MasukDaniella’s weapon remained pointed at the woman standing in the doorway. For several seconds, nobody moved. The name Evelyn Cruz echoed through her mind, fighting against memories she had spent years trying to understand.“My father’s sister?” Daniella asked.Evelyn nodded.“Your aunt.”Daniella’s grip tightened around the weapon. “Why have I never heard of you?”Evelyn’s expression filled with pain. “Because your uncle made sure you wouldn’t.”Christian stepped closer to Daniella, keeping his attention on Evelyn. “How do we know you’re telling the truth?”“You don’t,” Evelyn replied. “Not yet.”Richard studied her carefully. “Where were you the night Derrick died?”Evelyn looked at Daniella.“At the hospital.”Daniella’s eyebrows pulled together.“That’s impossible. My uncle told me nobody came.”“Your uncle lied.”Evelyn slowly entered the room and placed a small envelope on the desk. “Your father called me that night. He told me he had discovered something dangerous and that he was
Daniella stared at the photograph in her hand as they drove through the city. The image had been taken years ago, yet the woman standing beside her father looked so familiar that Daniella could almost remember the sound of her voice. She had seen her before, but the memory remained buried beneath years of training, fear, and carefully constructed lies.Christian sat beside her in silence, his eyes occasionally moving toward the photograph. Richard was in the passenger seat, while Marcus drove. Nobody had spoken much since they left the warehouse. There were too many revelations to process, and Daniella had only one thought in her mind.Her uncle.If anyone could explain the woman in that photograph, it was him.“We’re not going to your mother’s house?” Daniella asked.Christian shook his head. “No. I called her. She’s safe, but I’m not telling her anything yet.”Daniella looked at him.“Why?”“Because we don’t know who is watching her.”Richard glanced backward. “Christian is right. I
Daniella stared at the name on the screen until the letters began to blur. She had expected another criminal, another stranger hiding behind Raven, another person connected to her uncle’s network. She had not expected a name that belonged to someone she had trusted for years.Christian stood beside her, his hand still wrapped around hers. He could feel the tension running through her fingers, but he didn’t force her to speak.Richard moved closer to the computer. “We need to be certain before we make any assumptions.”Daniella swallowed hard. “I’m certain.”“Who is it?” Marcus asked.Daniella finally looked away from the screen. “Mrs. Harper.”The room became completely silent.Christian’s expression changed instantly. “My mother?”Daniella nodded slowly.“No,” Christian said, almost immediately. “That doesn’t make sense.”“I know.”“My mother had nothing to do with your father’s death.”“I didn’t say she did.”Christian looked back at the screen.The file contained several records be
The gunshot exploded through the underground room, and Daniella instinctively ducked as everyone scattered for cover. The bullet struck the metal shelf behind her, sending a sharp clang through the room. Christian grabbed Daniella by the waist and pulled her behind the heavy concrete pillar while Richard shoved himself against the opposite wall. Marcus raised his weapon, searching the darkness for the shooter.Bennett was already moving.He dropped behind a stack of wooden crates, using the confusion to disappear from the doorway. Daniella looked toward him, her heart pounding. “Don’t let him escape!”Christian held her back. “Stay here.”“I can handle myself.”“I know.” His eyes met hers. “That’s why I’m telling you to stay behind me.”Another shot rang out. This one came from the tunnel behind Bennett. Richard fired toward the sound, and Bennett disappeared around the corner.Marcus ran after him.Daniella followed before Christian could stop her. The narrow passage twisted beneath
The figure stood at the entrance of the underground room, half-hidden by the darkness behind him. For several seconds, nobody moved. Daniella’s eyes remained fixed on his face. She knew him. That was what frightened her most. Not the gun in his hand, not the fact that he had somehow found them, and not even the word Raven that Richard had whispered behind her. It was the familiarity.The man stepped forward, allowing the weak light from the room to fall across his face. Daniella’s breath caught. “Mr. Bennett?” Christian immediately moved in front of her. Mr. Bennett had been one of the oldest people connected to the Harper family. He had worked around Christian’s father for years and had remained around Christian after his father’s death. Daniella had met him several times during her time at the mansion. He had always been calm, respectful, and almost fatherly toward her. She had trusted him. Apparently, that trust had been exactly what Raven needed.Bennett smiled faintly. “Hello, Da
Daniella pressed herself against the shelves, barely breathing as she stared at the steel door. Christian stood directly in front of her, one hand gripping his weapon while Marcus positioned himself beside the entrance. Victor remained near the desk, his eyes fixed on the door.Then the voice came again.“Open the door.”Daniella knew that voice.She had heard it countless times over the years, during family gatherings, during difficult moments, during the years when she had been trying to rebuild her life after losing her father. It belonged to someone she had never considered capable of betrayal.Her heart began to pound.Christian noticed her expression.“You know who that is.”Daniella nodded.Before she could say the name, the door unlocked from the other side.Marcus raised his weapon.The door opened.A familiar figure stepped into the room.Daniella’s mouth fell open.It was Richard Hale.The man Christian had believed was dead.Christian stared at him in shock.“Richard?”Ric
“I want you to go undercover.” The moment the words left Christian’s mouth, Daniella genuinely thought she had heard him wrongly. She stared at him from across the office, her brows slowly pulling together in confusion while her brain tried to process what he had just said. “W
Christian stood in the middle of his room, his chest rising and falling slowly as he stared blankly at nothing. The blood dripping off his hands to the floor reflected the chaos inside him, his hand still bleeding slightly from the force he had used earlier.“Daniella?” He whispered slowly, his mi
Christian’s jaw dropped as he saw the headlines and the picture on David's phone. “What’s this supposed to mean?” He swallowed. “Unfortunately this lady got angry about some unfinished deal with the company and your secretary didn’t handle her deal well, so I think she got upset and is now decidi
“Boss, are you okay?”David's voice sounded distant, more like it was coming from under water. Christian didn’t answer immediately. His fingers tightened around the glass, his jaw clenched as he stared into thin air unfocused. He wasn’t ok, he couldn’t take it anymore, his







