## Liam''s Perspective


    The elevator ride up to Harrison Ashworth''s penthouse office felt like ascending to face judgment day. My heart hammered against my ribs, not from fear but sheer determination. The man had no idea who I''d be since the days he''d dismissed me as worthless.


    I adjusted the jade pendant resting against my chest. The familiar weight grounded me. Sixteen days remained until Isabelle''s forced marriage to Dashiell. Sixteen days to prevent the woman I loved from bing a prisoner in her own life.


    The elevator doors slid open with a soft ping. No receptionist, no security—just an empty antechamber leading to massive double doors. Harrison must be confident in his power to dismiss basic precautions.


    I didn''t knock. I pushed the doors open and walked in.


    Harrison Ashworth sat behind a massive ebony desk, phone to his ear. His eyes widened momentarily before narrowing to slits.


    "I''ll call you back," he said curtly into the phone before hanging up.


    He didn''t stand. "You have exceptional nerveing here, Knight."


    "We need to talk about Isabelle," I said, my voice steady despite the rage building inside me.


    Harrison''s face hardened. "There''s nothing to discuss. My daughter will marry Dashiell ckthorne in sixteen days. The arrangements are finalized."


    "Arrangements?" I took a step forward. "She''s your daughter, not merchandise."


    "You speak as if you understand our world." Harrison scoffed. "This union secures the future of both our families. The Ashworth name will gain unprecedented power."


    "At the cost of Isabelle''s happiness."


    "Happiness?" Heughed, the sound cold and hollow. "What would you offer her? A life of obscurity with a man the world has discarded?"


    The golden light of my Saintly Body Skill flickered beneath my skin. I fought to contain it.


    "I didn''te to argue about my worth," I said. "I came to warn you."


    Harrison raised an eyebrow. "Warn me?"


    "Call off this wedding," I said, each word deliberate and clear. "Because I will stop it. One way or another."


    Harrison''s face flushed with anger. He stood slowly, hands t on his desk.


    "You threaten me in my own office?" His voice rose. "Do you have any idea what Dashiell has be? He defeated Ernesto Ross in singlebat. The media calls him the youngest Martial Marquis in history!"


    "I don''t care what they call him."


    "You should." Harrison circled his desk. "Because when you interfere—and I know you will—he will destroy you. And I will personally ensure you never rise again."


    I didn''t back down. "Where is Isabelle now?"


    "Safe. Protected from your influence."


    "Imprisoned, you mean."


    Harrison''s fist crashed down on his desk. "Enough! You think you''re untouchable because you''ve had a few victories? Subduing the Ascendant Saints Order? Challenging the Veridia City Martial Guild? These actions have consequences!"


    I blinked in surprise. He''d been tracking my movements.


    "You''ve drawn attention to yourself, attention you cannot handle," he continued. "My family has stood for generations. We will not be undermined by a nobody with delusions of grandeur."


    "A nobody," I repeated softly. "Is that still how you see me?"


    Harrison sneered. "What else would you be? A troublemaker who refuses to ept his ce."


    "My ce?" The golden light beneath my skin intensified, impossible to contain any longer. It burst forth, bathing the room in its glow.


    Harrison stumbled back, shock recing his arrogance.


    "This is my ce," I said, my voice deadly calm as the light enveloped me. "Standing between Isabelle and anyone who would harm her. Including her father."


    For the first time, fear flickered across Harrison''s face.


    "You can''t stop this," he said, but his voicecked conviction. "The arrangements are made."


    "Then I''ll unmake them." I stepped closer, the floor cracking slightly beneath my feet from the pressure of my energy. "Tell me where she is."


    Harrison regained hisposure. "Never. Guards!"


    The doors burst open. Six men in tactical gear rushed in, weapons drawn.


    I didn''t move.


    "Remove him," Harrison ordered. "By any means necessary."


    The first guard charged. I sidestepped, caught his arm, and sent him crashing into the wall with minimal effort.


    The second and third attacked simultaneously. I blocked, deflected, and disabled them without breaking a sweat.


