The room was cold. Even with the heavy silk sheets pulled around her fragile frame, the chill settled deep into her bones. But it wasn’t the night air that made her tremble—it was the memory. The ghosts of her choices haunted her every waking moment.And now Adrian was back.Alive.Her heart pounded in her chest, a painful reminder that the past could never be buried. Not fully. Not when blood had been spilled to keep the Blackwood empire intact.She leaned back against the headboard, closing her eyes, and for a moment—just a moment—she allowed herself to return to where it all began.The day their father died. Her own son. Fifteen Years AgoThe Blackwood patriarch had been a cruel man. Powerful. Merciless. And utterly obsessed with legacy.When news of his death broke, the boardroom of Blackwood Enterprises became a battlefield.And at the center of it all stood Adrian.He was the eldest—by only a year—but the difference between him and Damion could not have been greater. Where Dami
End of FlashBackThe echoes of the past refused to fade.After the door had clicked shut behind Adrian, the old woman—Blackwood matriarch and queen of a crumbling empire—remained frozen in her bed. Her thin fingers trembled as they clutched the silk sheets, her heart pounding so violently she thought it might tear through her chest.He was alive.And worse—he wanted the key.The very thing that had ignited this blood feud between her grandsons.For years, she had convinced herself that what she did was necessary. That she had saved the Blackwood name from Adrian’s recklessness. But tonight, as the shadow of her past stepped back into her world, she realized the truth.She had created a monster.And now, it was coming for her.Her hands shook as she reached for the burner phone hidden beneath her bedside table. With effort, she steadied herself, breathing through the cold panic clawing at her throat.The line rang once—twice—before a voice answered. Deep and professional. “Madam?”“He
The soft clink of silverware against porcelain filled the intimate space of the restaurant. Candlelight flickered between them, casting a warm glow over their meal. For the first time in what felt like forever, Carmela felt a strange sense of normalcy—like they were just any other couple enjoying dinner together.But that illusion shattered when Damion’s phone buzzed against the table.His entire demeanor shifted.Carmela watched as he reached for the device, his expression unreadable as he glanced at the caller ID. Without a word, he answered, bringing the phone to his ear.“Speak.”The voice on the other end was muffled, but Carmela could hear the urgency in the tone. Damion’s jaw clenched slightly.“When?” he asked, his voice quieter now, but colder.A pause.“And he just left?”Carmela frowned, setting down her fork. The look on Damion’s face made it urgent. What was happening this time around?Another long silence stretched between them before Damion let out a slow breath, his fi
The tension still clung to Damion like a second skin as he stepped out of Adrian’s penthouse. The night air was crisp, but it did nothing to cool the simmering rage beneath his calm exterior. Adrian was playing a game—one he wasn’t fully revealing yet. And that unsettled Damion more than anything. Sliding into the backseat of his black Mercedes, he exhaled sharply before glancing at his driver. “Home,” he ordered. The car smoothly pulled away from the curb, the city lights casting fleeting reflections across the tinted windows. Damion loosened his tie slightly, his fingers brushing over his temple as he tried to piece together his brother’s true intentions. Adrian hadn’t denied anything. But he also hadn’t given him a straight answer. That meant he was waiting for something. And Damion had a feeling whatever it was—he wouldn’t like it. Meanwhile at a long distance in the night air, Carmela sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the untouched plate of food Lily had brought
The estate was quiet when Carmela stepped inside, the grand foyer dimly lit by the soft glow of the chandelier above. The silence was a stark contrast to the storm inside her mind.She had spent the entire car ride thinking about Damion—about the way his voice had sounded over the phone, about the way he had left the restaurant so abruptly.Even now, she wasn’t sure if she had made a mistake by returning back home and obeying Damion’s wishes when asked her to come home.But then her eyes landed on him.Damion stood by the bar in the living area, pouring himself a drink, his broad shoulders tense. He had already changed out of his suit jacket, his white shirt slightly unbuttoned at the collar, the sleeves rolled up to his forearms.The sight of him stole her breath for a moment.He turned when he heard her footsteps, his gaze locking onto hers instantly.“You’re back,” he said, setting the glass down.“You are too,” she countered, her voice softer than she intended.He watched her clos
Flashback – One Year AgoThe city skyline stretched endlessly in front of him, neon lights blinking against the dark canvas of the night. Lucas leaned against the balcony railing of the upscale lounge, his sharp eyes scanning the bustling crowd below.He had just returned to the city after years abroad, building his own fortune in silence, away from the suffocating expectations that came with his last name.He had no plans of getting tangled in old affairs.But then—“Elena.”She turned at the sound of her name, her red lips curling into a knowing smile the moment she saw him.“Well, well,” she purred, stepping closer. “Look who decided to crawl back.”Lucas chuckled, swirling the whiskey in his glass before taking a slow sip. “Miss me?”Elena tilted her head, her dark eyes glittering with mischief. “Should I have?”He smirked. “Depends.”She hummed, stepping beside him, resting her arms against the railing. “It’s been years, Lucas. I assumed you disappeared for good.”Lucas exhaled,
Lucas’s car screeched to a halt outside Elena’s house. Rushing quickly. His fingers tightened around the steering wheel as he exhaled sharply, trying to steady his thoughts.Elena had sounded frantic on the phone—terrified in a way he had never heard before. And that alone unsettled him.He had known Elena for years. She was cunning, manipulative, and never the type to lose her composure.For her to be this panicked… something had gone terribly wrong. Really wrong. Shoving open the door, he strode toward the entrance, barely knocking before pushing inside.The house was eerily silent.Then—“Lucas.”Her voice was barely a whisper.His gaze snapped to the living room, where she stood frozen, her face pale.And at her feet—Blood.His breath hitched for half a second before his eyes trailed to the man lying motionless on the shattered remains of the coffee table.He moved before his thoughts could catch up, kneeling beside the body and pressing two fingers to the man’s neck.Nothing.
