The rain tapped softly against the rooftop of the private car as Javier sat in the backseat, unmoving. His phone screen was dark, but the conversation with Valeria replayed in his mind like a broken reel.They didn’t take the files. They didn’t take the cash. They took the ring.Not just any ring—his father’s ring, the same one passed down through three generations of Everharts, a ring no one but family was ever allowed to touch. It had been in the wall safe, behind a biometric lock embedded inside the study of their lakefront estate.To open

The high-end bistro near Alder Street was the kind of place that catered to those who liked to pretend they owned the world—businessmen flashing their company credit cards, trust fund babies parading expensive shoes, and staff trained to judge based on appearance before service.Javier walked in unnoticed, his attire simple: no tie, plain shirt, and his coat damp from the light drizzle outside. His steps were silent, but every eye that landed on him carried the same dismissive gleam.A tall hostess approached, her lips tightening into a forced smile. “Sir,” she said sharply, “this establishment has a reservation-only policy.”Javier gave a polite nod. “Good. I have a reservation under Clara Lorrell.”The hostess’s smile dro

Sable’s presence settled over the table like a storm cloud—silent but heavy, charged with something unseen but undeniably dangerous. Javier remained seated, utterly composed, while Clara’s knuckles turned white around her wine glass. Elliot, the smug attorney, shifted uncomfortably in his seat, visibly shrinking under Sable’s sharp gaze.Sable’s lips curved into a smooth, mocking smile as he pulled out the empty chair beside Clara and sat down with the elegance of someone who believed himself untouchable.“Didn’t think we’d meet this soon,” Sable said, his voice low and controlled, edged with arrogance. “Though I’m not surprised to see you poking your nose where it doesn’t belong… dressed like that, no less.”Elliot chuckled weakly, emboldened by Sable’s arrival. “Yeah, pretty sure security’s been slacking if they let this… charity case into the private level.”Sable didn’t even spare Elliot a glance, his focus entirely on Javier. “You’re out of your depth here. This is bigger than yo

The man’s lips parted, but no sound came out. The confidence he walked in with began to crumble under the weight of realization. His fingers twitched at his sides, eyes darting between Javier, Heather, and the legal documents that now lay flat on the table in front of him.Around them, the other patrons fell deathly quiet, watching the unfolding scene with a mixture of shock and fascination. The same man they had sneered at minutes ago, the one wearing the modest suit with no bodyguards or entourage, was now revealed to be the true power in the room.Sable’s face had turned a dangerous shade of red, fists clenched as though he could reverse the truth through sheer will. Clara shrank further into her chair, her breath becoming shallow and quick, her perfect facade splintering with every second.Javier remained calm, his expression unchanged, as though this scenario was always expected—because it was.Heather adjusted the tablet in her hands and spoke, her voice carrying across the room

The moment Javier exited the gala hall, the chill of the night air brushed against his face, but his expression remained steady, unaffected. Heather followed a few steps behind, her phone lighting up with constant alerts, but she said nothing, waiting for his direction.At the curb, the Everhart Holdings black town car pulled up smoothly. The driver, a sharp-eyed man in a simple suit, stepped out to open the door, nodding respectfully. Javier stepped inside without hesitation, Heather sliding in after him.Inside the car, the atmosphere shifted. The outside world remained chaotic—reporters scrambling, law enforcement gathering, and guests in the gala murmuring in disbelief. But in the quiet confines of the vehicle, Javier’s mind moved forward.Heather glanced up from her tablet. “Sir, I’ve reviewed the initial damage control reports. The Langston Vault scandal is officially the headline of every major outlet tonight. Leonard’s arrest triggered panic sales from smaller firms. Stock mar