Edward’s face twisted with fury, his bandaged hand twitching. “Even after losing my finger, I’m still in this! I’m not giving up! Don't be a coward” He leaned in, his eyes burning with madness. “If you leave now, you might as well be digging your own grave. Lord Cloud will find out eventually, and he’ll come after you whether you’re in or out. At least if you stay, we have a chance to fight back.”Sylvester stood up abruptly, his chair screeching across the floor as he pushed it back. “I don’t want any part of this madness anymore. I’m not risking my life for this.”Hastings stood as well, towering over Sylvester. “You fool, you can't just walk away. Your hands are also stained like the rest of us.""You’ve benefited from the stolen money just like we have. You think Lord Cloud’s going to spare go if you suddenly grow a conscience?”Sylvester’s face was tight with fear, but he held his ground. “I’ll take my chances. Goodluck to you too.”Edward slammed his fist on the table again, th

He could feel the control slipping, the urge to lash out growing stronger by the second.But the receptionist remained unfazed. She leaned back in her chair, folding her arms across her chest. “I’m not calling anyone. And I suggest you leave before I have security escort you out.”Nathan’s blood boiled. He had no time for this.Every second wasted was a second closer to disaster, and yet this woman, this insignificant individual, dared to stand in his way.“I don’t have time for this,” Nathan growled, his voice dropping to a dangerously low tone. “You will call her. Or I’ll—”“Or you’ll what?” The receptionist smirked, clearly enjoying the power trip. “How dare you threaten me?Is it because I am trying to be polite with you?What gave you the guts to walk into Royal Corporation, the number one partner of Cloud Corporation, and start making demands?You must be out of your senses!!!”The tension between Nathan and the receptionist escalated as the silence in the lobby became thicker.

The police officers stood back, watching. “Is there anything else you’d like us to do, Mrs. Cloud?”Vanessa shook her head, her eyes still locked on the receptionist being dragged out. “No, Officer. You can go.”Nathan stood silently beside her, his arms still crossed, watching as the receptionist was dragged out of the lobby. Her cries echoed through the room, but neither Nathan nor Vanessa flinched. At that moment he was not really angry but filled with satisfactionHe had warned her, he had given her multiple chances to back down. She she still chose to challenge him, just like everyone who dared to challenge him, she was paying the price.As the doors swung closed behind the doctors and the sobbing receptionist, the lobby became quiet. Vanessa then turned to Nathan. “I’m sorry you had to deal with that, Nathan,” she said, placing her hand round his arm. Nathan’s eyes softened as he looked at her. “It’s alright, dear. You don't need to apologize on her behalf."Vanessa nodded, h

Darius's eyes were fixed on the helicopter ahead. As the blades rotated, he knew it was his only chance of survival.“GO! NOW!” Darius yelled, nearly tripping over his own feet in his desperation.The pilot nodded, his trembling hands already moving to prepare for takeoff.Darius threw himself into the back seat of the helicopter, slamming the door shut. The engine roared, and the chopper slowly began to lift off the ground.Meanwhile, inside the mansion, Nathan’s men were closing in. Darius’s guards, despite their numbers, were either down or trying to escape.“Sir!” One of Nathan’s men came running up, panting. “He’s at the helipad. The helicopter is taking off!”Nathan’s jaw clenched as anger coursed through his veins. “Shoot it down,” he ordered.Without hesitation, he informed the rest of Nathan's men.On the helipad, just as the helicopter began to rise above the mansion’s roof, several of Nathan’s men burst out from the mansion with their rifles aimed at the sky.They opened fi

The room remained heavy with silence as Lord Cloud sat at the head of the table. His mere presence exuded an aura of power and authority so intense that no one even dared to speak.All around the conference room, employees began to shift uncomfortably in their seats, and sweat was even forming on some of their foreheads.Each one of them began to replay every decision, every minor slip-up in their minds, wondering if they had done anything to incur Lord Cloud's wrath. Some glanced nervously at their colleagues, while others bowed their heads, too afraid to meet Nathan's intense gaze.Hastings was visibly shaking, his shirt already soaked in sweat. His mind was racing, and his heart pounded against his chest like a hammer. Does he know? The question replayed in his mind endlessly. He could feel the cold, piercing stare of Nathan boring through him. Sylvester, too, was breaking under the pressure; he had pulled out of the plan with Darius, but what if backing out was not enough to a