This wasn''t just foolish this was sheer arrogance.


    Jonathan stepped in front of Skyler, who was storming forward in a rage. "Dad, please, calm down for a second..."


    Skyler''s face was flushed crimson, his chest heaving with fury.


    "Calm down? After what he did to Star, how am I supposed to calm down? I could tear him apart with my own hands right now!"


    Ste remained unmoved, her expression cool and unshaken. "No need to go that far,” she said evenly. "ording to the agreement, all we need to do is immediately cut ties with the Lerman family."


    Joshua spoke up, his tone icy. "Mr. Williams, are you this angry because you chose to believe an outsider over your own daughter? Is it your pride that''s wounded? Just a moment ago, you used Ste of framing Leonard and trying to run away from the consequences."


    Jonathan, Israel, and Coleman all looked as if they''d swallowed something foul. Not one of them could muster a defense.


    Their reputations were beyond repair nowpletely shattered. And all of it, everyst bit, was because of Leonard''s reckless actions.


    Jonathan turned to Ste. "Star, I''m sorry. We all misjudged you. As your eldest brother, I apologize. Whatever you want to do about Leonard, we''ll support you."


    Ste raised her eyebrows, her voice light but steady. "I won''t put you through the trouble of seeking revenge for me. Let''s just stick to the agreement Leonard and I made."


    She pulled a folded contract from her purse. "This contract, signed by every member of the Williams family-including you, Dad."


    She handed it to Abby. "Abby, would you mind reading it out loud for everyone? Just so no one forgets any of the details."


    A sardonic smile yed at the corners of Abby''s lips as she took the contract from Ste and began to read.


    No one tried to stop her. Everyone was too busy scrambling for a solution. The way this had all unraveled-so suddenly, so decisively-had left them all stunned and unprepared.


    Jonathan''s gaze flickered. "All right. From today forward, the Williams family will have no further dealings with the Lermans."


    But Ste could see right through Jonathan''s intentions. She reminded him, "ording to the agreement, all previous partnerships need to be canceled as well."


    Jonathan replied, "Star, to end contracts we''ve already signed, we have to put it to a shareholder vote. With major agreements like these, we need approval from more than half the board."


    Ste didn''t even blink. “So, what you''re saying is, you want to use the contracts you can''t actually cance to get your hands on my original shares If I''d lost, I''d have to hand them over, but if you lose...well, sorry, then it''s suddenly out of your control, and you need a board meeting to decide?"


    Israel was stung by her sarcasm, his temper ring. "Ste, get your facts straight. The bet was with Leonard, not the rest of us! Why take it out on your own family? Or is it that you only know how to fight those closest to you, but when ites to people like Leonard, you just give in and beg for mercy?"


    He barely finished his sentence before two voices barked at him in unison.


    "Israel, shut up!"


    It was Skyler and Jonathan.


    As if things weren''t humiliating enough already, Israel just had to add fuel to the fire, as if he''d lost all sense.


    With things spiraling out of control, arguing wasn''t going to fix anything.


    Skyler spoke again, softer this time. "Star, don''t listen to Israel. You have my word we''ll end our partnership with the Lermans. But with families andpanies like ours, these things take time. It''s not something that can happen overnight.* *