"Dr. Ballard?" Whitney thought to herself. Her brow wrinkled, and she looked confused."I'm sorry, Mr. Tuffin. Could I ask for Dr. Ballard's full name?" she asked politely as she smiled in embarrassment. Howard frowned and looked Whitney up and down. He smiled and said, "It seems that you don't know who Dr. Ballard is, Ms. Sutton. That's fine. I have matters to attend to, so I'll bid farewell to you here."He turned to go upstairs.Mabel saw this and hurriedly stood out. She smiled and said, "Mr. Tuffin, we may know who Dr. Ballard is if you tell us his full name. As you know, Steinberg isn't very big, but it's not very small either.""There are many doctors with that name too. I'm not sure if the Dr. Ballard you're referring to is the one we know," she added. Howard turned when he heard this. He looked at Mabel with a smile playing on his lips and said, "Oh, it seems that you know someone called Dr. Ballard too?"Mabel thought for a moment and said, "Yes."Howard nodded and
Whitney stopped at the entrance and looked seriously at Mabel. She was just about to ask about what had happened when Mabel stumbled and almost fell.She was sweating and had gone as white as a sheet."What's wrong, Mabel?" Whitney asked nervously. Mabel breathed quickly and said, "I'm fine, Ms. Sutton. It's just nerves."Whitney hurriedly asked, "Mabel, how did you know Mr. Tuffin was entertaining Sebastian?"Howard was a tycoon in the Janover medicinal ingredients industry!Why would Sebastian be having dinner with such an important figure?Not only that, it was Howard who was entertaining Sebastian as a guest. It was something that Whitney could not understand.Did Sebastian have a side to him that she knew nothing about?At that moment, Whitney rather regretted divorcing Sebastian.Mabel replied, "Actually, Ms. Sutton, I was just guessing."Mabel was actually extremely anxious and nervous at that moment."You were just guessing?" Whitney was very surprised.Mabel nodd
Mabel rushed after her and yelled, "Ms. Sutton, Ms. Sutton, listen to me! Actually, we don't have to be in such a hurry about this."Even if it's a lie, Sebastian is the one lying to him. You're divorced! Why do you care so much?" Mabel stomped her foot in dismay when Whitney ignored her and kept going.At the same time, in the private room on the second floor, Howard had just taken his seat again. He smiled at Sebastian. "Dr. Ballard, guess who was the person downstairs who wanted to talk to me about collaborating?"Sebastian frowned slightly. Then he shook his head and laughed. "I don't know."Howard said quickly, "Your ex-wife, Ms. Sutton of Frostwave Corporation."Whitney?Sebastian was startled. He looked doubtfully at Howard and asked, "Whitney?""Yes." Howard laughed. "Dr. Ballard, I have to say that your ex-wife is really very beautiful and also very elegant. You have excellent taste."Sebastian's brow wrinkled. He looked distracted.Whitney wanted to discuss a colla
Sebastian's expression darkened, and he laughed to himself.However, Whitney continued cuttingly, "Sebastian, I don't have time to talk nonsense with you. If you're using your superstitious tricks to deceive Mr. Tuffin, I advise you to go and apologize to him right now and explain everything. I'll help you take care of the rest." She spoke forcefully and was very domineering. It seemed that Whitney already assumed that Sebastian was a conman. Sebastian snorted, and there was a note of sarcasm and exasperation in his voice. "Ms. Sutton, am I that terrible in your eyes? Do you think that everything I do is just a scam?" Sebastian spoke slowly, and his tone was ice-cold. Whitney's brow furrowed, and she said, "What are you trying to say?""I want to tell you that I'm not deceiving anybody. If you don't believe me, we can ask Mr. Tuffin right now!""Ask him right now?"Whitney was furious, and she said angrily, "Sebastian, how long are you going to keep up this act? Why can't you
Whitney returned to the research department of Frostwave Corporation. Theresa was dressed in a white lab coat, examining the formula for the Goldcrow pill. "How's it going, Theresa? Did you really manage to modify it?" Whitney asked as she rushed inside. Theresa looked at the formula on the table and compared the modified formula on her computer with the experimental result data. She turned and proudly handed the data to Whitney. "There, have a look!"Whitney took the data and glanced through it. The expression on her face changed from doubt to excitement and joy!"You really managed to improve it?" Whitney shouted in shock, excitement dancing in her eyes. Theresa shrugged, looking proud and triumphant as she said, "It's nothing."Whitney grabbed her excitedly and shouted, "Thank you so much, Theresa! You're my lucky star!"Theresa hugged her back. Then, she laughed slyly and asked, "Well, since I did you such a big favor, how are you planning to thank me?"Whitney immedia
"The doctor left Steinberg six months ago and began traveling around. We have no way of finding him," Mabel said earnestly. Upon hearing her explanation, Theresa didn't pursue the subject further.Whitney looked meaningfully at Mabel, gesturing for her to step outside.Once in the rest area, Whitney asked her in confusion, "Mabel, why did you lie?"Mabel said seriously, "Ms. Sutton, are you planning on telling Ms. Livington that Sebastian gave us the formula?""Why not? The formula does belong to him," Whitney said, frowning. Mabel explained, "Ms. Sutton, don't forget that Ms. Livington is a medicine expert who returned from abroad. She's fixated on certain things. If she knew that Sebastian gave us the formula, who do you think she'll help when the time comes?"Whitney's heart missed a beat. She was shocked by Mabel's words.Mabel pressed on, "If Ms. Livington switches sides, Frostwave Corporation will have to face two enemies!"Whitney's expression darkened. She frowned an
