Sweat streamed down Emmanuel’s temples, darkening the collar of his shirt. His voice trembled, almost cracking.“Y-yes… I know I was wrong. I shouldn’t have crossed you, Mr. Rift. Please—give me a chance to make it right. A man of your status shouldn’t even be here. Why don’t we go to the VIP lounge and talk this over like civilized men?”Jaden leaned back on the cold bench, his expression unreadable, eyes as sharp as a blade.“No. I’ll stay right here. Bring me that curly-haired bastard, Carlos.”Emmanuel blinked, caught off guard. His mouth twitched, like he wasn’t sure he’d heard right. A moment later, realization flickered in his eyes. He gave a curt nod.“Yes, sir. I’ll get right to it.”With that, he motioned to the other officers, and they disappeared through the metal door.Out in the lobby, Selena was a bundle of restless energy, pacing like a caged tigress. She had her phone glued to her ear, calling every lawyer she could think of, her free hand shaking slightly. But nothin

Jaden’s tone was ice-cold. “Punish these criminals to the fullest extent. No leniency.”He didn’t raise his voice, but the authority in it left no room for debate. “Carlos has already confessed they were sent by Harrison Hart to stir up trouble. You tell Mr. Hart this—thirty million in compensation, or he’ll face consequences he won’t survive.”His eyes locked on Emmanuel’s, unblinking, the weight of his stare pressing down like a vice.“And as for you… you’re not fit to wear that rank. Go back to basic training. Maybe then you’ll remember what discipline looks like.”Emmanuel felt the blood drain from his face. His knees almost gave way, but he forced himself to stand straight. Every muscle in his body screamed to argue, to defend himself, but he knew better. The man in front of him was not someone you provoked. All he could do was nod stiffly, swallowing his pride along with the bitter taste in his mouth.Jaden and Selena had barely stepped out before the vice-captain’s phone buzzed

A bitter smile tugged at Jaden’s lips, but it didn’t reach his eyes.As he and Selena stepped out of the car, the neighbors peeking through half-drawn curtains.Captain Jonathan Larry of the police was already striding toward them, his steps brisk but measured. His uniform was crisp, cap tilted just right, and that polite smile he wore looked as though it had been rehearsed in front of a mirror.“Mr. Rift, Ms. Verrick,” Jonathan greeted, his voice calm. “You’re home now. If there’s nothing more, we’ll be taking our leave.”Jaden gave a curt grunt—acknowledgment without warmth.Selena, on the other hand, softened the edges of the moment with a grateful tone. “Thank you for escorting us back.”She had been the one to suggest the escort. Since the police had initially taken them away, it was the only way to make sure Mia saw her parents return with dignity, not in shame. A small detail, but an important one.Jonathan inclined his head. “It’s no trouble, miss.”“Papa! Mama!”Mia’s voice r

At that moment, a man in a black leather jacket came jogging toward the four men, breathless.His eyes darted nervously, his jaw tight. He leaned in close to Harrison and muttered, voice low but urgent."Boss… news from the police."Harrison, lounging in his seat with a smug grin, didn’t notice the tightness in the man’s tone.He smirked, "What, Rift and his woman finally smartened up? They ready to hand me my thirty million?"The underling’s gaze dropped to the ground. His Adam’s apple bobbed before he forced the words out."No, Boss… they—" he hesitated, then said it, "They were released. Carlos and the rest… they’ve been arrested.It’s bad, real bad. They’re looking at heavy sentences."Harrison’s smile froze, his face twisting like metal under heat."What?" His voice cracked into a bark. "You’re telling me the guy I had locked up is walking free,and my men are in cuffs? Call Emmanuel! Now! I want to hear him explain this before I lose my goddamn mind!"The underling’s voice grew

Harrison Hart felt the sting of humiliation cut deeper than any blade. He had failed. The job he was supposed to wrap up cleanly had slipped right through his fingers, and now the shame burned in his chest like acid.His jaw clenched, but he forced himself to wear a smile. Turning to Jones Morello and Elias, he straightened his suit jacket as if that could patch over the failure.“Mr. Morello, Mr. Elias,” he said smoothly, hiding the grit in his voice, “we’ll head to Goodrich Hotel for a proper meal first. After that, I’ll take you both to Hell zone's Boxing—my place. You’ll get a front row seat to the kind of fights you don’t see on TV. I want you to enjoy yourselves tonight. As for Jaden Rift…” A dangerous glint passed through his eyes. “I’ll deal with him personally tomorrow.”Hell zone Boxing wasn’t just a boxing ring—it was the underground arena in Ironvale City. And Harrison wasn’t just its owner. He was its king. Every drop of blood spilled, every bone snapped, every cheer fro