Xavier stormed out of the hideout and headed straight for his car. He was about to open the door when his phone started ringing. He pulled it out and answered, his bloody hand resting on the car handle.
"Talk to me," he said.
"Your shipment is here, Boss," the voice on the other end reported.
"Right. On my way," Xavier replied before hanging up.
"Where are you going? I came here to speak with you."
His father's voice came from behind him.
Irritation immediately crossed Xavier's face.
"None of your business, Mr. Elder," he said coldly, opening the car door.
But before he could get in, his father grabbed his wrist.
Anger brewed instantly inside Xavier. Slowly, he lowered his gaze to the hand gripping him… then followed it up to his father's face.
Mr. Elder quickly let go when he saw the rage flashing in Xavier's eyes.
"The woman with the blue eyes… I met her once. Two years ago."
The words came out of Mr. Elder so quickly it surprised even him.
Xavier froze.
His anger shifted into disbelief.
"What?!" he demanded, frowning.
"I didn't tell you before because I wanted to understand what was going on and—"
"How did you meet her?" Xavier interrupted, his voice suddenly curious.
"She met me," Mr. Elder said quietly.
Then he took a step closer.
"Xavier… Blue is dangerous. She has unknown alliances. She's like a thunderstorm—unpredictable. A psychopath. Obsessive."
His voice softened with worry.
"You're all I have, Xavier. Please… don't go after her."
Xavier stared at him for a long moment, anger and pity mixing in his eyes.
"Do you know why Cale and Arena hate me?" he asked calmly.
Mr. Elder said nothing.
"I don't understand how a man who gave birth to children can hate his own… and love an adopted one instead."
Xavier scoffed.
"I'm all you have? Really?"
Without waiting for an answer, he climbed into his car and sped off, leaving Mr. Elder standing behind in a cloud of dust.
At Samuels Group
Alexander stood inside the CEO office, facing the massive glass wall overlooking the city.
The view from up here was breathtaking.
Owning this company… sitting in that boss chair… it would make anyone feel like a god. From this height, the entire city of Windhoek stretched beneath him.
Victor's architects had designed a masterpiece.
The Samuels Group building was the tallest and most expensive skyscraper in the city. Tourists came just to admire it. Gold and black coated nearly every surface of the building—Victor must have been obsessed with those colors.
Alexander smiled faintly.
Once he bought the company, he wouldn't change much.
Just the name.
And maybe a public declaration of how far his empire had expanded.
Lost in his thoughts, he barely noticed the muffled voices behind him.
This was the first time he had stepped inside the Samuels Group building, and he couldn't stop admiring it.
"Alex."
Catherine finally touched his arm.
She had called his name several times, but he hadn't responded.
Alexander turned toward her, a smile still lingering on his face. Without hesitation, he leaned down and kissed her on the lips.
Catherine felt warmth spread through her chest.
Across the room, Vivian watched them, though her mind seemed far away.
"So," Alexander said, walking toward the couch and sitting down casually, "let the negotiations begin. How much are you selling for?"
Catherine and Vivian exchanged a look.
Then Catherine sat beside him and took his hand.
"Babe… um," she began nervously.
"We talked with Mom. The company is in debt and needs redemption. As you know, Samuels Group is one of the biggest companies in the city… and Mom really loves it here."
She squeezed his hand gently.
"So we decided not to sell anymore. When we get married, our properties will merge automatically anyway. Mom will still keep the company."
She finished speaking with hopeful eyes.
Meanwhile, Vivian silently prayed Alexander would accept this arrangement… and maybe even help with the complicated issue of the company's ownership.
But Alexander's expression hardened.
Inside, his dream shattered the moment Catherine said they were no longer selling.
These women had no idea he already knew the truth.
The company didn't actually belong to them.
And they were planning to rely on the property merger once Catherine married him.
He slowly removed his hand from Catherine's.
She looked down at her now-empty hand, shocked.
"We're not marrying in-property," Alexander said calmly.
The words felt light coming out of his mouth… but the tension in the room instantly grew heavy.
"What do you mean we're not marrying in-property?" Catherine asked, stunned.
"I'm buying this company," Alexander said as he stood up.
His voice turned colder.
"And if you think marrying me will make your mother richer, then you're mistaken."
"Mr. Shikongo, I only wanted to sell because we're drowning in debt," Vivian said quickly. "With such a large company, the debts are just as large. I know you're wealthy, but—"
"Are you underestimating me?" Alexander interrupted as he walked toward her.
Vivian swallowed nervously.
"This company belonged to Paige… right?" he continued.
Vivian frowned in confusion.
How did he know that?
Alexander clasped his hands behind his back.
"You see, I didn't come here to negotiate a sale. I came for something else."
His gaze sharpened.
"I need a certified copy of the Transfer of Properties from Paige to Catherine. Vivian, you said the transfer happened long before Victor's family died."
His voice remained calm.
"Provide that document… and then we can talk about selling."
Catherine stared at him in disbelief.
There was no way she was letting him buy the company.
Over her dead body.
"Alexander, you can't buy the company," she said firmly, crossing her arms. "Do we have to sell it by force?"
"Catty," Alexander said calmly, "this is business. Let's not get emotional."
Catherine stared at him.
He was being a complete jerk.
"Mom, how much money does the company need to recover?" she asked suddenly.
Vivian hesitated.
"Two billion."
Catherine relaxed slightly.
"Oh. I can afford that," she said quickly.
Then Vivian finished the sentence.
"USD."
Catherine froze.
A slow smile appeared on Alexander's face.
He knew Catherine was wealthy in her own right—but not wealthy enough to cover the Samuels Group's debts.
He, however, could.
"Well," Alexander said calmly, "when you find those transfer papers… call me to sign the deal."
He leaned down and kissed Catherine lightly on the forehead.
"Find me at home, babe."
Then he walked out.
Xavier arrived at the private port.
A massive cargo ship bearing the Elder Enterprises logo was docked by the harbor.
The area was heavily guarded with armed men.
Xavier stepped out of his car and walked toward the ship.
Suddenly, a strange chill ran down his spine.
Not from the cold.
From instinct.
Something was wrong.
This was a private port where only his shipments were delivered. High-grade drugs were stored here, handled only by his most trusted men.
He was the city's most powerful drug lord.
Who would dare challenge him?
Xavier stopped walking.
Slowly, he pulled the gun from his waistband.
Then he continued toward the ship.
His men greeted him respectfully as containers were lowered onto the dock.
He began inspecting the drug cargo quietly.
Then he saw it.
A small red light blinking between the bags.
His eyes widened.
"Everyone run!" Xavier shouted.
His men scattered instantly.
A split second later—
BOOM.
A massive explosion ripped through the port.
The blast hurled men through the air as flames swallowed the shipment. Bags of drugs scattered everywhere, burning and destroyed.
Some men lay dead.
Others screamed in pain.
Xavier struggled to stay conscious. His vision blurred as the ringing in his ears grew louder.
Through the smoke and fire, he saw a silhouette approaching him.
A masked man.
The stranger walked closer… then crouched down beside him.
"Hello, old friend."
Those were the last words Xavier heard.
Then everything went dark.