Betrayed by the Father Reborn in His Rival's Arms novel Chapter 478

"Nothing will happen to the York family," Xavier cut him off, absolutely resolute.

"The officials in the relevant departments are all your grandfather's former protégés. They know how to play the game. They'll just delay the processing; it's not an outright rejection. But he can't afford the delay.

"Furthermore, I'm only demanding he marry Penny, not driving him to his death.

"Marrying her will only boost his career—we will become his ultimate asset, not a hindrance.

"He needs to understand that we are uplifting him. We are helping him."

Tristan tasted a metallic bitterness rising in his throat.

He looked at his father, then at his mother, then at his oldest brother.

Cora's eyes burned with a blind, fanatical maternal devotion—she only wanted to protect her daughter, discarding everything else.

Xavier's eyes reflected total dominance—he had calculated every variable and believed reality would bend to his will.

As for Julian, his eyes were complicated.

As the oldest brother, he wasn't as nonchalant as the other two.

But he didn't challenge their father either, choosing a silence that equated to complicity.

Tristan realized it was impossible to stop this madness from within the family.

But even if he couldn't stop it, he had to make his stance known. "Dad, Julian, do you even know who you're dealing with? He isn't the ordinary businessman you think he is.

"He is far more ruthless than you can imagine. He used to be a viper overseas. How can you possibly..."

"I don't care if he's a viper or a dragon. Under our system, he has to bow down." Xavier saw absolutely zero flaws in his logic.

He genuinely didn't care what Quentin had done overseas.

The systems were entirely different, and he refused to believe the man wielded any real power here.

Even if he was a god abroad, Xavier was confident Quentin couldn't pull any stunts under domestic regulations.

Tristan pleaded desperately. "But even if you manage to pull this off, he's petty and intensely vengeful. Are you really comfortable handing your daughter over to a man like that? He doesn't love her. If they actually get married, aren't you afraid... aren't you afraid he'll get her killed?"

"He wouldn't dare."

Xavier scoffed. "The only person he can bully is that pathetic, low-class woman with no status and no family backing. Penny has the York family! He'll have no choice but to treat her like royalty! We are her ultimate shield."

Seeing that getting through to them was completely impossible, Tristan choked down his fury, turning on his heel and walking away.

Behind him, Xavier called out, "Tristan! Where are you going?"

Tristan didn't look back, nor did he answer.

He crossed the foyer, pushed open the grand doors, and stepped into the 4:00 AM darkness.