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
James sat in President Richard's study, staring at the latter with a collected expression . "Zhao's declaration has shaken everything," Richard uttered, his voice laced with worry. He was still unstable from what his encounter earlier with Wei Zhao, his face tensing. "He has gained too much power, General. The only way he can be stopped before more damage would done, is for you to reveal your true identity - as the god of war."The expression on James' face was undescribable, hearing this. He squinted his eyes calmly. " Tell me more about the sect." Ignoring president Richard's statement, he instead demanded. President Richard sighed unwillingly.How could he forget no one can force the king of the west, to reverse his decision?He answered, rubbing his chin. " The sect is called the Lords' world. It was created a decade ago, when some important personalities felt the need to have a space of their own. This was not only to form more social capital and network but to control the
The silence of the night was thick, broken only by the soft crunch of gravel beneath their boots.James and Kael moved stealthily, each step calculated, the weight of their mission pressing down on them."You sure this is the place?" Kael whispered, his voice barely audible in the dark.James nodded, his eyes scanning the shadowed factory in front of them."It’s the right one. Winter confirmed the coordinates. Sarah’s in there, Kael. I can feel it."They crouched low, slipping past the initial security checkpoint, careful to avoid any detection.The factory’s towering walls loomed like a prison, and every creak of metal made the hairs on James’s neck stand up.He knew they were walking straight into a trap, but there was no turning back now.As they advanced deeper into the factory, the air grew thick with the scent of oil and rust.James held up his hand, signaling Kael to stop.They crouched by a corner, peering around it.A series of motion sensors lined the hallway ahead.Kael whi
The dimly lit room hummed with tension. James stood, arms crossed, watching the mercenary tied to the chair.The man’s face was bruised, his lip swollen from the brief but intense altercation.His eyes darted around, fear evident in every flicker, but he remained silent. James’s expression was cold, unreadable."Talk," James’s voice was low, his gaze unwavering."Where is she?"The mercenary swallowed, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.He had been trained not to break, but under James’s cold stare, his resolve faltered."You... you don’t understand," the man muttered, his voice shaking."It’s a trap. They’re waiting for you."James leaned in, his tone sharpening."Where is Sarah?"The mercenary’s eyes darted nervously to the door."An abandoned factory. On the mainland. They’ve fortified it, rigged it with traps... designed for you. You’re walking into a kill zone if you go after her."Winter, standing by the door, clenched her fists, her concern written all over her face."Jame
The command center was chaos. Sparks flew from damaged equipment as James and Kael made their stand, the sound of gunfire and shouts filling the air. LaFarge’s soldiers were closing in, their footsteps heavy and determined.“This is it,” Kael muttered, his breath coming in sharp bursts. He glanced at James. “We need to move, now.”James gritted his teeth, his gaze sharp as he scanned the room for a way out. "I’m not leaving without finishing this."Kael nodded, his eyes darkening with resolve. “Then let’s make sure they regret ever crossing us.”The door to the command center shook violently, the soldiers outside battering it relentlessly. James swiftly grabbed a nearby metal pipe, wielding it like a club. He threw a quick glance at Kael, his lips curling into a tight smirk. "Ready?"Kael’s eyes gleamed. "After you."They barely had time to brace themselves as the door exploded inward. LaFarge stood in the doorway, a sinister grin on his face. “James. Kael. You’re both still alive—bar
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