Chapter 1

Valerie Collins lay on a hospital bed surrounded by medical equipment, listening in on a man and a woman conversing.

"The eldest daughter of the Woodward family sure drew the short straw. She just arrived from the countryside to live with her family, and her father's already putting her in surgery for her kidney. It's a real shame for such a beauty," remarked a man.

"Keep your voice down," a woman warned. "She doesn't know that one of her kidneys is about to be taken."

The man scoffed. "What are you so worried about? She's been given enough anesthesia to sleep through the operation. Are the match results out?"

"Yeah, they are. It's a good match. Mr. Woodward's condition has worsened, and he can't wait any longer. Let's schedule the surgery for 7:00 pm tonight," she responded.

The man lifted Valerie's T-shirt and traced circles on her waist. "It almost feels like a crime to cut into skin this smooth and fair."

He was about to take things further when Valerie's eyes flew open, hard with murderous intent.

The woman gasped. "She's awake! Quick, give her the injection!"

The man lunged for the anesthetic and was about to approach Valerie, but she slapped him. "How dare you lay your filthy hands on my body?"

The syringe clattered on the floor.

Valerie didn't give him time to recover. In a heartbeat, she closed in on him and drove her leg straight into his chest, sending him crashing into the wall and coughing up a mouthful of blood.

The woman panicked and dashed for the door. However, before she could touch the knob, a slender silver needle pierced the back of her neck, and her whole body went numb.

When she spun around, she saw Valerie twirling a uniquely designed pen between her fingers. It was the very device that had launched the needle.

"What did you…" Those were the only words she managed before collapsing to the ground.

The man trembled uncontrollably. "D-don't come any closer! W-We were just following orders!"

Valerie sneered. "Harvesting someone's kidney without consent? It seems your career ends here, Doc."

Before he could beg for mercy, she plunged the syringe that was meant for her back into his arm. Looking at their limp bodies, she dusted off her clothes.

Valerie took a white lab coat from the hanger and slipped it on. After pulling on a mask and closing the door, she left the scene without drawing anyone's attention.

Those two fools thought they could drug her while drawing her blood for a DNA test, but she'd anticipated their every move.

A few days ago, a man claiming to be her father had suddenly appeared, claiming she was his long-lost daughter. The man, Skyler Woodward, was a well-known figure in Windmere's restaurant industry.

When he learned that she had suffered in the countryside with his ex-wife, he said he sincerely wanted to make up for all the years he had failed her. He had one condition, though. He needed Valerie to visit this private hospital for a paternity test.

Valerie hadn't expected anything from her newfound family. She merely wondered if Skyler had deliberately sought her out with an ulterior motive. Hence, she played along and put on a little act for them.

As she expected, it was no simple reunion. Skyler hadn't come to make it up to her, and he only wanted her kidney to save the precious heir his second wife had given him.

Valerie lived by one rule. She never went looking for trouble, but if anyone dared to cross her, she'd make them pay dearly. Since the Woodwards wanted to harvest her kidney, she would return the favor with a gift they would never forget.

…

Meanwhile, a signing ceremony was underway at The Glasshouse's rooftop restaurant.

With a legacy spanning over a century, the White family reigned supreme in Windmere. Lucius White, the young head of the family, was already a legend, known as the White family's seventh scion.

The one fortunate enough to sign a contract with the White family was Sonia Woodward, a genius born into privilege and hailed as a rising star in the world of hackers. The cybersecurity system she designed had recently won an award and caused her name to be on everyone's lips in Windmere.

Recognizing her potential, Lucius signed her on before she graduated.

Aside from Lucius' personal bodyguard and assistant, Sonia's parents were also present at the signing ceremony.

"My daughter will be in your care from now on, Mr. White," said Skyler, Sonia's father.

At last, he had forged ties with the illustrious White family. He was so overjoyed that he even forgot about his son, who was in the hospital and waiting for a kidney transplant.

