XAVIER POV

Some men destroy empires for power.

My father built his empire by destroying people.

That truth sat heavy in my chest as Zayne and I stood across from him in his office, the same office where he’d signed deals, buried scandals, and turned loyalty into a transaction.

Charles looked up from his desk, calm as a man reading the morning paper.

“Well,” he said mildly, “this is a surprise, Two sons under one roof. It almost makes me nostalgic.”

“Cut the act,” Zayne snapped. ...