slightly, thinking, "There are indeed people who recognize my abilities and status, yet I've rarely intervened in the past five years. Today, shortly after I divorced Taylor, she is here. Whose arrangement is this?"<br /> "Mr. Harrington, my father also mentioned that you are benevolent and has raised the banner of compassion among healers, serving as a role model and benchmark for all in the medical field."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "You have a way with words. Tell me the specifics."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, please get in the car first. I will explain in detail on the way."<br /> The phrase "compassionate healer" held significant weight for Wesley, who had saved countless lives from the brink of death.<br /> Without further ado, he got into the car.<br /> Inside, after Mia brewed coffee for Wesley, she began. "Vinver Business Alliance has a wide range of business operations, and I mainly oversee the health supplement sector, which has seen some success in recent years.<br /> "Recently, Quinn Kingsley started using our medicines, and now there's an accident."<br /> As she spoke, Mia kept her gaze fixed on Wesley.<br /> Quinn, the undisputed leader of Yeadeo, was a figure of immense influence.<br /> Upon hearing this name, Wesley showed no particular reaction. "If the city's leader faces issues with your products, it is indeed a concern. Let's go and see."<br /> With just a sentence, Wesley leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest.<br /> Mia was secretly alarmed, thinking, "He knows who Quinn is, yet he seems indifferent. Who is this Wesley, really? No wonder Dad has instructed me to find a way to win his favor." Mia's inner resistance toward Wesley quietly shifted.<br /> Wesley had piqued her curiosity.<br /> As the vehicle was moving, Wesley's phone rang.<br /> Wesley opened his eyes and took out his phone to see Taylor calling.<br /> Pressing the answer button, he asked, "What's the matter?"<br /> On the other end of the line, Taylor, driving towards Feidgeuo Manor, had a grim expression.<br /> She thought, "Has Wesley ever spoken to me in such a cold tone before? Is he really this heartless right after our divorce?"<br /> Already furious, she snapped. "Wesley, do you even consider yourself a human being?<br /> "Today, not only did you lay hands on my mother, but you also had someone attack my brother. Do you not remember our past at all?"<br /> Wesley calmly replied, "Do we have a past to remember?"<br /> "You truly are a heartless scumbag, just as my mother said. You are an ungrateful and vicious person I raised for five years. Even a pet would wag its tail at me!"<br /> Taylor wanted to continue her tirade, but the phone line had already turned busy.<br /> This only fueled her anger further.<br /> Just now, she had received a call from Frank's underlings, informing her that Wesley had sent people to attack Frank and even intended to end him.<br /> Taylor wanted to demand answers, but...<br /> As Taylor was clutching her fists, her gaze turned icy.<br /> After a moment, she picked up her phone again. "Wesley, you are so narrow-minded. You have no ambition. Any lady would steer clear of you."<br /> "Just because I dumped you, you are doing this on purpose to make me feel sick. Pretending to be aloof and seeking revenge? Do you even deserve it?"<br /> "In Yeadeo, squashing you would be as easy as squashing an ant. You're asking for it! If anything happens to my brother, I will make you wish you were ending!"<br /> Her furious voice message echoed in the car.<br /> Wesley chuckled and put away his phone.<br /> Beside him, Mia seemed contemplative. Before coming, she had already ordered a swift investigation into Wesley.<br /> She was curious, thinking, "How could someone valued by my father could be the one 'marrying into' the Reed family."<br /> Being tactful, Mia chose not to ask and pretended not to have heard.<br /> After about forty minutes, they arrived at the Kingsley Manor.<br /> The Kingsley family members, upon seeing Mia alight from the car, all wore grim expressions.<br /> Mia greeted them with a smile, "Everyone, this is Wesley Harrington, Mr. Harrington, the miraculous healer I specially invited to treat Mr. Kingsley."<br /> "Him? The gent who married into the Reed family?"<br /> "A miraculous healer? Is he even worthy? Are healers so worthless now?"<br /> "A useless gent who mooches off of the Reed family? How dare he call himself a miraculous healer? Truly a joke among all jokes."<br /> Chapter 5 Compassionate Healer<br /> Amanda Kingsley, Quinn's granddaughter, stared coldly at Wesley and Mia.<br /> This lady, dressed in a smart suit, also held significant fame in Yeadeo, overseeing the region's business activities, including investment attraction and various local business negotiations.<br /> Amanda had a favorable view of Taylor, who had risen swiftly in recent times, and they had interacted frequently.<br /> She was aware of Wesley's existence and had advised Taylor to part ways with him early on.<br /> But Amanda never imagined that Mia would bring someone like Wesley, a complete waste, and claim he was a miraculous healer.<br /> Glaring at Mia, she said, "Mia, once my grandfather is well, it's best for your Roberts family to leave Yeadeo."<br /> "As for you..." She glanced at Wesley. "I will advise Taylor to divorce you. You have deceived Taylor's feelings and now shamelessly made your way into my family. You are a despicable creature."<br /> After reprimanding Mia and Wesley, she turned to an elderly gent beside her, and her tone and attitude completely changed. "Mr. Phillips, sorry to trouble you. My grandfather is inside, please."<br /> Mia looked at the elderly gent, who was already in his twilight years, feeling deeply shocked.<br /> Scott Phillips, the 38th generation heir of the Healing Clinic, was now ninety-two years old.<br /> Renowned as a miraculous healer, he was a respected figure in the medical community of Yeadeo and even nationally.<br /> He no longer conducted consultations personally due to his old age. Mia had visited him specifically to pay her respects once she had arrived in Yeadeo but had not met Scott.<br /> She never expected Scott to appear in person. It was understandable, as Quinn held a prominent position in the city. Despite the profound influence of the Phillips family, they still had to show respect to Quinn.<br /> Mia looked at Wesley, feeling conflicted and thinking, "Dad has confidently claimed that Wesley has extraordinary abilities, but does he really?"<br /> She harbored doubts, but out of propriety, Mia spoke. "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the trouble."<br /> Wesley smiled, "It's fine. As long as the person can be healed."<br /> His open-mindedness impressed Mia.<br /> After about half an hour, Amanda emerged from the room. All eyes instantly turned towards her.<br /> It was evident that Amanda had wailed out, with traces of tears still visible.<br /> "Amanda, how is it?" A middle-aged gent anxiously asked her.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family who had rushed back also focused their attention on her.<br /> "Mr. Phillips said that there's little hope of recovery. He could only use acupuncture to wake grandfather for half an hour. When grandfather wakes up, let's all go in and see if he has any final instructions."<br /> Everyone was shocked.<br /> "How could this be?"<br /> "Is Mr. Phillips also helpless?"<br /> The members of the Kingsley family found it hard to accept this reality, especially since Quinn had always treated his juniors well.<br /> The thought of Quinn departing saddened some, and tears silently fell.<br /> Publicly, Quinn's status was the foundation of the Kingsley family's prominence in Yeadeo.<br /> If Quinn were to pass away, the Kingsley family would undoubtedly decline.<br /> The atmosphere within the Kingsley family was somber.<br /> Amanda looked at her family members, opened her mouth, but said nothing, silently turning back into the room.<br /> "Stop crying," A middle-aged gent said sternly, "Dad wouldn't want to see you all in tears. If he's really leaving, we mustn't let him worry about us. Pull yourselves together."<br /> After these words, the middle-aged gent also entered the room.<br /> The younger members of the Kingsley family wiped their tears vigorously, trying to force smiles, but in truth, they looked better at crying than pretending to be happy.<br /> Mia's spirit plummeted as she realized the gravity of the situation. Even if an ordinary person passed away from consuming health supplements, it spelled big trouble for those who sold them. And when the deceased happened to be Quinn, the stakes were even higher.<br /> She understood that it would be difficult for this branch to stay in Yeadeo, and even the headquarters might face repercussions.<br /> "Let's go in and have a look." Wesley glanced at Mia. "There might still be a chance."<br /> "Ah..." Mia stared at Wesley in surprise. Seeing him already heading towards the room, she quickly followed suit.<br /> Inside the room, the members of the Kingsley family stood around the mattress, maintaining a certain distance.<br /> Scott lit the alcohol lamp and took out the needles, his expression solemn.<br /> He looked at the members of the Kingsley family. "Think about what you want to say to Mr. Kingsley later. Once you're ready, let me know, and then I'll proceed with the acupuncture."<br /> As he said this, tears welled up in many eyes.<br /> "If you don't mind, let me take a look. I have a way." Wesley spoke up, drawing everyone's attention.<br /> Amanda's face darkened. "Who let you in? Get out!"<br /> "Mia, have you lost your mind? Tricked by this trash and actually brought him here as a miracle healer. Get out with him! I'll settle the score with you in a couple of days."<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, at a loss for words.<br /> "Even Mr. Phillips is unable to reverse the situation. What use are you? Get out." Another younger member of the Kingsley family angrily rebuked.<br /> The middle-aged gent added, "We're in no mood right now. You better leave immediately."<br /> "I understand your narrow-mindedness," Wesley continued, "But as a healer, once I see a patient, I cannot stand by and watch him draw his last breath."<br /> "Wesley, you're quite the charlatan. Do you really want to be gone right now?" Amanda's voice was filled with anger.<br /> "Amanda, let me say a few words," Scott interjected, and Amanda fell silent.<br /> Looking at Wesley, Scott began. "Young lad, at my age, I've seen a lot and have a broad perspective. Today, however, I find it hard to remain indifferent. I practiced medicine from the age of sixteen until I stopped seeing patients for a total of seventy years."<br /> "I've saved countless patients from various illnesses. I never easily declare a patient's fate, nor do I believe I have the right to do so."<br /> "But from your recent remarks, it seems like you're accusing me of such actions. Young people wanting to make a name for themselves by stepping on the shoulders of their predecessors, I can understand."<br /> "But this kind of behavior displeases me."<br /> "My displeasure, what does it mean to you? Do you understand?"<br /> "Even if you are a healer, your career will be ruined because of this."<br /> Chapter 6 Hand of Hell<br /> In the face of Scott's veiled threats, Wesley simply smiled and brushed them off.<br /> Looking at Scott, he asked, "I've always focused on the issue at hand rather than attacking individuals. I have a few questions for you. If you can't administer the needles, how long do you think Quinn can hold on?"<br /> "Seven days, but he will remain unconscious," Scott replied bluntly.<br /> "Then let me ask you this, is there anyone in the world with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "Outrageous," Amanda coldly interjected, "Mr. Phillips is unparalleled in his medical expertise."<br /> Scott glanced at Amanda. "Amanda, let me handle this question."<br /> Continuing to address Wesley, he said, "I don't underestimate myself, nor do I overestimate. There are countless talented individuals in the world, like stars in the sky. I may not dare claim to be the best in medical skills, but those who surpass me are few."<br /> "That means there are some," Wesley calmly remarked, causing Scott's expression to shift slightly, "Indeed, there are."<br /> "Then let me ask you this. Do you think within seven days, the Kingsley family won't find someone with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "If they do find someone, do you believe there is an illness that you cannot cure, but this person can?"<br /> Wesley's questions were sharp and resounding.<br /> Scott's face changed once more as he was rendered speechless.<br /> "Even if there is, that person will never be you." Amanda's face turned icy. "Now get out. Don't spout your eloquence here. Your deceitful behavior is repulsive."<br /> "Your understanding of me is merely hearsay, isn't it?" Wesley retorted, his gaze mocking Amanda, "Has your background and education taught you such arrogance and prejudice?"<br /> "Arrogance?" Amanda's face grew colder as she disdainfully looked at Wesley. "Prejudice?<br /> "Did I say something wrong just now? You are nothing but stagnant waste, a parasite living off others. If it weren't for Taylor, you would have starved on the streets long ago."<br /> "Relying on sweet words, deceiving Taylor. She, with her kind heart, can't bear to divorce you, but don't push your luck. If it weren't for Taylor's sake, you would have been sent out long ago."<br /> Scott interrupted Amanda, "Amanda, although I find this lad a bit annoying, what he said does hold some truth. There are indeed individuals with better medical skills than me. Your grandfather can hold on for seven days. Try reaching out to see if someone can come over. I'll help you make connections."<br /> "If it really doesn't work out after seven days, I'll administer the needles to your grandfather. However, at that point, I can only buy you three minutes."<br /> As soon as Scott spoke, the faces of the Kingsley family members grew even more solemn. True healers were rare and not easily summoned.<br /> While the Kingsley family had connections in Yeadeo, their influence waned outside of it.<br /> "Mr. Phillips, please administer the needles. Life has its ups and downs, and we understand that. Just buy my father a bit more time." The middle-aged gent spoke up.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family nodded in agreement.<br /> Amanda looked at Scott. "Mr. Phillips, please."<br /> "In that case, please have everyone unrelated leave. I need silence," Scott calmly stated.<br /> Amanda glared at Wesley, her eyes speaking volumes without a word.<br /> The unrelated individuals were, naturally, Wesley and Mia.<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, intending to leave, but she suddenly hesitated.<br /> Instead of leaving, Wesley moved forward.<br /> "What are you doing?" A young member of the Kingsley family stepped forward with a stern expression, pushing Wesley.<br /> In one swift motion, Wesley executed a clean shoulder throw, toppling the young gent to the ground, his own expression turning cold.<br /> "A bunch of fools! If it weren't for my teacher's teachings about not turning a blind eye to those in need, I wouldn't bother with you ignorant lot," Wesley remarked with disdain.<br /> As Wesley effortlessly took down one individual from the Kingsley family, the others seemed slow to react.<br /> By the time they realized what was happening, Wesley had already picked up the needle next to Scott and casually flicked his wrist.<br /> The needle flew out of his hand, piercing Quinn's temple, followed by a second needle, a third needle, and so on.<br /> "What are you doing? Stop!" Amanda's voice rose in urgency, echoed by the rest of the Kingsley family members who rushed forward to restrain Wesley.<br /> "Stay back, everyone. Wait." Scott suddenly stood up, blocking the others. "Let him try."<br /> Amanda and the others were left dumbfounded, thinking, "What does this mean?"<br /> Despite their confusion, they heeded Scott's words.<br /> After Scott stopped the members of the Kingsley family, he fixed his gaze on Wesley.<br /> Wesley proceeded to use eighteen needles in succession, symbolizing the levels of pain.<br /> Even if someone had descended into the depths of hell, they must be brought back.<br /> The final needle, also piercing a vital point, caused Quinn's body to tremble suddenly, resonating with the previous eighteen needles.<br /> Scott's eyes widened, his body trembling slightly. His reaction left Amanda and the others even more puzzled, but none dared to interrupt.<br /> Moments later, Wesley placed a palm on Quinn's chest, causing all eighteen needles to be shaken off. When all the needles landed on the ground, the part of the skin where the needles had pierced turned dark.<br /> Wesley then dragged Quinn to the edge of the mattress, flipped him over with his head facing downwards, and gave him a firm pat on the back.<br /> Quinn spat out a mouthful of black liquid. When Wesley flipped him back to lie flat, his complexion had regained some color.<br /> "The Hand of Darkness... It's the Hand of Darkness!" Scott exclaimed with excitement, his body quivering, "It's the Hand that descends into the dark world, snatching people from the hands of the Evil!"<br /> "You do have some knowledge, recognizing the Hand of Darkness." Wesley glanced at Scott.<br /> Scott's gaze towards Wesley had undergone a drastic change. He respectfully clasped his hands together.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thirty years ago, I had the honor of attending a teaching conference held by Mr. Vanderbilt. I saw the Hand of Darkness, but my limited aptitude only allowed me to grasp the basics."<br /> "I have been blind and ignorant. I apologize for my earlier offenses. Please forgive me, Mr. Harrington."<br /> The Mr. Vanderbilt Scott referred to was Wesley's teacher, Ulysses Vanderbilt. He generously imparted his skills to others, but the ability to learn depended on one's innate talent.<br /> In this world, few could learn Ulysses' skills.<br /> Scott had been fortunate to receive guidance from Ulysses, which had elevated his medical skills. However, the Hand of Darkness, a miraculous ability, was beyond his comprehension.<br /> Wesley smiled faintly, "Your actions earlier are understandable. I appreciate your words."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you must be an exceptional disciple of Mr. Vanderbilt, possessing unparalleled magnanimity. Impressive," Scott continued.<br /> "Enough with the flattery at your age."<br /> "You are mistaken, Mr. Harrington. Every word I speak is sincere."<br /> Mia, Amanda, and the others stood bewildered by the unfolding situation.<br /> "Mr. Phillips... he... he..." Amanda's words faltered.<br /> Scott turned to the members of the Kingsley family. "Meeting Mr. Harrington was Quinn's luck. His symptoms have been cured by Mr. Harrington. With a few days of rest, he will be fine."<br /> The waste Taylor had previously said was called Mr. Harrington by Scott!<br /> Recalling their previous attitudes, Amanda hurriedly apologized, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> The members of the Kingsley family all apologized in unison, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> Chapter 7 Eight Plates of Noodles<br /> With a faint smile, Wesley remarked, "As family members of a patient, your actions earlier are understandable. There's no need for such formality."<br /> Amanda's perplexity deepened as she thought, "Where is the cowardly waste that Taylor described? This display of magnanimity and breadth is far from it."<br /> Mia, too, felt a shiver of realization, thinking, "No wonder Dad has insisted on my proximity to Wesley.<br /> This guy..."<br /> She gazed at Wesley, her curiosity piqued, a sense of exploration stirring within her.<br /> "Mia has brought you here, Mr. Harrington, to cure my grandfather. The Kingsley family will never forget this act. However, considering that my grandfather's ailment stemmed from the health supplements produced by the Vinver Business Alliance, we will be conducting an investigation into it."<br /> Amanda continued, looking at Wesley, "What do you think... of this approach?"<br /> It was Mia who had invited Wesley, so Amanda had grown wiser, refraining from asking for a direct punishment of the Vinver Business Alliance.<br /> As Mia heard Amanda's words, her heart skipped a beat, realizing trouble was brewing.<br /> "On the way here, Ms. Roberts briefed me on the situation. You conducted experiments on mice, correct?"<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes, the health supplements we received were exclusively provided by the Roberts family. There were no similar cases on the market, so we used mice for testing.<br /> "All the mice that ingested this supplement were gone."<br /> She looked at Mia and added, her voice turned colder. "Before the experiment, I specifically contacted Mia to inquire about the testing methods during the development phase, which involved mice."<br /> "There have been individuals eyeing my grandfather's position, some even wishing for his demise. I never imagined that the Vinver Business Alliance, which I attracted for investment, would become a weapon in someone else's hands."<br /> "Do you have any of the remaining medicine?" Wesley inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes."<br /> "Bring some over."<br /> Immediately, someone fetched the medicine. After it was brought to him, Wesley took out a supplement and swallowed it directly.<br /> This scene left Amanda and the others dumbfounded.<br /> Scott, too, was bewildered. "Mr. Harrington, what are you doing?"<br /> Wesley smiled, "Just proving that this medicine is not toxic."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thank you," Mia thanked sincerely, feeling like sobbing at that moment.<br /> Amanda, with a puzzled expression, looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, are you suggesting that my grandfather's condition wasn't caused by the Vinver Business Alliance's medicine? What about the mice?"<br /> The rest were equally puzzled.<br /> "Yes, but not entirely," Wesley said, leaving everyone even more bewildered.<br /> Mia's emotions were like a rollercoaster ride, from relief to immediate tension.<br /> "This medicine itself is not toxic, but when taken with another substance made from a certain plant, it results in Quinn's condition. The mice would die immediately, while humans could endure a few more days."<br /> Wesley continued to explain, "The plant used in this concoction is originally meant for crafting slow-acting toxins, not for human consumption."<br /> Looking at Amanda, Wesley said, "During this period, whoever had access to your grandfather and the mice will better understand why these events occurred."<br /> The gaze of members of the Kingsley family immediately focused on a lady.<br /> Amanda, somewhat incredulous, looked at her. "Can you offer an explanation?"<br /> The lady was the wife of Amanda's deceased brother. She found it hard to accept, as did the rest of the Kingsley family.<br /> This lady had been named the exemplary lady who served her family well this year, not due to her connection with the Kingsley family but because she genuinely deserved it.<br /> "What do you mean? Amanda, what explanation do you want from me?"<br /> The lady stared at Amanda. "Am I the only one who had access to Grandfather and the mice? You, and you... and you, who didn't have access?"<br /> "You all claim to treat me as family. Since I married into the Kingsley family, I have worked diligently, contributing my share even if not acknowledged."<br /> "Amanda, it has been over a year since your brother passed, and I never once considered remarrying. Now, just because of his words, you demand an explanation from me?"<br /> Pointing at Wesley, the lady questioned, "Just because he accuses me of poisoning, you suspect me? Tell me, did I poison him?" The lady glared at Wesley.<br /> "I am merely analyzing the facts. As for concluding this case, it's not within my purview," Wesley addressed the members of the Kingsley family, saying, "You should conduct a thorough investigation into this matter.<br /> "I will write a prescription. Have Quinn take it on time, and he will recover in seven days."<br /> Amanda hurried to fetch paper and pen while Wesley prepared the prescription. Once done, he was ready to leave.<br /> Amanda said hurriedly, "Mr. Harrington, I've already made arrangements for lunch."<br /> "No need," Wesley smiled.<br /> The Kingsley family sought to build closer ties with Wesley, given his extraordinary medical skills. Wesley was well aware of this.<br /> Looking at Amanda and the others, Wesley remarked, "In the future, if you encounter any difficult medical cases that others cannot solve, seek me out. Remember, cases others cannot solve."<br /> The gaze of the Kingsley family members toward Wesley changed once again. Many renowned healers had eccentric personalities and were difficult to engage.<br /> They hadn't expected Wesley to possess such remarkable medical skills without any airs.<br /> As Wesley prepared to depart, the members of the Kingsley family did not dare to insist on his stay, so they accompanied him outside.<br /> "Oh, how could we forget such an important matter? Amanda, what about the consultation fee?" The middle-aged gent inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the oversight. Please wait a moment." Amanda hurried back inside and soon returned with a bank card in hand.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, there's one million dollars in here."<br /> Without hesitation, Wesley accepted the bank card and boarded Mia's car.<br /> During the journey, Mia boldly looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, you've helped me immensely. Can I treat you to a meal? Don't decline in a hurry. It's not a fancy restaurant, but it will leave you wanting more. It's a small place on the street, with only eight plates of noodles served each day, each plate containing different ingredients."<br /> "I managed to secure a reservation. Are you interested?"<br /> Wesley thought, "Eight Plates of Noodles?<br /> "Ah, Aaron's restaurant. It has been a while since I visited those old friends."<br /> Wesley nodded. "Let's go then."<br /> The restaurant, Eight Plates of Noodles, was located on Chanxold Street near the Yeadeo First Central Hospital.<br /> The establishment was small, serving only eight plates of noodles each day at a price of 10 thousand dollars each. Vernoic's television culinary program had specifically covered this incident.<br /> Reservations were a must to secure a plate.<br /> The restaurant's owner had a mysterious background. While the specifics were unknown, a high-ranking noble from the capital of Vernoic, Kingsland, had caused a scene there once.<br /> He had attempted to force his way in without a reservation. Although this incident hadn't been reported, rumors suggested that a garbage truck had to be called to dispose of the intruder's remains, as he was too shattered to be removed by conventional means.<br /> Since then, no one dared to cause trouble.<br /> On their way, Mia introduced Wesley to the background story.<br /> "Mr. Turner, two plates of noodles." Mia called out once they arrived.<br /> Aaron Turner didn't respond but visibly paused upon seeing Wesley beside Mia.<br /> A faint smile appeared on his usually stoic face. Though the flesh on the face seemed stiff, it was indeed a smile. "Coming right up."<br /> Chapter 8 You Are Blushing<br /> Mia glanced at Aaron with a hint of surprise, thinking, "When does he become so warm and enthusiastic?<br /> His tone seemed a bit agitated earlier, didn't it?"<br /> Soon enough, Aaron brought two plates of noodles to the table. One steaming hot and the other devoid of any warmth.<br /> As Mia observed Aaron placing the plate without steam in front of Wesley, her expression changed slightly.<br /> It was a plate of instant noodles having soaked in cold water, with the seasoning barely dissolved.<br /> She felt a sense of panic. Mia had wanted to leave a good impression on Wesley, which was why she had chosen this place.<br /> However, Aaron had served such a plate of noodles.<br /> She dared not question Aaron. The type of noodles served here was not determined by the guests but by Aaron's mood.<br /> "This lass named Mia is quite something, living up to her name, and quite kind-hearted," Aaron remarked, looking at Wesley.<br /> "Get lost," Wesley retorted, using his fork to pick up the noodles and devouring them.<br /> Mia's face turned pale instantly. Disrespecting Aaron was akin to risking Wesley's life.<br /> To her astonishment, Aaron chuckled, tears welling up in his eyes.<br /> He wiped them away. "Alright, I'll leave you to your meal."<br /> Before departing, he gave Mia a thumbs-up. "Seize the opportunity."<br /> The eight plates of noodles symbolized the eight comrades who had faced life and hardships together.<br /> Wesley ate voraciously. Initially, they had only one pack of instant noodles to share among the eight of them, forcing them to divide it.<br /> Despite the circumstances, they devoured the noodles joyfully.<br /> Aaron had promised that once they survived, each one would have the most delicious plate of noodles.<br /> However, five of the eight had perished.<br /> Wesley had come dangerously close to life-threatening situations, but managed to cling to life.<br /> For him, the plate of noodles was not food but the bond of friendship that had shielded him from harm.<br /> "Do you... know each other?" Mia couldn't help but ask, her voice low and curious.<br /> "Some things are better left unknown," Wesley replied.<br /> Mia nodded in understanding, falling silent as they continued eating noodles. She couldn't help stealing glances at Wesley throughout the meal.<br /> This gent had piqued her curiosity even more.<br /> "Wesley, I see. No wonder you agreed to the divorce so readily. You've already found someone else outside."<br /> A sharp voice interrupted their meal.<br /> Taylor approached with a cold expression, accompanied by Henry.<br /> Taylor's mother was in the nearby hospital, and she had just picked up Frank, planning to buy some food when she unexpectedly saw Wesley.<br /> Of course, she saw Mia, too.<br /> Seeing Wesley dining with a lady more attractive than herself, so soon after the divorce felt like a dagger twisting in Taylor's heart.<br /> Her anger was uncontrollable.<br /> Wesley merely glanced at Taylor, disinterested in engaging with her.<br /> Taylor was stung by his indifferent gaze. She stepped forward, glaring at Wesley. "Are you not going to explain to me?"<br /> Mia looked at Taylor, silently cursing her as a foolish lady.<br /> Wesley continued eating his noodles, lowering his head. "Get lost. Don't disturb me, or I won't hesitate to hit you."<br /> "What did you say?" Henry stepped forward, enraged. "Wesley, try laying a hand on her! Is that all you're capable of? Laying hands on ladies?"<br /> "No wonder Taylor looks down on you. You're truly disgusting trash. Apologize to Taylor now, or else you'll regret coming into this world."<br /> "And how will he regret it? Tell me." Aaron emerged, carrying a cleaver, smiling as he faced Henry and Taylor.<br /> "Mr. Turner, we dare not cause trouble in your place, but this guy is just..."<br /> Henry attempted to speak but was cut off as Aaron's cleaver struck his face, sending him sprawling to the ground.<br /> "Mr. Turner, sorry, we'll leave now." Taylor hastily helped Henry up and hurriedly left.<br /> These two individuals were fortunate to know the legendary story behind Eight Plates of Noodles and had successfully made reservations to dine here multiple times.<br /> Having distanced themselves a bit, Henry covered his face and pointed at Wesley. "Wesley, we have some unfinished business. If you're smart, come over here now and apologize."<br /> "Wesley, I've seen through you as well. I never expected that for the past five years, you've been using my money to keep a lady on the side. We'll settle the score slowly."<br /> As the two noticed Aaron glancing their way, they quickly shut their mouths and hurriedly left.<br /> Once they were out of eyeshots, Aaron fixed his gaze on Wesley. "Your dad doesn't know about your divorce yet, does he?"<br /> "What difference would it make if he did?" Wesley stretched lazily. "I've fulfilled my promise. I've given enough."<br /> Aaron nodded in acknowledgment without saying anything further.<br /> This piqued Mia's curiosity even more. "Is it like what the novels depict? Did you marry Taylor due to some special event?"<br /> Seeing Wesley's glare, Mia lowered her head to focus on her noodles. "I won't ask anymore."<br /> "For the past five years, you've been staying in the stairwell. It has been hard for you, but at least you're still untouched," Aaron remarked before swiftly departing.<br /> Mia stared at Wesley in disbelief, realizing that Aaron's words were meant for her ears.<br /> "What are you staring at? Eat your noodles," Wesley said. Mia chuckled.<br /> "Why are you laughing?"<br /> "You're blushing."<br /> "Nonsense," Wesley retorted.<br /> Unable to contain herself, Mia burst into laughter. She had tried to hold it in, but seeing Wesley's flushed face made it impossible.<br /> Ten minutes later, Mia left on her own accord, sensing that Wesley had something to discuss with Aaron.<br /> Inside Aaron's small shop, Wesley opened a bottle of wine. "Still single?"<br /> "I look too old, no one's interested," Aaron replied, opening a bottle of liquor as well.<br /> "Then why are you meddling in my love lives?"<br /> "Leave a child behind, even if you pass away, someone will remember you." Aaron took a sip. "I've actually investigated this Mia."<br /> "You investigated her?"<br /> "I knew you'd get a divorce. I've been keeping an eye on the pretty ones. This girl had done a lot of good deeds before coming to Yeadeo. Once, she saved three people in a flood and nearly lost her life. Opportunities are rare. You have to seize them."<br /> "When you've figured things out and are ready to marry, then we can discuss our affairs. That's the condition." Wesley downed the entire bottle of liquor.<br /> "Otherwise, don't bother meddling. We're on a one-way path and can't drag others along."<br /> "You..." Aaron sighed as he watched Wesley's retreating figure.<br /> On the road leading to the Feidgeuo Manor, Taylor stood gazing blankly at the entrance not far away.<br /> Twice in one day, she had come here.<br /> The first time was to pick up Frank, and this time was because Frank had lost his expensive watch. She and Henry hadn't even had a meal, rushing over to find it.<br /> The first time, she had come in a hurry when Frank was injured and left quickly as well.<br /> But this time, as Taylor looked at the entrance ahead, an infinite longing sprouted within her.<br /> "If only... I could live here, how wonderful that would be."<br /> Henry looked at her. "One day, I'll definitely build an estate more magnificent than this, and you'll be the lady of the house."<br /> As they conversed, a taxi drove by, stopping at the entrance. The person who got out of the taxi left Taylor stunned.<br /> She rubbed her eyes.	Adoread	147	https://facebook.com/61556400142540	LEARN_MORE	1713510000	View Edit Delete
1666900	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727710	1734958298	695	846610193944634	14	1.5597180248779E+15	1713769200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	226177680578601	0	Adoread	120207746049430265	client.adoread.com	Learn more	NONE	image	🔥🔥🔥 Read More👉	Hottest novel👉👉👉	https://client.adoread.com/book/loading/page/adoread/19161308412?utm_campaign={{campaign.id}}&utm_content={{campaign.name}}		1713519398	2.261776805786E+14	Adoread	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437724011_960421695526729_1516574307485338648_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QHGXZ-huQfoQ7kNvgHzczKd&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfA1G0W2GCJxETLnSTacq_-lPqPiWUWkbiLYII7Ir0AxBw&oe=663A90F9	person_profile	0	Adoread	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437891881_25238797299100336_7255863263127890524_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UeFxFDUJUZIQ7kNvgEeS_Bx&_nc_oc=AdiTRuuDuY6HRwjcUurcsHlsNxYlsWgvgJHiVXRjUHaZb6kg1K8E8f2HQ-z0coXk5QA8ZT6tVndcdcIOXE5PQdjL&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAumwy6FfvPM1CFZK2E_ded2st3Y2KINeCxuV2bVHiXTg&oe=663A61E5	0	3	"Wesley, are you trying to harm me? You useless piece of trash, can't even make a decent cup of coffee, can you?"<br /> Madison Blair lifted her coffee cup and splashed it directly onto Wesley Harrington's face.<br /> "What are you looking at, you spineless waste? Your name sounds so lofty? I might as well call you a waste."<br /> Glancing at the grotesque expression of his wife's mother, Wesley pulled out his phone to check the time.<br /> Exactly twelve o'clock. It had been five full years since he married Taylor Reed.<br /> The appointed time had come.<br /> He had fulfilled his promise, safeguarding the Reed family for five years, transforming them from a family living off fishing to one perceived as affluent by the common folk.<br /> Wiping the coffee off his face, he turned and walked away.<br /> "Where do you think you're going? Go fetch some more coffee," Madison shouted.<br /> "Madison, didn't you say this waste is obedient at home, doing whatever he's told? I don't think he's taking it lying down."<br /> Madison grew angrier. "Wesley, you stop right there. My family has fed and housed you. If you dare disobey, I'll have you thrown out!"<br /> Ignoring her, Wesley continued downstairs.<br /> "When Taylor comes back, I'll immediately have you two divorced. Do you hear me? Stay right there," Madison threatened, "I'll let you know your place today."<br /> Grabbing a golf club, Madison swiftly charged towards Wesley.<br /> Seeing Wesley heading downstairs, she swung the club viciously at his back.<br /> Without turning back, Wesley gently sidestepped.<br /> Losing her balance, Madison tumbled forward, rolling down the stairs with a series of thumps.<br /> "Ouch... it hurts, it hurts so much!"<br /> As Madison reached the ground floor, she wailed in pain and her sister immediately rushed to her.<br /> "Wesley, what have you done? How dare you hit my sister!" Madison's sister hurried down, checking on Madison's condition.<br /> Wesley remained silent, observing the scene.<br /> "Quick, call Taylor. Tell her to come back. Today, she must divorce this waste." Madison glared at Wesley. "How dare you hit me? Not only will I let Taylor divorce you, but I'll make sure you leave in disgrace."<br /> "Mum, what's wrong?" At that moment, a gent and a lady walked in.<br /> The lady was Taylor, Madison's daughter.<br /> She ran towards Madison.<br /> As Madison pointed at Wesley, tears streamed down her face. "Taylor, he hit me, he hit me! When you're not home, he changes his attitude, scolding and hitting me in the slightest displeasure. He even pushed me down the stairs just now. Alexis can testify."<br /> Madison's sister, Alexis Blair, chimed in. "Yes, Wesley, this trash not only hit your mother but also threatened to hit me too. We cannot tolerate such trash."<br /> "Taylor, I have been telling you to divorce him for years. You've been supporting him, treating him like a Lord at home, but he's an ungrateful wolf in sheep's clothing."<br /> Helping Madison up, Taylor noticed the scrapes on Madison's arms and legs, her expression turning cold.<br /> "Wesley, why did you hit my mother? You better give me an explanation."<br /> Wesley looked at Taylor, his wife.<br /> Five years had passed, and she had never shown him kindness.<br /> Taylor dressed impeccably, a paragon of a successful lady, with a face that could be deemed angelic, yet whether her heart was as angelic remained a mystery.<br /> Her figure, too, left countless men yearning.<br /> For five years, Wesley had thought he might develop feelings for this lady, but in reality, it never happened.<br /> "There are surveillance cameras in the house," Wesley stated calmly before descending the stairs into the hallway.<br /> Despite residing in a three-story villa, Wesley's living quarters were confined to the stairwell.<br /> He harbored no resentment towards this arrangement. It was merely a promise. It was just that Taylor failed to appreciate him.<br /> This home held little value that he wished to cling onto.<br /> Retrieving a wooden box from beneath his pillow, Wesley extracted two documents. Casting a fleeting glance at the modest abode he had called home for five years, Wesley smiled faintly.<br /> He thought, "Finally... I'm free."<br /> Pushing the door ajar, Wesley was met by Taylor's piercing gaze. "I've reviewed the surveillance footage. Yes, my mother intended to strike you, but even if she did, what difference would it make?"<br /> "She's a lady. How much could her blows hurt you? Why did you dodge?"<br /> "If you hadn't dodged, my mother wouldn't have tumbled down." Wesley stared at Taylor, unable to comprehend her thought process.<br /> He had no interest in engaging in these arguments. Handing over the two documents to Taylor, he remarked, "The divorce agreement. I've already signed it. Take a look. I'm leaving with nothing."<br /> "With your current influence, there's no need for you to visit the city hall. Someone will handle it for you, right?"<br /> Madison was taken aback. She swiftly snatched the divorce agreement, flipping through it hastily.<br /> The contents were indeed straightforward. Both parties willingly divorced, with Wesley relinquishing all claims and having already signed.<br /> In an instant, Madison's pain seemed to dissipate. "Taylor, sign it quickly. Sign it."<br /> Taylor was still in a daze.<br /> She pondered.<br /> "A divorce agreement? Wesley has already prepared a divorce agreement. On what grounds?"<br /> "What gives him the right to initiate a divorce? All these years, he's done nothing at home, lacking any ambition. Always practicing martial arts, what right does he have to seek a divorce?"<br /> "If anyone should initiate it, it should be me. Moreover, now that I'm back to discussing this matter with him. Could it be that word got out, and Wesley, for the sake of his pride, rushed to prepare a divorce agreement first?"<br /> "It must be so, but... No!"<br /> "Wanting to leave with nothing, is he retreating to advance? As the chairman of the Reed Group, how could I be served with a divorce?"<br /> "Hey Wesley, I never expected this from you. Have I not treated you well enough? You seek a divorce, attempting to turn your retreat into advance, aiming to embarrass me?"<br /> Taylor glared at Wesley. "I'm telling you, it's impossible."<br /> Snatching the divorce agreement, she tore it to shreds.<br /> "Taylor, what are you doing? Such a great opportunity. Why not just sign it and let him leave?" Madison grew anxious.<br /> "Mom, I do intend to divorce this trash, but the decision must come from me. I returned specifically to address this matter."<br /> With that, Taylor produced two documents. "Wesley, remember that it's me who's divorcing you. It's me who no longer wants you. Initially, out of marital obligation, I had considered offering you some compensation. Now, you don't even need to think about it. Sign the divorce agreement and leave my home."<br /> Wesley offered a faint smile as he accepted the divorce agreement.<br /> "What are you laughing at?" Taylor demanded angrily.<br /> Wesley's smile seemed to mock her, fueling her rage.<br /> Ignoring her entirely, Wesley signed the document and handed it over.<br /> "What are you laughing at? Answer me! Who do you think you are?" Taylor roared once more.<br /> Wesley glanced at her before striding towards the exit.<br /> "Stop!" The gent who had accompanied Taylor stepped forward, blocking Wesley's path. "Taylor asked you a question, and... Your previous attitude displeased me. Apologize to Taylor, or I'll have you leave in disgrace!"<br /> Chapter 2 The Unspoken Truth<br /> <br /> "Yes, let him leave in disgrace. He thought he could just hit me and walk away so easily," Madison joined in the commotion, also noticing the gent blocking Wesley's path.<br /> Madison had a keen interest in luxury goods, having frequented various high-end establishments over the years as the Reed family's living conditions improved. The gent was wearing an expensive watch and dressed head to toe in high-end luxury brands.<br /> Seeing Madison's gaze, the gent spoke. "Rest assured, today Wesley must pay the price."<br /> The gent introduced himself, looking at Wesley, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Henry Clark, the eldest son of the Clark family and the general manager of the Clark Group in the North District."<br /> "From now on, I will accompany Taylor on her journey of life, and I will not allow anyone to bully her."<br /> "My identity carries weight. You should understand that. Now, apologize to Taylor. Apologize! Did you hear me? Apologize!"<br /> Madison's eyes lit up. She hadn't expected the gent before her to hold such a high status. She continued to shout, "Did you hear that? Taylor will be with Mr. Clark from now on. Apologize now."<br /> Wesley glanced at Henry, then at Taylor. He thought, "Have they been together all along?" Wesley had wanted to ask but decided against it because there was no need. He simply gave them a glance and continued walking towards the exit.<br /> "Are you ignoring me?" Henry's face turned cold as he reached out to grab Wesley. Henry's hand froze mid-air as he received a solid hit.<br /> "Until I sign the divorce papers, Taylor and I are still wife and husband. I don't care to investigate whether you two had any intimate relationship during that time, but don't provoke me, or I won't hesitate to make you regret it." Wesley's gaze was icy, and as Henry met his eyes, he felt a twinge of fear and swallowed his words.<br /> Taylor was also stunned. She knew exactly what Wesley had been like over the past five years. There were many surveillance cameras in the house, and she would often check them.<br /> Even when Taylor wasn't home, despite how her family treated Wesley, he always obeyed without complaint, especially towards her. He had never raised his voice, no matter how they treated him.<br /> Today, not only did Wesley dodge when her mother struck, but he also initiated the divorce and now even struck Henry. <br /> Taylor was at a loss for words, thinking, "How could this cowardly gent dare? On what grounds does he dare?"<br /> This change was difficult for Taylor to accept as if she didn't truly understand this guy. The gent who used to be obedient to her, completely submissive, now revealed this side of himself. She watched Wesley walk away in a daze, feeling a strange discomfort in her heart.<br /> "Isn't he leaving with nothing?" Alexis pointed at the wooden box Wesley was holding. "What is he taking with him?"<br /> Madison also realized. Over the past five years, Wesley had always treasured this wooden box, carrying it with him wherever he went. She thought there must be something valuable inside.<br /> Realizing this, Madison hurriedly followed. "Wesley, stop right there, leave the wooden box."<br /> Wesley paused, glanced at Madison, and said, "This is my personal belonging."<br /> "Nonsense, what personal belonging could you possibly have after marrying into the Reed family? Everything you've eaten, worn, and lived in over the years has been provided by the Reed family. Put it down."<br /> As she spoke, Madison reached out to grab the wooden box.<br /> "Ah..." A scream rang out as Madison quickly retracted her hand, a gash appearing on her palm, a crimson liquid dripping.<br /> The wooden box was now stained with the same crimson liquid, trembling lightly in Wesley's hand.<br /> "It's not the right time yet, the day you thirst for this crimson liquid will come," Wesley murmured softly, patting the box before turning to continue his stride towards the exit.<br /> "Monster! A monster!" Madison screamed, causing Taylor and the others to rush out. Seeing the wound in Madison's hand, Taylor was filled with rage.<br /> "Wesley, aren't you going to say something?" Wesley halted once more, contemplating before meeting Taylor's gaze.<br /> "Just stay out of my way from now on. Consider this a warning to you."<br /> "Taylor, that wooden box of his has a mechanism. It must hold something valuable! We can't let him take it with him," Madison, enduring the pain, reminded them.<br /> "Mom, your injury is important. We'll deal with him later. Let me take you to the hospital first." Taylor comforted Madison before calling out to the retreating Wesley.<br /> "Our marriage is over! Yet, you dared to hurt my mother! This won't be the end of it! I will make you regret it!" Ignoring her, Wesley continued walking out.<br /> "Rest assured, I promise he won't see the light of day tomorrow." Henry stepped forward to console. "Let's focus on getting your wound treated first."<br /> "I want him to regret ever existing in this world, to apologize to me in repentance," Madison roared.<br /> "Mom, trust me, I will make him do just that." Taylor looked at Madison with a mix of pity and determination. "Let's go to the hospital first."<br /> In the villa area, Wesley halted, his voice cold. "Get out."<br /> An elderly gent leaped down from a tree, appearing to be in his seventies, yet landing silently from a height of around ten feet.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, your father wants you to come home and take charge."<br /> "He stopped being my father five years ago. He's my enemy."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you misunderstood your father. He had his reasons back then. I swear in my life, once you know the truth, you will forgive him."<br /> "Huh!" Wesley smirked coldly, saying, "I nearly passed away back then. Is that also a misunderstanding?"<br /> The old gent pleaded, "Mr. Harrington, this situation is truly not as you perceive it."<br /> Wesley didn't engage further with the old guy. The events of that year were etched in his memory forever. He was the one who had been abandoned. If not for that incident, why would he have stayed with the Reed family for five years?<br /> Watching Wesley walk away, the old gent had tears silently streaming down his face. "Mr. Harrington, I truly... I truly can't bring myself to speak the truth, but you have misunderstood your father. He also bears burdens and endures pains beyond what an ordinary person can handle."<br /> As Wesley's figure disappeared, the old gent stood up, hesitated for a moment, then dialed a number on his phone.<br /> "Mr. Harrington is now divorced. I've given you the news firsthand. If your daughter is truly together with Mr. Harrington, you must fulfill the promise and let her persuade Mr. Harrington to come home."<br /> After hanging up, a middle-aged gent in a luxurious estate jumped up excitedly. Calming himself, he immediately made another call. "My dear, you're at Yeadeo, right?<br /> "Go find Wesley now. Don't mention the engagement for now. Use every means to get close to him, make him fall in love with you."<br /> "Dad, I don't have time."<br /> "No matter what you are busy with, you must go find Wesley now. No matter what reason you approach him, you must leave a good impression the first time."<br /> "Dad, I'm in trouble right now. If I don't handle it well, I might be good as gone. I have to deal with it immediately. I'm hanging up."<br /> Chapter 3 You're Nothing<br /> The middle-aged gent's voice lowered significantly. "Is there a big incident happening? You didn't tell me? What happened?"<br /> "Quinn Kingsley from Yeadeo, Mr. Kingsley, used our product and now has one foot on the grave. If something really happens to him..."<br /> "You mean Quinn, the uncontested leader of Yeadeo?"<br /> "Yes."<br /> "In that case, you should go find Wesley. Trust me, in this world, there is no problem that Wesley can't solve. As long as he's willing to help, you'll be fine. Listen to me, go find Wesley immediately."<br /> The lady fell silent for a moment before saying, "Okay."<br /> At Yeadeo Harbor, a gent with a large flaxen chain and a watch, sporting a crew cut, hurriedly disembarked, accompanied by a dozen gentlemen.<br /> "Mr. Reed, wherever that trash is, we will find him and tear him apart."<br /> "Yes, that guy dared to harm your mother. We'll make sure he pays for it."<br /> Frank Reed's face turned cold. "Wesley, you coward, thinking you can overturn the world? How dare you touch my mom? Just wait until I find you, you're finished."<br /> "We've found him. Wesley got into a taxi, and our boys followed him."<br /> "Let's go!" Frank waved his hand, leading dozens of men who boarded the car with harpoons, steel pipes, and other weapons.<br /> Inside the taxi, Wesley gazed at the scenery outside, feeling a strange sense of tranquility.<br /> He thought to himself, "I never imagined that while I was secretly paving the way for the Reed family, Taylor, after progressing so rapidly, would start looking down on me more and more."<br /> "Those ladies who know my true identity, which one of them isn't trying to throw themselves at me? Ladies like that don't interest me."<br /> "Being an ordinary gent is truly difficult," Wesley murmured, smiling faintly and deciding not to dwell on these matters anymore. He had important things to attend to and no time to waste on personal affairs.<br /> "Young lad, are you going to Feidgeuo Manor for a job interview?" The driver, curious about Wesley's destination, inquired.<br /> Feidgeuo Manor was Yeadeo's most mysterious private area. Originally a villa area, it was bought at a huge cost five years ago and completely renovated. It was said to have cost a trillion dollars. The former villa area was now Feidgeuo Manor.<br /> "That's my home," Wesley replied nonchalantly.<br /> The driver was taken aback by this revelation, silently cursing Wesley for bragging. After a couple of minutes, the driver regained his composure. "It seems like you and I both prefer to keep a low profile. My car usually gathers dust at home, so I occasionally drive a taxi to experience life."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "My car has been driven by my assistant for the past few years, so it's not gathering dust."<br /> "Haha..." The driver laughed. "We should get together sometime and see whose car is more impressive."<br /> "Sure, whenever we have the time."<br /> As they chatted, the vehicle soon arrived near Feidgeuo Manor, where the massive head of the Feidgeuo Peak protruded, creating a unique landscape in Yeadeo.<br /> The driver asked with a smile, "Since you're the owner here, it's fine if I drive in, right?"<br /> "Of course," Wesley replied.<br /> As soon as Wesley spoke, several cars caught up from behind.<br /> The cars surrounded the one Wesley was in, with the front vehicles braking to force the car to a stop.<br /> When numerous people descended from cars wielding harpoons and steel pipes, the driver's face paled.<br /> Frank and his group got out of the cars, instantly closing in, and without hesitation, started attacking, the steel pipes and harpoons thudding against the car.<br /> Frank's henchman yanked open the door of Wesley's car, poised to stab Wesley with a harpoon, but Wesley swiftly exited the vehicle.<br /> With a firm step on the ground, he launched a swift hit.<br /> A muffled sound echoed as the henchman was hit away.<br /> "What are you looking at?" Frank noticed his henchmen were all staring at him. "All of you, attack together and take him down!"<br /> As he commanded, the henchmen Frank brought with him surged forward.<br /> The taxi driver, trembling, took out his phone to call the police, but Frank glared at him. "I am Frank Reed from Yeadeo Harbor. If you dare, go ahead and make that call."<br /> Frank, leveraging his sister Taylor's status, had been causing trouble in Yeadeo Harbor, and no one dared to provoke him.<br /> Upon hearing Frank's name, the driver hastily put away his phone. "Mr. Reed, I'll just check the time, you guys continue."<br /> "Huh!" Frank snorted coldly, casting his gaze towards the surrounded Wesley.<br /> The sounds of thuds continued to ring out incessantly. Because Wesley was completely surrounded, Frank was unable to see the situation inside clearly, but he could imagine it. After all, in Frank's mind, the henchmen under his command were not to be trifled with.<br /> "Hit him hard for me!"<br /> Another muffled sound and a figure flew out. At that moment, Frank finally saw the situation clearly, and his face turned pale.<br /> Frank knew that Wesley liked to practice martial arts, but he had never expected Wesley to be this skilled. It wasn't Wesley who had been beaten, but his own men by Wesley alone.<br /> Frantically, Frank turned and ran to retrieve a crossbow from the car.<br /> "Clear the way." Frank bellowed, aiming the crossbow at Wesley.<br /> "You scumbag, you think you can fight? Move one more time, and I'll end your life! Surrender!"<br /> Wesley, holding a wooden box, stared at Frank. Ignoring the crossbow in his hand, Wesley said, "Tell your henchmen to back off, or you'll all see the light from above!"<br /> "You're really good at pretending to be tough." Frank took two steps forward. "See the light? Move a muscle and see if I can end your life or not! If you don't have the guts, apologize now!"<br /> Wesley turned his head and looked at the approaching cars, with two expensive ones in the lead, two more in the rear, and another one in the middle.<br /> "Keep acting tough, and I'll put a hole in your head." Frank spoke while glancing at the five cars. "What, looking for help?"<br /> "Let me tell you, those who ride in these cars are not the kind of weaklings like you who rely on connections. With me here, in Yeadeo's social hierarchy, even those who ride in such cars wouldn't dare meddle in this matter. And let me make it clear, without my sister, you're nothing."<br /> Chapter 4 Is He Worthy?<br /> As Frank's words faded, the five cars came to a halt.<br /> A bodyguard opened the door of the one in the middle, revealing a dazzling pair of shining shoes catching everyone's eye.<br /> The shining shoe encased a beautiful foot. Above, the skirt's hem was adorned with lace.<br /> Then, like a fairy stepping out of a painting, she appeared before everyone's eyes.<br /> The lady was beautiful!<br /> Frank was mesmerized. Ever since the Reed family rose to prominence, he had been surrounded by ladies, but compared to the elegant lady before him, they were worlds apart.<br /> It wasn't just a difference in appearance but an incomparable gap in demeanor.<br /> The lady descending from the Maybach seemed like a celestial being untouched by mortal affairs.<br /> The embodiment of a fairy in the mundane world.<br /> She simply stood there after getting out of the car, perfectly embodying what it meant to be graceful and elegant.<br /> The lady glanced at Wesley, then at Frank.<br /> Frank grinned, saying, "May I have the honor of knowing the name of this esteemed lady? I am Frank..."<br /> The lady spoke calmly. "Disrespect Mr. Harrington, and you're done for."<br /> Her bodyguards, unfazed by Frank's crossbow, swiftly overwhelmed him, sending him crashing to the ground.<br /> The henchmen who had come with Frank, previously defeated by Wesley, now scrambled to their feet and fled in all directions.<br /> Who would dare provoke someone who could afford such a car?<br /> "My sister is Taylor Reed, the chairperson of Reed Group," Frank shouted, clutching his head.<br /> Ignoring him, one of the bodyguards dragged him to the roadside grass while another used a belt to tighten around Frank's neck, exerting pressure.<br /> "Enough, a lesson is all that's needed." Wesley spoke calmly, and only when the lady gestured did the bodyguards release Frank.<br /> Frank lay there, already unconscious.<br /> Wesley turned to the lady. "Who are you?"<br /> "I am Mia Roberts, the general manager of Vinver Business Alliance's Yeadeo branch." She looked at Wesley and continued, "Mr. Harrington, my father mentioned that you have miraculous healing skills and earnestly requested your assistance. A generous reward awaits."<br /> Wesley furrowed his brow slightly, thinking, "There are indeed people who recognize my abilities and status, yet I've rarely intervened in the past five years. Today, shortly after I divorced Taylor, she is here. Whose arrangement is this?"<br /> "Mr. Harrington, my father also mentioned that you are benevolent and has raised the banner of compassion among healers, serving as a role model and benchmark for all in the medical field."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "You have a way with words. Tell me the specifics."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, please get in the car first. I will explain in detail on the way."<br /> The phrase "compassionate healer" held significant weight for Wesley, who had saved countless lives from the brink of death.<br /> Without further ado, he got into the car.<br /> Inside, after Mia brewed coffee for Wesley, she began. "Vinver Business Alliance has a wide range of business operations, and I mainly oversee the health supplement sector, which has seen some success in recent years.<br /> "Recently, Quinn Kingsley started using our medicines, and now there's an accident."<br /> As she spoke, Mia kept her gaze fixed on Wesley.<br /> Quinn, the undisputed leader of Yeadeo, was a figure of immense influence.<br /> Upon hearing this name, Wesley showed no particular reaction. "If the city's leader faces issues with your products, it is indeed a concern. Let's go and see."<br /> With just a sentence, Wesley leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest.<br /> Mia was secretly alarmed, thinking, "He knows who Quinn is, yet he seems indifferent. Who is this Wesley, really? No wonder Dad has instructed me to find a way to win his favor." Mia's inner resistance toward Wesley quietly shifted.<br /> Wesley had piqued her curiosity.<br /> As the vehicle was moving, Wesley's phone rang.<br /> Wesley opened his eyes and took out his phone to see Taylor calling.<br /> Pressing the answer button, he asked, "What's the matter?"<br /> On the other end of the line, Taylor, driving towards Feidgeuo Manor, had a grim expression.<br /> She thought, "Has Wesley ever spoken to me in such a cold tone before? Is he really this heartless right after our divorce?"<br /> Already furious, she snapped. "Wesley, do you even consider yourself a human being?<br /> "Today, not only did you lay hands on my mother, but you also had someone attack my brother. Do you not remember our past at all?"<br /> Wesley calmly replied, "Do we have a past to remember?"<br /> "You truly are a heartless scumbag, just as my mother said. You are an ungrateful and vicious person I raised for five years. Even a pet would wag its tail at me!"<br /> Taylor wanted to continue her tirade, but the phone line had already turned busy.<br /> This only fueled her anger further.<br /> Just now, she had received a call from Frank's underlings, informing her that Wesley had sent people to attack Frank and even intended to end him.<br /> Taylor wanted to demand answers, but...<br /> As Taylor was clutching her fists, her gaze turned icy.<br /> After a moment, she picked up her phone again. "Wesley, you are so narrow-minded. You have no ambition. Any lady would steer clear of you."<br /> "Just because I dumped you, you are doing this on purpose to make me feel sick. Pretending to be aloof and seeking revenge? Do you even deserve it?"<br /> "In Yeadeo, squashing you would be as easy as squashing an ant. You're asking for it! If anything happens to my brother, I will make you wish you were ending!"<br /> Her furious voice message echoed in the car.<br /> Wesley chuckled and put away his phone.<br /> Beside him, Mia seemed contemplative. Before coming, she had already ordered a swift investigation into Wesley.<br /> She was curious, thinking, "How could someone valued by my father could be the one 'marrying into' the Reed family."<br /> Being tactful, Mia chose not to ask and pretended not to have heard.<br /> After about forty minutes, they arrived at the Kingsley Manor.<br /> The Kingsley family members, upon seeing Mia alight from the car, all wore grim expressions.<br /> Mia greeted them with a smile, "Everyone, this is Wesley Harrington, Mr. Harrington, the miraculous healer I specially invited to treat Mr. Kingsley."<br /> "Him? The gent who married into the Reed family?"<br /> "A miraculous healer? Is he even worthy? Are healers so worthless now?"<br /> "A useless gent who mooches off of the Reed family? How dare he call himself a miraculous healer? Truly a joke among all jokes."<br /> Chapter 5 Compassionate Healer<br /> Amanda Kingsley, Quinn's granddaughter, stared coldly at Wesley and Mia.<br /> This lady, dressed in a smart suit, also held significant fame in Yeadeo, overseeing the region's business activities, including investment attraction and various local business negotiations.<br /> Amanda had a favorable view of Taylor, who had risen swiftly in recent times, and they had interacted frequently.<br /> She was aware of Wesley's existence and had advised Taylor to part ways with him early on.<br /> But Amanda never imagined that Mia would bring someone like Wesley, a complete waste, and claim he was a miraculous healer.<br /> Glaring at Mia, she said, "Mia, once my grandfather is well, it's best for your Roberts family to leave Yeadeo."<br /> "As for you..." She glanced at Wesley. "I will advise Taylor to divorce you. You have deceived Taylor's feelings and now shamelessly made your way into my family. You are a despicable creature."<br /> After reprimanding Mia and Wesley, she turned to an elderly gent beside her, and her tone and attitude completely changed. "Mr. Phillips, sorry to trouble you. My grandfather is inside, please."<br /> Mia looked at the elderly gent, who was already in his twilight years, feeling deeply shocked.<br /> Scott Phillips, the 38th generation heir of the Healing Clinic, was now ninety-two years old.<br /> Renowned as a miraculous healer, he was a respected figure in the medical community of Yeadeo and even nationally.<br /> He no longer conducted consultations personally due to his old age. Mia had visited him specifically to pay her respects once she had arrived in Yeadeo but had not met Scott.<br /> She never expected Scott to appear in person. It was understandable, as Quinn held a prominent position in the city. Despite the profound influence of the Phillips family, they still had to show respect to Quinn.<br /> Mia looked at Wesley, feeling conflicted and thinking, "Dad has confidently claimed that Wesley has extraordinary abilities, but does he really?"<br /> She harbored doubts, but out of propriety, Mia spoke. "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the trouble."<br /> Wesley smiled, "It's fine. As long as the person can be healed."<br /> His open-mindedness impressed Mia.<br /> After about half an hour, Amanda emerged from the room. All eyes instantly turned towards her.<br /> It was evident that Amanda had wailed out, with traces of tears still visible.<br /> "Amanda, how is it?" A middle-aged gent anxiously asked her.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family who had rushed back also focused their attention on her.<br /> "Mr. Phillips said that there's little hope of recovery. He could only use acupuncture to wake grandfather for half an hour. When grandfather wakes up, let's all go in and see if he has any final instructions."<br /> Everyone was shocked.<br /> "How could this be?"<br /> "Is Mr. Phillips also helpless?"<br /> The members of the Kingsley family found it hard to accept this reality, especially since Quinn had always treated his juniors well.<br /> The thought of Quinn departing saddened some, and tears silently fell.<br /> Publicly, Quinn's status was the foundation of the Kingsley family's prominence in Yeadeo.<br /> If Quinn were to pass away, the Kingsley family would undoubtedly decline.<br /> The atmosphere within the Kingsley family was somber.<br /> Amanda looked at her family members, opened her mouth, but said nothing, silently turning back into the room.<br /> "Stop crying," A middle-aged gent said sternly, "Dad wouldn't want to see you all in tears. If he's really leaving, we mustn't let him worry about us. Pull yourselves together."<br /> After these words, the middle-aged gent also entered the room.<br /> The younger members of the Kingsley family wiped their tears vigorously, trying to force smiles, but in truth, they looked better at crying than pretending to be happy.<br /> Mia's spirit plummeted as she realized the gravity of the situation. Even if an ordinary person passed away from consuming health supplements, it spelled big trouble for those who sold them. And when the deceased happened to be Quinn, the stakes were even higher.<br /> She understood that it would be difficult for this branch to stay in Yeadeo, and even the headquarters might face repercussions.<br /> "Let's go in and have a look." Wesley glanced at Mia. "There might still be a chance."<br /> "Ah..." Mia stared at Wesley in surprise. Seeing him already heading towards the room, she quickly followed suit.<br /> Inside the room, the members of the Kingsley family stood around the mattress, maintaining a certain distance.<br /> Scott lit the alcohol lamp and took out the needles, his expression solemn.<br /> He looked at the members of the Kingsley family. "Think about what you want to say to Mr. Kingsley later. Once you're ready, let me know, and then I'll proceed with the acupuncture."<br /> As he said this, tears welled up in many eyes.<br /> "If you don't mind, let me take a look. I have a way." Wesley spoke up, drawing everyone's attention.<br /> Amanda's face darkened. "Who let you in? Get out!"<br /> "Mia, have you lost your mind? Tricked by this trash and actually brought him here as a miracle healer. Get out with him! I'll settle the score with you in a couple of days."<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, at a loss for words.<br /> "Even Mr. Phillips is unable to reverse the situation. What use are you? Get out." Another younger member of the Kingsley family angrily rebuked.<br /> The middle-aged gent added, "We're in no mood right now. You better leave immediately."<br /> "I understand your narrow-mindedness," Wesley continued, "But as a healer, once I see a patient, I cannot stand by and watch him draw his last breath."<br /> "Wesley, you're quite the charlatan. Do you really want to be gone right now?" Amanda's voice was filled with anger.<br /> "Amanda, let me say a few words," Scott interjected, and Amanda fell silent.<br /> Looking at Wesley, Scott began. "Young lad, at my age, I've seen a lot and have a broad perspective. Today, however, I find it hard to remain indifferent. I practiced medicine from the age of sixteen until I stopped seeing patients for a total of seventy years."<br /> "I've saved countless patients from various illnesses. I never easily declare a patient's fate, nor do I believe I have the right to do so."<br /> "But from your recent remarks, it seems like you're accusing me of such actions. Young people wanting to make a name for themselves by stepping on the shoulders of their predecessors, I can understand."<br /> "But this kind of behavior displeases me."<br /> "My displeasure, what does it mean to you? Do you understand?"<br /> "Even if you are a healer, your career will be ruined because of this."<br /> Chapter 6 Hand of Hell<br /> In the face of Scott's veiled threats, Wesley simply smiled and brushed them off.<br /> Looking at Scott, he asked, "I've always focused on the issue at hand rather than attacking individuals. I have a few questions for you. If you can't administer the needles, how long do you think Quinn can hold on?"<br /> "Seven days, but he will remain unconscious," Scott replied bluntly.<br /> "Then let me ask you this, is there anyone in the world with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "Outrageous," Amanda coldly interjected, "Mr. Phillips is unparalleled in his medical expertise."<br /> Scott glanced at Amanda. "Amanda, let me handle this question."<br /> Continuing to address Wesley, he said, "I don't underestimate myself, nor do I overestimate. There are countless talented individuals in the world, like stars in the sky. I may not dare claim to be the best in medical skills, but those who surpass me are few."<br /> "That means there are some," Wesley calmly remarked, causing Scott's expression to shift slightly, "Indeed, there are."<br /> "Then let me ask you this. Do you think within seven days, the Kingsley family won't find someone with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "If they do find someone, do you believe there is an illness that you cannot cure, but this person can?"<br /> Wesley's questions were sharp and resounding.<br /> Scott's face changed once more as he was rendered speechless.<br /> "Even if there is, that person will never be you." Amanda's face turned icy. "Now get out. Don't spout your eloquence here. Your deceitful behavior is repulsive."<br /> "Your understanding of me is merely hearsay, isn't it?" Wesley retorted, his gaze mocking Amanda, "Has your background and education taught you such arrogance and prejudice?"<br /> "Arrogance?" Amanda's face grew colder as she disdainfully looked at Wesley. "Prejudice?<br /> "Did I say something wrong just now? You are nothing but stagnant waste, a parasite living off others. If it weren't for Taylor, you would have starved on the streets long ago."<br /> "Relying on sweet words, deceiving Taylor. She, with her kind heart, can't bear to divorce you, but don't push your luck. If it weren't for Taylor's sake, you would have been sent out long ago."<br /> Scott interrupted Amanda, "Amanda, although I find this lad a bit annoying, what he said does hold some truth. There are indeed individuals with better medical skills than me. Your grandfather can hold on for seven days. Try reaching out to see if someone can come over. I'll help you make connections."<br /> "If it really doesn't work out after seven days, I'll administer the needles to your grandfather. However, at that point, I can only buy you three minutes."<br /> As soon as Scott spoke, the faces of the Kingsley family members grew even more solemn. True healers were rare and not easily summoned.<br /> While the Kingsley family had connections in Yeadeo, their influence waned outside of it.<br /> "Mr. Phillips, please administer the needles. Life has its ups and downs, and we understand that. Just buy my father a bit more time." The middle-aged gent spoke up.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family nodded in agreement.<br /> Amanda looked at Scott. "Mr. Phillips, please."<br /> "In that case, please have everyone unrelated leave. I need silence," Scott calmly stated.<br /> Amanda glared at Wesley, her eyes speaking volumes without a word.<br /> The unrelated individuals were, naturally, Wesley and Mia.<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, intending to leave, but she suddenly hesitated.<br /> Instead of leaving, Wesley moved forward.<br /> "What are you doing?" A young member of the Kingsley family stepped forward with a stern expression, pushing Wesley.<br /> In one swift motion, Wesley executed a clean shoulder throw, toppling the young gent to the ground, his own expression turning cold.<br /> "A bunch of fools! If it weren't for my teacher's teachings about not turning a blind eye to those in need, I wouldn't bother with you ignorant lot," Wesley remarked with disdain.<br /> As Wesley effortlessly took down one individual from the Kingsley family, the others seemed slow to react.<br /> By the time they realized what was happening, Wesley had already picked up the needle next to Scott and casually flicked his wrist.<br /> The needle flew out of his hand, piercing Quinn's temple, followed by a second needle, a third needle, and so on.<br /> "What are you doing? Stop!" Amanda's voice rose in urgency, echoed by the rest of the Kingsley family members who rushed forward to restrain Wesley.<br /> "Stay back, everyone. Wait." Scott suddenly stood up, blocking the others. "Let him try."<br /> Amanda and the others were left dumbfounded, thinking, "What does this mean?"<br /> Despite their confusion, they heeded Scott's words.<br /> After Scott stopped the members of the Kingsley family, he fixed his gaze on Wesley.<br /> Wesley proceeded to use eighteen needles in succession, symbolizing the levels of pain.<br /> Even if someone had descended into the depths of hell, they must be brought back.<br /> The final needle, also piercing a vital point, caused Quinn's body to tremble suddenly, resonating with the previous eighteen needles.<br /> Scott's eyes widened, his body trembling slightly. His reaction left Amanda and the others even more puzzled, but none dared to interrupt.<br /> Moments later, Wesley placed a palm on Quinn's chest, causing all eighteen needles to be shaken off. When all the needles landed on the ground, the part of the skin where the needles had pierced turned dark.<br /> Wesley then dragged Quinn to the edge of the mattress, flipped him over with his head facing downwards, and gave him a firm pat on the back.<br /> Quinn spat out a mouthful of black liquid. When Wesley flipped him back to lie flat, his complexion had regained some color.<br /> "The Hand of Darkness... It's the Hand of Darkness!" Scott exclaimed with excitement, his body quivering, "It's the Hand that descends into the dark world, snatching people from the hands of the Evil!"<br /> "You do have some knowledge, recognizing the Hand of Darkness." Wesley glanced at Scott.<br /> Scott's gaze towards Wesley had undergone a drastic change. He respectfully clasped his hands together.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thirty years ago, I had the honor of attending a teaching conference held by Mr. Vanderbilt. I saw the Hand of Darkness, but my limited aptitude only allowed me to grasp the basics."<br /> "I have been blind and ignorant. I apologize for my earlier offenses. Please forgive me, Mr. Harrington."<br /> The Mr. Vanderbilt Scott referred to was Wesley's teacher, Ulysses Vanderbilt. He generously imparted his skills to others, but the ability to learn depended on one's innate talent.<br /> In this world, few could learn Ulysses' skills.<br /> Scott had been fortunate to receive guidance from Ulysses, which had elevated his medical skills. However, the Hand of Darkness, a miraculous ability, was beyond his comprehension.<br /> Wesley smiled faintly, "Your actions earlier are understandable. I appreciate your words."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you must be an exceptional disciple of Mr. Vanderbilt, possessing unparalleled magnanimity. Impressive," Scott continued.<br /> "Enough with the flattery at your age."<br /> "You are mistaken, Mr. Harrington. Every word I speak is sincere."<br /> Mia, Amanda, and the others stood bewildered by the unfolding situation.<br /> "Mr. Phillips... he... he..." Amanda's words faltered.<br /> Scott turned to the members of the Kingsley family. "Meeting Mr. Harrington was Quinn's luck. His symptoms have been cured by Mr. Harrington. With a few days of rest, he will be fine."<br /> The waste Taylor had previously said was called Mr. Harrington by Scott!<br /> Recalling their previous attitudes, Amanda hurriedly apologized, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> The members of the Kingsley family all apologized in unison, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> Chapter 7 Eight Plates of Noodles<br /> With a faint smile, Wesley remarked, "As family members of a patient, your actions earlier are understandable. There's no need for such formality."<br /> Amanda's perplexity deepened as she thought, "Where is the cowardly waste that Taylor described? This display of magnanimity and breadth is far from it."<br /> Mia, too, felt a shiver of realization, thinking, "No wonder Dad has insisted on my proximity to Wesley.<br /> This guy..."<br /> She gazed at Wesley, her curiosity piqued, a sense of exploration stirring within her.<br /> "Mia has brought you here, Mr. Harrington, to cure my grandfather. The Kingsley family will never forget this act. However, considering that my grandfather's ailment stemmed from the health supplements produced by the Vinver Business Alliance, we will be conducting an investigation into it."<br /> Amanda continued, looking at Wesley, "What do you think... of this approach?"<br /> It was Mia who had invited Wesley, so Amanda had grown wiser, refraining from asking for a direct punishment of the Vinver Business Alliance.<br /> As Mia heard Amanda's words, her heart skipped a beat, realizing trouble was brewing.<br /> "On the way here, Ms. Roberts briefed me on the situation. You conducted experiments on mice, correct?"<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes, the health supplements we received were exclusively provided by the Roberts family. There were no similar cases on the market, so we used mice for testing.<br /> "All the mice that ingested this supplement were gone."<br /> She looked at Mia and added, her voice turned colder. "Before the experiment, I specifically contacted Mia to inquire about the testing methods during the development phase, which involved mice."<br /> "There have been individuals eyeing my grandfather's position, some even wishing for his demise. I never imagined that the Vinver Business Alliance, which I attracted for investment, would become a weapon in someone else's hands."<br /> "Do you have any of the remaining medicine?" Wesley inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes."<br /> "Bring some over."<br /> Immediately, someone fetched the medicine. After it was brought to him, Wesley took out a supplement and swallowed it directly.<br /> This scene left Amanda and the others dumbfounded.<br /> Scott, too, was bewildered. "Mr. Harrington, what are you doing?"<br /> Wesley smiled, "Just proving that this medicine is not toxic."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thank you," Mia thanked sincerely, feeling like sobbing at that moment.<br /> Amanda, with a puzzled expression, looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, are you suggesting that my grandfather's condition wasn't caused by the Vinver Business Alliance's medicine? What about the mice?"<br /> The rest were equally puzzled.<br /> "Yes, but not entirely," Wesley said, leaving everyone even more bewildered.<br /> Mia's emotions were like a rollercoaster ride, from relief to immediate tension.<br /> "This medicine itself is not toxic, but when taken with another substance made from a certain plant, it results in Quinn's condition. The mice would die immediately, while humans could endure a few more days."<br /> Wesley continued to explain, "The plant used in this concoction is originally meant for crafting slow-acting toxins, not for human consumption."<br /> Looking at Amanda, Wesley said, "During this period, whoever had access to your grandfather and the mice will better understand why these events occurred."<br /> The gaze of members of the Kingsley family immediately focused on a lady.<br /> Amanda, somewhat incredulous, looked at her. "Can you offer an explanation?"<br /> The lady was the wife of Amanda's deceased brother. She found it hard to accept, as did the rest of the Kingsley family.<br /> This lady had been named the exemplary lady who served her family well this year, not due to her connection with the Kingsley family but because she genuinely deserved it.<br /> "What do you mean? Amanda, what explanation do you want from me?"<br /> The lady stared at Amanda. "Am I the only one who had access to Grandfather and the mice? You, and you... and you, who didn't have access?"<br /> "You all claim to treat me as family. Since I married into the Kingsley family, I have worked diligently, contributing my share even if not acknowledged."<br /> "Amanda, it has been over a year since your brother passed, and I never once considered remarrying. Now, just because of his words, you demand an explanation from me?"<br /> Pointing at Wesley, the lady questioned, "Just because he accuses me of poisoning, you suspect me? Tell me, did I poison him?" The lady glared at Wesley.<br /> "I am merely analyzing the facts. As for concluding this case, it's not within my purview," Wesley addressed the members of the Kingsley family, saying, "You should conduct a thorough investigation into this matter.<br /> "I will write a prescription. Have Quinn take it on time, and he will recover in seven days."<br /> Amanda hurried to fetch paper and pen while Wesley prepared the prescription. Once done, he was ready to leave.<br /> Amanda said hurriedly, "Mr. Harrington, I've already made arrangements for lunch."<br /> "No need," Wesley smiled.<br /> The Kingsley family sought to build closer ties with Wesley, given his extraordinary medical skills. Wesley was well aware of this.<br /> Looking at Amanda and the others, Wesley remarked, "In the future, if you encounter any difficult medical cases that others cannot solve, seek me out. Remember, cases others cannot solve."<br /> The gaze of the Kingsley family members toward Wesley changed once again. Many renowned healers had eccentric personalities and were difficult to engage.<br /> They hadn't expected Wesley to possess such remarkable medical skills without any airs.<br /> As Wesley prepared to depart, the members of the Kingsley family did not dare to insist on his stay, so they accompanied him outside.<br /> "Oh, how could we forget such an important matter? Amanda, what about the consultation fee?" The middle-aged gent inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the oversight. Please wait a moment." Amanda hurried back inside and soon returned with a bank card in hand.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, there's one million dollars in here."<br /> Without hesitation, Wesley accepted the bank card and boarded Mia's car.<br /> During the journey, Mia boldly looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, you've helped me immensely. Can I treat you to a meal? Don't decline in a hurry. It's not a fancy restaurant, but it will leave you wanting more. It's a small place on the street, with only eight plates of noodles served each day, each plate containing different ingredients."<br /> "I managed to secure a reservation. Are you interested?"<br /> Wesley thought, "Eight Plates of Noodles?<br /> "Ah, Aaron's restaurant. It has been a while since I visited those old friends."<br /> Wesley nodded. "Let's go then."<br /> The restaurant, Eight Plates of Noodles, was located on Chanxold Street near the Yeadeo First Central Hospital.<br /> The establishment was small, serving only eight plates of noodles each day at a price of 10 thousand dollars each. Vernoic's television culinary program had specifically covered this incident.<br /> Reservations were a must to secure a plate.<br /> The restaurant's owner had a mysterious background. While the specifics were unknown, a high-ranking noble from the capital of Vernoic, Kingsland, had caused a scene there once.<br /> He had attempted to force his way in without a reservation. Although this incident hadn't been reported, rumors suggested that a garbage truck had to be called to dispose of the intruder's remains, as he was too shattered to be removed by conventional means.<br /> Since then, no one dared to cause trouble.<br /> On their way, Mia introduced Wesley to the background story.<br /> "Mr. Turner, two plates of noodles." Mia called out once they arrived.<br /> Aaron Turner didn't respond but visibly paused upon seeing Wesley beside Mia.<br /> A faint smile appeared on his usually stoic face. Though the flesh on the face seemed stiff, it was indeed a smile. "Coming right up."<br /> Chapter 8 You Are Blushing<br /> Mia glanced at Aaron with a hint of surprise, thinking, "When does he become so warm and enthusiastic?<br /> His tone seemed a bit agitated earlier, didn't it?"<br /> Soon enough, Aaron brought two plates of noodles to the table. One steaming hot and the other devoid of any warmth.<br /> As Mia observed Aaron placing the plate without steam in front of Wesley, her expression changed slightly.<br /> It was a plate of instant noodles having soaked in cold water, with the seasoning barely dissolved.<br /> She felt a sense of panic. Mia had wanted to leave a good impression on Wesley, which was why she had chosen this place.<br /> However, Aaron had served such a plate of noodles.<br /> She dared not question Aaron. The type of noodles served here was not determined by the guests but by Aaron's mood.<br /> "This lass named Mia is quite something, living up to her name, and quite kind-hearted," Aaron remarked, looking at Wesley.<br /> "Get lost," Wesley retorted, using his fork to pick up the noodles and devouring them.<br /> Mia's face turned pale instantly. Disrespecting Aaron was akin to risking Wesley's life.<br /> To her astonishment, Aaron chuckled, tears welling up in his eyes.<br /> He wiped them away. "Alright, I'll leave you to your meal."<br /> Before departing, he gave Mia a thumbs-up. "Seize the opportunity."<br /> The eight plates of noodles symbolized the eight comrades who had faced life and hardships together.<br /> Wesley ate voraciously. Initially, they had only one pack of instant noodles to share among the eight of them, forcing them to divide it.<br /> Despite the circumstances, they devoured the noodles joyfully.<br /> Aaron had promised that once they survived, each one would have the most delicious plate of noodles.<br /> However, five of the eight had perished.<br /> Wesley had come dangerously close to life-threatening situations, but managed to cling to life.<br /> For him, the plate of noodles was not food but the bond of friendship that had shielded him from harm.<br /> "Do you... know each other?" Mia couldn't help but ask, her voice low and curious.<br /> "Some things are better left unknown," Wesley replied.<br /> Mia nodded in understanding, falling silent as they continued eating noodles. She couldn't help stealing glances at Wesley throughout the meal.<br /> This gent had piqued her curiosity even more.<br /> "Wesley, I see. No wonder you agreed to the divorce so readily. You've already found someone else outside."<br /> A sharp voice interrupted their meal.<br /> Taylor approached with a cold expression, accompanied by Henry.<br /> Taylor's mother was in the nearby hospital, and she had just picked up Frank, planning to buy some food when she unexpectedly saw Wesley.<br /> Of course, she saw Mia, too.<br /> Seeing Wesley dining with a lady more attractive than herself, so soon after the divorce felt like a dagger twisting in Taylor's heart.<br /> Her anger was uncontrollable.<br /> Wesley merely glanced at Taylor, disinterested in engaging with her.<br /> Taylor was stung by his indifferent gaze. She stepped forward, glaring at Wesley. "Are you not going to explain to me?"<br /> Mia looked at Taylor, silently cursing her as a foolish lady.<br /> Wesley continued eating his noodles, lowering his head. "Get lost. Don't disturb me, or I won't hesitate to hit you."<br /> "What did you say?" Henry stepped forward, enraged. "Wesley, try laying a hand on her! Is that all you're capable of? Laying hands on ladies?"<br /> "No wonder Taylor looks down on you. You're truly disgusting trash. Apologize to Taylor now, or else you'll regret coming into this world."<br /> "And how will he regret it? Tell me." Aaron emerged, carrying a cleaver, smiling as he faced Henry and Taylor.<br /> "Mr. Turner, we dare not cause trouble in your place, but this guy is just..."<br /> Henry attempted to speak but was cut off as Aaron's cleaver struck his face, sending him sprawling to the ground.<br /> "Mr. Turner, sorry, we'll leave now." Taylor hastily helped Henry up and hurriedly left.<br /> These two individuals were fortunate to know the legendary story behind Eight Plates of Noodles and had successfully made reservations to dine here multiple times.<br /> Having distanced themselves a bit, Henry covered his face and pointed at Wesley. "Wesley, we have some unfinished business. If you're smart, come over here now and apologize."<br /> "Wesley, I've seen through you as well. I never expected that for the past five years, you've been using my money to keep a lady on the side. We'll settle the score slowly."<br /> As the two noticed Aaron glancing their way, they quickly shut their mouths and hurriedly left.<br /> Once they were out of eyeshots, Aaron fixed his gaze on Wesley. "Your dad doesn't know about your divorce yet, does he?"<br /> "What difference would it make if he did?" Wesley stretched lazily. "I've fulfilled my promise. I've given enough."<br /> Aaron nodded in acknowledgment without saying anything further.<br /> This piqued Mia's curiosity even more. "Is it like what the novels depict? Did you marry Taylor due to some special event?"<br /> Seeing Wesley's glare, Mia lowered her head to focus on her noodles. "I won't ask anymore."<br /> "For the past five years, you've been staying in the stairwell. It has been hard for you, but at least you're still untouched," Aaron remarked before swiftly departing.<br /> Mia stared at Wesley in disbelief, realizing that Aaron's words were meant for her ears.<br /> "What are you staring at? Eat your noodles," Wesley said. Mia chuckled.<br /> "Why are you laughing?"<br /> "You're blushing."<br /> "Nonsense," Wesley retorted.<br /> Unable to contain herself, Mia burst into laughter. She had tried to hold it in, but seeing Wesley's flushed face made it impossible.<br /> Ten minutes later, Mia left on her own accord, sensing that Wesley had something to discuss with Aaron.<br /> Inside Aaron's small shop, Wesley opened a bottle of wine. "Still single?"<br /> "I look too old, no one's interested," Aaron replied, opening a bottle of liquor as well.<br /> "Then why are you meddling in my love lives?"<br /> "Leave a child behind, even if you pass away, someone will remember you." Aaron took a sip. "I've actually investigated this Mia."<br /> "You investigated her?"<br /> "I knew you'd get a divorce. I've been keeping an eye on the pretty ones. This girl had done a lot of good deeds before coming to Yeadeo. Once, she saved three people in a flood and nearly lost her life. Opportunities are rare. You have to seize them."<br /> "When you've figured things out and are ready to marry, then we can discuss our affairs. That's the condition." Wesley downed the entire bottle of liquor.<br /> "Otherwise, don't bother meddling. We're on a one-way path and can't drag others along."<br /> "You..." Aaron sighed as he watched Wesley's retreating figure.<br /> On the road leading to the Feidgeuo Manor, Taylor stood gazing blankly at the entrance not far away.<br /> Twice in one day, she had come here.<br /> The first time was to pick up Frank, and this time was because Frank had lost his expensive watch. She and Henry hadn't even had a meal, rushing over to find it.<br /> The first time, she had come in a hurry when Frank was injured and left quickly as well.<br /> But this time, as Taylor looked at the entrance ahead, an infinite longing sprouted within her.<br /> "If only... I could live here, how wonderful that would be."<br /> Henry looked at her. "One day, I'll definitely build an estate more magnificent than this, and you'll be the lady of the house."<br /> As they conversed, a taxi drove by, stopping at the entrance. The person who got out of the taxi left Taylor stunned.<br /> She rubbed her eyes.	Adoread	147	https://facebook.com/61556400142540	LEARN_MORE	1713510000	View Edit Delete
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1666905	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727710	1734958298	695	995919822094343		1.5597180248779E+15	1713682800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	226177680578601	0	Adoread	120207746049430265	client.adoread.com	Learn more	NONE	image	🔥🔥🔥 Read More👉	Hottest novel👉👉👉	https://client.adoread.com/book/loading/page/adoread/19161308412?utm_campaign={{campaign.id}}&utm_content={{campaign.name}}		1713519398	2.261776805786E+14	Adoread	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437724011_960421695526729_1516574307485338648_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QHGXZ-huQfoQ7kNvgHzczKd&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfA1G0W2GCJxETLnSTacq_-lPqPiWUWkbiLYII7Ir0AxBw&oe=663A90F9	person_profile	0	Adoread	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437891881_25238797299100336_7255863263127890524_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UeFxFDUJUZIQ7kNvgEeS_Bx&_nc_oc=AdiTRuuDuY6HRwjcUurcsHlsNxYlsWgvgJHiVXRjUHaZb6kg1K8E8f2HQ-z0coXk5QA8ZT6tVndcdcIOXE5PQdjL&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAumwy6FfvPM1CFZK2E_ded2st3Y2KINeCxuV2bVHiXTg&oe=663A61E5	0	3	"Wesley, are you trying to harm me? You useless piece of trash, can't even make a decent cup of coffee, can you?"<br /> Madison Blair lifted her coffee cup and splashed it directly onto Wesley Harrington's face.<br /> "What are you looking at, you spineless waste? Your name sounds so lofty? I might as well call you a waste."<br /> Glancing at the grotesque expression of his wife's mother, Wesley pulled out his phone to check the time.<br /> Exactly twelve o'clock. It had been five full years since he married Taylor Reed.<br /> The appointed time had come.<br /> He had fulfilled his promise, safeguarding the Reed family for five years, transforming them from a family living off fishing to one perceived as affluent by the common folk.<br /> Wiping the coffee off his face, he turned and walked away.<br /> "Where do you think you're going? Go fetch some more coffee," Madison shouted.<br /> "Madison, didn't you say this waste is obedient at home, doing whatever he's told? I don't think he's taking it lying down."<br /> Madison grew angrier. "Wesley, you stop right there. My family has fed and housed you. If you dare disobey, I'll have you thrown out!"<br /> Ignoring her, Wesley continued downstairs.<br /> "When Taylor comes back, I'll immediately have you two divorced. Do you hear me? Stay right there," Madison threatened, "I'll let you know your place today."<br /> Grabbing a golf club, Madison swiftly charged towards Wesley.<br /> Seeing Wesley heading downstairs, she swung the club viciously at his back.<br /> Without turning back, Wesley gently sidestepped.<br /> Losing her balance, Madison tumbled forward, rolling down the stairs with a series of thumps.<br /> "Ouch... it hurts, it hurts so much!"<br /> As Madison reached the ground floor, she wailed in pain and her sister immediately rushed to her.<br /> "Wesley, what have you done? How dare you hit my sister!" Madison's sister hurried down, checking on Madison's condition.<br /> Wesley remained silent, observing the scene.<br /> "Quick, call Taylor. Tell her to come back. Today, she must divorce this waste." Madison glared at Wesley. "How dare you hit me? Not only will I let Taylor divorce you, but I'll make sure you leave in disgrace."<br /> "Mum, what's wrong?" At that moment, a gent and a lady walked in.<br /> The lady was Taylor, Madison's daughter.<br /> She ran towards Madison.<br /> As Madison pointed at Wesley, tears streamed down her face. "Taylor, he hit me, he hit me! When you're not home, he changes his attitude, scolding and hitting me in the slightest displeasure. He even pushed me down the stairs just now. Alexis can testify."<br /> Madison's sister, Alexis Blair, chimed in. "Yes, Wesley, this trash not only hit your mother but also threatened to hit me too. We cannot tolerate such trash."<br /> "Taylor, I have been telling you to divorce him for years. You've been supporting him, treating him like a Lord at home, but he's an ungrateful wolf in sheep's clothing."<br /> Helping Madison up, Taylor noticed the scrapes on Madison's arms and legs, her expression turning cold.<br /> "Wesley, why did you hit my mother? You better give me an explanation."<br /> Wesley looked at Taylor, his wife.<br /> Five years had passed, and she had never shown him kindness.<br /> Taylor dressed impeccably, a paragon of a successful lady, with a face that could be deemed angelic, yet whether her heart was as angelic remained a mystery.<br /> Her figure, too, left countless men yearning.<br /> For five years, Wesley had thought he might develop feelings for this lady, but in reality, it never happened.<br /> "There are surveillance cameras in the house," Wesley stated calmly before descending the stairs into the hallway.<br /> Despite residing in a three-story villa, Wesley's living quarters were confined to the stairwell.<br /> He harbored no resentment towards this arrangement. It was merely a promise. It was just that Taylor failed to appreciate him.<br /> This home held little value that he wished to cling onto.<br /> Retrieving a wooden box from beneath his pillow, Wesley extracted two documents. Casting a fleeting glance at the modest abode he had called home for five years, Wesley smiled faintly.<br /> He thought, "Finally... I'm free."<br /> Pushing the door ajar, Wesley was met by Taylor's piercing gaze. "I've reviewed the surveillance footage. Yes, my mother intended to strike you, but even if she did, what difference would it make?"<br /> "She's a lady. How much could her blows hurt you? Why did you dodge?"<br /> "If you hadn't dodged, my mother wouldn't have tumbled down." Wesley stared at Taylor, unable to comprehend her thought process.<br /> He had no interest in engaging in these arguments. Handing over the two documents to Taylor, he remarked, "The divorce agreement. I've already signed it. Take a look. I'm leaving with nothing."<br /> "With your current influence, there's no need for you to visit the city hall. Someone will handle it for you, right?"<br /> Madison was taken aback. She swiftly snatched the divorce agreement, flipping through it hastily.<br /> The contents were indeed straightforward. Both parties willingly divorced, with Wesley relinquishing all claims and having already signed.<br /> In an instant, Madison's pain seemed to dissipate. "Taylor, sign it quickly. Sign it."<br /> Taylor was still in a daze.<br /> She pondered.<br /> "A divorce agreement? Wesley has already prepared a divorce agreement. On what grounds?"<br /> "What gives him the right to initiate a divorce? All these years, he's done nothing at home, lacking any ambition. Always practicing martial arts, what right does he have to seek a divorce?"<br /> "If anyone should initiate it, it should be me. Moreover, now that I'm back to discussing this matter with him. Could it be that word got out, and Wesley, for the sake of his pride, rushed to prepare a divorce agreement first?"<br /> "It must be so, but... No!"<br /> "Wanting to leave with nothing, is he retreating to advance? As the chairman of the Reed Group, how could I be served with a divorce?"<br /> "Hey Wesley, I never expected this from you. Have I not treated you well enough? You seek a divorce, attempting to turn your retreat into advance, aiming to embarrass me?"<br /> Taylor glared at Wesley. "I'm telling you, it's impossible."<br /> Snatching the divorce agreement, she tore it to shreds.<br /> "Taylor, what are you doing? Such a great opportunity. Why not just sign it and let him leave?" Madison grew anxious.<br /> "Mom, I do intend to divorce this trash, but the decision must come from me. I returned specifically to address this matter."<br /> With that, Taylor produced two documents. "Wesley, remember that it's me who's divorcing you. It's me who no longer wants you. Initially, out of marital obligation, I had considered offering you some compensation. Now, you don't even need to think about it. Sign the divorce agreement and leave my home."<br /> Wesley offered a faint smile as he accepted the divorce agreement.<br /> "What are you laughing at?" Taylor demanded angrily.<br /> Wesley's smile seemed to mock her, fueling her rage.<br /> Ignoring her entirely, Wesley signed the document and handed it over.<br /> "What are you laughing at? Answer me! Who do you think you are?" Taylor roared once more.<br /> Wesley glanced at her before striding towards the exit.<br /> "Stop!" The gent who had accompanied Taylor stepped forward, blocking Wesley's path. "Taylor asked you a question, and... Your previous attitude displeased me. Apologize to Taylor, or I'll have you leave in disgrace!"<br /> Chapter 2 The Unspoken Truth<br /> <br /> "Yes, let him leave in disgrace. He thought he could just hit me and walk away so easily," Madison joined in the commotion, also noticing the gent blocking Wesley's path.<br /> Madison had a keen interest in luxury goods, having frequented various high-end establishments over the years as the Reed family's living conditions improved. The gent was wearing an expensive watch and dressed head to toe in high-end luxury brands.<br /> Seeing Madison's gaze, the gent spoke. "Rest assured, today Wesley must pay the price."<br /> The gent introduced himself, looking at Wesley, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Henry Clark, the eldest son of the Clark family and the general manager of the Clark Group in the North District."<br /> "From now on, I will accompany Taylor on her journey of life, and I will not allow anyone to bully her."<br /> "My identity carries weight. You should understand that. Now, apologize to Taylor. Apologize! Did you hear me? Apologize!"<br /> Madison's eyes lit up. She hadn't expected the gent before her to hold such a high status. She continued to shout, "Did you hear that? Taylor will be with Mr. Clark from now on. Apologize now."<br /> Wesley glanced at Henry, then at Taylor. He thought, "Have they been together all along?" Wesley had wanted to ask but decided against it because there was no need. He simply gave them a glance and continued walking towards the exit.<br /> "Are you ignoring me?" Henry's face turned cold as he reached out to grab Wesley. Henry's hand froze mid-air as he received a solid hit.<br /> "Until I sign the divorce papers, Taylor and I are still wife and husband. I don't care to investigate whether you two had any intimate relationship during that time, but don't provoke me, or I won't hesitate to make you regret it." Wesley's gaze was icy, and as Henry met his eyes, he felt a twinge of fear and swallowed his words.<br /> Taylor was also stunned. She knew exactly what Wesley had been like over the past five years. There were many surveillance cameras in the house, and she would often check them.<br /> Even when Taylor wasn't home, despite how her family treated Wesley, he always obeyed without complaint, especially towards her. He had never raised his voice, no matter how they treated him.<br /> Today, not only did Wesley dodge when her mother struck, but he also initiated the divorce and now even struck Henry. <br /> Taylor was at a loss for words, thinking, "How could this cowardly gent dare? On what grounds does he dare?"<br /> This change was difficult for Taylor to accept as if she didn't truly understand this guy. The gent who used to be obedient to her, completely submissive, now revealed this side of himself. She watched Wesley walk away in a daze, feeling a strange discomfort in her heart.<br /> "Isn't he leaving with nothing?" Alexis pointed at the wooden box Wesley was holding. "What is he taking with him?"<br /> Madison also realized. Over the past five years, Wesley had always treasured this wooden box, carrying it with him wherever he went. She thought there must be something valuable inside.<br /> Realizing this, Madison hurriedly followed. "Wesley, stop right there, leave the wooden box."<br /> Wesley paused, glanced at Madison, and said, "This is my personal belonging."<br /> "Nonsense, what personal belonging could you possibly have after marrying into the Reed family? Everything you've eaten, worn, and lived in over the years has been provided by the Reed family. Put it down."<br /> As she spoke, Madison reached out to grab the wooden box.<br /> "Ah..." A scream rang out as Madison quickly retracted her hand, a gash appearing on her palm, a crimson liquid dripping.<br /> The wooden box was now stained with the same crimson liquid, trembling lightly in Wesley's hand.<br /> "It's not the right time yet, the day you thirst for this crimson liquid will come," Wesley murmured softly, patting the box before turning to continue his stride towards the exit.<br /> "Monster! A monster!" Madison screamed, causing Taylor and the others to rush out. Seeing the wound in Madison's hand, Taylor was filled with rage.<br /> "Wesley, aren't you going to say something?" Wesley halted once more, contemplating before meeting Taylor's gaze.<br /> "Just stay out of my way from now on. Consider this a warning to you."<br /> "Taylor, that wooden box of his has a mechanism. It must hold something valuable! We can't let him take it with him," Madison, enduring the pain, reminded them.<br /> "Mom, your injury is important. We'll deal with him later. Let me take you to the hospital first." Taylor comforted Madison before calling out to the retreating Wesley.<br /> "Our marriage is over! Yet, you dared to hurt my mother! This won't be the end of it! I will make you regret it!" Ignoring her, Wesley continued walking out.<br /> "Rest assured, I promise he won't see the light of day tomorrow." Henry stepped forward to console. "Let's focus on getting your wound treated first."<br /> "I want him to regret ever existing in this world, to apologize to me in repentance," Madison roared.<br /> "Mom, trust me, I will make him do just that." Taylor looked at Madison with a mix of pity and determination. "Let's go to the hospital first."<br /> In the villa area, Wesley halted, his voice cold. "Get out."<br /> An elderly gent leaped down from a tree, appearing to be in his seventies, yet landing silently from a height of around ten feet.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, your father wants you to come home and take charge."<br /> "He stopped being my father five years ago. He's my enemy."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you misunderstood your father. He had his reasons back then. I swear in my life, once you know the truth, you will forgive him."<br /> "Huh!" Wesley smirked coldly, saying, "I nearly passed away back then. Is that also a misunderstanding?"<br /> The old gent pleaded, "Mr. Harrington, this situation is truly not as you perceive it."<br /> Wesley didn't engage further with the old guy. The events of that year were etched in his memory forever. He was the one who had been abandoned. If not for that incident, why would he have stayed with the Reed family for five years?<br /> Watching Wesley walk away, the old gent had tears silently streaming down his face. "Mr. Harrington, I truly... I truly can't bring myself to speak the truth, but you have misunderstood your father. He also bears burdens and endures pains beyond what an ordinary person can handle."<br /> As Wesley's figure disappeared, the old gent stood up, hesitated for a moment, then dialed a number on his phone.<br /> "Mr. Harrington is now divorced. I've given you the news firsthand. If your daughter is truly together with Mr. Harrington, you must fulfill the promise and let her persuade Mr. Harrington to come home."<br /> After hanging up, a middle-aged gent in a luxurious estate jumped up excitedly. Calming himself, he immediately made another call. "My dear, you're at Yeadeo, right?<br /> "Go find Wesley now. Don't mention the engagement for now. Use every means to get close to him, make him fall in love with you."<br /> "Dad, I don't have time."<br /> "No matter what you are busy with, you must go find Wesley now. No matter what reason you approach him, you must leave a good impression the first time."<br /> "Dad, I'm in trouble right now. If I don't handle it well, I might be good as gone. I have to deal with it immediately. I'm hanging up."<br /> Chapter 3 You're Nothing<br /> The middle-aged gent's voice lowered significantly. "Is there a big incident happening? You didn't tell me? What happened?"<br /> "Quinn Kingsley from Yeadeo, Mr. Kingsley, used our product and now has one foot on the grave. If something really happens to him..."<br /> "You mean Quinn, the uncontested leader of Yeadeo?"<br /> "Yes."<br /> "In that case, you should go find Wesley. Trust me, in this world, there is no problem that Wesley can't solve. As long as he's willing to help, you'll be fine. Listen to me, go find Wesley immediately."<br /> The lady fell silent for a moment before saying, "Okay."<br /> At Yeadeo Harbor, a gent with a large flaxen chain and a watch, sporting a crew cut, hurriedly disembarked, accompanied by a dozen gentlemen.<br /> "Mr. Reed, wherever that trash is, we will find him and tear him apart."<br /> "Yes, that guy dared to harm your mother. We'll make sure he pays for it."<br /> Frank Reed's face turned cold. "Wesley, you coward, thinking you can overturn the world? How dare you touch my mom? Just wait until I find you, you're finished."<br /> "We've found him. Wesley got into a taxi, and our boys followed him."<br /> "Let's go!" Frank waved his hand, leading dozens of men who boarded the car with harpoons, steel pipes, and other weapons.<br /> Inside the taxi, Wesley gazed at the scenery outside, feeling a strange sense of tranquility.<br /> He thought to himself, "I never imagined that while I was secretly paving the way for the Reed family, Taylor, after progressing so rapidly, would start looking down on me more and more."<br /> "Those ladies who know my true identity, which one of them isn't trying to throw themselves at me? Ladies like that don't interest me."<br /> "Being an ordinary gent is truly difficult," Wesley murmured, smiling faintly and deciding not to dwell on these matters anymore. He had important things to attend to and no time to waste on personal affairs.<br /> "Young lad, are you going to Feidgeuo Manor for a job interview?" The driver, curious about Wesley's destination, inquired.<br /> Feidgeuo Manor was Yeadeo's most mysterious private area. Originally a villa area, it was bought at a huge cost five years ago and completely renovated. It was said to have cost a trillion dollars. The former villa area was now Feidgeuo Manor.<br /> "That's my home," Wesley replied nonchalantly.<br /> The driver was taken aback by this revelation, silently cursing Wesley for bragging. After a couple of minutes, the driver regained his composure. "It seems like you and I both prefer to keep a low profile. My car usually gathers dust at home, so I occasionally drive a taxi to experience life."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "My car has been driven by my assistant for the past few years, so it's not gathering dust."<br /> "Haha..." The driver laughed. "We should get together sometime and see whose car is more impressive."<br /> "Sure, whenever we have the time."<br /> As they chatted, the vehicle soon arrived near Feidgeuo Manor, where the massive head of the Feidgeuo Peak protruded, creating a unique landscape in Yeadeo.<br /> The driver asked with a smile, "Since you're the owner here, it's fine if I drive in, right?"<br /> "Of course," Wesley replied.<br /> As soon as Wesley spoke, several cars caught up from behind.<br /> The cars surrounded the one Wesley was in, with the front vehicles braking to force the car to a stop.<br /> When numerous people descended from cars wielding harpoons and steel pipes, the driver's face paled.<br /> Frank and his group got out of the cars, instantly closing in, and without hesitation, started attacking, the steel pipes and harpoons thudding against the car.<br /> Frank's henchman yanked open the door of Wesley's car, poised to stab Wesley with a harpoon, but Wesley swiftly exited the vehicle.<br /> With a firm step on the ground, he launched a swift hit.<br /> A muffled sound echoed as the henchman was hit away.<br /> "What are you looking at?" Frank noticed his henchmen were all staring at him. "All of you, attack together and take him down!"<br /> As he commanded, the henchmen Frank brought with him surged forward.<br /> The taxi driver, trembling, took out his phone to call the police, but Frank glared at him. "I am Frank Reed from Yeadeo Harbor. If you dare, go ahead and make that call."<br /> Frank, leveraging his sister Taylor's status, had been causing trouble in Yeadeo Harbor, and no one dared to provoke him.<br /> Upon hearing Frank's name, the driver hastily put away his phone. "Mr. Reed, I'll just check the time, you guys continue."<br /> "Huh!" Frank snorted coldly, casting his gaze towards the surrounded Wesley.<br /> The sounds of thuds continued to ring out incessantly. Because Wesley was completely surrounded, Frank was unable to see the situation inside clearly, but he could imagine it. After all, in Frank's mind, the henchmen under his command were not to be trifled with.<br /> "Hit him hard for me!"<br /> Another muffled sound and a figure flew out. At that moment, Frank finally saw the situation clearly, and his face turned pale.<br /> Frank knew that Wesley liked to practice martial arts, but he had never expected Wesley to be this skilled. It wasn't Wesley who had been beaten, but his own men by Wesley alone.<br /> Frantically, Frank turned and ran to retrieve a crossbow from the car.<br /> "Clear the way." Frank bellowed, aiming the crossbow at Wesley.<br /> "You scumbag, you think you can fight? Move one more time, and I'll end your life! Surrender!"<br /> Wesley, holding a wooden box, stared at Frank. Ignoring the crossbow in his hand, Wesley said, "Tell your henchmen to back off, or you'll all see the light from above!"<br /> "You're really good at pretending to be tough." Frank took two steps forward. "See the light? Move a muscle and see if I can end your life or not! If you don't have the guts, apologize now!"<br /> Wesley turned his head and looked at the approaching cars, with two expensive ones in the lead, two more in the rear, and another one in the middle.<br /> "Keep acting tough, and I'll put a hole in your head." Frank spoke while glancing at the five cars. "What, looking for help?"<br /> "Let me tell you, those who ride in these cars are not the kind of weaklings like you who rely on connections. With me here, in Yeadeo's social hierarchy, even those who ride in such cars wouldn't dare meddle in this matter. And let me make it clear, without my sister, you're nothing."<br /> Chapter 4 Is He Worthy?<br /> As Frank's words faded, the five cars came to a halt.<br /> A bodyguard opened the door of the one in the middle, revealing a dazzling pair of shining shoes catching everyone's eye.<br /> The shining shoe encased a beautiful foot. Above, the skirt's hem was adorned with lace.<br /> Then, like a fairy stepping out of a painting, she appeared before everyone's eyes.<br /> The lady was beautiful!<br /> Frank was mesmerized. Ever since the Reed family rose to prominence, he had been surrounded by ladies, but compared to the elegant lady before him, they were worlds apart.<br /> It wasn't just a difference in appearance but an incomparable gap in demeanor.<br /> The lady descending from the Maybach seemed like a celestial being untouched by mortal affairs.<br /> The embodiment of a fairy in the mundane world.<br /> She simply stood there after getting out of the car, perfectly embodying what it meant to be graceful and elegant.<br /> The lady glanced at Wesley, then at Frank.<br /> Frank grinned, saying, "May I have the honor of knowing the name of this esteemed lady? I am Frank..."<br /> The lady spoke calmly. "Disrespect Mr. Harrington, and you're done for."<br /> Her bodyguards, unfazed by Frank's crossbow, swiftly overwhelmed him, sending him crashing to the ground.<br /> The henchmen who had come with Frank, previously defeated by Wesley, now scrambled to their feet and fled in all directions.<br /> Who would dare provoke someone who could afford such a car?<br /> "My sister is Taylor Reed, the chairperson of Reed Group," Frank shouted, clutching his head.<br /> Ignoring him, one of the bodyguards dragged him to the roadside grass while another used a belt to tighten around Frank's neck, exerting pressure.<br /> "Enough, a lesson is all that's needed." Wesley spoke calmly, and only when the lady gestured did the bodyguards release Frank.<br /> Frank lay there, already unconscious.<br /> Wesley turned to the lady. "Who are you?"<br /> "I am Mia Roberts, the general manager of Vinver Business Alliance's Yeadeo branch." She looked at Wesley and continued, "Mr. Harrington, my father mentioned that you have miraculous healing skills and earnestly requested your assistance. A generous reward awaits."<br /> Wesley furrowed his brow slightly, thinking, "There are indeed people who recognize my abilities and status, yet I've rarely intervened in the past five years. Today, shortly after I divorced Taylor, she is here. Whose arrangement is this?"<br /> "Mr. Harrington, my father also mentioned that you are benevolent and has raised the banner of compassion among healers, serving as a role model and benchmark for all in the medical field."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "You have a way with words. Tell me the specifics."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, please get in the car first. I will explain in detail on the way."<br /> The phrase "compassionate healer" held significant weight for Wesley, who had saved countless lives from the brink of death.<br /> Without further ado, he got into the car.<br /> Inside, after Mia brewed coffee for Wesley, she began. "Vinver Business Alliance has a wide range of business operations, and I mainly oversee the health supplement sector, which has seen some success in recent years.<br /> "Recently, Quinn Kingsley started using our medicines, and now there's an accident."<br /> As she spoke, Mia kept her gaze fixed on Wesley.<br /> Quinn, the undisputed leader of Yeadeo, was a figure of immense influence.<br /> Upon hearing this name, Wesley showed no particular reaction. "If the city's leader faces issues with your products, it is indeed a concern. Let's go and see."<br /> With just a sentence, Wesley leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest.<br /> Mia was secretly alarmed, thinking, "He knows who Quinn is, yet he seems indifferent. Who is this Wesley, really? No wonder Dad has instructed me to find a way to win his favor." Mia's inner resistance toward Wesley quietly shifted.<br /> Wesley had piqued her curiosity.<br /> As the vehicle was moving, Wesley's phone rang.<br /> Wesley opened his eyes and took out his phone to see Taylor calling.<br /> Pressing the answer button, he asked, "What's the matter?"<br /> On the other end of the line, Taylor, driving towards Feidgeuo Manor, had a grim expression.<br /> She thought, "Has Wesley ever spoken to me in such a cold tone before? Is he really this heartless right after our divorce?"<br /> Already furious, she snapped. "Wesley, do you even consider yourself a human being?<br /> "Today, not only did you lay hands on my mother, but you also had someone attack my brother. Do you not remember our past at all?"<br /> Wesley calmly replied, "Do we have a past to remember?"<br /> "You truly are a heartless scumbag, just as my mother said. You are an ungrateful and vicious person I raised for five years. Even a pet would wag its tail at me!"<br /> Taylor wanted to continue her tirade, but the phone line had already turned busy.<br /> This only fueled her anger further.<br /> Just now, she had received a call from Frank's underlings, informing her that Wesley had sent people to attack Frank and even intended to end him.<br /> Taylor wanted to demand answers, but...<br /> As Taylor was clutching her fists, her gaze turned icy.<br /> After a moment, she picked up her phone again. "Wesley, you are so narrow-minded. You have no ambition. Any lady would steer clear of you."<br /> "Just because I dumped you, you are doing this on purpose to make me feel sick. Pretending to be aloof and seeking revenge? Do you even deserve it?"<br /> "In Yeadeo, squashing you would be as easy as squashing an ant. You're asking for it! If anything happens to my brother, I will make you wish you were ending!"<br /> Her furious voice message echoed in the car.<br /> Wesley chuckled and put away his phone.<br /> Beside him, Mia seemed contemplative. Before coming, she had already ordered a swift investigation into Wesley.<br /> She was curious, thinking, "How could someone valued by my father could be the one 'marrying into' the Reed family."<br /> Being tactful, Mia chose not to ask and pretended not to have heard.<br /> After about forty minutes, they arrived at the Kingsley Manor.<br /> The Kingsley family members, upon seeing Mia alight from the car, all wore grim expressions.<br /> Mia greeted them with a smile, "Everyone, this is Wesley Harrington, Mr. Harrington, the miraculous healer I specially invited to treat Mr. Kingsley."<br /> "Him? The gent who married into the Reed family?"<br /> "A miraculous healer? Is he even worthy? Are healers so worthless now?"<br /> "A useless gent who mooches off of the Reed family? How dare he call himself a miraculous healer? Truly a joke among all jokes."<br /> Chapter 5 Compassionate Healer<br /> Amanda Kingsley, Quinn's granddaughter, stared coldly at Wesley and Mia.<br /> This lady, dressed in a smart suit, also held significant fame in Yeadeo, overseeing the region's business activities, including investment attraction and various local business negotiations.<br /> Amanda had a favorable view of Taylor, who had risen swiftly in recent times, and they had interacted frequently.<br /> She was aware of Wesley's existence and had advised Taylor to part ways with him early on.<br /> But Amanda never imagined that Mia would bring someone like Wesley, a complete waste, and claim he was a miraculous healer.<br /> Glaring at Mia, she said, "Mia, once my grandfather is well, it's best for your Roberts family to leave Yeadeo."<br /> "As for you..." She glanced at Wesley. "I will advise Taylor to divorce you. You have deceived Taylor's feelings and now shamelessly made your way into my family. You are a despicable creature."<br /> After reprimanding Mia and Wesley, she turned to an elderly gent beside her, and her tone and attitude completely changed. "Mr. Phillips, sorry to trouble you. My grandfather is inside, please."<br /> Mia looked at the elderly gent, who was already in his twilight years, feeling deeply shocked.<br /> Scott Phillips, the 38th generation heir of the Healing Clinic, was now ninety-two years old.<br /> Renowned as a miraculous healer, he was a respected figure in the medical community of Yeadeo and even nationally.<br /> He no longer conducted consultations personally due to his old age. Mia had visited him specifically to pay her respects once she had arrived in Yeadeo but had not met Scott.<br /> She never expected Scott to appear in person. It was understandable, as Quinn held a prominent position in the city. Despite the profound influence of the Phillips family, they still had to show respect to Quinn.<br /> Mia looked at Wesley, feeling conflicted and thinking, "Dad has confidently claimed that Wesley has extraordinary abilities, but does he really?"<br /> She harbored doubts, but out of propriety, Mia spoke. "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the trouble."<br /> Wesley smiled, "It's fine. As long as the person can be healed."<br /> His open-mindedness impressed Mia.<br /> After about half an hour, Amanda emerged from the room. All eyes instantly turned towards her.<br /> It was evident that Amanda had wailed out, with traces of tears still visible.<br /> "Amanda, how is it?" A middle-aged gent anxiously asked her.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family who had rushed back also focused their attention on her.<br /> "Mr. Phillips said that there's little hope of recovery. He could only use acupuncture to wake grandfather for half an hour. When grandfather wakes up, let's all go in and see if he has any final instructions."<br /> Everyone was shocked.<br /> "How could this be?"<br /> "Is Mr. Phillips also helpless?"<br /> The members of the Kingsley family found it hard to accept this reality, especially since Quinn had always treated his juniors well.<br /> The thought of Quinn departing saddened some, and tears silently fell.<br /> Publicly, Quinn's status was the foundation of the Kingsley family's prominence in Yeadeo.<br /> If Quinn were to pass away, the Kingsley family would undoubtedly decline.<br /> The atmosphere within the Kingsley family was somber.<br /> Amanda looked at her family members, opened her mouth, but said nothing, silently turning back into the room.<br /> "Stop crying," A middle-aged gent said sternly, "Dad wouldn't want to see you all in tears. If he's really leaving, we mustn't let him worry about us. Pull yourselves together."<br /> After these words, the middle-aged gent also entered the room.<br /> The younger members of the Kingsley family wiped their tears vigorously, trying to force smiles, but in truth, they looked better at crying than pretending to be happy.<br /> Mia's spirit plummeted as she realized the gravity of the situation. Even if an ordinary person passed away from consuming health supplements, it spelled big trouble for those who sold them. And when the deceased happened to be Quinn, the stakes were even higher.<br /> She understood that it would be difficult for this branch to stay in Yeadeo, and even the headquarters might face repercussions.<br /> "Let's go in and have a look." Wesley glanced at Mia. "There might still be a chance."<br /> "Ah..." Mia stared at Wesley in surprise. Seeing him already heading towards the room, she quickly followed suit.<br /> Inside the room, the members of the Kingsley family stood around the mattress, maintaining a certain distance.<br /> Scott lit the alcohol lamp and took out the needles, his expression solemn.<br /> He looked at the members of the Kingsley family. "Think about what you want to say to Mr. Kingsley later. Once you're ready, let me know, and then I'll proceed with the acupuncture."<br /> As he said this, tears welled up in many eyes.<br /> "If you don't mind, let me take a look. I have a way." Wesley spoke up, drawing everyone's attention.<br /> Amanda's face darkened. "Who let you in? Get out!"<br /> "Mia, have you lost your mind? Tricked by this trash and actually brought him here as a miracle healer. Get out with him! I'll settle the score with you in a couple of days."<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, at a loss for words.<br /> "Even Mr. Phillips is unable to reverse the situation. What use are you? Get out." Another younger member of the Kingsley family angrily rebuked.<br /> The middle-aged gent added, "We're in no mood right now. You better leave immediately."<br /> "I understand your narrow-mindedness," Wesley continued, "But as a healer, once I see a patient, I cannot stand by and watch him draw his last breath."<br /> "Wesley, you're quite the charlatan. Do you really want to be gone right now?" Amanda's voice was filled with anger.<br /> "Amanda, let me say a few words," Scott interjected, and Amanda fell silent.<br /> Looking at Wesley, Scott began. "Young lad, at my age, I've seen a lot and have a broad perspective. Today, however, I find it hard to remain indifferent. I practiced medicine from the age of sixteen until I stopped seeing patients for a total of seventy years."<br /> "I've saved countless patients from various illnesses. I never easily declare a patient's fate, nor do I believe I have the right to do so."<br /> "But from your recent remarks, it seems like you're accusing me of such actions. Young people wanting to make a name for themselves by stepping on the shoulders of their predecessors, I can understand."<br /> "But this kind of behavior displeases me."<br /> "My displeasure, what does it mean to you? Do you understand?"<br /> "Even if you are a healer, your career will be ruined because of this."<br /> Chapter 6 Hand of Hell<br /> In the face of Scott's veiled threats, Wesley simply smiled and brushed them off.<br /> Looking at Scott, he asked, "I've always focused on the issue at hand rather than attacking individuals. I have a few questions for you. If you can't administer the needles, how long do you think Quinn can hold on?"<br /> "Seven days, but he will remain unconscious," Scott replied bluntly.<br /> "Then let me ask you this, is there anyone in the world with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "Outrageous," Amanda coldly interjected, "Mr. Phillips is unparalleled in his medical expertise."<br /> Scott glanced at Amanda. "Amanda, let me handle this question."<br /> Continuing to address Wesley, he said, "I don't underestimate myself, nor do I overestimate. There are countless talented individuals in the world, like stars in the sky. I may not dare claim to be the best in medical skills, but those who surpass me are few."<br /> "That means there are some," Wesley calmly remarked, causing Scott's expression to shift slightly, "Indeed, there are."<br /> "Then let me ask you this. Do you think within seven days, the Kingsley family won't find someone with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "If they do find someone, do you believe there is an illness that you cannot cure, but this person can?"<br /> Wesley's questions were sharp and resounding.<br /> Scott's face changed once more as he was rendered speechless.<br /> "Even if there is, that person will never be you." Amanda's face turned icy. "Now get out. Don't spout your eloquence here. Your deceitful behavior is repulsive."<br /> "Your understanding of me is merely hearsay, isn't it?" Wesley retorted, his gaze mocking Amanda, "Has your background and education taught you such arrogance and prejudice?"<br /> "Arrogance?" Amanda's face grew colder as she disdainfully looked at Wesley. "Prejudice?<br /> "Did I say something wrong just now? You are nothing but stagnant waste, a parasite living off others. If it weren't for Taylor, you would have starved on the streets long ago."<br /> "Relying on sweet words, deceiving Taylor. She, with her kind heart, can't bear to divorce you, but don't push your luck. If it weren't for Taylor's sake, you would have been sent out long ago."<br /> Scott interrupted Amanda, "Amanda, although I find this lad a bit annoying, what he said does hold some truth. There are indeed individuals with better medical skills than me. Your grandfather can hold on for seven days. Try reaching out to see if someone can come over. I'll help you make connections."<br /> "If it really doesn't work out after seven days, I'll administer the needles to your grandfather. However, at that point, I can only buy you three minutes."<br /> As soon as Scott spoke, the faces of the Kingsley family members grew even more solemn. True healers were rare and not easily summoned.<br /> While the Kingsley family had connections in Yeadeo, their influence waned outside of it.<br /> "Mr. Phillips, please administer the needles. Life has its ups and downs, and we understand that. Just buy my father a bit more time." The middle-aged gent spoke up.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family nodded in agreement.<br /> Amanda looked at Scott. "Mr. Phillips, please."<br /> "In that case, please have everyone unrelated leave. I need silence," Scott calmly stated.<br /> Amanda glared at Wesley, her eyes speaking volumes without a word.<br /> The unrelated individuals were, naturally, Wesley and Mia.<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, intending to leave, but she suddenly hesitated.<br /> Instead of leaving, Wesley moved forward.<br /> "What are you doing?" A young member of the Kingsley family stepped forward with a stern expression, pushing Wesley.<br /> In one swift motion, Wesley executed a clean shoulder throw, toppling the young gent to the ground, his own expression turning cold.<br /> "A bunch of fools! If it weren't for my teacher's teachings about not turning a blind eye to those in need, I wouldn't bother with you ignorant lot," Wesley remarked with disdain.<br /> As Wesley effortlessly took down one individual from the Kingsley family, the others seemed slow to react.<br /> By the time they realized what was happening, Wesley had already picked up the needle next to Scott and casually flicked his wrist.<br /> The needle flew out of his hand, piercing Quinn's temple, followed by a second needle, a third needle, and so on.<br /> "What are you doing? Stop!" Amanda's voice rose in urgency, echoed by the rest of the Kingsley family members who rushed forward to restrain Wesley.<br /> "Stay back, everyone. Wait." Scott suddenly stood up, blocking the others. "Let him try."<br /> Amanda and the others were left dumbfounded, thinking, "What does this mean?"<br /> Despite their confusion, they heeded Scott's words.<br /> After Scott stopped the members of the Kingsley family, he fixed his gaze on Wesley.<br /> Wesley proceeded to use eighteen needles in succession, symbolizing the levels of pain.<br /> Even if someone had descended into the depths of hell, they must be brought back.<br /> The final needle, also piercing a vital point, caused Quinn's body to tremble suddenly, resonating with the previous eighteen needles.<br /> Scott's eyes widened, his body trembling slightly. His reaction left Amanda and the others even more puzzled, but none dared to interrupt.<br /> Moments later, Wesley placed a palm on Quinn's chest, causing all eighteen needles to be shaken off. When all the needles landed on the ground, the part of the skin where the needles had pierced turned dark.<br /> Wesley then dragged Quinn to the edge of the mattress, flipped him over with his head facing downwards, and gave him a firm pat on the back.<br /> Quinn spat out a mouthful of black liquid. When Wesley flipped him back to lie flat, his complexion had regained some color.<br /> "The Hand of Darkness... It's the Hand of Darkness!" Scott exclaimed with excitement, his body quivering, "It's the Hand that descends into the dark world, snatching people from the hands of the Evil!"<br /> "You do have some knowledge, recognizing the Hand of Darkness." Wesley glanced at Scott.<br /> Scott's gaze towards Wesley had undergone a drastic change. He respectfully clasped his hands together.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thirty years ago, I had the honor of attending a teaching conference held by Mr. Vanderbilt. I saw the Hand of Darkness, but my limited aptitude only allowed me to grasp the basics."<br /> "I have been blind and ignorant. I apologize for my earlier offenses. Please forgive me, Mr. Harrington."<br /> The Mr. Vanderbilt Scott referred to was Wesley's teacher, Ulysses Vanderbilt. He generously imparted his skills to others, but the ability to learn depended on one's innate talent.<br /> In this world, few could learn Ulysses' skills.<br /> Scott had been fortunate to receive guidance from Ulysses, which had elevated his medical skills. However, the Hand of Darkness, a miraculous ability, was beyond his comprehension.<br /> Wesley smiled faintly, "Your actions earlier are understandable. I appreciate your words."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you must be an exceptional disciple of Mr. Vanderbilt, possessing unparalleled magnanimity. Impressive," Scott continued.<br /> "Enough with the flattery at your age."<br /> "You are mistaken, Mr. Harrington. Every word I speak is sincere."<br /> Mia, Amanda, and the others stood bewildered by the unfolding situation.<br /> "Mr. Phillips... he... he..." Amanda's words faltered.<br /> Scott turned to the members of the Kingsley family. "Meeting Mr. Harrington was Quinn's luck. His symptoms have been cured by Mr. Harrington. With a few days of rest, he will be fine."<br /> The waste Taylor had previously said was called Mr. Harrington by Scott!<br /> Recalling their previous attitudes, Amanda hurriedly apologized, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> The members of the Kingsley family all apologized in unison, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> Chapter 7 Eight Plates of Noodles<br /> With a faint smile, Wesley remarked, "As family members of a patient, your actions earlier are understandable. There's no need for such formality."<br /> Amanda's perplexity deepened as she thought, "Where is the cowardly waste that Taylor described? This display of magnanimity and breadth is far from it."<br /> Mia, too, felt a shiver of realization, thinking, "No wonder Dad has insisted on my proximity to Wesley.<br /> This guy..."<br /> She gazed at Wesley, her curiosity piqued, a sense of exploration stirring within her.<br /> "Mia has brought you here, Mr. Harrington, to cure my grandfather. The Kingsley family will never forget this act. However, considering that my grandfather's ailment stemmed from the health supplements produced by the Vinver Business Alliance, we will be conducting an investigation into it."<br /> Amanda continued, looking at Wesley, "What do you think... of this approach?"<br /> It was Mia who had invited Wesley, so Amanda had grown wiser, refraining from asking for a direct punishment of the Vinver Business Alliance.<br /> As Mia heard Amanda's words, her heart skipped a beat, realizing trouble was brewing.<br /> "On the way here, Ms. Roberts briefed me on the situation. You conducted experiments on mice, correct?"<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes, the health supplements we received were exclusively provided by the Roberts family. There were no similar cases on the market, so we used mice for testing.<br /> "All the mice that ingested this supplement were gone."<br /> She looked at Mia and added, her voice turned colder. "Before the experiment, I specifically contacted Mia to inquire about the testing methods during the development phase, which involved mice."<br /> "There have been individuals eyeing my grandfather's position, some even wishing for his demise. I never imagined that the Vinver Business Alliance, which I attracted for investment, would become a weapon in someone else's hands."<br /> "Do you have any of the remaining medicine?" Wesley inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes."<br /> "Bring some over."<br /> Immediately, someone fetched the medicine. After it was brought to him, Wesley took out a supplement and swallowed it directly.<br /> This scene left Amanda and the others dumbfounded.<br /> Scott, too, was bewildered. "Mr. Harrington, what are you doing?"<br /> Wesley smiled, "Just proving that this medicine is not toxic."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thank you," Mia thanked sincerely, feeling like sobbing at that moment.<br /> Amanda, with a puzzled expression, looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, are you suggesting that my grandfather's condition wasn't caused by the Vinver Business Alliance's medicine? What about the mice?"<br /> The rest were equally puzzled.<br /> "Yes, but not entirely," Wesley said, leaving everyone even more bewildered.<br /> Mia's emotions were like a rollercoaster ride, from relief to immediate tension.<br /> "This medicine itself is not toxic, but when taken with another substance made from a certain plant, it results in Quinn's condition. The mice would die immediately, while humans could endure a few more days."<br /> Wesley continued to explain, "The plant used in this concoction is originally meant for crafting slow-acting toxins, not for human consumption."<br /> Looking at Amanda, Wesley said, "During this period, whoever had access to your grandfather and the mice will better understand why these events occurred."<br /> The gaze of members of the Kingsley family immediately focused on a lady.<br /> Amanda, somewhat incredulous, looked at her. "Can you offer an explanation?"<br /> The lady was the wife of Amanda's deceased brother. She found it hard to accept, as did the rest of the Kingsley family.<br /> This lady had been named the exemplary lady who served her family well this year, not due to her connection with the Kingsley family but because she genuinely deserved it.<br /> "What do you mean? Amanda, what explanation do you want from me?"<br /> The lady stared at Amanda. "Am I the only one who had access to Grandfather and the mice? You, and you... and you, who didn't have access?"<br /> "You all claim to treat me as family. Since I married into the Kingsley family, I have worked diligently, contributing my share even if not acknowledged."<br /> "Amanda, it has been over a year since your brother passed, and I never once considered remarrying. Now, just because of his words, you demand an explanation from me?"<br /> Pointing at Wesley, the lady questioned, "Just because he accuses me of poisoning, you suspect me? Tell me, did I poison him?" The lady glared at Wesley.<br /> "I am merely analyzing the facts. As for concluding this case, it's not within my purview," Wesley addressed the members of the Kingsley family, saying, "You should conduct a thorough investigation into this matter.<br /> "I will write a prescription. Have Quinn take it on time, and he will recover in seven days."<br /> Amanda hurried to fetch paper and pen while Wesley prepared the prescription. Once done, he was ready to leave.<br /> Amanda said hurriedly, "Mr. Harrington, I've already made arrangements for lunch."<br /> "No need," Wesley smiled.<br /> The Kingsley family sought to build closer ties with Wesley, given his extraordinary medical skills. Wesley was well aware of this.<br /> Looking at Amanda and the others, Wesley remarked, "In the future, if you encounter any difficult medical cases that others cannot solve, seek me out. Remember, cases others cannot solve."<br /> The gaze of the Kingsley family members toward Wesley changed once again. Many renowned healers had eccentric personalities and were difficult to engage.<br /> They hadn't expected Wesley to possess such remarkable medical skills without any airs.<br /> As Wesley prepared to depart, the members of the Kingsley family did not dare to insist on his stay, so they accompanied him outside.<br /> "Oh, how could we forget such an important matter? Amanda, what about the consultation fee?" The middle-aged gent inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the oversight. Please wait a moment." Amanda hurried back inside and soon returned with a bank card in hand.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, there's one million dollars in here."<br /> Without hesitation, Wesley accepted the bank card and boarded Mia's car.<br /> During the journey, Mia boldly looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, you've helped me immensely. Can I treat you to a meal? Don't decline in a hurry. It's not a fancy restaurant, but it will leave you wanting more. It's a small place on the street, with only eight plates of noodles served each day, each plate containing different ingredients."<br /> "I managed to secure a reservation. Are you interested?"<br /> Wesley thought, "Eight Plates of Noodles?<br /> "Ah, Aaron's restaurant. It has been a while since I visited those old friends."<br /> Wesley nodded. "Let's go then."<br /> The restaurant, Eight Plates of Noodles, was located on Chanxold Street near the Yeadeo First Central Hospital.<br /> The establishment was small, serving only eight plates of noodles each day at a price of 10 thousand dollars each. Vernoic's television culinary program had specifically covered this incident.<br /> Reservations were a must to secure a plate.<br /> The restaurant's owner had a mysterious background. While the specifics were unknown, a high-ranking noble from the capital of Vernoic, Kingsland, had caused a scene there once.<br /> He had attempted to force his way in without a reservation. Although this incident hadn't been reported, rumors suggested that a garbage truck had to be called to dispose of the intruder's remains, as he was too shattered to be removed by conventional means.<br /> Since then, no one dared to cause trouble.<br /> On their way, Mia introduced Wesley to the background story.<br /> "Mr. Turner, two plates of noodles." Mia called out once they arrived.<br /> Aaron Turner didn't respond but visibly paused upon seeing Wesley beside Mia.<br /> A faint smile appeared on his usually stoic face. Though the flesh on the face seemed stiff, it was indeed a smile. "Coming right up."<br /> Chapter 8 You Are Blushing<br /> Mia glanced at Aaron with a hint of surprise, thinking, "When does he become so warm and enthusiastic?<br /> His tone seemed a bit agitated earlier, didn't it?"<br /> Soon enough, Aaron brought two plates of noodles to the table. One steaming hot and the other devoid of any warmth.<br /> As Mia observed Aaron placing the plate without steam in front of Wesley, her expression changed slightly.<br /> It was a plate of instant noodles having soaked in cold water, with the seasoning barely dissolved.<br /> She felt a sense of panic. Mia had wanted to leave a good impression on Wesley, which was why she had chosen this place.<br /> However, Aaron had served such a plate of noodles.<br /> She dared not question Aaron. The type of noodles served here was not determined by the guests but by Aaron's mood.<br /> "This lass named Mia is quite something, living up to her name, and quite kind-hearted," Aaron remarked, looking at Wesley.<br /> "Get lost," Wesley retorted, using his fork to pick up the noodles and devouring them.<br /> Mia's face turned pale instantly. Disrespecting Aaron was akin to risking Wesley's life.<br /> To her astonishment, Aaron chuckled, tears welling up in his eyes.<br /> He wiped them away. "Alright, I'll leave you to your meal."<br /> Before departing, he gave Mia a thumbs-up. "Seize the opportunity."<br /> The eight plates of noodles symbolized the eight comrades who had faced life and hardships together.<br /> Wesley ate voraciously. Initially, they had only one pack of instant noodles to share among the eight of them, forcing them to divide it.<br /> Despite the circumstances, they devoured the noodles joyfully.<br /> Aaron had promised that once they survived, each one would have the most delicious plate of noodles.<br /> However, five of the eight had perished.<br /> Wesley had come dangerously close to life-threatening situations, but managed to cling to life.<br /> For him, the plate of noodles was not food but the bond of friendship that had shielded him from harm.<br /> "Do you... know each other?" Mia couldn't help but ask, her voice low and curious.<br /> "Some things are better left unknown," Wesley replied.<br /> Mia nodded in understanding, falling silent as they continued eating noodles. She couldn't help stealing glances at Wesley throughout the meal.<br /> This gent had piqued her curiosity even more.<br /> "Wesley, I see. No wonder you agreed to the divorce so readily. You've already found someone else outside."<br /> A sharp voice interrupted their meal.<br /> Taylor approached with a cold expression, accompanied by Henry.<br /> Taylor's mother was in the nearby hospital, and she had just picked up Frank, planning to buy some food when she unexpectedly saw Wesley.<br /> Of course, she saw Mia, too.<br /> Seeing Wesley dining with a lady more attractive than herself, so soon after the divorce felt like a dagger twisting in Taylor's heart.<br /> Her anger was uncontrollable.<br /> Wesley merely glanced at Taylor, disinterested in engaging with her.<br /> Taylor was stung by his indifferent gaze. She stepped forward, glaring at Wesley. "Are you not going to explain to me?"<br /> Mia looked at Taylor, silently cursing her as a foolish lady.<br /> Wesley continued eating his noodles, lowering his head. "Get lost. Don't disturb me, or I won't hesitate to hit you."<br /> "What did you say?" Henry stepped forward, enraged. "Wesley, try laying a hand on her! Is that all you're capable of? Laying hands on ladies?"<br /> "No wonder Taylor looks down on you. You're truly disgusting trash. Apologize to Taylor now, or else you'll regret coming into this world."<br /> "And how will he regret it? Tell me." Aaron emerged, carrying a cleaver, smiling as he faced Henry and Taylor.<br /> "Mr. Turner, we dare not cause trouble in your place, but this guy is just..."<br /> Henry attempted to speak but was cut off as Aaron's cleaver struck his face, sending him sprawling to the ground.<br /> "Mr. Turner, sorry, we'll leave now." Taylor hastily helped Henry up and hurriedly left.<br /> These two individuals were fortunate to know the legendary story behind Eight Plates of Noodles and had successfully made reservations to dine here multiple times.<br /> Having distanced themselves a bit, Henry covered his face and pointed at Wesley. "Wesley, we have some unfinished business. If you're smart, come over here now and apologize."<br /> "Wesley, I've seen through you as well. I never expected that for the past five years, you've been using my money to keep a lady on the side. We'll settle the score slowly."<br /> As the two noticed Aaron glancing their way, they quickly shut their mouths and hurriedly left.<br /> Once they were out of eyeshots, Aaron fixed his gaze on Wesley. "Your dad doesn't know about your divorce yet, does he?"<br /> "What difference would it make if he did?" Wesley stretched lazily. "I've fulfilled my promise. I've given enough."<br /> Aaron nodded in acknowledgment without saying anything further.<br /> This piqued Mia's curiosity even more. "Is it like what the novels depict? Did you marry Taylor due to some special event?"<br /> Seeing Wesley's glare, Mia lowered her head to focus on her noodles. "I won't ask anymore."<br /> "For the past five years, you've been staying in the stairwell. It has been hard for you, but at least you're still untouched," Aaron remarked before swiftly departing.<br /> Mia stared at Wesley in disbelief, realizing that Aaron's words were meant for her ears.<br /> "What are you staring at? Eat your noodles," Wesley said. Mia chuckled.<br /> "Why are you laughing?"<br /> "You're blushing."<br /> "Nonsense," Wesley retorted.<br /> Unable to contain herself, Mia burst into laughter. She had tried to hold it in, but seeing Wesley's flushed face made it impossible.<br /> Ten minutes later, Mia left on her own accord, sensing that Wesley had something to discuss with Aaron.<br /> Inside Aaron's small shop, Wesley opened a bottle of wine. "Still single?"<br /> "I look too old, no one's interested," Aaron replied, opening a bottle of liquor as well.<br /> "Then why are you meddling in my love lives?"<br /> "Leave a child behind, even if you pass away, someone will remember you." Aaron took a sip. "I've actually investigated this Mia."<br /> "You investigated her?"<br /> "I knew you'd get a divorce. I've been keeping an eye on the pretty ones. This girl had done a lot of good deeds before coming to Yeadeo. Once, she saved three people in a flood and nearly lost her life. Opportunities are rare. You have to seize them."<br /> "When you've figured things out and are ready to marry, then we can discuss our affairs. That's the condition." Wesley downed the entire bottle of liquor.<br /> "Otherwise, don't bother meddling. We're on a one-way path and can't drag others along."<br /> "You..." Aaron sighed as he watched Wesley's retreating figure.<br /> On the road leading to the Feidgeuo Manor, Taylor stood gazing blankly at the entrance not far away.<br /> Twice in one day, she had come here.<br /> The first time was to pick up Frank, and this time was because Frank had lost his expensive watch. She and Henry hadn't even had a meal, rushing over to find it.<br /> The first time, she had come in a hurry when Frank was injured and left quickly as well.<br /> But this time, as Taylor looked at the entrance ahead, an infinite longing sprouted within her.<br /> "If only... I could live here, how wonderful that would be."<br /> Henry looked at her. "One day, I'll definitely build an estate more magnificent than this, and you'll be the lady of the house."<br /> As they conversed, a taxi drove by, stopping at the entrance. The person who got out of the taxi left Taylor stunned.<br /> She rubbed her eyes.	Adoread	147	https://facebook.com/61556400142540	LEARN_MORE	1713510000	View Edit Delete
1666909	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727710	1734958298	695	1085126875880591		1.5597180248779E+15	1713682800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	226177680578601	0	Adoread	120207746049430265	client.adoread.com	Learn more	NONE	image	🔥🔥🔥 Read More👉	Hottest novel👉👉👉	https://client.adoread.com/book/loading/page/adoread/19161308412?utm_campaign={{campaign.id}}&utm_content={{campaign.name}}		1713519398	2.261776805786E+14	Adoread	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437724011_960421695526729_1516574307485338648_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QHGXZ-huQfoQ7kNvgHzczKd&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfA1G0W2GCJxETLnSTacq_-lPqPiWUWkbiLYII7Ir0AxBw&oe=663A90F9	person_profile	0	Adoread	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437891881_25238797299100336_7255863263127890524_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UeFxFDUJUZIQ7kNvgEeS_Bx&_nc_oc=AdiTRuuDuY6HRwjcUurcsHlsNxYlsWgvgJHiVXRjUHaZb6kg1K8E8f2HQ-z0coXk5QA8ZT6tVndcdcIOXE5PQdjL&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAumwy6FfvPM1CFZK2E_ded2st3Y2KINeCxuV2bVHiXTg&oe=663A61E5	0	3	"Wesley, are you trying to harm me? You useless piece of trash, can't even make a decent cup of coffee, can you?"<br /> Madison Blair lifted her coffee cup and splashed it directly onto Wesley Harrington's face.<br /> "What are you looking at, you spineless waste? Your name sounds so lofty? I might as well call you a waste."<br /> Glancing at the grotesque expression of his wife's mother, Wesley pulled out his phone to check the time.<br /> Exactly twelve o'clock. It had been five full years since he married Taylor Reed.<br /> The appointed time had come.<br /> He had fulfilled his promise, safeguarding the Reed family for five years, transforming them from a family living off fishing to one perceived as affluent by the common folk.<br /> Wiping the coffee off his face, he turned and walked away.<br /> "Where do you think you're going? Go fetch some more coffee," Madison shouted.<br /> "Madison, didn't you say this waste is obedient at home, doing whatever he's told? I don't think he's taking it lying down."<br /> Madison grew angrier. "Wesley, you stop right there. My family has fed and housed you. If you dare disobey, I'll have you thrown out!"<br /> Ignoring her, Wesley continued downstairs.<br /> "When Taylor comes back, I'll immediately have you two divorced. Do you hear me? Stay right there," Madison threatened, "I'll let you know your place today."<br /> Grabbing a golf club, Madison swiftly charged towards Wesley.<br /> Seeing Wesley heading downstairs, she swung the club viciously at his back.<br /> Without turning back, Wesley gently sidestepped.<br /> Losing her balance, Madison tumbled forward, rolling down the stairs with a series of thumps.<br /> "Ouch... it hurts, it hurts so much!"<br /> As Madison reached the ground floor, she wailed in pain and her sister immediately rushed to her.<br /> "Wesley, what have you done? How dare you hit my sister!" Madison's sister hurried down, checking on Madison's condition.<br /> Wesley remained silent, observing the scene.<br /> "Quick, call Taylor. Tell her to come back. Today, she must divorce this waste." Madison glared at Wesley. "How dare you hit me? Not only will I let Taylor divorce you, but I'll make sure you leave in disgrace."<br /> "Mum, what's wrong?" At that moment, a gent and a lady walked in.<br /> The lady was Taylor, Madison's daughter.<br /> She ran towards Madison.<br /> As Madison pointed at Wesley, tears streamed down her face. "Taylor, he hit me, he hit me! When you're not home, he changes his attitude, scolding and hitting me in the slightest displeasure. He even pushed me down the stairs just now. Alexis can testify."<br /> Madison's sister, Alexis Blair, chimed in. "Yes, Wesley, this trash not only hit your mother but also threatened to hit me too. We cannot tolerate such trash."<br /> "Taylor, I have been telling you to divorce him for years. You've been supporting him, treating him like a Lord at home, but he's an ungrateful wolf in sheep's clothing."<br /> Helping Madison up, Taylor noticed the scrapes on Madison's arms and legs, her expression turning cold.<br /> "Wesley, why did you hit my mother? You better give me an explanation."<br /> Wesley looked at Taylor, his wife.<br /> Five years had passed, and she had never shown him kindness.<br /> Taylor dressed impeccably, a paragon of a successful lady, with a face that could be deemed angelic, yet whether her heart was as angelic remained a mystery.<br /> Her figure, too, left countless men yearning.<br /> For five years, Wesley had thought he might develop feelings for this lady, but in reality, it never happened.<br /> "There are surveillance cameras in the house," Wesley stated calmly before descending the stairs into the hallway.<br /> Despite residing in a three-story villa, Wesley's living quarters were confined to the stairwell.<br /> He harbored no resentment towards this arrangement. It was merely a promise. It was just that Taylor failed to appreciate him.<br /> This home held little value that he wished to cling onto.<br /> Retrieving a wooden box from beneath his pillow, Wesley extracted two documents. Casting a fleeting glance at the modest abode he had called home for five years, Wesley smiled faintly.<br /> He thought, "Finally... I'm free."<br /> Pushing the door ajar, Wesley was met by Taylor's piercing gaze. "I've reviewed the surveillance footage. Yes, my mother intended to strike you, but even if she did, what difference would it make?"<br /> "She's a lady. How much could her blows hurt you? Why did you dodge?"<br /> "If you hadn't dodged, my mother wouldn't have tumbled down." Wesley stared at Taylor, unable to comprehend her thought process.<br /> He had no interest in engaging in these arguments. Handing over the two documents to Taylor, he remarked, "The divorce agreement. I've already signed it. Take a look. I'm leaving with nothing."<br /> "With your current influence, there's no need for you to visit the city hall. Someone will handle it for you, right?"<br /> Madison was taken aback. She swiftly snatched the divorce agreement, flipping through it hastily.<br /> The contents were indeed straightforward. Both parties willingly divorced, with Wesley relinquishing all claims and having already signed.<br /> In an instant, Madison's pain seemed to dissipate. "Taylor, sign it quickly. Sign it."<br /> Taylor was still in a daze.<br /> She pondered.<br /> "A divorce agreement? Wesley has already prepared a divorce agreement. On what grounds?"<br /> "What gives him the right to initiate a divorce? All these years, he's done nothing at home, lacking any ambition. Always practicing martial arts, what right does he have to seek a divorce?"<br /> "If anyone should initiate it, it should be me. Moreover, now that I'm back to discussing this matter with him. Could it be that word got out, and Wesley, for the sake of his pride, rushed to prepare a divorce agreement first?"<br /> "It must be so, but... No!"<br /> "Wanting to leave with nothing, is he retreating to advance? As the chairman of the Reed Group, how could I be served with a divorce?"<br /> "Hey Wesley, I never expected this from you. Have I not treated you well enough? You seek a divorce, attempting to turn your retreat into advance, aiming to embarrass me?"<br /> Taylor glared at Wesley. "I'm telling you, it's impossible."<br /> Snatching the divorce agreement, she tore it to shreds.<br /> "Taylor, what are you doing? Such a great opportunity. Why not just sign it and let him leave?" Madison grew anxious.<br /> "Mom, I do intend to divorce this trash, but the decision must come from me. I returned specifically to address this matter."<br /> With that, Taylor produced two documents. "Wesley, remember that it's me who's divorcing you. It's me who no longer wants you. Initially, out of marital obligation, I had considered offering you some compensation. Now, you don't even need to think about it. Sign the divorce agreement and leave my home."<br /> Wesley offered a faint smile as he accepted the divorce agreement.<br /> "What are you laughing at?" Taylor demanded angrily.<br /> Wesley's smile seemed to mock her, fueling her rage.<br /> Ignoring her entirely, Wesley signed the document and handed it over.<br /> "What are you laughing at? Answer me! Who do you think you are?" Taylor roared once more.<br /> Wesley glanced at her before striding towards the exit.<br /> "Stop!" The gent who had accompanied Taylor stepped forward, blocking Wesley's path. "Taylor asked you a question, and... Your previous attitude displeased me. Apologize to Taylor, or I'll have you leave in disgrace!"<br /> Chapter 2 The Unspoken Truth<br /> <br /> "Yes, let him leave in disgrace. He thought he could just hit me and walk away so easily," Madison joined in the commotion, also noticing the gent blocking Wesley's path.<br /> Madison had a keen interest in luxury goods, having frequented various high-end establishments over the years as the Reed family's living conditions improved. The gent was wearing an expensive watch and dressed head to toe in high-end luxury brands.<br /> Seeing Madison's gaze, the gent spoke. "Rest assured, today Wesley must pay the price."<br /> The gent introduced himself, looking at Wesley, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Henry Clark, the eldest son of the Clark family and the general manager of the Clark Group in the North District."<br /> "From now on, I will accompany Taylor on her journey of life, and I will not allow anyone to bully her."<br /> "My identity carries weight. You should understand that. Now, apologize to Taylor. Apologize! Did you hear me? Apologize!"<br /> Madison's eyes lit up. She hadn't expected the gent before her to hold such a high status. She continued to shout, "Did you hear that? Taylor will be with Mr. Clark from now on. Apologize now."<br /> Wesley glanced at Henry, then at Taylor. He thought, "Have they been together all along?" Wesley had wanted to ask but decided against it because there was no need. He simply gave them a glance and continued walking towards the exit.<br /> "Are you ignoring me?" Henry's face turned cold as he reached out to grab Wesley. Henry's hand froze mid-air as he received a solid hit.<br /> "Until I sign the divorce papers, Taylor and I are still wife and husband. I don't care to investigate whether you two had any intimate relationship during that time, but don't provoke me, or I won't hesitate to make you regret it." Wesley's gaze was icy, and as Henry met his eyes, he felt a twinge of fear and swallowed his words.<br /> Taylor was also stunned. She knew exactly what Wesley had been like over the past five years. There were many surveillance cameras in the house, and she would often check them.<br /> Even when Taylor wasn't home, despite how her family treated Wesley, he always obeyed without complaint, especially towards her. He had never raised his voice, no matter how they treated him.<br /> Today, not only did Wesley dodge when her mother struck, but he also initiated the divorce and now even struck Henry. <br /> Taylor was at a loss for words, thinking, "How could this cowardly gent dare? On what grounds does he dare?"<br /> This change was difficult for Taylor to accept as if she didn't truly understand this guy. The gent who used to be obedient to her, completely submissive, now revealed this side of himself. She watched Wesley walk away in a daze, feeling a strange discomfort in her heart.<br /> "Isn't he leaving with nothing?" Alexis pointed at the wooden box Wesley was holding. "What is he taking with him?"<br /> Madison also realized. Over the past five years, Wesley had always treasured this wooden box, carrying it with him wherever he went. She thought there must be something valuable inside.<br /> Realizing this, Madison hurriedly followed. "Wesley, stop right there, leave the wooden box."<br /> Wesley paused, glanced at Madison, and said, "This is my personal belonging."<br /> "Nonsense, what personal belonging could you possibly have after marrying into the Reed family? Everything you've eaten, worn, and lived in over the years has been provided by the Reed family. Put it down."<br /> As she spoke, Madison reached out to grab the wooden box.<br /> "Ah..." A scream rang out as Madison quickly retracted her hand, a gash appearing on her palm, a crimson liquid dripping.<br /> The wooden box was now stained with the same crimson liquid, trembling lightly in Wesley's hand.<br /> "It's not the right time yet, the day you thirst for this crimson liquid will come," Wesley murmured softly, patting the box before turning to continue his stride towards the exit.<br /> "Monster! A monster!" Madison screamed, causing Taylor and the others to rush out. Seeing the wound in Madison's hand, Taylor was filled with rage.<br /> "Wesley, aren't you going to say something?" Wesley halted once more, contemplating before meeting Taylor's gaze.<br /> "Just stay out of my way from now on. Consider this a warning to you."<br /> "Taylor, that wooden box of his has a mechanism. It must hold something valuable! We can't let him take it with him," Madison, enduring the pain, reminded them.<br /> "Mom, your injury is important. We'll deal with him later. Let me take you to the hospital first." Taylor comforted Madison before calling out to the retreating Wesley.<br /> "Our marriage is over! Yet, you dared to hurt my mother! This won't be the end of it! I will make you regret it!" Ignoring her, Wesley continued walking out.<br /> "Rest assured, I promise he won't see the light of day tomorrow." Henry stepped forward to console. "Let's focus on getting your wound treated first."<br /> "I want him to regret ever existing in this world, to apologize to me in repentance," Madison roared.<br /> "Mom, trust me, I will make him do just that." Taylor looked at Madison with a mix of pity and determination. "Let's go to the hospital first."<br /> In the villa area, Wesley halted, his voice cold. "Get out."<br /> An elderly gent leaped down from a tree, appearing to be in his seventies, yet landing silently from a height of around ten feet.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, your father wants you to come home and take charge."<br /> "He stopped being my father five years ago. He's my enemy."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you misunderstood your father. He had his reasons back then. I swear in my life, once you know the truth, you will forgive him."<br /> "Huh!" Wesley smirked coldly, saying, "I nearly passed away back then. Is that also a misunderstanding?"<br /> The old gent pleaded, "Mr. Harrington, this situation is truly not as you perceive it."<br /> Wesley didn't engage further with the old guy. The events of that year were etched in his memory forever. He was the one who had been abandoned. If not for that incident, why would he have stayed with the Reed family for five years?<br /> Watching Wesley walk away, the old gent had tears silently streaming down his face. "Mr. Harrington, I truly... I truly can't bring myself to speak the truth, but you have misunderstood your father. He also bears burdens and endures pains beyond what an ordinary person can handle."<br /> As Wesley's figure disappeared, the old gent stood up, hesitated for a moment, then dialed a number on his phone.<br /> "Mr. Harrington is now divorced. I've given you the news firsthand. If your daughter is truly together with Mr. Harrington, you must fulfill the promise and let her persuade Mr. Harrington to come home."<br /> After hanging up, a middle-aged gent in a luxurious estate jumped up excitedly. Calming himself, he immediately made another call. "My dear, you're at Yeadeo, right?<br /> "Go find Wesley now. Don't mention the engagement for now. Use every means to get close to him, make him fall in love with you."<br /> "Dad, I don't have time."<br /> "No matter what you are busy with, you must go find Wesley now. No matter what reason you approach him, you must leave a good impression the first time."<br /> "Dad, I'm in trouble right now. If I don't handle it well, I might be good as gone. I have to deal with it immediately. I'm hanging up."<br /> Chapter 3 You're Nothing<br /> The middle-aged gent's voice lowered significantly. "Is there a big incident happening? You didn't tell me? What happened?"<br /> "Quinn Kingsley from Yeadeo, Mr. Kingsley, used our product and now has one foot on the grave. If something really happens to him..."<br /> "You mean Quinn, the uncontested leader of Yeadeo?"<br /> "Yes."<br /> "In that case, you should go find Wesley. Trust me, in this world, there is no problem that Wesley can't solve. As long as he's willing to help, you'll be fine. Listen to me, go find Wesley immediately."<br /> The lady fell silent for a moment before saying, "Okay."<br /> At Yeadeo Harbor, a gent with a large flaxen chain and a watch, sporting a crew cut, hurriedly disembarked, accompanied by a dozen gentlemen.<br /> "Mr. Reed, wherever that trash is, we will find him and tear him apart."<br /> "Yes, that guy dared to harm your mother. We'll make sure he pays for it."<br /> Frank Reed's face turned cold. "Wesley, you coward, thinking you can overturn the world? How dare you touch my mom? Just wait until I find you, you're finished."<br /> "We've found him. Wesley got into a taxi, and our boys followed him."<br /> "Let's go!" Frank waved his hand, leading dozens of men who boarded the car with harpoons, steel pipes, and other weapons.<br /> Inside the taxi, Wesley gazed at the scenery outside, feeling a strange sense of tranquility.<br /> He thought to himself, "I never imagined that while I was secretly paving the way for the Reed family, Taylor, after progressing so rapidly, would start looking down on me more and more."<br /> "Those ladies who know my true identity, which one of them isn't trying to throw themselves at me? Ladies like that don't interest me."<br /> "Being an ordinary gent is truly difficult," Wesley murmured, smiling faintly and deciding not to dwell on these matters anymore. He had important things to attend to and no time to waste on personal affairs.<br /> "Young lad, are you going to Feidgeuo Manor for a job interview?" The driver, curious about Wesley's destination, inquired.<br /> Feidgeuo Manor was Yeadeo's most mysterious private area. Originally a villa area, it was bought at a huge cost five years ago and completely renovated. It was said to have cost a trillion dollars. The former villa area was now Feidgeuo Manor.<br /> "That's my home," Wesley replied nonchalantly.<br /> The driver was taken aback by this revelation, silently cursing Wesley for bragging. After a couple of minutes, the driver regained his composure. "It seems like you and I both prefer to keep a low profile. My car usually gathers dust at home, so I occasionally drive a taxi to experience life."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "My car has been driven by my assistant for the past few years, so it's not gathering dust."<br /> "Haha..." The driver laughed. "We should get together sometime and see whose car is more impressive."<br /> "Sure, whenever we have the time."<br /> As they chatted, the vehicle soon arrived near Feidgeuo Manor, where the massive head of the Feidgeuo Peak protruded, creating a unique landscape in Yeadeo.<br /> The driver asked with a smile, "Since you're the owner here, it's fine if I drive in, right?"<br /> "Of course," Wesley replied.<br /> As soon as Wesley spoke, several cars caught up from behind.<br /> The cars surrounded the one Wesley was in, with the front vehicles braking to force the car to a stop.<br /> When numerous people descended from cars wielding harpoons and steel pipes, the driver's face paled.<br /> Frank and his group got out of the cars, instantly closing in, and without hesitation, started attacking, the steel pipes and harpoons thudding against the car.<br /> Frank's henchman yanked open the door of Wesley's car, poised to stab Wesley with a harpoon, but Wesley swiftly exited the vehicle.<br /> With a firm step on the ground, he launched a swift hit.<br /> A muffled sound echoed as the henchman was hit away.<br /> "What are you looking at?" Frank noticed his henchmen were all staring at him. "All of you, attack together and take him down!"<br /> As he commanded, the henchmen Frank brought with him surged forward.<br /> The taxi driver, trembling, took out his phone to call the police, but Frank glared at him. "I am Frank Reed from Yeadeo Harbor. If you dare, go ahead and make that call."<br /> Frank, leveraging his sister Taylor's status, had been causing trouble in Yeadeo Harbor, and no one dared to provoke him.<br /> Upon hearing Frank's name, the driver hastily put away his phone. "Mr. Reed, I'll just check the time, you guys continue."<br /> "Huh!" Frank snorted coldly, casting his gaze towards the surrounded Wesley.<br /> The sounds of thuds continued to ring out incessantly. Because Wesley was completely surrounded, Frank was unable to see the situation inside clearly, but he could imagine it. After all, in Frank's mind, the henchmen under his command were not to be trifled with.<br /> "Hit him hard for me!"<br /> Another muffled sound and a figure flew out. At that moment, Frank finally saw the situation clearly, and his face turned pale.<br /> Frank knew that Wesley liked to practice martial arts, but he had never expected Wesley to be this skilled. It wasn't Wesley who had been beaten, but his own men by Wesley alone.<br /> Frantically, Frank turned and ran to retrieve a crossbow from the car.<br /> "Clear the way." Frank bellowed, aiming the crossbow at Wesley.<br /> "You scumbag, you think you can fight? Move one more time, and I'll end your life! Surrender!"<br /> Wesley, holding a wooden box, stared at Frank. Ignoring the crossbow in his hand, Wesley said, "Tell your henchmen to back off, or you'll all see the light from above!"<br /> "You're really good at pretending to be tough." Frank took two steps forward. "See the light? Move a muscle and see if I can end your life or not! If you don't have the guts, apologize now!"<br /> Wesley turned his head and looked at the approaching cars, with two expensive ones in the lead, two more in the rear, and another one in the middle.<br /> "Keep acting tough, and I'll put a hole in your head." Frank spoke while glancing at the five cars. "What, looking for help?"<br /> "Let me tell you, those who ride in these cars are not the kind of weaklings like you who rely on connections. With me here, in Yeadeo's social hierarchy, even those who ride in such cars wouldn't dare meddle in this matter. And let me make it clear, without my sister, you're nothing."<br /> Chapter 4 Is He Worthy?<br /> As Frank's words faded, the five cars came to a halt.<br /> A bodyguard opened the door of the one in the middle, revealing a dazzling pair of shining shoes catching everyone's eye.<br /> The shining shoe encased a beautiful foot. Above, the skirt's hem was adorned with lace.<br /> Then, like a fairy stepping out of a painting, she appeared before everyone's eyes.<br /> The lady was beautiful!<br /> Frank was mesmerized. Ever since the Reed family rose to prominence, he had been surrounded by ladies, but compared to the elegant lady before him, they were worlds apart.<br /> It wasn't just a difference in appearance but an incomparable gap in demeanor.<br /> The lady descending from the Maybach seemed like a celestial being untouched by mortal affairs.<br /> The embodiment of a fairy in the mundane world.<br /> She simply stood there after getting out of the car, perfectly embodying what it meant to be graceful and elegant.<br /> The lady glanced at Wesley, then at Frank.<br /> Frank grinned, saying, "May I have the honor of knowing the name of this esteemed lady? I am Frank..."<br /> The lady spoke calmly. "Disrespect Mr. Harrington, and you're done for."<br /> Her bodyguards, unfazed by Frank's crossbow, swiftly overwhelmed him, sending him crashing to the ground.<br /> The henchmen who had come with Frank, previously defeated by Wesley, now scrambled to their feet and fled in all directions.<br /> Who would dare provoke someone who could afford such a car?<br /> "My sister is Taylor Reed, the chairperson of Reed Group," Frank shouted, clutching his head.<br /> Ignoring him, one of the bodyguards dragged him to the roadside grass while another used a belt to tighten around Frank's neck, exerting pressure.<br /> "Enough, a lesson is all that's needed." Wesley spoke calmly, and only when the lady gestured did the bodyguards release Frank.<br /> Frank lay there, already unconscious.<br /> Wesley turned to the lady. "Who are you?"<br /> "I am Mia Roberts, the general manager of Vinver Business Alliance's Yeadeo branch." She looked at Wesley and continued, "Mr. Harrington, my father mentioned that you have miraculous healing skills and earnestly requested your assistance. A generous reward awaits."<br /> Wesley furrowed his brow slightly, thinking, "There are indeed people who recognize my abilities and status, yet I've rarely intervened in the past five years. Today, shortly after I divorced Taylor, she is here. Whose arrangement is this?"<br /> "Mr. Harrington, my father also mentioned that you are benevolent and has raised the banner of compassion among healers, serving as a role model and benchmark for all in the medical field."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "You have a way with words. Tell me the specifics."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, please get in the car first. I will explain in detail on the way."<br /> The phrase "compassionate healer" held significant weight for Wesley, who had saved countless lives from the brink of death.<br /> Without further ado, he got into the car.<br /> Inside, after Mia brewed coffee for Wesley, she began. "Vinver Business Alliance has a wide range of business operations, and I mainly oversee the health supplement sector, which has seen some success in recent years.<br /> "Recently, Quinn Kingsley started using our medicines, and now there's an accident."<br /> As she spoke, Mia kept her gaze fixed on Wesley.<br /> Quinn, the undisputed leader of Yeadeo, was a figure of immense influence.<br /> Upon hearing this name, Wesley showed no particular reaction. "If the city's leader faces issues with your products, it is indeed a concern. Let's go and see."<br /> With just a sentence, Wesley leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest.<br /> Mia was secretly alarmed, thinking, "He knows who Quinn is, yet he seems indifferent. Who is this Wesley, really? No wonder Dad has instructed me to find a way to win his favor." Mia's inner resistance toward Wesley quietly shifted.<br /> Wesley had piqued her curiosity.<br /> As the vehicle was moving, Wesley's phone rang.<br /> Wesley opened his eyes and took out his phone to see Taylor calling.<br /> Pressing the answer button, he asked, "What's the matter?"<br /> On the other end of the line, Taylor, driving towards Feidgeuo Manor, had a grim expression.<br /> She thought, "Has Wesley ever spoken to me in such a cold tone before? Is he really this heartless right after our divorce?"<br /> Already furious, she snapped. "Wesley, do you even consider yourself a human being?<br /> "Today, not only did you lay hands on my mother, but you also had someone attack my brother. Do you not remember our past at all?"<br /> Wesley calmly replied, "Do we have a past to remember?"<br /> "You truly are a heartless scumbag, just as my mother said. You are an ungrateful and vicious person I raised for five years. Even a pet would wag its tail at me!"<br /> Taylor wanted to continue her tirade, but the phone line had already turned busy.<br /> This only fueled her anger further.<br /> Just now, she had received a call from Frank's underlings, informing her that Wesley had sent people to attack Frank and even intended to end him.<br /> Taylor wanted to demand answers, but...<br /> As Taylor was clutching her fists, her gaze turned icy.<br /> After a moment, she picked up her phone again. "Wesley, you are so narrow-minded. You have no ambition. Any lady would steer clear of you."<br /> "Just because I dumped you, you are doing this on purpose to make me feel sick. Pretending to be aloof and seeking revenge? Do you even deserve it?"<br /> "In Yeadeo, squashing you would be as easy as squashing an ant. You're asking for it! If anything happens to my brother, I will make you wish you were ending!"<br /> Her furious voice message echoed in the car.<br /> Wesley chuckled and put away his phone.<br /> Beside him, Mia seemed contemplative. Before coming, she had already ordered a swift investigation into Wesley.<br /> She was curious, thinking, "How could someone valued by my father could be the one 'marrying into' the Reed family."<br /> Being tactful, Mia chose not to ask and pretended not to have heard.<br /> After about forty minutes, they arrived at the Kingsley Manor.<br /> The Kingsley family members, upon seeing Mia alight from the car, all wore grim expressions.<br /> Mia greeted them with a smile, "Everyone, this is Wesley Harrington, Mr. Harrington, the miraculous healer I specially invited to treat Mr. Kingsley."<br /> "Him? The gent who married into the Reed family?"<br /> "A miraculous healer? Is he even worthy? Are healers so worthless now?"<br /> "A useless gent who mooches off of the Reed family? How dare he call himself a miraculous healer? Truly a joke among all jokes."<br /> Chapter 5 Compassionate Healer<br /> Amanda Kingsley, Quinn's granddaughter, stared coldly at Wesley and Mia.<br /> This lady, dressed in a smart suit, also held significant fame in Yeadeo, overseeing the region's business activities, including investment attraction and various local business negotiations.<br /> Amanda had a favorable view of Taylor, who had risen swiftly in recent times, and they had interacted frequently.<br /> She was aware of Wesley's existence and had advised Taylor to part ways with him early on.<br /> But Amanda never imagined that Mia would bring someone like Wesley, a complete waste, and claim he was a miraculous healer.<br /> Glaring at Mia, she said, "Mia, once my grandfather is well, it's best for your Roberts family to leave Yeadeo."<br /> "As for you..." She glanced at Wesley. "I will advise Taylor to divorce you. You have deceived Taylor's feelings and now shamelessly made your way into my family. You are a despicable creature."<br /> After reprimanding Mia and Wesley, she turned to an elderly gent beside her, and her tone and attitude completely changed. "Mr. Phillips, sorry to trouble you. My grandfather is inside, please."<br /> Mia looked at the elderly gent, who was already in his twilight years, feeling deeply shocked.<br /> Scott Phillips, the 38th generation heir of the Healing Clinic, was now ninety-two years old.<br /> Renowned as a miraculous healer, he was a respected figure in the medical community of Yeadeo and even nationally.<br /> He no longer conducted consultations personally due to his old age. Mia had visited him specifically to pay her respects once she had arrived in Yeadeo but had not met Scott.<br /> She never expected Scott to appear in person. It was understandable, as Quinn held a prominent position in the city. Despite the profound influence of the Phillips family, they still had to show respect to Quinn.<br /> Mia looked at Wesley, feeling conflicted and thinking, "Dad has confidently claimed that Wesley has extraordinary abilities, but does he really?"<br /> She harbored doubts, but out of propriety, Mia spoke. "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the trouble."<br /> Wesley smiled, "It's fine. As long as the person can be healed."<br /> His open-mindedness impressed Mia.<br /> After about half an hour, Amanda emerged from the room. All eyes instantly turned towards her.<br /> It was evident that Amanda had wailed out, with traces of tears still visible.<br /> "Amanda, how is it?" A middle-aged gent anxiously asked her.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family who had rushed back also focused their attention on her.<br /> "Mr. Phillips said that there's little hope of recovery. He could only use acupuncture to wake grandfather for half an hour. When grandfather wakes up, let's all go in and see if he has any final instructions."<br /> Everyone was shocked.<br /> "How could this be?"<br /> "Is Mr. Phillips also helpless?"<br /> The members of the Kingsley family found it hard to accept this reality, especially since Quinn had always treated his juniors well.<br /> The thought of Quinn departing saddened some, and tears silently fell.<br /> Publicly, Quinn's status was the foundation of the Kingsley family's prominence in Yeadeo.<br /> If Quinn were to pass away, the Kingsley family would undoubtedly decline.<br /> The atmosphere within the Kingsley family was somber.<br /> Amanda looked at her family members, opened her mouth, but said nothing, silently turning back into the room.<br /> "Stop crying," A middle-aged gent said sternly, "Dad wouldn't want to see you all in tears. If he's really leaving, we mustn't let him worry about us. Pull yourselves together."<br /> After these words, the middle-aged gent also entered the room.<br /> The younger members of the Kingsley family wiped their tears vigorously, trying to force smiles, but in truth, they looked better at crying than pretending to be happy.<br /> Mia's spirit plummeted as she realized the gravity of the situation. Even if an ordinary person passed away from consuming health supplements, it spelled big trouble for those who sold them. And when the deceased happened to be Quinn, the stakes were even higher.<br /> She understood that it would be difficult for this branch to stay in Yeadeo, and even the headquarters might face repercussions.<br /> "Let's go in and have a look." Wesley glanced at Mia. "There might still be a chance."<br /> "Ah..." Mia stared at Wesley in surprise. Seeing him already heading towards the room, she quickly followed suit.<br /> Inside the room, the members of the Kingsley family stood around the mattress, maintaining a certain distance.<br /> Scott lit the alcohol lamp and took out the needles, his expression solemn.<br /> He looked at the members of the Kingsley family. "Think about what you want to say to Mr. Kingsley later. Once you're ready, let me know, and then I'll proceed with the acupuncture."<br /> As he said this, tears welled up in many eyes.<br /> "If you don't mind, let me take a look. I have a way." Wesley spoke up, drawing everyone's attention.<br /> Amanda's face darkened. "Who let you in? Get out!"<br /> "Mia, have you lost your mind? Tricked by this trash and actually brought him here as a miracle healer. Get out with him! I'll settle the score with you in a couple of days."<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, at a loss for words.<br /> "Even Mr. Phillips is unable to reverse the situation. What use are you? Get out." Another younger member of the Kingsley family angrily rebuked.<br /> The middle-aged gent added, "We're in no mood right now. You better leave immediately."<br /> "I understand your narrow-mindedness," Wesley continued, "But as a healer, once I see a patient, I cannot stand by and watch him draw his last breath."<br /> "Wesley, you're quite the charlatan. Do you really want to be gone right now?" Amanda's voice was filled with anger.<br /> "Amanda, let me say a few words," Scott interjected, and Amanda fell silent.<br /> Looking at Wesley, Scott began. "Young lad, at my age, I've seen a lot and have a broad perspective. Today, however, I find it hard to remain indifferent. I practiced medicine from the age of sixteen until I stopped seeing patients for a total of seventy years."<br /> "I've saved countless patients from various illnesses. I never easily declare a patient's fate, nor do I believe I have the right to do so."<br /> "But from your recent remarks, it seems like you're accusing me of such actions. Young people wanting to make a name for themselves by stepping on the shoulders of their predecessors, I can understand."<br /> "But this kind of behavior displeases me."<br /> "My displeasure, what does it mean to you? Do you understand?"<br /> "Even if you are a healer, your career will be ruined because of this."<br /> Chapter 6 Hand of Hell<br /> In the face of Scott's veiled threats, Wesley simply smiled and brushed them off.<br /> Looking at Scott, he asked, "I've always focused on the issue at hand rather than attacking individuals. I have a few questions for you. If you can't administer the needles, how long do you think Quinn can hold on?"<br /> "Seven days, but he will remain unconscious," Scott replied bluntly.<br /> "Then let me ask you this, is there anyone in the world with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "Outrageous," Amanda coldly interjected, "Mr. Phillips is unparalleled in his medical expertise."<br /> Scott glanced at Amanda. "Amanda, let me handle this question."<br /> Continuing to address Wesley, he said, "I don't underestimate myself, nor do I overestimate. There are countless talented individuals in the world, like stars in the sky. I may not dare claim to be the best in medical skills, but those who surpass me are few."<br /> "That means there are some," Wesley calmly remarked, causing Scott's expression to shift slightly, "Indeed, there are."<br /> "Then let me ask you this. Do you think within seven days, the Kingsley family won't find someone with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "If they do find someone, do you believe there is an illness that you cannot cure, but this person can?"<br /> Wesley's questions were sharp and resounding.<br /> Scott's face changed once more as he was rendered speechless.<br /> "Even if there is, that person will never be you." Amanda's face turned icy. "Now get out. Don't spout your eloquence here. Your deceitful behavior is repulsive."<br /> "Your understanding of me is merely hearsay, isn't it?" Wesley retorted, his gaze mocking Amanda, "Has your background and education taught you such arrogance and prejudice?"<br /> "Arrogance?" Amanda's face grew colder as she disdainfully looked at Wesley. "Prejudice?<br /> "Did I say something wrong just now? You are nothing but stagnant waste, a parasite living off others. If it weren't for Taylor, you would have starved on the streets long ago."<br /> "Relying on sweet words, deceiving Taylor. She, with her kind heart, can't bear to divorce you, but don't push your luck. If it weren't for Taylor's sake, you would have been sent out long ago."<br /> Scott interrupted Amanda, "Amanda, although I find this lad a bit annoying, what he said does hold some truth. There are indeed individuals with better medical skills than me. Your grandfather can hold on for seven days. Try reaching out to see if someone can come over. I'll help you make connections."<br /> "If it really doesn't work out after seven days, I'll administer the needles to your grandfather. However, at that point, I can only buy you three minutes."<br /> As soon as Scott spoke, the faces of the Kingsley family members grew even more solemn. True healers were rare and not easily summoned.<br /> While the Kingsley family had connections in Yeadeo, their influence waned outside of it.<br /> "Mr. Phillips, please administer the needles. Life has its ups and downs, and we understand that. Just buy my father a bit more time." The middle-aged gent spoke up.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family nodded in agreement.<br /> Amanda looked at Scott. "Mr. Phillips, please."<br /> "In that case, please have everyone unrelated leave. I need silence," Scott calmly stated.<br /> Amanda glared at Wesley, her eyes speaking volumes without a word.<br /> The unrelated individuals were, naturally, Wesley and Mia.<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, intending to leave, but she suddenly hesitated.<br /> Instead of leaving, Wesley moved forward.<br /> "What are you doing?" A young member of the Kingsley family stepped forward with a stern expression, pushing Wesley.<br /> In one swift motion, Wesley executed a clean shoulder throw, toppling the young gent to the ground, his own expression turning cold.<br /> "A bunch of fools! If it weren't for my teacher's teachings about not turning a blind eye to those in need, I wouldn't bother with you ignorant lot," Wesley remarked with disdain.<br /> As Wesley effortlessly took down one individual from the Kingsley family, the others seemed slow to react.<br /> By the time they realized what was happening, Wesley had already picked up the needle next to Scott and casually flicked his wrist.<br /> The needle flew out of his hand, piercing Quinn's temple, followed by a second needle, a third needle, and so on.<br /> "What are you doing? Stop!" Amanda's voice rose in urgency, echoed by the rest of the Kingsley family members who rushed forward to restrain Wesley.<br /> "Stay back, everyone. Wait." Scott suddenly stood up, blocking the others. "Let him try."<br /> Amanda and the others were left dumbfounded, thinking, "What does this mean?"<br /> Despite their confusion, they heeded Scott's words.<br /> After Scott stopped the members of the Kingsley family, he fixed his gaze on Wesley.<br /> Wesley proceeded to use eighteen needles in succession, symbolizing the levels of pain.<br /> Even if someone had descended into the depths of hell, they must be brought back.<br /> The final needle, also piercing a vital point, caused Quinn's body to tremble suddenly, resonating with the previous eighteen needles.<br /> Scott's eyes widened, his body trembling slightly. His reaction left Amanda and the others even more puzzled, but none dared to interrupt.<br /> Moments later, Wesley placed a palm on Quinn's chest, causing all eighteen needles to be shaken off. When all the needles landed on the ground, the part of the skin where the needles had pierced turned dark.<br /> Wesley then dragged Quinn to the edge of the mattress, flipped him over with his head facing downwards, and gave him a firm pat on the back.<br /> Quinn spat out a mouthful of black liquid. When Wesley flipped him back to lie flat, his complexion had regained some color.<br /> "The Hand of Darkness... It's the Hand of Darkness!" Scott exclaimed with excitement, his body quivering, "It's the Hand that descends into the dark world, snatching people from the hands of the Evil!"<br /> "You do have some knowledge, recognizing the Hand of Darkness." Wesley glanced at Scott.<br /> Scott's gaze towards Wesley had undergone a drastic change. He respectfully clasped his hands together.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thirty years ago, I had the honor of attending a teaching conference held by Mr. Vanderbilt. I saw the Hand of Darkness, but my limited aptitude only allowed me to grasp the basics."<br /> "I have been blind and ignorant. I apologize for my earlier offenses. Please forgive me, Mr. Harrington."<br /> The Mr. Vanderbilt Scott referred to was Wesley's teacher, Ulysses Vanderbilt. He generously imparted his skills to others, but the ability to learn depended on one's innate talent.<br /> In this world, few could learn Ulysses' skills.<br /> Scott had been fortunate to receive guidance from Ulysses, which had elevated his medical skills. However, the Hand of Darkness, a miraculous ability, was beyond his comprehension.<br /> Wesley smiled faintly, "Your actions earlier are understandable. I appreciate your words."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you must be an exceptional disciple of Mr. Vanderbilt, possessing unparalleled magnanimity. Impressive," Scott continued.<br /> "Enough with the flattery at your age."<br /> "You are mistaken, Mr. Harrington. Every word I speak is sincere."<br /> Mia, Amanda, and the others stood bewildered by the unfolding situation.<br /> "Mr. Phillips... he... he..." Amanda's words faltered.<br /> Scott turned to the members of the Kingsley family. "Meeting Mr. Harrington was Quinn's luck. His symptoms have been cured by Mr. Harrington. With a few days of rest, he will be fine."<br /> The waste Taylor had previously said was called Mr. Harrington by Scott!<br /> Recalling their previous attitudes, Amanda hurriedly apologized, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> The members of the Kingsley family all apologized in unison, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> Chapter 7 Eight Plates of Noodles<br /> With a faint smile, Wesley remarked, "As family members of a patient, your actions earlier are understandable. There's no need for such formality."<br /> Amanda's perplexity deepened as she thought, "Where is the cowardly waste that Taylor described? This display of magnanimity and breadth is far from it."<br /> Mia, too, felt a shiver of realization, thinking, "No wonder Dad has insisted on my proximity to Wesley.<br /> This guy..."<br /> She gazed at Wesley, her curiosity piqued, a sense of exploration stirring within her.<br /> "Mia has brought you here, Mr. Harrington, to cure my grandfather. The Kingsley family will never forget this act. However, considering that my grandfather's ailment stemmed from the health supplements produced by the Vinver Business Alliance, we will be conducting an investigation into it."<br /> Amanda continued, looking at Wesley, "What do you think... of this approach?"<br /> It was Mia who had invited Wesley, so Amanda had grown wiser, refraining from asking for a direct punishment of the Vinver Business Alliance.<br /> As Mia heard Amanda's words, her heart skipped a beat, realizing trouble was brewing.<br /> "On the way here, Ms. Roberts briefed me on the situation. You conducted experiments on mice, correct?"<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes, the health supplements we received were exclusively provided by the Roberts family. There were no similar cases on the market, so we used mice for testing.<br /> "All the mice that ingested this supplement were gone."<br /> She looked at Mia and added, her voice turned colder. "Before the experiment, I specifically contacted Mia to inquire about the testing methods during the development phase, which involved mice."<br /> "There have been individuals eyeing my grandfather's position, some even wishing for his demise. I never imagined that the Vinver Business Alliance, which I attracted for investment, would become a weapon in someone else's hands."<br /> "Do you have any of the remaining medicine?" Wesley inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes."<br /> "Bring some over."<br /> Immediately, someone fetched the medicine. After it was brought to him, Wesley took out a supplement and swallowed it directly.<br /> This scene left Amanda and the others dumbfounded.<br /> Scott, too, was bewildered. "Mr. Harrington, what are you doing?"<br /> Wesley smiled, "Just proving that this medicine is not toxic."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thank you," Mia thanked sincerely, feeling like sobbing at that moment.<br /> Amanda, with a puzzled expression, looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, are you suggesting that my grandfather's condition wasn't caused by the Vinver Business Alliance's medicine? What about the mice?"<br /> The rest were equally puzzled.<br /> "Yes, but not entirely," Wesley said, leaving everyone even more bewildered.<br /> Mia's emotions were like a rollercoaster ride, from relief to immediate tension.<br /> "This medicine itself is not toxic, but when taken with another substance made from a certain plant, it results in Quinn's condition. The mice would die immediately, while humans could endure a few more days."<br /> Wesley continued to explain, "The plant used in this concoction is originally meant for crafting slow-acting toxins, not for human consumption."<br /> Looking at Amanda, Wesley said, "During this period, whoever had access to your grandfather and the mice will better understand why these events occurred."<br /> The gaze of members of the Kingsley family immediately focused on a lady.<br /> Amanda, somewhat incredulous, looked at her. "Can you offer an explanation?"<br /> The lady was the wife of Amanda's deceased brother. She found it hard to accept, as did the rest of the Kingsley family.<br /> This lady had been named the exemplary lady who served her family well this year, not due to her connection with the Kingsley family but because she genuinely deserved it.<br /> "What do you mean? Amanda, what explanation do you want from me?"<br /> The lady stared at Amanda. "Am I the only one who had access to Grandfather and the mice? You, and you... and you, who didn't have access?"<br /> "You all claim to treat me as family. Since I married into the Kingsley family, I have worked diligently, contributing my share even if not acknowledged."<br /> "Amanda, it has been over a year since your brother passed, and I never once considered remarrying. Now, just because of his words, you demand an explanation from me?"<br /> Pointing at Wesley, the lady questioned, "Just because he accuses me of poisoning, you suspect me? Tell me, did I poison him?" The lady glared at Wesley.<br /> "I am merely analyzing the facts. As for concluding this case, it's not within my purview," Wesley addressed the members of the Kingsley family, saying, "You should conduct a thorough investigation into this matter.<br /> "I will write a prescription. Have Quinn take it on time, and he will recover in seven days."<br /> Amanda hurried to fetch paper and pen while Wesley prepared the prescription. Once done, he was ready to leave.<br /> Amanda said hurriedly, "Mr. Harrington, I've already made arrangements for lunch."<br /> "No need," Wesley smiled.<br /> The Kingsley family sought to build closer ties with Wesley, given his extraordinary medical skills. Wesley was well aware of this.<br /> Looking at Amanda and the others, Wesley remarked, "In the future, if you encounter any difficult medical cases that others cannot solve, seek me out. Remember, cases others cannot solve."<br /> The gaze of the Kingsley family members toward Wesley changed once again. Many renowned healers had eccentric personalities and were difficult to engage.<br /> They hadn't expected Wesley to possess such remarkable medical skills without any airs.<br /> As Wesley prepared to depart, the members of the Kingsley family did not dare to insist on his stay, so they accompanied him outside.<br /> "Oh, how could we forget such an important matter? Amanda, what about the consultation fee?" The middle-aged gent inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the oversight. Please wait a moment." Amanda hurried back inside and soon returned with a bank card in hand.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, there's one million dollars in here."<br /> Without hesitation, Wesley accepted the bank card and boarded Mia's car.<br /> During the journey, Mia boldly looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, you've helped me immensely. Can I treat you to a meal? Don't decline in a hurry. It's not a fancy restaurant, but it will leave you wanting more. It's a small place on the street, with only eight plates of noodles served each day, each plate containing different ingredients."<br /> "I managed to secure a reservation. Are you interested?"<br /> Wesley thought, "Eight Plates of Noodles?<br /> "Ah, Aaron's restaurant. It has been a while since I visited those old friends."<br /> Wesley nodded. "Let's go then."<br /> The restaurant, Eight Plates of Noodles, was located on Chanxold Street near the Yeadeo First Central Hospital.<br /> The establishment was small, serving only eight plates of noodles each day at a price of 10 thousand dollars each. Vernoic's television culinary program had specifically covered this incident.<br /> Reservations were a must to secure a plate.<br /> The restaurant's owner had a mysterious background. While the specifics were unknown, a high-ranking noble from the capital of Vernoic, Kingsland, had caused a scene there once.<br /> He had attempted to force his way in without a reservation. Although this incident hadn't been reported, rumors suggested that a garbage truck had to be called to dispose of the intruder's remains, as he was too shattered to be removed by conventional means.<br /> Since then, no one dared to cause trouble.<br /> On their way, Mia introduced Wesley to the background story.<br /> "Mr. Turner, two plates of noodles." Mia called out once they arrived.<br /> Aaron Turner didn't respond but visibly paused upon seeing Wesley beside Mia.<br /> A faint smile appeared on his usually stoic face. Though the flesh on the face seemed stiff, it was indeed a smile. "Coming right up."<br /> Chapter 8 You Are Blushing<br /> Mia glanced at Aaron with a hint of surprise, thinking, "When does he become so warm and enthusiastic?<br /> His tone seemed a bit agitated earlier, didn't it?"<br /> Soon enough, Aaron brought two plates of noodles to the table. One steaming hot and the other devoid of any warmth.<br /> As Mia observed Aaron placing the plate without steam in front of Wesley, her expression changed slightly.<br /> It was a plate of instant noodles having soaked in cold water, with the seasoning barely dissolved.<br /> She felt a sense of panic. Mia had wanted to leave a good impression on Wesley, which was why she had chosen this place.<br /> However, Aaron had served such a plate of noodles.<br /> She dared not question Aaron. The type of noodles served here was not determined by the guests but by Aaron's mood.<br /> "This lass named Mia is quite something, living up to her name, and quite kind-hearted," Aaron remarked, looking at Wesley.<br /> "Get lost," Wesley retorted, using his fork to pick up the noodles and devouring them.<br /> Mia's face turned pale instantly. Disrespecting Aaron was akin to risking Wesley's life.<br /> To her astonishment, Aaron chuckled, tears welling up in his eyes.<br /> He wiped them away. "Alright, I'll leave you to your meal."<br /> Before departing, he gave Mia a thumbs-up. "Seize the opportunity."<br /> The eight plates of noodles symbolized the eight comrades who had faced life and hardships together.<br /> Wesley ate voraciously. Initially, they had only one pack of instant noodles to share among the eight of them, forcing them to divide it.<br /> Despite the circumstances, they devoured the noodles joyfully.<br /> Aaron had promised that once they survived, each one would have the most delicious plate of noodles.<br /> However, five of the eight had perished.<br /> Wesley had come dangerously close to life-threatening situations, but managed to cling to life.<br /> For him, the plate of noodles was not food but the bond of friendship that had shielded him from harm.<br /> "Do you... know each other?" Mia couldn't help but ask, her voice low and curious.<br /> "Some things are better left unknown," Wesley replied.<br /> Mia nodded in understanding, falling silent as they continued eating noodles. She couldn't help stealing glances at Wesley throughout the meal.<br /> This gent had piqued her curiosity even more.<br /> "Wesley, I see. No wonder you agreed to the divorce so readily. You've already found someone else outside."<br /> A sharp voice interrupted their meal.<br /> Taylor approached with a cold expression, accompanied by Henry.<br /> Taylor's mother was in the nearby hospital, and she had just picked up Frank, planning to buy some food when she unexpectedly saw Wesley.<br /> Of course, she saw Mia, too.<br /> Seeing Wesley dining with a lady more attractive than herself, so soon after the divorce felt like a dagger twisting in Taylor's heart.<br /> Her anger was uncontrollable.<br /> Wesley merely glanced at Taylor, disinterested in engaging with her.<br /> Taylor was stung by his indifferent gaze. She stepped forward, glaring at Wesley. "Are you not going to explain to me?"<br /> Mia looked at Taylor, silently cursing her as a foolish lady.<br /> Wesley continued eating his noodles, lowering his head. "Get lost. Don't disturb me, or I won't hesitate to hit you."<br /> "What did you say?" Henry stepped forward, enraged. "Wesley, try laying a hand on her! Is that all you're capable of? Laying hands on ladies?"<br /> "No wonder Taylor looks down on you. You're truly disgusting trash. Apologize to Taylor now, or else you'll regret coming into this world."<br /> "And how will he regret it? Tell me." Aaron emerged, carrying a cleaver, smiling as he faced Henry and Taylor.<br /> "Mr. Turner, we dare not cause trouble in your place, but this guy is just..."<br /> Henry attempted to speak but was cut off as Aaron's cleaver struck his face, sending him sprawling to the ground.<br /> "Mr. Turner, sorry, we'll leave now." Taylor hastily helped Henry up and hurriedly left.<br /> These two individuals were fortunate to know the legendary story behind Eight Plates of Noodles and had successfully made reservations to dine here multiple times.<br /> Having distanced themselves a bit, Henry covered his face and pointed at Wesley. "Wesley, we have some unfinished business. If you're smart, come over here now and apologize."<br /> "Wesley, I've seen through you as well. I never expected that for the past five years, you've been using my money to keep a lady on the side. We'll settle the score slowly."<br /> As the two noticed Aaron glancing their way, they quickly shut their mouths and hurriedly left.<br /> Once they were out of eyeshots, Aaron fixed his gaze on Wesley. "Your dad doesn't know about your divorce yet, does he?"<br /> "What difference would it make if he did?" Wesley stretched lazily. "I've fulfilled my promise. I've given enough."<br /> Aaron nodded in acknowledgment without saying anything further.<br /> This piqued Mia's curiosity even more. "Is it like what the novels depict? Did you marry Taylor due to some special event?"<br /> Seeing Wesley's glare, Mia lowered her head to focus on her noodles. "I won't ask anymore."<br /> "For the past five years, you've been staying in the stairwell. It has been hard for you, but at least you're still untouched," Aaron remarked before swiftly departing.<br /> Mia stared at Wesley in disbelief, realizing that Aaron's words were meant for her ears.<br /> "What are you staring at? Eat your noodles," Wesley said. Mia chuckled.<br /> "Why are you laughing?"<br /> "You're blushing."<br /> "Nonsense," Wesley retorted.<br /> Unable to contain herself, Mia burst into laughter. She had tried to hold it in, but seeing Wesley's flushed face made it impossible.<br /> Ten minutes later, Mia left on her own accord, sensing that Wesley had something to discuss with Aaron.<br /> Inside Aaron's small shop, Wesley opened a bottle of wine. "Still single?"<br /> "I look too old, no one's interested," Aaron replied, opening a bottle of liquor as well.<br /> "Then why are you meddling in my love lives?"<br /> "Leave a child behind, even if you pass away, someone will remember you." Aaron took a sip. "I've actually investigated this Mia."<br /> "You investigated her?"<br /> "I knew you'd get a divorce. I've been keeping an eye on the pretty ones. This girl had done a lot of good deeds before coming to Yeadeo. Once, she saved three people in a flood and nearly lost her life. Opportunities are rare. You have to seize them."<br /> "When you've figured things out and are ready to marry, then we can discuss our affairs. That's the condition." Wesley downed the entire bottle of liquor.<br /> "Otherwise, don't bother meddling. We're on a one-way path and can't drag others along."<br /> "You..." Aaron sighed as he watched Wesley's retreating figure.<br /> On the road leading to the Feidgeuo Manor, Taylor stood gazing blankly at the entrance not far away.<br /> Twice in one day, she had come here.<br /> The first time was to pick up Frank, and this time was because Frank had lost his expensive watch. She and Henry hadn't even had a meal, rushing over to find it.<br /> The first time, she had come in a hurry when Frank was injured and left quickly as well.<br /> But this time, as Taylor looked at the entrance ahead, an infinite longing sprouted within her.<br /> "If only... I could live here, how wonderful that would be."<br /> Henry looked at her. "One day, I'll definitely build an estate more magnificent than this, and you'll be the lady of the house."<br /> As they conversed, a taxi drove by, stopping at the entrance. The person who got out of the taxi left Taylor stunned.<br /> She rubbed her eyes.	Adoread	147	https://facebook.com/61556400142540	LEARN_MORE	1713510000	View Edit Delete
1666910	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727711	1734958298	695	1170073324151391		1.5597180248779E+15	1713769200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	226177680578601	0	Adoread	120207746049430265	client.adoread.com	Learn more	NONE	image	🔥🔥🔥 Read More👉	Hottest novel👉👉👉	https://client.adoread.com/book/loading/page/adoread/19161308412?utm_campaign={{campaign.id}}&utm_content={{campaign.name}}		1713519398	2.261776805786E+14	Adoread	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437724011_960421695526729_1516574307485338648_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QHGXZ-huQfoQ7kNvgHzczKd&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfA1G0W2GCJxETLnSTacq_-lPqPiWUWkbiLYII7Ir0AxBw&oe=663A90F9	person_profile	0	Adoread	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437891881_25238797299100336_7255863263127890524_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UeFxFDUJUZIQ7kNvgEeS_Bx&_nc_oc=AdiTRuuDuY6HRwjcUurcsHlsNxYlsWgvgJHiVXRjUHaZb6kg1K8E8f2HQ-z0coXk5QA8ZT6tVndcdcIOXE5PQdjL&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAumwy6FfvPM1CFZK2E_ded2st3Y2KINeCxuV2bVHiXTg&oe=663A61E5	0	3	"Wesley, are you trying to harm me? You useless piece of trash, can't even make a decent cup of coffee, can you?"<br /> Madison Blair lifted her coffee cup and splashed it directly onto Wesley Harrington's face.<br /> "What are you looking at, you spineless waste? Your name sounds so lofty? I might as well call you a waste."<br /> Glancing at the grotesque expression of his wife's mother, Wesley pulled out his phone to check the time.<br /> Exactly twelve o'clock. It had been five full years since he married Taylor Reed.<br /> The appointed time had come.<br /> He had fulfilled his promise, safeguarding the Reed family for five years, transforming them from a family living off fishing to one perceived as affluent by the common folk.<br /> Wiping the coffee off his face, he turned and walked away.<br /> "Where do you think you're going? Go fetch some more coffee," Madison shouted.<br /> "Madison, didn't you say this waste is obedient at home, doing whatever he's told? I don't think he's taking it lying down."<br /> Madison grew angrier. "Wesley, you stop right there. My family has fed and housed you. If you dare disobey, I'll have you thrown out!"<br /> Ignoring her, Wesley continued downstairs.<br /> "When Taylor comes back, I'll immediately have you two divorced. Do you hear me? Stay right there," Madison threatened, "I'll let you know your place today."<br /> Grabbing a golf club, Madison swiftly charged towards Wesley.<br /> Seeing Wesley heading downstairs, she swung the club viciously at his back.<br /> Without turning back, Wesley gently sidestepped.<br /> Losing her balance, Madison tumbled forward, rolling down the stairs with a series of thumps.<br /> "Ouch... it hurts, it hurts so much!"<br /> As Madison reached the ground floor, she wailed in pain and her sister immediately rushed to her.<br /> "Wesley, what have you done? How dare you hit my sister!" Madison's sister hurried down, checking on Madison's condition.<br /> Wesley remained silent, observing the scene.<br /> "Quick, call Taylor. Tell her to come back. Today, she must divorce this waste." Madison glared at Wesley. "How dare you hit me? Not only will I let Taylor divorce you, but I'll make sure you leave in disgrace."<br /> "Mum, what's wrong?" At that moment, a gent and a lady walked in.<br /> The lady was Taylor, Madison's daughter.<br /> She ran towards Madison.<br /> As Madison pointed at Wesley, tears streamed down her face. "Taylor, he hit me, he hit me! When you're not home, he changes his attitude, scolding and hitting me in the slightest displeasure. He even pushed me down the stairs just now. Alexis can testify."<br /> Madison's sister, Alexis Blair, chimed in. "Yes, Wesley, this trash not only hit your mother but also threatened to hit me too. We cannot tolerate such trash."<br /> "Taylor, I have been telling you to divorce him for years. You've been supporting him, treating him like a Lord at home, but he's an ungrateful wolf in sheep's clothing."<br /> Helping Madison up, Taylor noticed the scrapes on Madison's arms and legs, her expression turning cold.<br /> "Wesley, why did you hit my mother? You better give me an explanation."<br /> Wesley looked at Taylor, his wife.<br /> Five years had passed, and she had never shown him kindness.<br /> Taylor dressed impeccably, a paragon of a successful lady, with a face that could be deemed angelic, yet whether her heart was as angelic remained a mystery.<br /> Her figure, too, left countless men yearning.<br /> For five years, Wesley had thought he might develop feelings for this lady, but in reality, it never happened.<br /> "There are surveillance cameras in the house," Wesley stated calmly before descending the stairs into the hallway.<br /> Despite residing in a three-story villa, Wesley's living quarters were confined to the stairwell.<br /> He harbored no resentment towards this arrangement. It was merely a promise. It was just that Taylor failed to appreciate him.<br /> This home held little value that he wished to cling onto.<br /> Retrieving a wooden box from beneath his pillow, Wesley extracted two documents. Casting a fleeting glance at the modest abode he had called home for five years, Wesley smiled faintly.<br /> He thought, "Finally... I'm free."<br /> Pushing the door ajar, Wesley was met by Taylor's piercing gaze. "I've reviewed the surveillance footage. Yes, my mother intended to strike you, but even if she did, what difference would it make?"<br /> "She's a lady. How much could her blows hurt you? Why did you dodge?"<br /> "If you hadn't dodged, my mother wouldn't have tumbled down." Wesley stared at Taylor, unable to comprehend her thought process.<br /> He had no interest in engaging in these arguments. Handing over the two documents to Taylor, he remarked, "The divorce agreement. I've already signed it. Take a look. I'm leaving with nothing."<br /> "With your current influence, there's no need for you to visit the city hall. Someone will handle it for you, right?"<br /> Madison was taken aback. She swiftly snatched the divorce agreement, flipping through it hastily.<br /> The contents were indeed straightforward. Both parties willingly divorced, with Wesley relinquishing all claims and having already signed.<br /> In an instant, Madison's pain seemed to dissipate. "Taylor, sign it quickly. Sign it."<br /> Taylor was still in a daze.<br /> She pondered.<br /> "A divorce agreement? Wesley has already prepared a divorce agreement. On what grounds?"<br /> "What gives him the right to initiate a divorce? All these years, he's done nothing at home, lacking any ambition. Always practicing martial arts, what right does he have to seek a divorce?"<br /> "If anyone should initiate it, it should be me. Moreover, now that I'm back to discussing this matter with him. Could it be that word got out, and Wesley, for the sake of his pride, rushed to prepare a divorce agreement first?"<br /> "It must be so, but... No!"<br /> "Wanting to leave with nothing, is he retreating to advance? As the chairman of the Reed Group, how could I be served with a divorce?"<br /> "Hey Wesley, I never expected this from you. Have I not treated you well enough? You seek a divorce, attempting to turn your retreat into advance, aiming to embarrass me?"<br /> Taylor glared at Wesley. "I'm telling you, it's impossible."<br /> Snatching the divorce agreement, she tore it to shreds.<br /> "Taylor, what are you doing? Such a great opportunity. Why not just sign it and let him leave?" Madison grew anxious.<br /> "Mom, I do intend to divorce this trash, but the decision must come from me. I returned specifically to address this matter."<br /> With that, Taylor produced two documents. "Wesley, remember that it's me who's divorcing you. It's me who no longer wants you. Initially, out of marital obligation, I had considered offering you some compensation. Now, you don't even need to think about it. Sign the divorce agreement and leave my home."<br /> Wesley offered a faint smile as he accepted the divorce agreement.<br /> "What are you laughing at?" Taylor demanded angrily.<br /> Wesley's smile seemed to mock her, fueling her rage.<br /> Ignoring her entirely, Wesley signed the document and handed it over.<br /> "What are you laughing at? Answer me! Who do you think you are?" Taylor roared once more.<br /> Wesley glanced at her before striding towards the exit.<br /> "Stop!" The gent who had accompanied Taylor stepped forward, blocking Wesley's path. "Taylor asked you a question, and... Your previous attitude displeased me. Apologize to Taylor, or I'll have you leave in disgrace!"<br /> Chapter 2 The Unspoken Truth<br /> <br /> "Yes, let him leave in disgrace. He thought he could just hit me and walk away so easily," Madison joined in the commotion, also noticing the gent blocking Wesley's path.<br /> Madison had a keen interest in luxury goods, having frequented various high-end establishments over the years as the Reed family's living conditions improved. The gent was wearing an expensive watch and dressed head to toe in high-end luxury brands.<br /> Seeing Madison's gaze, the gent spoke. "Rest assured, today Wesley must pay the price."<br /> The gent introduced himself, looking at Wesley, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Henry Clark, the eldest son of the Clark family and the general manager of the Clark Group in the North District."<br /> "From now on, I will accompany Taylor on her journey of life, and I will not allow anyone to bully her."<br /> "My identity carries weight. You should understand that. Now, apologize to Taylor. Apologize! Did you hear me? Apologize!"<br /> Madison's eyes lit up. She hadn't expected the gent before her to hold such a high status. She continued to shout, "Did you hear that? Taylor will be with Mr. Clark from now on. Apologize now."<br /> Wesley glanced at Henry, then at Taylor. He thought, "Have they been together all along?" Wesley had wanted to ask but decided against it because there was no need. He simply gave them a glance and continued walking towards the exit.<br /> "Are you ignoring me?" Henry's face turned cold as he reached out to grab Wesley. Henry's hand froze mid-air as he received a solid hit.<br /> "Until I sign the divorce papers, Taylor and I are still wife and husband. I don't care to investigate whether you two had any intimate relationship during that time, but don't provoke me, or I won't hesitate to make you regret it." Wesley's gaze was icy, and as Henry met his eyes, he felt a twinge of fear and swallowed his words.<br /> Taylor was also stunned. She knew exactly what Wesley had been like over the past five years. There were many surveillance cameras in the house, and she would often check them.<br /> Even when Taylor wasn't home, despite how her family treated Wesley, he always obeyed without complaint, especially towards her. He had never raised his voice, no matter how they treated him.<br /> Today, not only did Wesley dodge when her mother struck, but he also initiated the divorce and now even struck Henry. <br /> Taylor was at a loss for words, thinking, "How could this cowardly gent dare? On what grounds does he dare?"<br /> This change was difficult for Taylor to accept as if she didn't truly understand this guy. The gent who used to be obedient to her, completely submissive, now revealed this side of himself. She watched Wesley walk away in a daze, feeling a strange discomfort in her heart.<br /> "Isn't he leaving with nothing?" Alexis pointed at the wooden box Wesley was holding. "What is he taking with him?"<br /> Madison also realized. Over the past five years, Wesley had always treasured this wooden box, carrying it with him wherever he went. She thought there must be something valuable inside.<br /> Realizing this, Madison hurriedly followed. "Wesley, stop right there, leave the wooden box."<br /> Wesley paused, glanced at Madison, and said, "This is my personal belonging."<br /> "Nonsense, what personal belonging could you possibly have after marrying into the Reed family? Everything you've eaten, worn, and lived in over the years has been provided by the Reed family. Put it down."<br /> As she spoke, Madison reached out to grab the wooden box.<br /> "Ah..." A scream rang out as Madison quickly retracted her hand, a gash appearing on her palm, a crimson liquid dripping.<br /> The wooden box was now stained with the same crimson liquid, trembling lightly in Wesley's hand.<br /> "It's not the right time yet, the day you thirst for this crimson liquid will come," Wesley murmured softly, patting the box before turning to continue his stride towards the exit.<br /> "Monster! A monster!" Madison screamed, causing Taylor and the others to rush out. Seeing the wound in Madison's hand, Taylor was filled with rage.<br /> "Wesley, aren't you going to say something?" Wesley halted once more, contemplating before meeting Taylor's gaze.<br /> "Just stay out of my way from now on. Consider this a warning to you."<br /> "Taylor, that wooden box of his has a mechanism. It must hold something valuable! We can't let him take it with him," Madison, enduring the pain, reminded them.<br /> "Mom, your injury is important. We'll deal with him later. Let me take you to the hospital first." Taylor comforted Madison before calling out to the retreating Wesley.<br /> "Our marriage is over! Yet, you dared to hurt my mother! This won't be the end of it! I will make you regret it!" Ignoring her, Wesley continued walking out.<br /> "Rest assured, I promise he won't see the light of day tomorrow." Henry stepped forward to console. "Let's focus on getting your wound treated first."<br /> "I want him to regret ever existing in this world, to apologize to me in repentance," Madison roared.<br /> "Mom, trust me, I will make him do just that." Taylor looked at Madison with a mix of pity and determination. "Let's go to the hospital first."<br /> In the villa area, Wesley halted, his voice cold. "Get out."<br /> An elderly gent leaped down from a tree, appearing to be in his seventies, yet landing silently from a height of around ten feet.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, your father wants you to come home and take charge."<br /> "He stopped being my father five years ago. He's my enemy."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you misunderstood your father. He had his reasons back then. I swear in my life, once you know the truth, you will forgive him."<br /> "Huh!" Wesley smirked coldly, saying, "I nearly passed away back then. Is that also a misunderstanding?"<br /> The old gent pleaded, "Mr. Harrington, this situation is truly not as you perceive it."<br /> Wesley didn't engage further with the old guy. The events of that year were etched in his memory forever. He was the one who had been abandoned. If not for that incident, why would he have stayed with the Reed family for five years?<br /> Watching Wesley walk away, the old gent had tears silently streaming down his face. "Mr. Harrington, I truly... I truly can't bring myself to speak the truth, but you have misunderstood your father. He also bears burdens and endures pains beyond what an ordinary person can handle."<br /> As Wesley's figure disappeared, the old gent stood up, hesitated for a moment, then dialed a number on his phone.<br /> "Mr. Harrington is now divorced. I've given you the news firsthand. If your daughter is truly together with Mr. Harrington, you must fulfill the promise and let her persuade Mr. Harrington to come home."<br /> After hanging up, a middle-aged gent in a luxurious estate jumped up excitedly. Calming himself, he immediately made another call. "My dear, you're at Yeadeo, right?<br /> "Go find Wesley now. Don't mention the engagement for now. Use every means to get close to him, make him fall in love with you."<br /> "Dad, I don't have time."<br /> "No matter what you are busy with, you must go find Wesley now. No matter what reason you approach him, you must leave a good impression the first time."<br /> "Dad, I'm in trouble right now. If I don't handle it well, I might be good as gone. I have to deal with it immediately. I'm hanging up."<br /> Chapter 3 You're Nothing<br /> The middle-aged gent's voice lowered significantly. "Is there a big incident happening? You didn't tell me? What happened?"<br /> "Quinn Kingsley from Yeadeo, Mr. Kingsley, used our product and now has one foot on the grave. If something really happens to him..."<br /> "You mean Quinn, the uncontested leader of Yeadeo?"<br /> "Yes."<br /> "In that case, you should go find Wesley. Trust me, in this world, there is no problem that Wesley can't solve. As long as he's willing to help, you'll be fine. Listen to me, go find Wesley immediately."<br /> The lady fell silent for a moment before saying, "Okay."<br /> At Yeadeo Harbor, a gent with a large flaxen chain and a watch, sporting a crew cut, hurriedly disembarked, accompanied by a dozen gentlemen.<br /> "Mr. Reed, wherever that trash is, we will find him and tear him apart."<br /> "Yes, that guy dared to harm your mother. We'll make sure he pays for it."<br /> Frank Reed's face turned cold. "Wesley, you coward, thinking you can overturn the world? How dare you touch my mom? Just wait until I find you, you're finished."<br /> "We've found him. Wesley got into a taxi, and our boys followed him."<br /> "Let's go!" Frank waved his hand, leading dozens of men who boarded the car with harpoons, steel pipes, and other weapons.<br /> Inside the taxi, Wesley gazed at the scenery outside, feeling a strange sense of tranquility.<br /> He thought to himself, "I never imagined that while I was secretly paving the way for the Reed family, Taylor, after progressing so rapidly, would start looking down on me more and more."<br /> "Those ladies who know my true identity, which one of them isn't trying to throw themselves at me? Ladies like that don't interest me."<br /> "Being an ordinary gent is truly difficult," Wesley murmured, smiling faintly and deciding not to dwell on these matters anymore. He had important things to attend to and no time to waste on personal affairs.<br /> "Young lad, are you going to Feidgeuo Manor for a job interview?" The driver, curious about Wesley's destination, inquired.<br /> Feidgeuo Manor was Yeadeo's most mysterious private area. Originally a villa area, it was bought at a huge cost five years ago and completely renovated. It was said to have cost a trillion dollars. The former villa area was now Feidgeuo Manor.<br /> "That's my home," Wesley replied nonchalantly.<br /> The driver was taken aback by this revelation, silently cursing Wesley for bragging. After a couple of minutes, the driver regained his composure. "It seems like you and I both prefer to keep a low profile. My car usually gathers dust at home, so I occasionally drive a taxi to experience life."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "My car has been driven by my assistant for the past few years, so it's not gathering dust."<br /> "Haha..." The driver laughed. "We should get together sometime and see whose car is more impressive."<br /> "Sure, whenever we have the time."<br /> As they chatted, the vehicle soon arrived near Feidgeuo Manor, where the massive head of the Feidgeuo Peak protruded, creating a unique landscape in Yeadeo.<br /> The driver asked with a smile, "Since you're the owner here, it's fine if I drive in, right?"<br /> "Of course," Wesley replied.<br /> As soon as Wesley spoke, several cars caught up from behind.<br /> The cars surrounded the one Wesley was in, with the front vehicles braking to force the car to a stop.<br /> When numerous people descended from cars wielding harpoons and steel pipes, the driver's face paled.<br /> Frank and his group got out of the cars, instantly closing in, and without hesitation, started attacking, the steel pipes and harpoons thudding against the car.<br /> Frank's henchman yanked open the door of Wesley's car, poised to stab Wesley with a harpoon, but Wesley swiftly exited the vehicle.<br /> With a firm step on the ground, he launched a swift hit.<br /> A muffled sound echoed as the henchman was hit away.<br /> "What are you looking at?" Frank noticed his henchmen were all staring at him. "All of you, attack together and take him down!"<br /> As he commanded, the henchmen Frank brought with him surged forward.<br /> The taxi driver, trembling, took out his phone to call the police, but Frank glared at him. "I am Frank Reed from Yeadeo Harbor. If you dare, go ahead and make that call."<br /> Frank, leveraging his sister Taylor's status, had been causing trouble in Yeadeo Harbor, and no one dared to provoke him.<br /> Upon hearing Frank's name, the driver hastily put away his phone. "Mr. Reed, I'll just check the time, you guys continue."<br /> "Huh!" Frank snorted coldly, casting his gaze towards the surrounded Wesley.<br /> The sounds of thuds continued to ring out incessantly. Because Wesley was completely surrounded, Frank was unable to see the situation inside clearly, but he could imagine it. After all, in Frank's mind, the henchmen under his command were not to be trifled with.<br /> "Hit him hard for me!"<br /> Another muffled sound and a figure flew out. At that moment, Frank finally saw the situation clearly, and his face turned pale.<br /> Frank knew that Wesley liked to practice martial arts, but he had never expected Wesley to be this skilled. It wasn't Wesley who had been beaten, but his own men by Wesley alone.<br /> Frantically, Frank turned and ran to retrieve a crossbow from the car.<br /> "Clear the way." Frank bellowed, aiming the crossbow at Wesley.<br /> "You scumbag, you think you can fight? Move one more time, and I'll end your life! Surrender!"<br /> Wesley, holding a wooden box, stared at Frank. Ignoring the crossbow in his hand, Wesley said, "Tell your henchmen to back off, or you'll all see the light from above!"<br /> "You're really good at pretending to be tough." Frank took two steps forward. "See the light? Move a muscle and see if I can end your life or not! If you don't have the guts, apologize now!"<br /> Wesley turned his head and looked at the approaching cars, with two expensive ones in the lead, two more in the rear, and another one in the middle.<br /> "Keep acting tough, and I'll put a hole in your head." Frank spoke while glancing at the five cars. "What, looking for help?"<br /> "Let me tell you, those who ride in these cars are not the kind of weaklings like you who rely on connections. With me here, in Yeadeo's social hierarchy, even those who ride in such cars wouldn't dare meddle in this matter. And let me make it clear, without my sister, you're nothing."<br /> Chapter 4 Is He Worthy?<br /> As Frank's words faded, the five cars came to a halt.<br /> A bodyguard opened the door of the one in the middle, revealing a dazzling pair of shining shoes catching everyone's eye.<br /> The shining shoe encased a beautiful foot. Above, the skirt's hem was adorned with lace.<br /> Then, like a fairy stepping out of a painting, she appeared before everyone's eyes.<br /> The lady was beautiful!<br /> Frank was mesmerized. Ever since the Reed family rose to prominence, he had been surrounded by ladies, but compared to the elegant lady before him, they were worlds apart.<br /> It wasn't just a difference in appearance but an incomparable gap in demeanor.<br /> The lady descending from the Maybach seemed like a celestial being untouched by mortal affairs.<br /> The embodiment of a fairy in the mundane world.<br /> She simply stood there after getting out of the car, perfectly embodying what it meant to be graceful and elegant.<br /> The lady glanced at Wesley, then at Frank.<br /> Frank grinned, saying, "May I have the honor of knowing the name of this esteemed lady? I am Frank..."<br /> The lady spoke calmly. "Disrespect Mr. Harrington, and you're done for."<br /> Her bodyguards, unfazed by Frank's crossbow, swiftly overwhelmed him, sending him crashing to the ground.<br /> The henchmen who had come with Frank, previously defeated by Wesley, now scrambled to their feet and fled in all directions.<br /> Who would dare provoke someone who could afford such a car?<br /> "My sister is Taylor Reed, the chairperson of Reed Group," Frank shouted, clutching his head.<br /> Ignoring him, one of the bodyguards dragged him to the roadside grass while another used a belt to tighten around Frank's neck, exerting pressure.<br /> "Enough, a lesson is all that's needed." Wesley spoke calmly, and only when the lady gestured did the bodyguards release Frank.<br /> Frank lay there, already unconscious.<br /> Wesley turned to the lady. "Who are you?"<br /> "I am Mia Roberts, the general manager of Vinver Business Alliance's Yeadeo branch." She looked at Wesley and continued, "Mr. Harrington, my father mentioned that you have miraculous healing skills and earnestly requested your assistance. A generous reward awaits."<br /> Wesley furrowed his brow slightly, thinking, "There are indeed people who recognize my abilities and status, yet I've rarely intervened in the past five years. Today, shortly after I divorced Taylor, she is here. Whose arrangement is this?"<br /> "Mr. Harrington, my father also mentioned that you are benevolent and has raised the banner of compassion among healers, serving as a role model and benchmark for all in the medical field."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "You have a way with words. Tell me the specifics."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, please get in the car first. I will explain in detail on the way."<br /> The phrase "compassionate healer" held significant weight for Wesley, who had saved countless lives from the brink of death.<br /> Without further ado, he got into the car.<br /> Inside, after Mia brewed coffee for Wesley, she began. "Vinver Business Alliance has a wide range of business operations, and I mainly oversee the health supplement sector, which has seen some success in recent years.<br /> "Recently, Quinn Kingsley started using our medicines, and now there's an accident."<br /> As she spoke, Mia kept her gaze fixed on Wesley.<br /> Quinn, the undisputed leader of Yeadeo, was a figure of immense influence.<br /> Upon hearing this name, Wesley showed no particular reaction. "If the city's leader faces issues with your products, it is indeed a concern. Let's go and see."<br /> With just a sentence, Wesley leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest.<br /> Mia was secretly alarmed, thinking, "He knows who Quinn is, yet he seems indifferent. Who is this Wesley, really? No wonder Dad has instructed me to find a way to win his favor." Mia's inner resistance toward Wesley quietly shifted.<br /> Wesley had piqued her curiosity.<br /> As the vehicle was moving, Wesley's phone rang.<br /> Wesley opened his eyes and took out his phone to see Taylor calling.<br /> Pressing the answer button, he asked, "What's the matter?"<br /> On the other end of the line, Taylor, driving towards Feidgeuo Manor, had a grim expression.<br /> She thought, "Has Wesley ever spoken to me in such a cold tone before? Is he really this heartless right after our divorce?"<br /> Already furious, she snapped. "Wesley, do you even consider yourself a human being?<br /> "Today, not only did you lay hands on my mother, but you also had someone attack my brother. Do you not remember our past at all?"<br /> Wesley calmly replied, "Do we have a past to remember?"<br /> "You truly are a heartless scumbag, just as my mother said. You are an ungrateful and vicious person I raised for five years. Even a pet would wag its tail at me!"<br /> Taylor wanted to continue her tirade, but the phone line had already turned busy.<br /> This only fueled her anger further.<br /> Just now, she had received a call from Frank's underlings, informing her that Wesley had sent people to attack Frank and even intended to end him.<br /> Taylor wanted to demand answers, but...<br /> As Taylor was clutching her fists, her gaze turned icy.<br /> After a moment, she picked up her phone again. "Wesley, you are so narrow-minded. You have no ambition. Any lady would steer clear of you."<br /> "Just because I dumped you, you are doing this on purpose to make me feel sick. Pretending to be aloof and seeking revenge? Do you even deserve it?"<br /> "In Yeadeo, squashing you would be as easy as squashing an ant. You're asking for it! If anything happens to my brother, I will make you wish you were ending!"<br /> Her furious voice message echoed in the car.<br /> Wesley chuckled and put away his phone.<br /> Beside him, Mia seemed contemplative. Before coming, she had already ordered a swift investigation into Wesley.<br /> She was curious, thinking, "How could someone valued by my father could be the one 'marrying into' the Reed family."<br /> Being tactful, Mia chose not to ask and pretended not to have heard.<br /> After about forty minutes, they arrived at the Kingsley Manor.<br /> The Kingsley family members, upon seeing Mia alight from the car, all wore grim expressions.<br /> Mia greeted them with a smile, "Everyone, this is Wesley Harrington, Mr. Harrington, the miraculous healer I specially invited to treat Mr. Kingsley."<br /> "Him? The gent who married into the Reed family?"<br /> "A miraculous healer? Is he even worthy? Are healers so worthless now?"<br /> "A useless gent who mooches off of the Reed family? How dare he call himself a miraculous healer? Truly a joke among all jokes."<br /> Chapter 5 Compassionate Healer<br /> Amanda Kingsley, Quinn's granddaughter, stared coldly at Wesley and Mia.<br /> This lady, dressed in a smart suit, also held significant fame in Yeadeo, overseeing the region's business activities, including investment attraction and various local business negotiations.<br /> Amanda had a favorable view of Taylor, who had risen swiftly in recent times, and they had interacted frequently.<br /> She was aware of Wesley's existence and had advised Taylor to part ways with him early on.<br /> But Amanda never imagined that Mia would bring someone like Wesley, a complete waste, and claim he was a miraculous healer.<br /> Glaring at Mia, she said, "Mia, once my grandfather is well, it's best for your Roberts family to leave Yeadeo."<br /> "As for you..." She glanced at Wesley. "I will advise Taylor to divorce you. You have deceived Taylor's feelings and now shamelessly made your way into my family. You are a despicable creature."<br /> After reprimanding Mia and Wesley, she turned to an elderly gent beside her, and her tone and attitude completely changed. "Mr. Phillips, sorry to trouble you. My grandfather is inside, please."<br /> Mia looked at the elderly gent, who was already in his twilight years, feeling deeply shocked.<br /> Scott Phillips, the 38th generation heir of the Healing Clinic, was now ninety-two years old.<br /> Renowned as a miraculous healer, he was a respected figure in the medical community of Yeadeo and even nationally.<br /> He no longer conducted consultations personally due to his old age. Mia had visited him specifically to pay her respects once she had arrived in Yeadeo but had not met Scott.<br /> She never expected Scott to appear in person. It was understandable, as Quinn held a prominent position in the city. Despite the profound influence of the Phillips family, they still had to show respect to Quinn.<br /> Mia looked at Wesley, feeling conflicted and thinking, "Dad has confidently claimed that Wesley has extraordinary abilities, but does he really?"<br /> She harbored doubts, but out of propriety, Mia spoke. "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the trouble."<br /> Wesley smiled, "It's fine. As long as the person can be healed."<br /> His open-mindedness impressed Mia.<br /> After about half an hour, Amanda emerged from the room. All eyes instantly turned towards her.<br /> It was evident that Amanda had wailed out, with traces of tears still visible.<br /> "Amanda, how is it?" A middle-aged gent anxiously asked her.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family who had rushed back also focused their attention on her.<br /> "Mr. Phillips said that there's little hope of recovery. He could only use acupuncture to wake grandfather for half an hour. When grandfather wakes up, let's all go in and see if he has any final instructions."<br /> Everyone was shocked.<br /> "How could this be?"<br /> "Is Mr. Phillips also helpless?"<br /> The members of the Kingsley family found it hard to accept this reality, especially since Quinn had always treated his juniors well.<br /> The thought of Quinn departing saddened some, and tears silently fell.<br /> Publicly, Quinn's status was the foundation of the Kingsley family's prominence in Yeadeo.<br /> If Quinn were to pass away, the Kingsley family would undoubtedly decline.<br /> The atmosphere within the Kingsley family was somber.<br /> Amanda looked at her family members, opened her mouth, but said nothing, silently turning back into the room.<br /> "Stop crying," A middle-aged gent said sternly, "Dad wouldn't want to see you all in tears. If he's really leaving, we mustn't let him worry about us. Pull yourselves together."<br /> After these words, the middle-aged gent also entered the room.<br /> The younger members of the Kingsley family wiped their tears vigorously, trying to force smiles, but in truth, they looked better at crying than pretending to be happy.<br /> Mia's spirit plummeted as she realized the gravity of the situation. Even if an ordinary person passed away from consuming health supplements, it spelled big trouble for those who sold them. And when the deceased happened to be Quinn, the stakes were even higher.<br /> She understood that it would be difficult for this branch to stay in Yeadeo, and even the headquarters might face repercussions.<br /> "Let's go in and have a look." Wesley glanced at Mia. "There might still be a chance."<br /> "Ah..." Mia stared at Wesley in surprise. Seeing him already heading towards the room, she quickly followed suit.<br /> Inside the room, the members of the Kingsley family stood around the mattress, maintaining a certain distance.<br /> Scott lit the alcohol lamp and took out the needles, his expression solemn.<br /> He looked at the members of the Kingsley family. "Think about what you want to say to Mr. Kingsley later. Once you're ready, let me know, and then I'll proceed with the acupuncture."<br /> As he said this, tears welled up in many eyes.<br /> "If you don't mind, let me take a look. I have a way." Wesley spoke up, drawing everyone's attention.<br /> Amanda's face darkened. "Who let you in? Get out!"<br /> "Mia, have you lost your mind? Tricked by this trash and actually brought him here as a miracle healer. Get out with him! I'll settle the score with you in a couple of days."<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, at a loss for words.<br /> "Even Mr. Phillips is unable to reverse the situation. What use are you? Get out." Another younger member of the Kingsley family angrily rebuked.<br /> The middle-aged gent added, "We're in no mood right now. You better leave immediately."<br /> "I understand your narrow-mindedness," Wesley continued, "But as a healer, once I see a patient, I cannot stand by and watch him draw his last breath."<br /> "Wesley, you're quite the charlatan. Do you really want to be gone right now?" Amanda's voice was filled with anger.<br /> "Amanda, let me say a few words," Scott interjected, and Amanda fell silent.<br /> Looking at Wesley, Scott began. "Young lad, at my age, I've seen a lot and have a broad perspective. Today, however, I find it hard to remain indifferent. I practiced medicine from the age of sixteen until I stopped seeing patients for a total of seventy years."<br /> "I've saved countless patients from various illnesses. I never easily declare a patient's fate, nor do I believe I have the right to do so."<br /> "But from your recent remarks, it seems like you're accusing me of such actions. Young people wanting to make a name for themselves by stepping on the shoulders of their predecessors, I can understand."<br /> "But this kind of behavior displeases me."<br /> "My displeasure, what does it mean to you? Do you understand?"<br /> "Even if you are a healer, your career will be ruined because of this."<br /> Chapter 6 Hand of Hell<br /> In the face of Scott's veiled threats, Wesley simply smiled and brushed them off.<br /> Looking at Scott, he asked, "I've always focused on the issue at hand rather than attacking individuals. I have a few questions for you. If you can't administer the needles, how long do you think Quinn can hold on?"<br /> "Seven days, but he will remain unconscious," Scott replied bluntly.<br /> "Then let me ask you this, is there anyone in the world with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "Outrageous," Amanda coldly interjected, "Mr. Phillips is unparalleled in his medical expertise."<br /> Scott glanced at Amanda. "Amanda, let me handle this question."<br /> Continuing to address Wesley, he said, "I don't underestimate myself, nor do I overestimate. There are countless talented individuals in the world, like stars in the sky. I may not dare claim to be the best in medical skills, but those who surpass me are few."<br /> "That means there are some," Wesley calmly remarked, causing Scott's expression to shift slightly, "Indeed, there are."<br /> "Then let me ask you this. Do you think within seven days, the Kingsley family won't find someone with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "If they do find someone, do you believe there is an illness that you cannot cure, but this person can?"<br /> Wesley's questions were sharp and resounding.<br /> Scott's face changed once more as he was rendered speechless.<br /> "Even if there is, that person will never be you." Amanda's face turned icy. "Now get out. Don't spout your eloquence here. Your deceitful behavior is repulsive."<br /> "Your understanding of me is merely hearsay, isn't it?" Wesley retorted, his gaze mocking Amanda, "Has your background and education taught you such arrogance and prejudice?"<br /> "Arrogance?" Amanda's face grew colder as she disdainfully looked at Wesley. "Prejudice?<br /> "Did I say something wrong just now? You are nothing but stagnant waste, a parasite living off others. If it weren't for Taylor, you would have starved on the streets long ago."<br /> "Relying on sweet words, deceiving Taylor. She, with her kind heart, can't bear to divorce you, but don't push your luck. If it weren't for Taylor's sake, you would have been sent out long ago."<br /> Scott interrupted Amanda, "Amanda, although I find this lad a bit annoying, what he said does hold some truth. There are indeed individuals with better medical skills than me. Your grandfather can hold on for seven days. Try reaching out to see if someone can come over. I'll help you make connections."<br /> "If it really doesn't work out after seven days, I'll administer the needles to your grandfather. However, at that point, I can only buy you three minutes."<br /> As soon as Scott spoke, the faces of the Kingsley family members grew even more solemn. True healers were rare and not easily summoned.<br /> While the Kingsley family had connections in Yeadeo, their influence waned outside of it.<br /> "Mr. Phillips, please administer the needles. Life has its ups and downs, and we understand that. Just buy my father a bit more time." The middle-aged gent spoke up.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family nodded in agreement.<br /> Amanda looked at Scott. "Mr. Phillips, please."<br /> "In that case, please have everyone unrelated leave. I need silence," Scott calmly stated.<br /> Amanda glared at Wesley, her eyes speaking volumes without a word.<br /> The unrelated individuals were, naturally, Wesley and Mia.<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, intending to leave, but she suddenly hesitated.<br /> Instead of leaving, Wesley moved forward.<br /> "What are you doing?" A young member of the Kingsley family stepped forward with a stern expression, pushing Wesley.<br /> In one swift motion, Wesley executed a clean shoulder throw, toppling the young gent to the ground, his own expression turning cold.<br /> "A bunch of fools! If it weren't for my teacher's teachings about not turning a blind eye to those in need, I wouldn't bother with you ignorant lot," Wesley remarked with disdain.<br /> As Wesley effortlessly took down one individual from the Kingsley family, the others seemed slow to react.<br /> By the time they realized what was happening, Wesley had already picked up the needle next to Scott and casually flicked his wrist.<br /> The needle flew out of his hand, piercing Quinn's temple, followed by a second needle, a third needle, and so on.<br /> "What are you doing? Stop!" Amanda's voice rose in urgency, echoed by the rest of the Kingsley family members who rushed forward to restrain Wesley.<br /> "Stay back, everyone. Wait." Scott suddenly stood up, blocking the others. "Let him try."<br /> Amanda and the others were left dumbfounded, thinking, "What does this mean?"<br /> Despite their confusion, they heeded Scott's words.<br /> After Scott stopped the members of the Kingsley family, he fixed his gaze on Wesley.<br /> Wesley proceeded to use eighteen needles in succession, symbolizing the levels of pain.<br /> Even if someone had descended into the depths of hell, they must be brought back.<br /> The final needle, also piercing a vital point, caused Quinn's body to tremble suddenly, resonating with the previous eighteen needles.<br /> Scott's eyes widened, his body trembling slightly. His reaction left Amanda and the others even more puzzled, but none dared to interrupt.<br /> Moments later, Wesley placed a palm on Quinn's chest, causing all eighteen needles to be shaken off. When all the needles landed on the ground, the part of the skin where the needles had pierced turned dark.<br /> Wesley then dragged Quinn to the edge of the mattress, flipped him over with his head facing downwards, and gave him a firm pat on the back.<br /> Quinn spat out a mouthful of black liquid. When Wesley flipped him back to lie flat, his complexion had regained some color.<br /> "The Hand of Darkness... It's the Hand of Darkness!" Scott exclaimed with excitement, his body quivering, "It's the Hand that descends into the dark world, snatching people from the hands of the Evil!"<br /> "You do have some knowledge, recognizing the Hand of Darkness." Wesley glanced at Scott.<br /> Scott's gaze towards Wesley had undergone a drastic change. He respectfully clasped his hands together.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thirty years ago, I had the honor of attending a teaching conference held by Mr. Vanderbilt. I saw the Hand of Darkness, but my limited aptitude only allowed me to grasp the basics."<br /> "I have been blind and ignorant. I apologize for my earlier offenses. Please forgive me, Mr. Harrington."<br /> The Mr. Vanderbilt Scott referred to was Wesley's teacher, Ulysses Vanderbilt. He generously imparted his skills to others, but the ability to learn depended on one's innate talent.<br /> In this world, few could learn Ulysses' skills.<br /> Scott had been fortunate to receive guidance from Ulysses, which had elevated his medical skills. However, the Hand of Darkness, a miraculous ability, was beyond his comprehension.<br /> Wesley smiled faintly, "Your actions earlier are understandable. I appreciate your words."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you must be an exceptional disciple of Mr. Vanderbilt, possessing unparalleled magnanimity. Impressive," Scott continued.<br /> "Enough with the flattery at your age."<br /> "You are mistaken, Mr. Harrington. Every word I speak is sincere."<br /> Mia, Amanda, and the others stood bewildered by the unfolding situation.<br /> "Mr. Phillips... he... he..." Amanda's words faltered.<br /> Scott turned to the members of the Kingsley family. "Meeting Mr. Harrington was Quinn's luck. His symptoms have been cured by Mr. Harrington. With a few days of rest, he will be fine."<br /> The waste Taylor had previously said was called Mr. Harrington by Scott!<br /> Recalling their previous attitudes, Amanda hurriedly apologized, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> The members of the Kingsley family all apologized in unison, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> Chapter 7 Eight Plates of Noodles<br /> With a faint smile, Wesley remarked, "As family members of a patient, your actions earlier are understandable. There's no need for such formality."<br /> Amanda's perplexity deepened as she thought, "Where is the cowardly waste that Taylor described? This display of magnanimity and breadth is far from it."<br /> Mia, too, felt a shiver of realization, thinking, "No wonder Dad has insisted on my proximity to Wesley.<br /> This guy..."<br /> She gazed at Wesley, her curiosity piqued, a sense of exploration stirring within her.<br /> "Mia has brought you here, Mr. Harrington, to cure my grandfather. The Kingsley family will never forget this act. However, considering that my grandfather's ailment stemmed from the health supplements produced by the Vinver Business Alliance, we will be conducting an investigation into it."<br /> Amanda continued, looking at Wesley, "What do you think... of this approach?"<br /> It was Mia who had invited Wesley, so Amanda had grown wiser, refraining from asking for a direct punishment of the Vinver Business Alliance.<br /> As Mia heard Amanda's words, her heart skipped a beat, realizing trouble was brewing.<br /> "On the way here, Ms. Roberts briefed me on the situation. You conducted experiments on mice, correct?"<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes, the health supplements we received were exclusively provided by the Roberts family. There were no similar cases on the market, so we used mice for testing.<br /> "All the mice that ingested this supplement were gone."<br /> She looked at Mia and added, her voice turned colder. "Before the experiment, I specifically contacted Mia to inquire about the testing methods during the development phase, which involved mice."<br /> "There have been individuals eyeing my grandfather's position, some even wishing for his demise. I never imagined that the Vinver Business Alliance, which I attracted for investment, would become a weapon in someone else's hands."<br /> "Do you have any of the remaining medicine?" Wesley inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes."<br /> "Bring some over."<br /> Immediately, someone fetched the medicine. After it was brought to him, Wesley took out a supplement and swallowed it directly.<br /> This scene left Amanda and the others dumbfounded.<br /> Scott, too, was bewildered. "Mr. Harrington, what are you doing?"<br /> Wesley smiled, "Just proving that this medicine is not toxic."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thank you," Mia thanked sincerely, feeling like sobbing at that moment.<br /> Amanda, with a puzzled expression, looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, are you suggesting that my grandfather's condition wasn't caused by the Vinver Business Alliance's medicine? What about the mice?"<br /> The rest were equally puzzled.<br /> "Yes, but not entirely," Wesley said, leaving everyone even more bewildered.<br /> Mia's emotions were like a rollercoaster ride, from relief to immediate tension.<br /> "This medicine itself is not toxic, but when taken with another substance made from a certain plant, it results in Quinn's condition. The mice would die immediately, while humans could endure a few more days."<br /> Wesley continued to explain, "The plant used in this concoction is originally meant for crafting slow-acting toxins, not for human consumption."<br /> Looking at Amanda, Wesley said, "During this period, whoever had access to your grandfather and the mice will better understand why these events occurred."<br /> The gaze of members of the Kingsley family immediately focused on a lady.<br /> Amanda, somewhat incredulous, looked at her. "Can you offer an explanation?"<br /> The lady was the wife of Amanda's deceased brother. She found it hard to accept, as did the rest of the Kingsley family.<br /> This lady had been named the exemplary lady who served her family well this year, not due to her connection with the Kingsley family but because she genuinely deserved it.<br /> "What do you mean? Amanda, what explanation do you want from me?"<br /> The lady stared at Amanda. "Am I the only one who had access to Grandfather and the mice? You, and you... and you, who didn't have access?"<br /> "You all claim to treat me as family. Since I married into the Kingsley family, I have worked diligently, contributing my share even if not acknowledged."<br /> "Amanda, it has been over a year since your brother passed, and I never once considered remarrying. Now, just because of his words, you demand an explanation from me?"<br /> Pointing at Wesley, the lady questioned, "Just because he accuses me of poisoning, you suspect me? Tell me, did I poison him?" The lady glared at Wesley.<br /> "I am merely analyzing the facts. As for concluding this case, it's not within my purview," Wesley addressed the members of the Kingsley family, saying, "You should conduct a thorough investigation into this matter.<br /> "I will write a prescription. Have Quinn take it on time, and he will recover in seven days."<br /> Amanda hurried to fetch paper and pen while Wesley prepared the prescription. Once done, he was ready to leave.<br /> Amanda said hurriedly, "Mr. Harrington, I've already made arrangements for lunch."<br /> "No need," Wesley smiled.<br /> The Kingsley family sought to build closer ties with Wesley, given his extraordinary medical skills. Wesley was well aware of this.<br /> Looking at Amanda and the others, Wesley remarked, "In the future, if you encounter any difficult medical cases that others cannot solve, seek me out. Remember, cases others cannot solve."<br /> The gaze of the Kingsley family members toward Wesley changed once again. Many renowned healers had eccentric personalities and were difficult to engage.<br /> They hadn't expected Wesley to possess such remarkable medical skills without any airs.<br /> As Wesley prepared to depart, the members of the Kingsley family did not dare to insist on his stay, so they accompanied him outside.<br /> "Oh, how could we forget such an important matter? Amanda, what about the consultation fee?" The middle-aged gent inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the oversight. Please wait a moment." Amanda hurried back inside and soon returned with a bank card in hand.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, there's one million dollars in here."<br /> Without hesitation, Wesley accepted the bank card and boarded Mia's car.<br /> During the journey, Mia boldly looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, you've helped me immensely. Can I treat you to a meal? Don't decline in a hurry. It's not a fancy restaurant, but it will leave you wanting more. It's a small place on the street, with only eight plates of noodles served each day, each plate containing different ingredients."<br /> "I managed to secure a reservation. Are you interested?"<br /> Wesley thought, "Eight Plates of Noodles?<br /> "Ah, Aaron's restaurant. It has been a while since I visited those old friends."<br /> Wesley nodded. "Let's go then."<br /> The restaurant, Eight Plates of Noodles, was located on Chanxold Street near the Yeadeo First Central Hospital.<br /> The establishment was small, serving only eight plates of noodles each day at a price of 10 thousand dollars each. Vernoic's television culinary program had specifically covered this incident.<br /> Reservations were a must to secure a plate.<br /> The restaurant's owner had a mysterious background. While the specifics were unknown, a high-ranking noble from the capital of Vernoic, Kingsland, had caused a scene there once.<br /> He had attempted to force his way in without a reservation. Although this incident hadn't been reported, rumors suggested that a garbage truck had to be called to dispose of the intruder's remains, as he was too shattered to be removed by conventional means.<br /> Since then, no one dared to cause trouble.<br /> On their way, Mia introduced Wesley to the background story.<br /> "Mr. Turner, two plates of noodles." Mia called out once they arrived.<br /> Aaron Turner didn't respond but visibly paused upon seeing Wesley beside Mia.<br /> A faint smile appeared on his usually stoic face. Though the flesh on the face seemed stiff, it was indeed a smile. "Coming right up."<br /> Chapter 8 You Are Blushing<br /> Mia glanced at Aaron with a hint of surprise, thinking, "When does he become so warm and enthusiastic?<br /> His tone seemed a bit agitated earlier, didn't it?"<br /> Soon enough, Aaron brought two plates of noodles to the table. One steaming hot and the other devoid of any warmth.<br /> As Mia observed Aaron placing the plate without steam in front of Wesley, her expression changed slightly.<br /> It was a plate of instant noodles having soaked in cold water, with the seasoning barely dissolved.<br /> She felt a sense of panic. Mia had wanted to leave a good impression on Wesley, which was why she had chosen this place.<br /> However, Aaron had served such a plate of noodles.<br /> She dared not question Aaron. The type of noodles served here was not determined by the guests but by Aaron's mood.<br /> "This lass named Mia is quite something, living up to her name, and quite kind-hearted," Aaron remarked, looking at Wesley.<br /> "Get lost," Wesley retorted, using his fork to pick up the noodles and devouring them.<br /> Mia's face turned pale instantly. Disrespecting Aaron was akin to risking Wesley's life.<br /> To her astonishment, Aaron chuckled, tears welling up in his eyes.<br /> He wiped them away. "Alright, I'll leave you to your meal."<br /> Before departing, he gave Mia a thumbs-up. "Seize the opportunity."<br /> The eight plates of noodles symbolized the eight comrades who had faced life and hardships together.<br /> Wesley ate voraciously. Initially, they had only one pack of instant noodles to share among the eight of them, forcing them to divide it.<br /> Despite the circumstances, they devoured the noodles joyfully.<br /> Aaron had promised that once they survived, each one would have the most delicious plate of noodles.<br /> However, five of the eight had perished.<br /> Wesley had come dangerously close to life-threatening situations, but managed to cling to life.<br /> For him, the plate of noodles was not food but the bond of friendship that had shielded him from harm.<br /> "Do you... know each other?" Mia couldn't help but ask, her voice low and curious.<br /> "Some things are better left unknown," Wesley replied.<br /> Mia nodded in understanding, falling silent as they continued eating noodles. She couldn't help stealing glances at Wesley throughout the meal.<br /> This gent had piqued her curiosity even more.<br /> "Wesley, I see. No wonder you agreed to the divorce so readily. You've already found someone else outside."<br /> A sharp voice interrupted their meal.<br /> Taylor approached with a cold expression, accompanied by Henry.<br /> Taylor's mother was in the nearby hospital, and she had just picked up Frank, planning to buy some food when she unexpectedly saw Wesley.<br /> Of course, she saw Mia, too.<br /> Seeing Wesley dining with a lady more attractive than herself, so soon after the divorce felt like a dagger twisting in Taylor's heart.<br /> Her anger was uncontrollable.<br /> Wesley merely glanced at Taylor, disinterested in engaging with her.<br /> Taylor was stung by his indifferent gaze. She stepped forward, glaring at Wesley. "Are you not going to explain to me?"<br /> Mia looked at Taylor, silently cursing her as a foolish lady.<br /> Wesley continued eating his noodles, lowering his head. "Get lost. Don't disturb me, or I won't hesitate to hit you."<br /> "What did you say?" Henry stepped forward, enraged. "Wesley, try laying a hand on her! Is that all you're capable of? Laying hands on ladies?"<br /> "No wonder Taylor looks down on you. You're truly disgusting trash. Apologize to Taylor now, or else you'll regret coming into this world."<br /> "And how will he regret it? Tell me." Aaron emerged, carrying a cleaver, smiling as he faced Henry and Taylor.<br /> "Mr. Turner, we dare not cause trouble in your place, but this guy is just..."<br /> Henry attempted to speak but was cut off as Aaron's cleaver struck his face, sending him sprawling to the ground.<br /> "Mr. Turner, sorry, we'll leave now." Taylor hastily helped Henry up and hurriedly left.<br /> These two individuals were fortunate to know the legendary story behind Eight Plates of Noodles and had successfully made reservations to dine here multiple times.<br /> Having distanced themselves a bit, Henry covered his face and pointed at Wesley. "Wesley, we have some unfinished business. If you're smart, come over here now and apologize."<br /> "Wesley, I've seen through you as well. I never expected that for the past five years, you've been using my money to keep a lady on the side. We'll settle the score slowly."<br /> As the two noticed Aaron glancing their way, they quickly shut their mouths and hurriedly left.<br /> Once they were out of eyeshots, Aaron fixed his gaze on Wesley. "Your dad doesn't know about your divorce yet, does he?"<br /> "What difference would it make if he did?" Wesley stretched lazily. "I've fulfilled my promise. I've given enough."<br /> Aaron nodded in acknowledgment without saying anything further.<br /> This piqued Mia's curiosity even more. "Is it like what the novels depict? Did you marry Taylor due to some special event?"<br /> Seeing Wesley's glare, Mia lowered her head to focus on her noodles. "I won't ask anymore."<br /> "For the past five years, you've been staying in the stairwell. It has been hard for you, but at least you're still untouched," Aaron remarked before swiftly departing.<br /> Mia stared at Wesley in disbelief, realizing that Aaron's words were meant for her ears.<br /> "What are you staring at? Eat your noodles," Wesley said. Mia chuckled.<br /> "Why are you laughing?"<br /> "You're blushing."<br /> "Nonsense," Wesley retorted.<br /> Unable to contain herself, Mia burst into laughter. She had tried to hold it in, but seeing Wesley's flushed face made it impossible.<br /> Ten minutes later, Mia left on her own accord, sensing that Wesley had something to discuss with Aaron.<br /> Inside Aaron's small shop, Wesley opened a bottle of wine. "Still single?"<br /> "I look too old, no one's interested," Aaron replied, opening a bottle of liquor as well.<br /> "Then why are you meddling in my love lives?"<br /> "Leave a child behind, even if you pass away, someone will remember you." Aaron took a sip. "I've actually investigated this Mia."<br /> "You investigated her?"<br /> "I knew you'd get a divorce. I've been keeping an eye on the pretty ones. This girl had done a lot of good deeds before coming to Yeadeo. Once, she saved three people in a flood and nearly lost her life. Opportunities are rare. You have to seize them."<br /> "When you've figured things out and are ready to marry, then we can discuss our affairs. That's the condition." Wesley downed the entire bottle of liquor.<br /> "Otherwise, don't bother meddling. We're on a one-way path and can't drag others along."<br /> "You..." Aaron sighed as he watched Wesley's retreating figure.<br /> On the road leading to the Feidgeuo Manor, Taylor stood gazing blankly at the entrance not far away.<br /> Twice in one day, she had come here.<br /> The first time was to pick up Frank, and this time was because Frank had lost his expensive watch. She and Henry hadn't even had a meal, rushing over to find it.<br /> The first time, she had come in a hurry when Frank was injured and left quickly as well.<br /> But this time, as Taylor looked at the entrance ahead, an infinite longing sprouted within her.<br /> "If only... I could live here, how wonderful that would be."<br /> Henry looked at her. "One day, I'll definitely build an estate more magnificent than this, and you'll be the lady of the house."<br /> As they conversed, a taxi drove by, stopping at the entrance. The person who got out of the taxi left Taylor stunned.<br /> She rubbed her eyes.	Adoread	147	https://facebook.com/61556400142540	LEARN_MORE	1713510000	View Edit Delete
1666912	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727711	1734958298	695	7433702606724099		1.5597180248779E+15	1713682800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	226177680578601	0	Adoread	120207746049430265	client.adoread.com	Learn more	NONE	image	🔥🔥🔥 Read More👉	Hottest novel👉👉👉	https://client.adoread.com/book/loading/page/adoread/19161308412?utm_campaign={{campaign.id}}&utm_content={{campaign.name}}		1713519398	2.261776805786E+14	Adoread	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437724011_960421695526729_1516574307485338648_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QHGXZ-huQfoQ7kNvgHzczKd&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfA1G0W2GCJxETLnSTacq_-lPqPiWUWkbiLYII7Ir0AxBw&oe=663A90F9	person_profile	0	Adoread	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437891881_25238797299100336_7255863263127890524_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UeFxFDUJUZIQ7kNvgEeS_Bx&_nc_oc=AdiTRuuDuY6HRwjcUurcsHlsNxYlsWgvgJHiVXRjUHaZb6kg1K8E8f2HQ-z0coXk5QA8ZT6tVndcdcIOXE5PQdjL&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAumwy6FfvPM1CFZK2E_ded2st3Y2KINeCxuV2bVHiXTg&oe=663A61E5	0	3	"Wesley, are you trying to harm me? You useless piece of trash, can't even make a decent cup of coffee, can you?"<br /> Madison Blair lifted her coffee cup and splashed it directly onto Wesley Harrington's face.<br /> "What are you looking at, you spineless waste? Your name sounds so lofty? I might as well call you a waste."<br /> Glancing at the grotesque expression of his wife's mother, Wesley pulled out his phone to check the time.<br /> Exactly twelve o'clock. It had been five full years since he married Taylor Reed.<br /> The appointed time had come.<br /> He had fulfilled his promise, safeguarding the Reed family for five years, transforming them from a family living off fishing to one perceived as affluent by the common folk.<br /> Wiping the coffee off his face, he turned and walked away.<br /> "Where do you think you're going? Go fetch some more coffee," Madison shouted.<br /> "Madison, didn't you say this waste is obedient at home, doing whatever he's told? I don't think he's taking it lying down."<br /> Madison grew angrier. "Wesley, you stop right there. My family has fed and housed you. If you dare disobey, I'll have you thrown out!"<br /> Ignoring her, Wesley continued downstairs.<br /> "When Taylor comes back, I'll immediately have you two divorced. Do you hear me? Stay right there," Madison threatened, "I'll let you know your place today."<br /> Grabbing a golf club, Madison swiftly charged towards Wesley.<br /> Seeing Wesley heading downstairs, she swung the club viciously at his back.<br /> Without turning back, Wesley gently sidestepped.<br /> Losing her balance, Madison tumbled forward, rolling down the stairs with a series of thumps.<br /> "Ouch... it hurts, it hurts so much!"<br /> As Madison reached the ground floor, she wailed in pain and her sister immediately rushed to her.<br /> "Wesley, what have you done? How dare you hit my sister!" Madison's sister hurried down, checking on Madison's condition.<br /> Wesley remained silent, observing the scene.<br /> "Quick, call Taylor. Tell her to come back. Today, she must divorce this waste." Madison glared at Wesley. "How dare you hit me? Not only will I let Taylor divorce you, but I'll make sure you leave in disgrace."<br /> "Mum, what's wrong?" At that moment, a gent and a lady walked in.<br /> The lady was Taylor, Madison's daughter.<br /> She ran towards Madison.<br /> As Madison pointed at Wesley, tears streamed down her face. "Taylor, he hit me, he hit me! When you're not home, he changes his attitude, scolding and hitting me in the slightest displeasure. He even pushed me down the stairs just now. Alexis can testify."<br /> Madison's sister, Alexis Blair, chimed in. "Yes, Wesley, this trash not only hit your mother but also threatened to hit me too. We cannot tolerate such trash."<br /> "Taylor, I have been telling you to divorce him for years. You've been supporting him, treating him like a Lord at home, but he's an ungrateful wolf in sheep's clothing."<br /> Helping Madison up, Taylor noticed the scrapes on Madison's arms and legs, her expression turning cold.<br /> "Wesley, why did you hit my mother? You better give me an explanation."<br /> Wesley looked at Taylor, his wife.<br /> Five years had passed, and she had never shown him kindness.<br /> Taylor dressed impeccably, a paragon of a successful lady, with a face that could be deemed angelic, yet whether her heart was as angelic remained a mystery.<br /> Her figure, too, left countless men yearning.<br /> For five years, Wesley had thought he might develop feelings for this lady, but in reality, it never happened.<br /> "There are surveillance cameras in the house," Wesley stated calmly before descending the stairs into the hallway.<br /> Despite residing in a three-story villa, Wesley's living quarters were confined to the stairwell.<br /> He harbored no resentment towards this arrangement. It was merely a promise. It was just that Taylor failed to appreciate him.<br /> This home held little value that he wished to cling onto.<br /> Retrieving a wooden box from beneath his pillow, Wesley extracted two documents. Casting a fleeting glance at the modest abode he had called home for five years, Wesley smiled faintly.<br /> He thought, "Finally... I'm free."<br /> Pushing the door ajar, Wesley was met by Taylor's piercing gaze. "I've reviewed the surveillance footage. Yes, my mother intended to strike you, but even if she did, what difference would it make?"<br /> "She's a lady. How much could her blows hurt you? Why did you dodge?"<br /> "If you hadn't dodged, my mother wouldn't have tumbled down." Wesley stared at Taylor, unable to comprehend her thought process.<br /> He had no interest in engaging in these arguments. Handing over the two documents to Taylor, he remarked, "The divorce agreement. I've already signed it. Take a look. I'm leaving with nothing."<br /> "With your current influence, there's no need for you to visit the city hall. Someone will handle it for you, right?"<br /> Madison was taken aback. She swiftly snatched the divorce agreement, flipping through it hastily.<br /> The contents were indeed straightforward. Both parties willingly divorced, with Wesley relinquishing all claims and having already signed.<br /> In an instant, Madison's pain seemed to dissipate. "Taylor, sign it quickly. Sign it."<br /> Taylor was still in a daze.<br /> She pondered.<br /> "A divorce agreement? Wesley has already prepared a divorce agreement. On what grounds?"<br /> "What gives him the right to initiate a divorce? All these years, he's done nothing at home, lacking any ambition. Always practicing martial arts, what right does he have to seek a divorce?"<br /> "If anyone should initiate it, it should be me. Moreover, now that I'm back to discussing this matter with him. Could it be that word got out, and Wesley, for the sake of his pride, rushed to prepare a divorce agreement first?"<br /> "It must be so, but... No!"<br /> "Wanting to leave with nothing, is he retreating to advance? As the chairman of the Reed Group, how could I be served with a divorce?"<br /> "Hey Wesley, I never expected this from you. Have I not treated you well enough? You seek a divorce, attempting to turn your retreat into advance, aiming to embarrass me?"<br /> Taylor glared at Wesley. "I'm telling you, it's impossible."<br /> Snatching the divorce agreement, she tore it to shreds.<br /> "Taylor, what are you doing? Such a great opportunity. Why not just sign it and let him leave?" Madison grew anxious.<br /> "Mom, I do intend to divorce this trash, but the decision must come from me. I returned specifically to address this matter."<br /> With that, Taylor produced two documents. "Wesley, remember that it's me who's divorcing you. It's me who no longer wants you. Initially, out of marital obligation, I had considered offering you some compensation. Now, you don't even need to think about it. Sign the divorce agreement and leave my home."<br /> Wesley offered a faint smile as he accepted the divorce agreement.<br /> "What are you laughing at?" Taylor demanded angrily.<br /> Wesley's smile seemed to mock her, fueling her rage.<br /> Ignoring her entirely, Wesley signed the document and handed it over.<br /> "What are you laughing at? Answer me! Who do you think you are?" Taylor roared once more.<br /> Wesley glanced at her before striding towards the exit.<br /> "Stop!" The gent who had accompanied Taylor stepped forward, blocking Wesley's path. "Taylor asked you a question, and... Your previous attitude displeased me. Apologize to Taylor, or I'll have you leave in disgrace!"<br /> Chapter 2 The Unspoken Truth<br /> <br /> "Yes, let him leave in disgrace. He thought he could just hit me and walk away so easily," Madison joined in the commotion, also noticing the gent blocking Wesley's path.<br /> Madison had a keen interest in luxury goods, having frequented various high-end establishments over the years as the Reed family's living conditions improved. The gent was wearing an expensive watch and dressed head to toe in high-end luxury brands.<br /> Seeing Madison's gaze, the gent spoke. "Rest assured, today Wesley must pay the price."<br /> The gent introduced himself, looking at Wesley, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Henry Clark, the eldest son of the Clark family and the general manager of the Clark Group in the North District."<br /> "From now on, I will accompany Taylor on her journey of life, and I will not allow anyone to bully her."<br /> "My identity carries weight. You should understand that. Now, apologize to Taylor. Apologize! Did you hear me? Apologize!"<br /> Madison's eyes lit up. She hadn't expected the gent before her to hold such a high status. She continued to shout, "Did you hear that? Taylor will be with Mr. Clark from now on. Apologize now."<br /> Wesley glanced at Henry, then at Taylor. He thought, "Have they been together all along?" Wesley had wanted to ask but decided against it because there was no need. He simply gave them a glance and continued walking towards the exit.<br /> "Are you ignoring me?" Henry's face turned cold as he reached out to grab Wesley. Henry's hand froze mid-air as he received a solid hit.<br /> "Until I sign the divorce papers, Taylor and I are still wife and husband. I don't care to investigate whether you two had any intimate relationship during that time, but don't provoke me, or I won't hesitate to make you regret it." Wesley's gaze was icy, and as Henry met his eyes, he felt a twinge of fear and swallowed his words.<br /> Taylor was also stunned. She knew exactly what Wesley had been like over the past five years. There were many surveillance cameras in the house, and she would often check them.<br /> Even when Taylor wasn't home, despite how her family treated Wesley, he always obeyed without complaint, especially towards her. He had never raised his voice, no matter how they treated him.<br /> Today, not only did Wesley dodge when her mother struck, but he also initiated the divorce and now even struck Henry. <br /> Taylor was at a loss for words, thinking, "How could this cowardly gent dare? On what grounds does he dare?"<br /> This change was difficult for Taylor to accept as if she didn't truly understand this guy. The gent who used to be obedient to her, completely submissive, now revealed this side of himself. She watched Wesley walk away in a daze, feeling a strange discomfort in her heart.<br /> "Isn't he leaving with nothing?" Alexis pointed at the wooden box Wesley was holding. "What is he taking with him?"<br /> Madison also realized. Over the past five years, Wesley had always treasured this wooden box, carrying it with him wherever he went. She thought there must be something valuable inside.<br /> Realizing this, Madison hurriedly followed. "Wesley, stop right there, leave the wooden box."<br /> Wesley paused, glanced at Madison, and said, "This is my personal belonging."<br /> "Nonsense, what personal belonging could you possibly have after marrying into the Reed family? Everything you've eaten, worn, and lived in over the years has been provided by the Reed family. Put it down."<br /> As she spoke, Madison reached out to grab the wooden box.<br /> "Ah..." A scream rang out as Madison quickly retracted her hand, a gash appearing on her palm, a crimson liquid dripping.<br /> The wooden box was now stained with the same crimson liquid, trembling lightly in Wesley's hand.<br /> "It's not the right time yet, the day you thirst for this crimson liquid will come," Wesley murmured softly, patting the box before turning to continue his stride towards the exit.<br /> "Monster! A monster!" Madison screamed, causing Taylor and the others to rush out. Seeing the wound in Madison's hand, Taylor was filled with rage.<br /> "Wesley, aren't you going to say something?" Wesley halted once more, contemplating before meeting Taylor's gaze.<br /> "Just stay out of my way from now on. Consider this a warning to you."<br /> "Taylor, that wooden box of his has a mechanism. It must hold something valuable! We can't let him take it with him," Madison, enduring the pain, reminded them.<br /> "Mom, your injury is important. We'll deal with him later. Let me take you to the hospital first." Taylor comforted Madison before calling out to the retreating Wesley.<br /> "Our marriage is over! Yet, you dared to hurt my mother! This won't be the end of it! I will make you regret it!" Ignoring her, Wesley continued walking out.<br /> "Rest assured, I promise he won't see the light of day tomorrow." Henry stepped forward to console. "Let's focus on getting your wound treated first."<br /> "I want him to regret ever existing in this world, to apologize to me in repentance," Madison roared.<br /> "Mom, trust me, I will make him do just that." Taylor looked at Madison with a mix of pity and determination. "Let's go to the hospital first."<br /> In the villa area, Wesley halted, his voice cold. "Get out."<br /> An elderly gent leaped down from a tree, appearing to be in his seventies, yet landing silently from a height of around ten feet.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, your father wants you to come home and take charge."<br /> "He stopped being my father five years ago. He's my enemy."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you misunderstood your father. He had his reasons back then. I swear in my life, once you know the truth, you will forgive him."<br /> "Huh!" Wesley smirked coldly, saying, "I nearly passed away back then. Is that also a misunderstanding?"<br /> The old gent pleaded, "Mr. Harrington, this situation is truly not as you perceive it."<br /> Wesley didn't engage further with the old guy. The events of that year were etched in his memory forever. He was the one who had been abandoned. If not for that incident, why would he have stayed with the Reed family for five years?<br /> Watching Wesley walk away, the old gent had tears silently streaming down his face. "Mr. Harrington, I truly... I truly can't bring myself to speak the truth, but you have misunderstood your father. He also bears burdens and endures pains beyond what an ordinary person can handle."<br /> As Wesley's figure disappeared, the old gent stood up, hesitated for a moment, then dialed a number on his phone.<br /> "Mr. Harrington is now divorced. I've given you the news firsthand. If your daughter is truly together with Mr. Harrington, you must fulfill the promise and let her persuade Mr. Harrington to come home."<br /> After hanging up, a middle-aged gent in a luxurious estate jumped up excitedly. Calming himself, he immediately made another call. "My dear, you're at Yeadeo, right?<br /> "Go find Wesley now. Don't mention the engagement for now. Use every means to get close to him, make him fall in love with you."<br /> "Dad, I don't have time."<br /> "No matter what you are busy with, you must go find Wesley now. No matter what reason you approach him, you must leave a good impression the first time."<br /> "Dad, I'm in trouble right now. If I don't handle it well, I might be good as gone. I have to deal with it immediately. I'm hanging up."<br /> Chapter 3 You're Nothing<br /> The middle-aged gent's voice lowered significantly. "Is there a big incident happening? You didn't tell me? What happened?"<br /> "Quinn Kingsley from Yeadeo, Mr. Kingsley, used our product and now has one foot on the grave. If something really happens to him..."<br /> "You mean Quinn, the uncontested leader of Yeadeo?"<br /> "Yes."<br /> "In that case, you should go find Wesley. Trust me, in this world, there is no problem that Wesley can't solve. As long as he's willing to help, you'll be fine. Listen to me, go find Wesley immediately."<br /> The lady fell silent for a moment before saying, "Okay."<br /> At Yeadeo Harbor, a gent with a large flaxen chain and a watch, sporting a crew cut, hurriedly disembarked, accompanied by a dozen gentlemen.<br /> "Mr. Reed, wherever that trash is, we will find him and tear him apart."<br /> "Yes, that guy dared to harm your mother. We'll make sure he pays for it."<br /> Frank Reed's face turned cold. "Wesley, you coward, thinking you can overturn the world? How dare you touch my mom? Just wait until I find you, you're finished."<br /> "We've found him. Wesley got into a taxi, and our boys followed him."<br /> "Let's go!" Frank waved his hand, leading dozens of men who boarded the car with harpoons, steel pipes, and other weapons.<br /> Inside the taxi, Wesley gazed at the scenery outside, feeling a strange sense of tranquility.<br /> He thought to himself, "I never imagined that while I was secretly paving the way for the Reed family, Taylor, after progressing so rapidly, would start looking down on me more and more."<br /> "Those ladies who know my true identity, which one of them isn't trying to throw themselves at me? Ladies like that don't interest me."<br /> "Being an ordinary gent is truly difficult," Wesley murmured, smiling faintly and deciding not to dwell on these matters anymore. He had important things to attend to and no time to waste on personal affairs.<br /> "Young lad, are you going to Feidgeuo Manor for a job interview?" The driver, curious about Wesley's destination, inquired.<br /> Feidgeuo Manor was Yeadeo's most mysterious private area. Originally a villa area, it was bought at a huge cost five years ago and completely renovated. It was said to have cost a trillion dollars. The former villa area was now Feidgeuo Manor.<br /> "That's my home," Wesley replied nonchalantly.<br /> The driver was taken aback by this revelation, silently cursing Wesley for bragging. After a couple of minutes, the driver regained his composure. "It seems like you and I both prefer to keep a low profile. My car usually gathers dust at home, so I occasionally drive a taxi to experience life."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "My car has been driven by my assistant for the past few years, so it's not gathering dust."<br /> "Haha..." The driver laughed. "We should get together sometime and see whose car is more impressive."<br /> "Sure, whenever we have the time."<br /> As they chatted, the vehicle soon arrived near Feidgeuo Manor, where the massive head of the Feidgeuo Peak protruded, creating a unique landscape in Yeadeo.<br /> The driver asked with a smile, "Since you're the owner here, it's fine if I drive in, right?"<br /> "Of course," Wesley replied.<br /> As soon as Wesley spoke, several cars caught up from behind.<br /> The cars surrounded the one Wesley was in, with the front vehicles braking to force the car to a stop.<br /> When numerous people descended from cars wielding harpoons and steel pipes, the driver's face paled.<br /> Frank and his group got out of the cars, instantly closing in, and without hesitation, started attacking, the steel pipes and harpoons thudding against the car.<br /> Frank's henchman yanked open the door of Wesley's car, poised to stab Wesley with a harpoon, but Wesley swiftly exited the vehicle.<br /> With a firm step on the ground, he launched a swift hit.<br /> A muffled sound echoed as the henchman was hit away.<br /> "What are you looking at?" Frank noticed his henchmen were all staring at him. "All of you, attack together and take him down!"<br /> As he commanded, the henchmen Frank brought with him surged forward.<br /> The taxi driver, trembling, took out his phone to call the police, but Frank glared at him. "I am Frank Reed from Yeadeo Harbor. If you dare, go ahead and make that call."<br /> Frank, leveraging his sister Taylor's status, had been causing trouble in Yeadeo Harbor, and no one dared to provoke him.<br /> Upon hearing Frank's name, the driver hastily put away his phone. "Mr. Reed, I'll just check the time, you guys continue."<br /> "Huh!" Frank snorted coldly, casting his gaze towards the surrounded Wesley.<br /> The sounds of thuds continued to ring out incessantly. Because Wesley was completely surrounded, Frank was unable to see the situation inside clearly, but he could imagine it. After all, in Frank's mind, the henchmen under his command were not to be trifled with.<br /> "Hit him hard for me!"<br /> Another muffled sound and a figure flew out. At that moment, Frank finally saw the situation clearly, and his face turned pale.<br /> Frank knew that Wesley liked to practice martial arts, but he had never expected Wesley to be this skilled. It wasn't Wesley who had been beaten, but his own men by Wesley alone.<br /> Frantically, Frank turned and ran to retrieve a crossbow from the car.<br /> "Clear the way." Frank bellowed, aiming the crossbow at Wesley.<br /> "You scumbag, you think you can fight? Move one more time, and I'll end your life! Surrender!"<br /> Wesley, holding a wooden box, stared at Frank. Ignoring the crossbow in his hand, Wesley said, "Tell your henchmen to back off, or you'll all see the light from above!"<br /> "You're really good at pretending to be tough." Frank took two steps forward. "See the light? Move a muscle and see if I can end your life or not! If you don't have the guts, apologize now!"<br /> Wesley turned his head and looked at the approaching cars, with two expensive ones in the lead, two more in the rear, and another one in the middle.<br /> "Keep acting tough, and I'll put a hole in your head." Frank spoke while glancing at the five cars. "What, looking for help?"<br /> "Let me tell you, those who ride in these cars are not the kind of weaklings like you who rely on connections. With me here, in Yeadeo's social hierarchy, even those who ride in such cars wouldn't dare meddle in this matter. And let me make it clear, without my sister, you're nothing."<br /> Chapter 4 Is He Worthy?<br /> As Frank's words faded, the five cars came to a halt.<br /> A bodyguard opened the door of the one in the middle, revealing a dazzling pair of shining shoes catching everyone's eye.<br /> The shining shoe encased a beautiful foot. Above, the skirt's hem was adorned with lace.<br /> Then, like a fairy stepping out of a painting, she appeared before everyone's eyes.<br /> The lady was beautiful!<br /> Frank was mesmerized. Ever since the Reed family rose to prominence, he had been surrounded by ladies, but compared to the elegant lady before him, they were worlds apart.<br /> It wasn't just a difference in appearance but an incomparable gap in demeanor.<br /> The lady descending from the Maybach seemed like a celestial being untouched by mortal affairs.<br /> The embodiment of a fairy in the mundane world.<br /> She simply stood there after getting out of the car, perfectly embodying what it meant to be graceful and elegant.<br /> The lady glanced at Wesley, then at Frank.<br /> Frank grinned, saying, "May I have the honor of knowing the name of this esteemed lady? I am Frank..."<br /> The lady spoke calmly. "Disrespect Mr. Harrington, and you're done for."<br /> Her bodyguards, unfazed by Frank's crossbow, swiftly overwhelmed him, sending him crashing to the ground.<br /> The henchmen who had come with Frank, previously defeated by Wesley, now scrambled to their feet and fled in all directions.<br /> Who would dare provoke someone who could afford such a car?<br /> "My sister is Taylor Reed, the chairperson of Reed Group," Frank shouted, clutching his head.<br /> Ignoring him, one of the bodyguards dragged him to the roadside grass while another used a belt to tighten around Frank's neck, exerting pressure.<br /> "Enough, a lesson is all that's needed." Wesley spoke calmly, and only when the lady gestured did the bodyguards release Frank.<br /> Frank lay there, already unconscious.<br /> Wesley turned to the lady. "Who are you?"<br /> "I am Mia Roberts, the general manager of Vinver Business Alliance's Yeadeo branch." She looked at Wesley and continued, "Mr. Harrington, my father mentioned that you have miraculous healing skills and earnestly requested your assistance. A generous reward awaits."<br /> Wesley furrowed his brow slightly, thinking, "There are indeed people who recognize my abilities and status, yet I've rarely intervened in the past five years. Today, shortly after I divorced Taylor, she is here. Whose arrangement is this?"<br /> "Mr. Harrington, my father also mentioned that you are benevolent and has raised the banner of compassion among healers, serving as a role model and benchmark for all in the medical field."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "You have a way with words. Tell me the specifics."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, please get in the car first. I will explain in detail on the way."<br /> The phrase "compassionate healer" held significant weight for Wesley, who had saved countless lives from the brink of death.<br /> Without further ado, he got into the car.<br /> Inside, after Mia brewed coffee for Wesley, she began. "Vinver Business Alliance has a wide range of business operations, and I mainly oversee the health supplement sector, which has seen some success in recent years.<br /> "Recently, Quinn Kingsley started using our medicines, and now there's an accident."<br /> As she spoke, Mia kept her gaze fixed on Wesley.<br /> Quinn, the undisputed leader of Yeadeo, was a figure of immense influence.<br /> Upon hearing this name, Wesley showed no particular reaction. "If the city's leader faces issues with your products, it is indeed a concern. Let's go and see."<br /> With just a sentence, Wesley leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest.<br /> Mia was secretly alarmed, thinking, "He knows who Quinn is, yet he seems indifferent. Who is this Wesley, really? No wonder Dad has instructed me to find a way to win his favor." Mia's inner resistance toward Wesley quietly shifted.<br /> Wesley had piqued her curiosity.<br /> As the vehicle was moving, Wesley's phone rang.<br /> Wesley opened his eyes and took out his phone to see Taylor calling.<br /> Pressing the answer button, he asked, "What's the matter?"<br /> On the other end of the line, Taylor, driving towards Feidgeuo Manor, had a grim expression.<br /> She thought, "Has Wesley ever spoken to me in such a cold tone before? Is he really this heartless right after our divorce?"<br /> Already furious, she snapped. "Wesley, do you even consider yourself a human being?<br /> "Today, not only did you lay hands on my mother, but you also had someone attack my brother. Do you not remember our past at all?"<br /> Wesley calmly replied, "Do we have a past to remember?"<br /> "You truly are a heartless scumbag, just as my mother said. You are an ungrateful and vicious person I raised for five years. Even a pet would wag its tail at me!"<br /> Taylor wanted to continue her tirade, but the phone line had already turned busy.<br /> This only fueled her anger further.<br /> Just now, she had received a call from Frank's underlings, informing her that Wesley had sent people to attack Frank and even intended to end him.<br /> Taylor wanted to demand answers, but...<br /> As Taylor was clutching her fists, her gaze turned icy.<br /> After a moment, she picked up her phone again. "Wesley, you are so narrow-minded. You have no ambition. Any lady would steer clear of you."<br /> "Just because I dumped you, you are doing this on purpose to make me feel sick. Pretending to be aloof and seeking revenge? Do you even deserve it?"<br /> "In Yeadeo, squashing you would be as easy as squashing an ant. You're asking for it! If anything happens to my brother, I will make you wish you were ending!"<br /> Her furious voice message echoed in the car.<br /> Wesley chuckled and put away his phone.<br /> Beside him, Mia seemed contemplative. Before coming, she had already ordered a swift investigation into Wesley.<br /> She was curious, thinking, "How could someone valued by my father could be the one 'marrying into' the Reed family."<br /> Being tactful, Mia chose not to ask and pretended not to have heard.<br /> After about forty minutes, they arrived at the Kingsley Manor.<br /> The Kingsley family members, upon seeing Mia alight from the car, all wore grim expressions.<br /> Mia greeted them with a smile, "Everyone, this is Wesley Harrington, Mr. Harrington, the miraculous healer I specially invited to treat Mr. Kingsley."<br /> "Him? The gent who married into the Reed family?"<br /> "A miraculous healer? Is he even worthy? Are healers so worthless now?"<br /> "A useless gent who mooches off of the Reed family? How dare he call himself a miraculous healer? Truly a joke among all jokes."<br /> Chapter 5 Compassionate Healer<br /> Amanda Kingsley, Quinn's granddaughter, stared coldly at Wesley and Mia.<br /> This lady, dressed in a smart suit, also held significant fame in Yeadeo, overseeing the region's business activities, including investment attraction and various local business negotiations.<br /> Amanda had a favorable view of Taylor, who had risen swiftly in recent times, and they had interacted frequently.<br /> She was aware of Wesley's existence and had advised Taylor to part ways with him early on.<br /> But Amanda never imagined that Mia would bring someone like Wesley, a complete waste, and claim he was a miraculous healer.<br /> Glaring at Mia, she said, "Mia, once my grandfather is well, it's best for your Roberts family to leave Yeadeo."<br /> "As for you..." She glanced at Wesley. "I will advise Taylor to divorce you. You have deceived Taylor's feelings and now shamelessly made your way into my family. You are a despicable creature."<br /> After reprimanding Mia and Wesley, she turned to an elderly gent beside her, and her tone and attitude completely changed. "Mr. Phillips, sorry to trouble you. My grandfather is inside, please."<br /> Mia looked at the elderly gent, who was already in his twilight years, feeling deeply shocked.<br /> Scott Phillips, the 38th generation heir of the Healing Clinic, was now ninety-two years old.<br /> Renowned as a miraculous healer, he was a respected figure in the medical community of Yeadeo and even nationally.<br /> He no longer conducted consultations personally due to his old age. Mia had visited him specifically to pay her respects once she had arrived in Yeadeo but had not met Scott.<br /> She never expected Scott to appear in person. It was understandable, as Quinn held a prominent position in the city. Despite the profound influence of the Phillips family, they still had to show respect to Quinn.<br /> Mia looked at Wesley, feeling conflicted and thinking, "Dad has confidently claimed that Wesley has extraordinary abilities, but does he really?"<br /> She harbored doubts, but out of propriety, Mia spoke. "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the trouble."<br /> Wesley smiled, "It's fine. As long as the person can be healed."<br /> His open-mindedness impressed Mia.<br /> After about half an hour, Amanda emerged from the room. All eyes instantly turned towards her.<br /> It was evident that Amanda had wailed out, with traces of tears still visible.<br /> "Amanda, how is it?" A middle-aged gent anxiously asked her.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family who had rushed back also focused their attention on her.<br /> "Mr. Phillips said that there's little hope of recovery. He could only use acupuncture to wake grandfather for half an hour. When grandfather wakes up, let's all go in and see if he has any final instructions."<br /> Everyone was shocked.<br /> "How could this be?"<br /> "Is Mr. Phillips also helpless?"<br /> The members of the Kingsley family found it hard to accept this reality, especially since Quinn had always treated his juniors well.<br /> The thought of Quinn departing saddened some, and tears silently fell.<br /> Publicly, Quinn's status was the foundation of the Kingsley family's prominence in Yeadeo.<br /> If Quinn were to pass away, the Kingsley family would undoubtedly decline.<br /> The atmosphere within the Kingsley family was somber.<br /> Amanda looked at her family members, opened her mouth, but said nothing, silently turning back into the room.<br /> "Stop crying," A middle-aged gent said sternly, "Dad wouldn't want to see you all in tears. If he's really leaving, we mustn't let him worry about us. Pull yourselves together."<br /> After these words, the middle-aged gent also entered the room.<br /> The younger members of the Kingsley family wiped their tears vigorously, trying to force smiles, but in truth, they looked better at crying than pretending to be happy.<br /> Mia's spirit plummeted as she realized the gravity of the situation. Even if an ordinary person passed away from consuming health supplements, it spelled big trouble for those who sold them. And when the deceased happened to be Quinn, the stakes were even higher.<br /> She understood that it would be difficult for this branch to stay in Yeadeo, and even the headquarters might face repercussions.<br /> "Let's go in and have a look." Wesley glanced at Mia. "There might still be a chance."<br /> "Ah..." Mia stared at Wesley in surprise. Seeing him already heading towards the room, she quickly followed suit.<br /> Inside the room, the members of the Kingsley family stood around the mattress, maintaining a certain distance.<br /> Scott lit the alcohol lamp and took out the needles, his expression solemn.<br /> He looked at the members of the Kingsley family. "Think about what you want to say to Mr. Kingsley later. Once you're ready, let me know, and then I'll proceed with the acupuncture."<br /> As he said this, tears welled up in many eyes.<br /> "If you don't mind, let me take a look. I have a way." Wesley spoke up, drawing everyone's attention.<br /> Amanda's face darkened. "Who let you in? Get out!"<br /> "Mia, have you lost your mind? Tricked by this trash and actually brought him here as a miracle healer. Get out with him! I'll settle the score with you in a couple of days."<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, at a loss for words.<br /> "Even Mr. Phillips is unable to reverse the situation. What use are you? Get out." Another younger member of the Kingsley family angrily rebuked.<br /> The middle-aged gent added, "We're in no mood right now. You better leave immediately."<br /> "I understand your narrow-mindedness," Wesley continued, "But as a healer, once I see a patient, I cannot stand by and watch him draw his last breath."<br /> "Wesley, you're quite the charlatan. Do you really want to be gone right now?" Amanda's voice was filled with anger.<br /> "Amanda, let me say a few words," Scott interjected, and Amanda fell silent.<br /> Looking at Wesley, Scott began. "Young lad, at my age, I've seen a lot and have a broad perspective. Today, however, I find it hard to remain indifferent. I practiced medicine from the age of sixteen until I stopped seeing patients for a total of seventy years."<br /> "I've saved countless patients from various illnesses. I never easily declare a patient's fate, nor do I believe I have the right to do so."<br /> "But from your recent remarks, it seems like you're accusing me of such actions. Young people wanting to make a name for themselves by stepping on the shoulders of their predecessors, I can understand."<br /> "But this kind of behavior displeases me."<br /> "My displeasure, what does it mean to you? Do you understand?"<br /> "Even if you are a healer, your career will be ruined because of this."<br /> Chapter 6 Hand of Hell<br /> In the face of Scott's veiled threats, Wesley simply smiled and brushed them off.<br /> Looking at Scott, he asked, "I've always focused on the issue at hand rather than attacking individuals. I have a few questions for you. If you can't administer the needles, how long do you think Quinn can hold on?"<br /> "Seven days, but he will remain unconscious," Scott replied bluntly.<br /> "Then let me ask you this, is there anyone in the world with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "Outrageous," Amanda coldly interjected, "Mr. Phillips is unparalleled in his medical expertise."<br /> Scott glanced at Amanda. "Amanda, let me handle this question."<br /> Continuing to address Wesley, he said, "I don't underestimate myself, nor do I overestimate. There are countless talented individuals in the world, like stars in the sky. I may not dare claim to be the best in medical skills, but those who surpass me are few."<br /> "That means there are some," Wesley calmly remarked, causing Scott's expression to shift slightly, "Indeed, there are."<br /> "Then let me ask you this. Do you think within seven days, the Kingsley family won't find someone with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "If they do find someone, do you believe there is an illness that you cannot cure, but this person can?"<br /> Wesley's questions were sharp and resounding.<br /> Scott's face changed once more as he was rendered speechless.<br /> "Even if there is, that person will never be you." Amanda's face turned icy. "Now get out. Don't spout your eloquence here. Your deceitful behavior is repulsive."<br /> "Your understanding of me is merely hearsay, isn't it?" Wesley retorted, his gaze mocking Amanda, "Has your background and education taught you such arrogance and prejudice?"<br /> "Arrogance?" Amanda's face grew colder as she disdainfully looked at Wesley. "Prejudice?<br /> "Did I say something wrong just now? You are nothing but stagnant waste, a parasite living off others. If it weren't for Taylor, you would have starved on the streets long ago."<br /> "Relying on sweet words, deceiving Taylor. She, with her kind heart, can't bear to divorce you, but don't push your luck. If it weren't for Taylor's sake, you would have been sent out long ago."<br /> Scott interrupted Amanda, "Amanda, although I find this lad a bit annoying, what he said does hold some truth. There are indeed individuals with better medical skills than me. Your grandfather can hold on for seven days. Try reaching out to see if someone can come over. I'll help you make connections."<br /> "If it really doesn't work out after seven days, I'll administer the needles to your grandfather. However, at that point, I can only buy you three minutes."<br /> As soon as Scott spoke, the faces of the Kingsley family members grew even more solemn. True healers were rare and not easily summoned.<br /> While the Kingsley family had connections in Yeadeo, their influence waned outside of it.<br /> "Mr. Phillips, please administer the needles. Life has its ups and downs, and we understand that. Just buy my father a bit more time." The middle-aged gent spoke up.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family nodded in agreement.<br /> Amanda looked at Scott. "Mr. Phillips, please."<br /> "In that case, please have everyone unrelated leave. I need silence," Scott calmly stated.<br /> Amanda glared at Wesley, her eyes speaking volumes without a word.<br /> The unrelated individuals were, naturally, Wesley and Mia.<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, intending to leave, but she suddenly hesitated.<br /> Instead of leaving, Wesley moved forward.<br /> "What are you doing?" A young member of the Kingsley family stepped forward with a stern expression, pushing Wesley.<br /> In one swift motion, Wesley executed a clean shoulder throw, toppling the young gent to the ground, his own expression turning cold.<br /> "A bunch of fools! If it weren't for my teacher's teachings about not turning a blind eye to those in need, I wouldn't bother with you ignorant lot," Wesley remarked with disdain.<br /> As Wesley effortlessly took down one individual from the Kingsley family, the others seemed slow to react.<br /> By the time they realized what was happening, Wesley had already picked up the needle next to Scott and casually flicked his wrist.<br /> The needle flew out of his hand, piercing Quinn's temple, followed by a second needle, a third needle, and so on.<br /> "What are you doing? Stop!" Amanda's voice rose in urgency, echoed by the rest of the Kingsley family members who rushed forward to restrain Wesley.<br /> "Stay back, everyone. Wait." Scott suddenly stood up, blocking the others. "Let him try."<br /> Amanda and the others were left dumbfounded, thinking, "What does this mean?"<br /> Despite their confusion, they heeded Scott's words.<br /> After Scott stopped the members of the Kingsley family, he fixed his gaze on Wesley.<br /> Wesley proceeded to use eighteen needles in succession, symbolizing the levels of pain.<br /> Even if someone had descended into the depths of hell, they must be brought back.<br /> The final needle, also piercing a vital point, caused Quinn's body to tremble suddenly, resonating with the previous eighteen needles.<br /> Scott's eyes widened, his body trembling slightly. His reaction left Amanda and the others even more puzzled, but none dared to interrupt.<br /> Moments later, Wesley placed a palm on Quinn's chest, causing all eighteen needles to be shaken off. When all the needles landed on the ground, the part of the skin where the needles had pierced turned dark.<br /> Wesley then dragged Quinn to the edge of the mattress, flipped him over with his head facing downwards, and gave him a firm pat on the back.<br /> Quinn spat out a mouthful of black liquid. When Wesley flipped him back to lie flat, his complexion had regained some color.<br /> "The Hand of Darkness... It's the Hand of Darkness!" Scott exclaimed with excitement, his body quivering, "It's the Hand that descends into the dark world, snatching people from the hands of the Evil!"<br /> "You do have some knowledge, recognizing the Hand of Darkness." Wesley glanced at Scott.<br /> Scott's gaze towards Wesley had undergone a drastic change. He respectfully clasped his hands together.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thirty years ago, I had the honor of attending a teaching conference held by Mr. Vanderbilt. I saw the Hand of Darkness, but my limited aptitude only allowed me to grasp the basics."<br /> "I have been blind and ignorant. I apologize for my earlier offenses. Please forgive me, Mr. Harrington."<br /> The Mr. Vanderbilt Scott referred to was Wesley's teacher, Ulysses Vanderbilt. He generously imparted his skills to others, but the ability to learn depended on one's innate talent.<br /> In this world, few could learn Ulysses' skills.<br /> Scott had been fortunate to receive guidance from Ulysses, which had elevated his medical skills. However, the Hand of Darkness, a miraculous ability, was beyond his comprehension.<br /> Wesley smiled faintly, "Your actions earlier are understandable. I appreciate your words."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you must be an exceptional disciple of Mr. Vanderbilt, possessing unparalleled magnanimity. Impressive," Scott continued.<br /> "Enough with the flattery at your age."<br /> "You are mistaken, Mr. Harrington. Every word I speak is sincere."<br /> Mia, Amanda, and the others stood bewildered by the unfolding situation.<br /> "Mr. Phillips... he... he..." Amanda's words faltered.<br /> Scott turned to the members of the Kingsley family. "Meeting Mr. Harrington was Quinn's luck. His symptoms have been cured by Mr. Harrington. With a few days of rest, he will be fine."<br /> The waste Taylor had previously said was called Mr. Harrington by Scott!<br /> Recalling their previous attitudes, Amanda hurriedly apologized, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> The members of the Kingsley family all apologized in unison, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> Chapter 7 Eight Plates of Noodles<br /> With a faint smile, Wesley remarked, "As family members of a patient, your actions earlier are understandable. There's no need for such formality."<br /> Amanda's perplexity deepened as she thought, "Where is the cowardly waste that Taylor described? This display of magnanimity and breadth is far from it."<br /> Mia, too, felt a shiver of realization, thinking, "No wonder Dad has insisted on my proximity to Wesley.<br /> This guy..."<br /> She gazed at Wesley, her curiosity piqued, a sense of exploration stirring within her.<br /> "Mia has brought you here, Mr. Harrington, to cure my grandfather. The Kingsley family will never forget this act. However, considering that my grandfather's ailment stemmed from the health supplements produced by the Vinver Business Alliance, we will be conducting an investigation into it."<br /> Amanda continued, looking at Wesley, "What do you think... of this approach?"<br /> It was Mia who had invited Wesley, so Amanda had grown wiser, refraining from asking for a direct punishment of the Vinver Business Alliance.<br /> As Mia heard Amanda's words, her heart skipped a beat, realizing trouble was brewing.<br /> "On the way here, Ms. Roberts briefed me on the situation. You conducted experiments on mice, correct?"<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes, the health supplements we received were exclusively provided by the Roberts family. There were no similar cases on the market, so we used mice for testing.<br /> "All the mice that ingested this supplement were gone."<br /> She looked at Mia and added, her voice turned colder. "Before the experiment, I specifically contacted Mia to inquire about the testing methods during the development phase, which involved mice."<br /> "There have been individuals eyeing my grandfather's position, some even wishing for his demise. I never imagined that the Vinver Business Alliance, which I attracted for investment, would become a weapon in someone else's hands."<br /> "Do you have any of the remaining medicine?" Wesley inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes."<br /> "Bring some over."<br /> Immediately, someone fetched the medicine. After it was brought to him, Wesley took out a supplement and swallowed it directly.<br /> This scene left Amanda and the others dumbfounded.<br /> Scott, too, was bewildered. "Mr. Harrington, what are you doing?"<br /> Wesley smiled, "Just proving that this medicine is not toxic."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thank you," Mia thanked sincerely, feeling like sobbing at that moment.<br /> Amanda, with a puzzled expression, looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, are you suggesting that my grandfather's condition wasn't caused by the Vinver Business Alliance's medicine? What about the mice?"<br /> The rest were equally puzzled.<br /> "Yes, but not entirely," Wesley said, leaving everyone even more bewildered.<br /> Mia's emotions were like a rollercoaster ride, from relief to immediate tension.<br /> "This medicine itself is not toxic, but when taken with another substance made from a certain plant, it results in Quinn's condition. The mice would die immediately, while humans could endure a few more days."<br /> Wesley continued to explain, "The plant used in this concoction is originally meant for crafting slow-acting toxins, not for human consumption."<br /> Looking at Amanda, Wesley said, "During this period, whoever had access to your grandfather and the mice will better understand why these events occurred."<br /> The gaze of members of the Kingsley family immediately focused on a lady.<br /> Amanda, somewhat incredulous, looked at her. "Can you offer an explanation?"<br /> The lady was the wife of Amanda's deceased brother. She found it hard to accept, as did the rest of the Kingsley family.<br /> This lady had been named the exemplary lady who served her family well this year, not due to her connection with the Kingsley family but because she genuinely deserved it.<br /> "What do you mean? Amanda, what explanation do you want from me?"<br /> The lady stared at Amanda. "Am I the only one who had access to Grandfather and the mice? You, and you... and you, who didn't have access?"<br /> "You all claim to treat me as family. Since I married into the Kingsley family, I have worked diligently, contributing my share even if not acknowledged."<br /> "Amanda, it has been over a year since your brother passed, and I never once considered remarrying. Now, just because of his words, you demand an explanation from me?"<br /> Pointing at Wesley, the lady questioned, "Just because he accuses me of poisoning, you suspect me? Tell me, did I poison him?" The lady glared at Wesley.<br /> "I am merely analyzing the facts. As for concluding this case, it's not within my purview," Wesley addressed the members of the Kingsley family, saying, "You should conduct a thorough investigation into this matter.<br /> "I will write a prescription. Have Quinn take it on time, and he will recover in seven days."<br /> Amanda hurried to fetch paper and pen while Wesley prepared the prescription. Once done, he was ready to leave.<br /> Amanda said hurriedly, "Mr. Harrington, I've already made arrangements for lunch."<br /> "No need," Wesley smiled.<br /> The Kingsley family sought to build closer ties with Wesley, given his extraordinary medical skills. Wesley was well aware of this.<br /> Looking at Amanda and the others, Wesley remarked, "In the future, if you encounter any difficult medical cases that others cannot solve, seek me out. Remember, cases others cannot solve."<br /> The gaze of the Kingsley family members toward Wesley changed once again. Many renowned healers had eccentric personalities and were difficult to engage.<br /> They hadn't expected Wesley to possess such remarkable medical skills without any airs.<br /> As Wesley prepared to depart, the members of the Kingsley family did not dare to insist on his stay, so they accompanied him outside.<br /> "Oh, how could we forget such an important matter? Amanda, what about the consultation fee?" The middle-aged gent inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the oversight. Please wait a moment." Amanda hurried back inside and soon returned with a bank card in hand.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, there's one million dollars in here."<br /> Without hesitation, Wesley accepted the bank card and boarded Mia's car.<br /> During the journey, Mia boldly looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, you've helped me immensely. Can I treat you to a meal? Don't decline in a hurry. It's not a fancy restaurant, but it will leave you wanting more. It's a small place on the street, with only eight plates of noodles served each day, each plate containing different ingredients."<br /> "I managed to secure a reservation. Are you interested?"<br /> Wesley thought, "Eight Plates of Noodles?<br /> "Ah, Aaron's restaurant. It has been a while since I visited those old friends."<br /> Wesley nodded. "Let's go then."<br /> The restaurant, Eight Plates of Noodles, was located on Chanxold Street near the Yeadeo First Central Hospital.<br /> The establishment was small, serving only eight plates of noodles each day at a price of 10 thousand dollars each. Vernoic's television culinary program had specifically covered this incident.<br /> Reservations were a must to secure a plate.<br /> The restaurant's owner had a mysterious background. While the specifics were unknown, a high-ranking noble from the capital of Vernoic, Kingsland, had caused a scene there once.<br /> He had attempted to force his way in without a reservation. Although this incident hadn't been reported, rumors suggested that a garbage truck had to be called to dispose of the intruder's remains, as he was too shattered to be removed by conventional means.<br /> Since then, no one dared to cause trouble.<br /> On their way, Mia introduced Wesley to the background story.<br /> "Mr. Turner, two plates of noodles." Mia called out once they arrived.<br /> Aaron Turner didn't respond but visibly paused upon seeing Wesley beside Mia.<br /> A faint smile appeared on his usually stoic face. Though the flesh on the face seemed stiff, it was indeed a smile. "Coming right up."<br /> Chapter 8 You Are Blushing<br /> Mia glanced at Aaron with a hint of surprise, thinking, "When does he become so warm and enthusiastic?<br /> His tone seemed a bit agitated earlier, didn't it?"<br /> Soon enough, Aaron brought two plates of noodles to the table. One steaming hot and the other devoid of any warmth.<br /> As Mia observed Aaron placing the plate without steam in front of Wesley, her expression changed slightly.<br /> It was a plate of instant noodles having soaked in cold water, with the seasoning barely dissolved.<br /> She felt a sense of panic. Mia had wanted to leave a good impression on Wesley, which was why she had chosen this place.<br /> However, Aaron had served such a plate of noodles.<br /> She dared not question Aaron. The type of noodles served here was not determined by the guests but by Aaron's mood.<br /> "This lass named Mia is quite something, living up to her name, and quite kind-hearted," Aaron remarked, looking at Wesley.<br /> "Get lost," Wesley retorted, using his fork to pick up the noodles and devouring them.<br /> Mia's face turned pale instantly. Disrespecting Aaron was akin to risking Wesley's life.<br /> To her astonishment, Aaron chuckled, tears welling up in his eyes.<br /> He wiped them away. "Alright, I'll leave you to your meal."<br /> Before departing, he gave Mia a thumbs-up. "Seize the opportunity."<br /> The eight plates of noodles symbolized the eight comrades who had faced life and hardships together.<br /> Wesley ate voraciously. Initially, they had only one pack of instant noodles to share among the eight of them, forcing them to divide it.<br /> Despite the circumstances, they devoured the noodles joyfully.<br /> Aaron had promised that once they survived, each one would have the most delicious plate of noodles.<br /> However, five of the eight had perished.<br /> Wesley had come dangerously close to life-threatening situations, but managed to cling to life.<br /> For him, the plate of noodles was not food but the bond of friendship that had shielded him from harm.<br /> "Do you... know each other?" Mia couldn't help but ask, her voice low and curious.<br /> "Some things are better left unknown," Wesley replied.<br /> Mia nodded in understanding, falling silent as they continued eating noodles. She couldn't help stealing glances at Wesley throughout the meal.<br /> This gent had piqued her curiosity even more.<br /> "Wesley, I see. No wonder you agreed to the divorce so readily. You've already found someone else outside."<br /> A sharp voice interrupted their meal.<br /> Taylor approached with a cold expression, accompanied by Henry.<br /> Taylor's mother was in the nearby hospital, and she had just picked up Frank, planning to buy some food when she unexpectedly saw Wesley.<br /> Of course, she saw Mia, too.<br /> Seeing Wesley dining with a lady more attractive than herself, so soon after the divorce felt like a dagger twisting in Taylor's heart.<br /> Her anger was uncontrollable.<br /> Wesley merely glanced at Taylor, disinterested in engaging with her.<br /> Taylor was stung by his indifferent gaze. She stepped forward, glaring at Wesley. "Are you not going to explain to me?"<br /> Mia looked at Taylor, silently cursing her as a foolish lady.<br /> Wesley continued eating his noodles, lowering his head. "Get lost. Don't disturb me, or I won't hesitate to hit you."<br /> "What did you say?" Henry stepped forward, enraged. "Wesley, try laying a hand on her! Is that all you're capable of? Laying hands on ladies?"<br /> "No wonder Taylor looks down on you. You're truly disgusting trash. Apologize to Taylor now, or else you'll regret coming into this world."<br /> "And how will he regret it? Tell me." Aaron emerged, carrying a cleaver, smiling as he faced Henry and Taylor.<br /> "Mr. Turner, we dare not cause trouble in your place, but this guy is just..."<br /> Henry attempted to speak but was cut off as Aaron's cleaver struck his face, sending him sprawling to the ground.<br /> "Mr. Turner, sorry, we'll leave now." Taylor hastily helped Henry up and hurriedly left.<br /> These two individuals were fortunate to know the legendary story behind Eight Plates of Noodles and had successfully made reservations to dine here multiple times.<br /> Having distanced themselves a bit, Henry covered his face and pointed at Wesley. "Wesley, we have some unfinished business. If you're smart, come over here now and apologize."<br /> "Wesley, I've seen through you as well. I never expected that for the past five years, you've been using my money to keep a lady on the side. We'll settle the score slowly."<br /> As the two noticed Aaron glancing their way, they quickly shut their mouths and hurriedly left.<br /> Once they were out of eyeshots, Aaron fixed his gaze on Wesley. "Your dad doesn't know about your divorce yet, does he?"<br /> "What difference would it make if he did?" Wesley stretched lazily. "I've fulfilled my promise. I've given enough."<br /> Aaron nodded in acknowledgment without saying anything further.<br /> This piqued Mia's curiosity even more. "Is it like what the novels depict? Did you marry Taylor due to some special event?"<br /> Seeing Wesley's glare, Mia lowered her head to focus on her noodles. "I won't ask anymore."<br /> "For the past five years, you've been staying in the stairwell. It has been hard for you, but at least you're still untouched," Aaron remarked before swiftly departing.<br /> Mia stared at Wesley in disbelief, realizing that Aaron's words were meant for her ears.<br /> "What are you staring at? Eat your noodles," Wesley said. Mia chuckled.<br /> "Why are you laughing?"<br /> "You're blushing."<br /> "Nonsense," Wesley retorted.<br /> Unable to contain herself, Mia burst into laughter. She had tried to hold it in, but seeing Wesley's flushed face made it impossible.<br /> Ten minutes later, Mia left on her own accord, sensing that Wesley had something to discuss with Aaron.<br /> Inside Aaron's small shop, Wesley opened a bottle of wine. "Still single?"<br /> "I look too old, no one's interested," Aaron replied, opening a bottle of liquor as well.<br /> "Then why are you meddling in my love lives?"<br /> "Leave a child behind, even if you pass away, someone will remember you." Aaron took a sip. "I've actually investigated this Mia."<br /> "You investigated her?"<br /> "I knew you'd get a divorce. I've been keeping an eye on the pretty ones. This girl had done a lot of good deeds before coming to Yeadeo. Once, she saved three people in a flood and nearly lost her life. Opportunities are rare. You have to seize them."<br /> "When you've figured things out and are ready to marry, then we can discuss our affairs. That's the condition." Wesley downed the entire bottle of liquor.<br /> "Otherwise, don't bother meddling. We're on a one-way path and can't drag others along."<br /> "You..." Aaron sighed as he watched Wesley's retreating figure.<br /> On the road leading to the Feidgeuo Manor, Taylor stood gazing blankly at the entrance not far away.<br /> Twice in one day, she had come here.<br /> The first time was to pick up Frank, and this time was because Frank had lost his expensive watch. She and Henry hadn't even had a meal, rushing over to find it.<br /> The first time, she had come in a hurry when Frank was injured and left quickly as well.<br /> But this time, as Taylor looked at the entrance ahead, an infinite longing sprouted within her.<br /> "If only... I could live here, how wonderful that would be."<br /> Henry looked at her. "One day, I'll definitely build an estate more magnificent than this, and you'll be the lady of the house."<br /> As they conversed, a taxi drove by, stopping at the entrance. The person who got out of the taxi left Taylor stunned.<br /> She rubbed her eyes.	Adoread	147	https://facebook.com/61556400142540	LEARN_MORE	1713510000	View Edit Delete
