All Chapters of Midnight System: Rise of The Broken Lover : Chapter 21
- Chapter 30
38 chapters
Chapter 21: Released
Chapter Twenty-One: ReleasedDylan sat on the cold floor of his cell, his back pressed against the concrete wall. There were no clocks here, but he could tell it was late. Kevin had kept him locked up since morning.Every time a guard passed by, Dylan moved to the bars.“I need to see Kevin. Tell him I’ll pay more. Tell him—”They never answered. They just kept walking.Dylan ran his hands through his hair, frustration clawing at his chest. Kevin had taken his money and broken his promise. And the system? Completely silent.Maybe it would activate at midnight. Maybe then he’d finally have a way out.But what if it didn’t?His jaw tightened. The system was all he had now. Not Caleb. Not his father, who’d never given a damn about him. Not his dead mother, rotting in her grave. And certainly not Grace—the woman who’d betrayed him.No one.He had no one.“Hey!” one of the inmates called from across the corridor. Dylan ignored him.“You’re too proud,” the man sneered. “Tomorrow, when we’re
Chapter 22: Moving On
Chapter Twenty-Two: Moving OnGrace pushed open the door to her apartment, her face unreadable, her shoulders tense. The weight of the night pressed down on her—Dylan's words, his accusations, everything.Amanda shot up from the chair, relief flooding her features. She rushed forward and pulled Grace into a tight hug.Grace's breath shook. Her body sagged against Amanda's, all the strength she'd been using to hold herself together finally giving way."Thank you," Grace whispered. "Thank you, Amanda."They moved to the couch. Grace collapsed onto it, exhaling heavily."I'm so tired," she groaned, closing her eyes."What happened?" Amanda sat beside her. "What deal did Kevin make with you?"Before Grace could answer, the bathroom door burst open. Sandra emerged, her hair dripping wet, a towel wrapped around her shoulders."Grace! You're back!" Sandra's eyes lit up. "Amanda told me what happened. I told you Dylan wasn't right for you. I told you he'd break your heart. So pathetic."Grace
Chapter 23: Three Years Later
Chapter Twenty-Three: Three Years Later **THREE YEARS LATER**A sleek black sedan rolled to a stop in front of the Chase Corporation tower. The building rose sixty stories into the sky, all glass and steel, reflecting the city like a mirror.The rear door opened. A man in a custom-tailored suit stepped out, flanked by two security guards. He adjusted his designer glasses and straightened his cuffs, his movements precise and confident.Murmurs rippled through the crowd near the entrance."Who is that?""You don’t know him? That’s Simon Park, the PA to the CEO of Chase Corporation.""The real CEO? The one nobody’s ever seen?""Exactly. Simon’s the face of the company. The CEO stays anonymous.""I heard the CEO is ex-mafia.""No way. I heard he’s a tech genius who went off the grid after making billions in crypto.""Someone told me he inherited oil money from a Middle Eastern prince.""Doesn’t matter where the money came from. Chase Corporation went from zero to rivaling the top compani
Chapter 24: Rise of the Hidden King
Chapter Twenty-Four: Rise of the Hidden King The black sedan idled under the shadow of a broken streetlight, engine purring softly in the midnight chill.Dylan sat in the back seat, his eyes locked on the small pharmacy across the street. His jaw was tight, his fist clenching and unclenching against his thigh.Simon glanced at him through the rearview mirror.“Sir, we’ve been here for two hours.”Dylan didn’t respond.They’d followed the woman from her apartment to the pharmacy. She’d noticed them—of course, she had. She kept glancing over her shoulder, walking faster, clutching her bag tighter.Simon cleared his throat. “Sir Dylan, she’s been inside for fifteen minutes. Don’t you think we should—”“Wait.”The pharmacy door opened. The woman stepped out, a plastic bag in her hand. She paused, scanning the street.Dylan’s breath caught.Even from this distance, even after three years, he recognized her. The way she tucked her hair behind her ear. The nervous way she bit her lip.Grace
Chapter 25: The Face Behind Chase
Chapter Twenty-Five: The Face Behind Chase "Honestly, Dylan, I'm glad you found work. We were so worried after you disappeared." Serena's voice dripped with false concern. "Though I must say, this is quite the step up from running errands, isn't it?"Dylan stared at her.So stupid. So self-absorbed. So blind.They had no idea. Not a single clue.He said nothing. Just held her gaze, his face unreadable.Then, slowly, deliberately, Dylan smiled.It was the coldest thing any of them had ever seen. A smile that didn't reach his eyes. A smile that promised something dark."Mr. Steele," he said quietly, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade. "Shall we go inside? I believe we have business to discuss."The air shifted.Serena's smile faltered. Her face went pale.Caleb's eyes widened. His mind raced, connecting dots he'd been too arrogant to see before. The Lamborghini. The mansion at Life Haven. The sudden wealth. The name—Chase Corporation. Mr. Chase. Dylan Chase.It all clic
