The relentless torment had pushed Dean’s mind to the brink of collapse. His strength was rapidly draining, every fiber of his being crying out for respite. Yet he knew, deep down, that if he didn’t act now, he would perish in vain.As Shawn yanked his head out of the water once more, Dean seized the fleeting moment. Summoning the last reserves of his strength, he wrenched free from the hand that had clamped down on him like a vice. He crumpled onto the poolside, collapsing against the cold, hard surface, his chest heaving with desperate gasps for air. Wet strands of hair clung to his face as he lowered his head, his voice raspy and exhausted."I can’t remember..." he croaked, the words carrying a note of raw despair. "No matter how hard you push me, it won’t change a thing."Shawn stared at him, the fury on his face giving way to a cold, mocking smile. Slowly, he crouched down, raising a hand to slap Dean’s face lightly. Each tap was deliberate as if savoring the moment. His voice, lo
Shawn halted in his tracks, a cold sneer curling his lips as mockery gleamed in his eyes. “Oh, so you do care about your friend, huh?” he drawled, his voice dripping with disdain. “I ask you to recall certain things, and you respond by bringing up your friend?” His tone was sharp, taunting, as though Dean's question was beneath his notice.Dean clenched his teeth, swallowing the surge of frustration and despair. He knew all too well that in his current state, he had no leverage, no cards to play. Yet, desperation outweighed pride as he pressed on, his voice trembling with plea, “Please… just tell me…”To Dean, this wasn’t merely about a friend. It was about Damon, Chen, and Leo—three people who stood among the precious few he could trust, the pillars of strength in his life. He couldn’t just sit here, powerless and in the dark, while their fates hung by a thread."I could tell you," Shawn murmured, stepping closer, his voice dropping to a low, insidious tone that coiled around Dean li
The question was more rhetorical than genuine—Dean already had a good idea. A secluded location like this could only serve as a front for illicit activities. Yet, something compelled him to ask. To his surprise, this seemingly straightforward inquiry yielded an unexpected clue.Shawn leaned casually against the wall, the faint jingle of keys in his hand punctuating the stillness. His tone carried a strange mix of nonchalance and sentimentality. “This?” he said, glancing around as if seeing the place anew. “This is a villa I gave to that person.”Dean’s attention sharpened instantly, though his expression remained carefully neutral. Shawn’s words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken implications. Who was this person? And why had they been significant enough to warrant such a gift from someone like Shawn?Dean paused for a moment, his mind churning with questions. “That person?” he thought. He didn’t press, choosing instead to remain silent, waiting for Shawn to elaborate.Shawn glanced
Dean trudged through the villa with heavy steps, his pace deliberated and unhurried. Though places like this no longer fazed him—after all, it wasn’t the first time he had been confined in such surroundings—his sharp eyes still swept over every room with practiced vigilance. He pushed open a door and found himself in a study.However, this study was unlike any he had encountered before. The walls, adorned with nearly bare shelves, held little more than a few ornamental objects and a couple of lifeless potted plants. Dean's brow furrowed slightly as he paced around the room, scanning every corner. Yet, not a single book was in sight.“A study without books?” he murmured, a hint of perplexity in his voice. “Doesn’t this mafia boss like to read?”The thought took him back to the other places he’d been held, where the captors were eager to flaunt their cultivated tastes. Lavish rooms often boasted rare art pieces or collections of antique tomes, designed more to impress than to be used. T
The image of ruthless gangs he had seen on the internet instantly flashed through his mind—lawless groups capable of unspeakable deeds. Among them, the Shark Gang stood out. At this moment, Dean was certain: perhaps the Dragon Gang and Cobra Gang weren’t as savage, but the Shark Gang? They were wild beasts, untamed and without conscience."So, it’s true..." Dean muttered under his breath. His grip on the file tightened, his knuckles turning pale. He could feel the fury welling up inside him, threatening to break free. But he knew better. Letting anger consume him now would only make him an easier pawn for Shawn to manipulate.Taking a deep, steadying breath, Dean forced himself to tamp down the storm within. He turned his attention to the other walls in the room, desperate to uncover more clues—especially about the enigmatic figure Shawn kept mentioning. The mystery gnawed at him like a thorn lodged deep in his mind, sharp and relentless."Even the faintest hint will do..." he whisper
The sky was overcast, with gray clouds hanging low, as if adding a somber weight to this sorrowful day. A fine mist of rain fell gently, blurring the distant outlines of the mountains and settling upon the newly laid grass. The funeral procession stood quietly around the grave, each face etched with grief. Black umbrellas bloomed like a sea of darkness beneath the drizzling rain. The coffin was slowly lowered into the earth, and those dressed in somber black bowed their heads in silent prayer.The officiant's voice was soft and mournful, resonating in the stillness of the cemetery as he spoke of Noah Leslie's brief but illustrious life. His name had once been a legend in the business world, a self-made man who built a vast empire from the ground up. Yet today, the man who had once stood invincible now lay quietly in the coffin, a mere part of the past.Noah’s spirit stood silently to the side, watching it all unfold. He saw his wife, Kate Leslie, overcome with grief, her eyes swollen
