Three days after trashing the Everline folder, Liam felt lighter—and hungrier.
He hadn't signed a deal, but he had something better: freedom and a team that actually believed in him.
The studio buzzed with purpose. Ace was on the phone with a mysterious audio engineer named "Flux." Nova was editing a trailer for their upcoming drop. Dex had somehow secured a rooftop venue—"low key but cinematic," he promised.
And Liam? He was writing like a man possessed.
Every line was personal. Every bar had teeth. He didn't have a label's money, but he had truth—and that was dangerous.
By Friday night, they had enough.
Three raw tracks. One visual teaser. A marketing plan made from duct tape, memes, and desperation.
They launched the first track, "Chainless."No fancy press release. No radio debut. Just a midnight drop on social media, a link on streaming platforms, and one sentence:
"Built in silence. Dropping loud." – @LiamCarterOfficial
The Internet Woke Up.
Within hours, the song started catching fire.
It wasn't perfect. But it was real.
Lyrics about selling your voice for a seat at the table.Bars about fame being a leash in gold.A hook that stuck in your ribs:
"I made peace with no deal / 'Cause my voice ain't for stealin' / I'm the king of no crown / But I run my own kingdom."
Nova edited a BTS clip showing Liam pacing, rapping into a dusty mic, Dex asleep in a beanbag behind him, studio lights flickering. The authenticity struck a nerve.
By noon the next day, "Chainless" was #27 on viral charts.
Messages flooded in.
"Finally, someone saying what we're all thinking.""Did this man just diss the whole industry while still spitting fire?""No cosign. No clout. Just skill. Respect."
Even Everline posted something cryptic:
"Interesting drop. We'll be watching. 👀"
But It Wasn't Just Fans Watching.
At 2:16 PM, Ace received a message.
UNKNOWN NUMBER
"Tell Carter he's making noise. But noise without structure breaks speakers.""Let's talk. Before he burns too hot, too fast." – K. Vale"
Ace read it twice.Rhea's older brother. A big mover in the shadows.
He deleted the message.
For now, Liam didn't need whispers in the dark.He needed to keep building—in daylight, where the world could watch him rise.
The End of Chapter 14