Leonard originally intended to stay in the hospital room, waiting for Elara to wake up. But realizing the unconscious Elara had provoked uncharacteristic impulses in him, he hastily pressed the button on his wheelchair armrest.The motorized wheelchair—incorporating cutting-edge technology—pivoted smoothly, carrying him away from the bedside.As the door opened, his wheelchair paused at the threshold. Leonard turned back for one final look at the woman lying on the hospital bed.That single glance contained eternity.Normally, he resembled an immortal sealed in glass—a celestial being devoid of earthly desires, merely passing through the mortal realm before returning to the heavens.Yet in this moment, with Elara present yet unconscious, long-suppressed emotions surged violently to the surface. For the first time, Leonard's divinely handsome features came alive with raw humanity.But this unguarded moment lasted only a heartbeat. By the next second, his deep eyes had iced over ag
The moment Beau spotted Leonard, he shrank back into Ethel's arms like a mouse seeing a cat.When Ethel turned her head, she got startled too. She instinctively offered her extraordinarily gifted brother-in-law an ingratiating smile while clutching Beau."Leonard, when did you arrive? You didn't make a sound."Ethel forced out two dry laughs as her heart pounded. Did he hear her insults about him and Xavier?Beau burrowed deeper into Ethel's embrace, resting his head on her arm. His eyes landed on Xavier standing beside Leonard's wheelchair."You're alive?" he blurted out.Xavier stood ramrod straight with hands clasped behind his back. His young face was expressionless as he gazed solemnly at the Fisher family's shrines, refusing to acknowledge Beau.In the chapel's dim lighting, Beau scrutinized Xavier head to toe but found no visible injuries. Still, if Xavier could visit the chapel today after yesterday's fire, he clearly hadn't been hurt."Where's my Mommy?" Beau demanded.
Harvey started wondering if Leonard was attempting to sideline him. Not to mention, Leonard even included Xavier in Beau's private tutoring sessions, further heightening Harvey's wariness.As Harvey spoke, it was clear he was directing his words at Zachary, Thomas, and the Fisher elders. With his back still turned, Leonard's icy voice cut through the air. "Are you lecturing me?"Though Leonard didn't even glance Harvey's way, his presence loomed like an untouchable deity enshrined in a grand hall—his very back radiating intimidation.Harvey's face darkened. As he parted his lips, an invisible force seemed to press inward, crushing his chest until breathing became difficult.His neck bent under the weight of that pressure, compelling unconscious submission. "N-No... I wouldn't dare."Leonard's wheelchair rotated by 180 degrees with seamless precision, bringing him face-to-face with Harvey and Ethel. Simultaneously, sweat beaded like beans across Harvey's forehead, rolling down his
Zachary looked at Ethel with visible discomfort. It felt like his wife kept stomping directly on Leonard's landmines.He quickly intervened diplomatically, "Both Xavier and Beau endured the traumatic fire. Xavier's just a child who hit his head—his recollection might be unclear, but he's unharmed."Knowing Beau's character, I believe he'd never hurt Xavier."Adopting an elder brother's tone, Zachary continued earnestly, "Leonard, the actual arsonist has been arrested. You've punished Beau and Harvey enough, even making your sister-in-law kneel here."I hope we can prioritize harmony..."Before he could finish, Leonard's voice overrode him. "Beau, I've given you the chance to confess."Beau's stubby fingers dug into the prayer cushion. "I really didn't cause Xavier's injury!"Ethel stood abruptly. "Leonard! Stop targeting Beau!"Why are you fabricating accusations through Xavier? How despicable!"Harvey added, "I also believe my son is incapable of this."Leonard remained sile
Beau's reckless words shocked everyone present. Zachary's eyes widened, his hand instinctively lifting as if to muzzle Beau.Thomas remained expressionless, merely lifting his eyelids to glance at Beau. His deep-set brow and sunken eye sockets cast shadows over his gaze.Zachary could feel the oppressive atmosphere radiating from Thomas, his own heart tightening in response."What nonsense are you spouting?" Harvey's sharp rebuke cut through the air, his face instantly darkening.Fury stripped away his rationality—his hands clenched into fists, every facial muscle taut like a fully drawn bowstring. That single sentence from Beau propelled Harvey's anger to its breaking point, teetering on the edge of eruption."Waah! Daddy, you're scolding me!"Harvey had never raised his voice at Beau before. He typically maintained an aloof demeanor around his son, his stern expression making Beau yearn for affection, yet too intimidated to seek it. Only during Beau's recovery from injuries had
Ethel's mouth fell slightly open, while Zachary gazed at his son with visible confusion.They truly believed Beau's words were just childish nonsense—yet here was Harvey aggressively questioning Leonard as if trying to assert dominance over him.Zachary's heart raced. As an older brother, he, too, had experienced moments of inadequacy when comparing himself to Leonard's towering achievements. But he always buried such feelings deep, fully aware of Leonard's irreplaceable value to the Fisher family."Leo, we failed to educate Beau properly."Zachary quickly stepped forward to mediate. "Beau, come here!"Still clinging to Ethel, Beau showed no willingness to leave his grandmother's protective embrace. After receiving pointed looks from Zachary, Ethel reluctantly set Beau down.Zachary took Beau's hand, positioning them both before Leonard. His large palm pressed down on Beau's head."Beau, we'll apologize to Great-uncle Leonard and Xavier together."The pressure from Zachary's ha
