Chapter 1

At Southern Haven was the Vista Summit. It was a towering peak stretching over three thousand feet high. Its steep cliffs and treacherous paths made it a place no one dared to visit.

Little did the world know, shrouded in perpetual mist at the mountain's summit lay a quaint, ancient house. In the front yard of the house, a group of elderly men sat comfortably, savoring the tea served by a young man.

"You lot are really throwing me out? That's so irresponsible!" the young man, Ethan Walker, muttered as he poured tea for each elder. His voice was laced with feigned indignation.

Ethan had been an orphan, drifting aimlessly through the streets until he was five years old. That was when Alvin Brown found him and brought him to this mountain. Eighteen years had passed since.

During his time here, he had apprenticed under all the elders, learning every skill they had to offer. Now, he was not only a master of martial arts but also a practitioner of medicine, an expert in divination, and a prodigy in countless other fields.

Today, on the eve of his 23rd birthday, they suddenly dropped the bombshell. They had found his family, and they were sending him down the mountain to reunite with them.

Ethan was happy, but their nonchalant attitude and utter lack of reluctance rubbed him the wrong way.

"What do you mean by throwing you out? This is your chance to reunite with your family!" one of the elders said.

"We're doing this for your own good," another chimed in.

Andy Evans stroked his sparse beard, his tone exasperated yet firm. "Exactly. You've been separated from your family for years, and they've probably been searching for you all this time. Now that they've finally found you, you should reunite with them and put their minds at ease."

"You've already learned everything we can teach you. The rest of the journey is yours to take alone." The others chimed in, not sounding like they wanted him to stay.

"Fine! If that's what you want, I'll leave! From now on, I'll go my way, and you go yours. We'll mind our own business and stay out of each other's—"

"Oh, screw you." Before Ethan could finish his rant, Alvin delivered a swift kick. However, Ethan, quick as ever, caught the strike midair and effortlessly pushed him back.

"You've gotten weaker, Mr. Brown. If I leave, who's going to look after all of you? Maybe I should stay, after all."

To Ethan, even though he had a family, he had lived on this mountain for most of his life. Maybe his family had forgotten about him and had already started a new family. What if his return turned out to be unnecessary and made things awkward? Maybe it was better if he stayed put.

"Enough nonsense! It's settled. You're going back home. This is non-negotiable." Before Ethan could say anything, Alfred Clarke tossed a cloth bundle at his feet.

"Alright, you'd better get going now. Remember, your family lives in Silverbank City. Your dad's name is Marcus Walker!"

A gush of wind swept through the yard, and Ethan was suddenly pushed out the gate. He had just claimed Alvin's skills were lacking, but it seemed the old man had been holding back earlier.

When he glanced back, the gates had already slammed shut.

"Fine, I'm leaving! I'm not scared!" Despite his words, he hesitated after taking a few steps. Turning back toward the gate, he dropped to his knees and said, "Thank you, my mentors, for raising me and teaching me. I'll be leaving the mountain now."

With that, he rose to his feet and strode away without looking back.

Silverbank City was a sprawling metropolis, where every inch of land came at a premium. A city so captivating, it was said no one wanted to leave once they arrived.

Along the way, Ethan asked for directions whenever he could. When he was hungry, he nibbled on the dried rations tucked in his bundle. When he was thirsty, he sipped on the water he brought. When exhaustion caught up with him, he made do with the ground as his bed and the open sky as his blanket, resting wherever he could. After days of traveling, he finally arrived.

His heart was filled with excitement and curiosity. Compared to the city he remembered from his childhood, Silverbank City felt like an entirely different world. He almost couldn't believe that his home was located in such a beautiful city.

The blaring of a car horn snapped Ethan out of his thoughts. He quickly stepped aside, narrowly avoiding the oncoming vehicle. However, the car skidded to a stop, and the driver didn't seem ready to let it go.

"Are you blind? Watch where you're going!" a burly man shouted from the driver's seat. His gold chain gleamed in the sunlight as he leaned out the window, his face twisted in anger.

