Meanwhile…Inside her private office, Cordelia Celestine Valencia sat alone, a half-filled glass of red wine in her hand. Her posture was relaxed — legs crossed, back reclined slightly in the elegant leather chair — but her eyes were distant, unfocused.She took a slow sip from her glass, then placed it down softly on the coaster beside her. A sigh escaped her lips as she leaned forward, resting her elbows on the polished desk. For the first time in a long time, she allowed herself to think deeply about something she had tried to avoid:Her father. Without hesitation, Celestine reached for her phone. She unlocked it, scrolled through her contacts, and tapped the name.She brought the phone to her ear, her fingers lightly tapping the desk as it began to ring.At that moment, Marcellus Valencia was seated comfortably in the back of a black Mercedes, dressed impeccably in a dark suit, crisp white shirt, and a maroon tie. His signature gold cufflinks shimmered slightly with every turn of

Elijah stared at her for a moment, then let out a quiet chuckle, the sound deep and soft.He looked into her eyes, his hand rising to gently pull her cheeks together, cradling her face with affection.“Not now,” he said with a grin, shaking his head.“The right time will come… and when it does, we’ll make love so well, it’ll be unforgettable.”Sierra smiled shyly beneath him and nodded.Sophia Bennett stood near the entrance of the garage, arms folded tightly over her chest. The sun beat down gently, but her expression was clouded with visible frustration. Her eyes followed one of the mechanics as he slowly drove her recently repaired car to the pickup point.The moment the vehicle stopped, she walked over and examined it quickly, giving a nod of approval — but there was no satisfaction on her face.“Here’s your key, ma’am,” the attendant said politely.“Thanks,” she replied flatly, grabbing it and sliding into the driver’s seat.As she sat there behind the wheel, her hands resting on

Phantom didn’t answer Nathaniel’s question. Instead, he leaned to the side, grabbed his phone from the table, and casually dialed a number.He held the phone to his ear, still smoking with the other hand.“Please, where are you?” he asked.On the other end, Elijah’s calm voice replied,“I’m on my way. Has Nathaniel gotten there?”“Yes, he’s here.” Phantom confirmed, glancing at Nathaniel with a half-smile.“Alright, I’m coming.” Elijah responded.Phantom nodded faintly and ended the call. He slid the phone back onto the table beside the pistol, then turned to Nathaniel.“Don’t worry,” he said smoothly. “He’s being brought.”Nathaniel gave a satisfied nod, adjusting his sleeve slightlySoon, the low rumble of an approaching engine echoed into the compound. The thick iron gates had barely settled from Nathaniel’s entrance when another vehicle pulled up.The guards at the front gate, recognizing the vehicle instantly, didn’t ask questions. They stood straighter, nodding with silent respe

Elijah looked down at Nathaniel for a long moment — eyes cold, unreadable.Then he turned his gaze to Phantom and said flatly,"No. It’s fine. I’ll spare him."Phantom raised a brow, surprised, but said nothing. He simply stepped back, giving Elijah space to make the call.On the floor, Nathaniel gasped in relief.“Thank you… thank you, Elijah…” he said quickly, his voice trembling with gratitude,“Thank you so much, I swear— I’ll never forget this mercy, never… you won’t hear my name again, not even in a whisper, I promise…”Elijah turned slightly, watching Nathaniel with that same cold composure, then gestured with a subtle flick of his fingers.“Sit.”Nathaniel scrambled up from the floor, his movements unsteady, his shirt crumpled, forehead sore and still slightly bleeding. He lowered himself onto the chair like a student before a strict headmaster.Elijah leaned back, one leg crossed over the other.“Tell me…” he said calmly.“What exactly is Mercer Innovations working on that ma

She nodded excitedly.“Yes! I missed you. I asked Mom about you, but she said she doesn’t know where you are.”Elijah chuckled, his gaze softening.“What did you say your name was again?”“Lily!” she replied adorably.He laughed lightly and glanced at her through the mirror.“Oh, Lily. You’re looking very cute. But wait… didn’t you go to school today?”She shook her head sadly.“I haven’t gone to school for a while.”Elijah’s eyes flicked briefly to the rearview mirror, then shifted to the girl’s mother sitting beside him. His tone turned more serious as he asked,“Why? What’s wrong?”The woman sighed heavily, her eyes dropping as she folded her hands over her lap.“Things got much tougher… I lost my job at the hotel weeks ago. Ever since, I’ve just been doing menial jobs—washing clothes, sweeping compounds, running errands—anything that brings in a little money.”Elijah’s grip on the wheel tightened slightly.“So you send a little girl like her to help you work?” he asked, a frown fo