"A fine piece of work you are. Know your place," the messenger in the crisp white shirt sneered as Iris Smith took the invitation from his hand. He didn't wait for a reply, turning on his heel with a contemptuous shrug and sauntering toward the exit of the hospital wing.Ethan Smith's eyes narrowed into slits, a cold, predatory light flickering within them. Had his sisters not been present, that arrogant messenger would have been leaving the floor on a gurney rather than his own two feet."Iris, who exactly is this Terrence Hayes? His lackey has quite the mouth on him," Ethan remarked, his voice carrying a protective edge that vibrated through the room.Iris Smith sighed, the weight of her corporate responsibilities momentarily clouding her usually radiant face. "The Hayes family is the juggernaut of the Capital of Valeridge—they are the single largest apparel distributor in the region. Roughly half of Mosaic Corporation's outgoing logistics flow through their n

Every individual seated within the Heaven Box was a person of self-proclaimed refinement, accustomed to the rarefied air of executive suites and high-stakes negotiations. To the likes of Brian Marini and Terrence Hayes, the very fact that Iris Smith had been permitted entry into their circle was a benevolence—a royal favor bestowed upon a commoner.When Ethan Smith dared to suggest that their presence was an honor for the hosts rather than the guests, the fragile veneer of civility shattered. Terrence Hayes was the first to erupt, his face flushing a deep, angry crimson as he slammed his crystal glass onto the table."You arrogant little brat! Do you have any idea what you just said?" Terrence roared, his voice trembling with indignation. "An honor for us? I am a Hayes. My family controls the lifeblood of your industry. Let me make this crystal clear for your thick skull: being allowed into this room is the pinnacle of your sister's miserable career. Iris Smith, you

The aftermath within the Heaven Box was a tableau of absolute devastation. Once the dual blades of Catherine Jones had finished their grim work, the so-called princes of the Capital of Valeridge were reduced to sobbing heaps of ruined flesh. Terrence Hayes and Brian Marini lay amidst the wreckage of shattered porcelain and spilled vintage wine, their futures as heirs to their respective dynasties severed as cleanly as the silk of their designer trousers. The other minor lords of the industry, who only moments ago had been barking threats of financial ruin against the Mosaic Corporation, now scrambled for the exit, their faces pale and their bladders failing them.While the restaurant staff stood frozen in the hallways, paralyzed by the sheer martial pressure radiating from the suite, Shark was already moving. He was a veteran of the underworld, a man who had survived a dozen turf wars in the Capital of Valeridge, and his instincts were screaming at him that every second spent i

The atmosphere outside the Ambershire General Hospital was electric, thick with the scent of sterile antiseptic and the heavy humidity typical of early summer in Veridian. It was a momentous day, a turning point in the local power structure that drew crowds like moths to a flame. Pedestrians lingered near the iron gates, whispering as they watched the arrival of one black sedan after another, each vehicle reflecting the afternoon sun with a polished, predatory gleam.Inside the VIP recovery wing, the air was considerably warmer, filled with the soft rustle of silk and the relieved sighs of a family reunited. Bree Smith stood by the window, her silhouette framed by the late morning light. After weeks of confinement following her brush with death, she was finally being discharged."Finally, Bree, you're free from this place," Alice Smiths complained, though her eyes twinkled with a mixture of exhaustion and affection. She adjusted the cuff of her designer blouse, a piece tha

The celebration of Bree Smith's recovery had been a brief, beautiful interlude of domestic warmth. For two days, Jana Smiths had lingered in Ambershire, a rare presence of steel and elegance, before her military duties in the Capital of Valeridge summoned her back. The fourth sister, Bree Smith, had wasted no time assuming her mantle as the new Governor of the city. Her schedule was immediately swallowed by a mountain of administrative backlogs and high-stakes meetings with local officials, leaving her little time for the comforts of the Smith residence.Alice Smiths, however, had no intention of leaving. She stayed behind in Ambershire under the flimsy pretext of monitoring Bree's recovery for any potential "post-traumatic complications." In reality, the seventh sister was far more interested in reclaiming the years of lost time with Ethan Smith. She clung to him like a shadow, her sharp, observant eyes never missing a single movement he made.Life at the Mosaic Corporati