4
last update2026-03-27 14:28:55

The man at the gate straightened, clearly displeased by Olivia’s tone. “Olivia, I’ve been waiting for you,” he said, his smile tightening. “You didn’t answer my calls.”

Before Olivia could reply, a heavy, authoritative voice thundered from inside the mansion—

“Olivia Nelson! Is this how you speak to Carl?!"

The air seemed to freeze.

Inside the grand hall, an elderly man sat at the head of a long mahogany table.

His silver hair was combed neatly back, his sharp eyes still filled with vigor despite his age.

Deep lines carved into his face spoke of decades of authority and control. Even seated, his presence was overwhelming.

This was Ronan Nelson—the undisputed patriarch of the Nelson family.

His cane struck the floor with a loud thud.

“Carl has been waiting here for over an hour, and this is how you greet him? Disrespectful! Shameless!”

Olivia’s jaw tightened, but she said nothing more. Without another word, she stepped inside, her heels clicking against the marble floor, with Conor walking calmly beside her.

Carl followed closely, his gaze shifting past Olivia and landing squarely on Conor.

His eyes narrowed, filled with immediate hostility.

“And who is this?” Carl asked coldly. “Why have you brought a stranger into the Nelson family home?”

Olivia stopped.

For a brief second, hesitation flickered across her face—but it was gone just as quickly.

“He’s not a stranger,” she said firmly. “He’s my husband.”

Silence.

Then—

BANG!

Ronan slammed his palm against the table, the sound echoing through the hall like a gunshot.

“Your husband?!” His voice trembled with fury. “Olivia, have you lost your mind?!”

His sharp gaze swept over Conor from head to toe, filled with undisguised contempt.

“This is the man you bring into my house? This… nobody?” Ronan’s voice dropped, dangerously low. “Carl is the man this family has chosen for you. The most suitable candidate. Educated, capable, from a respectable background.”

He pointed his cane toward Carl, who immediately straightened, wearing a modest but clearly pleased expression.

“And you dare bring home some unknown vagrant and call him your husband? Explain yourself!”

Olivia opened her mouth, her brows furrowed—

But before she could speak, a familiar, mocking laugh echoed from the entrance.

“Well, well… what a lively scene.”

Emma strolled in, arm linked tightly with John Gaston.

Her eyes sparkled with malicious delight the moment they landed on Conor.

“Grandfather, you won’t believe this,” she said sweetly, though her tone dripped with poison. “Olivia actually brought this beggar home.”

She circled slightly, as if inspecting Conor like an object. “At first, I thought she just picked up some random man at the airport to save face…” She let out a soft, exaggerated sigh. “But it seems… this beggar really is her husband.”

A ripple of murmurs spread across the room.

John stood beside her, still pale from earlier, but seeing Conor surrounded and targeted, some of his confidence returned.

His lips curled into a faint, mocking smile.

Olivia’s expression darkened. “Emma, watch your words.”

“Oh? Did I say something wrong?” Emma tilted her head innocently. “Or are you embarrassed?”

Before Olivia could snap back—

Conor chuckled.

The sound was low, calm… and completely out of place in the tense atmosphere.

All eyes turned to him.

He stepped forward slightly, hands casually in his pockets, his expression relaxed as ever.

“If I’m a beggar,” Conor said lightly, his gaze landing on Emma, then shifting lazily to John, “then your so-called high-quality boyfriend…”

He paused just long enough for the tension to tighten.

“…must be roadside trash.”

The room went dead silent.

Emma’s smile froze.

John let out a cold, derisive laugh, his earlier embarrassment completely replaced by arrogance.

“You really don’t know your place, do you?” he sneered, straightening his suit. “Do you even understand who you’re talking to?”

He took a step forward, chin lifted proudly.

“I’m a senior manager in DragonTech’s Investment Department. The Nelson family’s recent five-million-dollar investment?” He tapped his chest lightly. “I personally secured it.”

A wave of murmurs rippled through the hall.

Emma’s smile widened triumphantly. “Did you hear that, Olivia? Five million. That’s not something your… husband could even dream of.”

Ronan’s face darkened instantly. His cane slammed against the floor again.

“Olivia!” he roared. “Look at the kind of man you’ve brought into this house!”

His sharp, furious gaze cut toward Conor like a blade.

“This nobody dares to offend Mr. Gaston? Do you want the Nelson family to lose a five-million-dollar investment?!”

