Wyatt had just dropped Niki off at his front door.


    "Zack, why don''t youe in for dinner before you go?" Niki hadn''t even gotten out of the car when he said this to Wyatt in the driver''s seat.


    Wyatt, who was checking his phone at the sound of a notification, looked up at Niki''s words, then politely declined, "No need, Niki, I''ve got something else on soon."


    Seeing this, Niki didn''t press further. "Alright then, maybe next time when you''re free."


    "Sure," Wyatt nodded.


    Niki then got out of the car.


    Wyatt watched him enter through the front door before turning his attention back to his phone, texting Mirabe in reply: "Are you saying this guy could be Cian?"


    But it seemed Mirabe wasn''t with her phone; a minute passed without a reply. Wyatt, curbing his curiosity, started the car''s engine and drove away.


    **


    Since driving Niki home, Dane had been sitting in the living room waiting. Hearing the sound of the door, he almost instinctively looked up.


    Niki entered with a troubled face, his furrowed brows indicating his mood at the moment.


    Guessing his father''s thoughts, Dane stood up to pour Niki a ss of warm water. "Dad, is the situation with Mr. Shepherd... that serious?"


    Niki,ing back to his senses and about to affirm, paused, changing his words at thest moment and shaking his head, "No, it''s not serious."


    After saying this, he concealed all signs of worry on his face, took the ss of water from Dane without another look, and slowly walked over to sit on the couch.


    Dane, watching Niki''s profile thoughtfully, knew his father well enough to recognize the signs of worry that he could hardly hide.


    Had his father outright admitted that James''s condition was serious, Dane would have questioned the


    truth behind his words. Howeve


    Niki''s evasiveness was a clear indication that there was indeed a


    significant issue.


    Moreover, his father had always been a man of integrity, hardly ever lying, especially not to him. Dane could usually tell at a nce whether he was speaking the truth.


    So, it was likely that James''s condition was quite grave.


    With a thoughtful look, Dane sat on the couch opposite Niki, nodding, "It''s good to hear James is alright. was worried we, the Reeves family, might have to take responsibility if anything happened to him. That''s why I even asked Presley this afternoon if there was any kind of miracle cure."


    "Mhm," Niki responded nomittally, holding his ss. But quickly, he looked up, surprised, "Miracle cure?"


    This further confirmed Dane''s suspicions. With a subtle look in his eyes, he continued, "You must have heard of the Stevenson family, right?"


    At the mention of the Stevenson family, Niki''s eyes widened.


    Dane looked away, his gaze falling on the tips of his shoes, and continued in a soft voice, "Presley imed to have medicine from the Stevenson family. Their medical skills are rumored to be unparalleled worldwide, so naturally, their medicine would be exceptional. For someone like Mr. Shepherd, I believe it wouldn''t be a problem."


    Niki was well aware of that family because the Shepherd family had been looking for the Massolio family for a couple of years without sess, leading many to believe they were just a myth.


    It wasn''t until recently, when rumors of the Stevenson family''s medicine surfaced again at an underground auction in Riverdale, that people began to question that belief once more.


    If the Massolio family''s medicine really existed, then perhaps there was hope for James...


    With a glimmer of hope in his eyes, Niki couldn''t hold back any longer and eagerly asked, "Ron, is what you just said true?"