"Sir Kane, It''s urgent!"


    The study rooms door burst open, the doctor breathless, panic painting his face.


    "Ms. Kane''s condition has worsened drastically!"


    Be had been transferred to her private suite in the Kane mansion, outfitted with state-of-the-art medical equipment and attended by Vermont''s top specialists.


    Jericho rose like a thunderetap, knocking his chair back.


    "What the hell are you saying? She''s in danger? That''s impossible He lunged, grabbing the doctor by the cor.


    "She''s... we believe she''s been poisoned. The dosage, it-it was ant to act slower, two days or three days at least."


    "But her body was too frail. The toxin''s spreading faster than we imagined. You''ll understand once you see her, sir," the doctor stammered, his voice trembling.


    Jericho''s voice dropped to a growl, thick with menace. "Take me to her. Now." He stormed behind the doctor through sterile corridors and the stench of antiseptic.


    When he entered the room, his breath caught.


    Bey beneath the pale light, her face contorted in pain, her skin ghostly white.


    Every breath looked like war against death itself.


    "Be!" Jericho fell to his knees beside her bed, his voice cracking "How are you feeling, baby girl?"


    "Dad..." her voice was a feather on the wind.


    "I''m dying. It hurts. I don''t want to die. Please... please, Father... help me..."


    Jericho''s heart splintered. Her trembling fingers gripped his hand like a lifeline to the living.


    He turned, rage surging in his chest.


    "Exin this, now!" he snapped at the doctor. "How did it get this bad?"


    "Sir... her immune system is barely holding together. The poison''s tearing through her like wildfire. Without the antidote, she won''t make it through the next twelve hours."


    Vet stepped forward.


    "Sir, there''s only one path left. We send her to Sophia. Let her apologies. Beg if she has to. We need that antidote."


    Pride be damned.


    Jericho, the unbreakable Kane, finally broke.


    Tears streamed down his weathered face.


    "Fine," he whispered. "Get the helicopter ready. She''s going. If Alex doesn''t give her that antidote... I swear to God, I''ll burn him and everything he holds dear."


    "Yes, Sir." Vet nodded, already barking orders. He grabbed a phone, dialed fast, then handed it over.


    "Who is this?" came the voice on the other end.


    "Jericho Kane," he said, his tone like frozen steel.


    "I''m sending Be. She''ll apologize to Sophia. You''d better have the antidote ready."


    Apause. Then Alex replied, cool as ice.


    "Fine. I''ll be waiting."


    The call ended with a click that sounded like judgment.


    Jericho''s hand shook, the phone nearly shattering in his grip.


    Who did that boy think he was? To speak to him-him-like an equal.


    Like he held power over the Kane legacy.


    His name. His power. Dragged through the mud.


    The fall was too steep. Too fast.


    And the vultures were already circling.


    By dawn, the Kane Mansion stood quiet under a moonless sky.


    The private helicopter sliced through the bitter wind, carrying Be toward Vancouver.


    Be moaned, her pain echoing inside the cold, humming medical chopper. Meanwhile, in Vermont, a new day broke over a new rule.


    Kelly Kingston stood on the balcony of the governor''s office, arms folded, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction.


    Inside the luxury ward in Vancouver, Sophia was already awake.


    Her bandaged hands rested gently on herp.


    Herplexion, once pallid, was returning to a soft glow-the miracle pills from Alex were working.


    When Alex walked in, he was met by icy silence.


    The Lancaster family had gathered. Tension crackled like lightning.


    "There he is. The bastard," Jack spat.


    Florence shot to her feet, fury burning her eyes.


    →


    "You''ve ruined us! You arrogant brat! The Kanes cklisted the Lancasters because of you! You show up here like nothing happened? Are you proud that we''re staring down ruin?"


    The others red, their silence a choir of contempt.


    Even Sophia''s gaze was heavy, conflicted.


    She knew he had done it for her. But his misguided protection had dragged her whole family to hell''s doorstep.


    Abraham tried to calm the storm. "Let''s not forget, Alex acted on impulse. But his heart-he did it for Sophia. We''ve already survived the worst of it, haven''t we?"


    Florence snapped around.


    "Survived? Because of Charles Kingston, not him. Alex started this fire, and someone else had to put it out. And what, y the Kanes won''t retaliate again?"


    Jaink


    "I''ve already handled the Kanes," Alex said evenly.


    Florence''s eyes zed.


    "You? Don''t make meugh. You think you can fix anything with that cocky mouth of yours? You get put Sophia and Lancaster groups in dangerous, ra stabbed —what''s next, Alex? You want us all six feet under just so you can feel heroic?" She pped him-hard. The sound cracked like a whip.


    "Enough!" Abraham roared, grabbing her wrist.


    "This isn''t the time to devour each other. We need unity now, not more chaos!"


    "Oh, shut it, old man!" Florence shouted, pointing at Alex.


    "He stumbles in, burns the world down, and expects everyone else to sweep up the ashes! We''re drowning because of him!"


    "That''s right!" Jack joined in.


    "If it weren''t for Alex and his endless disasters, the Lancaster name wouldn''t be worth dirt today!"


    No one disagreed. Not even Sophia.


    "Hell why don''t we just hogtie him, toss him at Be Kane''s feet, and pray she


    don''t spit in our faces? Maybe then those vultures''ll back off!" Jack bellowed, his face red with rage. 1