Crispin Shore wasn't about to back down. "You two are way too harsh. Aaron Holmes finally made it to an event like this. He just wants to see how things work at this level. How can you talk about him like that?"The two of them were putting on quite the performance, playing off each other with practiced ease. Every word dripped with disdain and mockery, their smug expressions making it clear they were thoroughly enjoying themselves.Odessa Mercer frowned slightly, her voice cutting through their laughter. "Are you done? Today is the Bancroft family's celebration, not yours. What exactly do you have to be so proud of?"Her words carried real weight. All three men fell silent immediately, not daring to say another word. They knew better than to push back against her.Odessa turned to look at Aaron, and despite her best efforts, she couldn't quite hide the disappointment in her eyes. If he'd stayed by her side all those years ago, he'd be doing so much better than t

Once they left the pool area, Maren Holt had no interest in continuing to enjoy herself. The laughter and music behind them faded, replaced by the tense awareness that every conversation around the estate could carry consequences. She wanted to find a way to comfort Aaron Holmes.True, Aaron had accomplished nothing so far. But he'd been willing to give Serena Vale thirty percent of Whitfield Group's shares as a gift. And to save Serena, he hadn't hesitated to beat the Bancroft family's young master to a pulp.That kind of backbone put those billionaires to shame.Maren had always dreamed of a boyfriend like that. She didn't need him to be rich or powerful. She just wanted someone willing to do what no one else dared, all for her sake. That would be enough."Look, Aaron, it's really not that serious. Just treat what those guys said like hot air. Forget about it. As for the Bancroft family...""I'll handle the Bancrofts myself."Aaron really didn't want

The bronze sword was a lost national treasure, and Griffin Bancroft had just handed it to Reaper. Given Reaper's position, he would never keep it for himself. He'd submit it to the proper authorities, and the credit would naturally go to him. Griffin had essentially gifted Reaper the achievement of recovering a piece of national heritage.What did a Major General like Reaper need most? Merit and recognition. And Griffin had just delivered it on a silver platter. The gesture was more than an expensive present. It gave Reaper a chance to return a national treasure to the country under his own name, earning official credit that money could never buy. Everyone in the hall understood that the Bancrofts had calculated this carefully. They were not merely showing generosity. They were using a priceless relic to secure the goodwill of a powerful military patron, and the implications were impossible to miss.Murmurs rippled through the crowd, and the guests exchanged excited looks.

In that moment, Maren Holt could hear her own heart hammering against her ribs, each beat thundering in her ears.Around them, the crowd of onlookers felt their palms slick with sweat, their limbs turning cold as tension coiled through the air. Everyone understood the truth now. One of these two people standing before them had to be General Reaper's teacher, and it certainly wouldn't be the woman. That left only one possibility: the young man.But who was he, really?Those who didn't recognize Aaron Holmes scrambled mentally, desperate to uncover any scrap of information about him. Those who did know him stood frozen, rooted to the spot, their faces masks of utter disbelief. They couldn't process what they were seeing.Julian Bancroft and Griffin Bancroft wore exactly those expressions. Their minds had gone completely blank. No matter who you were, witnessing this scene would shatter every assumption you held. Your enemy had become the teacher of the man you'd be

Just as Aaron Holmes was about to open the door, he suddenly turned around."Maren Holt, you're not scared of me, are you?"The unexpected question startled Maren, and a faint blush spread across her cheeks. "What? Of course not. No matter how capable you are, we're still friends. Besides, I haven't done anything to offend you. You wouldn't just come after me for no reason, right?""Of course not."Aaron's tone was firm and reassuring."But you..." Maren's voice dropped to almost a whisper. "You really were impressive back there.""What?" Aaron didn't quite catch that.Maren quickly recovered, changing the subject. "I meant, how are you going to explain all this to Serena? Are you planning to keep hiding it from her?"The question genuinely stumped Aaron. He fell silent for a moment, considering his options. The weight of the secret he carried felt heavier now that someone else knew the truth."I think it's better if she doesn't know yet,