Chapter Twenty-Six: The Weight of Rejection
Chapter Twenty-Six : The Weight of RejectionGrace walked out through the revolving door, her bag sliding down her arm as she stepped onto the pavement. People brushed past her—coming, going, rushing. She stopped, tilted her face up to the sky, and let the sun warm her skin.For a moment, she smiled.She'd just finished a job interview. A good one. The panel had smiled at her, nodded approvingly, told her she was the best candidate they'd seen in months. They'd promised to call. Promised to let her know when to start.She was confident. This time, she'd get it.But then her smile faltered.Isn't that how it's been for the past three years?Grace sighed, flagged down a cab, and slid into the backseat. "The café on Fifth Street, please."The driver nodded and pulled into traffic.She stared out the window as the city blurred past. Job interviews. Rejections. Emails that started with “We regret to inform you...” Over and over. Every single time, they liked her. They wanted her. They prom
Chapter 27: The Weight of Everything
Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Weight of EverythingGrace stood outside the hospital room, her hand pressed against the doorframe as she watched through the window.Her mom lay in the bed, propped up slightly by pillows. The nurse stood beside her, checking vitals, adjusting the IV drip, and making notes on a clipboard. Her mom's face was pale, almost translucent under the fluorescent lights. Her hair—once thick and dark—had thinned considerably, wispy strands framing her gaunt face. The hospital gown hung loosely on her frame, her collarbone jutting out sharply where it hadn’t before.Breast cancer did that. It hollowed you out. Made you a shadow of yourself.Grace’s throat tightened.Her mom used to be so vibrant. Lively. Beautiful. Full of laughter and light. She’d fill a room just by walking into it.Now she looked fragile. Breakable.Grace blinked hard, fighting back the tears threatening to spill.Breast cancer was treatable—survivable, even—but the treatment was brutal. Chemotherapy
Chapter 28: The Cracks in the Foundation
Chapter 28: The Cracks in the FoundationMeanwhile, across town…At the Steele mansion…Caleb skidded down the marble staircase, his designer shirt half-tucked into expensive joggers. He was ready for a night out—clubbing with his crew until sunrise, the usual routine. He headed straight for the bar area, grabbed a bottle of whiskey without bothering to check the label, and poured himself a generous glass.He downed it in one gulp. The burn felt good."Eishhh…" He exhaled sharply, setting the glass down with a satisfied grin.Then he heard footsteps behind him.Caleb turned to see his mother walking toward the bar, her face a mess. Her mascara had run down her cheeks in dark streaks, her lipstick smudged. She looked like she'd been crying—or screaming. Probably both.He frowned. "Mom?"Serena didn't answer. She scoffed, brushed past him, and dropped into one of the leather bar stools. Without a word, she grabbed the nearest bottle—vodka—and poured herself a drink. She downed it quickl
Chapter 29: Obsession Disguised as Revenge
Chapter 29: Obsession Disguised as Revenge Dylan Chase sat in his executive chair, slowly spinning it to face the floor-to-ceiling windows. The city sprawled beneath him—bustling streets, glittering lights, a landscape he now owned piece by piece. His expression was sharp, focused, as he flipped through a stack of documents with clinical precision. His phone buzzed on the desk. He glanced at the caller ID, scoffed, and answered. "Mr. Chase!" The voice on the other end sounded nervous. "Get to the point," Dylan said flatly. "Ah, yes. As you predicted, Steele Holdings reached out to me for a potential partnership. Their proposal was solid—honestly, they're more than capable given their reputation and connections—but I…" Dylan chuckled darkly. A cruel smile tugged at his lips. "Did you reject them, or didn’t you?" His patience was wearing thin. "I rejected them, Mr. Chase. But if I may ask—you’ve been blocking their opportunities for months now. At this rate, they won’t
Chapter 30: The Trap Springs
Chapter 30: The Trap SpringsGrace slid her key into the lock, turned it, and pushed the door open with her shoulder. She stepped inside, exhaling heavily as her bag slipped down her arm. Night had settled over the city, and the house was dark—completely still.She flipped the light switch.The living room came into view, quiet and empty. Grace frowned as she glanced around. Her dad and Amanda were supposed to be home by now. Unless they'd gone out? But where?“Dad?” she called out.Silence.“Amanda?”Nothing.Grace walked down the hallway, checking the bedrooms one by one. Empty. All of them.She sighed, rubbing her sore shoulder as she made her way back to the living room.“God, I’m so tired,” she muttered under her breath.What she needed was a hot bath, a massage, and a full day off. But that was a luxury she couldn't afford. Not now. Not ever, it seemed.Grace grabbed the TV remote and clicked it on, hoping some background noise w