"What? Does this road belong to you? Besides, I already moved out of the way!" Ethan glanced at the man but remained unfazed by his appearance or tone. His mentors had taught him since childhood that if someone showed him an inch of respect, he should repay it with a mile. However, if anyone dared to cross him, he was justified in returning the offense.

"You've got some nerve, kid! If I weren't in a hurry to deliver something to the Walker family, I'd get out and teach you a lesson!" the man shouted in anger.

With Ethan's current attire, which was a white T-shirt patched in several places, faded jeans that had been washed to a pale hue, and a burlap sack slung over his shoulder, it was obvious at a glance that he was from the countryside. Hence, the man didn't take him seriously at all.

Apparently in a hurry, although the man was irritated, he immediately stepped on the pedal and was ready to drive off.

"Hey, wait!" Ethan stopped him in a panic upon hearing the mention of the Walker family.

"Are you trying to get yourself killed? Move!" The man was in a hurry to deliver something to the Walker family and couldn't afford to waste his time on a countryside boy. While cursing, his foot never lifted from the pedal. He was ready to drive away anytime.

"Which Walker family are you talking about?" Ethan had been asking around the whole day since there were so many Walkers in town. However, when he mentioned his dad's full name, everybody was in shock, treating his question like a joke and ignoring him.

However, he planned to hold on to every opportunity he had to enquire about his family's whereabouts.

"It's none of your business. Now, move it! Or else I'll knock you over!" Ethan wasn't someone easily intimidated. Besides, he harbored no ill intentions. He merely wanted to ask which Walker family the man was heading to.

Yet the two found themselves at an impasse. One was unwilling to speak, and the other refused to yield.

"Oh, to hell with it." The driver's patience snapped. He slammed on the gas, sending the car lurching forward. He was in a hurry and couldn't delay anymore. If he couldn't deliver the item in time, he was finished.

When the car almost hit Ethan, he planted his foot firmly on the car's front bumper instead of leaping out of the way. No matter how hard the driver stepped on the pedal, the car couldn't move forward.

"What the hell?" The driver rubbed his eyes in disbelief. This was a Mercedes G-Wagon, a beast with 585 horsepower. However, it couldn't even budge against this guy's foot. He knew instantly that Ethan wasn't an ordinary person.

"Alright, alright! I'm sorry about my attitude earlier, okay? Please just let me go. I'm really in a rush!" He glanced at the dwindling time, utterly panicked. Offending the Walker family could mean losing his livelihood at best, or even his life at worst.

"I'm in a hurry as well. Tell me which Walker family you're delivering to," Ethan said calmly.

The driver was almost in tears from anxiety and hurriedly explained himself, "Which one do you think? The Walker family, the richest damn family in Silverbank City! Marcus' place!"

Ethan's heart skipped a beat. After days of fruitless searching, he had stumbled onto the answer by sheer luck. Furthermore, he couldn't believe his dad was the richest man in Silverbank City.

"Sir, can you let me go now?" the man asked.

"Fine. But on one condition," Ethan said.

"What is it?" the man asked.

"Bring me along to the Walker family!" Ethan said proudly.

Chapter 2

Crystal Cove was the most expensive villa district in Silverbank City, at over ten thousand dollars per square foot. It was the most expensive villa district in Silverbank City. Those who lived here were either incredibly wealthy, highly influential, or both.

At this moment, a sleek black Mercedes G-Wagon rolled past the gated entrance after a thorough security check. "Sir, what brings you to the Walker family?" The driver glanced at the approaching destination, finally caved to his curiosity, and asked.

"I'm here to look for my family," Ethan replied calmly.

"What?" The tires screeched as the driver slammed on the brakes, shooting Ethan a stunned look. "You're joking, right? You could've told me you were here to rob the place, and I'd believe that. But claiming to be family? Do I look like an idiot to you?"

"You do," Ethan replied without missing a beat.

The driver fell silent. Normally, no one dared speak to him that way. Only Ethan, this countryside boy, dared to do so. However, there was something about Ethan's unwavering composure that made him hesitate.

"Listen, sir. I don't know what kind of stunt you're trying to pull. But let me give you some advice since we've shared a ride. Every year, dozens and hundreds of people show up at the Walker family's door claiming to be their lost son. Most are hoping to cozy up to Silverbank City's wealthiest family and strike it rich.

