Chapter 201

"Don't think you can just take it back like nothing happened," Nora snapped, her voice icy cold. "If they really want it, they'll have to crawl for it. Beg like dogs."

Without waiting for a response, she ended the call with a forceful jab of her finger. But almost immediately, the phone lit up again. Elias.

Nora's face twisted with fury. "Unbelievable." She shut the phone off completely, then grabbed Selena's and did the same. "No more calls. No more begging. They're not getting a damn thing unless they kneel for it."

She was trembling now, not out of fear, but rage-rage from everything they'd endured.

“Do they think we forgot?” Her voice cracked as the emotions poured out. “They humiliated us in front of everyone. Tossed our gift like garbage. Made us sit outside the hall like we were the help. Served us scraps like we were beggars."

Her hands clenched into fists as she glared at the switched-off phone. "And now they think they can just bark orders and we'll hand over a miracle pill like good little minions? Not a chance. I'd rather die than give it to them on their terms."

Selena sat frozen for a moment, absorbing every word. But her gaze drifted again— always back to Jaden.

He was calm. Unbothered. Feeding Mia like none of this storm around them concerned him. Not once had he raised his voice. He hadn't even looked up.

But that was what rattled her the most.

This wasn't the first time.

First, it was Mr. Raze. Jaden said the old man would return on his knees, and he did -just like clockwork. Now Elias, the arrogant bastard who mocked their gift, was practically on the verge of tears begging for that very same pill.

Her eyes narrowed.

"How?" she said, her voice cutting through the silence. "How did you know?"

Jaden didn't look at her. He scooped a spoonful of soup and held it to Mia's mouth. The little girl giggled and leaned forward to sip.

Selena wasn't amused.

"Don't play dumb with me," she said, her voice rising. "You told us they'd come begging for the pill. Word for word. How did you know that?"

Still, Jaden didn't answer.

"Jaden," she snapped, grabbing his arm. "I'm serious. Stop brushing this off like it's nothing. You predicted this before it happened. You've done it more than once. That's not luck, and you damn well know it.

Her tone drew Vane's and Nora's attention. Both of them turned to Jaden, faces drawn, eyes narrow.

"When I was thinking about what to get Xander for his birthday, I found out he had the three highs-high

blood pressure, high blood sugamet

and high cholesterol all of which mcrease the risk of a stroke, Jaden said calmly.

"That's why I chose the Divine Pill as his gift."

He leaned back slightly, voice steady. "As for how I knew they'd come crawling for it started at the banquet when I saw him making rounds, toasting every guest like his life depended on it."

“Drinking is the largest cause which has led people with such medical conditions to

fall ill, hence I've secretly feared the worst for Xander."