Protecting the family''s honor and interests sometimes requires sacrifice.


    Getting mixed up with the Boleyn family? Yeah, that engagement''s set in stone.


    When Nathan heard this, his good-looking face turned stormy. Dn, on the other hand, was more level-headed and saw the bigger picture.


    Dn said, "Alright, chill out. Swing by the office, and I''ll check you out. What''s up with all that coughingtely?"


    He remembered Nathan used to cough, but it was never this bad.


    It was just the asional cough when he felt under the weather or had a cold.


    Dn frowned, "Are the servants treating you well? If they''re cking, fire ''em and get someone who knows what they''re doing."


    Nathan had always been frail with a weak heart. He''d been sick on and off since he was a kid, and there were a few times he almost kicked the bucket, scaring their parents half to death.


    Lately, his health had finally started to get a bit better.


    Nathan waved his hand, "It''s not the servants'' fault. Katniss used to handle my meals, and I had medicinal stuff every day. After she left, that stopped. I asked the kitchen maid, and turns out Katniss made those meals herself, and they don''t know how to do it."


    Halfway through, Nathan paused, feeling a bit weird.


    Before, whenever Katniss brought him those meals, he found it annoying. She''d force him to eat them every day and nagged him more than any maid.


    Most times, it was ra''s persuasion that got him to finish the meals.


    Then he told Katniss to stay out of his room, and ra would bring the meals every night.


    Over time, he started giving ra the credit, forgetting it was Katniss who made the meals.


    For a moment, aplicated look crossed Nathan''s face.


    On the first floor of the hospital, at the elevator entrance.


    Desmond was holding ra''s hand, about to step out of the elevator, when he spotted a guy in a wheelchair at the entrance.


    Maximilian''s cool eyes lifted slightly, looking at Desmond, then shifting to ra beside him.


    Whenever Maximilian was around, Desmond felt like he couldn''t breathe.


    He straightened up, nodded respectfully, and greeted, "Maximilian."


    Then he squeezed ra''s hand and nervously introduced, "This is ra."


    It was the first time ra was introduced to someone from the Boleyn family as Desmond''s fiancée.


    ra instinctively straightened up, smiling elegantly and appropriately, "Maximilian."


    She didn''t quite get why Desmond was always so deferential to Maximilian, even more than to his dad, Gabriel.


    Sure, Maximilian was in charge now, but wasn''t he crippled and sick, almost on his deathbed?


    The future assets of the Hamilton family and the Boleyn family would belong to Desmond!


    But she still had to be grateful that Maximilian was currently helping Desmond manage thepany with great effort.


    Maximilian withdrew his gaze indifferently and said in a dismissive tone, "Wait until you marry into the Boleyn family before calling me that. Even your father has to call me Mr. Hamilton. Is it appropriate for you to call me that?" His deep voice carried an indescribable disdain.


    ra was stunned, her face suddenly drained of color.


    She was already Desmond''s fiancée, yet Maximilian showed her no respect.


    ra bit her lip tightly, wondering what she should call him.


    Maximilian was deliberately making things difficult for her.


    But Maximilian seemedpletely unaware, his ck coat making him look even colder and more aloof.


    "Maximilian, ra''s just shy. If you''re mad, take it out on me. I''m the one who insisted on marrying her," Desmond quickly jumped in, seeing ra in a tough spot. "And I''ve already apologized to Katniss."


    Maximilian replied, "Fine, go home and kneel for three hours. Tell Grandpa I said so."


    Desmond''s face tightened, and he gritted his teeth, agreeing.


    ra''s eyes widened in shock, and she snapped, "You''re just Desmond''s half-brother. What right do you have to punish him? What did he do wrong?"


    Maximilian''s eyes stayed cold, "Four hours."


    "Are you nuts?" ra shouted.


    "Five hours."


    "ra, stop talking!" Desmond''s body tensed, and he harshly scolded ra, "Don''t talk to Maximilian like that."


    ra''s expression changed, and tears of frustration welled up in her eyes.


    Why was Desmond being so harsh on her? She was trying to help him!


    ra cried with a pitiful look, Desmond''s heart softened, and he turned his head away from her, instead addressing Maximilian, "Maximilian, ra is young. Please don''t me her."


    "When have you ever seen me get angry over irrelevant people and matters?" Maximilian''s voice was cold, his eagle-like gaze sweeping over ra as he sternly reprimanded, "When I''m speaking with Desmond, you, an outsider, have no right to interfere in Boleyn family affairs. Do you understand?"


    ra''s fingers tightened, and the joy on her face vanished.


    With the previous experience, Desmond didn''t dare to speak, only giving ra aforting look.


    But what Maximilian said next made ra''s face turn pale, her eyes filled with fear.


    "By the way, Laura has been detained by the police. ra, as Laura''s friend, aren''t you going to visit her? She misses you and has mentioned you several times." Maximilian said calmly, with a faint smile, "Since you''re going to marry into the Boleyn family, let me give you some advice. Stay out of trouble, and don''t mess with people you shouldn''t, to avoid suffering the consequences."


    After speaking, Emilio pushed Maximilian''s wheelchair into the elevator. The elevator doors closed, and his figure disappeared inside.


    ra stood frozen in ce, cold sweat breaking out on her back, her eyes fixed on the closed elevator doors.


    Desmond frowned and asked ra in confusion, "What did Maximilian mean? Do you know Laura?"


    ra forced a smile, hiding her fear, and shook her head innocently.


    "I don''t really understand either. Before Katniss got into trouble, I had some interactions with Laura, we have exchanged a few words since we were ssmates." ra bit her lip, looking a bit aggrieved, "Maybe Laura is trying to reduce her sentence by making things up, and Maximilian misunderstood something?"


    Desmond said, "Laura won''t be getting out. If Maximilian wants to deal with someone, no one can save them. You shouldn''t contact Laura anymore."


    A few secondster, ra tentatively asked, "Why are you so afraid of Maximilian? He bullies you like that, and you still put up with it."


    Mentioning Maximilian, Desmond''s eyes darkened, "Our family''s situation isplicated. I''ll exin it to you slowlyter."


    "But you just yelled at me, and I was scared." ra suppressed her thoughts, sniffing, looking heartbroken.


    Desmond felt guilty, put his arm around ra''s waist, and apologized while gently exining, "I wasn''t yelling at you, I was saving you. In the Boleyn family, you can make me or my dad angry, but don''t provoke Maximilian. He''s not that simple."


    Desmond''s eyes were deep and inscrutable.


    Maximilian was a person more terrifying than the devil.