The blade at Elias’s throat didn’t shake, as the woman behind him held the dagger tight enough. “My name is Vanessa,” she said quietly, every word edged with fury. “Vanessa Alphonsus.” Elias didn’t flinch. “You humiliated my family,” she continued, tightening her grip just slightly. “You dragged the Alphonsus name through the dirt in front of the entire city. Do you have any idea what you did?” Her eyes burned as she spoke, “You didn’t just touch one man,” she went on. “You touched our reputation. You made people stop fearing us.” Her voice dipped lower. “That’s unforgivable.” Elias finally spoke, “So what are you going to do about it. Will you just kill me now?” That seemed to strike a nerve. Meanwhile, the man on the floor, her Grandfather coughed weakly, struggling to breathe. Though Vanessa’s gaze didn’t leave him yet, but Elias could feel her attention flicker. “You think I care about the man you killed? Killian Alphonsus is just my Grandfather’s little brother that go

When Elias finally looked properly at the man who had been enjoying the scene a little too much, he recognized him immediately. It was Caleb Royce. His college mate. For a brief moment, the noise around them faded as college memories flashed back in an instant. Back in college, Caleb was everything Elias was not. He was brilliant, popular, loud and always well dressed. Elias, on the other hand, was opposite. He was quiet and not as popular. They had been in the same department in their final year. Caleb had told anyone who would listen that he was graduating top of the class, months before the results were even announced. Most people believed him because he was loud, confident and always reminding others of his achievements. But when the results came out, Elias’s name was at the top. Caleb never got over that. But what really damaged him wasn’t losing the top spot, It was prom night. There had been a girl Caleb had been chasing all year. Everyone assumed she’d arrive with him and

A few days after, at the Alphonsus’s headquarters, it was business as usual. The hum of the industrial ventilation system and the distant, rhythmic ring of telephones provided a deceptive mask of normalcy to the skyscraper. Vanessa walked into the boardroom with her usual composure, her expression a marble mask that gave nothing away. She knew the eyes on her were different today—sharper, more predatory—but she didn't let her stride falter as she took her place at the head of the table. At the center sat Gerard Vale, one of the oldest pillars of the Alphonsus empire. Gerard had been her father’s most trusted supporter for decades, a man who had helped build the foundation of their power. Despite his history with her bloodline, he had never truly accepted Vanessa. To him, she was an intellectual anomaly, a woman who led with a scalpel when he believed the Alphonsus legacy required a sledgehammer. And now, he has decided to fully come at her after he has gotten a few supporters

The tension in the boardroom hadn’t even settled before the doors opened again, with uniformed city officers storming in, their attention fixed on Gerard Vale. For a brief moment, Gerard didn’t react. He just smiled, like this was just another interruption he could brush aside with a single phone call. But then, the lead officer stepped forward and spoke. “Gerard Vale,” he said clearly. “You are being charged with bribery, illegal asset transfers, falsifying shareholder documents, and money laundering through multiple shell companies.” His smile faltered. The officer glanced down at the file in his hands and continued reading listing dates, amounts, and company names Gerard had insisted didn’t exist. As the officer finished reading, all faces in the room drained of color, especially those who had directly conspired alongside him. Someone whispered, “This can’t be real…” Gerard tried to protest, insisting it was a setup and an abuse of power, but no one listened. Instead, they d

From where Elias stood, it became obvious to him that this was no longer something he could watch because the man wasn’t just aiming to overpower Vanessa, he was forcing her backward toward a corner where she'd be stuck, with the aim of finishing her off. Elias’s eyes widened the moment he saw what the man was planning. He saw the sudden shift in the his stance, and a subtle twist of the wrist. Immediately, he read his intent, and he realized his plan was to strike Vanessa in a place where she'd be unable to move again. As if on cue, he angled his blade toward a vital point on Vanessa’s body, where no protective gear could reach.. Meanwhile, Vanessa was still sparring. By the time she realized the movement, it was too late enough to react. Suddenly, Elias moved swiftly from where he was standing at the edge of the hall, in the span of seconds, he crossed the distance that should’ve taken far longer because of the system. And before the man could complete the strike, Elias was the