The map had shown a thirty-minute drive from the mansion to the seaport.But Ethan made it in twelve.The convoy of the black SUVs tore through the streets like bullets, tires screeching around corners. Traffic laws meant nothing to them as they ignored red lights, as he had instructed them.Inside the lead vehicle, Ethan sat rigid in the passenger seat, his jaw clenched so tight it hurt."Hold on, Jessica. Just hold on." His hands gripped his knees, knuckles white.The vehicles finally screeched to a halt several buildings away from the seaport, hidden in the shadows to avoid detection.Ethan was out of the car before it fully stopped.The moment his boots hit the pavement, Theo emerged from the darkness between two shipping containers and hurried toward him.“My Lord—”“What’s the update?” Ethan demanded, his voice clipped and urgent.“Adrian left barely a minute ago.” Theo revealed.Ethan’s heart lurched. “And Jessica?”“From what I overheard,” Theo continued quickly, “she caught

Back at the mansion, in one of the guest rooms, Jessica lay motionless on the bed.The room was dimly lit, the soft glow of a bedside lamp casting long shadows across the walls. The curtains were drawn, blocking out the night.And Ethan couldn’t stop moving.He paced from the bed to the window, then back again. His hand pressed against her wrist, checking her pulse for the tenth time in as many minutes. It was steady—stronger than before—but still, she didn’t wake.He leaned over her, placing the back of his hand against her forehead, gauging her temperature.He exhaled shakily after confirming it was normal and stepped back, running both hands through his damp hair.His shoes squelched faintly with every step. But he hadn’t thought to change. Hadn’t even considered leaving the room.Not when she was still unconscious.Not when he didn’t know if she’d wake up.He resumed pacing, his mind racing with questions he couldn’t answer."Why isn’t she awake yet? Did the water damage her lu

Ethan spent the rest of the night wide awake, staring at the ceiling of his room.Sleep was impossible.His mind churned relentlessly, replaying everything Jessica had told him, dissecting every detail, searching for patterns and connections he might have missed.Adrian had appeared out of nowhere—right after Magnus’ death, as if he’d been waiting in the shadows for the perfect moment to strike.And now, the more Ethan thought about it, the more things didn’t add up.First, there was the matter of Jessica’s near-execution.Adrian hadn’t just threatened her or tried to intimidate her into silence. No—he’d ordered her killed. Thrown into the ocean to drown. And the reason? Because she’d witnessed a secret meeting.That level of desperation wasn’t normal. It made it seem like Adrian was hiding something way more dangerous than just trying to get back what was his.Then there was what Adrian actually knew.Jessica had told him about Ethan’s accomplishments as King of the World—stuff that

Ethan didn't return directly to the mansion after leaving Adrian’s villa.Instead, he’d made a detour to the prison facility where Elara was being held.She looked up when he entered the waiting room, a faint smile curving her lips.“Well, well,” she said. "The King himself. To what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?”Ethan didn’t waste time with pleasantries. “Is there really a way to kill me?”Her smile widened slightly. “Straight to the point. I like that.”“Answer the question,” he said coldly.She studied him for a moment, tilting her head. “Why the sudden concern? Has someone been whispering dangerous ideas in your ear?”“Elara—”“No,” she interrupted, her tone turning serious. “There isn’t.”Ethan’s jaw tightened. “You claimed you could kill me before.”“I lied,” Elara said simply. She leaned back against the cold wall, crossing her legs. “It was a threat. A bluff to make you unease while I made my moves which...”Her voice dropped. "Which failed."She paused, her gaze sharp.

“I’ll be leaving this evening.”The words Ethan him like a physical blow.His eyes widened in shock, and before he even realized what he was doing, he crossed the room in three long strides, returning to the chair beside the bed.He sat down and his hands instinctively reached out, grasping hers.“Why?” The word came out sharper than he intended, laced with urgency.The touch sent a jolt through Jessica, spreading from where their palms met up through her arms and into her chest. Her heart stumbled over itself, and for a moment, she forgot what she’d been about to say.She could feel the calluses on his palms, the strength in his grip—not tight enough to hurt, but firm enough to anchor her in place.It was such a simple thing. Just hands touching hands.But it felt like so much more.Like a silent confession. Like a promise he couldn’t speak aloud.It was overwhelming.And she didn’t want him to let go.She swallowed hard, trying to steady her breathing.He continued, his voice risin