James Donovan sat on the couch, the gift box beside him, as he glanced at the clock for what felt like the hundredth time.
He had prepared everything for their wedding anniversary. The dinner was ready, the table was set, and all that was missing was Emily. He picked up his phone to check for any messages, hoping she might have texted to say she was on her way.
Just as he unlocked his phone, a new message notification popped up from an unknown number. Frowning, he opened it, and what he saw made his heart skip a beat.
It was a photo—Emily, unmistakably, in the arms of another man. The two of them were standing outside a hotel, the man holding her close with a smug grin on his face. Emily's head was tilted toward him, her body language suggesting an intimacy that sent a cold wave of shock through James.
"What the hell…?" James whispered, his mind refusing to process what he was seeing. His breath caught in his throat, and for a moment, it felt like the world had stopped. "This has to be a mistake. A prank. It has to be."
Anger quickly followed the shock as his thoughts raced. Who would do something like this? Who would dare try to mess with him like this? His hands trembled as he tried to make sense of the image. It couldn’t be real. It couldn’t be Emily.
"Whoever’s doing this, you’re going to pay," James growled under his breath, his pulse quickening. He immediately dialed Emily’s number, needing to hear her voice, to confirm that this was some sick joke.
The phone rang once, twice, then a third time. Each ring felt like an eternity, the tension in his chest growing with every second. "Come on, Emily, pick up," he muttered, his voice strained with anxiety and frustration.
But she didn’t answer. The call went to voicemail.
"Emily, where the hell are you?" he hissed into the phone, barely managing to keep his voice steady. "I just got some… some photo, and I don’t know what’s going on, but you need to call me back. Now."
He hung up and immediately dialed again, his heart pounding in his chest. This time, the phone rang straight to voicemail, as if it had been deliberately ignored or turned off.
"Emily!" James’s voice cracked with a mix of desperation and anger. "Answer your damn phone! What’s going on? Please… just call me back."
He ended the call and stared at the screen, his mind spinning. This couldn’t be happening. Not today. Not on their anniversary. His heart pounded in his chest, the fear and anger swirling together, making it hard to think clearly.
Another message notification appeared on his phone, and his stomach twisted as he saw it was from the same unknown number.
With dread gnawing at him, he opened the message, revealing a video this time. He hesitated for just a moment before hitting play, afraid of what he might see but unable to stop himself.
The video showed the same man from the photo, but this time, they were inside a hotel room. The man’s face was clearer now, and he was grinning with a cruel, arrogant expression that made James’s blood boil.
He watched in horror as the man began tearing Emily’s clothes, his laughter echoing through the room.
"Look at her," the man taunted, his voice dripping with arrogance. "Your precious wife, James. She’s not even resisting. She’s mine now, and there’s nothing you can do about it."
James’s blood ran cold. He felt like he was watching a nightmare unfold before his eyes, one that he couldn’t wake up from. "No… this isn’t happening," he whispered, his voice breaking. "Emily…"
The man in the video continued, his voice cruel and mocking. "You thought you could keep her happy? Pathetic. She came to me, begging for what you couldn’t give her. And I gave it to her. Over, and over again."
"Stop it…" James muttered, his voice trembling as he tried to hold back the rage that was building inside him. But the man didn’t stop. He only became more vicious.
"And that body," the man sneered, running his hand down Emily’s side. "She’s perfect, isn’t she? Too bad you never knew how to touch her the way I do. She was so hungry for this, James. So desperate for real pleasure."
James’s fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white. His breathing grew ragged as he watched Emily remain silent, her eyes downcast, as the man continued to degrade her.
"You’re nothing to her now," the man continued, his tone filled with venom. "Just a useless husband who couldn’t even keep his wife satisfied. She’s been mine for a long time, James. You’re just finding out now because I decided it was time you knew."
James felt like his heart was being ripped out of his chest. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing, what he was seeing. "How… how could she…" he whispered, his voice shaking with pain and anger. "How could she do this to me?"
The video ended, leaving James staring blankly at the screen, his mind in turmoil. His emotions were a whirlwind of shock, disbelief, and a deep, burning anger. This wasn’t just a betrayal—it was an insult, a mockery of everything he had believed in.
