Only a select few had the privilege of hearing the whispers that the Earl of Wessex himself would be visiting a private luxury shop that day. Robert Adams was one of the few who knew, thanks to the special connections he had built.The Earl’s visits to public places were exceedingly rare, and whenever he did appear, it was often for reasons known only to him. He moved discreetly, never announcing his movements, yet his presence always carried weight. For Robert, this was the opportunity he had been waiting for—an encounter that could elevate his standing and finally earn him the kind of recognition he believed he deserved.When the Earl’s sleek black convoy pulled up in front of the shop, only a handful of attendants inside were aware of who was about to step through those doors. His guards moved into position as the Earl, clad in a perfectly tailored coat, walked calmly inside. He wasted no time with pleasantries. Instead, he moved quietly from rack to rack, examining rare piec

Matilda remained quiet, so Cynthia leaned forward, her voice gentle but insistent. “Matilda, you mentioned something earlier. You said you stayed with a beautiful family. Who were they?”Matilda opened her mouth as though to speak but her lips parted slowly. “The family… it was a man and a woman. They were kind, so different from anyone I had ever known…” Her voice was shaky, carrying the weight of memories she had tried for too long to bury.Just as she was about to finish, her chest tightened and a violent cough tore through her frail body. She clutched her chest, gasping as tears sprang to her eyes. Alarmed, Cynthia immediately reached for her while Antonio pressed the call button frantically.The door swung open and a nurse rushed in, her expression brisk and professional. “Please, both of you, step outside for now. She needs to rest. This is too much strain for her.”Cynthia tried to argue, but the nurse raised her hand firmly. “I mean it. If she doesn’t rest, her conditio

Antonio’s fingers curled into a fist on the desk. His eyes hardened, but the corner of his mouth lifted in a cold smile. “Elias… let me ask you something.”“Yes, boss?”“Are you afraid?”There was a pause on the line, a silence that spoke louder than words. Then Elias gave a nervous chuckle, the kind of laugh that masked his fear. “Boss… it’s not about fear. It’s about survival. From what you just told me earlier, nobody faces them and lives. If we push too far, we’ll be putting not only ourselves but our people at risk. That’s why I’m saying—leave them. Don’t go near them. Since someone related to us has once been in their custody, it’s better to step back. Our job should be to make sure none of our people ever fall into their hands. That’s how we win. Not by charging into the lion’s den.”The words settled like acid in Antonio’s chest. He slammed his hand against the desk, the sound echoing through the quiet room. His voice rose, sharp and furious.“When did you become so chick

Inside the van, Matilda lay slumped in the corner, her body weak, and her breaths shallow. Her wrists were bound with rough cord, and every bump in the road sent pain shooting through her fragile frame. The men who had kidnapped her spoke in harsh whispers, especially when they recognized Matilda as the same girl they had once abducted.“Why are we even bothering taking her back to the den?” one of them muttered in irritation.“Look at her. She’s half-dead already. What use is she to us like this?”Another man sitting in the back, his face hidden beneath a black cap, leaned forward. “He’s right. We’ve taken her kidney. She’s sick too—we all know she’s got that incurable disease. Who’s going to pay good money for a body like this? Even her organs won’t fetch a price.”A third man who was older than the rest, with a scar running from his ear down his cheek, narrowed his eyes. “Then what do you suggest? We can’t just toss her on the roadside. That would attract attention.”The man in

Antonio’s men assembled at the rendezvous point—the spot he had chosen for them to meet.Engines roared to life as black SUVs lined up in the dim morning light, each one loaded with men who carried not just weapons but a fierce resolve. Antonio stood at the front, his commanding presence towering over the group with his voice steady yet burning with fire.“This isn’t just another mission,” he said, his eyes sweeping across the faces of his soldiers. “They’ve taken Matilda, and that means they’ve declared war. Today, Ravenport will learn what it means to touch what belongs to me. No hesitation. No mercy.”The men nodded with hardened expressions, adrenaline already coursing through their veins. Once Antonio gave the signal, the convoy roared forward, tires gripping the cracked asphalt as they sped toward Ravenport.The journey was brutal. The roads were narrow, twisting, littered with potholes, and the weather seemed determined to slow them down. A heavy wind howled across the lan