"Come to dinner tonight as planned. I'll be there. We'll corner Daniel together, make him reveal his source, and expose Richard Sterling's manipulation before this goes any further.""And in exchange?""In exchange, I stop trying to break up your marriage." Catherine's voice softened, becoming almost human. "I'm a terrible mother, Marcus. I've made mistakes with both my children. But I won't let Richard Sterling destroy my son to get revenge on you."Marcus looked at Emma, seeing his own skepticism reflected in her eyes."How do I know this isn't another trap?""You don't. But ask yourself this: would I really sacrifice Daniel's reputation and my family's standing just to hurt you? I may hate that Emma married an ex-convict, but I love my children. And right now, Daniel is walking into a disaster that will ruin him."The line went dead before Marcus could respond."She's lying," Emma said immediately. "This is exactly the kind of manipulation she's been doing my whole life.""Maybe. O

"They were just old acquaintances from prison. I didn't tell you because I knew you'd worry—""Or because you knew it would prove you're still connected to criminal elements," Richard finished. "Either way, combined with Daniel's testimony about the financial documents, this video creates a very convincing narrative. Marcus Chen: the ex-convict who never really reformed."Catherine sat back down heavily. "This is insane. All of this over a woman who chose someone else?""This is about respect!" Richard's mask finally slipped completely. "I'm Richard Sterling! My family built half of Manhattan! I don't lose to ex-convicts who serve soup for a living!""You already lost," Marcus said quietly. "Three years ago, when Emma chose me. Everything since then has just been you refusing to accept it.""I haven't lost anything!" Richard's voice rose to a shout. "Tomorrow morning, this video goes to every news outlet in New York. Daniel's testimony—forged documents or not—will support it. And Emma

"That's not Marcus's fault," Elena said."Isn't it?" Derek whirled on her. "He gets a billion-dollar inheritance, and I get arthritis and back pain at thirty-five. Where's the fairness in that?""Life isn't fair—""Don't!" Derek's voice cracked. "Don't you dare tell me life isn't fair. I know life isn't fair. I've lived it every goddamn day since I was six years old and my mom decided drugs were more important than her kid."The room fell silent. Marcus saw the broken child beneath Derek's bravado, the angry teenager who'd protected others because no one had ever protected him."I'll make you a deal," Marcus said finally. "I'll create a position for you. Special Projects Coordinator. Fifty thousand a year to start—""Fifty thousand? Are you kidding me? I make more than that in construction!""Plus benefits, plus a company car, plus annual performance bonuses that could double your salary." Marcus leaned forward. "But Derek, you have to actually work. You have to learn the business, p

"You want to talk about trauma?" Marcus said, his voice cutting through the room like a blade. "Fine. Let's talk about it."He grabbed one of Victor's photos—the one of him at twelve—and held it up. "This was taken three days after I watched my foster father break two of my ribs for dropping a plate. Want to know what I learned that day?"The room went silent."I learned that pain doesn't define you. How you respond to pain does." Marcus picked up another photo. "This one is from foster home number three. Two black eyes because I stood between Derek Chen and a kid half his size who was getting bullied. Want to know what I learned there?"Victor's smile had frozen."I learned that protecting people matters more than protecting yourself." Marcus grabbed the final photo—himself at eighteen, gaunt and exhausted. "And this one? This was the day I aged out of the system with nothing. No family, no money, no future. Want to know what I learned?"He threw all three photos back on the table."

"Your wife is pregnant."The doctor's words hit Marcus harder than Victor's bullet had. He stared at Dr. Shah across the hospital bed where Emma sat pale and trembling, her hand pressed to her stomach."That's impossible," Emma whispered. "We've been careful. I'm on birth control—""Birth control fails sometimes." Dr. Shah consulted her chart. "Based on hormone levels, I'd estimate you're about six weeks along. The stress and adrenaline from today's incident caused some spotting, which is why we ran the tests."Marcus felt his System flooding him with conflicting data—protective instincts warring with fear. A child. His child. Growing inside Emma while someone anonymous threatened to destroy them both."Is the baby okay?" he managed."Perfectly healthy. But Mrs. Chen needs rest, minimal stress, and—" Dr. Shah looked pointedly at Marcus's bandaged shoulder, "—no more gunfights in boardrooms."After the doctor left, silence filled the room like concrete. Emma stared at her hands. Marc