BlackhavenThere were many prisons in the world, but only one had a reputation that made even powerful men afraid of their own shadows.Blackhaven.The prison stood on an isolated island far from the mainland. Surrounded by rough seas and guarded day and night, it was built for criminals who could never be allowed to return to society.Politicians who had ordered assassinations, Mafia leaders who had controlled entire cities, Drug lords, Human traffickers, Professional killers,Men whose names were whispered rather than spoken.The most dangerous prisoners were classified as SS-Class. Once someone entered Blackhaven, there was very little chance of ever walking out again.That afternoon, the prison gates opened. The sound of metal grinding against metal echoed through the yard, several prisoners looked toward the entrance. A young man was brought inside with his hands cuffed behind his back. He wasn't muscular. He wasn't particularly tall. There were no scars covering his face, no inti

The Montclair HeiressThe Montclair estate stood on the highest point of the city.From a distance, it looked less like a family home and more like a government building. White stone walls surrounded the property, guarded gates stood at every entrance, and black cars came and went throughout the day.The Montclairs had spent generations building their influence. They owned companies.Hospitals.Private schools.Hotels.News networks.Construction firms.Their name appeared on buildings all over the country. Politicians attended their dinners, Businessmen waited weeks for meetings with them, and when a Montclair wanted something, people usually found a way to make it happen.But inside the estate, the family was divided.Two factions.One family.Two ambitions.On the eastern side of the dining hall sat the family of Lucien Montclair, the current head of the main household. Across from them sat the family of his younger brother, Darius Montclair. The two brothers had grown up under the

The Man in the AlleyThe street had finally begun to quiet down. The ambulance had taken the injured driver away, Police officers were collecting statements from witnesses. The restaurant had closed its front entrance because of the broken glass.Vireya stood beside the sidewalk, staring at the wrecked sedan. Something about the crash bothered her also Serena Vale had said the same thing.‘It wasn't an accident.’Vireya looked at Evren. He was standing several feet away, speaking with one of the officers as his expression hadn't changed since the crash. Calm, almost indifferent.She still couldn't understand him. Most people would have been shaken after nearly being hit by a car. Evren looked as if someone had simply interrupted his lunch.When he finished speaking, he walked toward her. “Are you ready?”Vireya looked at him. “Ready for what?”“To leave.”She frowned. “You're not even going to ask what happened?”“I know what happened.”“No. I mean the crash.”Evren looked toward the

Chapter 7: The Night of the BanquetBy six in the evening, the Montclair estate had transformed into a palace of lights.Crystal chandeliers glowed above the marble hall. Black-and-gold decorations lined the walls, while expensive flowers stood in tall silver vases. Politicians, businessmen, socialites, and influential members of both clans arrived one after another, each carrying a smile that concealed a private agenda.Tonight, was supposed to celebrate the engagement of Vireya Montclair and Evren Valcero. But beneath the music and laughter, several people had come for something else. They had come to witness a humiliation.Vireya stood in front of the mirror while two attendants adjusted the sleeves of her dark emerald gown. The dress was elegant without being excessive. Its clean lines emphasized her confidence rather than her beauty. A thin diamond necklace rested against her collarbone, and her hair was tied loosely behind her head.Her mother watched her from the doorway. “You

Chapter 9: The Crown's ShadowThe Montclair estate was almost empty.The guests had finally left.The reporters were gone.The politicians had returned to their cars, and the endless stream of black vehicles had disappeared through the gates.But inside the mansion, nobody was celebrating.Vireya stood beside one of the tall windows overlooking the gardens.The banquet had ended hours ago, yet she still couldn't forget what had happened.The accusations.The documents.Caelan's attack.Evren's reaction.And most importantly—The message.ASK CASSIUS ABOUT THE CROWN.She turned around.Evren stood several feet away, his hands inside the pockets of his suit.He had been unusually quiet since they left the banquet hall."You're thinking about it."Evren looked at her."About what?""The Crown."He didn't answer.Vireya crossed her arms."You've been staring at the same window for five minutes.""I wasn't aware you were counting.""I was."Evren almost smiled.Almost.Vireya walked toward