It was Jaxon who asked James where he was going, and as James turned, he caught sight of Jaxon and Alisha approaching his direction. The two were holding hands like teenage lovers on a first date.Jaxon and Alisha were surprised to see him back so soon, they thought he was going to spend about three months in the hospital to get fully recovered.Alisha didn't even care to visit him or ask about his health when he was in the hospital. Her mind had been poisoned against him, and her hatred for him had increased."Didn't you hear him, you bone-head? Or are you becoming deaf now!"James responded calmly to them, "As you can see, I've been offered a job here, and I'm just resuming work."Alisha, who was now the manager of the company, was quick to question him. "Speaking of work, do you know what time it is? Are you supposed to be coming to work at this late hour?"She didn't bother checking her watch, all she wanted was to mistreat James. He was now working under her, she seized the oppor
Meanwhile, in the Carl family house, Pa Aaron and Ma Pat had gathered the entire Carl family and their well wishers to celebrate and honor Alisha for her promotion at work.They wanted to thank her because Jaxon's father, Mr. Thomas Sterling, had made a generous promise. He guaranteed employment for every Carl family member, regardless of their qualifications. The catch was that they would become "ghost workers" and receive a monthly paycheck without actually working.This promise from Mr. Thomas Sterling was the talk of the family, and they eagerly anticipated the financial benefits that would soon come their way.This would be the highest achievement that anyone from the Carl family has ever gotten.And in no time, their family social status will increase in Emerald Falls.Every member of Carl's family was present for the celebration.The big room where they had the celebration was all lit up with cozy, yellow lights hanging from the ceiling. There were these long tables with clean
"Why are you calling me by this time, you godforsaken old cargo?" Mr. Sterling sneered, with disdain over the phone and loudspeaker.Everyone could hear him loud and clear. Pa Aaron's heart sank as he heard Mr. Thomas Sterling's voice thundering through the phone. The powerful businessman was clearly furious. What could have gone wrong?Pa Aaron felt very embarrassed but knew he had to respond with humility to salvage the situation. "I... I'm deeply sorry, Mr. Sterling. It's just that everyone here was getting impatient, and I thought… I thought that…"Mr. Sterling interrupted him, not willing to hear what he wanted to say. "You thought? You thought?! Do you know what you and your beggar family have caused my family?"The family members seated in a corner couldn't understand what was happening and why Mr. Thomas Sterling was so furious with their father, Pa Aaron."I deeply regret any inconvenience this call must have caused, you, Mr. Sterling.""And you still dare call to invite me
James kept walking closer to where every member of the Carl family was seated.He was beside himself with joy as he saw the gloomy faces of everyone. He smiled inwardly to himself.But before he could get any closer, Henry got up and tried to push him."Hey son of a b*tch what are you doing here? You have got guts to be here right now."James quickly held his hands and pushed him aside and proceeded to where everyone was seated.Henry staggered and then fell to the ground because of how hard James pushed him."How dare you push my son, you jerk?" Kate cried out. "You have the guts to lay your filthy hands on him…"Kpai! She slapped James across the face but James was too quick and dodge the slap."Yes, and I'll do it again." James interrupted her and continued to walk towards them.The remaining people who were still around were stunned, and those who were deciding to leave decided to wait and watch how everything would play out."Look! It's the Carl family's used to be good for not
All the men in the Carl's family gathered around James, ready to show him a lesson he would never forget in his entire existence, even in his next life.But unknown to them, James had managed to signal the head of the ESU agents who was outside the gate with his companions. Quickly, they made their way into the main compound where everyone was. "Stop!"A commanding voice suddenly interrupted the whole members of the Carl family who had now hooked James by the collar. Everyone turned to see what was happening, and they were surprised and at the same time shocked to their bone marrow! The violence came to a halt as they all realized who the unexpected visitors were.ESU Agents? Their sudden appearance at this moment only means that there is going to be more trouble! Could it be that Mr Sterling had sent them to get the whole family arrested?The few remaining guests couldn't believe their eyes. It was evident that the Carl family had gotten themselves into a heap of trouble for cross
As early as 5 am, James prepared and left for work. He was so keen on keeping up with this game he was playing that he didn't want anything to jeopardize it.When James got to work, all eyes fell on him. The workers at Emerald Multisource Cooperation began to wonder how he was able to challenge both the Carl's and the Sterlings, and get their sons arrested.To some, it was practically impossible. 'How could he possibly do it?' 'it seems he has an external family backing him up. But who? While to the other workers, he was indirectly digging his own grave. No one ever crosses the Carl and goes scout free.James passed through the gate and tried as much as possible to avoid having an encounter with the two security guards. Luckily for him, they just stared roughly at him and let him in. He smiled at them but they looked away. 'Perhaps, the news of yesterday's arrest must have gotten to them. How news flies'.He got to the dressing room and put on his work clothes before joining the oth
