Chapter: Chapter 98: Heated ConfrontationsJalen was deeply engrossed in paperwork, sitting behind his polished mahogany desk with Fiona seated across from him, sorting files. The office was quiet, save for the rustling of papers and the soft ticking of the wall clock. He had barely taken a breath when the door suddenly burst open.Carlos barged in, his chest rising and falling rapidly, his eyes red and blazing with fury. “Why did you do it?!” he yelled, moving straight toward Jalen like a man possessed.Jalen froze for a moment, knowing this was a confrontation he’d been expecting. Slowly, he turned to Fiona. “Please excuse us,” he said calmly.Fiona, stunned and worried, stood from her seat. Her eyes darted between both men. Jalen gave her a small nod of assurance. She walked out, quietly shutting the door behind her.Jalen stood up. “What are you talking about, Carlos?”Carlos clenched his fists, his teeth grinding. “Don’t play dumb with me!” he barked. “You know what I’m talking about. My father! You murdered him. In cold
Last Updated: 2025-07-08
Chapter: Chapter 97: The ComfessionBy 10 AM the next morning, Jalen’s black SUV rolled quietly into the dense woods where the safe house had been secured. The air smelled of pine and damp earth, birds chirped distantly in the background. Nothing about the scene gave away the presence of life, until two hefty men emerged from between the trees, dressed in forest-toned camouflage and holding long sniper rifles. They moved silently and watched the vehicle as it approached, only stepping forward when they confirmed the identity of the car. Their faces remained expressionless, cold and calculating. These were not ordinary guards but Spider’s men, well trained.As Jalen pulled to a stop in front of the wooden cabin that had been home to his mother and sister for days now, the door flew open. His younger sister, Joy, ran out barefoot, her hair tied back in a messy ponytail. “Jalen!” she called out, flinging herself into his arms. He caught her, his hands firmly wrapped around her back as he exhaled, releasing a portion
Last Updated: 2025-07-08
Chapter: Chapter 96: Pieces That Don’t FitEarly hours of today, before his visit to Adesins Corporation, Inspector Dennis stood still in the middle of the quiet, sun-drenched road, his eyes sweeping the forest's edge where Arturo’s car had crashed. The yellow police tape fluttered softly in the breeze, wrapped carelessly around broken branches and the twisted metal of what was left of the vehicle. The stench of blood and burnt rubber still hung faintly in the air. The scene had long been cleared of bodies, but it still reeked of violence and unanswered questions.The bodies of Arturo and his three men had been found strewn across the forest clearing, riddled with bullets, the vehicle smashed beyond repair. But as Dennis paced slowly around the charred wreckage and blood-stained grass, his trained eyes picked up something most people would miss. The positioning of Arturo’s body, the gun still loosely clutched in his hand… it told a story, but not a very convincing one.The other three men had bullet wounds from the same we
Last Updated: 2025-07-07
Chapter: Chapter 95: Close to the EdgeThe door opened slowly, and in walked Inspector Dennis, upright and alert, his uniform pressed to perfection and his eyes sharp as knives. His presence alone commanded attention. Jalen stood as the officer entered, his heart pacing slower than usual but heavy with concern.“Mr. Adesina,” Dennis said quickly, approaching the desk with a firm handshake. “It’s good to see you again…alive and well. I'm Inspector Dennis, in charge of your case with Mr. Arturo.” His voice was calm, almost too calm, masking something deeper underneath.Jalen gave a small nod, his posture still straight, cautious. “Thank you, Inspector. I wasn’t expecting a visit so soon.”But Dennis didn’t wait for a full exchange of pleasantries. He sank into the chair opposite Jalen and immediately opened his notepad. “Let me go straight to the point. Do you, Mr. Jalen Adesina, have anything to do with the death of Mr. Fernando Arturo?”The question came like a gunshot. Direct. Blunt. Unapologetic.Jalen’s face didn’t
Last Updated: 2025-07-07
Chapter: Chapter 94: Return to FireThe conference room upstairs was already heating up before Jalen walked into the building. Malik stood with his hands pressed against the glass table, trying to keep his voice calm, but it was obvious his patience was running thin.“With all due respect, Chief Magnus, you’re not seeing the bigger picture here,” Malik said.“The bigger picture?” Magnus snapped back, his fingers tapping impatiently on the table. “Malik, the bigger picture is that we have no CEO. We have no president. Our investors are jittery, our market value is sliding, and we are gradually losing credibility. That is the bigger picture.”Mrs. Penelope, seated beside him in her usual elegant but assertive posture, nodded in agreement. “The shareholders are already asking questions we cannot answer. And let’s not pretend anymore, Jalen is gone. It’s been over a month. His mother too has been taken. Nobody knows where she is or if she’s still alive. We are sinking.”“You want us to just jump ship like that?” Malik prote
Last Updated: 2025-07-06
Chapter: Chapter 93: The Dead Has RisenThe sun was already at the center of the cloud when Jalen’s car pulled through the grand black gates of his mansion. The neatly trimmed hedges on both sides of the driveway were still wet with dew, and the air smelled of early morning peace; something Jalen hadn’t felt in weeks. His clothes were stained with dust, dried blood, and the scent of danger, but as soon as the security men at the gate sighted him through the car window, they froze in disbelief.“Sir…” one of them stammered, blinking rapidly like he had just seen a ghost.Another security officer came running out from the small gatehouse. He stopped abruptly in his tracks when he saw Jalen step out of the car.“Sir, you’re alive?” he said, his voice cracking.Jalen gave a weak nod.The two men bowed immediately, deep respect lining their confusion and awe. Behind them, the main doors flung open, and two of the maids ran out. They gasped in unison.“Sir Jalen!” one cried, her hand covering her mouth. “We thought you were…”“
Last Updated: 2025-07-05
