Marcus shrugged dismissively, waving his hand as if brushing away Rebecca's insistence that he turn around. He'd already made his case. Rebecca had acknowledged his points about company security and stock prices and investor confidence. What else mattered?"Ms. Rebecca, I appreciate your understanding," Marcus said, his tone still dripping with smug satisfaction. "Now, if we could just finalize the details about accessing company security resources, I'd like to get started on tracking down this criminal as soon as—""Mr. Kane," Rebecca interrupted, her voice taking on a steel edge that finally penetrated Marcus's self-absorbed haze. "Turn. Around. NOW."The command in her tone was unmistakable. Not a suggestion. Not a request. An ORDER.Marcus sighed with exaggerated patience, clearly thinking Rebecca was being needlessly difficult about some minor courtesy. "Fine, fine. If you insist."He turned around casually, already prepari

Ethan looked down at Marcus's prostrate form with an expression of complete detachment, as if observing something vaguely distasteful rather than a grown man groveling at his feet."Get up," Ethan said quietly.Marcus's head lifted slightly, hope flickering across his tear-stained face. "You—you're going to—""I didn't say I was forgiving you," Ethan interrupted coldly. "I said get up. I want you standing when you explain the truth of what happened this morning."The hope died instantly. Marcus pushed himself to his knees, then slowly, unsteadily to his feet, his legs shaking so badly he could barely stand."I—I already told you—" Marcus started."You LIED," Ethan cut him off. "You fabricated a story about being attacked unprovoked. About trying to help Charlotte Bianco. About being the victim in all this."He took a step closer, and Marcus instinctively stepped back."Now you're going to tell the TRUT

Ethan's words hung in the air like a death sentence, each syllable carrying a weight that seemed to press down on Marcus's chest, making it hard to breathe.The killing intent—that cold, focused malice—was almost tangible. Marcus could FEEL it radiating from Ethan like heat from a furnace, except instead of warmth, it brought a chill that seeped into his bones.Marcus's legs went weak. If the bodyguards hadn't been holding him, he would have collapsed right there in the hallway.This wasn't the same man from the roadside. That man had been calm, controlled, efficient in his violence but almost clinical about it. This man—this Ethan standing before him now—was something else entirely. Something darker. Something that looked at Marcus like he was an insect to be crushed rather than a human to be reasoned with."You—you don't scare me!" Marcus shouted, his voice cracking with barely suppressed terror. "You think you can INTIMIDATE me?! You think I'm going to bow down because you give me

Charlotte stepped forward, her heels clicking against the marble floor with measured precision. Her expression was perfectly composed—cold, professional, utterly devoid of emotion except for something dangerous glittering in her eyes."Mr. Morrison," she said, her voice carrying that same icy quality Ethan had heard at the Bianco estate. "Thank you for your... intervention this morning. And for bringing this matter to light."She glanced at Marcus's trembling form, and her lips curved into something that wasn't quite a smile."However, I think it's best if the Bianco family takes custody of Mr. Kane from here. We'll ensure he receives the proper treatment he deserves for what he attempted to do to me."The way she said "proper treatment" sent a visible shiver through Marcus's body. There was no warmth in those words. No mercy. Just cold promise of consequences.Vincent Bianco nodded, stepping forward with the authoritative presence of a man who'd built an empire through decades of rut

The news spread through Kidman Corporation like wildfire racing through dry grass—fast, unstoppable, and consuming everything in its path.Within minutes of Marcus Kane's removal, the whispers had begun. Within an hour, nearly every employee in the massive building had heard some version of the story."Did you hear? There's someone new—""Rebecca's NEPHEW—""The HEIR to Kidman Corporation—""He broke Marcus Kane without even raising his voice—""I heard he held PLIERS to the man's teeth—""Marcus was BEGGING—""Crying like a child—""The secretaries said it was terrifying—""Cold. Absolutely cold. Like ice—"The details grew more dramatic with each retelling, but the core remained consistent: Ethan Morrison, Rebecca's mysterious nephew, the rumored heir to the Kidman empire, had appeared out of nowhere and dismantled a senior manager with ruthless efficiency.Employees gathered in break rooms, elevators, hallways—anywhere they could speak without being overheard by management—comparin