Isabella's grip on Caleb's neck tightened fiercely. Her body, trembling from blood loss, pressed flush against his broad chest. Her rapid breaths fanned warmly against his sharp jawline. In the middle of the freezing Black Castle lobby, surrounded by three elite hitmen who had been reduced to mindless slabs of meat, the woman had instead found a blazing, intoxicating lust."I need a man like you, Caleb Thorne," Isabella repeated, her voice huskier and more urgent. Her torn silk gown exposed her long thighs, intentionally rubbing against Caleb's dress pants. "My own family is hunting me. They threw me away like trash. But with a monster like you by my side, I can destroy them all."Caleb stared into Isabella's wild eyes. He didn't back down an inch. Instead, he snaked one arm around her slender waist, pulling her even closer until there was absolutely zero space left between them. Blood from Isabella's shoulder stained Caleb's shirt, but neither of them gave a damn.

"You have ten seconds to pray to your God."Klaus swallowed hard, a thick knot forming in his throat. Cold sweat poured down his temples. Yet, his bloated ego as an Aegis noble stubbornly clawed its way back to the surface. With trembling hands, he pressed the emergency panic button hidden beneath the collar of his suit."Ten seconds?" Klaus cackled hysterically, his shrill voice struggling to mask his absolute terror. "You're the one who needs God, Caleb Thorne! Get in here! Kill this bastard right now!"A secret door behind the VIP suite's wine rack violently burst open. Fifty hulking men clad in black tactical gear flooded into the room. The once-spacious VIP suite instantly felt suffocatingly cramped. They weren't armed with guns, but with steel baseball bats, razor-sharp machetes, and thick iron chains."Brother Caleb, watch out!" Lisa shrieked from the sofa, her body still tightly bound."Close your eyes, Lisa," Caleb said calmly. H

"Bring me the head of Caleb Thorne!" Baron von Richter's roar still echoed off the hospital walls as the gears of the Aegis Syndicate's power began to turn, hell-bent on crushing their enemy. For the noble families who controlled the European economy, killing someone didn't always require a bullet. Sometimes, starving a target and reducing them to absolute poverty was a far more satisfying torture.The next morning, inside the Black Castle's dining room, warmed by a roaring fireplace."Brother Caleb! Something is wrong!" Lisa exclaimed in a panic, her eyes wide as she stared at her new phone screen. She tapped the touchscreen repeatedly with trembling fingers. "Our money... that five hundred million Euros from Marcus Sterling... it's all gone! My account has been completely frozen. The screen says the assets were seized by federal banking authorities!"Caleb was slicing a medium-rare steak on his plate. He chewed slowly, swallowing the meat witho

"It seems your pet dog will have to sleep without a new collar tonight, Baron," Caleb said in a calm voice that completely shredded his enemy's pride. "Wrap that necklace up for my woman. And move on to the next auction item. My time is incredibly expensive."The auctioneer nodded stiffly, cold sweat soaking the collar of his shirt. He frantically signaled the female assistant on stage to immediately bring the glass case containing the Vane Blue Diamond Heirloom to Caleb Thorne's table. The assistant walked over trembling, placing the velvet box right in front of the man who had just silenced the entire room.Caleb opened the box calmly. The blue brilliance of the massive diamond reflected the light of the chandeliers, blinding anyone who dared to look at it. However, Caleb's dark eyes were solely focused on the woman sitting beside him."Come here, Bella," Caleb commanded in a low tone that demanded absolute obedience.Isabella turned her body to

Caleb lowered his wine glass, offering Richter a faint, chilling smile. A smile that promised the noble's nightmare had only just begun. The sharp clink of the crystal glass returning to the table echoed like a gunshot through the dead silence of the underground hall, which now reeked heavily of death.Up on the second-floor balcony, Baron von Richter's legs finally gave out completely. The old man who had held absolute control over Europe's dark economy for decades collapsed helplessly. His knees slammed into the hard wooden floorboards with a heavy thud. His towering arrogance had entirely evaporated, vanishing right alongside the lives of his hundred elite mercenaries."Please!" Richter wailed, his voice cracking pitifully as tears and snot completely soaked his wrinkled face. "Have mercy on me, Caleb! I surrender everything! The entire wealth of the Richter Family, all my power, it is all yours! Just please don't kill me!"The pathetic, humiliating sob