The words “bankrupt” and “homeless” struck a nerve with the Nash family members. Although Rex was amiable, he lacked the necessary skills and courage. Moreover, he was dominated by his wife Sansa in every aspect, which had led the family to its current decline. In such a state, if no one could step forward to turn things around, the Nash family was indeed on a fast track to bankruptcy. Balthasar understood this all too well but felt powerless to intervene. As his anxiety peaked, he suddenly remembered the A Pill of the MindEase Elixir. With a piercing gaze, he turned to Marissa and asked, “Tiffany, can you tell me where you obtained the A Pill of the MindEase Elixir?”
When Balthasar posed the question, the eyes of the Nash family members sparkled, all turning to Marissa. Ferris had just revealed that the A Pill of MindEase Elixir had been bestowed upon someone. Could that person be Tiffany? If so, it would signify a significant connection between Tiffany and Dr. Riss. This revelation could mean that even if the family lost Ayla as their hopeful leader, they might still have Tiffany to rely on
Marissa, foreseeing this inquiry from Balthasar, responded nonchalantly, “Oh, I found it by the roadside.”
The hall fell into stunned silence. Was there a more dismissive answer possible? Balthasar was momentarily lost for words. Marissa’s response made it clear she wasn’t going to divulge the truth, and he felt powerless to ask further. His mind drifted to the A Pill of MindEase Elixir that his granddaughter had given him but which he had discarded. It was probably decomposing in a landfill by now. After a brief pause, he tried again, this time with a softer approach. “Tiffany, please be serious. I’m trying to see if you can be trusted to lead our family.” Sansa’s eyes widened, but before she could interject, Rex quickly grasped her wrist, silencing her
Marissa, however, responded with a scoff, “You’re wondering if I have a connection with Dr. Riss, aren’t you? I don’t! I don’t know Dr. Riss, and I have no interest in leading the family.” Balthasar was taken aback by her frankness but managed to contain his frustration. He remembered how Tiffany had thoughtfully given him the A Pill of MindEase Elixir, a gesture of care from a granddaughter. How could he remain upset with her? Reflecting on his previous harshness towards her, he felt a mix of regret and guilt. Just then, Ferris cut in, “May I ask, are we done arguing?”
The question from Ferris redirected the crowd’s focus from the Nash family to him. Ferris continued, “Everyone, after reading the email from Miss Ayla Nash and discovering she had been producing and selling counterfeit medicine under her name, Dr. Riss was both angry and disappointed with Blebert’s medical community. As a result, she won’t be attending today.”
This news deflated the crowd, who had been eagerly anticipating Dr. Riss’ appearance. Resentment toward Ayla intensified, with many feeling she had robbed them of a valuable opportunity. The gathering erupted into a chorus of mockery and insults, overwhelming Ayla to the point of tears and causing Sansa to nearly faint
“Everyone, although Dr. Riss is not here, she has asked me to make an announcement on her behalf,” Ferris interjected, regaining the crowd’s attention
The hall quieted down, curiosity piqued. “Dr. Frazier, what does Dr. Riss want to announce?” someone called out. Hope lingered in the air as several attendees wondered if this might pertain to their applications to become Riss’ disciple. Ferris scanned the audience, his gaze finally settling on Landen. With a smile, he announced, “Mr. Landen Nash, after reviewing your resume, Dr. Riss is very impressed. She sees great potential in you for the fields of medicine and pharmaceuticals. She is willing to accept you as her personal disciple to collaborate on medical research and further the advancement of medicine. Today, I am here to relay Dr. Riss’ decision. We will organize a formal apprenticeship ceremony at a later date.”
Everyone turned to Landen, eyes filled with envy and surprise. Landen himself was so shocked that he stood gaping, unable to respond. The realization of what had just happened slowly sank in. Being chosen by Dr. Riss was a huge honor-one Landen had not fully anticipated. Overwhelmed by his good fortune, he didn’t know what to do. Noticing his stunned silence, Marissa nudged him playfully. “What are you thinking? Hurry up and thank Dr. Frazier!”
“Oh, okay,” Landen managed to say, his voice still tinged with disbelief. However, instead of expressing his gratitude, he blurted out, “Dr. Frazier, are you sure you didn’t get the name wrong? Is Dr. Riss really accepting me as her personal disciple?”
