"Sir," the assistant hurried in, his face taut with barely concealed tension.
"Everything is ready."
Antonio stood by the window, his gaze icy as frost, the faint glow of the city lights reflecting in his narrowed eyes.
Wisps of pale smoke curled from his lips before dissipating into the air.
"Sir," the assistant glanced at his watch, his voice strained with urgency.
"The Luther and Calvin families have already caught wind of this.
Their influence is formidable.
If they suspect you’re involved, the consequences could be disastrous."
Antonio turned slowly, his expression dark and inscrutable.
The assistant pressed his lips together, uncertain whether to nod honestly or shake his head against his instincts.
After all, the capital was the stronghold of the Luther Family and their allies.
Not a moment here could put his mind at ease.
Fear was a sign of weakness.
At least for now, he wasn’t strong enough.
Antonio narrowed his dark eyes.
Finishing his cigarette, he stubbed it out, tucked the slightly worn pen from the table into his pocket, and stood to leave.
Once Camilla and the Antonio family’s affairs were settled, his first move would be to enter the America market—and go head-to-head with the Luther Corporation.
Under the cover of a thick night, several private jets departed from America.
Meanwhile, in a villa on the west side of the city...
"Mr. Calvin," Ramsey rose and approached Calvin, his expression grim.
"The taxi and the white Volkswagen spotted near where Miss Tiffany disappeared have been found by the deserted riverbank in the southern district."
Calvin paused before continuing, "But the cars were submerged, and the dashcams were removed.
There’s no useful information left."
Calvin’s eyes sharpened instantly.
Before he could speak, Jey walked in through the door.
"Mr. Calvin, we’ve located the drivers of both vehicles, but—"
His expression darkened with gravity.
"No matter how we pressed them, they insisted that someone paid them an exorbitant sum yesterday to buy their cars outright—with the sole condition that ownership wouldn’t be transferred."
Ramsey’s face mirrored the same grim tension.
Jey’s voice grew heavier as he continued,
"The buyers deliberately disguised themselves during the transaction and paid in cash.
These two drivers know absolutely nothing."
Paying top dollar for the cars, abducting Fanny, then destroying the vehicles—
Every detail had been meticulously planned.
This was clearly premeditated.
A cold glint flashed in Calvin’s eyes, his gaze stormy with impending fury.
Still, one thing was clear: the mastermind’s true objective wasn’t Fanny’s life—it was something else.
This small, bitter consolation eased his mind, if only slightly.
"Keep searching. If they’re still in the capital, tear the city apart if you have to—but find them."
Ramsey and Jey gave firm nods before resuming their coordinated efforts.
The night was serene.
But only those under the Luther and Calvin families knew what storms were brewing beneath the tranquil darkness.
At the Luther Family Manor, Camilla had stayed awake all night, finally succumbing to exhaustion as dawn approached.
Sinclair pressed a gentle kiss to her fair, delicate cheek before stepping out with silent footsteps, his dark eyes as unfathomable as a bottomless abyss.
The tender warmth on his handsome face vanished the moment the door closed behind him.
The manor staff were frozen in place by the chilling aura radiating from him, heads bowed and not daring to utter a greeting.
Luke, having received his orders, was already waiting in the study.
The moment Sinclair entered, he stepped forward.
"Find out immediately which family Antonio comes from," Sinclair commanded, his voice devoid of emotion, his piercing gaze enough to make anyone avert their eyes.
"His purpose for returning to San Francisco, his recent movements—remember," he continued, his long, elegant fingers tapping the desk with deliberate calm.
"Leave no detail unchecked."
Sinclair didn’t believe in so-called coincidences.
Everyone involved in the Tiffany incident was a suspect.
It took Luke a good ten seconds to recall who that was.
Though surprised, he kept his thoughts to himself.
Boss Sinclair’s instincts were far sharper than any of theirs.
Whatever the order, their job was simply to execute it.
"And Jonathan’s movements?"
Sinclair’s dark eyes narrowed slightly, his thin lips parting once more in a slow, deliberate motion.
"How are things progressing?"
His voice was flat, devoid of any discernible emotion, yet it sent an involuntary shiver down the spine.
"Jonathan’s company shares are already under our control.
The moment you give the word, we can take it over completely," Luke replied, his expression turning grave as he laid out the facts.
"Jonathan has clearly sensed it too—he’s growing restless."
His gaze darkened as he continued his report.
"Sinclair’s been sending envoys to lobby several branch families, offering increasingly generous incentives.
Based on my assessment, it won’t be long before he makes his move."
"Proceed as planned."
Sinclair’s lips curled into a chilling smile as he absently twisted the obsidian ring on his finger.
His dark, fathomless eyes gleamed with an icy intensity that could freeze one’s soul.
"I want to see Jonathan backed into a corner—and soon."
His strikingly handsome features bore an air of arrogant detachment, like a hunter watching prey stumble into his trap. "Understood."
Luke gave a firm nod.
Time crept by as night gradually surrendered to dawn.
The radiant morning sun bathed the capital in golden light, yet failed to dispel the lingering chill in the air.
When Camilla awoke, her first concern was Tiffany’s whereabouts.
Learning there had been no progress, she could no longer sit idle.
Without delay, she set off by car toward the western villa district.
The surveillance team stationed near the Luther estate immediately perked up at the sight of her.
For days, the Luther Family compound had been eerily silent—only minor figures coming and going, with none of the key players making an appearance.
It had been impossible to gauge the situation. Jonathan received the report almost instantly.
What was Camilla doing going to see Calvin?
A dark thought seemed to cross his mind, his brooding eyes narrowing slowly.
Was it for that Tiffany woman, or was it about Sinclair?
"Any updates on that Tiffany woman?"
"Nothing," the gaunt man shook his head.
"We sent people to check the hospital the cops mentioned, but there’s no record of her in their registry."
Jonathan paused before continuing, his voice low.
"It’s like she vanished into thin air—just like our men. I suspect someone got to her first."
Who would do that? Jonathan’s expression darkened, suspicion weighing heavily in his gaze.
"Sir," the lean man hesitated, watching Jonathan’s face carefully before speaking again.
"Whoever did this—it’s only to your advantage.
No downside for you."
Under Jonathan’s scrutinizing gaze, the man continued, "Though we lost a few men, your primary objectives have been achieved after all."
Jonathan frowned slightly.
Indeed, he had orchestrated the attack on that woman named Tiffany with two goals in mind: to unsettle Camilla and to inflict pain on Calvin.
From the current situation, both objectives had been accomplished.
Not only that, but the incident had also diverted Calvin and Camilla’s attention, inevitably loosening their vigilance toward the Luther Family.
All things considered, this was a favorable outcome.
"Camilla has already shown herself, yet there’s still no word of Sinclair," Jonathan murmured, his lips curling into a chilling smirk.
"It seems my earlier suspicions were correct—he must be in no state to show his face.
We should start preparing to make our move."
After years of meticulous planning, the final step was finally within reach.
"Understood," the lean, wiry man replied, his eyes glinting with cold determination before he withdrew silently.