Chapter 162

Alex sat in his car, parked in front of a nondescript local diner, the scent of frying bacon and coffee wafting through the open window.

The neon lights flickered above, casting an intermittent glow on the rain-slicked street. The early evening was quiet, too quiet for his liking.

Alex adjusted his position in the driver's seat, his eyes scanning the surrounding area for any signs of movement.

He couldn’t afford another slip-up like the one that had left him bruised and unconscious in an alleyway, courtesy of Jackson.

He reached into the glove compartment and pulled out a worn leather notebook. Flipping through the pages, he reviewed his notes, scribblings, and observations.

Each entry detailed Ethan’s movements, his meetings, and his associations. Alex’s hatred for Ethan burned anew with every word he read.

Ethan had everything Alex once had—and more. Wealth, power, and the love of a woman Alex had lost. His motivation to ruin Ethan’s life was a dark fire that fueled his every m