The Xaviers were the leaders of The Great Four in Cansington.

It was a day of celebration for them. Megatron Group, one of their many businesses, had signed an agreement with Celestial Group, and they were now the best of business partners. In other words, the Xaviers’ influence would be even more widespread thanks to this agreement.

Also, the patriarch of the family, Warren Xavier, was turning 80.

Outside the Xaviers’ villa, a fleet of luxurious cars gathered. All the celebrities in Cansington were there for the double celebration.

“This is a bottle of Retrouve wine worth eight million dollars, gifted by The Frasiers. They wish Mister Warren Xavier many happy returns!”

“The Wilsons present a painting, The Black Thorn by Jacqui en Blanc, worth twelve million dollars, and they wish the Xaviers good wealth.”

“The Zimmermans have gifted Mister Xavier a Froit Mi watch worth eight point eight million dollars…”

At the main entrance, a lady held a microphone in her hand. She enthusiastically announced the gifts that guests had brought for the entire room to hear.

In the foyer, Warren was dressed in a blue suit. Although he was 80, he looked fit and alert. Hearing about all the gifts he was getting, he looked as happy as a lark.

The banquet was full of people from important families in Cansington.

Even the second-rate Callahans had made it. In an attempt to suck up to the Xaviers, Lex Callahan had pulled out all the stops, spending a small fortune to get a Monique wallet for Warren.

Everyone was busy trying to make their own connections and expand their networks.

Outside the villa, a man wearing a brown coat and a mask on his face approached, carrying a coffin.

The coffin weighed at least 100 kilograms, but the man supported it with just one arm, carrying it with ease.

It was James.

His return was fueled by two purposes. To repay Thea, and to avenge his family.

Now that he was Thea’s husband, he might be recognized. As he did not want to get her into trouble, he put on a black mask to conceal his identity.

Crash!

As he reached the entrance, he threw the coffin with all his might. It shattered the Xaviers’ door and landed in the foyer of the Xaviers’ villa.

Everyone was shocked at the sudden intrusion.

The noise stopped abruptly. It was so quiet one could hear a pin drop.

What was going on?

It was Warren Xaiver’s 80th birthday. Who was so bold as to actually bring a coffin to a celebration?

Warren was chatting with the other heads of family when the coffin came sailing through. His expression darkened and he shouted, “What’s this? Where are the security guards? What are they doing? Who sent this? Take it away at once.”

“Warren Xavier, may I present this coffin as your birthday gift? It’s your eightieth birthday today, but this time next year, it will be your death anniversary.”

A voice rang out from outside the doors. A man with a brown coat and a ghost mask then sauntered in.

“Who… who are you?” Warren stared at James. This was the Xaviers’ place, and he was the head of the family, a very important person in Cansington. Who had the guts to cause trouble at his home?

“I’m someone who wants your life.”

The cold voice cut through the space. With the black ghost mask on his face, James stalked over to Warren.

“Not today.” A man in his twenties walked over and pointed at James. “I don’t care who you are. When you’re at the Xaviers, we’re in charge.”

That was William Xavier. Still pointing at James, William attempted to remove his mask. Coldly, he said, “You’re a coward for hiding behind a mask. Let’s see who you are.”

James attacked. He grabbed William’s arm and lifted him off the ground before twisting it.

Crack!

William’s arm was torn clean off his body. Blood fountained everywhere.

“Ah…”

William howled in agony.

All the guests were in shock. As they were people of status and lived in peace, they had never seen such gore or violence before. Many of them stumbled backward, worried that they would be the next target.

Looking just like a modern-day Ares, James threw the arm away carelessly. He had a confident, aggressive air about him. Coupled with his display of power earlier on, the Xaviers were so scared that they were trembling, backing away as much as they could.

Even Warren retreated slightly, his arm reaching behind his back, ready at a moment’s notice to grab a weapon and kill the uninvited guest.

James stalked toward Warren slowly.

William’s moans of pain echoed through the foyer.

After a while, he slumped into a dead faint, unable to take the pain anymore. The foyer suddenly quieted. Only James’ footsteps echoed, sounding like the harbinger of doom.

