?


    Serena felt a delightful flutter in her chest as sheughed softly. "Oh,e on! I was just joking! Running apany is way beyond me--why would I even want the Mcdaniel Group? No matter how valuable the Posa Root is, it doesn''t hold a candle to our friendship. You think I wouldn''t just give it to you?"


    Her yful banter highlighted the charming side of her personality that she loved to showcase.


    Byron, however, didn''t quite grasp her teasing. "No need for that. I don''t like owing anyone anything."


    "But I haven''t even figured out what I want from you yet! How about this: I''ll keep that option open for now, and when I finally need something, you''ll be the first person Ie to." Serena''s smile brightened, "Don''t worry; it''ll definitely be something you can handle." Byron frowned slightly but didn''t press the issue, simply epting her terms.


    After they hung up, Serena lifted her ss of red wine, swirling it gently as she shed a seductive smile, looking as enchanting as a siren.


    It was almost amusing how Byron showered his girlfriend with affection, even someone with a questionable past, to the point that he felt indebted to her.


    That thought stirred a pang of envy in her. ''How wonderful it would be to have such adoration directed at her,'' she thought.


    *****


    Meanwhile, just as they wrapped up the Posa Root matter, the helicopter headed for Rudolf''s location hit a snag during takeoff, resulting in a possible half-day dy for inspection.


    Jaylen was seething--this wasn''t just a matter of time; it was about Maeve''s life.


    Without hesitation, Theo dialed Loren for help.


    "Good news! Someone already notified the management department, and the helicopter will be cleared for takeoff in ten minutes," Loren said.


    "Who else would be kind enough to help us if not you?" Theo asked, perplexed.


    "I was just as surprised; it''s my long-lost uncle, Hosea." Loren sounded equally astonished. "After he vanished, some folks in the royal family imed he was dead. Funny timing, huh? Just yesterday, they were at the pce talking about reinstating an heir, and now my uncle suddenly appears."


    Though he hadn''t yet returned to Erancia, this news was undoubtedly a glimmer of hope.


    Aside from his uncle, Loren hoped no other would im that position.


    Theo had little understanding of royal matters-if pressed, he couldn''t even recall which vault stored the queen''s snacks.


    Upon hearing this news, he muttered a few "ohs," hisck of interest clear.


    Loren paused. "What''s happening over there? I heard the helicopter was loaded with medicinal herbs; is someone sick?"


    Theo didn''t hold back, exining Maeve''s viral infection.


    "How could this happen!" Loren''s usual calm tone was now tinged with concern. "The X virus disappeared years ago; unless someone has been hiding a part of it and modified it, there''s no way it should suddenly mutate!"


    Frustrated, Theo rubbed his small face. "That''s what we think too, but we can''t figure out how Mom came into contact with the virus."


    Loren thought for a moment. "It must have leaked from the research institute in Erancia. I''ll handle that investigation; you focus on Maeve... No, that''s still not enough for her safety. I''ll send over some backup artillery--any threats will be nothing but paper tigers in front of it."


    "Loren," Theo reminded him, "those things are strictly forbidden at home. Can''t you send us some discreet defensive weapons instead?"


    This time, Loren fell silent for a moment before responding, "The most low-profile weapons I have in my factory are those artillery pieces." Theo was left speechless.


    He and Maeve hadpletely misjudged Loren; it turned out the "toys" he had received were already surprisingly safe.


    Theo hung up the phone, anxiety still coursing through him, and turned to find Will tucked away in a corner, absorbed in a conversation through his headset.


    "Who are you talking to?" Theo asked, inching closer, his curiosity evident.


    "I''m in touch with the bodyguards who are handling the medicine," Will replied, his tone serious. "I''ve got a gut feeling that the helicopter getting intercepted wasn''t just bad luck. There could be another ambush on the way from the helipad to the hospital." Theo''s expression hardened. "So, someone''s behind this?"


    "I can''t say for sure, but those herbs are critical for Mom and Dad. We need to be extra cautious."


    "What''s the n?"


    "I''ve divided them into three teams for this operation."


    Theo''s face lit up with understanding. "So, two teams will act as decoys while only one team carries the actual medicine. That should make it a lot harder for anyone trying to cause trouble."


    Will''s eyes sparkled with resolve. "They won''t get away with this."


    No one was going to interfere, especially with their parents'' lives on the line.


    As Will had predicted, the bodyguards encountered multiple obstacles on their way to the hospital.


    From reckless drivers deliberately crashing into them to barricades blocking their path, the first team hadn''t even reached the hospital before they were forced to pull over.


    Fortunately, with three teams in action, the group transporting the medicine managed to arrive safely at the hospital.


    With the herbs finally secured, Jaylen and his research team sprang into action.


    The antidote for the Xasia was derived from an herbal form that was safe for human use, crafted by the brilliant Rudolf, who had even received des from the queen herself.


    As his apprentice, Jaylen was more than capable of carrying on that legacy.


    Once the antidote was ready, Byron was moved from the hospital room to theb.


    Testing the antidote wasn''t as simple as swallowing a pill and waiting for results.


    It involved multiple blood draws, constant monitoring of vital signs, and any issues that arose meant adjusting the data and starting over-not to mention the unexpectedplications that could arise during testing.


    At the research institute in Erancia, every volunteer for human trials had to sign a waiver, fully aware of the risks involved.


    As Will walked past the istion room, he overheard his father''s strained voice from inside, and tears threatened to spill from his eyes.Original content from N?velDrama.Org.


    If only he were a little older, maybe he could help shoulder some of the burden for his parents.


    He thought, ''Why am I still so small?''


    Inside the istion room, after recording Byron''stest health data, Jaylen nced at him, not ready to say any mean words.


    "How''s Maeve doing?" Byron asked, his dark eyes barely open, his voice hoarse and rough, as if he had been scraped raw.


    He looked pale and weary, like a lion nursing a wound, still fierce despite his vulnerability.


    Jaylen sighed. "I''ve used silver needles to numb her senses. She''ll stay asleep for now to spare her the pain. There are still a few tweaks needed for the antidote, but it won''t be long."


    Byron seemed to rx a bit, though his exhaustion was evident.


    "Byron, do you care about Maeve?" Jaylen asked suddenly.


    Byron shot him a look, brow furrowing. "What are you getting at?"


    "I just think there''s no future for you two. Don''t re at me; there are plenty of examples in our world where mismatched backgrounds lead to disaster. You may love her now and want to give her everything, but what happens when that changes? Will you just push her away?" Jaylen asked.