Sonia's mother, Marnie Whitmore, had once been the brightest star in showbiz. With a bright smile, she praised her daughter. "With Sonia's security system now in place at The Glasshouse, you will have nothing to worry about in the future, Mr. White."

Lucius stayed courteous in the face of the Woodwards' enthusiasm. "You're too kind."

Sonia stole glances at Lucius, who was seated across from her. The man was so unreasonably handsome, and the noble air about him was on a completely different level from the other heirs she had met. Her heart was set on one thing—becoming the lady of the White family.

As laughter and wine flowed, the lights suddenly flickered.

"What's going on?" Marnie asked, startled.

In an instant, more than a dozen bodyguards sprang out from all directions, forming an impenetrable fortress around Lucius. Everything unfolded so abruptly that the Woodwards were caught flat-footed.

Then there was a loud bang, and the million-dollar chandelier on the ceiling shattered. The blast set off the fire alarm and sprinklers.

In one swift motion, a bodyguard popped open a black umbrella, shielding Lucius from the downpour. Lucius remained seated in his chair, looking as imperious and unshaken as a king on his throne.

Marnie shrieked, "Is there a fire?"

"Calm down, Mom. Don't forget whose ground we're standing on." Sonia comforted her.

The Glasshouse belonged to the White family. It had very recently gone live with the security system Sonia designed. Yet, this happened before it had run a full day.

Soon, a bodyguard disabled the alarm, and the sprinklers dwindled dry. The bodyguard shielding Lucius backed away with deference.

Just then, the doors swung open, and Valerie walked in unbidden, wearing a black baseball cap. Slender and statuesque, she couldn't hide her natural beauty even with half her face hidden.

When Lucius got a good look at her face, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes. It was her.

Noticing his bodyguards about to attack the intruder, Lucius silently stopped them, signaling them to stay put and watch. He wanted to see what this woman was up to.

Valerie glanced at him and carried on as though he didn't exist.

Skyler returned to his senses and demanded, "What are you doing here, Valerie?"

Shouldn't she be at the private hospital for a kidney-matching test at this hour?

Valerie tossed him a test report. "You promised me half of your assets if I proved that I was your daughter. Here's the DNA report. Are you going to honor it now?"

Chapter 2

Marnie ripped the DNA report in half. "Do you seriously think you can walk off with our fortune with a forged document? Dream on!"

Valerie smiled. "I've made plenty of copies of that report."

Skyler frowned. "What exactly do you want?"

He didn't let anything show, but his mind was in shambles. How on earth had this little brat gotten here? Had the doctors slipped up?

Valerie noticed the panic in his eyes, but she didn't speak a word about the hospital.

"The Woodwards made it big in the restaurant industry thanks to the recipes my mom left behind before the divorce. She never claimed her share because the betrayal in her marriage broke her spirit.

"As her daughter, I won't let her swallow that injustice. The Woodwards' net worth is around four billion dollars. I won't ask for much—just transfer two billion dollars to my account within three days."

Her words riled Sonia up so much that she forgot to maintain her composure. "Don't push your luck, Valerie! My dad only helped you out of pity for the rough life you had in the sticks. If it weren't for that, you wouldn't even have the right to step foot in our home!"

Valerie glanced at Sonia. "And you are?"

Sonia straightened up, puffing out her chest. "I'm the rightful heiress of the Woodward family."

Valerie acted as if it had just clicked in her mind. "So, you're the clown who made yourself out to be a prodigy with just one award-winning security system!"

Rage blazed in Sonia's eyes. "Who are you calling a clown?"

Valerie jerked her chin at the mess inside the conference hall. "A real genius would never reduce herself to a laughingstock in public."

Enraged by Valerie's attitude, Sonia raised her hand and swung at the former. Valerie tilted her head and slapped Sonia back hard.

The sharp crack snapped everyone out of their daze.

Clutching her cheek, Sonia seethed. "How dare you hit me?"

Valerie massaged her stinging palm. "You started it."

