Damon had just reached the ballroom doors when the first gunshot echoed through the hotel corridor behind him, quickly followed by several more.He turned around slowly, his expression calm as he watched five men approaching him, all holding weapons pointed in his direction."Well, well, look who decided to bring backup after getting their asses kicked," Damon said, his voice steady despite the guns aimed at him.The leader of the group, a tall man with a scar running down his left cheek, stepped forward with a confident smile."You thought you were so tough fighting just three of us, but now you're going to learn what happens when you mess with Lucas Sterling's people," the scarred man said."We've been waiting in the parking garage this whole time, ready to come up if our boys couldn't handle you quietly, but you had to make things difficult."Another man to his right chuckled and added, "Boss said you think you're some kind of fighter, but let's see how tough you are when you're st

"Do you think I should go inside with you? What if your father doesn't want me there? This is my first time coming here, and your parents don't even know I'm your girlfriend. What if they dislike me?" Serena asked Michael, feeling scared as different questions rushed through her mind."I don't know if you want to go in or not—I don't care. I don't care if they like you or not, Serena. I just want to get out of this mess. And didn't you say it yourself that we're in this together? So you shouldn't be asking me these questions because they're making me angry."Michael stepped out of the car and slammed the door shut roughly before walking inside without waiting for Serena. Her mouth fell open."Did he just leave me alone in the car as if I don't exist and slam the door in my face?" Serena mumbled, then chuckled before opening her door and stepping out."This isn't all my fault! No matter what you do, Michael, you can't place all the blame on me as if I'm the only one who planned everyth

Damon cursed under his breath as he rushed back down the hallway. He had wasted precious minutes searching the suites upstairs, and every second counted now. Lucas was too smart to hide in the hotel where his father could discover him. Edward Sterling's presence at the event meant Lucas had to be careful about family reputation, which meant he would take Celia somewhere completely away from the hotel."Think," Damon muttered, his mind racing through possibilities. "Where would that bastard go?"Lucas had planned this carefully. The drugged cocktail, the fake story about taking Celia home, and even timing it during the chaos outside. This wasn't a spontaneous decision. Lucas had to have a location ready.Damon sprinted toward the main lobby, pushing past confused guests who were still huddled together after the shooting incident. He needed to get outside and search the parking areas first, then expand from there.Back in the ballroom, Vivienne approached the head security officer with

Edward Sterling walked into the central police station with the weight of a decision that would change everything. His steps were firm, but his face showed the toll of what he was about to do.Detective Morrison looked up from his desk, clearly surprised to see one of the city's most powerful men walking into the station at this hour."Mr. Sterling?" Detective Morrison stood up in haste, lowering his gaze respectfully. "It’s an honor to see you here. Is there something I can help you with?""Yes. I need to file a formal complaint against my son Lucas for kidnapping and orchestrating an attack at the Grand Meridian Hotel tonight."The detective's mouth fell open. In his twenty years on the force, he had never seen a patriarch of a major family come in to turn against his own heir."Sir, are you certain about this? Once we file these charges, there's no taking them back."Edward placed a folder on the detective's desk. "I'm certain. This contains security footage from the hotel, witness

Lucas stared at his phone on the floor, his mind racing. His father would never betray him like that. Not after all these years of protection. Not when it would destroy the Sterling family's reputation."My father wouldn't do that," Lucas said to himself, shaking his head. "He's always treated me like gold. He's protected me from everything. Why would he change now?"Lucas picked up his phone and checked it for damage. The screen was cracked but still working."Even if the police come for me, it’ll only be because of tonight—the kidnapping, the shooting at the hotel. Father would never tell them about my other business. Never. And he’ll get me out of what happened tonight too, just like he always does."Lucas felt his breathing return to normal. His father was probably already calling lawyers. Even if he threatened to disown him afterward, Lucas knew his father would still pull him out of this mess. Deep down, he doubted his father would ever truly cut him off. The Sterling family ha