2025-08-29 00:24:41
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~181~
Lex stumbled backward, his usually composed demeanor cracking like shattered glass. His breath hitched, and his sharp eyes darted around the crowded hall, scanning faces that blurred under the golden chandelier lights. Murmurs spread through the guests like ripples on disturbed water, confused whispers tangled with hushed gasps as everyone tried to make sense of his sudden reaction.Dawson’s brows knitted together, his gaze fixed on his father’s pale, frozen face. “Father?” he called softly, but Lex didn’t answer. Without a word, Lex turned and stormed out of the ballroom, his long strides cutting through the chaos as if the walls themselves might collapse if he stayed a second longer.Dawson hesitated for a heartbeat before following. Something in Lex’s expression, a raw, unfamiliar fear, had his stomach tightening.Upstairs, in the dimly lit expanse of his room, Lex paced back and forth like a caged beast. His breaths came harsh and uneven, and his hands shook slightly, clenching a
~ 180 ~
By dawn the following morning, Zach stood at the center of the dimly lit chamber, his gaze fixed on the unconscious figure lying on the bed, Grand Master Tom, his grandfather. Shadows danced across the stone walls as candle flames flickered, their golden glow glinting off the seven rare items carefully arranged before him on a small marble altar.The Nightshade Pearl, with its faint purple luminescence, lay beside the delicate Veilroot Herb, its translucent leaves veined with silvery streaks. The Heart of Solis pulsed faintly as though it carried life itself, while the Ashen Myrrh gave off a smoky scent that clung to the air. The Celestial Fang, a small shard rumored to be from a beast that hunted under starlight, rested beside the Obsidian Tear, which shimmered like trapped night. And finally, the Imperial Stone, ancient and engraved with runes, anchored the sacred set.Dr. Kieran, a man whose silver-streaked hair and weathered face spoke of decades of study in the mystical arts, bro
~ 179 ~
Rabiu attempted to escape through the side entrance, shoving past startled guests, but before he could make it far, Zach caught him by the collar and yanked him back with force.“You think you can mess with me and walk away?” Zach’s voice was low, dangerous.Rabiu stammered, “I-I know…”A sharp punch landed on his jaw, sending him stumbling against a parked car. Gasps erupted from the crowd.“Pathetic,” Zach spat, wiping his knuckles before stepping back.The tension was palpable, the heavy silence hanging between Zach, Rabiu, and Dafne like a sharp blade waiting to slice through the air. The ruined warehouse smelled of damp wood and metal, the faint crackle of fire from a broken lantern in the corner adding an eerie undertone. Shadows stretched across the floor, their shapes twisting under the dim light.Rabiu wiped the trickle of blood from the side of his mouth, his chest heaving as he spat on the ground. “I won’t succumb to you, Zach,” he said, his voice hoarse but laced with defi
~ 178 ~
The air was thick with tension. Zach stood, staring vaguely at the door, his posture firm, his face calm but hard. “I’ll take Rabiu myself,” he said, his voice sharp as steel, cutting through the silence. The others stirred uneasily before him, exchanging glances, but his gaze was firm and commanding. “No interference. No one follows. He’s mine.”There was something in the way he said it, a cold finality that allowed no argument. But Laura stepped forward hesitantly.“Young Master… are you sure? Rabiu doesn’t play fair. He’s…”“I said he’s mine,” Zach snapped, his voice low but heavy with authority. “Not a soul follows me, or you’ll regret it.”Reluctantly, Laura nodded and stepped back, though his frown deepened. The sound of Zach’s boots echoed as he mounted the staircase.Later that night, Rabiu arrived at the warehouse, his footsteps crunching against the gravel. He was confident, smug even, his lips curled in a sly smile. His hand toyed with the black leather pouch he carried,
~ 177 ~
At Zach's villa, the air inside was calm, save for the low hum of the central air conditioning and the occasional rustle of leaves brushing against the glass windows.Dafne sat curled up on the edge of the velvet couch, staring blankly at the threatening messages flashing on her phone.Rabiu: “Time’s almost up, Dafne. Don’t forget what you owe me.”Rabiu: “Raise the cash, or you know what happens to you.”Her stomach twisted into knots, but today she had resolved to do something she should’ve done days ago – confess everything to Zach. No more secrets. No more carrying Rabiu’s shadow like a curse on her shoulders.She inhaled sharply, rehearsing in her head how she would tell him she was once Rabiu’s ally… that years ago, she had known Rabiu was going to try to kill Zach but had said nothing.Her chance came sooner than expected.The front door chimed.Dafne turned just as Laura stepped inside the villa, her stiletto heels clicking lightly against the marble floor. She was carrying a
~176 ~
The moon hung pale and swollen in the ink-black sky, its light spilling faintly across the sprawling Dawson estate. Midnight cloaked the mansion in silence, save for the faint rustle of leaves as a cool breeze drifted through the gardens.Dawson slipped out of the back door, his footsteps light but urgent, his breath shallow as his eyes darted around the grounds. He moved cautiously, hugging the shadowed walls, until he reached a narrow gravel path hidden behind overgrown hedges. The path curved toward a concealed entrance, a heavy, steel-framed door embedded into the earth at the far back of the estate.He glanced over his shoulder, ensuring no one followed, then crouched before a keypad, fingers trembling slightly as he entered a ten-digit password. A soft click sounded, and the reinforced door groaned open, revealing a dimly lit staircase descending deep underground.Taking a steadying breath, Dawson slipped inside, closing the door behind him.The air was cool and damp beneath the
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