A cold wave of disbelief washed over Ethan. His chest felt tight, like someone had wrapped steel bands around his ribs and was slowly tightening them. His hands trembled slightly before he clenched them into fists, his knuckles turning white.“Everyone out,” he said to the medical staff, his voice barely controlled. "Now!"The doctors and nurses quickly filed out, leaving only Magnus lying unconscious on the bed, Ethan sitting rigidly in the chair beside him, and Lara standing across the room, watching his every expression.Ethan stared at Magnus’ pale face, his mind reeling. He couldn’t believe that all this time, his own father had been dying, and he had no clue. Not even the smallest hint.The doctor’s words kept playing over and over in Ethan’s head—Magnus had less than six months left to live. It was breaking his heart.He finally looked up at Lara, meeting her eyes for the first time since they’d been left alone in the room.“I just don’t get it,” he said, his voice hollow.

Lara's mouth opened and closed like a fish gasping for air. “I… Ethan, I have no idea about any of this. I’m as confused and… and horrified as you are." But suddenly, something clicked in Ethan’s mind. His instinct, the one that had been gnawing at him to never fully trust her, flared to life. How could she know nothing about this? According to Magnus, she knew the ins and outs of Aurelius Conglomerate better than he did. His brows narrowed dangerously. "You really expect me to believe that?" he snarled. He scoffed. "You knew absolutely nothing about any of this?” Something in Lara flared at his accusation. “Are you really suspecting me right now?” She snapped back. "When will you finally stop doubting me?" she asked, her voice breaking. She was overwhelmed by everything—the way he’d hurt her at that restaurant, how he was always suspicious of her, and how he still didn’t trust her despite all the sacrifices she’d made. "What exactly did I do to you to deserve this... endles

Magnus wiped the blood from his lips as the silence stretched between them.His eyes searched Ethan’s face, as if looking for any trace of the son who once trusted him completely.“The truth…” Magnus began, his voice hoarse and barely audible. "You really don't trust me?"“No,” Ethan interrupted sharply. "Don’t give me that. Give me yes or no. Did you know about these atrocities? Were you involved?”"I don't want to be kept in the dark while people suffer and die because of this family name I carry.”Magnus tried to sit up straighter, wincing with the effort.“The companies… the subsidiaries…” he started, then stopped, looking directly into Ethan’s eyes. “Some of what they’re saying is—”The door burst open.Both Magnus and Ethan’s gazes snapped to the doorway where Lara stood, her face flushed with panic. However, the moment she saw the blood on Magnus’ lips, she rushed forward.“What happened?” she asked, her voice tight with worry.“Didn’t he tell you to excuse us?" Ethan snappe

It had been two days. Two days of absolute hell for Magnus as everything he had built over decades came crashing down like a house of cards in a hurricane. The untouchable titan who had once commanded respect and fear from government officials and business moguls alike was now watching his empire burn from the inside of a holding cell.The government had seized control of the entire Aurelius Conglomerate and all its subsidiaries temporarily pending trial. Every bank account bearing the Aurelius name had been frozen—Magnus’ personal accounts, corporate accounts, investment portfolios, even the discretionary funds used for household expenses. Properties across the country that belonged to Magnus were placed under government control, with only the family mansion remaining untouched for now, though legal experts speculated it too would be seized after the trial.The media had painted Magnus as already guilty, and public opinion had solidified around the belief that he would be convicted

Four wooden chairs surrounded a simple table under a white umbrella that provided shade from the blazing sun. The spot was designed for players to rest between rounds.That was where Damian, Viktor and the two Shadow members were now seated.Damian’s guards formed a loose circle around the area.Damian leaned forward in his chair.“What do you want, Viktor?” His voice matched the hardness in his eyes.Viktor smiled, unbothered by the hostile atmosphere. “First, let me say I’m impressed.” He paused, letting his words sink in. “Though I’m confused about how you managed to turn everything around for yourself and your whole family so quickly.”He tilted his head a bit. “You know, after that whole thing came out about the dangerous chemical which got you disowned and left you living such a miserable life... everyone completely wrote you off."His smile widened. “But look at you now. Power, wealth, position—all in such a short span. And after realizing that you were behind the damning evid