2026-03-27 19:12:43News of Julian Thorne’s downfall spread through Manhattan’s elite like a bomb explosion. Overnight, Arthur Thorne’s favored son lost everything—his wealth, his dignity, even his inheritance—seized by a mysterious figure who turned out to be the very person they had cast out a year ago.
Alaric Thorne stood on the balcony of his new office, gazing at the towering Thorne Group skyscraper in the distance. In his hand, an old phone vibrated. Only one number appeared on its dark screen—a number he never expected would contact him this soon.
“Speak,” Alaric said coldly as he answered.
“You learn quickly, Alaric,” came the heavy, hoarse voice on the other end. Arthur Thorne. There was no pride in his tone, only the dry acknowledgment of a tyrant. “Julian was a weak pawn, but you destroyed him in a way that was… inefficient. You let him live.”
“I let him live so he can watch me take your seat, Father,” Alaric replied without hesitation.
A brief silence followed. “Come to Thorne Estate tonight. Eight o’clock. Don’t be late.”
The call ended. Alaric lowered the phone, his eyes narrowing. He knew this was no simple family reunion. This was a new battlefield.
Maia stepped into the room, her face more tense than usual. “Master, we have a problem. Seraphina Vance disappeared from our surveillance two hours ago.”
Alaric turned sharply. “How is that possible?”
“She exploited a gap during the mansion evacuation. Someone picked her up in a car with no license plates,” Maia lowered her head, feeling she had failed her duty. “I traced her last signal—it seems she’s heading toward the old docks in Brooklyn.”
“The docks? What would a spoiled woman like her be doing there?” Alaric frowned.
“She’s not alone, Master. My informant says she was seen with several members of the mercenary syndicate Dominic used to hire. It seems… she’s planning something reckless before you arrive at Thorne Estate.”
Alaric fell silent. A desperate Seraphina was far more dangerous than a powerful one. She knew too much about his habits over the past year.
“Send a small team after her, but our priority remains tonight,” Alaric ordered. “Prepare the car. We’re going to the Thorne residence. And Maia… make sure you’re carrying full weaponry beneath your dress. I don’t trust my father’s ‘dinner invitation.’”
—
Thorne Estate, 08:00 PM.
The massive iron gates opened slowly, welcoming Alaric’s Rolls-Royce. The mansion loomed like a haunted castle under the moonlight. Armed guards stood at every corner, watching Alaric with wary eyes.
Alaric stepped into the main dining hall. The long oak table was perfectly set. At the far end, Arthur Thorne sat alone, cutting his steak with precise movements.
“Sit,” Arthur said without looking up.
Alaric took a seat across from him. Maia stood behind him, her eyes scanning the room for hidden threats.
“You return with an elite servant,” Arthur glanced briefly at Maia before returning to his meal. “Your grandfather always favored you over me. He gave you that shadow unit, didn’t he?”
“Grandfather knew who had the backbone in this family,” Alaric replied sharply. “So why did you call me? To congratulate me for turning your golden son into a beggar?”
Arthur set down his knife. “Julian was trash. But Thorne Group needs stability. I’ll give you the position of Vice CEO—on the condition that you return Julian’s assets to the family treasury.”
Alaric laughed, a sound full of contempt. “Vice CEO? You must be joking. I already have Vance Global and half of Julian’s personal assets. I don’t need your charity, Father. I came here to inform you… that I will launch a hostile takeover of Thorne Group’s subsidiaries tomorrow morning.”
Arthur’s face flushed red, the veins on his temples tightening. “You dare challenge me? I can destroy you overnight, Alaric!”
“Try it,” Alaric shot back, leaning forward. “The world already knows about Dominic Vance’s scandal. If I release documents linking your port project funding to Dominic’s money laundering… Thorne Group will collapse before the stock market even opens.”
The tension in the room grew so thick it felt as if the air itself had vanished. Then suddenly, a small explosion echoed from outside, followed by gunfire tearing through the night.
A guard rushed in, panic written all over his face. “Sir! We’re under attack! Someone breached the west gate!”
Alaric and Maia stood instantly. Alaric looked at his father with suspicion. “Is this part of your plan, Father?”
“Don’t be ridiculous! I wouldn’t attack my own home!” Arthur snapped.
Maia touched her earpiece. “Master, it’s Seraphina! She brought mercenaries! She’s gone mad… she’s burning everything in her path!”
Alaric hissed. Seraphina had truly chosen a suicidal move. She wanted to drag him down to hell with her.
“Secure the exit!” Alaric ordered Maia.
But before they could move, the dining room doors exploded open. Seraphina Vance stormed in, her hair disheveled, her eyes burning with fury. In her hand, she held a small detonator. Behind her, a group of heavily armed men aimed their rifles at Alaric and Arthur.
“If I can’t have you, Alaric… then no one will!” Seraphina screamed hysterically. “All of you… the arrogant Thorne family… will die tonight!”
Alaric stared at her coldly, while Maia subtly shifted her position to shield him. The game of power had just turned into real bloodshed.
