The morning air was crisp, biting at his skin, but the warmth of the coffee in his hands served as a stark contrast.

Sky took a slow, deliberate sip, letting the heat seep into his body, chasing away the lingering cold. A husky breath left his lips as he pulled away, the steam curling around his face before vanishing into the wind. The sharp morning breeze did nothing to faze him; if anything, it made him feel even more alive.

Perched by the window of a bustling café, his gaze cut through the glass, sweeping across the city below. His eyes, framed by sleek spectacles, carried an edge─an intensity that made him appear both enigmatic and menacing. The way they caught the faint glimmer of daylight only added to the aura he naturally exuded.

A predator surveying his domain.

His fingers moved smoothly, almost lazily, as he slid his hands into the depths of his coat pockets, his expression unreadable. The weight of his presence alone seemed enough to unsettle those who dared steal a glance his way.

"Whoever that is..." His voice, low and laced with amusement, barely broke the rhythm of the city's noise. A click of his tongue followed, his smirk hidden behind the rim of his coffee mug.

"Tch... how unlucky..."

A long exhale left him as he lifted the cup once more, savoring the taste─dark, rich, and bitter, just the way he liked it. The sensation of warmth spreading through his chest sent a quiet thrill down his spine.

Ecstasy.

And as the world around him moved in a constant, chaotic rush, Sky simply remained─watching, waiting, and knowing that fate had already started playing its hand.

Further, the weight of his thoughts pressed down on him as he carefully pieced together the final details of his next big move.

Dubai─a city teeming with ambition, luxury, and power─a perfect place to expand his empire. Everything had to be flawless; a single misstep could cost him more than just money.

His fingers tapped rhythmically against the smooth surface of his coffee mug, his gaze fixated on the skyline beyond the window, lost in strategy.

Just as the pieces were starting to align in his mind, the sharp ring of his phone shattered the momentary silence.

His eyes flicked to the screen, his sharp gaze darkening slightly.

It was his right-hand.

He had been expecting this call.

Without hesitation, Sky picked up, bringing the phone to his ear with an air of effortless authority.

"Tell me something worth my time." he said, his tone cool yet expectant.

The voice on the other end was composed, efficient. "Boss, the Sawasdee Constructions have agreed to our terms. The contract has been finalized, and operations will commence within the month."

Sky exhaled slowly, his lips curling slightly in approval. He had anticipated resistance, but it seemed things had fallen into place sooner than expected. Good.

"That's what I like to hear." Sky murmured, his voice full of quiet satisfaction as he pushed himself up from his seat.

Grabbing his coffee mug, he walked towards his bedroom, each step deliberate and measured. The room felt like his sanctuary, a place where his mind could truly roam free without the noise of the world.

As he entered, he placed the mug carefully on the desk beside his bed, letting his fingers linger on the smooth surface of the wood as if grounding himself.

"But there's something else..." his right-hand continued, the slight hesitation in his voice impossible to ignore. "The detective you wanted me to track─I've left the file on your desk. Everything we could find is in there."

Sky's fingers paused for a moment, the mention of the detective stirring something cold and sharp inside him.

He was no stranger to threats, but this particular one felt like it needed to be handled with care.

"Go on." Sky said, his tone steady, yet with an underlying current of focus. He stood by the desk, his eyes briefly glancing at the file that was waiting for him, still sealed, untouched.

"We've been keeping tabs on him. So far, nothing out of the ordinary, but he's persistent. If he keeps digging, he could pose a problem." came the calm reply.

Sky's eyes narrowed slightly, his mind already turning over the possibilities. He was never one to underestimate a potential threat, no matter how small it seemed.

"Make sure he's kept in check." Sky's voice deepened, each word dripping with an authority that left no room for doubt. "I don't need any distractions. If he crosses a line, deal with it swiftly."

"Understood, boss." came the reply, steady and unwavering.

