2026-10-30 07:04:55"I'm heading to Dunswell City tonight."
Cornell Bateman had made up his mind. He needed to see Austin Sten in person. Something felt off. Though General Sten had been unwell before, it hadn't been serious enough that a single piece of bad news over the phone would cause him to collapse. With the precedent of the Sten family's eldest uncle fresh in his mind, Cornell found it hard to trust that everyone around General Sten was truly loyal.Maria Sten felt her mind spinning in chaos. W
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Chapter 057
The cloaked man's face darkened, but he forced down the fear rising in his chest. His right hand shot toward his waist, reaching for his gun. In the same instant, Cornell launched himself forward, planting one foot against the wall and using the rebound to propel himself straight at his target. The cloaked man barely managed to squeeze off a single round before Cornell struck the weapon from his grip, sending it clattering across the ground. A brutal punch followed, smashing into the man's skull. He staggered, nearly losing his footing entirely.Cornell swept his leg in a vicious arc, knocking the unsteady figure to the floor. His elbow came down hard on the man's throat, crushing bone and cartilage.The man's eyes bulged, his windpipe shattered. He made a wet, choking sound, thrashed briefly, and went still.Cornell dusted off his clothes, adjusted his collar, and walked unhurriedly toward the main street. He flagged down a taxi without looking back.Ever since
Chapter 056
"A strange man just delivered a letter for the young heiress," Mr. Cregger said respectfully, placing the envelope on the table.Maria reached for it, but Cornell snatched it up first. He tore open the envelope and scanned the contents. Four words: Meet at the Drunken Moon.Maria's displeasure at his presumption flickered across her face, her fingers tightening briefly against the table's edge.Cornell tossed the letter back onto the surface. "This is from Edmund. He wants you at the Drunken Moon. It's obviously a trap." He met her eyes, his tone steady and matter-of-fact. "But don't worry. As long as I'm here, no one's laying a finger on you."Mr. Cregger picked up the letter, turning it over in his hands, scrutinizing every inch of the paper with careful attention. After a long moment, he looked up at Cornell, confusion wrinkling his brow. "There's no signature. No other markings. How do you know it's from Edmund?""Call it intuition," Cornell replied, his
Chapter 055
Cornell was exhausted. Without explaining anything further, he returned to his room, collapsed onto the bed, and fell asleep immediately.When he emerged the next morning, he found Maria already sitting on the sofa in the living room. She had gradually begun to recover from the pain of losing General Sten, but now a new burden weighed on her. The company's troubles had replaced grief with worry, her face clouded with anxiety, tension visible in the way her fingers worried at the edge of a document folder resting in her lap.The moment she noticed Cornell, the troubled expression vanished. Her features settled back into their usual cool composure, distant and guarded.After a quiet breakfast, Maria changed into a fitted blazer and prepared to drive to Sterling Group. Cornell found his bicycle and got ready to follow, but she stopped him at the door."I'm not the president of Sterling Group anymore," she said flatly. "You should leave."Cornell saw through her
Chapter 054
The thug kept trying to stab Cornell, and kept getting slapped for it.After a full minute, his face had swollen into a grotesque mess, his movements sluggish and unsteady as if he were drunk. The other thug stood frozen, staring at Cornell with naked terror in his eyes."Get lost. Now."Cornell's voice cut through the night. Both thugs dropped Maria's purse and scrambled away, stumbling over themselves in their haste to escape before he changed his mind.In the car afterward, Maria said nothing. Her silence filled the space between them, heavy with unspoken grief.The cemetery behind the hospital was a sea of black. Hundreds of people stood in somber rows, white flowers pinned to their chests. Some were members of the Sten family itself. Others were businessmen eager to curry favor with the clan. And of course, there were military officers, including several major generals. Their presence alone spoke volumes about General Sten's reputation within the armed
Chapter 053
Maria was walking toward them. The moment she spotted the guard sprawled on the ground and Cornell surrounded by the security detail, she understood exactly what had happened.Anger simmered beneath her calm exterior, but watching Cornell strike down Uncle Edmund's men brought a rush of satisfaction. But the realization chilled her. Now that General Sten had been murdered, no one could rein in her uncle anymore. Edmund would come after her openly, with no restraint and no regard for consequences. He wouldn't have to answer to anyone.That was what worried her most. The protection her grandfather had provided was gone, and with it, any illusion of safety.The moment Maria arrived, the guards backed off. They retreated to the sides, their faces tight with frustration, watching helplessly as Cornell climbed into Maria's car and drove away. None of them dared move with her standing there.Outside the hospital entrance, Edmund emerged from the building, his face twist
Chapter 052
The lobby of the Grand Royale Hotel was quiet, save for the soft hum of conversation from scattered guests.Maria Sten sat upright on one of the leather sofas, wearing a purple coat that complemented her composed posture. Though worry lines marked her brow, they did little to soften the cold detachment in her eyes. A few flashily dressed young men from wealthy families had considered approaching her, their gazes lingering, but one look at her icy stare had been enough to send them elsewhere.Cornell Bateman settled into the chair across from her without a word.Maria's brow furrowed immediately. Her tone was flat, edged with disapproval. "Who told you to sit? I'm your employer. Don't you understand basic courtesy? Just because you saved me at the harbor doesn't mean you can act however you please in front of me."General Sten's sudden death had left Maria's mood dark and brittle. She had been standing by the window, staring down at the street below, anxiety knott
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