    The remaining three hesitated, looking to Harrison for guidance.


    "What are you waiting for?" Harrison shouted.


    They came at me together. Fifteen secondster, all six guardsy unconscious around the office.


    I turned back to Harrison, who had backed against the wall.


    "I''ll ask one more time," I said quietly. "Where is Isabelle?"


    "You''ll never find her," he hissed. "And if you continue this path, the consequences will destroy you both."


    I sighed, disappointed but not surprised.


    "I didn''t expect you to help," I admitted. "I just wanted to see if any part of you still cares about your daughter''s happiness."


    Harrison''s expression hardened again. "I care about her future. Her legacy. Something you could never provide."


    "Legacy," I repeated. "Is that why you''re sacrificing her to the ckthornes? For a name?"


    "You understand nothing of our world," Harrison spat.


    "I understand more than you think." I moved toward the door, stepping carefully over the unconscious guards. "Tell Dashiell I''ming for him. Tell him nothing will stop me from saving Isabelle."


    "You''re a fool, Knight," Harrison called after me. "This path leads only to your destruction."


    I paused at the doorway, turning back onest time.


    "Maybe. But I''d rather be destroyed fighting for what''s right than livefortably knowing I abandoned her."


    As I reached the elevator, mymunication talisman vibrated. Mariana was calling.


    "Liam," her voice came through, urgent and tense. "Where are you?"


    "Just leaving the Ashworth Tower," I replied. "Harrison was less than helpful."


    "You confronted him directly?" She sounded rmed. "That was reckless."


    "I needed to see his face," I said. "To confirm what I already knew."


    "And what''s that?"


    "That he''s beyond reasoning with. The only way to stop this wedding is to take direct action."


    Mariana sighed. "The Dark Abyss of Sorrow—did it help?"


    I smiled grimly. "More than I expected. The Man with the Mustache didn''t lie about that, at least."


    "You''ve advanced?"


    "Half-step Martial Marquis," I confirmed. "But it came at a price."


    "What price?"


    I looked down at my hands, remembering the darkness that had flooded my system, the searing pain as it integrated with my golden light.


    "We''ll discuss it when I return," I said. "Have you found Isabelle''s location?"


    "Not yet," Mariana admitted. "But I''ve narrowed it down. The ckthornes own threepounds outside the city, all heavily guarded."


    "Start with the most isted one," I suggested. "They''ll want to keep her away from prying eyes."


    The elevator reached the ground floor. I stepped out into the lobby, aware of security cameras tracking my movement.


    "There''s something else," Mariana said hesitantly. "Evelyn woke up."


    My heart leapt. "Is she okay?"


    "Physically, yes. But, Liam... she''s changed. The attack affected her mind somehow. She keeps talking about shadows and masks."


    A cold feeling settled in my stomach. "The Masked Woman?"


    "Possibly. You should return immediately."


    "I''ll be there soon," I promised, ending themunication.


    Outside the Ashworth Tower, I felt eyes on me. Looking up, I saw Harrison watching from his window, his expression unreadable.


    Let him watch, I thought. Let him see what''sing.


    My phone buzzed with a news alert. I opened it to find Dashiell ckthorne''s face stered across the screen, standing triumphantly over a defeated opponent. The headline read: "BLACKTHORNE HEIR CONFIRMS MARTIAL MARQUIS STATUS IN SPECTACULAR VICTORY."


    I pocketed the phone. Dashiell''s new strength didn''t concern me. After the Dark Abyss, I carried power he couldn''tprehend.


    As I walked away from the tower, Harrison''s voice came from above.


    "Knight!" he called out. "This isn''t over!"


    I didn''t look back. "You''re right," I said, knowing he couldn''t hear me. "It''s only just beginning."


    ---


    ## Isabelle''s Perspective


    I sat by the window, watching rain streak down the ss. I''d lost track of the days since they''d confined me to this suite. Luxury prison was still prison.


    The door opened without a knock. I didn''t turn.


    "Isabelle." My father''s voice.


    "Leave me alone," I said quietly.


