447 Darwin’s voice trembled, barely rising above a whisper. “Mom... it’s me... I need your help.” There was a pause, a silence that seemed to stretch into an eternity, filled only by the quickening beats of Darwin’s heart. He knew the power of those words, what they would set into motion. He glanc

449 The phone on the floor buzzed, slicing through the tension in the room like a knife. All eyes darted to it. Zayne snatched it up, his fingers trembling despite the cold mask he wore. His voice was rough as he answered, “What is it?” A beat of silence, then James’s voice came through, cracked a

451 Lady Margaret stood in her opulent study, the heavy drapes pulled tightly shut as the weight of the evening pressed on her like an iron vice. The flickering glow from the ornate lamp cast long, restless shadows across her face, highlighting the sharp set of her jaw and the determined glint in h

453 Marisol shook her head. “Zayne is smarter than that. If he’s doing this, he’ll cover his tracks well. But he’s also reckless when pushed. We can’t outmaneuver him with brute force.” Whitaker’s lips curled into a thin smile. “Then we don’t need to outmaneuver him. We need to make him come to us

455 The Oakbar brothers grew increasingly impatient, the tension in the cramped hideout palpable. Their voices, once unified, now splintered into sharp, cutting tones. The eldest brother, eyes cold and calculating, paced the room, his steps echoing with frustration. “It’s been too long. We’re riski