Sitting in the poorly lit living room, Estella fixed a blank stare at the family picture on the wall. It was from a time long before the storm arrived, when life had been simple and whole and everything seemed fine.The image now felt so far disconnected from the reality she was living in. Her eyes flicked over her husband’s face in the picture, Jake grinning with his daughter Rylie, his arm slung across Estella’s shoulders. That picture felt like a lifetime ago, before everything had collapsed and the confidence had been betrayed.Past week had been a swirl of emotions, accusations, and confrontations. The affair Jake had been having for months had destroyed her. She had never seen it coming; the father of their kid, Jake, the guy she had made a life with, had turned on her in the harshest of terms. Her numbness from the shock had lasted days, and she struggled to make sense of how rapidly everything had collapsed.She has always thought of their marriage as perfect. They had always

Hunter was sitting in his office, the space filled with lengthy shadows from the weak light from his desk lamp. The weight of everything—the recent assaults on his companies, the never-ending threats, and the relentless hunt for Jonathan—seemed to be pressing down on him, and the air seemed heavy, almost oppressive. He felt fatigue grip him like a second skin. But in the middle of the confusion, he was plagued by an eerie sensation that he was unable to get rid of no matter how hard he tried.Pushing aside a pile of papers, he concentrated on the most recent piece of intelligence that had arrived. It had initially appeared to be just another dead end, another short-lived lead that wouldn’t prove to be very significant. However, the more Hunter studied it, the more the pieces began to fit together.Olivia, his ex-fiance, had been a constant in his life, but now he was only focused on the work at hand. She was not the object of this investigation, but he had never trusted her completely

Standing two weeks later in the ultra-modern office of the competitor, Alamid’s keen eyes surveyed the plush furnishings and subtle hum of the business environment. Jonathan and the business world were both intended recipients of her statement.There was a heavy weight in the air as the ink on the contract she had just signed continued to dry. She had just taken over the competitor’s business, complete with all of its assets and clout. It was just another strategic step in her plan to undermine Jonathan’s network from within.The company’s operations had been thoroughly investigated by her team for months, revealing financial irregularities, weak spots, and suspicious activities that were directly linked to Jonathan.For the takeover to go off without a hitch, every detail had been carefully considered. The company’s upper management caved in to Alamid’s relentless pursuit of her goals, and her reputation as a fiercely independent businesswoman only grew in her ascendancy.As Alamid r

Hunter sat at the head of the Brotherhood’s table, his gaze sharp as Casper laid out the plan with meticulous precision. The room hummed with tension, each member acutely aware of the risks but unwilling to voice dissent. This was the kind of gamble that could dismantle Jonathan’s empire—or destroy them entirely.“We move on the northern hub first,” Casper said, his finger tracing the map in front of him. “Alejandro’s resources will be instrumental here. His people know the terrain, and their intel on the supply routes is solid.”Hunter’s lips pressed into a thin line at the mention of Alejandro. The history between them wasn’t just water under the bridge—it was a storm, a maelstrom of unresolved grudges and betrayals. Yet, despite the unspoken tension, he gave a curt nod.“Fine. Loop him in,” Hunter said, his voice cold but decisive. “But keep him on a leash. I don’t want any surprises.”Casper glanced at him, hesitating for a fraction of a second before continuing. “Alejandro’s alre

Ezekiel and Alamid had been on the road for hours, the relentless thrum of the engine blending with the ever-growing tension in the air. The night was thick with humidity, and the headlights of their vehicle sliced through the darkness as they navigated the winding roads. The GPS was unreliable here, and they had to rely on a series of intel, contacts, and their instincts to get closer to Jonathan’s hideout.Ezekiel’s jaw was tight, hands gripping the wheel so hard his knuckles turned white. Every mile, every turn, felt like they were getting closer to something dangerous, something that could change everything. The fury in his chest was like a fire, fueled by the constant failures to get close to Jonathan, to put an end to his reign of terror.He hadn’t forgotten what Jonathan had done to his family—Ezekiel’s daughter, the betrayal, the endless manipulation. He would make sure Jonathan paid for all of it, no matter what.“We’re getting close,” Alamid muttered, eyes scanning the darke