Jarvis pinned Jasper with a gaze so sharp it felt like a razor at his throat.


    "Did you see it with your own eyes?" he demanded, his voice low and precise. Jasper swallowed hard. "No," he admitted, "but Hank told me he saw him do it." For a moment, Jarvis simply stared, and Jasper''s pulse thundered his ears.


    He could swear his fate dangled by a thread beneath Jarvis''s cold scrutiny.


    Then, with a curt jerk of his head, Jarvis turned and strode toward the front entrance of the sprawling mansion.


    Soldiers had already forced Hank and Hugo down on their knees, and they trembled under the weight of his judgment.


    He halted in front of them, his voice as steely as his re. "You-both of you. Who killed Han?"


    Hank, sweating bullets, jabbed a finger at Hugo. "It was him! Hugo killed Boss Han!"


    Jarvis''s gaze shifted to Hugo. "Exin."


    Hugo''s voice came out dull,


    spent.


    "When I got there, Han was already on the floor. He was dead."


    "Liar!" Hank spat. "You killed Boss Han!"


    Jarvis repeated himself, his voice dropping ominously low. "Did you see it with your own eyes?"


    Hank couldn''t hold Jarvis''s gaze.


    "No," he admitted reluctantly, "but Hugo was thest one with the boss. When I walked in, Han was on the ground."


    Jarvis moved faster than thought.


    He drew his gun and fired a single shot.


    Hank slumped forward, blood painting the floor in a harsh stroke of reality.


    3


    Jasper staggered back, heart pounding. The instant shift from usation to execution made his stomach churn.


    Meanwhile, Hugo watched Hank''s body copse with a quiet eptance.


    He''d walked this dangerous road for too long, fully aware that one day-be it a rival''s bullet or a friend''s betrayal-the underworld would im him too.


    By choosing this life, he''d already signed his fate.


    JV


    So he knelt there, unflinching, the strong do what they can, and the weak suffer what they must."


    Jarvis turned to Hugo, eyes burning with ruthless intent.


    "Now tell me everything. If you didn''t kill Han, who did?"


    Hugo took a slow, steadying breath.


    "Thest time I saw him, he was with a woman. When I returned, he was already


    on the floor...and she was gone."


    "A woman? Who?"


    Hugo''s gaze flicked upward.


    "Sophia Lancaster. Jasper remembered her-she''s the one who got humiliated at


    the Kingston Banquet. I''m not saying she''s


    the killer, but I''m certain she knows something."


    A chill settled over the mansion as Jarvis''s voice thundered.


    "Somebody start digging-now! I don''t care what it costs or who stands in our way.


    Find her, even if you have to tear Vancouver apart!"


    Then, in one swift motion, Jarvis pressed his gun to Hugo''s temple "I''m not leaving any loose ends,"


    A single gunshot shattered the silence.


    Morning dawned on the grand opening ceremony of the Lancaster Group''s new partnership with Kingston.


    By eight o''clock, sleek luxury cars were already lined up like trophies at the entrance of the new Lancaster Building


    High-ranking guests poured in, each one eager to show face and offer congrattions,


    Meanwhile, Jasmine sat in a discreet coffee shop across the street, sipping hertte with a casual grace. She looked up when Alex walked in, lifting a hand in greeting.


    "Over here, Alex," she called, standing. Her ck blouse and fitted skirt exuded confidence.


    He took a seat across from her, eyeing her choice of attire. "Why meet here of all ces?"


    She leaned in, voice light butced with intent. "I''ll get straight to the point," she said, tapping her manicured nails on the table. "Mr. Alex, did Han''s death have anything to do with you?"


    He raised an eyebrow. "And why would you think that?"


    A mischievous glint lit her eyes. “Because you knocked me out for the night, and the next day, Han was conveniently dead."


    Alex chuckled, settling back into his seat. "A man like him makes a lot of enemies. He was always a ticking time bomb. Let''s just say it worked in my favor."


    Jasmine studied him, drumming her fingertips on her coffee cup. "Han''s death won''t shake Vancouver. But men like Han usually have powerful forces behind them."


    Alex''s gaze hardened. "You mean Jericho Kane?"


    She nodded. "He''s one, but he won''t stick his neck out just because Han''s gone. He''s cautious. Not our biggest concern." Alex tilted his head. "So, who else was backing Han?"


    She exhaled. "His cousin. Jarvis. He''s a lieutenant with a dangerous amount of influence—someone even the mighty Kingston family is hesitant to provoke.”


    A cold smile tugged at Alex''s lips. "If he''sing for me, let hime. Another enemy in my life doesn''t change much." Jasmine let out a softugh, though her eyes remained calcting.


    "You really do live by that motto, don''t you? ''What doesn''t kill you makes you stronger.""


    Then her tone shifted. "By the way, Charles Kingston''s in town today. He wants to flex his power and rally new supporters in Vancouver."


    "Does that worry you?" Alex asked, studying her face.


    Her smile was smooth, unbothered. "No. But there''s another issue-Bill. He''s one


    of Jericho''s disciples, the same type as the guy Kelly killed. I have a hunch he''ll


    try something...and I''d like a little backup."


    Alex lifted a brow. "What''s your n?"


    "I want to clip Jericho''s wings." Her words were sweetly spoken bet rang with sharp intent.


    "My men can''t handle Bill. That''s where youe in."


    Alex shrugged, lips curving with easy confidence. "Just lure him into an opening, and I''ll handle the rest."


    "Thank you, Alex. I will pay you with whatever you want." She smiled and winked


    in a way that made her look both dangerous


    and alluring.


    They finished their coffee without lingering.


    Before long, they were at the Lancaster Building, where arge crowd buzzed around the sleek entrance.


    Among them stood Sophia and the Lancaster family, greeting guests in waves.


    A sneer cracked through the hum of voices. "Alex. Why am I not surprised?" Alex turned and found himself face-to-face with Marco Ashford. The loathing in Marco''s eyes was almost tangible.


    "I don''t recall Sophia inviting you," Marco went on, his tone oozing disdain. "What,


    did you weasel in without an invitation?"


    "I''m the one who invited him," Jasmine cut in, her presence cool andmanding. "Is that a problem?"


    Marco recoiled for a split second, then covered it with a derisiveugh.


    "How pathetic, a man who needs a woman to fight his battles. And you," he spat


    at Jasmine, “don''te crying to me when this worthless bum drags you down."


    Jasmine didn''t even blink. "Whatever happens between Alex and me has nothing to do with you. Get lost if you know what''s good for you."


    With that, she took Alex''s arm and guided him toward the entrance.


    But just as they stepped inside, she paused, ncing over her shoulder with a sharine smile.


    "Oh, by the way, Marco Ashford," she said, her voice carrying a yful lilt, "I heard you were trying to bring Vermont Company into Vancouver. Let''s just say I''ve made sure they''re barred from setting foot here."


    She let out a musical littleugh and turned away, her heels clicking decisively on the polished floor.


    Marco stood rooted in fury, his face blotchy and his fists clenched at his sides. "That arrogant bitch...she won''t get away with this," he snarled under his breath.


    His gaze followed Jasmine and Alex, seething with a mix of confusion and hate.


    He couldn''t stomach the sight of Alex-this man he deemed unworthy-constantly surrounded by women with power and influence.


    "I swear," he hissed, "you''ll be mine one day, Jasmine. And you... His hatred for Alex ignited like a fresh wound.


    "I''ll make you regret crossing me."