?Chapter 1624:


    The thought of being captured and tortured to death was unbearable. She’d rather take her own life now than let them have the satisfaction.


    She opened the window and looked down; she was on the tenth floor.


    Jumping would mean certain death.


    But she was determined not to be tormented by Hector’s family.


    Eyes closed, heart pounding, she jumped out the window.


    Her body mmed onto the roof of a truck just as it rumbled past.


    Meanwhile, in Santero, Norview’s bustling second city, Brenna and Ethan were staying at the Empire Hotel.


    The city served as the home base for the Mitchell Group’s most vital branch, and it was Ethan’s responsibility to keep it running. His task was to protect QuickVibe, their crown jewel, a short-video tform that ruled seventy percent of the local market.


    Trouble had started six months ago, when Hector had muscled into the scene, pulling together his own crew andunching a copycat “Will You Be There” app.


    Because of that, profits at QuickVibe had started to dip. Ethan hade here to turn things around.


    Word of his mission had reached Gracie. She had gotten close to one of Hector’s engineers, whose brother happened to work at a remote bib. After a few drinks, the engineer let slip a juicy secret—theb was developing a wonder drug that could make people live for two centuries.


    Gracie had wasted no time spreading the news. A promise of a two-hundred-year life span sent Norview’s investors into a frenzy. Some people even risked their own necks to hunt for the drug deep in the jungle.


    Ethan spent the morning huddled with his local team, tossing around ideas to outwit thepetition and restore QuickVibe’s dominance.


    Aldred Carman, Ethan’s subordinate, spoke up from across the table. “Ethan, what if we just ditch the paywall? People love free stuff. We’d draw in more users, and we can always make money somewhere else.”


    Ethan nodded thoughtfully. “There’s merit to that. We could make premium features free for everyone, but pivot our business model to focus on ads. Let’s start charging brands who want their content front and center. Our ad tform is already up and running, but I want something new—something that keeps users happy and also draws in advertisers. Pitch me your best ideas.”


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    Ideas bounced around the room for hours, and by nightfall, a rough strategy had taken shape.


    Brenna spent three days reconnecting with friends, then hopped a flight back to Vand on day four.


    The sun was setting by the time she walked into the Harper home, where the whole family had gathered for dinner.


    Sandra could barely contain her excitement. “Everyone—listen up! Tomorrow is a big day for me. Both of my shops are finally opening.”


    Dalton, looking weary from a grueling film schedule, hardly nced up. “Okay,” he murmured casually.


    Brenna, still running on travel fatigue, didn’t really register the news.


    Ernst and Lilith, wiped out after a day of meeting people, seemed equally distracted. With no one exactly jumping for joy, Sandra cleared her throat and tried again.


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