Juliet broke the silence first.“The Heart can dismantle the Eternals’ network, but it could kill anyone tied to it? How... how is that even possible?”“It’s connected to their power,” Louis said quietly, his voice heavy.“The Eternals built their influence by linking their lives to this. If we use it, the connection will sever in the most brutal way imaginable.”Pearl, leaning against the cold stone wall for support, frowned.“What does ‘ties to the organization’ even mean? Are we talking about blood relatives? Allies? Everyone who ever worked for them?”Juliet crossed her arms, pacing the room.“If that’s true, it could kill innocent people too. Staff members, people coerced into working for them… Louis, this isn’t just about taking down the Eternals. It’s about deciding who lives and dies.”Louis stared at the orb, his hands trembling slightly as he turned it over.“She knew. My mother knew this was the cost, and she still left it for me to find.”Pearl stepped closer, her voice so
Louis and his group were cornered, surrounded by The Arbiter’s men.Gunfire echoed off the ancient stone walls, and every step they took seemed to tighten the noose.Louis glanced at Pearl, who was visibly struggling to keep up, her injuries worsening by the second.Juliet stood firm, her gaze darting between their enemies and the glowing Heart of the Eternals still strapped to Louis’s belt.A sudden vibration in Louis’s pocket pulled him out of his panic.He retrieved his encrypted communicator and saw a message flash across the screen.Python Kate: I’m in position. Hold them off for five more minutes.“Who’s Python Kate?” Juliet asked, her voice barely audible over the gunfire.“A wildcard,” Louis replied, determination hardening his features.Juliet raised an eyebrow but nodded.“Then let’s give her those five minutes.”Louis turned to his group.“We don’t hold back. Use the terrain to your advantage. Stay close, stay alive.”The Arbiter’s voice rang out over the chaos.“Louis! You
The hidden safe house was quiet, a sharp contrast to the chaos and violence that had marked their journey.The dim light from a single candle flickered, casting long shadows on the walls.Juliet sat beside Louis, her hands shaking as she carefully cleaned his wounds.His breath was shallow, but his pulse was steady—barely.His body was covered in cuts and bruises, remnants of the harrowing escape from the monastery.Pearl’s absence weighed heavily on her heart. It felt wrong, like a piece of the puzzle was missing, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t fill the space Pearl had left.As Juliet gently tended to his injuries, she noticed something odd.Louis’s skin, where the Heart had touched him, was marked—glowing faintly under the dim light.It was subtle, almost imperceptible at first, but the symbols were unmistakable."Louis…" Juliet whispered, her fingers brushing over the marks.His body jerked, a groan escaping his lips.His eyes fluttered open, and he blinked, disorie
Suddenly, Juliet's phone buzzed in her pocket, a rare and unexpected break in the tense atmosphere.She pulled it out, her fingers tapping quickly as she read the message.“What is it?” Louis asked, noticing her sudden change in demeanor.Juliet’s eyes widened slightly as she looked up, her expression a mix of surprise and disbelief.“It’s from Kate,” she said, her voice thick with emotion.“Terminator X… He’s alive. He survived the explosion.”Louis’s heart skipped a beat."Terminator X? After everything… How is that even possible?"Juliet shook her head.“I don’t know. But Kate says he’s going to be here soon.”Pearl, who had been resting her eyes, sat up immediately, her face lighting up with hope.“He’s really alive?”“Yes,” Juliet confirmed.“It seems like he pulled through after all. It’s... a miracle.”A silence fell over the group as they processed the news.Terminator X had been their most unpredictable ally—his skills, knowledge, and unwavering loyalty had been crucial in th
Louis Kindsor stood silently in the living room of the luxurious villa he shared with his wife, Vivian Howard.His face was a mask of calm, but his eyes betrayed a storm of emotions. In his hand, he held a tablet displaying surveillance footage that would change everything.As Vivian entered the room, her smile faltered at the sight of Louis's serious expression."What's wrong, dear?" she asked, her voice tinged with false sweetness.Without a word, Louis turned the tablet towards her. The footage showed Vivian entering a hotel with another man, their body language leaving little doubt about their intentions.Vivian's eyes widened, then narrowed. Instead of shame or remorse, her face twisted with anger. "You had someone follow me?" she hissed.Louis shook his head slowly, in disappointment."That's all you have to say? No explanation, no apology?"Vivian laughed dismissively, as if she didn’t care the least that Louis had caught her in an affair. "Why should I apologize? This is p
"Welcome back, sir," the crisp voice of Terminator X came through the phone. "It's time for you to return to your rightful place. You’ve been held back for too long."Louis leaned back in the plush leather seat, a fleeting look of desolation crossed his face. "You’re right. I’ve wasted too much time.”He then quickly adjusted his demeanor and ordered. “Forget it. Let’s talk about the current situation.""As you command, sir," Terminator X replied, “the 300 billion assets you previously invested globally have now multiplied several times, reaching 2 trillion. I’ve been overseeing them for you.” “Also, your 300 domestic companies are showing steady performance improvements.”“Now that you’re back, I can finally hand everything over to you, sound and safe.”Louis chuckled.He could feel Terminator X’s eagerness to turn in the burden, as if the weight of these assets was suffocating him. “No rush, my man, can’t you spare me a few days for relaxing? I just divorced, you know?”“I apo
