Alexander strode past John, his footsteps echoing sharply through the marble corridors of the Levi mansion. The tension in the air was suffocating, every member of his household aware of the storm that had descended.Entering his office, he found Milo waiting, a laptop open on the desk and surveillance feeds streaming across the screen. Milo stood as Alexander entered, his expression grim.“What have you found?” Alexander demanded, his tone cold and impatient.Milo adjusted his glasses and turned the laptop toward Alexander. “We traced Vee and Dysis to the edge of Ravenhold, near the industrial district. The car disappeared into one of the tunnels, and we lost the signal. It’s a dead zone—no cameras, no tracking.”Alexander leaned over the desk, his icy-blue eyes scanning the footage. His jaw tightened as he replayed the moment Vee and Dysis vanished.“What about the men at the perimeter?” he asked.“They saw nothing,” Milo replied. “Whoever orchestrated this planned it carefully. No
Dysis’s thoughts raced as she devised a frantic strategy. She leaned back against the wall, feigning sleep as she heard the footsteps of one of Max's bodyguards getting closer. The lock snapped, and the stout door groaned as it opened. “Food,” the man growled roughly, setting a tray down on the table. Dysis remained motionless, breathing steadily, her heart racing within her chest. She could sense the ribbon pressing into her wrists, so tightly that the skin was starting to tear, blood running down her hands. The bodyguard approached, bending down to see if she was alert. It was this moment or not at all. Gathering all her power, Dysis raised her restrained hands, surprising him with a sudden blow to his face. He staggered backward with a grunt, and before he had a chance to regain his balance, she pushed him with her shoulder, causing him to slam into the table. Adrenaline rushed within her as she ran toward the door. She banged it closed behind her and secured it with shaky fin
Dysis’s breath caught in her throat. Her eyes darted between Vee, who whimpered weakly in the guard’s grasp, and Max, whose expression was calm but deadly.“You wouldn’t,” she whispered, though her voice lacked conviction.“Try me,” Max said, his tone sharp. “I have nothing to lose, I’ve already done far worse, Dysis. Don’t test how much further I’m willing to go.”Tears welled in the corners of her eyes as she absorbed the impact of his words. Her thoughts raced, seeking an escape, a passage out of this nightmare. However, regardless of the direction she faced, she sensed confinement. “You’re running out of time,” Max said, holding the contract and a pen out to her. “Sign it, and I’ll let her live. Refuse, and she dies right here, right now.”Dysis’s hands trembled as she reached for the pen, her vision blurring. Was this really her only option?No!. Dysis’s expression turned steely, her eyes brimming with defiance as she faced Max’s icy gaze. "You and my dad are identical," she hi
Max was seated at his desk, sleeves pushed up, carefully wiping the blood from his hands using a white handkerchief. The red marks blotted across the cloth, a glaring reminder of his cruelty. The slight metallic odor hung in the atmosphere as he took off a handcuff from his wrist, its edges still stained with Vee’s blood. The door slowly opened with a creak, revealing a guard who entered, his face white and his hands trembling. He hesitated, unsure if interrupting Max in such a moment was wise. “Speak,” Max growled without looking up, his voice low and menacing. The guard gulped, the words catching in his throat. “Another attack on the territory, boss,” he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. Max finally stopped, folding the bloodied handkerchief with an eerie calmness. He stood and turned to face the guard, his eyes narrowing. The faint click of his shoes against the floor as he moved closer made the guard’s knees weak. “Again?” Max muttered, his tone sharp enough
Dysis awoke gradually, like surfacing from profound depths, her mind weighted and her body slow to respond to her needs. The antiseptic aroma of disinfectant penetrated her nose, pungent and synthetic. Soft beeping entered her ears, a cadence that connected her to reality, even as her thoughts lingered elsewhere. She blinked at the bright light, narrowing her eyes until figures started to take shape in her sight. A figure was positioned close by, calm and collected. Initially, he appeared as a shadow, but soon the features became clearer: spectacles resting on his nose, a novel grasped in his hand, and a slight crease on his forehead as his gaze moved over the text. Lucian. Her eyes stayed on him, the appearance surprisingly stabilizing. He hadn’t noticed her stirring yet, his attention absorbed by whatever he was reading. His lips moved ever so slightly, as though he silently debated the words before him.Dysis shifted, the faint rustle of fabric breaking the quiet. The motion s
The sound of Alexander’s car engine pierced the quiet night as he arrived at one of Lucian’s private hospitals. The tires squealed to a stop, and he got out, holding Dysis in his arms as if she were the most delicate object in existence. His icy-blue eyes, piercing and deliberate, appeared tranquil at first glance, yet a deeper examination exposed the tempest brewing within. His jaw was clenched, his shoulders rigid, and his hold on her revealed an uncommon vulnerability—one he couldn't allow himself to recognize. Lucian was already waiting by the entrance, alerted to their arrival moments before. His normally composed expression faltered as he took in the sight of Alexander. There was something different in the man’s demeanor tonight—an energy Lucian couldn’t quite place, but it set him on edge. “This way,” Lucian remarked, guiding Alexander through the tranquil, clinical hallway. His voice remained calm, but the slight shake in his hand as he opened the door revealed his discomf
