2025-10-23 20:59:03“Sign them.”
Miranda Westwood dropped the envelope on the table with a snap. Leonard didn’t flinch. He sat on the couch, a quiet smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
Elena stood frozen by the doorway. “Mother, this isn’t ”
“This is exactly necessary,” Miranda interrupted. “Last night was a circus. Do you think I’ll let this family’s reputation rest on some… some stray dog with a black credit card? No. You’re getting out, Elena. Tonight.”
Leonard picked up the envelope and opened it slowly. His voice was almost amused. “You’ve been waiting for this moment a long time, haven’t you?”
Victor, leaning against the wall, smirked. “Better late than never. You’re lucky Mother didn’t throw you out sooner.”
“Victor, stop,” Elena said sharply, but they ignored her.
Leonard flipped through the pages. “Irreconcilable differences,” he read aloud. “No compensation. Immediate termination of marital contract.”
Miranda folded her arms. “You married into this family with nothing. You’ll leave with nothing. Consider this mercy.”
Leonard set the papers down. “And Elena? What does she think?”
Elena’s voice was shaky. “I don’t want this. Leonard, I don’t.”
Miranda shot her a glare. “You’ll thank me later. This man is hiding things, Elena. We’re already looking into him. Whatever he is, it’s dangerous.”
Leonard chuckled softly. “Dangerous? That’s the first true thing you’ve said to me in three years.”
Victor stepped forward. “You think this is funny? Sign the papers and get lost.”
Leonard looked at him. Really looked. “Victor, you’re loud. But that’s all you are. Loud.”
Victor’s face turned red. “What did you say?”
Leonard stood, towering over him without raising his voice. “You’ll understand soon enough.”
Miranda’s hand slammed the table. “Enough games. Sign.”
Leonard picked up the pen. Elena rushed forward. “No, don’t ”
He signed in one smooth motion.
The room went silent.
Elena stared at him. “Why? Why would you”
Leonard handed the papers back to Miranda, his expression calm. “Because you all believe you’re winning something. And I like watching people celebrate before they realize they’ve lost.”
Miranda frowned. “What does that mean?”
Leonard turned to Elena. His voice softened, just for her. “This is not the end. It’s just the beginning. Take care of yourself, Elena.”
He walked to the door.
“Wait!” Elena’s voice cracked. “Leonard, please ”
He paused but didn’t turn. “When the dust settles, remember this moment.”
Then he left.
Two hours later, the Westwood dining room was buzzing with excitement.
“Finally,” Miranda said, pouring herself wine. “We can fix the family’s image. I knew he’d cave. He’s nothing without us.”
Victor laughed. “That act of his? Over. He’ll crawl back to whatever hole he came from.”
Robert glanced at his phone. “The board’s calmer today. Stonecliff is quiet. Maybe we can finally focus on expansion.”
Then Victor’s phone rang.
“Victor Westwood,” he answered.
A pause. His smile faded. “What? That’s impossible. Who?”
Robert frowned. “What is it?”
Victor’s voice cracked slightly. “Kane Consortium just bought out three of our suppliers. All cash. No negotiations.”
Miranda blinked. “Who is the Kane Consortium?”
Victor’s phone buzzed again. Another call. He answered, voice sharp. “Yes?”
The caller’s voice was loud enough for everyone to hear: “Effective immediately, Kane Consortium owns fifteen percent of Westwood Enterprises. Expect a formal notice by morning.”
Victor’s hand trembled. “Fifteen percent? That’s how? We didn’t approve any sale!”
Robert’s face was drained of color. “Who’s behind this? Who’s Kane?”
Victor’s phone chimed again. A text this time. He opened it and froze.
The message was simple:
“Next time we meet, you will beg me to return. – Leonard Kane.”
The wine glass slipped from Miranda’s hand and shattered.
Across town, Leonard sat in a quiet office, calm as ever. A man in a dark suit handed him a folder.
“It’s done. Three suppliers acquired, stock purchase complete. Westwood won’t even breathe without us knowing.”
Leonard nodded. “Good. Keep it clean. No public noise yet.”
“Understood. And the wife?”
Leonard’s expression softened just slightly. “She’s still part of this. But I’ll decide when she comes back. Right now, the Westwoods need to learn who they’ve been laughing at.”
