Chapter 82 Scarlet’s hand relaxed, and her dimple peeked through her right cheek. Lara slowly set her glass down. And for the first time, she spoke into the tension — not softly, not defensively but with quiet authority. “I am not an object to be monitored, Doctor Fenn,” she said
Chapter 81 Ares did not answer. He didn’t need to. His gaze had already shifted—slow, deliberate—to the entrance of the restaurant. The glass doors parted smoothly, held open by two waiters in crisp white linen shirts, their posture rigid with the kind of discipline reserved for high-profile guests. And then
Chapter 80 The restaurant Scarlet chose was The Olive Oasis, a well-known fine-dining establishment across from Hope Hospital. Crystal chandeliers. Floor-to-ceiling glass. Private booths shielded by sheer golden drapes. It was the kind of place where influential doctors negotiated research grants and CEOs closed discreet deals over a truffle risotto.
Chapter 79 The way he said really lingered in the air. As if he knew more than he was telling her… and was simply deciding how much she deserved to hear. Yannis glanced at his watch, the movement deliberate, unhurried. “It’s almost lunchtime,” he said lightly. “There’s a good restaurant
Chapter 78 She was reborn. Not in a poetic, metaphorical way. Not in the way influencers reinvent themselves after a scandal. No. She woke up in a hospital bed with someone else’s name stitched into her wristband. Larissa Reyes. The name felt foreign in her mouth. Heavy. Like it belonged
Chapter 77 Hope Hospital’s psychiatric wing had been cleared long before Ares’ car arrived. No waiting patients. No lingering noise. Only polished floors and controlled silence. Jack was already outside the clinic, posture straight, expression neutral. “Everything is arranged, Boss p> Ares nodded once. Lara stepped forward with Shay between
Chapter 76 “Alaric p> Lara’s lips barely moved when she said the name. It slipped out of her like a sigh, fragile and unguarded. Her lashes fluttered open slowly, confusion clouding her gaze as morning light spilled across the massive bed. “You called him in your sleep,” Ares said quietly.
Chapter 75 The lights on the second floor of the Zuvel mansion were still burning long past midnight, slicing through the darkness like a northstar. Inside his room, Ares sat hunched over his sleek black laptop, the screen casting a cold glow over his sharp features. His fingers moved fast,
Chapter 74 The northwestern military base stood like a concrete scar against the desert horizon—isolated, disciplined, loyal to the flag. At least, that’s what it looked like. Inside the command wing, fluorescent lights hummed softly overhead. Screens displayed troop movements, logistics routes, satellite feeds. The middle-aged general stood at the
Chapter 73 Obsidian Peak, Past Midnight At the top floor of Obsidian Peak, the city glittered below like scattered diamonds. Inside the glass-walled office, Zander didn’t look up once. Screens surrounded him—news feeds, financial trackers, encrypted communications. The words Heiress Kidnapping flashed across trending columns like wildfire. A blurry photo.
Chapter 72 The gates slid open with a metallic groan as Ares escorted Shay, Sandro, and Lara out of the military base. Soldiers snapped to attention, boots striking pavement in crisp rhythm. No one spoke. A matte-black Black Hawk waited on the landing pad, its blades already slicing through the
Chapter 71 For a split second, the cavern wasn’t a cavern anymore. It was a training ground. Boots striking cobblestones in perfect unison. A towering figure in uniform. Her father. The general. The memory flickered — distant but sharp. She forced her expression to remain neutral. “The masked man gave
Chapter 70 The cavern still trembled with the echo of collapsing stone and distant water. “It’s good you’re alright,” Ares murmured, his voice scraped raw with relief, like gravel dragged across concrete. “Let’s go home p> Home. The word didn’t sound soft coming from him. It sounded like a promise
Chapter 69 The men followed her line of sight. The waterfall pounded into the pool with enough force to bruise even the bones. “You’ve got to be kidding,” Logan muttered. The corner of Liam’s mouth twitched despite himself. Ares didn’t hesitate. “We’re entering the cave p> No debate. No complaint.
Chapter 68 Something shifted. Not a sound but a pressure. The kind that presses against the back of your neck like a cold barrel before the shot ever comes. Lara felt it before she understood it. Her instincts flared—hot, sharp, alive. Danger. She didn’t jerk. Didn’t flinch. That was how
Chapter 67 The edge of a sword pressed just hard enough to remind her how thin skin really was. Firelight flickered against polished metal. The last embers of a dying bonfire cast orange shadows along the cave walls. She inhaled once. Sharp and controlled. Her gaze traveled upward, unhurried, until
Chapter 66 Meanwhile, deep in the belly of the jungle— where the air hung thick and wet like a damp blanket, where sunlight fought its way through tangled canopies and lost, Lara moved like she belonged there. She crouched near the riverbank, jungle knife flashing in her grip. With precise
Chapter 65 Whether it was a trap or a miracle, he was willing to gamble, because Shay’s life was on the line—and the woman trapped with her. “I’ll go with the first team p> Ares didn’t raise his voice. He didn’t need to. The room shifted the moment he spoke.
Chapter 64 The call ended with a soft click, but the silence that followed was anything but soft. His face didn’t change. That was the terrifying part. No shouting. No slamming fists. Just a stillness so cold it made the air in the bedroom feel like winter steel. Fury didn’t
Chapter 63 Obsidian Peak – Late January, 1:00 AM. Obsidian Peak usually went quiet after midnight. Not silent but subdued. The kind of stillness that hangs over powerful places when grief has settled into the walls. For days, the security room had felt less like a command center and more