2024-09-22 02:01:38“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.
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The Unstoppable Dragon Marshal 24. The Veil of Shame
“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.As
The Unstoppable Dragon Marshal 25. Winters’ Unknown Move
"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
The Unstoppable Dragon Marshal 26. Behind the Mask
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 Unstoppable Dragon Marshal 27. A Carefully Laid Trap
Elijah walked beside Olivia, scanning the quiet, desolate street as they moved forward. The night was still, the only sound being the occasional rustle of leaves and their footsteps. Olivia kept glancing around nervously, clearly uneasy."It's strange, isn't it?" she muttered, looking up and down the road. "Not a single cab in sight. And my car...""It's okay," Elijah tried to be polite with his tone. "Don't worry. We'll find one soon."Just then, Elijah's phone buzzed in his pocket. He glanced at the screen—Sophia’s name flashed on it. He quickly cut the call, shoving the phone back in his pocket.Olivia raised an eyebrow. "Maybe it's important. You should answer."Elijah waved it off with a casual shrug. "It can wait. Right now, I’m making sure you’re safe."As if on cue, a cab finally appeared, slowing down beside them. Olivia sighed in relief as the cab came to a stop. She turned to Elijah, her eyes filled with gratitude."Thank you, James," she said softly. "You’ve been a real li
The Unstoppable Dragon Marshal 28. Sweet Disguise, Deadly Intent
Elijah ran a hand through his hair, trying to come up with an excuse for the grayish strands that Sophia had noticed."Maybe I brushed up against something, or it’s just some color that got in my hair," he said casually.Sophia raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile on her face."Or maybe you’re just aging, Elijah. Going gray already?"Elijah, for the first time in years, sulked and pouted slightly. He wasn’t used to being teased, especially not about something as simple as his hair. Sophia let out a soft giggle."Aww," she cooed, "look at you. Who would’ve thought that the mighty soldier could be this cute?"Elijah shot her a mock glare, though the corners of his lips turned up in a small smile."Cute, huh? That’s a first."Sophia leaned in and wrapped her arms around him, pulling him close. "Even tough soldiers can have their moments."They shared a quick but sweet cuddle, holding each other under the warm light of their bedroom.Sophia, content and at peace, soon drifted off to sleep i
The Unstoppable Dragon Marshal 29. Seeds of Deception
Elijah stared at his phone screen, the message burning in his mind. It was from an anonymous source, but the content was clear. The Winters were making moves—faster than expected. Not just William, but even those loyal to him were plotting to claim everything that once belonged to the Shaws."But who can message me?" He thought in mind but it was a later concern.He leaned back in his chair, fingers tapping lightly on the armrest.~'They really think they can get ahead of me, huh?'He wasn’t just up against William Winter now. He was up against an entire network of people who would stop at nothing to rise to power. But that didn’t bother him. In fact, it excited him.As he continued to process the information, his phone buzzed again. This time, it was a reminder of the lunch invitation from Olivia Winter. A smirk crossed his lips when he dropped a message to her about joining a lunch with her."She’s going to play right into my hands."He rose from his chair, stepping toward the windo
The Unstoppable Dragon Marshal 30. Shadows of Ambition
Duke West stood by the large window of his study, overlooking the vast estate that spread out below. His cold gaze took in the sight of his guards patrolling the grounds, but his mind was far from focused on his security. His thoughts were consumed by one man—Elijah Norton.The rumors swirling about Elijah’s involvement in the downfall of the Shaw family had reached his ears. Duke West didn’t have all the details, but he had enough to suspect that Elijah wasn’t just interested in the Nortons’ reputation. No, it was clear that Elijah was after something far bigger. "Marshal Elijah Norton," Duke muttered, his lips curling into a bitter sneer.Standing beside him was Marcus, his most trusted advisor. A former soldier who had served under Duke for years, Marcus had always been reliable. Now, he stood silently, waiting for orders."Sir, do you truly believe Elijah Norton is behind the collapse of the Shaw family?" Marcus asked cautiously, his voice low.Duke turned his sharp gaze to Marcu
The Unstoppable Dragon Marshal 31. The Perfect Trap
