"Sit down and be cool. Do not display any sign of weakness." The voice commanded as it noticed the abrupt change in Liam's posture.Liam stuttered, his throat dry. The voice was quiet, even amused, but underlying that was an undercurrent of command that knotted his stomach. All his instincts screamed at him to run, but what could he do? He had no idea who was manipulating him, to what purpose, or what would be the result if he did not comply.He gingerly lowered himself into the massive chair behind the desk. His hands clenched on the armrests, his body rigid as he struggled to keep his nerves in check."Good boy," the voice purred, almost teasing. "Now, don't fidget. Let them come to you. In order to uphold the image of a cold and ruthless CEO, you have to always keep them waiting and know when to approach you."The door shut behind the two men as they entered with a suppressed confidence, their polished shoes making no sound on the plush carpet as they moved towards us.One of them,

As the night rolled off the sun started to prick from the edges.The Tianhu estate was eerily quiet, a stark contrast to the usual bustle of staff and visitors. The atmosphere inside the grand halls carried an air of tension, a silence thick with unspoken worries. In the dimly lit room where Lucas Tian lay, his face was pale, his breathing steady but weak. Machines beeped rhythmically beside him, a cruel reminder of his fragile condition.Miss Charlie, his personal secretary, sat beside the bed, her fingers curled tightly around Lucas's unresponsive hand. She had been with him since he was a child, guiding him through the complexities of business, standing by his side as a pillar of support. Now, the young man she had sworn to protect lay in a coma, and she was helpless to do anything about it.The door creaked open, and Mr. Nolan stepped inside, his usually firm expression softening at the sight of Miss Charlie. "Still here?" he asked gently.Miss Charlie didn’t look up. "Where else

A dull throb of pain flowed through Liam's body as he slowly came to consciousness. His muscles were heavy and sore, bracing against the struggle of the previous evening. A low moan escaped his lips as he struggled to open his eyes, squinting against the new and unfamiliar brightness of soft, golden light.His vision cleared, and what he saw took his breath. The room around him was not like his cramped, battered apartment. It was too clean, too luxurious, too foreign.There was a great chandelier above, its crystal drops casting reflections of the light. The bed he lay on was extravagantly soft, stacked with jasmine-scented silk sheets. There was a broad window along the back of the room, draped with thick, embroidered curtains. The walls were decorated with ornate floral designs, lined with gold edging. All of it was a scream of luxury—a place he didn't belong.Liam sat up fast, before wincing in pain as his body protested. He looked down, seeing his woun

"No. I can't." Liam's voice was firm, unyielding. His arms remained stiff at his sides, his expression blank despite the tension in his jaw. He did not wish to play whatever game these people had constructed. He had played his part already—helping a stranger to the hospital. That was where his involvement stopped. Madam Maeve, with an unshaken air of authority, stood before him in no way surprised. Nor did she seem to be disappointed. Instead, she simply regarded him with the same quiet, knowing look, as if she had been waiting for him to have reacted as he had. "Then, at least, spend the night here," she said in her soft but compelling tone. Liam's eyes tightened. "No need. Just get someone to drive me home. You know where I live, don't you?" There was a flicker of amusement that went across Madam Maeve's eyes, but she did not answer. She nodded once and turned to one of the maids standing at the doorway. "Tell the driver to prepare the car.". The maid curtsied and darted

The streets echoed with the sharp screech of tires as the two black cars skidded to a stop at an empty intersection. The lead driver slammed his hands against the steering wheel, frustration tightening his grip.“She’s gone,” he hissed.His partner cursed under his breath, already dialing a number. The moment the line connected, a voice—cold and furious—bit into his ear.“Where is she?”The driver swallowed hard. “Sir, we lost her.”A heavy silence followed. Then—“Find her. Or don’t bother coming back.”The call cut off, and the two men exchanged uneasy glances before flooring the gas, taking off in opposite directions.In the grand study of the Kai estate, Oliver Kai sat rigid behind his ornate desk, his jaw set in a hard line as he placed his phone down with deliberate force.The room was lined with towering bookshelves and rich mahogany furnishings, yet despite its elegance, the air inside felt thick with tension.Sitting lazily across from him, Pierce Kai, his eldest son, looked