Griffin Bancroft's face darkened, his gaze locked onto the messenger who had just delivered the news."Tell me exactly what happened. Every single detail. If you leave anything out, you know what the consequences will be."The messenger broke into a cold sweat, words tumbling out in a rush. "Patriarch, the second young master took a liking to a woman from the Vale family in Haven. Her name is Serena Vale. He used the casino to lure her family into gambling, then threatened her into... into doing those things with him. But then Serena's boyfriend, Aaron Holmes, showed up and sent the second young master to the hospital.""Aaron Holmes?"Griffin Bancroft frowned. The name meant nothing to him."Looking for death. How dare he touch someone from the Bancroft family?"Griffin was no ordinary man. He had fought his way to power, blade and gun in hand. Across the entirety of Westhaven State, who would dare refuse him face? His business partners and connections

Aaron Holmes felt the steering wheel jerk slightly in his grip as Maren Holt's voice rang out from the backseat, bright with indignation and excitement."The Bancroft family people are absolutely despicable! But Aaron was way too soft. Serena, you shouldn't have stopped him. You should've just let Aaron beat that guy to death."Maren's eyes practically sparkled with bloodthirsty enthusiasm as she replayed the confrontation in her mind. Then, as if catching herself, she added with a begrudging tone, "Well, I guess Aaron counts as a real man after all."Aaron's hands tightened on the wheel, and the car swerved dangerously close to the guardrail. He shot a glance in the rearview mirror, barely suppressing his irritation. What did she mean he "counted as" a real man? He'd always been one, thank you very much."Maren, why don't you stay at my place for a while?" Serena Vale interjected smoothly, though her lips curved into an amused smile. She couldn't quite suppress

Maren Holt's mouth fell open as she stared at Aaron Holmes, frozen in disbelief.How old was he? A military leader this young? She had never seen anything like it, never even heard of such a thing."Good, continue evacuating all civilians. I want absolute assurance of their safety. Understood?" Aaron glanced at his watch. Only a few minutes had passed since the team mobilized from base and swept through the crowd with practiced efficiency. The speed was impressive, all things considered.Reaper hadn't shown up, but that was expected. As Aaron's nominal bodyguard, Reaper left matters concerning the special operations team to Ghost Healer. The arrangement had proven effective. Ghost Healer handled things well.Ghost Healer replied sharply that he understood and would carry out the order.Aaron turned his attention to Mallory Bell. "Did I deliver on my promise or not?"Cold sweat beaded on Mallory's forehead as she looked at Aaron, visibly unsure how to re

"One more thing. Make sure those doctors are treated well. Their safety and accommodations are top priority."Gideon Bancroft clapped a hand to his chest. "Don't worry, big brother. I'll handle everything perfectly."Two days passed without incident.Everything remained calm on the surface.Aaron Holmes spent his time accompanying Serena Vale and Lucy on shopping trips and leisurely meals. There wasn't much else demanding his attention. Vale Group was thriving, and no one dared cause trouble anymore. It seemed the entire city had turned its focus toward the upcoming Bancroft celebration.As for the invitations, Lucy never brought it up, and Aaron never offered one.The old commander had given Reaper a few extras. Reaper had even asked Aaron if he wanted one, but Aaron had declined.That evening, Preston Fields, the old commander, and Reaper gathered at Aaron's villa.Of the three, only Reaper held the rank of major general. The old commander w

Aaron Holmes could only shake his head helplessly at the situation.This trip to Westhaven State with Maren Holt, that chatty young woman, would undoubtedly subject his ears to another revolutionary ordeal. The girl never stopped talking, filling every quiet moment with a new story.Soon enough, the Bancroft family's grand celebration drew near.Aaron and Maren boarded the vehicle bound for Westhaven State. The Bancroft family truly lived up to its reputation as one of the province's top-ranking families. For the first time ever, the wide provincial highway connecting Haven to Westhaven State experienced a traffic jam. Among the masses clogging the road, only a fraction actually held invitations to the celebration. Most were simply rubberneckers hoping to catch a glimpse of the spectacle.Bancroft Estate served as the main venue for the family's celebration. Preparations had been completed well in advance. Before dawn even broke, the Bancroft family's security pe