Novels by SHSA

Chapter 466: The Ghost in the CodeThe sun rose lazily over Emerald Falls, its golden rays piercing through the sleek glass exterior of the EMC skyscraper. Inside, however, the day had started long before dawn. The Control Center’s success had set off a chain reaction that echoed through every floor, every department, and every hallway of the company.By 9 a.m., EMC was alive with celebration. In the reception area of the main lobby, clusters of employees stood huddled around digital screens and glowing tables, their voices buzzing like a swarm of bees. The virus was gone. Just like that. No system crashes, no missing files, and no corrupted data logs. Overnight, the ghost that had haunted their finance sector for months had vanished.Cheers broke out when the first internal memo was released.INTERNAL MEMO – SYSTEM STABILITY REPORT“All affected sectors have been restored. The virus has been neutralized. Full operations have resumed.”The message bore the signature of Liam Carter, no

Chapter 465: Control ProtocolThe glass elevator hummed softly as it descended into the lower chambers of EMC, its view revealing the underbelly of one of the most secure buildings in Emerald Falls.Liam stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his posture relaxed, but his face was painted with that same smug satisfaction that often made people unsure whether to admire or hate him. Beside him, Kai stood silent, his sharp eyes flicking down to his laptop screen as he made last-minute checks to his code. He had double-checked everything already—but he enjoyed looking busy, especially when people were watching.When the elevator doors opened, they stepped into a dim, sterile corridor lined with gleaming silver panels. At the far end stood a massive, armored gate bearing the seal of EMC. Mounted beside it was a tall humanoid figure—an android security guard that looked like something out of a dystopian dream. It had no visible face, just a smooth metallic mask with a glowing blue str

Chapter 464: The Test of ControlLiam Carter walked into his office with the slow, confident gait of a man who believed the world was just one move away from kneeling. His tailored navy coat swayed with each step. He had just finished a meeting with Eric Wood.At the far end of the room, Kai Nakamura sat cross-legged on the edge of a sleek glass desk, a laptop balanced on his thigh. His posture was casual, too relaxed. Kai always carried himself like the room belonged to him—even if it didn’t.Liam didn’t look at him. He was already pulling off his gloves, tossing them carelessly on the table. “Eric folded faster than I thought,” he muttered. “His spine’s made of jelly.”Kai didn’t look up. He tapped a few keys, scrolling through rows of code that glowed green against the black screen. “Shocking,” he replied flatly. “You threatened to expose him to the court. That tends to do the trick.”Liam pressed the intercom. “Alisha, get Mr. Arjun Patel here. Now.”“Yes, Mr. Carter,” came the cr

Chapter 463: The Balance of PowerThe morning sun was barely up when Liam Carter stepped out of his black SUV, surrounded by two bodyguards in dark suits. The air around EMC headquarters was thick with tension, though the usual buzz of employees trying to look busy filled the halls. In his office on the top floor, Eric sat behind his desk, sipping black coffee and flipping through reports. He looked tired, his hair a little messier than usual and his tie loosened. His secretary, Cara Hart, tapped on his glass door and entered without waiting for a response.“Sir,” she said, a little nervously, “Liam Carter is on his way up to see you.”Eric’s hand paused mid-turn on a report page. He looked up slowly. “Now?”Cara nodded. “He didn’t book a meeting. Just said he’s coming. Should I let him in?”Eric exhaled and leaned back in his chair. “Of course you should,” he muttered. “Let him in.”A few seconds later, the door opened, and Liam walked in like he owned the place. His suit was sharp,

Chapter 462: Voices of WarThe night air was heavy, still laced with the tension of the exchange that had just gone down. The warehouse was cold and dimly lit, the air thick with smoke and silence. Rusted metal beams lined the ceiling, and old crates were stacked against the cracked walls.Williams stepped inside, his black coat dragging slightly on the concrete floor. Kane, Tom, and Dorian were already there, seated around a battered steel table, waiting for him like wolves ready for the hunt.William tossed the duffel bag onto the table and unzipped it.“This is a lot of cash,” he said, glancing around at the others. “It’s not smart to walk around with this much money. I’ll take it to the bank, make a deposit, and then transfer your cut to each of you.”The others nodded in agreement.“You said you had the man who killed Sasha,” Kane spoke first, his voice low and impatient, his fingers drumming restlessly on the table.Williams said nothing at first. He walked to the center of the

Chapter 461: Smoke and ShadowsWilliams stepped out of Mr. Sterling’s office with his hands buried deep in the pockets of his coat. The soft click of the door closing behind him felt like a seal on a conversation he had no intention of honoring. His steps were steady, but his mind was racing. The hallway was quiet, only the muffled sounds of chatter from distant rooms echoing faintly. None of it concerned him. Not now.He made his way down the elevator, the polished metal doors reflecting his cold stare. As the numbers ticked down floor by floor, he exhaled slowly and murmured to himself, “They really think I’m playing by their rules…”The elevator doors opened, and he walked into the underground parking lot. He moved like a man with a purpose. His driverless black sedan waited where it always did. He slipped inside, started the engine, and drove off without a second thought.The sun outside was beginning to set, bathing the streets of Emerald Falls in golden light, but Williams wasn’

