The war with the Vaughn siblings was over. Reginald was safe too. Roman knew it was time to go back, and so he did. Roman sat in the private jet, staring out the window. The turbulence barely registered because he was deep in thought. He had finally wrapped up the legal battle with the Vaughn siblings, securing his ownership of Reginald's company and sending his enemies into complete ruin. It should have felt like a victory, but there was a strange emptiness that lingered."You're quiet," Kade said from across from him. "You should be celebrating."Roman smirked, shaking his head. "I'll celebrate when the work is truly done. Right now, I have bigger things to focus on."Kade looked confused. "What now?" Then it occurred to him. "Oh. The herbs. And that book."Roman let out a breath. "Yes. I left it untouched for too long. It's time I find out what it's really leading me to."Kade nodded, understanding. "So, once we land, what’s the plan? Straight to the office, or are you going to lo

They returned home. Roman sat hunched over the vial. He was using his fingers to trace the inscriptions on it. The light from the desk lamp made the symbols seem to dance on the glass surface.Kade flopped onto the couch and kicked his feet up on the armrest. “So, what’s the verdict? Is it another ‘drink this and turn into a superhero’ potion, or are we dealing with something more… explosive?”Roman didn’t look up. “Not sure yet. But these inscriptions… they’re different from the last one.”Kade groaned, running a hand through his already messy hair. “Of course they are. Because nothing in our lives can ever be simple.”Roman ignored him. He kept his focus entirely on the vial. He tilted it slightly, letting the light catch the surface, and that’s when he saw that the symbols shifted. Just a fraction, just enough to make him doubt his eyes at first. But then it happened again, the lines rearranging themselves into something new.“Whoa,” he muttered, leaning closer. “Kade, look at thi

The monastery was quiet. Too quiet. Roman had expected some sign of life. Maybe a few monks that were still keeping the place going. But instead, unnatural silence stretched over the ancient stones.Kade noticed it too. He frowned and adjusted his bag as they stepped over the worn stone threshold. “Creepy. But that’s to be expected since we started this search.”Roman didn’t respond. He was already scanning the interior. The place was massive, built from weathered gray stone, with towering pillars reaching up to the high, vaulted ceiling. Faded murals lined the walls — scenes of devotion, monks in deep meditation, figures bowing before what looked like the herb they were searching for. The herb that could supposedly heal wounds no medicine could. The herb that someone else had tried to keep hidden.Roman could feel the gut-deep instinct that told him they weren’t alone even though the place felt deserted. He didn’t acknowledge it outright. Instead, he murmured, “We should move quickl

Roman was halfway through his third cup of coffee when his phone rang. Roman glanced at the caller ID. It was an assistant from the company he'd just bought from Reginald.“Talk to me.”“We have a problem,” the assistant said, cutting straight to the point. “The permits for the expansion project are stalled again. And there’s been an attempted buyout of one of our prime properties.”Roman sat up. “And who is behind it?”“We don’t know yet. The offer came through a shell company. But it’s clear someone’s moving against you. Lesser companies are getting approvals without any issues.”His jaw tightened. This wasn’t random. It was calculated. And he had a good idea why.Kade watched him closely. “Trouble?”“Looks like someone’s trying to choke out my business while I’m distracted.” Roman exhaled, rubbing his forehead. “We’re heading back there. We’ll only be there a day or two.”By the next day, Roman was back in the very country where his new company was located. He had employed quite a

Annabel noticed the shift in Roman that night. She tried to ignore it, but acting uninterested was not something she could do. She would talk about it today, even if she was sure that Roman would shut her out. “What’s going on, Roman?” she demanded. “You’re shutting me out.”He hesitated, then made a decision. He told her everything —the sabotage, the herb hunters, the warning call.Annabel was not impressed. “You’re fighting on two fronts, and you didn’t think I should know?”Roman sighed. “I didn’t want you to worry.”They spoke for a while and discussed strategies. The next few days, Roman played his role flawlessly. He let himself appear frustrated by the sudden legal and financial setbacks. He started making reckless decisions like intentionally selling shares, pulling investments, and acting erratic in public.Word spread fast. The empire Roman had built looked like it was cracking under pressure. Damien believed Roman was losing control.Kade would always say, “You better know