"Birthday party?" Sebastian frowned slightly and apologized. "Ms. Griffin, I have some personal affairs to attend to tonight. I don't think I'll be able to make it."Rosalie immediately pulled on his arm and pouted. "Dr. Ballard, can't you just spend a little bit of time with me?" she pleaded. "I want to introduce you to my friends! Also, I'm going to give you a very special gift at my party.""You want to give me a gift?" Sebastian was rather surprised. Wasn't this her birthday party? Why was she giving him a gift?Rosalie tightened her hold on his arm and said sweetly, "Dr. Ballard, please just spend my birthday with me once! Okay?"Sebastian had no choice but to nod and agree. With that, Rosalie pulled Sebastian happily and said, "Let's go! I'm going to buy you some clothes and get you styled.""Buy clothes? Get me styled?"Sebastian was a little shocked. He hurriedly shook his head and said, "Forget it. I think I'm fine the way I am right now.""No, tonight's my birthd
Fergus was immediately charmed and said, "Let's go in.""Alright," Whitney answered.The three of them walked into the hall.They had just entered when sharp-eyed Mabel spotted Sebastian and Rosalie sitting in the lounge in the distance. "Hey, Ms. Sutton, isn't that Sebastian? He's here too?" Mabel was displeased. Whitney turned to look. She immediately noticed Sebastian and Rosalie laughing and talking together, and her expression darkened at once. She hadn't expected to meet Sebastian there. Seeing him with that woman made her even more upset. What a scumbag!He had clearly said he had no feelings for Rosalie, but Whitney had caught him with her multiple times. Men were all liars!Fergus frowned when he saw them and said coldly, "Hmph! We see this guy everywhere. Doesn't he know what kind of event this is? How dare he sneak in here? Let's go and have a look, Whitney!" He started walking toward Sebastian.Whitney was startled and was about to call Fergus back, but he
As the man in the black robe yelled, the entire hall fell silent at once. The thin old man threw the black-robed old man a disgruntled look, but he returned obediently to his seat.Once the noise had died down, Preston stepped forward and swept an icy gaze over the crowd who were present. "You call yourself the elders of the family?"The monument of our ancestral dragon is right in front of you. How could you bully two young members of the family in front of it? Don't you feel any shame?"Besides, how dare you speak before Arnaud does?"After the harsh scolding they received from Preston, no one in the crowd dared to protest. Sebastian nodded involuntarily. It appeared that Preston did have influence in the Ballard family. At least no one had interrupted his scolding, including Arnaud and the man in the black robe.Preston huffed angrily and bowed to Arnaud, who sat in the middle. "Arnaud, I've brought Samson and Sebastian!"Preston went over to the chair next to the black-robe
"Sebastian, I won't be going in. Remember, don't say anything without being spoken to, and don't be impulsive!" Andreas said softly in Sebastian's ear when they reached the door to the hall. He then walked over to the crowd, which was packed on both sides of the hall.Samson and Preston walked into the hall without any change in expression. Sebastian hesitated for a moment before hurrying to catch up.When they reached the entrance, the two old men reached out to stop them and said to Preston, who was in the lead, "Preston, I'm afraid that it wouldn't be a good idea for you to go in. Everyone knows that you're biased toward Samson's family. If you get into an argument with Arnaud, then—""Nonsense!" Preston yelled furiously. He spoke in a menacing tone to the two old men. "Don't try those tricks with me. Today, I'm going to be the voice of reason. Who among you can do anything to me?"With that, he pushed them aside and strode into the hall.The two old men gazed after his ret
The Ballard Estate's resources were unfathomable as it was. Could Isabella's family be even more powerful than theirs?Sebastian clearly remembered that both he and Samson were under the Sacred Medicine Society. They even had the same mentor.The Sacred Medicine Society was above all the other mystic martial arts sects. Even the sect leaders of the Nine Sects were very respectful toward his mentor.If Samson really was from the same sect as Sebastian, then his mentor had clearly been unable to save him. Wouldn't that mean that the Sacred Medicine Society was no match for the Ballards?Wouldn't that mean that Isabella's family was an even greater entity?"If my mother's family is really that powerful, why couldn't they rescue my father? There would also be no reason to let me join the Sacred Medicine Society either, right?" Sebastian asked probingly. It seemed as if Andreas had never even thought about such questions. He smiled and shook his head. "You probably don't know about a
