Gwen sat in the living room, her eyes scanning every corner of the room, trying to understand the tension hanging in the air. Dominic was on the phone, his face looking serious and focused. Not far away, a man stood, his face shadowed in the dim light.
The man suddenly stepped forward, and Gwen felt her heart race. "Gwen, this is Ethan," Dominic said, his voice firm. "He’s... my brother."
Gwen was taken aback, her mouth slightly open. "Your brother? But... I didn’t know you had a sibling."
Ethan gave a faint smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Yeah, I’m the child from our father's illicit relationship, but Mr. Charles never acknowledged my existence," he said, his voice calm yet tinged with sadness.
Dominic looked at Ethan, appearing anxious. "Ethan, we don't have time to discuss that now. We're facing Rachel and Jared."
"I know about the scandal," Ethan inter
The room was still filled with tension after Rachel's departure. Gwen clung tightly to Dominic’s arm, trying to calm herself, but her mind kept racing. What would Rachel do now? And could they really trust Ethan?Ethan stepped into the center of the room, his voice calm but weighted with pressure. "We can't wait any longer. Rachel isn't playing games. If she really has proof about our past, she can bring us down."Dominic rubbed his face in frustration. "I know, Ethan. But what kind of counterattack are you planning? We can't just fight fire with fire."Ethan gave a slight smile, his gaze sharp. "You're wrong, Dominic. That's exactly what we need to do. I have a way to take Rachel down before she can do anything."Gwen, who had been silently listening, felt her anxiety growing. "What exactly are you planning, Ethan? And why are you so sure this will work?"Ethan stepped clo
"What do you gain from destroying Rachel?" Gwen added.Ethan glanced at Gwen briefly, and for the first time, his mask seemed to crack. There was a flash of something darker, deeper—hatred. "Rachel has ruined other people's lives. Now, it's time for her to pay."Gwen held her breath, her suspicions slowly forming. But before she could voice her thoughts, Ethan straightened up again, his expression calm once more. "Trust me, this will work. And when the time comes, she won't even see it coming."Dominic nodded, though Gwen knew he still harbored doubts. But in this secret war, Ethan was their best—and only—weapon. The game had begun, and it was only a matter of time before Rachel's world collapsed.∞Ethan stepped out of the room, leaving Dominic and Gwen alone. Once outside, he allowed himself a brief smile. Every step had been calculated, every word craft
The person on the phone with Ethan was one of his trusted confidants, someone who had been working behind the scenes to ensure that every plan went smoothly. After the call, Ethan sped off in his car, heading quickly toward his next target.The road felt like a racetrack, where every second counted. Ethan had been planning this move for a long time—the way to take down Jared and ensure that Rachel had no one left to rely on. But there was one thing he had hidden from everyone, even Dominic and Gwen: his true motivation.As Ethan sped down the road, his mind drifted back to the past. Rachel wasn’t just someone who had dumped him—she was the person who had taken everything from him: his dignity, his confidence, even his future. For years, Ethan held back, waiting for the right moment to strike. And now, that moment was finally within reach. But it wasn’t just revenge driving him. Beneath it all was a deeper pain, a woun
Ethan stared at her sharply. "We don't have a choice. Rachel has schemed. If she has a plan, we need to intercept it before it's too late."The car sped towards Rachel's family home, the streets appearing empty and dark. When they arrived, Ethan felt a strange vibration within himself. The house looked eerie, surrounded by tall trees, as if hiding many secrets.They walked cautiously towards the front door, Ethan checking around to ensure nothing suspicious. Upon reaching the door, he sighed and pressed the doorbell.No answer.He glanced at Marco and nodded, a signal to go in. Ethan pushed the door, and a creaking sound filled the air. They entered the dim and silent house, where shadows flickered on the walls."Rachel!" Ethan called out, his voice echoing in the room.No response.Ethan began walking down the long hall
Rachel's voice echoed, shattering the fragile calm. "What do you expect, Ethan? To turn things around?"Ethan stared back firmly. "We don't need to do this, Rachel. We can resolve it in a better way."Rachel laughed cynically, her laughter boiling his blood. "Do you think I'll let you go after everything you've done? Now, you'll pay for it all."Marco stood beside Ethan, his face tense. "Rachel, this isn't the way out. What you're doing will destroy everything!"Rachel shifted her attention to Marco, as if just noticing him. "Oh, Marco. Always Ethan's protector, aren't you? But now, you're both trapped. So, what are you going to do?"Footsteps approaching heightened the tension. Ethan struggled to keep his composure. "Rachel, don't be foolish."He could see doubt in Rachel's eyes, but her anger outweighed it. "Who's being foolish? You or me, look at whe
