His Dangerous Love On Ice (Olivia and Zane) novel Chapter 129

Zane’s POV

“That’s…” He stopped, swallowing hard. “That’s psychological warfare.”

“Yes,” I agreed. “It is.”

We stared at each other through the screen.

And I could see it happening in real time-the shift from suspicion to terrible certainty.

But he couldn’t prove it. Couldn’t confirm it. Could only sit there with the growing horror that his own son might be capable of this.

“Zane,” he said quietly. “If you know something-anything-I need you to tell me. The board is threatening to remove me permanently. Dante is positioning himself to take over. Everything I’ve worked for is falling apart.”

“And what do you want me to do about it?” I asked.

“Help me,” he said, and the desperation in his voice was almost painful to hear. “Help me find out who did this. Help me fight back. You’re my son. Despite everything, you’re still my son.”

Something cold settled in

“Am I?” I asked quietly.

He flinched like I’d slapped him.

“What?”

“Am I your son?” I repeated. “Because for most of my life, you’ve treated me like I was a mistake. An embarrassment. Something to be ashamed of and hidden away. You gave Antonio and Sophia everything while I fought for scraps. You destroyed my reputation to protect your own. You made me the villain in a story I didn’t even write.”

My voice was calm. Measured. But every word was a knife.

“So tell me, Father. When exactly was I your son? When it was convenient for you? When you needed something from me? Or when I told you to back away from Grayson’s company.”

The silence stretched between us.

“I made mistakes,” he finally said. “I know that. But this-whatever is happening—it’s bigger than our family issues. If I go down, the whole company goes down. And that affects you too. Your shares. Your future. Everything.”

“My future was never tied to the Mercer Company,” I said. “I made sure of that years ago.”

His eyes widened slightly. “What does that mean?”

“It means I’ve been building my own empire while you were busy destroying yours,” I said. “It means I don’t need the family company. I don’t need your approval. I don’t need anything from you anymore.”

“Zane-”

“Is there anything else?” I interrupted. “Because if you’re just here to fish for information or try to manipulate me into helping you, we’re done.”

He stared at me for a long moment.

And then something shifted in his expression. From desperation to something darker. Something more dangerous.

“It was you,” he said quietly. “Wasn’t it? You did this. When I spoke with you the last time, you sounded like… Like you had the capacity, the means…”

I watched in amusement, his eyes squinting so hard, like he was trying to break through whatever thin line between us.

I didn’t answer.

Just held his gaze.

“I can’t prove it,” he continued, his voice getting harder. “But I know. Deep down, I know. And you’re just sitting there, letting me destroy myself trying to figure it out.”

Still, I said nothing.

“Why?” he asked, and his voice cracked. “Why would you destroy your own father?”

“You should ask yourself that question,” I said. “What did you do that was so terrible your own son would burn down everything you built?”

The screen flickered slightly.

“This isn’t over,” he said, and there was threat in his voice now. Anger replacing fear. “If you did this—if you’re behind this-I will find proof. And when I do, I will make sure you pay for it. I still have connections. Resources. People who owe me favors.”

“Do you?” I asked mildly. “Because from where I’m sitting, it looks like everyone’s abandoning you. Jumping ship before it sinks completely. It looks like the script have been flipped. I can save you father, tell me who you are working with?”

His face contorted with rage.

“You ungrateful-”

I ended the call.

The screen went dark, leaving me alone in the red-lit office.

For a long moment, I just sat there, letting the adrenaline drain from my system.

He suspected. Maybe even knew on some level.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify