Graves met me at a secluded café on the outskirts of the city. The man looked more haggard than ever—dark circles under his eyes, his posture slightly hunched. The weight of his submission was wearing on him, but he wouldn't dare step out of line now.
I sipped my coffee calmly as he arrived, sitting across from me with a reluctant grunt.
"Graves," I said, setting my cup down. "I trust you've been keeping up your end of the arrangement?"
He nodded, his eyes darting nervously around the café. "Yeah. Your names haven't come up in any reports. You're safe, for now."
"For now isn't good enough," I said, my voice low but firm. "We're moving to the next target—Captain Thomas Blake. He's Cassandra's brute force, and we can't leave him unchecked."
Graves sighed, rubbing his temples. "Blake is... different. He's not just a hired thug; he's tactical. Smart. Getting close to him won't be easy."
"That's why you're going to make it happen," I said. "Arrange a meeting. Tell him you have intel that Cassandra needs to hear. Use whatever excuse you need."
Graves frowned. "You're asking me to betray someone I've worked with for years."
I leaned forward, locking eyes with him. "You already betrayed Cassandra by siding with us. What's one more name on the list? Besides, you're not in a position to negotiate."
He hesitated, the conflict evident in his expression. After a long pause, he nodded. "Fine. I'll get it done. But it'll take time—a week, at least."
I studied him for a moment, then smiled faintly. "Good. That gives me time to make sure you don't develop cold feet."
Graves's brows furrowed in confusion, but I was already pulling a small vial from my coat pocket. The liquid inside shimmered faintly, a darker hue than the last one I'd used.
"What's that?" he asked warily.
"Insurance," I said, sliding it across the table. "Drink it."
Graves stared at the vial like it was poison. "You've got to be kidding me."
"Do I look like I'm joking?" I asked, my tone ice-cold. "This is Loyalty Bind Serum, Level 2. It's stronger than what I gave Chavez. If you betray us or fail to meet expectations, the consequences will be... unpleasant."
His hands trembled as he picked up the vial. "You really don't trust anyone, do you?"
"No," I said simply.
With a defeated sigh, Graves uncorked the vial and drank it. He gagged slightly but managed to swallow it all.
"There," he muttered. "Happy now?"
"Ecstatic," I replied, standing up. "You have a week, Graves. Don't waste it."
While Graves worked on setting up the meeting with Captain Blake, I returned to my other role—the life of a 15-year-old high school student. On the surface, everything seemed normal. I went to class, sold study guides in secret to rake in cash, and played the part of an overachieving, well-mannered kid.
But today, I had a specific goal.
After school, I made my way to Janet's usual hangout—a quiet spot under the oak tree by the sports field. She was sitting there, sketching in her notebook like she always did.
"Hey," I said, walking up to her.
She looked up, smiling. "Hey, William. What's up?"
"I need to talk to you," I said, sitting down beside her.
Her smile faded slightly, replaced by curiosity. "What's going on?"
"It's about Edward," I said.
Her expression hardened immediately. "I told you, I don't want to talk about him."
"I know," I said gently. "But hear me out. I've been talking to him, and he really wants to make things right with you."
Janet crossed her arms, looking away. "How can he make things right? He lied to me my whole life. Benjamin raised me, and now I find out he wasn't even my real father. How am I supposed to accept that?"
"By giving him a chance," I said. "Look, I get it. What he did wasn't fair to you. But Edward isn't trying to replace Benjamin. He just wants to be a part of your life. Isn't that worth considering?"
She didn't respond, her gaze fixed on the ground.
"Janet," I continued, my tone soft but firm. "You're one of the smartest and strongest people I know. I wouldn't ask you to do this if I didn't believe it was the right thing. Just meet with him. Talk to him. If you still feel the same afterward, I won't bring it up again."
Her loyalty meter was already maxed out, but this was about more than obedience—it was about trust. Finally, she nodded.
"Fine," she said quietly. "I'll talk to him. But if he screws this up, that's it."
"Deal," I said, smiling.
Later that evening, I met with Edward at his estate. He was pacing nervously in his study when I arrived.
"She agreed to meet me?" he asked, his voice tinged with hope and anxiety.
"She did," I said. "But you need to approach this carefully. Janet's still processing everything, and she's not ready to forgive you just yet."
Edward nodded, his expression serious. "What do you suggest?"
"Start by acknowledging her feelings," I said. "Don't try to defend yourself or make excuses. Just listen to her. Let her vent if she needs to. And be honest—completely honest. She values that more than anything."
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I'll do whatever it takes. I just want her to know how much she means to me."
"You'll get your chance," I said. "Just don't blow it."
True to his word, Graves contacted me after a week. He had managed to arrange a meeting with Captain Blake.
"The groundwork's laid," Graves said over the phone. "Blake thinks I've got some intel he needs. You'll have your chance to talk to him."
"Good," I said. "You've done well, Graves. Keep it up."
As I hung up, I couldn't help but feel a surge of anticipation. Another piece of Cassandra's empire was about to fall, and we were one step closer to taking her down.