The silence in Elena’s house was suffocating.She sat on the edge of her bed, her hands clasped so tightly in her lap that her knuckles turned white. The events of the night replayed in her head like a broken record—the sickening thud of his body hitting the glass table, the pool of blood spreading across her floor, Lucas’s firm grip on her wrist as he told her to calm the hell down.Her stomach twisted.It was done.The body was buried.And yet, the feeling of dread hadn’t left her.She reached for the wine glass on her bedside table, her fingers trembling as she brought it to her lips. The alcohol burned her throat, but it did little to soothe the panic clawing at her insides.A sudden vibration jolted her, making her nearly drop the glass.Her phone.She grabbed it quickly, her heart racing when she saw the name on the screen.Lucas.Her thumb hovered over the answer button for a second before she finally swiped. “Hello?”“You still panicking?”His voice was calm, smooth—as if they
The hospital halls were suffocating with tension. The air smelled of antiseptic and blood, the remnants of the battle they had just fought within these very walls. Nurses and doctors rushed past, their hurried whispers filling the corridor. The sterile white lights flickered slightly, casting a dim glow over the linoleum floor. Carmela stood frozen just outside the emergency room doors, her heart hammering in her chest. She hadn’t moved since they wheeled Lucas away, her fingers clenched so tightly together that her nails dug into her palms. The moment had come. The doors swung open with force, and a team of doctors and nurses emerged, their uniforms stained with traces of blood. Lucas was being wheeled out on a stretcher, his skin pale, his breathing shallow. A thick bandage covered his torso, evidence of the emergency surgery he had just undergone. “Get him to recovery now!” one of the doctors barked as they rushed him down the hallway. Carmela’s feet moved before she could th
The night air was thick with the scent of damp earth and pine, the cold breeze whispering through the trees as Adrian—Damion’s soul trapped within his brother’s body—moved through the dense forest with calculated steps. His men flanked him on either side, their expressions grim, their senses on high alert. The moon, hanging full and heavy above them, cast eerie silver streaks through the towering branches.They had been searching for hours.Every step forward felt like he was walking deeper into the unknown, further into the tangled fate that bound him and Adrian together. The weight of the curse pressed down on him, a reminder that time was slipping away. If they failed, if they couldn’t return the key to its rightful place before it was too late—both he and Adrian would cease to exist.A final death. A complete erasure.He clenched his jaw, forcing the thought from his mind. He refused to accept that as his fate.“This place feels cursed,” one of his men, Rowan, muttered as he swept
The flashing red and blue lights of the police cars flooded the hospital corridor as Elena screamed, her voice raw with rage and desperation. Two officers held her arms tightly as she thrashed against them, her face twisted in fury.“You traitor!” she spat at Lucas, her eyes burning with betrayal as they dragged her away. “You promised to protect me! You said we were in this together!”Lucas stood still, his breathing heavy, his body leaning slightly to the side as blood soaked his shirt. He coughed, his lips parting as if to respond, but no words came.“Take her away,” Carmela ordered, her voice cold, emotionless. The officers nodded, shoving Elena forward as she continued to struggle.“I won’t forget this, Lucas!” Elena’s shriek echoed down the hallway as they forced her out of sight.Lucas exhaled heavily, the pain in his side intensifying as his knees buckled.Then, everything erupted into chaos.“He’s losing too much blood!” one of the nurses cried out as she rushed forward.“Get
The air in the hospital was thick with tension. The rhythmic beeping of the machines in Damion’s room was the only sound before the sudden, heavy footsteps of approaching officers shattered the silence.Elena stood over the unconscious Damion, her fingers tightening around the syringe she was about to inject into his IV. Her expression was cold, eyes locked onto his unmoving face.“You’re not waking up again, Damion,” she whispered.Just as she was about to press the needle into his arm—Bang!The door burst open. A flood of officers stormed inside, their weapons drawn.“FREEZE!” one of them commanded, their voices a chorus of authority.Elena’s head snapped up, her face flashing from shock to rage.Then, stepping into the room, standing tall and unwavering, was Carmela. Behind her, more officers poured in, blocking any chance of escape.Elena’s hand trembled. How? How had Carmela gotten here so quickly?Then, Carmela’s sharp voice rang out.“Arrest her.”Elena’s eyes widened.“What?!
