Saintess's Worthless Husband Turned Dragon Commander novel Chapter 234

CHAPTER 168 PART 1

The elevator doors opened on the forty-third floor of the Domenico Building with a soft chime that seemed unnaturally loud in the tense silence. Miguel Abbott stepped out first, his expensive suit impeccable despite the late hour, his expression carefully neutral. Behind him walked six bodyguards in matching black suits – standard protection for a man of his status.

Except one of those bodyguards wasn’t a bodyguard at all.

Marcus Steel moved with the same disciplined posture as the others, his dragon aura completely suppressed, his features partially obscured by the dim corridor lighting and a peaked security cap pulled low. To casual observation, he was just another piece of muscle hired to protect a nervous magnate entering hostile territory.

But Maurice Yarrow, standing outside the empty office where Three Blade Group had retreated, recognized him immediately.

“Miguel,” Maurice greeted carefully, stepping forward. “I didn’t expect to see you here tonight.”

“I wasn’t invited,” Miguel replied, his tone pleasant but carrying an edge. “Which is exactly why I came. Wouldn’t want people making decisions about my family’s future without us present.”

Maurice’s eyes flickered to the bodyguards, then back to Miguel’s face. “You brought quite the security detail.”

“These are dangerous times,” Miguel said simply. “Never know who might decide violence is the answer to their problems.”

The words hung between them-a warning wrapped in casual conversation. Maurice understood perfectly. Miguel Abbott had walked into the Domenico Building knowing he might be walking into a trap, and he’d brought Marcus Steel as insurance.

“The conference room is that way,” Maurice gestured down the corridor. “Though I should warn you – the atmosphere inside is rather hostile toward certain parties.”

“I’m counting on it,” Miguel said. He nodded once to Maurice and continued toward the closed conference room doors, his security detail following in tight formation.

Behind frosted glass, they could see shadows of the assembled magnates still arguing among themselves. Cesar Pendleton’s voice was the loudest, ranting about revenge and justice and the need for decisive action.

Miguel didn’t knock. He simply pushed the doors open and walked in.

The conference room fell silent instantly. Twenty-three pairs of eyes turned toward the entrance, expressions ranging from surprise to outright hostility. At the head of the table, Richard Lancaster’s face remained carefully neutral, but his hands clenched slightly against the armrests of his chair.

“Miguel Abbott,” Richard said quietly. “This is a private meeting.”

“So I heard,” Miguel replied, walking to an empty chair and sitting down without invitation. “Which is why I came. Can’t have people discussing the Abbott Family’s future without representation, gan we?”

His bodyguards—including Marcus-took positions along the wall behind him, hands clasped professionally, faces impassive.

“You weren’t invited,” Stanislaus Potter said bluntly, “because your position is already known. You’ve aligned yourself with Marcus Steel. That makes you part of the problem, not the solution.”

“Part of the problem?” Miguel smiled without humor. “Interesting perspective. I’d call it choosing my allies

1/3

• 25 Bonus

wisely.”

“Wisely?” Cesar Pendleton’s voice dripped with contempt. “You’ve thrown your lot in with a terrorist who’s attacking established families! Who’s crippled heirs and destroyed reputations! That’s wisdom to you?”

“Yes,” Miguel said simply. “Because unlike you, Cesar, I bothered to understand who Marcus Steel actually is before making him an enemy.”

Richard Lancaster leaned forward, his aged face hard with controlled fury. “Then let me make this very clear, Miguel. The families assembled in this room have formed an alliance. Our purpose is singular-to eliminate Marcus Steel as a threat to provincial stability. You have one opportunity to declare your position. Are you with us, or against us?”

The question hung in the air-stark, unavoidable, final.

Miguel didn’t hesitate. “I stand with Marcus Steel. Completely. Without reservation. Anyone who wants to move against him will have to go through the Abbott Family first.”

The silence that followed was profound and terrible.

“You’re choosing suicide,” Thomas Lancaster said, genuine disbelief in his voice. “The combined resources of this room could destroy the Abbott Family in weeks. We have political connections, financial leverage, underground networks-”

“And I have the Dragon King,” Miguel interrupted calmly.

“The Dragon King?” Cesar laughed harshly. “You mean that arrogant boy hiding behind your wealth? We’ll crush him like an insect once we-”

“You’ll try,” Miguel corrected. “Just like the Dalton Brothers tried. Just like every bounty hunter who’s come for him has tried. And you’ll fail just like they did.”

Richard’s expression darkened. “This is your final chance, Miguel. Join us, hand over Marcus Steel, and the Abbott Family escapes retaliation. Refuse, and we consider you an enemy combatant. There will be no neutrality. No

second chances.”

Miguel met his gaze without flinching. “Then I guess we’re enemies.”

The room erupted into angry voices-threats, accusations, promises of destruction. Several magnates stood from their seats, their bodyguards tensing along the walls. The atmosphere shifted from hostile to genuinely dangerous.

But Miguel remained seated, calm, his hands folded on the table. Behind him, his security detail including Marcus-didn’t move, didn’t react, simply maintained their professional positions.

“You’re insane,” Stanislaus declared. “Your daughter already embarrassed you by siding with Marcus Steel Now you’re compounding that mistake by declaring war on half the province? What possible gain

“Speaking of my daughter,” Miguel interrupted, pulling out his phone. “Stanislaus, have you rewatched the video of your son recently?”

The non sequitur caught everyone off guard. Stanislaus’s face twisted with fresh anger. “Are you mocking me? My son was beaten nearly to death! Why would I -”

“The end,” Miguel said, sliding his phone across the table toward Stanislaus. “Watch the final thirty seconds again. Carefully.”

“This is ridiculous-” Stanislaus started, but something in Miguel’s expression made him pick up the phone

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify