Chapter 1: The Silver Object
The grand foyer of the Vance estate fell into a stunned silence. For years, Julian Vance had sat in his wheelchair, the undisputed head of a shipping empire, his legs paralyzed after a mysterious accident three years prior. Specialists from around the world had examined him, but none offered hope. Today, his five-year-old niece, Lily, had knelt before him with a basin of water, innocently promising to wash his feet so he could walk again.
When her tiny fingers dipped into the water, they didn't just feel skin and enamel—they brushed against a heavy, cold piece of metal resting at the bottom of the basin.
Lily held it up, water dripping from her cupped hands. It was a silver cylinder, no larger than a key, engraved with a precise medical serial number.
"The doctor dropped this," Lily whispered, her big brown eyes filled with pure curiosity.
Julian’s breath hitched. He recognized the physician who had just left—Dr. Alistair Finch, the family’s trusted neurologist who had managed Julian’s treatment since the accident. Julian reached down, his hands trembling as he took the small cylinder from Lily. It wasn't a standard medical tool; it was a high-tech data capsule used in experimental nerve-blocking research.
May you like
The room, packed with relatives and high-society guests who had gathered for the family's annual foundation event, began to buzz with hushed murmurs. Julian looked toward the grand arched doorway where Dr. Finch had disappeared only moments before.
"Get my car," Julian said, his voice quiet but carrying an undeniable edge of authority. "Now."
