MARCO I arrived at the location after three long hours on the road.My body was tired, but my mind was sharper than ever. The place was heavily protected. Armed men stood at every corner, their eyes alert, fingers close to triggers, waiting for a single signal.Elizabeth had poured all her resources into this operation.All of this. Just to get Ryan.I swallowed hard as I stepped out of the car.She’s serious, I thought so. Desperate and dangerous.“I’m sorry, Ryan,” I said under my breath as I walked forward. “I have to do this to save my child. He has to come first.”It hurt to admit it, but it was the truth. I had reached the point where caring about anything else was a luxury I could no longer afford.My son came before anyone.And somehow, I knew Ryan would understand. If the roles were reversed, he would have done the same.I entered the massive safe house, its walls cold and lifeless, built to keep secrets and bury people. I scanned every hallway as I walked, my heart poundi

RYANI sat down slowly, like my body needed the chair more than my mind didThe thought hit me again Shadow Heir and this time it didn’t pass. It stayed, it was Heavy and Unwanted.I never expected this. Not once. The past few months have been madness layered on madness. Since defeating Rachel, my life hasn’t slowed for even a breath.One fight bled into another. One crisis replaced the last, Some of it still lives in me, unhealed, replaying when I close my eyes. The screams, The blood, The choices I had to make too fast.Nexus Lab isn’t the same anymore, It used to be my refuge. My purpose, I miss standing over experiments, losing myself in problem-solving, knowing that what I was building could save lives. Now I barely step inside, there’s no time. Cassian eats every hour. Every decision. Every part of me. And the irony is bitter this empire meant to save people has pulled me away from actually helping them.Then there’s Jasmine, I miss her more than I allow myself to admit.

MARCOI stood where she told me to stand, close enough to hear her voice, far enough to remind me of my place.“You are going to stand here and be with me while I work,” Elizabeth said calmly, “You are close to Ryan, so Marco, I need you. If you behave well, you will see your son.”Her words were clean, Controlled and Carefully chosen. That was what made them dangerous.She sat there sipping her hot coffee, one leg crossed over the other, completely relaxed while my world burned.She talked about my child like he was a favor she could grant or withdraw. It was leverage to her, Like property.The stupid woman was giving me options, pretending this was some kind of negotiation. First, she told me I should help kidnap someone close to Ryan. Now standing beside her like a loyal servant, earning minutes with my own son.I clenched my jaw and said nothing.I wanted to tell. I wanted to jump across the table and grab her by the throat. But rage wouldn’t bring my boy back.Survival would.

RYANI walked into the hospital with my chest tight, my thoughts already racing ahead of my steps. All I could think about was Seraphine. Whether she was safe. Whether she was hurt. Whether I was already too late.She had been through too much already. The hospital attack, the fear, the constant running. And now—another attack. The thought made my jaw tighten. This was never supposed to be her life.The smell of antiseptic hit me as soon as I entered. The hospital was crowded in a way that felt wrong. Too many people. Too much noise. Groans, hurried footsteps, doctors calling out instructions. I slowed down, scanning faces, noticing bandages, bloodstains, wheelchairs being rushed past.So many injured.My chest sank.This has to be from the attack.Anger stirred quietly inside me. Whoever did this didn’t care who got hurt. Innocent people always paid the price.I went straight to the receptionist desk. The nurse looked up, already stressed, fingers moving quickly over her keyboard.“I

RYAN.A week had passed since Elizabeth sent that woman to threaten me in the hospital.Seven days of silence. Too quiet. Too clean. I knew it wouldn’t last.I was with Julian when the call came in.“Sir,” one of the security officers said over the line, his voice tight, controlled. “You need to come down immediately. Elizabeth is here. She’s with public officials. And the media.”For a moment, my mind went blank.Here.At Cassian Medical.I looked at Julian, my chest tightening. “She came here?” I asked, even though I had heard it clearly.Julian didn’t look surprised. If anything, he looked calm—too calm. He straightened his jacket and met my eyes. “Breathe,” he said quietly. “Don’t react. Don’t show shock. This is exactly what we expected.”I clenched my jaw. My pulse was loud in my ears.Julian continued, his voice steady. “Looks like the plan is working.”We moved together, security falling in around us as we headed downstairs. Every step felt heavy, like the building itself was