Marnie exploded when Sonia was struck. "How dare you lay a hand on my daughter, you bastard child?"

The words "bastard child" struck a nerve in Valerie. She picked up a glass of red wine from the table and hurled it straight at Marnie's face. "If my mom hadn't given up her place for a shameless homewrecker like you, the twins you had from seducing a married man would be the real bastard children!"

The red wine wiped the elegance right off Marnie's well-kept face.

Valerie was no pushover. Since the Woodwards had dared to scheme against her, they had to face the consequences.

With Marnie and Sonia attacked, Skyler lost his cool. "How dare you hurt others in public, Valerie? Have you no regard for the law?"

"The law? What law—spell it out for me!" Valerie sneered.

Wiping the wine off her face, Marnie seethed. "If you dare make a scene in Mr. White's territory, the only fate awaiting you is death!"

Valerie glanced at Lucius. "Is that true?"

He responded calmly, "You're welcome to find out."

Valerie spotted a decorative baseball bat in the corner, weighing it in her hands. With swift, fluid movements, she smashed every piece of decor in the room under everyone's stunned gaze.

In the blink of an eye, the elegant private room became a complete wreck.

With the room in ruins, Valerie declared, "Well, let's see!"

Lucius, who had been watching the drama unfold, was rendered speechless. So were the bodyguards and assistants surrounding him.

The Woodwards were also flabbergasted. The Glasshouse was Lucius' property. Raising hell here was pure suicide.

Even with his limits and dignity challenged in public, Lucius remained unruffled. He merely watched Valerie's rampage with a hint of amusement.

Five minutes later, the cops arrived as expected. "We received a report that someone was damaging property and making a scene in public."

Lucius narrowed his eyes and frowned slightly. Who had called the cops?

Sonia, still clutching her swollen cheek, didn't notice the change in his expression. Pointing straight at Valerie's nose, she declared, "I made the call! She's the one who started the fight and trashed the place."

Marnie, who was still fuming, chimed in, "That's right! She drenched me with wine, too. Hurry up! Arrest her and lock her up!"

The moment the cops spotted Valerie gripping a baseball bat with a menacing look on her face, they immediately zeroed in on her. "Miss, drop your weapon and come with us."

Valerie tossed the bat aside before beaming at Skyler. "Since you have been so good to me, I'll be sure to return the favor with blood."

As the officers led her away, Lucius noticed the mischievous glint in her eyes.

Skyler's heart sank. How would his son ever get the kidney he needed if Valerie were taken into custody?

Skyler looked at Lucius with pleading eyes. "Mr. White, I'm sorry for what happened tonight. Valerie may have done terrible things, but she's still my daughter. Please, for my sake, spare her this once."

Marnie's eyes widened in disbelief. "How could you plead her case, darling?"

"Exactly, Dad! Valerie crossed Mr. White in public. She deserves to rot in jail!" Sonia chimed in.

Skyler slapped Sonia across the face. "Zip it, both of you!"

Marnie and Sonia were stunned into silence by his sudden outburst.

Skyler plastered a smile on his face and turned to Lucius once again. "Mr. White, as long as you drop the matter, I'll cover all the hotel's damages at full price—no, double the price!"

Lucius flashed him a meaningful smile. "You've raised quite a daughter, Mr. Woodward." With that cryptic remark, he left with his entourage.

The Woodwards exchanged confused looks, unsure of what Lucius really meant.

Clutching her cheek, Sonia demanded, "Why'd you slap me, Dad?"

Marnie fumed. "Is that bastard child more important than us, darling?"

Skyler exploded, "Look at the mess you've created! Have you forgotten that Jay is still in the hospital, waiting for Valerie's kidney?"

The blood drained from Marnie's face when she heard that. In an instant, she understood what Valerie had meant when the police hauled her away.

Blood for blood… Was Valerie referring to her precious son's life?

"That bitch! What a cruel, calculated move!" Marnie cursed, terrified.