"We have no other choice; if we don't act now, we'll regret it for the rest of our lives," Ethan asserted firmly.The atmosphere in the room was tense, and as footsteps drew nearer, Ethan felt time slipping away. He knew they had to move quickly and smartly. "We need to do this now. Who's going to meet with Jared and try to persuade him?""Let me do it," Marco replied firmly. "I know how to approach him.""Alright," Ethan said, feeling somewhat relieved. As they prepared to execute the plan, the sound of approaching footsteps increased Ethan's discomfort. He sensed the tension in the air—this decisive moment could either end well or bring them all down."Whoever comes, we face them together," Ethan declared, trying to rally their spirits.Suddenly, the door opened and someone entered the room. The light illuminated their face, drawing everyone's gaze. The tension in the roo
The morning light gently filtered through the windows, illuminating room after room in Mr. Charles's residence. The cool breeze carried the fresh scent of the garden outside, while the sound of birds chirping filled the air with a deceptive sense of peace.Despite the calm atmosphere, something weighed heavily on Ethan’s heart as he stood on his bedroom balcony, staring out without truly seeing. His thoughts kept drifting back to the events of last night—the confusion, the anger, and the betrayal he felt from his grandfather's actions.Downstairs, Gwen had arrived at the estate. The night before, Mr. Charles hadn’t allowed her to join them, forcing her to wait at home. Only this morning was she able to follow, but the beautiful woman didn’t come empty-handed. She brought food for everyone.With a bright smile, she entered the kitchen, her hands full with bags of food for her husband and anyone els
Inside the house, Dominic stood before Mr. Charles. "Grandpa, allow me to go. Rachel must be stopped now, or this will only get worse."But Mr. Charles remained silent, his gaze vacant, while Dominic anxiously awaited a response. The answer didn’t come. It wasn’t just the handsome man who was awaiting the elder’s decision, but also his wife. Gwen was curious whether the grandfather would grant permission to his grandson or not.However, the old man said nothing. Instead, he turned and walked away, leaving them both behind. Dominic and Gwen exchanged glances and then followed their grandfather.Outside the grand estate, Ethan was still having a serious conversation with Victor. “Why won’t you let me handle my own business?” he snapped, his voice raised, clearly frustrated with his counterpart.“Look, Ethan, I know you—”“
The echoing gunshot came from Victor. In an instant, he fired several rapid shots that struck Rachel's men lurking behind the door, causing their bodies to collapse immediately.Wayne breathed a sigh of relief while peeking into the now-silent hallway. “How did you know they were there?”Victor put on a sharp expression and smirked briefly, “I’m always ready for unexpected attacks. Don’t lose focus; we still have other tasks.”Pierre, who had been hiding behind the wall, took a deep breath. “If it weren't for you, Victor, we might have been easy targets.” He wiped the sweat from his forehead, looking a bit shaky. “Are we really safe now?”“Don’t feel too relieved, Pierre,” Wayne said, patting his partner’s shoulder. “It’s not over until we’re really out of here.”Victor's m
Victor stepped out of the building, approaching the white car waiting in the parking lot. Inside, two of his trained subordinates, Pierre and Wayne, were ready, their faces showing determination and seriousness. The car gleamed under the streetlights, as if ready to plunge into the darkness of the night.The car sped quickly down the empty nighttime streets, the tense atmosphere haunting every second of the journey. Victor stared ahead, his mind racing. He wasn’t just carrying a well-crafted plan, but also holding the hope of realizing a long-awaited ambition. I must not fail,” he whispered to himself. Every detail of this plan had to be executed perfectly.Upon arriving at the location believed to be Rachel's new house, Victor felt adrenaline coursing through his veins. Before stepping out of the car, he instructed his men to stay alert. As soon as they got out, they noticed that the surroundings of the house appeared calm. Howe
Theo looked surprised but quickly realized that Victor knew more than he had suspected. “That’s right, Miss Gwen just wanted to make sure everything was alright,” he replied, trying to keep his tone calm.Victor continued, staring intensely into Theo’s eyes. “You need to know that Mr. Charles and I are planning something very secretive to deal with the challenge from Rachel. We can't let this situation get out of control.”Hearing that, Theo's attention was immediately focused. “What do you mean, what plan?”“What do you mean, what plan?” Theo asked again, his curiosity piqued despite knowing the risks involved.Victor nodded, realizing that Theo was the right person to enlist for help, but he also needed to be reminded of the importance of secrecy. “We’re preparing a strategy to deal with her, but this isn’t somethin
