The high level conference room was dimly lit, its light shifting to the holographic projection spun above the conference table.The president as well as few senior officials sat around the large sized table, backs straight, expression solemn as their eyes wandered the projection displayed. Every movement, every breath in the room could be heard as everyone's face weighed concentration.Lucas Oliver entered the room and the atmosphere changed. They were all waiting for him. Everyone including the president stood up releasing thunderous claps into the air. His prison attire didn't stop them from showing how grateful and fulfilled they were. The president took him by hand and led him to the centre of the room."Lucas Oliver, a man of honour" Mr President patted his back lightly.Lucas remained calm, poised, and didn't fidget. His aura filled the room ."Distinguished officials, today we gather to celebrate a remarkable achievement, a testament to leadership, dedication, an unwavering s

The moment Camila stepped into the hall, the security guards straightened instinctively.“Boss” one of them began, voice carrying a mixture of respect and awe.“Hold it!” Camila cut in sharply, waving a hand. Her tone was calm, controlled, and final, leaving no room for argument. The guards froze midstep, their greeting hanging awkwardly in the air.Lucas remained behind her, hands tucked in his pockets, observing silently. His eyes flicked briefly to Charlie and Stella, reading the sudden shift in their posture.Camila’s gaze settled on Lucas, and she moved with deliberate precision, positioning herself between him and the Bryants. “Touching what doesn’t belong to you is dangerous,” she said softly, but there was steel in her voice. Every word carried authority.Stella’s heart skipped a beat. She had expected a low profile encounter with Lucas, not an arrival like this. Her eyes widened as she took in the entourage of bodyguards, each one radiating silent menace.“Who… who is she?” S

The grand hall of Solaria Imperial Tower glowed like a palace dipped in gold.Crystal chandeliers shimmered overhead, reflecting off polished marble floors. Classical music floated through the air, played live by an orchestra positioned beneath an archway carved with cherubs. Uniformed waiters glided silently through the room with trays of champagne carved with gold foil labels. The scent of white lilies and old money hung thick in the atmosphere.Tonight wasn’t just a charity banquet. It was a battlefield of power.Foreign ambassadors mingled with top CEOs, famous entrepreneurs and high-ranking military officials whose medals flashed like stars. It was a room filled with people others bowed to yet unknown to them.Bella and Malcolm arrived early, their demeanor poised but visibly stiff. Malcolm adjusted his cufflinks for the fifth time, forcing a confident smile.“This is an opportunity,” he muttered like a prayer. “Once we lock the partnership with Global Commerce Federation (GCF),

Finally, a sliver of opportunity appeared. Lucas had stepped aside for a brief moment, speaking to an aide and distracted. Bella’s chest tightened, and she marched forward, words rehearsed a dozen times in her mind. “Lucas…” she began, her tone dangerously soft, laced with venom.He glanced up, eyes calm, unreadable.“You moved on… this fast?” she spat, her voice breaking slightly. “Is this why you rushed the divorce? Was it just to toss me aside for her?”Lucas’s gaze remained steady, his posture immaculate. His lips curved slightly, not in amusement but in controlled precision. Then he spoke, each word slicing through her like ice:“Some people only value gold when they lose it.”Bella froze. Her lips parted, her throat dry. The words weren’t loud, but they carried a weight that crushed every excuse she had left in her mind. She opened her mouth, trying to reply, but no words came.“Gold?” she finally whispered, incredulous. “You... how”Before she could finish, Malcolm appeared at

A hush fell over the banquet hall as the tall, broad-shouldered man in a dark government uniform entered. His medals gleamed under the chandeliers, and his entourage moved like a protective wave around him. Immediately, conversations died, music lowered, and employees straightened in instinctive respect.Bella recognized the insignia on his jacket.*A high-ranking Federal Security official.*What was someone like him doing here?The man scanned the hall once, twice, then walked straight past business leaders, CEOs, military contractors and stopped in front of Lucas.Every eye turned.Then, in full view of the elite guests, the official bowed his head in a respectful salute.Gasps echoed.Bella’s body jolted. Malcolm’s mouth fell open like a broken hinge.“Sir,” the official said, voice deep and solemn, “I apologize for arriving late. There were traffic restrictions due to the summit. General Lucas Oliver, your men are stationed outside. They await your command.”General… Lucas Oliver?