2025-07-03 13:12:32Alan Voss stood in his BrightStar office, his heart pounding.
The image of Elias Kane wouldn’t leave his mind — the Rolls-Royce, the black SUVs, the tailored suit. It all felt too real, like something a broke janitor couldn’t possibly afford or fake.
“KaneTech’s heir?” Alan whispered, his hands shaking as he picked up his phone.
He called Victor Dray.
Victor answered, his voice slightly distorted. “Alan, what’s going on? I’m with Mara.”
Alan took a deep breath. “Elias Kane came to my office. He says he’s Amelia Kane’s son — the CEO of KaneTech.”
Victor let out a sharp, mocking laugh. “Mara’s ex? The janitor? He’s bluffing.”
Alan’s voice trembled. “He had a Syndicate keycard. A full security convoy. It didn’t feel fake — it felt real.”
There was a long pause on the line. Then Victor said, quietly but firmly:
“Say that again.”
Dray put the call on speaker as he stood in Mara’s bedroom with her,
Mara, holding a glass of wine, froze when she heard Alan’s voice coming through the phone:
“Elias Kane, Mara’s ex, claims he’s Amelia Kane's son, and the heir to KaneTech.”
Her eyes widened. “Elias? KaneTech?, isn't that company dead already”
Dray’s expression turned cold. “A janitor pretending to be rich. He’s a fraud, Mara.”
She slowly set her glass down, her voice tight. “He wasn’t always nothing, Victor.”
Dray scoffed. “You’re still too soft on that loser. We need to talk to the family.”
Mara gave a tense nod, her stomach churning. “Call them. Now.”
Dray quickly sent a message to Trent, Carla, and Vivian —Mara’s mother.
“Let’s meet in the living room in five minutes. Emergency meeting.”
Carla had been living with the Vosses since college —more than an assistant, less than family.
The Voss family living room glowed under the chandelier’s soft light. Trent was stretched out on a leather couch, with Carla sitting beside him, slowly sipping her coffee. Vivian, Mara’s mother, sat upright and tense, her silver hair neatly tied back.
Dray was walking back and forth, while Mara stood near the fireplace, clearly on edge.
“We’ve got a serious problem,” Dray began, with a low tone. “Alan Voss just called. Elias Kane showed up claiming he’s Amelia Kane’s son — and the heir to KaneTech, which was worth trillions when Amelia died, and is the only tech company bigger than ours — the one we’re still in debt to.
Trent burst out laughing. “The janitor? There’s no way he has that kind of influence —or that kind of inheritance.”
Carla leaned forward, her expression pale. “Alan sounded really shaken. He said Elias came in a full Rolls-Royce convoy, dressed like royalty.”
Mara’s eyes narrowed. “He went to BrightStar, she added.”
Dray nodded. “He’s digging into the 2015 contract. Trying to stir things up.”
Vivian’s face turned pale. She folded her hands tightly in her lap. “KaneTech… Amelia Kane,” she said quietly.
Trent raised an eyebrow. “What, Mom? You know something?”
Vivian glanced at Mara, then quickly looked away. “I knew Amelia. A long time ago.”
Mara stepped toward her. “What do you mean, Mom?”
Vivian’s voice softened, her gaze far away. “Back in the ’90s, during KaneTech negotiations. She was — always one step ahead of everyone. And she always had a little boy with her, holding on to her skirt.”
Trent scoffed. “So what? That doesn’t prove Elias is really her son.”
Vivian frowned, thinking hard. “She used to call the boy her son. I never saw his face clearly—he was just a little kid, maybe four. Could that have been Elias?” She shook her head, confused.
Mara’s heartbeat quickened. “Amelia’s son? Elias?” her voice trembled.
Dray rolled his eyes. “He’s a fraud, Mara. A janitor can’t run KaneTech.”
Mara shot him a look. “Forget who he used to be — just look at what’s happening right now. Everything’s pointing to him.”
Her chest tightened, remembering what she’d said at the gala: “He’s nothing.”
Carla leaned in to Trent, whispering, “She’s defending him again. She’s slipping.”
