The city pulsed with life, oblivious to the shadows creeping through its veins. Jaceon Devon stood atop a high-rise building, gazing down at the mortal world he had been sent to infiltrate. The lights below flickered like dying stars, each one a soul, each one a potential offering to the abyss.
Monica stood beside him, arms crossed, her gaze unreadable. "You're not here to admire the view," she reminded him.
Jaceon smirked, his piercing eyes glowing faintly under the night sky. "I was merely taking in the filth I am about to cleanse. The McLaren family won't know what hit them."
Monica sighed. "You still don't understand, do you? You can't just waltz in, kill them all, and be done with it. If you truly want to destroy them, you have to do it from within."
Jaceon's amusement faded. "Explain."
She turned to face him fully. "The McLarens are powerful, influential. You need to make them trust you, need to make them believe you are one of them. Only then can you bring them to their knees."
A slow grin spread across Jaceon's face. "I see. A wolf among sheep."
Monica nodded. "Exactly. And that's where we begin."
---
The McLaren Mansion
Levi McLaren sat in his father's study, flipping through old financial records, oblivious to the storm brewing around him. He had always been raised in wealth, taught to carry himself with dignity, but something about his family's success had always felt... off.
His father, Leon McLaren, had drilled discipline into him. Perfection was the standard. Flaws were unacceptable. But Levi had never questioned why their family never seemed to suffer misfortune while others crumbled around them. Not until now.
A knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts. "Come in," he called.
A butler entered, bowing slightly. "Master Levi, your father has invited a guest for dinner. He requests your presence."
Levi frowned. His father rarely entertained guests unless they were business associates. "Who is it?"
"A man named Jaceon Devon."
Something in the butler's tone made Levi uneasy. He set the papers down, straightened his suit, and nodded. "I'll be there shortly."
As the butler exited, Levi's unease deepened. Something about the name Jaceon Devon sent a chill down his spine.
---
A New Beginning
Jaceon entered the grand McLaren estate with an air of confidence, his every step measured, his every movement calculated. He wore a perfectly tailored suit, his dark hair neatly styled, his charm effortless.
Leon McLaren greeted him with a firm handshake, his sharp eyes analyzing every detail. "Mr. Devon, it is a pleasure to finally meet you."
Jaceon offered a polite smile. "The pleasure is mine, Mr. McLaren. I've heard much about your family."
Leon's expression remained unreadable. "I hope only good things."
Jaceon's smile widened slightly. "Only the best."
Levi entered just in time to hear those words, his eyes locking onto Jaceon's. For a brief moment, neither spoke.
Jaceon studied Levi—the heir to the McLaren fortune, the son bound by fate to suffer for his father's sins. And Levi, unknowingly standing before the very man sent to destroy him.
Monica's words echoed in Jaceon's mind: You need to make them trust you.
So, with a perfect façade, Jaceon extended his hand toward Levi. "You must be Levi. It's an honor."
Levi hesitated for only a second before shaking his hand. "Likewise."
As their hands met, a spark of something unspoken passed between them.
A connection.
A warning.
A beginning.
---