Despite the world's perception, Vincent Blackwood and Anastasia Vasiliev never clashed. The rivalry people imagined was nothing more than a carefully constructed illusion. The business world saw two empires, equal in might, standing on the precipice of war, but in reality, Vincent had no intention of challenging her.
If the Vasiliev family was the sun, illuminating the world with its power, then the Blackwood empire was the silent moon, ruling the darkness with unseen hands.
Though Vincent was now the undisputed ruler of his family, he never sought to surpass Anastasia. Instead, he worked in tandem with her without anyone realizing it. With her intelligence, her ruthlessness, and her undeniable control over the Vasiliev empire, Anastasia was already above him.
And Vincent had no desire to change that.
Instead, he became her shadow.
While Anastasia operated through the vast and legitimate business networks of her family, Vincent handled everything that could not be done openly. He eliminated obstacles before they even reached her doorstep. He silenced enemies before they could become threats. He crushed corporations before they could attempt to compete.
The world never knew the full extent of his influence.
Because that was the way he wanted it.
Vincent was no longer just a businessman—he was something far more dangerous. With his unmatched intelligence, he had restructured the underground world to serve him, eliminating the old powerhouses and placing his own people in control. The Blackwood name became synonymous with absolute authority, yet no one dared to speak of the man who truly held power.
Those who opposed him disappeared.
Those who betrayed him were erased.
Yet, despite his control over the shadows, Vincent never let his empire outshine hers. His influence was vast, but he made sure it never surpassed Anastasia's. He had already taken everything he wanted. He had already secured his reign.
Now, the only thing left to do was ensure that nothing ever stood in her way.