Ethan stood in the grand hall of one of the Jade Society’s private estates, a sprawling mansion perched on the cliffs overlooking the ocean. The evening sun poured through the tall windows, casting the room in a warm golden glow.This wasn’t just a meeting—it was a test.Dozens of influential figures from the Jade Society had gathered, their tailored suits and sparkling jewelry reflecting the wealth and power they commanded. These were the movers and shakers of industries, the hidden players behind governments and corporations.And they were all here for him.“Mr. Wilder,” Marcus said quietly, stepping up beside him. “Remember, this isn’t just about shaking hands. You need to show them you belong here. They may be loyal to the society, but they’re not loyal to you—yet.”Ethan nodded, his jaw tightening. He adjusted the cuffs of his suit, the jade necklace resting heavily beneath his shirt. “Got it.”“Good,” Marcus said, his sharp eyes scanning the crowd. “Your team is here to support

"You should all move to the city with me."Ethan set his cup down, the ceramic clinking softly against the wobbly old table.His father exhaled through his nose, then adjusted his chair with an unnecessary scrape against the floor. His fingers tapped against the table—once, twice—before he finally spoke. "Hmph."Ethan expected him to protest, so no surprise there.Across from him, his mother stilled, her hands wrapped around her own cup. Her gaze was warm, thoughtful.Caleb and Mia, standing nearby, exchanged quick glances. Mia, always the bolder one, perked up. "Wait . . . seriously?"Ethan glanced around the tiny kitchen. It looked exactly as it had when he left years ago. The same scratched-up table stood in the corner, and in front of them were the mismatched cups his mother always set out whenever there was something important to discuss.He met his father’s eyes. "Yes. Seriously."His mother blinked. Caleb’s eyes widened. Mia gasped dramatically. But his father? He didn’t even f

An hour later, Ethan stepped into a smaller, private office adjoining the boardroom. Marcus stood by the window, watching as the sun dipped below the horizon."You dealt with that nicely," Marcus said without turning around.“Did I?” Ethan replied, his tone dry. “Because it feels like I just made a room full of enemies.”Marcus smirked, finally turning to face him. “Enemies are inevitable when you’re in charge. The important thing is that they respect you—and they do.”Ethan crossed his arms, leaning against the desk. "The board members wouldn’t stop talking about regulatory interference. If the government steps in, this whole deal could fall apart."“That’s where we come in,” Marcus said.He pressed a button on his tablet, and the screen on the wall lit up with a video feed of a private meeting room. Inside was a high-ranking government official, seated stiffly in a chair while two members of the Jade Society stood nearby.“Meet Senator Cartwright,” Marcus said, his tone laced with f

Ethan barely had time to finish his drink before Marcus leaned in, lowering his voice.“We have a problem.”Ethan didn’t react, just tilted his glass slightly, as if they were discussing something casual. “Go on.”Marcus nodded toward the far end of the ballroom, where a small group of men stood together, speaking in hushed tones.“The man in the middle—gray suit, red tie. That’s Felix Langston. He’s been with the Jade Society for over thirty years.”Ethan followed his gaze. Felix was older, mid-fifties, with a sharp face and a smug confidence that immediately set Ethan on edge.“What about him?” Ethan asked.“He doesn’t like you,” Marcus said flatly. “And he’s about to make sure everyone here knows it.”As if on cue, Felix stepped forward, raising his glass with a fake, practiced smile.“Ladies and gentlemen,” he announced, drawing the attention of the room. “I’d like to propose a toast.”The hum of conversation died down, and people turned toward him, curious.Felix’s eyes landed on

Ethan turned toward the approaching men.There were five of them, all dressed in dark clothes. Their movements were too efficient for them to be random thugs. These were men used to tracking and hunting.And because of him, they had just lost their prey.One of them—a muscular guy with a scar across his cheek—pointed at Ethan, rage twisting his face."Where is she?!"Ethan adjusted his cufflinks, completely calm and unbothered."You just missed her," he said, tilting his head toward the street. "I sent her home. She needed a nap.""I saw a man with him moments ago. He must have driven off with her," one of them told the scared man, who appeared to be the leader of the group.The man snarled and turned to his team. "Get in the cars! We’ll follow them!"That was when Ethan moved, reaching the nearest man before any of them could react.A single punch—clean, controlled—slammed into the guy’s ribs with enough force to send him crashing into the bridge railing.The others froze, stunned.‘