As the last of the guests departed in their yachts and helicopters, only a select few remained.They were those deemed worthy of the real gathering. Celine, Cleopatra’s daughter, reappeared at Barry’s side, her eyes bright."The after-party is starting. If you'll come with me. I'll show you my mother," she murmured, her fingers brushing his wrist before leading him toward a hidden elevator disguised as a marble pillar. The doors slid open, and they descended deep below the island. The air grew thick with the scent of opium, cigar smoke, and expensive perfume. The sound of moans, laughter, and clinking glasses echoed off the stone walls as they stepped into an underground cavern. Strippers draped in jewels swayed on polished stages. Barry saw some people going around naked, and powerful men smoking from hookahs. There were private rooms lined inside the cavern, their doors slightly ajar, revealing glimpses of sin in motion. Barry decided it was a bad idea to come here after

One week after his encounter with Cleopatra Monroe, Barry Sullivan made a rare public appearance at the Gilded Summit.The Guilded Summit was an exclusive gathering of the world's wealthiest and most influential men. Titans of every sector—from defense to tech, from real estate to medicine—were in full attendance.Barry was never one to flaunt his wealth but in this Summit, reputation was currency here, and tonight, everyone was expected to bring their best.He wore a custom-crafted suit tailored from "Lunar Silk," a material so rare that only a handful of tailors in the world had ever worked with it. The suit was a masterpiece. Only three yards of the material existed in the world, making the ensemble worth a staggering $5 billion. The fabric shimmered faintly under the chandelier lights, giving Barry a powerful presence as he entered. Barry was escorted by twenty uniformed security personnel, their disciplined march turning heads as they cleared his path through the grand hall

The luxurious sedan carrying Goldenfold rolled through the wrought-iron gates of his estate, tires crunching over the gravel driveway. His hands trembled on the steering wheel. His swollen eyes, still damp from tears, stared blankly ahead.He stepped out, his body aching from the fight, but the physical pain was nothing compared to the humiliation festering in his chest. As he entered his mansion, inside felt colder than usual. Servants tiptoed around him, afraid to meet his eyes. He climbed the winding staircase slowly, like a wet hen. He had lost nearly everything. Barry had left him with his estates and a mere $10 billion which was laughable compared to the empire he once commanded. His conglomerates, shell companies, private paramilitary factions, and global assets — all of them had been seized under Barry’s name.Barry could have taken it all. Crushed him completely. But he hadn’t. Goldenfold paused at the top of the stairs, recalling the brief meeting they had after the

Barry was lounging in his private study, swirling a glass of aged whiskey, when Sebastian entered with a deep bow. "Master," Sebastian said, smoothly "You have a visitor."Barry arched an eyebrow but didn’t move from his seat. "Oh? Who could that be?""Urther," Sebastian replied. "Khan Wolfe’s former right-hand man. He’s waiting at an abandoned warehouse in the city. He claims to have… a gift for you."Barry’s lips curled into a slow, dangerous smile. He set his glass down. "Well then. Let’s not keep him waiting."* * * *The warehouse was dim and the air was thick with dust. Urther stood in the center, shifting nervously on his feet.Behind him, Khan Wolfe was bound and gagged, his knees still bloody from the gunshot wounds. His eyes, wide with terror, locked onto Barry the moment he entered. Barry studied him for a long moment before letting out a disappointed sigh. "This is the man who wanted me dead?" He tilted his head, unimpressed. "He looks like a puny rabbit caught in

Barry stalked into the mansion's dimly lit lounge, his footsteps heavy against the floor. The argument with Snow still burned in his chest, the words they'd exchanged replaying in his mind like a broken record. He slid onto one of the plush barstools at the inbuilt counter, where Sebastian was already polishing a set of crystal glasses quietly. "Mix me something strong," Barry muttered, resting his elbows on the counter. Sebastian didn't reply immediately, but his hands moved with practiced ease, selecting a bottle of aged whiskey and pouring it over ice with a splash of bitters. The quiet clink of glass was the only sound in the vast, empty mansion.Veronica and Adam were away visiting the Phoenix family, leaving just the two of them in the echoing silence. Barry took the drink without waiting for it to be handed to him, downing half of it in one swallow. The burn in his throat did little to dull the frustration he felt inside.He glanced up at Sebastian, who was watching h