Elijah's mind was sharp, focused on the task ahead. He had left Doug in charge of monitoring Sophia’s safety, ensuring no traps could be sprung in his absence.
This was it—the final showdown with the Cobra.
His thoughts drifted to Sophia for a brief moment as he tightened the straps on his tactical gear.
She was healing, but he could still see the worry in her eyes.
The pain in her ribs had subsided, but the emotional wounds were still raw. It made him even more determined to end this—once and for all.
He glanced at the message on his phone again, the Cobra’s challenge burned into his mind.
Elijah entered the grand ballroom, his eyes scanning the crowd. The air was thick with wealth and power—two things he’d grown used to manipulating.As he walked through the elegant space, dressed in a sharp black suit and his “James Hamesworth” persona firmly in place, his mind was focused.Tonight wasn’t just about blending in—it was about playing the game with Olivia and the Winters.Olivia spotted him the moment he arrived. Her face lit up, and she glided toward him, her silk dress clinging to her curves.She was stunning, as always, but Elijah wasn’t here for that. His eyes remained cold, though he allowed a small, flirtatious smile to curl at the edges of his lips.“James,” she breathed, reaching out to touch his arm. “I was starting to think you wouldn’t come.”Elijah tilted his head, flashing her a charming grin.“I wouldn’t miss it, Olivia. After all, you promised me a surprise.”She laughed, a sound that might have fooled anyone else into thinking she was simply a woman in lo
Sophia stepped into the office building, the familiar scent of coffee and polished wood hitting her as she crossed the lobby.It had been weeks since she’d last been there, and while her physical wounds were healing, the emotional ones still lingered.Her ribs ached with every step, but it was nothing compared to the tightness in her chest at the thought of facing her family again.As she reached the top floor, the tension in her shoulders grew. The Donald family wasn’t known for its warmth, and after the phone call with her grandfather, Ethan, Sophia knew she wasn’t going to get a warm welcome.The moment she entered the boardroom, her grandfather’s sharp gaze landed on her.
Elijah stood in front of the large map spread across his desk, his sharp eyes scanning the different points of interest marked on it.The hunt for Alan Shaw had begun, and he knew exactly how to draw him out.The Shaws had lost everything—thanks to Elijah—and Kevin Shaw had made it his life’s mission to seek revenge.But Alan, Sophia’s ex-fiancé, was the one who would make the first move, and Elijah was ready to end this.Doug entered the room, closing the door quietly behind him."Marshal, we’ve confirmed Alan’s location. He’s been gathering a few loyal men. They’re planning something, but it’s unclear what exactly."Elijah’s jaw tightened. "It doesn’t matter. We strike first."Doug nodded, stepping closer to the desk. "He’s holed up at a warehouse outside the city. Not heavily guarded, but enough men to make things messy if we aren’t careful."Elijah’s eyes darkened. "We’ll lure him out. I want him isolated. This ends tonight."...Meanwhile, at Arthur Palace, Sophia lay on the couc
Elijah paced the length of his office at Arthur Palace, his mind racing. Alan Shaw was dead, but that wasn’t the end of it. Kevin Shaw, Alan’s father, was already plotting revenge, and this time, it wasn’t just a personal vendetta. It was something much bigger."Marshal," Doug said, stepping into the room."It’s confirmed. Kevin Shaw has been working with Duke West. They’re planning something big."Elijah stopped pacing and turned to face Doug, his jaw clenched. "What are we looking at?"Doug’s eyes were serious, his voice low. "Kevin’s filled with rage after Alan’s death. He wants your head, but it’s more than that now. Duke West is using Kevin’s anger to his advantage. They’ve mobilized a force—something much larger than just revenge. They’re coming for you, and they’re coming hard."Elijah’s fists tightened. "So, Kevin’s not just trying to avenge his son. He’s trying to reclaim his family’s lost honor.""Exactly," Doug replied."And Duke West sees this as an opportunity to weaken y
Elijah stood in the training hall of Arthur Palace, his eyes scanning the room as his team assembled.Doug was at his side, silent but prepared, as always. The time for the final confrontation had arrived.Kevin Shaw and Duke West had made their move, and now it was Elijah's turn to strike. He was ready to end this once and for all."Doug," Elijah said, his voice cold and focused, "make sure the perimeter is secure. I don’t want any surprises tonight."Doug nodded. "Understood, Marshal. We’ve got eyes everywhere. Kevin and Duke won’t know what hit them."Elijah tightened his gloves, the tension in his body coiling like a spring. "Good. It’s time to put an end to this."As Doug left to finalize the preparations, Elijah took a deep breath, thinking of Sophia. He had promised to protect her, and he would keep that promise, no matter what. But to do that, he needed to eliminate the threats once and for all....Meanwhile, at the Donald mansion, Sophia found herself in another argument wi
Elijah sat in his study, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the desk as he reviewed the information Doug had uncovered. The files scattered before him painted a grim picture.Duke West wasn’t just a simple rival—he was deeply embedded in the power structure of Evendore from the start. It was especially, being the competitive Marshals of South and West. And now, it seemed, he had old ties to the Winters, especially Olivia's family.Doug stood by Elijah’s side, pointing out the key connections."Marshal, it’s clear. Duke West has been working closely with the Winters for years, helping them expand their influence in ways we didn’t even suspect."Elijah's jaw tightened as he scanned the documents."I underestimated how far back this runs. Duke West has used these alliances to strengthen his grip while destabilizing anyone who threatens him.""Exactly," Doug said."We know now that his plan to eliminate you started long before Zack Shaw’s downfall. The Winters were just another piece in h
Elijah sat at his desk, the dim light casting shadows on the stacks of documents that surrounded him.For hours, he had been poring over old files, digging into the murky past of Mary Shaw and her false accusations that had once shattered the Norton family. But the deeper he looked, the more lies and manipulation he uncovered.The accusations Mary had made weren’t just a tool to discredit his grandfather—they were part of a larger conspiracy.All four major families had been involved, their hands dirty with deceit.Each one had played a role in bringing down the Nortons, weakening them so that they could seize control of the family's wealth and power.Elijah clenched his fists as he read through the details.His grandfather had been framed for a crime he didn’t commit, and the other families had worked together to destroy everything his family had built.Worse, Duke West’s rise to power had been directly linked to Mary Shaw’s lies. She had been a pawn, used to push Duke further into t
Elijah moved swiftly through the dark alleyways, his face obscured by a sleek black mask.The night was silent, but his mind was anything but. Tonight, he would confront Mary Shaw—the woman who had played a pivotal role in the destruction of the Norton family.She had lied about his grandfather, accusing him of crimes he hadn’t committed, and now Elijah needed the truth. Not for revenge alone, but to dismantle the alliances built on those lies.Arriving at a secluded warehouse, Elijah saw her waiting nervously by the door.Mary had been summoned, unaware of who would meet her. She came here due to the blackmailing messages from an unknown resource. When she saw the masked figure approaching, her fa