The rough ropes cut into Diana's wrists.She tested her bindings, pulling her arms behind her back. The knots didn't move at all. The rough fiber burned her skin, but she bit her lip, refusing to make a sound.She sat strapped to a heavy steel chair in the middle of an abandoned shipyard warehouse. The big building smelled of stale seawater, rotting wood, and rusted metal. Water dripped from the ceiling, echoing loudly in the empty space.Six men surrounded her.They wore matching black tactical gear. Their faces were hidden behind dark masks. They didn't pace or talk like local street thugs. They stood at strict positions, their quiet guns ready.They moved with perfect military precision. These were professional killers.Diana didn't scream. She didn't cry or beg. She raised her chin, keeping her face cold and proud. She was the daughter of Zenith City's top general. Showing fear was not an option.The team leader stepped into the dim light hanging above her.He pulled back the slid

Luke kept one hand on the wheel and picked up the phone. He pressed the green button, putting the call on the car's speaker."I'm here," Luke said."Luke!" Sarah's voice trembled through the speakers. She sounded breathless, full of panic. "Are you okay? Where are you?""I'm driving back to the city," Luke replied calmly. "I'm fine. What's wrong?""The news," Sarah gasped. "They interrupted the broadcast. There was a huge explosion in the industrial district. A warehouse blew up near the port."Luke glanced at the rearview mirror. The distant sky was still smeared with black smoke."I saw it in the mirror," Luke lied smoothly. "I finished my inspection and left before it happened. I'm completely safe."Sarah let out a heavy, shaking breath."Thank god," she whispered.In the passenger seat, Diana shifted.The adrenaline crash had knocked her out, but her body was already fighting its way back. Her head lolled against the headrest.She let out a low, painful groan.Dead silence fell ov

The Dragon Emperor Villa was completely quiet when Luke finally walked through the front doors.He didn't go to the kitchen or the living room. He walked straight down the hallway and gently pushed open the door to Zoe's bedroom.The room was dark, lit only by a small, star-shaped nightlight on the wall. Zoe was fast asleep, buried under a thick, fluffy blanket. Her breathing was steady and clear.Luke walked over to the edge of the bed. He leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead."Sorry I'm late, princess," Luke whispered.He stepped back out, pulling the door shut with a quiet click.He let Sarah know he was back, then headed straight for the master bathroom. Standing under the hot shower, Luke washed away the sweat and the adrenaline of the shipyard.When he finally walked into the dining room, he was wearing a simple, thin gray shirt and comfortable sweatpants. His dark hair was still damp.Sarah was sitting at the marble dining table. A plate of warm food was waiting

Isabella held her phone out, her finger hovering over her banking app. She stared at Luke, her eyes burning with arrogance.Sarah stood frozen beside him. Her mind spun in panic. She waited for Luke's cover to shatter. She waited for him to accidentally reveal a secret account or a shady ledger.Luke didn't blink. He kept his hands in his pockets.He calmly said a nine-digit routing number and a standard checking account.Isabella's thumbs flew across her screen. She didn't hesitate. She typed for a few seconds, then held the phone up so Luke could see the confirmation screen.Transfer Complete: $10,000,000.00."I doubled it," Isabella said coldly, slipping the phone back into her purse. "Consider the interest a penalty for making me wait. We are officially even."She didn't wait for a response. She turned on her heel, her shoes clicking sharply against the marble floor as she walked out the main entrance.Sarah stared at the empty doorway, speechless.She slowly turned her head. She

Sarah didn't waste a second.She reached into her purse and pulled out her phone. Her fingers flew across the screen, pulling up the text from the unsaved number that had messaged her yesterday.She hit call and tapped the speakerphone icon.Sarah stepped forward. She held the phone down toward the dirt, pointing the microphone at the lead executive writhing on the ground.The phone rang twice. The loud tone echoed across the quiet orphanage yard."Sarah?"The man's voice came through the speaker. It was smooth, rich, and surprised."Julian," Sarah said. Her voice was pure ice. "Your company is illegally trying to evict this orphanage in twenty-four hours. And your man just tried to shove me."A heavy silence fell over the phone line.The executive on the ground stopped groaning. His bloodshot eyes went wide with terror. He stared at the phone in Sarah's hand like it was a loaded gun."Who is running that sector?" Julian demanded. The warmth in his voice was gone. It was replaced by s