Lucian was back home in his spacious room, a place that should have brought him comfort but failed to do so.He felt really satisfied to know he had killed the pawn sent to assassinate his godfather, and the thrill of gaining experience points, but...He was restless.Memories, ones he never actually had, plagued him. He couldn’t shake the image of his mother’s death, wondering if it had truly happened that way or if there was more to the story. He tried sleeping off, but the accident replayed endlessly in his mind, haunting himHe couldn't sleep.As the first light of dawn seeped through his curtains, Lucian got out of bed, heading to the fridge for something cold to drink. Just as he reached for a beer, he sensed someone behind him.“No, no, I’m sorry, boss Lucian.”It was Madame Jane, a woman in her mid-forties who had been part of his household since the godfather had found him. She often acted as a mother figure, though Lucian never wanted her and would always push her away.“
“It was me!” Lino shouted repeatedly, his voice trembling with disbelief. “I can’t believe I’m saying this! I shouldn’t be saying this! Why can’t I stop?!”Lino was painfully aware of his own words, yet powerless to hold them back. His confession poured out uncontrollably, as if a dam had burst within him, releasing a torrent of long-buried guilt and frustration.Lucian watched him, his expression unreadable. These were the words he had dreaded hearing, but somehow, deep down, he had expected them. But from Lino? He hadn’t expected that. Lino was the least suspicious person in his circle, but Lucian had learned long ago that it’s often the least suspicious who turn out to be the betrayers.Never let your guard down, no matter what.But what had changed? Lino, who had been a father figure to him. Lino, who had been Godfather’s closest friend, a man Lucian had trusted without question. What had gone wrong along the way?“Why?” Lucian finally asked, his voice cold and sharp. “Why di
Davis’ gaze dropped, feeling as though he’d just been dealt a harsh reality check. His only biological son had been missing for over a decade, but the finality of accepting his death was something Davis had never fully come to terms with. The thought caused a tremor of grief to run through him.He exhaled a shaky breath, his heart suddenly feeling heavier than ever. “Get out of my sight, Jakob,” he commanded, his voice laced with barely controlled anger. “If you want anything from me, you’d better learn some respect. Provoking me won’t get you anywhere.”Jakob wasn’t fazed by his father’s reaction. He knew all too well that the mere mention of Davis’s lost son could set him off. ‘Foolish old man,’ Jakob thought, a sneer curling his lips as he turned to leave the room. ‘He has no idea what he’s up against.’As Jakob stepped into the hallway, he was met with the piercing gaze of his sister, Melanie Winchester. She stood there, her expression a mixture of disapproval and concern. Me
Dana, Drake, Jace, Lino, and the others all blinked groggily, their confusion evident as they looked around at each other.“What’s happening here?” Lino asked, his frown deepening as he struggled to clear his foggy mind.“Yeah, well, ask me, old man,” Jace shot back, his tone laced with sarcasm.Lino let out a scoff and managed to push himself up from the ground, wincing as the pounding in his head became more pronounced.Drake, meanwhile, was assisting Dana to her feet. She quickly shrugged off his help, casting a wary glance around the room before checking her wristwatch. The time read 10:43 AM. They had arrived at the warehouse by 8:00 AM, which meant over two hours had passed without their knowledge.‘What on earth happened during that time?’Drake’s attention was drawn to the table where he noticed an unfinished bottle of beer, and wandered toward it.“Looks like the boss was here,” he announced, his words drawing the group’s attention.“Maybe he couldn’t wait any longer and lef
Lucian found himself reluctantly driving the unknown girl to the hospital, feeling like he had no other option. As they rode in silence, he caught her sneaking glances at him, a small smile playing on her lips.Sighing, he broke the silence. “You should call someone who can meet you at the hospital,” he suggested.The girl’s smile faded, replaced by a pout as she seemed to remember something unpleasant. “No one I know would bother to come. They’re all too busy,” she said, her voice tinged with disappointment.Lucian glanced over and saw the sadness etched on her face. He nodded slightly, deciding not to press the issue.After a moment, the girl looked back at him. “So, what’s your name, Sir? I can’t keep calling you ‘Sir.’ It feels weird,” she said with a teasing tone.“And why is that?” Lucian replied, amused. “I’m clearly older than you.”“I’ll have you know that I'm going to be twenty this year,” she announced proudly. “I’m not that young.”Lucian chuckled softly. “Maybe so, but
Amber Winchester was all Lucian could think about. She completely occupied his thoughts.He was currently in the columbarium, standing before his godfather’s urn.This was where he had intended to go before crossing paths with Amber.Truly, he had a sister.The realization hit him hard.He clearly remembered Felicia being pregnant, and now it made sense—she had given birth to a girl. Her name was Amber. The timeline matched perfectly.Unlike Jakob, who was no blood relation, Amber and Lucian shared the same father, making them true siblings.Despite the fact that she was Felicia’s daughter, Lucian felt an overwhelming urge to protect her, to be the big brother she deserved. She seemed so innocent and carefree. Also, by being close to her, he could also learn more about what was happening in the Winchester mansion and keep an eye on his father.He let out a deep breath, a small smile playing on his lips. “I have a sister, godfather. Can you believe it? I can’t. She’s carefree and re
Lucian answered the call with a frown. He waited for the voice on the other end to speak.“Hello, Master Stone, I am Titan Z,” the man introduced himself.Lucian was taken aback.He pulled the phone away from his ear for a moment, staring at the number displayed on the screen, unable to believe what he was hearing. Frowning, he brought the phone back to his ear and asked, “Is this some kind of prank call, or what?“Lucian knew exactly who Titan Z was.He was a name everyone in Metro City—and beyond—knew. The man wasn’t just wealthy; he was the world’s richest person. A powerful figure who was well-known and highly respected.There was no conceivable reason why Titan Z would be calling him. Lucian was successful in his own right, but compared to Titan Z, he was leagues apart. They existed in entirely different worlds.“No, Master Stone, this is no prank call,” the voice on the other end responded calmly. “I was your godfather’s right-hand man during his lifetime. I’m calling to cong
William ended the call, his eyes darting back and forth in confusion. If Lucian was still alive, then where was the imp?He had signed a contract with the imp so it couldn’t have just disappeared. The imp never failed to carry out an ordered, or never faltered.What went wrong this time?And if Lucian was truly attacked by the imp, then how was he still sounding like nothing happened to him?Knock, knock…A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts.His new right-hand man, James, entered. “Boss, we’ve been booked for an assignment,” James reported.“What kind?” William asked.“Kidnapping and ransom. The pay is substantial,” James replied.William nodded, giving his instructions, “Then gather the team and start planning. I’ll join you shortly.”James nodded with a bow and left the office.William exhaled shakily. Everything had been going smoothly for him. He had risen to the top, especially after news of the godfather’s death spread. As a result, he was getting more jobs than ever b