"The fact that the Bailey Family has such deep connections with the Zane Family... it is truly incredible," Tia Sutton breathed, her eyes wide with genuine admiration.She stared up at the towering, iron-reinforced gates of the Zane Estate, feeling a profound sense of smallness. To the average citizen of Northriver, the Zane Family was not just a wealthy clan; they were a dynasty of power and steel.Frank Zane, the patriarch, was a retired general whose influence still rippled through the military. His eldest son, Tom Zane, was a colonel in the Dragon River Military Command and the captain of the fearsome Fierce Dragon SF. His second son, Xavier Zane, controlled the financial lifeblood of the city as the President of Apex Bank.It was a family of soldiers and bankers—a fortress of influence that few dared to approach, let alone knock on the door of.The fact that Perry Bailey could casually walk up to these gates and claim a relationship was shocking to Tia

"That's the first time I've heard the usually haughty Winter Lacy speak so politely.""I have to say, when she dresses up and speaks with courtesy, she really does have a bit of feminine charm!"Thinking this, Jack Brooks lay back down on his bed.Given Winter Lacy's usual character, if he opened the door, she would probably treat him like a thief.To save himself the trouble, Jack simply ignored her.Seeing no response from inside, Winter Lacy slipped her business card through the gap under the door and spoke softly:"I greatly admire General Jennings and would like to be friends with you.""This is my business card. If you have time, please give me a call."After saying this, she turned and left, her face full of excitement."I kept talking, and Tyler Jennings didn't refuse me. That means he's willing to befriend me.""It makes sense. With my unparalleled medical skills and stunning looks, even a War God who awes a region wouldn't

Outside the magnificent, gold-gilded entrance of the Sky Emperor Hotel, the midday sun beat down on the pavement, but the heat of the day was nothing compared to the scorching tension radiating from the gathered crowd.Ted Wolfe, the tycoon of the Wolfe Group, stepped out of the rear passenger seat of his extended Rolls-Royce Phantom. He adjusted his suit jacket, his round, prosperous face twisted into a mask of genuine confusion as he squinted toward the commotion at the hotel's revolving doors.He had expected a red carpet, a respectful silence, perhaps the popping of champagne corks to celebrate the return of a king. Instead, he saw a standoff."I have been racking my brain for the last few minutes, and I simply cannot wrap my head around it," Ted muttered, his voice dripping with incredulity. He gestured with a fleshy hand toward the figure blocking the path. "Who is this blind fool? Does he not know who Victor Zane is? Does he not know the weight that name carrie

Victor Zane watched the cold, predatory sneer vanish from Jack Brooks's face, replaced by that familiar mask of indifferent boredom. Only then did the oxygen seem to return to the hotel lobby.Victor let out a breath he felt he had been holding for five years. He raised a trembling hand to his forehead, wiping away a layer of cold sweat that had gathered at his hairline. His heart, which had been hammering against his ribs like a trapped bird, began to slow to a survivable rhythm.He didn't kill me, Victor thought, the realization washing over him with the force of a religious epiphany. He isn't going to kill me right here.The crisis was averted, but the performance had to continue. Victor knew that Jack preferred to keep a low profile. If Victor dropped to his knees and worshipped him now, Jack might just kill him out of annoyance for causing a scene."Get that filth out of here! Immediately!" Victor barked, waving his hand impatiently at the spot where Connor

"It wasn't anything special."Jack Brooks extricated his arm from her grasp, his movements deliberate and calm. He adjusted his cuff, his expression indifferent, before abruptly shifting the trajectory of the conversation, cutting through the playful atmosphere like a knife."Have you ever heard of a woman named Claire Lynch?"The question hung in the air, a stark, jarring contrast to the opulent surroundings of The Peninsula's main dining hall. Crystal chandeliers cast a warm, golden glow over tables laden with fine porcelain and silver cutlery. The air was thick with the scent of roasted truffle, expensive cologne, and the hushed, polite murmur of Northriver's elite making deals. But for Jack Brooks, the name Claire Lynch triggered a cascade of dark, visceral memories that transported him far away from this luxury, back to the damp, rotting stone of Alchemy Demon Island Prison.That prison was not merely a correctional facility; it was a savage ecosystem isolat