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
Jason sat in his fully furnished office, facing his computer screen. The blue glow from his computer screen cast shadows across his face. His leather chair squeaked as he leaned back, his fingers tapping the desk rhythmically as he muttered to himself. The room was messy with papers, files, and half-empty coffee cups all over the place. It had been a long night, and his obsession was taking over. He was fixated on one thing—finding out everything about Laurel.He pulled up her Facebook profile on the screen, scanning thoroughly through her pictures, posts, and comments. "Laurel," he whispered, clicking on a photo of her smiling at some fancy event. She was pretty, no doubt, with those big green eyes and a smile that could light up a room. But there was something about her that seemed off.She was too perfect, too composed—this was an organized profile made to fool people. He scrolled further, digging into her old posts."Who were you before all this?" he muttered, clicking on a photo
Her business was done.The woman stepped out of the building with a graceful poise that turned heads. Her heels clicked against the pavement with each measured and confident step. She was the great vision of class… all draped in a simple black dress that hugged her figure. What stood out more was the fabric catching the light just so and giving off a subtle shimmer. She was a head-turner even in the dark.Her hair was a sleek dark wave that framed her face—a face that was both called beautiful and wicked. She wore dark sunglasses that shielded her eyes, adding an atmosphere of mystery, but it did nothing to hide the sharpness of her gaze. The black envelope she had handed to the silly young man earlier was just a part of her day’s work—another move in a chess game she had been playing with her boss for far too long.Immediately she caught sight of the sleek black car waiting by the curb. A man she called Jackson stepped out quickly, opening the door for her with a respectful nod. This
Kenji reclined in the comfy leather chair, his fingers tapping restlessly on the armrest as he scrutinized the old man across from him. The atmosphere was thick with tension, almost suffocating as they locked eyes. The old man's proposition lingered between them like an unpleasant odor, and Kenji had no intention of making this easy.“So, let me get this straight,” Kenji started, his voice laced with sarcasm. “You want me to say that Ethan had nothing to do with human trafficking? That all the photos, the evidence, the gossip—everything—is just one big misunderstanding? And for this little favor, you’re offering me five million bucks?” He laughed derisively, shaking his head. “You must think I’m either desperate or completely clueless.”The old man’s face remained impassive. He was a veteran in these kinds of negotiations, but Kenji noticed the slight narrowing of his eyes and the barely perceptible tightening of his jaw. Kenji was getting under his skin, and that gave him a bit of sa