Virgil and Kathie watched in growing panic, their voices rising in unison. "Get a doctor! Hurry, get the doctor!"


    Several of the family physicians, alerted by themotion, rushed in at once.


    They administered a sedative to Deanna.


    Only then did she calm down a little, though her speech was gone; all that remained was a single clouded eye, fixed unblinking on the space ahead.


    Virgil and Kathie were so furious they felt their blood pressure spike, as if they might burst a blood vessel at any moment.


    Virgil took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. He turned to Victor, his voice thick with emotion. "Victor, she''s your grandmother. She never left your side when you were sick—she took care of you every minute. If you really listen to this woman and lock up your own grandmother, do you have any sense of decency left?"


    Kathie jumped in, her words tumbling out in support. "That''s right, Victor! Aunt Deanna has always been the heart of this family. Everyone respects her-how could she ever bear such humiliation? If Uncle were still here, he''d never let her be treated like this!"


    Isadora watched the pair with cold indifference, her gaze lofty and unbothered.


    Let them feel what it''s like to face humiliation and helplessness for the rest of their lives.


    She turned, preparing to say something more to Victor.


    But Victor''s voice cut through the room, icy andmanding, brooking no argument.


    "We''ll do exactly as Mrs. Fitzgerald said. No one is to let Deanna leave her room without my express permission."


    All the color drained from Virgil and Kathie''s faces. They copsed into their chairs, blood running cold with shock and fear.


    The maids and doctors present bowed their heads even lower, not daring to meet anyone''s eyes.


    In that moment, everyone understood.


    The Fitzgerald family had truly changed hands. There was a new mistress now.


    Deanna was escorted to a back room in the house, the door shut firmly behind her. Two bodyguards stood watch outside, unmoving.


    Virgil and Kathie, meanwhile, were politely "escorted" out of the Fitzgerald estate by the staff.


    Inside the stretched Rolls Royce-


    Kathie and Virgil sat in the back seat, their faces twisted with rage, far beyond


    pale and drawn-almost monstrous in their anger.


    Kathie clenched her fists and pounded the center console again and again, eyes zing.


    lieve


    "I can''t believe this! That woman is something else-she''spletely ensnared Victor, and now she''s managed to imprison Aunt Deanna! Are wereally supposed to just stand by while Isadora takes everything from the Fitzgerald family?"


    She turned to Virgil, desperate for reassurance. "Say something, Virgil! If the Fitzgerald estate ends up in that woman''s hands, I can''t ept it. I''d rather see it go to our family-the cks!"


    Virgil snorted coldly. "You can''t ept it? So what? You know what Victor is like. He''s not someone you can push around."


    Kathie knew it was true. Victor might look carefree and easygoing on the surface, but they both understood that was just an act. When he decided to be ruthless, he was absolutely merciless.


    Thinking of this, Kathie wilted, her anger giving way to despair.


    She pounded her fists, her tone intive and defeated. "Are we supposed to just sit back and watch Aunt Deanna be locked away, and let that woman walk off with everything the Fitzgeralds have built?"


    A sh of malice crossed her eyes, and she screamed in frustration, "I can''t stand


    it! How is that woman even worthy?"


    A cruel smile curled on Virgil''s lips.


    "No way. The annual Fitzgerald Group shareholders'' meeting ising up soon. Kathie, you need to meet with every major board


    member and stakeholder. Wool ne


    the


    timees, we''ll have them put pressure on Victor at the meeting. No matter how stubborn he is, he can''t ignore the entire Fitzgerald Group."


    "And if that doesn''t work, we move to phase two put Aunt Deanna back in charge. She''s already lost faith in Victor. When the timees, the Fitzgeralds'' power will be up for grabs and that means the cks can finally take control."


    Kathie''s mood finally lifted, a genuine smile breaking through for the first time that


    day. "You always know what to do, Virgil. Hahaha!"