Ferris, observing the naive expression on Landen’s face, couldn’t help but smile as he confirmed, “Yes, it’s true, Mr. Nash.”
After a brief pause, Landen lifted Marissa up with exuberance and spun around twice, his voice booming, “Did you hear that, Tiffany? Dr. Riss accepted me as her disciple!” The intensity of his cheer dislodged dust from the ceiling
Marissa rubbed her ears and cautioned him, “Yes, I heard it. Please tone it down a bit.”
Landen’s laughter filled the hall. He then faced Ferris, his expression earnest. “Thank you, Dr. Frazier. Could you please let Dr. Riss know how grateful I am for this incredible opportunity? I promise to dedicate myself fully and not disappoint her.”
Ferris nodded in response. “I’ll certainly pass your message along, but don’t forget, you can tell her yourself when you meet.”
“Please tell her first. I’ll also express my gratitude when I meet her,” Landen replied, his smile radiant. Silence lingered briefly before Landen drew Marissa closer and inquired, “Dr. Frazier, may I bring my cousin along when I start studying medicine from my mentor?”
Ferris glanced at Marissa, hesitating as he awaited a cue. Thinking he had put Ferris in a difficult situation, Landen quickly reassured him, “Dr. Frazier, there’s no need to worry. I’ll ensure she doesn’t cause any trouble for Dr. Riss. She’s my Uncle Brian’s daughter, and I’m hopeful she too can carve out a successful path in medicine.”
Catching Marissa’s secretive wink, Ferris grasped her intent and agreed. “Certainly. Dr. Riss holds Dr. Brian Nash in high regard, so she would naturally welcome his daughter.”
Landen’s excitement was palpable. “That’s wonderful. Thank you, Dr. Frazier!” After expressing his gratitude, he turned to Marissa, his voice low and earnest. “I’ve worked hard to secure this chance for you to learn from the esteemed Dr. Riss. Make sure you’re committed and ready to learn, understood?”
With an amused glance at the ceiling, Marissa affirmed, “Absolutely, I will!”
Landen thus became Dr. Riss’ personal disciple, and Marissa, her outer disciple. Becoming an outer disciple was also a coveted achievement. An outer disciple who excelled and gained her approval might also ascend to the rank of personal disciple
Everyone present wished they had been close friends with Landen before, so they could now also have a chance to be near Dr. Riss. Unfortunately, no one had paid much attention to Landen in the past. Suddenly, with two Nash family members under Dr. Riss’ mentorship, a revival of Brian’s illustrious medical legacy seemed imminent. They were on track to becoming prominent figures in the medical community of Biebert
Everyone was taken aback and filled with envy. The very people who had earlier scorned the Nash family now found themselves at a loss on how to curry favor. The other Nash family members were equally astonished. It was hard to believe that the two who were once considered the least promising in their family had suddenly become the luminaries of the clan
As the shock wore off, their excitement left them speechless. Balthasar, full of self-reproach, lamented his shortsightedness for nearly overlooking two remarkable talents and allowing Ayla to embarrass them all
Regret washed over him as he looked at Rex with disdain and snapped, “Loser!” He hadn’t expected Rex to achieve greatness, only that he would maintain the legacy left by Brian. But even that seemed too much, as the legacy was nearly ruined by his wife and daughter. If he couldn’t manage two women, how could he lead the entire family?
Rex, feeling the weight of his failures, responded humbly, “Dad, since Landen has been chosen by Dr. Riss, he must have talent. I’m willing to step down so he can be the head of the family.”
Before Balthasar could react, Sansa cut in sharply, “No way!”
