Isla turned her eyes away. No matter how desperately she wanted Lucas, she knew the word of the Queen of Sarsland could not be disobeyed. The Queen’s command was final. Lucas was in love with someone else, and that truth shattered her.“Ugh!” she exhaled her pain as she attempted to rise from the bed.President Jonathan quickly moved forward, wanting to support her so she could sit properly, but Isla refused. Her refusal wasn’t stubbornness for no reason. She had another plan, and certainly, sitting down properly was not part of it. She had already made up her mind.Though Queen Roseline had given her final say, Isla knew there were still ways to bend the rules. She could do as she wanted, but she could not speak as freely as she wanted. Words could betray her. Actions, however, gave her power.She reminded herself that if Velmoria had also been ruled by the Queen of Sarsland, then going against her wishes would have been a crime against the law. It would have been considered treason.

Micah looked back frantically as he walked through the crowded market square. His steps were hurried, uneven, as though the ground itself wanted to betray him. Every sound—the shuffle of feet, the call of a vendor, the clatter of a basket—felt amplified in his ears.In Longslavia, the market square was always alive with noise and movement. To the locals, it was just another day of trading fish, cloth, and spices. But for Micah, this place was more than a marketplace. It was the first point of entry after crossing the river, proof that he had successfully set foot into foreign land. Yet, as he blended into the flow of people, his chest rose and fell in restless rhythm. He kept turning back, making sure no shadow lingered too close and no eye followed him too long.He was an heir of the Santiago family, at least by blood. That alone carried a weight he could not shake. Though sent to the finest school in his town, he had never been the kind of student who paid attention. His head was fi

The plan in motion would be something very rewarding. And if this was true, what was a cellphone he had gotten for a mere 123 USD compared to what lay ahead?He pushed the toilet door slowly and stepped out of it. Just like that, he pushed the restroom door outwards and walked into the café again.Micah was still where he had left him, seated casually as though nothing in the world could shake him. Yet, time had passed. He had spent above ten minutes in the restroom, long enough for Micah to have processed his payment and withdrawn it in cash.“Hey bro, would 10,000 USD be enough for me to lay low for a while?” Micah asked suddenly, almost like a child asking for permission. His voice lacked confidence, showing he was far from an expert at disappearing.Israel smiled faintly. Ordinarily, people in hiding would withdraw nothing more than 500 dollars, enough to keep them quiet for a few nights in dingy motels while dodging the eyes of the law. But Micah? He was different. He wasn’t just

Lucas nodded gently. Even if Adrian had not declared that he accepted the offer, he would have done the same.The heir of the Santiago, who had the confidence to want to take his life, must be dealt with swiftly and decisively. There could be no hesitation when the family’s honor and survival were on the line.Immediately, Donald bowed. The order had been given, and there was no room for doubt. Hearing what the Virelis said, he walked out of the room with purpose, knowing fully well what to do. Every step carried weight, for this was not just another task. It was an assignment that could change the tide of power.Standing in the grand hall outside of the president’s office, he inhaled deeply before dialing the same number that had called him earlier. The vast marble pillars and echoing silence seemed to remind him of the gravity of his next words. Finally, he spoke into the receiver.“We will accept the offer. Tell the driver to give him up, and he will be credited,” Donald said firml

The car door clicked open, and Israel stepped down from the vehicle with his hands raised high over his head. His cheeks stretched into a wide smirk, almost taunting, as if he had just outsmarted everyone in the game. An officer quickly moved him to the side, shielding him with a firm grip as though an invisible threat was waiting to strike from the shadows.Micah watched this unfold from inside the car. His eyes burned with fury. He slammed his fists against the dashboard again and again, pounding it like it was an opponent in the ring and he was desperate to land the final blow. The sound of his knuckles against the dashboard echoed in the small space, his rage impossible to contain.His chest rose and fell violently, his breaths shallow and uneven.“Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!” he roared, his voice sharp and raw, veins bulging across his temple as if they were about to tear open.He couldn’t believe he had trusted the cab driver. That one mistake had undone everything. He should have noticed