"Or what? You'll shoot me? You couldn't even hold a company together, and now you think you can pull a trigger?" Michael's voice turned mocking. "Look at yourself. You're pathetic. A shadow of what you pretend to be."Isaac's face went crimson with rage and humiliation. "I won't go back to prison. I won't!""Then what's your plan? Shoot me and get killed by my men? Run and spend the rest of your life looking over your shoulder?" Michael shook his head. "You've already lost, Isaac. The only question is how this ends."Isaac's eyes darted around the room, desperate. Then his mouth curved into a manic smile. "You think you've won? You think this is over?"He reached into his jacket with his free hand, pulling out a device. A dead man's switch, thumb pressed on the trigger."The entire warehouse is wired with C-4," Isaac said, his voice eerily calm now. "Enough to bring the whole building down. The moment I release this switch, we all die."Michael's team tensed, weapons trained but usele

Three months of peace felt like a lifetime after the chaos that had preceded it.Michael woke to Sarah's gentle breathing beside him, her hand resting on the small but growing bump of her belly. He placed his hand over hers, feeling the warmth, the promise of life growing inside her.No emergencies. No kidnappings. No psychotic cousins trying to destroy everything.Just this."You're staring," Sarah murmured, eyes still closed. "It's creepy.""I'm appreciating." Michael kissed her shoulder. "There's a difference.""Appreciate quieter. The baby needs sleep.""The baby is the size of a lemon. I don't think—"Sarah's elbow found his ribs gently. "The baby's mother needs sleep."Michael laughed and settled back, content.His phone buzzed. He ignored it. Work could wait. Everything could wait.Later that week, B1 stopped by with groceries and unsolicited advice."You're overthinking the nursery," he said, examining Michael's color swatches. "Babies don't care if the walls are seafoam or aq

Two months of peace felt like a lifetime.Chen slept in his crib—healthy, growing, perfectly normal despite his premature arrival. The NICU monitors were gone, replaced by soft nightlights and the gentle sounds of a baby breathing.Michael stood at the nursery window, watching his son sleep, still unable to believe this was his life now. No threats. No enemies. No wars to fight.Just this quiet moment of fatherhood."You're doing it again," Sarah said softly from behind him. "The creepy watching thing.""Can't help it." Michael turned, pulling her close. "I keep expecting something to go wrong.""Nothing's going to go wrong." Sarah kissed his cheek. "Derek's in prison. Isaac's locked up for life. Vincent's gone. The company's thriving. We're safe, Michael. Finally."She was right. Every enemy had been neutralized. Thompson Industries' stock was at an all-time high. The partnership with Marcus Wei was yielding impressive returns. His board was stable and loyal.For the first time in hi

Michael chose his office for the meeting deliberately. His territory. His power. If Richard Thompson wanted to meet his son, it would be on Michael's terms.The man who entered looked like a glimpse into Michael's future—same sharp features, same commanding presence, but weathered by seven decades of life. Silver hair where Michael's was dark. Lines around the eyes that spoke of years of burden.Richard stopped in the doorway, and for a moment, he simply stared."You look like your mother," he said quietly."Sit down." Michael's voice was cold, professional. He gestured to the chair across from his desk, maintaining the power dynamic.Richard sat, his movements careful, dignified despite the clear emotion in his eyes. "Thank you for seeing me. I wasn't sure you would.""I almost didn't." Michael leaned back. "But my wife convinced me I'd regret it if I didn't hear you out. So talk. Explain why you abandoned your children."Richard flinched at the word but didn't argue. "Thirty years a

Carmen arrived exactly on time for her weekly visit with Chen, the fourth one since Sarah had cautiously agreed to let her back into their lives. She held a simple gift bag—nothing extravagant like before, just a thoughtful children's book."How's my beautiful grandson?" Carmen asked softly, her demeanor completely transformed from the imperious woman who'd once slapped her daughter."He's napping," Sarah said, still guarded but less hostile than previous visits. "Should be up in about twenty minutes.""I can wait." Carmen set down her purse, not assuming she could make herself at home but waiting for permission.Sarah gestured to the couch. "Coffee?""Please. Black, no sugar."As Sarah prepared the coffee, Michael emerged from his study. Carmen stood immediately, her posture deferential in a way that would have shocked the woman from six months ago."Michael. I didn't know you'd be home.""My schedule cleared up." He accepted the coffee Sarah handed him. "How's therapy going?""Good.