Garcia cleared his throat nervously. "Sir, should I—""Get out." Lorenzo's voice was flat, emotionless—which somehow made it more terrifying than shouting."Sir—""Get. Out." Lorenzo repeated, still not looking at him. "Now."Garcia didn't need to be told a third time. He grabbed his tablet and practically fled the office.Alone now, Lorenzo's composure finally shattered. He grabbed the chair Jerry had been gripping earlier and hurled it across the room with explosive force. It crashed against the wall, one leg snapping off completely."Incompetent," Lorenzo hissed to himself, his father's words echoing in his mind. "He called me incompetent."His resentment toward Caden Pierce, already intense, now burned with white-hot fury. This wasn't just about the operation anymore. This wasn't about Vincent Accardi's obsession with Vivian Montgomery.This was personal.Caden Pierce had humiliated him. Had exposed his weaknesses. Had given his father ammunition to question his leadership."I'll

"Even if it means revealing who you really are?""If necessary." Caden's voice was firm. "But Vivian, there are things about my past, about who I am, that are complicated. Dangerous. The less you know right now, the safer you actually are.""That's not fair—""Life isn't fair." Caden cut her off, but his tone was gentle. "You want honesty? Here's honesty: yes, I have secrets. Yes, my background isn't what it appears to be. And yes, there are people who would kill to know what you're asking me right now."Vivian's breath caught slightly."But I also meant every word when I said I'd protect you," Caden continued. "Whatever game we're caught up in, whatever enemies are circling, I won't let them hurt you or your family. That's not a lie. That's not manipulation. That's the truth."She studied his face, searching for deception and finding none. "Why should I believe you?""Because if I wanted to harm you, I've had dozens of opportunities already," Caden said bluntly. "Because I risked exp

Montgomery Estate, 7:15 AMThe morning sun cast long shadows across the marble floors of the Montgomery mansion as Richard descended the grand staircase, looking exhausted and disheveled. He'd barely slept, his mind replaying the events at the warehouse over and over.The image of Caden taking down those armed criminals with brutal efficiency refused to leave his mind. The son-in-law he'd dismissed as useless and worthless had moved like a trained killer, demonstrating skills that suggested years of advanced military training.Richard had spent the entire night wrestling with this realization, pride and fear battling for dominance in his mind.As he reached the bottom of the stairs, he spotted Caden standing in the foyer, looking completely composed despite the late night. The younger man was dressed casually in dark jeans and a fitted black t-shirt, checking something on his phone.They saw each other at the same moment.Both men froze, the air between them suddenly heavy with unspok

"Caden saved you!" Vivian's voice rose, her usual cold control slipping entirely. "He saved you and Mother from those kidnappers last night! You were tied up, about to be killed, and he risked his life to rescue you! And this is how you repay him? With accusations and threats?""We didn't ask to be saved!" Patricia snapped, her face flushing with anger. "We didn't ask for any of this! If he hadn't married into this family in the first place, none of this would have happened!""You're impossible!" Vivian shouted, genuinely furious now. "Both of you! You were literally crying and begging for help last night, and now you're acting like Caden is the villain? Have you lost your minds?""Don't you dare speak to your mother that way!" Patricia's voice trembled with rage. "I raised you better than to show such disrespect!""Respect?" Vivian's laugh was cold and humorless. "You want to talk about respect? What about respecting the man who saved your life? What about showing even a shred of gra

Patricia's face flushed crimson with rage. "This is absolutely ridiculous! You're giving this stranger complete authority over our family affairs? Have you all lost your minds?""I agree!" Helen's voice was shrill with indignation. "My son is dying, and we're supposed to just trust this—this nobody to handle everything? What if he makes things worse?""Worse?" The patriarch's voice was sharp. "How exactly could the situation get worse, Helen? Your son is already poisoned. Our family has already been attacked. What more damage do you think could possibly be done?""That's not the point!" Patricia stepped forward, her hands clenched into fists. "The point is we don't know who this man really is! We don't know his background, his connections, his real motives for marrying into our family!""And yet he's done more to protect us in one night than the rest of you have done in months," the patriarch shot back coldly.Before Patricia could respond, the matriarch raised her hand, commanding si