His phone buzzed again, pulling him out of his thoughts. It was another message from the unknown number. This time, it was a short, taunting text: "You never deserved her, James. She’s too good for you."
That was the breaking point. James’s rage boiled over, and he couldn’t hold it back any longer. "That bastard…" he growled, his voice low and dangerous. "He thinks he can take my wife? He thinks he can humiliate me like this?"
Without wasting another second, he dialed the number of his most trusted underling, Kyle. The phone barely rang once before it was answered.
"Kyle speaking," the voice on the other end said, strict and stern, as if ready to confront any challenge. "Who is this?"
"It's James, your ex-god of war," came the calm, cold reply.
There was a brief pause before Kyle's tone changed from strict to softer.
"Mr. Donovan!" he quickly apologized, his voice softening with a note of happiness and relief. "I didn’t realize it was you, sir. It’s been so long… I’m truly honored to hear from you again."
Kyle was one of James’s most loyal underlings during his reign as the God of War. James' reputation on the battlefield was so terrifying that enemies would tremble at the mere mention of his name.
James was ruthless and firm, creating a legacy that made people fear and respect him.
"Kyle," James said, his voice firm yet laced with the weight of their shared history. "I need you to find someone."
"Of course, sir," Kyle responded immediately, his voice now filled with deep respect and a renewed sense of duty.”I’ll do whatever it takes."
"Find my wife. And find the man who did this. He’s going to pay. No one touches my wife and gets away with it."James ordered, his tone unwavering.
"It will be done, sir," Kyle replied without hesitation.
The helicopter landed smoothly, and before the rotors had even stopped spinning, a man in a sharp black suit stepped out, his expression grim. This was Kyle, James’s most trusted underling, a man who had served him loyally for years."Mr. Donovan," Kyle said, his voice steady despite the urgency of the situation. "We’ve located them. They’re at the Grandview Hotel, Room 1207."James nodded, his jaw clenched tight. "Then let’s go," he ordered, wasting no time. The two men climbed into the helicopter, and within moments, they were airborne again, the city lights below them blurring into streaks of gold and silver.The ride was silent, the only sound the rhythmic thrum of the helicopter blades. James’s mind raced, replaying the images and words from the video. He couldn’t believe this was happening. Emily, the woman he had loved and trusted, was in a hotel room with another man. A man who was trying to take her away from him, to violate everything they had built together.As the helico
James stood in the hotel room, his heart pounding, disbelief washing over him as he tried to process the situation. His wife, the woman he loved, had cheated on him.The shock of it left him frozen, unable to reconcile the reality with the life he thought they had.Before he could react, the man who had turned his world upside down stepped between them, a sneer on his face. “You can’t blame me for this, James,” the man said, his voice dripping with arrogance. “Your wife came to me willingly. She’s the one who seduced me. She wanted this.”James turned to his wife, his voice trembling with disbelief. “Is that true? Did you really…?” He couldn’t even finish the question, the words feeling like a knife in his throat.His wife’s eyes were red, filled with tears that threatened to spill over, but she didn’t look away. Slowly, she nodded, the movement slight but enough to break James’s heart completely. “Yes,” she whispered, her voice barely a breath.James felt his world crumble. He had
James Donovan stared at his wife, Emily, his mind spinning from the words that had just come out of her mouth. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “Caught? What do you mean by ‘caught’?” he demanded, his voice a mix of confusion and rising dread.Emily’s face was pale, her eyes filled with a mixture of guilt and fear. She took a deep breath, her voice trembling as she began to explain. “James, when I went to pick up our daughter from the kindergarten… a group of men… they kidnapped her.”The words hit James like a freight train. His body tensed, and his fists clenched instinctively. “Kidnapped? How? Why? And why didn’t you tell me this earlier?”“I tried!” Emily cried, tears welling up in her eyes. “I tried to call you, but… but the police wouldn’t help. I called them, but when they heard our daughter’s name, they just… they just cut the line. I didn’t know what to do, James. I was terrified.”James felt a cold knot of fear tighten in his chest. “Why would the police do that? Wha
