The iron prison gates creaked open with a groan of rusted metal. A tall man stepped into the daylight, his shadow stretching long and sharp across the concrete.Dante Morrell lifted his face to the sun, letting its warmth bleed into skin that had forgotten light. Ten years. Ten years of gray walls, iron bars, and the slow, merciless drip of time. Now he was free.His prison uniform hung loose over a body forged by brutal labor, but it wasn’t his frame that commanded attention. It was his eyes—cold, calm, and dangerously still. Eyes that had stared into hell and refused to break.A guard tossed a small bag at his chest. “Your belongings.”Dante caught it without a word. Inside: a worn wallet, a faded photograph of his younger sister Elena smiling beside their mother, and a black dragon crest necklace. His fingers closed tightly around the cold metal. The last thing his father had given him before disappearing without a trace.The guard snorted. “You’re lucky, Morrell. Most men who go i

The Ashcroft mansion was a world of impossible luxury. Polished marble floors gleamed beneath towering crystal chandeliers. Priceless paintings adorned the walls. Dante had never stepped foot in such wealth before.A servant led him down a quiet hallway. “Miss Ashcroft wants to see you,” the man said coldly. They stopped before a pair of ornate double doors. “This is her room.” The servant turned and left without another word.Dante hesitated for a moment, then pushed the door open.The bedroom was breathtaking. Tall windows overlooked manicured gardens. Silk curtains swayed gently in the evening breeze. Everything whispered elegance and power.So this is how the other half lives.The door clicked shut behind him. A second later, it opened again. Camilla stepped in, her hair damp from a bath, wrapped in a white silk robe loosely tied at the waist. She froze at the sight of him.Then her eyes turned to ice. “What the hell are you doing in my room?”Dante turned quickly. “You asked for

The hospital corridor felt colder than death itself. Dante moved like a ghost, barely aware of how he had gotten there. The same nurse from earlier stood at the reception desk. Her expression turned uneasy when she saw him.“Mr. Morrell…”“I’m here to see my mother,” he said, voice hoarse.The nurse hesitated, then sighed. “You’ll need to clear the outstanding balance first. It’s fifteen thousand seven hundred and eighty dollars. Until it’s paid, we cannot release the body.”Dante stared at her, numb. “Body…?”“I’m sorry. Hospital policy.”The word hit like a blade. He couldn’t even see her one last time. A broken, bitter laugh escaped his throat. “Not even a goodbye?”The nurse looked away. There was nothing left to say.“Brother…?”Dante turned slowly. Elena stood at the end of the hallway in her school uniform, eyes already swollen from crying. The moment she saw his face, her expression crumbled.“Brother… is it true?”He could only nod.Elena ran to him, throwing herself into his

The elevator doors opened with a soft ding. Dante stepped out and walked briskly down the hallway, tension etched across his face. The address Camilla sent led to the door at the end of the corridor, slightly ajar.He pushed it open and stepped inside. The apartment was dimly lit, filled with expensive furniture and the faint scent of spilled wine. He had taken only two steps when his foot struck something heavy.Dante stumbled, catching himself against the wall. He looked down.A broken glass ashtray lay on the marble floor, stained with dark red blood.A chill ran down his spine. Before he could process it, soft footsteps approached from the hallway.Camilla entered the living room. Her hair was disheveled, her dress wrinkled, and bruises marked her arms and shoulders. She looked pale and shaken.“Miss Ashcroft?” Dante’s eyes widened with genuine concern. “What happened? Who did this to you?”He instinctively moved toward her.BANG!The apartment door burst open. “Police! Don’t move

—Ashcroft Mansion—Inside the grand dining hall, the long mahogany table was set for three. At the head of the table sat Hendrix Ashcroft.Even in his late sixties, his presence carried weight. His silver hair was combed neatly back, and the sharp lines of his face still held the authority of a man who had built an empire with ruthless determination.On his right sat Bryce Ashcroft, his only son and the current operator of the family’s business empire. Across from him sat Camilla Ashcroft. Her long dark hair fell elegantly over her shoulders, and the confidence in her posture made it clear she had long since shed the nervousness of her youth.She was no longer the woman who panicked at the sight of blood. Now, she was someone who controlled billions.Hendrix wiped his mouth with a napkin before setting it aside.“The government has officially announced the Skyline Urban Development Project,” he said.Camilla’s eyes lifted slightly. Bryce leaned back in his chair, folding his arms. Hen