"What, you don't dare?"
Gibson's challenge hung in the air, heavy with implication. His eyes remained fixed on the jade ring on my finger, and sothing about his recognition of it made my skin crawl.
I stepped forward, my decision made. "There's no need for a formal match."
Gibson's eyebrows rose slightly. "No? Think you're too good for the ring?"
"I think this is unnecessary," I replied calmly. "We both have better things to do tonight."
A cruel smile spread across his face. "Scared, are you? I expected more from soone wearing—"
"Mr. Gibson," I interrupted, keeping my voice level. "Let's end this now."
Gibson's face darkened. He took several asured steps toward , stopping close enough that I could sll the mint on his breath. "You don't get to dictate terms here, boy. This is my domain."
Jaxon shifted nervously behind . I could feel Aurora's tension radiating like heat.
"Last chance," Gibson said, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "Fight properly, or I'll make sure you regret tonight."
I sighed. "If you insist on a demonstration..."
Gibson must have mistaken my resignation for submission. He suddenly lunged forward, his right hand striking like a cobra toward my sternum—a textbook Fifth-rank Inner Strength technique designed to disrupt my energy flow.
It never landed.
With a simple pivot of my body, I sidestepped his attack. Then, almost casually, I brought my open palm across his face.
The slap wasn't particularly hard by my standards—I'd held back considerably. But to everyone watching, the effect was spectacular.
Gibson's entire body lifted off the ground. He flew backward several feet before crashing onto the pavent, sliding another yard before coming to a stop. The sound of the impact echoed through the parking lot like a thunderclap.
Complete silence followed.
Gibson lay motionless for several seconds before groaning and struggling to prop himself up on his elbows. Blood trickled from his split lip, and a red handprint was already forming on his cheek.
"What... how..." he stamred, his eyes wide with disbelief.
I walked over and looked down at him. "You recognized my father's ring. Tell how."
Gibson coughed, wiping blood from his mouth. "Years ago... I saw one like it. On a man passing through. Never knew his na."
I studied his face for deception but found only shock and a growing fear.
"We're done here," I said simply, turning away. "Let's go."
Jaxon stood frozen, his mouth hanging open. "You just... with one slap..."
"Co on," I urged, already walking toward our car. "It's getting late."
Aurora and Eamon exchanged glances but followed without comnt. Only when we were safely in the car and pulling out of the parking lot did Jaxon finally explode.
"Holy shit, Liam!" he exclaid, eyes wild with excitent. "You sent him flying with a slap! A SLAP! Do you know who that was? Mr. Gibson has been undefeated in Veridia City's underground circuit for fifteen years!"
"It's not important," I said, keeping my eyes on the road.
"Not important?" Jaxon threw his hands up. "That was the most badass thing I've ever seen! How did you do that? Where did you learn to fight like that?"
I felt a twinge of irritation. "Jaxon, let it go."
"But—"
"Let. It. Go." My voice left no room for argunt.
The car fell into uncomfortable silence. After a few minutes, I sighed and spoke more gently.
"I'm heading back to Havenwood City tomorrow."
Aurora turned to look at . "So soon?"
I nodded. "I've accomplished what I ca for. The Sterling family is finished, and I've secured several important business partnerships. It's ti I returned to handle matters there."
"Will you co back?" Jaxon asked, his earlier excitent replaced by sothing that sounded almost like concern.
"Eventually," I answered. "I still have unfinished business in Veridia City."
My thoughts drifted to Isabelle. I hadn't seen her since our conversation at the gala. She'd been keeping her distance, and I hadn't pushed. We both needed ti to process everything that had happened between us.
"Liam," Jaxon said suddenly, his voice uncharacteristically serious. "Thank you. For everything. For saving tonight, for believing in when no one else would."
I glanced at him in the rearview mirror. "You're stronger than you think, Jaxon. Don't let anyone convince you otherwise."
He nodded, blinking rapidly as if fighting back unexpected emotion. The rest of the drive passed in contemplative silence.
---
Across town, in a sprawling mansion nestled in Veridia City's most exclusive neighborhood, Sebastian Hawthorne stared at the financial statents spread across his desk with mounting horror.
"This can't be right," he muttered, running a trembling hand through his silver-streaked hair. "Check again." MyVirtualLibraryEmpire(*)hoststheoriginal.
