Richard had woken up earlier than usual that morning.The sky had brightened a bit and the villa was quiet with most of the household still asleep He had stood by the window of his room, looking out at the surroundings, but his thoughts wandered soon after. There was something he needed to settle today. Without making any noise, he had gotten dressed and left the villa without disturbing Michelle or Marty. By the time the sun was at its peak, Richard’s car was already moving through a different part of the city.The environment changed gradually as he drove and the familiar urban landscape gave way to an exclusive area.Eventually, his car slowed as it approached a grand estate.The property was impressive, surrounded by tall gates and carefully trimmed hedges. The architecture spoke of money and elegance and its design set it apart from ordinary residences.Before Richard even came to a stop, the guards at the gate had already recognized him and the gates opened without hesitation

When Richard looked at the woman standing before him, he did not need further explanation to understand what had brought her here once again. Time had passed and years had gone by yet nothing about her had changed. The same reckless way she carried herself as though consequences were meant for others had not changed. Helena Whitmore. Just the mention of her name made him feel hate from the depths of his heart. She stood before him with her appearance polished and refined as always. To an outsider, she would have looked like a woman of dignity, but Richard knew better.“The last two times I came, your butler told me you had traveled. He said your return was uncertain.” she said as though they were simply catching up after a long time. She tilted her head while watching his reaction but he gave her none.“I suppose you’ve been busy,” she added.Richard remained still with no emotion on his face.She had no idea who he had become and no understanding of the world he ruled from the s

That same night, another scene unfolded in a different part of the city. The room was dim and shadows filled the room leaving only figures that were hard to recognize. At the center, a man knelt on the floor and it was Denzel Washington.The once confident mayor now looked nothing like the powerful figure he had always presented to the public. He knelt down cowering in fear, his arrogance now stripped away. He finally understood the depth of the mistake he had made.Before him stood another man who was barely visible. “Unfortunately, your era is over.” the man said , his voice was devoid of any emotions. “You are of no use to me now.”Denzel’s breathing grew erratic. His hands trembled against the floor as his mind raced while thinking of how to escape this situation. “Please,” he said, his voice breaking in desperation. “I can fix this, Just give me another chance I won’t make the same mistake again. Please don't kill me.”There was no response to his plea. “I was told I offende

A million thoughts rushed through Michelle’s mind the moment she realized who had just caught her. She didn't expect to see him here and the way he spoke made her worried. What unsettled her the most was his identity. Richard’s warning echoed in her mind and it placed her on guard. Without hesitation, she stepped away from his hold, creating a good distance between them as her heart continued to beat faster than usual. Her instincts told her to be cautious, not just because of what Richard had said, but also because of how she felt around him the last time they met.Her thoughts shifted to Richard. If he found out she had encountered his brother again, especially under circumstances like this, he would not be happy. The atmosphere in the house had already been tense since the unexpected visit from his mother, and Michelle did not want to add more complications. Meanwhile, Alister’s gaze never left her face. His eyes studied her as though trying to confirm something. Without looking

“Mama, why’s daddy not home yet? I’ve not seen him all day.”Marty’s voice broke Michelle’s train of thoughts. She looked down at him where he sat beside her, his small face filled with innocence and curiosity. Her heart ached as she didn't know what to reply. She had been asking herself the same thing for hours but there was still no news on his whereabouts up till this time. She forced a smile and leaned down as she pressed a kiss against his forehead.“Daddy is busy with work,” she said while brushing his hair back with her fingers. “He’ll be back soon, okay?”Marty nodded, though he was not satisfied by the answer. Still, he trusted her and that was enough for now. Michelle watched him for a while before guiding him toward his room and settling him into bed. She stayed there until his he was fast asleep before she left the room. She was once again greeted by the silence of the house. Michelle walked back to the living room as her thoughts returned to Richard.It had been a lon