In the grand Lancaster Mansion, the hall was filled with tension as the entire


    family gathered.


    Grandma and Grandpa Lancaster sat at opposite ends of the table, anger burning


    in their eyes.


    On the left side sat Sophia, Jack, and their parents, Justin and Florence.


    On the right side were Malvin, the firstborn, his wife Linda and their children, Mike and Lily.


    "Now, you tell me, how did the Lancasters lose $100 million ofpany money and end up with BioHealth Solutions, apany drowning in debt for the same amount?"


    Abraham started, his voice thundering through the room.


    "This is all because of that boy you forced to marry Sophia! Amelia spat, her voice sharp. "Chris Rnd said we were supposed to get the partnership, but that loser convinced Kingston to do otherwise!"


    "I heard the partnership was supposed to go to the Lancasters because Alex asked Kingston,” Abraham shot back, his voice rising. "But since you bribed Rnd, whom Kingston despises, they chose the other option!"


    "That''s how Jasmine twisted the facts!" Amelia used, her finger pointed usingly.


    "That loser is the reason for all this mess."


    The meeting had dragged on for an hour, but it was all just finger-pointing with no real solution in sight.


    "Alex warned you not to give the money, but all of you believed that Chris, and now look-we''ve been scammed!"


    "What do you know about it?!" Amelia snapped back. "It''s your loser who caused all of this!"


    Grandpa Lancaster sighed deeply. "We can''t agree on anything anymore... Let''s divorce."


    The entire hall fell into stunned silence.


    "Father," Justin finally spoke, his voice strained. "You and mother are already so old. Why divorce now?"


    "None of you respect my decisions," Grandpa Lancaster replied bitterly.


    "You''ve all been acting behind my back. I don''t think I belong in this family anymore. It''s better we each go our separate ways, so we don''t harm anyone further."


    Justin and Malvin hurriedly pleaded with Abraham to reconsider, but he remained unmoved. His mind was set.


    As Abraham left the hall, he called out to Sophia. "Come to my room."


    "Grandpa, I''m so sorry for what I''ve done," Sophia blurted out the moment she entered, her voice shaking.


    "It''s okay, Sophia," Abraham said, settling into his chair.


    "I know your grandma and parents must have pushed you into this. Your


    grandmother''s greed is driving them. I can''t even remember why I married her anymore."


    Sophia fell silent


    "Sophia," Abraham''s voice softened, "is Alex happy being married to you?"


    The question caught her off guard, her heart skipping a beat.


    "Grandpa, shouldn''t you be asking if I am happy being married to him?" she countered.


    28 BONUS


    Abraham similed faintly.


    "That''s what most women think, but Sophia, you can''t be selfish. You need to think about the other person''s feelings too."


    "I think he''s happy," Sophia quickly added, her voice defensive. "He married a beautiful girl like me, and I''m rich. He''s just a poor guy."


    Abraham sighed deeply, shaking his head.


    "Have you ever considered that he might be wealthier than you could imagine? That maybe he''s been lowering himself to marry you?"


    "Impossible," Sophia blurted, disbelief coloring her tone.


    "I put you as CEO because I thought you were different from the rest of them, but


    it turns out you''re just blindly following their lead," Abraham muttered, his


    disappointment clear as he shook his head again.


    "You can leave now, I need to rest.".


    Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, at David Sinir''s luxurious penthouse, something felt off.


    David had suddenly lost all contact with his people in Vancouver.


    His eyes were fixed on the dark city skyline, the distant lights flickering through the night.


    He whispered to himself, "What''s happening over there?"


    "David Sinir," a voice echoed through the room, cutting through the silence. "Care to exin why you sent your people to Vancouver?"


    David spun around, startled.


    A young man sat casually at his table, feet kicked up, exuding an unsettling calm. "Who are you? How did you get in here?"


    "David," the man said smoothly, ignoring the question, "when the new King rose,


    he let you keep your position, even though you backed the old King. Do you


    realize your actions today have made the new King very unhappy?"


    A chill ran down David''s spine, sweat forming on the back of his neck.


    "Are you... Kingswell?"


    He had heard rumors-whispers of the Kingswells, the secret operatives working in the shadows for the new King.


    "I don''t think Alfred Kingston is fit to lead Vancouver," David sneered. "Tell the King I could serve him better than Kingston ever could."


    The young man smiled calmly.


    "The King now belleves that Kingston is better suited to lead Los Angeles than you are."


    David, sensing the danger, hastily reached into the table drawer, pulling out a handgun. But before he could aim, a sharp pain pierced his chest.


    He gasped, unable to breathe, his eyes wide with terror as he looked at the young


    man.


    Chapter go


    David''s body copsed to the floor, his breath slipping away.


    Suddenly, the young man''s phone rang.


    He answered it without missing a beat. "Yes, Grandpa?"


    "Alex, do you know the Lancasters are having some trouble?" Abraham''s voice was weary but clear.


    "Yes," Alex replied, standing up and leaving David''s lifeless body behind in the tooth. "Please, don''t worry."


    29 BONUS


    "Kingston has agreed to give Lancaster the partnership and resume cooperation with BioHealth. That should fix most of the issues, right?"


    "And also, I won a bet-a house from Chris Rnd. I''ll transfer the ownership to you. You can sell it and recover some of the lost money."


    Abraham''s eyes grew wet with emotion.


    "Thank you, Alex," he whispered, the weight of gratitude heavy in his voice. "Please don''t thank me. We''re family," Alex replied before ending the call. Abraham felt a rare happiness wash over him.


    It seemed, finally, the storm had passed, and everything was falling into ce.


    But then, a sinister voice broke the silence behind him. "So, now you are going to keep all the good things for yourself and leave us?"


    "What?" Abraham turned in shock, but before he could react, someone struck him hard, sending him crashing to the floor.


    "You''re better off dead! How dare you greed over the divorce settlement!" the voice snarled, filled with venom.