"Good." Sky said, his tone returning to a more neutral, but equally firm, cadence. "Keep me updated. And don't let me hear about any slip-ups."

"Of course, boss."

The call ended with a quiet click, the hum of the disconnection filling the empty air of the room.

This part was done.

Moving on, he was already thinking of the next task ahead. There was a file on his office desk-something he needed to go over before heading out.

The detective's case.

He had to stay ahead of it, stay in control.

He moved toward his wardrobe, changing into his usual sharp suit. His mind raced ahead of the day's plans, but when he reached the office door, a sound stopped him in his tracks. The balcony door slid open, and a presence he couldn't ignore filled the room.

His mother.

Sky didn't turn.

He already knew what was coming-he had felt the tension in the air before she'd even entered. His gaze remained fixed on the skyline as she stepped onto the balcony, the soft click of her heels the only sound.

Sky's hand hovered over the handle of the door to his office. He was ready to retreat into work, into the plans waiting for him-but the moment he stepped in, he knew he wouldn't be alone for long.

She didn't waste time.

Her voice was sharp, almost hissing with venom.

"You embarrassed me, Sky." she spat, her tone dripping with contempt. "You ruined everything. How could you be so reckless with the engagement?"

Sky's fingers curled into fists at his sides, but his face remained impassive. His mother had a way of cutting deep with her words, but today, he felt no guilt.

His mind wasn't burdened with the need to explain himself anymore.

He turned to face her, his expression devoid of emotion.

"Reckless? I didn't even know about it until the last moment." Sky shot back, his voice as cold as ice.

"I'm not going to go through with something just to satisfy your expectations or the media's demands." He stepped into the room, his movements deliberate.

"You wanted me to be a puppet, and I refuse to be one."

His mother's jaw tightened, her eyes flashing with anger. She stepped toward him, her every step a declaration of her fury.

"A puppet?" she repeated, her voice rising. "You think this is about the media? You think this is some game? You ruined your own future, Sky. Your reputation, our family's reputation has been damaged, and you don't even care."

Sky's gaze shifted to the desk, his fingers brushing the edges of the open file, the detective's investigation waiting for his attention. But his mother's words felt like an anchor, pulling him into the depths of her frustration.

He didn't want to give in to it.

"Reputation is irrelevant." Sky said, his tone devoid of emotion. "I'll control what I can control. If it costs me family expectations, so be it."

She shook her head, disbelief written across her face.

"So, you've thrown away everything, all the sacrifices, just to chase your own agenda? What happened to loyalty, Sky? What happened to caring about the people who helped you get here?"

Sky's expression hardened, the words his mother used like nails in a coffin, but he didn't flinch.

He couldn't afford to.

"I've always known what's best for me, and if that means making hard choices, so be it." he replied evenly. "And no, I haven't thrown anything away. I'm simply not going to live my life according to what you or anyone else expects."

His mother took another step closer, her voice low, but the intensity was palpable. "You think you can throw away the people who built you, who helped you get this far? You think they'll just stand by as you tear everything apart? You think you can just walk all over us?"

Sky stood still, his hand resting on the back of his chair as his mother raged. He was done with this conversation. It was futile. Nothing would change her mind, and nothing would change his. "I didn't throw anything away." he said quietly, his voice thick with disdain. "I'm not living in a world where you tell me who to be or what to do."

For a moment, there was silence. His mother stood there, seething, but Sky's resolve remained unshaken.

"You raised me to be strong, but I'll make my own choices." Sky said, his voice firm as he moved past her toward the desk, finally ready to look at the file.

But just as his hand hovered over the file, his mother flicked her cigarette carelessly. The ember flew across the room, landing squarely on the edge of the document. In an instant, the paper caught fire, and Sky's heart skipped a beat.

He looked up just as the flames spread, engulfing the edge of the file. His hands shot out, trying to grab it, trying to save it-but it was too late.

The document was burning, the flames licking at the paper, turning the investigation into ash. Sky's chest tightened, and his jaw clenched as he rushed to smother the fire with his hands.

