"How could I have let this happen?"Elijah muttered to himself, his eyes fixed on the fresh wounds on Sophia’s face.Her once-smooth skin was now marred with cuts and bruises, a painful reminder of Zack Shaw’s brutality.Sophia lay unconscious on the bed in Arthur Palace, her chest rising and falling unevenly.Sweat beaded on her forehead, her skin pale and clammy.She was burning with fever, her lips quivering as she muttered in her sleep, "Please… no more… Zack, please…"Each word felt like a dagger to Elijah's heart.Guilt surged through him as he dipped a cloth into a bowl of cold water, gently pressing it to her forehead."I should’ve been there," he whispered."I should’ve protected you."Sophia flinched in her sleep, her hands twitching as though trying to fend off invisible attackers.Her soft whimpers filled the room, haunting Elijah.Every sound she made was a reminder of his failure.He reached into his jacket and pulled out a small vial of golden liquid—a precious elixir he
Elijah stood in the dimly lit kitchen, pouring himself a cup of coffee. He savored the moment of calm, the rich aroma filling the air as he stirred the steaming liquid.Suddenly, a soft, fearful voice called out from the other room."Elijah…"He froze, the spoon clattering to the counter.Without hesitation, he rushed toward the sound, his heart pounding.Sophia's voice was fragile, like a broken bird’s song. When Elijah entered the room, he found her sitting up in bed, her face pale with worry.Her hands trembled as she clutched the sheets.“Sophia, what’s wrong?” Elijah asked, his voice low with concern, immediately sitting by her side.He reached out, gently taking her trembling hand."I… I’ve brought too much trouble on you," she whispered, her eyes filled with fear."The Shaw family… they’ll never stop until they destroy us. You need to leave, Elijah. Divorce me, leave the city. Save yourself."Elijah's chest tightened at her words.He looked into her tear-filled eyes, feeling a
The next day Elijah took Sophia on a long drive to lighten her mood. But nothing was working.“Why are you so quiet, Sophia?” Elijah asked softly, glancing at her as they drove through the streets of Arthurton.Sophia sat in the passenger seat, her gaze fixed on the passing scenery.Her eyes were distant, filled with sadness."I’ve lost everything," she whispered."My family... I don’t belong anywhere anymore."Elijah clenched the steering wheel, his knuckles turning white. He hated seeing her like this—broken, defeated.“You still have me,” he said firmly.“We’ll fix this. Together.”Sophia turned to him, her eyes glistening with tears.“I don’t know, Elijah... I don’t think my family will ever accept me again.”Elijah’s jaw tightened.He didn’t care much for the Donald family’s approval, but he knew how much they meant to Sophia.And for that reason, he’d make sure they regretted turning their backs on her.“We’re going to see Ethan,” Elijah said, his voice steady.“They don’t deser
"Look at this place!"Reno's eyes widened as he and Hague stepped out of their car, staring up at the massive, luxurious Arthur Palace in disbelief.Hague whistled under his breath, shaking his head."This is where Sophia lives now? I knew things were going well for her, but this..."He trailed off, his face turning sour with jealousy.Reno scoffed, crossing his arms as he glared at the palace."No way she earned this on her own. She must be getting help from someone like Lando Yale. Otherwise, how could she afford this mansion?"His voice dripped with contempt."And to think she’s the one getting special treatment in business while we’re left begging her to come back."Hague nodded, still looking at the palace."Whatever deal she’s struck, it doesn’t matter. We’re here to bring her back to the family, no matter what."They exchanged a look, then marched up to the grand entrance.A butler opened the door, and they stepped inside, their shoes tapping against the marble floor as they we
“Please, Sophia,” Hague said, his voice uncharacteristically soft as he stood at the entrance of Arthur Palace.Reno was beside him, looking anything but proud. “We need you to come back to the family.”Sophia crossed her arms, her expression cold.“And why should I believe either of you? After the way you treated me, you expect me to just walk back in?” she scoffed.Reno glanced away, his jaw clenched in frustration, but he said nothing. He knew that arrogance wouldn’t help them now.The tides had turned, and they were at Sophia’s mercy. “Sophia, you brought back 15% of the company shares?” her brother exclaimed, his eyes wide with disbelief.His hand trembled on the door handle, and he immediately stepped aside.