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1666913	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727711	1734958298	695	976652183594988	3	8.0864714465225E+14	1713769200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	226177680578601	0	Adoread	120207756044660265	client.adoread.com	Learn more	NONE	image	🔥🔥🔥 Read More👉	Hottest novel👉👉👉	https://client.adoread.com/book/loading/page/adoread/19161308412?utm_campaign={{campaign.id}}&utm_content={{campaign.name}}		1713536884	2.261776805786E+14	Adoread	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437701264_456851220189074_3845705834667566214_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=m32RCif6CSYQ7kNvgEh6WRD&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAaQ8qSPC2BQr7wJRyisl9UvxfBByHqilSKMTrtE64bIw&oe=663A7EAC	person_profile	0	Adoread	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437535262_290944307391189_4921748547238139313_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KJXuaibgO0kQ7kNvgHDa6qd&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDw0eKdcS3s4OwGjY1O1nsmZkgcceCnEVIica48i0NHNg&oe=663A712A	0	3	"Wesley, are you trying to harm me? You useless piece of trash, can't even make a decent cup of coffee, can you?"<br /> Madison Blair lifted her coffee cup and splashed it directly onto Wesley Harrington's face.<br /> "What are you looking at, you spineless waste? Your name sounds so lofty? I might as well call you a waste."<br /> Glancing at the grotesque expression of his wife's mother, Wesley pulled out his phone to check the time.<br /> Exactly twelve o'clock. It had been five full years since he married Taylor Reed.<br /> The appointed time had come.<br /> He had fulfilled his promise, safeguarding the Reed family for five years, transforming them from a family living off fishing to one perceived as affluent by the common folk.<br /> Wiping the coffee off his face, he turned and walked away.<br /> "Where do you think you're going? Go fetch some more coffee," Madison shouted.<br /> "Madison, didn't you say this waste is obedient at home, doing whatever he's told? I don't think he's taking it lying down."<br /> Madison grew angrier. "Wesley, you stop right there. My family has fed and housed you. If you dare disobey, I'll have you thrown out!"<br /> Ignoring her, Wesley continued downstairs.<br /> "When Taylor comes back, I'll immediately have you two divorced. Do you hear me? Stay right there," Madison threatened, "I'll let you know your place today."<br /> Grabbing a golf club, Madison swiftly charged towards Wesley.<br /> Seeing Wesley heading downstairs, she swung the club viciously at his back.<br /> Without turning back, Wesley gently sidestepped.<br /> Losing her balance, Madison tumbled forward, rolling down the stairs with a series of thumps.<br /> "Ouch... it hurts, it hurts so much!"<br /> As Madison reached the ground floor, she wailed in pain and her sister immediately rushed to her.<br /> "Wesley, what have you done? How dare you hit my sister!" Madison's sister hurried down, checking on Madison's condition.<br /> Wesley remained silent, observing the scene.<br /> "Quick, call Taylor. Tell her to come back. Today, she must divorce this waste." Madison glared at Wesley. "How dare you hit me? Not only will I let Taylor divorce you, but I'll make sure you leave in disgrace."<br /> "Mum, what's wrong?" At that moment, a gent and a lady walked in.<br /> The lady was Taylor, Madison's daughter.<br /> She ran towards Madison.<br /> As Madison pointed at Wesley, tears streamed down her face. "Taylor, he hit me, he hit me! When you're not home, he changes his attitude, scolding and hitting me in the slightest displeasure. He even pushed me down the stairs just now. Alexis can testify."<br /> Madison's sister, Alexis Blair, chimed in. "Yes, Wesley, this trash not only hit your mother but also threatened to hit me too. We cannot tolerate such trash."<br /> "Taylor, I have been telling you to divorce him for years. You've been supporting him, treating him like a Lord at home, but he's an ungrateful wolf in sheep's clothing."<br /> Helping Madison up, Taylor noticed the scrapes on Madison's arms and legs, her expression turning cold.<br /> "Wesley, why did you hit my mother? You better give me an explanation."<br /> Wesley looked at Taylor, his wife.<br /> Five years had passed, and she had never shown him kindness.<br /> Taylor dressed impeccably, a paragon of a successful lady, with a face that could be deemed angelic, yet whether her heart was as angelic remained a mystery.<br /> Her figure, too, left countless men yearning.<br /> For five years, Wesley had thought he might develop feelings for this lady, but in reality, it never happened.<br /> "There are surveillance cameras in the house," Wesley stated calmly before descending the stairs into the hallway.<br /> Despite residing in a three-story villa, Wesley's living quarters were confined to the stairwell.<br /> He harbored no resentment towards this arrangement. It was merely a promise. It was just that Taylor failed to appreciate him.<br /> This home held little value that he wished to cling onto.<br /> Retrieving a wooden box from beneath his pillow, Wesley extracted two documents. Casting a fleeting glance at the modest abode he had called home for five years, Wesley smiled faintly.<br /> He thought, "Finally... I'm free."<br /> Pushing the door ajar, Wesley was met by Taylor's piercing gaze. "I've reviewed the surveillance footage. Yes, my mother intended to strike you, but even if she did, what difference would it make?"<br /> "She's a lady. How much could her blows hurt you? Why did you dodge?"<br /> "If you hadn't dodged, my mother wouldn't have tumbled down." Wesley stared at Taylor, unable to comprehend her thought process.<br /> He had no interest in engaging in these arguments. Handing over the two documents to Taylor, he remarked, "The divorce agreement. I've already signed it. Take a look. I'm leaving with nothing."<br /> "With your current influence, there's no need for you to visit the city hall. Someone will handle it for you, right?"<br /> Madison was taken aback. She swiftly snatched the divorce agreement, flipping through it hastily.<br /> The contents were indeed straightforward. Both parties willingly divorced, with Wesley relinquishing all claims and having already signed.<br /> In an instant, Madison's pain seemed to dissipate. "Taylor, sign it quickly. Sign it."<br /> Taylor was still in a daze.<br /> She pondered.<br /> "A divorce agreement? Wesley has already prepared a divorce agreement. On what grounds?"<br /> "What gives him the right to initiate a divorce? All these years, he's done nothing at home, lacking any ambition. Always practicing martial arts, what right does he have to seek a divorce?"<br /> "If anyone should initiate it, it should be me. Moreover, now that I'm back to discussing this matter with him. Could it be that word got out, and Wesley, for the sake of his pride, rushed to prepare a divorce agreement first?"<br /> "It must be so, but... No!"<br /> "Wanting to leave with nothing, is he retreating to advance? As the chairman of the Reed Group, how could I be served with a divorce?"<br /> "Hey Wesley, I never expected this from you. Have I not treated you well enough? You seek a divorce, attempting to turn your retreat into advance, aiming to embarrass me?"<br /> Taylor glared at Wesley. "I'm telling you, it's impossible."<br /> Snatching the divorce agreement, she tore it to shreds.<br /> "Taylor, what are you doing? Such a great opportunity. Why not just sign it and let him leave?" Madison grew anxious.<br /> "Mom, I do intend to divorce this trash, but the decision must come from me. I returned specifically to address this matter."<br /> With that, Taylor produced two documents. "Wesley, remember that it's me who's divorcing you. It's me who no longer wants you. Initially, out of marital obligation, I had considered offering you some compensation. Now, you don't even need to think about it. Sign the divorce agreement and leave my home."<br /> Wesley offered a faint smile as he accepted the divorce agreement.<br /> "What are you laughing at?" Taylor demanded angrily.<br /> Wesley's smile seemed to mock her, fueling her rage.<br /> Ignoring her entirely, Wesley signed the document and handed it over.<br /> "What are you laughing at? Answer me! Who do you think you are?" Taylor roared once more.<br /> Wesley glanced at her before striding towards the exit.<br /> "Stop!" The gent who had accompanied Taylor stepped forward, blocking Wesley's path. "Taylor asked you a question, and... Your previous attitude displeased me. Apologize to Taylor, or I'll have you leave in disgrace!"<br /> Chapter 2 The Unspoken Truth<br /> <br /> "Yes, let him leave in disgrace. He thought he could just hit me and walk away so easily," Madison joined in the commotion, also noticing the gent blocking Wesley's path.<br /> Madison had a keen interest in luxury goods, having frequented various high-end establishments over the years as the Reed family's living conditions improved. The gent was wearing an expensive watch and dressed head to toe in high-end luxury brands.<br /> Seeing Madison's gaze, the gent spoke. "Rest assured, today Wesley must pay the price."<br /> The gent introduced himself, looking at Wesley, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Henry Clark, the eldest son of the Clark family and the general manager of the Clark Group in the North District."<br /> "From now on, I will accompany Taylor on her journey of life, and I will not allow anyone to bully her."<br /> "My identity carries weight. You should understand that. Now, apologize to Taylor. Apologize! Did you hear me? Apologize!"<br /> Madison's eyes lit up. She hadn't expected the gent before her to hold such a high status. She continued to shout, "Did you hear that? Taylor will be with Mr. Clark from now on. Apologize now."<br /> Wesley glanced at Henry, then at Taylor. He thought, "Have they been together all along?" Wesley had wanted to ask but decided against it because there was no need. He simply gave them a glance and continued walking towards the exit.<br /> "Are you ignoring me?" Henry's face turned cold as he reached out to grab Wesley. Henry's hand froze mid-air as he received a solid hit.<br /> "Until I sign the divorce papers, Taylor and I are still wife and husband. I don't care to investigate whether you two had any intimate relationship during that time, but don't provoke me, or I won't hesitate to make you regret it." Wesley's gaze was icy, and as Henry met his eyes, he felt a twinge of fear and swallowed his words.<br /> Taylor was also stunned. She knew exactly what Wesley had been like over the past five years. There were many surveillance cameras in the house, and she would often check them.<br /> Even when Taylor wasn't home, despite how her family treated Wesley, he always obeyed without complaint, especially towards her. He had never raised his voice, no matter how they treated him.<br /> Today, not only did Wesley dodge when her mother struck, but he also initiated the divorce and now even struck Henry. <br /> Taylor was at a loss for words, thinking, "How could this cowardly gent dare? On what grounds does he dare?"<br /> This change was difficult for Taylor to accept as if she didn't truly understand this guy. The gent who used to be obedient to her, completely submissive, now revealed this side of himself. She watched Wesley walk away in a daze, feeling a strange discomfort in her heart.<br /> "Isn't he leaving with nothing?" Alexis pointed at the wooden box Wesley was holding. "What is he taking with him?"<br /> Madison also realized. Over the past five years, Wesley had always treasured this wooden box, carrying it with him wherever he went. She thought there must be something valuable inside.<br /> Realizing this, Madison hurriedly followed. "Wesley, stop right there, leave the wooden box."<br /> Wesley paused, glanced at Madison, and said, "This is my personal belonging."<br /> "Nonsense, what personal belonging could you possibly have after marrying into the Reed family? Everything you've eaten, worn, and lived in over the years has been provided by the Reed family. Put it down."<br /> As she spoke, Madison reached out to grab the wooden box.<br /> "Ah..." A scream rang out as Madison quickly retracted her hand, a gash appearing on her palm, a crimson liquid dripping.<br /> The wooden box was now stained with the same crimson liquid, trembling lightly in Wesley's hand.<br /> "It's not the right time yet, the day you thirst for this crimson liquid will come," Wesley murmured softly, patting the box before turning to continue his stride towards the exit.<br /> "Monster! A monster!" Madison screamed, causing Taylor and the others to rush out. Seeing the wound in Madison's hand, Taylor was filled with rage.<br /> "Wesley, aren't you going to say something?" Wesley halted once more, contemplating before meeting Taylor's gaze.<br /> "Just stay out of my way from now on. Consider this a warning to you."<br /> "Taylor, that wooden box of his has a mechanism. It must hold something valuable! We can't let him take it with him," Madison, enduring the pain, reminded them.<br /> "Mom, your injury is important. We'll deal with him later. Let me take you to the hospital first." Taylor comforted Madison before calling out to the retreating Wesley.<br /> "Our marriage is over! Yet, you dared to hurt my mother! This won't be the end of it! I will make you regret it!" Ignoring her, Wesley continued walking out.<br /> "Rest assured, I promise he won't see the light of day tomorrow." Henry stepped forward to console. "Let's focus on getting your wound treated first."<br /> "I want him to regret ever existing in this world, to apologize to me in repentance," Madison roared.<br /> "Mom, trust me, I will make him do just that." Taylor looked at Madison with a mix of pity and determination. "Let's go to the hospital first."<br /> In the villa area, Wesley halted, his voice cold. "Get out."<br /> An elderly gent leaped down from a tree, appearing to be in his seventies, yet landing silently from a height of around ten feet.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, your father wants you to come home and take charge."<br /> "He stopped being my father five years ago. He's my enemy."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you misunderstood your father. He had his reasons back then. I swear in my life, once you know the truth, you will forgive him."<br /> "Huh!" Wesley smirked coldly, saying, "I nearly passed away back then. Is that also a misunderstanding?"<br /> The old gent pleaded, "Mr. Harrington, this situation is truly not as you perceive it."<br /> Wesley didn't engage further with the old guy. The events of that year were etched in his memory forever. He was the one who had been abandoned. If not for that incident, why would he have stayed with the Reed family for five years?<br /> Watching Wesley walk away, the old gent had tears silently streaming down his face. "Mr. Harrington, I truly... I truly can't bring myself to speak the truth, but you have misunderstood your father. He also bears burdens and endures pains beyond what an ordinary person can handle."<br /> As Wesley's figure disappeared, the old gent stood up, hesitated for a moment, then dialed a number on his phone.<br /> "Mr. Harrington is now divorced. I've given you the news firsthand. If your daughter is truly together with Mr. Harrington, you must fulfill the promise and let her persuade Mr. Harrington to come home."<br /> After hanging up, a middle-aged gent in a luxurious estate jumped up excitedly. Calming himself, he immediately made another call. "My dear, you're at Yeadeo, right?<br /> "Go find Wesley now. Don't mention the engagement for now. Use every means to get close to him, make him fall in love with you."<br /> "Dad, I don't have time."<br /> "No matter what you are busy with, you must go find Wesley now. No matter what reason you approach him, you must leave a good impression the first time."<br /> "Dad, I'm in trouble right now. If I don't handle it well, I might be good as gone. I have to deal with it immediately. I'm hanging up."<br /> Chapter 3 You're Nothing<br /> The middle-aged gent's voice lowered significantly. "Is there a big incident happening? You didn't tell me? What happened?"<br /> "Quinn Kingsley from Yeadeo, Mr. Kingsley, used our product and now has one foot on the grave. If something really happens to him..."<br /> "You mean Quinn, the uncontested leader of Yeadeo?"<br /> "Yes."<br /> "In that case, you should go find Wesley. Trust me, in this world, there is no problem that Wesley can't solve. As long as he's willing to help, you'll be fine. Listen to me, go find Wesley immediately."<br /> The lady fell silent for a moment before saying, "Okay."<br /> At Yeadeo Harbor, a gent with a large flaxen chain and a watch, sporting a crew cut, hurriedly disembarked, accompanied by a dozen gentlemen.<br /> "Mr. Reed, wherever that trash is, we will find him and tear him apart."<br /> "Yes, that guy dared to harm your mother. We'll make sure he pays for it."<br /> Frank Reed's face turned cold. "Wesley, you coward, thinking you can overturn the world? How dare you touch my mom? Just wait until I find you, you're finished."<br /> "We've found him. Wesley got into a taxi, and our boys followed him."<br /> "Let's go!" Frank waved his hand, leading dozens of men who boarded the car with harpoons, steel pipes, and other weapons.<br /> Inside the taxi, Wesley gazed at the scenery outside, feeling a strange sense of tranquility.<br /> He thought to himself, "I never imagined that while I was secretly paving the way for the Reed family, Taylor, after progressing so rapidly, would start looking down on me more and more."<br /> "Those ladies who know my true identity, which one of them isn't trying to throw themselves at me? Ladies like that don't interest me."<br /> "Being an ordinary gent is truly difficult," Wesley murmured, smiling faintly and deciding not to dwell on these matters anymore. He had important things to attend to and no time to waste on personal affairs.<br /> "Young lad, are you going to Feidgeuo Manor for a job interview?" The driver, curious about Wesley's destination, inquired.<br /> Feidgeuo Manor was Yeadeo's most mysterious private area. Originally a villa area, it was bought at a huge cost five years ago and completely renovated. It was said to have cost a trillion dollars. The former villa area was now Feidgeuo Manor.<br /> "That's my home," Wesley replied nonchalantly.<br /> The driver was taken aback by this revelation, silently cursing Wesley for bragging. After a couple of minutes, the driver regained his composure. "It seems like you and I both prefer to keep a low profile. My car usually gathers dust at home, so I occasionally drive a taxi to experience life."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "My car has been driven by my assistant for the past few years, so it's not gathering dust."<br /> "Haha..." The driver laughed. "We should get together sometime and see whose car is more impressive."<br /> "Sure, whenever we have the time."<br /> As they chatted, the vehicle soon arrived near Feidgeuo Manor, where the massive head of the Feidgeuo Peak protruded, creating a unique landscape in Yeadeo.<br /> The driver asked with a smile, "Since you're the owner here, it's fine if I drive in, right?"<br /> "Of course," Wesley replied.<br /> As soon as Wesley spoke, several cars caught up from behind.<br /> The cars surrounded the one Wesley was in, with the front vehicles braking to force the car to a stop.<br /> When numerous people descended from cars wielding harpoons and steel pipes, the driver's face paled.<br /> Frank and his group got out of the cars, instantly closing in, and without hesitation, started attacking, the steel pipes and harpoons thudding against the car.<br /> Frank's henchman yanked open the door of Wesley's car, poised to stab Wesley with a harpoon, but Wesley swiftly exited the vehicle.<br /> With a firm step on the ground, he launched a swift hit.<br /> A muffled sound echoed as the henchman was hit away.<br /> "What are you looking at?" Frank noticed his henchmen were all staring at him. "All of you, attack together and take him down!"<br /> As he commanded, the henchmen Frank brought with him surged forward.<br /> The taxi driver, trembling, took out his phone to call the police, but Frank glared at him. "I am Frank Reed from Yeadeo Harbor. If you dare, go ahead and make that call."<br /> Frank, leveraging his sister Taylor's status, had been causing trouble in Yeadeo Harbor, and no one dared to provoke him.<br /> Upon hearing Frank's name, the driver hastily put away his phone. "Mr. Reed, I'll just check the time, you guys continue."<br /> "Huh!" Frank snorted coldly, casting his gaze towards the surrounded Wesley.<br /> The sounds of thuds continued to ring out incessantly. Because Wesley was completely surrounded, Frank was unable to see the situation inside clearly, but he could imagine it. After all, in Frank's mind, the henchmen under his command were not to be trifled with.<br /> "Hit him hard for me!"<br /> Another muffled sound and a figure flew out. At that moment, Frank finally saw the situation clearly, and his face turned pale.<br /> Frank knew that Wesley liked to practice martial arts, but he had never expected Wesley to be this skilled. It wasn't Wesley who had been beaten, but his own men by Wesley alone.<br /> Frantically, Frank turned and ran to retrieve a crossbow from the car.<br /> "Clear the way." Frank bellowed, aiming the crossbow at Wesley.<br /> "You scumbag, you think you can fight? Move one more time, and I'll end your life! Surrender!"<br /> Wesley, holding a wooden box, stared at Frank. Ignoring the crossbow in his hand, Wesley said, "Tell your henchmen to back off, or you'll all see the light from above!"<br /> "You're really good at pretending to be tough." Frank took two steps forward. "See the light? Move a muscle and see if I can end your life or not! If you don't have the guts, apologize now!"<br /> Wesley turned his head and looked at the approaching cars, with two expensive ones in the lead, two more in the rear, and another one in the middle.<br /> "Keep acting tough, and I'll put a hole in your head." Frank spoke while glancing at the five cars. "What, looking for help?"<br /> "Let me tell you, those who ride in these cars are not the kind of weaklings like you who rely on connections. With me here, in Yeadeo's social hierarchy, even those who ride in such cars wouldn't dare meddle in this matter. And let me make it clear, without my sister, you're nothing."<br /> Chapter 4 Is He Worthy?<br /> As Frank's words faded, the five cars came to a halt.<br /> A bodyguard opened the door of the one in the middle, revealing a dazzling pair of shining shoes catching everyone's eye.<br /> The shining shoe encased a beautiful foot. Above, the skirt's hem was adorned with lace.<br /> Then, like a fairy stepping out of a painting, she appeared before everyone's eyes.<br /> The lady was beautiful!<br /> Frank was mesmerized. Ever since the Reed family rose to prominence, he had been surrounded by ladies, but compared to the elegant lady before him, they were worlds apart.<br /> It wasn't just a difference in appearance but an incomparable gap in demeanor.<br /> The lady descending from the Maybach seemed like a celestial being untouched by mortal affairs.<br /> The embodiment of a fairy in the mundane world.<br /> She simply stood there after getting out of the car, perfectly embodying what it meant to be graceful and elegant.<br /> The lady glanced at Wesley, then at Frank.<br /> Frank grinned, saying, "May I have the honor of knowing the name of this esteemed lady? I am Frank..."<br /> The lady spoke calmly. "Disrespect Mr. Harrington, and you're done for."<br /> Her bodyguards, unfazed by Frank's crossbow, swiftly overwhelmed him, sending him crashing to the ground.<br /> The henchmen who had come with Frank, previously defeated by Wesley, now scrambled to their feet and fled in all directions.<br /> Who would dare provoke someone who could afford such a car?<br /> "My sister is Taylor Reed, the chairperson of Reed Group," Frank shouted, clutching his head.<br /> Ignoring him, one of the bodyguards dragged him to the roadside grass while another used a belt to tighten around Frank's neck, exerting pressure.<br /> "Enough, a lesson is all that's needed." Wesley spoke calmly, and only when the lady gestured did the bodyguards release Frank.<br /> Frank lay there, already unconscious.<br /> Wesley turned to the lady. "Who are you?"<br /> "I am Mia Roberts, the general manager of Vinver Business Alliance's Yeadeo branch." She looked at Wesley and continued, "Mr. Harrington, my father mentioned that you have miraculous healing skills and earnestly requested your assistance. A generous reward awaits."<br /> Wesley furrowed his brow slightly, thinking, "There are indeed people who recognize my abilities and status, yet I've rarely intervened in the past five years. Today, shortly after I divorced Taylor, she is here. Whose arrangement is this?"<br /> "Mr. Harrington, my father also mentioned that you are benevolent and has raised the banner of compassion among healers, serving as a role model and benchmark for all in the medical field."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "You have a way with words. Tell me the specifics."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, please get in the car first. I will explain in detail on the way."<br /> The phrase "compassionate healer" held significant weight for Wesley, who had saved countless lives from the brink of death.<br /> Without further ado, he got into the car.<br /> Inside, after Mia brewed coffee for Wesley, she began. "Vinver Business Alliance has a wide range of business operations, and I mainly oversee the health supplement sector, which has seen some success in recent years.<br /> "Recently, Quinn Kingsley started using our medicines, and now there's an accident."<br /> As she spoke, Mia kept her gaze fixed on Wesley.<br /> Quinn, the undisputed leader of Yeadeo, was a figure of immense influence.<br /> Upon hearing this name, Wesley showed no particular reaction. "If the city's leader faces issues with your products, it is indeed a concern. Let's go and see."<br /> With just a sentence, Wesley leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest.<br /> Mia was secretly alarmed, thinking, "He knows who Quinn is, yet he seems indifferent. Who is this Wesley, really? No wonder Dad has instructed me to find a way to win his favor." Mia's inner resistance toward Wesley quietly shifted.<br /> Wesley had piqued her curiosity.<br /> As the vehicle was moving, Wesley's phone rang.<br /> Wesley opened his eyes and took out his phone to see Taylor calling.<br /> Pressing the answer button, he asked, "What's the matter?"<br /> On the other end of the line, Taylor, driving towards Feidgeuo Manor, had a grim expression.<br /> She thought, "Has Wesley ever spoken to me in such a cold tone before? Is he really this heartless right after our divorce?"<br /> Already furious, she snapped. "Wesley, do you even consider yourself a human being?<br /> "Today, not only did you lay hands on my mother, but you also had someone attack my brother. Do you not remember our past at all?"<br /> Wesley calmly replied, "Do we have a past to remember?"<br /> "You truly are a heartless scumbag, just as my mother said. You are an ungrateful and vicious person I raised for five years. Even a pet would wag its tail at me!"<br /> Taylor wanted to continue her tirade, but the phone line had already turned busy.<br /> This only fueled her anger further.<br /> Just now, she had received a call from Frank's underlings, informing her that Wesley had sent people to attack Frank and even intended to end him.<br /> Taylor wanted to demand answers, but...<br /> As Taylor was clutching her fists, her gaze turned icy.<br /> After a moment, she picked up her phone again. "Wesley, you are so narrow-minded. You have no ambition. Any lady would steer clear of you."<br /> "Just because I dumped you, you are doing this on purpose to make me feel sick. Pretending to be aloof and seeking revenge? Do you even deserve it?"<br /> "In Yeadeo, squashing you would be as easy as squashing an ant. You're asking for it! If anything happens to my brother, I will make you wish you were ending!"<br /> Her furious voice message echoed in the car.<br /> Wesley chuckled and put away his phone.<br /> Beside him, Mia seemed contemplative. Before coming, she had already ordered a swift investigation into Wesley.<br /> She was curious, thinking, "How could someone valued by my father could be the one 'marrying into' the Reed family."<br /> Being tactful, Mia chose not to ask and pretended not to have heard.<br /> After about forty minutes, they arrived at the Kingsley Manor.<br /> The Kingsley family members, upon seeing Mia alight from the car, all wore grim expressions.<br /> Mia greeted them with a smile, "Everyone, this is Wesley Harrington, Mr. Harrington, the miraculous healer I specially invited to treat Mr. Kingsley."<br /> "Him? The gent who married into the Reed family?"<br /> "A miraculous healer? Is he even worthy? Are healers so worthless now?"<br /> "A useless gent who mooches off of the Reed family? How dare he call himself a miraculous healer? Truly a joke among all jokes."<br /> Chapter 5 Compassionate Healer<br /> Amanda Kingsley, Quinn's granddaughter, stared coldly at Wesley and Mia.<br /> This lady, dressed in a smart suit, also held significant fame in Yeadeo, overseeing the region's business activities, including investment attraction and various local business negotiations.<br /> Amanda had a favorable view of Taylor, who had risen swiftly in recent times, and they had interacted frequently.<br /> She was aware of Wesley's existence and had advised Taylor to part ways with him early on.<br /> But Amanda never imagined that Mia would bring someone like Wesley, a complete waste, and claim he was a miraculous healer.<br /> Glaring at Mia, she said, "Mia, once my grandfather is well, it's best for your Roberts family to leave Yeadeo."<br /> "As for you..." She glanced at Wesley. "I will advise Taylor to divorce you. You have deceived Taylor's feelings and now shamelessly made your way into my family. You are a despicable creature."<br /> After reprimanding Mia and Wesley, she turned to an elderly gent beside her, and her tone and attitude completely changed. "Mr. Phillips, sorry to trouble you. My grandfather is inside, please."<br /> Mia looked at the elderly gent, who was already in his twilight years, feeling deeply shocked.<br /> Scott Phillips, the 38th generation heir of the Healing Clinic, was now ninety-two years old.<br /> Renowned as a miraculous healer, he was a respected figure in the medical community of Yeadeo and even nationally.<br /> He no longer conducted consultations personally due to his old age. Mia had visited him specifically to pay her respects once she had arrived in Yeadeo but had not met Scott.<br /> She never expected Scott to appear in person. It was understandable, as Quinn held a prominent position in the city. Despite the profound influence of the Phillips family, they still had to show respect to Quinn.<br /> Mia looked at Wesley, feeling conflicted and thinking, "Dad has confidently claimed that Wesley has extraordinary abilities, but does he really?"<br /> She harbored doubts, but out of propriety, Mia spoke. "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the trouble."<br /> Wesley smiled, "It's fine. As long as the person can be healed."<br /> His open-mindedness impressed Mia.<br /> After about half an hour, Amanda emerged from the room. All eyes instantly turned towards her.<br /> It was evident that Amanda had wailed out, with traces of tears still visible.<br /> "Amanda, how is it?" A middle-aged gent anxiously asked her.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family who had rushed back also focused their attention on her.<br /> "Mr. Phillips said that there's little hope of recovery. He could only use acupuncture to wake grandfather for half an hour. When grandfather wakes up, let's all go in and see if he has any final instructions."<br /> Everyone was shocked.<br /> "How could this be?"<br /> "Is Mr. Phillips also helpless?"<br /> The members of the Kingsley family found it hard to accept this reality, especially since Quinn had always treated his juniors well.<br /> The thought of Quinn departing saddened some, and tears silently fell.<br /> Publicly, Quinn's status was the foundation of the Kingsley family's prominence in Yeadeo.<br /> If Quinn were to pass away, the Kingsley family would undoubtedly decline.<br /> The atmosphere within the Kingsley family was somber.<br /> Amanda looked at her family members, opened her mouth, but said nothing, silently turning back into the room.<br /> "Stop crying," A middle-aged gent said sternly, "Dad wouldn't want to see you all in tears. If he's really leaving, we mustn't let him worry about us. Pull yourselves together."<br /> After these words, the middle-aged gent also entered the room.<br /> The younger members of the Kingsley family wiped their tears vigorously, trying to force smiles, but in truth, they looked better at crying than pretending to be happy.<br /> Mia's spirit plummeted as she realized the gravity of the situation. Even if an ordinary person passed away from consuming health supplements, it spelled big trouble for those who sold them. And when the deceased happened to be Quinn, the stakes were even higher.<br /> She understood that it would be difficult for this branch to stay in Yeadeo, and even the headquarters might face repercussions.<br /> "Let's go in and have a look." Wesley glanced at Mia. "There might still be a chance."<br /> "Ah..." Mia stared at Wesley in surprise. Seeing him already heading towards the room, she quickly followed suit.<br /> Inside the room, the members of the Kingsley family stood around the mattress, maintaining a certain distance.<br /> Scott lit the alcohol lamp and took out the needles, his expression solemn.<br /> He looked at the members of the Kingsley family. "Think about what you want to say to Mr. Kingsley later. Once you're ready, let me know, and then I'll proceed with the acupuncture."<br /> As he said this, tears welled up in many eyes.<br /> "If you don't mind, let me take a look. I have a way." Wesley spoke up, drawing everyone's attention.<br /> Amanda's face darkened. "Who let you in? Get out!"<br /> "Mia, have you lost your mind? Tricked by this trash and actually brought him here as a miracle healer. Get out with him! I'll settle the score with you in a couple of days."<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, at a loss for words.<br /> "Even Mr. Phillips is unable to reverse the situation. What use are you? Get out." Another younger member of the Kingsley family angrily rebuked.<br /> The middle-aged gent added, "We're in no mood right now. You better leave immediately."<br /> "I understand your narrow-mindedness," Wesley continued, "But as a healer, once I see a patient, I cannot stand by and watch him draw his last breath."<br /> "Wesley, you're quite the charlatan. Do you really want to be gone right now?" Amanda's voice was filled with anger.<br /> "Amanda, let me say a few words," Scott interjected, and Amanda fell silent.<br /> Looking at Wesley, Scott began. "Young lad, at my age, I've seen a lot and have a broad perspective. Today, however, I find it hard to remain indifferent. I practiced medicine from the age of sixteen until I stopped seeing patients for a total of seventy years."<br /> "I've saved countless patients from various illnesses. I never easily declare a patient's fate, nor do I believe I have the right to do so."<br /> "But from your recent remarks, it seems like you're accusing me of such actions. Young people wanting to make a name for themselves by stepping on the shoulders of their predecessors, I can understand."<br /> "But this kind of behavior displeases me."<br /> "My displeasure, what does it mean to you? Do you understand?"<br /> "Even if you are a healer, your career will be ruined because of this."<br /> Chapter 6 Hand of Hell<br /> In the face of Scott's veiled threats, Wesley simply smiled and brushed them off.<br /> Looking at Scott, he asked, "I've always focused on the issue at hand rather than attacking individuals. I have a few questions for you. If you can't administer the needles, how long do you think Quinn can hold on?"<br /> "Seven days, but he will remain unconscious," Scott replied bluntly.<br /> "Then let me ask you this, is there anyone in the world with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "Outrageous," Amanda coldly interjected, "Mr. Phillips is unparalleled in his medical expertise."<br /> Scott glanced at Amanda. "Amanda, let me handle this question."<br /> Continuing to address Wesley, he said, "I don't underestimate myself, nor do I overestimate. There are countless talented individuals in the world, like stars in the sky. I may not dare claim to be the best in medical skills, but those who surpass me are few."<br /> "That means there are some," Wesley calmly remarked, causing Scott's expression to shift slightly, "Indeed, there are."<br /> "Then let me ask you this. Do you think within seven days, the Kingsley family won't find someone with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "If they do find someone, do you believe there is an illness that you cannot cure, but this person can?"<br /> Wesley's questions were sharp and resounding.<br /> Scott's face changed once more as he was rendered speechless.<br /> "Even if there is, that person will never be you." Amanda's face turned icy. "Now get out. Don't spout your eloquence here. Your deceitful behavior is repulsive."<br /> "Your understanding of me is merely hearsay, isn't it?" Wesley retorted, his gaze mocking Amanda, "Has your background and education taught you such arrogance and prejudice?"<br /> "Arrogance?" Amanda's face grew colder as she disdainfully looked at Wesley. "Prejudice?<br /> "Did I say something wrong just now? You are nothing but stagnant waste, a parasite living off others. If it weren't for Taylor, you would have starved on the streets long ago."<br /> "Relying on sweet words, deceiving Taylor. She, with her kind heart, can't bear to divorce you, but don't push your luck. If it weren't for Taylor's sake, you would have been sent out long ago."<br /> Scott interrupted Amanda, "Amanda, although I find this lad a bit annoying, what he said does hold some truth. There are indeed individuals with better medical skills than me. Your grandfather can hold on for seven days. Try reaching out to see if someone can come over. I'll help you make connections."<br /> "If it really doesn't work out after seven days, I'll administer the needles to your grandfather. However, at that point, I can only buy you three minutes."<br /> As soon as Scott spoke, the faces of the Kingsley family members grew even more solemn. True healers were rare and not easily summoned.<br /> While the Kingsley family had connections in Yeadeo, their influence waned outside of it.<br /> "Mr. Phillips, please administer the needles. Life has its ups and downs, and we understand that. Just buy my father a bit more time." The middle-aged gent spoke up.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family nodded in agreement.<br /> Amanda looked at Scott. "Mr. Phillips, please."<br /> "In that case, please have everyone unrelated leave. I need silence," Scott calmly stated.<br /> Amanda glared at Wesley, her eyes speaking volumes without a word.<br /> The unrelated individuals were, naturally, Wesley and Mia.<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, intending to leave, but she suddenly hesitated.<br /> Instead of leaving, Wesley moved forward.<br /> "What are you doing?" A young member of the Kingsley family stepped forward with a stern expression, pushing Wesley.<br /> In one swift motion, Wesley executed a clean shoulder throw, toppling the young gent to the ground, his own expression turning cold.<br /> "A bunch of fools! If it weren't for my teacher's teachings about not turning a blind eye to those in need, I wouldn't bother with you ignorant lot," Wesley remarked with disdain.<br /> As Wesley effortlessly took down one individual from the Kingsley family, the others seemed slow to react.<br /> By the time they realized what was happening, Wesley had already picked up the needle next to Scott and casually flicked his wrist.<br /> The needle flew out of his hand, piercing Quinn's temple, followed by a second needle, a third needle, and so on.<br /> "What are you doing? Stop!" Amanda's voice rose in urgency, echoed by the rest of the Kingsley family members who rushed forward to restrain Wesley.<br /> "Stay back, everyone. Wait." Scott suddenly stood up, blocking the others. "Let him try."<br /> Amanda and the others were left dumbfounded, thinking, "What does this mean?"<br /> Despite their confusion, they heeded Scott's words.<br /> After Scott stopped the members of the Kingsley family, he fixed his gaze on Wesley.<br /> Wesley proceeded to use eighteen needles in succession, symbolizing the levels of pain.<br /> Even if someone had descended into the depths of hell, they must be brought back.<br /> The final needle, also piercing a vital point, caused Quinn's body to tremble suddenly, resonating with the previous eighteen needles.<br /> Scott's eyes widened, his body trembling slightly. His reaction left Amanda and the others even more puzzled, but none dared to interrupt.<br /> Moments later, Wesley placed a palm on Quinn's chest, causing all eighteen needles to be shaken off. When all the needles landed on the ground, the part of the skin where the needles had pierced turned dark.<br /> Wesley then dragged Quinn to the edge of the mattress, flipped him over with his head facing downwards, and gave him a firm pat on the back.<br /> Quinn spat out a mouthful of black liquid. When Wesley flipped him back to lie flat, his complexion had regained some color.<br /> "The Hand of Darkness... It's the Hand of Darkness!" Scott exclaimed with excitement, his body quivering, "It's the Hand that descends into the dark world, snatching people from the hands of the Evil!"<br /> "You do have some knowledge, recognizing the Hand of Darkness." Wesley glanced at Scott.<br /> Scott's gaze towards Wesley had undergone a drastic change. He respectfully clasped his hands together.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thirty years ago, I had the honor of attending a teaching conference held by Mr. Vanderbilt. I saw the Hand of Darkness, but my limited aptitude only allowed me to grasp the basics."<br /> "I have been blind and ignorant. I apologize for my earlier offenses. Please forgive me, Mr. Harrington."<br /> The Mr. Vanderbilt Scott referred to was Wesley's teacher, Ulysses Vanderbilt. He generously imparted his skills to others, but the ability to learn depended on one's innate talent.<br /> In this world, few could learn Ulysses' skills.<br /> Scott had been fortunate to receive guidance from Ulysses, which had elevated his medical skills. However, the Hand of Darkness, a miraculous ability, was beyond his comprehension.<br /> Wesley smiled faintly, "Your actions earlier are understandable. I appreciate your words."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you must be an exceptional disciple of Mr. Vanderbilt, possessing unparalleled magnanimity. Impressive," Scott continued.<br /> "Enough with the flattery at your age."<br /> "You are mistaken, Mr. Harrington. Every word I speak is sincere."<br /> Mia, Amanda, and the others stood bewildered by the unfolding situation.<br /> "Mr. Phillips... he... he..." Amanda's words faltered.<br /> Scott turned to the members of the Kingsley family. "Meeting Mr. Harrington was Quinn's luck. His symptoms have been cured by Mr. Harrington. With a few days of rest, he will be fine."<br /> The waste Taylor had previously said was called Mr. Harrington by Scott!<br /> Recalling their previous attitudes, Amanda hurriedly apologized, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> The members of the Kingsley family all apologized in unison, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> Chapter 7 Eight Plates of Noodles<br /> With a faint smile, Wesley remarked, "As family members of a patient, your actions earlier are understandable. There's no need for such formality."<br /> Amanda's perplexity deepened as she thought, "Where is the cowardly waste that Taylor described? This display of magnanimity and breadth is far from it."<br /> Mia, too, felt a shiver of realization, thinking, "No wonder Dad has insisted on my proximity to Wesley.<br /> This guy..."<br /> She gazed at Wesley, her curiosity piqued, a sense of exploration stirring within her.<br /> "Mia has brought you here, Mr. Harrington, to cure my grandfather. The Kingsley family will never forget this act. However, considering that my grandfather's ailment stemmed from the health supplements produced by the Vinver Business Alliance, we will be conducting an investigation into it."<br /> Amanda continued, looking at Wesley, "What do you think... of this approach?"<br /> It was Mia who had invited Wesley, so Amanda had grown wiser, refraining from asking for a direct punishment of the Vinver Business Alliance.<br /> As Mia heard Amanda's words, her heart skipped a beat, realizing trouble was brewing.<br /> "On the way here, Ms. Roberts briefed me on the situation. You conducted experiments on mice, correct?"<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes, the health supplements we received were exclusively provided by the Roberts family. There were no similar cases on the market, so we used mice for testing.<br /> "All the mice that ingested this supplement were gone."<br /> She looked at Mia and added, her voice turned colder. "Before the experiment, I specifically contacted Mia to inquire about the testing methods during the development phase, which involved mice."<br /> "There have been individuals eyeing my grandfather's position, some even wishing for his demise. I never imagined that the Vinver Business Alliance, which I attracted for investment, would become a weapon in someone else's hands."<br /> "Do you have any of the remaining medicine?" Wesley inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes."<br /> "Bring some over."<br /> Immediately, someone fetched the medicine. After it was brought to him, Wesley took out a supplement and swallowed it directly.<br /> This scene left Amanda and the others dumbfounded.<br /> Scott, too, was bewildered. "Mr. Harrington, what are you doing?"<br /> Wesley smiled, "Just proving that this medicine is not toxic."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thank you," Mia thanked sincerely, feeling like sobbing at that moment.<br /> Amanda, with a puzzled expression, looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, are you suggesting that my grandfather's condition wasn't caused by the Vinver Business Alliance's medicine? What about the mice?"<br /> The rest were equally puzzled.<br /> "Yes, but not entirely," Wesley said, leaving everyone even more bewildered.<br /> Mia's emotions were like a rollercoaster ride, from relief to immediate tension.<br /> "This medicine itself is not toxic, but when taken with another substance made from a certain plant, it results in Quinn's condition. The mice would die immediately, while humans could endure a few more days."<br /> Wesley continued to explain, "The plant used in this concoction is originally meant for crafting slow-acting toxins, not for human consumption."<br /> Looking at Amanda, Wesley said, "During this period, whoever had access to your grandfather and the mice will better understand why these events occurred."<br /> The gaze of members of the Kingsley family immediately focused on a lady.<br /> Amanda, somewhat incredulous, looked at her. "Can you offer an explanation?"<br /> The lady was the wife of Amanda's deceased brother. She found it hard to accept, as did the rest of the Kingsley family.<br /> This lady had been named the exemplary lady who served her family well this year, not due to her connection with the Kingsley family but because she genuinely deserved it.<br /> "What do you mean? Amanda, what explanation do you want from me?"<br /> The lady stared at Amanda. "Am I the only one who had access to Grandfather and the mice? You, and you... and you, who didn't have access?"<br /> "You all claim to treat me as family. Since I married into the Kingsley family, I have worked diligently, contributing my share even if not acknowledged."<br /> "Amanda, it has been over a year since your brother passed, and I never once considered remarrying. Now, just because of his words, you demand an explanation from me?"<br /> Pointing at Wesley, the lady questioned, "Just because he accuses me of poisoning, you suspect me? Tell me, did I poison him?" The lady glared at Wesley.<br /> "I am merely analyzing the facts. As for concluding this case, it's not within my purview," Wesley addressed the members of the Kingsley family, saying, "You should conduct a thorough investigation into this matter.<br /> "I will write a prescription. Have Quinn take it on time, and he will recover in seven days."<br /> Amanda hurried to fetch paper and pen while Wesley prepared the prescription. Once done, he was ready to leave.<br /> Amanda said hurriedly, "Mr. Harrington, I've already made arrangements for lunch."<br /> "No need," Wesley smiled.<br /> The Kingsley family sought to build closer ties with Wesley, given his extraordinary medical skills. Wesley was well aware of this.<br /> Looking at Amanda and the others, Wesley remarked, "In the future, if you encounter any difficult medical cases that others cannot solve, seek me out. Remember, cases others cannot solve."<br /> The gaze of the Kingsley family members toward Wesley changed once again. Many renowned healers had eccentric personalities and were difficult to engage.<br /> They hadn't expected Wesley to possess such remarkable medical skills without any airs.<br /> As Wesley prepared to depart, the members of the Kingsley family did not dare to insist on his stay, so they accompanied him outside.<br /> "Oh, how could we forget such an important matter? Amanda, what about the consultation fee?" The middle-aged gent inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the oversight. Please wait a moment." Amanda hurried back inside and soon returned with a bank card in hand.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, there's one million dollars in here."<br /> Without hesitation, Wesley accepted the bank card and boarded Mia's car.<br /> During the journey, Mia boldly looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, you've helped me immensely. Can I treat you to a meal? Don't decline in a hurry. It's not a fancy restaurant, but it will leave you wanting more. It's a small place on the street, with only eight plates of noodles served each day, each plate containing different ingredients."<br /> "I managed to secure a reservation. Are you interested?"<br /> Wesley thought, "Eight Plates of Noodles?<br /> "Ah, Aaron's restaurant. It has been a while since I visited those old friends."<br /> Wesley nodded. "Let's go then."<br /> The restaurant, Eight Plates of Noodles, was located on Chanxold Street near the Yeadeo First Central Hospital.<br /> The establishment was small, serving only eight plates of noodles each day at a price of 10 thousand dollars each. Vernoic's television culinary program had specifically covered this incident.<br /> Reservations were a must to secure a plate.<br /> The restaurant's owner had a mysterious background. While the specifics were unknown, a high-ranking noble from the capital of Vernoic, Kingsland, had caused a scene there once.<br /> He had attempted to force his way in without a reservation. Although this incident hadn't been reported, rumors suggested that a garbage truck had to be called to dispose of the intruder's remains, as he was too shattered to be removed by conventional means.<br /> Since then, no one dared to cause trouble.<br /> On their way, Mia introduced Wesley to the background story.<br /> "Mr. Turner, two plates of noodles." Mia called out once they arrived.<br /> Aaron Turner didn't respond but visibly paused upon seeing Wesley beside Mia.<br /> A faint smile appeared on his usually stoic face. Though the flesh on the face seemed stiff, it was indeed a smile. "Coming right up."<br /> Chapter 8 You Are Blushing<br /> Mia glanced at Aaron with a hint of surprise, thinking, "When does he become so warm and enthusiastic?<br /> His tone seemed a bit agitated earlier, didn't it?"<br /> Soon enough, Aaron brought two plates of noodles to the table. One steaming hot and the other devoid of any warmth.<br /> As Mia observed Aaron placing the plate without steam in front of Wesley, her expression changed slightly.<br /> It was a plate of instant noodles having soaked in cold water, with the seasoning barely dissolved.<br /> She felt a sense of panic. Mia had wanted to leave a good impression on Wesley, which was why she had chosen this place.<br /> However, Aaron had served such a plate of noodles.<br /> She dared not question Aaron. The type of noodles served here was not determined by the guests but by Aaron's mood.<br /> "This lass named Mia is quite something, living up to her name, and quite kind-hearted," Aaron remarked, looking at Wesley.<br /> "Get lost," Wesley retorted, using his fork to pick up the noodles and devouring them.<br /> Mia's face turned pale instantly. Disrespecting Aaron was akin to risking Wesley's life.<br /> To her astonishment, Aaron chuckled, tears welling up in his eyes.<br /> He wiped them away. "Alright, I'll leave you to your meal."<br /> Before departing, he gave Mia a thumbs-up. "Seize the opportunity."<br /> The eight plates of noodles symbolized the eight comrades who had faced life and hardships together.<br /> Wesley ate voraciously. Initially, they had only one pack of instant noodles to share among the eight of them, forcing them to divide it.<br /> Despite the circumstances, they devoured the noodles joyfully.<br /> Aaron had promised that once they survived, each one would have the most delicious plate of noodles.<br /> However, five of the eight had perished.<br /> Wesley had come dangerously close to life-threatening situations, but managed to cling to life.<br /> For him, the plate of noodles was not food but the bond of friendship that had shielded him from harm.<br /> "Do you... know each other?" Mia couldn't help but ask, her voice low and curious.<br /> "Some things are better left unknown," Wesley replied.<br /> Mia nodded in understanding, falling silent as they continued eating noodles. She couldn't help stealing glances at Wesley throughout the meal.<br /> This gent had piqued her curiosity even more.<br /> "Wesley, I see. No wonder you agreed to the divorce so readily. You've already found someone else outside."<br /> A sharp voice interrupted their meal.<br /> Taylor approached with a cold expression, accompanied by Henry.<br /> Taylor's mother was in the nearby hospital, and she had just picked up Frank, planning to buy some food when she unexpectedly saw Wesley.<br /> Of course, she saw Mia, too.<br /> Seeing Wesley dining with a lady more attractive than herself, so soon after the divorce felt like a dagger twisting in Taylor's heart.<br /> Her anger was uncontrollable.<br /> Wesley merely glanced at Taylor, disinterested in engaging with her.<br /> Taylor was stung by his indifferent gaze. She stepped forward, glaring at Wesley. "Are you not going to explain to me?"<br /> Mia looked at Taylor, silently cursing her as a foolish lady.<br /> Wesley continued eating his noodles, lowering his head. "Get lost. Don't disturb me, or I won't hesitate to hit you."<br /> "What did you say?" Henry stepped forward, enraged. "Wesley, try laying a hand on her! Is that all you're capable of? Laying hands on ladies?"<br /> "No wonder Taylor looks down on you. You're truly disgusting trash. Apologize to Taylor now, or else you'll regret coming into this world."<br /> "And how will he regret it? Tell me." Aaron emerged, carrying a cleaver, smiling as he faced Henry and Taylor.<br /> "Mr. Turner, we dare not cause trouble in your place, but this guy is just..."<br /> Henry attempted to speak but was cut off as Aaron's cleaver struck his face, sending him sprawling to the ground.<br /> "Mr. Turner, sorry, we'll leave now." Taylor hastily helped Henry up and hurriedly left.<br /> These two individuals were fortunate to know the legendary story behind Eight Plates of Noodles and had successfully made reservations to dine here multiple times.<br /> Having distanced themselves a bit, Henry covered his face and pointed at Wesley. "Wesley, we have some unfinished business. If you're smart, come over here now and apologize."<br /> "Wesley, I've seen through you as well. I never expected that for the past five years, you've been using my money to keep a lady on the side. We'll settle the score slowly."<br /> As the two noticed Aaron glancing their way, they quickly shut their mouths and hurriedly left.<br /> Once they were out of eyeshots, Aaron fixed his gaze on Wesley. "Your dad doesn't know about your divorce yet, does he?"<br /> "What difference would it make if he did?" Wesley stretched lazily. "I've fulfilled my promise. I've given enough."<br /> Aaron nodded in acknowledgment without saying anything further.<br /> This piqued Mia's curiosity even more. "Is it like what the novels depict? Did you marry Taylor due to some special event?"<br /> Seeing Wesley's glare, Mia lowered her head to focus on her noodles. "I won't ask anymore."<br /> "For the past five years, you've been staying in the stairwell. It has been hard for you, but at least you're still untouched," Aaron remarked before swiftly departing.<br /> Mia stared at Wesley in disbelief, realizing that Aaron's words were meant for her ears.<br /> "What are you staring at? Eat your noodles," Wesley said. Mia chuckled.<br /> "Why are you laughing?"<br /> "You're blushing."<br /> "Nonsense," Wesley retorted.<br /> Unable to contain herself, Mia burst into laughter. She had tried to hold it in, but seeing Wesley's flushed face made it impossible.<br /> Ten minutes later, Mia left on her own accord, sensing that Wesley had something to discuss with Aaron.<br /> Inside Aaron's small shop, Wesley opened a bottle of wine. "Still single?"<br /> "I look too old, no one's interested," Aaron replied, opening a bottle of liquor as well.<br /> "Then why are you meddling in my love lives?"<br /> "Leave a child behind, even if you pass away, someone will remember you." Aaron took a sip. "I've actually investigated this Mia."<br /> "You investigated her?"<br /> "I knew you'd get a divorce. I've been keeping an eye on the pretty ones. This girl had done a lot of good deeds before coming to Yeadeo. Once, she saved three people in a flood and nearly lost her life. Opportunities are rare. You have to seize them."<br /> "When you've figured things out and are ready to marry, then we can discuss our affairs. That's the condition." Wesley downed the entire bottle of liquor.<br /> "Otherwise, don't bother meddling. We're on a one-way path and can't drag others along."<br /> "You..." Aaron sighed as he watched Wesley's retreating figure.<br /> On the road leading to the Feidgeuo Manor, Taylor stood gazing blankly at the entrance not far away.<br /> Twice in one day, she had come here.<br /> The first time was to pick up Frank, and this time was because Frank had lost his expensive watch. She and Henry hadn't even had a meal, rushing over to find it.<br /> The first time, she had come in a hurry when Frank was injured and left quickly as well.<br /> But this time, as Taylor looked at the entrance ahead, an infinite longing sprouted within her.<br /> "If only... I could live here, how wonderful that would be."<br /> Henry looked at her. "One day, I'll definitely build an estate more magnificent than this, and you'll be the lady of the house."<br /> As they conversed, a taxi drove by, stopping at the entrance. The person who got out of the taxi left Taylor stunned.<br /> She rubbed her eyes.	Adoread	147	https://facebook.com/61556400142540	LEARN_MORE	1713510000	View Edit Delete
1666914	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727711	1734958298	695	1101161394304868	3	7.7096681837594E+14	1713769200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	226177680578601	0	Adoread	120207756046900265	client.adoread.com	Learn more	NONE	image	🔥🔥🔥 Read More👉	Hottest novel👉👉👉	https://client.adoread.com/book/loading/page/adoread/19161308412?utm_campaign={{campaign.id}}&utm_content={{campaign.name}}		1713536892	2.261776805786E+14	Adoread	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437380570_277303198782256_1660543497212410805_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=o3372gvRlSsQ7kNvgGdRSsT&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDCmB4AfNHiY2bNl1jw6kDnLg42Tot1JHgUSLGtSV-WXw&oe=663A8D0D	person_profile	0	Adoread	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437546171_1573592796549945_2931549668649378373_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=VI-BtPIpHaYQ7kNvgEsTE_3&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCfCcMSLnczy1UyZGh44yvluCUaW4N_BHuqCMGlAbitww&oe=663A82C5	0	3	"Wesley, are you trying to harm me? You useless piece of trash, can't even make a decent cup of coffee, can you?"<br /> Madison Blair lifted her coffee cup and splashed it directly onto Wesley Harrington's face.<br /> "What are you looking at, you spineless waste? Your name sounds so lofty? I might as well call you a waste."<br /> Glancing at the grotesque expression of his wife's mother, Wesley pulled out his phone to check the time.<br /> Exactly twelve o'clock. It had been five full years since he married Taylor Reed.<br /> The appointed time had come.<br /> He had fulfilled his promise, safeguarding the Reed family for five years, transforming them from a family living off fishing to one perceived as affluent by the common folk.<br /> Wiping the coffee off his face, he turned and walked away.<br /> "Where do you think you're going? Go fetch some more coffee," Madison shouted.<br /> "Madison, didn't you say this waste is obedient at home, doing whatever he's told? I don't think he's taking it lying down."<br /> Madison grew angrier. "Wesley, you stop right there. My family has fed and housed you. If you dare disobey, I'll have you thrown out!"<br /> Ignoring her, Wesley continued downstairs.<br /> "When Taylor comes back, I'll immediately have you two divorced. Do you hear me? Stay right there," Madison threatened, "I'll let you know your place today."<br /> Grabbing a golf club, Madison swiftly charged towards Wesley.<br /> Seeing Wesley heading downstairs, she swung the club viciously at his back.<br /> Without turning back, Wesley gently sidestepped.<br /> Losing her balance, Madison tumbled forward, rolling down the stairs with a series of thumps.<br /> "Ouch... it hurts, it hurts so much!"<br /> As Madison reached the ground floor, she wailed in pain and her sister immediately rushed to her.<br /> "Wesley, what have you done? How dare you hit my sister!" Madison's sister hurried down, checking on Madison's condition.<br /> Wesley remained silent, observing the scene.<br /> "Quick, call Taylor. Tell her to come back. Today, she must divorce this waste." Madison glared at Wesley. "How dare you hit me? Not only will I let Taylor divorce you, but I'll make sure you leave in disgrace."<br /> "Mum, what's wrong?" At that moment, a gent and a lady walked in.<br /> The lady was Taylor, Madison's daughter.<br /> She ran towards Madison.<br /> As Madison pointed at Wesley, tears streamed down her face. "Taylor, he hit me, he hit me! When you're not home, he changes his attitude, scolding and hitting me in the slightest displeasure. He even pushed me down the stairs just now. Alexis can testify."<br /> Madison's sister, Alexis Blair, chimed in. "Yes, Wesley, this trash not only hit your mother but also threatened to hit me too. We cannot tolerate such trash."<br /> "Taylor, I have been telling you to divorce him for years. You've been supporting him, treating him like a Lord at home, but he's an ungrateful wolf in sheep's clothing."<br /> Helping Madison up, Taylor noticed the scrapes on Madison's arms and legs, her expression turning cold.<br /> "Wesley, why did you hit my mother? You better give me an explanation."<br /> Wesley looked at Taylor, his wife.<br /> Five years had passed, and she had never shown him kindness.<br /> Taylor dressed impeccably, a paragon of a successful lady, with a face that could be deemed angelic, yet whether her heart was as angelic remained a mystery.<br /> Her figure, too, left countless men yearning.<br /> For five years, Wesley had thought he might develop feelings for this lady, but in reality, it never happened.<br /> "There are surveillance cameras in the house," Wesley stated calmly before descending the stairs into the hallway.<br /> Despite residing in a three-story villa, Wesley's living quarters were confined to the stairwell.<br /> He harbored no resentment towards this arrangement. It was merely a promise. It was just that Taylor failed to appreciate him.<br /> This home held little value that he wished to cling onto.<br /> Retrieving a wooden box from beneath his pillow, Wesley extracted two documents. Casting a fleeting glance at the modest abode he had called home for five years, Wesley smiled faintly.<br /> He thought, "Finally... I'm free."<br /> Pushing the door ajar, Wesley was met by Taylor's piercing gaze. "I've reviewed the surveillance footage. Yes, my mother intended to strike you, but even if she did, what difference would it make?"<br /> "She's a lady. How much could her blows hurt you? Why did you dodge?"<br /> "If you hadn't dodged, my mother wouldn't have tumbled down." Wesley stared at Taylor, unable to comprehend her thought process.<br /> He had no interest in engaging in these arguments. Handing over the two documents to Taylor, he remarked, "The divorce agreement. I've already signed it. Take a look. I'm leaving with nothing."<br /> "With your current influence, there's no need for you to visit the city hall. Someone will handle it for you, right?"<br /> Madison was taken aback. She swiftly snatched the divorce agreement, flipping through it hastily.<br /> The contents were indeed straightforward. Both parties willingly divorced, with Wesley relinquishing all claims and having already signed.<br /> In an instant, Madison's pain seemed to dissipate. "Taylor, sign it quickly. Sign it."<br /> Taylor was still in a daze.<br /> She pondered.<br /> "A divorce agreement? Wesley has already prepared a divorce agreement. On what grounds?"<br /> "What gives him the right to initiate a divorce? All these years, he's done nothing at home, lacking any ambition. Always practicing martial arts, what right does he have to seek a divorce?"<br /> "If anyone should initiate it, it should be me. Moreover, now that I'm back to discussing this matter with him. Could it be that word got out, and Wesley, for the sake of his pride, rushed to prepare a divorce agreement first?"<br /> "It must be so, but... No!"<br /> "Wanting to leave with nothing, is he retreating to advance? As the chairman of the Reed Group, how could I be served with a divorce?"<br /> "Hey Wesley, I never expected this from you. Have I not treated you well enough? You seek a divorce, attempting to turn your retreat into advance, aiming to embarrass me?"<br /> Taylor glared at Wesley. "I'm telling you, it's impossible."<br /> Snatching the divorce agreement, she tore it to shreds.<br /> "Taylor, what are you doing? Such a great opportunity. Why not just sign it and let him leave?" Madison grew anxious.<br /> "Mom, I do intend to divorce this trash, but the decision must come from me. I returned specifically to address this matter."<br /> With that, Taylor produced two documents. "Wesley, remember that it's me who's divorcing you. It's me who no longer wants you. Initially, out of marital obligation, I had considered offering you some compensation. Now, you don't even need to think about it. Sign the divorce agreement and leave my home."<br /> Wesley offered a faint smile as he accepted the divorce agreement.<br /> "What are you laughing at?" Taylor demanded angrily.<br /> Wesley's smile seemed to mock her, fueling her rage.<br /> Ignoring her entirely, Wesley signed the document and handed it over.<br /> "What are you laughing at? Answer me! Who do you think you are?" Taylor roared once more.<br /> Wesley glanced at her before striding towards the exit.<br /> "Stop!" The gent who had accompanied Taylor stepped forward, blocking Wesley's path. "Taylor asked you a question, and... Your previous attitude displeased me. Apologize to Taylor, or I'll have you leave in disgrace!"<br /> Chapter 2 The Unspoken Truth<br /> <br /> "Yes, let him leave in disgrace. He thought he could just hit me and walk away so easily," Madison joined in the commotion, also noticing the gent blocking Wesley's path.<br /> Madison had a keen interest in luxury goods, having frequented various high-end establishments over the years as the Reed family's living conditions improved. The gent was wearing an expensive watch and dressed head to toe in high-end luxury brands.<br /> Seeing Madison's gaze, the gent spoke. "Rest assured, today Wesley must pay the price."<br /> The gent introduced himself, looking at Wesley, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Henry Clark, the eldest son of the Clark family and the general manager of the Clark Group in the North District."<br /> "From now on, I will accompany Taylor on her journey of life, and I will not allow anyone to bully her."<br /> "My identity carries weight. You should understand that. Now, apologize to Taylor. Apologize! Did you hear me? Apologize!"<br /> Madison's eyes lit up. She hadn't expected the gent before her to hold such a high status. She continued to shout, "Did you hear that? Taylor will be with Mr. Clark from now on. Apologize now."<br /> Wesley glanced at Henry, then at Taylor. He thought, "Have they been together all along?" Wesley had wanted to ask but decided against it because there was no need. He simply gave them a glance and continued walking towards the exit.<br /> "Are you ignoring me?" Henry's face turned cold as he reached out to grab Wesley. Henry's hand froze mid-air as he received a solid hit.<br /> "Until I sign the divorce papers, Taylor and I are still wife and husband. I don't care to investigate whether you two had any intimate relationship during that time, but don't provoke me, or I won't hesitate to make you regret it." Wesley's gaze was icy, and as Henry met his eyes, he felt a twinge of fear and swallowed his words.<br /> Taylor was also stunned. She knew exactly what Wesley had been like over the past five years. There were many surveillance cameras in the house, and she would often check them.<br /> Even when Taylor wasn't home, despite how her family treated Wesley, he always obeyed without complaint, especially towards her. He had never raised his voice, no matter how they treated him.<br /> Today, not only did Wesley dodge when her mother struck, but he also initiated the divorce and now even struck Henry. <br /> Taylor was at a loss for words, thinking, "How could this cowardly gent dare? On what grounds does he dare?"<br /> This change was difficult for Taylor to accept as if she didn't truly understand this guy. The gent who used to be obedient to her, completely submissive, now revealed this side of himself. She watched Wesley walk away in a daze, feeling a strange discomfort in her heart.<br /> "Isn't he leaving with nothing?" Alexis pointed at the wooden box Wesley was holding. "What is he taking with him?"<br /> Madison also realized. Over the past five years, Wesley had always treasured this wooden box, carrying it with him wherever he went. She thought there must be something valuable inside.<br /> Realizing this, Madison hurriedly followed. "Wesley, stop right there, leave the wooden box."<br /> Wesley paused, glanced at Madison, and said, "This is my personal belonging."<br /> "Nonsense, what personal belonging could you possibly have after marrying into the Reed family? Everything you've eaten, worn, and lived in over the years has been provided by the Reed family. Put it down."<br /> As she spoke, Madison reached out to grab the wooden box.<br /> "Ah..." A scream rang out as Madison quickly retracted her hand, a gash appearing on her palm, a crimson liquid dripping.<br /> The wooden box was now stained with the same crimson liquid, trembling lightly in Wesley's hand.<br /> "It's not the right time yet, the day you thirst for this crimson liquid will come," Wesley murmured softly, patting the box before turning to continue his stride towards the exit.<br /> "Monster! A monster!" Madison screamed, causing Taylor and the others to rush out. Seeing the wound in Madison's hand, Taylor was filled with rage.<br /> "Wesley, aren't you going to say something?" Wesley halted once more, contemplating before meeting Taylor's gaze.<br /> "Just stay out of my way from now on. Consider this a warning to you."<br /> "Taylor, that wooden box of his has a mechanism. It must hold something valuable! We can't let him take it with him," Madison, enduring the pain, reminded them.<br /> "Mom, your injury is important. We'll deal with him later. Let me take you to the hospital first." Taylor comforted Madison before calling out to the retreating Wesley.<br /> "Our marriage is over! Yet, you dared to hurt my mother! This won't be the end of it! I will make you regret it!" Ignoring her, Wesley continued walking out.<br /> "Rest assured, I promise he won't see the light of day tomorrow." Henry stepped forward to console. "Let's focus on getting your wound treated first."<br /> "I want him to regret ever existing in this world, to apologize to me in repentance," Madison roared.<br /> "Mom, trust me, I will make him do just that." Taylor looked at Madison with a mix of pity and determination. "Let's go to the hospital first."<br /> In the villa area, Wesley halted, his voice cold. "Get out."<br /> An elderly gent leaped down from a tree, appearing to be in his seventies, yet landing silently from a height of around ten feet.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, your father wants you to come home and take charge."<br /> "He stopped being my father five years ago. He's my enemy."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you misunderstood your father. He had his reasons back then. I swear in my life, once you know the truth, you will forgive him."<br /> "Huh!" Wesley smirked coldly, saying, "I nearly passed away back then. Is that also a misunderstanding?"<br /> The old gent pleaded, "Mr. Harrington, this situation is truly not as you perceive it."<br /> Wesley didn't engage further with the old guy. The events of that year were etched in his memory forever. He was the one who had been abandoned. If not for that incident, why would he have stayed with the Reed family for five years?<br /> Watching Wesley walk away, the old gent had tears silently streaming down his face. "Mr. Harrington, I truly... I truly can't bring myself to speak the truth, but you have misunderstood your father. He also bears burdens and endures pains beyond what an ordinary person can handle."<br /> As Wesley's figure disappeared, the old gent stood up, hesitated for a moment, then dialed a number on his phone.<br /> "Mr. Harrington is now divorced. I've given you the news firsthand. If your daughter is truly together with Mr. Harrington, you must fulfill the promise and let her persuade Mr. Harrington to come home."<br /> After hanging up, a middle-aged gent in a luxurious estate jumped up excitedly. Calming himself, he immediately made another call. "My dear, you're at Yeadeo, right?<br /> "Go find Wesley now. Don't mention the engagement for now. Use every means to get close to him, make him fall in love with you."<br /> "Dad, I don't have time."<br /> "No matter what you are busy with, you must go find Wesley now. No matter what reason you approach him, you must leave a good impression the first time."<br /> "Dad, I'm in trouble right now. If I don't handle it well, I might be good as gone. I have to deal with it immediately. I'm hanging up."<br /> Chapter 3 You're Nothing<br /> The middle-aged gent's voice lowered significantly. "Is there a big incident happening? You didn't tell me? What happened?"<br /> "Quinn Kingsley from Yeadeo, Mr. Kingsley, used our product and now has one foot on the grave. If something really happens to him..."<br /> "You mean Quinn, the uncontested leader of Yeadeo?"<br /> "Yes."<br /> "In that case, you should go find Wesley. Trust me, in this world, there is no problem that Wesley can't solve. As long as he's willing to help, you'll be fine. Listen to me, go find Wesley immediately."<br /> The lady fell silent for a moment before saying, "Okay."<br /> At Yeadeo Harbor, a gent with a large flaxen chain and a watch, sporting a crew cut, hurriedly disembarked, accompanied by a dozen gentlemen.<br /> "Mr. Reed, wherever that trash is, we will find him and tear him apart."<br /> "Yes, that guy dared to harm your mother. We'll make sure he pays for it."<br /> Frank Reed's face turned cold. "Wesley, you coward, thinking you can overturn the world? How dare you touch my mom? Just wait until I find you, you're finished."<br /> "We've found him. Wesley got into a taxi, and our boys followed him."<br /> "Let's go!" Frank waved his hand, leading dozens of men who boarded the car with harpoons, steel pipes, and other weapons.<br /> Inside the taxi, Wesley gazed at the scenery outside, feeling a strange sense of tranquility.<br /> He thought to himself, "I never imagined that while I was secretly paving the way for the Reed family, Taylor, after progressing so rapidly, would start looking down on me more and more."<br /> "Those ladies who know my true identity, which one of them isn't trying to throw themselves at me? Ladies like that don't interest me."<br /> "Being an ordinary gent is truly difficult," Wesley murmured, smiling faintly and deciding not to dwell on these matters anymore. He had important things to attend to and no time to waste on personal affairs.<br /> "Young lad, are you going to Feidgeuo Manor for a job interview?" The driver, curious about Wesley's destination, inquired.<br /> Feidgeuo Manor was Yeadeo's most mysterious private area. Originally a villa area, it was bought at a huge cost five years ago and completely renovated. It was said to have cost a trillion dollars. The former villa area was now Feidgeuo Manor.<br /> "That's my home," Wesley replied nonchalantly.<br /> The driver was taken aback by this revelation, silently cursing Wesley for bragging. After a couple of minutes, the driver regained his composure. "It seems like you and I both prefer to keep a low profile. My car usually gathers dust at home, so I occasionally drive a taxi to experience life."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "My car has been driven by my assistant for the past few years, so it's not gathering dust."<br /> "Haha..." The driver laughed. "We should get together sometime and see whose car is more impressive."<br /> "Sure, whenever we have the time."<br /> As they chatted, the vehicle soon arrived near Feidgeuo Manor, where the massive head of the Feidgeuo Peak protruded, creating a unique landscape in Yeadeo.<br /> The driver asked with a smile, "Since you're the owner here, it's fine if I drive in, right?"<br /> "Of course," Wesley replied.<br /> As soon as Wesley spoke, several cars caught up from behind.<br /> The cars surrounded the one Wesley was in, with the front vehicles braking to force the car to a stop.<br /> When numerous people descended from cars wielding harpoons and steel pipes, the driver's face paled.<br /> Frank and his group got out of the cars, instantly closing in, and without hesitation, started attacking, the steel pipes and harpoons thudding against the car.<br /> Frank's henchman yanked open the door of Wesley's car, poised to stab Wesley with a harpoon, but Wesley swiftly exited the vehicle.<br /> With a firm step on the ground, he launched a swift hit.<br /> A muffled sound echoed as the henchman was hit away.<br /> "What are you looking at?" Frank noticed his henchmen were all staring at him. "All of you, attack together and take him down!"<br /> As he commanded, the henchmen Frank brought with him surged forward.<br /> The taxi driver, trembling, took out his phone to call the police, but Frank glared at him. "I am Frank Reed from Yeadeo Harbor. If you dare, go ahead and make that call."<br /> Frank, leveraging his sister Taylor's status, had been causing trouble in Yeadeo Harbor, and no one dared to provoke him.<br /> Upon hearing Frank's name, the driver hastily put away his phone. "Mr. Reed, I'll just check the time, you guys continue."<br /> "Huh!" Frank snorted coldly, casting his gaze towards the surrounded Wesley.<br /> The sounds of thuds continued to ring out incessantly. Because Wesley was completely surrounded, Frank was unable to see the situation inside clearly, but he could imagine it. After all, in Frank's mind, the henchmen under his command were not to be trifled with.<br /> "Hit him hard for me!"<br /> Another muffled sound and a figure flew out. At that moment, Frank finally saw the situation clearly, and his face turned pale.<br /> Frank knew that Wesley liked to practice martial arts, but he had never expected Wesley to be this skilled. It wasn't Wesley who had been beaten, but his own men by Wesley alone.<br /> Frantically, Frank turned and ran to retrieve a crossbow from the car.<br /> "Clear the way." Frank bellowed, aiming the crossbow at Wesley.<br /> "You scumbag, you think you can fight? Move one more time, and I'll end your life! Surrender!"<br /> Wesley, holding a wooden box, stared at Frank. Ignoring the crossbow in his hand, Wesley said, "Tell your henchmen to back off, or you'll all see the light from above!"<br /> "You're really good at pretending to be tough." Frank took two steps forward. "See the light? Move a muscle and see if I can end your life or not! If you don't have the guts, apologize now!"<br /> Wesley turned his head and looked at the approaching cars, with two expensive ones in the lead, two more in the rear, and another one in the middle.<br /> "Keep acting tough, and I'll put a hole in your head." Frank spoke while glancing at the five cars. "What, looking for help?"<br /> "Let me tell you, those who ride in these cars are not the kind of weaklings like you who rely on connections. With me here, in Yeadeo's social hierarchy, even those who ride in such cars wouldn't dare meddle in this matter. And let me make it clear, without my sister, you're nothing."<br /> Chapter 4 Is He Worthy?<br /> As Frank's words faded, the five cars came to a halt.<br /> A bodyguard opened the door of the one in the middle, revealing a dazzling pair of shining shoes catching everyone's eye.<br /> The shining shoe encased a beautiful foot. Above, the skirt's hem was adorned with lace.<br /> Then, like a fairy stepping out of a painting, she appeared before everyone's eyes.<br /> The lady was beautiful!<br /> Frank was mesmerized. Ever since the Reed family rose to prominence, he had been surrounded by ladies, but compared to the elegant lady before him, they were worlds apart.<br /> It wasn't just a difference in appearance but an incomparable gap in demeanor.<br /> The lady descending from the Maybach seemed like a celestial being untouched by mortal affairs.<br /> The embodiment of a fairy in the mundane world.<br /> She simply stood there after getting out of the car, perfectly embodying what it meant to be graceful and elegant.<br /> The lady glanced at Wesley, then at Frank.<br /> Frank grinned, saying, "May I have the honor of knowing the name of this esteemed lady? I am Frank..."<br /> The lady spoke calmly. "Disrespect Mr. Harrington, and you're done for."<br /> Her bodyguards, unfazed by Frank's crossbow, swiftly overwhelmed him, sending him crashing to the ground.<br /> The henchmen who had come with Frank, previously defeated by Wesley, now scrambled to their feet and fled in all directions.<br /> Who would dare provoke someone who could afford such a car?<br /> "My sister is Taylor Reed, the chairperson of Reed Group," Frank shouted, clutching his head.<br /> Ignoring him, one of the bodyguards dragged him to the roadside grass while another used a belt to tighten around Frank's neck, exerting pressure.<br /> "Enough, a lesson is all that's needed." Wesley spoke calmly, and only when the lady gestured did the bodyguards release Frank.<br /> Frank lay there, already unconscious.<br /> Wesley turned to the lady. "Who are you?"<br /> "I am Mia Roberts, the general manager of Vinver Business Alliance's Yeadeo branch." She looked at Wesley and continued, "Mr. Harrington, my father mentioned that you have miraculous healing skills and earnestly requested your assistance. A generous reward awaits."<br /> Wesley furrowed his brow slightly, thinking, "There are indeed people who recognize my abilities and status, yet I've rarely intervened in the past five years. Today, shortly after I divorced Taylor, she is here. Whose arrangement is this?"<br /> "Mr. Harrington, my father also mentioned that you are benevolent and has raised the banner of compassion among healers, serving as a role model and benchmark for all in the medical field."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "You have a way with words. Tell me the specifics."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, please get in the car first. I will explain in detail on the way."<br /> The phrase "compassionate healer" held significant weight for Wesley, who had saved countless lives from the brink of death.<br /> Without further ado, he got into the car.<br /> Inside, after Mia brewed coffee for Wesley, she began. "Vinver Business Alliance has a wide range of business operations, and I mainly oversee the health supplement sector, which has seen some success in recent years.<br /> "Recently, Quinn Kingsley started using our medicines, and now there's an accident."<br /> As she spoke, Mia kept her gaze fixed on Wesley.<br /> Quinn, the undisputed leader of Yeadeo, was a figure of immense influence.<br /> Upon hearing this name, Wesley showed no particular reaction. "If the city's leader faces issues with your products, it is indeed a concern. Let's go and see."<br /> With just a sentence, Wesley leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest.<br /> Mia was secretly alarmed, thinking, "He knows who Quinn is, yet he seems indifferent. Who is this Wesley, really? No wonder Dad has instructed me to find a way to win his favor." Mia's inner resistance toward Wesley quietly shifted.<br /> Wesley had piqued her curiosity.<br /> As the vehicle was moving, Wesley's phone rang.<br /> Wesley opened his eyes and took out his phone to see Taylor calling.<br /> Pressing the answer button, he asked, "What's the matter?"<br /> On the other end of the line, Taylor, driving towards Feidgeuo Manor, had a grim expression.<br /> She thought, "Has Wesley ever spoken to me in such a cold tone before? Is he really this heartless right after our divorce?"<br /> Already furious, she snapped. "Wesley, do you even consider yourself a human being?<br /> "Today, not only did you lay hands on my mother, but you also had someone attack my brother. Do you not remember our past at all?"<br /> Wesley calmly replied, "Do we have a past to remember?"<br /> "You truly are a heartless scumbag, just as my mother said. You are an ungrateful and vicious person I raised for five years. Even a pet would wag its tail at me!"<br /> Taylor wanted to continue her tirade, but the phone line had already turned busy.<br /> This only fueled her anger further.<br /> Just now, she had received a call from Frank's underlings, informing her that Wesley had sent people to attack Frank and even intended to end him.<br /> Taylor wanted to demand answers, but...<br /> As Taylor was clutching her fists, her gaze turned icy.<br /> After a moment, she picked up her phone again. "Wesley, you are so narrow-minded. You have no ambition. Any lady would steer clear of you."<br /> "Just because I dumped you, you are doing this on purpose to make me feel sick. Pretending to be aloof and seeking revenge? Do you even deserve it?"<br /> "In Yeadeo, squashing you would be as easy as squashing an ant. You're asking for it! If anything happens to my brother, I will make you wish you were ending!"<br /> Her furious voice message echoed in the car.<br /> Wesley chuckled and put away his phone.<br /> Beside him, Mia seemed contemplative. Before coming, she had already ordered a swift investigation into Wesley.<br /> She was curious, thinking, "How could someone valued by my father could be the one 'marrying into' the Reed family."<br /> Being tactful, Mia chose not to ask and pretended not to have heard.<br /> After about forty minutes, they arrived at the Kingsley Manor.<br /> The Kingsley family members, upon seeing Mia alight from the car, all wore grim expressions.<br /> Mia greeted them with a smile, "Everyone, this is Wesley Harrington, Mr. Harrington, the miraculous healer I specially invited to treat Mr. Kingsley."<br /> "Him? The gent who married into the Reed family?"<br /> "A miraculous healer? Is he even worthy? Are healers so worthless now?"<br /> "A useless gent who mooches off of the Reed family? How dare he call himself a miraculous healer? Truly a joke among all jokes."<br /> Chapter 5 Compassionate Healer<br /> Amanda Kingsley, Quinn's granddaughter, stared coldly at Wesley and Mia.<br /> This lady, dressed in a smart suit, also held significant fame in Yeadeo, overseeing the region's business activities, including investment attraction and various local business negotiations.<br /> Amanda had a favorable view of Taylor, who had risen swiftly in recent times, and they had interacted frequently.<br /> She was aware of Wesley's existence and had advised Taylor to part ways with him early on.<br /> But Amanda never imagined that Mia would bring someone like Wesley, a complete waste, and claim he was a miraculous healer.<br /> Glaring at Mia, she said, "Mia, once my grandfather is well, it's best for your Roberts family to leave Yeadeo."<br /> "As for you..." She glanced at Wesley. "I will advise Taylor to divorce you. You have deceived Taylor's feelings and now shamelessly made your way into my family. You are a despicable creature."<br /> After reprimanding Mia and Wesley, she turned to an elderly gent beside her, and her tone and attitude completely changed. "Mr. Phillips, sorry to trouble you. My grandfather is inside, please."<br /> Mia looked at the elderly gent, who was already in his twilight years, feeling deeply shocked.<br /> Scott Phillips, the 38th generation heir of the Healing Clinic, was now ninety-two years old.<br /> Renowned as a miraculous healer, he was a respected figure in the medical community of Yeadeo and even nationally.<br /> He no longer conducted consultations personally due to his old age. Mia had visited him specifically to pay her respects once she had arrived in Yeadeo but had not met Scott.<br /> She never expected Scott to appear in person. It was understandable, as Quinn held a prominent position in the city. Despite the profound influence of the Phillips family, they still had to show respect to Quinn.<br /> Mia looked at Wesley, feeling conflicted and thinking, "Dad has confidently claimed that Wesley has extraordinary abilities, but does he really?"<br /> She harbored doubts, but out of propriety, Mia spoke. "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the trouble."<br /> Wesley smiled, "It's fine. As long as the person can be healed."<br /> His open-mindedness impressed Mia.<br /> After about half an hour, Amanda emerged from the room. All eyes instantly turned towards her.<br /> It was evident that Amanda had wailed out, with traces of tears still visible.<br /> "Amanda, how is it?" A middle-aged gent anxiously asked her.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family who had rushed back also focused their attention on her.<br /> "Mr. Phillips said that there's little hope of recovery. He could only use acupuncture to wake grandfather for half an hour. When grandfather wakes up, let's all go in and see if he has any final instructions."<br /> Everyone was shocked.<br /> "How could this be?"<br /> "Is Mr. Phillips also helpless?"<br /> The members of the Kingsley family found it hard to accept this reality, especially since Quinn had always treated his juniors well.<br /> The thought of Quinn departing saddened some, and tears silently fell.<br /> Publicly, Quinn's status was the foundation of the Kingsley family's prominence in Yeadeo.<br /> If Quinn were to pass away, the Kingsley family would undoubtedly decline.<br /> The atmosphere within the Kingsley family was somber.<br /> Amanda looked at her family members, opened her mouth, but said nothing, silently turning back into the room.<br /> "Stop crying," A middle-aged gent said sternly, "Dad wouldn't want to see you all in tears. If he's really leaving, we mustn't let him worry about us. Pull yourselves together."<br /> After these words, the middle-aged gent also entered the room.<br /> The younger members of the Kingsley family wiped their tears vigorously, trying to force smiles, but in truth, they looked better at crying than pretending to be happy.<br /> Mia's spirit plummeted as she realized the gravity of the situation. Even if an ordinary person passed away from consuming health supplements, it spelled big trouble for those who sold them. And when the deceased happened to be Quinn, the stakes were even higher.<br /> She understood that it would be difficult for this branch to stay in Yeadeo, and even the headquarters might face repercussions.<br /> "Let's go in and have a look." Wesley glanced at Mia. "There might still be a chance."<br /> "Ah..." Mia stared at Wesley in surprise. Seeing him already heading towards the room, she quickly followed suit.<br /> Inside the room, the members of the Kingsley family stood around the mattress, maintaining a certain distance.<br /> Scott lit the alcohol lamp and took out the needles, his expression solemn.<br /> He looked at the members of the Kingsley family. "Think about what you want to say to Mr. Kingsley later. Once you're ready, let me know, and then I'll proceed with the acupuncture."<br /> As he said this, tears welled up in many eyes.<br /> "If you don't mind, let me take a look. I have a way." Wesley spoke up, drawing everyone's attention.<br /> Amanda's face darkened. "Who let you in? Get out!"<br /> "Mia, have you lost your mind? Tricked by this trash and actually brought him here as a miracle healer. Get out with him! I'll settle the score with you in a couple of days."<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, at a loss for words.<br /> "Even Mr. Phillips is unable to reverse the situation. What use are you? Get out." Another younger member of the Kingsley family angrily rebuked.<br /> The middle-aged gent added, "We're in no mood right now. You better leave immediately."<br /> "I understand your narrow-mindedness," Wesley continued, "But as a healer, once I see a patient, I cannot stand by and watch him draw his last breath."<br /> "Wesley, you're quite the charlatan. Do you really want to be gone right now?" Amanda's voice was filled with anger.<br /> "Amanda, let me say a few words," Scott interjected, and Amanda fell silent.<br /> Looking at Wesley, Scott began. "Young lad, at my age, I've seen a lot and have a broad perspective. Today, however, I find it hard to remain indifferent. I practiced medicine from the age of sixteen until I stopped seeing patients for a total of seventy years."<br /> "I've saved countless patients from various illnesses. I never easily declare a patient's fate, nor do I believe I have the right to do so."<br /> "But from your recent remarks, it seems like you're accusing me of such actions. Young people wanting to make a name for themselves by stepping on the shoulders of their predecessors, I can understand."<br /> "But this kind of behavior displeases me."<br /> "My displeasure, what does it mean to you? Do you understand?"<br /> "Even if you are a healer, your career will be ruined because of this."<br /> Chapter 6 Hand of Hell<br /> In the face of Scott's veiled threats, Wesley simply smiled and brushed them off.<br /> Looking at Scott, he asked, "I've always focused on the issue at hand rather than attacking individuals. I have a few questions for you. If you can't administer the needles, how long do you think Quinn can hold on?"<br /> "Seven days, but he will remain unconscious," Scott replied bluntly.<br /> "Then let me ask you this, is there anyone in the world with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "Outrageous," Amanda coldly interjected, "Mr. Phillips is unparalleled in his medical expertise."<br /> Scott glanced at Amanda. "Amanda, let me handle this question."<br /> Continuing to address Wesley, he said, "I don't underestimate myself, nor do I overestimate. There are countless talented individuals in the world, like stars in the sky. I may not dare claim to be the best in medical skills, but those who surpass me are few."<br /> "That means there are some," Wesley calmly remarked, causing Scott's expression to shift slightly, "Indeed, there are."<br /> "Then let me ask you this. Do you think within seven days, the Kingsley family won't find someone with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "If they do find someone, do you believe there is an illness that you cannot cure, but this person can?"<br /> Wesley's questions were sharp and resounding.<br /> Scott's face changed once more as he was rendered speechless.<br /> "Even if there is, that person will never be you." Amanda's face turned icy. "Now get out. Don't spout your eloquence here. Your deceitful behavior is repulsive."<br /> "Your understanding of me is merely hearsay, isn't it?" Wesley retorted, his gaze mocking Amanda, "Has your background and education taught you such arrogance and prejudice?"<br /> "Arrogance?" Amanda's face grew colder as she disdainfully looked at Wesley. "Prejudice?<br /> "Did I say something wrong just now? You are nothing but stagnant waste, a parasite living off others. If it weren't for Taylor, you would have starved on the streets long ago."<br /> "Relying on sweet words, deceiving Taylor. She, with her kind heart, can't bear to divorce you, but don't push your luck. If it weren't for Taylor's sake, you would have been sent out long ago."<br /> Scott interrupted Amanda, "Amanda, although I find this lad a bit annoying, what he said does hold some truth. There are indeed individuals with better medical skills than me. Your grandfather can hold on for seven days. Try reaching out to see if someone can come over. I'll help you make connections."<br /> "If it really doesn't work out after seven days, I'll administer the needles to your grandfather. However, at that point, I can only buy you three minutes."<br /> As soon as Scott spoke, the faces of the Kingsley family members grew even more solemn. True healers were rare and not easily summoned.<br /> While the Kingsley family had connections in Yeadeo, their influence waned outside of it.<br /> "Mr. Phillips, please administer the needles. Life has its ups and downs, and we understand that. Just buy my father a bit more time." The middle-aged gent spoke up.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family nodded in agreement.<br /> Amanda looked at Scott. "Mr. Phillips, please."<br /> "In that case, please have everyone unrelated leave. I need silence," Scott calmly stated.<br /> Amanda glared at Wesley, her eyes speaking volumes without a word.<br /> The unrelated individuals were, naturally, Wesley and Mia.<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, intending to leave, but she suddenly hesitated.<br /> Instead of leaving, Wesley moved forward.<br /> "What are you doing?" A young member of the Kingsley family stepped forward with a stern expression, pushing Wesley.<br /> In one swift motion, Wesley executed a clean shoulder throw, toppling the young gent to the ground, his own expression turning cold.<br /> "A bunch of fools! If it weren't for my teacher's teachings about not turning a blind eye to those in need, I wouldn't bother with you ignorant lot," Wesley remarked with disdain.<br /> As Wesley effortlessly took down one individual from the Kingsley family, the others seemed slow to react.<br /> By the time they realized what was happening, Wesley had already picked up the needle next to Scott and casually flicked his wrist.<br /> The needle flew out of his hand, piercing Quinn's temple, followed by a second needle, a third needle, and so on.<br /> "What are you doing? Stop!" Amanda's voice rose in urgency, echoed by the rest of the Kingsley family members who rushed forward to restrain Wesley.<br /> "Stay back, everyone. Wait." Scott suddenly stood up, blocking the others. "Let him try."<br /> Amanda and the others were left dumbfounded, thinking, "What does this mean?"<br /> Despite their confusion, they heeded Scott's words.<br /> After Scott stopped the members of the Kingsley family, he fixed his gaze on Wesley.<br /> Wesley proceeded to use eighteen needles in succession, symbolizing the levels of pain.<br /> Even if someone had descended into the depths of hell, they must be brought back.<br /> The final needle, also piercing a vital point, caused Quinn's body to tremble suddenly, resonating with the previous eighteen needles.<br /> Scott's eyes widened, his body trembling slightly. His reaction left Amanda and the others even more puzzled, but none dared to interrupt.<br /> Moments later, Wesley placed a palm on Quinn's chest, causing all eighteen needles to be shaken off. When all the needles landed on the ground, the part of the skin where the needles had pierced turned dark.<br /> Wesley then dragged Quinn to the edge of the mattress, flipped him over with his head facing downwards, and gave him a firm pat on the back.<br /> Quinn spat out a mouthful of black liquid. When Wesley flipped him back to lie flat, his complexion had regained some color.<br /> "The Hand of Darkness... It's the Hand of Darkness!" Scott exclaimed with excitement, his body quivering, "It's the Hand that descends into the dark world, snatching people from the hands of the Evil!"<br /> "You do have some knowledge, recognizing the Hand of Darkness." Wesley glanced at Scott.<br /> Scott's gaze towards Wesley had undergone a drastic change. He respectfully clasped his hands together.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thirty years ago, I had the honor of attending a teaching conference held by Mr. Vanderbilt. I saw the Hand of Darkness, but my limited aptitude only allowed me to grasp the basics."<br /> "I have been blind and ignorant. I apologize for my earlier offenses. Please forgive me, Mr. Harrington."<br /> The Mr. Vanderbilt Scott referred to was Wesley's teacher, Ulysses Vanderbilt. He generously imparted his skills to others, but the ability to learn depended on one's innate talent.<br /> In this world, few could learn Ulysses' skills.<br /> Scott had been fortunate to receive guidance from Ulysses, which had elevated his medical skills. However, the Hand of Darkness, a miraculous ability, was beyond his comprehension.<br /> Wesley smiled faintly, "Your actions earlier are understandable. I appreciate your words."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you must be an exceptional disciple of Mr. Vanderbilt, possessing unparalleled magnanimity. Impressive," Scott continued.<br /> "Enough with the flattery at your age."<br /> "You are mistaken, Mr. Harrington. Every word I speak is sincere."<br /> Mia, Amanda, and the others stood bewildered by the unfolding situation.<br /> "Mr. Phillips... he... he..." Amanda's words faltered.<br /> Scott turned to the members of the Kingsley family. "Meeting Mr. Harrington was Quinn's luck. His symptoms have been cured by Mr. Harrington. With a few days of rest, he will be fine."<br /> The waste Taylor had previously said was called Mr. Harrington by Scott!<br /> Recalling their previous attitudes, Amanda hurriedly apologized, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> The members of the Kingsley family all apologized in unison, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> Chapter 7 Eight Plates of Noodles<br /> With a faint smile, Wesley remarked, "As family members of a patient, your actions earlier are understandable. There's no need for such formality."<br /> Amanda's perplexity deepened as she thought, "Where is the cowardly waste that Taylor described? This display of magnanimity and breadth is far from it."<br /> Mia, too, felt a shiver of realization, thinking, "No wonder Dad has insisted on my proximity to Wesley.<br /> This guy..."<br /> She gazed at Wesley, her curiosity piqued, a sense of exploration stirring within her.<br /> "Mia has brought you here, Mr. Harrington, to cure my grandfather. The Kingsley family will never forget this act. However, considering that my grandfather's ailment stemmed from the health supplements produced by the Vinver Business Alliance, we will be conducting an investigation into it."<br /> Amanda continued, looking at Wesley, "What do you think... of this approach?"<br /> It was Mia who had invited Wesley, so Amanda had grown wiser, refraining from asking for a direct punishment of the Vinver Business Alliance.<br /> As Mia heard Amanda's words, her heart skipped a beat, realizing trouble was brewing.<br /> "On the way here, Ms. Roberts briefed me on the situation. You conducted experiments on mice, correct?"<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes, the health supplements we received were exclusively provided by the Roberts family. There were no similar cases on the market, so we used mice for testing.<br /> "All the mice that ingested this supplement were gone."<br /> She looked at Mia and added, her voice turned colder. "Before the experiment, I specifically contacted Mia to inquire about the testing methods during the development phase, which involved mice."<br /> "There have been individuals eyeing my grandfather's position, some even wishing for his demise. I never imagined that the Vinver Business Alliance, which I attracted for investment, would become a weapon in someone else's hands."<br /> "Do you have any of the remaining medicine?" Wesley inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes."<br /> "Bring some over."<br /> Immediately, someone fetched the medicine. After it was brought to him, Wesley took out a supplement and swallowed it directly.<br /> This scene left Amanda and the others dumbfounded.<br /> Scott, too, was bewildered. "Mr. Harrington, what are you doing?"<br /> Wesley smiled, "Just proving that this medicine is not toxic."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thank you," Mia thanked sincerely, feeling like sobbing at that moment.<br /> Amanda, with a puzzled expression, looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, are you suggesting that my grandfather's condition wasn't caused by the Vinver Business Alliance's medicine? What about the mice?"<br /> The rest were equally puzzled.<br /> "Yes, but not entirely," Wesley said, leaving everyone even more bewildered.<br /> Mia's emotions were like a rollercoaster ride, from relief to immediate tension.<br /> "This medicine itself is not toxic, but when taken with another substance made from a certain plant, it results in Quinn's condition. The mice would die immediately, while humans could endure a few more days."<br /> Wesley continued to explain, "The plant used in this concoction is originally meant for crafting slow-acting toxins, not for human consumption."<br /> Looking at Amanda, Wesley said, "During this period, whoever had access to your grandfather and the mice will better understand why these events occurred."<br /> The gaze of members of the Kingsley family immediately focused on a lady.<br /> Amanda, somewhat incredulous, looked at her. "Can you offer an explanation?"<br /> The lady was the wife of Amanda's deceased brother. She found it hard to accept, as did the rest of the Kingsley family.<br /> This lady had been named the exemplary lady who served her family well this year, not due to her connection with the Kingsley family but because she genuinely deserved it.<br /> "What do you mean? Amanda, what explanation do you want from me?"<br /> The lady stared at Amanda. "Am I the only one who had access to Grandfather and the mice? You, and you... and you, who didn't have access?"<br /> "You all claim to treat me as family. Since I married into the Kingsley family, I have worked diligently, contributing my share even if not acknowledged."<br /> "Amanda, it has been over a year since your brother passed, and I never once considered remarrying. Now, just because of his words, you demand an explanation from me?"<br /> Pointing at Wesley, the lady questioned, "Just because he accuses me of poisoning, you suspect me? Tell me, did I poison him?" The lady glared at Wesley.<br /> "I am merely analyzing the facts. As for concluding this case, it's not within my purview," Wesley addressed the members of the Kingsley family, saying, "You should conduct a thorough investigation into this matter.<br /> "I will write a prescription. Have Quinn take it on time, and he will recover in seven days."<br /> Amanda hurried to fetch paper and pen while Wesley prepared the prescription. Once done, he was ready to leave.<br /> Amanda said hurriedly, "Mr. Harrington, I've already made arrangements for lunch."<br /> "No need," Wesley smiled.<br /> The Kingsley family sought to build closer ties with Wesley, given his extraordinary medical skills. Wesley was well aware of this.<br /> Looking at Amanda and the others, Wesley remarked, "In the future, if you encounter any difficult medical cases that others cannot solve, seek me out. Remember, cases others cannot solve."<br /> The gaze of the Kingsley family members toward Wesley changed once again. Many renowned healers had eccentric personalities and were difficult to engage.<br /> They hadn't expected Wesley to possess such remarkable medical skills without any airs.<br /> As Wesley prepared to depart, the members of the Kingsley family did not dare to insist on his stay, so they accompanied him outside.<br /> "Oh, how could we forget such an important matter? Amanda, what about the consultation fee?" The middle-aged gent inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the oversight. Please wait a moment." Amanda hurried back inside and soon returned with a bank card in hand.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, there's one million dollars in here."<br /> Without hesitation, Wesley accepted the bank card and boarded Mia's car.<br /> During the journey, Mia boldly looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, you've helped me immensely. Can I treat you to a meal? Don't decline in a hurry. It's not a fancy restaurant, but it will leave you wanting more. It's a small place on the street, with only eight plates of noodles served each day, each plate containing different ingredients."<br /> "I managed to secure a reservation. Are you interested?"<br /> Wesley thought, "Eight Plates of Noodles?<br /> "Ah, Aaron's restaurant. It has been a while since I visited those old friends."<br /> Wesley nodded. "Let's go then."<br /> The restaurant, Eight Plates of Noodles, was located on Chanxold Street near the Yeadeo First Central Hospital.<br /> The establishment was small, serving only eight plates of noodles each day at a price of 10 thousand dollars each. Vernoic's television culinary program had specifically covered this incident.<br /> Reservations were a must to secure a plate.<br /> The restaurant's owner had a mysterious background. While the specifics were unknown, a high-ranking noble from the capital of Vernoic, Kingsland, had caused a scene there once.<br /> He had attempted to force his way in without a reservation. Although this incident hadn't been reported, rumors suggested that a garbage truck had to be called to dispose of the intruder's remains, as he was too shattered to be removed by conventional means.<br /> Since then, no one dared to cause trouble.<br /> On their way, Mia introduced Wesley to the background story.<br /> "Mr. Turner, two plates of noodles." Mia called out once they arrived.<br /> Aaron Turner didn't respond but visibly paused upon seeing Wesley beside Mia.<br /> A faint smile appeared on his usually stoic face. Though the flesh on the face seemed stiff, it was indeed a smile. "Coming right up."<br /> Chapter 8 You Are Blushing<br /> Mia glanced at Aaron with a hint of surprise, thinking, "When does he become so warm and enthusiastic?<br /> His tone seemed a bit agitated earlier, didn't it?"<br /> Soon enough, Aaron brought two plates of noodles to the table. One steaming hot and the other devoid of any warmth.<br /> As Mia observed Aaron placing the plate without steam in front of Wesley, her expression changed slightly.<br /> It was a plate of instant noodles having soaked in cold water, with the seasoning barely dissolved.<br /> She felt a sense of panic. Mia had wanted to leave a good impression on Wesley, which was why she had chosen this place.<br /> However, Aaron had served such a plate of noodles.<br /> She dared not question Aaron. The type of noodles served here was not determined by the guests but by Aaron's mood.<br /> "This lass named Mia is quite something, living up to her name, and quite kind-hearted," Aaron remarked, looking at Wesley.<br /> "Get lost," Wesley retorted, using his fork to pick up the noodles and devouring them.<br /> Mia's face turned pale instantly. Disrespecting Aaron was akin to risking Wesley's life.<br /> To her astonishment, Aaron chuckled, tears welling up in his eyes.<br /> He wiped them away. "Alright, I'll leave you to your meal."<br /> Before departing, he gave Mia a thumbs-up. "Seize the opportunity."<br /> The eight plates of noodles symbolized the eight comrades who had faced life and hardships together.<br /> Wesley ate voraciously. Initially, they had only one pack of instant noodles to share among the eight of them, forcing them to divide it.<br /> Despite the circumstances, they devoured the noodles joyfully.<br /> Aaron had promised that once they survived, each one would have the most delicious plate of noodles.<br /> However, five of the eight had perished.<br /> Wesley had come dangerously close to life-threatening situations, but managed to cling to life.<br /> For him, the plate of noodles was not food but the bond of friendship that had shielded him from harm.<br /> "Do you... know each other?" Mia couldn't help but ask, her voice low and curious.<br /> "Some things are better left unknown," Wesley replied.<br /> Mia nodded in understanding, falling silent as they continued eating noodles. She couldn't help stealing glances at Wesley throughout the meal.<br /> This gent had piqued her curiosity even more.<br /> "Wesley, I see. No wonder you agreed to the divorce so readily. You've already found someone else outside."<br /> A sharp voice interrupted their meal.<br /> Taylor approached with a cold expression, accompanied by Henry.<br /> Taylor's mother was in the nearby hospital, and she had just picked up Frank, planning to buy some food when she unexpectedly saw Wesley.<br /> Of course, she saw Mia, too.<br /> Seeing Wesley dining with a lady more attractive than herself, so soon after the divorce felt like a dagger twisting in Taylor's heart.<br /> Her anger was uncontrollable.<br /> Wesley merely glanced at Taylor, disinterested in engaging with her.<br /> Taylor was stung by his indifferent gaze. She stepped forward, glaring at Wesley. "Are you not going to explain to me?"<br /> Mia looked at Taylor, silently cursing her as a foolish lady.<br /> Wesley continued eating his noodles, lowering his head. "Get lost. Don't disturb me, or I won't hesitate to hit you."<br /> "What did you say?" Henry stepped forward, enraged. "Wesley, try laying a hand on her! Is that all you're capable of? Laying hands on ladies?"<br /> "No wonder Taylor looks down on you. You're truly disgusting trash. Apologize to Taylor now, or else you'll regret coming into this world."<br /> "And how will he regret it? Tell me." Aaron emerged, carrying a cleaver, smiling as he faced Henry and Taylor.<br /> "Mr. Turner, we dare not cause trouble in your place, but this guy is just..."<br /> Henry attempted to speak but was cut off as Aaron's cleaver struck his face, sending him sprawling to the ground.<br /> "Mr. Turner, sorry, we'll leave now." Taylor hastily helped Henry up and hurriedly left.<br /> These two individuals were fortunate to know the legendary story behind Eight Plates of Noodles and had successfully made reservations to dine here multiple times.<br /> Having distanced themselves a bit, Henry covered his face and pointed at Wesley. "Wesley, we have some unfinished business. If you're smart, come over here now and apologize."<br /> "Wesley, I've seen through you as well. I never expected that for the past five years, you've been using my money to keep a lady on the side. We'll settle the score slowly."<br /> As the two noticed Aaron glancing their way, they quickly shut their mouths and hurriedly left.<br /> Once they were out of eyeshots, Aaron fixed his gaze on Wesley. "Your dad doesn't know about your divorce yet, does he?"<br /> "What difference would it make if he did?" Wesley stretched lazily. "I've fulfilled my promise. I've given enough."<br /> Aaron nodded in acknowledgment without saying anything further.<br /> This piqued Mia's curiosity even more. "Is it like what the novels depict? Did you marry Taylor due to some special event?"<br /> Seeing Wesley's glare, Mia lowered her head to focus on her noodles. "I won't ask anymore."<br /> "For the past five years, you've been staying in the stairwell. It has been hard for you, but at least you're still untouched," Aaron remarked before swiftly departing.<br /> Mia stared at Wesley in disbelief, realizing that Aaron's words were meant for her ears.<br /> "What are you staring at? Eat your noodles," Wesley said. Mia chuckled.<br /> "Why are you laughing?"<br /> "You're blushing."<br /> "Nonsense," Wesley retorted.<br /> Unable to contain herself, Mia burst into laughter. She had tried to hold it in, but seeing Wesley's flushed face made it impossible.<br /> Ten minutes later, Mia left on her own accord, sensing that Wesley had something to discuss with Aaron.<br /> Inside Aaron's small shop, Wesley opened a bottle of wine. "Still single?"<br /> "I look too old, no one's interested," Aaron replied, opening a bottle of liquor as well.<br /> "Then why are you meddling in my love lives?"<br /> "Leave a child behind, even if you pass away, someone will remember you." Aaron took a sip. "I've actually investigated this Mia."<br /> "You investigated her?"<br /> "I knew you'd get a divorce. I've been keeping an eye on the pretty ones. This girl had done a lot of good deeds before coming to Yeadeo. Once, she saved three people in a flood and nearly lost her life. Opportunities are rare. You have to seize them."<br /> "When you've figured things out and are ready to marry, then we can discuss our affairs. That's the condition." Wesley downed the entire bottle of liquor.<br /> "Otherwise, don't bother meddling. We're on a one-way path and can't drag others along."<br /> "You..." Aaron sighed as he watched Wesley's retreating figure.<br /> On the road leading to the Feidgeuo Manor, Taylor stood gazing blankly at the entrance not far away.<br /> Twice in one day, she had come here.<br /> The first time was to pick up Frank, and this time was because Frank had lost his expensive watch. She and Henry hadn't even had a meal, rushing over to find it.<br /> The first time, she had come in a hurry when Frank was injured and left quickly as well.<br /> But this time, as Taylor looked at the entrance ahead, an infinite longing sprouted within her.<br /> "If only... I could live here, how wonderful that would be."<br /> Henry looked at her. "One day, I'll definitely build an estate more magnificent than this, and you'll be the lady of the house."<br /> As they conversed, a taxi drove by, stopping at the entrance. The person who got out of the taxi left Taylor stunned.<br /> She rubbed her eyes.	Adoread	147	https://facebook.com/61556400142540	LEARN_MORE	1713510000	View Edit Delete
1666915	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727711	1734958298	695	1119946702385044		7.7096681837594E+14	1713769200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	226177680578601	0	Adoread	120207756046900265	client.adoread.com	Learn more	NONE	image	🔥🔥🔥 Read More👉	Hottest novel👉👉👉	https://client.adoread.com/book/loading/page/adoread/19161308412?utm_campaign={{campaign.id}}&utm_content={{campaign.name}}		1713536892	2.261776805786E+14	Adoread	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437380570_277303198782256_1660543497212410805_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=o3372gvRlSsQ7kNvgGdRSsT&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDCmB4AfNHiY2bNl1jw6kDnLg42Tot1JHgUSLGtSV-WXw&oe=663A8D0D	person_profile	0	Adoread	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437546171_1573592796549945_2931549668649378373_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=VI-BtPIpHaYQ7kNvgEsTE_3&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCfCcMSLnczy1UyZGh44yvluCUaW4N_BHuqCMGlAbitww&oe=663A82C5	0	3	"Wesley, are you trying to harm me? You useless piece of trash, can't even make a decent cup of coffee, can you?"<br /> Madison Blair lifted her coffee cup and splashed it directly onto Wesley Harrington's face.<br /> "What are you looking at, you spineless waste? Your name sounds so lofty? I might as well call you a waste."<br /> Glancing at the grotesque expression of his wife's mother, Wesley pulled out his phone to check the time.<br /> Exactly twelve o'clock. It had been five full years since he married Taylor Reed.<br /> The appointed time had come.<br /> He had fulfilled his promise, safeguarding the Reed family for five years, transforming them from a family living off fishing to one perceived as affluent by the common folk.<br /> Wiping the coffee off his face, he turned and walked away.<br /> "Where do you think you're going? Go fetch some more coffee," Madison shouted.<br /> "Madison, didn't you say this waste is obedient at home, doing whatever he's told? I don't think he's taking it lying down."<br /> Madison grew angrier. "Wesley, you stop right there. My family has fed and housed you. If you dare disobey, I'll have you thrown out!"<br /> Ignoring her, Wesley continued downstairs.<br /> "When Taylor comes back, I'll immediately have you two divorced. Do you hear me? Stay right there," Madison threatened, "I'll let you know your place today."<br /> Grabbing a golf club, Madison swiftly charged towards Wesley.<br /> Seeing Wesley heading downstairs, she swung the club viciously at his back.<br /> Without turning back, Wesley gently sidestepped.<br /> Losing her balance, Madison tumbled forward, rolling down the stairs with a series of thumps.<br /> "Ouch... it hurts, it hurts so much!"<br /> As Madison reached the ground floor, she wailed in pain and her sister immediately rushed to her.<br /> "Wesley, what have you done? How dare you hit my sister!" Madison's sister hurried down, checking on Madison's condition.<br /> Wesley remained silent, observing the scene.<br /> "Quick, call Taylor. Tell her to come back. Today, she must divorce this waste." Madison glared at Wesley. "How dare you hit me? Not only will I let Taylor divorce you, but I'll make sure you leave in disgrace."<br /> "Mum, what's wrong?" At that moment, a gent and a lady walked in.<br /> The lady was Taylor, Madison's daughter.<br /> She ran towards Madison.<br /> As Madison pointed at Wesley, tears streamed down her face. "Taylor, he hit me, he hit me! When you're not home, he changes his attitude, scolding and hitting me in the slightest displeasure. He even pushed me down the stairs just now. Alexis can testify."<br /> Madison's sister, Alexis Blair, chimed in. "Yes, Wesley, this trash not only hit your mother but also threatened to hit me too. We cannot tolerate such trash."<br /> "Taylor, I have been telling you to divorce him for years. You've been supporting him, treating him like a Lord at home, but he's an ungrateful wolf in sheep's clothing."<br /> Helping Madison up, Taylor noticed the scrapes on Madison's arms and legs, her expression turning cold.<br /> "Wesley, why did you hit my mother? You better give me an explanation."<br /> Wesley looked at Taylor, his wife.<br /> Five years had passed, and she had never shown him kindness.<br /> Taylor dressed impeccably, a paragon of a successful lady, with a face that could be deemed angelic, yet whether her heart was as angelic remained a mystery.<br /> Her figure, too, left countless men yearning.<br /> For five years, Wesley had thought he might develop feelings for this lady, but in reality, it never happened.<br /> "There are surveillance cameras in the house," Wesley stated calmly before descending the stairs into the hallway.<br /> Despite residing in a three-story villa, Wesley's living quarters were confined to the stairwell.<br /> He harbored no resentment towards this arrangement. It was merely a promise. It was just that Taylor failed to appreciate him.<br /> This home held little value that he wished to cling onto.<br /> Retrieving a wooden box from beneath his pillow, Wesley extracted two documents. Casting a fleeting glance at the modest abode he had called home for five years, Wesley smiled faintly.<br /> He thought, "Finally... I'm free."<br /> Pushing the door ajar, Wesley was met by Taylor's piercing gaze. "I've reviewed the surveillance footage. Yes, my mother intended to strike you, but even if she did, what difference would it make?"<br /> "She's a lady. How much could her blows hurt you? Why did you dodge?"<br /> "If you hadn't dodged, my mother wouldn't have tumbled down." Wesley stared at Taylor, unable to comprehend her thought process.<br /> He had no interest in engaging in these arguments. Handing over the two documents to Taylor, he remarked, "The divorce agreement. I've already signed it. Take a look. I'm leaving with nothing."<br /> "With your current influence, there's no need for you to visit the city hall. Someone will handle it for you, right?"<br /> Madison was taken aback. She swiftly snatched the divorce agreement, flipping through it hastily.<br /> The contents were indeed straightforward. Both parties willingly divorced, with Wesley relinquishing all claims and having already signed.<br /> In an instant, Madison's pain seemed to dissipate. "Taylor, sign it quickly. Sign it."<br /> Taylor was still in a daze.<br /> She pondered.<br /> "A divorce agreement? Wesley has already prepared a divorce agreement. On what grounds?"<br /> "What gives him the right to initiate a divorce? All these years, he's done nothing at home, lacking any ambition. Always practicing martial arts, what right does he have to seek a divorce?"<br /> "If anyone should initiate it, it should be me. Moreover, now that I'm back to discussing this matter with him. Could it be that word got out, and Wesley, for the sake of his pride, rushed to prepare a divorce agreement first?"<br /> "It must be so, but... No!"<br /> "Wanting to leave with nothing, is he retreating to advance? As the chairman of the Reed Group, how could I be served with a divorce?"<br /> "Hey Wesley, I never expected this from you. Have I not treated you well enough? You seek a divorce, attempting to turn your retreat into advance, aiming to embarrass me?"<br /> Taylor glared at Wesley. "I'm telling you, it's impossible."<br /> Snatching the divorce agreement, she tore it to shreds.<br /> "Taylor, what are you doing? Such a great opportunity. Why not just sign it and let him leave?" Madison grew anxious.<br /> "Mom, I do intend to divorce this trash, but the decision must come from me. I returned specifically to address this matter."<br /> With that, Taylor produced two documents. "Wesley, remember that it's me who's divorcing you. It's me who no longer wants you. Initially, out of marital obligation, I had considered offering you some compensation. Now, you don't even need to think about it. Sign the divorce agreement and leave my home."<br /> Wesley offered a faint smile as he accepted the divorce agreement.<br /> "What are you laughing at?" Taylor demanded angrily.<br /> Wesley's smile seemed to mock her, fueling her rage.<br /> Ignoring her entirely, Wesley signed the document and handed it over.<br /> "What are you laughing at? Answer me! Who do you think you are?" Taylor roared once more.<br /> Wesley glanced at her before striding towards the exit.<br /> "Stop!" The gent who had accompanied Taylor stepped forward, blocking Wesley's path. "Taylor asked you a question, and... Your previous attitude displeased me. Apologize to Taylor, or I'll have you leave in disgrace!"<br /> Chapter 2 The Unspoken Truth<br /> <br /> "Yes, let him leave in disgrace. He thought he could just hit me and walk away so easily," Madison joined in the commotion, also noticing the gent blocking Wesley's path.<br /> Madison had a keen interest in luxury goods, having frequented various high-end establishments over the years as the Reed family's living conditions improved. The gent was wearing an expensive watch and dressed head to toe in high-end luxury brands.<br /> Seeing Madison's gaze, the gent spoke. "Rest assured, today Wesley must pay the price."<br /> The gent introduced himself, looking at Wesley, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Henry Clark, the eldest son of the Clark family and the general manager of the Clark Group in the North District."<br /> "From now on, I will accompany Taylor on her journey of life, and I will not allow anyone to bully her."<br /> "My identity carries weight. You should understand that. Now, apologize to Taylor. Apologize! Did you hear me? Apologize!"<br /> Madison's eyes lit up. She hadn't expected the gent before her to hold such a high status. She continued to shout, "Did you hear that? Taylor will be with Mr. Clark from now on. Apologize now."<br /> Wesley glanced at Henry, then at Taylor. He thought, "Have they been together all along?" Wesley had wanted to ask but decided against it because there was no need. He simply gave them a glance and continued walking towards the exit.<br /> "Are you ignoring me?" Henry's face turned cold as he reached out to grab Wesley. Henry's hand froze mid-air as he received a solid hit.<br /> "Until I sign the divorce papers, Taylor and I are still wife and husband. I don't care to investigate whether you two had any intimate relationship during that time, but don't provoke me, or I won't hesitate to make you regret it." Wesley's gaze was icy, and as Henry met his eyes, he felt a twinge of fear and swallowed his words.<br /> Taylor was also stunned. She knew exactly what Wesley had been like over the past five years. There were many surveillance cameras in the house, and she would often check them.<br /> Even when Taylor wasn't home, despite how her family treated Wesley, he always obeyed without complaint, especially towards her. He had never raised his voice, no matter how they treated him.<br /> Today, not only did Wesley dodge when her mother struck, but he also initiated the divorce and now even struck Henry. <br /> Taylor was at a loss for words, thinking, "How could this cowardly gent dare? On what grounds does he dare?"<br /> This change was difficult for Taylor to accept as if she didn't truly understand this guy. The gent who used to be obedient to her, completely submissive, now revealed this side of himself. She watched Wesley walk away in a daze, feeling a strange discomfort in her heart.<br /> "Isn't he leaving with nothing?" Alexis pointed at the wooden box Wesley was holding. "What is he taking with him?"<br /> Madison also realized. Over the past five years, Wesley had always treasured this wooden box, carrying it with him wherever he went. She thought there must be something valuable inside.<br /> Realizing this, Madison hurriedly followed. "Wesley, stop right there, leave the wooden box."<br /> Wesley paused, glanced at Madison, and said, "This is my personal belonging."<br /> "Nonsense, what personal belonging could you possibly have after marrying into the Reed family? Everything you've eaten, worn, and lived in over the years has been provided by the Reed family. Put it down."<br /> As she spoke, Madison reached out to grab the wooden box.<br /> "Ah..." A scream rang out as Madison quickly retracted her hand, a gash appearing on her palm, a crimson liquid dripping.<br /> The wooden box was now stained with the same crimson liquid, trembling lightly in Wesley's hand.<br /> "It's not the right time yet, the day you thirst for this crimson liquid will come," Wesley murmured softly, patting the box before turning to continue his stride towards the exit.<br /> "Monster! A monster!" Madison screamed, causing Taylor and the others to rush out. Seeing the wound in Madison's hand, Taylor was filled with rage.<br /> "Wesley, aren't you going to say something?" Wesley halted once more, contemplating before meeting Taylor's gaze.<br /> "Just stay out of my way from now on. Consider this a warning to you."<br /> "Taylor, that wooden box of his has a mechanism. It must hold something valuable! We can't let him take it with him," Madison, enduring the pain, reminded them.<br /> "Mom, your injury is important. We'll deal with him later. Let me take you to the hospital first." Taylor comforted Madison before calling out to the retreating Wesley.<br /> "Our marriage is over! Yet, you dared to hurt my mother! This won't be the end of it! I will make you regret it!" Ignoring her, Wesley continued walking out.<br /> "Rest assured, I promise he won't see the light of day tomorrow." Henry stepped forward to console. "Let's focus on getting your wound treated first."<br /> "I want him to regret ever existing in this world, to apologize to me in repentance," Madison roared.<br /> "Mom, trust me, I will make him do just that." Taylor looked at Madison with a mix of pity and determination. "Let's go to the hospital first."<br /> In the villa area, Wesley halted, his voice cold. "Get out."<br /> An elderly gent leaped down from a tree, appearing to be in his seventies, yet landing silently from a height of around ten feet.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, your father wants you to come home and take charge."<br /> "He stopped being my father five years ago. He's my enemy."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you misunderstood your father. He had his reasons back then. I swear in my life, once you know the truth, you will forgive him."<br /> "Huh!" Wesley smirked coldly, saying, "I nearly passed away back then. Is that also a misunderstanding?"<br /> The old gent pleaded, "Mr. Harrington, this situation is truly not as you perceive it."<br /> Wesley didn't engage further with the old guy. The events of that year were etched in his memory forever. He was the one who had been abandoned. If not for that incident, why would he have stayed with the Reed family for five years?<br /> Watching Wesley walk away, the old gent had tears silently streaming down his face. "Mr. Harrington, I truly... I truly can't bring myself to speak the truth, but you have misunderstood your father. He also bears burdens and endures pains beyond what an ordinary person can handle."<br /> As Wesley's figure disappeared, the old gent stood up, hesitated for a moment, then dialed a number on his phone.<br /> "Mr. Harrington is now divorced. I've given you the news firsthand. If your daughter is truly together with Mr. Harrington, you must fulfill the promise and let her persuade Mr. Harrington to come home."<br /> After hanging up, a middle-aged gent in a luxurious estate jumped up excitedly. Calming himself, he immediately made another call. "My dear, you're at Yeadeo, right?<br /> "Go find Wesley now. Don't mention the engagement for now. Use every means to get close to him, make him fall in love with you."<br /> "Dad, I don't have time."<br /> "No matter what you are busy with, you must go find Wesley now. No matter what reason you approach him, you must leave a good impression the first time."<br /> "Dad, I'm in trouble right now. If I don't handle it well, I might be good as gone. I have to deal with it immediately. I'm hanging up."<br /> Chapter 3 You're Nothing<br /> The middle-aged gent's voice lowered significantly. "Is there a big incident happening? You didn't tell me? What happened?"<br /> "Quinn Kingsley from Yeadeo, Mr. Kingsley, used our product and now has one foot on the grave. If something really happens to him..."<br /> "You mean Quinn, the uncontested leader of Yeadeo?"<br /> "Yes."<br /> "In that case, you should go find Wesley. Trust me, in this world, there is no problem that Wesley can't solve. As long as he's willing to help, you'll be fine. Listen to me, go find Wesley immediately."<br /> The lady fell silent for a moment before saying, "Okay."<br /> At Yeadeo Harbor, a gent with a large flaxen chain and a watch, sporting a crew cut, hurriedly disembarked, accompanied by a dozen gentlemen.<br /> "Mr. Reed, wherever that trash is, we will find him and tear him apart."<br /> "Yes, that guy dared to harm your mother. We'll make sure he pays for it."<br /> Frank Reed's face turned cold. "Wesley, you coward, thinking you can overturn the world? How dare you touch my mom? Just wait until I find you, you're finished."<br /> "We've found him. Wesley got into a taxi, and our boys followed him."<br /> "Let's go!" Frank waved his hand, leading dozens of men who boarded the car with harpoons, steel pipes, and other weapons.<br /> Inside the taxi, Wesley gazed at the scenery outside, feeling a strange sense of tranquility.<br /> He thought to himself, "I never imagined that while I was secretly paving the way for the Reed family, Taylor, after progressing so rapidly, would start looking down on me more and more."<br /> "Those ladies who know my true identity, which one of them isn't trying to throw themselves at me? Ladies like that don't interest me."<br /> "Being an ordinary gent is truly difficult," Wesley murmured, smiling faintly and deciding not to dwell on these matters anymore. He had important things to attend to and no time to waste on personal affairs.<br /> "Young lad, are you going to Feidgeuo Manor for a job interview?" The driver, curious about Wesley's destination, inquired.<br /> Feidgeuo Manor was Yeadeo's most mysterious private area. Originally a villa area, it was bought at a huge cost five years ago and completely renovated. It was said to have cost a trillion dollars. The former villa area was now Feidgeuo Manor.<br /> "That's my home," Wesley replied nonchalantly.<br /> The driver was taken aback by this revelation, silently cursing Wesley for bragging. After a couple of minutes, the driver regained his composure. "It seems like you and I both prefer to keep a low profile. My car usually gathers dust at home, so I occasionally drive a taxi to experience life."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "My car has been driven by my assistant for the past few years, so it's not gathering dust."<br /> "Haha..." The driver laughed. "We should get together sometime and see whose car is more impressive."<br /> "Sure, whenever we have the time."<br /> As they chatted, the vehicle soon arrived near Feidgeuo Manor, where the massive head of the Feidgeuo Peak protruded, creating a unique landscape in Yeadeo.<br /> The driver asked with a smile, "Since you're the owner here, it's fine if I drive in, right?"<br /> "Of course," Wesley replied.<br /> As soon as Wesley spoke, several cars caught up from behind.<br /> The cars surrounded the one Wesley was in, with the front vehicles braking to force the car to a stop.<br /> When numerous people descended from cars wielding harpoons and steel pipes, the driver's face paled.<br /> Frank and his group got out of the cars, instantly closing in, and without hesitation, started attacking, the steel pipes and harpoons thudding against the car.<br /> Frank's henchman yanked open the door of Wesley's car, poised to stab Wesley with a harpoon, but Wesley swiftly exited the vehicle.<br /> With a firm step on the ground, he launched a swift hit.<br /> A muffled sound echoed as the henchman was hit away.<br /> "What are you looking at?" Frank noticed his henchmen were all staring at him. "All of you, attack together and take him down!"<br /> As he commanded, the henchmen Frank brought with him surged forward.<br /> The taxi driver, trembling, took out his phone to call the police, but Frank glared at him. "I am Frank Reed from Yeadeo Harbor. If you dare, go ahead and make that call."<br /> Frank, leveraging his sister Taylor's status, had been causing trouble in Yeadeo Harbor, and no one dared to provoke him.<br /> Upon hearing Frank's name, the driver hastily put away his phone. "Mr. Reed, I'll just check the time, you guys continue."<br /> "Huh!" Frank snorted coldly, casting his gaze towards the surrounded Wesley.<br /> The sounds of thuds continued to ring out incessantly. Because Wesley was completely surrounded, Frank was unable to see the situation inside clearly, but he could imagine it. After all, in Frank's mind, the henchmen under his command were not to be trifled with.<br /> "Hit him hard for me!"<br /> Another muffled sound and a figure flew out. At that moment, Frank finally saw the situation clearly, and his face turned pale.<br /> Frank knew that Wesley liked to practice martial arts, but he had never expected Wesley to be this skilled. It wasn't Wesley who had been beaten, but his own men by Wesley alone.<br /> Frantically, Frank turned and ran to retrieve a crossbow from the car.<br /> "Clear the way." Frank bellowed, aiming the crossbow at Wesley.<br /> "You scumbag, you think you can fight? Move one more time, and I'll end your life! Surrender!"<br /> Wesley, holding a wooden box, stared at Frank. Ignoring the crossbow in his hand, Wesley said, "Tell your henchmen to back off, or you'll all see the light from above!"<br /> "You're really good at pretending to be tough." Frank took two steps forward. "See the light? Move a muscle and see if I can end your life or not! If you don't have the guts, apologize now!"<br /> Wesley turned his head and looked at the approaching cars, with two expensive ones in the lead, two more in the rear, and another one in the middle.<br /> "Keep acting tough, and I'll put a hole in your head." Frank spoke while glancing at the five cars. "What, looking for help?"<br /> "Let me tell you, those who ride in these cars are not the kind of weaklings like you who rely on connections. With me here, in Yeadeo's social hierarchy, even those who ride in such cars wouldn't dare meddle in this matter. And let me make it clear, without my sister, you're nothing."<br /> Chapter 4 Is He Worthy?<br /> As Frank's words faded, the five cars came to a halt.<br /> A bodyguard opened the door of the one in the middle, revealing a dazzling pair of shining shoes catching everyone's eye.<br /> The shining shoe encased a beautiful foot. Above, the skirt's hem was adorned with lace.<br /> Then, like a fairy stepping out of a painting, she appeared before everyone's eyes.<br /> The lady was beautiful!<br /> Frank was mesmerized. Ever since the Reed family rose to prominence, he had been surrounded by ladies, but compared to the elegant lady before him, they were worlds apart.<br /> It wasn't just a difference in appearance but an incomparable gap in demeanor.<br /> The lady descending from the Maybach seemed like a celestial being untouched by mortal affairs.<br /> The embodiment of a fairy in the mundane world.<br /> She simply stood there after getting out of the car, perfectly embodying what it meant to be graceful and elegant.<br /> The lady glanced at Wesley, then at Frank.<br /> Frank grinned, saying, "May I have the honor of knowing the name of this esteemed lady? I am Frank..."<br /> The lady spoke calmly. "Disrespect Mr. Harrington, and you're done for."<br /> Her bodyguards, unfazed by Frank's crossbow, swiftly overwhelmed him, sending him crashing to the ground.<br /> The henchmen who had come with Frank, previously defeated by Wesley, now scrambled to their feet and fled in all directions.<br /> Who would dare provoke someone who could afford such a car?<br /> "My sister is Taylor Reed, the chairperson of Reed Group," Frank shouted, clutching his head.<br /> Ignoring him, one of the bodyguards dragged him to the roadside grass while another used a belt to tighten around Frank's neck, exerting pressure.<br /> "Enough, a lesson is all that's needed." Wesley spoke calmly, and only when the lady gestured did the bodyguards release Frank.<br /> Frank lay there, already unconscious.<br /> Wesley turned to the lady. "Who are you?"<br /> "I am Mia Roberts, the general manager of Vinver Business Alliance's Yeadeo branch." She looked at Wesley and continued, "Mr. Harrington, my father mentioned that you have miraculous healing skills and earnestly requested your assistance. A generous reward awaits."<br /> Wesley furrowed his brow slightly, thinking, "There are indeed people who recognize my abilities and status, yet I've rarely intervened in the past five years. Today, shortly after I divorced Taylor, she is here. Whose arrangement is this?"<br /> "Mr. Harrington, my father also mentioned that you are benevolent and has raised the banner of compassion among healers, serving as a role model and benchmark for all in the medical field."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "You have a way with words. Tell me the specifics."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, please get in the car first. I will explain in detail on the way."<br /> The phrase "compassionate healer" held significant weight for Wesley, who had saved countless lives from the brink of death.<br /> Without further ado, he got into the car.<br /> Inside, after Mia brewed coffee for Wesley, she began. "Vinver Business Alliance has a wide range of business operations, and I mainly oversee the health supplement sector, which has seen some success in recent years.<br /> "Recently, Quinn Kingsley started using our medicines, and now there's an accident."<br /> As she spoke, Mia kept her gaze fixed on Wesley.<br /> Quinn, the undisputed leader of Yeadeo, was a figure of immense influence.<br /> Upon hearing this name, Wesley showed no particular reaction. "If the city's leader faces issues with your products, it is indeed a concern. Let's go and see."<br /> With just a sentence, Wesley leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest.<br /> Mia was secretly alarmed, thinking, "He knows who Quinn is, yet he seems indifferent. Who is this Wesley, really? No wonder Dad has instructed me to find a way to win his favor." Mia's inner resistance toward Wesley quietly shifted.<br /> Wesley had piqued her curiosity.<br /> As the vehicle was moving, Wesley's phone rang.<br /> Wesley opened his eyes and took out his phone to see Taylor calling.<br /> Pressing the answer button, he asked, "What's the matter?"<br /> On the other end of the line, Taylor, driving towards Feidgeuo Manor, had a grim expression.<br /> She thought, "Has Wesley ever spoken to me in such a cold tone before? Is he really this heartless right after our divorce?"<br /> Already furious, she snapped. "Wesley, do you even consider yourself a human being?<br /> "Today, not only did you lay hands on my mother, but you also had someone attack my brother. Do you not remember our past at all?"<br /> Wesley calmly replied, "Do we have a past to remember?"<br /> "You truly are a heartless scumbag, just as my mother said. You are an ungrateful and vicious person I raised for five years. Even a pet would wag its tail at me!"<br /> Taylor wanted to continue her tirade, but the phone line had already turned busy.<br /> This only fueled her anger further.<br /> Just now, she had received a call from Frank's underlings, informing her that Wesley had sent people to attack Frank and even intended to end him.<br /> Taylor wanted to demand answers, but...<br /> As Taylor was clutching her fists, her gaze turned icy.<br /> After a moment, she picked up her phone again. "Wesley, you are so narrow-minded. You have no ambition. Any lady would steer clear of you."<br /> "Just because I dumped you, you are doing this on purpose to make me feel sick. Pretending to be aloof and seeking revenge? Do you even deserve it?"<br /> "In Yeadeo, squashing you would be as easy as squashing an ant. You're asking for it! If anything happens to my brother, I will make you wish you were ending!"<br /> Her furious voice message echoed in the car.<br /> Wesley chuckled and put away his phone.<br /> Beside him, Mia seemed contemplative. Before coming, she had already ordered a swift investigation into Wesley.<br /> She was curious, thinking, "How could someone valued by my father could be the one 'marrying into' the Reed family."<br /> Being tactful, Mia chose not to ask and pretended not to have heard.<br /> After about forty minutes, they arrived at the Kingsley Manor.<br /> The Kingsley family members, upon seeing Mia alight from the car, all wore grim expressions.<br /> Mia greeted them with a smile, "Everyone, this is Wesley Harrington, Mr. Harrington, the miraculous healer I specially invited to treat Mr. Kingsley."<br /> "Him? The gent who married into the Reed family?"<br /> "A miraculous healer? Is he even worthy? Are healers so worthless now?"<br /> "A useless gent who mooches off of the Reed family? How dare he call himself a miraculous healer? Truly a joke among all jokes."<br /> Chapter 5 Compassionate Healer<br /> Amanda Kingsley, Quinn's granddaughter, stared coldly at Wesley and Mia.<br /> This lady, dressed in a smart suit, also held significant fame in Yeadeo, overseeing the region's business activities, including investment attraction and various local business negotiations.<br /> Amanda had a favorable view of Taylor, who had risen swiftly in recent times, and they had interacted frequently.<br /> She was aware of Wesley's existence and had advised Taylor to part ways with him early on.<br /> But Amanda never imagined that Mia would bring someone like Wesley, a complete waste, and claim he was a miraculous healer.<br /> Glaring at Mia, she said, "Mia, once my grandfather is well, it's best for your Roberts family to leave Yeadeo."<br /> "As for you..." She glanced at Wesley. "I will advise Taylor to divorce you. You have deceived Taylor's feelings and now shamelessly made your way into my family. You are a despicable creature."<br /> After reprimanding Mia and Wesley, she turned to an elderly gent beside her, and her tone and attitude completely changed. "Mr. Phillips, sorry to trouble you. My grandfather is inside, please."<br /> Mia looked at the elderly gent, who was already in his twilight years, feeling deeply shocked.<br /> Scott Phillips, the 38th generation heir of the Healing Clinic, was now ninety-two years old.<br /> Renowned as a miraculous healer, he was a respected figure in the medical community of Yeadeo and even nationally.<br /> He no longer conducted consultations personally due to his old age. Mia had visited him specifically to pay her respects once she had arrived in Yeadeo but had not met Scott.<br /> She never expected Scott to appear in person. It was understandable, as Quinn held a prominent position in the city. Despite the profound influence of the Phillips family, they still had to show respect to Quinn.<br /> Mia looked at Wesley, feeling conflicted and thinking, "Dad has confidently claimed that Wesley has extraordinary abilities, but does he really?"<br /> She harbored doubts, but out of propriety, Mia spoke. "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the trouble."<br /> Wesley smiled, "It's fine. As long as the person can be healed."<br /> His open-mindedness impressed Mia.<br /> After about half an hour, Amanda emerged from the room. All eyes instantly turned towards her.<br /> It was evident that Amanda had wailed out, with traces of tears still visible.<br /> "Amanda, how is it?" A middle-aged gent anxiously asked her.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family who had rushed back also focused their attention on her.<br /> "Mr. Phillips said that there's little hope of recovery. He could only use acupuncture to wake grandfather for half an hour. When grandfather wakes up, let's all go in and see if he has any final instructions."<br /> Everyone was shocked.<br /> "How could this be?"<br /> "Is Mr. Phillips also helpless?"<br /> The members of the Kingsley family found it hard to accept this reality, especially since Quinn had always treated his juniors well.<br /> The thought of Quinn departing saddened some, and tears silently fell.<br /> Publicly, Quinn's status was the foundation of the Kingsley family's prominence in Yeadeo.<br /> If Quinn were to pass away, the Kingsley family would undoubtedly decline.<br /> The atmosphere within the Kingsley family was somber.<br /> Amanda looked at her family members, opened her mouth, but said nothing, silently turning back into the room.<br /> "Stop crying," A middle-aged gent said sternly, "Dad wouldn't want to see you all in tears. If he's really leaving, we mustn't let him worry about us. Pull yourselves together."<br /> After these words, the middle-aged gent also entered the room.<br /> The younger members of the Kingsley family wiped their tears vigorously, trying to force smiles, but in truth, they looked better at crying than pretending to be happy.<br /> Mia's spirit plummeted as she realized the gravity of the situation. Even if an ordinary person passed away from consuming health supplements, it spelled big trouble for those who sold them. And when the deceased happened to be Quinn, the stakes were even higher.<br /> She understood that it would be difficult for this branch to stay in Yeadeo, and even the headquarters might face repercussions.<br /> "Let's go in and have a look." Wesley glanced at Mia. "There might still be a chance."<br /> "Ah..." Mia stared at Wesley in surprise. Seeing him already heading towards the room, she quickly followed suit.<br /> Inside the room, the members of the Kingsley family stood around the mattress, maintaining a certain distance.<br /> Scott lit the alcohol lamp and took out the needles, his expression solemn.<br /> He looked at the members of the Kingsley family. "Think about what you want to say to Mr. Kingsley later. Once you're ready, let me know, and then I'll proceed with the acupuncture."<br /> As he said this, tears welled up in many eyes.<br /> "If you don't mind, let me take a look. I have a way." Wesley spoke up, drawing everyone's attention.<br /> Amanda's face darkened. "Who let you in? Get out!"<br /> "Mia, have you lost your mind? Tricked by this trash and actually brought him here as a miracle healer. Get out with him! I'll settle the score with you in a couple of days."<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, at a loss for words.<br /> "Even Mr. Phillips is unable to reverse the situation. What use are you? Get out." Another younger member of the Kingsley family angrily rebuked.<br /> The middle-aged gent added, "We're in no mood right now. You better leave immediately."<br /> "I understand your narrow-mindedness," Wesley continued, "But as a healer, once I see a patient, I cannot stand by and watch him draw his last breath."<br /> "Wesley, you're quite the charlatan. Do you really want to be gone right now?" Amanda's voice was filled with anger.<br /> "Amanda, let me say a few words," Scott interjected, and Amanda fell silent.<br /> Looking at Wesley, Scott began. "Young lad, at my age, I've seen a lot and have a broad perspective. Today, however, I find it hard to remain indifferent. I practiced medicine from the age of sixteen until I stopped seeing patients for a total of seventy years."<br /> "I've saved countless patients from various illnesses. I never easily declare a patient's fate, nor do I believe I have the right to do so."<br /> "But from your recent remarks, it seems like you're accusing me of such actions. Young people wanting to make a name for themselves by stepping on the shoulders of their predecessors, I can understand."<br /> "But this kind of behavior displeases me."<br /> "My displeasure, what does it mean to you? Do you understand?"<br /> "Even if you are a healer, your career will be ruined because of this."<br /> Chapter 6 Hand of Hell<br /> In the face of Scott's veiled threats, Wesley simply smiled and brushed them off.<br /> Looking at Scott, he asked, "I've always focused on the issue at hand rather than attacking individuals. I have a few questions for you. If you can't administer the needles, how long do you think Quinn can hold on?"<br /> "Seven days, but he will remain unconscious," Scott replied bluntly.<br /> "Then let me ask you this, is there anyone in the world with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "Outrageous," Amanda coldly interjected, "Mr. Phillips is unparalleled in his medical expertise."<br /> Scott glanced at Amanda. "Amanda, let me handle this question."<br /> Continuing to address Wesley, he said, "I don't underestimate myself, nor do I overestimate. There are countless talented individuals in the world, like stars in the sky. I may not dare claim to be the best in medical skills, but those who surpass me are few."<br /> "That means there are some," Wesley calmly remarked, causing Scott's expression to shift slightly, "Indeed, there are."<br /> "Then let me ask you this. Do you think within seven days, the Kingsley family won't find someone with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "If they do find someone, do you believe there is an illness that you cannot cure, but this person can?"<br /> Wesley's questions were sharp and resounding.<br /> Scott's face changed once more as he was rendered speechless.<br /> "Even if there is, that person will never be you." Amanda's face turned icy. "Now get out. Don't spout your eloquence here. Your deceitful behavior is repulsive."<br /> "Your understanding of me is merely hearsay, isn't it?" Wesley retorted, his gaze mocking Amanda, "Has your background and education taught you such arrogance and prejudice?"<br /> "Arrogance?" Amanda's face grew colder as she disdainfully looked at Wesley. "Prejudice?<br /> "Did I say something wrong just now? You are nothing but stagnant waste, a parasite living off others. If it weren't for Taylor, you would have starved on the streets long ago."<br /> "Relying on sweet words, deceiving Taylor. She, with her kind heart, can't bear to divorce you, but don't push your luck. If it weren't for Taylor's sake, you would have been sent out long ago."<br /> Scott interrupted Amanda, "Amanda, although I find this lad a bit annoying, what he said does hold some truth. There are indeed individuals with better medical skills than me. Your grandfather can hold on for seven days. Try reaching out to see if someone can come over. I'll help you make connections."<br /> "If it really doesn't work out after seven days, I'll administer the needles to your grandfather. However, at that point, I can only buy you three minutes."<br /> As soon as Scott spoke, the faces of the Kingsley family members grew even more solemn. True healers were rare and not easily summoned.<br /> While the Kingsley family had connections in Yeadeo, their influence waned outside of it.<br /> "Mr. Phillips, please administer the needles. Life has its ups and downs, and we understand that. Just buy my father a bit more time." The middle-aged gent spoke up.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family nodded in agreement.<br /> Amanda looked at Scott. "Mr. Phillips, please."<br /> "In that case, please have everyone unrelated leave. I need silence," Scott calmly stated.<br /> Amanda glared at Wesley, her eyes speaking volumes without a word.<br /> The unrelated individuals were, naturally, Wesley and Mia.<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, intending to leave, but she suddenly hesitated.<br /> Instead of leaving, Wesley moved forward.<br /> "What are you doing?" A young member of the Kingsley family stepped forward with a stern expression, pushing Wesley.<br /> In one swift motion, Wesley executed a clean shoulder throw, toppling the young gent to the ground, his own expression turning cold.<br /> "A bunch of fools! If it weren't for my teacher's teachings about not turning a blind eye to those in need, I wouldn't bother with you ignorant lot," Wesley remarked with disdain.<br /> As Wesley effortlessly took down one individual from the Kingsley family, the others seemed slow to react.<br /> By the time they realized what was happening, Wesley had already picked up the needle next to Scott and casually flicked his wrist.<br /> The needle flew out of his hand, piercing Quinn's temple, followed by a second needle, a third needle, and so on.<br /> "What are you doing? Stop!" Amanda's voice rose in urgency, echoed by the rest of the Kingsley family members who rushed forward to restrain Wesley.<br /> "Stay back, everyone. Wait." Scott suddenly stood up, blocking the others. "Let him try."<br /> Amanda and the others were left dumbfounded, thinking, "What does this mean?"<br /> Despite their confusion, they heeded Scott's words.<br /> After Scott stopped the members of the Kingsley family, he fixed his gaze on Wesley.<br /> Wesley proceeded to use eighteen needles in succession, symbolizing the levels of pain.<br /> Even if someone had descended into the depths of hell, they must be brought back.<br /> The final needle, also piercing a vital point, caused Quinn's body to tremble suddenly, resonating with the previous eighteen needles.<br /> Scott's eyes widened, his body trembling slightly. His reaction left Amanda and the others even more puzzled, but none dared to interrupt.<br /> Moments later, Wesley placed a palm on Quinn's chest, causing all eighteen needles to be shaken off. When all the needles landed on the ground, the part of the skin where the needles had pierced turned dark.<br /> Wesley then dragged Quinn to the edge of the mattress, flipped him over with his head facing downwards, and gave him a firm pat on the back.<br /> Quinn spat out a mouthful of black liquid. When Wesley flipped him back to lie flat, his complexion had regained some color.<br /> "The Hand of Darkness... It's the Hand of Darkness!" Scott exclaimed with excitement, his body quivering, "It's the Hand that descends into the dark world, snatching people from the hands of the Evil!"<br /> "You do have some knowledge, recognizing the Hand of Darkness." Wesley glanced at Scott.<br /> Scott's gaze towards Wesley had undergone a drastic change. He respectfully clasped his hands together.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thirty years ago, I had the honor of attending a teaching conference held by Mr. Vanderbilt. I saw the Hand of Darkness, but my limited aptitude only allowed me to grasp the basics."<br /> "I have been blind and ignorant. I apologize for my earlier offenses. Please forgive me, Mr. Harrington."<br /> The Mr. Vanderbilt Scott referred to was Wesley's teacher, Ulysses Vanderbilt. He generously imparted his skills to others, but the ability to learn depended on one's innate talent.<br /> In this world, few could learn Ulysses' skills.<br /> Scott had been fortunate to receive guidance from Ulysses, which had elevated his medical skills. However, the Hand of Darkness, a miraculous ability, was beyond his comprehension.<br /> Wesley smiled faintly, "Your actions earlier are understandable. I appreciate your words."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you must be an exceptional disciple of Mr. Vanderbilt, possessing unparalleled magnanimity. Impressive," Scott continued.<br /> "Enough with the flattery at your age."<br /> "You are mistaken, Mr. Harrington. Every word I speak is sincere."<br /> Mia, Amanda, and the others stood bewildered by the unfolding situation.<br /> "Mr. Phillips... he... he..." Amanda's words faltered.<br /> Scott turned to the members of the Kingsley family. "Meeting Mr. Harrington was Quinn's luck. His symptoms have been cured by Mr. Harrington. With a few days of rest, he will be fine."<br /> The waste Taylor had previously said was called Mr. Harrington by Scott!<br /> Recalling their previous attitudes, Amanda hurriedly apologized, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> The members of the Kingsley family all apologized in unison, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> Chapter 7 Eight Plates of Noodles<br /> With a faint smile, Wesley remarked, "As family members of a patient, your actions earlier are understandable. There's no need for such formality."<br /> Amanda's perplexity deepened as she thought, "Where is the cowardly waste that Taylor described? This display of magnanimity and breadth is far from it."<br /> Mia, too, felt a shiver of realization, thinking, "No wonder Dad has insisted on my proximity to Wesley.<br /> This guy..."<br /> She gazed at Wesley, her curiosity piqued, a sense of exploration stirring within her.<br /> "Mia has brought you here, Mr. Harrington, to cure my grandfather. The Kingsley family will never forget this act. However, considering that my grandfather's ailment stemmed from the health supplements produced by the Vinver Business Alliance, we will be conducting an investigation into it."<br /> Amanda continued, looking at Wesley, "What do you think... of this approach?"<br /> It was Mia who had invited Wesley, so Amanda had grown wiser, refraining from asking for a direct punishment of the Vinver Business Alliance.<br /> As Mia heard Amanda's words, her heart skipped a beat, realizing trouble was brewing.<br /> "On the way here, Ms. Roberts briefed me on the situation. You conducted experiments on mice, correct?"<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes, the health supplements we received were exclusively provided by the Roberts family. There were no similar cases on the market, so we used mice for testing.<br /> "All the mice that ingested this supplement were gone."<br /> She looked at Mia and added, her voice turned colder. "Before the experiment, I specifically contacted Mia to inquire about the testing methods during the development phase, which involved mice."<br /> "There have been individuals eyeing my grandfather's position, some even wishing for his demise. I never imagined that the Vinver Business Alliance, which I attracted for investment, would become a weapon in someone else's hands."<br /> "Do you have any of the remaining medicine?" Wesley inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes."<br /> "Bring some over."<br /> Immediately, someone fetched the medicine. After it was brought to him, Wesley took out a supplement and swallowed it directly.<br /> This scene left Amanda and the others dumbfounded.<br /> Scott, too, was bewildered. "Mr. Harrington, what are you doing?"<br /> Wesley smiled, "Just proving that this medicine is not toxic."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thank you," Mia thanked sincerely, feeling like sobbing at that moment.<br /> Amanda, with a puzzled expression, looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, are you suggesting that my grandfather's condition wasn't caused by the Vinver Business Alliance's medicine? What about the mice?"<br /> The rest were equally puzzled.<br /> "Yes, but not entirely," Wesley said, leaving everyone even more bewildered.<br /> Mia's emotions were like a rollercoaster ride, from relief to immediate tension.<br /> "This medicine itself is not toxic, but when taken with another substance made from a certain plant, it results in Quinn's condition. The mice would die immediately, while humans could endure a few more days."<br /> Wesley continued to explain, "The plant used in this concoction is originally meant for crafting slow-acting toxins, not for human consumption."<br /> Looking at Amanda, Wesley said, "During this period, whoever had access to your grandfather and the mice will better understand why these events occurred."<br /> The gaze of members of the Kingsley family immediately focused on a lady.<br /> Amanda, somewhat incredulous, looked at her. "Can you offer an explanation?"<br /> The lady was the wife of Amanda's deceased brother. She found it hard to accept, as did the rest of the Kingsley family.<br /> This lady had been named the exemplary lady who served her family well this year, not due to her connection with the Kingsley family but because she genuinely deserved it.<br /> "What do you mean? Amanda, what explanation do you want from me?"<br /> The lady stared at Amanda. "Am I the only one who had access to Grandfather and the mice? You, and you... and you, who didn't have access?"<br /> "You all claim to treat me as family. Since I married into the Kingsley family, I have worked diligently, contributing my share even if not acknowledged."<br /> "Amanda, it has been over a year since your brother passed, and I never once considered remarrying. Now, just because of his words, you demand an explanation from me?"<br /> Pointing at Wesley, the lady questioned, "Just because he accuses me of poisoning, you suspect me? Tell me, did I poison him?" The lady glared at Wesley.<br /> "I am merely analyzing the facts. As for concluding this case, it's not within my purview," Wesley addressed the members of the Kingsley family, saying, "You should conduct a thorough investigation into this matter.<br /> "I will write a prescription. Have Quinn take it on time, and he will recover in seven days."<br /> Amanda hurried to fetch paper and pen while Wesley prepared the prescription. Once done, he was ready to leave.<br /> Amanda said hurriedly, "Mr. Harrington, I've already made arrangements for lunch."<br /> "No need," Wesley smiled.<br /> The Kingsley family sought to build closer ties with Wesley, given his extraordinary medical skills. Wesley was well aware of this.<br /> Looking at Amanda and the others, Wesley remarked, "In the future, if you encounter any difficult medical cases that others cannot solve, seek me out. Remember, cases others cannot solve."<br /> The gaze of the Kingsley family members toward Wesley changed once again. Many renowned healers had eccentric personalities and were difficult to engage.<br /> They hadn't expected Wesley to possess such remarkable medical skills without any airs.<br /> As Wesley prepared to depart, the members of the Kingsley family did not dare to insist on his stay, so they accompanied him outside.<br /> "Oh, how could we forget such an important matter? Amanda, what about the consultation fee?" The middle-aged gent inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the oversight. Please wait a moment." Amanda hurried back inside and soon returned with a bank card in hand.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, there's one million dollars in here."<br /> Without hesitation, Wesley accepted the bank card and boarded Mia's car.<br /> During the journey, Mia boldly looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, you've helped me immensely. Can I treat you to a meal? Don't decline in a hurry. It's not a fancy restaurant, but it will leave you wanting more. It's a small place on the street, with only eight plates of noodles served each day, each plate containing different ingredients."<br /> "I managed to secure a reservation. Are you interested?"<br /> Wesley thought, "Eight Plates of Noodles?<br /> "Ah, Aaron's restaurant. It has been a while since I visited those old friends."<br /> Wesley nodded. "Let's go then."<br /> The restaurant, Eight Plates of Noodles, was located on Chanxold Street near the Yeadeo First Central Hospital.<br /> The establishment was small, serving only eight plates of noodles each day at a price of 10 thousand dollars each. Vernoic's television culinary program had specifically covered this incident.<br /> Reservations were a must to secure a plate.<br /> The restaurant's owner had a mysterious background. While the specifics were unknown, a high-ranking noble from the capital of Vernoic, Kingsland, had caused a scene there once.<br /> He had attempted to force his way in without a reservation. Although this incident hadn't been reported, rumors suggested that a garbage truck had to be called to dispose of the intruder's remains, as he was too shattered to be removed by conventional means.<br /> Since then, no one dared to cause trouble.<br /> On their way, Mia introduced Wesley to the background story.<br /> "Mr. Turner, two plates of noodles." Mia called out once they arrived.<br /> Aaron Turner didn't respond but visibly paused upon seeing Wesley beside Mia.<br /> A faint smile appeared on his usually stoic face. Though the flesh on the face seemed stiff, it was indeed a smile. "Coming right up."<br /> Chapter 8 You Are Blushing<br /> Mia glanced at Aaron with a hint of surprise, thinking, "When does he become so warm and enthusiastic?<br /> His tone seemed a bit agitated earlier, didn't it?"<br /> Soon enough, Aaron brought two plates of noodles to the table. One steaming hot and the other devoid of any warmth.<br /> As Mia observed Aaron placing the plate without steam in front of Wesley, her expression changed slightly.<br /> It was a plate of instant noodles having soaked in cold water, with the seasoning barely dissolved.<br /> She felt a sense of panic. Mia had wanted to leave a good impression on Wesley, which was why she had chosen this place.<br /> However, Aaron had served such a plate of noodles.<br /> She dared not question Aaron. The type of noodles served here was not determined by the guests but by Aaron's mood.<br /> "This lass named Mia is quite something, living up to her name, and quite kind-hearted," Aaron remarked, looking at Wesley.<br /> "Get lost," Wesley retorted, using his fork to pick up the noodles and devouring them.<br /> Mia's face turned pale instantly. Disrespecting Aaron was akin to risking Wesley's life.<br /> To her astonishment, Aaron chuckled, tears welling up in his eyes.<br /> He wiped them away. "Alright, I'll leave you to your meal."<br /> Before departing, he gave Mia a thumbs-up. "Seize the opportunity."<br /> The eight plates of noodles symbolized the eight comrades who had faced life and hardships together.<br /> Wesley ate voraciously. Initially, they had only one pack of instant noodles to share among the eight of them, forcing them to divide it.<br /> Despite the circumstances, they devoured the noodles joyfully.<br /> Aaron had promised that once they survived, each one would have the most delicious plate of noodles.<br /> However, five of the eight had perished.<br /> Wesley had come dangerously close to life-threatening situations, but managed to cling to life.<br /> For him, the plate of noodles was not food but the bond of friendship that had shielded him from harm.<br /> "Do you... know each other?" Mia couldn't help but ask, her voice low and curious.<br /> "Some things are better left unknown," Wesley replied.<br /> Mia nodded in understanding, falling silent as they continued eating noodles. She couldn't help stealing glances at Wesley throughout the meal.<br /> This gent had piqued her curiosity even more.<br /> "Wesley, I see. No wonder you agreed to the divorce so readily. You've already found someone else outside."<br /> A sharp voice interrupted their meal.<br /> Taylor approached with a cold expression, accompanied by Henry.<br /> Taylor's mother was in the nearby hospital, and she had just picked up Frank, planning to buy some food when she unexpectedly saw Wesley.<br /> Of course, she saw Mia, too.<br /> Seeing Wesley dining with a lady more attractive than herself, so soon after the divorce felt like a dagger twisting in Taylor's heart.<br /> Her anger was uncontrollable.<br /> Wesley merely glanced at Taylor, disinterested in engaging with her.<br /> Taylor was stung by his indifferent gaze. She stepped forward, glaring at Wesley. "Are you not going to explain to me?"<br /> Mia looked at Taylor, silently cursing her as a foolish lady.<br /> Wesley continued eating his noodles, lowering his head. "Get lost. Don't disturb me, or I won't hesitate to hit you."<br /> "What did you say?" Henry stepped forward, enraged. "Wesley, try laying a hand on her! Is that all you're capable of? Laying hands on ladies?"<br /> "No wonder Taylor looks down on you. You're truly disgusting trash. Apologize to Taylor now, or else you'll regret coming into this world."<br /> "And how will he regret it? Tell me." Aaron emerged, carrying a cleaver, smiling as he faced Henry and Taylor.<br /> "Mr. Turner, we dare not cause trouble in your place, but this guy is just..."<br /> Henry attempted to speak but was cut off as Aaron's cleaver struck his face, sending him sprawling to the ground.<br /> "Mr. Turner, sorry, we'll leave now." Taylor hastily helped Henry up and hurriedly left.<br /> These two individuals were fortunate to know the legendary story behind Eight Plates of Noodles and had successfully made reservations to dine here multiple times.<br /> Having distanced themselves a bit, Henry covered his face and pointed at Wesley. "Wesley, we have some unfinished business. If you're smart, come over here now and apologize."<br /> "Wesley, I've seen through you as well. I never expected that for the past five years, you've been using my money to keep a lady on the side. We'll settle the score slowly."<br /> As the two noticed Aaron glancing their way, they quickly shut their mouths and hurriedly left.<br /> Once they were out of eyeshots, Aaron fixed his gaze on Wesley. "Your dad doesn't know about your divorce yet, does he?"<br /> "What difference would it make if he did?" Wesley stretched lazily. "I've fulfilled my promise. I've given enough."<br /> Aaron nodded in acknowledgment without saying anything further.<br /> This piqued Mia's curiosity even more. "Is it like what the novels depict? Did you marry Taylor due to some special event?"<br /> Seeing Wesley's glare, Mia lowered her head to focus on her noodles. "I won't ask anymore."<br /> "For the past five years, you've been staying in the stairwell. It has been hard for you, but at least you're still untouched," Aaron remarked before swiftly departing.<br /> Mia stared at Wesley in disbelief, realizing that Aaron's words were meant for her ears.<br /> "What are you staring at? Eat your noodles," Wesley said. Mia chuckled.<br /> "Why are you laughing?"<br /> "You're blushing."<br /> "Nonsense," Wesley retorted.<br /> Unable to contain herself, Mia burst into laughter. She had tried to hold it in, but seeing Wesley's flushed face made it impossible.<br /> Ten minutes later, Mia left on her own accord, sensing that Wesley had something to discuss with Aaron.<br /> Inside Aaron's small shop, Wesley opened a bottle of wine. "Still single?"<br /> "I look too old, no one's interested," Aaron replied, opening a bottle of liquor as well.<br /> "Then why are you meddling in my love lives?"<br /> "Leave a child behind, even if you pass away, someone will remember you." Aaron took a sip. "I've actually investigated this Mia."<br /> "You investigated her?"<br /> "I knew you'd get a divorce. I've been keeping an eye on the pretty ones. This girl had done a lot of good deeds before coming to Yeadeo. Once, she saved three people in a flood and nearly lost her life. Opportunities are rare. You have to seize them."<br /> "When you've figured things out and are ready to marry, then we can discuss our affairs. That's the condition." Wesley downed the entire bottle of liquor.<br /> "Otherwise, don't bother meddling. We're on a one-way path and can't drag others along."<br /> "You..." Aaron sighed as he watched Wesley's retreating figure.<br /> On the road leading to the Feidgeuo Manor, Taylor stood gazing blankly at the entrance not far away.<br /> Twice in one day, she had come here.<br /> The first time was to pick up Frank, and this time was because Frank had lost his expensive watch. She and Henry hadn't even had a meal, rushing over to find it.<br /> The first time, she had come in a hurry when Frank was injured and left quickly as well.<br /> But this time, as Taylor looked at the entrance ahead, an infinite longing sprouted within her.<br /> "If only... I could live here, how wonderful that would be."<br /> Henry looked at her. "One day, I'll definitely build an estate more magnificent than this, and you'll be the lady of the house."<br /> As they conversed, a taxi drove by, stopping at the entrance. The person who got out of the taxi left Taylor stunned.<br /> She rubbed her eyes.	Adoread	147	https://facebook.com/61556400142540	LEARN_MORE	1713510000	View Edit Delete
1666917	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727711	1734958298	695	1105804167388321			1713596400	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	226177680578601	0	Adoread	120207756046900265	client.adoread.com	Learn more	NONE	image	🔥🔥🔥 Read More👉	Hottest novel👉👉👉	https://client.adoread.com/book/loading/page/adoread/19161308412?utm_campaign={{campaign.id}}&utm_content={{campaign.name}}		1713536892	2.261776805786E+14	Adoread	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437380570_277303198782256_1660543497212410805_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=o3372gvRlSsQ7kNvgGdRSsT&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDCmB4AfNHiY2bNl1jw6kDnLg42Tot1JHgUSLGtSV-WXw&oe=663A8D0D	person_profile	0	Adoread	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437546171_1573592796549945_2931549668649378373_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=VI-BtPIpHaYQ7kNvgEsTE_3&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCfCcMSLnczy1UyZGh44yvluCUaW4N_BHuqCMGlAbitww&oe=663A82C5	0	3	"Wesley, are you trying to harm me? You useless piece of trash, can't even make a decent cup of coffee, can you?"<br /> Madison Blair lifted her coffee cup and splashed it directly onto Wesley Harrington's face.<br /> "What are you looking at, you spineless waste? Your name sounds so lofty? I might as well call you a waste."<br /> Glancing at the grotesque expression of his wife's mother, Wesley pulled out his phone to check the time.<br /> Exactly twelve o'clock. It had been five full years since he married Taylor Reed.<br /> The appointed time had come.<br /> He had fulfilled his promise, safeguarding the Reed family for five years, transforming them from a family living off fishing to one perceived as affluent by the common folk.<br /> Wiping the coffee off his face, he turned and walked away.<br /> "Where do you think you're going? Go fetch some more coffee," Madison shouted.<br /> "Madison, didn't you say this waste is obedient at home, doing whatever he's told? I don't think he's taking it lying down."<br /> Madison grew angrier. "Wesley, you stop right there. My family has fed and housed you. If you dare disobey, I'll have you thrown out!"<br /> Ignoring her, Wesley continued downstairs.<br /> "When Taylor comes back, I'll immediately have you two divorced. Do you hear me? Stay right there," Madison threatened, "I'll let you know your place today."<br /> Grabbing a golf club, Madison swiftly charged towards Wesley.<br /> Seeing Wesley heading downstairs, she swung the club viciously at his back.<br /> Without turning back, Wesley gently sidestepped.<br /> Losing her balance, Madison tumbled forward, rolling down the stairs with a series of thumps.<br /> "Ouch... it hurts, it hurts so much!"<br /> As Madison reached the ground floor, she wailed in pain and her sister immediately rushed to her.<br /> "Wesley, what have you done? How dare you hit my sister!" Madison's sister hurried down, checking on Madison's condition.<br /> Wesley remained silent, observing the scene.<br /> "Quick, call Taylor. Tell her to come back. Today, she must divorce this waste." Madison glared at Wesley. "How dare you hit me? Not only will I let Taylor divorce you, but I'll make sure you leave in disgrace."<br /> "Mum, what's wrong?" At that moment, a gent and a lady walked in.<br /> The lady was Taylor, Madison's daughter.<br /> She ran towards Madison.<br /> As Madison pointed at Wesley, tears streamed down her face. "Taylor, he hit me, he hit me! When you're not home, he changes his attitude, scolding and hitting me in the slightest displeasure. He even pushed me down the stairs just now. Alexis can testify."<br /> Madison's sister, Alexis Blair, chimed in. "Yes, Wesley, this trash not only hit your mother but also threatened to hit me too. We cannot tolerate such trash."<br /> "Taylor, I have been telling you to divorce him for years. You've been supporting him, treating him like a Lord at home, but he's an ungrateful wolf in sheep's clothing."<br /> Helping Madison up, Taylor noticed the scrapes on Madison's arms and legs, her expression turning cold.<br /> "Wesley, why did you hit my mother? You better give me an explanation."<br /> Wesley looked at Taylor, his wife.<br /> Five years had passed, and she had never shown him kindness.<br /> Taylor dressed impeccably, a paragon of a successful lady, with a face that could be deemed angelic, yet whether her heart was as angelic remained a mystery.<br /> Her figure, too, left countless men yearning.<br /> For five years, Wesley had thought he might develop feelings for this lady, but in reality, it never happened.<br /> "There are surveillance cameras in the house," Wesley stated calmly before descending the stairs into the hallway.<br /> Despite residing in a three-story villa, Wesley's living quarters were confined to the stairwell.<br /> He harbored no resentment towards this arrangement. It was merely a promise. It was just that Taylor failed to appreciate him.<br /> This home held little value that he wished to cling onto.<br /> Retrieving a wooden box from beneath his pillow, Wesley extracted two documents. Casting a fleeting glance at the modest abode he had called home for five years, Wesley smiled faintly.<br /> He thought, "Finally... I'm free."<br /> Pushing the door ajar, Wesley was met by Taylor's piercing gaze. "I've reviewed the surveillance footage. Yes, my mother intended to strike you, but even if she did, what difference would it make?"<br /> "She's a lady. How much could her blows hurt you? Why did you dodge?"<br /> "If you hadn't dodged, my mother wouldn't have tumbled down." Wesley stared at Taylor, unable to comprehend her thought process.<br /> He had no interest in engaging in these arguments. Handing over the two documents to Taylor, he remarked, "The divorce agreement. I've already signed it. Take a look. I'm leaving with nothing."<br /> "With your current influence, there's no need for you to visit the city hall. Someone will handle it for you, right?"<br /> Madison was taken aback. She swiftly snatched the divorce agreement, flipping through it hastily.<br /> The contents were indeed straightforward. Both parties willingly divorced, with Wesley relinquishing all claims and having already signed.<br /> In an instant, Madison's pain seemed to dissipate. "Taylor, sign it quickly. Sign it."<br /> Taylor was still in a daze.<br /> She pondered.<br /> "A divorce agreement? Wesley has already prepared a divorce agreement. On what grounds?"<br /> "What gives him the right to initiate a divorce? All these years, he's done nothing at home, lacking any ambition. Always practicing martial arts, what right does he have to seek a divorce?"<br /> "If anyone should initiate it, it should be me. Moreover, now that I'm back to discussing this matter with him. Could it be that word got out, and Wesley, for the sake of his pride, rushed to prepare a divorce agreement first?"<br /> "It must be so, but... No!"<br /> "Wanting to leave with nothing, is he retreating to advance? As the chairman of the Reed Group, how could I be served with a divorce?"<br /> "Hey Wesley, I never expected this from you. Have I not treated you well enough? You seek a divorce, attempting to turn your retreat into advance, aiming to embarrass me?"<br /> Taylor glared at Wesley. "I'm telling you, it's impossible."<br /> Snatching the divorce agreement, she tore it to shreds.<br /> "Taylor, what are you doing? Such a great opportunity. Why not just sign it and let him leave?" Madison grew anxious.<br /> "Mom, I do intend to divorce this trash, but the decision must come from me. I returned specifically to address this matter."<br /> With that, Taylor produced two documents. "Wesley, remember that it's me who's divorcing you. It's me who no longer wants you. Initially, out of marital obligation, I had considered offering you some compensation. Now, you don't even need to think about it. Sign the divorce agreement and leave my home."<br /> Wesley offered a faint smile as he accepted the divorce agreement.<br /> "What are you laughing at?" Taylor demanded angrily.<br /> Wesley's smile seemed to mock her, fueling her rage.<br /> Ignoring her entirely, Wesley signed the document and handed it over.<br /> "What are you laughing at? Answer me! Who do you think you are?" Taylor roared once more.<br /> Wesley glanced at her before striding towards the exit.<br /> "Stop!" The gent who had accompanied Taylor stepped forward, blocking Wesley's path. "Taylor asked you a question, and... Your previous attitude displeased me. Apologize to Taylor, or I'll have you leave in disgrace!"<br /> Chapter 2 The Unspoken Truth<br /> <br /> "Yes, let him leave in disgrace. He thought he could just hit me and walk away so easily," Madison joined in the commotion, also noticing the gent blocking Wesley's path.<br /> Madison had a keen interest in luxury goods, having frequented various high-end establishments over the years as the Reed family's living conditions improved. The gent was wearing an expensive watch and dressed head to toe in high-end luxury brands.<br /> Seeing Madison's gaze, the gent spoke. "Rest assured, today Wesley must pay the price."<br /> The gent introduced himself, looking at Wesley, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Henry Clark, the eldest son of the Clark family and the general manager of the Clark Group in the North District."<br /> "From now on, I will accompany Taylor on her journey of life, and I will not allow anyone to bully her."<br /> "My identity carries weight. You should understand that. Now, apologize to Taylor. Apologize! Did you hear me? Apologize!"<br /> Madison's eyes lit up. She hadn't expected the gent before her to hold such a high status. She continued to shout, "Did you hear that? Taylor will be with Mr. Clark from now on. Apologize now."<br /> Wesley glanced at Henry, then at Taylor. He thought, "Have they been together all along?" Wesley had wanted to ask but decided against it because there was no need. He simply gave them a glance and continued walking towards the exit.<br /> "Are you ignoring me?" Henry's face turned cold as he reached out to grab Wesley. Henry's hand froze mid-air as he received a solid hit.<br /> "Until I sign the divorce papers, Taylor and I are still wife and husband. I don't care to investigate whether you two had any intimate relationship during that time, but don't provoke me, or I won't hesitate to make you regret it." Wesley's gaze was icy, and as Henry met his eyes, he felt a twinge of fear and swallowed his words.<br /> Taylor was also stunned. She knew exactly what Wesley had been like over the past five years. There were many surveillance cameras in the house, and she would often check them.<br /> Even when Taylor wasn't home, despite how her family treated Wesley, he always obeyed without complaint, especially towards her. He had never raised his voice, no matter how they treated him.<br /> Today, not only did Wesley dodge when her mother struck, but he also initiated the divorce and now even struck Henry. <br /> Taylor was at a loss for words, thinking, "How could this cowardly gent dare? On what grounds does he dare?"<br /> This change was difficult for Taylor to accept as if she didn't truly understand this guy. The gent who used to be obedient to her, completely submissive, now revealed this side of himself. She watched Wesley walk away in a daze, feeling a strange discomfort in her heart.<br /> "Isn't he leaving with nothing?" Alexis pointed at the wooden box Wesley was holding. "What is he taking with him?"<br /> Madison also realized. Over the past five years, Wesley had always treasured this wooden box, carrying it with him wherever he went. She thought there must be something valuable inside.<br /> Realizing this, Madison hurriedly followed. "Wesley, stop right there, leave the wooden box."<br /> Wesley paused, glanced at Madison, and said, "This is my personal belonging."<br /> "Nonsense, what personal belonging could you possibly have after marrying into the Reed family? Everything you've eaten, worn, and lived in over the years has been provided by the Reed family. Put it down."<br /> As she spoke, Madison reached out to grab the wooden box.<br /> "Ah..." A scream rang out as Madison quickly retracted her hand, a gash appearing on her palm, a crimson liquid dripping.<br /> The wooden box was now stained with the same crimson liquid, trembling lightly in Wesley's hand.<br /> "It's not the right time yet, the day you thirst for this crimson liquid will come," Wesley murmured softly, patting the box before turning to continue his stride towards the exit.<br /> "Monster! A monster!" Madison screamed, causing Taylor and the others to rush out. Seeing the wound in Madison's hand, Taylor was filled with rage.<br /> "Wesley, aren't you going to say something?" Wesley halted once more, contemplating before meeting Taylor's gaze.<br /> "Just stay out of my way from now on. Consider this a warning to you."<br /> "Taylor, that wooden box of his has a mechanism. It must hold something valuable! We can't let him take it with him," Madison, enduring the pain, reminded them.<br /> "Mom, your injury is important. We'll deal with him later. Let me take you to the hospital first." Taylor comforted Madison before calling out to the retreating Wesley.<br /> "Our marriage is over! Yet, you dared to hurt my mother! This won't be the end of it! I will make you regret it!" Ignoring her, Wesley continued walking out.<br /> "Rest assured, I promise he won't see the light of day tomorrow." Henry stepped forward to console. "Let's focus on getting your wound treated first."<br /> "I want him to regret ever existing in this world, to apologize to me in repentance," Madison roared.<br /> "Mom, trust me, I will make him do just that." Taylor looked at Madison with a mix of pity and determination. "Let's go to the hospital first."<br /> In the villa area, Wesley halted, his voice cold. "Get out."<br /> An elderly gent leaped down from a tree, appearing to be in his seventies, yet landing silently from a height of around ten feet.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, your father wants you to come home and take charge."<br /> "He stopped being my father five years ago. He's my enemy."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you misunderstood your father. He had his reasons back then. I swear in my life, once you know the truth, you will forgive him."<br /> "Huh!" Wesley smirked coldly, saying, "I nearly passed away back then. Is that also a misunderstanding?"<br /> The old gent pleaded, "Mr. Harrington, this situation is truly not as you perceive it."<br /> Wesley didn't engage further with the old guy. The events of that year were etched in his memory forever. He was the one who had been abandoned. If not for that incident, why would he have stayed with the Reed family for five years?<br /> Watching Wesley walk away, the old gent had tears silently streaming down his face. "Mr. Harrington, I truly... I truly can't bring myself to speak the truth, but you have misunderstood your father. He also bears burdens and endures pains beyond what an ordinary person can handle."<br /> As Wesley's figure disappeared, the old gent stood up, hesitated for a moment, then dialed a number on his phone.<br /> "Mr. Harrington is now divorced. I've given you the news firsthand. If your daughter is truly together with Mr. Harrington, you must fulfill the promise and let her persuade Mr. Harrington to come home."<br /> After hanging up, a middle-aged gent in a luxurious estate jumped up excitedly. Calming himself, he immediately made another call. "My dear, you're at Yeadeo, right?<br /> "Go find Wesley now. Don't mention the engagement for now. Use every means to get close to him, make him fall in love with you."<br /> "Dad, I don't have time."<br /> "No matter what you are busy with, you must go find Wesley now. No matter what reason you approach him, you must leave a good impression the first time."<br /> "Dad, I'm in trouble right now. If I don't handle it well, I might be good as gone. I have to deal with it immediately. I'm hanging up."<br /> Chapter 3 You're Nothing<br /> The middle-aged gent's voice lowered significantly. "Is there a big incident happening? You didn't tell me? What happened?"<br /> "Quinn Kingsley from Yeadeo, Mr. Kingsley, used our product and now has one foot on the grave. If something really happens to him..."<br /> "You mean Quinn, the uncontested leader of Yeadeo?"<br /> "Yes."<br /> "In that case, you should go find Wesley. Trust me, in this world, there is no problem that Wesley can't solve. As long as he's willing to help, you'll be fine. Listen to me, go find Wesley immediately."<br /> The lady fell silent for a moment before saying, "Okay."<br /> At Yeadeo Harbor, a gent with a large flaxen chain and a watch, sporting a crew cut, hurriedly disembarked, accompanied by a dozen gentlemen.<br /> "Mr. Reed, wherever that trash is, we will find him and tear him apart."<br /> "Yes, that guy dared to harm your mother. We'll make sure he pays for it."<br /> Frank Reed's face turned cold. "Wesley, you coward, thinking you can overturn the world? How dare you touch my mom? Just wait until I find you, you're finished."<br /> "We've found him. Wesley got into a taxi, and our boys followed him."<br /> "Let's go!" Frank waved his hand, leading dozens of men who boarded the car with harpoons, steel pipes, and other weapons.<br /> Inside the taxi, Wesley gazed at the scenery outside, feeling a strange sense of tranquility.<br /> He thought to himself, "I never imagined that while I was secretly paving the way for the Reed family, Taylor, after progressing so rapidly, would start looking down on me more and more."<br /> "Those ladies who know my true identity, which one of them isn't trying to throw themselves at me? Ladies like that don't interest me."<br /> "Being an ordinary gent is truly difficult," Wesley murmured, smiling faintly and deciding not to dwell on these matters anymore. He had important things to attend to and no time to waste on personal affairs.<br /> "Young lad, are you going to Feidgeuo Manor for a job interview?" The driver, curious about Wesley's destination, inquired.<br /> Feidgeuo Manor was Yeadeo's most mysterious private area. Originally a villa area, it was bought at a huge cost five years ago and completely renovated. It was said to have cost a trillion dollars. The former villa area was now Feidgeuo Manor.<br /> "That's my home," Wesley replied nonchalantly.<br /> The driver was taken aback by this revelation, silently cursing Wesley for bragging. After a couple of minutes, the driver regained his composure. "It seems like you and I both prefer to keep a low profile. My car usually gathers dust at home, so I occasionally drive a taxi to experience life."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "My car has been driven by my assistant for the past few years, so it's not gathering dust."<br /> "Haha..." The driver laughed. "We should get together sometime and see whose car is more impressive."<br /> "Sure, whenever we have the time."<br /> As they chatted, the vehicle soon arrived near Feidgeuo Manor, where the massive head of the Feidgeuo Peak protruded, creating a unique landscape in Yeadeo.<br /> The driver asked with a smile, "Since you're the owner here, it's fine if I drive in, right?"<br /> "Of course," Wesley replied.<br /> As soon as Wesley spoke, several cars caught up from behind.<br /> The cars surrounded the one Wesley was in, with the front vehicles braking to force the car to a stop.<br /> When numerous people descended from cars wielding harpoons and steel pipes, the driver's face paled.<br /> Frank and his group got out of the cars, instantly closing in, and without hesitation, started attacking, the steel pipes and harpoons thudding against the car.<br /> Frank's henchman yanked open the door of Wesley's car, poised to stab Wesley with a harpoon, but Wesley swiftly exited the vehicle.<br /> With a firm step on the ground, he launched a swift hit.<br /> A muffled sound echoed as the henchman was hit away.<br /> "What are you looking at?" Frank noticed his henchmen were all staring at him. "All of you, attack together and take him down!"<br /> As he commanded, the henchmen Frank brought with him surged forward.<br /> The taxi driver, trembling, took out his phone to call the police, but Frank glared at him. "I am Frank Reed from Yeadeo Harbor. If you dare, go ahead and make that call."<br /> Frank, leveraging his sister Taylor's status, had been causing trouble in Yeadeo Harbor, and no one dared to provoke him.<br /> Upon hearing Frank's name, the driver hastily put away his phone. "Mr. Reed, I'll just check the time, you guys continue."<br /> "Huh!" Frank snorted coldly, casting his gaze towards the surrounded Wesley.<br /> The sounds of thuds continued to ring out incessantly. Because Wesley was completely surrounded, Frank was unable to see the situation inside clearly, but he could imagine it. After all, in Frank's mind, the henchmen under his command were not to be trifled with.<br /> "Hit him hard for me!"<br /> Another muffled sound and a figure flew out. At that moment, Frank finally saw the situation clearly, and his face turned pale.<br /> Frank knew that Wesley liked to practice martial arts, but he had never expected Wesley to be this skilled. It wasn't Wesley who had been beaten, but his own men by Wesley alone.<br /> Frantically, Frank turned and ran to retrieve a crossbow from the car.<br /> "Clear the way." Frank bellowed, aiming the crossbow at Wesley.<br /> "You scumbag, you think you can fight? Move one more time, and I'll end your life! Surrender!"<br /> Wesley, holding a wooden box, stared at Frank. Ignoring the crossbow in his hand, Wesley said, "Tell your henchmen to back off, or you'll all see the light from above!"<br /> "You're really good at pretending to be tough." Frank took two steps forward. "See the light? Move a muscle and see if I can end your life or not! If you don't have the guts, apologize now!"<br /> Wesley turned his head and looked at the approaching cars, with two expensive ones in the lead, two more in the rear, and another one in the middle.<br /> "Keep acting tough, and I'll put a hole in your head." Frank spoke while glancing at the five cars. "What, looking for help?"<br /> "Let me tell you, those who ride in these cars are not the kind of weaklings like you who rely on connections. With me here, in Yeadeo's social hierarchy, even those who ride in such cars wouldn't dare meddle in this matter. And let me make it clear, without my sister, you're nothing."<br /> Chapter 4 Is He Worthy?<br /> As Frank's words faded, the five cars came to a halt.<br /> A bodyguard opened the door of the one in the middle, revealing a dazzling pair of shining shoes catching everyone's eye.<br /> The shining shoe encased a beautiful foot. Above, the skirt's hem was adorned with lace.<br /> Then, like a fairy stepping out of a painting, she appeared before everyone's eyes.<br /> The lady was beautiful!<br /> Frank was mesmerized. Ever since the Reed family rose to prominence, he had been surrounded by ladies, but compared to the elegant lady before him, they were worlds apart.<br /> It wasn't just a difference in appearance but an incomparable gap in demeanor.<br /> The lady descending from the Maybach seemed like a celestial being untouched by mortal affairs.<br /> The embodiment of a fairy in the mundane world.<br /> She simply stood there after getting out of the car, perfectly embodying what it meant to be graceful and elegant.<br /> The lady glanced at Wesley, then at Frank.<br /> Frank grinned, saying, "May I have the honor of knowing the name of this esteemed lady? I am Frank..."<br /> The lady spoke calmly. "Disrespect Mr. Harrington, and you're done for."<br /> Her bodyguards, unfazed by Frank's crossbow, swiftly overwhelmed him, sending him crashing to the ground.<br /> The henchmen who had come with Frank, previously defeated by Wesley, now scrambled to their feet and fled in all directions.<br /> Who would dare provoke someone who could afford such a car?<br /> "My sister is Taylor Reed, the chairperson of Reed Group," Frank shouted, clutching his head.<br /> Ignoring him, one of the bodyguards dragged him to the roadside grass while another used a belt to tighten around Frank's neck, exerting pressure.<br /> "Enough, a lesson is all that's needed." Wesley spoke calmly, and only when the lady gestured did the bodyguards release Frank.<br /> Frank lay there, already unconscious.<br /> Wesley turned to the lady. "Who are you?"<br /> "I am Mia Roberts, the general manager of Vinver Business Alliance's Yeadeo branch." She looked at Wesley and continued, "Mr. Harrington, my father mentioned that you have miraculous healing skills and earnestly requested your assistance. A generous reward awaits."<br /> Wesley furrowed his brow slightly, thinking, "There are indeed people who recognize my abilities and status, yet I've rarely intervened in the past five years. Today, shortly after I divorced Taylor, she is here. Whose arrangement is this?"<br /> "Mr. Harrington, my father also mentioned that you are benevolent and has raised the banner of compassion among healers, serving as a role model and benchmark for all in the medical field."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "You have a way with words. Tell me the specifics."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, please get in the car first. I will explain in detail on the way."<br /> The phrase "compassionate healer" held significant weight for Wesley, who had saved countless lives from the brink of death.<br /> Without further ado, he got into the car.<br /> Inside, after Mia brewed coffee for Wesley, she began. "Vinver Business Alliance has a wide range of business operations, and I mainly oversee the health supplement sector, which has seen some success in recent years.<br /> "Recently, Quinn Kingsley started using our medicines, and now there's an accident."<br /> As she spoke, Mia kept her gaze fixed on Wesley.<br /> Quinn, the undisputed leader of Yeadeo, was a figure of immense influence.<br /> Upon hearing this name, Wesley showed no particular reaction. "If the city's leader faces issues with your products, it is indeed a concern. Let's go and see."<br /> With just a sentence, Wesley leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest.<br /> Mia was secretly alarmed, thinking, "He knows who Quinn is, yet he seems indifferent. Who is this Wesley, really? No wonder Dad has instructed me to find a way to win his favor." Mia's inner resistance toward Wesley quietly shifted.<br /> Wesley had piqued her curiosity.<br /> As the vehicle was moving, Wesley's phone rang.<br /> Wesley opened his eyes and took out his phone to see Taylor calling.<br /> Pressing the answer button, he asked, "What's the matter?"<br /> On the other end of the line, Taylor, driving towards Feidgeuo Manor, had a grim expression.<br /> She thought, "Has Wesley ever spoken to me in such a cold tone before? Is he really this heartless right after our divorce?"<br /> Already furious, she snapped. "Wesley, do you even consider yourself a human being?<br /> "Today, not only did you lay hands on my mother, but you also had someone attack my brother. Do you not remember our past at all?"<br /> Wesley calmly replied, "Do we have a past to remember?"<br /> "You truly are a heartless scumbag, just as my mother said. You are an ungrateful and vicious person I raised for five years. Even a pet would wag its tail at me!"<br /> Taylor wanted to continue her tirade, but the phone line had already turned busy.<br /> This only fueled her anger further.<br /> Just now, she had received a call from Frank's underlings, informing her that Wesley had sent people to attack Frank and even intended to end him.<br /> Taylor wanted to demand answers, but...<br /> As Taylor was clutching her fists, her gaze turned icy.<br /> After a moment, she picked up her phone again. "Wesley, you are so narrow-minded. You have no ambition. Any lady would steer clear of you."<br /> "Just because I dumped you, you are doing this on purpose to make me feel sick. Pretending to be aloof and seeking revenge? Do you even deserve it?"<br /> "In Yeadeo, squashing you would be as easy as squashing an ant. You're asking for it! If anything happens to my brother, I will make you wish you were ending!"<br /> Her furious voice message echoed in the car.<br /> Wesley chuckled and put away his phone.<br /> Beside him, Mia seemed contemplative. Before coming, she had already ordered a swift investigation into Wesley.<br /> She was curious, thinking, "How could someone valued by my father could be the one 'marrying into' the Reed family."<br /> Being tactful, Mia chose not to ask and pretended not to have heard.<br /> After about forty minutes, they arrived at the Kingsley Manor.<br /> The Kingsley family members, upon seeing Mia alight from the car, all wore grim expressions.<br /> Mia greeted them with a smile, "Everyone, this is Wesley Harrington, Mr. Harrington, the miraculous healer I specially invited to treat Mr. Kingsley."<br /> "Him? The gent who married into the Reed family?"<br /> "A miraculous healer? Is he even worthy? Are healers so worthless now?"<br /> "A useless gent who mooches off of the Reed family? How dare he call himself a miraculous healer? Truly a joke among all jokes."<br /> Chapter 5 Compassionate Healer<br /> Amanda Kingsley, Quinn's granddaughter, stared coldly at Wesley and Mia.<br /> This lady, dressed in a smart suit, also held significant fame in Yeadeo, overseeing the region's business activities, including investment attraction and various local business negotiations.<br /> Amanda had a favorable view of Taylor, who had risen swiftly in recent times, and they had interacted frequently.<br /> She was aware of Wesley's existence and had advised Taylor to part ways with him early on.<br /> But Amanda never imagined that Mia would bring someone like Wesley, a complete waste, and claim he was a miraculous healer.<br /> Glaring at Mia, she said, "Mia, once my grandfather is well, it's best for your Roberts family to leave Yeadeo."<br /> "As for you..." She glanced at Wesley. "I will advise Taylor to divorce you. You have deceived Taylor's feelings and now shamelessly made your way into my family. You are a despicable creature."<br /> After reprimanding Mia and Wesley, she turned to an elderly gent beside her, and her tone and attitude completely changed. "Mr. Phillips, sorry to trouble you. My grandfather is inside, please."<br /> Mia looked at the elderly gent, who was already in his twilight years, feeling deeply shocked.<br /> Scott Phillips, the 38th generation heir of the Healing Clinic, was now ninety-two years old.<br /> Renowned as a miraculous healer, he was a respected figure in the medical community of Yeadeo and even nationally.<br /> He no longer conducted consultations personally due to his old age. Mia had visited him specifically to pay her respects once she had arrived in Yeadeo but had not met Scott.<br /> She never expected Scott to appear in person. It was understandable, as Quinn held a prominent position in the city. Despite the profound influence of the Phillips family, they still had to show respect to Quinn.<br /> Mia looked at Wesley, feeling conflicted and thinking, "Dad has confidently claimed that Wesley has extraordinary abilities, but does he really?"<br /> She harbored doubts, but out of propriety, Mia spoke. "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the trouble."<br /> Wesley smiled, "It's fine. As long as the person can be healed."<br /> His open-mindedness impressed Mia.<br /> After about half an hour, Amanda emerged from the room. All eyes instantly turned towards her.<br /> It was evident that Amanda had wailed out, with traces of tears still visible.<br /> "Amanda, how is it?" A middle-aged gent anxiously asked her.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family who had rushed back also focused their attention on her.<br /> "Mr. Phillips said that there's little hope of recovery. He could only use acupuncture to wake grandfather for half an hour. When grandfather wakes up, let's all go in and see if he has any final instructions."<br /> Everyone was shocked.<br /> "How could this be?"<br /> "Is Mr. Phillips also helpless?"<br /> The members of the Kingsley family found it hard to accept this reality, especially since Quinn had always treated his juniors well.<br /> The thought of Quinn departing saddened some, and tears silently fell.<br /> Publicly, Quinn's status was the foundation of the Kingsley family's prominence in Yeadeo.<br /> If Quinn were to pass away, the Kingsley family would undoubtedly decline.<br /> The atmosphere within the Kingsley family was somber.<br /> Amanda looked at her family members, opened her mouth, but said nothing, silently turning back into the room.<br /> "Stop crying," A middle-aged gent said sternly, "Dad wouldn't want to see you all in tears. If he's really leaving, we mustn't let him worry about us. Pull yourselves together."<br /> After these words, the middle-aged gent also entered the room.<br /> The younger members of the Kingsley family wiped their tears vigorously, trying to force smiles, but in truth, they looked better at crying than pretending to be happy.<br /> Mia's spirit plummeted as she realized the gravity of the situation. Even if an ordinary person passed away from consuming health supplements, it spelled big trouble for those who sold them. And when the deceased happened to be Quinn, the stakes were even higher.<br /> She understood that it would be difficult for this branch to stay in Yeadeo, and even the headquarters might face repercussions.<br /> "Let's go in and have a look." Wesley glanced at Mia. "There might still be a chance."<br /> "Ah..." Mia stared at Wesley in surprise. Seeing him already heading towards the room, she quickly followed suit.<br /> Inside the room, the members of the Kingsley family stood around the mattress, maintaining a certain distance.<br /> Scott lit the alcohol lamp and took out the needles, his expression solemn.<br /> He looked at the members of the Kingsley family. "Think about what you want to say to Mr. Kingsley later. Once you're ready, let me know, and then I'll proceed with the acupuncture."<br /> As he said this, tears welled up in many eyes.<br /> "If you don't mind, let me take a look. I have a way." Wesley spoke up, drawing everyone's attention.<br /> Amanda's face darkened. "Who let you in? Get out!"<br /> "Mia, have you lost your mind? Tricked by this trash and actually brought him here as a miracle healer. Get out with him! I'll settle the score with you in a couple of days."<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, at a loss for words.<br /> "Even Mr. Phillips is unable to reverse the situation. What use are you? Get out." Another younger member of the Kingsley family angrily rebuked.<br /> The middle-aged gent added, "We're in no mood right now. You better leave immediately."<br /> "I understand your narrow-mindedness," Wesley continued, "But as a healer, once I see a patient, I cannot stand by and watch him draw his last breath."<br /> "Wesley, you're quite the charlatan. Do you really want to be gone right now?" Amanda's voice was filled with anger.<br /> "Amanda, let me say a few words," Scott interjected, and Amanda fell silent.<br /> Looking at Wesley, Scott began. "Young lad, at my age, I've seen a lot and have a broad perspective. Today, however, I find it hard to remain indifferent. I practiced medicine from the age of sixteen until I stopped seeing patients for a total of seventy years."<br /> "I've saved countless patients from various illnesses. I never easily declare a patient's fate, nor do I believe I have the right to do so."<br /> "But from your recent remarks, it seems like you're accusing me of such actions. Young people wanting to make a name for themselves by stepping on the shoulders of their predecessors, I can understand."<br /> "But this kind of behavior displeases me."<br /> "My displeasure, what does it mean to you? Do you understand?"<br /> "Even if you are a healer, your career will be ruined because of this."<br /> Chapter 6 Hand of Hell<br /> In the face of Scott's veiled threats, Wesley simply smiled and brushed them off.<br /> Looking at Scott, he asked, "I've always focused on the issue at hand rather than attacking individuals. I have a few questions for you. If you can't administer the needles, how long do you think Quinn can hold on?"<br /> "Seven days, but he will remain unconscious," Scott replied bluntly.<br /> "Then let me ask you this, is there anyone in the world with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "Outrageous," Amanda coldly interjected, "Mr. Phillips is unparalleled in his medical expertise."<br /> Scott glanced at Amanda. "Amanda, let me handle this question."<br /> Continuing to address Wesley, he said, "I don't underestimate myself, nor do I overestimate. There are countless talented individuals in the world, like stars in the sky. I may not dare claim to be the best in medical skills, but those who surpass me are few."<br /> "That means there are some," Wesley calmly remarked, causing Scott's expression to shift slightly, "Indeed, there are."<br /> "Then let me ask you this. Do you think within seven days, the Kingsley family won't find someone with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "If they do find someone, do you believe there is an illness that you cannot cure, but this person can?"<br /> Wesley's questions were sharp and resounding.<br /> Scott's face changed once more as he was rendered speechless.<br /> "Even if there is, that person will never be you." Amanda's face turned icy. "Now get out. Don't spout your eloquence here. Your deceitful behavior is repulsive."<br /> "Your understanding of me is merely hearsay, isn't it?" Wesley retorted, his gaze mocking Amanda, "Has your background and education taught you such arrogance and prejudice?"<br /> "Arrogance?" Amanda's face grew colder as she disdainfully looked at Wesley. "Prejudice?<br /> "Did I say something wrong just now? You are nothing but stagnant waste, a parasite living off others. If it weren't for Taylor, you would have starved on the streets long ago."<br /> "Relying on sweet words, deceiving Taylor. She, with her kind heart, can't bear to divorce you, but don't push your luck. If it weren't for Taylor's sake, you would have been sent out long ago."<br /> Scott interrupted Amanda, "Amanda, although I find this lad a bit annoying, what he said does hold some truth. There are indeed individuals with better medical skills than me. Your grandfather can hold on for seven days. Try reaching out to see if someone can come over. I'll help you make connections."<br /> "If it really doesn't work out after seven days, I'll administer the needles to your grandfather. However, at that point, I can only buy you three minutes."<br /> As soon as Scott spoke, the faces of the Kingsley family members grew even more solemn. True healers were rare and not easily summoned.<br /> While the Kingsley family had connections in Yeadeo, their influence waned outside of it.<br /> "Mr. Phillips, please administer the needles. Life has its ups and downs, and we understand that. Just buy my father a bit more time." The middle-aged gent spoke up.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family nodded in agreement.<br /> Amanda looked at Scott. "Mr. Phillips, please."<br /> "In that case, please have everyone unrelated leave. I need silence," Scott calmly stated.<br /> Amanda glared at Wesley, her eyes speaking volumes without a word.<br /> The unrelated individuals were, naturally, Wesley and Mia.<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, intending to leave, but she suddenly hesitated.<br /> Instead of leaving, Wesley moved forward.<br /> "What are you doing?" A young member of the Kingsley family stepped forward with a stern expression, pushing Wesley.<br /> In one swift motion, Wesley executed a clean shoulder throw, toppling the young gent to the ground, his own expression turning cold.<br /> "A bunch of fools! If it weren't for my teacher's teachings about not turning a blind eye to those in need, I wouldn't bother with you ignorant lot," Wesley remarked with disdain.<br /> As Wesley effortlessly took down one individual from the Kingsley family, the others seemed slow to react.<br /> By the time they realized what was happening, Wesley had already picked up the needle next to Scott and casually flicked his wrist.<br /> The needle flew out of his hand, piercing Quinn's temple, followed by a second needle, a third needle, and so on.<br /> "What are you doing? Stop!" Amanda's voice rose in urgency, echoed by the rest of the Kingsley family members who rushed forward to restrain Wesley.<br /> "Stay back, everyone. Wait." Scott suddenly stood up, blocking the others. "Let him try."<br /> Amanda and the others were left dumbfounded, thinking, "What does this mean?"<br /> Despite their confusion, they heeded Scott's words.<br /> After Scott stopped the members of the Kingsley family, he fixed his gaze on Wesley.<br /> Wesley proceeded to use eighteen needles in succession, symbolizing the levels of pain.<br /> Even if someone had descended into the depths of hell, they must be brought back.<br /> The final needle, also piercing a vital point, caused Quinn's body to tremble suddenly, resonating with the previous eighteen needles.<br /> Scott's eyes widened, his body trembling slightly. His reaction left Amanda and the others even more puzzled, but none dared to interrupt.<br /> Moments later, Wesley placed a palm on Quinn's chest, causing all eighteen needles to be shaken off. When all the needles landed on the ground, the part of the skin where the needles had pierced turned dark.<br /> Wesley then dragged Quinn to the edge of the mattress, flipped him over with his head facing downwards, and gave him a firm pat on the back.<br /> Quinn spat out a mouthful of black liquid. When Wesley flipped him back to lie flat, his complexion had regained some color.<br /> "The Hand of Darkness... It's the Hand of Darkness!" Scott exclaimed with excitement, his body quivering, "It's the Hand that descends into the dark world, snatching people from the hands of the Evil!"<br /> "You do have some knowledge, recognizing the Hand of Darkness." Wesley glanced at Scott.<br /> Scott's gaze towards Wesley had undergone a drastic change. He respectfully clasped his hands together.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thirty years ago, I had the honor of attending a teaching conference held by Mr. Vanderbilt. I saw the Hand of Darkness, but my limited aptitude only allowed me to grasp the basics."<br /> "I have been blind and ignorant. I apologize for my earlier offenses. Please forgive me, Mr. Harrington."<br /> The Mr. Vanderbilt Scott referred to was Wesley's teacher, Ulysses Vanderbilt. He generously imparted his skills to others, but the ability to learn depended on one's innate talent.<br /> In this world, few could learn Ulysses' skills.<br /> Scott had been fortunate to receive guidance from Ulysses, which had elevated his medical skills. However, the Hand of Darkness, a miraculous ability, was beyond his comprehension.<br /> Wesley smiled faintly, "Your actions earlier are understandable. I appreciate your words."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you must be an exceptional disciple of Mr. Vanderbilt, possessing unparalleled magnanimity. Impressive," Scott continued.<br /> "Enough with the flattery at your age."<br /> "You are mistaken, Mr. Harrington. Every word I speak is sincere."<br /> Mia, Amanda, and the others stood bewildered by the unfolding situation.<br /> "Mr. Phillips... he... he..." Amanda's words faltered.<br /> Scott turned to the members of the Kingsley family. "Meeting Mr. Harrington was Quinn's luck. His symptoms have been cured by Mr. Harrington. With a few days of rest, he will be fine."<br /> The waste Taylor had previously said was called Mr. Harrington by Scott!<br /> Recalling their previous attitudes, Amanda hurriedly apologized, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> The members of the Kingsley family all apologized in unison, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> Chapter 7 Eight Plates of Noodles<br /> With a faint smile, Wesley remarked, "As family members of a patient, your actions earlier are understandable. There's no need for such formality."<br /> Amanda's perplexity deepened as she thought, "Where is the cowardly waste that Taylor described? This display of magnanimity and breadth is far from it."<br /> Mia, too, felt a shiver of realization, thinking, "No wonder Dad has insisted on my proximity to Wesley.<br /> This guy..."<br /> She gazed at Wesley, her curiosity piqued, a sense of exploration stirring within her.<br /> "Mia has brought you here, Mr. Harrington, to cure my grandfather. The Kingsley family will never forget this act. However, considering that my grandfather's ailment stemmed from the health supplements produced by the Vinver Business Alliance, we will be conducting an investigation into it."<br /> Amanda continued, looking at Wesley, "What do you think... of this approach?"<br /> It was Mia who had invited Wesley, so Amanda had grown wiser, refraining from asking for a direct punishment of the Vinver Business Alliance.<br /> As Mia heard Amanda's words, her heart skipped a beat, realizing trouble was brewing.<br /> "On the way here, Ms. Roberts briefed me on the situation. You conducted experiments on mice, correct?"<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes, the health supplements we received were exclusively provided by the Roberts family. There were no similar cases on the market, so we used mice for testing.<br /> "All the mice that ingested this supplement were gone."<br /> She looked at Mia and added, her voice turned colder. "Before the experiment, I specifically contacted Mia to inquire about the testing methods during the development phase, which involved mice."<br /> "There have been individuals eyeing my grandfather's position, some even wishing for his demise. I never imagined that the Vinver Business Alliance, which I attracted for investment, would become a weapon in someone else's hands."<br /> "Do you have any of the remaining medicine?" Wesley inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes."<br /> "Bring some over."<br /> Immediately, someone fetched the medicine. After it was brought to him, Wesley took out a supplement and swallowed it directly.<br /> This scene left Amanda and the others dumbfounded.<br /> Scott, too, was bewildered. "Mr. Harrington, what are you doing?"<br /> Wesley smiled, "Just proving that this medicine is not toxic."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thank you," Mia thanked sincerely, feeling like sobbing at that moment.<br /> Amanda, with a puzzled expression, looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, are you suggesting that my grandfather's condition wasn't caused by the Vinver Business Alliance's medicine? What about the mice?"<br /> The rest were equally puzzled.<br /> "Yes, but not entirely," Wesley said, leaving everyone even more bewildered.<br /> Mia's emotions were like a rollercoaster ride, from relief to immediate tension.<br /> "This medicine itself is not toxic, but when taken with another substance made from a certain plant, it results in Quinn's condition. The mice would die immediately, while humans could endure a few more days."<br /> Wesley continued to explain, "The plant used in this concoction is originally meant for crafting slow-acting toxins, not for human consumption."<br /> Looking at Amanda, Wesley said, "During this period, whoever had access to your grandfather and the mice will better understand why these events occurred."<br /> The gaze of members of the Kingsley family immediately focused on a lady.<br /> Amanda, somewhat incredulous, looked at her. "Can you offer an explanation?"<br /> The lady was the wife of Amanda's deceased brother. She found it hard to accept, as did the rest of the Kingsley family.<br /> This lady had been named the exemplary lady who served her family well this year, not due to her connection with the Kingsley family but because she genuinely deserved it.<br /> "What do you mean? Amanda, what explanation do you want from me?"<br /> The lady stared at Amanda. "Am I the only one who had access to Grandfather and the mice? You, and you... and you, who didn't have access?"<br /> "You all claim to treat me as family. Since I married into the Kingsley family, I have worked diligently, contributing my share even if not acknowledged."<br /> "Amanda, it has been over a year since your brother passed, and I never once considered remarrying. Now, just because of his words, you demand an explanation from me?"<br /> Pointing at Wesley, the lady questioned, "Just because he accuses me of poisoning, you suspect me? Tell me, did I poison him?" The lady glared at Wesley.<br /> "I am merely analyzing the facts. As for concluding this case, it's not within my purview," Wesley addressed the members of the Kingsley family, saying, "You should conduct a thorough investigation into this matter.<br /> "I will write a prescription. Have Quinn take it on time, and he will recover in seven days."<br /> Amanda hurried to fetch paper and pen while Wesley prepared the prescription. Once done, he was ready to leave.<br /> Amanda said hurriedly, "Mr. Harrington, I've already made arrangements for lunch."<br /> "No need," Wesley smiled.<br /> The Kingsley family sought to build closer ties with Wesley, given his extraordinary medical skills. Wesley was well aware of this.<br /> Looking at Amanda and the others, Wesley remarked, "In the future, if you encounter any difficult medical cases that others cannot solve, seek me out. Remember, cases others cannot solve."<br /> The gaze of the Kingsley family members toward Wesley changed once again. Many renowned healers had eccentric personalities and were difficult to engage.<br /> They hadn't expected Wesley to possess such remarkable medical skills without any airs.<br /> As Wesley prepared to depart, the members of the Kingsley family did not dare to insist on his stay, so they accompanied him outside.<br /> "Oh, how could we forget such an important matter? Amanda, what about the consultation fee?" The middle-aged gent inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the oversight. Please wait a moment." Amanda hurried back inside and soon returned with a bank card in hand.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, there's one million dollars in here."<br /> Without hesitation, Wesley accepted the bank card and boarded Mia's car.<br /> During the journey, Mia boldly looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, you've helped me immensely. Can I treat you to a meal? Don't decline in a hurry. It's not a fancy restaurant, but it will leave you wanting more. It's a small place on the street, with only eight plates of noodles served each day, each plate containing different ingredients."<br /> "I managed to secure a reservation. Are you interested?"<br /> Wesley thought, "Eight Plates of Noodles?<br /> "Ah, Aaron's restaurant. It has been a while since I visited those old friends."<br /> Wesley nodded. "Let's go then."<br /> The restaurant, Eight Plates of Noodles, was located on Chanxold Street near the Yeadeo First Central Hospital.<br /> The establishment was small, serving only eight plates of noodles each day at a price of 10 thousand dollars each. Vernoic's television culinary program had specifically covered this incident.<br /> Reservations were a must to secure a plate.<br /> The restaurant's owner had a mysterious background. While the specifics were unknown, a high-ranking noble from the capital of Vernoic, Kingsland, had caused a scene there once.<br /> He had attempted to force his way in without a reservation. Although this incident hadn't been reported, rumors suggested that a garbage truck had to be called to dispose of the intruder's remains, as he was too shattered to be removed by conventional means.<br /> Since then, no one dared to cause trouble.<br /> On their way, Mia introduced Wesley to the background story.<br /> "Mr. Turner, two plates of noodles." Mia called out once they arrived.<br /> Aaron Turner didn't respond but visibly paused upon seeing Wesley beside Mia.<br /> A faint smile appeared on his usually stoic face. Though the flesh on the face seemed stiff, it was indeed a smile. "Coming right up."<br /> Chapter 8 You Are Blushing<br /> Mia glanced at Aaron with a hint of surprise, thinking, "When does he become so warm and enthusiastic?<br /> His tone seemed a bit agitated earlier, didn't it?"<br /> Soon enough, Aaron brought two plates of noodles to the table. One steaming hot and the other devoid of any warmth.<br /> As Mia observed Aaron placing the plate without steam in front of Wesley, her expression changed slightly.<br /> It was a plate of instant noodles having soaked in cold water, with the seasoning barely dissolved.<br /> She felt a sense of panic. Mia had wanted to leave a good impression on Wesley, which was why she had chosen this place.<br /> However, Aaron had served such a plate of noodles.<br /> She dared not question Aaron. The type of noodles served here was not determined by the guests but by Aaron's mood.<br /> "This lass named Mia is quite something, living up to her name, and quite kind-hearted," Aaron remarked, looking at Wesley.<br /> "Get lost," Wesley retorted, using his fork to pick up the noodles and devouring them.<br /> Mia's face turned pale instantly. Disrespecting Aaron was akin to risking Wesley's life.<br /> To her astonishment, Aaron chuckled, tears welling up in his eyes.<br /> He wiped them away. "Alright, I'll leave you to your meal."<br /> Before departing, he gave Mia a thumbs-up. "Seize the opportunity."<br /> The eight plates of noodles symbolized the eight comrades who had faced life and hardships together.<br /> Wesley ate voraciously. Initially, they had only one pack of instant noodles to share among the eight of them, forcing them to divide it.<br /> Despite the circumstances, they devoured the noodles joyfully.<br /> Aaron had promised that once they survived, each one would have the most delicious plate of noodles.<br /> However, five of the eight had perished.<br /> Wesley had come dangerously close to life-threatening situations, but managed to cling to life.<br /> For him, the plate of noodles was not food but the bond of friendship that had shielded him from harm.<br /> "Do you... know each other?" Mia couldn't help but ask, her voice low and curious.<br /> "Some things are better left unknown," Wesley replied.<br /> Mia nodded in understanding, falling silent as they continued eating noodles. She couldn't help stealing glances at Wesley throughout the meal.<br /> This gent had piqued her curiosity even more.<br /> "Wesley, I see. No wonder you agreed to the divorce so readily. You've already found someone else outside."<br /> A sharp voice interrupted their meal.<br /> Taylor approached with a cold expression, accompanied by Henry.<br /> Taylor's mother was in the nearby hospital, and she had just picked up Frank, planning to buy some food when she unexpectedly saw Wesley.<br /> Of course, she saw Mia, too.<br /> Seeing Wesley dining with a lady more attractive than herself, so soon after the divorce felt like a dagger twisting in Taylor's heart.<br /> Her anger was uncontrollable.<br /> Wesley merely glanced at Taylor, disinterested in engaging with her.<br /> Taylor was stung by his indifferent gaze. She stepped forward, glaring at Wesley. "Are you not going to explain to me?"<br /> Mia looked at Taylor, silently cursing her as a foolish lady.<br /> Wesley continued eating his noodles, lowering his head. "Get lost. Don't disturb me, or I won't hesitate to hit you."<br /> "What did you say?" Henry stepped forward, enraged. "Wesley, try laying a hand on her! Is that all you're capable of? Laying hands on ladies?"<br /> "No wonder Taylor looks down on you. You're truly disgusting trash. Apologize to Taylor now, or else you'll regret coming into this world."<br /> "And how will he regret it? Tell me." Aaron emerged, carrying a cleaver, smiling as he faced Henry and Taylor.<br /> "Mr. Turner, we dare not cause trouble in your place, but this guy is just..."<br /> Henry attempted to speak but was cut off as Aaron's cleaver struck his face, sending him sprawling to the ground.<br /> "Mr. Turner, sorry, we'll leave now." Taylor hastily helped Henry up and hurriedly left.<br /> These two individuals were fortunate to know the legendary story behind Eight Plates of Noodles and had successfully made reservations to dine here multiple times.<br /> Having distanced themselves a bit, Henry covered his face and pointed at Wesley. "Wesley, we have some unfinished business. If you're smart, come over here now and apologize."<br /> "Wesley, I've seen through you as well. I never expected that for the past five years, you've been using my money to keep a lady on the side. We'll settle the score slowly."<br /> As the two noticed Aaron glancing their way, they quickly shut their mouths and hurriedly left.<br /> Once they were out of eyeshots, Aaron fixed his gaze on Wesley. "Your dad doesn't know about your divorce yet, does he?"<br /> "What difference would it make if he did?" Wesley stretched lazily. "I've fulfilled my promise. I've given enough."<br /> Aaron nodded in acknowledgment without saying anything further.<br /> This piqued Mia's curiosity even more. "Is it like what the novels depict? Did you marry Taylor due to some special event?"<br /> Seeing Wesley's glare, Mia lowered her head to focus on her noodles. "I won't ask anymore."<br /> "For the past five years, you've been staying in the stairwell. It has been hard for you, but at least you're still untouched," Aaron remarked before swiftly departing.<br /> Mia stared at Wesley in disbelief, realizing that Aaron's words were meant for her ears.<br /> "What are you staring at? Eat your noodles," Wesley said. Mia chuckled.<br /> "Why are you laughing?"<br /> "You're blushing."<br /> "Nonsense," Wesley retorted.<br /> Unable to contain herself, Mia burst into laughter. She had tried to hold it in, but seeing Wesley's flushed face made it impossible.<br /> Ten minutes later, Mia left on her own accord, sensing that Wesley had something to discuss with Aaron.<br /> Inside Aaron's small shop, Wesley opened a bottle of wine. "Still single?"<br /> "I look too old, no one's interested," Aaron replied, opening a bottle of liquor as well.<br /> "Then why are you meddling in my love lives?"<br /> "Leave a child behind, even if you pass away, someone will remember you." Aaron took a sip. "I've actually investigated this Mia."<br /> "You investigated her?"<br /> "I knew you'd get a divorce. I've been keeping an eye on the pretty ones. This girl had done a lot of good deeds before coming to Yeadeo. Once, she saved three people in a flood and nearly lost her life. Opportunities are rare. You have to seize them."<br /> "When you've figured things out and are ready to marry, then we can discuss our affairs. That's the condition." Wesley downed the entire bottle of liquor.<br /> "Otherwise, don't bother meddling. We're on a one-way path and can't drag others along."<br /> "You..." Aaron sighed as he watched Wesley's retreating figure.<br /> On the road leading to the Feidgeuo Manor, Taylor stood gazing blankly at the entrance not far away.<br /> Twice in one day, she had come here.<br /> The first time was to pick up Frank, and this time was because Frank had lost his expensive watch. She and Henry hadn't even had a meal, rushing over to find it.<br /> The first time, she had come in a hurry when Frank was injured and left quickly as well.<br /> But this time, as Taylor looked at the entrance ahead, an infinite longing sprouted within her.<br /> "If only... I could live here, how wonderful that would be."<br /> Henry looked at her. "One day, I'll definitely build an estate more magnificent than this, and you'll be the lady of the house."<br /> As they conversed, a taxi drove by, stopping at the entrance. The person who got out of the taxi left Taylor stunned.<br /> She rubbed her eyes.	Adoread	147	https://facebook.com/61556400142540	LEARN_MORE	1713510000	View Edit Delete
1666921	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727711	1734958299	695	2693407477491087			1713596400	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	226177680578601	0	Adoread	120207756048100265	client.adoread.com	Learn more	NONE	image	🔥🔥🔥 Read More👉	Hottest novel👉👉👉	https://client.adoread.com/book/loading/page/adoread/19161308412?utm_campaign={{campaign.id}}&utm_content={{campaign.name}}		1713536896	2.261776805786E+14	Adoread	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439606906_2656882387827663_562685039997462304_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=gPYlqiiaQEUQ7kNvgH3T2jV&_nc_oc=AdjyLR-AFdWicbIgQk03kdwy-cB2AER4FyWglpkJFlRX7XBgsypu-k_cncgNdio9isZGai6ue1leZfWRAHu-QpCb&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBJ-wnFv-u3y-MEDRmYD3WJvJdqmYNbk9130EoU1BLnDQ&oe=663A833E	person_profile	0	Adoread	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437357658_399583896184678_5243927110637583618_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FDmAPIEvPt4Q7kNvgHJX_Xj&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCoYxUlW0Xfjz7Pswp2HE5uQz1-lqSEFfb5WndhuvfNWw&oe=663A90F3	0	3	"Wesley, are you trying to harm me? You useless piece of trash, can't even make a decent cup of coffee, can you?"<br /> Madison Blair lifted her coffee cup and splashed it directly onto Wesley Harrington's face.<br /> "What are you looking at, you spineless waste? Your name sounds so lofty? I might as well call you a waste."<br /> Glancing at the grotesque expression of his wife's mother, Wesley pulled out his phone to check the time.<br /> Exactly twelve o'clock. It had been five full years since he married Taylor Reed.<br /> The appointed time had come.<br /> He had fulfilled his promise, safeguarding the Reed family for five years, transforming them from a family living off fishing to one perceived as affluent by the common folk.<br /> Wiping the coffee off his face, he turned and walked away.<br /> "Where do you think you're going? Go fetch some more coffee," Madison shouted.<br /> "Madison, didn't you say this waste is obedient at home, doing whatever he's told? I don't think he's taking it lying down."<br /> Madison grew angrier. "Wesley, you stop right there. My family has fed and housed you. If you dare disobey, I'll have you thrown out!"<br /> Ignoring her, Wesley continued downstairs.<br /> "When Taylor comes back, I'll immediately have you two divorced. Do you hear me? Stay right there," Madison threatened, "I'll let you know your place today."<br /> Grabbing a golf club, Madison swiftly charged towards Wesley.<br /> Seeing Wesley heading downstairs, she swung the club viciously at his back.<br /> Without turning back, Wesley gently sidestepped.<br /> Losing her balance, Madison tumbled forward, rolling down the stairs with a series of thumps.<br /> "Ouch... it hurts, it hurts so much!"<br /> As Madison reached the ground floor, she wailed in pain and her sister immediately rushed to her.<br /> "Wesley, what have you done? How dare you hit my sister!" Madison's sister hurried down, checking on Madison's condition.<br /> Wesley remained silent, observing the scene.<br /> "Quick, call Taylor. Tell her to come back. Today, she must divorce this waste." Madison glared at Wesley. "How dare you hit me? Not only will I let Taylor divorce you, but I'll make sure you leave in disgrace."<br /> "Mum, what's wrong?" At that moment, a gent and a lady walked in.<br /> The lady was Taylor, Madison's daughter.<br /> She ran towards Madison.<br /> As Madison pointed at Wesley, tears streamed down her face. "Taylor, he hit me, he hit me! When you're not home, he changes his attitude, scolding and hitting me in the slightest displeasure. He even pushed me down the stairs just now. Alexis can testify."<br /> Madison's sister, Alexis Blair, chimed in. "Yes, Wesley, this trash not only hit your mother but also threatened to hit me too. We cannot tolerate such trash."<br /> "Taylor, I have been telling you to divorce him for years. You've been supporting him, treating him like a Lord at home, but he's an ungrateful wolf in sheep's clothing."<br /> Helping Madison up, Taylor noticed the scrapes on Madison's arms and legs, her expression turning cold.<br /> "Wesley, why did you hit my mother? You better give me an explanation."<br /> Wesley looked at Taylor, his wife.<br /> Five years had passed, and she had never shown him kindness.<br /> Taylor dressed impeccably, a paragon of a successful lady, with a face that could be deemed angelic, yet whether her heart was as angelic remained a mystery.<br /> Her figure, too, left countless men yearning.<br /> For five years, Wesley had thought he might develop feelings for this lady, but in reality, it never happened.<br /> "There are surveillance cameras in the house," Wesley stated calmly before descending the stairs into the hallway.<br /> Despite residing in a three-story villa, Wesley's living quarters were confined to the stairwell.<br /> He harbored no resentment towards this arrangement. It was merely a promise. It was just that Taylor failed to appreciate him.<br /> This home held little value that he wished to cling onto.<br /> Retrieving a wooden box from beneath his pillow, Wesley extracted two documents. Casting a fleeting glance at the modest abode he had called home for five years, Wesley smiled faintly.<br /> He thought, "Finally... I'm free."<br /> Pushing the door ajar, Wesley was met by Taylor's piercing gaze. "I've reviewed the surveillance footage. Yes, my mother intended to strike you, but even if she did, what difference would it make?"<br /> "She's a lady. How much could her blows hurt you? Why did you dodge?"<br /> "If you hadn't dodged, my mother wouldn't have tumbled down." Wesley stared at Taylor, unable to comprehend her thought process.<br /> He had no interest in engaging in these arguments. Handing over the two documents to Taylor, he remarked, "The divorce agreement. I've already signed it. Take a look. I'm leaving with nothing."<br /> "With your current influence, there's no need for you to visit the city hall. Someone will handle it for you, right?"<br /> Madison was taken aback. She swiftly snatched the divorce agreement, flipping through it hastily.<br /> The contents were indeed straightforward. Both parties willingly divorced, with Wesley relinquishing all claims and having already signed.<br /> In an instant, Madison's pain seemed to dissipate. "Taylor, sign it quickly. Sign it."<br /> Taylor was still in a daze.<br /> She pondered.<br /> "A divorce agreement? Wesley has already prepared a divorce agreement. On what grounds?"<br /> "What gives him the right to initiate a divorce? All these years, he's done nothing at home, lacking any ambition. Always practicing martial arts, what right does he have to seek a divorce?"<br /> "If anyone should initiate it, it should be me. Moreover, now that I'm back to discussing this matter with him. Could it be that word got out, and Wesley, for the sake of his pride, rushed to prepare a divorce agreement first?"<br /> "It must be so, but... No!"<br /> "Wanting to leave with nothing, is he retreating to advance? As the chairman of the Reed Group, how could I be served with a divorce?"<br /> "Hey Wesley, I never expected this from you. Have I not treated you well enough? You seek a divorce, attempting to turn your retreat into advance, aiming to embarrass me?"<br /> Taylor glared at Wesley. "I'm telling you, it's impossible."<br /> Snatching the divorce agreement, she tore it to shreds.<br /> "Taylor, what are you doing? Such a great opportunity. Why not just sign it and let him leave?" Madison grew anxious.<br /> "Mom, I do intend to divorce this trash, but the decision must come from me. I returned specifically to address this matter."<br /> With that, Taylor produced two documents. "Wesley, remember that it's me who's divorcing you. It's me who no longer wants you. Initially, out of marital obligation, I had considered offering you some compensation. Now, you don't even need to think about it. Sign the divorce agreement and leave my home."<br /> Wesley offered a faint smile as he accepted the divorce agreement.<br /> "What are you laughing at?" Taylor demanded angrily.<br /> Wesley's smile seemed to mock her, fueling her rage.<br /> Ignoring her entirely, Wesley signed the document and handed it over.<br /> "What are you laughing at? Answer me! Who do you think you are?" Taylor roared once more.<br /> Wesley glanced at her before striding towards the exit.<br /> "Stop!" The gent who had accompanied Taylor stepped forward, blocking Wesley's path. "Taylor asked you a question, and... Your previous attitude displeased me. Apologize to Taylor, or I'll have you leave in disgrace!"<br /> Chapter 2 The Unspoken Truth<br /> <br /> "Yes, let him leave in disgrace. He thought he could just hit me and walk away so easily," Madison joined in the commotion, also noticing the gent blocking Wesley's path.<br /> Madison had a keen interest in luxury goods, having frequented various high-end establishments over the years as the Reed family's living conditions improved. The gent was wearing an expensive watch and dressed head to toe in high-end luxury brands.<br /> Seeing Madison's gaze, the gent spoke. "Rest assured, today Wesley must pay the price."<br /> The gent introduced himself, looking at Wesley, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Henry Clark, the eldest son of the Clark family and the general manager of the Clark Group in the North District."<br /> "From now on, I will accompany Taylor on her journey of life, and I will not allow anyone to bully her."<br /> "My identity carries weight. You should understand that. Now, apologize to Taylor. Apologize! Did you hear me? Apologize!"<br /> Madison's eyes lit up. She hadn't expected the gent before her to hold such a high status. She continued to shout, "Did you hear that? Taylor will be with Mr. Clark from now on. Apologize now."<br /> Wesley glanced at Henry, then at Taylor. He thought, "Have they been together all along?" Wesley had wanted to ask but decided against it because there was no need. He simply gave them a glance and continued walking towards the exit.<br /> "Are you ignoring me?" Henry's face turned cold as he reached out to grab Wesley. Henry's hand froze mid-air as he received a solid hit.<br /> "Until I sign the divorce papers, Taylor and I are still wife and husband. I don't care to investigate whether you two had any intimate relationship during that time, but don't provoke me, or I won't hesitate to make you regret it." Wesley's gaze was icy, and as Henry met his eyes, he felt a twinge of fear and swallowed his words.<br /> Taylor was also stunned. She knew exactly what Wesley had been like over the past five years. There were many surveillance cameras in the house, and she would often check them.<br /> Even when Taylor wasn't home, despite how her family treated Wesley, he always obeyed without complaint, especially towards her. He had never raised his voice, no matter how they treated him.<br /> Today, not only did Wesley dodge when her mother struck, but he also initiated the divorce and now even struck Henry. <br /> Taylor was at a loss for words, thinking, "How could this cowardly gent dare? On what grounds does he dare?"<br /> This change was difficult for Taylor to accept as if she didn't truly understand this guy. The gent who used to be obedient to her, completely submissive, now revealed this side of himself. She watched Wesley walk away in a daze, feeling a strange discomfort in her heart.<br /> "Isn't he leaving with nothing?" Alexis pointed at the wooden box Wesley was holding. "What is he taking with him?"<br /> Madison also realized. Over the past five years, Wesley had always treasured this wooden box, carrying it with him wherever he went. She thought there must be something valuable inside.<br /> Realizing this, Madison hurriedly followed. "Wesley, stop right there, leave the wooden box."<br /> Wesley paused, glanced at Madison, and said, "This is my personal belonging."<br /> "Nonsense, what personal belonging could you possibly have after marrying into the Reed family? Everything you've eaten, worn, and lived in over the years has been provided by the Reed family. Put it down."<br /> As she spoke, Madison reached out to grab the wooden box.<br /> "Ah..." A scream rang out as Madison quickly retracted her hand, a gash appearing on her palm, a crimson liquid dripping.<br /> The wooden box was now stained with the same crimson liquid, trembling lightly in Wesley's hand.<br /> "It's not the right time yet, the day you thirst for this crimson liquid will come," Wesley murmured softly, patting the box before turning to continue his stride towards the exit.<br /> "Monster! A monster!" Madison screamed, causing Taylor and the others to rush out. Seeing the wound in Madison's hand, Taylor was filled with rage.<br /> "Wesley, aren't you going to say something?" Wesley halted once more, contemplating before meeting Taylor's gaze.<br /> "Just stay out of my way from now on. Consider this a warning to you."<br /> "Taylor, that wooden box of his has a mechanism. It must hold something valuable! We can't let him take it with him," Madison, enduring the pain, reminded them.<br /> "Mom, your injury is important. We'll deal with him later. Let me take you to the hospital first." Taylor comforted Madison before calling out to the retreating Wesley.<br /> "Our marriage is over! Yet, you dared to hurt my mother! This won't be the end of it! I will make you regret it!" Ignoring her, Wesley continued walking out.<br /> "Rest assured, I promise he won't see the light of day tomorrow." Henry stepped forward to console. "Let's focus on getting your wound treated first."<br /> "I want him to regret ever existing in this world, to apologize to me in repentance," Madison roared.<br /> "Mom, trust me, I will make him do just that." Taylor looked at Madison with a mix of pity and determination. "Let's go to the hospital first."<br /> In the villa area, Wesley halted, his voice cold. "Get out."<br /> An elderly gent leaped down from a tree, appearing to be in his seventies, yet landing silently from a height of around ten feet.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, your father wants you to come home and take charge."<br /> "He stopped being my father five years ago. He's my enemy."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you misunderstood your father. He had his reasons back then. I swear in my life, once you know the truth, you will forgive him."<br /> "Huh!" Wesley smirked coldly, saying, "I nearly passed away back then. Is that also a misunderstanding?"<br /> The old gent pleaded, "Mr. Harrington, this situation is truly not as you perceive it."<br /> Wesley didn't engage further with the old guy. The events of that year were etched in his memory forever. He was the one who had been abandoned. If not for that incident, why would he have stayed with the Reed family for five years?<br /> Watching Wesley walk away, the old gent had tears silently streaming down his face. "Mr. Harrington, I truly... I truly can't bring myself to speak the truth, but you have misunderstood your father. He also bears burdens and endures pains beyond what an ordinary person can handle."<br /> As Wesley's figure disappeared, the old gent stood up, hesitated for a moment, then dialed a number on his phone.<br /> "Mr. Harrington is now divorced. I've given you the news firsthand. If your daughter is truly together with Mr. Harrington, you must fulfill the promise and let her persuade Mr. Harrington to come home."<br /> After hanging up, a middle-aged gent in a luxurious estate jumped up excitedly. Calming himself, he immediately made another call. "My dear, you're at Yeadeo, right?<br /> "Go find Wesley now. Don't mention the engagement for now. Use every means to get close to him, make him fall in love with you."<br /> "Dad, I don't have time."<br /> "No matter what you are busy with, you must go find Wesley now. No matter what reason you approach him, you must leave a good impression the first time."<br /> "Dad, I'm in trouble right now. If I don't handle it well, I might be good as gone. I have to deal with it immediately. I'm hanging up."<br /> Chapter 3 You're Nothing<br /> The middle-aged gent's voice lowered significantly. "Is there a big incident happening? You didn't tell me? What happened?"<br /> "Quinn Kingsley from Yeadeo, Mr. Kingsley, used our product and now has one foot on the grave. If something really happens to him..."<br /> "You mean Quinn, the uncontested leader of Yeadeo?"<br /> "Yes."<br /> "In that case, you should go find Wesley. Trust me, in this world, there is no problem that Wesley can't solve. As long as he's willing to help, you'll be fine. Listen to me, go find Wesley immediately."<br /> The lady fell silent for a moment before saying, "Okay."<br /> At Yeadeo Harbor, a gent with a large flaxen chain and a watch, sporting a crew cut, hurriedly disembarked, accompanied by a dozen gentlemen.<br /> "Mr. Reed, wherever that trash is, we will find him and tear him apart."<br /> "Yes, that guy dared to harm your mother. We'll make sure he pays for it."<br /> Frank Reed's face turned cold. "Wesley, you coward, thinking you can overturn the world? How dare you touch my mom? Just wait until I find you, you're finished."<br /> "We've found him. Wesley got into a taxi, and our boys followed him."<br /> "Let's go!" Frank waved his hand, leading dozens of men who boarded the car with harpoons, steel pipes, and other weapons.<br /> Inside the taxi, Wesley gazed at the scenery outside, feeling a strange sense of tranquility.<br /> He thought to himself, "I never imagined that while I was secretly paving the way for the Reed family, Taylor, after progressing so rapidly, would start looking down on me more and more."<br /> "Those ladies who know my true identity, which one of them isn't trying to throw themselves at me? Ladies like that don't interest me."<br /> "Being an ordinary gent is truly difficult," Wesley murmured, smiling faintly and deciding not to dwell on these matters anymore. He had important things to attend to and no time to waste on personal affairs.<br /> "Young lad, are you going to Feidgeuo Manor for a job interview?" The driver, curious about Wesley's destination, inquired.<br /> Feidgeuo Manor was Yeadeo's most mysterious private area. Originally a villa area, it was bought at a huge cost five years ago and completely renovated. It was said to have cost a trillion dollars. The former villa area was now Feidgeuo Manor.<br /> "That's my home," Wesley replied nonchalantly.<br /> The driver was taken aback by this revelation, silently cursing Wesley for bragging. After a couple of minutes, the driver regained his composure. "It seems like you and I both prefer to keep a low profile. My car usually gathers dust at home, so I occasionally drive a taxi to experience life."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "My car has been driven by my assistant for the past few years, so it's not gathering dust."<br /> "Haha..." The driver laughed. "We should get together sometime and see whose car is more impressive."<br /> "Sure, whenever we have the time."<br /> As they chatted, the vehicle soon arrived near Feidgeuo Manor, where the massive head of the Feidgeuo Peak protruded, creating a unique landscape in Yeadeo.<br /> The driver asked with a smile, "Since you're the owner here, it's fine if I drive in, right?"<br /> "Of course," Wesley replied.<br /> As soon as Wesley spoke, several cars caught up from behind.<br /> The cars surrounded the one Wesley was in, with the front vehicles braking to force the car to a stop.<br /> When numerous people descended from cars wielding harpoons and steel pipes, the driver's face paled.<br /> Frank and his group got out of the cars, instantly closing in, and without hesitation, started attacking, the steel pipes and harpoons thudding against the car.<br /> Frank's henchman yanked open the door of Wesley's car, poised to stab Wesley with a harpoon, but Wesley swiftly exited the vehicle.<br /> With a firm step on the ground, he launched a swift hit.<br /> A muffled sound echoed as the henchman was hit away.<br /> "What are you looking at?" Frank noticed his henchmen were all staring at him. "All of you, attack together and take him down!"<br /> As he commanded, the henchmen Frank brought with him surged forward.<br /> The taxi driver, trembling, took out his phone to call the police, but Frank glared at him. "I am Frank Reed from Yeadeo Harbor. If you dare, go ahead and make that call."<br /> Frank, leveraging his sister Taylor's status, had been causing trouble in Yeadeo Harbor, and no one dared to provoke him.<br /> Upon hearing Frank's name, the driver hastily put away his phone. "Mr. Reed, I'll just check the time, you guys continue."<br /> "Huh!" Frank snorted coldly, casting his gaze towards the surrounded Wesley.<br /> The sounds of thuds continued to ring out incessantly. Because Wesley was completely surrounded, Frank was unable to see the situation inside clearly, but he could imagine it. After all, in Frank's mind, the henchmen under his command were not to be trifled with.<br /> "Hit him hard for me!"<br /> Another muffled sound and a figure flew out. At that moment, Frank finally saw the situation clearly, and his face turned pale.<br /> Frank knew that Wesley liked to practice martial arts, but he had never expected Wesley to be this skilled. It wasn't Wesley who had been beaten, but his own men by Wesley alone.<br /> Frantically, Frank turned and ran to retrieve a crossbow from the car.<br /> "Clear the way." Frank bellowed, aiming the crossbow at Wesley.<br /> "You scumbag, you think you can fight? Move one more time, and I'll end your life! Surrender!"<br /> Wesley, holding a wooden box, stared at Frank. Ignoring the crossbow in his hand, Wesley said, "Tell your henchmen to back off, or you'll all see the light from above!"<br /> "You're really good at pretending to be tough." Frank took two steps forward. "See the light? Move a muscle and see if I can end your life or not! If you don't have the guts, apologize now!"<br /> Wesley turned his head and looked at the approaching cars, with two expensive ones in the lead, two more in the rear, and another one in the middle.<br /> "Keep acting tough, and I'll put a hole in your head." Frank spoke while glancing at the five cars. "What, looking for help?"<br /> "Let me tell you, those who ride in these cars are not the kind of weaklings like you who rely on connections. With me here, in Yeadeo's social hierarchy, even those who ride in such cars wouldn't dare meddle in this matter. And let me make it clear, without my sister, you're nothing."<br /> Chapter 4 Is He Worthy?<br /> As Frank's words faded, the five cars came to a halt.<br /> A bodyguard opened the door of the one in the middle, revealing a dazzling pair of shining shoes catching everyone's eye.<br /> The shining shoe encased a beautiful foot. Above, the skirt's hem was adorned with lace.<br /> Then, like a fairy stepping out of a painting, she appeared before everyone's eyes.<br /> The lady was beautiful!<br /> Frank was mesmerized. Ever since the Reed family rose to prominence, he had been surrounded by ladies, but compared to the elegant lady before him, they were worlds apart.<br /> It wasn't just a difference in appearance but an incomparable gap in demeanor.<br /> The lady descending from the Maybach seemed like a celestial being untouched by mortal affairs.<br /> The embodiment of a fairy in the mundane world.<br /> She simply stood there after getting out of the car, perfectly embodying what it meant to be graceful and elegant.<br /> The lady glanced at Wesley, then at Frank.<br /> Frank grinned, saying, "May I have the honor of knowing the name of this esteemed lady? I am Frank..."<br /> The lady spoke calmly. "Disrespect Mr. Harrington, and you're done for."<br /> Her bodyguards, unfazed by Frank's crossbow, swiftly overwhelmed him, sending him crashing to the ground.<br /> The henchmen who had come with Frank, previously defeated by Wesley, now scrambled to their feet and fled in all directions.<br /> Who would dare provoke someone who could afford such a car?<br /> "My sister is Taylor Reed, the chairperson of Reed Group," Frank shouted, clutching his head.<br /> Ignoring him, one of the bodyguards dragged him to the roadside grass while another used a belt to tighten around Frank's neck, exerting pressure.<br /> "Enough, a lesson is all that's needed." Wesley spoke calmly, and only when the lady gestured did the bodyguards release Frank.<br /> Frank lay there, already unconscious.<br /> Wesley turned to the lady. "Who are you?"<br /> "I am Mia Roberts, the general manager of Vinver Business Alliance's Yeadeo branch." She looked at Wesley and continued, "Mr. Harrington, my father mentioned that you have miraculous healing skills and earnestly requested your assistance. A generous reward awaits."<br /> Wesley furrowed his brow slightly, thinking, "There are indeed people who recognize my abilities and status, yet I've rarely intervened in the past five years. Today, shortly after I divorced Taylor, she is here. Whose arrangement is this?"<br /> "Mr. Harrington, my father also mentioned that you are benevolent and has raised the banner of compassion among healers, serving as a role model and benchmark for all in the medical field."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "You have a way with words. Tell me the specifics."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, please get in the car first. I will explain in detail on the way."<br /> The phrase "compassionate healer" held significant weight for Wesley, who had saved countless lives from the brink of death.<br /> Without further ado, he got into the car.<br /> Inside, after Mia brewed coffee for Wesley, she began. "Vinver Business Alliance has a wide range of business operations, and I mainly oversee the health supplement sector, which has seen some success in recent years.<br /> "Recently, Quinn Kingsley started using our medicines, and now there's an accident."<br /> As she spoke, Mia kept her gaze fixed on Wesley.<br /> Quinn, the undisputed leader of Yeadeo, was a figure of immense influence.<br /> Upon hearing this name, Wesley showed no particular reaction. "If the city's leader faces issues with your products, it is indeed a concern. Let's go and see."<br /> With just a sentence, Wesley leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest.<br /> Mia was secretly alarmed, thinking, "He knows who Quinn is, yet he seems indifferent. Who is this Wesley, really? No wonder Dad has instructed me to find a way to win his favor." Mia's inner resistance toward Wesley quietly shifted.<br /> Wesley had piqued her curiosity.<br /> As the vehicle was moving, Wesley's phone rang.<br /> Wesley opened his eyes and took out his phone to see Taylor calling.<br /> Pressing the answer button, he asked, "What's the matter?"<br /> On the other end of the line, Taylor, driving towards Feidgeuo Manor, had a grim expression.<br /> She thought, "Has Wesley ever spoken to me in such a cold tone before? Is he really this heartless right after our divorce?"<br /> Already furious, she snapped. "Wesley, do you even consider yourself a human being?<br /> "Today, not only did you lay hands on my mother, but you also had someone attack my brother. Do you not remember our past at all?"<br /> Wesley calmly replied, "Do we have a past to remember?"<br /> "You truly are a heartless scumbag, just as my mother said. You are an ungrateful and vicious person I raised for five years. Even a pet would wag its tail at me!"<br /> Taylor wanted to continue her tirade, but the phone line had already turned busy.<br /> This only fueled her anger further.<br /> Just now, she had received a call from Frank's underlings, informing her that Wesley had sent people to attack Frank and even intended to end him.<br /> Taylor wanted to demand answers, but...<br /> As Taylor was clutching her fists, her gaze turned icy.<br /> After a moment, she picked up her phone again. "Wesley, you are so narrow-minded. You have no ambition. Any lady would steer clear of you."<br /> "Just because I dumped you, you are doing this on purpose to make me feel sick. Pretending to be aloof and seeking revenge? Do you even deserve it?"<br /> "In Yeadeo, squashing you would be as easy as squashing an ant. You're asking for it! If anything happens to my brother, I will make you wish you were ending!"<br /> Her furious voice message echoed in the car.<br /> Wesley chuckled and put away his phone.<br /> Beside him, Mia seemed contemplative. Before coming, she had already ordered a swift investigation into Wesley.<br /> She was curious, thinking, "How could someone valued by my father could be the one 'marrying into' the Reed family."<br /> Being tactful, Mia chose not to ask and pretended not to have heard.<br /> After about forty minutes, they arrived at the Kingsley Manor.<br /> The Kingsley family members, upon seeing Mia alight from the car, all wore grim expressions.<br /> Mia greeted them with a smile, "Everyone, this is Wesley Harrington, Mr. Harrington, the miraculous healer I specially invited to treat Mr. Kingsley."<br /> "Him? The gent who married into the Reed family?"<br /> "A miraculous healer? Is he even worthy? Are healers so worthless now?"<br /> "A useless gent who mooches off of the Reed family? How dare he call himself a miraculous healer? Truly a joke among all jokes."<br /> Chapter 5 Compassionate Healer<br /> Amanda Kingsley, Quinn's granddaughter, stared coldly at Wesley and Mia.<br /> This lady, dressed in a smart suit, also held significant fame in Yeadeo, overseeing the region's business activities, including investment attraction and various local business negotiations.<br /> Amanda had a favorable view of Taylor, who had risen swiftly in recent times, and they had interacted frequently.<br /> She was aware of Wesley's existence and had advised Taylor to part ways with him early on.<br /> But Amanda never imagined that Mia would bring someone like Wesley, a complete waste, and claim he was a miraculous healer.<br /> Glaring at Mia, she said, "Mia, once my grandfather is well, it's best for your Roberts family to leave Yeadeo."<br /> "As for you..." She glanced at Wesley. "I will advise Taylor to divorce you. You have deceived Taylor's feelings and now shamelessly made your way into my family. You are a despicable creature."<br /> After reprimanding Mia and Wesley, she turned to an elderly gent beside her, and her tone and attitude completely changed. "Mr. Phillips, sorry to trouble you. My grandfather is inside, please."<br /> Mia looked at the elderly gent, who was already in his twilight years, feeling deeply shocked.<br /> Scott Phillips, the 38th generation heir of the Healing Clinic, was now ninety-two years old.<br /> Renowned as a miraculous healer, he was a respected figure in the medical community of Yeadeo and even nationally.<br /> He no longer conducted consultations personally due to his old age. Mia had visited him specifically to pay her respects once she had arrived in Yeadeo but had not met Scott.<br /> She never expected Scott to appear in person. It was understandable, as Quinn held a prominent position in the city. Despite the profound influence of the Phillips family, they still had to show respect to Quinn.<br /> Mia looked at Wesley, feeling conflicted and thinking, "Dad has confidently claimed that Wesley has extraordinary abilities, but does he really?"<br /> She harbored doubts, but out of propriety, Mia spoke. "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the trouble."<br /> Wesley smiled, "It's fine. As long as the person can be healed."<br /> His open-mindedness impressed Mia.<br /> After about half an hour, Amanda emerged from the room. All eyes instantly turned towards her.<br /> It was evident that Amanda had wailed out, with traces of tears still visible.<br /> "Amanda, how is it?" A middle-aged gent anxiously asked her.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family who had rushed back also focused their attention on her.<br /> "Mr. Phillips said that there's little hope of recovery. He could only use acupuncture to wake grandfather for half an hour. When grandfather wakes up, let's all go in and see if he has any final instructions."<br /> Everyone was shocked.<br /> "How could this be?"<br /> "Is Mr. Phillips also helpless?"<br /> The members of the Kingsley family found it hard to accept this reality, especially since Quinn had always treated his juniors well.<br /> The thought of Quinn departing saddened some, and tears silently fell.<br /> Publicly, Quinn's status was the foundation of the Kingsley family's prominence in Yeadeo.<br /> If Quinn were to pass away, the Kingsley family would undoubtedly decline.<br /> The atmosphere within the Kingsley family was somber.<br /> Amanda looked at her family members, opened her mouth, but said nothing, silently turning back into the room.<br /> "Stop crying," A middle-aged gent said sternly, "Dad wouldn't want to see you all in tears. If he's really leaving, we mustn't let him worry about us. Pull yourselves together."<br /> After these words, the middle-aged gent also entered the room.<br /> The younger members of the Kingsley family wiped their tears vigorously, trying to force smiles, but in truth, they looked better at crying than pretending to be happy.<br /> Mia's spirit plummeted as she realized the gravity of the situation. Even if an ordinary person passed away from consuming health supplements, it spelled big trouble for those who sold them. And when the deceased happened to be Quinn, the stakes were even higher.<br /> She understood that it would be difficult for this branch to stay in Yeadeo, and even the headquarters might face repercussions.<br /> "Let's go in and have a look." Wesley glanced at Mia. "There might still be a chance."<br /> "Ah..." Mia stared at Wesley in surprise. Seeing him already heading towards the room, she quickly followed suit.<br /> Inside the room, the members of the Kingsley family stood around the mattress, maintaining a certain distance.<br /> Scott lit the alcohol lamp and took out the needles, his expression solemn.<br /> He looked at the members of the Kingsley family. "Think about what you want to say to Mr. Kingsley later. Once you're ready, let me know, and then I'll proceed with the acupuncture."<br /> As he said this, tears welled up in many eyes.<br /> "If you don't mind, let me take a look. I have a way." Wesley spoke up, drawing everyone's attention.<br /> Amanda's face darkened. "Who let you in? Get out!"<br /> "Mia, have you lost your mind? Tricked by this trash and actually brought him here as a miracle healer. Get out with him! I'll settle the score with you in a couple of days."<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, at a loss for words.<br /> "Even Mr. Phillips is unable to reverse the situation. What use are you? Get out." Another younger member of the Kingsley family angrily rebuked.<br /> The middle-aged gent added, "We're in no mood right now. You better leave immediately."<br /> "I understand your narrow-mindedness," Wesley continued, "But as a healer, once I see a patient, I cannot stand by and watch him draw his last breath."<br /> "Wesley, you're quite the charlatan. Do you really want to be gone right now?" Amanda's voice was filled with anger.<br /> "Amanda, let me say a few words," Scott interjected, and Amanda fell silent.<br /> Looking at Wesley, Scott began. "Young lad, at my age, I've seen a lot and have a broad perspective. Today, however, I find it hard to remain indifferent. I practiced medicine from the age of sixteen until I stopped seeing patients for a total of seventy years."<br /> "I've saved countless patients from various illnesses. I never easily declare a patient's fate, nor do I believe I have the right to do so."<br /> "But from your recent remarks, it seems like you're accusing me of such actions. Young people wanting to make a name for themselves by stepping on the shoulders of their predecessors, I can understand."<br /> "But this kind of behavior displeases me."<br /> "My displeasure, what does it mean to you? Do you understand?"<br /> "Even if you are a healer, your career will be ruined because of this."<br /> Chapter 6 Hand of Hell<br /> In the face of Scott's veiled threats, Wesley simply smiled and brushed them off.<br /> Looking at Scott, he asked, "I've always focused on the issue at hand rather than attacking individuals. I have a few questions for you. If you can't administer the needles, how long do you think Quinn can hold on?"<br /> "Seven days, but he will remain unconscious," Scott replied bluntly.<br /> "Then let me ask you this, is there anyone in the world with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "Outrageous," Amanda coldly interjected, "Mr. Phillips is unparalleled in his medical expertise."<br /> Scott glanced at Amanda. "Amanda, let me handle this question."<br /> Continuing to address Wesley, he said, "I don't underestimate myself, nor do I overestimate. There are countless talented individuals in the world, like stars in the sky. I may not dare claim to be the best in medical skills, but those who surpass me are few."<br /> "That means there are some," Wesley calmly remarked, causing Scott's expression to shift slightly, "Indeed, there are."<br /> "Then let me ask you this. Do you think within seven days, the Kingsley family won't find someone with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "If they do find someone, do you believe there is an illness that you cannot cure, but this person can?"<br /> Wesley's questions were sharp and resounding.<br /> Scott's face changed once more as he was rendered speechless.<br /> "Even if there is, that person will never be you." Amanda's face turned icy. "Now get out. Don't spout your eloquence here. Your deceitful behavior is repulsive."<br /> "Your understanding of me is merely hearsay, isn't it?" Wesley retorted, his gaze mocking Amanda, "Has your background and education taught you such arrogance and prejudice?"<br /> "Arrogance?" Amanda's face grew colder as she disdainfully looked at Wesley. "Prejudice?<br /> "Did I say something wrong just now? You are nothing but stagnant waste, a parasite living off others. If it weren't for Taylor, you would have starved on the streets long ago."<br /> "Relying on sweet words, deceiving Taylor. She, with her kind heart, can't bear to divorce you, but don't push your luck. If it weren't for Taylor's sake, you would have been sent out long ago."<br /> Scott interrupted Amanda, "Amanda, although I find this lad a bit annoying, what he said does hold some truth. There are indeed individuals with better medical skills than me. Your grandfather can hold on for seven days. Try reaching out to see if someone can come over. I'll help you make connections."<br /> "If it really doesn't work out after seven days, I'll administer the needles to your grandfather. However, at that point, I can only buy you three minutes."<br /> As soon as Scott spoke, the faces of the Kingsley family members grew even more solemn. True healers were rare and not easily summoned.<br /> While the Kingsley family had connections in Yeadeo, their influence waned outside of it.<br /> "Mr. Phillips, please administer the needles. Life has its ups and downs, and we understand that. Just buy my father a bit more time." The middle-aged gent spoke up.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family nodded in agreement.<br /> Amanda looked at Scott. "Mr. Phillips, please."<br /> "In that case, please have everyone unrelated leave. I need silence," Scott calmly stated.<br /> Amanda glared at Wesley, her eyes speaking volumes without a word.<br /> The unrelated individuals were, naturally, Wesley and Mia.<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, intending to leave, but she suddenly hesitated.<br /> Instead of leaving, Wesley moved forward.<br /> "What are you doing?" A young member of the Kingsley family stepped forward with a stern expression, pushing Wesley.<br /> In one swift motion, Wesley executed a clean shoulder throw, toppling the young gent to the ground, his own expression turning cold.<br /> "A bunch of fools! If it weren't for my teacher's teachings about not turning a blind eye to those in need, I wouldn't bother with you ignorant lot," Wesley remarked with disdain.<br /> As Wesley effortlessly took down one individual from the Kingsley family, the others seemed slow to react.<br /> By the time they realized what was happening, Wesley had already picked up the needle next to Scott and casually flicked his wrist.<br /> The needle flew out of his hand, piercing Quinn's temple, followed by a second needle, a third needle, and so on.<br /> "What are you doing? Stop!" Amanda's voice rose in urgency, echoed by the rest of the Kingsley family members who rushed forward to restrain Wesley.<br /> "Stay back, everyone. Wait." Scott suddenly stood up, blocking the others. "Let him try."<br /> Amanda and the others were left dumbfounded, thinking, "What does this mean?"<br /> Despite their confusion, they heeded Scott's words.<br /> After Scott stopped the members of the Kingsley family, he fixed his gaze on Wesley.<br /> Wesley proceeded to use eighteen needles in succession, symbolizing the levels of pain.<br /> Even if someone had descended into the depths of hell, they must be brought back.<br /> The final needle, also piercing a vital point, caused Quinn's body to tremble suddenly, resonating with the previous eighteen needles.<br /> Scott's eyes widened, his body trembling slightly. His reaction left Amanda and the others even more puzzled, but none dared to interrupt.<br /> Moments later, Wesley placed a palm on Quinn's chest, causing all eighteen needles to be shaken off. When all the needles landed on the ground, the part of the skin where the needles had pierced turned dark.<br /> Wesley then dragged Quinn to the edge of the mattress, flipped him over with his head facing downwards, and gave him a firm pat on the back.<br /> Quinn spat out a mouthful of black liquid. When Wesley flipped him back to lie flat, his complexion had regained some color.<br /> "The Hand of Darkness... It's the Hand of Darkness!" Scott exclaimed with excitement, his body quivering, "It's the Hand that descends into the dark world, snatching people from the hands of the Evil!"<br /> "You do have some knowledge, recognizing the Hand of Darkness." Wesley glanced at Scott.<br /> Scott's gaze towards Wesley had undergone a drastic change. He respectfully clasped his hands together.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thirty years ago, I had the honor of attending a teaching conference held by Mr. Vanderbilt. I saw the Hand of Darkness, but my limited aptitude only allowed me to grasp the basics."<br /> "I have been blind and ignorant. I apologize for my earlier offenses. Please forgive me, Mr. Harrington."<br /> The Mr. Vanderbilt Scott referred to was Wesley's teacher, Ulysses Vanderbilt. He generously imparted his skills to others, but the ability to learn depended on one's innate talent.<br /> In this world, few could learn Ulysses' skills.<br /> Scott had been fortunate to receive guidance from Ulysses, which had elevated his medical skills. However, the Hand of Darkness, a miraculous ability, was beyond his comprehension.<br /> Wesley smiled faintly, "Your actions earlier are understandable. I appreciate your words."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you must be an exceptional disciple of Mr. Vanderbilt, possessing unparalleled magnanimity. Impressive," Scott continued.<br /> "Enough with the flattery at your age."<br /> "You are mistaken, Mr. Harrington. Every word I speak is sincere."<br /> Mia, Amanda, and the others stood bewildered by the unfolding situation.<br /> "Mr. Phillips... he... he..." Amanda's words faltered.<br /> Scott turned to the members of the Kingsley family. "Meeting Mr. Harrington was Quinn's luck. His symptoms have been cured by Mr. Harrington. With a few days of rest, he will be fine."<br /> The waste Taylor had previously said was called Mr. Harrington by Scott!<br /> Recalling their previous attitudes, Amanda hurriedly apologized, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> The members of the Kingsley family all apologized in unison, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> Chapter 7 Eight Plates of Noodles<br /> With a faint smile, Wesley remarked, "As family members of a patient, your actions earlier are understandable. There's no need for such formality."<br /> Amanda's perplexity deepened as she thought, "Where is the cowardly waste that Taylor described? This display of magnanimity and breadth is far from it."<br /> Mia, too, felt a shiver of realization, thinking, "No wonder Dad has insisted on my proximity to Wesley.<br /> This guy..."<br /> She gazed at Wesley, her curiosity piqued, a sense of exploration stirring within her.<br /> "Mia has brought you here, Mr. Harrington, to cure my grandfather. The Kingsley family will never forget this act. However, considering that my grandfather's ailment stemmed from the health supplements produced by the Vinver Business Alliance, we will be conducting an investigation into it."<br /> Amanda continued, looking at Wesley, "What do you think... of this approach?"<br /> It was Mia who had invited Wesley, so Amanda had grown wiser, refraining from asking for a direct punishment of the Vinver Business Alliance.<br /> As Mia heard Amanda's words, her heart skipped a beat, realizing trouble was brewing.<br /> "On the way here, Ms. Roberts briefed me on the situation. You conducted experiments on mice, correct?"<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes, the health supplements we received were exclusively provided by the Roberts family. There were no similar cases on the market, so we used mice for testing.<br /> "All the mice that ingested this supplement were gone."<br /> She looked at Mia and added, her voice turned colder. "Before the experiment, I specifically contacted Mia to inquire about the testing methods during the development phase, which involved mice."<br /> "There have been individuals eyeing my grandfather's position, some even wishing for his demise. I never imagined that the Vinver Business Alliance, which I attracted for investment, would become a weapon in someone else's hands."<br /> "Do you have any of the remaining medicine?" Wesley inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes."<br /> "Bring some over."<br /> Immediately, someone fetched the medicine. After it was brought to him, Wesley took out a supplement and swallowed it directly.<br /> This scene left Amanda and the others dumbfounded.<br /> Scott, too, was bewildered. "Mr. Harrington, what are you doing?"<br /> Wesley smiled, "Just proving that this medicine is not toxic."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thank you," Mia thanked sincerely, feeling like sobbing at that moment.<br /> Amanda, with a puzzled expression, looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, are you suggesting that my grandfather's condition wasn't caused by the Vinver Business Alliance's medicine? What about the mice?"<br /> The rest were equally puzzled.<br /> "Yes, but not entirely," Wesley said, leaving everyone even more bewildered.<br /> Mia's emotions were like a rollercoaster ride, from relief to immediate tension.<br /> "This medicine itself is not toxic, but when taken with another substance made from a certain plant, it results in Quinn's condition. The mice would die immediately, while humans could endure a few more days."<br /> Wesley continued to explain, "The plant used in this concoction is originally meant for crafting slow-acting toxins, not for human consumption."<br /> Looking at Amanda, Wesley said, "During this period, whoever had access to your grandfather and the mice will better understand why these events occurred."<br /> The gaze of members of the Kingsley family immediately focused on a lady.<br /> Amanda, somewhat incredulous, looked at her. "Can you offer an explanation?"<br /> The lady was the wife of Amanda's deceased brother. She found it hard to accept, as did the rest of the Kingsley family.<br /> This lady had been named the exemplary lady who served her family well this year, not due to her connection with the Kingsley family but because she genuinely deserved it.<br /> "What do you mean? Amanda, what explanation do you want from me?"<br /> The lady stared at Amanda. "Am I the only one who had access to Grandfather and the mice? You, and you... and you, who didn't have access?"<br /> "You all claim to treat me as family. Since I married into the Kingsley family, I have worked diligently, contributing my share even if not acknowledged."<br /> "Amanda, it has been over a year since your brother passed, and I never once considered remarrying. Now, just because of his words, you demand an explanation from me?"<br /> Pointing at Wesley, the lady questioned, "Just because he accuses me of poisoning, you suspect me? Tell me, did I poison him?" The lady glared at Wesley.<br /> "I am merely analyzing the facts. As for concluding this case, it's not within my purview," Wesley addressed the members of the Kingsley family, saying, "You should conduct a thorough investigation into this matter.<br /> "I will write a prescription. Have Quinn take it on time, and he will recover in seven days."<br /> Amanda hurried to fetch paper and pen while Wesley prepared the prescription. Once done, he was ready to leave.<br /> Amanda said hurriedly, "Mr. Harrington, I've already made arrangements for lunch."<br /> "No need," Wesley smiled.<br /> The Kingsley family sought to build closer ties with Wesley, given his extraordinary medical skills. Wesley was well aware of this.<br /> Looking at Amanda and the others, Wesley remarked, "In the future, if you encounter any difficult medical cases that others cannot solve, seek me out. Remember, cases others cannot solve."<br /> The gaze of the Kingsley family members toward Wesley changed once again. Many renowned healers had eccentric personalities and were difficult to engage.<br /> They hadn't expected Wesley to possess such remarkable medical skills without any airs.<br /> As Wesley prepared to depart, the members of the Kingsley family did not dare to insist on his stay, so they accompanied him outside.<br /> "Oh, how could we forget such an important matter? Amanda, what about the consultation fee?" The middle-aged gent inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the oversight. Please wait a moment." Amanda hurried back inside and soon returned with a bank card in hand.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, there's one million dollars in here."<br /> Without hesitation, Wesley accepted the bank card and boarded Mia's car.<br /> During the journey, Mia boldly looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, you've helped me immensely. Can I treat you to a meal? Don't decline in a hurry. It's not a fancy restaurant, but it will leave you wanting more. It's a small place on the street, with only eight plates of noodles served each day, each plate containing different ingredients."<br /> "I managed to secure a reservation. Are you interested?"<br /> Wesley thought, "Eight Plates of Noodles?<br /> "Ah, Aaron's restaurant. It has been a while since I visited those old friends."<br /> Wesley nodded. "Let's go then."<br /> The restaurant, Eight Plates of Noodles, was located on Chanxold Street near the Yeadeo First Central Hospital.<br /> The establishment was small, serving only eight plates of noodles each day at a price of 10 thousand dollars each. Vernoic's television culinary program had specifically covered this incident.<br /> Reservations were a must to secure a plate.<br /> The restaurant's owner had a mysterious background. While the specifics were unknown, a high-ranking noble from the capital of Vernoic, Kingsland, had caused a scene there once.<br /> He had attempted to force his way in without a reservation. Although this incident hadn't been reported, rumors suggested that a garbage truck had to be called to dispose of the intruder's remains, as he was too shattered to be removed by conventional means.<br /> Since then, no one dared to cause trouble.<br /> On their way, Mia introduced Wesley to the background story.<br /> "Mr. Turner, two plates of noodles." Mia called out once they arrived.<br /> Aaron Turner didn't respond but visibly paused upon seeing Wesley beside Mia.<br /> A faint smile appeared on his usually stoic face. Though the flesh on the face seemed stiff, it was indeed a smile. "Coming right up."<br /> Chapter 8 You Are Blushing<br /> Mia glanced at Aaron with a hint of surprise, thinking, "When does he become so warm and enthusiastic?<br /> His tone seemed a bit agitated earlier, didn't it?"<br /> Soon enough, Aaron brought two plates of noodles to the table. One steaming hot and the other devoid of any warmth.<br /> As Mia observed Aaron placing the plate without steam in front of Wesley, her expression changed slightly.<br /> It was a plate of instant noodles having soaked in cold water, with the seasoning barely dissolved.<br /> She felt a sense of panic. Mia had wanted to leave a good impression on Wesley, which was why she had chosen this place.<br /> However, Aaron had served such a plate of noodles.<br /> She dared not question Aaron. The type of noodles served here was not determined by the guests but by Aaron's mood.<br /> "This lass named Mia is quite something, living up to her name, and quite kind-hearted," Aaron remarked, looking at Wesley.<br /> "Get lost," Wesley retorted, using his fork to pick up the noodles and devouring them.<br /> Mia's face turned pale instantly. Disrespecting Aaron was akin to risking Wesley's life.<br /> To her astonishment, Aaron chuckled, tears welling up in his eyes.<br /> He wiped them away. "Alright, I'll leave you to your meal."<br /> Before departing, he gave Mia a thumbs-up. "Seize the opportunity."<br /> The eight plates of noodles symbolized the eight comrades who had faced life and hardships together.<br /> Wesley ate voraciously. Initially, they had only one pack of instant noodles to share among the eight of them, forcing them to divide it.<br /> Despite the circumstances, they devoured the noodles joyfully.<br /> Aaron had promised that once they survived, each one would have the most delicious plate of noodles.<br /> However, five of the eight had perished.<br /> Wesley had come dangerously close to life-threatening situations, but managed to cling to life.<br /> For him, the plate of noodles was not food but the bond of friendship that had shielded him from harm.<br /> "Do you... know each other?" Mia couldn't help but ask, her voice low and curious.<br /> "Some things are better left unknown," Wesley replied.<br /> Mia nodded in understanding, falling silent as they continued eating noodles. She couldn't help stealing glances at Wesley throughout the meal.<br /> This gent had piqued her curiosity even more.<br /> "Wesley, I see. No wonder you agreed to the divorce so readily. You've already found someone else outside."<br /> A sharp voice interrupted their meal.<br /> Taylor approached with a cold expression, accompanied by Henry.<br /> Taylor's mother was in the nearby hospital, and she had just picked up Frank, planning to buy some food when she unexpectedly saw Wesley.<br /> Of course, she saw Mia, too.<br /> Seeing Wesley dining with a lady more attractive than herself, so soon after the divorce felt like a dagger twisting in Taylor's heart.<br /> Her anger was uncontrollable.<br /> Wesley merely glanced at Taylor, disinterested in engaging with her.<br /> Taylor was stung by his indifferent gaze. She stepped forward, glaring at Wesley. "Are you not going to explain to me?"<br /> Mia looked at Taylor, silently cursing her as a foolish lady.<br /> Wesley continued eating his noodles, lowering his head. "Get lost. Don't disturb me, or I won't hesitate to hit you."<br /> "What did you say?" Henry stepped forward, enraged. "Wesley, try laying a hand on her! Is that all you're capable of? Laying hands on ladies?"<br /> "No wonder Taylor looks down on you. You're truly disgusting trash. Apologize to Taylor now, or else you'll regret coming into this world."<br /> "And how will he regret it? Tell me." Aaron emerged, carrying a cleaver, smiling as he faced Henry and Taylor.<br /> "Mr. Turner, we dare not cause trouble in your place, but this guy is just..."<br /> Henry attempted to speak but was cut off as Aaron's cleaver struck his face, sending him sprawling to the ground.<br /> "Mr. Turner, sorry, we'll leave now." Taylor hastily helped Henry up and hurriedly left.<br /> These two individuals were fortunate to know the legendary story behind Eight Plates of Noodles and had successfully made reservations to dine here multiple times.<br /> Having distanced themselves a bit, Henry covered his face and pointed at Wesley. "Wesley, we have some unfinished business. If you're smart, come over here now and apologize."<br /> "Wesley, I've seen through you as well. I never expected that for the past five years, you've been using my money to keep a lady on the side. We'll settle the score slowly."<br /> As the two noticed Aaron glancing their way, they quickly shut their mouths and hurriedly left.<br /> Once they were out of eyeshots, Aaron fixed his gaze on Wesley. "Your dad doesn't know about your divorce yet, does he?"<br /> "What difference would it make if he did?" Wesley stretched lazily. "I've fulfilled my promise. I've given enough."<br /> Aaron nodded in acknowledgment without saying anything further.<br /> This piqued Mia's curiosity even more. "Is it like what the novels depict? Did you marry Taylor due to some special event?"<br /> Seeing Wesley's glare, Mia lowered her head to focus on her noodles. "I won't ask anymore."<br /> "For the past five years, you've been staying in the stairwell. It has been hard for you, but at least you're still untouched," Aaron remarked before swiftly departing.<br /> Mia stared at Wesley in disbelief, realizing that Aaron's words were meant for her ears.<br /> "What are you staring at? Eat your noodles," Wesley said. Mia chuckled.<br /> "Why are you laughing?"<br /> "You're blushing."<br /> "Nonsense," Wesley retorted.<br /> Unable to contain herself, Mia burst into laughter. She had tried to hold it in, but seeing Wesley's flushed face made it impossible.<br /> Ten minutes later, Mia left on her own accord, sensing that Wesley had something to discuss with Aaron.<br /> Inside Aaron's small shop, Wesley opened a bottle of wine. "Still single?"<br /> "I look too old, no one's interested," Aaron replied, opening a bottle of liquor as well.<br /> "Then why are you meddling in my love lives?"<br /> "Leave a child behind, even if you pass away, someone will remember you." Aaron took a sip. "I've actually investigated this Mia."<br /> "You investigated her?"<br /> "I knew you'd get a divorce. I've been keeping an eye on the pretty ones. This girl had done a lot of good deeds before coming to Yeadeo. Once, she saved three people in a flood and nearly lost her life. Opportunities are rare. You have to seize them."<br /> "When you've figured things out and are ready to marry, then we can discuss our affairs. That's the condition." Wesley downed the entire bottle of liquor.<br /> "Otherwise, don't bother meddling. We're on a one-way path and can't drag others along."<br /> "You..." Aaron sighed as he watched Wesley's retreating figure.<br /> On the road leading to the Feidgeuo Manor, Taylor stood gazing blankly at the entrance not far away.<br /> Twice in one day, she had come here.<br /> The first time was to pick up Frank, and this time was because Frank had lost his expensive watch. She and Henry hadn't even had a meal, rushing over to find it.<br /> The first time, she had come in a hurry when Frank was injured and left quickly as well.<br /> But this time, as Taylor looked at the entrance ahead, an infinite longing sprouted within her.<br /> "If only... I could live here, how wonderful that would be."<br /> Henry looked at her. "One day, I'll definitely build an estate more magnificent than this, and you'll be the lady of the house."<br /> As they conversed, a taxi drove by, stopping at the entrance. The person who got out of the taxi left Taylor stunned.<br /> She rubbed her eyes.	Adoread	147	https://facebook.com/61556400142540	LEARN_MORE	1713510000	View Edit Delete
