On the way back to the estate, neither Emerald nor Brian spoke. The atmosphere in the car was tense and heavy.


    When the car stopped at the estate entrance, Emerald didn''t even nce at Brian. She opened the door and stepped out without a word.


    Brian quickly followed. It wasn''t until they reached the door of her study that she finally turned around, visibly annoyed. "Why are you still following me? Go see the family doctor and get your wounds treated."


    Brian looked at her with guilt. "Mom, I''m sorry. It was all my fault. I promise I''ll listen to you from now on."


    Emerald didn''t bother to respond. She simply pushed open the door to her study and shut it behind her.


    Not long after Emerald and Brian left the Bumard estate, a ck Maybach pulled up at the entrance.


    As the car came to a stop, a maid immediately stepped forward and opened the back door.


    Damon got out, and the maid bowed his head slightly. "Mr. Sumner, Mr. Bumard has been waiting for you."


    Following the maid, Damon walked through the grand hall and down a long corridor to the door of Ross'' study.


    The maid knocked, then pushed the door open at Ross'' signal.


    "Mr. Sumner, please go in," the maid said, stepping aside.


    "Thank you," Damon replied before entering.


    The maid quietly closed the door and remained outside.


    Ross was painting when Damon walked in. He nced up and smiled. "Come take


    a look at this painting. What do you think?"


    Damon stepped closer, his gaze falling on the artwork spread across the table.


    It was andscape-not terrible, but clearly the work of an amateur. At best, it was mediocre.


    "Not great. If you tried to sell it, you''d be lucky to get five dors for it," Damon remarked.


    Ross let out a heartyugh and set his brush down. "Only you would be this honest with me. If it were anyone else they''d probably find a way to tter me-maybe even offer 1,000,000 dors on the spot."


    "If someone offered that much, they wouldn''t be buying the painting," Damon replied.


    They''d be buying favor with the Bumards.


    Ross shook his head and walked around the desk toward the couch. "Sit."


    He personally poured Damon a cup


    of coffee, then smiled. "Emerald


    here earlier She


    agreed to set me


    thend in the south."


    >


    Damon lowered his gaze, unsurprised by the oue. He had even orchestrated Brian''s fight with the Bumard heirst night.


    "Without thatnd, her n to move the Nixons south will be dyed. This buys us more time," he said.


    If they could strip Emerald of her position as head of the Nixons, she wouldn''t be able to stand in the way of him and N.


    Ross nodded but hesitated. "But she is Ms. Kinsey''s mother. Are you sure you want to leave her with nothing?"


    Ross had known Emerald for many years. He understood her well-losing the Nixons would be a blow she couldn''t withstand.


    "She never treated N as her daughter. Besides, you''ve met N. You know her personality," Damon said.


    Ross smiled. "True. Although she


    was only here for a day, she certainly made things more interesting. You really don''t n to bring her and Buddy to settle in Meristate? Once this is over, we could be neighbors."


    "No, I still prefer my life back home," Damon said tly.


    Besides, all of N''s friends were there. Moving abroad would mean starting over, and that wouldn''t be fair to her.