"If you're here with the same idea, you're better off turning around now. In the best case, you'll get thrown out. Worst case, you piss them off and end up in real trouble." He wasn't trying to scare Ethan. Similar cases had happened in the past.

The Walker family had been secretly trying to locate their lost son. It was all good at first until many opportunists tried to impersonate Marcus' long-lost son. Their patience eventually wore thin. The people with the same idea usually ended up in real trouble.

"Relax. Just focus on driving. What happens has nothing to do with you," Ethan said nonchalantly.

It had everything to do with him. It was Donovan Hughes who brought Ethan here. He would be the first to get dragged into it if things got blown up.

He held his tongue, muttering silent complaints under his breath as he restarted the engine. Before long, they arrived at their destination, Crystal Cove Villa No. 1, the Walker family's residence.

"We're here," Donovan announced.

"This is huge!" Ethan stepped out of the car and froze. The villa towered impressively with five stories, each level standing 16 to 19 feet high. The front yard alone was massive, rivaling the size of the sprawling estates up in the mountains. It was large enough to park dozens of cars comfortably.

"You think this is huge? You should see their estate on Brightcrest Hill." Donovan scoffed.

"How big is it?" Ethan asked. He struggled to wrap his mind around the level of wealth of his family. He even wondered if his mentors were mistaken. If his family was rich, how did they manage to lose him in the first place?

"At least ten times of this size!" Donovan replied.

"Ten… Ten times?" No wonder they were known as Silverbank City's wealthiest family. Their residence alone screamed extravagance.

While Ethan was still mesmerized by the place, Donovan pressed the doorbell. Moments later, a bodyguard appeared to unlock the gate.

"You're finally here, Don! Did you bring the goods? Ms. Walker is losing her temper!"

"Got it right here! Something happened on the way, and I got held back." He quickly retrieved a sealed box from the back seat, cradling it like a treasure. Inside was a rare, freshly harvested hundred-year-old wild Genlo herb.

Under the Walker family's orders, he went to great lengths to procure it through connections. It was said that the frail and often sickly young Ms. Walker had suddenly fallen ill, and the Genlo was urgently needed to prepare medicine for her condition.

As soon as he secured it, he wasted no time and rushed to deliver it immediately.

The three entered the villa and made their way to the living room. Seated on the couch was a stunning woman with a commanding presence. Her sharp, elegant features were framed by cascading black hair. She wore a crisp white blouse paired with a black pencil skirt, her long legs accentuated by high heels.

Every inch of her screamed corporate powerhouse. Her mere presence radiated authority. Standing before her were several people, all visibly deferential.

"Ms. Serena, your sister's condition is deteriorating rapidly. She has been sick for over 20 hours. If she doesn't receive the medicinal Genlo soon, I'm afraid even a miracle doctor won't be able to save her."

The man who spoke was Simon Brooke, a renowned alternative medicine practitioner known for curing ailments that left even top hospitals baffled. His expertise had earned him the trust of countless wealthy and influential families.

"Where's Donovan Hughes? Why hasn't he delivered the goods yet?" Ms. Serena yelled.

"Here! I'm here, Ms. Serena! The herb is here too!" The few rushed in right after Serena's rage. Donovan was holding the Genlo box like a lifeline before presenting it to Serena himself. "Apologies for the delay. There was a minor issue on the way."

"If anything happens to my sister because of this, consider your days in this city numbered," Serena snapped, her cold gaze cutting through him before turning away to face Simon. "Dr. Brooke, the medicine is here. Please, save my sister!"

The main issue was that the illness had come on suddenly, and with Marcus traveling abroad, there was no way he could come home in time. As the eldest in the family, everything had fallen onto Serena's shoulders. If something were to happen to her sister, she wouldn't be able to explain it to Marcus.

"Don't worry, Ms. Serena. I'll do everything I can," Simon reassured her before heading upstairs with the Genlo.

As he disappeared, Donovan wiped the sweat from his brow as he observed Serena's expression. Beyond the Walkers' residence, he was a well-respected person. However, at the Walkers' residence, he was just another servant.

