2025-01-14 23:22:39Chapter 4: The Shift of Power
Lisa was frozen in place, her face pale as Dylan’s piercing gaze locked onto her. “If I ever hear you insult Molly again,” Dylan said coldly, his voice steady and sharp, “I’ll make you regret it in ways you can’t even imagine.” Lisa’s confidence wavered, her mouth opening and closing like a fish gasping for air. For the first time, she was truly afraid of the man she had belittled for years. Dylan didn’t wait for her response; he bent down to pick up Molly, who clutched his neck tightly, her tears slowly drying. “Let’s go,” he said softly to his daughter. Molly nodded, her voice small but steady. “Okay, Daddy.” Without another glance at Lisa, Dylan walked out of the house. Outside, the convoy of luxury cars awaited. A chauffeur opened the door of a sleek black Rolls-Royce, bowing slightly as Dylan and Molly got in. Lisa stood by the window, watching as the convoy disappeared down the street. Her shock gradually turned into indignation. “This has to be a setup,” she muttered, pacing back and forth. “There’s no way that loser has connections like that. He must’ve stolen money from Jane to hire those actors.” Fuming, Lisa snatched up her phone and made a video call to Jane.Jane was shocked. "What? What exactly happened? He's always been a coward. How could he dare to hit you?"
Lisa was momentarily speechless, thinking about the things she had said to Molly. She wasn't sure if Jane truly didn't care about Molly anymore, so she didn't dare to tell Jane the truth. Instead, Lisa feigned indignation and said, "Don't you believe me? I've been beaten and I'm bleeding! Do you still want to defend that good-for-nothing ex-husband of yours?" Jane quickly explained, "I'm not saying I don't believe you, I just want to know what happened!" Lisa spoke with a sense of grievance, "I was just telling him that raising a daughter costs a lot of money and that I hoped he would give you custody. He suddenly got angry and hit me! Did my words hurt his pride?" Jane sighed, "It must be that. He's just a loser, yet he refuses to listen to advice..." She glanced at her watch and said, "Don't worry, I'll definitely get justice for you! I'm going to call Dylan right now and make him apologize and pay for your medical expenses!" Hearing Jane's words, Lisa's face lit up with joy. "I knew you would help me! Where are you now? It looks very luxurious!" Jane smiled and said, "Royal Elysian Hotel. I've booked a banquet hall, waiting to sign a contract with the Nelson family. Once the contract is signed, I'll be the most successful businesswoman in the city!" "Congratulations! Then quickly resolve Dylan's issue before the Nelson family arrives. Don't let that good-for-nothing mess up the important matters!" Jane nodded in agreement and ended the video call. Then, she angrily dialed Dylan's phone. --- In the backseat of the Rolls-Royce, the atmosphere was light and playful. Dylan, trying to lift Molly's spirits, lightly tickled her, making her giggle uncontrollably. Across from him, seated in a corner, was John Nelson, his old ally and the patriarch of the Nelson family. Beside John sat his granddaughter, Helen, a young woman whose shyness was palpable. She sat straight, her hands folded nervously in her lap, her eyes often darting away from Dylan's. “Young master, it’s truly an honor to meet you in person after all these years,” John said, his voice quivering with emotion. "You’ve always been like a son to me." Dylan’s lips curled into a small, polite smile as he met John’s gaze. “John, you’ve always been loyal. It’s good to see you too.” John’s eyes glistened as he continued, “Loyalty? You’ve given me more than that. You’ve made me who I am today. Without you, I would still be nothing but a servant in the Grenville family, cleaning floors and fetching tea. You saw potential in me when no one else did, and because of you, I’m now the head of the Nelson family.” Dylan remained quiet, his gaze briefly softening at John’s words. The mention of his past with the Grenville family stirred memories, but he didn’t let them linger long. John’s face lit up with pride. “And there’s someone I want you to meet. My granddaughter, Helen.” He turned his gaze to the young woman beside him, and Helen’s cheeks flushed pink as she shifted uncomfortably in her seat. Her eyes avoided Dylan’s, and she kept her hands tightly clenched in her lap. “She’s just returned from studying abroad,” John continued. “Helen’s been preparing herself for the day she’ll take over the Nelson legacy. I thought it would be a good opportunity for her to meet you today.” Dylan gave Helen a polite nod, noticing her shyness, and smiled warmly, though he wasn’t sure how to approach the young woman. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Nelson.” Helen’s voice was soft, barely above a whisper as she replied, “It’s… it’s an honor, sir.” Her eyes remained cast downward, and she didn’t look up at Dylan.John, noticing the tension, gave his granddaughter a gentle nudge, but Helen only seemed to shrink further into her seat, her shyness overwhelming.
