Antonio’s body tensed with readiness. The necklace around his neck pulsed with a faint light, and he felt power surge through his veins like liquid fire. Every muscle in his body tightened and time seemed to slow.The first man leapt at him, his claws slashing through the air. Antonio stepped aside with lightning speed and delivered a crushing elbow to his spine. Bones cracked, and the man collapsed, howling in agony.Two more came from the sides, snarling as their claws aimed for his throat. Antonio ducked low, sweeping his leg out in a wide arc. Both men were thrown off balance and crashed into each other with sickening force. Before they could rise, Antonio pounced at them with his fists striking like hammers. With each blow, the ground seemed to quake, until both men lay unconscious.The leader, enraged, lunged at Antonio with terrifying speed. His claws grazed Antonio’s shoulder, ripping fabric and drawing blood. But Antonio barely flinched. With a roar of his own, he c

Antonio turned sharply at the sound of the voice.The voice was sharp and commanding, but it trembled slightly, as if desperate to stay in control.Antonio’s eyes landed on a woman a few steps away, her chin lifted high in arrogance.Beside her stood a tall, broad man with slicked-back hair that shone under the shop’s lights.His square face was betrayed by restless eyes that darted about, always looking for an escape.He wore a tight blazer stretched across his chest, but his posture showed insecurity—a borrowed confidence meant only to impress the woman.When Antonio looked at him, the man’s lips curled into a sneer, as though mocking Antonio’s very existence.The woman’s eyes, however, glistened with disdain. She folded her arms and tilted her head, her glossy wig swinging as she let out a bitter laugh.“Stop gawking at me like some lost puppy!” she snapped, her voice dripping with contempt.“You’re not here to admire me. Drop the necklace. That’s what I came here for, and you’re

The shop erupted with shocked murmurs.The man’s face drained of color, his eyes flicking nervously between Antonio and the woman at his side.Was Antonio just stirring trouble—or was he telling the truth?He tried to dismiss it, branding Antonio a blackmailer, but the accusation caught in his throat.What if Antonio really was telling the truth?The woman tried to speak, but her voice cracked. “He’s lying—”“Am I?” Antonio interrupted sharply. He reached into his jacket and pulled out his phone. The moment she started the charade, Antonio had sent her details to one of his men who was fast and efficient.In minutes, he dug up everything about her, even the things he already knew from their college years.He tapped the screen, and within moments, photographs and records appeared, projected for the lady's boyfriend to see.“Proof,” he said simply. “Proof of everything I’ve said.”The crowd surged forward to glimpse the evidence. Their gasps filled the room as records of conversation

Later that evening, Elaine walked briskly toward the address Harry had given her. She pulled her coat tighter around her shoulders, asking herself why she had agreed to meet him again. Harry had already landed her in one storm before; yet here she was, hoping this meeting would finally bring her some relief.She stopped before the glass-fronted building which showed: Argent Trust & Loans. The name alone made her uneasy. She took one last deep breath and entered.Inside, the lobby was eerily quiet. Harry was waiting for her there.His suit was pressed and his smile as polished as ever.He gestured for her to sit as he spread a stack of documents across the table.“There it is,” Harry said smoothly, tapping the papers. “Everything we discussed is here. You just need to sign, and you’ll have the funds by tomorrow morning.”Elaine sat, glancing over the top pages. At first, she skimmed, but then her eyes froze on the columns of figures. The interest rate was astronomical. And then

Antonio returned to Gelrith with his mind fixed on Matilda.For months she had lingered in her bed, motionless as though time itself had forgotten her. Now Antonio carried in his satchel the two herbs that should never have found themselves in the same man’s hands. One was the Frostheart Bloom and the other was Dengh, an unassuming root from the eastern valley which was overlooked by most but revered among ancient healers. Together, they were his final hope.Inside the hospital lobby, Antonio was greeted with formality. The clerk behind the desk produced a parchment and slid it across.“You are aware, sir, that administering untested mixtures to a patient places the hospital at great risk. We will require you to sign this agreement—should anything happen to the young woman, Matilda, the responsibility lies solely with you.”Antonio’s jaw tightened. He had been prepared for skepticism, so of course, he didn't hesitate.Without another thought, he took the quill and signed his name