Ivan sat back in his leather chair, his fingers resting on the edge of the Jarl Project file he’d been about to open when Samuel, the Suegra security chief, entered the office with a look of urgency. Henry and his men exchanged uneasy glances, sensing the weight of whatever news Samuel was bringing.Samuel’s face was tense as he addressed Ivan, his words deliberate. "Mr. Anderson, your cousin Gabriel Rodriguez has asked for your help."Ivan's eyes narrowed with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. “What’s the matter? Is everything alright?”Samuel shook his head gravely. “No, sir. It’s your nephew, Bjorn. He’s done… substantial damage, wreaking havoc across Suegra State. Especially in the nearby village.”A shadow crossed Ivan’s face, and he rubbed his fingers along his lips, thinking. Of course. No one could control Bjorn, the family’s wild card, their “young prince” with a storm raging inside him. Ivan had warned Gabriel many times that bringing Bjorn into Suegra State would be a d
Bjorn shook his head, frustration twisting his face. “No one believes me, Uncle,” he said, his voice breaking with anger. “Maximilian was my best friend—I knew his secrets. He told me himself that he wasn’t focusing on his studies because he never planned on joining his father’s business, or taking over the Holland empire. He told me he had no interest in any of it. He was going to join the military instead.”Ivan exchanged a glance with Henry, who raised an eyebrow, skeptical. “Bjorn, are you sure?” Henry asked carefully, his voice calm. “Did you actually see him join? See any evidence?”Bjorn shook his head, gritting his teeth. It was clear he had no hard proof, only the word of a former friend, and he knew that wasn’t enough for most people. It was no wonder they doubted him—he could see it in their eyes. But his instincts told him he was right.Ivan leaned forward, his voice low and steady, pressing Bjorn to think carefully. “Then how can you be so certain, Bjorn? What if Maximili
Henry handed the iPad to Ivan, his expression tense. Ivan’s eyes scanned the screen, and his breath caught, his chest tightening as the information sank in. Holland Hospital in Boston. It wasn’t just a hospital; it was a fortress, a sprawling empire in its own right. Half private, half government-funded, with access to resources he could scarcely believe. This wasn’t just a facility—it was an entire operation.“When the hell did this happen?” Ivan muttered, his voice low and laced with shock.The details on the screen were staggering. Holland Hospital wasn’t just any hospital; it was a massive, self-sufficient complex, housing a state-of-the-art medicine lab, a top-tier medical school, and a high-security research center. The place was so vast it was practically its own village—a carefully constructed empire, guarded by layers of influence and power. And Neil was right at the center, with government connections backing his every move. The resources he had there went far beyond the Hol
Erica gasped audibly, her body jolting with the revelation. She clutched her chest, stepping back instinctively, her eyes darting from Alysha to Neil, who stood beside the bed. Her gaze was full of disbelief, the weight of the words hitting her like a physical blow."No..." she breathed, shaking her head in disbelief. Her eyes widened even more as they locked onto Neil, who could only offer a helpless nod in response. Tears began to well up in Erica's eyes, the reality of what she had just heard sinking in."But Alysha is married to..." Erica stammered, her voice cracking, unable to complete her sentence as tears began to spill down her cheeks. The enormity of the situation was overwhelming—Alysha, Armin’s wife, was pregnant, and not with her husband's child, but with his uncle's. A scandal of monumental proportions.Alysha kept her gaze on her hands, her fingers trembling as they rested on her stomach. She felt exposed, vulnerable, as if every secret she had tried to keep hidden had
Alysha Jarl sat waiting in the dimly lit luxury of her five-star hotel room, her heart a relentless, wild rhythm. This was her wedding night, though it felt like something out of a strange dream. The room—lavishly prepared with golden lights casting shadows across plush furniture and a bed adorned in layers of silk—only made her feel more alone, more aware of the fact that she was waiting for a man she had never met.Her new husband, Armin Rodriguez Suegra, was a mystery to her. She hadn’t seen him, not even in photos, yet tonight she was supposed to meet him for the first time. Their marriage was just ink on paper, a contract arranged by the Suegra and Jarl families, sealed with signatures for the sake of power, legacy, and alliance. And here she was, dressed in a gown of white lace, feeling both like a bride and a stranger in her own life.Outside, the sound of footsteps echoed down the marble hallway, growing closer.Just then, the faintest sound—a soft click—echoed through the su
The morning light filtered through the curtains, Alysha slowly opened her eyes, her body still nestled against her new husband's chest. His arm held her securely, his breathing deep and steady, lost in the depths of sleep. She could feel the rise and fall of his chest beneath her, the warmth of his body surrounding her like a protective cocoon.Carefully, she shifted to look up at him, taking in his features for the first time in the soft morning glow. Her heart swelled with unexpected happiness. She had never anticipated her husband would be this handsome. His strong jawline, the soft waves of his hair, and the faint lines that etched his face gave him an air of mystery and maturity that she hadn’t expected. Alysha smiled, feeling a strange warmth blossom in her chest. But as her eyes lingered on him, a thought nagged at the back of her mind. He looked much older than she had imagined. She was only 18, and her husband, Armin Rodriguez, was supposed to be just five years older than h
"This man... he isn't Armin Rodriguez," Neil repeated, his voice strained, as though he were grappling with the weight of the revelation himself. Alysha’s heart pounded in her chest, her mind spinning as the world around her seemed to tilt. Everything she thought she knew, everything she had just begun to feel—now felt like it was shattering before her eyes.Her legs felt weak as the room swayed slightly, the realization hitting her with the force of a tidal wave. She glanced back at the man she thought was her husband, her body stiff with fear, confusion, and disbelief. How could this be? How could the man she shared a bed with not be her husband?Trembling, Alysha whispered, "Who... who is he, then?"Neil stood there, completely frozen, his eyes still locked on the figure lying in the bed. His mind raced as the horrifying truth settled in: the man sleeping beside Alysha was not Armin Rodriguez—it was none other than the infamous billionaire, Ivan Anderson Suegra, Armin's uncle Sueg
Neil guided Alysha through the dim hotel corridor, moving quickly but quietly, his grip on her arm firm as he pulled her along. The opulent halls of the Suegra Hotel seemed to close in on them, every shadow a potential threat, every distant sound setting their nerves on edge. The urgency in his movements told Alysha everything she needed to know—danger was closing in fast.They reached a back stairwell, and Neil pushed the door open, leading her down several flights of stairs at a near-run. Alysha’s heart raced in time with their hurried steps, her pulse a fierce drumbeat in her ears. She glanced back over her shoulder, paranoia creeping in, every thought plagued by fear that someone might already be coming for her.Once they finally burst through a side exit, cold morning air hit her face, sharp and bracing. The city was barely awake, the street eerily silent as they dashed across it, disappearing into the maze of alleys and side roads. Neil didn’t stop or slow, his grip unyielding a