Ethan watched Victoria slip through the back door. It closed behind her with a soft, final click. He did not move from the shadows. His expression was calm, but his eyes were sharp and cold.He turned and walked back to his study. He sat behind his large desk. He picked up a small, sleek remote from the desk and pressed a single button.A wall of monitors flickered to life. They showed every corner of the property: the front gate, the hallways, the gardens, the perimeter walls. He found her immediately. A small, wrapped figure moving quickly toward the eastern wall. He watched her reach an old door. She pulled a key from her pocket, unlocked it, and disappeared into the night beyond.Ethan leaned back. He steepled his fingers under his chin. His face was a mask of impassive stone. Only a slight tightening of his jaw betrayed any reaction at all. He watched the empty doorway on the screen for a full minute. Then, he switched off the monitors. He picked up his phone. He sent a qui

Chapter 173.Mr. President sat behind his vast, empty desk. His fingers drummed a frantic rhythm on the polished wood. His intercom buzzed. “Sir? Ex assistant general, Jack is here for his scheduled appointment. He says it’s regarding… urban renewal.”The President’s breath caught. Jack. He didn't believe Jack finally left Ethan's hostage. “Send him in,” he said, his voice tighter than he intended.The door opened. Jack walked in. The door shut, leaving them alone.“Mr. President,” Jack said, bowing his head slightly.“Jack,” the President said, not rising. He gestured to a chair. “H….how did you escape prison.?”Jack didn’t sit. He took a step closer. “Thats not the question you should be asking me, not when I am here for revenge. I was his prisoner. He tortured me. I can give you everything you need to destroy him. Publicly. Legally.”The President leaned forward, with a smirk on his face. “And what do you want in return?”“Protection,” Jack hissed. “A new identity. And a chance t

The rain tapped a gentle rhythm against the bedroom window. Victoria sat on the edge of the bed, her shoulders shaking. Silent tears carved hot paths down her cheeks. She made no sound. The only evidence was the slow, steady fall of drops onto the back of her clasped hands.The door opened.She heard his footsteps. She drew in a sharp, quiet breath. Her hands flew to her face, wiping furiously at her eyes. She straightened her spine, composing her features by the time he rounded the bed to face her.Ethan stood there, watching her. He saw the redness around her eyes, the slight dampness on her lashes. He saw the way her hands were clenched too tightly in her lap. A cold anger lived in his chest towards her, a solid, heavy thing. But seeing her like this—fragile, trying so hard to hide it—made something else flicker.“Are you fine?” he asked. His voice was neutral, not warm, but not accusing.Victoria nodded, too quickly. “I’m fine.” Her voice was a little thick. She cleared her thr

Ethan pushed the bedroom door open without knocking. The room was quiet. He glanced around. Victoria’s silk robe lay crumpled across the foot of the bed. Her dress from dinner was folded neatly on the chair. He stepped inside and closed the door with his heel. His eyes swept the space once, twice. Bathroom door shut. Water running. He moved fast. He lifted the robe first—nothing underneath. Then the dress—pockets empty. He crouched, checked under the bed, under the mattress edge. His fingers found the hidden compartment in the vanity almost by instinct. It was empty. He straightened, jaw tight. His gaze landed on the nightstand. Her phone sat there, screen dark, charging cable coiled beside it. He picked it up. The lock screen showed the time: 11:47 p.m. He swiped. No passcode. She never bothered with one on this phone. Arrogant. Or maybe she wanted him to look. He opened the messaging app. Nothing unusual. Weather updates. Calendar reminders. A dry-cleaning confirm

“One of my men just told me something interesting.” Victoria’s stomach dropped but she kept her face still. Her heart pounded as she hoped her secret had not been leaked out. Ethan watched her eyes. Searching. “Jack escaped.” She let out a big sigh of relief she never knew she was holding. Victoria blinked once. “Escaped?” “Three hours ago. He took a pistol and vanished into the scrub.” She swallowed. “How?” “Doesn’t matter how. He’s out. And he’s coming.” Ethan reached inside his jacket. Pulled out a small, matte-black Glock 43. The tiny pistol looked almost delicate in his palm. He glanced around and then pressed it into her hand. Her fingers closed around the grip automatically. Cold metal. Familiar weight. “Hide it,” he said. “Waistband. Small of your back. Easy draw.” Victoria stared at the gun, then at him. “Why are you giving me this?” “Because tonight, when we get home, you’re going to pretend.” With that, they got into the car and drove off. The