James Donovan’s anger surged like a tidal wave as he stared down at the man who had brought so much pain and humiliation into his life. His fists clenched tightly, the veins on his arms bulging as he fought to keep his composure. But the thought of his daughter—his precious little girl—being held by these monsters was more than he could bear.Without another word, James lashed out, his fist connecting with the man’s face with a sickening crunch. “What the hell—” he started, but James didn’t let him finish.“You think you can hurt my family and get away with it?” James growled, his voice low and dangerous. He delivered another punch, harder this time.The man tried to shield himself, but James was relentless. “Stop! Please!” the man begged, his voice shaking with fear.“Not until you pay for what you’ve done!” James roared, his fists connecting with the man’s body again and again, each blow fueled by the fire of his rage.“James, stop!” Emily’s voice rang out, filled with desperatio
James turned slowly, standing tall despite the tension that coiled in his muscles. He wiped the blood from his knuckles on his sleeve, fixing the brother with a cold stare. "You Tarlose brother talk a lot, don’t you?"The brother’s face twisted with fury, but before he could speak, James swung his leg up and kicked the man lying on the floor. The tortured man groaned in pain, curling up tighter, his cries echoing through the room.“You bastard!” the brother spat, his fists clenching. “How dare you touch him!”James didn’t flinch. His voice was calm, almost bored. “I've barely touched him. You want to know what happens when you mess with me?”The brother’s face flushed red with anger. "Kill him!"Victor stood back, watching, confusion etched on his face. He hadn’t expected this. “What the hell are you doing?!” he shouted at his men. “He’s just some poor man! Take him down!”James smirked, knocking another guard to the ground. “Poor man? I’m giving your guys a free lesson.”Victor sneer
James Donovan stood over Victor, his eyes cold as steel. The once-arrogant man now cowered before him, all bravado stripped away. James's voice was low, barely containing his fury. "Start talking. Now."Victor swallowed hard, his eyes darting between James and Kyle. "It... it wasn't personal," he stammered. "We were just following orders.""Whose orders?" James demanded, his patience wearing thin.Victor hesitated, fear evident in his eyes. "Mr. Zhao," he finally whispered. "The orders came from Mr. Zhao."James exchanged a glance with Kyle. They both knew the name - Wei Zhao, one of the most powerful and influential businessmen in the country."Why?" James pressed, his voice dangerously quiet. "Why my daughter?"Victor's words came out in a rush. "It's his grandson. The boy needs a heart transplant, urgently. Your daughter... she's a perfect match."James felt the blood drain from his face. "You're telling me you kidnapped my child to harvest her heart?" His voice was barely more tha
Kyle snapped his brows together inside the car, feeling a crack of irritation by the sudden interruption. Just then, the doors to the black cars opened, and several armed men in black suits and shades, alighted steadily. They all swiftly turned to Rolls Royce car, cocking the guns in their hands. From the T logo on their chest pocket, it was obvious to James and the rest that the men were from the Tarlose family. " James Donovan! You have to face your fate for laying a hand on our boss!" The leader of the men, who was black skinned and standing at the middle, with a zig zag scar running across from his forehead to his chin, declared openly in a strong voice. He raised his gun and pointed it towards the back seat of the Rolls Royce, snarling, " It is your choice to surrender willingly or with force. Either way, we don't care!" Then, he marched forward. James' face turned cold as ice, and he lowered his eyes.Kyle snorted with disdain. " They already know your identity. They s
Silent as the cicadas in winter, James slowly lowered the X ray vision glass from his eyes. A wave of an incredulous feeling crashed over him the instant! Empty?! How could the warehouse be a trick?! So it was all a decor, and he had just fallen into the pit of lie! James knew he had been too eager and impatient earlier, leading him not verifying if the information was accurate or not...Staring at the unusual expression of James, Kyle didn't know what to say at first, scared of offending the god of war. However, he couldn't act as if he didn't care, so he spoke out after some seconds of deep deliberation, " My Lord ........" " It's empty." With sheer rage blazing in his heart, James exerted a large force on the x ray vision glass and cracked it into two, uttering just two words. Kyle couldn't believe what he just heard, and his facial expression twisted. The warehouse was empty?! So does this means it was all planned?! Who would in the heavens and earth dare to fool the g
