Chapter Ninety One: The Cult of ShadowsWhen they finally woke up, the disorientation was immediate. The bus had stopped, and Connor, Chris, and Leo were still blindfolded. As their senses gradually returned, they realized they were no longer in the familiar confines of the Pinnacle Lounge, or the warehouse that they’ve driven to. They were somewhere else entirely.They were led, stumbling and blindfolded, through a maze of corridors. The journey felt interminable, with the only sound being the shuffle of their captors' footsteps and their own uneasy breathing. When the blindfolds were finally removed, the trio was greeted by an unexpected and dramatic sight.Before them stretched what looked like an ancient throne room, tucked away in the belly of a mountain. The room was vast, with stone walls etched with intricate symbols that flickered in the dim light cast by torch sconces. The ground was uneven, and the air was thick with a musty smell that suggested age and isolation. Th

Chapter Ninety Four: The Ring of DestinyThe atmosphere in the dimly lit underground chamber was tense as the masked man with the dagger hesitated, his hand frozen in mid-air. Jack Stone’s sudden command had brought the situation to a standstill.“Stop!” Jack Stone’s voice rang out, his tone authoritative and commanding.The masked man looked at Jack Stone, confusion etched on his face. “What is it?”“That ring on your finger,” Jack Stone said, his eyes narrowing as he focused intently on Chris. “Where did you get it from?”Chris glanced down at his hand, where a distinctive ring gleamed in the dim light. The ring was crafted from a metal that shimmered with an otherworldly sheen. Its band was intricately engraved with swirling patterns that seemed to shift and flow with the light. At the center of the band was a large gemstone, a deep emerald green, surrounded by smaller diamonds that sparkled like stars. The gem appeared almost alive, pulsing gently as if it held some secret pow

Chapter Ninety-Six: A Toast to FreedomThe throne room, bathed in a dim, flickering light, had a heavy atmosphere as Jack Stone settled back into his grand chair. Chris, still processing the gravity of their situation, noticed a large, ornate jar being carried into the room. It was filled with a rich, dark wine, its surface shimmering under the torchlight.Jack Stone waved a hand dismissively. “A special wine for our guest. Please, enjoy.”Chris smiled and accepted the jar with enthusiasm. “Thank you, Jack. This is very kind of you. You know, since I’m here, why don’t we make it a celebration? Invite everyone to join us. It’s not every day that someone like me graces your presence.”Jack Stone hesitated, clearly unsure. “I’m not sure it’s appropriate to…”“Come now,” Chris interrupted, raising his voice slightly. “It would be a sign of great disrespect if you didn’t honor my request. I would think less of you if you failed to celebrate this occasion.”Reluctantly, Jack Stone agreed.

Chapter 98: I will protect you. Stephany stretched lightly, still feeling the soft warmth of their morning together. “Morning,” he mumbled, grabbing a cup of coffee.“Good morning,” Stephany replied, “did everything go well at the station?” She asked, “Hmmn, yes it did, Chris said”“That’s good,” Stephany replied. her voice warm and cheerful. She set a plate of scrambled eggs on her plate and ate.“I need to talk to you about something.”Chris looked up from his coffee, his brow furrowing slightly. “What’s up?”“I have to head to the Preston house for a family emergency meeting,” Stephany said, her tone a mix of resignation and concern.Chris’s face fell into a look of mild frustration. “Why are there so many meetings? Seems like there’s always something new.”Stephany sighed, setting her coffee cup down. “Well, this one might be related to the events of last night. They’ll probably discuss what happened and maybe figure out the next steps or address any new issues that have come u

Chapter 100: Fifty Shares The room was thick with tension. Chris and Stephany had just been faced with Grandma Preston's harsh ultimatum, and Henry's derisive laughter echoed in the heavy air. As the argument continued, an unexpected knock on the door interrupted the scene, causing everyone to pause.A young assistant opened the door and announced, “Mr. Cradwell from Web 3.”He was the very one who had bought fifty percent of the shares form their company when they were having issues, he holds most of the manager right of the company.Though he saved the Preston’s when they were broke, at this point, he was the reason they started having this series of meetings. He held too much power that the company practically belongs to him. What was he doing now?The name was met with surprise and murmurings of confusion. Grandma Preston’s eyes widened. Mr. Cradwell was known for his significant investment in the company, holding a considerable share of management rights. His sudden appearan