Dysis’s recovery had been slow and grueling. The pain in her hands and head was a constant reminder of the violence that had shattered her world. Lucian had brought her back to the Levi mansion despite her protests, and now, she was under stricter care than ever before. Yet, even as her wounds healed, her mind was plagued by one question: what had happened to Vee? Vee had been left behind in Max’s mansion, bleeding from a stab wound that Dysis herself had inflicted in a desperate moment. The guilt clawed at her relentlessly. She needed to know if Vee had survived—if she had, by some miracle, forgiven her. It was this gnawing uncertainty that led her to leave her room one evening, brushing off Selena, the head maid, who tried to stop her. Determined, Dysis made her way to Alexander’s study. Her steps were slow, the dizziness from her head injury still present, but her resolve was unshaken. When she reached the study door and pushed it open, her heart sank. There stood Sofie, drap
The study of the Levi estate was immersed in soft golden light, creating elongated shadows over the bookshelves that adorned the walls. Adam Levi sat behind his grand oak desk, an imposing figure, his dark eyes cold and calculating. Facing him, Milo Thorne remained rigid, gripping his tablet as if it were a barrier. A noticeable tension filled the room as the seconds elongated into silence. "So," Adam finally spoke, his voice calm but laced with sharp authority. "She’s Thomas’s daughter?" Milo swallowed hard. Adam’s gaze was heavy, the weight of decades of power and ruthlessness behind it. The young secretary nodded. "Yes sir , sir," he replied, his tone calm even with the tight knot growing in his chest. Adam reclined in his chair, clasping his hands in his lap, his face conveying no emotions. For a moment, he said nothing, simply staring at the screen Milo had shown him moments earlier. A picture of Dysis filled the display—a candid shot taken from one of the estate’s securi
Sunlight flooded the room from the large windows in golden beams that softly painted delicate patterns on the white blankets. Like a pulse resonating through the villa, the ocean murmured far away, slow and steady. A breeze swept the flimsy drapes, and the air smelt of sea salt and vanilla, mixed with the subtle warmth of skin and something else entirely fresh and electrifying. Alexander hovered above her, muscles taut, breath shallow. He was no longer the untouchable man she first met. Right now, he looked raw, almost undone. It was dark and wet, and his navy swim shorts stuck to his hips. They showed every bit of stress in his body. He didn't blink or move his eyes.They were locked on her like he was memorizing a masterpiece. Dysis lay beneath him, her body still damp, glistening in the sunlight like she was made of moonlight and fire. Her red bikini clung to her skin like a second layer, the strings slightly loose now from their kiss. She was breathless.She shook her head back a
The sun had hardly risen beyond the horizon, leaving golden lines like spilled honey across the sea. A gentle breeze fluttered the white linen drapes of the villa and ruckled the palm leaves over the island. Barefoot, Dysis stood at the brink of the balcony, her honey-brown hair falling in loose waves down her back. The air smelt seawater and orchids, combining with the warmth of sun-kissed stone. Her eyes shining with mischief and sunset-colored wonder, she turned towards the sea.She’d found a red bikini tucked neatly inside a drawer packed by Alexander, though he’d claimed otherwise and without hesitation, slipped it on. Rich and strong on her soft, brilliant skin, it hugged her body as if it had been designed for her. Her contours shined like sun-lit polished pearls. Her hips swung softly as she strolled down to the shore, feet sliding into the warm, powdered sand. She laughed as she walked further into the sea; it lapped at her toes, chilly and mocking. There was no one else he
The private estate was cloaked in silence, the kind that warned of danger long before it arrived. Cormac Carter stood before the large fireplace, the flames low as shadows moved along the stone walls. Under his fitted suit, his broad shoulders were stiff; his silver-streaked hair slid back precisely. From his fingers, unbroken, a crystal glass of aged bourbon hung. One of his guys stopped at the threshold behind him and started to shift uneasily. “Say it again”, Cormac said, his voice low and icy, slanted with poison. The man swallowed. “Dysis Salmon... She's the heiress to the Everhart bloodline. Confirmed. The Levi heir married her. She’s with Alexander now.” Cormac turned slowly, his eyes glinting with restrained fury. “So,” he muttered, stepping toward the man, “the girl promised to my nephew… was stolen. Claimed. Not just by anyone but by Alexander Levi.” He crushed the glass in his palm, shards falling like ice. “And he killed Max.” The words hissed from his mouth like