If the Walkers were happy, he could be the person in command in Silverbank City, living a good life. If they weren't satisfied, he could lose everything.

"Who is he?" The living room echoed with Serena's voice as her sharp eyes shifted to Ethan.

"I'm Marcus' son!" Ethan said with confidence.

Ethan wanted to continue speaking before Donovan hastily covered Ethan's mouth. "No, no. He's just a helper I brought along to find the Genlo!"

"I'm not a helper. I'm here to find my family," Ethan answered in confidence.

Shrugging off Donovan's grip, Ethan repeated firmly, "Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Ethan, and I'm the son that Marcus lost years ago."

A heavy silence fell over the room. Serena stared at him for a long moment before letting out a slow breath.

"My sister is gravely ill. I don't have the time or patience for this nonsense. Since you came with Donovan, I'll let you leave quietly and pretend this has never happened," Serena said.

To Serena, with the resources and manpower of the Walker family, they would have located their long-lost son long ago. To be blunt, after all these years, it was likely that the brother she had never met had already starved to death out there.

Normally, she might have been in the mood to check and verify the identity of the stranger. However, today, she couldn't muster the energy. After all, even if she did verify him, it was likely that he was an impostor anyway. It would be a waste of time and effort.

"Ms. Serena, something's wrong. Quick, call the ambulance! Your sister's condition is worsening. Time is running out!" Simon's voice came urgently, instantly sending a jolt of fear through the room.

Chapter 3

Upstairs, Cindy Walker lay in bed, her face pale and her eyes hollow and lifeless. Her voice was barely audible, and her body was in a sickly state. After spitting out a mouthful of blood, she seemed to be unable to hear the voices around her.

Simon, in a panic, immediately started performing emergency measures to save her.

"What happened, Dr. Brooke? My sister was fine just a moment ago!" Serena rushed into the room from upstairs, furrowing her brows. Her hands clenched involuntarily.

"The herb came too late. I couldn't control her condition in time. I just came upstairs and she spat out a huge amount of blood." Simon motioned toward the bedside, where a fresh pool of blood stained the sheets.

Serena was beside herself with worry. "What now? Is there still a chance to save her?"

"I can only stabilize her for now and wait for the ambulance to arrive. As for how long she can survive, that depends on fate." Seeing Simon shaking his head in resignation, Serena's heart sank.

If even the renowned doctor of Silverbank City was this uncertain, it was clear that Cindy didn't have much time left.

"Cindy, can you hear me? I'm Serena!" Serena crouched by the bed, grabbing Cindy's hand and calling out desperately. However, Cindy just stared blankly at the ceiling, unresponsive, as though she was already dead.

The other people in the room dared not make a sound, afraid of disturbing the fragile moment.

"Ask where the ambulance is, and tell them to hurry!" Serena instructed.

"Ms. Cindy's pulse is almost gone." Simon quickly inserted needles to stabilize her, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. He had treated many wealthy and powerful people over the years, but this was the first time he had encountered a situation where death seemed inevitable.

Just as he was finishing his sentence, a sharp coldness gripped his heart. His hands froze in place. Cindy's pulse and heartbeat had stopped. Even with all his effort, she hadn't managed to hold on until the ambulance arrived.

"You call yourself a doctor? Get out of the way!" Ethan couldn't bear it any longer. He stepped forward, grabbed Simon, and pulled him aside. Then, he sat at the edge of the bed, sweeping his hands over Cindy's body as if performing a magic trick. All the needles were pulled out.

In the blink of an eye, eight needles were inserted into different acupuncture points including the crown, the philtrum, the vertebra, the back of the head, the chest, and others.

"This is ridiculous! What are you doing? You're only making things worse for Ms. Cindy!" After years of medical experience, Simon could immediately tell what Ethan was doing. These points were indeed emergency acupoints, but usually, they only required four needles max. Now, Ethan was using all eight at once!

That was like running eight subway lines at the same time. It would lead to a collision.

"Shut up and watch if you don't understand. Stop talking nonsense!" The acupuncture technique Ethan was using was the Octigram Technique, a technique from the Vitality Healing Manual. It was common for people not to understand it, especially with the way he was using all eight acupoints at once.

