“You want me to heal your husband, and yet you dare threaten me?”Alex laughed bitterly, shaking his head. “You've got to be joking.”Laura's eyes darkened, venom lacing every word. “You’re like someone who needs to see their own coffin to realize they're dying.”“Fine. If you won’t save him now, mark my words—when you're on your knees, bleeding, bones shattered, begging for mercy—it’ll be too late. This is your final chance to reconsider before things get ugly.”Alex met her fury with a calm defiance.“Sorry, not interested.” He turned sharply toward the exit.Just then, chaos erupted near the hospital’s entrance. All heads snapped up as a military vehicle roared into view, skidding to a halt.The soldiers leapt out, fully armed, their faces grim and lethal. People scattered, a path clearing as if by instinct alone.Sophia’s eyes widened in shock. “The military? Here? Are they arresting someone?”Laura smirked wickedly. “Alex, this is your very last chance.”Lyra shot a glare at Laura

At the Kingston government office, the phone rang sharply, cutting through the heavy silence.Jasmine lifted the receiver without breaking her stride. “Jasmine here.”“Jasmine, we have a situation!” Kelly's voice burst out, urgent and tense.She paused, her brow furrowing. “What's happened?”“Alex has been arrested by the Chicago military!” Kelly swiftly recounted the details, her voice clipped and precise.As Jasmine listened, her expression darkened, eyes narrowing with every word.“Using the Chicago military to snatch him? Whoever orchestrated this has serious connections.”“Jasmine, I bet it’s one of the Chicago Lords flexing their muscle—probably the Jones family,” Kelly growled.“Yesterday Alex tore through the Jones' estate, crippled Tom's son, all to protect you. They won't let that slide.”“It definitely smells like the Jones' handiwork,” Jasmine said grimly.“But Tom alone couldn’t summon military power. Another Lord must be backing him.”“I'm mobilizing Vermont’s military i

"That damned woman!" General Marcus roared, his face flushed with rage.Launching fifty missiles wasn't cheap—each missile cost about three million dollars.Vancouver had just burned through a hundred and fifty million dollars like it was pocket change.But the worst part was Chicago's defense system. It automatically intercepted every incoming missile, and each defense missile cost five million.Chicago had already bled two hundred and fifty million dollars just to protect itself.War burned money faster than gasoline.Marcus watched as the enemy missiles exploded harmlessly in mid-air, filling the sky with brilliant, costly fireballs."Get the governor of Vancouver on the line!" Marcus barked.Within moments, the call connected."Listen here, you arrogant piece of trash," Marcus seethed. "Are you declaring war on Chicago? How dare you launch missiles at us!"Jasmine’s voice came through icy and unyielding."How dare you kidnap Alex? You release him right now, or I'll send another fi

Lyra had never allowed herself the luxury of dreaming about becoming governor—not when every step toward that ambition required the king's blessing.“General Marcus,” she warned, her voice tight with urgency, "you’d better move quickly against the Chicago lords. If they even catch a hint that you're plotting against them, your head will roll before you know what hit you.”Marcus threw back his head with a contemptuous laugh.“You're damn right about one thing—gold rules everything around here. Alex is already being set loose; I’ve made sure of it. Let the games begin.”“Good,” Lyra nodded sharply. “Now get moving.”She pivoted swiftly, making her way toward Alex.Behind her, Marcus barked orders, his voice like a whip cracking in the tense air.“Get your asses in gear! The faster we strike, the easier this war becomes!”Lyra had sized Marcus up long ago—a coward beneath all the bravado, obsessed with his wealth and self-preservation.Yet, beneath that veneer lay something more dangerou

Sophia couldn't grasp why Alex was treating her so harshly.Didn't he realize she'd given up everything just to ensure his safety?She took a deep breath, forcing herself to think positively. Perhaps the military ordeal had left him shaken and unsettled.Maybe he was just hurt, emotionally raw.She stepped forward cautiously, eyes full of concern."Alex, what's wrong? Are you injured? Do we need to get you to a hospital?" Her voice trembled slightly with genuine worry.Alex stared back incredulously, unable to fathom her thinking.How could she be standing next to another man yet still pretend to care about him?Was there something seriously wrong with her head?He glared, bitterness coloring every word, "I'm perfectly fine, Ms. Lancaster. Thank you very much for your concern. But maybe you should worry more about your date. Your boyfriend deserves your full attention.""Boyfriend?" Sophia glanced nervously at Gilbert, instantly realizing the misunderstanding.She turned desperately b