1666923	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727711	1734958299	695	3297604177200763			1713596400	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	226177680578601	0	Adoread	120207756044620265	client.adoread.com	Learn more	NONE	image	🔥🔥🔥 Read More👉	Hottest novel👉👉👉	https://client.adoread.com/book/loading/page/adoread/19161308412?utm_campaign={{campaign.id}}&utm_content={{campaign.name}}		1713536880	2.261776805786E+14	Adoread	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438162152_827264979441253_8630164044163185256_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=HK7RWWhztOQQ7kNvgGyQw0g&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCurEBUB_V-MuRJV1ojRwFXpmjHySWdQA5SedIzTSwGOw&oe=663A6AEE	person_profile	0	Adoread	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438058317_2237734986570683_1472772240083529734_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UdgbCrYSEvYQ7kNvgEQhmHW&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCEaJCiwb_OtVjAbcW1kYU9yhMl3uegMMLBE-WNNbvIJg&oe=663A7510	0	3	"Wesley, are you trying to harm me? You useless piece of trash, can't even make a decent cup of coffee, can you?"<br /> Madison Blair lifted her coffee cup and splashed it directly onto Wesley Harrington's face.<br /> "What are you looking at, you spineless waste? Your name sounds so lofty? I might as well call you a waste."<br /> Glancing at the grotesque expression of his wife's mother, Wesley pulled out his phone to check the time.<br /> Exactly twelve o'clock. It had been five full years since he married Taylor Reed.<br /> The appointed time had come.<br /> He had fulfilled his promise, safeguarding the Reed family for five years, transforming them from a family living off fishing to one perceived as affluent by the common folk.<br /> Wiping the coffee off his face, he turned and walked away.<br /> "Where do you think you're going? Go fetch some more coffee," Madison shouted.<br /> "Madison, didn't you say this waste is obedient at home, doing whatever he's told? I don't think he's taking it lying down."<br /> Madison grew angrier. "Wesley, you stop right there. My family has fed and housed you. If you dare disobey, I'll have you thrown out!"<br /> Ignoring her, Wesley continued downstairs.<br /> "When Taylor comes back, I'll immediately have you two divorced. Do you hear me? Stay right there," Madison threatened, "I'll let you know your place today."<br /> Grabbing a golf club, Madison swiftly charged towards Wesley.<br /> Seeing Wesley heading downstairs, she swung the club viciously at his back.<br /> Without turning back, Wesley gently sidestepped.<br /> Losing her balance, Madison tumbled forward, rolling down the stairs with a series of thumps.<br /> "Ouch... it hurts, it hurts so much!"<br /> As Madison reached the ground floor, she wailed in pain and her sister immediately rushed to her.<br /> "Wesley, what have you done? How dare you hit my sister!" Madison's sister hurried down, checking on Madison's condition.<br /> Wesley remained silent, observing the scene.<br /> "Quick, call Taylor. Tell her to come back. Today, she must divorce this waste." Madison glared at Wesley. "How dare you hit me? Not only will I let Taylor divorce you, but I'll make sure you leave in disgrace."<br /> "Mum, what's wrong?" At that moment, a gent and a lady walked in.<br /> The lady was Taylor, Madison's daughter.<br /> She ran towards Madison.<br /> As Madison pointed at Wesley, tears streamed down her face. "Taylor, he hit me, he hit me! When you're not home, he changes his attitude, scolding and hitting me in the slightest displeasure. He even pushed me down the stairs just now. Alexis can testify."<br /> Madison's sister, Alexis Blair, chimed in. "Yes, Wesley, this trash not only hit your mother but also threatened to hit me too. We cannot tolerate such trash."<br /> "Taylor, I have been telling you to divorce him for years. You've been supporting him, treating him like a Lord at home, but he's an ungrateful wolf in sheep's clothing."<br /> Helping Madison up, Taylor noticed the scrapes on Madison's arms and legs, her expression turning cold.<br /> "Wesley, why did you hit my mother? You better give me an explanation."<br /> Wesley looked at Taylor, his wife.<br /> Five years had passed, and she had never shown him kindness.<br /> Taylor dressed impeccably, a paragon of a successful lady, with a face that could be deemed angelic, yet whether her heart was as angelic remained a mystery.<br /> Her figure, too, left countless men yearning.<br /> For five years, Wesley had thought he might develop feelings for this lady, but in reality, it never happened.<br /> "There are surveillance cameras in the house," Wesley stated calmly before descending the stairs into the hallway.<br /> Despite residing in a three-story villa, Wesley's living quarters were confined to the stairwell.<br /> He harbored no resentment towards this arrangement. It was merely a promise. It was just that Taylor failed to appreciate him.<br /> This home held little value that he wished to cling onto.<br /> Retrieving a wooden box from beneath his pillow, Wesley extracted two documents. Casting a fleeting glance at the modest abode he had called home for five years, Wesley smiled faintly.<br /> He thought, "Finally... I'm free."<br /> Pushing the door ajar, Wesley was met by Taylor's piercing gaze. "I've reviewed the surveillance footage. Yes, my mother intended to strike you, but even if she did, what difference would it make?"<br /> "She's a lady. How much could her blows hurt you? Why did you dodge?"<br /> "If you hadn't dodged, my mother wouldn't have tumbled down." Wesley stared at Taylor, unable to comprehend her thought process.<br /> He had no interest in engaging in these arguments. Handing over the two documents to Taylor, he remarked, "The divorce agreement. I've already signed it. Take a look. I'm leaving with nothing."<br /> "With your current influence, there's no need for you to visit the city hall. Someone will handle it for you, right?"<br /> Madison was taken aback. She swiftly snatched the divorce agreement, flipping through it hastily.<br /> The contents were indeed straightforward. Both parties willingly divorced, with Wesley relinquishing all claims and having already signed.<br /> In an instant, Madison's pain seemed to dissipate. "Taylor, sign it quickly. Sign it."<br /> Taylor was still in a daze.<br /> She pondered.<br /> "A divorce agreement? Wesley has already prepared a divorce agreement. On what grounds?"<br /> "What gives him the right to initiate a divorce? All these years, he's done nothing at home, lacking any ambition. Always practicing martial arts, what right does he have to seek a divorce?"<br /> "If anyone should initiate it, it should be me. Moreover, now that I'm back to discussing this matter with him. Could it be that word got out, and Wesley, for the sake of his pride, rushed to prepare a divorce agreement first?"<br /> "It must be so, but... No!"<br /> "Wanting to leave with nothing, is he retreating to advance? As the chairman of the Reed Group, how could I be served with a divorce?"<br /> "Hey Wesley, I never expected this from you. Have I not treated you well enough? You seek a divorce, attempting to turn your retreat into advance, aiming to embarrass me?"<br /> Taylor glared at Wesley. "I'm telling you, it's impossible."<br /> Snatching the divorce agreement, she tore it to shreds.<br /> "Taylor, what are you doing? Such a great opportunity. Why not just sign it and let him leave?" Madison grew anxious.<br /> "Mom, I do intend to divorce this trash, but the decision must come from me. I returned specifically to address this matter."<br /> With that, Taylor produced two documents. "Wesley, remember that it's me who's divorcing you. It's me who no longer wants you. Initially, out of marital obligation, I had considered offering you some compensation. Now, you don't even need to think about it. Sign the divorce agreement and leave my home."<br /> Wesley offered a faint smile as he accepted the divorce agreement.<br /> "What are you laughing at?" Taylor demanded angrily.<br /> Wesley's smile seemed to mock her, fueling her rage.<br /> Ignoring her entirely, Wesley signed the document and handed it over.<br /> "What are you laughing at? Answer me! Who do you think you are?" Taylor roared once more.<br /> Wesley glanced at her before striding towards the exit.<br /> "Stop!" The gent who had accompanied Taylor stepped forward, blocking Wesley's path. "Taylor asked you a question, and... Your previous attitude displeased me. Apologize to Taylor, or I'll have you leave in disgrace!"<br /> Chapter 2 The Unspoken Truth<br /> <br /> "Yes, let him leave in disgrace. He thought he could just hit me and walk away so easily," Madison joined in the commotion, also noticing the gent blocking Wesley's path.<br /> Madison had a keen interest in luxury goods, having frequented various high-end establishments over the years as the Reed family's living conditions improved. The gent was wearing an expensive watch and dressed head to toe in high-end luxury brands.<br /> Seeing Madison's gaze, the gent spoke. "Rest assured, today Wesley must pay the price."<br /> The gent introduced himself, looking at Wesley, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Henry Clark, the eldest son of the Clark family and the general manager of the Clark Group in the North District."<br /> "From now on, I will accompany Taylor on her journey of life, and I will not allow anyone to bully her."<br /> "My identity carries weight. You should understand that. Now, apologize to Taylor. Apologize! Did you hear me? Apologize!"<br /> Madison's eyes lit up. She hadn't expected the gent before her to hold such a high status. She continued to shout, "Did you hear that? Taylor will be with Mr. Clark from now on. Apologize now."<br /> Wesley glanced at Henry, then at Taylor. He thought, "Have they been together all along?" Wesley had wanted to ask but decided against it because there was no need. He simply gave them a glance and continued walking towards the exit.<br /> "Are you ignoring me?" Henry's face turned cold as he reached out to grab Wesley. Henry's hand froze mid-air as he received a solid hit.<br /> "Until I sign the divorce papers, Taylor and I are still wife and husband. I don't care to investigate whether you two had any intimate relationship during that time, but don't provoke me, or I won't hesitate to make you regret it." Wesley's gaze was icy, and as Henry met his eyes, he felt a twinge of fear and swallowed his words.<br /> Taylor was also stunned. She knew exactly what Wesley had been like over the past five years. There were many surveillance cameras in the house, and she would often check them.<br /> Even when Taylor wasn't home, despite how her family treated Wesley, he always obeyed without complaint, especially towards her. He had never raised his voice, no matter how they treated him.<br /> Today, not only did Wesley dodge when her mother struck, but he also initiated the divorce and now even struck Henry. <br /> Taylor was at a loss for words, thinking, "How could this cowardly gent dare? On what grounds does he dare?"<br /> This change was difficult for Taylor to accept as if she didn't truly understand this guy. The gent who used to be obedient to her, completely submissive, now revealed this side of himself. She watched Wesley walk away in a daze, feeling a strange discomfort in her heart.<br /> "Isn't he leaving with nothing?" Alexis pointed at the wooden box Wesley was holding. "What is he taking with him?"<br /> Madison also realized. Over the past five years, Wesley had always treasured this wooden box, carrying it with him wherever he went. She thought there must be something valuable inside.<br /> Realizing this, Madison hurriedly followed. "Wesley, stop right there, leave the wooden box."<br /> Wesley paused, glanced at Madison, and said, "This is my personal belonging."<br /> "Nonsense, what personal belonging could you possibly have after marrying into the Reed family? Everything you've eaten, worn, and lived in over the years has been provided by the Reed family. Put it down."<br /> As she spoke, Madison reached out to grab the wooden box.<br /> "Ah..." A scream rang out as Madison quickly retracted her hand, a gash appearing on her palm, a crimson liquid dripping.<br /> The wooden box was now stained with the same crimson liquid, trembling lightly in Wesley's hand.<br /> "It's not the right time yet, the day you thirst for this crimson liquid will come," Wesley murmured softly, patting the box before turning to continue his stride towards the exit.<br /> "Monster! A monster!" Madison screamed, causing Taylor and the others to rush out. Seeing the wound in Madison's hand, Taylor was filled with rage.<br /> "Wesley, aren't you going to say something?" Wesley halted once more, contemplating before meeting Taylor's gaze.<br /> "Just stay out of my way from now on. Consider this a warning to you."<br /> "Taylor, that wooden box of his has a mechanism. It must hold something valuable! We can't let him take it with him," Madison, enduring the pain, reminded them.<br /> "Mom, your injury is important. We'll deal with him later. Let me take you to the hospital first." Taylor comforted Madison before calling out to the retreating Wesley.<br /> "Our marriage is over! Yet, you dared to hurt my mother! This won't be the end of it! I will make you regret it!" Ignoring her, Wesley continued walking out.<br /> "Rest assured, I promise he won't see the light of day tomorrow." Henry stepped forward to console. "Let's focus on getting your wound treated first."<br /> "I want him to regret ever existing in this world, to apologize to me in repentance," Madison roared.<br /> "Mom, trust me, I will make him do just that." Taylor looked at Madison with a mix of pity and determination. "Let's go to the hospital first."<br /> In the villa area, Wesley halted, his voice cold. "Get out."<br /> An elderly gent leaped down from a tree, appearing to be in his seventies, yet landing silently from a height of around ten feet.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, your father wants you to come home and take charge."<br /> "He stopped being my father five years ago. He's my enemy."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you misunderstood your father. He had his reasons back then. I swear in my life, once you know the truth, you will forgive him."<br /> "Huh!" Wesley smirked coldly, saying, "I nearly passed away back then. Is that also a misunderstanding?"<br /> The old gent pleaded, "Mr. Harrington, this situation is truly not as you perceive it."<br /> Wesley didn't engage further with the old guy. The events of that year were etched in his memory forever. He was the one who had been abandoned. If not for that incident, why would he have stayed with the Reed family for five years?<br /> Watching Wesley walk away, the old gent had tears silently streaming down his face. "Mr. Harrington, I truly... I truly can't bring myself to speak the truth, but you have misunderstood your father. He also bears burdens and endures pains beyond what an ordinary person can handle."<br /> As Wesley's figure disappeared, the old gent stood up, hesitated for a moment, then dialed a number on his phone.<br /> "Mr. Harrington is now divorced. I've given you the news firsthand. If your daughter is truly together with Mr. Harrington, you must fulfill the promise and let her persuade Mr. Harrington to come home."<br /> After hanging up, a middle-aged gent in a luxurious estate jumped up excitedly. Calming himself, he immediately made another call. "My dear, you're at Yeadeo, right?<br /> "Go find Wesley now. Don't mention the engagement for now. Use every means to get close to him, make him fall in love with you."<br /> "Dad, I don't have time."<br /> "No matter what you are busy with, you must go find Wesley now. No matter what reason you approach him, you must leave a good impression the first time."<br /> "Dad, I'm in trouble right now. If I don't handle it well, I might be good as gone. I have to deal with it immediately. I'm hanging up."<br /> Chapter 3 You're Nothing<br /> The middle-aged gent's voice lowered significantly. "Is there a big incident happening? You didn't tell me? What happened?"<br /> "Quinn Kingsley from Yeadeo, Mr. Kingsley, used our product and now has one foot on the grave. If something really happens to him..."<br /> "You mean Quinn, the uncontested leader of Yeadeo?"<br /> "Yes."<br /> "In that case, you should go find Wesley. Trust me, in this world, there is no problem that Wesley can't solve. As long as he's willing to help, you'll be fine. Listen to me, go find Wesley immediately."<br /> The lady fell silent for a moment before saying, "Okay."<br /> At Yeadeo Harbor, a gent with a large flaxen chain and a watch, sporting a crew cut, hurriedly disembarked, accompanied by a dozen gentlemen.<br /> "Mr. Reed, wherever that trash is, we will find him and tear him apart."<br /> "Yes, that guy dared to harm your mother. We'll make sure he pays for it."<br /> Frank Reed's face turned cold. "Wesley, you coward, thinking you can overturn the world? How dare you touch my mom? Just wait until I find you, you're finished."<br /> "We've found him. Wesley got into a taxi, and our boys followed him."<br /> "Let's go!" Frank waved his hand, leading dozens of men who boarded the car with harpoons, steel pipes, and other weapons.<br /> Inside the taxi, Wesley gazed at the scenery outside, feeling a strange sense of tranquility.<br /> He thought to himself, "I never imagined that while I was secretly paving the way for the Reed family, Taylor, after progressing so rapidly, would start looking down on me more and more."<br /> "Those ladies who know my true identity, which one of them isn't trying to throw themselves at me? Ladies like that don't interest me."<br /> "Being an ordinary gent is truly difficult," Wesley murmured, smiling faintly and deciding not to dwell on these matters anymore. He had important things to attend to and no time to waste on personal affairs.<br /> "Young lad, are you going to Feidgeuo Manor for a job interview?" The driver, curious about Wesley's destination, inquired.<br /> Feidgeuo Manor was Yeadeo's most mysterious private area. Originally a villa area, it was bought at a huge cost five years ago and completely renovated. It was said to have cost a trillion dollars. The former villa area was now Feidgeuo Manor.<br /> "That's my home," Wesley replied nonchalantly.<br /> The driver was taken aback by this revelation, silently cursing Wesley for bragging. After a couple of minutes, the driver regained his composure. "It seems like you and I both prefer to keep a low profile. My car usually gathers dust at home, so I occasionally drive a taxi to experience life."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "My car has been driven by my assistant for the past few years, so it's not gathering dust."<br /> "Haha..." The driver laughed. "We should get together sometime and see whose car is more impressive."<br /> "Sure, whenever we have the time."<br /> As they chatted, the vehicle soon arrived near Feidgeuo Manor, where the massive head of the Feidgeuo Peak protruded, creating a unique landscape in Yeadeo.<br /> The driver asked with a smile, "Since you're the owner here, it's fine if I drive in, right?"<br /> "Of course," Wesley replied.<br /> As soon as Wesley spoke, several cars caught up from behind.<br /> The cars surrounded the one Wesley was in, with the front vehicles braking to force the car to a stop.<br /> When numerous people descended from cars wielding harpoons and steel pipes, the driver's face paled.<br /> Frank and his group got out of the cars, instantly closing in, and without hesitation, started attacking, the steel pipes and harpoons thudding against the car.<br /> Frank's henchman yanked open the door of Wesley's car, poised to stab Wesley with a harpoon, but Wesley swiftly exited the vehicle.<br /> With a firm step on the ground, he launched a swift hit.<br /> A muffled sound echoed as the henchman was hit away.<br /> "What are you looking at?" Frank noticed his henchmen were all staring at him. "All of you, attack together and take him down!"<br /> As he commanded, the henchmen Frank brought with him surged forward.<br /> The taxi driver, trembling, took out his phone to call the police, but Frank glared at him. "I am Frank Reed from Yeadeo Harbor. If you dare, go ahead and make that call."<br /> Frank, leveraging his sister Taylor's status, had been causing trouble in Yeadeo Harbor, and no one dared to provoke him.<br /> Upon hearing Frank's name, the driver hastily put away his phone. "Mr. Reed, I'll just check the time, you guys continue."<br /> "Huh!" Frank snorted coldly, casting his gaze towards the surrounded Wesley.<br /> The sounds of thuds continued to ring out incessantly. Because Wesley was completely surrounded, Frank was unable to see the situation inside clearly, but he could imagine it. After all, in Frank's mind, the henchmen under his command were not to be trifled with.<br /> "Hit him hard for me!"<br /> Another muffled sound and a figure flew out. At that moment, Frank finally saw the situation clearly, and his face turned pale.<br /> Frank knew that Wesley liked to practice martial arts, but he had never expected Wesley to be this skilled. It wasn't Wesley who had been beaten, but his own men by Wesley alone.<br /> Frantically, Frank turned and ran to retrieve a crossbow from the car.<br /> "Clear the way." Frank bellowed, aiming the crossbow at Wesley.<br /> "You scumbag, you think you can fight? Move one more time, and I'll end your life! Surrender!"<br /> Wesley, holding a wooden box, stared at Frank. Ignoring the crossbow in his hand, Wesley said, "Tell your henchmen to back off, or you'll all see the light from above!"<br /> "You're really good at pretending to be tough." Frank took two steps forward. "See the light? Move a muscle and see if I can end your life or not! If you don't have the guts, apologize now!"<br /> Wesley turned his head and looked at the approaching cars, with two expensive ones in the lead, two more in the rear, and another one in the middle.<br /> "Keep acting tough, and I'll put a hole in your head." Frank spoke while glancing at the five cars. "What, looking for help?"<br /> "Let me tell you, those who ride in these cars are not the kind of weaklings like you who rely on connections. With me here, in Yeadeo's social hierarchy, even those who ride in such cars wouldn't dare meddle in this matter. And let me make it clear, without my sister, you're nothing."<br /> Chapter 4 Is He Worthy?<br /> As Frank's words faded, the five cars came to a halt.<br /> A bodyguard opened the door of the one in the middle, revealing a dazzling pair of shining shoes catching everyone's eye.<br /> The shining shoe encased a beautiful foot. Above, the skirt's hem was adorned with lace.<br /> Then, like a fairy stepping out of a painting, she appeared before everyone's eyes.<br /> The lady was beautiful!<br /> Frank was mesmerized. Ever since the Reed family rose to prominence, he had been surrounded by ladies, but compared to the elegant lady before him, they were worlds apart.<br /> It wasn't just a difference in appearance but an incomparable gap in demeanor.<br /> The lady descending from the Maybach seemed like a celestial being untouched by mortal affairs.<br /> The embodiment of a fairy in the mundane world.<br /> She simply stood there after getting out of the car, perfectly embodying what it meant to be graceful and elegant.<br /> The lady glanced at Wesley, then at Frank.<br /> Frank grinned, saying, "May I have the honor of knowing the name of this esteemed lady? I am Frank..."<br /> The lady spoke calmly. "Disrespect Mr. Harrington, and you're done for."<br /> Her bodyguards, unfazed by Frank's crossbow, swiftly overwhelmed him, sending him crashing to the ground.<br /> The henchmen who had come with Frank, previously defeated by Wesley, now scrambled to their feet and fled in all directions.<br /> Who would dare provoke someone who could afford such a car?<br /> "My sister is Taylor Reed, the chairperson of Reed Group," Frank shouted, clutching his head.<br /> Ignoring him, one of the bodyguards dragged him to the roadside grass while another used a belt to tighten around Frank's neck, exerting pressure.<br /> "Enough, a lesson is all that's needed." Wesley spoke calmly, and only when the lady gestured did the bodyguards release Frank.<br /> Frank lay there, already unconscious.<br /> Wesley turned to the lady. "Who are you?"<br /> "I am Mia Roberts, the general manager of Vinver Business Alliance's Yeadeo branch." She looked at Wesley and continued, "Mr. Harrington, my father mentioned that you have miraculous healing skills and earnestly requested your assistance. A generous reward awaits."<br /> Wesley furrowed his brow slightly, thinking, "There are indeed people who recognize my abilities and status, yet I've rarely intervened in the past five years. Today, shortly after I divorced Taylor, she is here. Whose arrangement is this?"<br /> "Mr. Harrington, my father also mentioned that you are benevolent and has raised the banner of compassion among healers, serving as a role model and benchmark for all in the medical field."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "You have a way with words. Tell me the specifics."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, please get in the car first. I will explain in detail on the way."<br /> The phrase "compassionate healer" held significant weight for Wesley, who had saved countless lives from the brink of death.<br /> Without further ado, he got into the car.<br /> Inside, after Mia brewed coffee for Wesley, she began. "Vinver Business Alliance has a wide range of business operations, and I mainly oversee the health supplement sector, which has seen some success in recent years.<br /> "Recently, Quinn Kingsley started using our medicines, and now there's an accident."<br /> As she spoke, Mia kept her gaze fixed on Wesley.<br /> Quinn, the undisputed leader of Yeadeo, was a figure of immense influence.<br /> Upon hearing this name, Wesley showed no particular reaction. "If the city's leader faces issues with your products, it is indeed a concern. Let's go and see."<br /> With just a sentence, Wesley leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest.<br /> Mia was secretly alarmed, thinking, "He knows who Quinn is, yet he seems indifferent. Who is this Wesley, really? No wonder Dad has instructed me to find a way to win his favor." Mia's inner resistance toward Wesley quietly shifted.<br /> Wesley had piqued her curiosity.<br /> As the vehicle was moving, Wesley's phone rang.<br /> Wesley opened his eyes and took out his phone to see Taylor calling.<br /> Pressing the answer button, he asked, "What's the matter?"<br /> On the other end of the line, Taylor, driving towards Feidgeuo Manor, had a grim expression.<br /> She thought, "Has Wesley ever spoken to me in such a cold tone before? Is he really this heartless right after our divorce?"<br /> Already furious, she snapped. "Wesley, do you even consider yourself a human being?<br /> "Today, not only did you lay hands on my mother, but you also had someone attack my brother. Do you not remember our past at all?"<br /> Wesley calmly replied, "Do we have a past to remember?"<br /> "You truly are a heartless scumbag, just as my mother said. You are an ungrateful and vicious person I raised for five years. Even a pet would wag its tail at me!"<br /> Taylor wanted to continue her tirade, but the phone line had already turned busy.<br /> This only fueled her anger further.<br /> Just now, she had received a call from Frank's underlings, informing her that Wesley had sent people to attack Frank and even intended to end him.<br /> Taylor wanted to demand answers, but...<br /> As Taylor was clutching her fists, her gaze turned icy.<br /> After a moment, she picked up her phone again. "Wesley, you are so narrow-minded. You have no ambition. Any lady would steer clear of you."<br /> "Just because I dumped you, you are doing this on purpose to make me feel sick. Pretending to be aloof and seeking revenge? Do you even deserve it?"<br /> "In Yeadeo, squashing you would be as easy as squashing an ant. You're asking for it! If anything happens to my brother, I will make you wish you were ending!"<br /> Her furious voice message echoed in the car.<br /> Wesley chuckled and put away his phone.<br /> Beside him, Mia seemed contemplative. Before coming, she had already ordered a swift investigation into Wesley.<br /> She was curious, thinking, "How could someone valued by my father could be the one 'marrying into' the Reed family."<br /> Being tactful, Mia chose not to ask and pretended not to have heard.<br /> After about forty minutes, they arrived at the Kingsley Manor.<br /> The Kingsley family members, upon seeing Mia alight from the car, all wore grim expressions.<br /> Mia greeted them with a smile, "Everyone, this is Wesley Harrington, Mr. Harrington, the miraculous healer I specially invited to treat Mr. Kingsley."<br /> "Him? The gent who married into the Reed family?"<br /> "A miraculous healer? Is he even worthy? Are healers so worthless now?"<br /> "A useless gent who mooches off of the Reed family? How dare he call himself a miraculous healer? Truly a joke among all jokes."<br /> Chapter 5 Compassionate Healer<br /> Amanda Kingsley, Quinn's granddaughter, stared coldly at Wesley and Mia.<br /> This lady, dressed in a smart suit, also held significant fame in Yeadeo, overseeing the region's business activities, including investment attraction and various local business negotiations.<br /> Amanda had a favorable view of Taylor, who had risen swiftly in recent times, and they had interacted frequently.<br /> She was aware of Wesley's existence and had advised Taylor to part ways with him early on.<br /> But Amanda never imagined that Mia would bring someone like Wesley, a complete waste, and claim he was a miraculous healer.<br /> Glaring at Mia, she said, "Mia, once my grandfather is well, it's best for your Roberts family to leave Yeadeo."<br /> "As for you..." She glanced at Wesley. "I will advise Taylor to divorce you. You have deceived Taylor's feelings and now shamelessly made your way into my family. You are a despicable creature."<br /> After reprimanding Mia and Wesley, she turned to an elderly gent beside her, and her tone and attitude completely changed. "Mr. Phillips, sorry to trouble you. My grandfather is inside, please."<br /> Mia looked at the elderly gent, who was already in his twilight years, feeling deeply shocked.<br /> Scott Phillips, the 38th generation heir of the Healing Clinic, was now ninety-two years old.<br /> Renowned as a miraculous healer, he was a respected figure in the medical community of Yeadeo and even nationally.<br /> He no longer conducted consultations personally due to his old age. Mia had visited him specifically to pay her respects once she had arrived in Yeadeo but had not met Scott.<br /> She never expected Scott to appear in person. It was understandable, as Quinn held a prominent position in the city. Despite the profound influence of the Phillips family, they still had to show respect to Quinn.<br /> Mia looked at Wesley, feeling conflicted and thinking, "Dad has confidently claimed that Wesley has extraordinary abilities, but does he really?"<br /> She harbored doubts, but out of propriety, Mia spoke. "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the trouble."<br /> Wesley smiled, "It's fine. As long as the person can be healed."<br /> His open-mindedness impressed Mia.<br /> After about half an hour, Amanda emerged from the room. All eyes instantly turned towards her.<br /> It was evident that Amanda had wailed out, with traces of tears still visible.<br /> "Amanda, how is it?" A middle-aged gent anxiously asked her.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family who had rushed back also focused their attention on her.<br /> "Mr. Phillips said that there's little hope of recovery. He could only use acupuncture to wake grandfather for half an hour. When grandfather wakes up, let's all go in and see if he has any final instructions."<br /> Everyone was shocked.<br /> "How could this be?"<br /> "Is Mr. Phillips also helpless?"<br /> The members of the Kingsley family found it hard to accept this reality, especially since Quinn had always treated his juniors well.<br /> The thought of Quinn departing saddened some, and tears silently fell.<br /> Publicly, Quinn's status was the foundation of the Kingsley family's prominence in Yeadeo.<br /> If Quinn were to pass away, the Kingsley family would undoubtedly decline.<br /> The atmosphere within the Kingsley family was somber.<br /> Amanda looked at her family members, opened her mouth, but said nothing, silently turning back into the room.<br /> "Stop crying," A middle-aged gent said sternly, "Dad wouldn't want to see you all in tears. If he's really leaving, we mustn't let him worry about us. Pull yourselves together."<br /> After these words, the middle-aged gent also entered the room.<br /> The younger members of the Kingsley family wiped their tears vigorously, trying to force smiles, but in truth, they looked better at crying than pretending to be happy.<br /> Mia's spirit plummeted as she realized the gravity of the situation. Even if an ordinary person passed away from consuming health supplements, it spelled big trouble for those who sold them. And when the deceased happened to be Quinn, the stakes were even higher.<br /> She understood that it would be difficult for this branch to stay in Yeadeo, and even the headquarters might face repercussions.<br /> "Let's go in and have a look." Wesley glanced at Mia. "There might still be a chance."<br /> "Ah..." Mia stared at Wesley in surprise. Seeing him already heading towards the room, she quickly followed suit.<br /> Inside the room, the members of the Kingsley family stood around the mattress, maintaining a certain distance.<br /> Scott lit the alcohol lamp and took out the needles, his expression solemn.<br /> He looked at the members of the Kingsley family. "Think about what you want to say to Mr. Kingsley later. Once you're ready, let me know, and then I'll proceed with the acupuncture."<br /> As he said this, tears welled up in many eyes.<br /> "If you don't mind, let me take a look. I have a way." Wesley spoke up, drawing everyone's attention.<br /> Amanda's face darkened. "Who let you in? Get out!"<br /> "Mia, have you lost your mind? Tricked by this trash and actually brought him here as a miracle healer. Get out with him! I'll settle the score with you in a couple of days."<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, at a loss for words.<br /> "Even Mr. Phillips is unable to reverse the situation. What use are you? Get out." Another younger member of the Kingsley family angrily rebuked.<br /> The middle-aged gent added, "We're in no mood right now. You better leave immediately."<br /> "I understand your narrow-mindedness," Wesley continued, "But as a healer, once I see a patient, I cannot stand by and watch him draw his last breath."<br /> "Wesley, you're quite the charlatan. Do you really want to be gone right now?" Amanda's voice was filled with anger.<br /> "Amanda, let me say a few words," Scott interjected, and Amanda fell silent.<br /> Looking at Wesley, Scott began. "Young lad, at my age, I've seen a lot and have a broad perspective. Today, however, I find it hard to remain indifferent. I practiced medicine from the age of sixteen until I stopped seeing patients for a total of seventy years."<br /> "I've saved countless patients from various illnesses. I never easily declare a patient's fate, nor do I believe I have the right to do so."<br /> "But from your recent remarks, it seems like you're accusing me of such actions. Young people wanting to make a name for themselves by stepping on the shoulders of their predecessors, I can understand."<br /> "But this kind of behavior displeases me."<br /> "My displeasure, what does it mean to you? Do you understand?"<br /> "Even if you are a healer, your career will be ruined because of this."<br /> Chapter 6 Hand of Hell<br /> In the face of Scott's veiled threats, Wesley simply smiled and brushed them off.<br /> Looking at Scott, he asked, "I've always focused on the issue at hand rather than attacking individuals. I have a few questions for you. If you can't administer the needles, how long do you think Quinn can hold on?"<br /> "Seven days, but he will remain unconscious," Scott replied bluntly.<br /> "Then let me ask you this, is there anyone in the world with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "Outrageous," Amanda coldly interjected, "Mr. Phillips is unparalleled in his medical expertise."<br /> Scott glanced at Amanda. "Amanda, let me handle this question."<br /> Continuing to address Wesley, he said, "I don't underestimate myself, nor do I overestimate. There are countless talented individuals in the world, like stars in the sky. I may not dare claim to be the best in medical skills, but those who surpass me are few."<br /> "That means there are some," Wesley calmly remarked, causing Scott's expression to shift slightly, "Indeed, there are."<br /> "Then let me ask you this. Do you think within seven days, the Kingsley family won't find someone with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "If they do find someone, do you believe there is an illness that you cannot cure, but this person can?"<br /> Wesley's questions were sharp and resounding.<br /> Scott's face changed once more as he was rendered speechless.<br /> "Even if there is, that person will never be you." Amanda's face turned icy. "Now get out. Don't spout your eloquence here. Your deceitful behavior is repulsive."<br /> "Your understanding of me is merely hearsay, isn't it?" Wesley retorted, his gaze mocking Amanda, "Has your background and education taught you such arrogance and prejudice?"<br /> "Arrogance?" Amanda's face grew colder as she disdainfully looked at Wesley. "Prejudice?<br /> "Did I say something wrong just now? You are nothing but stagnant waste, a parasite living off others. If it weren't for Taylor, you would have starved on the streets long ago."<br /> "Relying on sweet words, deceiving Taylor. She, with her kind heart, can't bear to divorce you, but don't push your luck. If it weren't for Taylor's sake, you would have been sent out long ago."<br /> Scott interrupted Amanda, "Amanda, although I find this lad a bit annoying, what he said does hold some truth. There are indeed individuals with better medical skills than me. Your grandfather can hold on for seven days. Try reaching out to see if someone can come over. I'll help you make connections."<br /> "If it really doesn't work out after seven days, I'll administer the needles to your grandfather. However, at that point, I can only buy you three minutes."<br /> As soon as Scott spoke, the faces of the Kingsley family members grew even more solemn. True healers were rare and not easily summoned.<br /> While the Kingsley family had connections in Yeadeo, their influence waned outside of it.<br /> "Mr. Phillips, please administer the needles. Life has its ups and downs, and we understand that. Just buy my father a bit more time." The middle-aged gent spoke up.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family nodded in agreement.<br /> Amanda looked at Scott. "Mr. Phillips, please."<br /> "In that case, please have everyone unrelated leave. I need silence," Scott calmly stated.<br /> Amanda glared at Wesley, her eyes speaking volumes without a word.<br /> The unrelated individuals were, naturally, Wesley and Mia.<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, intending to leave, but she suddenly hesitated.<br /> Instead of leaving, Wesley moved forward.<br /> "What are you doing?" A young member of the Kingsley family stepped forward with a stern expression, pushing Wesley.<br /> In one swift motion, Wesley executed a clean shoulder throw, toppling the young gent to the ground, his own expression turning cold.<br /> "A bunch of fools! If it weren't for my teacher's teachings about not turning a blind eye to those in need, I wouldn't bother with you ignorant lot," Wesley remarked with disdain.<br /> As Wesley effortlessly took down one individual from the Kingsley family, the others seemed slow to react.<br /> By the time they realized what was happening, Wesley had already picked up the needle next to Scott and casually flicked his wrist.<br /> The needle flew out of his hand, piercing Quinn's temple, followed by a second needle, a third needle, and so on.<br /> "What are you doing? Stop!" Amanda's voice rose in urgency, echoed by the rest of the Kingsley family members who rushed forward to restrain Wesley.<br /> "Stay back, everyone. Wait." Scott suddenly stood up, blocking the others. "Let him try."<br /> Amanda and the others were left dumbfounded, thinking, "What does this mean?"<br /> Despite their confusion, they heeded Scott's words.<br /> After Scott stopped the members of the Kingsley family, he fixed his gaze on Wesley.<br /> Wesley proceeded to use eighteen needles in succession, symbolizing the levels of pain.<br /> Even if someone had descended into the depths of hell, they must be brought back.<br /> The final needle, also piercing a vital point, caused Quinn's body to tremble suddenly, resonating with the previous eighteen needles.<br /> Scott's eyes widened, his body trembling slightly. His reaction left Amanda and the others even more puzzled, but none dared to interrupt.<br /> Moments later, Wesley placed a palm on Quinn's chest, causing all eighteen needles to be shaken off. When all the needles landed on the ground, the part of the skin where the needles had pierced turned dark.<br /> Wesley then dragged Quinn to the edge of the mattress, flipped him over with his head facing downwards, and gave him a firm pat on the back.<br /> Quinn spat out a mouthful of black liquid. When Wesley flipped him back to lie flat, his complexion had regained some color.<br /> "The Hand of Darkness... It's the Hand of Darkness!" Scott exclaimed with excitement, his body quivering, "It's the Hand that descends into the dark world, snatching people from the hands of the Evil!"<br /> "You do have some knowledge, recognizing the Hand of Darkness." Wesley glanced at Scott.<br /> Scott's gaze towards Wesley had undergone a drastic change. He respectfully clasped his hands together.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thirty years ago, I had the honor of attending a teaching conference held by Mr. Vanderbilt. I saw the Hand of Darkness, but my limited aptitude only allowed me to grasp the basics."<br /> "I have been blind and ignorant. I apologize for my earlier offenses. Please forgive me, Mr. Harrington."<br /> The Mr. Vanderbilt Scott referred to was Wesley's teacher, Ulysses Vanderbilt. He generously imparted his skills to others, but the ability to learn depended on one's innate talent.<br /> In this world, few could learn Ulysses' skills.<br /> Scott had been fortunate to receive guidance from Ulysses, which had elevated his medical skills. However, the Hand of Darkness, a miraculous ability, was beyond his comprehension.<br /> Wesley smiled faintly, "Your actions earlier are understandable. I appreciate your words."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you must be an exceptional disciple of Mr. Vanderbilt, possessing unparalleled magnanimity. Impressive," Scott continued.<br /> "Enough with the flattery at your age."<br /> "You are mistaken, Mr. Harrington. Every word I speak is sincere."<br /> Mia, Amanda, and the others stood bewildered by the unfolding situation.<br /> "Mr. Phillips... he... he..." Amanda's words faltered.<br /> Scott turned to the members of the Kingsley family. "Meeting Mr. Harrington was Quinn's luck. His symptoms have been cured by Mr. Harrington. With a few days of rest, he will be fine."<br /> The waste Taylor had previously said was called Mr. Harrington by Scott!<br /> Recalling their previous attitudes, Amanda hurriedly apologized, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> The members of the Kingsley family all apologized in unison, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> Chapter 7 Eight Plates of Noodles<br /> With a faint smile, Wesley remarked, "As family members of a patient, your actions earlier are understandable. There's no need for such formality."<br /> Amanda's perplexity deepened as she thought, "Where is the cowardly waste that Taylor described? This display of magnanimity and breadth is far from it."<br /> Mia, too, felt a shiver of realization, thinking, "No wonder Dad has insisted on my proximity to Wesley.<br /> This guy..."<br /> She gazed at Wesley, her curiosity piqued, a sense of exploration stirring within her.<br /> "Mia has brought you here, Mr. Harrington, to cure my grandfather. The Kingsley family will never forget this act. However, considering that my grandfather's ailment stemmed from the health supplements produced by the Vinver Business Alliance, we will be conducting an investigation into it."<br /> Amanda continued, looking at Wesley, "What do you think... of this approach?"<br /> It was Mia who had invited Wesley, so Amanda had grown wiser, refraining from asking for a direct punishment of the Vinver Business Alliance.<br /> As Mia heard Amanda's words, her heart skipped a beat, realizing trouble was brewing.<br /> "On the way here, Ms. Roberts briefed me on the situation. You conducted experiments on mice, correct?"<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes, the health supplements we received were exclusively provided by the Roberts family. There were no similar cases on the market, so we used mice for testing.<br /> "All the mice that ingested this supplement were gone."<br /> She looked at Mia and added, her voice turned colder. "Before the experiment, I specifically contacted Mia to inquire about the testing methods during the development phase, which involved mice."<br /> "There have been individuals eyeing my grandfather's position, some even wishing for his demise. I never imagined that the Vinver Business Alliance, which I attracted for investment, would become a weapon in someone else's hands."<br /> "Do you have any of the remaining medicine?" Wesley inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes."<br /> "Bring some over."<br /> Immediately, someone fetched the medicine. After it was brought to him, Wesley took out a supplement and swallowed it directly.<br /> This scene left Amanda and the others dumbfounded.<br /> Scott, too, was bewildered. "Mr. Harrington, what are you doing?"<br /> Wesley smiled, "Just proving that this medicine is not toxic."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thank you," Mia thanked sincerely, feeling like sobbing at that moment.<br /> Amanda, with a puzzled expression, looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, are you suggesting that my grandfather's condition wasn't caused by the Vinver Business Alliance's medicine? What about the mice?"<br /> The rest were equally puzzled.<br /> "Yes, but not entirely," Wesley said, leaving everyone even more bewildered.<br /> Mia's emotions were like a rollercoaster ride, from relief to immediate tension.<br /> "This medicine itself is not toxic, but when taken with another substance made from a certain plant, it results in Quinn's condition. The mice would die immediately, while humans could endure a few more days."<br /> Wesley continued to explain, "The plant used in this concoction is originally meant for crafting slow-acting toxins, not for human consumption."<br /> Looking at Amanda, Wesley said, "During this period, whoever had access to your grandfather and the mice will better understand why these events occurred."<br /> The gaze of members of the Kingsley family immediately focused on a lady.<br /> Amanda, somewhat incredulous, looked at her. "Can you offer an explanation?"<br /> The lady was the wife of Amanda's deceased brother. She found it hard to accept, as did the rest of the Kingsley family.<br /> This lady had been named the exemplary lady who served her family well this year, not due to her connection with the Kingsley family but because she genuinely deserved it.<br /> "What do you mean? Amanda, what explanation do you want from me?"<br /> The lady stared at Amanda. "Am I the only one who had access to Grandfather and the mice? You, and you... and you, who didn't have access?"<br /> "You all claim to treat me as family. Since I married into the Kingsley family, I have worked diligently, contributing my share even if not acknowledged."<br /> "Amanda, it has been over a year since your brother passed, and I never once considered remarrying. Now, just because of his words, you demand an explanation from me?"<br /> Pointing at Wesley, the lady questioned, "Just because he accuses me of poisoning, you suspect me? Tell me, did I poison him?" The lady glared at Wesley.<br /> "I am merely analyzing the facts. As for concluding this case, it's not within my purview," Wesley addressed the members of the Kingsley family, saying, "You should conduct a thorough investigation into this matter.<br /> "I will write a prescription. Have Quinn take it on time, and he will recover in seven days."<br /> Amanda hurried to fetch paper and pen while Wesley prepared the prescription. Once done, he was ready to leave.<br /> Amanda said hurriedly, "Mr. Harrington, I've already made arrangements for lunch."<br /> "No need," Wesley smiled.<br /> The Kingsley family sought to build closer ties with Wesley, given his extraordinary medical skills. Wesley was well aware of this.<br /> Looking at Amanda and the others, Wesley remarked, "In the future, if you encounter any difficult medical cases that others cannot solve, seek me out. Remember, cases others cannot solve."<br /> The gaze of the Kingsley family members toward Wesley changed once again. Many renowned healers had eccentric personalities and were difficult to engage.<br /> They hadn't expected Wesley to possess such remarkable medical skills without any airs.<br /> As Wesley prepared to depart, the members of the Kingsley family did not dare to insist on his stay, so they accompanied him outside.<br /> "Oh, how could we forget such an important matter? Amanda, what about the consultation fee?" The middle-aged gent inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the oversight. Please wait a moment." Amanda hurried back inside and soon returned with a bank card in hand.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, there's one million dollars in here."<br /> Without hesitation, Wesley accepted the bank card and boarded Mia's car.<br /> During the journey, Mia boldly looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, you've helped me immensely. Can I treat you to a meal? Don't decline in a hurry. It's not a fancy restaurant, but it will leave you wanting more. It's a small place on the street, with only eight plates of noodles served each day, each plate containing different ingredients."<br /> "I managed to secure a reservation. Are you interested?"<br /> Wesley thought, "Eight Plates of Noodles?<br /> "Ah, Aaron's restaurant. It has been a while since I visited those old friends."<br /> Wesley nodded. "Let's go then."<br /> The restaurant, Eight Plates of Noodles, was located on Chanxold Street near the Yeadeo First Central Hospital.<br /> The establishment was small, serving only eight plates of noodles each day at a price of 10 thousand dollars each. Vernoic's television culinary program had specifically covered this incident.<br /> Reservations were a must to secure a plate.<br /> The restaurant's owner had a mysterious background. While the specifics were unknown, a high-ranking noble from the capital of Vernoic, Kingsland, had caused a scene there once.<br /> He had attempted to force his way in without a reservation. Although this incident hadn't been reported, rumors suggested that a garbage truck had to be called to dispose of the intruder's remains, as he was too shattered to be removed by conventional means.<br /> Since then, no one dared to cause trouble.<br /> On their way, Mia introduced Wesley to the background story.<br /> "Mr. Turner, two plates of noodles." Mia called out once they arrived.<br /> Aaron Turner didn't respond but visibly paused upon seeing Wesley beside Mia.<br /> A faint smile appeared on his usually stoic face. Though the flesh on the face seemed stiff, it was indeed a smile. "Coming right up."<br /> Chapter 8 You Are Blushing<br /> Mia glanced at Aaron with a hint of surprise, thinking, "When does he become so warm and enthusiastic?<br /> His tone seemed a bit agitated earlier, didn't it?"<br /> Soon enough, Aaron brought two plates of noodles to the table. One steaming hot and the other devoid of any warmth.<br /> As Mia observed Aaron placing the plate without steam in front of Wesley, her expression changed slightly.<br /> It was a plate of instant noodles having soaked in cold water, with the seasoning barely dissolved.<br /> She felt a sense of panic. Mia had wanted to leave a good impression on Wesley, which was why she had chosen this place.<br /> However, Aaron had served such a plate of noodles.<br /> She dared not question Aaron. The type of noodles served here was not determined by the guests but by Aaron's mood.<br /> "This lass named Mia is quite something, living up to her name, and quite kind-hearted," Aaron remarked, looking at Wesley.<br /> "Get lost," Wesley retorted, using his fork to pick up the noodles and devouring them.<br /> Mia's face turned pale instantly. Disrespecting Aaron was akin to risking Wesley's life.<br /> To her astonishment, Aaron chuckled, tears welling up in his eyes.<br /> He wiped them away. "Alright, I'll leave you to your meal."<br /> Before departing, he gave Mia a thumbs-up. "Seize the opportunity."<br /> The eight plates of noodles symbolized the eight comrades who had faced life and hardships together.<br /> Wesley ate voraciously. Initially, they had only one pack of instant noodles to share among the eight of them, forcing them to divide it.<br /> Despite the circumstances, they devoured the noodles joyfully.<br /> Aaron had promised that once they survived, each one would have the most delicious plate of noodles.<br /> However, five of the eight had perished.<br /> Wesley had come dangerously close to life-threatening situations, but managed to cling to life.<br /> For him, the plate of noodles was not food but the bond of friendship that had shielded him from harm.<br /> "Do you... know each other?" Mia couldn't help but ask, her voice low and curious.<br /> "Some things are better left unknown," Wesley replied.<br /> Mia nodded in understanding, falling silent as they continued eating noodles. She couldn't help stealing glances at Wesley throughout the meal.<br /> This gent had piqued her curiosity even more.<br /> "Wesley, I see. No wonder you agreed to the divorce so readily. You've already found someone else outside."<br /> A sharp voice interrupted their meal.<br /> Taylor approached with a cold expression, accompanied by Henry.<br /> Taylor's mother was in the nearby hospital, and she had just picked up Frank, planning to buy some food when she unexpectedly saw Wesley.<br /> Of course, she saw Mia, too.<br /> Seeing Wesley dining with a lady more attractive than herself, so soon after the divorce felt like a dagger twisting in Taylor's heart.<br /> Her anger was uncontrollable.<br /> Wesley merely glanced at Taylor, disinterested in engaging with her.<br /> Taylor was stung by his indifferent gaze. She stepped forward, glaring at Wesley. "Are you not going to explain to me?"<br /> Mia looked at Taylor, silently cursing her as a foolish lady.<br /> Wesley continued eating his noodles, lowering his head. "Get lost. Don't disturb me, or I won't hesitate to hit you."<br /> "What did you say?" Henry stepped forward, enraged. "Wesley, try laying a hand on her! Is that all you're capable of? Laying hands on ladies?"<br /> "No wonder Taylor looks down on you. You're truly disgusting trash. Apologize to Taylor now, or else you'll regret coming into this world."<br /> "And how will he regret it? Tell me." Aaron emerged, carrying a cleaver, smiling as he faced Henry and Taylor.<br /> "Mr. Turner, we dare not cause trouble in your place, but this guy is just..."<br /> Henry attempted to speak but was cut off as Aaron's cleaver struck his face, sending him sprawling to the ground.<br /> "Mr. Turner, sorry, we'll leave now." Taylor hastily helped Henry up and hurriedly left.<br /> These two individuals were fortunate to know the legendary story behind Eight Plates of Noodles and had successfully made reservations to dine here multiple times.<br /> Having distanced themselves a bit, Henry covered his face and pointed at Wesley. "Wesley, we have some unfinished business. If you're smart, come over here now and apologize."<br /> "Wesley, I've seen through you as well. I never expected that for the past five years, you've been using my money to keep a lady on the side. We'll settle the score slowly."<br /> As the two noticed Aaron glancing their way, they quickly shut their mouths and hurriedly left.<br /> Once they were out of eyeshots, Aaron fixed his gaze on Wesley. "Your dad doesn't know about your divorce yet, does he?"<br /> "What difference would it make if he did?" Wesley stretched lazily. "I've fulfilled my promise. I've given enough."<br /> Aaron nodded in acknowledgment without saying anything further.<br /> This piqued Mia's curiosity even more. "Is it like what the novels depict? Did you marry Taylor due to some special event?"<br /> Seeing Wesley's glare, Mia lowered her head to focus on her noodles. "I won't ask anymore."<br /> "For the past five years, you've been staying in the stairwell. It has been hard for you, but at least you're still untouched," Aaron remarked before swiftly departing.<br /> Mia stared at Wesley in disbelief, realizing that Aaron's words were meant for her ears.<br /> "What are you staring at? Eat your noodles," Wesley said. Mia chuckled.<br /> "Why are you laughing?"<br /> "You're blushing."<br /> "Nonsense," Wesley retorted.<br /> Unable to contain herself, Mia burst into laughter. She had tried to hold it in, but seeing Wesley's flushed face made it impossible.<br /> Ten minutes later, Mia left on her own accord, sensing that Wesley had something to discuss with Aaron.<br /> Inside Aaron's small shop, Wesley opened a bottle of wine. "Still single?"<br /> "I look too old, no one's interested," Aaron replied, opening a bottle of liquor as well.<br /> "Then why are you meddling in my love lives?"<br /> "Leave a child behind, even if you pass away, someone will remember you." Aaron took a sip. "I've actually investigated this Mia."<br /> "You investigated her?"<br /> "I knew you'd get a divorce. I've been keeping an eye on the pretty ones. This girl had done a lot of good deeds before coming to Yeadeo. Once, she saved three people in a flood and nearly lost her life. Opportunities are rare. You have to seize them."<br /> "When you've figured things out and are ready to marry, then we can discuss our affairs. That's the condition." Wesley downed the entire bottle of liquor.<br /> "Otherwise, don't bother meddling. We're on a one-way path and can't drag others along."<br /> "You..." Aaron sighed as he watched Wesley's retreating figure.<br /> On the road leading to the Feidgeuo Manor, Taylor stood gazing blankly at the entrance not far away.<br /> Twice in one day, she had come here.<br /> The first time was to pick up Frank, and this time was because Frank had lost his expensive watch. She and Henry hadn't even had a meal, rushing over to find it.<br /> The first time, she had come in a hurry when Frank was injured and left quickly as well.<br /> But this time, as Taylor looked at the entrance ahead, an infinite longing sprouted within her.<br /> "If only... I could live here, how wonderful that would be."<br /> Henry looked at her. "One day, I'll definitely build an estate more magnificent than this, and you'll be the lady of the house."<br /> As they conversed, a taxi drove by, stopping at the entrance. The person who got out of the taxi left Taylor stunned.<br /> She rubbed her eyes.	Adoread	147	https://facebook.com/61556400142540	LEARN_MORE	1713510000	View Edit Delete
1666925	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727711	1734958299	695	7799312553453373	4	1.1651477813066E+15	1713769200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	226177680578601	0	Adoread	120207756048100265	client.adoread.com	Learn more	NONE	image	🔥🔥🔥 Read More👉	Hottest novel👉👉👉	https://client.adoread.com/book/loading/page/adoread/19161308412?utm_campaign={{campaign.id}}&utm_content={{campaign.name}}		1713536896	2.261776805786E+14	Adoread	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439606906_2656882387827663_562685039997462304_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=gPYlqiiaQEUQ7kNvgH3T2jV&_nc_oc=AdjyLR-AFdWicbIgQk03kdwy-cB2AER4FyWglpkJFlRX7XBgsypu-k_cncgNdio9isZGai6ue1leZfWRAHu-QpCb&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBJ-wnFv-u3y-MEDRmYD3WJvJdqmYNbk9130EoU1BLnDQ&oe=663A833E	person_profile	0	Adoread	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437357658_399583896184678_5243927110637583618_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FDmAPIEvPt4Q7kNvgHJX_Xj&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCoYxUlW0Xfjz7Pswp2HE5uQz1-lqSEFfb5WndhuvfNWw&oe=663A90F3	0	3	"Wesley, are you trying to harm me? You useless piece of trash, can't even make a decent cup of coffee, can you?"<br /> Madison Blair lifted her coffee cup and splashed it directly onto Wesley Harrington's face.<br /> "What are you looking at, you spineless waste? Your name sounds so lofty? I might as well call you a waste."<br /> Glancing at the grotesque expression of his wife's mother, Wesley pulled out his phone to check the time.<br /> Exactly twelve o'clock. It had been five full years since he married Taylor Reed.<br /> The appointed time had come.<br /> He had fulfilled his promise, safeguarding the Reed family for five years, transforming them from a family living off fishing to one perceived as affluent by the common folk.<br /> Wiping the coffee off his face, he turned and walked away.<br /> "Where do you think you're going? Go fetch some more coffee," Madison shouted.<br /> "Madison, didn't you say this waste is obedient at home, doing whatever he's told? I don't think he's taking it lying down."<br /> Madison grew angrier. "Wesley, you stop right there. My family has fed and housed you. If you dare disobey, I'll have you thrown out!"<br /> Ignoring her, Wesley continued downstairs.<br /> "When Taylor comes back, I'll immediately have you two divorced. Do you hear me? Stay right there," Madison threatened, "I'll let you know your place today."<br /> Grabbing a golf club, Madison swiftly charged towards Wesley.<br /> Seeing Wesley heading downstairs, she swung the club viciously at his back.<br /> Without turning back, Wesley gently sidestepped.<br /> Losing her balance, Madison tumbled forward, rolling down the stairs with a series of thumps.<br /> "Ouch... it hurts, it hurts so much!"<br /> As Madison reached the ground floor, she wailed in pain and her sister immediately rushed to her.<br /> "Wesley, what have you done? How dare you hit my sister!" Madison's sister hurried down, checking on Madison's condition.<br /> Wesley remained silent, observing the scene.<br /> "Quick, call Taylor. Tell her to come back. Today, she must divorce this waste." Madison glared at Wesley. "How dare you hit me? Not only will I let Taylor divorce you, but I'll make sure you leave in disgrace."<br /> "Mum, what's wrong?" At that moment, a gent and a lady walked in.<br /> The lady was Taylor, Madison's daughter.<br /> She ran towards Madison.<br /> As Madison pointed at Wesley, tears streamed down her face. "Taylor, he hit me, he hit me! When you're not home, he changes his attitude, scolding and hitting me in the slightest displeasure. He even pushed me down the stairs just now. Alexis can testify."<br /> Madison's sister, Alexis Blair, chimed in. "Yes, Wesley, this trash not only hit your mother but also threatened to hit me too. We cannot tolerate such trash."<br /> "Taylor, I have been telling you to divorce him for years. You've been supporting him, treating him like a Lord at home, but he's an ungrateful wolf in sheep's clothing."<br /> Helping Madison up, Taylor noticed the scrapes on Madison's arms and legs, her expression turning cold.<br /> "Wesley, why did you hit my mother? You better give me an explanation."<br /> Wesley looked at Taylor, his wife.<br /> Five years had passed, and she had never shown him kindness.<br /> Taylor dressed impeccably, a paragon of a successful lady, with a face that could be deemed angelic, yet whether her heart was as angelic remained a mystery.<br /> Her figure, too, left countless men yearning.<br /> For five years, Wesley had thought he might develop feelings for this lady, but in reality, it never happened.<br /> "There are surveillance cameras in the house," Wesley stated calmly before descending the stairs into the hallway.<br /> Despite residing in a three-story villa, Wesley's living quarters were confined to the stairwell.<br /> He harbored no resentment towards this arrangement. It was merely a promise. It was just that Taylor failed to appreciate him.<br /> This home held little value that he wished to cling onto.<br /> Retrieving a wooden box from beneath his pillow, Wesley extracted two documents. Casting a fleeting glance at the modest abode he had called home for five years, Wesley smiled faintly.<br /> He thought, "Finally... I'm free."<br /> Pushing the door ajar, Wesley was met by Taylor's piercing gaze. "I've reviewed the surveillance footage. Yes, my mother intended to strike you, but even if she did, what difference would it make?"<br /> "She's a lady. How much could her blows hurt you? Why did you dodge?"<br /> "If you hadn't dodged, my mother wouldn't have tumbled down." Wesley stared at Taylor, unable to comprehend her thought process.<br /> He had no interest in engaging in these arguments. Handing over the two documents to Taylor, he remarked, "The divorce agreement. I've already signed it. Take a look. I'm leaving with nothing."<br /> "With your current influence, there's no need for you to visit the city hall. Someone will handle it for you, right?"<br /> Madison was taken aback. She swiftly snatched the divorce agreement, flipping through it hastily.<br /> The contents were indeed straightforward. Both parties willingly divorced, with Wesley relinquishing all claims and having already signed.<br /> In an instant, Madison's pain seemed to dissipate. "Taylor, sign it quickly. Sign it."<br /> Taylor was still in a daze.<br /> She pondered.<br /> "A divorce agreement? Wesley has already prepared a divorce agreement. On what grounds?"<br /> "What gives him the right to initiate a divorce? All these years, he's done nothing at home, lacking any ambition. Always practicing martial arts, what right does he have to seek a divorce?"<br /> "If anyone should initiate it, it should be me. Moreover, now that I'm back to discussing this matter with him. Could it be that word got out, and Wesley, for the sake of his pride, rushed to prepare a divorce agreement first?"<br /> "It must be so, but... No!"<br /> "Wanting to leave with nothing, is he retreating to advance? As the chairman of the Reed Group, how could I be served with a divorce?"<br /> "Hey Wesley, I never expected this from you. Have I not treated you well enough? You seek a divorce, attempting to turn your retreat into advance, aiming to embarrass me?"<br /> Taylor glared at Wesley. "I'm telling you, it's impossible."<br /> Snatching the divorce agreement, she tore it to shreds.<br /> "Taylor, what are you doing? Such a great opportunity. Why not just sign it and let him leave?" Madison grew anxious.<br /> "Mom, I do intend to divorce this trash, but the decision must come from me. I returned specifically to address this matter."<br /> With that, Taylor produced two documents. "Wesley, remember that it's me who's divorcing you. It's me who no longer wants you. Initially, out of marital obligation, I had considered offering you some compensation. Now, you don't even need to think about it. Sign the divorce agreement and leave my home."<br /> Wesley offered a faint smile as he accepted the divorce agreement.<br /> "What are you laughing at?" Taylor demanded angrily.<br /> Wesley's smile seemed to mock her, fueling her rage.<br /> Ignoring her entirely, Wesley signed the document and handed it over.<br /> "What are you laughing at? Answer me! Who do you think you are?" Taylor roared once more.<br /> Wesley glanced at her before striding towards the exit.<br /> "Stop!" The gent who had accompanied Taylor stepped forward, blocking Wesley's path. "Taylor asked you a question, and... Your previous attitude displeased me. Apologize to Taylor, or I'll have you leave in disgrace!"<br /> Chapter 2 The Unspoken Truth<br /> <br /> "Yes, let him leave in disgrace. He thought he could just hit me and walk away so easily," Madison joined in the commotion, also noticing the gent blocking Wesley's path.<br /> Madison had a keen interest in luxury goods, having frequented various high-end establishments over the years as the Reed family's living conditions improved. The gent was wearing an expensive watch and dressed head to toe in high-end luxury brands.<br /> Seeing Madison's gaze, the gent spoke. "Rest assured, today Wesley must pay the price."<br /> The gent introduced himself, looking at Wesley, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Henry Clark, the eldest son of the Clark family and the general manager of the Clark Group in the North District."<br /> "From now on, I will accompany Taylor on her journey of life, and I will not allow anyone to bully her."<br /> "My identity carries weight. You should understand that. Now, apologize to Taylor. Apologize! Did you hear me? Apologize!"<br /> Madison's eyes lit up. She hadn't expected the gent before her to hold such a high status. She continued to shout, "Did you hear that? Taylor will be with Mr. Clark from now on. Apologize now."<br /> Wesley glanced at Henry, then at Taylor. He thought, "Have they been together all along?" Wesley had wanted to ask but decided against it because there was no need. He simply gave them a glance and continued walking towards the exit.<br /> "Are you ignoring me?" Henry's face turned cold as he reached out to grab Wesley. Henry's hand froze mid-air as he received a solid hit.<br /> "Until I sign the divorce papers, Taylor and I are still wife and husband. I don't care to investigate whether you two had any intimate relationship during that time, but don't provoke me, or I won't hesitate to make you regret it." Wesley's gaze was icy, and as Henry met his eyes, he felt a twinge of fear and swallowed his words.<br /> Taylor was also stunned. She knew exactly what Wesley had been like over the past five years. There were many surveillance cameras in the house, and she would often check them.<br /> Even when Taylor wasn't home, despite how her family treated Wesley, he always obeyed without complaint, especially towards her. He had never raised his voice, no matter how they treated him.<br /> Today, not only did Wesley dodge when her mother struck, but he also initiated the divorce and now even struck Henry. <br /> Taylor was at a loss for words, thinking, "How could this cowardly gent dare? On what grounds does he dare?"<br /> This change was difficult for Taylor to accept as if she didn't truly understand this guy. The gent who used to be obedient to her, completely submissive, now revealed this side of himself. She watched Wesley walk away in a daze, feeling a strange discomfort in her heart.<br /> "Isn't he leaving with nothing?" Alexis pointed at the wooden box Wesley was holding. "What is he taking with him?"<br /> Madison also realized. Over the past five years, Wesley had always treasured this wooden box, carrying it with him wherever he went. She thought there must be something valuable inside.<br /> Realizing this, Madison hurriedly followed. "Wesley, stop right there, leave the wooden box."<br /> Wesley paused, glanced at Madison, and said, "This is my personal belonging."<br /> "Nonsense, what personal belonging could you possibly have after marrying into the Reed family? Everything you've eaten, worn, and lived in over the years has been provided by the Reed family. Put it down."<br /> As she spoke, Madison reached out to grab the wooden box.<br /> "Ah..." A scream rang out as Madison quickly retracted her hand, a gash appearing on her palm, a crimson liquid dripping.<br /> The wooden box was now stained with the same crimson liquid, trembling lightly in Wesley's hand.<br /> "It's not the right time yet, the day you thirst for this crimson liquid will come," Wesley murmured softly, patting the box before turning to continue his stride towards the exit.<br /> "Monster! A monster!" Madison screamed, causing Taylor and the others to rush out. Seeing the wound in Madison's hand, Taylor was filled with rage.<br /> "Wesley, aren't you going to say something?" Wesley halted once more, contemplating before meeting Taylor's gaze.<br /> "Just stay out of my way from now on. Consider this a warning to you."<br /> "Taylor, that wooden box of his has a mechanism. It must hold something valuable! We can't let him take it with him," Madison, enduring the pain, reminded them.<br /> "Mom, your injury is important. We'll deal with him later. Let me take you to the hospital first." Taylor comforted Madison before calling out to the retreating Wesley.<br /> "Our marriage is over! Yet, you dared to hurt my mother! This won't be the end of it! I will make you regret it!" Ignoring her, Wesley continued walking out.<br /> "Rest assured, I promise he won't see the light of day tomorrow." Henry stepped forward to console. "Let's focus on getting your wound treated first."<br /> "I want him to regret ever existing in this world, to apologize to me in repentance," Madison roared.<br /> "Mom, trust me, I will make him do just that." Taylor looked at Madison with a mix of pity and determination. "Let's go to the hospital first."<br /> In the villa area, Wesley halted, his voice cold. "Get out."<br /> An elderly gent leaped down from a tree, appearing to be in his seventies, yet landing silently from a height of around ten feet.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, your father wants you to come home and take charge."<br /> "He stopped being my father five years ago. He's my enemy."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you misunderstood your father. He had his reasons back then. I swear in my life, once you know the truth, you will forgive him."<br /> "Huh!" Wesley smirked coldly, saying, "I nearly passed away back then. Is that also a misunderstanding?"<br /> The old gent pleaded, "Mr. Harrington, this situation is truly not as you perceive it."<br /> Wesley didn't engage further with the old guy. The events of that year were etched in his memory forever. He was the one who had been abandoned. If not for that incident, why would he have stayed with the Reed family for five years?<br /> Watching Wesley walk away, the old gent had tears silently streaming down his face. "Mr. Harrington, I truly... I truly can't bring myself to speak the truth, but you have misunderstood your father. He also bears burdens and endures pains beyond what an ordinary person can handle."<br /> As Wesley's figure disappeared, the old gent stood up, hesitated for a moment, then dialed a number on his phone.<br /> "Mr. Harrington is now divorced. I've given you the news firsthand. If your daughter is truly together with Mr. Harrington, you must fulfill the promise and let her persuade Mr. Harrington to come home."<br /> After hanging up, a middle-aged gent in a luxurious estate jumped up excitedly. Calming himself, he immediately made another call. "My dear, you're at Yeadeo, right?<br /> "Go find Wesley now. Don't mention the engagement for now. Use every means to get close to him, make him fall in love with you."<br /> "Dad, I don't have time."<br /> "No matter what you are busy with, you must go find Wesley now. No matter what reason you approach him, you must leave a good impression the first time."<br /> "Dad, I'm in trouble right now. If I don't handle it well, I might be good as gone. I have to deal with it immediately. I'm hanging up."<br /> Chapter 3 You're Nothing<br /> The middle-aged gent's voice lowered significantly. "Is there a big incident happening? You didn't tell me? What happened?"<br /> "Quinn Kingsley from Yeadeo, Mr. Kingsley, used our product and now has one foot on the grave. If something really happens to him..."<br /> "You mean Quinn, the uncontested leader of Yeadeo?"<br /> "Yes."<br /> "In that case, you should go find Wesley. Trust me, in this world, there is no problem that Wesley can't solve. As long as he's willing to help, you'll be fine. Listen to me, go find Wesley immediately."<br /> The lady fell silent for a moment before saying, "Okay."<br /> At Yeadeo Harbor, a gent with a large flaxen chain and a watch, sporting a crew cut, hurriedly disembarked, accompanied by a dozen gentlemen.<br /> "Mr. Reed, wherever that trash is, we will find him and tear him apart."<br /> "Yes, that guy dared to harm your mother. We'll make sure he pays for it."<br /> Frank Reed's face turned cold. "Wesley, you coward, thinking you can overturn the world? How dare you touch my mom? Just wait until I find you, you're finished."<br /> "We've found him. Wesley got into a taxi, and our boys followed him."<br /> "Let's go!" Frank waved his hand, leading dozens of men who boarded the car with harpoons, steel pipes, and other weapons.<br /> Inside the taxi, Wesley gazed at the scenery outside, feeling a strange sense of tranquility.<br /> He thought to himself, "I never imagined that while I was secretly paving the way for the Reed family, Taylor, after progressing so rapidly, would start looking down on me more and more."<br /> "Those ladies who know my true identity, which one of them isn't trying to throw themselves at me? Ladies like that don't interest me."<br /> "Being an ordinary gent is truly difficult," Wesley murmured, smiling faintly and deciding not to dwell on these matters anymore. He had important things to attend to and no time to waste on personal affairs.<br /> "Young lad, are you going to Feidgeuo Manor for a job interview?" The driver, curious about Wesley's destination, inquired.<br /> Feidgeuo Manor was Yeadeo's most mysterious private area. Originally a villa area, it was bought at a huge cost five years ago and completely renovated. It was said to have cost a trillion dollars. The former villa area was now Feidgeuo Manor.<br /> "That's my home," Wesley replied nonchalantly.<br /> The driver was taken aback by this revelation, silently cursing Wesley for bragging. After a couple of minutes, the driver regained his composure. "It seems like you and I both prefer to keep a low profile. My car usually gathers dust at home, so I occasionally drive a taxi to experience life."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "My car has been driven by my assistant for the past few years, so it's not gathering dust."<br /> "Haha..." The driver laughed. "We should get together sometime and see whose car is more impressive."<br /> "Sure, whenever we have the time."<br /> As they chatted, the vehicle soon arrived near Feidgeuo Manor, where the massive head of the Feidgeuo Peak protruded, creating a unique landscape in Yeadeo.<br /> The driver asked with a smile, "Since you're the owner here, it's fine if I drive in, right?"<br /> "Of course," Wesley replied.<br /> As soon as Wesley spoke, several cars caught up from behind.<br /> The cars surrounded the one Wesley was in, with the front vehicles braking to force the car to a stop.<br /> When numerous people descended from cars wielding harpoons and steel pipes, the driver's face paled.<br /> Frank and his group got out of the cars, instantly closing in, and without hesitation, started attacking, the steel pipes and harpoons thudding against the car.<br /> Frank's henchman yanked open the door of Wesley's car, poised to stab Wesley with a harpoon, but Wesley swiftly exited the vehicle.<br /> With a firm step on the ground, he launched a swift hit.<br /> A muffled sound echoed as the henchman was hit away.<br /> "What are you looking at?" Frank noticed his henchmen were all staring at him. "All of you, attack together and take him down!"<br /> As he commanded, the henchmen Frank brought with him surged forward.<br /> The taxi driver, trembling, took out his phone to call the police, but Frank glared at him. "I am Frank Reed from Yeadeo Harbor. If you dare, go ahead and make that call."<br /> Frank, leveraging his sister Taylor's status, had been causing trouble in Yeadeo Harbor, and no one dared to provoke him.<br /> Upon hearing Frank's name, the driver hastily put away his phone. "Mr. Reed, I'll just check the time, you guys continue."<br /> "Huh!" Frank snorted coldly, casting his gaze towards the surrounded Wesley.<br /> The sounds of thuds continued to ring out incessantly. Because Wesley was completely surrounded, Frank was unable to see the situation inside clearly, but he could imagine it. After all, in Frank's mind, the henchmen under his command were not to be trifled with.<br /> "Hit him hard for me!"<br /> Another muffled sound and a figure flew out. At that moment, Frank finally saw the situation clearly, and his face turned pale.<br /> Frank knew that Wesley liked to practice martial arts, but he had never expected Wesley to be this skilled. It wasn't Wesley who had been beaten, but his own men by Wesley alone.<br /> Frantically, Frank turned and ran to retrieve a crossbow from the car.<br /> "Clear the way." Frank bellowed, aiming the crossbow at Wesley.<br /> "You scumbag, you think you can fight? Move one more time, and I'll end your life! Surrender!"<br /> Wesley, holding a wooden box, stared at Frank. Ignoring the crossbow in his hand, Wesley said, "Tell your henchmen to back off, or you'll all see the light from above!"<br /> "You're really good at pretending to be tough." Frank took two steps forward. "See the light? Move a muscle and see if I can end your life or not! If you don't have the guts, apologize now!"<br /> Wesley turned his head and looked at the approaching cars, with two expensive ones in the lead, two more in the rear, and another one in the middle.<br /> "Keep acting tough, and I'll put a hole in your head." Frank spoke while glancing at the five cars. "What, looking for help?"<br /> "Let me tell you, those who ride in these cars are not the kind of weaklings like you who rely on connections. With me here, in Yeadeo's social hierarchy, even those who ride in such cars wouldn't dare meddle in this matter. And let me make it clear, without my sister, you're nothing."<br /> Chapter 4 Is He Worthy?<br /> As Frank's words faded, the five cars came to a halt.<br /> A bodyguard opened the door of the one in the middle, revealing a dazzling pair of shining shoes catching everyone's eye.<br /> The shining shoe encased a beautiful foot. Above, the skirt's hem was adorned with lace.<br /> Then, like a fairy stepping out of a painting, she appeared before everyone's eyes.<br /> The lady was beautiful!<br /> Frank was mesmerized. Ever since the Reed family rose to prominence, he had been surrounded by ladies, but compared to the elegant lady before him, they were worlds apart.<br /> It wasn't just a difference in appearance but an incomparable gap in demeanor.<br /> The lady descending from the Maybach seemed like a celestial being untouched by mortal affairs.<br /> The embodiment of a fairy in the mundane world.<br /> She simply stood there after getting out of the car, perfectly embodying what it meant to be graceful and elegant.<br /> The lady glanced at Wesley, then at Frank.<br /> Frank grinned, saying, "May I have the honor of knowing the name of this esteemed lady? I am Frank..."<br /> The lady spoke calmly. "Disrespect Mr. Harrington, and you're done for."<br /> Her bodyguards, unfazed by Frank's crossbow, swiftly overwhelmed him, sending him crashing to the ground.<br /> The henchmen who had come with Frank, previously defeated by Wesley, now scrambled to their feet and fled in all directions.<br /> Who would dare provoke someone who could afford such a car?<br /> "My sister is Taylor Reed, the chairperson of Reed Group," Frank shouted, clutching his head.<br /> Ignoring him, one of the bodyguards dragged him to the roadside grass while another used a belt to tighten around Frank's neck, exerting pressure.<br /> "Enough, a lesson is all that's needed." Wesley spoke calmly, and only when the lady gestured did the bodyguards release Frank.<br /> Frank lay there, already unconscious.<br /> Wesley turned to the lady. "Who are you?"<br /> "I am Mia Roberts, the general manager of Vinver Business Alliance's Yeadeo branch." She looked at Wesley and continued, "Mr. Harrington, my father mentioned that you have miraculous healing skills and earnestly requested your assistance. A generous reward awaits."<br /> Wesley furrowed his brow slightly, thinking, "There are indeed people who recognize my abilities and status, yet I've rarely intervened in the past five years. Today, shortly after I divorced Taylor, she is here. Whose arrangement is this?"<br /> "Mr. Harrington, my father also mentioned that you are benevolent and has raised the banner of compassion among healers, serving as a role model and benchmark for all in the medical field."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "You have a way with words. Tell me the specifics."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, please get in the car first. I will explain in detail on the way."<br /> The phrase "compassionate healer" held significant weight for Wesley, who had saved countless lives from the brink of death.<br /> Without further ado, he got into the car.<br /> Inside, after Mia brewed coffee for Wesley, she began. "Vinver Business Alliance has a wide range of business operations, and I mainly oversee the health supplement sector, which has seen some success in recent years.<br /> "Recently, Quinn Kingsley started using our medicines, and now there's an accident."<br /> As she spoke, Mia kept her gaze fixed on Wesley.<br /> Quinn, the undisputed leader of Yeadeo, was a figure of immense influence.<br /> Upon hearing this name, Wesley showed no particular reaction. "If the city's leader faces issues with your products, it is indeed a concern. Let's go and see."<br /> With just a sentence, Wesley leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest.<br /> Mia was secretly alarmed, thinking, "He knows who Quinn is, yet he seems indifferent. Who is this Wesley, really? No wonder Dad has instructed me to find a way to win his favor." Mia's inner resistance toward Wesley quietly shifted.<br /> Wesley had piqued her curiosity.<br /> As the vehicle was moving, Wesley's phone rang.<br /> Wesley opened his eyes and took out his phone to see Taylor calling.<br /> Pressing the answer button, he asked, "What's the matter?"<br /> On the other end of the line, Taylor, driving towards Feidgeuo Manor, had a grim expression.<br /> She thought, "Has Wesley ever spoken to me in such a cold tone before? Is he really this heartless right after our divorce?"<br /> Already furious, she snapped. "Wesley, do you even consider yourself a human being?<br /> "Today, not only did you lay hands on my mother, but you also had someone attack my brother. Do you not remember our past at all?"<br /> Wesley calmly replied, "Do we have a past to remember?"<br /> "You truly are a heartless scumbag, just as my mother said. You are an ungrateful and vicious person I raised for five years. Even a pet would wag its tail at me!"<br /> Taylor wanted to continue her tirade, but the phone line had already turned busy.<br /> This only fueled her anger further.<br /> Just now, she had received a call from Frank's underlings, informing her that Wesley had sent people to attack Frank and even intended to end him.<br /> Taylor wanted to demand answers, but...<br /> As Taylor was clutching her fists, her gaze turned icy.<br /> After a moment, she picked up her phone again. "Wesley, you are so narrow-minded. You have no ambition. Any lady would steer clear of you."<br /> "Just because I dumped you, you are doing this on purpose to make me feel sick. Pretending to be aloof and seeking revenge? Do you even deserve it?"<br /> "In Yeadeo, squashing you would be as easy as squashing an ant. You're asking for it! If anything happens to my brother, I will make you wish you were ending!"<br /> Her furious voice message echoed in the car.<br /> Wesley chuckled and put away his phone.<br /> Beside him, Mia seemed contemplative. Before coming, she had already ordered a swift investigation into Wesley.<br /> She was curious, thinking, "How could someone valued by my father could be the one 'marrying into' the Reed family."<br /> Being tactful, Mia chose not to ask and pretended not to have heard.<br /> After about forty minutes, they arrived at the Kingsley Manor.<br /> The Kingsley family members, upon seeing Mia alight from the car, all wore grim expressions.<br /> Mia greeted them with a smile, "Everyone, this is Wesley Harrington, Mr. Harrington, the miraculous healer I specially invited to treat Mr. Kingsley."<br /> "Him? The gent who married into the Reed family?"<br /> "A miraculous healer? Is he even worthy? Are healers so worthless now?"<br /> "A useless gent who mooches off of the Reed family? How dare he call himself a miraculous healer? Truly a joke among all jokes."<br /> Chapter 5 Compassionate Healer<br /> Amanda Kingsley, Quinn's granddaughter, stared coldly at Wesley and Mia.<br /> This lady, dressed in a smart suit, also held significant fame in Yeadeo, overseeing the region's business activities, including investment attraction and various local business negotiations.<br /> Amanda had a favorable view of Taylor, who had risen swiftly in recent times, and they had interacted frequently.<br /> She was aware of Wesley's existence and had advised Taylor to part ways with him early on.<br /> But Amanda never imagined that Mia would bring someone like Wesley, a complete waste, and claim he was a miraculous healer.<br /> Glaring at Mia, she said, "Mia, once my grandfather is well, it's best for your Roberts family to leave Yeadeo."<br /> "As for you..." She glanced at Wesley. "I will advise Taylor to divorce you. You have deceived Taylor's feelings and now shamelessly made your way into my family. You are a despicable creature."<br /> After reprimanding Mia and Wesley, she turned to an elderly gent beside her, and her tone and attitude completely changed. "Mr. Phillips, sorry to trouble you. My grandfather is inside, please."<br /> Mia looked at the elderly gent, who was already in his twilight years, feeling deeply shocked.<br /> Scott Phillips, the 38th generation heir of the Healing Clinic, was now ninety-two years old.<br /> Renowned as a miraculous healer, he was a respected figure in the medical community of Yeadeo and even nationally.<br /> He no longer conducted consultations personally due to his old age. Mia had visited him specifically to pay her respects once she had arrived in Yeadeo but had not met Scott.<br /> She never expected Scott to appear in person. It was understandable, as Quinn held a prominent position in the city. Despite the profound influence of the Phillips family, they still had to show respect to Quinn.<br /> Mia looked at Wesley, feeling conflicted and thinking, "Dad has confidently claimed that Wesley has extraordinary abilities, but does he really?"<br /> She harbored doubts, but out of propriety, Mia spoke. "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the trouble."<br /> Wesley smiled, "It's fine. As long as the person can be healed."<br /> His open-mindedness impressed Mia.<br /> After about half an hour, Amanda emerged from the room. All eyes instantly turned towards her.<br /> It was evident that Amanda had wailed out, with traces of tears still visible.<br /> "Amanda, how is it?" A middle-aged gent anxiously asked her.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family who had rushed back also focused their attention on her.<br /> "Mr. Phillips said that there's little hope of recovery. He could only use acupuncture to wake grandfather for half an hour. When grandfather wakes up, let's all go in and see if he has any final instructions."<br /> Everyone was shocked.<br /> "How could this be?"<br /> "Is Mr. Phillips also helpless?"<br /> The members of the Kingsley family found it hard to accept this reality, especially since Quinn had always treated his juniors well.<br /> The thought of Quinn departing saddened some, and tears silently fell.<br /> Publicly, Quinn's status was the foundation of the Kingsley family's prominence in Yeadeo.<br /> If Quinn were to pass away, the Kingsley family would undoubtedly decline.<br /> The atmosphere within the Kingsley family was somber.<br /> Amanda looked at her family members, opened her mouth, but said nothing, silently turning back into the room.<br /> "Stop crying," A middle-aged gent said sternly, "Dad wouldn't want to see you all in tears. If he's really leaving, we mustn't let him worry about us. Pull yourselves together."<br /> After these words, the middle-aged gent also entered the room.<br /> The younger members of the Kingsley family wiped their tears vigorously, trying to force smiles, but in truth, they looked better at crying than pretending to be happy.<br /> Mia's spirit plummeted as she realized the gravity of the situation. Even if an ordinary person passed away from consuming health supplements, it spelled big trouble for those who sold them. And when the deceased happened to be Quinn, the stakes were even higher.<br /> She understood that it would be difficult for this branch to stay in Yeadeo, and even the headquarters might face repercussions.<br /> "Let's go in and have a look." Wesley glanced at Mia. "There might still be a chance."<br /> "Ah..." Mia stared at Wesley in surprise. Seeing him already heading towards the room, she quickly followed suit.<br /> Inside the room, the members of the Kingsley family stood around the mattress, maintaining a certain distance.<br /> Scott lit the alcohol lamp and took out the needles, his expression solemn.<br /> He looked at the members of the Kingsley family. "Think about what you want to say to Mr. Kingsley later. Once you're ready, let me know, and then I'll proceed with the acupuncture."<br /> As he said this, tears welled up in many eyes.<br /> "If you don't mind, let me take a look. I have a way." Wesley spoke up, drawing everyone's attention.<br /> Amanda's face darkened. "Who let you in? Get out!"<br /> "Mia, have you lost your mind? Tricked by this trash and actually brought him here as a miracle healer. Get out with him! I'll settle the score with you in a couple of days."<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, at a loss for words.<br /> "Even Mr. Phillips is unable to reverse the situation. What use are you? Get out." Another younger member of the Kingsley family angrily rebuked.<br /> The middle-aged gent added, "We're in no mood right now. You better leave immediately."<br /> "I understand your narrow-mindedness," Wesley continued, "But as a healer, once I see a patient, I cannot stand by and watch him draw his last breath."<br /> "Wesley, you're quite the charlatan. Do you really want to be gone right now?" Amanda's voice was filled with anger.<br /> "Amanda, let me say a few words," Scott interjected, and Amanda fell silent.<br /> Looking at Wesley, Scott began. "Young lad, at my age, I've seen a lot and have a broad perspective. Today, however, I find it hard to remain indifferent. I practiced medicine from the age of sixteen until I stopped seeing patients for a total of seventy years."<br /> "I've saved countless patients from various illnesses. I never easily declare a patient's fate, nor do I believe I have the right to do so."<br /> "But from your recent remarks, it seems like you're accusing me of such actions. Young people wanting to make a name for themselves by stepping on the shoulders of their predecessors, I can understand."<br /> "But this kind of behavior displeases me."<br /> "My displeasure, what does it mean to you? Do you understand?"<br /> "Even if you are a healer, your career will be ruined because of this."<br /> Chapter 6 Hand of Hell<br /> In the face of Scott's veiled threats, Wesley simply smiled and brushed them off.<br /> Looking at Scott, he asked, "I've always focused on the issue at hand rather than attacking individuals. I have a few questions for you. If you can't administer the needles, how long do you think Quinn can hold on?"<br /> "Seven days, but he will remain unconscious," Scott replied bluntly.<br /> "Then let me ask you this, is there anyone in the world with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "Outrageous," Amanda coldly interjected, "Mr. Phillips is unparalleled in his medical expertise."<br /> Scott glanced at Amanda. "Amanda, let me handle this question."<br /> Continuing to address Wesley, he said, "I don't underestimate myself, nor do I overestimate. There are countless talented individuals in the world, like stars in the sky. I may not dare claim to be the best in medical skills, but those who surpass me are few."<br /> "That means there are some," Wesley calmly remarked, causing Scott's expression to shift slightly, "Indeed, there are."<br /> "Then let me ask you this. Do you think within seven days, the Kingsley family won't find someone with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "If they do find someone, do you believe there is an illness that you cannot cure, but this person can?"<br /> Wesley's questions were sharp and resounding.<br /> Scott's face changed once more as he was rendered speechless.<br /> "Even if there is, that person will never be you." Amanda's face turned icy. "Now get out. Don't spout your eloquence here. Your deceitful behavior is repulsive."<br /> "Your understanding of me is merely hearsay, isn't it?" Wesley retorted, his gaze mocking Amanda, "Has your background and education taught you such arrogance and prejudice?"<br /> "Arrogance?" Amanda's face grew colder as she disdainfully looked at Wesley. "Prejudice?<br /> "Did I say something wrong just now? You are nothing but stagnant waste, a parasite living off others. If it weren't for Taylor, you would have starved on the streets long ago."<br /> "Relying on sweet words, deceiving Taylor. She, with her kind heart, can't bear to divorce you, but don't push your luck. If it weren't for Taylor's sake, you would have been sent out long ago."<br /> Scott interrupted Amanda, "Amanda, although I find this lad a bit annoying, what he said does hold some truth. There are indeed individuals with better medical skills than me. Your grandfather can hold on for seven days. Try reaching out to see if someone can come over. I'll help you make connections."<br /> "If it really doesn't work out after seven days, I'll administer the needles to your grandfather. However, at that point, I can only buy you three minutes."<br /> As soon as Scott spoke, the faces of the Kingsley family members grew even more solemn. True healers were rare and not easily summoned.<br /> While the Kingsley family had connections in Yeadeo, their influence waned outside of it.<br /> "Mr. Phillips, please administer the needles. Life has its ups and downs, and we understand that. Just buy my father a bit more time." The middle-aged gent spoke up.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family nodded in agreement.<br /> Amanda looked at Scott. "Mr. Phillips, please."<br /> "In that case, please have everyone unrelated leave. I need silence," Scott calmly stated.<br /> Amanda glared at Wesley, her eyes speaking volumes without a word.<br /> The unrelated individuals were, naturally, Wesley and Mia.<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, intending to leave, but she suddenly hesitated.<br /> Instead of leaving, Wesley moved forward.<br /> "What are you doing?" A young member of the Kingsley family stepped forward with a stern expression, pushing Wesley.<br /> In one swift motion, Wesley executed a clean shoulder throw, toppling the young gent to the ground, his own expression turning cold.<br /> "A bunch of fools! If it weren't for my teacher's teachings about not turning a blind eye to those in need, I wouldn't bother with you ignorant lot," Wesley remarked with disdain.<br /> As Wesley effortlessly took down one individual from the Kingsley family, the others seemed slow to react.<br /> By the time they realized what was happening, Wesley had already picked up the needle next to Scott and casually flicked his wrist.<br /> The needle flew out of his hand, piercing Quinn's temple, followed by a second needle, a third needle, and so on.<br /> "What are you doing? Stop!" Amanda's voice rose in urgency, echoed by the rest of the Kingsley family members who rushed forward to restrain Wesley.<br /> "Stay back, everyone. Wait." Scott suddenly stood up, blocking the others. "Let him try."<br /> Amanda and the others were left dumbfounded, thinking, "What does this mean?"<br /> Despite their confusion, they heeded Scott's words.<br /> After Scott stopped the members of the Kingsley family, he fixed his gaze on Wesley.<br /> Wesley proceeded to use eighteen needles in succession, symbolizing the levels of pain.<br /> Even if someone had descended into the depths of hell, they must be brought back.<br /> The final needle, also piercing a vital point, caused Quinn's body to tremble suddenly, resonating with the previous eighteen needles.<br /> Scott's eyes widened, his body trembling slightly. His reaction left Amanda and the others even more puzzled, but none dared to interrupt.<br /> Moments later, Wesley placed a palm on Quinn's chest, causing all eighteen needles to be shaken off. When all the needles landed on the ground, the part of the skin where the needles had pierced turned dark.<br /> Wesley then dragged Quinn to the edge of the mattress, flipped him over with his head facing downwards, and gave him a firm pat on the back.<br /> Quinn spat out a mouthful of black liquid. When Wesley flipped him back to lie flat, his complexion had regained some color.<br /> "The Hand of Darkness... It's the Hand of Darkness!" Scott exclaimed with excitement, his body quivering, "It's the Hand that descends into the dark world, snatching people from the hands of the Evil!"<br /> "You do have some knowledge, recognizing the Hand of Darkness." Wesley glanced at Scott.<br /> Scott's gaze towards Wesley had undergone a drastic change. He respectfully clasped his hands together.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thirty years ago, I had the honor of attending a teaching conference held by Mr. Vanderbilt. I saw the Hand of Darkness, but my limited aptitude only allowed me to grasp the basics."<br /> "I have been blind and ignorant. I apologize for my earlier offenses. Please forgive me, Mr. Harrington."<br /> The Mr. Vanderbilt Scott referred to was Wesley's teacher, Ulysses Vanderbilt. He generously imparted his skills to others, but the ability to learn depended on one's innate talent.<br /> In this world, few could learn Ulysses' skills.<br /> Scott had been fortunate to receive guidance from Ulysses, which had elevated his medical skills. However, the Hand of Darkness, a miraculous ability, was beyond his comprehension.<br /> Wesley smiled faintly, "Your actions earlier are understandable. I appreciate your words."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you must be an exceptional disciple of Mr. Vanderbilt, possessing unparalleled magnanimity. Impressive," Scott continued.<br /> "Enough with the flattery at your age."<br /> "You are mistaken, Mr. Harrington. Every word I speak is sincere."<br /> Mia, Amanda, and the others stood bewildered by the unfolding situation.<br /> "Mr. Phillips... he... he..." Amanda's words faltered.<br /> Scott turned to the members of the Kingsley family. "Meeting Mr. Harrington was Quinn's luck. His symptoms have been cured by Mr. Harrington. With a few days of rest, he will be fine."<br /> The waste Taylor had previously said was called Mr. Harrington by Scott!<br /> Recalling their previous attitudes, Amanda hurriedly apologized, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> The members of the Kingsley family all apologized in unison, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> Chapter 7 Eight Plates of Noodles<br /> With a faint smile, Wesley remarked, "As family members of a patient, your actions earlier are understandable. There's no need for such formality."<br /> Amanda's perplexity deepened as she thought, "Where is the cowardly waste that Taylor described? This display of magnanimity and breadth is far from it."<br /> Mia, too, felt a shiver of realization, thinking, "No wonder Dad has insisted on my proximity to Wesley.<br /> This guy..."<br /> She gazed at Wesley, her curiosity piqued, a sense of exploration stirring within her.<br /> "Mia has brought you here, Mr. Harrington, to cure my grandfather. The Kingsley family will never forget this act. However, considering that my grandfather's ailment stemmed from the health supplements produced by the Vinver Business Alliance, we will be conducting an investigation into it."<br /> Amanda continued, looking at Wesley, "What do you think... of this approach?"<br /> It was Mia who had invited Wesley, so Amanda had grown wiser, refraining from asking for a direct punishment of the Vinver Business Alliance.<br /> As Mia heard Amanda's words, her heart skipped a beat, realizing trouble was brewing.<br /> "On the way here, Ms. Roberts briefed me on the situation. You conducted experiments on mice, correct?"<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes, the health supplements we received were exclusively provided by the Roberts family. There were no similar cases on the market, so we used mice for testing.<br /> "All the mice that ingested this supplement were gone."<br /> She looked at Mia and added, her voice turned colder. "Before the experiment, I specifically contacted Mia to inquire about the testing methods during the development phase, which involved mice."<br /> "There have been individuals eyeing my grandfather's position, some even wishing for his demise. I never imagined that the Vinver Business Alliance, which I attracted for investment, would become a weapon in someone else's hands."<br /> "Do you have any of the remaining medicine?" Wesley inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes."<br /> "Bring some over."<br /> Immediately, someone fetched the medicine. After it was brought to him, Wesley took out a supplement and swallowed it directly.<br /> This scene left Amanda and the others dumbfounded.<br /> Scott, too, was bewildered. "Mr. Harrington, what are you doing?"<br /> Wesley smiled, "Just proving that this medicine is not toxic."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thank you," Mia thanked sincerely, feeling like sobbing at that moment.<br /> Amanda, with a puzzled expression, looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, are you suggesting that my grandfather's condition wasn't caused by the Vinver Business Alliance's medicine? What about the mice?"<br /> The rest were equally puzzled.<br /> "Yes, but not entirely," Wesley said, leaving everyone even more bewildered.<br /> Mia's emotions were like a rollercoaster ride, from relief to immediate tension.<br /> "This medicine itself is not toxic, but when taken with another substance made from a certain plant, it results in Quinn's condition. The mice would die immediately, while humans could endure a few more days."<br /> Wesley continued to explain, "The plant used in this concoction is originally meant for crafting slow-acting toxins, not for human consumption."<br /> Looking at Amanda, Wesley said, "During this period, whoever had access to your grandfather and the mice will better understand why these events occurred."<br /> The gaze of members of the Kingsley family immediately focused on a lady.<br /> Amanda, somewhat incredulous, looked at her. "Can you offer an explanation?"<br /> The lady was the wife of Amanda's deceased brother. She found it hard to accept, as did the rest of the Kingsley family.<br /> This lady had been named the exemplary lady who served her family well this year, not due to her connection with the Kingsley family but because she genuinely deserved it.<br /> "What do you mean? Amanda, what explanation do you want from me?"<br /> The lady stared at Amanda. "Am I the only one who had access to Grandfather and the mice? You, and you... and you, who didn't have access?"<br /> "You all claim to treat me as family. Since I married into the Kingsley family, I have worked diligently, contributing my share even if not acknowledged."<br /> "Amanda, it has been over a year since your brother passed, and I never once considered remarrying. Now, just because of his words, you demand an explanation from me?"<br /> Pointing at Wesley, the lady questioned, "Just because he accuses me of poisoning, you suspect me? Tell me, did I poison him?" The lady glared at Wesley.<br /> "I am merely analyzing the facts. As for concluding this case, it's not within my purview," Wesley addressed the members of the Kingsley family, saying, "You should conduct a thorough investigation into this matter.<br /> "I will write a prescription. Have Quinn take it on time, and he will recover in seven days."<br /> Amanda hurried to fetch paper and pen while Wesley prepared the prescription. Once done, he was ready to leave.<br /> Amanda said hurriedly, "Mr. Harrington, I've already made arrangements for lunch."<br /> "No need," Wesley smiled.<br /> The Kingsley family sought to build closer ties with Wesley, given his extraordinary medical skills. Wesley was well aware of this.<br /> Looking at Amanda and the others, Wesley remarked, "In the future, if you encounter any difficult medical cases that others cannot solve, seek me out. Remember, cases others cannot solve."<br /> The gaze of the Kingsley family members toward Wesley changed once again. Many renowned healers had eccentric personalities and were difficult to engage.<br /> They hadn't expected Wesley to possess such remarkable medical skills without any airs.<br /> As Wesley prepared to depart, the members of the Kingsley family did not dare to insist on his stay, so they accompanied him outside.<br /> "Oh, how could we forget such an important matter? Amanda, what about the consultation fee?" The middle-aged gent inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the oversight. Please wait a moment." Amanda hurried back inside and soon returned with a bank card in hand.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, there's one million dollars in here."<br /> Without hesitation, Wesley accepted the bank card and boarded Mia's car.<br /> During the journey, Mia boldly looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, you've helped me immensely. Can I treat you to a meal? Don't decline in a hurry. It's not a fancy restaurant, but it will leave you wanting more. It's a small place on the street, with only eight plates of noodles served each day, each plate containing different ingredients."<br /> "I managed to secure a reservation. Are you interested?"<br /> Wesley thought, "Eight Plates of Noodles?<br /> "Ah, Aaron's restaurant. It has been a while since I visited those old friends."<br /> Wesley nodded. "Let's go then."<br /> The restaurant, Eight Plates of Noodles, was located on Chanxold Street near the Yeadeo First Central Hospital.<br /> The establishment was small, serving only eight plates of noodles each day at a price of 10 thousand dollars each. Vernoic's television culinary program had specifically covered this incident.<br /> Reservations were a must to secure a plate.<br /> The restaurant's owner had a mysterious background. While the specifics were unknown, a high-ranking noble from the capital of Vernoic, Kingsland, had caused a scene there once.<br /> He had attempted to force his way in without a reservation. Although this incident hadn't been reported, rumors suggested that a garbage truck had to be called to dispose of the intruder's remains, as he was too shattered to be removed by conventional means.<br /> Since then, no one dared to cause trouble.<br /> On their way, Mia introduced Wesley to the background story.<br /> "Mr. Turner, two plates of noodles." Mia called out once they arrived.<br /> Aaron Turner didn't respond but visibly paused upon seeing Wesley beside Mia.<br /> A faint smile appeared on his usually stoic face. Though the flesh on the face seemed stiff, it was indeed a smile. "Coming right up."<br /> Chapter 8 You Are Blushing<br /> Mia glanced at Aaron with a hint of surprise, thinking, "When does he become so warm and enthusiastic?<br /> His tone seemed a bit agitated earlier, didn't it?"<br /> Soon enough, Aaron brought two plates of noodles to the table. One steaming hot and the other devoid of any warmth.<br /> As Mia observed Aaron placing the plate without steam in front of Wesley, her expression changed slightly.<br /> It was a plate of instant noodles having soaked in cold water, with the seasoning barely dissolved.<br /> She felt a sense of panic. Mia had wanted to leave a good impression on Wesley, which was why she had chosen this place.<br /> However, Aaron had served such a plate of noodles.<br /> She dared not question Aaron. The type of noodles served here was not determined by the guests but by Aaron's mood.<br /> "This lass named Mia is quite something, living up to her name, and quite kind-hearted," Aaron remarked, looking at Wesley.<br /> "Get lost," Wesley retorted, using his fork to pick up the noodles and devouring them.<br /> Mia's face turned pale instantly. Disrespecting Aaron was akin to risking Wesley's life.<br /> To her astonishment, Aaron chuckled, tears welling up in his eyes.<br /> He wiped them away. "Alright, I'll leave you to your meal."<br /> Before departing, he gave Mia a thumbs-up. "Seize the opportunity."<br /> The eight plates of noodles symbolized the eight comrades who had faced life and hardships together.<br /> Wesley ate voraciously. Initially, they had only one pack of instant noodles to share among the eight of them, forcing them to divide it.<br /> Despite the circumstances, they devoured the noodles joyfully.<br /> Aaron had promised that once they survived, each one would have the most delicious plate of noodles.<br /> However, five of the eight had perished.<br /> Wesley had come dangerously close to life-threatening situations, but managed to cling to life.<br /> For him, the plate of noodles was not food but the bond of friendship that had shielded him from harm.<br /> "Do you... know each other?" Mia couldn't help but ask, her voice low and curious.<br /> "Some things are better left unknown," Wesley replied.<br /> Mia nodded in understanding, falling silent as they continued eating noodles. She couldn't help stealing glances at Wesley throughout the meal.<br /> This gent had piqued her curiosity even more.<br /> "Wesley, I see. No wonder you agreed to the divorce so readily. You've already found someone else outside."<br /> A sharp voice interrupted their meal.<br /> Taylor approached with a cold expression, accompanied by Henry.<br /> Taylor's mother was in the nearby hospital, and she had just picked up Frank, planning to buy some food when she unexpectedly saw Wesley.<br /> Of course, she saw Mia, too.<br /> Seeing Wesley dining with a lady more attractive than herself, so soon after the divorce felt like a dagger twisting in Taylor's heart.<br /> Her anger was uncontrollable.<br /> Wesley merely glanced at Taylor, disinterested in engaging with her.<br /> Taylor was stung by his indifferent gaze. She stepped forward, glaring at Wesley. "Are you not going to explain to me?"<br /> Mia looked at Taylor, silently cursing her as a foolish lady.<br /> Wesley continued eating his noodles, lowering his head. "Get lost. Don't disturb me, or I won't hesitate to hit you."<br /> "What did you say?" Henry stepped forward, enraged. "Wesley, try laying a hand on her! Is that all you're capable of? Laying hands on ladies?"<br /> "No wonder Taylor looks down on you. You're truly disgusting trash. Apologize to Taylor now, or else you'll regret coming into this world."<br /> "And how will he regret it? Tell me." Aaron emerged, carrying a cleaver, smiling as he faced Henry and Taylor.<br /> "Mr. Turner, we dare not cause trouble in your place, but this guy is just..."<br /> Henry attempted to speak but was cut off as Aaron's cleaver struck his face, sending him sprawling to the ground.<br /> "Mr. Turner, sorry, we'll leave now." Taylor hastily helped Henry up and hurriedly left.<br /> These two individuals were fortunate to know the legendary story behind Eight Plates of Noodles and had successfully made reservations to dine here multiple times.<br /> Having distanced themselves a bit, Henry covered his face and pointed at Wesley. "Wesley, we have some unfinished business. If you're smart, come over here now and apologize."<br /> "Wesley, I've seen through you as well. I never expected that for the past five years, you've been using my money to keep a lady on the side. We'll settle the score slowly."<br /> As the two noticed Aaron glancing their way, they quickly shut their mouths and hurriedly left.<br /> Once they were out of eyeshots, Aaron fixed his gaze on Wesley. "Your dad doesn't know about your divorce yet, does he?"<br /> "What difference would it make if he did?" Wesley stretched lazily. "I've fulfilled my promise. I've given enough."<br /> Aaron nodded in acknowledgment without saying anything further.<br /> This piqued Mia's curiosity even more. "Is it like what the novels depict? Did you marry Taylor due to some special event?"<br /> Seeing Wesley's glare, Mia lowered her head to focus on her noodles. "I won't ask anymore."<br /> "For the past five years, you've been staying in the stairwell. It has been hard for you, but at least you're still untouched," Aaron remarked before swiftly departing.<br /> Mia stared at Wesley in disbelief, realizing that Aaron's words were meant for her ears.<br /> "What are you staring at? Eat your noodles," Wesley said. Mia chuckled.<br /> "Why are you laughing?"<br /> "You're blushing."<br /> "Nonsense," Wesley retorted.<br /> Unable to contain herself, Mia burst into laughter. She had tried to hold it in, but seeing Wesley's flushed face made it impossible.<br /> Ten minutes later, Mia left on her own accord, sensing that Wesley had something to discuss with Aaron.<br /> Inside Aaron's small shop, Wesley opened a bottle of wine. "Still single?"<br /> "I look too old, no one's interested," Aaron replied, opening a bottle of liquor as well.<br /> "Then why are you meddling in my love lives?"<br /> "Leave a child behind, even if you pass away, someone will remember you." Aaron took a sip. "I've actually investigated this Mia."<br /> "You investigated her?"<br /> "I knew you'd get a divorce. I've been keeping an eye on the pretty ones. This girl had done a lot of good deeds before coming to Yeadeo. Once, she saved three people in a flood and nearly lost her life. Opportunities are rare. You have to seize them."<br /> "When you've figured things out and are ready to marry, then we can discuss our affairs. That's the condition." Wesley downed the entire bottle of liquor.<br /> "Otherwise, don't bother meddling. We're on a one-way path and can't drag others along."<br /> "You..." Aaron sighed as he watched Wesley's retreating figure.<br /> On the road leading to the Feidgeuo Manor, Taylor stood gazing blankly at the entrance not far away.<br /> Twice in one day, she had come here.<br /> The first time was to pick up Frank, and this time was because Frank had lost his expensive watch. She and Henry hadn't even had a meal, rushing over to find it.<br /> The first time, she had come in a hurry when Frank was injured and left quickly as well.<br /> But this time, as Taylor looked at the entrance ahead, an infinite longing sprouted within her.<br /> "If only... I could live here, how wonderful that would be."<br /> Henry looked at her. "One day, I'll definitely build an estate more magnificent than this, and you'll be the lady of the house."<br /> As they conversed, a taxi drove by, stopping at the entrance. The person who got out of the taxi left Taylor stunned.<br /> She rubbed her eyes.	Adoread	147	https://facebook.com/61556400142540	LEARN_MORE	1713510000	View Edit Delete
1666930	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727711	1734958299	695	764080005834418	1	4.128897583616E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	133773083353353	0	Deer Gear TV	120213787406700059			NONE	video	Umarex AirSAber ELite X2 Airbow				1713464503	1.3377308335335E+14	Deer Gear TV	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436381993_279204968577360_8060042705707185736_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aasTQmHMUWoQ7kNvgEoqxkl&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAhI3NEEp64Zafs11BY2O440a11W10ZZ-cM9SCvsKUyqg&oe=663A9158	person_profile	0	Cabela's Deer Gear TV	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436801048_768822715350542_1576921560701687423_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=DGOd1QeAZrIQ7kNvgFIkxfy&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAK1SvD4-0Frh6E_nwnvDXPtICfwjIimwQD-pknBmuyYA&oe=663A8CBF	0	3	The Umarex USA, Inc. AirSaber Elite X2 double barrel air archery gun is powered by 4,000 psi of air and is another fun way to hunt big game. <br /> <br /> #umarex #umarexairguns #hunting #deerhunting	Deer Gear TV	20061	https://facebook.com/DeerGearTV		1713423600	View Edit Delete
1666932	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727711	1734958299	695	1147248813368104	1	1.8210144817305E+15	1714719600	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	100365976129594	0	Puzzles & Chaos	120208137224180601	itunes.apple.com	Play game	NONE	video	Magic & Strategy		http://itunes.apple.com/app/id6446389130		1713345983	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438891989_833523425300061_2158455336000961757_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=1pL3T0kG9wQQ7kNvgEg6ipf&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAQCMxISGhlzgDV9yhLFKzb5XkbGRjiwI6xSKJCXnaeFw&oe=663A79B5	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438037425_823754466263614_4820369503172389171_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=T-xWht7sVjcQ7kNvgEFKGZX&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCAty_nRSX5oWkNWeyp-3FO1ihRXJTQSA9C3mVtf8zhNQ&oe=663A7D09	0	3	Embark on a Fantasy Adventure Now！	Puzzles & Chaos	12242	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	PLAY_GAME	1713337200	View Edit Delete
1666938	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727711	1734958299	695	2777999112350081	1	1.1373357873098E+15	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	100365976129594	0	Puzzles & Chaos	120208137220370601	itunes.apple.com	Play game	NONE	video	GATHER HEROES		http://itunes.apple.com/app/id6446389130		1713346071	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438197204_954882799199039_4212265260855659624_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=O3U9js95jTIQ7kNvgFcaAdc&_nc_oc=AditJ7g8a-UDtl0VE0v_lKW7V9URts98_qX0ZEU4sO0oxYubErPkfvKSlDegFa8tnZ_NSuS4pMZ2qwkonBRTiAaE&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfD6xed88LCFeam6VNfCjvzTvoVGkToVlmjGuPpGYHNICA&oe=663A686C	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438197348_725584102824336_6325060654977137111_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fGegH1dLfVkQ7kNvgHTwT08&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAmjN2lwgbcBhwSEntQFrgTbwHYRvb0Ja71q39sfq4BSA&oe=663A6721	0	3	Write your own legend. 🤩<br /> Experience an immersive RPG story.🏹	Puzzles & Chaos	12242	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	PLAY_GAME	1713337200	View Edit Delete
1666940	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727711	1734958299	695	7563171273774567	1	7.9616004576646E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	100365976129594	0	Puzzles & Chaos	120208137216530601	itunes.apple.com	Play game	NONE	video	Match-3 to defeat evil🔥		http://itunes.apple.com/app/id6446389130		1713345946	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437396669_1480525849507808_5460050066505975286_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=7VUXqRr2Mw0Q7kNvgHh73wS&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCT6-xtmzaWmgc-KfgtsAH2XvLbHYdbY3H0mgQZ47rwZw&oe=663A71B3	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437653457_456348886744440_6236093144097107126_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=VZNhuoaMzmAQ7kNvgGBi0U6&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCojD0w7RbUUguarkQNblC-4Pkc4fKklH39Zo6E7iiAJQ&oe=663A94C6	0	3	We've brought the trailer to life!💁‍♂️ Do you have strategic skills?😏	Puzzles & Chaos	12242	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	PLAY_GAME	1713337200	View Edit Delete
1666943	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727711	1734958299	695	389524930566248	1	1.2055765908152E+15	1714719600	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	100365976129594	0	Puzzles & Chaos	120208137028220601	itunes.apple.com	Play game	NONE	video	Make matches to unlock more!		http://itunes.apple.com/app/id6446389130		1713345428	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436253843_422171933848273_539621255012533911_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tuDHKGM0VM0Q7kNvgEJg_Hp&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDhvYrRn6P-d9XjVY2RJWILWf-7eechc0qQtWQ9QbEKIg&oe=663A67A9	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436346857_943024457315081_4494358329579938229_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9BOsa2WdSKcQ7kNvgHl5Gmn&_nc_oc=AdgiNbhgICX5I0-jHebOhwwqypXrQkrXp--P6ZXfPutXSBt6i8NyviICbE0oOJk40I-eJnXT8Ehz193oVT-hQcMg&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCr9ulVt9k84aM4c6fJ5Ysdb9toONOP6utQNnk8YlDfPg&oe=663A854B	0	3	🤔How high of an IQ do you need to beat the final level?	Puzzles & Chaos	12242	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	PLAY_GAME	1713337200	View Edit Delete
1666944	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727711	1734958299	695	391112350578743	1	1.1379443506802E+15	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	100365976129594	0	Puzzles & Chaos	120209368276380763	play.google.com	Play game	NONE	video	Match-3, Fantasy, Strategy		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1713340643	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437790738_399050159566688_2188502157399875740_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JhwKorp0qzQQ7kNvgGS4fCf&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCwWwAGk9LrYYp4zkOfJnsuQgQRz7skL3wUJIhfRJXN3g&oe=663A6A3D	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437923978_857466556189742_7450755017420694425_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YxzAift75fwQ7kNvgGvPaHV&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDhD5aVKe-UT8Uayt4cQPm0EjnWF1v_bwN5ZVWBoLpqiA&oe=663A6B5E	0	3	Elemental magic, all at your fingertips.	Puzzles & Chaos	12242	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	PLAY_GAME	1713337200	View Edit Delete
1666947	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727711	1734958299	695	1126504091795695	1	9.7242489089097E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	100365976129594	0	Puzzles & Chaos	120209368276210763	play.google.com	Play game	NONE	video	Always ready for battle!		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1713340642	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436151303_2170017620027903_1978176637439574421_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FIPPa6HufQIQ7kNvgGwsXgo&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB4YhgRvNPjpDCkCebV03VdVEId7PJmKcnmGL6XBwMWGw&oe=663A755D	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436589155_1091299852173503_72650592772147559_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JiZqBqr9-U4Q7kNvgHfyk5c&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCCSIDzi1lUQwNza5hhld6aX25fXaWinciY3Ebg4hXrQw&oe=663A8360	0	3	Explore, Expand, Exploit, Exterminate	Puzzles & Chaos	12242	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	PLAY_GAME	1713337200	View Edit Delete
1666954	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727712	1734958299	695	7248747905233713	1	1.4695658269752E+15	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	216867632170506	0	Hunter's Wholesale	120207673211180213	hunterswholesale.net	Learn more	NONE	image	Take The Quiz To Find Out!	Quiz developed by hunters - for hunters!	https://hunterswholesale.net/pages/the-best-tenpoint-crossbow-for-you		1713310638	2.1686763217051E+14	Hunter's Wholesale	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438036761_789898446018320_4191697939925945777_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=VVzTtUFFBGcQ7kNvgEUEOvl&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBWNhQgsdkwj0o-AjnaTssneVHBPbxsj2dYJTU-wDMubw&oe=663A94B1	person_profile	0			0	3	What is the best TenPoint crossbow available for today's hunters?<br /> <br /> Experience the thrill of hunting with ease! Discover the best TenPoint crossbow available for today's hunters.<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to missed shots and hello to a successful hunt with our top-of-the-line crossbows.	Hunter's Wholesale	4540	https://facebook.com/hunterswholesale	LEARN_MORE	1713250800	View Edit Delete
1666956	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727712	1734958299	695	750956857027717	1	1.3307439483177E+15	1713337200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	235254296344339	0	Adoread Romance story	120207848367490113	play.google.com	Install now	NONE	video	HOT BOOK✨Tap the button to read more👉		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.adoread.book		1713261165	2.3525429634434E+14	Adoread Romance story	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436467552_1117062669506994_8319354685671361670_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YuAnGbiypB0Q7kNvgE8mH4F&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCjLnQ9wLUXdAGjYjrsKny2K1GfJQTu4oYjsXMsOCW37A&oe=663A74D9	person_profile	0	Adoread Romance story	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436266438_379010651786476_4078060730282671490_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Y872MntLj5EQ7kNvgH8OO6x&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBtxxSgznpDbnGeZfd1YSjGwxyDLaGoF4BpntltHccywg&oe=663A6828	0	3	Chapter 1 <br /> "Wesley, are you trying to harm me? You useless piece of trash, can't even make a decent cup of coffee, can you?"<br /> Madison Blair lifted her coffee cup and splashed it directly onto Wesley Harrington's face.<br /> "What are you looking at, you spineless waste? Your name sounds so lofty? I might as well call you a waste."<br /> Glancing at the grotesque expression of his wife's mother, Wesley pulled out his phone to check the time.<br /> Exactly twelve o'clock. It had been five full years since he married Taylor Reed.<br /> The appointed time had come.<br /> He had fulfilled his promise, safeguarding the Reed family for five years, transforming them from a family living off fishing to one perceived as affluent by the common folk.<br /> Wiping the coffee off his face, he turned and walked away.<br /> "Where do you think you're going? Go fetch some more coffee," Madison shouted.<br /> "Madison, didn't you say this waste is obedient at home, doing whatever he's told? I don't think he's taking it lying down."<br /> Madison grew angrier. "Wesley, you stop right there. My family has fed and housed you. If you dare disobey, I'll have you thrown out!"<br /> Ignoring her, Wesley continued downstairs.<br /> "When Taylor comes back, I'll immediately have you two divorced. Do you hear me? Stay right there," Madison threatened, "I'll let you know your place today."<br /> Grabbing a golf club, Madison swiftly charged towards Wesley.<br /> Seeing Wesley heading downstairs, she swung the club viciously at his back.<br /> Without turning back, Wesley gently sidestepped.<br /> Losing her balance, Madison tumbled forward, rolling down the stairs with a series of thumps.<br /> "Ouch... it hurts, it hurts so much!"<br /> As Madison reached the ground floor, she wailed in pain and her sister immediately rushed to her.<br /> "Wesley, what have you done? How dare you hit my sister!" Madison's sister hurried down, checking on Madison's condition.<br /> Wesley remained silent, observing the scene.<br /> "Quick, call Taylor. Tell her to come back. Today, she must divorce this waste." Madison glared at Wesley. "How dare you hit me? Not only will I let Taylor divorce you, but I'll make sure you leave in disgrace."<br /> "Mum, what's wrong?" At that moment, a gent and a lady walked in.<br /> The lady was Taylor, Madison's daughter.<br /> She ran towards Madison.<br /> As Madison pointed at Wesley, tears streamed down her face. "Taylor, he hit me, he hit me! When you're not home, he changes his attitude, scolding and hitting me in the slightest displeasure. He even pushed me down the stairs just now. Alexis can testify."<br /> Madison's sister, Alexis Blair, chimed in. "Yes, Wesley, this trash not only hit your mother but also threatened to hit me too. We cannot tolerate such trash."<br /> "Taylor, I have been telling you to divorce him for years. You've been supporting him, treating him like a Lord at home, but he's an ungrateful wolf in sheep's clothing."<br /> Helping Madison up, Taylor noticed the scrapes on Madison's arms and legs, her expression turning cold.<br /> "Wesley, why did you hit my mother? You better give me an explanation."<br /> Wesley looked at Taylor, his wife.<br /> Five years had passed, and she had never shown him kindness.<br /> Taylor dressed impeccably, a paragon of a successful lady, with a face that could be deemed angelic, yet whether her heart was as angelic remained a mystery.<br /> Her figure, too, left countless men yearning.<br /> For five years, Wesley had thought he might develop feelings for this lady, but in reality, it never happened.<br /> "There are surveillance cameras in the house," Wesley stated calmly before descending the stairs into the hallway.<br /> Despite residing in a three-story villa, Wesley's living quarters were confined to the stairwell.<br /> He harbored no resentment towards this arrangement. It was merely a promise. It was just that Taylor failed to appreciate him.<br /> This home held little value that he wished to cling onto.<br /> Retrieving a wooden box from beneath his pillow, Wesley extracted two documents. Casting a fleeting glance at the modest abode he had called home for five years, Wesley smiled faintly.<br /> He thought, "Finally... I'm free."<br /> Pushing the door ajar, Wesley was met by Taylor's piercing gaze. "I've reviewed the surveillance footage. Yes, my mother intended to strike you, but even if she did, what difference would it make?"<br /> "She's a lady. How much could her blows hurt you? Why did you dodge?"<br /> "If you hadn't dodged, my mother wouldn't have tumbled down." Wesley stared at Taylor, unable to comprehend her thought process.<br /> He had no interest in engaging in these arguments. Handing over the two documents to Taylor, he remarked, "The divorce agreement. I've already signed it. Take a look. I'm leaving with nothing."<br /> "With your current influence, there's no need for you to visit the city hall. Someone will handle it for you, right?"<br /> Madison was taken aback. She swiftly snatched the divorce agreement, flipping through it hastily.<br /> The contents were indeed straightforward. Both parties willingly divorced, with Wesley relinquishing all claims and having already signed.<br /> In an instant, Madison's pain seemed to dissipate. "Taylor, sign it quickly. Sign it."<br /> Taylor was still in a daze.<br /> She pondered.<br /> "A divorce agreement? Wesley has already prepared a divorce agreement. On what grounds?"<br /> "What gives him the right to initiate a divorce? All these years, he's done nothing at home, lacking any ambition. Always practicing martial arts, what right does he have to seek a divorce?"<br /> "If anyone should initiate it, it should be me. Moreover, now that I'm back to discussing this matter with him. Could it be that word got out, and Wesley, for the sake of his pride, rushed to prepare a divorce agreement first?"<br /> "It must be so, but... No!"<br /> "Wanting to leave with nothing, is he retreating to advance? As the chairman of the Reed Group, how could I be served with a divorce?"<br /> "Hey Wesley, I never expected this from you. Have I not treated you well enough? You seek a divorce, attempting to turn your retreat into advance, aiming to embarrass me?"<br /> Taylor glared at Wesley. "I'm telling you, it's impossible."<br /> Snatching the divorce agreement, she tore it to shreds.<br /> "Taylor, what are you doing? Such a great opportunity. Why not just sign it and let him leave?" Madison grew anxious.<br /> "Mom, I do intend to divorce this trash, but the decision must come from me. I returned specifically to address this matter."<br /> With that, Taylor produced two documents. "Wesley, remember that it's me who's divorcing you. It's me who no longer wants you. Initially, out of marital obligation, I had considered offering you some compensation. Now, you don't even need to think about it. Sign the divorce agreement and leave my home."<br /> Wesley offered a faint smile as he accepted the divorce agreement.<br /> "What are you laughing at?" Taylor demanded angrily.<br /> Wesley's smile seemed to mock her, fueling her rage.<br /> Ignoring her entirely, Wesley signed the document and handed it over.<br /> "What are you laughing at? Answer me! Who do you think you are?" Taylor roared once more.<br /> Wesley glanced at her before striding towards the exit.<br /> "Stop!" The gent who had accompanied Taylor stepped forward, blocking Wesley's path. "Taylor asked you a question, and... Your previous attitude displeased me. Apologize to Taylor, or I'll have you leave in disgrace!"<br /> <br /> Chapter 2 <br /> "Yes, let him leave in disgrace. He thought he could just hit me and walk away so easily," Madison joined in the commotion, also noticing the gent blocking Wesley's path.<br /> Madison had a keen interest in luxury goods, having frequented various high-end establishments over the years as the Reed family's living conditions improved. The gent was wearing an expensive watch and dressed head to toe in high-end luxury brands.<br /> Seeing Madison's gaze, the gent spoke. "Rest assured, today Wesley must pay the price."<br /> The gent introduced himself, looking at Wesley, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Henry Clark, the eldest son of the Clark family and the general manager of the Clark Group in the North District."<br /> "From now on, I will accompany Taylor on her journey of life, and I will not allow anyone to bully her."<br /> "My identity carries weight. You should understand that. Now, apologize to Taylor. Apologize! Did you hear me? Apologize!"<br /> Madison's eyes lit up. She hadn't expected the gent before her to hold such a high status. She continued to shout, "Did you hear that? Taylor will be with Mr. Clark from now on. Apologize now."<br /> Wesley glanced at Henry, then at Taylor. He thought, "Have they been together all along?" Wesley had wanted to ask but decided against it because there was no need. He simply gave them a glance and continued walking towards the exit.<br /> "Are you ignoring me?" Henry's face turned cold as he reached out to grab Wesley. Henry's hand froze mid-air as he received a solid hit.<br /> "Until I sign the divorce papers, Taylor and I are still wife and husband. I don't care to investigate whether you two had any intimate relationship during that time, but don't provoke me, or I won't hesitate to make you regret it." Wesley's gaze was icy, and as Henry met his eyes, he felt a twinge of fear and swallowed his words.<br /> Taylor was also stunned. She knew exactly what Wesley had been like over the past five years. There were many surveillance cameras in the house, and she would often check them.<br /> Even when Taylor wasn't home, despite how her family treated Wesley, he always obeyed without complaint, especially towards her. He had never raised his voice, no matter how they treated him.<br /> Today, not only did Wesley dodge when her mother struck, but he also initiated the divorce and now even struck Henry. <br /> Taylor was at a loss for words, thinking, "How could this cowardly gent dare? On what grounds does he dare?"<br /> This change was difficult for Taylor to accept as if she didn't truly understand this guy. The gent who used to be obedient to her, completely submissive, now revealed this side of himself. She watched Wesley walk away in a daze, feeling a strange discomfort in her heart.<br /> "Isn't he leaving with nothing?" Alexis pointed at the wooden box Wesley was holding. "What is he taking with him?"<br /> Madison also realized. Over the past five years, Wesley had always treasured this wooden box, carrying it with him wherever he went. She thought there must be something valuable inside.<br /> Realizing this, Madison hurriedly followed. "Wesley, stop right there, leave the wooden box."<br /> Wesley paused, glanced at Madison, and said, "This is my personal belonging."<br /> "Nonsense, what personal belonging could you possibly have after marrying into the Reed family? Everything you've eaten, worn, and lived in over the years has been provided by the Reed family. Put it down."<br /> As she spoke, Madison reached out to grab the wooden box.<br /> "Ah..." A scream rang out as Madison quickly retracted her hand, a gash appearing on her palm, a crimson liquid dripping.<br /> The wooden box was now stained with the same crimson liquid, trembling lightly in Wesley's hand.<br /> "It's not the right time yet, the day you thirst for this crimson liquid will come," Wesley murmured softly, patting the box before turning to continue his stride towards the exit.<br /> "Monster! A monster!" Madison screamed, causing Taylor and the others to rush out. Seeing the wound in Madison's hand, Taylor was filled with rage.<br /> "Wesley, aren't you going to say something?" Wesley halted once more, contemplating before meeting Taylor's gaze.<br /> "Just stay out of my way from now on. Consider this a warning to you."<br /> "Taylor, that wooden box of his has a mechanism. It must hold something valuable! We can't let him take it with him," Madison, enduring the pain, reminded them.<br /> "Mom, your injury is important. We'll deal with him later. Let me take you to the hospital first." Taylor comforted Madison before calling out to the retreating Wesley.<br /> "Our marriage is over! Yet, you dared to hurt my mother! This won't be the end of it! I will make you regret it!" Ignoring her, Wesley continued walking out.<br /> "Rest assured, I promise he won't see the light of day tomorrow." Henry stepped forward to console. "Let's focus on getting your wound treated first."<br /> "I want him to regret ever existing in this world, to apologize to me in repentance," Madison roared.<br /> "Mom, trust me, I will make him do just that." Taylor looked at Madison with a mix of pity and determination. "Let's go to the hospital first."<br /> In the villa area, Wesley halted, his voice cold. "Get out."<br /> An elderly gent leaped down from a tree, appearing to be in his seventies, yet landing silently from a height of around ten feet.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, your father wants you to come home and take charge."<br /> "He stopped being my father five years ago. He's my enemy."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you misunderstood your father. He had his reasons back then. I swear in my life, once you know the truth, you will forgive him."<br /> "Huh!" Wesley smirked coldly, saying, "I nearly passed away back then. Is that also a misunderstanding?"<br /> The old gent pleaded, "Mr. Harrington, this situation is truly not as you perceive it."<br /> Wesley didn't engage further with the old guy. The events of that year were etched in his memory forever. He was the one who had been abandoned. If not for that incident, why would he have stayed with the Reed family for five years?<br /> Watching Wesley walk away, the old gent had tears silently streaming down his face. "Mr. Harrington, I truly... I truly can't bring myself to speak the truth, but you have misunderstood your father. He also bears burdens and endures pains beyond what an ordinary person can handle."<br /> As Wesley's figure disappeared, the old gent stood up, hesitated for a moment, then dialed a number on his phone.<br /> "Mr. Harrington is now divorced. I've given you the news firsthand. If your daughter is truly together with Mr. Harrington, you must fulfill the promise and let her persuade Mr. Harrington to come home."<br /> After hanging up, a middle-aged gent in a luxurious estate jumped up excitedly. Calming himself, he immediately made another call. "My dear, you're at Yeadeo, right?<br /> "Go find Wesley now. Don't mention the engagement for now. Use every means to get close to him, make him fall in love with you."<br /> "Dad, I don't have time."<br /> "No matter what you are busy with, you must go find Wesley now. No matter what reason you approach him, you must leave a good impression the first time."<br /> "Dad, I'm in trouble right now. If I don't handle it well, I might be good as gone. I have to deal with it immediately. I'm hanging up."<br /> Chapter 3 <br /> The middle-aged gent's voice lowered significantly. "Is there a big incident happening? You didn't tell me? What happened?"<br /> "Quinn Kingsley from Yeadeo, Mr. Kingsley, used our product and now has one foot on the grave. If something really happens to him..."<br /> "You mean Quinn, the uncontested leader of Yeadeo?"<br /> "Yes."<br /> "In that case, you should go find Wesley. Trust me, in this world, there is no problem that Wesley can't solve. As long as he's willing to help, you'll be fine. Listen to me, go find Wesley immediately."<br /> The lady fell silent for a moment before saying, "Okay."<br /> At Yeadeo Harbor, a gent with a large flaxen chain and a watch, sporting a crew cut, hurriedly disembarked, accompanied by a dozen gentlemen.<br /> "Mr. Reed, wherever that trash is, we will find him and tear him apart."<br /> "Yes, that guy dared to harm your mother. We'll make sure he pays for it."<br /> Frank Reed's face turned cold. "Wesley, you coward, thinking you can overturn the world? How dare you touch my mom? Just wait until I find you, you're finished."<br /> "We've found him. Wesley got into a taxi, and our boys followed him."<br /> "Let's go!" Frank waved his hand, leading dozens of men who boarded the car with harpoons, steel pipes, and other weapons.<br /> Inside the taxi, Wesley gazed at the scenery outside, feeling a strange sense of tranquility.<br /> He thought to himself, "I never imagined that while I was secretly paving the way for the Reed family, Taylor, after progressing so rapidly, would start looking down on me more and more."<br /> "Those ladies who know my true identity, which one of them isn't trying to throw themselves at me? Ladies like that don't interest me."<br /> "Being an ordinary gent is truly difficult," Wesley murmured, smiling faintly and deciding not to dwell on these matters anymore. He had important things to attend to and no time to waste on personal affairs.<br /> "Young lad, are you going to Feidgeuo Manor for a job interview?" The driver, curious about Wesley's destination, inquired.<br /> Feidgeuo Manor was Yeadeo's most mysterious private area. Originally a villa area, it was bought at a huge cost five years ago and completely renovated. It was said to have cost a trillion dollars. The former villa area was now Feidgeuo Manor.<br /> "That's my home," Wesley replied nonchalantly.<br /> The driver was taken aback by this revelation, silently cursing Wesley for bragging. After a couple of minutes, the driver regained his composure. "It seems like you and I both prefer to keep a low profile. My car usually gathers dust at home, so I occasionally drive a taxi to experience life."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "My car has been driven by my assistant for the past few years, so it's not gathering dust."<br /> "Haha..." The driver laughed. "We should get together sometime and see whose car is more impressive."<br /> "Sure, whenever we have the time."<br /> As they chatted, the vehicle soon arrived near Feidgeuo Manor, where the massive head of the Feidgeuo Peak protruded, creating a unique landscape in Yeadeo.<br /> The driver asked with a smile, "Since you're the owner here, it's fine if I drive in, right?"<br /> "Of course," Wesley replied.<br /> As soon as Wesley spoke, several cars caught up from behind.<br /> The cars surrounded the one Wesley was in, with the front vehicles braking to force the car to a stop.<br /> When numerous people descended from cars wielding harpoons and steel pipes, the driver's face paled.<br /> Frank and his group got out of the cars, instantly closing in, and without hesitation, started attacking, the steel pipes and harpoons thudding against the car.<br /> Frank's henchman yanked open the door of Wesley's car, poised to stab Wesley with a harpoon, but Wesley swiftly exited the vehicle.<br /> With a firm step on the ground, he launched a swift hit.<br /> A muffled sound echoed as the henchman was hit away.<br /> "What are you looking at?" Frank noticed his henchmen were all staring at him. "All of you, attack together and take him down!"<br /> As he commanded, the henchmen Frank brought with him surged forward.<br /> The taxi driver, trembling, took out his phone to call the police, but Frank glared at him. "I am Frank Reed from Yeadeo Harbor. If you dare, go ahead and make that call."<br /> Frank, leveraging his sister Taylor's status, had been causing trouble in Yeadeo Harbor, and no one dared to provoke him.<br /> Upon hearing Frank's name, the driver hastily put away his phone. "Mr. Reed, I'll just check the time, you guys continue."<br /> "Huh!" Frank snorted coldly, casting his gaze towards the surrounded Wesley.<br /> The sounds of thuds continued to ring out incessantly. Because Wesley was completely surrounded, Frank was unable to see the situation inside clearly, but he could imagine it. After all, in Frank's mind, the henchmen under his command were not to be trifled with.<br /> "Hit him hard for me!"<br /> Another muffled sound and a figure flew out. At that moment, Frank finally saw the situation clearly, and his face turned pale.<br /> Frank knew that Wesley liked to practice martial arts, but he had never expected Wesley to be this skilled. It wasn't Wesley who had been beaten, but his own men by Wesley alone.<br /> Frantically, Frank turned and ran to retrieve a crossbow from the car.<br /> "Clear the way." Frank bellowed, aiming the crossbow at Wesley.<br /> "You scumbag, you think you can fight? Move one more time, and I'll end your life! Surrender!"<br /> Wesley, holding a wooden box, stared at Frank. Ignoring the crossbow in his hand, Wesley said, "Tell your henchmen to back off, or you'll all see the light from above!"<br /> "You're really good at pretending to be tough." Frank took two steps forward. "See the light? Move a muscle and see if I can end your life or not! If you don't have the guts, apologize now!"<br /> Wesley turned his head and looked at the approaching cars, with two expensive ones in the lead, two more in the rear, and another one in the middle.<br /> "Keep acting tough, and I'll put a hole in your head." Frank spoke while glancing at the five cars. "What, looking for help?"<br /> "Let me tell you, those who ride in these cars are not the kind of weaklings like you who rely on connections. With me here, in Yeadeo's social hierarchy, even those who ride in such cars wouldn't dare meddle in this matter. And let me make it clear, without my sister, you're nothing."<br /> <br /> Chapter 4<br /> As Frank's words faded, the five cars came to a halt.<br /> A bodyguard opened the door of the one in the middle, revealing a dazzling pair of shining shoes catching everyone's eye.<br /> The shining shoe encased a beautiful foot. Above, the skirt's hem was adorned with lace.<br /> Then, like a fairy stepping out of a painting, she appeared before everyone's eyes.<br /> The lady was beautiful!<br /> Frank was mesmerized. Ever since the Reed family rose to prominence, he had been surrounded by ladies, but compared to the elegant lady before him, they were worlds apart.<br /> It wasn't just a difference in appearance but an incomparable gap in demeanor.<br /> The lady descending from the Maybach seemed like a celestial being untouched by mortal affairs.<br /> The embodiment of a fairy in the mundane world.<br /> She simply stood there after getting out of the car, perfectly embodying what it meant to be graceful and elegant.<br /> The lady glanced at Wesley, then at Frank.<br /> Frank grinned, saying, "May I have the honor of knowing the name of this esteemed lady? I am Frank..."<br /> The lady spoke calmly. "Disrespect Mr. Harrington, and you're done for."<br /> Her bodyguards, unfazed by Frank's crossbow, swiftly overwhelmed him, sending him crashing to the ground.<br /> The henchmen who had come with Frank, previously defeated by Wesley, now scrambled to their feet and fled in all directions.<br /> Who would dare provoke someone who could afford such a car?<br /> "My sister is Taylor Reed, the chairperson of Reed Group," Frank shouted, clutching his head.<br /> Ignoring him, one of the bodyguards dragged him to the roadside grass while another used a belt to tighten around Frank's neck, exerting pressure.<br /> "Enough, a lesson is all that's needed." Wesley spoke calmly, and only when the lady gestured did the bodyguards release Frank.<br /> Frank lay there, already unconscious.<br /> Wesley turned to the lady. "Who are you?"<br /> "I am Mia Roberts, the general manager of Vinver Business Alliance's Yeadeo branch." She looked at Wesley and continued, "Mr. Harrington, my father mentioned that you have miraculous healing skills and earnestly requested your assistance. A generous reward awaits."<br /> Wesley furrowed his brow slightly, thinking, "There are indeed people who recognize my abilities and status, yet I've rarely intervened in the past five years. Today, shortly after I divorced Taylor, she is here. Whose arrangement is this?"<br /> "Mr. Harrington, my father also mentioned that you are benevolent and has raised the banner of compassion among healers, serving as a role model and benchmark for all in the medical field."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "You have a way with words. Tell me the specifics."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, please get in the car first. I will explain in detail on the way."<br /> The phrase "compassionate healer" held significant weight for Wesley, who had saved countless lives from the brink of death.<br /> Without further ado, he got into the car.<br /> Inside, after Mia brewed coffee for Wesley, she began. "Vinver Business Alliance has a wide range of business operations, and I mainly oversee the health supplement sector, which has seen some success in recent years.<br /> "Recently, Quinn Kingsley started using our medicines, and now there's an accident."<br /> As she spoke, Mia kept her gaze fixed on Wesley.<br /> Quinn, the undisputed leader of Yeadeo, was a figure of immense influence.<br /> Upon hearing this name, Wesley showed no particular reaction. "If the city's leader faces issues with your products, it is indeed a concern. Let's go and see."<br /> With just a sentence, Wesley leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest.<br /> Mia was secretly alarmed, thinking, "He knows who Quinn is, yet he seems indifferent. Who is this Wesley, really? No wonder Dad has instructed me to find a way to win his favor." Mia's inner resistance toward Wesley quietly shifted.<br /> Wesley had piqued her curiosity.<br /> As the vehicle was moving, Wesley's phone rang.<br /> Wesley opened his eyes and took out his phone to see Taylor calling.<br /> Pressing the answer button, he asked, "What's the matter?"<br /> On the other end of the line, Taylor, driving towards Feidgeuo Manor, had a grim expression.<br /> She thought, "Has Wesley ever spoken to me in such a cold tone before? Is he really this heartless right after our divorce?"<br /> Already furious, she snapped. "Wesley, do you even consider yourself a human being?<br /> "Today, not only did you lay hands on my mother, but you also had someone attack my brother. Do you not remember our past at all?"<br /> Wesley calmly replied, "Do we have a past to remember?"<br /> "You truly are a heartless scumbag, just as my mother said. You are an ungrateful and vicious person I raised for five years. Even a pet would wag its tail at me!"<br /> Taylor wanted to continue her tirade, but the phone line had already turned busy.<br /> This only fueled her anger further.<br /> Just now, she had received a call from Frank's underlings, informing her that Wesley had sent people to attack Frank and even intended to end him.<br /> Taylor wanted to demand answers, but...<br /> As Taylor was clutching her fists, her gaze turned icy.<br /> After a moment, she picked up her phone again. "Wesley, you are so narrow-minded. You have no ambition. Any lady would steer clear of you."<br /> "Just because I dumped you, you are doing this on purpose to make me feel sick. Pretending to be aloof and seeking revenge? Do you even deserve it?"<br /> "In Yeadeo, squashing you would be as easy as squashing an ant. You're asking for it! If anything happens to my brother, I will make you wish you were ending!"<br /> Her furious voice message echoed in the car.<br /> Wesley chuckled and put away his phone.<br /> Beside him, Mia seemed contemplative. Before coming, she had already ordered a swift investigation into Wesley.<br /> She was curious, thinking, "How could someone valued by my father could be the one 'marrying into' the Reed family."<br /> Being tactful, Mia chose not to ask and pretended not to have heard.<br /> After about forty minutes, they arrived at the Kingsley Manor.<br /> The Kingsley family members, upon seeing Mia alight from the car, all wore grim expressions.<br /> Mia greeted them with a smile, "Everyone, this is Wesley Harrington, Mr. Harrington, the miraculous healer I specially invited to treat Mr. Kingsley."<br /> "Him? The gent who married into the Reed family?"<br /> "A miraculous healer? Is he even worthy? Are healers so worthless now?"<br /> "A useless gent who mooches off of the Reed family? How dare he call himself a miraculous healer? Truly a joke among all jokes."<br /> Chapter 5<br /> <br /> Amanda Kingsley, Quinn's granddaughter, stared coldly at Wesley and Mia.<br /> This lady, dressed in a smart suit, also held significant fame in Yeadeo, overseeing the region's business activities, including investment attraction and various local business negotiations.<br /> Amanda had a favorable view of Taylor, who had risen swiftly in recent times, and they had interacted frequently.<br /> She was aware of Wesley's existence and had advised Taylor to part ways with him early on.<br /> But Amanda never imagined that Mia would bring someone like Wesley, a complete waste, and claim he was a miraculous healer.<br /> Glaring at Mia, she said, "Mia, once my grandfather is well, it's best for your Roberts family to leave Yeadeo."<br /> "As for you..." She glanced at Wesley. "I will advise Taylor to divorce you. You have deceived Taylor's feelings and now shamelessly made your way into my family. You are a despicable creature."<br /> After reprimanding Mia and Wesley, she turned to an elderly gent beside her, and her tone and attitude completely changed. "Mr. Phillips, sorry to trouble you. My grandfather is inside, please."<br /> Mia looked at the elderly gent, who was already in his twilight years, feeling deeply shocked.<br /> Scott Phillips, the 38th generation heir of the Healing Clinic, was now ninety-two years old.<br /> Renowned as a miraculous healer, he was a respected figure in the medical community of Yeadeo and even nationally.<br /> He no longer conducted consultations personally due to his old age. Mia had visited him specifically to pay her respects once she had arrived in Yeadeo but had not met Scott.<br /> She never expected Scott to appear in person. It was understandable, as Quinn held a prominent position in the city. Despite the profound influence of the Phillips family, they still had to show respect to Quinn.<br /> Mia looked at Wesley, feeling conflicted and thinking, "Dad has confidently claimed that Wesley has extraordinary abilities, but does he really?"<br /> She harbored doubts, but out of propriety, Mia spoke. "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the trouble."<br /> Wesley smiled, "It's fine. As long as the person can be healed."<br /> His open-mindedness impressed Mia.<br /> After about half an hour, Amanda emerged from the room. All eyes instantly turned towards her.<br /> It was evident that Amanda had wailed out, with traces of tears still visible.<br /> "Amanda, how is it?" A middle-aged gent anxiously asked her.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family who had rushed back also focused their attention on her.<br /> "Mr. Phillips said that there's little hope of recovery. He could only use acupuncture to wake grandfather for half an hour. When grandfather wakes up, let's all go in and see if he has any final instructions."<br /> Everyone was shocked.<br /> "How could this be?"<br /> "Is Mr. Phillips also helpless?"<br /> The members of the Kingsley family found it hard to accept this reality, especially since Quinn had always treated his juniors well.<br /> The thought of Quinn departing saddened some, and tears silently fell.<br /> Publicly, Quinn's status was the foundation of the Kingsley family's prominence in Yeadeo.<br /> If Quinn were to pass away, the Kingsley family would undoubtedly decline.<br /> The atmosphere within the Kingsley family was somber.<br /> Amanda looked at her family members, opened her mouth, but said nothing, silently turning back into the room.<br /> "Stop crying," A middle-aged gent said sternly, "Dad wouldn't want to see you all in tears. If he's really leaving, we mustn't let him worry about us. Pull yourselves together."<br /> After these words, the middle-aged gent also entered the room.<br /> The younger members of the Kingsley family wiped their tears vigorously, trying to force smiles, but in truth, they looked better at crying than pretending to be happy.<br /> Mia's spirit plummeted as she realized the gravity of the situation. Even if an ordinary person passed away from consuming health supplements, it spelled big trouble for those who sold them. And when the deceased happened to be Quinn, the stakes were even higher.<br /> She understood that it would be difficult for this branch to stay in Yeadeo, and even the headquarters might face repercussions.<br /> "Let's go in and have a look." Wesley glanced at Mia. "There might still be a chance."<br /> "Ah..." Mia stared at Wesley in surprise. Seeing him already heading towards the room, she quickly followed suit.<br /> Inside the room, the members of the Kingsley family stood around the mattress, maintaining a certain distance.<br /> Scott lit the alcohol lamp and took out the needles, his expression solemn.<br /> He looked at the members of the Kingsley family. "Think about what you want to say to Mr. Kingsley later. Once you're ready, let me know, and then I'll proceed with the acupuncture."<br /> As he said this, tears welled up in many eyes.<br /> "If you don't mind, let me take a look. I have a way." Wesley spoke up, drawing everyone's attention.<br /> Amanda's face darkened. "Who let you in? Get out!"<br /> "Mia, have you lost your mind? Tricked by this trash and actually brought him here as a miracle healer. Get out with him! I'll settle the score with you in a couple of days."<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, at a loss for words.<br /> "Even Mr. Phillips is unable to reverse the situation. What use are you? Get out." Another younger member of the Kingsley family angrily rebuked.<br /> The middle-aged gent added, "We're in no mood right now. You better leave immediately."<br /> "I understand your narrow-mindedness," Wesley continued, "But as a healer, once I see a patient, I cannot stand by and watch him draw his last breath."<br /> "Wesley, you're quite the charlatan. Do you really want to be gone right now?" Amanda's voice was filled with anger.<br /> "Amanda, let me say a few words," Scott interjected, and Amanda fell silent.<br /> Looking at Wesley, Scott began. "Young lad, at my age, I've seen a lot and have a broad perspective. Today, however, I find it hard to remain indifferent. I practiced medicine from the age of sixteen until I stopped seeing patients for a total of seventy years."<br /> "I've saved countless patients from various illnesses. I never easily declare a patient's fate, nor do I believe I have the right to do so."<br /> "But from your recent remarks, it seems like you're accusing me of such actions. Young people wanting to make a name for themselves by stepping on the shoulders of their predecessors, I can understand."<br /> "But this kind of behavior displeases me."<br /> "My displeasure, what does it mean to you? Do you understand?"<br /> "Even if you are a healer, your career will be ruined because of this."<br /> Chapter 6 <br /> In the face of Scott's veiled threats, Wesley simply smiled and brushed them off.<br /> Looking at Scott, he asked, "I've always focused on the issue at hand rather than attacking individuals. I have a few questions for you. If you can't administer the needles, how long do you think Quinn can hold on?"<br /> "Seven days, but he will remain unconscious," Scott replied bluntly.<br /> "Then let me ask you this, is there anyone in the world with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "Outrageous," Amanda coldly interjected, "Mr. Phillips is unparalleled in his medical expertise."<br /> Scott glanced at Amanda. "Amanda, let me handle this question."<br /> Continuing to address Wesley, he said, "I don't underestimate myself, nor do I overestimate. There are countless talented individuals in the world, like stars in the sky. I may not dare claim to be the best in medical skills, but those who surpass me are few."<br /> "That means there are some," Wesley calmly remarked, causing Scott's expression to shift slightly, "Indeed, there are."<br /> "Then let me ask you this. Do you think within seven days, the Kingsley family won't find someone with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "If they do find someone, do you believe there is an illness that you cannot cure, but this person can?"<br /> Wesley's questions were sharp and resounding.<br /> Scott's face changed once more as he was rendered speechless.<br /> "Even if there is, that person will never be you." Amanda's face turned icy. "Now get out. Don't spout your eloquence here. Your deceitful behavior is repulsive."<br /> "Your understanding of me is merely hearsay, isn't it?" Wesley retorted, his gaze mocking Amanda, "Has your background and education taught you such arrogance and prejudice?"<br /> "Arrogance?" Amanda's face grew colder as she disdainfully looked at Wesley. "Prejudice?<br /> "Did I say something wrong just now? You are nothing but stagnant waste, a parasite living off others. If it weren't for Taylor, you would have starved on the streets long ago."<br /> "Relying on sweet words, deceiving Taylor. She, with her kind heart, can't bear to divorce you, but don't push your luck. If it weren't for Taylor's sake, you would have been sent out long ago."<br /> Scott interrupted Amanda, "Amanda, although I find this lad a bit annoying, what he said does hold some truth. There are indeed individuals with better medical skills than me. Your grandfather can hold on for seven days. Try reaching out to see if someone can come over. I'll help you make connections."<br /> "If it really doesn't work out after seven days, I'll administer the needles to your grandfather. However, at that point, I can only buy you three minutes."<br /> As soon as Scott spoke, the faces of the Kingsley family members grew even more solemn. True healers were rare and not easily summoned.<br /> While the Kingsley family had connections in Yeadeo, their influence waned outside of it.<br /> "Mr. Phillips, please administer the needles. Life has its ups and downs, and we understand that. Just buy my father a bit more time." The middle-aged gent spoke up.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family nodded in agreement.<br /> Amanda looked at Scott. "Mr. Phillips, please."<br /> "In that case, please have everyone unrelated leave. I need silence," Scott calmly stated.<br /> Amanda glared at Wesley, her eyes speaking volumes without a word.<br /> The unrelated individuals were, naturally, Wesley and Mia.<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, intending to leave, but she suddenly hesitated.<br /> Instead of leaving, Wesley moved forward.<br /> "What are you doing?" A young member of the Kingsley family stepped forward with a stern expression, pushing Wesley.<br /> In one swift motion, Wesley executed a clean shoulder throw, toppling the young gent to the ground, his own expression turning cold.<br /> "A bunch of fools! If it weren't for my teacher's teachings about not turning a blind eye to those in need, I wouldn't bother with you ignorant lot," Wesley remarked with disdain.<br /> As Wesley effortlessly took down one individual from the Kingsley family, the others seemed slow to react.<br /> By the time they realized what was happening, Wesley had already picked up the needle next to Scott and casually flicked his wrist.<br /> The needle flew out of his hand, piercing Quinn's temple, followed by a second needle, a third needle, and so on.<br /> "What are you doing? Stop!" Amanda's voice rose in urgency, echoed by the rest of the Kingsley family members who rushed forward to restrain Wesley.<br /> "Stay back, everyone. Wait." Scott suddenly stood up, blocking the others. "Let him try."<br /> Amanda and the others were left dumbfounded, thinking, "What does this mean?"<br /> Despite their confusion, they heeded Scott's words.<br /> After Scott stopped the members of the Kingsley family, he fixed his gaze on Wesley.<br /> Wesley proceeded to use eighteen needles in succession, symbolizing the levels of pain.<br /> Even if someone had descended into the depths of hell, they must be brought back.<br /> The final needle, also piercing a vital point, caused Quinn's body to tremble suddenly, resonating with the previous eighteen needles.<br /> Scott's eyes widened, his body trembling slightly. His reaction left Amanda and the others even more puzzled, but none dared to interrupt.<br /> Moments later, Wesley placed a palm on Quinn's chest, causing all eighteen needles to be shaken off. When all the needles landed on the ground, the part of the skin where the needles had pierced turned dark.<br /> Wesley then dragged Quinn to the edge of the mattress, flipped him over with his head facing downwards, and gave him a firm pat on the back.<br /> Quinn spat out a mouthful of black liquid. When Wesley flipped him back to lie flat, his complexion had regained some color.<br /> "The Hand of Darkness... It's the Hand of Darkness!" Scott exclaimed with excitement, his body quivering, "It's the Hand that descends into the dark world, snatching people from the hands of the Evil!"<br /> "You do have some knowledge, recognizing the Hand of Darkness." Wesley glanced at Scott.<br /> Scott's gaze towards Wesley had undergone a drastic change. He respectfully clasped his hands together.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thirty years ago, I had the honor of attending a teaching conference held by Mr. Vanderbilt. I saw the Hand of Darkness, but my limited aptitude only allowed me to grasp the basics."<br /> "I have been blind and ignorant. I apologize for my earlier offenses. Please forgive me, Mr. Harrington."<br /> The Mr. Vanderbilt Scott referred to was Wesley's teacher, Ulysses Vanderbilt. He generously imparted his skills to others, but the ability to learn depended on one's innate talent.<br /> In this world, few could learn Ulysses' skills.<br /> Scott had been fortunate to receive guidance from Ulysses, which had elevated his medical skills. However, the Hand of Darkness, a miraculous ability, was beyond his comprehension.<br /> Wesley smiled faintly, "Your actions earlier are understandable. I appreciate your words."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you must be an exceptional disciple of Mr. Vanderbilt, possessing unparalleled magnanimity. Impressive," Scott continued.<br /> "Enough with the flattery at your age."<br /> "You are mistaken, Mr. Harrington. Every word I speak is sincere."<br /> Mia, Amanda, and the others stood bewildered by the unfolding situation.<br /> "Mr. Phillips... he... he..." Amanda's words faltered.<br /> Scott turned to the members of the Kingsley family. "Meeting Mr. Harrington was Quinn's luck. His symptoms have been cured by Mr. Harrington. With a few days of rest, he will be fine."<br /> The waste Taylor had previously said was called Mr. Harrington by Scott!<br /> Recalling their previous attitudes, Amanda hurriedly apologized, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> The members of the Kingsley family all apologized in unison, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> Chapter 7 <br /> With a faint smile, Wesley remarked, "As family members of a patient, your actions earlier are understandable. There's no need for such formality."<br /> Amanda's perplexity deepened as she thought, "Where is the cowardly waste that Taylor described? This display of magnanimity and breadth is far from it."<br /> Mia, too, felt a shiver of realization, thinking, "No wonder Dad has insisted on my proximity to Wesley.<br /> This guy..."<br /> She gazed at Wesley, her curiosity piqued, a sense of exploration stirring within her.<br /> "Mia has brought you here, Mr. Harrington, to cure my grandfather. The Kingsley family will never forget this act. However, considering that my grandfather's ailment stemmed from the health supplements produced by the Vinver Business Alliance, we will be conducting an investigation into it."<br /> Amanda continued, looking at Wesley, "What do you think... of this approach?"<br /> It was Mia who had invited Wesley, so Amanda had grown wiser, refraining from asking for a direct punishment of the Vinver Business Alliance.<br /> As Mia heard Amanda's words, her heart skipped a beat, realizing trouble was brewing.<br /> "On the way here, Ms. Roberts briefed me on the situation. You conducted experiments on mice, correct?"<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes, the health supplements we received were exclusively provided by the Roberts family. There were no similar cases on the market, so we used mice for testing.<br /> "All the mice that ingested this supplement were gone."<br /> She looked at Mia and added, her voice turning colder, "Before the experiment, I specifically contacted Mia to inquire about the testing methods during the development phase, which involved mice.<br /> "There have been individuals eyeing my grandfather's position, some even wishing for his demise. I never imagined that the Vinver Business Alliance, which I attracted for investment, would become a weapon in someone else's hands."<br /> "Do you have any of the remaining medicine?" Wesley inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes."<br /> "Bring some over."<br /> Immediately, someone fetched the medicine. After it was brought to him, Wesley took out a supplement and swallowed it directly.<br /> This scene left Amanda and the others dumbfounded.<br /> Scott, too, was bewildered. "Mr. Harrington, what are you doing?"<br /> Wesley smiled, "Just proving that this medicine is not toxic."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thank you," Mia thanked sincerely, feeling like crying at that moment.<br /> Amanda, with a puzzled expression, looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, are you suggesting that my grandfather's condition wasn't caused by the Vinver Business Alliance's medicine? What about the mice?"<br /> The rest were equally puzzled.<br /> "Yes, but not entirely," Wesley said, leaving everyone even more bewildered.<br /> Mia's emotions were like a rollercoaster ride, from relief to immediate tension.<br /> "This medicine itself is not toxic, but when taken with another substance made from a certain plant, it results in Quinn's condition. The mice would die immediately, while humans could endure a few more days."<br /> Wesley continued to explain, "The plant used in this concoction is originally meant for crafting slow-acting toxins, not for human consumption."<br /> Looking at Amanda, Wesley said, "During this period, whoever had access to your grandfather and the mice will better understand why these events occurred."<br /> The gaze of members of the Kingsley family immediately focused on a lady.<br /> Amanda, somewhat incredulous, looked at her. "Can you offer an explanation?"<br /> The lady was the wife of Amanda's deceased brother. She found it hard to accept, as did the rest of the Kingsley family.<br /> This lady had been named the exemplary lady who served her family well this year, not due to her connection with the Kingsley family but because she genuinely deserved it.<br /> "What do you mean? Amanda, what explanation do you want from me?"<br /> The lady stared at Amanda. "Am I the only one who had access to Grandfather and the mice? You, and you... and you, who didn't have access?"<br /> "You all claim to treat me as family. Since I married into the Kingsley family, I have worked diligently, contributing my share even if not acknowledged."<br /> "Amanda, it has been over a year since your brother passed, and I never once considered remarrying. Now, just because of his words, you demand an explanation from me?"<br /> Pointing at Wesley, the lady questioned, "Just because he accuses me of poisoning, you suspect me? Tell me, did I poison him?" The lady glared at Wesley.<br /> "I am merely analyzing the facts. As for concluding this case, it's not within my purview," Wesley addressed the members of the Kingsley family, saying, "You should conduct a thorough investigation into this matter.<br /> "I will write a prescription. Have Quinn take it on time, and he will recover in seven days."<br /> Amanda hurried to fetch paper and pen while Wesley prepared the prescription. Once done, he was ready to leave.<br /> Amanda said hurriedly, "Mr. Harrington, I've already made arrangements for lunch."<br /> "No need," Wesley smiled.<br /> The Kingsley family sought to build closer ties with Wesley, given his extraordinary medical skills. Wesley was well aware of this.<br /> Looking at Amanda and the others, Wesley remarked, "In the future, if you encounter any difficult medical cases that others cannot solve, seek me out. Remember, cases others cannot solve."<br /> The gaze of the Kingsley family members toward Wesley changed once again. Many renowned healers had eccentric personalities and were difficult to engage.<br /> They hadn't expected Wesley to possess such remarkable medical skills without any airs.<br /> As Wesley prepared to depart, the members of the Kingsley family did not dare to insist on his stay, so they accompanied him outside.<br /> "Oh, how could we forget such an important matter? Amanda, what about the consultation fee?" The middle-aged gent inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the oversight. Please wait a moment." Amanda hurried back inside and soon returned with a bank card in hand.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, there's one million dollars in here."<br /> Without hesitation, Wesley accepted the bank card and boarded Mia's car.<br /> During the journey, Mia boldly looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, you've helped me immensely. Can I treat you to a meal? Don't decline in a hurry. It's not a fancy restaurant, but it will leave you wanting more. It's a small place on the street, with only eight plates of noodles served each day, each plate containing different ingredients.<br /> "I managed to secure a reservation. Are you interested?"<br /> Wesley thought, "Eight Plates of Noodles? Ah, Aaron's restaurant. It has been a while since I visited those old friends."<br /> Wesley nodded. "Let's go then."<br /> The restaurant, Eight Plates of Noodles, was located on Chanxold Street near the Yeadeo First Central Hospital.<br /> The establishment was small, serving only eight plates of noodles each day at a price of 10 thousand dollars each. Vernoic's television culinary program had specifically covered this incident.<br /> Reservations were a must to secure a plate.<br /> The restaurant's owner had a mysterious background. While the specifics were unknown, a high-ranking noble from the capital of Vernoic, Kingsland, had caused a scene there once.<br /> He had attempted to force his way in without a reservation. Although this incident hadn't been reported, rumors suggested that a garbage truck had to be called to dispose of the intruder's remains, as he was too shattered to be removed by conventional means.<br /> Since then, no one dared to cause trouble.<br /> On their way, Mia introduced Wesley to the background story.<br /> "Mr. Turner, two plates of noodles." Mia called out once they arrived.<br /> Aaron Turner didn't respond but visibly paused upon seeing Wesley beside Mia.<br /> A faint smile appeared on his usually stoic face. Though the flesh on the face seemed stiff, it was indeed a smile. "Coming right up."<br /> Mia glanced at Aaron with a hint of surprise, thinking, "When did he become so warm and enthusiastic? His tone seemed a bit agitated earlier, didn't it?"<br /> Soon enough, Aaron brought two plates of noodles to the table. One steaming hot and the other devoid of any warmth.<br /> As Mia observed Aaron placing the plate without steam in front of Wesley, her expression changed slightly.<br /> It was a plate of instant noodles having soaked in cold water, with the seasoning barely dissolved.<br /> She felt a sense of panic. Mia had wanted to leave a good impression on Wesley, which was why she had chosen this place.<br /> However, Aaron had served such a plate of noodles.<br /> She dared not question Aaron. The type of noodles served here was not determined by the guests but by Aaron's mood.<br /> "This girl named Mia is quite something, living up to her name, and quite kind-hearted," Aaron remarked, looking at Wesley.<br /> "Get lost," Wesley retorted, using his fork to pick up the noodles and devouring them.<br /> Mia's face turned pale instantly. Disrespecting Aaron was akin to risking Wesley's life.<br /> To her astonishment, Aaron chuckled, tears welling up in his eyes.<br /> He wiped them away. "Alright, I'll leave you to your meal."<br /> Before departing, he gave Mia a thumbs-up. "Seize the opportunity."<br /> The eight plates of noodles symbolized the eight comrades who had faced life and life-threatening situations together.<br /> Wesley ate voraciously. Initially, they had only one pack of instant noodles to share among the eight of them, forcing them to divide it.<br /> Despite the circumstances, they devoured the noodles joyfully.<br /> Aaron had promised that once they survived, each one would have the most delicious plate of noodles.<br /> However, five of the eight had perished.<br /> Wesley had come dangerously close to life-threatening situations, but managed to cling to life.<br /> For him, the plate of noodles was not food but the bond of friendship that had shielded him from harm.<br /> "Do you... know each other?" Mia couldn't help but ask, her voice low and curious.<br /> "Some things are better left unknown," Wesley replied.<br /> Mia nodded in understanding, falling silent as they continued eating noodles. She couldn't help stealing glances at Wesley throughout the meal.<br /> This gent had piqued her curiosity even more.<br /> "Wesley, I see. No wonder you agreed to the divorce so readily. You've already found someone else outside."<br /> A sharp voice interrupted their meal.<br /> Taylor approached with a cold expression, accompanied by Henry.	Adoread Romance story	8	https://facebook.com/61557113391558	INSTALL_MOBILE_APP	1713250800	View Edit Delete
1666957	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727712	1734958299	695	801923318510583	1	1.8672305603861E+15	1713337200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	235254296344339	0	Adoread Romance story	120207848367610113	play.google.com	Install now	NONE	video	HOT BOOK✨Tap the button to read more👉		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.adoread.book		1713261169	2.3525429634434E+14	Adoread Romance story	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438079522_1004130541428099_4257055039593265883_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Vr2dKGwF-8gQ7kNvgEs4Hbp&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAsnVSE4oLkCQyLftfVDB4XFwjrFa6m1hl--XnG8_DHlA&oe=663A7E0C	person_profile	0	Adoread Romance story	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437510693_400454336104775_1724759792001156302_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hso0q8F4C54Q7kNvgGMyXMF&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfA1ZYXA0E1diUgKyUnOVOcy-AIS0Jq94Nmgtiw5FI2yFw&oe=663A7534	0	3	Chapter 1 <br /> "Wesley, are you trying to harm me? You useless piece of trash, can't even make a decent cup of coffee, can you?"<br /> Madison Blair lifted her coffee cup and splashed it directly onto Wesley Harrington's face.<br /> "What are you looking at, you spineless waste? Your name sounds so lofty? I might as well call you a waste."<br /> Glancing at the grotesque expression of his wife's mother, Wesley pulled out his phone to check the time.<br /> Exactly twelve o'clock. It had been five full years since he married Taylor Reed.<br /> The appointed time had come.<br /> He had fulfilled his promise, safeguarding the Reed family for five years, transforming them from a family living off fishing to one perceived as affluent by the common folk.<br /> Wiping the coffee off his face, he turned and walked away.<br /> "Where do you think you're going? Go fetch some more coffee," Madison shouted.<br /> "Madison, didn't you say this waste is obedient at home, doing whatever he's told? I don't think he's taking it lying down."<br /> Madison grew angrier. "Wesley, you stop right there. My family has fed and housed you. If you dare disobey, I'll have you thrown out!"<br /> Ignoring her, Wesley continued downstairs.<br /> "When Taylor comes back, I'll immediately have you two divorced. Do you hear me? Stay right there," Madison threatened, "I'll let you know your place today."<br /> Grabbing a golf club, Madison swiftly charged towards Wesley.<br /> Seeing Wesley heading downstairs, she swung the club viciously at his back.<br /> Without turning back, Wesley gently sidestepped.<br /> Losing her balance, Madison tumbled forward, rolling down the stairs with a series of thumps.<br /> "Ouch... it hurts, it hurts so much!"<br /> As Madison reached the ground floor, she wailed in pain and her sister immediately rushed to her.<br /> "Wesley, what have you done? How dare you hit my sister!" Madison's sister hurried down, checking on Madison's condition.<br /> Wesley remained silent, observing the scene.<br /> "Quick, call Taylor. Tell her to come back. Today, she must divorce this waste." Madison glared at Wesley. "How dare you hit me? Not only will I let Taylor divorce you, but I'll make sure you leave in disgrace."<br /> "Mum, what's wrong?" At that moment, a gent and a lady walked in.<br /> The lady was Taylor, Madison's daughter.<br /> She ran towards Madison.<br /> As Madison pointed at Wesley, tears streamed down her face. "Taylor, he hit me, he hit me! When you're not home, he changes his attitude, scolding and hitting me in the slightest displeasure. He even pushed me down the stairs just now. Alexis can testify."<br /> Madison's sister, Alexis Blair, chimed in. "Yes, Wesley, this trash not only hit your mother but also threatened to hit me too. We cannot tolerate such trash."<br /> "Taylor, I have been telling you to divorce him for years. You've been supporting him, treating him like a Lord at home, but he's an ungrateful wolf in sheep's clothing."<br /> Helping Madison up, Taylor noticed the scrapes on Madison's arms and legs, her expression turning cold.<br /> "Wesley, why did you hit my mother? You better give me an explanation."<br /> Wesley looked at Taylor, his wife.<br /> Five years had passed, and she had never shown him kindness.<br /> Taylor dressed impeccably, a paragon of a successful lady, with a face that could be deemed angelic, yet whether her heart was as angelic remained a mystery.<br /> Her figure, too, left countless men yearning.<br /> For five years, Wesley had thought he might develop feelings for this lady, but in reality, it never happened.<br /> "There are surveillance cameras in the house," Wesley stated calmly before descending the stairs into the hallway.<br /> Despite residing in a three-story villa, Wesley's living quarters were confined to the stairwell.<br /> He harbored no resentment towards this arrangement. It was merely a promise. It was just that Taylor failed to appreciate him.<br /> This home held little value that he wished to cling onto.<br /> Retrieving a wooden box from beneath his pillow, Wesley extracted two documents. Casting a fleeting glance at the modest abode he had called home for five years, Wesley smiled faintly.<br /> He thought, "Finally... I'm free."<br /> Pushing the door ajar, Wesley was met by Taylor's piercing gaze. "I've reviewed the surveillance footage. Yes, my mother intended to strike you, but even if she did, what difference would it make?"<br /> "She's a lady. How much could her blows hurt you? Why did you dodge?"<br /> "If you hadn't dodged, my mother wouldn't have tumbled down." Wesley stared at Taylor, unable to comprehend her thought process.<br /> He had no interest in engaging in these arguments. Handing over the two documents to Taylor, he remarked, "The divorce agreement. I've already signed it. Take a look. I'm leaving with nothing."<br /> "With your current influence, there's no need for you to visit the city hall. Someone will handle it for you, right?"<br /> Madison was taken aback. She swiftly snatched the divorce agreement, flipping through it hastily.<br /> The contents were indeed straightforward. Both parties willingly divorced, with Wesley relinquishing all claims and having already signed.<br /> In an instant, Madison's pain seemed to dissipate. "Taylor, sign it quickly. Sign it."<br /> Taylor was still in a daze.<br /> She pondered.<br /> "A divorce agreement? Wesley has already prepared a divorce agreement. On what grounds?"<br /> "What gives him the right to initiate a divorce? All these years, he's done nothing at home, lacking any ambition. Always practicing martial arts, what right does he have to seek a divorce?"<br /> "If anyone should initiate it, it should be me. Moreover, now that I'm back to discussing this matter with him. Could it be that word got out, and Wesley, for the sake of his pride, rushed to prepare a divorce agreement first?"<br /> "It must be so, but... No!"<br /> "Wanting to leave with nothing, is he retreating to advance? As the chairman of the Reed Group, how could I be served with a divorce?"<br /> "Hey Wesley, I never expected this from you. Have I not treated you well enough? You seek a divorce, attempting to turn your retreat into advance, aiming to embarrass me?"<br /> Taylor glared at Wesley. "I'm telling you, it's impossible."<br /> Snatching the divorce agreement, she tore it to shreds.<br /> "Taylor, what are you doing? Such a great opportunity. Why not just sign it and let him leave?" Madison grew anxious.<br /> "Mom, I do intend to divorce this trash, but the decision must come from me. I returned specifically to address this matter."<br /> With that, Taylor produced two documents. "Wesley, remember that it's me who's divorcing you. It's me who no longer wants you. Initially, out of marital obligation, I had considered offering you some compensation. Now, you don't even need to think about it. Sign the divorce agreement and leave my home."<br /> Wesley offered a faint smile as he accepted the divorce agreement.<br /> "What are you laughing at?" Taylor demanded angrily.<br /> Wesley's smile seemed to mock her, fueling her rage.<br /> Ignoring her entirely, Wesley signed the document and handed it over.<br /> "What are you laughing at? Answer me! Who do you think you are?" Taylor roared once more.<br /> Wesley glanced at her before striding towards the exit.<br /> "Stop!" The gent who had accompanied Taylor stepped forward, blocking Wesley's path. "Taylor asked you a question, and... Your previous attitude displeased me. Apologize to Taylor, or I'll have you leave in disgrace!"<br /> <br /> Chapter 2 <br /> "Yes, let him leave in disgrace. He thought he could just hit me and walk away so easily," Madison joined in the commotion, also noticing the gent blocking Wesley's path.<br /> Madison had a keen interest in luxury goods, having frequented various high-end establishments over the years as the Reed family's living conditions improved. The gent was wearing an expensive watch and dressed head to toe in high-end luxury brands.<br /> Seeing Madison's gaze, the gent spoke. "Rest assured, today Wesley must pay the price."<br /> The gent introduced himself, looking at Wesley, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Henry Clark, the eldest son of the Clark family and the general manager of the Clark Group in the North District."<br /> "From now on, I will accompany Taylor on her journey of life, and I will not allow anyone to bully her."<br /> "My identity carries weight. You should understand that. Now, apologize to Taylor. Apologize! Did you hear me? Apologize!"<br /> Madison's eyes lit up. She hadn't expected the gent before her to hold such a high status. She continued to shout, "Did you hear that? Taylor will be with Mr. Clark from now on. Apologize now."<br /> Wesley glanced at Henry, then at Taylor. He thought, "Have they been together all along?" Wesley had wanted to ask but decided against it because there was no need. He simply gave them a glance and continued walking towards the exit.<br /> "Are you ignoring me?" Henry's face turned cold as he reached out to grab Wesley. Henry's hand froze mid-air as he received a solid hit.<br /> "Until I sign the divorce papers, Taylor and I are still wife and husband. I don't care to investigate whether you two had any intimate relationship during that time, but don't provoke me, or I won't hesitate to make you regret it." Wesley's gaze was icy, and as Henry met his eyes, he felt a twinge of fear and swallowed his words.<br /> Taylor was also stunned. She knew exactly what Wesley had been like over the past five years. There were many surveillance cameras in the house, and she would often check them.<br /> Even when Taylor wasn't home, despite how her family treated Wesley, he always obeyed without complaint, especially towards her. He had never raised his voice, no matter how they treated him.<br /> Today, not only did Wesley dodge when her mother struck, but he also initiated the divorce and now even struck Henry. <br /> Taylor was at a loss for words, thinking, "How could this cowardly gent dare? On what grounds does he dare?"<br /> This change was difficult for Taylor to accept as if she didn't truly understand this guy. The gent who used to be obedient to her, completely submissive, now revealed this side of himself. She watched Wesley walk away in a daze, feeling a strange discomfort in her heart.<br /> "Isn't he leaving with nothing?" Alexis pointed at the wooden box Wesley was holding. "What is he taking with him?"<br /> Madison also realized. Over the past five years, Wesley had always treasured this wooden box, carrying it with him wherever he went. She thought there must be something valuable inside.<br /> Realizing this, Madison hurriedly followed. "Wesley, stop right there, leave the wooden box."<br /> Wesley paused, glanced at Madison, and said, "This is my personal belonging."<br /> "Nonsense, what personal belonging could you possibly have after marrying into the Reed family? Everything you've eaten, worn, and lived in over the years has been provided by the Reed family. Put it down."<br /> As she spoke, Madison reached out to grab the wooden box.<br /> "Ah..." A scream rang out as Madison quickly retracted her hand, a gash appearing on her palm, a crimson liquid dripping.<br /> The wooden box was now stained with the same crimson liquid, trembling lightly in Wesley's hand.<br /> "It's not the right time yet, the day you thirst for this crimson liquid will come," Wesley murmured softly, patting the box before turning to continue his stride towards the exit.<br /> "Monster! A monster!" Madison screamed, causing Taylor and the others to rush out. Seeing the wound in Madison's hand, Taylor was filled with rage.<br /> "Wesley, aren't you going to say something?" Wesley halted once more, contemplating before meeting Taylor's gaze.<br /> "Just stay out of my way from now on. Consider this a warning to you."<br /> "Taylor, that wooden box of his has a mechanism. It must hold something valuable! We can't let him take it with him," Madison, enduring the pain, reminded them.<br /> "Mom, your injury is important. We'll deal with him later. Let me take you to the hospital first." Taylor comforted Madison before calling out to the retreating Wesley.<br /> "Our marriage is over! Yet, you dared to hurt my mother! This won't be the end of it! I will make you regret it!" Ignoring her, Wesley continued walking out.<br /> "Rest assured, I promise he won't see the light of day tomorrow." Henry stepped forward to console. "Let's focus on getting your wound treated first."<br /> "I want him to regret ever existing in this world, to apologize to me in repentance," Madison roared.<br /> "Mom, trust me, I will make him do just that." Taylor looked at Madison with a mix of pity and determination. "Let's go to the hospital first."<br /> In the villa area, Wesley halted, his voice cold. "Get out."<br /> An elderly gent leaped down from a tree, appearing to be in his seventies, yet landing silently from a height of around ten feet.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, your father wants you to come home and take charge."<br /> "He stopped being my father five years ago. He's my enemy."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you misunderstood your father. He had his reasons back then. I swear in my life, once you know the truth, you will forgive him."<br /> "Huh!" Wesley smirked coldly, saying, "I nearly passed away back then. Is that also a misunderstanding?"<br /> The old gent pleaded, "Mr. Harrington, this situation is truly not as you perceive it."<br /> Wesley didn't engage further with the old guy. The events of that year were etched in his memory forever. He was the one who had been abandoned. If not for that incident, why would he have stayed with the Reed family for five years?<br /> Watching Wesley walk away, the old gent had tears silently streaming down his face. "Mr. Harrington, I truly... I truly can't bring myself to speak the truth, but you have misunderstood your father. He also bears burdens and endures pains beyond what an ordinary person can handle."<br /> As Wesley's figure disappeared, the old gent stood up, hesitated for a moment, then dialed a number on his phone.<br /> "Mr. Harrington is now divorced. I've given you the news firsthand. If your daughter is truly together with Mr. Harrington, you must fulfill the promise and let her persuade Mr. Harrington to come home."<br /> After hanging up, a middle-aged gent in a luxurious estate jumped up excitedly. Calming himself, he immediately made another call. "My dear, you're at Yeadeo, right?<br /> "Go find Wesley now. Don't mention the engagement for now. Use every means to get close to him, make him fall in love with you."<br /> "Dad, I don't have time."<br /> "No matter what you are busy with, you must go find Wesley now. No matter what reason you approach him, you must leave a good impression the first time."<br /> "Dad, I'm in trouble right now. If I don't handle it well, I might be good as gone. I have to deal with it immediately. I'm hanging up."<br /> Chapter 3 <br /> The middle-aged gent's voice lowered significantly. "Is there a big incident happening? You didn't tell me? What happened?"<br /> "Quinn Kingsley from Yeadeo, Mr. Kingsley, used our product and now has one foot on the grave. If something really happens to him..."<br /> "You mean Quinn, the uncontested leader of Yeadeo?"<br /> "Yes."<br /> "In that case, you should go find Wesley. Trust me, in this world, there is no problem that Wesley can't solve. As long as he's willing to help, you'll be fine. Listen to me, go find Wesley immediately."<br /> The lady fell silent for a moment before saying, "Okay."<br /> At Yeadeo Harbor, a gent with a large flaxen chain and a watch, sporting a crew cut, hurriedly disembarked, accompanied by a dozen gentlemen.<br /> "Mr. Reed, wherever that trash is, we will find him and tear him apart."<br /> "Yes, that guy dared to harm your mother. We'll make sure he pays for it."<br /> Frank Reed's face turned cold. "Wesley, you coward, thinking you can overturn the world? How dare you touch my mom? Just wait until I find you, you're finished."<br /> "We've found him. Wesley got into a taxi, and our boys followed him."<br /> "Let's go!" Frank waved his hand, leading dozens of men who boarded the car with harpoons, steel pipes, and other weapons.<br /> Inside the taxi, Wesley gazed at the scenery outside, feeling a strange sense of tranquility.<br /> He thought to himself, "I never imagined that while I was secretly paving the way for the Reed family, Taylor, after progressing so rapidly, would start looking down on me more and more."<br /> "Those ladies who know my true identity, which one of them isn't trying to throw themselves at me? Ladies like that don't interest me."<br /> "Being an ordinary gent is truly difficult," Wesley murmured, smiling faintly and deciding not to dwell on these matters anymore. He had important things to attend to and no time to waste on personal affairs.<br /> "Young lad, are you going to Feidgeuo Manor for a job interview?" The driver, curious about Wesley's destination, inquired.<br /> Feidgeuo Manor was Yeadeo's most mysterious private area. Originally a villa area, it was bought at a huge cost five years ago and completely renovated. It was said to have cost a trillion dollars. The former villa area was now Feidgeuo Manor.<br /> "That's my home," Wesley replied nonchalantly.<br /> The driver was taken aback by this revelation, silently cursing Wesley for bragging. After a couple of minutes, the driver regained his composure. "It seems like you and I both prefer to keep a low profile. My car usually gathers dust at home, so I occasionally drive a taxi to experience life."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "My car has been driven by my assistant for the past few years, so it's not gathering dust."<br /> "Haha..." The driver laughed. "We should get together sometime and see whose car is more impressive."<br /> "Sure, whenever we have the time."<br /> As they chatted, the vehicle soon arrived near Feidgeuo Manor, where the massive head of the Feidgeuo Peak protruded, creating a unique landscape in Yeadeo.<br /> The driver asked with a smile, "Since you're the owner here, it's fine if I drive in, right?"<br /> "Of course," Wesley replied.<br /> As soon as Wesley spoke, several cars caught up from behind.<br /> The cars surrounded the one Wesley was in, with the front vehicles braking to force the car to a stop.<br /> When numerous people descended from cars wielding harpoons and steel pipes, the driver's face paled.<br /> Frank and his group got out of the cars, instantly closing in, and without hesitation, started attacking, the steel pipes and harpoons thudding against the car.<br /> Frank's henchman yanked open the door of Wesley's car, poised to stab Wesley with a harpoon, but Wesley swiftly exited the vehicle.<br /> With a firm step on the ground, he launched a swift hit.<br /> A muffled sound echoed as the henchman was hit away.<br /> "What are you looking at?" Frank noticed his henchmen were all staring at him. "All of you, attack together and take him down!"<br /> As he commanded, the henchmen Frank brought with him surged forward.<br /> The taxi driver, trembling, took out his phone to call the police, but Frank glared at him. "I am Frank Reed from Yeadeo Harbor. If you dare, go ahead and make that call."<br /> Frank, leveraging his sister Taylor's status, had been causing trouble in Yeadeo Harbor, and no one dared to provoke him.<br /> Upon hearing Frank's name, the driver hastily put away his phone. "Mr. Reed, I'll just check the time, you guys continue."<br /> "Huh!" Frank snorted coldly, casting his gaze towards the surrounded Wesley.<br /> The sounds of thuds continued to ring out incessantly. Because Wesley was completely surrounded, Frank was unable to see the situation inside clearly, but he could imagine it. After all, in Frank's mind, the henchmen under his command were not to be trifled with.<br /> "Hit him hard for me!"<br /> Another muffled sound and a figure flew out. At that moment, Frank finally saw the situation clearly, and his face turned pale.<br /> Frank knew that Wesley liked to practice martial arts, but he had never expected Wesley to be this skilled. It wasn't Wesley who had been beaten, but his own men by Wesley alone.<br /> Frantically, Frank turned and ran to retrieve a crossbow from the car.<br /> "Clear the way." Frank bellowed, aiming the crossbow at Wesley.<br /> "You scumbag, you think you can fight? Move one more time, and I'll end your life! Surrender!"<br /> Wesley, holding a wooden box, stared at Frank. Ignoring the crossbow in his hand, Wesley said, "Tell your henchmen to back off, or you'll all see the light from above!"<br /> "You're really good at pretending to be tough." Frank took two steps forward. "See the light? Move a muscle and see if I can end your life or not! If you don't have the guts, apologize now!"<br /> Wesley turned his head and looked at the approaching cars, with two expensive ones in the lead, two more in the rear, and another one in the middle.<br /> "Keep acting tough, and I'll put a hole in your head." Frank spoke while glancing at the five cars. "What, looking for help?"<br /> "Let me tell you, those who ride in these cars are not the kind of weaklings like you who rely on connections. With me here, in Yeadeo's social hierarchy, even those who ride in such cars wouldn't dare meddle in this matter. And let me make it clear, without my sister, you're nothing."<br /> <br /> Chapter 4<br /> As Frank's words faded, the five cars came to a halt.<br /> A bodyguard opened the door of the one in the middle, revealing a dazzling pair of shining shoes catching everyone's eye.<br /> The shining shoe encased a beautiful foot. Above, the skirt's hem was adorned with lace.<br /> Then, like a fairy stepping out of a painting, she appeared before everyone's eyes.<br /> The lady was beautiful!<br /> Frank was mesmerized. Ever since the Reed family rose to prominence, he had been surrounded by ladies, but compared to the elegant lady before him, they were worlds apart.<br /> It wasn't just a difference in appearance but an incomparable gap in demeanor.<br /> The lady descending from the Maybach seemed like a celestial being untouched by mortal affairs.<br /> The embodiment of a fairy in the mundane world.<br /> She simply stood there after getting out of the car, perfectly embodying what it meant to be graceful and elegant.<br /> The lady glanced at Wesley, then at Frank.<br /> Frank grinned, saying, "May I have the honor of knowing the name of this esteemed lady? I am Frank..."<br /> The lady spoke calmly. "Disrespect Mr. Harrington, and you're done for."<br /> Her bodyguards, unfazed by Frank's crossbow, swiftly overwhelmed him, sending him crashing to the ground.<br /> The henchmen who had come with Frank, previously defeated by Wesley, now scrambled to their feet and fled in all directions.<br /> Who would dare provoke someone who could afford such a car?<br /> "My sister is Taylor Reed, the chairperson of Reed Group," Frank shouted, clutching his head.<br /> Ignoring him, one of the bodyguards dragged him to the roadside grass while another used a belt to tighten around Frank's neck, exerting pressure.<br /> "Enough, a lesson is all that's needed." Wesley spoke calmly, and only when the lady gestured did the bodyguards release Frank.<br /> Frank lay there, already unconscious.<br /> Wesley turned to the lady. "Who are you?"<br /> "I am Mia Roberts, the general manager of Vinver Business Alliance's Yeadeo branch." She looked at Wesley and continued, "Mr. Harrington, my father mentioned that you have miraculous healing skills and earnestly requested your assistance. A generous reward awaits."<br /> Wesley furrowed his brow slightly, thinking, "There are indeed people who recognize my abilities and status, yet I've rarely intervened in the past five years. Today, shortly after I divorced Taylor, she is here. Whose arrangement is this?"<br /> "Mr. Harrington, my father also mentioned that you are benevolent and has raised the banner of compassion among healers, serving as a role model and benchmark for all in the medical field."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "You have a way with words. Tell me the specifics."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, please get in the car first. I will explain in detail on the way."<br /> The phrase "compassionate healer" held significant weight for Wesley, who had saved countless lives from the brink of death.<br /> Without further ado, he got into the car.<br /> Inside, after Mia brewed coffee for Wesley, she began. "Vinver Business Alliance has a wide range of business operations, and I mainly oversee the health supplement sector, which has seen some success in recent years.<br /> "Recently, Quinn Kingsley started using our medicines, and now there's an accident."<br /> As she spoke, Mia kept her gaze fixed on Wesley.<br /> Quinn, the undisputed leader of Yeadeo, was a figure of immense influence.<br /> Upon hearing this name, Wesley showed no particular reaction. "If the city's leader faces issues with your products, it is indeed a concern. Let's go and see."<br /> With just a sentence, Wesley leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest.<br /> Mia was secretly alarmed, thinking, "He knows who Quinn is, yet he seems indifferent. Who is this Wesley, really? No wonder Dad has instructed me to find a way to win his favor." Mia's inner resistance toward Wesley quietly shifted.<br /> Wesley had piqued her curiosity.<br /> As the vehicle was moving, Wesley's phone rang.<br /> Wesley opened his eyes and took out his phone to see Taylor calling.<br /> Pressing the answer button, he asked, "What's the matter?"<br /> On the other end of the line, Taylor, driving towards Feidgeuo Manor, had a grim expression.<br /> She thought, "Has Wesley ever spoken to me in such a cold tone before? Is he really this heartless right after our divorce?"<br /> Already furious, she snapped. "Wesley, do you even consider yourself a human being?<br /> "Today, not only did you lay hands on my mother, but you also had someone attack my brother. Do you not remember our past at all?"<br /> Wesley calmly replied, "Do we have a past to remember?"<br /> "You truly are a heartless scumbag, just as my mother said. You are an ungrateful and vicious person I raised for five years. Even a pet would wag its tail at me!"<br /> Taylor wanted to continue her tirade, but the phone line had already turned busy.<br /> This only fueled her anger further.<br /> Just now, she had received a call from Frank's underlings, informing her that Wesley had sent people to attack Frank and even intended to end him.<br /> Taylor wanted to demand answers, but...<br /> As Taylor was clutching her fists, her gaze turned icy.<br /> After a moment, she picked up her phone again. "Wesley, you are so narrow-minded. You have no ambition. Any lady would steer clear of you."<br /> "Just because I dumped you, you are doing this on purpose to make me feel sick. Pretending to be aloof and seeking revenge? Do you even deserve it?"<br /> "In Yeadeo, squashing you would be as easy as squashing an ant. You're asking for it! If anything happens to my brother, I will make you wish you were ending!"<br /> Her furious voice message echoed in the car.<br /> Wesley chuckled and put away his phone.<br /> Beside him, Mia seemed contemplative. Before coming, she had already ordered a swift investigation into Wesley.<br /> She was curious, thinking, "How could someone valued by my father could be the one 'marrying into' the Reed family."<br /> Being tactful, Mia chose not to ask and pretended not to have heard.<br /> After about forty minutes, they arrived at the Kingsley Manor.<br /> The Kingsley family members, upon seeing Mia alight from the car, all wore grim expressions.<br /> Mia greeted them with a smile, "Everyone, this is Wesley Harrington, Mr. Harrington, the miraculous healer I specially invited to treat Mr. Kingsley."<br /> "Him? The gent who married into the Reed family?"<br /> "A miraculous healer? Is he even worthy? Are healers so worthless now?"<br /> "A useless gent who mooches off of the Reed family? How dare he call himself a miraculous healer? Truly a joke among all jokes."<br /> Chapter 5<br /> <br /> Amanda Kingsley, Quinn's granddaughter, stared coldly at Wesley and Mia.<br /> This lady, dressed in a smart suit, also held significant fame in Yeadeo, overseeing the region's business activities, including investment attraction and various local business negotiations.<br /> Amanda had a favorable view of Taylor, who had risen swiftly in recent times, and they had interacted frequently.<br /> She was aware of Wesley's existence and had advised Taylor to part ways with him early on.<br /> But Amanda never imagined that Mia would bring someone like Wesley, a complete waste, and claim he was a miraculous healer.<br /> Glaring at Mia, she said, "Mia, once my grandfather is well, it's best for your Roberts family to leave Yeadeo."<br /> "As for you..." She glanced at Wesley. "I will advise Taylor to divorce you. You have deceived Taylor's feelings and now shamelessly made your way into my family. You are a despicable creature."<br /> After reprimanding Mia and Wesley, she turned to an elderly gent beside her, and her tone and attitude completely changed. "Mr. Phillips, sorry to trouble you. My grandfather is inside, please."<br /> Mia looked at the elderly gent, who was already in his twilight years, feeling deeply shocked.<br /> Scott Phillips, the 38th generation heir of the Healing Clinic, was now ninety-two years old.<br /> Renowned as a miraculous healer, he was a respected figure in the medical community of Yeadeo and even nationally.<br /> He no longer conducted consultations personally due to his old age. Mia had visited him specifically to pay her respects once she had arrived in Yeadeo but had not met Scott.<br /> She never expected Scott to appear in person. It was understandable, as Quinn held a prominent position in the city. Despite the profound influence of the Phillips family, they still had to show respect to Quinn.<br /> Mia looked at Wesley, feeling conflicted and thinking, "Dad has confidently claimed that Wesley has extraordinary abilities, but does he really?"<br /> She harbored doubts, but out of propriety, Mia spoke. "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the trouble."<br /> Wesley smiled, "It's fine. As long as the person can be healed."<br /> His open-mindedness impressed Mia.<br /> After about half an hour, Amanda emerged from the room. All eyes instantly turned towards her.<br /> It was evident that Amanda had wailed out, with traces of tears still visible.<br /> "Amanda, how is it?" A middle-aged gent anxiously asked her.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family who had rushed back also focused their attention on her.<br /> "Mr. Phillips said that there's little hope of recovery. He could only use acupuncture to wake grandfather for half an hour. When grandfather wakes up, let's all go in and see if he has any final instructions."<br /> Everyone was shocked.<br /> "How could this be?"<br /> "Is Mr. Phillips also helpless?"<br /> The members of the Kingsley family found it hard to accept this reality, especially since Quinn had always treated his juniors well.<br /> The thought of Quinn departing saddened some, and tears silently fell.<br /> Publicly, Quinn's status was the foundation of the Kingsley family's prominence in Yeadeo.<br /> If Quinn were to pass away, the Kingsley family would undoubtedly decline.<br /> The atmosphere within the Kingsley family was somber.<br /> Amanda looked at her family members, opened her mouth, but said nothing, silently turning back into the room.<br /> "Stop crying," A middle-aged gent said sternly, "Dad wouldn't want to see you all in tears. If he's really leaving, we mustn't let him worry about us. Pull yourselves together."<br /> After these words, the middle-aged gent also entered the room.<br /> The younger members of the Kingsley family wiped their tears vigorously, trying to force smiles, but in truth, they looked better at crying than pretending to be happy.<br /> Mia's spirit plummeted as she realized the gravity of the situation. Even if an ordinary person passed away from consuming health supplements, it spelled big trouble for those who sold them. And when the deceased happened to be Quinn, the stakes were even higher.<br /> She understood that it would be difficult for this branch to stay in Yeadeo, and even the headquarters might face repercussions.<br /> "Let's go in and have a look." Wesley glanced at Mia. "There might still be a chance."<br /> "Ah..." Mia stared at Wesley in surprise. Seeing him already heading towards the room, she quickly followed suit.<br /> Inside the room, the members of the Kingsley family stood around the mattress, maintaining a certain distance.<br /> Scott lit the alcohol lamp and took out the needles, his expression solemn.<br /> He looked at the members of the Kingsley family. "Think about what you want to say to Mr. Kingsley later. Once you're ready, let me know, and then I'll proceed with the acupuncture."<br /> As he said this, tears welled up in many eyes.<br /> "If you don't mind, let me take a look. I have a way." Wesley spoke up, drawing everyone's attention.<br /> Amanda's face darkened. "Who let you in? Get out!"<br /> "Mia, have you lost your mind? Tricked by this trash and actually brought him here as a miracle healer. Get out with him! I'll settle the score with you in a couple of days."<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, at a loss for words.<br /> "Even Mr. Phillips is unable to reverse the situation. What use are you? Get out." Another younger member of the Kingsley family angrily rebuked.<br /> The middle-aged gent added, "We're in no mood right now. You better leave immediately."<br /> "I understand your narrow-mindedness," Wesley continued, "But as a healer, once I see a patient, I cannot stand by and watch him draw his last breath."<br /> "Wesley, you're quite the charlatan. Do you really want to be gone right now?" Amanda's voice was filled with anger.<br /> "Amanda, let me say a few words," Scott interjected, and Amanda fell silent.<br /> Looking at Wesley, Scott began. "Young lad, at my age, I've seen a lot and have a broad perspective. Today, however, I find it hard to remain indifferent. I practiced medicine from the age of sixteen until I stopped seeing patients for a total of seventy years."<br /> "I've saved countless patients from various illnesses. I never easily declare a patient's fate, nor do I believe I have the right to do so."<br /> "But from your recent remarks, it seems like you're accusing me of such actions. Young people wanting to make a name for themselves by stepping on the shoulders of their predecessors, I can understand."<br /> "But this kind of behavior displeases me."<br /> "My displeasure, what does it mean to you? Do you understand?"<br /> "Even if you are a healer, your career will be ruined because of this."<br /> Chapter 6 <br /> In the face of Scott's veiled threats, Wesley simply smiled and brushed them off.<br /> Looking at Scott, he asked, "I've always focused on the issue at hand rather than attacking individuals. I have a few questions for you. If you can't administer the needles, how long do you think Quinn can hold on?"<br /> "Seven days, but he will remain unconscious," Scott replied bluntly.<br /> "Then let me ask you this, is there anyone in the world with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "Outrageous," Amanda coldly interjected, "Mr. Phillips is unparalleled in his medical expertise."<br /> Scott glanced at Amanda. "Amanda, let me handle this question."<br /> Continuing to address Wesley, he said, "I don't underestimate myself, nor do I overestimate. There are countless talented individuals in the world, like stars in the sky. I may not dare claim to be the best in medical skills, but those who surpass me are few."<br /> "That means there are some," Wesley calmly remarked, causing Scott's expression to shift slightly, "Indeed, there are."<br /> "Then let me ask you this. Do you think within seven days, the Kingsley family won't find someone with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "If they do find someone, do you believe there is an illness that you cannot cure, but this person can?"<br /> Wesley's questions were sharp and resounding.<br /> Scott's face changed once more as he was rendered speechless.<br /> "Even if there is, that person will never be you." Amanda's face turned icy. "Now get out. Don't spout your eloquence here. Your deceitful behavior is repulsive."<br /> "Your understanding of me is merely hearsay, isn't it?" Wesley retorted, his gaze mocking Amanda, "Has your background and education taught you such arrogance and prejudice?"<br /> "Arrogance?" Amanda's face grew colder as she disdainfully looked at Wesley. "Prejudice?<br /> "Did I say something wrong just now? You are nothing but stagnant waste, a parasite living off others. If it weren't for Taylor, you would have starved on the streets long ago."<br /> "Relying on sweet words, deceiving Taylor. She, with her kind heart, can't bear to divorce you, but don't push your luck. If it weren't for Taylor's sake, you would have been sent out long ago."<br /> Scott interrupted Amanda, "Amanda, although I find this lad a bit annoying, what he said does hold some truth. There are indeed individuals with better medical skills than me. Your grandfather can hold on for seven days. Try reaching out to see if someone can come over. I'll help you make connections."<br /> "If it really doesn't work out after seven days, I'll administer the needles to your grandfather. However, at that point, I can only buy you three minutes."<br /> As soon as Scott spoke, the faces of the Kingsley family members grew even more solemn. True healers were rare and not easily summoned.<br /> While the Kingsley family had connections in Yeadeo, their influence waned outside of it.<br /> "Mr. Phillips, please administer the needles. Life has its ups and downs, and we understand that. Just buy my father a bit more time." The middle-aged gent spoke up.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family nodded in agreement.<br /> Amanda looked at Scott. "Mr. Phillips, please."<br /> "In that case, please have everyone unrelated leave. I need silence," Scott calmly stated.<br /> Amanda glared at Wesley, her eyes speaking volumes without a word.<br /> The unrelated individuals were, naturally, Wesley and Mia.<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, intending to leave, but she suddenly hesitated.<br /> Instead of leaving, Wesley moved forward.<br /> "What are you doing?" A young member of the Kingsley family stepped forward with a stern expression, pushing Wesley.<br /> In one swift motion, Wesley executed a clean shoulder throw, toppling the young gent to the ground, his own expression turning cold.<br /> "A bunch of fools! If it weren't for my teacher's teachings about not turning a blind eye to those in need, I wouldn't bother with you ignorant lot," Wesley remarked with disdain.<br /> As Wesley effortlessly took down one individual from the Kingsley family, the others seemed slow to react.<br /> By the time they realized what was happening, Wesley had already picked up the needle next to Scott and casually flicked his wrist.<br /> The needle flew out of his hand, piercing Quinn's temple, followed by a second needle, a third needle, and so on.<br /> "What are you doing? Stop!" Amanda's voice rose in urgency, echoed by the rest of the Kingsley family members who rushed forward to restrain Wesley.<br /> "Stay back, everyone. Wait." Scott suddenly stood up, blocking the others. "Let him try."<br /> Amanda and the others were left dumbfounded, thinking, "What does this mean?"<br /> Despite their confusion, they heeded Scott's words.<br /> After Scott stopped the members of the Kingsley family, he fixed his gaze on Wesley.<br /> Wesley proceeded to use eighteen needles in succession, symbolizing the levels of pain.<br /> Even if someone had descended into the depths of hell, they must be brought back.<br /> The final needle, also piercing a vital point, caused Quinn's body to tremble suddenly, resonating with the previous eighteen needles.<br /> Scott's eyes widened, his body trembling slightly. His reaction left Amanda and the others even more puzzled, but none dared to interrupt.<br /> Moments later, Wesley placed a palm on Quinn's chest, causing all eighteen needles to be shaken off. When all the needles landed on the ground, the part of the skin where the needles had pierced turned dark.<br /> Wesley then dragged Quinn to the edge of the mattress, flipped him over with his head facing downwards, and gave him a firm pat on the back.<br /> Quinn spat out a mouthful of black liquid. When Wesley flipped him back to lie flat, his complexion had regained some color.<br /> "The Hand of Darkness... It's the Hand of Darkness!" Scott exclaimed with excitement, his body quivering, "It's the Hand that descends into the dark world, snatching people from the hands of the Evil!"<br /> "You do have some knowledge, recognizing the Hand of Darkness." Wesley glanced at Scott.<br /> Scott's gaze towards Wesley had undergone a drastic change. He respectfully clasped his hands together.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thirty years ago, I had the honor of attending a teaching conference held by Mr. Vanderbilt. I saw the Hand of Darkness, but my limited aptitude only allowed me to grasp the basics."<br /> "I have been blind and ignorant. I apologize for my earlier offenses. Please forgive me, Mr. Harrington."<br /> The Mr. Vanderbilt Scott referred to was Wesley's teacher, Ulysses Vanderbilt. He generously imparted his skills to others, but the ability to learn depended on one's innate talent.<br /> In this world, few could learn Ulysses' skills.<br /> Scott had been fortunate to receive guidance from Ulysses, which had elevated his medical skills. However, the Hand of Darkness, a miraculous ability, was beyond his comprehension.<br /> Wesley smiled faintly, "Your actions earlier are understandable. I appreciate your words."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you must be an exceptional disciple of Mr. Vanderbilt, possessing unparalleled magnanimity. Impressive," Scott continued.<br /> "Enough with the flattery at your age."<br /> "You are mistaken, Mr. Harrington. Every word I speak is sincere."<br /> Mia, Amanda, and the others stood bewildered by the unfolding situation.<br /> "Mr. Phillips... he... he..." Amanda's words faltered.<br /> Scott turned to the members of the Kingsley family. "Meeting Mr. Harrington was Quinn's luck. His symptoms have been cured by Mr. Harrington. With a few days of rest, he will be fine."<br /> The waste Taylor had previously said was called Mr. Harrington by Scott!<br /> Recalling their previous attitudes, Amanda hurriedly apologized, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> The members of the Kingsley family all apologized in unison, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> Chapter 7 <br /> With a faint smile, Wesley remarked, "As family members of a patient, your actions earlier are understandable. There's no need for such formality."<br /> Amanda's perplexity deepened as she thought, "Where is the cowardly waste that Taylor described? This display of magnanimity and breadth is far from it."<br /> Mia, too, felt a shiver of realization, thinking, "No wonder Dad has insisted on my proximity to Wesley.<br /> This guy..."<br /> She gazed at Wesley, her curiosity piqued, a sense of exploration stirring within her.<br /> "Mia has brought you here, Mr. Harrington, to cure my grandfather. The Kingsley family will never forget this act. However, considering that my grandfather's ailment stemmed from the health supplements produced by the Vinver Business Alliance, we will be conducting an investigation into it."<br /> Amanda continued, looking at Wesley, "What do you think... of this approach?"<br /> It was Mia who had invited Wesley, so Amanda had grown wiser, refraining from asking for a direct punishment of the Vinver Business Alliance.<br /> As Mia heard Amanda's words, her heart skipped a beat, realizing trouble was brewing.<br /> "On the way here, Ms. Roberts briefed me on the situation. You conducted experiments on mice, correct?"<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes, the health supplements we received were exclusively provided by the Roberts family. There were no similar cases on the market, so we used mice for testing.<br /> "All the mice that ingested this supplement were gone."<br /> She looked at Mia and added, her voice turning colder, "Before the experiment, I specifically contacted Mia to inquire about the testing methods during the development phase, which involved mice.<br /> "There have been individuals eyeing my grandfather's position, some even wishing for his demise. I never imagined that the Vinver Business Alliance, which I attracted for investment, would become a weapon in someone else's hands."<br /> "Do you have any of the remaining medicine?" Wesley inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes."<br /> "Bring some over."<br /> Immediately, someone fetched the medicine. After it was brought to him, Wesley took out a supplement and swallowed it directly.<br /> This scene left Amanda and the others dumbfounded.<br /> Scott, too, was bewildered. "Mr. Harrington, what are you doing?"<br /> Wesley smiled, "Just proving that this medicine is not toxic."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thank you," Mia thanked sincerely, feeling like crying at that moment.<br /> Amanda, with a puzzled expression, looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, are you suggesting that my grandfather's condition wasn't caused by the Vinver Business Alliance's medicine? What about the mice?"<br /> The rest were equally puzzled.<br /> "Yes, but not entirely," Wesley said, leaving everyone even more bewildered.<br /> Mia's emotions were like a rollercoaster ride, from relief to immediate tension.<br /> "This medicine itself is not toxic, but when taken with another substance made from a certain plant, it results in Quinn's condition. The mice would die immediately, while humans could endure a few more days."<br /> Wesley continued to explain, "The plant used in this concoction is originally meant for crafting slow-acting toxins, not for human consumption."<br /> Looking at Amanda, Wesley said, "During this period, whoever had access to your grandfather and the mice will better understand why these events occurred."<br /> The gaze of members of the Kingsley family immediately focused on a lady.<br /> Amanda, somewhat incredulous, looked at her. "Can you offer an explanation?"<br /> The lady was the wife of Amanda's deceased brother. She found it hard to accept, as did the rest of the Kingsley family.<br /> This lady had been named the exemplary lady who served her family well this year, not due to her connection with the Kingsley family but because she genuinely deserved it.<br /> "What do you mean? Amanda, what explanation do you want from me?"<br /> The lady stared at Amanda. "Am I the only one who had access to Grandfather and the mice? You, and you... and you, who didn't have access?"<br /> "You all claim to treat me as family. Since I married into the Kingsley family, I have worked diligently, contributing my share even if not acknowledged."<br /> "Amanda, it has been over a year since your brother passed, and I never once considered remarrying. Now, just because of his words, you demand an explanation from me?"<br /> Pointing at Wesley, the lady questioned, "Just because he accuses me of poisoning, you suspect me? Tell me, did I poison him?" The lady glared at Wesley.<br /> "I am merely analyzing the facts. As for concluding this case, it's not within my purview," Wesley addressed the members of the Kingsley family, saying, "You should conduct a thorough investigation into this matter.<br /> "I will write a prescription. Have Quinn take it on time, and he will recover in seven days."<br /> Amanda hurried to fetch paper and pen while Wesley prepared the prescription. Once done, he was ready to leave.<br /> Amanda said hurriedly, "Mr. Harrington, I've already made arrangements for lunch."<br /> "No need," Wesley smiled.<br /> The Kingsley family sought to build closer ties with Wesley, given his extraordinary medical skills. Wesley was well aware of this.<br /> Looking at Amanda and the others, Wesley remarked, "In the future, if you encounter any difficult medical cases that others cannot solve, seek me out. Remember, cases others cannot solve."<br /> The gaze of the Kingsley family members toward Wesley changed once again. Many renowned healers had eccentric personalities and were difficult to engage.<br /> They hadn't expected Wesley to possess such remarkable medical skills without any airs.<br /> As Wesley prepared to depart, the members of the Kingsley family did not dare to insist on his stay, so they accompanied him outside.<br /> "Oh, how could we forget such an important matter? Amanda, what about the consultation fee?" The middle-aged gent inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the oversight. Please wait a moment." Amanda hurried back inside and soon returned with a bank card in hand.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, there's one million dollars in here."<br /> Without hesitation, Wesley accepted the bank card and boarded Mia's car.<br /> During the journey, Mia boldly looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, you've helped me immensely. Can I treat you to a meal? Don't decline in a hurry. It's not a fancy restaurant, but it will leave you wanting more. It's a small place on the street, with only eight plates of noodles served each day, each plate containing different ingredients.<br /> "I managed to secure a reservation. Are you interested?"<br /> Wesley thought, "Eight Plates of Noodles? Ah, Aaron's restaurant. It has been a while since I visited those old friends."<br /> Wesley nodded. "Let's go then."<br /> The restaurant, Eight Plates of Noodles, was located on Chanxold Street near the Yeadeo First Central Hospital.<br /> The establishment was small, serving only eight plates of noodles each day at a price of 10 thousand dollars each. Vernoic's television culinary program had specifically covered this incident.<br /> Reservations were a must to secure a plate.<br /> The restaurant's owner had a mysterious background. While the specifics were unknown, a high-ranking noble from the capital of Vernoic, Kingsland, had caused a scene there once.<br /> He had attempted to force his way in without a reservation. Although this incident hadn't been reported, rumors suggested that a garbage truck had to be called to dispose of the intruder's remains, as he was too shattered to be removed by conventional means.<br /> Since then, no one dared to cause trouble.<br /> On their way, Mia introduced Wesley to the background story.<br /> "Mr. Turner, two plates of noodles." Mia called out once they arrived.<br /> Aaron Turner didn't respond but visibly paused upon seeing Wesley beside Mia.<br /> A faint smile appeared on his usually stoic face. Though the flesh on the face seemed stiff, it was indeed a smile. "Coming right up."<br /> Mia glanced at Aaron with a hint of surprise, thinking, "When did he become so warm and enthusiastic? His tone seemed a bit agitated earlier, didn't it?"<br /> Soon enough, Aaron brought two plates of noodles to the table. One steaming hot and the other devoid of any warmth.<br /> As Mia observed Aaron placing the plate without steam in front of Wesley, her expression changed slightly.<br /> It was a plate of instant noodles having soaked in cold water, with the seasoning barely dissolved.<br /> She felt a sense of panic. Mia had wanted to leave a good impression on Wesley, which was why she had chosen this place.<br /> However, Aaron had served such a plate of noodles.<br /> She dared not question Aaron. The type of noodles served here was not determined by the guests but by Aaron's mood.<br /> "This girl named Mia is quite something, living up to her name, and quite kind-hearted," Aaron remarked, looking at Wesley.<br /> "Get lost," Wesley retorted, using his fork to pick up the noodles and devouring them.<br /> Mia's face turned pale instantly. Disrespecting Aaron was akin to risking Wesley's life.<br /> To her astonishment, Aaron chuckled, tears welling up in his eyes.<br /> He wiped them away. "Alright, I'll leave you to your meal."<br /> Before departing, he gave Mia a thumbs-up. "Seize the opportunity."<br /> The eight plates of noodles symbolized the eight comrades who had faced life and life-threatening situations together.<br /> Wesley ate voraciously. Initially, they had only one pack of instant noodles to share among the eight of them, forcing them to divide it.<br /> Despite the circumstances, they devoured the noodles joyfully.<br /> Aaron had promised that once they survived, each one would have the most delicious plate of noodles.<br /> However, five of the eight had perished.<br /> Wesley had come dangerously close to life-threatening situations, but managed to cling to life.<br /> For him, the plate of noodles was not food but the bond of friendship that had shielded him from harm.<br /> "Do you... know each other?" Mia couldn't help but ask, her voice low and curious.<br /> "Some things are better left unknown," Wesley replied.<br /> Mia nodded in understanding, falling silent as they continued eating noodles. She couldn't help stealing glances at Wesley throughout the meal.<br /> This gent had piqued her curiosity even more.<br /> "Wesley, I see. No wonder you agreed to the divorce so readily. You've already found someone else outside."<br /> A sharp voice interrupted their meal.<br /> Taylor approached with a cold expression, accompanied by Henry.	Adoread Romance story	8	https://facebook.com/61557113391558	INSTALL_MOBILE_APP	1713250800	View Edit Delete
1666959	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727712	1734958299	695	7471215566290332	1	1.61215288962E+15	1714114800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	235254296344339	0	Adoread Romance story	120207848362970113	play.google.com	Install now	NONE	video	HOT BOOK✨Tap the button to read more👉		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.adoread.book		1713261158	2.3525429634434E+14	Adoread Romance story	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435690837_399041509643910_958789851874072726_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=u9nhHCBQIb0Q7kNvgERUuo6&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBWdQvREoXqeEH739TeKtSHHdVSfYIcMpLNSVofKQTtzA&oe=663A7494	person_profile	0	Adoread Romance story	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437516400_451274757332740_4638844982062519028_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YznX6K1ZmmgQ7kNvgEmH4LL&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDxApmEJG6hZEMZyo74NrC8D_2jOy6q6jf9W5uSmYoMQA&oe=663A82CB	0	3	Chapter 1 <br /> "Wesley, are you trying to harm me? You useless piece of trash, can't even make a decent cup of coffee, can you?"<br /> Madison Blair lifted her coffee cup and splashed it directly onto Wesley Harrington's face.<br /> "What are you looking at, you spineless waste? Your name sounds so lofty? I might as well call you a waste."<br /> Glancing at the grotesque expression of his wife's mother, Wesley pulled out his phone to check the time.<br /> Exactly twelve o'clock. It had been five full years since he married Taylor Reed.<br /> The appointed time had come.<br /> He had fulfilled his promise, safeguarding the Reed family for five years, transforming them from a family living off fishing to one perceived as affluent by the common folk.<br /> Wiping the coffee off his face, he turned and walked away.<br /> "Where do you think you're going? Go fetch some more coffee," Madison shouted.<br /> "Madison, didn't you say this waste is obedient at home, doing whatever he's told? I don't think he's taking it lying down."<br /> Madison grew angrier. "Wesley, you stop right there. My family has fed and housed you. If you dare disobey, I'll have you thrown out!"<br /> Ignoring her, Wesley continued downstairs.<br /> "When Taylor comes back, I'll immediately have you two divorced. Do you hear me? Stay right there," Madison threatened, "I'll let you know your place today."<br /> Grabbing a golf club, Madison swiftly charged towards Wesley.<br /> Seeing Wesley heading downstairs, she swung the club viciously at his back.<br /> Without turning back, Wesley gently sidestepped.<br /> Losing her balance, Madison tumbled forward, rolling down the stairs with a series of thumps.<br /> "Ouch... it hurts, it hurts so much!"<br /> As Madison reached the ground floor, she wailed in pain and her sister immediately rushed to her.<br /> "Wesley, what have you done? How dare you hit my sister!" Madison's sister hurried down, checking on Madison's condition.<br /> Wesley remained silent, observing the scene.<br /> "Quick, call Taylor. Tell her to come back. Today, she must divorce this waste." Madison glared at Wesley. "How dare you hit me? Not only will I let Taylor divorce you, but I'll make sure you leave in disgrace."<br /> "Mum, what's wrong?" At that moment, a gent and a lady walked in.<br /> The lady was Taylor, Madison's daughter.<br /> She ran towards Madison.<br /> As Madison pointed at Wesley, tears streamed down her face. "Taylor, he hit me, he hit me! When you're not home, he changes his attitude, scolding and hitting me in the slightest displeasure. He even pushed me down the stairs just now. Alexis can testify."<br /> Madison's sister, Alexis Blair, chimed in. "Yes, Wesley, this trash not only hit your mother but also threatened to hit me too. We cannot tolerate such trash."<br /> "Taylor, I have been telling you to divorce him for years. You've been supporting him, treating him like a Lord at home, but he's an ungrateful wolf in sheep's clothing."<br /> Helping Madison up, Taylor noticed the scrapes on Madison's arms and legs, her expression turning cold.<br /> "Wesley, why did you hit my mother? You better give me an explanation."<br /> Wesley looked at Taylor, his wife.<br /> Five years had passed, and she had never shown him kindness.<br /> Taylor dressed impeccably, a paragon of a successful lady, with a face that could be deemed angelic, yet whether her heart was as angelic remained a mystery.<br /> Her figure, too, left countless men yearning.<br /> For five years, Wesley had thought he might develop feelings for this lady, but in reality, it never happened.<br /> "There are surveillance cameras in the house," Wesley stated calmly before descending the stairs into the hallway.<br /> Despite residing in a three-story villa, Wesley's living quarters were confined to the stairwell.<br /> He harbored no resentment towards this arrangement. It was merely a promise. It was just that Taylor failed to appreciate him.<br /> This home held little value that he wished to cling onto.<br /> Retrieving a wooden box from beneath his pillow, Wesley extracted two documents. Casting a fleeting glance at the modest abode he had called home for five years, Wesley smiled faintly.<br /> He thought, "Finally... I'm free."<br /> Pushing the door ajar, Wesley was met by Taylor's piercing gaze. "I've reviewed the surveillance footage. Yes, my mother intended to strike you, but even if she did, what difference would it make?"<br /> "She's a lady. How much could her blows hurt you? Why did you dodge?"<br /> "If you hadn't dodged, my mother wouldn't have tumbled down." Wesley stared at Taylor, unable to comprehend her thought process.<br /> He had no interest in engaging in these arguments. Handing over the two documents to Taylor, he remarked, "The divorce agreement. I've already signed it. Take a look. I'm leaving with nothing."<br /> "With your current influence, there's no need for you to visit the city hall. Someone will handle it for you, right?"<br /> Madison was taken aback. She swiftly snatched the divorce agreement, flipping through it hastily.<br /> The contents were indeed straightforward. Both parties willingly divorced, with Wesley relinquishing all claims and having already signed.<br /> In an instant, Madison's pain seemed to dissipate. "Taylor, sign it quickly. Sign it."<br /> Taylor was still in a daze.<br /> She pondered.<br /> "A divorce agreement? Wesley has already prepared a divorce agreement. On what grounds?"<br /> "What gives him the right to initiate a divorce? All these years, he's done nothing at home, lacking any ambition. Always practicing martial arts, what right does he have to seek a divorce?"<br /> "If anyone should initiate it, it should be me. Moreover, now that I'm back to discussing this matter with him. Could it be that word got out, and Wesley, for the sake of his pride, rushed to prepare a divorce agreement first?"<br /> "It must be so, but... No!"<br /> "Wanting to leave with nothing, is he retreating to advance? As the chairman of the Reed Group, how could I be served with a divorce?"<br /> "Hey Wesley, I never expected this from you. Have I not treated you well enough? You seek a divorce, attempting to turn your retreat into advance, aiming to embarrass me?"<br /> Taylor glared at Wesley. "I'm telling you, it's impossible."<br /> Snatching the divorce agreement, she tore it to shreds.<br /> "Taylor, what are you doing? Such a great opportunity. Why not just sign it and let him leave?" Madison grew anxious.<br /> "Mom, I do intend to divorce this trash, but the decision must come from me. I returned specifically to address this matter."<br /> With that, Taylor produced two documents. "Wesley, remember that it's me who's divorcing you. It's me who no longer wants you. Initially, out of marital obligation, I had considered offering you some compensation. Now, you don't even need to think about it. Sign the divorce agreement and leave my home."<br /> Wesley offered a faint smile as he accepted the divorce agreement.<br /> "What are you laughing at?" Taylor demanded angrily.<br /> Wesley's smile seemed to mock her, fueling her rage.<br /> Ignoring her entirely, Wesley signed the document and handed it over.<br /> "What are you laughing at? Answer me! Who do you think you are?" Taylor roared once more.<br /> Wesley glanced at her before striding towards the exit.<br /> "Stop!" The gent who had accompanied Taylor stepped forward, blocking Wesley's path. "Taylor asked you a question, and... Your previous attitude displeased me. Apologize to Taylor, or I'll have you leave in disgrace!"<br /> <br /> Chapter 2 <br /> "Yes, let him leave in disgrace. He thought he could just hit me and walk away so easily," Madison joined in the commotion, also noticing the gent blocking Wesley's path.<br /> Madison had a keen interest in luxury goods, having frequented various high-end establishments over the years as the Reed family's living conditions improved. The gent was wearing an expensive watch and dressed head to toe in high-end luxury brands.<br /> Seeing Madison's gaze, the gent spoke. "Rest assured, today Wesley must pay the price."<br /> The gent introduced himself, looking at Wesley, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Henry Clark, the eldest son of the Clark family and the general manager of the Clark Group in the North District."<br /> "From now on, I will accompany Taylor on her journey of life, and I will not allow anyone to bully her."<br /> "My identity carries weight. You should understand that. Now, apologize to Taylor. Apologize! Did you hear me? Apologize!"<br /> Madison's eyes lit up. She hadn't expected the gent before her to hold such a high status. She continued to shout, "Did you hear that? Taylor will be with Mr. Clark from now on. Apologize now."<br /> Wesley glanced at Henry, then at Taylor. He thought, "Have they been together all along?" Wesley had wanted to ask but decided against it because there was no need. He simply gave them a glance and continued walking towards the exit.<br /> "Are you ignoring me?" Henry's face turned cold as he reached out to grab Wesley. Henry's hand froze mid-air as he received a solid hit.<br /> "Until I sign the divorce papers, Taylor and I are still wife and husband. I don't care to investigate whether you two had any intimate relationship during that time, but don't provoke me, or I won't hesitate to make you regret it." Wesley's gaze was icy, and as Henry met his eyes, he felt a twinge of fear and swallowed his words.<br /> Taylor was also stunned. She knew exactly what Wesley had been like over the past five years. There were many surveillance cameras in the house, and she would often check them.<br /> Even when Taylor wasn't home, despite how her family treated Wesley, he always obeyed without complaint, especially towards her. He had never raised his voice, no matter how they treated him.<br /> Today, not only did Wesley dodge when her mother struck, but he also initiated the divorce and now even struck Henry. <br /> Taylor was at a loss for words, thinking, "How could this cowardly gent dare? On what grounds does he dare?"<br /> This change was difficult for Taylor to accept as if she didn't truly understand this guy. The gent who used to be obedient to her, completely submissive, now revealed this side of himself. She watched Wesley walk away in a daze, feeling a strange discomfort in her heart.<br /> "Isn't he leaving with nothing?" Alexis pointed at the wooden box Wesley was holding. "What is he taking with him?"<br /> Madison also realized. Over the past five years, Wesley had always treasured this wooden box, carrying it with him wherever he went. She thought there must be something valuable inside.<br /> Realizing this, Madison hurriedly followed. "Wesley, stop right there, leave the wooden box."<br /> Wesley paused, glanced at Madison, and said, "This is my personal belonging."<br /> "Nonsense, what personal belonging could you possibly have after marrying into the Reed family? Everything you've eaten, worn, and lived in over the years has been provided by the Reed family. Put it down."<br /> As she spoke, Madison reached out to grab the wooden box.<br /> "Ah..." A scream rang out as Madison quickly retracted her hand, a gash appearing on her palm, a crimson liquid dripping.<br /> The wooden box was now stained with the same crimson liquid, trembling lightly in Wesley's hand.<br /> "It's not the right time yet, the day you thirst for this crimson liquid will come," Wesley murmured softly, patting the box before turning to continue his stride towards the exit.<br /> "Monster! A monster!" Madison screamed, causing Taylor and the others to rush out. Seeing the wound in Madison's hand, Taylor was filled with rage.<br /> "Wesley, aren't you going to say something?" Wesley halted once more, contemplating before meeting Taylor's gaze.<br /> "Just stay out of my way from now on. Consider this a warning to you."<br /> "Taylor, that wooden box of his has a mechanism. It must hold something valuable! We can't let him take it with him," Madison, enduring the pain, reminded them.<br /> "Mom, your injury is important. We'll deal with him later. Let me take you to the hospital first." Taylor comforted Madison before calling out to the retreating Wesley.<br /> "Our marriage is over! Yet, you dared to hurt my mother! This won't be the end of it! I will make you regret it!" Ignoring her, Wesley continued walking out.<br /> "Rest assured, I promise he won't see the light of day tomorrow." Henry stepped forward to console. "Let's focus on getting your wound treated first."<br /> "I want him to regret ever existing in this world, to apologize to me in repentance," Madison roared.<br /> "Mom, trust me, I will make him do just that." Taylor looked at Madison with a mix of pity and determination. "Let's go to the hospital first."<br /> In the villa area, Wesley halted, his voice cold. "Get out."<br /> An elderly gent leaped down from a tree, appearing to be in his seventies, yet landing silently from a height of around ten feet.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, your father wants you to come home and take charge."<br /> "He stopped being my father five years ago. He's my enemy."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you misunderstood your father. He had his reasons back then. I swear in my life, once you know the truth, you will forgive him."<br /> "Huh!" Wesley smirked coldly, saying, "I nearly passed away back then. Is that also a misunderstanding?"<br /> The old gent pleaded, "Mr. Harrington, this situation is truly not as you perceive it."<br /> Wesley didn't engage further with the old guy. The events of that year were etched in his memory forever. He was the one who had been abandoned. If not for that incident, why would he have stayed with the Reed family for five years?<br /> Watching Wesley walk away, the old gent had tears silently streaming down his face. "Mr. Harrington, I truly... I truly can't bring myself to speak the truth, but you have misunderstood your father. He also bears burdens and endures pains beyond what an ordinary person can handle."<br /> As Wesley's figure disappeared, the old gent stood up, hesitated for a moment, then dialed a number on his phone.<br /> "Mr. Harrington is now divorced. I've given you the news firsthand. If your daughter is truly together with Mr. Harrington, you must fulfill the promise and let her persuade Mr. Harrington to come home."<br /> After hanging up, a middle-aged gent in a luxurious estate jumped up excitedly. Calming himself, he immediately made another call. "My dear, you're at Yeadeo, right?<br /> "Go find Wesley now. Don't mention the engagement for now. Use every means to get close to him, make him fall in love with you."<br /> "Dad, I don't have time."<br /> "No matter what you are busy with, you must go find Wesley now. No matter what reason you approach him, you must leave a good impression the first time."<br /> "Dad, I'm in trouble right now. If I don't handle it well, I might be good as gone. I have to deal with it immediately. I'm hanging up."<br /> Chapter 3 <br /> The middle-aged gent's voice lowered significantly. "Is there a big incident happening? You didn't tell me? What happened?"<br /> "Quinn Kingsley from Yeadeo, Mr. Kingsley, used our product and now has one foot on the grave. If something really happens to him..."<br /> "You mean Quinn, the uncontested leader of Yeadeo?"<br /> "Yes."<br /> "In that case, you should go find Wesley. Trust me, in this world, there is no problem that Wesley can't solve. As long as he's willing to help, you'll be fine. Listen to me, go find Wesley immediately."<br /> The lady fell silent for a moment before saying, "Okay."<br /> At Yeadeo Harbor, a gent with a large flaxen chain and a watch, sporting a crew cut, hurriedly disembarked, accompanied by a dozen gentlemen.<br /> "Mr. Reed, wherever that trash is, we will find him and tear him apart."<br /> "Yes, that guy dared to harm your mother. We'll make sure he pays for it."<br /> Frank Reed's face turned cold. "Wesley, you coward, thinking you can overturn the world? How dare you touch my mom? Just wait until I find you, you're finished."<br /> "We've found him. Wesley got into a taxi, and our boys followed him."<br /> "Let's go!" Frank waved his hand, leading dozens of men who boarded the car with harpoons, steel pipes, and other weapons.<br /> Inside the taxi, Wesley gazed at the scenery outside, feeling a strange sense of tranquility.<br /> He thought to himself, "I never imagined that while I was secretly paving the way for the Reed family, Taylor, after progressing so rapidly, would start looking down on me more and more."<br /> "Those ladies who know my true identity, which one of them isn't trying to throw themselves at me? Ladies like that don't interest me."<br /> "Being an ordinary gent is truly difficult," Wesley murmured, smiling faintly and deciding not to dwell on these matters anymore. He had important things to attend to and no time to waste on personal affairs.<br /> "Young lad, are you going to Feidgeuo Manor for a job interview?" The driver, curious about Wesley's destination, inquired.<br /> Feidgeuo Manor was Yeadeo's most mysterious private area. Originally a villa area, it was bought at a huge cost five years ago and completely renovated. It was said to have cost a trillion dollars. The former villa area was now Feidgeuo Manor.<br /> "That's my home," Wesley replied nonchalantly.<br /> The driver was taken aback by this revelation, silently cursing Wesley for bragging. After a couple of minutes, the driver regained his composure. "It seems like you and I both prefer to keep a low profile. My car usually gathers dust at home, so I occasionally drive a taxi to experience life."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "My car has been driven by my assistant for the past few years, so it's not gathering dust."<br /> "Haha..." The driver laughed. "We should get together sometime and see whose car is more impressive."<br /> "Sure, whenever we have the time."<br /> As they chatted, the vehicle soon arrived near Feidgeuo Manor, where the massive head of the Feidgeuo Peak protruded, creating a unique landscape in Yeadeo.<br /> The driver asked with a smile, "Since you're the owner here, it's fine if I drive in, right?"<br /> "Of course," Wesley replied.<br /> As soon as Wesley spoke, several cars caught up from behind.<br /> The cars surrounded the one Wesley was in, with the front vehicles braking to force the car to a stop.<br /> When numerous people descended from cars wielding harpoons and steel pipes, the driver's face paled.<br /> Frank and his group got out of the cars, instantly closing in, and without hesitation, started attacking, the steel pipes and harpoons thudding against the car.<br /> Frank's henchman yanked open the door of Wesley's car, poised to stab Wesley with a harpoon, but Wesley swiftly exited the vehicle.<br /> With a firm step on the ground, he launched a swift hit.<br /> A muffled sound echoed as the henchman was hit away.<br /> "What are you looking at?" Frank noticed his henchmen were all staring at him. "All of you, attack together and take him down!"<br /> As he commanded, the henchmen Frank brought with him surged forward.<br /> The taxi driver, trembling, took out his phone to call the police, but Frank glared at him. "I am Frank Reed from Yeadeo Harbor. If you dare, go ahead and make that call."<br /> Frank, leveraging his sister Taylor's status, had been causing trouble in Yeadeo Harbor, and no one dared to provoke him.<br /> Upon hearing Frank's name, the driver hastily put away his phone. "Mr. Reed, I'll just check the time, you guys continue."<br /> "Huh!" Frank snorted coldly, casting his gaze towards the surrounded Wesley.<br /> The sounds of thuds continued to ring out incessantly. Because Wesley was completely surrounded, Frank was unable to see the situation inside clearly, but he could imagine it. After all, in Frank's mind, the henchmen under his command were not to be trifled with.<br /> "Hit him hard for me!"<br /> Another muffled sound and a figure flew out. At that moment, Frank finally saw the situation clearly, and his face turned pale.<br /> Frank knew that Wesley liked to practice martial arts, but he had never expected Wesley to be this skilled. It wasn't Wesley who had been beaten, but his own men by Wesley alone.<br /> Frantically, Frank turned and ran to retrieve a crossbow from the car.<br /> "Clear the way." Frank bellowed, aiming the crossbow at Wesley.<br /> "You scumbag, you think you can fight? Move one more time, and I'll end your life! Surrender!"<br /> Wesley, holding a wooden box, stared at Frank. Ignoring the crossbow in his hand, Wesley said, "Tell your henchmen to back off, or you'll all see the light from above!"<br /> "You're really good at pretending to be tough." Frank took two steps forward. "See the light? Move a muscle and see if I can end your life or not! If you don't have the guts, apologize now!"<br /> Wesley turned his head and looked at the approaching cars, with two expensive ones in the lead, two more in the rear, and another one in the middle.<br /> "Keep acting tough, and I'll put a hole in your head." Frank spoke while glancing at the five cars. "What, looking for help?"<br /> "Let me tell you, those who ride in these cars are not the kind of weaklings like you who rely on connections. With me here, in Yeadeo's social hierarchy, even those who ride in such cars wouldn't dare meddle in this matter. And let me make it clear, without my sister, you're nothing."<br /> <br /> Chapter 4<br /> As Frank's words faded, the five cars came to a halt.<br /> A bodyguard opened the door of the one in the middle, revealing a dazzling pair of shining shoes catching everyone's eye.<br /> The shining shoe encased a beautiful foot. Above, the skirt's hem was adorned with lace.<br /> Then, like a fairy stepping out of a painting, she appeared before everyone's eyes.<br /> The lady was beautiful!<br /> Frank was mesmerized. Ever since the Reed family rose to prominence, he had been surrounded by ladies, but compared to the elegant lady before him, they were worlds apart.<br /> It wasn't just a difference in appearance but an incomparable gap in demeanor.<br /> The lady descending from the Maybach seemed like a celestial being untouched by mortal affairs.<br /> The embodiment of a fairy in the mundane world.<br /> She simply stood there after getting out of the car, perfectly embodying what it meant to be graceful and elegant.<br /> The lady glanced at Wesley, then at Frank.<br /> Frank grinned, saying, "May I have the honor of knowing the name of this esteemed lady? I am Frank..."<br /> The lady spoke calmly. "Disrespect Mr. Harrington, and you're done for."<br /> Her bodyguards, unfazed by Frank's crossbow, swiftly overwhelmed him, sending him crashing to the ground.<br /> The henchmen who had come with Frank, previously defeated by Wesley, now scrambled to their feet and fled in all directions.<br /> Who would dare provoke someone who could afford such a car?<br /> "My sister is Taylor Reed, the chairperson of Reed Group," Frank shouted, clutching his head.<br /> Ignoring him, one of the bodyguards dragged him to the roadside grass while another used a belt to tighten around Frank's neck, exerting pressure.<br /> "Enough, a lesson is all that's needed." Wesley spoke calmly, and only when the lady gestured did the bodyguards release Frank.<br /> Frank lay there, already unconscious.<br /> Wesley turned to the lady. "Who are you?"<br /> "I am Mia Roberts, the general manager of Vinver Business Alliance's Yeadeo branch." She looked at Wesley and continued, "Mr. Harrington, my father mentioned that you have miraculous healing skills and earnestly requested your assistance. A generous reward awaits."<br /> Wesley furrowed his brow slightly, thinking, "There are indeed people who recognize my abilities and status, yet I've rarely intervened in the past five years. Today, shortly after I divorced Taylor, she is here. Whose arrangement is this?"<br /> "Mr. Harrington, my father also mentioned that you are benevolent and has raised the banner of compassion among healers, serving as a role model and benchmark for all in the medical field."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "You have a way with words. Tell me the specifics."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, please get in the car first. I will explain in detail on the way."<br /> The phrase "compassionate healer" held significant weight for Wesley, who had saved countless lives from the brink of death.<br /> Without further ado, he got into the car.<br /> Inside, after Mia brewed coffee for Wesley, she began. "Vinver Business Alliance has a wide range of business operations, and I mainly oversee the health supplement sector, which has seen some success in recent years.<br /> "Recently, Quinn Kingsley started using our medicines, and now there's an accident."<br /> As she spoke, Mia kept her gaze fixed on Wesley.<br /> Quinn, the undisputed leader of Yeadeo, was a figure of immense influence.<br /> Upon hearing this name, Wesley showed no particular reaction. "If the city's leader faces issues with your products, it is indeed a concern. Let's go and see."<br /> With just a sentence, Wesley leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest.<br /> Mia was secretly alarmed, thinking, "He knows who Quinn is, yet he seems indifferent. Who is this Wesley, really? No wonder Dad has instructed me to find a way to win his favor." Mia's inner resistance toward Wesley quietly shifted.<br /> Wesley had piqued her curiosity.<br /> As the vehicle was moving, Wesley's phone rang.<br /> Wesley opened his eyes and took out his phone to see Taylor calling.<br /> Pressing the answer button, he asked, "What's the matter?"<br /> On the other end of the line, Taylor, driving towards Feidgeuo Manor, had a grim expression.<br /> She thought, "Has Wesley ever spoken to me in such a cold tone before? Is he really this heartless right after our divorce?"<br /> Already furious, she snapped. "Wesley, do you even consider yourself a human being?<br /> "Today, not only did you lay hands on my mother, but you also had someone attack my brother. Do you not remember our past at all?"<br /> Wesley calmly replied, "Do we have a past to remember?"<br /> "You truly are a heartless scumbag, just as my mother said. You are an ungrateful and vicious person I raised for five years. Even a pet would wag its tail at me!"<br /> Taylor wanted to continue her tirade, but the phone line had already turned busy.<br /> This only fueled her anger further.<br /> Just now, she had received a call from Frank's underlings, informing her that Wesley had sent people to attack Frank and even intended to end him.<br /> Taylor wanted to demand answers, but...<br /> As Taylor was clutching her fists, her gaze turned icy.<br /> After a moment, she picked up her phone again. "Wesley, you are so narrow-minded. You have no ambition. Any lady would steer clear of you."<br /> "Just because I dumped you, you are doing this on purpose to make me feel sick. Pretending to be aloof and seeking revenge? Do you even deserve it?"<br /> "In Yeadeo, squashing you would be as easy as squashing an ant. You're asking for it! If anything happens to my brother, I will make you wish you were ending!"<br /> Her furious voice message echoed in the car.<br /> Wesley chuckled and put away his phone.<br /> Beside him, Mia seemed contemplative. Before coming, she had already ordered a swift investigation into Wesley.<br /> She was curious, thinking, "How could someone valued by my father could be the one 'marrying into' the Reed family."<br /> Being tactful, Mia chose not to ask and pretended not to have heard.<br /> After about forty minutes, they arrived at the Kingsley Manor.<br /> The Kingsley family members, upon seeing Mia alight from the car, all wore grim expressions.<br /> Mia greeted them with a smile, "Everyone, this is Wesley Harrington, Mr. Harrington, the miraculous healer I specially invited to treat Mr. Kingsley."<br /> "Him? The gent who married into the Reed family?"<br /> "A miraculous healer? Is he even worthy? Are healers so worthless now?"<br /> "A useless gent who mooches off of the Reed family? How dare he call himself a miraculous healer? Truly a joke among all jokes."<br /> Chapter 5<br /> <br /> Amanda Kingsley, Quinn's granddaughter, stared coldly at Wesley and Mia.<br /> This lady, dressed in a smart suit, also held significant fame in Yeadeo, overseeing the region's business activities, including investment attraction and various local business negotiations.<br /> Amanda had a favorable view of Taylor, who had risen swiftly in recent times, and they had interacted frequently.<br /> She was aware of Wesley's existence and had advised Taylor to part ways with him early on.<br /> But Amanda never imagined that Mia would bring someone like Wesley, a complete waste, and claim he was a miraculous healer.<br /> Glaring at Mia, she said, "Mia, once my grandfather is well, it's best for your Roberts family to leave Yeadeo."<br /> "As for you..." She glanced at Wesley. "I will advise Taylor to divorce you. You have deceived Taylor's feelings and now shamelessly made your way into my family. You are a despicable creature."<br /> After reprimanding Mia and Wesley, she turned to an elderly gent beside her, and her tone and attitude completely changed. "Mr. Phillips, sorry to trouble you. My grandfather is inside, please."<br /> Mia looked at the elderly gent, who was already in his twilight years, feeling deeply shocked.<br /> Scott Phillips, the 38th generation heir of the Healing Clinic, was now ninety-two years old.<br /> Renowned as a miraculous healer, he was a respected figure in the medical community of Yeadeo and even nationally.<br /> He no longer conducted consultations personally due to his old age. Mia had visited him specifically to pay her respects once she had arrived in Yeadeo but had not met Scott.<br /> She never expected Scott to appear in person. It was understandable, as Quinn held a prominent position in the city. Despite the profound influence of the Phillips family, they still had to show respect to Quinn.<br /> Mia looked at Wesley, feeling conflicted and thinking, "Dad has confidently claimed that Wesley has extraordinary abilities, but does he really?"<br /> She harbored doubts, but out of propriety, Mia spoke. "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the trouble."<br /> Wesley smiled, "It's fine. As long as the person can be healed."<br /> His open-mindedness impressed Mia.<br /> After about half an hour, Amanda emerged from the room. All eyes instantly turned towards her.<br /> It was evident that Amanda had wailed out, with traces of tears still visible.<br /> "Amanda, how is it?" A middle-aged gent anxiously asked her.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family who had rushed back also focused their attention on her.<br /> "Mr. Phillips said that there's little hope of recovery. He could only use acupuncture to wake grandfather for half an hour. When grandfather wakes up, let's all go in and see if he has any final instructions."<br /> Everyone was shocked.<br /> "How could this be?"<br /> "Is Mr. Phillips also helpless?"<br /> The members of the Kingsley family found it hard to accept this reality, especially since Quinn had always treated his juniors well.<br /> The thought of Quinn departing saddened some, and tears silently fell.<br /> Publicly, Quinn's status was the foundation of the Kingsley family's prominence in Yeadeo.<br /> If Quinn were to pass away, the Kingsley family would undoubtedly decline.<br /> The atmosphere within the Kingsley family was somber.<br /> Amanda looked at her family members, opened her mouth, but said nothing, silently turning back into the room.<br /> "Stop crying," A middle-aged gent said sternly, "Dad wouldn't want to see you all in tears. If he's really leaving, we mustn't let him worry about us. Pull yourselves together."<br /> After these words, the middle-aged gent also entered the room.<br /> The younger members of the Kingsley family wiped their tears vigorously, trying to force smiles, but in truth, they looked better at crying than pretending to be happy.<br /> Mia's spirit plummeted as she realized the gravity of the situation. Even if an ordinary person passed away from consuming health supplements, it spelled big trouble for those who sold them. And when the deceased happened to be Quinn, the stakes were even higher.<br /> She understood that it would be difficult for this branch to stay in Yeadeo, and even the headquarters might face repercussions.<br /> "Let's go in and have a look." Wesley glanced at Mia. "There might still be a chance."<br /> "Ah..." Mia stared at Wesley in surprise. Seeing him already heading towards the room, she quickly followed suit.<br /> Inside the room, the members of the Kingsley family stood around the mattress, maintaining a certain distance.<br /> Scott lit the alcohol lamp and took out the needles, his expression solemn.<br /> He looked at the members of the Kingsley family. "Think about what you want to say to Mr. Kingsley later. Once you're ready, let me know, and then I'll proceed with the acupuncture."<br /> As he said this, tears welled up in many eyes.<br /> "If you don't mind, let me take a look. I have a way." Wesley spoke up, drawing everyone's attention.<br /> Amanda's face darkened. "Who let you in? Get out!"<br /> "Mia, have you lost your mind? Tricked by this trash and actually brought him here as a miracle healer. Get out with him! I'll settle the score with you in a couple of days."<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, at a loss for words.<br /> "Even Mr. Phillips is unable to reverse the situation. What use are you? Get out." Another younger member of the Kingsley family angrily rebuked.<br /> The middle-aged gent added, "We're in no mood right now. You better leave immediately."<br /> "I understand your narrow-mindedness," Wesley continued, "But as a healer, once I see a patient, I cannot stand by and watch him draw his last breath."<br /> "Wesley, you're quite the charlatan. Do you really want to be gone right now?" Amanda's voice was filled with anger.<br /> "Amanda, let me say a few words," Scott interjected, and Amanda fell silent.<br /> Looking at Wesley, Scott began. "Young lad, at my age, I've seen a lot and have a broad perspective. Today, however, I find it hard to remain indifferent. I practiced medicine from the age of sixteen until I stopped seeing patients for a total of seventy years."<br /> "I've saved countless patients from various illnesses. I never easily declare a patient's fate, nor do I believe I have the right to do so."<br /> "But from your recent remarks, it seems like you're accusing me of such actions. Young people wanting to make a name for themselves by stepping on the shoulders of their predecessors, I can understand."<br /> "But this kind of behavior displeases me."<br /> "My displeasure, what does it mean to you? Do you understand?"<br /> "Even if you are a healer, your career will be ruined because of this."<br /> Chapter 6 <br /> In the face of Scott's veiled threats, Wesley simply smiled and brushed them off.<br /> Looking at Scott, he asked, "I've always focused on the issue at hand rather than attacking individuals. I have a few questions for you. If you can't administer the needles, how long do you think Quinn can hold on?"<br /> "Seven days, but he will remain unconscious," Scott replied bluntly.<br /> "Then let me ask you this, is there anyone in the world with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "Outrageous," Amanda coldly interjected, "Mr. Phillips is unparalleled in his medical expertise."<br /> Scott glanced at Amanda. "Amanda, let me handle this question."<br /> Continuing to address Wesley, he said, "I don't underestimate myself, nor do I overestimate. There are countless talented individuals in the world, like stars in the sky. I may not dare claim to be the best in medical skills, but those who surpass me are few."<br /> "That means there are some," Wesley calmly remarked, causing Scott's expression to shift slightly, "Indeed, there are."<br /> "Then let me ask you this. Do you think within seven days, the Kingsley family won't find someone with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "If they do find someone, do you believe there is an illness that you cannot cure, but this person can?"<br /> Wesley's questions were sharp and resounding.<br /> Scott's face changed once more as he was rendered speechless.<br /> "Even if there is, that person will never be you." Amanda's face turned icy. "Now get out. Don't spout your eloquence here. Your deceitful behavior is repulsive."<br /> "Your understanding of me is merely hearsay, isn't it?" Wesley retorted, his gaze mocking Amanda, "Has your background and education taught you such arrogance and prejudice?"<br /> "Arrogance?" Amanda's face grew colder as she disdainfully looked at Wesley. "Prejudice?<br /> "Did I say something wrong just now? You are nothing but stagnant waste, a parasite living off others. If it weren't for Taylor, you would have starved on the streets long ago."<br /> "Relying on sweet words, deceiving Taylor. She, with her kind heart, can't bear to divorce you, but don't push your luck. If it weren't for Taylor's sake, you would have been sent out long ago."<br /> Scott interrupted Amanda, "Amanda, although I find this lad a bit annoying, what he said does hold some truth. There are indeed individuals with better medical skills than me. Your grandfather can hold on for seven days. Try reaching out to see if someone can come over. I'll help you make connections."<br /> "If it really doesn't work out after seven days, I'll administer the needles to your grandfather. However, at that point, I can only buy you three minutes."<br /> As soon as Scott spoke, the faces of the Kingsley family members grew even more solemn. True healers were rare and not easily summoned.<br /> While the Kingsley family had connections in Yeadeo, their influence waned outside of it.<br /> "Mr. Phillips, please administer the needles. Life has its ups and downs, and we understand that. Just buy my father a bit more time." The middle-aged gent spoke up.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family nodded in agreement.<br /> Amanda looked at Scott. "Mr. Phillips, please."<br /> "In that case, please have everyone unrelated leave. I need silence," Scott calmly stated.<br /> Amanda glared at Wesley, her eyes speaking volumes without a word.<br /> The unrelated individuals were, naturally, Wesley and Mia.<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, intending to leave, but she suddenly hesitated.<br /> Instead of leaving, Wesley moved forward.<br /> "What are you doing?" A young member of the Kingsley family stepped forward with a stern expression, pushing Wesley.<br /> In one swift motion, Wesley executed a clean shoulder throw, toppling the young gent to the ground, his own expression turning cold.<br /> "A bunch of fools! If it weren't for my teacher's teachings about not turning a blind eye to those in need, I wouldn't bother with you ignorant lot," Wesley remarked with disdain.<br /> As Wesley effortlessly took down one individual from the Kingsley family, the others seemed slow to react.<br /> By the time they realized what was happening, Wesley had already picked up the needle next to Scott and casually flicked his wrist.<br /> The needle flew out of his hand, piercing Quinn's temple, followed by a second needle, a third needle, and so on.<br /> "What are you doing? Stop!" Amanda's voice rose in urgency, echoed by the rest of the Kingsley family members who rushed forward to restrain Wesley.<br /> "Stay back, everyone. Wait." Scott suddenly stood up, blocking the others. "Let him try."<br /> Amanda and the others were left dumbfounded, thinking, "What does this mean?"<br /> Despite their confusion, they heeded Scott's words.<br /> After Scott stopped the members of the Kingsley family, he fixed his gaze on Wesley.<br /> Wesley proceeded to use eighteen needles in succession, symbolizing the levels of pain.<br /> Even if someone had descended into the depths of hell, they must be brought back.<br /> The final needle, also piercing a vital point, caused Quinn's body to tremble suddenly, resonating with the previous eighteen needles.<br /> Scott's eyes widened, his body trembling slightly. His reaction left Amanda and the others even more puzzled, but none dared to interrupt.<br /> Moments later, Wesley placed a palm on Quinn's chest, causing all eighteen needles to be shaken off. When all the needles landed on the ground, the part of the skin where the needles had pierced turned dark.<br /> Wesley then dragged Quinn to the edge of the mattress, flipped him over with his head facing downwards, and gave him a firm pat on the back.<br /> Quinn spat out a mouthful of black liquid. When Wesley flipped him back to lie flat, his complexion had regained some color.<br /> "The Hand of Darkness... It's the Hand of Darkness!" Scott exclaimed with excitement, his body quivering, "It's the Hand that descends into the dark world, snatching people from the hands of the Evil!"<br /> "You do have some knowledge, recognizing the Hand of Darkness." Wesley glanced at Scott.<br /> Scott's gaze towards Wesley had undergone a drastic change. He respectfully clasped his hands together.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thirty years ago, I had the honor of attending a teaching conference held by Mr. Vanderbilt. I saw the Hand of Darkness, but my limited aptitude only allowed me to grasp the basics."<br /> "I have been blind and ignorant. I apologize for my earlier offenses. Please forgive me, Mr. Harrington."<br /> The Mr. Vanderbilt Scott referred to was Wesley's teacher, Ulysses Vanderbilt. He generously imparted his skills to others, but the ability to learn depended on one's innate talent.<br /> In this world, few could learn Ulysses' skills.<br /> Scott had been fortunate to receive guidance from Ulysses, which had elevated his medical skills. However, the Hand of Darkness, a miraculous ability, was beyond his comprehension.<br /> Wesley smiled faintly, "Your actions earlier are understandable. I appreciate your words."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you must be an exceptional disciple of Mr. Vanderbilt, possessing unparalleled magnanimity. Impressive," Scott continued.<br /> "Enough with the flattery at your age."<br /> "You are mistaken, Mr. Harrington. Every word I speak is sincere."<br /> Mia, Amanda, and the others stood bewildered by the unfolding situation.<br /> "Mr. Phillips... he... he..." Amanda's words faltered.<br /> Scott turned to the members of the Kingsley family. "Meeting Mr. Harrington was Quinn's luck. His symptoms have been cured by Mr. Harrington. With a few days of rest, he will be fine."<br /> The waste Taylor had previously said was called Mr. Harrington by Scott!<br /> Recalling their previous attitudes, Amanda hurriedly apologized, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> The members of the Kingsley family all apologized in unison, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> Chapter 7 <br /> With a faint smile, Wesley remarked, "As family members of a patient, your actions earlier are understandable. There's no need for such formality."<br /> Amanda's perplexity deepened as she thought, "Where is the cowardly waste that Taylor described? This display of magnanimity and breadth is far from it."<br /> Mia, too, felt a shiver of realization, thinking, "No wonder Dad has insisted on my proximity to Wesley.<br /> This guy..."<br /> She gazed at Wesley, her curiosity piqued, a sense of exploration stirring within her.<br /> "Mia has brought you here, Mr. Harrington, to cure my grandfather. The Kingsley family will never forget this act. However, considering that my grandfather's ailment stemmed from the health supplements produced by the Vinver Business Alliance, we will be conducting an investigation into it."<br /> Amanda continued, looking at Wesley, "What do you think... of this approach?"<br /> It was Mia who had invited Wesley, so Amanda had grown wiser, refraining from asking for a direct punishment of the Vinver Business Alliance.<br /> As Mia heard Amanda's words, her heart skipped a beat, realizing trouble was brewing.<br /> "On the way here, Ms. Roberts briefed me on the situation. You conducted experiments on mice, correct?"<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes, the health supplements we received were exclusively provided by the Roberts family. There were no similar cases on the market, so we used mice for testing.<br /> "All the mice that ingested this supplement were gone."<br /> She looked at Mia and added, her voice turning colder, "Before the experiment, I specifically contacted Mia to inquire about the testing methods during the development phase, which involved mice.<br /> "There have been individuals eyeing my grandfather's position, some even wishing for his demise. I never imagined that the Vinver Business Alliance, which I attracted for investment, would become a weapon in someone else's hands."<br /> "Do you have any of the remaining medicine?" Wesley inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes."<br /> "Bring some over."<br /> Immediately, someone fetched the medicine. After it was brought to him, Wesley took out a supplement and swallowed it directly.<br /> This scene left Amanda and the others dumbfounded.<br /> Scott, too, was bewildered. "Mr. Harrington, what are you doing?"<br /> Wesley smiled, "Just proving that this medicine is not toxic."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thank you," Mia thanked sincerely, feeling like crying at that moment.<br /> Amanda, with a puzzled expression, looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, are you suggesting that my grandfather's condition wasn't caused by the Vinver Business Alliance's medicine? What about the mice?"<br /> The rest were equally puzzled.<br /> "Yes, but not entirely," Wesley said, leaving everyone even more bewildered.<br /> Mia's emotions were like a rollercoaster ride, from relief to immediate tension.<br /> "This medicine itself is not toxic, but when taken with another substance made from a certain plant, it results in Quinn's condition. The mice would die immediately, while humans could endure a few more days."<br /> Wesley continued to explain, "The plant used in this concoction is originally meant for crafting slow-acting toxins, not for human consumption."<br /> Looking at Amanda, Wesley said, "During this period, whoever had access to your grandfather and the mice will better understand why these events occurred."<br /> The gaze of members of the Kingsley family immediately focused on a lady.<br /> Amanda, somewhat incredulous, looked at her. "Can you offer an explanation?"<br /> The lady was the wife of Amanda's deceased brother. She found it hard to accept, as did the rest of the Kingsley family.<br /> This lady had been named the exemplary lady who served her family well this year, not due to her connection with the Kingsley family but because she genuinely deserved it.<br /> "What do you mean? Amanda, what explanation do you want from me?"<br /> The lady stared at Amanda. "Am I the only one who had access to Grandfather and the mice? You, and you... and you, who didn't have access?"<br /> "You all claim to treat me as family. Since I married into the Kingsley family, I have worked diligently, contributing my share even if not acknowledged."<br /> "Amanda, it has been over a year since your brother passed, and I never once considered remarrying. Now, just because of his words, you demand an explanation from me?"<br /> Pointing at Wesley, the lady questioned, "Just because he accuses me of poisoning, you suspect me? Tell me, did I poison him?" The lady glared at Wesley.<br /> "I am merely analyzing the facts. As for concluding this case, it's not within my purview," Wesley addressed the members of the Kingsley family, saying, "You should conduct a thorough investigation into this matter.<br /> "I will write a prescription. Have Quinn take it on time, and he will recover in seven days."<br /> Amanda hurried to fetch paper and pen while Wesley prepared the prescription. Once done, he was ready to leave.<br /> Amanda said hurriedly, "Mr. Harrington, I've already made arrangements for lunch."<br /> "No need," Wesley smiled.<br /> The Kingsley family sought to build closer ties with Wesley, given his extraordinary medical skills. Wesley was well aware of this.<br /> Looking at Amanda and the others, Wesley remarked, "In the future, if you encounter any difficult medical cases that others cannot solve, seek me out. Remember, cases others cannot solve."<br /> The gaze of the Kingsley family members toward Wesley changed once again. Many renowned healers had eccentric personalities and were difficult to engage.<br /> They hadn't expected Wesley to possess such remarkable medical skills without any airs.<br /> As Wesley prepared to depart, the members of the Kingsley family did not dare to insist on his stay, so they accompanied him outside.<br /> "Oh, how could we forget such an important matter? Amanda, what about the consultation fee?" The middle-aged gent inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the oversight. Please wait a moment." Amanda hurried back inside and soon returned with a bank card in hand.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, there's one million dollars in here."<br /> Without hesitation, Wesley accepted the bank card and boarded Mia's car.<br /> During the journey, Mia boldly looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, you've helped me immensely. Can I treat you to a meal? Don't decline in a hurry. It's not a fancy restaurant, but it will leave you wanting more. It's a small place on the street, with only eight plates of noodles served each day, each plate containing different ingredients.<br /> "I managed to secure a reservation. Are you interested?"<br /> Wesley thought, "Eight Plates of Noodles? Ah, Aaron's restaurant. It has been a while since I visited those old friends."<br /> Wesley nodded. "Let's go then."<br /> The restaurant, Eight Plates of Noodles, was located on Chanxold Street near the Yeadeo First Central Hospital.<br /> The establishment was small, serving only eight plates of noodles each day at a price of 10 thousand dollars each. Vernoic's television culinary program had specifically covered this incident.<br /> Reservations were a must to secure a plate.<br /> The restaurant's owner had a mysterious background. While the specifics were unknown, a high-ranking noble from the capital of Vernoic, Kingsland, had caused a scene there once.<br /> He had attempted to force his way in without a reservation. Although this incident hadn't been reported, rumors suggested that a garbage truck had to be called to dispose of the intruder's remains, as he was too shattered to be removed by conventional means.<br /> Since then, no one dared to cause trouble.<br /> On their way, Mia introduced Wesley to the background story.<br /> "Mr. Turner, two plates of noodles." Mia called out once they arrived.<br /> Aaron Turner didn't respond but visibly paused upon seeing Wesley beside Mia.<br /> A faint smile appeared on his usually stoic face. Though the flesh on the face seemed stiff, it was indeed a smile. "Coming right up."<br /> Mia glanced at Aaron with a hint of surprise, thinking, "When did he become so warm and enthusiastic? His tone seemed a bit agitated earlier, didn't it?"<br /> Soon enough, Aaron brought two plates of noodles to the table. One steaming hot and the other devoid of any warmth.<br /> As Mia observed Aaron placing the plate without steam in front of Wesley, her expression changed slightly.<br /> It was a plate of instant noodles having soaked in cold water, with the seasoning barely dissolved.<br /> She felt a sense of panic. Mia had wanted to leave a good impression on Wesley, which was why she had chosen this place.<br /> However, Aaron had served such a plate of noodles.<br /> She dared not question Aaron. The type of noodles served here was not determined by the guests but by Aaron's mood.<br /> "This girl named Mia is quite something, living up to her name, and quite kind-hearted," Aaron remarked, looking at Wesley.<br /> "Get lost," Wesley retorted, using his fork to pick up the noodles and devouring them.<br /> Mia's face turned pale instantly. Disrespecting Aaron was akin to risking Wesley's life.<br /> To her astonishment, Aaron chuckled, tears welling up in his eyes.<br /> He wiped them away. "Alright, I'll leave you to your meal."<br /> Before departing, he gave Mia a thumbs-up. "Seize the opportunity."<br /> The eight plates of noodles symbolized the eight comrades who had faced life and life-threatening situations together.<br /> Wesley ate voraciously. Initially, they had only one pack of instant noodles to share among the eight of them, forcing them to divide it.<br /> Despite the circumstances, they devoured the noodles joyfully.<br /> Aaron had promised that once they survived, each one would have the most delicious plate of noodles.<br /> However, five of the eight had perished.<br /> Wesley had come dangerously close to life-threatening situations, but managed to cling to life.<br /> For him, the plate of noodles was not food but the bond of friendship that had shielded him from harm.<br /> "Do you... know each other?" Mia couldn't help but ask, her voice low and curious.<br /> "Some things are better left unknown," Wesley replied.<br /> Mia nodded in understanding, falling silent as they continued eating noodles. She couldn't help stealing glances at Wesley throughout the meal.<br /> This gent had piqued her curiosity even more.<br /> "Wesley, I see. No wonder you agreed to the divorce so readily. You've already found someone else outside."<br /> A sharp voice interrupted their meal.<br /> Taylor approached with a cold expression, accompanied by Henry.	Adoread Romance story	8	https://facebook.com/61557113391558	INSTALL_MOBILE_APP	1713250800	View Edit Delete
