At Sky Citadel, Clara stood frozen, watching Ethan's public transformation on the massive displays. She had seen him gentle, tender even, in the quiet moments of their early marriage. She had seen him broken, bent under the weight of her family's cruelty. But this, this was a man reborn through vengeance, forged in the fires of humiliation until only the hardest parts remained. And the terrifying part? She couldn't look away. More than that, she didn't want to. Anya materialized from the shadows, her tablet glowing with incoming data streams. "Commander, the financial purge is complete. The Thompsons' core shares dropped ninety-three percent in the first hour. Trading has been suspended on their stock. Leo Harrison's personal assets have been liquidated and redirected to the relief funds as you ordered. The Marvick accounts are undergoing audit by federal authorities." Ethan didn't respond immediately. He was looking at Clara again, studying her with an intensity that made her skin

The morning news broke like a thunderstorm. Screens across the city flashed the same headline: “LEO HARRISON ARRESTED—EMBEZZLEMENT, FRAUD, AND CORPORATE ESPIONAGE EXPOSED.” The once-celebrated name that had stood beside luxury brands and whispered deals was now flashing red on every news banner. Every channel, every paper, every feed—it was Leo’s face. Bruised. Defeated. Publicly displayed as the face of downfall. Inside the glass walls of the Sky Citadel, Ethan stood with his back to the city, his reflection sharp against the sunlight. Clara stood beside him, clutching a cup of untouched coffee. She didn’t know how to feel—pity, relief, or vengeance. “He’s trending globally,” Anya said, standing by the holographic display. “His company stock has plummeted ninety-eight percent. Every sponsor has pulled out. Even his family name has been blacklisted. The Harrison Group will collapse by noon.” Ethan’s expression didn’t shift. “Good. His humiliation should be complete before sunse

“Commander, line three.” Anya’s voice cut through the room like a blade. Ethan didn’t look up; he was reading something on the black tablet in front of him. “Who is it?” “Margaret Thompson.” That made him pause. Then, slowly, he smiled. “Put her through.” The holographic line blinked once before Margaret’s face appeared—pale, furious, and desperate. “Ethan Reed,” she hissed. “What do you think you’re doing? Sending that invitation? You think we’ll come crawling to your little display?” Ethan’s voice was calm, almost bored. “It’s not an invitation, Mrs. Thompson. It’s a command.” “You ruined us!” she shouted. “You humiliated our family, took our company, destroyed everything my husband built—” “I destroyed what your greed built,” Ethan cut in. “You sold your daughter for a debt. You should be grateful I didn’t sell you in return.” Clara, standing quietly near the table, flinched at the venom in his tone. Margaret’s voice trembled. “You think this changes who you a

“Everything’s ready, Commander.”Varis’s voice came through the earpiece as Ethan stood before the mirror.He adjusted his tie with steady hands. “And the guests?”“All accounted for,” Varis replied. “Every name on your list has arrived. Even the Thompsons.”Ethan’s lips curved faintly. “Of course they did. Pride always outweighs survival.”Behind him, Clara entered, wearing the silver gown he’d chosen for her. The shattered-glass crown gleamed against her hair.“You look… different,” Ethan said.“Like a warning?” she asked.“Like a promise.”Their eyes met — brief, charged. Then she looked away. “The media’s everywhere. You planned this down to the last headline.”He nodded once. “After tonight, there won’t be any doubt who holds power in this city.”Clara crossed her arms. “And what then? You win, they lose — does that fix you?”Ethan’s reflection flickered in the mirror as he turned toward her. “It doesn’t fix me. It ends them.”---Downstairs, guests whispered under the glow of cr

Rain still fell like shards of glass over the city.From the rooftop of the Richmond Hotel, the skyline gleamed — a maze of power Ethan once believed he owned.Now he wasn’t sure who owned who.He stood beneath the storm, his coat whipping in the wind, as his mother’s words replayed in his head: “The Veyne Consortium… they’re coming for you next.”Clara’s voice echoed through his comm. “Ethan, we need to move. Security reports multiple drones circling your tower. Someone’s watching you.”He didn’t answer.His gaze stayed fixed on Evelyn Archer, the ghost who’d come back to life.“You could’ve told me,” he said finally, voice steady but low.“You could’ve stopped everything before it began.”Evelyn met his eyes, the rain soaking her hair. “Would you have listened?”He gave a short, bitter laugh. “You don’t know the man I became.”“Oh, I do,” she said softly. “You became exactly what they wanted — ruthless, brilliant, untouchable. But that’s not strength, Ethan. That’s a cage.”Her word