?Chapter 1660:


    Henrik hesitated for a moment, his eyes softening as they rested on the small child. “Is there any possibility she can be treated? If money is the issue, I’m willing to cover the cost of the operation.”


    He couldn’t exin the pull he felt — only that an unexpected warmth had risen in his chest, paired with a deep ache for the girl’s condition. Since circumstance had ced them in each other’s path, he feltpelled to help.


    “The doctors said there’s only hope if we can locate King,” Christina answered truthfully.


    “King…” Henrik’s face stiffened in recognition before settling into resignation. “Then I’m afraid that’s beyond my reach.” No matter how vast the Martel fortune was, King’s whereabouts were nearly impossible to trace. King moved like a shadow — even the Jones family, the strongest among the four great houses, might fail to find them.


    “Thank you for your kindness. We appreciate it,” Christina said. Holding the girl close, she inclined her head politely and turned to leave. From what she could tell, Henrik appeared to be a decent man — though appearances could be deceiving. Only by stripping away fa?ades could one see who a person truly was.


    Henrik stood watching the woman and child depart, his expression pensive. Something about them stirred a sense of familiarity he couldn’t quite ce.


    “Grandfather,” Alban’s voice cut through his thoughts. “We should move on to the next hospital.”


    The examination results wouldn’t be ready until the following day at the earliest — only once the reports wereid before them would his family finally ept reality. Henrik turned, casting an irritated look at his grandson. Then a sudden thought struck him. The child’s features… there was a faint resemnce to Alban.


    His pulse jolted. Could the girl somehow belong to the Martel line? The notion vanished almost instantly — the child was clearly of mixed descent. The woman carrying her was unmistakably Apresh, and Alban was purely Apresh as well. Nobination of the two could result in eyes that vivid green. Henrik released a quiet breath and dismissed the thought. He had truly been driven to near desperation by the fear of the line ending — now he was projecting Alban’s likeness onto a stranger’s child.


    The following day, an oppressive silence filled the Martel estate, the air thick with strain. Every member of the household wore an expression of grief, and Colette could no longer hold back quiet sobs.


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    “The doctors must be wrong. Alban has always been healthy — how could he possibly be infertile?” she said through tears.


    “Mom, please. We have to ept the facts,” Alban said gently, trying to steady her.


    “How can you expect me to ept it? Our family line is ending!” Colette’s crying grew more desperate.


    Henrik remained seated, releasing one heavy sigh after another. Sorrow and bitterness warred across his face — grief for the truth mixed with resentment toward fate itself. For three generations, the Martels had produced only one heir. He had lived in constant fear, terrified something might happen to that child. And now, the end had trulye. It felt profoundly unjust.


    “This isn’t fair… it’s a cruel twist of fate,” Henrik finally said, his voice unsteady, tears welling in his reddened eyes.


    “Dad, please don’t torment yourself,” Santos said, clinging to a fragment of hope. “Didn’t the doctors say that if we could find King, there might still be a chance for Alban?” He couldn’t help wondering whether King, with all their legendary skill, might truly be able to help his son.


    “That’s right!” Henrik suddenly straightened, resolve shing back into his gaze. “We must find King. The Martel line cannot end this way.”


    Alban hadn’t expected that even now, they would still refuse to let go.


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