The next morning, Raja strolled into the Dutton Ranch like he owned the place, Beth walking beside him, her usual confident swagger slightly dulled by last night's revelations.
Rip, who was waiting near the stables, glared at Raja with the intensity of a man whose entire existence had just been disrespected.
If John Dutton weren't standing nearby, Rip would have personally yeeted Raja off the property.
Raja, sensing the tension, smirked and gave a friendly wave.
CRACK!
Rip broke a wooden fence post with his bare hands.
Beth sighed. "Boys, behave."
At the breakfast table, the impossible happened.
Beth, the sa woman who would rather set things on fire than do house chores, started serving food.
Raja happily dug into his al as Beth poured him orange juice.
John Dutton squinted suspiciously, watching Beth act like a dosticated housewife. anwhile, Jamie sat frozen, wondering if he had accidentally stepped into an alternate dinsion.
Rip, gripping his fork with murderous intent, muttered under his breath. "I swear to God—"
After breakfast, John suddenly stood up."Ride with ."
Raja grinned. "I thought you'd never ask, old man."
John led Raja to his horse while Raja whistled for Beth's newly tad stallion. The horse trotted over obediently, lowering its head for Raja.
John's eyebrow twitched. Even the damn horse had betrayed him.
They rode in silence until they reached the Dutton family graveyard.
John dismounted first, standing under an old oak tree where his wife and ancestors rested. He took a deep breath.
"Why do people keep coming for my land?" he finally asked.
Raja, still on his horse, smirked. "How many generations before you?"
"Seven."
"And before that?"
John hesitated. "The Native Indians."
Raja chuckled darkly."And before that, the buffalo."
John stared at him.
Raja continued. "Your ancestors ca here, took land that wasn't theirs, killed anyone who stood in their way, and claid it as their own. And now, others want to do the sa to you."
John's jaw clenched.
"You're saying I just need to fight harder."
Raja shook his head. "I'm saying it's not a fight you can win forever. Sooner or later, you either beco the hunter or the hunted."
John stayed silent.
Raja continued " You are just shifting the target on your back on to that's all and hyena's co for not knowing I am a Godzilla."
Then Raja's tone turned serious. "Forget the land problem. Your family is the real issue."
John scoffed. "My family's fine."
Raja leaned forward on his horse."John, your land is cursed. The sins of your ancestors have been passed down, and your family is paying the price."
John stiffened.
Raja listed it out like a doctor diagnosing a terminal illness.
"Your wife, who lived like a cowgirl, died from falling off a horse. You raised two stray kids—one as a trained attack dog, the other as a disciplined pet. One wants to be your successor, the other wants to marry your daughter. The other two sons? One will die young, the other will leave. And Beth?"
John's fingers twitched.
"Beth is the one who got hit the hardest. She carries all the darkness of this land on her shoulders."
John turned to look at Raja, expression unreadable."Are you the devil?"
Raja grinned."No, I just like Onee-san."
Back at the ranch, John gathered Beth, Jamie, Rip, and Lee into his study. He poured himself a drink.
"What do you think of this ranch?"
Rip and Lee answered imdiately. "Ho."
Beth snorted. "Hell."
Jamie hesitated, then sighed. "Hell."
John nodded. "Rip, if I left, would you co with ?"
Rip didn't hesitate. "Wherever you go."
John turned to Beth. "And you?"
Beth sighed, looking away. "I should have left when I was eight. But I stayed... for you."
John turned to Jamie. "And you?"
Jamie clenched his fists. "I never felt like I belonged here after Mom died."
John exhaled heavily. "What do you think of Raja and what are our chances of winning?"
Beth's face paled slightly."He'll kill all of you. And I'll end up as his pet for entertainnt."
Silence.
Rip stood abruptly."I'll kill him right now."
Beth laughed bitterly."You have no idea who he is. He eats families like ours for breakfast."
John downed his drink. "He's really the devil?"
Beth shivered."I don't know... but he's the devil's incarnate."
John rubbed his temples. "What's his offer?"
Beth hesitated. "Blank checks. Settlents for every family mber. Jamie gets sponsored to beco a Texas senator. Lee, Kayce, and Rip get whatever they want."
Jamie blinked."What about you?"
Beth clenched her jaw. "A promise to be his woman... and a kid."
Dead silence.
John and Rip stood up at the sa ti."WHAT KIND OF OFFER IS THAT?!"
Beth smirked. "The Shadow Corporation is run by two won. I'd be the third."
She turned to John. "Daddy, please. Leave this place. Enjoy your old days with grandkids. I don't mind fighting humans, but Raja... he's sothing else."
With that, she left.
That night, Beth stord into Raja's hotel room.
"They'll sell."
Raja grinned. "I knew you'd convince them."
Beth crossed her arms."You still scare the shit out of and others."
Raja grabbed her wrist. "Then let make you comfortable."
And in the blink of an eye—literally—they were suddenly sowhere else.
Beth's stomach dropped."What the hell just happened?"
Raja, smirking, introduced her to Jessica and Jane, the infamous queens of the business world.
Jessica smiled knowingly."So, this is the new Onee-san?"
Jane, however, looked furious."Damn it! I bet against this happening!"
Raja looked at them, confused. "What bet?"
Jessica grinned. "We bet on whether or not you'd get a new Onee-san. Jane lost."
Beth, now fully convinced she was in a den of literal devils, simply nodded. "I need a drink."
Then, Dobby appeared with a Glass of burbon.
Beth fainted.
Raja sighed."Well, that went well."
The next morning, Raja shook John's hand.
John, after a long pause, nodded."Enjoy your land, Devil."
Raja chuckled. "Enjoy your retirent, old man."
As Raja left, Rip glared at him.
Raja winked.
Beth sighed. "You're enjoying this too much."
Raja grinned. "Of course. I live for chaos, Onee-san."
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