“Kneel.”

James’ order rang out, clear as a bell.

James was extremely imposing. It was the cumulation of being a seasoned soldier and general with murder as second nature. Under his murderous stare, everyone was scared silly. Coupled with how easily he tore William’s arm off, no one dared utter a single word.

Even Warren was affected, and he lost his bearings for a second.

At that moment, he forgot to fight back and his knees buckled. He fell to the ground, kneeling.

Crash.

Upon seeing this, the celebrities were stunned.

Warren Xavier, the patriarch of the Xaviers, the leader of The Great Four in Cansington, was kneeling on the ground.

James held a wire in his hand. It was an odd sort of wire with several joints. Upon closer inspection, one could tell that it was made out of countless needles.

“Warren Xavier, do you care to admit your sins?”

Just then, Warren realized that he was kneeling, though he did not know why. Sweat slid down his spine.

He wanted to stand up, but he did not have the strength anymore.

“Boy, do you know who you’re speaking to?” Even though he could not stand, Warren still looked strong. His arm was still behind his back, ready to attack with a weapon anytime.

The other Xaviers did not even try to protect Warren, worried that they would be hurt as well.

“I might as well tell you the reason. Ten years ago, a fire razed Flora Lakeside. It burned for an entire day. Thirty-eight lives were lost, and now, you’ll pay in blood.”

His cold, merciless voice rang through the foyer.

James moved. In a flash, he appeared behind Warren. He wound the silver needle wire around Warren’s neck and pulled.

Blood spurted, and Warren’s head thudded to the ground.

“Ah!”

Cansington’s celebrities screamed and fell to the ground, all of them shivering in fear. Upon Warren’s death, the Xaviers did not know what to do, frozen to the spot.

James produced a black bag. He scooped Warren’s head into it and turned to leave.

Long after he had left, The Xaviers’ villa remained dead quiet. Everyone squatted on the ground, cradling their heads in their hands. Warren’s headless corpse remained motionless in the foyer.

…

At the Cadens’ cemetery, Thomas Caden’s grave.

James leaned the black bag against the tombstone.

He took a flask out and swigged a mouthful from it. He poured the rest of it in front of the grave.

“Grandfather, don’t worry. I’ll make sure that our entire family rests in peace. I’ll also get Moonlit Flowers on Cliffside's Edge back.”

After that, he got up and left.

When he returned to the House of Royals, he took a bath.

In the Xaviers’ villa.

The celebrities who were there for the celebration left.

In the foyer stood a coffin. Warren’s corpse lay on the ground.

William, who had lost an arm, had been sent to the hospital.

All the Xaviers were kneeling at Warren’s corpse.

In the lead was a beautiful woman wearing a dress. She was Warren’s youngest daughter, Rowena.

The same Rowena that destroyed the Cadens utterly.

She was in a terrible mood.

“Has anyone called Trent?”

Her roar echoed through the quiet foyer.

“Y-yes. We’ve called him.”

“Leave everything as it is. We’ll wait till Trent gets back.”

…

It was a quiet night. In Cansington’s military region, a few helicopters painted with the words “Western Border” landed.

A middle-aged man clad in a military uniform wearing a cold expression exited the helicopter.

Outside, a row of fully-armed soldiers stood in a line. They saluted the man.

A jeep appeared and the man got into it. It headed straight to the Xaviers’ villa.

Upon his arrival, he assessed the situation in the villa and saw Warren’s headless corpse. He removed his hat and fell to his knees.

“Dad, I’m sorry I’m late. I swear I’ll bring the culprit to justice no matter who he is.”

His voice, full of rage, echoed through the house.

“Trent.” Rowena appeared suddenly.

The man was Warren’s fourth son, Trent.

Trent was expressionless, his face dark. “I need the banquet’s surveillance video.”

“I’ll get it right away.” Rowena nodded and got someone to retrieve it.

Trent stood up and inspected Warren’s wound before watching the video. He saw the entire process of James killing Warren.

Coldly, he asked, “What did he say before killing dad?”

Rowena said, “Ten years ago, a fire razed Flora Lakeside. It burned for an entire day. Thirty-eight lives were lost, and now, you’ll pay in blood.”

