"This isn’t about telling you that Ethan’s obviously cheating with some worthless reporter—though your blind love for him definitely needs a reality check, which you apparently still haven’t gotten," Viktor continued.His voice turned more disdainful, each word carefully chosen to cut deep. “I’m here because you’re living in a fantasy, Lara. You’ve convinced yourself you matter to them, that you’re family, that you belong in their world. But you’re nothing more than a convenient tool.”“What nonsense are you spilling?” Lara snapped, her voice rising. "I won’t stand here and let you insult me.”“Insult you?” Viktor laughed. "I’m trying to save you from your own stupidity. Tell me, Lara—have you ever considered your real place in the Aurelius empire? What you actually mean to Magnus and his precious son?”Lara scoffed in annoyance and disbelief, folding her arms across her chest defensively. “Maybe you should enlighten me then.”Viktor’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction. This was exact

The shattered window still rattled when the first storm of bullets tore through the room, bouncing off the stone walls.The Ghost moved first, dragging Damian’s bench sideways with one swift kick before ducking behind a steel column.His two masked men threw themselves down with him, returning fire in bursts.Damian screamed as splinters flew around him.He twisted against his chains, trying to make himself small, his face streaked with sweat and tears.“They’ve breached the room!” one of the masked men shouted, panic in his tone.He ducked, his gun clattering as he fumbled to reload. “Boss, this feels like an ambush!”The Ghost’s eyes narrowed behind the mask, his mind racing.He knew that was the situation. But no one had come this close to him before. No one.He was sure he was the target since the first bullet was aimed at him—it wasn't random.His breath slowed, and his pupils dilated the moment it hit him.“Ethan,” he muttered.The masked man next to him froze."Ethan Aurelius?”

A single dim bulb hung from the ceiling of the underground bunker, its weak light swinging and casting twisted shadows on the walls.In the center of the room, Damian was suspended—his arms stretched out and chained with heavy iron shackles, his back turned toward the entrance.Some of the wounds on his back were still fresh, bleeding from the torture Ethan had ordered, while others had dried into jagged scars.Sweat dripped down his temples and fell to the cold floor below."W-water… please… I’m thirsty…" His voice was dry and cracked, breaking into weak, desperate whimpers.His throat felt unbearably dry.The moment the bunker door creaked open, the soldiers straightened, their eyes snapping forward as Ethan and Marcel stepped into the room, before they bowed. Already inside with the soldiers where Magnus and Lara, who had been waiting for Ethan's arrival.Marcel bowed to them.On the table to the left lay a small wooden bowl filled with salt, just as Ethan had ordered earlier. He

It had barely been twenty-four hours since Damian got away from Ethan’s torture. Damian's body was still aching from everything that happened the night before. But now he was dealing with serious problems with his businesses—all his company stocks were crashing because investors connected to The Ghost were pulling out. They made it clear that they wouldn’t risk getting on The Ghost’s bad side.This made Damian realize he needed to act quickly, so he called Viktor to set up a meeting. Viktor told him to come to his office.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Damian’s footsteps echoed softly as he entered Viktor’s office, each step slower and heavier than the last. The sharp pain in his back forced him to walk with a sluggish, dragging gait.The moment Viktor looked up and saw the way Damian was walking, his brows furrowed in surprise.“Damian? What… happened to you? You look like you've been run over," he said, voice laced with confusion as he studied the bruised, battered man hobbling toward him.D

The grand ballroom of the Aurelius Hotel sparkled like a jewel box. Crystal chandeliers hung from the high ceiling, casting warm light over marble floors that reflected every movement. Fresh white orchids decorated each table, and waiters in crisp black uniforms moved between guests carrying silver trays of champagne.The room was filled with the city's most powerful people, here to celebrate Ethan as the president of Aurelius Conglomerate.At the center of it all was Ethan himself.He had just wrapped up his speech.He wore a perfectly tailored midnight blue suit that fit his broad shoulders. His dark hair was styled back, showing off his sharp jawline.Women kept stealing glances at him from across the room.“Did you see how he looked at me?” one whispered to her friend, trying not to stare.“Shh,” her friend warned, looking around nervously before her gaze met Lara's."Don’t let his girlfriend hear you say that."“I know, I know. But still…” The first woman sighed dreamily before