The scene of Mara being forcefully dragged away by the criminal thugs was over in a matter of minutes, but the devastating aftermath left the top floor of Horizon Corp paralyzed. Dozens of terrified employees remained frozen in their cubicles, holding their breath long after the heavy metal doors of the freight elevator had slid shut.Among them, crouched perfectly still in the narrow gap between a frosted glass partition and a towering filing cabinet, was a young data analyst named Chloe. She wasn't just an ordinary employee trying to survive the workday; she was a highly paid corporate spy, directly planted inside Mara’s company by Lana to monitor every single move the young CEO made.Chloe’s heart was hammering against her ribs like a trapped bird. Her hands shook so violently she could barely feel her own fingers. She had signed up for corporate espionage—stealing spreadsheets, copying client lists, and forwarding private emails. She had never, in her wildest nightmares, expected

Cade raised an eyebrow. "Why? Let the beggar rot.""Because he thinks he is so tough," Lana reasoned, her eyes flashing with a sickening brilliance. "Let him know his precious little fake girlfriend is about to be tortured to death by a cartel. He’ll blindly rush over there to play the hero, and the mafia will slaughter him too. He put the boss's son in a wheelchair; they will skin Dane alive. They can both go and die together, and all our problems will be permanently erased in one afternoon."Cade’s face lit up with absolute, resounding approval. "Do it. Call the useless beggar. Put it on speaker."High up on the mountain, miles away from the polluted city air, Dane was standing in the sunlit, glass-enclosed room of his family's ancestral villa. He had just finished setting the terms of the ultimate, high-stakes bet with his treacherous cousin, Joshua.The tension in the sunroom was still incredibly thick. Dane’s blood was humming with residual adrenaline from facing down the man who

The black van sped through the city limits and drove deep into the heavily wooded hills, eventually pulling up to a massive, fortress-like compound. High stone walls topped with sharp wire surrounded the property, and armed guards stood at every corner.The van doors flew open. Rough hands grabbed Mara and Lily, dragging them out into the cool evening air. The two women were marched up the wide stone steps and thrown violently onto the hard marble floor of a huge, poorly lit living room.Vaughn's father walked in right behind them, dropping his heavy coat onto a chair. He lit a fresh cigar, the awful smell instantly filling the large room.Before anyone could speak, a young man hurried down the grand staircase. He looked to be in his early twenties, sharing a few of Vaughn’s facial features, but his eyes lacked the cruelty of his older brother. It was Vaughn’s younger brother.He stopped on the stairs, staring in shock at the two terrified women on the floor, and then looked at his fa

Mara kept her eyes closed. She waited for the end, entirely prepared to take her own life rather than submit.A massive impact shattered the front entrance of the house. The heavy wooden double doors tore away from their hinges. The solid panels crashed onto the marble floor.Dane walked through the open doorway. He immediately scanned the room. He identified the armed guards standing by the walls. He saw Lily crying in the far corner. Then, his eyes locked onto his primary target: Vaughn's father leaning directly over Mara on the leather sofa.Dane did not shout. He did not issue a warning. He walked in a straight, rapid line across the center of the living room.Vaughn's father turned his head toward the noise. Before the older man could process the intrusion, Dane executed a severe front kick directly into the center of the boss's chest.The physical force lifted the large man entirely off the ground. Vaughn's father flew backward through the air, collided violently with a heavy wo

Dane paid the driver with cash. He stepped out of the car and lifted Mara back into his arms. She clung to him like a lifeline. He carried her through the large automatic glass doors and walked directly into the grand lobby.The lobby was very quiet. A few wealthy guests were sitting in the lounge area reading newspapers. Dane ignored them completely. He walked straight to the front reception desk.A female receptionist stood behind the marble counter. She looked at Dane. She saw a man in casual clothes carrying a woman whose blouse was clearly torn. The receptionist immediately looked highly suspicious."Sir, can I help you?" the receptionist asked. Her tone was strict and not friendly."I need a room," Dane stated clearly. "The largest suite on the top floor.""I need to see your identification, sir," the receptionist replied firmly. "I also need a major credit card for the security deposit. We do not allow walk-ins without proper documentation, especially arriving in this condition