Brandon Lee''s face had turned ghostly white. His lips trembled as he stared at the imposing figure approaching him. "C-Corbin Ashworth? The ck Dragon of the Ashworth Family?"


    I watched, still struggling to catch my breath after the battle with Morales. The name had clearly struck terror into everyone in the room. Even the remaining guards had backed away, their eyes wide with fear.


    Corbin''s face remained expressionless as he stepped closer to Brandon. "I see my reputation precedes me."


    "Please, Mr. Ashworth," Brandon stammered, pressing himself against the wall. "This was all a misunderstanding—"


    "Was it?" Corbin''s voice was soft, almost gentle, which somehow made it more terrifying. "Kidnapping my father and niece seems quite deliberate."


    He turned to look at Michael Ashworth, still bound in his chair. For a brief moment, something like concern flickered across Corbin''s face before hardening again.


    "Father, are you harmed?" he asked.


    Michael shook his head slightly. "Nothing of consequence, son."


    Corbin nodded, then returned his attention to Brandon. "Where is Ivan Dillon?"


    Brandon''s eyes darted nervously around the room. "My uncle had nothing to do with this. It was all my idea—" <em ss="phantom-imprint">Visi$t. My V^i$rt$ua.l. Libr.a#ry^ E@mpir@e (*)^ for mo&r$e$.-</em>


    A sharp p cut off his words. Corbin had moved so quickly I barely saw it—just a blur and then Brandon''s head snapped to the side, blood spraying from his mouth.


    "I detest liars," Corbin said calmly. "Again, where is Ivan Dillon?"


    Morales, still crumpled on the floor, spoke up. "He''s... in the back office. He tried to stop this when he realized who they were."


    Corbin nced at one of his men who had followed him into the warehouse. The man nodded and disappeared toward the rear of the building.


    I took advantage of the moment to move toward Isabelle and Michael, breaking their chains with my remaining strength. Isabelle immediately embraced her grandfather, checking him for injuries.


    "Thank you, Liam," she whispered, her eyes meeting mine with gratitude.


    Minutester, Corbin''s man returned, dragging a disheveled older man I assumed was Ivan Dillon. His face was bruised, and he walked with a pronounced limp.


    "Uncle!" Brandon called out desperately. "Tell them I was acting on my own!"


    Ivan''s face twisted with disgust. "I don''t know this fool," he said, pointing at Brandon. "He''s no nephew of mine. I tried to stop this madness when I discovered who they''d taken."


    Brandon''s expression copsed into despair. "Uncle, please—"


    "Take him away," Corbin ordered two of his men. "Dispose of him properly."


    "No! Wait!" Brandon screamed as they dragged him toward the door. "I''ll do anything! Please!"


    His pleas faded as the door mmed shut behind them. The silence that followed was deafening.


    Corbin turned to Morales, who was trying unsessfully to stand. "You recognized me, yet you still opposed me?"


    Fear shed across Morales''s face. "I didn''t know you wereing, Mr. Ashworth. I swear—"


    Corbin moved like a striking serpent. His handshed out, connecting with Morales''s chest. I heard a sickening crack, and Morales''s eyes bulged. His mouth opened in a silent scream before he copsed, motionless.


    The casual execution stunned me. One moment Morales had been alive, pleading for his life, and the next—nothing. Killed with a single p.


    "Gather our things," Corbin instructed his remaining men. "We''re leaving immediately."


    I helped Michael to his feet while Isabelle steadied him from the other side.


    "Uncle," Isabelle said, her voice surprisingly strong despite what we''d witnessed. "Thank you foring."


    Corbin nodded curtly. "I was already en route when I received word of the situation." His eyes shifted to me, cold and assessing. "This is him? The one you mentioned in your messages?"


    Isabelle straightened her shoulders. "Yes. This is Liam Knight. He fought to protect us."


    "So I saw." There was no admiration in Corbin''s tone, just clinical evaluation. "A Third Rank holding his own against multiple opponents. Somewhat impressive."


    Michael cleared his throat. "Liam risked everything to protect us, Corbin. He deserves our gratitude."


    "He failed to prevent your capture in the first ce," Corbin replied coldly.


    "That''s unfair," Isabelle protested. "We were ambushed—"


    "Enough," Michael interrupted, his voice firm despite his weakened state. "We can discuss thister. For now, let''s leave this ce."


    Outside, a sleek helicopter waited on an improvisednding pad. Corbin''s men helped Michael aboard first, followed by Isabelle. When I moved to follow, Corbin ced a hand on my chest, stopping me.


    "You''ll sit with me," he said quietly. It wasn''t a request.


    Once airborne, Corbin arranged the seating so that Michael and Isabelle were separated from us by his bodyguards. The privacy barrier hummed into ce, leaving me alone with one of the most feared men in Veridia City.


    "So you''re Liam Knight," he said, studying me with prating eyes. "The man who''s been making waves in Havenwood."


    I met his gaze. "I am."


    "Do you know who I am, beyond my name?"


    "Corbin Ashworth. Head of the Ashworth Family in Veridia City."


    A cold smile touched his lips. "That''s like saying the ocean is wet. Technically correct but woefully inadequate."


    He leaned forward. "The Ashworth Family doesn''t merely exist in Veridia City—we own it. Every major business, every political appointment, every significant decision passes through our hands in some form."


    I remained silent, sensing this was not the time for interruptions.


    "North Province Ind?" He gestured dismissively toward the window. "A footnote in our ledgers. The pathetic power struggle you witnessed today would beughable if it hadn''t inconvenienced my father."


    "I understand," I said carefully.


    His eyes narrowed. "No, you don''t. But perhaps you will." He paused, studying me. "You have talent. Raw and unrefined, but genuine. You''ve caught my niece''s attention as well, which is... unusual."


    A flicker of hope rose in my chest, only to be extinguished by his next words.


    "Let me tell you about another talented young man," Corbin said, his voice eerily conversational. "He came from Havenwood, like yourself. Exceptional fighting prowess, intelligent, ambitious. He caught the eye of my daughter."


    I felt a chill run down my spine.


    "He began to imagine himself as an equal. As someone worthy of the Ashworth name." Corbin''s smile remained, but his eyes were dead. "Do you know what happened to him?"


    I shook my head slowly.


    "My son Dominic killed him. Slowly. Made quite an example of him, actually."


    My hands clenched involuntarily.


    "And do you know what I did?" Corbin continued. "Nothing. Because Dominic was right. There are lines that cannot be crossed, hierarchies that must be maintained."


    He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "To people like you, even if the strength is strong, you are just ves that are just a superior kind of ves."