Trent clenched his fists upon hearing this and his expression darkened. “A survivor of the Cadens?”

“It must be.”

Trent pressed his palms into his face and waved a hand at Rowena. “Bury dad. Keep it simple. I’ll make a trip to the Capital and ask the big man there about potential Caden survivors.”

Early the next morning, James received a call from Thea.

“Hey honey, I’ve managed to get in touch with my classmate. She’s willing to help and has set an appointment up with the chairman, Alex Yates. Where are you? Let’s go to Celestial Group’s office now and secure the order. Grandfather will accept you then!” Thea’s excited voice sounded through the phone.

“Wait for me at home. I’ll pick you up in a bit.”

After hanging up, James rolled out of bed and got ready at top speed.

“Where are we going, James?”

Henry was already waiting with the car.

“To Thea’s.”

“Hop in.”

James complied. With Henry at the wheel, they reached Thea’s place in no time. They waited for her outside.

Thea appeared soon.

As she was going to meet the chairman of Celestial Group, Thea had put in extra effort to groom herself. Wearing a pretty, form-fitting dress and her black hair hanging loose over her shoulders, she was a vision to behold indeed.

“Honey.”

Having seen the black multi-purpose vehicle approach from a distance, Thea jogged up to the car with a joyful expression on her face, saying, “My classmate pulled out all the stops. She’s made the appointment for us, so all we have to do is show up at Celestial Group’s office.”

James smiled thinly.

It had nothing to do with her classmate at all. If he had not spoken with Alex Yates, there would not be any appointment to speak of.

However, seeing as Thea was so happy, he decided not to spoil it. Instead, he complimented her. “I knew it. You’ve got this, darling. It’s all up to you now. If we don’t get the order, I’m out.”

Thea smiled brilliantly. “Don’t worry. I won’t let that happen.”

She might still be hazy about the details of James’ background, but she had been to his villa before.

The House of Royals was the poshest villa in Cansington, and it had a hefty price tag attached to it. Any Tom, Dick, or Harry would not be able to afford it.

She felt impossibly lucky that he was hers. Now, she wanted to prove her capability to him.

She wanted to show him that she was no longer the old Thea. Even though she had been a laughing stock for years and years, she kept up with her studies at home and was an accomplished scholar.

“Let’s go, darling.”

Thea got into the car.

James said, “Henry, to Celestial Group’s office.”

Thea cuddled up to James and thought about what happened last night. She said, “Honey, did you know that old Warren Xavier was killed last night?”

The Xaviers were the leaders of The Great Four.

As the head of the Xaviers, Warren was famous. Everyone knew who he was.

At the Xaviers’ banquet last night.

There was a celebration where they celebrated the partnership of Megatron Group and Celestial Group. Now that Megatron would be getting first dibs on Celestial’s orders, their business and influence would expand even more.

It was also Warren Xavier’s eightieth birthday.

However, a mystery person crashed the party with a coffin. He beheaded Warren and took his head with him. News spread fast, and it was the hottest news in Cansington at the moment.

Now, the relevant departments were investigating the incident.

There was not much to go on with, though.

James pretended to be shocked at Thea’s question. “I went straight to bed after I got home last night. I didn’t know about this. The Xaviers are part of The Great Four in Cansington, right?”

“That’s right,” Thea said. “The Xaviers are the leaders of The Great Four, and their businesses span various industries. Megatron Group alone, belonging to them, is more powerful than all the Callahan’s businesses added up, and the Xaviers have plenty of businesses too.”

Thea looked slightly envious. “All the women in Cansington desperately want to marry the Xaviers so that they can enjoy an easy life.”

James smiled a little. “Didn’t you have a chance yesterday? Divorce me, and you’ll have your chance.”

“Ugh.”

Thea looked unimpressed. “Being in a rich family isn’t a bed of roses. Over the past ten years, I’ve witnessed too much ridicule for my liking. To them, I’m nothing but a joke. I know full well who’s treating me sincerely. I don’t care about marrying the rich. Besides, my husband is rich.”

With that, she grinned, a blissful expression on her face.

