Chapter 1

I expected Velda Mercer to give me an explanation, since I'd entrusted my parents and little sister, Piper Wright, to her care all those years ago.

On the other end of the line, her voice was cold and impatient. "I'm at the Hyporion Summit right now, Callan Wright. I don't have time for your lowlife family's petty drama."

She didn't bother to ask where I'd been for the past decade and hung up without another word.

I gripped the phone so hard that my knuckles paled. It seemed that ten years of my blood, sweat, and sacrifice meant nothing to her.

Ten years ago, she was just a struggling college student relying on my financial support. But now, she couldn't even be bothered to talk to me.

When his little brother, Jude Mercer, saw the way she shut me down, he grinned wickedly and grabbed Piper's phone. After throwing it onto the floor, he crushed it under his boot.

"Who do you think you are, acting all important? To my sister, you're nothing but a lowly animal!"

My heart shattered at the sight of Piper's swollen cheeks and terror in her eyes.

"Callan, you're back…" she choked out. "Their company… leveled Mom and Dad's graves with an excavator!"

Her words hit me like a physical blow.

Leveled? They bulldozed my parents' graves?

My mind went blank before my blood started boiling in rage.

Jude kicked me hard and sent me sprawling onto the ground. "Cut the melodrama, Callan. Get on your knees and lick my boots clean, or I'll have my men break Piper's legs right now."

I was about to get up and fight back when Piper held me back with all her strength. She shook her head and sobbed, "Please don't! We can't win against them! Mom and Dad died because…"

My eyes were bloodshot as I stared toward the construction site, where Mom and Dad's graves used to be.

Jude burst out laughing and pointed at me arrogantly. "That's right; I had them bulldozed! Velda said anyone who stands in the way of her profits has to die!"

I gave Velda everything, and yet she claimed that I was standing in the way of her money.

Before I could even react, Piper dropped to her knees and crawled toward Jude, just to protect me. "Please have mercy, Mr. Mercer. I'm begging you!"

Just like that, she stayed on her knees and banged her head against the floor, groveling in humiliation. It felt like countless knives were tearing my chest apart.

Growing up, Piper had always been my pride. She was brilliant in school, strong-willed, and never bowed her head to anyone. And now, she was kneeling to protect me and groveling before the monster who'd destroyed our parents' graves.

Jude's face was twisted with cruelty as he kicked her away. "A worthless life like yours doesn't get to beg me for favors."

I shielded her behind me and fixed him with a cold, murderous glare.

Velda wouldn't be where she was today without me. After earning a "Special Talent Technology Transfer" quota through exceptional military service, I'd signed the core patents over to her for free.

Not only did she forget the kindness I'd shown her, but she also gave Jude the green light to dig up my parents' graves and humiliate my only sister.

That was when I received an encrypted satellite call. It was from the General, Gunthar Vale.