His financial advisor, a thin man with wire-rimd glasses, cleared his throat nervously. "I've verified the numbers three tis, sir. The capital chain is broken. All our major investors have pulled out simultaneously. The Hawthorne Group is facing imminent collapse."
Sebastian slamd his fist on the desk. "This is deliberate! Soone coordinated this!"
"It appears so, sir. And..." the advisor hesitated.
"Speak plainly, damn it!"
"Several of our forr investors have redirected their capital to Ashworth Industries and Sterling Pharmaceuticals joint ventures."
Sebastian's blood ran cold. "Liam Knight."
"Sir?"
"This has his fingerprints all over it," Sebastian hissed, rising from his chair to pace the lavish office. "That nobody from Havenwood City has sohow convinced Isabelle Ashworth to help him destroy ."
"We've also received notice from Sterling Pharmaceuticals. They're canceling all standing orders and cutting ties with Hawthorne Distributors effective imdiately."
Sebastian stopped pacing. Sterling Pharmaceuticals represented nearly thirty percent of their distribution business. Without that contract, they would bleed money every day.
"Father?"
Sebastian turned to see his son, Julian, standing in the doorway. At twenty-eight, Julian possessed the Hawthorne family's trademark good looks—chiseled features, piercing blue eyes, and a commanding presence. But where Sebastian had built his empire with calculated patience, Julian had inherited none of his restraint.
"What's happening?" Julian demanded, striding into the room. "Why are our stocks plumting?"
Sebastian waved the advisor away. Once they were alone, he collapsed back into his chair.
"We're under attack," Sebastian said grimly. "Liam Knight has sohow orchestrated a financial assault on our family. All at once, our investors are abandoning us, our partners are cutting ties, and our credit lines are being called in."
Julian's handso face contorted with rage. "That gutter rat? How dare he! I'll kill him!"
"Control yourself," Sebastian snapped. "This isn't so street brawl. Liam Knight has proven far more dangerous than we anticipated. He's systematically dismantling everything I've built."
"So what do we do?" Julian demanded. "We can't just let him get away with this!"
Sebastian stared thoughtfully at the family portrait on his wall. "We need leverage. Sothing to force him to back down."
"What about kidnapping Isabelle Ashworth?" Julian suggested, his eyes glinting dangerously. "She's clearly important to him. We could use her as—"
"Are you insane?" Sebastian roared, standing so quickly his chair toppled backward. "Kidnap an Ashworth? Do you want to destroy what little we have left? Michael Ashworth would burn this city to the ground to protect his granddaughter!"
Julian flinched at his father's outburst but remained defiant. "Then what's your brilliant plan? Because from where I'm standing, we're already ruined!"
Sebastian took a deep breath, forcing himself to think rationally. "We need William Vance to diate. He has influence with both Knight and the Ashworths. If anyone can negotiate a cease-fire, it's him."
"Beg for rcy, you an," Julian spat.
"Call it whatever you like," Sebastian countered. "But I didn't build this empire by letting pride dictate business decisions. Sotis you must retreat to survive."
Julian stord toward the door, pausing with his hand on the knob. "You do what you think is best, Father. But I won't stand by while that nobody destroys everything that should be mine."
Sebastian watched his son leave, a sense of foreboding settling in his chest. Julian had always been rash, but there was sothing new in his eyes tonight—a dangerous desperation that worried Sebastian more than their financial collapse.
---
Two hours later, Julian Hawthorne sat in a dimly lit private room at the back of The Serpent's Den, an exclusive club known for catering to Veridia City's wealthiest patrons' darker appetites. Across from him sat Gideon Blackwood, a man whose services were never advertised but always available to those with enough money and fewer scruples.
"Your father would be disappointed to see you here," Gideon remarked, swirling amber liquid in a crystal glass.
Julian's jaw tightened. "My father has lost his nerve. He thinks we should negotiate with the man who's destroying us."
"And you disagree," Gideon stated, rather than asked.
"I believe in sending ssages," Julian replied coldly. "Clear ones that can't be misinterpreted."
Gideon's thin lips curled into a smile that never reached his eyes. "That's why I've always liked you, Julian. You understand how the world really works."
Julian leaned forward, lowering his voice despite the room's privacy. "I want you to find a few people and kidnap Isabelle Ashworth!"
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