In Westhaven State, the gap between the Westhaven Chamber of Commerce and families like the Hawthornes and Vales was stark. Calling it the difference between heaven and earth wouldn't be an exaggeration."By the way, Mr. Norwood, I heard the Iron Fist Corps withdrew back to Southwest Command, and Lord Holmes personally went to inspect them. Have you ever met Lord Holmes? If we could see him even once, this life would be worth it." Jasper Ramsey thought of something and turned to Edwin Norwood with the question.Edwin Norwood shook his head. "I heard about this from one of my students. He's a commander at Southwest Command, but the Iron Fist Corps reports directly to Lord Holmes. When Lord Holmes went to inspect them a few days ago, he didn't notify anyone at Southwest Command. Forget about us, even the supreme commander there hasn't managed to meet Lord Holmes face to face.""That secretive?"Jasper Ramsey sounded surprised.Although he held the prestigious

It took Maren a moment to process what had just happened, and the blush spreading across her cheeks deepened as the realization finally sank in. She quickly released her grip and pulled her hand back, suddenly unsure where to look.“I’m sorry. I was desperate, and it was the only thing I could think of at the time.”Aaron casually flexed his arm and glanced at her without any real irritation. “It’s fine. Just don’t do it again.”“Right!” Maren nodded quickly, her embarrassment making her eager to put the awkward moment behind her.Then, as she replayed the exchange in her mind, she realized that something about it felt strangely off.She was obviously the one who had taken advantage of him, yet somehow, Aaron was behaving as though he were the one who had suffered a serious loss. The thought left her confused, but she quickly decided not to dwell on it.After all, considering Aaron’s true ident

"This farewell party tonight might be my last official business in Haven. Though really, it's hardly business at all. Think of it as an old friend saying goodbye before heading off to a new posting. I won't waste time with long speeches. Eat well, drink well, and if any promising opportunities come up in the future, let's work together.""Mr. Fields always knows the right thing to say.""Mr. Fields is moving up in the world but hasn't forgotten about us. How touching.""If I get my hands on any worthwhile projects, I'll definitely bring them to Mr. Fields first."Praise continued to flow freely toward Preston Fields, with one compliment after another coming from the entrepreneurs gathered around him. His many years of work in Haven had clearly earned him an excellent reputation, judging by the respect and admiration he received from so many influential business owners.Just as the conversation was reaching its liveliest point, a rapid series of loud explosio

"Black Snake, do I know you that well?" Chief Marshal Vance raised his voice sharply, then his expression darkened. "Take them all in!"From beginning to end, Aaron Holmes remained utterly calm, as though the entire affair had nothing to do with him whatsoever. His posture was relaxed, his breathing even. He simply watched the scene unfold with the detached interest of a man observing theater.After Black Snake was led away, the venue gradually settled back into uneasy quiet. But the way people looked at Aaron had changed. No one had expected Preston Fields to have this kind of relationship with him, much less that he'd be willing to cross Black Snake just to protect Aaron. Whispers rippled through the crowd, speculation and reassessment flickering across every face.Serena Vale, however, wasn't surprised in the slightest. She'd known all along that Aaron's connection to Preston had been established through Quincy Thornton's introduction. Now that Preston had risen to

In other words, if Aaron Holmes truly cared about compensation, he would never have let the old man leave so easily that night. He would have demanded some form of repayment, at the very least.Rosalie Chambers's tone hardened. "I'm afraid that's not an option. The Chambers family doesn't leave debts unsettled."Just then, a servant stepped forward and placed a cup of coffee on the table between them."Freshly brewed," Aaron Holmes said, picking up the cup and taking a leisurely sip. "Then let's call it even."The rich aroma and smooth bitterness lingered on his palate. It was surprisingly good."A cup of coffee hardly settles a debt of this magnitude," Rosalie replied calmly. "Mr. Holmes, I don't think you quite understand the position you're dealing with. Let me put it plainly. The Chambers family is the most powerful family in the Southwest. Our business interests span the entire region, and our flagship company, Southcrest Pharmaceuticals, ranks among Ru