Chapter 17: The Key to an Empire

The night air was thick with the scent of salt and gasoline as Liam stepped onto Pier 32. The city lights flickered in the distance, casting long shadows across the deserted dock. The only sounds were the faint creaks of ships swaying with the waves and the distant hum of traffic beyond the waterfront.

Tielen walked beside him, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings. "This doesn't feel right," he muttered, pulling his coat tighter around himself. "Meeting at a place like this, at this hour? Smells like a setup."

Liam remained silent, his hands in his pockets, his expression unreadable. He had received a cryptic message from an unknown number, instructing him to come alone. Naturally, he ignored that part. He wasn't foolish enough to walk into an ambush unprepared.

A soft click echoed from the shadows, followed by slow, deliberate footsteps. A tall figure stepped into the dim glow of the dock's overhead light. He was an older man, perhaps in his late forties, dressed in a sleek black trench coat. His silver hair was slicked back, and his piercing blue eyes held an air of authority.

"Liam Roswell," the man spoke, his voice smooth yet commanding. "We finally meet."

Liam's gaze remained steady. "And you are?"

The man smirked. "Ethan Caldwell. I was a close associate of your grandfather."

Tielen stiffened at the name. Liam, however, kept his composure. His grandfather had been a ghost of a figure in his life—spoken of in hushed tones, feared and respected.

"You expect me to believe that?" Liam asked coolly.

Ethan reached into his coat and retrieved a worn-out leather wallet. With a flick of his wrist, he tossed it toward Liam. Liam caught it midair, his fingers running over the faded initials engraved on the surface—E.R.

Liam's heartbeat slowed. His grandfather's initials.

"Where did you get this?" he demanded.

Ethan clasped his hands behind his back. "I was with him in his final days," he said. "He trusted me with a message for you, but only when the time was right. And that time is now."

Liam remained silent, his grip tightening around the wallet.

Tielen stepped forward, his tone sharp. "Why now? What changed?"

Ethan's expression darkened. "Because your enemies have started moving. The ones who wanted your grandfather dead—the ones who wiped out your parents—are preparing for their next target."

Liam's breath came slow and controlled, but inside, a storm brewed.

"Who are they?"

Ethan shook his head. "Not yet. First, you need to understand what you're up against." He took a step closer, his voice lowering. "Your grandfather didn't just leave behind wealth. He left behind something far more dangerous—a key to an empire that spans beyond what you can imagine."

Liam's jaw clenched. "Explain."

Ethan's lips curled into a faint smile. "Power, influence, secrets—buried so deep that even the wealthiest families fear them. Your grandfather built something that no one else could. And now, every major player in this city wants a piece of it."

Tielen scoffed. "So let me guess. You want to help Liam out of the kindness of your heart?"

Ethan chuckled. "No. I want to help him because I swore an oath. But make no mistake—if he's not strong enough, he'll be crushed like all the others who tried before him."

Liam met Ethan's gaze. There was no fear in his eyes, only determination.

"Then tell me," he said, voice steady. "What did my grandfather leave behind?"

Ethan exhaled. "The foundation of an empire." His eyes narrowed. "And every powerful family in this city will try to take it from you."

Liam's fingers curled around the leather wallet as he absorbed Ethan's words. The foundation of an empire. A secret so powerful that the wealthiest families in the city were willing to fight for it.

The weight of the revelation settled over him, but his expression remained unreadable. He had grown accustomed to betrayal, to deception, to people weaving half-truths to manipulate him. But there was something in Ethan's gaze that told him this was different.

Tielen scoffed, arms crossed. "And what exactly do you expect Liam to do? Walk into a war blindfolded?"

Ethan's smirk didn't waver. "I expect him to prepare. To understand that the moment he steps forward, the sharks will circle." He stepped closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "Liam, the inheritance your grandfather left isn't just wealth. It's power. Real power. The kind that makes governments tremble and billionaires bow."

Liam's heartbeat remained steady, but his mind raced. He had spent his life clawing his way up, out of the darkness that others had left him in. And now, the very legacy that had been hidden from him was being dangled before him like bait.

"And what exactly is this 'key'?" he asked, watching Ethan's every movement.

Ethan hesitated for the first time, glancing around as if unseen eyes were watching. "It's not just money. It's information, alliances, control over the hidden veins that keep this city breathing. Your grandfather ensured that no single force could overpower his legacy. Not the corporations, not the underworld, not even the government itself."

Tielen let out a low whistle. "That's a bold claim."

Ethan nodded. "It is. But if Liam wants to claim it, he needs to prove he's strong enough."

Liam exhaled slowly. "And how exactly do I do that?"

Ethan smiled knowingly. "By stepping into the game. By showing them that the heir to the Roswell legacy is not to be underestimated."

A cold breeze swept through the docks, but Liam didn't flinch. He had been tested time and time again—mocked, rejected, cast aside by those who thought he was nothing. But now? Now, the game was changing.

"You said my enemies are already moving," Liam said, his voice sharp. "Who are they?"

Ethan's smirk faded. "Valerio's family for one. The same people who had a hand in your parents' death. And they're not the only ones."

Liam's blood ran cold, but his face betrayed nothing. He had always suspected their deaths weren't an accident, but hearing it confirmed reignited a fire deep inside him.

Tielen's jaw clenched. "So this isn't just about inheritance. It's revenge."

Ethan nodded. "Revenge and survival. If you don't move first, they will."

Liam looked down at the old leather wallet, his grandfather's initials worn into the surface. He had spent his life being told he was nothing, being underestimated, being thrown aside.

But now?

Now, he had something worth fighting for.

He tucked the wallet into his pocket and looked Ethan in the eye. "Then let's begin."