Brandon, clearly shocked, tried to regain his footing, but Julian was already on the offensive. He moved swiftly, landing a flurry of punches and kicks that forced Brandon to go on the defensive. His confidence slipping away with each hit. Claire’s face scowled with disbelief. She thought Brandon was the martial artist here and Julian didn't know how to fight. ‘Is this real?” another comment appeared. “I thought Brandon was supposed to be a fighter?’ Brandon finally tried to throw another punch, but Julian sidestepped and swept his legs out from under him. With a loud thud, Brandon hit the ground, gasping for air. Julian didn't stop, seizing the opportunity that Brandon was down to beat him down. The chat exploded as they witnessed everything. ‘NO WAY! Brandon’s down?!’ ‘Julian is kicking his ass! This is wild!’ ‘Bro, Brandon’s got nothing. Julian’s owning him.’ Claire’s grip on her phone tightened in anger, as she watched Brandon struggle to get back up. The satisfact
Julian didn’t have to wait long. As he sat back in the chair, the soft ding of the elevator doors opening caught his attention. He looked and saw Vera stepping out. She looked very stunning, elegant, yet approachable, a blend of confidence and friendliness that seemed effortless. She wore a blue female blazer that fit her well, over a white blouse, pairing it with blue trousers and sleek black heels. Her hair was neatly styled in a bun, with a few loose strands framing her face. Her eyes landing on Julian, her face lit up with a smile that was as genuine as it was welcoming. She made her way over with an ease, her heels clicking softly against the polished floor. "Julian!" she greeted him, her voice was cheerful as she extended her hand. "I’m so glad you could make it. Welcome to Prescott and Lawson." Julian stood up, offering a nod of acknowledgement before shaking her hand,"Thanks, Vera," he replied casuallyl,"I’ve been looking forward to our meeting." "I’m glad to hear that
Julian looked at her and then at the leather folder wondering what was inside it. Before he could ask, she already started explaining “These are your accounts,” Vera said, her tone matter of fact. “Everything is set up under your name, including the private accounts and international holdings. You'll find the details inside. Access to a vast network of your assets, not just in liquid funds but in investments, properties, and secured resources.”Julian nodded, opening the folder with a steady hand. As his eyes scanned the documents, his mind immediately began processing the figures. The numbers were staggering, beyond anything he had expected. Billions, even hundreds of billions, in various accounts, investments, and assets. He quickly took note of the amounts listed, though the wealth itself didn’t shock him. He had always known that the business empire his parents run was worth a lot. What struck him, however, was the sheer scale of it, how much power and influence lay at his finge
Julian also stopped and urned to face Vera, wondering why she stopped all of a sudden. Just then, three figures approached them. Julian darted his gaze toward them, immediately recognizing the old man, Mr. Bannerman, who walked ahead with a familiar air of authority.“I have to introduce you to some people.” She said, “I'm sure you recognize Mr. Bannerman,” Vera said casually, her tone light.“I would be offended if he didn’t remember me,” Mr. Bannerman joked with a warm smile.Julian nodded, returning the smile. “Of course, I remember him.”“I’m glad you finally decided to claim the inheritance,” Mr. Bannerman continued. “I know it’s what your whole family wanted. May they rest in peace.”Julian nodded in response.Vera turned to the two women who stood next to Mr. Bannerman, and Julian’s eyes quickly scanned them. Both women were dressed in dark, sleek attire each exuding a quiet confidence that commanded attention.The first woman, with raven-black hair and piercing hazel eyes, e
After Julian agreed with them that he should have nyx as his bodyguard, everyone looked a little relieved. They knew the moment the people who had killed his family found out that he was back they would target him.Vera let out a sigh, she clasped her hands together, her gaze fixed on Julian. “Alright, now that we’ve settled that,” she said, her voice businesslike. “Let’s move on.”Without further delay, she motioned for Julian to follow her. Nyx trailed behind them silently, her presence was like a shadow that seemed to blend with the air. Julian didn't even notice her.As they stepped out of the lobby, the sleek, modern building opened up into a large space that led to a big garage. The shiny floor sparkled under the bright lights above, reflecting rows of expensive cars neatly arranged.Julian’s eyes widened a little as he looked around. Inside the garage, there was a line of luxury cars, and not just any cars , every famous brand he could think of was there. Lamborghini, Ferrari,
Julian stepped into the villa. The conversation in the room ceased abruptly, when Scarlett's family noticed him walk in. The Lancasters were all gathered in the room, their gazes sharp and unwelcoming as they settled on him. Each glance was a sign of coldness and contempt, a silent declaration that he didn’t belong. Julian could feel it the moment he stepped inside, they didn’t want him here. But he wasn’t surprised that they didn't want him here, nor did he feel offended. He didn’t blame them. Honestly, he didn’t want to be here either. If Scarlett hadn’t called him, saying it was important, he would be somewhere else, maybe visiting one of the many companies he had just inherited. He was here for one reason: to sign the divorce papers and leave. His eyes landed on Scarlett, who stood by the staircase in a black blouse and jeans. She looked as stunning as ever, but Julian didn’t care. Her beauty didn’t matter to him. All he wanted was to get this over with. “Hi, I’m Jul
