Alex stood silent and still, watching Ophelia weep inconsolably over David's motionless body.

Suddenly, David's eyes fluttered open, startling everyone nearby. Gasps rippled through the stunned crowd, disbelief etched across every face.

"Impossible," a bewildered customer muttered. "I saw him take that bullet right in the chest!"

"David!" Ophelia's voice trembled with hope and disbelief.

"Are you alright? Is this real?"

David stared down, incredulous, pressing his hand against his chest.

Blood stained his shirt, the fabric torn and wet, but beneath his fingertips, there was just a small wound.

The bullet had pierced his clothes and skins but stopped short, leaving only a superficial injury.

"Am I...bulletproof?" David whispered, astonished.

Across the room, Alex leaned casually against the table, his lips twisted into a subtle, knowing smirk.

At the very instant Luther had fired his weapon, Alex had silently channeled his protective aura, wrapping David's body in an unseen shield.

Though the impact had been violent, the bullet had lost its deadly force, leaving only superficial damage.

The paramedics arrived swiftly, bewildered to find David conscious, suffering nothing worse than a shallow gash.

Still, they carefully placed him onto a stretcher, administering treatment.

Ophelia clung to his side, relief and lingering terror breaking fresh tears loose from her eyes.

"I thought I'd lost you forever," she whispered, her voice raw and shaking.

David reached up gently, tracing her tear-streaked cheek. The memories flooded back-her beauty, their shared pain, their years apart.

"Ophelia," he said firmly, his voice full of renewed resolve.

"I've been given another chance. This time, I'll make everything right."

They embraced fiercely, holding tight to each other, bound by relief and renewed determination.

Across town, Charles drove Luther swiftly toward the Morgan mansion.

Pulling into the grand entrance, Luther leaped from the vehicle and demanded of the butler, "Where's my mother?"

Before the butler could respond, Brian and several bodyguards charged forward, tackling Luther roughly to the floor.

"What the hell are you idiots doing?!" Luther roared, struggling against their grasp.

"My father already dead! I'm your boss now! Let me up!"

pinning Luther with contemptuous

father just called-he said you tried to

still alive?" Luther gasped, shock freezing him

"Yeah. Very

the looming

slamming the accelerator. Tires screeched as he bolted toward

run for it!"

straight through the iron

vehicle toward a secluded estate,

and a neat pile of gold bars. He shoved everything into a backpack, muttering to himself, "This will

from the mansion, memories of his last conversation with his mother echoing sharply

your father won't help," she'd told him

angered someone powerful. Lay low, and money will find

"Lay low? How long can anyone live

"Patience, Charles," she'd pleaded.

you from the inheritance. Stay quiet and it'll all

clarity cutting through

wasn't his mother, nor

sister jasmine and even outsider

across Charles's lips as a

enemy had always been one man: his

Albert Kingston, and the governorship of Los Angeles-the

came with

the car, chilling

every detail of his father's routine, every vulnerability,

Albert Kingston

his grip on the wheel, determination hardening

would breathe his last breath. And not a soul would

would ever guess that

"I need the final piece of the Emerald Elixir. And the only way

his tone a threat wrapped

"Sophia."

plunged into darkness, neon lights painting the night

alone in the corner, drowning herself shot by shot, her eyes glazed

youthful face. She'd never seen Sophia unravel this completely, stripped raw of her usual

had abandoned her fierce front, ignoring calls, emails, and responsibilities, letting herself spiral

was that Alex was the cause, and Megan wondered bitterly if any man was truly

you've had enough. Let's go home your

desperation, her hand lightly

harsh and brittle like broken glass. "Leave me

feeling the fiery burn

was lost-caught in a storm of family demands and aching regret over

knew she'd judged him wrongly,

and risk seeing the coldness in his eyes,

hiding behind the comfort

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

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