Under the cover of night, the two teams approached the Stoke estate.The once-grand mansion loomed like a shadowy specter, its windows dark and its grounds overgrown.Max, Red Fang, and Molly led the extraction team, while William’s men staged a diversion at the front gate.The silence was broken by an explosion as William’s team breached the main entrance.Gunfire erupted, drawing Elliot’s guards toward the commotion.Max and his team slipped in through a side entrance, their movements swift and deliberate.Molly carried the tablet, monitoring for signals or devices.“Motion sensors,” she whispered, pointing to small, hidden devices near the hallway corners.Max signaled Red Fang, who disabled them with precise cuts.They moved deeper into the mansion, every step measured.Emily strained against her restraints, her heart pounding as the sound of gunfire drew closer.She knew Max was coming, but she also knew Elliot would be ready.The door creaked open, and Elliot stepped in, his exp

The ruins of the Stoke estate still smoldered in Max’s mind as he walked into his grandfather’s study.The weight of Elliot’s taunts, the chaos of the escape, and the unanswered questions pressed heavily on his shoulders.He clenched his fists, determined to uncover the truth once and for all.Theodore Montgomery sat at his desk, reviewing documents as though the world wasn’t crumbling around them.Max stormed in, slamming the door behind him.“We need to talk,” Max said, his voice cutting through the silence.Theodore didn’t look up.“I assume this is about Elliot.”Max stepped closer, his eyes burning.“Stop deflecting. You’ve been hiding the truth for too long, and I’m done waiting. What happened between my father and Elliot’s?”Theodore finally looked up, his piercing gaze meeting Max’s.“You’re not ready for that truth.”Max leaned forward, his voice rising.“Don’t tell me what I’m ready for. Emily was nearly killed, Molly’s risking everything, and Elliot just tried to bury us al

Theodore’s eyes darkened.“Jealousy. Fear. Greed. Not everyone in the Montgomery family supported the pact. There were whispers that merging with the Stokes would dilute our legacy, make us reliant on outsiders. Those whispers turned into action.”Max frowned.“Action?”Theodore nodded.“Someone within our family leaked the details of the pact to our competitors. The deal collapsed, and Nathaniel Stoke was ruined. He lost everything—his wealth, his reputation, his family’s standing. It broke him.”“And my father?” Max asked, his voice quieter.Theodore’s expression softened.“Alexander was blamed for trusting Nathaniel. The elders turned on him, accusing him of recklessness. He was ostracized, stripped of influence within the family. He spent the rest of his life trying to prove himself, but the damage was done.”Max’s chest tightened, the weight of the revelation sinking in. “Who betrayed them?”“That’s the question,” Theodore said gravely.“Whoever it was ensured their tracks were c

Max’s stomach dropped.“The vault?”Molly nodded.“It holds documents, deeds, financial records—everything that underpins the Montgomery empire. If Elliot gets his hands on it, he can destroy the family from the inside out.”As Max processed the revelation, his phone buzzed. He hesitated for a moment before answering.“Elliot.”“Max,” Elliot said, his voice calm and mocking.“How’s the cleanup going? Managing to keep your little empire intact?”“You’ll never win,” Max replied coldly.“Your attacks are nothing but distractions.”Elliot chuckled.“Oh, Max. You’re playing defense while I’m already three steps ahead. Do you really think you can stop me?”“I don’t think,” Max shot back. “I know.”Elliot’s tone turned sharper.“You should know by now that I always have an ace up my sleeve. I wonder—how much are you willing to lose to protect the Montgomery name?”Max’s grip tightened on the phone.“You’ll find out soon enough.”“We’ll see,” Elliot said, his voice dripping with smug confiden

Back at the Montgomery estate, Max sat at the long oak table in the war room, the ledger spread out before him.Molly sat beside him, her fingers scrolling through her tablet as she cross-referenced the entries.“This ledger’s entries span decades,” Molly said, her voice tinged with disbelief.“The amounts, the frequency… whoever was receiving these payments wasn’t just a pawn. They were deeply involved.”Max leaned over the pages, his eyes scanning the meticulous handwriting. "These initials… they’re tied to a bank account. Can you trace it?”Molly nodded.“Already working on it. But the account’s shielded behind layers of proxies. It’ll take time.”Max’s jaw tightened.“We don’t have time. Every second we waste, Elliot gets closer to tearing this family apart.”Molly hesitated, her voice softening.“Do you think it’s someone… close to you?”Max’s stomach churned. The thought had been gnawing at him since they found the ledger.“It has to be,” he said reluctantly.“Only someone with