Chapter 118

With renewed determination, Jackson returned to his workout, each punch and lift fueled by a sense of urgency.

He knew the stakes were higher than ever, and there was no room for hesitation. The game was on, and he intended to win, no matter the cost.

***

The morning sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows over the expansive grounds of Gerald’s mansion.

The reporters, their cameras and microphones at the ready, had gathered in droves, the anticipation already visible in the cool air.

The ornate gates of the mansion opened slowly, revealing a pathway lined with meticulously trimmed hedges leading up to the grand entrance.

At the center of this spectacle stood Gerald, impeccably dressed in a tailored suit, his demeanor a blend of composed authority and genuine concern.

He stepped up to a hastily erected podium, flanked by two burly guards whose eyes scanned the crowd with an unwavering vigilance.

The murmur of the assembled press hushed as Gerald approached the microphone, hi