How could he forget? The Abernathy Group was his life''s work.


    "He framed me for drug use, bribed my doctor to falsify evidence, all to take me down. If he''s willing to do that to me today, he''ll be willing to betray anyone tomorrow." Seeing his father''s silence, Thaddeus took a deep breath, reining in his anger. “Fine. Let''s say you consider our conflict a family matter. But what about now? Chad''s reputation is in ruins, the stock is vtile. Even with all that, you''re still going to protect him?"


    "Chad already exined everything to me. He didn''t know about the bribery; that doctor did it behind his back. She''s already in custody. The negative press will eventually die down..."


    Thaddeus listened, a knot of disappointment tightening in his chest, a bitter taste rising in his throat. He had lost his mother at a young age and had never expected much affection from his father. He wasn''t a sentimental man. But at this moment, he had hoped, just for once, that his father would take his side. It seemed that was a hope he would carry to his grave.


    "If the oue is already decided, why did you feel the need to tell me tonight? Do you think I''m so weak that I can''t handle it?" Thaddeus masked his profound disappointment with a polite bow. As he turned to leave, he picked up the half-empty bottle of whiskey and walked out in silence.


    The moment the door clicked shut, Frederic''sposure shattered. His spine slumped, and he buried his face in his hands, his shoulders shaking. The weight of his failure was suffocating. In the courtroom all those years ago, when Elspeth was sentenced to death, he had realized he was a failure as a husband. Now, he was forced to admit he was aplete and utter failure as a father.


    *


    On his way back to his room, Thaddeus ran into Dennis.


    "Mr. Thaddeus," the butler bowed respectfully.


    Thaddeus''s lips thinned. "My father seems to be in a bad mood. He''s been drinking heavily. Please check his blood pressure before he goes to sleep."


    Dennis paused, a flicker of something in his eyes. "Mr. Thaddeus, I never thought you would be the one in this family who cares most about Mr. Frederic."


    Thaddeus caught the underlying meaning in his words but didn''t press the issue. "Dennis, you''ve been by my father''s side for over twenty years. You''re his most trusted confidant. He trusts you more than he trusts me. If you have something to say, please speak freely."


    "Mr. Thaddeus, I know your conversation with Mr. Frederic tonight did not go well. But I hope you won''t hold it against him. He has his reasons!"


    "What reasons?" Thaddeus''s expression hardened.


    Dennis''s jaw tightened. "I''m sorry, I can''t say. But I hope.....”


    "I have no reason to resent him.” Thaddeus met the butler''s gaze without flinching. "First, he is the chairman of the board. The power I had was given to me by him. We are not just father and son; we are superior and subordinate can only say that I am deeply disappointed by his decision Second, if you had said this to me in the past, might have given it some thought. But now, power is no longer the most important thing in my life. I just want my father to live a long, healthy life."


    With a faint, self-assured smile, he walked away. Dennis stood frozen, his fists clenched at his sides.


    The next morning, in the Abernathy Group''s boardroom.


    The disastrous press conference had created a firestorm, necessitating another emergency board meeting to discuss damage control Naturally, Chad, now mired in scandal, would be the main topic of discussion.


    From his seat, Chad nced at the empty chair across the


    table-Thaddeus''s chair-and a dark, triumphant smile touched his lips. So what if he was caught in a media stopa? So what if the world suspected him He had imed the CEO''s throne, and he would never be brought down.


    Frederic, at the head of the table, scanned the room. His gaze lingered for a moment on the empty seat before he spoke. “Everyone is here. Let''s begin.....”


    Before he could finish, the boardroom doors swung open.


    Thaddeus, impably dressed in a sharp suit, strode in. His eyes were half-lidded, but they held the sharp, dangerous glint of a drawn de.