It seemed like a risky move, but in reality, he had already carefully controlled the order, depth, and angle of the needles to avoid any potential conflict, ensuring a perfect execution. This method would greatly enhance the effectiveness of the emergency treatment.

However, that wasn't all. He also had to rely on his internal martial arts training to fully revive her.

"If you can save my sister, even if you're just pretending, I'll still acknowledge you as my sworn brother!" At this point, Serena couldn't care less about the formalities.

The ambulance was still on its way, Simon was at a loss, and the only one who seemed confident about handling the situation was Ethan. Right now, there was no other choice but to pin her hopes on him, even though she knew it was a long shot—almost impossible.

"What do you mean by sworn brother? I'm the real deal! Don't lump me in with those fakes." While exchanging a few words, Ethan had already begun channeling his energy to help Cindy regain her heartbeat. However, his expression soon turned grim.

"Something's not right. This isn't just a weak constitution acting up. She's been poisoned!"

"Poisoned?"

Everybody in the room was shocked. If she was poisoned, it was impossible for Simon not to have noticed it.

"You'd better watch your mouth, kid. It's clear that Ms. Cindy's condition is caused by acute organ failure due to weakness. And besides, she eats and lives at home every day. Are you seriously suggesting someone in the family poisoned her?" Simon asked.

"Well, that's not entirely impossible." Ethan didn't deny the possibility because he had already detected a lethal, colorless, and odorless toxin in her body that had only appeared recently.

For an ordinary person, today might have truly been their last day. Fortunately, with Ethan, the healing prodigy, on the scene, he was more than capable of pulling her back from the brink of death.

Half a minute later, Cindy turned over and started vomiting blood. This blood, however, was darker and thicker than before.

"Cindy! How are you feeling, Cindy?" Serena asked anxiously as she saw signs of life returning to Cindy.

"I'm… I'm feeling better, Serena," Cindy answered weakly before lying back down. She glanced at the unfamiliar face beside her. "Who is this?"

"I'm Ethan. I'm Marcus' son!" Ethan declared confidently.

"Doesn't that make you our brother?" Cindy asked, puzzled.

She looked at Serena, who shook her head. "I promised him that if he could save you, I'd recognize him as our sworn brother. So, technically speaking, he's our sworn brother."

"Oh, I thought we found Dad's son." Cindy's face showed a flash of disappointment. It was clear that the sisters cared deeply about finding their father's son.

"By the way, Cindy. Have you eaten anything unusual lately?" Serena asked.

"No. I've been at home the whole time," Cindy replied.

While the sisters continued to analyze the situation, Simon was growing increasingly unsettled. He stepped forward to feel Cindy's pulse again. To his surprise, her vital signs had returned to normal. Aside from being a little weak, everything seemed fine.

"How did you do it?" If Simon hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he would never have believed that someone could truly revive a person from the brink of death.

"Aren't you supposed to be the miracle doctor? How is it that you don't know how to do this?" Ethan asked.

"Uhh…" Simon was speechless. When others called him a miracle doctor, he didn't feel off about it. However, now, compared to Ethan, he felt utterly insignificant to be called that.

Simon cleared his throat. "Sorry, young friend. I didn't recognize your skills earlier. May I ask where you learned your techniques? And what kind of acupuncture technique is this?"

In any profession, when encountering someone more skilled, it was only right to ask and learn. Perhaps a small piece of advice from Ethan could elevate Simon's own skills.

"My mentor's name is not for public knowledge, but as for the acupuncture technique, have you heard of the Octigram Technique?" Ethan asked.

"No, never." Simon had practiced medicine for decades, and yet he had never heard of this unique technique.

"How about the Arcane Eight Technique?" Ethan asked again.

At this, Simon's expression changed. This was a legendary technique in alternative medicine that had been lost for years. It was said that when mastered, it could bring someone back to life. "I never thought I'd see the Arcane Eight Technique in my lifetime! Please, young friend. Let me show you my respect."