"Big Mom, do you have a business with this Moron?" One of the security guards asked Kate, trying to sound concerned."Did he offend you?" The other one asked."Yes. He got my son arrested." She replied sharply, not wanting to continue the conversation."Damn! This moron is really getting on our nerves. How dare he? Doesn't he know who you're?""First, it's the Sterlings, now It's the Carls." The first guard said to his fellow."Mom, how can we help?""Just take me to him or show me where he could be right now." Kate said, growing impatient already. "I'll deal with him myself."Kate knows them better than anyone. They never really cared about anyone, only feigning concern to get favor from people. And she's not ready for their facade and fake praises and likes."Ok Mom. Follow me."Kate followed him and he led her through the compound and into the company's main building.People who recognized her began to whisper among themselves."Look! It's the Managers Mom.""Who knows what she's c
All the workers in the scene all kept mute when they realized who just asked the question.'Mr. Sterling!'"Are you all deaf?" Mr Sterling barked again. "What's going on here?"Even though Mr Sterling is no longer the CEO, everyone still fears him as he has a commanding presence and still acts like the CEO."A… A janitor and a middle-aged woman are having a scuffle, sir." One of the workers said, breaking the silence."A Janitor and a potential customer? How could this be? Does he want to ruin Emerald Multisource Corporation.?" Mr. Sterling barked with anger. He couldn't understand why this was happening now that Lana Wane and Eric Wood were around. What would they think of him? A Director who doesn't know how to discipline his workers. He must make sure he deals with this so-called low life of a janitor who does not understand that the customers are always right."Separate them, and bring them to me." Mr Sterling ordered the security guards with them."Yessir!"Without hesitation,
Chapter 397Morning broke with a dull glow, illuminating the quiet safe house nestled deep in the woods. Inside, tension hung thick in the air. Williams was standing near the window with a phone pressed to his ear, speaking in a calm but calculated tone.“We’ve got your son, Charles,” he said, his voice steady. “But we haven’t located Jaxon.”On the other end of the line, Mr. Sterling’s voice cracked with emotion. “Charles? Is he safe? Are you sure?” Relief flooded his tone, but it was quickly shadowed by anxiety. “What about Jaxon? Did you find him? Is there anything—anything—leading up to him?”Williams let out a quiet sigh, one that sounded more like practiced patience than genuine concern. “That’s all we could manage,” he replied. “The men who took Jaxon still have him, and from what we’ve gathered, they plan to kill him if there’s any interference.”Mr. Sterling was silent for a beat, processing the grim news. Then, his voice rose, tinged with panic. “What do I do now? How do I
Chapter 396James and Gregor stepped out of their concealed position in the underbrush as the taillights of the SUV disappeared into the darkness. The cool night air was eerily silent now, broken only by the faint rustling of leaves and the muffled sounds of wildlife in the distance. The ground beneath their boots crunched softly as they moved toward the aftermath of the chaos they had just witnessed.Gregor’s eyes scanned the scene, his face expressionless as he took in the lifeless bodies sprawled across the area. Three of them, including Ben they once held, lay motionless, their weapons discarded and their blood staining the dirt beneath them.Gregor crouched beside one of the bodies, briefly checking for a pulse, though he already knew there was none. Standing, he shook his head and muttered, “Well, that’s the life they’ve chosen for themselves.”James, standing a few steps behind him, remained silent for a moment, his sharp eyes darting around the scene. The faint glow of the moo
Chapter 395The shadows of the dilapidated bunker stretched long under the moonlight as Williams and his team lay in wait. They had taken up position hours earlier, tucked inside Jaxon’s sleek sports car, the dark, polished metal blending seamlessly into the night. The air inside the vehicle was stifling, thick with tension and the faint metallic tang of gun oil. Every man was armed and ready, their nerves wound tight, waiting for the right moment to strike. Williams sat in the driver’s seat, his hands resting casually on the steering wheel, though his eyes never left the rearview mirror. Beside him, Kane sat rigid, one hand gripping Jaxon’s arm firmly while the other rested on the stock of a shotgun lying across his lap. In the cramped sports car, Tom and Dorian crouched uncomfortably in the trunk, their weapons at the ready, waiting for Williams’ signal.The silence inside the car was shattered when headlights cut through the darkness. A single car approached, its rumbling engine e