And that girl was Vivian Howard.Back then, she had just graduated and was struggling to make ends meet.And that was when he decided to let go of everything and silently stand by her side.He never told Vivian about the events from over a decade ago, but he never forgot it either.He simply chose to support Vivian quietly.When she wanted to start a company, he provided the initial funding; when she wanted to expand it, he offered resources and connections from behind.However, alas, it turned out that the story didn’t end well for him.Louis gazed out the window at the city passing by. Apple City, where his journey had begun, where he had fallen in love with a girl who no longer existed. This time, when he left the villa, he didn’t take the doll with him because it was no longer necessary.It was the end of their relationship, after all.Now, it would be the stage for his return to power.Meanwhile, inside the villa, Vivian's phone rang. It was her mother, Victoria Howard."Is it
Vivian Howard paced the bedroom, the small doll clutched in her hand. Her mind raced with possibilities, a flicker of doubt crossing her face."Could Juliet and Louis be having affair behind my back?" She wondered aloud, her voice barely a whisper.But as quickly as the thought arose, she dismissed it with a shake of her head."No, that's impossible."She remembered she had never even introduced them. As for Juliet, she was the eldest daughter of the Beaumon Family—she had good looks, perfect figure, and a prestigious background.Although the Beaumon Clan wasn’t one of the four major Families, they were still an established name in Apple City.So how could Juliet possibly be interested in a lowlife like Louis?It was clear that Louis must have obtained the doll through improper means, just like some sleazy men who liked stealing women’s underwear.“Yuk! Truly disgusting!”Vivian tossed the doll back into the box, her disgust for Louis growing. She'd ask Juliet about it later, just
Suddenly, Juliet's phone buzzed in her pocket, a rare and unexpected break in the tense atmosphere.She pulled it out, her fingers tapping quickly as she read the message.“What is it?” Louis asked, noticing her sudden change in demeanor.Juliet’s eyes widened slightly as she looked up, her expression a mix of surprise and disbelief.“It’s from Kate,” she said, her voice thick with emotion.“Terminator X… He’s alive. He survived the explosion.”Louis’s heart skipped a beat."Terminator X? After everything… How is that even possible?"Juliet shook her head.“I don’t know. But Kate says he’s going to be here soon.”Pearl, who had been resting her eyes, sat up immediately, her face lighting up with hope.“He’s really alive?”“Yes,” Juliet confirmed.“It seems like he pulled through after all. It’s... a miracle.”A silence fell over the group as they processed the news.Terminator X had been their most unpredictable ally—his skills, knowledge, and unwavering loyalty had been crucial in th
The hidden safe house was quiet, a sharp contrast to the chaos and violence that had marked their journey.The dim light from a single candle flickered, casting long shadows on the walls.Juliet sat beside Louis, her hands shaking as she carefully cleaned his wounds.His breath was shallow, but his pulse was steady—barely.His body was covered in cuts and bruises, remnants of the harrowing escape from the monastery.Pearl’s absence weighed heavily on her heart. It felt wrong, like a piece of the puzzle was missing, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t fill the space Pearl had left.As Juliet gently tended to his injuries, she noticed something odd.Louis’s skin, where the Heart had touched him, was marked—glowing faintly under the dim light.It was subtle, almost imperceptible at first, but the symbols were unmistakable."Louis…" Juliet whispered, her fingers brushing over the marks.His body jerked, a groan escaping his lips.His eyes fluttered open, and he blinked, disorie
Louis and his group were cornered, surrounded by The Arbiter’s men.Gunfire echoed off the ancient stone walls, and every step they took seemed to tighten the noose.Louis glanced at Pearl, who was visibly struggling to keep up, her injuries worsening by the second.Juliet stood firm, her gaze darting between their enemies and the glowing Heart of the Eternals still strapped to Louis’s belt.A sudden vibration in Louis’s pocket pulled him out of his panic.He retrieved his encrypted communicator and saw a message flash across the screen.Python Kate: I’m in position. Hold them off for five more minutes.“Who’s Python Kate?” Juliet asked, her voice barely audible over the gunfire.“A wildcard,” Louis replied, determination hardening his features.Juliet raised an eyebrow but nodded.“Then let’s give her those five minutes.”Louis turned to his group.“We don’t hold back. Use the terrain to your advantage. Stay close, stay alive.”The Arbiter’s voice rang out over the chaos.“Louis! You
