Chapter 169The tension in the Donato residence wrapped around the room like a tightening rope.Their mansion, usually cold but elegant, suddenly felt smaller—shrunken by Mrs. Donato’s anger and Mr. Donato’s growing frustration.Mr. Donato rose from the velvet armchair, loosening his tie as he exhaled slowly.“Luciana… do you hear yourself?” he asked quietly, using her name the way he only did when he was truly upset. “You insult Mrs. Vega in her own home, you embarrass yourself, and now you come here calling me a coward because I’m telling you the truth?”Mrs. Donato threw her purse on the sofa, the diamonds on her bracelet clinking sharply against the leather.“The truth?” she scoffed. “Your so-called ‘truth’ is just fear wrapped in fancy words. You fear the Morrelo family. Everyone does. But I—” she stabbed her finger against her own chest, “—am not afraid of them.”“You should be,” Mr. Donato answered, voice firm. “Alexander Morrelo is not just another wealthy heir, Luciana. He ho

Chapter 171Jeffery arrived at the Ministry headquarters just before noon, pushing through the large glass doors with the arrogance of a man who believed the world owed him obedience.The guards recognized him but exchanged uneasy glances—nobody ever looked relaxed when Jeffery Morrelo walked into a building uninvited.He didn’t wait to be announced. He brushed past the reception desk, climbed the stairs with long, impatient strides, and headed straight for the Minister’s private office.The Minister’s secretary looked up sharply.“Sir, you can’t just—”Jeffery pushed the door open.The Minister was inside, standing by the window with his reading glasses in one hand and a stack of documents in the other. He turned slowly at the sound of the intrusion, irritation already building in his eyes.Before he could speak, Jeffery closed the door behind him and said with a smirk,“We need to talk.”The Minister let out a long breath, the kind reserved for problems he wished would disappear on

Chapter 173The minister’s private line rang just past midnight, the quiet hour when the country slept and only men with heavy secrets stayed awake. Alexander sat in his office at Morrelo Headquarters, sleeves rolled up, a glass of untouched whiskey resting beside untouched files. He didn’t look exhausted, even though he hadn’t slept in twenty-two hours. He looked focused—like a man tightening the last thread of a trap he’d been weaving for years.He picked up on the first ring.“Minister.”“Alexander,” the minister exhaled, the relief in his voice unmistakable. “I’m calling to thank you. My… files. You retrieved them. Every single one.”Alexander leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. “I told you I would.”The minister released a shaky laugh. “I underestimated you. Again. I didn’t think anyone could get into Jeffery’s office, much less his own bedroom safe.”“That’s why I sent my boys.”The minister swallowed. “And the woman… your aunt—Jeffery’s sister. She cooperated?”

Chapter 175Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Alexander’s stare—calm, deadly, the kind of look that didn’t shout threats but promised them in silence. He tossed, turned, woke up drenched in sweat more than once.By morning, he looked like a shadow of himself.Still, pride kept his spine straight as he walked into his office. He greeted no one. He didn’t even remove his coat before locking the door behind him.He needed a plan.He had to strike before Alexander made his next move.Jeffery paced the room in sharp, rapid steps. “I need leverage. I need something big. Something that puts me back on top.”His phone vibrated.He snatched it immediately.It was his right-hand man, Gregor.Jeffery picked up. “Tell me you found something.”Gregor’s breathing was uneven. “Boss… something is wrong.”Jeffery froze. “What do you mean wrong?”“There’s no footage,” Gregor said shakily. “Every camera in your house and office—completely wiped. Erased. Not corrupted. Not hacked. ERASED.”Jeffery st

Chapter 177The video played in Alexander’s private server room—an underground chamber only three people had access to: Alexander, Matias, and Luca.The footage from Jeffery’s office projected onto the main screen.Alexander stood completely still, hands behind his back, eyes fixed on the screen as Roman picked up the photo of Leonardo and smirked.Matias muttered a curse. “They truly have no fear.”Luca stepped closer, lowering the volume. “Boss… this is the final proof. Jeffery and Roman working together. And whatever is in that metal box… it concerns your uncle, your father friends.”Alexander said nothing.But his jaw clenched so tightly that the muscles in his cheek twitched.Leonardo Morrelo was the one person Alexander respected unconditionally. The man who mentored him, who guided him, who protected him when he has nobody abroad in a strange country. The only person he trusted with his life.And Jeffery had targeted him.Matias exhaled quietly. “Boss… we need to tell Leonardo.