“Come in, come in! I didn’t realize… I didn’t know you’d be able to do that.”Sophia hesitated for a moment, feeling the sudden shift in her brother’s attitude. Moments ago, he had practically slammed the door in her face, but now, his tone dripped with fake warmth.He led them inside, a grin plastered on his face.“I knew you’d come through for the family, Sophia,” he said, his voice oily.“This changes everything. We’ll be able to afford that new car I’ve been eyeing for months.” He rubbed his hands together, already lost in thoughts of luxury.Sophia bit her lip, uncomfortable with the sudden attention. Just moments before, she had been on the brink of being kicked out, and now, her brother couldn’t hide his greed. She looked over at Elijah, who gave her a nod, silently encouraging her to remain steady.AsThe Unstoppable Dragon Marshal 24. The Veil of Shame
"You dare lay a hand on me?!" Kate's voice echoed through the restaurant, her cheek flushed red from the slap Elijah had delivered.The entire room fell silent, all eyes on the unfolding confrontation. Elijah stood tall, his face cold and unreadable, while Sophia, still sitting, clenched her hands in her lap, her eyes filled with shame and pain.She could feel the stares on her scarred face, the murmurs of disgust spreading through the room like wildfire. "You’ve disgraced my family in front of the entire city!" Kate hissed, her eyes burning with fury.She stepped back, nursing her wounded pride as if it had been shattered beyond repair.Elijah’s gaze didn’t waver."You should think twice before attacking someone defenseless, Kate," he said, his voice low but sharp enough to slice through the tension in the air.Kate’s expression twisted into a sneer."Defenseless? That scarred face of hers deserves it!" she spat. "And mark my words, Elijah, this isn’t over. My family won’t forget t
Doug stepped closer before he continued, his expression dark."They’re trying to take over what’s left of the Shaw family's assets—particularly the Lava Heart. The Winters have already started absorbing the Shaw family's business connections, and William Winter got his sights set on the Nortons’ heirloom."Elijah’s eyes flashed with anger at the mention of the Lava Heart. "That belongs to the Norton family," he muttered, his hands tightening into fists. "The Shaws stole it. I was going to take it back."Doug nodded. "And now the Winters are moving in. Kate’s been going around bragging that soon, the Lava Heart will belong to the Winters."Elijah’s jaw clenched, his thoughts racing. "Additionally, Sophia isn't safe either. Kate won’t stop until she gets what she wants," he muttered. "And William Winter won’t let this slide. He won’t let anyone get away with slapping his daughter in public."Doug’s eyes flickered with unease. "You made a powerful enemy today, Marshal. William Winter isn
The early morning air was tense at Arthur Palace. Elijah stood in the strategy room, Doug by his side, their attention locked on a detailed map of Evendore. Red circles and lines crisscrossed the map, each marking a key point in the shadow organization’s network.“Marshal,” Doug began, his tone serious, “our intelligence confirms the syndicate is operating through multiple fronts. Their most critical assets are hidden in plain sight—financial hubs, trade routes, and even political offices.”Elijah’s jaw tightened as he studied the map. “If we take out these points, we’ll cut off their power at its roots. But they won’t go down without a fight.”Doug nodded. “I&rs
Elijah sat in the study at Arthur Palace, the room dimly lit as he sifted through the documents Doug had recovered. Each piece of evidence painted a picture of a meticulously orchestrated campaign against the Nortons, with threads reaching back generations. The identity of the shadow organization’s leader remained elusive, but their motivations were beginning to surface. Doug entered the room, his expression grave. “Marshal, I think we’ve got something. The leader’s been operating under the alias ‘The Arbiter,’ but there’s more. They’ve been manipulating Evendore’s key players for decades, and it all seems to trace back to a grudge against your family.” Elijah looked up, his jaw tightening. “A grudge? What kind of grudge, Doug?” Doug placed a folder on the table. “It seems their family fell from grace generations ago, and they blame the Nortons for it. Financial ruin, social exile—it’s all tied to decisions made by your ancestors.” Elijah leaned back, his mind racing. “And now
Elijah sat in his study at Arthur Palace, the atmosphere thick with tension. The assassin’s sigil was etched into his mind, a symbol that held too many unanswered questions. Doug entered quietly, carrying a folder of findings.“Marshal, we’ve recovered items from the assassin’s possession,” Doug said, placing the folder on the table. “There’s a map with marked locations and some coded notes. All of it points to connections with Evendore’s elite.”Elijah leaned forward, his piercing gaze fixed on the documents. “Elite? Are we talking about government officials or high-ranking businessmen?”“Both,” Doug replied. “It seems this shadow group has infiltrated eve
