Tracy had never seen this version of Adam.The man who once obeyed her every word, who cowered before her anger, who apologized for existing—that man was gone. In his place stood someone else entirely. Someone who looked at her with contempt so pure it burned.Her face cycled through colors—pale, red, pale again. Her mouth opened, but no words emerged. For the first time in her life, Tracy Black was speechless.Jaxson saw his daughter's humiliation and erupted."You ungrateful bastard!" He shoved past John, his face purple with rage. "You couldn't earn enough to give my daughter the life she wanted! Couldn't give her children! And now you dare humiliate her? After everything she sacrificed for you?"His hand drew back, aimed at Adam's cheek.At the same moment, Zara lunged forward, her manicured nails extended like claws, her face twisted with fury.Adam's head turned sharply. His gaze caught them both, razor-sharp.Jaxson's hand descended.Adam raised his arm smoothly, catching Jax

At that moment, the heavy thud of boots echoed through the garage.A team of security guards from Crystal Hotel rounded the corner—all retired soldiers by the look of them, strong and imposing. Each carried a baton at their side, their expressions professionally blank as they surveyed the scene.The head of security, a broad-shouldered man with a military haircut, approached quickly. His eyes swept over the Black family sprawled on the ground, then landed on Tracy. Recognition flickered."Miss Black?" He bowed his head respectfully. "What's happened here? Are you alright?"Tracy visited Crystal Hotel frequently with Luca. The guards knew her well, knew she was connected to the eldest son of the Max family and was not someone they wanted to offend.Seeing reinforcements arrive, the Black family's arrogance surged back.Tracy's eyes blazed with vindictive fire. She pointed at Adam, her voice rising to a dramatic pitch."This man attacked us! Assaulted my parents, my brother! Look at th

The guards immediately straightened, their batons dropping to their sides.Tracy's eyes lit up with vindication. Finally—someone with real authority. Someone who would put Adam back in his place."Magnus!" She stepped forward, her voice dripping with entitled confidence. "Thank God you're here. This man attacked us, assaulted my parents, and my brother. Look at their faces! I want him arrested. I want him banned from this hotel. Luca will hear about this, and he'll—"Magnus didn't glance at her. He didn't acknowledge a single word she said.Instead, he walked straight past her outstretched hand, and stopped directly in front of Adam.Then, in full view of the guards, the Black family, and everyone watching, Magnus Chen—general manager of Crystal Hotel, bowed deeply from the waist."Mr. Cole." His voice trembled with genuine remorse. "Please accept my most profound apologies."Magnus continued, his voice rising as he addressed his subordinates. "You fools! All of you! This man is a d

Tracy stared at Adam's retreating back, her chest heaving with a mixture of resentment and contempt. Her eyes followed him until he disappeared through the hotel's revolving doors.After all these years, she thought, I know him better than anyone. He's nothing, a lowly commoner with no background, no connections, no power. There's no way he could ever compete with the Max family.Her lips pressed into a thin line. We'll see about that.The crowd dispersed. Soon only the Black family remained, standing amid the wreckage of their dreams like survivors of a shipwreck.Jaxson's face was pale as death, his earlier bluster completely drained. He leaned against a concrete pillar for support, his swollen mouth working silently."When... when did Adam get involved with big shots like that?" he finally managed, his voice cracking. Zara shook her head, still struggling to process what she'd witnessed. Her hand pressed against her bruised cheek as though checking it was real, that all of this w

In fact, this was exactly what Adam had planned.Early that morning, Adam had communicated with the Alessandro family. A simple request, quickly granted. Kai Shadow would temporarily take charge of all matters concerning Treasure Hospital, an interim director with full authority, reporting directly to the new owners.The bait was set. The trap laid.Adam nodded lightly, his expression calm but his eyes gleaming with cold satisfaction. "Then let's use this chance to take back everything the Black family stole from me. Every dollar. Every cent. With interest."Kai leaned back, crossing his arms. "And Luca? What's the play there?"Adam's face hardened. His voice dropped to something barely above a whisper, soft, terrible, absolute."Luca is finished. When Tracy and Luca stood in front of me and forced that poison down my throat, when they laughed about it afterward, when they spent my money and planned my death, that was the moment I decided. I will never forgive those two. Not now.