The room fell completely silent as every board member looked at Caro in confusion.Marcus moved around the table, his expression clouded with fear. "Caro. Tell me what just happened. Now!"Caro looked up at her father, her eyes glassy, her lips trembling."The law firm," she whispered. "They were bought out. They withdrew from my case."Marcus blinked in surprise. "Bought out? By whom?"Caro swallowed hard. "ABC Holdings. They're the same company that bought the television studio I was suing."Marcus's face lost all its color. "What?""And now," Caro said, her voice cracking, "they're countersuing me for $100 million."Marcus looked at her as if he had lost his mind. For a long, terrible moment, he didn't move, or speak, or even breathe.Suddenly, his legs gave out, and he sank into the nearest chair, his face as pale as ash.Marcus looked up at his daughter, and for the first time in his life, there was real fear in his eyes."How?" he whispered. "How did this happen? Bruce doesn't h

Victoria and Jonathan watched while the Griffins got into their car and drove off from the restaurant. The moment the Griffins were gone, the smiles on the two representatives for ABC Holdings vanished.Jonathan rose from his seat, tucking the folder under his arm, and together they crossed to the next private dining room.Bruce sat alone inside, stirring a glass of wine in his hand. He didn't turn when they entered; instead, he straightened up.Jonathan and Victoria approached the table together and bowed respectfully before him. "Chairman," Jonathan murmured. "It is done. Marcus signed the contract."Bruce's lips curved gently. He slowly sipped the wine, savoring its taste, then set the glass down."Sit," he requested. "Tell me everything."Jonathan and Victoria sat down in the chairs opposite him. "Marcus Griffin signed without asking a single question about the clause of the contract," Jonathan said as he placed the signed contract on the table between them. Victoria nodded. "

The landlord laughed harshly after hearing Bruce's words."You're crazy," he said, shaking his head. "You think I'm going to grovel? For some broke single mother? I'll do no such thing."Bruce shrugged his shoulders. "Very well."He turned to the two goons. They stood with their arms crossed, ready to carry out their employer's orders.Bruce looked at them calmly. "How does half a million dollars sound to both of you? If you beat the shit out of the landlord, each of you will get $500,000."The goons stared at Bruce as if he had grown a second head. The laughter died on the landlord's face as he froze at the mention of the money."What did you just say?" the larger goon asked, his brow furrowing.Bruce repeated himself. "You get $500,000 each. Right now, directly into your accounts. All you have to do is teach this man a lesson about hitting his tenants."The goons shared a glance. The smaller one let out a nervous laugh. "You're insane, pal. You don't have that kind of money. You dri

The next morning, Bruce stood before the small bathroom mirror, adjusting the collar of his plain button-down shirt.He was just reaching for his keys when the doorbell rang.Bruce crossed the small living room and opened the door. He found Lucy at the doorway, her hands folded in front of her. She had changed into a clean blouse and jeans, her hair brushed back from her face. The dark circles under her eyes were still there, but she looked better than she did last night. "Lucy," Bruce said, leaning against the doorframe. "You're up early."She smiled nervously, "I wanted to thank you. Again. I don't know how to repay you. What you did last night, no one has ever done that for me before." Bruce gently shook his head. "Lucy, we talked about this yesterday. There's no need for you to pay me back. Just try to get back on your feet, alright? That's all I ask."She nodded quickly, wiping at her eyes with the back of her hand. "I will. I promise." She took a steadying breath. "I'm going

"No," Scarlett’s voice trembled as she shook her head violently. "No. It's not possible. You cannot be Bruce Dominic Shepherd. I refuse to believe it. I refuse!"Bruce regarded her indifferently, as if her doubts meant nothing to him."I have nothing to prove to you, Scarlett," he said quietly. "You are the least of my concerns. My beef is with the Griffin family. Not with you. You're not even worth my time nor my effort."Scarlett swallowed hard, her mind spinning.The man she had just tried to frame for sexual assault was the richest person on earth."Wait," she said, her voice cracking. "Let me get this straight. You're actually Bruce Dominic Shepherd? How? Last I checked, you were a nobody. You lived off my daughter's money. You couldn't even afford a doormat!"Bruce's eyes hardened. "I'm not going to bore you with the history of how it happened. You don't deserve an explanation." He stepped closer, his eyes narrowing into sharp slits. "But I am going to make you suffer for what y