The room was eerily quiet and dark, only illuminated by the faint light from the moon filtering through the curtains..In there, a familiar man stood without a word, staring at the cold body of a small kid. His face was clouded with extreme dismal, emitting an unfriendly vibe, making people cautious before approaching him. " Yuchen. I never thought I will be the one to bury you." Zhao's broken voice sounded in the dark room as misery simmered in his heart. Just the sight of his dead grand son was enough to shatter the last humanity and hope in him. After enduring and trying everything possible, it all settled in vain. Reflecting on his waste efforts, resources and time, his face became more gloomy like a stormy cloud that refused to clear. Especially knowing it was all caused by that - ungrateful bastard! His palms clenched, digging his fingers into his thighs! Yuchen was the only relative left for him, his only grandson and companion. As a matter of fact, he had decided
Just as she opened the door to receive Emily, an unexpected figure blocked her view. " Emily, how........... You - useless stray dog! How dare you show your face here again ?!" Her expression twisted into an unfriendly one, and she glared at James who stood nonchalantly at the door. " Sorry to disappoint you, mum." James' voice remained steady, his face on Juliet, unwavering. " You.......... ..." Juliet felt like spitting out venom at James, and she blushed angrily! " You only disappoint yourself cause you are not welcomed here!" " What's going on, Juliet?" Steven strode towards the door, staring at Juliet curiously and wondering what was making her to lose it. Juliet turned to Steven, raising her voice , " This walking vomit is back again! I can't believe he is back! Isn't he suppose to be mourning his ........." Realizing what was about to escape from her running mouth, she bit her bottom lip and abruptly paused! Steven frowned at his wife and shook his head, " Juliet, don
Bang bang!" Emily! You still have the nerve to sleep by this time! The company has been acquired!" The loud noise startled Emily, who was just waking up. " What?" Rubbing her eyes, she complained, her brows knitting. " Dad?"" Do you need me to kick this door before you come to your senses?! Get up now!" Steven yelled, his voice filled with a sense of urgency. James straightened himself up and got down from the bed. " I think something is wrong," he tugged at his pants, saying, and he approached the door. Recognition dawned on Emily's face. With immediate effects, she rolled from the bed, grabbing hold of her crutches. She adjusted her sleep wear and followed James to the door. The instant the door was unlocked by James, Steven bustled in swiftly. " We have to go to the company now!" He informed impatiently, facing Emily. " There's no time at all." " What do you mean , dad?" Emily's forehead furrowed as she inquired confusingly. Steven's expression hardened! " Didn't you h
" This is to compensate for the five hundred million dollars worth good and to pay for the damages done." Jasper concluded what was on the file and closed it up. He lifted his head casually, taking off his glasses and cleaning them before putting it back on. The information turned out to be a bombshell news, which ruined the faces of the people listening to it. The tension in the air rose up intensely! " What?!" Standing up from her seat immediately hearing what Jasper said, Emily's face scrunched up, and her mouth twisted! " Excuse me? What was that?!" " What was what?" Jasper looked down at Emily impolitely. Emily grounded her jaw, unsatisfied with James audacious attitude. She retorted, " Don't act like you don't know what you just said. What do you mean the Thompson company stole 500 million dollars worth good?! How? When?" Jasper threw a scoff at Emily's words, " What you should rather focus on is how to save the company. You should be glad the Song corporation a
The smell of disinfectant reeked across the sterile room that was illuminated by the florescent lights humming above like a constant heartbeat. Inside the room, laid a familiar man on the single bed, with his hands raised hung up above his torso.He was none other than Victor.Evidently, he was still in the hospital, recovering from his palms that were broken by James. He had regained his consciousness, but the thought of his palms been disabled, made his face to hardened. He - a whole heir to the Tarlose immense wealth, would be disabled for life? How could he sink in such sudden transformation?! It was barely unacceptable to him!There was no hint of regret on his face, only resentment and rage, fueled by James' ruthlessness towards him! " James Donovan! This is all your fault!" He gritted his teeth slowly, as possible, seething in anger, and red lines started appearing on his face. " I won't let you go for this!" Just then, the door to the ward swung opened, reveali
