Zale found himself momentarily taken aback by Sophia's last statement.He had to look at her closely, studying her demeanor to be sure she wasn't under the influence of alcohol before he could accept her words. Her eyes were clear, her posture firm, and there was a sense of determination in her expression; with all these, he would rest assured that she was fully sober.After a brief but intense study, he finally spoke, his tone firm and assuring, "Sophia, I may not fully comprehend why you trust me in this situation, but I can promise you this: nothing bad will happen to Amelia under my watch."Sophia met his gaze with unwavering confidence, her words carrying the weight of her conviction, "You don't need to tell me. I trust you implicitly. And the fact that Amelia already places her trust in you only solidifies that trust."Zale nodded, appreciating Sophia's unwavering faith in him. He turned to leave the room, fully intending to attend to the unconscious Amelia and make sure she was
Zale nodded in acknowledgment of Jolene's words, and he led her into the villa, to a more private area where they could discuss matters without interruption. As they settled inside, Zale's thoughts were still grappling with the events of the previous night."Jolene, what's so pressing that you came this early in the morning?" Zale asked, his voice betraying none of the thoughts racing through his mind. His usual air of casual confidence masked his thoughts.Jolene hesitated, her usually unflappable demeanor wavering. "It's about last night," she began, her voice laced with an undercurrent of urgency, "I want to begin by apologizing for not being there when those criminals attacked you."Zale raised an eyebrow, his eyes never leaving hers. He didn't reply, but the tension in the room grew more palpable.Unfazed, Jolene continued, recounting the events of the previous night in a meticulous and detailed manner. She provided every piece of information, sparing no detail, even relaying Duk
Unbeknownst to Zale and his grandfather of the spreading rumors about them, they proceeded to the Adair ancestry mansion.During the journey, Cyprus couldn't resist commenting on Zale's transformed appearance and demeanor. "You seem remarkably different now, my boy. Has something occurred that I'm unaware of?"Zale was slightly surprised by the question but replied with a wide smile on his face, "Nothing happened, Grandpa. I didn't realize I looked different until now.""You certainly do. It's as if..." Cyprus paused, observing Zale before adding, "It's as if I'm gazing at someone with five decades of life experience."Zale chose not to respond, fully aware that this transformation likely resulted from the artifact and his newfound abilities, opting for silence.The journey continued in silence until they reached the Adair mansion.Both Cyprus and Zale stepped out of their car.Ace led Cyprus to his chamber, while Zale decided to take a walk around the mansion.Zale wished to allow th
Zale, Jolene, Loki, and Bane entered the grand foyer of the Adair mansion. Jolene led the group towards the sitting room, where she assumed Zale's grandfather would be waiting. The tension in the hallway was palpable, as the unexpected arrival of Loki and Bane had raised many questions among the guards and servants.Just as they reached the sitting room door, it swung open, revealing Cyprus Adair seated in an ornate armchair. His presence exuded wisdom and authority, and his eyes sparkled with a glint of knowing."Welcome, gentlemen," Cyprus greeted with a warm smile. "It's been a while."Loki and Bane, both familiar with the formalities of such meetings, bowed respectfully before taking their seats.Cyprus gestured toward the remaining seats, indicating for Zale and Jolene to join them. Zale sat down, but Jolene chose to stand by his side, ever watchful.Cyprus wasn't alone though, Ace was standing behind him.Cyprus wasted no time addressing the purpose of the meeting. "I must adm
The smile on Zale's face didn't go unnoticed by Loki.'What's going on with this young man anyway? Does he find this situation amusing or is there something I'm missing?' Loki pondered inwardly, genuinely puzzled.Zale, aware of Loki's gaze, chose to ignore it. He directed a straightforward question to Cyprus, "Why would your nephew choose to ally with your rival? It doesn't seem logical, or am I missing something?"Cyprus let out a deep sigh before explaining, "I held control of the underworld from the age of 20, but after my son's death, I made the decision to walk away from it all. I entrusted everything I once managed to Williams. In return, he promised to keep any underworld matters far from me, forever. Unfortunately, he struggled to maintain the operations smoothly for long, which led him to seek an alliance with a more influential underworld figure, and that figure turned out to be Asper." Cyprus paused, giving Zale time to digest his words, and then continued."As I learned of
Cyprus was shocked by what his eyes witnessed. He looked at Zale as though he had seen a ghost.Did Ace, the most skilled guard among his protectors, just struggle to free himself from his grandson's unyielding grip? He couldn't believe his eyes.Ace continued gasping for air on the ground, as though he might die any moment if his air supply were cut off.The room fell silent, save for the harsh, labored breaths escaping Ace's lungs.Zale ignored his grandfather, who appeared to be in a state of shock, and simply walked back to his seat. His expression remained remarkably blank and composed, as though what he had just done was a routine occurrence.Cyprus finally found his voice, his tone wavering as he addressed Zale, "What...what have you become, Zale?"Zale looked at Cyprus with a level of detachment that sent shivers down the old man's spine. "I've become what I needed to be, Grandpa, in order to survive and protect our family. The underworld is a place of darkness and treachery, a