He struggled, reaching out, desperate to hold onto something—anything—but his hands grasped only air, futilely waving in the emptiness. A cold, creeping chill began to crawl up his spine, sending shivers of dread through his body. His consciousness grew foggy, as though a thick mist was slowly clouding his thoughts, making it harder and harder to focus. The only sensation that remained sharp was a deep, gnawing fear, as if an endless abyss was drawing near, a chasm with no way out.As the darkness spread around him, Noah felt his mind begin to unravel. His limbs grew heavy, as though weighed down by invisible chains, his body sinking into an endless mire where movement was impossible. He could feel the crushing force of something far greater than himself, a relentless tide pushing him toward an unknown, bottomless void. Fear gripped him like a serpent, coiling tighter with every passing second, deepening his sense of helpless despair.Just as his consciousness seemed to slip into the
Noah began to outline the things he needed to learn and understand: Dean’s job responsibilities, the workings of the law firm, the background of his colleagues and superiors. He also jotted down personal matters to address, like managing relationships with family and friends and finding a balance between work and life. When he finished, he felt a slight sense of calm. Closing the notebook, he picked up his coffee and savored it slowly. The bittersweet flavor grounded him, a tangible reminder that this was no dream but a new reality he had to face head-on. Returning to the apartment, Noah once again examined Dean’s records, repeatedly reviewing his educational background, work experience, and social connections. He discovered that Dean was incredibly disciplined and hardworking, excelling academically throughout his life. In university, Dean had earned multiple scholarships and honors, and his involvement in legal projects had already given him a foothold in the field. Despite his yo
The image of ruthless gangs he had seen on the internet instantly flashed through his mind—lawless groups capable of unspeakable deeds. Among them, the Shark Gang stood out. At this moment, Dean was certain: perhaps the Dragon Gang and Cobra Gang weren’t as savage, but the Shark Gang? They were wild beasts, untamed and without conscience."So, it’s true..." Dean muttered under his breath. His grip on the file tightened, his knuckles turning pale. He could feel the fury welling up inside him, threatening to break free. But he knew better. Letting anger consume him now would only make him an easier pawn for Shawn to manipulate.Taking a deep, steadying breath, Dean forced himself to tamp down the storm within. He turned his attention to the other walls in the room, desperate to uncover more clues—especially about the enigmatic figure Shawn kept mentioning. The mystery gnawed at him like a thorn lodged deep in his mind, sharp and relentless."Even the faintest hint will do..." he whisper
Dean trudged through the villa with heavy steps, his pace deliberated and unhurried. Though places like this no longer fazed him—after all, it wasn’t the first time he had been confined in such surroundings—his sharp eyes still swept over every room with practiced vigilance. He pushed open a door and found himself in a study.However, this study was unlike any he had encountered before. The walls, adorned with nearly bare shelves, held little more than a few ornamental objects and a couple of lifeless potted plants. Dean's brow furrowed slightly as he paced around the room, scanning every corner. Yet, not a single book was in sight.“A study without books?” he murmured, a hint of perplexity in his voice. “Doesn’t this mafia boss like to read?”The thought took him back to the other places he’d been held, where the captors were eager to flaunt their cultivated tastes. Lavish rooms often boasted rare art pieces or collections of antique tomes, designed more to impress than to be used. T
The question was more rhetorical than genuine—Dean already had a good idea. A secluded location like this could only serve as a front for illicit activities. Yet, something compelled him to ask. To his surprise, this seemingly straightforward inquiry yielded an unexpected clue.Shawn leaned casually against the wall, the faint jingle of keys in his hand punctuating the stillness. His tone carried a strange mix of nonchalance and sentimentality. “This?” he said, glancing around as if seeing the place anew. “This is a villa I gave to that person.”Dean’s attention sharpened instantly, though his expression remained carefully neutral. Shawn’s words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken implications. Who was this person? And why had they been significant enough to warrant such a gift from someone like Shawn?Dean paused for a moment, his mind churning with questions. “That person?” he thought. He didn’t press, choosing instead to remain silent, waiting for Shawn to elaborate.Shawn glanced
