“Anthony?” Kaitlin called out in shock, her brows knitting together.“Kait! Hi!” Anthony scrambled forward on his knees, attempting to reach her—but Levi stepped in front of him, blocking his path completely.The air shifted.Levi’s expression darkened, his voice dropping into something cold and dangerous.“How dare you touch my wife?” he asked again.Anthony froze instantly.“L-Levi… look, I was just talking to her,” he stammered, still kneeling. “I wanted to ask about Uncle William, that’s all—”“And you thought grabbing her like that was acceptable?” Levi cut in sharply.Anthony swallowed.“If you wanted information about William,” Kaitlin added, her tone sharp with disbelief, “why didn’t you come to me? Why go through her?”Anthony scoffed, though the fear in his eyes betrayed him.“Because what I want is something only your grandson can give,” he said bitterly. “And since he won’t give it to me… I figured maybe his wife could convince him.”Levi didn’t respond immediately.Instea

The next week arrived almost too quickly, carrying with it clear skies, warm light, and an unusual electricity that seemed to hum through the city. Social circles buzzed louder than ever, invitations flew, and gatherings became more extravagant. But among all the chatter, one thing stood above the rest—The Pyramid.More specifically… the Circle.The reason for the heightened excitement was simple: the newly ranked Circle members were meeting officially for the first time under Elsa Hale’s leadership—and unlike the past, this wasn’t going to be a quiet, closed-door gathering.Elsa had turned it into an event.Since the meeting was scheduled to take place at her restaurant, The Aurelian, word had somehow reached the press. Cameras lined the entrance, flashing lights reflecting off polished cars and designer heels. What was once a casual, almost secretive meet-up among elite women had now transformed into something grand—a spectacle.A statement.One by one, the Circle members arrived,

Levi didn’t question it further.Whatever Elsa had meant the night before—whatever quiet determination had lit her eyes when she said “I’ll handle it”—he let it pass. Work consumed him as always, and anything outside of strategy, expansion, and control rarely held his attention for long.But Elsa hadn’t been speaking lightly. And unlike Levi, she didn’t forget.HALE GROUPThe next morning, the Hale Group headquarters looked nothing like it usually did.From early hours, a convoy of trucks rolled in one after another, each packed to capacity. Large boxes were carefully unloaded and arranged across the company’s expansive lobby, drawing attention from every corner of the building.At first, employees watched from a distance—curious.Then word spread.And within minutes, the lobby was filled.Staff from every department began pouring in—finance, marketing, operations, legal—people who rarely had reason to leave their floors now gathered together, whispering, pointing, speculating.“What’

The next morning came too quickly.Elsa woke up to the quiet stillness of the room—one that felt heavier than usual. The side of the bed beside her was empty, cold. Levi had already left, just like every other day.Routine– Normal. And yet, nothing felt normal anymore.She stared at the ceiling for a while, unmoving, her thoughts replaying everything from the day before. Harley’s careless words. The mention of Claire. The confirmation of those Tuesday meetings.Her chest tightened.It wasn’t just suspicion anymore. It was something sharper. Something that refused to be ignored.With a quiet sigh, Elsa got out of bed, got dressed, and left the mansion without much thought. Sitting there any longer, surrounded by silence and unanswered questions, felt suffocating.She needed space.She needed distraction.And somehow, her mind led her to the one place she had control over—her restaurant.---The Aurelian Restaurant was alive as always—staff moving efficiently, soft chatter filling the a

“What does she know that we don’t?” Kaitlin asked, her voice tight with unease as she paced slowly across the living room. William leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his gaze fixed on Levi. “Call around. Find out from your end. Whatever this is, it didn’t start from nowhere.” Sara, who stood near the window with her arms folded, added thoughtfully, “You might also want to check with the Pyramid. If something happened publicly or socially, it could be tied to that.” William nodded in agreement. “That too. But first, we need to know she’s safe—before her family starts asking questions.” Levi didn’t respond immediately. His jaw tightened, his mind already racing ahead of the conversation. Then, without another word, he stood and walked out. HALE GROUP The mo