1666961	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727712	1734958299	695	1072122077206276	1	3.6487800984632E+14	1713942000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	235254296344339	0	Adoread Romance story	120207848363020113	play.google.com	Install now	NONE	video	HOT BOOK✨Tap the button to read more👉		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.adoread.book		1713261160	2.3525429634434E+14	Adoread Romance story	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438686192_1599951320770608_7951593487858409411_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=iDa934VZJN4Q7kNvgG1PIvQ&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCi2gry5LGIYoPDeHMY_24mKUKJUXvifq7eRjAMEibMjQ&oe=663A7987	person_profile	0	Adoread Romance story	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437798386_1823524004818856_3808496385301976881_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=1aL7rhjgep8Q7kNvgGqLdNF&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfB92vkoSyhL0K_b43GQhTAAt97vfdoM9SgnsZltzIonxg&oe=663A8F9D	0	3	Chapter 1 <br /> "Wesley, are you trying to harm me? You useless piece of trash, can't even make a decent cup of coffee, can you?"<br /> Madison Blair lifted her coffee cup and splashed it directly onto Wesley Harrington's face.<br /> "What are you looking at, you spineless waste? Your name sounds so lofty? I might as well call you a waste."<br /> Glancing at the grotesque expression of his wife's mother, Wesley pulled out his phone to check the time.<br /> Exactly twelve o'clock. It had been five full years since he married Taylor Reed.<br /> The appointed time had come.<br /> He had fulfilled his promise, safeguarding the Reed family for five years, transforming them from a family living off fishing to one perceived as affluent by the common folk.<br /> Wiping the coffee off his face, he turned and walked away.<br /> "Where do you think you're going? Go fetch some more coffee," Madison shouted.<br /> "Madison, didn't you say this waste is obedient at home, doing whatever he's told? I don't think he's taking it lying down."<br /> Madison grew angrier. "Wesley, you stop right there. My family has fed and housed you. If you dare disobey, I'll have you thrown out!"<br /> Ignoring her, Wesley continued downstairs.<br /> "When Taylor comes back, I'll immediately have you two divorced. Do you hear me? Stay right there," Madison threatened, "I'll let you know your place today."<br /> Grabbing a golf club, Madison swiftly charged towards Wesley.<br /> Seeing Wesley heading downstairs, she swung the club viciously at his back.<br /> Without turning back, Wesley gently sidestepped.<br /> Losing her balance, Madison tumbled forward, rolling down the stairs with a series of thumps.<br /> "Ouch... it hurts, it hurts so much!"<br /> As Madison reached the ground floor, she wailed in pain and her sister immediately rushed to her.<br /> "Wesley, what have you done? How dare you hit my sister!" Madison's sister hurried down, checking on Madison's condition.<br /> Wesley remained silent, observing the scene.<br /> "Quick, call Taylor. Tell her to come back. Today, she must divorce this waste." Madison glared at Wesley. "How dare you hit me? Not only will I let Taylor divorce you, but I'll make sure you leave in disgrace."<br /> "Mum, what's wrong?" At that moment, a gent and a lady walked in.<br /> The lady was Taylor, Madison's daughter.<br /> She ran towards Madison.<br /> As Madison pointed at Wesley, tears streamed down her face. "Taylor, he hit me, he hit me! When you're not home, he changes his attitude, scolding and hitting me in the slightest displeasure. He even pushed me down the stairs just now. Alexis can testify."<br /> Madison's sister, Alexis Blair, chimed in. "Yes, Wesley, this trash not only hit your mother but also threatened to hit me too. We cannot tolerate such trash."<br /> "Taylor, I have been telling you to divorce him for years. You've been supporting him, treating him like a Lord at home, but he's an ungrateful wolf in sheep's clothing."<br /> Helping Madison up, Taylor noticed the scrapes on Madison's arms and legs, her expression turning cold.<br /> "Wesley, why did you hit my mother? You better give me an explanation."<br /> Wesley looked at Taylor, his wife.<br /> Five years had passed, and she had never shown him kindness.<br /> Taylor dressed impeccably, a paragon of a successful lady, with a face that could be deemed angelic, yet whether her heart was as angelic remained a mystery.<br /> Her figure, too, left countless men yearning.<br /> For five years, Wesley had thought he might develop feelings for this lady, but in reality, it never happened.<br /> "There are surveillance cameras in the house," Wesley stated calmly before descending the stairs into the hallway.<br /> Despite residing in a three-story villa, Wesley's living quarters were confined to the stairwell.<br /> He harbored no resentment towards this arrangement. It was merely a promise. It was just that Taylor failed to appreciate him.<br /> This home held little value that he wished to cling onto.<br /> Retrieving a wooden box from beneath his pillow, Wesley extracted two documents. Casting a fleeting glance at the modest abode he had called home for five years, Wesley smiled faintly.<br /> He thought, "Finally... I'm free."<br /> Pushing the door ajar, Wesley was met by Taylor's piercing gaze. "I've reviewed the surveillance footage. Yes, my mother intended to strike you, but even if she did, what difference would it make?"<br /> "She's a lady. How much could her blows hurt you? Why did you dodge?"<br /> "If you hadn't dodged, my mother wouldn't have tumbled down." Wesley stared at Taylor, unable to comprehend her thought process.<br /> He had no interest in engaging in these arguments. Handing over the two documents to Taylor, he remarked, "The divorce agreement. I've already signed it. Take a look. I'm leaving with nothing."<br /> "With your current influence, there's no need for you to visit the city hall. Someone will handle it for you, right?"<br /> Madison was taken aback. She swiftly snatched the divorce agreement, flipping through it hastily.<br /> The contents were indeed straightforward. Both parties willingly divorced, with Wesley relinquishing all claims and having already signed.<br /> In an instant, Madison's pain seemed to dissipate. "Taylor, sign it quickly. Sign it."<br /> Taylor was still in a daze.<br /> She pondered.<br /> "A divorce agreement? Wesley has already prepared a divorce agreement. On what grounds?"<br /> "What gives him the right to initiate a divorce? All these years, he's done nothing at home, lacking any ambition. Always practicing martial arts, what right does he have to seek a divorce?"<br /> "If anyone should initiate it, it should be me. Moreover, now that I'm back to discussing this matter with him. Could it be that word got out, and Wesley, for the sake of his pride, rushed to prepare a divorce agreement first?"<br /> "It must be so, but... No!"<br /> "Wanting to leave with nothing, is he retreating to advance? As the chairman of the Reed Group, how could I be served with a divorce?"<br /> "Hey Wesley, I never expected this from you. Have I not treated you well enough? You seek a divorce, attempting to turn your retreat into advance, aiming to embarrass me?"<br /> Taylor glared at Wesley. "I'm telling you, it's impossible."<br /> Snatching the divorce agreement, she tore it to shreds.<br /> "Taylor, what are you doing? Such a great opportunity. Why not just sign it and let him leave?" Madison grew anxious.<br /> "Mom, I do intend to divorce this trash, but the decision must come from me. I returned specifically to address this matter."<br /> With that, Taylor produced two documents. "Wesley, remember that it's me who's divorcing you. It's me who no longer wants you. Initially, out of marital obligation, I had considered offering you some compensation. Now, you don't even need to think about it. Sign the divorce agreement and leave my home."<br /> Wesley offered a faint smile as he accepted the divorce agreement.<br /> "What are you laughing at?" Taylor demanded angrily.<br /> Wesley's smile seemed to mock her, fueling her rage.<br /> Ignoring her entirely, Wesley signed the document and handed it over.<br /> "What are you laughing at? Answer me! Who do you think you are?" Taylor roared once more.<br /> Wesley glanced at her before striding towards the exit.<br /> "Stop!" The gent who had accompanied Taylor stepped forward, blocking Wesley's path. "Taylor asked you a question, and... Your previous attitude displeased me. Apologize to Taylor, or I'll have you leave in disgrace!"<br /> <br /> Chapter 2 <br /> "Yes, let him leave in disgrace. He thought he could just hit me and walk away so easily," Madison joined in the commotion, also noticing the gent blocking Wesley's path.<br /> Madison had a keen interest in luxury goods, having frequented various high-end establishments over the years as the Reed family's living conditions improved. The gent was wearing an expensive watch and dressed head to toe in high-end luxury brands.<br /> Seeing Madison's gaze, the gent spoke. "Rest assured, today Wesley must pay the price."<br /> The gent introduced himself, looking at Wesley, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Henry Clark, the eldest son of the Clark family and the general manager of the Clark Group in the North District."<br /> "From now on, I will accompany Taylor on her journey of life, and I will not allow anyone to bully her."<br /> "My identity carries weight. You should understand that. Now, apologize to Taylor. Apologize! Did you hear me? Apologize!"<br /> Madison's eyes lit up. She hadn't expected the gent before her to hold such a high status. She continued to shout, "Did you hear that? Taylor will be with Mr. Clark from now on. Apologize now."<br /> Wesley glanced at Henry, then at Taylor. He thought, "Have they been together all along?" Wesley had wanted to ask but decided against it because there was no need. He simply gave them a glance and continued walking towards the exit.<br /> "Are you ignoring me?" Henry's face turned cold as he reached out to grab Wesley. Henry's hand froze mid-air as he received a solid hit.<br /> "Until I sign the divorce papers, Taylor and I are still wife and husband. I don't care to investigate whether you two had any intimate relationship during that time, but don't provoke me, or I won't hesitate to make you regret it." Wesley's gaze was icy, and as Henry met his eyes, he felt a twinge of fear and swallowed his words.<br /> Taylor was also stunned. She knew exactly what Wesley had been like over the past five years. There were many surveillance cameras in the house, and she would often check them.<br /> Even when Taylor wasn't home, despite how her family treated Wesley, he always obeyed without complaint, especially towards her. He had never raised his voice, no matter how they treated him.<br /> Today, not only did Wesley dodge when her mother struck, but he also initiated the divorce and now even struck Henry. <br /> Taylor was at a loss for words, thinking, "How could this cowardly gent dare? On what grounds does he dare?"<br /> This change was difficult for Taylor to accept as if she didn't truly understand this guy. The gent who used to be obedient to her, completely submissive, now revealed this side of himself. She watched Wesley walk away in a daze, feeling a strange discomfort in her heart.<br /> "Isn't he leaving with nothing?" Alexis pointed at the wooden box Wesley was holding. "What is he taking with him?"<br /> Madison also realized. Over the past five years, Wesley had always treasured this wooden box, carrying it with him wherever he went. She thought there must be something valuable inside.<br /> Realizing this, Madison hurriedly followed. "Wesley, stop right there, leave the wooden box."<br /> Wesley paused, glanced at Madison, and said, "This is my personal belonging."<br /> "Nonsense, what personal belonging could you possibly have after marrying into the Reed family? Everything you've eaten, worn, and lived in over the years has been provided by the Reed family. Put it down."<br /> As she spoke, Madison reached out to grab the wooden box.<br /> "Ah..." A scream rang out as Madison quickly retracted her hand, a gash appearing on her palm, a crimson liquid dripping.<br /> The wooden box was now stained with the same crimson liquid, trembling lightly in Wesley's hand.<br /> "It's not the right time yet, the day you thirst for this crimson liquid will come," Wesley murmured softly, patting the box before turning to continue his stride towards the exit.<br /> "Monster! A monster!" Madison screamed, causing Taylor and the others to rush out. Seeing the wound in Madison's hand, Taylor was filled with rage.<br /> "Wesley, aren't you going to say something?" Wesley halted once more, contemplating before meeting Taylor's gaze.<br /> "Just stay out of my way from now on. Consider this a warning to you."<br /> "Taylor, that wooden box of his has a mechanism. It must hold something valuable! We can't let him take it with him," Madison, enduring the pain, reminded them.<br /> "Mom, your injury is important. We'll deal with him later. Let me take you to the hospital first." Taylor comforted Madison before calling out to the retreating Wesley.<br /> "Our marriage is over! Yet, you dared to hurt my mother! This won't be the end of it! I will make you regret it!" Ignoring her, Wesley continued walking out.<br /> "Rest assured, I promise he won't see the light of day tomorrow." Henry stepped forward to console. "Let's focus on getting your wound treated first."<br /> "I want him to regret ever existing in this world, to apologize to me in repentance," Madison roared.<br /> "Mom, trust me, I will make him do just that." Taylor looked at Madison with a mix of pity and determination. "Let's go to the hospital first."<br /> In the villa area, Wesley halted, his voice cold. "Get out."<br /> An elderly gent leaped down from a tree, appearing to be in his seventies, yet landing silently from a height of around ten feet.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, your father wants you to come home and take charge."<br /> "He stopped being my father five years ago. He's my enemy."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you misunderstood your father. He had his reasons back then. I swear in my life, once you know the truth, you will forgive him."<br /> "Huh!" Wesley smirked coldly, saying, "I nearly passed away back then. Is that also a misunderstanding?"<br /> The old gent pleaded, "Mr. Harrington, this situation is truly not as you perceive it."<br /> Wesley didn't engage further with the old guy. The events of that year were etched in his memory forever. He was the one who had been abandoned. If not for that incident, why would he have stayed with the Reed family for five years?<br /> Watching Wesley walk away, the old gent had tears silently streaming down his face. "Mr. Harrington, I truly... I truly can't bring myself to speak the truth, but you have misunderstood your father. He also bears burdens and endures pains beyond what an ordinary person can handle."<br /> As Wesley's figure disappeared, the old gent stood up, hesitated for a moment, then dialed a number on his phone.<br /> "Mr. Harrington is now divorced. I've given you the news firsthand. If your daughter is truly together with Mr. Harrington, you must fulfill the promise and let her persuade Mr. Harrington to come home."<br /> After hanging up, a middle-aged gent in a luxurious estate jumped up excitedly. Calming himself, he immediately made another call. "My dear, you're at Yeadeo, right?<br /> "Go find Wesley now. Don't mention the engagement for now. Use every means to get close to him, make him fall in love with you."<br /> "Dad, I don't have time."<br /> "No matter what you are busy with, you must go find Wesley now. No matter what reason you approach him, you must leave a good impression the first time."<br /> "Dad, I'm in trouble right now. If I don't handle it well, I might be good as gone. I have to deal with it immediately. I'm hanging up."<br /> Chapter 3 <br /> The middle-aged gent's voice lowered significantly. "Is there a big incident happening? You didn't tell me? What happened?"<br /> "Quinn Kingsley from Yeadeo, Mr. Kingsley, used our product and now has one foot on the grave. If something really happens to him..."<br /> "You mean Quinn, the uncontested leader of Yeadeo?"<br /> "Yes."<br /> "In that case, you should go find Wesley. Trust me, in this world, there is no problem that Wesley can't solve. As long as he's willing to help, you'll be fine. Listen to me, go find Wesley immediately."<br /> The lady fell silent for a moment before saying, "Okay."<br /> At Yeadeo Harbor, a gent with a large flaxen chain and a watch, sporting a crew cut, hurriedly disembarked, accompanied by a dozen gentlemen.<br /> "Mr. Reed, wherever that trash is, we will find him and tear him apart."<br /> "Yes, that guy dared to harm your mother. We'll make sure he pays for it."<br /> Frank Reed's face turned cold. "Wesley, you coward, thinking you can overturn the world? How dare you touch my mom? Just wait until I find you, you're finished."<br /> "We've found him. Wesley got into a taxi, and our boys followed him."<br /> "Let's go!" Frank waved his hand, leading dozens of men who boarded the car with harpoons, steel pipes, and other weapons.<br /> Inside the taxi, Wesley gazed at the scenery outside, feeling a strange sense of tranquility.<br /> He thought to himself, "I never imagined that while I was secretly paving the way for the Reed family, Taylor, after progressing so rapidly, would start looking down on me more and more."<br /> "Those ladies who know my true identity, which one of them isn't trying to throw themselves at me? Ladies like that don't interest me."<br /> "Being an ordinary gent is truly difficult," Wesley murmured, smiling faintly and deciding not to dwell on these matters anymore. He had important things to attend to and no time to waste on personal affairs.<br /> "Young lad, are you going to Feidgeuo Manor for a job interview?" The driver, curious about Wesley's destination, inquired.<br /> Feidgeuo Manor was Yeadeo's most mysterious private area. Originally a villa area, it was bought at a huge cost five years ago and completely renovated. It was said to have cost a trillion dollars. The former villa area was now Feidgeuo Manor.<br /> "That's my home," Wesley replied nonchalantly.<br /> The driver was taken aback by this revelation, silently cursing Wesley for bragging. After a couple of minutes, the driver regained his composure. "It seems like you and I both prefer to keep a low profile. My car usually gathers dust at home, so I occasionally drive a taxi to experience life."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "My car has been driven by my assistant for the past few years, so it's not gathering dust."<br /> "Haha..." The driver laughed. "We should get together sometime and see whose car is more impressive."<br /> "Sure, whenever we have the time."<br /> As they chatted, the vehicle soon arrived near Feidgeuo Manor, where the massive head of the Feidgeuo Peak protruded, creating a unique landscape in Yeadeo.<br /> The driver asked with a smile, "Since you're the owner here, it's fine if I drive in, right?"<br /> "Of course," Wesley replied.<br /> As soon as Wesley spoke, several cars caught up from behind.<br /> The cars surrounded the one Wesley was in, with the front vehicles braking to force the car to a stop.<br /> When numerous people descended from cars wielding harpoons and steel pipes, the driver's face paled.<br /> Frank and his group got out of the cars, instantly closing in, and without hesitation, started attacking, the steel pipes and harpoons thudding against the car.<br /> Frank's henchman yanked open the door of Wesley's car, poised to stab Wesley with a harpoon, but Wesley swiftly exited the vehicle.<br /> With a firm step on the ground, he launched a swift hit.<br /> A muffled sound echoed as the henchman was hit away.<br /> "What are you looking at?" Frank noticed his henchmen were all staring at him. "All of you, attack together and take him down!"<br /> As he commanded, the henchmen Frank brought with him surged forward.<br /> The taxi driver, trembling, took out his phone to call the police, but Frank glared at him. "I am Frank Reed from Yeadeo Harbor. If you dare, go ahead and make that call."<br /> Frank, leveraging his sister Taylor's status, had been causing trouble in Yeadeo Harbor, and no one dared to provoke him.<br /> Upon hearing Frank's name, the driver hastily put away his phone. "Mr. Reed, I'll just check the time, you guys continue."<br /> "Huh!" Frank snorted coldly, casting his gaze towards the surrounded Wesley.<br /> The sounds of thuds continued to ring out incessantly. Because Wesley was completely surrounded, Frank was unable to see the situation inside clearly, but he could imagine it. After all, in Frank's mind, the henchmen under his command were not to be trifled with.<br /> "Hit him hard for me!"<br /> Another muffled sound and a figure flew out. At that moment, Frank finally saw the situation clearly, and his face turned pale.<br /> Frank knew that Wesley liked to practice martial arts, but he had never expected Wesley to be this skilled. It wasn't Wesley who had been beaten, but his own men by Wesley alone.<br /> Frantically, Frank turned and ran to retrieve a crossbow from the car.<br /> "Clear the way." Frank bellowed, aiming the crossbow at Wesley.<br /> "You scumbag, you think you can fight? Move one more time, and I'll end your life! Surrender!"<br /> Wesley, holding a wooden box, stared at Frank. Ignoring the crossbow in his hand, Wesley said, "Tell your henchmen to back off, or you'll all see the light from above!"<br /> "You're really good at pretending to be tough." Frank took two steps forward. "See the light? Move a muscle and see if I can end your life or not! If you don't have the guts, apologize now!"<br /> Wesley turned his head and looked at the approaching cars, with two expensive ones in the lead, two more in the rear, and another one in the middle.<br /> "Keep acting tough, and I'll put a hole in your head." Frank spoke while glancing at the five cars. "What, looking for help?"<br /> "Let me tell you, those who ride in these cars are not the kind of weaklings like you who rely on connections. With me here, in Yeadeo's social hierarchy, even those who ride in such cars wouldn't dare meddle in this matter. And let me make it clear, without my sister, you're nothing."<br /> <br /> Chapter 4<br /> As Frank's words faded, the five cars came to a halt.<br /> A bodyguard opened the door of the one in the middle, revealing a dazzling pair of shining shoes catching everyone's eye.<br /> The shining shoe encased a beautiful foot. Above, the skirt's hem was adorned with lace.<br /> Then, like a fairy stepping out of a painting, she appeared before everyone's eyes.<br /> The lady was beautiful!<br /> Frank was mesmerized. Ever since the Reed family rose to prominence, he had been surrounded by ladies, but compared to the elegant lady before him, they were worlds apart.<br /> It wasn't just a difference in appearance but an incomparable gap in demeanor.<br /> The lady descending from the Maybach seemed like a celestial being untouched by mortal affairs.<br /> The embodiment of a fairy in the mundane world.<br /> She simply stood there after getting out of the car, perfectly embodying what it meant to be graceful and elegant.<br /> The lady glanced at Wesley, then at Frank.<br /> Frank grinned, saying, "May I have the honor of knowing the name of this esteemed lady? I am Frank..."<br /> The lady spoke calmly. "Disrespect Mr. Harrington, and you're done for."<br /> Her bodyguards, unfazed by Frank's crossbow, swiftly overwhelmed him, sending him crashing to the ground.<br /> The henchmen who had come with Frank, previously defeated by Wesley, now scrambled to their feet and fled in all directions.<br /> Who would dare provoke someone who could afford such a car?<br /> "My sister is Taylor Reed, the chairperson of Reed Group," Frank shouted, clutching his head.<br /> Ignoring him, one of the bodyguards dragged him to the roadside grass while another used a belt to tighten around Frank's neck, exerting pressure.<br /> "Enough, a lesson is all that's needed." Wesley spoke calmly, and only when the lady gestured did the bodyguards release Frank.<br /> Frank lay there, already unconscious.<br /> Wesley turned to the lady. "Who are you?"<br /> "I am Mia Roberts, the general manager of Vinver Business Alliance's Yeadeo branch." She looked at Wesley and continued, "Mr. Harrington, my father mentioned that you have miraculous healing skills and earnestly requested your assistance. A generous reward awaits."<br /> Wesley furrowed his brow slightly, thinking, "There are indeed people who recognize my abilities and status, yet I've rarely intervened in the past five years. Today, shortly after I divorced Taylor, she is here. Whose arrangement is this?"<br /> "Mr. Harrington, my father also mentioned that you are benevolent and has raised the banner of compassion among healers, serving as a role model and benchmark for all in the medical field."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "You have a way with words. Tell me the specifics."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, please get in the car first. I will explain in detail on the way."<br /> The phrase "compassionate healer" held significant weight for Wesley, who had saved countless lives from the brink of death.<br /> Without further ado, he got into the car.<br /> Inside, after Mia brewed coffee for Wesley, she began. "Vinver Business Alliance has a wide range of business operations, and I mainly oversee the health supplement sector, which has seen some success in recent years.<br /> "Recently, Quinn Kingsley started using our medicines, and now there's an accident."<br /> As she spoke, Mia kept her gaze fixed on Wesley.<br /> Quinn, the undisputed leader of Yeadeo, was a figure of immense influence.<br /> Upon hearing this name, Wesley showed no particular reaction. "If the city's leader faces issues with your products, it is indeed a concern. Let's go and see."<br /> With just a sentence, Wesley leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest.<br /> Mia was secretly alarmed, thinking, "He knows who Quinn is, yet he seems indifferent. Who is this Wesley, really? No wonder Dad has instructed me to find a way to win his favor." Mia's inner resistance toward Wesley quietly shifted.<br /> Wesley had piqued her curiosity.<br /> As the vehicle was moving, Wesley's phone rang.<br /> Wesley opened his eyes and took out his phone to see Taylor calling.<br /> Pressing the answer button, he asked, "What's the matter?"<br /> On the other end of the line, Taylor, driving towards Feidgeuo Manor, had a grim expression.<br /> She thought, "Has Wesley ever spoken to me in such a cold tone before? Is he really this heartless right after our divorce?"<br /> Already furious, she snapped. "Wesley, do you even consider yourself a human being?<br /> "Today, not only did you lay hands on my mother, but you also had someone attack my brother. Do you not remember our past at all?"<br /> Wesley calmly replied, "Do we have a past to remember?"<br /> "You truly are a heartless scumbag, just as my mother said. You are an ungrateful and vicious person I raised for five years. Even a pet would wag its tail at me!"<br /> Taylor wanted to continue her tirade, but the phone line had already turned busy.<br /> This only fueled her anger further.<br /> Just now, she had received a call from Frank's underlings, informing her that Wesley had sent people to attack Frank and even intended to end him.<br /> Taylor wanted to demand answers, but...<br /> As Taylor was clutching her fists, her gaze turned icy.<br /> After a moment, she picked up her phone again. "Wesley, you are so narrow-minded. You have no ambition. Any lady would steer clear of you."<br /> "Just because I dumped you, you are doing this on purpose to make me feel sick. Pretending to be aloof and seeking revenge? Do you even deserve it?"<br /> "In Yeadeo, squashing you would be as easy as squashing an ant. You're asking for it! If anything happens to my brother, I will make you wish you were ending!"<br /> Her furious voice message echoed in the car.<br /> Wesley chuckled and put away his phone.<br /> Beside him, Mia seemed contemplative. Before coming, she had already ordered a swift investigation into Wesley.<br /> She was curious, thinking, "How could someone valued by my father could be the one 'marrying into' the Reed family."<br /> Being tactful, Mia chose not to ask and pretended not to have heard.<br /> After about forty minutes, they arrived at the Kingsley Manor.<br /> The Kingsley family members, upon seeing Mia alight from the car, all wore grim expressions.<br /> Mia greeted them with a smile, "Everyone, this is Wesley Harrington, Mr. Harrington, the miraculous healer I specially invited to treat Mr. Kingsley."<br /> "Him? The gent who married into the Reed family?"<br /> "A miraculous healer? Is he even worthy? Are healers so worthless now?"<br /> "A useless gent who mooches off of the Reed family? How dare he call himself a miraculous healer? Truly a joke among all jokes."<br /> Chapter 5<br /> <br /> Amanda Kingsley, Quinn's granddaughter, stared coldly at Wesley and Mia.<br /> This lady, dressed in a smart suit, also held significant fame in Yeadeo, overseeing the region's business activities, including investment attraction and various local business negotiations.<br /> Amanda had a favorable view of Taylor, who had risen swiftly in recent times, and they had interacted frequently.<br /> She was aware of Wesley's existence and had advised Taylor to part ways with him early on.<br /> But Amanda never imagined that Mia would bring someone like Wesley, a complete waste, and claim he was a miraculous healer.<br /> Glaring at Mia, she said, "Mia, once my grandfather is well, it's best for your Roberts family to leave Yeadeo."<br /> "As for you..." She glanced at Wesley. "I will advise Taylor to divorce you. You have deceived Taylor's feelings and now shamelessly made your way into my family. You are a despicable creature."<br /> After reprimanding Mia and Wesley, she turned to an elderly gent beside her, and her tone and attitude completely changed. "Mr. Phillips, sorry to trouble you. My grandfather is inside, please."<br /> Mia looked at the elderly gent, who was already in his twilight years, feeling deeply shocked.<br /> Scott Phillips, the 38th generation heir of the Healing Clinic, was now ninety-two years old.<br /> Renowned as a miraculous healer, he was a respected figure in the medical community of Yeadeo and even nationally.<br /> He no longer conducted consultations personally due to his old age. Mia had visited him specifically to pay her respects once she had arrived in Yeadeo but had not met Scott.<br /> She never expected Scott to appear in person. It was understandable, as Quinn held a prominent position in the city. Despite the profound influence of the Phillips family, they still had to show respect to Quinn.<br /> Mia looked at Wesley, feeling conflicted and thinking, "Dad has confidently claimed that Wesley has extraordinary abilities, but does he really?"<br /> She harbored doubts, but out of propriety, Mia spoke. "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the trouble."<br /> Wesley smiled, "It's fine. As long as the person can be healed."<br /> His open-mindedness impressed Mia.<br /> After about half an hour, Amanda emerged from the room. All eyes instantly turned towards her.<br /> It was evident that Amanda had wailed out, with traces of tears still visible.<br /> "Amanda, how is it?" A middle-aged gent anxiously asked her.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family who had rushed back also focused their attention on her.<br /> "Mr. Phillips said that there's little hope of recovery. He could only use acupuncture to wake grandfather for half an hour. When grandfather wakes up, let's all go in and see if he has any final instructions."<br /> Everyone was shocked.<br /> "How could this be?"<br /> "Is Mr. Phillips also helpless?"<br /> The members of the Kingsley family found it hard to accept this reality, especially since Quinn had always treated his juniors well.<br /> The thought of Quinn departing saddened some, and tears silently fell.<br /> Publicly, Quinn's status was the foundation of the Kingsley family's prominence in Yeadeo.<br /> If Quinn were to pass away, the Kingsley family would undoubtedly decline.<br /> The atmosphere within the Kingsley family was somber.<br /> Amanda looked at her family members, opened her mouth, but said nothing, silently turning back into the room.<br /> "Stop crying," A middle-aged gent said sternly, "Dad wouldn't want to see you all in tears. If he's really leaving, we mustn't let him worry about us. Pull yourselves together."<br /> After these words, the middle-aged gent also entered the room.<br /> The younger members of the Kingsley family wiped their tears vigorously, trying to force smiles, but in truth, they looked better at crying than pretending to be happy.<br /> Mia's spirit plummeted as she realized the gravity of the situation. Even if an ordinary person passed away from consuming health supplements, it spelled big trouble for those who sold them. And when the deceased happened to be Quinn, the stakes were even higher.<br /> She understood that it would be difficult for this branch to stay in Yeadeo, and even the headquarters might face repercussions.<br /> "Let's go in and have a look." Wesley glanced at Mia. "There might still be a chance."<br /> "Ah..." Mia stared at Wesley in surprise. Seeing him already heading towards the room, she quickly followed suit.<br /> Inside the room, the members of the Kingsley family stood around the mattress, maintaining a certain distance.<br /> Scott lit the alcohol lamp and took out the needles, his expression solemn.<br /> He looked at the members of the Kingsley family. "Think about what you want to say to Mr. Kingsley later. Once you're ready, let me know, and then I'll proceed with the acupuncture."<br /> As he said this, tears welled up in many eyes.<br /> "If you don't mind, let me take a look. I have a way." Wesley spoke up, drawing everyone's attention.<br /> Amanda's face darkened. "Who let you in? Get out!"<br /> "Mia, have you lost your mind? Tricked by this trash and actually brought him here as a miracle healer. Get out with him! I'll settle the score with you in a couple of days."<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, at a loss for words.<br /> "Even Mr. Phillips is unable to reverse the situation. What use are you? Get out." Another younger member of the Kingsley family angrily rebuked.<br /> The middle-aged gent added, "We're in no mood right now. You better leave immediately."<br /> "I understand your narrow-mindedness," Wesley continued, "But as a healer, once I see a patient, I cannot stand by and watch him draw his last breath."<br /> "Wesley, you're quite the charlatan. Do you really want to be gone right now?" Amanda's voice was filled with anger.<br /> "Amanda, let me say a few words," Scott interjected, and Amanda fell silent.<br /> Looking at Wesley, Scott began. "Young lad, at my age, I've seen a lot and have a broad perspective. Today, however, I find it hard to remain indifferent. I practiced medicine from the age of sixteen until I stopped seeing patients for a total of seventy years."<br /> "I've saved countless patients from various illnesses. I never easily declare a patient's fate, nor do I believe I have the right to do so."<br /> "But from your recent remarks, it seems like you're accusing me of such actions. Young people wanting to make a name for themselves by stepping on the shoulders of their predecessors, I can understand."<br /> "But this kind of behavior displeases me."<br /> "My displeasure, what does it mean to you? Do you understand?"<br /> "Even if you are a healer, your career will be ruined because of this."<br /> Chapter 6 <br /> In the face of Scott's veiled threats, Wesley simply smiled and brushed them off.<br /> Looking at Scott, he asked, "I've always focused on the issue at hand rather than attacking individuals. I have a few questions for you. If you can't administer the needles, how long do you think Quinn can hold on?"<br /> "Seven days, but he will remain unconscious," Scott replied bluntly.<br /> "Then let me ask you this, is there anyone in the world with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "Outrageous," Amanda coldly interjected, "Mr. Phillips is unparalleled in his medical expertise."<br /> Scott glanced at Amanda. "Amanda, let me handle this question."<br /> Continuing to address Wesley, he said, "I don't underestimate myself, nor do I overestimate. There are countless talented individuals in the world, like stars in the sky. I may not dare claim to be the best in medical skills, but those who surpass me are few."<br /> "That means there are some," Wesley calmly remarked, causing Scott's expression to shift slightly, "Indeed, there are."<br /> "Then let me ask you this. Do you think within seven days, the Kingsley family won't find someone with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "If they do find someone, do you believe there is an illness that you cannot cure, but this person can?"<br /> Wesley's questions were sharp and resounding.<br /> Scott's face changed once more as he was rendered speechless.<br /> "Even if there is, that person will never be you." Amanda's face turned icy. "Now get out. Don't spout your eloquence here. Your deceitful behavior is repulsive."<br /> "Your understanding of me is merely hearsay, isn't it?" Wesley retorted, his gaze mocking Amanda, "Has your background and education taught you such arrogance and prejudice?"<br /> "Arrogance?" Amanda's face grew colder as she disdainfully looked at Wesley. "Prejudice?<br /> "Did I say something wrong just now? You are nothing but stagnant waste, a parasite living off others. If it weren't for Taylor, you would have starved on the streets long ago."<br /> "Relying on sweet words, deceiving Taylor. She, with her kind heart, can't bear to divorce you, but don't push your luck. If it weren't for Taylor's sake, you would have been sent out long ago."<br /> Scott interrupted Amanda, "Amanda, although I find this lad a bit annoying, what he said does hold some truth. There are indeed individuals with better medical skills than me. Your grandfather can hold on for seven days. Try reaching out to see if someone can come over. I'll help you make connections."<br /> "If it really doesn't work out after seven days, I'll administer the needles to your grandfather. However, at that point, I can only buy you three minutes."<br /> As soon as Scott spoke, the faces of the Kingsley family members grew even more solemn. True healers were rare and not easily summoned.<br /> While the Kingsley family had connections in Yeadeo, their influence waned outside of it.<br /> "Mr. Phillips, please administer the needles. Life has its ups and downs, and we understand that. Just buy my father a bit more time." The middle-aged gent spoke up.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family nodded in agreement.<br /> Amanda looked at Scott. "Mr. Phillips, please."<br /> "In that case, please have everyone unrelated leave. I need silence," Scott calmly stated.<br /> Amanda glared at Wesley, her eyes speaking volumes without a word.<br /> The unrelated individuals were, naturally, Wesley and Mia.<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, intending to leave, but she suddenly hesitated.<br /> Instead of leaving, Wesley moved forward.<br /> "What are you doing?" A young member of the Kingsley family stepped forward with a stern expression, pushing Wesley.<br /> In one swift motion, Wesley executed a clean shoulder throw, toppling the young gent to the ground, his own expression turning cold.<br /> "A bunch of fools! If it weren't for my teacher's teachings about not turning a blind eye to those in need, I wouldn't bother with you ignorant lot," Wesley remarked with disdain.<br /> As Wesley effortlessly took down one individual from the Kingsley family, the others seemed slow to react.<br /> By the time they realized what was happening, Wesley had already picked up the needle next to Scott and casually flicked his wrist.<br /> The needle flew out of his hand, piercing Quinn's temple, followed by a second needle, a third needle, and so on.<br /> "What are you doing? Stop!" Amanda's voice rose in urgency, echoed by the rest of the Kingsley family members who rushed forward to restrain Wesley.<br /> "Stay back, everyone. Wait." Scott suddenly stood up, blocking the others. "Let him try."<br /> Amanda and the others were left dumbfounded, thinking, "What does this mean?"<br /> Despite their confusion, they heeded Scott's words.<br /> After Scott stopped the members of the Kingsley family, he fixed his gaze on Wesley.<br /> Wesley proceeded to use eighteen needles in succession, symbolizing the levels of pain.<br /> Even if someone had descended into the depths of hell, they must be brought back.<br /> The final needle, also piercing a vital point, caused Quinn's body to tremble suddenly, resonating with the previous eighteen needles.<br /> Scott's eyes widened, his body trembling slightly. His reaction left Amanda and the others even more puzzled, but none dared to interrupt.<br /> Moments later, Wesley placed a palm on Quinn's chest, causing all eighteen needles to be shaken off. When all the needles landed on the ground, the part of the skin where the needles had pierced turned dark.<br /> Wesley then dragged Quinn to the edge of the mattress, flipped him over with his head facing downwards, and gave him a firm pat on the back.<br /> Quinn spat out a mouthful of black liquid. When Wesley flipped him back to lie flat, his complexion had regained some color.<br /> "The Hand of Darkness... It's the Hand of Darkness!" Scott exclaimed with excitement, his body quivering, "It's the Hand that descends into the dark world, snatching people from the hands of the Evil!"<br /> "You do have some knowledge, recognizing the Hand of Darkness." Wesley glanced at Scott.<br /> Scott's gaze towards Wesley had undergone a drastic change. He respectfully clasped his hands together.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thirty years ago, I had the honor of attending a teaching conference held by Mr. Vanderbilt. I saw the Hand of Darkness, but my limited aptitude only allowed me to grasp the basics."<br /> "I have been blind and ignorant. I apologize for my earlier offenses. Please forgive me, Mr. Harrington."<br /> The Mr. Vanderbilt Scott referred to was Wesley's teacher, Ulysses Vanderbilt. He generously imparted his skills to others, but the ability to learn depended on one's innate talent.<br /> In this world, few could learn Ulysses' skills.<br /> Scott had been fortunate to receive guidance from Ulysses, which had elevated his medical skills. However, the Hand of Darkness, a miraculous ability, was beyond his comprehension.<br /> Wesley smiled faintly, "Your actions earlier are understandable. I appreciate your words."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you must be an exceptional disciple of Mr. Vanderbilt, possessing unparalleled magnanimity. Impressive," Scott continued.<br /> "Enough with the flattery at your age."<br /> "You are mistaken, Mr. Harrington. Every word I speak is sincere."<br /> Mia, Amanda, and the others stood bewildered by the unfolding situation.<br /> "Mr. Phillips... he... he..." Amanda's words faltered.<br /> Scott turned to the members of the Kingsley family. "Meeting Mr. Harrington was Quinn's luck. His symptoms have been cured by Mr. Harrington. With a few days of rest, he will be fine."<br /> The waste Taylor had previously said was called Mr. Harrington by Scott!<br /> Recalling their previous attitudes, Amanda hurriedly apologized, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> The members of the Kingsley family all apologized in unison, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> Chapter 7 <br /> With a faint smile, Wesley remarked, "As family members of a patient, your actions earlier are understandable. There's no need for such formality."<br /> Amanda's perplexity deepened as she thought, "Where is the cowardly waste that Taylor described? This display of magnanimity and breadth is far from it."<br /> Mia, too, felt a shiver of realization, thinking, "No wonder Dad has insisted on my proximity to Wesley.<br /> This guy..."<br /> She gazed at Wesley, her curiosity piqued, a sense of exploration stirring within her.<br /> "Mia has brought you here, Mr. Harrington, to cure my grandfather. The Kingsley family will never forget this act. However, considering that my grandfather's ailment stemmed from the health supplements produced by the Vinver Business Alliance, we will be conducting an investigation into it."<br /> Amanda continued, looking at Wesley, "What do you think... of this approach?"<br /> It was Mia who had invited Wesley, so Amanda had grown wiser, refraining from asking for a direct punishment of the Vinver Business Alliance.<br /> As Mia heard Amanda's words, her heart skipped a beat, realizing trouble was brewing.<br /> "On the way here, Ms. Roberts briefed me on the situation. You conducted experiments on mice, correct?"<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes, the health supplements we received were exclusively provided by the Roberts family. There were no similar cases on the market, so we used mice for testing.<br /> "All the mice that ingested this supplement were gone."<br /> She looked at Mia and added, her voice turning colder, "Before the experiment, I specifically contacted Mia to inquire about the testing methods during the development phase, which involved mice.<br /> "There have been individuals eyeing my grandfather's position, some even wishing for his demise. I never imagined that the Vinver Business Alliance, which I attracted for investment, would become a weapon in someone else's hands."<br /> "Do you have any of the remaining medicine?" Wesley inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes."<br /> "Bring some over."<br /> Immediately, someone fetched the medicine. After it was brought to him, Wesley took out a supplement and swallowed it directly.<br /> This scene left Amanda and the others dumbfounded.<br /> Scott, too, was bewildered. "Mr. Harrington, what are you doing?"<br /> Wesley smiled, "Just proving that this medicine is not toxic."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thank you," Mia thanked sincerely, feeling like crying at that moment.<br /> Amanda, with a puzzled expression, looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, are you suggesting that my grandfather's condition wasn't caused by the Vinver Business Alliance's medicine? What about the mice?"<br /> The rest were equally puzzled.<br /> "Yes, but not entirely," Wesley said, leaving everyone even more bewildered.<br /> Mia's emotions were like a rollercoaster ride, from relief to immediate tension.<br /> "This medicine itself is not toxic, but when taken with another substance made from a certain plant, it results in Quinn's condition. The mice would die immediately, while humans could endure a few more days."<br /> Wesley continued to explain, "The plant used in this concoction is originally meant for crafting slow-acting toxins, not for human consumption."<br /> Looking at Amanda, Wesley said, "During this period, whoever had access to your grandfather and the mice will better understand why these events occurred."<br /> The gaze of members of the Kingsley family immediately focused on a lady.<br /> Amanda, somewhat incredulous, looked at her. "Can you offer an explanation?"<br /> The lady was the wife of Amanda's deceased brother. She found it hard to accept, as did the rest of the Kingsley family.<br /> This lady had been named the exemplary lady who served her family well this year, not due to her connection with the Kingsley family but because she genuinely deserved it.<br /> "What do you mean? Amanda, what explanation do you want from me?"<br /> The lady stared at Amanda. "Am I the only one who had access to Grandfather and the mice? You, and you... and you, who didn't have access?"<br /> "You all claim to treat me as family. Since I married into the Kingsley family, I have worked diligently, contributing my share even if not acknowledged."<br /> "Amanda, it has been over a year since your brother passed, and I never once considered remarrying. Now, just because of his words, you demand an explanation from me?"<br /> Pointing at Wesley, the lady questioned, "Just because he accuses me of poisoning, you suspect me? Tell me, did I poison him?" The lady glared at Wesley.<br /> "I am merely analyzing the facts. As for concluding this case, it's not within my purview," Wesley addressed the members of the Kingsley family, saying, "You should conduct a thorough investigation into this matter.<br /> "I will write a prescription. Have Quinn take it on time, and he will recover in seven days."<br /> Amanda hurried to fetch paper and pen while Wesley prepared the prescription. Once done, he was ready to leave.<br /> Amanda said hurriedly, "Mr. Harrington, I've already made arrangements for lunch."<br /> "No need," Wesley smiled.<br /> The Kingsley family sought to build closer ties with Wesley, given his extraordinary medical skills. Wesley was well aware of this.<br /> Looking at Amanda and the others, Wesley remarked, "In the future, if you encounter any difficult medical cases that others cannot solve, seek me out. Remember, cases others cannot solve."<br /> The gaze of the Kingsley family members toward Wesley changed once again. Many renowned healers had eccentric personalities and were difficult to engage.<br /> They hadn't expected Wesley to possess such remarkable medical skills without any airs.<br /> As Wesley prepared to depart, the members of the Kingsley family did not dare to insist on his stay, so they accompanied him outside.<br /> "Oh, how could we forget such an important matter? Amanda, what about the consultation fee?" The middle-aged gent inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the oversight. Please wait a moment." Amanda hurried back inside and soon returned with a bank card in hand.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, there's one million dollars in here."<br /> Without hesitation, Wesley accepted the bank card and boarded Mia's car.<br /> During the journey, Mia boldly looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, you've helped me immensely. Can I treat you to a meal? Don't decline in a hurry. It's not a fancy restaurant, but it will leave you wanting more. It's a small place on the street, with only eight plates of noodles served each day, each plate containing different ingredients.<br /> "I managed to secure a reservation. Are you interested?"<br /> Wesley thought, "Eight Plates of Noodles? Ah, Aaron's restaurant. It has been a while since I visited those old friends."<br /> Wesley nodded. "Let's go then."<br /> The restaurant, Eight Plates of Noodles, was located on Chanxold Street near the Yeadeo First Central Hospital.<br /> The establishment was small, serving only eight plates of noodles each day at a price of 10 thousand dollars each. Vernoic's television culinary program had specifically covered this incident.<br /> Reservations were a must to secure a plate.<br /> The restaurant's owner had a mysterious background. While the specifics were unknown, a high-ranking noble from the capital of Vernoic, Kingsland, had caused a scene there once.<br /> He had attempted to force his way in without a reservation. Although this incident hadn't been reported, rumors suggested that a garbage truck had to be called to dispose of the intruder's remains, as he was too shattered to be removed by conventional means.<br /> Since then, no one dared to cause trouble.<br /> On their way, Mia introduced Wesley to the background story.<br /> "Mr. Turner, two plates of noodles." Mia called out once they arrived.<br /> Aaron Turner didn't respond but visibly paused upon seeing Wesley beside Mia.<br /> A faint smile appeared on his usually stoic face. Though the flesh on the face seemed stiff, it was indeed a smile. "Coming right up."<br /> Mia glanced at Aaron with a hint of surprise, thinking, "When did he become so warm and enthusiastic? His tone seemed a bit agitated earlier, didn't it?"<br /> Soon enough, Aaron brought two plates of noodles to the table. One steaming hot and the other devoid of any warmth.<br /> As Mia observed Aaron placing the plate without steam in front of Wesley, her expression changed slightly.<br /> It was a plate of instant noodles having soaked in cold water, with the seasoning barely dissolved.<br /> She felt a sense of panic. Mia had wanted to leave a good impression on Wesley, which was why she had chosen this place.<br /> However, Aaron had served such a plate of noodles.<br /> She dared not question Aaron. The type of noodles served here was not determined by the guests but by Aaron's mood.<br /> "This girl named Mia is quite something, living up to her name, and quite kind-hearted," Aaron remarked, looking at Wesley.<br /> "Get lost," Wesley retorted, using his fork to pick up the noodles and devouring them.<br /> Mia's face turned pale instantly. Disrespecting Aaron was akin to risking Wesley's life.<br /> To her astonishment, Aaron chuckled, tears welling up in his eyes.<br /> He wiped them away. "Alright, I'll leave you to your meal."<br /> Before departing, he gave Mia a thumbs-up. "Seize the opportunity."<br /> The eight plates of noodles symbolized the eight comrades who had faced life and life-threatening situations together.<br /> Wesley ate voraciously. Initially, they had only one pack of instant noodles to share among the eight of them, forcing them to divide it.<br /> Despite the circumstances, they devoured the noodles joyfully.<br /> Aaron had promised that once they survived, each one would have the most delicious plate of noodles.<br /> However, five of the eight had perished.<br /> Wesley had come dangerously close to life-threatening situations, but managed to cling to life.<br /> For him, the plate of noodles was not food but the bond of friendship that had shielded him from harm.<br /> "Do you... know each other?" Mia couldn't help but ask, her voice low and curious.<br /> "Some things are better left unknown," Wesley replied.<br /> Mia nodded in understanding, falling silent as they continued eating noodles. She couldn't help stealing glances at Wesley throughout the meal.<br /> This gent had piqued her curiosity even more.<br /> "Wesley, I see. No wonder you agreed to the divorce so readily. You've already found someone else outside."<br /> A sharp voice interrupted their meal.<br /> Taylor approached with a cold expression, accompanied by Henry.	Adoread Romance story	8	https://facebook.com/61557113391558	INSTALL_MOBILE_APP	1713250800	View Edit Delete
1666963	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727712	1734958299	695	422402953720964	1	1.9028228268359E+15	1713337200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	235254296344339	0	Adoread Romance story	120207848358590113	play.google.com	Install now	NONE	video	HOT BOOK✨Tap the button to read more👉		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.adoread.book		1713261157	2.3525429634434E+14	Adoread Romance story	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436236231_743217614661956_5188923105667158496_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=re1p5QzaQ8QQ7kNvgEdPrc9&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBQsAxqkb1uC-2sRds1yPXAsvY7AclD7QI6okO8YHUbxg&oe=663A6671	person_profile	0	Adoread Romance story	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436252788_1102450227644432_1492552067174809566_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ms8l6DajUDcQ7kNvgHnt5VY&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBgnuYaMTtp31kj-B7iJ4haHOe56FjEcJKV5GfS1wSe1w&oe=663A81B9	0	3	Chapter 1 <br /> "Wesley, are you trying to harm me? You useless piece of trash, can't even make a decent cup of coffee, can you?"<br /> Madison Blair lifted her coffee cup and splashed it directly onto Wesley Harrington's face.<br /> "What are you looking at, you spineless waste? Your name sounds so lofty? I might as well call you a waste."<br /> Glancing at the grotesque expression of his wife's mother, Wesley pulled out his phone to check the time.<br /> Exactly twelve o'clock. It had been five full years since he married Taylor Reed.<br /> The appointed time had come.<br /> He had fulfilled his promise, safeguarding the Reed family for five years, transforming them from a family living off fishing to one perceived as affluent by the common folk.<br /> Wiping the coffee off his face, he turned and walked away.<br /> "Where do you think you're going? Go fetch some more coffee," Madison shouted.<br /> "Madison, didn't you say this waste is obedient at home, doing whatever he's told? I don't think he's taking it lying down."<br /> Madison grew angrier. "Wesley, you stop right there. My family has fed and housed you. If you dare disobey, I'll have you thrown out!"<br /> Ignoring her, Wesley continued downstairs.<br /> "When Taylor comes back, I'll immediately have you two divorced. Do you hear me? Stay right there," Madison threatened, "I'll let you know your place today."<br /> Grabbing a golf club, Madison swiftly charged towards Wesley.<br /> Seeing Wesley heading downstairs, she swung the club viciously at his back.<br /> Without turning back, Wesley gently sidestepped.<br /> Losing her balance, Madison tumbled forward, rolling down the stairs with a series of thumps.<br /> "Ouch... it hurts, it hurts so much!"<br /> As Madison reached the ground floor, she wailed in pain and her sister immediately rushed to her.<br /> "Wesley, what have you done? How dare you hit my sister!" Madison's sister hurried down, checking on Madison's condition.<br /> Wesley remained silent, observing the scene.<br /> "Quick, call Taylor. Tell her to come back. Today, she must divorce this waste." Madison glared at Wesley. "How dare you hit me? Not only will I let Taylor divorce you, but I'll make sure you leave in disgrace."<br /> "Mum, what's wrong?" At that moment, a gent and a lady walked in.<br /> The lady was Taylor, Madison's daughter.<br /> She ran towards Madison.<br /> As Madison pointed at Wesley, tears streamed down her face. "Taylor, he hit me, he hit me! When you're not home, he changes his attitude, scolding and hitting me in the slightest displeasure. He even pushed me down the stairs just now. Alexis can testify."<br /> Madison's sister, Alexis Blair, chimed in. "Yes, Wesley, this trash not only hit your mother but also threatened to hit me too. We cannot tolerate such trash."<br /> "Taylor, I have been telling you to divorce him for years. You've been supporting him, treating him like a Lord at home, but he's an ungrateful wolf in sheep's clothing."<br /> Helping Madison up, Taylor noticed the scrapes on Madison's arms and legs, her expression turning cold.<br /> "Wesley, why did you hit my mother? You better give me an explanation."<br /> Wesley looked at Taylor, his wife.<br /> Five years had passed, and she had never shown him kindness.<br /> Taylor dressed impeccably, a paragon of a successful lady, with a face that could be deemed angelic, yet whether her heart was as angelic remained a mystery.<br /> Her figure, too, left countless men yearning.<br /> For five years, Wesley had thought he might develop feelings for this lady, but in reality, it never happened.<br /> "There are surveillance cameras in the house," Wesley stated calmly before descending the stairs into the hallway.<br /> Despite residing in a three-story villa, Wesley's living quarters were confined to the stairwell.<br /> He harbored no resentment towards this arrangement. It was merely a promise. It was just that Taylor failed to appreciate him.<br /> This home held little value that he wished to cling onto.<br /> Retrieving a wooden box from beneath his pillow, Wesley extracted two documents. Casting a fleeting glance at the modest abode he had called home for five years, Wesley smiled faintly.<br /> He thought, "Finally... I'm free."<br /> Pushing the door ajar, Wesley was met by Taylor's piercing gaze. "I've reviewed the surveillance footage. Yes, my mother intended to strike you, but even if she did, what difference would it make?"<br /> "She's a lady. How much could her blows hurt you? Why did you dodge?"<br /> "If you hadn't dodged, my mother wouldn't have tumbled down." Wesley stared at Taylor, unable to comprehend her thought process.<br /> He had no interest in engaging in these arguments. Handing over the two documents to Taylor, he remarked, "The divorce agreement. I've already signed it. Take a look. I'm leaving with nothing."<br /> "With your current influence, there's no need for you to visit the city hall. Someone will handle it for you, right?"<br /> Madison was taken aback. She swiftly snatched the divorce agreement, flipping through it hastily.<br /> The contents were indeed straightforward. Both parties willingly divorced, with Wesley relinquishing all claims and having already signed.<br /> In an instant, Madison's pain seemed to dissipate. "Taylor, sign it quickly. Sign it."<br /> Taylor was still in a daze.<br /> She pondered.<br /> "A divorce agreement? Wesley has already prepared a divorce agreement. On what grounds?"<br /> "What gives him the right to initiate a divorce? All these years, he's done nothing at home, lacking any ambition. Always practicing martial arts, what right does he have to seek a divorce?"<br /> "If anyone should initiate it, it should be me. Moreover, now that I'm back to discussing this matter with him. Could it be that word got out, and Wesley, for the sake of his pride, rushed to prepare a divorce agreement first?"<br /> "It must be so, but... No!"<br /> "Wanting to leave with nothing, is he retreating to advance? As the chairman of the Reed Group, how could I be served with a divorce?"<br /> "Hey Wesley, I never expected this from you. Have I not treated you well enough? You seek a divorce, attempting to turn your retreat into advance, aiming to embarrass me?"<br /> Taylor glared at Wesley. "I'm telling you, it's impossible."<br /> Snatching the divorce agreement, she tore it to shreds.<br /> "Taylor, what are you doing? Such a great opportunity. Why not just sign it and let him leave?" Madison grew anxious.<br /> "Mom, I do intend to divorce this trash, but the decision must come from me. I returned specifically to address this matter."<br /> With that, Taylor produced two documents. "Wesley, remember that it's me who's divorcing you. It's me who no longer wants you. Initially, out of marital obligation, I had considered offering you some compensation. Now, you don't even need to think about it. Sign the divorce agreement and leave my home."<br /> Wesley offered a faint smile as he accepted the divorce agreement.<br /> "What are you laughing at?" Taylor demanded angrily.<br /> Wesley's smile seemed to mock her, fueling her rage.<br /> Ignoring her entirely, Wesley signed the document and handed it over.<br /> "What are you laughing at? Answer me! Who do you think you are?" Taylor roared once more.<br /> Wesley glanced at her before striding towards the exit.<br /> "Stop!" The gent who had accompanied Taylor stepped forward, blocking Wesley's path. "Taylor asked you a question, and... Your previous attitude displeased me. Apologize to Taylor, or I'll have you leave in disgrace!"<br /> <br /> Chapter 2 <br /> "Yes, let him leave in disgrace. He thought he could just hit me and walk away so easily," Madison joined in the commotion, also noticing the gent blocking Wesley's path.<br /> Madison had a keen interest in luxury goods, having frequented various high-end establishments over the years as the Reed family's living conditions improved. The gent was wearing an expensive watch and dressed head to toe in high-end luxury brands.<br /> Seeing Madison's gaze, the gent spoke. "Rest assured, today Wesley must pay the price."<br /> The gent introduced himself, looking at Wesley, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Henry Clark, the eldest son of the Clark family and the general manager of the Clark Group in the North District."<br /> "From now on, I will accompany Taylor on her journey of life, and I will not allow anyone to bully her."<br /> "My identity carries weight. You should understand that. Now, apologize to Taylor. Apologize! Did you hear me? Apologize!"<br /> Madison's eyes lit up. She hadn't expected the gent before her to hold such a high status. She continued to shout, "Did you hear that? Taylor will be with Mr. Clark from now on. Apologize now."<br /> Wesley glanced at Henry, then at Taylor. He thought, "Have they been together all along?" Wesley had wanted to ask but decided against it because there was no need. He simply gave them a glance and continued walking towards the exit.<br /> "Are you ignoring me?" Henry's face turned cold as he reached out to grab Wesley. Henry's hand froze mid-air as he received a solid hit.<br /> "Until I sign the divorce papers, Taylor and I are still wife and husband. I don't care to investigate whether you two had any intimate relationship during that time, but don't provoke me, or I won't hesitate to make you regret it." Wesley's gaze was icy, and as Henry met his eyes, he felt a twinge of fear and swallowed his words.<br /> Taylor was also stunned. She knew exactly what Wesley had been like over the past five years. There were many surveillance cameras in the house, and she would often check them.<br /> Even when Taylor wasn't home, despite how her family treated Wesley, he always obeyed without complaint, especially towards her. He had never raised his voice, no matter how they treated him.<br /> Today, not only did Wesley dodge when her mother struck, but he also initiated the divorce and now even struck Henry. <br /> Taylor was at a loss for words, thinking, "How could this cowardly gent dare? On what grounds does he dare?"<br /> This change was difficult for Taylor to accept as if she didn't truly understand this guy. The gent who used to be obedient to her, completely submissive, now revealed this side of himself. She watched Wesley walk away in a daze, feeling a strange discomfort in her heart.<br /> "Isn't he leaving with nothing?" Alexis pointed at the wooden box Wesley was holding. "What is he taking with him?"<br /> Madison also realized. Over the past five years, Wesley had always treasured this wooden box, carrying it with him wherever he went. She thought there must be something valuable inside.<br /> Realizing this, Madison hurriedly followed. "Wesley, stop right there, leave the wooden box."<br /> Wesley paused, glanced at Madison, and said, "This is my personal belonging."<br /> "Nonsense, what personal belonging could you possibly have after marrying into the Reed family? Everything you've eaten, worn, and lived in over the years has been provided by the Reed family. Put it down."<br /> As she spoke, Madison reached out to grab the wooden box.<br /> "Ah..." A scream rang out as Madison quickly retracted her hand, a gash appearing on her palm, a crimson liquid dripping.<br /> The wooden box was now stained with the same crimson liquid, trembling lightly in Wesley's hand.<br /> "It's not the right time yet, the day you thirst for this crimson liquid will come," Wesley murmured softly, patting the box before turning to continue his stride towards the exit.<br /> "Monster! A monster!" Madison screamed, causing Taylor and the others to rush out. Seeing the wound in Madison's hand, Taylor was filled with rage.<br /> "Wesley, aren't you going to say something?" Wesley halted once more, contemplating before meeting Taylor's gaze.<br /> "Just stay out of my way from now on. Consider this a warning to you."<br /> "Taylor, that wooden box of his has a mechanism. It must hold something valuable! We can't let him take it with him," Madison, enduring the pain, reminded them.<br /> "Mom, your injury is important. We'll deal with him later. Let me take you to the hospital first." Taylor comforted Madison before calling out to the retreating Wesley.<br /> "Our marriage is over! Yet, you dared to hurt my mother! This won't be the end of it! I will make you regret it!" Ignoring her, Wesley continued walking out.<br /> "Rest assured, I promise he won't see the light of day tomorrow." Henry stepped forward to console. "Let's focus on getting your wound treated first."<br /> "I want him to regret ever existing in this world, to apologize to me in repentance," Madison roared.<br /> "Mom, trust me, I will make him do just that." Taylor looked at Madison with a mix of pity and determination. "Let's go to the hospital first."<br /> In the villa area, Wesley halted, his voice cold. "Get out."<br /> An elderly gent leaped down from a tree, appearing to be in his seventies, yet landing silently from a height of around ten feet.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, your father wants you to come home and take charge."<br /> "He stopped being my father five years ago. He's my enemy."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you misunderstood your father. He had his reasons back then. I swear in my life, once you know the truth, you will forgive him."<br /> "Huh!" Wesley smirked coldly, saying, "I nearly passed away back then. Is that also a misunderstanding?"<br /> The old gent pleaded, "Mr. Harrington, this situation is truly not as you perceive it."<br /> Wesley didn't engage further with the old guy. The events of that year were etched in his memory forever. He was the one who had been abandoned. If not for that incident, why would he have stayed with the Reed family for five years?<br /> Watching Wesley walk away, the old gent had tears silently streaming down his face. "Mr. Harrington, I truly... I truly can't bring myself to speak the truth, but you have misunderstood your father. He also bears burdens and endures pains beyond what an ordinary person can handle."<br /> As Wesley's figure disappeared, the old gent stood up, hesitated for a moment, then dialed a number on his phone.<br /> "Mr. Harrington is now divorced. I've given you the news firsthand. If your daughter is truly together with Mr. Harrington, you must fulfill the promise and let her persuade Mr. Harrington to come home."<br /> After hanging up, a middle-aged gent in a luxurious estate jumped up excitedly. Calming himself, he immediately made another call. "My dear, you're at Yeadeo, right?<br /> "Go find Wesley now. Don't mention the engagement for now. Use every means to get close to him, make him fall in love with you."<br /> "Dad, I don't have time."<br /> "No matter what you are busy with, you must go find Wesley now. No matter what reason you approach him, you must leave a good impression the first time."<br /> "Dad, I'm in trouble right now. If I don't handle it well, I might be good as gone. I have to deal with it immediately. I'm hanging up."<br /> Chapter 3 <br /> The middle-aged gent's voice lowered significantly. "Is there a big incident happening? You didn't tell me? What happened?"<br /> "Quinn Kingsley from Yeadeo, Mr. Kingsley, used our product and now has one foot on the grave. If something really happens to him..."<br /> "You mean Quinn, the uncontested leader of Yeadeo?"<br /> "Yes."<br /> "In that case, you should go find Wesley. Trust me, in this world, there is no problem that Wesley can't solve. As long as he's willing to help, you'll be fine. Listen to me, go find Wesley immediately."<br /> The lady fell silent for a moment before saying, "Okay."<br /> At Yeadeo Harbor, a gent with a large flaxen chain and a watch, sporting a crew cut, hurriedly disembarked, accompanied by a dozen gentlemen.<br /> "Mr. Reed, wherever that trash is, we will find him and tear him apart."<br /> "Yes, that guy dared to harm your mother. We'll make sure he pays for it."<br /> Frank Reed's face turned cold. "Wesley, you coward, thinking you can overturn the world? How dare you touch my mom? Just wait until I find you, you're finished."<br /> "We've found him. Wesley got into a taxi, and our boys followed him."<br /> "Let's go!" Frank waved his hand, leading dozens of men who boarded the car with harpoons, steel pipes, and other weapons.<br /> Inside the taxi, Wesley gazed at the scenery outside, feeling a strange sense of tranquility.<br /> He thought to himself, "I never imagined that while I was secretly paving the way for the Reed family, Taylor, after progressing so rapidly, would start looking down on me more and more."<br /> "Those ladies who know my true identity, which one of them isn't trying to throw themselves at me? Ladies like that don't interest me."<br /> "Being an ordinary gent is truly difficult," Wesley murmured, smiling faintly and deciding not to dwell on these matters anymore. He had important things to attend to and no time to waste on personal affairs.<br /> "Young lad, are you going to Feidgeuo Manor for a job interview?" The driver, curious about Wesley's destination, inquired.<br /> Feidgeuo Manor was Yeadeo's most mysterious private area. Originally a villa area, it was bought at a huge cost five years ago and completely renovated. It was said to have cost a trillion dollars. The former villa area was now Feidgeuo Manor.<br /> "That's my home," Wesley replied nonchalantly.<br /> The driver was taken aback by this revelation, silently cursing Wesley for bragging. After a couple of minutes, the driver regained his composure. "It seems like you and I both prefer to keep a low profile. My car usually gathers dust at home, so I occasionally drive a taxi to experience life."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "My car has been driven by my assistant for the past few years, so it's not gathering dust."<br /> "Haha..." The driver laughed. "We should get together sometime and see whose car is more impressive."<br /> "Sure, whenever we have the time."<br /> As they chatted, the vehicle soon arrived near Feidgeuo Manor, where the massive head of the Feidgeuo Peak protruded, creating a unique landscape in Yeadeo.<br /> The driver asked with a smile, "Since you're the owner here, it's fine if I drive in, right?"<br /> "Of course," Wesley replied.<br /> As soon as Wesley spoke, several cars caught up from behind.<br /> The cars surrounded the one Wesley was in, with the front vehicles braking to force the car to a stop.<br /> When numerous people descended from cars wielding harpoons and steel pipes, the driver's face paled.<br /> Frank and his group got out of the cars, instantly closing in, and without hesitation, started attacking, the steel pipes and harpoons thudding against the car.<br /> Frank's henchman yanked open the door of Wesley's car, poised to stab Wesley with a harpoon, but Wesley swiftly exited the vehicle.<br /> With a firm step on the ground, he launched a swift hit.<br /> A muffled sound echoed as the henchman was hit away.<br /> "What are you looking at?" Frank noticed his henchmen were all staring at him. "All of you, attack together and take him down!"<br /> As he commanded, the henchmen Frank brought with him surged forward.<br /> The taxi driver, trembling, took out his phone to call the police, but Frank glared at him. "I am Frank Reed from Yeadeo Harbor. If you dare, go ahead and make that call."<br /> Frank, leveraging his sister Taylor's status, had been causing trouble in Yeadeo Harbor, and no one dared to provoke him.<br /> Upon hearing Frank's name, the driver hastily put away his phone. "Mr. Reed, I'll just check the time, you guys continue."<br /> "Huh!" Frank snorted coldly, casting his gaze towards the surrounded Wesley.<br /> The sounds of thuds continued to ring out incessantly. Because Wesley was completely surrounded, Frank was unable to see the situation inside clearly, but he could imagine it. After all, in Frank's mind, the henchmen under his command were not to be trifled with.<br /> "Hit him hard for me!"<br /> Another muffled sound and a figure flew out. At that moment, Frank finally saw the situation clearly, and his face turned pale.<br /> Frank knew that Wesley liked to practice martial arts, but he had never expected Wesley to be this skilled. It wasn't Wesley who had been beaten, but his own men by Wesley alone.<br /> Frantically, Frank turned and ran to retrieve a crossbow from the car.<br /> "Clear the way." Frank bellowed, aiming the crossbow at Wesley.<br /> "You scumbag, you think you can fight? Move one more time, and I'll end your life! Surrender!"<br /> Wesley, holding a wooden box, stared at Frank. Ignoring the crossbow in his hand, Wesley said, "Tell your henchmen to back off, or you'll all see the light from above!"<br /> "You're really good at pretending to be tough." Frank took two steps forward. "See the light? Move a muscle and see if I can end your life or not! If you don't have the guts, apologize now!"<br /> Wesley turned his head and looked at the approaching cars, with two expensive ones in the lead, two more in the rear, and another one in the middle.<br /> "Keep acting tough, and I'll put a hole in your head." Frank spoke while glancing at the five cars. "What, looking for help?"<br /> "Let me tell you, those who ride in these cars are not the kind of weaklings like you who rely on connections. With me here, in Yeadeo's social hierarchy, even those who ride in such cars wouldn't dare meddle in this matter. And let me make it clear, without my sister, you're nothing."<br /> <br /> Chapter 4<br /> As Frank's words faded, the five cars came to a halt.<br /> A bodyguard opened the door of the one in the middle, revealing a dazzling pair of shining shoes catching everyone's eye.<br /> The shining shoe encased a beautiful foot. Above, the skirt's hem was adorned with lace.<br /> Then, like a fairy stepping out of a painting, she appeared before everyone's eyes.<br /> The lady was beautiful!<br /> Frank was mesmerized. Ever since the Reed family rose to prominence, he had been surrounded by ladies, but compared to the elegant lady before him, they were worlds apart.<br /> It wasn't just a difference in appearance but an incomparable gap in demeanor.<br /> The lady descending from the Maybach seemed like a celestial being untouched by mortal affairs.<br /> The embodiment of a fairy in the mundane world.<br /> She simply stood there after getting out of the car, perfectly embodying what it meant to be graceful and elegant.<br /> The lady glanced at Wesley, then at Frank.<br /> Frank grinned, saying, "May I have the honor of knowing the name of this esteemed lady? I am Frank..."<br /> The lady spoke calmly. "Disrespect Mr. Harrington, and you're done for."<br /> Her bodyguards, unfazed by Frank's crossbow, swiftly overwhelmed him, sending him crashing to the ground.<br /> The henchmen who had come with Frank, previously defeated by Wesley, now scrambled to their feet and fled in all directions.<br /> Who would dare provoke someone who could afford such a car?<br /> "My sister is Taylor Reed, the chairperson of Reed Group," Frank shouted, clutching his head.<br /> Ignoring him, one of the bodyguards dragged him to the roadside grass while another used a belt to tighten around Frank's neck, exerting pressure.<br /> "Enough, a lesson is all that's needed." Wesley spoke calmly, and only when the lady gestured did the bodyguards release Frank.<br /> Frank lay there, already unconscious.<br /> Wesley turned to the lady. "Who are you?"<br /> "I am Mia Roberts, the general manager of Vinver Business Alliance's Yeadeo branch." She looked at Wesley and continued, "Mr. Harrington, my father mentioned that you have miraculous healing skills and earnestly requested your assistance. A generous reward awaits."<br /> Wesley furrowed his brow slightly, thinking, "There are indeed people who recognize my abilities and status, yet I've rarely intervened in the past five years. Today, shortly after I divorced Taylor, she is here. Whose arrangement is this?"<br /> "Mr. Harrington, my father also mentioned that you are benevolent and has raised the banner of compassion among healers, serving as a role model and benchmark for all in the medical field."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "You have a way with words. Tell me the specifics."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, please get in the car first. I will explain in detail on the way."<br /> The phrase "compassionate healer" held significant weight for Wesley, who had saved countless lives from the brink of death.<br /> Without further ado, he got into the car.<br /> Inside, after Mia brewed coffee for Wesley, she began. "Vinver Business Alliance has a wide range of business operations, and I mainly oversee the health supplement sector, which has seen some success in recent years.<br /> "Recently, Quinn Kingsley started using our medicines, and now there's an accident."<br /> As she spoke, Mia kept her gaze fixed on Wesley.<br /> Quinn, the undisputed leader of Yeadeo, was a figure of immense influence.<br /> Upon hearing this name, Wesley showed no particular reaction. "If the city's leader faces issues with your products, it is indeed a concern. Let's go and see."<br /> With just a sentence, Wesley leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest.<br /> Mia was secretly alarmed, thinking, "He knows who Quinn is, yet he seems indifferent. Who is this Wesley, really? No wonder Dad has instructed me to find a way to win his favor." Mia's inner resistance toward Wesley quietly shifted.<br /> Wesley had piqued her curiosity.<br /> As the vehicle was moving, Wesley's phone rang.<br /> Wesley opened his eyes and took out his phone to see Taylor calling.<br /> Pressing the answer button, he asked, "What's the matter?"<br /> On the other end of the line, Taylor, driving towards Feidgeuo Manor, had a grim expression.<br /> She thought, "Has Wesley ever spoken to me in such a cold tone before? Is he really this heartless right after our divorce?"<br /> Already furious, she snapped. "Wesley, do you even consider yourself a human being?<br /> "Today, not only did you lay hands on my mother, but you also had someone attack my brother. Do you not remember our past at all?"<br /> Wesley calmly replied, "Do we have a past to remember?"<br /> "You truly are a heartless scumbag, just as my mother said. You are an ungrateful and vicious person I raised for five years. Even a pet would wag its tail at me!"<br /> Taylor wanted to continue her tirade, but the phone line had already turned busy.<br /> This only fueled her anger further.<br /> Just now, she had received a call from Frank's underlings, informing her that Wesley had sent people to attack Frank and even intended to end him.<br /> Taylor wanted to demand answers, but...<br /> As Taylor was clutching her fists, her gaze turned icy.<br /> After a moment, she picked up her phone again. "Wesley, you are so narrow-minded. You have no ambition. Any lady would steer clear of you."<br /> "Just because I dumped you, you are doing this on purpose to make me feel sick. Pretending to be aloof and seeking revenge? Do you even deserve it?"<br /> "In Yeadeo, squashing you would be as easy as squashing an ant. You're asking for it! If anything happens to my brother, I will make you wish you were ending!"<br /> Her furious voice message echoed in the car.<br /> Wesley chuckled and put away his phone.<br /> Beside him, Mia seemed contemplative. Before coming, she had already ordered a swift investigation into Wesley.<br /> She was curious, thinking, "How could someone valued by my father could be the one 'marrying into' the Reed family."<br /> Being tactful, Mia chose not to ask and pretended not to have heard.<br /> After about forty minutes, they arrived at the Kingsley Manor.<br /> The Kingsley family members, upon seeing Mia alight from the car, all wore grim expressions.<br /> Mia greeted them with a smile, "Everyone, this is Wesley Harrington, Mr. Harrington, the miraculous healer I specially invited to treat Mr. Kingsley."<br /> "Him? The gent who married into the Reed family?"<br /> "A miraculous healer? Is he even worthy? Are healers so worthless now?"<br /> "A useless gent who mooches off of the Reed family? How dare he call himself a miraculous healer? Truly a joke among all jokes."<br /> Chapter 5<br /> <br /> Amanda Kingsley, Quinn's granddaughter, stared coldly at Wesley and Mia.<br /> This lady, dressed in a smart suit, also held significant fame in Yeadeo, overseeing the region's business activities, including investment attraction and various local business negotiations.<br /> Amanda had a favorable view of Taylor, who had risen swiftly in recent times, and they had interacted frequently.<br /> She was aware of Wesley's existence and had advised Taylor to part ways with him early on.<br /> But Amanda never imagined that Mia would bring someone like Wesley, a complete waste, and claim he was a miraculous healer.<br /> Glaring at Mia, she said, "Mia, once my grandfather is well, it's best for your Roberts family to leave Yeadeo."<br /> "As for you..." She glanced at Wesley. "I will advise Taylor to divorce you. You have deceived Taylor's feelings and now shamelessly made your way into my family. You are a despicable creature."<br /> After reprimanding Mia and Wesley, she turned to an elderly gent beside her, and her tone and attitude completely changed. "Mr. Phillips, sorry to trouble you. My grandfather is inside, please."<br /> Mia looked at the elderly gent, who was already in his twilight years, feeling deeply shocked.<br /> Scott Phillips, the 38th generation heir of the Healing Clinic, was now ninety-two years old.<br /> Renowned as a miraculous healer, he was a respected figure in the medical community of Yeadeo and even nationally.<br /> He no longer conducted consultations personally due to his old age. Mia had visited him specifically to pay her respects once she had arrived in Yeadeo but had not met Scott.<br /> She never expected Scott to appear in person. It was understandable, as Quinn held a prominent position in the city. Despite the profound influence of the Phillips family, they still had to show respect to Quinn.<br /> Mia looked at Wesley, feeling conflicted and thinking, "Dad has confidently claimed that Wesley has extraordinary abilities, but does he really?"<br /> She harbored doubts, but out of propriety, Mia spoke. "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the trouble."<br /> Wesley smiled, "It's fine. As long as the person can be healed."<br /> His open-mindedness impressed Mia.<br /> After about half an hour, Amanda emerged from the room. All eyes instantly turned towards her.<br /> It was evident that Amanda had wailed out, with traces of tears still visible.<br /> "Amanda, how is it?" A middle-aged gent anxiously asked her.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family who had rushed back also focused their attention on her.<br /> "Mr. Phillips said that there's little hope of recovery. He could only use acupuncture to wake grandfather for half an hour. When grandfather wakes up, let's all go in and see if he has any final instructions."<br /> Everyone was shocked.<br /> "How could this be?"<br /> "Is Mr. Phillips also helpless?"<br /> The members of the Kingsley family found it hard to accept this reality, especially since Quinn had always treated his juniors well.<br /> The thought of Quinn departing saddened some, and tears silently fell.<br /> Publicly, Quinn's status was the foundation of the Kingsley family's prominence in Yeadeo.<br /> If Quinn were to pass away, the Kingsley family would undoubtedly decline.<br /> The atmosphere within the Kingsley family was somber.<br /> Amanda looked at her family members, opened her mouth, but said nothing, silently turning back into the room.<br /> "Stop crying," A middle-aged gent said sternly, "Dad wouldn't want to see you all in tears. If he's really leaving, we mustn't let him worry about us. Pull yourselves together."<br /> After these words, the middle-aged gent also entered the room.<br /> The younger members of the Kingsley family wiped their tears vigorously, trying to force smiles, but in truth, they looked better at crying than pretending to be happy.<br /> Mia's spirit plummeted as she realized the gravity of the situation. Even if an ordinary person passed away from consuming health supplements, it spelled big trouble for those who sold them. And when the deceased happened to be Quinn, the stakes were even higher.<br /> She understood that it would be difficult for this branch to stay in Yeadeo, and even the headquarters might face repercussions.<br /> "Let's go in and have a look." Wesley glanced at Mia. "There might still be a chance."<br /> "Ah..." Mia stared at Wesley in surprise. Seeing him already heading towards the room, she quickly followed suit.<br /> Inside the room, the members of the Kingsley family stood around the mattress, maintaining a certain distance.<br /> Scott lit the alcohol lamp and took out the needles, his expression solemn.<br /> He looked at the members of the Kingsley family. "Think about what you want to say to Mr. Kingsley later. Once you're ready, let me know, and then I'll proceed with the acupuncture."<br /> As he said this, tears welled up in many eyes.<br /> "If you don't mind, let me take a look. I have a way." Wesley spoke up, drawing everyone's attention.<br /> Amanda's face darkened. "Who let you in? Get out!"<br /> "Mia, have you lost your mind? Tricked by this trash and actually brought him here as a miracle healer. Get out with him! I'll settle the score with you in a couple of days."<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, at a loss for words.<br /> "Even Mr. Phillips is unable to reverse the situation. What use are you? Get out." Another younger member of the Kingsley family angrily rebuked.<br /> The middle-aged gent added, "We're in no mood right now. You better leave immediately."<br /> "I understand your narrow-mindedness," Wesley continued, "But as a healer, once I see a patient, I cannot stand by and watch him draw his last breath."<br /> "Wesley, you're quite the charlatan. Do you really want to be gone right now?" Amanda's voice was filled with anger.<br /> "Amanda, let me say a few words," Scott interjected, and Amanda fell silent.<br /> Looking at Wesley, Scott began. "Young lad, at my age, I've seen a lot and have a broad perspective. Today, however, I find it hard to remain indifferent. I practiced medicine from the age of sixteen until I stopped seeing patients for a total of seventy years."<br /> "I've saved countless patients from various illnesses. I never easily declare a patient's fate, nor do I believe I have the right to do so."<br /> "But from your recent remarks, it seems like you're accusing me of such actions. Young people wanting to make a name for themselves by stepping on the shoulders of their predecessors, I can understand."<br /> "But this kind of behavior displeases me."<br /> "My displeasure, what does it mean to you? Do you understand?"<br /> "Even if you are a healer, your career will be ruined because of this."<br /> Chapter 6 <br /> In the face of Scott's veiled threats, Wesley simply smiled and brushed them off.<br /> Looking at Scott, he asked, "I've always focused on the issue at hand rather than attacking individuals. I have a few questions for you. If you can't administer the needles, how long do you think Quinn can hold on?"<br /> "Seven days, but he will remain unconscious," Scott replied bluntly.<br /> "Then let me ask you this, is there anyone in the world with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "Outrageous," Amanda coldly interjected, "Mr. Phillips is unparalleled in his medical expertise."<br /> Scott glanced at Amanda. "Amanda, let me handle this question."<br /> Continuing to address Wesley, he said, "I don't underestimate myself, nor do I overestimate. There are countless talented individuals in the world, like stars in the sky. I may not dare claim to be the best in medical skills, but those who surpass me are few."<br /> "That means there are some," Wesley calmly remarked, causing Scott's expression to shift slightly, "Indeed, there are."<br /> "Then let me ask you this. Do you think within seven days, the Kingsley family won't find someone with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "If they do find someone, do you believe there is an illness that you cannot cure, but this person can?"<br /> Wesley's questions were sharp and resounding.<br /> Scott's face changed once more as he was rendered speechless.<br /> "Even if there is, that person will never be you." Amanda's face turned icy. "Now get out. Don't spout your eloquence here. Your deceitful behavior is repulsive."<br /> "Your understanding of me is merely hearsay, isn't it?" Wesley retorted, his gaze mocking Amanda, "Has your background and education taught you such arrogance and prejudice?"<br /> "Arrogance?" Amanda's face grew colder as she disdainfully looked at Wesley. "Prejudice?<br /> "Did I say something wrong just now? You are nothing but stagnant waste, a parasite living off others. If it weren't for Taylor, you would have starved on the streets long ago."<br /> "Relying on sweet words, deceiving Taylor. She, with her kind heart, can't bear to divorce you, but don't push your luck. If it weren't for Taylor's sake, you would have been sent out long ago."<br /> Scott interrupted Amanda, "Amanda, although I find this lad a bit annoying, what he said does hold some truth. There are indeed individuals with better medical skills than me. Your grandfather can hold on for seven days. Try reaching out to see if someone can come over. I'll help you make connections."<br /> "If it really doesn't work out after seven days, I'll administer the needles to your grandfather. However, at that point, I can only buy you three minutes."<br /> As soon as Scott spoke, the faces of the Kingsley family members grew even more solemn. True healers were rare and not easily summoned.<br /> While the Kingsley family had connections in Yeadeo, their influence waned outside of it.<br /> "Mr. Phillips, please administer the needles. Life has its ups and downs, and we understand that. Just buy my father a bit more time." The middle-aged gent spoke up.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family nodded in agreement.<br /> Amanda looked at Scott. "Mr. Phillips, please."<br /> "In that case, please have everyone unrelated leave. I need silence," Scott calmly stated.<br /> Amanda glared at Wesley, her eyes speaking volumes without a word.<br /> The unrelated individuals were, naturally, Wesley and Mia.<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, intending to leave, but she suddenly hesitated.<br /> Instead of leaving, Wesley moved forward.<br /> "What are you doing?" A young member of the Kingsley family stepped forward with a stern expression, pushing Wesley.<br /> In one swift motion, Wesley executed a clean shoulder throw, toppling the young gent to the ground, his own expression turning cold.<br /> "A bunch of fools! If it weren't for my teacher's teachings about not turning a blind eye to those in need, I wouldn't bother with you ignorant lot," Wesley remarked with disdain.<br /> As Wesley effortlessly took down one individual from the Kingsley family, the others seemed slow to react.<br /> By the time they realized what was happening, Wesley had already picked up the needle next to Scott and casually flicked his wrist.<br /> The needle flew out of his hand, piercing Quinn's temple, followed by a second needle, a third needle, and so on.<br /> "What are you doing? Stop!" Amanda's voice rose in urgency, echoed by the rest of the Kingsley family members who rushed forward to restrain Wesley.<br /> "Stay back, everyone. Wait." Scott suddenly stood up, blocking the others. "Let him try."<br /> Amanda and the others were left dumbfounded, thinking, "What does this mean?"<br /> Despite their confusion, they heeded Scott's words.<br /> After Scott stopped the members of the Kingsley family, he fixed his gaze on Wesley.<br /> Wesley proceeded to use eighteen needles in succession, symbolizing the levels of pain.<br /> Even if someone had descended into the depths of hell, they must be brought back.<br /> The final needle, also piercing a vital point, caused Quinn's body to tremble suddenly, resonating with the previous eighteen needles.<br /> Scott's eyes widened, his body trembling slightly. His reaction left Amanda and the others even more puzzled, but none dared to interrupt.<br /> Moments later, Wesley placed a palm on Quinn's chest, causing all eighteen needles to be shaken off. When all the needles landed on the ground, the part of the skin where the needles had pierced turned dark.<br /> Wesley then dragged Quinn to the edge of the mattress, flipped him over with his head facing downwards, and gave him a firm pat on the back.<br /> Quinn spat out a mouthful of black liquid. When Wesley flipped him back to lie flat, his complexion had regained some color.<br /> "The Hand of Darkness... It's the Hand of Darkness!" Scott exclaimed with excitement, his body quivering, "It's the Hand that descends into the dark world, snatching people from the hands of the Evil!"<br /> "You do have some knowledge, recognizing the Hand of Darkness." Wesley glanced at Scott.<br /> Scott's gaze towards Wesley had undergone a drastic change. He respectfully clasped his hands together.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thirty years ago, I had the honor of attending a teaching conference held by Mr. Vanderbilt. I saw the Hand of Darkness, but my limited aptitude only allowed me to grasp the basics."<br /> "I have been blind and ignorant. I apologize for my earlier offenses. Please forgive me, Mr. Harrington."<br /> The Mr. Vanderbilt Scott referred to was Wesley's teacher, Ulysses Vanderbilt. He generously imparted his skills to others, but the ability to learn depended on one's innate talent.<br /> In this world, few could learn Ulysses' skills.<br /> Scott had been fortunate to receive guidance from Ulysses, which had elevated his medical skills. However, the Hand of Darkness, a miraculous ability, was beyond his comprehension.<br /> Wesley smiled faintly, "Your actions earlier are understandable. I appreciate your words."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you must be an exceptional disciple of Mr. Vanderbilt, possessing unparalleled magnanimity. Impressive," Scott continued.<br /> "Enough with the flattery at your age."<br /> "You are mistaken, Mr. Harrington. Every word I speak is sincere."<br /> Mia, Amanda, and the others stood bewildered by the unfolding situation.<br /> "Mr. Phillips... he... he..." Amanda's words faltered.<br /> Scott turned to the members of the Kingsley family. "Meeting Mr. Harrington was Quinn's luck. His symptoms have been cured by Mr. Harrington. With a few days of rest, he will be fine."<br /> The waste Taylor had previously said was called Mr. Harrington by Scott!<br /> Recalling their previous attitudes, Amanda hurriedly apologized, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> The members of the Kingsley family all apologized in unison, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> Chapter 7 <br /> With a faint smile, Wesley remarked, "As family members of a patient, your actions earlier are understandable. There's no need for such formality."<br /> Amanda's perplexity deepened as she thought, "Where is the cowardly waste that Taylor described? This display of magnanimity and breadth is far from it."<br /> Mia, too, felt a shiver of realization, thinking, "No wonder Dad has insisted on my proximity to Wesley.<br /> This guy..."<br /> She gazed at Wesley, her curiosity piqued, a sense of exploration stirring within her.<br /> "Mia has brought you here, Mr. Harrington, to cure my grandfather. The Kingsley family will never forget this act. However, considering that my grandfather's ailment stemmed from the health supplements produced by the Vinver Business Alliance, we will be conducting an investigation into it."<br /> Amanda continued, looking at Wesley, "What do you think... of this approach?"<br /> It was Mia who had invited Wesley, so Amanda had grown wiser, refraining from asking for a direct punishment of the Vinver Business Alliance.<br /> As Mia heard Amanda's words, her heart skipped a beat, realizing trouble was brewing.<br /> "On the way here, Ms. Roberts briefed me on the situation. You conducted experiments on mice, correct?"<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes, the health supplements we received were exclusively provided by the Roberts family. There were no similar cases on the market, so we used mice for testing.<br /> "All the mice that ingested this supplement were gone."<br /> She looked at Mia and added, her voice turning colder, "Before the experiment, I specifically contacted Mia to inquire about the testing methods during the development phase, which involved mice.<br /> "There have been individuals eyeing my grandfather's position, some even wishing for his demise. I never imagined that the Vinver Business Alliance, which I attracted for investment, would become a weapon in someone else's hands."<br /> "Do you have any of the remaining medicine?" Wesley inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes."<br /> "Bring some over."<br /> Immediately, someone fetched the medicine. After it was brought to him, Wesley took out a supplement and swallowed it directly.<br /> This scene left Amanda and the others dumbfounded.<br /> Scott, too, was bewildered. "Mr. Harrington, what are you doing?"<br /> Wesley smiled, "Just proving that this medicine is not toxic."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thank you," Mia thanked sincerely, feeling like crying at that moment.<br /> Amanda, with a puzzled expression, looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, are you suggesting that my grandfather's condition wasn't caused by the Vinver Business Alliance's medicine? What about the mice?"<br /> The rest were equally puzzled.<br /> "Yes, but not entirely," Wesley said, leaving everyone even more bewildered.<br /> Mia's emotions were like a rollercoaster ride, from relief to immediate tension.<br /> "This medicine itself is not toxic, but when taken with another substance made from a certain plant, it results in Quinn's condition. The mice would die immediately, while humans could endure a few more days."<br /> Wesley continued to explain, "The plant used in this concoction is originally meant for crafting slow-acting toxins, not for human consumption."<br /> Looking at Amanda, Wesley said, "During this period, whoever had access to your grandfather and the mice will better understand why these events occurred."<br /> The gaze of members of the Kingsley family immediately focused on a lady.<br /> Amanda, somewhat incredulous, looked at her. "Can you offer an explanation?"<br /> The lady was the wife of Amanda's deceased brother. She found it hard to accept, as did the rest of the Kingsley family.<br /> This lady had been named the exemplary lady who served her family well this year, not due to her connection with the Kingsley family but because she genuinely deserved it.<br /> "What do you mean? Amanda, what explanation do you want from me?"<br /> The lady stared at Amanda. "Am I the only one who had access to Grandfather and the mice? You, and you... and you, who didn't have access?"<br /> "You all claim to treat me as family. Since I married into the Kingsley family, I have worked diligently, contributing my share even if not acknowledged."<br /> "Amanda, it has been over a year since your brother passed, and I never once considered remarrying. Now, just because of his words, you demand an explanation from me?"<br /> Pointing at Wesley, the lady questioned, "Just because he accuses me of poisoning, you suspect me? Tell me, did I poison him?" The lady glared at Wesley.<br /> "I am merely analyzing the facts. As for concluding this case, it's not within my purview," Wesley addressed the members of the Kingsley family, saying, "You should conduct a thorough investigation into this matter.<br /> "I will write a prescription. Have Quinn take it on time, and he will recover in seven days."<br /> Amanda hurried to fetch paper and pen while Wesley prepared the prescription. Once done, he was ready to leave.<br /> Amanda said hurriedly, "Mr. Harrington, I've already made arrangements for lunch."<br /> "No need," Wesley smiled.<br /> The Kingsley family sought to build closer ties with Wesley, given his extraordinary medical skills. Wesley was well aware of this.<br /> Looking at Amanda and the others, Wesley remarked, "In the future, if you encounter any difficult medical cases that others cannot solve, seek me out. Remember, cases others cannot solve."<br /> The gaze of the Kingsley family members toward Wesley changed once again. Many renowned healers had eccentric personalities and were difficult to engage.<br /> They hadn't expected Wesley to possess such remarkable medical skills without any airs.<br /> As Wesley prepared to depart, the members of the Kingsley family did not dare to insist on his stay, so they accompanied him outside.<br /> "Oh, how could we forget such an important matter? Amanda, what about the consultation fee?" The middle-aged gent inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the oversight. Please wait a moment." Amanda hurried back inside and soon returned with a bank card in hand.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, there's one million dollars in here."<br /> Without hesitation, Wesley accepted the bank card and boarded Mia's car.<br /> During the journey, Mia boldly looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, you've helped me immensely. Can I treat you to a meal? Don't decline in a hurry. It's not a fancy restaurant, but it will leave you wanting more. It's a small place on the street, with only eight plates of noodles served each day, each plate containing different ingredients.<br /> "I managed to secure a reservation. Are you interested?"<br /> Wesley thought, "Eight Plates of Noodles? Ah, Aaron's restaurant. It has been a while since I visited those old friends."<br /> Wesley nodded. "Let's go then."<br /> The restaurant, Eight Plates of Noodles, was located on Chanxold Street near the Yeadeo First Central Hospital.<br /> The establishment was small, serving only eight plates of noodles each day at a price of 10 thousand dollars each. Vernoic's television culinary program had specifically covered this incident.<br /> Reservations were a must to secure a plate.<br /> The restaurant's owner had a mysterious background. While the specifics were unknown, a high-ranking noble from the capital of Vernoic, Kingsland, had caused a scene there once.<br /> He had attempted to force his way in without a reservation. Although this incident hadn't been reported, rumors suggested that a garbage truck had to be called to dispose of the intruder's remains, as he was too shattered to be removed by conventional means.<br /> Since then, no one dared to cause trouble.<br /> On their way, Mia introduced Wesley to the background story.<br /> "Mr. Turner, two plates of noodles." Mia called out once they arrived.<br /> Aaron Turner didn't respond but visibly paused upon seeing Wesley beside Mia.<br /> A faint smile appeared on his usually stoic face. Though the flesh on the face seemed stiff, it was indeed a smile. "Coming right up."<br /> Mia glanced at Aaron with a hint of surprise, thinking, "When did he become so warm and enthusiastic? His tone seemed a bit agitated earlier, didn't it?"<br /> Soon enough, Aaron brought two plates of noodles to the table. One steaming hot and the other devoid of any warmth.<br /> As Mia observed Aaron placing the plate without steam in front of Wesley, her expression changed slightly.<br /> It was a plate of instant noodles having soaked in cold water, with the seasoning barely dissolved.<br /> She felt a sense of panic. Mia had wanted to leave a good impression on Wesley, which was why she had chosen this place.<br /> However, Aaron had served such a plate of noodles.<br /> She dared not question Aaron. The type of noodles served here was not determined by the guests but by Aaron's mood.<br /> "This girl named Mia is quite something, living up to her name, and quite kind-hearted," Aaron remarked, looking at Wesley.<br /> "Get lost," Wesley retorted, using his fork to pick up the noodles and devouring them.<br /> Mia's face turned pale instantly. Disrespecting Aaron was akin to risking Wesley's life.<br /> To her astonishment, Aaron chuckled, tears welling up in his eyes.<br /> He wiped them away. "Alright, I'll leave you to your meal."<br /> Before departing, he gave Mia a thumbs-up. "Seize the opportunity."<br /> The eight plates of noodles symbolized the eight comrades who had faced life and life-threatening situations together.<br /> Wesley ate voraciously. Initially, they had only one pack of instant noodles to share among the eight of them, forcing them to divide it.<br /> Despite the circumstances, they devoured the noodles joyfully.<br /> Aaron had promised that once they survived, each one would have the most delicious plate of noodles.<br /> However, five of the eight had perished.<br /> Wesley had come dangerously close to life-threatening situations, but managed to cling to life.<br /> For him, the plate of noodles was not food but the bond of friendship that had shielded him from harm.<br /> "Do you... know each other?" Mia couldn't help but ask, her voice low and curious.<br /> "Some things are better left unknown," Wesley replied.<br /> Mia nodded in understanding, falling silent as they continued eating noodles. She couldn't help stealing glances at Wesley throughout the meal.<br /> This gent had piqued her curiosity even more.<br /> "Wesley, I see. No wonder you agreed to the divorce so readily. You've already found someone else outside."<br /> A sharp voice interrupted their meal.<br /> Taylor approached with a cold expression, accompanied by Henry.	Adoread Romance story	8	https://facebook.com/61557113391558	INSTALL_MOBILE_APP	1713250800	View Edit Delete
1666964	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727712	1734958299	695	3517927318517741	1	1.4597385313029E+15	1713337200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	235254296344339	0	Adoread Romance story	120207848358760113	play.google.com	Install now	NONE	video	HOT BOOK✨Tap the button to read more👉		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.adoread.book		1713261158	2.3525429634434E+14	Adoread Romance story	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435976503_3758096711115915_5682349106824582573_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6SemsmoETG8Q7kNvgE0_lY5&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAm7fllXK7ueEWgERifqm0w-7NhMyP0pd3Kixp6UXF_mw&oe=663A76DF	person_profile	0	Adoread Romance story	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435975666_232638956574544_8668408530515484264_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=m42b71329r4Q7kNvgGBqR3v&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCgk6TSktX2m9GiWFesV_5JhRtyS5TUm5qjMPOOR1201A&oe=663A77B3	0	3	Chapter 1 <br /> "Wesley, are you trying to harm me? You useless piece of trash, can't even make a decent cup of coffee, can you?"<br /> Madison Blair lifted her coffee cup and splashed it directly onto Wesley Harrington's face.<br /> "What are you looking at, you spineless waste? Your name sounds so lofty? I might as well call you a waste."<br /> Glancing at the grotesque expression of his wife's mother, Wesley pulled out his phone to check the time.<br /> Exactly twelve o'clock. It had been five full years since he married Taylor Reed.<br /> The appointed time had come.<br /> He had fulfilled his promise, safeguarding the Reed family for five years, transforming them from a family living off fishing to one perceived as affluent by the common folk.<br /> Wiping the coffee off his face, he turned and walked away.<br /> "Where do you think you're going? Go fetch some more coffee," Madison shouted.<br /> "Madison, didn't you say this waste is obedient at home, doing whatever he's told? I don't think he's taking it lying down."<br /> Madison grew angrier. "Wesley, you stop right there. My family has fed and housed you. If you dare disobey, I'll have you thrown out!"<br /> Ignoring her, Wesley continued downstairs.<br /> "When Taylor comes back, I'll immediately have you two divorced. Do you hear me? Stay right there," Madison threatened, "I'll let you know your place today."<br /> Grabbing a golf club, Madison swiftly charged towards Wesley.<br /> Seeing Wesley heading downstairs, she swung the club viciously at his back.<br /> Without turning back, Wesley gently sidestepped.<br /> Losing her balance, Madison tumbled forward, rolling down the stairs with a series of thumps.<br /> "Ouch... it hurts, it hurts so much!"<br /> As Madison reached the ground floor, she wailed in pain and her sister immediately rushed to her.<br /> "Wesley, what have you done? How dare you hit my sister!" Madison's sister hurried down, checking on Madison's condition.<br /> Wesley remained silent, observing the scene.<br /> "Quick, call Taylor. Tell her to come back. Today, she must divorce this waste." Madison glared at Wesley. "How dare you hit me? Not only will I let Taylor divorce you, but I'll make sure you leave in disgrace."<br /> "Mum, what's wrong?" At that moment, a gent and a lady walked in.<br /> The lady was Taylor, Madison's daughter.<br /> She ran towards Madison.<br /> As Madison pointed at Wesley, tears streamed down her face. "Taylor, he hit me, he hit me! When you're not home, he changes his attitude, scolding and hitting me in the slightest displeasure. He even pushed me down the stairs just now. Alexis can testify."<br /> Madison's sister, Alexis Blair, chimed in. "Yes, Wesley, this trash not only hit your mother but also threatened to hit me too. We cannot tolerate such trash."<br /> "Taylor, I have been telling you to divorce him for years. You've been supporting him, treating him like a Lord at home, but he's an ungrateful wolf in sheep's clothing."<br /> Helping Madison up, Taylor noticed the scrapes on Madison's arms and legs, her expression turning cold.<br /> "Wesley, why did you hit my mother? You better give me an explanation."<br /> Wesley looked at Taylor, his wife.<br /> Five years had passed, and she had never shown him kindness.<br /> Taylor dressed impeccably, a paragon of a successful lady, with a face that could be deemed angelic, yet whether her heart was as angelic remained a mystery.<br /> Her figure, too, left countless men yearning.<br /> For five years, Wesley had thought he might develop feelings for this lady, but in reality, it never happened.<br /> "There are surveillance cameras in the house," Wesley stated calmly before descending the stairs into the hallway.<br /> Despite residing in a three-story villa, Wesley's living quarters were confined to the stairwell.<br /> He harbored no resentment towards this arrangement. It was merely a promise. It was just that Taylor failed to appreciate him.<br /> This home held little value that he wished to cling onto.<br /> Retrieving a wooden box from beneath his pillow, Wesley extracted two documents. Casting a fleeting glance at the modest abode he had called home for five years, Wesley smiled faintly.<br /> He thought, "Finally... I'm free."<br /> Pushing the door ajar, Wesley was met by Taylor's piercing gaze. "I've reviewed the surveillance footage. Yes, my mother intended to strike you, but even if she did, what difference would it make?"<br /> "She's a lady. How much could her blows hurt you? Why did you dodge?"<br /> "If you hadn't dodged, my mother wouldn't have tumbled down." Wesley stared at Taylor, unable to comprehend her thought process.<br /> He had no interest in engaging in these arguments. Handing over the two documents to Taylor, he remarked, "The divorce agreement. I've already signed it. Take a look. I'm leaving with nothing."<br /> "With your current influence, there's no need for you to visit the city hall. Someone will handle it for you, right?"<br /> Madison was taken aback. She swiftly snatched the divorce agreement, flipping through it hastily.<br /> The contents were indeed straightforward. Both parties willingly divorced, with Wesley relinquishing all claims and having already signed.<br /> In an instant, Madison's pain seemed to dissipate. "Taylor, sign it quickly. Sign it."<br /> Taylor was still in a daze.<br /> She pondered.<br /> "A divorce agreement? Wesley has already prepared a divorce agreement. On what grounds?"<br /> "What gives him the right to initiate a divorce? All these years, he's done nothing at home, lacking any ambition. Always practicing martial arts, what right does he have to seek a divorce?"<br /> "If anyone should initiate it, it should be me. Moreover, now that I'm back to discussing this matter with him. Could it be that word got out, and Wesley, for the sake of his pride, rushed to prepare a divorce agreement first?"<br /> "It must be so, but... No!"<br /> "Wanting to leave with nothing, is he retreating to advance? As the chairman of the Reed Group, how could I be served with a divorce?"<br /> "Hey Wesley, I never expected this from you. Have I not treated you well enough? You seek a divorce, attempting to turn your retreat into advance, aiming to embarrass me?"<br /> Taylor glared at Wesley. "I'm telling you, it's impossible."<br /> Snatching the divorce agreement, she tore it to shreds.<br /> "Taylor, what are you doing? Such a great opportunity. Why not just sign it and let him leave?" Madison grew anxious.<br /> "Mom, I do intend to divorce this trash, but the decision must come from me. I returned specifically to address this matter."<br /> With that, Taylor produced two documents. "Wesley, remember that it's me who's divorcing you. It's me who no longer wants you. Initially, out of marital obligation, I had considered offering you some compensation. Now, you don't even need to think about it. Sign the divorce agreement and leave my home."<br /> Wesley offered a faint smile as he accepted the divorce agreement.<br /> "What are you laughing at?" Taylor demanded angrily.<br /> Wesley's smile seemed to mock her, fueling her rage.<br /> Ignoring her entirely, Wesley signed the document and handed it over.<br /> "What are you laughing at? Answer me! Who do you think you are?" Taylor roared once more.<br /> Wesley glanced at her before striding towards the exit.<br /> "Stop!" The gent who had accompanied Taylor stepped forward, blocking Wesley's path. "Taylor asked you a question, and... Your previous attitude displeased me. Apologize to Taylor, or I'll have you leave in disgrace!"<br /> <br /> Chapter 2 <br /> "Yes, let him leave in disgrace. He thought he could just hit me and walk away so easily," Madison joined in the commotion, also noticing the gent blocking Wesley's path.<br /> Madison had a keen interest in luxury goods, having frequented various high-end establishments over the years as the Reed family's living conditions improved. The gent was wearing an expensive watch and dressed head to toe in high-end luxury brands.<br /> Seeing Madison's gaze, the gent spoke. "Rest assured, today Wesley must pay the price."<br /> The gent introduced himself, looking at Wesley, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Henry Clark, the eldest son of the Clark family and the general manager of the Clark Group in the North District."<br /> "From now on, I will accompany Taylor on her journey of life, and I will not allow anyone to bully her."<br /> "My identity carries weight. You should understand that. Now, apologize to Taylor. Apologize! Did you hear me? Apologize!"<br /> Madison's eyes lit up. She hadn't expected the gent before her to hold such a high status. She continued to shout, "Did you hear that? Taylor will be with Mr. Clark from now on. Apologize now."<br /> Wesley glanced at Henry, then at Taylor. He thought, "Have they been together all along?" Wesley had wanted to ask but decided against it because there was no need. He simply gave them a glance and continued walking towards the exit.<br /> "Are you ignoring me?" Henry's face turned cold as he reached out to grab Wesley. Henry's hand froze mid-air as he received a solid hit.<br /> "Until I sign the divorce papers, Taylor and I are still wife and husband. I don't care to investigate whether you two had any intimate relationship during that time, but don't provoke me, or I won't hesitate to make you regret it." Wesley's gaze was icy, and as Henry met his eyes, he felt a twinge of fear and swallowed his words.<br /> Taylor was also stunned. She knew exactly what Wesley had been like over the past five years. There were many surveillance cameras in the house, and she would often check them.<br /> Even when Taylor wasn't home, despite how her family treated Wesley, he always obeyed without complaint, especially towards her. He had never raised his voice, no matter how they treated him.<br /> Today, not only did Wesley dodge when her mother struck, but he also initiated the divorce and now even struck Henry. <br /> Taylor was at a loss for words, thinking, "How could this cowardly gent dare? On what grounds does he dare?"<br /> This change was difficult for Taylor to accept as if she didn't truly understand this guy. The gent who used to be obedient to her, completely submissive, now revealed this side of himself. She watched Wesley walk away in a daze, feeling a strange discomfort in her heart.<br /> "Isn't he leaving with nothing?" Alexis pointed at the wooden box Wesley was holding. "What is he taking with him?"<br /> Madison also realized. Over the past five years, Wesley had always treasured this wooden box, carrying it with him wherever he went. She thought there must be something valuable inside.<br /> Realizing this, Madison hurriedly followed. "Wesley, stop right there, leave the wooden box."<br /> Wesley paused, glanced at Madison, and said, "This is my personal belonging."<br /> "Nonsense, what personal belonging could you possibly have after marrying into the Reed family? Everything you've eaten, worn, and lived in over the years has been provided by the Reed family. Put it down."<br /> As she spoke, Madison reached out to grab the wooden box.<br /> "Ah..." A scream rang out as Madison quickly retracted her hand, a gash appearing on her palm, a crimson liquid dripping.<br /> The wooden box was now stained with the same crimson liquid, trembling lightly in Wesley's hand.<br /> "It's not the right time yet, the day you thirst for this crimson liquid will come," Wesley murmured softly, patting the box before turning to continue his stride towards the exit.<br /> "Monster! A monster!" Madison screamed, causing Taylor and the others to rush out. Seeing the wound in Madison's hand, Taylor was filled with rage.<br /> "Wesley, aren't you going to say something?" Wesley halted once more, contemplating before meeting Taylor's gaze.<br /> "Just stay out of my way from now on. Consider this a warning to you."<br /> "Taylor, that wooden box of his has a mechanism. It must hold something valuable! We can't let him take it with him," Madison, enduring the pain, reminded them.<br /> "Mom, your injury is important. We'll deal with him later. Let me take you to the hospital first." Taylor comforted Madison before calling out to the retreating Wesley.<br /> "Our marriage is over! Yet, you dared to hurt my mother! This won't be the end of it! I will make you regret it!" Ignoring her, Wesley continued walking out.<br /> "Rest assured, I promise he won't see the light of day tomorrow." Henry stepped forward to console. "Let's focus on getting your wound treated first."<br /> "I want him to regret ever existing in this world, to apologize to me in repentance," Madison roared.<br /> "Mom, trust me, I will make him do just that." Taylor looked at Madison with a mix of pity and determination. "Let's go to the hospital first."<br /> In the villa area, Wesley halted, his voice cold. "Get out."<br /> An elderly gent leaped down from a tree, appearing to be in his seventies, yet landing silently from a height of around ten feet.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, your father wants you to come home and take charge."<br /> "He stopped being my father five years ago. He's my enemy."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you misunderstood your father. He had his reasons back then. I swear in my life, once you know the truth, you will forgive him."<br /> "Huh!" Wesley smirked coldly, saying, "I nearly passed away back then. Is that also a misunderstanding?"<br /> The old gent pleaded, "Mr. Harrington, this situation is truly not as you perceive it."<br /> Wesley didn't engage further with the old guy. The events of that year were etched in his memory forever. He was the one who had been abandoned. If not for that incident, why would he have stayed with the Reed family for five years?<br /> Watching Wesley walk away, the old gent had tears silently streaming down his face. "Mr. Harrington, I truly... I truly can't bring myself to speak the truth, but you have misunderstood your father. He also bears burdens and endures pains beyond what an ordinary person can handle."<br /> As Wesley's figure disappeared, the old gent stood up, hesitated for a moment, then dialed a number on his phone.<br /> "Mr. Harrington is now divorced. I've given you the news firsthand. If your daughter is truly together with Mr. Harrington, you must fulfill the promise and let her persuade Mr. Harrington to come home."<br /> After hanging up, a middle-aged gent in a luxurious estate jumped up excitedly. Calming himself, he immediately made another call. "My dear, you're at Yeadeo, right?<br /> "Go find Wesley now. Don't mention the engagement for now. Use every means to get close to him, make him fall in love with you."<br /> "Dad, I don't have time."<br /> "No matter what you are busy with, you must go find Wesley now. No matter what reason you approach him, you must leave a good impression the first time."<br /> "Dad, I'm in trouble right now. If I don't handle it well, I might be good as gone. I have to deal with it immediately. I'm hanging up."<br /> Chapter 3 <br /> The middle-aged gent's voice lowered significantly. "Is there a big incident happening? You didn't tell me? What happened?"<br /> "Quinn Kingsley from Yeadeo, Mr. Kingsley, used our product and now has one foot on the grave. If something really happens to him..."<br /> "You mean Quinn, the uncontested leader of Yeadeo?"<br /> "Yes."<br /> "In that case, you should go find Wesley. Trust me, in this world, there is no problem that Wesley can't solve. As long as he's willing to help, you'll be fine. Listen to me, go find Wesley immediately."<br /> The lady fell silent for a moment before saying, "Okay."<br /> At Yeadeo Harbor, a gent with a large flaxen chain and a watch, sporting a crew cut, hurriedly disembarked, accompanied by a dozen gentlemen.<br /> "Mr. Reed, wherever that trash is, we will find him and tear him apart."<br /> "Yes, that guy dared to harm your mother. We'll make sure he pays for it."<br /> Frank Reed's face turned cold. "Wesley, you coward, thinking you can overturn the world? How dare you touch my mom? Just wait until I find you, you're finished."<br /> "We've found him. Wesley got into a taxi, and our boys followed him."<br /> "Let's go!" Frank waved his hand, leading dozens of men who boarded the car with harpoons, steel pipes, and other weapons.<br /> Inside the taxi, Wesley gazed at the scenery outside, feeling a strange sense of tranquility.<br /> He thought to himself, "I never imagined that while I was secretly paving the way for the Reed family, Taylor, after progressing so rapidly, would start looking down on me more and more."<br /> "Those ladies who know my true identity, which one of them isn't trying to throw themselves at me? Ladies like that don't interest me."<br /> "Being an ordinary gent is truly difficult," Wesley murmured, smiling faintly and deciding not to dwell on these matters anymore. He had important things to attend to and no time to waste on personal affairs.<br /> "Young lad, are you going to Feidgeuo Manor for a job interview?" The driver, curious about Wesley's destination, inquired.<br /> Feidgeuo Manor was Yeadeo's most mysterious private area. Originally a villa area, it was bought at a huge cost five years ago and completely renovated. It was said to have cost a trillion dollars. The former villa area was now Feidgeuo Manor.<br /> "That's my home," Wesley replied nonchalantly.<br /> The driver was taken aback by this revelation, silently cursing Wesley for bragging. After a couple of minutes, the driver regained his composure. "It seems like you and I both prefer to keep a low profile. My car usually gathers dust at home, so I occasionally drive a taxi to experience life."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "My car has been driven by my assistant for the past few years, so it's not gathering dust."<br /> "Haha..." The driver laughed. "We should get together sometime and see whose car is more impressive."<br /> "Sure, whenever we have the time."<br /> As they chatted, the vehicle soon arrived near Feidgeuo Manor, where the massive head of the Feidgeuo Peak protruded, creating a unique landscape in Yeadeo.<br /> The driver asked with a smile, "Since you're the owner here, it's fine if I drive in, right?"<br /> "Of course," Wesley replied.<br /> As soon as Wesley spoke, several cars caught up from behind.<br /> The cars surrounded the one Wesley was in, with the front vehicles braking to force the car to a stop.<br /> When numerous people descended from cars wielding harpoons and steel pipes, the driver's face paled.<br /> Frank and his group got out of the cars, instantly closing in, and without hesitation, started attacking, the steel pipes and harpoons thudding against the car.<br /> Frank's henchman yanked open the door of Wesley's car, poised to stab Wesley with a harpoon, but Wesley swiftly exited the vehicle.<br /> With a firm step on the ground, he launched a swift hit.<br /> A muffled sound echoed as the henchman was hit away.<br /> "What are you looking at?" Frank noticed his henchmen were all staring at him. "All of you, attack together and take him down!"<br /> As he commanded, the henchmen Frank brought with him surged forward.<br /> The taxi driver, trembling, took out his phone to call the police, but Frank glared at him. "I am Frank Reed from Yeadeo Harbor. If you dare, go ahead and make that call."<br /> Frank, leveraging his sister Taylor's status, had been causing trouble in Yeadeo Harbor, and no one dared to provoke him.<br /> Upon hearing Frank's name, the driver hastily put away his phone. "Mr. Reed, I'll just check the time, you guys continue."<br /> "Huh!" Frank snorted coldly, casting his gaze towards the surrounded Wesley.<br /> The sounds of thuds continued to ring out incessantly. Because Wesley was completely surrounded, Frank was unable to see the situation inside clearly, but he could imagine it. After all, in Frank's mind, the henchmen under his command were not to be trifled with.<br /> "Hit him hard for me!"<br /> Another muffled sound and a figure flew out. At that moment, Frank finally saw the situation clearly, and his face turned pale.<br /> Frank knew that Wesley liked to practice martial arts, but he had never expected Wesley to be this skilled. It wasn't Wesley who had been beaten, but his own men by Wesley alone.<br /> Frantically, Frank turned and ran to retrieve a crossbow from the car.<br /> "Clear the way." Frank bellowed, aiming the crossbow at Wesley.<br /> "You scumbag, you think you can fight? Move one more time, and I'll end your life! Surrender!"<br /> Wesley, holding a wooden box, stared at Frank. Ignoring the crossbow in his hand, Wesley said, "Tell your henchmen to back off, or you'll all see the light from above!"<br /> "You're really good at pretending to be tough." Frank took two steps forward. "See the light? Move a muscle and see if I can end your life or not! If you don't have the guts, apologize now!"<br /> Wesley turned his head and looked at the approaching cars, with two expensive ones in the lead, two more in the rear, and another one in the middle.<br /> "Keep acting tough, and I'll put a hole in your head." Frank spoke while glancing at the five cars. "What, looking for help?"<br /> "Let me tell you, those who ride in these cars are not the kind of weaklings like you who rely on connections. With me here, in Yeadeo's social hierarchy, even those who ride in such cars wouldn't dare meddle in this matter. And let me make it clear, without my sister, you're nothing."<br /> <br /> Chapter 4<br /> As Frank's words faded, the five cars came to a halt.<br /> A bodyguard opened the door of the one in the middle, revealing a dazzling pair of shining shoes catching everyone's eye.<br /> The shining shoe encased a beautiful foot. Above, the skirt's hem was adorned with lace.<br /> Then, like a fairy stepping out of a painting, she appeared before everyone's eyes.<br /> The lady was beautiful!<br /> Frank was mesmerized. Ever since the Reed family rose to prominence, he had been surrounded by ladies, but compared to the elegant lady before him, they were worlds apart.<br /> It wasn't just a difference in appearance but an incomparable gap in demeanor.<br /> The lady descending from the Maybach seemed like a celestial being untouched by mortal affairs.<br /> The embodiment of a fairy in the mundane world.<br /> She simply stood there after getting out of the car, perfectly embodying what it meant to be graceful and elegant.<br /> The lady glanced at Wesley, then at Frank.<br /> Frank grinned, saying, "May I have the honor of knowing the name of this esteemed lady? I am Frank..."<br /> The lady spoke calmly. "Disrespect Mr. Harrington, and you're done for."<br /> Her bodyguards, unfazed by Frank's crossbow, swiftly overwhelmed him, sending him crashing to the ground.<br /> The henchmen who had come with Frank, previously defeated by Wesley, now scrambled to their feet and fled in all directions.<br /> Who would dare provoke someone who could afford such a car?<br /> "My sister is Taylor Reed, the chairperson of Reed Group," Frank shouted, clutching his head.<br /> Ignoring him, one of the bodyguards dragged him to the roadside grass while another used a belt to tighten around Frank's neck, exerting pressure.<br /> "Enough, a lesson is all that's needed." Wesley spoke calmly, and only when the lady gestured did the bodyguards release Frank.<br /> Frank lay there, already unconscious.<br /> Wesley turned to the lady. "Who are you?"<br /> "I am Mia Roberts, the general manager of Vinver Business Alliance's Yeadeo branch." She looked at Wesley and continued, "Mr. Harrington, my father mentioned that you have miraculous healing skills and earnestly requested your assistance. A generous reward awaits."<br /> Wesley furrowed his brow slightly, thinking, "There are indeed people who recognize my abilities and status, yet I've rarely intervened in the past five years. Today, shortly after I divorced Taylor, she is here. Whose arrangement is this?"<br /> "Mr. Harrington, my father also mentioned that you are benevolent and has raised the banner of compassion among healers, serving as a role model and benchmark for all in the medical field."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "You have a way with words. Tell me the specifics."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, please get in the car first. I will explain in detail on the way."<br /> The phrase "compassionate healer" held significant weight for Wesley, who had saved countless lives from the brink of death.<br /> Without further ado, he got into the car.<br /> Inside, after Mia brewed coffee for Wesley, she began. "Vinver Business Alliance has a wide range of business operations, and I mainly oversee the health supplement sector, which has seen some success in recent years.<br /> "Recently, Quinn Kingsley started using our medicines, and now there's an accident."<br /> As she spoke, Mia kept her gaze fixed on Wesley.<br /> Quinn, the undisputed leader of Yeadeo, was a figure of immense influence.<br /> Upon hearing this name, Wesley showed no particular reaction. "If the city's leader faces issues with your products, it is indeed a concern. Let's go and see."<br /> With just a sentence, Wesley leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest.<br /> Mia was secretly alarmed, thinking, "He knows who Quinn is, yet he seems indifferent. Who is this Wesley, really? No wonder Dad has instructed me to find a way to win his favor." Mia's inner resistance toward Wesley quietly shifted.<br /> Wesley had piqued her curiosity.<br /> As the vehicle was moving, Wesley's phone rang.<br /> Wesley opened his eyes and took out his phone to see Taylor calling.<br /> Pressing the answer button, he asked, "What's the matter?"<br /> On the other end of the line, Taylor, driving towards Feidgeuo Manor, had a grim expression.<br /> She thought, "Has Wesley ever spoken to me in such a cold tone before? Is he really this heartless right after our divorce?"<br /> Already furious, she snapped. "Wesley, do you even consider yourself a human being?<br /> "Today, not only did you lay hands on my mother, but you also had someone attack my brother. Do you not remember our past at all?"<br /> Wesley calmly replied, "Do we have a past to remember?"<br /> "You truly are a heartless scumbag, just as my mother said. You are an ungrateful and vicious person I raised for five years. Even a pet would wag its tail at me!"<br /> Taylor wanted to continue her tirade, but the phone line had already turned busy.<br /> This only fueled her anger further.<br /> Just now, she had received a call from Frank's underlings, informing her that Wesley had sent people to attack Frank and even intended to end him.<br /> Taylor wanted to demand answers, but...<br /> As Taylor was clutching her fists, her gaze turned icy.<br /> After a moment, she picked up her phone again. "Wesley, you are so narrow-minded. You have no ambition. Any lady would steer clear of you."<br /> "Just because I dumped you, you are doing this on purpose to make me feel sick. Pretending to be aloof and seeking revenge? Do you even deserve it?"<br /> "In Yeadeo, squashing you would be as easy as squashing an ant. You're asking for it! If anything happens to my brother, I will make you wish you were ending!"<br /> Her furious voice message echoed in the car.<br /> Wesley chuckled and put away his phone.<br /> Beside him, Mia seemed contemplative. Before coming, she had already ordered a swift investigation into Wesley.<br /> She was curious, thinking, "How could someone valued by my father could be the one 'marrying into' the Reed family."<br /> Being tactful, Mia chose not to ask and pretended not to have heard.<br /> After about forty minutes, they arrived at the Kingsley Manor.<br /> The Kingsley family members, upon seeing Mia alight from the car, all wore grim expressions.<br /> Mia greeted them with a smile, "Everyone, this is Wesley Harrington, Mr. Harrington, the miraculous healer I specially invited to treat Mr. Kingsley."<br /> "Him? The gent who married into the Reed family?"<br /> "A miraculous healer? Is he even worthy? Are healers so worthless now?"<br /> "A useless gent who mooches off of the Reed family? How dare he call himself a miraculous healer? Truly a joke among all jokes."<br /> Chapter 5<br /> <br /> Amanda Kingsley, Quinn's granddaughter, stared coldly at Wesley and Mia.<br /> This lady, dressed in a smart suit, also held significant fame in Yeadeo, overseeing the region's business activities, including investment attraction and various local business negotiations.<br /> Amanda had a favorable view of Taylor, who had risen swiftly in recent times, and they had interacted frequently.<br /> She was aware of Wesley's existence and had advised Taylor to part ways with him early on.<br /> But Amanda never imagined that Mia would bring someone like Wesley, a complete waste, and claim he was a miraculous healer.<br /> Glaring at Mia, she said, "Mia, once my grandfather is well, it's best for your Roberts family to leave Yeadeo."<br /> "As for you..." She glanced at Wesley. "I will advise Taylor to divorce you. You have deceived Taylor's feelings and now shamelessly made your way into my family. You are a despicable creature."<br /> After reprimanding Mia and Wesley, she turned to an elderly gent beside her, and her tone and attitude completely changed. "Mr. Phillips, sorry to trouble you. My grandfather is inside, please."<br /> Mia looked at the elderly gent, who was already in his twilight years, feeling deeply shocked.<br /> Scott Phillips, the 38th generation heir of the Healing Clinic, was now ninety-two years old.<br /> Renowned as a miraculous healer, he was a respected figure in the medical community of Yeadeo and even nationally.<br /> He no longer conducted consultations personally due to his old age. Mia had visited him specifically to pay her respects once she had arrived in Yeadeo but had not met Scott.<br /> She never expected Scott to appear in person. It was understandable, as Quinn held a prominent position in the city. Despite the profound influence of the Phillips family, they still had to show respect to Quinn.<br /> Mia looked at Wesley, feeling conflicted and thinking, "Dad has confidently claimed that Wesley has extraordinary abilities, but does he really?"<br /> She harbored doubts, but out of propriety, Mia spoke. "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the trouble."<br /> Wesley smiled, "It's fine. As long as the person can be healed."<br /> His open-mindedness impressed Mia.<br /> After about half an hour, Amanda emerged from the room. All eyes instantly turned towards her.<br /> It was evident that Amanda had wailed out, with traces of tears still visible.<br /> "Amanda, how is it?" A middle-aged gent anxiously asked her.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family who had rushed back also focused their attention on her.<br /> "Mr. Phillips said that there's little hope of recovery. He could only use acupuncture to wake grandfather for half an hour. When grandfather wakes up, let's all go in and see if he has any final instructions."<br /> Everyone was shocked.<br /> "How could this be?"<br /> "Is Mr. Phillips also helpless?"<br /> The members of the Kingsley family found it hard to accept this reality, especially since Quinn had always treated his juniors well.<br /> The thought of Quinn departing saddened some, and tears silently fell.<br /> Publicly, Quinn's status was the foundation of the Kingsley family's prominence in Yeadeo.<br /> If Quinn were to pass away, the Kingsley family would undoubtedly decline.<br /> The atmosphere within the Kingsley family was somber.<br /> Amanda looked at her family members, opened her mouth, but said nothing, silently turning back into the room.<br /> "Stop crying," A middle-aged gent said sternly, "Dad wouldn't want to see you all in tears. If he's really leaving, we mustn't let him worry about us. Pull yourselves together."<br /> After these words, the middle-aged gent also entered the room.<br /> The younger members of the Kingsley family wiped their tears vigorously, trying to force smiles, but in truth, they looked better at crying than pretending to be happy.<br /> Mia's spirit plummeted as she realized the gravity of the situation. Even if an ordinary person passed away from consuming health supplements, it spelled big trouble for those who sold them. And when the deceased happened to be Quinn, the stakes were even higher.<br /> She understood that it would be difficult for this branch to stay in Yeadeo, and even the headquarters might face repercussions.<br /> "Let's go in and have a look." Wesley glanced at Mia. "There might still be a chance."<br /> "Ah..." Mia stared at Wesley in surprise. Seeing him already heading towards the room, she quickly followed suit.<br /> Inside the room, the members of the Kingsley family stood around the mattress, maintaining a certain distance.<br /> Scott lit the alcohol lamp and took out the needles, his expression solemn.<br /> He looked at the members of the Kingsley family. "Think about what you want to say to Mr. Kingsley later. Once you're ready, let me know, and then I'll proceed with the acupuncture."<br /> As he said this, tears welled up in many eyes.<br /> "If you don't mind, let me take a look. I have a way." Wesley spoke up, drawing everyone's attention.<br /> Amanda's face darkened. "Who let you in? Get out!"<br /> "Mia, have you lost your mind? Tricked by this trash and actually brought him here as a miracle healer. Get out with him! I'll settle the score with you in a couple of days."<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, at a loss for words.<br /> "Even Mr. Phillips is unable to reverse the situation. What use are you? Get out." Another younger member of the Kingsley family angrily rebuked.<br /> The middle-aged gent added, "We're in no mood right now. You better leave immediately."<br /> "I understand your narrow-mindedness," Wesley continued, "But as a healer, once I see a patient, I cannot stand by and watch him draw his last breath."<br /> "Wesley, you're quite the charlatan. Do you really want to be gone right now?" Amanda's voice was filled with anger.<br /> "Amanda, let me say a few words," Scott interjected, and Amanda fell silent.<br /> Looking at Wesley, Scott began. "Young lad, at my age, I've seen a lot and have a broad perspective. Today, however, I find it hard to remain indifferent. I practiced medicine from the age of sixteen until I stopped seeing patients for a total of seventy years."<br /> "I've saved countless patients from various illnesses. I never easily declare a patient's fate, nor do I believe I have the right to do so."<br /> "But from your recent remarks, it seems like you're accusing me of such actions. Young people wanting to make a name for themselves by stepping on the shoulders of their predecessors, I can understand."<br /> "But this kind of behavior displeases me."<br /> "My displeasure, what does it mean to you? Do you understand?"<br /> "Even if you are a healer, your career will be ruined because of this."<br /> Chapter 6 <br /> In the face of Scott's veiled threats, Wesley simply smiled and brushed them off.<br /> Looking at Scott, he asked, "I've always focused on the issue at hand rather than attacking individuals. I have a few questions for you. If you can't administer the needles, how long do you think Quinn can hold on?"<br /> "Seven days, but he will remain unconscious," Scott replied bluntly.<br /> "Then let me ask you this, is there anyone in the world with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "Outrageous," Amanda coldly interjected, "Mr. Phillips is unparalleled in his medical expertise."<br /> Scott glanced at Amanda. "Amanda, let me handle this question."<br /> Continuing to address Wesley, he said, "I don't underestimate myself, nor do I overestimate. There are countless talented individuals in the world, like stars in the sky. I may not dare claim to be the best in medical skills, but those who surpass me are few."<br /> "That means there are some," Wesley calmly remarked, causing Scott's expression to shift slightly, "Indeed, there are."<br /> "Then let me ask you this. Do you think within seven days, the Kingsley family won't find someone with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "If they do find someone, do you believe there is an illness that you cannot cure, but this person can?"<br /> Wesley's questions were sharp and resounding.<br /> Scott's face changed once more as he was rendered speechless.<br /> "Even if there is, that person will never be you." Amanda's face turned icy. "Now get out. Don't spout your eloquence here. Your deceitful behavior is repulsive."<br /> "Your understanding of me is merely hearsay, isn't it?" Wesley retorted, his gaze mocking Amanda, "Has your background and education taught you such arrogance and prejudice?"<br /> "Arrogance?" Amanda's face grew colder as she disdainfully looked at Wesley. "Prejudice?<br /> "Did I say something wrong just now? You are nothing but stagnant waste, a parasite living off others. If it weren't for Taylor, you would have starved on the streets long ago."<br /> "Relying on sweet words, deceiving Taylor. She, with her kind heart, can't bear to divorce you, but don't push your luck. If it weren't for Taylor's sake, you would have been sent out long ago."<br /> Scott interrupted Amanda, "Amanda, although I find this lad a bit annoying, what he said does hold some truth. There are indeed individuals with better medical skills than me. Your grandfather can hold on for seven days. Try reaching out to see if someone can come over. I'll help you make connections."<br /> "If it really doesn't work out after seven days, I'll administer the needles to your grandfather. However, at that point, I can only buy you three minutes."<br /> As soon as Scott spoke, the faces of the Kingsley family members grew even more solemn. True healers were rare and not easily summoned.<br /> While the Kingsley family had connections in Yeadeo, their influence waned outside of it.<br /> "Mr. Phillips, please administer the needles. Life has its ups and downs, and we understand that. Just buy my father a bit more time." The middle-aged gent spoke up.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family nodded in agreement.<br /> Amanda looked at Scott. "Mr. Phillips, please."<br /> "In that case, please have everyone unrelated leave. I need silence," Scott calmly stated.<br /> Amanda glared at Wesley, her eyes speaking volumes without a word.<br /> The unrelated individuals were, naturally, Wesley and Mia.<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, intending to leave, but she suddenly hesitated.<br /> Instead of leaving, Wesley moved forward.<br /> "What are you doing?" A young member of the Kingsley family stepped forward with a stern expression, pushing Wesley.<br /> In one swift motion, Wesley executed a clean shoulder throw, toppling the young gent to the ground, his own expression turning cold.<br /> "A bunch of fools! If it weren't for my teacher's teachings about not turning a blind eye to those in need, I wouldn't bother with you ignorant lot," Wesley remarked with disdain.<br /> As Wesley effortlessly took down one individual from the Kingsley family, the others seemed slow to react.<br /> By the time they realized what was happening, Wesley had already picked up the needle next to Scott and casually flicked his wrist.<br /> The needle flew out of his hand, piercing Quinn's temple, followed by a second needle, a third needle, and so on.<br /> "What are you doing? Stop!" Amanda's voice rose in urgency, echoed by the rest of the Kingsley family members who rushed forward to restrain Wesley.<br /> "Stay back, everyone. Wait." Scott suddenly stood up, blocking the others. "Let him try."<br /> Amanda and the others were left dumbfounded, thinking, "What does this mean?"<br /> Despite their confusion, they heeded Scott's words.<br /> After Scott stopped the members of the Kingsley family, he fixed his gaze on Wesley.<br /> Wesley proceeded to use eighteen needles in succession, symbolizing the levels of pain.<br /> Even if someone had descended into the depths of hell, they must be brought back.<br /> The final needle, also piercing a vital point, caused Quinn's body to tremble suddenly, resonating with the previous eighteen needles.<br /> Scott's eyes widened, his body trembling slightly. His reaction left Amanda and the others even more puzzled, but none dared to interrupt.<br /> Moments later, Wesley placed a palm on Quinn's chest, causing all eighteen needles to be shaken off. When all the needles landed on the ground, the part of the skin where the needles had pierced turned dark.<br /> Wesley then dragged Quinn to the edge of the mattress, flipped him over with his head facing downwards, and gave him a firm pat on the back.<br /> Quinn spat out a mouthful of black liquid. When Wesley flipped him back to lie flat, his complexion had regained some color.<br /> "The Hand of Darkness... It's the Hand of Darkness!" Scott exclaimed with excitement, his body quivering, "It's the Hand that descends into the dark world, snatching people from the hands of the Evil!"<br /> "You do have some knowledge, recognizing the Hand of Darkness." Wesley glanced at Scott.<br /> Scott's gaze towards Wesley had undergone a drastic change. He respectfully clasped his hands together.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thirty years ago, I had the honor of attending a teaching conference held by Mr. Vanderbilt. I saw the Hand of Darkness, but my limited aptitude only allowed me to grasp the basics."<br /> "I have been blind and ignorant. I apologize for my earlier offenses. Please forgive me, Mr. Harrington."<br /> The Mr. Vanderbilt Scott referred to was Wesley's teacher, Ulysses Vanderbilt. He generously imparted his skills to others, but the ability to learn depended on one's innate talent.<br /> In this world, few could learn Ulysses' skills.<br /> Scott had been fortunate to receive guidance from Ulysses, which had elevated his medical skills. However, the Hand of Darkness, a miraculous ability, was beyond his comprehension.<br /> Wesley smiled faintly, "Your actions earlier are understandable. I appreciate your words."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you must be an exceptional disciple of Mr. Vanderbilt, possessing unparalleled magnanimity. Impressive," Scott continued.<br /> "Enough with the flattery at your age."<br /> "You are mistaken, Mr. Harrington. Every word I speak is sincere."<br /> Mia, Amanda, and the others stood bewildered by the unfolding situation.<br /> "Mr. Phillips... he... he..." Amanda's words faltered.<br /> Scott turned to the members of the Kingsley family. "Meeting Mr. Harrington was Quinn's luck. His symptoms have been cured by Mr. Harrington. With a few days of rest, he will be fine."<br /> The waste Taylor had previously said was called Mr. Harrington by Scott!<br /> Recalling their previous attitudes, Amanda hurriedly apologized, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> The members of the Kingsley family all apologized in unison, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> Chapter 7 <br /> With a faint smile, Wesley remarked, "As family members of a patient, your actions earlier are understandable. There's no need for such formality."<br /> Amanda's perplexity deepened as she thought, "Where is the cowardly waste that Taylor described? This display of magnanimity and breadth is far from it."<br /> Mia, too, felt a shiver of realization, thinking, "No wonder Dad has insisted on my proximity to Wesley.<br /> This guy..."<br /> She gazed at Wesley, her curiosity piqued, a sense of exploration stirring within her.<br /> "Mia has brought you here, Mr. Harrington, to cure my grandfather. The Kingsley family will never forget this act. However, considering that my grandfather's ailment stemmed from the health supplements produced by the Vinver Business Alliance, we will be conducting an investigation into it."<br /> Amanda continued, looking at Wesley, "What do you think... of this approach?"<br /> It was Mia who had invited Wesley, so Amanda had grown wiser, refraining from asking for a direct punishment of the Vinver Business Alliance.<br /> As Mia heard Amanda's words, her heart skipped a beat, realizing trouble was brewing.<br /> "On the way here, Ms. Roberts briefed me on the situation. You conducted experiments on mice, correct?"<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes, the health supplements we received were exclusively provided by the Roberts family. There were no similar cases on the market, so we used mice for testing.<br /> "All the mice that ingested this supplement were gone."<br /> She looked at Mia and added, her voice turning colder, "Before the experiment, I specifically contacted Mia to inquire about the testing methods during the development phase, which involved mice.<br /> "There have been individuals eyeing my grandfather's position, some even wishing for his demise. I never imagined that the Vinver Business Alliance, which I attracted for investment, would become a weapon in someone else's hands."<br /> "Do you have any of the remaining medicine?" Wesley inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes."<br /> "Bring some over."<br /> Immediately, someone fetched the medicine. After it was brought to him, Wesley took out a supplement and swallowed it directly.<br /> This scene left Amanda and the others dumbfounded.<br /> Scott, too, was bewildered. "Mr. Harrington, what are you doing?"<br /> Wesley smiled, "Just proving that this medicine is not toxic."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thank you," Mia thanked sincerely, feeling like crying at that moment.<br /> Amanda, with a puzzled expression, looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, are you suggesting that my grandfather's condition wasn't caused by the Vinver Business Alliance's medicine? What about the mice?"<br /> The rest were equally puzzled.<br /> "Yes, but not entirely," Wesley said, leaving everyone even more bewildered.<br /> Mia's emotions were like a rollercoaster ride, from relief to immediate tension.<br /> "This medicine itself is not toxic, but when taken with another substance made from a certain plant, it results in Quinn's condition. The mice would die immediately, while humans could endure a few more days."<br /> Wesley continued to explain, "The plant used in this concoction is originally meant for crafting slow-acting toxins, not for human consumption."<br /> Looking at Amanda, Wesley said, "During this period, whoever had access to your grandfather and the mice will better understand why these events occurred."<br /> The gaze of members of the Kingsley family immediately focused on a lady.<br /> Amanda, somewhat incredulous, looked at her. "Can you offer an explanation?"<br /> The lady was the wife of Amanda's deceased brother. She found it hard to accept, as did the rest of the Kingsley family.<br /> This lady had been named the exemplary lady who served her family well this year, not due to her connection with the Kingsley family but because she genuinely deserved it.<br /> "What do you mean? Amanda, what explanation do you want from me?"<br /> The lady stared at Amanda. "Am I the only one who had access to Grandfather and the mice? You, and you... and you, who didn't have access?"<br /> "You all claim to treat me as family. Since I married into the Kingsley family, I have worked diligently, contributing my share even if not acknowledged."<br /> "Amanda, it has been over a year since your brother passed, and I never once considered remarrying. Now, just because of his words, you demand an explanation from me?"<br /> Pointing at Wesley, the lady questioned, "Just because he accuses me of poisoning, you suspect me? Tell me, did I poison him?" The lady glared at Wesley.<br /> "I am merely analyzing the facts. As for concluding this case, it's not within my purview," Wesley addressed the members of the Kingsley family, saying, "You should conduct a thorough investigation into this matter.<br /> "I will write a prescription. Have Quinn take it on time, and he will recover in seven days."<br /> Amanda hurried to fetch paper and pen while Wesley prepared the prescription. Once done, he was ready to leave.<br /> Amanda said hurriedly, "Mr. Harrington, I've already made arrangements for lunch."<br /> "No need," Wesley smiled.<br /> The Kingsley family sought to build closer ties with Wesley, given his extraordinary medical skills. Wesley was well aware of this.<br /> Looking at Amanda and the others, Wesley remarked, "In the future, if you encounter any difficult medical cases that others cannot solve, seek me out. Remember, cases others cannot solve."<br /> The gaze of the Kingsley family members toward Wesley changed once again. Many renowned healers had eccentric personalities and were difficult to engage.<br /> They hadn't expected Wesley to possess such remarkable medical skills without any airs.<br /> As Wesley prepared to depart, the members of the Kingsley family did not dare to insist on his stay, so they accompanied him outside.<br /> "Oh, how could we forget such an important matter? Amanda, what about the consultation fee?" The middle-aged gent inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the oversight. Please wait a moment." Amanda hurried back inside and soon returned with a bank card in hand.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, there's one million dollars in here."<br /> Without hesitation, Wesley accepted the bank card and boarded Mia's car.<br /> During the journey, Mia boldly looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, you've helped me immensely. Can I treat you to a meal? Don't decline in a hurry. It's not a fancy restaurant, but it will leave you wanting more. It's a small place on the street, with only eight plates of noodles served each day, each plate containing different ingredients.<br /> "I managed to secure a reservation. Are you interested?"<br /> Wesley thought, "Eight Plates of Noodles? Ah, Aaron's restaurant. It has been a while since I visited those old friends."<br /> Wesley nodded. "Let's go then."<br /> The restaurant, Eight Plates of Noodles, was located on Chanxold Street near the Yeadeo First Central Hospital.<br /> The establishment was small, serving only eight plates of noodles each day at a price of 10 thousand dollars each. Vernoic's television culinary program had specifically covered this incident.<br /> Reservations were a must to secure a plate.<br /> The restaurant's owner had a mysterious background. While the specifics were unknown, a high-ranking noble from the capital of Vernoic, Kingsland, had caused a scene there once.<br /> He had attempted to force his way in without a reservation. Although this incident hadn't been reported, rumors suggested that a garbage truck had to be called to dispose of the intruder's remains, as he was too shattered to be removed by conventional means.<br /> Since then, no one dared to cause trouble.<br /> On their way, Mia introduced Wesley to the background story.<br /> "Mr. Turner, two plates of noodles." Mia called out once they arrived.<br /> Aaron Turner didn't respond but visibly paused upon seeing Wesley beside Mia.<br /> A faint smile appeared on his usually stoic face. Though the flesh on the face seemed stiff, it was indeed a smile. "Coming right up."<br /> Mia glanced at Aaron with a hint of surprise, thinking, "When did he become so warm and enthusiastic? His tone seemed a bit agitated earlier, didn't it?"<br /> Soon enough, Aaron brought two plates of noodles to the table. One steaming hot and the other devoid of any warmth.<br /> As Mia observed Aaron placing the plate without steam in front of Wesley, her expression changed slightly.<br /> It was a plate of instant noodles having soaked in cold water, with the seasoning barely dissolved.<br /> She felt a sense of panic. Mia had wanted to leave a good impression on Wesley, which was why she had chosen this place.<br /> However, Aaron had served such a plate of noodles.<br /> She dared not question Aaron. The type of noodles served here was not determined by the guests but by Aaron's mood.<br /> "This girl named Mia is quite something, living up to her name, and quite kind-hearted," Aaron remarked, looking at Wesley.<br /> "Get lost," Wesley retorted, using his fork to pick up the noodles and devouring them.<br /> Mia's face turned pale instantly. Disrespecting Aaron was akin to risking Wesley's life.<br /> To her astonishment, Aaron chuckled, tears welling up in his eyes.<br /> He wiped them away. "Alright, I'll leave you to your meal."<br /> Before departing, he gave Mia a thumbs-up. "Seize the opportunity."<br /> The eight plates of noodles symbolized the eight comrades who had faced life and life-threatening situations together.<br /> Wesley ate voraciously. Initially, they had only one pack of instant noodles to share among the eight of them, forcing them to divide it.<br /> Despite the circumstances, they devoured the noodles joyfully.<br /> Aaron had promised that once they survived, each one would have the most delicious plate of noodles.<br /> However, five of the eight had perished.<br /> Wesley had come dangerously close to life-threatening situations, but managed to cling to life.<br /> For him, the plate of noodles was not food but the bond of friendship that had shielded him from harm.<br /> "Do you... know each other?" Mia couldn't help but ask, her voice low and curious.<br /> "Some things are better left unknown," Wesley replied.<br /> Mia nodded in understanding, falling silent as they continued eating noodles. She couldn't help stealing glances at Wesley throughout the meal.<br /> This gent had piqued her curiosity even more.<br /> "Wesley, I see. No wonder you agreed to the divorce so readily. You've already found someone else outside."<br /> A sharp voice interrupted their meal.<br /> Taylor approached with a cold expression, accompanied by Henry.	Adoread Romance story	8	https://facebook.com/61557113391558	INSTALL_MOBILE_APP	1713250800	View Edit Delete
1666967	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727712	1734958299	695	1088750682204498	1	7.8249379355099E+14	1713337200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	235254296344339	0	Adoread Romance story	120207848353550113	play.google.com	Install now	NONE	video	HOT BOOK✨Tap the button to read more👉		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.adoread.book		1713261158	2.3525429634434E+14	Adoread Romance story	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437558368_443826584806864_9103482045185981500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=lz_poHYbnxcQ7kNvgEcCTTl&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB-lilf1HaJSYCRexn3awnfYUfYWit1QSQHkfMm-wRc8w&oe=663A78B1	person_profile	0	Adoread Romance story	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437465164_7367847756632585_8177150249930328104_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=IYOAbBPaiMEQ7kNvgEhLk0F&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDOvJBD7oMBzUifVCWTrLDlC7ur-cCn60SOdrS0SrAwpQ&oe=663A6283	0	3	Chapter 1 <br /> "Wesley, are you trying to harm me? You useless piece of trash, can't even make a decent cup of coffee, can you?"<br /> Madison Blair lifted her coffee cup and splashed it directly onto Wesley Harrington's face.<br /> "What are you looking at, you spineless waste? Your name sounds so lofty? I might as well call you a waste."<br /> Glancing at the grotesque expression of his wife's mother, Wesley pulled out his phone to check the time.<br /> Exactly twelve o'clock. It had been five full years since he married Taylor Reed.<br /> The appointed time had come.<br /> He had fulfilled his promise, safeguarding the Reed family for five years, transforming them from a family living off fishing to one perceived as affluent by the common folk.<br /> Wiping the coffee off his face, he turned and walked away.<br /> "Where do you think you're going? Go fetch some more coffee," Madison shouted.<br /> "Madison, didn't you say this waste is obedient at home, doing whatever he's told? I don't think he's taking it lying down."<br /> Madison grew angrier. "Wesley, you stop right there. My family has fed and housed you. If you dare disobey, I'll have you thrown out!"<br /> Ignoring her, Wesley continued downstairs.<br /> "When Taylor comes back, I'll immediately have you two divorced. Do you hear me? Stay right there," Madison threatened, "I'll let you know your place today."<br /> Grabbing a golf club, Madison swiftly charged towards Wesley.<br /> Seeing Wesley heading downstairs, she swung the club viciously at his back.<br /> Without turning back, Wesley gently sidestepped.<br /> Losing her balance, Madison tumbled forward, rolling down the stairs with a series of thumps.<br /> "Ouch... it hurts, it hurts so much!"<br /> As Madison reached the ground floor, she wailed in pain and her sister immediately rushed to her.<br /> "Wesley, what have you done? How dare you hit my sister!" Madison's sister hurried down, checking on Madison's condition.<br /> Wesley remained silent, observing the scene.<br /> "Quick, call Taylor. Tell her to come back. Today, she must divorce this waste." Madison glared at Wesley. "How dare you hit me? Not only will I let Taylor divorce you, but I'll make sure you leave in disgrace."<br /> "Mum, what's wrong?" At that moment, a gent and a lady walked in.<br /> The lady was Taylor, Madison's daughter.<br /> She ran towards Madison.<br /> As Madison pointed at Wesley, tears streamed down her face. "Taylor, he hit me, he hit me! When you're not home, he changes his attitude, scolding and hitting me in the slightest displeasure. He even pushed me down the stairs just now. Alexis can testify."<br /> Madison's sister, Alexis Blair, chimed in. "Yes, Wesley, this trash not only hit your mother but also threatened to hit me too. We cannot tolerate such trash."<br /> "Taylor, I have been telling you to divorce him for years. You've been supporting him, treating him like a Lord at home, but he's an ungrateful wolf in sheep's clothing."<br /> Helping Madison up, Taylor noticed the scrapes on Madison's arms and legs, her expression turning cold.<br /> "Wesley, why did you hit my mother? You better give me an explanation."<br /> Wesley looked at Taylor, his wife.<br /> Five years had passed, and she had never shown him kindness.<br /> Taylor dressed impeccably, a paragon of a successful lady, with a face that could be deemed angelic, yet whether her heart was as angelic remained a mystery.<br /> Her figure, too, left countless men yearning.<br /> For five years, Wesley had thought he might develop feelings for this lady, but in reality, it never happened.<br /> "There are surveillance cameras in the house," Wesley stated calmly before descending the stairs into the hallway.<br /> Despite residing in a three-story villa, Wesley's living quarters were confined to the stairwell.<br /> He harbored no resentment towards this arrangement. It was merely a promise. It was just that Taylor failed to appreciate him.<br /> This home held little value that he wished to cling onto.<br /> Retrieving a wooden box from beneath his pillow, Wesley extracted two documents. Casting a fleeting glance at the modest abode he had called home for five years, Wesley smiled faintly.<br /> He thought, "Finally... I'm free."<br /> Pushing the door ajar, Wesley was met by Taylor's piercing gaze. "I've reviewed the surveillance footage. Yes, my mother intended to strike you, but even if she did, what difference would it make?"<br /> "She's a lady. How much could her blows hurt you? Why did you dodge?"<br /> "If you hadn't dodged, my mother wouldn't have tumbled down." Wesley stared at Taylor, unable to comprehend her thought process.<br /> He had no interest in engaging in these arguments. Handing over the two documents to Taylor, he remarked, "The divorce agreement. I've already signed it. Take a look. I'm leaving with nothing."<br /> "With your current influence, there's no need for you to visit the city hall. Someone will handle it for you, right?"<br /> Madison was taken aback. She swiftly snatched the divorce agreement, flipping through it hastily.<br /> The contents were indeed straightforward. Both parties willingly divorced, with Wesley relinquishing all claims and having already signed.<br /> In an instant, Madison's pain seemed to dissipate. "Taylor, sign it quickly. Sign it."<br /> Taylor was still in a daze.<br /> She pondered.<br /> "A divorce agreement? Wesley has already prepared a divorce agreement. On what grounds?"<br /> "What gives him the right to initiate a divorce? All these years, he's done nothing at home, lacking any ambition. Always practicing martial arts, what right does he have to seek a divorce?"<br /> "If anyone should initiate it, it should be me. Moreover, now that I'm back to discussing this matter with him. Could it be that word got out, and Wesley, for the sake of his pride, rushed to prepare a divorce agreement first?"<br /> "It must be so, but... No!"<br /> "Wanting to leave with nothing, is he retreating to advance? As the chairman of the Reed Group, how could I be served with a divorce?"<br /> "Hey Wesley, I never expected this from you. Have I not treated you well enough? You seek a divorce, attempting to turn your retreat into advance, aiming to embarrass me?"<br /> Taylor glared at Wesley. "I'm telling you, it's impossible."<br /> Snatching the divorce agreement, she tore it to shreds.<br /> "Taylor, what are you doing? Such a great opportunity. Why not just sign it and let him leave?" Madison grew anxious.<br /> "Mom, I do intend to divorce this trash, but the decision must come from me. I returned specifically to address this matter."<br /> With that, Taylor produced two documents. "Wesley, remember that it's me who's divorcing you. It's me who no longer wants you. Initially, out of marital obligation, I had considered offering you some compensation. Now, you don't even need to think about it. Sign the divorce agreement and leave my home."<br /> Wesley offered a faint smile as he accepted the divorce agreement.<br /> "What are you laughing at?" Taylor demanded angrily.<br /> Wesley's smile seemed to mock her, fueling her rage.<br /> Ignoring her entirely, Wesley signed the document and handed it over.<br /> "What are you laughing at? Answer me! Who do you think you are?" Taylor roared once more.<br /> Wesley glanced at her before striding towards the exit.<br /> "Stop!" The gent who had accompanied Taylor stepped forward, blocking Wesley's path. "Taylor asked you a question, and... Your previous attitude displeased me. Apologize to Taylor, or I'll have you leave in disgrace!"<br /> <br /> Chapter 2 <br /> "Yes, let him leave in disgrace. He thought he could just hit me and walk away so easily," Madison joined in the commotion, also noticing the gent blocking Wesley's path.<br /> Madison had a keen interest in luxury goods, having frequented various high-end establishments over the years as the Reed family's living conditions improved. The gent was wearing an expensive watch and dressed head to toe in high-end luxury brands.<br /> Seeing Madison's gaze, the gent spoke. "Rest assured, today Wesley must pay the price."<br /> The gent introduced himself, looking at Wesley, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Henry Clark, the eldest son of the Clark family and the general manager of the Clark Group in the North District."<br /> "From now on, I will accompany Taylor on her journey of life, and I will not allow anyone to bully her."<br /> "My identity carries weight. You should understand that. Now, apologize to Taylor. Apologize! Did you hear me? Apologize!"<br /> Madison's eyes lit up. She hadn't expected the gent before her to hold such a high status. She continued to shout, "Did you hear that? Taylor will be with Mr. Clark from now on. Apologize now."<br /> Wesley glanced at Henry, then at Taylor. He thought, "Have they been together all along?" Wesley had wanted to ask but decided against it because there was no need. He simply gave them a glance and continued walking towards the exit.<br /> "Are you ignoring me?" Henry's face turned cold as he reached out to grab Wesley. Henry's hand froze mid-air as he received a solid hit.<br /> "Until I sign the divorce papers, Taylor and I are still wife and husband. I don't care to investigate whether you two had any intimate relationship during that time, but don't provoke me, or I won't hesitate to make you regret it." Wesley's gaze was icy, and as Henry met his eyes, he felt a twinge of fear and swallowed his words.<br /> Taylor was also stunned. She knew exactly what Wesley had been like over the past five years. There were many surveillance cameras in the house, and she would often check them.<br /> Even when Taylor wasn't home, despite how her family treated Wesley, he always obeyed without complaint, especially towards her. He had never raised his voice, no matter how they treated him.<br /> Today, not only did Wesley dodge when her mother struck, but he also initiated the divorce and now even struck Henry. <br /> Taylor was at a loss for words, thinking, "How could this cowardly gent dare? On what grounds does he dare?"<br /> This change was difficult for Taylor to accept as if she didn't truly understand this guy. The gent who used to be obedient to her, completely submissive, now revealed this side of himself. She watched Wesley walk away in a daze, feeling a strange discomfort in her heart.<br /> "Isn't he leaving with nothing?" Alexis pointed at the wooden box Wesley was holding. "What is he taking with him?"<br /> Madison also realized. Over the past five years, Wesley had always treasured this wooden box, carrying it with him wherever he went. She thought there must be something valuable inside.<br /> Realizing this, Madison hurriedly followed. "Wesley, stop right there, leave the wooden box."<br /> Wesley paused, glanced at Madison, and said, "This is my personal belonging."<br /> "Nonsense, what personal belonging could you possibly have after marrying into the Reed family? Everything you've eaten, worn, and lived in over the years has been provided by the Reed family. Put it down."<br /> As she spoke, Madison reached out to grab the wooden box.<br /> "Ah..." A scream rang out as Madison quickly retracted her hand, a gash appearing on her palm, a crimson liquid dripping.<br /> The wooden box was now stained with the same crimson liquid, trembling lightly in Wesley's hand.<br /> "It's not the right time yet, the day you thirst for this crimson liquid will come," Wesley murmured softly, patting the box before turning to continue his stride towards the exit.<br /> "Monster! A monster!" Madison screamed, causing Taylor and the others to rush out. Seeing the wound in Madison's hand, Taylor was filled with rage.<br /> "Wesley, aren't you going to say something?" Wesley halted once more, contemplating before meeting Taylor's gaze.<br /> "Just stay out of my way from now on. Consider this a warning to you."<br /> "Taylor, that wooden box of his has a mechanism. It must hold something valuable! We can't let him take it with him," Madison, enduring the pain, reminded them.<br /> "Mom, your injury is important. We'll deal with him later. Let me take you to the hospital first." Taylor comforted Madison before calling out to the retreating Wesley.<br /> "Our marriage is over! Yet, you dared to hurt my mother! This won't be the end of it! I will make you regret it!" Ignoring her, Wesley continued walking out.<br /> "Rest assured, I promise he won't see the light of day tomorrow." Henry stepped forward to console. "Let's focus on getting your wound treated first."<br /> "I want him to regret ever existing in this world, to apologize to me in repentance," Madison roared.<br /> "Mom, trust me, I will make him do just that." Taylor looked at Madison with a mix of pity and determination. "Let's go to the hospital first."<br /> In the villa area, Wesley halted, his voice cold. "Get out."<br /> An elderly gent leaped down from a tree, appearing to be in his seventies, yet landing silently from a height of around ten feet.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, your father wants you to come home and take charge."<br /> "He stopped being my father five years ago. He's my enemy."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you misunderstood your father. He had his reasons back then. I swear in my life, once you know the truth, you will forgive him."<br /> "Huh!" Wesley smirked coldly, saying, "I nearly passed away back then. Is that also a misunderstanding?"<br /> The old gent pleaded, "Mr. Harrington, this situation is truly not as you perceive it."<br /> Wesley didn't engage further with the old guy. The events of that year were etched in his memory forever. He was the one who had been abandoned. If not for that incident, why would he have stayed with the Reed family for five years?<br /> Watching Wesley walk away, the old gent had tears silently streaming down his face. "Mr. Harrington, I truly... I truly can't bring myself to speak the truth, but you have misunderstood your father. He also bears burdens and endures pains beyond what an ordinary person can handle."<br /> As Wesley's figure disappeared, the old gent stood up, hesitated for a moment, then dialed a number on his phone.<br /> "Mr. Harrington is now divorced. I've given you the news firsthand. If your daughter is truly together with Mr. Harrington, you must fulfill the promise and let her persuade Mr. Harrington to come home."<br /> After hanging up, a middle-aged gent in a luxurious estate jumped up excitedly. Calming himself, he immediately made another call. "My dear, you're at Yeadeo, right?<br /> "Go find Wesley now. Don't mention the engagement for now. Use every means to get close to him, make him fall in love with you."<br /> "Dad, I don't have time."<br /> "No matter what you are busy with, you must go find Wesley now. No matter what reason you approach him, you must leave a good impression the first time."<br /> "Dad, I'm in trouble right now. If I don't handle it well, I might be good as gone. I have to deal with it immediately. I'm hanging up."<br /> Chapter 3 <br /> The middle-aged gent's voice lowered significantly. "Is there a big incident happening? You didn't tell me? What happened?"<br /> "Quinn Kingsley from Yeadeo, Mr. Kingsley, used our product and now has one foot on the grave. If something really happens to him..."<br /> "You mean Quinn, the uncontested leader of Yeadeo?"<br /> "Yes."<br /> "In that case, you should go find Wesley. Trust me, in this world, there is no problem that Wesley can't solve. As long as he's willing to help, you'll be fine. Listen to me, go find Wesley immediately."<br /> The lady fell silent for a moment before saying, "Okay."<br /> At Yeadeo Harbor, a gent with a large flaxen chain and a watch, sporting a crew cut, hurriedly disembarked, accompanied by a dozen gentlemen.<br /> "Mr. Reed, wherever that trash is, we will find him and tear him apart."<br /> "Yes, that guy dared to harm your mother. We'll make sure he pays for it."<br /> Frank Reed's face turned cold. "Wesley, you coward, thinking you can overturn the world? How dare you touch my mom? Just wait until I find you, you're finished."<br /> "We've found him. Wesley got into a taxi, and our boys followed him."<br /> "Let's go!" Frank waved his hand, leading dozens of men who boarded the car with harpoons, steel pipes, and other weapons.<br /> Inside the taxi, Wesley gazed at the scenery outside, feeling a strange sense of tranquility.<br /> He thought to himself, "I never imagined that while I was secretly paving the way for the Reed family, Taylor, after progressing so rapidly, would start looking down on me more and more."<br /> "Those ladies who know my true identity, which one of them isn't trying to throw themselves at me? Ladies like that don't interest me."<br /> "Being an ordinary gent is truly difficult," Wesley murmured, smiling faintly and deciding not to dwell on these matters anymore. He had important things to attend to and no time to waste on personal affairs.<br /> "Young lad, are you going to Feidgeuo Manor for a job interview?" The driver, curious about Wesley's destination, inquired.<br /> Feidgeuo Manor was Yeadeo's most mysterious private area. Originally a villa area, it was bought at a huge cost five years ago and completely renovated. It was said to have cost a trillion dollars. The former villa area was now Feidgeuo Manor.<br /> "That's my home," Wesley replied nonchalantly.<br /> The driver was taken aback by this revelation, silently cursing Wesley for bragging. After a couple of minutes, the driver regained his composure. "It seems like you and I both prefer to keep a low profile. My car usually gathers dust at home, so I occasionally drive a taxi to experience life."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "My car has been driven by my assistant for the past few years, so it's not gathering dust."<br /> "Haha..." The driver laughed. "We should get together sometime and see whose car is more impressive."<br /> "Sure, whenever we have the time."<br /> As they chatted, the vehicle soon arrived near Feidgeuo Manor, where the massive head of the Feidgeuo Peak protruded, creating a unique landscape in Yeadeo.<br /> The driver asked with a smile, "Since you're the owner here, it's fine if I drive in, right?"<br /> "Of course," Wesley replied.<br /> As soon as Wesley spoke, several cars caught up from behind.<br /> The cars surrounded the one Wesley was in, with the front vehicles braking to force the car to a stop.<br /> When numerous people descended from cars wielding harpoons and steel pipes, the driver's face paled.<br /> Frank and his group got out of the cars, instantly closing in, and without hesitation, started attacking, the steel pipes and harpoons thudding against the car.<br /> Frank's henchman yanked open the door of Wesley's car, poised to stab Wesley with a harpoon, but Wesley swiftly exited the vehicle.<br /> With a firm step on the ground, he launched a swift hit.<br /> A muffled sound echoed as the henchman was hit away.<br /> "What are you looking at?" Frank noticed his henchmen were all staring at him. "All of you, attack together and take him down!"<br /> As he commanded, the henchmen Frank brought with him surged forward.<br /> The taxi driver, trembling, took out his phone to call the police, but Frank glared at him. "I am Frank Reed from Yeadeo Harbor. If you dare, go ahead and make that call."<br /> Frank, leveraging his sister Taylor's status, had been causing trouble in Yeadeo Harbor, and no one dared to provoke him.<br /> Upon hearing Frank's name, the driver hastily put away his phone. "Mr. Reed, I'll just check the time, you guys continue."<br /> "Huh!" Frank snorted coldly, casting his gaze towards the surrounded Wesley.<br /> The sounds of thuds continued to ring out incessantly. Because Wesley was completely surrounded, Frank was unable to see the situation inside clearly, but he could imagine it. After all, in Frank's mind, the henchmen under his command were not to be trifled with.<br /> "Hit him hard for me!"<br /> Another muffled sound and a figure flew out. At that moment, Frank finally saw the situation clearly, and his face turned pale.<br /> Frank knew that Wesley liked to practice martial arts, but he had never expected Wesley to be this skilled. It wasn't Wesley who had been beaten, but his own men by Wesley alone.<br /> Frantically, Frank turned and ran to retrieve a crossbow from the car.<br /> "Clear the way." Frank bellowed, aiming the crossbow at Wesley.<br /> "You scumbag, you think you can fight? Move one more time, and I'll end your life! Surrender!"<br /> Wesley, holding a wooden box, stared at Frank. Ignoring the crossbow in his hand, Wesley said, "Tell your henchmen to back off, or you'll all see the light from above!"<br /> "You're really good at pretending to be tough." Frank took two steps forward. "See the light? Move a muscle and see if I can end your life or not! If you don't have the guts, apologize now!"<br /> Wesley turned his head and looked at the approaching cars, with two expensive ones in the lead, two more in the rear, and another one in the middle.<br /> "Keep acting tough, and I'll put a hole in your head." Frank spoke while glancing at the five cars. "What, looking for help?"<br /> "Let me tell you, those who ride in these cars are not the kind of weaklings like you who rely on connections. With me here, in Yeadeo's social hierarchy, even those who ride in such cars wouldn't dare meddle in this matter. And let me make it clear, without my sister, you're nothing."<br /> <br /> Chapter 4<br /> As Frank's words faded, the five cars came to a halt.<br /> A bodyguard opened the door of the one in the middle, revealing a dazzling pair of shining shoes catching everyone's eye.<br /> The shining shoe encased a beautiful foot. Above, the skirt's hem was adorned with lace.<br /> Then, like a fairy stepping out of a painting, she appeared before everyone's eyes.<br /> The lady was beautiful!<br /> Frank was mesmerized. Ever since the Reed family rose to prominence, he had been surrounded by ladies, but compared to the elegant lady before him, they were worlds apart.<br /> It wasn't just a difference in appearance but an incomparable gap in demeanor.<br /> The lady descending from the Maybach seemed like a celestial being untouched by mortal affairs.<br /> The embodiment of a fairy in the mundane world.<br /> She simply stood there after getting out of the car, perfectly embodying what it meant to be graceful and elegant.<br /> The lady glanced at Wesley, then at Frank.<br /> Frank grinned, saying, "May I have the honor of knowing the name of this esteemed lady? I am Frank..."<br /> The lady spoke calmly. "Disrespect Mr. Harrington, and you're done for."<br /> Her bodyguards, unfazed by Frank's crossbow, swiftly overwhelmed him, sending him crashing to the ground.<br /> The henchmen who had come with Frank, previously defeated by Wesley, now scrambled to their feet and fled in all directions.<br /> Who would dare provoke someone who could afford such a car?<br /> "My sister is Taylor Reed, the chairperson of Reed Group," Frank shouted, clutching his head.<br /> Ignoring him, one of the bodyguards dragged him to the roadside grass while another used a belt to tighten around Frank's neck, exerting pressure.<br /> "Enough, a lesson is all that's needed." Wesley spoke calmly, and only when the lady gestured did the bodyguards release Frank.<br /> Frank lay there, already unconscious.<br /> Wesley turned to the lady. "Who are you?"<br /> "I am Mia Roberts, the general manager of Vinver Business Alliance's Yeadeo branch." She looked at Wesley and continued, "Mr. Harrington, my father mentioned that you have miraculous healing skills and earnestly requested your assistance. A generous reward awaits."<br /> Wesley furrowed his brow slightly, thinking, "There are indeed people who recognize my abilities and status, yet I've rarely intervened in the past five years. Today, shortly after I divorced Taylor, she is here. Whose arrangement is this?"<br /> "Mr. Harrington, my father also mentioned that you are benevolent and has raised the banner of compassion among healers, serving as a role model and benchmark for all in the medical field."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "You have a way with words. Tell me the specifics."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, please get in the car first. I will explain in detail on the way."<br /> The phrase "compassionate healer" held significant weight for Wesley, who had saved countless lives from the brink of death.<br /> Without further ado, he got into the car.<br /> Inside, after Mia brewed coffee for Wesley, she began. "Vinver Business Alliance has a wide range of business operations, and I mainly oversee the health supplement sector, which has seen some success in recent years.<br /> "Recently, Quinn Kingsley started using our medicines, and now there's an accident."<br /> As she spoke, Mia kept her gaze fixed on Wesley.<br /> Quinn, the undisputed leader of Yeadeo, was a figure of immense influence.<br /> Upon hearing this name, Wesley showed no particular reaction. "If the city's leader faces issues with your products, it is indeed a concern. Let's go and see."<br /> With just a sentence, Wesley leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest.<br /> Mia was secretly alarmed, thinking, "He knows who Quinn is, yet he seems indifferent. Who is this Wesley, really? No wonder Dad has instructed me to find a way to win his favor." Mia's inner resistance toward Wesley quietly shifted.<br /> Wesley had piqued her curiosity.<br /> As the vehicle was moving, Wesley's phone rang.<br /> Wesley opened his eyes and took out his phone to see Taylor calling.<br /> Pressing the answer button, he asked, "What's the matter?"<br /> On the other end of the line, Taylor, driving towards Feidgeuo Manor, had a grim expression.<br /> She thought, "Has Wesley ever spoken to me in such a cold tone before? Is he really this heartless right after our divorce?"<br /> Already furious, she snapped. "Wesley, do you even consider yourself a human being?<br /> "Today, not only did you lay hands on my mother, but you also had someone attack my brother. Do you not remember our past at all?"<br /> Wesley calmly replied, "Do we have a past to remember?"<br /> "You truly are a heartless scumbag, just as my mother said. You are an ungrateful and vicious person I raised for five years. Even a pet would wag its tail at me!"<br /> Taylor wanted to continue her tirade, but the phone line had already turned busy.<br /> This only fueled her anger further.<br /> Just now, she had received a call from Frank's underlings, informing her that Wesley had sent people to attack Frank and even intended to end him.<br /> Taylor wanted to demand answers, but...<br /> As Taylor was clutching her fists, her gaze turned icy.<br /> After a moment, she picked up her phone again. "Wesley, you are so narrow-minded. You have no ambition. Any lady would steer clear of you."<br /> "Just because I dumped you, you are doing this on purpose to make me feel sick. Pretending to be aloof and seeking revenge? Do you even deserve it?"<br /> "In Yeadeo, squashing you would be as easy as squashing an ant. You're asking for it! If anything happens to my brother, I will make you wish you were ending!"<br /> Her furious voice message echoed in the car.<br /> Wesley chuckled and put away his phone.<br /> Beside him, Mia seemed contemplative. Before coming, she had already ordered a swift investigation into Wesley.<br /> She was curious, thinking, "How could someone valued by my father could be the one 'marrying into' the Reed family."<br /> Being tactful, Mia chose not to ask and pretended not to have heard.<br /> After about forty minutes, they arrived at the Kingsley Manor.<br /> The Kingsley family members, upon seeing Mia alight from the car, all wore grim expressions.<br /> Mia greeted them with a smile, "Everyone, this is Wesley Harrington, Mr. Harrington, the miraculous healer I specially invited to treat Mr. Kingsley."<br /> "Him? The gent who married into the Reed family?"<br /> "A miraculous healer? Is he even worthy? Are healers so worthless now?"<br /> "A useless gent who mooches off of the Reed family? How dare he call himself a miraculous healer? Truly a joke among all jokes."<br /> Chapter 5<br /> <br /> Amanda Kingsley, Quinn's granddaughter, stared coldly at Wesley and Mia.<br /> This lady, dressed in a smart suit, also held significant fame in Yeadeo, overseeing the region's business activities, including investment attraction and various local business negotiations.<br /> Amanda had a favorable view of Taylor, who had risen swiftly in recent times, and they had interacted frequently.<br /> She was aware of Wesley's existence and had advised Taylor to part ways with him early on.<br /> But Amanda never imagined that Mia would bring someone like Wesley, a complete waste, and claim he was a miraculous healer.<br /> Glaring at Mia, she said, "Mia, once my grandfather is well, it's best for your Roberts family to leave Yeadeo."<br /> "As for you..." She glanced at Wesley. "I will advise Taylor to divorce you. You have deceived Taylor's feelings and now shamelessly made your way into my family. You are a despicable creature."<br /> After reprimanding Mia and Wesley, she turned to an elderly gent beside her, and her tone and attitude completely changed. "Mr. Phillips, sorry to trouble you. My grandfather is inside, please."<br /> Mia looked at the elderly gent, who was already in his twilight years, feeling deeply shocked.<br /> Scott Phillips, the 38th generation heir of the Healing Clinic, was now ninety-two years old.<br /> Renowned as a miraculous healer, he was a respected figure in the medical community of Yeadeo and even nationally.<br /> He no longer conducted consultations personally due to his old age. Mia had visited him specifically to pay her respects once she had arrived in Yeadeo but had not met Scott.<br /> She never expected Scott to appear in person. It was understandable, as Quinn held a prominent position in the city. Despite the profound influence of the Phillips family, they still had to show respect to Quinn.<br /> Mia looked at Wesley, feeling conflicted and thinking, "Dad has confidently claimed that Wesley has extraordinary abilities, but does he really?"<br /> She harbored doubts, but out of propriety, Mia spoke. "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the trouble."<br /> Wesley smiled, "It's fine. As long as the person can be healed."<br /> His open-mindedness impressed Mia.<br /> After about half an hour, Amanda emerged from the room. All eyes instantly turned towards her.<br /> It was evident that Amanda had wailed out, with traces of tears still visible.<br /> "Amanda, how is it?" A middle-aged gent anxiously asked her.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family who had rushed back also focused their attention on her.<br /> "Mr. Phillips said that there's little hope of recovery. He could only use acupuncture to wake grandfather for half an hour. When grandfather wakes up, let's all go in and see if he has any final instructions."<br /> Everyone was shocked.<br /> "How could this be?"<br /> "Is Mr. Phillips also helpless?"<br /> The members of the Kingsley family found it hard to accept this reality, especially since Quinn had always treated his juniors well.<br /> The thought of Quinn departing saddened some, and tears silently fell.<br /> Publicly, Quinn's status was the foundation of the Kingsley family's prominence in Yeadeo.<br /> If Quinn were to pass away, the Kingsley family would undoubtedly decline.<br /> The atmosphere within the Kingsley family was somber.<br /> Amanda looked at her family members, opened her mouth, but said nothing, silently turning back into the room.<br /> "Stop crying," A middle-aged gent said sternly, "Dad wouldn't want to see you all in tears. If he's really leaving, we mustn't let him worry about us. Pull yourselves together."<br /> After these words, the middle-aged gent also entered the room.<br /> The younger members of the Kingsley family wiped their tears vigorously, trying to force smiles, but in truth, they looked better at crying than pretending to be happy.<br /> Mia's spirit plummeted as she realized the gravity of the situation. Even if an ordinary person passed away from consuming health supplements, it spelled big trouble for those who sold them. And when the deceased happened to be Quinn, the stakes were even higher.<br /> She understood that it would be difficult for this branch to stay in Yeadeo, and even the headquarters might face repercussions.<br /> "Let's go in and have a look." Wesley glanced at Mia. "There might still be a chance."<br /> "Ah..." Mia stared at Wesley in surprise. Seeing him already heading towards the room, she quickly followed suit.<br /> Inside the room, the members of the Kingsley family stood around the mattress, maintaining a certain distance.<br /> Scott lit the alcohol lamp and took out the needles, his expression solemn.<br /> He looked at the members of the Kingsley family. "Think about what you want to say to Mr. Kingsley later. Once you're ready, let me know, and then I'll proceed with the acupuncture."<br /> As he said this, tears welled up in many eyes.<br /> "If you don't mind, let me take a look. I have a way." Wesley spoke up, drawing everyone's attention.<br /> Amanda's face darkened. "Who let you in? Get out!"<br /> "Mia, have you lost your mind? Tricked by this trash and actually brought him here as a miracle healer. Get out with him! I'll settle the score with you in a couple of days."<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, at a loss for words.<br /> "Even Mr. Phillips is unable to reverse the situation. What use are you? Get out." Another younger member of the Kingsley family angrily rebuked.<br /> The middle-aged gent added, "We're in no mood right now. You better leave immediately."<br /> "I understand your narrow-mindedness," Wesley continued, "But as a healer, once I see a patient, I cannot stand by and watch him draw his last breath."<br /> "Wesley, you're quite the charlatan. Do you really want to be gone right now?" Amanda's voice was filled with anger.<br /> "Amanda, let me say a few words," Scott interjected, and Amanda fell silent.<br /> Looking at Wesley, Scott began. "Young lad, at my age, I've seen a lot and have a broad perspective. Today, however, I find it hard to remain indifferent. I practiced medicine from the age of sixteen until I stopped seeing patients for a total of seventy years."<br /> "I've saved countless patients from various illnesses. I never easily declare a patient's fate, nor do I believe I have the right to do so."<br /> "But from your recent remarks, it seems like you're accusing me of such actions. Young people wanting to make a name for themselves by stepping on the shoulders of their predecessors, I can understand."<br /> "But this kind of behavior displeases me."<br /> "My displeasure, what does it mean to you? Do you understand?"<br /> "Even if you are a healer, your career will be ruined because of this."<br /> Chapter 6 <br /> In the face of Scott's veiled threats, Wesley simply smiled and brushed them off.<br /> Looking at Scott, he asked, "I've always focused on the issue at hand rather than attacking individuals. I have a few questions for you. If you can't administer the needles, how long do you think Quinn can hold on?"<br /> "Seven days, but he will remain unconscious," Scott replied bluntly.<br /> "Then let me ask you this, is there anyone in the world with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "Outrageous," Amanda coldly interjected, "Mr. Phillips is unparalleled in his medical expertise."<br /> Scott glanced at Amanda. "Amanda, let me handle this question."<br /> Continuing to address Wesley, he said, "I don't underestimate myself, nor do I overestimate. There are countless talented individuals in the world, like stars in the sky. I may not dare claim to be the best in medical skills, but those who surpass me are few."<br /> "That means there are some," Wesley calmly remarked, causing Scott's expression to shift slightly, "Indeed, there are."<br /> "Then let me ask you this. Do you think within seven days, the Kingsley family won't find someone with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "If they do find someone, do you believe there is an illness that you cannot cure, but this person can?"<br /> Wesley's questions were sharp and resounding.<br /> Scott's face changed once more as he was rendered speechless.<br /> "Even if there is, that person will never be you." Amanda's face turned icy. "Now get out. Don't spout your eloquence here. Your deceitful behavior is repulsive."<br /> "Your understanding of me is merely hearsay, isn't it?" Wesley retorted, his gaze mocking Amanda, "Has your background and education taught you such arrogance and prejudice?"<br /> "Arrogance?" Amanda's face grew colder as she disdainfully looked at Wesley. "Prejudice?<br /> "Did I say something wrong just now? You are nothing but stagnant waste, a parasite living off others. If it weren't for Taylor, you would have starved on the streets long ago."<br /> "Relying on sweet words, deceiving Taylor. She, with her kind heart, can't bear to divorce you, but don't push your luck. If it weren't for Taylor's sake, you would have been sent out long ago."<br /> Scott interrupted Amanda, "Amanda, although I find this lad a bit annoying, what he said does hold some truth. There are indeed individuals with better medical skills than me. Your grandfather can hold on for seven days. Try reaching out to see if someone can come over. I'll help you make connections."<br /> "If it really doesn't work out after seven days, I'll administer the needles to your grandfather. However, at that point, I can only buy you three minutes."<br /> As soon as Scott spoke, the faces of the Kingsley family members grew even more solemn. True healers were rare and not easily summoned.<br /> While the Kingsley family had connections in Yeadeo, their influence waned outside of it.<br /> "Mr. Phillips, please administer the needles. Life has its ups and downs, and we understand that. Just buy my father a bit more time." The middle-aged gent spoke up.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family nodded in agreement.<br /> Amanda looked at Scott. "Mr. Phillips, please."<br /> "In that case, please have everyone unrelated leave. I need silence," Scott calmly stated.<br /> Amanda glared at Wesley, her eyes speaking volumes without a word.<br /> The unrelated individuals were, naturally, Wesley and Mia.<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, intending to leave, but she suddenly hesitated.<br /> Instead of leaving, Wesley moved forward.<br /> "What are you doing?" A young member of the Kingsley family stepped forward with a stern expression, pushing Wesley.<br /> In one swift motion, Wesley executed a clean shoulder throw, toppling the young gent to the ground, his own expression turning cold.<br /> "A bunch of fools! If it weren't for my teacher's teachings about not turning a blind eye to those in need, I wouldn't bother with you ignorant lot," Wesley remarked with disdain.<br /> As Wesley effortlessly took down one individual from the Kingsley family, the others seemed slow to react.<br /> By the time they realized what was happening, Wesley had already picked up the needle next to Scott and casually flicked his wrist.<br /> The needle flew out of his hand, piercing Quinn's temple, followed by a second needle, a third needle, and so on.<br /> "What are you doing? Stop!" Amanda's voice rose in urgency, echoed by the rest of the Kingsley family members who rushed forward to restrain Wesley.<br /> "Stay back, everyone. Wait." Scott suddenly stood up, blocking the others. "Let him try."<br /> Amanda and the others were left dumbfounded, thinking, "What does this mean?"<br /> Despite their confusion, they heeded Scott's words.<br /> After Scott stopped the members of the Kingsley family, he fixed his gaze on Wesley.<br /> Wesley proceeded to use eighteen needles in succession, symbolizing the levels of pain.<br /> Even if someone had descended into the depths of hell, they must be brought back.<br /> The final needle, also piercing a vital point, caused Quinn's body to tremble suddenly, resonating with the previous eighteen needles.<br /> Scott's eyes widened, his body trembling slightly. His reaction left Amanda and the others even more puzzled, but none dared to interrupt.<br /> Moments later, Wesley placed a palm on Quinn's chest, causing all eighteen needles to be shaken off. When all the needles landed on the ground, the part of the skin where the needles had pierced turned dark.<br /> Wesley then dragged Quinn to the edge of the mattress, flipped him over with his head facing downwards, and gave him a firm pat on the back.<br /> Quinn spat out a mouthful of black liquid. When Wesley flipped him back to lie flat, his complexion had regained some color.<br /> "The Hand of Darkness... It's the Hand of Darkness!" Scott exclaimed with excitement, his body quivering, "It's the Hand that descends into the dark world, snatching people from the hands of the Evil!"<br /> "You do have some knowledge, recognizing the Hand of Darkness." Wesley glanced at Scott.<br /> Scott's gaze towards Wesley had undergone a drastic change. He respectfully clasped his hands together.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thirty years ago, I had the honor of attending a teaching conference held by Mr. Vanderbilt. I saw the Hand of Darkness, but my limited aptitude only allowed me to grasp the basics."<br /> "I have been blind and ignorant. I apologize for my earlier offenses. Please forgive me, Mr. Harrington."<br /> The Mr. Vanderbilt Scott referred to was Wesley's teacher, Ulysses Vanderbilt. He generously imparted his skills to others, but the ability to learn depended on one's innate talent.<br /> In this world, few could learn Ulysses' skills.<br /> Scott had been fortunate to receive guidance from Ulysses, which had elevated his medical skills. However, the Hand of Darkness, a miraculous ability, was beyond his comprehension.<br /> Wesley smiled faintly, "Your actions earlier are understandable. I appreciate your words."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you must be an exceptional disciple of Mr. Vanderbilt, possessing unparalleled magnanimity. Impressive," Scott continued.<br /> "Enough with the flattery at your age."<br /> "You are mistaken, Mr. Harrington. Every word I speak is sincere."<br /> Mia, Amanda, and the others stood bewildered by the unfolding situation.<br /> "Mr. Phillips... he... he..." Amanda's words faltered.<br /> Scott turned to the members of the Kingsley family. "Meeting Mr. Harrington was Quinn's luck. His symptoms have been cured by Mr. Harrington. With a few days of rest, he will be fine."<br /> The waste Taylor had previously said was called Mr. Harrington by Scott!<br /> Recalling their previous attitudes, Amanda hurriedly apologized, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> The members of the Kingsley family all apologized in unison, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> Chapter 7 <br /> With a faint smile, Wesley remarked, "As family members of a patient, your actions earlier are understandable. There's no need for such formality."<br /> Amanda's perplexity deepened as she thought, "Where is the cowardly waste that Taylor described? This display of magnanimity and breadth is far from it."<br /> Mia, too, felt a shiver of realization, thinking, "No wonder Dad has insisted on my proximity to Wesley.<br /> This guy..."<br /> She gazed at Wesley, her curiosity piqued, a sense of exploration stirring within her.<br /> "Mia has brought you here, Mr. Harrington, to cure my grandfather. The Kingsley family will never forget this act. However, considering that my grandfather's ailment stemmed from the health supplements produced by the Vinver Business Alliance, we will be conducting an investigation into it."<br /> Amanda continued, looking at Wesley, "What do you think... of this approach?"<br /> It was Mia who had invited Wesley, so Amanda had grown wiser, refraining from asking for a direct punishment of the Vinver Business Alliance.<br /> As Mia heard Amanda's words, her heart skipped a beat, realizing trouble was brewing.<br /> "On the way here, Ms. Roberts briefed me on the situation. You conducted experiments on mice, correct?"<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes, the health supplements we received were exclusively provided by the Roberts family. There were no similar cases on the market, so we used mice for testing.<br /> "All the mice that ingested this supplement were gone."<br /> She looked at Mia and added, her voice turning colder, "Before the experiment, I specifically contacted Mia to inquire about the testing methods during the development phase, which involved mice.<br /> "There have been individuals eyeing my grandfather's position, some even wishing for his demise. I never imagined that the Vinver Business Alliance, which I attracted for investment, would become a weapon in someone else's hands."<br /> "Do you have any of the remaining medicine?" Wesley inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes."<br /> "Bring some over."<br /> Immediately, someone fetched the medicine. After it was brought to him, Wesley took out a supplement and swallowed it directly.<br /> This scene left Amanda and the others dumbfounded.<br /> Scott, too, was bewildered. "Mr. Harrington, what are you doing?"<br /> Wesley smiled, "Just proving that this medicine is not toxic."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thank you," Mia thanked sincerely, feeling like crying at that moment.<br /> Amanda, with a puzzled expression, looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, are you suggesting that my grandfather's condition wasn't caused by the Vinver Business Alliance's medicine? What about the mice?"<br /> The rest were equally puzzled.<br /> "Yes, but not entirely," Wesley said, leaving everyone even more bewildered.<br /> Mia's emotions were like a rollercoaster ride, from relief to immediate tension.<br /> "This medicine itself is not toxic, but when taken with another substance made from a certain plant, it results in Quinn's condition. The mice would die immediately, while humans could endure a few more days."<br /> Wesley continued to explain, "The plant used in this concoction is originally meant for crafting slow-acting toxins, not for human consumption."<br /> Looking at Amanda, Wesley said, "During this period, whoever had access to your grandfather and the mice will better understand why these events occurred."<br /> The gaze of members of the Kingsley family immediately focused on a lady.<br /> Amanda, somewhat incredulous, looked at her. "Can you offer an explanation?"<br /> The lady was the wife of Amanda's deceased brother. She found it hard to accept, as did the rest of the Kingsley family.<br /> This lady had been named the exemplary lady who served her family well this year, not due to her connection with the Kingsley family but because she genuinely deserved it.<br /> "What do you mean? Amanda, what explanation do you want from me?"<br /> The lady stared at Amanda. "Am I the only one who had access to Grandfather and the mice? You, and you... and you, who didn't have access?"<br /> "You all claim to treat me as family. Since I married into the Kingsley family, I have worked diligently, contributing my share even if not acknowledged."<br /> "Amanda, it has been over a year since your brother passed, and I never once considered remarrying. Now, just because of his words, you demand an explanation from me?"<br /> Pointing at Wesley, the lady questioned, "Just because he accuses me of poisoning, you suspect me? Tell me, did I poison him?" The lady glared at Wesley.<br /> "I am merely analyzing the facts. As for concluding this case, it's not within my purview," Wesley addressed the members of the Kingsley family, saying, "You should conduct a thorough investigation into this matter.<br /> "I will write a prescription. Have Quinn take it on time, and he will recover in seven days."<br /> Amanda hurried to fetch paper and pen while Wesley prepared the prescription. Once done, he was ready to leave.<br /> Amanda said hurriedly, "Mr. Harrington, I've already made arrangements for lunch."<br /> "No need," Wesley smiled.<br /> The Kingsley family sought to build closer ties with Wesley, given his extraordinary medical skills. Wesley was well aware of this.<br /> Looking at Amanda and the others, Wesley remarked, "In the future, if you encounter any difficult medical cases that others cannot solve, seek me out. Remember, cases others cannot solve."<br /> The gaze of the Kingsley family members toward Wesley changed once again. Many renowned healers had eccentric personalities and were difficult to engage.<br /> They hadn't expected Wesley to possess such remarkable medical skills without any airs.<br /> As Wesley prepared to depart, the members of the Kingsley family did not dare to insist on his stay, so they accompanied him outside.<br /> "Oh, how could we forget such an important matter? Amanda, what about the consultation fee?" The middle-aged gent inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the oversight. Please wait a moment." Amanda hurried back inside and soon returned with a bank card in hand.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, there's one million dollars in here."<br /> Without hesitation, Wesley accepted the bank card and boarded Mia's car.<br /> During the journey, Mia boldly looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, you've helped me immensely. Can I treat you to a meal? Don't decline in a hurry. It's not a fancy restaurant, but it will leave you wanting more. It's a small place on the street, with only eight plates of noodles served each day, each plate containing different ingredients.<br /> "I managed to secure a reservation. Are you interested?"<br /> Wesley thought, "Eight Plates of Noodles? Ah, Aaron's restaurant. It has been a while since I visited those old friends."<br /> Wesley nodded. "Let's go then."<br /> The restaurant, Eight Plates of Noodles, was located on Chanxold Street near the Yeadeo First Central Hospital.<br /> The establishment was small, serving only eight plates of noodles each day at a price of 10 thousand dollars each. Vernoic's television culinary program had specifically covered this incident.<br /> Reservations were a must to secure a plate.<br /> The restaurant's owner had a mysterious background. While the specifics were unknown, a high-ranking noble from the capital of Vernoic, Kingsland, had caused a scene there once.<br /> He had attempted to force his way in without a reservation. Although this incident hadn't been reported, rumors suggested that a garbage truck had to be called to dispose of the intruder's remains, as he was too shattered to be removed by conventional means.<br /> Since then, no one dared to cause trouble.<br /> On their way, Mia introduced Wesley to the background story.<br /> "Mr. Turner, two plates of noodles." Mia called out once they arrived.<br /> Aaron Turner didn't respond but visibly paused upon seeing Wesley beside Mia.<br /> A faint smile appeared on his usually stoic face. Though the flesh on the face seemed stiff, it was indeed a smile. "Coming right up."<br /> Mia glanced at Aaron with a hint of surprise, thinking, "When did he become so warm and enthusiastic? His tone seemed a bit agitated earlier, didn't it?"<br /> Soon enough, Aaron brought two plates of noodles to the table. One steaming hot and the other devoid of any warmth.<br /> As Mia observed Aaron placing the plate without steam in front of Wesley, her expression changed slightly.<br /> It was a plate of instant noodles having soaked in cold water, with the seasoning barely dissolved.<br /> She felt a sense of panic. Mia had wanted to leave a good impression on Wesley, which was why she had chosen this place.<br /> However, Aaron had served such a plate of noodles.<br /> She dared not question Aaron. The type of noodles served here was not determined by the guests but by Aaron's mood.<br /> "This girl named Mia is quite something, living up to her name, and quite kind-hearted," Aaron remarked, looking at Wesley.<br /> "Get lost," Wesley retorted, using his fork to pick up the noodles and devouring them.<br /> Mia's face turned pale instantly. Disrespecting Aaron was akin to risking Wesley's life.<br /> To her astonishment, Aaron chuckled, tears welling up in his eyes.<br /> He wiped them away. "Alright, I'll leave you to your meal."<br /> Before departing, he gave Mia a thumbs-up. "Seize the opportunity."<br /> The eight plates of noodles symbolized the eight comrades who had faced life and life-threatening situations together.<br /> Wesley ate voraciously. Initially, they had only one pack of instant noodles to share among the eight of them, forcing them to divide it.<br /> Despite the circumstances, they devoured the noodles joyfully.<br /> Aaron had promised that once they survived, each one would have the most delicious plate of noodles.<br /> However, five of the eight had perished.<br /> Wesley had come dangerously close to life-threatening situations, but managed to cling to life.<br /> For him, the plate of noodles was not food but the bond of friendship that had shielded him from harm.<br /> "Do you... know each other?" Mia couldn't help but ask, her voice low and curious.<br /> "Some things are better left unknown," Wesley replied.<br /> Mia nodded in understanding, falling silent as they continued eating noodles. She couldn't help stealing glances at Wesley throughout the meal.<br /> This gent had piqued her curiosity even more.<br /> "Wesley, I see. No wonder you agreed to the divorce so readily. You've already found someone else outside."<br /> A sharp voice interrupted their meal.<br /> Taylor approached with a cold expression, accompanied by Henry.	Adoread Romance story	8	https://facebook.com/61557113391558	INSTALL_MOBILE_APP	1713250800	View Edit Delete
1666970	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727712	1734958299	695	1107015940518953	1	1.1208167825156E+15	1714114800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	235254296344339	0	Adoread Romance story	120207848356320113	play.google.com	Install now	NONE	video	HOT BOOK✨Tap the button to read more👉		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.adoread.book		1713261158	2.3525429634434E+14	Adoread Romance story	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437773742_3667519006899729_254128810596551141_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FPZvLAQ0M28Q7kNvgFeBqJy&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDMUUl7Xwo0obhqEyqSZ_nU0h_l4RWJxgpyxE-lkqm97g&oe=663A810C	person_profile	0	Adoread Romance story	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437953308_979639367206677_1331201342836189175_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hM0_PutgCEYQ7kNvgHjkrFe&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfA6yBqHbOHXFlsYwojjryP2hIoMvX5Kf3MUDhZqGndehg&oe=663A92C5	0	3	Chapter 1 <br /> "Wesley, are you trying to harm me? You useless piece of trash, can't even make a decent cup of coffee, can you?"<br /> Madison Blair lifted her coffee cup and splashed it directly onto Wesley Harrington's face.<br /> "What are you looking at, you spineless waste? Your name sounds so lofty? I might as well call you a waste."<br /> Glancing at the grotesque expression of his wife's mother, Wesley pulled out his phone to check the time.<br /> Exactly twelve o'clock. It had been five full years since he married Taylor Reed.<br /> The appointed time had come.<br /> He had fulfilled his promise, safeguarding the Reed family for five years, transforming them from a family living off fishing to one perceived as affluent by the common folk.<br /> Wiping the coffee off his face, he turned and walked away.<br /> "Where do you think you're going? Go fetch some more coffee," Madison shouted.<br /> "Madison, didn't you say this waste is obedient at home, doing whatever he's told? I don't think he's taking it lying down."<br /> Madison grew angrier. "Wesley, you stop right there. My family has fed and housed you. If you dare disobey, I'll have you thrown out!"<br /> Ignoring her, Wesley continued downstairs.<br /> "When Taylor comes back, I'll immediately have you two divorced. Do you hear me? Stay right there," Madison threatened, "I'll let you know your place today."<br /> Grabbing a golf club, Madison swiftly charged towards Wesley.<br /> Seeing Wesley heading downstairs, she swung the club viciously at his back.<br /> Without turning back, Wesley gently sidestepped.<br /> Losing her balance, Madison tumbled forward, rolling down the stairs with a series of thumps.<br /> "Ouch... it hurts, it hurts so much!"<br /> As Madison reached the ground floor, she wailed in pain and her sister immediately rushed to her.<br /> "Wesley, what have you done? How dare you hit my sister!" Madison's sister hurried down, checking on Madison's condition.<br /> Wesley remained silent, observing the scene.<br /> "Quick, call Taylor. Tell her to come back. Today, she must divorce this waste." Madison glared at Wesley. "How dare you hit me? Not only will I let Taylor divorce you, but I'll make sure you leave in disgrace."<br /> "Mum, what's wrong?" At that moment, a gent and a lady walked in.<br /> The lady was Taylor, Madison's daughter.<br /> She ran towards Madison.<br /> As Madison pointed at Wesley, tears streamed down her face. "Taylor, he hit me, he hit me! When you're not home, he changes his attitude, scolding and hitting me in the slightest displeasure. He even pushed me down the stairs just now. Alexis can testify."<br /> Madison's sister, Alexis Blair, chimed in. "Yes, Wesley, this trash not only hit your mother but also threatened to hit me too. We cannot tolerate such trash."<br /> "Taylor, I have been telling you to divorce him for years. You've been supporting him, treating him like a Lord at home, but he's an ungrateful wolf in sheep's clothing."<br /> Helping Madison up, Taylor noticed the scrapes on Madison's arms and legs, her expression turning cold.<br /> "Wesley, why did you hit my mother? You better give me an explanation."<br /> Wesley looked at Taylor, his wife.<br /> Five years had passed, and she had never shown him kindness.<br /> Taylor dressed impeccably, a paragon of a successful lady, with a face that could be deemed angelic, yet whether her heart was as angelic remained a mystery.<br /> Her figure, too, left countless men yearning.<br /> For five years, Wesley had thought he might develop feelings for this lady, but in reality, it never happened.<br /> "There are surveillance cameras in the house," Wesley stated calmly before descending the stairs into the hallway.<br /> Despite residing in a three-story villa, Wesley's living quarters were confined to the stairwell.<br /> He harbored no resentment towards this arrangement. It was merely a promise. It was just that Taylor failed to appreciate him.<br /> This home held little value that he wished to cling onto.<br /> Retrieving a wooden box from beneath his pillow, Wesley extracted two documents. Casting a fleeting glance at the modest abode he had called home for five years, Wesley smiled faintly.<br /> He thought, "Finally... I'm free."<br /> Pushing the door ajar, Wesley was met by Taylor's piercing gaze. "I've reviewed the surveillance footage. Yes, my mother intended to strike you, but even if she did, what difference would it make?"<br /> "She's a lady. How much could her blows hurt you? Why did you dodge?"<br /> "If you hadn't dodged, my mother wouldn't have tumbled down." Wesley stared at Taylor, unable to comprehend her thought process.<br /> He had no interest in engaging in these arguments. Handing over the two documents to Taylor, he remarked, "The divorce agreement. I've already signed it. Take a look. I'm leaving with nothing."<br /> "With your current influence, there's no need for you to visit the city hall. Someone will handle it for you, right?"<br /> Madison was taken aback. She swiftly snatched the divorce agreement, flipping through it hastily.<br /> The contents were indeed straightforward. Both parties willingly divorced, with Wesley relinquishing all claims and having already signed.<br /> In an instant, Madison's pain seemed to dissipate. "Taylor, sign it quickly. Sign it."<br /> Taylor was still in a daze.<br /> She pondered.<br /> "A divorce agreement? Wesley has already prepared a divorce agreement. On what grounds?"<br /> "What gives him the right to initiate a divorce? All these years, he's done nothing at home, lacking any ambition. Always practicing martial arts, what right does he have to seek a divorce?"<br /> "If anyone should initiate it, it should be me. Moreover, now that I'm back to discussing this matter with him. Could it be that word got out, and Wesley, for the sake of his pride, rushed to prepare a divorce agreement first?"<br /> "It must be so, but... No!"<br /> "Wanting to leave with nothing, is he retreating to advance? As the chairman of the Reed Group, how could I be served with a divorce?"<br /> "Hey Wesley, I never expected this from you. Have I not treated you well enough? You seek a divorce, attempting to turn your retreat into advance, aiming to embarrass me?"<br /> Taylor glared at Wesley. "I'm telling you, it's impossible."<br /> Snatching the divorce agreement, she tore it to shreds.<br /> "Taylor, what are you doing? Such a great opportunity. Why not just sign it and let him leave?" Madison grew anxious.<br /> "Mom, I do intend to divorce this trash, but the decision must come from me. I returned specifically to address this matter."<br /> With that, Taylor produced two documents. "Wesley, remember that it's me who's divorcing you. It's me who no longer wants you. Initially, out of marital obligation, I had considered offering you some compensation. Now, you don't even need to think about it. Sign the divorce agreement and leave my home."<br /> Wesley offered a faint smile as he accepted the divorce agreement.<br /> "What are you laughing at?" Taylor demanded angrily.<br /> Wesley's smile seemed to mock her, fueling her rage.<br /> Ignoring her entirely, Wesley signed the document and handed it over.<br /> "What are you laughing at? Answer me! Who do you think you are?" Taylor roared once more.<br /> Wesley glanced at her before striding towards the exit.<br /> "Stop!" The gent who had accompanied Taylor stepped forward, blocking Wesley's path. "Taylor asked you a question, and... Your previous attitude displeased me. Apologize to Taylor, or I'll have you leave in disgrace!"<br /> <br /> Chapter 2 <br /> "Yes, let him leave in disgrace. He thought he could just hit me and walk away so easily," Madison joined in the commotion, also noticing the gent blocking Wesley's path.<br /> Madison had a keen interest in luxury goods, having frequented various high-end establishments over the years as the Reed family's living conditions improved. The gent was wearing an expensive watch and dressed head to toe in high-end luxury brands.<br /> Seeing Madison's gaze, the gent spoke. "Rest assured, today Wesley must pay the price."<br /> The gent introduced himself, looking at Wesley, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Henry Clark, the eldest son of the Clark family and the general manager of the Clark Group in the North District."<br /> "From now on, I will accompany Taylor on her journey of life, and I will not allow anyone to bully her."<br /> "My identity carries weight. You should understand that. Now, apologize to Taylor. Apologize! Did you hear me? Apologize!"<br /> Madison's eyes lit up. She hadn't expected the gent before her to hold such a high status. She continued to shout, "Did you hear that? Taylor will be with Mr. Clark from now on. Apologize now."<br /> Wesley glanced at Henry, then at Taylor. He thought, "Have they been together all along?" Wesley had wanted to ask but decided against it because there was no need. He simply gave them a glance and continued walking towards the exit.<br /> "Are you ignoring me?" Henry's face turned cold as he reached out to grab Wesley. Henry's hand froze mid-air as he received a solid hit.<br /> "Until I sign the divorce papers, Taylor and I are still wife and husband. I don't care to investigate whether you two had any intimate relationship during that time, but don't provoke me, or I won't hesitate to make you regret it." Wesley's gaze was icy, and as Henry met his eyes, he felt a twinge of fear and swallowed his words.<br /> Taylor was also stunned. She knew exactly what Wesley had been like over the past five years. There were many surveillance cameras in the house, and she would often check them.<br /> Even when Taylor wasn't home, despite how her family treated Wesley, he always obeyed without complaint, especially towards her. He had never raised his voice, no matter how they treated him.<br /> Today, not only did Wesley dodge when her mother struck, but he also initiated the divorce and now even struck Henry. <br /> Taylor was at a loss for words, thinking, "How could this cowardly gent dare? On what grounds does he dare?"<br /> This change was difficult for Taylor to accept as if she didn't truly understand this guy. The gent who used to be obedient to her, completely submissive, now revealed this side of himself. She watched Wesley walk away in a daze, feeling a strange discomfort in her heart.<br /> "Isn't he leaving with nothing?" Alexis pointed at the wooden box Wesley was holding. "What is he taking with him?"<br /> Madison also realized. Over the past five years, Wesley had always treasured this wooden box, carrying it with him wherever he went. She thought there must be something valuable inside.<br /> Realizing this, Madison hurriedly followed. "Wesley, stop right there, leave the wooden box."<br /> Wesley paused, glanced at Madison, and said, "This is my personal belonging."<br /> "Nonsense, what personal belonging could you possibly have after marrying into the Reed family? Everything you've eaten, worn, and lived in over the years has been provided by the Reed family. Put it down."<br /> As she spoke, Madison reached out to grab the wooden box.<br /> "Ah..." A scream rang out as Madison quickly retracted her hand, a gash appearing on her palm, a crimson liquid dripping.<br /> The wooden box was now stained with the same crimson liquid, trembling lightly in Wesley's hand.<br /> "It's not the right time yet, the day you thirst for this crimson liquid will come," Wesley murmured softly, patting the box before turning to continue his stride towards the exit.<br /> "Monster! A monster!" Madison screamed, causing Taylor and the others to rush out. Seeing the wound in Madison's hand, Taylor was filled with rage.<br /> "Wesley, aren't you going to say something?" Wesley halted once more, contemplating before meeting Taylor's gaze.<br /> "Just stay out of my way from now on. Consider this a warning to you."<br /> "Taylor, that wooden box of his has a mechanism. It must hold something valuable! We can't let him take it with him," Madison, enduring the pain, reminded them.<br /> "Mom, your injury is important. We'll deal with him later. Let me take you to the hospital first." Taylor comforted Madison before calling out to the retreating Wesley.<br /> "Our marriage is over! Yet, you dared to hurt my mother! This won't be the end of it! I will make you regret it!" Ignoring her, Wesley continued walking out.<br /> "Rest assured, I promise he won't see the light of day tomorrow." Henry stepped forward to console. "Let's focus on getting your wound treated first."<br /> "I want him to regret ever existing in this world, to apologize to me in repentance," Madison roared.<br /> "Mom, trust me, I will make him do just that." Taylor looked at Madison with a mix of pity and determination. "Let's go to the hospital first."<br /> In the villa area, Wesley halted, his voice cold. "Get out."<br /> An elderly gent leaped down from a tree, appearing to be in his seventies, yet landing silently from a height of around ten feet.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, your father wants you to come home and take charge."<br /> "He stopped being my father five years ago. He's my enemy."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you misunderstood your father. He had his reasons back then. I swear in my life, once you know the truth, you will forgive him."<br /> "Huh!" Wesley smirked coldly, saying, "I nearly passed away back then. Is that also a misunderstanding?"<br /> The old gent pleaded, "Mr. Harrington, this situation is truly not as you perceive it."<br /> Wesley didn't engage further with the old guy. The events of that year were etched in his memory forever. He was the one who had been abandoned. If not for that incident, why would he have stayed with the Reed family for five years?<br /> Watching Wesley walk away, the old gent had tears silently streaming down his face. "Mr. Harrington, I truly... I truly can't bring myself to speak the truth, but you have misunderstood your father. He also bears burdens and endures pains beyond what an ordinary person can handle."<br /> As Wesley's figure disappeared, the old gent stood up, hesitated for a moment, then dialed a number on his phone.<br /> "Mr. Harrington is now divorced. I've given you the news firsthand. If your daughter is truly together with Mr. Harrington, you must fulfill the promise and let her persuade Mr. Harrington to come home."<br /> After hanging up, a middle-aged gent in a luxurious estate jumped up excitedly. Calming himself, he immediately made another call. "My dear, you're at Yeadeo, right?<br /> "Go find Wesley now. Don't mention the engagement for now. Use every means to get close to him, make him fall in love with you."<br /> "Dad, I don't have time."<br /> "No matter what you are busy with, you must go find Wesley now. No matter what reason you approach him, you must leave a good impression the first time."<br /> "Dad, I'm in trouble right now. If I don't handle it well, I might be good as gone. I have to deal with it immediately. I'm hanging up."<br /> Chapter 3 <br /> The middle-aged gent's voice lowered significantly. "Is there a big incident happening? You didn't tell me? What happened?"<br /> "Quinn Kingsley from Yeadeo, Mr. Kingsley, used our product and now has one foot on the grave. If something really happens to him..."<br /> "You mean Quinn, the uncontested leader of Yeadeo?"<br /> "Yes."<br /> "In that case, you should go find Wesley. Trust me, in this world, there is no problem that Wesley can't solve. As long as he's willing to help, you'll be fine. Listen to me, go find Wesley immediately."<br /> The lady fell silent for a moment before saying, "Okay."<br /> At Yeadeo Harbor, a gent with a large flaxen chain and a watch, sporting a crew cut, hurriedly disembarked, accompanied by a dozen gentlemen.<br /> "Mr. Reed, wherever that trash is, we will find him and tear him apart."<br /> "Yes, that guy dared to harm your mother. We'll make sure he pays for it."<br /> Frank Reed's face turned cold. "Wesley, you coward, thinking you can overturn the world? How dare you touch my mom? Just wait until I find you, you're finished."<br /> "We've found him. Wesley got into a taxi, and our boys followed him."<br /> "Let's go!" Frank waved his hand, leading dozens of men who boarded the car with harpoons, steel pipes, and other weapons.<br /> Inside the taxi, Wesley gazed at the scenery outside, feeling a strange sense of tranquility.<br /> He thought to himself, "I never imagined that while I was secretly paving the way for the Reed family, Taylor, after progressing so rapidly, would start looking down on me more and more."<br /> "Those ladies who know my true identity, which one of them isn't trying to throw themselves at me? Ladies like that don't interest me."<br /> "Being an ordinary gent is truly difficult," Wesley murmured, smiling faintly and deciding not to dwell on these matters anymore. He had important things to attend to and no time to waste on personal affairs.<br /> "Young lad, are you going to Feidgeuo Manor for a job interview?" The driver, curious about Wesley's destination, inquired.<br /> Feidgeuo Manor was Yeadeo's most mysterious private area. Originally a villa area, it was bought at a huge cost five years ago and completely renovated. It was said to have cost a trillion dollars. The former villa area was now Feidgeuo Manor.<br /> "That's my home," Wesley replied nonchalantly.<br /> The driver was taken aback by this revelation, silently cursing Wesley for bragging. After a couple of minutes, the driver regained his composure. "It seems like you and I both prefer to keep a low profile. My car usually gathers dust at home, so I occasionally drive a taxi to experience life."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "My car has been driven by my assistant for the past few years, so it's not gathering dust."<br /> "Haha..." The driver laughed. "We should get together sometime and see whose car is more impressive."<br /> "Sure, whenever we have the time."<br /> As they chatted, the vehicle soon arrived near Feidgeuo Manor, where the massive head of the Feidgeuo Peak protruded, creating a unique landscape in Yeadeo.<br /> The driver asked with a smile, "Since you're the owner here, it's fine if I drive in, right?"<br /> "Of course," Wesley replied.<br /> As soon as Wesley spoke, several cars caught up from behind.<br /> The cars surrounded the one Wesley was in, with the front vehicles braking to force the car to a stop.<br /> When numerous people descended from cars wielding harpoons and steel pipes, the driver's face paled.<br /> Frank and his group got out of the cars, instantly closing in, and without hesitation, started attacking, the steel pipes and harpoons thudding against the car.<br /> Frank's henchman yanked open the door of Wesley's car, poised to stab Wesley with a harpoon, but Wesley swiftly exited the vehicle.<br /> With a firm step on the ground, he launched a swift hit.<br /> A muffled sound echoed as the henchman was hit away.<br /> "What are you looking at?" Frank noticed his henchmen were all staring at him. "All of you, attack together and take him down!"<br /> As he commanded, the henchmen Frank brought with him surged forward.<br /> The taxi driver, trembling, took out his phone to call the police, but Frank glared at him. "I am Frank Reed from Yeadeo Harbor. If you dare, go ahead and make that call."<br /> Frank, leveraging his sister Taylor's status, had been causing trouble in Yeadeo Harbor, and no one dared to provoke him.<br /> Upon hearing Frank's name, the driver hastily put away his phone. "Mr. Reed, I'll just check the time, you guys continue."<br /> "Huh!" Frank snorted coldly, casting his gaze towards the surrounded Wesley.<br /> The sounds of thuds continued to ring out incessantly. Because Wesley was completely surrounded, Frank was unable to see the situation inside clearly, but he could imagine it. After all, in Frank's mind, the henchmen under his command were not to be trifled with.<br /> "Hit him hard for me!"<br /> Another muffled sound and a figure flew out. At that moment, Frank finally saw the situation clearly, and his face turned pale.<br /> Frank knew that Wesley liked to practice martial arts, but he had never expected Wesley to be this skilled. It wasn't Wesley who had been beaten, but his own men by Wesley alone.<br /> Frantically, Frank turned and ran to retrieve a crossbow from the car.<br /> "Clear the way." Frank bellowed, aiming the crossbow at Wesley.<br /> "You scumbag, you think you can fight? Move one more time, and I'll end your life! Surrender!"<br /> Wesley, holding a wooden box, stared at Frank. Ignoring the crossbow in his hand, Wesley said, "Tell your henchmen to back off, or you'll all see the light from above!"<br /> "You're really good at pretending to be tough." Frank took two steps forward. "See the light? Move a muscle and see if I can end your life or not! If you don't have the guts, apologize now!"<br /> Wesley turned his head and looked at the approaching cars, with two expensive ones in the lead, two more in the rear, and another one in the middle.<br /> "Keep acting tough, and I'll put a hole in your head." Frank spoke while glancing at the five cars. "What, looking for help?"<br /> "Let me tell you, those who ride in these cars are not the kind of weaklings like you who rely on connections. With me here, in Yeadeo's social hierarchy, even those who ride in such cars wouldn't dare meddle in this matter. And let me make it clear, without my sister, you're nothing."<br /> <br /> Chapter 4<br /> As Frank's words faded, the five cars came to a halt.<br /> A bodyguard opened the door of the one in the middle, revealing a dazzling pair of shining shoes catching everyone's eye.<br /> The shining shoe encased a beautiful foot. Above, the skirt's hem was adorned with lace.<br /> Then, like a fairy stepping out of a painting, she appeared before everyone's eyes.<br /> The lady was beautiful!<br /> Frank was mesmerized. Ever since the Reed family rose to prominence, he had been surrounded by ladies, but compared to the elegant lady before him, they were worlds apart.<br /> It wasn't just a difference in appearance but an incomparable gap in demeanor.<br /> The lady descending from the Maybach seemed like a celestial being untouched by mortal affairs.<br /> The embodiment of a fairy in the mundane world.<br /> She simply stood there after getting out of the car, perfectly embodying what it meant to be graceful and elegant.<br /> The lady glanced at Wesley, then at Frank.<br /> Frank grinned, saying, "May I have the honor of knowing the name of this esteemed lady? I am Frank..."<br /> The lady spoke calmly. "Disrespect Mr. Harrington, and you're done for."<br /> Her bodyguards, unfazed by Frank's crossbow, swiftly overwhelmed him, sending him crashing to the ground.<br /> The henchmen who had come with Frank, previously defeated by Wesley, now scrambled to their feet and fled in all directions.<br /> Who would dare provoke someone who could afford such a car?<br /> "My sister is Taylor Reed, the chairperson of Reed Group," Frank shouted, clutching his head.<br /> Ignoring him, one of the bodyguards dragged him to the roadside grass while another used a belt to tighten around Frank's neck, exerting pressure.<br /> "Enough, a lesson is all that's needed." Wesley spoke calmly, and only when the lady gestured did the bodyguards release Frank.<br /> Frank lay there, already unconscious.<br /> Wesley turned to the lady. "Who are you?"<br /> "I am Mia Roberts, the general manager of Vinver Business Alliance's Yeadeo branch." She looked at Wesley and continued, "Mr. Harrington, my father mentioned that you have miraculous healing skills and earnestly requested your assistance. A generous reward awaits."<br /> Wesley furrowed his brow slightly, thinking, "There are indeed people who recognize my abilities and status, yet I've rarely intervened in the past five years. Today, shortly after I divorced Taylor, she is here. Whose arrangement is this?"<br /> "Mr. Harrington, my father also mentioned that you are benevolent and has raised the banner of compassion among healers, serving as a role model and benchmark for all in the medical field."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "You have a way with words. Tell me the specifics."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, please get in the car first. I will explain in detail on the way."<br /> The phrase "compassionate healer" held significant weight for Wesley, who had saved countless lives from the brink of death.<br /> Without further ado, he got into the car.<br /> Inside, after Mia brewed coffee for Wesley, she began. "Vinver Business Alliance has a wide range of business operations, and I mainly oversee the health supplement sector, which has seen some success in recent years.<br /> "Recently, Quinn Kingsley started using our medicines, and now there's an accident."<br /> As she spoke, Mia kept her gaze fixed on Wesley.<br /> Quinn, the undisputed leader of Yeadeo, was a figure of immense influence.<br /> Upon hearing this name, Wesley showed no particular reaction. "If the city's leader faces issues with your products, it is indeed a concern. Let's go and see."<br /> With just a sentence, Wesley leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest.<br /> Mia was secretly alarmed, thinking, "He knows who Quinn is, yet he seems indifferent. Who is this Wesley, really? No wonder Dad has instructed me to find a way to win his favor." Mia's inner resistance toward Wesley quietly shifted.<br /> Wesley had piqued her curiosity.<br /> As the vehicle was moving, Wesley's phone rang.<br /> Wesley opened his eyes and took out his phone to see Taylor calling.<br /> Pressing the answer button, he asked, "What's the matter?"<br /> On the other end of the line, Taylor, driving towards Feidgeuo Manor, had a grim expression.<br /> She thought, "Has Wesley ever spoken to me in such a cold tone before? Is he really this heartless right after our divorce?"<br /> Already furious, she snapped. "Wesley, do you even consider yourself a human being?<br /> "Today, not only did you lay hands on my mother, but you also had someone attack my brother. Do you not remember our past at all?"<br /> Wesley calmly replied, "Do we have a past to remember?"<br /> "You truly are a heartless scumbag, just as my mother said. You are an ungrateful and vicious person I raised for five years. Even a pet would wag its tail at me!"<br /> Taylor wanted to continue her tirade, but the phone line had already turned busy.<br /> This only fueled her anger further.<br /> Just now, she had received a call from Frank's underlings, informing her that Wesley had sent people to attack Frank and even intended to end him.<br /> Taylor wanted to demand answers, but...<br /> As Taylor was clutching her fists, her gaze turned icy.<br /> After a moment, she picked up her phone again. "Wesley, you are so narrow-minded. You have no ambition. Any lady would steer clear of you."<br /> "Just because I dumped you, you are doing this on purpose to make me feel sick. Pretending to be aloof and seeking revenge? Do you even deserve it?"<br /> "In Yeadeo, squashing you would be as easy as squashing an ant. You're asking for it! If anything happens to my brother, I will make you wish you were ending!"<br /> Her furious voice message echoed in the car.<br /> Wesley chuckled and put away his phone.<br /> Beside him, Mia seemed contemplative. Before coming, she had already ordered a swift investigation into Wesley.<br /> She was curious, thinking, "How could someone valued by my father could be the one 'marrying into' the Reed family."<br /> Being tactful, Mia chose not to ask and pretended not to have heard.<br /> After about forty minutes, they arrived at the Kingsley Manor.<br /> The Kingsley family members, upon seeing Mia alight from the car, all wore grim expressions.<br /> Mia greeted them with a smile, "Everyone, this is Wesley Harrington, Mr. Harrington, the miraculous healer I specially invited to treat Mr. Kingsley."<br /> "Him? The gent who married into the Reed family?"<br /> "A miraculous healer? Is he even worthy? Are healers so worthless now?"<br /> "A useless gent who mooches off of the Reed family? How dare he call himself a miraculous healer? Truly a joke among all jokes."<br /> Chapter 5<br /> <br /> Amanda Kingsley, Quinn's granddaughter, stared coldly at Wesley and Mia.<br /> This lady, dressed in a smart suit, also held significant fame in Yeadeo, overseeing the region's business activities, including investment attraction and various local business negotiations.<br /> Amanda had a favorable view of Taylor, who had risen swiftly in recent times, and they had interacted frequently.<br /> She was aware of Wesley's existence and had advised Taylor to part ways with him early on.<br /> But Amanda never imagined that Mia would bring someone like Wesley, a complete waste, and claim he was a miraculous healer.<br /> Glaring at Mia, she said, "Mia, once my grandfather is well, it's best for your Roberts family to leave Yeadeo."<br /> "As for you..." She glanced at Wesley. "I will advise Taylor to divorce you. You have deceived Taylor's feelings and now shamelessly made your way into my family. You are a despicable creature."<br /> After reprimanding Mia and Wesley, she turned to an elderly gent beside her, and her tone and attitude completely changed. "Mr. Phillips, sorry to trouble you. My grandfather is inside, please."<br /> Mia looked at the elderly gent, who was already in his twilight years, feeling deeply shocked.<br /> Scott Phillips, the 38th generation heir of the Healing Clinic, was now ninety-two years old.<br /> Renowned as a miraculous healer, he was a respected figure in the medical community of Yeadeo and even nationally.<br /> He no longer conducted consultations personally due to his old age. Mia had visited him specifically to pay her respects once she had arrived in Yeadeo but had not met Scott.<br /> She never expected Scott to appear in person. It was understandable, as Quinn held a prominent position in the city. Despite the profound influence of the Phillips family, they still had to show respect to Quinn.<br /> Mia looked at Wesley, feeling conflicted and thinking, "Dad has confidently claimed that Wesley has extraordinary abilities, but does he really?"<br /> She harbored doubts, but out of propriety, Mia spoke. "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the trouble."<br /> Wesley smiled, "It's fine. As long as the person can be healed."<br /> His open-mindedness impressed Mia.<br /> After about half an hour, Amanda emerged from the room. All eyes instantly turned towards her.<br /> It was evident that Amanda had wailed out, with traces of tears still visible.<br /> "Amanda, how is it?" A middle-aged gent anxiously asked her.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family who had rushed back also focused their attention on her.<br /> "Mr. Phillips said that there's little hope of recovery. He could only use acupuncture to wake grandfather for half an hour. When grandfather wakes up, let's all go in and see if he has any final instructions."<br /> Everyone was shocked.<br /> "How could this be?"<br /> "Is Mr. Phillips also helpless?"<br /> The members of the Kingsley family found it hard to accept this reality, especially since Quinn had always treated his juniors well.<br /> The thought of Quinn departing saddened some, and tears silently fell.<br /> Publicly, Quinn's status was the foundation of the Kingsley family's prominence in Yeadeo.<br /> If Quinn were to pass away, the Kingsley family would undoubtedly decline.<br /> The atmosphere within the Kingsley family was somber.<br /> Amanda looked at her family members, opened her mouth, but said nothing, silently turning back into the room.<br /> "Stop crying," A middle-aged gent said sternly, "Dad wouldn't want to see you all in tears. If he's really leaving, we mustn't let him worry about us. Pull yourselves together."<br /> After these words, the middle-aged gent also entered the room.<br /> The younger members of the Kingsley family wiped their tears vigorously, trying to force smiles, but in truth, they looked better at crying than pretending to be happy.<br /> Mia's spirit plummeted as she realized the gravity of the situation. Even if an ordinary person passed away from consuming health supplements, it spelled big trouble for those who sold them. And when the deceased happened to be Quinn, the stakes were even higher.<br /> She understood that it would be difficult for this branch to stay in Yeadeo, and even the headquarters might face repercussions.<br /> "Let's go in and have a look." Wesley glanced at Mia. "There might still be a chance."<br /> "Ah..." Mia stared at Wesley in surprise. Seeing him already heading towards the room, she quickly followed suit.<br /> Inside the room, the members of the Kingsley family stood around the mattress, maintaining a certain distance.<br /> Scott lit the alcohol lamp and took out the needles, his expression solemn.<br /> He looked at the members of the Kingsley family. "Think about what you want to say to Mr. Kingsley later. Once you're ready, let me know, and then I'll proceed with the acupuncture."<br /> As he said this, tears welled up in many eyes.<br /> "If you don't mind, let me take a look. I have a way." Wesley spoke up, drawing everyone's attention.<br /> Amanda's face darkened. "Who let you in? Get out!"<br /> "Mia, have you lost your mind? Tricked by this trash and actually brought him here as a miracle healer. Get out with him! I'll settle the score with you in a couple of days."<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, at a loss for words.<br /> "Even Mr. Phillips is unable to reverse the situation. What use are you? Get out." Another younger member of the Kingsley family angrily rebuked.<br /> The middle-aged gent added, "We're in no mood right now. You better leave immediately."<br /> "I understand your narrow-mindedness," Wesley continued, "But as a healer, once I see a patient, I cannot stand by and watch him draw his last breath."<br /> "Wesley, you're quite the charlatan. Do you really want to be gone right now?" Amanda's voice was filled with anger.<br /> "Amanda, let me say a few words," Scott interjected, and Amanda fell silent.<br /> Looking at Wesley, Scott began. "Young lad, at my age, I've seen a lot and have a broad perspective. Today, however, I find it hard to remain indifferent. I practiced medicine from the age of sixteen until I stopped seeing patients for a total of seventy years."<br /> "I've saved countless patients from various illnesses. I never easily declare a patient's fate, nor do I believe I have the right to do so."<br /> "But from your recent remarks, it seems like you're accusing me of such actions. Young people wanting to make a name for themselves by stepping on the shoulders of their predecessors, I can understand."<br /> "But this kind of behavior displeases me."<br /> "My displeasure, what does it mean to you? Do you understand?"<br /> "Even if you are a healer, your career will be ruined because of this."<br /> Chapter 6 <br /> In the face of Scott's veiled threats, Wesley simply smiled and brushed them off.<br /> Looking at Scott, he asked, "I've always focused on the issue at hand rather than attacking individuals. I have a few questions for you. If you can't administer the needles, how long do you think Quinn can hold on?"<br /> "Seven days, but he will remain unconscious," Scott replied bluntly.<br /> "Then let me ask you this, is there anyone in the world with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "Outrageous," Amanda coldly interjected, "Mr. Phillips is unparalleled in his medical expertise."<br /> Scott glanced at Amanda. "Amanda, let me handle this question."<br /> Continuing to address Wesley, he said, "I don't underestimate myself, nor do I overestimate. There are countless talented individuals in the world, like stars in the sky. I may not dare claim to be the best in medical skills, but those who surpass me are few."<br /> "That means there are some," Wesley calmly remarked, causing Scott's expression to shift slightly, "Indeed, there are."<br /> "Then let me ask you this. Do you think within seven days, the Kingsley family won't find someone with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "If they do find someone, do you believe there is an illness that you cannot cure, but this person can?"<br /> Wesley's questions were sharp and resounding.<br /> Scott's face changed once more as he was rendered speechless.<br /> "Even if there is, that person will never be you." Amanda's face turned icy. "Now get out. Don't spout your eloquence here. Your deceitful behavior is repulsive."<br /> "Your understanding of me is merely hearsay, isn't it?" Wesley retorted, his gaze mocking Amanda, "Has your background and education taught you such arrogance and prejudice?"<br /> "Arrogance?" Amanda's face grew colder as she disdainfully looked at Wesley. "Prejudice?<br /> "Did I say something wrong just now? You are nothing but stagnant waste, a parasite living off others. If it weren't for Taylor, you would have starved on the streets long ago."<br /> "Relying on sweet words, deceiving Taylor. She, with her kind heart, can't bear to divorce you, but don't push your luck. If it weren't for Taylor's sake, you would have been sent out long ago."<br /> Scott interrupted Amanda, "Amanda, although I find this lad a bit annoying, what he said does hold some truth. There are indeed individuals with better medical skills than me. Your grandfather can hold on for seven days. Try reaching out to see if someone can come over. I'll help you make connections."<br /> "If it really doesn't work out after seven days, I'll administer the needles to your grandfather. However, at that point, I can only buy you three minutes."<br /> As soon as Scott spoke, the faces of the Kingsley family members grew even more solemn. True healers were rare and not easily summoned.<br /> While the Kingsley family had connections in Yeadeo, their influence waned outside of it.<br /> "Mr. Phillips, please administer the needles. Life has its ups and downs, and we understand that. Just buy my father a bit more time." The middle-aged gent spoke up.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family nodded in agreement.<br /> Amanda looked at Scott. "Mr. Phillips, please."<br /> "In that case, please have everyone unrelated leave. I need silence," Scott calmly stated.<br /> Amanda glared at Wesley, her eyes speaking volumes without a word.<br /> The unrelated individuals were, naturally, Wesley and Mia.<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, intending to leave, but she suddenly hesitated.<br /> Instead of leaving, Wesley moved forward.<br /> "What are you doing?" A young member of the Kingsley family stepped forward with a stern expression, pushing Wesley.<br /> In one swift motion, Wesley executed a clean shoulder throw, toppling the young gent to the ground, his own expression turning cold.<br /> "A bunch of fools! If it weren't for my teacher's teachings about not turning a blind eye to those in need, I wouldn't bother with you ignorant lot," Wesley remarked with disdain.<br /> As Wesley effortlessly took down one individual from the Kingsley family, the others seemed slow to react.<br /> By the time they realized what was happening, Wesley had already picked up the needle next to Scott and casually flicked his wrist.<br /> The needle flew out of his hand, piercing Quinn's temple, followed by a second needle, a third needle, and so on.<br /> "What are you doing? Stop!" Amanda's voice rose in urgency, echoed by the rest of the Kingsley family members who rushed forward to restrain Wesley.<br /> "Stay back, everyone. Wait." Scott suddenly stood up, blocking the others. "Let him try."<br /> Amanda and the others were left dumbfounded, thinking, "What does this mean?"<br /> Despite their confusion, they heeded Scott's words.<br /> After Scott stopped the members of the Kingsley family, he fixed his gaze on Wesley.<br /> Wesley proceeded to use eighteen needles in succession, symbolizing the levels of pain.<br /> Even if someone had descended into the depths of hell, they must be brought back.<br /> The final needle, also piercing a vital point, caused Quinn's body to tremble suddenly, resonating with the previous eighteen needles.<br /> Scott's eyes widened, his body trembling slightly. His reaction left Amanda and the others even more puzzled, but none dared to interrupt.<br /> Moments later, Wesley placed a palm on Quinn's chest, causing all eighteen needles to be shaken off. When all the needles landed on the ground, the part of the skin where the needles had pierced turned dark.<br /> Wesley then dragged Quinn to the edge of the mattress, flipped him over with his head facing downwards, and gave him a firm pat on the back.<br /> Quinn spat out a mouthful of black liquid. When Wesley flipped him back to lie flat, his complexion had regained some color.<br /> "The Hand of Darkness... It's the Hand of Darkness!" Scott exclaimed with excitement, his body quivering, "It's the Hand that descends into the dark world, snatching people from the hands of the Evil!"<br /> "You do have some knowledge, recognizing the Hand of Darkness." Wesley glanced at Scott.<br /> Scott's gaze towards Wesley had undergone a drastic change. He respectfully clasped his hands together.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thirty years ago, I had the honor of attending a teaching conference held by Mr. Vanderbilt. I saw the Hand of Darkness, but my limited aptitude only allowed me to grasp the basics."<br /> "I have been blind and ignorant. I apologize for my earlier offenses. Please forgive me, Mr. Harrington."<br /> The Mr. Vanderbilt Scott referred to was Wesley's teacher, Ulysses Vanderbilt. He generously imparted his skills to others, but the ability to learn depended on one's innate talent.<br /> In this world, few could learn Ulysses' skills.<br /> Scott had been fortunate to receive guidance from Ulysses, which had elevated his medical skills. However, the Hand of Darkness, a miraculous ability, was beyond his comprehension.<br /> Wesley smiled faintly, "Your actions earlier are understandable. I appreciate your words."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you must be an exceptional disciple of Mr. Vanderbilt, possessing unparalleled magnanimity. Impressive," Scott continued.<br /> "Enough with the flattery at your age."<br /> "You are mistaken, Mr. Harrington. Every word I speak is sincere."<br /> Mia, Amanda, and the others stood bewildered by the unfolding situation.<br /> "Mr. Phillips... he... he..." Amanda's words faltered.<br /> Scott turned to the members of the Kingsley family. "Meeting Mr. Harrington was Quinn's luck. His symptoms have been cured by Mr. Harrington. With a few days of rest, he will be fine."<br /> The waste Taylor had previously said was called Mr. Harrington by Scott!<br /> Recalling their previous attitudes, Amanda hurriedly apologized, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> The members of the Kingsley family all apologized in unison, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> Chapter 7 <br /> With a faint smile, Wesley remarked, "As family members of a patient, your actions earlier are understandable. There's no need for such formality."<br /> Amanda's perplexity deepened as she thought, "Where is the cowardly waste that Taylor described? This display of magnanimity and breadth is far from it."<br /> Mia, too, felt a shiver of realization, thinking, "No wonder Dad has insisted on my proximity to Wesley.<br /> This guy..."<br /> She gazed at Wesley, her curiosity piqued, a sense of exploration stirring within her.<br /> "Mia has brought you here, Mr. Harrington, to cure my grandfather. The Kingsley family will never forget this act. However, considering that my grandfather's ailment stemmed from the health supplements produced by the Vinver Business Alliance, we will be conducting an investigation into it."<br /> Amanda continued, looking at Wesley, "What do you think... of this approach?"<br /> It was Mia who had invited Wesley, so Amanda had grown wiser, refraining from asking for a direct punishment of the Vinver Business Alliance.<br /> As Mia heard Amanda's words, her heart skipped a beat, realizing trouble was brewing.<br /> "On the way here, Ms. Roberts briefed me on the situation. You conducted experiments on mice, correct?"<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes, the health supplements we received were exclusively provided by the Roberts family. There were no similar cases on the market, so we used mice for testing.<br /> "All the mice that ingested this supplement were gone."<br /> She looked at Mia and added, her voice turning colder, "Before the experiment, I specifically contacted Mia to inquire about the testing methods during the development phase, which involved mice.<br /> "There have been individuals eyeing my grandfather's position, some even wishing for his demise. I never imagined that the Vinver Business Alliance, which I attracted for investment, would become a weapon in someone else's hands."<br /> "Do you have any of the remaining medicine?" Wesley inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes."<br /> "Bring some over."<br /> Immediately, someone fetched the medicine. After it was brought to him, Wesley took out a supplement and swallowed it directly.<br /> This scene left Amanda and the others dumbfounded.<br /> Scott, too, was bewildered. "Mr. Harrington, what are you doing?"<br /> Wesley smiled, "Just proving that this medicine is not toxic."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thank you," Mia thanked sincerely, feeling like crying at that moment.<br /> Amanda, with a puzzled expression, looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, are you suggesting that my grandfather's condition wasn't caused by the Vinver Business Alliance's medicine? What about the mice?"<br /> The rest were equally puzzled.<br /> "Yes, but not entirely," Wesley said, leaving everyone even more bewildered.<br /> Mia's emotions were like a rollercoaster ride, from relief to immediate tension.<br /> "This medicine itself is not toxic, but when taken with another substance made from a certain plant, it results in Quinn's condition. The mice would die immediately, while humans could endure a few more days."<br /> Wesley continued to explain, "The plant used in this concoction is originally meant for crafting slow-acting toxins, not for human consumption."<br /> Looking at Amanda, Wesley said, "During this period, whoever had access to your grandfather and the mice will better understand why these events occurred."<br /> The gaze of members of the Kingsley family immediately focused on a lady.<br /> Amanda, somewhat incredulous, looked at her. "Can you offer an explanation?"<br /> The lady was the wife of Amanda's deceased brother. She found it hard to accept, as did the rest of the Kingsley family.<br /> This lady had been named the exemplary lady who served her family well this year, not due to her connection with the Kingsley family but because she genuinely deserved it.<br /> "What do you mean? Amanda, what explanation do you want from me?"<br /> The lady stared at Amanda. "Am I the only one who had access to Grandfather and the mice? You, and you... and you, who didn't have access?"<br /> "You all claim to treat me as family. Since I married into the Kingsley family, I have worked diligently, contributing my share even if not acknowledged."<br /> "Amanda, it has been over a year since your brother passed, and I never once considered remarrying. Now, just because of his words, you demand an explanation from me?"<br /> Pointing at Wesley, the lady questioned, "Just because he accuses me of poisoning, you suspect me? Tell me, did I poison him?" The lady glared at Wesley.<br /> "I am merely analyzing the facts. As for concluding this case, it's not within my purview," Wesley addressed the members of the Kingsley family, saying, "You should conduct a thorough investigation into this matter.<br /> "I will write a prescription. Have Quinn take it on time, and he will recover in seven days."<br /> Amanda hurried to fetch paper and pen while Wesley prepared the prescription. Once done, he was ready to leave.<br /> Amanda said hurriedly, "Mr. Harrington, I've already made arrangements for lunch."<br /> "No need," Wesley smiled.<br /> The Kingsley family sought to build closer ties with Wesley, given his extraordinary medical skills. Wesley was well aware of this.<br /> Looking at Amanda and the others, Wesley remarked, "In the future, if you encounter any difficult medical cases that others cannot solve, seek me out. Remember, cases others cannot solve."<br /> The gaze of the Kingsley family members toward Wesley changed once again. Many renowned healers had eccentric personalities and were difficult to engage.<br /> They hadn't expected Wesley to possess such remarkable medical skills without any airs.<br /> As Wesley prepared to depart, the members of the Kingsley family did not dare to insist on his stay, so they accompanied him outside.<br /> "Oh, how could we forget such an important matter? Amanda, what about the consultation fee?" The middle-aged gent inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the oversight. Please wait a moment." Amanda hurried back inside and soon returned with a bank card in hand.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, there's one million dollars in here."<br /> Without hesitation, Wesley accepted the bank card and boarded Mia's car.<br /> During the journey, Mia boldly looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, you've helped me immensely. Can I treat you to a meal? Don't decline in a hurry. It's not a fancy restaurant, but it will leave you wanting more. It's a small place on the street, with only eight plates of noodles served each day, each plate containing different ingredients.<br /> "I managed to secure a reservation. Are you interested?"<br /> Wesley thought, "Eight Plates of Noodles? Ah, Aaron's restaurant. It has been a while since I visited those old friends."<br /> Wesley nodded. "Let's go then."<br /> The restaurant, Eight Plates of Noodles, was located on Chanxold Street near the Yeadeo First Central Hospital.<br /> The establishment was small, serving only eight plates of noodles each day at a price of 10 thousand dollars each. Vernoic's television culinary program had specifically covered this incident.<br /> Reservations were a must to secure a plate.<br /> The restaurant's owner had a mysterious background. While the specifics were unknown, a high-ranking noble from the capital of Vernoic, Kingsland, had caused a scene there once.<br /> He had attempted to force his way in without a reservation. Although this incident hadn't been reported, rumors suggested that a garbage truck had to be called to dispose of the intruder's remains, as he was too shattered to be removed by conventional means.<br /> Since then, no one dared to cause trouble.<br /> On their way, Mia introduced Wesley to the background story.<br /> "Mr. Turner, two plates of noodles." Mia called out once they arrived.<br /> Aaron Turner didn't respond but visibly paused upon seeing Wesley beside Mia.<br /> A faint smile appeared on his usually stoic face. Though the flesh on the face seemed stiff, it was indeed a smile. "Coming right up."<br /> Mia glanced at Aaron with a hint of surprise, thinking, "When did he become so warm and enthusiastic? His tone seemed a bit agitated earlier, didn't it?"<br /> Soon enough, Aaron brought two plates of noodles to the table. One steaming hot and the other devoid of any warmth.<br /> As Mia observed Aaron placing the plate without steam in front of Wesley, her expression changed slightly.<br /> It was a plate of instant noodles having soaked in cold water, with the seasoning barely dissolved.<br /> She felt a sense of panic. Mia had wanted to leave a good impression on Wesley, which was why she had chosen this place.<br /> However, Aaron had served such a plate of noodles.<br /> She dared not question Aaron. The type of noodles served here was not determined by the guests but by Aaron's mood.<br /> "This girl named Mia is quite something, living up to her name, and quite kind-hearted," Aaron remarked, looking at Wesley.<br /> "Get lost," Wesley retorted, using his fork to pick up the noodles and devouring them.<br /> Mia's face turned pale instantly. Disrespecting Aaron was akin to risking Wesley's life.<br /> To her astonishment, Aaron chuckled, tears welling up in his eyes.<br /> He wiped them away. "Alright, I'll leave you to your meal."<br /> Before departing, he gave Mia a thumbs-up. "Seize the opportunity."<br /> The eight plates of noodles symbolized the eight comrades who had faced life and life-threatening situations together.<br /> Wesley ate voraciously. Initially, they had only one pack of instant noodles to share among the eight of them, forcing them to divide it.<br /> Despite the circumstances, they devoured the noodles joyfully.<br /> Aaron had promised that once they survived, each one would have the most delicious plate of noodles.<br /> However, five of the eight had perished.<br /> Wesley had come dangerously close to life-threatening situations, but managed to cling to life.<br /> For him, the plate of noodles was not food but the bond of friendship that had shielded him from harm.<br /> "Do you... know each other?" Mia couldn't help but ask, her voice low and curious.<br /> "Some things are better left unknown," Wesley replied.<br /> Mia nodded in understanding, falling silent as they continued eating noodles. She couldn't help stealing glances at Wesley throughout the meal.<br /> This gent had piqued her curiosity even more.<br /> "Wesley, I see. No wonder you agreed to the divorce so readily. You've already found someone else outside."<br /> A sharp voice interrupted their meal.<br /> Taylor approached with a cold expression, accompanied by Henry.	Adoread Romance story	8	https://facebook.com/61557113391558	INSTALL_MOBILE_APP	1713250800	View Edit Delete
1666994	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727713	1734958299	695	1143833703459581	1	9.6716752541011E+14	1713250800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	423699414390350	0	Hiya toys	120207249585580645	instagram.com	Visit Instagram Profile	NONE	carousel			https://www.instagram.com/_u/hiya_toys		1712918182	4.2369941439035E+14	Hiya toys	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435890169_455637816898997_1400948676440987007_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=enJzOTtGs74Q7kNvgEND7Ve&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDsEK7oEKAPeswN9DkeXT45es296YDO8P_g-wlGUK5MxA&oe=663A7047	person_profile	0	Hiyatoys	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435899196_1161301881532746_9040978709044126875_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=10QEwVHzp1EQ7kNvgG2c2QN&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBJX62wdycYEyXS85zgJ7mOnJO-ccPudCj6knfanMUV6g&oe=663A8370	0	3		Hiya toys	19504	https://facebook.com/Hiyatoys	VIEW_INSTAGRAM_PROFILE	1712905200	View Edit Delete
1666973	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727712	1734958299	695	452704720478167	2	1.5151396427717E+15	1713942000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	235254296344339	0	Adoread Romance story	120207848353300113	play.google.com	Install now	NONE	video	HOT BOOK✨Tap the button to read more👉		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.adoread.book		1713261160	2.3525429634434E+14	Adoread Romance story	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437875573_752574620401462_6376715327212748395_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3X0YS0gLfmwQ7kNvgEJAjtD&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDrsvNm6aMuvZIdaolAEjeynMjkdhm0lQvTkkBu21Oguw&oe=663A7531	person_profile	0	Adoread Romance story	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438222984_965949928438400_4789223399014932761_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5HABaysL_mYQ7kNvgHAPz9J&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBnoG70aq81aPakAxo0nnHGHGsk-qYKjbkrUon2LvyVWA&oe=663A873D	0	3	Chapter 1 <br /> "Wesley, are you trying to harm me? You useless piece of trash, can't even make a decent cup of coffee, can you?"<br /> Madison Blair lifted her coffee cup and splashed it directly onto Wesley Harrington's face.<br /> "What are you looking at, you spineless waste? Your name sounds so lofty? I might as well call you a waste."<br /> Glancing at the grotesque expression of his wife's mother, Wesley pulled out his phone to check the time.<br /> Exactly twelve o'clock. It had been five full years since he married Taylor Reed.<br /> The appointed time had come.<br /> He had fulfilled his promise, safeguarding the Reed family for five years, transforming them from a family living off fishing to one perceived as affluent by the common folk.<br /> Wiping the coffee off his face, he turned and walked away.<br /> "Where do you think you're going? Go fetch some more coffee," Madison shouted.<br /> "Madison, didn't you say this waste is obedient at home, doing whatever he's told? I don't think he's taking it lying down."<br /> Madison grew angrier. "Wesley, you stop right there. My family has fed and housed you. If you dare disobey, I'll have you thrown out!"<br /> Ignoring her, Wesley continued downstairs.<br /> "When Taylor comes back, I'll immediately have you two divorced. Do you hear me? Stay right there," Madison threatened, "I'll let you know your place today."<br /> Grabbing a golf club, Madison swiftly charged towards Wesley.<br /> Seeing Wesley heading downstairs, she swung the club viciously at his back.<br /> Without turning back, Wesley gently sidestepped.<br /> Losing her balance, Madison tumbled forward, rolling down the stairs with a series of thumps.<br /> "Ouch... it hurts, it hurts so much!"<br /> As Madison reached the ground floor, she wailed in pain and her sister immediately rushed to her.<br /> "Wesley, what have you done? How dare you hit my sister!" Madison's sister hurried down, checking on Madison's condition.<br /> Wesley remained silent, observing the scene.<br /> "Quick, call Taylor. Tell her to come back. Today, she must divorce this waste." Madison glared at Wesley. "How dare you hit me? Not only will I let Taylor divorce you, but I'll make sure you leave in disgrace."<br /> "Mum, what's wrong?" At that moment, a gent and a lady walked in.<br /> The lady was Taylor, Madison's daughter.<br /> She ran towards Madison.<br /> As Madison pointed at Wesley, tears streamed down her face. "Taylor, he hit me, he hit me! When you're not home, he changes his attitude, scolding and hitting me in the slightest displeasure. He even pushed me down the stairs just now. Alexis can testify."<br /> Madison's sister, Alexis Blair, chimed in. "Yes, Wesley, this trash not only hit your mother but also threatened to hit me too. We cannot tolerate such trash."<br /> "Taylor, I have been telling you to divorce him for years. You've been supporting him, treating him like a Lord at home, but he's an ungrateful wolf in sheep's clothing."<br /> Helping Madison up, Taylor noticed the scrapes on Madison's arms and legs, her expression turning cold.<br /> "Wesley, why did you hit my mother? You better give me an explanation."<br /> Wesley looked at Taylor, his wife.<br /> Five years had passed, and she had never shown him kindness.<br /> Taylor dressed impeccably, a paragon of a successful lady, with a face that could be deemed angelic, yet whether her heart was as angelic remained a mystery.<br /> Her figure, too, left countless men yearning.<br /> For five years, Wesley had thought he might develop feelings for this lady, but in reality, it never happened.<br /> "There are surveillance cameras in the house," Wesley stated calmly before descending the stairs into the hallway.<br /> Despite residing in a three-story villa, Wesley's living quarters were confined to the stairwell.<br /> He harbored no resentment towards this arrangement. It was merely a promise. It was just that Taylor failed to appreciate him.<br /> This home held little value that he wished to cling onto.<br /> Retrieving a wooden box from beneath his pillow, Wesley extracted two documents. Casting a fleeting glance at the modest abode he had called home for five years, Wesley smiled faintly.<br /> He thought, "Finally... I'm free."<br /> Pushing the door ajar, Wesley was met by Taylor's piercing gaze. "I've reviewed the surveillance footage. Yes, my mother intended to strike you, but even if she did, what difference would it make?"<br /> "She's a lady. How much could her blows hurt you? Why did you dodge?"<br /> "If you hadn't dodged, my mother wouldn't have tumbled down." Wesley stared at Taylor, unable to comprehend her thought process.<br /> He had no interest in engaging in these arguments. Handing over the two documents to Taylor, he remarked, "The divorce agreement. I've already signed it. Take a look. I'm leaving with nothing."<br /> "With your current influence, there's no need for you to visit the city hall. Someone will handle it for you, right?"<br /> Madison was taken aback. She swiftly snatched the divorce agreement, flipping through it hastily.<br /> The contents were indeed straightforward. Both parties willingly divorced, with Wesley relinquishing all claims and having already signed.<br /> In an instant, Madison's pain seemed to dissipate. "Taylor, sign it quickly. Sign it."<br /> Taylor was still in a daze.<br /> She pondered.<br /> "A divorce agreement? Wesley has already prepared a divorce agreement. On what grounds?"<br /> "What gives him the right to initiate a divorce? All these years, he's done nothing at home, lacking any ambition. Always practicing martial arts, what right does he have to seek a divorce?"<br /> "If anyone should initiate it, it should be me. Moreover, now that I'm back to discussing this matter with him. Could it be that word got out, and Wesley, for the sake of his pride, rushed to prepare a divorce agreement first?"<br /> "It must be so, but... No!"<br /> "Wanting to leave with nothing, is he retreating to advance? As the chairman of the Reed Group, how could I be served with a divorce?"<br /> "Hey Wesley, I never expected this from you. Have I not treated you well enough? You seek a divorce, attempting to turn your retreat into advance, aiming to embarrass me?"<br /> Taylor glared at Wesley. "I'm telling you, it's impossible."<br /> Snatching the divorce agreement, she tore it to shreds.<br /> "Taylor, what are you doing? Such a great opportunity. Why not just sign it and let him leave?" Madison grew anxious.<br /> "Mom, I do intend to divorce this trash, but the decision must come from me. I returned specifically to address this matter."<br /> With that, Taylor produced two documents. "Wesley, remember that it's me who's divorcing you. It's me who no longer wants you. Initially, out of marital obligation, I had considered offering you some compensation. Now, you don't even need to think about it. Sign the divorce agreement and leave my home."<br /> Wesley offered a faint smile as he accepted the divorce agreement.<br /> "What are you laughing at?" Taylor demanded angrily.<br /> Wesley's smile seemed to mock her, fueling her rage.<br /> Ignoring her entirely, Wesley signed the document and handed it over.<br /> "What are you laughing at? Answer me! Who do you think you are?" Taylor roared once more.<br /> Wesley glanced at her before striding towards the exit.<br /> "Stop!" The gent who had accompanied Taylor stepped forward, blocking Wesley's path. "Taylor asked you a question, and... Your previous attitude displeased me. Apologize to Taylor, or I'll have you leave in disgrace!"<br /> <br /> Chapter 2 <br /> "Yes, let him leave in disgrace. He thought he could just hit me and walk away so easily," Madison joined in the commotion, also noticing the gent blocking Wesley's path.<br /> Madison had a keen interest in luxury goods, having frequented various high-end establishments over the years as the Reed family's living conditions improved. The gent was wearing an expensive watch and dressed head to toe in high-end luxury brands.<br /> Seeing Madison's gaze, the gent spoke. "Rest assured, today Wesley must pay the price."<br /> The gent introduced himself, looking at Wesley, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Henry Clark, the eldest son of the Clark family and the general manager of the Clark Group in the North District."<br /> "From now on, I will accompany Taylor on her journey of life, and I will not allow anyone to bully her."<br /> "My identity carries weight. You should understand that. Now, apologize to Taylor. Apologize! Did you hear me? Apologize!"<br /> Madison's eyes lit up. She hadn't expected the gent before her to hold such a high status. She continued to shout, "Did you hear that? Taylor will be with Mr. Clark from now on. Apologize now."<br /> Wesley glanced at Henry, then at Taylor. He thought, "Have they been together all along?" Wesley had wanted to ask but decided against it because there was no need. He simply gave them a glance and continued walking towards the exit.<br /> "Are you ignoring me?" Henry's face turned cold as he reached out to grab Wesley. Henry's hand froze mid-air as he received a solid hit.<br /> "Until I sign the divorce papers, Taylor and I are still wife and husband. I don't care to investigate whether you two had any intimate relationship during that time, but don't provoke me, or I won't hesitate to make you regret it." Wesley's gaze was icy, and as Henry met his eyes, he felt a twinge of fear and swallowed his words.<br /> Taylor was also stunned. She knew exactly what Wesley had been like over the past five years. There were many surveillance cameras in the house, and she would often check them.<br /> Even when Taylor wasn't home, despite how her family treated Wesley, he always obeyed without complaint, especially towards her. He had never raised his voice, no matter how they treated him.<br /> Today, not only did Wesley dodge when her mother struck, but he also initiated the divorce and now even struck Henry. <br /> Taylor was at a loss for words, thinking, "How could this cowardly gent dare? On what grounds does he dare?"<br /> This change was difficult for Taylor to accept as if she didn't truly understand this guy. The gent who used to be obedient to her, completely submissive, now revealed this side of himself. She watched Wesley walk away in a daze, feeling a strange discomfort in her heart.<br /> "Isn't he leaving with nothing?" Alexis pointed at the wooden box Wesley was holding. "What is he taking with him?"<br /> Madison also realized. Over the past five years, Wesley had always treasured this wooden box, carrying it with him wherever he went. She thought there must be something valuable inside.<br /> Realizing this, Madison hurriedly followed. "Wesley, stop right there, leave the wooden box."<br /> Wesley paused, glanced at Madison, and said, "This is my personal belonging."<br /> "Nonsense, what personal belonging could you possibly have after marrying into the Reed family? Everything you've eaten, worn, and lived in over the years has been provided by the Reed family. Put it down."<br /> As she spoke, Madison reached out to grab the wooden box.<br /> "Ah..." A scream rang out as Madison quickly retracted her hand, a gash appearing on her palm, a crimson liquid dripping.<br /> The wooden box was now stained with the same crimson liquid, trembling lightly in Wesley's hand.<br /> "It's not the right time yet, the day you thirst for this crimson liquid will come," Wesley murmured softly, patting the box before turning to continue his stride towards the exit.<br /> "Monster! A monster!" Madison screamed, causing Taylor and the others to rush out. Seeing the wound in Madison's hand, Taylor was filled with rage.<br /> "Wesley, aren't you going to say something?" Wesley halted once more, contemplating before meeting Taylor's gaze.<br /> "Just stay out of my way from now on. Consider this a warning to you."<br /> "Taylor, that wooden box of his has a mechanism. It must hold something valuable! We can't let him take it with him," Madison, enduring the pain, reminded them.<br /> "Mom, your injury is important. We'll deal with him later. Let me take you to the hospital first." Taylor comforted Madison before calling out to the retreating Wesley.<br /> "Our marriage is over! Yet, you dared to hurt my mother! This won't be the end of it! I will make you regret it!" Ignoring her, Wesley continued walking out.<br /> "Rest assured, I promise he won't see the light of day tomorrow." Henry stepped forward to console. "Let's focus on getting your wound treated first."<br /> "I want him to regret ever existing in this world, to apologize to me in repentance," Madison roared.<br /> "Mom, trust me, I will make him do just that." Taylor looked at Madison with a mix of pity and determination. "Let's go to the hospital first."<br /> In the villa area, Wesley halted, his voice cold. "Get out."<br /> An elderly gent leaped down from a tree, appearing to be in his seventies, yet landing silently from a height of around ten feet.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, your father wants you to come home and take charge."<br /> "He stopped being my father five years ago. He's my enemy."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you misunderstood your father. He had his reasons back then. I swear in my life, once you know the truth, you will forgive him."<br /> "Huh!" Wesley smirked coldly, saying, "I nearly passed away back then. Is that also a misunderstanding?"<br /> The old gent pleaded, "Mr. Harrington, this situation is truly not as you perceive it."<br /> Wesley didn't engage further with the old guy. The events of that year were etched in his memory forever. He was the one who had been abandoned. If not for that incident, why would he have stayed with the Reed family for five years?<br /> Watching Wesley walk away, the old gent had tears silently streaming down his face. "Mr. Harrington, I truly... I truly can't bring myself to speak the truth, but you have misunderstood your father. He also bears burdens and endures pains beyond what an ordinary person can handle."<br /> As Wesley's figure disappeared, the old gent stood up, hesitated for a moment, then dialed a number on his phone.<br /> "Mr. Harrington is now divorced. I've given you the news firsthand. If your daughter is truly together with Mr. Harrington, you must fulfill the promise and let her persuade Mr. Harrington to come home."<br /> After hanging up, a middle-aged gent in a luxurious estate jumped up excitedly. Calming himself, he immediately made another call. "My dear, you're at Yeadeo, right?<br /> "Go find Wesley now. Don't mention the engagement for now. Use every means to get close to him, make him fall in love with you."<br /> "Dad, I don't have time."<br /> "No matter what you are busy with, you must go find Wesley now. No matter what reason you approach him, you must leave a good impression the first time."<br /> "Dad, I'm in trouble right now. If I don't handle it well, I might be good as gone. I have to deal with it immediately. I'm hanging up."<br /> Chapter 3 <br /> The middle-aged gent's voice lowered significantly. "Is there a big incident happening? You didn't tell me? What happened?"<br /> "Quinn Kingsley from Yeadeo, Mr. Kingsley, used our product and now has one foot on the grave. If something really happens to him..."<br /> "You mean Quinn, the uncontested leader of Yeadeo?"<br /> "Yes."<br /> "In that case, you should go find Wesley. Trust me, in this world, there is no problem that Wesley can't solve. As long as he's willing to help, you'll be fine. Listen to me, go find Wesley immediately."<br /> The lady fell silent for a moment before saying, "Okay."<br /> At Yeadeo Harbor, a gent with a large flaxen chain and a watch, sporting a crew cut, hurriedly disembarked, accompanied by a dozen gentlemen.<br /> "Mr. Reed, wherever that trash is, we will find him and tear him apart."<br /> "Yes, that guy dared to harm your mother. We'll make sure he pays for it."<br /> Frank Reed's face turned cold. "Wesley, you coward, thinking you can overturn the world? How dare you touch my mom? Just wait until I find you, you're finished."<br /> "We've found him. Wesley got into a taxi, and our boys followed him."<br /> "Let's go!" Frank waved his hand, leading dozens of men who boarded the car with harpoons, steel pipes, and other weapons.<br /> Inside the taxi, Wesley gazed at the scenery outside, feeling a strange sense of tranquility.<br /> He thought to himself, "I never imagined that while I was secretly paving the way for the Reed family, Taylor, after progressing so rapidly, would start looking down on me more and more."<br /> "Those ladies who know my true identity, which one of them isn't trying to throw themselves at me? Ladies like that don't interest me."<br /> "Being an ordinary gent is truly difficult," Wesley murmured, smiling faintly and deciding not to dwell on these matters anymore. He had important things to attend to and no time to waste on personal affairs.<br /> "Young lad, are you going to Feidgeuo Manor for a job interview?" The driver, curious about Wesley's destination, inquired.<br /> Feidgeuo Manor was Yeadeo's most mysterious private area. Originally a villa area, it was bought at a huge cost five years ago and completely renovated. It was said to have cost a trillion dollars. The former villa area was now Feidgeuo Manor.<br /> "That's my home," Wesley replied nonchalantly.<br /> The driver was taken aback by this revelation, silently cursing Wesley for bragging. After a couple of minutes, the driver regained his composure. "It seems like you and I both prefer to keep a low profile. My car usually gathers dust at home, so I occasionally drive a taxi to experience life."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "My car has been driven by my assistant for the past few years, so it's not gathering dust."<br /> "Haha..." The driver laughed. "We should get together sometime and see whose car is more impressive."<br /> "Sure, whenever we have the time."<br /> As they chatted, the vehicle soon arrived near Feidgeuo Manor, where the massive head of the Feidgeuo Peak protruded, creating a unique landscape in Yeadeo.<br /> The driver asked with a smile, "Since you're the owner here, it's fine if I drive in, right?"<br /> "Of course," Wesley replied.<br /> As soon as Wesley spoke, several cars caught up from behind.<br /> The cars surrounded the one Wesley was in, with the front vehicles braking to force the car to a stop.<br /> When numerous people descended from cars wielding harpoons and steel pipes, the driver's face paled.<br /> Frank and his group got out of the cars, instantly closing in, and without hesitation, started attacking, the steel pipes and harpoons thudding against the car.<br /> Frank's henchman yanked open the door of Wesley's car, poised to stab Wesley with a harpoon, but Wesley swiftly exited the vehicle.<br /> With a firm step on the ground, he launched a swift hit.<br /> A muffled sound echoed as the henchman was hit away.<br /> "What are you looking at?" Frank noticed his henchmen were all staring at him. "All of you, attack together and take him down!"<br /> As he commanded, the henchmen Frank brought with him surged forward.<br /> The taxi driver, trembling, took out his phone to call the police, but Frank glared at him. "I am Frank Reed from Yeadeo Harbor. If you dare, go ahead and make that call."<br /> Frank, leveraging his sister Taylor's status, had been causing trouble in Yeadeo Harbor, and no one dared to provoke him.<br /> Upon hearing Frank's name, the driver hastily put away his phone. "Mr. Reed, I'll just check the time, you guys continue."<br /> "Huh!" Frank snorted coldly, casting his gaze towards the surrounded Wesley.<br /> The sounds of thuds continued to ring out incessantly. Because Wesley was completely surrounded, Frank was unable to see the situation inside clearly, but he could imagine it. After all, in Frank's mind, the henchmen under his command were not to be trifled with.<br /> "Hit him hard for me!"<br /> Another muffled sound and a figure flew out. At that moment, Frank finally saw the situation clearly, and his face turned pale.<br /> Frank knew that Wesley liked to practice martial arts, but he had never expected Wesley to be this skilled. It wasn't Wesley who had been beaten, but his own men by Wesley alone.<br /> Frantically, Frank turned and ran to retrieve a crossbow from the car.<br /> "Clear the way." Frank bellowed, aiming the crossbow at Wesley.<br /> "You scumbag, you think you can fight? Move one more time, and I'll end your life! Surrender!"<br /> Wesley, holding a wooden box, stared at Frank. Ignoring the crossbow in his hand, Wesley said, "Tell your henchmen to back off, or you'll all see the light from above!"<br /> "You're really good at pretending to be tough." Frank took two steps forward. "See the light? Move a muscle and see if I can end your life or not! If you don't have the guts, apologize now!"<br /> Wesley turned his head and looked at the approaching cars, with two expensive ones in the lead, two more in the rear, and another one in the middle.<br /> "Keep acting tough, and I'll put a hole in your head." Frank spoke while glancing at the five cars. "What, looking for help?"<br /> "Let me tell you, those who ride in these cars are not the kind of weaklings like you who rely on connections. With me here, in Yeadeo's social hierarchy, even those who ride in such cars wouldn't dare meddle in this matter. And let me make it clear, without my sister, you're nothing."<br /> <br /> Chapter 4<br /> As Frank's words faded, the five cars came to a halt.<br /> A bodyguard opened the door of the one in the middle, revealing a dazzling pair of shining shoes catching everyone's eye.<br /> The shining shoe encased a beautiful foot. Above, the skirt's hem was adorned with lace.<br /> Then, like a fairy stepping out of a painting, she appeared before everyone's eyes.<br /> The lady was beautiful!<br /> Frank was mesmerized. Ever since the Reed family rose to prominence, he had been surrounded by ladies, but compared to the elegant lady before him, they were worlds apart.<br /> It wasn't just a difference in appearance but an incomparable gap in demeanor.<br /> The lady descending from the Maybach seemed like a celestial being untouched by mortal affairs.<br /> The embodiment of a fairy in the mundane world.<br /> She simply stood there after getting out of the car, perfectly embodying what it meant to be graceful and elegant.<br /> The lady glanced at Wesley, then at Frank.<br /> Frank grinned, saying, "May I have the honor of knowing the name of this esteemed lady? I am Frank..."<br /> The lady spoke calmly. "Disrespect Mr. Harrington, and you're done for."<br /> Her bodyguards, unfazed by Frank's crossbow, swiftly overwhelmed him, sending him crashing to the ground.<br /> The henchmen who had come with Frank, previously defeated by Wesley, now scrambled to their feet and fled in all directions.<br /> Who would dare provoke someone who could afford such a car?<br /> "My sister is Taylor Reed, the chairperson of Reed Group," Frank shouted, clutching his head.<br /> Ignoring him, one of the bodyguards dragged him to the roadside grass while another used a belt to tighten around Frank's neck, exerting pressure.<br /> "Enough, a lesson is all that's needed." Wesley spoke calmly, and only when the lady gestured did the bodyguards release Frank.<br /> Frank lay there, already unconscious.<br /> Wesley turned to the lady. "Who are you?"<br /> "I am Mia Roberts, the general manager of Vinver Business Alliance's Yeadeo branch." She looked at Wesley and continued, "Mr. Harrington, my father mentioned that you have miraculous healing skills and earnestly requested your assistance. A generous reward awaits."<br /> Wesley furrowed his brow slightly, thinking, "There are indeed people who recognize my abilities and status, yet I've rarely intervened in the past five years. Today, shortly after I divorced Taylor, she is here. Whose arrangement is this?"<br /> "Mr. Harrington, my father also mentioned that you are benevolent and has raised the banner of compassion among healers, serving as a role model and benchmark for all in the medical field."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "You have a way with words. Tell me the specifics."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, please get in the car first. I will explain in detail on the way."<br /> The phrase "compassionate healer" held significant weight for Wesley, who had saved countless lives from the brink of death.<br /> Without further ado, he got into the car.<br /> Inside, after Mia brewed coffee for Wesley, she began. "Vinver Business Alliance has a wide range of business operations, and I mainly oversee the health supplement sector, which has seen some success in recent years.<br /> "Recently, Quinn Kingsley started using our medicines, and now there's an accident."<br /> As she spoke, Mia kept her gaze fixed on Wesley.<br /> Quinn, the undisputed leader of Yeadeo, was a figure of immense influence.<br /> Upon hearing this name, Wesley showed no particular reaction. "If the city's leader faces issues with your products, it is indeed a concern. Let's go and see."<br /> With just a sentence, Wesley leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest.<br /> Mia was secretly alarmed, thinking, "He knows who Quinn is, yet he seems indifferent. Who is this Wesley, really? No wonder Dad has instructed me to find a way to win his favor." Mia's inner resistance toward Wesley quietly shifted.<br /> Wesley had piqued her curiosity.<br /> As the vehicle was moving, Wesley's phone rang.<br /> Wesley opened his eyes and took out his phone to see Taylor calling.<br /> Pressing the answer button, he asked, "What's the matter?"<br /> On the other end of the line, Taylor, driving towards Feidgeuo Manor, had a grim expression.<br /> She thought, "Has Wesley ever spoken to me in such a cold tone before? Is he really this heartless right after our divorce?"<br /> Already furious, she snapped. "Wesley, do you even consider yourself a human being?<br /> "Today, not only did you lay hands on my mother, but you also had someone attack my brother. Do you not remember our past at all?"<br /> Wesley calmly replied, "Do we have a past to remember?"<br /> "You truly are a heartless scumbag, just as my mother said. You are an ungrateful and vicious person I raised for five years. Even a pet would wag its tail at me!"<br /> Taylor wanted to continue her tirade, but the phone line had already turned busy.<br /> This only fueled her anger further.<br /> Just now, she had received a call from Frank's underlings, informing her that Wesley had sent people to attack Frank and even intended to end him.<br /> Taylor wanted to demand answers, but...<br /> As Taylor was clutching her fists, her gaze turned icy.<br /> After a moment, she picked up her phone again. "Wesley, you are so narrow-minded. You have no ambition. Any lady would steer clear of you."<br /> "Just because I dumped you, you are doing this on purpose to make me feel sick. Pretending to be aloof and seeking revenge? Do you even deserve it?"<br /> "In Yeadeo, squashing you would be as easy as squashing an ant. You're asking for it! If anything happens to my brother, I will make you wish you were ending!"<br /> Her furious voice message echoed in the car.<br /> Wesley chuckled and put away his phone.<br /> Beside him, Mia seemed contemplative. Before coming, she had already ordered a swift investigation into Wesley.<br /> She was curious, thinking, "How could someone valued by my father could be the one 'marrying into' the Reed family."<br /> Being tactful, Mia chose not to ask and pretended not to have heard.<br /> After about forty minutes, they arrived at the Kingsley Manor.<br /> The Kingsley family members, upon seeing Mia alight from the car, all wore grim expressions.<br /> Mia greeted them with a smile, "Everyone, this is Wesley Harrington, Mr. Harrington, the miraculous healer I specially invited to treat Mr. Kingsley."<br /> "Him? The gent who married into the Reed family?"<br /> "A miraculous healer? Is he even worthy? Are healers so worthless now?"<br /> "A useless gent who mooches off of the Reed family? How dare he call himself a miraculous healer? Truly a joke among all jokes."<br /> Chapter 5<br /> <br /> Amanda Kingsley, Quinn's granddaughter, stared coldly at Wesley and Mia.<br /> This lady, dressed in a smart suit, also held significant fame in Yeadeo, overseeing the region's business activities, including investment attraction and various local business negotiations.<br /> Amanda had a favorable view of Taylor, who had risen swiftly in recent times, and they had interacted frequently.<br /> She was aware of Wesley's existence and had advised Taylor to part ways with him early on.<br /> But Amanda never imagined that Mia would bring someone like Wesley, a complete waste, and claim he was a miraculous healer.<br /> Glaring at Mia, she said, "Mia, once my grandfather is well, it's best for your Roberts family to leave Yeadeo."<br /> "As for you..." She glanced at Wesley. "I will advise Taylor to divorce you. You have deceived Taylor's feelings and now shamelessly made your way into my family. You are a despicable creature."<br /> After reprimanding Mia and Wesley, she turned to an elderly gent beside her, and her tone and attitude completely changed. "Mr. Phillips, sorry to trouble you. My grandfather is inside, please."<br /> Mia looked at the elderly gent, who was already in his twilight years, feeling deeply shocked.<br /> Scott Phillips, the 38th generation heir of the Healing Clinic, was now ninety-two years old.<br /> Renowned as a miraculous healer, he was a respected figure in the medical community of Yeadeo and even nationally.<br /> He no longer conducted consultations personally due to his old age. Mia had visited him specifically to pay her respects once she had arrived in Yeadeo but had not met Scott.<br /> She never expected Scott to appear in person. It was understandable, as Quinn held a prominent position in the city. Despite the profound influence of the Phillips family, they still had to show respect to Quinn.<br /> Mia looked at Wesley, feeling conflicted and thinking, "Dad has confidently claimed that Wesley has extraordinary abilities, but does he really?"<br /> She harbored doubts, but out of propriety, Mia spoke. "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the trouble."<br /> Wesley smiled, "It's fine. As long as the person can be healed."<br /> His open-mindedness impressed Mia.<br /> After about half an hour, Amanda emerged from the room. All eyes instantly turned towards her.<br /> It was evident that Amanda had wailed out, with traces of tears still visible.<br /> "Amanda, how is it?" A middle-aged gent anxiously asked her.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family who had rushed back also focused their attention on her.<br /> "Mr. Phillips said that there's little hope of recovery. He could only use acupuncture to wake grandfather for half an hour. When grandfather wakes up, let's all go in and see if he has any final instructions."<br /> Everyone was shocked.<br /> "How could this be?"<br /> "Is Mr. Phillips also helpless?"<br /> The members of the Kingsley family found it hard to accept this reality, especially since Quinn had always treated his juniors well.<br /> The thought of Quinn departing saddened some, and tears silently fell.<br /> Publicly, Quinn's status was the foundation of the Kingsley family's prominence in Yeadeo.<br /> If Quinn were to pass away, the Kingsley family would undoubtedly decline.<br /> The atmosphere within the Kingsley family was somber.<br /> Amanda looked at her family members, opened her mouth, but said nothing, silently turning back into the room.<br /> "Stop crying," A middle-aged gent said sternly, "Dad wouldn't want to see you all in tears. If he's really leaving, we mustn't let him worry about us. Pull yourselves together."<br /> After these words, the middle-aged gent also entered the room.<br /> The younger members of the Kingsley family wiped their tears vigorously, trying to force smiles, but in truth, they looked better at crying than pretending to be happy.<br /> Mia's spirit plummeted as she realized the gravity of the situation. Even if an ordinary person passed away from consuming health supplements, it spelled big trouble for those who sold them. And when the deceased happened to be Quinn, the stakes were even higher.<br /> She understood that it would be difficult for this branch to stay in Yeadeo, and even the headquarters might face repercussions.<br /> "Let's go in and have a look." Wesley glanced at Mia. "There might still be a chance."<br /> "Ah..." Mia stared at Wesley in surprise. Seeing him already heading towards the room, she quickly followed suit.<br /> Inside the room, the members of the Kingsley family stood around the mattress, maintaining a certain distance.<br /> Scott lit the alcohol lamp and took out the needles, his expression solemn.<br /> He looked at the members of the Kingsley family. "Think about what you want to say to Mr. Kingsley later. Once you're ready, let me know, and then I'll proceed with the acupuncture."<br /> As he said this, tears welled up in many eyes.<br /> "If you don't mind, let me take a look. I have a way." Wesley spoke up, drawing everyone's attention.<br /> Amanda's face darkened. "Who let you in? Get out!"<br /> "Mia, have you lost your mind? Tricked by this trash and actually brought him here as a miracle healer. Get out with him! I'll settle the score with you in a couple of days."<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, at a loss for words.<br /> "Even Mr. Phillips is unable to reverse the situation. What use are you? Get out." Another younger member of the Kingsley family angrily rebuked.<br /> The middle-aged gent added, "We're in no mood right now. You better leave immediately."<br /> "I understand your narrow-mindedness," Wesley continued, "But as a healer, once I see a patient, I cannot stand by and watch him draw his last breath."<br /> "Wesley, you're quite the charlatan. Do you really want to be gone right now?" Amanda's voice was filled with anger.<br /> "Amanda, let me say a few words," Scott interjected, and Amanda fell silent.<br /> Looking at Wesley, Scott began. "Young lad, at my age, I've seen a lot and have a broad perspective. Today, however, I find it hard to remain indifferent. I practiced medicine from the age of sixteen until I stopped seeing patients for a total of seventy years."<br /> "I've saved countless patients from various illnesses. I never easily declare a patient's fate, nor do I believe I have the right to do so."<br /> "But from your recent remarks, it seems like you're accusing me of such actions. Young people wanting to make a name for themselves by stepping on the shoulders of their predecessors, I can understand."<br /> "But this kind of behavior displeases me."<br /> "My displeasure, what does it mean to you? Do you understand?"<br /> "Even if you are a healer, your career will be ruined because of this."<br /> Chapter 6 <br /> In the face of Scott's veiled threats, Wesley simply smiled and brushed them off.<br /> Looking at Scott, he asked, "I've always focused on the issue at hand rather than attacking individuals. I have a few questions for you. If you can't administer the needles, how long do you think Quinn can hold on?"<br /> "Seven days, but he will remain unconscious," Scott replied bluntly.<br /> "Then let me ask you this, is there anyone in the world with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "Outrageous," Amanda coldly interjected, "Mr. Phillips is unparalleled in his medical expertise."<br /> Scott glanced at Amanda. "Amanda, let me handle this question."<br /> Continuing to address Wesley, he said, "I don't underestimate myself, nor do I overestimate. There are countless talented individuals in the world, like stars in the sky. I may not dare claim to be the best in medical skills, but those who surpass me are few."<br /> "That means there are some," Wesley calmly remarked, causing Scott's expression to shift slightly, "Indeed, there are."<br /> "Then let me ask you this. Do you think within seven days, the Kingsley family won't find someone with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "If they do find someone, do you believe there is an illness that you cannot cure, but this person can?"<br /> Wesley's questions were sharp and resounding.<br /> Scott's face changed once more as he was rendered speechless.<br /> "Even if there is, that person will never be you." Amanda's face turned icy. "Now get out. Don't spout your eloquence here. Your deceitful behavior is repulsive."<br /> "Your understanding of me is merely hearsay, isn't it?" Wesley retorted, his gaze mocking Amanda, "Has your background and education taught you such arrogance and prejudice?"<br /> "Arrogance?" Amanda's face grew colder as she disdainfully looked at Wesley. "Prejudice?<br /> "Did I say something wrong just now? You are nothing but stagnant waste, a parasite living off others. If it weren't for Taylor, you would have starved on the streets long ago."<br /> "Relying on sweet words, deceiving Taylor. She, with her kind heart, can't bear to divorce you, but don't push your luck. If it weren't for Taylor's sake, you would have been sent out long ago."<br /> Scott interrupted Amanda, "Amanda, although I find this lad a bit annoying, what he said does hold some truth. There are indeed individuals with better medical skills than me. Your grandfather can hold on for seven days. Try reaching out to see if someone can come over. I'll help you make connections."<br /> "If it really doesn't work out after seven days, I'll administer the needles to your grandfather. However, at that point, I can only buy you three minutes."<br /> As soon as Scott spoke, the faces of the Kingsley family members grew even more solemn. True healers were rare and not easily summoned.<br /> While the Kingsley family had connections in Yeadeo, their influence waned outside of it.<br /> "Mr. Phillips, please administer the needles. Life has its ups and downs, and we understand that. Just buy my father a bit more time." The middle-aged gent spoke up.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family nodded in agreement.<br /> Amanda looked at Scott. "Mr. Phillips, please."<br /> "In that case, please have everyone unrelated leave. I need silence," Scott calmly stated.<br /> Amanda glared at Wesley, her eyes speaking volumes without a word.<br /> The unrelated individuals were, naturally, Wesley and Mia.<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, intending to leave, but she suddenly hesitated.<br /> Instead of leaving, Wesley moved forward.<br /> "What are you doing?" A young member of the Kingsley family stepped forward with a stern expression, pushing Wesley.<br /> In one swift motion, Wesley executed a clean shoulder throw, toppling the young gent to the ground, his own expression turning cold.<br /> "A bunch of fools! If it weren't for my teacher's teachings about not turning a blind eye to those in need, I wouldn't bother with you ignorant lot," Wesley remarked with disdain.<br /> As Wesley effortlessly took down one individual from the Kingsley family, the others seemed slow to react.<br /> By the time they realized what was happening, Wesley had already picked up the needle next to Scott and casually flicked his wrist.<br /> The needle flew out of his hand, piercing Quinn's temple, followed by a second needle, a third needle, and so on.<br /> "What are you doing? Stop!" Amanda's voice rose in urgency, echoed by the rest of the Kingsley family members who rushed forward to restrain Wesley.<br /> "Stay back, everyone. Wait." Scott suddenly stood up, blocking the others. "Let him try."<br /> Amanda and the others were left dumbfounded, thinking, "What does this mean?"<br /> Despite their confusion, they heeded Scott's words.<br /> After Scott stopped the members of the Kingsley family, he fixed his gaze on Wesley.<br /> Wesley proceeded to use eighteen needles in succession, symbolizing the levels of pain.<br /> Even if someone had descended into the depths of hell, they must be brought back.<br /> The final needle, also piercing a vital point, caused Quinn's body to tremble suddenly, resonating with the previous eighteen needles.<br /> Scott's eyes widened, his body trembling slightly. His reaction left Amanda and the others even more puzzled, but none dared to interrupt.<br /> Moments later, Wesley placed a palm on Quinn's chest, causing all eighteen needles to be shaken off. When all the needles landed on the ground, the part of the skin where the needles had pierced turned dark.<br /> Wesley then dragged Quinn to the edge of the mattress, flipped him over with his head facing downwards, and gave him a firm pat on the back.<br /> Quinn spat out a mouthful of black liquid. When Wesley flipped him back to lie flat, his complexion had regained some color.<br /> "The Hand of Darkness... It's the Hand of Darkness!" Scott exclaimed with excitement, his body quivering, "It's the Hand that descends into the dark world, snatching people from the hands of the Evil!"<br /> "You do have some knowledge, recognizing the Hand of Darkness." Wesley glanced at Scott.<br /> Scott's gaze towards Wesley had undergone a drastic change. He respectfully clasped his hands together.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thirty years ago, I had the honor of attending a teaching conference held by Mr. Vanderbilt. I saw the Hand of Darkness, but my limited aptitude only allowed me to grasp the basics."<br /> "I have been blind and ignorant. I apologize for my earlier offenses. Please forgive me, Mr. Harrington."<br /> The Mr. Vanderbilt Scott referred to was Wesley's teacher, Ulysses Vanderbilt. He generously imparted his skills to others, but the ability to learn depended on one's innate talent.<br /> In this world, few could learn Ulysses' skills.<br /> Scott had been fortunate to receive guidance from Ulysses, which had elevated his medical skills. However, the Hand of Darkness, a miraculous ability, was beyond his comprehension.<br /> Wesley smiled faintly, "Your actions earlier are understandable. I appreciate your words."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you must be an exceptional disciple of Mr. Vanderbilt, possessing unparalleled magnanimity. Impressive," Scott continued.<br /> "Enough with the flattery at your age."<br /> "You are mistaken, Mr. Harrington. Every word I speak is sincere."<br /> Mia, Amanda, and the others stood bewildered by the unfolding situation.<br /> "Mr. Phillips... he... he..." Amanda's words faltered.<br /> Scott turned to the members of the Kingsley family. "Meeting Mr. Harrington was Quinn's luck. His symptoms have been cured by Mr. Harrington. With a few days of rest, he will be fine."<br /> The waste Taylor had previously said was called Mr. Harrington by Scott!<br /> Recalling their previous attitudes, Amanda hurriedly apologized, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> The members of the Kingsley family all apologized in unison, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> Chapter 7 <br /> With a faint smile, Wesley remarked, "As family members of a patient, your actions earlier are understandable. There's no need for such formality."<br /> Amanda's perplexity deepened as she thought, "Where is the cowardly waste that Taylor described? This display of magnanimity and breadth is far from it."<br /> Mia, too, felt a shiver of realization, thinking, "No wonder Dad has insisted on my proximity to Wesley.<br /> This guy..."<br /> She gazed at Wesley, her curiosity piqued, a sense of exploration stirring within her.<br /> "Mia has brought you here, Mr. Harrington, to cure my grandfather. The Kingsley family will never forget this act. However, considering that my grandfather's ailment stemmed from the health supplements produced by the Vinver Business Alliance, we will be conducting an investigation into it."<br /> Amanda continued, looking at Wesley, "What do you think... of this approach?"<br /> It was Mia who had invited Wesley, so Amanda had grown wiser, refraining from asking for a direct punishment of the Vinver Business Alliance.<br /> As Mia heard Amanda's words, her heart skipped a beat, realizing trouble was brewing.<br /> "On the way here, Ms. Roberts briefed me on the situation. You conducted experiments on mice, correct?"<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes, the health supplements we received were exclusively provided by the Roberts family. There were no similar cases on the market, so we used mice for testing.<br /> "All the mice that ingested this supplement were gone."<br /> She looked at Mia and added, her voice turning colder, "Before the experiment, I specifically contacted Mia to inquire about the testing methods during the development phase, which involved mice.<br /> "There have been individuals eyeing my grandfather's position, some even wishing for his demise. I never imagined that the Vinver Business Alliance, which I attracted for investment, would become a weapon in someone else's hands."<br /> "Do you have any of the remaining medicine?" Wesley inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes."<br /> "Bring some over."<br /> Immediately, someone fetched the medicine. After it was brought to him, Wesley took out a supplement and swallowed it directly.<br /> This scene left Amanda and the others dumbfounded.<br /> Scott, too, was bewildered. "Mr. Harrington, what are you doing?"<br /> Wesley smiled, "Just proving that this medicine is not toxic."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thank you," Mia thanked sincerely, feeling like crying at that moment.<br /> Amanda, with a puzzled expression, looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, are you suggesting that my grandfather's condition wasn't caused by the Vinver Business Alliance's medicine? What about the mice?"<br /> The rest were equally puzzled.<br /> "Yes, but not entirely," Wesley said, leaving everyone even more bewildered.<br /> Mia's emotions were like a rollercoaster ride, from relief to immediate tension.<br /> "This medicine itself is not toxic, but when taken with another substance made from a certain plant, it results in Quinn's condition. The mice would die immediately, while humans could endure a few more days."<br /> Wesley continued to explain, "The plant used in this concoction is originally meant for crafting slow-acting toxins, not for human consumption."<br /> Looking at Amanda, Wesley said, "During this period, whoever had access to your grandfather and the mice will better understand why these events occurred."<br /> The gaze of members of the Kingsley family immediately focused on a lady.<br /> Amanda, somewhat incredulous, looked at her. "Can you offer an explanation?"<br /> The lady was the wife of Amanda's deceased brother. She found it hard to accept, as did the rest of the Kingsley family.<br /> This lady had been named the exemplary lady who served her family well this year, not due to her connection with the Kingsley family but because she genuinely deserved it.<br /> "What do you mean? Amanda, what explanation do you want from me?"<br /> The lady stared at Amanda. "Am I the only one who had access to Grandfather and the mice? You, and you... and you, who didn't have access?"<br /> "You all claim to treat me as family. Since I married into the Kingsley family, I have worked diligently, contributing my share even if not acknowledged."<br /> "Amanda, it has been over a year since your brother passed, and I never once considered remarrying. Now, just because of his words, you demand an explanation from me?"<br /> Pointing at Wesley, the lady questioned, "Just because he accuses me of poisoning, you suspect me? Tell me, did I poison him?" The lady glared at Wesley.<br /> "I am merely analyzing the facts. As for concluding this case, it's not within my purview," Wesley addressed the members of the Kingsley family, saying, "You should conduct a thorough investigation into this matter.<br /> "I will write a prescription. Have Quinn take it on time, and he will recover in seven days."<br /> Amanda hurried to fetch paper and pen while Wesley prepared the prescription. Once done, he was ready to leave.<br /> Amanda said hurriedly, "Mr. Harrington, I've already made arrangements for lunch."<br /> "No need," Wesley smiled.<br /> The Kingsley family sought to build closer ties with Wesley, given his extraordinary medical skills. Wesley was well aware of this.<br /> Looking at Amanda and the others, Wesley remarked, "In the future, if you encounter any difficult medical cases that others cannot solve, seek me out. Remember, cases others cannot solve."<br /> The gaze of the Kingsley family members toward Wesley changed once again. Many renowned healers had eccentric personalities and were difficult to engage.<br /> They hadn't expected Wesley to possess such remarkable medical skills without any airs.<br /> As Wesley prepared to depart, the members of the Kingsley family did not dare to insist on his stay, so they accompanied him outside.<br /> "Oh, how could we forget such an important matter? Amanda, what about the consultation fee?" The middle-aged gent inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the oversight. Please wait a moment." Amanda hurried back inside and soon returned with a bank card in hand.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, there's one million dollars in here."<br /> Without hesitation, Wesley accepted the bank card and boarded Mia's car.<br /> During the journey, Mia boldly looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, you've helped me immensely. Can I treat you to a meal? Don't decline in a hurry. It's not a fancy restaurant, but it will leave you wanting more. It's a small place on the street, with only eight plates of noodles served each day, each plate containing different ingredients.<br /> "I managed to secure a reservation. Are you interested?"<br /> Wesley thought, "Eight Plates of Noodles? Ah, Aaron's restaurant. It has been a while since I visited those old friends."<br /> Wesley nodded. "Let's go then."<br /> The restaurant, Eight Plates of Noodles, was located on Chanxold Street near the Yeadeo First Central Hospital.<br /> The establishment was small, serving only eight plates of noodles each day at a price of 10 thousand dollars each. Vernoic's television culinary program had specifically covered this incident.<br /> Reservations were a must to secure a plate.<br /> The restaurant's owner had a mysterious background. While the specifics were unknown, a high-ranking noble from the capital of Vernoic, Kingsland, had caused a scene there once.<br /> He had attempted to force his way in without a reservation. Although this incident hadn't been reported, rumors suggested that a garbage truck had to be called to dispose of the intruder's remains, as he was too shattered to be removed by conventional means.<br /> Since then, no one dared to cause trouble.<br /> On their way, Mia introduced Wesley to the background story.<br /> "Mr. Turner, two plates of noodles." Mia called out once they arrived.<br /> Aaron Turner didn't respond but visibly paused upon seeing Wesley beside Mia.<br /> A faint smile appeared on his usually stoic face. Though the flesh on the face seemed stiff, it was indeed a smile. "Coming right up."<br /> Mia glanced at Aaron with a hint of surprise, thinking, "When did he become so warm and enthusiastic? His tone seemed a bit agitated earlier, didn't it?"<br /> Soon enough, Aaron brought two plates of noodles to the table. One steaming hot and the other devoid of any warmth.<br /> As Mia observed Aaron placing the plate without steam in front of Wesley, her expression changed slightly.<br /> It was a plate of instant noodles having soaked in cold water, with the seasoning barely dissolved.<br /> She felt a sense of panic. Mia had wanted to leave a good impression on Wesley, which was why she had chosen this place.<br /> However, Aaron had served such a plate of noodles.<br /> She dared not question Aaron. The type of noodles served here was not determined by the guests but by Aaron's mood.<br /> "This girl named Mia is quite something, living up to her name, and quite kind-hearted," Aaron remarked, looking at Wesley.<br /> "Get lost," Wesley retorted, using his fork to pick up the noodles and devouring them.<br /> Mia's face turned pale instantly. Disrespecting Aaron was akin to risking Wesley's life.<br /> To her astonishment, Aaron chuckled, tears welling up in his eyes.<br /> He wiped them away. "Alright, I'll leave you to your meal."<br /> Before departing, he gave Mia a thumbs-up. "Seize the opportunity."<br /> The eight plates of noodles symbolized the eight comrades who had faced life and life-threatening situations together.<br /> Wesley ate voraciously. Initially, they had only one pack of instant noodles to share among the eight of them, forcing them to divide it.<br /> Despite the circumstances, they devoured the noodles joyfully.<br /> Aaron had promised that once they survived, each one would have the most delicious plate of noodles.<br /> However, five of the eight had perished.<br /> Wesley had come dangerously close to life-threatening situations, but managed to cling to life.<br /> For him, the plate of noodles was not food but the bond of friendship that had shielded him from harm.<br /> "Do you... know each other?" Mia couldn't help but ask, her voice low and curious.<br /> "Some things are better left unknown," Wesley replied.<br /> Mia nodded in understanding, falling silent as they continued eating noodles. She couldn't help stealing glances at Wesley throughout the meal.<br /> This gent had piqued her curiosity even more.<br /> "Wesley, I see. No wonder you agreed to the divorce so readily. You've already found someone else outside."<br /> A sharp voice interrupted their meal.<br /> Taylor approached with a cold expression, accompanied by Henry.	Adoread Romance story	8	https://facebook.com/61557113391558	INSTALL_MOBILE_APP	1713250800	View Edit Delete
