The storm outside the Ashford estate was wild and angry, but inside the master bedroom, the air was hot, thick, and heavy. The large curtains were pulled tight, blocking out the flashes of lightning that lit up the Charleston sky. On the king-sized bed, the expensive silk sheets were in a messy tangle of clothes and underwears. Vanessa’s fingers dug deep into the mattress. Her knuckles were stark white as she arched her back, letting out a heavy, breathless smile. "Raymond... please," she panted, her skin glistening with sweat in the dim light. "Don't stop... please, come back here and continue” Raymond watched her with a cold, steady gaze. He stood by the window, the shadow of the storm dancing across his face. Vanessa sat on the edge of the bed, her hands trembling as she smoothed the silk sheets, gazing at Raymond. She did not feel a single ounce of guilt, and she did not care. "Your husband should be reaching the point of no return by now," Raymond whispered, his voice cutt

The heavy rain fell hard on the shiny black umbrellas at the St. Philip's Church cemetery. Raymond Ashford stood directly in front of a giant, empty mahogany coffin that cost millions of dollars. He held a white silk handkerchief to his face and rubbed his eyes until they looked completely red. The bright flashes of the media cameras went off like small lightning bolts in the gray afternoon sky."My poor, dear brother," Raymond sobbed loudly, making sure the nearby microphones caught every single sound coming out of him."He was the best man I ever knew, and his sudden loss leaves a massive, empty hole in my heart." A young reporter pushed through the crowd, holding a black notepad under the heavy, pouring rain, asking how the company would survive without Derek's brilliant mind at the top. Raymond wiped his wet face again, looking straight into the lens of the television camera to declare that he would stay strong for the family and their thousands of employees.Vanessa stood right

The massive crystal chandeliers inside the historic grand ballroom of the Charleston Custom House shone very brightly. Hundreds of wealthy senators, multi-billionaires, and top foreign investors crowded the shiny white marble floors.The loud chatter of high society filled the big room while media cameras flashed non-stop. Everyone was smiling, drinking expensive wine, and celebrating the new leaders of the city.Raymond Ashford stood right next to a giant ice sculpture that was shaped exactly like the Ashford Group logo. He held a glass of champagne high in the air, his face completely flushed with arrogant pride."It was not an easy task, gentlemen," Raymond bragged loudly to a group of wealthy politicians standing around him. "This new international trade deal with the European market will double our corporate profits by next month.""We always knew you had the brains for this, Raymond," a tall senator laughed, patting him hard on the back. "Your late brother Derek was always far t

The rain in Charleston did not fall gently. It hammered against the sleek roof of the black Maybach limousine like a thousand small stones. Inside the car, the air was cold, bitter, and suffocating.Raymond Ashford sat hunched over in the plush leather seat, his head buried in his hands. His knuckles were raw and white, and his entire body shook like a dry leaf caught in a gale. His tailored tuxedo, which had felt like a golden robe of victory just two hours ago, now felt like a lead weight pressing down on his chest.Beside him, Vanessa was a complete wreck. The long, expensive white wedding veil she had worn so proudly was torn and crumpled at her feet, soaked in dirt from the frantic sprint away from the Custom House steps. Her dark red wine stain on the front of her designer dress had dried into an ugly, rusty brown crust that looked like dried blood across her chest. Her mascara had run down her cheeks in messy black tracks."He's alive," Vanessa whispered, her teeth chattering s

The crackle of the fireplace was the only sound left inside the grand hall of Ashford Manor. Outside, the storm continued to throw sheets of rain against the thick glass windows, but inside, the air had turned into solid ice.Derek sat frozen in the leather armchair. The military-grade tablet felt heavy in his hands. His eyes remained fixed on the glowing blue screen, staring at the administrative log code that should have been impossible.Line forty-two did not lie.The biometric authorization signature was an ancient, encrypted alphanumeric sequence that had been retired from the Ashford mainframes more than a decade ago. It bore the unique personal digital crest of Arthur Ashford—Derek’s father."Say that again, James," Derek commanded. His voice was barely above a whisper, but it carried a deadly, vibrating weight that made the hair on the back of James’s neck stand straight up.James Vance took a slow breath, standing at rigid attention. "The satellite relay station outside of At