Chapter 394The dense canopy of the forest loomed overhead, casting long shadows over the makeshift campsite where James and Gregor had been holed up for days. The air was damp, thick with the earthy scent of moss and pine, and the distant call of nocturnal creatures echoed through the stillness.Gregor sat cross-legged on the damp ground, his eyes glued to the small tablet in his lap. A blinking red dot pulsed steadily on the screen—the nano tracker they’d planted on Ben’s phone.For three grueling days, they’d followed that dot from one hideout to another, staying just far enough away not to be detected. They’d spent their nights in the car or in the bush, catching only brief moments of sleep between shifts of surveillance.Tonight was no different, and Gregor’s tired eyes burned as he watched the screen, hoping for any sign of movement.James lay stretched out on the ground beside him, his jacket pulled over his face to block out the faint moonlight filtering through the trees. Hi
Chapter 393Jack paced back and forth in the dimly lit room, his gun laid out on the table as he meticulously assembled and armored it. Each metallic click echoed in the stale air, punctuating the tense atmosphere.They had to switch hideouts when Ben rejoined them, in case he was being tailed. Jack carefully considered the situation and concluded that bringing him back into the operation as an additional resource would be a wise decision, just in case they encountered any unexpected challenges but he made sure they switch hideout from time to time. But their main exchange point was still the old bunker because it has a lot of escape routes and underground tunnels.Ken was nearby, double-checking their supply of ammunition, while Denver and Ben lounged on an old, battered couch, their excitement barely contained.“Finally, we’re getting out of this shithole with a bundle of millions,” Denver said to Ben, leaning back with a smug grin. He flicked a discarded cigarette butt into the cor
Chapter 392The evening sky was a dusky orange, streaked with long trails of purple as the sun dipped below the horizon. Williams parked the sleek, black car that Mr. Sterling had secured for him—a high-profile Lamborghini that was both remarkable and practical for what was about to go down.The tinted windows gleamed faintly in the fading light as he stepped out, dressed in a dark hoodie and jeans. He adjusted the baseball cap on his head and pulled it lower to obscure his face further.Kane was already waiting near the edge of the gravel lot, leaning casually against a rusted lamp post that barely flickered to life. His stance was relaxed, but his eyes darted around, sharp and alert. A few paces away, Tom and Dorian lingered by the entrance to the abandoned warehouse, their conversation low but punctuated with short laughs.Williams approached Kane with purposeful strides. Without a word, he gestured for Kane to follow him a short distance away from the others.“They ready?” William
Chapter 391Andrew’s pen hovered over the page. “Eric Wood? The CEO of EMC?”“Yes,” Sterling said, his voice steady now, laced with conviction. “He’s had a vendetta against my family for months. He’s jealous of our success, our influence. And now, with everything happening at EMC, I wouldn’t put it past him to stoop this low. My two sons were kidnapped in a sparse of a few weeks. Is it not strange?”Andrew tilted his head, his expression skeptical. “That’s a serious accusation, Mr. Sterling. Do you have any evidence to support this?”Mr. Sterling sighed heavily, as though burdened by the weight of his own claim. “Not concrete evidence, no. But think about it. He has the resources, the motive. And I heard through some… private channels that he’s been meeting with unsavory characters lately. People who could easily pull off something like this.”Andrew jotted a few notes, his pen moving quickly. “I see. I’ll look into it. But you understand we can’t act on hearsay alone.”“Of course, of
Chapter 390As soon as Mr. Sterling ended the call with Williams, he hurried to his closet, throwing on a sleek navy suit and matching tie. His hands trembled slightly as he adjusted the knot, but he steeled himself, taking a deep breath.This wasn’t just a favor for Williams; it was a calculated move to get his two sons back. Grabbing his keys, he rushed out of his mansion, the elevator ride to the ground floor feeling agonizingly slow.When he finally stepped outside, the cool morning air bit at his face, but he paid it no mind. His black sedan waited at the curb, and he climbed in, starting the engine with a growl. As he sped toward Sky Suite, he rehearsed the lies he might need to tell to retrieve Jaxon’s car.The towering Sky Suite hotel loomed ahead, its modern glass facade gleaming brightly under the early morning sun. As Mr. Sterling approached the entrance, his stomach tightened. The sight of two patrol cars parked near the lobby entrance made his pulse quicken. Uniformed off
Chapter 389As soon as Kane received the message from Tom that Jaxon had finally broken under the pressure and confessed, he immediately pulled out his phone and dialed Williams. His tone was sharp, clipped, and direct as he relayed the crucial information.“He finally talked,” Kane said without any preamble. “He’s given up Jack’s location—some bunker near the old docks.”Williams, on the other end of the line, didn’t respond right away. The faint sound of tapping, likely his pen against his desk, filled the silence. “Good,” Williams finally said, his voice steady but tinged with calculation. “Did he say anything about how many men Jack has with him?”“Yeah,” Kane replied. “Three, including Jack himself. He said one of them ran away. It’s a small crew.”Williams let out a low hum of approval. “That’s manageable. We’ve got the numbers, four to three. Here’s the plan,” he said, leaning forward in his chair. “You’re going to prep Jaxon to lead you straight to the bunker. He’s our key. Ma