Xaden's heart pounded in his chest as he burst into the dimly lit warehouse, the stale air thick with tension. This was where Adrian's men said they suspected Dominique was and Adrian trusted their information. When the system gave the riddle to look into the forbidden, they agreed to do a thorough search into Sylas’ illegal business. Definitely, someone like Sylas could never keep his hands clean despite how much the Knight Consortium was worth. Greedy people never considered their wealth enough and Sylas was greedy to a fault and also covetous. This warehouse had been part of the chain of illegal trade Sylas was in charge of. It was in a secluded position and was the most ideal place to hide someone. The flickering light from a solitary bulb cast eerie shadows on the cold, concrete walls."Sylas!" Xaden's voice echoed through the desolate space, his eyes scanning the surroundings. He didn’t bother trying to be silent because he could feel that he wasn’t alone.“Don’t bother trying t
“I don’t understand. We should have been able to find her. We checked every property that was connected to Sylas and that one was the best option. The System said we should follow the forbidden, how else are we supposed to do that?” Malessa asked with a bemused expression.“We thought the forbidden meant his business, but at this point, I don’t think the System meant his illegal businesses. I think it meant forbidden Manna practices, dark spells and things like that. Whatever posed as Dominique didn’t look like it was skinwalking. And there was a weird blade. The blade was very black and seemed to be sucking the light from everything within a metre of it. It also had a red ruby in the hilt with strange lines, I think they were runes that seemed to be filled with blood. It felt wrong, like a black hole draining everything around.” Xaden said and Adrian looked up in shock.“The blade itself was black?” Adrian asked and Xaden nodded.“Damn. This is worse than I thought. Sylas is really g
“So Miss Miller, what made you come here today to have an interview with us?” The reporter asked.Ashley was with a handkerchief and was prepared to do all she could to gain public sympathy. It was easy to do since she was pregnant and was already showing. She also came with proof of her marriage to Xaden and the divorce papers as well. This was the plan she had come up with after never hearing back from the president. She had thought that Adrian would make her get back together with Xaden after she had complained to him that day over the phone.She had no idea that the person she had spoken to that day hadn’t been the real Adrian. And even if it had been, the real Adrian knew the real truth behind how Xaden’s marriage crashed. Xaden had come clean to him after the episode with Sylas skin walking in the Villa, and Adrian was in no way interested in bringing Ashley into Xaden’s life after she threw him away like garbage. She figured out that since the president never messaged her back,
The news of Ashley's fainting spell spread like wildfire, igniting a storm of speculation and sensationalism in the media. Reporters clamoured for details, eager to uncover the truth behind the dramatic episode that unfolded in the newsroom. Among the throng of journalists, one figure stood out—the elusive and enigmatic Ashley, whose fabricated tale of betrayal and heartbreaking captivation captivated the public's imagination.As the frenzy of media coverage swirled around her, Ashley lay in a hospital bed, her facade of frailty concealing a calculated strategy. She had orchestrated the elaborate charade to garner attention, leveraging the public's fascination with scandal and intrigue to further her own ambitions.Meanwhile, Xaden, driven by a sense of obligation and a gnawing curiosity, tracked down the hospital where Ashley had been taken. Arriving just as the doctor delivered a sobering diagnosis, he observed the scene with a mixture of concern and scepticism.The doctor stood ove
A nurse rushed in, overhearing the raised voices. "Miss, you need to get back in bed. You're in no condition to be moving around." Ashley allowed herself to be led back to the bed, defeat washing over her. Xaden gave her one last disgusted look before storming out. Xaden strode from the hospital seething with anger. The nerve of Ashley, trying to manipulate him again with her fake tears and lies. After everything she had put him through, he would not fall for it this time. Regret gnawed at his conscience, a relentless reminder of his outburst in Ashley's hospital room. Despite the turmoil raging within him, a flicker of guilt tempered his resolve, prompting him to contemplate the consequences of his actions. Even if Ashley was at fault, the baby was innocent in all this. He didn’t want her to lose the child because of him. He needed to be more careful around her. As he made his way back to the presidential villa, President Adrian was waiting for him anxiously.
The deceptively edited video of Xaden's hospital encounter with Ashley spread like wildfire through media outlets, igniting a conflagration of public condemnation against him. This carefully fabricated footage painted Xaden in a villainous light, casting doubt over his character and fueling rampant speculation and outrage. They made it seem like he was harassing Ashley, who was already in the hospital for health reasons.Xaden found himself battered by a relentless storm of negative publicity as the video spawned ubiquitous accusations across news platforms, social media, and gossip channels. This orchestrated smear campaign portrayed Xaden's actions in a distorted manner to turn public opinion against him.Sensing opportunity in the chaos, Xaden's rival Sylas seized the moment to escalate the attacks on Xaden's credibility, calling a dramatic press conference to denounce him publicly. With calculated precision, Sylas exploited the public's appetite for scandal, levying sensational al
“You must be very stupid!” Xaden was appalled by the woman’s instant refusal. It was his first time witnessing such open hostility. “How do you expect us to just open our home to a stranger just because our father and your grandfather were old friends?” It was the woman’s brother,Trevor, that spoke this time with a frown on his face. “I don’t even understand why father would make friends with a man like that. Look at you, you’re just as wretched as your old man. Poor and stinking. Your shoes look worn out and you have dirt all over you. You also stink! While my father worked to gain all his wealth, your grandfather ran away like a coward to live in the country and remained poor.” Bianca sneered with obvious disgust and held her nose to emphasise her point. Xaden’s grandfather, John Dyre had been a good man and he was close friends with their father, Adam Miller. Though John had retired to the suburbs to live a quiet life, Adam had gone into business and become a millionaire. They b
The house was far more beautiful than Xaden expected. He was used to living in a modest country home, not a house like this.There was a Japanese painting hung on one side of the room. Xaden recognized the painting. He had seen one back at home though he wasn't allowed to touch or go near grandfather's stuff. He came across the painting when he was trying to clean up the store room one time. He didn't realize that his eyes were still fixated on the painting until Trevor tapped him on his shoulder and asked if he was okay.“I'm fine, I'm fine. I just got lost in the painting. My Grandfather has one exactly like it."Trevor smiled. "That was my father's favorite painting. Come along, let me show you where you'll be staying for the meantime."Xaden followed suit. He was tempted to ask where Bianca was but he stopped himself before he even muttered a word. He understood why she was mean to him earlier. Suddenly a stranger appears on your doorstep claiming to be your father's friend's grand