Leonard's words struck everyone's ears like thunder. Thomas' expression finally shifted."You!" Harvey started to protest, but Zachary cut him off sharply."Enough! The father bears responsibility for the child's misdeeds. Beau ordering the auditorium arson has already caused irreparable damage!"Zachary snapped impatiently, "You three, pack your things immediately. I'm sending a car to take you to the mountain base tonight."Ethel cried out, "Can't we wait until morning? Why this midnight rush to the foothills?""Do you really want to perform the Penitent's Ascent up Atkina Church at dawn, with crowds of pilgrims watching?" Zachary retorted."In this digital age, the moment you begin your atonement climb, someone will film and post it online! You may not care about dignity, but I do!"After decades of marital harmony, Zachary had never shouted at Ethel like this.Though prone to petty tantrums, Ethel had always enjoyed Zachary's indulgence—until now. His outburst fueled her in
"In a few years, when he's more mature, we'll arrange for top psychologists. So long as he wants to, he'll regain his voice!"Thomas's heavy gaze shifted from Beau to Harvey, the weight of his scrutiny pressing down on Harvey like a physical force. He then let out a drawn-out sigh.Harvey's heart plunged into an abyss when he heard it. His face paled as inexplicable dread gripped him.Though barely younger than Leonard, Harvey had been designated the Fisher heir shortly after birth. When Leonard's extraordinary intellect attracted attention from Capitol scholars, Thomas allowed him to pursue academia instead.It was more so due to indulgence on Thomas' part. After all, Fisher Corp would have Harvey.Now, Thomas' regret hung thick in the air. Harvey recognized that disappointed look. It was directed at him, and doubly so at Beau.How had things deteriorated so badly?Life had become chaotic since divorcing Elara. She'd never let parenting concerns burden him before. Only now did
Theodore was truly a frightening man! Yet Elara didn't find this off-putting.Wasn't this exactly the sort of thing he would do? She had sensed this man's calculated advances from the moment he began appearing frequently in her life.Soon, Cassie left, and Elara sat in her office chair, moving back slightly."You can come out now," she commanded.Her voice had regained its composure. "You should have recovered by now, right, Mr. Snapp?"Theodore emerged from under the desk, which had been relatively cramped for someone of his size. He blinked at her, his eyes brimming with amusement as he asked, "Was that fun?""I almost fell for you," Elara blurted out, her voice carrying a more teasing tone.The man looked slightly disappointed. "So, you didn't fall for me after all?"Persistent, he leaned forward and lowered his voice to ask, "Did it feel good when you touched me earlier?"Elara's bright eyes sparkled with light as she had to admit, "I didn't expect you'd feel so nice to to
If one word could describe Theodore, it would be "insatiable!"The spasms emanating from Elara's abdomen made her aware of the unusual sensations in her body. In the warm early summer afternoon, even the air in the office seemed to grow heavy and humid.She felt as if an electric current had struck her, sending a tingling sensation up from the base of her spine. Her lips parted slightly, and she couldn't help but feel an intense curiosity about Theodore."Why would someone like you be interested in someone like me?" Elara's voice fell from above him."Hmm? Someone like me? What kind of person am I?"Theodore looked up at her with an expression that seemed completely vulnerable, as if offering himself to be commanded by her.Seated in her office chair, Elara lowered her gaze. As she looked down at this man, a strange and subtle thrill arose in her chest.She finally understood what it meant to gaze down from a position of power. It felt as though butterflies were dancing wildly i
Harvey was annoyed by Ethel's interference in his love life. Elara's decision to divorce him undoubtedly had something to do with Ethel's meddling."I recall that Uncle Leonard has been looking after the Shelton family. Didn't the Sheltons' daughter go abroad to study with Uncle Leonard's letter of recommendation?" Harvey asked."That's ancient history," Ethel replied. "I hear she has done quite well for herself in Melcina. She's returned and taken a position at Quantum Tech under Price Nation."Harvey was about to leave, but he stopped in his tracks when he heard a certain phrase from Ethel."What position does Ms. Shelton hold at Quantum Tech?"Ethel was delighted—Harvey was showing interest in Angie.She described enthusiastically, "I heard she's highly regarded by Priscilla. Since she's joined Quantum Tech, she must be in a top position.""Isn't Elara the one in charge?" Harvey thought. He quickly realized this meant Elara's position at Quantum Tech wasn't secure.Harvey re
