Grace sighed, shaking her head at Pervis with a mixture of affection and exasperation. "You're too kind for your own good, you know that? These people would have destroyed you without a second thought if they'd had the power. But fine—since you want to spare them, I'll speak with Aria."She pulled out her phone, already scrolling through her contacts. "But don't say I didn't warn you when they prove themselves ungrateful.""Thank you, Ms. Coleman!" Samuel gasped from his kneeling position, his voice thick with emotion. "Thank you so much! The Watson family will never forget this mercy! We'll—"He stopped mid-sentence, his gaze finally focusing properly on Pervis for the first time. The young man who'd apparently decided his family's fate. Samuel's expression, which had been filled with desperate gratitude, slowly began to shift.His eyes traveled over Pervis's appearance—the cheap, off-the-rack business clothes, the unremarkable shoes, the plain watch. Then Samuel's gaze moved to Grac

Samuel's face went blank, his brain struggling to process what he'd just heard."The Coleman family," Grace continued relentlessly, "has a net worth exceeding two hundred billion dollars. We have controlling interests in seventeen major corporations across three continents. We have political connections that span from local city councils to federal governments. We have the power to make or break entire industries with a single decision."She took another step closer to Samuel, who was now swaying slightly on his feet."And Pervis—this 'nobody' you've been insulting for the last five minutes—will control all of it. He's not some random clerk I befriended. He's not a hanger-on or an irrelevant third party. He is the future head of the Coleman family."Samuel's face had gone from gray to green. His mouth opened and closed wordlessly, like a fish drowning in air."But wait," Grace continued, her voice dripping with mock concern, "there's more! See, Damien Black over there? The man you app

The restaurant remained frozen in shocked silence as Samuel Watson knelt on the marble floor, his expensive suit crumpled and dirty, his face a mask of absolute despair.He'd had his chance—his one opportunity to save his family—and he'd destroyed it with his own arrogance and stupidity."Please!" Samuel's voice cracked as he crawled forward on his hands and knees toward Pervis. "Mr. Tyler! I was wrong! I was so terribly wrong! I'm a fool—a blind, stupid fool! Please give me another chance!"His hands grasped at the hem of Pervis's pants, his dignity completely abandoned. "You were willing to show mercy before! You said the Watsons could be spared! Please, I'm begging you—remember that compassion! Don't let my stupidity destroy two thousand innocent people!"Pervis looked down at him with cold indifference. "You had your chance, Mr. Watson. Grace clearly identified me as her brother. She explicitly stated that my decision would determine your family's fate. And despite all that, you c

Pervis looked out the car window at the city lights passing by, considering Grace's question carefully. Did he like Alicia? The honest answer was complicated."I'm not sure," Pervis said finally, his voice quiet and thoughtful. "I enjoy her company. She's genuine, kind, and brave in ways most people aren't. But..."He trailed off, and Grace waited patiently for him to continue."After what happened with Anna," Pervis continued, "I'm not sure I'm ready to get involved with anyone. I don't even know if I can trust my own judgment anymore. I thought Anna and I had something real, and look how that turned out."He turned to face Grace. "Maybe it's just best not to get too involved right now. I need to focus on learning the business, on becoming someone worthy of the Coleman name. Romance can wait."Grace studied her brother's face in the dim light of the moving vehicle. She could see the pain there, the hesitation, the self-doubt that Anna's treatment had planted in him. It made her blood

Pervis's hand shot up with lightning speed, catching Anna's wrist mid-swing before her palm could connect with his face.His grip was firm but not painful, holding her arm suspended in the air between them.For a moment, they stood frozen like that—Anna's hand captured in mid-slap, her face contorted with rage and shock, while Pervis looked at her with cold, detached calm.Then Pervis pushed her hand away with enough force that Anna stumbled backward several steps, her expensive heels clicking frantically against the pavement as she struggled to maintain her balance.Her arms windmilled briefly before she managed to steady herself, her breath coming in short, surprised gasps.Anna lifted her head slowly, her eyes wide with something approaching horror as she stared at Pervis.Her mind couldn't reconcile what had just happened with her memories of the man she'd been married to.This wasn't the Pervis she knew. The Pervis she knew would have taken the slap without complaint.He would ha