The air inside Ceil's private estate felt heavier than before. Velena watched as he stood completely still, his back turned to her. His fists were clenched at his sides, his breathing slow but controlled. He wasn't just angry. He was calculating. And that meant something was very, very wrong. Velena took cautious steps forward. "Ceil." He didn't respond. She exhaled sharply. "I just told you that I saw the man from my memory—the man who was with me in Vladivostok. The night your father died. And instead of answering me, you are shutting down." Ceil's jaw tightened, but still, he didn't turn around. Velena pressed further. "Who is he?" Ceil finally spoke. His voice was lower than usual. Colder. "His name is Andrew Steel." Velena frowned. The name didn't spark any recognition, but the way Ceil said it—like it was a curse—sent a chill down her spine. She folded her arms. "And I'm supposed to know who that is?" Ceil turned then, slowly, his piercing gaze locking onto hers. "No. Because he was supposed to be dead."
THE GHOST FROM THE PAST...
Ceil moved across the room, pulling open a drawer in his desk. He retrieved a thin, black folder and tossed it onto the table. Velena hesitated before stepping forward and opening it. The first thing she saw was the paragraph. A man with sharp features, dark eyes, and a faint scar along his jawline. The same man from her memory. Her fingers tightened on the edges of the paper. Ceil's voice was quiet but firm. "Andrew Steel was one of the most dangerous men my father ever dealt with. A strategist. A ghost. The kind of man who doesn't make mistakes." Velena's pulse pounded. "And you think he killed your father?" Ceil's lips pressed into a thin line. "No." Velena frowned. "Then—" "I know he did." Her throat went dry. "How?" Ceil's expression remained unreadable. "Because five years ago, he tried to kill me too."
A TARGET ON CEIL'S BACK...
Velena felt the world tilt slightly. The past few hours had already shattered everything she thought she knew, but this—this was something else. She forced herself to stay calm. "If he is dead, how did he try to kill you?" Ceil exhaled slowly. "Because he is not dead." Velena shook her head. "That doesn't make any sense. If everyone thought he was dead, why would he come after you?" Ceil's voice dropped lower. "Because I was supposed to be next." A chill ran down Velena's spine. She looked back at the photo, her mind racing. Andrew Steel. The man from her past. The man Ceil had been hunting. And now, the man who was still alive. Ceil's fingers tapped against the desk, his thoughts moving too fast to voice. Velena swallowed hard. "You said you knew he killed your father. How?" Ceil's jaw tightened. "Because he admitted it." Velena's breath caught. "What?" Ceil leaned against the desk, watching her carefully. "Five years ago, I got too close to something. A deal my father had been involved in. The night Andrew tried to kill me, he told me exactly why. He said, 'Your father had to go. And you? You're just unfinished business.'" Velena's heart pounded. This wasn't just a power struggle. This was personal. She felt her stomach twist. "And you think he's coming back now?" Ceil's gaze darkened. "He never left." Silence stretched between them, heavy and suffocating. Velena exhaled slowly, her hands pressing against the desk for support. "Then, what does this mean?" Ceil's voice was calm, but there was something beneath it. A quiet, simmering rage. "It means we are running out of time."
THE MESSAGE THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING...
A sharp knock on the door interrupted them. Ceil was already moving before Velena could react, pulling open the door to reveal one of his men. The guard's expression was tight. "Sir, you need to see this." He handed Ceil a phone. Ceil took it, and Velena stepped closer as he played a video message. The screen flickered. A dark room. A single chair. A man sitting in it, his face hidden in shadows. Then—a voice. Low. Smooth. Dangerous. "Hello, Blackthorn. It's been a while." Velena's breath caught. She had never heard this voice before. But she knew who it was. Andrew Steel. The video continued. "I was wondering how long it would take you to figure out that I never really left. But don't worry. You don't have to hunt me down." A pause. Then—a slow, taunting chuckle. "Because this time I am coming to you." The video cut off. Velena's skin went cold. The room was silent. Then Ceil exhaled, setting the phone down carefully. For the first time since she had met him, Ceil Blackthorn looked truly, utterly furious. Velena swallowed hard. "Ceil?" His jaw was tight, his body tense. But his voice? His voice was calm. Too calm. "He just signed his death sentence."