Third POV
Cassiel walked briskly to his car, pulling out his phone as he approached. His voice was low but firm as he dialed a number."Send a team to the hospital. Armed guards. Secure every entrance and exit. Now."The response was immediate, and Cassiel ended the call, slipping into the driver’s seat. His knuckles whitened as he gripped the steering wheel, the bloodstains on his shirt a harsh reminder of the chaos that had unfolded. He started the engine, his thoughts racing as he pulled out of the hospital parking lot and headed home.The drive felt longer than usual, the events replaying in his mind. Enzo, blood-soaked, barely conscious. Cassiel had wasted no time getting him to the hospital, demanding the best care while keeping his emotions locked down. There was no time to process it—only to act.When he arrived home, Cassiel pushed the door open, his steps quick and purposeful. As he moved toward the bedroom, Julian appeared, his face pale, eyes wide witThird person POVThe wedding was set in the heart of the Whitlock estate gardens, where white roses sprawled like a sea across trimmed hedges and marble statues draped in silks. The air smelled like vanilla and honeysuckle, and overhead, a clear cerulean sky bathed everything in golden morning light.Rows of ivory chairs lined either side of the aisle, their gold-trimmed backs gleaming under satin ribbons. A full orchestra tuned their instruments to one side, their soft notes weaving through the chatter of distinguished guests, celebrities, politicians, gaming executives, and business titans. Security personnel hovered discreetly among them, earpieces in place, though no one expected anything more dangerous than a flying bouquet or confetti storm.Lucien stood near the altar, his tuxedo a custom-tailored navy velvet creation. He looked sharp, poised, and vaguely anxious. Cassiel teased him that morning, saying if he sweat anymore he might flood his cufflinks. But Julian
Third person POVThe Whitlock estate hadn't known peace in weeks.Ever since Lucien announced his engagement to Imani on Christmas Eve—an announcement delivered with such calm confidence it stunned the room to silence before bursting into celebration—the entire household had transformed into a chaotic fairytale village. The estate, usually serene and elegant with its symmetrical gardens and warm stone façade, had become a buzzing hive of motion and noise. Laughter, shouting, the clatter of silver trays, and the rhythmic pulse of playlist after playlist echoed through the grand halls from morning till late into the night.It was wedding season, and no one in the house could escape the madness.The main living room smelled of fresh peonies and rich mahogany polish. Every surface had been cleared to make room for sample bouquets, swatches of luxurious fabrics, catalogues of wedding cakes, and screens displaying back-to-back Zoom calls with overseas collaborators an
Third POV Three years later. It was Christmas Eve, and the mansion was alive. The scent of cinnamon, roasted turkey, fresh bread, and pine needles danced in the air. Lights twinkled from every corner of the villa, and the large fir tree in the center of the living room was buried beneath glittering ornaments, plushy figurines, and wrapping papers messily tucked under its boughs. Miss Maria stood in the kitchen doorway with her arms crossed, surveying the house she had helped turn into a home. “This year better not end in a fire,” she muttered under her breath. Outside, the estate gates opened with a faint hum, and a sleek car pulled in. Lucian stepped out, his winter coat sharp, black boots polished, and a mischievous smirk stretched across his face. But he wasn’t alone. A graceful woman with warm skin and dark hair stepped out beside him, holding a small travel bag and adjusting the scarf around her neck. Lucian
Third POVA year later.The city skyline glimmered like polished silver as the sun slowly dipped behind the horizon, bathing the Cassiel-J Enterprises tower in golden light.Inside the towering glass building, Cassiel leaned back in his office chair, his shirt sleeves rolled up and a half-button undone. The polished obsidian desk before him was littered with blueprints, data simulations, and virtual prototypes, all displaying various stages of software and biometric tech design.Enzo, in a slate-black suit, entered the room with a tablet in hand, slapping it lightly against his palm. “The security AI project passed beta testing. Your baby’s growing fangs.”Cassiel gave a soft grunt, eyes still glued to the holo-display of their next-gen encryption chip. “Good. Any update from Lucian?”“He called twenty minutes ago,” Enzo replied, setting the tablet down. “Paris office is set. They’re already talking to investors and demo clients. And yes, Lucian’s not complai
Third POVA soft chirp from the heart monitor filled the quiet hospital room, steady and rhythmic. The faint scent of antiseptics clung to the air, and early morning light crept through the closed blinds.Julian’s eyelids fluttered open slowly.His head ached, his limbs were heavy, and the last thing he remembered was the cold barrel of a gun pressed to Cassiel’s head… and then pain.Sharp pain.“Julian?” a gentle voice called from the side.He turned his head slightly to see Miss Maria by the edge of his bed, her face overwhelmed with relief. Her eyes instantly brimmed with tears.“Miss Maria?” His voice cracked, raspy and strained.“Thank the heavens,” she whispered, immediately grabbing his hand. “You’re awake. You’re awake!”The commotion brought a nurse in quickly, who rushed to check his vitals while pressing a button above the bed.Julian blinked slowly. “Where’s... Cassiel?”Miss Maria smiled tearfully. “He’s right outside. He hasn
Third POVMoreau’s laughter echoed like broken glass in the hollowed-out lab. His voice cracked and gritted with every manic chuckle, leaning forward in the creaking steel chair bolted to the floor of his private control chamber.“You made a terrible mistake, Cassiel,” he spat, his tone venomous and mocking. “Trying to blow me up like a goddamn science experiment gone wrong—” He slammed his fist on the desk and sneered. “I helped you! I saved Julian! I stabilized your damn empire!”Cassiel stood in the middle of the chamber, gun holstered, coat heavy on his shoulders. His jaw clenched tightly, body taut with suppressed rage. He didn’t flinch at the outburst.Moreau rose, pressing a red button beside his chair.“Let’s see how far you get now. What Emiliano failed to do, I will finish today. Here and now—”The hiss of hydraulics echoed behind Cassiel as hidden panels lifted in the walls—revealing four shooters positioned strategically around the room. Their gun