The entire family discussed Scarlett’s broken engagement with Nolan Stormbone, the heir of one of East Silverstone’s wealthiest families. They all agreed on one thing: Scarlett and Julian needed to get divorced quickly before Nolan or his family found out about everything.“But what if they find out?” Amara voiced her doubts, her voice dripping with fake concern. In reality, she couldn't care less about Scarlett's well-being, she loved that her cousin was trapped in this marriage with the loser Julian.She was more irritated that they were considering a divorce, especially when it meant Scarlett might escape from Julian. Julian had nothing, no wealth, no future, no standing, and the thought of her cousin being trapped with someone like him amused her.She, on the other hand, could only dream of being with Nolan. He was wealthy, powerful, and would be a much better match.“What if Nolan finds out that Scarlett slept with someone else?” Amara continued in a tone that was more calculati
Julian observed her in silence, his sharp gaze searching for answers. He couldn’t understand why she had said what she said to her family downstairs.“What the hell was that?” Julian asked, wanting an explanation. Why did she tell everyone that she wanted this, when clearly, none of them wanted it? He didn't understand what was going on in her mind. She was acting so strange, almost like a completely different person. Not long ago, she seemed eager to divorce, and now this? Was this some kind of game?Scarlett shifted uncomfortably, her posture stiff as she raised her gaze to meet his. “Don’t believe what I said to them,” she murmured, her voice lowering, almost back to its usual icy tone. “I said what I needed to make them stop. They were never going to stop pushing me toward Nolan.” She hesitated, then added awkwardly, “I… I need you to stay in this marriage a little while longer.”Julian raised an eyebrow, surprised by the request. Opening his mouth to respond, Scarlett quickly st
Tate was very calculative, and Julian knew he had to be careful around him. Julian’s expression remained unreadable, but inside, his irritation sharpened. “Redistribute?” he asked, as if he didn't hear him the first time.Dave nodded, “A small adjustment. Nothing drastic. But by allowing select board members to increase their stakes, you’d be demonstrating your commitment to the stability.” His tone was smooth and practiced. “A show of trust, Julian.”A show of trust huh? Julian thought to himself. At this moment, he couldn't trust Dave Tate. A tense silence settled between them.Julian let the silence go on for a little bit longer, he studied Dave, trying to figure out what he was thinking. What was he planning?Well, he didn't need to think too much about it, he could already see the game Dave was playing, disguising a power grab as an act of goodwill. If Julian had to guess, Dave Tate was the one who wanted the shares for himself, so that he can have even more influence in the co
Only when Julian spoke did Dave Tate finally look up from his documents.He had heard Julian walk in, of course. But being the man that he was, he had deliberately chosen to ignore him and make him wait. It was a silent display of power from him, a reminder that when it came to the Blackwood consortium, time moved at his pace and not Julian’s. He might be the heir to the consortium, but that hardly mattered here, especially when he had been away for so long.Slowly moving his gaze away from the documents and looking at Julian, Dave Tate finally acknowledged him, setting the document aside. His expression was casual, unreadable, yet there was an undeniable weight behind his eyes, one that spoke of experience, calculation, and quiet authority."Mr. Blackwood," he said, his tone cool and controlled. "I was wondering when we'd finally meet.”Dave Tate leaned back in his chair, studying Julian for a moment before gesturing to the seat across from him. "Take a seat."Julian gave a little n
Meanwhile, Julian arrived at the headquarters of the Blackwood Consortium.It was a luxurious skyscraper, towering over the city with its sleek glass exterior reflecting the afternoon sun. The structure had an impressive modern design, with its dark tinted windows. It was a very tall building. Julian took a moment to admire the view. A faint smile made its way to his lips, a part of him was glad he was back here again after being away for so long. The building was one of the tallest and most luxurious buildings, with more than 200 floors and a design that stood as a testament to the sheer power and influence of the Blackwood Consortium. From the moment he stepped foot here, Julian felt a strange sense of belonging, maybe it was because he was stepping back into a world that had always been his. But at the same time, there was also an unease at the pit of his stomach. It scared him, knowing that he wasn’t just returning as an heir. He was stepping into a battlefield. His enemies
