Mark felt the weight of Frederick's gaze as he sat down beside him. The air around them grew heavy with tension, the clinking of silverware and glasses echoing through the silent dining room as the servants arranged the table for the family dinner. Frederick leaned closer, a triumphant smirk playing on his lips.

"I heard you got a partnership with a new company," Frederick taunted, his voice laced with contempt. "Aren't you insulting the Alpha Tech image too much? Of all the companies you ...