Tom wiped the sweat from his brow as he swept the kitchen floor. Sunlight pierced through the window, casting a warm glow on the worn wood. He had grown used to these quiet mornings. The door creaked open, and his mother-in-law walked in. She glanced at Tom with a look of disdain. "Still at it, I see," she said with her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I guess you missed a spot there. Typical."Tom didn't respond. He had learned that silence was often the best way to deal with her. He kept his head down, focusing on the task at hand.She moved closer, peering over his shoulder. "You call this cleaning? I don't know why Malia even bothers with you. She must be out of her mind, letting herself be tied to someone like you. Out of pity, no less."Tom's jaw tightened, but he kept his focus on the broom. "I'm doing my best, Mother-in-law.""Your best?" She laughed, "Your best was never good enough. After 2 years, you're still in the same pathetic state. You have refused to elevate, you have r

For two years, Zen had played the role of a dutiful husband, all while secretly working to change his brother’s biometrics to his own. The real Tom had died 2 years ago, and the current Tom is his twin brother, Zen Diel. Tom showed so much promise as the legitimate son but ended up amounting to nothing, his brother, Zen, was thrown to the battlefield at a young age and the only name he knew from then on was his status as God of War, the name that traumatized soldiers on the battlefield, “The Monarch of Death.”2 years ago, Zen was called back from the battlefield by his grandfather in order to save the name of their family by taking the place of his twin brother who was murdered on his way to visit the Diel manor.It was a long, risky game, but it had given him access to all the information he needed and the identity of Tom. He also saw 2 years of what his brother faced for so many years. Now, with the divorce finalized, Zen felt a sense of relief. He was free to start his real missi

The grand ballroom was alive with music and laughter. People danced under glittering chandeliers.Zen stood quietly in the party that Keisha convinced him to attend. He watched the scene with a calm expression. Nearby, a group of people were deep in discussion about recent changes in the city.“Have you heard?” a tall man with a beard leaned in, his voice excited. “The owner of mega has finally shown up in Mega.”A woman in a green dress raised her eyebrow. “I thought Willow was the owner.”“That’s not possible,” another man, younger and dressed in a sharp tuxedo, shook his head. “She never said she owned Mega. In fact, she’s always been clear that she’s just a spokesperson.”“In her words, the ‘CEO’ of mega” another voice added.A woman with red hair swirled her champagne. “Maybe she’s just the face. The real power might be someone we’ve never seen.”“Who could it be then?” the bearded man asked. “Who’s powerful enough to stay hidden all this time?”“I heard a rumor,” the younger ma

The woman didn’t respond immediately, but her eyes locked onto his with a calculating gaze. "Tom, I presume," she finally said, her voice smooth and deadly.Zen nodded. "And you are?""It’s not something you need to know when your on death’s door," she replied, drawing a knife from her belt. Zen sighed. "Why does it always have to be when I’m tired? Oh well, I was a bit bored anyway."The woman lunged at him, her movements were very precise and swift. Zen blocked her initial strike, countering with a quick jab to her wrist. The knife clattered to the ground, but she was unfazed, immediately launching a series of kicks aimed at his stomach.Zen blocked each one, his eyes never leaving hers. "You’re good," he said as he held her hand and twisted it.He cracked his neck and folded his arm in a boxing pose without moving an inch. “But I don’t have all day to play cat and dog,” He added.She grunted in pain but twisted free, spinning to face him again. "You’re not bad your—“Before she co

As Zen and Cyrus walked toward the door, the tension from the room lingered. Nia approached them suddenly.“Mr. Zen, wait,” Nia called out. “I want to apologize for Jane’s behavior. She was out of line. I’m grateful for what you did for my father.”“Can I get your contact, so I can call you to check on my dad once in a while?” Nia added.Zen paused, his expression still guarded. “Thank you, Nia. I understand the stress you’re under. However, I don’t think it’s wise for me to leave my contact information.”Nia looked taken aback. “Why not?”Zen glanced at Cyrus before responding. “I’d prefer not to be involved in situations where I’m met with hostility. Perhaps it’s best if we keep our interactions to a minimum.”Cyrus gave Nia a reassuring look. “I’m sorry for the trouble, Nia. I understand Tom’s point of view.”“Your keys,” Zen turned to Cyrus.Cyrus immediately puts his hands into his pockets, retrieving the key for Zen.With that, Zen walked out of the house, leaving Nia and Cyrus