The Hidden Hand Behind the Medicine

Seeing the actions of Black Ghost and White Ghost, Steffan raised his hand to signal them not to be nervous.

The tense atmosphere inside the Ashbourne residence instantly became even heavier. The bitter scent of freshly brewed medicinal herbs still lingered in the air, yet it was now drowned beneath the suffocating pressure of suspicion and fury. Servants stood motionless with lowered heads, afraid to make even the slightest sound, while the surrounding bodyguards instinctively shifted their stances, ready to move at a single command.

Despite the pressure pressing in from every direction, Steffan remained composed.

His expression stayed calm, his eyes clear and unwavering as they met Dario Ashbourne’s furious gaze.

He looked at Dario Ashbourne and said, "Don’t get to a conclusion that fast. There might be a misunderstanding about this matter."

"Misunderstanding?" Dario Ashbourne’s voice exploded throughout the room. His hands trembled as they clenched into fists, every muscle in his body visibly tense. "What kind of misunderstanding could there be? You’ve messed up my treatment, and now you’re telling me it’s a misunderstanding?"

His roar echoed through the hall.

Nobody dared interrupt.

Even the servants standing nearby instinctively lowered their heads further.

At this moment, Dario Ashbourne had completely lost the calm and dignity that had earned him the reputation of being the richest man in Silverhaven City.

Of course, any man placed in his position would have reacted the same way.

The treatment he had pinned all his hopes on had seemingly destroyed the very thing he wanted to restore. No amount of wealth or influence could calm a man faced with such despair.

Steffan understood that better than anyone.

Instead of arguing immediately, he took a slow breath, forcing himself to think through every step of the treatment once more.

Something isn’t right.

The acupuncture therapy was flawless. Every needle landed exactly where it should have. The medicinal formula was also complete... unless...

His eyes narrowed slightly.

"My treatment was absolutely fine," Steffan said firmly, his voice carrying quiet confidence instead of panic. "The problem might be with the medicine itself. Black Ghost, go to the kitchen and bring the medicine pot here for me to examine."

"Understood!"

Without wasting another second, Black Ghost rushed out of the room.

White Ghost remained beside Steffan, his sharp eyes constantly sweeping over everyone present. His instincts told him something had gone terribly wrong, but he couldn’t yet determine who had orchestrated it.

The atmosphere became eerily silent.

Every second felt painfully long.

Dario Ashbourne continued glaring at Steffan, his breathing uneven. Several members of the Ashbourne family exchanged suspicious looks, clearly unconvinced by Steffan’s explanation.

A few moments later...

Footsteps hurried back into the hall.

Black Ghost returned carrying the medicine pot with both hands before placing it carefully in front of Steffan.

"My lord."

Steffan nodded before crouching down.

Ignoring the countless eyes fixed upon him, he carefully poured out the remaining herbal residue onto a clean tray.

His movements were slow and precise.

He picked apart each ingredient one by one, examining their texture, scent, moisture, and color with extraordinary concentration.

Suddenly...

His fingers stopped.

His expression changed.

Holding up a pale piece of ginseng between his fingers, Steffan’s brows furrowed deeply.

"This..."

The room immediately grew quieter.

Steffan looked at everyone before saying in a serious tone, "Someone tampered with the thousand-year Frostheart Ginseng. This is ordinary Frostheart Ginseng—not thousand-year Frostheart Ginseng."

His words struck the room like a bolt of lightning.

The Ashbourne family members stared at him in disbelief.

Dario Ashbourne’s face darkened even further.

"What do you mean?" Dario asked coldly, his voice filled with restrained anger. "These were the herbs your people delivered. Are you saying they were swapped?"

A cold laugh escaped him.

The laugh held no amusement whatsoever.

It was the laugh of a man whose patience had nearly reached its limit.

Around him, the members of the Ashbourne family wore equally grim expressions.

In their eyes, Steffan’s explanation sounded less like an answer and more like an excuse.

Steffan met every accusing gaze without looking away.

"The thousand-year Frostheart Ginseng was genuine when it left my hands," he said steadily. "It must have been switched after it was delivered to the kitchen."

His words were confident.

Yet inside...

His thoughts were anything but calm.

Damn it...

Who did this?

This wasn’t an accident.

Someone deliberately replaced the main ingredient.

For the first time since entering the Ashbourne residence, Steffan felt a knot forming in his chest.

He replayed every moment in his mind.

The herbs had been personally prepared.

The formula had been checked multiple times.

Nothing should have gone wrong.

Unless someone had intentionally interfered after the medicine arrived.

Almost immediately, one name surfaced in his mind.

Julian D’Aurelius.

But after only a moment’s consideration, Steffan quietly dismissed the possibility.

No... the timing doesn’t match.

Black Ghost and White Ghost only snatched the items from him not long ago.

Even if Julian wanted revenge, he shouldn’t have had enough time to infiltrate the Ashbourne residence and replace such an important medicinal ingredient.

Then who...?

The question lingered unanswered.

A chill quietly crept into Steffan’s heart.

He realized the situation had become far more dangerous than a failed treatment.

Someone had carefully arranged this trap.

Not only had the medicine been sabotaged, but the blame had been pushed directly onto him.

If he couldn’t uncover the real culprit...

Everything he had built would begin collapsing.

His thoughts quickly shifted toward another concern.

The Blackstone Global Group.

If the Ashbourne family concluded that he had intentionally harmed Dario, they would inevitably target Blackstone Global Group.

Years of planning...

Countless investments...

Every step he had painstakingly arranged...

All of it could be destroyed overnight.

That was a consequence he absolutely could not accept.

He could flee if necessary.

With his strength, escaping from the Ashbourne residence wasn’t impossible.

But running would solve nothing.

The Ashbourne family possessed enormous influence throughout Silverhaven City.

No matter where he went, they would continue pursuing him.

His business would suffer.

His reputation would be ruined.

His long-term plans would crumble before they ever reached fruition.

The more Steffan thought about it, the heavier the pressure on his shoulders became.

Looking at the furious expression on Dario Ashbourne’s face, Steffan couldn’t help feeling wronged.

He had come here with sincere intentions.

He had wanted to cure the patriarch.

Instead, someone had secretly manipulated the medicine and thrown him into the center of a disaster.

Taking a slow breath to steady himself, Steffan looked directly at Dario Ashbourne.

His voice remained calm despite everything.

"Please believe me, I have no reason to harm you intentionally."