The Kane family gathered in the estate’s study, the tension from Zayden’s abduction still thick in the air. Alessia sat on the edge of the leather couch, her hands clasped tightly in her lap, while Zane paced near the fireplace. Victoria stood by the window, staring into the dark garden outside, her face pale and drawn. Elena, Tobias, and Jonathan huddled around a laptop on the desk, combing through files and footage in silence.
Christian walked into the room, his phone pressed to his ear. His sharp, focused demeanor gave no indication of the storm about to hit.
“Who did you say escaped?” Christian asked, his tone laced with urgency. He froze mid-step, his expression darkening. “Xanos. And how long ago?”
At the sound of the name, every head in the room turned toward him. Alessia’s heart sank as she watched her mother’s face lose all color, her normally composed demeanor replaced by a look of sheer terror. Elena, Tobias, and Jonathan exchanged uneasy glances, and for a moment, the room felt eerily quiet.
Christian ended the call and turned to the group, his brow furrowed. “Who the hell is Xanos? And why does it feel like I just said a name no one wants to hear?”
Victoria gripped the back of the chair in front of her, her knuckles white. She opened her mouth to speak but seemed unable to form the words. Alessia watched, her anxiety growing with every passing second.
“Mom,” Zane said, stepping toward her, his voice firm but concerned. “Who is Xanos? What’s going on?”
Victoria’s lips parted, but all she managed was a shaky, “Someone dangerous.”
“That’s not enough,” Alessia interjected, standing. “If this person is connected to what’s happening, we need to know everything.”
Elena, who had been unusually quiet, finally spoke, her voice low and grave. “Xanos was… let’s just say, someone who held a grudge against your father.”
“A grudge?” Zane repeated, his tone incredulous. “A grudge big enough to kidnap him?”
“It’s more complicated than that,” Tobias said, leaning back in his chair. “Xanos wasn’t just any enemy. He was ruthless. Obsessed.”