She edged away, just a little, nervous his temper would re up again. But instead, he spoke softly, almost too calm.


    "Your boyfriend-he''s just someone you could drop any time, isn''t he? Honestly, does anyone really matter to you?"


    ra almostughed at how absurd it all felt. Was this really about Eden, or was Dn actually mad that she''d left without saying anything?


    If you looked close, you could see how tense he was his fingers rigid, even his wrist tight with anger he was struggling to hide.


    She''d never seen Dn like this before. He wasn''t the passionate, maic man she was used to. This was something different. This was pure, raw fury.


    She opened her mouth, but nothing came out. All she could think about were the people who''d really pissed Dn off in the past-none of them ended well. Ruined lives, broken families. He always seemed so refined, but if he set his mind on revenge, it was hell for whoever crossed him.


    ra was nothing if not practical. She dropped to her knees instantly, her attitude respectful to the point of desperation.


    "Mr. Dn, this really is all my fault."


    He let out a low, humorlessugh-one of thoseughs that''s more warning than anything else.


    She had the sinking feeling that, right now, anything she did would just make things worse.


    So she stayed kneeling, silent.


    Suddenly, Dn started coughing. It was rough, but over quickly. He just turned his wheelchair and left her there on the floor.


    Upstairs, the elevator doors opened and Aiden was waiting, worry all over his face. He hurried over as soon as he saw Dn.


    "Sir..."


    Dn waved him off. "I''m fine."


    He headed straight to his study and sat down at theputer. There were meetings waiting for him overseas-he needed something to distract himself, to clear his head.


    But the more he stared at the screen, the more crowded his mind became with memories and shadows.


    Eventually, he just shut his eyes, swallowing hard.


    "Aiden."


    Aiden stepped in, hesitation written all over him. "Is this about Ms. Eden? What do you want to do?"


    Dn pulled open a drawer. Insidey a ring.


    He picked it up, rubbing his thumb over the band like it might steady him somehow.


    "Make her identity public."


    Aiden didn''t hesitate or ask for details. He just nodded and left. "Understood. I''ll take care of it."


    No one really knew where Eden came from Dn had brought her into the family himself, and out of respect for him, nobody dared to gossip. Even Walter, the family''s patriarch, spoiled her like a real granddaughter.


    But less than half an hourter, a story even juicier than ra''s rumored boy toy


    was all anyone could talk about.


    Eden''s background was tied to the biggest corruption scandal of twenty years ago.


    It was a long, twisted story.


    Back when Walter was still in power,


    he and a few other big shots had


    teamed up to bring down a


    notorious official named Henry The guy had more mistresses than anyone could count. This was before the inte, so most of it


    went under the radar, but everyone knew he seduced dozens of young women.


    One girl had it worst of all. She didn''t even know who Henry really was just believed every sweet word he said. She dropped out of her top university for him, promising to stay by his side.


    She ended up pregnant. And just as she was about to give birth, Henry''s empire crashed down around him That''s when she discovered he had countless other women-and a wife, who was as ruthless as she was powerful. The wife didn''t just want revenge-she wanted destruction. She had the young woman, barely out of the hospital with her newborn, burned alive. Right in front of the city''s biggest luxury mall, a ce that now sparkled with mour but once held the memory of something unspeakable.