Trent nodded, face hard. “She needs to choose—us or him.”
Vivian heard them and cut in, her voice sharp. “If Elias really is Amelia’s son, then he’s not a nobody.”
Dray folded his arms. “Amelia’s gone. KaneTech is finished. Elias is just trying to stir things up.”
Vivian narrowed her eyes. “Amelia didn’t play games. She built a trillion-dollar company from nothing. If that boy is her son... we’ve got a problem.”
Carla frowned. “But is he really her son?”
Mara walked back and forth, her heels clicking on the floor. “I called him nothing,” she said quietly. “But what if I was wrong?”
Dray rolled his eyes. “You’re letting this mess get to you. I’ll check everything about KaneTech’s — he’s lying.”
Mara said nothing, just gave a pale look.
Vivian leaned back, thinking hard. “I remember a board meeting back in ’95,” she said to Mara. “Amelia brought the same little boy with her — he was drawing on papers. She told me he’d inherit everything one day. If that boy was Elias…” Her voice faded.
Trent laughed. “A janitor inheriting trillions? Be serious, Grandma.”
Vivian gave him a sharp look. “Don’t mock Amelia’s bloodline. She crushed anyone who got in her way. Her son might be just like her.”
Carla shifted uncomfortably. “Then why was he a nobody all these years?”
Mara stopped walking and turned to Vivian. “You really think Elias could be her son?”
Vivian nodded slowly. “It’s possible. Amelia kept her personal life quiet, far away from the media. I haven't seen the boy’s face in over 20 years.”
Mara’s chest tightened. “Maybe I judged him too soon,” she whispered.
Dray’s phone buzzed — a text from his Voss lawyer: “Amelia Kane’s records show she had a son, It might really be him.”
Dray’s jaw tightened. “This isn’t over,” he said, staring at Mara.
“I’ll prove he’s lying.”
Mara didn’t back down. “Or maybe he’s not.”
Carla pulled Trent aside and whispered, “Mara’s starting to turn on Dray. If Elias is really rich, we’re in trouble.”
Trent smirked. “Let Dray deal with him. This Janitor won’t come out on top.”
Carla nodded slowly, as her eyes drifted to Vivian, unsure.
After everyone left, Vivian sat by the window, thinking all alone.
“Amelia Kane,” she whispered. “Your son’s shaking things up now.”
She thought back to that meeting in ’95, her little boy beside her.
Was it really Elias? She just couldn’t remember his face.
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Chapter Two Hundred and Seventy-Nine
The wind shifted before anyone spoke. It carried the faint smell of dust and iron from the training yard, but inside the strategy hall the air felt locked in place, held tight by everything Elias had refused to say earlier. He stood at the center of the room with his arms folded, eyes tracing the map spread across the long table. He wasn’t really seeing it—just using it to keep from looking at the others.Rhea lingered near the doorway with her hands on her hips, breathing slowly as if she were counting to ten for the sixth time that morning. Cassian sat on the table’s edge, tapping the heel of his boot against one of its legs. Even that light sound rang sharp in the silence.Elias finally looked up. “I wasn’t hiding anything,” he said. “I was thinking before acting. That’s all.”Rhea stepped forward. “You disappeared for six hours without your comms and came back with blood on your collar. Thinking is not what it looked like.”Elias touched the mark she meant. He had forgotten it was
Chapter Two Hundred and Seventy-Eight
Smoke rolled across the forest floor like a living thing, pulled by the wind in long gray ribbons that twisted between the trees. Elias pushed through it with one arm braced under the prisoner’s weight, his breath burning from the sprint. Behind him, shouts echoed—disoriented, angry, scrambling. The enemy camp had erupted into chaos the moment Roan’s charges blew, but chaos wasn’t safety. Chaos was unpredictable. And unpredictability killed faster than any blade.“Keep moving,” Elias said, his voice low but steady.Mara appeared beside him, half-carrying another prisoner. Her hair was plastered to her forehead, her breaths sharp, but her eyes remained clear and focused. “They’re fanning out behind us. Two units, maybe three.”Elias nodded. “Roan and Faris?”“If their side of the plan worked, they’re long gone,” Mara replied. “But whether they circled back to help us or not… I don’t know.”A branch snapped somewhere behind them. Elias stiffened. He gestured for everyone to duck, guidin
