Gerald’s grin faded slightly, and he sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Alright, alright. I get it. If you want to talk, we’ll talk. But honestly, Denera, what do you expect me to say? That I’ll just forget everything and walk away? I’m not that kind of guy."Denera frowned, her heart sinking. "So what, then? Are we just supposed to keep this up forever? Until we get caught?"Gerald leaned against the door, crossing his arms over his chest. "Maybe. Or maybe we just enjoy it while it lasts. Who knows what’ll happen tomorrow, right?"Denera sighed in exasperation, and she shook her head. "You’re impossible, Gerald. You really don’t care, do you? About what this could do to me? To Rhys?"Gerald’s expression softened again, and for a moment, Denera saw a flicker of something. But then it was gone, replaced by that familiar smirk. To her, he seemed to enjoy this. This was why she was warned against an alliance with her sworn enemy.“I care, Denera. I care more than you think. But I’
The truth was that Rhys suspected the photos didn't lie. He had a feeling that Denera was truly having an affair with Gerald.Rhys couldn’t just lie there and wait. Quietly, he got up, moving as silently as he could, and followed her out of the room. He stayed a good distance behind, careful not to make a sound as he crept down the hallway. When he saw her knock on Gerald’s door, his heart sank. He was right.But he forced himself to stay calm, to wait, and to see what would happen next. He pressed himself against the wall, close enough to hear but far enough to avoid being seen. Soon, the door opened, and he heard Gerald’s voice. It was low and flirty.Rhys’s jaw clenched. He knew that tone all too well—Gerald was playing with her, like he always did. Rhys strained to hear, and what he caught made his blood run cold.“You’re playing a dangerous game, you know. What if Rhys wakes up and finds you gone?” Gerald’s voice was full of that same smug arrogance, like he knew he had the upper
Jason continued in an almost amused tone. “It appears our friend here has been busy.” He paused, his gaze settling on Alex. “Care to explain these lovely marks?”Alex’s mouth was dry, but he managed to stammer, “Just…just some business. I needed to lay low.”“That was what the other guys said…” Jason’s expression darkened. “Lay low? Or are you trying to prove something?” His voice grew sharper. “It seems like you’ve been getting yourself into trouble—trouble that might just put a damper on our operations.”Without waiting for a response, Jason waved a hand dismissively. “Enough talk. I don’t appreciate loose ends, especially ones that come with bruises and baggage.”He turned to his men. “Show him how we deal with such disappointments.”Alex’s blood ran cold as Jason’s men began to advance on him. This was it. He was right… The operation Jason was talking about was a new raid on the Ethan Anderson House. He was supposed to lead the raid today, except the underground fight was somehow
The man’s breath came in short, panicked gasps. “I—I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he stammered, but the tremble in his voice gave him away.Ethan’s grip tightened. “You’re lying,” he said, his voice cold. “I can see it in your eyes. You know exactly what this is. The Four Houses—they sent you, didn’t they?”The man’s eyes darted around again and again.“Don't bother.” Ethan smiled wickedly. “There's no escape here. You are stuck with me.”“Please,” he whispered, his voice barely audible. “I—I can’t tell you anything. They’ll kill me.”Ethan leaned in closer, his face a few inches from the man’s. “If you don’t start talking, you’ll wish they had,” he threatened. “I’m not a patient man, and I’m running out of time. So, tell me everything. Now.”The man’s composure shattered. He began to fidget as his body wracked with fear. “Alright, alright!” he cried out, his voice breaking.Ethan released his grip slightly, giving the man a moment to catch his breath. But his eyes remained
“But what if that spy sneaks into our homes?” the voice asked, bringing an abrupt halt to their joy. “What if he kills us all in our sleep?”The thought was like a cold splash of water on their excitement, and the group fell silent. They exchanged uneasy glances.“We should check on him,” someone suggested quietly.“Or kill him.” Gerald added quietly.The group hesitated. The thrill of reaching land was momentarily forgotten as they turned back toward the yacht’s kitchen. A few of them made their way to the kitchen with hesitant footsteps, as if they were approaching a scene they weren’t ready to face.None of them were.When they reached the door, Sandra, who had been at the front of the group, cautiously pushed it open. Her eyes widened in shock at the sight before her.Ethan was seated at the table, his expression cold and indifferent, staring at the spy slumped in the chair across from him. The man’s face was pale, and blood dripped from his mouth, pooling on the floor.His eyes w
Ethan kept a close eye on the maids and crew as they left one by one. Somehow, he knew the day couldn’t end yet. There were still important issues to handle—ones that needed the attention of just a few.He waited until the last of the passengers had left before turning to the four heirs: Denera, Rhys, Gerald, and Sandra. Each of them had been involved in this mess in different ways, and Ethan wasn’t about to let them leave without making sure they were all on the same page. He needed their trust and their support.“Before anyone leaves, we need to talk,” Ethan said calmly. The four of them exchanged looks but didn’t argue. They followed him to a small, secluded room off the main deck. The dining room was too exposed. This room was smaller, with dark polished wood and a single round table in the center.The air was thick with the scent of salt and bleach. They sat around the table, the silence between them heavy with expectation.Ethan stayed standing for a moment, organizing his thoug
Ethan felt warmth spread through him at her gesture, but he kept his expression neutral. He stood at the head of the table, tension thick in the air, as he laid out his proposal for a vote.The others were silent, their faces showing skepticism and deep thought. He could tell that not everyone was comfortable with the idea of him being the leader, but he had expected that. It would take more than just words to win them over.Finally, Denera broke the silence, her voice sharp. “You want us to vote just to make you the leader? What makes you think you’re the best choice, Ethan? We all bring something to the table.”Ethan met her gaze steadily. “I’m not saying you don’t, Denera. But this isn’t about what we bring individually. It’s about survival. We need someone who can make the tough calls. That’s me.”“Survival, huh?” Rhys leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms with a smirk. “Sounds like you’re just grabbing at power. What makes you different from the rest of us?”Gerald frowned
The next morning, the group gathered again. The room was thick with unspoken accusations and doubts about trust. Ethan felt the tension as he walked in, but he kept his face neutral. He knew they had all spent the night scheming, trying to figure out how to position themselves as the best choice for leadership. But he wasn’t worried. He had expected this.They all took their seats around the table, the silence heavy as they waited for someone to speak. Gerald was the first to break the silence.“We’ve all had time to think about this, and it’s clear this isn’t just about popularity,” Gerald began. “This is about survival. Honestly, I don’t care who leads, as long as they can get the job done.”Rhys nodded, even though his expression was still guarded. “Agreed. But that’s the issue, isn’t it? Who can actually get the job done?”Denera leaned forward. “We all know what this is really about. It’s not just about survival, as Gerald said—it’s about power. And I’m not about to hand that ove