“Sophia, you brought back 15% of the company shares?” her brother exclaimed, his eyes wide with disbelief.His hand trembled on the door handle, and he immediately stepped aside.“Come in, come in! I didn’t realize… I didn’t know you’d be able to do that.”Sophia hesitated for a moment, feeling the sudden shift in her brother’s attitude. Moments ago, he had practically slammed the door in her face, but now, his tone dripped with fake warmth.He led them inside, a grin plastered on his face.“I knew you’d come through for the family, Sophia,” he said, his voice oily.“This changes everything. We’ll be able to afford that new car I’ve been eyeing for months.” He rubbed his hands together, already lost in thoughts of luxury.Sophia bit her lip, uncomfortable with the sudden attention. Just moments before, she had been on the brink of being kicked out, and now, her brother couldn’t hide his greed. She looked over at Elijah, who gave her a nod, silently encouraging her to remain steady.As

Doug stepped closer before he continued, his expression dark."They’re trying to take over what’s left of the Shaw family's assets—particularly the Lava Heart. The Winters have already started absorbing the Shaw family's business connections, and William Winter got his sights set on the Nortons’ heirloom."Elijah’s eyes flashed with anger at the mention of the Lava Heart. "That belongs to the Norton family," he muttered, his hands tightening into fists. "The Shaws stole it. I was going to take it back."Doug nodded. "And now the Winters are moving in. Kate’s been going around bragging that soon, the Lava Heart will belong to the Winters."Elijah’s jaw clenched, his thoughts racing. "Additionally, Sophia isn't safe either. Kate won’t stop until she gets what she wants," he muttered. "And William Winter won’t let this slide. He won’t let anyone get away with slapping his daughter in public."Doug’s eyes flickered with unease. "You made a powerful enemy today, Marshal. William Winter isn

Elijah ran a hand through his hair, trying to come up with an excuse for the grayish strands that Sophia had noticed."Maybe I brushed up against something, or it’s just some color that got in my hair," he said casually.Sophia raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile on her face."Or maybe you’re just aging, Elijah. Going gray already?"Elijah, for the first time in years, sulked and pouted slightly. He wasn’t used to being teased, especially not about something as simple as his hair. Sophia let out a soft giggle."Aww," she cooed, "look at you. Who would’ve thought that the mighty soldier could be this cute?"Elijah shot her a mock glare, though the corners of his lips turned up in a small smile."Cute, huh? That’s a first."Sophia leaned in and wrapped her arms around him, pulling him close. "Even tough soldiers can have their moments."They shared a quick but sweet cuddle, holding each other under the warm light of their bedroom.Sophia, content and at peace, soon drifted off to sleep i

Duke West stood by the large window of his study, overlooking the vast estate that spread out below. His cold gaze took in the sight of his guards patrolling the grounds, but his mind was far from focused on his security. His thoughts were consumed by one man—Elijah Norton.The rumors swirling about Elijah’s involvement in the downfall of the Shaw family had reached his ears. Duke West didn’t have all the details, but he had enough to suspect that Elijah wasn’t just interested in the Nortons’ reputation. No, it was clear that Elijah was after something far bigger. "Marshal Elijah Norton," Duke muttered, his lips curling into a bitter sneer.Standing beside him was Marcus, his most trusted advisor. A former soldier who had served under Duke for years, Marcus had always been reliable. Now, he stood silently, waiting for orders."Sir, do you truly believe Elijah Norton is behind the collapse of the Shaw family?" Marcus asked cautiously, his voice low.Duke turned his sharp gaze to Marcu