Old Mr. Wyatt nced at him and said tly, "I don''t need a reason. It''s my rule. If you can''t ept it, you can refuse."


    Before the atmosphere could grow too tense, Mr. Burton stepped in to smooth things over.


    "Joshua Gardner, you''re in my home. Surely you can trust me?"


    Ste added, "Joshua, I''ll be fine."


    The condition of Ste''s hand was the top priority, and Joshua knew what was important. He didn''t insist any further and stopped in his tracks.


    After Ste and Old Mr. Wyatt had disappeared, Mr. Burton said, "We might as well do something while we wait. Come, y a game of chess with me."


    Joshua didn''t refuse. "Alright."


    Thirty minutester, despite Mr. Burton''s attempts to take back moves and cheat, he still lost the game.


    Mr. Burton stroked his white beard, looking at the board. "To think a lifelong passion of mine could be so easily defeated by a junior like you. The Gardner family certainly produces exceptional people."


    Joshua replied, "You were just going easy on me, Mr. Burton."


    Mr. Burton looked up at him, his gaze profound. "Joshua Gardner, a fire that burns too brightly will not only scorch others, but also yourself. You never used to be so intense, so ruthless."


    Joshua looked at the pieces on the board and said coolly, "When you have something you want to protect, you''ll do whatever it takes, no matter the cost."


    With that, Joshua changed the subject. "Mr. Burton, you''ve built The Burton Group into what it is today. You''re no ordinary man. There''s a question I''ve been meaning to ask you for a long time."


    Mr. Burton took a sip of tea. "Go ahead."


    Joshua asked, "Have you ever considered changing your heir?"


    Mr. Burton''s once-cloudy eyes suddenly sharpened. "Joshua Gardner, so you''re not even pretending anymore?"


    Joshua''s smile didn''t waver. "Wearing a mask for so long gets tiring."


    Mr. Burton''s voice was grim. "And if I refuse to change him?"


    Joshua smiled faintly. "Out of respect for Star, I can only guarantee he''ll live. Whether he''s crippled or insane is another story."


    Mr. Burton mmed his hand on the table, furious. "You little brat, are you threatening me now?!"


    Joshua replied, "Why would you say that, Mr. Burton? If you truly thought so highly of Sellers Burton, would you have turned around and started supporting Star? You must dislike Sellers''s mercenary nature as well, but feel powerless to do anything about it."


    Mr. Burton stared at Joshua for a long time before finally saying, "I won''t get involved in the affairs of you young people, nor with I stop will But, Joshua Gardner, Ste already pulled you back from that dark path. Don''t go down it again. If Ste knew that your protection was paved with blood, she would never ept it."


    ***


    After Ste underwent a series of tests with Old Mr. Wyatt, he studied her reports carefully.


    After a while, he finally said, "It''s fixable, but it''s a gamble. The odds are in our favor, but only just."


    Hearing this, Ste''s heart skipped a beat. "My hand... can it really recover?"


    "Sixty percent," Old Mr. Wyatt corrected her coolly. "There''s still a forty percent chance of failure."


    Steposed herself. "I''m sorry, I got too excited."


    Old Mr. Wyatt didn''t say anything more. After looking at the reports for another moment, he suddenly said, "I''m old. I retired many years ago and no longer perform surgery on anyone."


    Ste looked at him. "Are you making an exception because of Mr. Burton?"


    Old Mr. Wyatt was expressionless. "That cranky old man? His influence is worth nothing to me. We were rivals and enemies when we were young. If he came to me for help, I''d throw him out on his ear."


    At this, Old Mr. Wyatt looked at


    Ste. "I''m not one to hide things for others, so be direct. A young man named Leonard went to great lengths to find me and ask me to treat your hand. I have a general


    understanding of the history.


    between you two so I must ask you before the surgery: knowing the truth, are you still willing to go through with it?"