Adrian stopped flipping the vial. He looked at her with an empty gaze."You know, you have a lot of guts, Myria," Adrian said, his voice smooth and conversational. "I killed your mentor. I destroyed his entire business, burned his labs to ash, and buried his name in the dirt.""I thought that would be a lesson for the apprentice. I thought it would teach you that some families are not meant to be touched."He leaned forward, his face inches from hers. "If your boss, a man with ten times your talent and a hundred times your power, couldn't defeat me, what makes you think you can?""You think you are strong?" Myria spat, a glob of blood hitting the floor. "You think you are indestructible? You are just a man! I will bring you down! I will find the crack in your armor and I will destroy everything you love!"Adrian let out a short, dry laugh. It was a cold sound, devoid of any real humor. "Fighting you isn't worth it, Myria. You are a mere ant in my eyes. I could crush you beneath my hee

Adrian paused, his back to the hut. He calmly adjusted his cufflinks. "Leave her," he said in a cold voice. "There is no need to waste a bullet. Let her stay tied to that chair. Let her bleed to death in the sanctuary she used to poison my sister.""Please! No!" Myria’s voice rose into a shrill, panicked shriek from inside. "I told you everything! You promised! Don't leave me like this! Adrian, mercy! Have mercy!"Adrian didn't even flinch. He stepped into his car and slammed the door, the sound cutting off her pleas.As the car tore down the winding forest road, Adrian pulled his phone from the dashboard and called Julia."Julia," Adrian said. "Execute Protocol Zero on the Rossi family. I want them bankrupt. Not by tomorrow, but by the time I reach their front gates. Ruin them to the ground. Freeze every bank account, seize every property, and revoke every business license they hold." "That family will pay for their sins. They will regret the day they touched my family. They will le

Adrian’s eyes narrowed. "What are you talking about?""You left your wife and your sister vulnerable," Mr. Rossi hissed, his voice dripping with venom. "You were so blinded by your rage, so eager to chase me down and play the hero, that you left your home unguarded. While you were driving here, I made a call. I didn't send one man. I sent three of the best assassins in the underworld to wipe them out."Adrian's fist curled in anger.Mrs. Rossi gasped, but Mr. Rossi didn't stop. He leaned forward, mocking the man who had just bankrupted him."By the time you get back, your precious Sophia and your little genius sister will be nothing but memories," Rossi laughed. "You want to crush me? I will make sure to destroy you! I’ll lose my house, but you’ll lose everything you hold so dear."Sophia sat in the driver's seat, and the atmosphere was finally peaceful.Sophia gripped the steering wheel, a small smile playing on her lips. She looked at Clara in the passenger seat. The girl looked tir

Sophia froze. The fire-whip in her hand flickered and died, the orange glow receding slightly. Her heart stopped for a heartbeat as she looked at Clara. The girl was trembling violently, her eyes welling with tears."Sophia, please..." Clara whispered, her voice barely audible over the crackling of the nearby fires."Let her go," Sophia said, her voice a low, dangerous warning. "You don't want to do this.""I'm the one with the knife!" the man roared, backing away toward the trees, dragging Clara with him. "Stay back! One more step and she bleeds!"Sophia knew she couldn't throw a fireball. The risk of hitting Clara was too high. She needed to strike from a direction he would never expect.She took a deep breath, focusing every ounce of the stone's power into her core. She didn't look at the assassin's face; she looked at his feet.Slowly, deliberately, Sophia dropped to one knee. She placed her bare palm flat against the cracked asphalt of the road."What are you doing? Get up!" the

The police rounded them up. Mrs. Rossi thrashed and cursed, and the three girls sobbed and begged for mercy, but the officers were stronger. They were tossed into the back of the armored vans and driven away, leaving the Rossi name to be remembered only in the ashes of history.Adrian got into his car and drove home, the rage finally leaving his body. When he pulled into his own driveway, the gates were locked tight, guarded by dozens of his private security team.As he stepped into the foyer, a small streak of white silk flew at him."Brother!" Clara cried, throwing her arms around his waist.Adrian knelt and hugged her tight, burying his face in her hair. "I'm here, Clara. Are you okay? Did they hurt you?""I'm okay," she said, pulling back with a brave smile. "I'm just glad you're home. I'm glad we're all safe."Sophia walked down the stairs, looking a bit tired. "I'm glad you're both fine," Adrian said, standing up and placing a hand on Sophia’s shoulder. "Don't worry. The Rossi