“Be careful,” Mary said, her eyes clouded with concern she couldn’t conceal.

“I've ridden out bigger storms than this. A small thing like this means nothing,” he assured her, trying to project a sense of confidence that would prove contagious.

After breakfast, Mary and Vik left, and Darcy began to make his way to his meeting. Just as he was going to assemble his minions, his phone rang, with Emerald's name flashing ominously in the screen. His eyes narrowed, a chill of foreboding running through him.

"Emerald, what brings you to call me at this hour?" he asked, attempting a conversational tone in answering.

“I’m back. Come to the estate...