My hotel room door flew open with such force that it bounced against the wall. I barely had ti to turn before Isabelle rushed in, her face twisted with fury and concern. She froze when she saw , her hand flying to cover her mouth.
"Liam!" she gasped, her voice breaking. "My God... what did he do to you?"
I tried to smile, but my split lip made it more of a grimace. My face was a canvas of purples and blues, one eye nearly swollen shut. I'd managed to clean up most of the blood, but there was no hiding the damage.
"It looks worse than it feels," I lied, awkwardly shifting on the bed where I'd been resting.
Isabelle moved to my side in an instant, her fingers hovering over my bruised face, afraid to touch and cause more pain. "My father did this? All of this?"
"Him and his n," I admitted. "Mostly Caspian, to be fair."
Her eyes darkened dangerously. "I'll kill him. I swear I'll—"
"No," I caught her wrist gently. "Isabelle, listen. It's actually good news."
She stared at like I'd lost my mind. "Good news? You're beaten half to death!"
"But I'm not all the way dead," I pointed out, attempting humor. "And your father gave what I wanted—a chance to prove myself."
Isabelle's eyebrows shot up. "What are you talking about?"
I shifted, wincing as pain lanced through my ribs. "One year. He's given one year to beco strong enough to stand among Veridia City's elite. If I succeed, he'll reconsider his position on us."
"A year? After doing this to you?" Her voice trembled with rage. "He has no right—"
"He has every right," I cut in softly. "He's your father, and from his perspective, I'm nobody. A live-in son-in-law who couldn't even protect his own dignity for three years."
Isabelle's eyes filled with tears. "You're not nobody. Not to ."
Those simple words ward more than any dicine could. I reached for her hand, squeezing it gently. "That's why I need this year. To beco soone worthy of standing beside you."
Her expression softened as she carefully sat beside on the bed. "You don't need to prove anything to ."
"Not to you," I agreed. "But to the world that will tear us apart if I remain weak."
Isabelle sighed, her anger giving way to resignation. She looked around the room and spotted the first aid kit I'd been fumbling with earlier. Without another word, she retrieved it and began thodically tending to my wounds.
The gentle press of her fingers against my skin sent shivers through . No one had ever cared for this way—with such tenderness and focus. Each touch conveyed more than words could, and I found myself srized by her determined expression as she worked.
"You should see a real doctor," she murmured, dabbing antiseptic on a cut above my eyebrow.
"I'll heal," I assured her. "The pendant helped absorb so of the damage."
Her eyes flicked to the jade pendant hanging around my neck. "Still, these bruises..."
"Are badges of honor," I finished for her. "The price I paid for a chance at a future with you."
Isabelle's hands stilled, her eyes eting mine. "If that's the price, it's too high." Content first released on *.
I shook my head, imdiately regretting the movent as pain flared. "No price is too high."
We sat in silence as she finished treating my visible wounds. There was little she could do for my bruised ribs except wrap them tightly, her fingers occasionally brushing against my bare skin as she worked. Each touch sent warmth spreading through , distracting from the pain.
"There," she said finally, securing the last bandage. "That's the best I can do without proper dical equipnt."
"Thank you," I said, catching her hand and pressing a kiss to her palm. "Not just for this."
She smiled softly. "What's our next move?"
I straightened slightly, energized despite my injuries. "There's an auction in South City tomorrow. Top-grade herbs that could help advance faster. I need to be there."
Isabelle didn't hesitate. "Then we'll go."
"Tonight?"
"Why wait? I packed light, and you..." she glanced around the sparse hotel room, "don't seem to have much to pack."
I laughed, then groaned as my ribs protested. "You're right about that. But are you sure? Your father—"
"Can wait," she interrupted firmly. "I told him I'd be with you for three days. He won't expect back any sooner."
Within an hour, we were in Isabelle's car heading toward South City. The pain from my injuries faded to a dull throb as excitent built within . Every mile that passed was another step toward the future I was fighting for.
"Have you heard about the Hawthornes?" Isabelle asked, breaking our comfortable silence.
"No, what about them?"
"Complete disgrace," she said, a hint of satisfaction in her voice. "After you exposed them, their entire family has been blacklisted from every major event in Havenwood. Even their long-standing business partners are cutting ties."
I thought of Charles Hawthorne's smug face, of how he'd looked down on for years. "Can't say I'm sorry to hear it."
"You shouldn't be," Isabelle agreed. "They deserved worse for how they treated you."
As we approached South City's towering skyline, I felt a subtle change in the air. My senses, sharpened by cultivation, picked up on the rich spiritual energy perating the atmosphere.
"The energy here is incredible," I murmured, lowering my window to better feel the rush. "Far more concentrated than in Havenwood or Shiglance."
Isabelle nodded. "South City is built on an ancient spiritual vein. It's why so many powerful families have estates here, even if their main businesses are elsewhere."
We drove into the heart of the city, navigating through streets lined with buildings that seamlessly blended modern architecture with traditional designs. As night fell, glowing spirit stones illuminated the pathways, casting everything in an ethereal blue light.
"The auction starts in a few hours," I noted, checking my watch. "We should find a hotel first."
Isabelle pulled into the driveway of a gleaming high-rise. "Already taken care of. I called ahead while you were gathering your things."
A valet approached as we stopped, bowing respectfully when he recognized Isabelle. Within minutes, we were settling into a luxurious suite with panoramic views of the city.
My stomach growled audibly, reminding I hadn't eaten since morning.
Isabelle laughed. "We should find sothing to eat before the auction."
"What would you recomnd?" I asked, feeling suddenly shy about making decisions for soone of her status.
She tilted her head, studying with amusent. "Don't be coy like a little girl," she teased, her eyes sparkling. "Tell what you want, Liam. I want to know everything about you—even your taste in food."
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