Edward’s face twisted with fury, his bandaged hand twitching. “Even after losing my finger, I’m still in this! I’m not giving up! Don't be a coward” He leaned in, his eyes burning with madness. “If you leave now, you might as well be digging your own grave. Lord Cloud will find out eventually, and he’ll come after you whether you’re in or out. At least if you stay, we have a chance to fight back.”Sylvester stood up abruptly, his chair screeching across the floor as he pushed it back. “I don’t want any part of this madness anymore. I’m not risking my life for this.”Hastings stood as well, towering over Sylvester. “You fool, you can't just walk away. Your hands are also stained like the rest of us.""You’ve benefited from the stolen money just like we have. You think Lord Cloud’s going to spare go if you suddenly grow a conscience?”Sylvester’s face was tight with fear, but he held his ground. “I’ll take my chances. Goodluck to you too.”Edward slammed his fist on the table again, th
The stolen money is being laundered with the help of someone on the outside—someone with deep connections. The outside help is Darius, your brother-in-law. Nathan’s fingers tightened around his phone as he read Bianca’s message. His jaw clenched, and a wave of anger surged through him.He had known something was wrong, but to find out that Darius, Vanessa's own brother, was involved in betraying Cloud Corporation?He thought he had put that bastard in prison. How did he get out?Nathan's phone buzzed again.**Bianca:** Darius has been laundering money through various shell corporations. I’ve attached the financial transactions here. He’s working with Hastings and Edward. They’re planning one final heist, and they also want to bring you down.Nathan’s hands trembled as he opened the attached files. Bianca had been thorough, as always. There were several transactions made to offshore accounts, large sums withdrawn under fake identities, and coded messages between Darius, Hastings, and
He could feel the control slipping, the urge to lash out growing stronger by the second.But the receptionist remained unfazed. She leaned back in her chair, folding her arms across her chest. “I’m not calling anyone. And I suggest you leave before I have security escort you out.”Nathan’s blood boiled. He had no time for this.Every second wasted was a second closer to disaster, and yet this woman, this insignificant individual, dared to stand in his way.“I don’t have time for this,” Nathan growled, his voice dropping to a dangerously low tone. “You will call her. Or I’ll—”“Or you’ll what?” The receptionist smirked, clearly enjoying the power trip. “How dare you threaten me?Is it because I am trying to be polite with you?What gave you the guts to walk into Royal Corporation, the number one partner of Cloud Corporation, and start making demands?You must be out of your senses!!!”The tension between Nathan and the receptionist escalated as the silence in the lobby became thicker.
The receptionist, pale and speechless, took a step back. “Mrs. Cloud... I... I didn’t know...”"She even called me a lunatic and called the police on me,” Nathan added, making Vanessa even more furious.Vanessa’s eyes widened, her face darkening with fury. “You what?”“I—” The receptionist stammered before swallowing hard. She knew she had made a very grave mistake. “I didn’t know, Mrs. Cloud. I thought... he’s wearing a cleaner’s uniform, and he... he said he was Lord Cloud, but I...”Vanessa’s face twisted in disbelief and anger. “You thought?” she repeated, her voice rising. “Is that what I pay you for? "My husband came here, and you didn’t even bother to check with me? You just assumed he was some lunatic because of what he was wearing?”The receptionist opened and closed her mouth, unable to find the words to defend herself. She could not come up with anything.“I... I didn’t mean...”“You dare to disrespect my husband? You even had the audacity to call him a lunatic and call th
The police officers stood back, watching. “Is there anything else you’d like us to do, Mrs. Cloud?”Vanessa shook her head, her eyes still locked on the receptionist being dragged out. “No, Officer. You can go.”Nathan stood silently beside her, his arms still crossed, watching as the receptionist was dragged out of the lobby. Her cries echoed through the room, but neither Nathan nor Vanessa flinched. At that moment he was not really angry but filled with satisfactionHe had warned her, he had given her multiple chances to back down. She she still chose to challenge him, just like everyone who dared to challenge him, she was paying the price.As the doors swung closed behind the doctors and the sobbing receptionist, the lobby became quiet. Vanessa then turned to Nathan. “I’m sorry you had to deal with that, Nathan,” she said, placing her hand round his arm. Nathan’s eyes softened as he looked at her. “It’s alright, dear. You don't need to apologize on her behalf."Vanessa nodded, h
Nathan's expression turned even colder as he left Vanessa’s office. Darius had crossed the line too many times, and now, it was time to end the game once and for all. The moment the elevator doors slid shut, he pulled out his phone and dialed James’s number, his ever-loyal butler and right-hand man."James," Nathan said. "Get the men ready. We're paying Darius a visit."James immediately understood what his boss was saying; he knew very well what it meant that they would be paying Darius a visit. It meant only one thing: Darius was a dead man."Alright, Lord Cloud, I'll get the men ready," James replied promptly before Nathan hung up the call. Nathan's jaw clenched as he hung up, his hands tightening into fists. Darius had dared to steal from him, dared to meddle in their lives once more. This was the last time, and Nathan was going to make sure of it.Back at Cloud Mansion, the air was filled with tension. Nathan strode into the expansive garage, where James was already making su
Darius's eyes were fixed on the helicopter ahead. As the blades rotated, he knew it was his only chance of survival.“GO! NOW!” Darius yelled, nearly tripping over his own feet in his desperation.The pilot nodded, his trembling hands already moving to prepare for takeoff.Darius threw himself into the back seat of the helicopter, slamming the door shut. The engine roared, and the chopper slowly began to lift off the ground.Meanwhile, inside the mansion, Nathan’s men were closing in. Darius’s guards, despite their numbers, were either down or trying to escape.“Sir!” One of Nathan’s men came running up, panting. “He’s at the helipad. The helicopter is taking off!”Nathan’s jaw clenched as anger coursed through his veins. “Shoot it down,” he ordered.Without hesitation, he informed the rest of Nathan's men.On the helipad, just as the helicopter began to rise above the mansion’s roof, several of Nathan’s men burst out from the mansion with their rifles aimed at the sky.They opened fi
The message repeated once more before the speaker went silent.The news left Hastings and Edward in a very suffocating atmosphere. Hastings looked like he might collapse. His face was totally drained of color, and his eyes were wide with fear. “Sh*t! We’re doomed,” he whispered, his entire body trembling.“Get it together!” Edward barked, rising from his seat. “It’s just a meeting. Nothing more. If Nathan really knew what we did, he would have had us arrested by now.”“But after what he did to Darius...” Hastings began.“Exactly,” Edward cut him off. “After what he did to Darius, you think we’d still be alive if he knew? No. This meeting is just like the others. We just need to make sure Darius doesn’t open his mouth. That’s it.”Hastings nodded weakly, still visibly shaken, but he couldn't help but admit that Edward was right. If Nathan had found out about their involvement, he wouldn’t bother with meetings. He’d come for them just like he came for Darius.Edward straightened his ti