…

Meanwhile, Valerie, who was being cursed, sat in the interrogation room with her legs crossed, looking calm and composed.

The officer taking her statement rapped the table. "Knock it off! What you pulled is enough to land you behind bars."

Valerie flashed him an easy smile. "Someone will bail me out."

"You racked up over a million dollars in damages. Unless the hotel owner drops the charges, you'll end up paying until you're penniless," said the officer.

Before he could continue, his colleague stepped in and whispered a few words into his ear.

The officer's jaw dropped. "He came in person?"

Chapter 3

Valerie had barely been at the station for an hour when Lucius personally showed up to bail her out.

"Mr. White, are you sure you want to settle this privately with the instigator?" asked the officer on duty.

Lucius glanced at Valerie, who was unscathed, and answered curtly, "Yes."

The officer hesitated. "The initial estimate of your hotel's losses is over a million dollars…"

Valerie twirled a pen between her fingers. "Send the bill to my husband."

Lucius' brow twitched ever so slightly, and something unreadable flickered in his eyes as he regarded Valerie.

After completing the bail formalities, the couple stepped into the elevator, one after the other.

Lucius cornered Valerie. "Who's going to clean up the mess you made?"

At six-foot-two, he closed the distance between them in a heartbeat, his presence weighing down on her. Not only was this man ridiculously handsome, but he also gave off a dangerous air.

Valerie remained perfectly calm. "My husband, of course."

He arched his brow. "And where is he?"

Her voice carried an amorous tone. "Isn't he standing right in front of me?"

Lucius let out a short, incredulous chuckle at her matter-of-fact tone. "What makes you think I'd pay for your wrongdoings?"

Valerie smirked. "Didn't you come over in person to help me clean up my mess?"

When the elevator doors slid open, she brushed past his shoulder and walked out.

He fell into step beside her. "Were you that sure I'd come?"

"Of course," she responded without a moment's hesitation.

"And why were you so sure?"

"Well, we're in the same boat, after all."

Lucius replied, "Not for long."

Just then, a sleek black SUV rolled to a stop in front of them.

Keane Harris got out of the driver's seat and respectfully opened the door for Lucius. "Mr. White."

Lucius didn't take his eyes off of Valerie. "Let's talk about the divorce, shall we?"

"I'm game anytime," she responded.

He ordered, "Get in."

Valerie took one look at the SUV's make and logo, a flicker of murderous intent flashing through her eyes before she hastily masked it. "Cars make me sick. Pick a place, and I'll meet you there."

"I don't like to be kept waiting."

"If I'm even a second late, I'll concede."

"The Golden Chalice, Room 1908."

As soon as his words fell, Valerie stopped a skateboarder who was passing by. She whispered something in his ear and pulled out a few bills. The young man accepted it and surrendered his stylish skateboard.

Valerie hopped onto the skateboard with effortless flair before waving to where Lucius stood beside the SUV. "See you later."

Lucius and Keane gaped as she vanished down the street on her board.

…

Skyler was unaware that Valerie had already been released.

Jay's life was hanging by a thread, and only Valerie's kidney could save him. Yet, at such a critical moment, she had gone and wrecked Lucius' hotel. Even if he wanted to pay ten times the damages, he wouldn't dare say a word if Lucius refused to let her go.

Sure enough, as soon as he walked out of the hotel with Marnie and Sonia, a call came from the hospital.

A whistleblower had tipped off the authorities. Several doctors at a private hospital were harvesting organs for profit from healthy people and transplanting them without their consent. The victims' families gathered at the hospital to demand justice, sparking a massive public outcry.

With solid evidence and witnesses, the cops arrested everyone involved for investigation, including the two surgeons scheduled to operate on Jay.

As the grim news sank in, Skyler's legs gave out, and he collapsed to the ground. Valerie was behind bars, and the surgeons had been arrested. Who could save his beloved son now?

…

By the time Lucius' black SUV pulled up at The Golden Chalice, Valerie was already waiting at the entrance with her skateboard in her arms. Room 1908 was Lucius' private suite. He sat on the left side of the negotiation table, a calm look on his face as he savored his red wine.