Dysis lay curled into the curve of Alexander’s body, the steady thud of his heart on her cheek grounding her in a moment that felt much too delicate for the world they lived in. Her waist had slipped the blanket, and the silky sheets twisted around them while the storm outside murmured against the windows. Her voice broke the silence. Soft. Hesitant. “Where’s my mother?” Alexander’s fingers paused where they were threading gently through her hair. “I told her to leave,” he said calmly. Dysis pulled back just enough to look up at him, confusion flickering in her tired eyes. “What? Why?” “I thought you wouldn’t mind me sending her away,” Alexander said, watching her reaction closely. “She was the reason you passed out.” Her breath hitched. “But I just…” “Don’t cry again.” His voice became light-hearted, his lips curving slightly as he looked away from her. "I was only kidding." "I wasn't going to cry," She said, but her pink cheeks backstabbed her. He mocked, his tone lamp
Back to the Present For hours the rain had not ceased. From outside, the heavens softly wept against the windows, drops on glass-like fingers. The polished floor had a muted orange glow as the fire in the sitting room burned to embers. Dysis folded her legs under her and laid a blanket sloppily across her lap on the velvet chaise. She was not warmed by it. Not really. Her mind was too full, too heavy. Adam sat across from her. No longer the towering, untouchable patriarch. Just a man with tired eyes and a voice thick with regret. “So,” Dysis said quietly, almost afraid to say it aloud, “you knew Lili tried to have Alexander killed?” Adam’s eyes dropped to the rug. His jaw clenched. “Yes.” Dysis sat up straighter, her heart suddenly pounding. “And you did nothing?” “I confronted her,” Adam replied. His voice was hoarse, rough from unsaid things. “I let her know I was aware of her schemes. I spared her… for Silver and Giselle’s sake.” Dysis blinked. That was it? "That's all
The room still hadn’t moved. Not really.Time seemed to bend under the weight of what it signified as Adam Levi announced his second son the successor to the empire. As if the house had stopped to listen, dust particles floated slowly through a shaft of afternoon sunlight, and the crackle of the fire in the hearth got louder in the silence.But the true silence came from Lili.She had said nothing at all. Her fingers, coated in a frost-toned gloss, shook slightly on the stem of her crystal wine glass. It was still full. She hadn’t taken a single sip all evening.She couldn’t.Not with him in the room.Not with Alexander sitting there, one leg crossed over the other, draped in that black wool coat with silver stitching like it had been sewn by ghosts. The candlelight danced across the crest on his hand—the Levi sigil, glinting ominously with every breath he took.He didn’t speak.Didn’t gloat.Didn’t even flinch when Silver stormed out of the boardroom, his footsteps echoing like gunsh
Another year passed.And then another.Fourteen winters had clawed their way across the cliffs of the North before the gates opened again. The iron doors groaned like beasts roused from slumber, spilling out a silhouette wreathed in morning fog and silence.He walked like he owned the ground beneath him.Not like the boy who had entered.No—he was something else now.Alexander Levi’s hair had been trimmed close to the scalp, the inky black strands now neat, severe. His jawline cut clean, cheeks hollowed by years of discipline, hardship, and war. The softness of his childhood had been carved away, chiseled into something sharp. Lethal. Beautiful in a cold, brutal way.He wore a long black coat, the kind lined in silver thread at the collar, shoulders squared with the weight of command. His boots struck the earth like thunder. A ring glinted on his right hand—a crest of the North carved into it. The mark of survival.Not everyone earned it.But Alexander hadn’t just earned it.He’d owne
Adam Levi's office door creased as it swung open. The room was dark, only the orange glow of one desk lamp lighting it. From a half-burned cigar in a crystal ashtray, smoke coiled sloppily. Towering and loaded with ancient leather-bound volumes that smelt of dust, conflict, and tradition, bookshelves ran down the walls The air smelt strongly of cedarwood and ash, swallowing the faint winter trace coming from the window crevices. Silent Alexander entered, his bare feet soft against the smooth hardwood floor. He wore a big jumper that hung off one shoulder with sleeves engulfing his hands. He felt a breeze from the slightly ajar window, but he did not react. His experience with cold was one of adaptation. Adam turned his back on him. He stood behind his desk, wide back stiff under a dark suit. Under low light, the grey in his hair stood more clearly. With one hand he clutched a glass of bourbon, the ice clicking softly as he spun it. His other hand rested on a hefty, sealed, crimso
One Year Later The Levi estate stood silent, wrapped in fog and frost. The mansion, once alive with Rosie’s laughter and sunlight spilling through open windows, had grown cold—like something sacred had been buried inside its walls. A clock ticked softly somewhere in the distance. The fire in the parlor crackled, but it gave no warmth. Adam sat at the edge of his office desk. His hands were stained with oil and blood—both recent. Though the air was cold, his black shirt fit his back and hung with sweat. His tie disappeared from view on the floor next to a broken whisky tumbler. A long gash stretched across the side of his palm, still bleeding. He hadn’t spoken in hours. Not a word. The leather chair behind his desk remained untouched, like a throne he no longer deserved. He no longer ruled with strategy or calculation. He ruled with silence. With steel. With the kind of violence that didn’t end when justice was served—but hunted until it bled out everything. Every na