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
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
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
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
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
Elijah moved faster than lightning. In an instant, he leaped across the restaurant, tackling Olivia to the ground just as the gunshot rang out. They fell hard, but it was enough to save her from being shot.Olivia’s body shook with fear, her wide eyes brimming with tears as she looked up at Elijah, her savior. The waiter, seeing his shot missed, vanished into the crowd, slipping through the chaos before anyone could stop him.A few people tried to chase him down, but he disappeared like a ghost, leaving only confusion and panic behind.Olivia was trembling, her breath shaky."Oh my God... James," she whispered, clutching Elijah’s arm."He was going to kill me. He was really going to kill me!"Elijah, still on high alert, wrapped his arms around her."You’re safe now," he said in a low voice, his eyes scanning the room for any other threats."I won’t let anything happen to you."The restaurant manager hurried over, clearly flustered by the situation."Sir, madam, please, let me offer
Elijah blinked as Olivia’s request hung in the air."James... can I see your face? Please..." she had asked again, her voice soft and filled with curiosity. Of course, she could see his face. It was lunch, and he had meticulously prepared for this very moment.He had worked on subtle changes to his appearance, especially from the nose to the chin, tweaking his features just enough to avoid anyone recognizing him as Elijah Norton. He was about to pull the mask from his face when Olivia’s phone rang, piercing through the tension in the room.Olivia flinched, her fingers frozen in mid-air."Oh, sorry, I should get this," she mumbled, stepping away as she glanced at the screen.Her eyes widened, and the color drained from her face as she answered. "Yes... this is Olivia Winter," she said, her voice wavering slightly. Elijah listened quietly, but his senses were on high alert. Something was wrong. "Wait—what? I was attacked? It’s all over the news already?" Olivia gasped, shooting a g
Inside the opulent halls of the Winters' Palace, tension crackled in the air. The news of Olivia's near-death experience had already spread, but instead of rushing to her side in concern, the family was far more preoccupied with something else—what her death could have meant for their empire.In the grand study, Olivia’s father, Gerald Winter, sat behind an expansive mahogany desk. His graying hair was slicked back, his piercing blue eyes sharp with worry, but not for Olivia. He drummed his fingers on the polished wood, deep in thought. William, his son, leaned against the fireplace, a glass of bourbon in his hand, swirling the liquid as he brooded."If Olivia had been killed today, our stock would have plummeted," William muttered, not bothering to look at his father."Do you realize how fragile her position makes us? She holds too much sway with the board."Kate, standing by the window, crossed her arms, her face twisted in annoyance."She’s a liability," she said coldly."Always ha
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