Divine Doctor Guard

River View Manor, Brentwood Heights. "You your self admitted he was your master's choice, but that was years ago. Ethan, you'll divorce Lily, or the Blackwell family will cut you off!" The speaker was Susan Blackwell, Ethan's mother-in-law. Though past forty, she was impeccably maintained, dressed in high fashion, and easily passed for a woman in her early thirties—still retaining her sharp, formidable charm. Two other people were in the living room. "If you had any self-respect, you'd end it. The family can compensate you a million dollars if you cooperate; otherwise, you'll walk away with nothing." Daisy Blackwell clutched her mother, Susan's, arm. With a delicate oval face and striking features, Daisy had inherited Susan’s fierce good looks. Ethan Chen lay sprawled on the sofa, seemingly unconcerned. Scenes like this had become routine since he first joined the Blackwell family—a small confrontation every few days, a major one at least once a week. His mother-in-law was always looking for an excuse to catch Ethan out, determined to drive him out of the Blackwell estate. "This is utterly out of line!" Marcus Blackwell, seated in the main armchair, rebuked, his voice carrying the imposing authority of a CEO. "Marcus, I'm not being out of line!" Susan rarely spoke up against Marcus, but today was different. "We’ve supported him for three whole years! And what has he accomplished? He's completely unambitious, lazy, and a drain on this family. If I'd raised a guard dog for three years, it would at least bark at strangers; it would be more use than him!" Daisy lacked the audacity to talk back to Marcus, only muttering under her breath, "My sister, Lily, is a stunning woman and a successful executive; she had so many suitable men chasing her. Ethan isn’t good enough for my sister." "Quiet!" Marcus glared angrily at Daisy, who startled and quickly turned her back, stopping her complaints. "What's wrong? Did Daisy say something untrue? Look at Ken Riley; he's Ethan's age and has already launched three successful tech startups. He’s hailed as a rising star in the city. Ethan isn’t even fit to tie his shoelaces!" Susan's words were biting, giving Ethan no quarter. Ethan always listened and absorbed it, but on his face, he only showed an indifferent, carefree smile. "What is all this shouting about? Stop shouting!" Marcus finally snapped, slamming his hand down on the coffee table. A crystal water glass crashed to the marble floor and shattered. "The marriage between Lily and Ethan was arranged by me, and I have the final say!" Marcus declared, leaving no room for argument. Susan flinched, knowing Marcus was truly furious, yet she refused to back down. Especially seeing Ethan's smirk, her anger flared again. You think Marcus’s support makes you untouchable? Susan cleared her throat and said, "Marcus, since it’s come to this, there’s something I have to tell you." "He's been living with the Blackwells for three years now. He's been sharing a room with Lily for three years, but look at Lily’s stomach—nothing! There's been no quiet word of a pregnancy. It must be Ethan who's inadequate!" Marcus was momentarily stunned. That gave him pause. The only reason he protected Ethan was because Ethan's father had died saving Marcus's life. Marcus felt a debt of guilt, always treating Ethan like a son, eventually arranging his eldest daughter, Lily Blackwell, to marry him. But the Blackwell family had only two children, and if Ethan couldn't produce an heir, the family line would be broken! Noticing Marcus's change in expression, Susan quickly added fuel to the fire: "Marcus, it's not really that I dislike Ethan for not being ambitious. After all, the Blackwell family is wealthy; we can support them for life. But if Ethan is unable to perform as a man, we can't just let Lily live a 'lifeless' marriage and cut off the Blackwell legacy, can we?" "Dad, I’ve heard Lily mention it before. Ethan’s... area is genuinely not suitable. It's so small; she says he can never get it in." Daisy said, her face flushing with forced shame. Tsk, tsk, tsk! The mother and daughter, singing in perfect unison, were truly a formidable pair. It’s a shame they’re not auditioning for a Broadway show. Ethan secretly clicked his tongue. It wasn't that he didn't want a baby with Lily; it was that Lily was unwilling. Three years of marriage, and while he slept in the same room as Lily every night, she slept in the grand four-poster bed, and Ethan slept on the leather sofa. Forget creating a baby; if Ethan so much as caught a glimpse of Lily changing, he’d be met with her ferocious rage. If he dared try anything, he had no doubt Lily would use a kitchen knife to permanently retire him. "Ethan, is this true?" Marcus asked seriously. He had to consider the succession of the Blackwell family. "Dad, Lily is focused on her career right now, so we're not planning on having children just yet," Ethan explained. "You're just impotent. Don't use my sister as an excuse," Daisy snapped, hands on her hips. Ethan’s face twisted in silent despair. He wanted to tell the truth, but knowing Lily would be furious if she found out, he decided against it. Besides, even if he did tell them, Marcus and the others wouldn't believe him. They certainly couldn't ask a son-in-law to prove his virility in front of them! They must be thinking, 'Three years of sleeping together, how could they not have slept together even once?' After hearing the explanation, Marcus formed his own judgment. He sighed and said tactfully, "Son... medical technology is very advanced now; there's still hope." Ethan wanted to cry. How could an utterly baseless claim suddenly become the general consensus that he was impotent? "Dad, Lily will be off work soon. I'm going to pick her up." Ethan quickly changed the subject. "Hold it right there! We're not finished until this is resolved today! You're not going anywhere!" Susan commanded. Marcus waved a dismissive hand, signaling Ethan could leave. "Sigh." Marcus watched Ethan's retreating figure disappear, sighing again, feeling mentally exhausted. In his view, Ethan was lazy, cowardly, and indecisive—he could accept all that. But Ethan being unable to leave an heir for the Blackwell family was a dealbreaker. After leaving the living room, Ethan was about to drive to the hospital entrance to pick up Lily when he suddenly felt an unbearable swelling and throbbing pain in the webbing of his right hand, as if something was about to burst out. "Oh no! Could this be the backlash from trying to force the seal?" Ethan knew he was in trouble and rushed to the master bedroom in his last moments. This phenomenon absolutely could not be witnessed by anyone. Buzz! As soon as he sat on the bed, he saw a golden glow appearing on the webbing of his right hand, burning intensely. "Hiss!" Ethan grimaced in pain. Gradually, the burning subsided, and a golden, mystical mark flashed on the ‘tiger’s mouth’ (the web between thumb and forefinger) of his right hand. Along with it, a torrent of unseen, pure energy—a mystical Aura—rushed into the mark. Ethan’s eyes widened instantly, and his face lit up with excitement. "The seal on the Aura conduit is finally broken!"