Chapter 74: Seal Heart Vessel

In the luxurious reception hall of the Golden Group, a man and a woman sat facing each other. The man, John, appeared calm and composed, his presence exuding a quiet confidence. Beside him, Queenie, his beautiful sister, sat with a mixture of grace and impatience. She had been waiting for quite some time for the meeting they had arranged, but now, the atmosphere had shifted to one of tension.

Without warning, the door to the reception hall opened, and a female secretary dressed in black silk stockings and high heels entered. Her smile was professionally rehearsed, but there was an edge to her tone as she addressed them.

"I'm sorry, my boss won't be meeting any guests today. Please go back," the secretary said, her words carrying a dismissive finality.

Queenie, her willow-like eyebrows arching in disbelief, stood up immediately, her tone sharp. "Won't meet guests? We made an appointment long ago, didn't we?"

Her patience was wearing thin. She had traveled all this way, and now she was being treated as though she were some inconsequential visitor. Queenie was not the type to be brushed aside so easily.

The secretary, however, appeared unfazed, and before Queenie could continue her protest, a middle-aged man in a suit and leather shoes appeared at the door. The secretary immediately brightened, rushing forward to greet him with a smile that was as sweet as it was insincere.

"Sir, please come in. My boss has been waiting for you," she said, her tone completely different from how she had spoken to Queenie.

This shift in attention did not go unnoticed by Queenie. Her frustration grew as she stood and questioned the secretary, her voice tinged with both confusion and anger. "Didn't you say that your boss wouldn't meet any guests today?"

Without answering, the secretary led the man into the boss's office, her heels clicking sharply on the polished floor. Afterward, she returned to Queenie, her expression one of barely concealed condescension. "Miss, actually, my boss has already seen the materials of your company," the secretary explained dismissively.

Queenie's face tightened with disbelief. "Then why did you keep me waiting for so long?"

The secretary sighed dramatically, as if Queenie's question was beneath her. "I think you already know why. My boss originally planned to spare you some face, seeing that you are a businesswoman too. But since you're being so stubborn, don't blame me for speaking frankly. My boss will never cooperate with you."

"Why?" Queenie asked, her confusion deepening.

The secretary's look was one of disdain, her eyes narrowing as she gave a pointed glance at Queenie. "You can search 'Queenie Group' online and see for yourself. The reason is right there."

And with that, the secretary turned on her heel and left, her exit as brisk as her entrance.

Queenie, now even more perplexed, sat back down. She opened her laptop, typed in "Queenie Group" into the search engine, and the first headline that appeared made her blood run cold.

"It's reported that Queenie, the beautiful president of Queenie Group, has a very chaotic private life. She secretly keeps a kept man while hooking up with the King of the Southern River…"

Her face went pale as she read the article. The scandal had spread like wildfire, and although it had not reached the wider state just yet, it was already overwhelming New York. Queenie had been completely unaware of the news until this moment.

John, standing quietly behind her, saw the same headlines and his expression turned stormy with rage. The calm facade he had maintained slipped, and his eyes narrowed, filled with murderous intent. His sister had been publicly shamed, and he would not let this go unpunished.

Without another word, John pulled out his phone and called the Duke of Southern River. "Where did these rumors come from?" he demanded, his voice low and menacing.

"I-It's the Russell Family…" Leo's voice crackled through the phone, his tone still strained from the earlier events in New York.

John's fury only intensified. "The Russell Family? They've crossed a line. Prepare a coffin for them. I'll be congratulating them on their premature demise," he growled, his anger barely contained.

On the other end of the line, Leo chuckled darkly, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. "King of Horizon is furious. The Russell Family won't last the day. Get everything ready. We'll deliver our 'gift' to them today."

John didn't waste a second. He rushed back to New York, his mind already set on retribution. Queenie, still reeling from the public humiliation, returned to Queenie Group to organize a public relations strategy with her employees. She knew it would take all her skill to salvage her company's reputation.

But John's mind was elsewhere. He was heading straight for the Southern River King, but on the way, he received a call from his older sister Alice. Her voice, frail and weak, sent a jolt of panic through him.

"Little John…" Alice's voice trembled through the phone.

"Sister, what's wrong with you?" John's voice was thick with concern.

There was no answer from the other end, only a faint crackling sound. His heart pounded in his chest, and without a moment's hesitation, he activated his Mind Circle, pinpointing Alice's location.

When he arrived, Alice was lying on the grass, her face ashen. The bite on the back of her hand was deep purple, and a long purple line ran up her arm. The poison of the colorful centipede was spreading rapidly. The moment it reached her heart, Alice would die.

John's mind raced as he quickly assessed the situation. He had no time to hesitate. He tore at Alice's night clothes, his expression focused and determined. Without a hint of impropriety, he prepared the antidote—a needle with a powerful restorative serum designed to slow the spread of the poison.

He injected it into Alice, blocking her heart pulse and buying them precious time. But the antidote alone wouldn't save her. Only the body of the colorful centipede could provide the cure. Time was running out.

After applying the needle, John covered Alice with his own clothes to keep her warm and carried her back to the Greenland Villa. His movements were swift and purposeful.

As he stepped out of the villa, Alice in his arms, his eyes burned with murderous intent. There would be no mercy for those who dared to harm his family. His rage, previously restrained, now blazed with unrelenting fury. The Russell Family had made their fatal mistake, and they would pay for it in blood.