"What?"
Queen was startled by Juliet's sudden remark.
After a moment's hesitation, she regained her composure, her expression turning indifferent as she shot Juliet a disdainful glance.
"None of your business."
The lack of denial spoke volumes—she really did like him.
Unfazed by Queen's attitude, Juliet tugged at her pale lips, murmuring in a voice laced with hidden meaning.
"Good that you like him."
The more someone cherished something, the more satisfying it was to take it away.
Queen didn't catch her words. "What did you say?"
But Juliet remained silent, her eyes downcast, lost in thought.
"Always so cryptic," Queen muttered, rolling her eyes before turning her attention toward the study, lost in her own musings.
Just as she noticed her mother about to carry tea inside, she sprang up from the sofa.
"Mom, I'll do it." Mrs. Bernardo watched her daughter with amused exasperation.
"You're such a forward child, no sense of propriety at all."
"I was just bringing tea. I don't know what you're talking about."
Blushing, Queen walked toward the study. Inside the study at that moment—
"Taylor," Mr. Bernardo fixed his gaze on Taylor, his voice low and serious.
"Are you asking me to help Sinclair take down the Harrison family?"
Taylor shook his head. "Uncle Bernardo, you misunderstand—"
Before he could finish, a knock sounded at the study door.
Queen entered, carrying a tea tray.
"Dad," She handed each of them a cup of tea.
"Taylor, here's your tea."
Taylor accepted the cup, his voice warm as he spoke to her.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome.
Just let me know if you'd like more tea," Queen smiled before gracefully exiting the room.
Her father was well aware of his daughter's thoughts, though his mind was preoccupied elsewhere.
"Please, continue," he urged.
Taylor lifted the teacup before him, his movements refined and deliberate as he stirred it gently.
"Harrison Family is no match for Sinclair—he doesn't need anyone's help," he said, his tone as composed as ever, yet his words carried an unmistakable sharpness.
"My visit today, Uncle Bernardo, is merely out of respect for the long-standing friendship between our families.
I only wish to remind you not to miss this opportunity to elevate the Bernardo name further."
Bernardo's father fell silent for a moment, his brow furrowing deeper before he spoke slowly. "And what if Sinclair fails? Have you considered that, Taylor?"
"No," Taylor replied, a faint smirk playing on his lips.
"Because I know Sinclair. He never takes risks without certainty."
Leaning forward, he set his cup down deliberately before settling back into the sofa, his gaze steady on Bernardo's father.
"To put it another way—he won't fail.
The only one destined for failure is the Harrison Family."
Mr. Bernardo fixed his gaze on Taylor before him, his eyes flickering with shifting emotions before finally settling into calm.
After a long pause, as if he had made up his mind, he spoke slowly.
"What do you want me to do?"
His voice was noticeably huskier than before, as though he were suppressing something.
A faint, almost imperceptible smile tugged at the corner of Taylor's lips before he replied in the same measured tone.
If the Harrison family was bracing for an impending storm, then the Algrea family was already caught in the eye of a hurricane.
First, their advanced payments couldn't be recovered.
Then, as if by some unspoken agreement, numerous signed partners began backing out of contracts under flimsy pretexts.
These setbacks forced several production lines to grind to a halt.
Yet, this was merely the beginning.
Subsidiaries started imploding one after another, exposing a web of shady dealings.
The entire conglomerate now faced intense scrutiny.
It was as though an invisible hand had closed around the Algrea family's throat, tightening its grip with each passing moment.
So when Andrea—already overwhelmed and clueless about the chaos—heard of Harrison's death, everything suddenly clicked.
All of this… was Sinclair's doing?!
Only now did Andrea fully grasp the terrifying extent of this man's reach.
Regret gnawed at him for agreeing to Mr. Harrison's request to send assassins after Sinclair.
But he knew, even if he backed out now, it was far too late to change anything.
All he could hope for now was that the men he had sent, along with Mr. Harrison's people, would succeed in killing Sinclair as soon as possible.
Only then could he catch his breath.
Meanwhile, Alston, who had been silently observing everything from the shadows, couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine.
Sinclair's ambition was far greater than he had anticipated.
Whether Mr. Harrison and Andrea took action or not, it wouldn't affect his plans.
Because this game had been set in motion long ago.
Otherwise, the results wouldn't have appeared so swiftly.
Once he grasped this, Alston immediately dispatched another team.
In a seaside hotel on the outskirts of the city, a bloody massacre was unfolding. ——
Meanwhile, at the Mega residence.
Stephen skimmed through the news, a faint smile playing behind his gold-rimmed glasses.
"Can't deny it, this whole sequence feels awfully familiar," he remarked.
The butler standing behind him immediately understood his meaning and nodded solemnly.
After all, the downfall of the Mega family had begun with Antonio's own "death."
It must be said that Sinclair's methods remained as swift, ruthless, and precise as ever.
With a single move, he struck at the opponent's lifeline. "Sir, should we take any action?" "Of course," Stephen replied, lifting his gaze to the churning sea of clouds overhead.
"The Algrea family is clearly about to be swallowed whole by Sinclair.
The only opportunity left for us now is to carve out a share from the Harrison family."
Wealth stems from information asymmetry.
While others hesitated, still assessing the situation and too cautious to act, he was already certain of Sinclair's victory—and chose to strike first.
For many years afterward, Stephen would regard this as one of the wisest decisions he had ever made.
Of course, he wasn't the only one who thought so.
"Sir, Madam Luther has arrived with an elderly man."
"An elderly man?"
Stephen was slightly surprised, unable to guess which elder Camilla might have brought along.
"Take me out to greet them."
After all, his legs still depended on Camilla's expertise—it wouldn't hurt to show some extra courtesy.
After briefly introducing her grandfather to Stephen, Camilla turned her attention to his legs.
Grandpa Rodriguez carefully examined the condition of Stephen's legs and, building upon the treatment plan Camilla had proposed, suggested a few areas for improvement.
Camilla was immediately convinced. In the medical field, it often takes years of accumulated experience to devise better treatment methods.
In that regard, she would never catch up to her grandfather.
After completing the acupuncture session for Stephen, Camilla escorted her grandfather to his car before returning inside.
"Did you forget something, Mrs. Luther?"
"No," Camilla replied, sitting down across from Stephen, her clear, dark eyes glinting with a faint smile.
"I'm here to collect on your promise."
Promise. Stephen instantly understood what she meant.
She had treated his leg condition, and in return, he had agreed to fulfill one request of hers unconditionally.
If she was bringing it up now, was she about to ask him to help her take down the Harrison family?
If that were the case, he could only say—
A glint of amusement flickered in Stephen's eyes. Just what he'd been hoping for.
"Please go ahead, Mrs. Luther," he said with practiced courtesy.
"If it's within my power, I'll spare no effort."
A soft laugh escaped Camilla's lips.
"What I'm asking is quite simple for someone like you, Mr. Mega.
No need for such grand promises."
Stephen remained silent, wary.
"Simple" coming from this couple was anything but reassuring.
Camilla studied him for a moment before parting her crimson lips.
"I want—"