Chapter 3 Chapter 3 Two minutes later , Briar slipped on her black helmet , jumped on a sleek black motorcycle parked in the Jennings family's driveway , and took off humming , ready to make a quick delivery . Camden and Beatrice only dared to step outside after she was out of sight . They started cussing up a storm - but it was way too late . Briar was already gone . While riding , Briar's phone pinged with a file on Ashton . She tapped it open and stopped short at the photo . He was tall with broad shoulders and a sharp jawline . A pair of gold - rimmed glasses sat on his nose , masking the sharpness in his gaze . His lips were tight -an expression worn by men used to control and authority . Briar gave a low whistle . " Perfect , " she muttered . Ashton was built like a dream . A little cold , a little dangerous . Just her type . Any hesitation Briar had about this job disappeared the second she saw his face . She grinned , twisted the throttle , and sped up . An hour later , Briar pulled up in front of a massive mansion , skidding her bike to a smooth stop right next to a shiny black SUV . Her motorcycle looked rough , all scratched up and worn , but she didn't care . As soon as she cut the engine , a tall man in a suit approached , followed by a group of bodyguards . Briar took off her helmet and eyed Ashton as he got closer . No surprise , he was even better - looking in person . She stayed seated , one leg on the ground , totally calm . Meeting his stare , she asked , " Ashton ? " Ashton looked a little surprised that the courier was a girl , but he nodded . " Where's the medicine ? " Briar pulled a small , clear plastic bag from her pocket and held it up between two fingers . " Where's the money ? " The bag looked like something off the street - just two tiny black pills inside . It didn't look like anything special . Ashton's eyes drifted to Briar's wrist , where a simple black hair tie stood out against her skin . Her chill attitude , the way she handled herself - it threw him off for a second . After a couple of seconds of silent observation , a cold glint flashed behind Ashton's glasses . He suddenly changed his mind . Instead of taking the pills , he pulled out his phone and transferred half the payment . Then he said , " Come with me . I'll pay the rest after the pills are tested . " Briar glanced at the bodyguards , then back at Ashton . She didn't like the vibe , but she wasn't fazed either . After a short pause , she slipped the pills back into her pocket , got off the bike , and followed Ashton , hands in her jacket , face unreadable . The Wade family was the oldest and most powerful clan in Shoneport . Their mansion looked more like a museum - fancy and old - school . It had several courtyards , but only one was lit up . A crowd of anxious - looking people stood gathered at the entrance . In families like this , it was hard to tell who really cared . Nobody knew if all that concern was real or just for show . When Ashton walked in with a young girl , every head turned . All eyes were on her - curious , suspicious , maybe a little judgmental . Surrounded by all these political and business heavyweights , most people would've been shaking . But Briar was cool as ever . She didn't even tone down her attitude one bit . She walked into the courtyard like she owned the place , Ashton right beside her With Griffin on his deathbed , the Wade family was staring down a major storm over their wealth and power . So when Ashton brought in a stranger at a time like this , everyone tensed up . 13:33 . Mon2OR JUS Chapter 3 But because Ashton hatt a reputation for being cold and tolthroat , no one dared stop thair . They just kept quiet and kilmant the can be the ana Griffin used to run with President Steven back in the day . When he stepped down for health reason , the higher ups made sure he got the men inakary doctors in the country Right now , those same doctors were gathered around Griffin's bed , and they looked completely stumped . Griffin had dipped into another ciana , with ne warning signs and no symptoms . This was his sixth one this year , and each one lasted longer than the fast . This time , he'd been out way past what they thought wm cafe . His vitals we dropping fast . They'd nearly declared him dead twice . Word got out , and suddenly the whole Wade family swarmed the house , dragging in lawyers and kicking up drama . They crowded around Gaffer's bed , refusing to leave , each one acting like they had the final say . It took Ashton losing his temper and swearing he'd found an experimental drug to make them clear the room . So when Ashton walked in now with a young woman at his side , the doctors looked a little anxious . " Did you get the medicine ? " one of them asked . Ashton didn't say anything and turned to Briar . Without missing a beat , Briar held up the clear plastic bag . Inside were two small black pills that rattled lightly as she handed them over . The doctors stared at it like she'd just handed them a bag of candy . The packaging was cheap , and the pills didn't look like anything special . " Miss , has this been clinically tested ? " one doctor asked hesitantly , not taking the bag . " What are the side effects ? What's in it ? " " No clinical trials , " Briar said flatly . " The side effect is drowsiness . And as for what's in it - that's classified ." The doctors didn't look impressed . But Briar ignored them and turned to Ashton . " You asked for one pill . I brought an extra . You can test it if you want . I'll wait thirty minutes . " But I'll tell you now - these pills work . Combine them with acupuncture , and your grandfather will wake up in half an hour . " And you don't have time to waste . At the rate he's going , he's got maybe an hour left . You'd better decide fast . " Before Ashton or the doctors could respond , someone scoffed from behind them . " What a joke . The best military doctors in the country are still working on this , and some random girl shows up acting like she's got all the answers , huh ? " " Ashton , where did you even find her ? Experimental drugs are risky enough . If something goes wrong- " Yeah , Griffin's pulled through before . Let's stick with what we know . No need to gamble now . " " She's just a kid . What does she even know about Griffin's condition ? Giving him an hour to live , huh ? She's full of it . " " And acupuncture ? What kind of outdated nonsense is that ? Isn't that Tristan's thing anyway ? If he's not here , what's the point ? " As the crowd kept murmuring , Ashton turned slowly to face them . His voice stayed calm but carried weight . " If you don't want to get kicked out again , shut up ." The room went silent . Then Ashton turned back to Briar . He looked her dead in the eye . " You know traditional medicine ? " he asked . " You can do acupuncture ? " It didn't sound like a real question - more like a quiet demand . His tone was cold and steady - and hard to argue with . Something about the way he looked at her made Briar uneasy . She'd seen that look before , though she couldn't place where . " A little , " she replied . Chapter A Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!