The morning after the gala, Caiden was awake before sunrise. No coffee, no news check. He simply sat on the side of the bed in the dim light and made a call to a number he had never dialed, even though it had been saved in his phone for two years.“Blackthorn Security,” a voice answered straight away.“This is Caiden Howard. I require a full residential protection setup, a penthouse grade to deploy immediately.”The person on the line didn’t question him or request justification. A company that charged fifty thousand dollars a week didn’t waste time on explanations.“Send the address and requirements. An advance unit will be on-site within the hour.”Caiden provided the address, then continued, “I want everything. Reinforced doors. Bullet-resistant glass on all windows. A surveillance network with facial recognition. Sensors on the roof, and an upgraded panic room, enough space and supply for two people for seventy-two hours.”“That sounds more like a fortress than a home.”“That’s ex

The drive back to the penthouse was quiet. Caiden’s shoulder had stopped bleeding, but a heavy, dull pain was back in, beating in time with his pulse. Cecilia sat next to him, her hand resting lightly on his knee, staring out into the dark road ahead. The Blackthorn convoy surrounded them, moving in formation, headlights slicing through the empty streets.No one spoke at all. There wasn’t anything left to say. They had just ruined a woman’s financial life and left her breaking down in her own home. Whether it was justice or not, it was the kind of thing that didn’t leave you easily.Back at the penthouse, the security team checked the place twice before giving them the all-clear. The new reinforced door shut behind them with a solid, heavy sound.Caiden went into the bathroom and slipped off his jacket. The injury wasn’t deep, it was just a scrape across the skin, but it looked rough.Cecilia came in after him without a word and opened the medical kit she had brought from the kitchen

Viktor Volkov waited in the dark, but no one came.The dockyard stayed silent. The river lapped against concrete. The rusted containers stood empty under a moonless sky. Somewhere in the city, Caiden’s tactical team was sweeping the warehouses, clearing rooms, finding nothing. Volkov had left the note and walked away. The trap was never meant to catch them. It was meant to buy him time.Caiden stood in the middle of the abandoned shipping yard and felt the anger coil in his chest. “He’s gone.”Cecilia’s phone buzzed. She answered, listened, and her face hardened. “It’s Michael. He found something on the flash drive. A server address in Dubai.”“What kind of server?”“The kind that runs the Consortium’s entire money operation. It’s still active. And tomorrow night, they’re auctioning off Howard Hospital’s original patents.”Caiden looked at the black water. The fight wasn’t here. It had moved. “Book the flight.”They landed in Dubai as the sun was coming up over the desert. The heat hi

The hall for the yearly family meeting was already full of tension even before Caiden walked in.It took place once every year at the large Frederick family estate. It was meant to celebrate unity, wealth, and family legacy. But behind the shiny silverware, glass cups, and neatly placed flowers, it was also like a stage where people were judged. Status mattered a lot, and it was often used to attack or shame others.Caiden entered quietly next to Cecilia.He was simply dressed on purpose. To people who didn’t know him, he looked like just what he was known for in public, which is a medical doctor. He stood calmly, with a nicely ironed suit that fit him to perfection, his back straight but not stiff. His face showed no strong emotion, as if he was carefully hiding how he really felt.Cecilia walked confidently beside him, she had a silk long dinner dress on, with statement jewelry on, a bit of bracelet and a light makeup. Every now and then her fingers would touched his arm like she

The mood in the big dining hall changed from serious discussion to the quiet sound of people eating together. A few moments earlier, they had been talking about building the resort home, as a family legacy and the donation, with Grandpa Frederick leading the conversation as usual.But then the old man suddenly raised his hand and gently changed the plan.“Let us eat first,” he said calmly. “We will continue the business discussion later.”No one disagreed with him, they simply complied. Plates were arranged, chairs were pulled into place, and the long table was set with shiny silver cutlery and glass cups. The family members were all dressed neatly and ready to eat, they sat down while the servants quickly moved around serving them.Among the staff was a young waitress who had just started her evening shift in the dining hall. She was new and clearly nervous, walking carefully as she joined the other servers waiting to take orders.Her eyes kept moving around the table as she tried to