1666975	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727712	1734958299	695	2165779967105010		1.5151396427717E+15	1714114800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	235254296344339	0	Adoread Romance story	120207848353240113	play.google.com	Install now	NONE	video	HOT BOOK✨Tap the button to read more👉		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.adoread.book		1713261152	2.3525429634434E+14	Adoread Romance story	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438892005_975623273963863_3425736210660793022_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NBYJ5GmzL5cQ7kNvgEu_fx5&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDXAvBBX_NP8SGopylvIMfzGos1OtU0lLPOvvp5ll3lCw&oe=663A8ED9	person_profile	0	Adoread Romance story	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438909943_1114471406462995_3300295161178002103_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Dxo4ghiE7sgQ7kNvgHK9XGo&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCxn4vKqoSBaQEKIkcriP3iqz8htEGStS3A9X276xu-Qg&oe=663A734B	0	3	Chapter 1 <br /> "Wesley, are you trying to harm me? You useless piece of trash, can't even make a decent cup of coffee, can you?"<br /> Madison Blair lifted her coffee cup and splashed it directly onto Wesley Harrington's face.<br /> "What are you looking at, you spineless waste? Your name sounds so lofty? I might as well call you a waste."<br /> Glancing at the grotesque expression of his wife's mother, Wesley pulled out his phone to check the time.<br /> Exactly twelve o'clock. It had been five full years since he married Taylor Reed.<br /> The appointed time had come.<br /> He had fulfilled his promise, safeguarding the Reed family for five years, transforming them from a family living off fishing to one perceived as affluent by the common folk.<br /> Wiping the coffee off his face, he turned and walked away.<br /> "Where do you think you're going? Go fetch some more coffee," Madison shouted.<br /> "Madison, didn't you say this waste is obedient at home, doing whatever he's told? I don't think he's taking it lying down."<br /> Madison grew angrier. "Wesley, you stop right there. My family has fed and housed you. If you dare disobey, I'll have you thrown out!"<br /> Ignoring her, Wesley continued downstairs.<br /> "When Taylor comes back, I'll immediately have you two divorced. Do you hear me? Stay right there," Madison threatened, "I'll let you know your place today."<br /> Grabbing a golf club, Madison swiftly charged towards Wesley.<br /> Seeing Wesley heading downstairs, she swung the club viciously at his back.<br /> Without turning back, Wesley gently sidestepped.<br /> Losing her balance, Madison tumbled forward, rolling down the stairs with a series of thumps.<br /> "Ouch... it hurts, it hurts so much!"<br /> As Madison reached the ground floor, she wailed in pain and her sister immediately rushed to her.<br /> "Wesley, what have you done? How dare you hit my sister!" Madison's sister hurried down, checking on Madison's condition.<br /> Wesley remained silent, observing the scene.<br /> "Quick, call Taylor. Tell her to come back. Today, she must divorce this waste." Madison glared at Wesley. "How dare you hit me? Not only will I let Taylor divorce you, but I'll make sure you leave in disgrace."<br /> "Mum, what's wrong?" At that moment, a gent and a lady walked in.<br /> The lady was Taylor, Madison's daughter.<br /> She ran towards Madison.<br /> As Madison pointed at Wesley, tears streamed down her face. "Taylor, he hit me, he hit me! When you're not home, he changes his attitude, scolding and hitting me in the slightest displeasure. He even pushed me down the stairs just now. Alexis can testify."<br /> Madison's sister, Alexis Blair, chimed in. "Yes, Wesley, this trash not only hit your mother but also threatened to hit me too. We cannot tolerate such trash."<br /> "Taylor, I have been telling you to divorce him for years. You've been supporting him, treating him like a Lord at home, but he's an ungrateful wolf in sheep's clothing."<br /> Helping Madison up, Taylor noticed the scrapes on Madison's arms and legs, her expression turning cold.<br /> "Wesley, why did you hit my mother? You better give me an explanation."<br /> Wesley looked at Taylor, his wife.<br /> Five years had passed, and she had never shown him kindness.<br /> Taylor dressed impeccably, a paragon of a successful lady, with a face that could be deemed angelic, yet whether her heart was as angelic remained a mystery.<br /> Her figure, too, left countless men yearning.<br /> For five years, Wesley had thought he might develop feelings for this lady, but in reality, it never happened.<br /> "There are surveillance cameras in the house," Wesley stated calmly before descending the stairs into the hallway.<br /> Despite residing in a three-story villa, Wesley's living quarters were confined to the stairwell.<br /> He harbored no resentment towards this arrangement. It was merely a promise. It was just that Taylor failed to appreciate him.<br /> This home held little value that he wished to cling onto.<br /> Retrieving a wooden box from beneath his pillow, Wesley extracted two documents. Casting a fleeting glance at the modest abode he had called home for five years, Wesley smiled faintly.<br /> He thought, "Finally... I'm free."<br /> Pushing the door ajar, Wesley was met by Taylor's piercing gaze. "I've reviewed the surveillance footage. Yes, my mother intended to strike you, but even if she did, what difference would it make?"<br /> "She's a lady. How much could her blows hurt you? Why did you dodge?"<br /> "If you hadn't dodged, my mother wouldn't have tumbled down." Wesley stared at Taylor, unable to comprehend her thought process.<br /> He had no interest in engaging in these arguments. Handing over the two documents to Taylor, he remarked, "The divorce agreement. I've already signed it. Take a look. I'm leaving with nothing."<br /> "With your current influence, there's no need for you to visit the city hall. Someone will handle it for you, right?"<br /> Madison was taken aback. She swiftly snatched the divorce agreement, flipping through it hastily.<br /> The contents were indeed straightforward. Both parties willingly divorced, with Wesley relinquishing all claims and having already signed.<br /> In an instant, Madison's pain seemed to dissipate. "Taylor, sign it quickly. Sign it."<br /> Taylor was still in a daze.<br /> She pondered.<br /> "A divorce agreement? Wesley has already prepared a divorce agreement. On what grounds?"<br /> "What gives him the right to initiate a divorce? All these years, he's done nothing at home, lacking any ambition. Always practicing martial arts, what right does he have to seek a divorce?"<br /> "If anyone should initiate it, it should be me. Moreover, now that I'm back to discussing this matter with him. Could it be that word got out, and Wesley, for the sake of his pride, rushed to prepare a divorce agreement first?"<br /> "It must be so, but... No!"<br /> "Wanting to leave with nothing, is he retreating to advance? As the chairman of the Reed Group, how could I be served with a divorce?"<br /> "Hey Wesley, I never expected this from you. Have I not treated you well enough? You seek a divorce, attempting to turn your retreat into advance, aiming to embarrass me?"<br /> Taylor glared at Wesley. "I'm telling you, it's impossible."<br /> Snatching the divorce agreement, she tore it to shreds.<br /> "Taylor, what are you doing? Such a great opportunity. Why not just sign it and let him leave?" Madison grew anxious.<br /> "Mom, I do intend to divorce this trash, but the decision must come from me. I returned specifically to address this matter."<br /> With that, Taylor produced two documents. "Wesley, remember that it's me who's divorcing you. It's me who no longer wants you. Initially, out of marital obligation, I had considered offering you some compensation. Now, you don't even need to think about it. Sign the divorce agreement and leave my home."<br /> Wesley offered a faint smile as he accepted the divorce agreement.<br /> "What are you laughing at?" Taylor demanded angrily.<br /> Wesley's smile seemed to mock her, fueling her rage.<br /> Ignoring her entirely, Wesley signed the document and handed it over.<br /> "What are you laughing at? Answer me! Who do you think you are?" Taylor roared once more.<br /> Wesley glanced at her before striding towards the exit.<br /> "Stop!" The gent who had accompanied Taylor stepped forward, blocking Wesley's path. "Taylor asked you a question, and... Your previous attitude displeased me. Apologize to Taylor, or I'll have you leave in disgrace!"<br /> <br /> Chapter 2 <br /> "Yes, let him leave in disgrace. He thought he could just hit me and walk away so easily," Madison joined in the commotion, also noticing the gent blocking Wesley's path.<br /> Madison had a keen interest in luxury goods, having frequented various high-end establishments over the years as the Reed family's living conditions improved. The gent was wearing an expensive watch and dressed head to toe in high-end luxury brands.<br /> Seeing Madison's gaze, the gent spoke. "Rest assured, today Wesley must pay the price."<br /> The gent introduced himself, looking at Wesley, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Henry Clark, the eldest son of the Clark family and the general manager of the Clark Group in the North District."<br /> "From now on, I will accompany Taylor on her journey of life, and I will not allow anyone to bully her."<br /> "My identity carries weight. You should understand that. Now, apologize to Taylor. Apologize! Did you hear me? Apologize!"<br /> Madison's eyes lit up. She hadn't expected the gent before her to hold such a high status. She continued to shout, "Did you hear that? Taylor will be with Mr. Clark from now on. Apologize now."<br /> Wesley glanced at Henry, then at Taylor. He thought, "Have they been together all along?" Wesley had wanted to ask but decided against it because there was no need. He simply gave them a glance and continued walking towards the exit.<br /> "Are you ignoring me?" Henry's face turned cold as he reached out to grab Wesley. Henry's hand froze mid-air as he received a solid hit.<br /> "Until I sign the divorce papers, Taylor and I are still wife and husband. I don't care to investigate whether you two had any intimate relationship during that time, but don't provoke me, or I won't hesitate to make you regret it." Wesley's gaze was icy, and as Henry met his eyes, he felt a twinge of fear and swallowed his words.<br /> Taylor was also stunned. She knew exactly what Wesley had been like over the past five years. There were many surveillance cameras in the house, and she would often check them.<br /> Even when Taylor wasn't home, despite how her family treated Wesley, he always obeyed without complaint, especially towards her. He had never raised his voice, no matter how they treated him.<br /> Today, not only did Wesley dodge when her mother struck, but he also initiated the divorce and now even struck Henry. <br /> Taylor was at a loss for words, thinking, "How could this cowardly gent dare? On what grounds does he dare?"<br /> This change was difficult for Taylor to accept as if she didn't truly understand this guy. The gent who used to be obedient to her, completely submissive, now revealed this side of himself. She watched Wesley walk away in a daze, feeling a strange discomfort in her heart.<br /> "Isn't he leaving with nothing?" Alexis pointed at the wooden box Wesley was holding. "What is he taking with him?"<br /> Madison also realized. Over the past five years, Wesley had always treasured this wooden box, carrying it with him wherever he went. She thought there must be something valuable inside.<br /> Realizing this, Madison hurriedly followed. "Wesley, stop right there, leave the wooden box."<br /> Wesley paused, glanced at Madison, and said, "This is my personal belonging."<br /> "Nonsense, what personal belonging could you possibly have after marrying into the Reed family? Everything you've eaten, worn, and lived in over the years has been provided by the Reed family. Put it down."<br /> As she spoke, Madison reached out to grab the wooden box.<br /> "Ah..." A scream rang out as Madison quickly retracted her hand, a gash appearing on her palm, a crimson liquid dripping.<br /> The wooden box was now stained with the same crimson liquid, trembling lightly in Wesley's hand.<br /> "It's not the right time yet, the day you thirst for this crimson liquid will come," Wesley murmured softly, patting the box before turning to continue his stride towards the exit.<br /> "Monster! A monster!" Madison screamed, causing Taylor and the others to rush out. Seeing the wound in Madison's hand, Taylor was filled with rage.<br /> "Wesley, aren't you going to say something?" Wesley halted once more, contemplating before meeting Taylor's gaze.<br /> "Just stay out of my way from now on. Consider this a warning to you."<br /> "Taylor, that wooden box of his has a mechanism. It must hold something valuable! We can't let him take it with him," Madison, enduring the pain, reminded them.<br /> "Mom, your injury is important. We'll deal with him later. Let me take you to the hospital first." Taylor comforted Madison before calling out to the retreating Wesley.<br /> "Our marriage is over! Yet, you dared to hurt my mother! This won't be the end of it! I will make you regret it!" Ignoring her, Wesley continued walking out.<br /> "Rest assured, I promise he won't see the light of day tomorrow." Henry stepped forward to console. "Let's focus on getting your wound treated first."<br /> "I want him to regret ever existing in this world, to apologize to me in repentance," Madison roared.<br /> "Mom, trust me, I will make him do just that." Taylor looked at Madison with a mix of pity and determination. "Let's go to the hospital first."<br /> In the villa area, Wesley halted, his voice cold. "Get out."<br /> An elderly gent leaped down from a tree, appearing to be in his seventies, yet landing silently from a height of around ten feet.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, your father wants you to come home and take charge."<br /> "He stopped being my father five years ago. He's my enemy."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you misunderstood your father. He had his reasons back then. I swear in my life, once you know the truth, you will forgive him."<br /> "Huh!" Wesley smirked coldly, saying, "I nearly passed away back then. Is that also a misunderstanding?"<br /> The old gent pleaded, "Mr. Harrington, this situation is truly not as you perceive it."<br /> Wesley didn't engage further with the old guy. The events of that year were etched in his memory forever. He was the one who had been abandoned. If not for that incident, why would he have stayed with the Reed family for five years?<br /> Watching Wesley walk away, the old gent had tears silently streaming down his face. "Mr. Harrington, I truly... I truly can't bring myself to speak the truth, but you have misunderstood your father. He also bears burdens and endures pains beyond what an ordinary person can handle."<br /> As Wesley's figure disappeared, the old gent stood up, hesitated for a moment, then dialed a number on his phone.<br /> "Mr. Harrington is now divorced. I've given you the news firsthand. If your daughter is truly together with Mr. Harrington, you must fulfill the promise and let her persuade Mr. Harrington to come home."<br /> After hanging up, a middle-aged gent in a luxurious estate jumped up excitedly. Calming himself, he immediately made another call. "My dear, you're at Yeadeo, right?<br /> "Go find Wesley now. Don't mention the engagement for now. Use every means to get close to him, make him fall in love with you."<br /> "Dad, I don't have time."<br /> "No matter what you are busy with, you must go find Wesley now. No matter what reason you approach him, you must leave a good impression the first time."<br /> "Dad, I'm in trouble right now. If I don't handle it well, I might be good as gone. I have to deal with it immediately. I'm hanging up."<br /> Chapter 3 <br /> The middle-aged gent's voice lowered significantly. "Is there a big incident happening? You didn't tell me? What happened?"<br /> "Quinn Kingsley from Yeadeo, Mr. Kingsley, used our product and now has one foot on the grave. If something really happens to him..."<br /> "You mean Quinn, the uncontested leader of Yeadeo?"<br /> "Yes."<br /> "In that case, you should go find Wesley. Trust me, in this world, there is no problem that Wesley can't solve. As long as he's willing to help, you'll be fine. Listen to me, go find Wesley immediately."<br /> The lady fell silent for a moment before saying, "Okay."<br /> At Yeadeo Harbor, a gent with a large flaxen chain and a watch, sporting a crew cut, hurriedly disembarked, accompanied by a dozen gentlemen.<br /> "Mr. Reed, wherever that trash is, we will find him and tear him apart."<br /> "Yes, that guy dared to harm your mother. We'll make sure he pays for it."<br /> Frank Reed's face turned cold. "Wesley, you coward, thinking you can overturn the world? How dare you touch my mom? Just wait until I find you, you're finished."<br /> "We've found him. Wesley got into a taxi, and our boys followed him."<br /> "Let's go!" Frank waved his hand, leading dozens of men who boarded the car with harpoons, steel pipes, and other weapons.<br /> Inside the taxi, Wesley gazed at the scenery outside, feeling a strange sense of tranquility.<br /> He thought to himself, "I never imagined that while I was secretly paving the way for the Reed family, Taylor, after progressing so rapidly, would start looking down on me more and more."<br /> "Those ladies who know my true identity, which one of them isn't trying to throw themselves at me? Ladies like that don't interest me."<br /> "Being an ordinary gent is truly difficult," Wesley murmured, smiling faintly and deciding not to dwell on these matters anymore. He had important things to attend to and no time to waste on personal affairs.<br /> "Young lad, are you going to Feidgeuo Manor for a job interview?" The driver, curious about Wesley's destination, inquired.<br /> Feidgeuo Manor was Yeadeo's most mysterious private area. Originally a villa area, it was bought at a huge cost five years ago and completely renovated. It was said to have cost a trillion dollars. The former villa area was now Feidgeuo Manor.<br /> "That's my home," Wesley replied nonchalantly.<br /> The driver was taken aback by this revelation, silently cursing Wesley for bragging. After a couple of minutes, the driver regained his composure. "It seems like you and I both prefer to keep a low profile. My car usually gathers dust at home, so I occasionally drive a taxi to experience life."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "My car has been driven by my assistant for the past few years, so it's not gathering dust."<br /> "Haha..." The driver laughed. "We should get together sometime and see whose car is more impressive."<br /> "Sure, whenever we have the time."<br /> As they chatted, the vehicle soon arrived near Feidgeuo Manor, where the massive head of the Feidgeuo Peak protruded, creating a unique landscape in Yeadeo.<br /> The driver asked with a smile, "Since you're the owner here, it's fine if I drive in, right?"<br /> "Of course," Wesley replied.<br /> As soon as Wesley spoke, several cars caught up from behind.<br /> The cars surrounded the one Wesley was in, with the front vehicles braking to force the car to a stop.<br /> When numerous people descended from cars wielding harpoons and steel pipes, the driver's face paled.<br /> Frank and his group got out of the cars, instantly closing in, and without hesitation, started attacking, the steel pipes and harpoons thudding against the car.<br /> Frank's henchman yanked open the door of Wesley's car, poised to stab Wesley with a harpoon, but Wesley swiftly exited the vehicle.<br /> With a firm step on the ground, he launched a swift hit.<br /> A muffled sound echoed as the henchman was hit away.<br /> "What are you looking at?" Frank noticed his henchmen were all staring at him. "All of you, attack together and take him down!"<br /> As he commanded, the henchmen Frank brought with him surged forward.<br /> The taxi driver, trembling, took out his phone to call the police, but Frank glared at him. "I am Frank Reed from Yeadeo Harbor. If you dare, go ahead and make that call."<br /> Frank, leveraging his sister Taylor's status, had been causing trouble in Yeadeo Harbor, and no one dared to provoke him.<br /> Upon hearing Frank's name, the driver hastily put away his phone. "Mr. Reed, I'll just check the time, you guys continue."<br /> "Huh!" Frank snorted coldly, casting his gaze towards the surrounded Wesley.<br /> The sounds of thuds continued to ring out incessantly. Because Wesley was completely surrounded, Frank was unable to see the situation inside clearly, but he could imagine it. After all, in Frank's mind, the henchmen under his command were not to be trifled with.<br /> "Hit him hard for me!"<br /> Another muffled sound and a figure flew out. At that moment, Frank finally saw the situation clearly, and his face turned pale.<br /> Frank knew that Wesley liked to practice martial arts, but he had never expected Wesley to be this skilled. It wasn't Wesley who had been beaten, but his own men by Wesley alone.<br /> Frantically, Frank turned and ran to retrieve a crossbow from the car.<br /> "Clear the way." Frank bellowed, aiming the crossbow at Wesley.<br /> "You scumbag, you think you can fight? Move one more time, and I'll end your life! Surrender!"<br /> Wesley, holding a wooden box, stared at Frank. Ignoring the crossbow in his hand, Wesley said, "Tell your henchmen to back off, or you'll all see the light from above!"<br /> "You're really good at pretending to be tough." Frank took two steps forward. "See the light? Move a muscle and see if I can end your life or not! If you don't have the guts, apologize now!"<br /> Wesley turned his head and looked at the approaching cars, with two expensive ones in the lead, two more in the rear, and another one in the middle.<br /> "Keep acting tough, and I'll put a hole in your head." Frank spoke while glancing at the five cars. "What, looking for help?"<br /> "Let me tell you, those who ride in these cars are not the kind of weaklings like you who rely on connections. With me here, in Yeadeo's social hierarchy, even those who ride in such cars wouldn't dare meddle in this matter. And let me make it clear, without my sister, you're nothing."<br /> <br /> Chapter 4<br /> As Frank's words faded, the five cars came to a halt.<br /> A bodyguard opened the door of the one in the middle, revealing a dazzling pair of shining shoes catching everyone's eye.<br /> The shining shoe encased a beautiful foot. Above, the skirt's hem was adorned with lace.<br /> Then, like a fairy stepping out of a painting, she appeared before everyone's eyes.<br /> The lady was beautiful!<br /> Frank was mesmerized. Ever since the Reed family rose to prominence, he had been surrounded by ladies, but compared to the elegant lady before him, they were worlds apart.<br /> It wasn't just a difference in appearance but an incomparable gap in demeanor.<br /> The lady descending from the Maybach seemed like a celestial being untouched by mortal affairs.<br /> The embodiment of a fairy in the mundane world.<br /> She simply stood there after getting out of the car, perfectly embodying what it meant to be graceful and elegant.<br /> The lady glanced at Wesley, then at Frank.<br /> Frank grinned, saying, "May I have the honor of knowing the name of this esteemed lady? I am Frank..."<br /> The lady spoke calmly. "Disrespect Mr. Harrington, and you're done for."<br /> Her bodyguards, unfazed by Frank's crossbow, swiftly overwhelmed him, sending him crashing to the ground.<br /> The henchmen who had come with Frank, previously defeated by Wesley, now scrambled to their feet and fled in all directions.<br /> Who would dare provoke someone who could afford such a car?<br /> "My sister is Taylor Reed, the chairperson of Reed Group," Frank shouted, clutching his head.<br /> Ignoring him, one of the bodyguards dragged him to the roadside grass while another used a belt to tighten around Frank's neck, exerting pressure.<br /> "Enough, a lesson is all that's needed." Wesley spoke calmly, and only when the lady gestured did the bodyguards release Frank.<br /> Frank lay there, already unconscious.<br /> Wesley turned to the lady. "Who are you?"<br /> "I am Mia Roberts, the general manager of Vinver Business Alliance's Yeadeo branch." She looked at Wesley and continued, "Mr. Harrington, my father mentioned that you have miraculous healing skills and earnestly requested your assistance. A generous reward awaits."<br /> Wesley furrowed his brow slightly, thinking, "There are indeed people who recognize my abilities and status, yet I've rarely intervened in the past five years. Today, shortly after I divorced Taylor, she is here. Whose arrangement is this?"<br /> "Mr. Harrington, my father also mentioned that you are benevolent and has raised the banner of compassion among healers, serving as a role model and benchmark for all in the medical field."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "You have a way with words. Tell me the specifics."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, please get in the car first. I will explain in detail on the way."<br /> The phrase "compassionate healer" held significant weight for Wesley, who had saved countless lives from the brink of death.<br /> Without further ado, he got into the car.<br /> Inside, after Mia brewed coffee for Wesley, she began. "Vinver Business Alliance has a wide range of business operations, and I mainly oversee the health supplement sector, which has seen some success in recent years.<br /> "Recently, Quinn Kingsley started using our medicines, and now there's an accident."<br /> As she spoke, Mia kept her gaze fixed on Wesley.<br /> Quinn, the undisputed leader of Yeadeo, was a figure of immense influence.<br /> Upon hearing this name, Wesley showed no particular reaction. "If the city's leader faces issues with your products, it is indeed a concern. Let's go and see."<br /> With just a sentence, Wesley leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest.<br /> Mia was secretly alarmed, thinking, "He knows who Quinn is, yet he seems indifferent. Who is this Wesley, really? No wonder Dad has instructed me to find a way to win his favor." Mia's inner resistance toward Wesley quietly shifted.<br /> Wesley had piqued her curiosity.<br /> As the vehicle was moving, Wesley's phone rang.<br /> Wesley opened his eyes and took out his phone to see Taylor calling.<br /> Pressing the answer button, he asked, "What's the matter?"<br /> On the other end of the line, Taylor, driving towards Feidgeuo Manor, had a grim expression.<br /> She thought, "Has Wesley ever spoken to me in such a cold tone before? Is he really this heartless right after our divorce?"<br /> Already furious, she snapped. "Wesley, do you even consider yourself a human being?<br /> "Today, not only did you lay hands on my mother, but you also had someone attack my brother. Do you not remember our past at all?"<br /> Wesley calmly replied, "Do we have a past to remember?"<br /> "You truly are a heartless scumbag, just as my mother said. You are an ungrateful and vicious person I raised for five years. Even a pet would wag its tail at me!"<br /> Taylor wanted to continue her tirade, but the phone line had already turned busy.<br /> This only fueled her anger further.<br /> Just now, she had received a call from Frank's underlings, informing her that Wesley had sent people to attack Frank and even intended to end him.<br /> Taylor wanted to demand answers, but...<br /> As Taylor was clutching her fists, her gaze turned icy.<br /> After a moment, she picked up her phone again. "Wesley, you are so narrow-minded. You have no ambition. Any lady would steer clear of you."<br /> "Just because I dumped you, you are doing this on purpose to make me feel sick. Pretending to be aloof and seeking revenge? Do you even deserve it?"<br /> "In Yeadeo, squashing you would be as easy as squashing an ant. You're asking for it! If anything happens to my brother, I will make you wish you were ending!"<br /> Her furious voice message echoed in the car.<br /> Wesley chuckled and put away his phone.<br /> Beside him, Mia seemed contemplative. Before coming, she had already ordered a swift investigation into Wesley.<br /> She was curious, thinking, "How could someone valued by my father could be the one 'marrying into' the Reed family."<br /> Being tactful, Mia chose not to ask and pretended not to have heard.<br /> After about forty minutes, they arrived at the Kingsley Manor.<br /> The Kingsley family members, upon seeing Mia alight from the car, all wore grim expressions.<br /> Mia greeted them with a smile, "Everyone, this is Wesley Harrington, Mr. Harrington, the miraculous healer I specially invited to treat Mr. Kingsley."<br /> "Him? The gent who married into the Reed family?"<br /> "A miraculous healer? Is he even worthy? Are healers so worthless now?"<br /> "A useless gent who mooches off of the Reed family? How dare he call himself a miraculous healer? Truly a joke among all jokes."<br /> Chapter 5<br /> <br /> Amanda Kingsley, Quinn's granddaughter, stared coldly at Wesley and Mia.<br /> This lady, dressed in a smart suit, also held significant fame in Yeadeo, overseeing the region's business activities, including investment attraction and various local business negotiations.<br /> Amanda had a favorable view of Taylor, who had risen swiftly in recent times, and they had interacted frequently.<br /> She was aware of Wesley's existence and had advised Taylor to part ways with him early on.<br /> But Amanda never imagined that Mia would bring someone like Wesley, a complete waste, and claim he was a miraculous healer.<br /> Glaring at Mia, she said, "Mia, once my grandfather is well, it's best for your Roberts family to leave Yeadeo."<br /> "As for you..." She glanced at Wesley. "I will advise Taylor to divorce you. You have deceived Taylor's feelings and now shamelessly made your way into my family. You are a despicable creature."<br /> After reprimanding Mia and Wesley, she turned to an elderly gent beside her, and her tone and attitude completely changed. "Mr. Phillips, sorry to trouble you. My grandfather is inside, please."<br /> Mia looked at the elderly gent, who was already in his twilight years, feeling deeply shocked.<br /> Scott Phillips, the 38th generation heir of the Healing Clinic, was now ninety-two years old.<br /> Renowned as a miraculous healer, he was a respected figure in the medical community of Yeadeo and even nationally.<br /> He no longer conducted consultations personally due to his old age. Mia had visited him specifically to pay her respects once she had arrived in Yeadeo but had not met Scott.<br /> She never expected Scott to appear in person. It was understandable, as Quinn held a prominent position in the city. Despite the profound influence of the Phillips family, they still had to show respect to Quinn.<br /> Mia looked at Wesley, feeling conflicted and thinking, "Dad has confidently claimed that Wesley has extraordinary abilities, but does he really?"<br /> She harbored doubts, but out of propriety, Mia spoke. "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the trouble."<br /> Wesley smiled, "It's fine. As long as the person can be healed."<br /> His open-mindedness impressed Mia.<br /> After about half an hour, Amanda emerged from the room. All eyes instantly turned towards her.<br /> It was evident that Amanda had wailed out, with traces of tears still visible.<br /> "Amanda, how is it?" A middle-aged gent anxiously asked her.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family who had rushed back also focused their attention on her.<br /> "Mr. Phillips said that there's little hope of recovery. He could only use acupuncture to wake grandfather for half an hour. When grandfather wakes up, let's all go in and see if he has any final instructions."<br /> Everyone was shocked.<br /> "How could this be?"<br /> "Is Mr. Phillips also helpless?"<br /> The members of the Kingsley family found it hard to accept this reality, especially since Quinn had always treated his juniors well.<br /> The thought of Quinn departing saddened some, and tears silently fell.<br /> Publicly, Quinn's status was the foundation of the Kingsley family's prominence in Yeadeo.<br /> If Quinn were to pass away, the Kingsley family would undoubtedly decline.<br /> The atmosphere within the Kingsley family was somber.<br /> Amanda looked at her family members, opened her mouth, but said nothing, silently turning back into the room.<br /> "Stop crying," A middle-aged gent said sternly, "Dad wouldn't want to see you all in tears. If he's really leaving, we mustn't let him worry about us. Pull yourselves together."<br /> After these words, the middle-aged gent also entered the room.<br /> The younger members of the Kingsley family wiped their tears vigorously, trying to force smiles, but in truth, they looked better at crying than pretending to be happy.<br /> Mia's spirit plummeted as she realized the gravity of the situation. Even if an ordinary person passed away from consuming health supplements, it spelled big trouble for those who sold them. And when the deceased happened to be Quinn, the stakes were even higher.<br /> She understood that it would be difficult for this branch to stay in Yeadeo, and even the headquarters might face repercussions.<br /> "Let's go in and have a look." Wesley glanced at Mia. "There might still be a chance."<br /> "Ah..." Mia stared at Wesley in surprise. Seeing him already heading towards the room, she quickly followed suit.<br /> Inside the room, the members of the Kingsley family stood around the mattress, maintaining a certain distance.<br /> Scott lit the alcohol lamp and took out the needles, his expression solemn.<br /> He looked at the members of the Kingsley family. "Think about what you want to say to Mr. Kingsley later. Once you're ready, let me know, and then I'll proceed with the acupuncture."<br /> As he said this, tears welled up in many eyes.<br /> "If you don't mind, let me take a look. I have a way." Wesley spoke up, drawing everyone's attention.<br /> Amanda's face darkened. "Who let you in? Get out!"<br /> "Mia, have you lost your mind? Tricked by this trash and actually brought him here as a miracle healer. Get out with him! I'll settle the score with you in a couple of days."<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, at a loss for words.<br /> "Even Mr. Phillips is unable to reverse the situation. What use are you? Get out." Another younger member of the Kingsley family angrily rebuked.<br /> The middle-aged gent added, "We're in no mood right now. You better leave immediately."<br /> "I understand your narrow-mindedness," Wesley continued, "But as a healer, once I see a patient, I cannot stand by and watch him draw his last breath."<br /> "Wesley, you're quite the charlatan. Do you really want to be gone right now?" Amanda's voice was filled with anger.<br /> "Amanda, let me say a few words," Scott interjected, and Amanda fell silent.<br /> Looking at Wesley, Scott began. "Young lad, at my age, I've seen a lot and have a broad perspective. Today, however, I find it hard to remain indifferent. I practiced medicine from the age of sixteen until I stopped seeing patients for a total of seventy years."<br /> "I've saved countless patients from various illnesses. I never easily declare a patient's fate, nor do I believe I have the right to do so."<br /> "But from your recent remarks, it seems like you're accusing me of such actions. Young people wanting to make a name for themselves by stepping on the shoulders of their predecessors, I can understand."<br /> "But this kind of behavior displeases me."<br /> "My displeasure, what does it mean to you? Do you understand?"<br /> "Even if you are a healer, your career will be ruined because of this."<br /> Chapter 6 <br /> In the face of Scott's veiled threats, Wesley simply smiled and brushed them off.<br /> Looking at Scott, he asked, "I've always focused on the issue at hand rather than attacking individuals. I have a few questions for you. If you can't administer the needles, how long do you think Quinn can hold on?"<br /> "Seven days, but he will remain unconscious," Scott replied bluntly.<br /> "Then let me ask you this, is there anyone in the world with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "Outrageous," Amanda coldly interjected, "Mr. Phillips is unparalleled in his medical expertise."<br /> Scott glanced at Amanda. "Amanda, let me handle this question."<br /> Continuing to address Wesley, he said, "I don't underestimate myself, nor do I overestimate. There are countless talented individuals in the world, like stars in the sky. I may not dare claim to be the best in medical skills, but those who surpass me are few."<br /> "That means there are some," Wesley calmly remarked, causing Scott's expression to shift slightly, "Indeed, there are."<br /> "Then let me ask you this. Do you think within seven days, the Kingsley family won't find someone with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "If they do find someone, do you believe there is an illness that you cannot cure, but this person can?"<br /> Wesley's questions were sharp and resounding.<br /> Scott's face changed once more as he was rendered speechless.<br /> "Even if there is, that person will never be you." Amanda's face turned icy. "Now get out. Don't spout your eloquence here. Your deceitful behavior is repulsive."<br /> "Your understanding of me is merely hearsay, isn't it?" Wesley retorted, his gaze mocking Amanda, "Has your background and education taught you such arrogance and prejudice?"<br /> "Arrogance?" Amanda's face grew colder as she disdainfully looked at Wesley. "Prejudice?<br /> "Did I say something wrong just now? You are nothing but stagnant waste, a parasite living off others. If it weren't for Taylor, you would have starved on the streets long ago."<br /> "Relying on sweet words, deceiving Taylor. She, with her kind heart, can't bear to divorce you, but don't push your luck. If it weren't for Taylor's sake, you would have been sent out long ago."<br /> Scott interrupted Amanda, "Amanda, although I find this lad a bit annoying, what he said does hold some truth. There are indeed individuals with better medical skills than me. Your grandfather can hold on for seven days. Try reaching out to see if someone can come over. I'll help you make connections."<br /> "If it really doesn't work out after seven days, I'll administer the needles to your grandfather. However, at that point, I can only buy you three minutes."<br /> As soon as Scott spoke, the faces of the Kingsley family members grew even more solemn. True healers were rare and not easily summoned.<br /> While the Kingsley family had connections in Yeadeo, their influence waned outside of it.<br /> "Mr. Phillips, please administer the needles. Life has its ups and downs, and we understand that. Just buy my father a bit more time." The middle-aged gent spoke up.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family nodded in agreement.<br /> Amanda looked at Scott. "Mr. Phillips, please."<br /> "In that case, please have everyone unrelated leave. I need silence," Scott calmly stated.<br /> Amanda glared at Wesley, her eyes speaking volumes without a word.<br /> The unrelated individuals were, naturally, Wesley and Mia.<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, intending to leave, but she suddenly hesitated.<br /> Instead of leaving, Wesley moved forward.<br /> "What are you doing?" A young member of the Kingsley family stepped forward with a stern expression, pushing Wesley.<br /> In one swift motion, Wesley executed a clean shoulder throw, toppling the young gent to the ground, his own expression turning cold.<br /> "A bunch of fools! If it weren't for my teacher's teachings about not turning a blind eye to those in need, I wouldn't bother with you ignorant lot," Wesley remarked with disdain.<br /> As Wesley effortlessly took down one individual from the Kingsley family, the others seemed slow to react.<br /> By the time they realized what was happening, Wesley had already picked up the needle next to Scott and casually flicked his wrist.<br /> The needle flew out of his hand, piercing Quinn's temple, followed by a second needle, a third needle, and so on.<br /> "What are you doing? Stop!" Amanda's voice rose in urgency, echoed by the rest of the Kingsley family members who rushed forward to restrain Wesley.<br /> "Stay back, everyone. Wait." Scott suddenly stood up, blocking the others. "Let him try."<br /> Amanda and the others were left dumbfounded, thinking, "What does this mean?"<br /> Despite their confusion, they heeded Scott's words.<br /> After Scott stopped the members of the Kingsley family, he fixed his gaze on Wesley.<br /> Wesley proceeded to use eighteen needles in succession, symbolizing the levels of pain.<br /> Even if someone had descended into the depths of hell, they must be brought back.<br /> The final needle, also piercing a vital point, caused Quinn's body to tremble suddenly, resonating with the previous eighteen needles.<br /> Scott's eyes widened, his body trembling slightly. His reaction left Amanda and the others even more puzzled, but none dared to interrupt.<br /> Moments later, Wesley placed a palm on Quinn's chest, causing all eighteen needles to be shaken off. When all the needles landed on the ground, the part of the skin where the needles had pierced turned dark.<br /> Wesley then dragged Quinn to the edge of the mattress, flipped him over with his head facing downwards, and gave him a firm pat on the back.<br /> Quinn spat out a mouthful of black liquid. When Wesley flipped him back to lie flat, his complexion had regained some color.<br /> "The Hand of Darkness... It's the Hand of Darkness!" Scott exclaimed with excitement, his body quivering, "It's the Hand that descends into the dark world, snatching people from the hands of the Evil!"<br /> "You do have some knowledge, recognizing the Hand of Darkness." Wesley glanced at Scott.<br /> Scott's gaze towards Wesley had undergone a drastic change. He respectfully clasped his hands together.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thirty years ago, I had the honor of attending a teaching conference held by Mr. Vanderbilt. I saw the Hand of Darkness, but my limited aptitude only allowed me to grasp the basics."<br /> "I have been blind and ignorant. I apologize for my earlier offenses. Please forgive me, Mr. Harrington."<br /> The Mr. Vanderbilt Scott referred to was Wesley's teacher, Ulysses Vanderbilt. He generously imparted his skills to others, but the ability to learn depended on one's innate talent.<br /> In this world, few could learn Ulysses' skills.<br /> Scott had been fortunate to receive guidance from Ulysses, which had elevated his medical skills. However, the Hand of Darkness, a miraculous ability, was beyond his comprehension.<br /> Wesley smiled faintly, "Your actions earlier are understandable. I appreciate your words."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you must be an exceptional disciple of Mr. Vanderbilt, possessing unparalleled magnanimity. Impressive," Scott continued.<br /> "Enough with the flattery at your age."<br /> "You are mistaken, Mr. Harrington. Every word I speak is sincere."<br /> Mia, Amanda, and the others stood bewildered by the unfolding situation.<br /> "Mr. Phillips... he... he..." Amanda's words faltered.<br /> Scott turned to the members of the Kingsley family. "Meeting Mr. Harrington was Quinn's luck. His symptoms have been cured by Mr. Harrington. With a few days of rest, he will be fine."<br /> The waste Taylor had previously said was called Mr. Harrington by Scott!<br /> Recalling their previous attitudes, Amanda hurriedly apologized, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> The members of the Kingsley family all apologized in unison, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> Chapter 7 <br /> With a faint smile, Wesley remarked, "As family members of a patient, your actions earlier are understandable. There's no need for such formality."<br /> Amanda's perplexity deepened as she thought, "Where is the cowardly waste that Taylor described? This display of magnanimity and breadth is far from it."<br /> Mia, too, felt a shiver of realization, thinking, "No wonder Dad has insisted on my proximity to Wesley.<br /> This guy..."<br /> She gazed at Wesley, her curiosity piqued, a sense of exploration stirring within her.<br /> "Mia has brought you here, Mr. Harrington, to cure my grandfather. The Kingsley family will never forget this act. However, considering that my grandfather's ailment stemmed from the health supplements produced by the Vinver Business Alliance, we will be conducting an investigation into it."<br /> Amanda continued, looking at Wesley, "What do you think... of this approach?"<br /> It was Mia who had invited Wesley, so Amanda had grown wiser, refraining from asking for a direct punishment of the Vinver Business Alliance.<br /> As Mia heard Amanda's words, her heart skipped a beat, realizing trouble was brewing.<br /> "On the way here, Ms. Roberts briefed me on the situation. You conducted experiments on mice, correct?"<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes, the health supplements we received were exclusively provided by the Roberts family. There were no similar cases on the market, so we used mice for testing.<br /> "All the mice that ingested this supplement were gone."<br /> She looked at Mia and added, her voice turning colder, "Before the experiment, I specifically contacted Mia to inquire about the testing methods during the development phase, which involved mice.<br /> "There have been individuals eyeing my grandfather's position, some even wishing for his demise. I never imagined that the Vinver Business Alliance, which I attracted for investment, would become a weapon in someone else's hands."<br /> "Do you have any of the remaining medicine?" Wesley inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes."<br /> "Bring some over."<br /> Immediately, someone fetched the medicine. After it was brought to him, Wesley took out a supplement and swallowed it directly.<br /> This scene left Amanda and the others dumbfounded.<br /> Scott, too, was bewildered. "Mr. Harrington, what are you doing?"<br /> Wesley smiled, "Just proving that this medicine is not toxic."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thank you," Mia thanked sincerely, feeling like crying at that moment.<br /> Amanda, with a puzzled expression, looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, are you suggesting that my grandfather's condition wasn't caused by the Vinver Business Alliance's medicine? What about the mice?"<br /> The rest were equally puzzled.<br /> "Yes, but not entirely," Wesley said, leaving everyone even more bewildered.<br /> Mia's emotions were like a rollercoaster ride, from relief to immediate tension.<br /> "This medicine itself is not toxic, but when taken with another substance made from a certain plant, it results in Quinn's condition. The mice would die immediately, while humans could endure a few more days."<br /> Wesley continued to explain, "The plant used in this concoction is originally meant for crafting slow-acting toxins, not for human consumption."<br /> Looking at Amanda, Wesley said, "During this period, whoever had access to your grandfather and the mice will better understand why these events occurred."<br /> The gaze of members of the Kingsley family immediately focused on a lady.<br /> Amanda, somewhat incredulous, looked at her. "Can you offer an explanation?"<br /> The lady was the wife of Amanda's deceased brother. She found it hard to accept, as did the rest of the Kingsley family.<br /> This lady had been named the exemplary lady who served her family well this year, not due to her connection with the Kingsley family but because she genuinely deserved it.<br /> "What do you mean? Amanda, what explanation do you want from me?"<br /> The lady stared at Amanda. "Am I the only one who had access to Grandfather and the mice? You, and you... and you, who didn't have access?"<br /> "You all claim to treat me as family. Since I married into the Kingsley family, I have worked diligently, contributing my share even if not acknowledged."<br /> "Amanda, it has been over a year since your brother passed, and I never once considered remarrying. Now, just because of his words, you demand an explanation from me?"<br /> Pointing at Wesley, the lady questioned, "Just because he accuses me of poisoning, you suspect me? Tell me, did I poison him?" The lady glared at Wesley.<br /> "I am merely analyzing the facts. As for concluding this case, it's not within my purview," Wesley addressed the members of the Kingsley family, saying, "You should conduct a thorough investigation into this matter.<br /> "I will write a prescription. Have Quinn take it on time, and he will recover in seven days."<br /> Amanda hurried to fetch paper and pen while Wesley prepared the prescription. Once done, he was ready to leave.<br /> Amanda said hurriedly, "Mr. Harrington, I've already made arrangements for lunch."<br /> "No need," Wesley smiled.<br /> The Kingsley family sought to build closer ties with Wesley, given his extraordinary medical skills. Wesley was well aware of this.<br /> Looking at Amanda and the others, Wesley remarked, "In the future, if you encounter any difficult medical cases that others cannot solve, seek me out. Remember, cases others cannot solve."<br /> The gaze of the Kingsley family members toward Wesley changed once again. Many renowned healers had eccentric personalities and were difficult to engage.<br /> They hadn't expected Wesley to possess such remarkable medical skills without any airs.<br /> As Wesley prepared to depart, the members of the Kingsley family did not dare to insist on his stay, so they accompanied him outside.<br /> "Oh, how could we forget such an important matter? Amanda, what about the consultation fee?" The middle-aged gent inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the oversight. Please wait a moment." Amanda hurried back inside and soon returned with a bank card in hand.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, there's one million dollars in here."<br /> Without hesitation, Wesley accepted the bank card and boarded Mia's car.<br /> During the journey, Mia boldly looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, you've helped me immensely. Can I treat you to a meal? Don't decline in a hurry. It's not a fancy restaurant, but it will leave you wanting more. It's a small place on the street, with only eight plates of noodles served each day, each plate containing different ingredients.<br /> "I managed to secure a reservation. Are you interested?"<br /> Wesley thought, "Eight Plates of Noodles? Ah, Aaron's restaurant. It has been a while since I visited those old friends."<br /> Wesley nodded. "Let's go then."<br /> The restaurant, Eight Plates of Noodles, was located on Chanxold Street near the Yeadeo First Central Hospital.<br /> The establishment was small, serving only eight plates of noodles each day at a price of 10 thousand dollars each. Vernoic's television culinary program had specifically covered this incident.<br /> Reservations were a must to secure a plate.<br /> The restaurant's owner had a mysterious background. While the specifics were unknown, a high-ranking noble from the capital of Vernoic, Kingsland, had caused a scene there once.<br /> He had attempted to force his way in without a reservation. Although this incident hadn't been reported, rumors suggested that a garbage truck had to be called to dispose of the intruder's remains, as he was too shattered to be removed by conventional means.<br /> Since then, no one dared to cause trouble.<br /> On their way, Mia introduced Wesley to the background story.<br /> "Mr. Turner, two plates of noodles." Mia called out once they arrived.<br /> Aaron Turner didn't respond but visibly paused upon seeing Wesley beside Mia.<br /> A faint smile appeared on his usually stoic face. Though the flesh on the face seemed stiff, it was indeed a smile. "Coming right up."<br /> Mia glanced at Aaron with a hint of surprise, thinking, "When did he become so warm and enthusiastic? His tone seemed a bit agitated earlier, didn't it?"<br /> Soon enough, Aaron brought two plates of noodles to the table. One steaming hot and the other devoid of any warmth.<br /> As Mia observed Aaron placing the plate without steam in front of Wesley, her expression changed slightly.<br /> It was a plate of instant noodles having soaked in cold water, with the seasoning barely dissolved.<br /> She felt a sense of panic. Mia had wanted to leave a good impression on Wesley, which was why she had chosen this place.<br /> However, Aaron had served such a plate of noodles.<br /> She dared not question Aaron. The type of noodles served here was not determined by the guests but by Aaron's mood.<br /> "This girl named Mia is quite something, living up to her name, and quite kind-hearted," Aaron remarked, looking at Wesley.<br /> "Get lost," Wesley retorted, using his fork to pick up the noodles and devouring them.<br /> Mia's face turned pale instantly. Disrespecting Aaron was akin to risking Wesley's life.<br /> To her astonishment, Aaron chuckled, tears welling up in his eyes.<br /> He wiped them away. "Alright, I'll leave you to your meal."<br /> Before departing, he gave Mia a thumbs-up. "Seize the opportunity."<br /> The eight plates of noodles symbolized the eight comrades who had faced life and life-threatening situations together.<br /> Wesley ate voraciously. Initially, they had only one pack of instant noodles to share among the eight of them, forcing them to divide it.<br /> Despite the circumstances, they devoured the noodles joyfully.<br /> Aaron had promised that once they survived, each one would have the most delicious plate of noodles.<br /> However, five of the eight had perished.<br /> Wesley had come dangerously close to life-threatening situations, but managed to cling to life.<br /> For him, the plate of noodles was not food but the bond of friendship that had shielded him from harm.<br /> "Do you... know each other?" Mia couldn't help but ask, her voice low and curious.<br /> "Some things are better left unknown," Wesley replied.<br /> Mia nodded in understanding, falling silent as they continued eating noodles. She couldn't help stealing glances at Wesley throughout the meal.<br /> This gent had piqued her curiosity even more.<br /> "Wesley, I see. No wonder you agreed to the divorce so readily. You've already found someone else outside."<br /> A sharp voice interrupted their meal.<br /> Taylor approached with a cold expression, accompanied by Henry.	Adoread Romance story	8	https://facebook.com/61557113391558	INSTALL_MOBILE_APP	1713250800	View Edit Delete
1666978	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727712	1734958299	695	1114740226315570	1	1.1725969805388E+15	1713337200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	235254296344339	0	Adoread Romance story	120207848352080113	play.google.com	Install now	NONE	video	HOT BOOK✨Tap the button to read more👉		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.adoread.book		1713261153	2.3525429634434E+14	Adoread Romance story	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435725109_1844898732623030_3157260338843817817_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=SPGdM59Gw2gQ7kNvgGuVsBL&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfC8o7QO8YILairRuoPEldXWCEboL-cZn4yx8S7PASRT3g&oe=663A872E	person_profile	0	Adoread Romance story	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436361626_1165126564644142_6486347640026579346_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=M-BReU_Rfd0Q7kNvgHUO20C&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBsZDWeBY9sRhmqYOE2rZEctUSwsRj8wX2fbPG_iZcv_g&oe=663A79A2	0	3	Chapter 1 <br /> "Wesley, are you trying to harm me? You useless piece of trash, can't even make a decent cup of coffee, can you?"<br /> Madison Blair lifted her coffee cup and splashed it directly onto Wesley Harrington's face.<br /> "What are you looking at, you spineless waste? Your name sounds so lofty? I might as well call you a waste."<br /> Glancing at the grotesque expression of his wife's mother, Wesley pulled out his phone to check the time.<br /> Exactly twelve o'clock. It had been five full years since he married Taylor Reed.<br /> The appointed time had come.<br /> He had fulfilled his promise, safeguarding the Reed family for five years, transforming them from a family living off fishing to one perceived as affluent by the common folk.<br /> Wiping the coffee off his face, he turned and walked away.<br /> "Where do you think you're going? Go fetch some more coffee," Madison shouted.<br /> "Madison, didn't you say this waste is obedient at home, doing whatever he's told? I don't think he's taking it lying down."<br /> Madison grew angrier. "Wesley, you stop right there. My family has fed and housed you. If you dare disobey, I'll have you thrown out!"<br /> Ignoring her, Wesley continued downstairs.<br /> "When Taylor comes back, I'll immediately have you two divorced. Do you hear me? Stay right there," Madison threatened, "I'll let you know your place today."<br /> Grabbing a golf club, Madison swiftly charged towards Wesley.<br /> Seeing Wesley heading downstairs, she swung the club viciously at his back.<br /> Without turning back, Wesley gently sidestepped.<br /> Losing her balance, Madison tumbled forward, rolling down the stairs with a series of thumps.<br /> "Ouch... it hurts, it hurts so much!"<br /> As Madison reached the ground floor, she wailed in pain and her sister immediately rushed to her.<br /> "Wesley, what have you done? How dare you hit my sister!" Madison's sister hurried down, checking on Madison's condition.<br /> Wesley remained silent, observing the scene.<br /> "Quick, call Taylor. Tell her to come back. Today, she must divorce this waste." Madison glared at Wesley. "How dare you hit me? Not only will I let Taylor divorce you, but I'll make sure you leave in disgrace."<br /> "Mum, what's wrong?" At that moment, a gent and a lady walked in.<br /> The lady was Taylor, Madison's daughter.<br /> She ran towards Madison.<br /> As Madison pointed at Wesley, tears streamed down her face. "Taylor, he hit me, he hit me! When you're not home, he changes his attitude, scolding and hitting me in the slightest displeasure. He even pushed me down the stairs just now. Alexis can testify."<br /> Madison's sister, Alexis Blair, chimed in. "Yes, Wesley, this trash not only hit your mother but also threatened to hit me too. We cannot tolerate such trash."<br /> "Taylor, I have been telling you to divorce him for years. You've been supporting him, treating him like a Lord at home, but he's an ungrateful wolf in sheep's clothing."<br /> Helping Madison up, Taylor noticed the scrapes on Madison's arms and legs, her expression turning cold.<br /> "Wesley, why did you hit my mother? You better give me an explanation."<br /> Wesley looked at Taylor, his wife.<br /> Five years had passed, and she had never shown him kindness.<br /> Taylor dressed impeccably, a paragon of a successful lady, with a face that could be deemed angelic, yet whether her heart was as angelic remained a mystery.<br /> Her figure, too, left countless men yearning.<br /> For five years, Wesley had thought he might develop feelings for this lady, but in reality, it never happened.<br /> "There are surveillance cameras in the house," Wesley stated calmly before descending the stairs into the hallway.<br /> Despite residing in a three-story villa, Wesley's living quarters were confined to the stairwell.<br /> He harbored no resentment towards this arrangement. It was merely a promise. It was just that Taylor failed to appreciate him.<br /> This home held little value that he wished to cling onto.<br /> Retrieving a wooden box from beneath his pillow, Wesley extracted two documents. Casting a fleeting glance at the modest abode he had called home for five years, Wesley smiled faintly.<br /> He thought, "Finally... I'm free."<br /> Pushing the door ajar, Wesley was met by Taylor's piercing gaze. "I've reviewed the surveillance footage. Yes, my mother intended to strike you, but even if she did, what difference would it make?"<br /> "She's a lady. How much could her blows hurt you? Why did you dodge?"<br /> "If you hadn't dodged, my mother wouldn't have tumbled down." Wesley stared at Taylor, unable to comprehend her thought process.<br /> He had no interest in engaging in these arguments. Handing over the two documents to Taylor, he remarked, "The divorce agreement. I've already signed it. Take a look. I'm leaving with nothing."<br /> "With your current influence, there's no need for you to visit the city hall. Someone will handle it for you, right?"<br /> Madison was taken aback. She swiftly snatched the divorce agreement, flipping through it hastily.<br /> The contents were indeed straightforward. Both parties willingly divorced, with Wesley relinquishing all claims and having already signed.<br /> In an instant, Madison's pain seemed to dissipate. "Taylor, sign it quickly. Sign it."<br /> Taylor was still in a daze.<br /> She pondered.<br /> "A divorce agreement? Wesley has already prepared a divorce agreement. On what grounds?"<br /> "What gives him the right to initiate a divorce? All these years, he's done nothing at home, lacking any ambition. Always practicing martial arts, what right does he have to seek a divorce?"<br /> "If anyone should initiate it, it should be me. Moreover, now that I'm back to discussing this matter with him. Could it be that word got out, and Wesley, for the sake of his pride, rushed to prepare a divorce agreement first?"<br /> "It must be so, but... No!"<br /> "Wanting to leave with nothing, is he retreating to advance? As the chairman of the Reed Group, how could I be served with a divorce?"<br /> "Hey Wesley, I never expected this from you. Have I not treated you well enough? You seek a divorce, attempting to turn your retreat into advance, aiming to embarrass me?"<br /> Taylor glared at Wesley. "I'm telling you, it's impossible."<br /> Snatching the divorce agreement, she tore it to shreds.<br /> "Taylor, what are you doing? Such a great opportunity. Why not just sign it and let him leave?" Madison grew anxious.<br /> "Mom, I do intend to divorce this trash, but the decision must come from me. I returned specifically to address this matter."<br /> With that, Taylor produced two documents. "Wesley, remember that it's me who's divorcing you. It's me who no longer wants you. Initially, out of marital obligation, I had considered offering you some compensation. Now, you don't even need to think about it. Sign the divorce agreement and leave my home."<br /> Wesley offered a faint smile as he accepted the divorce agreement.<br /> "What are you laughing at?" Taylor demanded angrily.<br /> Wesley's smile seemed to mock her, fueling her rage.<br /> Ignoring her entirely, Wesley signed the document and handed it over.<br /> "What are you laughing at? Answer me! Who do you think you are?" Taylor roared once more.<br /> Wesley glanced at her before striding towards the exit.<br /> "Stop!" The gent who had accompanied Taylor stepped forward, blocking Wesley's path. "Taylor asked you a question, and... Your previous attitude displeased me. Apologize to Taylor, or I'll have you leave in disgrace!"<br /> <br /> Chapter 2 <br /> "Yes, let him leave in disgrace. He thought he could just hit me and walk away so easily," Madison joined in the commotion, also noticing the gent blocking Wesley's path.<br /> Madison had a keen interest in luxury goods, having frequented various high-end establishments over the years as the Reed family's living conditions improved. The gent was wearing an expensive watch and dressed head to toe in high-end luxury brands.<br /> Seeing Madison's gaze, the gent spoke. "Rest assured, today Wesley must pay the price."<br /> The gent introduced himself, looking at Wesley, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Henry Clark, the eldest son of the Clark family and the general manager of the Clark Group in the North District."<br /> "From now on, I will accompany Taylor on her journey of life, and I will not allow anyone to bully her."<br /> "My identity carries weight. You should understand that. Now, apologize to Taylor. Apologize! Did you hear me? Apologize!"<br /> Madison's eyes lit up. She hadn't expected the gent before her to hold such a high status. She continued to shout, "Did you hear that? Taylor will be with Mr. Clark from now on. Apologize now."<br /> Wesley glanced at Henry, then at Taylor. He thought, "Have they been together all along?" Wesley had wanted to ask but decided against it because there was no need. He simply gave them a glance and continued walking towards the exit.<br /> "Are you ignoring me?" Henry's face turned cold as he reached out to grab Wesley. Henry's hand froze mid-air as he received a solid hit.<br /> "Until I sign the divorce papers, Taylor and I are still wife and husband. I don't care to investigate whether you two had any intimate relationship during that time, but don't provoke me, or I won't hesitate to make you regret it." Wesley's gaze was icy, and as Henry met his eyes, he felt a twinge of fear and swallowed his words.<br /> Taylor was also stunned. She knew exactly what Wesley had been like over the past five years. There were many surveillance cameras in the house, and she would often check them.<br /> Even when Taylor wasn't home, despite how her family treated Wesley, he always obeyed without complaint, especially towards her. He had never raised his voice, no matter how they treated him.<br /> Today, not only did Wesley dodge when her mother struck, but he also initiated the divorce and now even struck Henry. <br /> Taylor was at a loss for words, thinking, "How could this cowardly gent dare? On what grounds does he dare?"<br /> This change was difficult for Taylor to accept as if she didn't truly understand this guy. The gent who used to be obedient to her, completely submissive, now revealed this side of himself. She watched Wesley walk away in a daze, feeling a strange discomfort in her heart.<br /> "Isn't he leaving with nothing?" Alexis pointed at the wooden box Wesley was holding. "What is he taking with him?"<br /> Madison also realized. Over the past five years, Wesley had always treasured this wooden box, carrying it with him wherever he went. She thought there must be something valuable inside.<br /> Realizing this, Madison hurriedly followed. "Wesley, stop right there, leave the wooden box."<br /> Wesley paused, glanced at Madison, and said, "This is my personal belonging."<br /> "Nonsense, what personal belonging could you possibly have after marrying into the Reed family? Everything you've eaten, worn, and lived in over the years has been provided by the Reed family. Put it down."<br /> As she spoke, Madison reached out to grab the wooden box.<br /> "Ah..." A scream rang out as Madison quickly retracted her hand, a gash appearing on her palm, a crimson liquid dripping.<br /> The wooden box was now stained with the same crimson liquid, trembling lightly in Wesley's hand.<br /> "It's not the right time yet, the day you thirst for this crimson liquid will come," Wesley murmured softly, patting the box before turning to continue his stride towards the exit.<br /> "Monster! A monster!" Madison screamed, causing Taylor and the others to rush out. Seeing the wound in Madison's hand, Taylor was filled with rage.<br /> "Wesley, aren't you going to say something?" Wesley halted once more, contemplating before meeting Taylor's gaze.<br /> "Just stay out of my way from now on. Consider this a warning to you."<br /> "Taylor, that wooden box of his has a mechanism. It must hold something valuable! We can't let him take it with him," Madison, enduring the pain, reminded them.<br /> "Mom, your injury is important. We'll deal with him later. Let me take you to the hospital first." Taylor comforted Madison before calling out to the retreating Wesley.<br /> "Our marriage is over! Yet, you dared to hurt my mother! This won't be the end of it! I will make you regret it!" Ignoring her, Wesley continued walking out.<br /> "Rest assured, I promise he won't see the light of day tomorrow." Henry stepped forward to console. "Let's focus on getting your wound treated first."<br /> "I want him to regret ever existing in this world, to apologize to me in repentance," Madison roared.<br /> "Mom, trust me, I will make him do just that." Taylor looked at Madison with a mix of pity and determination. "Let's go to the hospital first."<br /> In the villa area, Wesley halted, his voice cold. "Get out."<br /> An elderly gent leaped down from a tree, appearing to be in his seventies, yet landing silently from a height of around ten feet.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, your father wants you to come home and take charge."<br /> "He stopped being my father five years ago. He's my enemy."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you misunderstood your father. He had his reasons back then. I swear in my life, once you know the truth, you will forgive him."<br /> "Huh!" Wesley smirked coldly, saying, "I nearly passed away back then. Is that also a misunderstanding?"<br /> The old gent pleaded, "Mr. Harrington, this situation is truly not as you perceive it."<br /> Wesley didn't engage further with the old guy. The events of that year were etched in his memory forever. He was the one who had been abandoned. If not for that incident, why would he have stayed with the Reed family for five years?<br /> Watching Wesley walk away, the old gent had tears silently streaming down his face. "Mr. Harrington, I truly... I truly can't bring myself to speak the truth, but you have misunderstood your father. He also bears burdens and endures pains beyond what an ordinary person can handle."<br /> As Wesley's figure disappeared, the old gent stood up, hesitated for a moment, then dialed a number on his phone.<br /> "Mr. Harrington is now divorced. I've given you the news firsthand. If your daughter is truly together with Mr. Harrington, you must fulfill the promise and let her persuade Mr. Harrington to come home."<br /> After hanging up, a middle-aged gent in a luxurious estate jumped up excitedly. Calming himself, he immediately made another call. "My dear, you're at Yeadeo, right?<br /> "Go find Wesley now. Don't mention the engagement for now. Use every means to get close to him, make him fall in love with you."<br /> "Dad, I don't have time."<br /> "No matter what you are busy with, you must go find Wesley now. No matter what reason you approach him, you must leave a good impression the first time."<br /> "Dad, I'm in trouble right now. If I don't handle it well, I might be good as gone. I have to deal with it immediately. I'm hanging up."<br /> Chapter 3 <br /> The middle-aged gent's voice lowered significantly. "Is there a big incident happening? You didn't tell me? What happened?"<br /> "Quinn Kingsley from Yeadeo, Mr. Kingsley, used our product and now has one foot on the grave. If something really happens to him..."<br /> "You mean Quinn, the uncontested leader of Yeadeo?"<br /> "Yes."<br /> "In that case, you should go find Wesley. Trust me, in this world, there is no problem that Wesley can't solve. As long as he's willing to help, you'll be fine. Listen to me, go find Wesley immediately."<br /> The lady fell silent for a moment before saying, "Okay."<br /> At Yeadeo Harbor, a gent with a large flaxen chain and a watch, sporting a crew cut, hurriedly disembarked, accompanied by a dozen gentlemen.<br /> "Mr. Reed, wherever that trash is, we will find him and tear him apart."<br /> "Yes, that guy dared to harm your mother. We'll make sure he pays for it."<br /> Frank Reed's face turned cold. "Wesley, you coward, thinking you can overturn the world? How dare you touch my mom? Just wait until I find you, you're finished."<br /> "We've found him. Wesley got into a taxi, and our boys followed him."<br /> "Let's go!" Frank waved his hand, leading dozens of men who boarded the car with harpoons, steel pipes, and other weapons.<br /> Inside the taxi, Wesley gazed at the scenery outside, feeling a strange sense of tranquility.<br /> He thought to himself, "I never imagined that while I was secretly paving the way for the Reed family, Taylor, after progressing so rapidly, would start looking down on me more and more."<br /> "Those ladies who know my true identity, which one of them isn't trying to throw themselves at me? Ladies like that don't interest me."<br /> "Being an ordinary gent is truly difficult," Wesley murmured, smiling faintly and deciding not to dwell on these matters anymore. He had important things to attend to and no time to waste on personal affairs.<br /> "Young lad, are you going to Feidgeuo Manor for a job interview?" The driver, curious about Wesley's destination, inquired.<br /> Feidgeuo Manor was Yeadeo's most mysterious private area. Originally a villa area, it was bought at a huge cost five years ago and completely renovated. It was said to have cost a trillion dollars. The former villa area was now Feidgeuo Manor.<br /> "That's my home," Wesley replied nonchalantly.<br /> The driver was taken aback by this revelation, silently cursing Wesley for bragging. After a couple of minutes, the driver regained his composure. "It seems like you and I both prefer to keep a low profile. My car usually gathers dust at home, so I occasionally drive a taxi to experience life."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "My car has been driven by my assistant for the past few years, so it's not gathering dust."<br /> "Haha..." The driver laughed. "We should get together sometime and see whose car is more impressive."<br /> "Sure, whenever we have the time."<br /> As they chatted, the vehicle soon arrived near Feidgeuo Manor, where the massive head of the Feidgeuo Peak protruded, creating a unique landscape in Yeadeo.<br /> The driver asked with a smile, "Since you're the owner here, it's fine if I drive in, right?"<br /> "Of course," Wesley replied.<br /> As soon as Wesley spoke, several cars caught up from behind.<br /> The cars surrounded the one Wesley was in, with the front vehicles braking to force the car to a stop.<br /> When numerous people descended from cars wielding harpoons and steel pipes, the driver's face paled.<br /> Frank and his group got out of the cars, instantly closing in, and without hesitation, started attacking, the steel pipes and harpoons thudding against the car.<br /> Frank's henchman yanked open the door of Wesley's car, poised to stab Wesley with a harpoon, but Wesley swiftly exited the vehicle.<br /> With a firm step on the ground, he launched a swift hit.<br /> A muffled sound echoed as the henchman was hit away.<br /> "What are you looking at?" Frank noticed his henchmen were all staring at him. "All of you, attack together and take him down!"<br /> As he commanded, the henchmen Frank brought with him surged forward.<br /> The taxi driver, trembling, took out his phone to call the police, but Frank glared at him. "I am Frank Reed from Yeadeo Harbor. If you dare, go ahead and make that call."<br /> Frank, leveraging his sister Taylor's status, had been causing trouble in Yeadeo Harbor, and no one dared to provoke him.<br /> Upon hearing Frank's name, the driver hastily put away his phone. "Mr. Reed, I'll just check the time, you guys continue."<br /> "Huh!" Frank snorted coldly, casting his gaze towards the surrounded Wesley.<br /> The sounds of thuds continued to ring out incessantly. Because Wesley was completely surrounded, Frank was unable to see the situation inside clearly, but he could imagine it. After all, in Frank's mind, the henchmen under his command were not to be trifled with.<br /> "Hit him hard for me!"<br /> Another muffled sound and a figure flew out. At that moment, Frank finally saw the situation clearly, and his face turned pale.<br /> Frank knew that Wesley liked to practice martial arts, but he had never expected Wesley to be this skilled. It wasn't Wesley who had been beaten, but his own men by Wesley alone.<br /> Frantically, Frank turned and ran to retrieve a crossbow from the car.<br /> "Clear the way." Frank bellowed, aiming the crossbow at Wesley.<br /> "You scumbag, you think you can fight? Move one more time, and I'll end your life! Surrender!"<br /> Wesley, holding a wooden box, stared at Frank. Ignoring the crossbow in his hand, Wesley said, "Tell your henchmen to back off, or you'll all see the light from above!"<br /> "You're really good at pretending to be tough." Frank took two steps forward. "See the light? Move a muscle and see if I can end your life or not! If you don't have the guts, apologize now!"<br /> Wesley turned his head and looked at the approaching cars, with two expensive ones in the lead, two more in the rear, and another one in the middle.<br /> "Keep acting tough, and I'll put a hole in your head." Frank spoke while glancing at the five cars. "What, looking for help?"<br /> "Let me tell you, those who ride in these cars are not the kind of weaklings like you who rely on connections. With me here, in Yeadeo's social hierarchy, even those who ride in such cars wouldn't dare meddle in this matter. And let me make it clear, without my sister, you're nothing."<br /> <br /> Chapter 4<br /> As Frank's words faded, the five cars came to a halt.<br /> A bodyguard opened the door of the one in the middle, revealing a dazzling pair of shining shoes catching everyone's eye.<br /> The shining shoe encased a beautiful foot. Above, the skirt's hem was adorned with lace.<br /> Then, like a fairy stepping out of a painting, she appeared before everyone's eyes.<br /> The lady was beautiful!<br /> Frank was mesmerized. Ever since the Reed family rose to prominence, he had been surrounded by ladies, but compared to the elegant lady before him, they were worlds apart.<br /> It wasn't just a difference in appearance but an incomparable gap in demeanor.<br /> The lady descending from the Maybach seemed like a celestial being untouched by mortal affairs.<br /> The embodiment of a fairy in the mundane world.<br /> She simply stood there after getting out of the car, perfectly embodying what it meant to be graceful and elegant.<br /> The lady glanced at Wesley, then at Frank.<br /> Frank grinned, saying, "May I have the honor of knowing the name of this esteemed lady? I am Frank..."<br /> The lady spoke calmly. "Disrespect Mr. Harrington, and you're done for."<br /> Her bodyguards, unfazed by Frank's crossbow, swiftly overwhelmed him, sending him crashing to the ground.<br /> The henchmen who had come with Frank, previously defeated by Wesley, now scrambled to their feet and fled in all directions.<br /> Who would dare provoke someone who could afford such a car?<br /> "My sister is Taylor Reed, the chairperson of Reed Group," Frank shouted, clutching his head.<br /> Ignoring him, one of the bodyguards dragged him to the roadside grass while another used a belt to tighten around Frank's neck, exerting pressure.<br /> "Enough, a lesson is all that's needed." Wesley spoke calmly, and only when the lady gestured did the bodyguards release Frank.<br /> Frank lay there, already unconscious.<br /> Wesley turned to the lady. "Who are you?"<br /> "I am Mia Roberts, the general manager of Vinver Business Alliance's Yeadeo branch." She looked at Wesley and continued, "Mr. Harrington, my father mentioned that you have miraculous healing skills and earnestly requested your assistance. A generous reward awaits."<br /> Wesley furrowed his brow slightly, thinking, "There are indeed people who recognize my abilities and status, yet I've rarely intervened in the past five years. Today, shortly after I divorced Taylor, she is here. Whose arrangement is this?"<br /> "Mr. Harrington, my father also mentioned that you are benevolent and has raised the banner of compassion among healers, serving as a role model and benchmark for all in the medical field."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "You have a way with words. Tell me the specifics."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, please get in the car first. I will explain in detail on the way."<br /> The phrase "compassionate healer" held significant weight for Wesley, who had saved countless lives from the brink of death.<br /> Without further ado, he got into the car.<br /> Inside, after Mia brewed coffee for Wesley, she began. "Vinver Business Alliance has a wide range of business operations, and I mainly oversee the health supplement sector, which has seen some success in recent years.<br /> "Recently, Quinn Kingsley started using our medicines, and now there's an accident."<br /> As she spoke, Mia kept her gaze fixed on Wesley.<br /> Quinn, the undisputed leader of Yeadeo, was a figure of immense influence.<br /> Upon hearing this name, Wesley showed no particular reaction. "If the city's leader faces issues with your products, it is indeed a concern. Let's go and see."<br /> With just a sentence, Wesley leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest.<br /> Mia was secretly alarmed, thinking, "He knows who Quinn is, yet he seems indifferent. Who is this Wesley, really? No wonder Dad has instructed me to find a way to win his favor." Mia's inner resistance toward Wesley quietly shifted.<br /> Wesley had piqued her curiosity.<br /> As the vehicle was moving, Wesley's phone rang.<br /> Wesley opened his eyes and took out his phone to see Taylor calling.<br /> Pressing the answer button, he asked, "What's the matter?"<br /> On the other end of the line, Taylor, driving towards Feidgeuo Manor, had a grim expression.<br /> She thought, "Has Wesley ever spoken to me in such a cold tone before? Is he really this heartless right after our divorce?"<br /> Already furious, she snapped. "Wesley, do you even consider yourself a human being?<br /> "Today, not only did you lay hands on my mother, but you also had someone attack my brother. Do you not remember our past at all?"<br /> Wesley calmly replied, "Do we have a past to remember?"<br /> "You truly are a heartless scumbag, just as my mother said. You are an ungrateful and vicious person I raised for five years. Even a pet would wag its tail at me!"<br /> Taylor wanted to continue her tirade, but the phone line had already turned busy.<br /> This only fueled her anger further.<br /> Just now, she had received a call from Frank's underlings, informing her that Wesley had sent people to attack Frank and even intended to end him.<br /> Taylor wanted to demand answers, but...<br /> As Taylor was clutching her fists, her gaze turned icy.<br /> After a moment, she picked up her phone again. "Wesley, you are so narrow-minded. You have no ambition. Any lady would steer clear of you."<br /> "Just because I dumped you, you are doing this on purpose to make me feel sick. Pretending to be aloof and seeking revenge? Do you even deserve it?"<br /> "In Yeadeo, squashing you would be as easy as squashing an ant. You're asking for it! If anything happens to my brother, I will make you wish you were ending!"<br /> Her furious voice message echoed in the car.<br /> Wesley chuckled and put away his phone.<br /> Beside him, Mia seemed contemplative. Before coming, she had already ordered a swift investigation into Wesley.<br /> She was curious, thinking, "How could someone valued by my father could be the one 'marrying into' the Reed family."<br /> Being tactful, Mia chose not to ask and pretended not to have heard.<br /> After about forty minutes, they arrived at the Kingsley Manor.<br /> The Kingsley family members, upon seeing Mia alight from the car, all wore grim expressions.<br /> Mia greeted them with a smile, "Everyone, this is Wesley Harrington, Mr. Harrington, the miraculous healer I specially invited to treat Mr. Kingsley."<br /> "Him? The gent who married into the Reed family?"<br /> "A miraculous healer? Is he even worthy? Are healers so worthless now?"<br /> "A useless gent who mooches off of the Reed family? How dare he call himself a miraculous healer? Truly a joke among all jokes."<br /> Chapter 5<br /> <br /> Amanda Kingsley, Quinn's granddaughter, stared coldly at Wesley and Mia.<br /> This lady, dressed in a smart suit, also held significant fame in Yeadeo, overseeing the region's business activities, including investment attraction and various local business negotiations.<br /> Amanda had a favorable view of Taylor, who had risen swiftly in recent times, and they had interacted frequently.<br /> She was aware of Wesley's existence and had advised Taylor to part ways with him early on.<br /> But Amanda never imagined that Mia would bring someone like Wesley, a complete waste, and claim he was a miraculous healer.<br /> Glaring at Mia, she said, "Mia, once my grandfather is well, it's best for your Roberts family to leave Yeadeo."<br /> "As for you..." She glanced at Wesley. "I will advise Taylor to divorce you. You have deceived Taylor's feelings and now shamelessly made your way into my family. You are a despicable creature."<br /> After reprimanding Mia and Wesley, she turned to an elderly gent beside her, and her tone and attitude completely changed. "Mr. Phillips, sorry to trouble you. My grandfather is inside, please."<br /> Mia looked at the elderly gent, who was already in his twilight years, feeling deeply shocked.<br /> Scott Phillips, the 38th generation heir of the Healing Clinic, was now ninety-two years old.<br /> Renowned as a miraculous healer, he was a respected figure in the medical community of Yeadeo and even nationally.<br /> He no longer conducted consultations personally due to his old age. Mia had visited him specifically to pay her respects once she had arrived in Yeadeo but had not met Scott.<br /> She never expected Scott to appear in person. It was understandable, as Quinn held a prominent position in the city. Despite the profound influence of the Phillips family, they still had to show respect to Quinn.<br /> Mia looked at Wesley, feeling conflicted and thinking, "Dad has confidently claimed that Wesley has extraordinary abilities, but does he really?"<br /> She harbored doubts, but out of propriety, Mia spoke. "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the trouble."<br /> Wesley smiled, "It's fine. As long as the person can be healed."<br /> His open-mindedness impressed Mia.<br /> After about half an hour, Amanda emerged from the room. All eyes instantly turned towards her.<br /> It was evident that Amanda had wailed out, with traces of tears still visible.<br /> "Amanda, how is it?" A middle-aged gent anxiously asked her.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family who had rushed back also focused their attention on her.<br /> "Mr. Phillips said that there's little hope of recovery. He could only use acupuncture to wake grandfather for half an hour. When grandfather wakes up, let's all go in and see if he has any final instructions."<br /> Everyone was shocked.<br /> "How could this be?"<br /> "Is Mr. Phillips also helpless?"<br /> The members of the Kingsley family found it hard to accept this reality, especially since Quinn had always treated his juniors well.<br /> The thought of Quinn departing saddened some, and tears silently fell.<br /> Publicly, Quinn's status was the foundation of the Kingsley family's prominence in Yeadeo.<br /> If Quinn were to pass away, the Kingsley family would undoubtedly decline.<br /> The atmosphere within the Kingsley family was somber.<br /> Amanda looked at her family members, opened her mouth, but said nothing, silently turning back into the room.<br /> "Stop crying," A middle-aged gent said sternly, "Dad wouldn't want to see you all in tears. If he's really leaving, we mustn't let him worry about us. Pull yourselves together."<br /> After these words, the middle-aged gent also entered the room.<br /> The younger members of the Kingsley family wiped their tears vigorously, trying to force smiles, but in truth, they looked better at crying than pretending to be happy.<br /> Mia's spirit plummeted as she realized the gravity of the situation. Even if an ordinary person passed away from consuming health supplements, it spelled big trouble for those who sold them. And when the deceased happened to be Quinn, the stakes were even higher.<br /> She understood that it would be difficult for this branch to stay in Yeadeo, and even the headquarters might face repercussions.<br /> "Let's go in and have a look." Wesley glanced at Mia. "There might still be a chance."<br /> "Ah..." Mia stared at Wesley in surprise. Seeing him already heading towards the room, she quickly followed suit.<br /> Inside the room, the members of the Kingsley family stood around the mattress, maintaining a certain distance.<br /> Scott lit the alcohol lamp and took out the needles, his expression solemn.<br /> He looked at the members of the Kingsley family. "Think about what you want to say to Mr. Kingsley later. Once you're ready, let me know, and then I'll proceed with the acupuncture."<br /> As he said this, tears welled up in many eyes.<br /> "If you don't mind, let me take a look. I have a way." Wesley spoke up, drawing everyone's attention.<br /> Amanda's face darkened. "Who let you in? Get out!"<br /> "Mia, have you lost your mind? Tricked by this trash and actually brought him here as a miracle healer. Get out with him! I'll settle the score with you in a couple of days."<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, at a loss for words.<br /> "Even Mr. Phillips is unable to reverse the situation. What use are you? Get out." Another younger member of the Kingsley family angrily rebuked.<br /> The middle-aged gent added, "We're in no mood right now. You better leave immediately."<br /> "I understand your narrow-mindedness," Wesley continued, "But as a healer, once I see a patient, I cannot stand by and watch him draw his last breath."<br /> "Wesley, you're quite the charlatan. Do you really want to be gone right now?" Amanda's voice was filled with anger.<br /> "Amanda, let me say a few words," Scott interjected, and Amanda fell silent.<br /> Looking at Wesley, Scott began. "Young lad, at my age, I've seen a lot and have a broad perspective. Today, however, I find it hard to remain indifferent. I practiced medicine from the age of sixteen until I stopped seeing patients for a total of seventy years."<br /> "I've saved countless patients from various illnesses. I never easily declare a patient's fate, nor do I believe I have the right to do so."<br /> "But from your recent remarks, it seems like you're accusing me of such actions. Young people wanting to make a name for themselves by stepping on the shoulders of their predecessors, I can understand."<br /> "But this kind of behavior displeases me."<br /> "My displeasure, what does it mean to you? Do you understand?"<br /> "Even if you are a healer, your career will be ruined because of this."<br /> Chapter 6 <br /> In the face of Scott's veiled threats, Wesley simply smiled and brushed them off.<br /> Looking at Scott, he asked, "I've always focused on the issue at hand rather than attacking individuals. I have a few questions for you. If you can't administer the needles, how long do you think Quinn can hold on?"<br /> "Seven days, but he will remain unconscious," Scott replied bluntly.<br /> "Then let me ask you this, is there anyone in the world with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "Outrageous," Amanda coldly interjected, "Mr. Phillips is unparalleled in his medical expertise."<br /> Scott glanced at Amanda. "Amanda, let me handle this question."<br /> Continuing to address Wesley, he said, "I don't underestimate myself, nor do I overestimate. There are countless talented individuals in the world, like stars in the sky. I may not dare claim to be the best in medical skills, but those who surpass me are few."<br /> "That means there are some," Wesley calmly remarked, causing Scott's expression to shift slightly, "Indeed, there are."<br /> "Then let me ask you this. Do you think within seven days, the Kingsley family won't find someone with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "If they do find someone, do you believe there is an illness that you cannot cure, but this person can?"<br /> Wesley's questions were sharp and resounding.<br /> Scott's face changed once more as he was rendered speechless.<br /> "Even if there is, that person will never be you." Amanda's face turned icy. "Now get out. Don't spout your eloquence here. Your deceitful behavior is repulsive."<br /> "Your understanding of me is merely hearsay, isn't it?" Wesley retorted, his gaze mocking Amanda, "Has your background and education taught you such arrogance and prejudice?"<br /> "Arrogance?" Amanda's face grew colder as she disdainfully looked at Wesley. "Prejudice?<br /> "Did I say something wrong just now? You are nothing but stagnant waste, a parasite living off others. If it weren't for Taylor, you would have starved on the streets long ago."<br /> "Relying on sweet words, deceiving Taylor. She, with her kind heart, can't bear to divorce you, but don't push your luck. If it weren't for Taylor's sake, you would have been sent out long ago."<br /> Scott interrupted Amanda, "Amanda, although I find this lad a bit annoying, what he said does hold some truth. There are indeed individuals with better medical skills than me. Your grandfather can hold on for seven days. Try reaching out to see if someone can come over. I'll help you make connections."<br /> "If it really doesn't work out after seven days, I'll administer the needles to your grandfather. However, at that point, I can only buy you three minutes."<br /> As soon as Scott spoke, the faces of the Kingsley family members grew even more solemn. True healers were rare and not easily summoned.<br /> While the Kingsley family had connections in Yeadeo, their influence waned outside of it.<br /> "Mr. Phillips, please administer the needles. Life has its ups and downs, and we understand that. Just buy my father a bit more time." The middle-aged gent spoke up.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family nodded in agreement.<br /> Amanda looked at Scott. "Mr. Phillips, please."<br /> "In that case, please have everyone unrelated leave. I need silence," Scott calmly stated.<br /> Amanda glared at Wesley, her eyes speaking volumes without a word.<br /> The unrelated individuals were, naturally, Wesley and Mia.<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, intending to leave, but she suddenly hesitated.<br /> Instead of leaving, Wesley moved forward.<br /> "What are you doing?" A young member of the Kingsley family stepped forward with a stern expression, pushing Wesley.<br /> In one swift motion, Wesley executed a clean shoulder throw, toppling the young gent to the ground, his own expression turning cold.<br /> "A bunch of fools! If it weren't for my teacher's teachings about not turning a blind eye to those in need, I wouldn't bother with you ignorant lot," Wesley remarked with disdain.<br /> As Wesley effortlessly took down one individual from the Kingsley family, the others seemed slow to react.<br /> By the time they realized what was happening, Wesley had already picked up the needle next to Scott and casually flicked his wrist.<br /> The needle flew out of his hand, piercing Quinn's temple, followed by a second needle, a third needle, and so on.<br /> "What are you doing? Stop!" Amanda's voice rose in urgency, echoed by the rest of the Kingsley family members who rushed forward to restrain Wesley.<br /> "Stay back, everyone. Wait." Scott suddenly stood up, blocking the others. "Let him try."<br /> Amanda and the others were left dumbfounded, thinking, "What does this mean?"<br /> Despite their confusion, they heeded Scott's words.<br /> After Scott stopped the members of the Kingsley family, he fixed his gaze on Wesley.<br /> Wesley proceeded to use eighteen needles in succession, symbolizing the levels of pain.<br /> Even if someone had descended into the depths of hell, they must be brought back.<br /> The final needle, also piercing a vital point, caused Quinn's body to tremble suddenly, resonating with the previous eighteen needles.<br /> Scott's eyes widened, his body trembling slightly. His reaction left Amanda and the others even more puzzled, but none dared to interrupt.<br /> Moments later, Wesley placed a palm on Quinn's chest, causing all eighteen needles to be shaken off. When all the needles landed on the ground, the part of the skin where the needles had pierced turned dark.<br /> Wesley then dragged Quinn to the edge of the mattress, flipped him over with his head facing downwards, and gave him a firm pat on the back.<br /> Quinn spat out a mouthful of black liquid. When Wesley flipped him back to lie flat, his complexion had regained some color.<br /> "The Hand of Darkness... It's the Hand of Darkness!" Scott exclaimed with excitement, his body quivering, "It's the Hand that descends into the dark world, snatching people from the hands of the Evil!"<br /> "You do have some knowledge, recognizing the Hand of Darkness." Wesley glanced at Scott.<br /> Scott's gaze towards Wesley had undergone a drastic change. He respectfully clasped his hands together.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thirty years ago, I had the honor of attending a teaching conference held by Mr. Vanderbilt. I saw the Hand of Darkness, but my limited aptitude only allowed me to grasp the basics."<br /> "I have been blind and ignorant. I apologize for my earlier offenses. Please forgive me, Mr. Harrington."<br /> The Mr. Vanderbilt Scott referred to was Wesley's teacher, Ulysses Vanderbilt. He generously imparted his skills to others, but the ability to learn depended on one's innate talent.<br /> In this world, few could learn Ulysses' skills.<br /> Scott had been fortunate to receive guidance from Ulysses, which had elevated his medical skills. However, the Hand of Darkness, a miraculous ability, was beyond his comprehension.<br /> Wesley smiled faintly, "Your actions earlier are understandable. I appreciate your words."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you must be an exceptional disciple of Mr. Vanderbilt, possessing unparalleled magnanimity. Impressive," Scott continued.<br /> "Enough with the flattery at your age."<br /> "You are mistaken, Mr. Harrington. Every word I speak is sincere."<br /> Mia, Amanda, and the others stood bewildered by the unfolding situation.<br /> "Mr. Phillips... he... he..." Amanda's words faltered.<br /> Scott turned to the members of the Kingsley family. "Meeting Mr. Harrington was Quinn's luck. His symptoms have been cured by Mr. Harrington. With a few days of rest, he will be fine."<br /> The waste Taylor had previously said was called Mr. Harrington by Scott!<br /> Recalling their previous attitudes, Amanda hurriedly apologized, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> The members of the Kingsley family all apologized in unison, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> Chapter 7 <br /> With a faint smile, Wesley remarked, "As family members of a patient, your actions earlier are understandable. There's no need for such formality."<br /> Amanda's perplexity deepened as she thought, "Where is the cowardly waste that Taylor described? This display of magnanimity and breadth is far from it."<br /> Mia, too, felt a shiver of realization, thinking, "No wonder Dad has insisted on my proximity to Wesley.<br /> This guy..."<br /> She gazed at Wesley, her curiosity piqued, a sense of exploration stirring within her.<br /> "Mia has brought you here, Mr. Harrington, to cure my grandfather. The Kingsley family will never forget this act. However, considering that my grandfather's ailment stemmed from the health supplements produced by the Vinver Business Alliance, we will be conducting an investigation into it."<br /> Amanda continued, looking at Wesley, "What do you think... of this approach?"<br /> It was Mia who had invited Wesley, so Amanda had grown wiser, refraining from asking for a direct punishment of the Vinver Business Alliance.<br /> As Mia heard Amanda's words, her heart skipped a beat, realizing trouble was brewing.<br /> "On the way here, Ms. Roberts briefed me on the situation. You conducted experiments on mice, correct?"<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes, the health supplements we received were exclusively provided by the Roberts family. There were no similar cases on the market, so we used mice for testing.<br /> "All the mice that ingested this supplement were gone."<br /> She looked at Mia and added, her voice turning colder, "Before the experiment, I specifically contacted Mia to inquire about the testing methods during the development phase, which involved mice.<br /> "There have been individuals eyeing my grandfather's position, some even wishing for his demise. I never imagined that the Vinver Business Alliance, which I attracted for investment, would become a weapon in someone else's hands."<br /> "Do you have any of the remaining medicine?" Wesley inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes."<br /> "Bring some over."<br /> Immediately, someone fetched the medicine. After it was brought to him, Wesley took out a supplement and swallowed it directly.<br /> This scene left Amanda and the others dumbfounded.<br /> Scott, too, was bewildered. "Mr. Harrington, what are you doing?"<br /> Wesley smiled, "Just proving that this medicine is not toxic."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thank you," Mia thanked sincerely, feeling like crying at that moment.<br /> Amanda, with a puzzled expression, looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, are you suggesting that my grandfather's condition wasn't caused by the Vinver Business Alliance's medicine? What about the mice?"<br /> The rest were equally puzzled.<br /> "Yes, but not entirely," Wesley said, leaving everyone even more bewildered.<br /> Mia's emotions were like a rollercoaster ride, from relief to immediate tension.<br /> "This medicine itself is not toxic, but when taken with another substance made from a certain plant, it results in Quinn's condition. The mice would die immediately, while humans could endure a few more days."<br /> Wesley continued to explain, "The plant used in this concoction is originally meant for crafting slow-acting toxins, not for human consumption."<br /> Looking at Amanda, Wesley said, "During this period, whoever had access to your grandfather and the mice will better understand why these events occurred."<br /> The gaze of members of the Kingsley family immediately focused on a lady.<br /> Amanda, somewhat incredulous, looked at her. "Can you offer an explanation?"<br /> The lady was the wife of Amanda's deceased brother. She found it hard to accept, as did the rest of the Kingsley family.<br /> This lady had been named the exemplary lady who served her family well this year, not due to her connection with the Kingsley family but because she genuinely deserved it.<br /> "What do you mean? Amanda, what explanation do you want from me?"<br /> The lady stared at Amanda. "Am I the only one who had access to Grandfather and the mice? You, and you... and you, who didn't have access?"<br /> "You all claim to treat me as family. Since I married into the Kingsley family, I have worked diligently, contributing my share even if not acknowledged."<br /> "Amanda, it has been over a year since your brother passed, and I never once considered remarrying. Now, just because of his words, you demand an explanation from me?"<br /> Pointing at Wesley, the lady questioned, "Just because he accuses me of poisoning, you suspect me? Tell me, did I poison him?" The lady glared at Wesley.<br /> "I am merely analyzing the facts. As for concluding this case, it's not within my purview," Wesley addressed the members of the Kingsley family, saying, "You should conduct a thorough investigation into this matter.<br /> "I will write a prescription. Have Quinn take it on time, and he will recover in seven days."<br /> Amanda hurried to fetch paper and pen while Wesley prepared the prescription. Once done, he was ready to leave.<br /> Amanda said hurriedly, "Mr. Harrington, I've already made arrangements for lunch."<br /> "No need," Wesley smiled.<br /> The Kingsley family sought to build closer ties with Wesley, given his extraordinary medical skills. Wesley was well aware of this.<br /> Looking at Amanda and the others, Wesley remarked, "In the future, if you encounter any difficult medical cases that others cannot solve, seek me out. Remember, cases others cannot solve."<br /> The gaze of the Kingsley family members toward Wesley changed once again. Many renowned healers had eccentric personalities and were difficult to engage.<br /> They hadn't expected Wesley to possess such remarkable medical skills without any airs.<br /> As Wesley prepared to depart, the members of the Kingsley family did not dare to insist on his stay, so they accompanied him outside.<br /> "Oh, how could we forget such an important matter? Amanda, what about the consultation fee?" The middle-aged gent inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the oversight. Please wait a moment." Amanda hurried back inside and soon returned with a bank card in hand.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, there's one million dollars in here."<br /> Without hesitation, Wesley accepted the bank card and boarded Mia's car.<br /> During the journey, Mia boldly looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, you've helped me immensely. Can I treat you to a meal? Don't decline in a hurry. It's not a fancy restaurant, but it will leave you wanting more. It's a small place on the street, with only eight plates of noodles served each day, each plate containing different ingredients.<br /> "I managed to secure a reservation. Are you interested?"<br /> Wesley thought, "Eight Plates of Noodles? Ah, Aaron's restaurant. It has been a while since I visited those old friends."<br /> Wesley nodded. "Let's go then."<br /> The restaurant, Eight Plates of Noodles, was located on Chanxold Street near the Yeadeo First Central Hospital.<br /> The establishment was small, serving only eight plates of noodles each day at a price of 10 thousand dollars each. Vernoic's television culinary program had specifically covered this incident.<br /> Reservations were a must to secure a plate.<br /> The restaurant's owner had a mysterious background. While the specifics were unknown, a high-ranking noble from the capital of Vernoic, Kingsland, had caused a scene there once.<br /> He had attempted to force his way in without a reservation. Although this incident hadn't been reported, rumors suggested that a garbage truck had to be called to dispose of the intruder's remains, as he was too shattered to be removed by conventional means.<br /> Since then, no one dared to cause trouble.<br /> On their way, Mia introduced Wesley to the background story.<br /> "Mr. Turner, two plates of noodles." Mia called out once they arrived.<br /> Aaron Turner didn't respond but visibly paused upon seeing Wesley beside Mia.<br /> A faint smile appeared on his usually stoic face. Though the flesh on the face seemed stiff, it was indeed a smile. "Coming right up."<br /> Mia glanced at Aaron with a hint of surprise, thinking, "When did he become so warm and enthusiastic? His tone seemed a bit agitated earlier, didn't it?"<br /> Soon enough, Aaron brought two plates of noodles to the table. One steaming hot and the other devoid of any warmth.<br /> As Mia observed Aaron placing the plate without steam in front of Wesley, her expression changed slightly.<br /> It was a plate of instant noodles having soaked in cold water, with the seasoning barely dissolved.<br /> She felt a sense of panic. Mia had wanted to leave a good impression on Wesley, which was why she had chosen this place.<br /> However, Aaron had served such a plate of noodles.<br /> She dared not question Aaron. The type of noodles served here was not determined by the guests but by Aaron's mood.<br /> "This girl named Mia is quite something, living up to her name, and quite kind-hearted," Aaron remarked, looking at Wesley.<br /> "Get lost," Wesley retorted, using his fork to pick up the noodles and devouring them.<br /> Mia's face turned pale instantly. Disrespecting Aaron was akin to risking Wesley's life.<br /> To her astonishment, Aaron chuckled, tears welling up in his eyes.<br /> He wiped them away. "Alright, I'll leave you to your meal."<br /> Before departing, he gave Mia a thumbs-up. "Seize the opportunity."<br /> The eight plates of noodles symbolized the eight comrades who had faced life and life-threatening situations together.<br /> Wesley ate voraciously. Initially, they had only one pack of instant noodles to share among the eight of them, forcing them to divide it.<br /> Despite the circumstances, they devoured the noodles joyfully.<br /> Aaron had promised that once they survived, each one would have the most delicious plate of noodles.<br /> However, five of the eight had perished.<br /> Wesley had come dangerously close to life-threatening situations, but managed to cling to life.<br /> For him, the plate of noodles was not food but the bond of friendship that had shielded him from harm.<br /> "Do you... know each other?" Mia couldn't help but ask, her voice low and curious.<br /> "Some things are better left unknown," Wesley replied.<br /> Mia nodded in understanding, falling silent as they continued eating noodles. She couldn't help stealing glances at Wesley throughout the meal.<br /> This gent had piqued her curiosity even more.<br /> "Wesley, I see. No wonder you agreed to the divorce so readily. You've already found someone else outside."<br /> A sharp voice interrupted their meal.<br /> Taylor approached with a cold expression, accompanied by Henry.	Adoread Romance story	8	https://facebook.com/61557113391558	INSTALL_MOBILE_APP	1713250800	View Edit Delete
1666979	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727712	1734958299	695	1431880157695787	1	9.4428651081436E+14	1713337200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	235254296344339	0	Adoread Romance story	120207848353420113	play.google.com	Install now	NONE	video	HOT BOOK✨Tap the button to read more👉		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.adoread.book		1713261150	2.3525429634434E+14	Adoread Romance story	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435690751_769403208658924_4024169789007209001_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=W29ttNW0ri4Q7kNvgGE6Qqp&_nc_oc=AdjQm3fl6ofItN_fxooD7HV75ZTE-05ED6Vk9JllEgyr6i5aC8rd5Jn9rDkUg5QLqtURDpALXq04PkX7KP19t42G&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDnYV5CqXZrhS0o-KL-3v2OIt237QK8RqLhYpycl-CwTA&oe=663A81FA	person_profile	0	Adoread Romance story	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436261159_805721544940507_3867196156681009468_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=N7NhPotxUDIQ7kNvgFsYE_m&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBHwJNyKo07giQmsMpJdy2e_VvOI6PeITrADM6eUvnmpQ&oe=663A705F	0	3	Chapter 1 <br /> "Wesley, are you trying to harm me? You useless piece of trash, can't even make a decent cup of coffee, can you?"<br /> Madison Blair lifted her coffee cup and splashed it directly onto Wesley Harrington's face.<br /> "What are you looking at, you spineless waste? Your name sounds so lofty? I might as well call you a waste."<br /> Glancing at the grotesque expression of his wife's mother, Wesley pulled out his phone to check the time.<br /> Exactly twelve o'clock. It had been five full years since he married Taylor Reed.<br /> The appointed time had come.<br /> He had fulfilled his promise, safeguarding the Reed family for five years, transforming them from a family living off fishing to one perceived as affluent by the common folk.<br /> Wiping the coffee off his face, he turned and walked away.<br /> "Where do you think you're going? Go fetch some more coffee," Madison shouted.<br /> "Madison, didn't you say this waste is obedient at home, doing whatever he's told? I don't think he's taking it lying down."<br /> Madison grew angrier. "Wesley, you stop right there. My family has fed and housed you. If you dare disobey, I'll have you thrown out!"<br /> Ignoring her, Wesley continued downstairs.<br /> "When Taylor comes back, I'll immediately have you two divorced. Do you hear me? Stay right there," Madison threatened, "I'll let you know your place today."<br /> Grabbing a golf club, Madison swiftly charged towards Wesley.<br /> Seeing Wesley heading downstairs, she swung the club viciously at his back.<br /> Without turning back, Wesley gently sidestepped.<br /> Losing her balance, Madison tumbled forward, rolling down the stairs with a series of thumps.<br /> "Ouch... it hurts, it hurts so much!"<br /> As Madison reached the ground floor, she wailed in pain and her sister immediately rushed to her.<br /> "Wesley, what have you done? How dare you hit my sister!" Madison's sister hurried down, checking on Madison's condition.<br /> Wesley remained silent, observing the scene.<br /> "Quick, call Taylor. Tell her to come back. Today, she must divorce this waste." Madison glared at Wesley. "How dare you hit me? Not only will I let Taylor divorce you, but I'll make sure you leave in disgrace."<br /> "Mum, what's wrong?" At that moment, a gent and a lady walked in.<br /> The lady was Taylor, Madison's daughter.<br /> She ran towards Madison.<br /> As Madison pointed at Wesley, tears streamed down her face. "Taylor, he hit me, he hit me! When you're not home, he changes his attitude, scolding and hitting me in the slightest displeasure. He even pushed me down the stairs just now. Alexis can testify."<br /> Madison's sister, Alexis Blair, chimed in. "Yes, Wesley, this trash not only hit your mother but also threatened to hit me too. We cannot tolerate such trash."<br /> "Taylor, I have been telling you to divorce him for years. You've been supporting him, treating him like a Lord at home, but he's an ungrateful wolf in sheep's clothing."<br /> Helping Madison up, Taylor noticed the scrapes on Madison's arms and legs, her expression turning cold.<br /> "Wesley, why did you hit my mother? You better give me an explanation."<br /> Wesley looked at Taylor, his wife.<br /> Five years had passed, and she had never shown him kindness.<br /> Taylor dressed impeccably, a paragon of a successful lady, with a face that could be deemed angelic, yet whether her heart was as angelic remained a mystery.<br /> Her figure, too, left countless men yearning.<br /> For five years, Wesley had thought he might develop feelings for this lady, but in reality, it never happened.<br /> "There are surveillance cameras in the house," Wesley stated calmly before descending the stairs into the hallway.<br /> Despite residing in a three-story villa, Wesley's living quarters were confined to the stairwell.<br /> He harbored no resentment towards this arrangement. It was merely a promise. It was just that Taylor failed to appreciate him.<br /> This home held little value that he wished to cling onto.<br /> Retrieving a wooden box from beneath his pillow, Wesley extracted two documents. Casting a fleeting glance at the modest abode he had called home for five years, Wesley smiled faintly.<br /> He thought, "Finally... I'm free."<br /> Pushing the door ajar, Wesley was met by Taylor's piercing gaze. "I've reviewed the surveillance footage. Yes, my mother intended to strike you, but even if she did, what difference would it make?"<br /> "She's a lady. How much could her blows hurt you? Why did you dodge?"<br /> "If you hadn't dodged, my mother wouldn't have tumbled down." Wesley stared at Taylor, unable to comprehend her thought process.<br /> He had no interest in engaging in these arguments. Handing over the two documents to Taylor, he remarked, "The divorce agreement. I've already signed it. Take a look. I'm leaving with nothing."<br /> "With your current influence, there's no need for you to visit the city hall. Someone will handle it for you, right?"<br /> Madison was taken aback. She swiftly snatched the divorce agreement, flipping through it hastily.<br /> The contents were indeed straightforward. Both parties willingly divorced, with Wesley relinquishing all claims and having already signed.<br /> In an instant, Madison's pain seemed to dissipate. "Taylor, sign it quickly. Sign it."<br /> Taylor was still in a daze.<br /> She pondered.<br /> "A divorce agreement? Wesley has already prepared a divorce agreement. On what grounds?"<br /> "What gives him the right to initiate a divorce? All these years, he's done nothing at home, lacking any ambition. Always practicing martial arts, what right does he have to seek a divorce?"<br /> "If anyone should initiate it, it should be me. Moreover, now that I'm back to discussing this matter with him. Could it be that word got out, and Wesley, for the sake of his pride, rushed to prepare a divorce agreement first?"<br /> "It must be so, but... No!"<br /> "Wanting to leave with nothing, is he retreating to advance? As the chairman of the Reed Group, how could I be served with a divorce?"<br /> "Hey Wesley, I never expected this from you. Have I not treated you well enough? You seek a divorce, attempting to turn your retreat into advance, aiming to embarrass me?"<br /> Taylor glared at Wesley. "I'm telling you, it's impossible."<br /> Snatching the divorce agreement, she tore it to shreds.<br /> "Taylor, what are you doing? Such a great opportunity. Why not just sign it and let him leave?" Madison grew anxious.<br /> "Mom, I do intend to divorce this trash, but the decision must come from me. I returned specifically to address this matter."<br /> With that, Taylor produced two documents. "Wesley, remember that it's me who's divorcing you. It's me who no longer wants you. Initially, out of marital obligation, I had considered offering you some compensation. Now, you don't even need to think about it. Sign the divorce agreement and leave my home."<br /> Wesley offered a faint smile as he accepted the divorce agreement.<br /> "What are you laughing at?" Taylor demanded angrily.<br /> Wesley's smile seemed to mock her, fueling her rage.<br /> Ignoring her entirely, Wesley signed the document and handed it over.<br /> "What are you laughing at? Answer me! Who do you think you are?" Taylor roared once more.<br /> Wesley glanced at her before striding towards the exit.<br /> "Stop!" The gent who had accompanied Taylor stepped forward, blocking Wesley's path. "Taylor asked you a question, and... Your previous attitude displeased me. Apologize to Taylor, or I'll have you leave in disgrace!"<br /> <br /> Chapter 2 <br /> "Yes, let him leave in disgrace. He thought he could just hit me and walk away so easily," Madison joined in the commotion, also noticing the gent blocking Wesley's path.<br /> Madison had a keen interest in luxury goods, having frequented various high-end establishments over the years as the Reed family's living conditions improved. The gent was wearing an expensive watch and dressed head to toe in high-end luxury brands.<br /> Seeing Madison's gaze, the gent spoke. "Rest assured, today Wesley must pay the price."<br /> The gent introduced himself, looking at Wesley, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Henry Clark, the eldest son of the Clark family and the general manager of the Clark Group in the North District."<br /> "From now on, I will accompany Taylor on her journey of life, and I will not allow anyone to bully her."<br /> "My identity carries weight. You should understand that. Now, apologize to Taylor. Apologize! Did you hear me? Apologize!"<br /> Madison's eyes lit up. She hadn't expected the gent before her to hold such a high status. She continued to shout, "Did you hear that? Taylor will be with Mr. Clark from now on. Apologize now."<br /> Wesley glanced at Henry, then at Taylor. He thought, "Have they been together all along?" Wesley had wanted to ask but decided against it because there was no need. He simply gave them a glance and continued walking towards the exit.<br /> "Are you ignoring me?" Henry's face turned cold as he reached out to grab Wesley. Henry's hand froze mid-air as he received a solid hit.<br /> "Until I sign the divorce papers, Taylor and I are still wife and husband. I don't care to investigate whether you two had any intimate relationship during that time, but don't provoke me, or I won't hesitate to make you regret it." Wesley's gaze was icy, and as Henry met his eyes, he felt a twinge of fear and swallowed his words.<br /> Taylor was also stunned. She knew exactly what Wesley had been like over the past five years. There were many surveillance cameras in the house, and she would often check them.<br /> Even when Taylor wasn't home, despite how her family treated Wesley, he always obeyed without complaint, especially towards her. He had never raised his voice, no matter how they treated him.<br /> Today, not only did Wesley dodge when her mother struck, but he also initiated the divorce and now even struck Henry. <br /> Taylor was at a loss for words, thinking, "How could this cowardly gent dare? On what grounds does he dare?"<br /> This change was difficult for Taylor to accept as if she didn't truly understand this guy. The gent who used to be obedient to her, completely submissive, now revealed this side of himself. She watched Wesley walk away in a daze, feeling a strange discomfort in her heart.<br /> "Isn't he leaving with nothing?" Alexis pointed at the wooden box Wesley was holding. "What is he taking with him?"<br /> Madison also realized. Over the past five years, Wesley had always treasured this wooden box, carrying it with him wherever he went. She thought there must be something valuable inside.<br /> Realizing this, Madison hurriedly followed. "Wesley, stop right there, leave the wooden box."<br /> Wesley paused, glanced at Madison, and said, "This is my personal belonging."<br /> "Nonsense, what personal belonging could you possibly have after marrying into the Reed family? Everything you've eaten, worn, and lived in over the years has been provided by the Reed family. Put it down."<br /> As she spoke, Madison reached out to grab the wooden box.<br /> "Ah..." A scream rang out as Madison quickly retracted her hand, a gash appearing on her palm, a crimson liquid dripping.<br /> The wooden box was now stained with the same crimson liquid, trembling lightly in Wesley's hand.<br /> "It's not the right time yet, the day you thirst for this crimson liquid will come," Wesley murmured softly, patting the box before turning to continue his stride towards the exit.<br /> "Monster! A monster!" Madison screamed, causing Taylor and the others to rush out. Seeing the wound in Madison's hand, Taylor was filled with rage.<br /> "Wesley, aren't you going to say something?" Wesley halted once more, contemplating before meeting Taylor's gaze.<br /> "Just stay out of my way from now on. Consider this a warning to you."<br /> "Taylor, that wooden box of his has a mechanism. It must hold something valuable! We can't let him take it with him," Madison, enduring the pain, reminded them.<br /> "Mom, your injury is important. We'll deal with him later. Let me take you to the hospital first." Taylor comforted Madison before calling out to the retreating Wesley.<br /> "Our marriage is over! Yet, you dared to hurt my mother! This won't be the end of it! I will make you regret it!" Ignoring her, Wesley continued walking out.<br /> "Rest assured, I promise he won't see the light of day tomorrow." Henry stepped forward to console. "Let's focus on getting your wound treated first."<br /> "I want him to regret ever existing in this world, to apologize to me in repentance," Madison roared.<br /> "Mom, trust me, I will make him do just that." Taylor looked at Madison with a mix of pity and determination. "Let's go to the hospital first."<br /> In the villa area, Wesley halted, his voice cold. "Get out."<br /> An elderly gent leaped down from a tree, appearing to be in his seventies, yet landing silently from a height of around ten feet.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, your father wants you to come home and take charge."<br /> "He stopped being my father five years ago. He's my enemy."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you misunderstood your father. He had his reasons back then. I swear in my life, once you know the truth, you will forgive him."<br /> "Huh!" Wesley smirked coldly, saying, "I nearly passed away back then. Is that also a misunderstanding?"<br /> The old gent pleaded, "Mr. Harrington, this situation is truly not as you perceive it."<br /> Wesley didn't engage further with the old guy. The events of that year were etched in his memory forever. He was the one who had been abandoned. If not for that incident, why would he have stayed with the Reed family for five years?<br /> Watching Wesley walk away, the old gent had tears silently streaming down his face. "Mr. Harrington, I truly... I truly can't bring myself to speak the truth, but you have misunderstood your father. He also bears burdens and endures pains beyond what an ordinary person can handle."<br /> As Wesley's figure disappeared, the old gent stood up, hesitated for a moment, then dialed a number on his phone.<br /> "Mr. Harrington is now divorced. I've given you the news firsthand. If your daughter is truly together with Mr. Harrington, you must fulfill the promise and let her persuade Mr. Harrington to come home."<br /> After hanging up, a middle-aged gent in a luxurious estate jumped up excitedly. Calming himself, he immediately made another call. "My dear, you're at Yeadeo, right?<br /> "Go find Wesley now. Don't mention the engagement for now. Use every means to get close to him, make him fall in love with you."<br /> "Dad, I don't have time."<br /> "No matter what you are busy with, you must go find Wesley now. No matter what reason you approach him, you must leave a good impression the first time."<br /> "Dad, I'm in trouble right now. If I don't handle it well, I might be good as gone. I have to deal with it immediately. I'm hanging up."<br /> Chapter 3 <br /> The middle-aged gent's voice lowered significantly. "Is there a big incident happening? You didn't tell me? What happened?"<br /> "Quinn Kingsley from Yeadeo, Mr. Kingsley, used our product and now has one foot on the grave. If something really happens to him..."<br /> "You mean Quinn, the uncontested leader of Yeadeo?"<br /> "Yes."<br /> "In that case, you should go find Wesley. Trust me, in this world, there is no problem that Wesley can't solve. As long as he's willing to help, you'll be fine. Listen to me, go find Wesley immediately."<br /> The lady fell silent for a moment before saying, "Okay."<br /> At Yeadeo Harbor, a gent with a large flaxen chain and a watch, sporting a crew cut, hurriedly disembarked, accompanied by a dozen gentlemen.<br /> "Mr. Reed, wherever that trash is, we will find him and tear him apart."<br /> "Yes, that guy dared to harm your mother. We'll make sure he pays for it."<br /> Frank Reed's face turned cold. "Wesley, you coward, thinking you can overturn the world? How dare you touch my mom? Just wait until I find you, you're finished."<br /> "We've found him. Wesley got into a taxi, and our boys followed him."<br /> "Let's go!" Frank waved his hand, leading dozens of men who boarded the car with harpoons, steel pipes, and other weapons.<br /> Inside the taxi, Wesley gazed at the scenery outside, feeling a strange sense of tranquility.<br /> He thought to himself, "I never imagined that while I was secretly paving the way for the Reed family, Taylor, after progressing so rapidly, would start looking down on me more and more."<br /> "Those ladies who know my true identity, which one of them isn't trying to throw themselves at me? Ladies like that don't interest me."<br /> "Being an ordinary gent is truly difficult," Wesley murmured, smiling faintly and deciding not to dwell on these matters anymore. He had important things to attend to and no time to waste on personal affairs.<br /> "Young lad, are you going to Feidgeuo Manor for a job interview?" The driver, curious about Wesley's destination, inquired.<br /> Feidgeuo Manor was Yeadeo's most mysterious private area. Originally a villa area, it was bought at a huge cost five years ago and completely renovated. It was said to have cost a trillion dollars. The former villa area was now Feidgeuo Manor.<br /> "That's my home," Wesley replied nonchalantly.<br /> The driver was taken aback by this revelation, silently cursing Wesley for bragging. After a couple of minutes, the driver regained his composure. "It seems like you and I both prefer to keep a low profile. My car usually gathers dust at home, so I occasionally drive a taxi to experience life."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "My car has been driven by my assistant for the past few years, so it's not gathering dust."<br /> "Haha..." The driver laughed. "We should get together sometime and see whose car is more impressive."<br /> "Sure, whenever we have the time."<br /> As they chatted, the vehicle soon arrived near Feidgeuo Manor, where the massive head of the Feidgeuo Peak protruded, creating a unique landscape in Yeadeo.<br /> The driver asked with a smile, "Since you're the owner here, it's fine if I drive in, right?"<br /> "Of course," Wesley replied.<br /> As soon as Wesley spoke, several cars caught up from behind.<br /> The cars surrounded the one Wesley was in, with the front vehicles braking to force the car to a stop.<br /> When numerous people descended from cars wielding harpoons and steel pipes, the driver's face paled.<br /> Frank and his group got out of the cars, instantly closing in, and without hesitation, started attacking, the steel pipes and harpoons thudding against the car.<br /> Frank's henchman yanked open the door of Wesley's car, poised to stab Wesley with a harpoon, but Wesley swiftly exited the vehicle.<br /> With a firm step on the ground, he launched a swift hit.<br /> A muffled sound echoed as the henchman was hit away.<br /> "What are you looking at?" Frank noticed his henchmen were all staring at him. "All of you, attack together and take him down!"<br /> As he commanded, the henchmen Frank brought with him surged forward.<br /> The taxi driver, trembling, took out his phone to call the police, but Frank glared at him. "I am Frank Reed from Yeadeo Harbor. If you dare, go ahead and make that call."<br /> Frank, leveraging his sister Taylor's status, had been causing trouble in Yeadeo Harbor, and no one dared to provoke him.<br /> Upon hearing Frank's name, the driver hastily put away his phone. "Mr. Reed, I'll just check the time, you guys continue."<br /> "Huh!" Frank snorted coldly, casting his gaze towards the surrounded Wesley.<br /> The sounds of thuds continued to ring out incessantly. Because Wesley was completely surrounded, Frank was unable to see the situation inside clearly, but he could imagine it. After all, in Frank's mind, the henchmen under his command were not to be trifled with.<br /> "Hit him hard for me!"<br /> Another muffled sound and a figure flew out. At that moment, Frank finally saw the situation clearly, and his face turned pale.<br /> Frank knew that Wesley liked to practice martial arts, but he had never expected Wesley to be this skilled. It wasn't Wesley who had been beaten, but his own men by Wesley alone.<br /> Frantically, Frank turned and ran to retrieve a crossbow from the car.<br /> "Clear the way." Frank bellowed, aiming the crossbow at Wesley.<br /> "You scumbag, you think you can fight? Move one more time, and I'll end your life! Surrender!"<br /> Wesley, holding a wooden box, stared at Frank. Ignoring the crossbow in his hand, Wesley said, "Tell your henchmen to back off, or you'll all see the light from above!"<br /> "You're really good at pretending to be tough." Frank took two steps forward. "See the light? Move a muscle and see if I can end your life or not! If you don't have the guts, apologize now!"<br /> Wesley turned his head and looked at the approaching cars, with two expensive ones in the lead, two more in the rear, and another one in the middle.<br /> "Keep acting tough, and I'll put a hole in your head." Frank spoke while glancing at the five cars. "What, looking for help?"<br /> "Let me tell you, those who ride in these cars are not the kind of weaklings like you who rely on connections. With me here, in Yeadeo's social hierarchy, even those who ride in such cars wouldn't dare meddle in this matter. And let me make it clear, without my sister, you're nothing."<br /> <br /> Chapter 4<br /> As Frank's words faded, the five cars came to a halt.<br /> A bodyguard opened the door of the one in the middle, revealing a dazzling pair of shining shoes catching everyone's eye.<br /> The shining shoe encased a beautiful foot. Above, the skirt's hem was adorned with lace.<br /> Then, like a fairy stepping out of a painting, she appeared before everyone's eyes.<br /> The lady was beautiful!<br /> Frank was mesmerized. Ever since the Reed family rose to prominence, he had been surrounded by ladies, but compared to the elegant lady before him, they were worlds apart.<br /> It wasn't just a difference in appearance but an incomparable gap in demeanor.<br /> The lady descending from the Maybach seemed like a celestial being untouched by mortal affairs.<br /> The embodiment of a fairy in the mundane world.<br /> She simply stood there after getting out of the car, perfectly embodying what it meant to be graceful and elegant.<br /> The lady glanced at Wesley, then at Frank.<br /> Frank grinned, saying, "May I have the honor of knowing the name of this esteemed lady? I am Frank..."<br /> The lady spoke calmly. "Disrespect Mr. Harrington, and you're done for."<br /> Her bodyguards, unfazed by Frank's crossbow, swiftly overwhelmed him, sending him crashing to the ground.<br /> The henchmen who had come with Frank, previously defeated by Wesley, now scrambled to their feet and fled in all directions.<br /> Who would dare provoke someone who could afford such a car?<br /> "My sister is Taylor Reed, the chairperson of Reed Group," Frank shouted, clutching his head.<br /> Ignoring him, one of the bodyguards dragged him to the roadside grass while another used a belt to tighten around Frank's neck, exerting pressure.<br /> "Enough, a lesson is all that's needed." Wesley spoke calmly, and only when the lady gestured did the bodyguards release Frank.<br /> Frank lay there, already unconscious.<br /> Wesley turned to the lady. "Who are you?"<br /> "I am Mia Roberts, the general manager of Vinver Business Alliance's Yeadeo branch." She looked at Wesley and continued, "Mr. Harrington, my father mentioned that you have miraculous healing skills and earnestly requested your assistance. A generous reward awaits."<br /> Wesley furrowed his brow slightly, thinking, "There are indeed people who recognize my abilities and status, yet I've rarely intervened in the past five years. Today, shortly after I divorced Taylor, she is here. Whose arrangement is this?"<br /> "Mr. Harrington, my father also mentioned that you are benevolent and has raised the banner of compassion among healers, serving as a role model and benchmark for all in the medical field."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "You have a way with words. Tell me the specifics."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, please get in the car first. I will explain in detail on the way."<br /> The phrase "compassionate healer" held significant weight for Wesley, who had saved countless lives from the brink of death.<br /> Without further ado, he got into the car.<br /> Inside, after Mia brewed coffee for Wesley, she began. "Vinver Business Alliance has a wide range of business operations, and I mainly oversee the health supplement sector, which has seen some success in recent years.<br /> "Recently, Quinn Kingsley started using our medicines, and now there's an accident."<br /> As she spoke, Mia kept her gaze fixed on Wesley.<br /> Quinn, the undisputed leader of Yeadeo, was a figure of immense influence.<br /> Upon hearing this name, Wesley showed no particular reaction. "If the city's leader faces issues with your products, it is indeed a concern. Let's go and see."<br /> With just a sentence, Wesley leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest.<br /> Mia was secretly alarmed, thinking, "He knows who Quinn is, yet he seems indifferent. Who is this Wesley, really? No wonder Dad has instructed me to find a way to win his favor." Mia's inner resistance toward Wesley quietly shifted.<br /> Wesley had piqued her curiosity.<br /> As the vehicle was moving, Wesley's phone rang.<br /> Wesley opened his eyes and took out his phone to see Taylor calling.<br /> Pressing the answer button, he asked, "What's the matter?"<br /> On the other end of the line, Taylor, driving towards Feidgeuo Manor, had a grim expression.<br /> She thought, "Has Wesley ever spoken to me in such a cold tone before? Is he really this heartless right after our divorce?"<br /> Already furious, she snapped. "Wesley, do you even consider yourself a human being?<br /> "Today, not only did you lay hands on my mother, but you also had someone attack my brother. Do you not remember our past at all?"<br /> Wesley calmly replied, "Do we have a past to remember?"<br /> "You truly are a heartless scumbag, just as my mother said. You are an ungrateful and vicious person I raised for five years. Even a pet would wag its tail at me!"<br /> Taylor wanted to continue her tirade, but the phone line had already turned busy.<br /> This only fueled her anger further.<br /> Just now, she had received a call from Frank's underlings, informing her that Wesley had sent people to attack Frank and even intended to end him.<br /> Taylor wanted to demand answers, but...<br /> As Taylor was clutching her fists, her gaze turned icy.<br /> After a moment, she picked up her phone again. "Wesley, you are so narrow-minded. You have no ambition. Any lady would steer clear of you."<br /> "Just because I dumped you, you are doing this on purpose to make me feel sick. Pretending to be aloof and seeking revenge? Do you even deserve it?"<br /> "In Yeadeo, squashing you would be as easy as squashing an ant. You're asking for it! If anything happens to my brother, I will make you wish you were ending!"<br /> Her furious voice message echoed in the car.<br /> Wesley chuckled and put away his phone.<br /> Beside him, Mia seemed contemplative. Before coming, she had already ordered a swift investigation into Wesley.<br /> She was curious, thinking, "How could someone valued by my father could be the one 'marrying into' the Reed family."<br /> Being tactful, Mia chose not to ask and pretended not to have heard.<br /> After about forty minutes, they arrived at the Kingsley Manor.<br /> The Kingsley family members, upon seeing Mia alight from the car, all wore grim expressions.<br /> Mia greeted them with a smile, "Everyone, this is Wesley Harrington, Mr. Harrington, the miraculous healer I specially invited to treat Mr. Kingsley."<br /> "Him? The gent who married into the Reed family?"<br /> "A miraculous healer? Is he even worthy? Are healers so worthless now?"<br /> "A useless gent who mooches off of the Reed family? How dare he call himself a miraculous healer? Truly a joke among all jokes."<br /> Chapter 5<br /> <br /> Amanda Kingsley, Quinn's granddaughter, stared coldly at Wesley and Mia.<br /> This lady, dressed in a smart suit, also held significant fame in Yeadeo, overseeing the region's business activities, including investment attraction and various local business negotiations.<br /> Amanda had a favorable view of Taylor, who had risen swiftly in recent times, and they had interacted frequently.<br /> She was aware of Wesley's existence and had advised Taylor to part ways with him early on.<br /> But Amanda never imagined that Mia would bring someone like Wesley, a complete waste, and claim he was a miraculous healer.<br /> Glaring at Mia, she said, "Mia, once my grandfather is well, it's best for your Roberts family to leave Yeadeo."<br /> "As for you..." She glanced at Wesley. "I will advise Taylor to divorce you. You have deceived Taylor's feelings and now shamelessly made your way into my family. You are a despicable creature."<br /> After reprimanding Mia and Wesley, she turned to an elderly gent beside her, and her tone and attitude completely changed. "Mr. Phillips, sorry to trouble you. My grandfather is inside, please."<br /> Mia looked at the elderly gent, who was already in his twilight years, feeling deeply shocked.<br /> Scott Phillips, the 38th generation heir of the Healing Clinic, was now ninety-two years old.<br /> Renowned as a miraculous healer, he was a respected figure in the medical community of Yeadeo and even nationally.<br /> He no longer conducted consultations personally due to his old age. Mia had visited him specifically to pay her respects once she had arrived in Yeadeo but had not met Scott.<br /> She never expected Scott to appear in person. It was understandable, as Quinn held a prominent position in the city. Despite the profound influence of the Phillips family, they still had to show respect to Quinn.<br /> Mia looked at Wesley, feeling conflicted and thinking, "Dad has confidently claimed that Wesley has extraordinary abilities, but does he really?"<br /> She harbored doubts, but out of propriety, Mia spoke. "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the trouble."<br /> Wesley smiled, "It's fine. As long as the person can be healed."<br /> His open-mindedness impressed Mia.<br /> After about half an hour, Amanda emerged from the room. All eyes instantly turned towards her.<br /> It was evident that Amanda had wailed out, with traces of tears still visible.<br /> "Amanda, how is it?" A middle-aged gent anxiously asked her.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family who had rushed back also focused their attention on her.<br /> "Mr. Phillips said that there's little hope of recovery. He could only use acupuncture to wake grandfather for half an hour. When grandfather wakes up, let's all go in and see if he has any final instructions."<br /> Everyone was shocked.<br /> "How could this be?"<br /> "Is Mr. Phillips also helpless?"<br /> The members of the Kingsley family found it hard to accept this reality, especially since Quinn had always treated his juniors well.<br /> The thought of Quinn departing saddened some, and tears silently fell.<br /> Publicly, Quinn's status was the foundation of the Kingsley family's prominence in Yeadeo.<br /> If Quinn were to pass away, the Kingsley family would undoubtedly decline.<br /> The atmosphere within the Kingsley family was somber.<br /> Amanda looked at her family members, opened her mouth, but said nothing, silently turning back into the room.<br /> "Stop crying," A middle-aged gent said sternly, "Dad wouldn't want to see you all in tears. If he's really leaving, we mustn't let him worry about us. Pull yourselves together."<br /> After these words, the middle-aged gent also entered the room.<br /> The younger members of the Kingsley family wiped their tears vigorously, trying to force smiles, but in truth, they looked better at crying than pretending to be happy.<br /> Mia's spirit plummeted as she realized the gravity of the situation. Even if an ordinary person passed away from consuming health supplements, it spelled big trouble for those who sold them. And when the deceased happened to be Quinn, the stakes were even higher.<br /> She understood that it would be difficult for this branch to stay in Yeadeo, and even the headquarters might face repercussions.<br /> "Let's go in and have a look." Wesley glanced at Mia. "There might still be a chance."<br /> "Ah..." Mia stared at Wesley in surprise. Seeing him already heading towards the room, she quickly followed suit.<br /> Inside the room, the members of the Kingsley family stood around the mattress, maintaining a certain distance.<br /> Scott lit the alcohol lamp and took out the needles, his expression solemn.<br /> He looked at the members of the Kingsley family. "Think about what you want to say to Mr. Kingsley later. Once you're ready, let me know, and then I'll proceed with the acupuncture."<br /> As he said this, tears welled up in many eyes.<br /> "If you don't mind, let me take a look. I have a way." Wesley spoke up, drawing everyone's attention.<br /> Amanda's face darkened. "Who let you in? Get out!"<br /> "Mia, have you lost your mind? Tricked by this trash and actually brought him here as a miracle healer. Get out with him! I'll settle the score with you in a couple of days."<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, at a loss for words.<br /> "Even Mr. Phillips is unable to reverse the situation. What use are you? Get out." Another younger member of the Kingsley family angrily rebuked.<br /> The middle-aged gent added, "We're in no mood right now. You better leave immediately."<br /> "I understand your narrow-mindedness," Wesley continued, "But as a healer, once I see a patient, I cannot stand by and watch him draw his last breath."<br /> "Wesley, you're quite the charlatan. Do you really want to be gone right now?" Amanda's voice was filled with anger.<br /> "Amanda, let me say a few words," Scott interjected, and Amanda fell silent.<br /> Looking at Wesley, Scott began. "Young lad, at my age, I've seen a lot and have a broad perspective. Today, however, I find it hard to remain indifferent. I practiced medicine from the age of sixteen until I stopped seeing patients for a total of seventy years."<br /> "I've saved countless patients from various illnesses. I never easily declare a patient's fate, nor do I believe I have the right to do so."<br /> "But from your recent remarks, it seems like you're accusing me of such actions. Young people wanting to make a name for themselves by stepping on the shoulders of their predecessors, I can understand."<br /> "But this kind of behavior displeases me."<br /> "My displeasure, what does it mean to you? Do you understand?"<br /> "Even if you are a healer, your career will be ruined because of this."<br /> Chapter 6 <br /> In the face of Scott's veiled threats, Wesley simply smiled and brushed them off.<br /> Looking at Scott, he asked, "I've always focused on the issue at hand rather than attacking individuals. I have a few questions for you. If you can't administer the needles, how long do you think Quinn can hold on?"<br /> "Seven days, but he will remain unconscious," Scott replied bluntly.<br /> "Then let me ask you this, is there anyone in the world with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "Outrageous," Amanda coldly interjected, "Mr. Phillips is unparalleled in his medical expertise."<br /> Scott glanced at Amanda. "Amanda, let me handle this question."<br /> Continuing to address Wesley, he said, "I don't underestimate myself, nor do I overestimate. There are countless talented individuals in the world, like stars in the sky. I may not dare claim to be the best in medical skills, but those who surpass me are few."<br /> "That means there are some," Wesley calmly remarked, causing Scott's expression to shift slightly, "Indeed, there are."<br /> "Then let me ask you this. Do you think within seven days, the Kingsley family won't find someone with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "If they do find someone, do you believe there is an illness that you cannot cure, but this person can?"<br /> Wesley's questions were sharp and resounding.<br /> Scott's face changed once more as he was rendered speechless.<br /> "Even if there is, that person will never be you." Amanda's face turned icy. "Now get out. Don't spout your eloquence here. Your deceitful behavior is repulsive."<br /> "Your understanding of me is merely hearsay, isn't it?" Wesley retorted, his gaze mocking Amanda, "Has your background and education taught you such arrogance and prejudice?"<br /> "Arrogance?" Amanda's face grew colder as she disdainfully looked at Wesley. "Prejudice?<br /> "Did I say something wrong just now? You are nothing but stagnant waste, a parasite living off others. If it weren't for Taylor, you would have starved on the streets long ago."<br /> "Relying on sweet words, deceiving Taylor. She, with her kind heart, can't bear to divorce you, but don't push your luck. If it weren't for Taylor's sake, you would have been sent out long ago."<br /> Scott interrupted Amanda, "Amanda, although I find this lad a bit annoying, what he said does hold some truth. There are indeed individuals with better medical skills than me. Your grandfather can hold on for seven days. Try reaching out to see if someone can come over. I'll help you make connections."<br /> "If it really doesn't work out after seven days, I'll administer the needles to your grandfather. However, at that point, I can only buy you three minutes."<br /> As soon as Scott spoke, the faces of the Kingsley family members grew even more solemn. True healers were rare and not easily summoned.<br /> While the Kingsley family had connections in Yeadeo, their influence waned outside of it.<br /> "Mr. Phillips, please administer the needles. Life has its ups and downs, and we understand that. Just buy my father a bit more time." The middle-aged gent spoke up.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family nodded in agreement.<br /> Amanda looked at Scott. "Mr. Phillips, please."<br /> "In that case, please have everyone unrelated leave. I need silence," Scott calmly stated.<br /> Amanda glared at Wesley, her eyes speaking volumes without a word.<br /> The unrelated individuals were, naturally, Wesley and Mia.<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, intending to leave, but she suddenly hesitated.<br /> Instead of leaving, Wesley moved forward.<br /> "What are you doing?" A young member of the Kingsley family stepped forward with a stern expression, pushing Wesley.<br /> In one swift motion, Wesley executed a clean shoulder throw, toppling the young gent to the ground, his own expression turning cold.<br /> "A bunch of fools! If it weren't for my teacher's teachings about not turning a blind eye to those in need, I wouldn't bother with you ignorant lot," Wesley remarked with disdain.<br /> As Wesley effortlessly took down one individual from the Kingsley family, the others seemed slow to react.<br /> By the time they realized what was happening, Wesley had already picked up the needle next to Scott and casually flicked his wrist.<br /> The needle flew out of his hand, piercing Quinn's temple, followed by a second needle, a third needle, and so on.<br /> "What are you doing? Stop!" Amanda's voice rose in urgency, echoed by the rest of the Kingsley family members who rushed forward to restrain Wesley.<br /> "Stay back, everyone. Wait." Scott suddenly stood up, blocking the others. "Let him try."<br /> Amanda and the others were left dumbfounded, thinking, "What does this mean?"<br /> Despite their confusion, they heeded Scott's words.<br /> After Scott stopped the members of the Kingsley family, he fixed his gaze on Wesley.<br /> Wesley proceeded to use eighteen needles in succession, symbolizing the levels of pain.<br /> Even if someone had descended into the depths of hell, they must be brought back.<br /> The final needle, also piercing a vital point, caused Quinn's body to tremble suddenly, resonating with the previous eighteen needles.<br /> Scott's eyes widened, his body trembling slightly. His reaction left Amanda and the others even more puzzled, but none dared to interrupt.<br /> Moments later, Wesley placed a palm on Quinn's chest, causing all eighteen needles to be shaken off. When all the needles landed on the ground, the part of the skin where the needles had pierced turned dark.<br /> Wesley then dragged Quinn to the edge of the mattress, flipped him over with his head facing downwards, and gave him a firm pat on the back.<br /> Quinn spat out a mouthful of black liquid. When Wesley flipped him back to lie flat, his complexion had regained some color.<br /> "The Hand of Darkness... It's the Hand of Darkness!" Scott exclaimed with excitement, his body quivering, "It's the Hand that descends into the dark world, snatching people from the hands of the Evil!"<br /> "You do have some knowledge, recognizing the Hand of Darkness." Wesley glanced at Scott.<br /> Scott's gaze towards Wesley had undergone a drastic change. He respectfully clasped his hands together.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thirty years ago, I had the honor of attending a teaching conference held by Mr. Vanderbilt. I saw the Hand of Darkness, but my limited aptitude only allowed me to grasp the basics."<br /> "I have been blind and ignorant. I apologize for my earlier offenses. Please forgive me, Mr. Harrington."<br /> The Mr. Vanderbilt Scott referred to was Wesley's teacher, Ulysses Vanderbilt. He generously imparted his skills to others, but the ability to learn depended on one's innate talent.<br /> In this world, few could learn Ulysses' skills.<br /> Scott had been fortunate to receive guidance from Ulysses, which had elevated his medical skills. However, the Hand of Darkness, a miraculous ability, was beyond his comprehension.<br /> Wesley smiled faintly, "Your actions earlier are understandable. I appreciate your words."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you must be an exceptional disciple of Mr. Vanderbilt, possessing unparalleled magnanimity. Impressive," Scott continued.<br /> "Enough with the flattery at your age."<br /> "You are mistaken, Mr. Harrington. Every word I speak is sincere."<br /> Mia, Amanda, and the others stood bewildered by the unfolding situation.<br /> "Mr. Phillips... he... he..." Amanda's words faltered.<br /> Scott turned to the members of the Kingsley family. "Meeting Mr. Harrington was Quinn's luck. His symptoms have been cured by Mr. Harrington. With a few days of rest, he will be fine."<br /> The waste Taylor had previously said was called Mr. Harrington by Scott!<br /> Recalling their previous attitudes, Amanda hurriedly apologized, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> The members of the Kingsley family all apologized in unison, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> Chapter 7 <br /> With a faint smile, Wesley remarked, "As family members of a patient, your actions earlier are understandable. There's no need for such formality."<br /> Amanda's perplexity deepened as she thought, "Where is the cowardly waste that Taylor described? This display of magnanimity and breadth is far from it."<br /> Mia, too, felt a shiver of realization, thinking, "No wonder Dad has insisted on my proximity to Wesley.<br /> This guy..."<br /> She gazed at Wesley, her curiosity piqued, a sense of exploration stirring within her.<br /> "Mia has brought you here, Mr. Harrington, to cure my grandfather. The Kingsley family will never forget this act. However, considering that my grandfather's ailment stemmed from the health supplements produced by the Vinver Business Alliance, we will be conducting an investigation into it."<br /> Amanda continued, looking at Wesley, "What do you think... of this approach?"<br /> It was Mia who had invited Wesley, so Amanda had grown wiser, refraining from asking for a direct punishment of the Vinver Business Alliance.<br /> As Mia heard Amanda's words, her heart skipped a beat, realizing trouble was brewing.<br /> "On the way here, Ms. Roberts briefed me on the situation. You conducted experiments on mice, correct?"<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes, the health supplements we received were exclusively provided by the Roberts family. There were no similar cases on the market, so we used mice for testing.<br /> "All the mice that ingested this supplement were gone."<br /> She looked at Mia and added, her voice turning colder, "Before the experiment, I specifically contacted Mia to inquire about the testing methods during the development phase, which involved mice.<br /> "There have been individuals eyeing my grandfather's position, some even wishing for his demise. I never imagined that the Vinver Business Alliance, which I attracted for investment, would become a weapon in someone else's hands."<br /> "Do you have any of the remaining medicine?" Wesley inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes."<br /> "Bring some over."<br /> Immediately, someone fetched the medicine. After it was brought to him, Wesley took out a supplement and swallowed it directly.<br /> This scene left Amanda and the others dumbfounded.<br /> Scott, too, was bewildered. "Mr. Harrington, what are you doing?"<br /> Wesley smiled, "Just proving that this medicine is not toxic."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thank you," Mia thanked sincerely, feeling like crying at that moment.<br /> Amanda, with a puzzled expression, looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, are you suggesting that my grandfather's condition wasn't caused by the Vinver Business Alliance's medicine? What about the mice?"<br /> The rest were equally puzzled.<br /> "Yes, but not entirely," Wesley said, leaving everyone even more bewildered.<br /> Mia's emotions were like a rollercoaster ride, from relief to immediate tension.<br /> "This medicine itself is not toxic, but when taken with another substance made from a certain plant, it results in Quinn's condition. The mice would die immediately, while humans could endure a few more days."<br /> Wesley continued to explain, "The plant used in this concoction is originally meant for crafting slow-acting toxins, not for human consumption."<br /> Looking at Amanda, Wesley said, "During this period, whoever had access to your grandfather and the mice will better understand why these events occurred."<br /> The gaze of members of the Kingsley family immediately focused on a lady.<br /> Amanda, somewhat incredulous, looked at her. "Can you offer an explanation?"<br /> The lady was the wife of Amanda's deceased brother. She found it hard to accept, as did the rest of the Kingsley family.<br /> This lady had been named the exemplary lady who served her family well this year, not due to her connection with the Kingsley family but because she genuinely deserved it.<br /> "What do you mean? Amanda, what explanation do you want from me?"<br /> The lady stared at Amanda. "Am I the only one who had access to Grandfather and the mice? You, and you... and you, who didn't have access?"<br /> "You all claim to treat me as family. Since I married into the Kingsley family, I have worked diligently, contributing my share even if not acknowledged."<br /> "Amanda, it has been over a year since your brother passed, and I never once considered remarrying. Now, just because of his words, you demand an explanation from me?"<br /> Pointing at Wesley, the lady questioned, "Just because he accuses me of poisoning, you suspect me? Tell me, did I poison him?" The lady glared at Wesley.<br /> "I am merely analyzing the facts. As for concluding this case, it's not within my purview," Wesley addressed the members of the Kingsley family, saying, "You should conduct a thorough investigation into this matter.<br /> "I will write a prescription. Have Quinn take it on time, and he will recover in seven days."<br /> Amanda hurried to fetch paper and pen while Wesley prepared the prescription. Once done, he was ready to leave.<br /> Amanda said hurriedly, "Mr. Harrington, I've already made arrangements for lunch."<br /> "No need," Wesley smiled.<br /> The Kingsley family sought to build closer ties with Wesley, given his extraordinary medical skills. Wesley was well aware of this.<br /> Looking at Amanda and the others, Wesley remarked, "In the future, if you encounter any difficult medical cases that others cannot solve, seek me out. Remember, cases others cannot solve."<br /> The gaze of the Kingsley family members toward Wesley changed once again. Many renowned healers had eccentric personalities and were difficult to engage.<br /> They hadn't expected Wesley to possess such remarkable medical skills without any airs.<br /> As Wesley prepared to depart, the members of the Kingsley family did not dare to insist on his stay, so they accompanied him outside.<br /> "Oh, how could we forget such an important matter? Amanda, what about the consultation fee?" The middle-aged gent inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the oversight. Please wait a moment." Amanda hurried back inside and soon returned with a bank card in hand.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, there's one million dollars in here."<br /> Without hesitation, Wesley accepted the bank card and boarded Mia's car.<br /> During the journey, Mia boldly looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, you've helped me immensely. Can I treat you to a meal? Don't decline in a hurry. It's not a fancy restaurant, but it will leave you wanting more. It's a small place on the street, with only eight plates of noodles served each day, each plate containing different ingredients.<br /> "I managed to secure a reservation. Are you interested?"<br /> Wesley thought, "Eight Plates of Noodles? Ah, Aaron's restaurant. It has been a while since I visited those old friends."<br /> Wesley nodded. "Let's go then."<br /> The restaurant, Eight Plates of Noodles, was located on Chanxold Street near the Yeadeo First Central Hospital.<br /> The establishment was small, serving only eight plates of noodles each day at a price of 10 thousand dollars each. Vernoic's television culinary program had specifically covered this incident.<br /> Reservations were a must to secure a plate.<br /> The restaurant's owner had a mysterious background. While the specifics were unknown, a high-ranking noble from the capital of Vernoic, Kingsland, had caused a scene there once.<br /> He had attempted to force his way in without a reservation. Although this incident hadn't been reported, rumors suggested that a garbage truck had to be called to dispose of the intruder's remains, as he was too shattered to be removed by conventional means.<br /> Since then, no one dared to cause trouble.<br /> On their way, Mia introduced Wesley to the background story.<br /> "Mr. Turner, two plates of noodles." Mia called out once they arrived.<br /> Aaron Turner didn't respond but visibly paused upon seeing Wesley beside Mia.<br /> A faint smile appeared on his usually stoic face. Though the flesh on the face seemed stiff, it was indeed a smile. "Coming right up."<br /> Mia glanced at Aaron with a hint of surprise, thinking, "When did he become so warm and enthusiastic? His tone seemed a bit agitated earlier, didn't it?"<br /> Soon enough, Aaron brought two plates of noodles to the table. One steaming hot and the other devoid of any warmth.<br /> As Mia observed Aaron placing the plate without steam in front of Wesley, her expression changed slightly.<br /> It was a plate of instant noodles having soaked in cold water, with the seasoning barely dissolved.<br /> She felt a sense of panic. Mia had wanted to leave a good impression on Wesley, which was why she had chosen this place.<br /> However, Aaron had served such a plate of noodles.<br /> She dared not question Aaron. The type of noodles served here was not determined by the guests but by Aaron's mood.<br /> "This girl named Mia is quite something, living up to her name, and quite kind-hearted," Aaron remarked, looking at Wesley.<br /> "Get lost," Wesley retorted, using his fork to pick up the noodles and devouring them.<br /> Mia's face turned pale instantly. Disrespecting Aaron was akin to risking Wesley's life.<br /> To her astonishment, Aaron chuckled, tears welling up in his eyes.<br /> He wiped them away. "Alright, I'll leave you to your meal."<br /> Before departing, he gave Mia a thumbs-up. "Seize the opportunity."<br /> The eight plates of noodles symbolized the eight comrades who had faced life and life-threatening situations together.<br /> Wesley ate voraciously. Initially, they had only one pack of instant noodles to share among the eight of them, forcing them to divide it.<br /> Despite the circumstances, they devoured the noodles joyfully.<br /> Aaron had promised that once they survived, each one would have the most delicious plate of noodles.<br /> However, five of the eight had perished.<br /> Wesley had come dangerously close to life-threatening situations, but managed to cling to life.<br /> For him, the plate of noodles was not food but the bond of friendship that had shielded him from harm.<br /> "Do you... know each other?" Mia couldn't help but ask, her voice low and curious.<br /> "Some things are better left unknown," Wesley replied.<br /> Mia nodded in understanding, falling silent as they continued eating noodles. She couldn't help stealing glances at Wesley throughout the meal.<br /> This gent had piqued her curiosity even more.<br /> "Wesley, I see. No wonder you agreed to the divorce so readily. You've already found someone else outside."<br /> A sharp voice interrupted their meal.<br /> Taylor approached with a cold expression, accompanied by Henry.	Adoread Romance story	8	https://facebook.com/61557113391558	INSTALL_MOBILE_APP	1713250800	View Edit Delete
1666980	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727712	1734958300	695	669264031952154	1	1.1260744351087E+15	1713942000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	235254296344339	0	Adoread Romance story	120207848351950113	play.google.com	Install now	NONE	video	HOT BOOK✨Tap the button to read more👉		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.adoread.book		1713261152	2.3525429634434E+14	Adoread Romance story	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438691738_450415110690553_5210565945093228563_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jF-lcAhVG34Q7kNvgF4GnRL&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCGKB1ygq-ijDvOKRwRfac9jiWo6cIC2yh2cZxBCcJS-g&oe=663A6ACB	person_profile	0	Adoread Romance story	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437075603_2113273012374428_5465097867245892083_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=M-CN6dYGeJgQ7kNvgEE-Ymz&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCEe6WwBikoO7oy1vkhVb3AI17H7FqFJMHayLxnwMRMeQ&oe=663A886C	0	3	Chapter 1 <br /> "Wesley, are you trying to harm me? You useless piece of trash, can't even make a decent cup of coffee, can you?"<br /> Madison Blair lifted her coffee cup and splashed it directly onto Wesley Harrington's face.<br /> "What are you looking at, you spineless waste? Your name sounds so lofty? I might as well call you a waste."<br /> Glancing at the grotesque expression of his wife's mother, Wesley pulled out his phone to check the time.<br /> Exactly twelve o'clock. It had been five full years since he married Taylor Reed.<br /> The appointed time had come.<br /> He had fulfilled his promise, safeguarding the Reed family for five years, transforming them from a family living off fishing to one perceived as affluent by the common folk.<br /> Wiping the coffee off his face, he turned and walked away.<br /> "Where do you think you're going? Go fetch some more coffee," Madison shouted.<br /> "Madison, didn't you say this waste is obedient at home, doing whatever he's told? I don't think he's taking it lying down."<br /> Madison grew angrier. "Wesley, you stop right there. My family has fed and housed you. If you dare disobey, I'll have you thrown out!"<br /> Ignoring her, Wesley continued downstairs.<br /> "When Taylor comes back, I'll immediately have you two divorced. Do you hear me? Stay right there," Madison threatened, "I'll let you know your place today."<br /> Grabbing a golf club, Madison swiftly charged towards Wesley.<br /> Seeing Wesley heading downstairs, she swung the club viciously at his back.<br /> Without turning back, Wesley gently sidestepped.<br /> Losing her balance, Madison tumbled forward, rolling down the stairs with a series of thumps.<br /> "Ouch... it hurts, it hurts so much!"<br /> As Madison reached the ground floor, she wailed in pain and her sister immediately rushed to her.<br /> "Wesley, what have you done? How dare you hit my sister!" Madison's sister hurried down, checking on Madison's condition.<br /> Wesley remained silent, observing the scene.<br /> "Quick, call Taylor. Tell her to come back. Today, she must divorce this waste." Madison glared at Wesley. "How dare you hit me? Not only will I let Taylor divorce you, but I'll make sure you leave in disgrace."<br /> "Mum, what's wrong?" At that moment, a gent and a lady walked in.<br /> The lady was Taylor, Madison's daughter.<br /> She ran towards Madison.<br /> As Madison pointed at Wesley, tears streamed down her face. "Taylor, he hit me, he hit me! When you're not home, he changes his attitude, scolding and hitting me in the slightest displeasure. He even pushed me down the stairs just now. Alexis can testify."<br /> Madison's sister, Alexis Blair, chimed in. "Yes, Wesley, this trash not only hit your mother but also threatened to hit me too. We cannot tolerate such trash."<br /> "Taylor, I have been telling you to divorce him for years. You've been supporting him, treating him like a Lord at home, but he's an ungrateful wolf in sheep's clothing."<br /> Helping Madison up, Taylor noticed the scrapes on Madison's arms and legs, her expression turning cold.<br /> "Wesley, why did you hit my mother? You better give me an explanation."<br /> Wesley looked at Taylor, his wife.<br /> Five years had passed, and she had never shown him kindness.<br /> Taylor dressed impeccably, a paragon of a successful lady, with a face that could be deemed angelic, yet whether her heart was as angelic remained a mystery.<br /> Her figure, too, left countless men yearning.<br /> For five years, Wesley had thought he might develop feelings for this lady, but in reality, it never happened.<br /> "There are surveillance cameras in the house," Wesley stated calmly before descending the stairs into the hallway.<br /> Despite residing in a three-story villa, Wesley's living quarters were confined to the stairwell.<br /> He harbored no resentment towards this arrangement. It was merely a promise. It was just that Taylor failed to appreciate him.<br /> This home held little value that he wished to cling onto.<br /> Retrieving a wooden box from beneath his pillow, Wesley extracted two documents. Casting a fleeting glance at the modest abode he had called home for five years, Wesley smiled faintly.<br /> He thought, "Finally... I'm free."<br /> Pushing the door ajar, Wesley was met by Taylor's piercing gaze. "I've reviewed the surveillance footage. Yes, my mother intended to strike you, but even if she did, what difference would it make?"<br /> "She's a lady. How much could her blows hurt you? Why did you dodge?"<br /> "If you hadn't dodged, my mother wouldn't have tumbled down." Wesley stared at Taylor, unable to comprehend her thought process.<br /> He had no interest in engaging in these arguments. Handing over the two documents to Taylor, he remarked, "The divorce agreement. I've already signed it. Take a look. I'm leaving with nothing."<br /> "With your current influence, there's no need for you to visit the city hall. Someone will handle it for you, right?"<br /> Madison was taken aback. She swiftly snatched the divorce agreement, flipping through it hastily.<br /> The contents were indeed straightforward. Both parties willingly divorced, with Wesley relinquishing all claims and having already signed.<br /> In an instant, Madison's pain seemed to dissipate. "Taylor, sign it quickly. Sign it."<br /> Taylor was still in a daze.<br /> She pondered.<br /> "A divorce agreement? Wesley has already prepared a divorce agreement. On what grounds?"<br /> "What gives him the right to initiate a divorce? All these years, he's done nothing at home, lacking any ambition. Always practicing martial arts, what right does he have to seek a divorce?"<br /> "If anyone should initiate it, it should be me. Moreover, now that I'm back to discussing this matter with him. Could it be that word got out, and Wesley, for the sake of his pride, rushed to prepare a divorce agreement first?"<br /> "It must be so, but... No!"<br /> "Wanting to leave with nothing, is he retreating to advance? As the chairman of the Reed Group, how could I be served with a divorce?"<br /> "Hey Wesley, I never expected this from you. Have I not treated you well enough? You seek a divorce, attempting to turn your retreat into advance, aiming to embarrass me?"<br /> Taylor glared at Wesley. "I'm telling you, it's impossible."<br /> Snatching the divorce agreement, she tore it to shreds.<br /> "Taylor, what are you doing? Such a great opportunity. Why not just sign it and let him leave?" Madison grew anxious.<br /> "Mom, I do intend to divorce this trash, but the decision must come from me. I returned specifically to address this matter."<br /> With that, Taylor produced two documents. "Wesley, remember that it's me who's divorcing you. It's me who no longer wants you. Initially, out of marital obligation, I had considered offering you some compensation. Now, you don't even need to think about it. Sign the divorce agreement and leave my home."<br /> Wesley offered a faint smile as he accepted the divorce agreement.<br /> "What are you laughing at?" Taylor demanded angrily.<br /> Wesley's smile seemed to mock her, fueling her rage.<br /> Ignoring her entirely, Wesley signed the document and handed it over.<br /> "What are you laughing at? Answer me! Who do you think you are?" Taylor roared once more.<br /> Wesley glanced at her before striding towards the exit.<br /> "Stop!" The gent who had accompanied Taylor stepped forward, blocking Wesley's path. "Taylor asked you a question, and... Your previous attitude displeased me. Apologize to Taylor, or I'll have you leave in disgrace!"<br /> <br /> Chapter 2 <br /> "Yes, let him leave in disgrace. He thought he could just hit me and walk away so easily," Madison joined in the commotion, also noticing the gent blocking Wesley's path.<br /> Madison had a keen interest in luxury goods, having frequented various high-end establishments over the years as the Reed family's living conditions improved. The gent was wearing an expensive watch and dressed head to toe in high-end luxury brands.<br /> Seeing Madison's gaze, the gent spoke. "Rest assured, today Wesley must pay the price."<br /> The gent introduced himself, looking at Wesley, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Henry Clark, the eldest son of the Clark family and the general manager of the Clark Group in the North District."<br /> "From now on, I will accompany Taylor on her journey of life, and I will not allow anyone to bully her."<br /> "My identity carries weight. You should understand that. Now, apologize to Taylor. Apologize! Did you hear me? Apologize!"<br /> Madison's eyes lit up. She hadn't expected the gent before her to hold such a high status. She continued to shout, "Did you hear that? Taylor will be with Mr. Clark from now on. Apologize now."<br /> Wesley glanced at Henry, then at Taylor. He thought, "Have they been together all along?" Wesley had wanted to ask but decided against it because there was no need. He simply gave them a glance and continued walking towards the exit.<br /> "Are you ignoring me?" Henry's face turned cold as he reached out to grab Wesley. Henry's hand froze mid-air as he received a solid hit.<br /> "Until I sign the divorce papers, Taylor and I are still wife and husband. I don't care to investigate whether you two had any intimate relationship during that time, but don't provoke me, or I won't hesitate to make you regret it." Wesley's gaze was icy, and as Henry met his eyes, he felt a twinge of fear and swallowed his words.<br /> Taylor was also stunned. She knew exactly what Wesley had been like over the past five years. There were many surveillance cameras in the house, and she would often check them.<br /> Even when Taylor wasn't home, despite how her family treated Wesley, he always obeyed without complaint, especially towards her. He had never raised his voice, no matter how they treated him.<br /> Today, not only did Wesley dodge when her mother struck, but he also initiated the divorce and now even struck Henry. <br /> Taylor was at a loss for words, thinking, "How could this cowardly gent dare? On what grounds does he dare?"<br /> This change was difficult for Taylor to accept as if she didn't truly understand this guy. The gent who used to be obedient to her, completely submissive, now revealed this side of himself. She watched Wesley walk away in a daze, feeling a strange discomfort in her heart.<br /> "Isn't he leaving with nothing?" Alexis pointed at the wooden box Wesley was holding. "What is he taking with him?"<br /> Madison also realized. Over the past five years, Wesley had always treasured this wooden box, carrying it with him wherever he went. She thought there must be something valuable inside.<br /> Realizing this, Madison hurriedly followed. "Wesley, stop right there, leave the wooden box."<br /> Wesley paused, glanced at Madison, and said, "This is my personal belonging."<br /> "Nonsense, what personal belonging could you possibly have after marrying into the Reed family? Everything you've eaten, worn, and lived in over the years has been provided by the Reed family. Put it down."<br /> As she spoke, Madison reached out to grab the wooden box.<br /> "Ah..." A scream rang out as Madison quickly retracted her hand, a gash appearing on her palm, a crimson liquid dripping.<br /> The wooden box was now stained with the same crimson liquid, trembling lightly in Wesley's hand.<br /> "It's not the right time yet, the day you thirst for this crimson liquid will come," Wesley murmured softly, patting the box before turning to continue his stride towards the exit.<br /> "Monster! A monster!" Madison screamed, causing Taylor and the others to rush out. Seeing the wound in Madison's hand, Taylor was filled with rage.<br /> "Wesley, aren't you going to say something?" Wesley halted once more, contemplating before meeting Taylor's gaze.<br /> "Just stay out of my way from now on. Consider this a warning to you."<br /> "Taylor, that wooden box of his has a mechanism. It must hold something valuable! We can't let him take it with him," Madison, enduring the pain, reminded them.<br /> "Mom, your injury is important. We'll deal with him later. Let me take you to the hospital first." Taylor comforted Madison before calling out to the retreating Wesley.<br /> "Our marriage is over! Yet, you dared to hurt my mother! This won't be the end of it! I will make you regret it!" Ignoring her, Wesley continued walking out.<br /> "Rest assured, I promise he won't see the light of day tomorrow." Henry stepped forward to console. "Let's focus on getting your wound treated first."<br /> "I want him to regret ever existing in this world, to apologize to me in repentance," Madison roared.<br /> "Mom, trust me, I will make him do just that." Taylor looked at Madison with a mix of pity and determination. "Let's go to the hospital first."<br /> In the villa area, Wesley halted, his voice cold. "Get out."<br /> An elderly gent leaped down from a tree, appearing to be in his seventies, yet landing silently from a height of around ten feet.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, your father wants you to come home and take charge."<br /> "He stopped being my father five years ago. He's my enemy."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you misunderstood your father. He had his reasons back then. I swear in my life, once you know the truth, you will forgive him."<br /> "Huh!" Wesley smirked coldly, saying, "I nearly passed away back then. Is that also a misunderstanding?"<br /> The old gent pleaded, "Mr. Harrington, this situation is truly not as you perceive it."<br /> Wesley didn't engage further with the old guy. The events of that year were etched in his memory forever. He was the one who had been abandoned. If not for that incident, why would he have stayed with the Reed family for five years?<br /> Watching Wesley walk away, the old gent had tears silently streaming down his face. "Mr. Harrington, I truly... I truly can't bring myself to speak the truth, but you have misunderstood your father. He also bears burdens and endures pains beyond what an ordinary person can handle."<br /> As Wesley's figure disappeared, the old gent stood up, hesitated for a moment, then dialed a number on his phone.<br /> "Mr. Harrington is now divorced. I've given you the news firsthand. If your daughter is truly together with Mr. Harrington, you must fulfill the promise and let her persuade Mr. Harrington to come home."<br /> After hanging up, a middle-aged gent in a luxurious estate jumped up excitedly. Calming himself, he immediately made another call. "My dear, you're at Yeadeo, right?<br /> "Go find Wesley now. Don't mention the engagement for now. Use every means to get close to him, make him fall in love with you."<br /> "Dad, I don't have time."<br /> "No matter what you are busy with, you must go find Wesley now. No matter what reason you approach him, you must leave a good impression the first time."<br /> "Dad, I'm in trouble right now. If I don't handle it well, I might be good as gone. I have to deal with it immediately. I'm hanging up."<br /> Chapter 3 <br /> The middle-aged gent's voice lowered significantly. "Is there a big incident happening? You didn't tell me? What happened?"<br /> "Quinn Kingsley from Yeadeo, Mr. Kingsley, used our product and now has one foot on the grave. If something really happens to him..."<br /> "You mean Quinn, the uncontested leader of Yeadeo?"<br /> "Yes."<br /> "In that case, you should go find Wesley. Trust me, in this world, there is no problem that Wesley can't solve. As long as he's willing to help, you'll be fine. Listen to me, go find Wesley immediately."<br /> The lady fell silent for a moment before saying, "Okay."<br /> At Yeadeo Harbor, a gent with a large flaxen chain and a watch, sporting a crew cut, hurriedly disembarked, accompanied by a dozen gentlemen.<br /> "Mr. Reed, wherever that trash is, we will find him and tear him apart."<br /> "Yes, that guy dared to harm your mother. We'll make sure he pays for it."<br /> Frank Reed's face turned cold. "Wesley, you coward, thinking you can overturn the world? How dare you touch my mom? Just wait until I find you, you're finished."<br /> "We've found him. Wesley got into a taxi, and our boys followed him."<br /> "Let's go!" Frank waved his hand, leading dozens of men who boarded the car with harpoons, steel pipes, and other weapons.<br /> Inside the taxi, Wesley gazed at the scenery outside, feeling a strange sense of tranquility.<br /> He thought to himself, "I never imagined that while I was secretly paving the way for the Reed family, Taylor, after progressing so rapidly, would start looking down on me more and more."<br /> "Those ladies who know my true identity, which one of them isn't trying to throw themselves at me? Ladies like that don't interest me."<br /> "Being an ordinary gent is truly difficult," Wesley murmured, smiling faintly and deciding not to dwell on these matters anymore. He had important things to attend to and no time to waste on personal affairs.<br /> "Young lad, are you going to Feidgeuo Manor for a job interview?" The driver, curious about Wesley's destination, inquired.<br /> Feidgeuo Manor was Yeadeo's most mysterious private area. Originally a villa area, it was bought at a huge cost five years ago and completely renovated. It was said to have cost a trillion dollars. The former villa area was now Feidgeuo Manor.<br /> "That's my home," Wesley replied nonchalantly.<br /> The driver was taken aback by this revelation, silently cursing Wesley for bragging. After a couple of minutes, the driver regained his composure. "It seems like you and I both prefer to keep a low profile. My car usually gathers dust at home, so I occasionally drive a taxi to experience life."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "My car has been driven by my assistant for the past few years, so it's not gathering dust."<br /> "Haha..." The driver laughed. "We should get together sometime and see whose car is more impressive."<br /> "Sure, whenever we have the time."<br /> As they chatted, the vehicle soon arrived near Feidgeuo Manor, where the massive head of the Feidgeuo Peak protruded, creating a unique landscape in Yeadeo.<br /> The driver asked with a smile, "Since you're the owner here, it's fine if I drive in, right?"<br /> "Of course," Wesley replied.<br /> As soon as Wesley spoke, several cars caught up from behind.<br /> The cars surrounded the one Wesley was in, with the front vehicles braking to force the car to a stop.<br /> When numerous people descended from cars wielding harpoons and steel pipes, the driver's face paled.<br /> Frank and his group got out of the cars, instantly closing in, and without hesitation, started attacking, the steel pipes and harpoons thudding against the car.<br /> Frank's henchman yanked open the door of Wesley's car, poised to stab Wesley with a harpoon, but Wesley swiftly exited the vehicle.<br /> With a firm step on the ground, he launched a swift hit.<br /> A muffled sound echoed as the henchman was hit away.<br /> "What are you looking at?" Frank noticed his henchmen were all staring at him. "All of you, attack together and take him down!"<br /> As he commanded, the henchmen Frank brought with him surged forward.<br /> The taxi driver, trembling, took out his phone to call the police, but Frank glared at him. "I am Frank Reed from Yeadeo Harbor. If you dare, go ahead and make that call."<br /> Frank, leveraging his sister Taylor's status, had been causing trouble in Yeadeo Harbor, and no one dared to provoke him.<br /> Upon hearing Frank's name, the driver hastily put away his phone. "Mr. Reed, I'll just check the time, you guys continue."<br /> "Huh!" Frank snorted coldly, casting his gaze towards the surrounded Wesley.<br /> The sounds of thuds continued to ring out incessantly. Because Wesley was completely surrounded, Frank was unable to see the situation inside clearly, but he could imagine it. After all, in Frank's mind, the henchmen under his command were not to be trifled with.<br /> "Hit him hard for me!"<br /> Another muffled sound and a figure flew out. At that moment, Frank finally saw the situation clearly, and his face turned pale.<br /> Frank knew that Wesley liked to practice martial arts, but he had never expected Wesley to be this skilled. It wasn't Wesley who had been beaten, but his own men by Wesley alone.<br /> Frantically, Frank turned and ran to retrieve a crossbow from the car.<br /> "Clear the way." Frank bellowed, aiming the crossbow at Wesley.<br /> "You scumbag, you think you can fight? Move one more time, and I'll end your life! Surrender!"<br /> Wesley, holding a wooden box, stared at Frank. Ignoring the crossbow in his hand, Wesley said, "Tell your henchmen to back off, or you'll all see the light from above!"<br /> "You're really good at pretending to be tough." Frank took two steps forward. "See the light? Move a muscle and see if I can end your life or not! If you don't have the guts, apologize now!"<br /> Wesley turned his head and looked at the approaching cars, with two expensive ones in the lead, two more in the rear, and another one in the middle.<br /> "Keep acting tough, and I'll put a hole in your head." Frank spoke while glancing at the five cars. "What, looking for help?"<br /> "Let me tell you, those who ride in these cars are not the kind of weaklings like you who rely on connections. With me here, in Yeadeo's social hierarchy, even those who ride in such cars wouldn't dare meddle in this matter. And let me make it clear, without my sister, you're nothing."<br /> <br /> Chapter 4<br /> As Frank's words faded, the five cars came to a halt.<br /> A bodyguard opened the door of the one in the middle, revealing a dazzling pair of shining shoes catching everyone's eye.<br /> The shining shoe encased a beautiful foot. Above, the skirt's hem was adorned with lace.<br /> Then, like a fairy stepping out of a painting, she appeared before everyone's eyes.<br /> The lady was beautiful!<br /> Frank was mesmerized. Ever since the Reed family rose to prominence, he had been surrounded by ladies, but compared to the elegant lady before him, they were worlds apart.<br /> It wasn't just a difference in appearance but an incomparable gap in demeanor.<br /> The lady descending from the Maybach seemed like a celestial being untouched by mortal affairs.<br /> The embodiment of a fairy in the mundane world.<br /> She simply stood there after getting out of the car, perfectly embodying what it meant to be graceful and elegant.<br /> The lady glanced at Wesley, then at Frank.<br /> Frank grinned, saying, "May I have the honor of knowing the name of this esteemed lady? I am Frank..."<br /> The lady spoke calmly. "Disrespect Mr. Harrington, and you're done for."<br /> Her bodyguards, unfazed by Frank's crossbow, swiftly overwhelmed him, sending him crashing to the ground.<br /> The henchmen who had come with Frank, previously defeated by Wesley, now scrambled to their feet and fled in all directions.<br /> Who would dare provoke someone who could afford such a car?<br /> "My sister is Taylor Reed, the chairperson of Reed Group," Frank shouted, clutching his head.<br /> Ignoring him, one of the bodyguards dragged him to the roadside grass while another used a belt to tighten around Frank's neck, exerting pressure.<br /> "Enough, a lesson is all that's needed." Wesley spoke calmly, and only when the lady gestured did the bodyguards release Frank.<br /> Frank lay there, already unconscious.<br /> Wesley turned to the lady. "Who are you?"<br /> "I am Mia Roberts, the general manager of Vinver Business Alliance's Yeadeo branch." She looked at Wesley and continued, "Mr. Harrington, my father mentioned that you have miraculous healing skills and earnestly requested your assistance. A generous reward awaits."<br /> Wesley furrowed his brow slightly, thinking, "There are indeed people who recognize my abilities and status, yet I've rarely intervened in the past five years. Today, shortly after I divorced Taylor, she is here. Whose arrangement is this?"<br /> "Mr. Harrington, my father also mentioned that you are benevolent and has raised the banner of compassion among healers, serving as a role model and benchmark for all in the medical field."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "You have a way with words. Tell me the specifics."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, please get in the car first. I will explain in detail on the way."<br /> The phrase "compassionate healer" held significant weight for Wesley, who had saved countless lives from the brink of death.<br /> Without further ado, he got into the car.<br /> Inside, after Mia brewed coffee for Wesley, she began. "Vinver Business Alliance has a wide range of business operations, and I mainly oversee the health supplement sector, which has seen some success in recent years.<br /> "Recently, Quinn Kingsley started using our medicines, and now there's an accident."<br /> As she spoke, Mia kept her gaze fixed on Wesley.<br /> Quinn, the undisputed leader of Yeadeo, was a figure of immense influence.<br /> Upon hearing this name, Wesley showed no particular reaction. "If the city's leader faces issues with your products, it is indeed a concern. Let's go and see."<br /> With just a sentence, Wesley leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest.<br /> Mia was secretly alarmed, thinking, "He knows who Quinn is, yet he seems indifferent. Who is this Wesley, really? No wonder Dad has instructed me to find a way to win his favor." Mia's inner resistance toward Wesley quietly shifted.<br /> Wesley had piqued her curiosity.<br /> As the vehicle was moving, Wesley's phone rang.<br /> Wesley opened his eyes and took out his phone to see Taylor calling.<br /> Pressing the answer button, he asked, "What's the matter?"<br /> On the other end of the line, Taylor, driving towards Feidgeuo Manor, had a grim expression.<br /> She thought, "Has Wesley ever spoken to me in such a cold tone before? Is he really this heartless right after our divorce?"<br /> Already furious, she snapped. "Wesley, do you even consider yourself a human being?<br /> "Today, not only did you lay hands on my mother, but you also had someone attack my brother. Do you not remember our past at all?"<br /> Wesley calmly replied, "Do we have a past to remember?"<br /> "You truly are a heartless scumbag, just as my mother said. You are an ungrateful and vicious person I raised for five years. Even a pet would wag its tail at me!"<br /> Taylor wanted to continue her tirade, but the phone line had already turned busy.<br /> This only fueled her anger further.<br /> Just now, she had received a call from Frank's underlings, informing her that Wesley had sent people to attack Frank and even intended to end him.<br /> Taylor wanted to demand answers, but...<br /> As Taylor was clutching her fists, her gaze turned icy.<br /> After a moment, she picked up her phone again. "Wesley, you are so narrow-minded. You have no ambition. Any lady would steer clear of you."<br /> "Just because I dumped you, you are doing this on purpose to make me feel sick. Pretending to be aloof and seeking revenge? Do you even deserve it?"<br /> "In Yeadeo, squashing you would be as easy as squashing an ant. You're asking for it! If anything happens to my brother, I will make you wish you were ending!"<br /> Her furious voice message echoed in the car.<br /> Wesley chuckled and put away his phone.<br /> Beside him, Mia seemed contemplative. Before coming, she had already ordered a swift investigation into Wesley.<br /> She was curious, thinking, "How could someone valued by my father could be the one 'marrying into' the Reed family."<br /> Being tactful, Mia chose not to ask and pretended not to have heard.<br /> After about forty minutes, they arrived at the Kingsley Manor.<br /> The Kingsley family members, upon seeing Mia alight from the car, all wore grim expressions.<br /> Mia greeted them with a smile, "Everyone, this is Wesley Harrington, Mr. Harrington, the miraculous healer I specially invited to treat Mr. Kingsley."<br /> "Him? The gent who married into the Reed family?"<br /> "A miraculous healer? Is he even worthy? Are healers so worthless now?"<br /> "A useless gent who mooches off of the Reed family? How dare he call himself a miraculous healer? Truly a joke among all jokes."<br /> Chapter 5<br /> <br /> Amanda Kingsley, Quinn's granddaughter, stared coldly at Wesley and Mia.<br /> This lady, dressed in a smart suit, also held significant fame in Yeadeo, overseeing the region's business activities, including investment attraction and various local business negotiations.<br /> Amanda had a favorable view of Taylor, who had risen swiftly in recent times, and they had interacted frequently.<br /> She was aware of Wesley's existence and had advised Taylor to part ways with him early on.<br /> But Amanda never imagined that Mia would bring someone like Wesley, a complete waste, and claim he was a miraculous healer.<br /> Glaring at Mia, she said, "Mia, once my grandfather is well, it's best for your Roberts family to leave Yeadeo."<br /> "As for you..." She glanced at Wesley. "I will advise Taylor to divorce you. You have deceived Taylor's feelings and now shamelessly made your way into my family. You are a despicable creature."<br /> After reprimanding Mia and Wesley, she turned to an elderly gent beside her, and her tone and attitude completely changed. "Mr. Phillips, sorry to trouble you. My grandfather is inside, please."<br /> Mia looked at the elderly gent, who was already in his twilight years, feeling deeply shocked.<br /> Scott Phillips, the 38th generation heir of the Healing Clinic, was now ninety-two years old.<br /> Renowned as a miraculous healer, he was a respected figure in the medical community of Yeadeo and even nationally.<br /> He no longer conducted consultations personally due to his old age. Mia had visited him specifically to pay her respects once she had arrived in Yeadeo but had not met Scott.<br /> She never expected Scott to appear in person. It was understandable, as Quinn held a prominent position in the city. Despite the profound influence of the Phillips family, they still had to show respect to Quinn.<br /> Mia looked at Wesley, feeling conflicted and thinking, "Dad has confidently claimed that Wesley has extraordinary abilities, but does he really?"<br /> She harbored doubts, but out of propriety, Mia spoke. "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the trouble."<br /> Wesley smiled, "It's fine. As long as the person can be healed."<br /> His open-mindedness impressed Mia.<br /> After about half an hour, Amanda emerged from the room. All eyes instantly turned towards her.<br /> It was evident that Amanda had wailed out, with traces of tears still visible.<br /> "Amanda, how is it?" A middle-aged gent anxiously asked her.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family who had rushed back also focused their attention on her.<br /> "Mr. Phillips said that there's little hope of recovery. He could only use acupuncture to wake grandfather for half an hour. When grandfather wakes up, let's all go in and see if he has any final instructions."<br /> Everyone was shocked.<br /> "How could this be?"<br /> "Is Mr. Phillips also helpless?"<br /> The members of the Kingsley family found it hard to accept this reality, especially since Quinn had always treated his juniors well.<br /> The thought of Quinn departing saddened some, and tears silently fell.<br /> Publicly, Quinn's status was the foundation of the Kingsley family's prominence in Yeadeo.<br /> If Quinn were to pass away, the Kingsley family would undoubtedly decline.<br /> The atmosphere within the Kingsley family was somber.<br /> Amanda looked at her family members, opened her mouth, but said nothing, silently turning back into the room.<br /> "Stop crying," A middle-aged gent said sternly, "Dad wouldn't want to see you all in tears. If he's really leaving, we mustn't let him worry about us. Pull yourselves together."<br /> After these words, the middle-aged gent also entered the room.<br /> The younger members of the Kingsley family wiped their tears vigorously, trying to force smiles, but in truth, they looked better at crying than pretending to be happy.<br /> Mia's spirit plummeted as she realized the gravity of the situation. Even if an ordinary person passed away from consuming health supplements, it spelled big trouble for those who sold them. And when the deceased happened to be Quinn, the stakes were even higher.<br /> She understood that it would be difficult for this branch to stay in Yeadeo, and even the headquarters might face repercussions.<br /> "Let's go in and have a look." Wesley glanced at Mia. "There might still be a chance."<br /> "Ah..." Mia stared at Wesley in surprise. Seeing him already heading towards the room, she quickly followed suit.<br /> Inside the room, the members of the Kingsley family stood around the mattress, maintaining a certain distance.<br /> Scott lit the alcohol lamp and took out the needles, his expression solemn.<br /> He looked at the members of the Kingsley family. "Think about what you want to say to Mr. Kingsley later. Once you're ready, let me know, and then I'll proceed with the acupuncture."<br /> As he said this, tears welled up in many eyes.<br /> "If you don't mind, let me take a look. I have a way." Wesley spoke up, drawing everyone's attention.<br /> Amanda's face darkened. "Who let you in? Get out!"<br /> "Mia, have you lost your mind? Tricked by this trash and actually brought him here as a miracle healer. Get out with him! I'll settle the score with you in a couple of days."<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, at a loss for words.<br /> "Even Mr. Phillips is unable to reverse the situation. What use are you? Get out." Another younger member of the Kingsley family angrily rebuked.<br /> The middle-aged gent added, "We're in no mood right now. You better leave immediately."<br /> "I understand your narrow-mindedness," Wesley continued, "But as a healer, once I see a patient, I cannot stand by and watch him draw his last breath."<br /> "Wesley, you're quite the charlatan. Do you really want to be gone right now?" Amanda's voice was filled with anger.<br /> "Amanda, let me say a few words," Scott interjected, and Amanda fell silent.<br /> Looking at Wesley, Scott began. "Young lad, at my age, I've seen a lot and have a broad perspective. Today, however, I find it hard to remain indifferent. I practiced medicine from the age of sixteen until I stopped seeing patients for a total of seventy years."<br /> "I've saved countless patients from various illnesses. I never easily declare a patient's fate, nor do I believe I have the right to do so."<br /> "But from your recent remarks, it seems like you're accusing me of such actions. Young people wanting to make a name for themselves by stepping on the shoulders of their predecessors, I can understand."<br /> "But this kind of behavior displeases me."<br /> "My displeasure, what does it mean to you? Do you understand?"<br /> "Even if you are a healer, your career will be ruined because of this."<br /> Chapter 6 <br /> In the face of Scott's veiled threats, Wesley simply smiled and brushed them off.<br /> Looking at Scott, he asked, "I've always focused on the issue at hand rather than attacking individuals. I have a few questions for you. If you can't administer the needles, how long do you think Quinn can hold on?"<br /> "Seven days, but he will remain unconscious," Scott replied bluntly.<br /> "Then let me ask you this, is there anyone in the world with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "Outrageous," Amanda coldly interjected, "Mr. Phillips is unparalleled in his medical expertise."<br /> Scott glanced at Amanda. "Amanda, let me handle this question."<br /> Continuing to address Wesley, he said, "I don't underestimate myself, nor do I overestimate. There are countless talented individuals in the world, like stars in the sky. I may not dare claim to be the best in medical skills, but those who surpass me are few."<br /> "That means there are some," Wesley calmly remarked, causing Scott's expression to shift slightly, "Indeed, there are."<br /> "Then let me ask you this. Do you think within seven days, the Kingsley family won't find someone with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "If they do find someone, do you believe there is an illness that you cannot cure, but this person can?"<br /> Wesley's questions were sharp and resounding.<br /> Scott's face changed once more as he was rendered speechless.<br /> "Even if there is, that person will never be you." Amanda's face turned icy. "Now get out. Don't spout your eloquence here. Your deceitful behavior is repulsive."<br /> "Your understanding of me is merely hearsay, isn't it?" Wesley retorted, his gaze mocking Amanda, "Has your background and education taught you such arrogance and prejudice?"<br /> "Arrogance?" Amanda's face grew colder as she disdainfully looked at Wesley. "Prejudice?<br /> "Did I say something wrong just now? You are nothing but stagnant waste, a parasite living off others. If it weren't for Taylor, you would have starved on the streets long ago."<br /> "Relying on sweet words, deceiving Taylor. She, with her kind heart, can't bear to divorce you, but don't push your luck. If it weren't for Taylor's sake, you would have been sent out long ago."<br /> Scott interrupted Amanda, "Amanda, although I find this lad a bit annoying, what he said does hold some truth. There are indeed individuals with better medical skills than me. Your grandfather can hold on for seven days. Try reaching out to see if someone can come over. I'll help you make connections."<br /> "If it really doesn't work out after seven days, I'll administer the needles to your grandfather. However, at that point, I can only buy you three minutes."<br /> As soon as Scott spoke, the faces of the Kingsley family members grew even more solemn. True healers were rare and not easily summoned.<br /> While the Kingsley family had connections in Yeadeo, their influence waned outside of it.<br /> "Mr. Phillips, please administer the needles. Life has its ups and downs, and we understand that. Just buy my father a bit more time." The middle-aged gent spoke up.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family nodded in agreement.<br /> Amanda looked at Scott. "Mr. Phillips, please."<br /> "In that case, please have everyone unrelated leave. I need silence," Scott calmly stated.<br /> Amanda glared at Wesley, her eyes speaking volumes without a word.<br /> The unrelated individuals were, naturally, Wesley and Mia.<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, intending to leave, but she suddenly hesitated.<br /> Instead of leaving, Wesley moved forward.<br /> "What are you doing?" A young member of the Kingsley family stepped forward with a stern expression, pushing Wesley.<br /> In one swift motion, Wesley executed a clean shoulder throw, toppling the young gent to the ground, his own expression turning cold.<br /> "A bunch of fools! If it weren't for my teacher's teachings about not turning a blind eye to those in need, I wouldn't bother with you ignorant lot," Wesley remarked with disdain.<br /> As Wesley effortlessly took down one individual from the Kingsley family, the others seemed slow to react.<br /> By the time they realized what was happening, Wesley had already picked up the needle next to Scott and casually flicked his wrist.<br /> The needle flew out of his hand, piercing Quinn's temple, followed by a second needle, a third needle, and so on.<br /> "What are you doing? Stop!" Amanda's voice rose in urgency, echoed by the rest of the Kingsley family members who rushed forward to restrain Wesley.<br /> "Stay back, everyone. Wait." Scott suddenly stood up, blocking the others. "Let him try."<br /> Amanda and the others were left dumbfounded, thinking, "What does this mean?"<br /> Despite their confusion, they heeded Scott's words.<br /> After Scott stopped the members of the Kingsley family, he fixed his gaze on Wesley.<br /> Wesley proceeded to use eighteen needles in succession, symbolizing the levels of pain.<br /> Even if someone had descended into the depths of hell, they must be brought back.<br /> The final needle, also piercing a vital point, caused Quinn's body to tremble suddenly, resonating with the previous eighteen needles.<br /> Scott's eyes widened, his body trembling slightly. His reaction left Amanda and the others even more puzzled, but none dared to interrupt.<br /> Moments later, Wesley placed a palm on Quinn's chest, causing all eighteen needles to be shaken off. When all the needles landed on the ground, the part of the skin where the needles had pierced turned dark.<br /> Wesley then dragged Quinn to the edge of the mattress, flipped him over with his head facing downwards, and gave him a firm pat on the back.<br /> Quinn spat out a mouthful of black liquid. When Wesley flipped him back to lie flat, his complexion had regained some color.<br /> "The Hand of Darkness... It's the Hand of Darkness!" Scott exclaimed with excitement, his body quivering, "It's the Hand that descends into the dark world, snatching people from the hands of the Evil!"<br /> "You do have some knowledge, recognizing the Hand of Darkness." Wesley glanced at Scott.<br /> Scott's gaze towards Wesley had undergone a drastic change. He respectfully clasped his hands together.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thirty years ago, I had the honor of attending a teaching conference held by Mr. Vanderbilt. I saw the Hand of Darkness, but my limited aptitude only allowed me to grasp the basics."<br /> "I have been blind and ignorant. I apologize for my earlier offenses. Please forgive me, Mr. Harrington."<br /> The Mr. Vanderbilt Scott referred to was Wesley's teacher, Ulysses Vanderbilt. He generously imparted his skills to others, but the ability to learn depended on one's innate talent.<br /> In this world, few could learn Ulysses' skills.<br /> Scott had been fortunate to receive guidance from Ulysses, which had elevated his medical skills. However, the Hand of Darkness, a miraculous ability, was beyond his comprehension.<br /> Wesley smiled faintly, "Your actions earlier are understandable. I appreciate your words."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you must be an exceptional disciple of Mr. Vanderbilt, possessing unparalleled magnanimity. Impressive," Scott continued.<br /> "Enough with the flattery at your age."<br /> "You are mistaken, Mr. Harrington. Every word I speak is sincere."<br /> Mia, Amanda, and the others stood bewildered by the unfolding situation.<br /> "Mr. Phillips... he... he..." Amanda's words faltered.<br /> Scott turned to the members of the Kingsley family. "Meeting Mr. Harrington was Quinn's luck. His symptoms have been cured by Mr. Harrington. With a few days of rest, he will be fine."<br /> The waste Taylor had previously said was called Mr. Harrington by Scott!<br /> Recalling their previous attitudes, Amanda hurriedly apologized, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> The members of the Kingsley family all apologized in unison, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> Chapter 7 <br /> With a faint smile, Wesley remarked, "As family members of a patient, your actions earlier are understandable. There's no need for such formality."<br /> Amanda's perplexity deepened as she thought, "Where is the cowardly waste that Taylor described? This display of magnanimity and breadth is far from it."<br /> Mia, too, felt a shiver of realization, thinking, "No wonder Dad has insisted on my proximity to Wesley.<br /> This guy..."<br /> She gazed at Wesley, her curiosity piqued, a sense of exploration stirring within her.<br /> "Mia has brought you here, Mr. Harrington, to cure my grandfather. The Kingsley family will never forget this act. However, considering that my grandfather's ailment stemmed from the health supplements produced by the Vinver Business Alliance, we will be conducting an investigation into it."<br /> Amanda continued, looking at Wesley, "What do you think... of this approach?"<br /> It was Mia who had invited Wesley, so Amanda had grown wiser, refraining from asking for a direct punishment of the Vinver Business Alliance.<br /> As Mia heard Amanda's words, her heart skipped a beat, realizing trouble was brewing.<br /> "On the way here, Ms. Roberts briefed me on the situation. You conducted experiments on mice, correct?"<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes, the health supplements we received were exclusively provided by the Roberts family. There were no similar cases on the market, so we used mice for testing.<br /> "All the mice that ingested this supplement were gone."<br /> She looked at Mia and added, her voice turning colder, "Before the experiment, I specifically contacted Mia to inquire about the testing methods during the development phase, which involved mice.<br /> "There have been individuals eyeing my grandfather's position, some even wishing for his demise. I never imagined that the Vinver Business Alliance, which I attracted for investment, would become a weapon in someone else's hands."<br /> "Do you have any of the remaining medicine?" Wesley inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes."<br /> "Bring some over."<br /> Immediately, someone fetched the medicine. After it was brought to him, Wesley took out a supplement and swallowed it directly.<br /> This scene left Amanda and the others dumbfounded.<br /> Scott, too, was bewildered. "Mr. Harrington, what are you doing?"<br /> Wesley smiled, "Just proving that this medicine is not toxic."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thank you," Mia thanked sincerely, feeling like crying at that moment.<br /> Amanda, with a puzzled expression, looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, are you suggesting that my grandfather's condition wasn't caused by the Vinver Business Alliance's medicine? What about the mice?"<br /> The rest were equally puzzled.<br /> "Yes, but not entirely," Wesley said, leaving everyone even more bewildered.<br /> Mia's emotions were like a rollercoaster ride, from relief to immediate tension.<br /> "This medicine itself is not toxic, but when taken with another substance made from a certain plant, it results in Quinn's condition. The mice would die immediately, while humans could endure a few more days."<br /> Wesley continued to explain, "The plant used in this concoction is originally meant for crafting slow-acting toxins, not for human consumption."<br /> Looking at Amanda, Wesley said, "During this period, whoever had access to your grandfather and the mice will better understand why these events occurred."<br /> The gaze of members of the Kingsley family immediately focused on a lady.<br /> Amanda, somewhat incredulous, looked at her. "Can you offer an explanation?"<br /> The lady was the wife of Amanda's deceased brother. She found it hard to accept, as did the rest of the Kingsley family.<br /> This lady had been named the exemplary lady who served her family well this year, not due to her connection with the Kingsley family but because she genuinely deserved it.<br /> "What do you mean? Amanda, what explanation do you want from me?"<br /> The lady stared at Amanda. "Am I the only one who had access to Grandfather and the mice? You, and you... and you, who didn't have access?"<br /> "You all claim to treat me as family. Since I married into the Kingsley family, I have worked diligently, contributing my share even if not acknowledged."<br /> "Amanda, it has been over a year since your brother passed, and I never once considered remarrying. Now, just because of his words, you demand an explanation from me?"<br /> Pointing at Wesley, the lady questioned, "Just because he accuses me of poisoning, you suspect me? Tell me, did I poison him?" The lady glared at Wesley.<br /> "I am merely analyzing the facts. As for concluding this case, it's not within my purview," Wesley addressed the members of the Kingsley family, saying, "You should conduct a thorough investigation into this matter.<br /> "I will write a prescription. Have Quinn take it on time, and he will recover in seven days."<br /> Amanda hurried to fetch paper and pen while Wesley prepared the prescription. Once done, he was ready to leave.<br /> Amanda said hurriedly, "Mr. Harrington, I've already made arrangements for lunch."<br /> "No need," Wesley smiled.<br /> The Kingsley family sought to build closer ties with Wesley, given his extraordinary medical skills. Wesley was well aware of this.<br /> Looking at Amanda and the others, Wesley remarked, "In the future, if you encounter any difficult medical cases that others cannot solve, seek me out. Remember, cases others cannot solve."<br /> The gaze of the Kingsley family members toward Wesley changed once again. Many renowned healers had eccentric personalities and were difficult to engage.<br /> They hadn't expected Wesley to possess such remarkable medical skills without any airs.<br /> As Wesley prepared to depart, the members of the Kingsley family did not dare to insist on his stay, so they accompanied him outside.<br /> "Oh, how could we forget such an important matter? Amanda, what about the consultation fee?" The middle-aged gent inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the oversight. Please wait a moment." Amanda hurried back inside and soon returned with a bank card in hand.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, there's one million dollars in here."<br /> Without hesitation, Wesley accepted the bank card and boarded Mia's car.<br /> During the journey, Mia boldly looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, you've helped me immensely. Can I treat you to a meal? Don't decline in a hurry. It's not a fancy restaurant, but it will leave you wanting more. It's a small place on the street, with only eight plates of noodles served each day, each plate containing different ingredients.<br /> "I managed to secure a reservation. Are you interested?"<br /> Wesley thought, "Eight Plates of Noodles? Ah, Aaron's restaurant. It has been a while since I visited those old friends."<br /> Wesley nodded. "Let's go then."<br /> The restaurant, Eight Plates of Noodles, was located on Chanxold Street near the Yeadeo First Central Hospital.<br /> The establishment was small, serving only eight plates of noodles each day at a price of 10 thousand dollars each. Vernoic's television culinary program had specifically covered this incident.<br /> Reservations were a must to secure a plate.<br /> The restaurant's owner had a mysterious background. While the specifics were unknown, a high-ranking noble from the capital of Vernoic, Kingsland, had caused a scene there once.<br /> He had attempted to force his way in without a reservation. Although this incident hadn't been reported, rumors suggested that a garbage truck had to be called to dispose of the intruder's remains, as he was too shattered to be removed by conventional means.<br /> Since then, no one dared to cause trouble.<br /> On their way, Mia introduced Wesley to the background story.<br /> "Mr. Turner, two plates of noodles." Mia called out once they arrived.<br /> Aaron Turner didn't respond but visibly paused upon seeing Wesley beside Mia.<br /> A faint smile appeared on his usually stoic face. Though the flesh on the face seemed stiff, it was indeed a smile. "Coming right up."<br /> Mia glanced at Aaron with a hint of surprise, thinking, "When did he become so warm and enthusiastic? His tone seemed a bit agitated earlier, didn't it?"<br /> Soon enough, Aaron brought two plates of noodles to the table. One steaming hot and the other devoid of any warmth.<br /> As Mia observed Aaron placing the plate without steam in front of Wesley, her expression changed slightly.<br /> It was a plate of instant noodles having soaked in cold water, with the seasoning barely dissolved.<br /> She felt a sense of panic. Mia had wanted to leave a good impression on Wesley, which was why she had chosen this place.<br /> However, Aaron had served such a plate of noodles.<br /> She dared not question Aaron. The type of noodles served here was not determined by the guests but by Aaron's mood.<br /> "This girl named Mia is quite something, living up to her name, and quite kind-hearted," Aaron remarked, looking at Wesley.<br /> "Get lost," Wesley retorted, using his fork to pick up the noodles and devouring them.<br /> Mia's face turned pale instantly. Disrespecting Aaron was akin to risking Wesley's life.<br /> To her astonishment, Aaron chuckled, tears welling up in his eyes.<br /> He wiped them away. "Alright, I'll leave you to your meal."<br /> Before departing, he gave Mia a thumbs-up. "Seize the opportunity."<br /> The eight plates of noodles symbolized the eight comrades who had faced life and life-threatening situations together.<br /> Wesley ate voraciously. Initially, they had only one pack of instant noodles to share among the eight of them, forcing them to divide it.<br /> Despite the circumstances, they devoured the noodles joyfully.<br /> Aaron had promised that once they survived, each one would have the most delicious plate of noodles.<br /> However, five of the eight had perished.<br /> Wesley had come dangerously close to life-threatening situations, but managed to cling to life.<br /> For him, the plate of noodles was not food but the bond of friendship that had shielded him from harm.<br /> "Do you... know each other?" Mia couldn't help but ask, her voice low and curious.<br /> "Some things are better left unknown," Wesley replied.<br /> Mia nodded in understanding, falling silent as they continued eating noodles. She couldn't help stealing glances at Wesley throughout the meal.<br /> This gent had piqued her curiosity even more.<br /> "Wesley, I see. No wonder you agreed to the divorce so readily. You've already found someone else outside."<br /> A sharp voice interrupted their meal.<br /> Taylor approached with a cold expression, accompanied by Henry.	Adoread Romance story	8	https://facebook.com/61557113391558	INSTALL_MOBILE_APP	1713250800	View Edit Delete
1666981	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727712	1734958300	695	1089349355679698	1	7.3000301262745E+14	1714114800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	235254296344339	0	Adoread Romance story	120207848352050113	play.google.com	Install now	NONE	video	HOT BOOK✨Tap the button to read more👉		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.adoread.book		1713261149	2.3525429634434E+14	Adoread Romance story	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438099846_464239392624112_2876552204437209724_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=IA6dv23ix9kQ7kNvgH9h8Ev&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDs7f63p2b4Kwabq_RJ7pm5t-9ln21fPjE_omNseTXWeA&oe=663A8BDB	person_profile	0	Adoread Romance story	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438087354_987722659633325_4617979304154121770_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=MSTPEjPUH-cQ7kNvgFL5W8j&_nc_oc=AdgpwaJ_FzT68rCDDAQNh2Gl_u2GOsYvrVbD193DF-ULcLGJo3-9PDepP2_rOOC-IASilg8BL0R5HKGoktH3yfME&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCsMRw7f24Em5vdJd0I5ZFNbJHDlSHCbIwPPp9309_3pA&oe=663A7082	0	3	Chapter 1 <br /> "Wesley, are you trying to harm me? You useless piece of trash, can't even make a decent cup of coffee, can you?"<br /> Madison Blair lifted her coffee cup and splashed it directly onto Wesley Harrington's face.<br /> "What are you looking at, you spineless waste? Your name sounds so lofty? I might as well call you a waste."<br /> Glancing at the grotesque expression of his wife's mother, Wesley pulled out his phone to check the time.<br /> Exactly twelve o'clock. It had been five full years since he married Taylor Reed.<br /> The appointed time had come.<br /> He had fulfilled his promise, safeguarding the Reed family for five years, transforming them from a family living off fishing to one perceived as affluent by the common folk.<br /> Wiping the coffee off his face, he turned and walked away.<br /> "Where do you think you're going? Go fetch some more coffee," Madison shouted.<br /> "Madison, didn't you say this waste is obedient at home, doing whatever he's told? I don't think he's taking it lying down."<br /> Madison grew angrier. "Wesley, you stop right there. My family has fed and housed you. If you dare disobey, I'll have you thrown out!"<br /> Ignoring her, Wesley continued downstairs.<br /> "When Taylor comes back, I'll immediately have you two divorced. Do you hear me? Stay right there," Madison threatened, "I'll let you know your place today."<br /> Grabbing a golf club, Madison swiftly charged towards Wesley.<br /> Seeing Wesley heading downstairs, she swung the club viciously at his back.<br /> Without turning back, Wesley gently sidestepped.<br /> Losing her balance, Madison tumbled forward, rolling down the stairs with a series of thumps.<br /> "Ouch... it hurts, it hurts so much!"<br /> As Madison reached the ground floor, she wailed in pain and her sister immediately rushed to her.<br /> "Wesley, what have you done? How dare you hit my sister!" Madison's sister hurried down, checking on Madison's condition.<br /> Wesley remained silent, observing the scene.<br /> "Quick, call Taylor. Tell her to come back. Today, she must divorce this waste." Madison glared at Wesley. "How dare you hit me? Not only will I let Taylor divorce you, but I'll make sure you leave in disgrace."<br /> "Mum, what's wrong?" At that moment, a gent and a lady walked in.<br /> The lady was Taylor, Madison's daughter.<br /> She ran towards Madison.<br /> As Madison pointed at Wesley, tears streamed down her face. "Taylor, he hit me, he hit me! When you're not home, he changes his attitude, scolding and hitting me in the slightest displeasure. He even pushed me down the stairs just now. Alexis can testify."<br /> Madison's sister, Alexis Blair, chimed in. "Yes, Wesley, this trash not only hit your mother but also threatened to hit me too. We cannot tolerate such trash."<br /> "Taylor, I have been telling you to divorce him for years. You've been supporting him, treating him like a Lord at home, but he's an ungrateful wolf in sheep's clothing."<br /> Helping Madison up, Taylor noticed the scrapes on Madison's arms and legs, her expression turning cold.<br /> "Wesley, why did you hit my mother? You better give me an explanation."<br /> Wesley looked at Taylor, his wife.<br /> Five years had passed, and she had never shown him kindness.<br /> Taylor dressed impeccably, a paragon of a successful lady, with a face that could be deemed angelic, yet whether her heart was as angelic remained a mystery.<br /> Her figure, too, left countless men yearning.<br /> For five years, Wesley had thought he might develop feelings for this lady, but in reality, it never happened.<br /> "There are surveillance cameras in the house," Wesley stated calmly before descending the stairs into the hallway.<br /> Despite residing in a three-story villa, Wesley's living quarters were confined to the stairwell.<br /> He harbored no resentment towards this arrangement. It was merely a promise. It was just that Taylor failed to appreciate him.<br /> This home held little value that he wished to cling onto.<br /> Retrieving a wooden box from beneath his pillow, Wesley extracted two documents. Casting a fleeting glance at the modest abode he had called home for five years, Wesley smiled faintly.<br /> He thought, "Finally... I'm free."<br /> Pushing the door ajar, Wesley was met by Taylor's piercing gaze. "I've reviewed the surveillance footage. Yes, my mother intended to strike you, but even if she did, what difference would it make?"<br /> "She's a lady. How much could her blows hurt you? Why did you dodge?"<br /> "If you hadn't dodged, my mother wouldn't have tumbled down." Wesley stared at Taylor, unable to comprehend her thought process.<br /> He had no interest in engaging in these arguments. Handing over the two documents to Taylor, he remarked, "The divorce agreement. I've already signed it. Take a look. I'm leaving with nothing."<br /> "With your current influence, there's no need for you to visit the city hall. Someone will handle it for you, right?"<br /> Madison was taken aback. She swiftly snatched the divorce agreement, flipping through it hastily.<br /> The contents were indeed straightforward. Both parties willingly divorced, with Wesley relinquishing all claims and having already signed.<br /> In an instant, Madison's pain seemed to dissipate. "Taylor, sign it quickly. Sign it."<br /> Taylor was still in a daze.<br /> She pondered.<br /> "A divorce agreement? Wesley has already prepared a divorce agreement. On what grounds?"<br /> "What gives him the right to initiate a divorce? All these years, he's done nothing at home, lacking any ambition. Always practicing martial arts, what right does he have to seek a divorce?"<br /> "If anyone should initiate it, it should be me. Moreover, now that I'm back to discussing this matter with him. Could it be that word got out, and Wesley, for the sake of his pride, rushed to prepare a divorce agreement first?"<br /> "It must be so, but... No!"<br /> "Wanting to leave with nothing, is he retreating to advance? As the chairman of the Reed Group, how could I be served with a divorce?"<br /> "Hey Wesley, I never expected this from you. Have I not treated you well enough? You seek a divorce, attempting to turn your retreat into advance, aiming to embarrass me?"<br /> Taylor glared at Wesley. "I'm telling you, it's impossible."<br /> Snatching the divorce agreement, she tore it to shreds.<br /> "Taylor, what are you doing? Such a great opportunity. Why not just sign it and let him leave?" Madison grew anxious.<br /> "Mom, I do intend to divorce this trash, but the decision must come from me. I returned specifically to address this matter."<br /> With that, Taylor produced two documents. "Wesley, remember that it's me who's divorcing you. It's me who no longer wants you. Initially, out of marital obligation, I had considered offering you some compensation. Now, you don't even need to think about it. Sign the divorce agreement and leave my home."<br /> Wesley offered a faint smile as he accepted the divorce agreement.<br /> "What are you laughing at?" Taylor demanded angrily.<br /> Wesley's smile seemed to mock her, fueling her rage.<br /> Ignoring her entirely, Wesley signed the document and handed it over.<br /> "What are you laughing at? Answer me! Who do you think you are?" Taylor roared once more.<br /> Wesley glanced at her before striding towards the exit.<br /> "Stop!" The gent who had accompanied Taylor stepped forward, blocking Wesley's path. "Taylor asked you a question, and... Your previous attitude displeased me. Apologize to Taylor, or I'll have you leave in disgrace!"<br /> <br /> Chapter 2 <br /> "Yes, let him leave in disgrace. He thought he could just hit me and walk away so easily," Madison joined in the commotion, also noticing the gent blocking Wesley's path.<br /> Madison had a keen interest in luxury goods, having frequented various high-end establishments over the years as the Reed family's living conditions improved. The gent was wearing an expensive watch and dressed head to toe in high-end luxury brands.<br /> Seeing Madison's gaze, the gent spoke. "Rest assured, today Wesley must pay the price."<br /> The gent introduced himself, looking at Wesley, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Henry Clark, the eldest son of the Clark family and the general manager of the Clark Group in the North District."<br /> "From now on, I will accompany Taylor on her journey of life, and I will not allow anyone to bully her."<br /> "My identity carries weight. You should understand that. Now, apologize to Taylor. Apologize! Did you hear me? Apologize!"<br /> Madison's eyes lit up. She hadn't expected the gent before her to hold such a high status. She continued to shout, "Did you hear that? Taylor will be with Mr. Clark from now on. Apologize now."<br /> Wesley glanced at Henry, then at Taylor. He thought, "Have they been together all along?" Wesley had wanted to ask but decided against it because there was no need. He simply gave them a glance and continued walking towards the exit.<br /> "Are you ignoring me?" Henry's face turned cold as he reached out to grab Wesley. Henry's hand froze mid-air as he received a solid hit.<br /> "Until I sign the divorce papers, Taylor and I are still wife and husband. I don't care to investigate whether you two had any intimate relationship during that time, but don't provoke me, or I won't hesitate to make you regret it." Wesley's gaze was icy, and as Henry met his eyes, he felt a twinge of fear and swallowed his words.<br /> Taylor was also stunned. She knew exactly what Wesley had been like over the past five years. There were many surveillance cameras in the house, and she would often check them.<br /> Even when Taylor wasn't home, despite how her family treated Wesley, he always obeyed without complaint, especially towards her. He had never raised his voice, no matter how they treated him.<br /> Today, not only did Wesley dodge when her mother struck, but he also initiated the divorce and now even struck Henry. <br /> Taylor was at a loss for words, thinking, "How could this cowardly gent dare? On what grounds does he dare?"<br /> This change was difficult for Taylor to accept as if she didn't truly understand this guy. The gent who used to be obedient to her, completely submissive, now revealed this side of himself. She watched Wesley walk away in a daze, feeling a strange discomfort in her heart.<br /> "Isn't he leaving with nothing?" Alexis pointed at the wooden box Wesley was holding. "What is he taking with him?"<br /> Madison also realized. Over the past five years, Wesley had always treasured this wooden box, carrying it with him wherever he went. She thought there must be something valuable inside.<br /> Realizing this, Madison hurriedly followed. "Wesley, stop right there, leave the wooden box."<br /> Wesley paused, glanced at Madison, and said, "This is my personal belonging."<br /> "Nonsense, what personal belonging could you possibly have after marrying into the Reed family? Everything you've eaten, worn, and lived in over the years has been provided by the Reed family. Put it down."<br /> As she spoke, Madison reached out to grab the wooden box.<br /> "Ah..." A scream rang out as Madison quickly retracted her hand, a gash appearing on her palm, a crimson liquid dripping.<br /> The wooden box was now stained with the same crimson liquid, trembling lightly in Wesley's hand.<br /> "It's not the right time yet, the day you thirst for this crimson liquid will come," Wesley murmured softly, patting the box before turning to continue his stride towards the exit.<br /> "Monster! A monster!" Madison screamed, causing Taylor and the others to rush out. Seeing the wound in Madison's hand, Taylor was filled with rage.<br /> "Wesley, aren't you going to say something?" Wesley halted once more, contemplating before meeting Taylor's gaze.<br /> "Just stay out of my way from now on. Consider this a warning to you."<br /> "Taylor, that wooden box of his has a mechanism. It must hold something valuable! We can't let him take it with him," Madison, enduring the pain, reminded them.<br /> "Mom, your injury is important. We'll deal with him later. Let me take you to the hospital first." Taylor comforted Madison before calling out to the retreating Wesley.<br /> "Our marriage is over! Yet, you dared to hurt my mother! This won't be the end of it! I will make you regret it!" Ignoring her, Wesley continued walking out.<br /> "Rest assured, I promise he won't see the light of day tomorrow." Henry stepped forward to console. "Let's focus on getting your wound treated first."<br /> "I want him to regret ever existing in this world, to apologize to me in repentance," Madison roared.<br /> "Mom, trust me, I will make him do just that." Taylor looked at Madison with a mix of pity and determination. "Let's go to the hospital first."<br /> In the villa area, Wesley halted, his voice cold. "Get out."<br /> An elderly gent leaped down from a tree, appearing to be in his seventies, yet landing silently from a height of around ten feet.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, your father wants you to come home and take charge."<br /> "He stopped being my father five years ago. He's my enemy."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you misunderstood your father. He had his reasons back then. I swear in my life, once you know the truth, you will forgive him."<br /> "Huh!" Wesley smirked coldly, saying, "I nearly passed away back then. Is that also a misunderstanding?"<br /> The old gent pleaded, "Mr. Harrington, this situation is truly not as you perceive it."<br /> Wesley didn't engage further with the old guy. The events of that year were etched in his memory forever. He was the one who had been abandoned. If not for that incident, why would he have stayed with the Reed family for five years?<br /> Watching Wesley walk away, the old gent had tears silently streaming down his face. "Mr. Harrington, I truly... I truly can't bring myself to speak the truth, but you have misunderstood your father. He also bears burdens and endures pains beyond what an ordinary person can handle."<br /> As Wesley's figure disappeared, the old gent stood up, hesitated for a moment, then dialed a number on his phone.<br /> "Mr. Harrington is now divorced. I've given you the news firsthand. If your daughter is truly together with Mr. Harrington, you must fulfill the promise and let her persuade Mr. Harrington to come home."<br /> After hanging up, a middle-aged gent in a luxurious estate jumped up excitedly. Calming himself, he immediately made another call. "My dear, you're at Yeadeo, right?<br /> "Go find Wesley now. Don't mention the engagement for now. Use every means to get close to him, make him fall in love with you."<br /> "Dad, I don't have time."<br /> "No matter what you are busy with, you must go find Wesley now. No matter what reason you approach him, you must leave a good impression the first time."<br /> "Dad, I'm in trouble right now. If I don't handle it well, I might be good as gone. I have to deal with it immediately. I'm hanging up."<br /> Chapter 3 <br /> The middle-aged gent's voice lowered significantly. "Is there a big incident happening? You didn't tell me? What happened?"<br /> "Quinn Kingsley from Yeadeo, Mr. Kingsley, used our product and now has one foot on the grave. If something really happens to him..."<br /> "You mean Quinn, the uncontested leader of Yeadeo?"<br /> "Yes."<br /> "In that case, you should go find Wesley. Trust me, in this world, there is no problem that Wesley can't solve. As long as he's willing to help, you'll be fine. Listen to me, go find Wesley immediately."<br /> The lady fell silent for a moment before saying, "Okay."<br /> At Yeadeo Harbor, a gent with a large flaxen chain and a watch, sporting a crew cut, hurriedly disembarked, accompanied by a dozen gentlemen.<br /> "Mr. Reed, wherever that trash is, we will find him and tear him apart."<br /> "Yes, that guy dared to harm your mother. We'll make sure he pays for it."<br /> Frank Reed's face turned cold. "Wesley, you coward, thinking you can overturn the world? How dare you touch my mom? Just wait until I find you, you're finished."<br /> "We've found him. Wesley got into a taxi, and our boys followed him."<br /> "Let's go!" Frank waved his hand, leading dozens of men who boarded the car with harpoons, steel pipes, and other weapons.<br /> Inside the taxi, Wesley gazed at the scenery outside, feeling a strange sense of tranquility.<br /> He thought to himself, "I never imagined that while I was secretly paving the way for the Reed family, Taylor, after progressing so rapidly, would start looking down on me more and more."<br /> "Those ladies who know my true identity, which one of them isn't trying to throw themselves at me? Ladies like that don't interest me."<br /> "Being an ordinary gent is truly difficult," Wesley murmured, smiling faintly and deciding not to dwell on these matters anymore. He had important things to attend to and no time to waste on personal affairs.<br /> "Young lad, are you going to Feidgeuo Manor for a job interview?" The driver, curious about Wesley's destination, inquired.<br /> Feidgeuo Manor was Yeadeo's most mysterious private area. Originally a villa area, it was bought at a huge cost five years ago and completely renovated. It was said to have cost a trillion dollars. The former villa area was now Feidgeuo Manor.<br /> "That's my home," Wesley replied nonchalantly.<br /> The driver was taken aback by this revelation, silently cursing Wesley for bragging. After a couple of minutes, the driver regained his composure. "It seems like you and I both prefer to keep a low profile. My car usually gathers dust at home, so I occasionally drive a taxi to experience life."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "My car has been driven by my assistant for the past few years, so it's not gathering dust."<br /> "Haha..." The driver laughed. "We should get together sometime and see whose car is more impressive."<br /> "Sure, whenever we have the time."<br /> As they chatted, the vehicle soon arrived near Feidgeuo Manor, where the massive head of the Feidgeuo Peak protruded, creating a unique landscape in Yeadeo.<br /> The driver asked with a smile, "Since you're the owner here, it's fine if I drive in, right?"<br /> "Of course," Wesley replied.<br /> As soon as Wesley spoke, several cars caught up from behind.<br /> The cars surrounded the one Wesley was in, with the front vehicles braking to force the car to a stop.<br /> When numerous people descended from cars wielding harpoons and steel pipes, the driver's face paled.<br /> Frank and his group got out of the cars, instantly closing in, and without hesitation, started attacking, the steel pipes and harpoons thudding against the car.<br /> Frank's henchman yanked open the door of Wesley's car, poised to stab Wesley with a harpoon, but Wesley swiftly exited the vehicle.<br /> With a firm step on the ground, he launched a swift hit.<br /> A muffled sound echoed as the henchman was hit away.<br /> "What are you looking at?" Frank noticed his henchmen were all staring at him. "All of you, attack together and take him down!"<br /> As he commanded, the henchmen Frank brought with him surged forward.<br /> The taxi driver, trembling, took out his phone to call the police, but Frank glared at him. "I am Frank Reed from Yeadeo Harbor. If you dare, go ahead and make that call."<br /> Frank, leveraging his sister Taylor's status, had been causing trouble in Yeadeo Harbor, and no one dared to provoke him.<br /> Upon hearing Frank's name, the driver hastily put away his phone. "Mr. Reed, I'll just check the time, you guys continue."<br /> "Huh!" Frank snorted coldly, casting his gaze towards the surrounded Wesley.<br /> The sounds of thuds continued to ring out incessantly. Because Wesley was completely surrounded, Frank was unable to see the situation inside clearly, but he could imagine it. After all, in Frank's mind, the henchmen under his command were not to be trifled with.<br /> "Hit him hard for me!"<br /> Another muffled sound and a figure flew out. At that moment, Frank finally saw the situation clearly, and his face turned pale.<br /> Frank knew that Wesley liked to practice martial arts, but he had never expected Wesley to be this skilled. It wasn't Wesley who had been beaten, but his own men by Wesley alone.<br /> Frantically, Frank turned and ran to retrieve a crossbow from the car.<br /> "Clear the way." Frank bellowed, aiming the crossbow at Wesley.<br /> "You scumbag, you think you can fight? Move one more time, and I'll end your life! Surrender!"<br /> Wesley, holding a wooden box, stared at Frank. Ignoring the crossbow in his hand, Wesley said, "Tell your henchmen to back off, or you'll all see the light from above!"<br /> "You're really good at pretending to be tough." Frank took two steps forward. "See the light? Move a muscle and see if I can end your life or not! If you don't have the guts, apologize now!"<br /> Wesley turned his head and looked at the approaching cars, with two expensive ones in the lead, two more in the rear, and another one in the middle.<br /> "Keep acting tough, and I'll put a hole in your head." Frank spoke while glancing at the five cars. "What, looking for help?"<br /> "Let me tell you, those who ride in these cars are not the kind of weaklings like you who rely on connections. With me here, in Yeadeo's social hierarchy, even those who ride in such cars wouldn't dare meddle in this matter. And let me make it clear, without my sister, you're nothing."<br /> <br /> Chapter 4<br /> As Frank's words faded, the five cars came to a halt.<br /> A bodyguard opened the door of the one in the middle, revealing a dazzling pair of shining shoes catching everyone's eye.<br /> The shining shoe encased a beautiful foot. Above, the skirt's hem was adorned with lace.<br /> Then, like a fairy stepping out of a painting, she appeared before everyone's eyes.<br /> The lady was beautiful!<br /> Frank was mesmerized. Ever since the Reed family rose to prominence, he had been surrounded by ladies, but compared to the elegant lady before him, they were worlds apart.<br /> It wasn't just a difference in appearance but an incomparable gap in demeanor.<br /> The lady descending from the Maybach seemed like a celestial being untouched by mortal affairs.<br /> The embodiment of a fairy in the mundane world.<br /> She simply stood there after getting out of the car, perfectly embodying what it meant to be graceful and elegant.<br /> The lady glanced at Wesley, then at Frank.<br /> Frank grinned, saying, "May I have the honor of knowing the name of this esteemed lady? I am Frank..."<br /> The lady spoke calmly. "Disrespect Mr. Harrington, and you're done for."<br /> Her bodyguards, unfazed by Frank's crossbow, swiftly overwhelmed him, sending him crashing to the ground.<br /> The henchmen who had come with Frank, previously defeated by Wesley, now scrambled to their feet and fled in all directions.<br /> Who would dare provoke someone who could afford such a car?<br /> "My sister is Taylor Reed, the chairperson of Reed Group," Frank shouted, clutching his head.<br /> Ignoring him, one of the bodyguards dragged him to the roadside grass while another used a belt to tighten around Frank's neck, exerting pressure.<br /> "Enough, a lesson is all that's needed." Wesley spoke calmly, and only when the lady gestured did the bodyguards release Frank.<br /> Frank lay there, already unconscious.<br /> Wesley turned to the lady. "Who are you?"<br /> "I am Mia Roberts, the general manager of Vinver Business Alliance's Yeadeo branch." She looked at Wesley and continued, "Mr. Harrington, my father mentioned that you have miraculous healing skills and earnestly requested your assistance. A generous reward awaits."<br /> Wesley furrowed his brow slightly, thinking, "There are indeed people who recognize my abilities and status, yet I've rarely intervened in the past five years. Today, shortly after I divorced Taylor, she is here. Whose arrangement is this?"<br /> "Mr. Harrington, my father also mentioned that you are benevolent and has raised the banner of compassion among healers, serving as a role model and benchmark for all in the medical field."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "You have a way with words. Tell me the specifics."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, please get in the car first. I will explain in detail on the way."<br /> The phrase "compassionate healer" held significant weight for Wesley, who had saved countless lives from the brink of death.<br /> Without further ado, he got into the car.<br /> Inside, after Mia brewed coffee for Wesley, she began. "Vinver Business Alliance has a wide range of business operations, and I mainly oversee the health supplement sector, which has seen some success in recent years.<br /> "Recently, Quinn Kingsley started using our medicines, and now there's an accident."<br /> As she spoke, Mia kept her gaze fixed on Wesley.<br /> Quinn, the undisputed leader of Yeadeo, was a figure of immense influence.<br /> Upon hearing this name, Wesley showed no particular reaction. "If the city's leader faces issues with your products, it is indeed a concern. Let's go and see."<br /> With just a sentence, Wesley leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest.<br /> Mia was secretly alarmed, thinking, "He knows who Quinn is, yet he seems indifferent. Who is this Wesley, really? No wonder Dad has instructed me to find a way to win his favor." Mia's inner resistance toward Wesley quietly shifted.<br /> Wesley had piqued her curiosity.<br /> As the vehicle was moving, Wesley's phone rang.<br /> Wesley opened his eyes and took out his phone to see Taylor calling.<br /> Pressing the answer button, he asked, "What's the matter?"<br /> On the other end of the line, Taylor, driving towards Feidgeuo Manor, had a grim expression.<br /> She thought, "Has Wesley ever spoken to me in such a cold tone before? Is he really this heartless right after our divorce?"<br /> Already furious, she snapped. "Wesley, do you even consider yourself a human being?<br /> "Today, not only did you lay hands on my mother, but you also had someone attack my brother. Do you not remember our past at all?"<br /> Wesley calmly replied, "Do we have a past to remember?"<br /> "You truly are a heartless scumbag, just as my mother said. You are an ungrateful and vicious person I raised for five years. Even a pet would wag its tail at me!"<br /> Taylor wanted to continue her tirade, but the phone line had already turned busy.<br /> This only fueled her anger further.<br /> Just now, she had received a call from Frank's underlings, informing her that Wesley had sent people to attack Frank and even intended to end him.<br /> Taylor wanted to demand answers, but...<br /> As Taylor was clutching her fists, her gaze turned icy.<br /> After a moment, she picked up her phone again. "Wesley, you are so narrow-minded. You have no ambition. Any lady would steer clear of you."<br /> "Just because I dumped you, you are doing this on purpose to make me feel sick. Pretending to be aloof and seeking revenge? Do you even deserve it?"<br /> "In Yeadeo, squashing you would be as easy as squashing an ant. You're asking for it! If anything happens to my brother, I will make you wish you were ending!"<br /> Her furious voice message echoed in the car.<br /> Wesley chuckled and put away his phone.<br /> Beside him, Mia seemed contemplative. Before coming, she had already ordered a swift investigation into Wesley.<br /> She was curious, thinking, "How could someone valued by my father could be the one 'marrying into' the Reed family."<br /> Being tactful, Mia chose not to ask and pretended not to have heard.<br /> After about forty minutes, they arrived at the Kingsley Manor.<br /> The Kingsley family members, upon seeing Mia alight from the car, all wore grim expressions.<br /> Mia greeted them with a smile, "Everyone, this is Wesley Harrington, Mr. Harrington, the miraculous healer I specially invited to treat Mr. Kingsley."<br /> "Him? The gent who married into the Reed family?"<br /> "A miraculous healer? Is he even worthy? Are healers so worthless now?"<br /> "A useless gent who mooches off of the Reed family? How dare he call himself a miraculous healer? Truly a joke among all jokes."<br /> Chapter 5<br /> <br /> Amanda Kingsley, Quinn's granddaughter, stared coldly at Wesley and Mia.<br /> This lady, dressed in a smart suit, also held significant fame in Yeadeo, overseeing the region's business activities, including investment attraction and various local business negotiations.<br /> Amanda had a favorable view of Taylor, who had risen swiftly in recent times, and they had interacted frequently.<br /> She was aware of Wesley's existence and had advised Taylor to part ways with him early on.<br /> But Amanda never imagined that Mia would bring someone like Wesley, a complete waste, and claim he was a miraculous healer.<br /> Glaring at Mia, she said, "Mia, once my grandfather is well, it's best for your Roberts family to leave Yeadeo."<br /> "As for you..." She glanced at Wesley. "I will advise Taylor to divorce you. You have deceived Taylor's feelings and now shamelessly made your way into my family. You are a despicable creature."<br /> After reprimanding Mia and Wesley, she turned to an elderly gent beside her, and her tone and attitude completely changed. "Mr. Phillips, sorry to trouble you. My grandfather is inside, please."<br /> Mia looked at the elderly gent, who was already in his twilight years, feeling deeply shocked.<br /> Scott Phillips, the 38th generation heir of the Healing Clinic, was now ninety-two years old.<br /> Renowned as a miraculous healer, he was a respected figure in the medical community of Yeadeo and even nationally.<br /> He no longer conducted consultations personally due to his old age. Mia had visited him specifically to pay her respects once she had arrived in Yeadeo but had not met Scott.<br /> She never expected Scott to appear in person. It was understandable, as Quinn held a prominent position in the city. Despite the profound influence of the Phillips family, they still had to show respect to Quinn.<br /> Mia looked at Wesley, feeling conflicted and thinking, "Dad has confidently claimed that Wesley has extraordinary abilities, but does he really?"<br /> She harbored doubts, but out of propriety, Mia spoke. "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the trouble."<br /> Wesley smiled, "It's fine. As long as the person can be healed."<br /> His open-mindedness impressed Mia.<br /> After about half an hour, Amanda emerged from the room. All eyes instantly turned towards her.<br /> It was evident that Amanda had wailed out, with traces of tears still visible.<br /> "Amanda, how is it?" A middle-aged gent anxiously asked her.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family who had rushed back also focused their attention on her.<br /> "Mr. Phillips said that there's little hope of recovery. He could only use acupuncture to wake grandfather for half an hour. When grandfather wakes up, let's all go in and see if he has any final instructions."<br /> Everyone was shocked.<br /> "How could this be?"<br /> "Is Mr. Phillips also helpless?"<br /> The members of the Kingsley family found it hard to accept this reality, especially since Quinn had always treated his juniors well.<br /> The thought of Quinn departing saddened some, and tears silently fell.<br /> Publicly, Quinn's status was the foundation of the Kingsley family's prominence in Yeadeo.<br /> If Quinn were to pass away, the Kingsley family would undoubtedly decline.<br /> The atmosphere within the Kingsley family was somber.<br /> Amanda looked at her family members, opened her mouth, but said nothing, silently turning back into the room.<br /> "Stop crying," A middle-aged gent said sternly, "Dad wouldn't want to see you all in tears. If he's really leaving, we mustn't let him worry about us. Pull yourselves together."<br /> After these words, the middle-aged gent also entered the room.<br /> The younger members of the Kingsley family wiped their tears vigorously, trying to force smiles, but in truth, they looked better at crying than pretending to be happy.<br /> Mia's spirit plummeted as she realized the gravity of the situation. Even if an ordinary person passed away from consuming health supplements, it spelled big trouble for those who sold them. And when the deceased happened to be Quinn, the stakes were even higher.<br /> She understood that it would be difficult for this branch to stay in Yeadeo, and even the headquarters might face repercussions.<br /> "Let's go in and have a look." Wesley glanced at Mia. "There might still be a chance."<br /> "Ah..." Mia stared at Wesley in surprise. Seeing him already heading towards the room, she quickly followed suit.<br /> Inside the room, the members of the Kingsley family stood around the mattress, maintaining a certain distance.<br /> Scott lit the alcohol lamp and took out the needles, his expression solemn.<br /> He looked at the members of the Kingsley family. "Think about what you want to say to Mr. Kingsley later. Once you're ready, let me know, and then I'll proceed with the acupuncture."<br /> As he said this, tears welled up in many eyes.<br /> "If you don't mind, let me take a look. I have a way." Wesley spoke up, drawing everyone's attention.<br /> Amanda's face darkened. "Who let you in? Get out!"<br /> "Mia, have you lost your mind? Tricked by this trash and actually brought him here as a miracle healer. Get out with him! I'll settle the score with you in a couple of days."<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, at a loss for words.<br /> "Even Mr. Phillips is unable to reverse the situation. What use are you? Get out." Another younger member of the Kingsley family angrily rebuked.<br /> The middle-aged gent added, "We're in no mood right now. You better leave immediately."<br /> "I understand your narrow-mindedness," Wesley continued, "But as a healer, once I see a patient, I cannot stand by and watch him draw his last breath."<br /> "Wesley, you're quite the charlatan. Do you really want to be gone right now?" Amanda's voice was filled with anger.<br /> "Amanda, let me say a few words," Scott interjected, and Amanda fell silent.<br /> Looking at Wesley, Scott began. "Young lad, at my age, I've seen a lot and have a broad perspective. Today, however, I find it hard to remain indifferent. I practiced medicine from the age of sixteen until I stopped seeing patients for a total of seventy years."<br /> "I've saved countless patients from various illnesses. I never easily declare a patient's fate, nor do I believe I have the right to do so."<br /> "But from your recent remarks, it seems like you're accusing me of such actions. Young people wanting to make a name for themselves by stepping on the shoulders of their predecessors, I can understand."<br /> "But this kind of behavior displeases me."<br /> "My displeasure, what does it mean to you? Do you understand?"<br /> "Even if you are a healer, your career will be ruined because of this."<br /> Chapter 6 <br /> In the face of Scott's veiled threats, Wesley simply smiled and brushed them off.<br /> Looking at Scott, he asked, "I've always focused on the issue at hand rather than attacking individuals. I have a few questions for you. If you can't administer the needles, how long do you think Quinn can hold on?"<br /> "Seven days, but he will remain unconscious," Scott replied bluntly.<br /> "Then let me ask you this, is there anyone in the world with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "Outrageous," Amanda coldly interjected, "Mr. Phillips is unparalleled in his medical expertise."<br /> Scott glanced at Amanda. "Amanda, let me handle this question."<br /> Continuing to address Wesley, he said, "I don't underestimate myself, nor do I overestimate. There are countless talented individuals in the world, like stars in the sky. I may not dare claim to be the best in medical skills, but those who surpass me are few."<br /> "That means there are some," Wesley calmly remarked, causing Scott's expression to shift slightly, "Indeed, there are."<br /> "Then let me ask you this. Do you think within seven days, the Kingsley family won't find someone with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "If they do find someone, do you believe there is an illness that you cannot cure, but this person can?"<br /> Wesley's questions were sharp and resounding.<br /> Scott's face changed once more as he was rendered speechless.<br /> "Even if there is, that person will never be you." Amanda's face turned icy. "Now get out. Don't spout your eloquence here. Your deceitful behavior is repulsive."<br /> "Your understanding of me is merely hearsay, isn't it?" Wesley retorted, his gaze mocking Amanda, "Has your background and education taught you such arrogance and prejudice?"<br /> "Arrogance?" Amanda's face grew colder as she disdainfully looked at Wesley. "Prejudice?<br /> "Did I say something wrong just now? You are nothing but stagnant waste, a parasite living off others. If it weren't for Taylor, you would have starved on the streets long ago."<br /> "Relying on sweet words, deceiving Taylor. She, with her kind heart, can't bear to divorce you, but don't push your luck. If it weren't for Taylor's sake, you would have been sent out long ago."<br /> Scott interrupted Amanda, "Amanda, although I find this lad a bit annoying, what he said does hold some truth. There are indeed individuals with better medical skills than me. Your grandfather can hold on for seven days. Try reaching out to see if someone can come over. I'll help you make connections."<br /> "If it really doesn't work out after seven days, I'll administer the needles to your grandfather. However, at that point, I can only buy you three minutes."<br /> As soon as Scott spoke, the faces of the Kingsley family members grew even more solemn. True healers were rare and not easily summoned.<br /> While the Kingsley family had connections in Yeadeo, their influence waned outside of it.<br /> "Mr. Phillips, please administer the needles. Life has its ups and downs, and we understand that. Just buy my father a bit more time." The middle-aged gent spoke up.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family nodded in agreement.<br /> Amanda looked at Scott. "Mr. Phillips, please."<br /> "In that case, please have everyone unrelated leave. I need silence," Scott calmly stated.<br /> Amanda glared at Wesley, her eyes speaking volumes without a word.<br /> The unrelated individuals were, naturally, Wesley and Mia.<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, intending to leave, but she suddenly hesitated.<br /> Instead of leaving, Wesley moved forward.<br /> "What are you doing?" A young member of the Kingsley family stepped forward with a stern expression, pushing Wesley.<br /> In one swift motion, Wesley executed a clean shoulder throw, toppling the young gent to the ground, his own expression turning cold.<br /> "A bunch of fools! If it weren't for my teacher's teachings about not turning a blind eye to those in need, I wouldn't bother with you ignorant lot," Wesley remarked with disdain.<br /> As Wesley effortlessly took down one individual from the Kingsley family, the others seemed slow to react.<br /> By the time they realized what was happening, Wesley had already picked up the needle next to Scott and casually flicked his wrist.<br /> The needle flew out of his hand, piercing Quinn's temple, followed by a second needle, a third needle, and so on.<br /> "What are you doing? Stop!" Amanda's voice rose in urgency, echoed by the rest of the Kingsley family members who rushed forward to restrain Wesley.<br /> "Stay back, everyone. Wait." Scott suddenly stood up, blocking the others. "Let him try."<br /> Amanda and the others were left dumbfounded, thinking, "What does this mean?"<br /> Despite their confusion, they heeded Scott's words.<br /> After Scott stopped the members of the Kingsley family, he fixed his gaze on Wesley.<br /> Wesley proceeded to use eighteen needles in succession, symbolizing the levels of pain.<br /> Even if someone had descended into the depths of hell, they must be brought back.<br /> The final needle, also piercing a vital point, caused Quinn's body to tremble suddenly, resonating with the previous eighteen needles.<br /> Scott's eyes widened, his body trembling slightly. His reaction left Amanda and the others even more puzzled, but none dared to interrupt.<br /> Moments later, Wesley placed a palm on Quinn's chest, causing all eighteen needles to be shaken off. When all the needles landed on the ground, the part of the skin where the needles had pierced turned dark.<br /> Wesley then dragged Quinn to the edge of the mattress, flipped him over with his head facing downwards, and gave him a firm pat on the back.<br /> Quinn spat out a mouthful of black liquid. When Wesley flipped him back to lie flat, his complexion had regained some color.<br /> "The Hand of Darkness... It's the Hand of Darkness!" Scott exclaimed with excitement, his body quivering, "It's the Hand that descends into the dark world, snatching people from the hands of the Evil!"<br /> "You do have some knowledge, recognizing the Hand of Darkness." Wesley glanced at Scott.<br /> Scott's gaze towards Wesley had undergone a drastic change. He respectfully clasped his hands together.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thirty years ago, I had the honor of attending a teaching conference held by Mr. Vanderbilt. I saw the Hand of Darkness, but my limited aptitude only allowed me to grasp the basics."<br /> "I have been blind and ignorant. I apologize for my earlier offenses. Please forgive me, Mr. Harrington."<br /> The Mr. Vanderbilt Scott referred to was Wesley's teacher, Ulysses Vanderbilt. He generously imparted his skills to others, but the ability to learn depended on one's innate talent.<br /> In this world, few could learn Ulysses' skills.<br /> Scott had been fortunate to receive guidance from Ulysses, which had elevated his medical skills. However, the Hand of Darkness, a miraculous ability, was beyond his comprehension.<br /> Wesley smiled faintly, "Your actions earlier are understandable. I appreciate your words."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you must be an exceptional disciple of Mr. Vanderbilt, possessing unparalleled magnanimity. Impressive," Scott continued.<br /> "Enough with the flattery at your age."<br /> "You are mistaken, Mr. Harrington. Every word I speak is sincere."<br /> Mia, Amanda, and the others stood bewildered by the unfolding situation.<br /> "Mr. Phillips... he... he..." Amanda's words faltered.<br /> Scott turned to the members of the Kingsley family. "Meeting Mr. Harrington was Quinn's luck. His symptoms have been cured by Mr. Harrington. With a few days of rest, he will be fine."<br /> The waste Taylor had previously said was called Mr. Harrington by Scott!<br /> Recalling their previous attitudes, Amanda hurriedly apologized, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> The members of the Kingsley family all apologized in unison, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> Chapter 7 <br /> With a faint smile, Wesley remarked, "As family members of a patient, your actions earlier are understandable. There's no need for such formality."<br /> Amanda's perplexity deepened as she thought, "Where is the cowardly waste that Taylor described? This display of magnanimity and breadth is far from it."<br /> Mia, too, felt a shiver of realization, thinking, "No wonder Dad has insisted on my proximity to Wesley.<br /> This guy..."<br /> She gazed at Wesley, her curiosity piqued, a sense of exploration stirring within her.<br /> "Mia has brought you here, Mr. Harrington, to cure my grandfather. The Kingsley family will never forget this act. However, considering that my grandfather's ailment stemmed from the health supplements produced by the Vinver Business Alliance, we will be conducting an investigation into it."<br /> Amanda continued, looking at Wesley, "What do you think... of this approach?"<br /> It was Mia who had invited Wesley, so Amanda had grown wiser, refraining from asking for a direct punishment of the Vinver Business Alliance.<br /> As Mia heard Amanda's words, her heart skipped a beat, realizing trouble was brewing.<br /> "On the way here, Ms. Roberts briefed me on the situation. You conducted experiments on mice, correct?"<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes, the health supplements we received were exclusively provided by the Roberts family. There were no similar cases on the market, so we used mice for testing.<br /> "All the mice that ingested this supplement were gone."<br /> She looked at Mia and added, her voice turning colder, "Before the experiment, I specifically contacted Mia to inquire about the testing methods during the development phase, which involved mice.<br /> "There have been individuals eyeing my grandfather's position, some even wishing for his demise. I never imagined that the Vinver Business Alliance, which I attracted for investment, would become a weapon in someone else's hands."<br /> "Do you have any of the remaining medicine?" Wesley inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes."<br /> "Bring some over."<br /> Immediately, someone fetched the medicine. After it was brought to him, Wesley took out a supplement and swallowed it directly.<br /> This scene left Amanda and the others dumbfounded.<br /> Scott, too, was bewildered. "Mr. Harrington, what are you doing?"<br /> Wesley smiled, "Just proving that this medicine is not toxic."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thank you," Mia thanked sincerely, feeling like crying at that moment.<br /> Amanda, with a puzzled expression, looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, are you suggesting that my grandfather's condition wasn't caused by the Vinver Business Alliance's medicine? What about the mice?"<br /> The rest were equally puzzled.<br /> "Yes, but not entirely," Wesley said, leaving everyone even more bewildered.<br /> Mia's emotions were like a rollercoaster ride, from relief to immediate tension.<br /> "This medicine itself is not toxic, but when taken with another substance made from a certain plant, it results in Quinn's condition. The mice would die immediately, while humans could endure a few more days."<br /> Wesley continued to explain, "The plant used in this concoction is originally meant for crafting slow-acting toxins, not for human consumption."<br /> Looking at Amanda, Wesley said, "During this period, whoever had access to your grandfather and the mice will better understand why these events occurred."<br /> The gaze of members of the Kingsley family immediately focused on a lady.<br /> Amanda, somewhat incredulous, looked at her. "Can you offer an explanation?"<br /> The lady was the wife of Amanda's deceased brother. She found it hard to accept, as did the rest of the Kingsley family.<br /> This lady had been named the exemplary lady who served her family well this year, not due to her connection with the Kingsley family but because she genuinely deserved it.<br /> "What do you mean? Amanda, what explanation do you want from me?"<br /> The lady stared at Amanda. "Am I the only one who had access to Grandfather and the mice? You, and you... and you, who didn't have access?"<br /> "You all claim to treat me as family. Since I married into the Kingsley family, I have worked diligently, contributing my share even if not acknowledged."<br /> "Amanda, it has been over a year since your brother passed, and I never once considered remarrying. Now, just because of his words, you demand an explanation from me?"<br /> Pointing at Wesley, the lady questioned, "Just because he accuses me of poisoning, you suspect me? Tell me, did I poison him?" The lady glared at Wesley.<br /> "I am merely analyzing the facts. As for concluding this case, it's not within my purview," Wesley addressed the members of the Kingsley family, saying, "You should conduct a thorough investigation into this matter.<br /> "I will write a prescription. Have Quinn take it on time, and he will recover in seven days."<br /> Amanda hurried to fetch paper and pen while Wesley prepared the prescription. Once done, he was ready to leave.<br /> Amanda said hurriedly, "Mr. Harrington, I've already made arrangements for lunch."<br /> "No need," Wesley smiled.<br /> The Kingsley family sought to build closer ties with Wesley, given his extraordinary medical skills. Wesley was well aware of this.<br /> Looking at Amanda and the others, Wesley remarked, "In the future, if you encounter any difficult medical cases that others cannot solve, seek me out. Remember, cases others cannot solve."<br /> The gaze of the Kingsley family members toward Wesley changed once again. Many renowned healers had eccentric personalities and were difficult to engage.<br /> They hadn't expected Wesley to possess such remarkable medical skills without any airs.<br /> As Wesley prepared to depart, the members of the Kingsley family did not dare to insist on his stay, so they accompanied him outside.<br /> "Oh, how could we forget such an important matter? Amanda, what about the consultation fee?" The middle-aged gent inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the oversight. Please wait a moment." Amanda hurried back inside and soon returned with a bank card in hand.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, there's one million dollars in here."<br /> Without hesitation, Wesley accepted the bank card and boarded Mia's car.<br /> During the journey, Mia boldly looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, you've helped me immensely. Can I treat you to a meal? Don't decline in a hurry. It's not a fancy restaurant, but it will leave you wanting more. It's a small place on the street, with only eight plates of noodles served each day, each plate containing different ingredients.<br /> "I managed to secure a reservation. Are you interested?"<br /> Wesley thought, "Eight Plates of Noodles? Ah, Aaron's restaurant. It has been a while since I visited those old friends."<br /> Wesley nodded. "Let's go then."<br /> The restaurant, Eight Plates of Noodles, was located on Chanxold Street near the Yeadeo First Central Hospital.<br /> The establishment was small, serving only eight plates of noodles each day at a price of 10 thousand dollars each. Vernoic's television culinary program had specifically covered this incident.<br /> Reservations were a must to secure a plate.<br /> The restaurant's owner had a mysterious background. While the specifics were unknown, a high-ranking noble from the capital of Vernoic, Kingsland, had caused a scene there once.<br /> He had attempted to force his way in without a reservation. Although this incident hadn't been reported, rumors suggested that a garbage truck had to be called to dispose of the intruder's remains, as he was too shattered to be removed by conventional means.<br /> Since then, no one dared to cause trouble.<br /> On their way, Mia introduced Wesley to the background story.<br /> "Mr. Turner, two plates of noodles." Mia called out once they arrived.<br /> Aaron Turner didn't respond but visibly paused upon seeing Wesley beside Mia.<br /> A faint smile appeared on his usually stoic face. Though the flesh on the face seemed stiff, it was indeed a smile. "Coming right up."<br /> Mia glanced at Aaron with a hint of surprise, thinking, "When did he become so warm and enthusiastic? His tone seemed a bit agitated earlier, didn't it?"<br /> Soon enough, Aaron brought two plates of noodles to the table. One steaming hot and the other devoid of any warmth.<br /> As Mia observed Aaron placing the plate without steam in front of Wesley, her expression changed slightly.<br /> It was a plate of instant noodles having soaked in cold water, with the seasoning barely dissolved.<br /> She felt a sense of panic. Mia had wanted to leave a good impression on Wesley, which was why she had chosen this place.<br /> However, Aaron had served such a plate of noodles.<br /> She dared not question Aaron. The type of noodles served here was not determined by the guests but by Aaron's mood.<br /> "This girl named Mia is quite something, living up to her name, and quite kind-hearted," Aaron remarked, looking at Wesley.<br /> "Get lost," Wesley retorted, using his fork to pick up the noodles and devouring them.<br /> Mia's face turned pale instantly. Disrespecting Aaron was akin to risking Wesley's life.<br /> To her astonishment, Aaron chuckled, tears welling up in his eyes.<br /> He wiped them away. "Alright, I'll leave you to your meal."<br /> Before departing, he gave Mia a thumbs-up. "Seize the opportunity."<br /> The eight plates of noodles symbolized the eight comrades who had faced life and life-threatening situations together.<br /> Wesley ate voraciously. Initially, they had only one pack of instant noodles to share among the eight of them, forcing them to divide it.<br /> Despite the circumstances, they devoured the noodles joyfully.<br /> Aaron had promised that once they survived, each one would have the most delicious plate of noodles.<br /> However, five of the eight had perished.<br /> Wesley had come dangerously close to life-threatening situations, but managed to cling to life.<br /> For him, the plate of noodles was not food but the bond of friendship that had shielded him from harm.<br /> "Do you... know each other?" Mia couldn't help but ask, her voice low and curious.<br /> "Some things are better left unknown," Wesley replied.<br /> Mia nodded in understanding, falling silent as they continued eating noodles. She couldn't help stealing glances at Wesley throughout the meal.<br /> This gent had piqued her curiosity even more.<br /> "Wesley, I see. No wonder you agreed to the divorce so readily. You've already found someone else outside."<br /> A sharp voice interrupted their meal.<br /> Taylor approached with a cold expression, accompanied by Henry.	Adoread Romance story	8	https://facebook.com/61557113391558	INSTALL_MOBILE_APP	1713250800	View Edit Delete
