The Amsterdam skyline glittered through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Elise Van der Meer’s penthouse, a cold constellation of steel and glass that mirrored her transformation. Three years ago, Elise had been a dreamer, bound to Lukas Brandt by love and shared struggles. Now, at thirty-two, she was a tech mogul, her name synonymous with innovation and wealth, her empire valued in the billions. The penthouse, perched above the city’s historic canals, showed how far she had come. Tonight, it served as the stage for the end of her marriage.Lukas Brandt stood in the center of the living room, his broad shoulders tense, his hands clenched at his sides. At thirty-five, he carried the rugged charm of a man who had worked his way through life’s trenches. His dark hair was a bit messy, his jaw firm, but his hazel eyes showed he was confused and hurt. He had been summoned here, not by Elise, but by her assistant, Margot, whose heels made clicking sounds on the shiny wooden floor as she walked

Felix, still holding his nose, stared angrily but didn’t say anything. His boldness had faded. Lukas bent down and picked up the broken watch. The glass was cracked, and the hands were stopped, but he put it back in his pocket, silently promising to remember it.Before Lukas could fully catch his breath, the sound of hurried footsteps approached. Two burly security guards appeared, gripping his arms tightly and pulling him out of the alley and into the grand lobby of Van der Meer Enterprises. Clara’s voice followed them, shrill and commanding.Inside the cavernous hall, her words echoed as she gestured wildly at Lukas. “Arrest him!” she screeched. “He assaulted my son! He’s a danger!”Lukas stood between two big security guards, their hands gripping his arms so tight it could leave bruises. He stayed silent with his jaw clenched, while Clara’s harsh words tried to make him look like a villain. Nearby, Felix leaned against a tall pillar, holding a bloodied handkerchief to his nose. Hi

“It’s in the rhythm,” Lukas said, releasing her wrist. “I’ve studied plants and their effects on the body for years. Pulses tell stories: stress, toxins, imbalances. Your father’s pulse will tell me more.” He turned to Pieter, his hands moving with practiced precision, checking the older man’s vitals. The room watched, the skepticism shifting to curiosity.“He’s been poisoned with something synthetic, likely a neurotoxin,” Lukas said after a moment. “It’s not in your tests because it’s rare, derived from a hybrid plant—maybe a lab-altered strain. I’ve seen it before, in small doses. I can counter it, but I’ll need specific roots. Viktor promised them.”The doctor frowned, glancing at Amelie. “This is unorthodox. We can’t just—”“Let him try,” Amelie interrupted, her voice softer now, her eyes locked on Lukas. “If he’s right about me, he might be right about Papa.”Lukas stood at the bedside, his hands steady as he assessed the ailing executive. Pieter, pale and gaunt lay motionless, h

It crawled toward the vial, attracted by the tulip powder, and fell inside. Its movements slowed as the antidote worked to stop its poison.Amelie held back a cry, covering her mouth with her hands. Voss’s jaw dropped, his doubt disappearing as the beetle moved in the vial. The monitors changed, the red warnings turned green. Pieter’s heart rate steadied, and his oxygen level went up. Lukas closed the vial carefully, his hands steady even though he was full of adrenaline. He glanced at Pieter, whose eyes fluttered open, weak but alive. “Papa?” Amelie whispered, rushing to his side, tears streaming down her face as she grasped his hand.Sofia exhaled, her shoulders relaxing for the first time since entering the ward. “You did it,” she said, her voice a mix of relief and admiration. She turned to Voss, her glare cutting. “You almost cost us everything.”Voss stammered, his authority shattered. “I… I followed protocol. This… this is unprecedented.”“Unprecedented?” Lukas said, his voice

“Lukas, I need you as my personal escort at the Laurent Group’s tech summit in Amsterdam tonight,” Sofia said, her voice low and her dark eyes locking onto his. “After that ambush, I’m not taking chances. You keep me safe, and those medicinal roots you want? They’re yours, delivered tomorrow.”Lukas leaned against the boat’s railing, his broad shoulders tense, his eyes scanning the dark waters for any sign of another threat. Sofia’s offer was a lifeline: rare roots that could rebuild his work but playing bodyguard in a den of tech moguls felt like stepping into a trap. “You’re sure about this?” he asked, his voice steady but wary. “Kroon’s men could try again.”Sofia’s lips curved into a determined smile. “Exactly why I need you. You handled those thugs like they were nothing. I trust you, Lukas.” She leaned closer, her tone softening. “The roots are just the start. The Laurents reward those who stand with us.”Lukas clenched his jaw, he needed those roots, not just for Pieter but for