The hateful, merciless words pierced through Cassius''s chest, shattering his heart. Through the haze, Chasel thought he saw a single, broken tear escape from the corner of Cassius''s eye, only to be quickly blinked away. The handsome face became a numb, empty mask. But the crushing pain was a tidal wave, pulling him under so fast he couldn''t control his expression, his soul splintering inside his rigid body.


    Winston got into the driver''s seat just as Chasel retched again, the sound so violent it seemed as if he were trying to expel his own organs.


    "Hex, Mr. Bright looks like he has alcohol poisoning. We should take him to a hospital," Winston said, his voice tight with concern.


    Cassius took off his ruined suit jacket and used it to clean up the mess. Seeing the pained look on Chasel''s face was another twist of the knife in his own heart. He pulled the man into a tight embrace. He knew Chasel''s tolerance for alcohol; it would take a lot to get him this drunk. He must have been in immense pain to do this to himself.


    "Thirsty... so thirsty... so hot..." Chasel''s face was flushed, his eyes ssy. His lips were parted, and his hot breath fanned across Cassius''s chin. His body went limp, melting into the embrace.


    "Winston, what''s happening? He''s burning up!" Cassius felt the scorching heat of Chasel''s skin through his thin silk shirt.


    "Hex, this isn''t right!" Winston, with his medical background and street smarts, instantly knew what was wrong. "Some bastard must have drugged him!”


    Cassius''s eyes shed with murderous rage as he remembered the man who had been hitting on Chasel earlier. His fingers dug into the man''s waist as he made a quick, terse phone call. A few minutester, two of his men dragged Chasel''s would- be assant out the back door of the bar and into a dark, filthy alley. His fate was sealed.


    "Hex, he''s not going tost much longer. We need to get him to a hospital!" Winston urged.


    "No need. I''m here." Cassius''s cor was askew, his neck covered in angry red scratches from Chasel''s struggles, but his gaze was as soft and adoring as it had been the first day they met. "Take us to the K Orld Hotel."


    Late that night, a sliver of a moon hung in the sky. Windermere Estate was cold and silent. Thaddeus, hisz brow heavy with a dark mncholy, walked through the ornate cerridors, finally stopping before his father''s study. He knocked. A low voice answered from within.


    Thaddeus entered to find Frederic alone, sitting on the sofa, drinking ss after ss of whiskey.


    "Dad, your blood pressure is high. You should stay away from hard liquor." Thaddeus strode over, leaned down, and moved the half-empty bottle aside. His own expression was unreadable.


    Frederic''s hand fr


    froze mid-air. He


    looked up at his son, his usually proud eyes.clouded with a gray haze. Thaddeus had rarely seen his fathertke this. He felt a flicker of


    Concern but kept his voice steady


    "You asked to see me thiste. Is something wrong?"


    "Thaddeus..." Frederic swallowed, his voice hoarse and weary. "The board meeting is tomorrow. There''s something... I need to tell you beforehand. I... I''m not going to change my decision. Your brother will remain the CEO of the Abernathy Group."


    His dry lips parted. He wanted to apologize to his youngest son, who had been so wronged, but his own damnable pride held him back. The unspoken guilt gnawed at his heart.


    "Dad, I know you''ve felt guilty about Chad all these years. Now that he''s back, you want to do everything you can to make it up to him." Thaddeus stood before him his gaze cool and unwavering. "But all of that shoulde second to the interests of the Abernathy Group. That''s what you''ve drilled into me my entire life. I haven''t forgotten it. Have you?"


    Frederic gritted his teeth, unable to meet his son''s eyes.