Mary looked at Vik expressionlessly. "Of course. He was ready to make you pay for Brian''s leg. Do you still see him as your father?"


    Vik''s expression shifted. After a long pause, he finally spoke. "But... he used to treat us well..."


    Although Vik had been deeply disappointed when he discovered that Edward was willing to sacrifice his leg for Brian''s, he still couldn''t bring himself to harm his father.


    Mary let out a coldugh. "He did treat us well in the past, but didn''t we treat him well, too?"


    She had been with Edward since she was 20, willingly ying the role of the woman he kept outside his marriage. She had once believed that Edward truly loved her.


    But today, she hade to a painful realization: no matter what, she and Vik would neverpare to Brian and Emerald in Edward''s heart.


    Even after Emerald and Brian drugged him and nearly killed him, Edward had chosen to stand by them. If that were the case, then Mary wouldn''t hesitate to be ruthless either.


    Vik couldn''t argue with her words, but he couldn''t bear to watch his mother poison his father.


    He stood up. "Mom, do whatever you want, but I can''t stand by and watch you poison Dad. I''m leaving."


    As he turned to go, Mary''s cold voice echoed from behind him. "Stop right there. You''re not going anywhere."


    Vik froze mid-step and turned back to look at her in disbelief. "Mom..."


    "Vik, I''m giving you two choices. Either you give your father the poison, or you stand by his side, let his men kill me, and sacrifice your leg for Brian," Mary dered.


    Vik''s face went deathly pale. Neither option was something he wanted to choose.


    Upon seeing his pain, Mary''s voice remained icy. "I''m giving you five minutes to decide. If you don''t, I''ll make the choice for you."


    "Mom... do you really have to force me?" Vik asked, his voice shaking.


    Mary stared at him impassively. "I''m not forcing you. This is the reality-you only have two options, and you must pick one."


    Everything she was doing was for Vik''s sake.


    However, if Vik—the one who stood to gain the most-refused to take her side, she couldn''t ept it. Thus, she had to force him to choose.


    The room fell silent.


    After a long while, Vik finally met Mary''s gaze. "Mom... I can''t do it. I can''t poison Dad. I''d feel guilty for the rest of my life."


    "And do you think he''ll feel guilty for the rest of his life after making you pay for Brian''s feg? Or will he just toss you aside like trash? Mary countered.


    Vik''s expression wavered, his lips trembling.


    Finally, his gaze hardened with determination. "I''ll do it. I''ll give Dad the poison."


    Mary smiled in satisfaction. "That''s my boy. Soon, the Nixons will be ours."


    ...


    Edward''s worsening health quickly reached Emerald''s ears.


    She was more than happy about it. After all, if she had nned to poison Edward herself, she would''ve had to be cautious. Now that his condition was already deteriorating it saved her the trouble.


    Despite that, her satisfaction didn''tst long.


    At the monthly Nixon meeting on Monday morning, Mary arrived with Vik.


    Emerald''s face darkened. Her voice


    was icy. "Mary, what are you doing here with Vik?! This is a Nixon


    internal meeting If


    neither If I recall corres


    you are members of the


    family."


    Mary smirked. "Vik and I are here as Edward''s representatives. This is his signed authorization."