Once again, Dave was pulled back from the edge of death.
After reviving him, they placed him back on the cold, hard bed.
It became clear to Dave that their goal wasn’t to kill him immediately. Instead, they wanted to drive him to the point where he wished for death himself.
They infused him with several relentless tortures, hoping he would choose to end his own life.
As a member of the Evans family, his death in the hospital would raise questions and bring blame. But if he committed suicide, they could escape responsibility entirely.
It was exactly what Rupert had instructed the director to do.
After half a month of relentless torture and abuse, Dave became withdrawn, isolated, and unrecognizable. He was no longer himself.
At times, his desire to end it all was overwhelming, but his hatred for Rupert and the Evans family gave him strength.
He made a vow to survive. He would not let them win. He would live to make them pay for what they had done to him and his parents.
One day, after another grueling session in the therapy room, Dave was thrown back into his ward.
His skin was pale as a ghost, and his breathing was shallow and heavy.
The ward door burst open, and a fierce-looking man strode in.
Weak and helpless, Dave assumed this man was another lunatic coming to harm him.
He glanced at him briefly, then shut his eyes, bracing for what he thought was certain death.
To his surprise, the man didn’t attack. He simply stopped in front of him and stood there silently.
Then, in a calm, almost indifferent tone, he said, “I didn’t think you’d last this long.”
Curious, Dave slowly reopened his eyes to take a closer look.
The man had a severe, intimidating expression, with a scar running down his jaw.
In the past, such a fearsome face would have left Dave in tears.
Now, Dave only squinted slightly, looking at the man as if he were just another ordinary person.
“Good. You’re the first to look me in the eye right away. I like that,” the man said, pulling up a chair and sitting across from Dave. A faint smile played on his lips. “I’ve been wondering how deep the hatred must run for someone to send a ten-year-old to a place like this. At first, I thought you’d break in a week. Then I realized-they don’t want you dead. They want you to end it yourself. But you’re tough. You’ve lasted this long. I’m impressed.”
“Who are you?” Dave asked coldly, his voice icy as he stared blankly at the mysterious stranger before him.
The man smirked and said, “You might think I’m just another patient here, but I’m not. I’m just a regular person like you. A lot of people who came here were completely sane at first, but the constant torture broke them. Some couldn’t take it and ended their own lives. This place isn’t for treatment-it’s a punishment for those accused of making big mistakes.”
“People who’ve made huge mistakes…” Dave murmured with a bitter smile.
What mistake had he made? And what had his parents done wrong?
His teeth clenched, and his eyes filled with bitterness.
The man noticed Dave’s tightened fists and subtle shift in expression. He smiled, crossed his arms, and continued, “It doesn’t matter whether you made a mistake or not. What matters is what they decide. If they say you’re wrong, even if you’re right, you’re still wrong in their eyes. If they say you’re sick, no matter how sane you are, you’re considered ill. Do you know why?”
Dave stared at the man, waiting for an answer.
The man grinned and said, “Because they hold all the power. This asylum is just a smaller version of the world. The director plays God here, and whatever he says becomes the truth. I’m guessing the person who sent you here has power far beyond the ordinary, right?”
“Power…” Dave muttered, the light in his eyes dimming.
He thought of Rupert, who now controlled the entire Evans Group.
If Rupert declared him ill, then to everyone else, he was ill. It didn’t matter why Dave had become mentally ill. No one would dare to speak up for him.
Rupert and the asylum director had conspired to trap him, cutting off any chance of escape.
They wanted to play God in his life.
But that couldn’t be the end.
A fierce determination burned in Dave’s eyes. He looked like a cornered wolf, ready to fight for survival.
Once he escaped, he vowed he would rise again, stronger than ever, ruling like a king among wolves.
The man noticed the shift in Dave’s expression and smirked. “Only with ultimate power can you make the world see your truth as reality,” he said.
“What do you mean?” Dave asked, his tone sharp.
The man seemed amused by Dave’s quick response.
“I mean this,” the man said, his smile growing wider. “Do you want to take control of your life and leave this place behind?”
Dave’s eyes grew wide. He had thought about escaping before and even tried a few times.
But the security was too tight, and the guards were always alert. They quickly stopped him every time.
Each failure brought harsher punishments.
The man noticed Dave’s stunned expression and let out a soft chuckle. “I can help you,” he said.
“Why?” Dave asked firmly. He was no longer the naive child he used to be. His eyes were sharper now, more intense than most adults. “We’ve never met. You wouldn’t help me without a reason. What do you want from me?”
The man paused, looking slightly surprised, then chuckled. “You’re exactly as I hoped you’d be. I’ll be honest with you. I heard your surname is Evans. The Evans family is well-known in Edenfield. It takes a lot of influence to get someone locked away in a place like this. That made me think you must be a Evans. To face such cruelty at your age… If I’m right, you’re either the son or grandson of Lucas Evans. Am I correct?”
Dave studied the sharp-eyed man and couldn’t help but feel a hint of respect for him.
“You’re right,” Dave admitted in a firm voice. “My grandfather is the chairman of the Evans Group.”