But it was futile.

The damage was done.

The file, the case, the crucial information-gone in seconds.

His mother stood motionless, watching the destruction with cold indifference.

"Look what you've done." Sky muttered, fury boiling beneath his words. The last of the evidence, the final part of his plan, slipping through his fingers.

His mother, without an ounce of remorse, merely shrugged. "You're the one who can't control your own actions, Sky."

Sky stood there, his fists clenched by his sides.

His eyes burned with a fury that had nothing to do with the ashes on his desk.

This was worse than losing a file.

She had disrupted everything-destroyed his plan, shattered the carefully crafted work that was supposed to secure his future.

"You have no idea what you've done." Sky spat, his voice low, filled with barely contained rage. He turned toward the door, his footsteps heavy, his mind already working through the damage.

The anger inside him was blinding, but nothing-nothing at all-would stop him from recovering what he had lost.

Not his mother, not anyone.

The game had changed, but Sky was always one step ahead.

No one could touch him.

As Sky turned on his heel to leave his office room, his sharp gaze flickered with a storm of emotions-anger, frustration, and something deeper, more unspoken.

Without hesitation, he pulled out his phone, his veiny hands gripping it tightly, knuckles slightly tensed. His long fingers, adorned with the faintest scars of past battles, danced over the screen as he swiftly dialed a number.

Two rings.

That's all it took.

"Get me another case file on the detective. Now." His voice was cold, sharp, leaving no room for delay.

"Understood, boss." came the immediate response.

"Send me a soft copy. I want it in five minutes."

"Consider it done."

A sharp beep signaled the end of the call.

Sky exhaled through his nose, his jaw tightening as he shoved his phone into his pocket with more force than necessary.

His fingers-long, deft, and strikingly veined-twitched slightly before curling into a loose fist, the tension still crackling in the air.

If anyone had been watching, they might've been captivated by those hands alone-hands that had written fate, commanded loyalty, and destroyed those who dared stand in his way.

Hands that, if fate were cruel enough, could have an entire fandom dedicated to them.

As Sky stepped outside, the cool evening breeze kissed his sharp features, but it did nothing to quell the storm raging within him.

His steps were calculated, exuding an effortless dominance as he strode toward his grand, luxurious garage-a place that housed only the finest of machines, each a symbol of his power, his wealth, and his unwavering control.

The sleek marble flooring reflected the soft glow of overhead lights, accentuating the high-end vehicles parked in perfect alignment.

With a swift motion, he ran a hand through his hair, the strands falling back into place with ease, while his other hand remained shoved deep in his pocket. His walk was fluid, effortless, like that of a monarch surveying his kingdom-because that's exactly what he was.

Before his car stood his driver, ever loyal, holding out the keys with both hands as if offering something sacred. Sky didn't need to speak. A simple flick of his fingers was enough to dismiss him, and with a respectful nod, the driver took his leave, leaving Sky alone with his prized machine.

With a quiet exhale, he slid into the plush leather seat, the rich scent of premium material filling his senses. The moment the door shut, he locked it swiftly with a subtle click, sealing himself inside his space of absolute control. He pressed the ignition button, and within milliseconds, the car roared to life, the perfectly tuned engine purring like a beast ready to be unleashed.

As the engine ignited, the physics of motion came into play. The spark plugs fired, creating a controlled explosion within the combustion chambers. The rapid expansion of gases exerted force on the pistons, setting them in motion. The energy was transferred through the crankshaft, converting linear motion into rotational motion, which ultimately powered the drivetrain.

The wheels, through friction with the ground, generated the necessary traction to set the car in motion, a perfect interplay of Newton's Third Law-every action has an equal and opposite reaction.

With a calculated grip, Sky shifted gears, his foot pressing against the accelerator. The torque delivered from the engine to the wheels increased, sending the car gliding forward with a smooth yet assertive acceleration. The force exerted on the tires met the resistance of the asphalt, overcoming static friction to transition into kinetic motion.

