Chapter 37: The Fall of Zayne Lancaster

Zayne Lancaster had spent his entire life carefully building his empire—connections, power, influence. He knew how to play the game. He knew how to stay ahead.

But tonight, everything was falling apart.

He sat alone in his penthouse, whiskey untouched on the table, his mind racing through possible exits. Wren had cut him off. Investors were distancing themselves. And the media was tearing his name apart, all because of Chris Blackwood.

Or rather, Blackwood.

Zayne still didn't know how deep that name ran.

But he knew one thing—whoever was behind Blackwood wasn't just powerful.

They were untouchable.

A sharp knock at the door made him tense. He wasn't expecting anyone. His security should have alerted him.

Another knock.

Zayne exhaled, steeling himself before standing. He adjusted his cufflinks, keeping his expression calm as he walked over.

He opened the door—

And froze.

Detectives. Three of them. Flanked by uniformed officers.

The man in the center, wearing a crisp gray suit, held up a badge.

"Mr. Lancaster," he said smoothly. "I'm Detective Caldwell with the Financial Crimes Unit. We have a warrant for your arrest."

Zayne's grip on the door tightened. "On what grounds?"

Caldwell gave a small, almost amused smirk. "Fraud, money laundering, conspiracy—shall I continue?"

Zayne's mind went blank for a second before he forced a scoff. "This is ridiculous. You have no proof."

"We do." Caldwell pulled out a folder, flipping it open to reveal documents. "These transactions—offshore accounts, shell companies, falsified reports—have your signature all over them. Quite a mess you've made."

Zayne's pulse pounded in his ears. How? How did they get this?

He had been careful.

He opened his mouth to deny it, to demand a lawyer—

Then he saw it.

At the bottom of the folder.

A single word.

Blackwood.

And suddenly, he knew.

This wasn't an investigation.

This wasn't justice.

This was a message.

And the message was clear—he had picked a fight with the wrong man.

"Turn around," Caldwell ordered. "Hands behind your back."

The cold metal of the handcuffs snapped around his wrists, and for the first time in his life, Zayne Lancaster felt powerless.

As they led him away, cameras flashed, reporters shouted questions, and the world watched the mighty Zayne Lancaster fall.

Blackwood HQ – The Silent King

Chris watched the arrest unfold on the screen in his office, his expression unreadable.

Ethan leaned back on the couch, sipping his coffee. "And that, my friend, is checkmate."

Chris didn't respond. He simply watched as Zayne was shoved into the back of a police car, his future crumbling.

"He'll try to fight it," Ethan mused. "His lawyers will scramble. But with Wren abandoning him, it's over."

Chris finally looked away from the screen, picking up his phone. "It was over the moment he touched what's mine."

Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Skylar?"

Chris didn't answer. He didn't need to.

Ethan smirked. "So, what now?"

Chris exhaled, setting his phone down. "Now?" His lips curved into the faintest smirk.

"We wait and see who else wants to play."

Because Zayne was just the beginning.

And Chris Blackwood wasn't just playing to win.

He was cleaning house.