Shawn halted in his tracks, a cold sneer curling his lips as mockery gleamed in his eyes. “Oh, so you do care about your friend, huh?” he drawled, his voice dripping with disdain. “I ask you to recall certain things, and you respond by bringing up your friend?” His tone was sharp, taunting, as though Dean's question was beneath his notice.Dean clenched his teeth, swallowing the surge of frustration and despair. He knew all too well that in his current state, he had no leverage, no cards to play. Yet, desperation outweighed pride as he pressed on, his voice trembling with plea, “Please… just tell me…”To Dean, this wasn’t merely about a friend. It was about Damon, Chen, and Leo—three people who stood among the precious few he could trust, the pillars of strength in his life. He couldn’t just sit here, powerless and in the dark, while their fates hung by a thread."I could tell you," Shawn murmured, stepping closer, his voice dropping to a low, insidious tone that coiled around Dean li
The relentless torment had pushed Dean’s mind to the brink of collapse. His strength was rapidly draining, every fiber of his being crying out for respite. Yet he knew, deep down, that if he didn’t act now, he would perish in vain.As Shawn yanked his head out of the water once more, Dean seized the fleeting moment. Summoning the last reserves of his strength, he wrenched free from the hand that had clamped down on him like a vice. He crumpled onto the poolside, collapsing against the cold, hard surface, his chest heaving with desperate gasps for air. Wet strands of hair clung to his face as he lowered his head, his voice raspy and exhausted."I can’t remember..." he croaked, the words carrying a note of raw despair. "No matter how hard you push me, it won’t change a thing."Shawn stared at him, the fury on his face giving way to a cold, mocking smile. Slowly, he crouched down, raising a hand to slap Dean’s face lightly. Each tap was deliberate as if savoring the moment. His voice, lo
“Ah!” he gasped, his body still reeling from the first blow, but there was no time to recover. The second strike came almost immediately, this time even harder. The belt lashed into him with vicious precision, the pain slicing through his composure and digging straight into his nerves.Dean clenched his jaw, trying with every ounce of strength not to cry out, but the sheer intensity overwhelmed him. A guttural growl escaped his throat as he doubled over as much as his restraints allowed, his breathing ragged and uneven.Shawn watched Dean with cold, calculating eyes, savoring the power he held over him. He raised the belt slowly, the motion deliberated, his voice unsettlingly calm. “Remember yet? Or do you need me to help you jog your memory?”Dean’s mind raced, panic beginning to set in. He realized that if he didn’t find a way out of this, he might not make it through the night. His chest tightened with each breath, the taste of blood rising in his throat as he struggled to stay con
Before the words had fully left the stranger’s mouth, Dean was struck by a searing pain in his abdomen. The man had kicked him hard, the force so brutal that Dean doubled over, a stifled groan escaping his lips. “Ah… “. It was hurt.He barely had a moment to recover before another vicious kick landed, this time slamming into his shoulder. The impact sent him sprawling to the cold, unyielding floor. With his hands bound, he had no way to steady himself. His face scraped against the rough surface, leaving his skin stinging and raw.Gasping for air, Dean barely had time to process the situation before a heavy boot pressed down mercilessly on his chest. The weight crushed his ribcage, making it almost impossible to breathe. He squirmed instinctively, but the pressure only increased. The man above him let out a mocking chuckle, his voice dripping with derision.“Struggle, Dean,” he sneered. “Let’s see how proud you can still be.”Dean gritted his teeth, cold sweat streaming down his forehe
"I already tried—it’s not working!" Damon snapped; his voice still calm but tinged with undeniable urgency.Suddenly, Leo's panicked scream burst through the phone. "Dean, I’m scared! Ahhh!"Dean’s chest tightened, his pulse racing. He turned to look out the back window, just in time to see Damon’s car lurch forward and slam into the rear of Chen’s vehicle. The impact was jarring, sending a violent shudder through the car, but Chen’s reflexes were razor-sharp. He gripped the wheel and kept the car steady with precision."Get out of the way!" Damon’s voice shouted over the phone. "I need a clear path—something to force the car to stop!"Chen quickly adjusted his speed, steering the car with precision as he calmly replied, "Got it. Don’t panic!" As he spoke, he veered the car toward the shoulder, creating enough space for Damon’s car to surge ahead.Damon’s vehicle shot past, barely grazing Chen’s car in the process. Chen didn’t give chase right away. Instead, he brought the car to a co
"You!" Leo's expression shifted in an instant from aggrieved to furious. He brandished the fork in his hand, as if ready to charge forward and demand justice at any moment. Unfortunately, faced with the twins' calm and unwavering demeanor, his attempted retaliation came across as both feeble and comical.To diffuse the tension, Tara stood up and clapped her hands. "Alright, alright, that's enough! No more arguing! Such a delightful meal deserves the perfect drink to go with it." She flashed a sly smile before turning to the car and pulling out a mysterious box. Inside were her prized cocktail tools and an assortment of spirits. "Today, you’ll get to witness my masterpiece!"And with that, Tara's cocktail performance began. She moved with practiced finesse—shaking, pouring, and spinning with fluid precision. The liquor sparkled under the glow of the fire and the soft light, casting mesmerizing hues that danced like rainbows. The seamless flow of her motions left everyone stunned, mouth