Chapter 36: The Fall of a King

Cavalli staggered out of the gala, his heart pounding, his mind racing. The humiliation still burned in his chest, but worse than that was the realization—he was finished.

For decades, he had ruled the underworld with an iron fist, feared and respected in equal measure. But in mere weeks, Ethan had dismantled everything he had built. His men, his money, his reputation—gone.

Paolo trailed behind him, tense. "We have to strike back. We still have—"

"Nothing." Cavalli's voice was barely above a whisper. "We have nothing left."

Paolo flinched. It was the first time he had ever heard Cavalli admit defeat.

But Cavalli wasn't the type to roll over and die. No, if Ethan wanted him buried, he would have to dig the grave himself.

There was only one move left.

Somewhere in the heart of the city, Ethan sat in his penthouse, watching the night unfold. He knew Cavalli wouldn't go down quietly. The old man had spent too long at the top to accept his fate without a fight.

"Do you think he'll beg?" Seraphina asked, perched on the couch, sipping wine.

Ethan chuckled, shaking his head. "Cavalli isn't the begging type. But he is desperate."

And desperate men did foolish things.

At exactly 2:00 a.m., Cavalli made his final play. A call was made. A meeting was set. The location: an abandoned warehouse at the edge of the city.

Ethan received the invitation with a smirk. "He wants to meet?"

Dominic frowned. "It's a trap."

"Of course, it is." Ethan took a sip of his drink. "But I'll go anyway."

Because Cavalli wasn't the only one who had set a trap.

When Ethan arrived at the warehouse, Cavalli was already there, standing in the shadows, a gun in his hand.

"You destroyed everything," Cavalli growled.

Ethan tilted his head. "No. You destroyed everything. I just gave it a little push."

Cavalli's fingers twitched on the trigger. "I should kill you right now."

Ethan smiled. "Then do it."

For a moment, the world stood still. The gun shook in Cavalli's hand. His empire was gone. His power, stripped away. The man in front of him had taken everything. And yet… he couldn't pull the trigger.

Because deep down, he knew Ethan was right.

And that was when the warehouse doors burst open.

Ethan's men swarmed the building, guns raised, surrounding Cavalli on all sides.

Ethan stepped forward, his voice calm, almost pitying. "This was never a fight, Cavalli. It was an execution."

Cavalli's knees buckled. He had lost. Completely.

Ethan leaned in close. "Your empire is mine now."

And with those final words, the last king of the underworld fell.