Daniel’s eyes widened in fear. He shook his head violently.“No… no, stop… stop this!” he said out loud, stumbling back.But Marvin’s eyes didn’t blink.His stare held Daniel in place.Still glowing.Still deep.Still commanding.“Bow to me, Daniel,” Marvin’s voice echoed again—this time louder in his head.“In front of everyone here.”Daniel gasped.He clutched his head with both hands, falling to his knees.His face was full of horror.“No! Don’t do this! Please!” he begged.But the command had already been planted.Like a seed in the soil of his mind.Daniel’s body moved against his will.He began to lower his head.The Richmonds all stood frozen.Nobody spoke.Nobody dared.Mr. Richmond’s eyes were wide.Even Martha was trembling, holding her children close.And slowly… in full view of every Richmond present…Daniel bowed.His head touched the ground.His voice cracked as he whispered: “I… I submit…”And Marvin?He still hadn’t said a single word out loud.He simply stood there… w

Marvin sat beside his father, Mr. Richmond, under the glowing dome lights. His face remained calm, but his mind was racing. He could feel the eyes of every family head on him. Some looked confused. Others looked threatened. But he didn’t care. There was something he needed to know—something only his father could tell him.He leaned closer to Mr. Richmond and spoke quietly.“Where are they?” Marvin asked.Mr. Richmond looked at him, puzzled for a second.“The elders,” Marvin said, his voice was low but firm. “You said they approved your return. Are they here? In this dome?”Mr. Richmond nodded slowly. “Yes, they are.”Marvin’s brows drew together. He scanned the room again but saw no one unusual—just the usual faces from the powerful families, seated like royalty in their special corners.“Then where?” Marvin asked, his voice was barely above a whisper. “I don’t see them.”Mr. Richmond took a breath before answering. “They are here, but you won’t see them. They have chosen to stay hid

The room remained tense, there was a palpable weight hanging between Marvin and the assembly of Westwood's most powerful families. The faces of the family heads, their assistants and escorts, including the elders were frozen, watching him with eyes that ranged from skepticism to contempt. Marvin’s heart drummed in his chest, but his resolve had hardened. He wasn’t going to back down. Not now.Evander Velcan’s voice had shaken the ground beneath his feet, dragging the name of his father through the mud, painting it with every accusation that the wind had ever carried. Mikhail Grigori’s biting words cut deeper, making it seem as though every mistake of the Richmond family was somehow an unforgivable curse on the land. The attack was vicious. But Marvin had known it was coming. He had expected it. Now, he had to make them understand.He took a deep breath, his palms were sweating against the smooth wood of the podium. His father wasn’t perfect. Far from it. But Mr. Richmond had given

Suddenly, a low rumble echoed through the grand hall.The dome above began to shift.All eyes turned upward.A mechanical sound, smooth yet commanding, filled the air as a massive lid, once invisible within the ceiling’s design, slid open with perfect precision. Light poured in from above, illuminating a structure hidden until now.And then—down it came.From the shadows above, a circular platform descended slowly. On it were nine tall chairs arranged in a perfect arc, each carved from obsidian stone and lined with radiant etchings of glowing otherworldly energy. Seated upon those chairs were the nine Elders—the final authority in Westwood, silent guardians of Westwood's law, balance, and ancient bloodlines.Their presence shifted the air itself.Each Elder was clothed in the same ash-gray robe. From head to toe, their bodies were hidden beneath the heavy cloth. Their faces were concealed behind smooth, expressionless masks, but one thing distinguished the Elder who spoke: a Synapt

Inside a quiet chamber in the Orion estate, the air was warm and sweet with the scent of jasmine. Moonlight poured through the glass ceiling, casting soft silver light on the bed where Marvin Richmond and Stella Orion lay—entwined in each other’s arms, naked, warm, and close.Their lips met again.A deep, slow, passionate kiss.Her fingers slid through his thick hair, pulling him in gently, while his hands caressed the soft curve of her waist. Their bodies pressed together—skin against skin—hearts pounding, breath shallow.She moaned softly, holding him closer.Their kiss wasn’t rushed. It was tender. Burning. A silent cry of relief, passion, and love.“I missed you,” Stella whispered, her voice was husky against his lips.“I missed you more,” Marvin breathed, brushing her cheek with his knuckles.Stella giggled slightly, then kissed his jaw, moving to his ear.She held his face in her hands and whispered, playfully but with a hint of mischief,“You know, I should cut off your ears