Morning arrived quietly at the Kingston mansion.
Soft sunlight filtered through the tall windows, casting golden light across the marble floors. The house staff moved about their duties as usual, but there was an unspoken tension in the air.
The attempted poisoning at the charity gala had not been forgotten.
Amara sat at the long dining table, absentmindedly stirring the tea in her cup. Her thoughts kept drifting back to the conversation she had shared with Alexander the night before.
It had been different.
Honest.
For the first time, she had seen past the powerful businessman everyone feared and admired.
She had seen the man behind it.
"Good morning."
Alexander's voice interrupted her thoughts.
She looked up.
He had just entered the dining room, dressed in a dark suit. Though he still looked slightly pale, his posture had regained its usual confidence.
"Good morning," Amara replied.
He pulled out the chair across from her and sat down.
"Did you sleep at all?" he asked.
"Eventually."
Alexander nodded as a servant placed a cup of coffee in front of him.
For a few minutes, they ate in comfortable silence.
Then the calm morning shattered.
A loud shout echoed from outside the mansion.
"Stop him!"
Footsteps thundered across the courtyard.
Amara jumped slightly.
Alexander's expression hardened immediately.
"What was that?" she asked.
But he was already standing.
"Stay here."
He walked quickly toward the large windows overlooking the front gate.
Amara stood as well, curiosity and worry pulling her toward the glass.
Two security guards were running across the courtyard.
Another guard was dragging a man by the arm toward the main entrance.
The stranger struggled violently.
"Let go of me!" the man shouted.
Within seconds, the doors of the mansion burst open and the guards pushed the man inside.
Alexander walked forward calmly.
"What's going on?" he asked.
The head of security spoke first.
"Sir, we caught him near the west fence."
The man being held looked disheveled and nervous. His clothes were dusty, and sweat dripped down his face.
"I wasn't doing anything!" he protested.
Alexander's gaze was cold.
"You were trespassing on private property."
"I just wanted to talk!"
"To who?"
The man hesitated.
Then his eyes suddenly shifted toward Amara.
Her heart skipped.
"To her."
The room fell silent.
Alexander slowly turned his head toward Amara.
"You know him?"
Amara stared at the man carefully.
Her stomach dropped.
"Yes," she whispered.
The man's face brightened with desperate relief.
"Amara! Thank goodness!"
Alexander's voice became dangerously quiet.
"Explain."
Amara swallowed.
"He's… from my old neighborhood."
The man quickly nodded.
"Yes! My name is Daniel. We grew up in the same area!"
Alexander's eyes narrowed.
"And why are you climbing my fence?"
Daniel shifted nervously.
"I had no choice. I needed to warn her."
"Warn her about what?" Alexander asked.
Daniel looked around the room anxiously.
Then he lowered his voice.
"They're coming."
A cold chill swept through Amara.
"Who?" she asked.
Daniel leaned closer.
"The people you owe money to."
Her heart pounded.
"That debt was settled," she said quickly.
Daniel shook his head.
"No, Amara. It wasn't."
Alexander's expression darkened.
"What debt?"
Amara looked at him, panic slowly rising in her chest.
Before she could answer, Daniel spoke again.
"The loan sharks you escaped from? They found out where you are."
The room seemed to grow colder.
"And they're not happy."
Alexander's eyes turned icy.
"What exactly do they want?"
Daniel hesitated before answering.
"Revenge."
A heavy silence fell over the mansion.
Alexander slowly turned toward the head of security.
"Lock down the gates," he ordered.
"Yes, sir."
"Double the guards."
"Immediately."
The guards dragged Daniel away to question him further.
Amara stood frozen in place.
Alexander looked at her.
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
"Amara," he said.
"Yes?"
"You're going to tell me everything."
The danger she thought she had escaped…
Was coming back.
And this time, it was heading straight for the Kingston mansion.