Kasra cradled Lara’s limp body in his arms as he hurried back to the parlor, his heart pounding erratically in his chest. Upon entering, he carefully laid her down on one of the sofas, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. Her features were serene in her unconscious state, but her collapse deepened everyone’s worry.

  “Seven,” Kasra called, his voice edged with urgency. Before he could say another word, Seven appeared at his side, calm and reassuring. “I’m here. Let me check her pulse.”

  Kasra stepped aside, his faith in Seven’s capabilities unmistakable. Seven crouched beside Lara, his fingers deftly locating the pulse point on her wrist. The room seemed to hold its collective breath, the silence broken by the faint murmurs between Aiden and Louisa. After a moment, he stood, his expression unreadable.

  “Lara was likely overwhelmed,” he began, “The stress from earlier heightened her emotional state, and when her heart rate slowed after the fight, it caused her blood pressure to drop. That’s why she fainted. Let her rest; she’ll regain consciousness soon.”

  The explanation settled over the group, calming some while stirring doubt in others. Aiden’s brow furrowed as he stared at Seven. “How can you tell all that just by checking her pulse?” he scoffed, unconvinced.

  Seven met his gaze evenly. “I’ve studied both modern medicine and traditional Chinese medicine. Combined, they provide a deeper understanding of the human body.”

  Aiden’s skepticism surfaced in the narrowing of his eyes. “Modern medicine and traditional Chinese medicine?” he repeated, his tone mocking. “Let me guess—you learned them from your hermit master?”

  Seven’s lips curved, forming an imperceptible smile. “Traditional Chinese medicine, yes. Modern medicine, no. That, I learned from my professors at Harvard.”

  Aiden blinked, his sarcasm faltering. Harvard? His mind raced to reconcile this revelation with his earlier assumptions. If the Shahis trust him enough to let him work for their family, then his credentials must have checked out.

  His mistrust quickly gave way to grudging acknowledgment. A resigned sigh escaped him as he mumbled under his breath. “I guess I’m the fool here.”

  Louisa glanced at him, her brow arched, but she said nothing. Together, they turned their attention to their precious daughter, her current condition a poignant reminder of the stakes they’d made and lost.

  Meanwhile, Seven motioned Kasra to step out with him. Once out of earshot, Seven leaned in. His words seemed innocuous, but as Kasra processed them, his eyes widened, a mix of emotions flashing in them.

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  “Are you sure?” Kasra whispered.

  Seven squared his shoulders as he said, “I’m not 100 percent certain. Verify it as soon as you can.”

  Kasra nodded, gratitude tightening his chest. “Thanks, man. You saved me from a no-win situation back there. Lara and I owe you big time.”

  Seven clapped him on the shoulder, a rare smile breaking through. “Glad I could help.”

  When they reentered, they heard Sana speaking. “Uncle Aiden, Aunt Louisa, do you now accept my brother? Do you agree to his proposal?”

  Aiden exchanged a glance with Louisa before turning back to Sana. “My dear,” he said with resignation, “although I still have my reservations, I’m a man of my word. Since I lost the duel, I’ll accept your brother’s proposal.”

  A reluctant smile touched Louisa’s lips as she chimed in, “Yes, Sana. The terms were agreed upon beforehand. Rest assured, we’ll keep our word.”

  The tension eased, giving way to cautious optimism. Amid the shifting energy, Ami’s warm voice rose. “Louisa, Aiden, do you have any requests regarding Lara’s dowry?”

  Aiden didn’t hesitate to shoot it down. “Ami, we appreciate the tradition, but that won’t be necessary. Lara’s happiness is our main concern. She’s our only child and will inherit all our assets.”

  He paused, his expression darkening. “However, I’d like Lara to sign a prenuptial agreement stating that she’ll walk away empty-handed should their marriage end in divorce. The last thing we want is for people to question her motives for marrying your son. All we ask is that he loves, cares for, and protects her as we have.”

  The proposal hung in the air, catching Kasra off guard. Before he could respond, Sadra interjected, his timbre steady and commanding. “Aiden, you stole my thunder. I was just about to address this matter.”

  He shot his son a cryptic look before he added, “In our family, we have a standard prenuptial agreement. Its terms aren’t as disproportionate as you proposed, but they serve a clear purpose. When a Shahi member marries, all assets and liabilities are shared equally. If divorce occurs due to irreconcilable differences, the division follows a 50-50 split. In cases of infidelity, the unfaithful party receives only 30 percent of assets and shoulders 70 percent of liabilities, including pre-marriage obligations.”

  Sadra’s tone softened further as he continued, “Every Shahi family member signs this agreement with their spouse-to-be. It’s non-negotiable. If any Shahi member marries without signing this prenup, they would be disowned and removed from the family genealogy records.”

  Kasra’s brows furrowed as he thought, Why haven’t I been told of this before? Is Dad improvising, or is this something legit? He resolved to confirm with Kimi later.

  Aiden grew pensive. “Sadra, can you explain the rationale behind the prenup?”

  Sadra nodded. “In today’s world, where infidelity and divorce are commonplace, our family views this agreement as a safeguard. It instills accountability and ensures sincerity in our unions. That’s also why we let our children choose their spouses freely.”

  Aiden absorbed the explanation, his earlier resistance giving way to respect. Louisa, too, seemed appeased. As the conversation waned, attention shifted back to Lara, who remained unconscious. Though the discussions had concluded, the ramifications would linger long after she awoke.

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