“Mr. Manchester… thank you,” Bella’s voice cracked, eyes glistening. “But please—send them away. Don’t sacrifice yourself for us.”Tears filled Elise’s eyes, regret etched deep on her face. “You warned us, Adam. We didn’t listen. Now it’s our mess—not yours.”Their pleas hovered in the tense silence. But Adam remained rooted, unflinching as he faced Ace.Ace let out a chilling laugh that sent ice through everyone’s veins. His grin twisted with cruel amusement.“What if I refuse to let them go?” he snarled.Calm and confidently, Adam replied, “Because you’ll lose—today.”Gasps echoed around the room.Dorian immediately stepped back, his voice shaky: “Mr. Harker, whatever he thinks, we’re not involved.”Logan followed suit. “Yes! We didn’t bring him here. You should punish him—not us.”Vincent jabbed in with fear in his eyes: “We’re not going to die for his fantasy.”They scurried away—abandoning Adam in the lion’s den.Ace leaned forward, eyes narrowing dangerously. “You’ve got some ne

“Kill that insolent brat!” Ace roared, his voice echoing through the hall like a war drum.His face twisted in fury, veins bulging from his neck. As one of the four heads of the Vantacore Organization—an underground empire feared across Coastal Flair—Ace wasn’t used to being challenged, let alone humiliated in front of his own men.The air crackled with tension as hundreds of Vantacore disciples lunged forward, their war cries slicing through the silence like knives. Their eyes were filled with murderous intent, their blades gleaming under the ceiling lights. Each man was willing to die, if only to uphold the reputation of their master.From a distance, the charging crowd looked like a tsunami of death.But Adam didn’t flinch.His hands remained behind his back, his expression blank—unmoved, almost bored. A thin gust of wind brushed past his coat.Then—BOOM!A deafening shockwave exploded from Adam’s body with no warning, no visible movement. The first wave of attackers were lifted c

Bella couldn’t shake the dread curling in her chest.Ace’s power had already left a lasting impression on everyone—his presence was domineering, his reputation brutal. Not only was he the leader of the Vantacore Organization, but this karaoke lounge was one of their fortified hideouts, crawling with his subordinates.Even with Adam’s earlier show of strength, the odds weren’t in his favor. Ace wasn’t just any thug—he was a grandmaster-level executioner, known for his kill-without-a-trace reputation. And Adam had walked straight into the lion’s den.“He won’t survive…” Bella whispered, her voice trembling.Elise stared at the closed door, her heart battling guilt and disbelief. Her lips trembled as she muttered, “I misjudged you… You walked into that room because of me. I never thought… you’d be the one to protect me.”She lowered her gaze. “If you die in there, I swear—I’ll make sure the world remembers you.”Suddenly, Dorian spoke up beside her, glancing nervously at the karaoke room

“Don’t come any closer!” Ivy screamed, her voice trembling with both fury and desperation. She backed herself into the corner of the room, clutching the edge of the bed like it was her last defense. “I’m telling the truth! I belong to the Supreme General. He’s on his way right now. If you so much as touch me, he’ll tear you apart limb by limb!”Samson let out a slow, amused chuckle, stripping off his blazer and rolling up his sleeves. The hunger in his eyes was sickening. “Even better,” he said, voice like gravel. “If he’s really your man, I’d love to see the look on his face while I take you for myself.”He lunged forward. Ivy scrambled away, crawling across the bed to the other side, but she was no match for his size. Samson was built like a freight truck—seven feet of brute muscle and foul intent. His looming presence filled the room, suffocating her with dread.“Adam! Help me!” Ivy screamed at the top of her lungs, her voice cracking as she dove off the bed and tried to run. Her b

By the time Adam returned to Storm City, it was already 4:00 a.m. The streets were silent, painted in ghostly orange by the flickering streetlamps. As the black SUV rolled to a halt at the airport’s private terminal, Hammer stood waiting, his posture straight but his eyes heavy with the weight of bad news.Adam stepped into the car, his voice low and urgent. "Take me to the Armand residence. Now."Hammer stiffened. "Supreme General... Miss Armand is no longer there."Adam’s expression froze. "What do you mean? Where is she?"Hammer exhaled sharply. "The Cross family took her last night. Their people stormed in just after midnight. The staff tried to resist, but... Tessa left with them."Adam’s jaw clenched, the air around him thickening with murderous rage. "Drive to the Cross estate. And prepare a second coffin. Damon Cross will regret touching what’s mine."---Cross Hotel towered in Storm City’s skyline like a monument of arrogance. Sleek, modern, and closed off from the world, it