1666982	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727712	1734958300	695	3395827464043495	1	1.3782193795568E+15	1713942000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	235254296344339	0	Adoread Romance story	120207848352290113	play.google.com	Install now	NONE	video	HOT BOOK✨Tap the button to read more👉		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.adoread.book		1713261152	2.3525429634434E+14	Adoread Romance story	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437732342_970951774681776_4141327689219733670_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XLpqNO_0PU4Q7kNvgF4Byib&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCsiMTCrlVW7rjgGbtQw_ZEo48tSydkeYr4ZTq-sTJ9Qg&oe=663A8B60	person_profile	0	Adoread Romance story	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437737572_716602710401010_5377725330431703058_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wOD97uLFR9EQ7kNvgFyN0LH&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDm_FNFpA0HJCYCmxQS8yXZex32jDMAjWKt-UnDCJ1yuw&oe=663A83A1	0	3	Chapter 1 <br /> "Wesley, are you trying to harm me? You useless piece of trash, can't even make a decent cup of coffee, can you?"<br /> Madison Blair lifted her coffee cup and splashed it directly onto Wesley Harrington's face.<br /> "What are you looking at, you spineless waste? Your name sounds so lofty? I might as well call you a waste."<br /> Glancing at the grotesque expression of his wife's mother, Wesley pulled out his phone to check the time.<br /> Exactly twelve o'clock. It had been five full years since he married Taylor Reed.<br /> The appointed time had come.<br /> He had fulfilled his promise, safeguarding the Reed family for five years, transforming them from a family living off fishing to one perceived as affluent by the common folk.<br /> Wiping the coffee off his face, he turned and walked away.<br /> "Where do you think you're going? Go fetch some more coffee," Madison shouted.<br /> "Madison, didn't you say this waste is obedient at home, doing whatever he's told? I don't think he's taking it lying down."<br /> Madison grew angrier. "Wesley, you stop right there. My family has fed and housed you. If you dare disobey, I'll have you thrown out!"<br /> Ignoring her, Wesley continued downstairs.<br /> "When Taylor comes back, I'll immediately have you two divorced. Do you hear me? Stay right there," Madison threatened, "I'll let you know your place today."<br /> Grabbing a golf club, Madison swiftly charged towards Wesley.<br /> Seeing Wesley heading downstairs, she swung the club viciously at his back.<br /> Without turning back, Wesley gently sidestepped.<br /> Losing her balance, Madison tumbled forward, rolling down the stairs with a series of thumps.<br /> "Ouch... it hurts, it hurts so much!"<br /> As Madison reached the ground floor, she wailed in pain and her sister immediately rushed to her.<br /> "Wesley, what have you done? How dare you hit my sister!" Madison's sister hurried down, checking on Madison's condition.<br /> Wesley remained silent, observing the scene.<br /> "Quick, call Taylor. Tell her to come back. Today, she must divorce this waste." Madison glared at Wesley. "How dare you hit me? Not only will I let Taylor divorce you, but I'll make sure you leave in disgrace."<br /> "Mum, what's wrong?" At that moment, a gent and a lady walked in.<br /> The lady was Taylor, Madison's daughter.<br /> She ran towards Madison.<br /> As Madison pointed at Wesley, tears streamed down her face. "Taylor, he hit me, he hit me! When you're not home, he changes his attitude, scolding and hitting me in the slightest displeasure. He even pushed me down the stairs just now. Alexis can testify."<br /> Madison's sister, Alexis Blair, chimed in. "Yes, Wesley, this trash not only hit your mother but also threatened to hit me too. We cannot tolerate such trash."<br /> "Taylor, I have been telling you to divorce him for years. You've been supporting him, treating him like a Lord at home, but he's an ungrateful wolf in sheep's clothing."<br /> Helping Madison up, Taylor noticed the scrapes on Madison's arms and legs, her expression turning cold.<br /> "Wesley, why did you hit my mother? You better give me an explanation."<br /> Wesley looked at Taylor, his wife.<br /> Five years had passed, and she had never shown him kindness.<br /> Taylor dressed impeccably, a paragon of a successful lady, with a face that could be deemed angelic, yet whether her heart was as angelic remained a mystery.<br /> Her figure, too, left countless men yearning.<br /> For five years, Wesley had thought he might develop feelings for this lady, but in reality, it never happened.<br /> "There are surveillance cameras in the house," Wesley stated calmly before descending the stairs into the hallway.<br /> Despite residing in a three-story villa, Wesley's living quarters were confined to the stairwell.<br /> He harbored no resentment towards this arrangement. It was merely a promise. It was just that Taylor failed to appreciate him.<br /> This home held little value that he wished to cling onto.<br /> Retrieving a wooden box from beneath his pillow, Wesley extracted two documents. Casting a fleeting glance at the modest abode he had called home for five years, Wesley smiled faintly.<br /> He thought, "Finally... I'm free."<br /> Pushing the door ajar, Wesley was met by Taylor's piercing gaze. "I've reviewed the surveillance footage. Yes, my mother intended to strike you, but even if she did, what difference would it make?"<br /> "She's a lady. How much could her blows hurt you? Why did you dodge?"<br /> "If you hadn't dodged, my mother wouldn't have tumbled down." Wesley stared at Taylor, unable to comprehend her thought process.<br /> He had no interest in engaging in these arguments. Handing over the two documents to Taylor, he remarked, "The divorce agreement. I've already signed it. Take a look. I'm leaving with nothing."<br /> "With your current influence, there's no need for you to visit the city hall. Someone will handle it for you, right?"<br /> Madison was taken aback. She swiftly snatched the divorce agreement, flipping through it hastily.<br /> The contents were indeed straightforward. Both parties willingly divorced, with Wesley relinquishing all claims and having already signed.<br /> In an instant, Madison's pain seemed to dissipate. "Taylor, sign it quickly. Sign it."<br /> Taylor was still in a daze.<br /> She pondered.<br /> "A divorce agreement? Wesley has already prepared a divorce agreement. On what grounds?"<br /> "What gives him the right to initiate a divorce? All these years, he's done nothing at home, lacking any ambition. Always practicing martial arts, what right does he have to seek a divorce?"<br /> "If anyone should initiate it, it should be me. Moreover, now that I'm back to discussing this matter with him. Could it be that word got out, and Wesley, for the sake of his pride, rushed to prepare a divorce agreement first?"<br /> "It must be so, but... No!"<br /> "Wanting to leave with nothing, is he retreating to advance? As the chairman of the Reed Group, how could I be served with a divorce?"<br /> "Hey Wesley, I never expected this from you. Have I not treated you well enough? You seek a divorce, attempting to turn your retreat into advance, aiming to embarrass me?"<br /> Taylor glared at Wesley. "I'm telling you, it's impossible."<br /> Snatching the divorce agreement, she tore it to shreds.<br /> "Taylor, what are you doing? Such a great opportunity. Why not just sign it and let him leave?" Madison grew anxious.<br /> "Mom, I do intend to divorce this trash, but the decision must come from me. I returned specifically to address this matter."<br /> With that, Taylor produced two documents. "Wesley, remember that it's me who's divorcing you. It's me who no longer wants you. Initially, out of marital obligation, I had considered offering you some compensation. Now, you don't even need to think about it. Sign the divorce agreement and leave my home."<br /> Wesley offered a faint smile as he accepted the divorce agreement.<br /> "What are you laughing at?" Taylor demanded angrily.<br /> Wesley's smile seemed to mock her, fueling her rage.<br /> Ignoring her entirely, Wesley signed the document and handed it over.<br /> "What are you laughing at? Answer me! Who do you think you are?" Taylor roared once more.<br /> Wesley glanced at her before striding towards the exit.<br /> "Stop!" The gent who had accompanied Taylor stepped forward, blocking Wesley's path. "Taylor asked you a question, and... Your previous attitude displeased me. Apologize to Taylor, or I'll have you leave in disgrace!"<br /> <br /> Chapter 2 <br /> "Yes, let him leave in disgrace. He thought he could just hit me and walk away so easily," Madison joined in the commotion, also noticing the gent blocking Wesley's path.<br /> Madison had a keen interest in luxury goods, having frequented various high-end establishments over the years as the Reed family's living conditions improved. The gent was wearing an expensive watch and dressed head to toe in high-end luxury brands.<br /> Seeing Madison's gaze, the gent spoke. "Rest assured, today Wesley must pay the price."<br /> The gent introduced himself, looking at Wesley, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Henry Clark, the eldest son of the Clark family and the general manager of the Clark Group in the North District."<br /> "From now on, I will accompany Taylor on her journey of life, and I will not allow anyone to bully her."<br /> "My identity carries weight. You should understand that. Now, apologize to Taylor. Apologize! Did you hear me? Apologize!"<br /> Madison's eyes lit up. She hadn't expected the gent before her to hold such a high status. She continued to shout, "Did you hear that? Taylor will be with Mr. Clark from now on. Apologize now."<br /> Wesley glanced at Henry, then at Taylor. He thought, "Have they been together all along?" Wesley had wanted to ask but decided against it because there was no need. He simply gave them a glance and continued walking towards the exit.<br /> "Are you ignoring me?" Henry's face turned cold as he reached out to grab Wesley. Henry's hand froze mid-air as he received a solid hit.<br /> "Until I sign the divorce papers, Taylor and I are still wife and husband. I don't care to investigate whether you two had any intimate relationship during that time, but don't provoke me, or I won't hesitate to make you regret it." Wesley's gaze was icy, and as Henry met his eyes, he felt a twinge of fear and swallowed his words.<br /> Taylor was also stunned. She knew exactly what Wesley had been like over the past five years. There were many surveillance cameras in the house, and she would often check them.<br /> Even when Taylor wasn't home, despite how her family treated Wesley, he always obeyed without complaint, especially towards her. He had never raised his voice, no matter how they treated him.<br /> Today, not only did Wesley dodge when her mother struck, but he also initiated the divorce and now even struck Henry. <br /> Taylor was at a loss for words, thinking, "How could this cowardly gent dare? On what grounds does he dare?"<br /> This change was difficult for Taylor to accept as if she didn't truly understand this guy. The gent who used to be obedient to her, completely submissive, now revealed this side of himself. She watched Wesley walk away in a daze, feeling a strange discomfort in her heart.<br /> "Isn't he leaving with nothing?" Alexis pointed at the wooden box Wesley was holding. "What is he taking with him?"<br /> Madison also realized. Over the past five years, Wesley had always treasured this wooden box, carrying it with him wherever he went. She thought there must be something valuable inside.<br /> Realizing this, Madison hurriedly followed. "Wesley, stop right there, leave the wooden box."<br /> Wesley paused, glanced at Madison, and said, "This is my personal belonging."<br /> "Nonsense, what personal belonging could you possibly have after marrying into the Reed family? Everything you've eaten, worn, and lived in over the years has been provided by the Reed family. Put it down."<br /> As she spoke, Madison reached out to grab the wooden box.<br /> "Ah..." A scream rang out as Madison quickly retracted her hand, a gash appearing on her palm, a crimson liquid dripping.<br /> The wooden box was now stained with the same crimson liquid, trembling lightly in Wesley's hand.<br /> "It's not the right time yet, the day you thirst for this crimson liquid will come," Wesley murmured softly, patting the box before turning to continue his stride towards the exit.<br /> "Monster! A monster!" Madison screamed, causing Taylor and the others to rush out. Seeing the wound in Madison's hand, Taylor was filled with rage.<br /> "Wesley, aren't you going to say something?" Wesley halted once more, contemplating before meeting Taylor's gaze.<br /> "Just stay out of my way from now on. Consider this a warning to you."<br /> "Taylor, that wooden box of his has a mechanism. It must hold something valuable! We can't let him take it with him," Madison, enduring the pain, reminded them.<br /> "Mom, your injury is important. We'll deal with him later. Let me take you to the hospital first." Taylor comforted Madison before calling out to the retreating Wesley.<br /> "Our marriage is over! Yet, you dared to hurt my mother! This won't be the end of it! I will make you regret it!" Ignoring her, Wesley continued walking out.<br /> "Rest assured, I promise he won't see the light of day tomorrow." Henry stepped forward to console. "Let's focus on getting your wound treated first."<br /> "I want him to regret ever existing in this world, to apologize to me in repentance," Madison roared.<br /> "Mom, trust me, I will make him do just that." Taylor looked at Madison with a mix of pity and determination. "Let's go to the hospital first."<br /> In the villa area, Wesley halted, his voice cold. "Get out."<br /> An elderly gent leaped down from a tree, appearing to be in his seventies, yet landing silently from a height of around ten feet.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, your father wants you to come home and take charge."<br /> "He stopped being my father five years ago. He's my enemy."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you misunderstood your father. He had his reasons back then. I swear in my life, once you know the truth, you will forgive him."<br /> "Huh!" Wesley smirked coldly, saying, "I nearly passed away back then. Is that also a misunderstanding?"<br /> The old gent pleaded, "Mr. Harrington, this situation is truly not as you perceive it."<br /> Wesley didn't engage further with the old guy. The events of that year were etched in his memory forever. He was the one who had been abandoned. If not for that incident, why would he have stayed with the Reed family for five years?<br /> Watching Wesley walk away, the old gent had tears silently streaming down his face. "Mr. Harrington, I truly... I truly can't bring myself to speak the truth, but you have misunderstood your father. He also bears burdens and endures pains beyond what an ordinary person can handle."<br /> As Wesley's figure disappeared, the old gent stood up, hesitated for a moment, then dialed a number on his phone.<br /> "Mr. Harrington is now divorced. I've given you the news firsthand. If your daughter is truly together with Mr. Harrington, you must fulfill the promise and let her persuade Mr. Harrington to come home."<br /> After hanging up, a middle-aged gent in a luxurious estate jumped up excitedly. Calming himself, he immediately made another call. "My dear, you're at Yeadeo, right?<br /> "Go find Wesley now. Don't mention the engagement for now. Use every means to get close to him, make him fall in love with you."<br /> "Dad, I don't have time."<br /> "No matter what you are busy with, you must go find Wesley now. No matter what reason you approach him, you must leave a good impression the first time."<br /> "Dad, I'm in trouble right now. If I don't handle it well, I might be good as gone. I have to deal with it immediately. I'm hanging up."<br /> Chapter 3 <br /> The middle-aged gent's voice lowered significantly. "Is there a big incident happening? You didn't tell me? What happened?"<br /> "Quinn Kingsley from Yeadeo, Mr. Kingsley, used our product and now has one foot on the grave. If something really happens to him..."<br /> "You mean Quinn, the uncontested leader of Yeadeo?"<br /> "Yes."<br /> "In that case, you should go find Wesley. Trust me, in this world, there is no problem that Wesley can't solve. As long as he's willing to help, you'll be fine. Listen to me, go find Wesley immediately."<br /> The lady fell silent for a moment before saying, "Okay."<br /> At Yeadeo Harbor, a gent with a large flaxen chain and a watch, sporting a crew cut, hurriedly disembarked, accompanied by a dozen gentlemen.<br /> "Mr. Reed, wherever that trash is, we will find him and tear him apart."<br /> "Yes, that guy dared to harm your mother. We'll make sure he pays for it."<br /> Frank Reed's face turned cold. "Wesley, you coward, thinking you can overturn the world? How dare you touch my mom? Just wait until I find you, you're finished."<br /> "We've found him. Wesley got into a taxi, and our boys followed him."<br /> "Let's go!" Frank waved his hand, leading dozens of men who boarded the car with harpoons, steel pipes, and other weapons.<br /> Inside the taxi, Wesley gazed at the scenery outside, feeling a strange sense of tranquility.<br /> He thought to himself, "I never imagined that while I was secretly paving the way for the Reed family, Taylor, after progressing so rapidly, would start looking down on me more and more."<br /> "Those ladies who know my true identity, which one of them isn't trying to throw themselves at me? Ladies like that don't interest me."<br /> "Being an ordinary gent is truly difficult," Wesley murmured, smiling faintly and deciding not to dwell on these matters anymore. He had important things to attend to and no time to waste on personal affairs.<br /> "Young lad, are you going to Feidgeuo Manor for a job interview?" The driver, curious about Wesley's destination, inquired.<br /> Feidgeuo Manor was Yeadeo's most mysterious private area. Originally a villa area, it was bought at a huge cost five years ago and completely renovated. It was said to have cost a trillion dollars. The former villa area was now Feidgeuo Manor.<br /> "That's my home," Wesley replied nonchalantly.<br /> The driver was taken aback by this revelation, silently cursing Wesley for bragging. After a couple of minutes, the driver regained his composure. "It seems like you and I both prefer to keep a low profile. My car usually gathers dust at home, so I occasionally drive a taxi to experience life."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "My car has been driven by my assistant for the past few years, so it's not gathering dust."<br /> "Haha..." The driver laughed. "We should get together sometime and see whose car is more impressive."<br /> "Sure, whenever we have the time."<br /> As they chatted, the vehicle soon arrived near Feidgeuo Manor, where the massive head of the Feidgeuo Peak protruded, creating a unique landscape in Yeadeo.<br /> The driver asked with a smile, "Since you're the owner here, it's fine if I drive in, right?"<br /> "Of course," Wesley replied.<br /> As soon as Wesley spoke, several cars caught up from behind.<br /> The cars surrounded the one Wesley was in, with the front vehicles braking to force the car to a stop.<br /> When numerous people descended from cars wielding harpoons and steel pipes, the driver's face paled.<br /> Frank and his group got out of the cars, instantly closing in, and without hesitation, started attacking, the steel pipes and harpoons thudding against the car.<br /> Frank's henchman yanked open the door of Wesley's car, poised to stab Wesley with a harpoon, but Wesley swiftly exited the vehicle.<br /> With a firm step on the ground, he launched a swift hit.<br /> A muffled sound echoed as the henchman was hit away.<br /> "What are you looking at?" Frank noticed his henchmen were all staring at him. "All of you, attack together and take him down!"<br /> As he commanded, the henchmen Frank brought with him surged forward.<br /> The taxi driver, trembling, took out his phone to call the police, but Frank glared at him. "I am Frank Reed from Yeadeo Harbor. If you dare, go ahead and make that call."<br /> Frank, leveraging his sister Taylor's status, had been causing trouble in Yeadeo Harbor, and no one dared to provoke him.<br /> Upon hearing Frank's name, the driver hastily put away his phone. "Mr. Reed, I'll just check the time, you guys continue."<br /> "Huh!" Frank snorted coldly, casting his gaze towards the surrounded Wesley.<br /> The sounds of thuds continued to ring out incessantly. Because Wesley was completely surrounded, Frank was unable to see the situation inside clearly, but he could imagine it. After all, in Frank's mind, the henchmen under his command were not to be trifled with.<br /> "Hit him hard for me!"<br /> Another muffled sound and a figure flew out. At that moment, Frank finally saw the situation clearly, and his face turned pale.<br /> Frank knew that Wesley liked to practice martial arts, but he had never expected Wesley to be this skilled. It wasn't Wesley who had been beaten, but his own men by Wesley alone.<br /> Frantically, Frank turned and ran to retrieve a crossbow from the car.<br /> "Clear the way." Frank bellowed, aiming the crossbow at Wesley.<br /> "You scumbag, you think you can fight? Move one more time, and I'll end your life! Surrender!"<br /> Wesley, holding a wooden box, stared at Frank. Ignoring the crossbow in his hand, Wesley said, "Tell your henchmen to back off, or you'll all see the light from above!"<br /> "You're really good at pretending to be tough." Frank took two steps forward. "See the light? Move a muscle and see if I can end your life or not! If you don't have the guts, apologize now!"<br /> Wesley turned his head and looked at the approaching cars, with two expensive ones in the lead, two more in the rear, and another one in the middle.<br /> "Keep acting tough, and I'll put a hole in your head." Frank spoke while glancing at the five cars. "What, looking for help?"<br /> "Let me tell you, those who ride in these cars are not the kind of weaklings like you who rely on connections. With me here, in Yeadeo's social hierarchy, even those who ride in such cars wouldn't dare meddle in this matter. And let me make it clear, without my sister, you're nothing."<br /> <br /> Chapter 4<br /> As Frank's words faded, the five cars came to a halt.<br /> A bodyguard opened the door of the one in the middle, revealing a dazzling pair of shining shoes catching everyone's eye.<br /> The shining shoe encased a beautiful foot. Above, the skirt's hem was adorned with lace.<br /> Then, like a fairy stepping out of a painting, she appeared before everyone's eyes.<br /> The lady was beautiful!<br /> Frank was mesmerized. Ever since the Reed family rose to prominence, he had been surrounded by ladies, but compared to the elegant lady before him, they were worlds apart.<br /> It wasn't just a difference in appearance but an incomparable gap in demeanor.<br /> The lady descending from the Maybach seemed like a celestial being untouched by mortal affairs.<br /> The embodiment of a fairy in the mundane world.<br /> She simply stood there after getting out of the car, perfectly embodying what it meant to be graceful and elegant.<br /> The lady glanced at Wesley, then at Frank.<br /> Frank grinned, saying, "May I have the honor of knowing the name of this esteemed lady? I am Frank..."<br /> The lady spoke calmly. "Disrespect Mr. Harrington, and you're done for."<br /> Her bodyguards, unfazed by Frank's crossbow, swiftly overwhelmed him, sending him crashing to the ground.<br /> The henchmen who had come with Frank, previously defeated by Wesley, now scrambled to their feet and fled in all directions.<br /> Who would dare provoke someone who could afford such a car?<br /> "My sister is Taylor Reed, the chairperson of Reed Group," Frank shouted, clutching his head.<br /> Ignoring him, one of the bodyguards dragged him to the roadside grass while another used a belt to tighten around Frank's neck, exerting pressure.<br /> "Enough, a lesson is all that's needed." Wesley spoke calmly, and only when the lady gestured did the bodyguards release Frank.<br /> Frank lay there, already unconscious.<br /> Wesley turned to the lady. "Who are you?"<br /> "I am Mia Roberts, the general manager of Vinver Business Alliance's Yeadeo branch." She looked at Wesley and continued, "Mr. Harrington, my father mentioned that you have miraculous healing skills and earnestly requested your assistance. A generous reward awaits."<br /> Wesley furrowed his brow slightly, thinking, "There are indeed people who recognize my abilities and status, yet I've rarely intervened in the past five years. Today, shortly after I divorced Taylor, she is here. Whose arrangement is this?"<br /> "Mr. Harrington, my father also mentioned that you are benevolent and has raised the banner of compassion among healers, serving as a role model and benchmark for all in the medical field."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "You have a way with words. Tell me the specifics."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, please get in the car first. I will explain in detail on the way."<br /> The phrase "compassionate healer" held significant weight for Wesley, who had saved countless lives from the brink of death.<br /> Without further ado, he got into the car.<br /> Inside, after Mia brewed coffee for Wesley, she began. "Vinver Business Alliance has a wide range of business operations, and I mainly oversee the health supplement sector, which has seen some success in recent years.<br /> "Recently, Quinn Kingsley started using our medicines, and now there's an accident."<br /> As she spoke, Mia kept her gaze fixed on Wesley.<br /> Quinn, the undisputed leader of Yeadeo, was a figure of immense influence.<br /> Upon hearing this name, Wesley showed no particular reaction. "If the city's leader faces issues with your products, it is indeed a concern. Let's go and see."<br /> With just a sentence, Wesley leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest.<br /> Mia was secretly alarmed, thinking, "He knows who Quinn is, yet he seems indifferent. Who is this Wesley, really? No wonder Dad has instructed me to find a way to win his favor." Mia's inner resistance toward Wesley quietly shifted.<br /> Wesley had piqued her curiosity.<br /> As the vehicle was moving, Wesley's phone rang.<br /> Wesley opened his eyes and took out his phone to see Taylor calling.<br /> Pressing the answer button, he asked, "What's the matter?"<br /> On the other end of the line, Taylor, driving towards Feidgeuo Manor, had a grim expression.<br /> She thought, "Has Wesley ever spoken to me in such a cold tone before? Is he really this heartless right after our divorce?"<br /> Already furious, she snapped. "Wesley, do you even consider yourself a human being?<br /> "Today, not only did you lay hands on my mother, but you also had someone attack my brother. Do you not remember our past at all?"<br /> Wesley calmly replied, "Do we have a past to remember?"<br /> "You truly are a heartless scumbag, just as my mother said. You are an ungrateful and vicious person I raised for five years. Even a pet would wag its tail at me!"<br /> Taylor wanted to continue her tirade, but the phone line had already turned busy.<br /> This only fueled her anger further.<br /> Just now, she had received a call from Frank's underlings, informing her that Wesley had sent people to attack Frank and even intended to end him.<br /> Taylor wanted to demand answers, but...<br /> As Taylor was clutching her fists, her gaze turned icy.<br /> After a moment, she picked up her phone again. "Wesley, you are so narrow-minded. You have no ambition. Any lady would steer clear of you."<br /> "Just because I dumped you, you are doing this on purpose to make me feel sick. Pretending to be aloof and seeking revenge? Do you even deserve it?"<br /> "In Yeadeo, squashing you would be as easy as squashing an ant. You're asking for it! If anything happens to my brother, I will make you wish you were ending!"<br /> Her furious voice message echoed in the car.<br /> Wesley chuckled and put away his phone.<br /> Beside him, Mia seemed contemplative. Before coming, she had already ordered a swift investigation into Wesley.<br /> She was curious, thinking, "How could someone valued by my father could be the one 'marrying into' the Reed family."<br /> Being tactful, Mia chose not to ask and pretended not to have heard.<br /> After about forty minutes, they arrived at the Kingsley Manor.<br /> The Kingsley family members, upon seeing Mia alight from the car, all wore grim expressions.<br /> Mia greeted them with a smile, "Everyone, this is Wesley Harrington, Mr. Harrington, the miraculous healer I specially invited to treat Mr. Kingsley."<br /> "Him? The gent who married into the Reed family?"<br /> "A miraculous healer? Is he even worthy? Are healers so worthless now?"<br /> "A useless gent who mooches off of the Reed family? How dare he call himself a miraculous healer? Truly a joke among all jokes."<br /> Chapter 5<br /> <br /> Amanda Kingsley, Quinn's granddaughter, stared coldly at Wesley and Mia.<br /> This lady, dressed in a smart suit, also held significant fame in Yeadeo, overseeing the region's business activities, including investment attraction and various local business negotiations.<br /> Amanda had a favorable view of Taylor, who had risen swiftly in recent times, and they had interacted frequently.<br /> She was aware of Wesley's existence and had advised Taylor to part ways with him early on.<br /> But Amanda never imagined that Mia would bring someone like Wesley, a complete waste, and claim he was a miraculous healer.<br /> Glaring at Mia, she said, "Mia, once my grandfather is well, it's best for your Roberts family to leave Yeadeo."<br /> "As for you..." She glanced at Wesley. "I will advise Taylor to divorce you. You have deceived Taylor's feelings and now shamelessly made your way into my family. You are a despicable creature."<br /> After reprimanding Mia and Wesley, she turned to an elderly gent beside her, and her tone and attitude completely changed. "Mr. Phillips, sorry to trouble you. My grandfather is inside, please."<br /> Mia looked at the elderly gent, who was already in his twilight years, feeling deeply shocked.<br /> Scott Phillips, the 38th generation heir of the Healing Clinic, was now ninety-two years old.<br /> Renowned as a miraculous healer, he was a respected figure in the medical community of Yeadeo and even nationally.<br /> He no longer conducted consultations personally due to his old age. Mia had visited him specifically to pay her respects once she had arrived in Yeadeo but had not met Scott.<br /> She never expected Scott to appear in person. It was understandable, as Quinn held a prominent position in the city. Despite the profound influence of the Phillips family, they still had to show respect to Quinn.<br /> Mia looked at Wesley, feeling conflicted and thinking, "Dad has confidently claimed that Wesley has extraordinary abilities, but does he really?"<br /> She harbored doubts, but out of propriety, Mia spoke. "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the trouble."<br /> Wesley smiled, "It's fine. As long as the person can be healed."<br /> His open-mindedness impressed Mia.<br /> After about half an hour, Amanda emerged from the room. All eyes instantly turned towards her.<br /> It was evident that Amanda had wailed out, with traces of tears still visible.<br /> "Amanda, how is it?" A middle-aged gent anxiously asked her.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family who had rushed back also focused their attention on her.<br /> "Mr. Phillips said that there's little hope of recovery. He could only use acupuncture to wake grandfather for half an hour. When grandfather wakes up, let's all go in and see if he has any final instructions."<br /> Everyone was shocked.<br /> "How could this be?"<br /> "Is Mr. Phillips also helpless?"<br /> The members of the Kingsley family found it hard to accept this reality, especially since Quinn had always treated his juniors well.<br /> The thought of Quinn departing saddened some, and tears silently fell.<br /> Publicly, Quinn's status was the foundation of the Kingsley family's prominence in Yeadeo.<br /> If Quinn were to pass away, the Kingsley family would undoubtedly decline.<br /> The atmosphere within the Kingsley family was somber.<br /> Amanda looked at her family members, opened her mouth, but said nothing, silently turning back into the room.<br /> "Stop crying," A middle-aged gent said sternly, "Dad wouldn't want to see you all in tears. If he's really leaving, we mustn't let him worry about us. Pull yourselves together."<br /> After these words, the middle-aged gent also entered the room.<br /> The younger members of the Kingsley family wiped their tears vigorously, trying to force smiles, but in truth, they looked better at crying than pretending to be happy.<br /> Mia's spirit plummeted as she realized the gravity of the situation. Even if an ordinary person passed away from consuming health supplements, it spelled big trouble for those who sold them. And when the deceased happened to be Quinn, the stakes were even higher.<br /> She understood that it would be difficult for this branch to stay in Yeadeo, and even the headquarters might face repercussions.<br /> "Let's go in and have a look." Wesley glanced at Mia. "There might still be a chance."<br /> "Ah..." Mia stared at Wesley in surprise. Seeing him already heading towards the room, she quickly followed suit.<br /> Inside the room, the members of the Kingsley family stood around the mattress, maintaining a certain distance.<br /> Scott lit the alcohol lamp and took out the needles, his expression solemn.<br /> He looked at the members of the Kingsley family. "Think about what you want to say to Mr. Kingsley later. Once you're ready, let me know, and then I'll proceed with the acupuncture."<br /> As he said this, tears welled up in many eyes.<br /> "If you don't mind, let me take a look. I have a way." Wesley spoke up, drawing everyone's attention.<br /> Amanda's face darkened. "Who let you in? Get out!"<br /> "Mia, have you lost your mind? Tricked by this trash and actually brought him here as a miracle healer. Get out with him! I'll settle the score with you in a couple of days."<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, at a loss for words.<br /> "Even Mr. Phillips is unable to reverse the situation. What use are you? Get out." Another younger member of the Kingsley family angrily rebuked.<br /> The middle-aged gent added, "We're in no mood right now. You better leave immediately."<br /> "I understand your narrow-mindedness," Wesley continued, "But as a healer, once I see a patient, I cannot stand by and watch him draw his last breath."<br /> "Wesley, you're quite the charlatan. Do you really want to be gone right now?" Amanda's voice was filled with anger.<br /> "Amanda, let me say a few words," Scott interjected, and Amanda fell silent.<br /> Looking at Wesley, Scott began. "Young lad, at my age, I've seen a lot and have a broad perspective. Today, however, I find it hard to remain indifferent. I practiced medicine from the age of sixteen until I stopped seeing patients for a total of seventy years."<br /> "I've saved countless patients from various illnesses. I never easily declare a patient's fate, nor do I believe I have the right to do so."<br /> "But from your recent remarks, it seems like you're accusing me of such actions. Young people wanting to make a name for themselves by stepping on the shoulders of their predecessors, I can understand."<br /> "But this kind of behavior displeases me."<br /> "My displeasure, what does it mean to you? Do you understand?"<br /> "Even if you are a healer, your career will be ruined because of this."<br /> Chapter 6 <br /> In the face of Scott's veiled threats, Wesley simply smiled and brushed them off.<br /> Looking at Scott, he asked, "I've always focused on the issue at hand rather than attacking individuals. I have a few questions for you. If you can't administer the needles, how long do you think Quinn can hold on?"<br /> "Seven days, but he will remain unconscious," Scott replied bluntly.<br /> "Then let me ask you this, is there anyone in the world with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "Outrageous," Amanda coldly interjected, "Mr. Phillips is unparalleled in his medical expertise."<br /> Scott glanced at Amanda. "Amanda, let me handle this question."<br /> Continuing to address Wesley, he said, "I don't underestimate myself, nor do I overestimate. There are countless talented individuals in the world, like stars in the sky. I may not dare claim to be the best in medical skills, but those who surpass me are few."<br /> "That means there are some," Wesley calmly remarked, causing Scott's expression to shift slightly, "Indeed, there are."<br /> "Then let me ask you this. Do you think within seven days, the Kingsley family won't find someone with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "If they do find someone, do you believe there is an illness that you cannot cure, but this person can?"<br /> Wesley's questions were sharp and resounding.<br /> Scott's face changed once more as he was rendered speechless.<br /> "Even if there is, that person will never be you." Amanda's face turned icy. "Now get out. Don't spout your eloquence here. Your deceitful behavior is repulsive."<br /> "Your understanding of me is merely hearsay, isn't it?" Wesley retorted, his gaze mocking Amanda, "Has your background and education taught you such arrogance and prejudice?"<br /> "Arrogance?" Amanda's face grew colder as she disdainfully looked at Wesley. "Prejudice?<br /> "Did I say something wrong just now? You are nothing but stagnant waste, a parasite living off others. If it weren't for Taylor, you would have starved on the streets long ago."<br /> "Relying on sweet words, deceiving Taylor. She, with her kind heart, can't bear to divorce you, but don't push your luck. If it weren't for Taylor's sake, you would have been sent out long ago."<br /> Scott interrupted Amanda, "Amanda, although I find this lad a bit annoying, what he said does hold some truth. There are indeed individuals with better medical skills than me. Your grandfather can hold on for seven days. Try reaching out to see if someone can come over. I'll help you make connections."<br /> "If it really doesn't work out after seven days, I'll administer the needles to your grandfather. However, at that point, I can only buy you three minutes."<br /> As soon as Scott spoke, the faces of the Kingsley family members grew even more solemn. True healers were rare and not easily summoned.<br /> While the Kingsley family had connections in Yeadeo, their influence waned outside of it.<br /> "Mr. Phillips, please administer the needles. Life has its ups and downs, and we understand that. Just buy my father a bit more time." The middle-aged gent spoke up.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family nodded in agreement.<br /> Amanda looked at Scott. "Mr. Phillips, please."<br /> "In that case, please have everyone unrelated leave. I need silence," Scott calmly stated.<br /> Amanda glared at Wesley, her eyes speaking volumes without a word.<br /> The unrelated individuals were, naturally, Wesley and Mia.<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, intending to leave, but she suddenly hesitated.<br /> Instead of leaving, Wesley moved forward.<br /> "What are you doing?" A young member of the Kingsley family stepped forward with a stern expression, pushing Wesley.<br /> In one swift motion, Wesley executed a clean shoulder throw, toppling the young gent to the ground, his own expression turning cold.<br /> "A bunch of fools! If it weren't for my teacher's teachings about not turning a blind eye to those in need, I wouldn't bother with you ignorant lot," Wesley remarked with disdain.<br /> As Wesley effortlessly took down one individual from the Kingsley family, the others seemed slow to react.<br /> By the time they realized what was happening, Wesley had already picked up the needle next to Scott and casually flicked his wrist.<br /> The needle flew out of his hand, piercing Quinn's temple, followed by a second needle, a third needle, and so on.<br /> "What are you doing? Stop!" Amanda's voice rose in urgency, echoed by the rest of the Kingsley family members who rushed forward to restrain Wesley.<br /> "Stay back, everyone. Wait." Scott suddenly stood up, blocking the others. "Let him try."<br /> Amanda and the others were left dumbfounded, thinking, "What does this mean?"<br /> Despite their confusion, they heeded Scott's words.<br /> After Scott stopped the members of the Kingsley family, he fixed his gaze on Wesley.<br /> Wesley proceeded to use eighteen needles in succession, symbolizing the levels of pain.<br /> Even if someone had descended into the depths of hell, they must be brought back.<br /> The final needle, also piercing a vital point, caused Quinn's body to tremble suddenly, resonating with the previous eighteen needles.<br /> Scott's eyes widened, his body trembling slightly. His reaction left Amanda and the others even more puzzled, but none dared to interrupt.<br /> Moments later, Wesley placed a palm on Quinn's chest, causing all eighteen needles to be shaken off. When all the needles landed on the ground, the part of the skin where the needles had pierced turned dark.<br /> Wesley then dragged Quinn to the edge of the mattress, flipped him over with his head facing downwards, and gave him a firm pat on the back.<br /> Quinn spat out a mouthful of black liquid. When Wesley flipped him back to lie flat, his complexion had regained some color.<br /> "The Hand of Darkness... It's the Hand of Darkness!" Scott exclaimed with excitement, his body quivering, "It's the Hand that descends into the dark world, snatching people from the hands of the Evil!"<br /> "You do have some knowledge, recognizing the Hand of Darkness." Wesley glanced at Scott.<br /> Scott's gaze towards Wesley had undergone a drastic change. He respectfully clasped his hands together.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thirty years ago, I had the honor of attending a teaching conference held by Mr. Vanderbilt. I saw the Hand of Darkness, but my limited aptitude only allowed me to grasp the basics."<br /> "I have been blind and ignorant. I apologize for my earlier offenses. Please forgive me, Mr. Harrington."<br /> The Mr. Vanderbilt Scott referred to was Wesley's teacher, Ulysses Vanderbilt. He generously imparted his skills to others, but the ability to learn depended on one's innate talent.<br /> In this world, few could learn Ulysses' skills.<br /> Scott had been fortunate to receive guidance from Ulysses, which had elevated his medical skills. However, the Hand of Darkness, a miraculous ability, was beyond his comprehension.<br /> Wesley smiled faintly, "Your actions earlier are understandable. I appreciate your words."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you must be an exceptional disciple of Mr. Vanderbilt, possessing unparalleled magnanimity. Impressive," Scott continued.<br /> "Enough with the flattery at your age."<br /> "You are mistaken, Mr. Harrington. Every word I speak is sincere."<br /> Mia, Amanda, and the others stood bewildered by the unfolding situation.<br /> "Mr. Phillips... he... he..." Amanda's words faltered.<br /> Scott turned to the members of the Kingsley family. "Meeting Mr. Harrington was Quinn's luck. His symptoms have been cured by Mr. Harrington. With a few days of rest, he will be fine."<br /> The waste Taylor had previously said was called Mr. Harrington by Scott!<br /> Recalling their previous attitudes, Amanda hurriedly apologized, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> The members of the Kingsley family all apologized in unison, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> Chapter 7 <br /> With a faint smile, Wesley remarked, "As family members of a patient, your actions earlier are understandable. There's no need for such formality."<br /> Amanda's perplexity deepened as she thought, "Where is the cowardly waste that Taylor described? This display of magnanimity and breadth is far from it."<br /> Mia, too, felt a shiver of realization, thinking, "No wonder Dad has insisted on my proximity to Wesley.<br /> This guy..."<br /> She gazed at Wesley, her curiosity piqued, a sense of exploration stirring within her.<br /> "Mia has brought you here, Mr. Harrington, to cure my grandfather. The Kingsley family will never forget this act. However, considering that my grandfather's ailment stemmed from the health supplements produced by the Vinver Business Alliance, we will be conducting an investigation into it."<br /> Amanda continued, looking at Wesley, "What do you think... of this approach?"<br /> It was Mia who had invited Wesley, so Amanda had grown wiser, refraining from asking for a direct punishment of the Vinver Business Alliance.<br /> As Mia heard Amanda's words, her heart skipped a beat, realizing trouble was brewing.<br /> "On the way here, Ms. Roberts briefed me on the situation. You conducted experiments on mice, correct?"<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes, the health supplements we received were exclusively provided by the Roberts family. There were no similar cases on the market, so we used mice for testing.<br /> "All the mice that ingested this supplement were gone."<br /> She looked at Mia and added, her voice turning colder, "Before the experiment, I specifically contacted Mia to inquire about the testing methods during the development phase, which involved mice.<br /> "There have been individuals eyeing my grandfather's position, some even wishing for his demise. I never imagined that the Vinver Business Alliance, which I attracted for investment, would become a weapon in someone else's hands."<br /> "Do you have any of the remaining medicine?" Wesley inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes."<br /> "Bring some over."<br /> Immediately, someone fetched the medicine. After it was brought to him, Wesley took out a supplement and swallowed it directly.<br /> This scene left Amanda and the others dumbfounded.<br /> Scott, too, was bewildered. "Mr. Harrington, what are you doing?"<br /> Wesley smiled, "Just proving that this medicine is not toxic."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thank you," Mia thanked sincerely, feeling like crying at that moment.<br /> Amanda, with a puzzled expression, looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, are you suggesting that my grandfather's condition wasn't caused by the Vinver Business Alliance's medicine? What about the mice?"<br /> The rest were equally puzzled.<br /> "Yes, but not entirely," Wesley said, leaving everyone even more bewildered.<br /> Mia's emotions were like a rollercoaster ride, from relief to immediate tension.<br /> "This medicine itself is not toxic, but when taken with another substance made from a certain plant, it results in Quinn's condition. The mice would die immediately, while humans could endure a few more days."<br /> Wesley continued to explain, "The plant used in this concoction is originally meant for crafting slow-acting toxins, not for human consumption."<br /> Looking at Amanda, Wesley said, "During this period, whoever had access to your grandfather and the mice will better understand why these events occurred."<br /> The gaze of members of the Kingsley family immediately focused on a lady.<br /> Amanda, somewhat incredulous, looked at her. "Can you offer an explanation?"<br /> The lady was the wife of Amanda's deceased brother. She found it hard to accept, as did the rest of the Kingsley family.<br /> This lady had been named the exemplary lady who served her family well this year, not due to her connection with the Kingsley family but because she genuinely deserved it.<br /> "What do you mean? Amanda, what explanation do you want from me?"<br /> The lady stared at Amanda. "Am I the only one who had access to Grandfather and the mice? You, and you... and you, who didn't have access?"<br /> "You all claim to treat me as family. Since I married into the Kingsley family, I have worked diligently, contributing my share even if not acknowledged."<br /> "Amanda, it has been over a year since your brother passed, and I never once considered remarrying. Now, just because of his words, you demand an explanation from me?"<br /> Pointing at Wesley, the lady questioned, "Just because he accuses me of poisoning, you suspect me? Tell me, did I poison him?" The lady glared at Wesley.<br /> "I am merely analyzing the facts. As for concluding this case, it's not within my purview," Wesley addressed the members of the Kingsley family, saying, "You should conduct a thorough investigation into this matter.<br /> "I will write a prescription. Have Quinn take it on time, and he will recover in seven days."<br /> Amanda hurried to fetch paper and pen while Wesley prepared the prescription. Once done, he was ready to leave.<br /> Amanda said hurriedly, "Mr. Harrington, I've already made arrangements for lunch."<br /> "No need," Wesley smiled.<br /> The Kingsley family sought to build closer ties with Wesley, given his extraordinary medical skills. Wesley was well aware of this.<br /> Looking at Amanda and the others, Wesley remarked, "In the future, if you encounter any difficult medical cases that others cannot solve, seek me out. Remember, cases others cannot solve."<br /> The gaze of the Kingsley family members toward Wesley changed once again. Many renowned healers had eccentric personalities and were difficult to engage.<br /> They hadn't expected Wesley to possess such remarkable medical skills without any airs.<br /> As Wesley prepared to depart, the members of the Kingsley family did not dare to insist on his stay, so they accompanied him outside.<br /> "Oh, how could we forget such an important matter? Amanda, what about the consultation fee?" The middle-aged gent inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the oversight. Please wait a moment." Amanda hurried back inside and soon returned with a bank card in hand.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, there's one million dollars in here."<br /> Without hesitation, Wesley accepted the bank card and boarded Mia's car.<br /> During the journey, Mia boldly looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, you've helped me immensely. Can I treat you to a meal? Don't decline in a hurry. It's not a fancy restaurant, but it will leave you wanting more. It's a small place on the street, with only eight plates of noodles served each day, each plate containing different ingredients.<br /> "I managed to secure a reservation. Are you interested?"<br /> Wesley thought, "Eight Plates of Noodles? Ah, Aaron's restaurant. It has been a while since I visited those old friends."<br /> Wesley nodded. "Let's go then."<br /> The restaurant, Eight Plates of Noodles, was located on Chanxold Street near the Yeadeo First Central Hospital.<br /> The establishment was small, serving only eight plates of noodles each day at a price of 10 thousand dollars each. Vernoic's television culinary program had specifically covered this incident.<br /> Reservations were a must to secure a plate.<br /> The restaurant's owner had a mysterious background. While the specifics were unknown, a high-ranking noble from the capital of Vernoic, Kingsland, had caused a scene there once.<br /> He had attempted to force his way in without a reservation. Although this incident hadn't been reported, rumors suggested that a garbage truck had to be called to dispose of the intruder's remains, as he was too shattered to be removed by conventional means.<br /> Since then, no one dared to cause trouble.<br /> On their way, Mia introduced Wesley to the background story.<br /> "Mr. Turner, two plates of noodles." Mia called out once they arrived.<br /> Aaron Turner didn't respond but visibly paused upon seeing Wesley beside Mia.<br /> A faint smile appeared on his usually stoic face. Though the flesh on the face seemed stiff, it was indeed a smile. "Coming right up."<br /> Mia glanced at Aaron with a hint of surprise, thinking, "When did he become so warm and enthusiastic? His tone seemed a bit agitated earlier, didn't it?"<br /> Soon enough, Aaron brought two plates of noodles to the table. One steaming hot and the other devoid of any warmth.<br /> As Mia observed Aaron placing the plate without steam in front of Wesley, her expression changed slightly.<br /> It was a plate of instant noodles having soaked in cold water, with the seasoning barely dissolved.<br /> She felt a sense of panic. Mia had wanted to leave a good impression on Wesley, which was why she had chosen this place.<br /> However, Aaron had served such a plate of noodles.<br /> She dared not question Aaron. The type of noodles served here was not determined by the guests but by Aaron's mood.<br /> "This girl named Mia is quite something, living up to her name, and quite kind-hearted," Aaron remarked, looking at Wesley.<br /> "Get lost," Wesley retorted, using his fork to pick up the noodles and devouring them.<br /> Mia's face turned pale instantly. Disrespecting Aaron was akin to risking Wesley's life.<br /> To her astonishment, Aaron chuckled, tears welling up in his eyes.<br /> He wiped them away. "Alright, I'll leave you to your meal."<br /> Before departing, he gave Mia a thumbs-up. "Seize the opportunity."<br /> The eight plates of noodles symbolized the eight comrades who had faced life and life-threatening situations together.<br /> Wesley ate voraciously. Initially, they had only one pack of instant noodles to share among the eight of them, forcing them to divide it.<br /> Despite the circumstances, they devoured the noodles joyfully.<br /> Aaron had promised that once they survived, each one would have the most delicious plate of noodles.<br /> However, five of the eight had perished.<br /> Wesley had come dangerously close to life-threatening situations, but managed to cling to life.<br /> For him, the plate of noodles was not food but the bond of friendship that had shielded him from harm.<br /> "Do you... know each other?" Mia couldn't help but ask, her voice low and curious.<br /> "Some things are better left unknown," Wesley replied.<br /> Mia nodded in understanding, falling silent as they continued eating noodles. She couldn't help stealing glances at Wesley throughout the meal.<br /> This gent had piqued her curiosity even more.<br /> "Wesley, I see. No wonder you agreed to the divorce so readily. You've already found someone else outside."<br /> A sharp voice interrupted their meal.<br /> Taylor approached with a cold expression, accompanied by Henry.	Adoread Romance story	8	https://facebook.com/61557113391558	INSTALL_MOBILE_APP	1713250800	View Edit Delete
1666983	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727712	1734958300	695	424726003507326	1	9.6537478863164E+14	1713337200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	235254296344339	0	Adoread Romance story	120207848351070113	play.google.com	Install now	NONE	video	HOT BOOK✨Tap the button to read more👉		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.adoread.book		1713261302	2.3525429634434E+14	Adoread Romance story	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438204973_393166876928170_2218866148947350612_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4fGTbaDPGRYQ7kNvgFkNgAE&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCau9QdyQ-g_8kUEhuvN6DlnsnwHSokT7QbwLh1Zo0fGA&oe=663A72DB	person_profile	0	Adoread Romance story	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437529068_1096000961688418_6180617759607228719_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=BQA6izxlM24Q7kNvgFkmrcl&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAQ8I7t8ZkrPtTahkZGQ8bb9OGQwMqXxbac10xGFBKK3A&oe=663A93C4	0	3	Chapter 1 <br /> "Wesley, are you trying to harm me? You useless piece of trash, can't even make a decent cup of coffee, can you?"<br /> Madison Blair lifted her coffee cup and splashed it directly onto Wesley Harrington's face.<br /> "What are you looking at, you spineless waste? Your name sounds so lofty? I might as well call you a waste."<br /> Glancing at the grotesque expression of his wife's mother, Wesley pulled out his phone to check the time.<br /> Exactly twelve o'clock. It had been five full years since he married Taylor Reed.<br /> The appointed time had come.<br /> He had fulfilled his promise, safeguarding the Reed family for five years, transforming them from a family living off fishing to one perceived as affluent by the common folk.<br /> Wiping the coffee off his face, he turned and walked away.<br /> "Where do you think you're going? Go fetch some more coffee," Madison shouted.<br /> "Madison, didn't you say this waste is obedient at home, doing whatever he's told? I don't think he's taking it lying down."<br /> Madison grew angrier. "Wesley, you stop right there. My family has fed and housed you. If you dare disobey, I'll have you thrown out!"<br /> Ignoring her, Wesley continued downstairs.<br /> "When Taylor comes back, I'll immediately have you two divorced. Do you hear me? Stay right there," Madison threatened, "I'll let you know your place today."<br /> Grabbing a golf club, Madison swiftly charged towards Wesley.<br /> Seeing Wesley heading downstairs, she swung the club viciously at his back.<br /> Without turning back, Wesley gently sidestepped.<br /> Losing her balance, Madison tumbled forward, rolling down the stairs with a series of thumps.<br /> "Ouch... it hurts, it hurts so much!"<br /> As Madison reached the ground floor, she wailed in pain and her sister immediately rushed to her.<br /> "Wesley, what have you done? How dare you hit my sister!" Madison's sister hurried down, checking on Madison's condition.<br /> Wesley remained silent, observing the scene.<br /> "Quick, call Taylor. Tell her to come back. Today, she must divorce this waste." Madison glared at Wesley. "How dare you hit me? Not only will I let Taylor divorce you, but I'll make sure you leave in disgrace."<br /> "Mum, what's wrong?" At that moment, a gent and a lady walked in.<br /> The lady was Taylor, Madison's daughter.<br /> She ran towards Madison.<br /> As Madison pointed at Wesley, tears streamed down her face. "Taylor, he hit me, he hit me! When you're not home, he changes his attitude, scolding and hitting me in the slightest displeasure. He even pushed me down the stairs just now. Alexis can testify."<br /> Madison's sister, Alexis Blair, chimed in. "Yes, Wesley, this trash not only hit your mother but also threatened to hit me too. We cannot tolerate such trash."<br /> "Taylor, I have been telling you to divorce him for years. You've been supporting him, treating him like a Lord at home, but he's an ungrateful wolf in sheep's clothing."<br /> Helping Madison up, Taylor noticed the scrapes on Madison's arms and legs, her expression turning cold.<br /> "Wesley, why did you hit my mother? You better give me an explanation."<br /> Wesley looked at Taylor, his wife.<br /> Five years had passed, and she had never shown him kindness.<br /> Taylor dressed impeccably, a paragon of a successful lady, with a face that could be deemed angelic, yet whether her heart was as angelic remained a mystery.<br /> Her figure, too, left countless men yearning.<br /> For five years, Wesley had thought he might develop feelings for this lady, but in reality, it never happened.<br /> "There are surveillance cameras in the house," Wesley stated calmly before descending the stairs into the hallway.<br /> Despite residing in a three-story villa, Wesley's living quarters were confined to the stairwell.<br /> He harbored no resentment towards this arrangement. It was merely a promise. It was just that Taylor failed to appreciate him.<br /> This home held little value that he wished to cling onto.<br /> Retrieving a wooden box from beneath his pillow, Wesley extracted two documents. Casting a fleeting glance at the modest abode he had called home for five years, Wesley smiled faintly.<br /> He thought, "Finally... I'm free."<br /> Pushing the door ajar, Wesley was met by Taylor's piercing gaze. "I've reviewed the surveillance footage. Yes, my mother intended to strike you, but even if she did, what difference would it make?"<br /> "She's a lady. How much could her blows hurt you? Why did you dodge?"<br /> "If you hadn't dodged, my mother wouldn't have tumbled down." Wesley stared at Taylor, unable to comprehend her thought process.<br /> He had no interest in engaging in these arguments. Handing over the two documents to Taylor, he remarked, "The divorce agreement. I've already signed it. Take a look. I'm leaving with nothing."<br /> "With your current influence, there's no need for you to visit the city hall. Someone will handle it for you, right?"<br /> Madison was taken aback. She swiftly snatched the divorce agreement, flipping through it hastily.<br /> The contents were indeed straightforward. Both parties willingly divorced, with Wesley relinquishing all claims and having already signed.<br /> In an instant, Madison's pain seemed to dissipate. "Taylor, sign it quickly. Sign it."<br /> Taylor was still in a daze.<br /> She pondered.<br /> "A divorce agreement? Wesley has already prepared a divorce agreement. On what grounds?"<br /> "What gives him the right to initiate a divorce? All these years, he's done nothing at home, lacking any ambition. Always practicing martial arts, what right does he have to seek a divorce?"<br /> "If anyone should initiate it, it should be me. Moreover, now that I'm back to discussing this matter with him. Could it be that word got out, and Wesley, for the sake of his pride, rushed to prepare a divorce agreement first?"<br /> "It must be so, but... No!"<br /> "Wanting to leave with nothing, is he retreating to advance? As the chairman of the Reed Group, how could I be served with a divorce?"<br /> "Hey Wesley, I never expected this from you. Have I not treated you well enough? You seek a divorce, attempting to turn your retreat into advance, aiming to embarrass me?"<br /> Taylor glared at Wesley. "I'm telling you, it's impossible."<br /> Snatching the divorce agreement, she tore it to shreds.<br /> "Taylor, what are you doing? Such a great opportunity. Why not just sign it and let him leave?" Madison grew anxious.<br /> "Mom, I do intend to divorce this trash, but the decision must come from me. I returned specifically to address this matter."<br /> With that, Taylor produced two documents. "Wesley, remember that it's me who's divorcing you. It's me who no longer wants you. Initially, out of marital obligation, I had considered offering you some compensation. Now, you don't even need to think about it. Sign the divorce agreement and leave my home."<br /> Wesley offered a faint smile as he accepted the divorce agreement.<br /> "What are you laughing at?" Taylor demanded angrily.<br /> Wesley's smile seemed to mock her, fueling her rage.<br /> Ignoring her entirely, Wesley signed the document and handed it over.<br /> "What are you laughing at? Answer me! Who do you think you are?" Taylor roared once more.<br /> Wesley glanced at her before striding towards the exit.<br /> "Stop!" The gent who had accompanied Taylor stepped forward, blocking Wesley's path. "Taylor asked you a question, and... Your previous attitude displeased me. Apologize to Taylor, or I'll have you leave in disgrace!"<br /> <br /> Chapter 2 <br /> "Yes, let him leave in disgrace. He thought he could just hit me and walk away so easily," Madison joined in the commotion, also noticing the gent blocking Wesley's path.<br /> Madison had a keen interest in luxury goods, having frequented various high-end establishments over the years as the Reed family's living conditions improved. The gent was wearing an expensive watch and dressed head to toe in high-end luxury brands.<br /> Seeing Madison's gaze, the gent spoke. "Rest assured, today Wesley must pay the price."<br /> The gent introduced himself, looking at Wesley, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Henry Clark, the eldest son of the Clark family and the general manager of the Clark Group in the North District."<br /> "From now on, I will accompany Taylor on her journey of life, and I will not allow anyone to bully her."<br /> "My identity carries weight. You should understand that. Now, apologize to Taylor. Apologize! Did you hear me? Apologize!"<br /> Madison's eyes lit up. She hadn't expected the gent before her to hold such a high status. She continued to shout, "Did you hear that? Taylor will be with Mr. Clark from now on. Apologize now."<br /> Wesley glanced at Henry, then at Taylor. He thought, "Have they been together all along?" Wesley had wanted to ask but decided against it because there was no need. He simply gave them a glance and continued walking towards the exit.<br /> "Are you ignoring me?" Henry's face turned cold as he reached out to grab Wesley. Henry's hand froze mid-air as he received a solid hit.<br /> "Until I sign the divorce papers, Taylor and I are still wife and husband. I don't care to investigate whether you two had any intimate relationship during that time, but don't provoke me, or I won't hesitate to make you regret it." Wesley's gaze was icy, and as Henry met his eyes, he felt a twinge of fear and swallowed his words.<br /> Taylor was also stunned. She knew exactly what Wesley had been like over the past five years. There were many surveillance cameras in the house, and she would often check them.<br /> Even when Taylor wasn't home, despite how her family treated Wesley, he always obeyed without complaint, especially towards her. He had never raised his voice, no matter how they treated him.<br /> Today, not only did Wesley dodge when her mother struck, but he also initiated the divorce and now even struck Henry. <br /> Taylor was at a loss for words, thinking, "How could this cowardly gent dare? On what grounds does he dare?"<br /> This change was difficult for Taylor to accept as if she didn't truly understand this guy. The gent who used to be obedient to her, completely submissive, now revealed this side of himself. She watched Wesley walk away in a daze, feeling a strange discomfort in her heart.<br /> "Isn't he leaving with nothing?" Alexis pointed at the wooden box Wesley was holding. "What is he taking with him?"<br /> Madison also realized. Over the past five years, Wesley had always treasured this wooden box, carrying it with him wherever he went. She thought there must be something valuable inside.<br /> Realizing this, Madison hurriedly followed. "Wesley, stop right there, leave the wooden box."<br /> Wesley paused, glanced at Madison, and said, "This is my personal belonging."<br /> "Nonsense, what personal belonging could you possibly have after marrying into the Reed family? Everything you've eaten, worn, and lived in over the years has been provided by the Reed family. Put it down."<br /> As she spoke, Madison reached out to grab the wooden box.<br /> "Ah..." A scream rang out as Madison quickly retracted her hand, a gash appearing on her palm, a crimson liquid dripping.<br /> The wooden box was now stained with the same crimson liquid, trembling lightly in Wesley's hand.<br /> "It's not the right time yet, the day you thirst for this crimson liquid will come," Wesley murmured softly, patting the box before turning to continue his stride towards the exit.<br /> "Monster! A monster!" Madison screamed, causing Taylor and the others to rush out. Seeing the wound in Madison's hand, Taylor was filled with rage.<br /> "Wesley, aren't you going to say something?" Wesley halted once more, contemplating before meeting Taylor's gaze.<br /> "Just stay out of my way from now on. Consider this a warning to you."<br /> "Taylor, that wooden box of his has a mechanism. It must hold something valuable! We can't let him take it with him," Madison, enduring the pain, reminded them.<br /> "Mom, your injury is important. We'll deal with him later. Let me take you to the hospital first." Taylor comforted Madison before calling out to the retreating Wesley.<br /> "Our marriage is over! Yet, you dared to hurt my mother! This won't be the end of it! I will make you regret it!" Ignoring her, Wesley continued walking out.<br /> "Rest assured, I promise he won't see the light of day tomorrow." Henry stepped forward to console. "Let's focus on getting your wound treated first."<br /> "I want him to regret ever existing in this world, to apologize to me in repentance," Madison roared.<br /> "Mom, trust me, I will make him do just that." Taylor looked at Madison with a mix of pity and determination. "Let's go to the hospital first."<br /> In the villa area, Wesley halted, his voice cold. "Get out."<br /> An elderly gent leaped down from a tree, appearing to be in his seventies, yet landing silently from a height of around ten feet.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, your father wants you to come home and take charge."<br /> "He stopped being my father five years ago. He's my enemy."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you misunderstood your father. He had his reasons back then. I swear in my life, once you know the truth, you will forgive him."<br /> "Huh!" Wesley smirked coldly, saying, "I nearly passed away back then. Is that also a misunderstanding?"<br /> The old gent pleaded, "Mr. Harrington, this situation is truly not as you perceive it."<br /> Wesley didn't engage further with the old guy. The events of that year were etched in his memory forever. He was the one who had been abandoned. If not for that incident, why would he have stayed with the Reed family for five years?<br /> Watching Wesley walk away, the old gent had tears silently streaming down his face. "Mr. Harrington, I truly... I truly can't bring myself to speak the truth, but you have misunderstood your father. He also bears burdens and endures pains beyond what an ordinary person can handle."<br /> As Wesley's figure disappeared, the old gent stood up, hesitated for a moment, then dialed a number on his phone.<br /> "Mr. Harrington is now divorced. I've given you the news firsthand. If your daughter is truly together with Mr. Harrington, you must fulfill the promise and let her persuade Mr. Harrington to come home."<br /> After hanging up, a middle-aged gent in a luxurious estate jumped up excitedly. Calming himself, he immediately made another call. "My dear, you're at Yeadeo, right?<br /> "Go find Wesley now. Don't mention the engagement for now. Use every means to get close to him, make him fall in love with you."<br /> "Dad, I don't have time."<br /> "No matter what you are busy with, you must go find Wesley now. No matter what reason you approach him, you must leave a good impression the first time."<br /> "Dad, I'm in trouble right now. If I don't handle it well, I might be good as gone. I have to deal with it immediately. I'm hanging up."<br /> Chapter 3 <br /> The middle-aged gent's voice lowered significantly. "Is there a big incident happening? You didn't tell me? What happened?"<br /> "Quinn Kingsley from Yeadeo, Mr. Kingsley, used our product and now has one foot on the grave. If something really happens to him..."<br /> "You mean Quinn, the uncontested leader of Yeadeo?"<br /> "Yes."<br /> "In that case, you should go find Wesley. Trust me, in this world, there is no problem that Wesley can't solve. As long as he's willing to help, you'll be fine. Listen to me, go find Wesley immediately."<br /> The lady fell silent for a moment before saying, "Okay."<br /> At Yeadeo Harbor, a gent with a large flaxen chain and a watch, sporting a crew cut, hurriedly disembarked, accompanied by a dozen gentlemen.<br /> "Mr. Reed, wherever that trash is, we will find him and tear him apart."<br /> "Yes, that guy dared to harm your mother. We'll make sure he pays for it."<br /> Frank Reed's face turned cold. "Wesley, you coward, thinking you can overturn the world? How dare you touch my mom? Just wait until I find you, you're finished."<br /> "We've found him. Wesley got into a taxi, and our boys followed him."<br /> "Let's go!" Frank waved his hand, leading dozens of men who boarded the car with harpoons, steel pipes, and other weapons.<br /> Inside the taxi, Wesley gazed at the scenery outside, feeling a strange sense of tranquility.<br /> He thought to himself, "I never imagined that while I was secretly paving the way for the Reed family, Taylor, after progressing so rapidly, would start looking down on me more and more."<br /> "Those ladies who know my true identity, which one of them isn't trying to throw themselves at me? Ladies like that don't interest me."<br /> "Being an ordinary gent is truly difficult," Wesley murmured, smiling faintly and deciding not to dwell on these matters anymore. He had important things to attend to and no time to waste on personal affairs.<br /> "Young lad, are you going to Feidgeuo Manor for a job interview?" The driver, curious about Wesley's destination, inquired.<br /> Feidgeuo Manor was Yeadeo's most mysterious private area. Originally a villa area, it was bought at a huge cost five years ago and completely renovated. It was said to have cost a trillion dollars. The former villa area was now Feidgeuo Manor.<br /> "That's my home," Wesley replied nonchalantly.<br /> The driver was taken aback by this revelation, silently cursing Wesley for bragging. After a couple of minutes, the driver regained his composure. "It seems like you and I both prefer to keep a low profile. My car usually gathers dust at home, so I occasionally drive a taxi to experience life."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "My car has been driven by my assistant for the past few years, so it's not gathering dust."<br /> "Haha..." The driver laughed. "We should get together sometime and see whose car is more impressive."<br /> "Sure, whenever we have the time."<br /> As they chatted, the vehicle soon arrived near Feidgeuo Manor, where the massive head of the Feidgeuo Peak protruded, creating a unique landscape in Yeadeo.<br /> The driver asked with a smile, "Since you're the owner here, it's fine if I drive in, right?"<br /> "Of course," Wesley replied.<br /> As soon as Wesley spoke, several cars caught up from behind.<br /> The cars surrounded the one Wesley was in, with the front vehicles braking to force the car to a stop.<br /> When numerous people descended from cars wielding harpoons and steel pipes, the driver's face paled.<br /> Frank and his group got out of the cars, instantly closing in, and without hesitation, started attacking, the steel pipes and harpoons thudding against the car.<br /> Frank's henchman yanked open the door of Wesley's car, poised to stab Wesley with a harpoon, but Wesley swiftly exited the vehicle.<br /> With a firm step on the ground, he launched a swift hit.<br /> A muffled sound echoed as the henchman was hit away.<br /> "What are you looking at?" Frank noticed his henchmen were all staring at him. "All of you, attack together and take him down!"<br /> As he commanded, the henchmen Frank brought with him surged forward.<br /> The taxi driver, trembling, took out his phone to call the police, but Frank glared at him. "I am Frank Reed from Yeadeo Harbor. If you dare, go ahead and make that call."<br /> Frank, leveraging his sister Taylor's status, had been causing trouble in Yeadeo Harbor, and no one dared to provoke him.<br /> Upon hearing Frank's name, the driver hastily put away his phone. "Mr. Reed, I'll just check the time, you guys continue."<br /> "Huh!" Frank snorted coldly, casting his gaze towards the surrounded Wesley.<br /> The sounds of thuds continued to ring out incessantly. Because Wesley was completely surrounded, Frank was unable to see the situation inside clearly, but he could imagine it. After all, in Frank's mind, the henchmen under his command were not to be trifled with.<br /> "Hit him hard for me!"<br /> Another muffled sound and a figure flew out. At that moment, Frank finally saw the situation clearly, and his face turned pale.<br /> Frank knew that Wesley liked to practice martial arts, but he had never expected Wesley to be this skilled. It wasn't Wesley who had been beaten, but his own men by Wesley alone.<br /> Frantically, Frank turned and ran to retrieve a crossbow from the car.<br /> "Clear the way." Frank bellowed, aiming the crossbow at Wesley.<br /> "You scumbag, you think you can fight? Move one more time, and I'll end your life! Surrender!"<br /> Wesley, holding a wooden box, stared at Frank. Ignoring the crossbow in his hand, Wesley said, "Tell your henchmen to back off, or you'll all see the light from above!"<br /> "You're really good at pretending to be tough." Frank took two steps forward. "See the light? Move a muscle and see if I can end your life or not! If you don't have the guts, apologize now!"<br /> Wesley turned his head and looked at the approaching cars, with two expensive ones in the lead, two more in the rear, and another one in the middle.<br /> "Keep acting tough, and I'll put a hole in your head." Frank spoke while glancing at the five cars. "What, looking for help?"<br /> "Let me tell you, those who ride in these cars are not the kind of weaklings like you who rely on connections. With me here, in Yeadeo's social hierarchy, even those who ride in such cars wouldn't dare meddle in this matter. And let me make it clear, without my sister, you're nothing."<br /> <br /> Chapter 4<br /> As Frank's words faded, the five cars came to a halt.<br /> A bodyguard opened the door of the one in the middle, revealing a dazzling pair of shining shoes catching everyone's eye.<br /> The shining shoe encased a beautiful foot. Above, the skirt's hem was adorned with lace.<br /> Then, like a fairy stepping out of a painting, she appeared before everyone's eyes.<br /> The lady was beautiful!<br /> Frank was mesmerized. Ever since the Reed family rose to prominence, he had been surrounded by ladies, but compared to the elegant lady before him, they were worlds apart.<br /> It wasn't just a difference in appearance but an incomparable gap in demeanor.<br /> The lady descending from the Maybach seemed like a celestial being untouched by mortal affairs.<br /> The embodiment of a fairy in the mundane world.<br /> She simply stood there after getting out of the car, perfectly embodying what it meant to be graceful and elegant.<br /> The lady glanced at Wesley, then at Frank.<br /> Frank grinned, saying, "May I have the honor of knowing the name of this esteemed lady? I am Frank..."<br /> The lady spoke calmly. "Disrespect Mr. Harrington, and you're done for."<br /> Her bodyguards, unfazed by Frank's crossbow, swiftly overwhelmed him, sending him crashing to the ground.<br /> The henchmen who had come with Frank, previously defeated by Wesley, now scrambled to their feet and fled in all directions.<br /> Who would dare provoke someone who could afford such a car?<br /> "My sister is Taylor Reed, the chairperson of Reed Group," Frank shouted, clutching his head.<br /> Ignoring him, one of the bodyguards dragged him to the roadside grass while another used a belt to tighten around Frank's neck, exerting pressure.<br /> "Enough, a lesson is all that's needed." Wesley spoke calmly, and only when the lady gestured did the bodyguards release Frank.<br /> Frank lay there, already unconscious.<br /> Wesley turned to the lady. "Who are you?"<br /> "I am Mia Roberts, the general manager of Vinver Business Alliance's Yeadeo branch." She looked at Wesley and continued, "Mr. Harrington, my father mentioned that you have miraculous healing skills and earnestly requested your assistance. A generous reward awaits."<br /> Wesley furrowed his brow slightly, thinking, "There are indeed people who recognize my abilities and status, yet I've rarely intervened in the past five years. Today, shortly after I divorced Taylor, she is here. Whose arrangement is this?"<br /> "Mr. Harrington, my father also mentioned that you are benevolent and has raised the banner of compassion among healers, serving as a role model and benchmark for all in the medical field."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "You have a way with words. Tell me the specifics."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, please get in the car first. I will explain in detail on the way."<br /> The phrase "compassionate healer" held significant weight for Wesley, who had saved countless lives from the brink of death.<br /> Without further ado, he got into the car.<br /> Inside, after Mia brewed coffee for Wesley, she began. "Vinver Business Alliance has a wide range of business operations, and I mainly oversee the health supplement sector, which has seen some success in recent years.<br /> "Recently, Quinn Kingsley started using our medicines, and now there's an accident."<br /> As she spoke, Mia kept her gaze fixed on Wesley.<br /> Quinn, the undisputed leader of Yeadeo, was a figure of immense influence.<br /> Upon hearing this name, Wesley showed no particular reaction. "If the city's leader faces issues with your products, it is indeed a concern. Let's go and see."<br /> With just a sentence, Wesley leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest.<br /> Mia was secretly alarmed, thinking, "He knows who Quinn is, yet he seems indifferent. Who is this Wesley, really? No wonder Dad has instructed me to find a way to win his favor." Mia's inner resistance toward Wesley quietly shifted.<br /> Wesley had piqued her curiosity.<br /> As the vehicle was moving, Wesley's phone rang.<br /> Wesley opened his eyes and took out his phone to see Taylor calling.<br /> Pressing the answer button, he asked, "What's the matter?"<br /> On the other end of the line, Taylor, driving towards Feidgeuo Manor, had a grim expression.<br /> She thought, "Has Wesley ever spoken to me in such a cold tone before? Is he really this heartless right after our divorce?"<br /> Already furious, she snapped. "Wesley, do you even consider yourself a human being?<br /> "Today, not only did you lay hands on my mother, but you also had someone attack my brother. Do you not remember our past at all?"<br /> Wesley calmly replied, "Do we have a past to remember?"<br /> "You truly are a heartless scumbag, just as my mother said. You are an ungrateful and vicious person I raised for five years. Even a pet would wag its tail at me!"<br /> Taylor wanted to continue her tirade, but the phone line had already turned busy.<br /> This only fueled her anger further.<br /> Just now, she had received a call from Frank's underlings, informing her that Wesley had sent people to attack Frank and even intended to end him.<br /> Taylor wanted to demand answers, but...<br /> As Taylor was clutching her fists, her gaze turned icy.<br /> After a moment, she picked up her phone again. "Wesley, you are so narrow-minded. You have no ambition. Any lady would steer clear of you."<br /> "Just because I dumped you, you are doing this on purpose to make me feel sick. Pretending to be aloof and seeking revenge? Do you even deserve it?"<br /> "In Yeadeo, squashing you would be as easy as squashing an ant. You're asking for it! If anything happens to my brother, I will make you wish you were ending!"<br /> Her furious voice message echoed in the car.<br /> Wesley chuckled and put away his phone.<br /> Beside him, Mia seemed contemplative. Before coming, she had already ordered a swift investigation into Wesley.<br /> She was curious, thinking, "How could someone valued by my father could be the one 'marrying into' the Reed family."<br /> Being tactful, Mia chose not to ask and pretended not to have heard.<br /> After about forty minutes, they arrived at the Kingsley Manor.<br /> The Kingsley family members, upon seeing Mia alight from the car, all wore grim expressions.<br /> Mia greeted them with a smile, "Everyone, this is Wesley Harrington, Mr. Harrington, the miraculous healer I specially invited to treat Mr. Kingsley."<br /> "Him? The gent who married into the Reed family?"<br /> "A miraculous healer? Is he even worthy? Are healers so worthless now?"<br /> "A useless gent who mooches off of the Reed family? How dare he call himself a miraculous healer? Truly a joke among all jokes."<br /> Chapter 5<br /> <br /> Amanda Kingsley, Quinn's granddaughter, stared coldly at Wesley and Mia.<br /> This lady, dressed in a smart suit, also held significant fame in Yeadeo, overseeing the region's business activities, including investment attraction and various local business negotiations.<br /> Amanda had a favorable view of Taylor, who had risen swiftly in recent times, and they had interacted frequently.<br /> She was aware of Wesley's existence and had advised Taylor to part ways with him early on.<br /> But Amanda never imagined that Mia would bring someone like Wesley, a complete waste, and claim he was a miraculous healer.<br /> Glaring at Mia, she said, "Mia, once my grandfather is well, it's best for your Roberts family to leave Yeadeo."<br /> "As for you..." She glanced at Wesley. "I will advise Taylor to divorce you. You have deceived Taylor's feelings and now shamelessly made your way into my family. You are a despicable creature."<br /> After reprimanding Mia and Wesley, she turned to an elderly gent beside her, and her tone and attitude completely changed. "Mr. Phillips, sorry to trouble you. My grandfather is inside, please."<br /> Mia looked at the elderly gent, who was already in his twilight years, feeling deeply shocked.<br /> Scott Phillips, the 38th generation heir of the Healing Clinic, was now ninety-two years old.<br /> Renowned as a miraculous healer, he was a respected figure in the medical community of Yeadeo and even nationally.<br /> He no longer conducted consultations personally due to his old age. Mia had visited him specifically to pay her respects once she had arrived in Yeadeo but had not met Scott.<br /> She never expected Scott to appear in person. It was understandable, as Quinn held a prominent position in the city. Despite the profound influence of the Phillips family, they still had to show respect to Quinn.<br /> Mia looked at Wesley, feeling conflicted and thinking, "Dad has confidently claimed that Wesley has extraordinary abilities, but does he really?"<br /> She harbored doubts, but out of propriety, Mia spoke. "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the trouble."<br /> Wesley smiled, "It's fine. As long as the person can be healed."<br /> His open-mindedness impressed Mia.<br /> After about half an hour, Amanda emerged from the room. All eyes instantly turned towards her.<br /> It was evident that Amanda had wailed out, with traces of tears still visible.<br /> "Amanda, how is it?" A middle-aged gent anxiously asked her.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family who had rushed back also focused their attention on her.<br /> "Mr. Phillips said that there's little hope of recovery. He could only use acupuncture to wake grandfather for half an hour. When grandfather wakes up, let's all go in and see if he has any final instructions."<br /> Everyone was shocked.<br /> "How could this be?"<br /> "Is Mr. Phillips also helpless?"<br /> The members of the Kingsley family found it hard to accept this reality, especially since Quinn had always treated his juniors well.<br /> The thought of Quinn departing saddened some, and tears silently fell.<br /> Publicly, Quinn's status was the foundation of the Kingsley family's prominence in Yeadeo.<br /> If Quinn were to pass away, the Kingsley family would undoubtedly decline.<br /> The atmosphere within the Kingsley family was somber.<br /> Amanda looked at her family members, opened her mouth, but said nothing, silently turning back into the room.<br /> "Stop crying," A middle-aged gent said sternly, "Dad wouldn't want to see you all in tears. If he's really leaving, we mustn't let him worry about us. Pull yourselves together."<br /> After these words, the middle-aged gent also entered the room.<br /> The younger members of the Kingsley family wiped their tears vigorously, trying to force smiles, but in truth, they looked better at crying than pretending to be happy.<br /> Mia's spirit plummeted as she realized the gravity of the situation. Even if an ordinary person passed away from consuming health supplements, it spelled big trouble for those who sold them. And when the deceased happened to be Quinn, the stakes were even higher.<br /> She understood that it would be difficult for this branch to stay in Yeadeo, and even the headquarters might face repercussions.<br /> "Let's go in and have a look." Wesley glanced at Mia. "There might still be a chance."<br /> "Ah..." Mia stared at Wesley in surprise. Seeing him already heading towards the room, she quickly followed suit.<br /> Inside the room, the members of the Kingsley family stood around the mattress, maintaining a certain distance.<br /> Scott lit the alcohol lamp and took out the needles, his expression solemn.<br /> He looked at the members of the Kingsley family. "Think about what you want to say to Mr. Kingsley later. Once you're ready, let me know, and then I'll proceed with the acupuncture."<br /> As he said this, tears welled up in many eyes.<br /> "If you don't mind, let me take a look. I have a way." Wesley spoke up, drawing everyone's attention.<br /> Amanda's face darkened. "Who let you in? Get out!"<br /> "Mia, have you lost your mind? Tricked by this trash and actually brought him here as a miracle healer. Get out with him! I'll settle the score with you in a couple of days."<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, at a loss for words.<br /> "Even Mr. Phillips is unable to reverse the situation. What use are you? Get out." Another younger member of the Kingsley family angrily rebuked.<br /> The middle-aged gent added, "We're in no mood right now. You better leave immediately."<br /> "I understand your narrow-mindedness," Wesley continued, "But as a healer, once I see a patient, I cannot stand by and watch him draw his last breath."<br /> "Wesley, you're quite the charlatan. Do you really want to be gone right now?" Amanda's voice was filled with anger.<br /> "Amanda, let me say a few words," Scott interjected, and Amanda fell silent.<br /> Looking at Wesley, Scott began. "Young lad, at my age, I've seen a lot and have a broad perspective. Today, however, I find it hard to remain indifferent. I practiced medicine from the age of sixteen until I stopped seeing patients for a total of seventy years."<br /> "I've saved countless patients from various illnesses. I never easily declare a patient's fate, nor do I believe I have the right to do so."<br /> "But from your recent remarks, it seems like you're accusing me of such actions. Young people wanting to make a name for themselves by stepping on the shoulders of their predecessors, I can understand."<br /> "But this kind of behavior displeases me."<br /> "My displeasure, what does it mean to you? Do you understand?"<br /> "Even if you are a healer, your career will be ruined because of this."<br /> Chapter 6 <br /> In the face of Scott's veiled threats, Wesley simply smiled and brushed them off.<br /> Looking at Scott, he asked, "I've always focused on the issue at hand rather than attacking individuals. I have a few questions for you. If you can't administer the needles, how long do you think Quinn can hold on?"<br /> "Seven days, but he will remain unconscious," Scott replied bluntly.<br /> "Then let me ask you this, is there anyone in the world with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "Outrageous," Amanda coldly interjected, "Mr. Phillips is unparalleled in his medical expertise."<br /> Scott glanced at Amanda. "Amanda, let me handle this question."<br /> Continuing to address Wesley, he said, "I don't underestimate myself, nor do I overestimate. There are countless talented individuals in the world, like stars in the sky. I may not dare claim to be the best in medical skills, but those who surpass me are few."<br /> "That means there are some," Wesley calmly remarked, causing Scott's expression to shift slightly, "Indeed, there are."<br /> "Then let me ask you this. Do you think within seven days, the Kingsley family won't find someone with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "If they do find someone, do you believe there is an illness that you cannot cure, but this person can?"<br /> Wesley's questions were sharp and resounding.<br /> Scott's face changed once more as he was rendered speechless.<br /> "Even if there is, that person will never be you." Amanda's face turned icy. "Now get out. Don't spout your eloquence here. Your deceitful behavior is repulsive."<br /> "Your understanding of me is merely hearsay, isn't it?" Wesley retorted, his gaze mocking Amanda, "Has your background and education taught you such arrogance and prejudice?"<br /> "Arrogance?" Amanda's face grew colder as she disdainfully looked at Wesley. "Prejudice?<br /> "Did I say something wrong just now? You are nothing but stagnant waste, a parasite living off others. If it weren't for Taylor, you would have starved on the streets long ago."<br /> "Relying on sweet words, deceiving Taylor. She, with her kind heart, can't bear to divorce you, but don't push your luck. If it weren't for Taylor's sake, you would have been sent out long ago."<br /> Scott interrupted Amanda, "Amanda, although I find this lad a bit annoying, what he said does hold some truth. There are indeed individuals with better medical skills than me. Your grandfather can hold on for seven days. Try reaching out to see if someone can come over. I'll help you make connections."<br /> "If it really doesn't work out after seven days, I'll administer the needles to your grandfather. However, at that point, I can only buy you three minutes."<br /> As soon as Scott spoke, the faces of the Kingsley family members grew even more solemn. True healers were rare and not easily summoned.<br /> While the Kingsley family had connections in Yeadeo, their influence waned outside of it.<br /> "Mr. Phillips, please administer the needles. Life has its ups and downs, and we understand that. Just buy my father a bit more time." The middle-aged gent spoke up.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family nodded in agreement.<br /> Amanda looked at Scott. "Mr. Phillips, please."<br /> "In that case, please have everyone unrelated leave. I need silence," Scott calmly stated.<br /> Amanda glared at Wesley, her eyes speaking volumes without a word.<br /> The unrelated individuals were, naturally, Wesley and Mia.<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, intending to leave, but she suddenly hesitated.<br /> Instead of leaving, Wesley moved forward.<br /> "What are you doing?" A young member of the Kingsley family stepped forward with a stern expression, pushing Wesley.<br /> In one swift motion, Wesley executed a clean shoulder throw, toppling the young gent to the ground, his own expression turning cold.<br /> "A bunch of fools! If it weren't for my teacher's teachings about not turning a blind eye to those in need, I wouldn't bother with you ignorant lot," Wesley remarked with disdain.<br /> As Wesley effortlessly took down one individual from the Kingsley family, the others seemed slow to react.<br /> By the time they realized what was happening, Wesley had already picked up the needle next to Scott and casually flicked his wrist.<br /> The needle flew out of his hand, piercing Quinn's temple, followed by a second needle, a third needle, and so on.<br /> "What are you doing? Stop!" Amanda's voice rose in urgency, echoed by the rest of the Kingsley family members who rushed forward to restrain Wesley.<br /> "Stay back, everyone. Wait." Scott suddenly stood up, blocking the others. "Let him try."<br /> Amanda and the others were left dumbfounded, thinking, "What does this mean?"<br /> Despite their confusion, they heeded Scott's words.<br /> After Scott stopped the members of the Kingsley family, he fixed his gaze on Wesley.<br /> Wesley proceeded to use eighteen needles in succession, symbolizing the levels of pain.<br /> Even if someone had descended into the depths of hell, they must be brought back.<br /> The final needle, also piercing a vital point, caused Quinn's body to tremble suddenly, resonating with the previous eighteen needles.<br /> Scott's eyes widened, his body trembling slightly. His reaction left Amanda and the others even more puzzled, but none dared to interrupt.<br /> Moments later, Wesley placed a palm on Quinn's chest, causing all eighteen needles to be shaken off. When all the needles landed on the ground, the part of the skin where the needles had pierced turned dark.<br /> Wesley then dragged Quinn to the edge of the mattress, flipped him over with his head facing downwards, and gave him a firm pat on the back.<br /> Quinn spat out a mouthful of black liquid. When Wesley flipped him back to lie flat, his complexion had regained some color.<br /> "The Hand of Darkness... It's the Hand of Darkness!" Scott exclaimed with excitement, his body quivering, "It's the Hand that descends into the dark world, snatching people from the hands of the Evil!"<br /> "You do have some knowledge, recognizing the Hand of Darkness." Wesley glanced at Scott.<br /> Scott's gaze towards Wesley had undergone a drastic change. He respectfully clasped his hands together.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thirty years ago, I had the honor of attending a teaching conference held by Mr. Vanderbilt. I saw the Hand of Darkness, but my limited aptitude only allowed me to grasp the basics."<br /> "I have been blind and ignorant. I apologize for my earlier offenses. Please forgive me, Mr. Harrington."<br /> The Mr. Vanderbilt Scott referred to was Wesley's teacher, Ulysses Vanderbilt. He generously imparted his skills to others, but the ability to learn depended on one's innate talent.<br /> In this world, few could learn Ulysses' skills.<br /> Scott had been fortunate to receive guidance from Ulysses, which had elevated his medical skills. However, the Hand of Darkness, a miraculous ability, was beyond his comprehension.<br /> Wesley smiled faintly, "Your actions earlier are understandable. I appreciate your words."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you must be an exceptional disciple of Mr. Vanderbilt, possessing unparalleled magnanimity. Impressive," Scott continued.<br /> "Enough with the flattery at your age."<br /> "You are mistaken, Mr. Harrington. Every word I speak is sincere."<br /> Mia, Amanda, and the others stood bewildered by the unfolding situation.<br /> "Mr. Phillips... he... he..." Amanda's words faltered.<br /> Scott turned to the members of the Kingsley family. "Meeting Mr. Harrington was Quinn's luck. His symptoms have been cured by Mr. Harrington. With a few days of rest, he will be fine."<br /> The waste Taylor had previously said was called Mr. Harrington by Scott!<br /> Recalling their previous attitudes, Amanda hurriedly apologized, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> The members of the Kingsley family all apologized in unison, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> Chapter 7 <br /> With a faint smile, Wesley remarked, "As family members of a patient, your actions earlier are understandable. There's no need for such formality."<br /> Amanda's perplexity deepened as she thought, "Where is the cowardly waste that Taylor described? This display of magnanimity and breadth is far from it."<br /> Mia, too, felt a shiver of realization, thinking, "No wonder Dad has insisted on my proximity to Wesley.<br /> This guy..."<br /> She gazed at Wesley, her curiosity piqued, a sense of exploration stirring within her.<br /> "Mia has brought you here, Mr. Harrington, to cure my grandfather. The Kingsley family will never forget this act. However, considering that my grandfather's ailment stemmed from the health supplements produced by the Vinver Business Alliance, we will be conducting an investigation into it."<br /> Amanda continued, looking at Wesley, "What do you think... of this approach?"<br /> It was Mia who had invited Wesley, so Amanda had grown wiser, refraining from asking for a direct punishment of the Vinver Business Alliance.<br /> As Mia heard Amanda's words, her heart skipped a beat, realizing trouble was brewing.<br /> "On the way here, Ms. Roberts briefed me on the situation. You conducted experiments on mice, correct?"<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes, the health supplements we received were exclusively provided by the Roberts family. There were no similar cases on the market, so we used mice for testing.<br /> "All the mice that ingested this supplement were gone."<br /> She looked at Mia and added, her voice turning colder, "Before the experiment, I specifically contacted Mia to inquire about the testing methods during the development phase, which involved mice.<br /> "There have been individuals eyeing my grandfather's position, some even wishing for his demise. I never imagined that the Vinver Business Alliance, which I attracted for investment, would become a weapon in someone else's hands."<br /> "Do you have any of the remaining medicine?" Wesley inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes."<br /> "Bring some over."<br /> Immediately, someone fetched the medicine. After it was brought to him, Wesley took out a supplement and swallowed it directly.<br /> This scene left Amanda and the others dumbfounded.<br /> Scott, too, was bewildered. "Mr. Harrington, what are you doing?"<br /> Wesley smiled, "Just proving that this medicine is not toxic."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thank you," Mia thanked sincerely, feeling like crying at that moment.<br /> Amanda, with a puzzled expression, looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, are you suggesting that my grandfather's condition wasn't caused by the Vinver Business Alliance's medicine? What about the mice?"<br /> The rest were equally puzzled.<br /> "Yes, but not entirely," Wesley said, leaving everyone even more bewildered.<br /> Mia's emotions were like a rollercoaster ride, from relief to immediate tension.<br /> "This medicine itself is not toxic, but when taken with another substance made from a certain plant, it results in Quinn's condition. The mice would die immediately, while humans could endure a few more days."<br /> Wesley continued to explain, "The plant used in this concoction is originally meant for crafting slow-acting toxins, not for human consumption."<br /> Looking at Amanda, Wesley said, "During this period, whoever had access to your grandfather and the mice will better understand why these events occurred."<br /> The gaze of members of the Kingsley family immediately focused on a lady.<br /> Amanda, somewhat incredulous, looked at her. "Can you offer an explanation?"<br /> The lady was the wife of Amanda's deceased brother. She found it hard to accept, as did the rest of the Kingsley family.<br /> This lady had been named the exemplary lady who served her family well this year, not due to her connection with the Kingsley family but because she genuinely deserved it.<br /> "What do you mean? Amanda, what explanation do you want from me?"<br /> The lady stared at Amanda. "Am I the only one who had access to Grandfather and the mice? You, and you... and you, who didn't have access?"<br /> "You all claim to treat me as family. Since I married into the Kingsley family, I have worked diligently, contributing my share even if not acknowledged."<br /> "Amanda, it has been over a year since your brother passed, and I never once considered remarrying. Now, just because of his words, you demand an explanation from me?"<br /> Pointing at Wesley, the lady questioned, "Just because he accuses me of poisoning, you suspect me? Tell me, did I poison him?" The lady glared at Wesley.<br /> "I am merely analyzing the facts. As for concluding this case, it's not within my purview," Wesley addressed the members of the Kingsley family, saying, "You should conduct a thorough investigation into this matter.<br /> "I will write a prescription. Have Quinn take it on time, and he will recover in seven days."<br /> Amanda hurried to fetch paper and pen while Wesley prepared the prescription. Once done, he was ready to leave.<br /> Amanda said hurriedly, "Mr. Harrington, I've already made arrangements for lunch."<br /> "No need," Wesley smiled.<br /> The Kingsley family sought to build closer ties with Wesley, given his extraordinary medical skills. Wesley was well aware of this.<br /> Looking at Amanda and the others, Wesley remarked, "In the future, if you encounter any difficult medical cases that others cannot solve, seek me out. Remember, cases others cannot solve."<br /> The gaze of the Kingsley family members toward Wesley changed once again. Many renowned healers had eccentric personalities and were difficult to engage.<br /> They hadn't expected Wesley to possess such remarkable medical skills without any airs.<br /> As Wesley prepared to depart, the members of the Kingsley family did not dare to insist on his stay, so they accompanied him outside.<br /> "Oh, how could we forget such an important matter? Amanda, what about the consultation fee?" The middle-aged gent inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the oversight. Please wait a moment." Amanda hurried back inside and soon returned with a bank card in hand.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, there's one million dollars in here."<br /> Without hesitation, Wesley accepted the bank card and boarded Mia's car.<br /> During the journey, Mia boldly looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, you've helped me immensely. Can I treat you to a meal? Don't decline in a hurry. It's not a fancy restaurant, but it will leave you wanting more. It's a small place on the street, with only eight plates of noodles served each day, each plate containing different ingredients.<br /> "I managed to secure a reservation. Are you interested?"<br /> Wesley thought, "Eight Plates of Noodles? Ah, Aaron's restaurant. It has been a while since I visited those old friends."<br /> Wesley nodded. "Let's go then."<br /> The restaurant, Eight Plates of Noodles, was located on Chanxold Street near the Yeadeo First Central Hospital.<br /> The establishment was small, serving only eight plates of noodles each day at a price of 10 thousand dollars each. Vernoic's television culinary program had specifically covered this incident.<br /> Reservations were a must to secure a plate.<br /> The restaurant's owner had a mysterious background. While the specifics were unknown, a high-ranking noble from the capital of Vernoic, Kingsland, had caused a scene there once.<br /> He had attempted to force his way in without a reservation. Although this incident hadn't been reported, rumors suggested that a garbage truck had to be called to dispose of the intruder's remains, as he was too shattered to be removed by conventional means.<br /> Since then, no one dared to cause trouble.<br /> On their way, Mia introduced Wesley to the background story.<br /> "Mr. Turner, two plates of noodles." Mia called out once they arrived.<br /> Aaron Turner didn't respond but visibly paused upon seeing Wesley beside Mia.<br /> A faint smile appeared on his usually stoic face. Though the flesh on the face seemed stiff, it was indeed a smile. "Coming right up."<br /> Mia glanced at Aaron with a hint of surprise, thinking, "When did he become so warm and enthusiastic? His tone seemed a bit agitated earlier, didn't it?"<br /> Soon enough, Aaron brought two plates of noodles to the table. One steaming hot and the other devoid of any warmth.<br /> As Mia observed Aaron placing the plate without steam in front of Wesley, her expression changed slightly.<br /> It was a plate of instant noodles having soaked in cold water, with the seasoning barely dissolved.<br /> She felt a sense of panic. Mia had wanted to leave a good impression on Wesley, which was why she had chosen this place.<br /> However, Aaron had served such a plate of noodles.<br /> She dared not question Aaron. The type of noodles served here was not determined by the guests but by Aaron's mood.<br /> "This girl named Mia is quite something, living up to her name, and quite kind-hearted," Aaron remarked, looking at Wesley.<br /> "Get lost," Wesley retorted, using his fork to pick up the noodles and devouring them.<br /> Mia's face turned pale instantly. Disrespecting Aaron was akin to risking Wesley's life.<br /> To her astonishment, Aaron chuckled, tears welling up in his eyes.<br /> He wiped them away. "Alright, I'll leave you to your meal."<br /> Before departing, he gave Mia a thumbs-up. "Seize the opportunity."<br /> The eight plates of noodles symbolized the eight comrades who had faced life and life-threatening situations together.<br /> Wesley ate voraciously. Initially, they had only one pack of instant noodles to share among the eight of them, forcing them to divide it.<br /> Despite the circumstances, they devoured the noodles joyfully.<br /> Aaron had promised that once they survived, each one would have the most delicious plate of noodles.<br /> However, five of the eight had perished.<br /> Wesley had come dangerously close to life-threatening situations, but managed to cling to life.<br /> For him, the plate of noodles was not food but the bond of friendship that had shielded him from harm.<br /> "Do you... know each other?" Mia couldn't help but ask, her voice low and curious.<br /> "Some things are better left unknown," Wesley replied.<br /> Mia nodded in understanding, falling silent as they continued eating noodles. She couldn't help stealing glances at Wesley throughout the meal.<br /> This gent had piqued her curiosity even more.<br /> "Wesley, I see. No wonder you agreed to the divorce so readily. You've already found someone else outside."<br /> A sharp voice interrupted their meal.<br /> Taylor approached with a cold expression, accompanied by Henry.	Adoread Romance story	8	https://facebook.com/61557113391558	INSTALL_MOBILE_APP	1713250800	View Edit Delete
1666996	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727713	1734958300	695	1143833703459581	1	9.6716752541011E+14	1713250800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	423699414390350	0	Hiya toys	120207249585580645	instagram.com	Visit Instagram Profile	NONE	carousel			https://www.instagram.com/_u/hiya_toys		1712918182	4.2369941439035E+14	Hiya toys	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435890169_455637816898997_1400948676440987007_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=enJzOTtGs74Q7kNvgEND7Ve&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDsEK7oEKAPeswN9DkeXT45es296YDO8P_g-wlGUK5MxA&oe=663A7047	person_profile	0	Hiyatoys	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435899196_1161301881532746_9040978709044126875_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=10QEwVHzp1EQ7kNvgG2c2QN&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBJX62wdycYEyXS85zgJ7mOnJO-ccPudCj6knfanMUV6g&oe=663A8370	0	3		Hiya toys	19504	https://facebook.com/Hiyatoys	VIEW_INSTAGRAM_PROFILE	1712905200	View Edit Delete
1666984	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727712	1734958300	695	1165774234454158	1	8.0956832104661E+14	1713337200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	235254296344339	0	Adoread Romance story	120207848351190113	play.google.com	Install now	NONE	video	HOT BOOK✨Tap the button to read more👉		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.adoread.book		1713261148	2.3525429634434E+14	Adoread Romance story	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435696930_2201225726883649_3933890725883325637_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JLkKSd3ita0Q7kNvgFIkBdh&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCm24JDju7dZP8eiklGuTRak4sB80lY7J9e-v_9_kGj8Q&oe=663A6FDF	person_profile	0	Adoread Romance story	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435656917_801657301378069_260347530484228326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=TYgt2uHFcoUQ7kNvgGupVSp&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC8DYC9B00oF6BTnjTF05IFzx1F4gmM3vYwhAn-VNzScg&oe=663A8F32	0	3	Chapter 1 <br /> "Wesley, are you trying to harm me? You useless piece of trash, can't even make a decent cup of coffee, can you?"<br /> Madison Blair lifted her coffee cup and splashed it directly onto Wesley Harrington's face.<br /> "What are you looking at, you spineless waste? Your name sounds so lofty? I might as well call you a waste."<br /> Glancing at the grotesque expression of his wife's mother, Wesley pulled out his phone to check the time.<br /> Exactly twelve o'clock. It had been five full years since he married Taylor Reed.<br /> The appointed time had come.<br /> He had fulfilled his promise, safeguarding the Reed family for five years, transforming them from a family living off fishing to one perceived as affluent by the common folk.<br /> Wiping the coffee off his face, he turned and walked away.<br /> "Where do you think you're going? Go fetch some more coffee," Madison shouted.<br /> "Madison, didn't you say this waste is obedient at home, doing whatever he's told? I don't think he's taking it lying down."<br /> Madison grew angrier. "Wesley, you stop right there. My family has fed and housed you. If you dare disobey, I'll have you thrown out!"<br /> Ignoring her, Wesley continued downstairs.<br /> "When Taylor comes back, I'll immediately have you two divorced. Do you hear me? Stay right there," Madison threatened, "I'll let you know your place today."<br /> Grabbing a golf club, Madison swiftly charged towards Wesley.<br /> Seeing Wesley heading downstairs, she swung the club viciously at his back.<br /> Without turning back, Wesley gently sidestepped.<br /> Losing her balance, Madison tumbled forward, rolling down the stairs with a series of thumps.<br /> "Ouch... it hurts, it hurts so much!"<br /> As Madison reached the ground floor, she wailed in pain and her sister immediately rushed to her.<br /> "Wesley, what have you done? How dare you hit my sister!" Madison's sister hurried down, checking on Madison's condition.<br /> Wesley remained silent, observing the scene.<br /> "Quick, call Taylor. Tell her to come back. Today, she must divorce this waste." Madison glared at Wesley. "How dare you hit me? Not only will I let Taylor divorce you, but I'll make sure you leave in disgrace."<br /> "Mum, what's wrong?" At that moment, a gent and a lady walked in.<br /> The lady was Taylor, Madison's daughter.<br /> She ran towards Madison.<br /> As Madison pointed at Wesley, tears streamed down her face. "Taylor, he hit me, he hit me! When you're not home, he changes his attitude, scolding and hitting me in the slightest displeasure. He even pushed me down the stairs just now. Alexis can testify."<br /> Madison's sister, Alexis Blair, chimed in. "Yes, Wesley, this trash not only hit your mother but also threatened to hit me too. We cannot tolerate such trash."<br /> "Taylor, I have been telling you to divorce him for years. You've been supporting him, treating him like a Lord at home, but he's an ungrateful wolf in sheep's clothing."<br /> Helping Madison up, Taylor noticed the scrapes on Madison's arms and legs, her expression turning cold.<br /> "Wesley, why did you hit my mother? You better give me an explanation."<br /> Wesley looked at Taylor, his wife.<br /> Five years had passed, and she had never shown him kindness.<br /> Taylor dressed impeccably, a paragon of a successful lady, with a face that could be deemed angelic, yet whether her heart was as angelic remained a mystery.<br /> Her figure, too, left countless men yearning.<br /> For five years, Wesley had thought he might develop feelings for this lady, but in reality, it never happened.<br /> "There are surveillance cameras in the house," Wesley stated calmly before descending the stairs into the hallway.<br /> Despite residing in a three-story villa, Wesley's living quarters were confined to the stairwell.<br /> He harbored no resentment towards this arrangement. It was merely a promise. It was just that Taylor failed to appreciate him.<br /> This home held little value that he wished to cling onto.<br /> Retrieving a wooden box from beneath his pillow, Wesley extracted two documents. Casting a fleeting glance at the modest abode he had called home for five years, Wesley smiled faintly.<br /> He thought, "Finally... I'm free."<br /> Pushing the door ajar, Wesley was met by Taylor's piercing gaze. "I've reviewed the surveillance footage. Yes, my mother intended to strike you, but even if she did, what difference would it make?"<br /> "She's a lady. How much could her blows hurt you? Why did you dodge?"<br /> "If you hadn't dodged, my mother wouldn't have tumbled down." Wesley stared at Taylor, unable to comprehend her thought process.<br /> He had no interest in engaging in these arguments. Handing over the two documents to Taylor, he remarked, "The divorce agreement. I've already signed it. Take a look. I'm leaving with nothing."<br /> "With your current influence, there's no need for you to visit the city hall. Someone will handle it for you, right?"<br /> Madison was taken aback. She swiftly snatched the divorce agreement, flipping through it hastily.<br /> The contents were indeed straightforward. Both parties willingly divorced, with Wesley relinquishing all claims and having already signed.<br /> In an instant, Madison's pain seemed to dissipate. "Taylor, sign it quickly. Sign it."<br /> Taylor was still in a daze.<br /> She pondered.<br /> "A divorce agreement? Wesley has already prepared a divorce agreement. On what grounds?"<br /> "What gives him the right to initiate a divorce? All these years, he's done nothing at home, lacking any ambition. Always practicing martial arts, what right does he have to seek a divorce?"<br /> "If anyone should initiate it, it should be me. Moreover, now that I'm back to discussing this matter with him. Could it be that word got out, and Wesley, for the sake of his pride, rushed to prepare a divorce agreement first?"<br /> "It must be so, but... No!"<br /> "Wanting to leave with nothing, is he retreating to advance? As the chairman of the Reed Group, how could I be served with a divorce?"<br /> "Hey Wesley, I never expected this from you. Have I not treated you well enough? You seek a divorce, attempting to turn your retreat into advance, aiming to embarrass me?"<br /> Taylor glared at Wesley. "I'm telling you, it's impossible."<br /> Snatching the divorce agreement, she tore it to shreds.<br /> "Taylor, what are you doing? Such a great opportunity. Why not just sign it and let him leave?" Madison grew anxious.<br /> "Mom, I do intend to divorce this trash, but the decision must come from me. I returned specifically to address this matter."<br /> With that, Taylor produced two documents. "Wesley, remember that it's me who's divorcing you. It's me who no longer wants you. Initially, out of marital obligation, I had considered offering you some compensation. Now, you don't even need to think about it. Sign the divorce agreement and leave my home."<br /> Wesley offered a faint smile as he accepted the divorce agreement.<br /> "What are you laughing at?" Taylor demanded angrily.<br /> Wesley's smile seemed to mock her, fueling her rage.<br /> Ignoring her entirely, Wesley signed the document and handed it over.<br /> "What are you laughing at? Answer me! Who do you think you are?" Taylor roared once more.<br /> Wesley glanced at her before striding towards the exit.<br /> "Stop!" The gent who had accompanied Taylor stepped forward, blocking Wesley's path. "Taylor asked you a question, and... Your previous attitude displeased me. Apologize to Taylor, or I'll have you leave in disgrace!"<br /> <br /> Chapter 2 <br /> "Yes, let him leave in disgrace. He thought he could just hit me and walk away so easily," Madison joined in the commotion, also noticing the gent blocking Wesley's path.<br /> Madison had a keen interest in luxury goods, having frequented various high-end establishments over the years as the Reed family's living conditions improved. The gent was wearing an expensive watch and dressed head to toe in high-end luxury brands.<br /> Seeing Madison's gaze, the gent spoke. "Rest assured, today Wesley must pay the price."<br /> The gent introduced himself, looking at Wesley, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Henry Clark, the eldest son of the Clark family and the general manager of the Clark Group in the North District."<br /> "From now on, I will accompany Taylor on her journey of life, and I will not allow anyone to bully her."<br /> "My identity carries weight. You should understand that. Now, apologize to Taylor. Apologize! Did you hear me? Apologize!"<br /> Madison's eyes lit up. She hadn't expected the gent before her to hold such a high status. She continued to shout, "Did you hear that? Taylor will be with Mr. Clark from now on. Apologize now."<br /> Wesley glanced at Henry, then at Taylor. He thought, "Have they been together all along?" Wesley had wanted to ask but decided against it because there was no need. He simply gave them a glance and continued walking towards the exit.<br /> "Are you ignoring me?" Henry's face turned cold as he reached out to grab Wesley. Henry's hand froze mid-air as he received a solid hit.<br /> "Until I sign the divorce papers, Taylor and I are still wife and husband. I don't care to investigate whether you two had any intimate relationship during that time, but don't provoke me, or I won't hesitate to make you regret it." Wesley's gaze was icy, and as Henry met his eyes, he felt a twinge of fear and swallowed his words.<br /> Taylor was also stunned. She knew exactly what Wesley had been like over the past five years. There were many surveillance cameras in the house, and she would often check them.<br /> Even when Taylor wasn't home, despite how her family treated Wesley, he always obeyed without complaint, especially towards her. He had never raised his voice, no matter how they treated him.<br /> Today, not only did Wesley dodge when her mother struck, but he also initiated the divorce and now even struck Henry. <br /> Taylor was at a loss for words, thinking, "How could this cowardly gent dare? On what grounds does he dare?"<br /> This change was difficult for Taylor to accept as if she didn't truly understand this guy. The gent who used to be obedient to her, completely submissive, now revealed this side of himself. She watched Wesley walk away in a daze, feeling a strange discomfort in her heart.<br /> "Isn't he leaving with nothing?" Alexis pointed at the wooden box Wesley was holding. "What is he taking with him?"<br /> Madison also realized. Over the past five years, Wesley had always treasured this wooden box, carrying it with him wherever he went. She thought there must be something valuable inside.<br /> Realizing this, Madison hurriedly followed. "Wesley, stop right there, leave the wooden box."<br /> Wesley paused, glanced at Madison, and said, "This is my personal belonging."<br /> "Nonsense, what personal belonging could you possibly have after marrying into the Reed family? Everything you've eaten, worn, and lived in over the years has been provided by the Reed family. Put it down."<br /> As she spoke, Madison reached out to grab the wooden box.<br /> "Ah..." A scream rang out as Madison quickly retracted her hand, a gash appearing on her palm, a crimson liquid dripping.<br /> The wooden box was now stained with the same crimson liquid, trembling lightly in Wesley's hand.<br /> "It's not the right time yet, the day you thirst for this crimson liquid will come," Wesley murmured softly, patting the box before turning to continue his stride towards the exit.<br /> "Monster! A monster!" Madison screamed, causing Taylor and the others to rush out. Seeing the wound in Madison's hand, Taylor was filled with rage.<br /> "Wesley, aren't you going to say something?" Wesley halted once more, contemplating before meeting Taylor's gaze.<br /> "Just stay out of my way from now on. Consider this a warning to you."<br /> "Taylor, that wooden box of his has a mechanism. It must hold something valuable! We can't let him take it with him," Madison, enduring the pain, reminded them.<br /> "Mom, your injury is important. We'll deal with him later. Let me take you to the hospital first." Taylor comforted Madison before calling out to the retreating Wesley.<br /> "Our marriage is over! Yet, you dared to hurt my mother! This won't be the end of it! I will make you regret it!" Ignoring her, Wesley continued walking out.<br /> "Rest assured, I promise he won't see the light of day tomorrow." Henry stepped forward to console. "Let's focus on getting your wound treated first."<br /> "I want him to regret ever existing in this world, to apologize to me in repentance," Madison roared.<br /> "Mom, trust me, I will make him do just that." Taylor looked at Madison with a mix of pity and determination. "Let's go to the hospital first."<br /> In the villa area, Wesley halted, his voice cold. "Get out."<br /> An elderly gent leaped down from a tree, appearing to be in his seventies, yet landing silently from a height of around ten feet.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, your father wants you to come home and take charge."<br /> "He stopped being my father five years ago. He's my enemy."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you misunderstood your father. He had his reasons back then. I swear in my life, once you know the truth, you will forgive him."<br /> "Huh!" Wesley smirked coldly, saying, "I nearly passed away back then. Is that also a misunderstanding?"<br /> The old gent pleaded, "Mr. Harrington, this situation is truly not as you perceive it."<br /> Wesley didn't engage further with the old guy. The events of that year were etched in his memory forever. He was the one who had been abandoned. If not for that incident, why would he have stayed with the Reed family for five years?<br /> Watching Wesley walk away, the old gent had tears silently streaming down his face. "Mr. Harrington, I truly... I truly can't bring myself to speak the truth, but you have misunderstood your father. He also bears burdens and endures pains beyond what an ordinary person can handle."<br /> As Wesley's figure disappeared, the old gent stood up, hesitated for a moment, then dialed a number on his phone.<br /> "Mr. Harrington is now divorced. I've given you the news firsthand. If your daughter is truly together with Mr. Harrington, you must fulfill the promise and let her persuade Mr. Harrington to come home."<br /> After hanging up, a middle-aged gent in a luxurious estate jumped up excitedly. Calming himself, he immediately made another call. "My dear, you're at Yeadeo, right?<br /> "Go find Wesley now. Don't mention the engagement for now. Use every means to get close to him, make him fall in love with you."<br /> "Dad, I don't have time."<br /> "No matter what you are busy with, you must go find Wesley now. No matter what reason you approach him, you must leave a good impression the first time."<br /> "Dad, I'm in trouble right now. If I don't handle it well, I might be good as gone. I have to deal with it immediately. I'm hanging up."<br /> Chapter 3 <br /> The middle-aged gent's voice lowered significantly. "Is there a big incident happening? You didn't tell me? What happened?"<br /> "Quinn Kingsley from Yeadeo, Mr. Kingsley, used our product and now has one foot on the grave. If something really happens to him..."<br /> "You mean Quinn, the uncontested leader of Yeadeo?"<br /> "Yes."<br /> "In that case, you should go find Wesley. Trust me, in this world, there is no problem that Wesley can't solve. As long as he's willing to help, you'll be fine. Listen to me, go find Wesley immediately."<br /> The lady fell silent for a moment before saying, "Okay."<br /> At Yeadeo Harbor, a gent with a large flaxen chain and a watch, sporting a crew cut, hurriedly disembarked, accompanied by a dozen gentlemen.<br /> "Mr. Reed, wherever that trash is, we will find him and tear him apart."<br /> "Yes, that guy dared to harm your mother. We'll make sure he pays for it."<br /> Frank Reed's face turned cold. "Wesley, you coward, thinking you can overturn the world? How dare you touch my mom? Just wait until I find you, you're finished."<br /> "We've found him. Wesley got into a taxi, and our boys followed him."<br /> "Let's go!" Frank waved his hand, leading dozens of men who boarded the car with harpoons, steel pipes, and other weapons.<br /> Inside the taxi, Wesley gazed at the scenery outside, feeling a strange sense of tranquility.<br /> He thought to himself, "I never imagined that while I was secretly paving the way for the Reed family, Taylor, after progressing so rapidly, would start looking down on me more and more."<br /> "Those ladies who know my true identity, which one of them isn't trying to throw themselves at me? Ladies like that don't interest me."<br /> "Being an ordinary gent is truly difficult," Wesley murmured, smiling faintly and deciding not to dwell on these matters anymore. He had important things to attend to and no time to waste on personal affairs.<br /> "Young lad, are you going to Feidgeuo Manor for a job interview?" The driver, curious about Wesley's destination, inquired.<br /> Feidgeuo Manor was Yeadeo's most mysterious private area. Originally a villa area, it was bought at a huge cost five years ago and completely renovated. It was said to have cost a trillion dollars. The former villa area was now Feidgeuo Manor.<br /> "That's my home," Wesley replied nonchalantly.<br /> The driver was taken aback by this revelation, silently cursing Wesley for bragging. After a couple of minutes, the driver regained his composure. "It seems like you and I both prefer to keep a low profile. My car usually gathers dust at home, so I occasionally drive a taxi to experience life."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "My car has been driven by my assistant for the past few years, so it's not gathering dust."<br /> "Haha..." The driver laughed. "We should get together sometime and see whose car is more impressive."<br /> "Sure, whenever we have the time."<br /> As they chatted, the vehicle soon arrived near Feidgeuo Manor, where the massive head of the Feidgeuo Peak protruded, creating a unique landscape in Yeadeo.<br /> The driver asked with a smile, "Since you're the owner here, it's fine if I drive in, right?"<br /> "Of course," Wesley replied.<br /> As soon as Wesley spoke, several cars caught up from behind.<br /> The cars surrounded the one Wesley was in, with the front vehicles braking to force the car to a stop.<br /> When numerous people descended from cars wielding harpoons and steel pipes, the driver's face paled.<br /> Frank and his group got out of the cars, instantly closing in, and without hesitation, started attacking, the steel pipes and harpoons thudding against the car.<br /> Frank's henchman yanked open the door of Wesley's car, poised to stab Wesley with a harpoon, but Wesley swiftly exited the vehicle.<br /> With a firm step on the ground, he launched a swift hit.<br /> A muffled sound echoed as the henchman was hit away.<br /> "What are you looking at?" Frank noticed his henchmen were all staring at him. "All of you, attack together and take him down!"<br /> As he commanded, the henchmen Frank brought with him surged forward.<br /> The taxi driver, trembling, took out his phone to call the police, but Frank glared at him. "I am Frank Reed from Yeadeo Harbor. If you dare, go ahead and make that call."<br /> Frank, leveraging his sister Taylor's status, had been causing trouble in Yeadeo Harbor, and no one dared to provoke him.<br /> Upon hearing Frank's name, the driver hastily put away his phone. "Mr. Reed, I'll just check the time, you guys continue."<br /> "Huh!" Frank snorted coldly, casting his gaze towards the surrounded Wesley.<br /> The sounds of thuds continued to ring out incessantly. Because Wesley was completely surrounded, Frank was unable to see the situation inside clearly, but he could imagine it. After all, in Frank's mind, the henchmen under his command were not to be trifled with.<br /> "Hit him hard for me!"<br /> Another muffled sound and a figure flew out. At that moment, Frank finally saw the situation clearly, and his face turned pale.<br /> Frank knew that Wesley liked to practice martial arts, but he had never expected Wesley to be this skilled. It wasn't Wesley who had been beaten, but his own men by Wesley alone.<br /> Frantically, Frank turned and ran to retrieve a crossbow from the car.<br /> "Clear the way." Frank bellowed, aiming the crossbow at Wesley.<br /> "You scumbag, you think you can fight? Move one more time, and I'll end your life! Surrender!"<br /> Wesley, holding a wooden box, stared at Frank. Ignoring the crossbow in his hand, Wesley said, "Tell your henchmen to back off, or you'll all see the light from above!"<br /> "You're really good at pretending to be tough." Frank took two steps forward. "See the light? Move a muscle and see if I can end your life or not! If you don't have the guts, apologize now!"<br /> Wesley turned his head and looked at the approaching cars, with two expensive ones in the lead, two more in the rear, and another one in the middle.<br /> "Keep acting tough, and I'll put a hole in your head." Frank spoke while glancing at the five cars. "What, looking for help?"<br /> "Let me tell you, those who ride in these cars are not the kind of weaklings like you who rely on connections. With me here, in Yeadeo's social hierarchy, even those who ride in such cars wouldn't dare meddle in this matter. And let me make it clear, without my sister, you're nothing."<br /> <br /> Chapter 4<br /> As Frank's words faded, the five cars came to a halt.<br /> A bodyguard opened the door of the one in the middle, revealing a dazzling pair of shining shoes catching everyone's eye.<br /> The shining shoe encased a beautiful foot. Above, the skirt's hem was adorned with lace.<br /> Then, like a fairy stepping out of a painting, she appeared before everyone's eyes.<br /> The lady was beautiful!<br /> Frank was mesmerized. Ever since the Reed family rose to prominence, he had been surrounded by ladies, but compared to the elegant lady before him, they were worlds apart.<br /> It wasn't just a difference in appearance but an incomparable gap in demeanor.<br /> The lady descending from the Maybach seemed like a celestial being untouched by mortal affairs.<br /> The embodiment of a fairy in the mundane world.<br /> She simply stood there after getting out of the car, perfectly embodying what it meant to be graceful and elegant.<br /> The lady glanced at Wesley, then at Frank.<br /> Frank grinned, saying, "May I have the honor of knowing the name of this esteemed lady? I am Frank..."<br /> The lady spoke calmly. "Disrespect Mr. Harrington, and you're done for."<br /> Her bodyguards, unfazed by Frank's crossbow, swiftly overwhelmed him, sending him crashing to the ground.<br /> The henchmen who had come with Frank, previously defeated by Wesley, now scrambled to their feet and fled in all directions.<br /> Who would dare provoke someone who could afford such a car?<br /> "My sister is Taylor Reed, the chairperson of Reed Group," Frank shouted, clutching his head.<br /> Ignoring him, one of the bodyguards dragged him to the roadside grass while another used a belt to tighten around Frank's neck, exerting pressure.<br /> "Enough, a lesson is all that's needed." Wesley spoke calmly, and only when the lady gestured did the bodyguards release Frank.<br /> Frank lay there, already unconscious.<br /> Wesley turned to the lady. "Who are you?"<br /> "I am Mia Roberts, the general manager of Vinver Business Alliance's Yeadeo branch." She looked at Wesley and continued, "Mr. Harrington, my father mentioned that you have miraculous healing skills and earnestly requested your assistance. A generous reward awaits."<br /> Wesley furrowed his brow slightly, thinking, "There are indeed people who recognize my abilities and status, yet I've rarely intervened in the past five years. Today, shortly after I divorced Taylor, she is here. Whose arrangement is this?"<br /> "Mr. Harrington, my father also mentioned that you are benevolent and has raised the banner of compassion among healers, serving as a role model and benchmark for all in the medical field."<br /> Wesley chuckled, "You have a way with words. Tell me the specifics."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, please get in the car first. I will explain in detail on the way."<br /> The phrase "compassionate healer" held significant weight for Wesley, who had saved countless lives from the brink of death.<br /> Without further ado, he got into the car.<br /> Inside, after Mia brewed coffee for Wesley, she began. "Vinver Business Alliance has a wide range of business operations, and I mainly oversee the health supplement sector, which has seen some success in recent years.<br /> "Recently, Quinn Kingsley started using our medicines, and now there's an accident."<br /> As she spoke, Mia kept her gaze fixed on Wesley.<br /> Quinn, the undisputed leader of Yeadeo, was a figure of immense influence.<br /> Upon hearing this name, Wesley showed no particular reaction. "If the city's leader faces issues with your products, it is indeed a concern. Let's go and see."<br /> With just a sentence, Wesley leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest.<br /> Mia was secretly alarmed, thinking, "He knows who Quinn is, yet he seems indifferent. Who is this Wesley, really? No wonder Dad has instructed me to find a way to win his favor." Mia's inner resistance toward Wesley quietly shifted.<br /> Wesley had piqued her curiosity.<br /> As the vehicle was moving, Wesley's phone rang.<br /> Wesley opened his eyes and took out his phone to see Taylor calling.<br /> Pressing the answer button, he asked, "What's the matter?"<br /> On the other end of the line, Taylor, driving towards Feidgeuo Manor, had a grim expression.<br /> She thought, "Has Wesley ever spoken to me in such a cold tone before? Is he really this heartless right after our divorce?"<br /> Already furious, she snapped. "Wesley, do you even consider yourself a human being?<br /> "Today, not only did you lay hands on my mother, but you also had someone attack my brother. Do you not remember our past at all?"<br /> Wesley calmly replied, "Do we have a past to remember?"<br /> "You truly are a heartless scumbag, just as my mother said. You are an ungrateful and vicious person I raised for five years. Even a pet would wag its tail at me!"<br /> Taylor wanted to continue her tirade, but the phone line had already turned busy.<br /> This only fueled her anger further.<br /> Just now, she had received a call from Frank's underlings, informing her that Wesley had sent people to attack Frank and even intended to end him.<br /> Taylor wanted to demand answers, but...<br /> As Taylor was clutching her fists, her gaze turned icy.<br /> After a moment, she picked up her phone again. "Wesley, you are so narrow-minded. You have no ambition. Any lady would steer clear of you."<br /> "Just because I dumped you, you are doing this on purpose to make me feel sick. Pretending to be aloof and seeking revenge? Do you even deserve it?"<br /> "In Yeadeo, squashing you would be as easy as squashing an ant. You're asking for it! If anything happens to my brother, I will make you wish you were ending!"<br /> Her furious voice message echoed in the car.<br /> Wesley chuckled and put away his phone.<br /> Beside him, Mia seemed contemplative. Before coming, she had already ordered a swift investigation into Wesley.<br /> She was curious, thinking, "How could someone valued by my father could be the one 'marrying into' the Reed family."<br /> Being tactful, Mia chose not to ask and pretended not to have heard.<br /> After about forty minutes, they arrived at the Kingsley Manor.<br /> The Kingsley family members, upon seeing Mia alight from the car, all wore grim expressions.<br /> Mia greeted them with a smile, "Everyone, this is Wesley Harrington, Mr. Harrington, the miraculous healer I specially invited to treat Mr. Kingsley."<br /> "Him? The gent who married into the Reed family?"<br /> "A miraculous healer? Is he even worthy? Are healers so worthless now?"<br /> "A useless gent who mooches off of the Reed family? How dare he call himself a miraculous healer? Truly a joke among all jokes."<br /> Chapter 5<br /> <br /> Amanda Kingsley, Quinn's granddaughter, stared coldly at Wesley and Mia.<br /> This lady, dressed in a smart suit, also held significant fame in Yeadeo, overseeing the region's business activities, including investment attraction and various local business negotiations.<br /> Amanda had a favorable view of Taylor, who had risen swiftly in recent times, and they had interacted frequently.<br /> She was aware of Wesley's existence and had advised Taylor to part ways with him early on.<br /> But Amanda never imagined that Mia would bring someone like Wesley, a complete waste, and claim he was a miraculous healer.<br /> Glaring at Mia, she said, "Mia, once my grandfather is well, it's best for your Roberts family to leave Yeadeo."<br /> "As for you..." She glanced at Wesley. "I will advise Taylor to divorce you. You have deceived Taylor's feelings and now shamelessly made your way into my family. You are a despicable creature."<br /> After reprimanding Mia and Wesley, she turned to an elderly gent beside her, and her tone and attitude completely changed. "Mr. Phillips, sorry to trouble you. My grandfather is inside, please."<br /> Mia looked at the elderly gent, who was already in his twilight years, feeling deeply shocked.<br /> Scott Phillips, the 38th generation heir of the Healing Clinic, was now ninety-two years old.<br /> Renowned as a miraculous healer, he was a respected figure in the medical community of Yeadeo and even nationally.<br /> He no longer conducted consultations personally due to his old age. Mia had visited him specifically to pay her respects once she had arrived in Yeadeo but had not met Scott.<br /> She never expected Scott to appear in person. It was understandable, as Quinn held a prominent position in the city. Despite the profound influence of the Phillips family, they still had to show respect to Quinn.<br /> Mia looked at Wesley, feeling conflicted and thinking, "Dad has confidently claimed that Wesley has extraordinary abilities, but does he really?"<br /> She harbored doubts, but out of propriety, Mia spoke. "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the trouble."<br /> Wesley smiled, "It's fine. As long as the person can be healed."<br /> His open-mindedness impressed Mia.<br /> After about half an hour, Amanda emerged from the room. All eyes instantly turned towards her.<br /> It was evident that Amanda had wailed out, with traces of tears still visible.<br /> "Amanda, how is it?" A middle-aged gent anxiously asked her.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family who had rushed back also focused their attention on her.<br /> "Mr. Phillips said that there's little hope of recovery. He could only use acupuncture to wake grandfather for half an hour. When grandfather wakes up, let's all go in and see if he has any final instructions."<br /> Everyone was shocked.<br /> "How could this be?"<br /> "Is Mr. Phillips also helpless?"<br /> The members of the Kingsley family found it hard to accept this reality, especially since Quinn had always treated his juniors well.<br /> The thought of Quinn departing saddened some, and tears silently fell.<br /> Publicly, Quinn's status was the foundation of the Kingsley family's prominence in Yeadeo.<br /> If Quinn were to pass away, the Kingsley family would undoubtedly decline.<br /> The atmosphere within the Kingsley family was somber.<br /> Amanda looked at her family members, opened her mouth, but said nothing, silently turning back into the room.<br /> "Stop crying," A middle-aged gent said sternly, "Dad wouldn't want to see you all in tears. If he's really leaving, we mustn't let him worry about us. Pull yourselves together."<br /> After these words, the middle-aged gent also entered the room.<br /> The younger members of the Kingsley family wiped their tears vigorously, trying to force smiles, but in truth, they looked better at crying than pretending to be happy.<br /> Mia's spirit plummeted as she realized the gravity of the situation. Even if an ordinary person passed away from consuming health supplements, it spelled big trouble for those who sold them. And when the deceased happened to be Quinn, the stakes were even higher.<br /> She understood that it would be difficult for this branch to stay in Yeadeo, and even the headquarters might face repercussions.<br /> "Let's go in and have a look." Wesley glanced at Mia. "There might still be a chance."<br /> "Ah..." Mia stared at Wesley in surprise. Seeing him already heading towards the room, she quickly followed suit.<br /> Inside the room, the members of the Kingsley family stood around the mattress, maintaining a certain distance.<br /> Scott lit the alcohol lamp and took out the needles, his expression solemn.<br /> He looked at the members of the Kingsley family. "Think about what you want to say to Mr. Kingsley later. Once you're ready, let me know, and then I'll proceed with the acupuncture."<br /> As he said this, tears welled up in many eyes.<br /> "If you don't mind, let me take a look. I have a way." Wesley spoke up, drawing everyone's attention.<br /> Amanda's face darkened. "Who let you in? Get out!"<br /> "Mia, have you lost your mind? Tricked by this trash and actually brought him here as a miracle healer. Get out with him! I'll settle the score with you in a couple of days."<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, at a loss for words.<br /> "Even Mr. Phillips is unable to reverse the situation. What use are you? Get out." Another younger member of the Kingsley family angrily rebuked.<br /> The middle-aged gent added, "We're in no mood right now. You better leave immediately."<br /> "I understand your narrow-mindedness," Wesley continued, "But as a healer, once I see a patient, I cannot stand by and watch him draw his last breath."<br /> "Wesley, you're quite the charlatan. Do you really want to be gone right now?" Amanda's voice was filled with anger.<br /> "Amanda, let me say a few words," Scott interjected, and Amanda fell silent.<br /> Looking at Wesley, Scott began. "Young lad, at my age, I've seen a lot and have a broad perspective. Today, however, I find it hard to remain indifferent. I practiced medicine from the age of sixteen until I stopped seeing patients for a total of seventy years."<br /> "I've saved countless patients from various illnesses. I never easily declare a patient's fate, nor do I believe I have the right to do so."<br /> "But from your recent remarks, it seems like you're accusing me of such actions. Young people wanting to make a name for themselves by stepping on the shoulders of their predecessors, I can understand."<br /> "But this kind of behavior displeases me."<br /> "My displeasure, what does it mean to you? Do you understand?"<br /> "Even if you are a healer, your career will be ruined because of this."<br /> Chapter 6 <br /> In the face of Scott's veiled threats, Wesley simply smiled and brushed them off.<br /> Looking at Scott, he asked, "I've always focused on the issue at hand rather than attacking individuals. I have a few questions for you. If you can't administer the needles, how long do you think Quinn can hold on?"<br /> "Seven days, but he will remain unconscious," Scott replied bluntly.<br /> "Then let me ask you this, is there anyone in the world with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "Outrageous," Amanda coldly interjected, "Mr. Phillips is unparalleled in his medical expertise."<br /> Scott glanced at Amanda. "Amanda, let me handle this question."<br /> Continuing to address Wesley, he said, "I don't underestimate myself, nor do I overestimate. There are countless talented individuals in the world, like stars in the sky. I may not dare claim to be the best in medical skills, but those who surpass me are few."<br /> "That means there are some," Wesley calmly remarked, causing Scott's expression to shift slightly, "Indeed, there are."<br /> "Then let me ask you this. Do you think within seven days, the Kingsley family won't find someone with better medical skills than you?"<br /> "If they do find someone, do you believe there is an illness that you cannot cure, but this person can?"<br /> Wesley's questions were sharp and resounding.<br /> Scott's face changed once more as he was rendered speechless.<br /> "Even if there is, that person will never be you." Amanda's face turned icy. "Now get out. Don't spout your eloquence here. Your deceitful behavior is repulsive."<br /> "Your understanding of me is merely hearsay, isn't it?" Wesley retorted, his gaze mocking Amanda, "Has your background and education taught you such arrogance and prejudice?"<br /> "Arrogance?" Amanda's face grew colder as she disdainfully looked at Wesley. "Prejudice?<br /> "Did I say something wrong just now? You are nothing but stagnant waste, a parasite living off others. If it weren't for Taylor, you would have starved on the streets long ago."<br /> "Relying on sweet words, deceiving Taylor. She, with her kind heart, can't bear to divorce you, but don't push your luck. If it weren't for Taylor's sake, you would have been sent out long ago."<br /> Scott interrupted Amanda, "Amanda, although I find this lad a bit annoying, what he said does hold some truth. There are indeed individuals with better medical skills than me. Your grandfather can hold on for seven days. Try reaching out to see if someone can come over. I'll help you make connections."<br /> "If it really doesn't work out after seven days, I'll administer the needles to your grandfather. However, at that point, I can only buy you three minutes."<br /> As soon as Scott spoke, the faces of the Kingsley family members grew even more solemn. True healers were rare and not easily summoned.<br /> While the Kingsley family had connections in Yeadeo, their influence waned outside of it.<br /> "Mr. Phillips, please administer the needles. Life has its ups and downs, and we understand that. Just buy my father a bit more time." The middle-aged gent spoke up.<br /> The rest of the members of the Kingsley family nodded in agreement.<br /> Amanda looked at Scott. "Mr. Phillips, please."<br /> "In that case, please have everyone unrelated leave. I need silence," Scott calmly stated.<br /> Amanda glared at Wesley, her eyes speaking volumes without a word.<br /> The unrelated individuals were, naturally, Wesley and Mia.<br /> Mia glanced at Wesley, intending to leave, but she suddenly hesitated.<br /> Instead of leaving, Wesley moved forward.<br /> "What are you doing?" A young member of the Kingsley family stepped forward with a stern expression, pushing Wesley.<br /> In one swift motion, Wesley executed a clean shoulder throw, toppling the young gent to the ground, his own expression turning cold.<br /> "A bunch of fools! If it weren't for my teacher's teachings about not turning a blind eye to those in need, I wouldn't bother with you ignorant lot," Wesley remarked with disdain.<br /> As Wesley effortlessly took down one individual from the Kingsley family, the others seemed slow to react.<br /> By the time they realized what was happening, Wesley had already picked up the needle next to Scott and casually flicked his wrist.<br /> The needle flew out of his hand, piercing Quinn's temple, followed by a second needle, a third needle, and so on.<br /> "What are you doing? Stop!" Amanda's voice rose in urgency, echoed by the rest of the Kingsley family members who rushed forward to restrain Wesley.<br /> "Stay back, everyone. Wait." Scott suddenly stood up, blocking the others. "Let him try."<br /> Amanda and the others were left dumbfounded, thinking, "What does this mean?"<br /> Despite their confusion, they heeded Scott's words.<br /> After Scott stopped the members of the Kingsley family, he fixed his gaze on Wesley.<br /> Wesley proceeded to use eighteen needles in succession, symbolizing the levels of pain.<br /> Even if someone had descended into the depths of hell, they must be brought back.<br /> The final needle, also piercing a vital point, caused Quinn's body to tremble suddenly, resonating with the previous eighteen needles.<br /> Scott's eyes widened, his body trembling slightly. His reaction left Amanda and the others even more puzzled, but none dared to interrupt.<br /> Moments later, Wesley placed a palm on Quinn's chest, causing all eighteen needles to be shaken off. When all the needles landed on the ground, the part of the skin where the needles had pierced turned dark.<br /> Wesley then dragged Quinn to the edge of the mattress, flipped him over with his head facing downwards, and gave him a firm pat on the back.<br /> Quinn spat out a mouthful of black liquid. When Wesley flipped him back to lie flat, his complexion had regained some color.<br /> "The Hand of Darkness... It's the Hand of Darkness!" Scott exclaimed with excitement, his body quivering, "It's the Hand that descends into the dark world, snatching people from the hands of the Evil!"<br /> "You do have some knowledge, recognizing the Hand of Darkness." Wesley glanced at Scott.<br /> Scott's gaze towards Wesley had undergone a drastic change. He respectfully clasped his hands together.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thirty years ago, I had the honor of attending a teaching conference held by Mr. Vanderbilt. I saw the Hand of Darkness, but my limited aptitude only allowed me to grasp the basics."<br /> "I have been blind and ignorant. I apologize for my earlier offenses. Please forgive me, Mr. Harrington."<br /> The Mr. Vanderbilt Scott referred to was Wesley's teacher, Ulysses Vanderbilt. He generously imparted his skills to others, but the ability to learn depended on one's innate talent.<br /> In this world, few could learn Ulysses' skills.<br /> Scott had been fortunate to receive guidance from Ulysses, which had elevated his medical skills. However, the Hand of Darkness, a miraculous ability, was beyond his comprehension.<br /> Wesley smiled faintly, "Your actions earlier are understandable. I appreciate your words."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, you must be an exceptional disciple of Mr. Vanderbilt, possessing unparalleled magnanimity. Impressive," Scott continued.<br /> "Enough with the flattery at your age."<br /> "You are mistaken, Mr. Harrington. Every word I speak is sincere."<br /> Mia, Amanda, and the others stood bewildered by the unfolding situation.<br /> "Mr. Phillips... he... he..." Amanda's words faltered.<br /> Scott turned to the members of the Kingsley family. "Meeting Mr. Harrington was Quinn's luck. His symptoms have been cured by Mr. Harrington. With a few days of rest, he will be fine."<br /> The waste Taylor had previously said was called Mr. Harrington by Scott!<br /> Recalling their previous attitudes, Amanda hurriedly apologized, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> The members of the Kingsley family all apologized in unison, "Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry."<br /> Chapter 7 <br /> With a faint smile, Wesley remarked, "As family members of a patient, your actions earlier are understandable. There's no need for such formality."<br /> Amanda's perplexity deepened as she thought, "Where is the cowardly waste that Taylor described? This display of magnanimity and breadth is far from it."<br /> Mia, too, felt a shiver of realization, thinking, "No wonder Dad has insisted on my proximity to Wesley.<br /> This guy..."<br /> She gazed at Wesley, her curiosity piqued, a sense of exploration stirring within her.<br /> "Mia has brought you here, Mr. Harrington, to cure my grandfather. The Kingsley family will never forget this act. However, considering that my grandfather's ailment stemmed from the health supplements produced by the Vinver Business Alliance, we will be conducting an investigation into it."<br /> Amanda continued, looking at Wesley, "What do you think... of this approach?"<br /> It was Mia who had invited Wesley, so Amanda had grown wiser, refraining from asking for a direct punishment of the Vinver Business Alliance.<br /> As Mia heard Amanda's words, her heart skipped a beat, realizing trouble was brewing.<br /> "On the way here, Ms. Roberts briefed me on the situation. You conducted experiments on mice, correct?"<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes, the health supplements we received were exclusively provided by the Roberts family. There were no similar cases on the market, so we used mice for testing.<br /> "All the mice that ingested this supplement were gone."<br /> She looked at Mia and added, her voice turning colder, "Before the experiment, I specifically contacted Mia to inquire about the testing methods during the development phase, which involved mice.<br /> "There have been individuals eyeing my grandfather's position, some even wishing for his demise. I never imagined that the Vinver Business Alliance, which I attracted for investment, would become a weapon in someone else's hands."<br /> "Do you have any of the remaining medicine?" Wesley inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> Amanda nodded. "Yes."<br /> "Bring some over."<br /> Immediately, someone fetched the medicine. After it was brought to him, Wesley took out a supplement and swallowed it directly.<br /> This scene left Amanda and the others dumbfounded.<br /> Scott, too, was bewildered. "Mr. Harrington, what are you doing?"<br /> Wesley smiled, "Just proving that this medicine is not toxic."<br /> "Mr. Harrington, thank you," Mia thanked sincerely, feeling like crying at that moment.<br /> Amanda, with a puzzled expression, looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, are you suggesting that my grandfather's condition wasn't caused by the Vinver Business Alliance's medicine? What about the mice?"<br /> The rest were equally puzzled.<br /> "Yes, but not entirely," Wesley said, leaving everyone even more bewildered.<br /> Mia's emotions were like a rollercoaster ride, from relief to immediate tension.<br /> "This medicine itself is not toxic, but when taken with another substance made from a certain plant, it results in Quinn's condition. The mice would die immediately, while humans could endure a few more days."<br /> Wesley continued to explain, "The plant used in this concoction is originally meant for crafting slow-acting toxins, not for human consumption."<br /> Looking at Amanda, Wesley said, "During this period, whoever had access to your grandfather and the mice will better understand why these events occurred."<br /> The gaze of members of the Kingsley family immediately focused on a lady.<br /> Amanda, somewhat incredulous, looked at her. "Can you offer an explanation?"<br /> The lady was the wife of Amanda's deceased brother. She found it hard to accept, as did the rest of the Kingsley family.<br /> This lady had been named the exemplary lady who served her family well this year, not due to her connection with the Kingsley family but because she genuinely deserved it.<br /> "What do you mean? Amanda, what explanation do you want from me?"<br /> The lady stared at Amanda. "Am I the only one who had access to Grandfather and the mice? You, and you... and you, who didn't have access?"<br /> "You all claim to treat me as family. Since I married into the Kingsley family, I have worked diligently, contributing my share even if not acknowledged."<br /> "Amanda, it has been over a year since your brother passed, and I never once considered remarrying. Now, just because of his words, you demand an explanation from me?"<br /> Pointing at Wesley, the lady questioned, "Just because he accuses me of poisoning, you suspect me? Tell me, did I poison him?" The lady glared at Wesley.<br /> "I am merely analyzing the facts. As for concluding this case, it's not within my purview," Wesley addressed the members of the Kingsley family, saying, "You should conduct a thorough investigation into this matter.<br /> "I will write a prescription. Have Quinn take it on time, and he will recover in seven days."<br /> Amanda hurried to fetch paper and pen while Wesley prepared the prescription. Once done, he was ready to leave.<br /> Amanda said hurriedly, "Mr. Harrington, I've already made arrangements for lunch."<br /> "No need," Wesley smiled.<br /> The Kingsley family sought to build closer ties with Wesley, given his extraordinary medical skills. Wesley was well aware of this.<br /> Looking at Amanda and the others, Wesley remarked, "In the future, if you encounter any difficult medical cases that others cannot solve, seek me out. Remember, cases others cannot solve."<br /> The gaze of the Kingsley family members toward Wesley changed once again. Many renowned healers had eccentric personalities and were difficult to engage.<br /> They hadn't expected Wesley to possess such remarkable medical skills without any airs.<br /> As Wesley prepared to depart, the members of the Kingsley family did not dare to insist on his stay, so they accompanied him outside.<br /> "Oh, how could we forget such an important matter? Amanda, what about the consultation fee?" The middle-aged gent inquired, looking at Amanda.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, I apologize for the oversight. Please wait a moment." Amanda hurried back inside and soon returned with a bank card in hand.<br /> "Mr. Harrington, there's one million dollars in here."<br /> Without hesitation, Wesley accepted the bank card and boarded Mia's car.<br /> During the journey, Mia boldly looked at Wesley. "Mr. Harrington, you've helped me immensely. Can I treat you to a meal? Don't decline in a hurry. It's not a fancy restaurant, but it will leave you wanting more. It's a small place on the street, with only eight plates of noodles served each day, each plate containing different ingredients.<br /> "I managed to secure a reservation. Are you interested?"<br /> Wesley thought, "Eight Plates of Noodles? Ah, Aaron's restaurant. It has been a while since I visited those old friends."<br /> Wesley nodded. "Let's go then."<br /> The restaurant, Eight Plates of Noodles, was located on Chanxold Street near the Yeadeo First Central Hospital.<br /> The establishment was small, serving only eight plates of noodles each day at a price of 10 thousand dollars each. Vernoic's television culinary program had specifically covered this incident.<br /> Reservations were a must to secure a plate.<br /> The restaurant's owner had a mysterious background. While the specifics were unknown, a high-ranking noble from the capital of Vernoic, Kingsland, had caused a scene there once.<br /> He had attempted to force his way in without a reservation. Although this incident hadn't been reported, rumors suggested that a garbage truck had to be called to dispose of the intruder's remains, as he was too shattered to be removed by conventional means.<br /> Since then, no one dared to cause trouble.<br /> On their way, Mia introduced Wesley to the background story.<br /> "Mr. Turner, two plates of noodles." Mia called out once they arrived.<br /> Aaron Turner didn't respond but visibly paused upon seeing Wesley beside Mia.<br /> A faint smile appeared on his usually stoic face. Though the flesh on the face seemed stiff, it was indeed a smile. "Coming right up."<br /> Mia glanced at Aaron with a hint of surprise, thinking, "When did he become so warm and enthusiastic? His tone seemed a bit agitated earlier, didn't it?"<br /> Soon enough, Aaron brought two plates of noodles to the table. One steaming hot and the other devoid of any warmth.<br /> As Mia observed Aaron placing the plate without steam in front of Wesley, her expression changed slightly.<br /> It was a plate of instant noodles having soaked in cold water, with the seasoning barely dissolved.<br /> She felt a sense of panic. Mia had wanted to leave a good impression on Wesley, which was why she had chosen this place.<br /> However, Aaron had served such a plate of noodles.<br /> She dared not question Aaron. The type of noodles served here was not determined by the guests but by Aaron's mood.<br /> "This girl named Mia is quite something, living up to her name, and quite kind-hearted," Aaron remarked, looking at Wesley.<br /> "Get lost," Wesley retorted, using his fork to pick up the noodles and devouring them.<br /> Mia's face turned pale instantly. Disrespecting Aaron was akin to risking Wesley's life.<br /> To her astonishment, Aaron chuckled, tears welling up in his eyes.<br /> He wiped them away. "Alright, I'll leave you to your meal."<br /> Before departing, he gave Mia a thumbs-up. "Seize the opportunity."<br /> The eight plates of noodles symbolized the eight comrades who had faced life and life-threatening situations together.<br /> Wesley ate voraciously. Initially, they had only one pack of instant noodles to share among the eight of them, forcing them to divide it.<br /> Despite the circumstances, they devoured the noodles joyfully.<br /> Aaron had promised that once they survived, each one would have the most delicious plate of noodles.<br /> However, five of the eight had perished.<br /> Wesley had come dangerously close to life-threatening situations, but managed to cling to life.<br /> For him, the plate of noodles was not food but the bond of friendship that had shielded him from harm.<br /> "Do you... know each other?" Mia couldn't help but ask, her voice low and curious.<br /> "Some things are better left unknown," Wesley replied.<br /> Mia nodded in understanding, falling silent as they continued eating noodles. She couldn't help stealing glances at Wesley throughout the meal.<br /> This gent had piqued her curiosity even more.<br /> "Wesley, I see. No wonder you agreed to the divorce so readily. You've already found someone else outside."<br /> A sharp voice interrupted their meal.<br /> Taylor approached with a cold expression, accompanied by Henry.	Adoread Romance story	8	https://facebook.com/61557113391558	INSTALL_MOBILE_APP	1713250800	View Edit Delete
1666986	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727712	1734958300	695	792598246074605	1	9.3007547859996E+14	1713078000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108840065363755	0	InvestmentsGurus	120210205957870131	investmentguru.com	Learn more	NONE	image	40+ Bizarre Yet Funny Pictures Captured By Air Travelers	Who said flying has to be stressful? In some cases, the experience can be a fun-filled adventure that can make anyone marvel at how far traveling has come. On the other hand, the airport is so busy that it's a bit easy to miss some interesting shenanigans. That is why this list has been curated; to....	https://investmentguru.com/koen/45-times-air-travel-gave-people-more-than-what-they-signed-up-for		1712943702	1.0884006536376E+14	InvestmentsGurus	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435696997_399890499481913_7225301040369759356_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Ay1jWq45iJMQ7kNvgHArKjy&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDjaqrbvW1aQMjpT4jNxWVY_EQ4ALdefWiq8wXlgkSwcg&oe=663A784F	person_profile	0	InvestmentsGurus	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437534638_828284845757346_7001030961728745663_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=36k4pQLSkgYQ7kNvgF6ole_&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfASGErzO0r7XDBc2ccUwySRq6gfYfe3MnRK19ymaui6Tg&oe=663A6664	0	3	From a horse joining a flight to a pilot taking a power nap, air travelers shared some bizarre yet funny pictures they took during their flights.	InvestmentsGurus	169	https://facebook.com/InvestmentsGurus1	LEARN_MORE	1712905200	View Edit Delete
1666989	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727712	1734958300	695	1155020455515557	1	9.5970766861168E+14	1713337200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	423699414390350	0	Hiya toys	120207249491720645			NONE	multi_images					1712923163	4.2369941439035E+14	Hiya toys	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435976352_801321792055466_1595975461543692487_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=EI6YRF5BWJAQ7kNvgHBrhp2&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB61qPFVglG6Lxr9rq9UPMWkDy89KKJ99B8zCYxX7zTqg&oe=663A64F1	person_profile	0	Hiyatoys	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436256028_1569613510262401_5553837892094066092_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=bhmmGN9ECNQQ7kNvgHMAzBN&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBVUaLF9CAI-AnIZBYP14doT12zFjGqmYqy7IXG3pkETA&oe=663A6520	0	3	EXQUISITE SUPER Series Daryl 1/12 scale action figure from 【The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon】now joins Hiya Toys. <br /> <br /> Story follows【The Walking Dead】, Daryl wakes up on the southern coast of France, where he encounters Isabelle, a nun, and a child named Laurent. Nuns believe that Laurent is the key to saving the world from walkers. One day, Codron's men attack the abbey. Faced with the last request of the elder num, Daryl is determined to protect Laurent and Isabelle on their journey to an outpost called 'The Nest'. In return, Isabelle has pledged to assist Daryl in finding a port. Amidst the multiple crises, they support each other to break through the siege. <br /> <br /> This brand new Daryl action figure stands 15.8cm tall, faithfully reproducing the facial details of Daryl from 【The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon】. Dressed in a black trench coat, mud-covered marching boots, and a detachable canvas bag slung diagonally, all faithfully recreated even in the 1/12 scale.<br /> The clothes, jeans and belts are all made from real cloth, ensuring both superior poseability and aesthetic appeal. Daryl was equipped with a harpoon, a crossbow, a rifle and his old buddy morning star, always accompanying Daryl at the forefront of challenges. <br /> With a highly posable body and 6x interchangeable hand parts, allowing enthusiasts to recreate a variety of action poses from the series. Additionally includes a special stand for this series is also included, featuring a black base adorned with the series logo, providing an immersive experience of the most thrilling bloodbath!<br /> <br /> Price: 89.99 USD<br /> Release time: 2025Q1<br /> <br /> Check this on: <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hiyatoys.com%2Fproducts%2Fhiya-exquisite-super-1-12-scale-6-inch-the-walking-dead-daryl-dixon-daryl-action-figure&h=AT06gnRxX1xT7V2PbVyEOsELcbWqXkSDWLOaVPVCjqqUPFdO3H67L6-sLlaLgOFH69oSrGqFUIfeTRe37-0K9VdO3iCwx9CVgSSC3Q5ITChHsL9gZ8TXjpteYgoCyDvKqvn7X1v5C3f8Wd5MqbrCqs0msnbSrm9iQcXY6jku6Ss" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="origin">https://www.hiyatoys.com/products/hiya-exquisite-super-1-12-scale-6-inch-the-walking-dead-daryl-dixon-daryl-action-figure</a><br /> <br /> and check local shop on:<br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hiyatoys.com%2Fpages%2Fwhere-to-buy&h=AT0xTRalE9620AaTbqiDRT7QOhWFMYtkXe4gN9mRPYHgI1MXRc1o16GMxtgxHqI7i68JhgKenYZ8gRVEsAE80j8GqEshTpcl50OBPKB9ZI5E_-AZmHrt-I_xfQaKVTbFhm7TUQCscX3ev852mfZCI6Kho0LAG8RXC_xhY8UIsaY" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="origin">https://www.hiyatoys.com/pages/where-to-buy</a><br /> #actionfigure #hiyatoys #figurephotography #collectibles #toys <br /> <br /> 🏆Hiya Giveaway: Make comments on this post to win our EXQUISITE SUPER Series The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Daryl action figure!<br /> End Date: 2024 April 26th<br /> Winner will be announced via DM	Hiya toys	19504	https://facebook.com/Hiyatoys		1712905200	View Edit Delete
1666992	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727713	1734958300	695	1143833703459581	1	9.6716752541011E+14	1713250800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	423699414390350	0	Hiya toys	120207249585580645	instagram.com	Visit Instagram Profile	NONE	carousel			https://www.instagram.com/_u/hiya_toys		1712918182	4.2369941439035E+14	Hiya toys	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435890169_455637816898997_1400948676440987007_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=enJzOTtGs74Q7kNvgEND7Ve&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDsEK7oEKAPeswN9DkeXT45es296YDO8P_g-wlGUK5MxA&oe=663A7047	person_profile	0	Hiyatoys	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435899196_1161301881532746_9040978709044126875_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=10QEwVHzp1EQ7kNvgG2c2QN&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBJX62wdycYEyXS85zgJ7mOnJO-ccPudCj6knfanMUV6g&oe=663A8370	0	3		Hiya toys	19504	https://facebook.com/Hiyatoys	VIEW_INSTAGRAM_PROFILE	1712905200	View Edit Delete
1667035	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727714	1734958300	695	762799398924244		3.2845536023858E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	892588401116730	0	Practice Anywhere	120207328534580376	accubow.com	Shop Now	NONE	carousel	Scope-to-Phone Crosshair Sight		https://accubow.com/		1710617225	8.9258840111673E+14	Practice Anywhere	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431950026_712364067761625_8500033827148086301_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WSNdntC_kecQ7kNvgE6r10o&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBs4bvzDKNJJTlXvScamlqQNysPDHMuDOlqy2dPA1Nwqw&oe=663A88BC	person_profile	0	Official AccuBow®	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431972926_397577752988272_9068572841206466590_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=1MztnTPFOfEQ7kNvgGEknP9&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDYi0nzjelcubNt8-3kZbsLBcacITp7kNzhDUdlAch3cg&oe=663A8FF1	0	3		Practice Anywhere	9807	https://facebook.com/practiceanywherenow	SHOP_NOW	1712905200	View Edit Delete
1667036	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727714	1734958300	695	762799398924244		3.2845536023858E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	892588401116730	0	Practice Anywhere	120207328534580376	accubow.com	Shop Now	NONE	carousel	Scope-to-Phone Crosshair Sight		https://accubow.com/		1710617225	8.9258840111673E+14	Practice Anywhere	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431950026_712364067761625_8500033827148086301_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WSNdntC_kecQ7kNvgE6r10o&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBs4bvzDKNJJTlXvScamlqQNysPDHMuDOlqy2dPA1Nwqw&oe=663A88BC	person_profile	0	Official AccuBow®	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431972926_397577752988272_9068572841206466590_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=1MztnTPFOfEQ7kNvgGEknP9&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDYi0nzjelcubNt8-3kZbsLBcacITp7kNzhDUdlAch3cg&oe=663A8FF1	0	3		Practice Anywhere	9807	https://facebook.com/practiceanywherenow	SHOP_NOW	1712905200	View Edit Delete
1667039	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727714	1734958300	695	762799398924244		3.2845536023858E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	892588401116730	0	Practice Anywhere	120207328534580376	accubow.com	Shop Now	NONE	carousel	Scope-to-Phone Crosshair Sight		https://accubow.com/		1710617225	8.9258840111673E+14	Practice Anywhere	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431950026_712364067761625_8500033827148086301_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WSNdntC_kecQ7kNvgE6r10o&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBs4bvzDKNJJTlXvScamlqQNysPDHMuDOlqy2dPA1Nwqw&oe=663A88BC	person_profile	0	Official AccuBow®	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431972926_397577752988272_9068572841206466590_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=1MztnTPFOfEQ7kNvgGEknP9&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDYi0nzjelcubNt8-3kZbsLBcacITp7kNzhDUdlAch3cg&oe=663A8FF1	0	3		Practice Anywhere	9807	https://facebook.com/practiceanywherenow	SHOP_NOW	1712905200	View Edit Delete
1667041	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727714	1734958300	695	740279021611050		3.2845536023858E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	892588401116730	0	Practice Anywhere	120207328534580376	accubow.com	Shop Now	NONE	carousel	Scope-to-Phone Crosshair Sight		https://accubow.com/		1710617225	8.9258840111673E+14	Practice Anywhere	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431950026_712364067761625_8500033827148086301_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WSNdntC_kecQ7kNvgE6r10o&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBs4bvzDKNJJTlXvScamlqQNysPDHMuDOlqy2dPA1Nwqw&oe=663A88BC	person_profile	0	Official AccuBow®	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431972926_397577752988272_9068572841206466590_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=1MztnTPFOfEQ7kNvgGEknP9&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDYi0nzjelcubNt8-3kZbsLBcacITp7kNzhDUdlAch3cg&oe=663A8FF1	0	3		Practice Anywhere	9807	https://facebook.com/practiceanywherenow	SHOP_NOW	1712905200	View Edit Delete
1667044	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727714	1734958300	695	740279021611050		3.2845536023858E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	892588401116730	0	Practice Anywhere	120207328534580376	accubow.com	Shop Now	NONE	carousel	Scope-to-Phone Crosshair Sight		https://accubow.com/		1710617225	8.9258840111673E+14	Practice Anywhere	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431950026_712364067761625_8500033827148086301_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WSNdntC_kecQ7kNvgE6r10o&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBs4bvzDKNJJTlXvScamlqQNysPDHMuDOlqy2dPA1Nwqw&oe=663A88BC	person_profile	0	Official AccuBow®	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431972926_397577752988272_9068572841206466590_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=1MztnTPFOfEQ7kNvgGEknP9&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDYi0nzjelcubNt8-3kZbsLBcacITp7kNzhDUdlAch3cg&oe=663A8FF1	0	3		Practice Anywhere	9807	https://facebook.com/practiceanywherenow	SHOP_NOW	1712905200	View Edit Delete
1667047	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727714	1734958300	695	740279021611050		3.2845536023858E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	892588401116730	0	Practice Anywhere	120207328534580376	accubow.com	Shop Now	NONE	carousel	Scope-to-Phone Crosshair Sight		https://accubow.com/		1710617225	8.9258840111673E+14	Practice Anywhere	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431950026_712364067761625_8500033827148086301_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WSNdntC_kecQ7kNvgE6r10o&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBs4bvzDKNJJTlXvScamlqQNysPDHMuDOlqy2dPA1Nwqw&oe=663A88BC	person_profile	0	Official AccuBow®	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431972926_397577752988272_9068572841206466590_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=1MztnTPFOfEQ7kNvgGEknP9&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDYi0nzjelcubNt8-3kZbsLBcacITp7kNzhDUdlAch3cg&oe=663A8FF1	0	3		Practice Anywhere	9807	https://facebook.com/practiceanywherenow	SHOP_NOW	1712905200	View Edit Delete
1667049	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727714	1734958300	695	740279021611050		3.2845536023858E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	892588401116730	0	Practice Anywhere	120207328534580376	accubow.com	Shop Now	NONE	carousel	Scope-to-Phone Crosshair Sight		https://accubow.com/		1710617225	8.9258840111673E+14	Practice Anywhere	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431950026_712364067761625_8500033827148086301_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WSNdntC_kecQ7kNvgE6r10o&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBs4bvzDKNJJTlXvScamlqQNysPDHMuDOlqy2dPA1Nwqw&oe=663A88BC	person_profile	0	Official AccuBow®	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431972926_397577752988272_9068572841206466590_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=1MztnTPFOfEQ7kNvgGEknP9&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDYi0nzjelcubNt8-3kZbsLBcacITp7kNzhDUdlAch3cg&oe=663A8FF1	0	3		Practice Anywhere	9807	https://facebook.com/practiceanywherenow	SHOP_NOW	1712905200	View Edit Delete
1667087	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727715	1734958300	695	1375173813143779	1	4.3485246571014E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	105162211758062	0	5ktoys	120207151235520276	5ktoys.com	Learn More	NONE	carousel			http://5ktoys.com/		1712776301	1.0516221175806E+14	5ktoys	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436417861_977343200521964_6134221005321239247_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Rd4nKZT0X8IQ7kNvgHbiHu3&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCZOErDt_qmmmPluCUEXTOBvrCgag26oGsmlA9anqs1VA&oe=663A9161	person_profile	0	5Ktoys.com	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436492213_439709005281862_5978172342120952253_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_ZgcGF_dhGMQ7kNvgF7X3E8&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDQT40O3Gv_vjfEOLgCEeCa0N5lH2gUwAaPgsR3pqCMMg&oe=663A946A	0	3		5ktoys	4550	https://facebook.com/5ktoysStore	LEARN_MORE	1712732400	View Edit Delete
1667075	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727715	1734958300	695	1375173813143779	1	4.3485246571014E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	105162211758062	0	5ktoys	120207151235520276	5ktoys.com	Learn More	NONE	carousel			http://5ktoys.com/		1712776301	1.0516221175806E+14	5ktoys	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436417861_977343200521964_6134221005321239247_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Rd4nKZT0X8IQ7kNvgHbiHu3&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCZOErDt_qmmmPluCUEXTOBvrCgag26oGsmlA9anqs1VA&oe=663A9161	person_profile	0	5Ktoys.com	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436492213_439709005281862_5978172342120952253_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_ZgcGF_dhGMQ7kNvgF7X3E8&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDQT40O3Gv_vjfEOLgCEeCa0N5lH2gUwAaPgsR3pqCMMg&oe=663A946A	0	3		5ktoys	4550	https://facebook.com/5ktoysStore	LEARN_MORE	1712732400	View Edit Delete
1667077	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727715	1734958300	695	1375173813143779	1	4.3485246571014E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	105162211758062	0	5ktoys	120207151235520276	5ktoys.com	Learn More	NONE	carousel			http://5ktoys.com/		1712776301	1.0516221175806E+14	5ktoys	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436417861_977343200521964_6134221005321239247_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Rd4nKZT0X8IQ7kNvgHbiHu3&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCZOErDt_qmmmPluCUEXTOBvrCgag26oGsmlA9anqs1VA&oe=663A9161	person_profile	0	5Ktoys.com	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436492213_439709005281862_5978172342120952253_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_ZgcGF_dhGMQ7kNvgF7X3E8&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDQT40O3Gv_vjfEOLgCEeCa0N5lH2gUwAaPgsR3pqCMMg&oe=663A946A	0	3		5ktoys	4550	https://facebook.com/5ktoysStore	LEARN_MORE	1712732400	View Edit Delete
1667080	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727715	1734958300	695	1375173813143779	1	4.3485246571014E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	105162211758062	0	5ktoys	120207151235520276	5ktoys.com	Learn More	NONE	carousel			http://5ktoys.com/		1712776301	1.0516221175806E+14	5ktoys	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436417861_977343200521964_6134221005321239247_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Rd4nKZT0X8IQ7kNvgHbiHu3&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCZOErDt_qmmmPluCUEXTOBvrCgag26oGsmlA9anqs1VA&oe=663A9161	person_profile	0	5Ktoys.com	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436492213_439709005281862_5978172342120952253_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_ZgcGF_dhGMQ7kNvgF7X3E8&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDQT40O3Gv_vjfEOLgCEeCa0N5lH2gUwAaPgsR3pqCMMg&oe=663A946A	0	3		5ktoys	4550	https://facebook.com/5ktoysStore	LEARN_MORE	1712732400	View Edit Delete
1667082	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727715	1734958300	695	1375173813143779	1	4.3485246571014E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	105162211758062	0	5ktoys	120207151235520276	5ktoys.com	Learn More	NONE	carousel			http://5ktoys.com/		1712776301	1.0516221175806E+14	5ktoys	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436417861_977343200521964_6134221005321239247_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Rd4nKZT0X8IQ7kNvgHbiHu3&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCZOErDt_qmmmPluCUEXTOBvrCgag26oGsmlA9anqs1VA&oe=663A9161	person_profile	0	5Ktoys.com	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436492213_439709005281862_5978172342120952253_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_ZgcGF_dhGMQ7kNvgF7X3E8&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDQT40O3Gv_vjfEOLgCEeCa0N5lH2gUwAaPgsR3pqCMMg&oe=663A946A	0	3		5ktoys	4550	https://facebook.com/5ktoysStore	LEARN_MORE	1712732400	View Edit Delete
1667084	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727715	1734958300	695	1375173813143779	1	4.3485246571014E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	105162211758062	0	5ktoys	120207151235520276	5ktoys.com	Learn More	NONE	carousel			http://5ktoys.com/		1712776301	1.0516221175806E+14	5ktoys	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436417861_977343200521964_6134221005321239247_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Rd4nKZT0X8IQ7kNvgHbiHu3&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCZOErDt_qmmmPluCUEXTOBvrCgag26oGsmlA9anqs1VA&oe=663A9161	person_profile	0	5Ktoys.com	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436492213_439709005281862_5978172342120952253_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_ZgcGF_dhGMQ7kNvgF7X3E8&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDQT40O3Gv_vjfEOLgCEeCa0N5lH2gUwAaPgsR3pqCMMg&oe=663A946A	0	3		5ktoys	4550	https://facebook.com/5ktoysStore	LEARN_MORE	1712732400	View Edit Delete
1667085	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727715	1734958300	695	1375173813143779	1	4.3485246571014E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	105162211758062	0	5ktoys	120207151235520276	5ktoys.com	Learn More	NONE	carousel			http://5ktoys.com/		1712776301	1.0516221175806E+14	5ktoys	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436417861_977343200521964_6134221005321239247_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Rd4nKZT0X8IQ7kNvgHbiHu3&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCZOErDt_qmmmPluCUEXTOBvrCgag26oGsmlA9anqs1VA&oe=663A9161	person_profile	0	5Ktoys.com	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436492213_439709005281862_5978172342120952253_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_ZgcGF_dhGMQ7kNvgF7X3E8&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDQT40O3Gv_vjfEOLgCEeCa0N5lH2gUwAaPgsR3pqCMMg&oe=663A946A	0	3		5ktoys	4550	https://facebook.com/5ktoysStore	LEARN_MORE	1712732400	View Edit Delete
1667092	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727715	1734958300	695	1375173813143779	1	4.3485246571014E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	105162211758062	0	5ktoys	120207151235520276	5ktoys.com	Learn More	NONE	carousel			http://5ktoys.com/		1712776301	1.0516221175806E+14	5ktoys	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436417861_977343200521964_6134221005321239247_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Rd4nKZT0X8IQ7kNvgHbiHu3&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCZOErDt_qmmmPluCUEXTOBvrCgag26oGsmlA9anqs1VA&oe=663A9161	person_profile	0	5Ktoys.com	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436492213_439709005281862_5978172342120952253_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_ZgcGF_dhGMQ7kNvgF7X3E8&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDQT40O3Gv_vjfEOLgCEeCa0N5lH2gUwAaPgsR3pqCMMg&oe=663A946A	0	3		5ktoys	4550	https://facebook.com/5ktoysStore	LEARN_MORE	1712732400	View Edit Delete
1667094	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727715	1734958300	695	1375173813143779	1	4.3485246571014E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	105162211758062	0	5ktoys	120207151235520276	5ktoys.com	Learn More	NONE	carousel			http://5ktoys.com/		1712776301	1.0516221175806E+14	5ktoys	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436417861_977343200521964_6134221005321239247_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Rd4nKZT0X8IQ7kNvgHbiHu3&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCZOErDt_qmmmPluCUEXTOBvrCgag26oGsmlA9anqs1VA&oe=663A9161	person_profile	0	5Ktoys.com	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436492213_439709005281862_5978172342120952253_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_ZgcGF_dhGMQ7kNvgF7X3E8&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDQT40O3Gv_vjfEOLgCEeCa0N5lH2gUwAaPgsR3pqCMMg&oe=663A946A	0	3		5ktoys	4550	https://facebook.com/5ktoysStore	LEARN_MORE	1712732400	View Edit Delete
1667097	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727715	1734958300	695	435306052442413	7	1.6202811287861E+15	1712646000	regular_page	eligible	NONE	0	1	1	106150158487461	1	Gelson no mundo da moda	120206616613280576	chao83.store	Learn more	NONE	video	Tap the "Learn more" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://chao83.store/DS01/		1712644128	1.0615015848746E+14	Gelson no mundo da moda	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436467566_976775207392795_7701869380637336592_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ca9gP5XKrFoQ7kNvgHXvPgB&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBl5s5mIXQY5-QH1DqWMCeYWoKNR9-JC3hBunOuGqtUnw&oe=663A8AFC	regular_page	0	Gelson no mundo da moda	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436358083_1655250051916333_3341570637120461401_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=n1K-9RYhsRgQ7kNvgFJPpt3&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDdoB3lAMVzbdqj9Vui-ZxMAJuqkPk9Qf2nieShmwRz0g&oe=663A8792	0	3	If you're reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You're among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway,		0		LEARN_MORE	1712646000	View Edit Delete
1667099	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727715	1734958300	695	917119977086341		1.6202811287861E+15	1712646000	regular_page	eligible	NONE	0	1	1	106150158487461	1	Gelson no mundo da moda	120206616613280576	chao83.store	Learn more	NONE	video	Tap the "Learn more" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://chao83.store/DS01/		1712644128	1.0615015848746E+14	Gelson no mundo da moda	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436467566_976775207392795_7701869380637336592_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ca9gP5XKrFoQ7kNvgHXvPgB&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBl5s5mIXQY5-QH1DqWMCeYWoKNR9-JC3hBunOuGqtUnw&oe=663A8AFC	regular_page	0	Gelson no mundo da moda	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436358083_1655250051916333_3341570637120461401_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=n1K-9RYhsRgQ7kNvgFJPpt3&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDdoB3lAMVzbdqj9Vui-ZxMAJuqkPk9Qf2nieShmwRz0g&oe=663A8792	0	3	If you're reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You're among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway,		0		LEARN_MORE	1712646000	View Edit Delete
1667101	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727715	1734958300	695	1623005265182080		1.6202811287861E+15	1712646000	regular_page	eligible	NONE	0	1	1	106150158487461	1	Gelson no mundo da moda	120206616613280576	chao83.store	Learn more	NONE	video	Tap the "Learn more" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://chao83.store/DS01/		1712644128	1.0615015848746E+14	Gelson no mundo da moda	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436467566_976775207392795_7701869380637336592_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ca9gP5XKrFoQ7kNvgHXvPgB&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBl5s5mIXQY5-QH1DqWMCeYWoKNR9-JC3hBunOuGqtUnw&oe=663A8AFC	regular_page	0	Gelson no mundo da moda	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436358083_1655250051916333_3341570637120461401_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=n1K-9RYhsRgQ7kNvgFJPpt3&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDdoB3lAMVzbdqj9Vui-ZxMAJuqkPk9Qf2nieShmwRz0g&oe=663A8792	0	3	If you're reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You're among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway,		0		LEARN_MORE	1712646000	View Edit Delete
1667103	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727715	1734958300	695	677113621133972		1.6202811287861E+15	1712646000	regular_page	eligible	NONE	0	1	1	106150158487461	1	Gelson no mundo da moda	120206616613280576	chao83.store	Learn more	NONE	video	Tap the "Learn more" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://chao83.store/DS01/		1712644128	1.0615015848746E+14	Gelson no mundo da moda	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436467566_976775207392795_7701869380637336592_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ca9gP5XKrFoQ7kNvgHXvPgB&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBl5s5mIXQY5-QH1DqWMCeYWoKNR9-JC3hBunOuGqtUnw&oe=663A8AFC	regular_page	0	Gelson no mundo da moda	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436358083_1655250051916333_3341570637120461401_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=n1K-9RYhsRgQ7kNvgFJPpt3&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDdoB3lAMVzbdqj9Vui-ZxMAJuqkPk9Qf2nieShmwRz0g&oe=663A8792	0	3	If you're reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You're among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway,		0		LEARN_MORE	1712646000	View Edit Delete
1667104	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727716	1734958300	695	744937957750661	7	1.6202811287861E+15	1712646000	regular_page	eligible	NONE	0	1	1	106150158487461	1	Gelson no mundo da moda	120206616613280576	chao83.store	Learn more	NONE	video	Tap the "Learn more" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://chao83.store/DS01/		1712644128	1.0615015848746E+14	Gelson no mundo da moda	https://scontent.fagc3-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436467566_976775207392795_7701869380637336592_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ca9gP5XKrFoQ7kNvgEGAvdy&_nc_ht=scontent.fagc3-1.fna&oh=00_AfB-fMYatkmqKbbYrZkH6CLEKcZ03YDm0Z1uEfA2qjT9QQ&oe=663A8AFC	regular_page	0	Gelson no mundo da moda	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436358083_1655250051916333_3341570637120461401_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=n1K-9RYhsRgQ7kNvgGDMkPV&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDmfKIDMV6eKtfgs9GBPuYf0Em4AvI293atkXeDmy3E1g&oe=663A8792	0	3	If you're reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You're among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway,		0		LEARN_MORE	1712646000	View Edit Delete
1667106	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727716	1734958300	695	3593184714229638		1.6202811287861E+15	1712646000	regular_page	eligible	NONE	0	1	1	106150158487461	1	Gelson no mundo da moda	120206616613280576	chao83.store	Learn more	NONE	video	Tap the "Learn more" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://chao83.store/DS01/		1712644128	1.0615015848746E+14	Gelson no mundo da moda	https://scontent.fagc3-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436467566_976775207392795_7701869380637336592_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ca9gP5XKrFoQ7kNvgEGAvdy&_nc_ht=scontent.fagc3-1.fna&oh=00_AfB-fMYatkmqKbbYrZkH6CLEKcZ03YDm0Z1uEfA2qjT9QQ&oe=663A8AFC	regular_page	0	Gelson no mundo da moda	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436358083_1655250051916333_3341570637120461401_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=n1K-9RYhsRgQ7kNvgGDMkPV&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDmfKIDMV6eKtfgs9GBPuYf0Em4AvI293atkXeDmy3E1g&oe=663A8792	0	3	If you're reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You're among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway,		0		LEARN_MORE	1712646000	View Edit Delete
1667108	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727716	1734958300	695	1402654293958220		1.6202811287861E+15	1712646000	regular_page	eligible	NONE	0	1	1	106150158487461	1	Gelson no mundo da moda	120206616613280576	chao83.store	Learn more	NONE	video	Tap the "Learn more" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://chao83.store/DS01/		1712644128	1.0615015848746E+14	Gelson no mundo da moda	https://scontent.fagc3-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436467566_976775207392795_7701869380637336592_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ca9gP5XKrFoQ7kNvgEGAvdy&_nc_ht=scontent.fagc3-1.fna&oh=00_AfB-fMYatkmqKbbYrZkH6CLEKcZ03YDm0Z1uEfA2qjT9QQ&oe=663A8AFC	regular_page	0	Gelson no mundo da moda	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436358083_1655250051916333_3341570637120461401_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=n1K-9RYhsRgQ7kNvgGDMkPV&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDmfKIDMV6eKtfgs9GBPuYf0Em4AvI293atkXeDmy3E1g&oe=663A8792	0	3	If you're reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You're among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway,		0		LEARN_MORE	1712646000	View Edit Delete
1667109	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727716	1734958300	695	800705148616654	4	1.1131363398129E+15	1712646000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	2431395337147093	0	Nexnovo MN	120206961690490258	mgznztnbojmsndusar.com	Learn more	NONE	video			https://mgznztnbojmsndusar.com/Salespromotion?utm_source={{adset.id}}		1712538851	2.4313953371471E+15	Nexnovo MN	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434598789_3247983745511495_1668968783691152729_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=m2bJoXVepkcQ7kNvgFozcKz&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBEtJTZvsKSYKbVp-oTThXN6P4SbAAPeQrA5bEaZi_Eig&oe=663A72D8	person_profile	0	Nexnovo MN	https://scontent.fagc3-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435493883_1150718732585489_8783477404365331709_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=EmFsyFqXvUEQ7kNvgHDyZ3V&_nc_ht=scontent.fagc3-2.fna&oh=00_AfDAIKVY7hFn_gP4gxHiiwfkfn-Fe0kQgXZJQSUf-4M1Aw&oe=663A8662	0	3	Feel the raw passion of the hunt! Get your limited FREE recurve bow now and unleash your inner hero!	Nexnovo MN	40	https://facebook.com/nexnovo.mn	LEARN_MORE	1712559600	View Edit Delete
1667111	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727716	1734958301	695	958307082668855		1.1131363398129E+15	1712646000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	2431395337147093	0	Nexnovo MN	120206961690370258	mgznztnbojmsndusar.com	Learn more	NONE	video			https://mgznztnbojmsndusar.com/Salespromotion?utm_source={{adset.id}}		1712538849	2.4313953371471E+15	Nexnovo MN	https://scontent.fagc3-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435885831_389394163859989_8332919234726817465_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=R-s6fFV0ebgQ7kNvgFXXz0r&_nc_ht=scontent.fagc3-1.fna&oh=00_AfCPONyu9gz5rq0HDh2sqJOWfKNGRTslLWvGc4rRa3tXgA&oe=663A83BD	person_profile	0	Nexnovo MN	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435474112_1215988766040621_1259087384905477371_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=iQex_6nhbjMQ7kNvgGDGBve&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAkwr8Owxg0PlPEb1kMykpcwn7yHh5xvCLxkt_oDTaMfg&oe=663A7B35	0	3	Feel the raw passion of the hunt! Get your limited FREE recurve bow now and unleash your inner hero!	Nexnovo MN	40	https://facebook.com/nexnovo.mn	LEARN_MORE	1712559600	View Edit Delete
1667113	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727716	1734958301	695	860903449177278		1.1131363398129E+15	1712646000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	2431395337147093	0	Nexnovo MN	120206961689210258	mgznztnbojmsndusar.com	Learn more	NONE	video			https://mgznztnbojmsndusar.com/Salespromotion?utm_source={{adset.id}}		1712538848	2.4313953371471E+15	Nexnovo MN	https://scontent.fagc3-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436407136_439477488577261_4408707752160258096_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=F9dFdGRykDoQ7kNvgHhdR2m&_nc_ht=scontent.fagc3-2.fna&oh=00_AfDe4ioeWzQA-TkKRqq0CJTaQjaoTMxzsblLK56dNMGE9w&oe=663A90AE	person_profile	0	Nexnovo MN	https://scontent.fagc3-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435430210_1065961518035077_955283141255979176_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mXq3O098jE4Q7kNvgHFWSuP&_nc_ht=scontent.fagc3-2.fna&oh=00_AfBPtrwySM2VmpXpZLm2aQpCcn7PjscFinqW74dI0dcCKg&oe=663A5F42	0	3	Feel the raw passion of the hunt! Get your limited FREE recurve bow now and unleash your inner hero!	Nexnovo MN	40	https://facebook.com/nexnovo.mn	LEARN_MORE	1712559600	View Edit Delete
1667114	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727716	1734958301	695	318402100955368		1.1131363398129E+15	1712646000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	2431395337147093	0	Nexnovo MN	120206961689240258	mgznztnbojmsndusar.com	Learn more	NONE	video			https://mgznztnbojmsndusar.com/Salespromotion?utm_source={{adset.id}}		1712538849	2.4313953371471E+15	Nexnovo MN	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435467152_1127859858351563_1936753914787219508_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=AyWIrgg8Ch8Q7kNvgEwCD8m&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDNQZPX5QsFJ5CGllwJXA9obKH7r17ften9xdwzyOHgBw&oe=663A7140	person_profile	0	Nexnovo MN	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434568021_1180066123370399_8309823781091947891_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=pE9dMiMfLYYQ7kNvgENgBtc&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBC0k0HP3ItYJXKH7dvcosa4lEiOz8iujTQb74TmfDqkw&oe=663A93EA	0	3	Feel the raw passion of the hunt! Get your limited FREE recurve bow now and unleash your inner hero!	Nexnovo MN	40	https://facebook.com/nexnovo.mn	LEARN_MORE	1712559600	View Edit Delete
1667115	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727716	1734958301	695	696794832423960	3	1.1012572776166E+15	1712646000	regular_page	eligible	NONE	0	1	1	100770758404573	1	Happy Paletas y postres	120210360280820602	mgznztnbojmsndusar.com	Learn more	NONE	video			https://mgznztnbojmsndusar.com/PreventiveHealthcare?utm_source={{adset.id}}		1712538849	1.0077075840457E+14	Happy Paletas y postres	https://scontent.fagc3-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434939253_261762993674644_5733727112051867446_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=miCAiyH7K0MQ7kNvgEKxPgf&_nc_ht=scontent.fagc3-1.fna&oh=00_AfCAIhG_KcGmKJrhk6CesdLiNRIyT1HeWbiKA0qEDnTtGQ&oe=663A7AFD	regular_page	0	Happy Postres y paletas	https://scontent.fagc3-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434952583_722948706693972_5890243320916739604_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vyNMuKuhp-IQ7kNvgGIUKIb&_nc_ht=scontent.fagc3-2.fna&oh=00_AfD9fvnJl8R78_zZX35zN5iG15Ooi8GGESIbn3ZxPg55pg&oe=663A5F5F	0	3	Feel the raw passion of the hunt! Get your limited FREE recurve bow now and unleash your inner hero!		0		LEARN_MORE	1712559600	View Edit Delete
1667116	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727716	1734958301	695	958267809091532		1.1012572776166E+15	1712646000	regular_page	eligible	NONE	0	1	1	100770758404573	1	Happy Paletas y postres	120210360280280602	mgznztnbojmsndusar.com	Learn more	NONE	video			https://mgznztnbojmsndusar.com/PreventiveHealthcare?utm_source={{adset.id}}		1712538850	1.0077075840457E+14	Happy Paletas y postres	https://scontent.fagc3-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/423715086_446544211180827_1761802229156079918_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QlmM71gC5lgQ7kNvgFz27Me&_nc_ht=scontent.fagc3-2.fna&oh=00_AfAgxy4CNEaWJOhoygTQ0XgOuyvdRQQ2DEYlKq9dIfgB8g&oe=663A9100	regular_page	0	Happy Postres y paletas	https://scontent.fagc3-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434565623_7849995255010797_7648260672108156330_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=B6bOD6Fy2WoQ7kNvgG27fKI&_nc_ht=scontent.fagc3-2.fna&oh=00_AfA6CjpZL0f9Ak7AN8_ZClVPZemON1nYhriW_qd4ALaojQ&oe=663A6EA3	0	3	Feel the raw passion of the hunt! Get your limited FREE recurve bow now and unleash your inner hero!		0		LEARN_MORE	1712559600	View Edit Delete
1667117	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727716	1734958301	695	1482892572639836		1.1012572776166E+15	1712646000	regular_page	eligible	NONE	0	1	1	100770758404573	1	Happy Paletas y postres	120210360280310602	mgznztnbojmsndusar.com	Learn more	NONE	video			https://mgznztnbojmsndusar.com/PreventiveHealthcare?utm_source={{adset.id}}		1712538848	1.0077075840457E+14	Happy Paletas y postres	https://scontent.fagc3-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435391090_321555767285472_1086086678177462033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aaxdjd3D_6IQ7kNvgHKMb7D&_nc_ht=scontent.fagc3-2.fna&oh=00_AfAyxPx1RYm1SlIWaPqewMSEXDbctg0p7qMIQ-1Dwb4K4w&oe=663A608A	regular_page	0	Happy Postres y paletas	https://scontent.fagc3-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435469686_403736325720479_4748434363899118910_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8QNGdTCRjOQQ7kNvgGCJmrA&_nc_ht=scontent.fagc3-2.fna&oh=00_AfCUhDvs4ZdVkV6LLNzK7ZN_FENzBHZOItMbgNEBXurXZg&oe=663A6CB4	0	3	Feel the raw passion of the hunt! Get your limited FREE recurve bow now and unleash your inner hero!		0		LEARN_MORE	1712559600	View Edit Delete
1667118	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727716	1734958301	695	924379122501052	1	9.8506914332696E+14	1712818800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	118879321169142	0	Popular Novels	120209495234320155	cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more	NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712488795	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435756834_1100704034514755_8927988907118565585_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=SvMfRfLOaSAQ7kNvgGpbAkX&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCgPuoMcWJmVmuf6c6aXM0BwRlafapVJUYBYKeAxip2xA&oe=663A7DC1	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent.fagc3-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436317475_396625543167632_4850598482548573393_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=S4oL8_O9EhYQ7kNvgEzqMty&_nc_ht=scontent.fagc3-1.fna&oh=00_AfCB7NS583tdspFUipLBItr65ZHs3tOO_aHdptLXURfGDw&oe=663A866E	0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: 'Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.'<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> 'If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,' he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. 'Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.' <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> 'We are going to fight,' I tell him through signing. 'The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.'<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. 'You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.'<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> 'Don’t do it,' I warn her. 'Don’t cross him.'<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I'm banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> 'Take him to the infirmary,' I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, 'I will be here for a while.'<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> 'I don’t know how you can hear me,' I say coldly, 'and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.'<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. 'Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.'<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> "I can't leave," I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. "I... this is the only home I know."<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. 'It doesn't matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.'<br /> I shake my head. "I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?"<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can't bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it's just because he can't stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it's because he doesn't want me to see something.<br /> "Tell me," I urge him. "What's the problem? You know it's not my fault."<br /> 'It doesn't matter,' he finally says. 'It has to end here. I'm sorry, Claudia.'<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what's remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don't want to go, that I shouldn't. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don't know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don't know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it's Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. 'I have done my best. I protected the people—'<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> 'I’m afraid I don’t understand,' I sign to her. 'The battle ended there.'<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”	Popular Novels	15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	LEARN_MORE	1712473200	View Edit Delete
1667119	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727716	1734958301	695	985653822929445	1	1.458966541373E+15	1712818800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	127476320437895	0	Joylit Novel	120209495234210155	cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more	NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712488767	1.274763204379E+14	Joylit Novel	https://scontent.fagc3-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436447050_353054793823580_1725770958331990521_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=bMR7nojbieIQ7kNvgGobGU6&_nc_ht=scontent.fagc3-1.fna&oh=00_AfAajTBtSqQFRqYaYK1z7cFhtv0JpDS_kW9UzLE2V-TLRw&oe=663A9607	person_profile	0	Joylit Novel	https://scontent.fagc3-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436378824_950134930121106_6978267147722748193_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PSRQNJ_Zl3IQ7kNvgFEBQg3&_nc_ht=scontent.fagc3-2.fna&oh=00_AfBE01hZRv04TnuFLGhwddahQf7BGaZP2_pNylyeC1KvdA&oe=663A659B	0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: 'Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.'<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> 'If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,' he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. 'Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.' <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> 'We are going to fight,' I tell him through signing. 'The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.'<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. 'You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.'<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> 'Don’t do it,' I warn her. 'Don’t cross him.'<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I'm banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> 'Take him to the infirmary,' I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, 'I will be here for a while.'<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> 'I don’t know how you can hear me,' I say coldly, 'and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.'<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. 'Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.'<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> "I can't leave," I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. "I... this is the only home I know."<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. 'It doesn't matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.'<br /> I shake my head. "I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?"<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can't bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it's just because he can't stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it's because he doesn't want me to see something.<br /> "Tell me," I urge him. "What's the problem? You know it's not my fault."<br /> 'It doesn't matter,' he finally says. 'It has to end here. I'm sorry, Claudia.'<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what's remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don't want to go, that I shouldn't. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don't know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don't know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it's Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. 'I have done my best. I protected the people—'<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> 'I’m afraid I don’t understand,' I sign to her. 'The battle ended there.'<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”	Joylit Novel	154	https://facebook.com/61550512629703	LEARN_MORE	1712473200	View Edit Delete
1667120	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727716	1734958301	695	2143215356017195	1	9.3227103859781E+14	1712818800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	118879321169142	0	Popular Novels	120209495233590155	cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more	NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712488821	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent.fagc3-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435489466_435182998917069_7873664016896123895_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Ohgo-0VFxC4Q7kNvgFz1f5P&_nc_ht=scontent.fagc3-2.fna&oh=00_AfCJIMHNnTj4eFRf652Gdp_YIHX3-lyKyMB2QEzFyxgECw&oe=663A7828	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435489716_392724340197188_6363041643725959294_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QblWAMySc6cQ7kNvgHGlxGL&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC4FO6YCUUokLNGHfntHlgqBv7V6KftLAqpeUC08VN0xA&oe=663A94AC	0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: 'Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.'<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> 'If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,' he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. 'Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.' <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> 'We are going to fight,' I tell him through signing. 'The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.'<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. 'You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.'<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> 'Don’t do it,' I warn her. 'Don’t cross him.'<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I'm banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> 'Take him to the infirmary,' I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, 'I will be here for a while.'<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> 'I don’t know how you can hear me,' I say coldly, 'and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.'<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. 'Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.'<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> "I can't leave," I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. "I... this is the only home I know."<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. 'It doesn't matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.'<br /> I shake my head. "I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?"<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can't bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it's just because he can't stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it's because he doesn't want me to see something.<br /> "Tell me," I urge him. "What's the problem? You know it's not my fault."<br /> 'It doesn't matter,' he finally says. 'It has to end here. I'm sorry, Claudia.'<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what's remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don't want to go, that I shouldn't. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don't know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don't know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it's Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. 'I have done my best. I protected the people—'<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> 'I’m afraid I don’t understand,' I sign to her. 'The battle ended there.'<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”	Popular Novels	15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	LEARN_MORE	1712473200	View Edit Delete
1667121	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727716	1734958301	695	3639566659638725	1	7.4001440492928E+14	1712818800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	118879321169142	0	Popular Novels	120209495233560155	cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more	NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712488713	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent.fagc3-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434430231_2851278625011842_6083822264475891880_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=w1RvV0vPUO4Q7kNvgGWTzE4&_nc_ht=scontent.fagc3-2.fna&oh=00_AfBXtMFnx1f3rm4SMG7y6tB5VDUfzoqPSjZs2YHkxL2LZA&oe=663A7299	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent.fagc3-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434420659_1122103208916028_8474788516124323439_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sfCoNBtaMzIQ7kNvgGIjXTb&_nc_ht=scontent.fagc3-1.fna&oh=00_AfB7ryohJIXAA8yh9gCgYwkkdHGTBTYYePGElhhlHN9vkw&oe=663A8D4A	0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: 'Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.'<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> 'If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,' he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. 'Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.' <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> 'We are going to fight,' I tell him through signing. 'The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.'<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. 'You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.'<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> 'Don’t do it,' I warn her. 'Don’t cross him.'<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I'm banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> 'Take him to the infirmary,' I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, 'I will be here for a while.'<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> 'I don’t know how you can hear me,' I say coldly, 'and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.'<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. 'Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.'<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> "I can't leave," I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. "I... this is the only home I know."<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. 'It doesn't matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.'<br /> I shake my head. "I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?"<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can't bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it's just because he can't stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it's because he doesn't want me to see something.<br /> "Tell me," I urge him. "What's the problem? You know it's not my fault."<br /> 'It doesn't matter,' he finally says. 'It has to end here. I'm sorry, Claudia.'<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what's remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don't want to go, that I shouldn't. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don't know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don't know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it's Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. 'I have done my best. I protected the people—'<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> 'I’m afraid I don’t understand,' I sign to her. 'The battle ended there.'<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”	Popular Novels	15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	LEARN_MORE	1712473200	View Edit Delete
1667122	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727716	1734958301	695	270909652654045	1	3.8574777761516E+14	1712818800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	118879321169142	0	Popular Novels	120209495233020155	cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more	NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712488791	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent.fagc3-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436270720_957515095786467_875208830111518690_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Bgu7Dt7kit4Q7kNvgFUkNVa&_nc_ht=scontent.fagc3-2.fna&oh=00_AfCNWw4YRsmqNqO88S0TxxiLtryvO8yKx9EMUyeI_5R5Xg&oe=663A6761	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent.fagc3-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436769217_736416918685784_4702726399574719986_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=osQNCg1IZM4Q7kNvgErj6P-&_nc_ht=scontent.fagc3-2.fna&oh=00_AfDElURCWG4MCTSFYCqXjxh4xsVS3M3VgTaKuwV3ZzvWGg&oe=663A837D	0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: 'Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.'<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> 'If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,' he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. 'Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.' <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> 'We are going to fight,' I tell him through signing. 'The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.'<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. 'You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.'<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> 'Don’t do it,' I warn her. 'Don’t cross him.'<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I'm banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> 'Take him to the infirmary,' I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, 'I will be here for a while.'<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> 'I don’t know how you can hear me,' I say coldly, 'and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.'<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. 'Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.'<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> "I can't leave," I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. "I... this is the only home I know."<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. 'It doesn't matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.'<br /> I shake my head. "I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?"<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can't bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it's just because he can't stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it's because he doesn't want me to see something.<br /> "Tell me," I urge him. "What's the problem? You know it's not my fault."<br /> 'It doesn't matter,' he finally says. 'It has to end here. I'm sorry, Claudia.'<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what's remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don't want to go, that I shouldn't. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don't know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don't know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it's Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. 'I have done my best. I protected the people—'<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> 'I’m afraid I don’t understand,' I sign to her. 'The battle ended there.'<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”	Popular Novels	15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	LEARN_MORE	1712473200	View Edit Delete
1667123	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727716	1734958301	695	352207010583266	1	1.2728151603028E+15	1712818800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	118879321169142	0	Popular Novels	120209495233050155	cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more	NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712488795	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent.fagc3-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436358471_806009891384209_2684266132372405924_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vT9WMkE1hPUQ7kNvgFdwCGe&_nc_oc=AdhUjlfGkYxklv9JLnKfWeUh_1q914TcUClG30C16u9yySRLIL-w1XTdaPKZSZREH7Q&_nc_ht=scontent.fagc3-1.fna&oh=00_AfDFao8BkhJgi0jlLH0kO4ydSL77zk3tyH-MQLmtRjfiiQ&oe=663A817B	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent.fagc3-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436105833_1140365634066366_3952715177158861981_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=0qr9X5ZtQnUQ7kNvgGzvZTj&_nc_ht=scontent.fagc3-2.fna&oh=00_AfAgwWgozjK0HUI7EfCgg9AnLH-EGEFSLacH9AB5KiNi3g&oe=663A8E8A	0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: 'Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.'<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> 'If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,' he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. 'Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.' <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> 'We are going to fight,' I tell him through signing. 'The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.'<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. 'You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.'<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> 'Don’t do it,' I warn her. 'Don’t cross him.'<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I'm banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> 'Take him to the infirmary,' I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, 'I will be here for a while.'<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> 'I don’t know how you can hear me,' I say coldly, 'and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.'<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. 'Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.'<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> "I can't leave," I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. "I... this is the only home I know."<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. 'It doesn't matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.'<br /> I shake my head. "I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?"<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can't bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it's just because he can't stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it's because he doesn't want me to see something.<br /> "Tell me," I urge him. "What's the problem? You know it's not my fault."<br /> 'It doesn't matter,' he finally says. 'It has to end here. I'm sorry, Claudia.'<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what's remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don't want to go, that I shouldn't. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don't know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don't know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it's Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. 'I have done my best. I protected the people—'<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> 'I’m afraid I don’t understand,' I sign to her. 'The battle ended there.'<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”	Popular Novels	15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	LEARN_MORE	1712473200	View Edit Delete
1667124	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727716	1734958301	695	886468940136315	1	9.089222775831E+14	1712646000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	106001611760967	0	Random TD	120208585996900594	play.google.com	Play game	NONE	video	Crash your enemy now!		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.feelingtouch.rtd		1712479438	1.0600161176097E+14	Random TD	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/421929950_2643971322444033_796049117069429445_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=HufGMkxiESUQ7kNvgELtWa3&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBwR-_7kARcOQxLgDA2pkrpI62elWY766yQjYAWfL0VmQ&oe=663A6B82	person_profile	0	Random TD	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434057396_790986139606511_6933269067585262197_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=DGrR8rGxH4EQ7kNvgHRiIYS&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC12gUWlzQwZqDnk74jvxqf1DicFjFVPnbCCg_ajCtSJg&oe=663A96D9	0	3	Defend your tower! 🚨 Battle anywhere, anytime. Get ready for a thrilling experience now!	Random TD	38068	https://facebook.com/randomtd	PLAY_GAME	1712473200	View Edit Delete
1667125	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727716	1734958301	695	1457509878189896	1	7.8969874926093E+14	1712559600	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	641086812686708	0	Alimentation Bali	120208097327150412	swishairtime.info	Get offer	NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://swishairtime.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=BvP7v5dDKPCoGKFg8VfI&ad_id={{ad.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&fbpxl={{fbpxl}}		1712450428	6.4108681268671E+14	Alimentation Bali	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436837051_1327744661225377_1026041806726927697_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=W_paq5XLAOQQ7kNvgEBBcit&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCMVsKOvG24YgrB7GFB4E1X9lq4bOQhdm_urcCf6tiGrA&oe=663A74D4	person_profile	0	Alimentation Bali	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436351481_438017411917667_6727360297285479131_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=BTuIs6sQ6OAQ7kNvgFEbGTr&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBN8X-36vMzriSYPpJHDkvIb5c7p8was-A3dvtDkitYBA&oe=663A8AA3	0	3	If you're reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You're among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a Ravin R29 Crossbow for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳	Alimentation Bali	83	https://facebook.com/100054507427553	GET_OFFER_VIEW	1712386800	View Edit Delete
1667126	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727716	1734958301	695	966233211571803	3	4.5281481710463E+14	1712473200	regular_page	eligible	NONE	0	1	1	302043876314524	1	Ted nugent midea 09	120210058073350428	wcmzt.top	Learn more	NONE	video	The offer is only available today, hurry up and click on the link to claim it		https://wcmzt.top/NNNU2?utm_source={{adset.id}}		1712428643	3.0204387631452E+14	Ted nugent midea 09	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435659921_751834753596553_3429714013276453978_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wTf3L_57acoQ7kNvgHBgYTj&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfA0OLuMDDzYnt1a47PIXXKLWK7m6dqTC9w9z_cWSwkKkA&oe=663A7232	regular_page	0	Ted nugent midea 09	https://scontent.fagc3-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435890387_395104856634350_1146640174574935461_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=pXgVAra8mC0Q7kNvgGPpxth&_nc_ht=scontent.fagc3-2.fna&oh=00_AfBwCPwYts1cet2PLpWIkreLl7CcGrFudkGUwteEFS6pog&oe=663A76D7	0	3	If you're reading this, 😱 Celebrate your success! You're among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a Ravin huntingbow 26 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳		0		LEARN_MORE	1712386800	View Edit Delete
1667127	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727716	1734958301	695	1750629815423318		4.5281481710463E+14	1712473200	regular_page	eligible	NONE	0	1	1	302043876314524	1	Ted nugent midea 09	120210058073350428	wcmzt.top	Learn more	NONE	video	The offer is only available today, hurry up and click on the link to claim it		https://wcmzt.top/NNNU2?utm_source={{adset.id}}		1712428643	3.0204387631452E+14	Ted nugent midea 09	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435659921_751834753596553_3429714013276453978_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wTf3L_57acoQ7kNvgHBgYTj&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfA0OLuMDDzYnt1a47PIXXKLWK7m6dqTC9w9z_cWSwkKkA&oe=663A7232	regular_page	0	Ted nugent midea 09	https://scontent.fagc3-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435890387_395104856634350_1146640174574935461_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=pXgVAra8mC0Q7kNvgGPpxth&_nc_ht=scontent.fagc3-2.fna&oh=00_AfBwCPwYts1cet2PLpWIkreLl7CcGrFudkGUwteEFS6pog&oe=663A76D7	0	3	If you're reading this, 😱 Celebrate your success! You're among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a Ravin huntingbow 26 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳		0		LEARN_MORE	1712386800	View Edit Delete
1667128	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727716	1734958301	695	1578170726367806	1	1.4692223073364E+15	1712473200	regular_page	eligible	NONE	0	1	1	302043876314524	1	Ted nugent midea 09	120210058073350428	wcmzt.top	Learn more	NONE	video	The offer is only available today, hurry up and click on the link to claim it		https://wcmzt.top/NNNU2?utm_source={{adset.id}}		1712428643	3.0204387631452E+14	Ted nugent midea 09	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435659921_751834753596553_3429714013276453978_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wTf3L_57acoQ7kNvgHBgYTj&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfA0OLuMDDzYnt1a47PIXXKLWK7m6dqTC9w9z_cWSwkKkA&oe=663A7232	regular_page	0	Ted nugent midea 09	https://scontent.fagc3-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435890387_395104856634350_1146640174574935461_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=pXgVAra8mC0Q7kNvgGPpxth&_nc_ht=scontent.fagc3-2.fna&oh=00_AfBwCPwYts1cet2PLpWIkreLl7CcGrFudkGUwteEFS6pog&oe=663A76D7	0	3	If you're reading this, 😱 Celebrate your success! You're among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a Ravin huntingbow 26 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳		0		LEARN_MORE	1712386800	View Edit Delete
1667129	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727716	1734958301	695	973055781197800	1	9.6484157564880E+14	1712905200	ig_ads_identity	eligible	NONE	1	0	1	105495248925442	0	grottipapi	6600444410667	instagram.com	Visit Instagram profile	NONE	video			http://instagram.com/grottipapi		1712422288	1.0549524892544E+14	grottipapi	https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-19/419503858_899279781573265_3343328293947159112_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s200x200&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=3fd06f&_nc_ohc=LF3d2HIlKrEQ7kNvgGLhuSt&_nc_ht=scontent.cdninstagram.com&oh=00_AfCXy9LEyNoKZbVbRv0sWakJdFvtVDayZl3uvXg16kn_nA&oe=663A8CEA	ig_ads_identity	1	GROTTI PAPI	https://scontent.fagc3-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435293832_1904690629987464_8889798921052522385_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=s7odmng9sfcQ7kNvgHpsq6l&_nc_ht=scontent.fagc3-2.fna&oh=00_AfCP8Dz1CSyzsaWgF1hs39rcHxBEyoTtFl5Yo2HYDKwJvA&oe=663A79C4	0	3	Cruising around in #LosSantos on #GTAONLINE while blasting bangers 🔊🔊 Nothing like it 🤩🤩 @fariswithadollarsign @lexxcarver #gta5 #gta6 #pontiactransam #newmusic #grandtheftauto #lyricvideo #imponteruiner #weekend #saturday #gamer #gaming #relaxing #peaceful #stressrelief	grottipapi	0	https://www.instagram.com/_u/grottipapi	VIEW_INSTAGRAM_PROFILE	1712386800	View Edit Delete
1667130	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727716	1734958301	695	412154818218753	1	1.2189695124204E+15	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	100365976129594	0	Puzzles & Chaos	120207232024580257	play.google.com	Play game	NONE	video	How good is your math?		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1712416202	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent.fagc3-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434866062_1983161965412910_6179217325277698525_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QvrEoXLpUq4Q7kNvgEGJSf6&_nc_ht=scontent.fagc3-2.fna&oh=00_AfAXfarFMNgMeAv6hSFNK3I_FpTF-naSBLCA3yZpyxSk4A&oe=663A7A05	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent.fagc3-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434858282_403935295817098_5417337463985912632_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JA9vjhKlB1cQ7kNvgHwTlCZ&_nc_ht=scontent.fagc3-2.fna&oh=00_AfDEmnxItV9Y6pWik8fOGFSwKohquRYPQJx4zeivJAdcvw&oe=663A95CA	0	3	Every decision matters. 🧮<br /> Try it yourself!	Puzzles & Chaos	12242	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	PLAY_GAME	1712386800	View Edit Delete
1667131	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727716	1734958301	695	25061821513462147	2	4.1456613123646E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	100365976129594	0	Puzzles & Chaos	120208929450740763	play.google.com	Play game	NONE	video	Match-3, Fantasy, Strategy		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1712415607	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435452875_393526556798925_7019041279053933625_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Go1RzdYkccIQ7kNvgHIkn2R&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfArulVHcRpzILVi23FKgDiYrmxVmNJiatcNshZjN_MIQQ&oe=663A5F4C	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent.fagc3-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434553822_1136075187523805_7869233068368737604_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QlBgGjCf1v4Q7kNvgFoLeBG&_nc_ht=scontent.fagc3-1.fna&oh=00_AfAqVn_D9ksT_AURFkmqx1koJSG03cg3nKYR0PQ3zy53Lg&oe=663A9335	0	3	Elemental magic, all at your fingertips.	Puzzles & Chaos	12242	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	PLAY_GAME	1712386800	View Edit Delete
1667132	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727716	1734958301	695	917463013397352	4	9.4823273984871E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	100895368495588	0	Facdds	120208121636730110	jordanalien.info	Get offer	NONE	video	Claim it now! (Ends tonight)		https://jordanalien.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=KUNLLHopuZEw0DbnSi2A&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&fbclid=%7B%7Bfbclid%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D		1712387096	1.0089536849559E+14	Facdds	https://scontent.fagc3-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435982532_342138252173602_1146676195155388557_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=py6AWY7P_1AQ7kNvgEZM8Ry&_nc_oc=AdgCo0EqMlYZd3H5Y2Fa62JGppM2E42hVXlPcDkFRUx8RSieCWE8GunzEoKkLF0Vwuc&_nc_ht=scontent.fagc3-1.fna&oh=00_AfDT9Feqd3SL_D2tvN1Li6Lm2vnDmVQihSQ1_BTu5Ul3PA&oe=663A6A98	person_profile	0	Facdds	https://scontent.fagc3-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436292577_759109939299497_9061855114597636563_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XFe1Vl4X00oQ7kNvgH64AY2&_nc_ht=scontent.fagc3-1.fna&oh=00_AfCFOr77HZpVi9jR5xMaYHKiiWMhfP_xGqJmiJlL-WhopA&oe=663A60F6	0	3	If you are reading this, CONGRATULATIONS! 🤩. You are 1 of the 1.000 lucky people who have secured a NEW R29X Crossbow for $10 in our special offer 🗣🗣.	Facdds	1666	https://facebook.com/100066319796707	GET_OFFER_VIEW	1712386800	View Edit Delete
1667134	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727717	1734958301	695	899110698569459	1	7.2547447579548E+15	1712473200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	118879321169142	0	Popular Novels	120209419169640155	cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more	NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326282	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436035257_901841738407194_7711667380692730888_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xG8oG0UxQrcQ7kNvgGrPxe1&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAZFmI0ija4b0_mHNRiphksVxUuzfJixubtuZ4XTTWuWA&oe=663A92EC	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435922235_1900721430365697_1554284382112412190_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=cyVsWjTshFcQ7kNvgGwmgJ2&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCTSg_SkVKO7ZiUaVotps9DMk0tyfZDdKtbEDqyCBB9gg&oe=663A8C8A	0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: 'Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.'<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> 'If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,' he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. 'Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.' <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> 'We are going to fight,' I tell him through signing. 'The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.'<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. 'You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.'<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> 'Don’t do it,' I warn her. 'Don’t cross him.'<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I'm banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> 'Take him to the infirmary,' I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, 'I will be here for a while.'<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> 'I don’t know how you can hear me,' I say coldly, 'and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.'<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. 'Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.'<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> "I can't leave," I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. "I... this is the only home I know."<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. 'It doesn't matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.'<br /> I shake my head. "I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?"<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can't bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it's just because he can't stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it's because he doesn't want me to see something.<br /> "Tell me," I urge him. "What's the problem? You know it's not my fault."<br /> 'It doesn't matter,' he finally says. 'It has to end here. I'm sorry, Claudia.'<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what's remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don't want to go, that I shouldn't. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don't know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don't know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it's Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. 'I have done my best. I protected the people—'<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> 'I’m afraid I don’t understand,' I sign to her. 'The battle ended there.'<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”	Popular Novels	15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	LEARN_MORE	1712300400	View Edit Delete
1667136	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727717	1734958301	695	731699382457630	1	8.5696374311434E+14	1712818800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	118879321169142	0	Popular Novels	120209419169670155	cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more	NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326265	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent.fagc3-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436007253_1638961556933014_7854473355218566919_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=m1-NXCeSwmUQ7kNvgFa1eFT&_nc_ht=scontent.fagc3-2.fna&oh=00_AfBUDzkmS3tUe0hQVQc6qrvFAO-_wvrFlr3BO6qyQ6f_aw&oe=663A9469	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent.fagc3-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/426274422_382024461412464_6266992584301061851_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Dbg46yJg4YQ7kNvgEmCytf&_nc_ht=scontent.fagc3-2.fna&oh=00_AfCb05xaN2SQDg1CfHCZTV1w0KtyWM5AoucVaenAj4M0Ew&oe=663A8599	0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: 'Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.'<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> 'If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,' he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. 'Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.' <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> 'We are going to fight,' I tell him through signing. 'The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.'<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. 'You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.'<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> 'Don’t do it,' I warn her. 'Don’t cross him.'<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I'm banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> 'Take him to the infirmary,' I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, 'I will be here for a while.'<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> 'I don’t know how you can hear me,' I say coldly, 'and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.'<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. 'Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.'<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> "I can't leave," I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. "I... this is the only home I know."<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. 'It doesn't matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.'<br /> I shake my head. "I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?"<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can't bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it's just because he can't stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it's because he doesn't want me to see something.<br /> "Tell me," I urge him. "What's the problem? You know it's not my fault."<br /> 'It doesn't matter,' he finally says. 'It has to end here. I'm sorry, Claudia.'<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what's remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don't want to go, that I shouldn't. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don't know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don't know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it's Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. 'I have done my best. I protected the people—'<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> 'I’m afraid I don’t understand,' I sign to her. 'The battle ended there.'<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”	Popular Novels	15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	LEARN_MORE	1712300400	View Edit Delete
1667138	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727717	1734958301	695	936493444846842	1	2.0278664542667E+15	1712473200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	127476320437895	0	Joylit Novel	120209419169720155	cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more	NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326279	1.274763204379E+14	Joylit Novel	https://scontent.fagc3-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436118102_3588457931415580_2197013368018586215_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Ucmh1ewIqlYQ7kNvgEUwaZB&_nc_ht=scontent.fagc3-2.fna&oh=00_AfDB8V-O5jgm8sY8LYp26xbnxfn8R4XhqH7tCkfsr_mjMw&oe=663A646A	person_profile	0	Joylit Novel	https://scontent.fagc3-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434841722_374223625585496_8059407283685938333_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jdcVonde3kIQ7kNvgENJHQR&_nc_ht=scontent.fagc3-1.fna&oh=00_AfBO3eiFXWC7MBIjltfalpQP8MCLFhuVdxUjV6eoTH4k_Q&oe=663A851A	0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: 'Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.'<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> 'If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,' he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. 'Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.' <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> 'We are going to fight,' I tell him through signing. 'The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.'<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. 'You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.'<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> 'Don’t do it,' I warn her. 'Don’t cross him.'<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I'm banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> 'Take him to the infirmary,' I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, 'I will be here for a while.'<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> 'I don’t know how you can hear me,' I say coldly, 'and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.'<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. 'Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.'<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> "I can't leave," I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. "I... this is the only home I know."<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. 'It doesn't matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.'<br /> I shake my head. "I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?"<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can't bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it's just because he can't stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it's because he doesn't want me to see something.<br /> "Tell me," I urge him. "What's the problem? You know it's not my fault."<br /> 'It doesn't matter,' he finally says. 'It has to end here. I'm sorry, Claudia.'<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what's remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don't want to go, that I shouldn't. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don't know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don't know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it's Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. 'I have done my best. I protected the people—'<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> 'I’m afraid I don’t understand,' I sign to her. 'The battle ended there.'<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”	Joylit Novel	154	https://facebook.com/61550512629703	LEARN_MORE	1712300400	View Edit Delete
1667140	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727717	1734958301	695	950909703150640	1	7.6794680530618E+14	1712818800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	118879321169142	0	Popular Novels	120209419169410155	cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more	NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326265	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent.fagc3-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433975828_1173307743665508_4371549750111183281_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=t0i4KRfJTT0Q7kNvgG582Xk&_nc_ht=scontent.fagc3-2.fna&oh=00_AfAKWdFCfw2QHHrS0n5fztox34FLf11zvtAqUaDR_ouFvw&oe=663A78FF	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434425194_1121433329063031_2816806435021019022_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=gRx_diIQR-0Q7kNvgH4xtZ7&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCQfuz7ypblhtS6EsktdZcpmsuMxfZXNYuU7nKexqzEEA&oe=663A8EF9	0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: 'Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.'<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> 'If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,' he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. 'Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.' <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> 'We are going to fight,' I tell him through signing. 'The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.'<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. 'You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.'<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> 'Don’t do it,' I warn her. 'Don’t cross him.'<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I'm banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> 'Take him to the infirmary,' I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, 'I will be here for a while.'<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> 'I don’t know how you can hear me,' I say coldly, 'and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.'<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. 'Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.'<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> "I can't leave," I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. "I... this is the only home I know."<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. 'It doesn't matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.'<br /> I shake my head. "I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?"<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can't bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it's just because he can't stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it's because he doesn't want me to see something.<br /> "Tell me," I urge him. "What's the problem? You know it's not my fault."<br /> 'It doesn't matter,' he finally says. 'It has to end here. I'm sorry, Claudia.'<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what's remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don't want to go, that I shouldn't. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don't know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don't know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it's Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. 'I have done my best. I protected the people—'<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> 'I’m afraid I don’t understand,' I sign to her. 'The battle ended there.'<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”	Popular Novels	15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	LEARN_MORE	1712300400	View Edit Delete
1667141	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727717	1734958301	695	1331250847569140	1	9.8281082669747E+14	1712818800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	118879321169142	0	Popular Novels	120209419169690155	cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more	NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326265	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent.fagc3-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435524241_422218897086320_8935473368581095373_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YQsVdKi4hg0Q7kNvgHtxzeq&_nc_ht=scontent.fagc3-1.fna&oh=00_AfB5ny3mXx0GSWxNFB6coACkVCsBxDGjr2yS6fBCBQoD2g&oe=663A7D7E	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent.fagc3-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408139_1543505059831104_1171736695421943155_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=rKG-3kDn0B0Q7kNvgHKUP4E&_nc_ht=scontent.fagc3-1.fna&oh=00_AfDGNGj3uQtBM8Iya84I9asDOdlQrBaOBUb1qvTDmoOorw&oe=663A6ABB	0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: 'Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.'<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> 'If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,' he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. 'Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.' <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> 'We are going to fight,' I tell him through signing. 'The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.'<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. 'You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.'<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> 'Don’t do it,' I warn her. 'Don’t cross him.'<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I'm banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> 'Take him to the infirmary,' I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, 'I will be here for a while.'<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> 'I don’t know how you can hear me,' I say coldly, 'and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.'<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. 'Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.'<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> "I can't leave," I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. "I... this is the only home I know."<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. 'It doesn't matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.'<br /> I shake my head. "I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?"<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can't bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it's just because he can't stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it's because he doesn't want me to see something.<br /> "Tell me," I urge him. "What's the problem? You know it's not my fault."<br /> 'It doesn't matter,' he finally says. 'It has to end here. I'm sorry, Claudia.'<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what's remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don't want to go, that I shouldn't. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don't know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don't know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it's Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. 'I have done my best. I protected the people—'<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> 'I’m afraid I don’t understand,' I sign to her. 'The battle ended there.'<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”	Popular Novels	15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	LEARN_MORE	1712300400	View Edit Delete
1667142	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727717	1734958302	695	1359852254732606	1	1.6091383065529E+15	1712818800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	118879321169142	0	Popular Novels	120209419169600155	cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more	NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326265	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435901947_747557514111695_7269693715248732154_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=uCVGWj8GDscQ7kNvgF1WFrg&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCF38-JFIqRv33vNZP_E-j2Dxn8JnrTRYbQ00tovT4qAQ&oe=663A8BDE	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435707686_1711399019675043_5170546078974212691_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_k1HUUXszpUQ7kNvgG50qP9&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCEpbBdVRH5l3PbhysIZwO2ie-xBjPUi0OQGlQwEuECwg&oe=663A7700	0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: 'Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.'<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> 'If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,' he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. 'Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.' <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> 'We are going to fight,' I tell him through signing. 'The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.'<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. 'You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.'<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> 'Don’t do it,' I warn her. 'Don’t cross him.'<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I'm banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> 'Take him to the infirmary,' I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, 'I will be here for a while.'<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> 'I don’t know how you can hear me,' I say coldly, 'and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.'<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. 'Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.'<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> "I can't leave," I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. "I... this is the only home I know."<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. 'It doesn't matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.'<br /> I shake my head. "I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?"<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can't bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it's just because he can't stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it's because he doesn't want me to see something.<br /> "Tell me," I urge him. "What's the problem? You know it's not my fault."<br /> 'It doesn't matter,' he finally says. 'It has to end here. I'm sorry, Claudia.'<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what's remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don't want to go, that I shouldn't. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don't know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don't know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it's Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. 'I have done my best. I protected the people—'<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> 'I’m afraid I don’t understand,' I sign to her. 'The battle ended there.'<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”	Popular Novels	15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	LEARN_MORE	1712300400	View Edit Delete
1667145	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727717	1734958302	695	7393633064024610	1	3.9857803976518E+14	1712818800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	118879321169142	0	Popular Novels	120209419169350155	cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more	NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326265	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435460858_1624341025014581_739467339243255239_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=VooG3th8Pl4Q7kNvgE5pnd-&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCQ6crsyrh0O73901cqmoyEl9Lw1VNcYhXyUumsb3gVdw&oe=663A6C83	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435912907_252535554606583_8318534491128381018_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=z2kdBKyUYSYQ7kNvgGVRFIU&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDmKtLHUfhLq7tBvame2sCzW0ax4b43XQ9s_DNf4sg_tw&oe=663A8CD2	0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: 'Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.'<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> 'If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,' he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. 'Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.' <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> 'We are going to fight,' I tell him through signing. 'The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.'<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. 'You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.'<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> 'Don’t do it,' I warn her. 'Don’t cross him.'<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I'm banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> 'Take him to the infirmary,' I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, 'I will be here for a while.'<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> 'I don’t know how you can hear me,' I say coldly, 'and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.'<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. 'Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.'<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> "I can't leave," I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. "I... this is the only home I know."<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. 'It doesn't matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.'<br /> I shake my head. "I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?"<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can't bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it's just because he can't stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it's because he doesn't want me to see something.<br /> "Tell me," I urge him. "What's the problem? You know it's not my fault."<br /> 'It doesn't matter,' he finally says. 'It has to end here. I'm sorry, Claudia.'<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what's remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don't want to go, that I shouldn't. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don't know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don't know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it's Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. 'I have done my best. I protected the people—'<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> 'I’m afraid I don’t understand,' I sign to her. 'The battle ended there.'<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”	Popular Novels	15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	LEARN_MORE	1712300400	View Edit Delete
1667146	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727717	1734958302	695	1353181075371083	1	3.9055685386996E+14	1712818800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	118879321169142	0	Popular Novels	120209419169380155	cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more	NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326265	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433934090_1199403818105778_5225217072395325789_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CVjmETyETr8Q7kNvgG_5qD4&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAs9ygPYUarIpKq03cX7wRup20sXsXrt69zffBUeLTt5A&oe=663A6852	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434471710_1091956535214019_8823502970257376658_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FjRzWwmMgQ0Q7kNvgGAIh3P&_nc_oc=AdjMOdz4B67ypvwM7QkgdW9c2czDUzCokBJPtJw_T2coboMqrtqRncFQN1GfilSFgtH5Hl4JGKkePPBi0EpynzQe&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDuNS5Omji24zm1M0zi_IoLCGrk3ZP3wvboWolK_1iC-g&oe=663A8970	0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: 'Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.'<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> 'If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,' he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. 'Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.' <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> 'We are going to fight,' I tell him through signing. 'The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.'<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. 'You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.'<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> 'Don’t do it,' I warn her. 'Don’t cross him.'<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I'm banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> 'Take him to the infirmary,' I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, 'I will be here for a while.'<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> 'I don’t know how you can hear me,' I say coldly, 'and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.'<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. 'Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.'<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> "I can't leave," I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. "I... this is the only home I know."<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. 'It doesn't matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.'<br /> I shake my head. "I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?"<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can't bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it's just because he can't stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it's because he doesn't want me to see something.<br /> "Tell me," I urge him. "What's the problem? You know it's not my fault."<br /> 'It doesn't matter,' he finally says. 'It has to end here. I'm sorry, Claudia.'<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what's remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don't want to go, that I shouldn't. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don't know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don't know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it's Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. 'I have done my best. I protected the people—'<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> 'I’m afraid I don’t understand,' I sign to her. 'The battle ended there.'<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”	Popular Novels	15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	LEARN_MORE	1712300400	View Edit Delete
1667147	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727717	1734958302	695	468759688909465	1	1.4557546553711E+15	1712386800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	127476320437895	0	Joylit Novel	120209419168180155	cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more	NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326279	1.274763204379E+14	Joylit Novel	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435922076_26020242234241797_2889841262972408798_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=cYoIkQ1gr4AQ7kNvgFf3qnw&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBCRf170dkqjLyBCUEsEDdLG8dV52sSB-HZhnG_5kVfsw&oe=663A7E76	person_profile	0	Joylit Novel	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435967927_1066767851049317_1561946203436222314_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=uDRraRqDROAQ7kNvgEL67MU&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCJQc1oOOYkJmK7DKRwQ6T7-kd_PghXSDLPGrLrxawXFQ&oe=663A7B0C	0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: 'Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.'<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> 'If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,' he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. 'Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.' <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> 'We are going to fight,' I tell him through signing. 'The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.'<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. 'You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.'<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> 'Don’t do it,' I warn her. 'Don’t cross him.'<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I'm banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> 'Take him to the infirmary,' I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, 'I will be here for a while.'<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> 'I don’t know how you can hear me,' I say coldly, 'and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.'<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. 'Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.'<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> "I can't leave," I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. "I... this is the only home I know."<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. 'It doesn't matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.'<br /> I shake my head. "I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?"<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can't bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it's just because he can't stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it's because he doesn't want me to see something.<br /> "Tell me," I urge him. "What's the problem? You know it's not my fault."<br /> 'It doesn't matter,' he finally says. 'It has to end here. I'm sorry, Claudia.'<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what's remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don't want to go, that I shouldn't. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don't know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don't know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it's Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. 'I have done my best. I protected the people—'<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> 'I’m afraid I don’t understand,' I sign to her. 'The battle ended there.'<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”	Joylit Novel	154	https://facebook.com/61550512629703	LEARN_MORE	1712300400	View Edit Delete
1667149	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727717	1734958302	695	958749282411786	1	4.4977597414227E+14	1712473200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	118879321169142	0	Popular Novels	120209419167860155	cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more	NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326284	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434468888_3690261634575632_6401908243475390104_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tAAdiLXWlfsQ7kNvgFM8tOW&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAS0g4tgaLN_xPFH3DBm2r3rZethpM8Z_x1CqRfEwhxWA&oe=663A60E3	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434020943_779277654154148_2662673391048663058_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=V3DYftGBv70Q7kNvgFrcUlg&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAAqHhnCQuXpmi53s42lJveYiF28XjVIyL018rtVQ9cCA&oe=663A8899	0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: 'Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.'<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> 'If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,' he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. 'Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.' <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> 'We are going to fight,' I tell him through signing. 'The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.'<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. 'You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.'<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> 'Don’t do it,' I warn her. 'Don’t cross him.'<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I'm banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> 'Take him to the infirmary,' I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, 'I will be here for a while.'<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> 'I don’t know how you can hear me,' I say coldly, 'and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.'<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. 'Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.'<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> "I can't leave," I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. "I... this is the only home I know."<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. 'It doesn't matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.'<br /> I shake my head. "I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?"<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can't bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it's just because he can't stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it's because he doesn't want me to see something.<br /> "Tell me," I urge him. "What's the problem? You know it's not my fault."<br /> 'It doesn't matter,' he finally says. 'It has to end here. I'm sorry, Claudia.'<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what's remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don't want to go, that I shouldn't. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don't know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don't know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it's Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. 'I have done my best. I protected the people—'<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> 'I’m afraid I don’t understand,' I sign to her. 'The battle ended there.'<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”	Popular Novels	15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	LEARN_MORE	1712300400	View Edit Delete
1667151	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727717	1734958302	695	1069140850840054	1	1.6241020616592E+15	1712473200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	118879321169142	0	Popular Novels	120209419168010155	cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more	NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326282	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435502558_946389883560239_8063324588779684334_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9FFXTjQ-x-gQ7kNvgEDVrWj&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBYl_38m-9BLRzdW9EnVwP1xFY2jkSYqOjWAGmIPqNYHQ&oe=663A7848	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435397278_1606457716805584_6972571707161182820_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=l4brNsLAt9IQ7kNvgGyZHhr&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfB0gYM-RhvOwOA6b1SpON-ULsTHOYBUGX4hMRFfHFAqpg&oe=663A6CCE	0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: 'Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.'<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> 'If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,' he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. 'Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.' <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> 'We are going to fight,' I tell him through signing. 'The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.'<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. 'You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.'<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> 'Don’t do it,' I warn her. 'Don’t cross him.'<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I'm banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> 'Take him to the infirmary,' I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, 'I will be here for a while.'<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> 'I don’t know how you can hear me,' I say coldly, 'and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.'<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. 'Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.'<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> "I can't leave," I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. "I... this is the only home I know."<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. 'It doesn't matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.'<br /> I shake my head. "I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?"<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can't bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it's just because he can't stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it's because he doesn't want me to see something.<br /> "Tell me," I urge him. "What's the problem? You know it's not my fault."<br /> 'It doesn't matter,' he finally says. 'It has to end here. I'm sorry, Claudia.'<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what's remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don't want to go, that I shouldn't. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don't know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don't know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it's Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. 'I have done my best. I protected the people—'<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> 'I’m afraid I don’t understand,' I sign to her. 'The battle ended there.'<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”	Popular Novels	15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	LEARN_MORE	1712300400	View Edit Delete
1667152	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727717	1734958302	695	3647639688884593	1	9.5678975931644E+14	1712473200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	118879321169142	0	Popular Novels	120209419168340155	cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more	NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326286	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435957913_930248478801308_2031386260841533956_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=rn9TXPoNI7UQ7kNvgHED9gl&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCOrO2jR5tZ9M_mo1Jk0vItZoCmN79ODmQL9eDUAKudVQ&oe=663A884E	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436120890_339816871956035_1414577630003480584_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NwyoCseJKY4Q7kNvgF83cfu&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBfTupFGcvFsM35nf73YoEjg8ySRnqvMV0_MdRBb1A43Q&oe=663A7F8B	0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: 'Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.'<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> 'If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,' he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. 'Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.' <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> 'We are going to fight,' I tell him through signing. 'The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.'<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. 'You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.'<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> 'Don’t do it,' I warn her. 'Don’t cross him.'<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I'm banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> 'Take him to the infirmary,' I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, 'I will be here for a while.'<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> 'I don’t know how you can hear me,' I say coldly, 'and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.'<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. 'Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.'<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> "I can't leave," I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. "I... this is the only home I know."<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. 'It doesn't matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.'<br /> I shake my head. "I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?"<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can't bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it's just because he can't stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it's because he doesn't want me to see something.<br /> "Tell me," I urge him. "What's the problem? You know it's not my fault."<br /> 'It doesn't matter,' he finally says. 'It has to end here. I'm sorry, Claudia.'<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what's remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don't want to go, that I shouldn't. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don't know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don't know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it's Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. 'I have done my best. I protected the people—'<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> 'I’m afraid I don’t understand,' I sign to her. 'The battle ended there.'<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”	Popular Novels	15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	LEARN_MORE	1712300400	View Edit Delete
1667155	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727717	1734958302	695	278986875256956	1	1.457913035109E+15	1712818800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	118879321169142	0	Popular Novels	120209419167580155	cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more	NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326263	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/423582667_3435600893252216_1589940012388866736_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=I1A02rXmqp0Q7kNvgE0f5KG&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBZOuM96eeS0ED0zGsW9iasX6g31GNehId3N9BA9lolRA&oe=663A943A	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434570372_2550082748498630_5774464899006330546_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sJoFYIc27ioQ7kNvgG3w2sV&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDXaFb8OeNof__9h-eYX5R9R1prGTxKYmERw2dTzOZH2Q&oe=663A7357	0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: 'Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.'<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> 'If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,' he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. 'Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.' <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> 'We are going to fight,' I tell him through signing. 'The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.'<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. 'You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.'<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> 'Don’t do it,' I warn her. 'Don’t cross him.'<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I'm banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> 'Take him to the infirmary,' I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, 'I will be here for a while.'<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> 'I don’t know how you can hear me,' I say coldly, 'and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.'<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. 'Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.'<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> "I can't leave," I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. "I... this is the only home I know."<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. 'It doesn't matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.'<br /> I shake my head. "I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?"<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can't bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it's just because he can't stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it's because he doesn't want me to see something.<br /> "Tell me," I urge him. "What's the problem? You know it's not my fault."<br /> 'It doesn't matter,' he finally says. 'It has to end here. I'm sorry, Claudia.'<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what's remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don't want to go, that I shouldn't. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don't know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don't know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it's Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. 'I have done my best. I protected the people—'<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> 'I’m afraid I don’t understand,' I sign to her. 'The battle ended there.'<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”	Popular Novels	15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	LEARN_MORE	1712300400	View Edit Delete
1667157	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727717	1734958302	695	339897142416421	1	7.6149925262853E+14	1712818800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	127476320437895	0	Joylit Novel	120209419167880155	cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more	NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326265	1.274763204379E+14	Joylit Novel	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435906348_903689698108156_704486821177568529_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PqiVzwVsqIUQ7kNvgHc7va7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAorZMrbXkK8Tbi1DpmSJ77CBtiA2Nxgl8mK4nFoTSZEw&oe=663A6C73	person_profile	0	Joylit Novel	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434831984_751761997041307_4551358567051246058_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ISVykx58x_0Q7kNvgFxIt0j&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfA8RZlb82PXb0xN6RF7s8bVqLw14r_eNshGmvftAzzVHQ&oe=663A9700	0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: 'Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.'<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> 'If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,' he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. 'Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.' <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> 'We are going to fight,' I tell him through signing. 'The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.'<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. 'You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.'<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> 'Don’t do it,' I warn her. 'Don’t cross him.'<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I'm banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> 'Take him to the infirmary,' I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, 'I will be here for a while.'<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> 'I don’t know how you can hear me,' I say coldly, 'and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.'<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. 'Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.'<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> "I can't leave," I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. "I... this is the only home I know."<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. 'It doesn't matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.'<br /> I shake my head. "I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?"<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can't bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it's just because he can't stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it's because he doesn't want me to see something.<br /> "Tell me," I urge him. "What's the problem? You know it's not my fault."<br /> 'It doesn't matter,' he finally says. 'It has to end here. I'm sorry, Claudia.'<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what's remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don't want to go, that I shouldn't. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don't know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don't know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it's Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. 'I have done my best. I protected the people—'<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> 'I’m afraid I don’t understand,' I sign to her. 'The battle ended there.'<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”	Joylit Novel	154	https://facebook.com/61550512629703	LEARN_MORE	1712300400	View Edit Delete
1667159	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727717	1734958302	695	382881201235075	1	7.5040878382722E+14	1712818800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	118879321169142	0	Popular Novels	120209419168320155	cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more	NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326262	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434558424_3614469848769387_5047262944186986415_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ff3nya2vxFwQ7kNvgG-zUnl&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCIjjMfzI_lTEG9oP4X4V7ukRM6x7ez4qWw6Mdpm7OE3Q&oe=663A7366	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436007508_7206685886108800_7970418204511314465_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=e1Ro_PJ2Tv4Q7kNvgGvr2rq&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCfIGzovNtuj34-flVCAyYsov0YWW4kW3mIwyBC_4-3bw&oe=663A9737	0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: 'Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.'<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> 'If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,' he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. 'Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.' <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> 'We are going to fight,' I tell him through signing. 'The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.'<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. 'You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.'<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> 'Don’t do it,' I warn her. 'Don’t cross him.'<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I'm banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> 'Take him to the infirmary,' I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, 'I will be here for a while.'<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> 'I don’t know how you can hear me,' I say coldly, 'and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.'<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. 'Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.'<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> "I can't leave," I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. "I... this is the only home I know."<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. 'It doesn't matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.'<br /> I shake my head. "I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?"<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can't bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it's just because he can't stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it's because he doesn't want me to see something.<br /> "Tell me," I urge him. "What's the problem? You know it's not my fault."<br /> 'It doesn't matter,' he finally says. 'It has to end here. I'm sorry, Claudia.'<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what's remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don't want to go, that I shouldn't. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don't know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don't know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it's Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. 'I have done my best. I protected the people—'<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> 'I’m afraid I don’t understand,' I sign to her. 'The battle ended there.'<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”	Popular Novels	15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	LEARN_MORE	1712300400	View Edit Delete
1667161	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727717	1734958302	695	389315900695178	1	9.6297964197587E+14	1712818800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	118879321169142	0	Popular Novels	120209419167610155	cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more	NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326262	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435922861_277392808749491_6542146539746627498_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=eT_b4Zov0bMQ7kNvgGoZnYM&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCE1sKDENlyy1kkD3TmeOC9dx7mecW_UoGNWpzeQlju6Q&oe=663A784F	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435921489_776715980765308_5585685040265305441_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vsrUITMxaRwQ7kNvgHsNpwe&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfC-Mh2pRJSqhg84O8knD_eE5Ens1SfNVL3CiIwL8C36xg&oe=663A83D4	0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: 'Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.'<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> 'If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,' he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. 'Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.' <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> 'We are going to fight,' I tell him through signing. 'The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.'<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. 'You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.'<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> 'Don’t do it,' I warn her. 'Don’t cross him.'<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I'm banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> 'Take him to the infirmary,' I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, 'I will be here for a while.'<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> 'I don’t know how you can hear me,' I say coldly, 'and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.'<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. 'Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.'<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> "I can't leave," I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. "I... this is the only home I know."<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. 'It doesn't matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.'<br /> I shake my head. "I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?"<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can't bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it's just because he can't stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it's because he doesn't want me to see something.<br /> "Tell me," I urge him. "What's the problem? You know it's not my fault."<br /> 'It doesn't matter,' he finally says. 'It has to end here. I'm sorry, Claudia.'<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what's remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don't want to go, that I shouldn't. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don't know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don't know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it's Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. 'I have done my best. I protected the people—'<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> 'I’m afraid I don’t understand,' I sign to her. 'The battle ended there.'<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”	Popular Novels	15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	LEARN_MORE	1712300400	View Edit Delete
1667162	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727717	1734958302	695	736388861942581	1	1.534399537106E+15	1712818800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	118879321169142	0	Popular Novels	120209419167690155	cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more	NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326263	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434652630_407012708629221_7469306964724001722_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=SHiqOC6TagEQ7kNvgHQ20mm&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCQulkySGv9MyYE2Zbs5-csP8WE_59lVCM8lrsHY9Yjtw&oe=663A6F9D	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435407444_446806734371888_6124742060077081622_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=d7--cp8Pkj0Q7kNvgELFIEN&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDJ_jOw9Hfwl-at6wA6vQQOyxaH7NR1kU5kjf11EZ8vKg&oe=663A9174	0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: 'Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.'<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> 'If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,' he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. 'Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.' <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> 'We are going to fight,' I tell him through signing. 'The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.'<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. 'You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.'<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> 'Don’t do it,' I warn her. 'Don’t cross him.'<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I'm banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> 'Take him to the infirmary,' I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, 'I will be here for a while.'<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> 'I don’t know how you can hear me,' I say coldly, 'and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.'<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. 'Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.'<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> "I can't leave," I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. "I... this is the only home I know."<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. 'It doesn't matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.'<br /> I shake my head. "I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?"<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can't bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it's just because he can't stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it's because he doesn't want me to see something.<br /> "Tell me," I urge him. "What's the problem? You know it's not my fault."<br /> 'It doesn't matter,' he finally says. 'It has to end here. I'm sorry, Claudia.'<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what's remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don't want to go, that I shouldn't. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don't know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don't know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it's Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. 'I have done my best. I protected the people—'<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> 'I’m afraid I don’t understand,' I sign to her. 'The battle ended there.'<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”	Popular Novels	15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	LEARN_MORE	1712300400	View Edit Delete
1667165	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727717	1734958302	695	971754854280828	1	1.1452442802454E+15	1712818800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	118879321169142	0	Popular Novels	120209419167710155	cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more	NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326264	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436096764_2055936714788178_2501911458395791645_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=C1kQ0moLnSEQ7kNvgGwyOIw&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCDWX_RZTyGwJoSGJfNfzBMlNLwQcr--wym_NrYn_NCGw&oe=663A7F02	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435926063_985350402946779_1373285003989104575_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LrUlc3dfPYgQ7kNvgEpIqK3&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCwvKHg8pWQ3dwFrYpJqA4Uufrar-M_ABeEyY55hGq_JA&oe=663A6EDD	0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: 'Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.'<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> 'If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,' he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. 'Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.' <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> 'We are going to fight,' I tell him through signing. 'The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.'<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. 'You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.'<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> 'Don’t do it,' I warn her. 'Don’t cross him.'<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I'm banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> 'Take him to the infirmary,' I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, 'I will be here for a while.'<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> 'I don’t know how you can hear me,' I say coldly, 'and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.'<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. 'Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.'<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> "I can't leave," I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. "I... this is the only home I know."<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. 'It doesn't matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.'<br /> I shake my head. "I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?"<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can't bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it's just because he can't stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it's because he doesn't want me to see something.<br /> "Tell me," I urge him. "What's the problem? You know it's not my fault."<br /> 'It doesn't matter,' he finally says. 'It has to end here. I'm sorry, Claudia.'<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what's remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don't want to go, that I shouldn't. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don't know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don't know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it's Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. 'I have done my best. I protected the people—'<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> 'I’m afraid I don’t understand,' I sign to her. 'The battle ended there.'<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”	Popular Novels	15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	LEARN_MORE	1712300400	View Edit Delete
1667167	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727717	1734958302	695	1189481518880927	1	3.3212291612728E+14	1712818800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	118879321169142	0	Popular Novels	120209419168140155	cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more	NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326265	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435399974_389446827289421_4894376704931443124_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=o5p3vHIMsY8Q7kNvgEb3U9S&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfD4oRWNCAWBESRTNmZIWOx6rog8H5oJZ4VkTDO5lquOZw&oe=663A8790	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434649174_956834922622676_8234365415258112171_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ezPBB5gO3msQ7kNvgFF0r3i&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfA8P0gC7wfwsr8Tu_LrDpkXVe1waZa7LhmIidVDiidT4w&oe=663A6133	0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: 'Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.'<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> 'If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,' he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. 'Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.' <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> 'We are going to fight,' I tell him through signing. 'The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.'<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. 'You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.'<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> 'Don’t do it,' I warn her. 'Don’t cross him.'<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I'm banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> 'Take him to the infirmary,' I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, 'I will be here for a while.'<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> 'I don’t know how you can hear me,' I say coldly, 'and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.'<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. 'Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.'<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> "I can't leave," I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. "I... this is the only home I know."<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. 'It doesn't matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.'<br /> I shake my head. "I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?"<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can't bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it's just because he can't stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it's because he doesn't want me to see something.<br /> "Tell me," I urge him. "What's the problem? You know it's not my fault."<br /> 'It doesn't matter,' he finally says. 'It has to end here. I'm sorry, Claudia.'<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what's remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don't want to go, that I shouldn't. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don't know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don't know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it's Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. 'I have done my best. I protected the people—'<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> 'I’m afraid I don’t understand,' I sign to her. 'The battle ended there.'<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”	Popular Novels	15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	LEARN_MORE	1712300400	View Edit Delete
1667298	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727721	1734958302	695	1167149221389159		1.0750287970217E+15	1712214000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120206420869140695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152783	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592584_972723790858518_3132420980488247753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=MjOJ1Yl8A7EQ7kNvgHudTRa&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9MjEqQuP_zdpHhQpYHrQI0jFP6dwqMjYDNfBAg4JEYA&oe=663A82C7	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408133_1154690705677143_4842117877651758900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fnpW8hfkHEQQ7kNvgGh0N_Y&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC-Nt34ebqXUsD9MapE-qYTeSizzvMAJo2N-z7Fl5OUpQ&oe=663A6E86	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1712127600	View Edit Delete
1667168	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727717	1734958302	695	2086904768348601	1	4.4352668813328E+14	1712818800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	118879321169142	0	Popular Novels	120209419167550155	cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more	NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326262	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435900502_956709476099084_5195021621820317599_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Ze2TLbu0U1sQ7kNvgG09OGi&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDkNFQ_KhIr68AGGePW5aBa5e-LKtPqiBB1SpU8uAlyZg&oe=663A6ECD	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434834477_1082659989476078_874111066070811343_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yxTGi-IuVEMQ7kNvgH3FQTU&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfATXEwn__bkfH9QmtHOffsvLxuhOtoxAR03kHWqZ9OdOw&oe=663A8038	0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: 'Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.'<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> 'If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,' he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. 'Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.' <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> 'We are going to fight,' I tell him through signing. 'The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.'<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. 'You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.'<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> 'Don’t do it,' I warn her. 'Don’t cross him.'<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I'm banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> 'Take him to the infirmary,' I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, 'I will be here for a while.'<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> 'I don’t know how you can hear me,' I say coldly, 'and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.'<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. 'Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.'<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> "I can't leave," I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. "I... this is the only home I know."<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. 'It doesn't matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.'<br /> I shake my head. "I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?"<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can't bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it's just because he can't stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it's because he doesn't want me to see something.<br /> "Tell me," I urge him. "What's the problem? You know it's not my fault."<br /> 'It doesn't matter,' he finally says. 'It has to end here. I'm sorry, Claudia.'<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what's remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don't want to go, that I shouldn't. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don't know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don't know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it's Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. 'I have done my best. I protected the people—'<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> 'I’m afraid I don’t understand,' I sign to her. 'The battle ended there.'<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”	Popular Novels	15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	LEARN_MORE	1712300400	View Edit Delete
1667300	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727721	1734958302	695	1167149221389159		1.0750287970217E+15	1712214000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120206420869140695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152783	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592584_972723790858518_3132420980488247753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=MjOJ1Yl8A7EQ7kNvgHudTRa&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9MjEqQuP_zdpHhQpYHrQI0jFP6dwqMjYDNfBAg4JEYA&oe=663A82C7	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408133_1154690705677143_4842117877651758900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fnpW8hfkHEQQ7kNvgGh0N_Y&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC-Nt34ebqXUsD9MapE-qYTeSizzvMAJo2N-z7Fl5OUpQ&oe=663A6E86	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1712127600	View Edit Delete
1667302	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727721	1734958302	695	1167149221389159		1.0750287970217E+15	1712214000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120206420869140695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152783	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592584_972723790858518_3132420980488247753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=MjOJ1Yl8A7EQ7kNvgHudTRa&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9MjEqQuP_zdpHhQpYHrQI0jFP6dwqMjYDNfBAg4JEYA&oe=663A82C7	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408133_1154690705677143_4842117877651758900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fnpW8hfkHEQQ7kNvgGh0N_Y&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC-Nt34ebqXUsD9MapE-qYTeSizzvMAJo2N-z7Fl5OUpQ&oe=663A6E86	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1712127600	View Edit Delete
1667169	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727718	1734958302	695	269858109533341	1	1.364591494249E+15	1712818800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	118879321169142	0	Popular Novels	120209419165620155	cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more	NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326269	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435479633_409925998407769_2998626673035912586_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3wKDUFaYZMYQ7kNvgHg0pnA&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfA99JCjQMYIzno6BG0kxOeF7565u0oDfeFvugt3IiPezQ&oe=663A6409	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435538348_942597447527529_5930432389628865560_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hU_oGGKmGHQQ7kNvgGMcU4x&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDI3uGQy3yhfqpoCRWTlit5eCFJwEjFgAybDZADXrDo-g&oe=663A7D3B	0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: 'Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.'<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> 'If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,' he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. 'Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.' <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> 'We are going to fight,' I tell him through signing. 'The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.'<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. 'You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.'<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> 'Don’t do it,' I warn her. 'Don’t cross him.'<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I'm banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> 'Take him to the infirmary,' I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, 'I will be here for a while.'<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> 'I don’t know how you can hear me,' I say coldly, 'and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.'<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. 'Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.'<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> "I can't leave," I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. "I... this is the only home I know."<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. 'It doesn't matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.'<br /> I shake my head. "I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?"<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can't bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it's just because he can't stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it's because he doesn't want me to see something.<br /> "Tell me," I urge him. "What's the problem? You know it's not my fault."<br /> 'It doesn't matter,' he finally says. 'It has to end here. I'm sorry, Claudia.'<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what's remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don't want to go, that I shouldn't. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don't know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don't know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it's Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. 'I have done my best. I protected the people—'<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> 'I’m afraid I don’t understand,' I sign to her. 'The battle ended there.'<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”	Popular Novels	15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	LEARN_MORE	1712300400	View Edit Delete
