"The Martial Fortress has fallen."The news spread across every television station in Oakland."Today, former Lieutenant Damien Ross walks out of Oakland Central Prison after serving seven years for rape. Once praised as the Fierce Warlord, he now returns with his honor destroyed, his name hated by the public, and all his wealth still frozen by the government."With a loud bang, the prison gates closed behind Damien Ross.After seven years, he was finally free. But freedom did not feel warm. It felt so cold.Damien was one of the youngest lieutenants in the Oakland Army. Across the Seven Great Cities, people respected him as the Martial Fortress. He fought for his country, protected countless lives, and earned many medals.Today, none of that mattered."There he is!""The rapist is out!"Before Damien could take another step, reporters and angry citizens rushed toward him. Cameras flashed nonstop while microphones were pushed into his face.One hit his lips hard enough to draw blood.

Within ten minutes, the Goddess zoomed off with the supercars to an exclusive meeting with Edward Coker, the Duke of Oakland.Before she left, she gave distinct instructions to one of the drivers. Damien Ross had politely refused to be escorted by any bodyguard for reasons that his mother perfectly understood.**“Martial Fortress, I'm Paul Emerson, the Goddess’s household butler. It's an honor to finally meet you.”Paul fell to his knees alongside ten cooperatively dressed household staff.While Damien was still warming to the butler's honorary reception. The other household staff members spoke in unison:“It's a privilege to know what you look like. We'll serve you till the last breath.”Damien nodded keenly and waved his fingers for them to rise. He suspected they were expecting him from how they spoke with a unified voice.Damien drew a deep breath to savor the magnificent castle his mother lived in. From the gate, he was thrilled by the exterior masterpiece; the well-trimmed, wat

For a slight moment, James' expression was riddled with uncertainty, but he quickly wore back a gloating gesture.“Don't be so pained to question my family's wealth and the connection we amassed. There's literally no elite in Oakland that my father can't influence.”James' words reeked of pride and mockery, raising his shoulder high while Laura caressed his arms to spite Damien even more.James believed luck was on his side, and he'd be a fool not to take all the credit for the unexpected twist of events.Laura clicked her tongue, measured Damien up with a belittling stare: “You saw what happened, or are you living in denial? My man walked out to make a phone call, and boom, everything changed.”Chloe didn't allow the opportunity to go by without taunting Damien further, “I understand why you're bitter. You wished you were half the man that James is. Newsflash: you're nothing but a sore loser!”Damien's heart tugged in anger at James' mischievous stance in taking false credit, but he

As seconds ticked down, Laura, James, and Chloe were thrown to the pavement outside the hall venue, drenched in humiliation, and still couldn't make sense of what had happened inside.Laura strode a walk of shame; confusion spoke volumes in her expression as she yelled:“What in hell’s name just happened? Someone should tell me that isn't real. Did Sheraton regard a convicted rapist over us? Damien barely left jail six hours ago. How did he become her honored guest?”Questions were thrust in the air, eyes rolling back and forth, and none of them could comprehend how the heck it all happened.James let out an exasperated sigh; his eyes burned with envy:“That miscreant keeps attracting hot, beautiful, well-to-do ladies despite being jailed.” He shook his head in frustration and sneered: “I wonder what Sheraton finds attractive about him. Women and their poor taste in men.”An idea struck Chloe, and her mouth slowly widened:“I think she needs him to handle her domestic chores, 'cause b