Chapter 470 A Game of Trust (Continued)James glanced at the reports again, his fingers flipping through pages, searching for a clue he might’ve missed. The absence of Kai’s report gnawed at him. “What are you hiding, Nathaniel?” he murmured, his voice barely audible.The door creaked open, and Ana Davies, his secretary, stepped inside, her dark hair pulled into a neat bun, her glasses catching the light. She clutched a tablet, her posture professional but her eyes curious. “Mr. Clarkson, the meeting’s in an hour. Need anything prepped?” Her voice was crisp, but a slight tilt of her head betrayed her interest in his mood.James flashed a disarming smile, masking the storm in his mind. He leaned back, tossing the pen onto the desk with a casual flick. “Just the financials, Ana. And… any word from Patel’s team on the virus cleanup?”Ana crossed the room, her heels clicking softly on the hardwood floor. She stopped at the desk, tapping her tablet to pull up a file. “Nothing official. Mr.

Chapter 472: Whispers of BetrayalThe grand hall of Liam Carter’s mansion gleamed under the soft glow of a crystal chandelier, its light bouncing off polished marble floors and dark oak paneling. The air carried the faint scent of leather, a testament to the wealth and power that defined the sprawling estate in the heart of Emerald Falls.Kai Nakamura stood near a towering window, the night sky beyond framing his lean silhouette. His gray suit was slightly rumpled from the day, but his sharp features remained composed, his dark eyes glinting with calculation. In his hand, he clutched the folded paper Gregor had given him at the Starlight Diner hours earlier—Lana Wane’s Greece itinerary, a key to unlocking the Wane family’s secrets. Kai’s mind churned, replaying Gregor’s words about Williams Jesse and Mr. Sterling’s virus scheme. Someone else knew, and that was a problem.The heavy oak door creaked open, and Liam Carter strode in, his tailored navy suit pristine despite the late hour.

Chapter 474: Finding the Hidden HandThe EMC headquarters stood like a glass monolith against the Emerald Falls skyline, its mirrored surface catching the late afternoon sun in a blaze of gold.Inside his office, James sat behind a polished mahogany desk, his broad shoulders hunched over a stack of financial reports, their edges curling under the weight of his scrutiny.The room was a fortress of modern luxury—sleek black furniture, a panoramic window framing the city, and a faint hum from the servers tucked in a corner. James’ eyes, sharp and unyielding, scanned the pages, his brow furrowed as he pieced together the puzzle that threatened his reclaimed empire.His dark hair fell slightly over his forehead, a stray lock he brushed back with a quick, impatient flick of his hand. The man who once scrubbed floors at a grocery store was gone; in his place sat the Wane heir, his jaw tight with resolve.The weight of Gregor’s words from his meeting with Kai at the Starlight Diner clung to J

Chapter 476: Farewells and Hidden ThreatsThe Wane family’s private hangar sat nestled at the edge of their sprawling Emerald Falls estate, its sleek metal roof glinting under the pale morning sun. The air was crisp, tinged with the scent of jet fuel and dew-soaked grass, as a private plane idled on the tarmac, its engines humming softly.James Wane stood by the hangar’s open doors, his navy jacket slung over one shoulder, his dark hair ruffled by a gentle breeze. His green eyes, sharp yet softened with affection, watched Ellen Princeton and Lana Wane fuss over their luggage nearby, their laughter cutting through the dawn’s quiet.James adjusted his stance, his boots scuffing the concrete, his broad frame casting a shadow across the tarmac. He’d been up since dawn, helping Ellen and Lana putting finishing touches to their travel arrangement.He glanced at them—Ellen in a cream blazer, her auburn hair tied back, checking a clipboard; Lana in a flowing sapphire dress, her curls bouncing

Chapter 478James’s office at EMC was a sleek, glass-encased sanctuary overlooking the sprawling city below. The soft hum of the air conditioner blended with the faint tapping of keyboards from the open-plan floor beyond the glass walls. Yet inside, the atmosphere was anything but calm.James sat behind his minimalist desk, fingers steepled, eyes sharp as they pinned Niles in place. The technician shifted uneasily in the visitor’s chair, his glasses sliding down his nose, hands nervously wringing together.“Niles,” James began, voice steady but edged with steel, “there’s an anonymous account wreaking havoc on our ledgers. I need answers.”A flicker of panic crossed Niles’s face. “I—I’m not sure what you mean,” he muttered, avoiding James’s gaze.James leaned forward, the overhead light casting shadows across his chiseled features. “Cut the act. You’ve had access to the system. Tell me what you know.”The technician swallowed hard, throat working visibly. “I didn’t touch anything, Jame