“I’m waiting, Theo. What are you doing here?" Ethan’s voice cut through the silence again, sharper this time.Theo swallowed hard, his throat dry, his mind finally catching up to the situation.He straightened slightly, his hands dropping to his sides as he forced himself to meet Ethan’s gaze.“My Lord,” he began, his voice steadier now but still laced with nervousness. "It’s not what it looks like.”Ethan’s expression didn’t change.“It’s not what it looks like?" He repeated slowly, his tone dripping with skepticism.He took another step forward, closing the distance between them. “Is that what you’re going with?”Theo opened his mouth to respond, but Ethan cut him off.“So you also consider me weak and incompetent?"Ethan scoffed. "Unbelievable."Theo’s jaw dropped, confusion flashing across his face. “What? My Lord, no—”“Didn’t I tell you earlier to leave the research to me?” Ethan continued, his voice rising slightly. “I explicitly told you I would handle this. That I didn’t nee

The night had fully descended over the city by the time Ethan arrived at Lara’s residence.He rapped his knuckles against the door three times.Inside, Lara was curled up on her sofa, a blanket wrapped around her shoulders, as she stared at the television.When the knock came, she didn’t move at first.Then it came again.With a heavy sigh, she pushed herself to her feet and walked to the entrance.She pressed the button on the video intercom panel mounted beside the door.The screen flickered to life, showing Ethan standing outside, his hands in his pockets, his expression weary."I thought as much." A knowing smirk played on her lips.Instantly, it vanished, replaced with a tightened jaw.The moment she pressed the release button, the lock clicked open.She pulled the door back, standing in the doorway with her arms crossed.“Hi,” he said immediately, his voice softer than usual.She said nothing.Just looked at him with an expression that could freeze fire.Seeing the unmistakable

“I’m sorry,” Ethan said. That was—”“What happened? Is she in danger again?” she cut him off, her voice flat.He shook his head. “No. She just thought she was.”Her brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”“She noticed the guards I assigned to watch over her,” he explained. "She didn’t know they were mine. Thought they were after her.”“Guards?” Her confusion deepened. "What does she need protection for?”He hesitated for a moment, then met her eyes. “I’m worried Adrian might try to harm her, now that he knows she’s alive.”Her expression didn’t change, but something flickered in her eyes.“That’s actually one of the reasons I need you back at the mansion,” he continued. "Living alone puts you at risk too. If Adrian’s willing to go after Jessica, he won’t hesitate to come after you.”“Me?” She pointed at her chest out of shock.She shook her head. “I didn’t step on Adrian’s toes. Why would he come after me?”He opened his mouth to respond.Then stopped.Telling her everything could wait

Ethan had dropped a bombshell at the press conference, announcing five massive projects his conglomerate was about to launch.First up was "MedLink AI"—a partnership between Aurelius Healthcare and Aurelius Biotechnology.They were building a diagnostic platform that mixed AI with genetic profiling to give personalized treatment plans on the spot.The goal was to give hospitals, especially in poorer areas, access to top-tier diagnostic tech, catch diseases before symptoms even showed up, and tailor treatments to each person's DNA.Next was "Carbon Vault," from Aurelius Energy and Aurelius Environmental Services.It was basically a system that could suck carbon dioxide out of the air in cities and factories and then turn it into actual building materials.Third was "EduSphere"—a free online learning platform powered by satellites, accessible literally anywhere on the planet.It was created by Aurelius Technology, Education, and Telecommunications.Fourth, Aurelius Renewable Energy and

Sophia emerged from her bedroom, padding across the hallway in her pajamas.“Dad?” she called out, her voice echoing slightly through the mansion’s quiet corridors. “Dad, where are you?”“Living room,” came Mr. Chen’s voice from downstairs.She quickened her pace, her bare feet making soft sounds against the marble floor as she descended the stairs.When she reached the threshold between the dining room and the living room, her eyes locked onto her father’s figure.He was seated on the leather sofa, his attention fixed on the large television screen in front of him.She hurried toward him. “Dad, did you know Ethan made an interview tonight?"Mr. Chen shifted his gaze to her, his expression unreadable. “Yes. I just finished watching it.”He gestured toward the television with his glass of scotch.The screen displayed a news anchor at her desk, with a bold headline running across the bottom: "ETHAN AURELIUS BREAKS SILENCE: ‘I’M READY FOR WHATEVER COMES NEXT’ – Conglomerate President Add