“To celebrate your return, young master,” John continued, clearly eager to change the subject, “I’ve arranged a grand banquet at the Royal Elysian Hotel, the finest in the city. Every detail has been prepared to honor you.”
Molly’s eyes brightened at the mention of food. “A banquet? Does that mean lots of yummy food, Daddy?”
Dylan chuckled softly, ruffling Molly’s hair. “Yes, sweetheart. Lots of yummy food.”
As the car made its way through the city, John’s pride swelled, and he glanced fondly at his granddaughter. Since Dylan had divorced Jane today, he knew this was a chance for Helen to shine, to perhaps win Dylan’s favor. If she could become Dylan's wife, the Nelson family would rise to prominence.
Just as the atmosphere in the car grew lighthearted, Dylan’s phone buzzed. His brow furrowed when he saw the caller ID—Jane. He sighed, answering with reluctance. “What do you want, Jane?”
Jane’s voice erupted through the line, sharp and furious. “Dylan! How dare you lay your hands on Lisa? Have you lost your mind? She told me everything! You’ve crossed the line this time!”
“You’re nothing but a violent, greedy man!” she continued furiously.
Dylan’s expression darkened. “Jane, if you’ve called to lecture me, save your breath.”
“Lecture you?” Jane snapped. “You need to apologize to her immediately! Do you have any idea how much trouble you’ve caused? If you don’t make this right, I’ll make sure you regret it.”
Dylan held back his anger, "I didn’t hit her. She was the one trying to hit Molly. I was just protecting my daughter!"
"You're lying! Molly is also my daughter, and Lisa would never hurt her! You must be angry because your little scheme was exposed by Lisa. Now you're taking your frustration out on a woman!" Jane said with disappointment.
"I always thought you were a useless man, but not a bad one. I never imagined you'd be so shameless! You're nothing but scum!"
Dylan was completely disheartened. He spoke coldly, "There’s a camera in the living room. Watch it yourself, and you’ll understand everything. Instead of standing here slandering me, why don’t you think about how your so-called best friend had the audacity to hit Molly!"
"If you actually cared about your own daughter, Lisa wouldn’t dare look down on her or insult her with words! She's our daughter, not some random stranger!"
Jane faltered for a moment before doubling down. “You’re just proving you’re unstable! If you don’t apologize, I’ll cut you off completely!”
Dylan let out a cold laugh. “Cut me off? Jane, I’ve been nothing but a shadow in your life for years. Do what you want. I don’t care anymore.”
“Dylan!” Jane’s voice cracked with frustration.
“I’m done with this conversation,” Dylan said firmly. “Goodbye, Jane.”
He hung up, his jaw clenched as he stared out the window. Molly, sensing his tension, reached out and held his hand.
At the Royal Elysian Hotel, Jane stared at her phone in disbelief, trembling with anger. “He’ll pay for this,” she muttered. “He. Will. Pay.”
