The Northvale Key

Episode 19

The darkness inside the ballroom felt like a thick liquid, swallowing every sound. Cassian did not wait for his eyes to adjust. His senses, honed through years of Syndicate operations, instantly mapped the room. He could feel the shift in the air beside him—someone moving far too fast for a typical party guest.

Lianna! Get down! Cassian shouted, his voice booming over the frantic screams of the guests.

Cassian lunged forward, grabbing Lianna by the shoulder and pulling her under a sturdy teak table just as a shimmering silver object sliced through the air, thudding into the wall exactly where Lianna’s head had been a second ago.

Cassian? What was that? Lianna gasped, her fingers gripping Cassian’s suit jacket with painful strength.

Stay here. Do not move, Cassian whispered, his voice turning ice-cold. They actually dared to attack in public.

Suddenly, the emergency lights flickered on with a reddish glow, casting a macabre hue over the trashed hall. Cassian saw a shadow vanish through the emergency exit. He wanted to chase it, but he knew his priority was Lianna.

Are you okay? Cassian checked his wife’s pale face.

Lianna nodded weakly, though her eyes were fixed on the small knife embedded in the wall. Who are they, Cassian? Why won't this stop?

We have to get out of here now, Cassian said, helping Lianna to her feet.

Hours later, the tension shifted to the Matriarch’s office at the Valerian Group building. Grandmother Ashworth sat in her high-backed chair, looking older and more tired under the dim glow of the desk lamp. Lianna sat across from her, still wearing her blue gown, which was now stained with dirt at the hem.

Cassian stood in the corner of the room, returning to his position as an inconspicuous shadow. However, in his hand, he held a brown folder he had just retrieved from Agent D in the parking lot.

This is an absolute outrage! The Matriarch slammed her palm onto the desk. Who dared to sabotage such a massive event? Stark? Or some other group that wants to see us fall?

Grandmother, the stage security system was sabotaged from the inside, Lianna spoke up, her voice trembling with emotion. Someone gave the encryption access codes to an outside party.

The Matriarch narrowed her eyes. Someone from our side? Are you accusing your own family?

The facts say so, Grandmother, Cassian replied softly, yet his words cut through the silence of the room like a blade.

Shut your mouth, Cassian! You have no right to speak here! Viona barked as she walked in, her face twisted into a mask of feigned concern. Lianna, it was probably just your incompetent security team. Don't go blaming the family.

Cassian stepped forward into the circle of light. He placed the brown folder in front of the Matriarch. I found this in the server control room while the chaos was unfolding. Someone forgot to wipe their digital footprint.

Viona turned pale for a split second, but she quickly let out a dismissive laugh. What is that? Your diary as a janitor? Grandmother, do not listen to this piece of trash.

The Matriarch did not answer. She opened the folder. Inside were copies of encrypted chat logs and evidence of a two-million-dollar wire transfer from a Stark Capital shell company to a private account very well-known to the family.

The Matriarch’s eyes widened as she read the document line by line. She looked up, staring at Viona with a gaze that could freeze blood.

Viona... explain to me what this account in your mother's name means? The Matriarch’s voice was dangerously low.

Viona stammered, slowly backing away. Grandmother, that... it must be fake! Cassian fabricated it! He wants to frame me because I insulted Lianna’s jewelry!

This account received the funds thirty minutes before the lights went out, Cassian said flatly, his eyes fixed on Viona. And the access code used to shut down the ballroom’s security system is a code only held by the secondary operational director. That is your position, Viona.

You are lying! You are just a record-keeper! How could you possibly understand things like this?! Viona shrieked, her beautiful face turning ugly with sheer terror.

Data doesn't lie, Viona, Lianna interrupted, her voice sounding exhausted but firm. You sold our security routes to Kenneth Stark. You put our lives at risk just for a few million dollars?

I did it for us! Viona screamed manically, realizing she was cornered. Stark promised us a position if the Valerians fell! Grandmother, you are too old to lead! Lianna will only destroy us with her idealistic garbage!

Slap!

The sound of the Matriarch’s hand hitting Viona's face echoed through the room. Viona collapsed onto the carpet, clutching her reddened cheek. A deathly silence fell over them all.

You sold your own blood to the enemy, the Matriarch hissed, her lips trembling with suppressed rage. You handed the keys to our home to the wolves.

Grandmother, please... I just wanted us to stay wealthy... Viona whimpered.

You are no longer a part of this family, the Matriarch said with absolute coldness. From this second forward, your name is erased from the entire corporate structure of the Valerian Group. You lose your inheritance, your right to live in the main house, and all assets in your name will be frozen to cover the company's losses from last night's sabotage.

No! Grandmother, you cannot do this! Viona tried to crawl toward the Matriarch’s feet.

Security! the Matriarch shouted without a hint of mercy. Drag her out. Hand this evidence over to the police tomorrow morning. I don't care if this becomes a public scandal; I just want this trash out of the Valerian family.

Two security guards in black uniforms entered promptly. They grabbed Viona, who continued to struggle and scream insults at Lianna and Cassian. Her voice slowly faded as the office doors shut tight.

The Matriarch leaned back in her chair, her eyes closed. She looked incredibly fragile. Lianna approached, gently holding her grandmother's hand.

Grandmother, we will fix everything, Lianna whispered.

The Matriarch opened her eyes, looked at Lianna, and then shifted her gaze to Cassian, who stood silently in the corner once again. Something had changed in the way the Matriarch viewed her grandson-in-law. The dislike was still there, but it was now mixed with a deep sense of wariness and curiosity.

Cassian Northvale, the Matriarch called out softly.