No one expected that the revered Simon in Silverbank City would suddenly show his respect before a young man. However, what they didn't know was that Simon was doing this to gain Ethan's favor. He hoped to learn this legendary acupuncture technique from him. If he could master it, his medical skills would advance by leaps and bounds.

Ethan had already seen through Simon's intentions and waved his hand dismissively. "Alright, alright. You just want to learn the technique. It's not a big deal."

As the healing prodigy, Ethan knew many more techniques than just this one. Teaching it to others wouldn't harm him, and it might even help the development of alternative medicine.

"My mentor, I humbly offer my respect!" Simon was quick to kneel in gratitude. To him, this was an opportunity that couldn't be missed.

The room was stunned. Just moments ago, Simon had apologized, and now, he was treating Ethan with the utmost respect. If word of this got out, it would surely shock the entire Silverbank City!

Chapter 4

An old, well-respected doctor showing respect to a young man in his 20s, asking to become his apprentice, was truly a bizarre sight.

"Dr. Brooke, what are you doing?" Serena was stunned. She had been overjoyed when Ethan saved Cindy, but this was beyond anything she could have imagined. Could Ethan's skills really be so extraordinary that even a revered figure like Simon would go to such lengths?

"You don't understand, Ms. Serena. The technique Ethan—no, my mentor—used just now is a long-lost art in alternative medicine. Many in the field dream of mastering it. Moreover, his ability to pull your sister back from the brink of death so effortlessly proves that his medical expertise far surpasses mine. Calling him my mentor is not only appropriate, it's an honor!"

He looked as excited as someone holding a winning lottery ticket. This kind of once-in-a-lifetime opportunity wasn't something he could let slip.

"Alright, enough of that. If we want to solve the problem for good, we need to find the root cause. Otherwise, I might've saved her today, only for the same thing to happen tomorrow." That simple statement brought everyone's attention back to Cindy.

As a daughter of the wealthiest family in Silverbank City, being poisoned under her own roof was no trivial matter. Someone had clearly orchestrated this, but who could it be?

"What have you been eating lately?" The room fell silent for a few minutes as everyone pondered the question. Seeing the blank looks on their faces, Ethan decided to take the lead.

"Just the usual meals and a supplement. I've been taking those for years because of my weak constitution," Cindy replied.

"What kind of supplement is it? Bring me whatever's left." The maids quickly fetched a leftover portion from the previous day.

After inspecting the mixture, Ethan noted that it contained Genlo, Loocur, Jemin, Disom, Darnte, and more. It was a typical concoction for boosting energy and blood circulation. On the surface, nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

"I've been taking it every day for years. It can't possibly be the problem, right?" Cindy asked.

"It's hard to say." Under the curious gaze of the others, Ethan scooped up a spoonful and tasted it himself. Immediately, a complex blend of flavors burst across his palate. To an ordinary person, it would just taste like herbs, but Ethan's refined senses could separate each ingredient in an instant.

He spat it out and came to a conclusion. "The supplement has been tampered with. Someone added poison to it."

All eyes turned to the maids responsible for preparing Cindy's supplements.

Serena gestured, and all the maids gathered around immediately. "Who made this batch?"

"It was Natasha," one of the maids answered nervously.

"Natasha?" Serena and Cindy exchanged a surprised look. However, Natasha Taylor was not in sight. She had been with the family for five to six years and was one of their most trusted employees.

"I remember now. She personally brought it to me yesterday and stayed to make sure I finished it before leaving." Cindy's memory proved that Natasha was involved in this.

"Where's Natasha?" Serena asked.

"Natasha's off today," one of the maids replied.

"Call her. Now," Serena commanded.

A maid dialed Natasha's number, but the call went straight to voicemail. The message was clear—Natasha was involved.

"Find her. I don't care how long it takes or where she's hiding. I want her found!" Serena ordered.

For a family as powerful as the Walkers, locating a known individual in Silverbank City was a simple task. The real challenge would be uncovering who was behind the poisoning. After all, Natasha was just a maid, and the Walker family had been nice to her as well. She had no reason to harm Cindy unless someone else had orchestrated it.

"Thanks, Ethan. You saved my sister's life today. From now on, you're my sworn brother," Serena declared.