Elijah stood by the window, staring out at the city as the first rays of sunlight pierced the skyline. Doug entered quietly, his steps deliberate.“Marshal, we’ve confirmed movement from the assassin,” Doug said, holding a tablet displaying surveillance footage. “They’ve been seen near the eastern district. Likely scouting routes to get closer to Mrs. Norton.”Elijah turned, his expression grim. “Then we don’t have much time. Keep all units on standby, and double the security around Sophia.”Doug nodded. “Already done, sir.”Just then, Sophia entered the room, her presence immediately commanding at
Elijah stood in the dimly lit room, his arms crossed as he stared down the double agent. The man sat in a chair, bound but not entirely subdued. His eyes flickered nervously between Elijah and Doug, who stood a few steps behind, his usual stoic demeanor replaced with barely concealed disdain.“You’ve got one chance to explain yourself,” Elijah said, his voice low and sharp. “Start talking.”The man licked his lips, his hands trembling. “They came to me months ago. I didn’t know who they were at first, just that they had resources and reach. They knew everything about my family. They threatened to kill them if I didn’t cooperate.”Sophia, standing by the wall, narrowed her eyes. &l
Elijah stood by the window of his study, his gaze fixed on the city lights below. His phone buzzed on the desk, its insistent vibration breaking the heavy silence. He picked it up, glancing at the unknown number flashing across the screen. “Elijah Norton,” he answered coolly. A distorted voice crackled through the line. “Marshal, your meddling has gone too far. Stand down, or you’ll lose everything you hold dear.” Elijah’s grip on the phone tightened. “Who are you?” The voice chuckled, low and menacing. “A representative of balance. Walk away, and you might salvage what’s left. Continue, and Sophia Norton will pay the price.” Elijah’s jaw clenched. “If you touch her, I’ll burn your entire operation to the ground. You’ve made a mistake coming after my family.” The voice laughed again before the line went dead. Doug entered the study moments later, his expression tense. “Marshal, we’ve intercepted chatter about a potential breach at Mrs. Norton’s office. I’ve dispatched a
Elijah sat in his study, the mysterious crest resting on the desk before him. Its foreign symbol gleamed under the soft light, mocking him with its ambiguity. Doug stood nearby, his hands clasped behind his back, watching his Marshal’s every movement.“This symbol,” Elijah murmured, tracing it with his finger, “it doesn’t belong to any known family in Evendore. It’s deliberate—meant to confuse and provoke.”Doug cleared his throat. “Sir, I’ve been digging into the archives and surveillance logs. It’s tied to an organization that operates outside Evendore’s jurisdiction. They’re elusive—an umbrella for various power players.”Elijah’s eyes
Evendore was alive with celebration. The city’s streets were flooded with joy, music, and laughter, a stark contrast to the chaos of recent months. Nathaniel Thompson’s defeat had brought relief to the people, and for the first time in what felt like ages, there was hope in the air. But inside Arthur Palace, Elijah Norton felt anything but peace. In his study, Elijah stood by the window, gazing at the flickering city lights. His hand rested on the Norton crest engraved into his desk, his fingers tracing the design absentmindedly. The room was dimly lit, the only sounds the crackling of the fireplace and the faint hum of the celebration outside. “Marshal.” Doug’s voice broke the silence as he entered the study. In his hand was a dossier filled with intelligence reports. “The situation is more complicated than we hoped.” Elijah turned to face him, his expression unreadable but his eyes sharp. “Let me guess—Nathaniel’s shadow still lingers?” Doug nodded grimly. “Yes, sir. We’ve i
The air around Nathaniel’s hideout was heavy with tension. Elijah, Sophia, and Doug stood at the entrance of the compound, their determination palpable. The Lava’s Heart was within reach, but so was Nathaniel’s final gambit."Marshal," Doug said, his voice low but firm, "our team is in position. We’ll cover you and Mrs. Norton from all sides."Elijah nodded, his eyes fixed on the sprawling structure ahead. "This ends today," he said, his voice steady but laced with resolve.Sophia stepped closer to him, her hand brushing his. "Whatever happens, I’m with you, Elijah," she said softly, her eyes filled with unwavering support.Elijah tu