Ronan leaned back in the smooth leather seat as his sleek black car cruised down the city streets, the hum of the engine blending with the soft sounds of the city night. With a flick of his wrist, he activated the console on the dashboard.

"Z," Ronan murmured.

"Yes, sir?" came the smooth, emotionless reply, Z's voice seamlessly projecting through the car's speakers.

Ronan stared out at the blur of skyscrapers passing by, his mind sharp and calculating. "Use the money we earned from the Hayes brothers' auction. Buy the 5% shares of Zenova Labs, and make the purchase under Serina Hayes' name."

Z responded without hesitation. "Executing. Transferring funds... Initiating negotiations..." A brief pause followed, then a small, triumphant chime sounded from the dashboard. "Purchase successful. The 5% shares of Zenova Labs now belong to Serina Hayes."

A faint smile curved Ronan's lips. "Good. Now, call Alex. Tell him to bring Serina to Zenova Labs immediately. I need her signature."

"Calling Alex," Z confirmed. Within seconds, the soft dial tone cut off, and Alex's familiar voice echoed through the speakers.

"Yo, Ronan," Alex greeted, his tone curious and a bit playful.

"I need you to bring Serina to Zenova Labs," Ronan said smoothly, his voice carrying a hint of authority. "There's some paperwork she needs to sign—important."

Alex chuckled. "Does this have anything to do with that 20% share auction? 'Cause she's been glued to her phone ever since."

Ronan's smile deepened slightly. "Just get her there, Alex."

"Got it. We'll be there soon."

The call ended, and Ronan leaned back into his seat, eyes narrowing as they approached a long tunnel. The road stretched dark and quiet, the lights flickering along the tunnel walls as his car slipped into the shadows.

" Authority of illusion-1%". A faint shimmer rippled across his face, and in seconds, the distinct, sharp features of Ronan Arcanveil faded away, replaced by an unremarkable, ordinary face—just another man among millions. "Suit command black suit, White Shirt, black pant, Black leather belt belt, Black tie, and one intercom. Z make me look like a body guard".

"Drive yourself home," he murmured, stepping out just as the car slowed near the edge of the tunnel. The sleek black car hummed, as if receiving silent instructions. The door clicked shut behind him, and without a word, the car sped away, leaving Ronan standing alone.

Pulling his coat tighter around him, Ronan raised a hand and whistled. A yellow cab rolled up to the curb within moments. The driver gave him a once-over but quickly looked away, uninterested in the seemingly average man climbing into the back seat.

"To Zenova Labs," Ronan said quietly, sinking into the cab's worn seat.

The cab pulled into traffic, weaving through the bustling streets. Ronan sat in silence, his mind working through the next steps, every move already calculated and in motion.

When the cab arrived at Zenova Labs, Ronan paid the fare in cash, keeping his expression neutral. He stepped out into the cool night air, the glass facade of the towering lab gleaming under the city's lights.

He glanced at his watch—just a few minutes until Alex and Serina would arrive.

A sleek black sedan pulled up to the curb in front of Zenova Labs. Alex stepped out first, adjusting his jacket, followed by Serina, who looked around nervously, her fingers fidgeting with her bracelet.

From across the street, a man waved—his face unfamiliar, but his posture and presence unmistakably Ronan's. Alex's eyes narrowed for a moment before realization struck. "You changed your face," he muttered as they crossed the road toward him.

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Ronan—now Sam—smirked lightly. "Sharp as always, Alex. You know I like to keep things interesting." He pulled out two discreet earpieces and handed one to each of them.

"Wear these," Ronan instructed, his voice calm but firm, with an edge of seriousness. "From this point on, remember: my name is Sam. I will be your personal security guard, guiding you through the process. Just say what I tell you—nothing more, nothing less."

Alex raised an eyebrow but shrugged. "Fine by me. Just don't make me sound like an idiot."

Serina exchanged a hesitant glance with Alex. "This is… kind of intense, isn't it?"

Ronan nodded, keeping his expression neutral. "Better to be safe than sorry. Trust me."

Alex and Serina nodded in agreement, placing the earpieces in their ears.

