"Brother, what are you doing?"
Brooke's voice was sharp with confusion and disbelief. Watching Buck treat John with such unexpected reverence filled him with unease and frustration.
Just as he was about to question further, Buck barked, "Shut up!"
Brooke froze, lips clamped shut, his pride wounded but his obedience stronger.
John's eyes narrowed slightly, scrutinizing Buck. "Why the sudden apology?" he asked coolly. "Don't you blame me for your father's death?"
Buck shook his head with surprising calm. "Mr. Lopez, you were right. My father's life was hanging by a thread. He didn't have much time left. You did everything you could to save him, but sometimes... fate just doesn't give us a choice."
He lowered his head slightly, a gesture of sincere respect.
"I shouldn't have blamed you, Mr. Lopez."
Brooke and the others stood in stunned silence. Their insides churned with confusion and irritation. Why was their eldest brother still defending this man? How did he know for sure that John had done his best to save Arno?
Buck glanced at John again and asked, "Mr. Lopez, may I ask… where is your master now? Where's Perry?"
It was clear Buck had finally calmed down and begun thinking rationally. Perhaps, he now realized, the 'opportunity' Perry once mentioned had nothing to do with curing Arno—but something else entirely.
Of course, John instantly saw through Buck's reasoning, but his voice remained cold and decisive.
"My master is traveling abroad," he lied with the same straight face. "He won't return to Houston for at least two years."
It wasn't entirely false, either. Perry hadn't shown his face in a long time, and John had no reason to believe he would anytime soon.
Buck's expression turned grim. Two years? No one could predict what the Long family would look like by then.
Unwilling to let go of the last thread of hope, Buck pressed further. "Did Perry ever mention anything about our Long family? Any clue about the opportunity he spoke of?"
John furrowed his brow in mock thought before replying, "No. Even your father's illness—I only knew about it because Sophia told me. As for the 'opportunity,' my master probably said that in passing… just small talk, nothing more."
"Just small talk…"
The muscles in Buck's face twitched.
The Long family had clung to that vague promise like a lifeline. And now John was saying it may have been nothing but an offhand comment?
That single revelation struck like a hammer to the chest.
Was there really no salvation left for the Long family?
A heavy silence fell over the room.
Brooke broke it with a scoff, muttering, "Big brother, I've said it from the beginning. This man can't be trusted. And yet you still—"
"Shut up!" Buck snapped again, his patience thinning. Then he turned to the room. "We need to focus on solutions."
The air thickened with tension.
After a moment, Brooke cautiously spoke again. "Brother… I might have an idea."
All eyes turned to him.
He hesitated, then said, "Just like the Swift family, we can find a powerful backer—someone like the White Dragon King. As far as I know, he's already ended his partnership with the Swifts. That opens a door for us."
Everyone in the room instantly understood his implication.
He was suggesting that the Long family seek support from the White Dragon King.
Expressions soured. Several faces darkened with resentment. Clearly, they found the suggestion distasteful.
Buck's voice dropped an octave. "Second Brother… have you forgotten how Father ended up in this state? The White Dragon King is our family's enemy."
Although poison had been the root cause of Arno's illness, it was the brutal battle with the White Dragon King that had weakened him so severely. That defeat made it impossible for Arno to suppress the poison, sending his health into a downward spiral.
In the eyes of the Long family, the White Dragon King wasn't just an enemy—he was the direct cause of Arno's death.
Brooke, however, remained unshaken. "There are no eternal enemies—only eternal interests," he said calmly. "The only reason the White Dragon King fought Father was because he sided with the Swift family. But now that he's severed ties with them, the playing field has changed."
His words struck a chord. Though the logic was hard to refute, it didn't erase the pain and humiliation the White Dragon King had inflicted upon their family.
The idea of forming an alliance with Arno's indirect killer stirred discomfort in everyone.
Buck exhaled heavily. "Let's set that suggestion aside for now. Does anyone have a better plan?"
"Big Brother," came a soft voice.
It was Mandy, Brooke's wife.
"I think we should consider another route. Do you remember Hardy?"
Everyone looked toward her.
She continued, "Hardy's father is a high-ranking official in the Central Martial Arts League. That's how the Tennat family has remained so powerful. If we marry Sophia to Hardy, we can use the Martial Arts League as our backer."
Sophia's mother stood up at once, her face filled with anger. "Why not marry off your own daughter, then?"
Mandy chuckled coldly. "I'd be glad to. Unfortunately, Hardy has no interest in my daughter. He only wants Sophia. Otherwise, I'd have already arranged it."
Brooke's eyes lit up, and he nodded. "Mandy makes a good point. If we don't want the White Dragon King as a backer, Sophia may have to make a sacrifice. It benefits the entire family."
All eyes turned to Sophia—expectant, hopeful, some even pleading.
All except her parents.
Sophia met their gazes with cold defiance.
"I refuse," she said, her voice like steel. "If Grandpa were alive, he'd never allow this."
Now she finally understood why Arno had insisted on hiding his recovery from the rest of the family.
The moment the big tree fell, everyone began fighting for its branches.
Brooke stepped forward, frowning. "Sophia, that's not fair. We all know Grandpa loved you the most. That's why he never asked you to make sacrifices. But things are different now. He's gone. If we don't secure a backer soon, we could lose everything."
Mandy added, "Exactly, Sophia. You were the apple of his eye. Now it's your turn to do something for him. Do you really want to see Grandpa's hard-earned legacy torn apart by rival families?"
Her tone softened with mock concern. "Sure, Hardy's not the most handsome man, but he's wealthy, influential, and he's crazy about you. Maybe marriage with him won't be as bad as you think."
She clasped her hands together and said melodramatically, "For the future of the Long family, I'm begging you, niece."