The sun had barely risen when Kael cracked open the encrypted files from the bunker. They sat around the dimly lit room, the harsh light of the laptop casting shadows across their faces. Kael’s fingers flew over the keys, deciphering the coded messages, unlocking a series of detailed communications.James stood behind him, arms crossed, his gaze fixed on the screen.“This is it,” Kael muttered, scrolling through the list. “A network of collaborators—dozens of people working under Zhao. Some familiar names, others not so much. But here…” He paused, pointing to a name on the screen.James’s blood ran cold. His jaw tightened as he leaned forward. “No. It can’t be.”Kael looked at him, brow furrowed. “What? Who is it?”James’s fists clenched. “Derrick Bishop.”Kael’s eyes widened. “Bishop? The same one who—”“Yeah,” James cut him off, voice low, each word heavy with the weight of betrayal. “The one who sold me out years ago. I never thought I’d see his name again, let alone linked to Zhao
The sounds of gunfire echoed across the island as James and his team charged through the compound’s defenses. Explosions illuminated the night sky, and the cries of Zhao’s men mixed with the sharp commands from Kael and James.“Push forward!” James shouted, his voice steady even amidst the chaos.Kael crouched behind a stone wall, reloading his rifle. “They’re falling back, but it feels too easy,” he muttered, scanning the area.James nodded, his instincts warning him of a trap. “Stay sharp. This is Zhao we’re dealing with. He doesn’t retreat without a reason.”Winter’s voice crackled through the earpiece. “James, I’ve hacked into their communication channels. There’s a bunker near the southern edge of the compound. It’s heavily guarded, which means it’s important.”“Understood,” James replied. “Kael, we head south. Jason, hold this position and cover our exit.”Jason nodded, gripping his weapon tightly. “Be careful. This place is a deathtrap.”As James and Kael approached the bunker,
Winter sat at her workstation, her face illuminated by the glow of her monitors.Lines of code streamed across the screen as she dug deeper into Zhao’s network.With every passing second, the pressure mounted. Sarah’s life depended on what she could uncover.Jason stood behind her, arms crossed. “Anything yet?” he asked, his tone tense.“Patience,” Winter replied without looking away. Her fingers flew across the keyboard. “Zhao’s encryption is top-tier, but he’s not invincible.”Kael entered the room, carrying a fresh cup of coffee. “We don’t have time for invincible. We need results, now.”Winter suddenly froze, her eyes narrowing. “Wait. I’ve got something.”James, who had been pacing the room, stopped abruptly. “What is it?”“A series of communications routed through a private server. It’s linked to a property—an island, privately owned by one of Zhao’s shell companies.”James stepped closer. “Coordinates?”Winter nodded, sending the data to James’s tablet. “It’s heavily fortified,
The house was eerily silent when Emily stepped inside, her heels clicking softly on the tiled floor. “Sarah?” she called, setting her bag on the counter. The absence of her daughter’s usual laughter unsettled her.She walked into the living room, expecting to find Sarah playing or reading. Instead, her eyes landed on a folded note on the coffee table.With trembling hands, Emily unfolded the paper. The message was written in bold, jagged letters:“Your family pays for its arrogance.”Her heart stopped. The note slipped from her fingers as the gravity of the words hit her. “Sarah!” she screamed, running through the house. She tore through each room, searching desperately for any sign of her daughter, but Sarah was nowhere to be found.Her knees buckled, and she collapsed on the floor, dialing James’s number with shaking fingers.James was in his office when the call came. The moment he heard Emily’s panicked voice, he was on his feet.“They took her, James! They took Sarah!”“Who?” he
