Before his death, my grandfather entrusted family power to me.

Unexpectedly, while I was away on business, my illegitimate son colluded with my wife and forced the lawyer to alter the heir’s name.

He summoned all shareholders and my uncle for a meeting to “confirm” the rightful heir, even bribing Uncle Wang—who once favored me most—and several shareholders.

“Everyone, now that you’re all here, I announce the new heir of the Langston family—Lucas Langston. Mr. Langston asked me to tell you before his death.”

At these words, everyone froze.

They all knew I was the Langston family’s only direct-blood heir.

Yet in my absence, those bribed by Lucas rushed to defend him.

Just when the decision seemed final, I kicked open the conference room door and strode in with heavy, deliberate steps. “When did the Langston family’s power become the inheritance of a bastard unfit to be seen in public?”

——

My sudden arrival silenced the room. No one expected me—supposedly abroad—to appear in the doorway.

The traitors stiffened, their faces pale.

Only Lucas sat calmly, smoking politely, his ambition curling through the smoke. “Brother, what nonsense is this? Yes, I’m illegitimate, but Grandfather valued my ability. Handing the Langston family to me was a deliberate choice.”

“I swear to heaven—no tricks. Grandfather entrusted me with the family fortune, and I will lead us into a greater future.”

“While I’m in charge, no one will interfere with my work.”

The cold sharpness in his eyes cut into me like a blade.

A pity. I’ve weathered greater storms; I won’t sink in this shallow ditch.

Our gazes locked, the tension pressing down on the room until no one dared speak.

I stepped forward, but one of his men blocked my way. “Mr. Langston, there’s no place for you here. Leave.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Block me, and you’ll lose that hand.”

“Tsk. Who do you think you are? Still imagining you’re the untouchable, high-handed Theo Langston?”

Spittle flecked my cheek as he spoke.

Backed by his master, his lackeys were arrogant beyond measure.

As he reached to push me out, I drew my ancestral dagger and drove it into his palm, spraying blood across his face.

“Ah! It hurts!”

The lackey collapsed, wailing.

The sight chilled the room. Everyone knew my thunderous methods.

Years straddling the line between the underworld and the law had taught me—without ruthlessness, I’d be swallowed whole. “Didn’t I say? Stand in my way, and you’ll lose a hand.”

I wiped the spit from my face with a tissue, then met Lucas’s now-shadowed gaze with a half-smile.

But his other lackeys still dared to speak.

“Theo, don’t push it. The old man had already changed the heir’s rights. Like it or not, you’ll have to accept it.”

“That’s right. You’ve fallen, and we’re no longer afraid of you.”

“No matter how strong you are, two fists can’t fend off four hands.”

I smiled faintly, tossing the tissue in front of Lucas.

“My grandfather amended the heir’s rights? Strange—I never heard of it.”

“And do you know why it matters?” he said. “Because the name in the will isn’t just Theo—it’s Lucas.”

My wife walked in, hips swaying, wearing a custom cheongsam that clung to her curves. Her burning gaze locked on Lucas, never once flicking to me.

In that instant, I knew. My earlier suspicion had been right—while I was away, they’d joined forces to seize power and steal the throne.

“Selena Harper, do you know what you’re saying? And do you remember whose wife you are?”

Her eyes slid to me, dripping disdain.

“Of course I know. As for being your wife—you’ll see soon enough.”

She slammed the wall onto the table. “Look closely! Don’t accuse us of scheming. The beneficiary is clearly Lucas, not you.”

I opened the page. His name was there.

But so what? The Langston family would never fall into another’s hands.

I was about to speak when Selena, in full view of the room, sat on Lucas’s lap.

He wrapped an arm around her waist, exchanged a flirtatious look, then kissed her full on the lips—smirking at me over her shoulder.

The room froze. No one dared breathe.

Everyone knew Selena was my wife, my most beloved.

Now she was nestled in my illegitimate son’s arms. It wasn’t just a slap to my face—it was a public declaration of betrayal.

It told the shareholders I was finished and urged them to take their chances.

Dozens of eyes turned to me, waiting to see how I’d respond.

I kept my face calm, though my chest burned. My fists clenched at my sides.

Who could stay composed when betrayed by the woman they loved most?

No wonder Lucas acted so bold—my “good wife” had been helping him all along.

She alone could enter my grandfather’s room. She had represented me, earning his trust to hold the will.

I never imagined she would betray me.

“Selena, what is the meaning of this?”

“You’re my wife—how dare you help a bastard alter the will and steal my power?”

“Have I ever treated you badly? Why betray me?”

She toyed with her diamond-studded nails, looking up coldly.

Lucas placed a cigarette between her lips. They lit it together, then smoked in sync.

“Don’t you understand plain language?” he said.

“As for your ‘wife,’ she’s no longer yours.”

“Before you left on that business trip, I gave you a paper to sign. You didn’t even look at it.”

“That paper was our divorce agreement.”

“It’s been a month—we’re no longer married.”

“As for the property, you don’t own a cent. It’s all mine now.”

Cruel. So cruel. They’d left me no way back.

I realized then—they had been plotting this from the start, setting the stage for today’s victory.

Selena hadn’t just ended our marriage—she’d helped Lucas strip me of every asset.

To crush any thought of me pursuing her, she threw the divorce papers in my face. “Look closely. You signed it yourself. No forgery.”

I almost laughed. If she’d truly wanted a divorce, she could’ve said so outright.

I’m no dog—why such shameless theatrics?

I tossed the papers into the trash.

“Selena, you chose this road. Don’t cry and say you regret it later.”

She sneered. “Regret? The one crying will be you.”

Lucas stood, sweeping his gaze over the room, forcing each person to pick a side.

“Since you refuse to leave, I’ll make you face reality. Let’s see who they support—you or me.”

His voice dropped to an icy, inhuman tone.

“Everyone, now’s the time to declare your stance. Those supporting Theo—raise your hands.”

Silence. Eyes darted around the table.

“I advise you to think carefully,” he continued. “Whatever Theo was before, the power is now mine.”

The warning was clear. A shareholder who almost raised his hand froze midway.

I saw why—Selena held a stack of photographs, each showing a family member of the people in this room.

Choosing me meant endangering their loved ones.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Langston,” one said quietly. “We have no choice. Please understand.”

I did. And because I understood, I felt no anger.

“You’re wise,” Lucas said. “From now on, Theo, you have no place in the Langston family. So—will you walk out, or shall I have you carried out?”

I scoffed. This place was my kingdom, built piece by piece with my life.

Why would I walk away and hand it over?

I pulled out a chair, lit a cigarette.

“What if I don’t leave? What then?”

A lackey slammed the table and stood.

“Who do you think you are? That thunderbolt who once commanded storms? Your time’s over. What will I do? I’ll have your own men break your legs and toss you out.”

His words carried Lucas’s full approval—the smirk on his face said so.

Several men rushed into the room—faces I knew well. My own handpicked confidants.

He’d bribed them to turn on me, to finish me without spilling blood.

“So, you’ve learned betrayal too?”

“Yes. Men die for wealth, birds for grain. You taught me that, sir.”

I laughed, bitter. “Never thought the soldiers I trained, the women I cherished, would become the blades to stab me.”

Lucas drummed his fingers on the table, smiling.

With my trusted men turned, the room’s fear dissolved.

“Theo, we’ve had enough of you,” someone jeered. “You always acted like an emperor, lording over us.”