Victor stared at Dominic for a moment before averting his gaze, as if trying to avoid Dominic’s intense stare. “I’m sorry, Mr. Dominic,” he replied quietly but firmly. “I’m just doing what Mr. Charles asked. What they talked about… that’s not my place to explain.”Dominic frowned, dissatisfied with the answer. “So you’re just following Grandpa’s orders? Rachel comes to this house late at night, and you don’t feel the slightest need to tell me?”Victor took a breath before responding calmly. “This is all with Mr. Charles’s knowledge, Dominic. I’m just carrying out my duties as instructed by him, and he has the authority to decide what should be shared.”Dominic sighed, feeling frustrated by the overly formal response. “Victor, you’ve been working here for a long time. Is there really nothing you can tel
Theo shook his head, his face filled with concern. "I don't know Rachel's exact intentions. But from the moves she's making, it seems she's getting ready to open the option for 'open warfare.' This is not a usual occurrence; she might be sending a warning or, worse, a direct threat."Dominic looked at Gwen with eyes that reflected his worry. His concern for their Grandpa's safety made him react immediately. He grabbed his phone and, without hesitation, called Christ. There was a long ring before Christ's firm voice answered."Dominic?" Christ asked, his tone attentive.Dominic spoke quickly, his voice filled with urgency. "Christ, we just got word that Rachel is at Grandpa's house. I don't know what her plan is, but I need your help. Send your men there now to secure Grandpa's house. Don't let her cause any trouble."Christ didn't ask many questions, understanding the urgency in Dominic's voice. "Got
Dominic explained about Theo's plan to follow the car that was suspected to belong to Rachel, which had been speeding toward the hospital, and how they arrived without news from the second team. Ethan's expression suddenly turned serious. "You guys need to be careful when you head back.""We'll be fine," Theo interjected, trying to reassure them. "I'll personally ensure Dominic and Gwen's safety.""Then you should leave before it gets too late."Gwen agreed with her brother-in-law's statement, and they said their goodbyes to Ethan. Dominic entrusted his brother to Daniel. "Please take care of my mischievous brother, the situation is getting out of control, and Rachel is getting bolder with us.""Yes, sir. I will take care of Mr. Ethan as best as I can."Dominic and Gwen returned home under tight escort from Theo, even sharing the same car. The atmosphere inside the vehicle was qu
Mr. Charles's thoughts were now filled with plans to retaliate against Rachel's actions without showing his face. "You know what to do, Victor. Prepare everything as quickly as possible. I want to ensure every step we take pushes her further into a corner."As the car continued down the road, Mr. Charles felt a growing determination to defend his family. For him, this wasn’t just about revenge—this was about protecting his family and preserving their honor. And with Victor by his side, he knew that his plans would unfold smoothly, as they always had.∞That night, in the living room of Mr. Charles's house, the warm atmosphere contrasted sharply with the tension rising between Dominic and his grandfather. Dominic stood tall before Mr. Charles, determination visible in his serious gaze. Mr. Charles, sitting in his chair, looked at his grandson with a stern yet gentle expression."Are
Daniel stepped into the emergency room, hearing the steady beep of medical monitors beyond the curtains and the occasional footsteps of nurses. His heart raced with worry for Ethan's condition.As the curtain was drawn back, his gaze locked onto Ethan lying on the bed. But what shocked Daniel was the smile on Ethan’s face. He seemed perfectly fine, showing no signs of having fainted or suffering from poisoning. In an instant, Daniel’s worry was replaced by deep confusion.“Sir…” Daniel spoke softly, still unable to believe what he was seeing. “Are… you alright?”Ethan looked at him casually and shrugged. “Well, yes, I’m fine. Why? Do I look like someone on their deathbed?” he replied.Daniel was stunned. “You look… incredibly healthy. I saw you faint suddenly after drinking Rachel’s drink.”
"Of course, we’ve arrived here. I can’t back down, especially since you’re here to protect me. Right?" Ethan replied. "Now let’s set up a plan: I’ll meet her, and you’ll stay nearby. Make sure no one suspects you. Do you understand?""I'm sorry, sir, but this isn't right. Our agreement was for you to follow my rules," Daniel rejected, unwilling to accept Ethan changing their arrangement."That agreement no longer applies, Daniel. What needs to be agreed upon is my plan," Ethan retorted, turning to open the car door, but Daniel quickly locked it from the driver’s side. This surprised and annoyed Ethan. "Daniel, what are you doing? Open the door.""I'm sorry, sir, but changing the agreement suddenly is not allowed," he said while starting the car."Don't be reckless, Daniel. Turn off the engine. If Rachel finds out I brought someone else, my plan could fall apa