LOGINMorning crept slowly into the hotel suite, still wrapped in silence. The heavy curtains had not been fully opened, leaving only pale lines of light stretched across the floor. In the guest room, Naomi woke with ragged breaths, her body drenched in cold sweat. Her hands clutched the sheets tightly, a
Morning arrived in Berlin beneath a pale sky, the air still carrying the last bite of the night’s cold. On the upper floor of Brandon’s modern office tower, the main conference room had been prepared an hour earlier. A long wooden table was lined with final documents, the presentation screen already
The office door opened slowly, and three men stepped inside with uneven, limping strides. Their faces were bruised, one of them with a split lip. Another held his ribs, struggling to hide the pain every time he breathed. None of them dared lift their heads too high.The spacious, dark-toned room sud
The car cut through the increasingly quiet streets of the night. City lights flashed past the windows, but Naomi didn’t see any of it. Curled up in the back seat, she wrapped both arms around herself, still trembling from head to toe. Every few breaths caught in her throat before breaking into stifl
Naomi stumbled back against the wall, gasping for breath, able only to stare with wide eyes.The man who had slapped her seized her again, yanking her close as a shield. “Don’t come any closer!”Liu looked at him without blinking. “Let her go.”“Or what?”Liu moved so fast Naomi barely saw it.In on
BANG! BANG! BANG!The pounding on the apartment door felt like a hammer striking directly against Naomi’s chest. Her fingers trembled as she held the phone to her ear, waiting for the call to connect. But before anyone could answer, she heard the sound of metal being forced from the outside. The doo
“I asked someone to keep an eye on Selena. You knew that, right?”Ah—right. One of Erick’s trusted people had been assigned to monitor Selena and her movements closely. “So what did he find?”“There was absolutely no change in her usual routine. Selena never met anyone else. All she did was shop, ta
“Why would I be?” Josh asked calmly. “We’re both under pressure, just in different ways.”Eli let out a long breath. “I… I never wanted to force things like this. But—” She trailed off, lowering her head again.Josh nodded in understanding. “I get it. How about we change the subject?”Eli finally la
“I didn’t realize you two were close,” Althea said, shifting slightly in her seat so she could speak more comfortably with Josh.The car rolled away from the restaurant at an easy pace. City lights flickered on one by one, their reflections sliding across the windows. Josh sat quietly in the passeng
“No,” she growled under her breath. “Not today.”Eli opened her eyes; her breath caught in her throat.“Tomorrow is important,” Selena continued, more to herself than to Eli. “Your face can’t look ruined.”Eli stared at her mother, confused. “Important for what?”“Go to your room,” Selena ordered. “







