It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon, with the warm sun shining over the emerald green of the private golf course. Bruce stood at the tee with a relaxed stance, holding his club loosely in his hands. A small group of club members gathered around him, observing him closely. They were all wealthy businessmen and executives from various industries. Each of them were acquainted with him as Bruce Smith, the rising star at Shepherd Group.One of them, a stout man with a flushed face and a hearty laugh, leaned on his club. "So, Bruce, I've been hearing a lot about Shepherd Group's decision to invest heavily in artificial intelligence. Bold move. Everyone's talking about it."Bruce lined up his shot, his eyes focused on the ball. "It's the future," he said plainly. "Shepherd Group has always been about evolution. We either adapt or we perish."Another man, slender and wearing glasses, shook his head. "But $20 trillion dollars? Really? That's a massive gamble. I've seen companies try to brea

The black sedan was speeding toward him, its windows lowering as a flash of metal appeared inside. Bruce's instincts screamed loudly. He turned around, instinctively raising his hand—the ring on his finger catching the dim light. The first shots rang out. Bullets tore through the air, aimed directly at his chest. But they never reached him. As the projectiles approached, they suddenly veered off course, repelled by an unseen force enveloping his body like a shield. The shooters' eyes widened behind their weapons. They fired another burst of bullets, but each round ricocheted harmlessly through the air around Bruce. "What the hell?!" one of the men shouted. Bruce stood still, his hand raised, the ring pulsing with power. His eyes were calm and focused on them like a predator. The driver slammed down on the accelerator, desperate to escape. Bruce lowered his hand and spoke a single word, his voice deep and commanding. "Stop." The car's engine suddenly sputtered, coughed, and

Lucy's eyes slowly opened as the morning light streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Her head throbbed, and her face felt stiff and tight. She raised a trembling hand to her cheek and felt the rough texture of bandages. She turned her head and suddenly froze. Blake sat beside her with a calm demeanor, his hands clasped in his lap. There was a softness and gentleness in his eyes, completely unlike the monster she saw just last night. Lucy scrambled backward, pressing herself against the headboard as her breath came in short gasps. She stared at him as though he were a giant spider on her bed, venomous and ready to strike at any moment. "Easy," Blake said, his voice calm and soothing. "Relax and take it easy. You're safe now." Lucy's hand shot to her face, feeling the bandages. "What did you do to me?" "I had you patched up," Blake said calmly. "You had some cuts and a few bruises. Nothing that won't heal." Lucy's eyes burned with rage. "Where's Tyler?! What did you do t