James squeezed Thea’s hand.

She was quite a logical woman.

Henry said nothing, focusing on the road. Soon, they reached Celestial Group’s office.

An international group, Celestial Group was the Yates’ family business, which hailed from the Capital.

Their headquarters was an impressive, eight-story building.

James and Thea exited the car.

Thea looked up at the imposing building, panic creeping over her.

Over the past ten years, she had stayed home as much as she could.

However, she had a strong thirst to visit and explore the world outside. The reason why she studied so hard at home was to free herself from the proverbial cage and soar higher.

She took her phone out and called her classmate.

About 20 minutes later, a woman in thick makeup and a work skirt approached them. When she saw Thea standing at the entrance, she could not hide her surprise.

She had heard that Thea recovered her looks. Thea had even sent her a picture, but she did not believe it. She was forced to accept the truth now that she saw Thea in the flesh.

She looked envious as she noticed how beautiful Thea was now.

Coming up to them, she asked hesitantly, “Thea?”

Excitedly, Thea grabbed the other woman’s hand. She said, “Jane, it’s me! You’ve really made it as the head of a department at Celestial Group!”

Jane Whitman was extremely flattered. She smiled and said, “I’m just trying to make a living. Thea, if you want to meet the chairman, you still need the general manager’s permission. Let’s go.”

Thea stood rooted to the spot.

When they spoke on the phone yesterday, Jane promised that she had made an appointment with the chairman, Alex Yates.

“Thea, you must know that it’s not easy to get an order from Celestial. If you want the order, you’ll have to…” She bent closer to Thea and whispered something in her ear.

Thea rejected Jane’s idea firmly. “Absolutely not.”

Jane lost her patience. “Thea, if you’re unwilling to make sacrifices, how will you get anything in return? I’ve sent your picture to the manager. He has agreed to let you obtain the order if you sleep with him. You don’t even have to see the chairman!”

“Jane, I thought we were friends. Is this how you treat a friend?”

Jane looked unimpressed. “You want to get an order without a sacrifice? Let me tell you right now. It’s impossible. I’ve made it clear, so think about it and let me know if you still want to go ahead.”

She turned and left after that, her heels clicking against the floor loudly.

Thea was on the verge of tears. She turned around to look at James who had remained silent all this time. “I’m useless, aren’t I?”

James comforted her. “Of course not. Why not try and see Alex Yates straightaway? I think he’ll see you. Go on, I’ll wait for you in the car.”

James gently pushed Thea in the direction of the building.

Just then, Jane returned with a middle-aged man.

The man was in a suit and tie, looking like a successful businessman.

Jane had her arm curled intimately around his, approaching Thea once again. Smiling, she said, “Thea, this is the manager of Celestial Group. He’s in charge of all the business connections. He calls the shots on who gets the orders.”

The only reason Jane was in this position today was all because she had slept with the manager, Linus Johnson. She was his mistress.

Jane had sent Linus a picture of Thea last night.

Linus was intrigued immediately. He promised Jane that he would promote her to the position of deputy department manager if she would help him get Thea into bed.

Now that Linus saw Thea in the flesh, he was even more aroused.

Thea was even more beautiful in person.

He swore that he would get her into bed by hook or by crook.

He walked up to her with his chest puffed out. “Thea, right? Jane has told me everything. It’s a hot day today. Why don’t we take this discussion to a hotel room? Don’t worry. Come with me, and you don’t have to worry about the order. I’ll even give you a deal of fifty million dollars!”

Linus looked like he wanted to eat Thea up right there and then.

Ever since he became the manager, he had slept with countless women, offering them benefits with his role.

At first, most of them rejected him.

However, after a while, they started to offer themselves up to him to gain access to deals, partnerships, and other benefits.

Jane was keen to make Linus’ plan a success as well. Making him happy was imperative to her own benefit.

She walked up to Thea and pulled her aside. “Thea, I know that you’ve suffered over the years. Now that you’re beautiful again, you have to use your looks to your advantage. We won’t stay young forever, you know? Once this golden period is gone, we’ll never get it back.”

“I’m married. I won’t do it.” Thea refused to give in.

