Ryan sat on the edge of the creaky motel bed, the faint hum of the ceiling fan doing little to ease his frayed nerves. His phone buzzed again on the bedside table as Jane’s name flashed across the screen. He didn’t pick up. Her calls, like his uncle’s, had been piling up for hours, but his mind was too clouded to deal with them. He just wanted to be alone.Moments later, Ryan's phone buzzed again. It was a text message from Alex, informing Ryan that he was in the motel and asking for Ryan's room number. He explained that he had come under his father's orders since Ryan had been ignoring their calls.Ryan shot up from the bed after confirming that Alex was in the same motel and walked to the window. He parted the curtains slightly, peering out, and found out that the black sedan was still there, parked under the dim glow of the flickering motel light."Where is he?" he muttered, scanning the car. It was empty. "Could he have gotten a room too?"Realising the danger of meeting Alex,

Ryan sat by the corner table of the restaurant he had texted Chris to meet him, swirling the glass of whiskey in his hand. He leaned back in his chair, his eyes fixed on the entrance. It didn’t take long for Chris to step in, glancing around nervously before making his way to Ryan. "What's this about?" Chris greeted, sliding into the seat opposite Ryan. "You better have a damn good reason for pulling me here. Jude’s not going to let it slide if he finds out. He must not even find out about this meeting. Do you have even the slightest idea of the danger you're putting my life in?"Ryan’s lips curved into a smirk. "Relax, Chris. I’d hate to remind you, but I have enough leverage on you to make Jude’s wrath look like a child’s tantrum." Chris stiffened, but he said nothing, his jaw tightening as Ryan’s words hit home. "Good," Ryan chuckled.He leaned forward. "Someone’s been tailing me for days now." Chris blinked, his brows knitting together. "What?!""You heard me." Ryan's gaze

Ryan straightened his suit one last time in front of the full-length mirror, his smirk betraying the confidence of a man with everything to lose but a plan to gain it all. Tonight was D-day, the night Jude’s downfall would begin.The grand hall at Jude’s house was as vast as a mansion's ballroom, the low hum of conversations creating a cloud of whispers. Groups of well-dressed people mingled, smiles plastered across their faces, as the clink of glasses filled the air. It was obvious the event was meant for the city’s elites, and someone like Ryan, who barely fit the image he did project, had no business being there. But Jude had a reason for sending him the invitation: to either expose his secret or remind him he did not stand a chance and needed to try harder if he wanted to take him down. According to what Chris had told Jude, he already had everything planned out.Ryan stood at the far corner of the room, sipping his drink, his presence unnoticed by everyone like a ghost in a room