Mike Johnson frowned deeply when he saw his wife, Tessa, standing there disheveled. He glanced at her, then at Kayden, his suspicion fleeting but instinctive. Within seconds, however, he dismissed the foolish thought.
He could doubt his wife, but he couldn’t doubt Kayden’s character.
Although he didn’t know Kayden very well, Mike understood what kind of man he was. Kayden’s companion, Wood Faulkner, was far more beautiful than his wife, and since entering the room, Kayden hadn’t so much as looked at Tessa. A man like that wouldn’t be interested in his wife.
Even if Tessa threw herself at him, Kayden likely wouldn’t spare her a glance.
With this thought, Mike asked, “What’s going on, Mr. Scott? Is it hot in here? Why are you sweating so much?”
Kayden frowned slightly, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead. “It’s not hot,” he replied flatly.
It was all Tessa’s fault. This cramped room felt even smaller thanks to her antics. It was impossible not to sweat.
“Put your clothes on!” Mike snapped at his wife, visibly annoyed.
Tessa scoffed, crossing her arms defiantly. “You don’t get to tell me what to do! This is my house. I’ll dress however I want. If you’ve got a problem with it, conquer me! If you can’t, then stop trying to control me. Even if I decide not to wear anything, it’s none of your business!”
Mike’s face turned green with anger. He clenched his teeth, ready to retort, but found himself at a loss for words.
Kayden glanced at the helpless Mike. This must have been a man’s most humbling moment. With a chuckle, he said, “Don’t worry, Captain Johnson. Tonight, you’ll finally be able to take charge of your wife.”
“Really? You’ve figured it out?” Mike asked, his face lighting up with hope.
Kayden picked up the bronze mirror adorned with a jade pendant. “This is the problem,” he said confidently.
“What?”
“What?”
Both Mike and Tessa were stunned.
Kayden met their shocked expressions with certainty. Mike blinked, still doubtful. “Mr. Scott, are you sure this is the cause?”
Kayden nodded firmly. “Yes.”
Tessa sneered. “I told you, you’ve been duped! And you still won’t believe me?” She shot Kayden a glare. “Do you even know who gave us that mirror? Do you know its significance? You’re just making things up!”
She pointed at the mirror. “My brother gave this to me. Back then, I had terrible stomach pain-agonizing for half a month! No doctor could find the cause. My brother prayed at a Taoist temple and brought me this mirror to hang by the bed. Once it was up, my pain vanished. And now you’re saying this mirror caused my husband’s… issues? Isn’t that a bit far-fetched?”
Kayden was silent for a moment before responding. “Before your stomach pain started, you must’ve had a meal with your brother. After that meal, the pain began, didn’t it?”
The couple froze, exchanging glances. Mike nodded repeatedly. “Yes, that’s right. We did have a meal with her brother before it all started. That night, her stomach began hurting.”
“Mike Johnson!” Tessa shouted. “Do you have any conscience? My brother treated us to a meal, and now you’re accusing him of poisoning us? Do you think he’d harm his own sister?”
“Just because someone says a few words, you believe them? I can’t believe you!”
She turned to Kayden, her voice rising. “And you! Stop spouting nonsense. You’re ruining our family. My brother would never do such a thing!”
Kayden gave a cold laugh. “He didn’t poison you-he poisoned Captain Johnson. Your stomach pain was just a means to an end, so you’d hang this mirror by your bed. He was confident in his methods, so he used the mirror as a tool. Once it was hung, your pain disappeared. But after that, Captain Johnson’s health began to decline.”
“Captain Johnson, think about it. Did you offend him? Maybe he asked you to do something, and you refused. Or perhaps you embarrassed him in front of others. Either way, this mirror is the direct cause of your condition!”
Mike squinted, his expression darkening. After a moment, he slapped his thigh. “There was something! He called me during a dinner party, asking me to shut down a restaurant. I was on duty at the time, so I dismissed it and hung up quickly. He was with a group of friends-did I embarrass him then?”
Kayden nodded slightly. “That sounds about right.”
“Unbelievable!” Mike exclaimed, exasperated. “A grown man, holding such a petty grudge over something so trivial? Why couldn’t he just call me again later instead of resorting to this?”
When men are petty, no one else stands a chance.
Tessa’s brother had likely been showing off in front of his friends. When her husband failed to cooperate, it ruined his moment and earned him the label of a braggart. This humiliation had clearly festered into resentment.
“That’s between you and him,” Kayden said matter-of-factly. “As for this mirror, it’s not a protective charm-it’s a cursed object designed to drain a man’s vitality. It’s been tampered with to absorb male energy.”
“That’s why you’ve become… impotent.”
“No!” Tessa pointed at Kayden. “You’re lying. My brother would never do such a thing! Sure, he’s a little petty and likes dabbling in the occult, but he wouldn’t go this far.”
“You already know the truth,” Kayden said, locking eyes with her.
He turned to Mike. “Captain Johnson, it’s your decision how to handle this. My job here is done-I’ve found the cause.”
Mike swallowed hard, his face pale. “Mr. Scott, can we fix this by destroying the mirror?”
Kayden shook his head. “It’s too late for that. This has gone on for years. I’ll need to perform acupuncture to treat you. Originally, this was just a disruption of energy and balance caused by the mirror. But over time, what started as a minor ailment has become a chronic condition. That’s the real issue now. But don’t worry-I’ll take care of it.”
With that, Kayden walked out, carrying the bronze mirror.