MasukBloody Banquet in ParisThe Eiffel Tower glistened in the distance, usually a symbol of romance for millions of people, but to Liora Thorne, its light felt as cold and unforgiving as an interrogation lamp.A replacement private jet from the Thorne Group’s reserve fleet had just touched down at Le Bourget private airbase.Mavric Thorne was the first to step out. His walking cane had been replaced by a tactical support device that assisted him as he moved on his still‑injured leg.Yet his eyes showed not the slightest trace of weakness; he looked like a wounded dragon that had only become ten times more deadly as a result.Walking beside him, Liora was dressed in a premium wool black trench coat.Her face was pale, yet her expression was firm and resolute. In her hand, she gripped a satellite phone continuously displaying coordinates located within the exclusive district of Avenue Montaigne.“They have taken him to the de Montfort Mansion,” Liora said, her voice trembling with suppresse
Skyfall Over the MediterraneanThe roar of the Gulfstream G650’s engines grew harsher as the aircraft executed sharp evasive maneuvers to break free from radar locks being maintained by three unmarked fighter jets that had been tailing them since their take‑off from Dubai. Inside the cabin, gravity seemed to toy with every living thing on board. Crystal glasses shattered, documents scattered across the floor, and a faint but acrid scent of jet fuel began to sting the air.Liora Thorne gripped the edge of her work desk tightly, her eyes fixed on Isabella de Montfort, who now stood calmly amid the chaos. Isabella was no longer crying; her expression was cold, and her lips were curled into a faint, mocking smile. In her hand, she held a small detonator disguised as a cigarette lighter.“You think you are so clever, don’t you, Liora?” Isabella’s voice cut clearly through the noise of wind seeping through door seals that had weakened under the stress of the rapid turns. “You hack banks
Flight of the DamnedThe Rolls-Royce engines of the Thorne family’s Gulfstream G650 jet hummed with a low, powerful roar as the aircraft cut through the cloud layers high above the Indian Ocean, en route to a refuelling stop in Dubai before continuing the journey toward London. Inside the luxurious cabin, lined with Alcantara leather and polished walnut wood, the atmosphere felt far colder than the freezing temperatures outside at altitude. Mavric Thorne sat in his high-backed executive seat, his plaster-cast leg propped up comfortably on an ottoman, while his sharp, eagle-like gaze never wavered from the woman seated opposite him for even a second.Isabella de Montfort looked dishevelled and broken. Gone was every trace of the elegance and arrogance usually displayed by the Parisian aristocratic heiress. Her blonde hair was dull and unkempt, and her eyes were swollen and red from crying. In another corner of the cabin, Liora Thorne sat at her fold-down work desk, her fingers danc
The Alliance of TraitorsThe neon lights of Marina Bay Sands reflected vividly across the surface of the glass table inside a private suite on the 50th floor. The atmosphere within the room was as cold as ice, even though the air conditioning was set to a normal temperature. Mavric Thorne sat in an ergonomic wheelchair; his right leg, fractured during the incident in Sulawesi, was encased in white plaster that stood out starkly against his expensive tailored trousers. Yet despite his physical condition, the commanding aura radiating from him remained completely undiminished.Opposite him stood Liora Thorne who had now fully set aside her alias “The Ghost” and embraced her role as the matriarch of the Thorne Group studying a large monitor displaying real-time movements across the global stock markets.“Eleanor could never have escaped without powerful internal assistance, Mavric,” Liora said, her voice calm yet possessing a razor-sharp edge. “Someone unlocked her cell door from dee
Resurrection and RetributionGunpowder dust and limestone fragments swirled through the air, creating a suffocating grey haze inside the cavern housing the Nusantara laboratory. The deafening blast of the missiles fired from Marguerite de Montfort’s helicopter still rang painfully in Liora’s ears, a high-pitched frequency that seemed to pierce right through her. Emerging from the thick smoke, the woman who should have been reduced to ashes twenty years prior stood with terrifying grace. Marguerite de Montfort, clad in black tactical gear and possessing eyes as cold as polar ice, stepped over the rubble as though she were the very mistress of death itself.“You have your mother’s eyes, Liora,” Marguerite’s voice echoed, smooth yet sharp as a razor’s edge. “But sadly, you also inherited her foolishness the belief that a Thorne’s love could shield you from the destiny written in your very blood.”In another corner of the cavern, Mavric Thorne lay trapped beneath the wreckage of a sto
Mist Over the Land of KingsSurya’s Bell 412 helicopter sliced through thick banks of cloud shrouding the mountains of South Sulawesi. Far below, the dense green expanse of the tropical rainforest seemed endless, broken only by towering limestone cliffs a stark contrast to the concrete jungles of London or Madrid they had just left behind. To Mavric Thorne, this place felt like another planet. But for Liora, there was a strange tug deep within her chest, as if every gust of wind carried whispers from a past long buried.“We’re almost there,” Surya shouted over the roar of the helicopter’s engines. “The village down there is the gateway to your father’s place of seclusion. Here, the laws of Jakarta hold no power. Only customary law and honour prevail.”Mavric clasped Liora’s hand tightly. His tactical leather gloves felt cool to the touch, but his palm was warm. “Don’t stray far from me, Liora. I don’t care who your uncle is or who your father is. In a remote place like this, dange
The Trojan HorseAfter being shamefully expelled from Thorne Manor, Isabella did not run and hide. Instead, she rented the most expensive suite at the Savoy Hotel, using the last of her family’s influence to gather investors from the "Council" and representatives from Vane International.Night in
The Serpent’s ShadowNight at Thorne Manor was never truly quiet. Behind the grandeur of its stone walls and golden adornments, whispers of scheming always slithered through the shadows. Liora Thorne sat at her desk, staring at a holographic screen displaying steadily moving data graphs. Yet her
The Polyglot QueenThe air in the main library of Thorne Manor that afternoon was heavy with the scent of beeswax and old leather-bound books. Beatrice Thorne had invited several high-ranking diplomats’ wives and colleagues from the "Council" for an extremely exclusive afternoon tea gathering.Yet
The Emerald ViperThe morning sun at Thorne Manor had never felt so cold. Though golden light streamed through the crystal windows of the main dining hall, the atmosphere around the long table felt like a frozen battlefield. Liora sat to Mavric’s right the seat legally hers by right but at the fa







