The night had been anything but kind to Jasmine.


    By dawn, her eyes were shadowed with fatigue, and every page she turned in her endless stack of documents felt heavier than thest.


    She hadn''t slept a wink. Just as she considered closing her eyes for a second, a firm rap on the door snapped her back to reality.


    "Miss," the butler called from the hall, his tone measured but urgent. "Master Charles insists on meeting with you."


    Without looking up from the paperwork, Jasmine sighed. Insists, does he? Well, he can stay outside until he copses, for all I care."


    The butler cleared his throat gently. "He''s here on official business, Miss-ims he''s representing some of the stock folders. He also said he won''t leave until you agree to see him."


    Jasmine''s lips curled in a wry smile. "Typical Charles. Gets a shred of power and thinks he can barge anywhere."


    She finally set her documents aside. "Fine. Let him in. If he causes trouble, I''m sure you''ll handle it."


    The butler inclined his head. "I''m at your service, Miss."


    >>


    Not three secondster, Charles stormed in with a smug grin stered across his face. He scanned the room like he owned it, barely acknowledging the butler''s presence.


    "Jasmine," he drawled, his voiceced with forced civility. "Long night, I see?"


    Jasmine rubbed her temples, refusing to give him the satisfaction of eye contact. "Cut the nonsense, Charles. You''ve got exactly two minutes before I throw you out."


    With a loud bang, he mmed a wooden box onto her desk, causing loose papers to flutter. From inside the box, a single white pill gleamed ominously.


    "Do you have any idea what this is?" he demanded, jabbing a finger at the pill as though it were a loaded weapon.


    Jasmine leaned back in her chair. "Let me guess. You want me to pretend I''m impressed?"


    He scoffed, crossing his arms. "So you really can''t recognize the SkinDew Essence? The Kanes have managed to manufacture it. They''re about to flood the market. And I bought this one straight from them."


    "Oh?" Jasmine arched an eyebrow. "So they got it out the door sooner than we expected. Let me guess-you''re here to gloat?"


    "Gloat? Are you deaf, or just in reckless?" Charles snapped.


    “This is a crisis for Kingston Pharmaceuticals. The Kanes'' product is skyrocketing


    in price-eight hundred dors a bottle. They''re practically printing money. Meanwhile, we''re stuck with nothing to rival it. Investors are furious."


    She lifted her shoulders in a nonchnt shrug. "And you''re telling me all this because...?"


    His face reddened with frustration. "Because we either need our own SkinDew Essence ASAP o coborate with Jericho Kane!"


    have to


    At that, Jasmine finally raised her eyes, her gaze as cold as an arctic wind.


    "Coborate with the man who tried to kill me? The same shake who''s been stealing my research? Wow, Your nerve is almost impressive."


    Charles mmed his fist down again, rattling the pill box. You''d rather see thepany copse than y nice for one deal? You have no idea the storm that''sing! Investors are up in arms, and they me you for not delivering."


    "Oh, spare me the hero act," Jasmine said, voice dripping with disdain.


    "I''m not signing any contracts with the Kanes, and you know it. If the board wants to me someone, maybe they should look at who''s been funneling inside information to Jericho in the first ce."


    His smug smirk faltered. "You watch yourself. If you don''t pull off a miracle in the next few days, I''ll make sure everyone knows the so-called Kingston heir can''t handle her responsibilities."


    That made Jasmine''s eyes sh with something dangerously close to fury.


    She rose from her chair, leaning forward until Charles was forced to back up a step.


    "Try me. The second you open your mouth to tarnish my name, I will drag you into court so fast you won''t remember what hit you."


    For a moment, Charles froze. He''d never seen Jasmine''s fury up close like this- nor had he expected her to threaten legal hell so decisively.


    Realizing he was out of his league, he sneered, snatched up the wooden box, and spun on his heel.


    "Fine," he spat, throwing a venomous nce over his shoulder. "But don''t say I didn''t warn you. You''ve got days before everything crumbles, and I''ll be right there to watch you fall."


    When he mmed the door behind him, the butler exhaled, finally stepping forward. Jasmine merely waved him


    off.


    "It''s fine," she muttered. "I''ve had worse."


    ***


    Alex hunched over a long steel counter in a covert facility hidden beneath the streets of Vancouver.


    This was Kingsley''s secret base, where he usually concocted specialized pills for Kingswell.


    But tonight, his focus was on the Seed of Verdantheart Root-a small, unassuming thing he''d salvaged from the rotten husk of its adult form.


    He was so immersed in his task that when a presence stirred behind him, he jumped.


    "Master..." Alex''s voice trembled. He straightened, turning to face the old man who had somehow appeared without warning. The master''s eyes seemed to shimmer with an ancient rity.


    "Master, how long have you been here? I didn''t sense youe in."


    The old master glided forward, gently cing a hand on the edge of the table. "That''s not important," he replied, his tone calm yet brimming with unspoken power.


    "How are you, Alex? Have you found what you truly seek?"


    Alex swallowed hard, his chest tightening with old fears.


    "I''m... not sure," he confessed, dropping his gaze to the ss beakers on the table. "My family''s enemies are too "powerful. I can''t face them the way I am now. I need more strength.''


    The master nodded, absorbing every flicker of doubt and frustration in Alex''s voice. "Is that all you wish to pursue? Just power for the sake of vengeance?"


    Conflicted, Alex closed his eyes. "I''ll do whatever you say, Master. Just guide me." A grave stillness filled theb.


    Then the old master spoke with a gentle insistence. "You are the chosen one, Alex. Before you were born into this world, you made a vow. You promised the True Source that you would help destroy the Archon-the dark creature enving all of humanity."


    A storm of emotions shed across Alex''s face: shock, longing, a flicker of memory he couldn''t quite grasp. "I''ve ... I''ve heard rumors of an Archon," he murmured. "But I never believed-"


    "Believe it," the master interrupted, his voice resonating with quiet thunder. "You''re chained by illusions in this world. Break free, Alex. Remember who you really are.


    You must awaken."