Harley happened to be passing by when she spotted a crisp envelope lying on the ground. Curious, she bent down, picked it up, and flipped it over. As soon as she read the content clearly, her eyes lit up with excitement.
"Boss, are you going to attend this dinner party? Take me with you, okay?" she asked eagerly, practically bouncing with anticipation.
Shawn glanced at Harley with a mix of amusement and exasperation. He raised an eyebrow and responded flatly, "What's the point of going to some crappy dinner party?"
"Crappy dinner?" Harley gasped, her eyes widening like saucers. She held the invitation up and pointed at the bottom. "Boss, look closely at the signature! This isn't just some random dinner—it's a medical banquet hosted by Stephen Strange, the most famous and top-rated surgeon in the United States!"
Stephen Strange?
Doctor Strange?
Shawn paused mid-thought, momentarily stunned by the name. He took the invitation from Harley's hand and examined it more closely. Sure enough, the signature at the bottom read Stephen Strange.
That was Doctor Strange.
Shawn frowned. His interest instantly plummeted. He had no fondness for Stephen—not because of who he was now, but because of who he was destined to become: the Sorcerer Supreme.
And demons like Shawn were natural enemies of the Sorcerer Supreme.
If he saw Stephen in person, there was a good chance he might not be able to resist the urge to kill him. That, in turn, would almost certainly draw the attention of the Ancient One. The last thing Shawn wanted was to provoke that bald menace. He wasn't afraid—but he also wasn't stupid. Why invite trouble?
So, without a second thought, Shawn made up his mind not to attend the dinner.
But then… something odd crossed his mind.
Everyone knew that Stephen Strange only became Sorcerer Supreme because of a certain car accident. Before that, he had been the world's most brilliant surgeon, riding high on ego and skill. The crash ruined his hands, forcing him into a downward spiral. Desperate for a cure, he had searched the world for healing methods. When all else failed, he found his way to the Ancient One in the Himalayas.
Magic healed his hands—at least partially—and more importantly, it unlocked the path to sorcery.
From there, Stephen became a powerful magician, took on the mantle of Doctor Strange, and eventually inherited the position of Sorcerer Supreme after the death of the Ancient One.
That was the original timeline.
But what if...
What if Shawn could stop the car accident from happening?
Or better yet, what if he helped Stephen heal his hands through science or demonic power before the man ever had to turn to magic?
If he succeeded, then Stephen would never become Sorcerer Supreme.
And without a Sorcerer Supreme, the balance of magical power in the world would shift. That role might remain vacant—or perhaps, someone else would rise to it. Either way, the world would be chaotically different.
That… was a delicious possibility.
The corner of Shawn's mouth curled upward into a devilish grin.
"Boss, what are you laughing about?" Harley's voice pulled him back from his scheming thoughts.
Shawn looked up to find her staring at him with suspicion and curiosity. He quickly masked his thoughts and shook his head. "It's nothing."
Then, with a casual shrug, he added, "I wasn't planning on going to some boring dinner, but since you're so excited, I'll go with you."
Harley's face lit up like a Christmas tree. Without hesitation, she threw her arms around Shawn's face and planted a kiss on his cheek.
"Boss, you're the best!"
A moment later, realization hit her like a freight train. She had just kissed him—again—and it wasn't exactly subtle this time. Her face turned bright red.
Before she could awkwardly stammer out an apology or explanation, a familiar voice cut through the moment.
"What's going on here?"
Selena had walked over silently and was now staring at Harley with a puzzled expression. Harley looked like she'd just been caught sneaking cookies from a jar.
"N-Nothing! Really, nothing!" Harley blurted and bolted away like a guilty teenager. Selena tilted her head, completely confused by the sudden reaction.
She turned to Shawn.
"What was that about?"
Shawn casually touched his cheek where Harley had kissed him. Though he acted calm, a trace of satisfaction glimmered in his eyes. He shrugged.
"I don't know. Maybe she's feeling a little under the weather." Then he added, "By the way, I'm taking her to a medical banquet in New York tomorrow. Want to come?"
Selena made a face.
"A banquet full of doctors? Ugh, boring. If it was a party for rich elites, maybe I'd consider it. But doctors? Nah."
Shawn chuckled. "Fine. Consider tomorrow a day off."
The next afternoon, around four o'clock, Shawn arrived outside the apartment where Harley and Selena lived. Though the banquet was in the evening, the drive from Gotham to New York was long, so he came early to avoid being late.
He gave Harley a call, and within moments, she appeared in the doorway.
She looked… stunning.
Harley had worn a flowing white dress, soft curls framing her face, and makeup just subtle enough to highlight her natural beauty. Even Shawn, who rarely let appearances influence his emotions, found himself doing a double-take.
Harley noticed.
Her cheeks flushed faintly, but her heart swelled with happiness. After what happened yesterday, she had been nervous all night, tossing and turning in bed. She'd worried Shawn might be angry or distant.
But now, seeing his admiring gaze, her worries vanished like smoke.
"Boss, let's go!" she chirped, hopping into the passenger seat of the sleek black sports car.
Shawn smiled faintly, started the engine, and the two took off toward New York.
Oh, and yes—this was Bruce Wayne's car, the very same luxury model parked in the Wayne estate garage. Now, it belonged to Shawn. After Bruce's "demise," the estate had become a treasure trove for him.
As the car sped along the highway, Shawn reached over and flicked on the radio. He wasn't particularly fond of background noise, but the long drive made it a useful distraction.
Originally, he just wanted to play some music.
But instead of music, a news broadcast came through the speakers.
"This just in—renowned neurosurgeon Dr. Stephen Strange is expected to attend a prestigious medical conference in New York tonight. His revolutionary techniques in brain and spinal surgery have earned him global recognition…"
The radio droned on, praising Stephen's past miracles and awards.
Harley glanced at Shawn. "See? I told you he was famous!"
Shawn didn't reply.
His mind was already racing, not with admiration—but with calculation.
If his plan was going to work, tonight would be the starting point.
He needed to observe Stephen, evaluate his personality, and—most importantly—find out how close the man was to his destined accident.
Depending on what he learned tonight, he could either accelerate, prevent, or redirect Stephen's fate entirely.
And if all else failed, and he couldn't change Stephen's path?
Well… there were other ways to remove a future threat before he became too powerful.
Shawn's eyes gleamed as the car crossed the bridge into New York, the sun setting behind them.
Tonight wouldn't just be a simple dinner party.
Tonight was the beginning of a new game.
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