James stood outside the towering skyscraper, the weight of the decision pressing down on him.The city stretched endlessly before him, its lights flickering like distant stars.But in his mind, there was only one thing—the promise Zhao made.Sarah. His daughter. The one person he couldn’t lose.“I’m going in,” James muttered, his voice steady despite the storm raging inside him.Kael, standing beside him, placed a hand on his shoulder. “You know the risks, right? Zhao will have this place locked down tighter than Fort Knox. We’ll stick together.”James nodded, but the fire in his eyes burned with a singular focus. “This ends tonight.”With a deep breath, they approached the entrance, and James’s heart pounded in his chest.The glass doors slid open with a hiss, and the world beyond was a cold, sterile representation of the power Zhao had amassed.Inside, the atmosphere felt oppressive. Bright lights. Silent guards.Everything in its place, as if Zhao was daring James to make the wrong

The penthouse was eerily quiet, the luxurious decor only amplifying the tension in the room.Zhao sat casually on a velvet armchair, a glass of wine in hand, his cold eyes locked on James.The city skyline shimmered outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, a stark contrast to the storm raging inside James.Sarah sat in a chair beside Zhao, her hands bound with rope.Though her face was pale, there was a glimmer of defiance in her eyes.She was alive.And that was all that mattered.James’s breath hitched in his chest.He stepped forward, his fists clenched, every muscle in his body taut with the need to act.His gaze never left Sarah as he approached, his voice low but firm.“Let her go, Zhao.”Zhao’s lips curled into a smile, his eyes glinting with malice.“You really think you can change anything? You’ve been running in circles, James. You’re too late. This is where it ends for you.”He waved a hand dismissively, as though James’s life was nothing more than an inconvenient distraction.

The quiet hum of the computer filled the room, a stark contrast to the tension that hung in the air.James stood by Winter’s desk, watching her work. Her fingers flew over the keyboard, her brow furrowed in concentration.The files from the skyscraper were far more intricate than they’d anticipated, but Winter had a knack for deciphering the most complex codes."Anything?" James asked, his voice low, laced with urgency.Winter glanced up briefly, her eyes tired but determined."I’m getting there. There are plans here to destabilize Emily’s company even further—financial blackmail, insider trading schemes... It’s all designed to ruin her reputation and her business."James clenched his jaw. "Zhao isn’t stopping until he’s destroyed everything we care about."His voice was steely, the fire in his eyes rekindled.“Emily’s already fighting back,” Winter murmured, turning her attention back to the screen.“She’s been holding her own against the media, but it’s relentless. Zhao’s tactics ar

But Zhao was not one to be outdone.Within hours, the media frenzy began.Emily sat at her desk, her fingers gripping the edge of her laptop as the headlines flashed across the screen.“CEO Emily White Linked to Corruption Scheme: Secret Deals with Zhao Exposed”“What is this?” Emily’s voice was tight with disbelief. “This can’t be happening.”James walked into the room, his expression grim.“It’s Zhao. He’s releasing false evidence, trying to turn the tables. He’s using you as a pawn in this game.”Emily stood up, her voice shaking with anger “But this is a lie. I’ve never been involved in any of his dealings. How could they—how could they do this?”James stepped forward, his presence steadying her.“I know it’s hard, but we’ll handle it. The truth will come out. Zhao’s empire is crumbling, and he’s trying to salvage it by dragging you down with him.”Kael entered the room, his face tight with frustration.“The media is already running with it. The damage is being done.”James’s eye

Harper didn’t hesitate.“Zhao’s empire is built on a fragile foundation. His secret allies, his hidden funds… they’re his lifeline. You destroy those, you destroy him. I’ve spent years building the intel I’m offering you, but it’s not just about the money. It’s about taking away his power.”Kael spoke up, his voice calm but probing.“How do we know you’re not leading us into a trap?”Harper smirked, clearly unfazed.“I’m not the one who’s been burned, Kael. If I wanted you dead, I would have done it myself already.”James studied her carefully.She wasn’t wrong.If she wanted him dead, she could have easily orchestrated it. But that didn’t mean she could be trusted."What's the first step?" Winter asked, her voice tense.“We need to know what we’re walking into.”Harper leaned forward, her fingers tapping lightly on the table."I have information on a hidden offshore account linked to Zhao’s secret dealings. The kind of money he uses for his black ops, for laundering dirty funds. If w