Elijah stood by Sophia’s bedside, his grip tight on the phone. He stared down at her unconscious form, the soft rise and fall of her chest a stark contrast to the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside him.The oxygen mask covering her face made her look so fragile, and yet, he knew how strong she was. She had survived this far. But now it was his turn to fight for her."Marshal... what’s your command?" the voice on the other end of the line echoed again, slightly nervous. The man clearly didn’t want to get on Elijah’s bad side.Elijah’s eyes narrowed. "I want you to find out who ordered the hit on my wife. Spare no resources. I want a name, and I want it fast. Fail me, and you’ll regret it."There was a gulp on the other end of the line, followed by an immediate, “Yes, Marshal. I’ll begin the investigation right away.”Elijah hung up the phone without another word and turned his attention back to Sophia. His hand lingered over her head, his fingers brushing lightly over her hair. Ther
The soft beeping of machines was the only sound in the room as Elijah stood over Sophia’s fragile form, watching her as she remained unconscious. Her face was pale, her body still, save for the shallow rise and fall of her chest.The sight of her covered in bandages, her face marked with scars from the glass, and her arms wrapped in casts from multiple fractures, tore at him. Elijah clenched his jaw, fighting to keep the rage building inside him under control.Just then, Sophia’s phone buzzed on the table beside her. He glanced at the screen and saw the name: "~Ethan Donald". Her grandfather.His eyes narrowed, and he quickly silenced the phone. There was no time to deal with Ethan now. He had bigger problems to handle, and none of them involved the Donald family.Turning back to Sophia, Elijah carefully adjusted the medical equipment he’d set up in the room. It wasn’t just hospital-grade care—it was something far more advanced, something only a man with his knowledge and skills could
"Kate Winter," Elijah replied coldly, his voice carrying the weight of the decision he had just made.Doug nodded, his eyes dark with understanding."It’s time for her to face what she deserves," Doug said quietly, already preparing to leave.Elijah watched Doug for a moment before turning back to Sophia. He bent down closer to her, brushing a strand of hair away from her face."My own revenge is there for sure," he muttered softly, "but I won’t neglect you for that."His hand lingered on her cheek for a moment longer before he stood up and made his way to the small lab he had set up in the corner of the room.There were herbs, tinctures, and medical equipment scattered on the table. He began mixing the herbs in a precise order, his mind focused on creating a customized medicine that would help Sophia heal faster.He crushed the leaves of a rare plant and added them to the concoction, the smell of the mixture filling the room. The sound of boiling liquid bubbled softly, calming in the
Elijah stood at the door, his sharp eyes narrowing as he saw who had come from the Donald family.It was Jack Donald—Ethan’s second son and Sophia’s uncle. A man with little presence in the family, Jack was known for his weak disposition and his reluctance to speak up in family matters.He had always stayed in the shadows, with no significant role in the Donald empire. Unlike his brother, Hague, who was arrogant and cunning, Jack was different—quieter, softer."Mr. Jack Donald," Elijah said, his tone neutral, though the tension in the air was unmistakable."What brings you here?"Jack shifted awkwardly on his feet, rubbing the back of his neck. His eyes were downcast, and he seemed to be struggling to find his words."I... I wanted to check on Sophia," Jack finally muttered."I heard about her accident, and I just... wanted to see how she’s doing."Elijah studied Jack carefully. He had never been openly hostile toward Sophia, and in truth, he was one of the few Donald family members w
The night had already settled deep over Arthur Palace when Elijah returned.The sky was an inky black, moonlight barely peeking through the thick clouds.He entered silently, his footsteps soft against the marble floor as he made his way upstairs.His mind was filled with the satisfaction of the night’s events, but the dark shadow of concern for Sophia loomed larger than his vengeance. He stepped into Sophia’s room, where the soft beeping of machines echoed against the stillness.Elijah’s eyes fell on her frail form, still unconscious but showing slight signs of improvement.Her breathing was steadier, and her color had returned to a shade closer to normal. He approached her bedside, checking her vitals once more. "You're fighting," he whispered, brushing a loose strand of hair from her forehead. "Good. Keep fighting."Elijah sat down by her side, the weight of the past weeks pressing on him.He had done everything he could—used every ounce of his medical knowledge, every herb, ever
Elijah stood by the window of the room, staring at the darkened sky.The photograph of the mysterious man—cloaked in shadow, lurking near Sophia—was spread out on the desk in front of him. His thoughts raced, but his face remained an impenetrable mask of calm.“We need to find him, Doug,” Elijah said, his voice low and cold.“Whoever this is, he’s linked to the syndicate, and he’s watching Sophia. I want him found, no matter the cost.”Doug, standing at attention beside him, nodded.“We’ve already increased the surveillance around Arthur Palace, Marshal,” Doug replied. “I’ve also put more men on Sophia’s protection detail. No one gets near her without us knowing.”Elijah’s jaw tightened. "Good. But I want more than just eyes. Set up traps, gather intelligence. If he slips up, I want to be there to crush him."Doug nodded again, his eyes reflecting the same steely determination. "Consider it done, sir."As Doug turned to leave, Elijah’s phone buzzed on the desk. The name ~Olivia Winter
Elijah walked into the upscale restaurant, the dim lighting and quiet hum of conversation creating an air of exclusivity.He was dressed in his carefully crafted disguise as ~James Hamesworth, his hair slightly longer grayish, his beard neatly trimmed to give him a rugged but polished look, additionally, his makeup was set like his previous meetings with Olivia.His clothes— a tailored dark suit with an open-collared shirt—fit the persona perfectly, adding to the mystery he projected. As he entered, his sharp eyes scanned the room. Olivia Winter sat at a corner table, dressed in an elegant black dress that hugged her figure. Her hair was pulled back in a sleek bun, and her makeup was immaculate, emphasizing her sharp features and ice-blue eyes.She saw him immediately and waved, her smile warm and almost seductive.“James,” she called him with a light laugh, standing to greet him with a kiss on the cheek.Her perfume lingered in the air, sweet and intoxicating.“You look dashing, as
Elijah sat in his study, the dim light casting long shadows across the room. His eyes were locked on the small tracker he’d pulled from his car.The device was sleek, professional—far too advanced to be some run-of-the-mill gadget. He knew it had to be connected to something bigger. He pulled out his laptop, connecting the tracker to a secure line. His fingers moved swiftly over the keyboard, running the signal through multiple encryption layers.As the minutes ticked by, the screen filled with information, slowly tracing the tracker’s origin.Elijah’s face hardened as the results came in.The signal led back to a syndicate—a notorious group with ties to none other than Zack Shaw and the underground network he had once ruled.It was becoming clear that this was the same group responsible for Sophia’s attack and the threats against her life.His phone buzzed, breaking his concentration. It was Doug.“Marshal,” Doug’s voice came through, calm but urgent.“I’ve been digging into the tra
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