Back in the Quarry As they emerged into the grey dawn, silence passed between father and son for a long time. Then Dorian broke it. “You made the right choice.” Luca nodded. “But we’ve made an enemy down there.” “He was already your enemy the moment you touched that flame,” Dorian replied. “But now he knows you’re not his pawn.” Luca clenched his jaw. “Let him come, and whenever he decides to fight me one on one, I’ll be ready.” Dorian smiled and said; “You will be, come on let's go shower and get some rest.” But deep in the ruin below, the forbidden flame danced with rage. ***** And far away, in the Ashford stronghold, Marcellus, Dorian’s brother, stood alone in his chamber, he began to recall the past, how his older brother and him went to fight wars and he always surpassed him in everything. That made him jealous, what even added more jealousy was that the heiress Elsa fell for Dorian not him. So when the issue arose that he gave birth to a child out of wedlo

‘Why don't I pay them a visit before we strike?’ Victor thought and told his driver. “Take me to Stewart's mansion!” he ordered. “Yes sir…” The car drove off into the night. Victor wanted to go boast about just before the attack but he drove towards his detriment. The rain lashed the windows of the Stewart estate, thunder rumbling like distant war drums. Alfred Stewart stood alone in his study, the fire casting long shadows against the walls. A storm outside mirrored the one brewing within. He’d read the security report three times. The name burned like acid in his veins. Victor Raithe. The man he once considered a brother. The man who now wanted his wife dead and his legacy reduced to ash. Behind him, the door creaked open. “Alfred,” Jason said, stepping in. “He’s here.” Alfred’s spine stiffened. “Good.” “Are you sure about this?” Jason asked, voice tight with concern. “We could bring the authorities in.” Alfred turned, eyes colder than the storm. “This isn’t for th

Eunice’s voice sharpened. “This isn’t just about business. They tried to erase me. My son watched his mother disappear for two years. My husband lived in grief. And now they sit there pretending they’re innocent?” The jury leaned forward. “But I’m here,” she said, “and I remember more than they wanted me to.” Then came the voice that turned everything from just a testimony to something better. “I’d like to testify, Your Honor,” came Jason’s voice. All eyes turned eagerly to the young man. “Name?” the judge asked. “Jason Elias Stewart. Son of Alfred and Eunice Stewart. Age twenty-five.” Victor narrowed his eyes. The prosecutor stepped back. “Permission to recall Jason Stewart as a key witness.” “Granted,” the judge said. “Mr. Stewart, please take the stand.” Jason walked like a storm clothed in a suit. His jaw was tight, but his eyes burned with truth. He looked directly at Victor. “Tell us what you know, Mr. Stewart.” Jason didn’t hesitate. “Two weeks before the crash,

Luna Gray stood at the head of a long, glass table in the Gray Corporation boardroom, her gaze like steel, unflinching and cold. Her tailored black suit hugged her tall frame, and her hair, jet black and bound in a tight ribbon. Her face is well known across the industry for being as immovable as stone. Her eyes scanned the room, taking in the board members seated around her, men and women old enough to have worked alongside her father, Alfred Gray, the very man whose name now felt like a stain on the empire he once built. She slammed a file onto the table harshly making everyone flinch. "This is the third quarter report. We’ve cut losses by 17%. The offshore leak has been sealed. All subsidiaries are now back under centralized control. But let’s not pretend this is enough… we’re still dealing with legacy debts, my father left behind a mess, and I’m the one cleaning it." There was an uneasy silence. One of the older members, Edgar Hume, cleared his throat. "Miss Gray, no one

Later that night, inside her private study overlooking the skyline, Luna unlocked her father’s encrypted files, the ones she’d kept hidden even from her allies. As the codes cleared, a flood of documents, secret transactions, and names connected to a deeper web of deception appeared. A name caught her attention. Victor Raithe. Not just a name, he was a ghost. A man believed to be prisoned and termed dead. A man once allied with Edgar Hume. “What the hell were you into, Dad?” she whispered. Ayla entered quietly. “A drone caught footage. Edgar didn’t go home. He met someone in an underground parking lot. Guess who?” Luna turned. “Victor Raithe?” Ayla nodded. “He’s not dead and not in prison anymore, he is out.” Luna stood, her pulse steady but sharp. “Then neither is the truth.” She stepped toward the balcony, the night wind tugging at her coat. “This war… it didn’t start with me. But I’ll be damned if I don’t finish it, I will do this for our family dad, I promise you.”