Chapter 77 (Marked)

As Jeremy pushed through the crowded hallways, his mind was still reeling from the cryptic message. 'Blackthorn.' The name echoed in his thoughts like a drumbeat.

He couldn’t shake the feeling that everything was closing in on him faster than he could comprehend.

But then, a chilling realization struck him. _Burke._ His estranged uncle had always been lurking in the shadows, tied up in mysteries that Jeremy had never fully unraveled.

Could this be his doing?

The memory of Burke abandoning him and his mother came flooding back—his uncle disappearing without a trace after his father’s death, only to reappear years later with wealth and connections that didn’t add up.

Meanwhile, across town, Burke sat in a sleek, dimly lit office. The soft hum of his phone on the table in front of him caught his attention.

He smirked as he glanced down at the screen, seeing the confirmation that his cryptic message had been delivered to Jeremy.

"That should buy some time," Burke muttered under his