A gold-trimmed invitation lay forgotten on the battered coffee table in the Clark family's living room.

Jacob spotted it and grabbed it without a second thought. His expression soured the instant he read the name.

"The Lewis family? I can't believe they actually invited us," said Jacob, his voice tense.

He swung around to face Nadine. "Nadine, we shouldn't set foot in that place! After everything we did for their family, you'd think they'd show some loyalty. But as soon as Dad's company started to collapse, Blaine Lewis couldn't wait to stomp on us. He swooped in and bought up our businesses for pennies, then went around telling everyone that working with us meant making an enemy out of him!"

Jacob's eyes were bloodshot with anger. He took a shaky breath and said, "Honestly, the Lewises are the reason we lost everything."

Nadine sat on the sofa, her attention glued to the latest message lighting up her phone. "Boss, I got the info. Turns out, it was Blaine Lewis who orchestrated Kaden's arrest. Plus, most of the Lewis family's recent wealth comes from trafficking people across the Urygan border."

Human trafficking. That was it.

Kaden used to be the best detective on the force. He must have uncovered the Lewises' crimes and paid the price for it.

So this so-called banquet was nothing more than a setup to gauge her next move—the new threat they hadn't counted on.

She slipped her phone into her pocket and looked Jacob square in the eye, his face still burning with outrage. "We're going. I want to see what games they're playing this time."

...

The moment Nadine and Jacob walked into the Lewis family's banquet hall in their simple clothes, whispers swept through the room, and laughter quickly followed.

"Is that the lost daughter of the Clark family? Word is they're practically broke, yet they still had the guts to show up?"

Daniela glided over in her designer gown, arm-in-arm with Blaine's eldest son, and paused right in front of Nadine. "Nadine, I have to ask, where did you dig up that dress? I almost didn't recognize you. Are you really showing up to the Lewis family's big event dressed like this? Do you need a few pointers on how to act in public?"

Jacob's hands balled into fists, anger pulsing visibly beneath his skin.

For years, the Clark family treated Daniela like family, and now she switched her loyalty to the Lewises without a second thought.

Nadine didn't even bother to answer her, barely flicking her eyes toward Daniela. "Was that an insect I just heard? You Lewis family must be desperate if you're letting anyone through the door tonight."

Daniela's cheeks went crimson.

Shaking with fury, she bit her tongue, the memory of Nadine's last kick still fresh and painful in her mind.

Before the night ended, she swore she'd make sure Nadine was left with nothing.

A smooth voice called out from across the room. "Well, Nadine, you're a tough one to track down. I honestly never expected to see you again." Blaine appeared, dressed to impress, a glass of wine in his hand and a sly grin on his face.

He let the silence linger before leaning closer. "Time's running out for your father. Lucky for you, I have friends in an overseas lab—one of the best, actually. They've managed to whip up the only antidote that could save him. If you want it, all you have to do is get up there and call me your honorary father in front of everyone. Do that, and maybe I'll hand it over."

All eyes in the hall turned toward Nadine and Blaine, the crowd practically holding their breath.

Everyone in attendance knew the long-standing feud between the two families.

Blaine's proposal was a deliberate insult, and nobody missed it.

Daniela sat up straighter, her lips curling into a smile, eager to watch Nadine crumble.

Nadine slowly lifted her head, eyes cold and voice steady. "Don't worry about my father. I'll save him myself. You can keep your antidote. You might end up needing it a lot sooner than you think."

Blaine's grin faltered in an instant.

Across the room, his eldest son, Patrick Lewis, and Daniela bristled with outrage.

"You've got a lot of nerve, Nadine! Who do you think you are, running your mouth like that?" Patrick's voice rang out, sharp and accusing. "You're only pretending to be brave because you have no idea how to save your own father! If anything happens to him, the blame lands squarely on you!"

Before Nadine could even open her mouth, chaos swept through the crowd.

A terrified scream cut through the music. "Help! Mrs. Ballard just collapsed!"

In the middle of the gathering, a woman fell to the ground, her face rapidly turning purple as she gasped for air, clawing at her throat in panic.

"Somebody call for a doctor! Hurry!"

Charles Ballard, known across Sheftol as a top-ranking police officer, rushed to his wife's side, panic written across his face as sweat gathered at his brow.

Blaine's eyes darted around the hall, then he gave a subtle nod. A man in a doctor's coat emerged from the crowd and knelt beside Mrs. Ballard. He listened for a pulse, checked her eyes, and worked with frantic urgency. When he finally looked up, his face had lost all color.

Nothing in his career had prepared him for a crisis like this.

Dozens of specialists had already given up hope for Emily Ballard, saying no treatment could save her now.

No one expected her to collapse here, of all places, during the Lewis family banquet.

With so many powerful families watching, the pressure was crushing. If he failed to help her, both the Ballard and the Lewis families would make sure he paid for it.

The doctor's voice shook as he said, "Warden Ballard, your wife is suffering from severe throat swelling. It's closing off her airway at a dangerous rate. I'm not sure she'll survive long enough for the paramedics to get here..."

The color drained from Charles's face and he staggered, barely able to keep his footing.

Inside, panic clawed at Blaine.

If tragedy struck at his event, the Lewis family's reputation in Sheftol would never recover.

All he could do was shout at the physician, "Don't just stand there! You're a doctor, aren't you? Save her!"

From nearby, Daniela's eyes narrowed as she raised her voice, dripping with false concern. "Nadine's got healing hands! She managed to pull my father back from the brink—surely she can fix this too!"

Daniela couldn't hide her eagerness to see Nadine fail in front of everyone.

One mistake from Nadine, and that would spell disaster for the Clark family.

Blaine seized on the opportunity, his tone overly enthusiastic as he pushed the spotlight away from himself. "She's right! Nadine's famous for her talents. Come on, Nadine, step up and help Mrs. Ballard. People would kill for a chance like this."

Nadine gave them both a steady look and replied, "I don't treat just anyone. If the family wants my help, they'll have to ask me directly. I don't perform miracles for strangers."

The crowd broke into raucous laughter.

Someone shouted through the commotion, "Is this a comedy show or what?"

"Who does she think she is, some kind of miracle worker?"

Unbothered by the laughter, Nadine locked eyes with Charles. "Your wife's illness runs deep, Warden. This started in her heart and lungs when she was a baby. Am I right? It's been haunting her for nearly forty years, hasn't it?"

Shock spread across Charles's face. He stared at Nadine, disbelief giving way to desperate hope.

He hurried to her side, voice trembling. "Miss Clark, please. If you can save Emily, I'll be forever in your debt!"

Nadine looked up and met his gaze. "If you mean it, then I'll do what I can."

With everyone watching, Nadine reached into her bag and pulled out a scalpel. She didn't hesitate. In one swift motion, she made an incision in Emily's throat.

A jet of blood shot out, causing gasps all around.

Daniela's shrill voice rang through the chaos. "She's killing Mrs. Ballard! That's not treatment—she's committing murder!"

Charles turned ghostly pale. "Officers! Apprehend this killer. Now!"