Chapter 13:

Bella froze, her eyes widening as the words sank in. A black credit card with no limit?

He had never so much as mentioned it to her before, and now, without a moment’s hesitation, he had handed one to Yelena.

And a grand banquet to introduce Yelena to the world? The meaning was unmistakable. The event would cement Yelena’s status as the Harris family’s biological daughter, their true heiress. Bella, on the other hand, would be exposed for what she was—an adopted outsider, a placeholder.

Her nails dug into her palms as she bit down on her lip to maintain composure, the sharp sting grounding her simmering rage.

It was clear to Bella that she had to find a way to drive Yelena out. Otherwise, there soon would be no place for her in the Harris family.

Meanwhile, in a private hospital in Eighfast,

Austin lay motionless against the stark white sheets of the hospital bed, his angular features etched with quiet intensity. Sunlight streamed through the window, casting fractured golden patterns across his face, softening the steel-like resolve in his expression.

Even in repose, there was an undeniable authority about him—an unyielding tension in his jaw and the unspoken command reflected in his gaze.

“Sir, our team has conducted extensive searches in the surrounding areas,” Domenic Murphy, Austin’s ever-loyal assistant, reported. “But so far, we’ve been unable to locate the young woman you described.”

“I see. Continue the search.” Austin’s eyes remained fixed on the view outside, his voice steady and resolute.

The woman had saved his life, pulling him back from the brink of death. But gratitude alone wasn’t driving him. There were unanswered questions—puzzling and urgent—that demanded resolution.

The rest on gⲁl𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀⧸𝒸𝗈𝗺

“Understood, sir! I’ve also deployed a team to investigate the men in black. Early findings suggest that your activities here in Eighfast were compromised. This led directly to the ambush. There is a possibility that your uncle…” Domenic stopped abruptly as Austin raised a hand, cutting him off with an imperious gesture.

“I’m already aware,” Austin said curtly, his tone leaving no room for argument. “For now, prioritize locating Yancy. Time is of the essence.”

“Yes, sir. I will see to it that it gets done soon,” Domenic replied, bowing slightly before exiting the room with silent efficiency.

Austin’s gaze remained on the horizon, his mind racing. As a son of the powerful Barton family in Kheley, he had always been aware of the intricacies of power and influence.

Austin ventured to Eighfast with a singular purpose: to find the mysterious doctor Yancy, the person central to his mission.

Two years earlier, Austin had been stricken with a lethal poison, one so rare that even the most renowned medical experts were left confounded.

Conventional treatments had failed him, and Austin had been left with a grim prognosis—his time was running out. Rumors swirled of a mysterious doctor named Yancy, reputed to hold the knowledge needed to counteract such toxins. With hope as his only guide, Austin had journeyed to Eighfast in pursuit of this elusive savior, but fate had intervened in a way he hadn’t foreseen.

An ambush nearly claimed his life, and his mission might have ended there had it not been for a young woman who appeared seemingly out of nowhere.

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