<h4>Chapter 409: Chapter 409 The Price of Redemption</h4>


    Author’s pov


    The Cole patriarch finally snapped. With a roar that froze the air, he hurled his crystal tumbler at Zane’s feet, ss exploding across the polished floor.


    "You two disgusting creatures should rot in hell ! "he shouted, his voice raw with decades of buried rage.


    The room went dead silent. Philip Lawson, who’d tried to grab his arm a moment toote, stood frozen mid-motion.


    No one med him. After losing both his daughter and grandson, watching Zane and Maggie unt their twisted affection was more than any father could take.


    The Coles had already lost everything. Those two should have been begging for forgiveness, not performing their love story for the people they’d destroyed.


    Martha lowered her head, shame stiffening her shoulders. Her voice came out small, almost mechanical. "Please forgive my son, "she murmured. She couldn’t meet anyone’s eyes.


    Maggie had turned pale, her usual calm and graceful lookpletely gone.


    Zane wiped the spilled drink from his pants and stood up. "Father, please calm down. What happened back then was just an ident. "


    "You worthless bastard ! "the Cole patriarch roared, surging forward with surprising speed for a man his age.


    The room burst into chaos. Members of the Cole family jumped to their feet, and others rushed forward to break up the fight.


    In seconds, the elegant gathering of Colorado Springs’ elite looked more like a bar fight, except everyone was wearing designer suits and gowns.


    Alpha Sebastian reacted instantly, pulling Cecilia back from the chaos. His movements were smooth and precise.


    Thankfully, not everyone lost their heads. Cassian stepped in, looking like he’d aged ten years in five minutes, barking orders until the room began to calm.


    Slowly, the noise died down, and people found their seats again, though the tension still hummed in the air.


    Alpha Sebastian guided Cecilia back to her chair, his hand resting reassuringly at the small of her back.


    She sat, her pulse steadying, but a flicker of disappointment crossed her face. She’d almost hoped to see Zane and Maggie bruised for once.


    Instead, Maggie lookedpletely unharmed, protected by Zane, while he only looked a bit messy, his tie crooked but his pride still intact.


    Across the room, Maggie tugged at Zane’s sleeve, her movements small and desperate. She was clearly signaling him to leave while everyone was still distracted.


    Before he could speak, Alpha Sebastian’s calm,manding voice cut through the heavy air.


    "The Cole patriarch, I understand your anger, "he said evenly. "But Zane just agreed to Cecilia’s request. I believe they’re sincere about making amends. Maybe we should give them that chance. "


    His tone was steady, firm but respectful, and it worked. The Cole patriarch’s anger eased into a tense silence. He looked at Cecilia, his face a little softer, though his voice was still rough.


    "Go ahead, Cece, "he said. "If that sorry excuse for a father dares to refuse you, I’ll take another swing at him. "


    Zane’s eyes darted toward his mother, silently begging for help.


    Martha, who had been watching everything with an almost frightening calm, looked at the Cole patriarch first, then turned to Zane. Her voice was cold, deliberate. "Next time, hit him harder. "


    The room exhaled in stunned silence.


    Then, Martha looked back to Cecilia, her tone softening just slightly. "Go on, dear. Your grandfather and I are listening. "


    Those few words from the Locke matriarch brought a wave of visible relief to the Cole family. The dead couldn’t be brought back, and any evidence that had been impossible to find decades ago was long gone.


    Over time, they’d stopped searching, letting business ties slowly mend as Zane sent Cassian to handle negotiations on his behalf.


    By silent agreement, the past had been buried, until tonight opened the wound again.


    Cecilia sat up a little straighter, her voice calm but firm. "Then I’ll speak inly, "she said.


    Her eyes moved between Maggie and Zane.


    Maggie felt a chill run down her spine, while Zane tried to stay calm, almost looking eager, like a man waiting for punishment.


    Cecilia almostughed, but the sound stuck in her throat, bitter and sharp. "I don’t care about nice words, "she said. "I want something real, proof that you mean it. "


    She took a slow breath, pushing down the disgust rising in her chest. "If you really want to make things right, I want all of my father’s shares in Locke Enterprises. "


    The room froze.


    Maggie’s mouth fell open. Zane went pale, eyes wide, speechless.Around them, the tension thickened.


    Chairs creaked as people straightened, every gaze snapping toward Cecilia.


    Then the shouting started.


    "Cecilia, do you even hear yourself ? "one of the Locke cousins shouted.


    "This isn’t just greed. You’re trying to ruin Zane ! "another added angrily.


    "She’s famous in Denver for it, "someone else added. "Didn’t she bleed her ex-husband’s family dry during the divorce ? "


    Cecilia didn’t even blink. Her voice cut through the noise like a de. "Is this how you handle things ? Letting your guard dogs bark for you ? "


    She didn’t bother to look at the others, her eyes locked on Zane and Maggie. "So what’s your answer ? Are you refusing me ? "


    The room went quiet again, the tension snapping back like a drawn wire.


    Zane swallowed hard. "Cece, it’s not that I disagree, but this demand is just... "


    "No excuses, "Cecilia said coldly. "Yes or no ? "


    "If you’d just let me exin... "


    "Yes or no ? "


    "Cecilia, listen to me... "


    "YES. OR. NO ? "Her voice rose, each word punctuated with quiet fury.


    Zane’s restraint cracked. "I can’t give you everything ! "he shouted.


    Cecilia’s lips curled into a cold, humorless smile. "Then stop pretending you’re here to make peace. Watching you and Maggie act like a loving couple makes me sick. I might throw up right on both of you. "


    The tone of her voice had changedpletely. The softness was gone, reced by something sharp and merciless. Every word hit like a knife.


    Zane’s face twisted with pain. "Please, don’t hate me. Just... give me time. This isn’t a small decision. "


    At that, Maggie’s mask slipped. Her eyes darkened, fury seeping through the cracks in herposure.


    "Zane ! "she snapped. "Do Xenia and I mean nothing to you now ? Is she all that matters ? "


    Zane’s expression hardened. "Don’t do this here, "he warned.


    But Maggie was past listening. The fragile, grieving act she’d worn all night shatteredpletely. She pulled her hand away from his like his touch burned.


    "I’m the one starting something ? "she snapped. "You’re ready to give her everything just because she’s your daughter, without thinking about what she’s turned into ! She makes this demand today, so what’s next ? Killing Xenia and me tomorrow ? "


    "Enough ! "Zane thundered.


    Maggie’s eyes zed. Her voice climbed higher, teetering on hysteria. "Is it nonsense ? Ask anyone ! Look at what happens to people who cross her. Has even one of them ended well ? You think that’s coincidence ? "


    Then she turned toward the Cole patriarch, her voice rising to a near-scream. "Haven’t you noticed your granddaughter Daisy isn’t here tonight with the Lawsons ? "


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