Chapter 26

Macaulay’s Estate was a fortress of ambition, its tree-lined boulevards aglow with ornate streetlights that cast long shadows over mansions gleaming like polished gems. Private security patrolled in sleek SUVs, their presence a silent vow of exclusivity. Manicured gardens, imported marble fountains, and glass-walled penthouses whispered of power, each rare orchid in private courtyards a testament to the residents’ relentless pursuit of status. Here, deals were sealed over cognac, legacies forged, and rivalries simmered beneath polished smiles. To outsiders, the estate was a dream; to its inhabitants, it was a battlefield where every gesture carried weight.