Juliet broke the silence first.“The Heart can dismantle the Eternals’ network, but it could kill anyone tied to it? How... how is that even possible?”“It’s connected to their power,” Louis said quietly, his voice heavy.“The Eternals built their influence by linking their lives to this. If we use it, the connection will sever in the most brutal way imaginable.”Pearl, leaning against the cold stone wall for support, frowned.“What does ‘ties to the organization’ even mean? Are we talking about blood relatives? Allies? Everyone who ever worked for them?”Juliet crossed her arms, pacing the room.“If that’s true, it could kill innocent people too. Staff members, people coerced into working for them… Louis, this isn’t just about taking down the Eternals. It’s about deciding who lives and dies.”Louis stared at the orb, his hands trembling slightly as he turned it over.“She knew. My mother knew this was the cost, and she still left it for me to find.”Pearl stepped closer, her voice so
The dust settled as the last guardian crumbled into a heap of stone, leaving only the faint hum of the crystalline orb on the pedestal.Louis wiped sweat from his brow, glancing at Juliet and Pearl.They were battered, but alive—a testament to their determination and teamwork.“I can’t believe we survived that,” Pearl muttered, leaning heavily against the pedestal.“Next time, let’s just deal with regular doors and locks, okay?”Juliet offered a faint smile as she caught her breath.“If only it were that simple. But look—we made it.” She nodded toward the Heart of the Eternals, its glow now calm and inviting, as if it had been waiting for them all along.Louis hesitated, staring at the orb.“This is it. Everything we’ve risked, everything we’ve lost—it all leads here.”“Then let’s not waste any more time,” Pearl said, though her voice betrayed her fatigue.Louis reached out, his hand trembling slightly as his fingers brushed against the surface of the orb.The moment he made contact,
The air in the monastery’s center was different—heavy, charged with an energy that made the hair on the back of Louis’s neck stand on end.Before them, on an ornate pedestal surrounded by intricate carvings, rested the Heart of the Eternals.The crystalline orb glowed faintly, pulsating like a heartbeat, its light casting eerie reflections on the ancient stone walls.“This is it,” Juliet whispered, her voice barely audible.She took a step closer, the journal clutched tightly in her hands.“The Heart of the Eternals.”Pearl leaned against a pillar, her injuries still evident but her determination unshaken.“Doesn’t look too scary. Guess we’ll just grab it and go.”As Louis approached the pedestal, the ground beneath their feet trembled.A low rumble echoed through the chamber, and the carvings on the walls began to glow, their light intensifying with each passing second.Juliet’s eyes widened.“Wait—Louis, stop! The journal mentioned something about a defense mechanism—”Before she co
Taking a deep breath, Louis stepped onto a tile marked with the emblem.The stone beneath his foot clicked into place, and nothing happened."Looks like you’re onto something," Pearl said, watching from behind.Louis moved cautiously, stepping only on tiles with the emblem while guiding Juliet and Pearl.Each step felt like a gamble, but the group made it across the grid without incident."One down," Louis muttered, glancing at the dark hallway ahead."What’s next?"The next chamber was vast, its ceiling high and adorned with a chandelier of rusted chains.At the center stood a pedestal holding a crystal orb, glowing faintly.Surrounding it were three statues, each holding weapons aimed at the pedestal.Juliet frowned."This has ‘trap’ written all over it."Pearl chuckled weakly."No kidding. What’s the journal say?"Juliet skimmed through the pages, her brow furrowed."‘To claim the light, one must extinguish the past.’ What does that mean?"Louis approached the pedestal, his hand ho
The journey began at dawn.The road to the mountains was unforgiving, winding through dense forests and narrow cliffs.Pearl sat in the backseat, her injuries bandaged but her strength still waning. Despite her condition, she refused to be left behind."I can fight," she insisted, though her voice lacked its usual fire."I’m not sitting this out."Louis shot her a warning look."You’re barely able to sit up. You’re staying in the car when we get there."Pearl’s glare was weak but defiant."I’ve come this far. You think I’m going to back out now?"Juliet sighed from the driver’s seat."Both of you, save your energy. We’ll need it when we get there."The mountains loomed ahead, their jagged peaks cutting into the sky like teeth. As they neared the monastery, the air grew colder, the weight of their mission settling heavily on their shoulders.When the car finally stopped at the edge of a rocky trail, Louis stepped out, helping Pearl to her feet despite her protests."I’m fine," she mutt
“Get down!” he shouted, pushing Juliet behind him.Pearl immediately moved to the side, pulling out her gun.“We’ve got company,” she said, her voice steady despite the situation.A figure appeared in the doorway, silhouetted by the dim light from the hall.His face was concealed by a black mask, but the cold glint in his eyes was unmistakable—this was no ordinary assassin.Juliet’s heart skipped a beat as she recognized the type of threat.“It’s a hitman,” she whispered, her voice low but urgent.“They’ve found us.”Before anyone could react, the man lunged forward, aiming a silenced pistol at Juliet.Pearl’s reflexes kicked in immediately. She lunged forward, knocking Juliet out of the line of fire just in time.The bullet grazed Pearl’s side as she took the hit, her body twisting with the force.“No!” Juliet cried, scrambling to help her as Pearl staggered back, her hand clutching her wound.“I’m fine,” Pearl gasped, her voice strained as she fired at the assassin, forcing him to r