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CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“Throw your phone on the ground.”The chairman’s voice was calm but edged with steel. Leonard didn’t hesitate he dropped the phone and crushed it under his heel.“Good,” the older man said. “You learn quickly. Now, walk.”Leonard followed, his coat flaring in the night wind. Two bodyguards flanked the chairman, another shadow moved near the car.“You stirred up a storm,” the chairman said casually. “Leaks, bank hits, political noise. Why? You could have stayed hidden.”Leonard’s tone was flat. “You killed my family.”The chairman’s smile didn’t falter. “Ah. So this is personal.”“It’s business,” Leonard replied. “And revenge is just a bonus.”They stopped at the end of the pier. The water below slapped against the pilings.“You think you can bleed Stonecliff dry?” the chairman asked.“I know I can.”A chuckle. “Confidence looks good on you. But do you understand what you’ve started? The Westwoods, your wife they’re nothing to us. Collateral. I can crush them in a day.”“Try,” Leonard
CHAPTER TWELVE
“Leonard Kane is officially a target. Priority one.”The Stonecliff chairman’s voice carried across the private boardroom like a gunshot. A wall of screens lit up maps, bank transfers, dossiers. “He embarrassed us. He cost us millions. Now he’ll pay in blood.”“Sir,” one director hesitated, “his wife Elena Westwood is leveraged. Her family still holds some influence.”“Then use it,” the chairman said coldly. “Bring me Kane alive. Hurt him through everyone he protects.”Westwood Mansion – MorningElena slammed the paper down. “Your name is everywhere. Offshore leaks, Stonecliff, guns in the city, what are you doing to us?”Leonard didn’t look up from his phone. “I warned you. This isn’t just business. This is survival.”“You nearly got killed last night!”“Almost isn’t dead.”Elena threw her hands up. “You act like this is a game. They could come for me, for my mother ”“They will,” Leonard said calmly. “Which is why we move first.”Her voice softened. “Leonard, I need to know what you
CHAPTER ELEVEN
“Shut the doors. No one leaves until I’m done talking.”Leonard’s tone was steel. The Westwood dining room went silent. Miranda froze, Victor scowled, and even Elena felt the tension spike.“What is this?” Victor snapped. “You think you can just bark orders in my mother’s house ”Leonard’s gaze cut him off. “I just stopped a breach that would have destroyed every one of you. And I know who helped them.”The room stiffened.“You can’t be serious,” Miranda said slowly.“I’m very serious. There’s a traitor, and Victor knows more than he’s admitting.”Victor slammed a hand on the table. “Watch your mouth!”Leonard didn’t flinch. “Why don’t you explain the encrypted messages on your aide’s phone? The ones that led Stonecliff right to Elena’s path this afternoon.”Miranda’s lips thinned. “Victor?”“He’s bluffing,” Victor said, but his eyes flickered.Leonard dropped a tablet onto the table. Screenshots glowed times, locations, transfers.Victor’s face was drained of color.Elena leaned forw
CHAPTER TEN
“Move Elena now!”Adrian’s voice cracked through Leonard’s earpiece as he raced up the stairwell. Sirens wailed faintly below.“What happened?” Leonard demanded, gunmetal calm.“They breached the perimeter with two SUVs, armed men. They weren’t testing this time. They’re here.”Thirty minutes earlier.Elena was leaving the gallery when she felt it: the weight of someone watching. The black sedan from the café days ago slid into view.“Adrian, that car again,” she whispered into her phone.“Get inside. Lock doors. I’m sending backup.”But before she could move, a man stepped out, casual, carrying nothing but a folded newspaper. She couldn’t see his face, but his stride screamed confidence.At the same moment, in a hidden Stonecliff boardroom, Victor slammed his fist on the table.“This is over today,” he barked. “You said leverage, we'll make Kane watch everything burn.”The chairman’s cold smile didn’t flicker. “You think too small, Victor. He expects violence. What he doesn’t expect
CHAPTER NINE
“Victor, you need to leave. Now.”Miranda’s voice was cold, urgent. She paced the Westwood estate’s marble foyer, phone to her ear.Victor’s tone was sharp. “What’s happening?”“They’re coming for you. That video Leonard sent? It’s already circulating in private groups. If it leaks publicly, you’ll be finished.”Victor swore under his breath. “I can fix this.”“No, you can’t. Kane is dismantling Stonecliff piece by piece, and he’s coming for you next. Your only chance is to disappear.”In Leonard’s penthouse, Adrian stepped into the study, face grim.“They’ve moved,” he said. “Stonecliff just pulled funds from three dummy accounts. They’re hiring outside contractors people who don’t care about laws.”Leonard didn’t look surprised. “Desperation makes men stupid.”“This isn’t stupid. This is dangerous. They’re bringing in someone named Vargos. Ex-intelligence, no conscience. He doesn’t come cheap.”Leonard leaned back. “Good. Expensive men make expensive mistakes. Prep security for full
CHAPTER EIGHT
“Hit them tonight.”Leonard’s voice was flat, but the room went silent. Around the long table, his executives exchanged nervous glances.“Sir,” Adrian began cautiously, “are you sure? Stonecliff is waiting for this. They want to draw you out.”“They made the first move,” Leonard said. “Now they learn what war costs.”One of the directors cleared his throat. “And the Westwoods? Victor ”“Victor,” Leonard interrupted, “will see what happens to traitors.”Across town, Victor was arguing with his mother.“This is reckless,” Miranda snapped. “I told you Stonecliff cannot be trusted.”“They’re the only ones with the muscle to break Kane!” Victor shot back. “You saw what he did today he stared down armed men like they were ants. If we don’t act now, we lose everything.”Miranda leaned forward, eyes sharp. “And when Stonecliff is done using you, what then? You think they’ll keep you around? They’ll bury you with him.”Victor turned away, jaw tight. “I don’t care. I want him destroyed.”Elena
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