A chorus of enthusiastic responses filled the air, but Gerard’s eyes were focused on the far corner of the room, where Max sat, blending into the background.“Well,” said Alexander Radcliffe, one of the wealthiest men in the room, his voice smooth as silk.“This sounds like an incredible opportunity, Patriarch Gerard. I’m sure many of us will want to be at the forefront of such an ambitious venture.”A few other prominent figures chimed in, agreeing with Alexander’s sentiment, already positioning themselves to get a stake in the new project. The air was thick with the excitement of opportunity, and Gerard let the applause and chatter settle before he spoke again.“Indeed, Alexander,” Gerard said, nodding slightly.“I trust that you all will consider this a prime opportunity. But rest assured, I’ll be taking my time in selecting the right partners. We need to ensure that those who come on board are truly aligned with the vision we have for the future.”As Gerard spoke, the focus subtl

Johnson Kingsley paced the length of his lavish, albeit overly quiet, living room, his frustration barely contained. Amanda sat on the velvet couch, filing her nails, her expression icy.“This is ridiculous, Johnson!” she snapped, tossing the nail file onto the coffee table. “I’m not getting my usual gifts, and now I can’t even buy the new Birkin bag I wanted.”“I told you,” Johnson growled, running his hand through his disheveled hair. “It’s just a temporary setback. Father’s being... unreasonable.”Amanda rolled her eyes. “Unreasonable? He’s threatening to strip you of your heir status. Do you realize how humiliating that would be for me? For us?”Johnson stopped pacing and pointed a finger at her. “Do you think I don’t know that? I’m working on it.”“Working on it?” Amanda scoffed. “You’ve been saying that for weeks. And what do we have to show for it? Nothing! It’s because of that stupid stunt you pulled with the Montgomerys. You’ve embarrassed the family, and now everyone’s treat

Max walked out of the hospital room, his hands buried deep in his coat pockets. He was lost in thought when he collided with someone.“Oh, I’m so sorry!” the woman cried out, her voice trembling. She stepped back, hastily wiping her tears.“It’s alright,” Max replied gently. His eyes narrowed as he recognized her. “Molly? Molly, is that you?”Her head shot up, her tear-streaked face confirming his suspicion. It was Molly, the waitress he had helped a few weeks ago. Her eyes were swollen, and she looked utterly defeated.“Max?” she said, her voice shaky. “I—I didn’t expect to see you here.”“What’s going on?” Max asked, concern flooding his tone. “Why are you crying? Did something happen?”Molly shook her head at first but then broke down again, unable to keep it together.“It’s... it’s my dad,” she sobbed. “He’s really sick, Max. And we don’t know how much time he has left.”Max placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. “What happened? Tell me everything.”She hesitated, glancing arou

The grand hall of the auction house was heavy with anticipation, murmurs rippling through the elite crowd like waves in a tense sea.Crystal chandeliers cast a golden glow over the room, but the focus was on the auctioneer standing beneath the spotlight.Max leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. Molly, beside him, fidgeted nervously. She glanced at the catalog, her fingers tapping against it as her eyes darted to Max.“Max, the medicine lot is coming up,” she whispered urgently.“What if someone outbids us?”He smirked, a glint of mischief in his eyes.“Let them try. It’ll be fun.”Across the room, Johnson Kingsley was doing his best to impress Elliot Stoke, whose cold demeanor screamed power.“This next item,” the auctioneer announced, lifting a velvet cover to reveal a stunning Chinese jade bracelet, “is a one-of-a-kind artifact from the Qing Dynasty. Bidding starts at two million dollars.”Johnson’s hand shot up before anyone could blink.“Three million!”The crowd

What is it?” Max asked, though his tone suggested he already knew.“Razor isn’t someone to underestimate,” Red Fang said.“He’s cunning, ruthless, and always has a backup plan. This challenge—it won’t be straightforward.”Max chuckled.“Good. Straightforward is boring.”Red Fang sighed, muttering under his breath.“Cocky as ever. Just don’t let that get you killed.”Meanwhile, Molly found herself approached by a mysterious woman in the hallway.The woman was tall, with striking green eyes and a calm, authoritative presence.“You must be Molly,” she said, her voice smooth as silk.Molly stepped back cautiously.“Who are you?”“My name is Helena,” the woman said, her lips curling into a faint smile.“I have… connections to Max’s family. I’m here to help.”Molly frowned.“Why should I trust you?”“You don’t have to,” Helena replied, her tone unbothered.“But if you want to ensure Max’s success—and keep that medicine safe—you’ll consider my offer.”“What’s the catch?” Molly asked, crossin