Charles Kingston lounged in the grand lobby, swirling a glass of champagne between his fingers, when he caught sight of Jasmine slipping in through the front doors.She settled near the reporters.Charles finished his drink, rose, and sauntered over.“Where are your bodyguards?” he asked, feigning casual interest. “Usually you travel with half an army.”Jasmine met his gaze with icy calm.“Should I bring them here just so they can kill your men? They’re all Kingstons, every last one of them. Why waste resources on family?”Charles’s lips twitched in a bitter smile. “If you don’t want a fight, you might as well hand over everything.”“Why would I give you control of the Kingston name?” Jasmine’s tone grew razor-sharp.“Especially when today’s your last day in power? Word around town is you can’t even afford to pay your own bodyguards anymore.”Her taunt landed like a slap.Charles’s jaw tightened. She was right—he was bleeding money from every angle, and it was all because of Jasmine’s

They made it to one of the biggest hotels in Vancouver in record time, with Lyra setting a brisk pace and offering no explanation.She merely grabbed Alex by the hand and guided him up to the tenth-floor lounge, where two men waited.One was Lyra’s father, Joe Thompson, looking healthier than the last time Alex had seen him.The other was a man perhaps twenty years Alex’s senior, built like an aging prizefighter with the kind of intense gaze that hinted he’d once been a force to be reckoned with.His suit looked one size too small, struggling to contain his bulky frame.One glance at his cold, unreadable expression told Alex this was not a man to be trifled with.“Mr. Alex, I’m glad you could make it!” Joe said, standing up the moment Alex and Lyra stepped inside.The old man’s voice still carried warmth despite his recent brush with death.“How’re you feeling, Mr. Thompson?” Alex asked.“Can’t complain,” Joe replied with a grateful nod. “I owe it all to you. Frankly, I wouldn’t be br

“Quick! Surround this place. No one leaves!”A squad of heavily armed guards burst in, blocking every door and passage.The lethal aura radiating from their weapons made everyone’s blood run cold.“Who is Sophia Lancaster? Don’t make me repeat myself!” the leading soldier demanded, his gaze as sharp as a knife.Everyone froze in shock, watching the guards swarm inside. They exchanged confused glances.“Officer, what is going on?” Florence asked, mustering her courage.As an ordinary civilian, she had never experienced anything like this. Although she knew she had done nothing wrong, she still felt guilty.“Are you Sophia Lancaster?”“Me? No.”“I’m asking: who is Sophia Lancaster?” the officer repeated in a grim tone, eyes brimming with hostility.“I am…” Sophia slowly stood up, trying to appear brave. “Officer, what can I do for you?”“Come with us immediately to assist in an investigation!” the officer ordered.“W-what did I do wrong?”“We suspect you’re connected to the murder of Ha

Sophia’s mind drifted back to the dream with Alex that had felt so vivid.Could it really have been Alex—the same man who used to protect her, even after everything that happened between them?Part of her wanted to believe it, but she quickly dismissed the idea.They were divorced.Why would he lift a finger for her? Besides, Alex wasn’t the sort to get involved in such dangerous affairs.It was impossible… wasn’t it?Suddenly, Jack’s furious voice broke through her thoughts, reverberating in the living room. “Marco Ashford! You slimy piece of dirt! I must’ve been out of my mind to trust you!”Marco only laughed, a cold, mocking sound that sent shivers down Sophia’s spine.“You’re all blind,” he sneered. “The whole lot of you. And don’t act like you just realized it. I did you a favor by ripping off the blindfold.”“Favor?” Florence spat, her voice trembling with rage. “I considered you family! You’re worse than Alex ever was!”Marco rolled his eyes, a contemptuous grin stretching acr

Sophia kept her gaze fixed on Jarvis, the man who’d just taken them captive.He practically radiated arrogance—enough to set entire villages ablaze.Yet here he stood, trying to appear as harmless as a kitten.“Miss Lancaster, I’m going to cut the rope,” he said softly, as though afraid to startle her.With a swift motion, he drew a military knife and sliced through the restraint. He paused a moment, then turned his face aside before speaking again.“Please find a pair of jeans in that wardrobe. I’ll let you and your family go. This was all a mistake.”A mistake? Sophia didn’t believe a word of it.Tigers didn’t just stop being predators overnight.Still, she wasted no time hurrying to the wardrobe.She dug out a pair of jeans she could find and slipped them on, all while watching Jarvis out of the corner of her eye.Surprisingly, he didn’t move a muscle.He stepped to the doorway and called out, “Soldier! Take Miss Lancaster to her family and escort them home.”“Yes, sir,” the young