MasukHe nods gently. "We're forever in this, boss." then he straightened slightly, his voice carrying the kind of certainty that didn't need a second explanation.I looked at him for a moment before turning toward the table. I poured myself another drink, letting the silence settle between us, the tension in the room had finally begun to fade."There's something you still don't know about me," I said.Marco glanced at me, "I know you're from a wealthy family.""That's the easy part." I took a sip. "You know I left home and built everything from scratch. You probably assumed it was because I wanted to prove I could.""Wasn't that the reason?"I shook my head, "Not exactly." Marco's eyes narrowed as I leaned against the table. "I was bullied for years." His expression changed. "Being a wealthy heir didn't make me immune to anything. If anything, it made me an easier target." I stared at the drink in my hand."They found every insecurity I had and used it against me. For years, I took it." M
I decided to pay marco a visit from work, I found him sitting comfortably on his couch when I arrived. He looked better than he had days ago. Still thinner, still recovering, but the man was finally beginning to look like himself again. He looked at me for a moment before shaking his head with a smile. "It's still unbelievable." I raised an eyebrow. "What is?" "You." "Me?" "You're getting married." I scoffed. "Don't sound so surprised." Marco laughed. "How am I not supposed to be surprised? You? Finally getting married?" "Yes, and I can't wait." "That's what makes it worse." He leaned back. "For all the long I've known you, Renz. I never thought I'd see the day you'd willingly tie yourself to one woman." "She's not just one woman." His smile grew as he picked up his glass and took a drink before looking at me again. "How are Rynna and the twins?" "We spoke before I came here." "Everything okay?" "Yeah." I smiled faintly. "They're fine." Marco nodded, then his
I decided to pay marco a visit from work, I found him sitting comfortably on his couch when I arrived. He looked better than he had days ago. Still thinner, still recovering, but the man was finally beginning to look like himself again. He looked at me for a moment before shaking his head with a smile. "It's still unbelievable." I raised an eyebrow. "What is?" "You." "Me?" "You're getting married." I scoffed. "Don't sound so surprised." Marco laughed. "How am I not supposed to be surprised? You? Finally getting married?" "Yes, and I can't wait." "That's what makes it worse." He leaned back. "For all the long I've known you, Renz. I never thought I'd see the day you'd willingly tie yourself to one woman." "She's not just one woman." His smile grew as he picked up his glass and took a drink before looking at me again. "How are Rynna and the twins?" "We spoke before I came here." "Everything okay?" "Yeah." I smiled faintly. "They're fine." Marco nodded, then his
Renz's PovThe moment we stepped outside the house, I felt like I could finally breathe again, a weight I hadn't realized I'd been carrying all day seemed to lift from my shoulders.Her parents had accepted me, not completely, not without conditions...but enough.Enough for me to know that I wasn't fighting for Nyx alone anymore. I reached for her hand, and she let me take it, we walked quietly side by side toward my car, the cool night air brushing against my face. I wasn't thinking about enemies, money, or the next move. I was thinking about her. When we reached the car, I leaned against it and pulled her closer.Her body felt cold.I frowned. "Why are you cold?" She looked up at me, her expression softer than before. "I'm not cold.""Nyx."She sighed. "I still can't believe you're really giving up everything."A smile pulled at my lips. "Forget the empire.""Renz—""I mean it." I brushed my thumb over her fingers. "I'd give up my own life if it meant keeping you and Rynna safe." S
Dad stared at him. “Even without my approval?” Renz's eyes darkened. “If you make me choose between your approval and my family, I will choose my family.” My breath caught, and dad's face hardened even more. “Is that a threat?” “No.” Renz's voice became dangerously calm. “It's assurance.” I touched his arm. “Renz…”He glanced at me briefly, then returned his attention to Dad. “I don't want a war with my in-laws. I don't want to fight you. But I won't lose my family just because you don't like the man I became.”Dad leaned back slowly. “So you are prepared to drag my daughter and granddaughter into this life no matter what I say?”Renz's expression changed. “No.” The answer came immediately. “I'll leave it.” The room went completely still, I stared at him.Dad frowned. “What?”Renz looked directly at him. “I'll leave it.” I could barely breathe, he continued calmly. “The empire. The illegal operations. Everything I've built that keeps bringing danger to my door.” He paused, “
The words landed heavily, mum quickly stepped in. “Come in. Let's sit and talk.”We moved into the sitting room, I sat beside Renz, my parents sat opposite us, nobody spoke for a moment, then Renz reached for my hand, his fingers slipped between mine, and he rested our joined hands on his knee.Dad's eyes dropped to them, his jaw tightened...he cleared his throat. “So,” he said slowly. “Luis Renz.” Renz met his gaze.“Sir.”“I've heard a lot about you.”“I imagine you have.”Dad's eyebrow lifted. “That wasn't a compliment.”“I didn't take it as one.”I almost sighed.Of course.They had barely exchanged three sentences, and already they were measuring each other. Dad leaned back. “I'll tell you something about myself before we continue.”Renz remained silent. “I failed my daughter.” My eyes lowered, Dad continued. “There were times she needed me and I wasn't there. Times she needed protection, guidance, even a simple conversation, and I failed to give her those things.” His voice beca
Nyx's PovI found Gabe in the sitting room, scrolling through his phone like he had nothing to worry about.I stood there, holding my calm like it was glued on my face.“I’ll be going to town today,” I said. “I have some school paperwork to sort out.”He didn’t look up at first. Then he did—slow, s
Gabriel's PovEver since the news of Renz’s death dropped, something inside me loosened. Relief… finally. A sense of order returning, like the world had clicked back into the place I designed for it.Except for one problem.Nyx.She’d spiraled the moment she heard. Crying for days. Skipping meals.
The van shook as it rolled over the rough road, the night swallowing everything outside. Inside, it was just me, three of my men, and the doctor—hands folded, eyes fixed on Renz like he was guarding a dying flame.Renz lay in the middle seat, pale, breathing shallow, wires and tubes clinging to him
Renz's PovI woke up to silence.Thick. Cold. Endless. The kind that presses against your chest till you forget what air feels like. My head spun as I blinked, trying to tell if my eyes were open or shut. The dark was that deep.The cell smelled of mold, metal, and blood that wasn’t just mine.For