The moment the vehicle surged forward, inertia played its role-his body subtly pressed back into the seat, a testament to Newton's First Law, as the sudden change in velocity acted upon him.

The car sliced through the night, its headlights piercing the darkness, reflecting off the polished surfaces of his garage as he maneuvered out onto the open road. Each turn of the wheel was a precise calculation, an understanding of centrifugal force and angular momentum, ensuring a seamless glide onto the path leading toward his empire-his legacy, the fortress he had built brick by brick, bound together with intellect, ruthlessness, and sheer determination.

🂾

Nani had arrived at the department ahead of schedule, as was his habit. Punctuality wasn't just a trait for him-it was second nature, a discipline ingrained through years of rigorous work. As he sat in his office cabin, his demeanor remained composed, almost unnervingly so. His posture was straight, his fingers loosely interlocked on the desk, and his expression unreadable. To anyone looking in, he was the embodiment of calm control, a man unbothered by the chaos of the world outside.

But inside his head, it was anything but calm.

His thoughts swirled in a relentless storm, colliding and intertwining as he tried to piece everything together.

The ongoing situation was becoming more complicated by the hour, each revelation leading to another unsettling question. And the deeper he dug, the more dangerous it became.

The underworld.

A place where morals ceased to exist, where survival was dictated by power, and where a single wrong move could mean the difference between life and death. It wasn't just about crime-it was a world built on secrets, shadows, and whispers that carried more weight than spoken words.

And somehow, the case files in his possession were beginning to feel disturbingly connected to whatever lay hidden in those depths.

That thought sent a sharp pulse of tension through him.

Could it be mere coincidence?

Or was there something more sinister at play?

He leaned back in his chair, exhaling through his nose, his gaze darkening as he stared at the case files stacked neatly on his desk. A part of him itched to tear through them immediately, to find whatever link was buried within those pages.

But he knew better than to act impulsively.

The underworld didn't take kindly to those who pried where they shouldn't, and if his suspicions were correct, then he was already walking a very thin line.

Yet, that had never deterred him before.

Nani had never been the type to back down, no matter how treacherous the path ahead.

If anything, danger only sharpened his determination. He had chased the truth too long to stop now.

Whatever lay hidden in the depths of that shadowy world, whatever secrets those files held; he would uncover them.

Because if there was one thing he believed in, it was that no matter how dark the truth was, it never stayed buried forever.

While Nani sat in his office, his mind tangled in relentless thoughts, the weight of his suspicions pressing heavily on him, a sharp knock on the door snapped him out of his trance. His gaze flickered toward the entrance just as his co-worker, Detective Raye, stepped in. The subtle creak of the door and the soft tap of her shoes against the floor pulled him back to reality.

"You seem pretty disturbed, Nani. Are you okay?" Raye's voice was casual yet laced with concern as she took a seat across from him. She studied his expression, her sharp eyes catching the brief hesitation in his response.

Nani shook his head slightly, a short chuckle escaping his lips-one that carried a touch of forced ease. He wasn't about to reveal what was truly occupying his mind.

The underworld was not something to be casually discussed, even among trusted colleagues.

That was a realm where even knowledge alone could be a death sentence.

"No," he finally said, leaning back in his chair, his fingers absentmindedly tapping against the desk. "I'm just worried about the disappearance of the case files. That's not something we can ignore. It feels like a direct warning to our department." His voice was calm, but there was an unmistakable weight to his words.

Raye leaned forward slightly, her brows knitting together. "Me either," she agreed. "Like, who the hell would even think of stealing case files that were closed years ago? That doesn't add up. Maybe... something secret was hidden in them, something someone didn't want it to be uncovered?" Her voice dropped slightly, as if voicing the possibility alone might summon unseen dangers.

Nani's lips pressed into a thin line as he shook his head. "I don't know," he admitted. "I just don't think so. Those cases are too old. If