"You're my sworn brother too!" Cindy added with a grin.

"I told you, I'm not just some wannabe. I'm the real deal!" Ethan said.

"Whether you're the real deal or not, we'll need to investigate you properly. Dad will want to confirm everything himself when he's back. Until then, you'll have to settle for being our sworn brother."

The sisters hoped that Ethan was the long-lost brother they had been looking for too. However, they still needed time to prove that Ethan was the one.

"Fine, fine. Sworn brother it is. At least I'm still a brother. By the way, this house is huge. Where am I staying?" Ethan asked.

To their surprise, instead of acting reserved, Ethan casually strolled out of the room like he owned the place. He stood in the hallway, openly surveying his surroundings, seemingly scoping out which room he wanted to claim as his own.

"You're staying here?" Serena was taken aback.

"Why not? I came all this way to find my family. Where else would I stay?" He wasn't wrong, not at all.

"No, no. You can't stay here. Until your identity is confirmed, you'll have to stay elsewhere." The house had plenty of rooms. Besides the one that they purposely kept for their brother, there were also other guest rooms. However, due to Ethan's sudden visit and him being a stranger to the Walkers, Serena's guard was up.

"I have a three-bedroom apartment at Skyview Residence. It's fully furnished. I used to stay there a lot. Before Dad gets home, it's better for you to stay there." It didn't matter if Ethan was their real brother or not. The fact that he saved Cindy's life deserved a house gifted to him by the Walkers.

Ethan sighed dramatically. "Alright then." He didn't refuse the offer as he knew he couldn't rush things. Both sides needed more time to understand each other.

"Get some rest, Cindy. I'll come back once I send Ethan over," Serena said to Cindy.

"Alright. Drive safe, Serena." Cindy nodded before turning to face Ethan. "I'll visit you when I'm better!"

"Deal!" Ethan said. With that, Serena drove him to her apartment. Donovan and Simon stared as the Rolls-Royce drove away and made a mental note to visit Ethan.

Twenty minutes later, Serena pulled up to Skyview Residence, a luxurious complex with units worth millions.

Ethan couldn't help but gawk at the upscale streets and vibrant cityscape along the way. He wished he could go for a walk right away. Having spent his entire life on a remote mountain, the bustling city was both overwhelming and exhilarating.

"What's going on over there?" As they approached the building, Serena noticed a crowd gathered outside.

The both of them glanced up and noticed someone was about to jump.

Chapter 5

Outside the apartment building, the property management staff, security guards, a delivery driver, and curious residents came out to see what was happening. All eyes were fixed on the 25th floor.

Perched precariously on the edge of a balcony sat a young woman who was dressed immaculately but visibly distraught. She had no safety harness and no barrier. One wrong move, and she would fall to her death. It was clear she had suicidal thoughts.

"Who is she?" someone asked.

"She's one of the Bennetts. I just called them. They're on their way."

"No way! Isn't she Mr. Bennett's only daughter? If anything happens to her, how will the Bennetts cope?" The neighbors murmured among themselves. Most knew each other well, so they were familiar with each family's circumstances.

"I thought Mr. Bennett's daughter was a cheerful, outgoing girl. What happened to her?"

"Exactly! She's got everything going for her and a wealthy family. What could possibly drive her to this?" Amid the concerned whispers, Ethan and Serena got out of the car, quickly piecing together what was happening.

When Serena heard that it was Mr. Bennett's daughter, her expression changed. "Could it be Lily?"

"You know her?" Ethan asked with his arms crossed as if he was watching a show.

"Yes, her name is Lily Bennett. She's 22 and the daughter of one of my dad's close friends. She went to the same university as your ninth sister. What could've pushed her to this?" Serena muttered as she pulled out her phone, searching for Lily's phone number and calling her.

However, the call went straight to voicemail. There was no chance to plead or reason with her. "Lily, please don't do anything stupid!" Serena clenched her phone, visibly anxious. She turned and made a beeline for the building, intent on going upstairs to talk Lily down herself.

However, as she moved, Lily stood up on the edge of the balcony. She glanced down at the crowd below, then raised her head to take one last look at the skyline, as though bidding farewell to the world. She looked ready to jump off anytime soon.