Previous Chapter
Latest Chapter
11
Arthur Thorne’s funeral did not feel like a final tribute to a man; it felt more like a summit of apex predators at the top of the food chain. A light drizzle wrapped around St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan, deepening the oppressive gloom. Hundreds of men in black suits and dark glasses lined the sidewalks, each with hands never far from inside their jackets.Alaric Thorne stood in the front row, directly before his father’s sealed bronze coffin. The eagle signet ring on his finger glinted beneath the cathedral’s dim chandeliers. Beside him, Maia stood in a sleek but functional black dress, her eyes constantly scanning every mourner who entered.“Master,” Maia whispered, her voice barely audible beneath the priest’s prayers. “Your half-brothers from the European and Asian branches have just landed. They didn’t come to mourn. Each brought their own mercenary units and are on their way here.”Alaric didn’t turn. His gaze remained fixed on the coffin. “Let them come in. I want to see
10
The smell of gunpowder and the metallic scent of blood mixed with the damp aroma of soaked wool carpeting inside The Vault’s VVIP room. A shattered massive aquarium had turned the casino floor into a deadly glass swamp. Water pooled ankle-deep, dragging along crystal shards and the bodies of unfortunate guards.Alaric Thorne stood upright in the middle of the chaos. His breathing was steady, as if the distant sirens and screams were nothing more than background noise. In front of him, Julian Thorne crawled backward, trying to escape his brother—who now looked like something out of hell.“Wait, Alaric! We can talk!” Julian shouted, his voice hoarse with fear. “The Italian mafia—they came to me! I was only trying to protect Father’s company!”Alaric didn’t respond. He stepped forward, each footstep splashing through the water like a death knell. With one swift motion, he grabbed Julian by the throat and lifted him. Julian’s weight meant nothing against the strength Alaric had kept hidde
9
Dawn broke over the Manhattan skyline, casting light across the cold glass of towering skyscrapers. Inside his private office, Alaric Thorne stood by the window, sipping his strong espresso. On a leather sofa in the corner, Seraphina Vance lay curled up weakly, wrapped in a silk blanket with an empty gaze. The remnants of last night’s “punishment” were still visible on her reddened wrists and shoulders.She was no longer the proud socialite who once ruled lavish parties. She was nothing more than the wreckage now entirely owned by Alaric.“Get up, Seraphina,” Alaric’s voice cut through the silence, cold and emotionless. “Your time for self-pity is over.”Seraphina flinched, clutching the blanket tighter. “What more do you want, Alaric? You’ve already taken everything… you’ve destroyed me.”“I didn’t destroy you. I simply showed you your rightful place,” Alaric replied, turning to face her with a look of disdain. “Now, you’re going to repay your debt for staying alive. There’s a secret
8
The mercenary attack on Thorne Estate was suppressed in less than thirty minutes. Maia and the Thorne shadow unit moved like ghosts, neutralizing enemies one by one in the darkness of the corridors. Seraphina Vance, who had been screaming hysterically with a detonator in her hand, now lay collapsed on the floor of Alaric’s soundproof private study.The detonator turned out to be fake. Seraphina had lost everything and gone mad—this was her final attempt to gain the attention of the man she once looked down on.Alaric sat in his chair, staring at the woman before him with an icy gaze. Seraphina looked disheveled; her gold dress was torn in several places, her blonde hair tangled, her breathing uneven from both fear and… misplaced desire.“You wanted to blow me up, Seraphina?” Alaric asked, his voice low and threatening. “Or did you just want to get back into my room?”Seraphina crawled closer, tears streaking down her flushed cheeks. “Alaric… you don’t understand. Dominic was a monster
7
News of Julian Thorne’s downfall spread through Manhattan’s elite like a bomb explosion. Overnight, Arthur Thorne’s favored son lost everything—his wealth, his dignity, even his inheritance—seized by a mysterious figure who turned out to be the very person they had cast out a year ago.Alaric Thorne stood on the balcony of his new office, gazing at the towering Thorne Group skyscraper in the distance. In his hand, an old phone vibrated. Only one number appeared on its dark screen—a number he never expected would contact him this soon.“Speak,” Alaric said coldly as he answered.“You learn quickly, Alaric,” came the heavy, hoarse voice on the other end. Arthur Thorne. There was no pride in his tone, only the dry acknowledgment of a tyrant. “Julian was a weak pawn, but you destroyed him in a way that was… inefficient. You let him live.”“I let him live so he can watch me take your seat, Father,” Alaric replied without hesitation.A brief silence followed. “Come to Thorne Estate tonight.
6
The headquarters of Vance Global had now transformed into Alaric Thorne’s command center. Behind the massive mahogany desk that once belonged to Dominic, Alaric sat calmly, gazing at the Manhattan skyline through bulletproof glass. On the monitor before him, the stock charts of Julian Thorne’s company were in free fall.Alaric sipped his bitter black coffee. “How is he reacting, Maia?”Maia stood in the corner of the room, her fingers dancing over the keyboard of her encrypted laptop. “Julian is panicking, Master. He just lost his logistics contract at the East Port. He’s contacting all his connections, but not a single one dares to pick up. They know who’s behind this attack.”“Good. Let him feel suffocated,” Alaric said coldly. “And what about Evelyn?”“She’s waiting outside. Completely broken, though she still hopes you’ll show her mercy.” Maia glanced toward the door with a disdainful look. “She just received a message from Julian. He asked her to find out who the new owner of Van
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