Eryx had just slid into the backseat when his phone lit up. It was Callum.
He answered with a curt, "Yes?"
"Sir," Callum began, tone crisp. "You’ll want to know... the matter with Harlan Sterling is moving faster than expected."
Eryx leaned back, his eyes fixed on the city lights passing by. "Go on."
"We’ve initiated contact with financial regulators. Sterling’s offshore accounts are under review. Fraud, shell companies, and charity misappropriation, it’s all there. The ’Sterling Hearts Foundation’ funded a yacht, three luxury condos, and several questionable wire transfers."
Eryx’s jaw twitched. "And labor issues?"
"Worse," Callum confird. "Unregistered workers, no insurance, multiple anonymous reports of abuse. We’ve handed it off to the labor board. They’re preparing a formal investigation."
"Good," Eryx said flatly. "Press?"
"Still quiet, sir. But one leak, and he’s finished."
"Make sure that leak happens," Eryx replied coldly. "But make it look like it ca from inside his own house."
"Yes, sir."
Eryx was silent for a mont, then said, "Callum."
"Sir?"
"I want this wrapped neatly. I want it to look like karma, not war."
"Understood, sir," Callum replied. "But if you’ll allow to say it, sir, Harlan’s going to burn either way."
Eryx didn’t hang up yet.
His tone sharpened. "And Matilda? Anything on her while digging through Harlan’s ss?"
There was a pause on the line. Then Callum answered, "Actually... yes, sir."
Eryx’s gaze narrowed.
"She’s been in contact with one of Sterling’s shell companies," Callum continued. "Small but frequent transfers over the past year. On paper, it looks like consultation fees, but there’s no legitimate service rendered. Could be hush money. Or paynt for influence."
Eryx’s fingers tapped once against the leather armrest. "Trace it. Quietly. I want her to slowly lose her power and money, I want proof. And I want it before the day ends."
Callum hesitated for just a breath. "Yes, sir. I’ve already flagged a few financial routes. If she’s been pulling strings or laundering money through shell accounts, we’ll find it."
Eryx’s gaze darkened, the sharp lights of the city reflecting coldly in his eyes. "She’s survived this long by making people believe she’s untouchable. That ends now."
"Would you prefer to leak what we find, or bury her legally?"
Eryx gave a bitter scoff. "Both. Let her feel it from every direction. Lawsuits. Audits. Whispers in the press. I want her legacy to rot before her eyes."
Callum paused. "And... if she realizes it’s coming from you?"
Eryx’s tone dropped to sothing deathly quiet. "Then she’ll finally understand what it ans to lose everything she used to control ."
There was nothing left to say. Callum ended the call with a respectful, "Yes, sir."
Eryx sat back, closing his eyes for a beat. Matilda Grantham had raised him in boardrooms and behind cold smiles. She was the first person to teach him power ca before love. And now she would learn what it felt like when that power was slowly, silently stripped away.
As the city blurred outside the car, he sighed weakly, feeling exhausted. He really hoped that after everything settled, he and Lunara could finally find peace.
Not just quiet but real peace.
A life without hidden hands pulling strings. Without damage control.
He rested his head against the seat, eyes drifting to the phone resting on his lap. A ssage from Lunara sat unread—just a simple, "Are you coming ho soon?" sent ten minutes ago.
Eryx stared at it for a second before typing back: "On my way."
A pause. Then he added, "I’ll bring dinner."
But his phone rang imdiately and it brought a smile onto his face, "Yes, honey. Is there anything you want to eat?"
Lunara replied right away, "No, no, don’t buy anything," she paused for a few seconds before continuing, "I...already cooked."
"You what?!" Eryx blinked, genuinely startled, the tiredness in his voice giving way to sothing lighter.
"I cooked," Lunara repeated, a little defensive now. "Don’t make it sound like I just disard a bomb."
Eryx laughed, low and warm. "I’m just excited. This is the first ti I can taste my wife cooking."
There was a pause on the other end, then Lunara mumbled, "Don’t get your hopes up. I nearly called the fire departnt twice."
Eryx chuckled, already loosening his tie with one hand as the car turned into the private drive of their tower. "Good. That ans you cared enough to make it right."
"You’re just saying that because you’re scared I actually used salt this ti."
"Oh no," he said mock-seriously. "Did the salt survive?"
"Barely," she replied dryly. "It’s traumatized. Along with ."
Eryx smiled to himself. "I’m bringing dessert. To be safe."
"Bring stomach dicine instead," she muttered. "You’ll need it."
He laughed again. "No matter what it tastes like, I’ll finish every bite. You cooked, it already ans more to than any five-star dinner."
There was silence for a second. Then, softer this ti, she said, "You’re really coming ho soon, right?"
"I’m five minutes away."
"Okay..." She hesitated, then added shyly, "Then hurry."
He didn’t need to be told twice.
Lunara was already waiting by the front door, barefoot on the polished floor, fiddling nervously with the hem of her apron. The scent of warm, slightly overcooked curry still hung faintly in the air.
She could hear the quiet hum of the elevator slowing to a stop and her heart jumped.
But before she could reach for the handle, the intercom rang sharply.
She flinched, startled, and quickly pressed the screen. One of the security team from the lobby appeared, looking stiff in his uniform.
"Good evening, ma’am," he said. "Apologies for the disturbance, but there’s a woman downstairs...she’s been making a scene at the lobby for the past ten minutes, demanding to see Mr. Eryx. Says it’s urgent."
Lunara’s brows drew together. "Who is she?"
The guard hesitated. "She said her na is Seraphine and... she said Mr. Eryx would know her."
Lunara frowned, but before she could respond, the door opened and Eryx appeared.
"What’s wrong?" he asked the mont his eyes landed on Lunara’s furrowed expression.
She pointed at the screen, and as Eryx turned to look, the security guard continued, "I’m sorry, sir. Soone nad Seraphine has been causing a disturbance in the lobby, asking to see you."
Eryx stepped closer to the screen and said calmly, "Handle it as you see fit. I plan to have a peaceful evening with my wife."
He ended the call with a press of a button, then turned to Lunara with a smile.
"Let’s go. I’m starving."
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