Kate paced angrily in front of her father’s desk, her hands balled into fists."I can’t believe you’re just sitting here and doing nothing!" she snapped, her voice tight with frustration."Sophia and her idiot husband embarrassed me in front of everyone, and you’re planning to collaborate with them?"William Winter sat behind his desk, calm and composed. He glanced at his daughter’s outburst but remained unfazed."Kate, you need to understand the bigger picture," he said coolly."Lando Yale is backing Sophia. His influence stretches far beyond ours, and if we want to maintain our standing, we need to play smart. Going after Sophia directly will only backfire."Kate scoffed, crossing her arms. "So, what’s your grand plan, Father? Let them walk all over us?"A small smile played on William’s lips. "No. My plan is simple: we make sure Sophia loses Lando’s favor. Once we do that, she’ll be worthless to him, and we’ll replace her." Kate’s eyes gleamed with a dark excitement."So, we kick
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330. The Price of Power
“Elijah! Can you hear me?” Doug’s voice was hoarse, barely cutting through the howling wind.Elijah groaned, his body half-buried in the snow. His limbs ached, and his head throbbed from the impact. He forced himself upright, shaking off the dizziness. The avalanche had separated them from the others, leaving nothing but a wasteland of ice and silence.“I’m here,” Elijah rasped, wiping blood from his forehead.Doug exhaled in relief and moved toward him, limping slightly. “Thank the gods. I thought you were buried alive.”Elijah steadied himself and scanned their surroundings. The sheer cliffs stretched endlessly, s
329. Into the Storm
“This is madness,” Lando muttered, tightening his cloak against the bitter wind. “A frozen death trap waiting to swallow us whole.” “No other way,” Elijah said, his voice firm as he led the group through the narrow path. The wind howled through the ravine, a brutal force against their already exhausted bodies. Doug kept pace beside him, eyes scanning the ridges above. “Marshal, we’re exposed here. Too easy to ambush.” Elijah knew he was right. The walls of ice loomed over them like towering prison bars, offering no cover. Every step forward felt like an invitation for an attack. Sophia shivered, pulling her arms tightly around herself. The cold was relentless, seeping through her bones. Her body still ached from the last fight, her mind even more so. She could feel the power inside her, restless and hungry. Cassian trailed behind, checking their back. “No movement yet. But it’s too quiet.” “Always is,” Lando said grimly. “Right before the knife sinks in.” The wind picked
328. The Hunt Never Ends
“We need to keep moving,” Elijah said firmly, scanning the horizon. The cold night stretched endlessly before them, the distant howling of wolves blending with the wind. Doug adjusted his rifle and nodded. “Yes, Marshal. But they’re gaining on us. We can’t keep running forever.” Sophia, leaning against a rock for support, tried to steady her breathing. The escape had drained her. The battle had taken more than just her strength—it had carved something dark inside her, something she wasn’t sure she could control. Lando let out a dry chuckle. “Oh, we could keep running. But it won’t matter. The Warden isn’t hunting us.” He tilted his head toward Sophia. “He’s hunting her.” Elijah’s eyes darkened, but he didn’t take the bait. “And yet, here you are, running with us.” Lando smirked. “Self-preservation. The Warden isn’t the forgiving type.” Doug shot him a glare but stayed silent. The tension was thick, but they had bigger problems. Their pursuers weren’t far. Cassian returne
327. No Way Back
“They’re everywhere!” Doug shouted, firing off a round as he ducked behind a broken tree. Elijah gritted his teeth, his sword slicing through one of the Warden’s men. The ambush had been fast—too fast. They had barely taken a breath before the enemy forces had surrounded them, cutting off every possible escape route. Sophia moved beside him, her breathing heavy. For the first time since her capture, she was fighting at his side. Her hands trembled, energy crackling at her fingertips. It felt different now—stronger, wilder. “I can stop this,” she murmured. Elijah blocked a strike, shoving an attacker back with sheer force. “Not like that,” he snapped. She met his gaze, frustration and fear warring inside her. “If I don’t, we’ll die.” Lando’s voice cut through the chaos. “She’s right.” He crouched beside Cassian, both of them covering Doug’s flank. “The only way out of this is a full-scale wipeout. And she’s the only one who can do it.” Elijah’s jaw tightened. “Absolutely
326. Reunion in the Dark
