Meanwhile, in a dimly lit office, General Marcus Steel sat at a wide oak desk with giant computer screens infront of him and a laptop beside it. Beside the laptop rested a rare, custom-made firearm. Next to the gun lay a stack of classified military files marked with a red "Top Secret" stamp. The files detailed intelligence reports, operational plans, and troop movement strategies for a developing situation in a high-risk region.General Steel’s eyes scanned the reports intently, his brow furrowing slightly. The files contained troubling updates about insurgent activity in the Khyros Region—a rugged and volatile area critical to maintaining control over key military supply routes. The reports indicated that enemy forces had fortified their positions, posing a threat to the local population and destabilizing the region’s fragile security.After a moment, he exhaled sharply and placed the files down, his mind already formulating a response. He reached for his phone and quickly dialed a

Sierra looked at the car that had collided with hers—a sleek, upgraded 2024 Fiat 500, its shiny front completely wrecked from the impact. Her eyes narrowed as she tried to process the situation. If Elijah had been there, he would have been utterly shocked, because stepping out of the Fiat was none other than Sophia Bennett—his ex-girlfriend. Sophia had also been out running errands and hadn’t expected her day to take such a turn. The door of her car swung open, and she stepped out. She glanced at the front of her car, her expression instantly souring as she took in the crumpled hood and smashed headlights. Instead of offering an apology, Sophia’s eyes flicked to Sierra and narrowed. Her lips curled into a sneer. “Are you blind?” she snapped, her tone dripping with accusation. “Who parks like that in the middle of the road?” Sierra, already shaken by the crash, frowned, trying to keep her temper in check. “I wasn’t parked in the middle of the road,” she replied firmly. “I was slowing

About twenty minutes later, the tension between Sierra and Sophia still lingered heavily in the air, drawing the occasional glance from passersby. The sound of a car engine cut through the chatter as a sleek 2024 Honda Accord pulled up to the scene, its glossy black finish reflecting the midday sun.The car came to a stop near Sophia’s Fiat, and the driver’s door opened. Damian stepped out, still dressed in his sharp office suit, his tie slightly loosened from the rushed drive. His expression was a mix of annoyance and curiosity as he surveyed the scene, his eyes darting to the damaged cars and the growing crowd.“Damian!” Sophia cried, her voice shifting from confident to pleading as she hurried toward him. “Thank God you’re here.”Damian’s brows furrowed as he adjusted his tie, his tone clipped. “Sophia, what is going on? You dragged me out of work for this?”Sophia gestured dramatically toward the wrecked cars, her voice rising. “This girl rammed into me and then had the audacity t

Sierra crossed her arms, her gaze cold as she looked at Damian. “This isn’t just about the money,” she said firmly. “It’s about her taking responsibility for her actions. She caused this and then tried to intimidate me instead of apologizing. You think throwing money at the problem will fix everything?”Damian swallowed hard, realizing he was losing control of the situation. “Look,” he said, his tone softening, “let’s not let this go any further. Whatever the cost, I’ll handle it. Just… let her go.”Elijah raised a hand, signaling the officers to pause. “Let her go,” he said calmly, his tone commanding but measured.The officers exchanged glances before nodding and releasing Sophia, who immediately stepped back, rubbing her wrists and glaring at Elijah and Sierra.Elijah’s attention shifted to Damian, his eyes cold and unyielding. “You want to settle this?” he asked, his voice sharp. “Fine. The cost for the damage is $25,000.”Damian’s jaw dropped, his face paling. “What?” he exclaime

Elijah held her gaze for a moment, his expression softening. The sincerity in her eyes touched something deep within him.He opened his mouth, wanting to ask, “What do you mean?” but as the words began to form, he hesitated. “What do y—” he said softly, stopping himself mid-sentence.Sierra noticed and turned to him, her brows furrowing slightly. “What?” she asked, her voice curious but gentle.Elijah shook his head, a faint smile crossing his lips. “Nothing,” he said, his tone lighter now. After a brief pause, he added, “I appreciate it. Really.”Sierra nodded, her own lips curling into a small, shy smile. She turned her gaze back to the road ahead, and Elijah did the same, his focus shifting fully to driving.Soon, Elijah pulled up in front of Sierra’s house. He stepped out and helped her bring the bags from the trunk, setting them down on the porch. As they stood there, he glanced at her with a small smile.“I’ll watch your live tonight,” he said warmly. “Your career is about to ch