The next day… At Brightstone Academy, one of the most prestigious high schools in Neovalle, the air was thick with tension.The seniors were writing their final exams.The large examination hall was silent, except for the soft scratching of pens and the occasional rustling of papers. The faint hum of the ceiling fans did little to ease the thick anticipation that hung over the students like a storm cloud.The clock on the wall showed 11:55 AM.Only five minutes remained.Students shifted in their seats, some of them started glancing anxiously at the clock, while others scribbled furiously, trying to finish their answers. A few had already leaned back, confident, their arms were crossed as they waited for the time to run out.Their faces were relaxed, as though the weight of the exam was nothing but a gentle breeze to them.“Time’s almost up,” the invigilator, Mr. Xavier, announced. His voice was calm but firm, cutting through the silence like a blade.The tension grew thicker.Pens

In the grand living room of the Crowe mansion, Mr. Darius Crowe sat stiffly on a plush leather couch, with a crystal glass of whiskey in his hand. His sharp gaze was fixed on the large television screen before him, where a live broadcast of a political rally was playing.It was Dave Cromwell’s campaign rally.The crowd was massive—thousands of people stood shoulder to shoulder, waving banners and chanting his name. The sheer energy in the air made Darius's jaw tighten. His grip on the whiskey glass grew firmer.He had expected a strong turnout, but this? This was something else. The people of Eastern Neovalle were fired up. Too fired up.As the camera zoomed in on Dave Cromwell, the man in question lifted a microphone, with his face stretching into a confident smirk.“My fellow citizens of Eastern Neovalle,” Cromwell’s voice boomed through the speakers, “this election isn’t just about promises. It’s about fate! Destiny! And most importantly—divine will!”The crowd erupted into chee

Darius Crowe stood frozen, his mind was a battlefield of chaos.His daughter had been kidnapped. The only man who knew the true extent of his schemes was lying dead in a dumpster. And now, the Prime Minister himself expected him to make a public appearance in two hours.It was too much. Too sudden. Too perfectly timed.Darius sucked in a slow breath, forcing himself to think. His political instincts screamed at him—this was no coincidence. Someone was pulling strings behind the scenes, tightening a noose around his neck.But who?His eyes flicked to the shattered whiskey glass on the floor, the dark amber liquid seeping into the marble tiles.His hand clenched.There was no question about it. His daughter’s abduction took priority. He had spent his entire life building an empire, gaining influence, silencing enemies—but none of it mattered if his own blood had been taken from him.He had to act. Immediately.And yet…Darius exhaled sharply, his jaw tightening. This wasn’t just any

Darius Crowe’s Heart Stopped.His breath caught in his throat, his fingers tightened around the phone. His eyes burned into the words on the screen, each letter cutting into his mind like a blade."We have your daughter. Cooperate with us, or the next time you see her in flesh, she will already be dead."For a second, the world around him blurred. The soft hum of the car engine faded, the city lights outside the window lost their meaning. All he could hear was the pounding of his heart, which was heavy and erratic, like a war drum inside his chest.Vanessa.His eldest daughter.Darius's grip on the phone was so tight that his knuckles turned white. His thumb hovered over the keyboard. His breathing was shallow, ragged. His mind screamed for action, but his body felt frozen.He wanted to type something. No—he needed to type something."Where is she?"His fingers moved fast, but just before he hit send, he hesitated. For a split second, rage burned in his chest, and he almost added a

Darius Crowe’s heart pounded so hard it felt like it was trying to break out of his chest. His hands were clammy, his shirt was sticking to his back, and beads of sweat ran down his temples. Despite the air conditioner inside the car, the air inside the car felt thick, suffocating, as if he were trapped in a coffin.The convoy slowed to a halt in front of Neovalle City Hospital, its towering glass structure reflecting the gray skies above. Darius’s stomach twisted. His fingers dug into his thighs as his driver turned to him.“We’re here, sir.”Darius swallowed, his throat was dry like sandpaper. His grip on his phone tightened until his knuckles turned white. He didn’t move at first. It felt like the moment he stepped out of the car, his fate would be sealed. He inhaled deeply, but his lungs felt constricted, refusing to take in enough air.Then, with a slow exhale, he pushed the door open.The heavy scent of antiseptic and fresh rain filled his nostrils as he stepped onto the pa