She pushed a pregnant woman into the pool—without knowing who owned the villa or her company.

Chapter 5

Elias stared at the screen, his blood turning to ice.

The man in the video turned his face toward the hospital room's security camera, fully aware he was being watched.

He smiled. It was a smile identical to Elias’s, but twisted with a psychotic, hollow edge.

Julian.

"Look at how easily your fortress falls, little brother," Julian’s voice echoed through the crypt’s speakers. "You focused all your wrath on a pawn like Victoria, while the king walked right through your front door."

Elias didn't hesitate. He shot the laptop screen, destroying the feed, and sprinted back to the SUV.

He drove like a madman, breaking every speed limit as he tore back toward the city.

"Call Dr. Aris! Lock down the ICU!" Elias roared into his Bluetooth headset.

"Sir," his head of security replied, his voice trembling. "The hospital system is completely dark. Someone triggered a rolling EMP on the top floors. We can't reach anyone inside."

Elias cursed, swerving past slower traffic.

When he arrived at the hospital, it was absolute chaos. Backup generators were whining, red emergency lights bathed the lobby in a hellish glow, and nurses were rushing through the corridors.

Elias drew his weapon, sprinting up six flights of stairs to the VIP wing.

He burst into Clara's room.

The bed was empty.

The IV line was ripped out, leaving a trail of blood drops across the white linoleum floor.

Dr. Aris was unconscious in the corner, a massive bruise on his temple.

Elias dropped to his knees, checking the doctor's pulse. He was alive.

But as Elias looked around the destroyed room, his eyes caught something sitting perfectly centered on the blood-stained pillow.

It was a velvet ring box.

Elias opened it slowly.

Inside wasn't a ring. It was a single, silver key.