Chapter 0108

Chapter 0108
CHAPTER 108

Marcus’s heartbeat slammed against his ribs like a war drum. Damon stood smirking, arms folded like a king already crowned, while the woman—his so-called “aunt”—circled him with that same cruel smile his mother used to wear in her moments of discipline.

But this wasn’t her. This was something else. Something worse.

Marcus clenched his fists, voice steady even as rage burned in his veins.
“You’ve gone too far. You think you can erase decades of blood and sacrifice with threats?”

The woman chuckled. “Threats? Oh, Marcus, dear boy. This isn’t a threat. This is reality. You can either sign everything over to Damon, or we bury what’s left of your little whore and your precious sister. Simple.”

The mention of Anna twisted his gut like a blade. He forced his jaw tight. “If you’ve touched her—”

“Oh, relax.” Damon interrupted, stepping forward, his polished shoes echoing on the concrete floor. “We’re not monsters. Yet. Anna’s unharmed. For now. Vera too. Though, I’ll admit, it was quite satisfying watching them struggle when we took them. She screamed your name, Marcus. Begging for you to save her. And where were you?”

Marcus lunged forward, grabbing Damon by the collar, slamming him into a steel beam with enough force to rattle the walls. Damon laughed through the chokehold.
“There’s the Marcus I know. All bark. But deep down, you’ll do anything I say. You always have.”

“Wrong,” Marcus growled. “I don’t bend. Not to you. Not to anyone.”

The woman clapped her hands slowly, mockingly.
“Strong words. But your strength means nothing here. We hold all the pieces, Marcus. You’re just the king of a crumbling empire, and you don’t even know it.”

Marcus shoved Damon back, chest heaving. He had to think. Charging in blind would only get Anna killed. He scanned the warehouse, noting the cameras in the corners, the armed guards lurking in the shadows. This wasn’t a careless setup. They were prepared for him.

“Let me see them,” Marcus demanded, voice rough. “Anna. Vera. My real mother. I want proof they’re alive.”

The woman’s smirk widened. She nodded at one of the guards. Moments later, a tablet was brought over and shoved into Marcus’s hands.

His breath caught.

On the screen, Anna sat tied to a chair, her face pale but fierce, eyes glaring into the camera with fire instead of fear. Beside her, Vera was bound too, her lips trembling as tears streaked down her face. And in the corner, half-conscious, lay a woman Marcus had never seen before… yet her face mirrored the cruel woman standing in front of him.

His mother. His real mother.

Marcus’s throat tightened, but he forced his voice into steel.
“You’re making the biggest mistake of your lives.”

“No,” Damon said coldly. “You made the mistake of thinking you could keep it all to yourself. You were never the rightful heir, Marcus. I am. And now the truth is out, nothing can save you.”

Marcus slid the tablet back to the guard, his face unreadable. Inside, though, his brain was moving a thousand miles an hour. They wanted the company, the empire, the power. But Marcus knew men like Damon—they never stopped at one victory. Even if he gave them everything, they’d kill Anna anyway.

Which meant he had to buy time.

He raised an eyebrow, letting a slow smirk curl his lips.
“Fine. You want my empire? Take it. But we both know the board won’t sign anything without me present. I’ll need to walk in, hand them the papers, make it official. Otherwise, you get nothing but chaos.”

Damon hesitated. He knew Marcus was right. The company wasn’t just numbers; it was loyalty, reputation, blood ties. Marcus’s signature alone wasn’t enough—he had to make the world believe it was his choice.

The woman studied Marcus carefully, her eyes narrowing. “You’re stalling.”

Marcus met her gaze without flinching. “Maybe. But I’m also offering you the only path that works. Kill me, and the empire scatters. Force me, and the board revolts. Let me hand it over willingly, and you walk away kings.”

Damon paced, his jaw tight. He hated it, but Marcus saw the doubt in his eyes.

“You’ve got twenty-four hours,” the woman finally said. “Twenty-four hours to make it official. Fail us, and you’ll receive a box with three heads inside. Do you understand?”

Marcus’s jaw ticked, but he nodded once.
“Crystal.”

Meanwhile, in the locked room…

Anna fought against the ropes cutting into her wrists. Her body ached, but her mind was sharp. She caught Vera’s terrified eyes and forced herself to stay calm.

“Don’t cry,” Anna whispered, her voice steady despite the fear clawing inside her. “They want us scared. Don’t give them that.”

Vera sniffled, shaking her head. “Anna, this is my fault. I should’ve protected you. I shouldn’t have deceive you to come out of the hospital—”

“Stop.” Anna’s tone was firm. “This isn’t on you. Whoever’s behind this, they were always going to come for me. For Marcus. You’re just caught in the crossfire.”

Vera bit her lip, her shoulders trembling. “They said… they said my mom”

Anna froze. “What?”

Vera’s eyes brimmed with tears. “Before they took me, someone called. They threatened to kill my mom if I didn’t help lure you out. I—I panicked. I thought maybe if I stalled, Marcus would come. But then they grabbed me too. I’m so sorry, Anna.”

Anna’s chest tightened. So Vera had been forced. It made sense now. The guilt in her eyes wasn’t betrayal—it was desperation.

Anna leaned closer, her voice soft but fierce.
“Listen to me, Vera. We’re not dying here. Marcus will come. He always does. But until then, we hold on. We don’t break. Do you hear me?”

Vera nodded shakily.

Anna’s eyes flicked to the unconscious woman in the corne. She didn’t know what the hell was happening, but she knew one thing for sure.

This wasn’t the end.

It was just the beginning.

Back at the villa…

Marcus slammed the warehouse door behind him, his chest heavy with rage. His men rushed toward him, demanding answers, but he brushed them off. Only one thought burned in his mind:

He had twenty-four hours.

Twenty-four hours to outsmart Damon, to save Anna, Vera, and his real mother, and to stop his empire from falling into the hands of traitors.

He pulled out his phone, dialing a number he hadn’t touched in years. When the line clicked open, his voice was sharp, cold, and commanding.

“It’s me. I need a ghost operation. Off the books. No trails. We’re going to burn my brother and his puppet queen to the ground. Send everyone you’ve got. We start tonight.”

He hung up, his eyes dark with determination.

They thought they had him cornered.

But Marcus was done playing by their rules.