Aaron had a hunch. Something didn't sit right with him, and he couldn't shake it.Just as he was about to reach out and share his suspicion with Alistair, the callcame in first-Alistair's voice on the other end, calm but earnest, asking for a favor.Alistair had "Bane Breaker," sure, but that didn't mean he was going to sit on hishands while someone framed him.Meanwhile, Aaron owed Alistair, and he'd been looking for a way to return thefavor. Now that Alistair had asked, Aaron jumped at the chance.Caroline was also working the case, but her focus had always been on Paige andthe Morgan family. That caused her to overlook someone on the periphery, thecousin of the driver. A man who, on paper, had no contact with the suspect foryears.Aaron trusted his gut. And his gut told him to keep an eye on that cousin's entirehousehold. Sure enough, something surfaced.If Caroline operated like a surgeon with a steady hand, cutting clean and deep,then Aaron was the field medic, quick, decisive, and just as effective when timewas tight.One brought precision. The other brought speed. Together, they made it work.X Close13:17Chapter 188 A Debt Repaid13 min leftEven after the true culprit had been identified and arrested, Caroline didn't stop.Her instincts told her this wasn't just a simple hit-and-run. There were deeperstrings behind it, strings that led straight to the Morgans and to Paige."That guy seems harmless enough on the surface," Julian remarked oneafternoon, "but the truth is, he's a degenerate. Booze, gambling, prostitutes-youname it. Not to mention he beat his wife so badly that she lost the ability to havechildren. She's been living under his thumb for years, too scared to even think offighting back."He slipped into a dry, analytical tone, like a detective building his case. "Then oneday, her world starts to crack. She discovers something about him. But he's gottenso used to her silence, he doesn't see the threat."Aaron nodded. "You're not wrong. The poor woman didn't have it in her to reporthim. She'd been broken for too long. He trained her to be quiet, obedient."Julian let out a slow breath, a flicker of real emotion breaking through. "And that'swhen you showed up. But getting someone like her to stand up and fight? That'snot easy. She doesn't work. She relies on him for everything. If he goes down, sheloses her home, her food, her life."Aaron leaned back in his seat. "She's been suicidal before. He threatened to killher entire family if she ever tried again. So yeah, she stayed. It wasn't living. Itwas surviving."APNICX Close13:17Chapter 188 A Debt RepaidFor once, Julian's composed face twisted into something harsher. "Bastard."13 min leftAaron's approach had been simple-break the psychological chains. Make herbelieve this time, it would end differently. That if she testified, the man who hadruined her life would go away for good.And it worked.He didn't just return a favor to Alistair. He pulled a woman out of hell.For a guy who used to drift through life like a street rat, it was surprisinglysatisfying to do something right for once.Julian, having pieced everything together, swore again under his breath, and thensmoothly shifted topics with his usual gentlemanly polish. "Mr. Landry," he said, "Iheard your father has some trouble walking?"Aaron blinked, caught off guard.Then he nodded. With someone like Julian, digging up that kind of detail probablywasn't hard."Yeah," he admitted. "A few years ago he got injured. Nerve damage. He hasn'twalked since."APNICX Close13.17Chapter 188 A Debt Repaid(1") 13 min leftJulian nodded thoughtfully. "What a coincidence. I happen to know one of thetop specialists in that field. He'll be in New York soon. Let me make a few calls.I'll arrange a consultation."Aaron's eyes widened. "You mean... Dr. Sebastian Rowen?"Julian smiled, "So you've heard of him.""He's the best, Aaron said without hesitation. "Of course Ihave."When his father had first gotten hurt, every doctor they visited had shaken theirheads. The verdict was always the same- permanent. They said there was no fix.But Aaron had refused to give up. He spent months searching, hoping to findsomeone who could prove them wrong.That search led him to the name Sebastian Rowen, a leader in neurologicalresearch. Not a practicing doctor anymore, not someone he could just book anappointment with. By then, Sebastian had already retreated from clinical work anddedicated himself to research full-time.Aaron had tried everything to reach him. Nothing worked. Eventually, he let it go.Not because he stopped caring, but because he had no choice.The years passed, and the dream faded. But now it was back.Chapter 188 A Debt Repaid(*) 13 min left"I mean it," Aaron said, his voice thick with emotion. "Thank you. I don't evenknow what to say..."Then he paused, something tugging at him. "Mr. Hart... I want to be honest. Mr.Harlow once helped me. Helped my sister, too. She always wanted to act, and hemade it happen. I owed him. That's why I helped. I wasn't doing anyone a favor. Iwas paying off a debt. I... I really don't like owing people."Julian chuckled, interrupting him, "Let me make this simple. Do you want yourfather to walk again?""Yes!" Aaron said without hesitation.Julian slapped his knee. "There we go. That's all that matters. I'll send you theappointment details when it's confirmed. Be ready."Aaron didn't know where to put his hands. He was excited but also embarrassed.I really don't have anything to repay you with...Julian grinned. "Then owe me. It's not a loan shark deal. We don't charge intereston favors. One favor is one favor. We'll keep the tab simple."Aaron stepped out of Vireon Technologies into a blast of afternoon sun. The heatpressed down from above, thick and relentless.Chapter 188 A Debt Repaid13 min lattnoveldramaThe heat of summer was building, but not as fast as the warmthin his chest.For the first time in a long while, he felt like life was heading somewhere.Maybe Sebastian wouldn't be able to fix his dad. But at least he'd know they triedeverything.His sister Janice had just joined a new production. When the internet turned onAlistair, most people thought the film If There's a Next Second was doomed.Some even predicted the cast's careers would go down with it.But not Janice. She'd thrown herself into the work, studied the role, and kept herhead high.Just yesterday, she'd called him, practically glowing through the phone. Thedirector, Yves, had praised her performance. He said she had a natural gift.Aaron could see it now-her on a red carpet, under the lights, her name in bold.He couldn't help but smile. The usual edge in his expression had softened. Thatheavy darkness he carried around felt lighter today.Time to stop drifting.Chapter 188 A Debt Repaid(4) 13 min leftWhether or not his father walked again, whether or not Janicebecame a star-it didn't matter. He'd already made up his mind. He was going toget his life together.