In the Prescott family's estate in Lexington, the air was thick with dread.

On the grand bed lay Samuel Prescott, the bald, aging patriarch. His once- commanding frame had withered, his skin pale as parchment, his breath shallow and labored.

Around him, the Prescott bloodline gathered in tense silence, their faces

shadowed with worry.

"Benjamin!" Henry's voice cracked as he paced the floor, his nerves unraveling. "Father was fine yesterday. How could he collapse so suddenly?"

Benjamin's jaw tightened. "Don't start pointing fingers at me," he snapped.

"Father brought this on himself. Trying to break past level one hundred at his age —it was madness. No one's ever done it, and now look where it's gotten him."

Henry stopped in his tracks, fists clenched, his face twisted with helpless anger. "Why does he keep pushing himself like this?"

A sudden cry split the air. "Grandfather's coughing up blood!" Frederick Prescott, Benjamin's broad-shouldered son, lurched forward, eyes wide with shock.

"We need Dr. Owen," Benjamin cut in sharply. "He's the only one who can stabilize him. So why isn't he here yet?"

"Uncle!" Lawrence forced his way to the front, his hands trembling as he held out a small pill in an open box. "I have a healing pill-please, let Grandfather take it!"

Frederick's eyes narrowed at the pill. "That thing looks dangerous. Where the hell did you get it?"

"From Lyra Thompson, the governor of Chicago," Lawrence replied, “This is a miracle pill."

Frederick let out a harsh laugh. “That scheming woman is selling miracle pills now? More like poison wrapped in a pretty shell."

"Grandfather is dying before our eyes!" Lawrence's voice rose, desperate.

"I paid everything I had-borrowed money even-to get this. I can't just watch him fade away without trying!"

"I said no!" Frederick's roar shook the chamber.

He slapped the pill from Lawrence's hand, the tiny bead clattering to the marble floor.

Before Lawrence could reach for it, Frederick ground it beneath his heel, crushing it to dust.

"We don't need your poison. You're not even worthy to stand here."

"You-" Lawrence's face flushed with fury, his hands curling into fists.

"What?" Frederick stepped forward, chest swelling, fists raised. His thick arms bulged with barely restrained violence. "You want to fight me over this?"

Everyone

legacy carved by martial strength.

and

In the family's eyes, Lawrence was a shadow, tolerated only

fear-with rage. He had nothing of the heir's swagger,

to save the old man who had once carried him on his shoulders, who had been more than a patriarch—he had been his

had sacrificed everything, emptied his pockets, begged and borrowed,

Frederick had destroyed it before

arrogance. "My son only cares about his grandfather's safety. Who knows what poison

Frederick added smugly, folding

That pill of yours looked more like

like a whip. His authority silenced the room. “Father is dying, and you're bickering

rushed in, breathless. "They're here! Dr. Jonathan

Benjamin hurried forward. "Doctor Owen, thank God.

the physician to the

all of you," Jonathan

practiced care,

room held its

with concern. "His nerves... they're shattered. He pushed himself far beyond his limits in

my skills, there is little

color. "Doctor Owen, you

country. If even you

Jonathan's voice was low, steady,

head, rose from the bedside, and began to gather

his nose twitching. His

strong medicinal scent. Tell

sneered, his tone sharp with mockery. "If we had such a thing, do you think we'd just stand

until they landed on the crushed remnants on the floor. His face froze, then twisted with anguish. "No..." His voice cracked. "What

knees. He scraped the powder off the

didn't care how he looked. "What a

the most respected physician in the nation groveling on the floor for a handful of

what is going

snapped up, his eyes blazing with fury. "What's going on? How dare you ask me that? You destroyed a miracle pill!" His

medicine-it's a treasure beyond price. Rare, priceless, and blessed by fate itself! And you fools—" he jabbed a trembling finger at them-"you

floor. "Mr. Owen, are you serious? How could that white, broken thing be a miracle

head snapped toward him, his eyes burning with contempt. "If your grandfather had taken this pill, his life could have been

from every mouth at once. Faces

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