1667170	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727718	1734958302	695	374975405532220	1	9.2834095544689E+14	1712732400	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	118879321169142	0	Popular Novels	120209419165830155	cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more	NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326260	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436007253_716551453886328_4981822175114547257_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3I0mohsWWFgQ7kNvgHHszLf&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBQe6V2Ibo0iK8IiIZfjVJu8zUU4P1cxcS_n78XxRGh7Q&oe=663A5F47	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435900506_277776688711573_8062250983569275075_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrvNuErU7t8Q7kNvgGKACYf&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBEUVd923zyZ-2FksAvgrP_mbHST0hgRtc8yKzevYMREA&oe=663A8B5B	0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: 'Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.'<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> 'If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,' he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. 'Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.' <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> 'We are going to fight,' I tell him through signing. 'The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.'<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. 'You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.'<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> 'Don’t do it,' I warn her. 'Don’t cross him.'<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I'm banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> 'Take him to the infirmary,' I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, 'I will be here for a while.'<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> 'I don’t know how you can hear me,' I say coldly, 'and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.'<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. 'Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.'<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> "I can't leave," I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. "I... this is the only home I know."<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. 'It doesn't matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.'<br /> I shake my head. "I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?"<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can't bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it's just because he can't stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it's because he doesn't want me to see something.<br /> "Tell me," I urge him. "What's the problem? You know it's not my fault."<br /> 'It doesn't matter,' he finally says. 'It has to end here. I'm sorry, Claudia.'<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what's remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don't want to go, that I shouldn't. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don't know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don't know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it's Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. 'I have done my best. I protected the people—'<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> 'I’m afraid I don’t understand,' I sign to her. 'The battle ended there.'<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”	Popular Novels	15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	LEARN_MORE	1712300400	View Edit Delete
1667304	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727721	1734958302	695	1167149221389159		1.0750287970217E+15	1712214000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120206420869140695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152783	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592584_972723790858518_3132420980488247753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=MjOJ1Yl8A7EQ7kNvgHudTRa&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9MjEqQuP_zdpHhQpYHrQI0jFP6dwqMjYDNfBAg4JEYA&oe=663A82C7	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408133_1154690705677143_4842117877651758900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fnpW8hfkHEQQ7kNvgGh0N_Y&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC-Nt34ebqXUsD9MapE-qYTeSizzvMAJo2N-z7Fl5OUpQ&oe=663A6E86	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1712127600	View Edit Delete
1667171	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727718	1734958302	695	854420719800208	1	1.1662928913471E+15	1712473200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	127476320437895	0	Joylit Novel	120209419166260155	cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more	NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326279	1.274763204379E+14	Joylit Novel	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435489481_856287456312980_9059876891935253638_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=rndGsnD16G4Q7kNvgHMBVZC&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAqoVL1fCn49T-hA9VBxNxMMvn5xPsEHpNLgJBe9cdPzA&oe=663A6C5C	person_profile	0	Joylit Novel	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435589886_404197109014832_4528757272626676201_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8QBzh1m_gVEQ7kNvgFljB0n&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDtBBeOAuK7FmaQ-r4-eWVoWTsltCY2oel3c2uVmdc9Vw&oe=663A8910	0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: 'Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.'<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> 'If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,' he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. 'Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.' <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> 'We are going to fight,' I tell him through signing. 'The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.'<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. 'You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.'<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> 'Don’t do it,' I warn her. 'Don’t cross him.'<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I'm banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> 'Take him to the infirmary,' I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, 'I will be here for a while.'<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> 'I don’t know how you can hear me,' I say coldly, 'and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.'<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. 'Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.'<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> "I can't leave," I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. "I... this is the only home I know."<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. 'It doesn't matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.'<br /> I shake my head. "I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?"<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can't bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it's just because he can't stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it's because he doesn't want me to see something.<br /> "Tell me," I urge him. "What's the problem? You know it's not my fault."<br /> 'It doesn't matter,' he finally says. 'It has to end here. I'm sorry, Claudia.'<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what's remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don't want to go, that I shouldn't. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don't know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don't know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it's Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. 'I have done my best. I protected the people—'<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> 'I’m afraid I don’t understand,' I sign to her. 'The battle ended there.'<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”	Joylit Novel	154	https://facebook.com/61550512629703	LEARN_MORE	1712300400	View Edit Delete
1667172	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727718	1734958302	695	1064888797913661	1	1.5812017393103E+15	1712818800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	118879321169142	0	Popular Novels	120209419165910155	cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more	NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326270	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435457060_1210766433226708_1880908999393713707_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WYzozvzRZ_4Q7kNvgG9mTjH&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAUY4cD8-p1FwuyeWJEOGYk6wGle8Jg89NRC6YoBfzCYQ&oe=663A82C9	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434561399_386577947534107_6873605036794591822_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Rup2T24ZjCoQ7kNvgGk2CyS&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBdn4yqvkfD_LMiEPntaRNgznW78AlkB46MsI1-dbIp7g&oe=663A8F96	0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: 'Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.'<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> 'If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,' he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. 'Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.' <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> 'We are going to fight,' I tell him through signing. 'The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.'<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. 'You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.'<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> 'Don’t do it,' I warn her. 'Don’t cross him.'<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I'm banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> 'Take him to the infirmary,' I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, 'I will be here for a while.'<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> 'I don’t know how you can hear me,' I say coldly, 'and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.'<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. 'Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.'<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> "I can't leave," I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. "I... this is the only home I know."<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. 'It doesn't matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.'<br /> I shake my head. "I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?"<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can't bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it's just because he can't stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it's because he doesn't want me to see something.<br /> "Tell me," I urge him. "What's the problem? You know it's not my fault."<br /> 'It doesn't matter,' he finally says. 'It has to end here. I'm sorry, Claudia.'<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what's remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don't want to go, that I shouldn't. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don't know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don't know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it's Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. 'I have done my best. I protected the people—'<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> 'I’m afraid I don’t understand,' I sign to her. 'The battle ended there.'<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”	Popular Novels	15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	LEARN_MORE	1712300400	View Edit Delete
1667173	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727718	1734958302	695	1066601561109346	1	9.7458031767275E+14	1712473200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	118879321169142	0	Popular Novels	120209419165650155	cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more	NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326282	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435901997_875380801056523_503165323165704913_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_uwoiP7ONl0Q7kNvgFOhKmm&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAtyLgbWnrw2UPJT_bo-MEPsv5tAkjsC0pxS_N8ukaSWg&oe=663A855F	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436106588_826073825997379_4813937007244359581_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=HJ1JsvjKHFkQ7kNvgGCL6QU&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfApYj8y2bp5C-ngPZm3kGSgss9Kf9buR9P6toTrnTspBw&oe=663A7E91	0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: 'Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.'<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> 'If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,' he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. 'Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.' <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> 'We are going to fight,' I tell him through signing. 'The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.'<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. 'You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.'<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> 'Don’t do it,' I warn her. 'Don’t cross him.'<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I'm banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> 'Take him to the infirmary,' I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, 'I will be here for a while.'<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> 'I don’t know how you can hear me,' I say coldly, 'and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.'<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. 'Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.'<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> "I can't leave," I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. "I... this is the only home I know."<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. 'It doesn't matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.'<br /> I shake my head. "I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?"<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can't bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it's just because he can't stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it's because he doesn't want me to see something.<br /> "Tell me," I urge him. "What's the problem? You know it's not my fault."<br /> 'It doesn't matter,' he finally says. 'It has to end here. I'm sorry, Claudia.'<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what's remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don't want to go, that I shouldn't. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don't know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don't know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it's Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. 'I have done my best. I protected the people—'<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> 'I’m afraid I don’t understand,' I sign to her. 'The battle ended there.'<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”	Popular Novels	15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	LEARN_MORE	1712300400	View Edit Delete
1667175	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727718	1734958302	695	1148215586325436	1	4.2990210608191E+14	1712818800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	118879321169142	0	Popular Novels	120209419166050155	cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more	NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326261	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433938500_2087680958262106_8640955742166336438_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=-wsA-pUsdI8Q7kNvgFEOuLI&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAfGnmzpsGIef83ZSztGALULQOLvAXa_d5S6f_0lpemew&oe=663A6A37	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434022437_3287186068257150_7052415827563881303_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=7Cl2d5Szx3MQ7kNvgFzGqOx&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBAOoOA-iwCyTz086wklY8cOXgOhIi5d6cFoMmlSGwxdQ&oe=663A9112	0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: 'Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.'<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> 'If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,' he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. 'Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.' <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> 'We are going to fight,' I tell him through signing. 'The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.'<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. 'You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.'<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> 'Don’t do it,' I warn her. 'Don’t cross him.'<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I'm banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> 'Take him to the infirmary,' I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, 'I will be here for a while.'<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> 'I don’t know how you can hear me,' I say coldly, 'and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.'<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. 'Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.'<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> "I can't leave," I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. "I... this is the only home I know."<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. 'It doesn't matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.'<br /> I shake my head. "I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?"<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can't bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it's just because he can't stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it's because he doesn't want me to see something.<br /> "Tell me," I urge him. "What's the problem? You know it's not my fault."<br /> 'It doesn't matter,' he finally says. 'It has to end here. I'm sorry, Claudia.'<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what's remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don't want to go, that I shouldn't. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don't know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don't know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it's Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. 'I have done my best. I protected the people—'<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> 'I’m afraid I don’t understand,' I sign to her. 'The battle ended there.'<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”	Popular Novels	15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	LEARN_MORE	1712300400	View Edit Delete
1667177	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727718	1734958303	695	1157926558536603	1	4.2880385316575E+14	1712473200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	118879321169142	0	Popular Novels	120209419166180155	cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more	NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326276	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435989036_1086967465924185_6404595012688713563_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=o6JQexUvBqsQ7kNvgFF8rnT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDaL73WZLDllY3SxepRUAZSh3HZUChneV8giybes3DebQ&oe=663A902C	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435912903_2334482543422255_5783816954567106542_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qY9oZDlt1AIQ7kNvgFDiz9y&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfB24Y-0aboVhlsJJMSe9TAMUkfIcnUggtwmJss28kO2Dw&oe=663A77E8	0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: 'Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.'<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> 'If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,' he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. 'Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.' <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> 'We are going to fight,' I tell him through signing. 'The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.'<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. 'You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.'<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> 'Don’t do it,' I warn her. 'Don’t cross him.'<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I'm banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> 'Take him to the infirmary,' I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, 'I will be here for a while.'<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> 'I don’t know how you can hear me,' I say coldly, 'and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.'<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. 'Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.'<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> "I can't leave," I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. "I... this is the only home I know."<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. 'It doesn't matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.'<br /> I shake my head. "I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?"<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can't bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it's just because he can't stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it's because he doesn't want me to see something.<br /> "Tell me," I urge him. "What's the problem? You know it's not my fault."<br /> 'It doesn't matter,' he finally says. 'It has to end here. I'm sorry, Claudia.'<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what's remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don't want to go, that I shouldn't. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don't know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don't know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it's Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. 'I have done my best. I protected the people—'<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> 'I’m afraid I don’t understand,' I sign to her. 'The battle ended there.'<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”	Popular Novels	15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	LEARN_MORE	1712300400	View Edit Delete
1667352	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727722	1734958303	695	1799227377245336	1	1.1599801553558E+15	1713682800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	104585012734764	0	Fly-X-Treme	120210028913100230	www.amazon.com	Shop now	NONE	video	Fly-X-Treme		https://www.amazon.com/Bug-Gun-Hunting-Crossbow-Fly-X-Treme/dp/B0BRSCQXRL		1711987807	1.0458501273476E+14	Fly-X-Treme	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434655650_342318988312537_7244442246725306427_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=09KdodqYv88Q7kNvgH5Qe-A&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC1hl5qEFXzEv8GCVr-u-l2JPAzcfzHOFN3hDRA4OJgEg&oe=663A920A	person_profile	0	Fly X-Treme	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434663252_1348622592488168_5547621506637095475_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tp0K_Ybyy2MQ7kNvgEG59fu&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAkGj9PhuTR9t5ZAI41puR8VqQmpB1f3aDGnLbaTYBbCw&oe=663A6F12	0	3	Crossbow Bug Pistol: This bug shooter gun was designed with the purist fly hunter in mind.	Fly-X-Treme	417	https://facebook.com/100095261450512	SHOP_NOW	1711954800	View Edit Delete
1667179	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727718	1734958303	695	1378364459519020	1	3.2655104044263E+14	1712818800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	118879321169142	0	Popular Novels	120209419165720155	cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more	NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326264	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435982833_948405769827285_6761553779600405763_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tjuu_gxx-_EQ7kNvgEKUjlU&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDmt36SEa8UiMRIoyxREwetZzwz_8-Ag6VR4cT72Q9zlg&oe=663A7AB9	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434831645_1145914590154944_3557428516369124045_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=e3O_S2S3-c4Q7kNvgHclpsi&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfApqt-SkeFssUpWao40pxEhegkCGuZHWfQ7cZ380dBJLA&oe=663A91FD	0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: 'Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.'<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> 'If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,' he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. 'Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.' <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> 'We are going to fight,' I tell him through signing. 'The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.'<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. 'You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.'<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> 'Don’t do it,' I warn her. 'Don’t cross him.'<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I'm banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> 'Take him to the infirmary,' I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, 'I will be here for a while.'<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> 'I don’t know how you can hear me,' I say coldly, 'and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.'<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. 'Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.'<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> "I can't leave," I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. "I... this is the only home I know."<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. 'It doesn't matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.'<br /> I shake my head. "I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?"<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can't bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it's just because he can't stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it's because he doesn't want me to see something.<br /> "Tell me," I urge him. "What's the problem? You know it's not my fault."<br /> 'It doesn't matter,' he finally says. 'It has to end here. I'm sorry, Claudia.'<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what's remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don't want to go, that I shouldn't. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don't know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don't know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it's Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. 'I have done my best. I protected the people—'<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> 'I’m afraid I don’t understand,' I sign to her. 'The battle ended there.'<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”	Popular Novels	15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	LEARN_MORE	1712300400	View Edit Delete
1667306	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727721	1734958303	695	1167149221389159		1.0750287970217E+15	1712214000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120206420869140695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152783	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592584_972723790858518_3132420980488247753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=MjOJ1Yl8A7EQ7kNvgHudTRa&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9MjEqQuP_zdpHhQpYHrQI0jFP6dwqMjYDNfBAg4JEYA&oe=663A82C7	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408133_1154690705677143_4842117877651758900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fnpW8hfkHEQQ7kNvgGh0N_Y&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC-Nt34ebqXUsD9MapE-qYTeSizzvMAJo2N-z7Fl5OUpQ&oe=663A6E86	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1712127600	View Edit Delete
1667182	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727718	1734958303	695	2698801206954107	1	7.93483138874E+14	1712818800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	118879321169142	0	Popular Novels	120209419165580155	cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more	NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326261	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435683131_733946771920651_6246124630391577699_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3tPq3VQfYgsQ7kNvgEaGFmb&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAvKwFJkNDruQl8P9A-pGuauhcognNAqV9xAHi4Hd7OqA&oe=663A7688	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435736703_7379701688780853_3374785693898820793_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=AodoiM1jfHEQ7kNvgEoGXWf&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAKzQKyV5W572Bt-YB5Hdt-nV1heGq61XOHz-xDH_EBNQ&oe=663A9707	0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: 'Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.'<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> 'If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,' he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. 'Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.' <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> 'We are going to fight,' I tell him through signing. 'The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.'<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. 'You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.'<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> 'Don’t do it,' I warn her. 'Don’t cross him.'<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I'm banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> 'Take him to the infirmary,' I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, 'I will be here for a while.'<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> 'I don’t know how you can hear me,' I say coldly, 'and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.'<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. 'Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.'<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> "I can't leave," I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. "I... this is the only home I know."<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. 'It doesn't matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.'<br /> I shake my head. "I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?"<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can't bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it's just because he can't stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it's because he doesn't want me to see something.<br /> "Tell me," I urge him. "What's the problem? You know it's not my fault."<br /> 'It doesn't matter,' he finally says. 'It has to end here. I'm sorry, Claudia.'<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what's remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don't want to go, that I shouldn't. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don't know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don't know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it's Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. 'I have done my best. I protected the people—'<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> 'I’m afraid I don’t understand,' I sign to her. 'The battle ended there.'<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”	Popular Novels	15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	LEARN_MORE	1712300400	View Edit Delete
1667748	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727736	1734958303	695	3304682006491041	1	4.4284611817342E+14	1710486000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	217316998627741	0	Frost & Flame：King of Avalon	120206853852240751	itunes.apple.com	Play game	NONE	video	Play for FREE!		http://itunes.apple.com/app/id1084930849		1709891274	2.1731699862774E+14	Frost & Flame：King of Avalon	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/429581234_1099310164730363_1086504078742655591_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=20WZTCtMa6QQ7kNvgGRr1nJ&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfB-VEooVUxRUH-W2kGx7uBlq6TNrHLBLs8MbRrku19W2Q&oe=663A8CA1	person_profile	0	King of Avalon	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/428698205_1132546604423467_736375551921548533_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=lgTRH6dKEUEQ7kNvgHJpM07&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAT8l3eLpzalk4mKPBt9FgbtCI6Fpmbu3gVT_hqdQpxfw&oe=663A7CC0	0	3	How many kingdoms can you conquer?	Frost & Flame：King of Avalon	1210399	https://facebook.com/koadw	PLAY_GAME	1709884800	View Edit Delete
1667315	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727721	1734958303	695	1167149221389159		1.0750287970217E+15	1712214000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120206420869140695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152783	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592584_972723790858518_3132420980488247753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=MjOJ1Yl8A7EQ7kNvgHudTRa&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9MjEqQuP_zdpHhQpYHrQI0jFP6dwqMjYDNfBAg4JEYA&oe=663A82C7	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408133_1154690705677143_4842117877651758900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fnpW8hfkHEQQ7kNvgGh0N_Y&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC-Nt34ebqXUsD9MapE-qYTeSizzvMAJo2N-z7Fl5OUpQ&oe=663A6E86	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1712127600	View Edit Delete
1667354	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727722	1734958303	695	428557703053927	1	9.4327061071042E+14	1712991600	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	104585012734764	0	Fly-X-Treme	120210028912940230	amazon.com	Shop now	NONE	image	Fly-X-Treme		https://www.amazon.com/Bug-Gun-Hunting-Crossbow-Fly-X-Treme/dp/B0BRSCQXRL		1711987776	1.0458501273476E+14	Fly-X-Treme	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433938486_1068317747588691_7857533211947872551_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=L9t-lw6pQ64Q7kNvgFZeuqq&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA_7diOIrPur5vth2mfFsXoB80jY0ldBnJeIKOWNzd2_Q&oe=663A66FC	person_profile	0	Fly X-Treme	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433978233_435205528896831_4889863027554401621_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Kg_2Z1ArqHoQ7kNvgE0Luao&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfADfVEgMF_RA93biIyssH33t0M2BopEpFTfRvcOHPsBwg&oe=663A6EE5	0	3	Crossbow Bug Pistol: This bug shooter gun was designed with the purist fly hunter in mind.	Fly-X-Treme	417	https://facebook.com/100095261450512	SHOP_NOW	1711954800	View Edit Delete
1667184	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727718	1734958303	695	3565638960351332	1	4.0780242531202E+14	1712818800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	118879321169142	0	Popular Novels	120209419165760155	cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more	NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326270	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434555213_749429893837857_8620851439615711120_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=rxUjSTHF8-EQ7kNvgGwZ8y7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDWWzdqC3W1BxwYzQofPMS6n5WEZdPCu0IjexK2gwX0BA&oe=663A9667	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435464675_1505995663465501_5090512209499058309_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_YwuQa8yq7oQ7kNvgFT_JAi&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDEO7b5-MhO09emAsRZR14LYISXB4OXzTqTDIsE4p1Xhw&oe=663A6F34	0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: 'Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.'<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> 'If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,' he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. 'Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.' <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> 'We are going to fight,' I tell him through signing. 'The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.'<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. 'You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.'<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> 'Don’t do it,' I warn her. 'Don’t cross him.'<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I'm banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> 'Take him to the infirmary,' I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, 'I will be here for a while.'<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> 'I don’t know how you can hear me,' I say coldly, 'and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.'<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. 'Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.'<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> "I can't leave," I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. "I... this is the only home I know."<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. 'It doesn't matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.'<br /> I shake my head. "I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?"<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can't bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it's just because he can't stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it's because he doesn't want me to see something.<br /> "Tell me," I urge him. "What's the problem? You know it's not my fault."<br /> 'It doesn't matter,' he finally says. 'It has to end here. I'm sorry, Claudia.'<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what's remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don't want to go, that I shouldn't. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don't know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don't know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it's Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. 'I have done my best. I protected the people—'<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> 'I’m afraid I don’t understand,' I sign to her. 'The battle ended there.'<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”	Popular Novels	15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	LEARN_MORE	1712300400	View Edit Delete
1667185	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727718	1734958303	695	2195562437447200	1	2.6919279276393E+15	1712818800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	118879321169142	0	Popular Novels	120209419165560155	cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more	NONE	image	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712326261	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434560139_453640453653351_1627885482373275511_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mdnBKbxpkF4Q7kNvgHqGrr8&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfA_aMGUvJJnfjxI3Og0z68sy3J_Yy6l-9DtshuItYYoAg&oe=663A82C1	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435485210_941941354193132_1302001641811867769_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=n8cFRxV_Q50Q7kNvgHsX64y&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfD5VL4yv5uGy_Fwt69qUb3FzAupa_UYl_bhZ7YhtnibYA&oe=663A8E0B	0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: 'Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.'<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> 'If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,' he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. 'Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.' <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> 'We are going to fight,' I tell him through signing. 'The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.'<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. 'You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.'<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> 'Don’t do it,' I warn her. 'Don’t cross him.'<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I'm banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> 'Take him to the infirmary,' I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, 'I will be here for a while.'<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> 'I don’t know how you can hear me,' I say coldly, 'and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.'<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. 'Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.'<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> "I can't leave," I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. "I... this is the only home I know."<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. 'It doesn't matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.'<br /> I shake my head. "I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?"<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can't bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it's just because he can't stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it's because he doesn't want me to see something.<br /> "Tell me," I urge him. "What's the problem? You know it's not my fault."<br /> 'It doesn't matter,' he finally says. 'It has to end here. I'm sorry, Claudia.'<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what's remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don't want to go, that I shouldn't. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don't know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don't know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it's Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * *<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. 'I have done my best. I protected the people—'<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> 'I’m afraid I don’t understand,' I sign to her. 'The battle ended there.'<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”	Popular Novels	15	https://facebook.com/100091852266052	LEARN_MORE	1712300400	View Edit Delete
1667186	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727718	1734958303	695	386373227546948	1	1.1315561582971E+15	1712300400	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	118879321169142	0	Popular Novels	120209381868430155	cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more	NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712247673	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434777161_776175164520563_6945987529361106588_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=w8UJ6XVNBwMQ7kNvgGvXvWa&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfAS1c1_p-gPUy9eQF1iaqtekNNHCfMRNLk8FzP5yurj1A&oe=663A78FB	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434815475_893882719174600_2666611483356940122_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=z9E7-6qh5UoQ7kNvgG3catn&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCbtodKTwW-NL7u7KUUxj6YE0XvC4ukjuEG_OXokNIHCg&oe=663A89AD	0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: 'Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.'<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> 'If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,' he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. 'Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.' <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> 'We are going to fight,' I tell him through signing. 'The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.'<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. 'You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.'<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> 'Don’t do it,' I warn her. 'Don’t cross him.'<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I'm banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> 'Take him to the infirmary,' I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, 'I will be here for a while.'<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> 'I don’t know how you can hear me,' I say coldly, 'and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.'<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. 'Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.'<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> "I can't leave," I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. "I... this is the only home I know."<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. 'It doesn't matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.'<br /> I shake my head. "I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?"<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can't bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it's just because he can't stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it's because he doesn't want me to see something.<br /> "Tell me," I urge him. "What's the problem? You know it's not my fault."<br /> 'It doesn't matter,' he finally says. 'It has to end here. I'm sorry, Claudia.'<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what's remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don't want to go, that I shouldn't. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don't know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don't know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it's Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * <br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. 'I have done my best. I protected the people—'<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> 'I’m afraid I don’t understand,' I sign to her. 'The battle ended there.'<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 6<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> I wake up with a gasp, sitting up abruptly like a marionette whose strings got yanked. My head starts to spin, but it’s not because there was no gentle introduction to the waking world.<br /> It’s because of the dream.<br /> Because of Claudia.<br /> I clutch my chest and feel that my heart is going haywire. My back is slick with sweat and I can almost feel it soaking my sheets. I close my eyes for a moment, gathering my thoughts, but the first thing I see in the darkness is Claudia’s face. Her voice is ringing in my ears, the first voice I have heard in so many years.<br /> She’s the Siren, the Moon Goddess said. The Alpha’s Voice.<br /> What does that mean? What does it have to do with me? What does that make her? I have more questions than answers and the frustration building up inside me is turning into anger. I don’t want that. I have to focus.<br /> Because if there is one thing I know, it’s that I fucked up by demanding her to leave.<br /> And I need to get her back.<br /> Fueled by the sudden fiery desire to chase after her and hold her down in the castle if I need to, I jump out of bed. I push open the door and startle the guards. I can see them mouthing, “What is the trouble, Alpha?”<br /> I ignore all of them. I just run along the hallway until I find Kiernan’s room. The guards step aside when they see me, so I push open the door, stumbling inside like a sweaty, clumsy ogre.<br /> Meanwhile, Kiernan is still awake, staring through the window. My heart sinks when I see that it’s already daylight outside, but I still have to try. I need to.<br /> Kiernan turns around, frowns at me, and asks, “Your Majesty. What brings you here?”<br /> He knows that it irks me when he calls me that, but I ignore it anyway. 'I need to find the maid, Claudia.'<br /> I thought he would ask why, but he just narrows his eyes. “The maid you kicked out last night? I found her in the freezing cold, just staring into the distance like she couldn’t believe what happened. I actually told her I would talk to you about it, but when I got to your room, you were already asleep.”<br /> His words hit me like arrows to the heart. I can almost picture Claudia standing where I left her, crying and wondering what she did wrong, all the while I was sleeping soundly with no care in the world….<br /> No. I can’t think about that. It hurts too much.<br /> I step back, the tightness in my chest so extreme that I have to inhale and exhale slowly. Every time I blink I see her distraught face and hear her broken voice, appealing her case and showing me that she deserved to stay.<br /> And what did I do? I kicked her right out like she meant nothing.<br /> Like we never had anything together.<br /> I swallow hard. ‘I need her back here. I made a mistake.’<br /> “Then let’s go to the maids’ quarters,” Kiernan offers. “Maybe she’s still there.”<br /> I nod, and together, we barge into the lower floor where the maids stay. The rooms are already empty as they start their day at dawn. Every empty room we pass makes me want to punch something in regret, but I can still catch the sweet scent of Claudia in the air, lingering like a whisper. Finally, we arrive at her room, where her scent is strongest. The door is still closed.<br /> Kiernan lifts his hand to knock, but I’m desperate. I open the door.<br /> And there is one person inside the room. But it’s not Claudia.<br /> It’s a maid I remember as Maia, her best friend here. She whips around as soon as we get in, and I immediately see her swollen eyes and red face.<br /> “Alpha,” she mutters, sinking into a bow. “Gamma. I will go to work as soon as possible.”<br /> “No, take the time you need,” Kiernan says. “You are obviously in distress. What happened?”<br /> My breath gets stuck in my throat. I already know what she’s going to say, but I find myself searching the room in hopes of finding any proof that Claudia actually chose to stay.<br /> However, the room is blissfully empty. Vacated for the next maid.<br /> “Claudia left, Gamma,” she answers. “She said she needed to go back to her family. It was just so unexpected. I asked her if it had something to do with the meeting, and she said no. She said she’s tired of working. I don’t believe that. She always loved working here….”<br /> I freeze in shock. Kiernan glances at me pointedly before turning back to Maia. “I completely understand. Please, take the day off and rest. The Alpha and I will get going now.”<br /> He grabs me by the arm and pulls me out of the room, closing the door behind us. I can’t even walk properly. I can’t believe what I just heard.<br /> After all the bad things I said to her, she still chose to cover for me.<br /> I stop moving as soon as we reach the foyer. I hold onto the stair banister for support, my throat closed up.<br /> Kiernan stands next to me. “What happened, Your Majesty?”<br /> ‘Don’t call me that,’ I sign to him. ‘Go prepare a carriage—no. A horse. Ready a horse for me. I will be setting out soon—’<br /> “No, you’re not,” he interjects, his eyebrows scrunched up. “You are the Alpha King. Do you know what it would mean to the Rogues if they took down the head of the whole land? The revolution would be over!”<br /> ‘Fine, I will do it myself.’ I try to push past him but he blocks me. ‘Move out of my way. I need Claudia back here right now.’<br /> He shakes his head, putting a firm hand on my chest. “You’d have to kill me if you want to leave alone.”<br /> Kiernan is one of my oldest friends and most loyal men. We’ve butted heads many times before, but not like this. I can see his quiet anger, and I know from the look in his eyes that he can feel mine. Still, he stands his ground, staring at me like he’s daring me to attack him right now.<br /> And I almost want to. The thought of Claudia getting farther and farther away is tearing my soul apart.<br /> But I take a deep breath to steady myself. ‘You don’t understand.’<br /> “Then make me understand.”<br /> ‘Claudia is important to me,’ I tell him after a pause. ‘The Moon Goddess told me so. She is the Siren and the Alpha’s Voice. I have to get her back or else—’<br /> “Alpha Achilles.”<br /> He signals me to turn around. I see Carlos standing by the end of the stairs, his torso still wrapped in bandages.<br /> However, he’s not alone. Standing next to him are the Housekeeper and the Chief Butler. Both of them are carrying files, laid out as though they’re asking for advice.<br /> ‘What is this?’ I signal to Carlos. ‘I don’t need any interruptions right now. I have somewhere else to go.’<br /> Carlos shakes his head to stop me. “Alpha… today is the Winter Solstice festival. Our pack is hosting. You cannot go anywhere.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 7<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> The journey from Sangria Amori to my hometown feels long and short at the same time. As I sit there in the carriage watching the palace disappear behind a mountain in the distance and begin to see the tall magnolia trees surrounding the famous springs of my home, I can’t help but feel a mixture of longing and relief.<br /> Longing because it’s been my home for years and years. I have made good memories and bonded with amazing people. I overcame a lot of bad things. I met the one I thought I would know forever.<br /> But the relief comes from the loss of all of that. From the knowledge that from now on, I would be free from that palace and everyone in it.<br /> Especially Achilles.<br /> My heart still makes a little flip at the simple thought of his name. I still have to clench my hands and pierce my own palms with my nails to remind myself that I shouldn’t be thinking about him. But thankfully, I don’t have to acknowledge it because the carriage finally stops. The coachman Peter calls out from the front, smacking the carriage door with his cane. “You’re here now, girl. It’s time to move out.”<br /> I gather all my bags and sling them all on my shoulders, slightly struggling with the weight as I climb down the rickety old carriage. “Thank you so much, Peter.”<br /> I give him a happy salute, about to head to the arch that reads Nightshade Springs. But then, I hear him calling out, “Are you sure you’re going to be safe from here on?”<br /> That makes me pause. So far, throughout the whole journey, I haven’t sensed any Rogues at all. But Peter has a point. The infestation of Rogues is very much real and rampant, and I haven’t been to my hometown in five years. I honestly don’t know what’s waiting in store for me here.<br /> But still, I don’t want to bother him. If there is any danger out here, I would rather face it; I know that he has a family.<br /> So I just smile at him. “I got it, Peter. Thank you again and be careful on your way back!”<br /> He looks uncertain, but he leaves anyway, whipping the horses until they gallop faster. Soon enough, he’s gone.<br /> And I’m alone in the middle of the woods, surrounded by the familiar fresh scent of springs and pine.<br /> The scent of home.<br /> A soft smile appears on my face as I start to walk, following the stone path that leads to the edge of the village where the cemetery is.<br /> I suppose it’s a grim thing to start with, but I’ve been meaning to visit my parents’ graves for the past years. Grief and the start of the revolution put a halt to all of that, so now I feel quite happy that I get to see them, even if it’s just this way.<br /> My mom was a maid like I am. Or was. Either way, she served the palace too, specifically as a handmaiden to the former Queen. My dad was a gardener. She died from deadly flu five years ago, and he followed right after.<br /> Back then, I thought this was unfair. How could they leave me in this world alone? I was resentful. But eventually, I realized that it may have been out of love. He was never able to be apart from her for any period of time, and not even death could stop him from chasing after her.<br /> They told me that they met each other at a gathering for servants, and my father fell in love with my mother when he first heard her sing. I honestly can’t blame him. She had the most wonderful voice, and he always said that I had that beautiful voice too. I never really knew if he was just making that up, but the ones who heard me sing also told me that I do have a pretty voice.<br /> The memory brings a smile to my face, and as I approach their graves, I find myself humming along to the tune of my mother’s lullaby.<br /> Their graves are now covered in ivy. I sweep some of the leaves away and light a candle for them.<br /> I sit there for a while, watching the light flicker on their gravestones. I reach out and feel the warmth, opening my mouth to talk to them like I always did, but that’s when something strikes me.<br /> The sour, rotten smell.<br /> My entire body freezes. I shoot to my feet, clutching my bags closer to me as I look around. My heart is beating in my ears and I almost want to whimper, but it only gets worse when I finally see a single Rogue.<br /> It’s hiding behind gravestones in the distance, its eyes gleaming with hunger and malice as they focus on me. Its low growls make the ground hum. There’s tension in the air, thick and suffocating, telling me it’s been stalking me like prey for a while now. It’s still far but ready to spring. Ready to chase and feed.<br /> And I know that if I take one step back, it will come out and kill me.<br /> I slowly exhale, stepping back and feeling it move with me, keeping the distance between us the same.<br /> Bit by bit, I ease my bags off my shoulders and set them down. The eyes of the Rogue follow my movement like two laser pointers. I slip my hand in my pocket, looking for the silver knife that Maia gave me as a parting gift, ready to it down.<br /> As though on cue, the Rogue leaps into the air as soon as I raise the knife.<br /> But I’m ready this time. I don’t come to meet it. Instead, I stand my ground, waiting for the perfect moment. As soon as it flies midair to pounce on me, I duck right under it and run the knife along its throat.<br /> The Rogue falls to the ground with a whimper. It scrambles to get upright again, but before it can do so, I stomp its fragile head flat with my boot, its blood spattering everywhere.<br /> “Thank the gods,” I mutter, but that’s when I realize that I spoke too soon.<br /> As soon as the Rogue stops moving, the forest seems to come alive right before me. More Rogues emerge from the trees, sniffing and snarling, their eyes alight with joy when they see a perfectly good meal severely outnumbered.<br /> All at once, they jump toward me.<br /> A scream breaks out of my lips. I raise my bags to shield myself, but at this point, it’s only a matter of time before they take me down and feast on me. I’m only waiting for the pain now….<br /> But before it can come, I hear loud bangs in the distance. Gunshots. Followed by the loud thuds of the Rogues hitting the ground, dropping like dead flies.<br /> I lower my bags in horror. All the Rogues are dead, their heads bleeding from a single smoking puncture wound between their eyes. I’m about to turn around to see my savior, but then I feel the still-hot muzzle of the gun against my back.<br /> “Drop your knife if you want to live. Who are you and what do you need?”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 8<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The first thing that rises out of me is not frustration from being told what to do, but embarrassment from forgetting about the big event. I know that Carlos just had a bad injury that he’s still most likely dealing with, but I have a situation on my hands that I just can’t shake off, but I can't help but avert my gaze in shame.<br /> Carlos, Kiernan, and the two head staff are staring at me expectantly, and I just want to sink into the ground and never reappear.<br /> I look over at Kiernan, who gives me a small shrug like he’s telling me that it’s all up to me.<br /> The obvious thing to do is to just delay the festival and focus on the very important task of finding Claudia. But I know that my people are counting on this one single happy day among all the bad ones. They need this. And as much as I need Claudia here with me, they come first.<br /> I take a deep, steadying breath. ‘I apologize. It must have slipped my mind. Prepare the decorations and we shall have a lunch banquet in the throne room.’<br /> Carlos nods and repeats my words to the head staff. Then, he turns back to me and asks, “How about the evening celebrations?”<br /> ‘We’ll see,’ I sign to him.<br /> With that, the head staff both bow and leave. Now it’s only the three of us, and they look pained.<br /> “So what’s been happening?” Carlos splutters at last. “Where are you going?”<br /> Kiernan is the one who answers for him. “He kicked out the maid, Claudia, and now he has to bring her back because the Moon Goddess told him so in a dream. He wants to go out there himself.”<br /> ‘I have to,’ I tell them both. 'I still do, but with the festival..."<br /> And of course, they just look at me like they feel sorry for me. I’m about to tell them both to supervise so I can go, but then Kiernan sighs and says, “I’ll get some of our warriors, and we will go and find her.”<br /> Without giving me a chance to say anything about this, Kiernan leaves. Carlos then looks at me and beckons me to go up the stairs.<br /> “After you, Alpha. Let’s give the people a good celebration.”<br /> * *<br /> When I arrive at the throne room after changing into my formal suit, it is already decked with blue and silver decorations fit for the winter solstice theme. Food is flowing in, music is playing, and it seems that all the citizens are gathering.<br /> When Carlos and I enter, it takes me a whole while to notice that the throne room isn’t even halfway filled. As I sit on my throne, I see that my people are not eating, drinking, or having fun at all. They are just gathered at the little tables, engaged in serious conversation.<br /> More people are coming in, greeted by the butlers by the door. I keep thinking that this new batch will come and let loose, but they just gather like the rest of the guests.<br /> It’s starting to make me nervous. I agreed to this party thinking it would be best for their morale, but it seems that they’re just as uninterested in the occasion as I was.<br /> ‘This is not going well,’ I tell Carlos, who’s standing on my right side. He’s not fully recovered yet, but he insisted on coming here. ‘It would be best to cut this short.’<br /> As soon as I say those words, guilt starts to drum in my chest. I know that I should try to make things more festive instead of thinking about Claudia, but not knowing how things are on that front is almost as bad as being here and seeing my people feeling blue.<br /> “I think it would be best if you go down and communicate with them personally,” Carlos says, and I can’t believe I never thought of that before.<br /> I get up from my throne with the full intent of going around, but then I see a familiar face by the door. Someone I really don’t want to see.<br /> Alpha Tristan.<br /> He’s still wearing a coat, speckled with snow. The butler tries to take it from him but he pushes him away, which makes me tense up, immediately ready for a fight. However, he’s not alone. Walking behind him like lapdogs are the Alphas of his neighboring packs: Giorgio, Anthony, and Larkin.<br /> Their auras are so domineering and so distracting that the people in the throne room stop what they’re doing and just watch them approach me. But instead of meeting them halfway, I remain standing in front of the throne with the steps of the dais separating us.<br /> None of them bows down to me.<br /> “What are you doing here?” Carlos asks, and it perfectly reflects what’s in my mind, just more polite.<br /> Tristan flashes me a smirk. “We’re here because we’re tired of the preposterous games that Sangria Amori is playing. We need change!”<br /> Even though I can’t hear him, I can feel the vibrations of his scream on the walls and the floor. He’s livid, and because of this, the people in the room are tuning in.<br /> I don’t like the admiring and interested looks on their faces. I look at Carlos. ‘We shouldn’t have this talk here.’<br /> “Alpha Tristan.” Carlos gives him a strained smile, motioning him to come along. “We shall move this conversation to a more private location and perhaps—”<br /> “Get your hands off me.” Tristan pushes past him and squares up to me. “What you’re doing to these people is sickening. Making them show up here, forced to have fun, when they are suffering from problems you would never know about from your high throne. You’re making a mockery of their situation, flaunting your privilege in their faces.”<br /> I want to push him down the steps and pound his face into a pulp, but I restrain myself. Instead, I just sign something that Carlos translates with perfect contempt.<br /> “Get out, right now.”<br /> Tristan only scoffs, facing the people. “Last night, instead of meeting with the rest of the Alphas and coming up with a way to erase the Rogues, Alpha King Achilles was late. He left us on our own when we had a Rogue attack. It’s painfully obvious that his disabilities have made him selfish, and unfit to rule our land.”<br /> This time, my temper gets the best of me. I grab him by the arm with the full intent of punching him in the face as soon as he turns, but I stop when the people gasp.<br /> They’re now looking at me in horror.<br /> I slowly let him go. He starts to walk away, step by step, not taking his eyes off me. There’s a certain gleam in his eyes that I can’t identify, but the hairs on the back of my neck are standing on end.<br /> Only when he’s standing by the door do I know why.<br /> “We will no longer take orders from the Alpha King,” Tristan declares, his gaze still on me. “We will handle the Rogues our way, the right way. And those who want to join us would be offered full protection.”<br /> With that, he leaves.<br /> And I watch in horror as some of my citizens begin to get up from their seats, following him out.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 9<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> “Don’t shoot me,” I mutter, and I cringe when I hear the fear in my voice. I hate that I faced that single Rogue like a boss only to fold like this. “I’m not a danger to anyone. I’m a local here. I just moved for work at the palace…”<br /> I stop when I realize I’m about to ramble. I just drop the knife. As soon as it clatters on the floor, I feel the muzzle of the gun easing off my back. I take this as a cue to turn around, and I come face to face with a young man about my age, with straw-colored hair and brown eyes. He’s carrying a massive silver shotgun with rounds of big silver bullets around his body.<br /> He’s studying me closely, fixing his flannel shirt. “Who are you?”<br /> “Claudia Hale,” I say shakily. I even bow, which is dumb, but I guess it’s not so stupid if it stops him from shooting me. “I just came here to visit my parents.”<br /> At first, he doesn’t say anything. My nerves are starting to act up and I find myself basically skipping in my spot. But finally, he asks, “Hale, huh? Do you happen to be related to Ruth?”<br /> My eyes go wide. “Yes! Ruth is my cousin.”<br /> The man’s shoulders relax. He cracks a smile, and suddenly he doesn’t seem so scary anymore. “You must be the cousin she talks about a lot. The singer. I’m Max, by the way. Follow me.”<br /> We shake hands, and I can’t help but feel giddy.<br /> My cousin Ruth is here. I can’t believe it. We were very close as kids, even though we only saw each other over the summers. She left Nightshade Springs when we were both eighteen, and the last thing I heard about her was that she got married to a mason from the nearby village. We saw each other at my dad’s funeral, but we didn’t get to talk much because of my own grief.<br /> But now, I’m going to see her. I wonder if she has kids now.<br /> The thought of little babies running around makes me so excited, so much so that I almost forget to follow Max as he leads me out of the cemetery through an unfamiliar path. I quickly pick up the knife and run after him.<br /> I frown as I pull level with Max. "Why are we using this path?"<br /> The moment the question leaves my lips, the answer comes to me when we turn a corner.<br /> For the first time, I come face to face with the aftermath of the Rogue infestation.<br /> The village is now completely deserted. The houses are dilapidated, empty and broken. The smell of Rogues is present, but distant, which tells me that the place is visited frequently but they're not actually here. Dried blood is scattered all over the ground like paint.<br /> "That's animal blood," Max explains, following the direction of my gaze. "We vacated this place a long time ago. We still live in this area, but we decided to stick close together to protect ourselves from the Rogues. We figured that it would be best if we show them a strong front. The Kingdom doesn't really do much for us, so we have to take matters into our own hands."<br /> I swallow hard, averting my gaze as we turn another corner, a hidden path behind a small hill.<br /> "Does the Kingdom not visit the villages at all?" I ask.<br /> Max shakes his head. "Nope. Not at all. They send guards from time to time, but you see how many Rogues there are. You know how violent they can be. We needed weapons to protect ourselves, but they just won't provide that. I think they keep it to themselves, leave everyone else defenseless."<br /> I keep quiet. I don't know what to say. Part of me wants to defend the palace. I mean, I know they have it hard, and Achilles is doing his best. But then again, who am I to dismiss their suffering?<br /> I open my mouth to ask where they got their weapons, but then we arrive at a fenced part of the village. Barbed wires are set on tall metal walls, behind which small compact buildings stand proud.<br /> He opens the gate carefully, and we both enter. There are a couple of villages standing watch, carrying guns similar to his. They stare at me, and I have to lower my head to avoid the intensity of their looks.<br /> I want to tell Max that I just want to see Ruth, but before I can get the question out, I see two people running towards me.<br /> I look up and my heart nearly gives out when I see that it's Ruth, together with a tall bearded man who must be her husband.<br /> "Claudia!" she squeals, and before I can even drop my bags, she scoops me up into a big hug. "You're home! It's been so long!"<br /> I blink the tears away when she lets me go. "I figured it was time to retire and just stay here."<br /> I feel guilty. I lied to Maia and now I'm lying to Ruth.<br /> “You loved that job, but I do understand,” she says, and I can’t help but be thankful that she didn’t press me for more details. “This is my husband, Henry. We live in one of the apartments. You can stay with us if you like, but I think it would be best if you get your own room.”<br /> “It’s nice to meet you,” Henry says, taking my bags from me. “I will take these up to your room.”<br /> I smile. “Thank you so much.”<br /> He and Max leave, and Ruth takes my arm, steering me into a small structure at the foot of one of the buildings. I can hear cheers and smell food from outside, and I find myself relaxing when I see that it’s a pub. Men and women alike are laughing and talking, downing jugs of beer and eating fried food. It’s quite fascinating to see so much life and joy in a single space in this lost land, but I can’t help but feel grateful.<br /> Ruth and I sit on the counter. The bartender slides two jugs of beer and a platter of steaming chips. I grab the chips even though they’re hot, stuffing them all in my mouth and drinking the beer. Everything is strangely fresh, and I can’t help but gobble it all up. Ruth watches me with amusement as she sips her drink.<br /> “Do they not feed you up there?” she jokes, shaking her head. “Honestly, I don’t blame you for going home. It must have been hell there.”<br /> My appetite suddenly vanishes. “Well, it’s not so bad. But nothing like home, yes.” I clear my throat, desperate for a change of topic. “So, Max found me in the cemetery. He’s… an interesting character.”<br /> “I know, he mind-linked it to me.” She shrugs. “Max is kind of an asshole, but I get why. He had to step up as our leader when the palace guards left us. He looted all those guns that we use now, so the only thing we have to forge are bullets. Screw the Kingdom and that deaf-mute idiot who rules it.”<br /> My face goes hot. I want to defend Achilles. I want to tell Ruth not to call him that, but then again, he kicked me out for defending him.<br /> “Is everyone doing the same?” I start to ask, but then a small commotion breaks out in the corner of the pub where the entrance is.<br /> “Hey, keep that bastard out!” I hear some of the men yelling.<br /> “He barged right in and demanded entry!”<br /> “It’s one of those palace fuckers!”<br /> I freeze. Ruth and I both slide out of our stools, looking over at the chaos.<br /> My heart jumps right into my throat when I see Gamma Kiernan trying to force his way inside the pub.<br /> “Bring me Claudia Hale, and we will not have any problems.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 10<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Panic takes a hold of me. Suddenly, I feel my entire body going numb. I can feel Ruth beside me and I can hear her saying something, but it’s like my mind is tuning out. All I can hear are muffled voices. All I can feel is my heart hammering inside my ribs like it wants to get out.<br /> I blink a couple of times as we get pushed back by the ongoing commotion. For a moment I’m certain that I’m not seeing things correctly, but I’m wrong.<br /> Gamma Kiernan is really here, and he’s looking for me.<br /> “No way you’re getting in,” the men at the entrance keep telling him. “Pack it up and leave!”<br /> “I will not leave until you bring Claudia Hale here,” he insists. “I can smell her scent in the air. I know you’re hiding her. Back off, and no one gets hurt.”<br /> “How dare you threaten us?”<br /> With that, the chaos ensues. Now there are so many men blocking his way, and soon enough, women are clamoring to shoo him out of the pub too. I can see his expression. I know that he can take these men down if he wants to, but he’s restraining himself.<br /> The urge to step up and show myself before things get ugly overcomes me, but then Ruth wheels around and dunks my head down, preventing me from getting seen.<br /> “Why the hell are they looking for you?” Ruth demands. “Did you do something?”<br /> “No,” I begin to say, but that’s when I feel a strong hand dragging me back.<br /> “Ow!” I complain under my breath, feeling myself getting yanked back into the corner by this strong person. I turn around and see Max. He’s squeezing my arm so hard that I can almost feel the bruises appearing. “Let me go!”<br /> He just glares at me. “You are not going to show yourself to that upstart. You’re going to stay here behind the bar. Understand?”<br /> “No!” I snatch my arm back from him. “Do you want your people to get hurt?”<br /> His eyes flash with anger. “You’re really assuming we’re the ones who’d get hurt? You put too much faith in those men who don’t do anything but sit on their asses and command the lower people to fight for them.”<br /> I realize that he’s referring to the palace royals, including Achilles. His claims are so false that I square up to him, shoving him back. “You have no idea what you’re talking about! Those men risk their lives for us!”<br /> “Maybe for you,” Max growls dryly, “but never for me.”<br /> The next events happen so fast. So much so that I don’t even get the time to react. Max just grabs me by the shoulders, pushes me right into the broom closet, and props a chair against the doorknob to basically lock it from outside. I fall on the floor, flat on my behind, but then I spring up to my feet to try to ram it down.<br /> “Let me out!” I scream, but I doubt anyone would hear me from the absolute meltdown happening outside.<br /> I could shift into my wolf and break the door, but I think I would end up demolishing half the pub in the process. So even though I want to end this, I just stay by the door, pressing my ear against it and listening as best as I can.<br /> That’s when I hear Max announcing, “Silence, everyone. Let the man speak.”<br /> The people immediately shut up, which surprises me. It seems that everyone really recognizes him as their leader. I can almost picture him stepping up to Gamma Kiernan.<br /> “Thank you,” Gamma Kiernan says. “As I was trying to say before I got swarmed, I need Claudia Hale.”<br /> “Why?” Max asks in a calm, almost lazy tone.<br /> “Because the Alpha King says so,” Gamma Kiernan replies in a similar voice. “We don’t want any trouble with the King, do we?”<br /> “Oh, no, we don’t,” Max answers, but this time, he sounds perfectly sarcastic. I can hear the others around him letting out a laugh. “We really don’t. But you see, Claudia isn’t here.”<br /> Silence fills the air. I want to scream at the top of my lungs to alert everyone of my presence, but I’m stunned. Petrified, really. Did the Gamma really say that it’s Alpha Achilles who’s asking for me?<br /> But why? Why would he look for me? It hasn’t even been a day since I left. Does he regret all the things he did, all the things he said to me? Did he realize that I didn’t actually do anything wrong, and he punished me out of pure pride and possibly stupidity?<br /> Now that’s something I want to hear. I want him to say sorry.<br /> I’m about to scream when suddenly, I hear Gamma Kiernan saying, “I can smell her. Do not fucking lie to me.”<br /> Somehow, I’m able to sense something about to go wrong before it even transpires. I make a move to ram the door down before things can break out, but it’s too late.<br /> Before I can even do anything, I hear Max saying in a low voice, “Deal with this bastard.”<br /> And then, hell breaks loose.<br /> It’s so loud I can almost see it. The men in the pub all yell for battle and the sounds that follow root me to my spot. More screams. Thuds from bodies hitting the floor and the walls. Broken glass. Snapping wood. Arrows whizzing. Wolves howling. Gunshots. So many gunshots….<br /> Soon enough, the smell of blood fills the air, and my heart nearly stops.<br /> It seems to go on forever, the sound and the smell and the carnage. I can make out specific voices like Gamma Kiernan’s, telling his men to stand down and leave. I can hear Max telling his people to pursue them, to drive them back and make sure they learn their lesson. On and on and on it goes.<br /> But just when I think that it’s never going to end, silence follows.<br /> It’s almost eerie. One can hear a pin drop. Who got shot? Did anyone die?<br /> The thought of death because of me is what finally breaks me. I ram down the door without shifting into my wolf form, but when I arrive at the bar, it’s too late. I can hear the sound of horses whinnying outside, their hooves hitting the ground in loud thuds as they run fast. I see the flash of the red carriage through the broken windows.<br /> I look all over the floor to see if anyone has fallen, but aside from the smears of blood, it seems that everyone made it out alive.<br /> At least, from this party.<br /> I don’t know if I can say the same about the people from the palace.<br /> Suddenly, Max enters the pub, sporting a broken nose. He tears off a piece of his shirt and uses it to dab on the blood, but I march toward him and snatch it right out of his hand. “What did you do?”<br /> “Showed them that they have no business here,” he says simply, taking the strip of fabric back from me. “The only thing I should be hearing from you is thank you, unless…”<br /> Everyone in the pub looks at me.<br /> Ruth is the one who gets up and turns to me. “What did you do, Claudia? Why are they looking for you?”<br /> Max crosses his arms. "Give us a good reason why we shouldn't kick you out of here. Now."	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1667187	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727718	1734958303	695	628835726092167	1	3.8823692068868E+14	1712300400	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	118879321169142	0	Popular Novels	120209381875100155	cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more	NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712247646	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435460454_228002963697666_8005756814523861345_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=cIcOU3aNpyYQ7kNvgGDVyrZ&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBhsXc6anBWq1nFhBw0PAs9CcjvrSViN3Vv1bRRE1d_CA&oe=663A7E25	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435516665_1452578488972761_4714242035106415195_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ma5HFCpWr08Q7kNvgG3suqs&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBJ5m-Ow2rQMMexRvwhlH0IQINcxrWY7Pz36zw-4_dsxw&oe=663A6F05	0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: 'Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.'<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> 'If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,' he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. 'Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.' <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> 'We are going to fight,' I tell him through signing. 'The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.'<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. 'You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.'<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> 'Don’t do it,' I warn her. 'Don’t cross him.'<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I'm banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> 'Take him to the infirmary,' I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, 'I will be here for a while.'<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> 'I don’t know how you can hear me,' I say coldly, 'and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.'<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. 'Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.'<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> "I can't leave," I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. "I... this is the only home I know."<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. 'It doesn't matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.'<br /> I shake my head. "I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?"<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can't bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it's just because he can't stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it's because he doesn't want me to see something.<br /> "Tell me," I urge him. "What's the problem? You know it's not my fault."<br /> 'It doesn't matter,' he finally says. 'It has to end here. I'm sorry, Claudia.'<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what's remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don't want to go, that I shouldn't. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don't know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don't know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it's Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * <br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. 'I have done my best. I protected the people—'<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> 'I’m afraid I don’t understand,' I sign to her. 'The battle ended there.'<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 6<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> I wake up with a gasp, sitting up abruptly like a marionette whose strings got yanked. My head starts to spin, but it’s not because there was no gentle introduction to the waking world.<br /> It’s because of the dream.<br /> Because of Claudia.<br /> I clutch my chest and feel that my heart is going haywire. My back is slick with sweat and I can almost feel it soaking my sheets. I close my eyes for a moment, gathering my thoughts, but the first thing I see in the darkness is Claudia’s face. Her voice is ringing in my ears, the first voice I have heard in so many years.<br /> She’s the Siren, the Moon Goddess said. The Alpha’s Voice.<br /> What does that mean? What does it have to do with me? What does that make her? I have more questions than answers and the frustration building up inside me is turning into anger. I don’t want that. I have to focus.<br /> Because if there is one thing I know, it’s that I fucked up by demanding her to leave.<br /> And I need to get her back.<br /> Fueled by the sudden fiery desire to chase after her and hold her down in the castle if I need to, I jump out of bed. I push open the door and startle the guards. I can see them mouthing, “What is the trouble, Alpha?”<br /> I ignore all of them. I just run along the hallway until I find Kiernan’s room. The guards step aside when they see me, so I push open the door, stumbling inside like a sweaty, clumsy ogre.<br /> Meanwhile, Kiernan is still awake, staring through the window. My heart sinks when I see that it’s already daylight outside, but I still have to try. I need to.<br /> Kiernan turns around, frowns at me, and asks, “Your Majesty. What brings you here?”<br /> He knows that it irks me when he calls me that, but I ignore it anyway. 'I need to find the maid, Claudia.'<br /> I thought he would ask why, but he just narrows his eyes. “The maid you kicked out last night? I found her in the freezing cold, just staring into the distance like she couldn’t believe what happened. I actually told her I would talk to you about it, but when I got to your room, you were already asleep.”<br /> His words hit me like arrows to the heart. I can almost picture Claudia standing where I left her, crying and wondering what she did wrong, all the while I was sleeping soundly with no care in the world….<br /> No. I can’t think about that. It hurts too much.<br /> I step back, the tightness in my chest so extreme that I have to inhale and exhale slowly. Every time I blink I see her distraught face and hear her broken voice, appealing her case and showing me that she deserved to stay.<br /> And what did I do? I kicked her right out like she meant nothing.<br /> Like we never had anything together.<br /> I swallow hard. ‘I need her back here. I made a mistake.’<br /> “Then let’s go to the maids’ quarters,” Kiernan offers. “Maybe she’s still there.”<br /> I nod, and together, we barge into the lower floor where the maids stay. The rooms are already empty as they start their day at dawn. Every empty room we pass makes me want to punch something in regret, but I can still catch the sweet scent of Claudia in the air, lingering like a whisper. Finally, we arrive at her room, where her scent is strongest. The door is still closed.<br /> Kiernan lifts his hand to knock, but I’m desperate. I open the door.<br /> And there is one person inside the room. But it’s not Claudia.<br /> It’s a maid I remember as Maia, her best friend here. She whips around as soon as we get in, and I immediately see her swollen eyes and red face.<br /> “Alpha,” she mutters, sinking into a bow. “Gamma. I will go to work as soon as possible.”<br /> “No, take the time you need,” Kiernan says. “You are obviously in distress. What happened?”<br /> My breath gets stuck in my throat. I already know what she’s going to say, but I find myself searching the room in hopes of finding any proof that Claudia actually chose to stay.<br /> However, the room is blissfully empty. Vacated for the next maid.<br /> “Claudia left, Gamma,” she answers. “She said she needed to go back to her family. It was just so unexpected. I asked her if it had something to do with the meeting, and she said no. She said she’s tired of working. I don’t believe that. She always loved working here….”<br /> I freeze in shock. Kiernan glances at me pointedly before turning back to Maia. “I completely understand. Please, take the day off and rest. The Alpha and I will get going now.”<br /> He grabs me by the arm and pulls me out of the room, closing the door behind us. I can’t even walk properly. I can’t believe what I just heard.<br /> After all the bad things I said to her, she still chose to cover for me.<br /> I stop moving as soon as we reach the foyer. I hold onto the stair banister for support, my throat closed up.<br /> Kiernan stands next to me. “What happened, Your Majesty?”<br /> ‘Don’t call me that,’ I sign to him. ‘Go prepare a carriage—no. A horse. Ready a horse for me. I will be setting out soon—’<br /> “No, you’re not,” he interjects, his eyebrows scrunched up. “You are the Alpha King. Do you know what it would mean to the Rogues if they took down the head of the whole land? The revolution would be over!”<br /> ‘Fine, I will do it myself.’ I try to push past him but he blocks me. ‘Move out of my way. I need Claudia back here right now.’<br /> He shakes his head, putting a firm hand on my chest. “You’d have to kill me if you want to leave alone.”<br /> Kiernan is one of my oldest friends and most loyal men. We’ve butted heads many times before, but not like this. I can see his quiet anger, and I know from the look in his eyes that he can feel mine. Still, he stands his ground, staring at me like he’s daring me to attack him right now.<br /> And I almost want to. The thought of Claudia getting farther and farther away is tearing my soul apart.<br /> But I take a deep breath to steady myself. ‘You don’t understand.’<br /> “Then make me understand.”<br /> ‘Claudia is important to me,’ I tell him after a pause. ‘The Moon Goddess told me so. She is the Siren and the Alpha’s Voice. I have to get her back or else—’<br /> “Alpha Achilles.”<br /> He signals me to turn around. I see Carlos standing by the end of the stairs, his torso still wrapped in bandages.<br /> However, he’s not alone. Standing next to him are the Housekeeper and the Chief Butler. Both of them are carrying files, laid out as though they’re asking for advice.<br /> ‘What is this?’ I signal to Carlos. ‘I don’t need any interruptions right now. I have somewhere else to go.’<br /> Carlos shakes his head to stop me. “Alpha… today is the Winter Solstice festival. Our pack is hosting. You cannot go anywhere.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 7<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> The journey from Sangria Amori to my hometown feels long and short at the same time. As I sit there in the carriage watching the palace disappear behind a mountain in the distance and begin to see the tall magnolia trees surrounding the famous springs of my home, I can’t help but feel a mixture of longing and relief.<br /> Longing because it’s been my home for years and years. I have made good memories and bonded with amazing people. I overcame a lot of bad things. I met the one I thought I would know forever.<br /> But the relief comes from the loss of all of that. From the knowledge that from now on, I would be free from that palace and everyone in it.<br /> Especially Achilles.<br /> My heart still makes a little flip at the simple thought of his name. I still have to clench my hands and pierce my own palms with my nails to remind myself that I shouldn’t be thinking about him. But thankfully, I don’t have to acknowledge it because the carriage finally stops. The coachman Peter calls out from the front, smacking the carriage door with his cane. “You’re here now, girl. It’s time to move out.”<br /> I gather all my bags and sling them all on my shoulders, slightly struggling with the weight as I climb down the rickety old carriage. “Thank you so much, Peter.”<br /> I give him a happy salute, about to head to the arch that reads Nightshade Springs. But then, I hear him calling out, “Are you sure you’re going to be safe from here on?”<br /> That makes me pause. So far, throughout the whole journey, I haven’t sensed any Rogues at all. But Peter has a point. The infestation of Rogues is very much real and rampant, and I haven’t been to my hometown in five years. I honestly don’t know what’s waiting in store for me here.<br /> But still, I don’t want to bother him. If there is any danger out here, I would rather face it; I know that he has a family.<br /> So I just smile at him. “I got it, Peter. Thank you again and be careful on your way back!”<br /> He looks uncertain, but he leaves anyway, whipping the horses until they gallop faster. Soon enough, he’s gone.<br /> And I’m alone in the middle of the woods, surrounded by the familiar fresh scent of springs and pine.<br /> The scent of home.<br /> A soft smile appears on my face as I start to walk, following the stone path that leads to the edge of the village where the cemetery is.<br /> I suppose it’s a grim thing to start with, but I’ve been meaning to visit my parents’ graves for the past years. Grief and the start of the revolution put a halt to all of that, so now I feel quite happy that I get to see them, even if it’s just this way.<br /> My mom was a maid like I am. Or was. Either way, she served the palace too, specifically as a handmaiden to the former Queen. My dad was a gardener. She died from deadly flu five years ago, and he followed right after.<br /> Back then, I thought this was unfair. How could they leave me in this world alone? I was resentful. But eventually, I realized that it may have been out of love. He was never able to be apart from her for any period of time, and not even death could stop him from chasing after her.<br /> They told me that they met each other at a gathering for servants, and my father fell in love with my mother when he first heard her sing. I honestly can’t blame him. She had the most wonderful voice, and he always said that I had that beautiful voice too. I never really knew if he was just making that up, but the ones who heard me sing also told me that I do have a pretty voice.<br /> The memory brings a smile to my face, and as I approach their graves, I find myself humming along to the tune of my mother’s lullaby.<br /> Their graves are now covered in ivy. I sweep some of the leaves away and light a candle for them.<br /> I sit there for a while, watching the light flicker on their gravestones. I reach out and feel the warmth, opening my mouth to talk to them like I always did, but that’s when something strikes me.<br /> The sour, rotten smell.<br /> My entire body freezes. I shoot to my feet, clutching my bags closer to me as I look around. My heart is beating in my ears and I almost want to whimper, but it only gets worse when I finally see a single Rogue.<br /> It’s hiding behind gravestones in the distance, its eyes gleaming with hunger and malice as they focus on me. Its low growls make the ground hum. There’s tension in the air, thick and suffocating, telling me it’s been stalking me like prey for a while now. It’s still far but ready to spring. Ready to chase and feed.<br /> And I know that if I take one step back, it will come out and kill me.<br /> I slowly exhale, stepping back and feeling it move with me, keeping the distance between us the same.<br /> Bit by bit, I ease my bags off my shoulders and set them down. The eyes of the Rogue follow my movement like two laser pointers. I slip my hand in my pocket, looking for the silver knife that Maia gave me as a parting gift, ready to it down.<br /> As though on cue, the Rogue leaps into the air as soon as I raise the knife.<br /> But I’m ready this time. I don’t come to meet it. Instead, I stand my ground, waiting for the perfect moment. As soon as it flies midair to pounce on me, I duck right under it and run the knife along its throat.<br /> The Rogue falls to the ground with a whimper. It scrambles to get upright again, but before it can do so, I stomp its fragile head flat with my boot, its blood spattering everywhere.<br /> “Thank the gods,” I mutter, but that’s when I realize that I spoke too soon.<br /> As soon as the Rogue stops moving, the forest seems to come alive right before me. More Rogues emerge from the trees, sniffing and snarling, their eyes alight with joy when they see a perfectly good meal severely outnumbered.<br /> All at once, they jump toward me.<br /> A scream breaks out of my lips. I raise my bags to shield myself, but at this point, it’s only a matter of time before they take me down and feast on me. I’m only waiting for the pain now….<br /> But before it can come, I hear loud bangs in the distance. Gunshots. Followed by the loud thuds of the Rogues hitting the ground, dropping like dead flies.<br /> I lower my bags in horror. All the Rogues are dead, their heads bleeding from a single smoking puncture wound between their eyes. I’m about to turn around to see my savior, but then I feel the still-hot muzzle of the gun against my back.<br /> “Drop your knife if you want to live. Who are you and what do you need?”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 8<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The first thing that rises out of me is not frustration from being told what to do, but embarrassment from forgetting about the big event. I know that Carlos just had a bad injury that he’s still most likely dealing with, but I have a situation on my hands that I just can’t shake off, but I can't help but avert my gaze in shame.<br /> Carlos, Kiernan, and the two head staff are staring at me expectantly, and I just want to sink into the ground and never reappear.<br /> I look over at Kiernan, who gives me a small shrug like he’s telling me that it’s all up to me.<br /> The obvious thing to do is to just delay the festival and focus on the very important task of finding Claudia. But I know that my people are counting on this one single happy day among all the bad ones. They need this. And as much as I need Claudia here with me, they come first.<br /> I take a deep, steadying breath. ‘I apologize. It must have slipped my mind. Prepare the decorations and we shall have a lunch banquet in the throne room.’<br /> Carlos nods and repeats my words to the head staff. Then, he turns back to me and asks, “How about the evening celebrations?”<br /> ‘We’ll see,’ I sign to him.<br /> With that, the head staff both bow and leave. Now it’s only the three of us, and they look pained.<br /> “So what’s been happening?” Carlos splutters at last. “Where are you going?”<br /> Kiernan is the one who answers for him. “He kicked out the maid, Claudia, and now he has to bring her back because the Moon Goddess told him so in a dream. He wants to go out there himself.”<br /> ‘I have to,’ I tell them both. 'I still do, but with the festival..."<br /> And of course, they just look at me like they feel sorry for me. I’m about to tell them both to supervise so I can go, but then Kiernan sighs and says, “I’ll get some of our warriors, and we will go and find her.”<br /> Without giving me a chance to say anything about this, Kiernan leaves. Carlos then looks at me and beckons me to go up the stairs.<br /> “After you, Alpha. Let’s give the people a good celebration.”<br /> * *<br /> When I arrive at the throne room after changing into my formal suit, it is already decked with blue and silver decorations fit for the winter solstice theme. Food is flowing in, music is playing, and it seems that all the citizens are gathering.<br /> When Carlos and I enter, it takes me a whole while to notice that the throne room isn’t even halfway filled. As I sit on my throne, I see that my people are not eating, drinking, or having fun at all. They are just gathered at the little tables, engaged in serious conversation.<br /> More people are coming in, greeted by the butlers by the door. I keep thinking that this new batch will come and let loose, but they just gather like the rest of the guests.<br /> It’s starting to make me nervous. I agreed to this party thinking it would be best for their morale, but it seems that they’re just as uninterested in the occasion as I was.<br /> ‘This is not going well,’ I tell Carlos, who’s standing on my right side. He’s not fully recovered yet, but he insisted on coming here. ‘It would be best to cut this short.’<br /> As soon as I say those words, guilt starts to drum in my chest. I know that I should try to make things more festive instead of thinking about Claudia, but not knowing how things are on that front is almost as bad as being here and seeing my people feeling blue.<br /> “I think it would be best if you go down and communicate with them personally,” Carlos says, and I can’t believe I never thought of that before.<br /> I get up from my throne with the full intent of going around, but then I see a familiar face by the door. Someone I really don’t want to see.<br /> Alpha Tristan.<br /> He’s still wearing a coat, speckled with snow. The butler tries to take it from him but he pushes him away, which makes me tense up, immediately ready for a fight. However, he’s not alone. Walking behind him like lapdogs are the Alphas of his neighboring packs: Giorgio, Anthony, and Larkin.<br /> Their auras are so domineering and so distracting that the people in the throne room stop what they’re doing and just watch them approach me. But instead of meeting them halfway, I remain standing in front of the throne with the steps of the dais separating us.<br /> None of them bows down to me.<br /> “What are you doing here?” Carlos asks, and it perfectly reflects what’s in my mind, just more polite.<br /> Tristan flashes me a smirk. “We’re here because we’re tired of the preposterous games that Sangria Amori is playing. We need change!”<br /> Even though I can’t hear him, I can feel the vibrations of his scream on the walls and the floor. He’s livid, and because of this, the people in the room are tuning in.<br /> I don’t like the admiring and interested looks on their faces. I look at Carlos. ‘We shouldn’t have this talk here.’<br /> “Alpha Tristan.” Carlos gives him a strained smile, motioning him to come along. “We shall move this conversation to a more private location and perhaps—”<br /> “Get your hands off me.” Tristan pushes past him and squares up to me. “What you’re doing to these people is sickening. Making them show up here, forced to have fun, when they are suffering from problems you would never know about from your high throne. You’re making a mockery of their situation, flaunting your privilege in their faces.”<br /> I want to push him down the steps and pound his face into a pulp, but I restrain myself. Instead, I just sign something that Carlos translates with perfect contempt.<br /> “Get out, right now.”<br /> Tristan only scoffs, facing the people. “Last night, instead of meeting with the rest of the Alphas and coming up with a way to erase the Rogues, Alpha King Achilles was late. He left us on our own when we had a Rogue attack. It’s painfully obvious that his disabilities have made him selfish, and unfit to rule our land.”<br /> This time, my temper gets the best of me. I grab him by the arm with the full intent of punching him in the face as soon as he turns, but I stop when the people gasp.<br /> They’re now looking at me in horror.<br /> I slowly let him go. He starts to walk away, step by step, not taking his eyes off me. There’s a certain gleam in his eyes that I can’t identify, but the hairs on the back of my neck are standing on end.<br /> Only when he’s standing by the door do I know why.<br /> “We will no longer take orders from the Alpha King,” Tristan declares, his gaze still on me. “We will handle the Rogues our way, the right way. And those who want to join us would be offered full protection.”<br /> With that, he leaves.<br /> And I watch in horror as some of my citizens begin to get up from their seats, following him out.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 9<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> “Don’t shoot me,” I mutter, and I cringe when I hear the fear in my voice. I hate that I faced that single Rogue like a boss only to fold like this. “I’m not a danger to anyone. I’m a local here. I just moved for work at the palace…”<br /> I stop when I realize I’m about to ramble. I just drop the knife. As soon as it clatters on the floor, I feel the muzzle of the gun easing off my back. I take this as a cue to turn around, and I come face to face with a young man about my age, with straw-colored hair and brown eyes. He’s carrying a massive silver shotgun with rounds of big silver bullets around his body.<br /> He’s studying me closely, fixing his flannel shirt. “Who are you?”<br /> “Claudia Hale,” I say shakily. I even bow, which is dumb, but I guess it’s not so stupid if it stops him from shooting me. “I just came here to visit my parents.”<br /> At first, he doesn’t say anything. My nerves are starting to act up and I find myself basically skipping in my spot. But finally, he asks, “Hale, huh? Do you happen to be related to Ruth?”<br /> My eyes go wide. “Yes! Ruth is my cousin.”<br /> The man’s shoulders relax. He cracks a smile, and suddenly he doesn’t seem so scary anymore. “You must be the cousin she talks about a lot. The singer. I’m Max, by the way. Follow me.”<br /> We shake hands, and I can’t help but feel giddy.<br /> My cousin Ruth is here. I can’t believe it. We were very close as kids, even though we only saw each other over the summers. She left Nightshade Springs when we were both eighteen, and the last thing I heard about her was that she got married to a mason from the nearby village. We saw each other at my dad’s funeral, but we didn’t get to talk much because of my own grief.<br /> But now, I’m going to see her. I wonder if she has kids now.<br /> The thought of little babies running around makes me so excited, so much so that I almost forget to follow Max as he leads me out of the cemetery through an unfamiliar path. I quickly pick up the knife and run after him.<br /> I frown as I pull level with Max. "Why are we using this path?"<br /> The moment the question leaves my lips, the answer comes to me when we turn a corner.<br /> For the first time, I come face to face with the aftermath of the Rogue infestation.<br /> The village is now completely deserted. The houses are dilapidated, empty and broken. The smell of Rogues is present, but distant, which tells me that the place is visited frequently but they're not actually here. Dried blood is scattered all over the ground like paint.<br /> "That's animal blood," Max explains, following the direction of my gaze. "We vacated this place a long time ago. We still live in this area, but we decided to stick close together to protect ourselves from the Rogues. We figured that it would be best if we show them a strong front. The Kingdom doesn't really do much for us, so we have to take matters into our own hands."<br /> I swallow hard, averting my gaze as we turn another corner, a hidden path behind a small hill.<br /> "Does the Kingdom not visit the villages at all?" I ask.<br /> Max shakes his head. "Nope. Not at all. They send guards from time to time, but you see how many Rogues there are. You know how violent they can be. We needed weapons to protect ourselves, but they just won't provide that. I think they keep it to themselves, leave everyone else defenseless."<br /> I keep quiet. I don't know what to say. Part of me wants to defend the palace. I mean, I know they have it hard, and Achilles is doing his best. But then again, who am I to dismiss their suffering?<br /> I open my mouth to ask where they got their weapons, but then we arrive at a fenced part of the village. Barbed wires are set on tall metal walls, behind which small compact buildings stand proud.<br /> He opens the gate carefully, and we both enter. There are a couple of villages standing watch, carrying guns similar to his. They stare at me, and I have to lower my head to avoid the intensity of their looks.<br /> I want to tell Max that I just want to see Ruth, but before I can get the question out, I see two people running towards me.<br /> I look up and my heart nearly gives out when I see that it's Ruth, together with a tall bearded man who must be her husband.<br /> "Claudia!" she squeals, and before I can even drop my bags, she scoops me up into a big hug. "You're home! It's been so long!"<br /> I blink the tears away when she lets me go. "I figured it was time to retire and just stay here."<br /> I feel guilty. I lied to Maia and now I'm lying to Ruth.<br /> “You loved that job, but I do understand,” she says, and I can’t help but be thankful that she didn’t press me for more details. “This is my husband, Henry. We live in one of the apartments. You can stay with us if you like, but I think it would be best if you get your own room.”<br /> “It’s nice to meet you,” Henry says, taking my bags from me. “I will take these up to your room.”<br /> I smile. “Thank you so much.”<br /> He and Max leave, and Ruth takes my arm, steering me into a small structure at the foot of one of the buildings. I can hear cheers and smell food from outside, and I find myself relaxing when I see that it’s a pub. Men and women alike are laughing and talking, downing jugs of beer and eating fried food. It’s quite fascinating to see so much life and joy in a single space in this lost land, but I can’t help but feel grateful.<br /> Ruth and I sit on the counter. The bartender slides two jugs of beer and a platter of steaming chips. I grab the chips even though they’re hot, stuffing them all in my mouth and drinking the beer. Everything is strangely fresh, and I can’t help but gobble it all up. Ruth watches me with amusement as she sips her drink.<br /> “Do they not feed you up there?” she jokes, shaking her head. “Honestly, I don’t blame you for going home. It must have been hell there.”<br /> My appetite suddenly vanishes. “Well, it’s not so bad. But nothing like home, yes.” I clear my throat, desperate for a change of topic. “So, Max found me in the cemetery. He’s… an interesting character.”<br /> “I know, he mind-linked it to me.” She shrugs. “Max is kind of an asshole, but I get why. He had to step up as our leader when the palace guards left us. He looted all those guns that we use now, so the only thing we have to forge are bullets. Screw the Kingdom and that deaf-mute idiot who rules it.”<br /> My face goes hot. I want to defend Achilles. I want to tell Ruth not to call him that, but then again, he kicked me out for defending him.<br /> “Is everyone doing the same?” I start to ask, but then a small commotion breaks out in the corner of the pub where the entrance is.<br /> “Hey, keep that bastard out!” I hear some of the men yelling.<br /> “He barged right in and demanded entry!”<br /> “It’s one of those palace fuckers!”<br /> I freeze. Ruth and I both slide out of our stools, looking over at the chaos.<br /> My heart jumps right into my throat when I see Gamma Kiernan trying to force his way inside the pub.<br /> “Bring me Claudia Hale, and we will not have any problems.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 10<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Panic takes a hold of me. Suddenly, I feel my entire body going numb. I can feel Ruth beside me and I can hear her saying something, but it’s like my mind is tuning out. All I can hear are muffled voices. All I can feel is my heart hammering inside my ribs like it wants to get out.<br /> I blink a couple of times as we get pushed back by the ongoing commotion. For a moment I’m certain that I’m not seeing things correctly, but I’m wrong.<br /> Gamma Kiernan is really here, and he’s looking for me.<br /> “No way you’re getting in,” the men at the entrance keep telling him. “Pack it up and leave!”<br /> “I will not leave until you bring Claudia Hale here,” he insists. “I can smell her scent in the air. I know you’re hiding her. Back off, and no one gets hurt.”<br /> “How dare you threaten us?”<br /> With that, the chaos ensues. Now there are so many men blocking his way, and soon enough, women are clamoring to shoo him out of the pub too. I can see his expression. I know that he can take these men down if he wants to, but he’s restraining himself.<br /> The urge to step up and show myself before things get ugly overcomes me, but then Ruth wheels around and dunks my head down, preventing me from getting seen.<br /> “Why the hell are they looking for you?” Ruth demands. “Did you do something?”<br /> “No,” I begin to say, but that’s when I feel a strong hand dragging me back.<br /> “Ow!” I complain under my breath, feeling myself getting yanked back into the corner by this strong person. I turn around and see Max. He’s squeezing my arm so hard that I can almost feel the bruises appearing. “Let me go!”<br /> He just glares at me. “You are not going to show yourself to that upstart. You’re going to stay here behind the bar. Understand?”<br /> “No!” I snatch my arm back from him. “Do you want your people to get hurt?”<br /> His eyes flash with anger. “You’re really assuming we’re the ones who’d get hurt? You put too much faith in those men who don’t do anything but sit on their asses and command the lower people to fight for them.”<br /> I realize that he’s referring to the palace royals, including Achilles. His claims are so false that I square up to him, shoving him back. “You have no idea what you’re talking about! Those men risk their lives for us!”<br /> “Maybe for you,” Max growls dryly, “but never for me.”<br /> The next events happen so fast. So much so that I don’t even get the time to react. Max just grabs me by the shoulders, pushes me right into the broom closet, and props a chair against the doorknob to basically lock it from outside. I fall on the floor, flat on my behind, but then I spring up to my feet to try to ram it down.<br /> “Let me out!” I scream, but I doubt anyone would hear me from the absolute meltdown happening outside.<br /> I could shift into my wolf and break the door, but I think I would end up demolishing half the pub in the process. So even though I want to end this, I just stay by the door, pressing my ear against it and listening as best as I can.<br /> That’s when I hear Max announcing, “Silence, everyone. Let the man speak.”<br /> The people immediately shut up, which surprises me. It seems that everyone really recognizes him as their leader. I can almost picture him stepping up to Gamma Kiernan.<br /> “Thank you,” Gamma Kiernan says. “As I was trying to say before I got swarmed, I need Claudia Hale.”<br /> “Why?” Max asks in a calm, almost lazy tone.<br /> “Because the Alpha King says so,” Gamma Kiernan replies in a similar voice. “We don’t want any trouble with the King, do we?”<br /> “Oh, no, we don’t,” Max answers, but this time, he sounds perfectly sarcastic. I can hear the others around him letting out a laugh. “We really don’t. But you see, Claudia isn’t here.”<br /> Silence fills the air. I want to scream at the top of my lungs to alert everyone of my presence, but I’m stunned. Petrified, really. Did the Gamma really say that it’s Alpha Achilles who’s asking for me?<br /> But why? Why would he look for me? It hasn’t even been a day since I left. Does he regret all the things he did, all the things he said to me? Did he realize that I didn’t actually do anything wrong, and he punished me out of pure pride and possibly stupidity?<br /> Now that’s something I want to hear. I want him to say sorry.<br /> I’m about to scream when suddenly, I hear Gamma Kiernan saying, “I can smell her. Do not fucking lie to me.”<br /> Somehow, I’m able to sense something about to go wrong before it even transpires. I make a move to ram the door down before things can break out, but it’s too late.<br /> Before I can even do anything, I hear Max saying in a low voice, “Deal with this bastard.”<br /> And then, hell breaks loose.<br /> It’s so loud I can almost see it. The men in the pub all yell for battle and the sounds that follow root me to my spot. More screams. Thuds from bodies hitting the floor and the walls. Broken glass. Snapping wood. Arrows whizzing. Wolves howling. Gunshots. So many gunshots….<br /> Soon enough, the smell of blood fills the air, and my heart nearly stops.<br /> It seems to go on forever, the sound and the smell and the carnage. I can make out specific voices like Gamma Kiernan’s, telling his men to stand down and leave. I can hear Max telling his people to pursue them, to drive them back and make sure they learn their lesson. On and on and on it goes.<br /> But just when I think that it’s never going to end, silence follows.<br /> It’s almost eerie. One can hear a pin drop. Who got shot? Did anyone die?<br /> The thought of death because of me is what finally breaks me. I ram down the door without shifting into my wolf form, but when I arrive at the bar, it’s too late. I can hear the sound of horses whinnying outside, their hooves hitting the ground in loud thuds as they run fast. I see the flash of the red carriage through the broken windows.<br /> I look all over the floor to see if anyone has fallen, but aside from the smears of blood, it seems that everyone made it out alive.<br /> At least, from this party.<br /> I don’t know if I can say the same about the people from the palace.<br /> Suddenly, Max enters the pub, sporting a broken nose. He tears off a piece of his shirt and uses it to dab on the blood, but I march toward him and snatch it right out of his hand. “What did you do?”<br /> “Showed them that they have no business here,” he says simply, taking the strip of fabric back from me. “The only thing I should be hearing from you is thank you, unless…”<br /> Everyone in the pub looks at me.<br /> Ruth is the one who gets up and turns to me. “What did you do, Claudia? Why are they looking for you?”<br /> Max crosses his arms. "Give us a good reason why we shouldn't kick you out of here. Now."	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1667189	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727718	1734958303	695	729862859303671	1	9.4336873082946E+14	1712300400	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	118879321169142	0	Popular Novels	120209381868700155	cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more	NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712247651	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435871294_268780336201714_7090718203150770316_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6JLGmMj0JY4Q7kNvgHGE4l5&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCqbhfy0ub0eNQ2rZa12QBcE-wBSFN5NoSxIIFu80nTHg&oe=663A83E6	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435725707_3482169868595778_6641576492577955232_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=E5xCa_wOdO8Q7kNvgHeG9m9&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDOROcLdQOIH93zHLt5h2WSdw43EGcPo899vPoD1gq8Fw&oe=663A721D	0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: 'Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.'<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> 'If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,' he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. 'Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.' <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> 'We are going to fight,' I tell him through signing. 'The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.'<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. 'You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.'<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> 'Don’t do it,' I warn her. 'Don’t cross him.'<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I'm banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> 'Take him to the infirmary,' I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, 'I will be here for a while.'<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> 'I don’t know how you can hear me,' I say coldly, 'and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.'<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. 'Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.'<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> "I can't leave," I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. "I... this is the only home I know."<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. 'It doesn't matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.'<br /> I shake my head. "I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?"<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can't bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it's just because he can't stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it's because he doesn't want me to see something.<br /> "Tell me," I urge him. "What's the problem? You know it's not my fault."<br /> 'It doesn't matter,' he finally says. 'It has to end here. I'm sorry, Claudia.'<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what's remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don't want to go, that I shouldn't. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don't know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don't know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it's Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * <br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. 'I have done my best. I protected the people—'<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> 'I’m afraid I don’t understand,' I sign to her. 'The battle ended there.'<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 6<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> I wake up with a gasp, sitting up abruptly like a marionette whose strings got yanked. My head starts to spin, but it’s not because there was no gentle introduction to the waking world.<br /> It’s because of the dream.<br /> Because of Claudia.<br /> I clutch my chest and feel that my heart is going haywire. My back is slick with sweat and I can almost feel it soaking my sheets. I close my eyes for a moment, gathering my thoughts, but the first thing I see in the darkness is Claudia’s face. Her voice is ringing in my ears, the first voice I have heard in so many years.<br /> She’s the Siren, the Moon Goddess said. The Alpha’s Voice.<br /> What does that mean? What does it have to do with me? What does that make her? I have more questions than answers and the frustration building up inside me is turning into anger. I don’t want that. I have to focus.<br /> Because if there is one thing I know, it’s that I fucked up by demanding her to leave.<br /> And I need to get her back.<br /> Fueled by the sudden fiery desire to chase after her and hold her down in the castle if I need to, I jump out of bed. I push open the door and startle the guards. I can see them mouthing, “What is the trouble, Alpha?”<br /> I ignore all of them. I just run along the hallway until I find Kiernan’s room. The guards step aside when they see me, so I push open the door, stumbling inside like a sweaty, clumsy ogre.<br /> Meanwhile, Kiernan is still awake, staring through the window. My heart sinks when I see that it’s already daylight outside, but I still have to try. I need to.<br /> Kiernan turns around, frowns at me, and asks, “Your Majesty. What brings you here?”<br /> He knows that it irks me when he calls me that, but I ignore it anyway. 'I need to find the maid, Claudia.'<br /> I thought he would ask why, but he just narrows his eyes. “The maid you kicked out last night? I found her in the freezing cold, just staring into the distance like she couldn’t believe what happened. I actually told her I would talk to you about it, but when I got to your room, you were already asleep.”<br /> His words hit me like arrows to the heart. I can almost picture Claudia standing where I left her, crying and wondering what she did wrong, all the while I was sleeping soundly with no care in the world….<br /> No. I can’t think about that. It hurts too much.<br /> I step back, the tightness in my chest so extreme that I have to inhale and exhale slowly. Every time I blink I see her distraught face and hear her broken voice, appealing her case and showing me that she deserved to stay.<br /> And what did I do? I kicked her right out like she meant nothing.<br /> Like we never had anything together.<br /> I swallow hard. ‘I need her back here. I made a mistake.’<br /> “Then let’s go to the maids’ quarters,” Kiernan offers. “Maybe she’s still there.”<br /> I nod, and together, we barge into the lower floor where the maids stay. The rooms are already empty as they start their day at dawn. Every empty room we pass makes me want to punch something in regret, but I can still catch the sweet scent of Claudia in the air, lingering like a whisper. Finally, we arrive at her room, where her scent is strongest. The door is still closed.<br /> Kiernan lifts his hand to knock, but I’m desperate. I open the door.<br /> And there is one person inside the room. But it’s not Claudia.<br /> It’s a maid I remember as Maia, her best friend here. She whips around as soon as we get in, and I immediately see her swollen eyes and red face.<br /> “Alpha,” she mutters, sinking into a bow. “Gamma. I will go to work as soon as possible.”<br /> “No, take the time you need,” Kiernan says. “You are obviously in distress. What happened?”<br /> My breath gets stuck in my throat. I already know what she’s going to say, but I find myself searching the room in hopes of finding any proof that Claudia actually chose to stay.<br /> However, the room is blissfully empty. Vacated for the next maid.<br /> “Claudia left, Gamma,” she answers. “She said she needed to go back to her family. It was just so unexpected. I asked her if it had something to do with the meeting, and she said no. She said she’s tired of working. I don’t believe that. She always loved working here….”<br /> I freeze in shock. Kiernan glances at me pointedly before turning back to Maia. “I completely understand. Please, take the day off and rest. The Alpha and I will get going now.”<br /> He grabs me by the arm and pulls me out of the room, closing the door behind us. I can’t even walk properly. I can’t believe what I just heard.<br /> After all the bad things I said to her, she still chose to cover for me.<br /> I stop moving as soon as we reach the foyer. I hold onto the stair banister for support, my throat closed up.<br /> Kiernan stands next to me. “What happened, Your Majesty?”<br /> ‘Don’t call me that,’ I sign to him. ‘Go prepare a carriage—no. A horse. Ready a horse for me. I will be setting out soon—’<br /> “No, you’re not,” he interjects, his eyebrows scrunched up. “You are the Alpha King. Do you know what it would mean to the Rogues if they took down the head of the whole land? The revolution would be over!”<br /> ‘Fine, I will do it myself.’ I try to push past him but he blocks me. ‘Move out of my way. I need Claudia back here right now.’<br /> He shakes his head, putting a firm hand on my chest. “You’d have to kill me if you want to leave alone.”<br /> Kiernan is one of my oldest friends and most loyal men. We’ve butted heads many times before, but not like this. I can see his quiet anger, and I know from the look in his eyes that he can feel mine. Still, he stands his ground, staring at me like he’s daring me to attack him right now.<br /> And I almost want to. The thought of Claudia getting farther and farther away is tearing my soul apart.<br /> But I take a deep breath to steady myself. ‘You don’t understand.’<br /> “Then make me understand.”<br /> ‘Claudia is important to me,’ I tell him after a pause. ‘The Moon Goddess told me so. She is the Siren and the Alpha’s Voice. I have to get her back or else—’<br /> “Alpha Achilles.”<br /> He signals me to turn around. I see Carlos standing by the end of the stairs, his torso still wrapped in bandages.<br /> However, he’s not alone. Standing next to him are the Housekeeper and the Chief Butler. Both of them are carrying files, laid out as though they’re asking for advice.<br /> ‘What is this?’ I signal to Carlos. ‘I don’t need any interruptions right now. I have somewhere else to go.’<br /> Carlos shakes his head to stop me. “Alpha… today is the Winter Solstice festival. Our pack is hosting. You cannot go anywhere.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 7<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> The journey from Sangria Amori to my hometown feels long and short at the same time. As I sit there in the carriage watching the palace disappear behind a mountain in the distance and begin to see the tall magnolia trees surrounding the famous springs of my home, I can’t help but feel a mixture of longing and relief.<br /> Longing because it’s been my home for years and years. I have made good memories and bonded with amazing people. I overcame a lot of bad things. I met the one I thought I would know forever.<br /> But the relief comes from the loss of all of that. From the knowledge that from now on, I would be free from that palace and everyone in it.<br /> Especially Achilles.<br /> My heart still makes a little flip at the simple thought of his name. I still have to clench my hands and pierce my own palms with my nails to remind myself that I shouldn’t be thinking about him. But thankfully, I don’t have to acknowledge it because the carriage finally stops. The coachman Peter calls out from the front, smacking the carriage door with his cane. “You’re here now, girl. It’s time to move out.”<br /> I gather all my bags and sling them all on my shoulders, slightly struggling with the weight as I climb down the rickety old carriage. “Thank you so much, Peter.”<br /> I give him a happy salute, about to head to the arch that reads Nightshade Springs. But then, I hear him calling out, “Are you sure you’re going to be safe from here on?”<br /> That makes me pause. So far, throughout the whole journey, I haven’t sensed any Rogues at all. But Peter has a point. The infestation of Rogues is very much real and rampant, and I haven’t been to my hometown in five years. I honestly don’t know what’s waiting in store for me here.<br /> But still, I don’t want to bother him. If there is any danger out here, I would rather face it; I know that he has a family.<br /> So I just smile at him. “I got it, Peter. Thank you again and be careful on your way back!”<br /> He looks uncertain, but he leaves anyway, whipping the horses until they gallop faster. Soon enough, he’s gone.<br /> And I’m alone in the middle of the woods, surrounded by the familiar fresh scent of springs and pine.<br /> The scent of home.<br /> A soft smile appears on my face as I start to walk, following the stone path that leads to the edge of the village where the cemetery is.<br /> I suppose it’s a grim thing to start with, but I’ve been meaning to visit my parents’ graves for the past years. Grief and the start of the revolution put a halt to all of that, so now I feel quite happy that I get to see them, even if it’s just this way.<br /> My mom was a maid like I am. Or was. Either way, she served the palace too, specifically as a handmaiden to the former Queen. My dad was a gardener. She died from deadly flu five years ago, and he followed right after.<br /> Back then, I thought this was unfair. How could they leave me in this world alone? I was resentful. But eventually, I realized that it may have been out of love. He was never able to be apart from her for any period of time, and not even death could stop him from chasing after her.<br /> They told me that they met each other at a gathering for servants, and my father fell in love with my mother when he first heard her sing. I honestly can’t blame him. She had the most wonderful voice, and he always said that I had that beautiful voice too. I never really knew if he was just making that up, but the ones who heard me sing also told me that I do have a pretty voice.<br /> The memory brings a smile to my face, and as I approach their graves, I find myself humming along to the tune of my mother’s lullaby.<br /> Their graves are now covered in ivy. I sweep some of the leaves away and light a candle for them.<br /> I sit there for a while, watching the light flicker on their gravestones. I reach out and feel the warmth, opening my mouth to talk to them like I always did, but that’s when something strikes me.<br /> The sour, rotten smell.<br /> My entire body freezes. I shoot to my feet, clutching my bags closer to me as I look around. My heart is beating in my ears and I almost want to whimper, but it only gets worse when I finally see a single Rogue.<br /> It’s hiding behind gravestones in the distance, its eyes gleaming with hunger and malice as they focus on me. Its low growls make the ground hum. There’s tension in the air, thick and suffocating, telling me it’s been stalking me like prey for a while now. It’s still far but ready to spring. Ready to chase and feed.<br /> And I know that if I take one step back, it will come out and kill me.<br /> I slowly exhale, stepping back and feeling it move with me, keeping the distance between us the same.<br /> Bit by bit, I ease my bags off my shoulders and set them down. The eyes of the Rogue follow my movement like two laser pointers. I slip my hand in my pocket, looking for the silver knife that Maia gave me as a parting gift, ready to it down.<br /> As though on cue, the Rogue leaps into the air as soon as I raise the knife.<br /> But I’m ready this time. I don’t come to meet it. Instead, I stand my ground, waiting for the perfect moment. As soon as it flies midair to pounce on me, I duck right under it and run the knife along its throat.<br /> The Rogue falls to the ground with a whimper. It scrambles to get upright again, but before it can do so, I stomp its fragile head flat with my boot, its blood spattering everywhere.<br /> “Thank the gods,” I mutter, but that’s when I realize that I spoke too soon.<br /> As soon as the Rogue stops moving, the forest seems to come alive right before me. More Rogues emerge from the trees, sniffing and snarling, their eyes alight with joy when they see a perfectly good meal severely outnumbered.<br /> All at once, they jump toward me.<br /> A scream breaks out of my lips. I raise my bags to shield myself, but at this point, it’s only a matter of time before they take me down and feast on me. I’m only waiting for the pain now….<br /> But before it can come, I hear loud bangs in the distance. Gunshots. Followed by the loud thuds of the Rogues hitting the ground, dropping like dead flies.<br /> I lower my bags in horror. All the Rogues are dead, their heads bleeding from a single smoking puncture wound between their eyes. I’m about to turn around to see my savior, but then I feel the still-hot muzzle of the gun against my back.<br /> “Drop your knife if you want to live. Who are you and what do you need?”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 8<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The first thing that rises out of me is not frustration from being told what to do, but embarrassment from forgetting about the big event. I know that Carlos just had a bad injury that he’s still most likely dealing with, but I have a situation on my hands that I just can’t shake off, but I can't help but avert my gaze in shame.<br /> Carlos, Kiernan, and the two head staff are staring at me expectantly, and I just want to sink into the ground and never reappear.<br /> I look over at Kiernan, who gives me a small shrug like he’s telling me that it’s all up to me.<br /> The obvious thing to do is to just delay the festival and focus on the very important task of finding Claudia. But I know that my people are counting on this one single happy day among all the bad ones. They need this. And as much as I need Claudia here with me, they come first.<br /> I take a deep, steadying breath. ‘I apologize. It must have slipped my mind. Prepare the decorations and we shall have a lunch banquet in the throne room.’<br /> Carlos nods and repeats my words to the head staff. Then, he turns back to me and asks, “How about the evening celebrations?”<br /> ‘We’ll see,’ I sign to him.<br /> With that, the head staff both bow and leave. Now it’s only the three of us, and they look pained.<br /> “So what’s been happening?” Carlos splutters at last. “Where are you going?”<br /> Kiernan is the one who answers for him. “He kicked out the maid, Claudia, and now he has to bring her back because the Moon Goddess told him so in a dream. He wants to go out there himself.”<br /> ‘I have to,’ I tell them both. 'I still do, but with the festival..."<br /> And of course, they just look at me like they feel sorry for me. I’m about to tell them both to supervise so I can go, but then Kiernan sighs and says, “I’ll get some of our warriors, and we will go and find her.”<br /> Without giving me a chance to say anything about this, Kiernan leaves. Carlos then looks at me and beckons me to go up the stairs.<br /> “After you, Alpha. Let’s give the people a good celebration.”<br /> * *<br /> When I arrive at the throne room after changing into my formal suit, it is already decked with blue and silver decorations fit for the winter solstice theme. Food is flowing in, music is playing, and it seems that all the citizens are gathering.<br /> When Carlos and I enter, it takes me a whole while to notice that the throne room isn’t even halfway filled. As I sit on my throne, I see that my people are not eating, drinking, or having fun at all. They are just gathered at the little tables, engaged in serious conversation.<br /> More people are coming in, greeted by the butlers by the door. I keep thinking that this new batch will come and let loose, but they just gather like the rest of the guests.<br /> It’s starting to make me nervous. I agreed to this party thinking it would be best for their morale, but it seems that they’re just as uninterested in the occasion as I was.<br /> ‘This is not going well,’ I tell Carlos, who’s standing on my right side. He’s not fully recovered yet, but he insisted on coming here. ‘It would be best to cut this short.’<br /> As soon as I say those words, guilt starts to drum in my chest. I know that I should try to make things more festive instead of thinking about Claudia, but not knowing how things are on that front is almost as bad as being here and seeing my people feeling blue.<br /> “I think it would be best if you go down and communicate with them personally,” Carlos says, and I can’t believe I never thought of that before.<br /> I get up from my throne with the full intent of going around, but then I see a familiar face by the door. Someone I really don’t want to see.<br /> Alpha Tristan.<br /> He’s still wearing a coat, speckled with snow. The butler tries to take it from him but he pushes him away, which makes me tense up, immediately ready for a fight. However, he’s not alone. Walking behind him like lapdogs are the Alphas of his neighboring packs: Giorgio, Anthony, and Larkin.<br /> Their auras are so domineering and so distracting that the people in the throne room stop what they’re doing and just watch them approach me. But instead of meeting them halfway, I remain standing in front of the throne with the steps of the dais separating us.<br /> None of them bows down to me.<br /> “What are you doing here?” Carlos asks, and it perfectly reflects what’s in my mind, just more polite.<br /> Tristan flashes me a smirk. “We’re here because we’re tired of the preposterous games that Sangria Amori is playing. We need change!”<br /> Even though I can’t hear him, I can feel the vibrations of his scream on the walls and the floor. He’s livid, and because of this, the people in the room are tuning in.<br /> I don’t like the admiring and interested looks on their faces. I look at Carlos. ‘We shouldn’t have this talk here.’<br /> “Alpha Tristan.” Carlos gives him a strained smile, motioning him to come along. “We shall move this conversation to a more private location and perhaps—”<br /> “Get your hands off me.” Tristan pushes past him and squares up to me. “What you’re doing to these people is sickening. Making them show up here, forced to have fun, when they are suffering from problems you would never know about from your high throne. You’re making a mockery of their situation, flaunting your privilege in their faces.”<br /> I want to push him down the steps and pound his face into a pulp, but I restrain myself. Instead, I just sign something that Carlos translates with perfect contempt.<br /> “Get out, right now.”<br /> Tristan only scoffs, facing the people. “Last night, instead of meeting with the rest of the Alphas and coming up with a way to erase the Rogues, Alpha King Achilles was late. He left us on our own when we had a Rogue attack. It’s painfully obvious that his disabilities have made him selfish, and unfit to rule our land.”<br /> This time, my temper gets the best of me. I grab him by the arm with the full intent of punching him in the face as soon as he turns, but I stop when the people gasp.<br /> They’re now looking at me in horror.<br /> I slowly let him go. He starts to walk away, step by step, not taking his eyes off me. There’s a certain gleam in his eyes that I can’t identify, but the hairs on the back of my neck are standing on end.<br /> Only when he’s standing by the door do I know why.<br /> “We will no longer take orders from the Alpha King,” Tristan declares, his gaze still on me. “We will handle the Rogues our way, the right way. And those who want to join us would be offered full protection.”<br /> With that, he leaves.<br /> And I watch in horror as some of my citizens begin to get up from their seats, following him out.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 9<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> “Don’t shoot me,” I mutter, and I cringe when I hear the fear in my voice. I hate that I faced that single Rogue like a boss only to fold like this. “I’m not a danger to anyone. I’m a local here. I just moved for work at the palace…”<br /> I stop when I realize I’m about to ramble. I just drop the knife. As soon as it clatters on the floor, I feel the muzzle of the gun easing off my back. I take this as a cue to turn around, and I come face to face with a young man about my age, with straw-colored hair and brown eyes. He’s carrying a massive silver shotgun with rounds of big silver bullets around his body.<br /> He’s studying me closely, fixing his flannel shirt. “Who are you?”<br /> “Claudia Hale,” I say shakily. I even bow, which is dumb, but I guess it’s not so stupid if it stops him from shooting me. “I just came here to visit my parents.”<br /> At first, he doesn’t say anything. My nerves are starting to act up and I find myself basically skipping in my spot. But finally, he asks, “Hale, huh? Do you happen to be related to Ruth?”<br /> My eyes go wide. “Yes! Ruth is my cousin.”<br /> The man’s shoulders relax. He cracks a smile, and suddenly he doesn’t seem so scary anymore. “You must be the cousin she talks about a lot. The singer. I’m Max, by the way. Follow me.”<br /> We shake hands, and I can’t help but feel giddy.<br /> My cousin Ruth is here. I can’t believe it. We were very close as kids, even though we only saw each other over the summers. She left Nightshade Springs when we were both eighteen, and the last thing I heard about her was that she got married to a mason from the nearby village. We saw each other at my dad’s funeral, but we didn’t get to talk much because of my own grief.<br /> But now, I’m going to see her. I wonder if she has kids now.<br /> The thought of little babies running around makes me so excited, so much so that I almost forget to follow Max as he leads me out of the cemetery through an unfamiliar path. I quickly pick up the knife and run after him.<br /> I frown as I pull level with Max. "Why are we using this path?"<br /> The moment the question leaves my lips, the answer comes to me when we turn a corner.<br /> For the first time, I come face to face with the aftermath of the Rogue infestation.<br /> The village is now completely deserted. The houses are dilapidated, empty and broken. The smell of Rogues is present, but distant, which tells me that the place is visited frequently but they're not actually here. Dried blood is scattered all over the ground like paint.<br /> "That's animal blood," Max explains, following the direction of my gaze. "We vacated this place a long time ago. We still live in this area, but we decided to stick close together to protect ourselves from the Rogues. We figured that it would be best if we show them a strong front. The Kingdom doesn't really do much for us, so we have to take matters into our own hands."<br /> I swallow hard, averting my gaze as we turn another corner, a hidden path behind a small hill.<br /> "Does the Kingdom not visit the villages at all?" I ask.<br /> Max shakes his head. "Nope. Not at all. They send guards from time to time, but you see how many Rogues there are. You know how violent they can be. We needed weapons to protect ourselves, but they just won't provide that. I think they keep it to themselves, leave everyone else defenseless."<br /> I keep quiet. I don't know what to say. Part of me wants to defend the palace. I mean, I know they have it hard, and Achilles is doing his best. But then again, who am I to dismiss their suffering?<br /> I open my mouth to ask where they got their weapons, but then we arrive at a fenced part of the village. Barbed wires are set on tall metal walls, behind which small compact buildings stand proud.<br /> He opens the gate carefully, and we both enter. There are a couple of villages standing watch, carrying guns similar to his. They stare at me, and I have to lower my head to avoid the intensity of their looks.<br /> I want to tell Max that I just want to see Ruth, but before I can get the question out, I see two people running towards me.<br /> I look up and my heart nearly gives out when I see that it's Ruth, together with a tall bearded man who must be her husband.<br /> "Claudia!" she squeals, and before I can even drop my bags, she scoops me up into a big hug. "You're home! It's been so long!"<br /> I blink the tears away when she lets me go. "I figured it was time to retire and just stay here."<br /> I feel guilty. I lied to Maia and now I'm lying to Ruth.<br /> “You loved that job, but I do understand,” she says, and I can’t help but be thankful that she didn’t press me for more details. “This is my husband, Henry. We live in one of the apartments. You can stay with us if you like, but I think it would be best if you get your own room.”<br /> “It’s nice to meet you,” Henry says, taking my bags from me. “I will take these up to your room.”<br /> I smile. “Thank you so much.”<br /> He and Max leave, and Ruth takes my arm, steering me into a small structure at the foot of one of the buildings. I can hear cheers and smell food from outside, and I find myself relaxing when I see that it’s a pub. Men and women alike are laughing and talking, downing jugs of beer and eating fried food. It’s quite fascinating to see so much life and joy in a single space in this lost land, but I can’t help but feel grateful.<br /> Ruth and I sit on the counter. The bartender slides two jugs of beer and a platter of steaming chips. I grab the chips even though they’re hot, stuffing them all in my mouth and drinking the beer. Everything is strangely fresh, and I can’t help but gobble it all up. Ruth watches me with amusement as she sips her drink.<br /> “Do they not feed you up there?” she jokes, shaking her head. “Honestly, I don’t blame you for going home. It must have been hell there.”<br /> My appetite suddenly vanishes. “Well, it’s not so bad. But nothing like home, yes.” I clear my throat, desperate for a change of topic. “So, Max found me in the cemetery. He’s… an interesting character.”<br /> “I know, he mind-linked it to me.” She shrugs. “Max is kind of an asshole, but I get why. He had to step up as our leader when the palace guards left us. He looted all those guns that we use now, so the only thing we have to forge are bullets. Screw the Kingdom and that deaf-mute idiot who rules it.”<br /> My face goes hot. I want to defend Achilles. I want to tell Ruth not to call him that, but then again, he kicked me out for defending him.<br /> “Is everyone doing the same?” I start to ask, but then a small commotion breaks out in the corner of the pub where the entrance is.<br /> “Hey, keep that bastard out!” I hear some of the men yelling.<br /> “He barged right in and demanded entry!”<br /> “It’s one of those palace fuckers!”<br /> I freeze. Ruth and I both slide out of our stools, looking over at the chaos.<br /> My heart jumps right into my throat when I see Gamma Kiernan trying to force his way inside the pub.<br /> “Bring me Claudia Hale, and we will not have any problems.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 10<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Panic takes a hold of me. Suddenly, I feel my entire body going numb. I can feel Ruth beside me and I can hear her saying something, but it’s like my mind is tuning out. All I can hear are muffled voices. All I can feel is my heart hammering inside my ribs like it wants to get out.<br /> I blink a couple of times as we get pushed back by the ongoing commotion. For a moment I’m certain that I’m not seeing things correctly, but I’m wrong.<br /> Gamma Kiernan is really here, and he’s looking for me.<br /> “No way you’re getting in,” the men at the entrance keep telling him. “Pack it up and leave!”<br /> “I will not leave until you bring Claudia Hale here,” he insists. “I can smell her scent in the air. I know you’re hiding her. Back off, and no one gets hurt.”<br /> “How dare you threaten us?”<br /> With that, the chaos ensues. Now there are so many men blocking his way, and soon enough, women are clamoring to shoo him out of the pub too. I can see his expression. I know that he can take these men down if he wants to, but he’s restraining himself.<br /> The urge to step up and show myself before things get ugly overcomes me, but then Ruth wheels around and dunks my head down, preventing me from getting seen.<br /> “Why the hell are they looking for you?” Ruth demands. “Did you do something?”<br /> “No,” I begin to say, but that’s when I feel a strong hand dragging me back.<br /> “Ow!” I complain under my breath, feeling myself getting yanked back into the corner by this strong person. I turn around and see Max. He’s squeezing my arm so hard that I can almost feel the bruises appearing. “Let me go!”<br /> He just glares at me. “You are not going to show yourself to that upstart. You’re going to stay here behind the bar. Understand?”<br /> “No!” I snatch my arm back from him. “Do you want your people to get hurt?”<br /> His eyes flash with anger. “You’re really assuming we’re the ones who’d get hurt? You put too much faith in those men who don’t do anything but sit on their asses and command the lower people to fight for them.”<br /> I realize that he’s referring to the palace royals, including Achilles. His claims are so false that I square up to him, shoving him back. “You have no idea what you’re talking about! Those men risk their lives for us!”<br /> “Maybe for you,” Max growls dryly, “but never for me.”<br /> The next events happen so fast. So much so that I don’t even get the time to react. Max just grabs me by the shoulders, pushes me right into the broom closet, and props a chair against the doorknob to basically lock it from outside. I fall on the floor, flat on my behind, but then I spring up to my feet to try to ram it down.<br /> “Let me out!” I scream, but I doubt anyone would hear me from the absolute meltdown happening outside.<br /> I could shift into my wolf and break the door, but I think I would end up demolishing half the pub in the process. So even though I want to end this, I just stay by the door, pressing my ear against it and listening as best as I can.<br /> That’s when I hear Max announcing, “Silence, everyone. Let the man speak.”<br /> The people immediately shut up, which surprises me. It seems that everyone really recognizes him as their leader. I can almost picture him stepping up to Gamma Kiernan.<br /> “Thank you,” Gamma Kiernan says. “As I was trying to say before I got swarmed, I need Claudia Hale.”<br /> “Why?” Max asks in a calm, almost lazy tone.<br /> “Because the Alpha King says so,” Gamma Kiernan replies in a similar voice. “We don’t want any trouble with the King, do we?”<br /> “Oh, no, we don’t,” Max answers, but this time, he sounds perfectly sarcastic. I can hear the others around him letting out a laugh. “We really don’t. But you see, Claudia isn’t here.”<br /> Silence fills the air. I want to scream at the top of my lungs to alert everyone of my presence, but I’m stunned. Petrified, really. Did the Gamma really say that it’s Alpha Achilles who’s asking for me?<br /> But why? Why would he look for me? It hasn’t even been a day since I left. Does he regret all the things he did, all the things he said to me? Did he realize that I didn’t actually do anything wrong, and he punished me out of pure pride and possibly stupidity?<br /> Now that’s something I want to hear. I want him to say sorry.<br /> I’m about to scream when suddenly, I hear Gamma Kiernan saying, “I can smell her. Do not fucking lie to me.”<br /> Somehow, I’m able to sense something about to go wrong before it even transpires. I make a move to ram the door down before things can break out, but it’s too late.<br /> Before I can even do anything, I hear Max saying in a low voice, “Deal with this bastard.”<br /> And then, hell breaks loose.<br /> It’s so loud I can almost see it. The men in the pub all yell for battle and the sounds that follow root me to my spot. More screams. Thuds from bodies hitting the floor and the walls. Broken glass. Snapping wood. Arrows whizzing. Wolves howling. Gunshots. So many gunshots….<br /> Soon enough, the smell of blood fills the air, and my heart nearly stops.<br /> It seems to go on forever, the sound and the smell and the carnage. I can make out specific voices like Gamma Kiernan’s, telling his men to stand down and leave. I can hear Max telling his people to pursue them, to drive them back and make sure they learn their lesson. On and on and on it goes.<br /> But just when I think that it’s never going to end, silence follows.<br /> It’s almost eerie. One can hear a pin drop. Who got shot? Did anyone die?<br /> The thought of death because of me is what finally breaks me. I ram down the door without shifting into my wolf form, but when I arrive at the bar, it’s too late. I can hear the sound of horses whinnying outside, their hooves hitting the ground in loud thuds as they run fast. I see the flash of the red carriage through the broken windows.<br /> I look all over the floor to see if anyone has fallen, but aside from the smears of blood, it seems that everyone made it out alive.<br /> At least, from this party.<br /> I don’t know if I can say the same about the people from the palace.<br /> Suddenly, Max enters the pub, sporting a broken nose. He tears off a piece of his shirt and uses it to dab on the blood, but I march toward him and snatch it right out of his hand. “What did you do?”<br /> “Showed them that they have no business here,” he says simply, taking the strip of fabric back from me. “The only thing I should be hearing from you is thank you, unless…”<br /> Everyone in the pub looks at me.<br /> Ruth is the one who gets up and turns to me. “What did you do, Claudia? Why are they looking for you?”<br /> Max crosses his arms. "Give us a good reason why we shouldn't kick you out of here. Now."	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1667190	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727718	1734958303	695	967078871711778	1	1.0939182285625E+15	1712300400	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	118879321169142	0	Popular Novels	120209381872320155	cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more	NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712247847	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432934698_1110824366822990_7068130820373047831_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=IBMPlLN1ZJcQ7kNvgG4cqJQ&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCEqI7cX4MCKI513lEHDEuN0A4bWQSZC2OgMenoz7Agcg&oe=663A6328	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434725080_412091451551709_6634062048683338633_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=nhju_iwYUhQQ7kNvgFEMUya&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBaAbsgXBxamorbgOzoEjMT_j7oSd0NzmRdSow_LCUkzA&oe=663A72CD	0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: 'Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.'<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> 'If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,' he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. 'Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.' <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> 'We are going to fight,' I tell him through signing. 'The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.'<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. 'You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.'<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> 'Don’t do it,' I warn her. 'Don’t cross him.'<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I'm banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> 'Take him to the infirmary,' I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, 'I will be here for a while.'<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> 'I don’t know how you can hear me,' I say coldly, 'and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.'<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. 'Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.'<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> "I can't leave," I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. "I... this is the only home I know."<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. 'It doesn't matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.'<br /> I shake my head. "I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?"<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can't bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it's just because he can't stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it's because he doesn't want me to see something.<br /> "Tell me," I urge him. "What's the problem? You know it's not my fault."<br /> 'It doesn't matter,' he finally says. 'It has to end here. I'm sorry, Claudia.'<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what's remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don't want to go, that I shouldn't. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don't know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don't know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it's Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * <br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. 'I have done my best. I protected the people—'<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> 'I’m afraid I don’t understand,' I sign to her. 'The battle ended there.'<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 6<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> I wake up with a gasp, sitting up abruptly like a marionette whose strings got yanked. My head starts to spin, but it’s not because there was no gentle introduction to the waking world.<br /> It’s because of the dream.<br /> Because of Claudia.<br /> I clutch my chest and feel that my heart is going haywire. My back is slick with sweat and I can almost feel it soaking my sheets. I close my eyes for a moment, gathering my thoughts, but the first thing I see in the darkness is Claudia’s face. Her voice is ringing in my ears, the first voice I have heard in so many years.<br /> She’s the Siren, the Moon Goddess said. The Alpha’s Voice.<br /> What does that mean? What does it have to do with me? What does that make her? I have more questions than answers and the frustration building up inside me is turning into anger. I don’t want that. I have to focus.<br /> Because if there is one thing I know, it’s that I fucked up by demanding her to leave.<br /> And I need to get her back.<br /> Fueled by the sudden fiery desire to chase after her and hold her down in the castle if I need to, I jump out of bed. I push open the door and startle the guards. I can see them mouthing, “What is the trouble, Alpha?”<br /> I ignore all of them. I just run along the hallway until I find Kiernan’s room. The guards step aside when they see me, so I push open the door, stumbling inside like a sweaty, clumsy ogre.<br /> Meanwhile, Kiernan is still awake, staring through the window. My heart sinks when I see that it’s already daylight outside, but I still have to try. I need to.<br /> Kiernan turns around, frowns at me, and asks, “Your Majesty. What brings you here?”<br /> He knows that it irks me when he calls me that, but I ignore it anyway. 'I need to find the maid, Claudia.'<br /> I thought he would ask why, but he just narrows his eyes. “The maid you kicked out last night? I found her in the freezing cold, just staring into the distance like she couldn’t believe what happened. I actually told her I would talk to you about it, but when I got to your room, you were already asleep.”<br /> His words hit me like arrows to the heart. I can almost picture Claudia standing where I left her, crying and wondering what she did wrong, all the while I was sleeping soundly with no care in the world….<br /> No. I can’t think about that. It hurts too much.<br /> I step back, the tightness in my chest so extreme that I have to inhale and exhale slowly. Every time I blink I see her distraught face and hear her broken voice, appealing her case and showing me that she deserved to stay.<br /> And what did I do? I kicked her right out like she meant nothing.<br /> Like we never had anything together.<br /> I swallow hard. ‘I need her back here. I made a mistake.’<br /> “Then let’s go to the maids’ quarters,” Kiernan offers. “Maybe she’s still there.”<br /> I nod, and together, we barge into the lower floor where the maids stay. The rooms are already empty as they start their day at dawn. Every empty room we pass makes me want to punch something in regret, but I can still catch the sweet scent of Claudia in the air, lingering like a whisper. Finally, we arrive at her room, where her scent is strongest. The door is still closed.<br /> Kiernan lifts his hand to knock, but I’m desperate. I open the door.<br /> And there is one person inside the room. But it’s not Claudia.<br /> It’s a maid I remember as Maia, her best friend here. She whips around as soon as we get in, and I immediately see her swollen eyes and red face.<br /> “Alpha,” she mutters, sinking into a bow. “Gamma. I will go to work as soon as possible.”<br /> “No, take the time you need,” Kiernan says. “You are obviously in distress. What happened?”<br /> My breath gets stuck in my throat. I already know what she’s going to say, but I find myself searching the room in hopes of finding any proof that Claudia actually chose to stay.<br /> However, the room is blissfully empty. Vacated for the next maid.<br /> “Claudia left, Gamma,” she answers. “She said she needed to go back to her family. It was just so unexpected. I asked her if it had something to do with the meeting, and she said no. She said she’s tired of working. I don’t believe that. She always loved working here….”<br /> I freeze in shock. Kiernan glances at me pointedly before turning back to Maia. “I completely understand. Please, take the day off and rest. The Alpha and I will get going now.”<br /> He grabs me by the arm and pulls me out of the room, closing the door behind us. I can’t even walk properly. I can’t believe what I just heard.<br /> After all the bad things I said to her, she still chose to cover for me.<br /> I stop moving as soon as we reach the foyer. I hold onto the stair banister for support, my throat closed up.<br /> Kiernan stands next to me. “What happened, Your Majesty?”<br /> ‘Don’t call me that,’ I sign to him. ‘Go prepare a carriage—no. A horse. Ready a horse for me. I will be setting out soon—’<br /> “No, you’re not,” he interjects, his eyebrows scrunched up. “You are the Alpha King. Do you know what it would mean to the Rogues if they took down the head of the whole land? The revolution would be over!”<br /> ‘Fine, I will do it myself.’ I try to push past him but he blocks me. ‘Move out of my way. I need Claudia back here right now.’<br /> He shakes his head, putting a firm hand on my chest. “You’d have to kill me if you want to leave alone.”<br /> Kiernan is one of my oldest friends and most loyal men. We’ve butted heads many times before, but not like this. I can see his quiet anger, and I know from the look in his eyes that he can feel mine. Still, he stands his ground, staring at me like he’s daring me to attack him right now.<br /> And I almost want to. The thought of Claudia getting farther and farther away is tearing my soul apart.<br /> But I take a deep breath to steady myself. ‘You don’t understand.’<br /> “Then make me understand.”<br /> ‘Claudia is important to me,’ I tell him after a pause. ‘The Moon Goddess told me so. She is the Siren and the Alpha’s Voice. I have to get her back or else—’<br /> “Alpha Achilles.”<br /> He signals me to turn around. I see Carlos standing by the end of the stairs, his torso still wrapped in bandages.<br /> However, he’s not alone. Standing next to him are the Housekeeper and the Chief Butler. Both of them are carrying files, laid out as though they’re asking for advice.<br /> ‘What is this?’ I signal to Carlos. ‘I don’t need any interruptions right now. I have somewhere else to go.’<br /> Carlos shakes his head to stop me. “Alpha… today is the Winter Solstice festival. Our pack is hosting. You cannot go anywhere.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 7<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> The journey from Sangria Amori to my hometown feels long and short at the same time. As I sit there in the carriage watching the palace disappear behind a mountain in the distance and begin to see the tall magnolia trees surrounding the famous springs of my home, I can’t help but feel a mixture of longing and relief.<br /> Longing because it’s been my home for years and years. I have made good memories and bonded with amazing people. I overcame a lot of bad things. I met the one I thought I would know forever.<br /> But the relief comes from the loss of all of that. From the knowledge that from now on, I would be free from that palace and everyone in it.<br /> Especially Achilles.<br /> My heart still makes a little flip at the simple thought of his name. I still have to clench my hands and pierce my own palms with my nails to remind myself that I shouldn’t be thinking about him. But thankfully, I don’t have to acknowledge it because the carriage finally stops. The coachman Peter calls out from the front, smacking the carriage door with his cane. “You’re here now, girl. It’s time to move out.”<br /> I gather all my bags and sling them all on my shoulders, slightly struggling with the weight as I climb down the rickety old carriage. “Thank you so much, Peter.”<br /> I give him a happy salute, about to head to the arch that reads Nightshade Springs. But then, I hear him calling out, “Are you sure you’re going to be safe from here on?”<br /> That makes me pause. So far, throughout the whole journey, I haven’t sensed any Rogues at all. But Peter has a point. The infestation of Rogues is very much real and rampant, and I haven’t been to my hometown in five years. I honestly don’t know what’s waiting in store for me here.<br /> But still, I don’t want to bother him. If there is any danger out here, I would rather face it; I know that he has a family.<br /> So I just smile at him. “I got it, Peter. Thank you again and be careful on your way back!”<br /> He looks uncertain, but he leaves anyway, whipping the horses until they gallop faster. Soon enough, he’s gone.<br /> And I’m alone in the middle of the woods, surrounded by the familiar fresh scent of springs and pine.<br /> The scent of home.<br /> A soft smile appears on my face as I start to walk, following the stone path that leads to the edge of the village where the cemetery is.<br /> I suppose it’s a grim thing to start with, but I’ve been meaning to visit my parents’ graves for the past years. Grief and the start of the revolution put a halt to all of that, so now I feel quite happy that I get to see them, even if it’s just this way.<br /> My mom was a maid like I am. Or was. Either way, she served the palace too, specifically as a handmaiden to the former Queen. My dad was a gardener. She died from deadly flu five years ago, and he followed right after.<br /> Back then, I thought this was unfair. How could they leave me in this world alone? I was resentful. But eventually, I realized that it may have been out of love. He was never able to be apart from her for any period of time, and not even death could stop him from chasing after her.<br /> They told me that they met each other at a gathering for servants, and my father fell in love with my mother when he first heard her sing. I honestly can’t blame him. She had the most wonderful voice, and he always said that I had that beautiful voice too. I never really knew if he was just making that up, but the ones who heard me sing also told me that I do have a pretty voice.<br /> The memory brings a smile to my face, and as I approach their graves, I find myself humming along to the tune of my mother’s lullaby.<br /> Their graves are now covered in ivy. I sweep some of the leaves away and light a candle for them.<br /> I sit there for a while, watching the light flicker on their gravestones. I reach out and feel the warmth, opening my mouth to talk to them like I always did, but that’s when something strikes me.<br /> The sour, rotten smell.<br /> My entire body freezes. I shoot to my feet, clutching my bags closer to me as I look around. My heart is beating in my ears and I almost want to whimper, but it only gets worse when I finally see a single Rogue.<br /> It’s hiding behind gravestones in the distance, its eyes gleaming with hunger and malice as they focus on me. Its low growls make the ground hum. There’s tension in the air, thick and suffocating, telling me it’s been stalking me like prey for a while now. It’s still far but ready to spring. Ready to chase and feed.<br /> And I know that if I take one step back, it will come out and kill me.<br /> I slowly exhale, stepping back and feeling it move with me, keeping the distance between us the same.<br /> Bit by bit, I ease my bags off my shoulders and set them down. The eyes of the Rogue follow my movement like two laser pointers. I slip my hand in my pocket, looking for the silver knife that Maia gave me as a parting gift, ready to it down.<br /> As though on cue, the Rogue leaps into the air as soon as I raise the knife.<br /> But I’m ready this time. I don’t come to meet it. Instead, I stand my ground, waiting for the perfect moment. As soon as it flies midair to pounce on me, I duck right under it and run the knife along its throat.<br /> The Rogue falls to the ground with a whimper. It scrambles to get upright again, but before it can do so, I stomp its fragile head flat with my boot, its blood spattering everywhere.<br /> “Thank the gods,” I mutter, but that’s when I realize that I spoke too soon.<br /> As soon as the Rogue stops moving, the forest seems to come alive right before me. More Rogues emerge from the trees, sniffing and snarling, their eyes alight with joy when they see a perfectly good meal severely outnumbered.<br /> All at once, they jump toward me.<br /> A scream breaks out of my lips. I raise my bags to shield myself, but at this point, it’s only a matter of time before they take me down and feast on me. I’m only waiting for the pain now….<br /> But before it can come, I hear loud bangs in the distance. Gunshots. Followed by the loud thuds of the Rogues hitting the ground, dropping like dead flies.<br /> I lower my bags in horror. All the Rogues are dead, their heads bleeding from a single smoking puncture wound between their eyes. I’m about to turn around to see my savior, but then I feel the still-hot muzzle of the gun against my back.<br /> “Drop your knife if you want to live. Who are you and what do you need?”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 8<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The first thing that rises out of me is not frustration from being told what to do, but embarrassment from forgetting about the big event. I know that Carlos just had a bad injury that he’s still most likely dealing with, but I have a situation on my hands that I just can’t shake off, but I can't help but avert my gaze in shame.<br /> Carlos, Kiernan, and the two head staff are staring at me expectantly, and I just want to sink into the ground and never reappear.<br /> I look over at Kiernan, who gives me a small shrug like he’s telling me that it’s all up to me.<br /> The obvious thing to do is to just delay the festival and focus on the very important task of finding Claudia. But I know that my people are counting on this one single happy day among all the bad ones. They need this. And as much as I need Claudia here with me, they come first.<br /> I take a deep, steadying breath. ‘I apologize. It must have slipped my mind. Prepare the decorations and we shall have a lunch banquet in the throne room.’<br /> Carlos nods and repeats my words to the head staff. Then, he turns back to me and asks, “How about the evening celebrations?”<br /> ‘We’ll see,’ I sign to him.<br /> With that, the head staff both bow and leave. Now it’s only the three of us, and they look pained.<br /> “So what’s been happening?” Carlos splutters at last. “Where are you going?”<br /> Kiernan is the one who answers for him. “He kicked out the maid, Claudia, and now he has to bring her back because the Moon Goddess told him so in a dream. He wants to go out there himself.”<br /> ‘I have to,’ I tell them both. 'I still do, but with the festival..."<br /> And of course, they just look at me like they feel sorry for me. I’m about to tell them both to supervise so I can go, but then Kiernan sighs and says, “I’ll get some of our warriors, and we will go and find her.”<br /> Without giving me a chance to say anything about this, Kiernan leaves. Carlos then looks at me and beckons me to go up the stairs.<br /> “After you, Alpha. Let’s give the people a good celebration.”<br /> * *<br /> When I arrive at the throne room after changing into my formal suit, it is already decked with blue and silver decorations fit for the winter solstice theme. Food is flowing in, music is playing, and it seems that all the citizens are gathering.<br /> When Carlos and I enter, it takes me a whole while to notice that the throne room isn’t even halfway filled. As I sit on my throne, I see that my people are not eating, drinking, or having fun at all. They are just gathered at the little tables, engaged in serious conversation.<br /> More people are coming in, greeted by the butlers by the door. I keep thinking that this new batch will come and let loose, but they just gather like the rest of the guests.<br /> It’s starting to make me nervous. I agreed to this party thinking it would be best for their morale, but it seems that they’re just as uninterested in the occasion as I was.<br /> ‘This is not going well,’ I tell Carlos, who’s standing on my right side. He’s not fully recovered yet, but he insisted on coming here. ‘It would be best to cut this short.’<br /> As soon as I say those words, guilt starts to drum in my chest. I know that I should try to make things more festive instead of thinking about Claudia, but not knowing how things are on that front is almost as bad as being here and seeing my people feeling blue.<br /> “I think it would be best if you go down and communicate with them personally,” Carlos says, and I can’t believe I never thought of that before.<br /> I get up from my throne with the full intent of going around, but then I see a familiar face by the door. Someone I really don’t want to see.<br /> Alpha Tristan.<br /> He’s still wearing a coat, speckled with snow. The butler tries to take it from him but he pushes him away, which makes me tense up, immediately ready for a fight. However, he’s not alone. Walking behind him like lapdogs are the Alphas of his neighboring packs: Giorgio, Anthony, and Larkin.<br /> Their auras are so domineering and so distracting that the people in the throne room stop what they’re doing and just watch them approach me. But instead of meeting them halfway, I remain standing in front of the throne with the steps of the dais separating us.<br /> None of them bows down to me.<br /> “What are you doing here?” Carlos asks, and it perfectly reflects what’s in my mind, just more polite.<br /> Tristan flashes me a smirk. “We’re here because we’re tired of the preposterous games that Sangria Amori is playing. We need change!”<br /> Even though I can’t hear him, I can feel the vibrations of his scream on the walls and the floor. He’s livid, and because of this, the people in the room are tuning in.<br /> I don’t like the admiring and interested looks on their faces. I look at Carlos. ‘We shouldn’t have this talk here.’<br /> “Alpha Tristan.” Carlos gives him a strained smile, motioning him to come along. “We shall move this conversation to a more private location and perhaps—”<br /> “Get your hands off me.” Tristan pushes past him and squares up to me. “What you’re doing to these people is sickening. Making them show up here, forced to have fun, when they are suffering from problems you would never know about from your high throne. You’re making a mockery of their situation, flaunting your privilege in their faces.”<br /> I want to push him down the steps and pound his face into a pulp, but I restrain myself. Instead, I just sign something that Carlos translates with perfect contempt.<br /> “Get out, right now.”<br /> Tristan only scoffs, facing the people. “Last night, instead of meeting with the rest of the Alphas and coming up with a way to erase the Rogues, Alpha King Achilles was late. He left us on our own when we had a Rogue attack. It’s painfully obvious that his disabilities have made him selfish, and unfit to rule our land.”<br /> This time, my temper gets the best of me. I grab him by the arm with the full intent of punching him in the face as soon as he turns, but I stop when the people gasp.<br /> They’re now looking at me in horror.<br /> I slowly let him go. He starts to walk away, step by step, not taking his eyes off me. There’s a certain gleam in his eyes that I can’t identify, but the hairs on the back of my neck are standing on end.<br /> Only when he’s standing by the door do I know why.<br /> “We will no longer take orders from the Alpha King,” Tristan declares, his gaze still on me. “We will handle the Rogues our way, the right way. And those who want to join us would be offered full protection.”<br /> With that, he leaves.<br /> And I watch in horror as some of my citizens begin to get up from their seats, following him out.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 9<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> “Don’t shoot me,” I mutter, and I cringe when I hear the fear in my voice. I hate that I faced that single Rogue like a boss only to fold like this. “I’m not a danger to anyone. I’m a local here. I just moved for work at the palace…”<br /> I stop when I realize I’m about to ramble. I just drop the knife. As soon as it clatters on the floor, I feel the muzzle of the gun easing off my back. I take this as a cue to turn around, and I come face to face with a young man about my age, with straw-colored hair and brown eyes. He’s carrying a massive silver shotgun with rounds of big silver bullets around his body.<br /> He’s studying me closely, fixing his flannel shirt. “Who are you?”<br /> “Claudia Hale,” I say shakily. I even bow, which is dumb, but I guess it’s not so stupid if it stops him from shooting me. “I just came here to visit my parents.”<br /> At first, he doesn’t say anything. My nerves are starting to act up and I find myself basically skipping in my spot. But finally, he asks, “Hale, huh? Do you happen to be related to Ruth?”<br /> My eyes go wide. “Yes! Ruth is my cousin.”<br /> The man’s shoulders relax. He cracks a smile, and suddenly he doesn’t seem so scary anymore. “You must be the cousin she talks about a lot. The singer. I’m Max, by the way. Follow me.”<br /> We shake hands, and I can’t help but feel giddy.<br /> My cousin Ruth is here. I can’t believe it. We were very close as kids, even though we only saw each other over the summers. She left Nightshade Springs when we were both eighteen, and the last thing I heard about her was that she got married to a mason from the nearby village. We saw each other at my dad’s funeral, but we didn’t get to talk much because of my own grief.<br /> But now, I’m going to see her. I wonder if she has kids now.<br /> The thought of little babies running around makes me so excited, so much so that I almost forget to follow Max as he leads me out of the cemetery through an unfamiliar path. I quickly pick up the knife and run after him.<br /> I frown as I pull level with Max. "Why are we using this path?"<br /> The moment the question leaves my lips, the answer comes to me when we turn a corner.<br /> For the first time, I come face to face with the aftermath of the Rogue infestation.<br /> The village is now completely deserted. The houses are dilapidated, empty and broken. The smell of Rogues is present, but distant, which tells me that the place is visited frequently but they're not actually here. Dried blood is scattered all over the ground like paint.<br /> "That's animal blood," Max explains, following the direction of my gaze. "We vacated this place a long time ago. We still live in this area, but we decided to stick close together to protect ourselves from the Rogues. We figured that it would be best if we show them a strong front. The Kingdom doesn't really do much for us, so we have to take matters into our own hands."<br /> I swallow hard, averting my gaze as we turn another corner, a hidden path behind a small hill.<br /> "Does the Kingdom not visit the villages at all?" I ask.<br /> Max shakes his head. "Nope. Not at all. They send guards from time to time, but you see how many Rogues there are. You know how violent they can be. We needed weapons to protect ourselves, but they just won't provide that. I think they keep it to themselves, leave everyone else defenseless."<br /> I keep quiet. I don't know what to say. Part of me wants to defend the palace. I mean, I know they have it hard, and Achilles is doing his best. But then again, who am I to dismiss their suffering?<br /> I open my mouth to ask where they got their weapons, but then we arrive at a fenced part of the village. Barbed wires are set on tall metal walls, behind which small compact buildings stand proud.<br /> He opens the gate carefully, and we both enter. There are a couple of villages standing watch, carrying guns similar to his. They stare at me, and I have to lower my head to avoid the intensity of their looks.<br /> I want to tell Max that I just want to see Ruth, but before I can get the question out, I see two people running towards me.<br /> I look up and my heart nearly gives out when I see that it's Ruth, together with a tall bearded man who must be her husband.<br /> "Claudia!" she squeals, and before I can even drop my bags, she scoops me up into a big hug. "You're home! It's been so long!"<br /> I blink the tears away when she lets me go. "I figured it was time to retire and just stay here."<br /> I feel guilty. I lied to Maia and now I'm lying to Ruth.<br /> “You loved that job, but I do understand,” she says, and I can’t help but be thankful that she didn’t press me for more details. “This is my husband, Henry. We live in one of the apartments. You can stay with us if you like, but I think it would be best if you get your own room.”<br /> “It’s nice to meet you,” Henry says, taking my bags from me. “I will take these up to your room.”<br /> I smile. “Thank you so much.”<br /> He and Max leave, and Ruth takes my arm, steering me into a small structure at the foot of one of the buildings. I can hear cheers and smell food from outside, and I find myself relaxing when I see that it’s a pub. Men and women alike are laughing and talking, downing jugs of beer and eating fried food. It’s quite fascinating to see so much life and joy in a single space in this lost land, but I can’t help but feel grateful.<br /> Ruth and I sit on the counter. The bartender slides two jugs of beer and a platter of steaming chips. I grab the chips even though they’re hot, stuffing them all in my mouth and drinking the beer. Everything is strangely fresh, and I can’t help but gobble it all up. Ruth watches me with amusement as she sips her drink.<br /> “Do they not feed you up there?” she jokes, shaking her head. “Honestly, I don’t blame you for going home. It must have been hell there.”<br /> My appetite suddenly vanishes. “Well, it’s not so bad. But nothing like home, yes.” I clear my throat, desperate for a change of topic. “So, Max found me in the cemetery. He’s… an interesting character.”<br /> “I know, he mind-linked it to me.” She shrugs. “Max is kind of an asshole, but I get why. He had to step up as our leader when the palace guards left us. He looted all those guns that we use now, so the only thing we have to forge are bullets. Screw the Kingdom and that deaf-mute idiot who rules it.”<br /> My face goes hot. I want to defend Achilles. I want to tell Ruth not to call him that, but then again, he kicked me out for defending him.<br /> “Is everyone doing the same?” I start to ask, but then a small commotion breaks out in the corner of the pub where the entrance is.<br /> “Hey, keep that bastard out!” I hear some of the men yelling.<br /> “He barged right in and demanded entry!”<br /> “It’s one of those palace fuckers!”<br /> I freeze. Ruth and I both slide out of our stools, looking over at the chaos.<br /> My heart jumps right into my throat when I see Gamma Kiernan trying to force his way inside the pub.<br /> “Bring me Claudia Hale, and we will not have any problems.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 10<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Panic takes a hold of me. Suddenly, I feel my entire body going numb. I can feel Ruth beside me and I can hear her saying something, but it’s like my mind is tuning out. All I can hear are muffled voices. All I can feel is my heart hammering inside my ribs like it wants to get out.<br /> I blink a couple of times as we get pushed back by the ongoing commotion. For a moment I’m certain that I’m not seeing things correctly, but I’m wrong.<br /> Gamma Kiernan is really here, and he’s looking for me.<br /> “No way you’re getting in,” the men at the entrance keep telling him. “Pack it up and leave!”<br /> “I will not leave until you bring Claudia Hale here,” he insists. “I can smell her scent in the air. I know you’re hiding her. Back off, and no one gets hurt.”<br /> “How dare you threaten us?”<br /> With that, the chaos ensues. Now there are so many men blocking his way, and soon enough, women are clamoring to shoo him out of the pub too. I can see his expression. I know that he can take these men down if he wants to, but he’s restraining himself.<br /> The urge to step up and show myself before things get ugly overcomes me, but then Ruth wheels around and dunks my head down, preventing me from getting seen.<br /> “Why the hell are they looking for you?” Ruth demands. “Did you do something?”<br /> “No,” I begin to say, but that’s when I feel a strong hand dragging me back.<br /> “Ow!” I complain under my breath, feeling myself getting yanked back into the corner by this strong person. I turn around and see Max. He’s squeezing my arm so hard that I can almost feel the bruises appearing. “Let me go!”<br /> He just glares at me. “You are not going to show yourself to that upstart. You’re going to stay here behind the bar. Understand?”<br /> “No!” I snatch my arm back from him. “Do you want your people to get hurt?”<br /> His eyes flash with anger. “You’re really assuming we’re the ones who’d get hurt? You put too much faith in those men who don’t do anything but sit on their asses and command the lower people to fight for them.”<br /> I realize that he’s referring to the palace royals, including Achilles. His claims are so false that I square up to him, shoving him back. “You have no idea what you’re talking about! Those men risk their lives for us!”<br /> “Maybe for you,” Max growls dryly, “but never for me.”<br /> The next events happen so fast. So much so that I don’t even get the time to react. Max just grabs me by the shoulders, pushes me right into the broom closet, and props a chair against the doorknob to basically lock it from outside. I fall on the floor, flat on my behind, but then I spring up to my feet to try to ram it down.<br /> “Let me out!” I scream, but I doubt anyone would hear me from the absolute meltdown happening outside.<br /> I could shift into my wolf and break the door, but I think I would end up demolishing half the pub in the process. So even though I want to end this, I just stay by the door, pressing my ear against it and listening as best as I can.<br /> That’s when I hear Max announcing, “Silence, everyone. Let the man speak.”<br /> The people immediately shut up, which surprises me. It seems that everyone really recognizes him as their leader. I can almost picture him stepping up to Gamma Kiernan.<br /> “Thank you,” Gamma Kiernan says. “As I was trying to say before I got swarmed, I need Claudia Hale.”<br /> “Why?” Max asks in a calm, almost lazy tone.<br /> “Because the Alpha King says so,” Gamma Kiernan replies in a similar voice. “We don’t want any trouble with the King, do we?”<br /> “Oh, no, we don’t,” Max answers, but this time, he sounds perfectly sarcastic. I can hear the others around him letting out a laugh. “We really don’t. But you see, Claudia isn’t here.”<br /> Silence fills the air. I want to scream at the top of my lungs to alert everyone of my presence, but I’m stunned. Petrified, really. Did the Gamma really say that it’s Alpha Achilles who’s asking for me?<br /> But why? Why would he look for me? It hasn’t even been a day since I left. Does he regret all the things he did, all the things he said to me? Did he realize that I didn’t actually do anything wrong, and he punished me out of pure pride and possibly stupidity?<br /> Now that’s something I want to hear. I want him to say sorry.<br /> I’m about to scream when suddenly, I hear Gamma Kiernan saying, “I can smell her. Do not fucking lie to me.”<br /> Somehow, I’m able to sense something about to go wrong before it even transpires. I make a move to ram the door down before things can break out, but it’s too late.<br /> Before I can even do anything, I hear Max saying in a low voice, “Deal with this bastard.”<br /> And then, hell breaks loose.<br /> It’s so loud I can almost see it. The men in the pub all yell for battle and the sounds that follow root me to my spot. More screams. Thuds from bodies hitting the floor and the walls. Broken glass. Snapping wood. Arrows whizzing. Wolves howling. Gunshots. So many gunshots….<br /> Soon enough, the smell of blood fills the air, and my heart nearly stops.<br /> It seems to go on forever, the sound and the smell and the carnage. I can make out specific voices like Gamma Kiernan’s, telling his men to stand down and leave. I can hear Max telling his people to pursue them, to drive them back and make sure they learn their lesson. On and on and on it goes.<br /> But just when I think that it’s never going to end, silence follows.<br /> It’s almost eerie. One can hear a pin drop. Who got shot? Did anyone die?<br /> The thought of death because of me is what finally breaks me. I ram down the door without shifting into my wolf form, but when I arrive at the bar, it’s too late. I can hear the sound of horses whinnying outside, their hooves hitting the ground in loud thuds as they run fast. I see the flash of the red carriage through the broken windows.<br /> I look all over the floor to see if anyone has fallen, but aside from the smears of blood, it seems that everyone made it out alive.<br /> At least, from this party.<br /> I don’t know if I can say the same about the people from the palace.<br /> Suddenly, Max enters the pub, sporting a broken nose. He tears off a piece of his shirt and uses it to dab on the blood, but I march toward him and snatch it right out of his hand. “What did you do?”<br /> “Showed them that they have no business here,” he says simply, taking the strip of fabric back from me. “The only thing I should be hearing from you is thank you, unless…”<br /> Everyone in the pub looks at me.<br /> Ruth is the one who gets up and turns to me. “What did you do, Claudia? Why are they looking for you?”<br /> Max crosses his arms. "Give us a good reason why we shouldn't kick you out of here. Now."	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1667192	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727718	1734958303	695	1548134302400123	1	9.1787296981223E+14	1712300400	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	118879321169142	0	Popular Novels	120209381871740155	cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more	NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712247851	1.1887932116914E+14	Popular Novels	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433947232_783689993825900_4359386558660951353_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=VfQNBJBqlYsQ7kNvgG3j25o&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCbD__bWv0IzkMQ9Jc5IrRubd5mjqU4uBNbc1e6hOlDMw&oe=663A8A94	person_profile	0	Popular Novels	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024289_1484195795500910_4044385771164008805_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yWsk5vvbgWQQ7kNvgEGm-bW&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAhPqDDCxAja0af0XzmrYtdpi-NZTlI5zhPmUli3nlNsg&oe=663A6E4F	0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: 'Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.'<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> 'If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,' he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. 'Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.' <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> 'We are going to fight,' I tell him through signing. 'The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.'<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. 'You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.'<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> 'Don’t do it,' I warn her. 'Don’t cross him.'<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I'm banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> 'Take him to the infirmary,' I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, 'I will be here for a while.'<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> 'I don’t know how you can hear me,' I say coldly, 'and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.'<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. 'Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.'<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> "I can't leave," I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. "I... this is the only home I know."<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. 'It doesn't matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.'<br /> I shake my head. "I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?"<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can't bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it's just because he can't stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it's because he doesn't want me to see something.<br /> "Tell me," I urge him. "What's the problem? You know it's not my fault."<br /> 'It doesn't matter,' he finally says. 'It has to end here. I'm sorry, Claudia.'<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what's remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don't want to go, that I shouldn't. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don't know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don't know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it's Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * <br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. 'I have done my best. I protected the people—'<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> 'I’m afraid I don’t understand,' I sign to her. 'The battle ended there.'<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 6<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> I wake up with a gasp, sitting up abruptly like a marionette whose strings got yanked. My head starts to spin, but it’s not because there was no gentle introduction to the waking world.<br /> It’s because of the dream.<br /> Because of Claudia.<br /> I clutch my chest and feel that my heart is going haywire. My back is slick with sweat and I can almost feel it soaking my sheets. I close my eyes for a moment, gathering my thoughts, but the first thing I see in the darkness is Claudia’s face. Her voice is ringing in my ears, the first voice I have heard in so many years.<br /> She’s the Siren, the Moon Goddess said. The Alpha’s Voice.<br /> What does that mean? What does it have to do with me? What does that make her? I have more questions than answers and the frustration building up inside me is turning into anger. I don’t want that. I have to focus.<br /> Because if there is one thing I know, it’s that I fucked up by demanding her to leave.<br /> And I need to get her back.<br /> Fueled by the sudden fiery desire to chase after her and hold her down in the castle if I need to, I jump out of bed. I push open the door and startle the guards. I can see them mouthing, “What is the trouble, Alpha?”<br /> I ignore all of them. I just run along the hallway until I find Kiernan’s room. The guards step aside when they see me, so I push open the door, stumbling inside like a sweaty, clumsy ogre.<br /> Meanwhile, Kiernan is still awake, staring through the window. My heart sinks when I see that it’s already daylight outside, but I still have to try. I need to.<br /> Kiernan turns around, frowns at me, and asks, “Your Majesty. What brings you here?”<br /> He knows that it irks me when he calls me that, but I ignore it anyway. 'I need to find the maid, Claudia.'<br /> I thought he would ask why, but he just narrows his eyes. “The maid you kicked out last night? I found her in the freezing cold, just staring into the distance like she couldn’t believe what happened. I actually told her I would talk to you about it, but when I got to your room, you were already asleep.”<br /> His words hit me like arrows to the heart. I can almost picture Claudia standing where I left her, crying and wondering what she did wrong, all the while I was sleeping soundly with no care in the world….<br /> No. I can’t think about that. It hurts too much.<br /> I step back, the tightness in my chest so extreme that I have to inhale and exhale slowly. Every time I blink I see her distraught face and hear her broken voice, appealing her case and showing me that she deserved to stay.<br /> And what did I do? I kicked her right out like she meant nothing.<br /> Like we never had anything together.<br /> I swallow hard. ‘I need her back here. I made a mistake.’<br /> “Then let’s go to the maids’ quarters,” Kiernan offers. “Maybe she’s still there.”<br /> I nod, and together, we barge into the lower floor where the maids stay. The rooms are already empty as they start their day at dawn. Every empty room we pass makes me want to punch something in regret, but I can still catch the sweet scent of Claudia in the air, lingering like a whisper. Finally, we arrive at her room, where her scent is strongest. The door is still closed.<br /> Kiernan lifts his hand to knock, but I’m desperate. I open the door.<br /> And there is one person inside the room. But it’s not Claudia.<br /> It’s a maid I remember as Maia, her best friend here. She whips around as soon as we get in, and I immediately see her swollen eyes and red face.<br /> “Alpha,” she mutters, sinking into a bow. “Gamma. I will go to work as soon as possible.”<br /> “No, take the time you need,” Kiernan says. “You are obviously in distress. What happened?”<br /> My breath gets stuck in my throat. I already know what she’s going to say, but I find myself searching the room in hopes of finding any proof that Claudia actually chose to stay.<br /> However, the room is blissfully empty. Vacated for the next maid.<br /> “Claudia left, Gamma,” she answers. “She said she needed to go back to her family. It was just so unexpected. I asked her if it had something to do with the meeting, and she said no. She said she’s tired of working. I don’t believe that. She always loved working here….”<br /> I freeze in shock. Kiernan glances at me pointedly before turning back to Maia. “I completely understand. Please, take the day off and rest. The Alpha and I will get going now.”<br /> He grabs me by the arm and pulls me out of the room, closing the door behind us. I can’t even walk properly. I can’t believe what I just heard.<br /> After all the bad things I said to her, she still chose to cover for me.<br /> I stop moving as soon as we reach the foyer. I hold onto the stair banister for support, my throat closed up.<br /> Kiernan stands next to me. “What happened, Your Majesty?”<br /> ‘Don’t call me that,’ I sign to him. ‘Go prepare a carriage—no. A horse. Ready a horse for me. I will be setting out soon—’<br /> “No, you’re not,” he interjects, his eyebrows scrunched up. “You are the Alpha King. Do you know what it would mean to the Rogues if they took down the head of the whole land? The revolution would be over!”<br /> ‘Fine, I will do it myself.’ I try to push past him but he blocks me. ‘Move out of my way. I need Claudia back here right now.’<br /> He shakes his head, putting a firm hand on my chest. “You’d have to kill me if you want to leave alone.”<br /> Kiernan is one of my oldest friends and most loyal men. We’ve butted heads many times before, but not like this. I can see his quiet anger, and I know from the look in his eyes that he can feel mine. Still, he stands his ground, staring at me like he’s daring me to attack him right now.<br /> And I almost want to. The thought of Claudia getting farther and farther away is tearing my soul apart.<br /> But I take a deep breath to steady myself. ‘You don’t understand.’<br /> “Then make me understand.”<br /> ‘Claudia is important to me,’ I tell him after a pause. ‘The Moon Goddess told me so. She is the Siren and the Alpha’s Voice. I have to get her back or else—’<br /> “Alpha Achilles.”<br /> He signals me to turn around. I see Carlos standing by the end of the stairs, his torso still wrapped in bandages.<br /> However, he’s not alone. Standing next to him are the Housekeeper and the Chief Butler. Both of them are carrying files, laid out as though they’re asking for advice.<br /> ‘What is this?’ I signal to Carlos. ‘I don’t need any interruptions right now. I have somewhere else to go.’<br /> Carlos shakes his head to stop me. “Alpha… today is the Winter Solstice festival. Our pack is hosting. You cannot go anywhere.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 7<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> The journey from Sangria Amori to my hometown feels long and short at the same time. As I sit there in the carriage watching the palace disappear behind a mountain in the distance and begin to see the tall magnolia trees surrounding the famous springs of my home, I can’t help but feel a mixture of longing and relief.<br /> Longing because it’s been my home for years and years. I have made good memories and bonded with amazing people. I overcame a lot of bad things. I met the one I thought I would know forever.<br /> But the relief comes from the loss of all of that. From the knowledge that from now on, I would be free from that palace and everyone in it.<br /> Especially Achilles.<br /> My heart still makes a little flip at the simple thought of his name. I still have to clench my hands and pierce my own palms with my nails to remind myself that I shouldn’t be thinking about him. But thankfully, I don’t have to acknowledge it because the carriage finally stops. The coachman Peter calls out from the front, smacking the carriage door with his cane. “You’re here now, girl. It’s time to move out.”<br /> I gather all my bags and sling them all on my shoulders, slightly struggling with the weight as I climb down the rickety old carriage. “Thank you so much, Peter.”<br /> I give him a happy salute, about to head to the arch that reads Nightshade Springs. But then, I hear him calling out, “Are you sure you’re going to be safe from here on?”<br /> That makes me pause. So far, throughout the whole journey, I haven’t sensed any Rogues at all. But Peter has a point. The infestation of Rogues is very much real and rampant, and I haven’t been to my hometown in five years. I honestly don’t know what’s waiting in store for me here.<br /> But still, I don’t want to bother him. If there is any danger out here, I would rather face it; I know that he has a family.<br /> So I just smile at him. “I got it, Peter. Thank you again and be careful on your way back!”<br /> He looks uncertain, but he leaves anyway, whipping the horses until they gallop faster. Soon enough, he’s gone.<br /> And I’m alone in the middle of the woods, surrounded by the familiar fresh scent of springs and pine.<br /> The scent of home.<br /> A soft smile appears on my face as I start to walk, following the stone path that leads to the edge of the village where the cemetery is.<br /> I suppose it’s a grim thing to start with, but I’ve been meaning to visit my parents’ graves for the past years. Grief and the start of the revolution put a halt to all of that, so now I feel quite happy that I get to see them, even if it’s just this way.<br /> My mom was a maid like I am. Or was. Either way, she served the palace too, specifically as a handmaiden to the former Queen. My dad was a gardener. She died from deadly flu five years ago, and he followed right after.<br /> Back then, I thought this was unfair. How could they leave me in this world alone? I was resentful. But eventually, I realized that it may have been out of love. He was never able to be apart from her for any period of time, and not even death could stop him from chasing after her.<br /> They told me that they met each other at a gathering for servants, and my father fell in love with my mother when he first heard her sing. I honestly can’t blame him. She had the most wonderful voice, and he always said that I had that beautiful voice too. I never really knew if he was just making that up, but the ones who heard me sing also told me that I do have a pretty voice.<br /> The memory brings a smile to my face, and as I approach their graves, I find myself humming along to the tune of my mother’s lullaby.<br /> Their graves are now covered in ivy. I sweep some of the leaves away and light a candle for them.<br /> I sit there for a while, watching the light flicker on their gravestones. I reach out and feel the warmth, opening my mouth to talk to them like I always did, but that’s when something strikes me.<br /> The sour, rotten smell.<br /> My entire body freezes. I shoot to my feet, clutching my bags closer to me as I look around. My heart is beating in my ears and I almost want to whimper, but it only gets worse when I finally see a single Rogue.<br /> It’s hiding behind gravestones in the distance, its eyes gleaming with hunger and malice as they focus on me. Its low growls make the ground hum. There’s tension in the air, thick and suffocating, telling me it’s been stalking me like prey for a while now. It’s still far but ready to spring. Ready to chase and feed.<br /> And I know that if I take one step back, it will come out and kill me.<br /> I slowly exhale, stepping back and feeling it move with me, keeping the distance between us the same.<br /> Bit by bit, I ease my bags off my shoulders and set them down. The eyes of the Rogue follow my movement like two laser pointers. I slip my hand in my pocket, looking for the silver knife that Maia gave me as a parting gift, ready to it down.<br /> As though on cue, the Rogue leaps into the air as soon as I raise the knife.<br /> But I’m ready this time. I don’t come to meet it. Instead, I stand my ground, waiting for the perfect moment. As soon as it flies midair to pounce on me, I duck right under it and run the knife along its throat.<br /> The Rogue falls to the ground with a whimper. It scrambles to get upright again, but before it can do so, I stomp its fragile head flat with my boot, its blood spattering everywhere.<br /> “Thank the gods,” I mutter, but that’s when I realize that I spoke too soon.<br /> As soon as the Rogue stops moving, the forest seems to come alive right before me. More Rogues emerge from the trees, sniffing and snarling, their eyes alight with joy when they see a perfectly good meal severely outnumbered.<br /> All at once, they jump toward me.<br /> A scream breaks out of my lips. I raise my bags to shield myself, but at this point, it’s only a matter of time before they take me down and feast on me. I’m only waiting for the pain now….<br /> But before it can come, I hear loud bangs in the distance. Gunshots. Followed by the loud thuds of the Rogues hitting the ground, dropping like dead flies.<br /> I lower my bags in horror. All the Rogues are dead, their heads bleeding from a single smoking puncture wound between their eyes. I’m about to turn around to see my savior, but then I feel the still-hot muzzle of the gun against my back.<br /> “Drop your knife if you want to live. Who are you and what do you need?”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 8<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The first thing that rises out of me is not frustration from being told what to do, but embarrassment from forgetting about the big event. I know that Carlos just had a bad injury that he’s still most likely dealing with, but I have a situation on my hands that I just can’t shake off, but I can't help but avert my gaze in shame.<br /> Carlos, Kiernan, and the two head staff are staring at me expectantly, and I just want to sink into the ground and never reappear.<br /> I look over at Kiernan, who gives me a small shrug like he’s telling me that it’s all up to me.<br /> The obvious thing to do is to just delay the festival and focus on the very important task of finding Claudia. But I know that my people are counting on this one single happy day among all the bad ones. They need this. And as much as I need Claudia here with me, they come first.<br /> I take a deep, steadying breath. ‘I apologize. It must have slipped my mind. Prepare the decorations and we shall have a lunch banquet in the throne room.’<br /> Carlos nods and repeats my words to the head staff. Then, he turns back to me and asks, “How about the evening celebrations?”<br /> ‘We’ll see,’ I sign to him.<br /> With that, the head staff both bow and leave. Now it’s only the three of us, and they look pained.<br /> “So what’s been happening?” Carlos splutters at last. “Where are you going?”<br /> Kiernan is the one who answers for him. “He kicked out the maid, Claudia, and now he has to bring her back because the Moon Goddess told him so in a dream. He wants to go out there himself.”<br /> ‘I have to,’ I tell them both. 'I still do, but with the festival..."<br /> And of course, they just look at me like they feel sorry for me. I’m about to tell them both to supervise so I can go, but then Kiernan sighs and says, “I’ll get some of our warriors, and we will go and find her.”<br /> Without giving me a chance to say anything about this, Kiernan leaves. Carlos then looks at me and beckons me to go up the stairs.<br /> “After you, Alpha. Let’s give the people a good celebration.”<br /> * *<br /> When I arrive at the throne room after changing into my formal suit, it is already decked with blue and silver decorations fit for the winter solstice theme. Food is flowing in, music is playing, and it seems that all the citizens are gathering.<br /> When Carlos and I enter, it takes me a whole while to notice that the throne room isn’t even halfway filled. As I sit on my throne, I see that my people are not eating, drinking, or having fun at all. They are just gathered at the little tables, engaged in serious conversation.<br /> More people are coming in, greeted by the butlers by the door. I keep thinking that this new batch will come and let loose, but they just gather like the rest of the guests.<br /> It’s starting to make me nervous. I agreed to this party thinking it would be best for their morale, but it seems that they’re just as uninterested in the occasion as I was.<br /> ‘This is not going well,’ I tell Carlos, who’s standing on my right side. He’s not fully recovered yet, but he insisted on coming here. ‘It would be best to cut this short.’<br /> As soon as I say those words, guilt starts to drum in my chest. I know that I should try to make things more festive instead of thinking about Claudia, but not knowing how things are on that front is almost as bad as being here and seeing my people feeling blue.<br /> “I think it would be best if you go down and communicate with them personally,” Carlos says, and I can’t believe I never thought of that before.<br /> I get up from my throne with the full intent of going around, but then I see a familiar face by the door. Someone I really don’t want to see.<br /> Alpha Tristan.<br /> He’s still wearing a coat, speckled with snow. The butler tries to take it from him but he pushes him away, which makes me tense up, immediately ready for a fight. However, he’s not alone. Walking behind him like lapdogs are the Alphas of his neighboring packs: Giorgio, Anthony, and Larkin.<br /> Their auras are so domineering and so distracting that the people in the throne room stop what they’re doing and just watch them approach me. But instead of meeting them halfway, I remain standing in front of the throne with the steps of the dais separating us.<br /> None of them bows down to me.<br /> “What are you doing here?” Carlos asks, and it perfectly reflects what’s in my mind, just more polite.<br /> Tristan flashes me a smirk. “We’re here because we’re tired of the preposterous games that Sangria Amori is playing. We need change!”<br /> Even though I can’t hear him, I can feel the vibrations of his scream on the walls and the floor. He’s livid, and because of this, the people in the room are tuning in.<br /> I don’t like the admiring and interested looks on their faces. I look at Carlos. ‘We shouldn’t have this talk here.’<br /> “Alpha Tristan.” Carlos gives him a strained smile, motioning him to come along. “We shall move this conversation to a more private location and perhaps—”<br /> “Get your hands off me.” Tristan pushes past him and squares up to me. “What you’re doing to these people is sickening. Making them show up here, forced to have fun, when they are suffering from problems you would never know about from your high throne. You’re making a mockery of their situation, flaunting your privilege in their faces.”<br /> I want to push him down the steps and pound his face into a pulp, but I restrain myself. Instead, I just sign something that Carlos translates with perfect contempt.<br /> “Get out, right now.”<br /> Tristan only scoffs, facing the people. “Last night, instead of meeting with the rest of the Alphas and coming up with a way to erase the Rogues, Alpha King Achilles was late. He left us on our own when we had a Rogue attack. It’s painfully obvious that his disabilities have made him selfish, and unfit to rule our land.”<br /> This time, my temper gets the best of me. I grab him by the arm with the full intent of punching him in the face as soon as he turns, but I stop when the people gasp.<br /> They’re now looking at me in horror.<br /> I slowly let him go. He starts to walk away, step by step, not taking his eyes off me. There’s a certain gleam in his eyes that I can’t identify, but the hairs on the back of my neck are standing on end.<br /> Only when he’s standing by the door do I know why.<br /> “We will no longer take orders from the Alpha King,” Tristan declares, his gaze still on me. “We will handle the Rogues our way, the right way. And those who want to join us would be offered full protection.”<br /> With that, he leaves.<br /> And I watch in horror as some of my citizens begin to get up from their seats, following him out.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 9<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> “Don’t shoot me,” I mutter, and I cringe when I hear the fear in my voice. I hate that I faced that single Rogue like a boss only to fold like this. “I’m not a danger to anyone. I’m a local here. I just moved for work at the palace…”<br /> I stop when I realize I’m about to ramble. I just drop the knife. As soon as it clatters on the floor, I feel the muzzle of the gun easing off my back. I take this as a cue to turn around, and I come face to face with a young man about my age, with straw-colored hair and brown eyes. He’s carrying a massive silver shotgun with rounds of big silver bullets around his body.<br /> He’s studying me closely, fixing his flannel shirt. “Who are you?”<br /> “Claudia Hale,” I say shakily. I even bow, which is dumb, but I guess it’s not so stupid if it stops him from shooting me. “I just came here to visit my parents.”<br /> At first, he doesn’t say anything. My nerves are starting to act up and I find myself basically skipping in my spot. But finally, he asks, “Hale, huh? Do you happen to be related to Ruth?”<br /> My eyes go wide. “Yes! Ruth is my cousin.”<br /> The man’s shoulders relax. He cracks a smile, and suddenly he doesn’t seem so scary anymore. “You must be the cousin she talks about a lot. The singer. I’m Max, by the way. Follow me.”<br /> We shake hands, and I can’t help but feel giddy.<br /> My cousin Ruth is here. I can’t believe it. We were very close as kids, even though we only saw each other over the summers. She left Nightshade Springs when we were both eighteen, and the last thing I heard about her was that she got married to a mason from the nearby village. We saw each other at my dad’s funeral, but we didn’t get to talk much because of my own grief.<br /> But now, I’m going to see her. I wonder if she has kids now.<br /> The thought of little babies running around makes me so excited, so much so that I almost forget to follow Max as he leads me out of the cemetery through an unfamiliar path. I quickly pick up the knife and run after him.<br /> I frown as I pull level with Max. "Why are we using this path?"<br /> The moment the question leaves my lips, the answer comes to me when we turn a corner.<br /> For the first time, I come face to face with the aftermath of the Rogue infestation.<br /> The village is now completely deserted. The houses are dilapidated, empty and broken. The smell of Rogues is present, but distant, which tells me that the place is visited frequently but they're not actually here. Dried blood is scattered all over the ground like paint.<br /> "That's animal blood," Max explains, following the direction of my gaze. "We vacated this place a long time ago. We still live in this area, but we decided to stick close together to protect ourselves from the Rogues. We figured that it would be best if we show them a strong front. The Kingdom doesn't really do much for us, so we have to take matters into our own hands."<br /> I swallow hard, averting my gaze as we turn another corner, a hidden path behind a small hill.<br /> "Does the Kingdom not visit the villages at all?" I ask.<br /> Max shakes his head. "Nope. Not at all. They send guards from time to time, but you see how many Rogues there are. You know how violent they can be. We needed weapons to protect ourselves, but they just won't provide that. I think they keep it to themselves, leave everyone else defenseless."<br /> I keep quiet. I don't know what to say. Part of me wants to defend the palace. I mean, I know they have it hard, and Achilles is doing his best. But then again, who am I to dismiss their suffering?<br /> I open my mouth to ask where they got their weapons, but then we arrive at a fenced part of the village. Barbed wires are set on tall metal walls, behind which small compact buildings stand proud.<br /> He opens the gate carefully, and we both enter. There are a couple of villages standing watch, carrying guns similar to his. They stare at me, and I have to lower my head to avoid the intensity of their looks.<br /> I want to tell Max that I just want to see Ruth, but before I can get the question out, I see two people running towards me.<br /> I look up and my heart nearly gives out when I see that it's Ruth, together with a tall bearded man who must be her husband.<br /> "Claudia!" she squeals, and before I can even drop my bags, she scoops me up into a big hug. "You're home! It's been so long!"<br /> I blink the tears away when she lets me go. "I figured it was time to retire and just stay here."<br /> I feel guilty. I lied to Maia and now I'm lying to Ruth.<br /> “You loved that job, but I do understand,” she says, and I can’t help but be thankful that she didn’t press me for more details. “This is my husband, Henry. We live in one of the apartments. You can stay with us if you like, but I think it would be best if you get your own room.”<br /> “It’s nice to meet you,” Henry says, taking my bags from me. “I will take these up to your room.”<br /> I smile. “Thank you so much.”<br /> He and Max leave, and Ruth takes my arm, steering me into a small structure at the foot of one of the buildings. I can hear cheers and smell food from outside, and I find myself relaxing when I see that it’s a pub. Men and women alike are laughing and talking, downing jugs of beer and eating fried food. It’s quite fascinating to see so much life and joy in a single space in this lost land, but I can’t help but feel grateful.<br /> Ruth and I sit on the counter. The bartender slides two jugs of beer and a platter of steaming chips. I grab the chips even though they’re hot, stuffing them all in my mouth and drinking the beer. Everything is strangely fresh, and I can’t help but gobble it all up. Ruth watches me with amusement as she sips her drink.<br /> “Do they not feed you up there?” she jokes, shaking her head. “Honestly, I don’t blame you for going home. It must have been hell there.”<br /> My appetite suddenly vanishes. “Well, it’s not so bad. But nothing like home, yes.” I clear my throat, desperate for a change of topic. “So, Max found me in the cemetery. He’s… an interesting character.”<br /> “I know, he mind-linked it to me.” She shrugs. “Max is kind of an asshole, but I get why. He had to step up as our leader when the palace guards left us. He looted all those guns that we use now, so the only thing we have to forge are bullets. Screw the Kingdom and that deaf-mute idiot who rules it.”<br /> My face goes hot. I want to defend Achilles. I want to tell Ruth not to call him that, but then again, he kicked me out for defending him.<br /> “Is everyone doing the same?” I start to ask, but then a small commotion breaks out in the corner of the pub where the entrance is.<br /> “Hey, keep that bastard out!” I hear some of the men yelling.<br /> “He barged right in and demanded entry!”<br /> “It’s one of those palace fuckers!”<br /> I freeze. Ruth and I both slide out of our stools, looking over at the chaos.<br /> My heart jumps right into my throat when I see Gamma Kiernan trying to force his way inside the pub.<br /> “Bring me Claudia Hale, and we will not have any problems.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 10<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Panic takes a hold of me. Suddenly, I feel my entire body going numb. I can feel Ruth beside me and I can hear her saying something, but it’s like my mind is tuning out. All I can hear are muffled voices. All I can feel is my heart hammering inside my ribs like it wants to get out.<br /> I blink a couple of times as we get pushed back by the ongoing commotion. For a moment I’m certain that I’m not seeing things correctly, but I’m wrong.<br /> Gamma Kiernan is really here, and he’s looking for me.<br /> “No way you’re getting in,” the men at the entrance keep telling him. “Pack it up and leave!”<br /> “I will not leave until you bring Claudia Hale here,” he insists. “I can smell her scent in the air. I know you’re hiding her. Back off, and no one gets hurt.”<br /> “How dare you threaten us?”<br /> With that, the chaos ensues. Now there are so many men blocking his way, and soon enough, women are clamoring to shoo him out of the pub too. I can see his expression. I know that he can take these men down if he wants to, but he’s restraining himself.<br /> The urge to step up and show myself before things get ugly overcomes me, but then Ruth wheels around and dunks my head down, preventing me from getting seen.<br /> “Why the hell are they looking for you?” Ruth demands. “Did you do something?”<br /> “No,” I begin to say, but that’s when I feel a strong hand dragging me back.<br /> “Ow!” I complain under my breath, feeling myself getting yanked back into the corner by this strong person. I turn around and see Max. He’s squeezing my arm so hard that I can almost feel the bruises appearing. “Let me go!”<br /> He just glares at me. “You are not going to show yourself to that upstart. You’re going to stay here behind the bar. Understand?”<br /> “No!” I snatch my arm back from him. “Do you want your people to get hurt?”<br /> His eyes flash with anger. “You’re really assuming we’re the ones who’d get hurt? You put too much faith in those men who don’t do anything but sit on their asses and command the lower people to fight for them.”<br /> I realize that he’s referring to the palace royals, including Achilles. His claims are so false that I square up to him, shoving him back. “You have no idea what you’re talking about! Those men risk their lives for us!”<br /> “Maybe for you,” Max growls dryly, “but never for me.”<br /> The next events happen so fast. So much so that I don’t even get the time to react. Max just grabs me by the shoulders, pushes me right into the broom closet, and props a chair against the doorknob to basically lock it from outside. I fall on the floor, flat on my behind, but then I spring up to my feet to try to ram it down.<br /> “Let me out!” I scream, but I doubt anyone would hear me from the absolute meltdown happening outside.<br /> I could shift into my wolf and break the door, but I think I would end up demolishing half the pub in the process. So even though I want to end this, I just stay by the door, pressing my ear against it and listening as best as I can.<br /> That’s when I hear Max announcing, “Silence, everyone. Let the man speak.”<br /> The people immediately shut up, which surprises me. It seems that everyone really recognizes him as their leader. I can almost picture him stepping up to Gamma Kiernan.<br /> “Thank you,” Gamma Kiernan says. “As I was trying to say before I got swarmed, I need Claudia Hale.”<br /> “Why?” Max asks in a calm, almost lazy tone.<br /> “Because the Alpha King says so,” Gamma Kiernan replies in a similar voice. “We don’t want any trouble with the King, do we?”<br /> “Oh, no, we don’t,” Max answers, but this time, he sounds perfectly sarcastic. I can hear the others around him letting out a laugh. “We really don’t. But you see, Claudia isn’t here.”<br /> Silence fills the air. I want to scream at the top of my lungs to alert everyone of my presence, but I’m stunned. Petrified, really. Did the Gamma really say that it’s Alpha Achilles who’s asking for me?<br /> But why? Why would he look for me? It hasn’t even been a day since I left. Does he regret all the things he did, all the things he said to me? Did he realize that I didn’t actually do anything wrong, and he punished me out of pure pride and possibly stupidity?<br /> Now that’s something I want to hear. I want him to say sorry.<br /> I’m about to scream when suddenly, I hear Gamma Kiernan saying, “I can smell her. Do not fucking lie to me.”<br /> Somehow, I’m able to sense something about to go wrong before it even transpires. I make a move to ram the door down before things can break out, but it’s too late.<br /> Before I can even do anything, I hear Max saying in a low voice, “Deal with this bastard.”<br /> And then, hell breaks loose.<br /> It’s so loud I can almost see it. The men in the pub all yell for battle and the sounds that follow root me to my spot. More screams. Thuds from bodies hitting the floor and the walls. Broken glass. Snapping wood. Arrows whizzing. Wolves howling. Gunshots. So many gunshots….<br /> Soon enough, the smell of blood fills the air, and my heart nearly stops.<br /> It seems to go on forever, the sound and the smell and the carnage. I can make out specific voices like Gamma Kiernan’s, telling his men to stand down and leave. I can hear Max telling his people to pursue them, to drive them back and make sure they learn their lesson. On and on and on it goes.<br /> But just when I think that it’s never going to end, silence follows.<br /> It’s almost eerie. One can hear a pin drop. Who got shot? Did anyone die?<br /> The thought of death because of me is what finally breaks me. I ram down the door without shifting into my wolf form, but when I arrive at the bar, it’s too late. I can hear the sound of horses whinnying outside, their hooves hitting the ground in loud thuds as they run fast. I see the flash of the red carriage through the broken windows.<br /> I look all over the floor to see if anyone has fallen, but aside from the smears of blood, it seems that everyone made it out alive.<br /> At least, from this party.<br /> I don’t know if I can say the same about the people from the palace.<br /> Suddenly, Max enters the pub, sporting a broken nose. He tears off a piece of his shirt and uses it to dab on the blood, but I march toward him and snatch it right out of his hand. “What did you do?”<br /> “Showed them that they have no business here,” he says simply, taking the strip of fabric back from me. “The only thing I should be hearing from you is thank you, unless…”<br /> Everyone in the pub looks at me.<br /> Ruth is the one who gets up and turns to me. “What did you do, Claudia? Why are they looking for you?”<br /> Max crosses his arms. "Give us a good reason why we shouldn't kick you out of here. Now."	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1667194	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727718	1734958303	695	1878396422583238	1	9.8745158604594E+14	1712300400	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	127476320437895	0	Joylit Novel	120209381868170155	cdn.joylitnovel.com	Learn more	NONE	video	👇 Click here to continue reading		https://cdn.joylitnovel.com/pages/aae98514-07be-4ed9-91fd-7d3b91cd671e.html?p0=10n5m3ce&p1={{campaign.name}}&p2={{campaign.id}}&p3={{adset.name}}&p4={{adset.id}}&p5={{ad.name}}&p6={{ad.id}}		1712247658	1.274763204379E+14	Joylit Novel	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435365176_1815684825600496_7237409358955529173_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mo_2-LFbWckQ7kNvgHjwO43&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfD6-I8YdqvYIs2HZOXNPiOnljVS-_6Zcgk8DIUSXaKu3A&oe=663A62D5	person_profile	0	Joylit Novel	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435490057_755677253299480_2944357745188530611_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6r7zh2AL_uUQ7kNvgHS6w83&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBr2q3xitm9JXBuUWcnNWokQKLfJm2s72mrCmWzQCv1FA&oe=663A661E	0	3	CLAUDIA.<br /> “Attention, calling all maids to the throne room.”<br /> I freeze as the announcement blares through the speakers. I’m in the maid’s quarters, looking for something in my drawers, and I have to admit that this is an interruption.<br /> My friend Maia, another maid, watches me with boredom as the announcement continues to echo in the room. “Give it up, Claudia. Stop trying to prove that you were friends with the Alpha King when you were kids. You’re a maid and what would Alpha Achilles want to do with you?”<br /> I don’t answer her. I just flip over my bottom drawer until all my socks fall out. But along with the socks comes a small folded parchment, containing the words, “To Claudia, from Achilles.”<br /> “Aha!” I shove the paper right into her hands. “Feast on that.”<br /> Maia rolls her eyes, but she just reads it aloud. “Dear Claudia, I hope this note finds you well. I refused to open the door for you because I believe I made things clear. We are no longer friends.” She chucks the paper at me. “How old is this note?”<br /> My face heats up. “Maybe eighteen years?”<br /> “So he sent that to you when he was twelve and you were… six?”<br /> “Yes,” I mutter, pocketing the note. “It’s important to me, okay?”<br /> She laughs at me. “Why? Because you’re hoping you could be close again? He’s the Alpha King now, Claudia. And our duty is to keep this place and the people running. Get over yourself and let’s go before we get thrown out.”<br /> Everything she said was right. It’s a stupid thing to hold onto, but I can’t let it go.<br /> Even when Maia drags me to the throne room, I find myself bursting with hope. All the maids are now gathered for some sort of meeting, and instead of worrying about what it’s for, I’m craning my neck, trying to look at the golden thrones on the dais.<br /> But the only person I find standing there is Beta Carlos, a tanned, dark-haired unit of a man who handles everything minor for Alpha Achilles.<br /> He surveys the room with indifference, as a person of his standing usually does, clearing his throat before speaking. “I gathered you all here because we need one maid to come with us to the Moonlight Grove Pack for the annual winter solstice meeting tonight. Since we are short-staffed, we decided to see if anyone volunteers first.”<br /> I wait for hands to shoot into the air, but there are only whispers rippling among the crowd. The maids are all avoiding Beta Carlos’s eyes as though they would evaporate if they made eye contact with him. <br /> I understand why. Rogue attacks have been notorious lately. Our pack, Sangria Amori, is the biggest and the strongest, which is the reason why we haven’t experienced any breaches yet. But the smaller packs have, and it’s enough for some of our maids to quit to be with their families.<br /> The only ones who are stuck here are the single maids or the ones who are desperate for money. Then you have people like me, loyal servants for generations.<br /> Beta Carlos’s frustration is clear now. He opens his mouth to say something but he stops when the curtains behind him suddenly open.<br /> And out comes the Alpha King himself, Achilles.<br /> The world stops. My heart picks up its pace, beating so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I stare at him as he stands next to Beta Carlos, towering over him by half a foot. Everyone inside the room sinks into a bow, but I don’t. I can’t. The only thing I can do is stare at him.<br /> It’s like he has his own gravitational pull on me. I’m unable to look away from the shiny waves of his black hair and the coolness of his blue eyes. Despite the raging snow outside, his skin has a touch of gold, complimenting the bloodred coat he’s wearing. His presence is almost divine. Even the chandelier lights from above seem to be drawn to him.<br /> As though it can’t get any better, he meets my eyes.<br /> And just like that, I raise my hand. “I volunteer to come to the solstice meeting.”<br /> “What are you thinking?” Maia hisses at me, trying to tug at my uniform to get me to lower my hand.<br /> But Beta Carlos already saw me. Alpha Achilles did too.<br /> However, his face darkens with disapproval.<br /> I clear my throat and speak louder. “I volunteer! I will serve—”<br /> “Claudia, is it?” Beta Carlos interjects. “Have you forgotten that our Alpha King… can’t hear you?”<br /> The silence that follows is almost loud. Loud enough to make my ears pop. Only then do I realize my mistake.<br /> Alpha Achilles is deaf and mute. For some reason, this has also affected his ability to mind-link. These are details that I shouldn’t be forgetting, but then again, he and I have a history, and he didn’t use to be that way. <br /> We played together a lot as kids. He would take me to the forests behind the palace so we could pretend to spar. We were inseparable, until one night. All I can remember was waking up in the infirmary dripping wet and cold. Achilles wasn’t with me, but I was told he was in his room.<br /> I didn’t know what happened, and I still don’t. But the first day I tried to visit him in his room was when I received his note.<br /> Fast forward six years. He was eighteen, I was twelve. He got crowned as the next Alpha King. He could no longer hear or speak.<br /> Some say it was a curse from the Moon Goddess. Some say it was a developing disease in his body that reached its peak. It’s been twelve years since that reveal. He’s thirty now, and I’m twenty-four. No one knows the truth yet.<br /> I want to tell him that I’m sorry through sign language, but I don’t know how. He just turns to Beta Carlos and shakes his head ever so subtly.<br /> He doesn’t want me to come.<br /> Beta Carlos swallows. “Claudia… would you come up here, please? The rest are dismissed.”<br /> As I make my way to the dais, the maids start to file out of the throne room. Maia catches my eyes for a second and shakes her head, but I continue to walk until I’m standing in front of them.<br /> “No one else wants to come,” I point out in a shaky voice. “I… I want to go. I want to help.”<br /> Beta Carlos looks at Alpha Achilles pointedly. I don’t know what kind of communication is happening between them, but it seems that Beta Carlos is urging him to give it a chance, probably because they have no other choice. Alpha Achilles doesn’t seem to want to, but in the end, he relents and stands close to me. <br /> So close that I can catch his scent. So close that I can see the flecks of green in his eyes.<br /> So close that he can kiss me if he wants to.<br /> My breath hitches in my throat. Longing fills my heart. How many times have I wished this to happen? I want to say so much to him. I feel like so much time has been stolen from us. Our friendship was so amazing….<br /> “I will do well,” I whisper. “I won’t let you down.”<br /> Alpha Achilles stares at me for a couple more seconds, then he just turns around and walks away.<br /> Beta Carlos sighs and starts to follow him, turning to me at the last second as though I’m an afterthought. “Follow me.”<br /> I run after him through the tunnel behind the throne room, but his long legs are carrying him so far and I have to jog to keep up. Finally, we arrive at the back lawn of the palace. The cold hits me like a punch in the gut, but Beta Carlos tosses me a fur coat. I wriggle into it as a carriage pulls up in front of us, with a sleek red and gold body, pulled by two palomino horses.<br /> “Get in,” he says blandly, and I climb into the carriage with him behind me.<br /> Alpha Achilles is already inside, staring through the window, completely ignoring my presence.<br /> I try to communicate with him, but Beta Carlos gets in and pushes me into the corner as the carriage starts to move.<br /> The seats are cushioned and the walls are upholstered with red velvet, but I still get hurt as the carriage basically leaps and crashes on the cold snowy ground. The horses are running at full speed, which I understand, because we are about two hours until dusk, and Moonlight Grove Pack is one hour away.<br /> The coachman whips the horses, rallying them into a frenzied sprint faster than before. I gasp as I fly off my seat. I thought things would settle after a while, but something seemed to be off.<br /> The horses are whinnying. The silent path is now riddled with a mix of thuds and heavy breaths. A strange smell permeates the air. A putrid stench, a mix of rot and blood and savagery.<br /> The scent of Rogues.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 2<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Fear grips my throat like a vice. I look over at Alpha Achilles and Beta Carlos, and it seems that they noticed the stench too. <br /> “We’re being followed,” Beta Carlos tells me. “When I tell you to hide, you hide, alright? We will outrun them and kill them at the same time.”<br /> I just nod, paralyzed in the corner as growls and howls start to fill the air. <br /> This isn’t my first time to encounter Rogues. I ran into a small pack of them once when I was one of the maids assigned to do the shopping for the palace. This was two years ago, but I still remember it so vividly. Our carriage, much older and less stable than this one, passed by their hideout, and I managed to catch a glimpse of five Rogues tearing apart a dead guard in uniform. <br /> The first thing that hit me was the smell. The distinct combination of decay and fresh death. It was in the air like a bad perfume. Strangely enough, it was so fitting with the scene laid out in front of me. As they broke into the meat of the guard, the smell seemed to get stronger.<br /> I wasn’t able to eat meat for months. Even now, it still repulses me sometimes.<br /> Since then, armed deliveries have been made to the palace.<br /> But I will never forget.<br /> In fact, the whole scene is flashing in my mind now as Alpha Achilles opens a chest at the side of the seats. He pulls out a silver crossbow with a quiver of arrows. Beta Carlos opens the windows, and Alpha Achilles sticks his entire upper body out, firing the bow with unimaginable strength as the carriage moves faster.<br /> I didn’t want to look, but I turned around and stared through the back window.<br /> There are about a dozen Rogues running after us, snarling and biting and wandering just too close to the carriage. But one by one, the big black Rogues start to falter. The closest ones are hit directly in the eye, the silver arrow piercing right through their skulls and instantly killing them. <br /> Alpha Achilles continues to shoot them all down. As more of them topple, more Rogues start to back off. Eventually, the path behind us is clear.<br /> But the smell lingers in the air.<br /> “There’s more of them around,” I whisper, and Beta Carlos looks at me.<br /> “You’re right.”<br /> Alpha Achilles slides back into the carriage, slamming the window shut. He looks enraged. I can almost feel it emanating from him as he throws the bow and arrows back into the chest and kicks it back into place. He slides a map toward the coachman, who slows down for a few miles and then completely swerves in a different direction.<br /> I want to ask what’s wrong, but when even Beta Carlos looks wary, it’s best to be quiet.<br /> We sit in that awful silence for a couple more moments. The coachman is really pushing it, whipping the horses more and more frequently. But since we changed routes, we arrive at the meeting after three hours.<br /> The big iron gates open for us, and I see the gigantic wall surrounding the pack. The pack mansion looms into view. Men in black uniforms are carrying silver weapons, staring at our carriage as it pulls up.<br /> We jump out of the carriage and run into the mansion, and standing in the foyer are the other Alphas.<br /> Alpha Tristan of the hosting pack, a brutish monster of a man with copper-colored hair and gray eyes, steps forward.<br /> “You’re late,” he spits out at Alpha Achilles. “We were expecting you more than an hour ago. Do you simply not respect anyone else’s time?”<br /> Alpha Achilles turns to Beta Carlos to sign his response and have him relay it. I’m about to step aside when I suddenly hear a voice in my mind, loud and clear: 'Tell him we had to find another route because of the Rogues around his pack.'<br /> My heart drops. I turn back around, and I realize that the exact thing I heard is what Beta Carlos is relaying to the group now. “Alpha Achilles wishes to inform everyone that we had to find another route, seeing as there were Rogues around the property.” <br /> I freeze. Did I just hear Alpha Achilles mind-link his words to me? I blink hard to shake off the possibility of hallucination, but nothing happens. I know I heard him. I know that was him.<br /> Alpha Tristan scoffs. “There are no Rogues here. We drove them all back. We killed all of them. One can even say that my pack is now safer than yours, Alpha Achilles.”<br /> Needless to say, Alpha Achilles does not take that well. He squares up against Alpha Tristan, his lips pulled back in a snarl. He motions something to Beta Carlos, who goes pale. He shakes his head, telling him that he can’t understand.<br /> But I can. I hear the voice in my head again. ‘You’re a liar. You didn’t kill a single Rogue. Your pack is in danger, and you’re too high up in your ass to admit it.’<br /> I can understand Alpha Achilles.<br /> I can hear his voice when no one else can.<br /> “Well?” Alpha Tristan prompts. “What is he saying?” <br /> Beta Carlos still doesn’t understand, and Alpha Achilles is visibly frustrated now. The other Alphas are starting to whisper among themselves, obviously not pleased by this inconvenience. <br /> “What is he saying?” they keep asking, while Beta Carlos is red-faced, trying desperately to communicate.<br /> I know I should probably shut up. My job here in the first place is to assist in the meeting, a mere delivery girl for snacks and anything else that the Alphas might need. But I just can’t help seeing the helpless hint in Alpha Achilles’s eyes when no one can understand what he’s saying. <br /> So I step forward, relaying the words I just heard. “Alpha Achilles said that you’re a liar. The Rogues are alive, and you’re too arrogant to admit it.”<br /> The entire room goes silent. The Alphas are at a standstill, all looking at me with varying expressions of shock. The world seems to freeze for a moment as I slowly come to the realization that I messed up.<br /> “I’m so sorry,” I quickly amend. “I… I just heard the Alpha King—”<br /> “Heard?” Alpha Tristan echoes. “You heard him? He’s mute, you imbecile!”<br /> The other Alphas laugh. I lower my head, but as I do so, I catch sight of Alpha Achilles looking at me. <br /> His eyes are wide with shock, but I’m surprised to find just a tiny hint of fascination in there amid the rage. That minuscule drop of positive attention almost made me forget the heaviness of the words I just said for him, but the other Alphas didn’t. Especially Alpha Tristan.<br /> “Get this little bitch out of my sight,” he splutters. “If she dares to speak a single word, I will shut her up myself.” <br /> My heart stops. Beta Carlos approaches me as quick as lightning, ushering me back into the carriage. But then, Alpha Achilles steps in between us and grabs me by the arm. <br /> Once again, his voice rings in my head. ‘Touch her, and I will chop your head off.’<br /> “What is this?” Alpha Tristan demands. “What’s he saying this time?” <br /> Beta Carlos swallows hard. “He wishes to say that if you touch the girl, he will chop your head off.” <br /> I thought that the silence earlier was bad enough, but this time it ends up being inexplicably worse.<br /> It’s the silence that makes it feel like the walls are closing in on me, suffocating me. I can almost hear the snow falling outside, gathering on the windows. The Alphas are now looking at me with expressions I can’t read, and I feel like it would be better if they just glared at me. <br /> Alpha Achilles pushes me behind him, standing in front of me protectively. His scent immediately invades my senses, and I have to consciously make an effort to focus as I hear his voice. <br /> 'If you really can hear me, then you can be of use,' he says, and even though his tone is neutral, even cold, I find myself eager to help. 'Tell Tristan that his pride won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around his pack, and they need to be dealt with. Tell him to stop being a pussy and do something about it.' <br /> The bluntness of those words makes me gasp out loud. “I have to tell him that?” <br /> “Tell me what?” Alpha Tristan demands. “Speak for him, if that is what he wishes to do!” <br /> “Speak!” the other Alphas urge me, and I look at Alpha Achilles helplessly. <br /> “He says that your pride, Alpha Tristan,” I begin nervously, “won’t erase the fact that Rogues are present around your pack and they need to be dealt with.” I pause, swallowing hard. “And you should stop being a pussy and do something about it.” <br /> Saying that was like dropping a bomb. The Alphas suddenly rush forward, complaining about the words as though they came from me. <br /> “Respectfully,” Alpha Tristan growls, “get out of my pack.” <br /> Alpha Achilles smirks, but he starts to walk away, keeping me away from Alpha Tristan. Beta Carlos looks like he wants to protest, but it’s over. <br /> The meeting didn’t happen not because we were late, but because no one wanted to listen.<br /> However, before we can even make it through the door, loud sirens begin to ring inside the meeting room, echoing in the halls and in the whole pack. Alpha Tristan freezes. “We are under attack.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 3<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The strong vibrations on the ground tell me that the sirens are still ringing. I know that Tristan told me to leave, and a part of me wants to make good on this so he would learn his lesson, but I refuse to put any of his people in danger just because their leader can’t swallow his pride.<br /> Instead of leaving with Claudia and Carlos, I beckoned the Alphas to come forward and fight. Thankfully, they don’t question me this time. Even Tristan marches out with them, not bothering to look at me.<br /> “What are we going to do, Alpha?” Carlos asks.<br /> 'We are going to fight,' I tell him through signing. 'The Rogues must be in their borders now, and we can’t let them get in. You and I are going to get out there, fight them from the outside, and stop them from breaking through.'<br /> Carlos nods, and I finally turn to Claudia. 'You stay here. No matter what happens, don’t leave.'<br /> “But….” she starts to protest, but then she swallows hard and relents. “I will.”<br /> With that, Carlos and I leave the room, shifting into our Wolf forms as soon as we hit the fields outside the pack mansion.<br /> Thick snow is now covering the ground, with more raining down from the slate blue sky. Light fog is shrouding the land, making the lifeless trees look like cruel thin hands thrust into the sky, but I can still see the battle going on in the distance. The Alphas and the patrol guards are keeping the Rogues at bay, because the stone walls that surround the pack are now chipped and damaged on one side, providing a point of entry for the enemy.<br /> Carlos and I leap across another section of the wall, landing on the thick forest outside the pack. It’s a lot darker here, colder, but the near absence of anything makes me feel strangely more connected.<br /> Even when the first line of Rogues sees us and starts to attack, I find myself fighting back seamlessly. I push back the Rogues trying to tackle me, swatting them with my paws and crushing them under.<br /> The thing about Rogues is their number. That’s how they succeed in taking over the packs since they started their revolution two years ago. As the Alpha King, I tried peace talks with them. I tried to hear their demands and find a middle ground, but they were never open to that. They just attacked mindlessly in the hopes of weakening us enough to submit.<br /> However, they are weak. If their necks get bitten, or if their chests get damaged, they’re basically as good as dead.<br /> So that’s what I do know. Every time they charge, I pin them to the ground and crush their ribs under my paws. I bite the others, always aiming for their necks. Their smell is thick in the air, making it easy for me to sense where they are and where they’re coming next even though I can’t hear them. Once their blood is shed, they freeze on the ground, unmoving and unable to attack again.<br /> But more and more of them are coming.<br /> Still, I’m in my element, and I know that I can take them all down.<br /> It took years for me to become confident in fighting again. Since that Rogue attack when I was twelve, I’ve grown fearful and limited.<br /> When I found out that I lost my voice and my hearing, it felt like my life ended. All the things I used to love doing became looming monsters that I had to overcome.<br /> My father was the one who came to my rescue. He taught me how to fight again, to use my other senses to make up for the fact that I can’t call for backup, I can’t command anyone, and I can’t hear what’s going on around me.<br /> And I have gotten good. So good in fact that I could take down troops of Rogues all by myself. I gained the respect of the other Alphas because of it too.<br /> But what happened today reminds me that even after this adjustment, I’m still as limited as before.<br /> When Carlos couldn’t understand me, I felt as small and as voiceless as I did eighteen years ago.<br /> The only thing that saved me from sinking low was Claudia.<br /> I still don’t know how she did it. I still don’t know how or why I hear her voice in my head, melodious and clear and refreshing, after years of not being able to hear anything else. It’s like her presence pierced through every weakness I have and made it her own, alleviated it, allowed me room to breathe.<br /> And now I feel like I have to be close to her.<br /> More Rogues attack, trying to crowd around me to limit my movements. I push all of them back, keeping them in front of me where I can see them and rounding them all up until they fall into crumpled heaps under my feet.<br /> I’m winning. Adrenaline is rushing through my veins like a drug, and I’m getting high just off the thought of another victory. I begin to move faster, breaking through their ranks until the others are too afraid to approach. It feels like I have no disability at all….<br /> Until I feel a familiar whoosh of energy behind my back.<br /> I turn around just in time. I see a Rogue flying midair with its teeth bared and ready to bite. I freeze, petrified at how close it is and how I didn’t sense it.<br /> And that’s my biggest mistake of the night.<br /> Seemingly out of nowhere, Carlos swerves into view and wedges himself between me and the Rogue, taking the bite that was supposed to be for me.<br /> Only when the Rogue tackles him down do I remember to move. I claw at it, scratching its face and leaving long and deep gashes. It backs away with a whimper, but it’s too late. The damage is done.<br /> Time seems to slow down, to stop, even. Blood pools around Carlos’s neck like a halo.<br /> “Alpha…” I see his mouth move. His eyes are becoming unfocused, and I can almost feel him panting in pain. “Alpha, go back to the mansion.”<br /> I shake my head. I make my way towards him, stumbling, but the vibrations on the ground suggest that the battle is still going. My vision is blurred now. All I can see is the blood. All of my senses have shut down, so much so that I don’t feel the Rogues crowding around us until I catch their scent.<br /> They’re coming at me from all sides now, and all I can do is push them away from Carlos. My heart is frozen in my chest in fear. Every second that passes feels like a missed opportunity to get him the help he needs.<br /> I keep pushing the Rogues back, but my concentration is gone. The fact that I can’t hear or call for help is catching up to me. I get scratches all across my arms, my chest, my face….<br /> Until their weight finally holds me down.<br /> I shift into my human form to avoid getting crushed, but I can’t protect Carlos anymore. I’m trying to pull him to his feet, but we’re stuck….<br /> But then the Rogues start to scatter just as a sweet, warm scent invades my nostrils.<br /> I look up, and I find Claudia standing before us, driving the Rogues back.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 4<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Claudia shifts into a beautiful bronze-colored wolf, breaking through the group of Rogues and scattering them. This time, they don’t return or retaliate. They just scamper away.<br /> With that, she reverts back to her human form and starts to lead me and Carlos away from the battle.<br /> I don’t know how she did it, but she somehow gets us out of there and back into the front of the mansion. Perhaps I’m just reeling from what happened. Perhaps I’m just being thick. Either way, when I come back down to earth, I see that she’s already propping Carlos against one of the columns, tearing off the hem of her skirt to stem the flow of blood in his neck.<br /> Only when I see her whispering to him do I realize what exactly happened.<br /> She… saved both of us.<br /> After I told her to stay inside the meeting room no matter what.<br /> The first emotion that floods my chest is anger. She didn’t follow my command. She just went ahead and did what she wanted. But the next thing that follows that wave of rage is something I’m not ready to acknowledge: appreciation. A rush of affection. Disbelief that she came to my aid when I needed it the most and most likely single-handedly saved Carlos’s life when I wasn’t capable of doing so.<br /> Still, the first thing that I think of saying is, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”<br /> Unsurprisingly, she hears it. She wheels around on me with indignation on her face. “You told me you needed my help. So I fought off the guards to save you. What I deserve right now is a thank you, not whatever this is.”<br /> I get up and try to reason with her, but then I see a big shadow looming over us. Claudia suddenly sinks into her knees for a bow. I turn around and see Alpha Tristan, covered in Rogue blood.<br /> His eyes find Claudia, flashing with an expression I can’t read. But when he looks at me, what he feels is clear enough, and that is pure and utter distaste.<br /> The battle seems to be over, and there are a couple of wounded Alphas and patrol guards being assisted into the mansion. I try to get up and help, but Tristan puts a hand on my chest despite me being half a foot taller than him, stopping me with a glare.<br /> “Don’t even dare,” he mutters. “I am tired of your selfishness. I am tired of the absolute disrespect you show to our people. For the past two years since this revolution started, you have approached this with only yourself and your pack in mind. What about us? What about the other people who are suffering, the ones who are much, much lower in rank?”<br /> I can’t hear his voice, but I can read his lips, and every single thing he says hits me like a punch in the gut.<br /> I want to say something. I want to tell him that it was not like that, that it was never like that at all. I have kept every single citizen in his land in mind whenever I charged for battle. That’s why I preferred to have an active role instead of doling out commands.<br /> However, I can’t help but feel a sting of truth behind his words. In a lot of ways, he’s right. The only fighting strategy I know is fighting alone or with Carlos. That’s not always going to work. Like tonight. I took him away from the main event of the fight and encouraged him to fight on the sidelines with me. And look where that got him.<br /> Wounded and broken, trying to protect me from a threat I didn’t hear expect because I couldn’t hear anything.<br /> Suddenly, the old shame of being deaf and mute comes back. I have spent years trying my best to be okay with my condition, and I have come to a point where I thought I was making the most of my abilities.<br /> I never thought I would be thrust back into feeling like none of the growth I made mattered.<br /> Around us, the wounded Alphas and Betas get visited by healers, carefully urged back into the safety and warmth of the mansion. I can’t bear to even look at them. I feel like everything is my fault.<br /> Tristan for sure feels like it is.<br /> He walks around me like I’m just his disobedient child. “Leaving in the middle of battle is a disgrace. You are the Alpha King, and you should act like it. The safety of our people should always come before yours or anyone close to you. What you did—”<br /> “Pardon, Alpha Tristan,” Claudia suddenly says.<br /> Tristan looks at her like he wants to take her head off and throw it across the mountains, and all my instincts rise into protective mode. I try to get in between them, but Claudia stands in front of Tristan and squares up against him.<br /> I can tell that she’s scared. She keeps kneading her hands, which are still slick with Carlos’s blood. Her breathing is uneven, and I can tell that she would rather hide, but for some reason, she’s facing him in this strange challenge.<br /> “You’re interrupting me again,” he notes in disbelief before glaring at me. “You should train this pet of yours.”<br /> I make a move to push him, but Claudia catches my arm and shoves me back. “Alpha Tristan, it was me who took them back to the mansion. It’s not right for you to talk to the Alpha King this way, and—”<br /> 'Don’t do it,' I warn her. 'Don’t cross him.'<br /> Claudia doesn’t listen. “What you’re doing is disrespectful. No one is gravely hurt, and we should be glad that--”<br /> “Out,” Tristan interjects. “Get out of my pack, and never show yourselves ever again. I'm banning the Alpha King and anyone from his side from Moonlight Grove Pack.”<br /> She opens her mouth as though to protest, but I just grab her shoulder and pull her back as Tristan pushes past her and enters the mansion. Then, his guards start to close the doors, barring us from ever entering.<br /> She blinks hard as though she can’t believe it happened that way. She slowly faces me. “I’m sorry.”<br /> I don’t listen to her. I just beckon Carlos to follow me, and off we go back to our pack.<br /> The awkwardness inside the carriage back home is almost tangible, with the three of us facing each other. I can’t even look at Claudia. The disappointment and rage brewing inside me need a release. I know that part of it is my fault, but there is only one reason why we were kicked out and shut down just like that.<br /> 'Take him to the infirmary,' I sign to the guards as soon as we arrive, and they all guide Carlos up the stairs. When Carlos looks at me questioningly, I communicate to him, 'I will be here for a while.'<br /> Claudia tries to get up the stairs, but I hold my arm out and block her way. She looks up at me in fear, and I stand in front of her.<br /> “If this is about what happened….” she begins, but I shake my head to cut her off.<br /> 'I don’t know how you can hear me,' I say coldly, 'and I don’t know how I can hear you. It must be some kind of freak connection between us because we were close as kids, but those days are gone. You and I don’t mix anymore, and that’s how it should be. You have no business speaking for me. You have no business putting words in my mouth.'<br /> She swallows hard. “I only wanted to direct his anger at myself, not you.”<br /> That takes me a little aback, but I shake my head. My decision is already set.<br /> I look down at Claudia, holding her gaze. 'Once daylight sets in, I want you to leave the palace and find another home to serve. We are now parting ways.'<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 5<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> My chest goes hard, as though my body is slowly turning into stone. I look up at Alpha Achilles, blinking rapidly and trying hard to focus despite the growing pain in my heart, desperately wishing I heard wrong.<br /> But Alpha Achilles just stares down at me.<br /> "I can't leave," I tell him, my lips barely moving. In fact, my face feels numb. "I... this is the only home I know."<br /> His face stays stoic. Unmoved. 'It doesn't matter. Moonlight Grove is the biggest pack next to ours, and I lost their loyalty.'<br /> I shake my head. "I did it for you. I spoke for you. When no one understood you, I did. And I made sure everyone else did too. The only reason I talked to Tristan is because I wanted him to punish me for taking you away. Why are you doing this to me?"<br /> I take a step closer to him, and he steps back, determined to keep the distance between us. Eventually, he turns away from me like he can't bear to look me in the eye. At first, I think that it's just because he can't stand to look at me, but the longer we stand here, the more I understand that it's because he doesn't want me to see something.<br /> "Tell me," I urge him. "What's the problem? You know it's not my fault."<br /> 'It doesn't matter,' he finally says. 'It has to end here. I'm sorry, Claudia.'<br /> The finality in his tone breaks what's remaining in my heart. My breath hitches in my throat and I find myself opening and closing my mouth, struggling to find the right words to tell him that I don't want to go, that I shouldn't. But nothing comes to mind.<br /> For the first time in my life, I don't know what to say.<br /> He turns around to leave, and every fiber of my being tells me to come after him. Maybe even to stop him. But my body is already frozen in place. The only thing I can do is watch him leave.<br /> He walks back to the palace, and I stand outside for I don't know how long. Snow rains down on me, flocking on my hair and my lashes.<br /> I don’t know what I’m waiting for, to be honest. Am I expecting him to come back and retract his words? Because a part of me definitely wishes he would.<br /> A bigger part of me knows he won’t.<br /> When I see a figure approaching, I immediately think that it's Alpha Achilles, coming back to take back what he said. It’s hard to see in the snow, so I try to meet him halfway.<br /> But it’s only Gamma Kiernan.<br /> His golden blond hair shimmers in the dim light as he peers at me. “Claudia? What are you doing out here in the cold? It’s the start of the Solstice Festival tomorrow, you should be preparing with the rest of the staff.”<br /> I almost say that I’ll be on it, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, “I don’t work for the pack anymore, Gamma. I am to leave tomorrow, as what’s ordered by Alpha Achilles.”<br /> “What?” His expression darkens. “We can’t afford to kick out more staff now, not with everyone leaving because of the revolution….” He holds up a hand. “I will talk to him. Just get inside.”<br /> I follow his order, but every step back to the maid’s quarters feels like a big hand digging into my insides and scooping everything out. By the time I get back to my room, I’m already empty.<br /> Empty enough to start packing everything I ever owned.<br /> * * <br /> ACHILLES.<br /> Letting go of Claudia is the right choice. It has to be.<br /> I should have known that it wasn’t good news, the fact that she could hear me and I could hear her. The moment I felt that rush of affection for her when she tried to stand up to Tristan on my behalf, I knew that it would only be right to release her….<br /> Or at least, this is what I keep saying to myself as I lay in bed, tossing and turning, staring at the moon through the window and replaying the moments of fascination and shame from tonight.<br /> I wish there was a way to erase them all.<br /> How long I lie there awake, I don’t know. But the only reason I finally fall asleep is because my body gives way to exhaustion.<br /> And soon, the dreams come.<br /> In my dream, I’m back beyond the borders of Moonlight Grove Pack. But this time, I’m alone. Carlos is not around. The Rogues aren’t present either. The only thing in front of me is a frozen lake, shining like a mirror under the dark sky.<br /> And standing in the middle of the lake is a beautiful woman with stark white hair and gray eyes. Her skin is so pale that it’s almost blue. Her dress is bright white, pearlescent and glowing, billowing in the air even in the absence of a breeze.<br /> It’s the Moon Goddess, and she’s staring at me.<br /> We haven’t communicated before. She hasn’t shown up in my dreams, but I’ve seen countless paintings of her before, and heard so many stories about her showing up in pivotal moments.<br /> Perhaps this is mine.<br /> My nerves jump, but I sink to my knees, my breath fogging up in front of me.<br /> “Rise, my child,” she says. Even though she’s a deity, I still can’t hear her voice. I can only read her lips. “Dark times are ahead, and they loom closer and closer to you with every second that passes. Just tonight, you have suffered a great loss.”<br /> I don’t get up. 'I have done my best. I protected the people—'<br /> “Exactly,” the Moon Goddess interjects, walking across the frozen lake with the water still moving underneath. Her feet aren’t touching the ice. “That was your victory tonight, even with the parting of your ally. Your loss came much later.”<br /> 'I’m afraid I don’t understand,' I sign to her. 'The battle ended there.'<br /> “No.” She stops right in front of me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “You wished to find a way to expand your limits, and I gave it to you. But you pushed it away.”<br /> I stare at her, trying to decode what she means. I desperately want to make sense of it, to not waste the valuable time I have with her, but nothing is clicking.<br /> “I put her on your path for a reason,” she continues. “And you wanted none of it.”<br /> Suddenly, the Moon Goddess’s face starts to change, morphing like molten wax until it forms a new set of features. <br /> A face that is all too familiar.<br /> Claudia.<br /> She starts to speak again, but this time, I hear her voice—Claudia’s voice—echoing in my head like a prophecy.<br /> “I am the Siren, the Alpha’s Voice, and I shall be heard.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 6<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> I wake up with a gasp, sitting up abruptly like a marionette whose strings got yanked. My head starts to spin, but it’s not because there was no gentle introduction to the waking world.<br /> It’s because of the dream.<br /> Because of Claudia.<br /> I clutch my chest and feel that my heart is going haywire. My back is slick with sweat and I can almost feel it soaking my sheets. I close my eyes for a moment, gathering my thoughts, but the first thing I see in the darkness is Claudia’s face. Her voice is ringing in my ears, the first voice I have heard in so many years.<br /> She’s the Siren, the Moon Goddess said. The Alpha’s Voice.<br /> What does that mean? What does it have to do with me? What does that make her? I have more questions than answers and the frustration building up inside me is turning into anger. I don’t want that. I have to focus.<br /> Because if there is one thing I know, it’s that I fucked up by demanding her to leave.<br /> And I need to get her back.<br /> Fueled by the sudden fiery desire to chase after her and hold her down in the castle if I need to, I jump out of bed. I push open the door and startle the guards. I can see them mouthing, “What is the trouble, Alpha?”<br /> I ignore all of them. I just run along the hallway until I find Kiernan’s room. The guards step aside when they see me, so I push open the door, stumbling inside like a sweaty, clumsy ogre.<br /> Meanwhile, Kiernan is still awake, staring through the window. My heart sinks when I see that it’s already daylight outside, but I still have to try. I need to.<br /> Kiernan turns around, frowns at me, and asks, “Your Majesty. What brings you here?”<br /> He knows that it irks me when he calls me that, but I ignore it anyway. 'I need to find the maid, Claudia.'<br /> I thought he would ask why, but he just narrows his eyes. “The maid you kicked out last night? I found her in the freezing cold, just staring into the distance like she couldn’t believe what happened. I actually told her I would talk to you about it, but when I got to your room, you were already asleep.”<br /> His words hit me like arrows to the heart. I can almost picture Claudia standing where I left her, crying and wondering what she did wrong, all the while I was sleeping soundly with no care in the world….<br /> No. I can’t think about that. It hurts too much.<br /> I step back, the tightness in my chest so extreme that I have to inhale and exhale slowly. Every time I blink I see her distraught face and hear her broken voice, appealing her case and showing me that she deserved to stay.<br /> And what did I do? I kicked her right out like she meant nothing.<br /> Like we never had anything together.<br /> I swallow hard. ‘I need her back here. I made a mistake.’<br /> “Then let’s go to the maids’ quarters,” Kiernan offers. “Maybe she’s still there.”<br /> I nod, and together, we barge into the lower floor where the maids stay. The rooms are already empty as they start their day at dawn. Every empty room we pass makes me want to punch something in regret, but I can still catch the sweet scent of Claudia in the air, lingering like a whisper. Finally, we arrive at her room, where her scent is strongest. The door is still closed.<br /> Kiernan lifts his hand to knock, but I’m desperate. I open the door.<br /> And there is one person inside the room. But it’s not Claudia.<br /> It’s a maid I remember as Maia, her best friend here. She whips around as soon as we get in, and I immediately see her swollen eyes and red face.<br /> “Alpha,” she mutters, sinking into a bow. “Gamma. I will go to work as soon as possible.”<br /> “No, take the time you need,” Kiernan says. “You are obviously in distress. What happened?”<br /> My breath gets stuck in my throat. I already know what she’s going to say, but I find myself searching the room in hopes of finding any proof that Claudia actually chose to stay.<br /> However, the room is blissfully empty. Vacated for the next maid.<br /> “Claudia left, Gamma,” she answers. “She said she needed to go back to her family. It was just so unexpected. I asked her if it had something to do with the meeting, and she said no. She said she’s tired of working. I don’t believe that. She always loved working here….”<br /> I freeze in shock. Kiernan glances at me pointedly before turning back to Maia. “I completely understand. Please, take the day off and rest. The Alpha and I will get going now.”<br /> He grabs me by the arm and pulls me out of the room, closing the door behind us. I can’t even walk properly. I can’t believe what I just heard.<br /> After all the bad things I said to her, she still chose to cover for me.<br /> I stop moving as soon as we reach the foyer. I hold onto the stair banister for support, my throat closed up.<br /> Kiernan stands next to me. “What happened, Your Majesty?”<br /> ‘Don’t call me that,’ I sign to him. ‘Go prepare a carriage—no. A horse. Ready a horse for me. I will be setting out soon—’<br /> “No, you’re not,” he interjects, his eyebrows scrunched up. “You are the Alpha King. Do you know what it would mean to the Rogues if they took down the head of the whole land? The revolution would be over!”<br /> ‘Fine, I will do it myself.’ I try to push past him but he blocks me. ‘Move out of my way. I need Claudia back here right now.’<br /> He shakes his head, putting a firm hand on my chest. “You’d have to kill me if you want to leave alone.”<br /> Kiernan is one of my oldest friends and most loyal men. We’ve butted heads many times before, but not like this. I can see his quiet anger, and I know from the look in his eyes that he can feel mine. Still, he stands his ground, staring at me like he’s daring me to attack him right now.<br /> And I almost want to. The thought of Claudia getting farther and farther away is tearing my soul apart.<br /> But I take a deep breath to steady myself. ‘You don’t understand.’<br /> “Then make me understand.”<br /> ‘Claudia is important to me,’ I tell him after a pause. ‘The Moon Goddess told me so. She is the Siren and the Alpha’s Voice. I have to get her back or else—’<br /> “Alpha Achilles.”<br /> He signals me to turn around. I see Carlos standing by the end of the stairs, his torso still wrapped in bandages.<br /> However, he’s not alone. Standing next to him are the Housekeeper and the Chief Butler. Both of them are carrying files, laid out as though they’re asking for advice.<br /> ‘What is this?’ I signal to Carlos. ‘I don’t need any interruptions right now. I have somewhere else to go.’<br /> Carlos shakes his head to stop me. “Alpha… today is the Winter Solstice festival. Our pack is hosting. You cannot go anywhere.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 7<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> The journey from Sangria Amori to my hometown feels long and short at the same time. As I sit there in the carriage watching the palace disappear behind a mountain in the distance and begin to see the tall magnolia trees surrounding the famous springs of my home, I can’t help but feel a mixture of longing and relief.<br /> Longing because it’s been my home for years and years. I have made good memories and bonded with amazing people. I overcame a lot of bad things. I met the one I thought I would know forever.<br /> But the relief comes from the loss of all of that. From the knowledge that from now on, I would be free from that palace and everyone in it.<br /> Especially Achilles.<br /> My heart still makes a little flip at the simple thought of his name. I still have to clench my hands and pierce my own palms with my nails to remind myself that I shouldn’t be thinking about him. But thankfully, I don’t have to acknowledge it because the carriage finally stops. The coachman Peter calls out from the front, smacking the carriage door with his cane. “You’re here now, girl. It’s time to move out.”<br /> I gather all my bags and sling them all on my shoulders, slightly struggling with the weight as I climb down the rickety old carriage. “Thank you so much, Peter.”<br /> I give him a happy salute, about to head to the arch that reads Nightshade Springs. But then, I hear him calling out, “Are you sure you’re going to be safe from here on?”<br /> That makes me pause. So far, throughout the whole journey, I haven’t sensed any Rogues at all. But Peter has a point. The infestation of Rogues is very much real and rampant, and I haven’t been to my hometown in five years. I honestly don’t know what’s waiting in store for me here.<br /> But still, I don’t want to bother him. If there is any danger out here, I would rather face it; I know that he has a family.<br /> So I just smile at him. “I got it, Peter. Thank you again and be careful on your way back!”<br /> He looks uncertain, but he leaves anyway, whipping the horses until they gallop faster. Soon enough, he’s gone.<br /> And I’m alone in the middle of the woods, surrounded by the familiar fresh scent of springs and pine.<br /> The scent of home.<br /> A soft smile appears on my face as I start to walk, following the stone path that leads to the edge of the village where the cemetery is.<br /> I suppose it’s a grim thing to start with, but I’ve been meaning to visit my parents’ graves for the past years. Grief and the start of the revolution put a halt to all of that, so now I feel quite happy that I get to see them, even if it’s just this way.<br /> My mom was a maid like I am. Or was. Either way, she served the palace too, specifically as a handmaiden to the former Queen. My dad was a gardener. She died from deadly flu five years ago, and he followed right after.<br /> Back then, I thought this was unfair. How could they leave me in this world alone? I was resentful. But eventually, I realized that it may have been out of love. He was never able to be apart from her for any period of time, and not even death could stop him from chasing after her.<br /> They told me that they met each other at a gathering for servants, and my father fell in love with my mother when he first heard her sing. I honestly can’t blame him. She had the most wonderful voice, and he always said that I had that beautiful voice too. I never really knew if he was just making that up, but the ones who heard me sing also told me that I do have a pretty voice.<br /> The memory brings a smile to my face, and as I approach their graves, I find myself humming along to the tune of my mother’s lullaby.<br /> Their graves are now covered in ivy. I sweep some of the leaves away and light a candle for them.<br /> I sit there for a while, watching the light flicker on their gravestones. I reach out and feel the warmth, opening my mouth to talk to them like I always did, but that’s when something strikes me.<br /> The sour, rotten smell.<br /> My entire body freezes. I shoot to my feet, clutching my bags closer to me as I look around. My heart is beating in my ears and I almost want to whimper, but it only gets worse when I finally see a single Rogue.<br /> It’s hiding behind gravestones in the distance, its eyes gleaming with hunger and malice as they focus on me. Its low growls make the ground hum. There’s tension in the air, thick and suffocating, telling me it’s been stalking me like prey for a while now. It’s still far but ready to spring. Ready to chase and feed.<br /> And I know that if I take one step back, it will come out and kill me.<br /> I slowly exhale, stepping back and feeling it move with me, keeping the distance between us the same.<br /> Bit by bit, I ease my bags off my shoulders and set them down. The eyes of the Rogue follow my movement like two laser pointers. I slip my hand in my pocket, looking for the silver knife that Maia gave me as a parting gift, ready to it down.<br /> As though on cue, the Rogue leaps into the air as soon as I raise the knife.<br /> But I’m ready this time. I don’t come to meet it. Instead, I stand my ground, waiting for the perfect moment. As soon as it flies midair to pounce on me, I duck right under it and run the knife along its throat.<br /> The Rogue falls to the ground with a whimper. It scrambles to get upright again, but before it can do so, I stomp its fragile head flat with my boot, its blood spattering everywhere.<br /> “Thank the gods,” I mutter, but that’s when I realize that I spoke too soon.<br /> As soon as the Rogue stops moving, the forest seems to come alive right before me. More Rogues emerge from the trees, sniffing and snarling, their eyes alight with joy when they see a perfectly good meal severely outnumbered.<br /> All at once, they jump toward me.<br /> A scream breaks out of my lips. I raise my bags to shield myself, but at this point, it’s only a matter of time before they take me down and feast on me. I’m only waiting for the pain now….<br /> But before it can come, I hear loud bangs in the distance. Gunshots. Followed by the loud thuds of the Rogues hitting the ground, dropping like dead flies.<br /> I lower my bags in horror. All the Rogues are dead, their heads bleeding from a single smoking puncture wound between their eyes. I’m about to turn around to see my savior, but then I feel the still-hot muzzle of the gun against my back.<br /> “Drop your knife if you want to live. Who are you and what do you need?”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 8<br /> ACHILLES.<br /> The first thing that rises out of me is not frustration from being told what to do, but embarrassment from forgetting about the big event. I know that Carlos just had a bad injury that he’s still most likely dealing with, but I have a situation on my hands that I just can’t shake off, but I can't help but avert my gaze in shame.<br /> Carlos, Kiernan, and the two head staff are staring at me expectantly, and I just want to sink into the ground and never reappear.<br /> I look over at Kiernan, who gives me a small shrug like he’s telling me that it’s all up to me.<br /> The obvious thing to do is to just delay the festival and focus on the very important task of finding Claudia. But I know that my people are counting on this one single happy day among all the bad ones. They need this. And as much as I need Claudia here with me, they come first.<br /> I take a deep, steadying breath. ‘I apologize. It must have slipped my mind. Prepare the decorations and we shall have a lunch banquet in the throne room.’<br /> Carlos nods and repeats my words to the head staff. Then, he turns back to me and asks, “How about the evening celebrations?”<br /> ‘We’ll see,’ I sign to him.<br /> With that, the head staff both bow and leave. Now it’s only the three of us, and they look pained.<br /> “So what’s been happening?” Carlos splutters at last. “Where are you going?”<br /> Kiernan is the one who answers for him. “He kicked out the maid, Claudia, and now he has to bring her back because the Moon Goddess told him so in a dream. He wants to go out there himself.”<br /> ‘I have to,’ I tell them both. 'I still do, but with the festival..."<br /> And of course, they just look at me like they feel sorry for me. I’m about to tell them both to supervise so I can go, but then Kiernan sighs and says, “I’ll get some of our warriors, and we will go and find her.”<br /> Without giving me a chance to say anything about this, Kiernan leaves. Carlos then looks at me and beckons me to go up the stairs.<br /> “After you, Alpha. Let’s give the people a good celebration.”<br /> * *<br /> When I arrive at the throne room after changing into my formal suit, it is already decked with blue and silver decorations fit for the winter solstice theme. Food is flowing in, music is playing, and it seems that all the citizens are gathering.<br /> When Carlos and I enter, it takes me a whole while to notice that the throne room isn’t even halfway filled. As I sit on my throne, I see that my people are not eating, drinking, or having fun at all. They are just gathered at the little tables, engaged in serious conversation.<br /> More people are coming in, greeted by the butlers by the door. I keep thinking that this new batch will come and let loose, but they just gather like the rest of the guests.<br /> It’s starting to make me nervous. I agreed to this party thinking it would be best for their morale, but it seems that they’re just as uninterested in the occasion as I was.<br /> ‘This is not going well,’ I tell Carlos, who’s standing on my right side. He’s not fully recovered yet, but he insisted on coming here. ‘It would be best to cut this short.’<br /> As soon as I say those words, guilt starts to drum in my chest. I know that I should try to make things more festive instead of thinking about Claudia, but not knowing how things are on that front is almost as bad as being here and seeing my people feeling blue.<br /> “I think it would be best if you go down and communicate with them personally,” Carlos says, and I can’t believe I never thought of that before.<br /> I get up from my throne with the full intent of going around, but then I see a familiar face by the door. Someone I really don’t want to see.<br /> Alpha Tristan.<br /> He’s still wearing a coat, speckled with snow. The butler tries to take it from him but he pushes him away, which makes me tense up, immediately ready for a fight. However, he’s not alone. Walking behind him like lapdogs are the Alphas of his neighboring packs: Giorgio, Anthony, and Larkin.<br /> Their auras are so domineering and so distracting that the people in the throne room stop what they’re doing and just watch them approach me. But instead of meeting them halfway, I remain standing in front of the throne with the steps of the dais separating us.<br /> None of them bows down to me.<br /> “What are you doing here?” Carlos asks, and it perfectly reflects what’s in my mind, just more polite.<br /> Tristan flashes me a smirk. “We’re here because we’re tired of the preposterous games that Sangria Amori is playing. We need change!”<br /> Even though I can’t hear him, I can feel the vibrations of his scream on the walls and the floor. He’s livid, and because of this, the people in the room are tuning in.<br /> I don’t like the admiring and interested looks on their faces. I look at Carlos. ‘We shouldn’t have this talk here.’<br /> “Alpha Tristan.” Carlos gives him a strained smile, motioning him to come along. “We shall move this conversation to a more private location and perhaps—”<br /> “Get your hands off me.” Tristan pushes past him and squares up to me. “What you’re doing to these people is sickening. Making them show up here, forced to have fun, when they are suffering from problems you would never know about from your high throne. You’re making a mockery of their situation, flaunting your privilege in their faces.”<br /> I want to push him down the steps and pound his face into a pulp, but I restrain myself. Instead, I just sign something that Carlos translates with perfect contempt.<br /> “Get out, right now.”<br /> Tristan only scoffs, facing the people. “Last night, instead of meeting with the rest of the Alphas and coming up with a way to erase the Rogues, Alpha King Achilles was late. He left us on our own when we had a Rogue attack. It’s painfully obvious that his disabilities have made him selfish, and unfit to rule our land.”<br /> This time, my temper gets the best of me. I grab him by the arm with the full intent of punching him in the face as soon as he turns, but I stop when the people gasp.<br /> They’re now looking at me in horror.<br /> I slowly let him go. He starts to walk away, step by step, not taking his eyes off me. There’s a certain gleam in his eyes that I can’t identify, but the hairs on the back of my neck are standing on end.<br /> Only when he’s standing by the door do I know why.<br /> “We will no longer take orders from the Alpha King,” Tristan declares, his gaze still on me. “We will handle the Rogues our way, the right way. And those who want to join us would be offered full protection.”<br /> With that, he leaves.<br /> And I watch in horror as some of my citizens begin to get up from their seats, following him out.<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 9<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> “Don’t shoot me,” I mutter, and I cringe when I hear the fear in my voice. I hate that I faced that single Rogue like a boss only to fold like this. “I’m not a danger to anyone. I’m a local here. I just moved for work at the palace…”<br /> I stop when I realize I’m about to ramble. I just drop the knife. As soon as it clatters on the floor, I feel the muzzle of the gun easing off my back. I take this as a cue to turn around, and I come face to face with a young man about my age, with straw-colored hair and brown eyes. He’s carrying a massive silver shotgun with rounds of big silver bullets around his body.<br /> He’s studying me closely, fixing his flannel shirt. “Who are you?”<br /> “Claudia Hale,” I say shakily. I even bow, which is dumb, but I guess it’s not so stupid if it stops him from shooting me. “I just came here to visit my parents.”<br /> At first, he doesn’t say anything. My nerves are starting to act up and I find myself basically skipping in my spot. But finally, he asks, “Hale, huh? Do you happen to be related to Ruth?”<br /> My eyes go wide. “Yes! Ruth is my cousin.”<br /> The man’s shoulders relax. He cracks a smile, and suddenly he doesn’t seem so scary anymore. “You must be the cousin she talks about a lot. The singer. I’m Max, by the way. Follow me.”<br /> We shake hands, and I can’t help but feel giddy.<br /> My cousin Ruth is here. I can’t believe it. We were very close as kids, even though we only saw each other over the summers. She left Nightshade Springs when we were both eighteen, and the last thing I heard about her was that she got married to a mason from the nearby village. We saw each other at my dad’s funeral, but we didn’t get to talk much because of my own grief.<br /> But now, I’m going to see her. I wonder if she has kids now.<br /> The thought of little babies running around makes me so excited, so much so that I almost forget to follow Max as he leads me out of the cemetery through an unfamiliar path. I quickly pick up the knife and run after him.<br /> I frown as I pull level with Max. "Why are we using this path?"<br /> The moment the question leaves my lips, the answer comes to me when we turn a corner.<br /> For the first time, I come face to face with the aftermath of the Rogue infestation.<br /> The village is now completely deserted. The houses are dilapidated, empty and broken. The smell of Rogues is present, but distant, which tells me that the place is visited frequently but they're not actually here. Dried blood is scattered all over the ground like paint.<br /> "That's animal blood," Max explains, following the direction of my gaze. "We vacated this place a long time ago. We still live in this area, but we decided to stick close together to protect ourselves from the Rogues. We figured that it would be best if we show them a strong front. The Kingdom doesn't really do much for us, so we have to take matters into our own hands."<br /> I swallow hard, averting my gaze as we turn another corner, a hidden path behind a small hill.<br /> "Does the Kingdom not visit the villages at all?" I ask.<br /> Max shakes his head. "Nope. Not at all. They send guards from time to time, but you see how many Rogues there are. You know how violent they can be. We needed weapons to protect ourselves, but they just won't provide that. I think they keep it to themselves, leave everyone else defenseless."<br /> I keep quiet. I don't know what to say. Part of me wants to defend the palace. I mean, I know they have it hard, and Achilles is doing his best. But then again, who am I to dismiss their suffering?<br /> I open my mouth to ask where they got their weapons, but then we arrive at a fenced part of the village. Barbed wires are set on tall metal walls, behind which small compact buildings stand proud.<br /> He opens the gate carefully, and we both enter. There are a couple of villages standing watch, carrying guns similar to his. They stare at me, and I have to lower my head to avoid the intensity of their looks.<br /> I want to tell Max that I just want to see Ruth, but before I can get the question out, I see two people running towards me.<br /> I look up and my heart nearly gives out when I see that it's Ruth, together with a tall bearded man who must be her husband.<br /> "Claudia!" she squeals, and before I can even drop my bags, she scoops me up into a big hug. "You're home! It's been so long!"<br /> I blink the tears away when she lets me go. "I figured it was time to retire and just stay here."<br /> I feel guilty. I lied to Maia and now I'm lying to Ruth.<br /> “You loved that job, but I do understand,” she says, and I can’t help but be thankful that she didn’t press me for more details. “This is my husband, Henry. We live in one of the apartments. You can stay with us if you like, but I think it would be best if you get your own room.”<br /> “It’s nice to meet you,” Henry says, taking my bags from me. “I will take these up to your room.”<br /> I smile. “Thank you so much.”<br /> He and Max leave, and Ruth takes my arm, steering me into a small structure at the foot of one of the buildings. I can hear cheers and smell food from outside, and I find myself relaxing when I see that it’s a pub. Men and women alike are laughing and talking, downing jugs of beer and eating fried food. It’s quite fascinating to see so much life and joy in a single space in this lost land, but I can’t help but feel grateful.<br /> Ruth and I sit on the counter. The bartender slides two jugs of beer and a platter of steaming chips. I grab the chips even though they’re hot, stuffing them all in my mouth and drinking the beer. Everything is strangely fresh, and I can’t help but gobble it all up. Ruth watches me with amusement as she sips her drink.<br /> “Do they not feed you up there?” she jokes, shaking her head. “Honestly, I don’t blame you for going home. It must have been hell there.”<br /> My appetite suddenly vanishes. “Well, it’s not so bad. But nothing like home, yes.” I clear my throat, desperate for a change of topic. “So, Max found me in the cemetery. He’s… an interesting character.”<br /> “I know, he mind-linked it to me.” She shrugs. “Max is kind of an asshole, but I get why. He had to step up as our leader when the palace guards left us. He looted all those guns that we use now, so the only thing we have to forge are bullets. Screw the Kingdom and that deaf-mute idiot who rules it.”<br /> My face goes hot. I want to defend Achilles. I want to tell Ruth not to call him that, but then again, he kicked me out for defending him.<br /> “Is everyone doing the same?” I start to ask, but then a small commotion breaks out in the corner of the pub where the entrance is.<br /> “Hey, keep that bastard out!” I hear some of the men yelling.<br /> “He barged right in and demanded entry!”<br /> “It’s one of those palace fuckers!”<br /> I freeze. Ruth and I both slide out of our stools, looking over at the chaos.<br /> My heart jumps right into my throat when I see Gamma Kiernan trying to force his way inside the pub.<br /> “Bring me Claudia Hale, and we will not have any problems.”<br /> <br /> $Chapter<br /> Chapter 10<br /> CLAUDIA.<br /> Panic takes a hold of me. Suddenly, I feel my entire body going numb. I can feel Ruth beside me and I can hear her saying something, but it’s like my mind is tuning out. All I can hear are muffled voices. All I can feel is my heart hammering inside my ribs like it wants to get out.<br /> I blink a couple of times as we get pushed back by the ongoing commotion. For a moment I’m certain that I’m not seeing things correctly, but I’m wrong.<br /> Gamma Kiernan is really here, and he’s looking for me.<br /> “No way you’re getting in,” the men at the entrance keep telling him. “Pack it up and leave!”<br /> “I will not leave until you bring Claudia Hale here,” he insists. “I can smell her scent in the air. I know you’re hiding her. Back off, and no one gets hurt.”<br /> “How dare you threaten us?”<br /> With that, the chaos ensues. Now there are so many men blocking his way, and soon enough, women are clamoring to shoo him out of the pub too. I can see his expression. I know that he can take these men down if he wants to, but he’s restraining himself.<br /> The urge to step up and show myself before things get ugly overcomes me, but then Ruth wheels around and dunks my head down, preventing me from getting seen.<br /> “Why the hell are they looking for you?” Ruth demands. “Did you do something?”<br /> “No,” I begin to say, but that’s when I feel a strong hand dragging me back.<br /> “Ow!” I complain under my breath, feeling myself getting yanked back into the corner by this strong person. I turn around and see Max. He’s squeezing my arm so hard that I can almost feel the bruises appearing. “Let me go!”<br /> He just glares at me. “You are not going to show yourself to that upstart. You’re going to stay here behind the bar. Understand?”<br /> “No!” I snatch my arm back from him. “Do you want your people to get hurt?”<br /> His eyes flash with anger. “You’re really assuming we’re the ones who’d get hurt? You put too much faith in those men who don’t do anything but sit on their asses and command the lower people to fight for them.”<br /> I realize that he’s referring to the palace royals, including Achilles. His claims are so false that I square up to him, shoving him back. “You have no idea what you’re talking about! Those men risk their lives for us!”<br /> “Maybe for you,” Max growls dryly, “but never for me.”<br /> The next events happen so fast. So much so that I don’t even get the time to react. Max just grabs me by the shoulders, pushes me right into the broom closet, and props a chair against the doorknob to basically lock it from outside. I fall on the floor, flat on my behind, but then I spring up to my feet to try to ram it down.<br /> “Let me out!” I scream, but I doubt anyone would hear me from the absolute meltdown happening outside.<br /> I could shift into my wolf and break the door, but I think I would end up demolishing half the pub in the process. So even though I want to end this, I just stay by the door, pressing my ear against it and listening as best as I can.<br /> That’s when I hear Max announcing, “Silence, everyone. Let the man speak.”<br /> The people immediately shut up, which surprises me. It seems that everyone really recognizes him as their leader. I can almost picture him stepping up to Gamma Kiernan.<br /> “Thank you,” Gamma Kiernan says. “As I was trying to say before I got swarmed, I need Claudia Hale.”<br /> “Why?” Max asks in a calm, almost lazy tone.<br /> “Because the Alpha King says so,” Gamma Kiernan replies in a similar voice. “We don’t want any trouble with the King, do we?”<br /> “Oh, no, we don’t,” Max answers, but this time, he sounds perfectly sarcastic. I can hear the others around him letting out a laugh. “We really don’t. But you see, Claudia isn’t here.”<br /> Silence fills the air. I want to scream at the top of my lungs to alert everyone of my presence, but I’m stunned. Petrified, really. Did the Gamma really say that it’s Alpha Achilles who’s asking for me?<br /> But why? Why would he look for me? It hasn’t even been a day since I left. Does he regret all the things he did, all the things he said to me? Did he realize that I didn’t actually do anything wrong, and he punished me out of pure pride and possibly stupidity?<br /> Now that’s something I want to hear. I want him to say sorry.<br /> I’m about to scream when suddenly, I hear Gamma Kiernan saying, “I can smell her. Do not fucking lie to me.”<br /> Somehow, I’m able to sense something about to go wrong before it even transpires. I make a move to ram the door down before things can break out, but it’s too late.<br /> Before I can even do anything, I hear Max saying in a low voice, “Deal with this bastard.”<br /> And then, hell breaks loose.<br /> It’s so loud I can almost see it. The men in the pub all yell for battle and the sounds that follow root me to my spot. More screams. Thuds from bodies hitting the floor and the walls. Broken glass. Snapping wood. Arrows whizzing. Wolves howling. Gunshots. So many gunshots….<br /> Soon enough, the smell of blood fills the air, and my heart nearly stops.<br /> It seems to go on forever, the sound and the smell and the carnage. I can make out specific voices like Gamma Kiernan’s, telling his men to stand down and leave. I can hear Max telling his people to pursue them, to drive them back and make sure they learn their lesson. On and on and on it goes.<br /> But just when I think that it’s never going to end, silence follows.<br /> It’s almost eerie. One can hear a pin drop. Who got shot? Did anyone die?<br /> The thought of death because of me is what finally breaks me. I ram down the door without shifting into my wolf form, but when I arrive at the bar, it’s too late. I can hear the sound of horses whinnying outside, their hooves hitting the ground in loud thuds as they run fast. I see the flash of the red carriage through the broken windows.<br /> I look all over the floor to see if anyone has fallen, but aside from the smears of blood, it seems that everyone made it out alive.<br /> At least, from this party.<br /> I don’t know if I can say the same about the people from the palace.<br /> Suddenly, Max enters the pub, sporting a broken nose. He tears off a piece of his shirt and uses it to dab on the blood, but I march toward him and snatch it right out of his hand. “What did you do?”<br /> “Showed them that they have no business here,” he says simply, taking the strip of fabric back from me. “The only thing I should be hearing from you is thank you, unless…”<br /> Everyone in the pub looks at me.<br /> Ruth is the one who gets up and turns to me. “What did you do, Claudia? Why are they looking for you?”<br /> Max crosses his arms. "Give us a good reason why we shouldn't kick you out of here. Now."	Joylit Novel	154	https://facebook.com/61550512629703	LEARN_MORE	1712214000	View Edit Delete
1667197	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727718	1734958303	695	1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	1	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120206467056180695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wIUp1RxOMgsQ7kNvgHEK-vi&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA2H7iSADMNk8MCYF1ym0uXzOcPX0fNN2MpeFBxq7bsgA&oe=663A6682	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PTUOqNz5HEcQ7kNvgHkIzxM&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBtzut547NTKrpRxXd_8ELDW8KXVCg2r4FIx3OTZiFVlA&oe=663A84D3	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1712214000	View Edit Delete
1667201	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727718	1734958304	695	1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	1	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120206467056180695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wIUp1RxOMgsQ7kNvgHEK-vi&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA2H7iSADMNk8MCYF1ym0uXzOcPX0fNN2MpeFBxq7bsgA&oe=663A6682	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PTUOqNz5HEcQ7kNvgHkIzxM&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBtzut547NTKrpRxXd_8ELDW8KXVCg2r4FIx3OTZiFVlA&oe=663A84D3	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1712214000	View Edit Delete
1667204	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727718	1734958304	695	1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	1	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120206467056180695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wIUp1RxOMgsQ7kNvgHEK-vi&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA2H7iSADMNk8MCYF1ym0uXzOcPX0fNN2MpeFBxq7bsgA&oe=663A6682	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PTUOqNz5HEcQ7kNvgHkIzxM&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBtzut547NTKrpRxXd_8ELDW8KXVCg2r4FIx3OTZiFVlA&oe=663A84D3	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1712214000	View Edit Delete
1667206	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727719	1734958304	695	1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	1	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120206467056180695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wIUp1RxOMgsQ7kNvgHEK-vi&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA2H7iSADMNk8MCYF1ym0uXzOcPX0fNN2MpeFBxq7bsgA&oe=663A6682	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PTUOqNz5HEcQ7kNvgHkIzxM&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBtzut547NTKrpRxXd_8ELDW8KXVCg2r4FIx3OTZiFVlA&oe=663A84D3	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1712214000	View Edit Delete
1667208	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727719	1734958304	695	1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	1	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120206467056180695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wIUp1RxOMgsQ7kNvgHEK-vi&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA2H7iSADMNk8MCYF1ym0uXzOcPX0fNN2MpeFBxq7bsgA&oe=663A6682	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PTUOqNz5HEcQ7kNvgHkIzxM&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBtzut547NTKrpRxXd_8ELDW8KXVCg2r4FIx3OTZiFVlA&oe=663A84D3	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1712214000	View Edit Delete
1667212	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727719	1734958304	695	1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	1	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120206467056180695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wIUp1RxOMgsQ7kNvgHEK-vi&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA2H7iSADMNk8MCYF1ym0uXzOcPX0fNN2MpeFBxq7bsgA&oe=663A6682	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PTUOqNz5HEcQ7kNvgHkIzxM&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBtzut547NTKrpRxXd_8ELDW8KXVCg2r4FIx3OTZiFVlA&oe=663A84D3	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1712214000	View Edit Delete
1667214	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727719	1734958304	695	1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	1	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120206467056180695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wIUp1RxOMgsQ7kNvgHEK-vi&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA2H7iSADMNk8MCYF1ym0uXzOcPX0fNN2MpeFBxq7bsgA&oe=663A6682	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PTUOqNz5HEcQ7kNvgHkIzxM&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBtzut547NTKrpRxXd_8ELDW8KXVCg2r4FIx3OTZiFVlA&oe=663A84D3	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1712214000	View Edit Delete
1667217	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727719	1734958304	695	1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	1	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120206467056180695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wIUp1RxOMgsQ7kNvgHEK-vi&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA2H7iSADMNk8MCYF1ym0uXzOcPX0fNN2MpeFBxq7bsgA&oe=663A6682	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PTUOqNz5HEcQ7kNvgHkIzxM&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBtzut547NTKrpRxXd_8ELDW8KXVCg2r4FIx3OTZiFVlA&oe=663A84D3	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1712214000	View Edit Delete
1667218	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727719	1734958304	695	1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	1	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120206467056180695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wIUp1RxOMgsQ7kNvgHEK-vi&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA2H7iSADMNk8MCYF1ym0uXzOcPX0fNN2MpeFBxq7bsgA&oe=663A6682	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PTUOqNz5HEcQ7kNvgHkIzxM&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBtzut547NTKrpRxXd_8ELDW8KXVCg2r4FIx3OTZiFVlA&oe=663A84D3	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1712214000	View Edit Delete
1667224	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727719	1734958304	695	1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	1	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120206467056180695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wIUp1RxOMgsQ7kNvgHEK-vi&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA2H7iSADMNk8MCYF1ym0uXzOcPX0fNN2MpeFBxq7bsgA&oe=663A6682	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PTUOqNz5HEcQ7kNvgHkIzxM&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBtzut547NTKrpRxXd_8ELDW8KXVCg2r4FIx3OTZiFVlA&oe=663A84D3	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1712214000	View Edit Delete
