The Stern manor loomed into view, every bit as grand and imposing as Max remembered. Its sprawling architecture stretched farther than his eyes could follow, the sheer size so massive he doubted he had ever seen more than a fraction of it, perhaps a hundredth of the building at best.
The closer they came, the heavier the weight in his chest grew. Looking at it from the outside, Max finally understood why the heirs fought tooth and nail for the Stern empire. The manor alone was enough to make sense of their obsession. Every window glittered with wealth, every column and wall radiated power.
And behind it all lurked the empire itself, the hidden industries and networks that stretched across the nation. Max knew there was far more to discover, connections buried deep, ties between the Stern family and the White Tiger gang that he still didn't fully understand.