Cumbo noticed the sudden change in Ethan's expression and decided to probe further. He leaned in, his dark eyes locking onto Ethan's face, and inquired, "What's eating at you, kid?"Ethan hesitated, his voice trembling slightly as he finally confessed, "I don't have the money with me right now, but I promise I'll get it as soon as I can."Cumbo, at first, couldn't contain his laughter. A deep, sinister chuckle escaped his lips, echoing in the dimly lit warehouse. The laughter filled the room, but suddenly, his face grew grave. He turned his furious gaze upon Ethan, and his voice carried a venomous edge as he demanded, "What rubbish are you spouting, boy? You're kidding, right?"Ethan, feeling the weight of Cumbo's anger bearing down on him, tried desperately to explain, "I swear. I'll find the money and pay you after the job is completed. Name your price and I will make it worth your time."But Cumbo wouldn't hear it. He silenced Ethan with a glare that could send shivers down anyone
The shattered phone lay on the floor, a symbol of the abrupt end to the ominous call. Zale was still processing the sudden turn of events, and he nodded at Ace, grateful for his quick thinking, although he was still surprised.Zale couldn't help but inquire, "How did you figure out I was being tracked?" He found Ace's quick thinking intriguing.Ace leaned in, his eyes filled with a confident gleam, "Consider this: Why would an assailant looking to eliminate you tip their hand with a phone call? It doesn't add up. In most cases, those with harmful intentions aim for the element of surprise to increase their chances of success. What I'm getting at is that this call was a deliberate attempt to trace your whereabouts. Fortunately, I managed to intervene before they could pull it off. It takes precisely seventy seconds to pinpoint a phone's location during a call, and my interception came just in time to prevent that."Zale's eyes widened as the pieces of the puzzle fell into place. Ace's
As Zale and Ace ventured beyond the gate, the air hung heavy with tension. They arrived in front of the mansion, which was guarded by three security guards.The guards were slightly taken aback when they saw Zale and Ace.Their comrades at the gate hadn't informed them of the arrival of any guest, so they were confused.They didn't have the slightest idea of the fight that had taken place outside; they were completely oblivious.The guard, who appeared to the leader, stepped forward and asked, “Who might you be, sirs?” His voice was polite and respectful.He thought that if his companion had allowed Zale and Ace entry, it meant they were esteemed guests of honor.Ace glanced at Zale and upon seeing the hidden smirk on his face, he understood what was going to happen.“We are honorable guests of your boss. Should you really be standing here asking questions or just step out of the way?” Zale asked, his voice stern.The guard shivered slightly when he felt Zale's gaze on him. “I…I’m so
The guard's eyes widened in shock, his expression transforming into a lethal glare directed at Zale."Who the hell are you, you bastard?" Despite his astonishment, fury seethed in his voice.Zale chuckled softly before responding, "I'm just someone who wishes to see your boss. We can avoid all of this if you tell your colleagues to let me in."The guard's eyes ignited with rage as he retorted, "Bullshit! If you don't want to leave peacefully, I will make you leave myself."The tension escalated, drawing the attention of the other guards who became alert to the hostility emanating from Zale.They stood ready, poised to open fire at a moment's notice if the need arose.Ace moved in closer to Zale and whispered in his ear, "I don't know what you're trying to do, but these guys are well-armed. I trust your decisions, but I must admit we are clearly at a disadvantage here. The shadow guards are nearby. I can send them a message, and they will take out these guys."Zale nodded, seemingly in
In the aftermath of the charged meeting, Zale and Ace headed outside the building, toward the mansion.Zale's mind swirled with a mixture of determination and uncertainty, while Ace, ever stoic, maintained a vigilant presence.As they arrived in front of the mansion, Zale’s phone vibrated in his pocket. It was his grandfather."Zale," Oracle's voice resonated. For the first time in a long time, he called Zale by his name. "I've been monitoring the meeting. Bane's words have validity. Are you certain about this path you're taking?"Zale, undeterred, responded, "I've made my choice, Grandpa. This is a battle I must face, not just for myself, but for those who've suffered unjustly."The last part was talking about Oracle. The old man had gone through a series of emotional breakdowns after his son and his daughter-in-law died. It was one hell of a torture at that time.Oracle let out a sigh, a blend of regret and understanding in his simulated eyes. "I cannot dissuade you, but remember th
