“So you’re really doing this? Even knowing it could cost you your life?” Ethan asked, still in disbelief.Jessica said, “Look, I’ve spent my whole career chasing stories that actually matter. Getting close to the truth and making sure it doesn’t just disappear. Do you know what it’s like to know something huge and have to keep your mouth shut? To watch people believe lies and not be able to do anything about it? To know you could expose it but can’t?”“Here’s the thing about your family,” she continued. "Most people act like they love the Aurelius name. They act like they respect you all. But honestly? They hate you guys. They think you’re all pure and perfect on the surface, but deep down, they believe you’re corrupt as hell.”"Besides..." She gave a slight shrug.“I’m not built to bend. Not to threats. Not to anyone. This story is too big to ignore, and I’ve never backed down from such a story like this."There was something impressive about her stubbornness, even if it was foolish

The city lights blurred past the windows as the car cut through the streets. The driver—one of the guards that were employed by Magnus—kept his eyes fixed on the road ahead, completely focused on navigation and nothing else. Theo sat in the front passenger seat, his body angled slightly toward the window, and Ethan was in the back, staring out at the blurred lights of the city passing by.After twenty minutes of nothing but the hum of the engine and the distant sound of traffic, Theo spoke.“My Lord, do you think they’ll come back?” he asked, still looking out the window. "The commanders, I mean. From what I observed in that room, I don’t think they will.”Ethan didn’t respond immediately.When he finally did, he told Theo that they should wait and see what Marcel and the other commanders decide, since they’d said they’d get back through Marcel.Ethan had decided before even going to the meeting that if they ended up refusing, he'd move forward with the alternative plan. He had de

The night hasn’t quite surrendered to day.Ethan stood on the mansion’s balcony.There was a glass of whiskey in his hand. He’d been up all night, watching the sunrise approach like a predator stalking prey.The lab report hit different now than it had six hours ago when he first read it: “DNA Analysis: Subject remains identified as Unknown Male, Age 50-60 at time of death. No genetic markers matching Adrian Aurelius. No family connections to any known Aurelius lineage.”The body buried under Adrian’s name wasn’t Adrian at all.Ethan poured another whiskey and knocked it back. But it couldn’t shake the panic sitting heavy in his chest.He’d been so close to fixing everything Magnus had messed up. But now that Adrian had shown up and dropped all those bombshells, everything had fallen apart because he knew the implication.The wind picked up, cold against his skin. His hair whipped across his forehead, but he didn’t move.Behind him, he heard footsteps.“My Lord,” Theo called out,

The moment Ethan stepped through the door, Theo was there, falling into step beside him immediately.“My Lord, What did you find out?” Theo asked.Ethan didn’t turn. He kept walking, his pace steady, his mind already moving ahead."That you were wrong,” he said flatly. "She didn’t know Adrian was alive.”He glanced at Theo briefly. "And before you say it—before you even think about suggesting I shouldn’t trust her words again—don’t. I mean it, Theo. Don’t.”Theo fell silent, nodding slowly.“So what do we do now?” he asked as they climbed the stairs leading out of the block.As they walked through the long hallway, Ethan scrolled through his phone and dialed a number.“Nicolas,” Ethan said without preamble the moment the line clicked. "Text me your location immediately after this call. I’m going to meet you there within the next thirty minutes to an hour."“And this meeting needs to be discreet. Completely off the radar. No one should known about it. Not even your security. So, hand

Adrian smirked, watching the confusion spread across Ethan’s face."It seems, my dear nephew, that you still haven't figured out my true endgame in all this." Adrian leaned forward, his expression shifting to something almost earnest.His voice dropped to a whisper. "Let me be clear, Ethan. My exact reason for appearing now and making that revelation was to make sure you, and the world, knew exactly who Magnus was. To open your eyes to the monster he is.""And what now that I knew and believed it before your damn interview?”Ethan sighed as he leaned forward.His eyes burnt with frustration. “So get to the point. I’m not interested in you beating around the bush.”Adrian smiled as he leaned back, seemingly unfazed by Ethan’s outburst.“The Order,” he said slowly, “has been our family’s legacy for generations. What possible benefit would it be to me if I exposed it to the world?” He shook his head. “Only a bastard would would destroy his own bloodline's purpose. And I'm clearly not on