Author’s pov
The Cole patriarch finally snapped. With a roar that froze the air, he hurled his crystal tumbler at Zane’s feet, glass exploding across the polished floor.
"You two disgusting creatures should rot in hell ! "he shouted, his voice raw with decades of buried rage.
The room went dead silent. Philip Lawson, who’d tried to grab his arm a mont too late, stood frozen mid-motion.
No one blad him. After losing both his daughter and grandson, watching Zane and Maggie flaunt their twisted affection was more than any father could take.
The Coles had already lost everything. Those two should have been begging for forgiveness, not performing their love story for the people they’d destroyed.
Martha lowered her head, sha stiffening her shoulders. Her voice ca out small, almost chanical. "Please forgive my son, "she murmured. She couldn’t et anyone’s eyes.
Maggie had turned pale, her usual calm and graceful look completely gone.
Zane wiped the spilled drink from his pants and stood up. "Father, please calm down. What happened back then was just an accident. "
"You worthless bastard ! "the Cole patriarch roared, surging forward with surprising speed for a man his age.
The room burst into chaos. mbers of the Cole family jumped to their feet, and others rushed forward to break up the fight.
In seconds, the elegant gathering of Colorado Springs’ elite looked more like a bar fight, except everyone was wearing designer suits and gowns.
Alpha Sebastian reacted instantly, pulling Cecilia back from the chaos. His movents were smooth and precise.
Thankfully, not everyone lost their heads. Cassian stepped in, looking like he’d aged ten years in five minutes, barking orders until the room began to calm.
Slowly, the noise died down, and people found their seats again, though the tension still humd in the air.
Alpha Sebastian guided Cecilia back to her chair, his hand resting reassuringly at the small of her back.
She sat, her pulse steadying, but a flicker of disappointnt crossed her face. She’d almost hoped to see Zane and Maggie bruised for once.
Instead, Maggie looked completely unhard, protected by Zane, while he only looked a bit ssy, his tie crooked but his pride still intact.
Across the room, Maggie tugged at Zane’s sleeve, her movents small and desperate. She was clearly signaling him to leave while everyone was still distracted.
Before he could speak, Alpha Sebastian’s calm, commanding voice cut through the heavy air.
"The Cole patriarch, I understand your anger, "he said evenly. "But Zane just agreed to Cecilia’s request. I believe they’re sincere about making ands. Maybe we should give them that chance. "
His tone was steady, firm but respectful, and it worked. The Cole patriarch’s anger eased into a tense silence. He looked at Cecilia, his face a little softer, though his voice was still rough.
"Go ahead, Cece, "he said. "If that sorry excuse for a father dares to refuse you, I’ll take another swing at him. "
Zane’s eyes darted toward his mother, silently begging for help.
Martha, who had been watching everything with an almost frightening calm, looked at the Cole patriarch first, then turned to Zane. Her voice was cold, deliberate. "Next ti, hit him harder. "
The room exhaled in stunned silence.
Then, Martha looked back to Cecilia, her tone softening just slightly. "Go on, dear. Your grandfather and I are listening. "
Those few words from the Locke matriarch brought a wave of visible relief to the Cole family. The dead couldn’t be brought back, and any evidence that had been impossible to find decades ago was long gone.
Over ti, they’d stopped searching, letting business ties slowly nd as Zane sent Cassian to handle negotiations on his behalf.
By silent agreent, the past had been buried, until tonight opened the wound again.
Cecilia sat up a little straighter, her voice calm but firm. "Then I’ll speak plainly, "she said.
Her eyes moved between Maggie and Zane.
Maggie felt a chill run down her spine, while Zane tried to stay calm, almost looking eager, like a man waiting for punishnt.
Cecilia almost laughed, but the sound stuck in her throat, bitter and sharp. "I don’t care about nice words, "she said. "I want sothing real, proof that you an it. "
She took a slow breath, pushing down the disgust rising in her chest. "If you really want to make things right, I want all of my father’s shares in Locke Enterprises. "
The room froze.
Maggie’s mouth fell open. Zane went pale, eyes wide, speechless.Around them, the tension thickened.
Chairs creaked as people straightened, every gaze snapping toward Cecilia.
Then the shouting started.
"Cecilia, do you even hear yourself ? "one of the Locke cousins shouted.
"This isn’t just greed. You’re trying to ruin Zane ! "another added angrily.
"She’s famous in Denver for it, "soone else added. "Didn’t she bleed her ex-husband’s family dry during the divorce ? "
Cecilia didn’t even blink. Her voice cut through the noise like a blade. "Is this how you handle things ? Letting your guard dogs bark for you ? "
She didn’t bother to look at the others, her eyes locked on Zane and Maggie. "So what’s your answer ? Are you refusing ? "
The room went quiet again, the tension snapping back like a drawn wire.
Zane swallowed hard. "Cece, it’s not that I disagree, but this demand is just... "
"No excuses, "Cecilia said coldly. "Yes or no ? "
"If you’d just let explain... "
"Yes or no ? "
"Cecilia, listen to ... "
"YES. OR. NO ? "Her voice rose, each word punctuated with quiet fury.
Zane’s restraint cracked. "I can’t give you everything ! "he shouted.
Cecilia’s lips curled into a cold, humorless smile. "Then stop pretending you’re here to make peace. Watching you and Maggie act like a loving couple makes sick. I might throw up right on both of you. "
The tone of her voice had changed completely. The softness was gone, replaced by sothing sharp and rciless. Every word hit like a knife.
Zane’s face twisted with pain. "Please, don’t hate . Just... give ti. This isn’t a small decision. "
At that, Maggie’s mask slipped. Her eyes darkened, fury seeping through the cracks in her composure.
"Zane ! "she snapped. "Do Xenia and I an nothing to you now ? Is she all that matters ? "
Zane’s expression hardened. "Don’t do this here, "he warned.
But Maggie was past listening. The fragile, grieving act she’d worn all night shattered completely. She pulled her hand away from his like his touch burned.
"I’m the one starting sothing ? "she snapped. "You’re ready to give her everything just because she’s your daughter, without thinking about what she’s turned into ! She makes this demand today, so what’s next ? Killing Xenia and tomorrow ? "
"Enough ! "Zane thundered.
Maggie’s eyes blazed. Her voice climbed higher, teetering on hysteria. "Is it nonsense ? Ask anyone ! Look at what happens to people who cross her. Has even one of them ended well ? You think that’s coincidence ? "
Then she turned toward the Cole patriarch, her voice rising to a near-scream. "Haven’t you noticed your granddaughter Daisy isn’t here tonight with the Lawsons ? "
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