CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY SIX – FAMILY BETRAYAL

As he drove through the dark and empty streets of the city, Julian couldn't shake the feeling of paranoia that had settled over him like a cloak. Every shadow seemed to hide a threat, every sound seemed to herald an attack. And with each passing moment, he could feel himself slipping further and further into a world of isolation and mistrust. He thought of Charlotte, of the love and the strength that she had given him throughout their years together. He knew that she was the one person he could trust, the one person who would stand by his side no matter what challenges they faced. But even as he clung to the thought of her like a lifeline, Julian couldn't shake the feeling of doubt that had crept into his mind. What if the von Beckers had gotten to her too? What if she had been turned against him, had become just another pawn in their twisted game? The thought was too terrible to contemplate, too painful to bear. And so Julian pushed it aside, his mind focusing on the task at hand.