Chapter One

Inside a large hall, about two hundred or more students sat, staring at the man dressed in a neatly ironed charcoal suit. His jet-black hair was smoothly brushed back with a few strands falling over his face. Adrian Vale calmly wrote a sentence across the whiteboard before placing the marker down.

"Leadership," he began, "isn't about making the smartest decision. It's about making the right decision even when every option comes with a price." 

His voice was deep and steady, echoing through the hall. No one dared to interrupt him.

He was the only lecturer no student dared to go against because unlike the other lecturers, Adrian never raised his voice, he was calm and his composure alone commanded attention. 

"Imagine you're the CEO of a company facing bankruptcy," he continued. "You have enough funds to save only one department. Which do you choose?"

Many students rose their hands. In the end, he picked a female student sitting in the first line.

"The sales department," the lady answered confidently. "Without sales, the company can't survive."

Adrian nodded his head. "Reasonable," he said and nodded to another student.

"The finance department," the young man replied.

"And why is that?" Adrian asked him.

"Because they control the company's wealth," the young man replied.

"well, for today's lesson, you're both wrong," he said while smiling faintly.

"What!"

"How come!"

"Is he being serious?"

The students whispered through the hall.

Adrian walked away from the podium, his hands in his pockets.

"The first thing a leader saves isn't a department," he said and paused for a second or two. "It's the people capable of rebuilding everything else."

"Interesting..." One student muttered.

The lecture continued until the bell rang.

"That's all for today," Adrian said.

The students closed their books immediately and began to leave the class one after the other until the class was empty.

Adrian remained behind, organizing his notes.

"Here you are."

Adrian looked up, a man was standing in front of the podium, hands in his pockets. Seeing the man, he frowned.

"What are you doing here?" 

"It's been five years. Everyone thought you were dead," the man said. "Who would believe that you are here hiding under the umbrella of a fake identity."

"Why are you here?" Adrian asked, remaining untouched by the man's words.

"Isn't it obvious, Mr. Adrian... Or better still, Shadow, like you are fondly called."

Adrian looked around immediately, it was just the two of them.

The man smirked. "Are you worried that someone might hear us? No one will and if someone eventually does, I'll..." The man paused.

"You will do what?" Adrian asked him, raising an eyebrow. 

"Nothing," the man said and began to laugh.

Adrian waited until the man had had enough before standing up.

"It's been five years already like you said and I love my life here. I do not wish to go back to the past."

The man hearing this, scoffed. "You think you can forget about the past so soon? That's impossible because that is who you are. A killer will always be a killer, it is who you are. You've shed blood a lot both the guilty and innocent alike. What makes you think the organization will leave you once they find out that you are still alive? You're dreaming."

"So what do you intend to do?" Adrian asked him. "Go tell them that I am alive somewhere? If that's what you want, go ahead. But I will never go back to the past."

Adrian carried his books and made to leave but the man's next words made him stop in his tracks.

"Little Devil is back."

****

In another part of the city, Ethan Sinclair was having a discussion with his mother Evelyn Sinclair, the president of Sinclair Entertainment Industry. The company was named after his father because he was the founder. Even after his untimely death, his wife Evelyn refuses to change the name no matter how much pressure she gets from the board of directors and the public too.

"Mom, I've told you many times, I don't care about the family's business. I want to become a writer, not some president or whatever," Ethan grumbled before his mother.

Ethan has been spoilt right from his birth. His parents showered him with so much love, giving him everything and anything he needed. Though not the only child, but he was doted on more than his elder brother, Jeremy.

 Because of how he was spoilt rotten, he grew up becoming rebellious and stubborn. Not only that, his grades were so poor because he doesn't want to be serious with his studies.

"But you are the heir to the company, it's your right and you must do it," Evelyn said, trying her best to be calm.

Ethan frowned. "Jeremy is there, he can do it. Besides, he is the eldest, it is his duty to take over the family's business not mine."

Evelyn frowned at the mention of Jeremy. "You can say whatever you want, Ethan. But the family's business is yours to take over, not anyone's." She stood up and left the parlor, returning to her room immediately.

Ethan sighed and also got up, but instead of going to his room, he picked up his car keys and left the house.

Outside the large house, Ethan walked over to the black sports car parked at the corner. He climbed in, and drove off instantly. It was night but he didn't care.

Ethan is a university student, studying business law and management, just to please his family, his mother most especially. Ever since her husband died tragically, she has constantly pushed Ethan into the family's business, against his own will. 

Ethan never lacked anything but the only thing he loved, his mother would not let him do it.

Soon, he arrived at a hospital building with a large inscription 'St Louis Hospital' boldly written above it.

He parked well, and came down from his car. Then he pulled out his phone and dialed a number but even after many rings, no one picked up. While frowning, he entered the hospital. 

He walked past the receptionist, and went straight to where doctor offices were. He got to one particular office but before he could get closer, a nurse stopped him.

"Sir, Doctor Martins is busy. Can't see anybody for now."

Ethan paused. He turned to look at the nurse who had just stopped him.

"Are you new here? Who are you?" He asked her.

"Yes sir, I am new but —"

"Then I'll let it slide," he said and made to walk past her but she blocked his path. This made him stunned.

"With all due respect sir, I don't want to lose my job."

"You are going to still lose it either way. Out of my way!" Ethan said and pushed the nurse aside.

He grabbed the door and opened it. But froze the moment he stepped into the office.