Victor Chen threw his head back and laughed—a harsh, grating sound that made Vanessa's skin crawl. "Terminate the deal? You? Oh, that's rich!" He slapped his knee dramatically. "You're in absolutely no position to terminate anything, sweetheart. I have you exactly where I want you."He stood and walked around her desk again, his movements predatory and deliberate. "See, you think you're calling the shots here, but you're not. You need this deal more than we do. My father might want it, sure, but if it falls through? We'll survive. Your company, on the other hand..." He made a dismissive gesture. "Well, let's just say I've done my research."Vanessa's hands clenched into fists beneath her desk, her nails digging into her palms. Every fiber of her being wanted to tell this entitled monster to go straight to hell. She wanted to pull out her phone, call Marcus, and give the order for her eight-man tactical team to breach Victor's mansion right now.Storm the place. Neutralize his guards.

"I request a private audience with you, sir," Alexander said, his voice cutting through the congratulatory noise surrounding them.Viktor Konstantin studied him for a long moment, his sharp eyes seeming to peer beneath Alexander's skin. Then he nodded. "Granted. Follow me."The founder led Alexander through a side door and down a corridor that few at Fit Titans had ever seen. They entered a spacious private training room, its walls lined with ancient weapons and martial arts scrolls that spoke of decades of dedication to the craft. Viktor closed the door behind them, sealing them in silence."I must say," Viktor began, turning to face Alexander with genuine enthusiasm, "I'm quite pleased to have someone of your caliber as my disciple. The recent students who've come through here... they've shown little promise. Technique without substance. Power without understanding. But you—" He gestured toward Alexander appreciatively. "You possess something rare. Something I haven't seen in years.

Alexander turned from Katarina's vacant stare, his jaw set with grim determination. "I trust you, Vanessa. Completely. For now, I'll leave Katarina's treatment in your hands while I handle what I need to do."Vanessa nodded, her expression resolute despite the exhaustion lining her features. "Focus on yourself. Get your memories back. Get your power back. I'll take care of her.""Thank you," Alexander said quietly, then headed toward his designated room in the penthouse.He locked the door behind him and stood in the center of the space, breathing deeply to center himself. This was it. The moment he'd been working toward since the day he'd woken up three years ago with no memory of who he was or what he'd been.Alexander sat cross-legged on the floor, closing his eyes and beginning the Meridian Restoration Technique exactly as Viktor had taught him. He visualized his severed energy pathways—the channels through which his life force should flow freely but had been cut clean through by

Across the continent, in a gleaming penthouse suite that overlooked the sprawling metropolis of New York City, a man sat behind an obsidian desk, reviewing financial projections for Gallant Inc's latest expansion. His name was known to the business world as Adrian Cross—CEO of one of the most powerful corporations on the planet.But that wasn't his real name. That wasn't who he truly was.He was about to reach for his glass of whiskey when it hit him.The wave of returning memories slammed into Adrian's consciousness like a freight train, so powerful it drove him out of his chair and to his knees. His hands clutched at his head as fragments that had been missing for three years suddenly snapped back into place with brutal force."No," he gasped, his eyes wide with shock and recognition. "No, no, NO!"Unlike most people affected by Alexander's incomplete Memory Severance Ritual three years ago, Adrian had retained a significant amount of his memories. His own ring—one of the five mysti

Victor Chen stood in the grand ballroom of the Celestial Hotel, surveying his domain with the satisfaction of a king looking over his conquered territory. Crystal chandeliers sparkled overhead, illuminating the cream of society as they mingled beneath his carefully orchestrated celebration.This was his night. His triumph. His moment of glory."Mr. Chen," his father approached with a broad smile, clapping him on the shoulder. "You've outdone yourself. This contract with Global Inc has elevated our family beyond anything I could have imagined. We're practically on par with the five top families now!""Practically?" Victor scoffed, taking a sip of champagne. "Give it six months, father. We'll surpass them entirely."His father chuckled indulgently. "Such confidence. I like it."Victor's smile faltered slightly as his mind wandered to Katarina. He'd been forced to hand her back to Vanessa Sterling without ever getting what he truly wanted. The thought still burned in his gut like acid. H