    "We need to talk." His footsteps approached. "About Liam Knight."


    That got my attention. I turned to face him.


    "What about him?"


    Father''s face was tight with anger. "He came to my office today. Threatened to stop the wedding."


    My heart raced. Liam was still fighting for me.


    "Good," I said, unable to hide my smile.


    "Good?" Father''s voice rose. "Do you have any idea what you''ve gotten involved with? The man is dangerous."


    "Dangerous to whom?" I challenged. "To your ns? To the ckthornes?"


    "To everyone!" He paced the room. "He''s grown powerful, yes, but reckless. Subduing the Ascendant Saints Order, challenging the Veridia City Martial Guild—"


    I gasped. "He did what?"


    Father stopped, realizing his mistake.


    "You didn''t know," he said slowly.


    "No," I admitted. "I''ve been kept isted, remember? No news, no visitors." <kbd ss="in-imprint-a">This chapter was uploaded by the team at *.</kbd>


    "For your protection."


    "For my imprisonment," I corrected. "Tell me about Liam. What has he done?"


    Father hesitated, then sighed heavily.


    "He''s be a force to be reckoned with," he admitted reluctantly. "After you were taken, he systematically dismantled the Ascendant Saints Order—a group that has existed for centuries. He threatened the Veridia City Martial Guild directly. He''s gained allies in high ces."


    Each revtion made my heart swell with pride. The timid man I''d first met had transformed into someone extraordinary.


    "And today," Father continued, "he disabled six of my best security personnel in seconds."


    "Good," I said again, more firmly.


    Father''s eyes shed with anger. "You encourage this behavior? This defiance?"


    "Defiance?" I stood, my own anger rising. "Is that what you call fighting for someone you love? Is that what you call refusing to bow to injustice?"


    "It''s disruption of order. Of tradition."


    "Tradition?" Iughed bitterly. "Like selling your daughter to strengthen business ties?"


    Father''s face reddened. "You know nothing of the pressures we face. The ckthorne alliance will secure our family''s position for generations."


    "At what cost?" I moved closer. "My happiness? My freedom? My very soul?"


    "Melodramatic nonsense," he dismissed. "You''ll adapt. Women have made such marriages for centuries."


    "And you think Liam should just ept this?" I asked. "Step aside and let it happen?"


    "He should know his ce."


    "His ce?" My voice rose. "Do you actually want Liam Knight to smile in the face of your oppression, would that satisfy you?"


    Father''s expression went cold.


    "You''ve changed," he said. "This isn''t the rational daughter I raised."


    "You''re right," I replied. "I''ve finally found my voice. And like Liam, I won''t be silenced anymore."


    "This wedding will happen," he said with finality. "Liam Knight cannot stop it. Dashiell has grown too powerful. He defeated Ernesto Ross publicly—he''s being hailed as a Martial Marquis now."


    "And you think that scares Liam?" I shook my head. "You still don''t understand him at all."


    "I understand that he will die if he interferes," Father said bluntly. "Dashiell will see to that personally."


    A chill ran through me. "If anything happens to him—"


    "What?" Father challenged. "What could you possibly do, locked away here?"


    I met his gaze directly. "If Liam dies because of this forced marriage, I will never forgive you. I will spend the rest of my life making you regret it."


    Father stared at me, momentarily speechless.


    "You would choose him over your own family?"


    "I would choose love over tyranny," I said simply. "Something you''ve forgotten how to recognize."


    Father turned away, moving toward the door.


    "Your security will be doubled," he said without looking back. "No one gets in or out without my explicit permission."


    "It won''t stop him," I said confidently.


    Father paused at the doorway. "For his sake, I hope you''re wrong."


    The door closed behind him, the lock clicking into ce.


    I returned to the window, but this time with a smile on my face. Liam wasing for me. He had grown stronger, bolder. And nothing—not my father, not Dashiell, not all theirbined power—would stop him.


    "I''m waiting," I whispered to the rain-streaked ss. "I''ve always been waiting for you, Liam Knight."