Perhaps it was because he had spent recent days shoveling manure for fertilizer, cleaning pigpens, and herding cattle and sheep, but Harvey's germaphobia seemed to have been cured.He crouched down and began searching through the pile of garbage.Seeing Beau standing idly nearby, he sternly commanded, "What are you standing around for? Help me look! If we don't find the stethoscope, you won't be eating dinner!"Beau finally understood the gravity of the situation. With fear and trepidation in his heart, he looked at the garbage scattered on the ground with a miserable expression."Daddy, can I at least have a pair of gloves?""Look!" Harvey roared. "If we don't find it, I'll throw you in the trash can!"For the first time, he had completely lost patience with his son. Flames seemed to shoot from his eyes, and the features of his face were tense and sharp.Beau trembled, held his breath, and crouched down. With a disgusted expression, he began searching through the garbage while
Harvey froze in shock. He pulled back the covers, finding nothing on the bed. He spun around and darted out of his room, leaving a sharp, cold breeze in his wake.Outside his room stood a bodyguard assigned by Leonard. Harvey then grabbed the bodyguard by the collar."Where's my stethoscope? Who told you to touch my stethoscope?" he demanded.The bodyguard was bewildered. He gripped Harvey's hand in displeasure. "Mr. Fisher, please calm down. I don't know what you're talking about."Hostility flashed in Harvey's eyes as he breathed heavily and questioned, "My stethoscope that I put under my pillow—who took it?"The bodyguard thought for a moment. "I did see Mr. Beau playing with a stethoscope this morning. I'm not sure where he got it from."Harvey's pupils constricted sharply. Beau had entered his room and taken his stethoscope?That little brat!Beau, dressed in a gray monk's robe, was surrounded by visitors who had come to the chapel to pray. These past few days, he had been
This time, Harvey very clearly saw Elara's face deepen from a light pink to a rich, blooming rose—visibly, and in real time.Her beauty blossomed like a peony in full bloom. Her long lashes trembled several times, and her dark eyes shimmered as if brimming with tears.She looked as if… She was lovestruck. The moment that phrase crossed Harvey's mind, he was so stunned that his eyes widened in disbelief.Was Elara suddenly getting shy because of him?A strange flutter rippled through his chest. He sat at his desk, staring at the high-definition monitor in front of him, where every detail of Elara's face—even each individual eyelash—was crystal clear.He shifted his gaze to the upper-left corner of the screen to glance at the small preview of himself.After Leonard had driven him up to the mountains, the priest at Atkina Church had given him a haircut. Since he was neither a monk nor formally ordained, it was just a close-cropped cut, not a full shaving of the head.He looked at h
Theodore's eyes gleamed like sunlight shimmering over a lake. He looked like a large dog trapped in a cage, gazing at Elara with unwavering intensity. If he had a tail, it would have been wagging wildly like a windmill spinning at full speed.Elara screamed internally. This had gone a little too far! Her eyes then dropped to the tip of her own shoe. The place she had kicked… had grown!"Oh!" She quickly jerked her foot back, only to feel her body tip backward uncontrollably.Just as she was about to fall, Theodore reached out and grabbed her ankle.The moment his fingers touched her skin, her heart skipped a beat. Theodore pulled her back toward the desk.Elara froze in place like a statue. Her entire body was tense, her eyes were wide, and her pupils were unfocused."Elara, what's wrong?"Harvey had seen her suddenly lose her balance and fall backward. It startled him so badly, he looked as if he wanted to jump through the screen.A wave of helplessness washed over him. Luckil
Elara looked under the desk. What on earth was going on?Meanwhile, Harvey observed Elara in her formal women's suit on the computer screen—an attire he'd never seen her wear before.Her hair was pulled back into a bun secured by a simple ebony hairpin. A few strands, gilded by sunlight, curled against her porcelain cheeks.Though she appeared to be looking down at something, Harvey's gaze and thoughts remained completely captivated by her face. Only months had passed since their divorce, yet seeing her now felt like encountering someone from another lifetime.Had time stretched endlessly during his days at Atkina Church?"El—" Harvey's throat tightened as if stuffed with paper.But he quickly regained his usual composed tone. "Elara—no, I should address you as Ms. Jones now. Had Sam not called me, I wouldn't have known you'd assumed Quantum Tech's CEO position."His voice carried that innate condescension of the privileged, laced with unmistakable mockery."Why are you hiding
Elara stood still as she gazed at the tall, distinguished man before her. Meanwhile, Theodore looked up and smiled at her against the light."Why are you so far away?"Elara stepped toward him, teasing lightly, "I wanted a good look at you.""Then you'll need to come closer." Theodore leaned forward, closing the distance between them.Though she stopped a step away, their faces nearly touched. Elara instinctively held her breath as her eyes locked on him."Can you see clearly now?" Theodore asked."Mm," Elara replied."And?""So handsome." Elara praised him sincerely. "You're one of the most attractive men I've ever seen!"She truly meant it. Theodore chuckled through his nose. She'd seen plenty of handsome men in her life—Finnegan, Harvey, and Leonard. Especially Leonard, whose looks even made Theodore feel somewhat threatened."My face is the least remarkable part of me." He declared confidently.Images of those shirtless photos Theodore had sent flashed through Elara's mi