That night, the small Fletcher residence was filled with warmth and laughter as they celebrated Lilian’s victory, bringing a triumphant end to a day that had almost ended in disaster.Julian paced around the room, holding a glass of fruit juice, his eyes repeatedly darting back to the stunning midnight-blue gown draped carefully over the back of an armchair. He shook his head, looking at his younger sister, who was sitting happily on the couch beside Arthur.Julian said, resting a hand on his hip with a persistent grin, “Alright, Lilian, we’re home now. The show is over, the crown is yours, and the dock guys have gone home. Now tell me the truth. Where on earth did you get a gown like that on five minutes’ notice?”Lilian leaned her head against Arthur’s shoulder, cradling her bouquet of roses with an innocent smile. “I already told you, Julian! I was sitting outside my room crying my eyes out because my dress was stolen, and then a courier walked in and handed me that box. A guardian

Lilian Fletcher stood near the Linwood Gate, checking her wristwatch for the third time in ten minutes and letting out a sigh.Gabriel had offered to drive her to the Royal Youth Council meeting scheduled for noon, but she had pleaded with him to take her to the city mall first so she could pick up a matching handbag for her new crown.Arthur had also pleaded with Gabriel earlier that morning to accompany the girl everywhere. With the recent bomb threat at the birthday party and the unsettling incidents surrounding her pageant dress, the older man’s heart simply couldn’t take any more surprises.Lilian understood her father’s worries, but a part of her youthful spirit rebelled against the constant shadow of bodyguards. She longed for the simple days when she could wander through the city mall with her friends, grab ice cream, and gossip without feeling like a target in an invisible war. She wished all this back-and-forth chaos would end soon so she could breathe freely again.The low

The warehouse in East Ironport.Tied to a concrete pillar near the centre of the dusty floor was Lilian. Her arms were pulled tightly behind her back with rope, her head slumped forward against her chest in complete unconsciousness. The sedative Hermosa had slipped into the air vents of the Maserati still held her firmly.A distance away, eight heavily armed men sat gathered around a table. Two empty bottles of rum lay discarded, while a third half-filled bottle sat between scattered playing cards and overflowing plastic ashtrays.One of the men threw his cards down onto the table with an irritated grunt. “How long are we supposed to sit around holding this young lady?”The man across from him, who appeared to be leading the squad, leaned back in his chair. “As long as Mr. Lloyd wants us to. Have you forgotten the plan already?”The first thug grumbled, rubbing his stubbled jaw. “Remind me again. I wasn’t listening when the boss was handing out the assignment.”The leader scoffed, sha

The SUV glided quietly down the avenue of the upper district. In the back seat, Lilian lay sound asleep on a padded blanket, still recovering from the lingering effects of the mild sedative.Gabriel kept one hand on the steering wheel while using his earpiece to establish a line with Andrew.“Andrew,” Gabriel said in his usual calm tone. “I have Lilian secured in my vehicle. Send a private medical transport unit to intercept me at the bypass. Ensure she is safe, but don’t take her home to Arthur and Julian.”“Understood, General,” Andrew replied instantly over the line.Gabriel looked sideways at the passenger seat. Bound at the wrists and bleeding from his jaw, the captured leader sat slouched against the door, trembling in silence.“I am heading to 142 Crestwood Manor,” Gabriel said smoothly. “Prepare a cleanup squad for standby.”Ten minutes later, after handing Lilian over to Andrew’s trusted medical team at a quiet intersection, Gabriel drove the SUV straight toward the gated ent

Naomi looked up from the medical tray, blinking in surprise as she felt the heavy shift in the air. She turned her head between Gabriel and the woman sitting on the examination bed, entirely unaware of who Veronica really was or the lethal history they shared.“Gabriel, is everything alright?” Naomi asked softly.Veronica didn’t flinch. She sat on the edge of the examination table; a knowing smile touched the corners of Veronica’s lips as she looked past Naomi, locking her sharp eyes directly onto Gabriel.Gabriel did not say a word. His gaze was an abyss of cold steel, boring into Veronica with an intensity that made the surrounding air feel thick and heavy.“There,” Naomi said softly, securing the medical tape around Veronica’s finger with a professional smile. “That should keep it protected. Just try to keep it dry for the rest of the evening.”“Thank you, Doctor,” Veronica replied smoothly, her voice composed. “You have very steady hands.”Gabriel finally broke his silence, steppi