“She’s here!” Doug’s voice cut through the silence, his breath visible in the cold night air. Elijah rushed forward, his boots crunching against the ice-covered ground. The dim moonlight barely illuminated the small clearing where Sophia lay motionless in the snow. She was barely breathing. His heart clenched. He had imagined this moment over and over—the moment he’d finally find her. But not like this. Not pale and broken, her clothes torn, her body trembling. Elijah dropped to his knees beside her, his gloved hand brushing her cheek. “Sophia.” His voice was low, urgent. “Wake up.” A flicker of movement—her eyelids fluttered open. Her golden-brown eyes locked onto his, but something was different. There was a strange glow beneath their depths, something unnatural. “Elijah…” Her voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper. “I’m here,” he murmured, his grip tightening around her freezing hand. “You’re safe now.” Behind him, Cassian shifted uneasily. “Marshal… we need to be c
325. Blood in the Snow
“I won’t die here.”Sophia muttered the words through gritted teeth, pushing forward through the biting wind. Snow whipped against her face, the freezing air seeping into her bones. Her legs felt like lead, her breath came in ragged gasps, but she couldn’t stop. Stopping meant death.Her body ached, every step a battle. She had lost count of how many hours she had been running, how many times she had stumbled through the endless white expanse. The world around her was eerily silent, save for the distant howling of the wind.And the hunters were getting closer.She could feel them. Even without seeing them, she knew they were near. The Warden’s creations—twisted monsters with enhanced speed, strength, and senses far beyond human capabilities. They had been bred for one purpose: to track and kill.And right now, they were tracking her.A branch snapped somewhere behind her.Sophia spun, her breath catching in her throat.Nothing.Just the trees, standing tall and lifeless, their blacken
324. Unlikely Allies
“Elijah Norton.” Elijah barely looked up as Lando strode into the dimly lit war room. His hands tightened into fists at the sound of the man’s voice, but he remained still, his expression unreadable. The tension in the air was suffocating. Doug stepped forward, his voice rigid with contempt. “You’ve got some nerve showing your face here, Yale.” Lando smirked, completely unfazed. He moved with an air of confidence, like he belonged—like he hadn’t been one of the reasons Sophia had been taken in the first place. “I could say the same to you, Commander,” Lando replied smoothly, then turned his gaze back to Elijah. “I assume you know why I’m here.” Elijah’s eyes darkened. “That depends. Are you here to waste my time, or do you actually have something useful to say?” Lando chuckled, but there was no humor in it. “Straight to the point, as always.” He folded his arms, leaning slightly against the table. “Sophia has escaped.” Silence. Elijah’s fingers twitched, but his expres
323. The Chase Begins
“She’s gone.” The soldier stood stiffly, his breath shallow, waiting for The Warden’s reaction. The silence stretched between them, heavy and suffocating. But instead of rage, The Warden merely smiled. His eyes, sharp and knowing, gleamed under the dim light. “Let her run,” he said, his voice smooth, almost amused. The soldier hesitated. “Sir, should we—” The Warden’s gaze flicked to him, freezing him in place. “She thinks she’s free,” he murmured, turning toward the massive map stretched across the wall. “But freedom is an illusion. She will learn that soon enough.” ...Sophia ran. Branches slashed at her arms, her legs ached, and every breath was a fight. But she didn’t stop. She couldn’t. The cold night air burned her lungs, but it was nothing compared to the fear clawing at her chest. She had heard them. The hunters. They were coming. The eerie silence of the forest was the worst part. No birds. No rustling leaves. Just the whisper of the wind and her own rag
322. Breaking Point
“Do you see it now, Sophia?” The Warden’s voice was calm, almost soothing. “This is who you are meant to be.” Sophia gasped, her body trembling. The air around her pulsed with raw energy, crackling like a storm barely contained. The sterile white chamber seemed to shift, bending under the sheer force radiating from her. “No,” she whispered, shaking her head. “This… isn’t me.” The Warden watched her with a knowing smile. “But it is.” Sophia’s breaths came shallow and fast. Moments ago, she had been strapped to a machine, her mind forced into visions—visions of fire, destruction, and a power beyond her control. She had seen herself standing atop a ruined city, people kneeling before her in fear. Her hands curled into fists. “You forced this,” she spat. “You’re making me see what you want.” The Warden folded his hands behind his back. “I only unlocked what was already inside you.” Sophia wanted to deny it. To scream that he was wrong. But the lingering heat in her veins, th