Three days ago, he had learned that he was married. His father, Melvin White, had recently passed away. After the funeral, Lucius began taking over the family business.

While signing the business transfer documents, the lawyer handed him a brown envelope containing two marriage certificates. The lawyer explained that his father had chosen a wife for him before he died.

Without his knowledge or consent, Melvin had arranged everything so thoroughly that Lucius and a woman named Valerie Collins had already been legally married for a year.

Valerie twirled a pen on the right side of the table, her feelings just as tangled as Lucius'.

Three days ago, Lucius had shown up at her door with those two marriage certificates. When he asked why her name was on the spouse column, she was even more dumbstruck than he was. If he hadn't come looking for her, she would never have known she'd been married off a year ago.

Lucius' gaze lingered on the pen twirling between her fingers. The pen spun in a bright, mesmerizing blur, its unique design unlike anything sold on the market.

After admiring it for a moment, Lucius shot Keane a subtle look. "Bring it out."

Keane retrieved a document from his briefcase and set it in front of Valerie. "Ms. Collins, this is your divorce agreement with Mr. White. Read it over—if everything looks good, you can sign it."

Valerie accepted the papers and casually flipped through them. In short, she was to keep their marriage a secret under all circumstances.

Halfway through, one clause caught her eye. "You're compensating me financially for the divorce?"

Keane handed her a blank check.

Lucius swirled the wine in his glass. "I asked my lawyer. This marriage happened because my father owed your adoptive father a favor. Since it's a favor we owe you, I won't be stingy with the compensation."

He tilted his chin toward the blank check. "Write whatever amount you want."

Valerie inquired, "Is there a limit?"

"As long as you agree to the terms, the amount you name will be delivered in full."

"In that case, I won't hold back!"

The pen in her hand turned into a fountain pen as she filled the figure line with a long string of nines, right in front of Lucius and Keane. Realizing she might never stop, Keane couldn't help but clear his throat, signalling her to quit it.

Valerie shot them an amused look. "Am I asking for too much?"

Lucius remained perfectly calm. "I can always make more money. All that matters is that you're happy."

Valerie broke into a smile. "You're quite an interesting man."

With three graceful spins, a small flame bloomed at the pen's tip, reducing the check to ashes. After blowing out the flame, the pen turned back to its original state, and she swiftly signed her name on the divorce agreement in bold, sweeping strokes. Her writing was as beautiful as a piece of art—just like her.

Just then, her phone she had left on the table, buzzed. Ignoring the message, she slid the signed divorce agreement toward Lucius. "We may not be meant to be, but that's no reason to turn against each other. From here on, our paths will divide. Don't worry, I'll keep our marriage a secret."

Valerie picked up her phone, rose to her feet, and put on her mask. "I have something to attend to, so I'll take my leave now."

Lucius watched her retreating figure. "See you at the courthouse tomorrow afternoon."

Without so much as a glance over her shoulder, she waved to show that she'd heard him.

Chapter 4

Keane finally found his voice after Valerie left Room 1908. "Mr. White, did you and Ms. Collins really just sign the divorce agreement?"

Lucius took a sip of his red wine. "Give me everything you have on Valerie."

Keane reported, "Ms. Collins is the daughter of Skyler Woodward and his ex-wife, Lilith Collins. Back then, the Woodwards were fairly well-off. Lilith, on the other hand, was raised in an orphanage without ever knowing her parents.

"In their third year of marriage, Skyler's current wife, Marnie Whitmore, became pregnant with twins and used that as leverage to take Lilith's place. Unable to accept her husband's betrayal, Lilith left with their two-year-old daughter.

"Records show that Ms. Collins' mother went missing more than a decade ago. She was brought up by her adoptive father in a remote northern town."

Lucius' brows knitted. "Her mother went missing?"

"Yep. She went missing, not dead. Hence, Ms. Collins became an orphan."

