I took my towel and headed to the bathroom for a shower. The warm water washed away the tension from the day, but my mind was still restless.
When I stepped out, Damon was no longer in the room.
Maybe he went to his study. Or perhaps he chose to use the guest bathroom.
Either way, I was alone.
I dried my hair with a towel before sitting in front of the vanity to blow it out properly. The soft hum of the dryer filled the room as I stared at my reflection.
Everything is different now.
Once my hair was dry, I made my way to the massive bed, sinking into the plush sheets.
Sleep came quickly, pulling me into its depths.
IN THE STUDY
The study was dimly lit, the scent of aged whiskey and fresh cigar smoke lingering in the air. Damon sat behind his massive black desk, his sharp gaze fixed on the men before him—Caleb Wang and Daniel Jiehong.
Daniel adjusted his sleeves and stepped forward. "The rift in the underworld is getting worse. The factions are splitting, and some are growing restless. The rival families are starting to challenge the main syndicate's authority."
Damon swirled his whiskey lazily. "It seems like I have been quiet for a long time, .....Who's leading the rebellion?"
Caleb responded immediately, his voice calm but laced with caution. "The Qing Syndicate and the remnants of the Xuan Group are making their move. They're forming alliances, testing the limits of our control. There's even talk of them reaching out to the Zichen branch families for support."
Damon's fingers tapped against the glass, his mind calculating. "Desperate rats will always look for new holes to crawl into." His tone was cold. "But no one defies me and walks away unscathed."
Daniel nodded. "We've already neutralized a few key players. But there's something else… The branch families have started asking questions."
Damon's gaze sharpened. "What kind of questions?"
Caleb hesitated for a second before answering. "They want to know who your wife is."
The room fell into a brief silence.
Damon leaned back in his chair, a smirk playing on his lips. "So, they've caught wind of my marriage?"
Daniel sighed. "It's impossible to keep such a thing hidden forever. The moment you got married, it became a matter of curiosity for them. They think you're hiding something… or someone."
Caleb added, "The elders of the branch families suspect you married for a reason beyond convenience. Some believe it's political; others think it's personal. A few are even wondering if she holds power over you."
Damon let out a low chuckle, the sound dark and dangerous. "Power over me?" He found the idea amusing.
"She's a wild card in their eyes," Daniel continued. "They don't know who she is, where she comes from, or why you chose her. That makes them uneasy."
Damon's eyes gleamed with intrigue. "Good. Let them be uneasy."
Caleb hesitated before speaking. "Sir, do you want us to release any information? Perhaps a controlled leak?"
Damon took a slow sip of his whiskey before setting the glass down with a quiet clink. "No. Let them wonder. Let them dig." He smirked. "The more they search, the more frustrated they'll become."
Daniel crossed his arms. "And if they get too close?"
Damon's expression turned cold. "Then I'll remind them why I sit at the top."
A heavy silence fell over the room.
Caleb and Daniel knew better than to question Damon's authority. If the branch families pushed too far, there would be consequences—brutal ones.
Damon stood up, walking over to the floor-to-ceiling window, looking down at the city that belonged to him.
Have you gotten any further information from that hacker?
Daniel stepped forward, his voice low. "none yet'
Caleb shook his head. "But…" He hesitated.
Damon's gaze darkened. "But what?"
Daniel exchanged a glance with Caleb before speaking. "After further investigation, we discover that, someone else accessed the files."
Silence.
The air in the room grew colder. Damon set his glass down with a quiet clink. His sharp eyes gleamed under the dim light.
"Who?" His voice was calm, but the underlying threat was unmistakable.
Caleb inhaled deeply. "We're still tracking, but… whoever it was, they were good. Too good."
Damon leaned back in his chair, deep in thought. This wasn't just a random attack. Someone out there was playing a dangerous game.
His thoughts drifted back to earlier that night—to her. "Lisa Jing"
The woman who walked into his life like she owned it. The woman who had confidently asked him to marry her as if she already knew the outcome.
His lips curled slightly. Could it be her?
Daniel noticed the shift in Damon's expression. "Something on your mind?"
Damon smirked, picking up his glass again. "Perhaps. Let's wait and see."
Caleb and Daniel exchanged glances, sensing that their boss had something in mind—something dangerous.
"Keep a close watch," Damon finally ordered. "And find out exactly who accessed those files."
"Yes, sir."
As Caleb and Daniel left the study, Damon turned his gaze back toward the window, staring into the dark city skyline.