Rebecca turned to a specific page. "Letters. Internal memos. Communication records between Marcus and Richard Morrison dated from the period before Sarah left the family." She looked at Vincent directly. "Vincent, Marcus was in contact with the Morrison family during that period. He was exchanging information about Sarah's movements, her personal decisions, her disagreements with you. And he was doing it without your knowledge."Vincent stared at her."That's not possible." His voice was barely above a whisper. "Marcus didn't even know the Morrison family at that time. He told me he had no connection to—""He lied." Rebecca's voice was gentle but it didn't bend. "The records show at least fourteen separate exchanges between Marcus and Richard Morrison over a nine-month period. The content suggests that Marcus was providing Richard with information about Sarah's emotional state, her frustrations with the family, and her vulnerability."Vincent's hands had stopped being flat on the desk

"The correspondence records." Vincent stood slowly from his chair. "Fourteen exchanges with Richard Morrison. Nine months of feeding him information about my daughter. Her movements. Her frustrations. Her weaknesses." His hands pressed flat against the desk. "You gave that man a map to my child and he used it to take her away from me."Marcus's face had lost its color. "That is not what happened. Richard Morrison approached me and I was trying to manage the situation quietly without—""Without telling me." Vincent came around the desk. "Without informing me that someone was circling my daughter. Without giving me the chance to protect her." He stopped three feet from Marcus. "You managed it. The way you manage everything. Quietly. Carefully. Making sure the only person who benefited from the silence was you."Marcus's breathing had changed. The rise and fall of his chest was faster now, visible beneath his jacket in a way it hadn't been two minutes ago."You're making this into someth

The Morrison Holdings boardroom had become a war zone without weapons.Richard Morrison sat at the head of the table with his tie loosened and his face carrying the particular exhaustion of a man watching something he built begin to rot from the inside. Celeste stood near the window with her arms crossed. Derek was pacing."Three investors pulled out this morning." Richard's voice was flat. "Three. In one morning. Do either of you want to explain to me how we went from the most respected firm in this city to a name people are running from?"Derek stopped pacing. "Don't look at me. I've been handling the external relationships exactly the way you told me to.""Handling them?" Richard slammed his palm on the table. "You attacked Ethan publicly at every opportunity. You turned business events into personal circuses. And now every investor who watched you behave like a rabid dog at the Canton showcase is pulling their money because they think this family is unstable.""I was trying to pro

Ethan looked at the name engraved on the stone. His expression was controlled but there was a weight behind his eyes that had nothing to do with business or power or the empire waiting for him outside these gates.He said nothing.Some things didn't need words.The formal transfer happened the following Monday.Vincent signed the documents in his private study. Rebecca witnessed. James stood outside the door."It's yours now," Vincent said, setting the pen down. "All of it."Ethan looked at the papers. Then at his grandfather."I'll take care of it."Vincent nodded slowly. "I know you will. Your mother would have known it too."Six months later, the Kidman empire had changed.Three internal divisions had been restructured. Two underperforming accounts had been replaced with partnerships that generated twice the previous return. The executive team had been rebuilt with people chosen for competence rather than loyalty to old structures.Rebecca watched it happen from her position one fl