Chapter 411Lina still felt the weight of the night pressing on her chest as she and Kai walked into the dimly lit airport. The air smelled of coffee and jet fuel, and the soft murmur of conversations filled the space. She barely registered the people moving past them, her mind still replaying the scene at the pit—Scarface, his men, the blood on the ground, and Kai, standing there like he had done it all before.Kai, as always, seemed completely unfazed. He led the way to the ticket counter, his movements calm and deliberate. Lina followed, still struggling to gather her thoughts.The woman behind the counter looked up, her professional smile never faltering. “Where to?”Kai slid his card onto the counter. “Two tickets to Emerald Falls. First class.”Lina blinked. First class? She hadn’t even thought about how they’d be traveling, but of course, Kai wouldn’t settle for anything less.The ticket agent’s fingers moved over the keyboard. “There’s a flight leaving in an hour. Shall I book

Chapter 413Meanwhile, that Sunday evening, Williams called Mr. Sterling to transfer the money for Jaxon’s release.He was inside the Range Rover car Mr Sterling had given him to avoid Kane, Tom and Dorian to know what’s going on. The phone rang twice before Mr. Sterling’s sharp voice came through.“Tell me you have my son.”Williams smirked, glancing out the window over at the unconscious Jaxon, who was slumped against the wall, his wrists loosely tied in front of him. His face was swollen, a deep cut above his eyebrow still fresh.“I have him,” Williams said, his voice smooth.There was a pause on the other end, then the cold reply. “Good! It’s done.”Williams exhaled slowly. “Good? Now, listen—I barely convinced the kidnappers to let him go. They weren’t happy about it, saying you messed with their boss, but luckily I knew one of them and gave them the money you sent. They took it and agreed to drop it. No loose ends. Although a few wanted more money.”Mr. Sterling’s voice was unre

Chapter 415The Wood residence in Diamondville was silent except for the ticking of the clock on the wall. The usually cozy living room, filled with soft lighting and warm-colored furniture, felt suffocating under the weight of frustration and desperation. A storm was brewing, not outside, but within the hearts of the people gathered there.Eric Wood sat on the edge of the couch, his hands clasped together, eyes fixed on the coffee table as if searching for answers within its polished surface. Beside him, his wife Mary leaned back against the cushions, her arm wrapped around Gwen Greene, who sat stiffly, her fingers tightly gripping the fabric of her jeans. Her red-rimmed eyes were proof of the battle she had been fighting—one that she was losing.James Wane stood near the window, his arms crossed, his sharp gaze observing the street outside as if expecting trouble at any moment. Unlike the others, he wasn’t drowning in emotions. He was thinking, calculating, waiting for the right mom

Chapter 417: The meetingThe atmosphere in the boardroom was thick with tension. The long mahogany table, polished to a shine, was occupied by the most powerful figures at EMC. At the head sat Mr. Sterling, his sharp eyes scanning the room as if he could bend the situation to his will by sheer force. Across from him sat Liam Carter, relaxed but in full control, his presence commanding attention.Eric Wood, standing at the front of the room, cleared his throat. His fingers clutched the stack of documents in his hands, but despite his professional demeanor, there was something off about him—something weighed down by an invisible force.“As you all know, we are here to finalize the acquisition deal,” Eric said, his voice steady but lacking its usual authority. “Liam Carter has made an offer to purchase fifty percent of EMC, and after thorough discussions, we have decided to proceed with this agreement as it meets the company’s and the government’s requirements.”The murmurs started almos

Chapter 419: The Shadow behind himAs soon as they left Liam’s executive office Lina walked beside Kai, her eyes flickering over the sleek office layout of EMC. The company was undeniably impressive—modern, efficient, and filled with professionals who looked like they had their entire lives figured out.Yet here she was, a former college dropout, now working in the corporate world among men like Liam Carter and Kai Nakamura. Mysterious. Dangerous. Powerful.She exhaled softly and adjusted the strap of her handbag. “So,” she finally said, glancing at Kai. “What exactly is my job here? Because as far as I know, I have no official title, no formal role, and no one’s given me a job description.”Kai smirked, hands tucked into his pockets as he walked. “You assist me. That’s your job.”Lina raised a brow. “Assist you how? Like your personal secretary? Your bodyguard? Your emotional support human?”Kai chuckled, shaking his head. “You wish. I don’t need emotional support.”Lina snorted. “Ri