Derrick ignored the taxi.The sudden stop of the car had already set something off in him. It wasn't just the timing alone, but the very manner in which it halted beside him.So, he kept walking.His hands were buried inside his pockets, and he didn't spare the taxi a second glance.But the vehicle rolled forward behind him."Hey!" the driver yelled, his voice sharp and strangely impatient. "I'll drop you off, sir."Derrick said nothing. The horn blared, longer each time. It was intrusive enough to even turn a few heads on the busy street."What the hell is wrong with this guy?" Derrick fumed with a tightened jaw.He exhaled slowly through his nose, resisting the urge to turn around and give the silly driver a piece of his mind. His pace didn't change, but his awareness sort of sharpened. The taxi crept closer. "I can drop you off, sir," the driver said. "Just hop in."The horn blasted again, and Derrick's fingers curled slightly in his pockets. What an annoying bastard. At that

"Away with him!!" a voice roared as several men rushed out of the other taxi. In no time, gunfire began to crack sharply through the air against Derrick. It tore through the silence of the dark street like thunder striking too close to the ground.Derrick moved just fast enough to remain alive. His body slammed really hard against the edge of a concrete barrier just as another round tore past him. The impact sent fragments of metal scattering across the pavement."Shit!" he muttered. His grip tightened around the pistol he had taken from the driver earlier. It felt smaller now, especially compared to what he was right up against.Across the dimly lit stretch of the quiet road, shadows of the killers moved with deadly precision. A more violent burst of gunfire started in no time. It made Derrick lean out just soon enough to take two quick shots of his pistol.A figure on the other end jerked violently before collapsing to the ground.Derrick ducked just once more as bullets rained o

Back at the Lorenzo estate, Pa Lorenzo cleared his throat just as Elissa asked the question.All eyes turned to him. He sat upright, posture composed, and fingers resting lightly against the armrest of his chair. He wore a calm expression as he spoke."I hate to say this," he began evenly, "but this meeting must start without Derrick."The words landed strangely, causing a subtle shift to ripple through the room. "Honey?" Ma Lorenzo called immediately, her gaze snapping toward him instantly. "Why would you say that?" Ivy's head lifted too, her brows drawing together in clear disbelief.Pa Lorenzo didn't falter under the renewed attention."We just can't keep waiting indefinitely," he continued in a steady voice. "Time is really against us."Ma Lorenzo exhaled slowly before responding, her tone assured but firm. “He stepped out to speak with Mr. Dominic regarding the company's situation."Her eyes held his. "We can't just talk about it without his presence. He will return."Pa Loren

For a moment, Ivy’s question hung between them. Derrick didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he slowly stepped forward, his gaze softening the moment it settled fully on her face—on the tears she hadn’t even realized were already falling. “Ivy…” he murmured, closing the distance again. His arms wrapped around her once more, this time firmer despite the strain in his injured shoulder. He pulled her into himself, pressing her gently against his chest as though grounding himself in her presence. One of his hands slid up slowly and cradled the back of her head. Then he leaned down, his lips brushed softly against her hair. “I’m here,” he whispered. “I’m okay…” But Ivy stiffened almost immediately. Her hands, which had instinctively clutched at him, now pressed against his chest. “No—” She pulled back, her fingers curling into his shirt as she forced just enough space between them to look at him properly. Her eyes searched his face now—not just as a wife relieved, but as someone

Morning came quietly.Moses stirred slowly, his brows knitting faintly as consciousness pulled him back from sleep. For a brief moment, he lay still, eyes half-closed, relishing the lingering warmth of the night before.His hand shifted lazily across the bed beside him, noting the coldness.Then his eyes opened fully. The space next to him was empty.“Daniella?” he called, his voice still thick with sleep.He got no response.He pushed himself up and scanned the room with a frown.“Daniella?"He swung his legs off the bed and stood up, walking toward the bathroom. He pushed the door open. It was empty–no steam, no damp towels, not even a faint trace of perfume.Moses stood there for a few seconds longer than necessary, his expression slowly shifting from confusion to great unease.He turned back into the room, his gaze sweeping across every surface.It was as though Daniella had never been there at all."What the hell is this?” he muttered under his breath.For a moment, he considere