1667233	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727719	1734958304	695	1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	1	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120206467056180695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wIUp1RxOMgsQ7kNvgHEK-vi&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA2H7iSADMNk8MCYF1ym0uXzOcPX0fNN2MpeFBxq7bsgA&oe=663A6682	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PTUOqNz5HEcQ7kNvgHkIzxM&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBtzut547NTKrpRxXd_8ELDW8KXVCg2r4FIx3OTZiFVlA&oe=663A84D3	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1712214000	View Edit Delete
1667235	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727719	1734958304	695	1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	1	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120206467056180695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wIUp1RxOMgsQ7kNvgHEK-vi&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA2H7iSADMNk8MCYF1ym0uXzOcPX0fNN2MpeFBxq7bsgA&oe=663A6682	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PTUOqNz5HEcQ7kNvgHkIzxM&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBtzut547NTKrpRxXd_8ELDW8KXVCg2r4FIx3OTZiFVlA&oe=663A84D3	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1712214000	View Edit Delete
1667237	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727719	1734958304	695	1426859107917810	4	1.0750287970217E+15	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	1	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120206467056180695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712240564	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434887251_3273516259616813_4965928032027185860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wIUp1RxOMgsQ7kNvgHEK-vi&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA2H7iSADMNk8MCYF1ym0uXzOcPX0fNN2MpeFBxq7bsgA&oe=663A6682	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434948003_814909497119687_9211098532922127326_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PTUOqNz5HEcQ7kNvgHkIzxM&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBtzut547NTKrpRxXd_8ELDW8KXVCg2r4FIx3OTZiFVlA&oe=663A84D3	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1712214000	View Edit Delete
1667243	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727719	1734958304	695	735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15	1712214000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120206420869110695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YNHyoVoJ7WMQ7kNvgEwmF4n&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBYl6HNhNzqauXTbndLXZ7WQD1Lod9rbJq0WBzeC6LUWQ&oe=663A7E48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QfW_9MlWNUsQ7kNvgFqMl01&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBUyEtoKSAIbSSniB1KbHbTAcpkSN2sn9WG_EQ7BCXTXQ&oe=663A6676	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1712127600	View Edit Delete
1667313	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727721	1734958304	695	1167149221389159		1.0750287970217E+15	1712214000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120206420869140695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152783	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592584_972723790858518_3132420980488247753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=MjOJ1Yl8A7EQ7kNvgHudTRa&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9MjEqQuP_zdpHhQpYHrQI0jFP6dwqMjYDNfBAg4JEYA&oe=663A82C7	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408133_1154690705677143_4842117877651758900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fnpW8hfkHEQQ7kNvgGh0N_Y&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC-Nt34ebqXUsD9MapE-qYTeSizzvMAJo2N-z7Fl5OUpQ&oe=663A6E86	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1712127600	View Edit Delete
1667245	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727719	1734958304	695	735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15	1712214000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120206420869110695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YNHyoVoJ7WMQ7kNvgEwmF4n&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBYl6HNhNzqauXTbndLXZ7WQD1Lod9rbJq0WBzeC6LUWQ&oe=663A7E48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QfW_9MlWNUsQ7kNvgFqMl01&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBUyEtoKSAIbSSniB1KbHbTAcpkSN2sn9WG_EQ7BCXTXQ&oe=663A6676	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1712127600	View Edit Delete
1667247	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727719	1734958304	695	735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15	1712214000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120206420869110695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YNHyoVoJ7WMQ7kNvgEwmF4n&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBYl6HNhNzqauXTbndLXZ7WQD1Lod9rbJq0WBzeC6LUWQ&oe=663A7E48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QfW_9MlWNUsQ7kNvgFqMl01&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBUyEtoKSAIbSSniB1KbHbTAcpkSN2sn9WG_EQ7BCXTXQ&oe=663A6676	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1712127600	View Edit Delete
1667250	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727719	1734958304	695	735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15	1712214000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120206420869110695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YNHyoVoJ7WMQ7kNvgEwmF4n&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBYl6HNhNzqauXTbndLXZ7WQD1Lod9rbJq0WBzeC6LUWQ&oe=663A7E48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QfW_9MlWNUsQ7kNvgFqMl01&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBUyEtoKSAIbSSniB1KbHbTAcpkSN2sn9WG_EQ7BCXTXQ&oe=663A6676	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1712127600	View Edit Delete
1667252	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727720	1734958304	695	735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15	1712214000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120206420869110695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YNHyoVoJ7WMQ7kNvgEwmF4n&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBYl6HNhNzqauXTbndLXZ7WQD1Lod9rbJq0WBzeC6LUWQ&oe=663A7E48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QfW_9MlWNUsQ7kNvgFqMl01&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBUyEtoKSAIbSSniB1KbHbTAcpkSN2sn9WG_EQ7BCXTXQ&oe=663A6676	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1712127600	View Edit Delete
1667339	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727721	1734958304	695	1587452292049595	1	3.3503379623938E+14	1714719600	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	100365976129594	0	Puzzles & Chaos	120207063854990257	play.google.com	Play game	NONE	video	Epic Puzzle Game		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1712056493	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433865475_1460509604867814_1783150089028035899_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ld8WyxJaaYkQ7kNvgH_Bo_w&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCIp0YxismnByfLSGEWJ_c2xIWQMvoOH3LbOjKGfE5wfA&oe=663A6229	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433929891_777469004321938_4151742211924225325_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3w85ZRifQk0Q7kNvgEfIzzL&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCQmeEhZUKEW3glrEjBdUsHrcoYzt5i6xUFoJXKbyxLoQ&oe=663A6DD5	0	3	Conquer this magical world and lead it to a new era!	Puzzles & Chaos	12242	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	PLAY_GAME	1712041200	View Edit Delete
1667254	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727720	1734958304	695	735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15	1712214000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120206420869110695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YNHyoVoJ7WMQ7kNvgEwmF4n&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBYl6HNhNzqauXTbndLXZ7WQD1Lod9rbJq0WBzeC6LUWQ&oe=663A7E48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QfW_9MlWNUsQ7kNvgFqMl01&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBUyEtoKSAIbSSniB1KbHbTAcpkSN2sn9WG_EQ7BCXTXQ&oe=663A6676	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1712127600	View Edit Delete
1667256	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727720	1734958304	695	735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15	1712214000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120206420869110695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YNHyoVoJ7WMQ7kNvgEwmF4n&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBYl6HNhNzqauXTbndLXZ7WQD1Lod9rbJq0WBzeC6LUWQ&oe=663A7E48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QfW_9MlWNUsQ7kNvgFqMl01&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBUyEtoKSAIbSSniB1KbHbTAcpkSN2sn9WG_EQ7BCXTXQ&oe=663A6676	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1712127600	View Edit Delete
1667257	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727720	1734958304	695	735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15	1712214000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120206420869110695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YNHyoVoJ7WMQ7kNvgEwmF4n&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBYl6HNhNzqauXTbndLXZ7WQD1Lod9rbJq0WBzeC6LUWQ&oe=663A7E48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QfW_9MlWNUsQ7kNvgFqMl01&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBUyEtoKSAIbSSniB1KbHbTAcpkSN2sn9WG_EQ7BCXTXQ&oe=663A6676	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1712127600	View Edit Delete
1667258	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727720	1734958304	695	735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15	1712214000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120206420869110695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YNHyoVoJ7WMQ7kNvgEwmF4n&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBYl6HNhNzqauXTbndLXZ7WQD1Lod9rbJq0WBzeC6LUWQ&oe=663A7E48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QfW_9MlWNUsQ7kNvgFqMl01&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBUyEtoKSAIbSSniB1KbHbTAcpkSN2sn9WG_EQ7BCXTXQ&oe=663A6676	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1712127600	View Edit Delete
1667260	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727720	1734958304	695	735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15	1712214000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120206420869110695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YNHyoVoJ7WMQ7kNvgEwmF4n&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBYl6HNhNzqauXTbndLXZ7WQD1Lod9rbJq0WBzeC6LUWQ&oe=663A7E48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QfW_9MlWNUsQ7kNvgFqMl01&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBUyEtoKSAIbSSniB1KbHbTAcpkSN2sn9WG_EQ7BCXTXQ&oe=663A6676	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1712127600	View Edit Delete
1667341	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727721	1734958304	695	3754279928192839	1	8.5036508350231E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	100365976129594	0	Puzzles & Chaos	120207063849310257	play.google.com	Play game	NONE	video	The winter is coming!		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1712056480	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434455319_398901959570067_1737822551755624190_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=b_mcd4oAhVYQ7kNvgFHDGbN&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAWrbYmRIjXYLMout4HkWMaEHyHgEXYl-_wkSb8U6ibVw&oe=663A89D8	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434412445_1078878469891943_1446259329779674907_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=kW8DZSvmTlsQ7kNvgG--z9-&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCw4wykTLNeejD5bRz8oB506vtkIyJ77vo1dXqOxQP0bw&oe=663A73AD	0	3	💪Can you defend the white walkers?	Puzzles & Chaos	12242	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	PLAY_GAME	1712041200	View Edit Delete
1667262	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727720	1734958305	695	735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15	1712214000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120206420869110695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YNHyoVoJ7WMQ7kNvgEwmF4n&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBYl6HNhNzqauXTbndLXZ7WQD1Lod9rbJq0WBzeC6LUWQ&oe=663A7E48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QfW_9MlWNUsQ7kNvgFqMl01&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBUyEtoKSAIbSSniB1KbHbTAcpkSN2sn9WG_EQ7BCXTXQ&oe=663A6676	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1712127600	View Edit Delete
1667263	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727720	1734958305	695	735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15	1712214000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120206420869110695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YNHyoVoJ7WMQ7kNvgEwmF4n&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBYl6HNhNzqauXTbndLXZ7WQD1Lod9rbJq0WBzeC6LUWQ&oe=663A7E48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QfW_9MlWNUsQ7kNvgFqMl01&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBUyEtoKSAIbSSniB1KbHbTAcpkSN2sn9WG_EQ7BCXTXQ&oe=663A6676	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1712127600	View Edit Delete
1667265	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727720	1734958305	695	735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15	1712214000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120206420869110695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YNHyoVoJ7WMQ7kNvgEwmF4n&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBYl6HNhNzqauXTbndLXZ7WQD1Lod9rbJq0WBzeC6LUWQ&oe=663A7E48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QfW_9MlWNUsQ7kNvgFqMl01&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBUyEtoKSAIbSSniB1KbHbTAcpkSN2sn9WG_EQ7BCXTXQ&oe=663A6676	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1712127600	View Edit Delete
1667267	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727720	1734958305	695	735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15	1712214000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120206420869110695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YNHyoVoJ7WMQ7kNvgEwmF4n&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBYl6HNhNzqauXTbndLXZ7WQD1Lod9rbJq0WBzeC6LUWQ&oe=663A7E48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QfW_9MlWNUsQ7kNvgFqMl01&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBUyEtoKSAIbSSniB1KbHbTAcpkSN2sn9WG_EQ7BCXTXQ&oe=663A6676	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1712127600	View Edit Delete
1667268	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727720	1734958305	695	735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15	1712214000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120206420869110695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YNHyoVoJ7WMQ7kNvgEwmF4n&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBYl6HNhNzqauXTbndLXZ7WQD1Lod9rbJq0WBzeC6LUWQ&oe=663A7E48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QfW_9MlWNUsQ7kNvgFqMl01&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBUyEtoKSAIbSSniB1KbHbTAcpkSN2sn9WG_EQ7BCXTXQ&oe=663A6676	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1712127600	View Edit Delete
1667343	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727721	1734958305	695	7211722455548997	1	1.4664909439432E+15	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	100365976129594	0	Puzzles & Chaos	120207063848550257	play.google.com	Play game	NONE	video	Match-3 to defeat evil🔥		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1712056544	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434605656_419874240585565_8831728975399670590_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=N6bCUptaN34Q7kNvgHoq3s6&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCLs4Dh3ssrsR_J0RocnXTU-BMl42S_7swObwaoAkZfyg&oe=663A78A0	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434565648_329443819746459_6697213341475881961_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=0y9MTi1lmZwQ7kNvgHa_F8h&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAdYkdhV3hQZSoFxmWfa5b3TM9kUjsKnagn6ttAtfxbkQ&oe=663A8798	0	3	We've brought the trailer to life!💁‍♂️ Do you have strategic skills?😏	Puzzles & Chaos	12242	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	PLAY_GAME	1712041200	View Edit Delete
1667270	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727720	1734958305	695	735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15	1712214000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120206420869110695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YNHyoVoJ7WMQ7kNvgEwmF4n&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBYl6HNhNzqauXTbndLXZ7WQD1Lod9rbJq0WBzeC6LUWQ&oe=663A7E48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QfW_9MlWNUsQ7kNvgFqMl01&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBUyEtoKSAIbSSniB1KbHbTAcpkSN2sn9WG_EQ7BCXTXQ&oe=663A6676	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1712127600	View Edit Delete
1667271	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727720	1734958305	695	735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15	1712214000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120206420869110695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YNHyoVoJ7WMQ7kNvgEwmF4n&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBYl6HNhNzqauXTbndLXZ7WQD1Lod9rbJq0WBzeC6LUWQ&oe=663A7E48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QfW_9MlWNUsQ7kNvgFqMl01&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBUyEtoKSAIbSSniB1KbHbTAcpkSN2sn9WG_EQ7BCXTXQ&oe=663A6676	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1712127600	View Edit Delete
1667272	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727720	1734958305	695	735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15	1712214000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120206420869110695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YNHyoVoJ7WMQ7kNvgEwmF4n&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBYl6HNhNzqauXTbndLXZ7WQD1Lod9rbJq0WBzeC6LUWQ&oe=663A7E48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QfW_9MlWNUsQ7kNvgFqMl01&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBUyEtoKSAIbSSniB1KbHbTAcpkSN2sn9WG_EQ7BCXTXQ&oe=663A6676	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1712127600	View Edit Delete
1667274	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727720	1734958305	695	735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15	1712214000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120206420869110695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YNHyoVoJ7WMQ7kNvgEwmF4n&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBYl6HNhNzqauXTbndLXZ7WQD1Lod9rbJq0WBzeC6LUWQ&oe=663A7E48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QfW_9MlWNUsQ7kNvgFqMl01&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBUyEtoKSAIbSSniB1KbHbTAcpkSN2sn9WG_EQ7BCXTXQ&oe=663A6676	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1712127600	View Edit Delete
1667276	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727721	1734958305	695	735632815223316		1.0750287970217E+15	1712214000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120206420869110695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152782	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434024287_952429869654829_2914759023618469464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YNHyoVoJ7WMQ7kNvgEwmF4n&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBYl6HNhNzqauXTbndLXZ7WQD1Lod9rbJq0WBzeC6LUWQ&oe=663A7E48	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433974065_395778936553743_7822722344626299012_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QfW_9MlWNUsQ7kNvgFqMl01&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBUyEtoKSAIbSSniB1KbHbTAcpkSN2sn9WG_EQ7BCXTXQ&oe=663A6676	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1712127600	View Edit Delete
1667345	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727722	1734958305	695	295445310247997	1	2.4636338971607E+15	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	100365976129594	0	Puzzles & Chaos	120207063846150257	play.google.com	Play game	NONE	video	How good is your math?		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1712056476	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434460491_920801806508294_3768811704536577079_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=dsXjLxEw1OkQ7kNvgE_tNZO&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBWRULi58Ysc_57u2wL7XAtvu3r_ZTEilRystXeacuB5g&oe=663A89A2	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433947171_380765588192291_8750844378107480252_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=1q_zSQnNGlwQ7kNvgEcwyzq&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDf9N5o66Y2qLmzolZJEpwDH5eyyxruYm9Pb8c6CNPrcg&oe=663A6F0C	0	3	Every decision matters. 🧮<br /> Try it yourself!	Puzzles & Chaos	12242	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	PLAY_GAME	1712041200	View Edit Delete
1667280	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727721	1734958305	695	1167149221389159		1.0750287970217E+15	1712214000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120206420869140695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152783	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592584_972723790858518_3132420980488247753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=MjOJ1Yl8A7EQ7kNvgHudTRa&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9MjEqQuP_zdpHhQpYHrQI0jFP6dwqMjYDNfBAg4JEYA&oe=663A82C7	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408133_1154690705677143_4842117877651758900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fnpW8hfkHEQQ7kNvgGh0N_Y&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC-Nt34ebqXUsD9MapE-qYTeSizzvMAJo2N-z7Fl5OUpQ&oe=663A6E86	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1712127600	View Edit Delete
1667281	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727721	1734958305	695	1167149221389159		1.0750287970217E+15	1712214000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120206420869140695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152783	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592584_972723790858518_3132420980488247753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=MjOJ1Yl8A7EQ7kNvgHudTRa&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9MjEqQuP_zdpHhQpYHrQI0jFP6dwqMjYDNfBAg4JEYA&oe=663A82C7	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408133_1154690705677143_4842117877651758900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fnpW8hfkHEQQ7kNvgGh0N_Y&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC-Nt34ebqXUsD9MapE-qYTeSizzvMAJo2N-z7Fl5OUpQ&oe=663A6E86	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1712127600	View Edit Delete
1667283	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727721	1734958305	695	1167149221389159		1.0750287970217E+15	1712214000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120206420869140695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152783	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592584_972723790858518_3132420980488247753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=MjOJ1Yl8A7EQ7kNvgHudTRa&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9MjEqQuP_zdpHhQpYHrQI0jFP6dwqMjYDNfBAg4JEYA&oe=663A82C7	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408133_1154690705677143_4842117877651758900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fnpW8hfkHEQQ7kNvgGh0N_Y&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC-Nt34ebqXUsD9MapE-qYTeSizzvMAJo2N-z7Fl5OUpQ&oe=663A6E86	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1712127600	View Edit Delete
1667285	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727721	1734958305	695	1167149221389159		1.0750287970217E+15	1712214000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120206420869140695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152783	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592584_972723790858518_3132420980488247753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=MjOJ1Yl8A7EQ7kNvgHudTRa&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9MjEqQuP_zdpHhQpYHrQI0jFP6dwqMjYDNfBAg4JEYA&oe=663A82C7	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408133_1154690705677143_4842117877651758900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fnpW8hfkHEQQ7kNvgGh0N_Y&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC-Nt34ebqXUsD9MapE-qYTeSizzvMAJo2N-z7Fl5OUpQ&oe=663A6E86	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1712127600	View Edit Delete
1667347	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727722	1734958305	695	1597748514315218	1	9.6631521161215E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	100365976129594	0	Puzzles & Chaos	120207063844340257	play.google.com	Play game	NONE	video	GATHER HEROES		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1712056478	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434022498_1325774881424635_2186045114328719124_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=H2cDiUKjumsQ7kNvgGNVQEg&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCt2I0uN9UOBYekPJ8lOLnWnCW7ZrmCYxpQhCSHQ2RcWQ&oe=663A62F5	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434019373_1626038424818952_6874573626596794759_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tFA_1GMndC8Q7kNvgEP_7mG&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDKp3oi_A8MfezSJifBk0ANZd_51D93afYBcbPTn3IjIA&oe=663A7444	0	3	🦇An arcane world to explore Repulse evil and safeguard your homeland!	Puzzles & Chaos	12242	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	PLAY_GAME	1712041200	View Edit Delete
1667289	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727721	1734958305	695	1167149221389159		1.0750287970217E+15	1712214000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120206420869140695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152783	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592584_972723790858518_3132420980488247753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=MjOJ1Yl8A7EQ7kNvgHudTRa&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9MjEqQuP_zdpHhQpYHrQI0jFP6dwqMjYDNfBAg4JEYA&oe=663A82C7	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408133_1154690705677143_4842117877651758900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fnpW8hfkHEQQ7kNvgGh0N_Y&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC-Nt34ebqXUsD9MapE-qYTeSizzvMAJo2N-z7Fl5OUpQ&oe=663A6E86	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1712127600	View Edit Delete
1667291	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727721	1734958305	695	1167149221389159		1.0750287970217E+15	1712214000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120206420869140695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152783	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592584_972723790858518_3132420980488247753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=MjOJ1Yl8A7EQ7kNvgHudTRa&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9MjEqQuP_zdpHhQpYHrQI0jFP6dwqMjYDNfBAg4JEYA&oe=663A82C7	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408133_1154690705677143_4842117877651758900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fnpW8hfkHEQQ7kNvgGh0N_Y&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC-Nt34ebqXUsD9MapE-qYTeSizzvMAJo2N-z7Fl5OUpQ&oe=663A6E86	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1712127600	View Edit Delete
1667296	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727721	1734958305	695	1167149221389159		1.0750287970217E+15	1712214000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120206420869140695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152783	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592584_972723790858518_3132420980488247753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=MjOJ1Yl8A7EQ7kNvgHudTRa&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9MjEqQuP_zdpHhQpYHrQI0jFP6dwqMjYDNfBAg4JEYA&oe=663A82C7	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408133_1154690705677143_4842117877651758900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fnpW8hfkHEQQ7kNvgGh0N_Y&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC-Nt34ebqXUsD9MapE-qYTeSizzvMAJo2N-z7Fl5OUpQ&oe=663A6E86	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1712127600	View Edit Delete
1667349	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727722	1734958305	695	770385115045236	1	1.1149525795503E+15	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	100365976129594	0	Puzzles & Chaos	120207063840450257	play.google.com	Play game	NONE	video	Become a wizard!		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1712056470	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434320537_2078710005841304_3785793431189553652_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=a-1F-scCqiwQ7kNvgF4pgRC&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAxfYHwoNS3H8h-61-vXjIWjg7KZhyNsJkejprYGgRW_Q&oe=663A62E6	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435469674_790020682581921_7782306949325498669_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=EcA1Mg1bob8Q7kNvgHyKl5Q&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC2-VfYCnylQluMLCKwGMvqBUGZyX7SbF5x0HwwXHQAhw&oe=663A6F3F	0	3	👻I bet you've never seen a game like this before!	Puzzles & Chaos	12242	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	PLAY_GAME	1712041200	View Edit Delete
1667773	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727737	1734958305	695	738833164959300	2	8.1286126393833E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	892588401116730	0	Practice Anywhere	120204193096150376	accubow.com	Shop Now	NONE	carousel	Code:ACCU20	Limited Time!	https://accubow.com/		1705091021	8.9258840111673E+14	Practice Anywhere	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/419133673_310227124771438_972601204068737509_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Wgb2L5UgFkQQ7kNvgE4yzGx&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfA-EY_ZJGem1Y2UXFNn-bQtfJ1HxCZSmBVR17t7tKTP8g&oe=663A7BA3	person_profile	0	Practice anywhere	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/419119670_317631567934896_2992698053173032227_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ej_db64tn1IQ7kNvgG42NLd&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfA7cg7SEZcRGe2yhPcrCeZEY39sAAkMS9bdhjFhecdjlw&oe=663A7686	0	3	Limited Time!	Practice Anywhere	9807	https://facebook.com/practiceanywherenow	SHOP_NOW	1709107200	View Edit Delete
1667297	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727721	1734958305	695	1167149221389159		1.0750287970217E+15	1712214000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120206420869140695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1712152783	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434592584_972723790858518_3132420980488247753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=MjOJ1Yl8A7EQ7kNvgHudTRa&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC9MjEqQuP_zdpHhQpYHrQI0jFP6dwqMjYDNfBAg4JEYA&oe=663A82C7	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435408133_1154690705677143_4842117877651758900_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fnpW8hfkHEQQ7kNvgGh0N_Y&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC-Nt34ebqXUsD9MapE-qYTeSizzvMAJo2N-z7Fl5OUpQ&oe=663A6E86	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1712127600	View Edit Delete
1667324	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727721	1734958305	695	927383769392303	1	4.0254251918329E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	100895368495588	0	Facdds	120207819090670606	jordanalien.info	Get offer	NONE	video	Claim it now! (Ends tonight)		https://jordanalien.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=KUNLLHopuZEw0DbnSi2A&ad_id={{ad.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&placement={{placement}}&fbclid={{fbclid}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}		1712150012	1.0089536849559E+14	Facdds	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434652665_732910122366772_3829245798095412694_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=riobOXclF5IQ7kNvgFtVQ6Z&_nc_oc=AdhsCOTqIqyvICmhcY91FKxAl7LAkfVBoQHM_gmkRPITDJPaFEaxi5KGXe22meKh2KYIk2Ikyd2RfooIKGLyZD-m&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC_O1xxltyHuNn2qXOlY7T63mq2HFiaN2zuggU_25UIrQ&oe=663A968A	person_profile	0	Facdds	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434649389_985536943131302_526649781273424739_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=k3MH_vetsLQQ7kNvgEebSGN&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDnxCD5mPG1AhpLyGRvIDnutMWKd0Ljof4WLNi_M-r8mA&oe=663A8F7B	0	3	If you are reading this, CONGRATULATIONS! 🤩. You are 1 of the 1.000 lucky people who have secured a NEW R29X Crossbow for $10 in our special offer 🗣🗣.	Facdds	1666	https://facebook.com/100066319796707	GET_OFFER_VIEW	1712127600	View Edit Delete
1667356	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727722	1734958306	695	956306979040064	1	1.491373225138E+15	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	104585012734764	0	Fly-X-Treme	120210028912980230	amazon.com	Shop now	NONE	image	Fly-X-Treme		https://www.amazon.com/Bug-Gun-Hunting-Crossbow-Fly-X-Treme/dp/B0BRSCQXRL		1711987776	1.0458501273476E+14	Fly-X-Treme	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433908866_7194219307340711_4650076348565346822_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Po4UJ8DM_8gQ7kNvgGjG4zt&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCQU-JBQ5zIWPJKPV9dxAvUH3_nM5GcolqU_vcikTe9JQ&oe=663A919D	person_profile	0	Fly X-Treme	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434073197_1793748224440725_7208763574582616426_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=EWf-ZlXsbQAQ7kNvgFtmEus&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA0nmKlR2L-Tot9Vy2MpRcqKYbOM6ZkXc2nBG5HA-O-Ug&oe=663A9734	0	3	Crossbow Bug Pistol: This bug shooter gun was designed with the purist fly hunter in mind.	Fly-X-Treme	417	https://facebook.com/100095261450512	SHOP_NOW	1711954800	View Edit Delete
1667357	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727722	1734958306	695	1453236398935536	1	7.1528112067888E+14	1711954800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	106401465673945	0	K9 Play and Stay	120209434187330204	cu130.com	Learn more	NONE	video			https://cu130.com/Webdesign?utm_source={{adset.id}}		1711793044	1.0640146567394E+14	K9 Play and Stay	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434408174_1565261874260511_4025092499777447010_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=dSnQTVsLHXcQ7kNvgFEW1zy&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBhIrSIS0JbaETTXyt0pTWmLPN6h4koHRJaYPdzNYYwsA&oe=663A8F43	person_profile	0	K9 Play and Stay	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434572827_425152456687611_8811684751803242023_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sUEBjz9ORYwQ7kNvgGjiUuo&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCiC1_isDX4WZ6IGohCsZTHthQnC9aP02W78wG0HPXPMQ&oe=663A92B3	0	3	Feel the raw passion of the hunt! Get your limited FREE recurve bow now and unleash your inner hero!	K9 Play and Stay	58	https://facebook.com/100088997360074	LEARN_MORE	1711782000	View Edit Delete
1667359	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727722	1734958306	695	450244220824725		4.4182487840779E+14	1711954800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	106401465673945	0	K9 Play and Stay	120209434186300204	cu130.com	Learn more	NONE	video			https://cu130.com/Webdesign?utm_source={{adset.id}}		1711793071	1.0640146567394E+14	K9 Play and Stay	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431600115_1411739986114142_7246534880867655404_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WsNZSPrFveUQ7kNvgEL7qlk&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAhxq46tTs1baHmJAkR7Rs7oumgXsbkCeCbTx4MH6U6Yw&oe=663A7F3B	person_profile	0	K9 Play and Stay	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433866160_971371104346954_967016227732926058_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xdJavRc2fdsQ7kNvgHTYTbj&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBYEzyes0fXUGTzVPxWgscvHpxGztbP8XwuHaurN-h61g&oe=663A80F9	0	3	Feel the raw passion of the hunt! Get your limited FREE recurve bow now and unleash your inner hero!	K9 Play and Stay	58	https://facebook.com/100088997360074	LEARN_MORE	1711782000	View Edit Delete
1667360	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727722	1734958306	695	475589574814013	2	2.6379384830331E+15	1711954800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	106401465673945	0	K9 Play and Stay	120208155064930049	cu130.com	Learn more	NONE	video			https://cu130.com/PreventiveHealthcare?utm_source={{adset.id}}		1711792805	1.0640146567394E+14	K9 Play and Stay	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434479919_959912538864610_8597118669439670229_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fOGr8US4NGcQ7kNvgHGD0Td&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA5dL8uNpojLZ0p1fCEDf0wVn5tr4VmIg2BKEI06Jcx1g&oe=663A6511	person_profile	0	K9 Play and Stay	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433875550_892269892650110_2757953878129817015_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tbDFDQ8CscUQ7kNvgEkPe1-&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCqG0luZWA4bSRASXXbd1rPrloBLUV1uEFFJDmlBXnHQA&oe=663A86D7	0	3	Feel the raw passion of the hunt! Get your limited FREE recurve bow now and unleash your inner hero!	K9 Play and Stay	58	https://facebook.com/100088997360074	LEARN_MORE	1711782000	View Edit Delete
1667361	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727722	1734958306	695	740144878250816		2.6379384830331E+15	1711954800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	106401465673945	0	K9 Play and Stay	120208155064180049	cu130.com	Learn more	NONE	video			https://cu130.com/PreventiveHealthcare?utm_source={{adset.id}}		1711792806	1.0640146567394E+14	K9 Play and Stay	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433880249_1123969372061510_2373872357163987180_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=rdp7_mepwggQ7kNvgESVxd0&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBpjiGDBgsxnDCQMd_k0kv457W4NXaBICvaNqxolFVAQg&oe=663A84D9	person_profile	0	K9 Play and Stay	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433960855_766001378588604_2861986521618719237_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=7B34V7CDd_sQ7kNvgE9sixb&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCF3mAhGbAEfIpCogIrD1rYJpsVEt4kZEkwbvMDcCwq_w&oe=663A89E0	0	3	Feel the raw passion of the hunt! Get your limited FREE recurve bow now and unleash your inner hero!	K9 Play and Stay	58	https://facebook.com/100088997360074	LEARN_MORE	1711782000	View Edit Delete
1667362	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727722	1734958306	695	334891412897919	1	9.7510002424712E+14	1711954800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	106401465673945	0	K9 Play and Stay	120208155064210049	cu130.com	Learn more	NONE	video			https://cu130.com/PreventiveHealthcare?utm_source={{adset.id}}		1711792806	1.0640146567394E+14	K9 Play and Stay	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434430128_434104329195689_2705472396054049654_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=RunvamHHuk4Q7kNvgGpZPhZ&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAUxyRUz2DZc6nr4F5H5sBhOdEhWJxK4ijAMppLlwTFDw&oe=663A6BB1	person_profile	0	K9 Play and Stay	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434056714_796125559089482_2320973658175291045_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=EHjUheP3T7YQ7kNvgGghTwr&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB-gmvovXkNV8oNydisb3Txgs3QBQIWy1f-0egqvj60GA&oe=663A9663	0	3	Feel the raw passion of the hunt! Get your limited FREE recurve bow now and unleash your inner hero!	K9 Play and Stay	58	https://facebook.com/100088997360074	LEARN_MORE	1711782000	View Edit Delete
1667363	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727722	1734958306	695	1129665988458312	1	1.1501041759833E+15	1712300400	ig_ads_identity	eligible	NONE	1	0	1	256873224171942	0	sl_crossbros	6550479891443	youtube.com	Learn more	NONE	video			https://youtube.com/watch?v=JDYv8Hverbo&si=wn-ww2TNgYJQMe2y		1711785440	2.5687322417194E+14	sl_crossbros	https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-19/429977291_962235642000042_7148833336457099679_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s200x200&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=3fd06f&_nc_aid=0&_nc_ohc=1nXPPgI1oeIQ7kNvgG-aHJe&_nc_ht=scontent.cdninstagram.com&oh=00_AfA6M0aAWPYR3zrb4cPBMlukxEme50QBA27lNluuKsNwqg&oe=663A760A	ig_ads_identity	1		https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431588081_439167495237000_2682423639139838425_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hEM_TbY0XFwQ7kNvgE9QPEg&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBo-fcJjKLRztyYxjO8uEJDllmzfMEa7QAkfPCvDamH4w&oe=663A7960	0	3	FULL VIDEO ON YOUTUBE <br /> <br /> #crossbows #crossbow #archery #crossbow #bow #hunting #outdoors #crossbowlife #crossbowking #crossbowman #crossbowhunter #crossbowshooting #bow #bowhunter #archerylife #archeryhunting #crossbowcustoms #survivalist #ekarchery #archeryaddict #beararchery	sl_crossbros	0	https://www.instagram.com/_u/sl_crossbros	LEARN_MORE	1711782000	View Edit Delete
1667367	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727722	1734958306	695	361563553548554	1	1.1551186455047E+15	1711782000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	217316998627741	0	Frost & Flame：King of Avalon	120207741410460751	itunes.apple.com	Install now	NONE	video	Play for FREE!		http://itunes.apple.com/app/id1084930849		1711625552	2.1731699862774E+14	Frost & Flame：King of Avalon	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432155702_933207431790137_4966500843368274962_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=-rVTLkMv59EQ7kNvgFROLbM&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfASs-5D4Ox0aPWHNaEtwptaQOQbHA8eHNr2hcrtE_q4xw&oe=663A7DBE	person_profile	0	King of Avalon	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432155454_403193829012608_251821308789685645_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=bh1LF3h2hqgQ7kNvgFuKT_p&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfApr1LSf2y6X_kX_j6xcB_j8d_wmmDTDRQ9kZS2wqiJRg&oe=663A7C9A	0	3	That Game Everyone's Playing! Join Now!	Frost & Flame：King of Avalon	1210399	https://facebook.com/koadw	INSTALL_MOBILE_APP	1711609200	View Edit Delete
1667381	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727722	1734958306	695	1210574553242329		1.1317853814759E+15	1711695600	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	102319128528352	0	522 Records	6610564442070	www.whoshwqw.shop	Learn more	NONE	video			https://www.whoshwqw.shop/products/manba?campaign_id=%7B%7Bcampaign.id%7D%7D&adset_id=%7B%7Badset.id%7D%7D&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D		1711615408	1.0231912852835E+14	522 Records	https://scontent.fdet1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433117931_1080355769709969_7119524042535481774_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=TrN3EZyj420Q7kNvgGhwX-n&_nc_ht=scontent.fdet1-2.fna&oh=00_AfD9Frt8GduBoKt8-4bT89v5tR5mFj5naQxSDYm1AXKppQ&oe=663A640D	person_profile	0			0	3		522 Records	175	https://facebook.com/522Records	LEARN_MORE	1711609200	View Edit Delete
1667372	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727722	1734958306	695	444428331381098	1	1.1133600500083E+15	1711782000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	217316998627741	0	Frost & Flame：King of Avalon	120207741420890751	itunes.apple.com	Install now	NONE	video	Play for FREE!		http://itunes.apple.com/app/id1084930849		1711625600	2.1731699862774E+14	Frost & Flame：King of Avalon	https://scontent.fdet1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433465642_441333268235000_1045342548688800526_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=He0-ze9ocxsQ7kNvgEQ9nJ8&_nc_ht=scontent.fdet1-2.fna&oh=00_AfDVQskkNvSpPQ73d1KGUfMolrSNNKi6KAjJ6Axl9AS6Rg&oe=663A6132	person_profile	0	King of Avalon	https://scontent.fdet1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433001707_388964577225473_6529973119484621965_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=j6vGRuBJidEQ7kNvgFGo-G8&_nc_ht=scontent.fdet1-2.fna&oh=00_AfDr_ubEDTCxoaK3PXzubLlgtgSgDgaNMLgUIBVRjlpT_A&oe=663A72B1	0	3	That Game Everyone's Playing! Join Now!	Frost & Flame：King of Avalon	1210399	https://facebook.com/koadw	INSTALL_MOBILE_APP	1711609200	View Edit Delete
1667374	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727722	1734958306	695	1142889406831160	1	8.5288200994291E+14	1714719600	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	265052230017125	0	Prize Palooza	120207536581100654	emergclutch.info	Get offer	NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://emergclutch.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=3mmVUnZu9O6vIo7UVx8l&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711666182	2.6505223001712E+14	Prize Palooza	https://scontent.fdet1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434287595_968527034633106_1388783280513136401_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=df_-DhsREYUQ7kNvgEs-XIQ&_nc_ht=scontent.fdet1-2.fna&oh=00_AfCHK3kCW6zTgNV5hx4YQmVgSqRyiUMhsYs9KhZNcJhhug&oe=663A8C1F	person_profile	0	Prize Palooza	https://scontent.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434290829_1415861415984290_5690165483896659272_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QCiyCjvp02IQ7kNvgFVB8g3&_nc_ht=scontent.fdet1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAzErFXLXPOUz0gS4gCuAPVilNeRbU-tlca6gGZkvlfkw&oe=663A67C7	0	3	If you're reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You're among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳	Prize Palooza	260	https://facebook.com/61556812859534	GET_OFFER_VIEW	1711609200	View Edit Delete
1667377	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727722	1734958306	695	7370421312993641	1	4.4646573570919E+15	1712559600	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	641086812686708	0	Alimentation Bali	120207388876420010	swishairtime.info	Learn more	NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇	You are one of the lucky three thousand people who have been selected to receive a Ravin R29 Crossbow for only $10. This is an incredible opportunity that you should not miss out on, and we encourage you to take advantage of it immediately.	https://swishairtime.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=BvP7v5dDKPCoGKFg8VfI&ad_id={{ad.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&fbpxl={{fbpxl}}		1711664977	6.4108681268671E+14	Alimentation Bali	https://scontent.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433211909_3781496832173069_3311809168208155146_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=M3pFQ9WiUxUQ7kNvgFP8aYX&_nc_ht=scontent.fdet1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBwihpB1VRMvyw1Z2L1lUeUOIhh1CRCiaM8XFqHPbcSIg&oe=663A8630	person_profile	0	Alimentation Bali	https://scontent.fdet1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433120391_783906846579083_1141327993269507309_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=pwzqRl6JBd0Q7kNvgEWQulu&_nc_ht=scontent.fdet1-2.fna&oh=00_AfDCGiP3X_fLhMLtwttIJw3HXowfsdpPCWARoM5nHBeEzw&oe=663A6F2D	0	3	If you're reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You're among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a Ravin R29 Crossbow for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳	Alimentation Bali	83	https://facebook.com/100054507427553	LEARN_MORE	1711609200	View Edit Delete
1667379	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727722	1734958306	695	1081521936448620		1.1317853814759E+15	1711695600	person_profile	taken-down	NONE	1	0	0	102319128528352	0	522 Records	6610660600270	www.whoshwqw.shop	Learn more	NONE	video			https://www.whoshwqw.shop/products/manba?campaign_id=%7B%7Bcampaign.id%7D%7D&adset_id=%7B%7Badset.id%7D%7D&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D		1711634667	1.0231912852835E+14	522 Records	https://scontent.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434052415_1456296211930828_2811793283383892416_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=1qHuMj0Aw2sQ7kNvgG5k3rQ&_nc_ht=scontent.fdet1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCLLwvzyycErLbhjVxF7P_CNICdiESTm90pyC1qOWKFmg&oe=663A9030	person_profile	0			0	3		522 Records	175	https://facebook.com/522Records	LEARN_MORE	1711609200	View Edit Delete
1667382	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727722	1734958306	695	440143275204495	1	3.8939665401791E+14	1712214000	ig_ads_identity	eligible	NONE	1	0	1	105652425201417	0	geekpire_official	120209054089900454	instagram.com	Visit Instagram profile	NONE	image			http://instagram.com/geekpire_official		1711598514	1.0565242520142E+14	geekpire_official	https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-19/230556229_972583996923335_3024290080248920440_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s200x200&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=3fd06f&_nc_ohc=jlggQfVDVh4Q7kNvgEtc2fU&_nc_ht=scontent.cdninstagram.com&oh=00_AfCcpedaslQco4o9TMGsqu8odXhsvSTBCWrKE7FhpPrcrA&oe=663A68E0	ig_ads_identity	1	GeekPire	https://scontent.fdet1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434413605_1635832377226717_6599696456591005118_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NTLo21iaDyQQ7kNvgHX53Q1&_nc_ht=scontent.fdet1-2.fna&oh=00_AfBp9iHI5Fq3nSJ1Km3vMEkqx8_MMeVFJwryvzVPlxLz9w&oe=663A62BC	0	3	Two rouge survivors of the Great War within the story of our campaign featuring a rugged and eccentric but smart dwarven artificer named Belrin and his modified clockwork warforge companion Baxter. With Belrin’s ingenuity and near limitless arsenal of tools and weapons including a powerful mechanical ballista bolt crossbow with dwarven tonal architecture magics used within the myrthil metal bowstring, to increase the vibrational frequency of arrows, allowing them to partially phase through armour, duplicate via quantum entanglement between arrow heads, manifesting an infinite number of arrows, alongside explosive arrows, acid, arrows, frost arrows and lightning arrows, Berlin is also armed with a flintlock pistol, a seismic wave emitting tuning fork, explosives his trusty pick axe and his hulking mechanical companion Baxter armed with an arm cannon, bladed limbs and a shield, not to mention Baxter’s stoic and reserved demeanour is quite the contrast to Belrin’s chaotic and eccentric personality, the two make for an unexpected but formidable duo. A great thanks to @freirearts for your work on this project and a pleasure working with you as always. #dnd #dnd5e #dndart #dndartwork #dndcampaign #dndcampaignart #dndartwork #dnddwarf #dwarf #artificer #dndartificer #warforged #warforgedart #artist #fantasy #fantasyart #fantasyartwork #dungeonsanddragons #characterart #characterartwork #fantasynovel	geekpire_official	0	https://www.instagram.com/_u/geekpire_official	VIEW_INSTAGRAM_PROFILE	1711522800	View Edit Delete
1667385	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727722	1734958306	695	1092998265320997	14	1.1122950832506E+15	1711609200	regular_page	eligible	NONE	0	1	1	402966003129638	1	I love A.B. - andy biersack	120206221242640527	tunnelstudent.info	Get offer	NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711551923	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent.fdet1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433008377_3230372293924564_2696678552488206484_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xdTcjWyMzPAQ7kNvgG0xmbO&_nc_ht=scontent.fdet1-2.fna&oh=00_AfBqanUGlzjmB0OX1HLXuffth3qO3b4hS0Ul3pvFfOq5Ag&oe=663A6382	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432998243_815005440452007_1776444854117561157_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XmLByUHn7ooQ7kNvgElyggY&_nc_ht=scontent.fdet1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBc4lFZ7TgpOa7RuJaH4v8AKG-C81zixvusO0-KyDNEMA&oe=663A7A23	0	3	If you're reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You're among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW	1711522800	View Edit Delete
1667387	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727722	1734958307	695	371168535747999		1.1122950832506E+15	1711609200	regular_page	eligible	NONE	0	1	1	402966003129638	1	I love A.B. - andy biersack	120206221242350527	tunnelstudent.info	Get offer	NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711551923	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent.fdet1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433303573_1090694828877926_2181566797442513048_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=01YsfIeV9cAQ7kNvgETQfgV&_nc_ht=scontent.fdet1-2.fna&oh=00_AfCocs1da2YNIP7ve-CH82u97bJWU2l9ngEfpkg3h3WNAg&oe=663A77E5	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434284650_740144134956152_8460641318163019358_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hafdugl8nOMQ7kNvgGXgCZB&_nc_oc=AdjIN8HCOO2r1gdeNU-5X59SCjCI0bkFnlekdnxKXlqlzUrwDQ-Joc0-Lg1-Ofnl9iaVgreYxoSQxTcm21yT9osy&_nc_ht=scontent.fdet1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC6mRZpA-50fwCqR--lZQBz5LxIoJ9D979ylpBSSkR_gA&oe=663A7A3A	0	3	If you're reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You're among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW	1711522800	View Edit Delete
1667389	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727722	1734958307	695	413217124638844		1.1122950832506E+15	1711609200	regular_page	eligible	NONE	0	1	1	402966003129638	1	I love A.B. - andy biersack	120206221242310527	tunnelstudent.info	Get offer	NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711551923	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434038083_1473389660280671_6916056184488262472_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=O3ecA5dNsr4Q7kNvgGO4-hn&_nc_ht=scontent.fdet1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDmgZphdgDaBKyJ-iVmiFjtre0Nu9Kyy3Fq4mEDYIrKpQ&oe=663A9107	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent.fdet1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433949528_3129745467157987_2447555507541157340_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=gisvOHKwTw4Q7kNvgGx8TKm&_nc_ht=scontent.fdet1-2.fna&oh=00_AfD9DRwzORU3ABIHFz_y4QlUKcUhkBN5tu7gTHMu8OsMiw&oe=663A6947	0	3	If you're reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You're among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW	1711522800	View Edit Delete
1667391	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727722	1734958307	695	731185542184432		1.1122950832506E+15	1711609200	regular_page	eligible	NONE	0	1	1	402966003129638	1	I love A.B. - andy biersack	120206221242280527	tunnelstudent.info	Get offer	NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711551924	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent.fdet1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433143920_719364190384864_5986387495705050456_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=TFqKdQoTjkwQ7kNvgE3j1mX&_nc_oc=Adh1FyctFUEMiL5jc_aBzWlnudL5YKjg8FenFqKimE7OG-6cPnEOenDibaM8swwRD7RIwK4HaafG2qivJLntsXPh&_nc_ht=scontent.fdet1-2.fna&oh=00_AfBcyrIB5o18L7UV8A5ltpFVtQ4uT19nEctD5wfmDGeq5A&oe=663A7C57	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433039607_941944070573812_5159840137279620298_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vbYesrFRD8sQ7kNvgF1Fmig&_nc_ht=scontent.fdet1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB12z5idBJBMzrCRAxlc9Fz3FdMuCbjzXuFdjoaQTET8A&oe=663A6E43	0	3	If you're reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You're among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW	1711522800	View Edit Delete
1667393	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727722	1734958307	695	3655668928002596		1.1122950832506E+15	1711609200	regular_page	eligible	NONE	0	1	1	402966003129638	1	I love A.B. - andy biersack	120206221242260527	tunnelstudent.info	Get offer	NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711551987	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434383606_956450256098960_6914428515570947868_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=TTDoVVcU24AQ7kNvgHD9-_m&_nc_ht=scontent.fdet1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAUh2UG4KWC7xW9UpAE7h3UwaKI_Ez5-U19DMocwshQ1w&oe=663A61AF	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434529355_1489439098653687_7850910788544465649_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mv5BZ-QvGYAQ7kNvgG_bQHe&_nc_ht=scontent.fdet1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA_i-spK-qCUkqv59-M63XaVHTZwiDBQOzoUTt9MK7Igw&oe=663A6727	0	3	If you're reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You're among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW	1711522800	View Edit Delete
1667395	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727722	1734958307	695	240948445776291		1.1122950832506E+15	1711609200	regular_page	eligible	NONE	0	1	1	402966003129638	1	I love A.B. - andy biersack	120206221167750527	tunnelstudent.info	Get offer	NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711551797	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433887351_427210456461078_8328281203660181200_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mJquRGrR-NkQ7kNvgERHnSK&_nc_ht=scontent.fdet1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDE2cTOQHfY-x5tpmYQ5pyCkNT0TQdwzfEGdIT5s8jG4w&oe=663A8287	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433970913_2440862449435727_17092525968235942_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=B_yXOLy0z2YQ7kNvgFSFVpE&_nc_oc=AdiT4zQBtPagwqQq2C_MaViXdaDOmiQwTWpJi7LWN-DjZVp4jUVFGwC8is2ElbWtmpqzPUTm6Sw9qpMqsi6UH1qD&_nc_ht=scontent.fdet1-1.fna&oh=00_AfD6NVMQpNI9YSz7mOEFf0O_n9OqE3Of0I8atU4VQf4V0A&oe=663A8E76	0	3	If you're reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You're among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW	1711522800	View Edit Delete
1667396	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727722	1734958307	695	297774439843439		1.1122950832506E+15	1711609200	regular_page	eligible	NONE	0	1	1	402966003129638	1	I love A.B. - andy biersack	120206221167900527	tunnelstudent.info	Get offer	NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711552036	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent.fdet1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434270942_730480929195769_2891698292395123465_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=cBuW0PabV80Q7kNvgG1chRz&_nc_ht=scontent.fdet1-2.fna&oh=00_AfA80pIoX4X1MC0aGazYB1Alvz_mzrZfkNi4ZS_oe5cqkA&oe=663A722D	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent.fdet1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433120835_3270160156619905_9038438506698341740_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=od3-eP4pm8MQ7kNvgHU0f09&_nc_ht=scontent.fdet1-2.fna&oh=00_AfBRRBq5WazaBZ5vWVh0iqHG8U7KEKr6_ZStLqDjH5JjAg&oe=663A9261	0	3	If you're reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You're among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW	1711522800	View Edit Delete
1667397	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727722	1734958307	695	370928269243816		1.1122950832506E+15	1711609200	regular_page	eligible	NONE	0	1	1	402966003129638	1	I love A.B. - andy biersack	120206221168030527	tunnelstudent.info	Get offer	NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711551799	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433986605_397314153240200_4744980853760384344_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yhwlsIvfGlYQ7kNvgF-5WLy&_nc_ht=scontent.fdet1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAzqN5_6hkmXEFadaOixOLj9NGSB4hOZjZBRmw2bd-r8g&oe=663A77F9	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent.fdet1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433937674_395027780054216_5961166508483095081_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LC2rKab-HUIQ7kNvgG5PTzJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fdet1-2.fna&oh=00_AfAKRAg0Ja5szAh3-s9Zh5xrjSNLbLHiKVodbK805GI4EQ&oe=663A6C13	0	3	If you're reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You're among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW	1711522800	View Edit Delete
1667401	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727722	1734958307	695	978328407055687		1.1122950832506E+15	1711609200	regular_page	eligible	NONE	0	1	1	402966003129638	1	I love A.B. - andy biersack	120206221167870527	tunnelstudent.info	Get offer	NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711551794	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent.fdet1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433930866_984629053376979_4849106811028690970_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WDrhqSO3EgMQ7kNvgEnRfVY&_nc_ht=scontent.fdet1-2.fna&oh=00_AfCJ0c3mj4CienEW5cJnIoS2fPozQK77bVdU_Diu0a8nVg&oe=663A63A2	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434458896_1611383819687564_948373712435518183_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=SoajVNuIQHoQ7kNvgFoNTiD&_nc_ht=scontent.fdet1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCgynQupae2XQYXur0TFvQ_vP1ZRLYkpoxPkssbYWscuA&oe=663A7016	0	3	If you're reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You're among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW	1711522800	View Edit Delete
1667421	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727723	1734958307	695	3800277893588897	1	9.3869734427434E+14	1714719600	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	142623199141456	0	K.A.Tucker (Author)	6581508493968	amazon.com	Learn more	NONE	image	FREE IN KINDLE UNLIMITED! 🔥	Free in Kindle Unlimited	https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08YD7GY64/		1709389451	1.4262319914146E+14	K.A.Tucker (Author)	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/429768682_908889890741860_9111157815245272451_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QFDy6rmZJEcQ7kNvgFsdGpR&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC8oqIPaKO8iuvIf_KyBmkvY2d3-t2xb2hfvJIOsfGWQQ&oe=663A6EAB	person_profile	0			0	3	I wake, gasping for air. <br /> A deep throb pains my lungs. <br /> The floor beneath me is soft and dewy, the ceiling above a blanket of darkness. It takes me a moment to realize I’m lying in grass, under a night sky.<br /> And a few more moments to remember Sofie driving that horn into my chest.<br /> My heart races as I draw my hand to where my body aches, expecting to find the object still protruding. Nothing but tenderness remains. “What did you do to me?” I mutter, my voice hoarse.<br /> Obviously, I didn’t die, but it sure feels like she tried to kill me. <br /> With a wince, I pull myself into a sitting position. And frown at the billow of material around me, confusion scrambling my thoughts. My jeans and sweater are gone, replaced by this enormous dress, with layers of silk and a plunging neckline. She stabbed me and then changed me into formal wear? <br /> I hold up my hand. Even in the darkness, I can make out the outline of the ring Sofie slipped onto my finger, the one she believes will somehow protect me. <br /> I don’t have time to make sense of this. I need to get the hell out of here. <br /> I heave myself off the wet ground, stumbling a few steps before I regain my balance, my head swimming. Walls of cedar hedge tower over me on either side, forming a long, narrow corridor that gives me only two options—left or right.<br /> Shouts ring in the distance—I can’t gauge how far away, but they’re definitely coming from my left. They’re male in timbre, interspersed with clangs of metal against metal. In the air, the smell of smoke lingers. Something burns.<br /> I take off in the opposite direction of the commotion, sprinting as fast as the darkness and the throb in my chest allows, stumbling in the tangle of bulky material swirling around my legs and a pair of wobbly heeled shoes. By the time the hedge opens into a cobblestone pathway lit with lanterns, I’m panting, my lungs heaving from strain, and I’m ready to tear the skirts from my body. <br /> The moon is full and casting white light where I could not see it before, buried within the cedar. Is this the garden Sofie was talking about? The one with the soldiers, where I’ll find the stone? I’m definitely in a garden. There are bushes with roses the size of my palm, their potent fragrance melding with the stench of smoke. The air hints at a warm summer night. Wherever Islor is, it must be far south of Belgium. <br /> Blocks of jagged broken stone are strewn across the pathway ahead, as if something was demolished. Among the disarray, a shiny object gleams in the moonlight. Curious, I navigate around the debris to collect it. It’s an arrowhead, much like the ones Sofie’s guards had in their crossbow, only a brilliant silver.<br /> And it’s drenched in someone’s blood.<br /> <br /> FREE IN KINDLE UNLIMITED FOR A LIMITED TIME	K.A.Tucker (Author)	40544	https://facebook.com/K.A.Tucker.Author	LEARN_MORE	1711350000	View Edit Delete
1667402	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727722	1734958307	695	1151321322966200		1.1122950832506E+15	1711609200	regular_page	eligible	NONE	0	1	1	402966003129638	1	I love A.B. - andy biersack	120206221167800527	tunnelstudent.info	Get offer	NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711551799	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent.fdet1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433132780_3349280328711457_2301518798594436208_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vhAVC178TWQQ7kNvgFWeooI&_nc_ht=scontent.fdet1-2.fna&oh=00_AfD4bY6EL7w73_37Rp1v9D0R7oshUTpxKRzvNHZs9lxIew&oe=663A815B	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433449953_296327913488507_7592617265079745941_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PDbIkT0aFGsQ7kNvgEqa5kU&_nc_ht=scontent.fdet1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA15D9Xz85UUdhcskjzRsQzTEJLbpJoqus2bQFitkQPdA&oe=663A8AA3	0	3	If you're reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You're among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW	1711522800	View Edit Delete
1667403	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727722	1734958307	695	1182703012893890		1.1122950832506E+15	1711609200	regular_page	eligible	NONE	0	1	1	402966003129638	1	I love A.B. - andy biersack	120206221167940527	tunnelstudent.info	Get offer	NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711552058	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434327308_2349000271976891_3402216671218897768_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=asJ8Byh5e5QQ7kNvgE7oICB&_nc_ht=scontent.fdet1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCDUBi0HKEtof8UPbK11EztfREwhmxjZmDYuMTyYJz5FA&oe=663A8302	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434138366_738777791731444_8906656466165811261_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hFZnsO2leMIQ7kNvgEzITcg&_nc_ht=scontent.fdet1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBnOSdiJBoc1jPqV5J_o4mndzFwrY47sCjBnuCMA6_rAg&oe=663A6D5C	0	3	If you're reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You're among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW	1711522800	View Edit Delete
1667404	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727723	1734958307	695	2082037572176045		1.1122950832506E+15	1711609200	regular_page	eligible	NONE	0	1	1	402966003129638	1	I love A.B. - andy biersack	120206221167690527	tunnelstudent.info	Get offer	NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711551798	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent.fdet1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434410033_262478853591988_2035390155654875575_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4G66Ebb1FyEQ7kNvgEk9y3z&_nc_ht=scontent.fdet1-2.fna&oh=00_AfBI7Fk6yfyr7VfhBSFkt1d7qcUWtVk90ahjSq03XIJZeg&oe=663A887A	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434377705_1468214437106308_7620166099023531083_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=0sLmaVI7xUkQ7kNvgHBrKBy&_nc_ht=scontent.fdet1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCf4wxn6x2hotV7wObPmWgmvkqflrjE86Jx7XqnAgUS5w&oe=663A7982	0	3	If you're reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You're among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW	1711522800	View Edit Delete
1667405	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727723	1734958307	695	788106813193951	3	9.0488530810128E+14	1711609200	regular_page	eligible	NONE	0	1	1	402966003129638	1	I love A.B. - andy biersack	120206221167820527	tunnelstudent.info	Get offer	NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711551796	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434222811_382406231359677_8363256886030553338_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CT38Yr2ncuUQ7kNvgGTav7l&_nc_ht=scontent.fdet1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCwl5nRJcfjglROrHV5eChDUUIiyXrNKxr9E1Cz33sz5Q&oe=663A7257	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent.fdet1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434219193_788297272763426_7970358675286222086_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3qAE4I9h3XkQ7kNvgGqXcTn&_nc_ht=scontent.fdet1-2.fna&oh=00_AfB8q7EvLxI9wvLiFKQSDI1nXDWQu88o0K5SttObikKVnw&oe=663A869C	0	3	If you're reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You're among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW	1711522800	View Edit Delete
1667436	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727723	1734958307	695	1137570613920065		4.2983514283568E+14	1711263600	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	248588431673618	0	Milton Caprisa	120208784352110248	msnddxm.shop	Shop now	NONE	video			http://msnddxm.shop/		1711191382	2.4858843167362E+14	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433139717_932551984986644_8193530233443845277_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=0n6C1Xwc3JUQ7kNvgFjb3RE&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDVAByVvBJTk4pC515Pudy-j0mhS6ZD46-0YVIYqHiEQA&oe=663A654E	person_profile	0	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433172877_8095387287144767_2619626527976205726_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=j3mWXu5_PR8Q7kNvgE2KuVZ&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCuFiNlrSJztCQUX7fnCyrC5xNUaMcONGmwCUc6CgUOeQ&oe=663A7E8E	0	3	🏹️The best hunting crossbow comes from generations of hard work developing the most cutting-edge technology to produce the fastest crossbow on the market.	Milton Caprisa	5	https://facebook.com/61557439433681	SHOP_NOW	1711177200	View Edit Delete
1667406	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727723	1734958307	695	3085697484905198		9.0488530810128E+14	1711522800	regular_page	eligible	NONE	0	1	1	402966003129638	1	I love A.B. - andy biersack	120206221167850527	tunnelstudent.info	Get offer	NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711551449	4.0296600312964E+14	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent.fdet1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434252512_410411474919855_2889258650411127651_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jQpo2pQ_AMQQ7kNvgFKaA2R&_nc_ht=scontent.fdet1-2.fna&oh=00_AfClS0DlaRCIryPXEQ3J8mAYJJWojHViIUhJCKdHElPA0g&oe=663A7BCD	regular_page	0	I love A.B. - andy biersack	https://scontent.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434332774_7362210790533796_5216996924127506374_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=cjeii433w1kQ7kNvgGpn8zE&_nc_ht=scontent.fdet1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDTJwY6I4Zc8hnMeNz0cfBVGY7li0ZdA4PaXDgqAcaZlw&oe=663A65AC	0	3	If you're reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You're among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW	1711522800	View Edit Delete
1667407	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727723	1734958307	695	909720550933161	3	1.3680873738995E+15	1711522800	person_profile	taken-down	NONE	1	0	0	528423657263233	0	Serious Bookings	6544304682244	zklshopec1.top	Learn more	NONE	video			https://zklshopec1.top/products/q?campaign_id={{campaign.id}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}		1711529551	5.2842365726323E+14	Serious Bookings	https://scontent.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434269680_450752013973618_4264633037474322466_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUo_uC99yMEQ7kNvgFWWz3J&_nc_ht=scontent.fdet1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDjSf6J_ZWIjhCxvNd8vCdq2s12_EQGdNM3QM1zhVttgQ&oe=663A8239	person_profile	0			0	3		Serious Bookings	81	https://facebook.com/seriousbookings	LEARN_MORE	1711522800	View Edit Delete
1667415	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727723	1734958307	695	25161396986841638		1.3680873738995E+15	1711522800	person_profile	taken-down	NONE	1	0	0	528423657263233	0	Serious Bookings	6544304682244	zklshopec1.top	Learn more	NONE	video			https://zklshopec1.top/products/q?campaign_id={{campaign.id}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}		1711529551	5.2842365726323E+14	Serious Bookings	https://scontent.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434269680_450752013973618_4264633037474322466_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUo_uC99yMEQ7kNvgFWWz3J&_nc_ht=scontent.fdet1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDjSf6J_ZWIjhCxvNd8vCdq2s12_EQGdNM3QM1zhVttgQ&oe=663A8239	person_profile	0			0	3		Serious Bookings	81	https://facebook.com/seriousbookings	LEARN_MORE	1711522800	View Edit Delete
1667416	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727723	1734958307	695	7195905193855071		1.3680873738995E+15	1711522800	person_profile	taken-down	NONE	1	0	0	528423657263233	0	Serious Bookings	6544304682244	zklshopec1.top	Learn more	NONE	video			https://zklshopec1.top/products/q?campaign_id={{campaign.id}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}		1711529551	5.2842365726323E+14	Serious Bookings	https://scontent.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434269680_450752013973618_4264633037474322466_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YUo_uC99yMEQ7kNvgFWWz3J&_nc_ht=scontent.fdet1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDjSf6J_ZWIjhCxvNd8vCdq2s12_EQGdNM3QM1zhVttgQ&oe=663A8239	person_profile	0			0	3		Serious Bookings	81	https://facebook.com/seriousbookings	LEARN_MORE	1711522800	View Edit Delete
1667418	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727723	1734958307	695	2649467881887070	2	2.7569898477756E+15	1711609200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	181760488365196	0	Devices for work	120207730854630126	ridermiseri.info	Get offer	NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://ridermiseri.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=tBvBWazjmFpYTEwnf7DD&ad_id={{ad.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&placement={{placement}}&fbclid={{fbclid}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&ids=KIyg7d		1711435571	1.817604883652E+14	Devices for work	https://scontent.fdet1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433842562_1362745041066287_189163946256304676_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=dKwNavi12A0Q7kNvgFpGMiJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fdet1-2.fna&oh=00_AfChLgTSPFPYf3clSWWNCFLyc_HARRD7siKuAzVSZ6AQYA&oe=663A8324	person_profile	0	Devices for work	https://scontent.fdet1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434140343_1654282735107254_7407386334183254158_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NTMo7pQ6Z6YQ7kNvgHOU-r_&_nc_ht=scontent.fdet1-2.fna&oh=00_AfCDGaWZXbeo8rc52jqj6LBP1BfTcp1c2rUgfWPPFaLw_A&oe=663A934B	0	3	If you're reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You're among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway,,, 🥳	Devices for work	810	https://facebook.com/61556081113592	GET_OFFER_VIEW	1711436400	View Edit Delete
1667420	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727723	1734958307	695	3613379868925062	2	2.7569898477756E+15	1711522800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	181760488365196	0	Devices for work	120207730854580126	ridermiseri.info	Get offer	NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://ridermiseri.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=tBvBWazjmFpYTEwnf7DD&ad_id={{ad.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&placement={{placement}}&fbclid={{fbclid}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&ids=KIyg7d		1711435574	1.817604883652E+14	Devices for work	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434177854_930320678642176_7289043689340575824_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Zg9VEygwhXsQ7kNvgGM4njl&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBaJz8Ao5aTDPTEDWgV__Ku0DiZuDHBV-RIAHsggrQ2SA&oe=663A783E	person_profile	0	Devices for work	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434138223_838516654759698_3854233384221918371_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fDw1KvWiVvsQ7kNvgHl3dyG&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBl6GeWm06e2AjD6BLvYbXKRKDYOoQznuC5RNRapr7BhA&oe=663A6444	0	3	If you're reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You're among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway,,, 🥳	Devices for work	810	https://facebook.com/61556081113592	GET_OFFER_VIEW	1711436400	View Edit Delete
1667423	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727723	1734958307	695	1349117235662318		1.4906110848375E+15	1711868400	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	202204112986379	0	Surprise Savings	120205991251720575	swishairtime.info	Learn more	NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://swishairtime.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=BvP7v5dDKPCoGKFg8VfI&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1710795081	2.0220411298638E+14	Surprise Savings	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432472530_1622213328588533_8248215330437726772_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=OV-U_Xhup3QQ7kNvgEgFSr4&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfAo1J7kZ8bbhG8_kon2Uds9YuaYPmLALVTIQEsmILF0fg&oe=663A8281	person_profile	0	Surprise Savings	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433532258_781148220567003_5059582937767300576_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=RJLJQQGaKq4Q7kNvgG1tIRZ&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfDXbwfEhqs1UgCGvhttN5-HThl20Q6Z6P8sKl4I97UDBw&oe=663A830E	0	3	If you're reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You're among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a Ravin R29 Crossbow for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳	Surprise Savings	132	https://facebook.com/61557395454560	LEARN_MORE	1711090800	View Edit Delete
1667424	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727723	1734958307	695	394031083336713		1.4906110848375E+15	1711868400	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	202204112986379	0	Surprise Savings	120205991251430575	swishairtime.info	Learn more	NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://swishairtime.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=BvP7v5dDKPCoGKFg8VfI&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1710795087	2.0220411298638E+14	Surprise Savings	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432589557_1573429963433663_8582202295173063832_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=1P-2t-iM8n8Q7kNvgEvPCrp&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDasI7s903n4aRN2px8BcdDDab-YlibDl6S7FW9f7KXeA&oe=663A7FD8	person_profile	0	Surprise Savings	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433099990_1759519634544137_40484855758763547_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=U4t8lblJ6H0Q7kNvgElphmB&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfBAmI09xWvbAyYJX9KZwdRAeC_mdjbjwLpizo-tuP5k2A&oe=663A6D94	0	3	If you're reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You're among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a Ravin R29 Crossbow for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳	Surprise Savings	132	https://facebook.com/61557395454560	LEARN_MORE	1711090800	View Edit Delete
1667426	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727723	1734958307	695	1126388981735960		1.4906110848375E+15	1711868400	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	202204112986379	0	Surprise Savings	120205991251430575	swishairtime.info	Learn more	NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://swishairtime.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=BvP7v5dDKPCoGKFg8VfI&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1710795087	2.0220411298638E+14	Surprise Savings	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432589557_1573429963433663_8582202295173063832_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=1P-2t-iM8n8Q7kNvgEvPCrp&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDasI7s903n4aRN2px8BcdDDab-YlibDl6S7FW9f7KXeA&oe=663A7FD8	person_profile	0	Surprise Savings	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433099990_1759519634544137_40484855758763547_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=U4t8lblJ6H0Q7kNvgElphmB&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfBAmI09xWvbAyYJX9KZwdRAeC_mdjbjwLpizo-tuP5k2A&oe=663A6D94	0	3	If you're reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You're among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a Ravin R29 Crossbow for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳	Surprise Savings	132	https://facebook.com/61557395454560	LEARN_MORE	1711090800	View Edit Delete
1667428	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727723	1734958307	695	428020822927047	1	7.9827359887391E+14	1711436400	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	218810774653254	0	Techguru	120208865570430723	oaklandfoundr.info	Get offer	NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://oaklandfoundr.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=rHSKhu2NVO7gIRr31N5P&ad_id={{ad.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&placement={{placement}}&fbclid={{fbclid}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}		1711202093	2.1881077465325E+14	Techguru	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/418159375_423033293593854_5432948102159785539_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=TLB0qtwHaHkQ7kNvgHoWiHS&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB6-ixv23smGkdQUvyBEjq0MAi87tSA8ZBDJSVLHR14Hw&oe=663A7F9E	person_profile	0	Techguru	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/418170690_1497789944135435_6539115471951984694_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=j-qfYDSS2OMQ7kNvgFU7Yr6&_nc_oc=AdiyWeNFU08FLJgoccYpg1hY6NryNwS_CTlUU3LkdSML-kZzLCKbT71YVCJ-DzFcvH0&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfA43ue3pEiI2Km7vSHuAyOFKEW4XXgcyry65DCO9Bni7w&oe=663A81D7	0	3	If you're reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You're among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a Ravin R29 Crossbow for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳	Techguru	824	https://facebook.com/61556263801499	GET_OFFER_VIEW	1711177200	View Edit Delete
1667429	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727723	1734958307	695	3604116899899991	20	4.2983514283568E+14	1711177200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	248588431673618	0	Milton Caprisa	120208784351650248	msnddxm.shop	Shop now	NONE	video			http://msnddxm.shop/		1711191384	2.4858843167362E+14	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433238266_1720061161851228_7213279926746089482_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=b2Tdxi03t0YQ7kNvgHRcRpw&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfD7lU2xRBownwpsbRhaKv34Nr52v1cxn1UYu4jAcc7VKg&oe=663A6D5C	person_profile	0	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433229985_368630112806154_6603790424657153261_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=IwpjClvUHtAQ7kNvgGrL6Uo&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAPvc2L3fZpRX1VTdTlhsfk6Dv1E43ci-iQgZOg34FD2w&oe=663A6D76	0	3	🏹️The best hunting crossbow comes from generations of hard work developing the most cutting-edge technology to produce the fastest crossbow on the market.	Milton Caprisa	5	https://facebook.com/61557439433681	SHOP_NOW	1711177200	View Edit Delete
1667431	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727723	1734958307	695	252514631267308		4.2983514283568E+14	1711263600	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	248588431673618	0	Milton Caprisa	120208784351590248	msnddxm.shop	Shop now	NONE	video			http://msnddxm.shop/		1711191386	2.4858843167362E+14	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434015961_773188501439658_8421461378041250995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=13o5HmGNnOAQ7kNvgGtqMeg&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA533IGr1Zsczidj8YQm2TFFCUKWC5_j2Yoc9YKQQQ4Xg&oe=663A8252	person_profile	0	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/420197916_1889553414812338_5721297984318511023_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8yhu-Yu504AQ7kNvgFCPT79&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfC-18FQj5cpf7A27vwsMkLD7QFUHkL6pY0zsgMzlcUgew&oe=663A79F9	0	3	🏹️The best hunting crossbow comes from generations of hard work developing the most cutting-edge technology to produce the fastest crossbow on the market.	Milton Caprisa	5	https://facebook.com/61557439433681	SHOP_NOW	1711177200	View Edit Delete
1667432	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727723	1734958307	695	416881724220443		4.2983514283568E+14	1711177200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	248588431673618	0	Milton Caprisa	120208784351770248	msnddxm.shop	Shop now	NONE	video			http://msnddxm.shop/		1711191385	2.4858843167362E+14	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433870020_792744702191906_7398537347314827193_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9My_uAP4uN0Q7kNvgGXFobD&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDdX-ocsoczw8PB-Kbtj1CKw8lvof_intbx6dl0Jqm_Cw&oe=663A8658	person_profile	0	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433946503_272453215951772_1712409009461375451_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=OrbhbAqlYI4Q7kNvgG4YJeF&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfBOR1Pife4IGiKZyIvLnxo-MzAsODIWD9ATztesxQcoMg&oe=663A819B	0	3	🏹️The best hunting crossbow comes from generations of hard work developing the most cutting-edge technology to produce the fastest crossbow on the market.	Milton Caprisa	5	https://facebook.com/61557439433681	SHOP_NOW	1711177200	View Edit Delete
1667434	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727723	1734958307	695	784035646932548		4.2983514283568E+14	1711177200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	248588431673618	0	Milton Caprisa	120208784351670248	msnddxm.shop	Shop now	NONE	video			http://msnddxm.shop/		1711191384	2.4858843167362E+14	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431562565_6972139836229390_8467100763877705327_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=SVtTSte_flkQ7kNvgE6scTz&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfCOqVUJQOUwkYD5hpeGx2-yxIgq4a_aLW1lV-6aCAkbOw&oe=663A8F68	person_profile	0	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431568651_1134049474440045_1402622191758474383_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PB9098F3uuIQ7kNvgERNA0B&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfC9ynd-oC9BGjLWl3EAXZhBbmbNpFfnnoPFYuQmP9nbng&oe=663A7999	0	3	🏹️The best hunting crossbow comes from generations of hard work developing the most cutting-edge technology to produce the fastest crossbow on the market.	Milton Caprisa	5	https://facebook.com/61557439433681	SHOP_NOW	1711177200	View Edit Delete
1667438	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727723	1734958307	695	7474480465935792	1	1.4538383585731E+15	1711522800	regular_page	eligible	NONE	0	1	1	104592775600057	1	Liquidation sale	120208319616070564	unripenesss.info	Get offer	NONE	video	👇Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately👇		https://unripenesss.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Ia8EHtSNvPE5xLhIca1t&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&fbclid=%7B%7Bfbclid%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&chk=Lv7KvxZ		1711183242	1.0459277560006E+14	Liquidation sale	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433259670_2413309345545647_9119231969045705250_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=eyNYZ2NiEzUQ7kNvgHFZFlO&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfD-QIkMlW_knY7VxfUC9ErNKnsi5pp0jIIeberDTGLkhg&oe=663A60A6	regular_page	0	Liquidation sale	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433029468_1232898747671484_2589590370759723158_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=q9RXWW12d-gQ7kNvgGHWm3L&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfBsH4xnLgb92C9KhZuqk4CeA7QXsH9PTRNXlCi5hv6c2A&oe=663A8BD2	0	3	If you're reading this,😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You're among the 2,593 lucky people who have secured a TenPoint-Nitro-505 for just $9.95 in our 2024 spring Giveaway🥳		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW	1711177200	View Edit Delete
1667440	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727724	1734958307	695	938508454234046	1	9.3979354451536E+14	1711436400	regular_page	eligible	NONE	0	1	1	412249035602001	1	Nail art love	120208616664560506	oaklandfoundr.info	Get offer	NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://oaklandfoundr.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=rHSKhu2NVO7gIRr31N5P&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&fbclid=%7B%7Bfbclid%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D		1711180850	4.12249035602E+14	Nail art love	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434286619_1579267836198737_8464997126678366884_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=HfCXhbGnv3YQ7kNvgFliXwO&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfA69eKuheMPT1wEtZaJkFE_WgTilUYP9inlhbblppDbJg&oe=663A7FD1	regular_page	0	Nail art love	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433123582_3612969575683495_7248090831578340850_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5WC6Wwi4kI4Q7kNvgHwx0fu&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfAuNhH2Y022Dwx1LeoSZ5qT8KoO5XJvj2IkCLzNuwzx0g&oe=663A63EE	0	3	If you're reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You're among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a Ravin R29 Crossbow for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW	1711177200	View Edit Delete
1667443	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727724	1734958307	695	1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14	1711177200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205964712910695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yNbiIxuKI2AQ7kNvgGfnmoy&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC6DrZOfOsYusJV1aeXABcnKCr6dm0EWgNc5Uz6lhlzLw&oe=663A66DC	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=T4NF_UPlt1EQ7kNvgFNI_Wf&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBA2PPo3TGH2NIEoH0rrftQ00OmraXdk03saYHfZD1eGA&oe=663A826A	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1711090800	View Edit Delete
1667445	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727724	1734958307	695	1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14	1711177200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205964712910695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yNbiIxuKI2AQ7kNvgGfnmoy&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC6DrZOfOsYusJV1aeXABcnKCr6dm0EWgNc5Uz6lhlzLw&oe=663A66DC	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=T4NF_UPlt1EQ7kNvgFNI_Wf&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBA2PPo3TGH2NIEoH0rrftQ00OmraXdk03saYHfZD1eGA&oe=663A826A	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1711090800	View Edit Delete
1667447	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727724	1734958308	695	1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14	1711177200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205964712910695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yNbiIxuKI2AQ7kNvgGfnmoy&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC6DrZOfOsYusJV1aeXABcnKCr6dm0EWgNc5Uz6lhlzLw&oe=663A66DC	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=T4NF_UPlt1EQ7kNvgFNI_Wf&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBA2PPo3TGH2NIEoH0rrftQ00OmraXdk03saYHfZD1eGA&oe=663A826A	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1711090800	View Edit Delete
1667449	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727724	1734958308	695	1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14	1711177200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205964712910695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yNbiIxuKI2AQ7kNvgGfnmoy&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC6DrZOfOsYusJV1aeXABcnKCr6dm0EWgNc5Uz6lhlzLw&oe=663A66DC	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=T4NF_UPlt1EQ7kNvgFNI_Wf&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBA2PPo3TGH2NIEoH0rrftQ00OmraXdk03saYHfZD1eGA&oe=663A826A	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1711090800	View Edit Delete
1667451	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727724	1734958308	695	1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14	1711177200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205964712910695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yNbiIxuKI2AQ7kNvgGfnmoy&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC6DrZOfOsYusJV1aeXABcnKCr6dm0EWgNc5Uz6lhlzLw&oe=663A66DC	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=T4NF_UPlt1EQ7kNvgFNI_Wf&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBA2PPo3TGH2NIEoH0rrftQ00OmraXdk03saYHfZD1eGA&oe=663A826A	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1711090800	View Edit Delete
1667453	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727724	1734958308	695	1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14	1711177200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205964712910695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yNbiIxuKI2AQ7kNvgGfnmoy&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC6DrZOfOsYusJV1aeXABcnKCr6dm0EWgNc5Uz6lhlzLw&oe=663A66DC	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=T4NF_UPlt1EQ7kNvgFNI_Wf&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBA2PPo3TGH2NIEoH0rrftQ00OmraXdk03saYHfZD1eGA&oe=663A826A	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1711090800	View Edit Delete
1667455	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727724	1734958308	695	1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14	1711177200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205964712910695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yNbiIxuKI2AQ7kNvgGfnmoy&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC6DrZOfOsYusJV1aeXABcnKCr6dm0EWgNc5Uz6lhlzLw&oe=663A66DC	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=T4NF_UPlt1EQ7kNvgFNI_Wf&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBA2PPo3TGH2NIEoH0rrftQ00OmraXdk03saYHfZD1eGA&oe=663A826A	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1711090800	View Edit Delete
1667459	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727724	1734958308	695	1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14	1711177200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205964712910695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yNbiIxuKI2AQ7kNvgGfnmoy&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC6DrZOfOsYusJV1aeXABcnKCr6dm0EWgNc5Uz6lhlzLw&oe=663A66DC	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=T4NF_UPlt1EQ7kNvgFNI_Wf&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBA2PPo3TGH2NIEoH0rrftQ00OmraXdk03saYHfZD1eGA&oe=663A826A	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1711090800	View Edit Delete
1667775	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727737	1734958308	695	361684656586976		8.1286126393833E+14	1714114800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	892588401116730	0	Practice Anywhere	120204193096150376	accubow.com	Shop Now	NONE	carousel	Code:ACCU20	Limited Time!	https://accubow.com/		1705091021	8.9258840111673E+14	Practice Anywhere	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/419133673_310227124771438_972601204068737509_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Wgb2L5UgFkQQ7kNvgE4yzGx&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfA-EY_ZJGem1Y2UXFNn-bQtfJ1HxCZSmBVR17t7tKTP8g&oe=663A7BA3	person_profile	0	Practice anywhere	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/419119670_317631567934896_2992698053173032227_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ej_db64tn1IQ7kNvgG42NLd&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfA7cg7SEZcRGe2yhPcrCeZEY39sAAkMS9bdhjFhecdjlw&oe=663A7686	0	3	Limited Time!	Practice Anywhere	9807	https://facebook.com/practiceanywherenow	SHOP_NOW	1705132800	View Edit Delete
1667462	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727724	1734958308	695	1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14	1711177200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205964712910695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yNbiIxuKI2AQ7kNvgGfnmoy&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC6DrZOfOsYusJV1aeXABcnKCr6dm0EWgNc5Uz6lhlzLw&oe=663A66DC	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=T4NF_UPlt1EQ7kNvgFNI_Wf&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBA2PPo3TGH2NIEoH0rrftQ00OmraXdk03saYHfZD1eGA&oe=663A826A	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1711090800	View Edit Delete
1667464	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727724	1734958308	695	1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14	1711177200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205964712910695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yNbiIxuKI2AQ7kNvgGfnmoy&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC6DrZOfOsYusJV1aeXABcnKCr6dm0EWgNc5Uz6lhlzLw&oe=663A66DC	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=T4NF_UPlt1EQ7kNvgFNI_Wf&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBA2PPo3TGH2NIEoH0rrftQ00OmraXdk03saYHfZD1eGA&oe=663A826A	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1711090800	View Edit Delete
1667466	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727724	1734958308	695	1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14	1711177200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205964712910695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yNbiIxuKI2AQ7kNvgGfnmoy&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC6DrZOfOsYusJV1aeXABcnKCr6dm0EWgNc5Uz6lhlzLw&oe=663A66DC	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=T4NF_UPlt1EQ7kNvgFNI_Wf&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBA2PPo3TGH2NIEoH0rrftQ00OmraXdk03saYHfZD1eGA&oe=663A826A	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1711090800	View Edit Delete
1667468	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727724	1734958308	695	1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14	1711177200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205964712910695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yNbiIxuKI2AQ7kNvgGfnmoy&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC6DrZOfOsYusJV1aeXABcnKCr6dm0EWgNc5Uz6lhlzLw&oe=663A66DC	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=T4NF_UPlt1EQ7kNvgFNI_Wf&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBA2PPo3TGH2NIEoH0rrftQ00OmraXdk03saYHfZD1eGA&oe=663A826A	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1711090800	View Edit Delete
1667469	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727724	1734958308	695	1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14	1711177200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205964712910695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yNbiIxuKI2AQ7kNvgGfnmoy&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC6DrZOfOsYusJV1aeXABcnKCr6dm0EWgNc5Uz6lhlzLw&oe=663A66DC	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=T4NF_UPlt1EQ7kNvgFNI_Wf&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBA2PPo3TGH2NIEoH0rrftQ00OmraXdk03saYHfZD1eGA&oe=663A826A	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1711090800	View Edit Delete
1667777	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727737	1734958308	695	361684656586976		8.1286126393833E+14	1714114800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	892588401116730	0	Practice Anywhere	120204193096150376	accubow.com	Shop Now	NONE	carousel	Code:ACCU20	Limited Time!	https://accubow.com/		1705091021	8.9258840111673E+14	Practice Anywhere	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/419133673_310227124771438_972601204068737509_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Wgb2L5UgFkQQ7kNvgE4yzGx&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfA-EY_ZJGem1Y2UXFNn-bQtfJ1HxCZSmBVR17t7tKTP8g&oe=663A7BA3	person_profile	0	Practice anywhere	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/419119670_317631567934896_2992698053173032227_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ej_db64tn1IQ7kNvgG42NLd&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfA7cg7SEZcRGe2yhPcrCeZEY39sAAkMS9bdhjFhecdjlw&oe=663A7686	0	3	Limited Time!	Practice Anywhere	9807	https://facebook.com/practiceanywherenow	SHOP_NOW	1705132800	View Edit Delete
1667473	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727724	1734958308	695	1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14	1711177200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205964712910695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yNbiIxuKI2AQ7kNvgGfnmoy&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC6DrZOfOsYusJV1aeXABcnKCr6dm0EWgNc5Uz6lhlzLw&oe=663A66DC	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=T4NF_UPlt1EQ7kNvgFNI_Wf&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBA2PPo3TGH2NIEoH0rrftQ00OmraXdk03saYHfZD1eGA&oe=663A826A	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1711090800	View Edit Delete
1667475	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727724	1734958308	695	1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14	1711177200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205964712910695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yNbiIxuKI2AQ7kNvgGfnmoy&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC6DrZOfOsYusJV1aeXABcnKCr6dm0EWgNc5Uz6lhlzLw&oe=663A66DC	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=T4NF_UPlt1EQ7kNvgFNI_Wf&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBA2PPo3TGH2NIEoH0rrftQ00OmraXdk03saYHfZD1eGA&oe=663A826A	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1711090800	View Edit Delete
1667477	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727725	1734958308	695	1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14	1711177200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205964712910695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yNbiIxuKI2AQ7kNvgGfnmoy&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC6DrZOfOsYusJV1aeXABcnKCr6dm0EWgNc5Uz6lhlzLw&oe=663A66DC	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=T4NF_UPlt1EQ7kNvgFNI_Wf&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBA2PPo3TGH2NIEoH0rrftQ00OmraXdk03saYHfZD1eGA&oe=663A826A	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1711090800	View Edit Delete
1667479	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727725	1734958308	695	1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14	1711177200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205964712910695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yNbiIxuKI2AQ7kNvgGfnmoy&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC6DrZOfOsYusJV1aeXABcnKCr6dm0EWgNc5Uz6lhlzLw&oe=663A66DC	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=T4NF_UPlt1EQ7kNvgFNI_Wf&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBA2PPo3TGH2NIEoH0rrftQ00OmraXdk03saYHfZD1eGA&oe=663A826A	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1711090800	View Edit Delete
1667481	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727725	1734958308	695	1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14	1711177200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205964712910695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yNbiIxuKI2AQ7kNvgGfnmoy&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC6DrZOfOsYusJV1aeXABcnKCr6dm0EWgNc5Uz6lhlzLw&oe=663A66DC	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=T4NF_UPlt1EQ7kNvgFNI_Wf&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBA2PPo3TGH2NIEoH0rrftQ00OmraXdk03saYHfZD1eGA&oe=663A826A	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1711090800	View Edit Delete
1667482	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727725	1734958308	695	1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14	1711177200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205964712910695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yNbiIxuKI2AQ7kNvgGfnmoy&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC6DrZOfOsYusJV1aeXABcnKCr6dm0EWgNc5Uz6lhlzLw&oe=663A66DC	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=T4NF_UPlt1EQ7kNvgFNI_Wf&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBA2PPo3TGH2NIEoH0rrftQ00OmraXdk03saYHfZD1eGA&oe=663A826A	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1711090800	View Edit Delete
1667484	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727725	1734958308	695	1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14	1711177200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205964712910695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yNbiIxuKI2AQ7kNvgGfnmoy&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC6DrZOfOsYusJV1aeXABcnKCr6dm0EWgNc5Uz6lhlzLw&oe=663A66DC	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=T4NF_UPlt1EQ7kNvgFNI_Wf&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBA2PPo3TGH2NIEoH0rrftQ00OmraXdk03saYHfZD1eGA&oe=663A826A	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1711090800	View Edit Delete
1667485	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727725	1734958308	695	1348360672492527	2	6.2641737964214E+14	1711177200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205964712910695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125624	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433684869_457092449981648_3407831440630043047_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yNbiIxuKI2AQ7kNvgGfnmoy&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfC6DrZOfOsYusJV1aeXABcnKCr6dm0EWgNc5Uz6lhlzLw&oe=663A66DC	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433545868_283000594837085_6561487442196160306_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=T4NF_UPlt1EQ7kNvgFNI_Wf&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBA2PPo3TGH2NIEoH0rrftQ00OmraXdk03saYHfZD1eGA&oe=663A826A	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1711090800	View Edit Delete
1667486	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727725	1734958308	695	707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14	1711177200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205964709220695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=r6atYU02b-wQ7kNvgFSRjyb&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfATyQvlIkUQKlF0E_kPFY1yPFqoFxFzQaHkRp8sT49wIw&oe=663A6367	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=n_OT1RFqDroQ7kNvgGk3g-R&_nc_oc=AdhUZ7azzhirLsS8NBdKHiMgiM4R1Ekp94OH-IuoPfHBJTsvM7boGJcm4REQUu84y2I&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCjFijR9PHK4fLUFTSUHJEsrvdLrW9Ex0aVsIXRX51tqQ&oe=663A7A55	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1711090800	View Edit Delete
1667781	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727738	1734958308	695	361684656586976		8.1286126393833E+14	1714114800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	892588401116730	0	Practice Anywhere	120204193096150376	accubow.com	Shop Now	NONE	carousel	Code:ACCU20	Limited Time!	https://accubow.com/		1705091021	8.9258840111673E+14	Practice Anywhere	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/419133673_310227124771438_972601204068737509_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Wgb2L5UgFkQQ7kNvgE4yzGx&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfA-EY_ZJGem1Y2UXFNn-bQtfJ1HxCZSmBVR17t7tKTP8g&oe=663A7BA3	person_profile	0	Practice anywhere	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/419119670_317631567934896_2992698053173032227_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ej_db64tn1IQ7kNvgG42NLd&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfA7cg7SEZcRGe2yhPcrCeZEY39sAAkMS9bdhjFhecdjlw&oe=663A7686	0	3	Limited Time!	Practice Anywhere	9807	https://facebook.com/practiceanywherenow	SHOP_NOW	1705132800	View Edit Delete
1667487	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727725	1734958308	695	707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14	1711177200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205964709220695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=r6atYU02b-wQ7kNvgFSRjyb&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfATyQvlIkUQKlF0E_kPFY1yPFqoFxFzQaHkRp8sT49wIw&oe=663A6367	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=n_OT1RFqDroQ7kNvgGk3g-R&_nc_oc=AdhUZ7azzhirLsS8NBdKHiMgiM4R1Ekp94OH-IuoPfHBJTsvM7boGJcm4REQUu84y2I&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCjFijR9PHK4fLUFTSUHJEsrvdLrW9Ex0aVsIXRX51tqQ&oe=663A7A55	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1711090800	View Edit Delete
1667488	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727725	1734958308	695	707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14	1711177200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205964709220695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=r6atYU02b-wQ7kNvgFSRjyb&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfATyQvlIkUQKlF0E_kPFY1yPFqoFxFzQaHkRp8sT49wIw&oe=663A6367	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=n_OT1RFqDroQ7kNvgGk3g-R&_nc_oc=AdhUZ7azzhirLsS8NBdKHiMgiM4R1Ekp94OH-IuoPfHBJTsvM7boGJcm4REQUu84y2I&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCjFijR9PHK4fLUFTSUHJEsrvdLrW9Ex0aVsIXRX51tqQ&oe=663A7A55	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1711090800	View Edit Delete
1667489	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727725	1734958308	695	707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14	1711177200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205964709220695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=r6atYU02b-wQ7kNvgFSRjyb&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfATyQvlIkUQKlF0E_kPFY1yPFqoFxFzQaHkRp8sT49wIw&oe=663A6367	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=n_OT1RFqDroQ7kNvgGk3g-R&_nc_oc=AdhUZ7azzhirLsS8NBdKHiMgiM4R1Ekp94OH-IuoPfHBJTsvM7boGJcm4REQUu84y2I&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCjFijR9PHK4fLUFTSUHJEsrvdLrW9Ex0aVsIXRX51tqQ&oe=663A7A55	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1711090800	View Edit Delete
1667490	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727725	1734958308	695	707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14	1711177200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205964709220695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=r6atYU02b-wQ7kNvgFSRjyb&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfATyQvlIkUQKlF0E_kPFY1yPFqoFxFzQaHkRp8sT49wIw&oe=663A6367	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=n_OT1RFqDroQ7kNvgGk3g-R&_nc_oc=AdhUZ7azzhirLsS8NBdKHiMgiM4R1Ekp94OH-IuoPfHBJTsvM7boGJcm4REQUu84y2I&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCjFijR9PHK4fLUFTSUHJEsrvdLrW9Ex0aVsIXRX51tqQ&oe=663A7A55	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1711090800	View Edit Delete
1667492	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727725	1734958309	695	707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14	1711177200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205964709220695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=r6atYU02b-wQ7kNvgFSRjyb&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfATyQvlIkUQKlF0E_kPFY1yPFqoFxFzQaHkRp8sT49wIw&oe=663A6367	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=n_OT1RFqDroQ7kNvgGk3g-R&_nc_oc=AdhUZ7azzhirLsS8NBdKHiMgiM4R1Ekp94OH-IuoPfHBJTsvM7boGJcm4REQUu84y2I&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCjFijR9PHK4fLUFTSUHJEsrvdLrW9Ex0aVsIXRX51tqQ&oe=663A7A55	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1711090800	View Edit Delete
1667493	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727725	1734958309	695	707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14	1711177200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205964709220695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=r6atYU02b-wQ7kNvgFSRjyb&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfATyQvlIkUQKlF0E_kPFY1yPFqoFxFzQaHkRp8sT49wIw&oe=663A6367	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=n_OT1RFqDroQ7kNvgGk3g-R&_nc_oc=AdhUZ7azzhirLsS8NBdKHiMgiM4R1Ekp94OH-IuoPfHBJTsvM7boGJcm4REQUu84y2I&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCjFijR9PHK4fLUFTSUHJEsrvdLrW9Ex0aVsIXRX51tqQ&oe=663A7A55	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1711090800	View Edit Delete
1667494	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727725	1734958309	695	707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14	1711177200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205964709220695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=r6atYU02b-wQ7kNvgFSRjyb&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfATyQvlIkUQKlF0E_kPFY1yPFqoFxFzQaHkRp8sT49wIw&oe=663A6367	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=n_OT1RFqDroQ7kNvgGk3g-R&_nc_oc=AdhUZ7azzhirLsS8NBdKHiMgiM4R1Ekp94OH-IuoPfHBJTsvM7boGJcm4REQUu84y2I&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCjFijR9PHK4fLUFTSUHJEsrvdLrW9Ex0aVsIXRX51tqQ&oe=663A7A55	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1711090800	View Edit Delete
1667495	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727725	1734958309	695	707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14	1711177200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205964709220695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=r6atYU02b-wQ7kNvgFSRjyb&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfATyQvlIkUQKlF0E_kPFY1yPFqoFxFzQaHkRp8sT49wIw&oe=663A6367	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=n_OT1RFqDroQ7kNvgGk3g-R&_nc_oc=AdhUZ7azzhirLsS8NBdKHiMgiM4R1Ekp94OH-IuoPfHBJTsvM7boGJcm4REQUu84y2I&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCjFijR9PHK4fLUFTSUHJEsrvdLrW9Ex0aVsIXRX51tqQ&oe=663A7A55	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1711090800	View Edit Delete
1667497	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727725	1734958309	695	707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14	1711177200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205964709220695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=r6atYU02b-wQ7kNvgFSRjyb&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfATyQvlIkUQKlF0E_kPFY1yPFqoFxFzQaHkRp8sT49wIw&oe=663A6367	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=n_OT1RFqDroQ7kNvgGk3g-R&_nc_oc=AdhUZ7azzhirLsS8NBdKHiMgiM4R1Ekp94OH-IuoPfHBJTsvM7boGJcm4REQUu84y2I&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCjFijR9PHK4fLUFTSUHJEsrvdLrW9Ex0aVsIXRX51tqQ&oe=663A7A55	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1711090800	View Edit Delete
1667499	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727725	1734958309	695	707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14	1711177200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205964709220695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=r6atYU02b-wQ7kNvgFSRjyb&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfATyQvlIkUQKlF0E_kPFY1yPFqoFxFzQaHkRp8sT49wIw&oe=663A6367	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=n_OT1RFqDroQ7kNvgGk3g-R&_nc_oc=AdhUZ7azzhirLsS8NBdKHiMgiM4R1Ekp94OH-IuoPfHBJTsvM7boGJcm4REQUu84y2I&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCjFijR9PHK4fLUFTSUHJEsrvdLrW9Ex0aVsIXRX51tqQ&oe=663A7A55	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1711090800	View Edit Delete
1667507	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727726	1734958309	695	707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14	1711177200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205964709220695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=r6atYU02b-wQ7kNvgFSRjyb&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfATyQvlIkUQKlF0E_kPFY1yPFqoFxFzQaHkRp8sT49wIw&oe=663A6367	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=n_OT1RFqDroQ7kNvgGk3g-R&_nc_oc=AdhUZ7azzhirLsS8NBdKHiMgiM4R1Ekp94OH-IuoPfHBJTsvM7boGJcm4REQUu84y2I&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCjFijR9PHK4fLUFTSUHJEsrvdLrW9Ex0aVsIXRX51tqQ&oe=663A7A55	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1711090800	View Edit Delete
1667509	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727726	1734958309	695	707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14	1711177200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205964709220695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=r6atYU02b-wQ7kNvgFSRjyb&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfATyQvlIkUQKlF0E_kPFY1yPFqoFxFzQaHkRp8sT49wIw&oe=663A6367	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=n_OT1RFqDroQ7kNvgGk3g-R&_nc_oc=AdhUZ7azzhirLsS8NBdKHiMgiM4R1Ekp94OH-IuoPfHBJTsvM7boGJcm4REQUu84y2I&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCjFijR9PHK4fLUFTSUHJEsrvdLrW9Ex0aVsIXRX51tqQ&oe=663A7A55	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1711090800	View Edit Delete
1667511	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727726	1734958309	695	707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14	1711177200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205964709220695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=r6atYU02b-wQ7kNvgFSRjyb&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfATyQvlIkUQKlF0E_kPFY1yPFqoFxFzQaHkRp8sT49wIw&oe=663A6367	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=n_OT1RFqDroQ7kNvgGk3g-R&_nc_oc=AdhUZ7azzhirLsS8NBdKHiMgiM4R1Ekp94OH-IuoPfHBJTsvM7boGJcm4REQUu84y2I&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCjFijR9PHK4fLUFTSUHJEsrvdLrW9Ex0aVsIXRX51tqQ&oe=663A7A55	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1711090800	View Edit Delete
1667513	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727726	1734958309	695	707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14	1711177200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205964709220695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=r6atYU02b-wQ7kNvgFSRjyb&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfATyQvlIkUQKlF0E_kPFY1yPFqoFxFzQaHkRp8sT49wIw&oe=663A6367	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=n_OT1RFqDroQ7kNvgGk3g-R&_nc_oc=AdhUZ7azzhirLsS8NBdKHiMgiM4R1Ekp94OH-IuoPfHBJTsvM7boGJcm4REQUu84y2I&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCjFijR9PHK4fLUFTSUHJEsrvdLrW9Ex0aVsIXRX51tqQ&oe=663A7A55	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1711090800	View Edit Delete
1667516	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727726	1734958309	695	707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14	1711177200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205964709220695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=r6atYU02b-wQ7kNvgFSRjyb&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfATyQvlIkUQKlF0E_kPFY1yPFqoFxFzQaHkRp8sT49wIw&oe=663A6367	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=n_OT1RFqDroQ7kNvgGk3g-R&_nc_oc=AdhUZ7azzhirLsS8NBdKHiMgiM4R1Ekp94OH-IuoPfHBJTsvM7boGJcm4REQUu84y2I&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCjFijR9PHK4fLUFTSUHJEsrvdLrW9Ex0aVsIXRX51tqQ&oe=663A7A55	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1711090800	View Edit Delete
1667518	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727726	1734958309	695	707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14	1711177200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205964709220695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=r6atYU02b-wQ7kNvgFSRjyb&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfATyQvlIkUQKlF0E_kPFY1yPFqoFxFzQaHkRp8sT49wIw&oe=663A6367	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=n_OT1RFqDroQ7kNvgGk3g-R&_nc_oc=AdhUZ7azzhirLsS8NBdKHiMgiM4R1Ekp94OH-IuoPfHBJTsvM7boGJcm4REQUu84y2I&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCjFijR9PHK4fLUFTSUHJEsrvdLrW9Ex0aVsIXRX51tqQ&oe=663A7A55	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1711090800	View Edit Delete
1667519	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727726	1734958309	695	707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14	1711177200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205964709220695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=r6atYU02b-wQ7kNvgFSRjyb&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfATyQvlIkUQKlF0E_kPFY1yPFqoFxFzQaHkRp8sT49wIw&oe=663A6367	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=n_OT1RFqDroQ7kNvgGk3g-R&_nc_oc=AdhUZ7azzhirLsS8NBdKHiMgiM4R1Ekp94OH-IuoPfHBJTsvM7boGJcm4REQUu84y2I&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCjFijR9PHK4fLUFTSUHJEsrvdLrW9Ex0aVsIXRX51tqQ&oe=663A7A55	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1711090800	View Edit Delete
1667521	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727726	1734958309	695	707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14	1711177200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205964709220695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=r6atYU02b-wQ7kNvgFSRjyb&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfATyQvlIkUQKlF0E_kPFY1yPFqoFxFzQaHkRp8sT49wIw&oe=663A6367	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=n_OT1RFqDroQ7kNvgGk3g-R&_nc_oc=AdhUZ7azzhirLsS8NBdKHiMgiM4R1Ekp94OH-IuoPfHBJTsvM7boGJcm4REQUu84y2I&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCjFijR9PHK4fLUFTSUHJEsrvdLrW9Ex0aVsIXRX51tqQ&oe=663A7A55	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1711090800	View Edit Delete
1667523	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727726	1734958309	695	707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14	1711177200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205964709220695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=r6atYU02b-wQ7kNvgFSRjyb&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfATyQvlIkUQKlF0E_kPFY1yPFqoFxFzQaHkRp8sT49wIw&oe=663A6367	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=n_OT1RFqDroQ7kNvgGk3g-R&_nc_oc=AdhUZ7azzhirLsS8NBdKHiMgiM4R1Ekp94OH-IuoPfHBJTsvM7boGJcm4REQUu84y2I&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCjFijR9PHK4fLUFTSUHJEsrvdLrW9Ex0aVsIXRX51tqQ&oe=663A7A55	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1711090800	View Edit Delete
1667524	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727726	1734958309	695	707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14	1711177200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205964709220695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=r6atYU02b-wQ7kNvgFSRjyb&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfATyQvlIkUQKlF0E_kPFY1yPFqoFxFzQaHkRp8sT49wIw&oe=663A6367	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=n_OT1RFqDroQ7kNvgGk3g-R&_nc_oc=AdhUZ7azzhirLsS8NBdKHiMgiM4R1Ekp94OH-IuoPfHBJTsvM7boGJcm4REQUu84y2I&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCjFijR9PHK4fLUFTSUHJEsrvdLrW9Ex0aVsIXRX51tqQ&oe=663A7A55	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1711090800	View Edit Delete
1667526	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727726	1734958309	695	707938348081439		6.2641737964214E+14	1711177200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205964709220695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1711125617	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1108363373698408_4479565909772977033_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=r6atYU02b-wQ7kNvgFSRjyb&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfATyQvlIkUQKlF0E_kPFY1yPFqoFxFzQaHkRp8sT49wIw&oe=663A6367	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433182348_1154223309072620_622648342263838121_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=n_OT1RFqDroQ7kNvgGk3g-R&_nc_oc=AdhUZ7azzhirLsS8NBdKHiMgiM4R1Ekp94OH-IuoPfHBJTsvM7boGJcm4REQUu84y2I&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCjFijR9PHK4fLUFTSUHJEsrvdLrW9Ex0aVsIXRX51tqQ&oe=663A7A55	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1711090800	View Edit Delete
1667528	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727726	1734958309	695	1319421515391700	3	9.2576296927736E+14	1711522800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	191241347560220	0	H2o stačí přidat vodu	120209881264680749	tunnelstudent.info	Get offer	NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711116806	1.9124134756022E+14	H2o stačí přidat vodu	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433937224_1565357737591961_7206264131798537315_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8KgJnMrg0GUQ7kNvgHsAibw&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfCMun8_1TyWfsZLJE-CPoJ4a-UVFEfGWwI410xO-fT-7g&oe=663A7F15	person_profile	0	H2o stačí přidat vodu	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434015920_3385636141581346_2109119832521818015_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NXdxXeIAEUAQ7kNvgETmaGv&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDSo58N9Lqb1wjKUFix0CyPzEQufjj4EqSDjvwBzZnHcg&oe=663A8DF1	0	3	If you're reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You're among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳	H2o stačí přidat vodu	37	https://facebook.com/100069736283298	GET_OFFER_VIEW	1711090800	View Edit Delete
1667529	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727726	1734958309	695	941592097212361		9.2576296927736E+14	1711522800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	191241347560220	0	H2o stačí přidat vodu	120209881264530749	tunnelstudent.info	Get offer	NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711116245	1.9124134756022E+14	H2o stačí přidat vodu	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432771439_970856200536898_8486300302891753378_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sWJfUVgtawsQ7kNvgEKyr5s&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfCbUe3tgba95bKgRZTXjfjvYbon4qR0_G-gXUowFLfUWw&oe=663A8A7F	person_profile	0	H2o stačí přidat vodu	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432860807_7265609473474129_964835319265282821_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=bsnk-Vcg3SwQ7kNvgEtw7yD&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDZyof5cXJTIdWsy6r1V2nNUzaxDGPKmsB1WjGYQdRDcA&oe=663A729F	0	3	If you're reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You're among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳	H2o stačí přidat vodu	37	https://facebook.com/100069736283298	GET_OFFER_VIEW	1711090800	View Edit Delete
1667531	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727726	1734958309	695	2983683885124066		9.2576296927736E+14	1711522800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	191241347560220	0	H2o stačí přidat vodu	120207480796430396	tunnelstudent.info	Get offer	NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://tunnelstudent.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=Q6Vie1kawk47OYN1xo0W&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1711116017	1.9124134756022E+14	H2o stačí přidat vodu	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434198571_963153398850887_1861562335423915782_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=igXdC7MM_3sQ7kNvgEvgrP4&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfAtOJMLa8USKkVxAmd8BMlPKL7_TKzdk5PELvlaicyA_Q&oe=663A6113	person_profile	0	H2o stačí přidat vodu	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434054279_1626074304794340_4027070549641753749_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WCRUm3lN_lcQ7kNvgGTax-H&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfComE64E3uI7ZrlqBGVXPN4F645xgtRLgB1JLQoNKfYKA&oe=663A9102	0	3	If you're reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You're among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳	H2o stačí přidat vodu	37	https://facebook.com/100069736283298	GET_OFFER_VIEW	1711090800	View Edit Delete
1667534	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727726	1734958309	695	1353226575376810	1	1.1398083438255E+15	1711177200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	330986410908792	0	Equity Distribution	120209075453480596	ffm.to	Listen now	NONE	video	Roc Marciano		https://ffm.to/gold-crossbow		1711049348	3.3098641090879E+14	Equity Distribution	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432057296_1069983790929131_6106975070023928301_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UJ5K7Xar-6gQ7kNvgFG8jZJ&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfDQMrsyHfbwNIPg0XdAOhmszKnUKNyle7_r3vOTlxQDeQ&oe=663A6FCA	person_profile	0	Equity Distribution	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431440733_399322086069103_6780036797560075228_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=cCyRNUiy7sEQ7kNvgEPh-Fs&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCARf5lPhOK5wue_zjsUuyS2QhYGzXo--wLtlNZzvJXxQ&oe=663A8813	0	3	Roc Marciano x Gold Crossbow	Equity Distribution	3368	https://facebook.com/EQDistro	LISTEN_NOW	1711004400	View Edit Delete
1667555	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727727	1734958309	695	444164588047270		8.2079270988312E+14	1710918000	person_profile	taken-down	NONE	1	0	0	229860183539319	0	Mizzy Online	120206257166700426	www.dealwbig.top	Learn more	NONE	video	A drop witnesses the rocket ascending – this is the best gift for yourself.🥰❤️		https://www.dealwbig.top/products/dthgfgghfhfgjgjn		1710936315	2.2986018353932E+14	Mizzy Online	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432057787_611169161203252_6391487010163380461_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_hBzfd-kT_IQ7kNvgGShjuA&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfDuQ8YMlqGXu05dfxsgo0g2cgKNX_WImAJrUs2nlpOfOA&oe=663A8FBA	person_profile	0	Mizzy Online	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432062158_1373498880717035_6692889881665077027_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LPp9H6YWntQQ7kNvgERWMFz&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfCMF10T3U_RwJu43fcwEB7uqvy2FMGc-9S34kDdBOEsXA&oe=663A8791	0	3	A drop witnesses the rocket ascending – this is the best gift for yourself.🥰❤️<br /> Click on the link below to receive your best gift for half price🥰❤️😍<br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dealwbig.top%2Fproducts%2Fdthgfgghfhfgjgjn&h=AT3Q6-lKQHrvAyluuZzjnerdiLH2gxt2Zsuec1aAJFQF1IvTF2DJYJpM9VzOmbljWtr04fJsFS1p1YAEyxGQQand_9_TUjktD8eHyvPuFkymtvyiOtrZKOc83t--6CHz5wKZS301vekjX7l00zf8vQrGYgcWMFvAy-g" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="async">https://www.dealwbig.top/products/dthgfgghfhfgjgjn</a>	Mizzy Online	22	https://facebook.com/61555921441914	LEARN_MORE	1710918000	View Edit Delete
1667548	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727727	1734958309	695	367271619625706		8.2079270988312E+14	1711004400	person_profile	taken-down	NONE	1	0	0	229860183539319	0	Mizzy Online	120206257482650426	www.dealwbig.top	Learn more	NONE	video	A drop witnesses the rocket ascending – this is the best gift for yourself.🥰❤️		https://www.dealwbig.top/products/dthgfgghfhfgjgjn		1710936897	2.2986018353932E+14	Mizzy Online	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432240924_952165319819126_7062933014527666205_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=rscM3rBN10QQ7kNvgHoE1ei&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfB5tb1D0aN9ARdSLOD4xotcMowRY4Nn5j4izWbIbc7Pgg&oe=663A7D0D	person_profile	0	Mizzy Online	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432062322_275834005462213_7472236569779405584_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=0KCXeROu610Q7kNvgH6QUGM&_nc_oc=Adi9XW5z5MSmWo58Fcy_2jIRqZbutznG23p-IhxLdVxXacPKteCqS6O4GPQsu8O2zTY&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfDw-njHXC6mBE06fzJo7LbFgQL1uIFRsJz3dmZPlWl97g&oe=663A95ED	0	3	A drop witnesses the rocket ascending – this is the best gift for yourself.🥰❤️<br /> Click on the link below to receive your best gift for half price🥰❤️😍<br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dealwbig.top%2Fproducts%2Fdthgfgghfhfgjgjn&h=AT3gNPo51j6iKuKzbJqW3molerA2wWXCnvHwOq8SlVq0CCYxAx7ov7YMEnbj2dUa-pxMKNeGmI24ygg0RYj0_rozLSsoNT56DyEJ3eSCdor4t1GC9CWiabHhxquevYLC8EgeJFJXB_viAWgqfffMVQ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://www.dealwbig.top/products/dthgfgghfhfgjgjn</a>	Mizzy Online	22	https://facebook.com/61555921441914	LEARN_MORE	1710918000	View Edit Delete
1667558	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727727	1734958309	695	1739075013253577	20	4.2983514283568E+14	1710918000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	248588431673618	0	Milton Caprisa	120207971632480363	msnddxm.shop	Shop now	NONE	video			http://msnddxm.shop/		1710861005	2.4858843167362E+14	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433635079_1096101411717018_6550811833753633367_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xhH-qxMhn2kQ7kNvgHRIooA&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCoTZp-6Z9RgI5-9MKps0nCc_9kpSgiPe3wAu_ch5PnAA&oe=663A8A7F	person_profile	0	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433633631_788231709377223_4605581709458637376_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=W2-YqjWfGR0Q7kNvgHkyq5B&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCuFwhjOg4cElg2M7wG7FiVcxqJQ5UQ95HFR8Qcp-qTww&oe=663A7158	0	3	🏹️The best hunting crossbow comes from generations of hard work developing the most cutting-edge technology to produce the fastest crossbow on the market.	Milton Caprisa	5	https://facebook.com/61557439433681	SHOP_NOW	1710918000	View Edit Delete
1667561	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727727	1734958309	695	931663405113005		4.2983514283568E+14	1710918000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	248588431673618	0	Milton Caprisa	120207971632480363	msnddxm.shop	Shop now	NONE	video			http://msnddxm.shop/		1710861005	2.4858843167362E+14	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433635079_1096101411717018_6550811833753633367_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xhH-qxMhn2kQ7kNvgHRIooA&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCoTZp-6Z9RgI5-9MKps0nCc_9kpSgiPe3wAu_ch5PnAA&oe=663A8A7F	person_profile	0	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433633631_788231709377223_4605581709458637376_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=W2-YqjWfGR0Q7kNvgHkyq5B&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCuFwhjOg4cElg2M7wG7FiVcxqJQ5UQ95HFR8Qcp-qTww&oe=663A7158	0	3	🏹️The best hunting crossbow comes from generations of hard work developing the most cutting-edge technology to produce the fastest crossbow on the market.	Milton Caprisa	5	https://facebook.com/61557439433681	SHOP_NOW	1710918000	View Edit Delete
1667563	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727727	1734958309	695	434447125629496		4.2983514283568E+14	1711004400	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	248588431673618	0	Milton Caprisa	120207971632480363	msnddxm.shop	Shop now	NONE	video			http://msnddxm.shop/		1710861005	2.4858843167362E+14	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433635079_1096101411717018_6550811833753633367_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xhH-qxMhn2kQ7kNvgHRIooA&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCoTZp-6Z9RgI5-9MKps0nCc_9kpSgiPe3wAu_ch5PnAA&oe=663A8A7F	person_profile	0	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433633631_788231709377223_4605581709458637376_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=W2-YqjWfGR0Q7kNvgHkyq5B&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCuFwhjOg4cElg2M7wG7FiVcxqJQ5UQ95HFR8Qcp-qTww&oe=663A7158	0	3	🏹️The best hunting crossbow comes from generations of hard work developing the most cutting-edge technology to produce the fastest crossbow on the market.	Milton Caprisa	5	https://facebook.com/61557439433681	SHOP_NOW	1710918000	View Edit Delete
1667565	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727727	1734958309	695	1053338065768528		4.2983514283568E+14	1710918000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	248588431673618	0	Milton Caprisa	120207971632480363	msnddxm.shop	Shop now	NONE	video			http://msnddxm.shop/		1710861005	2.4858843167362E+14	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433635079_1096101411717018_6550811833753633367_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xhH-qxMhn2kQ7kNvgHRIooA&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCoTZp-6Z9RgI5-9MKps0nCc_9kpSgiPe3wAu_ch5PnAA&oe=663A8A7F	person_profile	0	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433633631_788231709377223_4605581709458637376_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=W2-YqjWfGR0Q7kNvgHkyq5B&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCuFwhjOg4cElg2M7wG7FiVcxqJQ5UQ95HFR8Qcp-qTww&oe=663A7158	0	3	🏹️The best hunting crossbow comes from generations of hard work developing the most cutting-edge technology to produce the fastest crossbow on the market.	Milton Caprisa	5	https://facebook.com/61557439433681	SHOP_NOW	1710918000	View Edit Delete
1667567	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727727	1734958309	695	1571326147096080		4.2983514283568E+14	1710918000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	248588431673618	0	Milton Caprisa	120207971632480363	msnddxm.shop	Shop now	NONE	video			http://msnddxm.shop/		1710861005	2.4858843167362E+14	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433635079_1096101411717018_6550811833753633367_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xhH-qxMhn2kQ7kNvgHRIooA&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCoTZp-6Z9RgI5-9MKps0nCc_9kpSgiPe3wAu_ch5PnAA&oe=663A8A7F	person_profile	0	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433633631_788231709377223_4605581709458637376_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=W2-YqjWfGR0Q7kNvgHkyq5B&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCuFwhjOg4cElg2M7wG7FiVcxqJQ5UQ95HFR8Qcp-qTww&oe=663A7158	0	3	🏹️The best hunting crossbow comes from generations of hard work developing the most cutting-edge technology to produce the fastest crossbow on the market.	Milton Caprisa	5	https://facebook.com/61557439433681	SHOP_NOW	1710918000	View Edit Delete
1667571	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727727	1734958309	695	386297994257192		4.2983514283568E+14	1711090800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	248588431673618	0	Milton Caprisa	120208576158080248	msnddxm.shop	Shop now	NONE	video			http://msnddxm.shop/		1710857316	2.4858843167362E+14	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431483769_1510810329482993_7874851508335088205_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KewEmV9q5bgQ7kNvgErH5Oa&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCIZfCQsdxMVhkEGNCxD7PvltbuJ4-jYj_i8-hlv8g2Cw&oe=663A6709	person_profile	0	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431588055_877677194112368_6039286581553767856_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Q1uccq44aTIQ7kNvgF6HAJm&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCHr_NZqjmCMoogFdwLlHXjVSu5XM57BhXWtxZFuKRsVQ&oe=663A81D0	0	3	🏹️The best hunting crossbow comes from generations of hard work developing the most cutting-edge technology to produce the fastest crossbow on the market.	Milton Caprisa	5	https://facebook.com/61557439433681	SHOP_NOW	1710831600	View Edit Delete
1667573	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727727	1734958309	695	439785438399218		4.2983514283568E+14	1710918000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	248588431673618	0	Milton Caprisa	120208576158080248	msnddxm.shop	Shop now	NONE	video			http://msnddxm.shop/		1710857316	2.4858843167362E+14	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431483769_1510810329482993_7874851508335088205_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KewEmV9q5bgQ7kNvgErH5Oa&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCIZfCQsdxMVhkEGNCxD7PvltbuJ4-jYj_i8-hlv8g2Cw&oe=663A6709	person_profile	0	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431588055_877677194112368_6039286581553767856_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Q1uccq44aTIQ7kNvgF6HAJm&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCHr_NZqjmCMoogFdwLlHXjVSu5XM57BhXWtxZFuKRsVQ&oe=663A81D0	0	3	🏹️The best hunting crossbow comes from generations of hard work developing the most cutting-edge technology to produce the fastest crossbow on the market.	Milton Caprisa	5	https://facebook.com/61557439433681	SHOP_NOW	1710831600	View Edit Delete
1667576	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727727	1734958309	695	417827237563859		4.2983514283568E+14	1711004400	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	248588431673618	0	Milton Caprisa	120208576158080248	msnddxm.shop	Shop now	NONE	video			http://msnddxm.shop/		1710857316	2.4858843167362E+14	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431483769_1510810329482993_7874851508335088205_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KewEmV9q5bgQ7kNvgErH5Oa&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCIZfCQsdxMVhkEGNCxD7PvltbuJ4-jYj_i8-hlv8g2Cw&oe=663A6709	person_profile	0	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431588055_877677194112368_6039286581553767856_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Q1uccq44aTIQ7kNvgF6HAJm&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCHr_NZqjmCMoogFdwLlHXjVSu5XM57BhXWtxZFuKRsVQ&oe=663A81D0	0	3	🏹️The best hunting crossbow comes from generations of hard work developing the most cutting-edge technology to produce the fastest crossbow on the market.	Milton Caprisa	5	https://facebook.com/61557439433681	SHOP_NOW	1710831600	View Edit Delete
1667578	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727727	1734958309	695	431850105879005		4.2983514283568E+14	1710918000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	248588431673618	0	Milton Caprisa	120208576158080248	msnddxm.shop	Shop now	NONE	video			http://msnddxm.shop/		1710857316	2.4858843167362E+14	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431483769_1510810329482993_7874851508335088205_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KewEmV9q5bgQ7kNvgErH5Oa&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCIZfCQsdxMVhkEGNCxD7PvltbuJ4-jYj_i8-hlv8g2Cw&oe=663A6709	person_profile	0	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431588055_877677194112368_6039286581553767856_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Q1uccq44aTIQ7kNvgF6HAJm&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCHr_NZqjmCMoogFdwLlHXjVSu5XM57BhXWtxZFuKRsVQ&oe=663A81D0	0	3	🏹️The best hunting crossbow comes from generations of hard work developing the most cutting-edge technology to produce the fastest crossbow on the market.	Milton Caprisa	5	https://facebook.com/61557439433681	SHOP_NOW	1710831600	View Edit Delete
1667580	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727727	1734958309	695	856986122897477		4.2983514283568E+14	1710918000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	248588431673618	0	Milton Caprisa	120208576158080248	msnddxm.shop	Shop now	NONE	video			http://msnddxm.shop/		1710857316	2.4858843167362E+14	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431483769_1510810329482993_7874851508335088205_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KewEmV9q5bgQ7kNvgErH5Oa&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCIZfCQsdxMVhkEGNCxD7PvltbuJ4-jYj_i8-hlv8g2Cw&oe=663A6709	person_profile	0	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431588055_877677194112368_6039286581553767856_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Q1uccq44aTIQ7kNvgF6HAJm&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCHr_NZqjmCMoogFdwLlHXjVSu5XM57BhXWtxZFuKRsVQ&oe=663A81D0	0	3	🏹️The best hunting crossbow comes from generations of hard work developing the most cutting-edge technology to produce the fastest crossbow on the market.	Milton Caprisa	5	https://facebook.com/61557439433681	SHOP_NOW	1710831600	View Edit Delete
1667582	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727727	1734958309	695	1086797845765853		4.2983514283568E+14	1710918000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	248588431673618	0	Milton Caprisa	120208576158080248	msnddxm.shop	Shop now	NONE	video			http://msnddxm.shop/		1710857316	2.4858843167362E+14	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431483769_1510810329482993_7874851508335088205_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KewEmV9q5bgQ7kNvgErH5Oa&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCIZfCQsdxMVhkEGNCxD7PvltbuJ4-jYj_i8-hlv8g2Cw&oe=663A6709	person_profile	0	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431588055_877677194112368_6039286581553767856_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Q1uccq44aTIQ7kNvgF6HAJm&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCHr_NZqjmCMoogFdwLlHXjVSu5XM57BhXWtxZFuKRsVQ&oe=663A81D0	0	3	🏹️The best hunting crossbow comes from generations of hard work developing the most cutting-edge technology to produce the fastest crossbow on the market.	Milton Caprisa	5	https://facebook.com/61557439433681	SHOP_NOW	1710831600	View Edit Delete
1667584	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727727	1734958309	695	1404886703469453		4.2983514283568E+14	1710918000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	248588431673618	0	Milton Caprisa	120208576158080248	msnddxm.shop	Shop now	NONE	video			http://msnddxm.shop/		1710857316	2.4858843167362E+14	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431483769_1510810329482993_7874851508335088205_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KewEmV9q5bgQ7kNvgErH5Oa&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCIZfCQsdxMVhkEGNCxD7PvltbuJ4-jYj_i8-hlv8g2Cw&oe=663A6709	person_profile	0	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431588055_877677194112368_6039286581553767856_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Q1uccq44aTIQ7kNvgF6HAJm&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCHr_NZqjmCMoogFdwLlHXjVSu5XM57BhXWtxZFuKRsVQ&oe=663A81D0	0	3	🏹️The best hunting crossbow comes from generations of hard work developing the most cutting-edge technology to produce the fastest crossbow on the market.	Milton Caprisa	5	https://facebook.com/61557439433681	SHOP_NOW	1710831600	View Edit Delete
1667587	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727728	1734958309	695	7368910813156866		4.2983514283568E+14	1711090800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	248588431673618	0	Milton Caprisa	120208576158080248	msnddxm.shop	Shop now	NONE	video			http://msnddxm.shop/		1710857316	2.4858843167362E+14	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431483769_1510810329482993_7874851508335088205_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KewEmV9q5bgQ7kNvgErH5Oa&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCIZfCQsdxMVhkEGNCxD7PvltbuJ4-jYj_i8-hlv8g2Cw&oe=663A6709	person_profile	0	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431588055_877677194112368_6039286581553767856_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Q1uccq44aTIQ7kNvgF6HAJm&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCHr_NZqjmCMoogFdwLlHXjVSu5XM57BhXWtxZFuKRsVQ&oe=663A81D0	0	3	🏹️The best hunting crossbow comes from generations of hard work developing the most cutting-edge technology to produce the fastest crossbow on the market.	Milton Caprisa	5	https://facebook.com/61557439433681	SHOP_NOW	1710831600	View Edit Delete
1667589	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727728	1734958310	695	348459721513914		4.2983514283568E+14	1710918000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	248588431673618	0	Milton Caprisa	120208576158080248	msnddxm.shop	Shop now	NONE	video			http://msnddxm.shop/		1710857316	2.4858843167362E+14	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431483769_1510810329482993_7874851508335088205_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KewEmV9q5bgQ7kNvgErH5Oa&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCIZfCQsdxMVhkEGNCxD7PvltbuJ4-jYj_i8-hlv8g2Cw&oe=663A6709	person_profile	0	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431588055_877677194112368_6039286581553767856_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Q1uccq44aTIQ7kNvgF6HAJm&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCHr_NZqjmCMoogFdwLlHXjVSu5XM57BhXWtxZFuKRsVQ&oe=663A81D0	0	3	🏹️The best hunting crossbow comes from generations of hard work developing the most cutting-edge technology to produce the fastest crossbow on the market.	Milton Caprisa	5	https://facebook.com/61557439433681	SHOP_NOW	1710831600	View Edit Delete
1667592	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727728	1734958310	695	954366192372958	1	1.5399546432051E+15	1711436400	ig_ads_identity	eligible	NONE	1	0	1	106204742218142	0	gregbridgesart	6560936327149	instagram.com	Visit Instagram Profile	NONE	carousel			http://instagram.com/gregbridgesart		1710884494	1.0620474221814E+14	gregbridgesart	https://scontent-ord5-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-19/363895122_621162433473069_7198498876232514127_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s200x200&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=3fd06f&_nc_ohc=hkOymSGWq4kQ7kNvgE2EzFC&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.cdninstagram.com&oh=00_AfAwoPGLMjq-kjqiqGmlX1QSMM0abWemDzyqXQvDIbRW0w&oe=663A9445	ig_ads_identity	1	Greg Bridges	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433263480_1078521833439170_8004495767132722397_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Wk5KxjVByTUQ7kNvgEAVzIC&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDNVGYUxzyS6s4MvzFoyZTbLBYLVQGWTdEjvcwhfnbzIA&oe=663A6818	0	3		gregbridgesart	0	https://www.instagram.com/_u/gregbridgesart	VIEW_INSTAGRAM_PROFILE	1710831600	View Edit Delete
1667594	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727728	1734958310	695	954366192372958	1	1.5399546432051E+15	1711436400	ig_ads_identity	eligible	NONE	1	0	1	106204742218142	0	gregbridgesart	6560936327149	instagram.com	Visit Instagram Profile	NONE	carousel			http://instagram.com/gregbridgesart		1710884494	1.0620474221814E+14	gregbridgesart	https://scontent-ord5-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-19/363895122_621162433473069_7198498876232514127_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s200x200&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=3fd06f&_nc_ohc=hkOymSGWq4kQ7kNvgE2EzFC&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.cdninstagram.com&oh=00_AfAwoPGLMjq-kjqiqGmlX1QSMM0abWemDzyqXQvDIbRW0w&oe=663A9445	ig_ads_identity	1	Greg Bridges	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433263480_1078521833439170_8004495767132722397_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Wk5KxjVByTUQ7kNvgEAVzIC&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDNVGYUxzyS6s4MvzFoyZTbLBYLVQGWTdEjvcwhfnbzIA&oe=663A6818	0	3		gregbridgesart	0	https://www.instagram.com/_u/gregbridgesart	VIEW_INSTAGRAM_PROFILE	1710831600	View Edit Delete
1667596	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727728	1734958310	695	954366192372958	1	1.5399546432051E+15	1711436400	ig_ads_identity	eligible	NONE	1	0	1	106204742218142	0	gregbridgesart	6560936327149	instagram.com	Visit Instagram Profile	NONE	carousel			http://instagram.com/gregbridgesart		1710884494	1.0620474221814E+14	gregbridgesart	https://scontent-ord5-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-19/363895122_621162433473069_7198498876232514127_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s200x200&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=3fd06f&_nc_ohc=hkOymSGWq4kQ7kNvgE2EzFC&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.cdninstagram.com&oh=00_AfAwoPGLMjq-kjqiqGmlX1QSMM0abWemDzyqXQvDIbRW0w&oe=663A9445	ig_ads_identity	1	Greg Bridges	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433263480_1078521833439170_8004495767132722397_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Wk5KxjVByTUQ7kNvgEAVzIC&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDNVGYUxzyS6s4MvzFoyZTbLBYLVQGWTdEjvcwhfnbzIA&oe=663A6818	0	3		gregbridgesart	0	https://www.instagram.com/_u/gregbridgesart	VIEW_INSTAGRAM_PROFILE	1710831600	View Edit Delete
1667598	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727728	1734958310	695	954366192372958	1	1.5399546432051E+15	1711436400	ig_ads_identity	eligible	NONE	1	0	1	106204742218142	0	gregbridgesart	6560936327149	instagram.com	Visit Instagram Profile	NONE	carousel			http://instagram.com/gregbridgesart		1710884494	1.0620474221814E+14	gregbridgesart	https://scontent-ord5-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-19/363895122_621162433473069_7198498876232514127_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s200x200&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=3fd06f&_nc_ohc=hkOymSGWq4kQ7kNvgE2EzFC&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.cdninstagram.com&oh=00_AfAwoPGLMjq-kjqiqGmlX1QSMM0abWemDzyqXQvDIbRW0w&oe=663A9445	ig_ads_identity	1	Greg Bridges	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433263480_1078521833439170_8004495767132722397_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Wk5KxjVByTUQ7kNvgEAVzIC&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDNVGYUxzyS6s4MvzFoyZTbLBYLVQGWTdEjvcwhfnbzIA&oe=663A6818	0	3		gregbridgesart	0	https://www.instagram.com/_u/gregbridgesart	VIEW_INSTAGRAM_PROFILE	1710831600	View Edit Delete
1667600	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727728	1734958310	695	954366192372958	1	1.5399546432051E+15	1711436400	ig_ads_identity	eligible	NONE	1	0	1	106204742218142	0	gregbridgesart	6560936327149	instagram.com	Visit Instagram Profile	NONE	carousel			http://instagram.com/gregbridgesart		1710884494	1.0620474221814E+14	gregbridgesart	https://scontent-ord5-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-19/363895122_621162433473069_7198498876232514127_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s200x200&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=3fd06f&_nc_ohc=hkOymSGWq4kQ7kNvgE2EzFC&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.cdninstagram.com&oh=00_AfAwoPGLMjq-kjqiqGmlX1QSMM0abWemDzyqXQvDIbRW0w&oe=663A9445	ig_ads_identity	1	Greg Bridges	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433263480_1078521833439170_8004495767132722397_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Wk5KxjVByTUQ7kNvgEAVzIC&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDNVGYUxzyS6s4MvzFoyZTbLBYLVQGWTdEjvcwhfnbzIA&oe=663A6818	0	3		gregbridgesart	0	https://www.instagram.com/_u/gregbridgesart	VIEW_INSTAGRAM_PROFILE	1710831600	View Edit Delete
1667604	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727728	1734958310	695	1461972057752202	1	4.3741373206408E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	265052230017125	0	Prize Palooza	120207233951180709	emergclutch.info	Get offer	NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://emergclutch.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=3mmVUnZu9O6vIo7UVx8l&ad_id={{ad.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&placement={{placement}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&fbpxl={{fbpxl}}		1710868133	2.6505223001712E+14	Prize Palooza	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431578189_1840985169671799_5172207164522960250_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=-CoqqkvlFpgQ7kNvgHfGPGu&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCjgEjnODqNSw5fiZC_9pY-4iZQsNOued6fyjqqgn1OYg&oe=663A94CF	person_profile	0	Prize Palooza	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431554973_255440904300038_1626096285878847282_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=cIE-CIZINQEQ7kNvgGvDtQa&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDJsEp_qijD4xXqxAFZbBacxCZjXSBRVfjfoH0YwP4X-w&oe=663A7A62	0	3	If you're reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You're among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳	Prize Palooza	260	https://facebook.com/61556812859534	GET_OFFER_VIEW	1710831600	View Edit Delete
1667607	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727728	1734958310	695	1075040327102228	3	1.616087215835E+15	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	265052230017125	0	Prize Palooza	120207215933190709	sickythegame.info	Learn more	NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://sickythegame.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=g01NOkVdLDUImKb4y2Rl&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1710834573	2.6505223001712E+14	Prize Palooza	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433098529_220421314491385_1647964697655795656_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=g4N_5bYE5DAQ7kNvgGVz92D&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCFTs-77Dvr0PrLtFIpSDvHXk1HnE97ekrNdY7SABNlLQ&oe=663A8394	person_profile	0	Prize Palooza	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432752974_383581904600787_9097985334103222200_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_ZdcuxmjlzoQ7kNvgEeC15P&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBoEhXpxd_vBzoOxfRqnXoyBMxk1X1WUQP0c0cq2g38_w&oe=663A5FF9	0	3	If you're reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You're among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a Ravin R29 Crossbow for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳	Prize Palooza	260	https://facebook.com/61556812859534	LEARN_MORE	1710831600	View Edit Delete
1667609	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727728	1734958310	695	918938326898879	5	1.4906110848375E+15	1711868400	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	202204112986379	0	Surprise Savings	120205991251700575	swishairtime.info	Learn more	NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://swishairtime.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=BvP7v5dDKPCoGKFg8VfI&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1710795083	2.0220411298638E+14	Surprise Savings	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431480559_816250756980508_9074508348101933540_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=1SHryPbhjrgQ7kNvgEhrb_N&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAwVPFGu_eH2zW44GSibzrQbGdBdOrNO20GZIgIV5Xe0Q&oe=663A7E79	person_profile	0	Surprise Savings	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431502622_954193799603192_1006820179298308297_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=66c0Se5XJFIQ7kNvgE_waZr&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCvwUPmgHHlwuNBgXGK9PpOplpPHY5Kpp_nnC71Tu3Zqw&oe=663A7361	0	3	If you're reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You're among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a Ravin R29 Crossbow for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳	Surprise Savings	132	https://facebook.com/61557395454560	LEARN_MORE	1710745200	View Edit Delete
1667613	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727728	1734958310	695	799392625336886	3	1.1941545053017E+15	1710745200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	109973985488101	0	Onlinehol	120206321853200276	onlinehol.com	Shop now	NONE	image	onlinehol.com	bull Bored of standard dice rolling This unique crossbow is a functional dice roller It s compartment can hold up to 1 set of standard sized polyhedral dices bull The loading mechanism allows you to lock the catch with 1 swift motion Use the trigger to release the dice bull It is recommended to aim....	https://www.onlinehol.com/products/crossbow-dice-roller---holder?variant=11511987		1710755547	1.099739854881E+14	Onlinehol	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432480783_386568457557643_6630097744534941123_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=rZrIE7tQD94Q7kNvgG7UGoU&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDkND514_y6uFoI6f1gnPwaikrZH0eCAKfK8HFPczxCfQ&oe=663A8A5A	person_profile	0	Onlinehol	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433707923_762394725830768_1975096833700717518_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=7ZgQu_svMvIQ7kNvgFvSYbZ&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDqUqBrcNDOrPVN4hHprLTlFTv7MM0h3pfQk1CvwlyLdg&oe=663A6471	0	3	🎯Bored of standard dice rolling? This unique crossbow is a functional dice roller. It's compartment can hold up to 1 set of standard sized polyhedral dices.	Onlinehol	64	https://facebook.com/100094200711519	SHOP_NOW	1710745200	View Edit Delete
1667615	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727728	1734958310	695	1510265042888201		1.1941545053017E+15	1710745200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	109973985488101	0	Onlinehol	120206321853200276	onlinehol.com	Shop now	NONE	image	onlinehol.com	bull Bored of standard dice rolling This unique crossbow is a functional dice roller It s compartment can hold up to 1 set of standard sized polyhedral dices bull The loading mechanism allows you to lock the catch with 1 swift motion Use the trigger to release the dice bull It is recommended to aim....	https://www.onlinehol.com/products/crossbow-dice-roller---holder?variant=11511987		1710755547	1.099739854881E+14	Onlinehol	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432480783_386568457557643_6630097744534941123_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=rZrIE7tQD94Q7kNvgG7UGoU&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDkND514_y6uFoI6f1gnPwaikrZH0eCAKfK8HFPczxCfQ&oe=663A8A5A	person_profile	0	Onlinehol	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433707923_762394725830768_1975096833700717518_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=7ZgQu_svMvIQ7kNvgFvSYbZ&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDqUqBrcNDOrPVN4hHprLTlFTv7MM0h3pfQk1CvwlyLdg&oe=663A6471	0	3	🎯Bored of standard dice rolling? This unique crossbow is a functional dice roller. It's compartment can hold up to 1 set of standard sized polyhedral dices.	Onlinehol	64	https://facebook.com/100094200711519	SHOP_NOW	1710745200	View Edit Delete
1667617	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727728	1734958310	695	1586684128755174		1.1941545053017E+15	1710745200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	109973985488101	0	Onlinehol	120206321853200276	onlinehol.com	Shop now	NONE	image	onlinehol.com	bull Bored of standard dice rolling This unique crossbow is a functional dice roller It s compartment can hold up to 1 set of standard sized polyhedral dices bull The loading mechanism allows you to lock the catch with 1 swift motion Use the trigger to release the dice bull It is recommended to aim....	https://www.onlinehol.com/products/crossbow-dice-roller---holder?variant=11511987		1710755547	1.099739854881E+14	Onlinehol	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432480783_386568457557643_6630097744534941123_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=rZrIE7tQD94Q7kNvgG7UGoU&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDkND514_y6uFoI6f1gnPwaikrZH0eCAKfK8HFPczxCfQ&oe=663A8A5A	person_profile	0	Onlinehol	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433707923_762394725830768_1975096833700717518_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=7ZgQu_svMvIQ7kNvgFvSYbZ&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDqUqBrcNDOrPVN4hHprLTlFTv7MM0h3pfQk1CvwlyLdg&oe=663A6471	0	3	🎯Bored of standard dice rolling? This unique crossbow is a functional dice roller. It's compartment can hold up to 1 set of standard sized polyhedral dices.	Onlinehol	64	https://facebook.com/100094200711519	SHOP_NOW	1710745200	View Edit Delete
1667624	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727728	1734958310	695	958418599252202	1	7.3676660399793E+15	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	102839175671195	0	Cynthia Toye Realtor	120208756616040039	cynthiatoye.modern-realestateagents.com	Learn more	NONE	image	Get your FREE price update now 🏠📈	Do you know what your property is worth?	https://cynthiatoye.modern-realestateagents.com/home		1710687134	1.028391756712E+14	Cynthia Toye Realtor	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433125855_378657238421384_8729339550971718121_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NHtRv0Z6lP8Q7kNvgHqbSq4&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfB0YDBA3CltO7c_afhDP5EMmREhSGMF9gxqHHGhfc43sQ&oe=663A7A16	person_profile	0	Cynthia Toye Realtor	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432739446_1823087504800617_2904808879846314457_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=dVWOVWYvdi8Q7kNvgHD3FWB&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAALW2KIEyVU7LPRvWjg8VTzLylqq_sWoAosXCuAv9s6Q&oe=663A87B1	0	3	🏡 Hey Homeowners, how much is YOUR HOME worth in this current market?<br /> <br /> You will be SURPRISED to hear what the recent market activity has done to the value of your property.<br /> <br /> 📱📱 Click “Learn More” now to get your updated home price fast	Cynthia Toye Realtor	52	https://facebook.com/100078522785084	LEARN_MORE	1710658800	View Edit Delete
1667627	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727729	1734958310	695	1563170427813051	1	7.1799199382266E+14	1710745200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	106845062087075	0	Age of Frostfall	120206980903560783	play.google.com	Install now	NONE	video	Play for FREE!		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.funplus.kingofavalon		1710596211	1.0684506208708E+14	Age of Frostfall	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431502711_907878270884982_7871176958020716854_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=1A6Y5dJ6nycQ7kNvgGYuIDu&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCpnJe-QzD2adg1mc-l3QvS4EsfK-pZMhW1X2SPZoYq8g&oe=663A75C7	person_profile	0	Age of Frostfall	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431259759_939027937708099_8422577423398177837_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vDIluPbQS24Q7kNvgHsgHFO&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCA1nFzg7vrPZZhvx40BRBVjlPdDkFURpuoz5aRDpBH3Q&oe=663A7DC6	0	3	That Game Everyone's Playing! Join Now!	Age of Frostfall	742	https://facebook.com/100083610756555	INSTALL_MOBILE_APP	1710572400	View Edit Delete
1667630	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727729	1734958310	695	309398471855745	9	9.0017423519105E+14	1711004400	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	107089802492332	0	Dauos	120206129588620072	thedauos.com	Shop now	NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542805	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432782875_1808973049621804_285468857212307292_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9zD7rxJwUg0Q7kNvgHSoFC2&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfA7L_QKZ2LUD7xo9GoGkkG7ZclV0lzjWWaz_r1aUrXE0g&oe=663A883F	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432721000_775458167437870_163073391142643730_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=DHQ0tUqOpPQQ7kNvgHt-d_t&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBWLQtUu4qCXIjGLTIt3IaOivb2Lh6k7_0LFKC4KCvU3A&oe=663A8328	0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8" thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you're ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&h=AT3Tmry2g-eK_-GI8UQ-HeKUNDPgoHpsKyr3owxE-vCQ1CAezBt3YkrVnyQHSx8UE9c9PuTnfpP8AQnCbfNhuT4Waz7no71Ilq1bHYfwpSwN4MuIo8YD_LeMsfVYW9Zh5tjW5h9fvnD87eHe-PWgeQ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>	Dauos	393	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	SHOP_NOW	1710486000	View Edit Delete
1667631	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727729	1734958310	695	324531547270159	10	2.8781289752093E+14	1711090800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	107089802492332	0	Dauos	120206129591020072	thedauos.com	Shop now	NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542808	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431283384_346675675000244_6569175537725213859_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_aid=0&_nc_ohc=dGcfLoAmCxAQ7kNvgHMWSY_&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfALYg3yzVrlNddKBU1VqJWyfZrRUmFaL8tWs-ewysnWlA&oe=663A7115	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432424817_7093598527355437_690324687597847759_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=BOJleVNTmpoQ7kNvgFfIaJt&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBjKx40zN2PioueNY_f7NhaWv1ZEx5KaX1uoZ8EmyxqEA&oe=663A63C7	0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8" thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you're ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&h=AT0ewXZvSGM_Falvjyrzy4J9r5aOqxPYoDgRi73F_4BdWrNRaW5MJyIs4xFGT3QWjhxdyOiuO7lPA5yHrXvmCIiSE-giJnUuXbUb7O-g8ZfhxfzqPE56i7OfOvWuQAYN_cqOIdmWtxWrB3uQ03wtZA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>	Dauos	393	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	SHOP_NOW	1710486000	View Edit Delete
1667632	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727729	1734958310	695	368124392726895		2.8781289752093E+14	1710918000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	107089802492332	0	Dauos	120206129588580072	thedauos.com	Shop now	NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542798	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431180503_271377769245704_5273886051282060781_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PwLB6lsFFOMQ7kNvgHnbrqe&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCMbbmApqq0vPqkNkwp10zmmOPy_kVfy7VkH79cmF2xVA&oe=663A7814	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431435898_3471018953118890_2739422780997407060_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=dpxuFRTHIVgQ7kNvgFAZFtI&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfBqut7oMrQymjRRdsIq14tYT13NQbDQN-GXeRCMRsSYKQ&oe=663A9736	0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8" thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you're ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&h=AT0wwzqx-jAVqRDxg9xK-eMMuzKJBD3DyP21TeIjowrLFPTBcco-m8LL_SU2PrvBanHwWnOJeukIOoSx_Wi5v0w12AFnRTMiYd1eo-mlTmVE88Hmy-IirBSQcUgC_ockVFiWqZHZYNIk3uB9e3Xqig" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>	Dauos	393	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	SHOP_NOW	1710486000	View Edit Delete
1667633	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727729	1734958310	695	377003948554871		2.8781289752093E+14	1710918000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	107089802492332	0	Dauos	120206129584890072	thedauos.com	Shop now	NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542800	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433397011_1380910225892344_4568544260375518731_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=7wb69iFIlrwQ7kNvgFAp97Y&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBqsOY4EyUPSIHYyUhm792BFM4cFd-rQ9ir6Zd1IVZXag&oe=663A80AB	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433365889_1475507159710054_6647650235198966379_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X0OaEC9LdRAQ7kNvgGitjCe&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBpdUMjYTNZNT2XBzX5mOs30JCzZMJ4G4fmBJxjk-nbCA&oe=663A6AF7	0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8" thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you're ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&h=AT1jtTOCX367kiqtDYCjvM0jmVh4WOGmqdIHsW2fdNnFQwKhOtkQNsiDt1DDv-_xbqJD7xLrC6TEd-cxCQ2ByCve_KqaCLtBIX9-vj2JBGDvpBHev0wlIGs7jH46s3wNvRLQyuubMZ-hN2hBC_-qVw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>	Dauos	393	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	SHOP_NOW	1710486000	View Edit Delete
1667634	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727729	1734958310	695	386175144291762	10	3.6457520324106E+15	1711090800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	107089802492332	0	Dauos	120206129606090072	thedauos.com	Shop now	NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542831	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432444176_1461245937803618_2351619017030877039_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=HhBDaTNhQ40Q7kNvgE5IdiV&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfDMMqMoftL40wuEC3MGTgR32GOPg0QpkDaCFhzYkqKGEg&oe=663A9761	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431912497_1422363348403095_1160456603151060584_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=0u31uyBUoVgQ7kNvgFdkChn&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfBebu-fr18cTaySH4xxwyELrqxTaYwdgW1HnckZLlgwQQ&oe=663A6BB0	0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8" thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you're ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&h=AT0EhXN5hEQwyPIYsJaM6ZY2w62AbN7eLvs5hF2DLU88SDSVk8z6PYSoWHUogy0roeeAW55s0ir-jICLeCj9MJq7BCqbveZR8pb33atMeDFSDSmnGMXSTWgGYYYiPXqKhn5rySYJzU8rv-av8HiWcQ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>	Dauos	393	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	SHOP_NOW	1710486000	View Edit Delete
1667635	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727729	1734958310	695	420431877334294	2	1.0742673504884E+15	1710745200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	217316998627741	0	Frost & Flame：King of Avalon	120207196020550751	itunes.apple.com	Play game	NONE	video	Play for FREE!		http://itunes.apple.com/app/id1084930849		1710507117	2.1731699862774E+14	Frost & Flame：King of Avalon	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433129755_7585680791488663_4041320278312419263_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6AP3s07fK40Q7kNvgFvR3M_&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBwhClmnWOuvs9-Hk9iYymzucVd5e84njElGH-3uUr6pQ&oe=663A95A2	person_profile	0	King of Avalon	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432540595_962825225551905_4980250375982958112_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=7J6FLZnWqZsQ7kNvgGggXAg&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBYVfFNX_Eyke1C0SY7jp5bbUMZY-ONWR-LLKJ7qQ-A_Q&oe=663A6CB1	0	3	That Game Everyone's Playing! Join Now!	Frost & Flame：King of Avalon	1210399	https://facebook.com/koadw	PLAY_GAME	1710486000	View Edit Delete
1667636	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727730	1734958310	695	421008276955238	10	3.6457520324106E+15	1711090800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	107089802492332	0	Dauos	120206129593150072	thedauos.com	Shop now	NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542818	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431222967_856180349647967_6950546054463824558_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=TIglYVAzLB4Q7kNvgHKEwrw&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDBMbP0sfVG6PmonuyRd8jKIqBym2hKq-jt7Ak7-GBvvA&oe=663A64A3	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431195461_412213498023750_3809643012679232514_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=e3-YGGuY9rYQ7kNvgG6czV-&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAy24YsFHwufyfB_VvMg-KbazHU6ANGemAkxBsHAw_GcQ&oe=663A644B	0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8" thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you're ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&h=AT2GWgJ2K0VU-78TIw45_WCVwNtB6lgBXxu13jpS2bY-biCaU3mKGL1_kY-07dqOjjdaYW-Fu1O3fYyiFx7o1Sh2V_3WfLxzOhJ6q7ZI27fMx7fEDa3aCHi3FQZ7shRhl_krW0n4F2hIFeQH5QRs8siLwNc5C6SVJTy9qQ" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>	Dauos	393	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	SHOP_NOW	1710486000	View Edit Delete
1667637	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727730	1734958310	695	461304269570077		3.6457520324106E+15	1710918000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	107089802492332	0	Dauos	120206129586530072	thedauos.com	Shop now	NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542807	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432397013_708333988163126_1866695117248052536_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=iSfGf_vdCeQQ7kNvgFGj9IR&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBQQULrG9ciaDlEPu6udEQjSk_pa8pAgJh4MNUlpzof9w&oe=663A8FCC	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432447920_3629071277333995_4548284713454927828_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=i9ncfO5kXKkQ7kNvgFPvIoF&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDc1YJDYkWEJSkxZpH8NnoS6KUrY6--9V5PTBu4LtjuOw&oe=663A81D7	0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8" thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you're ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&h=AT3hkgc-NDAz_k0LTGevrpelA9dD_9UgyEa-eFsyYGLHwrnoLrA39N9yDWMzCLyN9UxyHyNA4iR_V7vPhKtZdvCp_bTTImCGV5w7PEiuw-tatxLC4Pklqu5PTFyLlo_tSvgmKVVJe22QvQYYFGy9x89uUgNIJJy0_S6y1w" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>	Dauos	393	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	SHOP_NOW	1710486000	View Edit Delete
1667638	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727730	1734958310	695	710987307863813		3.6457520324106E+15	1710918000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	107089802492332	0	Dauos	120206129588740072	thedauos.com	Shop now	NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542805	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432371939_787533036053074_8518477965223920752_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_12xtW1GXZkQ7kNvgE6MBHm&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfBi55E1Ny7wxq5SBz-28uD4-SORRnVh90fdYoujoj-d9A&oe=663A8C07	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432420150_731054349213554_5108879125051733833_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LcJO9VDLEiUQ7kNvgHREzz6&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDSmzyM3M2L6JPu5Ywx8e3_3ZEEhCD-q7JYp72xTs914g&oe=663A974C	0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8" thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you're ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&h=AT14HbRwqdhWa3-DAlJOZ40HByBjKvqEqh3qYC4vcjRYJjp-kaDrBjmDhAUa8wnTPw5gudOD32oFp2Z-_ECZKROWI4m_Xqc_eRJF0B3bgB7dCkA-U3B9GzIoyeXkdNPDfQdsApQjzaVB5gO1LwaN92WjSPEALmATdvAf5g" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>	Dauos	393	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	SHOP_NOW	1710486000	View Edit Delete
1667639	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727730	1734958310	695	763371545722587		3.6457520324106E+15	1711090800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	107089802492332	0	Dauos	120206129595940072	thedauos.com	Shop now	NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542813	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432058002_1146181586736656_1643957283186047426_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ZFVXeLMycCgQ7kNvgFKsCIn&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAMersnn95t9VVXDlUpIImaovGUY5JxHWTAXI0GpzQ9PA&oe=663A8D32	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432128558_1422966421942687_2525188161982282882_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=eLiA1u0ykOwQ7kNvgF_UdIs&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfDQSmQKjnxi95MOUZbbdIjT049koaxagRONUIAbHx930w&oe=663A6621	0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8" thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you're ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&h=AT07YalmVyz9LSGmu6nbh82_QnfGrlqMp5CE2jrRglNJW9dk82_llhEVntrYBaQcwD7qQcLbEmw0Qhxehid2wdbC7C5chzR5V022dI0-N7Ys0oIX4ZDAiQkgL0gSxmUdAy9Z921Q4itYTP3h2-Ki7qUehUV9cyjAAWeuRw" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>	Dauos	393	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	SHOP_NOW	1710486000	View Edit Delete
1667640	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727730	1734958310	695	1801794927007611		3.6457520324106E+15	1710918000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	107089802492332	0	Dauos	120206129584860072	thedauos.com	Shop now	NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542798	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432444324_756309149552715_6081799796211420548_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=y84Oso1gbiYQ7kNvgFl0AIP&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCwLFLB3b_QrwKhxTLBn7QZGKur2SPszarfNFEYPSeX9w&oe=663A79E9	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/430470684_368547139499293_5132676558960640184_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=b7sY9LYgcp4Q7kNvgHqnoW5&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBhHxW5oGqGMgzmS8Y3YFeJWpu0_cJ9In9GQtm26UtxNw&oe=663A6581	0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8" thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you're ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&h=AT0kAKIOqZo6_12Ljad4w-AKWYBE54kNK70EZw0J8gtn8qrTn6eeJA-ekPlHD-yRw0VOqfSr8kRmi_BX59cUcuUBN325oovd_uXrhBXigD1XWaYVhYCu9fCTHB7CiuXA3un0fPChoEdHoAosSAYFN6YQTeLdicFEiMT46w" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>	Dauos	393	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	SHOP_NOW	1710486000	View Edit Delete
1667641	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727730	1734958310	695	2327561667453346		3.6457520324106E+15	1711090800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	107089802492332	0	Dauos	120206129600430072	thedauos.com	Shop now	NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542826	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433140582_381092358211220_6876566416109866305_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=BhJOKofdMfUQ7kNvgEcJoqd&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDT5miP53oPeDguPDF-DdEhn1UqKDAlhmbAWik1xt0pQg&oe=663A7153	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432640585_392982640339456_8940335706455138235_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hza0IctghhAQ7kNvgFeRYjK&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDlCy2mg2Gvo4mqKnwDQaiAOUY8QOFDmDudJR39N3XAHw&oe=663A8225	0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8" thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you're ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&h=AT0gWEYlzj2g_WxV7GMvCfiytByoI_ggwZTkcoA1DgDCdoufo2dZsLB-3MN_62yislXOVsg5UKx4jq-Jp6zMjVfYxawEG3t-WoSZky3u-1F_ik0xZR9NZpu0dVZ_821hoviWIaaTVN640sof5n6_avt6mSgR88YvZ76ZYA" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>	Dauos	393	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	SHOP_NOW	1710486000	View Edit Delete
1667642	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727730	1734958310	695	3696117807382548		3.6457520324106E+15	1711090800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	107089802492332	0	Dauos	120206129418470072	thedauos.com	Shop now	NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542533	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432661175_300796076114630_229832205337461666_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yOcQeeJexqQQ7kNvgHoTeII&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAWwUJP_roExROtA5NEM2HOpYOS5OaC_NVxsRGz1KE9tw&oe=663A9272	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433095420_284617077997284_8351295717819781865_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=0ATO5UZJOgoQ7kNvgFg943h&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBeyVjY6QcdkjxfjswCszerW_famsGE7Qfx_6ZQKgD0ig&oe=663A7F0C	0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8" thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you're ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&h=AT3zsoOPiaiDQzIQMItQt94CQf0KbLFwZgRUZMJcIzCRtGCrFZRXeBRpZJ4589uCQ4j1DMzQ1Qbw2YYb1owKBGwR9t1UFaMcUKVJdGbLCIxkClsUHoucwE6zHd64SWYz9RNDr7c5d2sQorksHqoesAx9brT_Gy5ikkdwiw" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>	Dauos	393	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	SHOP_NOW	1710486000	View Edit Delete
1667644	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727730	1734958310	695	7564455010338414		3.6457520324106E+15	1711090800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	107089802492332	0	Dauos	120206129588550072	thedauos.com	Shop now	NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542806	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432389592_1367460773964203_2110123684750846060_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=BuS2oqUZFoMQ7kNvgGHmPav&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBWBKeKbMz1sAeP6h1MjTfifN1L-1_NUBfRYqKQddO94w&oe=663A92E0	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432377349_835771935024141_2268746279950365082_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jbYdVomQc0sQ7kNvgG1vCUL&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBPHeWTmHHYW42riaqEFXbUQXEau2L68xq2FC_2ojl5PQ&oe=663A645A	0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8" thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you're ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&h=AT3DfzFRZ-b837_vwAwOdsyddrOm7BUgZ-lKlRbRGKJjA6f8nWQvs6gwJquuANJrnDeSfKf32sw1xXyf5jop8v8D7EJj-GBSQDFAS8h9ju0AX3Xt7DTrhqEG5UU1ptFJmoiMeKiKV9hKSGbItqcjib0E3s8LHIj5EuFjiQ" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>	Dauos	393	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	SHOP_NOW	1710486000	View Edit Delete
1667645	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727730	1734958310	695	645079184410984	10	2.8781289752093E+14	1710918000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	107089802492332	0	Dauos	120206129598160072	thedauos.com	Shop now	NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542818	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431483769_994026922305808_3359678864362015370_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=pdMo1QNR8hIQ7kNvgFhrcWY&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfB8USIXRsp8R10BOqvfWAxjYLzIopJZRaZFtPp729VwcQ&oe=663A81BC	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431433053_807950507872801_8090519929636540408_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aIj3KWFHuLkQ7kNvgEiyklz&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBIkMA3sDen7VGN0NLceruvzE4ImbUPEeq61mYD6Offng&oe=663A738D	0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8" thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you're ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&h=AT10RB0azUabYsqvlb2HfndcLT6f8Fw8tdaY8I0Byit0q6TL7lzaKMqrM64jP4QQ01gaFbAjHlQ2GZM5BRXBfNd-rGJM1JsANGdKE6GI9EYx1cqanZ9kNECZKkScYJXR2BWMrQKR82IiEW2yobyZpYPVmQSGzuBpgc721Q" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>	Dauos	393	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	SHOP_NOW	1710486000	View Edit Delete
1667647	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727730	1734958310	695	764349085655670		2.8781289752093E+14	1711004400	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	107089802492332	0	Dauos	120206129593100072	thedauos.com	Shop now	NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542813	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431097112_3489308498047624_2887825571835188470_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QtJuYxGI-x0Q7kNvgGAs1NP&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfByywn3keG5P33aZVRTFY97vFYqoi_XlzeXesfNB6i3BA&oe=663A8D96	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431908819_1092978388419841_5234135548026698328_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=eJC4PQOKROMQ7kNvgGVvA4d&_nc_oc=AdhE2nMeAK0SUItElMGar11Jeg9fkgK8aUAvv7fU_wrAqMngDY1fnSAgwwjCeWdkKq3SQaxQs3NVkgiZW2NUD71v&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfDx4EkZj75NzU-odCmVd2KjnYJPNkT6cXUaeHLHpdMX3Q&oe=663A7356	0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8" thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you're ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&h=AT3phN6Dkrfla2BhmBqNWueU2sjA65_-RXAM2cZ0XWYr0023gUpAQSPKa86tT-F9avFa3teUXrxKfR0JMbOO-85yYfNsApCZ7cT6ftYNWW5xUBroD49TtJLxVWW5mU1QBpn_01Gre6CToi_QXT-DubQc-KfcsYi2GzK3sg" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>	Dauos	393	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	SHOP_NOW	1710486000	View Edit Delete
1667649	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727731	1734958310	695	1133184311017101		2.8781289752093E+14	1711090800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	107089802492332	0	Dauos	120206129603650072	thedauos.com	Shop now	NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542831	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431283774_1521348495098145_886944501097367468_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Orov_gsNhlYQ7kNvgHWKp0b&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfBFLXLzOUaOqLyF0rQbD_LOZUS7VM2jocZB42Sc3KHGlA&oe=663A8567	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431510879_292397493706135_49876471057132494_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_Z1KkWIG7OMQ7kNvgFS6ej_&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfB1-JWJ97ZfJ31KHbv8ucSonj1_6SYLb_Ubybw4isUz6g&oe=663A7880	0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8" thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you're ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&h=AT3tYroKWDrXfl8PXcm6ufoiOI6w4hby4rcB25sbMiCsUQSOTczpPIv40lEsi3R-4igPoHp4CkBnweVOowFDXaA1rdpLETg9v8ABQNMzB3jjN94xlTn-PPgMVhNgSZ26MTtoVPQppT5uvIajcQK43_so3jd52qLHhMpyhg" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>	Dauos	393	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	SHOP_NOW	1710486000	View Edit Delete
1667651	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727731	1734958310	695	1314707623265279		2.8781289752093E+14	1711090800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	107089802492332	0	Dauos	120206129598260072	thedauos.com	Shop now	NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542824	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433103891_1600385807401594_3754547429292290629_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QVu8Y_5i_PcQ7kNvgE1nvEb&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCbfdDMk8csAsaWJCjqNqmztenmW9PZRYoWUhrP7cP74g&oe=663A61DB	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432624223_940670667215116_3933014791145846947_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=uRPMoM_Dy3sQ7kNvgGabg8k&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAa6xgLINdB0JjZmcNb5y3OSKmCZs3w740PTRCgKUv0HA&oe=663A7DEE	0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8" thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you're ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&h=AT10w4e1XScBS-lUr-hRJ5pGXW289nwuWeyXu8gqeoelgcKADZTDiNkGgzMsEKPDTXjN0Xxhr343dqt8whpP0Akxf1IrfnA6BwnuzLQkhGhPxUWf8oghHzc1wY3qeuPWP75HsMxzW1TL9YqKbiV674gPrLNsyMdklPl-gA" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>	Dauos	393	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	SHOP_NOW	1710486000	View Edit Delete
1667653	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727731	1734958310	695	1437720900155013		2.8781289752093E+14	1710918000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	107089802492332	0	Dauos	120206129584960072	thedauos.com	Shop now	NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542798	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432744513_3343176742485953_4601708793226573996_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=0Rg22b2e4wEQ7kNvgGgbJr4&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDIuVhPUfCwv_U-7oWkl2F0fo3rm1QbCWWDp7zGOzksLQ&oe=663A60DC	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433101171_900636081791926_4941709115365300452_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=HRcK0ukxs9sQ7kNvgE28EDJ&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAD4LJKBpxCwoIw4snPzsil3fCxmq9HO4w17rEFhZVgZA&oe=663A8C39	0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8" thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you're ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&h=AT10vroths0y7s-nQp73ziFimBZgekXJBV41UsxbGgfcGE8OdvPBZN6unbTbcjCg94-Y7snZ1Vg4w464XAxPJ1bbSGIXB9inMBhq4BOW0icxA3xd01PrklTnkklMCwpdy6cKFjqtIhhjMYnRW90ed-_2ACT9fkSZA9n1Tg" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>	Dauos	393	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	SHOP_NOW	1710486000	View Edit Delete
1667655	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727731	1734958310	695	2429100250615673		2.8781289752093E+14	1711090800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	107089802492332	0	Dauos	120206129419870072	thedauos.com	Shop now	NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542511	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/430320178_1495346517710718_70324083697686810_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ebqCtxPnKiMQ7kNvgEcPOzu&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfByw9Owa2ibndd1wHNBoptpEk2Rmb7Y0Pj5f_ujjv1-4A&oe=663A826D	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432090507_314323717958615_3480147196720856946_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=7RDmjM-H69AQ7kNvgHWmHT_&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfDiaXi3gGeZbTHZWJFyTjmaezDWFItLR1jOO-DMGEHdxQ&oe=663A8334	0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8" thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you're ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&h=AT3FWppF-NyiT9fuVV3a4vcDqPsJ0RG1bDUMYppvOUz9Cn_m7ZSLAWIIDQsF8RsDEQNmQWbrgCU80ux_qHgWyh7LliuJhHniZOYasimW9CEjOY0gSRLo7zYPDuYHqHfvseSZfBmOGRKAq-fE2c4Uyj3t3PHrLsJBnNXVAg" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>	Dauos	393	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	SHOP_NOW	1710486000	View Edit Delete
1667656	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727731	1734958310	695	2571717866341595		2.8781289752093E+14	1711090800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	107089802492332	0	Dauos	120206129595880072	thedauos.com	Shop now	NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542815	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432630777_237570609436573_207092304303665070_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vYD2LUQahBEQ7kNvgEOWEdN&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfDy-Lf9qQ63rHbjqJYL7wV7zw9xM_omgOLx-Erst6DC3w&oe=663A6A11	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433123876_1453147492222222_18301219442974219_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=nUVML81s9AsQ7kNvgGLIzLa&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCxRbKjiBOA6EdtPxCNEXmBue0cKzYt5SNQ0JCUHDYS4Q&oe=663A9050	0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8" thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you're ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&h=AT0ipKvgvYVx9jvmVgnQ2r7_aE4463QbADaoaC43FVJt9jxI61BXt4od1dpCC7Mf7DkeljPIOI85qFlqxPjcM1ipdwrVnsOyYv6bnmJRQE2xYPByg5tuJ8plLEDV2YO_62KzRxpF2YhTSK_F6Fl1iWX7cFlLTNDMg4actA" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>	Dauos	393	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	SHOP_NOW	1710486000	View Edit Delete
1667657	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727731	1734958310	695	760824599313941	9	9.0017423519105E+14	1710831600	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	107089802492332	0	Dauos	120206129586570072	thedauos.com	Shop now	NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542805	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432348114_953749055705768_7741503024840269884_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=pnWkGsdCjbMQ7kNvgFcjfDj&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfB_zH0Zh9UlqMkEtt9lL1z-p0hulg6GoTjtaenZYAcaLQ&oe=663A84BE	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432422514_2198116267202335_1943750760541878506_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=rZVq2Q99mBwQ7kNvgGiQ7Lx&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCB5pd2_6k7FVQhZ0jzRBZgcSkQUjNfSeQ-G0ZFgiYJSA&oe=663A5F7A	0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8" thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you're ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&h=AT0gfOHUFNjonsy8ygYAYXovsX6mKjs7nYzEqA_vgiYWsolq7UIg5ZxSWwBTpDulZZH-BC8tQ-KmY8NzKvOEC7REMPI4cAYgLLbRwsFU8mPj1VcVoSsXfTXLn0FBvoSN7RiuSWAUP-MSEcKrgEWMj8w149w2aV6vtUBpEA" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>	Dauos	393	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	SHOP_NOW	1710486000	View Edit Delete
1667658	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727731	1734958310	695	928178242264466		9.0017423519105E+14	1711004400	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	107089802492332	0	Dauos	120206129593080072	thedauos.com	Shop now	NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542814	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431486210_1143282250009579_8818504583973954569_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UJ89GkmxzLkQ7kNvgGdQ5Hi&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBRN7sfhjgBXkQOhA3Fnm3olr16-eQt3rHo4QaczhYPlQ&oe=663A698C	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431237611_2621000608067355_4273940541205197909_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=df82Zvmf9YYQ7kNvgE5tCH7&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBjpY9RgDpvePEgULs79zlyFSHjKD7LBN0PlS1iUdhmAQ&oe=663A8E8F	0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8" thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you're ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&h=AT3SvHIIP6oW0NKD4IKUAnhckTGmKgxcFm5NBChlDGoF2PpGzzHixi73mVlJ6W0ITba81wzLGPVnfaHE6MRX_gTF1Zj9NDgZ_PKzH68A5IMWe8rmUSnQa1Lzg7xcxLcOna8MYoxQnvscXgXF02XGfNkStxYd46gAIU2B9A" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>	Dauos	393	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	SHOP_NOW	1710486000	View Edit Delete
1667659	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727731	1734958310	695	942877230269032		9.0017423519105E+14	1710831600	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	107089802492332	0	Dauos	120206129590890072	thedauos.com	Shop now	NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542809	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431503600_711066267905796_4783668311905601880_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aSUVazfKT9UQ7kNvgEKywfk&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfCnuILJaTra9o_UlD50bWgIZDPCp--CbxdBf9lKbJID_g&oe=663A69C6	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431207767_933465404980256_591282852493407944_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6ou7ZLht3ZUQ7kNvgG0ZYu_&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfB17lWdTRTH6ILtprU1egfZWlk25fQPBwpv7aV2FZCkLA&oe=663A69C1	0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8" thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you're ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&h=AT2YKTSpKMpyypD3JqgSsfcM22XRs8xeumF8nj_5Ih1q3Hz66wJIGJke8Rc_GmChyTIGYIfQF_Tf5sEkM50YYYvrVbiYhhgQgDrEGmNZlIIiTDYxhul5bOkLNTvV-ClfQpiLAswRlK_1IkQbGmBaYUkd6cTx_0m1IolLyQ" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>	Dauos	393	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	SHOP_NOW	1710486000	View Edit Delete
1667660	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727731	1734958310	695	953956992387548		9.0017423519105E+14	1711004400	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	107089802492332	0	Dauos	120206129593180072	thedauos.com	Shop now	NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542813	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432398743_443180964903688_4788572455294977068_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hvawcqyduGMQ7kNvgEIxC1l&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAoInq6FXUHy0pImDp9veuub8dfyCZN3av5sXK56g_JCw&oe=663A672C	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432407494_287435074382418_6813649029135874068_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=pi3Rp8KTz5YQ7kNvgEjsKuh&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBZ64xN37NO89O8DjygmqjOqId1ulQTa2i0NbWiXfDOJQ&oe=663A8C84	0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8" thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you're ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&h=AT0VfhoVGyhL7_wFlXcSTL2tBDlPWQ5rukV1hHyE2nvfu8InL5A5-7Sf20Pb9A_jfnkmnFYjNWhyMgGrjeYaghbFa1qr55Xf65Xrg-7RmVO2S5zNkYX8lpcF-QhD_w1qU16LKBzmUP41lEML3nSs3hsKIw1Z1J9R9qabAQ" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>	Dauos	393	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	SHOP_NOW	1710486000	View Edit Delete
1667662	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727731	1734958310	695	1050386772719278		9.0017423519105E+14	1710918000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	107089802492332	0	Dauos	120206129598230072	thedauos.com	Shop now	NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542824	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432705501_444048057957190_1879430047611828550_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=j9FrURyxqVoQ7kNvgH9CVEh&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfB8KVPWvPD8J0u6nCYz7tJTXsB0EvGJRBhIlO4zRszdpQ&oe=663A85F1	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432708932_1601956777223015_7384676479127184015_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=lVuwGMoeEtQQ7kNvgGGKv2P&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfDAcKYLgDqhcSgmPyttd9Z0Wp8r5zBpWFjBoqru5TR23w&oe=663A90D3	0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8" thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you're ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&h=AT0VeLXKv_gujdOyBXGqKC24xjwVEw1QqhjykwsUy_qHkgN4Rm-TtU3_iyv2H1A6Ft-ACRzQSzkTrptxh_coK9MeAgkKKcC6HWawjWyLbRnv0JQJQeGxe-0nZkoj9zT9KiL52skVTLklHAluz-pBoc1Zs8Gv_yQRmXoTUw" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>	Dauos	393	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	SHOP_NOW	1710486000	View Edit Delete
1667665	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727731	1734958310	695	1072871567344938		9.0017423519105E+14	1711004400	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	107089802492332	0	Dauos	120206129598200072	thedauos.com	Shop now	NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542824	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433139357_1112061176612213_6427435744762554694_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=x1JMTnDbdC8Q7kNvgEyaYga&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfB3csONERoS00uddxZbwKILnHL-FYRKlRprIU9BEGgEsw&oe=663A7481	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432570174_787445243261574_3879437541907470107_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jf0aPMnl77MQ7kNvgGoBa4F&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBoXQBZ0e2NQ6bK5P7xRVaZlxJT2L6ZzyHeojvxCSS58A&oe=663A747B	0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8" thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you're ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&h=AT01-33DFFSF3cYNhUOpZgIQDfCUQ-4sZi295AO-hQ5Y0QXywXesBGdj_2VuPrUhsA39ReKExSl0H8OcjLxwXcFRKqYWTUmQuKosBVdFz0aGNdNqkNV5xe7vMkxxNKN5bTx7zR6HK2479nf0LfGMQeuoqKlJTTsN0Wv6hA" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>	Dauos	393	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	SHOP_NOW	1710486000	View Edit Delete
1667667	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727731	1734958311	695	1103859307490946		9.0017423519105E+14	1710831600	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	107089802492332	0	Dauos	120206129584950072	thedauos.com	Shop now	NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542792	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431432838_3530843087227291_8429246433939172260_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ea_mnYgOhBgQ7kNvgFQYET4&_nc_oc=AdhbEAt7PkNyQY5zFm80WRqFkNcWlplfJRzw8NCshWxnPzpaHNboIedSBtnyK-V0GNn2SbxifB5I674Owa1hXJMq&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfD1Lsv9z2XFnYol2EykoqqF1c-qycHtkKU8RYPhHzfZkw&oe=663A6818	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431472034_1111102756827153_9180499509179689443_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=TL1W9VZw6YIQ7kNvgHJUfDh&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfD57G_hytaF_0nsX1d7F0lkZuHvf-fQElRWUPy8V7gNuA&oe=663A797F	0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8" thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you're ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&h=AT3NuXxRL-TgWsrKjpMT3_AOpaQgUK9Zv6t8sH69gNFt11BhlTFTgmmjq8_m-9xK3_9erCVceeUXwogy6XslJokBRu7uq5WtjxMqO_z7VrlE-4TBKfbEvMNcv5ik4e6h1Z_H2GLZP3rfmhnIr6R2br9nRBi8GIIXd8RcdQ" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>	Dauos	393	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	SHOP_NOW	1710486000	View Edit Delete
1667668	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727731	1734958311	695	3834675340190303		9.0017423519105E+14	1711004400	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	107089802492332	0	Dauos	120206129603620072	thedauos.com	Shop now	NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542831	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432702462_425101310188887_2598698780206365414_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JVNYv1dLFf8Q7kNvgEqt_wm&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAOt7vpbLsq2MQ6RF_wiRyw48eP4vCY5orp_JFYaVQSYg&oe=663A7A7C	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432779714_787262129988708_8637584001846006548_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NQ2clxjQBE4Q7kNvgGCAZbJ&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAIIyvnOVmxET4dIcNYZwL-7eWZ9y1LQhuSl9KUygE6fA&oe=663A63D4	0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8" thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you're ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&h=AT2YNafYa8pIJtvQuFbzDsdfLecfiPyXojx25QaudnX195Px3DTP9riso-y-oiy2lxC_ebbymXR0XWqh5szMbBL70VTwUKUfYSA2PTEqINQsbd2S9CyMFkUOG98-IZ917KENj3BzwBessAi94nysziXTf9gw6dJ25OUCuQ" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>	Dauos	393	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	SHOP_NOW	1710486000	View Edit Delete
1667670	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727731	1734958311	695	3724492474539869	1	7.9421932588545E+14	1711004400	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	107089802492332	0	Dauos	120206129418360072	thedauos.com	Shop now	NONE	video	🔥 Limited Time Offer		https://thedauos.com/products/dauos-sling-hook		1710542625	1.0708980249233E+14	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432066330_725909343028498_7639940185673184075_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JjLgLUnWoHUQ7kNvgE8qGP1&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAk96cfxopaPS7_JYmMb9af4NVAVsR8lkXeTXW2suE0Tw&oe=663A70EC	person_profile	0	Dauos	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432058654_2045303015850541_5672783804985453520_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PVqpO3M1N30Q7kNvgGRAVSJ&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBAvPooPis9Sxq70b9gMitK_YybDEsHZraFVAPcPU8Txw&oe=663A6D61	0	3	🌿 Unleash Your Hunting Potential with the Dauos Sling Hook! 🦌<br /> <br /> Say goodbye to restrictions and hello to freedom with our revolutionary sling catch! Designed for hunters, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Dauos Sling Hook ensures your gear stays secure and your hands remain free for the thrill of the hunt.<br /> <br /> ✅ Secure Your Gear: Keep your rifle, bow, crossbow, or camera readily accessible while hiking rugged terrain or crossing streams with ease.<br /> <br /> ✅ Unmatched Versatility: Compatible with any sling up to 5/8" thick and adaptable to any pack strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is the ultimate solution for hunters of all disciplines.<br /> <br /> ✅ Quick and Easy Installation: No assembly required - simply attach to your favorite pack shoulder strap, trim to fit, and you're ready for action.<br /> <br /> ✅ Comfort and Reliability: Engineered for maximum comfort with specialized features to ensure a secure grip on your shoulder strap, the Dauos Sling Hook is your trusted companion on every adventure.<br /> <br /> Experience the difference today! Order your Dauos Sling Hook and elevate your hunting experience to new heights. 🌟<br /> <br /> Get Yours Now and Embrace the Freedom of Unrestricted Exploration! 🔥<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthedauos.com%2Fslinghook&h=AT3VO8gsWLTH4IfbQJOfrM6hDJqMLs00EjX8h16XgulukrQYwvPkC2KBgr7_SgBycuSmIzOsReYgEdwr1eF4rogV79azXjSywNYqzDvaawb-82atcBx_EG0A9DTO6Anl6M16cB-YE6B-WYJ2W_IyVcBx1U5MBiEKAA8GVQ" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://thedauos.com/slinghook</a>	Dauos	393	https://facebook.com/61550049947721	SHOP_NOW	1710486000	View Edit Delete
1667674	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727732	1734958311	695	734174078698425	4	7.2883172602714E+14	1711090800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	181760488365196	0	Devices for work	120206954903530256	ridermiseri.info	Get offer	NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://ridermiseri.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=tBvBWazjmFpYTEwnf7DD&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&fbclid=%7B%7Bfbclid%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&ids=KIyg7d		1710433120	1.817604883652E+14	Devices for work	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432749323_3603536746630424_5387550006119167335_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yHNOxAMoHt8Q7kNvgHjSBoo&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfC-3b7AKmYKIeCjR7JK_4TB6DLUAHmLOXNq-EbXixQcDA&oe=663A90BB	person_profile	0	Devices for work	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433057000_788509666480211_605598316307431490_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4r8pa0Yic70Q7kNvgGfMRZz&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfA2vw1_nFUQ9qYMQ9-e-pJEV55OnVyWKx5re73dzdTwRw&oe=663A74A0	0	3	If you're reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You're among the 2,759 lucky people who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $9.99 in our spring giveaway 🥳	Devices for work	810	https://facebook.com/61556081113592	GET_OFFER_VIEW	1710399600	View Edit Delete
1667679	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727732	1734958311	695	623875623227469		3.9029571028666E+14	1711522800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	2296094330467325	0	R2Games	120206427136430727	do.r2games.com	Learn more	NONE	image	Free RPG game. Play NOW	Dark Odyssey, an epic online rpg game that contains AUTOMATIC UPGRADING, endless CHALLENGES, massive BOSS FIGHTS, orc INVASIONS, and CHARACTER CUSTOMIZATION. Get ready to embark on a dark and thrilling journey, increase your power, team up with other players and save the world!	https://www.r2games.com/link.php?id=1011467		1710425847	2.2960943304673E+15	R2Games	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433076508_1141613546865452_4345152077728592799_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=v8yBGx7O_ckQ7kNvgH3_kT_&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfABlrj-a31zIKGxQoR4cnGvhmS_bWwSrbnmpL8TBvByCw&oe=663A6A37	person_profile	0			0	3	Welcome to the world of Dark Odyssey! ⚔⚔<br /> The world is full of danger, don't go alone<br /> 💥💥	R2Games	8685	https://facebook.com/R2GamesNew	LEARN_MORE	1710399600	View Edit Delete
1667691	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727733	1734958311	695	414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15	1711004400	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205648360290695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mirnSgh7FAYQ7kNvgHbHvSW&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAj_NEPivuexhsSEsveZTLipXRiCp0pIMd-zwxhF9XdgQ&oe=663A8D88	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sez25WXELpEQ7kNvgHavkZV&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBbrpmeMC0qGrKyx5CVGBhUkrhHj69t2aeNVOm79vLbXw&oe=663A8F5B	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1710399600	View Edit Delete
1667693	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727733	1734958311	695	414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15	1711004400	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205648360290695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mirnSgh7FAYQ7kNvgHbHvSW&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAj_NEPivuexhsSEsveZTLipXRiCp0pIMd-zwxhF9XdgQ&oe=663A8D88	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sez25WXELpEQ7kNvgHavkZV&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBbrpmeMC0qGrKyx5CVGBhUkrhHj69t2aeNVOm79vLbXw&oe=663A8F5B	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1710399600	View Edit Delete
1667694	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727733	1734958311	695	414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15	1711004400	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205648360290695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mirnSgh7FAYQ7kNvgHbHvSW&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAj_NEPivuexhsSEsveZTLipXRiCp0pIMd-zwxhF9XdgQ&oe=663A8D88	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sez25WXELpEQ7kNvgHavkZV&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBbrpmeMC0qGrKyx5CVGBhUkrhHj69t2aeNVOm79vLbXw&oe=663A8F5B	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1710399600	View Edit Delete
1667695	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727733	1734958311	695	414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15	1711004400	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205648360290695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mirnSgh7FAYQ7kNvgHbHvSW&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAj_NEPivuexhsSEsveZTLipXRiCp0pIMd-zwxhF9XdgQ&oe=663A8D88	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sez25WXELpEQ7kNvgHavkZV&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBbrpmeMC0qGrKyx5CVGBhUkrhHj69t2aeNVOm79vLbXw&oe=663A8F5B	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1710399600	View Edit Delete
1667697	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727733	1734958311	695	414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15	1711004400	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205648360290695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mirnSgh7FAYQ7kNvgHbHvSW&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAj_NEPivuexhsSEsveZTLipXRiCp0pIMd-zwxhF9XdgQ&oe=663A8D88	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sez25WXELpEQ7kNvgHavkZV&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBbrpmeMC0qGrKyx5CVGBhUkrhHj69t2aeNVOm79vLbXw&oe=663A8F5B	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1710399600	View Edit Delete
1667699	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727733	1734958311	695	414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15	1711004400	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205648360290695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mirnSgh7FAYQ7kNvgHbHvSW&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAj_NEPivuexhsSEsveZTLipXRiCp0pIMd-zwxhF9XdgQ&oe=663A8D88	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sez25WXELpEQ7kNvgHavkZV&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBbrpmeMC0qGrKyx5CVGBhUkrhHj69t2aeNVOm79vLbXw&oe=663A8F5B	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1710399600	View Edit Delete
1667701	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727733	1734958311	695	414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15	1711004400	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205648360290695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mirnSgh7FAYQ7kNvgHbHvSW&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAj_NEPivuexhsSEsveZTLipXRiCp0pIMd-zwxhF9XdgQ&oe=663A8D88	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sez25WXELpEQ7kNvgHavkZV&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBbrpmeMC0qGrKyx5CVGBhUkrhHj69t2aeNVOm79vLbXw&oe=663A8F5B	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1710399600	View Edit Delete
1667741	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727735	1734958311	695	1452702805352971	1	4.0010601264153E+14	1710745200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	148034835056966	0	Titan Revenge	120207576048030127	gamehollywood.com	Play Game	NONE	dco	Welcome to Titan Revenge!	{{product.description}}	https://www.gamehollywood.com/ldp/cEEx.action?gameId=239&lp=tr14&cno=TitanRevenge_GHG_FB_T1		1709956430	1.4803483505697E+14	Titan Revenge	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/428712680_418826437305195_5858516169441456784_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=RwGeU3aqB90Q7kNvgG75ZUw&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfCxxPYEa6_9eQzuLu7QlJzEU6jwUU_mO17RJ3MWRct94g&oe=663A79EA	person_profile	0			0	3	Join Titan Revenge for Epic RPG Action Battle, come discover and challenge! 💥💥	Titan Revenge	10311	https://facebook.com/TitanRevenge	PLAY_GAME	1709884800	View Edit Delete
1667703	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727733	1734958311	695	414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15	1711004400	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205648360290695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mirnSgh7FAYQ7kNvgHbHvSW&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAj_NEPivuexhsSEsveZTLipXRiCp0pIMd-zwxhF9XdgQ&oe=663A8D88	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sez25WXELpEQ7kNvgHavkZV&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBbrpmeMC0qGrKyx5CVGBhUkrhHj69t2aeNVOm79vLbXw&oe=663A8F5B	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1710399600	View Edit Delete
1667706	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727733	1734958311	695	414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15	1711004400	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205648360290695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mirnSgh7FAYQ7kNvgHbHvSW&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAj_NEPivuexhsSEsveZTLipXRiCp0pIMd-zwxhF9XdgQ&oe=663A8D88	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sez25WXELpEQ7kNvgHavkZV&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBbrpmeMC0qGrKyx5CVGBhUkrhHj69t2aeNVOm79vLbXw&oe=663A8F5B	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1710399600	View Edit Delete
1667707	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727733	1734958311	695	414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15	1711004400	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205648360290695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mirnSgh7FAYQ7kNvgHbHvSW&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAj_NEPivuexhsSEsveZTLipXRiCp0pIMd-zwxhF9XdgQ&oe=663A8D88	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sez25WXELpEQ7kNvgHavkZV&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBbrpmeMC0qGrKyx5CVGBhUkrhHj69t2aeNVOm79vLbXw&oe=663A8F5B	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1710399600	View Edit Delete
1667708	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727733	1734958311	695	414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15	1711004400	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205648360290695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mirnSgh7FAYQ7kNvgHbHvSW&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAj_NEPivuexhsSEsveZTLipXRiCp0pIMd-zwxhF9XdgQ&oe=663A8D88	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sez25WXELpEQ7kNvgHavkZV&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBbrpmeMC0qGrKyx5CVGBhUkrhHj69t2aeNVOm79vLbXw&oe=663A8F5B	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1710399600	View Edit Delete
1667709	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727733	1734958311	695	414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15	1711004400	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205648360290695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mirnSgh7FAYQ7kNvgHbHvSW&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAj_NEPivuexhsSEsveZTLipXRiCp0pIMd-zwxhF9XdgQ&oe=663A8D88	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sez25WXELpEQ7kNvgHavkZV&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBbrpmeMC0qGrKyx5CVGBhUkrhHj69t2aeNVOm79vLbXw&oe=663A8F5B	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1710399600	View Edit Delete
1667711	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727733	1734958311	695	414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15	1711004400	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205648360290695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mirnSgh7FAYQ7kNvgHbHvSW&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAj_NEPivuexhsSEsveZTLipXRiCp0pIMd-zwxhF9XdgQ&oe=663A8D88	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sez25WXELpEQ7kNvgHavkZV&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBbrpmeMC0qGrKyx5CVGBhUkrhHj69t2aeNVOm79vLbXw&oe=663A8F5B	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1710399600	View Edit Delete
1667715	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727733	1734958311	695	414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15	1711004400	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205648360290695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mirnSgh7FAYQ7kNvgHbHvSW&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAj_NEPivuexhsSEsveZTLipXRiCp0pIMd-zwxhF9XdgQ&oe=663A8D88	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sez25WXELpEQ7kNvgHavkZV&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBbrpmeMC0qGrKyx5CVGBhUkrhHj69t2aeNVOm79vLbXw&oe=663A8F5B	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1710399600	View Edit Delete
1667717	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727733	1734958311	695	414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15	1711004400	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205648360290695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mirnSgh7FAYQ7kNvgHbHvSW&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAj_NEPivuexhsSEsveZTLipXRiCp0pIMd-zwxhF9XdgQ&oe=663A8D88	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sez25WXELpEQ7kNvgHavkZV&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBbrpmeMC0qGrKyx5CVGBhUkrhHj69t2aeNVOm79vLbXw&oe=663A8F5B	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1710399600	View Edit Delete
1667719	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727733	1734958311	695	414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15	1711004400	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205648360290695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mirnSgh7FAYQ7kNvgHbHvSW&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAj_NEPivuexhsSEsveZTLipXRiCp0pIMd-zwxhF9XdgQ&oe=663A8D88	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sez25WXELpEQ7kNvgHavkZV&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBbrpmeMC0qGrKyx5CVGBhUkrhHj69t2aeNVOm79vLbXw&oe=663A8F5B	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1710399600	View Edit Delete
1667721	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727734	1734958311	695	414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15	1711004400	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205648360290695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mirnSgh7FAYQ7kNvgHbHvSW&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAj_NEPivuexhsSEsveZTLipXRiCp0pIMd-zwxhF9XdgQ&oe=663A8D88	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sez25WXELpEQ7kNvgHavkZV&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBbrpmeMC0qGrKyx5CVGBhUkrhHj69t2aeNVOm79vLbXw&oe=663A8F5B	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1710399600	View Edit Delete
1667745	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727735	1734958311	695	370751069136092	1	9.3470331818078E+14	1710140400	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	148034835056966	0	Titan Revenge	120207575996730127	gamehollywood.com	Play Game	NONE	dco	Welcome to Titan Revenge!	{{product.description}}	https://www.gamehollywood.com/ldp/cEEx.action?gameId=239&lp=tr10&cno=TitanRevenge_GHG_FB_T1		1709956242	1.4803483505697E+14	Titan Revenge	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432049138_731012869138725_5954585650042261466_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=k768MXN8V7wQ7kNvgEmcy0D&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBNTPYX0uztbIQuF1mHdcqQpzXLTIJx1f_GivokTlS-VQ&oe=663A6383	person_profile	0			0	3	Join Titan Revenge for Epic RPG Action Battle, come discover and challenge! 💥💥	Titan Revenge	10311	https://facebook.com/TitanRevenge	PLAY_GAME	1709884800	View Edit Delete
1667746	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727735	1734958311	695	370751069136092	1	9.3470331818078E+14	1710140400	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	148034835056966	0	Titan Revenge	120207575996730127	gamehollywood.com	Play Game	NONE	dco	Welcome to Titan Revenge!	{{product.description}}	https://www.gamehollywood.com/ldp/cEEx.action?gameId=239&lp=tr10&cno=TitanRevenge_GHG_FB_T1		1709956242	1.4803483505697E+14	Titan Revenge	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432049138_731012869138725_5954585650042261466_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=k768MXN8V7wQ7kNvgEmcy0D&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBNTPYX0uztbIQuF1mHdcqQpzXLTIJx1f_GivokTlS-VQ&oe=663A6383	person_profile	0			0	3	Join Titan Revenge for Epic RPG Action Battle, come discover and challenge! 💥💥	Titan Revenge	10311	https://facebook.com/TitanRevenge	PLAY_GAME	1709884800	View Edit Delete
1667723	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727734	1734958311	695	414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15	1711004400	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205648360290695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mirnSgh7FAYQ7kNvgHbHvSW&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAj_NEPivuexhsSEsveZTLipXRiCp0pIMd-zwxhF9XdgQ&oe=663A8D88	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sez25WXELpEQ7kNvgHavkZV&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBbrpmeMC0qGrKyx5CVGBhUkrhHj69t2aeNVOm79vLbXw&oe=663A8F5B	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1710399600	View Edit Delete
1667725	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727734	1734958311	695	414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15	1711004400	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205648360290695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mirnSgh7FAYQ7kNvgHbHvSW&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAj_NEPivuexhsSEsveZTLipXRiCp0pIMd-zwxhF9XdgQ&oe=663A8D88	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sez25WXELpEQ7kNvgHavkZV&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBbrpmeMC0qGrKyx5CVGBhUkrhHj69t2aeNVOm79vLbXw&oe=663A8F5B	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1710399600	View Edit Delete
1667727	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727734	1734958311	695	414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15	1711004400	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205648360290695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mirnSgh7FAYQ7kNvgHbHvSW&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAj_NEPivuexhsSEsveZTLipXRiCp0pIMd-zwxhF9XdgQ&oe=663A8D88	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sez25WXELpEQ7kNvgHavkZV&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBbrpmeMC0qGrKyx5CVGBhUkrhHj69t2aeNVOm79vLbXw&oe=663A8F5B	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1710399600	View Edit Delete
1667729	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727734	1734958311	695	414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15	1711004400	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205648360290695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mirnSgh7FAYQ7kNvgHbHvSW&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAj_NEPivuexhsSEsveZTLipXRiCp0pIMd-zwxhF9XdgQ&oe=663A8D88	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sez25WXELpEQ7kNvgHavkZV&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBbrpmeMC0qGrKyx5CVGBhUkrhHj69t2aeNVOm79vLbXw&oe=663A8F5B	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1710399600	View Edit Delete
1667731	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727734	1734958311	695	414885104382572	4	1.0638365847142E+15	1711004400	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108974115788755	0	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	120205648360290695	campaign.edmiston.com	Learn More	NONE	dco	Preference 19	Start planning your charter.	https://campaign.edmiston.com/charter/		1710416895	1.0897411578876E+14	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432357478_1211314323177880_4325783941413280995_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mirnSgh7FAYQ7kNvgHbHvSW&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfAj_NEPivuexhsSEsveZTLipXRiCp0pIMd-zwxhF9XdgQ&oe=663A8D88	person_profile	0	Edmiston & Company	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432450562_343076725398444_2192709193264445098_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sez25WXELpEQ7kNvgHavkZV&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfBbrpmeMC0qGrKyx5CVGBhUkrhHj69t2aeNVOm79vLbXw&oe=663A8F5B	0	3	The possibilities are endless with a superyacht charter. No other holiday can compare, no other experience comes close.	EDMISTON - WORLD LEADERS IN YACHTING	8595	https://facebook.com/edmiston	LEARN_MORE	1710399600	View Edit Delete
1667747	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727736	1734958311	695	926691635448056	1	9.3179262820987E+14	1710486000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	217316998627741	0	Frost & Flame：King of Avalon	120206854027290751	itunes.apple.com	Play game	NONE	video	Play for FREE!		http://itunes.apple.com/app/id1084930849		1709891576	2.1731699862774E+14	Frost & Flame：King of Avalon	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432162566_1157952788907286_7796736370592406881_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XLwHzd3tk9UQ7kNvgGHZSxx&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfD3FedcI3hvmzYDPB1aLvh70hAG4Af2ovzuQfTBOXNKBA&oe=663A7C2A	person_profile	0	King of Avalon	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431562590_1086975382453760_6166737432628581841_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ogtNyktIUGQQ7kNvgFkXCWs&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfD6lkFunkGcYETaD-ADXrxGzZE1ofVfaACBUD7fon7igg&oe=663A8781	0	3	That Game Everyone's Playing! Join Now!	Frost & Flame：King of Avalon	1210399	https://facebook.com/koadw	PLAY_GAME	1709884800	View Edit Delete
1667734	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727734	1734958311	695	1611407152950294	2	3.2448994394897E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	265052230017125	0	Prize Palooza	120206603755500654	emergclutch.info	Get offer	NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇 текст		https://emergclutch.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=3mmVUnZu9O6vIo7UVx8l&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1710227059	2.6505223001712E+14	Prize Palooza	https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/430314909_292943640277910_6593818600642220211_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CkomOmmhASgQ7kNvgEp_Lcd&_nc_oc=AdjeJRjO6AApOEJWYvRZze-iO9J80LgKKyrGay21hiTqAViFftLElHD5yVGAYnvFfPF5ubovg235o-AC-95FQuPp&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AfA7HY-OMReEVYO00I5SRvPYB3ElmLwHtPSaATgVU3UHMw&oe=663A6249	person_profile	0	Prize Palooza	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/430295126_722346280084509_5567710850298741699_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=EksYPHukPj4Q7kNvgHkjmpe&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfDc6n9_MWNU_b3W4Jnp87dYPf0EuFN1ZAtg1bso-yYXRA&oe=663A7CF1	0	3	If you're reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You're among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳	Prize Palooza	260	https://facebook.com/61556812859534	GET_OFFER_VIEW	1710313200	View Edit Delete
1667735	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727734	1734958311	695	1099767001366094	5	3.9029571028666E+14	1713337200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	2296094330467325	0	R2Games	120206332283720727	do.r2games.com	Learn more	NONE	image	Free RPG game. Play NOW	Dark Odyssey, an epic online rpg game that contains AUTOMATIC UPGRADING, endless CHALLENGES, massive BOSS FIGHTS, orc INVASIONS, and CHARACTER CUSTOMIZATION. Get ready to embark on a dark and thrilling journey, increase your power, team up with other players and save the world!	https://www.r2games.com/link.php?id=1010828		1710237759	2.2960943304673E+15	R2Games	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432347969_770157925034025_4217088264527251935_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JIFyd6GqVqcQ7kNvgErFVxy&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBUQXtbMrQ-mbduG7CpLZTILv0OpWSmo2x5Utep96UF4A&oe=663A93AF	person_profile	0			0	3	Welcome to the world of Dark Odyssey! ⚔⚔<br /> The world is full of danger, don't go alone<br /> 💥💥	R2Games	8685	https://facebook.com/R2GamesNew	LEARN_MORE	1710226800	View Edit Delete
1667736	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727735	1734958311	695	407103728523856		3.9029571028666E+14	1710831600	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	2296094330467325	0	R2Games	120205738991330727	do.r2games.com	Play game	NONE	image	Play Now	Dark Odyssey, an epic online rpg game that contains AUTOMATIC UPGRADING, endless CHALLENGES, massive BOSS FIGHTS, orc INVASIONS, and CHARACTER CUSTOMIZATION. Get ready to embark on a dark and thrilling journey, increase your power, team up with other players and save the world!	https://www.r2games.com/link.php?id=1010827		1709003774	2.2960943304673E+15	R2Games	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/430158640_760048506051685_1350157845783949232_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=HVhjSrQDVpEQ7kNvgEMoqMG&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfA2LOt8UQtp8SgrBLfmf2Uq7GJu_I39QOD6TPSnoAAJnw&oe=663A8526	person_profile	0			0	3	Welcome to the world of Dark Odyssey! ⚔⚔<br /> The world is full of danger, don't go alone<br /> 💥💥	R2Games	8685	https://facebook.com/R2GamesNew	PLAY_GAME	1708934400	View Edit Delete
1667737	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727735	1734958311	695	408970121800109		3.9029571028666E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	1	0	2296094330467325	0	R2Games	120205553667330727	do.r2games.com	Learn more	NONE	image	Free RPG game. Play NOW	Dark Odyssey, an epic online rpg game that contains AUTOMATIC UPGRADING, endless CHALLENGES, massive BOSS FIGHTS, orc INVASIONS, and CHARACTER CUSTOMIZATION. Get ready to embark on a dark and thrilling journey, increase your power, team up with other players and save the world!	https://www.r2games.com/link.php?id=1010869		1708670502	2.2960943304673E+15	R2Games	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/428613985_285235354389308_1755750585622662603_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JZudZHq34HYQ7kNvgF1mrLk&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAbMnj0bo_4XhFtv7QHtj2llLz5NY_y4GAz2mF9LR-zWw&oe=663A7552	person_profile	0			0	3	Welcome to the world of Dark Odyssey! ⚔⚔<br /> The world is full of danger, don't go alone<br /> 💥💥	R2Games	8685	https://facebook.com/R2GamesNew	LEARN_MORE	1708588800	View Edit Delete
1667738	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727735	1734958311	695	777039987681074	1	7.1501487745946E+14	1710313200	regular_page	eligible	NONE	0	1	1	233433179859296	1	Prize 2024	120206837214400417	overwarily.info	Get offer	NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://overwarily.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=LmGIlvLgDqQVBFoTKqGg&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&fbclid=%7B%7Bfbclid%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&id=KIUYv2sx		1709969620	2.334331798593E+14	Prize 2024	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431095151_345650688432460_7969959328879594147_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=q8bnkSeH_fEQ7kNvgF81MwL&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfCbDWQ5Wx1I-0loMOrDPQcQ5BVhtpeWijgNbxsRtAS5bw&oe=663A8F05	regular_page	0	Prize 2024	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431042925_1261676111455938_8312925769507360434_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oO_Q3b7Km0AQ7kNvgHMe8G0&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfCQvC2B3WLvlZ6QqM24TEnN8nKRyp6QwuROKJEBrL_-XQ&oe=663A9642	0	3	If you're reading this, 😱 Celebrate your success! You're among the 2,957 lucky people who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $9.97 in our spring giveaway 🥳		0		GET_OFFER_VIEW	1709971200	View Edit Delete
1667739	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727735	1734958311	695	1452702805352971	1	4.0010601264153E+14	1710745200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	148034835056966	0	Titan Revenge	120207576048030127	gamehollywood.com	Play Game	NONE	dco	Welcome to Titan Revenge!	{{product.description}}	https://www.gamehollywood.com/ldp/cEEx.action?gameId=239&lp=tr14&cno=TitanRevenge_GHG_FB_T1		1709956430	1.4803483505697E+14	Titan Revenge	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/428712680_418826437305195_5858516169441456784_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=RwGeU3aqB90Q7kNvgG75ZUw&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfCxxPYEa6_9eQzuLu7QlJzEU6jwUU_mO17RJ3MWRct94g&oe=663A79EA	person_profile	0			0	3	Join Titan Revenge for Epic RPG Action Battle, come discover and challenge! 💥💥	Titan Revenge	10311	https://facebook.com/TitanRevenge	PLAY_GAME	1709884800	View Edit Delete
1667749	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727736	1734958311	695	7129388660511901	2	9.452229571124E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	265052230017125	0	Prize Palooza	120206929981810468	emergclutch.info	Get offer	NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇 текст		https://emergclutch.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=3mmVUnZu9O6vIo7UVx8l&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1709852335	2.6505223001712E+14	Prize Palooza	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/428688474_340854551685842_3924861629061134291_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oLf0YXGb2b0Q7kNvgGFEbnd&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAdvSiounP4HiA_Si6Mk-0-tbWWZ4T53xCgMrniAIwbqA&oe=663A6349	person_profile	0	Prize Palooza	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/428705876_858062473000387_4431262504193481139_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_aid=0&_nc_ohc=ma0o7QpvuqUQ7kNvgHml-Ml&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBMSV9vidPFY5Mjq4eRsjL8eVOlRATU96mbKmzFdLIrHQ&oe=663A84F1	0	3	If you're reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You're among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳	Prize Palooza	260	https://facebook.com/61556812859534	GET_OFFER_VIEW	1709884800	View Edit Delete
1667750	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727736	1734958311	695	374967288757780		9.452229571124E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	265052230017125	0	Prize Palooza	120207474126270661	emergclutch.info	Get offer	NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇 текст		https://emergclutch.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=3mmVUnZu9O6vIo7UVx8l&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1709851508	2.6505223001712E+14	Prize Palooza	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/430848798_1084129976040238_3391539901504454593_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ov-JWGd7TYkQ7kNvgEzc1ov&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAw7njshQO5mnXcqITrpQ52vXNrFWQLQ8bdwsrIfDh9Lw&oe=663A63B8	person_profile	0	Prize Palooza	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/430824602_765016395553927_1703459050874290185_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LlMOtBmhcs0Q7kNvgFLvXIQ&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfCM1t6llsyRdh7jMs-DE7pQzYGEBXeKsxFsa5toJ76dQQ&oe=663A8895	0	3	If you're reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You're among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳	Prize Palooza	260	https://facebook.com/61556812859534	GET_OFFER_VIEW	1709798400	View Edit Delete
1667751	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727736	1734958311	695	1119646592788487	2	3.2448994394897E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	265052230017125	0	Prize Palooza	120206783782260709	emergclutch.info	Get offer	NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇 текст		https://emergclutch.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=3mmVUnZu9O6vIo7UVx8l&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&fbpxl=%7B%7Bfbpxl%7D%7D		1709852193	2.6505223001712E+14	Prize Palooza	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/430045164_1913005599116942_6952973549542851093_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vEQInfBUsA0Q7kNvgEtngOf&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAQMCuSGBCJZQ9tUcGIvKBBPbgO377kSiWvYZVQVZP0dg&oe=663A83C1	person_profile	0	Prize Palooza	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/429657967_938859274705466_7286758469115579686_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=SXgp7JINh1sQ7kNvgHtcNLm&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfANiI35p0looksBDFIMCS6UMALmk-0feWGJ5kadWo7Qqg&oe=663A5F56	0	3	If you're reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You're among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳	Prize Palooza	260	https://facebook.com/61556812859534	GET_OFFER_VIEW	1709884800	View Edit Delete
1667755	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727736	1734958311	695	1591682571585046	1	1.0016626147379E+15	1710313200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108124922119098	0	Eternal Hunt: Dark Ancients	120206777282770285	itunes.apple.com	Install Now	NONE	dco	Get 777 Free Draws🎉	{{product.description}}	http://itunes.apple.com/app/id1664335636		1709534957	1.081249221191E+14	Eternal Hunt: Dark Ancients	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/428702953_1294895474745022_271974139990118811_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=nY-DrPdrEP4Q7kNvgEabDhl&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfApmQ0dsvc0ztz9xqnDxjn6JMC0wvcmbMyds5lxhLQgIQ&oe=663A78E0	person_profile	0	Eternal Hunt: Dark Ancients	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/428710853_1568509233982901_1797576216710430314_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2CfXR__GNVIQ7kNvgEAdnGD&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfA-hzsDSTDynaBnXIemy4sX45HmvI3TIYeg4JSNUUY2nA&oe=663A79D6	0	3	The Dungeon's door has opened🎉Forge Your Own Hero's Journey📲	Eternal Hunt: Dark Ancients	1863	https://facebook.com/100088190161207	INSTALL_MOBILE_APP	1709452800	View Edit Delete
1667757	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727736	1734958311	695	1591682571585046	1	1.0016626147379E+15	1710313200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108124922119098	0	Eternal Hunt: Dark Ancients	120206777282770285	itunes.apple.com	Install Now	NONE	dco	Get 777 Free Draws🎉	{{product.description}}	http://itunes.apple.com/app/id1664335636		1709534957	1.081249221191E+14	Eternal Hunt: Dark Ancients	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/428702953_1294895474745022_271974139990118811_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=nY-DrPdrEP4Q7kNvgEabDhl&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfApmQ0dsvc0ztz9xqnDxjn6JMC0wvcmbMyds5lxhLQgIQ&oe=663A78E0	person_profile	0	Eternal Hunt: Dark Ancients	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/428710853_1568509233982901_1797576216710430314_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2CfXR__GNVIQ7kNvgEAdnGD&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfA-hzsDSTDynaBnXIemy4sX45HmvI3TIYeg4JSNUUY2nA&oe=663A79D6	0	3	The Dungeon's door has opened🎉Forge Your Own Hero's Journey📲	Eternal Hunt: Dark Ancients	1863	https://facebook.com/100088190161207	INSTALL_MOBILE_APP	1709452800	View Edit Delete
1667759	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727737	1734958311	695	1591682571585046	1	1.0016626147379E+15	1710313200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	108124922119098	0	Eternal Hunt: Dark Ancients	120206777282770285	itunes.apple.com	Install Now	NONE	dco	Get 777 Free Draws🎉	{{product.description}}	http://itunes.apple.com/app/id1664335636		1709534957	1.081249221191E+14	Eternal Hunt: Dark Ancients	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/428702953_1294895474745022_271974139990118811_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=nY-DrPdrEP4Q7kNvgEabDhl&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfApmQ0dsvc0ztz9xqnDxjn6JMC0wvcmbMyds5lxhLQgIQ&oe=663A78E0	person_profile	0	Eternal Hunt: Dark Ancients	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/428710853_1568509233982901_1797576216710430314_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2CfXR__GNVIQ7kNvgEAdnGD&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfA-hzsDSTDynaBnXIemy4sX45HmvI3TIYeg4JSNUUY2nA&oe=663A79D6	0	3	The Dungeon's door has opened🎉Forge Your Own Hero's Journey📲	Eternal Hunt: Dark Ancients	1863	https://facebook.com/100088190161207	INSTALL_MOBILE_APP	1709452800	View Edit Delete
1667761	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727737	1734958311	695	1116952662710166	1	9.4322723018246E+14	1711004400	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	218810774653254	0	Techguru	120206813998670263	ridermiseri.info	Get offer	NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://ridermiseri.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=tBvBWazjmFpYTEwnf7DD&ad_id={{ad.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&placement={{placement}}&fbclid={{fbclid}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&ids=KIyg7d		1709354939	2.1881077465325E+14	Techguru	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/429548950_1749256132264153_2121853105467280595_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WMSPkD7chpgQ7kNvgEGsK9J&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfCd8wtmk_EfaheKgyUpHu-h_m_sH_NLbP-9oeV5D3pFDA&oe=663A71A9	person_profile	0	Techguru	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/428699798_422937976850574_8478791820033969524_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Xad5iK7IyTgQ7kNvgH5Xsb8&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBpmVgV8dOmtW-17JoS3CHtJ9tmO-r4qWOLaYtI2PSq2w&oe=663A61EF	0	3	If you're reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You're among the fortunate 2,973 individuals who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $9.95 in our giveaway, 🥳	Techguru	824	https://facebook.com/61556263801499	GET_OFFER_VIEW	1709366400	View Edit Delete
1667762	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727737	1734958311	695	428364532985741	2	1.0742673504884E+15	1711090800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	217316998627741	0	Frost & Flame：King of Avalon	120206275532310783	play.google.com	Install now	NONE	video	Play for FREE!		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.funplus.kingofavalon		1709111974	2.1731699862774E+14	Frost & Flame：King of Avalon	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/428706826_714817304158126_6251656658491189222_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XYo_qUOk5g8Q7kNvgFt45ej&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfB5jVtjI-vxDX529pEBfoVh5Dij_4U1CKdHEh2pOsUYsg&oe=663A75C0	person_profile	0	King of Avalon	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422851942_1172920693884605_1919264627967449890_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Hg3rgeYRJMQ7kNvgENBZWn&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBTmnYp0KHXvNOKRoFCkuS_x9Br8mnS6r-u73nNVutzGg&oe=663A7161	0	3	That Game Everyone's Playing! Join Now!	Frost & Flame：King of Avalon	1210399	https://facebook.com/koadw	INSTALL_MOBILE_APP	1709280000	View Edit Delete
1667764	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727737	1734958311	695	414134284311009	1	2.0420591994978E+15	1710140400	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	105810599097200	0	ZW-Shooting Game	120204959886800534	play.google.com	Install now	NONE	video	Zombies are coming！		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ddup.zombiewaves.zw		1709296233	1.058105990972E+14	ZW-Shooting Game	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/428503942_923884975719354_5477108965959599606_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QefbS8L-qRIQ7kNvgHx3cqr&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfCPnSAZE3t276Bung2AQgvEQBc3tG7gNhlXS9vzsE--Bg&oe=663A66E5	person_profile	0	ZW-Shooting Game	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/428507678_1732926830526868_6324205797696489579_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=GcVM0TzLdqEQ7kNvgFz9Tm8&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfCUmCupMDSXDMkQZ5137Y9EWNdxc6drVwQRAdfcP6zZhQ&oe=663A671F	0	3	How Long Can You Survive? 👉<br /> 😱😱 Can You Survive The Next!🙏	ZW-Shooting Game	33	https://facebook.com/100090268868472	INSTALL_MOBILE_APP	1709280000	View Edit Delete
1667765	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727737	1734958311	695	1179991743409978	4	7.2883172602714E+14	1713942000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	181760488365196	0	Devices for work	120207120209950715	ridermiseri.info	Get offer	NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://ridermiseri.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=tBvBWazjmFpYTEwnf7DD&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&fbclid=%7B%7Bfbclid%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&ids=KIyg7d		1709289005	1.817604883652E+14	Devices for work	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/428687357_769783661720131_7301324727341968366_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=cKNGeZ8o8jIQ7kNvgFKoPwf&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAeX3YgrdAOddyXm6gDqxWKZgOaz2Pbxc5vEd18YeR-tQ&oe=663A9787	person_profile	0	Devices for work	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/429470056_1106213233739513_2596385279901333661_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=GzP8QsR75nYQ7kNvgHuBJ6r&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfB8PZfpyHX5m4GDr1v2DeG2AnTCVQWbCLQdv2pT6nAKTQ&oe=663A694B	0	3	If you're reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You're among the 2,759 lucky people who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $9.99 in our spring giveaway 🥳	Devices for work	810	https://facebook.com/61556081113592	GET_OFFER_VIEW	1709280000	View Edit Delete
1667787	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727738	1734958312	695	1770689156768765	1	3.3766546059219E+15	1714719600	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	747021958709347	0	Music City Archery	6535603657907	musiccityarchery.com	Learn More	NONE	carousel	For All Your Archery Needs		http://musiccityarchery.com/		1706307745	7.4702195870935E+14	Music City Archery	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422264410_752229343444243_7706606627779637779_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Epsl_DRZkiQQ7kNvgHuC70k&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDR3ytSmjZOxqNo9SE1nokp6y5jaDDVMbhoJ_0mGcLIow&oe=663A6947	person_profile	0	Music City Archery	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422283653_1221340112157860_9010050063915198490_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ujXh3PxdE34Q7kNvgHNz6RL&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBEnMGLcnvh7O3JnzHaGDyB1RcGBKUUwVKagN8fxD8g8A&oe=663A8EB4	0	3		Music City Archery	2571	https://facebook.com/musiccityarchery	LEARN_MORE	1706256000	View Edit Delete
1667766	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727737	1734958312	695	1496268887598011		7.2883172602714E+14	1714028400	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	181760488365196	0	Devices for work	120205836772290634	ridermiseri.info	Get offer	NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://ridermiseri.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=tBvBWazjmFpYTEwnf7DD&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&fbclid=%7B%7Bfbclid%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&ids=KIyg7d		1709288673	1.817604883652E+14	Devices for work	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/429579093_1360109098011759_4109474163216333547_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oG9uNIkFmjIQ7kNvgFIl2zQ&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDbjUweaoX4iCarPLT1JECdvPIBVXo2Bt2XgXtcsgJ5TQ&oe=663A7287	person_profile	0	Devices for work	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/430952391_957794115760510_8441011754437371685_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=R2xG0ZhlaVYQ7kNvgEJj2Kc&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfD-o-FQRR9TBICPlW2aVy8nPJ7nEwwU2wIsljLkZXWfCA&oe=663A61D8	0	3	If you're reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You're among the 2,759 lucky people who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $9.99 in our spring giveaway 🥳	Devices for work	810	https://facebook.com/61556081113592	GET_OFFER_VIEW	1709280000	View Edit Delete
1667767	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727737	1734958312	695	1082786276177405		7.2883172602714E+14	1713942000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	181760488365196	0	Devices for work	120206129045290114	ridermiseri.info	Get offer	NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://ridermiseri.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=tBvBWazjmFpYTEwnf7DD&ad_id=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&campaign_name=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&placement=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&fbclid=%7B%7Bfbclid%7D%7D&site_source_name=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&ids=KIyg7d		1709270620	1.817604883652E+14	Devices for work	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/430489326_24802103736104516_8300198805730771556_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jrTv05Ww-eoQ7kNvgGNiUWb&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfD0mtU12aYlLBKKZspePCd4hPBNmHa3iusQZ__5DryPdg&oe=663A659B	person_profile	0	Devices for work	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/429908169_791748129666468_5888067511520341142_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_jzS77pYiEsQ7kNvgE1ZeR8&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDwFsb2Un_nn5mHeVkZN8fCh1vkIOqHbloF5c67bGF6Mw&oe=663A7789	0	3	If you're reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You're among the 2,759 lucky people who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $9.99 in our spring giveaway 🥳	Devices for work	810	https://facebook.com/61556081113592	GET_OFFER_VIEW	1709280000	View Edit Delete
1667768	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727737	1734958312	695	942104494090162	1	3.5967421693806E+14	1713942000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	181760488365196	0	Devices for work	120206850911170252	ridermiseri.info	Get offer	NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://ridermiseri.info/mCvLuIyCpKz.php?qKuEzYg=tBvBWazjmFpYTEwnf7DD&ad_id={{ad.id}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&placement={{placement}}&fbclid={{fbclid}}&site_source_name={{site_source_name}}&ids=KIyg7d		1709264109	1.817604883652E+14	Devices for work	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/428663772_358814527055130_6869867454625927856_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=TAzD8If5IK0Q7kNvgG2d_dw&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDM6RaRbT_HeqBqvDiwTVmPAimpNYsEZyRjf0YF0_RjZw&oe=663A816D	person_profile	0	Devices for work	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/428679619_1433489144041724_1895700844696379292_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=E0qyZ1WyG5AQ7kNvgHkyNe5&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDDhmp12UG0Un67GbXmZZNXi7GRZei3TxVacT5xEHzt9A&oe=663A7833	0	3	If you're reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You're among the 2,759 lucky people who have secured a TenPoint Nitro 505 for just $9.99 in our spring giveaway 🥳	Devices for work	810	https://facebook.com/61556081113592	GET_OFFER_VIEW	1709193600	View Edit Delete
1667769	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727737	1734958312	695	738833164959300	2	8.1286126393833E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	892588401116730	0	Practice Anywhere	120204193096150376	accubow.com	Shop Now	NONE	carousel	Code:ACCU20	Limited Time!	https://accubow.com/		1705091021	8.9258840111673E+14	Practice Anywhere	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/419133673_310227124771438_972601204068737509_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Wgb2L5UgFkQQ7kNvgE4yzGx&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfA-EY_ZJGem1Y2UXFNn-bQtfJ1HxCZSmBVR17t7tKTP8g&oe=663A7BA3	person_profile	0	Practice anywhere	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/419119670_317631567934896_2992698053173032227_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ej_db64tn1IQ7kNvgG42NLd&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfA7cg7SEZcRGe2yhPcrCeZEY39sAAkMS9bdhjFhecdjlw&oe=663A7686	0	3	Limited Time!	Practice Anywhere	9807	https://facebook.com/practiceanywherenow	SHOP_NOW	1709107200	View Edit Delete
1667770	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727737	1734958312	695	738833164959300	2	8.1286126393833E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	892588401116730	0	Practice Anywhere	120204193096150376	accubow.com	Shop Now	NONE	carousel	Code:ACCU20	Limited Time!	https://accubow.com/		1705091021	8.9258840111673E+14	Practice Anywhere	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/419133673_310227124771438_972601204068737509_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Wgb2L5UgFkQQ7kNvgE4yzGx&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfA-EY_ZJGem1Y2UXFNn-bQtfJ1HxCZSmBVR17t7tKTP8g&oe=663A7BA3	person_profile	0	Practice anywhere	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/419119670_317631567934896_2992698053173032227_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ej_db64tn1IQ7kNvgG42NLd&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfA7cg7SEZcRGe2yhPcrCeZEY39sAAkMS9bdhjFhecdjlw&oe=663A7686	0	3	Limited Time!	Practice Anywhere	9807	https://facebook.com/practiceanywherenow	SHOP_NOW	1709107200	View Edit Delete
1667793	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727738	1734958312	695	6768688703260549	1	3.6505563851625E+15	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	100365976129594	0	Puzzles & Chaos	120204508361130601	itunes.apple.com	Play game	NONE	video	Rally, to war!		http://itunes.apple.com/app/id6446389130		1706258186	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422927621_1420279545259386_1393293151869996681_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Yoyq9GOKhHMQ7kNvgGfnfc6&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDzz8N8w9KkxJyc-su70DItc-IfqaSL2zIkI1reoBcxKw&oe=663A8865	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422934922_410689661526646_7408576882001537210_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=eOLEBm9yqLQQ7kNvgFxRx7U&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfCDmWMIpYDnWvqyKgycBgL0Ogq2RjeetHmO-jtx61eZUQ&oe=663A8C36	0	3	The strongest alliance in the new server is one player short!	Puzzles & Chaos	12243	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	PLAY_GAME	1706256000	View Edit Delete
1667797	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727738	1734958312	695	1766028447141019	1	2.7716184146071E+14	1712905200	regular_page	eligible	NONE	1	0	1	101410031779066	0	Igoldencnc	120205726777430022	fb.me	Get quote	NONE	video			http://fb.me/		1704875959	1.0141003177907E+14	Igoldencnc	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/417789445_3824120457874575_1718063993017667222_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ZnvDE8V3KO0Q7kNvgFyUeKr&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDdCaYIeNlV6uateAfwJqJqzxMJpTYvaHCI9t7E-FQckg&oe=663A823A	person_profile	0	iGOLDENCNC	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/417772705_1365449790999729_5592436530954521317_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=-Qn-EiuDpMMQ7kNvgHcDuQZ&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBN8s-H-FdPju9Uff06SEFhOoiuHaKofC6LxNvSsMskDQ&oe=663A9298	0	3	🛒Crossbow portable cnc plasma cutting machine<br /> <br /> 🟢Stable structure and long life<br /> 🟢Easy to move<br /> 🟢Economical and practical<br /> 🟩The portable CNC cutting machine is an ideal upgrade <br /> <br /> product to replace handheld flame-cutting equipment, handheld plasma cutting devices, profiling cutting machines and semi-automatic cutting carts. The use is as flexible and convenient as the cutting trolley, and it can be moved at will without occupying a fixed site. It is a CNC equipment specially used for sheet metal blanking.<br /> ⏳If you are interested, fill out the form for more information.	Igoldencnc	3238	https://facebook.com/igoldencnc	GET_QUOTE	1704873600	View Edit Delete
1667799	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727738	1734958312	695	1418559241971547	1	8.8673531563932E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	184075394976974	0	Lumenok	23852124042060070		Like Page	NONE	video					1662559176	1.8407539497697E+14	Lumenok	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/302136537_1111926936122084_2173076245057580639_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=n5ARynlbgQwQ7kNvgGDuuhL&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfA4KxHT1ma5cp0OGVN4bVBLzLkF5X0aunrF5UhJLP8h0Q&oe=663A85F2	person_profile	0			0	3	The Original Lighted Nock Made In The USA. At Lumenok, we didn't just create the best lighted nock. We created the entire lighted nock category.	Lumenok	162434	https://facebook.com/Lumenok	LIKE_PAGE	1662534000	View Edit Delete
1666803	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727707	1734958312	695	415855687966596	2	1.1322155613115E+15	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	722595004512096	0	TLO Outdoors	120207915031440711	tlooutdoors.com	Shop now	NONE	image	TLO Outdoors Paracord Rifle Slings for Guns, Shotguns, and Crossbows	Our best selling 2-point paracord rifle slings are the perfect gun strap for your rifle, shotgun, crossbow, AR15, and guns. The 2 point sling is made of strong, reliable 550-rated paracord and an adjustable nylon strap. The sling ship with your choice of quality traditional swivels or QD quick detac...	https://tlooutdoors.com/products/paracord-rifle-crossbow-slings		1713907365	7.225950045121E+14	TLO Outdoors	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437583448_421528964144714_8316138476621627595_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Q67A3r5cvL8Q7kNvgEMh55f&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfCFC1Ui2UABZGb58vQltjR_owS2BNqOq7avJJOdF_5wnw&oe=663A6F6A	person_profile	0	TLO Outdoors	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437585149_1651402838754695_1521140704857937279_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=BTOg1mO7eWYQ7kNvgH_mtGx&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDI1tzS-Hi8fTjlw3civXSokcFQ2Mm0MLwTUT7qn9_aZA&oe=663A8BD1	0	3	TLO Outdoors Adjustable 2-Point Paracord Tactical Gun Sling 👏<br /> 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 5 star review: <br /> <br /> Best Quality Paracord Sling on the market yet a third the price !!<br /> <br /> We have several paracord slings on a variety of rifles and I feel that the TLO is by far the best quality of the three brands that we currently use and it's a third the price of another name brand. My advise, do not bother with shopping around just purchase the TLO. Great swivels, solid braiding and good looks.<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftlooutdoors.com%2Fproducts%2Fparacord-rifle-crossbow-slings&h=AT0wJqf_6YJUE4hRC3syudLyJe9fKGmRzfabkC0HXj8e576X0ri44j9xhUiVexRe_fZ_bFmBF6NcKH-V70L2Pm8WdwS5ynpYwNP9gHMNFjAPodh9Ez2BsbqEXQlZ085Cq_nVE67PRRDJqldbTcuREEwpXaCUOL3nRzRZpA" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://tlooutdoors.com/products/paracord-rifle-crossbow-slings</a>	TLO Outdoors	42986	https://facebook.com/TLOOutdoors	SHOP_NOW	1713855600	View Edit Delete
1667552	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727727	1734958312	695	1136486454441370		8.2079270988312E+14	1710918000	person_profile	taken-down	NONE	1	0	0	229860183539319	0	Mizzy Online	120206257482630426	www.dealwbig.top	Learn more	NONE	video	A drop witnesses the rocket ascending – this is the best gift for yourself.🥰❤️		https://www.dealwbig.top/products/dthgfgghfhfgjgjn		1710936893	2.2986018353932E+14	Mizzy Online	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432094167_1246578293412907_7549359261444929413_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=7WDVU6h7fF8Q7kNvgGgVP50&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfA3ITXxefH40uFQb5rduVy9zE58135w5njcB1QnIQQKnA&oe=663A8D2A	person_profile	0	Mizzy Online	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432120270_1804356006744020_2497497609224543244_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LTYZE9S2x6EQ7kNvgGey5F2&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfDidumOg00zgxyWREvKKlapOnu5u9OTclFpCgnRT0uo8g&oe=663A75AE	0	3	A drop witnesses the rocket ascending – this is the best gift for yourself.🥰❤️<br /> Click on the link below to receive your best gift for half price🥰❤️😍<br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dealwbig.top%2Fproducts%2Fdthgfgghfhfgjgjn&h=AT1E8HeCiVSV2kHPm7DgpEhXPGX3IaaJODnHVbq1hDOBNoOHsBdPQq9tN6gtVZQhM_5Bg1jKSbQBFDOvviYK8ysKMtCTrjjyns8-eT8k21cRogajYYQk83NF1QTPx9LnOjGsvhBgMyyd9h0yFwds7w" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://www.dealwbig.top/products/dthgfgghfhfgjgjn</a>	Mizzy Online	22	https://facebook.com/61555921441914	LEARN_MORE	1710918000	View Edit Delete
1666770	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727706	1734958312	695	849159637020060	1	9.7631963408326E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	216207868250282	0	Lebanon County Federation Of Sportsmen's Clubs	120208800493580433	register-ed.com	Buy tickets	NONE	event	Lebanon Co Youth Field Day	https://www.register-ed.com/events/view/208363	https://www.register-ed.com/events/view/208363		1714006915	2.1620786825028E+14	Lebanon County Federation Of Sportsmen's Clubs	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439613087_755067636716090_1999657016960220515_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=117GS-voqdIQ7kNvgFwc2Hd&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBoK5YL-sE_Bmut2yjnwTC8meysyAHfSEoDyk0jJF2J_A&oe=663A94EC	person_profile	0	Lebanon County Federation Of S	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439562237_795595012124115_6626424903237776492_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=IHyXRr9OkWUQ7kNvgFSv85d&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDcJY6qQ_7F2986-Cu_kNW-9PgzkzaxfvqqhOdbQIcsRg&oe=663A95B0	0	3	Welcome to the Lebanon County Youth Field Day! This event is sponsored by the Lebanon County Federation of Sportsmen Clubs, who represent the 23 sportsmen organizations in the county. The event is free for Kids age 7-15 years old. The event will be held at the Heidelberg Sportsmen Club, 20 Sportsman Lane, Newmanstown PA 17073.<br /> <br /> You must register online with the link provided <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.register-ed.com%2Fevents%2Fview%2F208363&h=AT3W7E3PtwJr209t3gm5LEbYIxIMhlqduuTzzCP_UNCH7Qh9lezYE9Ky-OaDUm4cDuZ7cLQ2ZnW9pkDLkIwO2sXeOe2ow-AOCvV79nr5Z3gwowVA-CVgYj28XasWXvwbx46FyJBu3BRLeu9GGVjWkhk-TaBCiGfmx9vg2g" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://www.register-ed.com/events/view/208363</a><br /> <br /> The list of activities that are available for your participation include:<br /> * Archery (Compound bow and crossbow)<br /> * Trapping<br /> * Turkey Calling<br /> * Air rifle<br /> * Shotgun<br /> * .22 rifle<br /> * Tactical rifle<br /> * Muzzleloader<br /> This event is Free Thanks to The Federation and Lebanon Co Sportsmen's clubs. <br /> The day's activities begin at 8:00 AM sharp; we ask that you arrive between 7:00 and 7:50 for enrollment, so that we can keep to this schedule. Ages 7yrs. to 15yrs.<br /> <br /> This is an outdoor event; please dress for the weather. Lunch will be provided courtesy of the Federation.	Lebanon County Federation Of Sportsmen's Clubs	22	https://facebook.com/61556495045499	BUY_TICKETS	1713942000	View Edit Delete
1666675	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727703	1734958312	695	405702068982030	1	9.2663912253555E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	104585012734764	0	Fly-X-Treme	120211264403050230	www.amazon.com	Shop now	NONE	video			https://www.amazon.com/Bug-Gun-Hunting-Crossbow-Fly-X-Treme/dp/B0BRSCQXRL		1714585723	1.0458501273476E+14	Fly-X-Treme	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440451271_984034276029324_7076030367515605012_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aoVACGOb9BYQ7kNvgHUyuC3&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBGyjOxC64xBOvcPifeL_0VabkYeYjhQ2DiqWHHYpBgAA&oe=663A8111	person_profile	0	Fly X-Treme	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440430318_809454287277859_5022659103555903347_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6zPVsSOd44kQ7kNvgHpo-EU&_nc_oc=AdjtD8zJwBfq4V2q-QlEObfvDpBwG3H6WLB79JYJ12RnTPWXzHdKLjGRsKbsBcpT2to-UqZpIdSuDiv_EiMdiDJF&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC2mJSeHyu3R9_FGiSleoWCF_v5mb9D64WcPNpDsc_dNA&oe=663A68C0	0	3	Don't let flies and bugs ruin your summer🍉☀️🌭🍔<br /> 🔫💥 Get Fly-X-Treme bug gun and be prepared!<br /> <br /> Buy Direct Today: <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fly-x-treme.com%2F&h=AT2I7D-ndSkbRrOhUyR78C1zAU2zDHl3SCRi8mUD6tXr64WSxPXZR76BAA5xYsV78QnRobxTk09wlKtJOGsRWAsuJP59ew3QiWS02kuQOVhMI7ZIyqtDVxQYSZf_9uUBgrLtZbqYU3FJmbfe3N04M4-SjJy1pozf5pzQOQ" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">www.fly-x-treme.com</a><br /> Amazon:<a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FBug-Gun-Hunting-Crossbow-Fly-X-Treme%2Fdp%2FB0BRSCQXRL&h=AT1CpBj_rcPvG1CyIfAlzPRqUOux1D-5MOrJh5Ay191pyQXliX-50ToExMJqXEtVVR1-0571rBcMDG-_5v4lmMW9senwgD7Av6ZFAp6SDEroIZsT-bngowgSlyLBTQQiD5HIBtigDmmvhYWH2AD3YcWhGV66-9GFYfscSA" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://www.amazon.com/Bug-Gun-Hunting-Crossbow-Fly-X-Treme/dp/B0BRSCQXRL</a><br /> <br /> #buggun #flyxtreme #flyshooter #bugshooter #archery	Fly-X-Treme	417	https://facebook.com/100095261450512	SHOP_NOW	1714546800	View Edit Delete
1667798	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727738	1734958312	695	1075268333626520	1	3.8344156093361E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	1990816214546289	0	BowSpider	120205221533750506	bowspider.com	Learn more	NONE	video	Grab your Bow and GO!		https://bowspider.com/collections/bow-spider-bow-packing-system		1704730963	1.9908162145463E+15	BowSpider	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/417162380_318501867833149_233591208466003523_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4JBt-FFyuOgQ7kNvgHVkzNP&_nc_oc=AdhwETmXM-UPcb3htUXPYP8zEKXzK-VV1P525XZUZdUPUl61-S7r4JWwtpjBKIhyHm-mYaqF_gSWDzBTobaOU0sn&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDPlW4ADuVMexsSaRX3wMUkQ5eQzG5HiUZLr1-XNdzQQA&oe=663A7200	person_profile	0	Bow Spider	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/417183134_1321321845250589_519129792036512257_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=-V0_QH-s-coQ7kNvgH-g1ew&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBhk9IVMeSPesLba7J8P8FXahzdMt5qAXPTZmd0xqGWKw&oe=663A6181	0	3	Grab your Bow and GO! For all our Archery Hunters, 3D competitors and backyard target enthusiasts we have a game changer for packing your Bow! The Bow Packing System will allow for easy access while on the archery course. Carry and retrieve your bow with ease.<br /> <br /> "...the nicest and quickest way to carry a bow while hunting!"<br /> <br /> “Game-changer!”<br /> <br /> "Bow Spider has became an essential part of my hunting gear."<br /> <br /> "...this changed the way I hunt for the better!"<br /> <br /> See how it works: <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fbowspider.com%2Fpages%2Fvideos&h=AT3guv3nqzuobVRBBu6AKgu0K_My0YjZHZfVQcj08ZnVbSmh0g2PwCKuCHxEU-ZI4OSwjgaQaYbmdHhXPZ_-qQycBfuRLKR1j7SXEGrCF8RcZNvAnPzGdoSRf1sc0n1pD3zI61OVA6cJqAP17q1t40lql5SnxDqC7pRTSg" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://bowspider.com/pages/videos</a><br /> <br /> Shop now: <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fbowspider.com%2Fcollections%2Fbow-spider-bow-packing-system&h=AT1hQzOiaVc-6QO0nM9qTlPWqI4ljfTLbltlTMZcQ-0eXFPvWdLpJuImtC5mvPpJvypQyj_zRCrbLPRDIFdOBrGSx1RWKwKQLz7fV4AfzSWVkr_c61h6fZemcI-9HjBLKJuJog29kzL43KjVC-vCLbOANZDI7R7gBS5VXQ" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://bowspider.com/collections/bow-spider-bow-packing-system</a><br /> Made in America.	BowSpider	10294	https://facebook.com/bowspider	LEARN_MORE	1704700800	View Edit Delete
1666926	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727711	1734958312	695	1109757816937097	4	1.7452277726815E+15	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	545775132233909	0	The Late Show with Stephen Colbert	120209652645000021			NONE	video	Rescue Dog Rescue With Daniel Radcliffe				1713526151	5.4577513223391E+14	The Late Show with Stephen Colbert	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438087040_336761892352882_7507797529494156258_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6Ic2bq-5V_0Q7kNvgH4iofD&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAx3jeKzdXG4xvQQnz6hUOQOOPHEYW4DtEtRS98vxdevw&oe=663A8ED1	person_profile	0	The Late Show	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438102320_2352360521635859_4017808569857619834_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=I6lY9PnLFIsQ7kNvgEaxgBw&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCJGolGs_69B9XFw8IKT6fmwZVMDcgSJtQXDXendJ29Vw&oe=663A87E7	0	3	It's ok to tell a few lies if it helps get these pups from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/theanimalleague">North Shore Animal League America</a> adopted, right? Find your new best friend at <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.colbertlateshow.com%2Frescuedogrescue&h=AT2pOAfDHKI0NeomfgTuJGcGaPHWH_9Rqauv2zk2NnMZtQ2oQNaDRJ3JaIbh5TxX7QHw9ieZDLp4qwINmmiXB-TqRoGzP3KT6vHB7HY9IVxTpgioNRBQb5pDzmC57FVHsijXjvn-B_3lP3H1-w7dNWYQ8rrjwkcDUAu-Sg" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">http://www.colbertlateshow.com/rescuedogrescue</a> today! #Colbert <br /> <br /> Paid partnership with <a href="https://www.facebook.com/simparicatrio">Simparica Trio</a>	The Late Show with Stephen Colbert	1952031	https://facebook.com/colbertlateshow		1713510000	View Edit Delete
1666998	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727713	1734958312	695	1143833703459581	1	9.6716752541011E+14	1713250800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	423699414390350	0	Hiya toys	120207249585580645	instagram.com	Visit Instagram Profile	NONE	carousel			https://www.instagram.com/_u/hiya_toys		1712918182	4.2369941439035E+14	Hiya toys	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435890169_455637816898997_1400948676440987007_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=enJzOTtGs74Q7kNvgEND7Ve&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDsEK7oEKAPeswN9DkeXT45es296YDO8P_g-wlGUK5MxA&oe=663A7047	person_profile	0	Hiyatoys	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435899196_1161301881532746_9040978709044126875_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=10QEwVHzp1EQ7kNvgG2c2QN&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBJX62wdycYEyXS85zgJ7mOnJO-ccPudCj6knfanMUV6g&oe=663A8370	0	3		Hiya toys	19504	https://facebook.com/Hiyatoys	VIEW_INSTAGRAM_PROFILE	1712905200	View Edit Delete
1667001	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727713	1734958312	695	1143833703459581	1	9.6716752541011E+14	1713250800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	423699414390350	0	Hiya toys	120207249585580645	instagram.com	Visit Instagram Profile	NONE	carousel			https://www.instagram.com/_u/hiya_toys		1712918182	4.2369941439035E+14	Hiya toys	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435890169_455637816898997_1400948676440987007_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=enJzOTtGs74Q7kNvgEND7Ve&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDsEK7oEKAPeswN9DkeXT45es296YDO8P_g-wlGUK5MxA&oe=663A7047	person_profile	0	Hiyatoys	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435899196_1161301881532746_9040978709044126875_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=10QEwVHzp1EQ7kNvgG2c2QN&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBJX62wdycYEyXS85zgJ7mOnJO-ccPudCj6knfanMUV6g&oe=663A8370	0	3		Hiya toys	19504	https://facebook.com/Hiyatoys	VIEW_INSTAGRAM_PROFILE	1712905200	View Edit Delete
1667002	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727713	1734958313	695	1143833703459581	1	9.6716752541011E+14	1713250800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	423699414390350	0	Hiya toys	120207249585580645	instagram.com	Visit Instagram Profile	NONE	carousel			https://www.instagram.com/_u/hiya_toys		1712918182	4.2369941439035E+14	Hiya toys	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435890169_455637816898997_1400948676440987007_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=enJzOTtGs74Q7kNvgEND7Ve&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDsEK7oEKAPeswN9DkeXT45es296YDO8P_g-wlGUK5MxA&oe=663A7047	person_profile	0	Hiyatoys	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435899196_1161301881532746_9040978709044126875_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=10QEwVHzp1EQ7kNvgG2c2QN&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBJX62wdycYEyXS85zgJ7mOnJO-ccPudCj6knfanMUV6g&oe=663A8370	0	3		Hiya toys	19504	https://facebook.com/Hiyatoys	VIEW_INSTAGRAM_PROFILE	1712905200	View Edit Delete
1667017	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727714	1734958313	695	1464847257762584	3	3.2845536023858E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	892588401116730	0	Practice Anywhere	120207328534580376	accubow.com	Shop Now	NONE	carousel	Scope-to-Phone Crosshair Sight		https://accubow.com/		1710617225	8.9258840111673E+14	Practice Anywhere	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431950026_712364067761625_8500033827148086301_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WSNdntC_kecQ7kNvgE6r10o&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBs4bvzDKNJJTlXvScamlqQNysPDHMuDOlqy2dPA1Nwqw&oe=663A88BC	person_profile	0	Official AccuBow®	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431972926_397577752988272_9068572841206466590_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=1MztnTPFOfEQ7kNvgGEknP9&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDYi0nzjelcubNt8-3kZbsLBcacITp7kNzhDUdlAch3cg&oe=663A8FF1	0	3		Practice Anywhere	9807	https://facebook.com/practiceanywherenow	SHOP_NOW	1712905200	View Edit Delete
1666655	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727703	1734958313	695	646258151024680	1	1.5267053348878E+15	1714719600	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	1	0	269620322892403	0	The Spellbound Archive	6558273558802	instagram.com	Visit Instagram Profile	NONE	carousel			http://instagram.com/spellbound_archive		1714702178	2.696203228924E+14	The Spellbound Archive	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440968574_1798000374030560_3003370305381287260_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LYekV0DdfNIQ7kNvgF_D5q3&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBirAu1p2FSKb-EA_z7R3vegqoGkosBmw7cKRFCgodMsw&oe=663A7840	person_profile	0	The Spellbound Archive D&D 5e Content	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440972729_971762634736311_1802869384665466207_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=OH9i-Tt0TSUQ7kNvgEz1Kfx&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfD5BTe16RiaFsLbRFG1fXJSdRplgiB5H4SnVT4R5oTwOQ&oe=663A6C86	0	3		The Spellbound Archive	2	https://facebook.com/61557003984252	VIEW_INSTAGRAM_PROFILE	1714633200	View Edit Delete
1667019	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727714	1734958313	695	1464847257762584	3	3.2845536023858E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	892588401116730	0	Practice Anywhere	120207328534580376	accubow.com	Shop Now	NONE	carousel	Scope-to-Phone Crosshair Sight		https://accubow.com/		1710617225	8.9258840111673E+14	Practice Anywhere	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431950026_712364067761625_8500033827148086301_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WSNdntC_kecQ7kNvgE6r10o&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBs4bvzDKNJJTlXvScamlqQNysPDHMuDOlqy2dPA1Nwqw&oe=663A88BC	person_profile	0	Official AccuBow®	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431972926_397577752988272_9068572841206466590_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=1MztnTPFOfEQ7kNvgGEknP9&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDYi0nzjelcubNt8-3kZbsLBcacITp7kNzhDUdlAch3cg&oe=663A8FF1	0	3		Practice Anywhere	9807	https://facebook.com/practiceanywherenow	SHOP_NOW	1712905200	View Edit Delete
1666727	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727705	1734958313	695	1358015248194107	1	1.1693290511452E+15	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	100365976129594	0	Puzzles & Chaos	120209871520470763	play.google.com	Play game	NONE	video	A viral mini-game!		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.pnck		1714272055	1.0036597612959E+14	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438060113_1467184800543778_2497327411810858826_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=lw7d4KOl-gQQ7kNvgERPaPn&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDgFO4hQdDer8yaDhRK8a5BkxCdTNFCisxraWqFOZjvKg&oe=663A968B	person_profile	0	Puzzles & Chaos	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438096247_973337524317920_938318581492539613_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Sv1_hSLSquUQ7kNvgEncePm&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC-UWwL4iJACj_ybWE2pu-NX7XObVhNkQZUtdkgTI-SZg&oe=663A96AA	0	3	Left or right? 👈👉<br /> Your choice!	Puzzles & Chaos	12242	https://facebook.com/PuzzlesAndChaos	PLAY_GAME	1714201200	View Edit Delete
1666676	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727704	1734958313	695	971338137940070	1	4.7076308871248E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	804212676294898	0	Raiito.pronos	120208671411260010	pridewif.com	Get offer	NONE	video	Tap the "Get Offer" button to seize your offer immediately. 👇		https://pridewif.com/landers/mfc/usa/RavinBlake?ad_id={{ad.id}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&campaign_id={{campaign.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&campaign_name={{campaign.name}}&source={{site_source_name}}&placement={{placement}}&cpid=662d2e1341f44e001229797d		1714583131	8.042126762949E+14	Raiito.pronos	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441222245_993260215547963_4581635012569095591_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yZuEkmDMvAgQ7kNvgG-dONE&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfC64RcMsf6-DBiWBYIggY4jMjN-D4SzG579pTXQZciKaA&oe=663A8154	person_profile	0	Raiito.pronos	https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440207969_421460760672123_8735081019494871495_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tZbyqVuzpCoQ7kNvgFwzFqh&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCQCH6aEvRc-B4KM2Zk73CB9x6w3xfHCJp1IuPR5Wu0cA&oe=663A903B	0	3	If you're reading this, 😱<br /> Celebrate your success! You're among the fortunate 3,000 individuals who have secured a Ravin R29 Crossbow for just $10 in our giveaway, 🥳	Raiito.pronos	2	https://facebook.com/61550669199113	GET_OFFER_VIEW	1714546800	View Edit Delete
1666769	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727706	1734958313	695	1129303424945328	1	8.16731590481E+14	1714287600	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	177317582125576	0	Mobile Game Mania	120208602846130783	play.google.com	Install now	NONE	video	Play for FREE!		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.funplus.kingofavalon		1714043531	1.7731758212558E+14	Mobile Game Mania	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438729943_1783217275532006_7386429878176938314_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hc7Rmes6zywQ7kNvgEZjBRD&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAKnUxpUeNHItKURN8fyqhJVzL61Bg9JfFTWM9YUlcrAQ&oe=663A8036	person_profile	0	Mobile Game Mania	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440108718_967347194470142_7664956135657334519_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WVF_lUiabdYQ7kNvgGx7WeT&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfC8ab_Sv_CnAaH4DAO03r1j3wMmEdKXaoQ0oe306K4vWw&oe=663A8DFD	0	3	Why is this game so fun?! Play Now!	Mobile Game Mania	105	https://facebook.com/61553758222172	INSTALL_MOBILE_APP	1714028400	View Edit Delete
1666927	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727711	1734958313	695	792662439119971		1.7452277726815E+15	1714719600	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	545775132233909	0	The Late Show with Stephen Colbert	120209652645170021			NONE	video	Rescue Dog Rescue With Daniel Radcliffe				1713526145	5.4577513223391E+14	The Late Show with Stephen Colbert	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436413706_409223781749947_499655378655513605_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JbAh-6srqooQ7kNvgHBXotT&_nc_oc=AdgS2305ongOuTyyLa1TJssF8giqhE-awG6clW85jAFq3pHg_jW69owy-s48AZr3NDxsMbm5WwqVgzzWRj-Xq8Jz&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBaZOnLa3claX-YgoUDo5WeDZOsgYCO5b5c0D1yc488Cw&oe=663A9273	person_profile	0	The Late Show	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436419155_935444038312183_515553819528858451_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CwI_8ILO3zgQ7kNvgGA9S-M&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDDOBh0E1gLYOFcyGOHWc_7qVnMC8ZkSG9gG6oWFkydZA&oe=663A9324	0	3	It's ok to tell a few lies if it helps get these pups from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/theanimalleague">North Shore Animal League America</a> adopted, right? Find your new best friend at <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.colbertlateshow.com%2Frescuedogrescue&h=AT1etymrbuZskekzL5nioweHhrVNPVF0EIu7GDBDiGYJUFy_EJyjlIeuPnqIsM42m3aS3lCx9F3TYk1B5URCir-MpThlDwrFGZWfNIyC1GmhZnmpQJMv9LvzMBl0kQON8Js1ICzz7n6iYxpPwkvc3a5P_HGBWsYfpPkK6g" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">http://www.colbertlateshow.com/rescuedogrescue</a> today! #Colbert <br /> <br /> Paid partnership with <a href="https://www.facebook.com/simparicatrio">Simparica Trio</a>	The Late Show with Stephen Colbert	1952031	https://facebook.com/colbertlateshow		1713510000	View Edit Delete
1667033	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727714	1734958313	695	762799398924244		3.2845536023858E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	892588401116730	0	Practice Anywhere	120207328534580376	accubow.com	Shop Now	NONE	carousel	Scope-to-Phone Crosshair Sight		https://accubow.com/		1710617225	8.9258840111673E+14	Practice Anywhere	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431950026_712364067761625_8500033827148086301_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WSNdntC_kecQ7kNvgE6r10o&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBs4bvzDKNJJTlXvScamlqQNysPDHMuDOlqy2dPA1Nwqw&oe=663A88BC	person_profile	0	Official AccuBow®	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431972926_397577752988272_9068572841206466590_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=1MztnTPFOfEQ7kNvgGEknP9&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDYi0nzjelcubNt8-3kZbsLBcacITp7kNzhDUdlAch3cg&oe=663A8FF1	0	3		Practice Anywhere	9807	https://facebook.com/practiceanywherenow	SHOP_NOW	1712905200	View Edit Delete
1667061	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727715	1734958313	695	740279021611050		3.2845536023858E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	892588401116730	0	Practice Anywhere	120207328534580376	accubow.com	Shop Now	NONE	carousel	Scope-to-Phone Crosshair Sight		https://accubow.com/		1710617225	8.9258840111673E+14	Practice Anywhere	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431950026_712364067761625_8500033827148086301_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WSNdntC_kecQ7kNvgE6r10o&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfBs4bvzDKNJJTlXvScamlqQNysPDHMuDOlqy2dPA1Nwqw&oe=663A88BC	person_profile	0	Official AccuBow®	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431972926_397577752988272_9068572841206466590_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=1MztnTPFOfEQ7kNvgGEknP9&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDYi0nzjelcubNt8-3kZbsLBcacITp7kNzhDUdlAch3cg&oe=663A8FF1	0	3		Practice Anywhere	9807	https://facebook.com/practiceanywherenow	SHOP_NOW	1712905200	View Edit Delete
1667090	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727715	1734958313	695	1375173813143779	1	4.3485246571014E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	105162211758062	0	5ktoys	120207151235520276	5ktoys.com	Learn More	NONE	carousel			http://5ktoys.com/		1712776301	1.0516221175806E+14	5ktoys	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436417861_977343200521964_6134221005321239247_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Rd4nKZT0X8IQ7kNvgHbiHu3&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCZOErDt_qmmmPluCUEXTOBvrCgag26oGsmlA9anqs1VA&oe=663A9161	person_profile	0	5Ktoys.com	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436492213_439709005281862_5978172342120952253_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_ZgcGF_dhGMQ7kNvgF7X3E8&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDQT40O3Gv_vjfEOLgCEeCa0N5lH2gUwAaPgsR3pqCMMg&oe=663A946A	0	3		5ktoys	4550	https://facebook.com/5ktoysStore	LEARN_MORE	1712732400	View Edit Delete
1667369	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727722	1734958313	695	427564996310457	1	4.2971087638131E+14	1711782000	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	217316998627741	0	Frost & Flame：King of Avalon	120207741420240751	itunes.apple.com	Install now	NONE	video	Play for FREE!		http://itunes.apple.com/app/id1084930849		1711625634	2.1731699862774E+14	Frost & Flame：King of Avalon	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434465975_909020687669040_1400946644615777548_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yZKvG2sf9KUQ7kNvgFVwSOY&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCizz3RHyw37sp8r8nuAY4mxVLIAevRi6GZpfA-6eJSrw&oe=663A631A	person_profile	0	King of Avalon	https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434410495_660137172893255_2478199693599053727_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=cbEhVEgYh3AQ7kNvgHis_cp&_nc_ht=scontent.fmkc1-1.fna&oh=00_AfChP1Ctxjmp38K6l4eq7V3GrRJ62ns-BZHH_dJpXMSwFw&oe=663A94F3	0	3	That Game Everyone's Playing! Join Now!	Frost & Flame：King of Avalon	1210399	https://facebook.com/koadw	INSTALL_MOBILE_APP	1711609200	View Edit Delete
1667774	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727737	1734958313	695	738833164959300	2	8.1286126393833E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	892588401116730	0	Practice Anywhere	120204193096150376	accubow.com	Shop Now	NONE	carousel	Code:ACCU20	Limited Time!	https://accubow.com/		1705091021	8.9258840111673E+14	Practice Anywhere	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/419133673_310227124771438_972601204068737509_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Wgb2L5UgFkQQ7kNvgE4yzGx&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfA-EY_ZJGem1Y2UXFNn-bQtfJ1HxCZSmBVR17t7tKTP8g&oe=663A7BA3	person_profile	0	Practice anywhere	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/419119670_317631567934896_2992698053173032227_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ej_db64tn1IQ7kNvgG42NLd&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfA7cg7SEZcRGe2yhPcrCeZEY39sAAkMS9bdhjFhecdjlw&oe=663A7686	0	3	Limited Time!	Practice Anywhere	9807	https://facebook.com/practiceanywherenow	SHOP_NOW	1709107200	View Edit Delete
1667550	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727727	1734958313	695	757613989650323		8.2079270988312E+14	1711004400	person_profile	taken-down	NONE	1	0	0	229860183539319	0	Mizzy Online	120206257482670426	www.dealwbig.top	Learn more	NONE	video	A drop witnesses the rocket ascending – this is the best gift for yourself.🥰❤️		https://www.dealwbig.top/products/dthgfgghfhfgjgjn		1710936895	2.2986018353932E+14	Mizzy Online	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433697727_1594288384680529_5273457888666532678_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=BDn5ZHPmtM0Q7kNvgH_shnc&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBp38mVZHfqlFp2l4x9EZnKFjS3DbbHP2ZRSlLCQ6xIHA&oe=663A6501	person_profile	0	Mizzy Online	https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433720590_807142604808212_280524199231840483_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=s5gH_AJEwSEQ7kNvgEAmyj0&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-2.fna&oh=00_AfArFtMZWz24khghjXAKPD9j8rPE92h4GeDQp-WHqq4NvQ&oe=663A70E5	0	3	A drop witnesses the rocket ascending – this is the best gift for yourself.🥰❤️<br /> Click on the link below to receive your best gift for half price🥰❤️😍<br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dealwbig.top%2Fproducts%2Fdthgfgghfhfgjgjn&h=AT1uVR2NeeDp-6ZrBjWj0N-FuZE7zk1CBqmDV02ojLtnQF9k4ES8LWevhoIGbr9H1hK6dg1qSyNcr-T5NSNQRte1zhk27ae98UtH1gl2L72MlH8TBe3MMLtgFR4Qf_kMTqa7t57o0zIK4fgLObLoLQ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://www.dealwbig.top/products/dthgfgghfhfgjgjn</a>	Mizzy Online	22	https://facebook.com/61555921441914	LEARN_MORE	1710918000	View Edit Delete
1667782	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727738	1734958313	695	361684656586976		8.1286126393833E+14	1714114800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	892588401116730	0	Practice Anywhere	120204193096150376	accubow.com	Shop Now	NONE	carousel	Code:ACCU20	Limited Time!	https://accubow.com/		1705091021	8.9258840111673E+14	Practice Anywhere	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/419133673_310227124771438_972601204068737509_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Wgb2L5UgFkQQ7kNvgE4yzGx&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfA-EY_ZJGem1Y2UXFNn-bQtfJ1HxCZSmBVR17t7tKTP8g&oe=663A7BA3	person_profile	0	Practice anywhere	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/419119670_317631567934896_2992698053173032227_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ej_db64tn1IQ7kNvgG42NLd&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfA7cg7SEZcRGe2yhPcrCeZEY39sAAkMS9bdhjFhecdjlw&oe=663A7686	0	3	Limited Time!	Practice Anywhere	9807	https://facebook.com/practiceanywherenow	SHOP_NOW	1705132800	View Edit Delete
1667586	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727728	1734958313	695	3675799905966864		4.2983514283568E+14	1711090800	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	248588431673618	0	Milton Caprisa	120208576158080248	msnddxm.shop	Shop now	NONE	video			http://msnddxm.shop/		1710857316	2.4858843167362E+14	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431483769_1510810329482993_7874851508335088205_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KewEmV9q5bgQ7kNvgErH5Oa&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCIZfCQsdxMVhkEGNCxD7PvltbuJ4-jYj_i8-hlv8g2Cw&oe=663A6709	person_profile	0	Milton Caprisa	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431588055_877677194112368_6039286581553767856_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Q1uccq44aTIQ7kNvgF6HAJm&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfCHr_NZqjmCMoogFdwLlHXjVSu5XM57BhXWtxZFuKRsVQ&oe=663A81D0	0	3	🏹️The best hunting crossbow comes from generations of hard work developing the most cutting-edge technology to produce the fastest crossbow on the market.	Milton Caprisa	5	https://facebook.com/61557439433681	SHOP_NOW	1710831600	View Edit Delete
1667676	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727732	1734958313	695	724446923200860	5	3.9029571028666E+14	1711436400	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	2296094330467325	0	R2Games	120206427303380727	do.r2games.com	Learn more	NONE	image	Free RPG game. Play NOW	Dark Odyssey, an epic online rpg game that contains AUTOMATIC UPGRADING, endless CHALLENGES, massive BOSS FIGHTS, orc INVASIONS, and CHARACTER CUSTOMIZATION. Get ready to embark on a dark and thrilling journey, increase your power, team up with other players and save the world!	https://www.r2games.com/link.php?id=1011466		1710426064	2.2960943304673E+15	R2Games	https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432588189_1571481373675242_1205278681109741644_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5UFYsW5md0oQ7kNvgHKvyCW&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfAYtP_CXvAgU15pRN8aSaGjF9qn7E3-zOVWRMtjaTWzTA&oe=663A7988	person_profile	0			0	3	Welcome to the world of Dark Odyssey! ⚔⚔<br /> The world is full of danger, don't go alone<br /> 💥💥	R2Games	8685	https://facebook.com/R2GamesNew	LEARN_MORE	1710399600	View Edit Delete
1667790	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727738	1734958313	695	1770689156768765	1	3.3766546059219E+15	1714719600	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	747021958709347	0	Music City Archery	6535603657907	musiccityarchery.com	Learn More	NONE	carousel	For All Your Archery Needs		http://musiccityarchery.com/		1706307745	7.4702195870935E+14	Music City Archery	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422264410_752229343444243_7706606627779637779_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Epsl_DRZkiQQ7kNvgHuC70k&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDR3ytSmjZOxqNo9SE1nokp6y5jaDDVMbhoJ_0mGcLIow&oe=663A6947	person_profile	0	Music City Archery	https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422283653_1221340112157860_9010050063915198490_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ujXh3PxdE34Q7kNvgHNz6RL&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBEnMGLcnvh7O3JnzHaGDyB1RcGBKUUwVKagN8fxD8g8A&oe=663A8EB4	0	3		Music City Archery	2571	https://facebook.com/musiccityarchery	LEARN_MORE	1706256000	View Edit Delete
1667537	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727726	1734958314	695	1827024694437038		2.6564703992983E+14	1710918000	person_profile	taken-down	NONE	1	0	0	214429651760593	0	Cassey Edmonds World	120206525817050638	www.dealwbig.top	Learn more	NONE	video	A drop witnesses the rocket ascending – this is the best gift for yourself.🥰❤️		https://www.dealwbig.top/products/dthgfgghfhfgjgjn		1710937040	2.1442965176059E+14	Cassey Edmonds World	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433140565_2653927388120569_1081723073062882885_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Uijaoa8y434Q7kNvgE3Xirr&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfA08qh4qPBliM2rGBeMkWaIS7_RyCR7BjvaNqr2sVz7ig&oe=663A7AA2	person_profile	0	Cassey Edmonds World	https://scontent.ftpa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433203038_943305266965006_1094665794227091369_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=DwETbt1B2f0Q7kNvgFl5UzI&_nc_ht=scontent.ftpa1-1.fna&oh=00_AfCip40n-7CGc1hsBZuvy55jvZsrfmN5MZWrEKVo-_mD5w&oe=663A61C1	0	3	A drop witnesses the rocket ascending – this is the best gift for yourself.🥰❤️<br /> Click on the link below to receive your best gift for half price🥰❤️😍<br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dealwbig.top%2Fproducts%2Fdthgfgghfhfgjgjn&h=AT1zpXhrXPU7pfUBKCEi-o50jrrNAA4Keph3VkA-Jh0Y0HUoMknNh0FNWecCKhj6XMxkzTysXWkpZkd_BEjoFzKEK9xFWJFix0DDXDnHnFnzK-RR66bEed8Vb4sBG3yhsGiblZouxfvQr_kfarVGYg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://www.dealwbig.top/products/dthgfgghfhfgjgjn</a>	Cassey Edmonds World	4	https://facebook.com/61556118337565	LEARN_MORE	1710918000	View Edit Delete
1666718	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727704	1734958314	695	737662351853563	2	1.1322155613115E+15	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	0	1	0	722595004512096	0	TLO Outdoors	120208088153070711	tlooutdoors.com	Shop now	NONE	image	TLO Outdoors Paracord Rifle Slings for Guns, Shotguns, and Crossbows	Our best selling 2-point paracord rifle slings are the perfect gun strap for your rifle, shotgun, crossbow, AR15, and guns. The 2 point sling is made of strong, reliable 550-rated paracord and an adjustable nylon strap. The sling ship with your choice of quality traditional swivels or QD quick detac...	https://tlooutdoors.com/products/paracord-rifle-crossbow-slings		1714405043	7.225950045121E+14	TLO Outdoors	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440576442_824735422803367_8672341425590613664_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=i6ByjLoK7osQ7kNvgFfE9jN&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAXnUY8WDPoKZjEhgQ3_BsyU6-kLQUDNk2BnNgXesSZkg&oe=663A8A33	person_profile	0	TLO Outdoors	https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438841749_413550058288784_5751849439384518615_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=zWjBW8QsZqkQ7kNvgFgEuAU&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCaQ6QR985hmjUYVQZQDDU1C4QJRmCr2ZAsCq0xqH22Ug&oe=663A7EB0	0	3	TLO Outdoors Adjustable 2-Point Paracord Tactical Gun Sling 👏<br /> 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 5 star review: <br /> <br /> Best Quality Paracord Sling on the market yet a third the price !!<br /> <br /> We have several paracord slings on a variety of rifles and I feel that the TLO is by far the best quality of the three brands that we currently use and it's a third the price of another name brand. My advise, do not bother with shopping around just purchase the TLO. Great swivels, solid braiding and good looks.<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftlooutdoors.com%2Fproducts%2Fparacord-rifle-crossbow-slings&h=AT0HhBlRqO_zDoF4n_4FUxa2X7SQmm5h1GXsIowhWeBjr0I-xJmq81hMbh4hk_IFSAL6teMgXTpZt7zZRV0Qj9agTcZDcVgN2kBSQKvJ2W5awNOfyXItbZ1fsgpcU0EEu1K85rq52mr3YjEEWqMc8UBurT5mIXuucQAcRg" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://tlooutdoors.com/products/paracord-rifle-crossbow-slings</a>	TLO Outdoors	42986	https://facebook.com/TLOOutdoors	SHOP_NOW	1714374000	View Edit Delete
1666985	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727712	1734958313	695	973972640342932	1	1.6504130657881E+15	1713769200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	0	0	1242051515818167	0	Steambow	120209010226110699	steambow.at	Learn more	NONE	video			https://steambow.at/en		1713111099	1.2420515158182E+15	Steambow	https://scontent-mia3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435885200_434826069088605_1672702391766715703_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oGPReA3SHt4Q7kNvgFwppFv&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-2.xx&oh=00_AfA2QOFlJbAaKRctAVexPk-lIJbid0a8fh_lP-7497CYGQ&oe=663A7009	person_profile	0	Steambow GmbH	https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435700083_345780984658049_3726018600163561903_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=P2Nv9rwcsGwQ7kNvgGvJcOf&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCgiAjWSCyPqzp7QWxMND9y-g13oBMymx0noWSB_V5STw&oe=663A8317	0	3	Steambow - Premium Archery Equipment<br /> FENRIS - Compoundbow with magazine<br /> AR-6 Tactical, Compact - Crossbow with magazine<br /> and much more...<br /> <br /> See more on our website:<br /> <br /> 🇬🇧 <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fsteambow.at%2Fen&h=AT0zjU1rBNJXeRY98pd20i2LGvUISHsj3ZXesNLjjOFLkI6psa5FDvEn1aswcNjuMp3NohyQTSB4nRF56ukrxYln62uPXrjZdhevTzG6bruXdMNEkdiJ1NLQOQHcSUahAPsvk2R6RbXJx9Lumd2-gofoVIyt3WfTRt8kKgM6aDs" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="origin">https://steambow.at/en</a><br /> 🇩🇪 <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fsteambow.at%2F&h=AT1FZGSSwIZufaMg0_aaEE9Kw7w7sHkit0KRylsSeSRbxbFr_vpnTt2ABsvIisdpI3hxlzIzQ_462OUSU9HT0UXC48in4MlwNY4kVWAT5wdioQnhWj2nZ8lgpWh3qBO72FFMKUmcWR3IJs_oho0_0RRlZ-K3YlDvubokB7axhPM" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="origin">https://steambow.at/</a><br /> 🇫🇷 <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fsteambow.at%2Ffr&h=AT0umUD1abdOutVgL1egH5ZC8Fu2wbLVjMzCa1-gZry3fvnTPp5f35yT-g854scm4dHSVjenwqXMGP4IZyUnHsOCBNPEJ_QS8mz8PALjI_vzvol-S63n5E6I6D46J-_cligKBuqx9YURkX8_44y18eEFzjR7mQLFv48nMNyQV0M" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="origin">https://steambow.at/fr</a><br /> 🇮🇹 <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fsteambow.at%2Fit&h=AT20NhsV0ll82UicU0QOaXOtE6ZrN4eC2MPIJH-00iue41sdzwZU-qDMWgJytjdzbeOyAWvI7TXlzrlw-wYu0dr3sHbSDj2DXvCfZSRNHhfD3aME7APoxd4X07ROpIRplyPB8qIMHedSQq24wBnoe_H5O40XHEJwMEhte2W-WwU" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="origin">https://steambow.at/it</a><br /> 🇺🇸 🇨🇦 <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fsteambow.com%2F&h=AT0X3RthCzru_qaDoxXFn5GrelGTE6J_0n6EOg37qjJLU4k2ExXomhZVcL9uujCBIOKiBvK0sr8crNjoWiiqavJDsOXc_Ve2N-1g6K49d20g4jU_Q3ZEBkZrVaGzjOPXowZCdCE5NJztiG0qxVDyv91eRkF0dJYIFgbOCvDoPAM" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="origin">https://steambow.com/</a><br /> <br /> #steambow #steambowusa #steambowpower #steambowfenris #steambowstinger #steambowtactical #steambowcompact #premiumarcheryequipment #archery #archerypractice #archerylifestyle #archerylife #archeryseason #archerygirl #bogensport #bogensportextrem #tiralarc #crossbow #xbow #arbalete #whatgetsyououtdoors #whatgetsyououtside #sportsequipment #sportsgear #outdoorgear #targetpractice #balestra #compoundbow #compoundbowshooting #bogenschießen	Steambow	1172	https://facebook.com/Steambow	LEARN_MORE	1713078000	View Edit Delete
1666764	1	active	5/3/24, 4:15 AM	12/23/24, 6:51 AM	1714727706	1734958313	695	7405978872842698	1	3.751346588148E+14	1714633200	person_profile	eligible	NONE	1	1	0	228845534391387	0	7 Sided Die	120209238907750045	www.youtube.com	Sign up	NONE	video	D&D Stream - 7SD Carpathian Adventure Episode 117: "That sounds like... a dragon...."		https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeT_cRiddQgjRL7PWSHqx2g?sub_confirmation=1		1714108119	2.2884553439139E+14	7 Sided Die	https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440238929_359895827097358_7837368262650412387_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=F7meLWg1BWcQ7kNvgEKyL9a&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfCpViQss77Py91yGlKKhza0oog7kr5d0vREWAOmxUD1Sw&oe=663A7143	person_profile	0			0	3	D&D Stream - 7SD Carpathian Adventure Episode 117: "That sounds like... a dragon...."<br /> <br /> D&D Live Stream<br /> <br /> Thank you for checking out 7 Sided Die (7SD)!<br /> <br /> This is one of our live streamed games!<br /> <br /> We're a group of gamers. Some of us are military, some are in construction, IT, others retail managers, a few are parents, and still others are students, etc. So, we're just everyday people who stream live strictly for fun! We hope you enjoy our stream nonetheless!<br /> <br /> We stream our some of games on YouTube at <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fc%2F7SidedDie&h=AT015JG2xl-zfaNunrGWZzNRuzCHP1qa5wxtt4qFhj7wrPBumssJFOMyA2JamlMZVcea3IZFlIrrklLUXU8ETNFNm57HOMbfActjzpJ6GNOVeuQW8rENvWe_LLoqwDJsN4KMsaoA6IBo1GtP-wTalGDRn0SolOT40315QA" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://www.youtube.com/c/7SidedDie</a>, on our Twitch channel at <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.twitch.tv%2F7SidedDie&h=AT2MUc1jcRxzm12d78oWTni8A9zYxFTLPypOtqiJE8Pur_g9VqOLSy_1hPrKvYZeTtpxofVZaHNdnPCRLfnzvDELKDpSsm_ycDyJ6VWeX_1H00GFUrKpazW3cZ6G0NDtjdugvseqkvDcZf66vwsm4PTc2AtpA97Uk4BBwg" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://www.twitch.tv/7SidedDie</a>, on our Facebook page at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/7-Sided-Die-228845534391387/" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com/7-Sided-Die-228845534391387/</a> on Twitter at <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2F7_sided_Die&h=AT1pH1Eis7ZN0pB5tHli_EeCbmcCKkdwnea5aDcqa6a7m-hIQewaZpxteV1RrCKmh4bVX3OMJFY7OW-hnSwZ3e-6eUwpW9ZoEJfIt4zw0yX4ciLwHs95ZVN7izcHiVMVpXDHL7qfMofXyCt1L_wqVDTHi0hyhx0_4aQSKw" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://twitter.com/7_sided_Die</a>, on our KICK page at <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fkick.com%2F7-sided-die&h=AT2LFJOwFCJkDVWmnPSH1hvzGIVqBdZl2OOqqR7ZXdddkWzsEcsEhFHCo4wCkTIV9s6fW21so0ydVP9j2jlOa5KPNl5YfbaJHJsRzH497P5FvNVURqe18qCJStNgUQmhYQ8CtL5grfW_FPia0bPtpVWa9wCo4frRB2aq2g" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://kick.com/7-sided-die</a> and occasionally on our Trovo page at <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftrovo.live%2Fs%2F7SidedDie%2F224125104&h=AT0wYB5X6IYLhwIt7CbgVsLhuvW-sjMDBaVzN2vj8cJittlGLr-eFGG0IgicXFXW_9JeLRAmssbHXiiBAxFBLU0pR-_imL73MlnSOa7ZNEgcrUqcd4C9E3Y1n9c9dNSTD6EyrRjF92PkjBt9V08-WwuutJd4xlw_norA1Q" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://trovo.live/s/7SidedDie/224125104</a>. Our streams are archived indefinitely on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and as permitted by the level (Streamer, Affiliate, Partner, etc.) on Twitch, Kick and Trovo.<br /> <br /> Again, thank you for checking us out, and "Roll a 7 sided die!"<br /> <br /> '7 Sided Die is unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy. Wizards of the Coast's Fan Content Policy is located here: <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fcompany.wizards.com%2Fen%2Flegal%2Ffancontentpolicy&h=AT3cpk8LmDSth5eCZmtjt_4E0rhmLhS_6MZByvrKjiGusvhG7d8PZjxfQ80gPaHB7cKippNHh2PDSnZzLC2vI-3tWo2duA6ySaJhMLHvGGTnS62rzW8exN6hopc1pHFBiR9fj3-Bo488Z1UHvUMfl39ASALTMaZw_XltkA" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://company.wizards.com/en/legal/fancontentpolicy</a>. Neither 7 Sided Die, the Carpathian Adventure nor any of 7 Sided Die's streams and videos are approved or endorsed by Wizards or Wizards of the Coast. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC.<br /> <br /> Some background music courtesy Syrinscape. ©Syrinscape. (Some) "Music and Sound by Syrinscape. "Syrinscape under the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0. 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