Arthur was just a freshman. Barely eighteen. And yet, Solivair couldn’t help but reassess him. Arthur was anxious about Ashley, but he knew—he could not show it. Now wasn’t the time for urgency. The moment he let his emotions slip, this silent battle would be over. And he wouldn’t just lose for himself—he would lose for everyone he cared about. Ashley. The Gibson family. Taylor. They were all already on Solivair’s radar. Tonight, Arthur needed to secure leverage. Something that would force Solivair to back off. Something that could protect everyone. Solivair’s oppressive aura weighed down on him. The gun at his temple only made it worse. Arthur could feel the cold sweat creeping down his spine, his body threatening to betray him. If he weren’t seated, he wasn’t sure if his legs would even hold him up. But there was no choice. If he couldn’t endure this, they would all die. The room was deadly silent. The circle of guards standing along the walls barely moved. They didn’t speak. Didn’t even shift. They were trained to remain unnoticed. And yet, they were all part of this standoff. Arthur’s hands were clenched so tightly his knuckles had turned white. He could feel the slight tremor threatening to give him away.He forced his fingers to relax. He forced himself to breathe evenly. He could not let his face betray anything. The silence stretched. Then— Laughter. Loud, sudden, and jarring. Solivair threw his head back and laughed. Arthur held still, his body still coiled with tension. And then— The pressure against his temple disappeared. The gun was gone. Arthur barely stopped himself from exhaling in relief. Under the table, his grip finally loosened. That was when he realized—his palms were soaked with sweat. His entire back was damp. If it weren’t for his jacket, he might’ve given himself away. He had almost lost his composure. Just a little longer, and he wouldn’t have been able to hold out. But he had. Arthur knew now. This battle—he hadn’t lost it. Solivair stood, casually passing the gun to one of his men. He didn’t even glance back as he walked toward the window, hands clasped behind his back. Without turning, he spoke."Name your price." Arthur quietly wiped his palms against his pants. Then, after making sure his voice was steady, he said— "I want proof of your connections with your organization." The shift in the room was instant. Solivair spun around. His cold, calculating eyes locked onto Arthur, brimming with danger. "What?" Around them, the guards tensed. In the blink of an eye, every man in the room was ready to move. The air turned suffocating. Arthur barely glanced at them. His focus remained on Solivair. His tone didn’t waver. "I need something that guarantees my safety—and the safety of the people I care about." The words had barely left his mouth before the atmosphere turned explosive. The guards’ hands all moved—reaching for the weapons at their waists. The tension was razor-thin. Arthur knew. One wrong move, and they’d kill him on the spot. But he didn’t back down. He had already walked into the lion’s den. Backing down now would mean death anyway. Solivair’s piercing gaze bore into him.Arthur didn’t flinch. He met his stare head-on. "I don’t care who you’re working with or what you’re planning. That’s your business, not mine. I have no interest in getting involved. But if you want my cooperation, I need a guarantee that you won’t touch me or anyone connected to me." Arthur’s words were firm. His eyes were steady. Solivair remained silent. The room stayed frozen, waiting for his reaction. One second. Two. Then three. Finally, Solivair exhaled. "I promise," he said. Arthur’s heart pounded. But he didn’t let his relief show. Solivair wasn’t done yet. "As long as you give me information on Lynn," he continued, "I won’t harm you." There was a pause. Then, as if speaking to himself, Solivair muttered, "Lynn is the only one I care about… Even if it’s just for her sake, I have no reason to hurt you." For the first time tonight, his voice sounded genuine. The threat was gone from his eyes. And Solivair was a man of his word. If he said he wouldn’t harm Arthur, then he wouldn’t. Most people would take this as a win. Most people would stop there. Arthur didn’t.Without hesitation, he opened his mouth and said— "No."