Olivia’s face turned pale. Her fingers clenched slightly at her sides.

“Grandfather, I—”

“Kneel!”

The single word exploded through the room.

Ronan pointed his cane directly at Conor, his voice filled with unquestionable authority.

“Make him kneel and apologize immediately! Or don’t blame me for disowning you!”

The atmosphere instantly turned suffocating.

Olivia’s lips parted, panic flashing in her eyes. “No—Grandfather, that’s too—”

“Apologize to him?” Conor’s calm voice cut through the tension like a blade through silk.

Everyone froze.

He stood there, completely relaxed, as if the storm around him didn’t exist.

His lips curved slightly.

“Soon,” he said lightly, “he won’t even be a DragonTech employee anymore.”

Silence.

Then—

Carl burst into laughter.

“Hahaha…!” He shook his head, looking at Olivia with exaggerated pity. “Olivia, I truly didn’t expect this.”

He glanced at Conor like one would look at a fool.

“Your ‘husband’… he’s not just poor—he’s insane.”

He gestured toward John. “Do you even know who he is? A senior manager at DragonTech. Even the four major families in this city treat him with respect.”

Emma covered her mouth, laughing mockingly. “I almost feel bad. Olivia, where did you even find such a… treasure?”

John’s lips curled into a smug grin, his earlier anger now replaced with pure anticipation.

“Since you like talking big,” he said coldly, loosening his cuffs, “then kneel. I might consider letting this go.”

He glanced around the room, clearly enjoying the attention, the power, the expectation.

But just as he was about to continue—

BZZZT! BZZZT! BZZZT!

His phone began vibrating violently in his pocket.

Once. Twice. Three times—nonstop.

John frowned, clearly irritated. “What now…?”

He pulled out his phone, ready to silence it—

Then froze.

His expression changed instantly.

The irritation vanished, replaced by shock… then excitement.

He straightened immediately, lifting the phone slightly so others could see.

“Karim,” he announced, his voice filled with pride. “Senior Director of the Investment Department. My direct superior.”

A stir went through the room.

Ronan’s anger softened slightly, replaced by expectation.

Carl’s smile grew wider.

Emma’s eyes sparkled. “Oh? Looks like the confirmation call is here.”

John smirked, his confidence returning tenfold. He pressed the speaker button deliberately, holding the phone up.

“Everyone, listen carefully,” he said smugly. “This must be about confirming the Nelson family’s investment.”

He cleared his throat and answered.

“Director Karim, good evening. I was just—”

Before he could finish—

A furious roar exploded from the phone, so loud it echoed through the entire hall.

“JOHN GASTON, YOU’RE FIRED!”

The words hit like a thunderclap.

John’s smile froze.

His face turned deathly pale in an instant.

Continue to read this book for free
Scan the code to download the app

Latest Chapter

  • 132

    Nick immediately shook his head. “No.” Conor looked at him. Nick stepped forward. “It’s obviously a trap.” “I know.” “Then you’re not going.” Conor gave him a faint smile. “I didn’t say that.” Nick frowned. “Boss…” Conor turned toward Olivia. She was still crying silently. He gently took her hand. “There’s something you need to know.” She looked up. “What?” Conor’s gaze became cold. “Your father’s death may be connected to the reason I disappeared five years ago.” Olivia stared at him. “And if we find the truth?” Conor looked toward the black crown on the screen. “Then we’ll finally know who started this.” The clock on the wall showed 10:47 PM. Just over an hour remained. And somewhere beneath the ruins of Facility Seven… Someone was waiting for the Ghost to return.The silence on the other end lasted several seconds.Then the voice changed.It became sharper.Almost disbelieving.“Conor?”Conor looked out over Golden Sparrow City.“Yes.”The man took a breat

  • 131

    The underground facility fell into complete silence.Olivia continued staring at the frozen image on the screen.Her father stood beside Ronan.Behind them was a massive Phoenix insignia.She shook her head slowly.“No…”Conor looked at her.Olivia stepped closer to the screen.“That can’t be Phoenix.”“It is.”“How do you know?”Conor pointed toward the upper corner of the photograph.A small identification code was visible.“Every Phoenix facility has a unique designation.”Nick zoomed in.His eyes widened.“Facility Seven.”Conor nodded.“Exactly.”Nick stared at the photograph.“Facility Seven was destroyed five years ago.”“Officially,” Conor replied.Olivia looked between them.“My father was there?”“Yes.”“With Ronan?”“Yes.”Her breathing became unsteady.“But why?”Conor didn’t answer.Olivia turned toward him.“Conor, please.”He looked at her.“I need to know.”“I don’t have all the answers.”“Then tell me what you do know.”Conor remained silent for several seconds.Then

