How grievously mistaken she was. Over these three years, the household duties had fallen entirely upon Jason's shoulders while Mary Martinez reclined in idleness, venturing forth only to gamble before returning promptly for meals. Yet Mary Martinez was not without her virtues. For all her avarice and vanity, she harbored a mother's tender concern for her daughter's wellbeing.Her humble rural origins and mere marriage into lesser nobility perhaps accounted for her lofty overcompensating airs. "Enough prattling," she waved a peremptory hand. "With that rustic wench absent, fetch me some Miracle Cure ointment instead."Her reddened, inflamed countenance would require more than a day or two to subside unaided. Having been housebound, her card partners eagerly awaited her return. Jason's brow arched quizzically. The fabled Miracle Cure could remedy even this? Though skeptical, his mother-in-law had decreed it; best to investigate. Stepping outside, he dialed Roger Cox, seeking elucid
Roger Cox and his cohorts had enforced secrecy masterfully, elevating Jason to nigh-mythical status in the public consciousness. He could not but feel a twinge of self-conscious discomfiture at such unmerited veneration."So you style yourself Eldoria's First Divine Physician?" Jason addressed the aged mountebank, gesturing with the substandard ointments. "How can one of such lofty repute indulge in peddling these duplicitous concoctions and profiting from ill-gotten gains? Fear you not karmic retribution?" The surrounding patrons started in surprise. Duplicity? Surely not - this was the bosom companion of the vaunted Gray Divine Physician himself! And the miracle cure clearly proved efficacious."Bah, reckless slanders!" the elderly man scoffed. "I perceive you as some envious rival from a competing apothecary, dispatched to impugn and discredit me. What proof have you of these aspersions? Without evidence, I shall not suffer your vitriol meekly!""Aye, produce your evidence forthw
Best to ascertain potential risks. Though he trusted his master had solely imparted it to their intimate circle of disciples.Jason's reply was calmly nonchalant. "Is there not more impact in vanquishing you upon your proudest field of mastery?""Arrogance, arrogance!" The charlatan's face purpled with appalled fury, his frame quivering. "You truly court death, whelp! What madness convinces you that victory lies within your grasp? Some delusion implanted by the Gray Divine Physician himself?"The observing masses gaped in astonishment. This scene-wrecker had a daring streak bordering on insanity! It was akin to a novice challenging a master chef at his own cuisine, or a ploughman vying against an Olympic sprinter. Sheer folly - a path to inevitable humiliation! Paying no heed to the crowd, Jason strode purposefully toward the arrayed medicinals as if fully intending to compound the ointment himself. Joel Morgan regarded him with sardonic smirks, permitting the upstart first selectio
Joel Morgan's eyes blazed with gratified vindication, though he affected a dismissive wave. "A mere preliminary effect, nothing more. The healing powers of a true divine physician far transcend such trifling palliatives!" He leveled a contemptuous sneer at his antagonist. "Let this object lesson chasten you while you still may! Now it is too late for regrets!"Yet Jason shook his head solemnly. "I cautioned that your ointment was all glittering facade, did I not? Left unchecked, it would only exacerbate the condition." No sooner had he spoken than the patient's brow furrowed in a spasm of agony. "Such searing pain - worse than before!" he groaned through clenched jaws, clutching at the ivory-slathered leg.But on the darkly coated limb, the tide of inflammation was visibly, miraculously reversing at an astonishing rate! "Impossible...this cannot be!" Joel Morgan's complexion went chalky with shock and dismay. "My peerless ointment...rendered impotent? Nay, actively deleterious?"
With a weary sigh of surrender, he unburdened himself of long-concealed deceits and evasions. He and the Gray Divine Physician were not intimates - had never even met. Those ostensible miracle cures promising instantaneous panacea had been naught but overblown charlatanry to lure the gullible. As for the grandiose "First Divine Physician of Eldoria" honorific...it had been a bald-faced usurpation of his own master's illustrious title and renown, the better to insinuate authority where none legitimately existed. A thunderous silence greeted these abject revelations. Then, as full realization took hold, a susurrus of infuriated muttering swelled into a torrent of virulent outcries and recriminations. "Profiteering whoreson! That you should merely defraud us was sin enough - but to so blaspheme the sanctity of the Gray Divine Physician himself?" "Aye, that exalted healer is beloved throughout Emerald City for his innumerable kindnesses and selfless works. That you would so spit upo
At that moment, Susan emerged from the study wearing an uncharacteristic expression of haunted trepidation. Before Jason could voice concern, she inhaled a tremulous breath and delivered a portentous pronouncement."Tomorrow at the eighth hour, Grandfather has summoned an emergent Board of Directors convocation. All members of the Brown family's executive cadre are commanded to attend without exception." Her gaze met Jason's, profound unease welling in those luminous depths. "He professes to bear tidings of extraordinary moment and upheaval. Change is coming to the House of Brown...cataclysmic change."Early the next morning, the Brown family conference room was already bustling with activity. Virtually every member of the Brown family, big and small, had arrived.At present, the room was abuzz with speculation. No one understood what Old Brown was up to. Not only had he called an unprecedented board meeting, but he'd also announced that he had something significant to declare.Wh
This time, however, Jason let out a bitter chuckle. If even Mary Martinez could discern the implications, then surely everyone else in the room had reached the same conclusion. His sense of foreboding had been validated.Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined that Old Brown would be so deranged as to allow Matt Turner to acquire Brown Group.Was this not the height of foolishness?Even Anthony and Raymond Brown cast complex glances at Mary Martinez. This was perhaps the only time she had displayed any semblance of intelligence, yet it was the last thing they wanted to hear.How could the old man have been so foolish? To put it bluntly, was he content to become the Turner family's lapdog?Previously, no matter how chaotic things became, it remained an internal Brown family affair, with the old man at the helm. But now? Had everything truly been handed over to the Turner family on a silver platter?The very thought left a bitter taste in their mouths.True, the Turner family wielde
He saw no need to micromanage such an insignificant company. Any sign of rebellion could be swiftly and decisively crushed.Old Brown chimed in, "Mr. Turner speaks truly. Moreover, we've entered into a contractual agreement. This is more of a partial acquisition. Mr. Turner has even pledged to leverage the Turner family's resources to elevate the Brown family's standing.""Before long, the Brown family may well ascend to the ranks of first-tier families. Even the Sanchez family will have to acknowledge our prowess!"His words ignited a fervor in the room. Could such good fortune truly be possible? Was the Brown family on the cusp of greatness?With the backing of Central Area's preeminent Turner family, what could be more exhilarating?It seemed they had misjudged Old Brown. Upon reflection, it made sense - how could a man of his lifelong shrewdness simply hand over the family's legacy? This was a golden opportunity seized!Susan's expression shifted, a sigh escaping her lips. While o