Natalia chuckled bitterly, the sound hollow. She gave a slow, sarcastic clap, her expression cutting. “Yeah, yeah. It’s always about what you can get from people. Always by using me.”Thelma’s eyes widened in sudden outrage. “No, you—”“Enough.” Natalia’s tone dropped, sharp and steady like glass under pressure. “You always go to extreme lengths to use me to get what you want.” Her eyes burned, but her voice stayed calm. “The last time, you did a terrible thing to Taylor just because of greed and selfishness. Nothing good can come out of you.”Her words hit like cold water.Thelma froze, her mouth parting, eyes searching Natalia’s face as though hoping she’d take the words back.But Natalia didn’t.Instead, she exhaled deeply, the kind of exhale that carried years of frustration and silent pain. Then, with the calmness of someone too tired to fight, she turned away. Her footsteps were soft but steady as she walked toward her room, her mother’s words echoing behind her like a wound she

“You’ve disappointed me, Gregg. You don't deserve to live anymore.”The words fell like a guillotine. Gregg’s face went white, the color drained from his cheeks so fast his lips trembled. For a beat, he simply stared at Ricci, a small, ragged sound catching in his throat. Then, as if the world had tilted, his knees folded and he crumpled to the marble floor, hands thrust forward in supplication.“Sinore Ricci—please—” Gregg’s voice wobbled, barely more than a whine. He crawled as though the ground itself offered mercy, palms scraping on the cold stone. “ I-I'm still of use to you. I can fix this. You’ve given me chances—just one more, please. I’ll make it right. I’ll get Dynasty Group for you. I swear—”Ricci moved with a slow, casual menace, as if the man on the floor were a nuisance rather than a person. In one fluid motion, he produced a pistol from beneath the desk, the metal glinting in the dim light. He cocked it. The click was a clean, bone-deep sound.“How long will I keep up