  • 130

    The Hale estate remained completely dark.Not a single light came back on.The silence was almost unnatural.Daniel stared at his father.“What did you do?”Arthur didn’t answer.“Father.”Still nothing.Daniel stepped closer.“You said Ronan knew what you did.”Arthur slowly closed the old safe.“Enough.”“No.”Daniel’s voice hardened.“You can’t just say that and expect me to stay quiet.”Arthur looked at him.“You don’t understand what you’re dealing with.”“Then explain it to me.”Arthur’s jaw tightened.“Some truths are dangerous.”Daniel glanced at the photographs scattered across the desk.“Is Conor one of those truths?”Arthur looked at the photograph of the young Conor.“Yes.”“Was he really the Ghost?”Arthur nodded.“He was.”“And you knew?”“I suspected.”“You met him before?”Arthur remained silent.Daniel’s eyes widened.“You did.”Arthur finally sighed.“Years ago.”“How many?”“Six.”Daniel stared at him.“That was before he disappeared.”“Yes.”“What happened?”Arthur

  • 129

    The room remained silent after the screen went black.Olivia stood frozen in front of it.For several seconds, she couldn’t move.Then she slowly turned toward Conor.“Twenty years…”Her voice was barely audible.“He said twenty years.”Conor nodded.“Yes.”“My grandfather has been building this place for twenty years?”“Apparently.”Olivia looked around the underground facility.Thousands of documents.Hundreds of photographs.Entire sections dedicated to powerful families.She walked toward one of the shelves and pulled out a file.Her fingers trembled.“Why would he do this?”Conor took the file from her and opened it.Inside were financial records.“Because this wasn’t just an information center.”Nick approached.“What is it?”Conor looked at the documents.“An intelligence operation.”Nick’s expression darkened.“Ronan was running his own intelligence network.”“Not just that.”Conor pointed at the records.“He was monitoring money.”Nick studied them.“These are bank transfers.

  • 128

    The old Nelson warehouse stood at the edge of Golden Sparrow City, surrounded by abandoned factories and empty roads.It had been unused for years.No lights.No guards.No employees.Just a massive concrete building sitting beneath the darkness.Conor’s convoy stopped several meters away.Nick stepped out first.He immediately raised his hand.“Everyone stay alert.”Phoenix operatives spread out around the building.Olivia stepped out of the vehicle.Conor immediately looked at her.“Stay close to me.”“I will.”Nick approached.“Boss, there’s no movement.”Conor studied the warehouse.“That’s what worries me.”Olivia looked toward the dark building.“Maybe Ronan isn’t here.”“He was here.”“How do you know?”Conor pointed toward the ground.“His car.”Ronan’s vehicle sat abandoned beside the warehouse.The driver’s door was open.The keys were still inside.Olivia’s expression tightened.“Why would he leave his car?”“He didn’t.”Conor walked closer.“He was taken.”Nick immediately

  • 127

    The room fell into a terrifying silence.Olivia stared at the screens.The words remained frozen against the black background.WELCOME BACK, GHOST.Her breathing became shallow.She slowly turned toward Conor.“Ghost?”Conor didn’t answer.“Conor…”His eyes remained fixed on the screen.“Who is the Ghost?”Still nothing.Olivia took a step closer.“Why did they call you that?”Conor finally looked at her.His expression was calm.Far too calm.Olivia’s voice trembled.“You knew this would happen, didn’t you?”“No.”“But you knew something was wrong.”“Yes.”“You knew about my grandfather.”Conor nodded.Olivia’s tears finally fell.“Why didn’t you tell me?”“Because I wanted to protect you.”“Protect me?”Her voice broke.“You kept something like this from me because you wanted to protect me?”Conor stepped closer.“Yes.”Olivia shook her head.“I have spent my entire life believing my grandfather was simply a difficult old man.”She laughed bitterly through her tears.“He was greedy.

More Chapter
Explore and read good novels for free
Free access to a vast number of good novels on MegaNovel app. Download the books you like and read anywhere & anytime.
Read books for free on the app
Scan code to read on App