The room was buzzing with the sound of glasses clinking and soft, classy laughs. The golden chandeliers lit up everything, making the room look fancy and cozy, with long shadows playing on the velvet curtains hanging on the walls. The stylish lady was lounging on a fancy chair, her black dress hugging her perfectly, her hair styled just right, and her eyes shining with the joy of pulling off a plan.Not too far away, the strong guy with the cane was leaning back in a leather chair, his cane leaning against his knee. The carved tree on his chair looked like it was coming to life in the candlelight, its roots and branches twisting and turning, as if they were hiding secrets. He was swirling his brandy around in his glass, looking pretty pleased with himself."They never saw it coming," she said, taking a slow sip from her glass. "The Houses are in chaos, just like we wanted. By the time they figure it out, it'll be too late."He grunted in agreement, his eyes deep in thought. "They're a

Ethan sighed deeply, the weight of the story heavy on his shoulders. “It’s a long story, but it’s crucial for you to understand what’s happening. The leader of this house and his wife were involved in some very shady activities. They had plans that involved bringing both our families—my parents and your parents—into their schemes.”Sandra’s eyes widened further. “Our parents? Why would they want them involved?”Ethan’s face grew more serious. “My parents refused to join their plans. They were genuinely opposed to what the House of the Tree Symbol was doing. They even told your parents they couldn’t be part of it.”Sandra’s brow furrowed. “But you said my parents were involved. How is that possible?”Ethan nodded slowly. “That’s right. While my parents were adamant about not participating, your parents were already on board with the House of the Tree Symbol’s plans. They pretended to side with my parents, all the while playing a double game.”Sandra’s expression shifted to one of confu

“Dear Gerald,” the letter began. “It seems you’ve been played by Ethan Anderson’s cunning schemes. Did you honestly believe that voting for him would ensure his favor and consideration for the project? You are nothing more than a pawn in his game.”Gerald’s anger intensified with every line he read. The letter mocked his ambitions and belittled his efforts. “How dare they think they can manipulate me like this,” he muttered, his voice laced with venom. He squeezed the letter in his hand, crumpling it into a tight ball. The letter’s tone was condescending, and its message was clear: Ethan had outmaneuvered him, but now he had the opportunity to fight back.The letter continued with an unsettling proposition. It instructed Gerald to attend a secret meeting to discuss how to undermine Ethan. The date and time were specified, leaving little room for hesitation. “If you wish to reclaim control and secure the project for yourself, you must come prepared to strategize how to take down Ethan

The evening had settled over the city like a warm blanket, its streets alive with the pulse of a day coming to an end. People moved in steady streams, their faces tired but determined, eager to return home after a long day at work. The sidewalks were packed, a constant shuffle of shoes hitting the pavement, while cars honked and idled in the late rush hour traffic. Their headlights flickered as they crawled through the streets, reflecting off wet patches from an earlier drizzle, casting shimmering streaks of light that danced along the road.Across the street, a small diner sat at the corner, its neon sign flickering in hues of red and blue. The light it cast was warm and inviting, a beacon for those looking for a quick meal before they called it a night. The diner wasn’t anything fancy, but it had its own charm—a kind of cozy familiarity that brought people in again and again. Inside, the air was thick with the smell of sizzling grease, coffee brewing, and freshly baked bread. Th

The diner was still. The smell of spilled coffee and the faint metallic tang of blood lingered in the air. The robbers lay scattered across the floor, groaning softly in defeat. As the door chimed shut behind the hooded figure, a collective breath seemed to exhale from the room, as if everyone had been holding it the entire time. For a moment, nobody moved. It was as though the entire diner had been suspended in time, processing the sheer speed and intensity of what had just unfolded.Then, all at once, the murmurs began."Did you see that?" a man seated at the counter whispered in disbelief to the waitress beside him, his fork halfway to his mouth, frozen in mid-bite. "I mean, they took down four guys. Four! Just like that."The waitress nodded, still wide-eyed and trembling slightly. "I—I don't even know what happened. It was so fast," she stammered, clutching the edge of the counter for support. "One second, they were just sitting there... the next—bam!"At a nearby booth, a group