The private ward at Mercy General Hospital was a monument to wealth and privilege—spacious enough to accommodate six beds comfortably, but currently housing only two patients.Everything was top-of-the-line: state-of-the-art medical equipment, plush furniture for visitors, large windows offering views of the city skyline, and a dedicated nursing station just outside the door.Despite all this luxury, the atmosphere inside was thick with tension and barely suppressed panic.Gabriel Portman—Gabi to those who knew him—lay in one hospital bed, his legs elevated and wrapped in bandages that did little to hide their unnatural angles.His face was pale, drawn with pain despite the heavy medication coursing through his system.In the adjacent bed lay his son, Nigel, in similar condition.His legs too were destroyed, the bones shattered by Darius's calculated violence.His eyes stared at the ceiling, glazed and distant, as if his mind had retreated somewhere his body's pain couldn't follow.Vi

The sedative had barely begun to take effect when Nigel's eyes snapped open again, wide and wild with desperate fury.His hand shot out with surprising speed, grabbing Dr. Wells's white coat and dragging her closer to his bed with strength that shouldn't have been possible given his injuries and medication."Wait—Mr. Portman—" Dr. Wells tried to pull back, but Nigel's grip was iron."FIX IT!" Nigel's voice was raw, guttural, barely human. His bloodshot eyes bored into hers with an intensity that made her actually flinch. "I don't care HOW! I don't care WHAT it takes! Fix my legs!""Mr. Portman, I've already explained—" Dr. Wells started."I DON'T CARE about your explanations!" Nigel's grip tightened, bunching the fabric of her coat in his fists. "Robotic legs! Mechanical ones! Experimental procedures! ANYTHING! There has to be SOMETHING!""Sir, those technologies are experimental at best—" Dr. Wells tried to keep her voice professional despite the fear creeping into it."I have MONEY!

Alessia looked at the trembling girl more carefully now, recognition slowly dawning. She had noticed her during Business Administration 101—hard not to, really.While other students had chatted with neighbors or checked their phones before class started, this girl had sat perfectly still, her eyes darting around the lecture hall like a cornered animal.When the professor had assigned open seating, most students had gravitated toward friends or chosen spots near windows or exits.But this girl—Emma, she'd said her name was Emma Parker—had deliberately chosen the seat directly next to Alessia, despite there being plenty of other options.At the time, Alessia had thought it was just random chance. Or maybe Emma had sensed that Alessia was also new and nervous.They'd exchanged brief smiles, nothing more. Emma had kept her head down throughout the lecture, taking meticulous notes, never raising her hand, never drawing attention to herself.Then, as class ended and students began filing ou

Marcus checked his phone and saw the notification—twenty thousand dollars deposited into his offshore account. He smiled. "That's very generous, Mr. Romano. Thank you.""You've earned it," Josh replied. "But I need more. I need to know everything about Alessia Jackson. Where she lives, who her family is, what her connection is to this Aria woman, how much money she has, where she came from—everything. Can you do that?""Of course," Marcus said confidently. "That's my specialty. Background checks, financial records, social connections—I can compile a complete profile within forty-eight hours.""Do it," Josh commanded. "And Webb? Be discreet. This Aria woman seems like she'd spot normal surveillance. Use your best people. Use technology. But don't let them know they're being watched.""Understood, sir. You'll have everything you need."The call ended. Marcus pocketed his phone, made one more casual sweep of the area, then walked toward the parking lot with the unhurried pace of someone

Raymond gestured to a chair. "Sit, Josh. Mr. Wesley and I were just discussing some business arrangements that might benefit both our families."Josh sat, but something about his posture caught Raymond's attention—a slight tension in his shoulders, a distraction in his eyes that suggested his mind was elsewhere."Is something troubling you?" Raymond asked directly. He didn't believe in dancing around issues with his children.Josh hesitated, glancing at Edward Wesley, wondering if this was an appropriate topic for such distinguished company."Speak freely," Raymond commanded. "Mr. Wesley understands that family matters sometimes require attention.""It's nothing serious, Father," Josh said carefully. "Just... there's a new girl at the university. She caught my interest."Raymond's eyebrows rose slightly. "A girl? That's what has you distracted?""She's... different," Josh explained, unsure how to articulate what made Alessia stand out from the dozens of girls who threw themselves at h