Mag-log inThe next morning, Sylvia woke up in high spirits. She twirled around her room, practically dancing as she got ready to meet Crain. Before leaving, she checked her reflection in the mirror with a dark, satisfied smirk."This is the day he meets his end," she whispered, letting out a quiet, manic laugh.She left the house, intending to travel on her own rather than taking one of the family drivers. However, Reiner, who was stationed outside on Damien's direct orders, spotted her and stepped into her path."Good morning, Ms. Sylvia," Reiner said politely but firmly. "I was instructed to drive you to see your mother."Panic flickered in Sylvia's eyes. She began to stammer, caught completely off guard. "N-no, there's really no need for that. I can take a cab."Reiner gave her a calm but unyielding look. "I insist, ma'am. You'll get there much faster if I drive you."With no way to refuse without raising his suspicion, she swallowed her anxiety, forced a tight smile, and followed him toward
Anna hurried into Damien’s study, as soon as she was informed he was calling for her, her face pale and her eyes wide with desperate hope. She rushed over to the desk, her hands trembling. "So? Did you guys find anything? He’s fine, right?""We did," Damien said, his voice flat and controlled, though a dark storm raged beneath the surface."Then why are you all still seated? Let's go get him!" Anna said, her voice rising with frantic energy as she made a move toward the door.Elijah stepped forward, gently intervening. He knew Damien was losing his patience and was never one to sugarcoat the truth, especially not in a situation this dire.Damien looked at her, his expression cold and unyielding. "We found a lead, Anna. But the lead shows that someone inside this very mansion had a hand in Ethan's disappearance."Anna stopped in her tracks, the breath knocked out of her. "A mole? Inside the house? Well, whoever it is, let's make them talk! We can force them to tell us where Ethan is! I
Damien sat in the back of the black SUV, the air inside the car thick with a suffocating tension. Elijah sat in the passenger seat, while Reiner drove, his hands gripping the steering wheel so hard his knuckles were white."Brief me," Damien commanded, his voice low and dangerous."Sir, according to the information we gathered, Ethan was last seen on the school premises," Elijah reported, checking his tablet. "According to reports, he left to attend a party, but he hasn't reached out to anyone since then."Damien’s eyes narrowed. "And who is the source of this information?""Sylvia, sir," Elijah replied.Damien didn’t say a word, but his brow furrowed deeply. He leaned back, his mind racing. Part of him desperately hoped Ethan was just being a typical twenty-one-year-old—perhaps passed out on a friend's couch after too many drinks. But his gut, the instinct that had built a multi-billion dollar empire and kept him alive in a cruel world, told him something was very wrong. Ethan wasn't
Sylvia smiled and continued, "Let’s go then," as she led the way toward the cafeteria. Kristen and Anastasia shared a silent, uneasy look but followed her anyway.They sat down at their usual table. Five minutes passed, then thirty. There was still no sign of Ethan. Anastasia tapped her fingers on the table, her irritation growing. "Where could he possibly be? Even if he was busy, he should have texted us.""Yeah, it’s unlike him to be this late," Kristen added, checking the entrance. "He’s usually the first one here."Sylvia leaned back, looking unbothered. "You know, sometimes even punctual people need a break."The comment struck Anastasia as odd. Sylvia was acting strange today, but she brushed the feeling aside for the moment. Her priority was talking to Ethan and warning him to stay away from Sylvia ,but that was impossible if Ethan was nowhere to be found.Eventually, the bell rang, and they had to head to their individual classes. Sylvia and Kristen went off together, as they
Anastasia stormed into the house, but the fire in her eyes died out the moment she saw him. Kristen let out a heavy sigh. "Why are you here?"She dropped her bag, ready to scream at him, but then she noticed the dark bruise on his face. Her expression shifted to pure concern. "Oh my God, Kristen! What happened to you?" When he stayed silent, her eyes narrowed. "Don't tell me it was that bastard brother of yours. He’s going to pay for this!"She reached for her phone, intending to call her father so he could contact the police commissioner, but Kristen quickly grabbed her hand. "No, don’t. It’s not that serious. Just a brotherly spat... don't worry about it."Anastasia looked at him like he had lost his mind. "A 'spat'? He hit you without a second thought, and you’re still trying to protect him? Kristen, this isn't how siblings are supposed to act!"Frustrated by her prying, Kristen snapped. "Oh, like you would know! You don’t even have siblings, so you don't know how it feels, Princes
Ethan woke up the next morning feeling completely drained. A sharp, rhythmic throb pulsed behind his eyes. "Ahh, my head," he groaned, clutching his temples.He tried to piece together the previous night, but his memory was a blur of neon lights and clinking glasses. The last thing he remembered clearly was the drinking contest with Damien. Did he bring me to my room? He let out a dry, self-deprecating laugh at the thought. "Hell no. There’s no way.""Then how did I get into my own bed?" he muttered to his reflection in the bathroom mirror while brushing his teeth. He eventually dismissed the thought, figuring a bodyguard or one of the staff must have helped him.After freshening up, he headed downstairs. He habitually opened his mouth to call for Anna, good—before stopping himself. "Shoot, she’s not here." He remembered now that Anastasia had left for a vacation with her girlies, as she called her friends.Starving and in search of food, Ethan walked into the kitchen, only to freeze
The interior of the SUV was a silent vault, but inside, Ethan was a storm. His palms were slick against the fabric of his school trousers, and his heart felt like a trapped bird beating against his ribs. He had been informed that he was going to the press conference."Don’t say anything irrational,
Nathan stepped out of Stanley’s room, the heavy oak door clicking shut behind him. The air in the hallway felt tainted, thick with the smell of cheap cigars and the lingering tension of their plotting. He took a breath to steady himself, but as he turned, he froze.Standing in the shadows of the ga
Ethan heard Stephen's voice behind him the very voice he had been trying to avoid.Then he turned back."I knew it!" Stephen exclaimed, his face lighting up with polished warmth. "I knew I’d recognize that golden hair anywhere."The hair again, Ethan thought bitterly. First thing tomorrow, I’m dyin
Damien got into the car, aware that Ethan was behind him. Earlier, he had spoken with Elijah and made it clear that Ethan was to be taken elsewhere after the press conference, Damien had other matters to attend to. When Elijah relayed this to Ethan, Damien caught the flicker of disappointment on hi





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