Se connecterKayden’s guards respond instantly. They close in around him, weapons drawn. The air turns electric. Any shift could ignite a storm of bullets. Master X watches the standoff with a gleam in his eye. “You are not getting out of here alive,” he declares. Kayden’s voice remains even. “If I fall, the folder falls into the wrong hands. Ariana and Mr. Morgan will know the truth anyway.”A look of hesitation flashes across Master X's face for a fraction of a second before he masks it with a nonchalant expression. Edwin senses the shift and grabs at Master X’s sleeve. “Help me,” he whispers. “You promised me a place at your side once Kayden was out of the picture.”Master X pulls his arm free without looking at him. “Did I? You really believed that?”Edwin’s face collapses.Kayden gives his uncle a pointed look. “You see? He uses everyone.”Master X turns sharply to Edwin. “You followed his men to Manhattan without consulting me. You were going to betray me if I didn't intercept you. You
Kayden sat behind his desk in the quiet office, staring at the laptop screen as he tried to focus on his plans for the evening. He had a strong suspicion Master X would make a move today or tomorrow. It had been a week now since his escape and his uncle Edwin’s disappearance, but he had still not found Master X's location. The man still held out for this long even when Kayden had cut off all his sources of escape and income. Kayden had to hand it to him for being such a worthy adversary. The glass wall behind him reflected the dim lights of the skyline, but Kayden barely saw them. Sleep left him days ago, replaced by the cold knot in his chest that tightens each time he remembers the look in Mr. Morgan’s eyes when he had confronted him. Hurt. Confusion. Doubt. What hurt him more was Aria's fake laughter anytime she spoke to him on the phone. Anytime her soft giggles came through the phone, followed by those understanding words, “It's alright, husband, I know you've been busy. Li
A week later… Mr. Morgan's Estate… Aria sat quietly at the dining table together with Mr. Morgan as they ate lunch. Except for the occasional clinking of cutlery against the china, the dining room was quiet, a peaceful kind of quiet that only made Aria’s chest ache more. The scent of warm delicacies drifts through the air, yet she barely touches her food. Her stomach is too tight to feel hungry. Mr. Morgan scrolls through his tablet across from her, but his attention is on Aria. He could already tell what was on her mind.His brow slightly furrows the way it always does when he is pretending to be calm as he watches his daughter nibbling at the food. “Why aren't you eating? Is the food not to your liking? The cooks can bring something else,” he says, looking up from the tablet. His glasses slide down a little, and he pushes them back up without looking away from her. Aria pauses for a moment. She didn't want to act like a spoiled brat, always whining about the same thing, but s
“Kayden,” Mr. Morgan begins, his voice restrained yet trembling with contained fury, “I will get straight to the point. Stay away from Aria.” The words strike Kayden like a physical blow. His jaw locks, fingers curling involuntarily. He forces a steady breath, but the air feels thin. “Dad, I don't understand. Did something happen?”Mr. Morgan steps forward. “Do not call me Dad and play innocent with me. I know everything.”Kayden’s heart skipped a beat, but he kept his posture still. He is used to acting nonchalant even in the face of danger. Fighting panic is second nature to him, but this is different. This is Ariana. Touch her and you touch everything.“What is it you think you know?” Kayden asks, voice low.Mr. Morgan throws a stack of papers onto the table. They scatter across the surface. Photos. Reports. Shadows of a past Kayden has tried so hard to bury. The image of Mrs. Amelia’s lifeless body catches his eye, and he feels his stomach twist.“I received this today,” Mr. M
Kayden gently placed a hand on her lower back and led her out of the guard room area. They had barely taken a few steps when she glared at him, let out a loud “hmph,” and sauntered away.He could tell she was angry, seeing her gloomy expression and the way she began to walk faster than he did, even though he had slowed his steps to match her pace. Aria wanted to ask why he let Samantha go just like that, but seeing how the hallways and everywhere they turned were lined by guards, she could only sulk. When they reached a section of the building with walls painted a dark gray and the gray stones evoking a medieval-era style, Aria could already tell they were approaching the “other side.” She wanted to wait and walk with Kayden, but she was still feeling disgruntled about the way Kayden handled Samantha's case, so she kept walking without paying him any attention. One would have thought she would be tired in her condition, but it seemed anger was a great motivator for channeling inn
“I know you're going to see Samantha; I want to talk to her too.” “Ariana,” Kayden began but stopped his remaining words. Maybe it was time to show her that he saw her as a partner in everything by using actions instead of words. “Aren't you tired? You look like you need some rest,” he said instead. “I'm alright. Besides, I won't be able to rest knowing you're going to see that snake alone…” “You don't trust me,” Kayden interrupted, looking hurt. “More like I don't trust her,” Aria snapped. “Who knows? She might be so desperate she will do the unthinkable to gain your sympathy,” she added, glaring at him. “Okay, okay, why does it seem like you're angry with me? What did I do?” Kayden asked innocently. Aria crossed her hand over her chest, lifted her head, and let out an angry “humph.”“A little birdie told me you always gave her preferential treatment, and everyone used to refer to her as ‘future lady boss.’ Tell me, shouldn’t I be worried about a woman like that who is in lov







