Flames of Ambition

42: Modern Era

Chapter 42: Modern Era

Somewhere in the modern era—specifically on Fifth Avenue, the most prosperous street in the entire United States—a blonde woman with striking green eyes stepped inside a luxurious restaurant. It was none other than ZUGC's flagship establishment.

Even after so many years, no one truly knew the history of the place. No one knew the real owner.

They only knew that whoever it was must be one of the wealthiest individuals on Earth.

The woman, dressed provocatively in heavy makeup and excessive jewelry, walked arrogantly toward one of the private rooms. She wore a fur coat that draped loosely over her shoulders, revealing her cleavage, paired with a skin-tight dress that left little to the imagination. Her high ponytail swayed with each confident step, the curled tips of her hair bouncing rhythmically with her movements.

Inside the restaurant, wealth was casually flaunted. Even a glass of iced water could cost a thousand dollars—not because of its ingredients, but because of the power, secrecy, and status associated with the establishment. The crew always insisted it was just water—yet it had a rejuvenating effect, a minty sweetness that couldn't be found anywhere else.

Couples dreamed of eating here, but few could afford even the cheapest item on the menu.

No matter how thoroughly people tried to investigate the restaurant—or the conglomerate behind it—no one had ever uncovered the truth. Even under extreme coercion or torture, the staff never revealed a thing. It was as if their very lives would be forfeit if they broke their silence.

The woman entered the private room, where a man in a sleek dark tuxedo lounged lazily on a plush sofa. He held a crystal wine glass in one hand and a cigarette in the other.

"You're late," he said in a gravelly voice.

“There was a traffic jam nearby. Looks like your plan really worked,” the woman replied, sauntering over and curling herself against him. She played with his tie, her voice sultry, her movements seductive.

“Dark Blood is dead now. I assume Jason’s gone too,” the man sneered. “That fool never realized he was being used. It’s pathetic, really—Dark Blood loved him, and he never even knew. Happy anniversary to those idiots.”

His maniacal laugh echoed in the room, but the woman silenced it by kissing him. Her hand slid lower, to the part of him she knew he wanted her to touch.

"Why don’t we celebrate her death?" she whispered. "That slut really was a fool. I can't believe you fooled her for so long. She trusted you… almost as much as she trusted that pathetic boyfriend of hers. But now? The entire mafia organization is yours. And her wealth—"

She grinned—"That’s all mine."

The man smirked, yanked her toward him, and crushed his mouth to hers in a violent kiss. He tore her dress off without a care, exposing her bare skin, and shoved himself into her without hesitation.

He thrust into her roughly, not sparing a thought for her comfort. It didn’t matter to him. She offered herself freely—why should he resist?

To him, women were nothing but toys—used to pass time, to satisfy urges, to clean up his messes when he was finished.

Even when she whimpered in discomfort, when her body bled from the violence of his assault, he didn’t stop. He didn’t care.

He was too close to release. Sweat dripped from his forehead, but he didn’t bother to remove his clothes. He simply used her, as if she were a disposable object.

When he was done, he grabbed her hair, forcing her to her knees. Without a moment of rest, he shoved himself into her mouth and rammed into her throat with no regard for her breathing.

The woman gagged, tears forming in the corners of her heavily made-up eyes.

This woman—Zionna Ursula Giovanni—was none other than Zexel’s stepsister.

She had betrayed her own sister—not for power, not even for wealth—but simply because she was bored. She didn’t know why she hated Zexel. There was no specific reason. She just hated her.

She was a broken, psychotic woman, born with a sickness of the mind. If she didn’t like someone, she destroyed them. That was all there was to it.

Zionna didn’t care about love or loyalty. She simply wanted to own what wasn’t hers, to crush what others cherished.

---

Meanwhile, somewhere else in the United States, in a quiet, isolated location, two individuals stared silently at a lifeless woman lying in a dark room.

The woman was none other than Zexel—the person who had once saved them from the abyss of their lives.

They had been nothing before. No purpose. No hope. And then she gave them both.

In their entire lives, only Zexel had treated them like they mattered. She gave them shelter. She gave them names. She gave them power.

And now… she was dead.

But not forgotten.

The two of them had retrieved every secret asset Zexel had hidden under other names—properties, stocks, accounts. These made up three-fourths of her total wealth. The remaining one-fourth had been left under her legal name—linked to her criminal empire, her operations, and her dark dealings.

She had been smart.

She had separated her fortune for protection. One identity could be destroyed—but the rest would remain untouched.

The two survivors now looked at each other. Silent. Grieving.

But also… determined.

They had made a decision. One they would never regret.

They would bring Zexel’s soul back—from another time, another world, another life.

It was the only way they could ever repay her.

They wanted her to find happiness, to live again—not in blood and betrayal, but in warmth and peace.

They would wait.

No matter how long it took… they would wait for her return.

And when she came back?

They would be her loyal shadows, her soldiers, her family—once more.

--*--

Uhm hello voilet! I guess it was my second authors note? Right? I'm not actually a fan of authors note but it was important. This chapter contains the scene after Zexel died not after two years which already been the gap of their time. The ZUGC in Modern era just appeared and altered the peoples mind after Zexel's dead since Zexel change a lot of things in the ancient era. Her host supposedly died but she change her own fate so a lot of things was altered the moment Zexel reach the ancient era.

Ybrehl

Ps. Thank you for reading my stories, for voting and for those who take effort for making comments. Although it takes me a lot of pressure since at-least 100 people who's waiting for an update, it give me motivation and inspiration to continue writing this story.

Pps. This book has two parts, we already done the half of first part you'll know by reading it when the transition of first part to second happen. Thanks a lot.