Chapter 514
Hands grabbed at me again–Hudson trying to drag me off. I shoved
him back, but he barely shifted, absorbing the force like stone.
For one wild, reckless moment, a desperate thought flashed through
my mind.
Expose him. Expose everything. Tell our father that his perfect, disciplined son had impregnated a young woman outside his marriage. Drag the truth into the light and watch his empire crack.
The words hovered at the back of my throat. Then another image
surfaced.
Emily. Her adorable smile. Her innocence. Her life. The truth would not destroy Ryan alone. It would destroy her.
My fists stilled. I pushed myself off Ryan and staggered back, chest
heaving.
Hudson released me cautiously, though he didn’t move far. “I said, don’t touch me,” I warned Hudson when he stepped closer again. He didn’t move. He simply stood there, silent and watchful.
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Chapter 514
Ryan remained on the floor, breathing hard, blood still slipping
through his fingers.
Then my father spoke.
“Roman,” he said calmly from behind his desk, “no fighting in my
office.” The normalcy of his tone stunned me more than the violence
had.
I turned slowly toward him.
He sat exactly as he always did–hands clasped together, posture
composed, gaze steady. Not a flicker of concern. Not a hint of
surprise. Not even irritation strong enough to disrupt his composure.
As if one son hadn’t just tried to beat another to death.
“That’s it?” I demanded. “That’s all you have to say?” My voice rose,
filling the room.
I pointed at both of them—father and son. “Who gave
ve you the right to
take over my office? Who gave you the right to issue orders in my
name?” My voice rose, shaking with fury. “And you-” I jabbed a
finger toward Ryan, who was now sitting upright on the floor – “who
the hell gave you the authority to replace me?”
“I did,” my father replied evenly.
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The simplicity of the answer made something inside me snap tighter.
“I made the decision because no one else was capable of handling
matters with clarity,” he continued. “Zachary was too emotionally
compromised. He lacks objectivity where Miss Hart is concerned. And
your girlfriend…” His lips curved slightly. “Let us not discuss her
incompetence. It is quite… outstanding.”
Ryan gave a quiet, blood–tinged chuckle from the floor.
I stepped forward. “Don’t you dare insult Savannah,” I said, voice low and dangerous. “She is smarter than most people in this house
combined. Including you. You don’t get to insult her.”
My father did not react.
“What do you have against her?” I demanded. “What unforgivable crime did she commit to earn your contempt? What has she done to you that justifies treating her worse than servants are treated?”
“Miss Hart is not suitable for you,” he replied without hesitation. “She is beneath you. She comes from a family of liars, thieves, and
people without principle.”
I laughed a sharp, incredulous sound. “Liars, thieves and people without principles?” I repeated. “Isn’t that us?” I shot back. “Last time
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I checked, you are all three.”
His expression remained unchanged. So I continued.
“You and your associates destroyed my wife in my absence. Your
friends violated her. Humiliated her. And she died because of you and
Penelope.” My voice shook with fury. “You lost my respect the day
you touched what belonged to your own son.”
Silence fell heavily across the room.
“Do
you
believe your
crimes will remain hidden forever?” I pressed
disgust me. Men like you deserve prison and worse.”
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