chapter one hundred and sixty two.“Position yourselves,” he barked. “Nothing goes wrong. Not tonight.”The men nodded, spreading out like predators waiting for prey. And then…A soft click. From the shadows, Ethan stepped forward, calm, confident, smiling.They pulled the trigger. Gunfire erupted like a storm—loud, relentless, merciless. Ethan staggered backward, each bullet tearing another breath from his lungs. He tried to stay upright, gripping at the air as if he could hold onto life itself… but his knees buckled. He crashed to the ground, gasping, blood spreading beneath him in quick, frightening pools.The world around him blurred. His fingers twitched. He tried to lift his head one more time, but it dropped helplessly to the dirt.Across the chaos, the president stood perfectly still, untouched by the violence he’d ordered. The corners of his mouth lifted into a cold, almost delighted smirk as he surveyed the scene.He didn’t take a single step toward Ethan. He didn’t need t

“Ethan, you have no right to be in this meeting. This isn’t military affairs,” the president snapped.Ethan chuckled….low, mocking and began to clap slowly.“Can you all hear your president?” he drawled. “Brilliant. You deserve a standing ovation.” Mr. President rolled his eyes, jaw tight. “Well,” Ethan continued, stepping forward, “since you accused me and my family, that’s exactly why I’m here. To clear a few things up.”He turned slightly. One of his men rushed forward, handing him a file. Ethan dropped it onto the podium with a loud thud. The president’s eyes flicked to it, then back to Ethan.Hands in his pockets, Ethan said calmly, “That’s a lawsuit for defamation of character. If I were you, I’d pray to stay president forever… because the moment you step out of that office, your first night will be in prison.”“How dare you!” the president barked, stepping back.“Shhh.” Ethan lifted a finger. “Lower your voice, my president.”The president’s fist tightened at his side, knuckle

Chapter 166.The president stared at his phone, the message blurring slightly as the vodka still pulsed in his veins.His party was demanding an urgent meeting. Urgent. That word alone told him nothing good was waiting on the other side of that room.Before he could think further, the phone buzzed again. A call.He forced his voice steady and answered.“Mr. President,” the minister of information said in a low, tense rush, “you need to come now. I tried to explain that you were occupied, but they insisted. They won’t take no.”The president nodded reflexively, though the man couldn’t see him. “I’m on my way,” he muttered, then ended the call.Frustration surged. He flung the phone onto the couch and dragged both hands over his face, a raw groan escaping his throat. For a moment, he just sat there, head heavy, heart pounding, knowing he was about to walk straight into a storm.He pushed himself to his feet, swaying just slightly before catching his balance. The room felt colder now,

Chapter 168.The early morning sun slipped through the curtains and hit Victoria’s eyes. She groaned softly, stretching her limbs before sitting up. Instinctively, she checked the time on her phone, then glanced over her shoulder.Ethan was still asleep, breathing quietly, completely unaware.Moving carefully, she slipped out of bed and tiptoed toward the bathroom. She closed the door behind her, lowered the toilet lid, and sat down. Her fingers trembled slightly as she dialed a number.The moment the call connected, she cupped her hand over her mouth to muffle her voice.“Yes… Jack’s been fed enough,” she whispered.A pause. Heavy breathing on the other end.“Are you sure we should stick to this plan?” she asked, her voice barely audible.“Yes,” the man replied, his deep voice firm, leaving no room for hesitation.Victoria swallowed hard and nodded, even though he couldn’t see her. “Be careful. Ethan must not find out.”She ended the call quickly and lowered the phone. The moment V

The President reached for the recorder, but Ethan shifted back smoothly, brushing his hand away with a soft laugh.“Not so fast,” Ethan said.“H–how could you turn this honest meeting into this, Ethan?” the President snapped, voice trembling. “I came here to make peace. Nothing but peace!”“And that’s exactly what we’re doing,” Ethan replied, stepping closer. His voice dropped, calm and unsettling. “We’re making peace… just in my terms.”The President dragged a hand through his hair, frustration clawing at him. He felt unsteady, like the ground was tilting beneath him.Then something snapped. He lunged forward and grabbed Ethan by the collar, yanking him close.Immediately, guns clicked.Ethan’s men raised their weapons, laser-focused on the President’s skull.The President froze, breath caught in his throat. He glanced around slowly, one wrong twitch and his brains would be on the tiles.Ethan lifted two fingers. A silent command.His men lowered their guns, but only a little, still