The voice lingered in the cold, oppressive silence, each word echoing like a thunderclap in Aidan’s ears.“The empire is yours.”Aidan’s heart pounded painfully in his chest. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. The sheer absurdity of it left him paralyzed, as though the very fabric of reality had shifted without his consent.Eleanor, standing beside him, was the first to break the silence. “What are you talking about?” she demanded, her voice shaking but defiant. “This has to be a mistake.”The figure stepped forward, emerging from the shadows. It was a man—tall, lean, and cloaked in a sharply tailored black suit. His features were sharp and angular, as though carved from stone. There was no kindness in his face, only a cold calculation that made Aidan’s skin crawl.“There is no mistake,” the man said, his voice crisp and measured. “You, Aidan Harper, are the biological son of William Cross. Whether you like it or not, his empire—his legacy—falls to you.”Aidan forced

The air crackled with tension, the words "a trap, not a gift" echoing in Aidan's head. The Cross empire wasn't some benevolent inheritance; it was a viper's nest. Suddenly, the building erupted in gunfire – *bang, bang, bang* – the sharp reports bouncing off the polished marble floors. Aidan and Eleanor, their hearts hammering like frantic drummers, bolted for the nearest emergency exit. Adrenaline, that glorious, terrifying elixir, fueled their flight. He grabbed Eleanor’s hand, pulling her along like a lifeline.“This way!” Eleanor yelled, pointing towards a shadowy stairwell. They burst through a heavy steel door, gasping for breath, stumbling into the dimly lit stairwell. The thunder of pursuing footsteps echoed from below – they weren't alone, not by a long shot."They're coming up!" Eleanor hissed, her voice tight with fear.Aidan muttered a curse. Up was their only option. They started climbing, two steps at a time, their ascent a frantic, echoing symphony of tension. E

Aidan’s chest rose and fell, his breaths shallow as he stared at the tablet in his trembling hands. The information glowing on the screen felt like a thousand tiny daggers stabbing into his mind. It was all there—Pandora, the robotics, the systems that could crush nations underfoot. His father’s empire wasn’t just built on wealth; it was built on control, manipulation, and fear.“Aidan,” Eleanor’s voice cut through the thick silence, snapping him back to reality. “We need to move. Now.”He looked up, his eyes meeting hers. They were full of worry, yet fierce with determination. She was right. Sitting there wouldn’t solve anything, and staying in this room would only put a bigger target on their backs.“You’re right,” he muttered, closing the tablet and shoving it into his bag. “Let’s go.”Eleanor led the way to the door, peeking out into the hallway. It was still quiet, too quiet. Aidan’s stomach churned as he followed her, his shoes sinking into the plush carpet.“You think they know

Aidan sat frozen, his breath shallow as the words from the call echoed in his mind: Thirty days to claim the inheritance… or lose everything. The air in the room seemed heavier now, suffocating him under the weight of a legacy he never asked for. The hum of the overhead light buzzed faintly, but even that felt distant, drowned out by the storm raging inside him.The Cross Empire wasn’t just an inheritance. It was a labyrinth of power, corruption, and danger, and now, somehow, he had been thrust to the center of it.It wasn’t loud—just three sharp raps against the metal door of the lab. Aidan’s body tensed. No one visited him here, not unless it was urgent. His eyes darted to the door, his pulse quickening.Another knock, more insistent this time.“Aidan Harper,” a voice called through the door, calm and steady. “We know you’re in there. Open up.”His chest tightened. The voice wasn’t familiar, but the tone carried authority. He stood, backing away from the door instinctively. The phon

Aidan’s breathing was shallow as he paced the dimly lit room. The air felt heavy, almost electric, as if the walls were alive with the secrets of the Cross empire. He had thought inheriting wealth would bring freedom, but instead, it had shackled him to a labyrinth of danger, manipulation, and greed. His mind raced, his heart pounding as the weight of the situation pressed down on him.Victor broke the silence, his voice calm but firm. “Aidan, sitting here won’t help. If you want to survive this, you need to act—and fast.”Aidan turned to face him, his frustration bubbling to the surface. “Act? How am I supposed to act when I don’t even know what’s happening? I didn’t ask for any of this!”Selena, leaning against the table, crossed her arms. “No one asks for power, Aidan. But now that you have it, you need to decide how to wield it. The Cross empire is more than just wealth. It’s influence, control, and—”“A target,” Aidan interjected bitterly. “It’s a target painted right on my back.