"Dead man… came back to life?"
Seeing Arno suddenly sit up with a grim expression, all members of the Long family were struck speechless.
"You unfilial bastards!"
Arno's voice thundered with fury. Hearing someone refer to him as a dead man only fueled his rage further.
"Even if I were dead, I'd come back just to drag you all down with me!"
Mandy dropped to her knees in terror. "Dad, rest in peace! Don't come back! I only suggested marrying Sophia off to the Tennat family for the future of the Long family. If I weren't worried about us, how could I bear to let Sophia suffer? I'm still her aunt…"
Slap!
Before she could finish, Brooke smacked her across the face and snapped, "Shut up! Father's still alive—how could you say something like that?!"
"Still alive?"
Mandy froze, and only now seemed to process what had happened.
Buck quickly stepped forward, overjoyed. "Father, it's a miracle you're awake! What you just did nearly scared us all to death!"
"Scared? Hmph! You all looked quite bold and decisive just moments ago!"
Arno's sneer cut through the room like a blade. "Thanks to Mr. Lopez, I've recovered. But if I had really died and left the Long family in your hands, I'd never rest in peace!"
Buck understood the implication and offered a bitter smile. "Father, I know you're upset about what we did to Sophia. I regret it too. But I really didn't have another choice."
Turning toward Sophia, he bowed slightly. "Don't blame me, Sophia. I lost my head for a moment."
But Sophia's eyes remained emotionless.
Buck could see the pain he had caused her. She hadn't spoken a word, but her silence said everything. He sighed helplessly.
"Come here," Arno suddenly called to Brooke.
Brooke thought Arno had something private to say and quickly approached the bed.
But before he could stand straight, Arno shot up and delivered a heavy slap across his face.
"Did you disrespect Mr. Lopez just now?"
Of all the things that had enraged him in this whole affair, two stood out: first, the decision to trade Sophia off in marriage; second, their blatant disrespect toward John.
Arno was a reasonable man. Even if John hadn't cured him, they had no right to blame him. The fact that John was willing to try was already a gift.
But Brooke had dared to question him.
Arno had half a mind to slap him dead on the spot.
Slap!
The crack of palm meeting cheek rang through the room. Brooke spun from the force, staggered, and finally dropped to his knees in front of John.
His head was spinning.
Groaning, Brooke shook himself back to his senses, then bowed low and kowtowed.
"Mr. Lopez, I sincerely apologize for my earlier disrespect. Whether or not you cured my father, I was wrong to question you. Please forgive me."
Buck echoed the sentiment. "Mr. Lopez, I too spoke out of turn. Please forgive us."
But John didn't even glance at them.
He could see their apologies were driven by convenience—Arno was alive. That was all.
Had Arno died, they might have turned their blame and hatred on him without a second thought.
John wasn't the type to hold grudges, but he had no interest in people like them either.
His attention was on Sophia.
He hadn't known her long, and hadn't yet grasped the full depth of her character.
But just now, something about her had changed.
Sometimes, people matured in an instant.
Perhaps the betrayal by her own family—especially Buck—had ignited that transformation in her heart.
And John could see it.
He studied her quietly, wondering how far she would go from here.
And he was right.
Sophia's heart had sunk to its lowest point.
She never imagined her father would so coldly offer her up as a bargaining chip—just to secure the family's safety.
What was she to them? Property?
She saw it now. Clearer than ever.
So she said nothing. No amount of apology could erase what had been done.
But then she noticed John looking at her. His steady gaze softened the edges of her hurt. Slowly, the light returned to her eyes.
"Mr. Lopez."
She stepped forward and addressed him with quiet resolve. "May I ask a favor?"
John's eyes flickered with interest. "Go ahead."
"I'd like to ask you to speak to Master Bertha on my behalf. I want to… enroll in the Houston Martial Arts School."
The Houston Martial Arts School—also known as the Martial Arts League's Talent Training Base—was a dream for countless aspiring cultivators. Anyone accepted into the school earned instant prestige. Even the most powerful clans in Houston wouldn't dare provoke one of its students.
Because…
Almost every instructor there also worked for the Martial Arts League.
And who would dare offend one of their own?
Even better, Master Bertha's teacher, Alexandra, was the current director of the school. Bertha herself was Alexandra's most prized student.
If Bertha made the request, getting Sophia admitted would not be difficult.
"I know I've missed the ideal age to start training," Sophia said firmly. "But please believe me, Mr. Lopez—if I'm admitted, I'll work harder than anyone. I won't waste the opportunity."
Sophia had seen the truth about wealthy clans like hers.
If you weren't strong, you had no control over your own fate.
That day, she truly awakened.
Who said women couldn't be as strong as men?
Master Bertha was living proof that they could.
Sophia may have started late—but she was determined to follow that same path. She would shape her own destiny, no longer a pawn in someone else's game.