Chapter 5 Dylan Morgan

A shadow crossed Cade's eyes. "Are you certain about this?"

Dr. L had long been spoken about like a legend within the medical world. The mysterious doctor had once caused the wealthiest and most powerful people across the globe to compete fiercely for a single appointment.

Then three years ago, the figure disappeared completely, leaving behind no clues.

Dina had always been physically fragile. With her current pregnancy, the risks had grown even greater.

If anyone had the ability to protect both her and the child during delivery, it would be Dr. L.

If that elusive figure had truly reappeared, it meant more than just good news for Cade. To him, it was the only hope left.

Nigel paused for a moment before continuing, "Mr. Willis, there's another matter you should know about. Dylan Morgan, the head of Morgan Group, has also begun searching for Dr. L. From what we've heard, it's for his grandfather, Toby Morgan."

Cade's brows tightened slightly. "Have they discovered anything yet?"

"So far, nothing solid," Nigel replied. "But Morgan Group has already spread the word. Anyone who provides reliable information or helps secure Dr. L's help will receive a generous reward. On top of that, they'll gain priority consideration for future business partnerships."

Cade's thoughts shifted instantly.

For years, Willis Group had been trying to establish closer ties with the Morgan family, especially in the field of medical investments. If this situation could open that door, it might become the opportunity he had been waiting for.

"Mobilize every connection we have," Cade instructed in a calm but decisive voice. "We need to find Dr. L before anyone else does."

"Understood, Mr. Willis."

...

That evening, the most exclusive private club in the downtown district, Nimbus, glowed brightly under a sea of lights.

By the time Claire and Rylie stepped into their reserved private room, the atmosphere inside was already lively.

"Claire!" A young man with silver-gray hair rushed toward her immediately, his arms spread wide as if preparing to pull her into a hug. Claire smoothly shifted to the side, leaving him embracing nothing but empty space.

"Nate," she said with a faint smile. "You're still as noisy as ever."

"I can't help it. I'm excited!" Nate said as he rubbed the back of his head, his eyes shining with enthusiasm. The well-known racer in their circle looked thrilled. "You've finally come back. The men on my team keep talking about you. They still say no one has managed to beat your lap record."

While he spoke, another man approached with a drink in hand. His thin wire-rim glasses caught the light as he examined Claire with the calm scrutiny of someone evaluating a patient. "You look perfectly fine," he said with a sharp smile. "That miserable marriage didn't seem to drain you the way it could have. Even so, I'm still giving you a full checkup later. I'll handle it myself."

This was Kenneth, a medical prodigy who could appear relaxed in a party setting yet still give people the unsettling feeling that he was holding a scalpel somewhere behind his back.

Across the room, a thin young man wearing a hoodie remained focused on the laptop in front of him. He never even lifted his head as his fingers raced across the keyboard. "Claire, I've already slipped through the Willis family's surveillance system. I can monitor their movements for the next three months. And if you want, I could create a little problem for Cade's finances."

This was Zayne, a shadow within the cyber world who could break into nearly any system he chose.

"No need for that." Claire settled onto the sofa and accepted the drink Rylie passed to her. "My ties with the Willis family are finished. I'm cutting them off completely."

"Finished?" Jemma, a renowned jewelry designer, lifted her head from the tablet she had been studying and pushed her glasses higher on the bridge of her nose. "No, that's not enough. They don't deserve a clean exit. They owe you, and they should repay that debt piece by piece."

Reaching into her bag, she pulled out a folder and slid it across the table. "Take a look at this. I created it especially for you. My newest jewelry line, 'Rebirth.' Every design was inspired by you." Her eyes sparkled with excitement. "The theme is transformation. Thorns, flames, wings rising after the ashes. When you step back into the spotlight, you'll wear these pieces. I want the entire world to feel your return."

Claire opened the folder and studied the pages. The sketches of the jewelry were breathtaking, so striking they almost made her pause.

Back when she married into the Willis family, she had poured all her time and energy into Cade. The friendships from her past gradually faded because she stopped reaching for that life altogether.

Yet despite the years that had passed, these people were still here, standing beside her just as they always had.

A quiet warmth spread through her chest.

Lowering her gaze, Claire took a sip of the drink. The alcohol slid down her throat with a sharp burn, a taste she hadn't allowed herself to enjoy for a long time.

Not long afterward, Rylie's phone began to ring, and she stepped outside to answer it.

Claire stood up a moment later and made her way toward the restroom.

She had barely stepped out when a man staggered into the hallway and blocked her path, the heavy smell of alcohol clinging to him.

"Well now. A beautiful woman walking around alone? Come join me for a drink." The man looked to be in his early thirties and wore a gaudy shirt that made him stand out even more. His gaze wandered over her with drunken confidence.

Claire's face remained calm. She gave him a brief, uninterested glance and attempted to move past him.

"Hey, hold on." The man reached out as she tried to leave. "What, you think you're too good for me? Anyone who comes to a place like this is here for a good time. And I have plenty of money. You-"

Before his hand could touch her, another hand suddenly appeared and caught his wrist in midair. The long, firm fingers tightened with crushing strength.

"Ow-hey! That hurts!" the man shouted, instantly sobering as the pain cut through the alcohol haze.

Claire lifted her eyes.

At some point, a man dressed in a dark gray suit had stepped between them without her noticing.

He stood tall with broad shoulders, his frame sharp beneath a perfectly tailored suit that looked as though it had been made specifically for him.

Even from behind, the man carried an unmistakable presence, the kind that spoke of power and authority that few people would dare challenge.

The stranger tilted his head slightly. The moment his cold gaze landed on the drunken man, the atmosphere in the hallway seemed to freeze.

"M-Mr. Morgan?" the man stammered as recognition struck him. The color drained from his face instantly, and his voice trembled. "I-I'm sorry. I didn't realize she was with you. I'll leave right away."

The drunk man staggered away in a panic, almost tripping over his own feet as he hurried down the corridor.

Claire stared at the man in front of her, a flicker of surprise catching in her chest.

Dylan Morgan-the man who currently controlled the powerful Morgan family in Draesdale. His name alone carried enough influence to make even the financial world uneasy. People described him as cold and ruthless, the type of figure most only encountered across a negotiation table, and even that was rare.

He almost never appeared at public gatherings. No one had ever heard of him stepping forward to help someone like this.

Why would he intervene for her?

For a moment, Dylan remained facing away from her.

He slowly took out a dark gray handkerchief and carefully wiped the fingers that had grabbed the drunk man's wrist, as though even that brief contact had been unpleasant.

Only after finishing did he turn around. His eyes settled on Claire's face.

His expression showed nothing. No warmth, no curiosity, no emotion at all. His gaze remained calm and unreadable.

Then something changed.

The moment he saw her clearly, his movement halted.