Isadora: ".


    Is this supposed to be a war?


    And somehow, they''re still united.


    A brawl?


    The elderly woman, leaning on her age as a shield, nted herself firmly between her son and grandson, arms spread wide.


    "If you dare raise a hand, you''ll have to go through these old bones first!"


    Isadora couldn''t help but step forward, tugging gently at Victor''s sleeve. "Let''s just let it go."


    Victor barely lifted his eyelids, his gaze settling on Isadora''s pale hand gripping his sleeve. He drawled, "And if I hadn''t shown up? What if they''d already hurt my daughter? Then what?"


    Isadora was speechless.


    Even if he hadn''te, she''d already been ready to grab a broom and fight back.


    She caught Victor''s intense stare, fixed on her hand, and quickly let go of his sleeve, suddenly self-conscious.


    Baily''s face had gone ashen. He ground his teeth. "Mom, what are you doing? Get out of the way, stop making a scene. That''s the main investor in mypany!"


    But the old woman only grew more stubborn.


    "I don''t care if he''s the king of Ennd, he can''t hit you. I''m an olddy-let''s see if he daresy a finger on me."


    The two kids jumped up in excitement. "Grandma, you''re the best! Dad, you''re useless!"


    "Is that so?" Victor''s tone was icily calm.


    Without warning, he raised his gun and fired a shot, the barrel aimed right at the old woman''s arm.


    "Ah!"


    She hadn''t expected him to actually do it. With a wail, she crumpled to the floor, arms and legs syed, and burst into tears.


    "Help! Somebody! This man shot an olddy! I can''t get up-help me, please!"


    Themotion quickly drew a crowd from around the hotel. The manager hurried over, nked by several security guards.


    Victor''s face didn''t even flicker. His voice was cold, each word measured and detached:


    "If you''re really hurt, you should see a doctor. Wouldn''t want you saying nothing''s wrong after all this noise. So, where does it hurt? Your arm?"


    He aimed the gun again at her arm and fired a second shot.


    "Or is it your leg?"


    "Or somewhere else?"


    With each question, Victor sent a shot cleanly into the floor at the corresponding body part.


    This time, the old woman''s tears were real-from pain as much as shock.


    "You all saw that, didn''t you? This man is a monster-he attacked a helpless olddy! Call the police! Son, get ourwyer-I''m going to sue him for everything he''s got!"


    Baily was sweating bullets, caught between his raging mother and hispany''s future going up in mes.


    A minute ago, if he''d just begged for mercy, maybe this all would have blown over.


    Now? Disaster.


    He nced at his children and his stubborn mother, feeling his business slip through his fingers.


    "Mom, what are you doing? Please, get up. If you keep this up, you''ll ruin mypany."


    He moved to help her up.


    The hotel manager was about to call the police when Kemp stepped in, blocking him.


    "Good job, calling the cops on your own boss," Kemp said coolly.


    He turned to the bodyguards. "Well? Why haven''t you thrown these people out yet?"


    The manager paled and quickly began ushering the troublemakers away.


    Just then, Terrell emerged from the banquet hall, having overheard the gossip swirling among the crowd. He quickly pieced together what had happened and hurried over to Isadora, concern etched on his face.


    "Are you okay?"


    Isadora shook her head. "I''m fine."


    Victor nced back, his gaze icy as it swept over the men and women lingering nearby. He casually tossed the pistol aside.


    Every time he rescued her, some other man would swoop in, trying to take the credit. Victor''s lips curled in disdain.