Third Person's POV Everett sat in silence for a long moment, his expression carved from stone. When he finally spoke, his voice was calm-too calm, in a way that chilled the room more than shouting ever could. "So what you mean is," he said, prayer beads sliding slowly between his fingers, "for the sake of your mistake, you expect the Williams Family to go against the Whitmore Coalition and abandon our stake in the Capital markets?" Jenny's breath caught. Of course she knew she wasn't worth that much-not in power, not in influence, and certainly not in political value. But hearing Everett say it so plainly still stung like a lash. "That Silas is targeting us on purpose!" Jenny burst out. "If not, why would he make such a fuss? I only cursed Freya's parents a little. How does that warrant this kind of retaliation?" Everett let out a cold, humorless sound that wasn't quite a laugh. "I've already had Victor check it," he said. "Freya's parents were honored martyrs of Ashbourne. And you insulted martyrs of this land. Tell me, Jenny-were you planning to let the entire Williams Family bear the consequences for you?" His gaze hardened, wolf-sharp and unforgiving. "You don't need to stay here any longer. Go back to C-Country." Back to C-Country? Jenny froze. If she returned now, she would lose everything-her standing, her reputation, even her place in the Williams Family. Once expelled, she would be shunned by C-Country's upper ranks. Even her own parents would not protect a daughter who had become political poison. Her voice trembled. "Uncle Everett, I…" "Go." His eyes closed, signaling the conversation was over. The slow turn of the prayer beads was the only sound left in the vast presidential suite. Biting down hard on her lip, Jenny retreated stiffly, Parker following her out. The moment the doors shut, she spun toward him, eyes wild."I can't be cast out! I won't! You must make Silas retract what he said. No matter what, you need to fix this for me!" Parker stared at her with an expression that hovered somewhere between disbelief and exhaustion. "And what power do you think I have to make Silas retract anything?" Jenny clenched her fists. "Silas is doing this for Freya! You should talk to her-you're her brother, aren't you? She listens to you!" Parker gave a short, humorless breath that wasn't quite a laugh. "Aren't you the one who kept insisting I wasn't her brother? That I was yours instead?" Jenny paled instantly. She had said that. Frequently. Not because she cared for Parker-no. She'd wanted him securely inside the Williams Family. As long as he held influence here, she could lean on him, manipulate him, and eventually-if she timed her schemes right-bear his child, use their offspring to seize more power. After all, even though she came from a side branch, she still carried Williams blood. Parker did not; he had none of the lineage. Which meant… he was easier to use. Her voice dropped into a cold, reckless whisper. "If I'm cast out of the Williams Family… then Lina can forget about surviving." Her eyes gleamed with malice. "That woman you're so loyal to-she saved your life in D-Country, didn't she? Without her, you would've died. You owe her everything." Parker's lips pressed into a bloodless line. Lina… When he had awakened in a foreign land with no memories, no past-nothing but pain. Lina had been the one who stayed by his side. She had fed him, protected him, and guided him through the haze of nightmares that followed him. She was the first person he remembered. The person he could not-would not-abandon. "I'll talk to Freya," he said at last, voice low. "But you will ensure Lina survives. No matter what." Without waiting for her response, Parker turned and strode away, leaving Jenny trembling, breath shaking with fury and fear. How had everything collapsed in a single day? How had her position in the Family crumbled so violently? It was all because of Freya. If Freya didn't exist, she wouldn't be facing expulsion, humiliation, or ruin. Jenny dug her nails into her palms until they drew blood. At SkyVex Armaments Headquarters When Lana returned to the company's operations tower, Freya was already back from the Iron Fang Recon Unit precinct. "How are you?" Lana immediately asked. "What did the precinct say?" "With Victor there?" Freya replied with a small shrug. "Nothing serious. They acknowledged I had valid reason to strike first. At most, I'll pay medical compensation. It's Jenny who should start panicking." "That's true," Lana said, exhaling. "With what she pulled today, the local authorities will pursue her-and the Williams Family can't afford the scandal. If they want to keep their Capital foothold, they'll have no choice but to expel her." She paused, glancing sideways at Freya. "Freya… did you really break up with Silas?" "Do you think I would lie about that?" Freya answered quietly. "You heard him yourself today. Silas said he doesn't love me anymore." "But if he truly didn't love you," Lana countered, "would he really go this far? He openly confronted the Williams Family for your sake. If they don't yield, this could escalate into a full-scale clash between two major alliances. Even if the Whitmore Coalition wins, they'll take losses." Freya's eyes lowered. Lana wasn't wrong. She knew that. But knowing didn't make things easier. She no longer had the confidence to walk that road with Silas-to trust him, to trust their bond, to trust the future. Not after everything that had happened. And not after seeing the way he looked at her today-distant, unreadable, as if… he had finally let go.