The cigar dangled out of Code Red's mouth, as he gracefully reminded Zhao. Wei Zhao flared his nostrils loudly, lowering his eyes with a terrifying light! " Burn?" He repeated and slammed the glass of wine in his hand on the small table beside him! " I will be the one to burn him instead!" His words hung heavily in the air, filled with malice! " Tell me how you will acquire the votes I need to be the sect leader?" He demanded in an impatient tone. " Only being stronger and powerful can I bring down this slum who has pose a threat to me and stepped on my face!" Code Red hooked his lips mischievously, removing the cigar from his mouth." Relax." He grinned and said in a firm tone," I already brought code gold and green." As soon as he was done speaking, approaching footsteps could be perceived, and multiple shadows emerged from the entrance of the office. Two figures, their heads covered with rough sacks, were dragged, struggling into the cold dimly lit roomThe shadows that
James sat across from Emily at the upscale restaurant, silently sipping his glass of iced tea. The soft hum of conversation and clinking glasses filled the air.He had brought Emily to the restaurant to have her breakfast, after they left the office, since she skipped it. And now, they were silently facing each other - again. Emily's brow furrowed, curiosity latching on her face. "James, how are you going to help me as you promised?"James's expression was natural. " I will do everything in my power, Emily. You don't really have to worry but place your trust in me. Just like I saved our daughter, I will do the same." He gave a reply, that was quite unsatisfactory to Emily, making her eyes to roll. "No, just tell me the truth, James. " Emily asked, her voice laced with skepticism. " The Song corporation is a powerful opponent, there's no way the Thompson company can defeat them." Her heart plunged in turmoil again, thinking of their thin chances, and her expression dulled. It
Sounds of hurried footsteps occupied the reception room, as Emily's delicate but anxious face revealed. Frustration overtook her face, fading the anxious one, knowing the current issue about her twisted ankle, was retraining her movement. She groaned, struggling to increase her pace, but her movement remained the same. Dropping down her shoulders, she ambled towards her aimed place, where her father was. " Mum, what happened to dad?" Stepping into the ward slowly, her previous anxious look blending with concern, etched on her face, the moment she was in. " How did he had an heart attack?" She inquired in a curious tone, dragging her feet in approach towards the man lying on the single bed. Steven's eyes were shut, his breathing stable, and the sound of beeping machine demonstrated he was still alive. Juliet, who stood beside Steven, raised her head at her daughter who just stepped in. Her face was flushed, with tears lurking around the corner of her eyes, betraying her compos
The boat slid to a stop just shy of the island’s rocky shore. The team disembarked silently, their movements rehearsed and deliberate. The sound of waves crashing against the rocks masked their approach as they moved toward the tree line.Kael crouched, scanning the area with his night-vision goggles. "Southeast perimeter’s clear for now. Guards are rotating.""Good," James said, signaling for the team to move forward.Winter stayed close behind him, her eyes darting to every shadow. "Remember, we’ve got a window of twenty minutes before the next patrol. After that, we’re exposed.""Then let’s not waste time," James said, leading the way.As they reached the fence, Kael pulled out a set of tools, working quickly to disable the security system."Give me thirty seconds," Kael muttered."Make it twenty," James said, keeping his eyes on the surrounding jungle.Kael smirked. "You’re a tough boss."The fence gave way, and the team slipped through, their movements ghost-like in the darkness.
