News of the Wijaya family's downfall and Aris’s true identity had become prime fodder for national business media. Yet, beneath the glittering surface of his success, a pack of wolves lay in wait. They were Nexus Global’s rival corporate players, deeply threatened by Aris’s aggressive dominance.

Among them was the Black Lotus syndicate, a shadowy syndicate led by Aris’s arch-nemesis, a man named Baron. Baron had been monitoring the rift in Aris and Bella's marriage for weeks. He knew that the sole vulnerability of the Business Emperor was the very woman whose life he had just torn apart.

"He loves her," Baron muttered, gazing at a monitor displaying CCTV footage of Bella walking out of the old warehouse, her face set with an uncharacteristic resolve. "And love is a weakness that will bring him to his knees."

That evening, Aris was scheduled to attend a covert meeting at a deserted port warehouse to finalize a strategic asset acquisition. It was a meticulously crafted trap.

Aris stepped out of his luxury sedan, flanked by only two personal bodyguards to keep the meeting strictly private. The moment he crossed the threshold into the warehouse, the atmosphere shifted instantly. Bright overhead floodlights blinded his eyes, and the metallic click of racking firearms echoed from every dark corner.

"Good evening, Mr. Aris," Baron’s voice reverberated from the shadows.

Twenty armed men emerged from behind the shipping containers. Aris didn't flinch. He stood tall, casually lit a cigarette, and stared into the shadows toward Baron. "Baron. I knew you’d show up. But do you honestly believe cheap firearms like these can kill me?"

"Perhaps not," Baron replied, stepping forward with a silenced pistol held firmly in his hand. "But what if your wife—or ex-wife—finds out you're down here dealing in illegal affairs? We both know you've always tried to keep your hands clean in front of her, haven't you?"

Aris went silent. This was his true fear. The threat was never about his own life; it was the thought of Bella’s perception of him breaking all over again if she got dragged into his dark underworld.

Suddenly, tires screeched violently outside the warehouse. An old sedan—purchased by Bella with her remaining funds—crashed hard into the perimeter fence. Bella scrambled out of the car, gasping for air. She had tailed Aris ever since he left his office, driven by a dark premonition after reading his journal.

Bella sprinted into the warehouse. "Aris! No!"

Aris’s eyes widened in horror. "Bella?! What are you doing here?! Get out!"

It was too late. Baron’s men spotted her immediately. One raised his weapon toward Aris, but Baron barked out an order: "Shoot the woman! Make Aris watch her suffer!"

BANG!

A gunshot shattered the warehouse air. Aris moved with terrifying speed. He sprinted, lunging toward Bella just as a second bullet sped through the air.

Aris threw his arms around Bella, twisting their bodies so he would take the hit. But Bella, having anticipated his move, shoved him away with all her strength, throwing herself directly into the bullet's path.

GRAZE!

Bella shrieked in agony. The bullet tore through her left arm, leaving a deep, bloody gash that sent her staggering to the ground.

"Bella!" Aris roared.

The cold restraint he had carefully maintained for a year exploded into pure, unbridled fury. He no longer cared about strategy or patience. Snatching a pistol from his bodyguard’s holster with lightning speed, he shot out the overhead floodlights, plunging the entire warehouse into pitch-black darkness.

In the dark, Aris became an absolute predator. Moving like a shadow, he neutralized his opponents one by one with lethal precision. The sickening sound of snapping bones and agonizing groans echoed through the hollow space.

In under two minutes, Baron and his men were broken on the floor. Aris sprinted back to Bella, who lay clutching her bleeding arm.

"Bella! Look at me!" Aris pressed his silk handkerchief tightly against her wound. "Why did you do that?! Why were you so foolish?!"

Bella looked up at Aris with a pale, bloodless face, yet a faint smile touched her lips. "Because... I read your journal," she whispered, her breathing growing shallow. "I know... how much you suffered for a whole year because of me. I couldn't let you get hurt again."

Aris felt his entire world come to a standstill. Hearing that confession amidst the lingering haze of gunpowder tore through his heart, making him realize the catastrophic error he had made by pushing her away.

"Andi! Get the car over here right now!" Aris screamed into his earpiece comms.

He scooped Bella up into his arms, carrying her toward his arriving vehicle. Inside the speeding car as they raced toward the hospital, Aris kept his eyes locked on Bella, whose eyelids were fluttering shut from exhaustion and severe pain.

"Don't sleep, Bella. Please," Aris whispered, his voice cracking with a terrifying fear he had never felt before—the fear of losing the person he loved most.

"Aris," Bella murmured softly right before slipping out of consciousness. "Don't... don't ever hide your love behind revenge again. It's... exhausting."

Aris squeezed her hand tightly, pressing a tender kiss to her knuckles. "I promise. I will put an end to all of this. No matter the cost, I will protect you."

Behind the dark tint of the windows, Aris stared out at the passing streetlights with eyes ablaze. His enemies had laid a hand on his most precious treasure. And for the first time, the Business Emperor was no longer operating as a ruthless tycoon, but as a man prepared to burn the world to ashes for the safety of the woman he loved.