Chapter 426: Kate’s Visit to SkyCareKate Carl decided to visit skycare and see if Williams could help even in his hospital bed. He has always helped them in the past, and she thought he would this time around too.She arrived at SkyCare Medical Center, stepping out of her black luxury sedan with a deep breath. The hospital’s glass facade gleamed under the afternoon sun, giving it an air of sterility and wealth. Inside, the lobby was spacious, the scent of antiseptic hanging in the air as nurses moved briskly from one station to another. The soft hum of conversations between patients, doctors, and visitors created a low, almost soothing background noise.Kate, dressed elegantly in a beige coat over a fitted dress, approached the reception desk with her usual poised demeanor. The receptionist, a young woman in a crisp uniform, looked up with a professional smile.“Good afternoon. How may I help you?”“I’m here to see Williams Jesse,” Kate said smoothly.The receptionist glanced at her

Chapter 34In the dark hallway, Valentina pressed her back against the cold stone wall, her heart pounding in her chest. The deep silence of the mansion surrounded her, broken only by the muffled sounds of the conversation coming from Diego’s study. She had been in the bedroom when the men entered, and unable to resist, she had tiptoed silently to the door to listen in.Though she hadn’t heard much of the conversation—her position had been precarious and the voices low—the part that had caught her off guard made her blood run cold. Javier had suggested hiring the best hackers in the world to break into Alejandro’s casino since the fire attack wasn’t successful, and Valentina’s mind had skipped at the thought.She didn’t know Alejandro personally, but from the little she’d gathered, he seemed like a young, innocent man who luckily won her husband’s scam lottery.Yet here was Diego, her husband, plotting to destroy him piece by piece. She couldn’t stand the thought of Diego manipulating

Chapter 33The night was cloaked in a veil of restless clouds, the soft hum of distant crickets the only sound outside Diego’s sprawling mansion. Inside, the warm glow of chandeliers illuminated a room thick with tension. The mahogany table in Diego’s private study bore marks of age and power, much like the man who sat at its head.The thick smell of cigars mingled with the faint tang of spilled whiskey, curling through the opulent study like a specter of power. A half-empty wine bottle stood forgotten on the table, next to a silver tray dusted with the remnants of cocaine. The grand chandelier above cast flickering light, illuminating the tension etched into every corner of the room.Diego lounged in his leather armchair, a cigarette smoldering between his fingers. His dark eyes, sharp as a hawk’s, bore into the men seated before him. On the table, a glass of Malbec swirled lazily in his other hand, the deep red liquid glinting in the light. He didn’t need to speak; the silence was s

Chapter 32Later That AfternoonThe golden rays of the afternoon sun streamed through the large windows of Alejandro’s mansion as the doorbell echoed throughout the luxurious halls. James, the butler, shuffled to the entrance, opening the door to reveal two women—Amy Johnson and Judy Miller.Amy wore a simple floral dress that flattered her petite frame, while Judy was dressed in bold designer clothing, her oversized sunglasses perched arrogantly on her head.“Welcome, ladies,” Mr. James said with a polite nod, stepping aside to let them in.Amy gasped, her eyes widening as she took in the grandeur of the mansion's new interior that Sophia had had made. “Oh my gosh, Judy, look at this place! It’s like something out of a movie!” she whispered excitedly.Judy rolled her eyes, stepping inside with a smirk. “Calm down, Amy. It’s not like you’re moving in. You’ll embarrass yourself, as usual.”Amy flushed but ignored the jab, too enamored by the sparkling chandeliers and marble floors to c

Chapter 31He left the gym and headed straight for Theo’s office. Pushing open the door, he found Theo reviewing the updated security plans.“Got a minute?” Miguel asked, shutting the door behind him.“Sure,” Theo said, leaning back in his chair. “What’s up?”Miguel crossed his arms, pacing slightly. “It’s about Sophia and that so-called gym instructor of hers, Oscar.”Theo raised an eyebrow. “What about them?”“I just saw them in the gym. The way they were interacting—too close, too familiar. He told her he missed her after the ‘kidnapping.’ It’s odd, Theo. He’s supposed to be her trainer, not her confidant.”Theo frowned. “You think there’s something going on between them?”Miguel stopped pacing, his expression serious. “I don’t just think it—I know it. And we need to keep a closer eye on them. There’s something about Oscar that doesn’t add up. He’s disrespectful to staff, acts entitled, and now he’s cozying up to Sophia.”Theo nodded thoughtfully. “Do you want me to escalate this?

Chapter 30The next day was a Sunday. It was a bright morning, and the mansion grounds were bustling with activity. The new gardener was trimming hedges, while a few maids hurried about their chores. At the gate, Martin, the elderly gateman, was performing his usual duties, meticulously inspecting everyone entering and leaving.A sleek, black car pulled up at the gate, and Oscar stepped out. Dressed in an expensive tracksuit and sunglasses, he looked around with a smug expression. He gestured impatiently at Martin, his tone sharp.“Hurry up, old man! Do you want me to stand here all day?” Oscar snapped, leaning against the car. “Open the gate already!”Martin, used to dealing with difficult people, remained calm but couldn’t hide the slight frown forming on his face. “I’m just doing my job, sir. Could you please confirm your identity?”Oscar scoffed, pulling off his sunglasses. “I’m Sophia’s gym instructor. She’s expecting me. Now stop wasting my time and open the gate!”Martin nodded