Nathan Laurent clutched his dislocated arm, his face dark with fury as he returned to Adrian Sullivan's hospital room.

Leonard Laurent glanced up, immediately grasping the situation.

"Sit," the old man gestured to a chair.

Nathan barely touched the seat before jerking upright with a hiss of pain, his hip throbbing violently.

"Those damn wolves!" he spat through gritted teeth. "Each one more vicious than the last!"

Leonard waved for the attendants to leave.

Once the door closed, he sipped his tea leisurely. "I told you to bring more men. Why didn't you listen?"

"I had four bodyguards," Nathan rubbed his injuries. "Then some woman appeared out of nowhere—skinny but freakishly strong. Ethan Sullivan twisted my arm out of its socket. And Shane Prescott's throwing knives—"

Leonard set down his cup. "I warned you against recklessness."

"I won't swallow this humiliation!" Nathan slammed his fist against the wall. "We need to teach them a lesson."

Leonard's eyes narrowed. "Have you investigated Shane's girlfriend?"

"Luna Valentine. Special Ops Unit." Leonard stroked his beard. "Her father Vincent is in the system too. Mother's an archaeologist. That background offers no advantage to the Sullivans."

Nathan sneered. "Looks like Victor won't be promoting Shane anytime soon."

"Focus on guarding against Ethan." Before Leonard could finish, a knock interrupted.

Victor Sullivan entered with a file folder.

Adrian struggled to sit up, but Victor pressed him down. "Stay still."

"Dad," Adrian's eyes reddened, "the car accident—"

Victor pulled out the inspection report. "Used car. Brake failure."

Leonard scoffed. "Faking brake failure is child's play. Targeting Adrian specifically—this was deliberate."

"If you insist on believing that, I can't change your mind." Victor placed the documents on the bedside table.

"Call the police," Leonard said coldly.

Victor suddenly laughed. "Go ahead. Worst case, we pay fines or serve time. What hardship hasn't Shane endured?"

When the threat failed, Leonard shifted tactics. "Kids will be kids. No need for public spectacle."

Victor exhaled inwardly in relief.

Leonard sighed at Adrian. "My poor grandson..."

"Rumor has it your car was circling Audrey's bridal boutique before the accident?" Victor interjected abruptly.

Adrian's face paled. "Dad! That's slander!"

Leonard heaved another sigh. "If only Nicole were still alive..."

Victor's expression darkened.

Years ago during his studies abroad, Nicole Laurent had taken advantage of his drunkenness to climb into his bed, later extorting 10% of company shares with a pregnancy claim. After her death in childbirth, guilt had made him tolerate the Laurents all these years.

He wrote a check and placed it on the bedside table.

Leonard pushed it back. "The Laurents don't need your money."

Victor insisted on leaving it. "Marrying Audrey was circumstantial. Grandfather was dying—the Sullivans needed an heir."

A glint of malice flashed in Leonard's eyes before he waved Victor away.

Once Victor was gone, Nathan whispered: "We should've eliminated Audrey years ago. Now her children are all formidable."

"Watch your tongue!" Leonard scanned the room warily.

When Victor entered Shane's hospital room, he found Luna feeding him water.

The sight of Shane's flushed ears made Victor shake his head.

"Adrian's situation is handled," Victor said. "Don't let it happen again."

Shane smirked coldly. "If I hadn't crashed into him, you'd be the next corpse."

Victor frowned. "He wouldn't dare."

"You'll realize the truth too late." Shane's tone turned icy.

Victor wrote another check. "Focus on recovery."

"Protect my mother," Shane locked eyes with him. "If anything happens to her, I'll bury you with her."

Victor's heart lurched—this son truly remained untamed.

Exiting the room, he dialed Ethan's number: "Where are you?"

"Office."

"Nothing." What he really meant was: I miss you.

Back at headquarters, Victor strode into Ethan's office unannounced.

Seeing his son's focused profile, warmth bloomed in his chest.

"Ethan—"

"State your business." Ethan didn't look up.

"You're my favorite."

"Unnecessary." Ethan closed his file. "Show more concern for Shane. He's emotionally deprived."

Rebuffed, Victor called Natalie next.

"Sweetheart, why haven't you come home? Daddy misses you."

Two seconds of silence. "Busy. You should dote on Shane more—he's emotionally deprived."

Finally, he tried Audrey. "Darling, I think I'm emotionally deprived too—"

"Get lost." The line went dead.