Daniel stood frozen, his phone still pressed against his ear even though the call had ended. His father's words echoed in his mind like a death sentence, but his brain refused to process them properly."What... what's going on?" he muttered, looking around as if expecting someone to tell him this was all a joke.His phone rang again. Samuel Watson's name flashed on the screen."Father—" Daniel started."Get home. Now." Samuel's voice was ice-cold. "The Coleman family is attacking our business from every angle. They're claiming you disrespected their heir.""Their heir?" Daniel's eyes widened. "But that's impossible! I only threatened some nobody at a gas station!""That 'nobody' is apparently someone very important to the Colemans," Samuel snapped. "Our stock price is already dropping. Partners are pulling out of deals. I have board members calling me demanding explanations!"Daniel's gaze snapped to Sarah, who stood calmly beside Pervis. "The Colemans? But their heir is supposed to b

The hospital's ICU was quieter now, the usual beeping of monitors providing a steady rhythm that Pervis had come to find oddly comforting.He pushed open the door to room 412 and found his grandmother sitting up in bed, her eyes bright and alert for the first time in weeks."Pervis!" she exclaimed, her voice weak but filled with warmth. "Come here, let me look at you."He moved to her bedside, taking her frail hand in his. "Grandmother, you're awake. How are you feeling?""Like I've been asleep for a year," she replied with a soft laugh. "The doctors tell me you arranged everything—Dr. Martinez, this private room, all of it.""You deserve the best care," Pervis said simply.They talked for over an hour, Pervis filling her in on everything that had happened since she'd been unconscious. He told her about discovering his connection to the Coleman family, about Aria and his two other sisters, about his new position at Whitewater Corporation."Three sisters?" his grandmother repeated, her

"Face it," Marcus continued relentlessly. "You've always been useless. Grandfather just couldn't see it because he was blinded by whatever imagined debt he owed to your branch. But now? Now even he can't ignore reality."Marcus crouched down, bringing himself to eye level with Daniel. "The family is on the verge of collapse. And you know what that means? It means Grandfather will have to choose a new heir. Someone competent. Someone who can fix the mess you've made.""You," Daniel said flatly, understanding finally dawning."Me," Marcus confirmed with a satisfied smile. "This disaster is terrible for the family, but personally? I couldn't be happier. You've finally proven what I've been saying all along—that your appointment was a mistake, that the second branch should lead this family.""You're using the family's crisis for your own ambition," Daniel said, disgust evident in his voice."I'm seizing an opportunity," Marcus corrected. "Unlike you, I know how to turn situations to my ad

Daniel searched his memory. There had been that man who wouldn't leave when ordered. The one who had interrupted his service. But he'd been driving a BMW, wearing ordinary clothes. Nobody important."There was no one," Daniel insisted. "Just regular people. Nobody who could—"Samuel's hand shot out and smacked Daniel's head, not as hard as the earlier slap but with enough force to make his point."Don't lie to me!" Samuel snarled. "Someone at that gas station was important enough to destroy us! Now who was it?""I don't know!" Daniel protested. "There was just—"He stopped suddenly, remembering. The man. The one who had pushed him. The one Sarah Chen had shown up to protect."There was someone," Daniel admitted slowly. "But he couldn't possibly—""Who?" Samuel demanded."His name was Pervis Tyler," Daniel said reluctantly. "But he's nobody! Some guy driving a cheap BMW, wearing off-the-rack clothes. He looked like he didn't have two dollars to his name!"Samuel stared at his son with

Linda stood frozen in the hallway, her face pale as she watched Alicia's retreating figure.She wanted to say something, anything to defend herself, but the words caught in her throat.Her mind raced, trying to come up with an excuse, but nothing seemed convincing enough."I... I didn't mean..." Linda stammered, but Alicia had already turned the corner without looking back.Linda's hands trembled slightly as she clenched them into fists.She turned around, hoping to at least explain herself to Pervis, maybe salvage something from this disaster.But when she looked back, the spot where he had been standing was empty.He had left without a sound, without giving her a chance to spin her story."Damn it," Linda muttered under her breath, her nails digging into her palms.She glanced around the empty hallway, feeling exposed and foolish.How much had Alicia heard? Had Pervis recorded their conversation?She gritted her teeth, anger replacing her earlier panic.This was all Alicia's fault.