Vane Verrick chuckled heartily, his cheeks flushed red from drink. He leaned unsteadily against Jaden before turning his bleary eyes toward his wife. With slurred but sincere words, he murmured, “Darling… Jaden’s right. The happiest day of my life wasn’t today. It was the day I married you.” Nora froze for a moment, then her cheeks blossomed pink like a young girl’s. She pressed her lips together, flustered, and smacked her husband lightly on the arm. “We’re already so old! Why are you being so mushy in front of the children?” Her voice carried the tone of complaint, but the way she immediately slipped under his arm to support him betrayed the warmth in her heart. She steadied him patiently, guiding him step by step toward the bedroom. Even as she grumbled, she carefully removed his shoes, helped him onto the bed, and wiped the sweat from his brow. For all her scolding, her actions were tender. With the couple out of sight, the house grew quieter. Only Jaden, Selena, and Mia

“I’ve already thought of a way.” Elias’s voice cut through the heavy silence like a blade. His eyes gleamed with calculation as he leaned closer to his father. “Dad, tomorrow you should speak to Selena directly. Tell her you’re interested in investing in her company. If we can’t wrestle the project away from her, then at least we can tie ourselves to it. This way, no matter how it develops, we’ll still benefit from it.”Xander’s expression brightened instantly, the shadow of doubt lifting from his face. He slapped his palm against the armrest, his tone full of sudden vigor.“That’s a fantastic idea! Elias, you’ve finally given me something solid to work with.” His lips curved in satisfaction, his earlier frustrations forgotten. “Yes, if we can’t stop their rise, then we’ll ride it instead. Either way, the Verrick family will profit.”For the first time that evening, a flicker of pride returned to the old man’s eyes as he looked at his eldest son.Outside, the night stretched on. The c

Xander Verrick leaned back in his chair, his smile practiced and warm, but his eyes calculating.“Of course. You must be under quite a lot of pressure, Selena. Rift Corporation is still young, and I hear you’re carrying debt. We’re family, after all. That’s why your uncles and I thought we’d step in to help. With our investment, not only would we ease your burden, but we’d also share in the profits. Everyone wins.”Selena’s lips curved faintly, but the gesture never reached her eyes. She wasn’t naive. Her company was not struggling—it was thriving. The contracts she had secured were solid, her revenue streams steady, and the Greyfield Shopping Mall project had opened doors to even larger opportunities. Rift Corporation’s growth potential was immense, and the Verrick men knew it.Their so-called investment wasn’t an act of kindness. It was a bid to sink their claws into her company, to reap where they had not sown.Selena’s throat tightened as she searched for a response. Rejecting the

Xander Verrick and his sons had entered the discussion with a clear goal: take control of Rift Corporation. Their plan was simple—by pooling their investment, they would hold more than half of the company’s shares, securing majority control. With that leverage, seizing Rift entirely would be inevitable.But they hadn’t expected Jaden Rift to slice through their scheme with a single line. His counteroffer left no room for debate, stripping them of the advantage they had carefully plotted.Though bitterness coiled in their chests, none of the three men dared to show it. Their eyes flickered with resentment, but their mouths curved into practiced smiles. They could not afford to alienate Jaden or Selena, not when Rift Corporation’s future promised such staggering profits.“Alright,” Xander said, forcing cheer into his tone, “let’s do it your way.”“Yes,” Elias added quickly, his laughter a little too loud, “thirty percent will still be good business.”Aiden nodded as well, his smile stif

In a high-rise building a few hundred meters from the Greyfield Shopping Mall site, Lazarus Ortega stood before a wall of glass. The city lights glimmered beneath him, but his sharp gaze was locked on the smoke and flashing lights at the construction site in the distance.The phone pressed to his ear carried the voice of his hired hand.“I saw it already, Azul,” Lazarus said, his tone smooth and venomous, his lips curling into a cold smile. “You’ve done well. The money’s in your account—one million, as promised. For now, leave Ironvale City. Go underground, keep quiet. I’ll summon you again when you’re needed.”On the other end, Azul’s excitement was barely contained. “Yes, Mr. Ortega! Thank you, Mr. Ortega!”Lazarus ended the call without another word. He slid the phone into his pocket, his reflection in the glass looking back at him like a predator savoring blood. Below, the distant chaos unfolded—sirens screamed as police cars and ambulances tore through the streets toward the wrec