Chapter 1

Standing at an imposing height of 200 cm and weighing 110 kg, William Hillsdale presents a figure of physical strength and enigmatic charisma. His sculpted and muscular body is a testament to his rigorous exercise regimen. This daily two-hour routine is as much about physical conditioning as it is about mental preparation. During these sessions, William meditates, meticulously planning and contemplating his actions for the day ahead.

His physical appearance is striking – blonde hair and hazel eyes set in a face that could have been chiseled from marble. However, it’s not flawless; a slight scar mars his left cheekbone, a souvenir of a bar fight during college. This imperfection adds a touch of ruggedness to his otherwise pristine appearance.

Despite being in his mid-60s, a fact confirmed only by his birth certificate and perhaps inferred from his accumulated wealth and stature, William’s age is hard to pinpoint. He carries himself with the energy and vigor of a much younger man, yet a specific gravity in his demeanor speaks of experience and a life fully lived.

As a member of the financial elite, the top 1%, William’s net worth exceeds $1 billion. The source of his immense wealth is controversial; he has built his fortune by dealing arms and supplying various factions engaged in perpetual global conflicts. This line of work, while highly profitable, is not without its perils. It has made him a target for extortion and kidnapping attempts, dangers he navigates with the same strategic insight that has made him a successful businessman.

William’s personal life is as complex and layered as his business endeavors. He has been married four times, each of his wives choosing not to take his surname – a decision that offers them a semblance of protection but is not always foolproof. This choice indicates a keen awareness of the risks associated with being closely tied to a man of William’s stature and reputation.

In essence, William Hillsdale is a man of contradictions – a warrior in the boardroom and a strategist in the gym, a billionaire arms dealer with the physical prowess of a soldier, and a serial husband whose spouses remain guarded and partly in the shadows. His life is a tapestry of power, risk, and complexity, woven with threads of resilience, strategy, and an unyielding drive for success.

William Hillsdale’s first marriage, notably his longest, spanned nearly two decades. It was a period marked by personal and professional growth, set against a traditional, somewhat idealized, domestic life. His first wife, whose identity remains a point of discreet privacy in most narratives about William, was the epitome of a dedicated partner. She embraced the role of a stay-at-home mother, focusing on raising their three children and managing the household with a loving, attentive presence.

In her, William found not just a wife but a partner who understood the demands of his life. She embodied the essence of a supportive spouse, always ready to offer a comforting drink after a long day and ensure that the home was a sanctuary from the external pressures and complexities of his business dealings. Their relationship was marked by an enduring passion, a physical connection that remained intense and tireless throughout the years.

Tragically, this longstanding union was abruptly and heartbreakingly terminated by a sudden accident. While out on a seemingly routine shopping trip, she was struck by a reckless driver, a person careening erratically at dangerous speeds. The accident was both immediate and fatal, leaving no opportunity for goodbyes or last words. Her loss created a void in William’s life that went beyond the personal; it was the loss of a partner who had been a cornerstone in his world.

Financially, the period of their marriage coincided with a significant ascent in William’s career. When they first wed, his initial investment in his business was a modest $100,000. However, over the years, his wealth grew exponentially under the steady influence of his strategic mind and perhaps buoyed by the stability of his marital life. His company specialized in manufacturing weapon system accessories, ranging from custom-fit to off-the-shelf items. This growth from a small start-up to a business valued at over $200 million paralleled the evolution of his personal life from a young entrepreneur to a billionaire tycoon.

In these two decades, William Hillsdale’s life trajectory blended profound personal contentment and relentless professional ambition. His first wife’s role in this journey was integral, providing a foundation of stability and support that allowed him to navigate the tumultuous waters of the arms industry. Her untimely death marked not just the end of a marriage but also the close of a chapter in his life that was defined by a unique combination of personal warmth and aggressive business expansion.

William Hillsdale’s second marriage starkly contrasted with the warmth and stability of his first. This chapter was marked by conflict and unhappiness, primarily due to his second wife’s personality and interactions with his family. Described by many as a ‘real bitch,’ she quickly gained a notorious reputation as a harsh and unkind stepmother to the two children from his previous marriage who were still living at home. Her behavior towards them was far from nurturing or understanding, straining the family dynamics to a breaking point.

Her apparent materialistic attitude and seeming lack of genuine affection for William led to the belief that she was primarily interested in his wealth, a classic ‘gold digger.’ This realization, coupled with her mistreatment of his children, prompted William to initiate a divorce. Eager to sever ties, he offered her a substantial sum – $1 million – to leave without further ado.

However, the situation escalated when she contested the divorce settlement. In defiance, William chose not to vacate their shared home. The tension reached a dramatic climax when William physically removed her from the premises in a moment of vivid and aggressive assertion. He grabbed her by the hair, dragged her out of the house, and sternly warned her against returning, threatening to shoot her for trespassing if she did.

