The air inside Riverside's D-Block was different from the rest of the prison. Thicker and heavier like breathing through a wet cloth soaked in fear and violence. Even the guards moved differently here—eyes down, voices low, hands never straying far from their batons. Not because they were afraid of the prisoners, but because they'd rather stay far from trouble.. And trouble was a person in a place like this. Cell D-47 sat at the end of the corridor, separated from the others by twenty feet of empty space that nobody crossed without permission. Inside that cell, Miguel sat on a steel chair that had been welded to the floor—one of the few modifications the warden had allowed after the last three chairs had been turned into weapons. Miguel didn't look like a man serving time for attempted murder. He looked like a king holding court in hell. Four inmates stood on either side of him—younger men, early thirties, their eyes hollow with the kind of devotion that came from knowing p

The next day 3 pm, Knox's car stopped at Oasis luxe, Located in South River's Diamond District, it catered exclusively to the city's elite, politicians,and top families who never settle for the regular. It's a place where a single suit cost what most people earned in six months, and the staff could smell wealth—or the lack of it—from across the room. Access isn’t advertised—you’re either invited, or you don’t know it exists.Slowly, Knox stepped in.The boutique's interior was a study in understated opulence: recessed lighting that made everything look like it belonged in a museum, racks of designer clothes spaced far enough apart that browsing felt like walking through an art gallery. Soft classical music played from hidden speakers. The air smelled faintly of expensive leather and subtle cologne. Everything about Oasis Luxe whispered the same message: "If you have to ask for the price, you don't belong here" Knox stepped through the glass doors, only to pick a few items he'd be ne

The boutique fell into absolute silence. Every head turned toward the woman who'd just walked in. Ethan and his group stared in confusion—half-curious, half-defiant. The security guards froze mid-reach, their hands still hovering near Knox's wrists. The sales associates whispered frantically among themselves. But Knox stood completely still. Mr. Martin's daughter? For a second he couldn't tell if he was shocked to see her here or her words were what shocked him. Ethan recovered first, his shock giving way to indignation. "I don't care who you are!" His voice cracked slightly but he pressed forward. "This man is a criminal! An ex-convict! He doesn't belong in a place like this!" He pointed at the security guard. "Don't stop! Take that bastard back to the prison yard where he crawled out from! Ex-convicts like him aren't meant to stay ex-convicts for long!" The security guard glanced between Ethan and the young lady, uncertain whose authority to follow. Elena didn't even acknow

2 hours later.After Elena left to get dressed, Knox's taxi pulled up to the main gate at exactly 6:13 PM.Through the wrought-iron bars, he could see the mansion beyond: a sprawling three-story structure of pale stone and tall windows, illuminated by landscape lighting that made it look like something from a period film.The gate guard, dressed in a crisp uniform, stepped out of the security booth and approached the taxi.Knox rolled down his window. "Knox Rivera," he said simply. The guard's expression shifted immediately from polite professionalism to something closer to respect."Of course, Mr. Rivera. Sir. Martin is expecting you." The guard spoke into his radio. "Guests arriving. Knox Rivera. Clear him through."The gates swung open with silent efficiency. The taxi drove up the long driveway, and stopped before the mansion's entrance.The front door opened before Knox reached it.Then an elderly, distinguished man, wearing formal attire that suggests he was the Martins butler,

After several days of waiting, tonight, the hotel's largest ballroom in the whole of South River—capable of hosting two thousand guests—had been transformed into something better than a royal dynasty.Red carpets stretched from the curb to the entrance. Velvet ropes held back a small crowd of onlookers and photographers hoping to catch glimpses of South River's top elites. Luxury vehicles lined the street in a parade of wealth: Rolls Royces, Bentleys, Ferraris, each one depositing guests in designer gowns and custom tuxedos.The Gates Corporation celebration wasn't just a party. It was a statement because this was the event of the century. One where every breathing person looked forward to.. Seeing the face of the person who's finally taking over master Chen's Empire... Even if they all know the history and fight behind his death.At exactly 7:47 PM, a midnight-black Maybach pulled up to the curb.The crowd fell silent.Cameras stopped flashing.Because everyone recognized that car.