Keane's tone shifted when he talked about the Woodwards' relationship with Valerie. "Not long ago, Skyler sought her out, saying he wanted to make up for lost time and even offered her a share of their family assets if she came home.

"In truth, the Woodwards wanted her back because of Sonia's twin brother, Jay."

Keane's eyes darkened with disgust when he mentioned Jay.

Jay was a spoiled scion who ran over people with his car, picked fights, and teamed up with thugs to pick on his schoolmates. He even drove a girl to suicide, and the autopsy revealed that she had been pregnant.

Perhaps even the heavens had had enough of him, because Jay became gravely ill and needed a kidney transplant to live.

It was no wonder Skyler acted out of character and pleaded Valerie's case when she was taken. In hindsight, his plea wasn't out of kindness. He merely wanted to force Valerie to give his wayward son her kidney.

"Since Ms. Collins' case is closed, should we inform the Woodward family?" Keane inquired.

Lucius snorted. "I'm only interested in Sonia's ability. Whether her family lives or dies has nothing to do with me. Valerie's young, but she's quick-witted and a master of schemes, both in plain sight and behind the scenes."

Keane kept a straight face, but deep down, he gave Valerie a silent thumbs-up. Not only had she humbled the Woodwards, but she had also used Lucius' reputation to tuck herself safely in a cell and deliberately miss the surgery. Even if Jay couldn't make it, none of it would have anything to do with her.

After stirring up all that trouble, she knew that Lucius would bail her out, knowing he'd worry she wouldn't obediently sign the divorce agreement. Every move she made was calculated to perfection, leaving nothing anyone could pick apart.

Everyone hailed Sonia as a genius, but Keane thought Valerie, the young woman from the countryside, was even sharper when it came to strategy.

"How skilled is Sonia in hacking?" Lucius asked out of the blue.

Keane answered truthfully, "She's one of the best in the country."

"Who's better, her or Zero?"

Without the slightest hesitation, Keane responded, "Zero's the very best of the hacking world. If they weren't so mysterious and impossible to pin down, you wouldn't have needed to partner with Ms. Woodward, Mr. White."

Lucius glanced at him. "It's a pity her award-winning program was breached in seconds."

Keane was rendered speechless.

…

Valerie pushed open the door to Absolute Zero and was met with a burst of pounding music that made her frown.

Just then, someone reached out from behind her. However, before it could touch her shoulder, she caught their arm and flipped them over.

"It's me, Val!" the person hurriedly said.

Valerie turned around and came face-to-face with a strikingly handsome young man whose features were delicate and androgynous. He wore a light blue suit that somehow mixed elegance with roguish charm.

He massaged the arm she had pinched and grumbled, "For someone so young, you're pretty strong. I thought you were going to snap my arm."

Valerie didn't look the least bit guilty. "That's what you get for sneaking up on me, Everett. You should know my temper by now."

Everett Blackwell grinned. "Come on, I was just playing. Don't be so petty."

Right then, a good-looking young waiter walked over with a fruit platter. When he walked past Everette, he greeted him politely. "Mr. Blackwell."

However, his eyes kept drifting toward Valerie.

Absolute Zero was the hottest nightspot in Windmere.

The club was famous for hiring attractive staff. Even the owner, Everette, was devilishly handsome. Yet, in that glamorous crowd, he was still in a league of his own.

He waved the waiter away, signaling him to leave. The waiter reluctantly tore his gaze from Valerie's face and walked away with the fruit platter.

Everett slipped his arm around Valerie's shoulders and led her to his go-to seat. "What do you think of the place?"

"I thought you ran a law firm."

After murmuring a few words to the bartender, Everett looked back at Valerie with a smile. "The law firm's just my side hustle. This club is my real passion."

Valerie was at a loss for words.

Everett was a legend in the legal world. Everyone knew him—he'd never lost a case.

His law firm was flourishing, yet he shifted his focus to a raucous nightclub. What was he thinking?