Jane lost her temper. “Who do you think you are, Thea? Don’t you know it’s an honor that Linus likes you? If you offend him, you can forget about working with Celestial Group. Forever.”

“Jamie…”

Thea walked over to James.

James ignored Linus and Jane, gesturing toward the entrance. “Go on,” he said. “You’re meeting the chairman, not a lowly manager. Just ignore him.”

“Who are you, boy?” Linus looked at James coldly.

“F*ck off.”

James only had two words to say to him.

He was still the legendary Dragon General of the Southern Plains after all. Linus was a complete nobody.

In the chairman’s office on the top floor of the Celestial Group building.

Alex had been waiting for Thea since morning.

After all this time, she still had not shown up.

Being extremely anxious, he went downstairs to the first floor, checking with reception if a woman named Thea Callahan had asked to see him. The reception confirmed that no one by that name had come by.

Oh sh*t, he thought. Thea was the Dragon General’s wife. If he had somehow missed her or messed this up, not even the power the Yates name had could protect him.

Alex exited the building, planning to wait at the entrance for Thea.

As soon as he walked out, he saw his manager speaking to two people. He glanced over and noticed James. He shuddered involuntarily, his knees almost buckling. Wiping the sweat from his face, he quickly made his way over to them.

“Gen…”

Before he could finish, James glared at him.

Alex understood at once, quickly stopping himself.

James said, “Thea, isn’t that the chairman? Why are you still standing here? Go on. My fate depends on you.”

Thea followed his gaze and saw the balding man. Her eyes lit up. That was the chairman of Celestial Group indeed, Alex Yates.

“Ha ha.” Jane burst out laughing. “What a joke. The chairman is in his office.”

Linus wore an ugly expression on his face. “Thea, let me make this clear once and for all. If we don’t go to the hotel now, you’ll never be able to make a deal with Celestial, ever.”

He had to have Thea.

Every connection Celestial had with other companies and businesses was under his charge.

Besides the core partnerships, he decided on the distribution of the extra orders. If he blocked the Callahans off within Celestial, Thea would never get an order.

Alex approached them. With a wooden expression, he asked, “What are you doing? Don’t you have work to do?”

Jane and Linus turned around together.

Their smug expressions slid right off their faces as soon as they saw Alex.

“S-sir.” Linus started sweating. If the chairman found out what he had been doing, he would lose his job.

All he could do was pray that Alex did not hear what he had said earlier on.

Alex spread his arms. “What’s going on?”

James lightly shoved a stunned Thea.

Thea came to her senses. “H-hi, Mister Yates. I’m Thea Callahan from Eternality Group. I’m here on behalf of the company to explore a collaboration with Celestial Group. We would like to obtain some orders from you.”

As Alex Yates was a very important person, Thea felt small talking to him. She lost a bit of her confidence.

Cansington was the capital of medicine.

There were thousands of medicinal processing companies operating in Cansington, and these companies depended on big pharmaceutical organizations like Celestial to survive.

As Eternality Group was not a large company, they were not yet qualified to work with a company as large as Celestial Group.

“I’m asking you again. What are you doing here?” Alex’s face was stern as he looked at Jane and Linus.

James piped up. “My wife’s here to talk business with Celestial, but this manager wanted to take advantage of her. He’s abusing his power by dismissing Eternality Group. I think that as a large company, Celestial Group should deal with this matter fairly.”

“Of course.”

Alex nodded and said, “He’s right. Looks like we have some corruption to eradicate in the company. Linus Johnson, right? Go to the finance department and collect your salary. You’re fired.”

“Huh?”

Linus was shocked.

Had he been fired just like that?

“S-sir, don’t listen to him. The Callahans are too small to work with us. Celestial’s orders are meant for the more capable companies. They were bothering me, so I came up with an excuse to brush them off. All I do is for the company’s benefit.”

“Do you want me to repeat myself? And you, pack your things up and get lost.” Alex pointed to Jane.

He turned to James and Thea after that, smiling at them. “Miss Thea Callahan from Eternality Group, was it? This way to my office, please. Let me handle this personally.”

