LOGINThe iron steps were rusted, groaning underfoot with every descent. Michael went down first, his hand clamped tightly around his pistol, alert and ready despite having no clear idea of what was waiting for them below.
Sapphire followed directly behind his heels. Efrosina brought up the rear, with a handful of operatives flanking her.
"Master, there might be a trap. Let me
Twenty years earlier…The sweet scent of bluebells drifted through the air with every step Liana took. The beautiful woman smiled, reaching for Yohan’s hand. Carefully, she stepped onto the boat, lifting the hem of her gown."This lake is as beautiful as my wife," Yohan said. "You should surround yourself with beautiful things, so our baby turns out beautiful too.""What if it’s another boy?""Then Michael will have to study harder because he’ll have a rival.""Don't be like that. You’ve been too hard on him lately.""He needs to be strong so he can take my place running Blue Blood. But don't worry, Liana, I'll make sure our child grows up to be as t
The iron steps were rusted, groaning underfoot with every descent. Michael went down first, his hand clamped tightly around his pistol, alert and ready despite having no clear idea of what was waiting for them below.Sapphire followed directly behind his heels. Efrosina brought up the rear, with a handful of operatives flanking her."Master, there might be a trap. Let me clear it first," Sapphire offered.Michael swept his tactical flashlight across every corner. Empty. Not a soul in sight.The basement was far larger than it appeared from above, choking with a damp, stifling humidity. The only contents were a few rusted metal shelves—most of them collapsed—and a solitary wooden desk in the far corner. Atop it sat a padlocked black iron box.
That night, a thin drizzle fell, washing over the asphalt of the deserted suburban streets. Michael stepped out of the black sedan, leaving the car door hanging open. Standing before him was an abandoned textile warehouse—the exact coordinates extracted from the maid the night before.The heir strode inside without a moment's hesitation. His leather shoes made a sharp, rhythmic clicking sound that echoed across the damp concrete floor. Behind him, Sapphire and Efrosina followed in absolute silence."Are you certain she gave you the correct location?" Michael asked Sapphire."Yes, Master. The woman bartered her life for her child’s safety. There is no reason for the information to be fabricated.""Search every square inch, then."
Luna was still clutching the water bottle Efrosina had handed her. She could no longer feel the cold against her palm; her thoughts were in a state of utter chaos."Instead of buying out an entire establishment and everyone in it, it is much cleaner to simply burn it to the ground."The sentence kept looping in her mind as she wiped the sweat from her brow. She tried desperately to convince herself that Efrosina was just speaking recklessly. That Michael—the man who had just kissed her forehead so tenderly—was incapable of such brutality."No, that can't be right," Luna argued, more to herself than anyone else. "Even if he has a dark side, I know he wouldn't be that savage.""Are you not even a little afraid of him?"
Golden sunlight streamed through the expansive windows of Michael’s private training room. In the far corner, the sharp-featured man stood in silence, his gaze fixed entirely on Luna as she trained in the center of the hall."Master, are you certain you want me to train her?" Efrosina asked, her eyes never straying from the mats. Her tone was calm, yet carried that underlying edge of defiance—the kind that always offered itself up like a dare."Teach her how to fight. At the very least, enough to throw a punch and defend herself," Michael replied coldly. He took a slow sip of his coffee, his eyes still locked on his lover. "Don't push her to exhaustion. She’s a bit fragile today.""Understood. I will teach her a low-energy style, optimized for bringing down an opponent efficiently."
The slow, rhythmic drip of water from a dark corner echoed through the basement. There was the faint, metallic scrape of shifting chains, followed by the ragged breathing of a human being realizing that death was closing in.Sapphire pulled up a chair, flipped it around, and sat straddling it in front of the maid. He wasn’t rushing. He wasn’t angry. And that was precisely what made him terrifying."You know," Sapphire said, his gaze cool and steady. "Master Michael must be having a grand old time upstairs. He wouldn’t dream of bothering himself with a rat like you. But me? I’ve got all the time in the world."Sapphire stood and circled the chair, stopping directly behind her."I can still smell the cyanide mixed with flower nectar from the tea on the floor. How quaint. Whoever sent you must be an old-timer who refuses to let go of the traditional ways.""J-just kill me. I’m not telling you anything.""Dying is easy, you bastard. The hard part is staying sane in my hands." Sapphire yank
Michael leapt through the shattered window frame, completely ignoring the shards of glass slicing into his palms. Rage had entirely consumed his sanity.Within seconds, he landed in the garden, planting his dress shoe f
The sharp sting of alcohol and the lingering scent of gunpowder clung to Michael’s blazer. On a private pier hidden from any police radar, Michael stood with a cold, imposing presence. Before him, dozens of wooden crates bearing the eagle insignia were being hoisted into a massive container ship."H
Michael’s hand hovered near his ankle, ready to draw his concealed pistol. His eyes narrowed, tracking the four strangers who had suddenly emerged from behind the velvet curtains.Seeing his guarded stance, Harmer let out a dry chuckle. “Haha, for a second I thought you’re the bravest alive. Relax,
The bitter aroma of tobacco smoke clung to every corner of the room as Michael stepped into the bar. The clinking of glasses and the boisterous laughter seemed to be sucked dry by the frigid air he brought with him. The old man across the table, who had been laughing loudly just moments before, abr