Before long, the bartender brought over two drinks—a vivid blue cocktail and a cup of warm milk. Everett slid the milk toward Valerie and clinked his glass against it. "Come on. Have a drink with me."

Valerie wrinkled her nose. "You called me here just to drink milk with you?"

He snorted. "Don't you know why I called you here? How long have you been in Windmere?"

"A year."

"If I hadn't caught wind of your little run-in with the cops, would you have ever reached out to me?"

Everett had friends all over the world, but there were only a few he truly cared about. Valerie, who had once lived in a quiet northern town, was one of those few.

A year ago, she had vanished from his circle. He asked everyone he knew, but no one had any idea where she'd gone or if she was still alive.

That evening, he learned she was in Windmere and was caught up in a legal case. He went to bail her out as her lawyer, only for her to turn him down.

Valerie simply told him that someone else would get her out soon, and he didn't need to bother. She hadn't changed at all. She was still a woman whose words were as solid as her actions.

Valerie tilted her head back and downed the milk. "I ran into some trouble a year ago. I didn't want to drag my friends into it, so I went off the grid for a while."

"What kind of trouble?"

"Don't ask."

"What, am I not your friend now?"

"I'm not telling you precisely because you're my friend."

His expression darkened. "Do you know that everyone's been going crazy looking for you this past year?"

Valerie raised her gaze to meet his eyes. "Don't let anyone know that I'm here."

Everett was perplexed. "If you really wanted to stay under the radar, why did you let the Woodwards find you?" With her smarts, it should've been a piece of cake for her to stay out of the Woodwards' reach.

Chapter 5

A calculating smile played on Valerie's lips. "I had my reasons for luring them in." Before Everett could press for details, a sudden scream tore through the pounding music on the dance floor.

"I think someone just collapsed!" someone yelled.

The blaring music died mid-beat, and the revelers scrambled to the edges. A young woman crouched beside her unconscious partner, sobbing uncontrollably.

The nightclub staff hurriedly called for an ambulance.

Valerie slipped on her mask and walked toward the crowd. Dropping to her knees, she pressed two fingers against the patient's wrist.

His breathing was shallow, and his face was pale with a frightening purple hue. He might as well have been a dead man.

Still shaken, the young woman sobbed. "Wake up, Josh! Please don't scare me like this!"

"He's not dead, y'know?" Valerie snapped. "Stop crying!"

The young woman was so startled that she fell silent.

While checking his pulse, Valerie asked, "Does he have a heart condition?"

The young woman shook her head. "I… I don't know. He was having the time of his life on the dance floor. Then, he suddenly said that his chest felt tight.

"Before I could ask what was wrong, h-he collapsed."

Valerie didn't press further. She tore open the man's shirt, exposing his chest.

With a gentle flick of her pen, a set of fine silver needles dropped neatly into her palm. Under countless eyes, Valerie deftly drove the silver needles into the man's acupoints.

The noisy club fell so silent that one could hear a pin drop. Everyone watched, transfixed, wondering what this slender, masked woman was doing.

Everett followed Valerie over and ordered the crowd, "Back up and let the air through! When's the ambulance getting here, Shawn?"

Shawn hurriedly responded, "Five minutes at most!"

Needle after needle found its mark until the man on the floor jerked and coughed, spitting a mouthful of blood. Gasps rippled through the onlookers. He inhaled sharply, confusion clouding his face as he looked around.

Just then, the wail of an ambulance echoed from outside the club. In less than three seconds, Valerie pulled out every silver needle from his pressure points.

The medics rushed in, asking about the man's condition. Helped to his feet, the man touched his chest. "I felt like I couldn't breathe earlier, but it doesn't hurt as much anymore."

"That masked woman is obviously trained in medicine!" Someone gasped. "Hold on. Where is she?"

By the time it occurred to them to search for Valerie, she had vanished without a trace.