Chapter Two Hundred and Seventy-Seven
The rain started just before dawn, a thin, cold drizzle that turned the ridge into a slick mess of mud and wet stone. Elias stood beneath the overhang of a jagged boulder, arms crossed, watching the horizon blur into shifting gray. The forest below seemed half asleep, its usual sharp edges softened by mist.Mara approached with two steaming cups in hand. “If you don’t drink something hot, you’re going to turn into stone yourself,” she said, pressing one cup into his palm.Elias took it, the warmth seeping into his fingers. “Sleep?” he asked.“None,” she replied. “You?”He shook his head. “Didn’t have the luxury.”Mara leaned against the boulder beside him, sipping slowly. “The scouts are back. They found tracks—heavy ones. Wagons, armor crates, maybe artillery.”Elias stiffened. “How many?”“Too many for casual patrol. Whatever they’re planning, they want this ridge badly.”A quiet tension settled between them. Elias felt the familiar weight begin to pull tight across his shoulders, t
Chapter Two Hundred and Seventy-Six
Elias woke to the distant sound of gunfire echoing through the valley below. He rubbed his eyes, his body aching from the constant tension of the past days, but there was no time to linger. Mara had already left the tent, moving among the squads, issuing orders, checking positions. He swallowed a dry breath and stepped out, the cold morning air stinging his lungs.“Another night without sleep?” Mara asked, appearing beside him almost silently. Her dark eyes scanned the ridge with that unyielding intensity he had come to rely on.Elias shook his head. “I keep thinking about how they regroup. Every skirmish teaches them something. If we’re not careful, we’ll walk right into it.”Mara rested a hand on his shoulder. “We’ve survived worse. You don’t need to carry it all alone. That’s why I’m here.”He nodded, but his mind was already elsewhere, replaying the intelligence reports. “The scouts spotted movement in the northern woods. Small units, probing. They’re testing our flanks, trying to
Chapter Two Hundred and Seventy-Five
The dawn broke with a muted light, the forest still heavy with mist, and Elias stood at the edge of the ridge, surveying the territory. The aftermath of yesterday’s clash had left its mark—trampled grass, broken branches, and the faint metallic scent of blood—but it also served as a reminder of their resilience. Mara moved alongside him, her eyes sharp, scanning every shadow, every movement in the distance.“We can’t afford to rest,” Elias said quietly, almost to himself. “They’ll regroup. They always do.”Mara’s gaze flicked toward him. “You sound exhausted, but you’re already planning the next move.”Elias turned to her, his expression grim. “I can’t stop thinking. Every misstep yesterday could cost lives today. We’ve beaten them back once, but they’ve learned. We need to anticipate, adapt, and strike before they can even organize themselves.”Mara nodded, her lips pressed into a thin line. “And we will. We always do. But you can’t do it alone. You need to trust the team, Elias. Let
Chapter Two Hundred and Seventy-Four
The first light of morning barely touched the ridge when Elias stirred from his restless sleep. The air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of smoke and dew, and the quiet murmur of the camp gave the illusion of calm. He pulled his jacket tighter around him, stepping toward the edge of the ridge to survey the forest beyond. Every movement, every sound, was under his scrutiny; every shadow seemed to hold the potential for danger.Mara was already awake, moving among the soldiers, checking equipment, and ensuring readiness. She noticed Elias and approached him quietly, her footsteps silent against the hardened soil. “You’ve been awake for hours,” she said, her voice low but carrying that unmistakable edge of command.“I couldn’t sleep,” Elias admitted, his eyes never leaving the tree line. “I keep replaying last night’s engagement. The way they moved, how they adapted, the way Victor’s men tried to flank us.”Mara’s gaze followed his. “And?”Elias exhaled, frustration and determination
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