Chapter one hundred and eleven : Reflections and GoodbyesAs the bus rolled down the winding road back to town, the familiar sights of trees and the occasional glimpse of wildlife brought a sense of relief to everyone aboard. Chris, focused and calm, drove with steady hands, navigating the path they had taken just days before. After the long, exhausting day, the mood in the bus was one of gratitude. “Thanks for saving the day, Chris,” Leo said, leaning back in his seat, exhaustion evident on his face. “I don’t know what we would have done without you.”“Yeah, seriously,” Sandra chimed in, stretching her arms above her head. “I thought we’d be stuck out there forever.”Chris smiled modestly. “Just doing what I could. I’m glad everyone is okay.”The drive back was filled with soft conversations and the occasional laughter as they reminisced about the amusing moments of their trip. There was a renewed sense of camaraderie as everyone reflected on their shared experiences—both the fun a

Chapter 214: The Update The following day dawned bright and clear, with the sun streaming through the windows of Chris’s home. After a hearty breakfast with Eleanor, Chris decided it was time to check in at the office and get an update on everything that had transpired while he was away. He had been out of the loop for too long, and the premiere of the new project was looming over him like a dark cloud. Once at MTD, Chris stepped into the bustling atmosphere of the office, where colleagues were already deep into their work. He made his way to his desk, where Mrs Grace was poring over some reports. “Hey, Chris! Glad you’re back,” Mrs Grace said, looking up with a grin. “We were just talking about you. How was the trip?”“Busy but productive,” Chris replied. “I need a full update on the premiere and everything else that happened while I was gone.”“Right on,” Mrs Grace said, shuffling some papers before handing Chris a thick folder. “Here’s everything you need to know. It’s been q

Chapter Two hundred and fifteen: Clash of FriendsThe next morning dawned quietly in Chris and Stephany’s home. The sun cast a warm glow across the room as Stephany tidied up, still thinking about the events of the previous weekend. She and Chris had spent the night together cleaning the house, and though she appreciated their time together, her mind kept drifting to the conversation she was about to have with Sandra. It had been planned for days—a simple chit-chat over coffee to recap the chaotic weekend, but Stephany had an uneasy feeling in her gut. It wasn’t the first time she felt this way around Sandra. Lately, things between them had felt a little off, and Stephany couldn’t quite put her finger on why. It wasn’t like Sandra was doing anything outwardly wrong, but there was an undercurrent of something different in her. Something false.Around mid-morning, Sandra arrived. She breezed through the door wearing a sleek dress and a pair of oversized sunglasses perched on her head.

Chapter 217: Unveiling the Secrets of the shadow ring After the meeting with Sandra regarding Sterling Heritage Capital, Chris sat in his office, his mind racing. The events of the past few days had been a whirlwind, but nothing had puzzled him more than the strange incident with the ring. It was the one Jack Stone had given him, a simple band that Chris had largely forgotten about, until it began to glow that day in the woods. He hadn’t thought much of it at first, brushing it off as a coincidence. But when Henry had tripped after Chris silently wished it, something deep inside him had stirred. He had felt a surge of power, an unmistakable connection between his thoughts and the ring. After finishing his duties at the company for the day, Chris returned home with the Book of Shadows in his briefcase. It was late, but he needed answers, and he knew he wouldn’t be able to rest until he found them. The book had been with him since his last visit to the Shadows’ Cave, a p

Chapter Two hundred and nineteen: The Star Girl and the InternThe next day, Emily, Connor’s cousin, made her way to the university where she was interning. The campus was buzzing with the usual energy, students rushing to and from classes, chatting about assignments and weekend plans. For Emily, it was just another day, another step toward completing her internship. She didn’t mind the routine; she liked the structure of it, the predictability. But something unusual caught her attention as she entered the building that housed her supervisor’s office.There, right in the middle of the hallway, stood Emily Maxwell. Mrs. Maxwell’s daughter. But today, she wasn’t just Emily. She was “Star Girl.” She had a crowd around her, students gawking as she flipped through her phone, showing off pictures. Pictures that featured her and the famous star Loretta, smiling together like they were the best of friends.“Wow, you really met her!” one of the students gasped, wide-eyed. “You’re so luck