…

The following day marked the 49th day since Melvin White's passing. According to the White family's tradition, when a patriarch died, the new head of the family would lead everyone to the family's private cemetery for the memorial rites.

The burial ground housed generations of Whites. Nestled against the mountains and with excellent geomancy, it had been chosen as an ideal resting place by several renowned geomancy experts for the White family.

The entrance to the cemetery was lined with over a hundred black luxury cars.

Dressed in somber black, Lucius led the procession, flanked by his trusted aides, Keane and Silas Fairchild, and 20 black-clad bodyguards following close behind.

Behind the main procession stretched hundreds of White family members dressed in black, standing still and orderly as they waited for the service to begin.

At the pastor's clear call to prayer, Lucius sank to his knees in front of the tombstone to pay his respects. The moment his knees touched the ground, the hundreds behind him followed suit in one synchronized movement.

The memorial was simple and reverent—the scripture was read, prayers were lifted, hymns rose softly with the breeze, and candles and flowers were placed on the grave in loving remembrance.

Everything proceeded without a hitch. When the pastor declared the service complete, the ceremony ended, and soft candlelight and drifting incense smoke filled the cemetery with a gentle hush.

Lucius, tall and broad-shouldered, looked even more imposing in his black suit. Like a king, he let his gaze sweep over the gathering. "I'm sure you're all aware that my father died in a car accident. Though it seemed like a simple mishap, I refuse to believe that such a thing could befall the head of our family."

His deep voice rang through the entire cemetery. From a raised vantage point, he looked down at everyone there. "I swore on the day of his burial that I would find the one who killed him and bring them to justice before the memorial on the 49th day."

A ripple of shock ran through the crowd as they wondered who could have killed the former family head.

Lucius' sharp gaze swept over every one of their faces. "I'll give you a chance to turn yourself in. Confess, and I'll forgo our family's punishment and go easy on you!"

His words hung in the air, met by a heavy, eerie silence. No one dared admit to killing the patriarch.

When no one stepped forward, Lucius let out a mirthless chuckle. "That was your chance. You will not get another. If you let it slip, don't expect me to show you any mercy!"

He shot Silas a look, and the latter snapped his fingers in the direction not far away. Moments later, two burly bodyguards dragged forth a middle-aged man. One of them kicked the back of the man's knee, forcing him to kneel and fall face-first into the ground.

It didn't take long for people to recognize Rex Armstrong, Melvin's driver.

Rex crawled desperately toward Lucius. "I don't know a thing, Mr. White. I swear! Please, spare me!"

Before he could reach Lucius, Silas stepped on his back, pinning him to the ground.

Ignoring his desperate pleas, Lucius said coldly, "My father will not die in vain."

Pinned down and unable to move, Rex kept wailing and begging, his spit nearly splattering the photo on the tombstone.

"He's too noisy," Lucius remarked.

With one swift strike, Silas dislocated Rex's jaw. The man could only emit muffled cries.

The Whites who witnessed this scene all held their breath, not daring to make a sound.

Lucius pulled out a silk handkerchief and gently wiped Melvin's photo. "Since you don't know a thing, you shall accompany the master you once served to the grave."

As soon as his words fell, Keane pressed a remote control. With a deep rumble, a freshly dug pit appeared beside Melvin's massive tombstone. Rex shrieked in terror as Silas kicked him into the pit.

Lucius casually ordered, "Bury him alive. He failed to protect his master."

Panic-stricken, Rex thrashed and tried to explain himself. However, the dozen bodyguards gave him no chance. They grabbed their shovels and started filling the pit with dirt.

The Whites watched in horrified silence, their hearts pounding as if they might burst. It was no wonder Melvin had chosen Lucius as his heir—his presence and methods were even more terrifying than Melvin's.

Just then, someone in the crowd broke the silence. "It's illegal to bury someone alive!"

Lucius shot the man a cold, menacing look. "Louie, are you trying to teach me how to behave?"

The man was Lucius' second brother, Louie White. Louie blanched, hung his head, and didn't dare to utter another word.