The following day, Zale gathered his closest allies in a private meeting. The meeting took place in one of the buildings in Oracle's estate.The atmosphere was charged with tension as he addressed them, laying out the challenges they faced and the imminent battle against Asper.A middle-aged man interjected, "I don't harbor personal grudges against Asper, but I'm willing to assist you."Another guest joined the conversation, expressing disdain, "That kid is a rude brat. I recall the first day he invited me to his place. He subjected me to the worst humiliation of my life. I can never forget that day. Count me in; I'm ready to join and bring him down.”"While I don't hold a personal grudge against Asper, many of his allies are my enemies. Participating in this battle, I aim to indirectly confront my enemies.” Gradually, each person in the room consented to join the battle.Zale sat at the table's forefront, wearing a smile.Once he explained the purpose of the gathering, he observed as
About an hour or so later, Zale arrived at Oracle's estate.Zale went straight to his room the second he entered the mansion.He freshened up and changed his clothes. When he was done, he headed downstairs and had his breakfast.“Where were you last night, sir?” Leia inquired as they strolled out of the dining room.As usual, they were the only ones in the dining hall. Ace was said to have gone out of the mansion early in the morning.Zale chuckled mischievously. “Why, you miss me?”“Cough!” Leia feigned a cough and changed the subject.“Anyway, how did last night go?” She asked, curious.“If you're talking about your performance, I must admit; you did….” Zale began, but Leia cut in."Not that, sir. Ace has already filled me in on that a million times," Leia interjected with a pout. "You know what I'm referring to.”Zale paused as if thinking about it. “Are you by any chance asking about what happened between me and my girlfriend?” His smile had taken a mischievous glint.Leia let out
Zale headed straight back to Oracle’s estate. He needed to have a serious conversation with Ace.He couldn't wait any longer. Asper had begun his move and he wouldn't just sit back and watch.“Now I have stopped to think about it, what later happened to Adams? I didn't see him again last night. I guess the security threw him out. After all, he had attacked me,” Zale muttered, a mischievous smile playing on his lips.‘Does this mean others now know about me?’ Zale mused excitedly.It was pretty easy to guess; Adams wouldn't keep what he saw last night to himself.Zale made it pretty clear last night that he was the one behind all of Jenkins's misfortune, so Adams would most certainly not keep quiet about it.“I’m glad things turned out this way. Although I doubt Adams' words would be enough to convince them.” Zale seemed pleased by the fact that he stumbled upon Adams last night.He didn't plan to suddenly show up claiming to be the new chairman of Adair Group. To him, that wouldn't be
The atmosphere in the room shifted, with Oracle grappling with the unexpected revelation. Zale, still chuckling, tried to ease the tension."Well, Grandpa, surprise! We kept it low-key for a while," Zale said, grinning. He wanted to gauge his grandfather’s reaction.Oracle sighed, shaking his head. "You always find a way to keep me on my toes. I hope you're serious about this, Zale."Zale's smile softened. "I am, Grandpa. Maya means a lot to me."Oracle studied Zale for a moment, then nodded. "As long as you're sincere and treat her well, that's what matters."Zale was a little taken aback when he heard that. He was confused, more like shocked.He had expected the old man to be greatly against the relationship but that didn't seem to be the case.“Seriously?” Zale couldn't help it. “Are you really not against our relationship?” He didn't expect such an outcome.“I mean, why?” Oracle pretended not to know anything.Zale gave the old man a dry look. “You're very bad at acting. You shoul
Before long, Zale was ready to leave. He intended to head directly to his family mansion to visit his grandfather.“I will get going now, darling. Take care. I will call you later in the day.” Zale gently planted a kiss on Maya's forehead before he departed.Maya arranged a car to drive him there, therefore as soon as he arrived outside, he entered the car and left the mansion.Maya’s head guard, despite having the urge to wave at Zale while he was departing, had decided against it.What if all of this was a ploy to make him let his guard down? He couldn't help but think.“I have to be completely sure he isn't going to harm my young Miss. Only after then will I be at ease around him,” the head guard muttered to himself.The journey was long and full of silence. Adams was occupied with his thoughts, and thankfully, the driver wasn't interested in striking up a conversation with him either, so none bothered to say a word to each other.“I don't think I will be able to enter the Adair ma
The room fell into a stunned silence upon hearing Elsher's speculation about Zale's possible connection to Adair Group. The family members exchanged bewildered glances, grappling with the implications of this unexpected twist. Azazel, breaking the silence, furrowed his brows and questioned, "Adair Group? What does that have to do with our troubles?"Elsher, maintaining her composure, explained, "Adair Group has substantial influence and connections. If Zale is indeed associated with them, it explains how he gained the resources and power to orchestrate our downfall.”"I discovered that Ace is aligned with the Adair family when I was researching the mysterious chairman of the Adair Group. Consider this – why would Zale have any association with someone like Ace if they weren't collaborating? It raises questions, especially regarding our acceptance of a contract from Adair Group. After mysteriously losing the contract funds, they still extended a substantial loan to us. Have you ever w