I stared at the malevolent box, its contents still emanating that sickening aura that had been poisoning Alistair Prescott for months. The garden remained deathly quiet as everyone waited for my response.


    "We need to neutralize it immediately," I said, stepping forward. "Mr. Nn, do you have salt in your feng shui supplies?"


    The feng shui master nodded stiffly, his earlier arrogancepletely evaporated. "Yes, purified sea salt."


    "Bring it. Also, we''ll need clean water and white cloth."


    As Nn hurried away, I turned to the groundskeeper. "Don''t touch anything inside the box. Find me some dried sage or rosemary if you have it in the garden."


    Damian hovered protectively near his father, who looked both shaken and relieved. "Will this... will removing it cure my father?"


    "It should stop the deterioration," I replied honestly. "But your father will need time to recover from the damage already done."


    When Nn returned with the supplies, I took charge with a confidence that clearly surprised him. I sprinkled salt in a specific pattern around the box, then soaked the white cloth in water and carefully wrapped it around the cursed items without directly touching them.


    "Take note," I instructed Nn as I worked. "The counter-ritual must match the original curse''s power but invert its intent."


    For nearly an hour, I worked methodically, neutralizing the dark energy while exining the process. Nn watched with rapt attention, asionally asking surprisingly intelligent questions. By the time I finished, the oppressive feeling that had hung over the garden was noticeably lighter.


    "It''s done," I announced, stepping back from the now-sealed box. "The curse has been neutralized, but this needs to be properly disposed of away from your property."


    "I''ll have it taken care of," Damian promised, looking at me with newfound respect.


    Alistair, still bundled in his chair, reached for my hand. "Young man, I don''t know how to thank you. I already feel... lighter."


    "You should start improving within days," I told him. "Rest, clean food, and positive energy will speed your recovery."


    Mr. Nn approached me, his demeanorpletely transformed. "Mr. Knight," he said, bowing deeply, "I owe you an apology for my skepticism and challenge earlier. You have demonstrated knowledge that... that few possess in this modern age."


    I nodded, epting his apology withoutment. The humility was genuine, and I saw no need to press the point.


    "I would be honored," Nn continued, "if you would allow me to learn from you. As promised, I acknowledge you as my master in these arts."


    This surprised me. I hadn''t expected him to honor that part of his challenge. "There''s no need for that," I replied. "We all have different areas of expertise."


    "Nevertheless," he insisted, "I''ve studied for decades and never encountered someone with your... intuition. Please, allow me to consult with you on difficult cases."


    I considered this for a moment. Having a connection to a respected feng shui master could be useful, especially one who now understood the depth of my abilities.


    "We can discuss that arrangement another time," I said finally.


    ---


    Three dayster, I was in my office at the Knight Medical Center when there was a knock at the door. Alec Prescott stood there, looking significantly better than when I''dst seen him.


    "Mr. Knight," he greeted me, stepping in when I gestured for him to enter. "I hope I''m not interrupting."


    "Not at all," I replied, setting aside the form notes I''d been reviewing. "How is your father?"


    Alec''s face brightened. "That''s why I''m here. He''s made a remarkable recovery. The doctors are calling it miraculous — they can''t exin it, but we know the truth." He paused, his expression growing serious. "You saved his life, Mr. Knight. Our family owes you a debt we can never repay."


    "I''m d he''s improving," I said simply.


    Alec shifted ufortably. "There''s something else I need to discuss with you. A business matter of grave importance to my family."


    I gestured to the chair across from my desk. "Go on."


    "The Prescott family''s enterprises are... well, they''re in serious trouble," he admitted, his voice tight with tension. "The Hawthorne family has been systematically undermining our contracts, poaching our clients, and blocking our ess to new projects. We''re on the brink of copse."


    This was surprising news. The Prescotts had always been among Havenwood City''s elite business families.


    "I''m sorry to hear that, but I''m not sure how I can help with business matters."


    Alec leaned forward. "That''s where you''re wrong, Mr. Knight. We''ve learned something quite unexpected. Damian had a meeting with representatives from the Ashworth Corporation yesterday." <samp ss="meta-ref-static">This text was acquired from *.</samp>


    My interest piqued at the mention of Isabelle''s family name.


    "ording to them, Isabelle Ashworth has granted you full authority over all Ashworth family investments in Havenwood City. Is this true?"


    I tried to mask my surprise. Isabelle had mentioned arranging some business matters in my favor, but I hadn''t realized the extent of her trust. "Yes, that appears to be the case," I answered carefully.


    Alec''s eyes lit up. "Then you have the power to save us. The Ashworth Corporation controls several major construction projects in Havenwood that haven''t yet been assigned. If you were to direct one of those projects to Prescott Construction..."


    I considered his request. It would be simple enough to do, and the Prescotts had earned some goodwill by treating me with respect when few others did. Still, something else urred to me — a far better opportunity.


    "I could do that," I acknowledged, "but I think I have something that would help you more than a single construction project."


    "Anything," Alec said eagerly.


    "The Soul Nourishment Pill I developed. It''s going to revolutionize treatment for severalmon conditions. I need a distribution partner here in Havenwood City — someone with business connections and an established reputation."


    I watched his reaction carefully. This pill would make billions once its efficacy was widely known. It wasn''t just a lifeline for the Prescott family; it was a rocket that couldunch them past the Hawthornes entirely.


    "A... pill?" Alec''s enthusiasm visibly dimmed. "Mr. Knight, while I''m sure your medical innovations are impressive, we''re a constructionpany. We need contracts, not... pharmaceutical ventures."


    "This isn''t just any pill," I exined patiently. "The market potential is enormous. Within a year, you could recoup any losses the Hawthornes have caused and surpass them entirely."


    Alec shifted ufortably. "It sounds promising, but our situation is dire and immediate. We need guaranteed ie now, not spective ventures, no matter how promising."


    I couldn''t help but feel disappointed. Short-sightedness was amon human failing, but I''d hoped for better from Alec after what he''d witnessed.


    "I understand," I said finally. "I''ll speak with the Ashworth representatives about assigning a construction project to yourpany."


    Relief washed over Alec''s face. "Thank you, Mr. Knight. You''re saving our legacy. My father will be eternally grateful."


    After he left, I stared out my office window, thinking about the decision I''d just witnessed. The Prescotts would get their construction project and survive another day, but they had just walked away from what could have been their family''s fortune for generations.


    My phone buzzed with a text from Roman Volkov, asking about progress on the pill production. I smiled slightly as I typed my response: "How would you like to be the exclusive distributor for the Soul Nourishment Pill in Havenwood City?"


    I sent the message, knowing Roman would immediately grasp the opportunity that Alec had missed. Some men saw only the path directly in front of them, while others could envision highways beyond the horizon.


    As I returned to my form notes, I couldn''t help but think that Alec Prescott had inadvertently missed a golden business opportunity. The construction project would keep his family afloat for now, but the true fortune had slipped through his fingers without him even realizing what he had lost.