Yes, Matriarch?

How were you able to get such accurate data in such a short time? Even our internal audit team would have taken days to track a transaction like this.

Cassian gave a small, nearly imperceptible smile. I just spend a lot of time in the archives, Grandmother. You would be surprised to see how many tracks an arrogant person leaves when they feel they will never be caught.

The Matriarch snorted, as if trying to brush off her suspicions. Luck or not, you have cleaned out another rot in this family. But remember, don't you ever dare use this information against me.

I only want Lianna to be safe, Cassian replied simply.

The Matriarch turned back to Lianna. Lianna, this company is shaking. Stark won't stop after the stage failure last night. We need a stronger structure. I cannot let you work alone.

Lianna nodded. I agree, Grandmother. That is why I have already made a decision.

Lianna stood up, turned toward Cassian, and looked at him with complete confidence. Starting tomorrow, the position of administrative assistant for Cassian is abolished.

"I am officially appointing him as the Chief Strategic Advisor to the CEO."

The Great-Grandmother looked like she wanted to protest, but she held her tongue. She realized that without Cassian, they might have lost everything tonight. "Do what you think is right, Lianna. As long as you don't bankrupt us."

A few hours later, in the spacious CEO’s office, Lianna and Cassian stood facing a large glass window that displayed the lights of Northvale city. The atmosphere was so quiet that only the hum of the air conditioner could be heard.

"You actually did it," Cassian murmured, staring at Lianna’s reflection in the glass.

"I need you by my side, Cassian," Lianna turned around, her eyes flashing with emotion. "Not as a despised note-taker, but as the man who just saved my life and my company. I don't care what anyone else says."

Cassian reached for Lianna’s hand, feeling the softness of his wife’s skin. "That position will make me an even bigger target, Lianna. You know that?"

"I know. But we’ll face it together, won’t we?"

Cassian smiled, more sincerely this time. "Always."

Cassian took a deep breath, feeling the weight of this new responsibility. Inside his suit pocket, he felt the cold Northvale Key. His role at Valerian had now officially changed. He was no longer a shadow observer, but an active player on the chessboard.

"Lianna," Cassian said, his voice turning more serious. "Viona’s expulsion is only the beginning. Kenneth Stark will be furious because his investment in Viona is gone. He will attack even harder from the outside."

"I’m ready," Lianna replied with her chin held high. "As long as you’re by my side giving me those 'magical notes' of yours."

Lianna gave a small laugh, a sound Cassian hadn't heard in a long time. However, the laughter stopped when Lianna’s personal phone on the desk vibrated violently. A video message arrived from an unknown number.

Lianna frowned and pressed play. Cassian leaned in.

The video showed hidden footage of a dark port warehouse. There, hundreds of containers with the Valerian Group logo were being spray-painted with red symbols of thorns wrapped around a skull—the mark of the Coven Entity.

Suddenly, the camera panned toward a man sitting in a chair, his face obscured by shadows. The man’s voice came through the phone’s speaker, heavy and full of menace.

"Congratulations on cleaning up your family, Mr. North. It was very impressive to see you get rid of Viona so quickly. But did you know? Viona was just a minor distraction."

Cassian felt his heart racing. That voice... he knew it.

The man in the video continued, "While you were busy with your domestic drama, we took over your wife’s entire overseas logistics supply chain. In six hours, Valerian Group won’t have a single item to ship. And one more thing..."

The camera zoomed in on a small open wooden box next to the man. Inside was Cassian’s father’s antique watch, which had gone missing on the night of the m******e fifteen years ago.

"Come to the pier tomorrow morning alone, or you will see the history of Northvale repeat itself with your wife."

The video ended, and Lianna’s phone screen went black. Lianna stared at Cassian with eyes full of fear. "Cassian... what does that mean? Who is Mr. North? And that watch..."

Cassian froze, his fists clenching at his sides. His secret identity as the heir of Northvale was now on the brink of being exposed right in front of his wife. The fire of revenge he had suppressed for years exploded violently within his chest.

"Cassian, answer me!" Lianna urged, her voice rising an octave. "Who are you, really?"

Just as Cassian was about to open his mouth, the CEO's office door burst open. Agent D entered with a face full of wounds, gasping for breath.

"Sir! Sorry I’m late!" Agent D shouted, ignoring Lianna’s presence. "Our outer defense system has been breached! They aren't just targeting logistics; they're heading here right now!"

Lianna gasped, staring at the assistant she had always thought was just a regular administrative staff member, now calling her husband "Sir."

Cassian had no more time to explain. He pulled Lianna behind his back, his eyes staring sharply at the corridor door where the sound of approaching tactical boots grew louder.

"Secure Lianna in the bunker right now!" Cassian commanded Agent D in a voice that no longer resembled her gentle husband’s, but rather the voice of a feared global syndicate leader.

"What about you, Sir?" Agent D asked.

Cassian reached into his suit pocket, pulling out a small electronic device that immediately projected a holographic map of the building. "I’m going to welcome our guests. It’s time they know that the dragon of Northvale is no longer asleep."

Lianna gripped Cassian’s suit, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Cassian, don't... who are you, really?"

Cassian turned briefly, looking into his wife’s eyes one last time before the storm broke. "I am the man who will make sure you stay alive, Lianna. Even if I have to burn this world down to do it."

The footsteps outside the door stopped. The sound of a flashbang grenade shattered the entrance to the CEO’s lobby, followed by a cloud of smoke that engulfed the entire room. In the midst of the chaos, Cassian stepped forward through the smoke, ready to reveal his deadliest true face.