This incident sparked rumors and speculation about her subsequent fate, especially given her abrupt disappearance from public view and social circles. Whispers and conjectures circulated, with some wondering if William had indeed carried out his threat. However, no concrete evidence or further information about her whereabouts or well-being emerged, leaving the end of this tumultuous chapter of William’s life shrouded in mystery and dark speculation.

The second marriage, thus, stands in stark contrast to William’s first, highlighting a tumultuous and unhappy period in his life characterized by interpersonal strife, aggressive confrontations, and unresolved endings. This episode adds a layer of complexity to William’s already intricate personal narrative, suggesting a man capable of both deep affection and formidable, even intimidating, resolve in his personal relationships.

After his turbulent second marriage, William Hillsdale remained single for an extended period, focusing on his family and expanding his business empire. During this time, his children grew up and eventually left home to pursue their own paths in life. Concurrently, William’s professional success continued to soar; his net worth ballooned to an impressive $500 million, and he acquired two additional companies, diversifying and solidifying his business holdings.

During a business trip, amid this personal and professional growth period, William’s life took another turn. One late night, he found himself dining alone in a quaint café. The café was nearly empty, creating an intimate and serene atmosphere. The waitress serving him that night was notably friendly, sparking a connection beyond the usual customer-service interaction. As they chatted over milk and chocolate chip cookies – which William found particularly delicious – a rapport developed between them.

Over the next few days, this chance meeting evolved into something more significant. They began dating, quickly growing close as they discovered shared interests and mutual attraction. The relationship progressed rapidly, and William soon found himself contemplating marriage again.

However, given his past experiences and this being his third marriage, William decided against a lavish ceremony. He wanted no pomp or grandeur, starkly contrasting the expectations often associated with first marriages. Instead, they opted for a simple and private affair, getting married by a justice of the peace.

His new wife, embracing this new chapter in her life, quit her job and moved in with William, becoming his constant companion. Recognizing her keen intellect and adaptability, William introduced her to the intricacies of his business ventures. She was a quick and eager learner, rapidly acquiring knowledge and understanding of the industry.

This partnership marked a new phase in William’s life. His third wife was not just a life partner but also a business confidante with whom he could share his personal life and the complexities and challenges of his professional world. Her presence and involvement in his business affairs signified trust and partnership that perhaps William had not experienced in his previous marriages. It was a union that blended personal affection with professional collaboration, suggesting a more harmonious and balanced chapter in William Hillsdale’s eventful life.

The weekly ritual of Wednesday lunches for pastrami sandwiches became a cherished routine for William and his third wife, symbolizing a simple yet intimate escape from their otherwise hectic lives. This predictable pattern, however, inadvertently contributed to a tragic turn of events. On Wednesday, during one of William’s regular business trips, his wife was kidnapped – a calamity that struck before William had invested in the elite security team known as the Rangers, a decision he would later make as a direct result of this incident.

In his attempt to resolve the kidnapping, William took matters into his own hands. He paid the ransom demanded, hoping for a safe return of his wife. However, the outcome was heartbreakingly grim; his wife was returned to him dead. This devastating loss deeply affected William, leading him to take a drastic step. He hired the Rangers not only to track down his wife’s killers but also to exact a brutal form of justice – to terminate them and bring him their fingers as proof of their demise. This action underscores the depths of his grief and his capacity for ruthless retribution.

Sometime after this harrowing episode, William’s life took another turn at an international arms convention. Here, he encountered his future fourth wife, a salesperson representing one of his competitors. Impressed by her sales pitch and recognizing her talent, William offered her a position in his company with twice her current salary. They developed a personal relationship as she proved her worth and demonstrated her capabilities. Their courtship led to marriage, celebrated in a low-key yet fitting manner at the Little Chapel in Las Vegas.

This new chapter with his fourth wife seemed to bring a different equilibrium to William’s life. Not only did she match his professional insight, but she also paralleled his intense personal passions. They found in each other a partner who could keep pace with their respective desires and energies. Their life together was marked by a dynamic and seemingly insatiable lust, both chasing and finding fulfillment in each other within the sprawling confines of William’s estate.

William seems to have found a unique blend of professional respect, personal passion, and mutual understanding in this marriage. It’s a relationship that, at least from the outside, appears to be more evenly matched and mutually satisfying than his previous unions, suggesting a sense of balance and companionship that may have been lacking in his earlier marriages.

By this stage, William Hillsdale established his own private military force. He retained the services of the Rangers, an elite mercenary group, regularly, calling upon them at least once a year. This frequent use of their services ensured his investment in them was justified and beneficial. The Rangers, known for their strict operational guidelines and selective acceptance of assignments, perfectly fit William’s needs. He understood and respected their rules, carefully ensuring that the jobs he offered were within their ethical and professional boundaries. Typically, these missions involved the retrieval of stolen merchandise from his research labs, a testament to the high-stakes, secretive nature of his business endeavors.