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    As the elevator doors slid open, Zayne stepped forward. Charlie, noticing the approaching elevator, was about to gesture for Nanako Ito, who stood beside him, to go ahead. However, Zayne had already exited. The moment he stepped out, Zayne locked eyes with Charlie. Instantly, Zayne felt a slight frown crease his forehead, stirred by an aura that was both familiar and foreign, igniting a sense of unease within him.


    Charlie, unfamiliar with the man before him, couldn’t help but scrutinize him more closely, especially as he noticed the alertness and surprise in Zayne’s eyes. The man appeared to be in his early fifties, with an ordinary look and build, yet he was dressed opulently. There was an edge of hostility etched into his features, giving him the air of a ruthless master, and this impression was palpable in the charged atmosphere.


    With Nanako Ito beside him, Charlie didn’t dwell on the stranger for long, and they moved into the elevator together. Just as the doors began to close, Zayne halted abruptly and nced back toward the elevator.


    Mr. Palmer, who stood nearby, inquired, “Master, is something the matter?”<h3 style="background-color:DodgerBlue">


    Zayne sighed and replied, “Weaverrd… that young man who just entered the elevator felt oddly familiar…”


    Curious, Mr. Palmer asked, “Do you have acquaintances in Japan?”


    “I have many acquaintances, but I don’t know any young people like him. The boy seemed to be around twenty-six or seventeen, roughly the same age as Fitz, maybe just a year or two older,” Zayne exined.


    Mr. Palmer nodded, “That’s about the same age as your son… Do you know him?”


    “No, I don’t,” Zayne admitted.


    With a troubled expression, Zayne continued, “But he bears a striking resemnce to an old friend of mine!”<fn43a2> Official source is find~novel</fn43a2>


    Intrigued, Mr. Palmer asked, “Master, who is this old friend of yours?”


    Zayne’s demeanor turned frosty as he asked, “Have you ever heard anyone mention Bruce?”


    Mr. Palmer, still under forty, had been studying abroad when Charlie’s father, Bruce, passed away. He was unaware of what had transpired in Eastcliff during that time.


    So he replied, “Master, is this Bruce from the Wade family?”


    “Yes,” Zayne confirmed.


    As Zayne reminisced, he couldn’t help but picture Bruce’s noble bearing. Bruce had been a strikingly handsome and charismatic figure, a true standout in Eastcliff. His exceptional abilities made him a force to be reckoned with, and Zayne often felt overshadowed in Bruce’s presence.


    Women of Eastcliff vied for Bruce’s attention, each wanting to secure a future with him, captivated by his charm and status.


    Zayne’s wife, Deana, the mother of Fitz and Zara, had been infatuated with Bruce. Despite Zayne’s relentless efforts to win her affection, Deana had only eyes for Bruce. Even after Bruce became engaged, Deana’s devotion to him was unwavering. Zayne once orchestrated a grand proposal that captivated Eastcliff, yet Deana remained resolute in her refusal. In a crowd of onlookers, she had simply stated:


    The first sentence was: “I’m sorry, I can’t marry you.”


    The second sentence was: “Because Bruce is not married after all!”<h3 ss="has-text-align-center" id="chapter-list"><strong></strong>


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