“I don’t agree!” Ayla echoed, her voice booming
Sansa and Ayla vehemently opposed the idea. They had spent years maneuvering to position Ayla as the next head of the family. The prospect of Landen, whom they had long underestimated, becoming the patriarch was unthinkable to them. How could they possibly come to terms with this? Their hearts were filled with resistance
Ferris had exposed Ayla’s deceptions, and Riss’ team was poised to bring legal charges against her. They knew Ayla’s chances of leading the family were dashed, yet they couldn’t bear the thought of Landen in control either. Their concern deepened because of Landen’s close relationship with Tiffany. If Landen ascended to the patriarchal role, Tiffany’s status would be elevated, potentially putting them at risk of her retribution. Driven by these fears, Sansa and Ayla vehemently protested. While Ayla, restrained by security guards, could do little more than shout her objections, Sansa made a spectacle of herself without regard for how she appeared to others
“Balthasar, you can’t seriously consider making Landen our patriarch,” Sansa pleaded. “He’s too young, too inexperienced! How can he possibly manage the Nash family? Choosing a successor is a crucial decision. You can’t make it hastily. Just because Dr. Riss favors Landen doesn’t guarantee his future success. It’s far too risky to hand him the reins of the entire family now.”
Balthasar’s patience wore thin. “Enough! Rex has resigned, and you are no longer the hostess. Stay quiet during these discussions,” he commanded, his annoyance with Sansa palpable. Sansa tried to continue, but the stern look on Balthasar’s face stopped her. She parted her lips to speak but then thought better of it, remaining silent. Though Balthasar dismissed Sansa sharply, part of him acknowledged that some of her points were valid
Landen, now the personal disciple of the esteemed Dr. Riss, brought a potential surge of vitality to the Nash family due to his mentor’s celebrity status. Recognizing Landen as the most suitable candidate to eventually lead the family seemed obvious. However, Balthasar harbored concerns about Landen’s youth. He was just 20 years old, and Balthasar questioned his readiness to manage the complex demands of a large family. After a contemplative silence, he turned his attention to his third son, Sergio Nash. “Sergio, your effective parenting of Landen demonstrates your capability. I will appoint you as the patriarch for now. Once Landen matures, he will assume the role.”
Sergio Nash and his wife had always maintained a low profile, steering clear of conflicts and thus often overlooked during major family discussions. Unlike Sansa’s overtly aggressive stance, they were reserved, a trait that kept them out of the spotlight. Now, with Landen’s rise, Sergio and his wife suddenly found themselves at the center of attention
Sergio, a man of considerable acumen who had quietly resented Sansa’s domineering attitude for years, saw this as his opportunity to step forward and assume responsibility for the family. “Father, thank you for your trust. I’ll do my utmost,” Sergio responded with due respect. Hannah Nash, Sergio’s wife, added with a gentle smile, “Balthasar, please rest assured. I will support Sergio in managing our family affairs effectively.”
Sansa, who had often belittled Hannah during her tenure as hostess, felt her status upended. With evident displeasure, she scoffed, “Balthasar, Hannah is too frail. Do you really think she can handle being a good hostess?”
Unruffled, Hannah responded calmly, “Don’t worry, Sansa. Previously, I had no reason to assert myself. But now, with the responsibilities of the family on my shoulders, I am fully committed to doing well.”
Turning to the butler, she said, “Mrs. Sansa Nash has brought disgrace upon our Nash family. Please escort her to the ancestral hall for reflection. She is not to leave without my permission.”
As the new hostess asserting her authority, Hannah watched as the butler, accompanied by bodyguards, approached Sansa. “Mrs. Sansa Nash, please come with us.” Sansa, indignant and unyielding, retorted, “Hannah, have you forgotten how subservient you were to me? How dare you flaunt your authority in my presence now!”
Sansa was formidable, but Hannah stood her ground confidently. “In the past, I respected you as my sister-in-law and maintained humility and politeness. Now, as the wife of the family head, I must act with fairness and fulfill my responsibilities. Please don’t take it personally.” With a wink from Hannah, the butler understood the cue and signaled the bodyguards, who then promptly escorted Sansa away with firmness
Just as Sansa was led away, the police arrived, inquiring about the situation and subsequently taking Ayla into custody. Finally, the commotion subsided, leaving a newfound silence in its wake
The Nash family now embraced new leadership, and many from the medical community approached Balthasar, offering congratulations for the promising futures of the young talents in his family. Balthasar, visibly pleased, mingled and chatted. His eyes occasionally searched for Marissa. He had hoped to take her home, but when he realized she had already left the exhibition hall, his expression fell into disappointment
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
Leave a Reply