While Adrian was pondering, he looked toward Jac and said, "It’s not impossible to just keep you here, but would you be willing to accept a slave mark?"

Jac felt a bit despondent. For a dignified young master to be branded with a slave mark was a tremendous humiliation. It would give Adrian leverage over him.

With the slave mark, Jac could return and ask his family's elders to kill Adrian. However, once his stubborn family members discovered he had been branded, it would spell the end of his career as an heir.

In their family, there were nine heirs, and ultimately, one would be chosen as the family leader’s successor. None of them would willingly give up their position. If Jac did, many others would eagerly vie for his place—something Jac understood far better than Adrian.

Adrian, looking at Jac earnestly, said, "Don’t be nervous. I won’t do anything to you. I might need your help in the future. Branding you with the slave mark doesn’t mean I’ll treat you like one."

Jac's frown ea