Julian stood over the captive, his cold gaze locked onto him, as he was lying on his back, still tied to the chair. There wasn’t a trace of mercy in his expression, only a chilling look and unrelenting determination.Without needing a command, one of the guards stepped forward, gripping the chair and hauling both it and the captive upright. The man gasped, his breathing ragged, his earlier smugness shattered and nowhere to be seen.When the captive realized that his earlier answer didn’t satisfy Julian, he was even more afraid. “That’s all I know!” the captive blurted, shaking his head violently. “I swear! I never met the guy who paid me. Got the job through a middleman. No names, no details, just a target and a payout!” The same person who was acting all tough earlier and claiming he would never break, was now revealing every thing before Julian, hoping that by the end of this, he would he able to save his skin.Julian stood still, his gaze cold as he studied the captive. He wonder
The shooter had a fearful look for half a second after he heard Julian’s words, but then he chuckled dryly, shaking his head. “Yeah? And what are you gonna do, tough guy? Older you lackeys to beat me until I pass out again?” He tilted his chin up, his smirk resembling that of someone filled with arrogance, despite the fact that he had no control here,“You’re wasting your time. I’m not saying a damn thing. So do what you gotta do.”Julian exhaled audibly, a hint of irritation flashing across his face. He was already getting fed up with this person. He was playing tough, but that wouldn’t last, not with what Julian had planned out for him. One way or another, Julian had to make him speak, and so he needed to shift tactics. Julian’s expression darkened as he shot a look at Nyx. No words were needed from Julian, Nyx already understood the assignment.Without hesitation, she stepped forward and grabbed the man’s hand, twisting it at an unnatural angle. A loud crack echoed through the holdi
Julian laid down on his bed, thinking about his and Scarlett’s relationship, eventually sleep overtook him before he even knew it.The following day in the morning, Julian arrived at a warehouse where he was keeping the person who had shot the mayor. He walked through the warehouse entrance with Nyx and a bunch of armed security personnel following behind him.He made his way into the holding area with Nyx, while the armed men remained outside, securing the perimeter for any danger. If the shooter’s associates, or anyone else, tried to interfere, they’d be ready. Inside there were about five guys dressed in tactical gear, watching over the shooter to make sure he didn't escape.Julian gave a small signal with his fingers, and one of the guards yanked the blindfold off the captives head. The man blinked rapidly, his eyes adjusting to the dim light, before they shifted slowly to stare at Julian and Nyx who stood before him. His eyes lingered longer on Nyx, remembering that she was the
After leaving the hotel, Julian returned home. In the evening around 10 pm as he lay on his bed, scrolling through his phone, trying to find some public Information about his enemies . His eyebrows arched when it suddenly vibrated. Seeing that Scarlett was calling, he paused for a moment.He had forgotten that Scarlett was in the hotel ballroom during the shooting. He wondered if she had made it out safely amidst all the chaos and panic.He answered the call and pressed the phone to his ear.“Hey, Julian,” Scarlett’s voice came through, soft but concerned.“Are you okay?” she asked. “How are you feeling?”Julian couldn’t help but grin, leaning back on his bed. She asked how he was doing. Was she worried about him now? He didn’t expect that. Honestly, Scarlett had always been aloof and cold toward him at first. It was hard to believe that now she could tolerate him like this. It was almost as if… she cared about him all of a sudden.“Aw, look at that,” he couldn’t stop himself from te
“Where is he?” the mayor demanded as Julian approached him and Helen. He rose from the stretcher, his face was a mask of anger and determination. “Where is the son of a bitch who dared to shoot me? Bring him to me.”Julian was taken aback by the mayors sudden behavior. All of a sudden he was acting like this? Julian expression remained calm, almost indifferent. “He’s in my custody,” he replied, his voice showing how much he couldn’t care less about the mayor's outburst, “I’ll interrogate him and let you know what I find out.”But Mayor Sullivan frowned after hearing Julian’s words. He glared deep into Julian’s eyes as if trying to scare him into giving up custody of the shooter. The mayor didn’t agree with Julian because he wanted to do the interrogation himself. Actually, he didn’t need to interrogate the shooter because he already knew who had sent him and why. But that wasn’t the point. He wanted to use the shooter to send a message to the organization, letting them know that the
The room froze, it was like everything happened in slow motion. Some couldn’t believe what they had just witnessed; had the mayor been shot right in front of them? Others, too terrified to think beyond their own survival, scrambled for safety.Panic erupted in the ballroom. Screams filled the air as chaos took hold. Guests scrambled for cover, tables overturned, and a stampede surged toward the exits. Julian’s heart beat rapidly, worrying for the mayor's life, but his focus never got affected by this. His eyes were still locked on the shooter, who was already making his escape.But Julian wasn’t going to let him get away, he walked through the terrified crowd chasing after the shooter. It wasn’t easy because bodies pressed against him, some ducking behind overturned tables, others panicking as they rushed for the exits. But he still pushed forward relentlessly. By the time Julian burst out of the ballroom and into the narrow corridor beyond, the assassin had gained significant groun