The young heirs could tell instantly that the situation was growing more intense. Even though they were used to rivalry and whispers, direct confrontation of this kind was rare. For most of them, danger was always kept at a distance. If anything ever threatened to boil over, their security teams would handle it long before it reached their ears.
That was the way of the Stern household, conflict hidden behind velvet curtains.
The last time they had seen anything remotely close to this was when Chad and Max clashed during the previous gathering, and even that petty spat had been considered a scandal. Now, however, the atmosphere in the hall was heavy, teetering on the edge of something far larger. The heirs, young as they were, had enough sense to stay out of it. It was easier, safer, to watch and remain uninvolved.
All of them, except for one.
Chad Stern.
