They took his words as grief.
As regret.
As a man unable to say the word death out loud.
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normy
Not as truth.
t as a revelation.
Not as confirmation-
That she was alive.
I exhaled slowly.
Careful.
Measured.
Good.
We still had the advantage.
But it was fragile.
Because next time-
They might not misunderstand.
They might not hesitate.
And if they realized-
Iris would not just be a secret.
She would be a target.
Again.
My gaze shifted briefly toward Jason.
He had noticed too.
Of course he had.
His posture changed almost imperceptibly.
More alert.
More guarded.
Already preparing.
1 Good.
Because if they moved-
We would be ready.
“This is about ensuring that what happened to my family…”
“…never happens again.”
“I support Amber Asher.”
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The room erupted.
But I barely heard it.
Because my mind was already moving ahead.
Security.
Control.
Containment.
No mistakes.
Because this-
This had just escalated everything.
I stood still.
Unmoving.
Composed.
But inside-
The war had just changed.
And for now-
We were still ahead.
The room had barely settled-
When the head of the Vinni family stood.
Smooth.
Controlled.
But there was nothing subtle about him.
“I believe,” he began,
“we must look at this from a position of strength.”
A pause.
“Not sentiment.”
His gaze shifted-
Briefly-
Toward the Sun family.
Barely disguised disdain.
“Some families,” he continued,
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4/9
“have allowed themselves to become… distracted.”
Aquiet insult.—
Wrapped in polished words.
Mr. Sun didn’t react.
Of course he didn’t.
“That is not the case for the Ashers,” the Vinni head continued.
Now his tone changed.
Warmer.
Calculated.
“Their structure has remained solid.”
“Reliable.”
“And under Adrian Wyatt…”
He gestured toward him.
“I see leadership that understands what it takes to maintain that strength.
A pause.
“Not by changing what works…”
“…but by reinforcing it.”
There it was again.
Tradition.
Control.
Fear of change.
“I support Adrian Wyatt.”
He sat.
Satisfied.
Grandfather stepped forward once more.
Calm.
Unshaken.
“Our alies have spoken.”
A pause.
“And now…”
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His gaze swept across the room.
We will cast the votes.”
Silence.
A chair moved.
Soft.
But unmistakable.
All eyes turned.
Ms. Wyatt stood.
Adrian’s grandmother.
No one had expected her to speak.
Not here.
Not now.
She looked at Adrian first.
And her expression softened.
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