Adrian Sullivan stood before Victor Sullivan's desk, his face dark with anger. His knuckles turned white from clenching his fists.

"Just because I'm your illegitimate son, you show such favoritism?" His voice trembled with suppressed fury. "Shane Prescott slapped me in front of everyone, and you expect me to take it?"

Victor removed his glasses and rubbed his temples. "The company needs stability right now."

"Stability?" Adrian sneered. "Or are you just trying to push me out?"

Victor looked up. "If you're willing to sell your shares, I'll buy them at a premium."

Adrian's expression darkened instantly.

He turned abruptly and stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

In the hallway, Shane leaned against the wall, a cigarette dangling from his lips. Smoke curled around him as he narrowed his eyes. "Finished tattling?"

Adrian paused mid-step. "I was just stating facts."

Shane scoffed. "If you want revenge, come at me openly."

Adrian didn't respond and quickened his pace.

Back in his office, he locked the door.

The retinal scanner in the lounge glowed blue.

After confirming the room was secure, Adrian dialed Leonard Laurent.

"Grandfather, I can't take this anymore." His voice shook. "Today, Shane humiliated me in front of the entire board, and Victor defended him!"

Silence stretched on the other end.

"What do you plan to do?"

"I'll expose his fake degree! Let everyone know he's just a grave robber!"

Leonard sighed. "You're being reckless."

"So I should just let it go?"

"Shane isn't simple." Leonard's voice was low. "He provoked you deliberately, waiting for you to make a mistake."

Adrian tightened his grip on the phone. "Then what should I do?"

"Wait."

After hanging up, Adrian punched the wall.

Meanwhile, Shane accompanied Victor on a site inspection.

Under the scorching sun, he wore a hardhat, his brow furrowed.

"These materials are substandard." He grabbed a handful of sand. "It's mixed with sea sand."

Victor's face paled as he immediately summoned the project manager.

The evening's business dinner ran late into the night.

"Take Shane to Riverbend Villa," Victor instructed his assistant. "He's had too much to drink."

Shane shook his head. "I'm going to see Ethan."

Victor hesitated. "His condition right now—"

"That's my brother!" Shane's voice rose sharply. "He suffered because of me!"

At Riverbend Villa, Shane pushed the door open quietly.

Ethan stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, his voice uncharacteristically tender as he spoke on the phone.

"I'll be back from my business trip soon."

When he turned after hanging up, all softness vanished.

His eyes were cold as ice.

Shane's chest tightened.

"How long will you keep lying to her?" he asked.

Ethan sat on the sofa. "It depends on his treatment."

"Any side effects from the medication?"

"None."

Shane stared at him.

Finally, Ethan spoke. "Dizziness. Tinnitus. Memory lapses."

Shane whirled around to leave.

"Stop." Ethan's voice halted him. "Don't do anything stupid."

Shane's back remained rigid.

"Think about Audrey. Think about Natalie." Ethan's tone was calm. "If anything happens to you, Mom will lose her mind."

After a long silence, Shane turned and walked into the kitchen.

"I'll make you some supper."

"Not necessary."

"I'll stay with you for a while."

Ethan looked up. "Since when did you get so sentimental?"

"Since right now."

In the dead of night, a scream shattered the darkness.

Shane burst into the master bedroom to find Ethan sitting up, drenched in sweat.

"Nightmare?"

Ethan shook his head. "No."

"The whole house heard you."

Shane left briefly and returned with bedding.

"What are you doing?" Ethan frowned.

"Sleeping here." Shane dragged the sofa to the bedside. "I'm picky about beds."

Watching him arrange the covers, Ethan's lips twitched.

"What's so funny?"

"Never thought the ruthless Captain Prescott had this side to him."

Shane smoothed the sheets. "Only for you."

In the darkness, neither spoke again.

Moonlight slipped through the curtains, casting a silver line across the floor.