The world held its breath as Dominic Blackwood stepped onto the stage.
The atrium of Blackwood Tower had become a media battlefield—reporters elbowed for space, cameras flashed like lightning, and drones hovered overhead to capture every angle.
Aria stood to the side, her heart thudding in her chest. Felix was nearby, his hand on his concealed weapon, scanning the crowd. Everyone knew this wasn't just a press conference—it was a reckoning.
Daniel arrived with a silence that stole the air from the room.
He wore black. Sleek. Tactical. Commanding. And he walked straight toward the podium without so much as a glance at the cameras.
Dominic turned. Their eyes locked.
Two kings. One throne.
"You ready?" Dominic asked under his breath.
Daniel gave a short nod. "Let's burn it down."
Dominic adjusted the mic. "I want to start by saying this: for years, I have lived behind a fortress of influence, wealth, and silence. I thought that protecting what I built meant silencing the truth."
He paused. "Today, that ends."
He turned slightly, gesturing toward Daniel. "This man standing beside me is not only my brother—he is the reason this empire still has a soul. Or the chance to find one."
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
Daniel took the mic.
"For years, I was dead. Or so the world believed. My body burned. My name erased. But I lived. And in that time, I learned exactly how far the Blackwood legacy could reach—and how deep it could rot."
He leaned forward. "We are not here to excuse it. We are here to confront it."
Dominic nodded. "WRAITH was real. It operated with our family's resources. And I let it happen."
Daniel added, "And I tried to tear it down from the inside. I failed. Until now."
They both stepped aside.
Behind them, a massive screen came to life—playing the uncut footage of Daniel's abduction.
People gasped.
It showed Dominic fighting.
It showed Dominic bleeding.
It showed Dominic trying to save his brother—and ultimately walking away, broken and beaten.
"I thought he abandoned me," Daniel said, voice strained. "But he tried. And they broke him, too."
Dominic took the mic again. "This is not a confession. It's a declaration. From this day forward, we will dismantle the corruption tied to our name. We will face the consequences. But we will also fight anyone trying to exploit our legacy for their gain."
Cameras flashed. Reporters shouted questions.
And then—an explosion outside.
Glass shattered.
Security swarmed.
Someone had launched a grenade into the crowd.
Felix tackled Aria as another blast rocked the side of the building.
Dominic dove for Daniel, shielding him as shards flew.
Chaos.
Screams.
Fire.
Moments later, through smoke and broken glass, Dominic rose to his feet, blood trailing down his arm.
Daniel stood beside him, a gun in his hand, eyes blazing.
The enemies had made their move.
The war was no longer private.
It was on every screen in the world.