Alex gestured politely with his arm.

Thea was confused.

Since when was the chairman of Celestial Group this polite and easygoing?

James pushed her lightly again. “Go on then. This is a golden opportunity. My fate is in your hands.”

Thea caught up and nodded. “Oh, yes. Okay. Of course. No problem at all, Mister Yates.”

She was a little nervous.

Over the past ten years, she had barely left the house.

She had read a lot of looks and gained plenty of knowledge, but this was her first time conducting business after all.

Furthermore, she was trying to make a deal with the chairman of Celestial Group, of all people!

She lost her confidence and turned to James, looking scared. “Honey, I-I don’t think I can do it.”

“Mister Yates has extended an invitation to you personally. What else are you afraid of?” James pushed her, saying, “Go on. I’ll wait for you in the car.”

“Miss Callahan, this way, please.” Alex bowed slightly, gesturing with his arm again.

Jane and Linus goggled at this display.

They were right outside the building of Celestial Group. As they were a big corporation, there were always plenty of reporters lurking around. Many of them snapped pictures as they saw this scene play out.

It would be big news.

Alex Yates was the chairman of Celestial Group after all.

The Great Four were imposing, but even they had to play by Alex’s rules. Now he was being so respectful toward this woman.

Who was she?

What family did she come from?

Why had nobody seen her before?

Thanks to Alex’s invitation, Thea finally entered the building.

James, on the other hand, climbed into his car.

Sitting in the passenger seat, he lit a cigarette and passed one to Henry.

Henry did the same and took a drag from it. He asked, “General, was all that necessary? All you had to do was ask, and the Yates would have given you their entire corporation.”

James blew a smoke ring. “And why would I want it? As a gift for Thea? She might not like it. All I have to do is support her in her endeavors. Also, how many times do I have to tell you? Don’t call me General. It’s James here.”

“Sorry, James. It’s hard to break the habit.”

On the top floor of the Celestial Group building.

Alex took Thea to his office and made tea for her himself.

Thea was extremely shocked. Quickly, she said, “Mister Yates, l-let me do it myself.”

“Please sit down, Miss Callahan. I’ll make the tea. Make yourself at home, please.”

Thea could not wrap her head around it. “Mister Yates, I’m here to talk business…”

“Yes, yes, I know. Have a cup of tea first. I’ll get someone to prepare the contract right now. Oh, is an order of a hundred million enough? If not, I can increase the volume.”

“What?”

Thea was stunned.

She had not even said anything, yet Alex had given her an order of a hundred million dollars just like that. Since when was it so easy to conduct business with Celestial?

Alex noticed that Thea’s expression was uneasy, and thought that a hundred million was not enough. Immediately, he said, “Is it not enough? I’ll give you more. How does five hundred million sound to you?”

“No, no, it’s enough. A hundred million is enough,” Thea replied hurriedly.

Five hundred million?

What was going on?

With an order of five hundred million, the commission would be 20%. If the deal went through, the Callahans would get a profit of a hundred million dollars.

The Callahans were not able to pull off such a huge order yet.

They would be scrambling to keep up, and even an order of a hundred million dollars would require them to put their best foot forward.

Alex was extremely efficient. In no time, his secretary had drawn up a contract. Thea signed it, still in a state of shock.

Before she left, Alex gave her his business card. “Miss Callahan, this is my card. Let’s keep in touch.”

He never mentioned James once.

He knew who James was, yet Thea did not seem to know. As the chairman of Celestial Group, he knew how to read body language fairly well. James did not want his identity exposed. That much he knew.

Thea took the contract with her. As she left the building, she felt like all that happened was like a fever dream.

It was too easy.

She had barely spoken, yet Celestial had practically gifted the order to her.

She got into the car.

“Honey, I think that Alex Yates is trying to get into my good books. I barely said two words before he gave me an order worth a hundred million dollars. Actually, he wanted to give me an order worth five hundred million.”

James smiled. “You must have met him before.”

“Impossible. In the last ten years, I have not made any friends.” Thea rolled her eyes and looked at James, her eyes sparkling. “Honey, Alex was only so nice to me because of you, right?”