The room was dead silent. Aaron knelt on the cold floor, his face twisted with frustration.


    "Grandpa, Uncle''s spent his whole life under Dn''s thumb. And now Dn''s set him up—right in front of everyone—and we''re just supposed to let it go? Does that mean, from now on, the entire Ferguson family is just Dn''s tomand? He can do whatever he wants, hurt whoever he wants, and the rest of us have to live at his mercy?"


    His words cut deep, stripping everyone in the room of their pride-including Walter.


    Aaron was desperate tonight. He mmed his forehead against the cold marble, hard and loud, over and over.


    "All I want is some justice!"


    People in the room exchanged uneasy nces. Some looked secretly pleased, others couldn''t hide their worry. Aaron''s father sat nearby, silent and shrinking into himself. He''d already lost his eldest son, and now his youngest was putting everything on the line. All he could do was sit there, hands clenched so tight they trembled.


    If Dn didn''t get taken down tonight, it''d be their family paying the price.


    Aaron begged again, voice shaking. “Grandpa, please-stop Eden from leaving.


    She knows way more than she''s letting on!"


    Walter''s eyes slid to Dn. "Dn, what do you think?"


    Dn looked down,shes shielding his eyes. "Whatever you want."


    He agreed so easily, it made everyone in the room uneasy. It was like nothing ever rattled him. Like he always had the upper hand.


    The Fergusons sent people to stop Eden, but word came back: she was already on a ne. Gone.


    Walter''s people were a step toote.


    When he heard, Walter stared at Dn for a long time, lips pressed into a thin line. It took him a minute, but finally, he spoke his voice heavy.


    "In the next two weeks, the Ferguson family will arrange your marriage. Tonight, I''ll make it official-every family will send in profiles of their single daughters. I''II choose myself."


    The words had barely left his mouth when Aaron, still kneeling, yelled, "Grandpa!"


    Everyone understood what Walter meant. He was dropping the whole thing with Eden, but there was no way he''d let Dn get anywhere near ra.


    To Walter, that was a much bigger deal than anything Eden might''ve done. "That''s enough."


    Walter stood up, sounding tired and worn out. "We''ll talk about everything else after Dn''s married."


    "As for ra, you''d better send her away. I''ll tell your mother toe back too."


    Years ago Mrs. Ferguson left the family behind, promising never to get involved again. The past had left her heart in pieces. She''d stayed away all this time. But maybe, for Dn''s wedding, she''d finally show up.


    Walter went upstairs, and no one else wanted to stick around.


    Aaron got up from the floor, bitterness sharp in his voice. "I have no idea what you and Grandpa have worked out. Why is it, after albthese years, he still takes your side?"


    It wasn''t just favoritism anymore-it was something more, something tant, so clear it made everyone else burn with envy.


    Dn didn''t say a word. He just nodded to Aiden, who pushed his wheelchair out of the room.


    Everyone left behind watched him go, their faces tense and unsettled.


    Tonight hadn''t even put a scratch on Dn. That sent a chill through the whole room.


    Did that mean, as long as Dn didn''t do anything right in front of Walter, Walter would always protect him?


    Dn got back in the car, propping his head on his hand, eyes lost somewhere outside the window.


    Aiden nced at him. "Boss, about the wedding...?"


    Tonight''s mess was far from over, Walter was only stalling, waiting to see if Dn would actually go along with the marriage n. If not, there''d be hell to payter.  fo


    Dn''sshes fluttered. Out of nowhere, he asked, "What do you think ra''s doing right now?"


    Aiden blinked, thinking he''d misheard. "What?"


    The Ferguson family was on the brink of war-everyone on edge, knives out.


    And all Dn could think about was ra.