Novels by SHSA

Chapter 400Minutes later, Mary returned, Gwen trailing behind her. Gwen’s face was pale, her eyes wide with a mix of exhaustion and worry.“What’s going on?” she asked, her voice shaky.Mary quickly filled her in, and Gwen’s eyes darted nervously between the group. “You want me to call Sterling? Pretend the police told me Charles is with him?”“Yes,” James said firmly. “You’re the mother of his son. He won’t ignore you, and your mention of the police will rattle him.”Gwen hesitated, biting her lip. “What if he calls my bluff?”“He won’t,” Gregor said. “Not immediately. He’ll be too busy trying to cover his tracks.”After a long pause, Gwen nodded. “Alright. I’ll do it.”Eric handed her phone to her. “Call him now. Put it on speaker so we can hear.”Gwen took a deep breath, her fingers trembling as she dialed Sterling’s number. The phone rang twice before his sharp voice came through.“Gwen? What do you want?”Gwen steadied herself, her voice firm despite the nervous quiver in her ch

Chapter 399Eric heard the knock and opened the door cautiously, peering out before recognizing James and Gregor. His brows furrowed at the sight of them—dusty clothes, unshaven faces, and exhaustion etched into their features.“You two look like you’ve been through hell,” Eric said as he stepped aside to let them in.James walked in first, brushing past him, while Gregor followed, giving Eric a curt nod. They both slumped into the nearest chairs, the weariness in their movements making it clear they had been running on fumes.“Any update?” Eric asked, his voice heavy with concern. He remained standing, arms crossed as he studied their tired faces.James rubbed his temples before speaking. “Williams has Charles now.”The words hung in the air like a thunderclap. Eric’s eyes widened in shock. “What? Williams? Are you sure?”Gregor leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “We saw it ourselves, Eric. Last night, near the bunker. It was chaos.”James took a deep breath and started

Chapter 398The sound of the engine echoed through the long driveway as Williams brought the sleek, black sports car to a halt in front of the imposing Sterling mansion. The mansion loomed like a fortress, its high walls and heavy gates a testament to Mr. Sterling’s wealth and status. Williams exhaled, fixing his face into a mask of control. Beside him, Charles stirred slightly, his small face pale and gaunt, his once bright eyes clouded with exhaustion and fear.The grand double doors of the mansion swung open as soon as Williams stepped out, carrying Charles in his arms. Mr. Sterling emerged, flanked by several members of his household staff. His sharp suit was slightly disheveled, and his face betrayed a mix of relief and anxiety.“Charles!” Mr. Sterling’s voice broke with emotion as he hurried down the steps.The boy flinched at the sound, burying his face into Williams’ chest. Williams tightened his grip, his movements calculated and deliberate as he handed the boy over. “He’s sa

Chapter 397Morning broke with a dull glow, illuminating the quiet safe house nestled deep in the woods. Inside, tension hung thick in the air. Williams was standing near the window with a phone pressed to his ear, speaking in a calm but calculated tone.“We’ve got your son, Charles,” he said, his voice steady. “But we haven’t located Jaxon.”On the other end of the line, Mr. Sterling’s voice cracked with emotion. “Charles? Is he safe? Are you sure?” Relief flooded his tone, but it was quickly shadowed by anxiety. “What about Jaxon? Did you find him? Is there anything—anything—leading up to him?”Williams let out a quiet sigh, one that sounded more like practiced patience than genuine concern. “That’s all we could manage,” he replied. “The men who took Jaxon still have him, and from what we’ve gathered, they plan to kill him if there’s any interference.”Mr. Sterling was silent for a beat, processing the grim news. Then, his voice rose, tinged with panic. “What do I do now? How do I

Chapter 396James and Gregor stepped out of their concealed position in the underbrush as the taillights of the SUV disappeared into the darkness. The cool night air was eerily silent now, broken only by the faint rustling of leaves and the muffled sounds of wildlife in the distance. The ground beneath their boots crunched softly as they moved toward the aftermath of the chaos they had just witnessed.Gregor’s eyes scanned the scene, his face expressionless as he took in the lifeless bodies sprawled across the area. Three of them, including Ben they once held, lay motionless, their weapons discarded and their blood staining the dirt beneath them.Gregor crouched beside one of the bodies, briefly checking for a pulse, though he already knew there was none. Standing, he shook his head and muttered, “Well, that’s the life they’ve chosen for themselves.”James, standing a few steps behind him, remained silent for a moment, his sharp eyes darting around the scene. The faint glow of the moo

Chapter 395The shadows of the dilapidated bunker stretched long under the moonlight as Williams and his team lay in wait. They had taken up position hours earlier, tucked inside Jaxon’s sleek sports car, the dark, polished metal blending seamlessly into the night. The air inside the vehicle was stifling, thick with tension and the faint metallic tang of gun oil. Every man was armed and ready, their nerves wound tight, waiting for the right moment to strike. Williams sat in the driver’s seat, his hands resting casually on the steering wheel, though his eyes never left the rearview mirror. Beside him, Kane sat rigid, one hand gripping Jaxon’s arm firmly while the other rested on the stock of a shotgun lying across his lap. In the cramped sports car, Tom and Dorian crouched uncomfortably in the trunk, their weapons at the ready, waiting for Williams’ signal.The silence inside the car was shattered when headlights cut through the darkness. A single car approached, its rumbling engine e

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

Chapter 29Nathan and Jackson left Jackson's room with purposeful strides, their conversation still buzzing in their minds. The tension was palpable as they navigated the winding corridors of Alejandro’s mansion.“Where could he be right now?” Nathan said, his tone edged with frustration.Jackson, clutching his laptop, shrugged. “Theo’s always moving around. Let’s check his room.”They turned down the hall and knocked on Theo’s door. After a few moments of silence, Nathan tried the handle, but the room was empty.“Not here,” Jackson muttered, glancing around.Nathan sighed. “Let’s try the gym. He’s been in there a lot lately.”The two made their way downstairs to the gym. The faint sound of weights clinking and rhythmic grunts echoed down the hall as they approached. Inside, they found Jake Turner, shirtless and dripping with sweat, in the middle of a vigorous set of pull-ups.Jake noticed them in the mirror and smirked. “What’s up, nerds?” he said, dropping down from the bar and grab