”Come to my room tonight. Gold Emperor Hotel, Room 8304.”

Alana stared at the small card nestled between her fingers. The message was simple. Direct.

Disgusting.

The manager had slipped it to her in secret during the company dinner—just like he had to another intern.

So that’s why he kept pushing me to drink. Alana massaged her temples, cursing under her breath.

She was a little drunk, but not enough to miss the obvious.

”Alana, let’s go together?”

Lilly Jackson, the other unfortunate recipient of the invitation, approached her after the party.

“I need to pick up some electronics first, but after that—”

“I’m not going. I have a headache and I’m going home… ” Alana cut her off.

Her head pounded so much that it hurt even being out here where the light and noise were making it worse. Gosh what did I take, she wondered the more it pounded. She just wanted to go home.

“He’s not a good person, Lilly. Don’t go.”

Lilly’s face twisted in disbelief. “Are you crazy? The official assessment is next week!”

Lilly screeched making Alana’s head hurt even more. She then lowered her voice, glancing around before adding, “For people like us, with no background… this could be an opportunity.”

Alana’s stomach turned. An opportunity?

No.

She would never stoop so low.

“It’s not worth it,” she tried to reason. “Selling your body—”

“What do you know?!” Lilly snapped, her face flushing red with anger. She scoffed and spun on her heel, hurrying toward the hotel.

Alana didn’t chase after her.

Instead, she stood there, feeling… lost.

Forget it. Everyone makes their own choices. What right do I have to tell her what to do when my own life is a mess?

She sighed.

I need to go home. I’ve had too much to drink. I’m exhausted. I’m too sleepy…

Shaking off her thoughts, she flagged down a taxi.

“Take me to the Eternal Wind Community,” she murmured as she settled into the back seat. “Wake me when we get there.”

The moment she closed her eyes, exhaustion and alcohol pulled her under.

She didn’t notice when the taxi rolled to a stop—less than ten meters from where she got in.

---

Outside the taxi…

“What the hell, man? You can’t just—”

The driver’s protest was cut short. Cold steel pressed against his forehead. A gun.

His breath hitched. A shiver shot down his spine.

“L-Look, no need for trouble. I-I’ll drive away right now—”

Brent didn’t waste time with pleasantries. “She in there?”

One of his men yanked the back door open.

“Asleep,” came the quiet confirmation.

“Take her.”

Brent holstered his gun, and within seconds, Alana was smoothly transferred to another vehicle.

Before the driver could even process what had happened, a fleet of black Cayennes vanished into the night, leaving only dust in their wake.

---

At the airport…

The private jet touched down, taxiing to a smooth stop.

A line of black cars waited on the tarmac, bodyguards standing in formation. As the cabin door opened, all eyes turned to the man stepping out.

Tall. Handsome. Exuding an aura of power so heavy, the air itself felt charged.

Darren Blume.

A name that inspired both reverence and fear.

Since taking over the Blume family Sect at just eighteen, he had built an empire—both legal and illegal.

In the past four years, he had reshaped the business world, commanding influence in places most people didn’t dare whisper about.

Now, exhaustion lined his sharp features.

He had pushed aside an international summit, endured a ten-hour flight, and landed without rest.

None of it mattered.

“Young Master Blume!”

His subordinates greeted respectfully the moment he was within reach, but Darren ignored them. Because right now, only one thing did. He walked in a hurry and went straight to Brent.

“Where is she?”

His voice was low, tight. Urgent.

Four years.

Four years of searching.

And now… she was finally within reach.