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211The next morning came too quickly for Jane. The weight of the decision hung heavily over her, despite the calm façade she had tried to maintain. Her phone buzzed incessantly, messages from Lisa, Adam, and even Linda, all eager to confirm their plans to transfer their funds. The excitement from the previous night had only grown stronger with each passing hour, but Jane’s unease had deepened in equal measure.She couldn’t shake the feeling that she was being led down a path she shouldn’t follow, a path paved with promises and lies. As she scrolled through the group chat, her eyes caught a message from Bobby: “It’s all set. Ready when you are, Jane. Don’t let fear dictate your future. This is your chance.”The words sent a cold shiver down her spine. There it was again—the subtle pressure, the quiet threat wrapped in a smooth, convincing tone. Bobby was a master at this. He knew exactly how to manipulate people, how to make them think they were making their own choices while all alon
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210But then, there was Jane. She had barely spoken all evening, her quiet demeanor setting her apart from the rest. She had been sitting at the edge of the group, her eyes downcast, staring into her untouched champagne. Her fingers traced the rim of her glass absentmindedly as she listened to her friends talk about their investments, their dreams. It was so easy for them, so quick to jump in. But Jane wasn’t so sure. She could feel the unease creeping in, the tug in her gut telling her that something wasn’t right. They were so eager, so willing to throw everything into Bobby’s hands. So naïve.“You’re not worried about the risks?” she asked quietly, her voice almost lost amidst the chatter. The words seemed to hang in the air for a moment before Bobby’s eyes flicked toward her, catching the subtle challenge in her tone.Bobby’s smile didn’t falter. He leaned forward just enough to catch her gaze, his eyes dark and steady, like a predator eyeing its prey. “Worried? No,” he said, his v
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209 Adam looked up, his face a mask of calm. “I mean, what’s not to consider? Bobby’s offering us a seat at the table. You know how rare that is.” His words were matter-of-fact, but there was a certain eagerness in his eyes, a glimmer of excitement that he couldn’t hide. He was already sold. Linda, ever the practical one, nodded, her fingers tapping on the edge of her glass. “I don’t know. It sounds like a solid opportunity. Bobby’s track record speaks for itself.” The table was buzzing now, the tension thickening with every passing second. Jane felt herself shrinking in her seat. Everyone else was on board, their minds already made up. She was the only one left holding back, and she hated the feeling. But no matter how she tried, she couldn’t shake the feeling that Bobby was pulling the strings, drawing them all in like moths to a flame. She leaned back, rubbing her temples, trying to quiet the storm inside her head. The words kept swirling around, crashing into one another. “I
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208 “Wait,” Jane said slowly, her brow furrowing. “Didn’t you pitch something like this to ForwardTech last year? I remember the prototype.”Bobby blinked—just a fraction too long. His eyes darted around the table, landing on her for a beat longer than necessary. “That was… similar, but flawed. This one’s new. Better team. Better model.”Jane could sense the words slipping from his mouth too smoothly. It wasn’t the first time he’d said something that didn’t quite sit right with her, but this time there was something sharper in the air. A fine thread of doubt, like static crackling on the edge of a storm.Adam, who had been staring at the screen of his phone, looked up with a casual air that masked his curiosity. “What happened with ForwardTech, though? I remember the buzz last year. They were practically salivating over this.”Bobby shrugged, the motion too careful, too rehearsed. “They weren’t ready,” he said smoothly. “And frankly, their ethics were sketchy. I don’t want to work w
