Alexander stood in the ruins of Dr. Cromwell's office, staring at the empty space where Katarina's bed had been. He'd checked every room, interviewed every remaining staff member, searched through every piece of security footage that hadn't been destroyed.Nothing.No trace of where Adrian had taken her. No witnesses willing to talk. No leads to follow."Sir," one of his security team said quietly. "We've exhausted all avenues here. The police are taking over the investigation, but...""But they're treating it as terrorism," Alexander finished bitterly. "Which means they're looking in all the wrong places."He walked back to Katarina's recovery room, standing over Dr. Cromwell's body one final time. The old man had died protecting her. Had died loyal to Alexander, refusing to betray him even in the face of Adrian's fury.And for what? Katarina was gone anyway."There's no way he spared her," Alexander whispered to himself, the words tasting like ash. "Adrian doesn't spare anyone. He's

Victor Chen and Ethan Zhang sat in a dingy café that neither of them would have been caught dead in six months ago. The irony wasn't lost on either of them—two men who'd once refused to eat anywhere that didn't have Michelin stars, now nursing watered-down coffee because it was all they could afford."This is humiliating," Ethan muttered, staring into his cup like it had personally offended him. "How did we end up here?""Alexander Howard," Victor spat the name like poison. "That's how. He destroyed us both. Took everything."The silence that followed was heavy with shared misery. Even Lila had abandoned Ethan two weeks ago, her parting words still ringing in his ears: "I can't be seen with you anymore. You're nobody now. You understand that, right? Nobody."She'd moved on immediately, focusing on salvaging her own business reputation, distancing herself from the men who'd fallen from grace. The woman who'd claimed to care about him had vanished the moment his bank account hit zero."

Alexander couldn't take it anymore. Every second standing there, watching Katarina hold Adrian's hand, looking at his brother like he was the center of her universe—it made him physically sick. The rage burning in his chest threatened to consume him entirely.He started pushing through the crowd, his movements sharp and aggressive. Guests stumbled out of his way, sensing the dangerous energy radiating from him."Excuse me—""Watch it!""Who does he think he is?!"Alexander didn't care. He shoved past socialites and businessmen, his eyes locked on Adrian's smiling face. On Katarina standing beside him, radiant and oblivious, her hand still resting on Adrian's arm like it belonged there.When he reached the front of the crowd, Alexander didn't hesitate. He grabbed the edge of the podium and hauled himself up with raw, furious strength, landing on the stage with a heavy thud that made several nearby guests gasp in shock.Security moved to intercept him, but Adrian raised his hand, stoppi

Vanessa Sterling stood at the edge of the crowd, her hand pressed against her chest as if she could somehow contain the pain radiating from watching Alexander's complete destruction. Her heart broke for him—this powerful man, this God of War, reduced to a desperate stranger begging a woman who couldn't even remember his face.The crowd's laughter swelled like a tidal wave of cruelty, each voice adding to the symphony of mockery."Did you hear him? Talking about safflower fields like he's old friends with Adrian Cross's wife!""As if those two could ever cross paths in this life!""The delusion is real!""Poor bastard probably saw her picture in a magazine and convinced himself they had some grand romance!"A woman in pearls dabbed at her eyes from laughing so hard. "This is better than any reality show! He actually thought she'd remember him! The audacity!""Someone should check if he needs psychiatric help," another guest added with vicious amusement. "Clearly suffering from some kin

Ms. Chen stood outside Rick's bar, watching Vanessa help the stumbling, broken form of Alexander Howard into a waiting car. Her hands clenched into fists as rage and frustration boiled over inside her.This was bullshit. Complete and utter bullshit.Vanessa Sterling had played her. Had dangled the promise of Alexander Howard's help like a carrot, gotten Ms. Chen to help orchestrate James Morrison's downfall, and now was conveniently stalling when it came time to deliver on her end of the bargain.Eat your cake and have it too, Ms. Chen thought bitterly. That's what Sterling is doing. Getting exactly what she wanted while depriving me of what I was promised.She pulled out her phone and typed furiously, her fingers stabbing at the screen with barely contained violence.The message to Vanessa Sterling was short and brutal:You have 12 hours to deliver Alexander Howard, sober and functional, to discuss my sister's case. If you fail, I will contact the federal investigators currently hand