As they stepped out of the courtyard gate, Samson suddenly turned and lowered his voice as he said to Sebastian, "I didn't treat you and your mother well. Please don't hold it against me."Sebastian felt even more conflicted. After everything he had been through, he knew very well that there were times when one really had no choice. When Samson saw that Sebastian was looking at him with a conflicted expression, he patted him on the shoulder and gave him a warm smile. Then he took a token from Preston and walked out of the yard.They followed Preston as he walked toward the east, where there was a majestic-looking building."Why are you helping me?" Sebastian suddenly turned and asked Andreas in a low voice. Andreas glanced at him and gave him a long, cryptic smile. "Do you think I'm helping you? I'm helping myself while doing so!""Oh?" Sebastian looked at Andreas in confusion, his brow knitted. Even Rexton had mentioned that Andreas was in Arnaud's favor. Why would he need t
When Rexton and the others had gone, Preston turned to look at Samson and said irritatedly, "You little rascal. Would I ever hurt you?"Besides, you've been here in isolation for ten years. Why hasn't your temper changed at all? Couldn't you show me some respect in front of all those people?"Samson glanced at Preston but didn't answer.Preston huffed and ignored him. He turned and looked Sebastian up and down instead."Hey, kiddo. Over ten years have passed in just the blink of an eye. You've probably forgotten me. I even gave you candy back then! Come over here and call me Great Uncle Preston!"Sebastian looked at him in surprise. It was true that he didn't have much of an impression of what had happened over ten years ago. However, he could tell from what Preston had said and done that his attitude toward Sebastian's family was completely different from Rexton and the others.Beside Sebastian, Andreas kept shooting him meaningful looks. Sebastian finally smiled and said, "Hell
Although the old man looked as if he was over 60 years old, his expression was sharp and lively, and his skin was smooth as a baby's. It gave him a youthful air.Even the severely injured apprentices all scrambled up from the ground when they saw him. They hastily bowed and said, "Greetings, Great Uncle Preston!"Even Rexton had no choice but to suppress his anger. He bowed sullenly to the old man and said, "Greetings, Uncle Preston."Preston Ballard glanced at Rexton and turned to shout angrily at the apprentices, "If I hadn't come, were you planning to tear the Ballard Estate apart? Look at all of you! Get out of here right now!"Despite the scolding they had been subjected to, none of them dared to protest. They all lowered their heads and slunk out of the yard. Preston glared angrily at them as they went and snorted. "What an embarrassment to the family!"Then he smiled slightly and looked at Samson and Sebastian as he asked, "Samson, do you have anything to say?"Samson lo
Rexton's pupils constricted, and the muscles in his face twitched. He stared at Samson with a wary look in his eyes. He and Samson were two minor stages apart. It was no laughing matter. If the two of them began to fight, Rexton would be sure to die if he didn't have any external assistance."What's the matter? Are you scared?" Samson sneered as he asked in a cold, accusatory tone. That flipped a switch in Rexton's head. His expression changed instantly, and he turned a fierce look on Samson. "Afraid?" he asked through gritted teeth.As he spoke, Rexton seemed to make up his mind. He slowly reached into his pocket and took out a pale blue paper charm, which looked thicker than usual.The paper charm was oppressive to look at. Sebastian instinctively sensed a threatening energy approaching!Even Samson looked wary when he saw the paper charm."Uncle Rexton, this is a Soulcrush Charm. Great Uncle Arnaud has clearly said that no one in the Ballard Estate is allowed to use spiri
Sebastian immediately felt the pressure around him drop. The feeling of being pinned down disappeared as well."How dare you—"Before Rexton could finish, a shadow flashed past him, and Samson popped up right in front of him.Samson stuck out his finger as if it were a sword and tapped him on the chest. Although Samson hadn't used any strength, Rexton could see the murderous look in his eyes. There was a dot of scarlet light that swirled around Samson's finger. A crimson rune was gradually appearing, and there was a chilling, murderous sensation in the air. Sebastian gasped. He had finally realized how the mystic spells should be used, and he was in awe. It wasn't that Sebastian was unable to do it. It was just that up until then, he had only seen the mystic sect apprentices of the secular world. Perhaps their understanding of how to use mystic spells was too superficial, which was why Sebastian's perception had also been affected.Realization only dawned on him when he saw
At Rexton's roar of fury, everyone turned to look at Samson, who was still standing there quietly without moving."A traitor? Murder?"There was finally a flicker of emotion on Samson's face. A sudden glimmer of light flared in his eyes, which had been devoid of life for a long time."Rexton, you know very well how your father died!"As Samson spoke, he walked toward Rexton with a steady step as he said, "I admit that I've wronged Sebastian and his mother. I was just too soft-hearted back then. That's why I believed your lies and tried to keep the big picture in mind for the Ballards, but look at how you've treated me!"There was suddenly a cold glint in Samson's eyes, and he said in a thunderous tone, "You set up a series of traps and tried to kill and torture my wife and son!"You pursued them until the ends of the earth! If my mentor hadn't rescued Sebastian, do you think he'd still be alive today?"Did you just accuse me of murder? Did you ever think of the fact that we're f