The next morning, the atmosphere at Edward's estate was tense. Janet's meeting with him was scheduled for midday, and I had a feeling this would be one of the most pivotal moments in both their lives. Edward, usually composed and confident, had been pacing since sunrise, rehearsing what to say. I stayed out of it; this wasn't my battle to fight, but I made sure to give Edward a solid reminder to listen more than he spoke.
When noon arrived, Janet stepped out of the car I'd arranged to bring her to Edward's estate. She was dressed in a casual yet guarded way, as if she were preparing for battle but didn't want to show it. Her face was set in a mask of indifference, but her clenched fists betrayed her nerves.
Edward was waiting for her on the front steps, his normally commanding presence softened by apprehension. He didn't speak right away, and neither did Janet. The silence between them stretched as they stared at each other.
"I'll leave you two to talk," I said, breaking the tension before it could spiral. Without waiting for a response, I walked back toward the gardens, giving them space but staying within earshot, just in case.
Edward led Janet into his study, a room filled with artifacts and books that screamed wealth and power. Janet took it all in with a single glance, her expression unreadable.
"Would you like something to drink?" Edward asked, his voice steady but hesitant.
"No," Janet said curtly, sitting down on the farthest chair from him.
Edward sat across from her, folding his hands on the desk between them. For a moment, he seemed at a loss for words.
"I'm glad you came," he said finally.
"I didn't come for you," Janet replied, her tone sharp. "I came because William asked me to."
Edward flinched slightly but nodded. "I'll take that. It's more than I expected."
There was a beat of silence before Janet leaned forward, her eyes narrowing. "So, what do you want from me? An apology? Forgiveness? A pat on the back for finally deciding to tell me the truth after all these years?"
Edward took a deep breath, his gaze unwavering. "No. I don't want anything from you, Janet. I just want to explain myself and let you decide where we go from here."
Janet crossed her arms. "Fine. Explain."
Edward leaned back slightly, collecting his thoughts. "When you were born, I made a choice—a selfish one. I thought that by letting Benjamin raise you, I was giving you a better life than I could ever provide. I was building my empire, Janet. My hands were dirty, and I didn't want that to touch you."
"And yet here we are," Janet said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Guess your hands weren't as clean as you hoped."
Edward winced but pressed on. "You're right. I failed. I thought I was protecting you, but all I did was lie to you. And for that, I am deeply sorry. I can't change the past, Janet, but I want to be part of your future—if you'll let me."
Janet's expression softened, but only for a moment. "You think a few words and an apology will fix everything? You think I can just forget that my entire life was a lie?"
"No," Edward said firmly. "I don't expect you to forget or forgive overnight. All I'm asking is for a chance to prove to you that I can be the father you deserve."
Janet leaned back in her chair, her arms still crossed but her posture less rigid. "Why now? Why do you care all of a sudden?"
"I've always cared," Edward said, his voice thick with emotion. "I just didn't know how to show it. And then Benjamin passed, and I realized how much time I've wasted. I don't want to waste any more."
Janet looked away, her jaw tightening. "Benjamin was my father. He raised me, taught me everything I know. You don't get to replace him."
"I'm not trying to replace him," Edward said softly. "Benjamin was a good man, and I'll always respect what he did for you. I just want to stand beside him in your memories—not overshadow him."
For the first time, Janet's eyes glistened with unshed tears. She quickly blinked them away, her voice trembling. "Do you even know me, Edward? Do you know what I like, what I hate, what my dreams are?"
"No," Edward admitted, his voice cracking. "But I want to. I want to know everything about you, Janet. I want to be there for you, not as a replacement for Benjamin, but as the man who should have been there from the start."
Janet stared at him for a long time, her emotions warring on her face. Finally, she stood up, her movements slow and deliberate.
"I don't know if I can forgive you," she said quietly.
Edward nodded, his expression filled with regret. "I understand. But I'm not going anywhere. Whenever you're ready, I'll be here."
She didn't respond, turning and walking toward the door. As she passed me in the hallway, she stopped.
"You're lucky I trust you, William," she said, her voice low. "But this doesn't mean I'm okay with any of this."
"I know," I said. "Just take your time."
Janet nodded and walked out, leaving Edward sitting alone in his study.
As Edward came out a few minutes later, he looked exhausted but hopeful.
"Thank you," he said quietly. "That went... better than I expected."
"She's not ready to forgive you," I said, leaning against the wall.
"I know," Edward replied. "But at least she listened. That's more than I deserve."
"She's starting to see the cracks in her anger," I said. "It'll take time, but she'll come around. Just don't push her."
Edward nodded. "I won't. Thank you, William. For everything."
I shrugged. "I didn't do this for you. I did it for her. Don't mess it up."
As Edward walked away, I couldn't help but feel a small sense of satisfaction. One more bridge mended, one more step closer to uniting the people I cared about. But there was no time to dwell. Graves had promised a meeting with Captain Blake, and there was still a war to win.