"Cancel the Miller Group’s existence by noon tomorrow, and tell the Vance family that if they want to survive the night, they must bring me Julian’s head on a silver platter."The elevator doors hissed shut, cutting off Leon’s cold command. The silence that followed in the VIP lounge was heavier than a tomb."Leon! Open this door! Leon!" Sarah screamed, her fists pounding against the polished gold surface."Sarah, stop it. You’re embarrassing yourself," Julian said, though his voice was trembling. He was staring at his phone, his face the color of chalk."Embarrassing myself? Did you hear what he said, Julian? He thinks he can destroy my company by noon! He’s a house-husband! He’s a loser who spends his days buying kale and organic eggs!""Sarah..." Julian whispered, his hands shaking so violently the phone nearly slipped from his grip."What? Why are you looking at me like that? It was a prank. It has to be a prank. He hired those actors. He probably spent his entire divorce settleme

"They want to know if the Sovereign is looking for a new Queen."Elena’s voice lingered in the cold, sterile air of the War Room. The remaining billionaires held their breath, their eyes darting between the woman in white and the man who held their lives in his hands.Leon Ardent leaned back, a faint, dangerous smile playing on his lips. "A Queen, Elena? I just finished burying a ghost. Why would I want to invite another one into my palace?""Because a Sovereign without a consort is seen as a conqueror, My Lord," Elena replied, her tone professional yet daring. "But a Sovereign with a Queen is a Dynasty. The Thorne family gala is not just a party. It is an audition. Every high-ranking family in the country is currently grooming their daughters for you.""Let them groom," Leon said, his eyes turning to the city lights outside. "I’m not looking for a doll in a silk dress. I’m looking for a sword.""Then you have already found one," Elena said, bowing her head."We shall see," Leon stood

The Thorne Grand Ballroom was a cathedral of light and arrogance. Thousands of candles flickered in crystal chandeliers, casting a golden glow over the most powerful men and women in the country. They moved like silk-clad sharks, whispering about the rumor that had paralyzed the nation: The Sovereign had returned."Look at them, Albert," Leon said, standing on the mezzanine balcony. He was dressed in a black velvet tuxedo with a silk lapel, his silhouette sharp against the white marble. "They are terrified. They spent three years carved out my father’s empire, and now they are wondering if I have come to take the knife back.""The knife is already in your hand, Young Master," Albert replied, checking his pocket watch. "The Capital Families have arrived. Silas Crawford is downstairs, pretending he hasn't lost his offshore accounts.""And the girl?""She is at the service entrance," Albert said, a hint of pity in his voice. "The guards reported that she tried to enter through the main f