"Good," Ronan said, smoothing his coat. "Let's get moving."

With quiet confidence, the trio stepped toward the automatic doors of Zenova Labs, the building gleaming under the night sky as they entered.

As they walked through Zenova Labs, the bright lights reflected off the sleek marble floors. Ronan, now fully masked like a professional security guard, followed closely behind Alex and Serina, blending into the background with silent precision.

The receptionist glanced up as they approached, her polite smile unwavering.

"Good evening. We have an appointment with the company president," Alex said smoothly, matching the calm confidence Ronan had instructed. "We're here on behalf of the William family."

The receptionist nodded, her hands moving efficiently across the keyboard as she made a call to confirm. After a brief pause, she smiled again. "Please wait a moment. Someone will escort you shortly."

Moments later, a sharply dressed employee arrived, bowing slightly in greeting. "Welcome. I'll take you to the meeting room."

As the group moved toward the elevators, Ronan subtly shifted his stance, keeping a few steps behind. When they reached the meeting room door, he stepped forward and addressed Serina.

"Madam, I will wait for you outside the room," Ronan said with a respectful nod, his voice low and formal, reinforcing his role as mere security personnel.

Serina gave a small nod of acknowledgment, her hands clasping and unclasping nervously, and with a final glance toward Ronan, she and Alex followed the company representative inside.

Ronan stood by the door, hands clasped in front of him, a calm guardian in disguise, watching as the heavy glass door slid shut behind them.

Serina and Alex took their seats at the polished glass table, the chairman of Zenova Labs settling into the chair across from them with a measured, businesslike smile.

"Pleasure to meet you both," the chairman said cordially, extending a hand.

Alex mirrored the man's polite tone, guided seamlessly by Ronan's voice through the earpiece. "Nice to meet you. We came here to propose a business deal and would prefer to keep this meeting private." Alex gestured toward Serina. "This is my fiancée, Serina. She has an opportunity to discuss with you."

Serina nodded, her voice calm but laced with determination as Ronan fed her the words. "I've brought an opportunity that will position Zenova Labs at the top of the industry within two days—if you choose to accept the deal." She leaned in slightly, her expression earnest. "We possess multiple exclusive medicine formulas, and we are prepared to transfer the patent rights to your company. However, we require 30% of the profits."

The chairman's expression shifted, intrigued yet cautious. He reached for the report Alex had handed him, flipping through the neatly arranged pages as Serina continued.

The chairman scanned the clinical data with furrowed brows, his curiosity deepening with each line. "Is this information accurate?" he asked, looking directly at Alex.

"Absolutely," Alex replied without hesitation, echoing Ronan's words. "The formulas have all been clinically tested and approved."

The chairman's gaze lingered on the document, weighing the risk and reward. After a brief moment of consideration, he gave a satisfied nod. "Very well. I am willing to proceed."

The tension in the room eased slightly as the chairman produced a leather-bound contract from a drawer. Serina and Alex reviewed it quickly, and, with pens in hand, they all signed their names.

The deal was sealed.

As they reached the car, Serina and Alex exchanged a glance, but neither spoke. Ronan, silent as ever, opened the driver's door and slid behind the wheel. The engine purred to life as he adjusted the rearview mirror. With a smooth flicker, his features morphed back into the sharp, cold visage of Ronan Arcanveil.

Serina stiffened slightly in the backseat, her unease visible in the way she pressed herself closer to Alex.

"You sold 20% of my company shares, bought only 5% here, and handed them formulas worth a fortune," she said cautiously, her voice steady but tinged with tension. "What exactly are you planning?"

Ronan's gaze met hers in the rearview mirror, sharp and knowing. A slow, sly grin crept across his face.

"Don't make me spoil it for you," he said, his voice low and teasing. "Just wait and see. I'll give you the best gift, sister-in-law."

Serina's heart skipped a beat, and she inhaled sharply. "I—I'm not your sister-in-law," she muttered, looking away, but her voice lacked the bite it normally carried.

Ronan chuckled softly, his expression unreadable. "Yet. But for now, let's keep this game interesting, shall we?"