The purr of the luxury car's engine faded as Louis pulled up to the villa.Before his hand even reached for the doorbell, the door swung open. Victoria stood there, her face bright with a welcoming smile, clearly expecting someone else."Vivian, you're home! Is Ben joining us for din—"Her expression soured instantly upon seeing Louis."Oh. It's you.""Hello, Mom," Louis said politely.The word tasted bitter, a habit he now despised but continued out of mere formality.Victoria's eyes narrowed.Her face twisted with contempt."Don't you dare call me that!”“You're like a stray mutt trying to sneak back into a warm house after being kicked out."She said with disgust."I'm only here to collect my belongings," Louis explained calmly.Louis let the insult wash over him, determined not to rise to the bait.Breathe, he reminded himself. He wasn’t here for a fight.Victoria barked out a laugh."Your belongings? What belongings? You're like a tick that's been living off my daughter's blood
“That was the whole point of letting someone like you marry into our family!" “But since you can’t provide her, why can’t she find a better mate for herself?”Victoria's voice dripped with contempt. "What good is a husband who can't even provide properly?""Provide?" Louis's voice was dangerously quiet. "I gave her the foundation for everything she has now.""Even if you did give her some measly start-up money - which I highly doubt - two million is nothing!" Victoria spat."Is that all my daughter was worth to you?”“A pathetic man like you should have emptied your bank accounts, sold everything you owned, and begged on the streets if you had to!"Louis's cold smile returned."How interesting. One moment you deny I gave anything, the next you say it wasn't enough. Which is it, Victoria?""Don't you dare take that tone with me!" Victoria snapped. "My precious Vivian worked herself to death while you, her so-called husband, probably skimmed money from her success.”“I bet that fan
Louis's patience was wearing thin. This circular argument was getting nowhere. He took a step forward, intending to enter the villa, but Victoria moved quickly, stepping in front of him to block his path.She raised her hand in a dismissive gesture, and that was’s when he noticed it—a glint catching his eye.There, on her outstretched finger, sat his mother’s ring.The delicate silver band with its modest moonstone setting - the only piece of his mother he had left. He remembered the day he'd given it to Vivian, hoping she would treasure this small piece of his mom’s heirloom."That ring," his voice came out low and controlled."I'll be taking it back."Victoria instinctively covered the ring with her other hand. "This? Don't be ridiculous! You gave it to Vivian, which makes it hers. And since she gave it to me—""It's my mother's heirloom," Louis cut in, his tone leaving no room for argument."It was never meant to be passed around like a cheap trinket.""Heirloom?" Victoria's l
"Mom? What's going on here?"Just then, a man walked into the room while rubbing his sleepy eyes.Victoria's face lit up with obvious relief. "Jackson! Thank goodness you're here!"She immediately scurried behind her son, her previous intimidation morphing into renewed boldness. "This… this leech is trying to steal from us! He wants to take things from our home, and now he’s taken the ring your sister gave me!” She exaggerated, twisting the story to make Louis look like the villain and to ease her own guilt.She hoped Jackson would step up, put Louis in his place… and most importantly, get the ring back.“Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll handle this pest,” Jackson Howard sneered, looking at Louis like he was nothing.His lips curled into a sneer as he sized up Louis. "Well, well. If it isn't our family's pet beggar. Missing the taste of our table scraps already?"Louis remained silent, but something dangerous flickered in his eyes.His fingers tightened around the ring in his palm."What's
In one fluid motion, Louis caught Jackson's arm, twisted—CRACK!Jackson's scream echoed through the foyer as the coat rack clattered onto his foot."AHHHHH! MY ARM! MY FOOT!""Interesting," Louis observed clinically. "I didn't know you could hit such high notes. Have you considered a career in opera?""You... you broke my arm!" Jackson wailed, cradling his twisted limb."Really? I thought I was just helping you wave goodbye." Louis's voice was desert-dry. "My mistake."Victoria rushed to her son, shrieking. "Monster! Beast! We'll have you arrested!""For what?" Louis adjusted his cuffs calmly. "Self-defense against a man attacking me with furniture? Please, do call the police. I'd love to hear you explain that to them."Jackson writhed on the floor, alternating between cursing and sobbing.Victoria was trembling with fear as well."I'll kill you for this! I'll destroy you!" Jackson threatened."You couldn't even destroy a coat rack properly," Louis observed."Though I must say
Her mind couldn't reconcile the Louis she knew with the man who just left."Let's go... we’ll figure out who he really is later."But as they made their way to his car, Victoria couldn't shake the sinking feeling that they had grossly underestimated the man.They'd tormented for years – and now they were seeing the consequences.An hour later, Vivian rushed to the hospital with Ben accompanying her. "Vivian! Thank goodness you're here!" Victoria wailed the moment her daughter rushed through the hospital corridor, Ben following close behind.Jackson, his arm now in a cast, seized the opportunity. "Sis, look what that bastard did to me!" He gestured dramatically at his injuries. "He's gone completely insane!"Perfect timing, Victoria thought, quick to feed the flames."He was like a different person, Vivian. So violent, so cruel! And he stole my ring!""Mother's ring?" Vivian's eyes widened. Louis would never dare... unless... "What exactly happened?"Victoria wrung her han
"Everything what? Everything you put me through?"Victoria and Jackson exchanged worried glances as Vivian's face turned scarlet. "Put YOU through? You ungrateful—""I have no time for rubbish, Vivian. Bye.""Don't you dare hang up again! Don't you—"Click.Vivian stared at her phone in shocked silence. No one... NO ONE treated her this way!"Did he..." Victoria gasped, "hang up on you again?"Vivian's scream of frustration echoed through the hospital corridors.When Vivian saw the call end screen, disbelief turned into rage.She slammed her fists down on the hospital room table, ignoring the curious glances of nurses passing by.Her face was flushed, her breathing shallow. Louis, of all people, dares to hang up on her?Without a second thought, she dialed his number again, her finger pressing the screen harder than necessary.She wasn’t going to let him get away with this. When he finally picked up, she could feel her anger simmering.“Louis!” she spat out, her voice cutting. “Y
"None of your business.""None of my—" Vivian sputtered, her face reddening. How dared he dismiss her like this? "Everything about you is my business! Now explain why you attacked Jackson!""Your precious brother?" Louis's voice turned cold. "He got exactly what he deserved."Victoria gasped from her seat. The audacity!"You worthless piece of trash!" Vivian exploded."You're nothing but a loser who got lucky enough to marry into our family. How dare you touch my brother?""A loser?" Louis's voice carried dangerous undertones."Tell me, Vivian, is your brother somehow untouchable? Does his Howard bloodline give him the right to attack others without consequences?""Of course it does!" Vivian declared without thinking. "You should feel honored that Jackson even acknowledges your existence!"Did she really just say that? Louis couldn’t help but sneered coldly."So I should just stand there and let him assault me?""Yes! That's exactly what you should do!" Vivian's voice rose
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