Inside Jessica's chambers at the sprawling Zypher mansion, the air was heavy with silence, broken only by the faint hum of medical equipment. Mr. Zypher sat slumped in a wheelchair, his head was propped up by a supportive brace. His once-proud and commanding presence was now reduced to a frail, sulking figure. Bandages were wrapped around his temple, and a thin tube ran to an oxygen tank to help him breathe. The injuries Marvin Richmond had inflicted left him physically battered and emotionally crushed.Jessica stood by the large window, gazing out at the rain-soaked gardens. She didn’t dare meet her father’s eyes. Her hands trembled slightly as she fiddled with her phone, the weight of her father’s disappointment kept pressing on her like a stone.From the wheelchair, Mr. Zypher let out a hoarse groan, his voice was dripping with bitterness. "Eight hundred million dollars," he muttered, shaking his head weakly. "Eight hundred million dollars in cash! That’s what Marvin demands t

The storm outside raged as two house servants rushed into Jessica's room. His frail body sat slumped in a wheelchair, hooked up to machines, the steady beep of the heart monitor filled the room. His breathing was shallow, and his pale skin looked ghostly under the dim lights.“Jessica, what are you doing?” Mr. Zypher asked weakly, with a breaking voice. He watched his daughter as she leaned over him and began adjusting the oxygen tubes attached to his wheelchair so they could get him dressed. “Please, don’t do this. I can’t… I can’t take this.”“We have no choice, Dad,” Jessica replied firmly, though her hands were trembling. “Marvin’s not joking. If we don’t show up, he’ll take everything.”Two servants stepped forward, one checking the straps on the wheelchair and the other securing the portable oxygen tank. Mr. Zypher’s eyes filled with tears as Jessica bent over to place a blanket over his legs. “Please,” he whimpered, his voice cracking. “Take it easy. I’m not strong enough for

Marvin’s cold smile didn’t waver. He leaned back in his chair, his piercing gaze still fixed on the group in front of him. “No,” he said, his voice was sharp and final, “I am not kidding.”Mr. Zypher’s face contorted with anger. “Do you have any idea what we’ve been through,” he snapped, his weak voice trembled with emotion. “I almost died trying to beat the ridiculous time you gave us! My daughter, my entire entourage—everyone put themselves at risk just to get here. And now this?!”He coughed violently, his chest heaving as his frail body shook. Jessica’s eyes widened in alarm, and she immediately leaned forward, tapping her father’s back gently. “Dad, please,” she whispered, trying to calm him. “Take it easy.”Jessica then turned her desperate eyes to Marvin. “Marvin, please,” she began, with a pleading voice. “Be considerate. It was so hard to get here. The rain, the traffic, my father’s condition—we did everything we could to make it in time.”Marvin tilted his head slightly, h

Marvin’s smirk widened as he turned back to the Zyphers, delighting in their discomfort. “Oh yes, I was just leaving,” he said casually, lifting one of the duffel bags onto his shoulder as if it weighed nothing, however he held the second one down at his other arm.He paused, savoring the moment, then added, “Did you hear that? The Tarejos are here. And yes, I invited them to provide a suitable and comfortable escort for me. I’m not stupid enough to walk around with one-point-six billion dollars in cash without protection.”Jessica’s head jerked up at the mention of the Tarejos. Her heart skipped a beat.Marvin, noticing her reaction, continued with a sly smile. “However…” he said, his tone playful, “you could say hi to the Tarejos while they’re here. Have a quick chit-chat. Who knows, it might go a long way toward resolving your… issues.”The veins in Mr. Zypher’s neck bulged as his face turned red with fury. His oxygen mask trembled from his uneven breathing. Jessica could feel his

Jessica’s lips trembled as she stared at her father, with her heart sinking deeper into despair. “Wait, Dad, are you disowning me?” Her voice cracked, as the question barely escaped her throat.Mr. Zypher stayed silent for a few seconds, his expression was cold and unmoving. Then, with a finality that hit her like a thunderclap, he said, “Yes.”Jessica gasped, as the word echoed in her mind. Her knees buckled, and she collapsed onto the floor before him. Tears streamed down her face as she clasped her hands together, pleading, “Please, Father! Don’t do this. I’m begging you!”She leaned forward on her knees, and her voice choked with emotion. “I only ever tried my best. Every decision I made was for the good of our family and our franchise. I never wanted to harm us father!”Mr. Zypher’s face was hard, his eyes were like ice. He was unmoved by her desperation. “You have cost us a lot of damage, Jessica,” he said sternly. “I could let go of the fact that you were coerced into giving