Mrs. Thompson, Solomon, and the rest of the onlookers stared at Jaden as if he had just said something completely absurd. Calling Derek Hancock and asking him to arrive within ten minutes sounded like a ridiculous joke to them. Everyone in Ironvale knew who Derek Hancock was, the chairman of the city’s top real estate empire, a man whose influence stretched across both business and government. Even powerful figures spoke to him with caution, yet Jaden had just spoken as if he were calling a subordinate. It made no sense.Mrs. Thompson was the first to react. She let out a sharp, mocking laugh and folded her arms. “This guy has lost his mind. Do you even know who Mr. Hancock is? You think you can summon him like a servant?” Her eyes were filled with pure contempt.Dale followed with a cold chuckle, clearly unimpressed. “Young man, stop pretending. Don’t even think about using Mr. Hancock’s name to scare me. That kind of trick won’t work here.” His tone turned harsher as he spoke, makin

Mrs. Thompson was furious, but deep down she knew she had no ground to stand on. What Derek Hancock had just done was harsh, even humiliating, but this was not a man she could afford to challenge. In Ironvale, Derek Hancock wasn’t just another businessman, he was the undisputed king of real estate, someone who could decide who stayed and who left with a single word.Her husband might have money and some influence, but compared to Derek, he was nothing. If Derek truly wanted to, he could crush her husband’s entire business overnight without breaking a sweat.Mrs. Thompson understood that clearly.If she refused to accept this outcome, things would only get worse for her.Much worse.Her arrogance from earlier disappeared completely, replaced by fear and resentment. She didn’t dare argue. Didn’t dare protest. Instead, she clenched her fists tightly, her nails digging into her palms as she forced herself to endure the humiliation.Before leaving, she shot Jaden a vicious look, her eyes f

Today, Selena decided to meet Nolan Thompson in person to renegotiate the price for TN Tower. This time, she wasn’t going to rely on phone calls or intermediaries. If there was any chance of securing the building, it had to be done face to face. Jaden had nothing pressing to handle that morning, so he went along with her. To him, it was just another meeting. To Selena, it was a critical move for Rift Group’s future. — Inside Nolan Thompson’s office, his voice could be heard through the half-closed door as he spoke on the phone. “Alright, alright, calm down,” he said impatiently. “We’re not short on properties. If Derek Hancock wants that house back, let him have it. It’s not worth the trouble.” On the other end, Mrs. Thompson’s voice was filled with anger and grievance. “You didn’t see how they humiliated us last night. That couple, Jaden Rift and Selena Verrick, I won’t let this go. I want them to regret it.” Nolan’s eyes narrowed slightly as he leaned back in his chair. “Coi

Nolan noticed the shift in Jaden’s demeanor immediately.The relaxed smile was still there, but something underneath had changed. The air in the room felt heavier, colder.A trace of unease crept into Nolan’s expression, though he quickly tried to cover it with arrogance. “What are you trying to do?” he snapped, his tone rising. “Do you even know who I am in Ironvale? Even the mayor, Russell Crow, knows me personally. If you dare touch me, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life.”Jaden paused mid-step.He turned his head slightly. “The mayor?”Seeing that reaction, Nolan felt a surge of confidence return. He straightened in his chair, convinced he had finally hit a nerve. “That’s right. So think carefully before you do anything stupid.”But instead of backing down, Jaden calmly took out his phone.He tapped the screen as if Nolan hadn’t said a word.Nolan frowned, confused. “Didn’t you hear what I just said?”Jaden didn’t answer.A second later, the call connected.—On the screen

Meanwhile, far from Ironvale, deep within the quiet and isolated region of Ravensmoor, a private hospital stood hidden from the public eye. It wasn’t a place ordinary people could access. Tight security. Restricted floors. Silent corridors. And inside one of its most heavily guarded rooms, a man lay motionless on a hospital bed. Machines surrounded him. The steady beeping of the heart monitor was the only sound breaking the silence. His entire body was wrapped in thick bandages, layer upon layer, leaving only parts of his face exposed. Burn scars ran across his skin, even visible through the gaps. He looked like a man who had barely escaped death. This man was Micheal Thornfell. Two years ago, after the complete downfall of the Thornfell family and his father’s crushing defeat at the hands of Jaden Rift in the arena, Micheal had made one final, desperate move. He triggered an explosion. The blast, combined with the scorching sea water he fell into, should have killed him ins