The plane touched down smoothly on the runway of Pueblo International Airport in the late afternoon. The wheels let out a soft screech before gradually slowing, accompanied by a light vibration that marked the end of the long journey.From the window, Tyson watched the silhouette of a city he had not set foot in for a long time, familiar, yet strangely distant.As they entered the arrival area, security was already in place. Several uniformed officers stood neatly arranged, keeping a deliberate distance so as not to draw unnecessary attention.Among them, a man with an upright posture stepped forward.“Tyson. Welcome back.”Commissioner General Rodriguez did not bother with formalities. As soon as they were close enough, he pulled Tyson into a brief but firm embrace and gave his shoulder two solid pats, a gesture typical of a senior greeting a junior he had known for years.“You’re still standing tall,” he said with a broad smile. “That’s good to see.”Tyson returned it with a faint s

For the next three days, Tyson stayed at the Thorne family residence.His days were busy and methodical. Between resting and sharing meals with the Thornes, Tyson went out several times to survey potential locations for Ravenhart. He was accompanied by Scarlett’s trusted assistant, a man who understood the business direction that had been agreed upon long before the accident. They visited several buildings. In the end, Tyson found what he was looking for. A building that was quiet yet strategic. It didn’t draw excessive attention, but it had room to grow.Without hesitation, he finalized the purchase.That wasn’t all. Tyson also bought a house. It wasn’t large, nor was it too close to the Thorne residence.With that house now his, there was no longer any valid reason for him to remain under the Thorne family’s roof.Moving day arrived sooner than expected.Mr. Thorne couldn’t accompany him due to work obligations he couldn’t leave behind. Mrs. Thorne stayed home to care for Scarlett

Kaylee let out a small snort, her lips curving into a thin, mocking smile.“Relax,” she said lightly, though her words were sharp. “I’m not so bored with my life that I’d want to steal your seat.”Her tone sounded casual, but her eyes didn’t smile. She folded her arms across her chest, meeting Martin’s gaze without the slightest hint of fear.Their relationship hadn’t always been like this.Once, Martin had been the older brother who always stood in front of her. The first to defend Kaylee when their father was angry. The one who covered her ears when family meetings grew loud and harsh. The one who spoiled her with small gifts and trivial promises, just to see her smile.Somewhere along the way, all of that had changed.For the past two years, every look Martin gave her felt calculated. Every question carried suspicion. As if Kaylee, his own sister, had suddenly become a variable that needed to be watched.At first, Kaylee thought it was exhaustion. Martin barely ever rested. Meeting

Martin froze for a split second, then his anger exploded.“What did you just say?” His voice cracked, his body moving before his mind could catch up.He lunged forward and grabbed Tyson by the collar, yanking him roughly. The fabric went taut between his fingers.“So you’re saying you didn’t come here to take it?” Martin accused sharply, his breath coming fast. “Do you think I’m an idiot?”Since childhood, Martin had been raised with one absolute truth: the De Leon family belonged to him. The company, the name, the power, everything was handed to him not merely as a right, but as an obligation.He was taught to memorize it, protect it, expand it, even sacrifice himself for it. His identity was forged from it.De Leon was not just a family. De Leon was everything.That was why he could never accept Tyson’s existence.Back then, Tyson was a useless shadow—a child who didn’t matter, didn’t contribute, didn’t deserve consideration. And even now, in Martin’s eyes, Tyson was still the same:

The night swallowed Tyson whole. Glass after glass was emptied in front of him, the bitter liquid going down without pause, as if he were trying to drown out something loud and restless inside his head.The music thumped violently, the laughter of strangers overlapped, the bar lights flickered harshly, but all of it felt distant, as though separated by a thick pane of glass.He drank again. And again. Until the line between consciousness and oblivion began to blur.Even the system’s voice in his head, usually sharp and cold, now sounded strange. Broken, fragmented, like an echo coming from the wrong place, or perhaps nothing more than an illusion.[…warning… mental condition…]Tyson leaned against the bar counter, his breathing heavy. His vision swam. In the midst of that chaos, he sensed someone approaching. A presence that stopped beside him.A faint scent, warm and familiar.With great effort, Tyson lifted his head. The silhouette before him was blurred, but a name slipped from his