The mansion was a zing inferno, with smoke spiraling into the night sky as the distant wails of firetruck sirens cut through the chaos. Naomi copsed to the ground, disbelief clouding her vision. She clutched Ryan''s shoulders, her voiceced with desperation. "What are you saying? What do you mean?"


    Ryan''s face was smeared with ash, his eyes devoid of their usual sparkle. "Dad''s still inside. The fire started in his room... It''s toote... There''s no saving him..."


    In a frantic rush, Naomi tried to dash into the ze, only to be scorched by a sudden re that licked her arm. Tears streamed down her face from the heat and smoke, yet she pushed on, determined to reach him.


    ra sprinted over, yanking Naomi away from the ze. "Let me go! Let me go! Johnny!!" Naomi struggled fiercely, her nails leaving angry marks on ra''s skin.


    ra, having no other choice, raised her hand and knocked Naomi unconscious. As Naomi went limp, ra dragged her over to Ryan, who was still in tears, no longer resembling theposed heir he usually was.


    "ra, sobbing..." Ryan cried out, his voice a broken whisper.


    ra, unable to bear his helplessness, pped him hard. "Stop it! Crying won''t solve anything. Think about who could''ve started this fire. The Bradford family''spany needs you now."


    Ryan''s face was streaked with soot, his tears carving clean tracks down his cheeks. Wiping his face, he clung to ra''s leg. "ra, don''t leave me."


    ra''s patience was wearing thin, her temples throbbing with frustration, but she resisted the urge to shove him away. She called 911, arranging for an ambnce to take Naomi to safety, then coordinated with the arriving firefighters.


    The fire raged on until dawn, leaving only charred ruins in its wake. ra''s clothes were singed, and she looked as though she''d been dragged through ashes.


    Amid the devastation, identifying Johnny''sst resting ce was impossible; everything was reduced to soot and ruins. ra sifted through the remains, the structures crumbling under her touch.


    The police arrived to investigate the cause of the ze. ra, spotting Ryan sitting dazedly in the distance, hurried to brief the officers. "Please keep me in the loop about any developments. You can reach me directly."


    As the officers began their examination, ra pulled Ryan to his feet. Overnight, tragedy had struck their family, and at neen, Ryan was overwhelmed.


    "I''ll take you to my ce," ra said, guiding him to her car. "You''ll shower and rest. The police will handle the investigation. There''s a tough road ahead, but Dad transferred some shares to me... I''ll prepare a transfer agreement. You''re going to be the CEO of the Bradford familypany."


    Ryan, who had coasted through life without a care, felt the weight of responsibility for the first time. "ra, maybe we should sell the shares."


    The car screeched to a halt. ra grabbed his cor. "Listen, Ryan. Thispany was Dad''s life''s work. He built it from nothing. It''s not time to sell. I''ll pave the way for you, give you time to grow."


    Ryan, intimidated by her intensity, nodded silently, the tears slowing.


    Back at ra''s ce, she sent Ryan to clean up, handing him an oversized t-shirt


    to wear. She washed up quickly, her hair still damp as she emerged. Just then, the doorbell rang-it was Johnny''s assistant.


    Ryan recognized Cole, Johnny''s loyal and efficient aide, known for his silence and speed. Cole had already prepared the share transfer documents.


    ra signed the papers and instructed Cole, "List all the Bradford family properties and stores. Give me their current market values, and sell what you can within a month."


    Cole, though surprised,plied without question. ra, sensing his hesitation, was about to exin when Cole spoke. "Ms. ra, Mr. Johnny always said you were the one with vision. He trusted you with Anna''s future because he had faith in you."


    A wave of emotion hit ra. She owed her father so much, but he was gone, and she''d never get the chance to repay him. All she could do now was care for her brother.


    She nced at Ryan, who sat on the sofa in her oversized t-shirt, and advised, "Cole will get you some clothes. Stay put for now. Last night''s events will likely hit the news. Thepany''s shares will dip, and Greysen will make his move."


    Greysen had been waiting for an opportunity to take over from Johnny, even causing trouble during his illness. With Johnny gone, Greysen would undoubtedly try to coerce the Bradford family into relinquishing their shares.


    The biggest threat was if he approached Quinn. If Greysen secured Quinn''s ten percent stake, he''d have significant influence, second only to the CEO.


    Quinn, disillusioned by recent events, would likely seize any chance to make things difficult for ra.