"No, no! Is she jumping?" The crowd panicked. The property staff frantically tried to inflate a safety cushion. They came as soon as possible, but inflating the cushion needed time. There was nothing they could do.

"Lily! It's Serena. Please don't do anything stupid! Hurry up and head back in!" Serena yelled, desperation in her voice. Lily didn't move an inch. She spread her arms and took a step forward.

She stepped into nothingness, allowing her body to free-fall from level 25.

"No!" Serena cried out. Some people watched the whole scene with their eyes wide open while some turned away, unable to watch the horrific scene unfold. Even if the cushion had been ready, a fall from the 25th floor left little chance for survival.

Suddenly, in the blink of an eye, a blur shot past Serena, faster than she could process. She could feel a gust of wind passing by her. The shadow darted through the crowd with incredible speed, positioning himself directly beneath Lily's trajectory. He raised his arms, steady and focused.

The next moment, Lily landed safely in his embrace. Against all odds, Ethan caught her. The scene felt almost too exaggerated.

The silence that followed was deafening. There was no blood and no impact.

Even Lily herself was stunned. Slowly, she opened her eyes. She was confused and disorientated. When she realized he was in the arms of a stranger, her first thought was disbelief. She glanced up at the building to check if she was at the bottom. "I… I'm not dead?"

"Does it look like you are?" Ethan replied while glancing down at her. His face was mere inches from hers. She could feel his breath on her skin.

"That's impossible! I fell from so high up. I should be dead! Even if you tried to catch me, you shouldn't have been able to," Lily muttered.

Based on basic physics, a person weighing about a hundred pounds falling freely from a height of 25 stories, with each floor being nine feet tall, would experience gravitational acceleration, resulting in an impact force roughly 19 times their body weight. Which meant she was about 1,900 pounds!

In other words, the man standing before her had somehow caught her despite the impact force equating to 1,900 pounds. That was completely absurd.

"Want proof you're alive?" Ethan asked.

"Proof?" Lily was puzzled.

"If you were dead, you wouldn't feel any pain. Agree?" Ethan asked.

"Agree!" Lily said confidently. She thought she wouldn't be able to feel any pain since she was already dead.

"Ouch!" she yelped, clinging tightly to his neck. She felt pain in her backside. It looked like Ethan had pinched her.

"So, are you dead or alive?" Ethan teased.

"I… I… I guess…" Lily wanted to fight back, but she couldn't find the words to because she truly felt the pain in her backside.

"Lily!" Before she could process the situation further, Serena rushed over, her face pale with worry. "Lily, are you okay?"

"I'm… I'm fine." Lily felt surreal.

"Foolish girl! Why would you jump? Don't you know how much your parents love you? You're their only daughter. What would they do if they lost you?" As a friend, Serena began lecturing her after seeing Lily was fine.

Lily shook her head in disappointment. "In their eyes, I'm just a tool for securing benefits. Whether I live or die, it doesn't matter to them." Her tone was heavy with disappointments, making it clear that her drastic decision stemmed from some unresolved family conflict.

Serena softened, her voice turning gentle. "Lily, no matter what, parents always love their children. I don't know what happened, but let's sit down and talk this through. Nothing is impossible."

"Okay…" Since she failed to jump off the building, Lily nodded in agreement. She hoped that with Serena's help, her parents would stop forcing her to marry someone she didn't like.

"I know you saved Lily's life, but how long do you plan to hold her like that?" Serena asked. With that, Ethan quickly set Lily down.

"Sorry about that! Got caught up in your conversation," Ethan said sheepishly.

"It's fine. Thanks for saving me." Lily blushed and thanked him, though she couldn't stop staring at his hands. "Are your hands okay?" she asked worriedly. Catching a person from such a height would break any metal, nonetheless a person's hands.

"My hands? They're fine," Ethan said, waving them in the air to show the women. He could catch something that weighed 20 thousand pounds if he had to thanks to his 18 years of training.

However, Serena wasn't convinced. She grabbed him by the arm and dragged him toward the car. "No way. We're going to the hospital to make sure."