Amy stopped mid-sentence, her eyes locking with Alexander's. A faint, knowing smile curved her lips.

"Tell me, would Prescott Industries, with all its influence, accept an heir with a criminal record and a face so disfigured even his own mother wouldn't recognize him?"

Alexander's expression darkened like a brewing tempest.

"Is that a threat?" His voice was sharp as ice.

Amy merely tilted her head, unfazed. "Mr. Blackwood, you overestimate me. I'm just an ordinary woman. How could I possibly threaten someone like you?"

She knew the bond between Nathan and Alexander was unbreakable—forged in fire. Otherwise, Alexander wouldn’t have tolerated Nathan’s endless provocations. Nathan had insulted her time and again in Alexander’s presence, yet he had never intervened.

Nathan mattered to Alexander—but not enough to split his empire in half.

Even though the divorce papers demanded an equal division, Amy was well aware that claiming half was a fantasy. If this went to court, Alexander would pull every legal trick to classify most assets as pre-marital.

Sebastian had already warned her—profits from pre-marital holdings would be beyond her reach. With a man like Alexander, a prenup was inevitable. Her lawyer might secure a modest settlement, but millions? Impossible.

Studying Alexander’s rigid jawline, Amy continued, "This time, Nathan’s little stunt with Victoria has enraged Theodore. He refuses to treat her—"

Before she could finish, Alexander’s hand shot out, gripping her jaw with bruising force. His gaze was glacial.

"Amy. You’ve gone too far."

His voice was low, dangerous, sending a shiver down her spine. Pain flared, and her lashes fluttered involuntarily.

In retaliation, Amy slammed her heel onto his foot—but Alexander anticipated the move, stepping back just in time.

Undeterred, she swung her hand toward his face, but he caught her wrist effortlessly.

Perhaps truly provoked, Alexander’s grip was unrelenting, every movement commanding absolute submission. Though outwardly composed, he was, at his core, a man who ruled with an iron will. Amy’s defiance had finally pushed him past his limits.

He wouldn’t let her off lightly—not until she was humbled, broken.

Amy’s laughter rang out, cold and crystalline. Then, without warning, she sank her teeth into his arm—hard.

Caught off guard, Alexander barely stifled a hiss as her teeth pierced flesh, as if she meant to tear a piece of him away. In her eyes, he saw a hatred so deep it startled him.

A strange emotion surged through him, and he shoved her away instinctively.

Amy stumbled but caught herself, her gaze as frigid as a winter night.

"Alexander, I’m not your puppet to push around. Touch me again, and I’ll make sure you learn—bullying always comes at a price."