A sense of determination surges through me. I’ve been the driving force behind this operation, the one making the tough calls, ensuring everything moves forward. With or without her, I will succeed. I’ve faced obstacles before, and every time, I’ve emerged stronger. This is no different. If anything, her absence only reinforces my resolve. I won’t let doubt creep in. I won’t let anyone stand in my way. This is my path, my vision, and I will see it through to the end.The safehouse feels unnervingly quiet without Lydia’s sharp heels clicking against the floor, without her crisp, commanding voice snapping orders that once filled the space with an undeniable energy. Now, the silence presses in, heavy and unfamiliar. I sit at the head of the table, files spread before me, attempting to concentrate, but my thoughts keep drifting. Olivia’s constant fidgeting doesn’t help her tapping fingers, shifting weight, and restless sighs gnaw at my patience. I clench my jaw, forcing myself to focus, b

Justin’s spy provided a detailed report on Zac’s scheming. Zac had taken Brianna out on a romantic date, showering her with attention, but behind the scenes, he had orchestrated a sinister plan. He intended to have Brianna kidnapped, only to stage a heroic rescue, making himself appear as her savior. Justin, furious at the deception, discussed the situation with Mary. They both realized the stake if Zac succeeded in winning Brianna’s heart, he would solidify his influence and possibly remain CEO indefinitely. They needed to act fast to expose his manipulation before Brianna fell for his well-crafted lies.In the dim glow of his penthouse, Justin stalked back and forth, his jaw clenched, hands balled into fists. Each step echoed with frustration, his mind racing with possibilities. On the sleek leather sofa, Mary reclined with an air of calculated calm, her sharp eyes tracking his movements. She swirled the golden liquid in her champagne flute, the rhythmic tapping of her nails again

The phone feels heavy in my hand, Lydia’s contact glaring at me from the screen. My thumb hovers over the call button. No. I shove the phone back into my pocket. Tate’s blood still stains my knuckles, the metallic scent clinging to my skin. I got what I needed from him, Justin's plan, the location of the fake evidence. But now… Do I let Zac fall? Or stop it? The question gnaws at me as I pace the empty safehouse. Olivia and Eddy are out gathering intel, leaving me alone with my thoughts. And the one person I want to talk to the one person whose strategic mind could untangle this mess is the same person I just drove away. I returned to the underground cell, the air still heavy with the scent of sweat and blood. Tate looked up, his swollen eyes filled with wariness. I crouched beside him, my voice low and sharp. "Listen carefully. You never speak of this. If Justin finds out you talked, he’ll see it as betrayal and we both know what he does to traitors." Tate swallowed hard

The morning air crackles with tension, thick and electric, as I stand before the floor-to-ceiling windows of my office. The city stretches out beneath me, alive with movement cars threading through traffic, people rushing to lives they think they control. But everything's different now. Behind me, Olivia’s fingers dance across her keyboard, rapid and focused. The steady tapping is broken only by sharp mutters under her breath, each one a frustrated punctuation to the chaos unraveling on her screen. Emails flood in. News outlets won’t stop calling. The fallout’s begun, and we’re right at the center of the storm.“It’s done,” Olivia says, spinning her laptop toward me with a triumphant smirk. “Every major outlet just published the exposé. Justin’s name is trending in fifteen countries.” I lean in, eyes skimming the headlines flashing across the screen. Each one lands like a blow. I exhale slowly, the weight of months of deception finally beginning to lift."Xander Dynasty in Cha

I don’t trust easily, but suspicion has a way of clinging to my skin these days. I sip my coffee, watching the steam curl upward like it’s trying to spell out the name of my enemy. My mind keeps circling back to Justin. On the surface, he’s the most obvious suspect bold, reckless, and more than willing to risk everything for power. But deep down, I know something doesn’t add up. Justin isn’t this calculated. He’s a hammer, not a scalpel.I’m returning from the café downstairs when I spot Zac waiting by the elevator, hands shoved in his pockets, a smug grin plastered across his face. He steps forward, blocking my path.“We need to talk,” he says.I raise a brow, keeping my expression unreadable. “Do we?”Zac leans in, his voice dropping. “I’ve got an offer for you. One million dollars. Clean. Cash. All you need to do is give me everything you know about Lydia. Her moves. Her schedule. Access points.”I stare at him blankly, letting the silence stretch. He thinks I’m just a pawn. Some l