Chapter 2

Caleb accepted the Shadow Fiend's deal without hesitation, knowing this was his only chance. Three years? Even if he only had one year left to live, he would still take the deal!

The Shadow Fiend cackled. "I wouldn't be so quick to agree, Caleb. You are rather… special, you see. Even without my help, you would have awakened within a year, and when you did, you would have been very powerful too."

"A year?" Caleb gritted his teeth in frustration. "I can't wait that long. I agree to your terms, so wake me up now! I have to wake up, no matter what it costs me!" Right now, his wife and daughter were suffering. His father had been forced to his knees. He couldn't bear to wait even a second longer, let alone a whole year!

"Are you sure?" The Shadow Fiend's voice slithered through his mind ominously. "Once the deal is sealed, your fate is set in stone. Three years from now, you will die in unimaginable agony, and then you'll be gone…erased forever."

"I'm certain." Caleb didn't waver.

"Good. Then place your soul's mark on the contract. Once the pact is complete, your life will begin its countdown… and in exchange, you will inherit the Divine Legacy!" A pitch-black contract materialized in the depths of Caleb's mind, its ink swirling like living shadows. The terms were clear, and the price was absolute.

A deep, bone-chilling cold spread through Caleb as a massive, shadowy presence loomed over his soul. Somewhere inside him, a voice urged him to turn back, but he thought of his wife being held hostage, his father forced to kneel, and his daughter crying helplessly.

There was no turning back.

Caleb branded his soul's mark onto the contract. The moment the pact was sealed, a blinding light erupted from within, marking the completion of the pact.

A wave of energy flooded Caleb's mind, and he screamed as pain tore through him. It felt like every cell in his body was being pierced by needles, setting his nerves on fire. Right when he felt he was reaching his limit…

Caleb's eyes flew open. His fists clenched so hard his nails pierced his skin, drawing blood. He inhaled sharply, jolting upright in the hospital bed.

Sabrina gasped in shock, then cried out, "Daddy? Daddy, is it really you? Did you hear my prayers? "

"Caleb?" Frederick stared, stunned. His frail body trembled, tears welling in his eyes. Frederick wiped his eyes roughly, wondering if this was a dream or a hallucination.

"Daddy, I missed you so much! Will you fall asleep again? I’m so scared. I want you to stay with me forever." The little girl widened her eyes, unable to believe her dad had really woken up.

"Sabrina, Daddy is awake now." Caleb pulled his daughter into his arms and hugged her tightly, his voice raw with emotion. His little girl had grown so much. His gaze then shifted to his father, now with a head full of white hair, and his throat tightened.

To Caleb, his father had always been a pillar of strength—upright and unwavering like a mountain. But now, Frederick was an old man. Caleb could hardly believe it. For three years, he hadn't been able to do his duty as a son, and his father had endured so much suffering. He had forced this proud soldier to throw away his dignity and kneel before others when he had never once begged in his life.

Caleb carefully got off the bed and started to approach his father, then fell to his knees and bowed his head. Guilt and regret surged through him as he choked out, "Dad… I'm so sorry!"

"That's enough!" Frederick grabbed him by the shoulders and pulled him up. He patted Caleb's back and said hoarsely, "You're awake now, and that's all that matters. We'll make things right. Tonight, you and I are going to celebrate!"

Before Caleb could speak, a small hand tugged at his sleeve. "Daddy, ask Mommy to come back. She's going to be so happy when she finds out! I always see Mommy crying at night when she thinks I'm not looking. She took you to so many doctors… She hasn't been sleeping well at all." Sabrina's eyes were bright and hopeful, and Caleb clenched his fists.

Rachel…

Frederick let out a heavy sigh. "Caleb, marrying Rachel was the best thing you did. She's shouldered so much these past three years. So many people told her to leave you, but she never once wavered or complained. She took care of you and Sabrina, and even made sure this old man didn't fall apart. You owe her, son—don't let her down."

Caleb took a deep breath, nodding. He grabbed Frederick's phone and immediately dialed Rachel's number. If his guess was right, she was already on her way to the Golden Grace Hotel, and that bastard Brian was definitely up to no good! If anything happened to Rachel, Caleb would never forgive himself.

"The number you are trying to reach is currently unavailable. Please try again later…" The robotic voice sent a chill down Caleb's spine. He gripped the phone tightly, cold sweat beading across his forehead.

Golden Grace Hotel, Room 808!

He crouched down and gently ruffled Sabrina's hair. "Daddy's going to bring Mommy back. Be good and go home with Grandpa, okay? I promise I'll never leave you again."

Sabrina nodded urgently. "Daddy, you have to bring Mommy back!"

"I will," Caleb said firmly. If anyone dared to lay a finger on his family, he would drag them straight to hell! Caleb spun on his heel and raced out of the hospital. He had to make it in time!

Caleb's attending physician, Nathan Lewis, watched Caleb sprint out of the hospital with wide eyes. He shook his head in awe and murmured, "Is he… a medical miracle?"

Once he was out of the hospital, Caleb dialed Rachel's number again, but her phone was still turned off. His heart pounded wildly, panic threatening to cloud his mind. Then, out of the corner of his eye, something caught his attention. Damian Turner—one of the Four Kings of Jadewood City's underworld—was suffering from total body paralysis. He was desperate, offering a fortune to anyone who could cure him.

Caleb's eyes narrowed contemplatively. He grabbed his phone and dialed the number on the poster.

A smooth, rich voice answered almost immediately.

"Are you Ms. Kayla Turner? My name is Caleb Larkin… I can cure Mr. Turner's condition. You have one hour to meet me at the Golden Grace Hotel, Room 808." Without waiting for a response, he hung up. Finally, he stood in front of the Golden Grace Hotel. His lip curled into a snarl as he stalked in, radiating danger as he headed for Room 808.

-

On the other end of the call, Kayla stared at her phone, frozen in shock.

"Kayla? What's wrong?"

Kayla shook her head, gripping her phone. "Nothing… Someone just said they can cure Grandpa's paralysis and told me to meet them at Room 808 of the Golden Grace Hotel… They weren't exactly polite about it."

"Hah, it was probably another scammer."

"Maybe… but if there's even the slightest chance, I have to try." She frowned. "Caleb Larkin? Why does that name sound familiar?" Shaking her head, Kayla grabbed her coat and headed for the door. "We're going to the hotel!"

-

"Stop!" One of the men at the Golden Grace Hotel stepped forward to stop Caleb. However, when he saw Caleb's face, he blinked and said in surprise, "Caleb? You're awake!"

"Move. I won't say it again," Caleb growled.

"Mr. Johnson is upstairs handling something, so I can't let you through. Speaking of which, I'm still wondering how a woman like Rachel ended up with someone like you—"

Bam!

Caleb's fist slammed into the man's jaw, his murderous aura suffocating the air around him.