Elena’s eyes met his in the mirror, and for a long, charged moment, the two remained silent, each lost in their own inner turmoil. “So what do we do now?” she finally asked, her voice trembling with desperation and uncertainty. “Where do I find him?”Lucas’s response was measured, almost weary. “The hospital. Damion’s body is still in the ICU—if not fully alive, at least it’s there, and we might be able to coax some stability back into him. I have a contact who says there’s a weak but steady signal coming from the west wing.”Elena’s lips pressed into a thin line. “And if I go there… if I end him?”Lucas’s eyes darkened. “If you do that, Elena, you’ll not only lose him forever—you’ll be condemning our entire future. The curse is not something you can simply end with a bullet. It’s a twisted force that binds us all. If you take that step, there will be no coming back.”Her voice broke as she whispered, “I have to try, Lucas. I have to finish what I started.”Lucas shook his head, anger
Previously The conversation had ended in a heavy, charged silence as the storm had raged overhead, and Lucas had promised her that they would do everything possible to find Damion. But deep down, he had also cursed the day she decided that ending his life was the solution. He had known the risks, the unthinkable consequences—but he had also known that her ambition might drive her to acts of unimaginable cruelty.“Remember, Elena,” Lucas had whispered as they parted ways that night, “if you succeed in taking him out, you’re not just ending a life—you’re condemning their family to a fate worse than death. And if you fail… then the curse will claim you both.”“They’re all myths and legends and…”Elena had looked at him, her eyes dark with determination, and then had nodded, saying, “I know, Lucas. But sometimes, the only way to end a curse is to break it, even if it means sacrificing everything.”⸻Back to the PresentInside the car, the memory of that night still burned in Lucas’s eyes
The rain was coming down in a steady, relentless drizzle, blurring the neon lights of the city into streaks of color as dusk settled over the urban sprawl. In the darkness near a hospital parking lot, Elena Carter sprinted along the slick pavement, her breath ragged and heart pounding in her ears. Her eyes, wide with desperation and cold resolve, scanned the dimly lit street as she heard the distant wail of sirens drawing near. She didn’t dare slow down—not now. Every second mattered.Just as she rounded a corner, a black car screeched to a halt in front of her. The headlights illuminated her path, and without hesitation, Elena dove for the open door. The car’s door slammed shut behind her, and as the vehicle pulled away from the curb, she slumped into the back seat, trying to catch her breath.Inside the car, the familiar low rumble of the engine provided a brief, shaky comfort. Lucas, the driver and a man whose loyalty was as troubled as his secrets, glanced in the rearview mirror
Carmela’s lip trembled as she shook her head, tears falling freely. “Then why have you chose to hide away and leave me, Damion? Why do you let me see you as that man? I need you to be Damion—the man I loved, the man who was supposed to be my future. If you don’t come back to me, I’ll be left with nothing but the memory of a lie.”A deep pain flashed in his eyes, and for a moment, the two stood locked in a desperate, wordless embrace. The promise of reunion, of healing, hung between them like a fragile thread. “I’m sorry,” he whispered, his voice raw with emotion. “I wish I could stay, but if I go and never return… then you must take care of Carmela for me. Promise me that you’ll protect yourself, that you’ll keep YOU safe, even if I’m not there.”Catherine, who had listened silently, stepped forward, her voice barely audible yet firm. “He speaks the truth, though his fate remains uncertain. The key is the only hope for our salvation—and for Damion to reclaim what was lost.”At that mo
Catherine’s eyes softened, and she pressed her hands together. “Then know this, my child: your actions will have consequences far beyond what you can imagine. If you do not succeed, if you fail to break this curse, then both you and Damion will be erased from existence. Our family’s legacy, all that we have built, will vanish like mist in the morning sun. I beg you—think of Carmela. Think of the love she has for you, and the hope she carries that one day you will come back whole.”For a long moment, silence reigned between them as the weight of her words sank deep into his heart. Adrian’s eyes shone with a mixture of determination and sorrow as he finally spoke, his voice low and resolute. “I promise you, Grandmother. I will retrieve the key, no matter the cost. And if, by some cruel twist of fate, I do not return… then please, take care of Carmela. Let her know that I fought until the end, that I loved her with all I had, and that my sacrifice was not in vain.”Catherine’s gaze soft