At that moment, Jessica's mother, Deborah, could hardly keep her expression composed.the smile on her face faltered for just a second, but the fire that flickered in her eyes said everything her lips refused to say aloud.How dare Jessica act so defensive…Over that bastard Damien… of all people.Deborah sat there, holding her wine glass delicately, her fingers clenching the stem a little too tightly, what has gotten into her girl? she fumed inwardly.How can she sit here and embarrass her mother like this?A quiet war was waging behind her smile.Brandon was here, seated beside Jessica, wealthy, well-mannered, and dripping with influence.And here Jessica was, pushing him aside because of a man like Damien? a man without any traceable roots, a man who, if not for some recent stunts, would have been just another shadow in the crowd.At that moment Deborah glanced briefly at Brandon. The young man sat upright, casually sipping his drink, still flashing that charming grin like nothing

At that moment, Jessica opened her mouth to speak, but her mother sharply raised a finger to her lips.“Don’t,” her mother said quietly but firmly. “Not a word from you, Jessica. The decision is made.”Jessica swallowed her words, her jaw tightening. “But Mom—”“I said not a word.”Her voice was calm, but that calmness held weight. Jessica froze. She looked down, her fingers tightening around her dress. She wanted to scream. Instead, she muttered under her breath, “This isn’t fair…”Immediately her mother glanced at her, “Life isn’t always fair. You’ll thank me later, I'm sure you will.”Jessica grumbled but didn’t fight further. She knew how her mother could be—once her mind was set, trying to change it was like pushing against a wall. And maybe, just maybe, her mother wasn’t wrong. She was in a tight position now.Inside, her heart was a mess.Victoria’s family was powerful, no doubt about it. They have money, respect, influence everything Jessica once told herself she wanted. That’

At that moment without wasting any more time, Victoria’s brother brought the phone back to his ear and said, voice steady but dripping with heat, “Alright. I’m going to check it out myself. I’ll go over there, have a little chat with him. Talk some sense into that bastard.”He paused, his voice tightening.“And if he doesn’t listen to what I have to say… then he’ll only have himself to blame.”There was no need for threats. No need to raise his voice. His calmness said more than violence ever could. That kind of calm only came from men who had destroyed people without breaking a sweat.On the other end of the call, Victoria smiled. Her heart lifted with satisfaction. She had been waiting for this moment. She knew exactly what her brother was capable of. She had seen it before. When he wanted something—really wanted something—he doesn't stop. He doesn't negotiate. He doesn't flinch.And right now, she could tell he was hungry, Dangerously hungry.She leaned back, her tone light but cha

At that moment Victoria’s brother took a sharp step forward, eyes blazing, his voice now louder and more direct—no longer smooth and restrained.“You better mind what you say,” he warned, pointing a firm finger toward Damien’s chest. “Let me make this clear nobody insults my family and walks away like it didn’t happen. Nobody.”His nostrils flared as the anger he’d been holding back came spilling through his words.“This is your last warning,” he continued, his tone low and deadly. “You open your mouth about my sister or my family again, and I swear, you won’t like what happens next.”At that moment he exhaled slowly, as though calming himself, then shifted back to his cold, proud self, adjusting the sleeve of his jacket.“Now,” he said again, voice quieter but still sharp, “how much do you want?”However Damien didn’t move. He looked at him with the same unbothered expression as before, as if none of the threats meant anything. Then, slowly, he let out a small scoff and shook his hea

Immediately Damien looked away from the phone completely, stood up, and muttered under his breath, “Well… that’s their business.”His tone was cold, flat, final.He walked toward the window of his study, hands in his pockets, mind already shifting far from the deaths he’d just been informed of. Whatever happened to Megan, her mother, and Jefferson… it was the consequence of choices. And those choices didn’t involve him anymore.**As far as he was concerned, their story ended the moment they tried to bury him.Far away from the quiet luxury of Malvin Estate, deep in a secured, undisclosed location shielded from government surveillance and public knowledge, was the hidden stronghold of a feared and nameless group—The Circle.The hideout wasn’t like anything out of a movie. It wasn’t flashy or cinematic, It was cold. Silent. Underground, Layers of steel, thick walls, and the kind of shadows that swallowed people whole. Men in black suits and faceless masks moved like shadows, silent and