The entire hall fell into a stunned silence, every eye fixed on the glittering fragments of the Azura Star Diamond scattered across the floor. No one dared to move or speak, as if the shattered gemstone had cast a spell over the room. Daniel’s face contorted in fury, breaking the silence with a furious shout. “How dare you! Do you have any idea how much that diamond was worth?!!” Alexander shrugged, unfazed by the rage radiating from Daniel. “Considering how easily it shattered, not much,” he replied calmly. “A real diamond wouldn’t have broken from that height. And certainly not the Azura Star Diamond, which is supposed to be one of the strongest diamonds in the world.” Murmurs erupted across the room. Guests exchanged glances, whispering among themselves as they processed Alexander’s words. A wave of disbelief rippled through the hall—how could such an expensive prized gemstone shatter so easily? Daniel’s anger intensified. His carefully constructed lie was unraveling in fron

After persistent persuasion from Seraphina, Alexander finally caved in and agreed to attend the Diamond Banquet. It was an invitation he hadn’t expected and, frankly, didn’t want. But with Seraphina’s insistence and curiosity gnawing at him about why Jacob Harrington, the King of Diamonds himself, would invite him, Alexander found himself in a tailored suit, entering the grand hall alone. The entrance was a showcase of opulence, designed to awe even the wealthiest of guests. Twin marble staircases, draped with fresh white lilies and roses, spiraled upward, leading to intricately carved double doors flanked by torches held in ornate brass sconces. The soft hum of a string quartet filled the air, mingling with the laughter and murmured conversations of the elite. Crystal chandeliers hung from the vaulted ceiling, casting a warm, golden glow across the room and creating a labyrinth of light on the polished marble floors. As Alexander stepped into the banquet hall, he felt a pang of

As Alexander left the banquet, “Maybe they are not all the same after all”, Alexander thought to himself about his meeting with Jacob Harrington as he walked down the dimly lit streets of Billiard Maze Avenue. It was aptly named for its labyrinthine intersections and dead ends. The sky above was pitch black, a perfect backdrop for the unsettling silence that crept along the deserted road. Alexander’s footsteps echoed faintly, but the sound wasn’t solitary. Someone was following him—he could feel it. His instincts had been honed through years of hardship, and every fiber of his being screamed that he was being watched. He paused and glanced over his shoulder, catching a fleeting glimpse of a shadow slipping into the darkness. Alexander’s jaw tightened. Persistent. He took the next left turn, quickening his pace, but the shadow reappeared at the next intersection. Another turn, then another—each corner only revealed more pursuers, silently closing in like wolves circling their p

Looking down at the world from his top corner office, Wilson Monroe observed the societal hierarchy in its natural order: the poor cowering in fear, those of similar status getting along, and the wealthiest vying for the top spot. Everyone seemed to find their place without much effort. “Sir, we have a situation,” his assistant Vanessa's voice came through his earpiece. “What is it?” He inquired. “We just received word that the Floating Mary K9 has capsized and been destroyed,” she reported. “What happened?” The kingpin asked, puzzled. “We're yet to confirm, but it seems like tidal waves,” Vanessa replied. “Tidal waves?” The kingpin's disbelief was obvious. “Yes, Sir,” Vanessa confirmed. The Floating Mary was a top container ship for Monroe Logistics; a simple tidal wave shouldn’t have been able to take it down. “Alright, calculate our losses and contact the insurance company,” Kingpin instructed. “Copy that, Sir.” Despite the loss of the Floating Mary, Monroe Logistics stil

After a long first day at Maverick Cooperation, Alexander returned home in the evening. He would have stayed longer, but he had to accompany his wife to the Lockwood meeting. Entering the house, Alexander walked into a heated conversation between his wife, Seraphina, and her mother.“Alexander is a useless pauper of a husband who hasn't a single penny to his name and is of no good to you. Why wouldn’t you just divorce him? You are better offers,” her mother argued.“Mother, we've been over this. I have always had better offers, I always will, and I will always choose Alexander every single time,” Seraphina countered.“Alexander, where have you been? You were supposed to be back hours ago,” Seraphina asked.“I’m sorry, I got held up,” Alexander replied.“It’s fine, let’s go. We are already running late,” Seraphina urged.“Don’t you dare walk out on me, Alexander? You are going to divorce my daughter and allow her to marry Ethan Bishop, someone much more qualified to be her husband,” he