Magnus's eyes, cold and filled with disdain, bore into Damian. "You dare defy me?”Damian lifted his head to meet his gaze. "No, sir... I wouldn't—"“Enough!” Magnus spat, his fury finally breaking through."You, a mere insect, think you can spit on my authority? On my guest?"Without turning his head, he barked, “Guards!”At once, several guards stormed forward, surrounding Damian like wolves.He looked at them in confusion.Before he could say another word, Magnus bellowed, “Beat this fool until he understands what obedience means!” His voice thundered through the hall."Make sure he never forgets it for the rest of his pathetic life."The guards wasted no time. One threw a vicious punch into Damian's stomach, forcing him lower to his knees. Another slammed a heavy boot against his back, sending him sprawling onto the floor.Damian coughed violently, struggling to breathe as pain spread through his body.The attendees were stunned into silence, eyes flickering between Magnus and the

The vacancy had been a hot topic for months. Speculation had run wild about who would fill the role, especially since Magnus had refused to appoint anyone, despite repeated requests from the board.The sudden mail from him to the directors and stakeholders concerned about it the previous night had only fueled the intrigue.And then came the real shock."Unfortunately, the chairman will not be unveiled today.”The room erupted into hushed murmurs, a ripple of confusion spreading through the crowd.While no one dared to openly challenge Magnus, their frustration was evident.Magnus held up a hand, silencing the noise. "However, I have appointed someone. But he has chosen to remain anonymous for now in order to lead from behind the scenes—and I respect that decision.”His voice dropped slightly, laced with an unmistakable warning. "That being said, I strongly advise those this concerns to be on their best behavior. The chairman and I will be watching closely. Aurelia Group is a powerhous

The silence that followed was more terrifying than any threat could have been. However, the line went dead before Damian could respond. Then, he lowered the phone from his ear, staring at it as realization crashed over him like a tidal wave. He knew his father wasn't kidding, knowing what he was capable of when he got disappointed. Damian choked back a breath, feeling like he was trapped. Vanessa, who had been silently watching, shifted uneasily. "Damian?" "What did your father say?" she asked. However, he stared ahead, unblinking as memories flashed through his mind—his older brother, disowned and cut off for a similar failure three years ago, now working as a bartender somewhere in Mexico. And his cousin, who had disappointed his father once and found herself blacklisted from every major company in the country. His mind was racing with ways to turn the situation around because his entire future was on the line. "Damian?" Vanessa repeated, touching his arm gently.

Two armored guards stood on either side of the Aurelius estate entrance as Ethan drove in.When he got out of his car, the guards at the mansion door instantly straightened."Young master," they said together, bowing deeply as he walked by.When Ethan walked into the mansion, Helena, the head maid who was in her fifties, came up to greet him.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Her gray-streaked hair was pulled back in a severe bun."Master Ethan," she said, bowing slightly. "Your father awaits you on the eastern balcony."He nodded, his fingers absently tracing the contours of the ring. "Thank you, Helena."After telling his father to leave the event without him, his father had told him to stop by before going home.He walked through the opulent living room toward the balcony doors.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​His father stood at the balcony's edge, his imposing figure silhouetted against the night sky.The balcony stretched wide, overlooking the vast city below. The city lights below shined like stars against the

Ethan exhaled sharply, his fingers absentmindedly tracing the smooth surface of the ring as the weight of his father’s words sank in.According to his father, the ring had existed for centuries, passed down through their bloodline—but not everyone could wear it. Only those it chose.Ethan could hardly wrap his head around it. For twenty-three years, he had worn something ancient without even realizing its significance. There was even a time he had considered selling it to take Vanessa on a lavish date and shopping spree. But no matter how hard he tried, he could never get it off his finger. Now, he understood why.“Now you understand why I said I never thought I’d set foot in this chamber again." His father cut through his thoughts like a blade."Because only the ring’s true bearer can access this place.”"So you're telling me this ring... my ring is some kind of ancient key?" Ethan's voice echoed against the walls, bouncing back at him like an accusation.His father shook his head. "