The day Alaric Blackwood’s life changed began like every other. With a board meeting. At precisely 9:00 a.m., the doors of Blackwood Tower’s executive conference room opened. Alaric Blackwood stepped inside, his right-hand man, Ethan Hayes, following one step behind. The room fell silent. Every CEO, director, investor, and government representative rose to their feet without being asked. Respect wasn’t requested in Alaric’s presence—it was instinctive. Without acknowledging the room, he walked to the head of the table and took his seat. His expression remained unreadable as he took his seat at the head of the thirty-foot table. “Begin.” One word. That was all it took. The presentations started. CEOs outlined expansion plans, researchers presented new medical breakthroughs, and directors discussed billion-dollar investments. Alaric listened in silence, occasionally turning a page or asking a single, precise question. The room hung on every word. Then… His eyes lifted. For exactly one minute, his gaze settled on her. Not with admiration. Not with curiosity. Simply observing. She was listening to the presentation, making notes, completely unaware that the most powerful man in the room had paused to study her. No emotion crossed his face. Then he looked back at the report in front of him as if nothing had happened. No one noticed. Not even her. It was just another meeting. Just another ordinary morning. Or so everyone believed. Because none of them knew that this meeting—this ordinary, routine board meeting—would become the moment that quietly changed Alaric Blackwood’s life forever.

“Our final presentation comes from the Medical Research Division.” His gaze shifted toward the end of the table. “Dr. Guest, the floor is yours.”