The boardroom atop Navarro Tower gleamed with the morning sun. Polished glass walls reflected the Manila skyline, and the long mahogany table stretched like a runway of power. Teofisto Navarro sat at its head, silver hair slicked back, gaze steady as he surveyed his children.

It was one of the rare full-family meetings. Mateo had flown in from Cebu after an expansion conference, Celine from an overseas supplier visit, and Dann—always the quiet constant—had arrived early, laptop already ...