Elijah sat at his desk in the study, the pendant from the recovered chest glinting faintly in the light. The discovery of another Norton heirloom, hinted at in the documents Doug uncovered, weighed heavily on his mind. It wasn’t just about reclaiming a piece of his family’s history—it was about understanding the full extent of the conspiracy that had destroyed everything he held dear. Doug entered the room, his footsteps brisk and deliberate. “Marshal, I’ve started tracing the origins of the second heirloom mentioned in the documents.” He handed Elijah a folder. “It seems it was last seen in possession of a private collector in Evendore.” Elijah flipped through the folder, his jaw tightening as he skimmed the details. “This collector—what’s their connection to the syndicate?” “Indirect, but clear,” Doug replied. “They’ve been known to deal with questionable buyers, some of whom are tied to the Thompson Accord.” Elijah’s gaze darkened. “Then it’s not a coincidence. Whoever has

Elijah’s jaw tightened as the car sped toward Arthur Palace. Sophia sat beside him, her fingers gripping the edge of her seat. The tension was palpable, the air heavy with the weight of unspoken fears. “Elijah,” Sophia began softly, glancing at him. “Are we making the right decision by going back? What if they’re already there?” “They won’t be,” Elijah replied firmly, his voice calm but resolute. “Doug is coordinating the palace security. No one will get close without my knowing.” Sophia wanted to believe him, but the memories of her kidnapping were still raw. She took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts. “I don’t want to live in fear, Elijah. I need to go back to work. I need to face this.” Elijah turned to her briefly, his piercing gaze softening. “I know. And I’ll make sure you’re safe every step of the way.” ...At Arthur Palace, Doug stood waiting as the car pulled into the driveway. His expression was grave, and Elijah immediately knew the news wasn’t good. “Marsha

The room was dimly lit, the air tense with expectation. Elijah leaned against the table, arms crossed, his piercing gaze fixed on the man handcuffed to the chair before him. The captured syndicate member looked smug despite his predicament, a smirk playing on his lips as though he held the upper hand. “You’ve been cooperative so far,” Elijah began, his tone calm but laced with steel. “Don’t ruin that streak now. Who’s been feeding you information about us?” The man chuckled, shaking his head. “You think I’m going to spill everything because you ask nicely, Marshal? You don’t scare me.” Elijah stepped forward, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. “I should. Because if you think the syndicate is dangerous, you haven’t seen what I’m capable of.” The smirk faltered slightly, and the man’s eyes flickered with uncertainty. ...In another part of the palace, Sophia paced the library, her mind racing. She couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that someone close to her was working

Sophia stood in the grand hall of the Donald estate, her heart pounding as Hague entered with his usual air of aloof authority. Elijah was beside her, his stance protective but composed, his piercing gaze locked onto Hague. “We need to talk,” Sophia began, her voice firm but tinged with unease. Hague’s brows arched as he took a seat by the ornate fireplace. “Ah, another lecture about family loyalty? Go on, Sophia. Enlighten me.” Elijah stepped forward, his tone cutting through the tension. “This isn’t about loyalty, Hague. It’s about betrayal. We know what you’ve been doing.” Hague leaned back, a faint smirk playing on his lips. “Betrayal, you say? Strong words, Norton. And what exactly do you think I’ve done?” Sophia stepped forward, her fists clenched. “Don’t act coy. We have evidence—messages, transactions, surveillance. You’ve been working with the syndicate, feeding them information about me, about Elijah.” Hague’s expression darkened slightly, but he didn’t flinch. “

The warehouse was cloaked in shadows, the faint hum of machinery blending with murmurs from within. Elijah adjusted his jacket, the faint weight of his concealed weapon a steady reminder of the danger ahead. Doug lingered nearby, eyes scanning the perimeter for any signs of trouble.“Marshal,” Doug whispered, his tone cautious. “You’re certain about this? Infiltrating without backup could expose your identity.”Elijah’s gaze didn’t waver. “We need to confirm it’s him, Doug. If Nathaniel Thompson is truly alive, this could be the break we’ve been waiting for.”Doug nodded, his respect evident. “Understood, Sir. I’ll be nearby, monitoring your position.”Elijah slipped inside, blending seamlessly with the small crowd of individuals gathered near the dimly lit center of the warehouse. The atmosphere was tense, the air thick with the weight of whispered alliances and veiled intentions. ...Meanwhile, back at Arthur Palace, Sophia sat in her study, a stack of old family documents spread