"Are you sure about this, Winter?" Kael asked, leaning over the spread of maps and satellite images on the table. His voice carried a rare note of hesitation. "This isn’t just a training camp—it’s a fortress."Winter’s eyes flicked up, her expression unwavering. "I traced the signal Benjamin mentioned. Zhao’s mercenaries are trained here, Kael. This isn’t just a stronghold; it’s the backbone of his operations."James stood at the edge of the room, his arms crossed, watching the exchange in silence.Kael exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "And you’re certain Sarah’s not there?"Winter hesitated. "The intel doesn’t indicate that she is. But if we dismantle this, we cripple Zhao. His empire starts to collapse.""Not fast enough," James said, stepping forward. His voice was calm, but the tension in his posture betrayed him. "This isn’t just about destroying Zhao’s resources. It’s about sending him a message—he doesn’t get to win."Kael glanced at James, his lips pressing in
The gala erupted into chaos the moment Benjamin barked out his order. “Guards! Seize them!”James exchanged a knowing glance with Kael, their silent understanding forged through years of combat. As the first wave of guards approached, Kael struck, his movements swift and efficient. James followed, dismantling the opposition with cold precision."Stand down!" one of the guards shouted, his voice trembling as he aimed his weapon.James strode forward, his movements calculated. “You’re in my way,” he said, his tone sharp as a blade.The guard hesitated, his resolve faltering, and James disarmed him in a blur of motion. Behind him, Kael slammed another guard into the marble floor, the echo cutting through the noise of panicked guests.“James, second floor!” Kael shouted, pointing toward a corridor where Benjamin had vanished.“I’ll handle it. Cover the exits,” James commanded, already moving.Kael nodded, turning to intercept a fresh batch of reinforcements.James navigated the villa’s op
The gala buzzed with the sounds of laughter and clinking glasses, an air of opulence that concealed the darker currents beneath.James and Kael moved effortlessly through the crowd, their eyes scanning for any sign of weakness within Zhao’s network of allies.As the night wore on, they slipped into conversations, their movements calculated, gathering intelligence without drawing attention.James leaned closer to a group of businessmen, their voices low as they discussed some upcoming project.He casually interjected, his tone casual yet sharp.“It’s interesting how much faith people are putting in Benjamin lately, especially with his... recent decisions.”The group faltered, eyes flicking nervously.“What do you mean?” one of them asked, a little too quickly.James’s lips curved into a smile, though it didn’t reach his eyes.“Oh, just a few whispers in the wind. You know how it is—nothing’s ever as it seems. Benjamin’s been getting a lot of attention, but some say he might be... overs
Inside the sleek, high-ceilinged ballroom, laughter and the clink of champagne glasses filled the air.The opulence of the gala contrasted sharply with the fire burning inside James.He and Kael stood among the guests, dressed sharply in tuxedos, blending effortlessly with the crowd of Zhao’s top allies and influential business partners.Winter’s intelligence had led them here, and James was ready to use it to his advantage.Kael leaned closer, his voice barely audible.“This is it. Benjamin’s hosting the event, but we can’t make our move too early. We need to get close.”James’s gaze swept over the room, scanning the crowd for any signs of Benjamin.He could feel his pulse quicken, the tension in his chest building.“Patience,” he muttered, his voice low.“He’ll slip up. He always does.”The two of them positioned themselves near a group of businessmen laughing too loudly, all too eager to make their way into Benjamin’s good graces.James barely listened to their chatter, his eyes fo
The anger that had been simmering beneath the surface of James’s composure suddenly surged to the forefront as the name Benjamin echoed in his mind.His pulse quickened, his fists clenching at his sides. He had never thought he’d face the betrayal of someone he once trusted so deeply.Yet here it was—Benjamin, now one of Zhao’s most valuable allies, a man who had once been a brother in arms, now pulling the strings in Zhao’s sprawling empire.Kael had been silent beside him, letting James process the revelation.Winter, though, had already found what they needed. Her voice was calm, a stark contrast to the storm raging within James. “I’ve located Benjamin,” she said, her fingers typing swiftly on her tablet.“He’s staying in a luxury villa on the outskirts of the city. He’s under heavy guard. We’ll need to move fast.”James’s eyes hardened as he absorbed the information.He knew better than anyone that Benjamin was no ordinary adversary.His cunning had always been a weapon, one that
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. "Benjamin Hayes."Kael’s eyes widened. “Benjamin Hayes.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 t
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,