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207Jane’s breath hitched as Bobby reached into his pocket again.The room, already hushed, seemed to freeze entirely. All eyes were locked on him—some mouths slightly agape, others tight with expectation. Lisa had both hands clasped under her chin like she was praying. Even the jazz from the corner speakers had faded out, as if the room itself held its breath.And then, slowly, deliberately, Bobby pulled something out.Not a ring box.A folded piece of paper.Lisa blinked, then narrowed her eyes. “Wait. That’s… not velvet.”The mood cracked like porcelain. A collective gasp followed by awkward chuckles and confused glances circled the table like ripples on a lake.Bobby didn’t seem fazed. He smiled that polished, camera-ready smile. “This one,” he said smoothly, waving the paper slightly, “isn’t for right now. I’ll ask it while we eat.”Lisa leaned toward Jane, her mouth close to her ear. “Did we just get emotionally blue-balled?”Jane tried to smile, but a pit had opened in her stom
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206The night deepened, wrapping the penthouse in a velvet hush, broken only by the soft clinking of glasses and the low hum of jazz playing in the background. From the corner of the room, floor-to-ceiling windows revealed a glittering skyline, the lights of the city twinkling like a thousand secrets waiting to be whispered.Jane stood by the minibar, swirling her champagne gently as she stared out the window. Behind her, the soft thrum of voices filled the space—laughter, banter, and just the right level of intoxicated excitement to make the room buzz without spinning out of control.Lisa appeared beside her like a ghost in heels, sipping her wine and smirking. “So… he’s pulling out all the stops. Private penthouse? Classy guest list? Jazz that sounds like it was handpicked by a man who owns three turtlenecks?”Jane gave her a look. “He doesn’t own a single turtleneck.”Lisa waved dismissively. “He feels like a man who could. Come on, Jane. Is this just a ‘you crushed the quarter’ pa
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205Jane’s apartment,The phone buzzed against the marble countertop, its soft vibration cutting through the heavy silence of the apartment. Jane turned from the window, where the city skyline glinted under the sinking sun, and eyed the screen with reluctant curiosity.Bobby.She hesitated only a second before swiping to answer.“Hey,” she said, her voice a little more tired than she intended.“Jane,” Bobby’s voice poured through, smooth, steady, and warm like whiskey on a winter night. “You home?”“Just walked in,” she replied, tugging her heels off one at a time. “What’s up?”“I was thinking…” he began, then paused. There was a quiet thud in the background. “No. Actually, I decided. We’re celebrating tonight.”Jane blinked, tossing her shoes aside. “Celebrating what?”“You,” he said simply. “You pulled off the impossible this quarter. The board knows it, I know it, and frankly, the city should know it too. So—champagne, skyline, music. My place. I want your mom and Adam there, too.
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204Dylan Grenville’s eyes flicked to the vibrating phone on the edge of his glass desk. The screen lit up with an unfamiliar number—no caller ID, just an empty sequence of digits that seemed to hum with menace.He hesitated.The air in his office felt heavier now, as if it were thickening with some unseen pressure. Outside the bulletproof glass windows of the high-rise, the city of Eridale glistened under the midnight rain, the skyline cut with static lightning. His pulse quickened, jaw tightening. Then—he hit accept.“Yeah?” he said, voice flat, cautious.For a moment, there was nothing—just static. A hiss, like radio silence stretched too thin. And then it came.A voice.Low. Gravelly. Mechanically distorted, as if dragged through sand and soaked in tar. Filtered, twisted—inhuman.“Mr. Grenville.”Dylan sat upright, every vertebrae snapping to attention as his spine stiffened. His fingers twitched toward the panic button under the desk, but he held off. His voice came out sharper,
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203“I am right,” Lisa replied, sounding pleased with herself. “You need to stop second-guessing everything. You’re not Helen from twenty years ago, struggling to prove herself. You’re Jane White. CEO. Boss. And Bobby? He’s not just your business partner. He’s your partner, period. In every sense.”Jane exhaled through her nose, gripping her phone a little tighter as she leaned against the elevator’s mirrored wall. The ride up to the penthouse was smooth, soundless, too quiet for her thoughts. Lisa’s voice echoed even after she hung up, bouncing around the corners of her mind like a song on repeat.She stepped out onto the twelfth floor of the luxurious Westside tower and moved down the hallway, heels clicking sharply against polished marble. Her steps slowed as she reached her door—unit 12A. The keypad glowed soft blue under her fingertips as she punched in her code. With a soft hiss, the door unlocked.Inside, the apartment was dim, bathed in the amber hues of city lights filtering
