Mama Ruth didn’t flinch when Ethan asked the question, but her eyes went far away, like she was looking at a door she had locked a long time ago.“You think I chose this life because I was weak?” she asked quietly. “Because I was unlucky?”Ethan’s throat worked as he swallowed. “I think it doesn’t make sense,” he said. “Magnus Xavier’s wife living here, hiding medicine in a wardrobe, raising children who aren’t hers the depending on the Goodwill of others to survive is something I don't quite understand.”Mama Ruth folded her hands in front of her apron. “Magnus did not become a monster overnight,” she said. “He became one decision at a time.”Ethan stared at her. “My grandfather was respected across the continent.”“He was feared,” she corrected. “And fear can look like respect when you’re rich.”Ethan’s jaw tightened. “What changed him?”Mama Ruth turned her head slightly, like she was listening for footsteps even though the hall was quiet. “He started acting strange long before he

Mama Ruth’s face had changed. A moment ago she was calm, speaking about war and power, but now her eyes were sharp and alert. Rosa stood in front of her, shaking like a leaf. The tension in the hallway pressed against everyone, and Ethan felt a cold weight settle on his chest. Whatever this trouble was, it had reached their doorstep.Mama Ruth guided Rosa into a small sitting room near the corridor. The room was quiet except for Rosa’s crying. Ethan stood near the window, his arms were folded, watching her. “Tell us what happened,” Mama Ruth said, her tone was firm. Rosa wiped her tears and tried to breathe. “Start from the beginning.”“I went to my uncle’s place,” Rosa said, her voice uneven. “He was promoted again. Three ranks in one month. Everyone came to celebrate. I helped with decorations and cooking. He told me he wanted me and my best friend to leave the orphanage and live with him because life would be better now.”Ethan exchanged a look with Mama Ruth. “And you believed h

The shift was immediate.The soldiers stopped laughing. Their eyes changed, no longer on Rosa or the hallway upstairs, but locked on Ethan like hunters spotting rare prey. The room felt smaller, tighter, as if the walls themselves were closing in.Finn’s smile widened, slow and satisfied. “Do you boys realize how lucky we are?” he asked, turning to his men. “The man who crippled the Westmar Port operation is standing right here. No tracking. No chase.”One soldier straightened. “You mean the Titan Crest mess?”Finn nodded. “That one. Darius Herold put a price on his head after that.” He glanced back at Ethan. “Alive.”Ethan didn’t move, but his breathing slowed. “So this was never about the girl,” he said. “You just needed an excuse to walk into a place like this.”Finn laughed softly. “We didn't plan to get you here but as fate will have it, here we are, with a precious soon to be prisoner of Darius Herold. However that Rosa girl was convenient. You?” His eyes gleamed. “You’re valuab

The first time Titan Crest Logistics celebrated in a year, it felt wrong.The headquarters was loud in a way it hadn’t been since the Westmar port authorities started acting inappropriately. People laughed too hard, clapped too fast, and hugged like they were proving something to themselves. Two weeks in a row, the shipments had moved through Westmar Port without being held hostage. No “processing fees.” No sudden paperwork problems. No whispered threats from inspectors.A young dispatcher raised his cup and shouted, “To clean routes and clean profits!”Someone answered, “To finally breathing again!”Another voice cut in, half-joking, half-serious. “Don’t say it too loud. The port might hear you.”A woman near the logistics board snorted. “The port is the one breathing in prison air now. Didn’t you hear? Federal audit. The port executives were arrested.”“Yeah,” the dispatcher said, eyes bright. “They said it was extortion. The whole network got exposed.”A senior clerk leaned in wi

Ethan’s voice stayed low. “Janet, I need to speak with your father immediately.”Nadia let out a sharp laugh. “Listen to that. He says it like he has a right to say it.” She looked Ethan up and down again. “How did you even get in here? Did you sneak in behind someone important?”Ethan’s jaw tightened. “This isn’t about your party.”“Oh, it’s about the party,” Nadia snapped. “Because you’re ruining it.” She leaned closer, her tone dripping. “You look like you lost your job, your shower, and your dignity in the same day.”Janet flinched at the words, but she didn’t stop them. She kept her voice cool, like she was speaking to a stranger who refused to understand social rules. “You can’t just walk in here like this,” she said. “People are watching.”“I don’t care who’s watching,” Ethan replied. “I care that your father is in danger.”Nadia rolled her eyes. “Danger? We’re celebrating because the danger is over.” She waved a hand at the hall. “Look around. Titan Crest finally breathed. And