Just as Zane had warned, Solivair was indeed a dangerous man. He was ruthless, unpredictable, and willing to do whatever it took to achieve his goals by any means necessary. But the cruel truth was Zac had already become one of his people, and he had already worked for him. Whether he liked it or not, regardless of what he thought deep down, there was no turning back now. If he so much as hinted at wanting to leave, the price he'd have to pay would be something he could not possibly bear. It was a gamble Zac did not dare take. The moment he confessed this, Zane sank heavily into his seat like a balloon deflating in an instant. His voice came out hoarse, almost in disbelief. "...It's already too late?" Zac gave a bitter smile, shaking his head. "I've already done things for him. It's impossible to back out now." Hearing this, Zane's heart twisted with guilt. At that moment, a man past his fifties, his eyes actually reddened. He looked at Zac, his voice choked with remorse. "Zac, I came too late. It's all my fault. I failed you." Looking at Zane broken and in pain, the last trace of wariness in Zac's heart completely dissolved. Zane continued, "The moment I got word you'd entered the Tremo family, I started looking for ways to meet you. I just wanted to talk to you properly. But you didn't answer my calls. Your mother called you too, but you were busy and couldn't come out." "In the end, with no other choice, I went to your adoptive mother, Raelynn. But I still didn't make it in time. If I had known things would turn out like this... If only I had the courage back then… I would've gone straight to the Tremo family in Evergrand City to demand you back!" His voice trembled with regret, and his face was full of sorrow. Watching him like this, Zac could hardly stop himself from slapping his own face. He had never imagined that all of Zane's efforts to reach him were for his own safety! And yet, how petty he had been for being suspicious of him. He had thought Zane had ulterior motives and only wanted to latch onto the powerful Tremo family, but the truth was painfully clear. Even a tiger would not harm its own cub. His biological father, from the very beginning, had only ever been thinking of him. And as his son, he had been judging his own father with a heart steeped in suspicion.Shameful. Utterly shameful. Out of the corner of his eye, Zane caught every flicker of expression on Zac's face. He lifted his head once more, his voice solemn. "Zac, staying with the Tremo family is like bargaining with a tiger. You have to be extremely careful. Solivair is not a simple man." Zane's repeated warnings only made Zac's guilt run deeper until he wished the earth would swallow him whole. Just moments ago, he had even suspected that his father brought up the Tremo family with hidden intentions. But now, he finally understood what it meant by 'to judge a gentleman's heart with the mind of a petty man.' Overwhelmed with shame, Zac immediately nodded. "Dad, I understand. I'll be careful. Don't worry about me." Unknowingly, he had called him 'Dad' again, naturally, instinctively. Zane let out a long sigh. "They say a mother worries when her son travels far, but as your father, do you think I wouldn't worry about you, all alone in Evergrand City?" As his words fell, the room was swallowed by an unbearable silence. After a long pause, Zane lifted his head, as if he had made some kind of important decision. His voice was grave when he spoke. "Zac, introduce me to Solivair. If I can build a connection with him, I'll be able to keep tabs on your safety. At least within the Tremo family's sphere of influence, there'll be someone looking out for you." Before Zac could respond, Zane pressed on. "After all, I'm a politician. No matter how powerful the Tremo family is, at the end of the day, they're businessmen. If you introduce me to Solivair, that in itself will offer you a layer of protection." At first, Zac instinctively braced himself, wary of this suggestion. But then, hearing Zane's word next, he finally understood. So that's what it was. His father had been thinking about his safety all along. Yes, my father is a politician. Everyone knew that businessmen feared those in politics. If Solivair learned that he was Zane's son, that alone would give him a certain amount of protection. "But won't that put you in danger too?" Zac asked worriedly. "It won't," Zane rejected the idea without hesitation. "I'm in politics, and I've been based in Seacity for years. Far from the capital. His power reach doesn't extend here."He patted Zac's shoulder firmly. "You don't need to worry about me. I had been navigating politics for decades. I know how to protect myself. But you, you're still young. Smart, yes, but you lack experience. If you won't let me protect you, as your father, I simply won't be able to rest easy."