Damien’s offer remained between them while the fountains continued flowing behind the Ashbourne mansion.Simon studied him without speaking. His silence lasted long enough for Damien’s confident smile to deepen.“You are considering it,” Damien said. “Good. That means you are more sensible than you appeared inside.”“You have not told me what you are offering,” Simon replied. “I want to understand how much you believe Clara’s freedom is worth.”Damien failed to notice the warning beneath the question. He stepped closer and lowered his voice, ensuring that nobody inside the mansion could hear them.He glanced towards the windows to confirm the family remained inside. The secrecy pleased him. Without Clara present, he believed the trader would abandon the pride he had displayed throughout dinner and negotiate honestly. “You speak dramatically. I am offering security, not purchasing Clara. Men recognise opportunity when it stands before them.” He paused.“I will give you one million doll

Ethan prepared himself for Simon to attack.He remembered the pressure Simon had applied near his neck inside Ward Nine. One touch had taken away his voice and left him helpless before the nurses. This time, Ethan watched Simon’s hands carefully and refused to be caught by the same technique.“If you touch me again, you will answer for assaulting a military officer,” Ethan warned. “This is not a hospital ward where everyone is too frightened to stop you.”Damien remained several steps away. He secretly hoped Simon would lose control. If Simon attacked Ethan outside the Ashbourne estate, Damien would finally have proof that the former fish seller was violent and dangerous.Simon understood what both men expected.Striking Ethan would humiliate him for several minutes, but it would not correct the arrogance behind his words. The major’s greatest pride was not his physical strength. It was the authority attached to his uniform.Simon allowed his anger to settle.“I will never exploit Cla

Simon did not start the vehicle immediately. His secure phone vibrated before he could place the key inside the ignition.Marcus Levan’s name appeared on the screen.“What happened?” Simon asked after answering.“We received another Ashbourne proposal tonight,” Marcus replied. “It is a revised version of the document already awaiting your approval.”Simon’s attention sharpened. “What changed?”“The Sinclair companies have been added as mineral suppliers and investment partners. That part matches what was discussed publicly. The financial values do not.”Marcus explained that the revised proposal contained sharp increases in the estimated cost of equipment, regional depots, transport contracts and private-security systems.Simon remembered Roland speaking confidently during dinner.“How large are the increases?” he asked.“Large enough to require deliberate planning,” Marcus answered. “Some equipment has been valued at almost twice its normal price. Several subcontractors were also add

Every order he had given served one desperate purpose. The backdated agreements would make HDC appear to have performed real work. The false employment records would create workers who had never existed. The invented invoices would explain the fifteen-million-dollar consultancy fee, while replacing the original worksheets would prevent Victor Ashbourne from discovering who had inflated the project costs.Moving the files outside the Ashbourne offices would also keep them away from an internal investigation. If Victor Ashbourne became suspicious and ordered the finance department searched, the family would find only the clean version Roland intended them to see.However, transferring HDC was the most important part of his plan.The registered nominee could not protect Roland if the Arranguare group examined the bank records. His private authorisation connected him directly to the account that was supposed to receive fifteen million dollars. By transferring control before the review beg

“The address inside the proposal belongs to an old office building in the eastern industrial district,” Marcus replied. “Our investigators visited it this morning. HDC's name is written on one door, but the room behind it is almost empty.”“How empty?”“There is one broken desk, two chairs and a disconnected telephone,” Marcus answered. “There are no computers, files or workers. The building manager said nobody has worked there for months.”Simon opened the folder. The photographs showed a dusty room that could not manage a small shop, much less a three-region industrial project.“A company expecting fifteen million dollars should possess more than an empty office,” Simon said.“It should also have experience,” Marcus replied. “From what I have gathered HDC has never completed a project. It owns no equipment and has no registered employees. Its bank account was opened only two months ago.”Simon examined the date. “Shortly before the revised proposal was prepared.”“Exactly,” Marcus c