The room was a sea of sharp suits and scrutinizing gazes.Emily stepped to the podium, her heart pounding in her chest.The summit’s audience consisted of corporate giants, political influencers, and some of Zhao’s allies—wolves disguised in tailored clothing.She cleared her throat and began.“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for the opportunity to speak today. I stand before you not just as a representative of my company but as someone who believes in accountability and integrity.”The room remained silent, the weight of anticipation pressing down on her.“As we forge ahead in this industry,” Emily continued, her voice steadying.“we must address the pervasive influence of corruption and unethical practices that threaten to undermine everything we strive for. These actions do not just tarnish reputations—they destroy lives.”Whispers rippled through the crowd.Emily caught sight of Zhao sitting near the back, his lips curling into an amused smirk. He didn’t appear threatened, but tha
The flash drive glinted faintly under the dim light of James’s office, a small but crucial piece of the puzzle left behind during Leonard’s hasty retreat.James sat at his desk, his fingers drumming rhythmically against the wood as Winter worked tirelessly at her laptop.“Anything yet?” James asked, his voice steady but edged with impatience.“Almost,” Winter replied, not looking up.“This encryption is sophisticated, but nothing I can’t crack.”Kael leaned against the wall, arms crossed.“If Leonard left it behind, he either underestimated us or wanted us to find it.”“That’s what worries me,” James muttered.With a triumphant exhale, Winter hit a final key. “Got it!” The screen filled with files and folders, each bearing ominous labels like Project Revenant and Corporate Sabotage.“What are we looking at?” James asked, moving closer.Winter scrolled through the contents, her eyes narrowing. “Plans to infiltrate Emily’s company. Zhao’s targeting her directly.”James’s jaw tightened.
Jason sat in a dimly lit cell, his wrists shackled to the cold metal chair.Blood trickled from a cut above his brow, a testament to Leonard Tarlose’s ruthless interrogation methods.Across from him, Leonard leaned casually against the table, his perfectly tailored suit untouched by the chaos around him.“Still holding out, are we?” Leonard drawled, his tone mockingly polite.“It’s admirable, really. Misguided, but admirable.”Jason glared at him, his jaw clenched. “You’ll get nothing from me.”Leonard chuckled, a sinister gleam in his eyes.“I don’t need you to talk, Jason. I already know enough. Winter, James—they’ll come for you. It’s what makes people like them so predictable.”He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a whisper.“And when they do, I’ll be ready.”Jason’s expression didn’t falter, but Leonard caught the flicker of worry in his eyes.“Ah, there it is,” Leonard said with a smirk.“You’re not worried about yourself. You’re worried about her. Touching, really.”Jason sp
the thick shadows surrounding Leonard Tarlose’s sprawling estate. James crouched behind a row of hedges, his eyes scanning the guard patrols. Kael was beside him, calm and focused, his finger hovering near the trigger of his silenced rifle.“Ready?” James murmured, his voice barely audible over the chirping crickets.Kael nodded. “Always.”Through their earpieces, Winter’s voice crackled. “We’re in position. Give us the signal.”James tapped the button on his earpiece. “Copy that. Stand by.”He glanced at Kael. “Let’s make some noise.”Kael smirked and fired a precise shot at one of the estate’s external security cameras. Sparks flew as it shorted out, drawing the attention of a pair of guards patrolling the perimeter.“What was that?” one of the guards muttered, raising his flashlight.“Probably nothing,” the other replied, though his grip on his rifle tightened.James threw a small device over the hedge. It landed with a soft thud, followed by a loud bang and a flash of light.“Chec
Winter sat beside Jason in the dimly lit room, the glow of the computer screen casting shadows across their faces. The database, its interface sleek and cold, taunted them with its message: Access Denied.Jason let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through his hair. “We’ve been at this for hours. Whoever encrypted this knew exactly what they were doing.”Winter’s eyes narrowed, scanning the screen. “There’s always a way in. No one builds a system this complex without leaving a backdoor—or at least a trail.”Jason frowned. “You really think Leonard Tarlose would be that careless?”Winter leaned back, the gears in her mind turning. “Not careless. Arrogant. People like him always assume they’re untouchable. But they can’t resist hiding trophies, leaving breadcrumbs to remind themselves how clever they are.”Jason gave her a skeptical look. “And you think his breadcrumbs are in his estate?”“I do,” Winter said with quiet conviction. “Leonard keeps everything close to him. If the key i