Kendrick couldn't shake the weight of the conversation he'd just had with his father. The walls of the study felt like they were closing in on him, suffocating him with the truth. His entire life, everything he thought he knew about his family, had been shattered in the span of an hour. The revelation that Julian was his uncle, that his father had been complicit in his mother's death, left him reeling. But there was no time to dwell on it. He had more pressing matters at hand with Bridget.He had to protect her. After everything that had come to light about her past, the rumors, the secrets, he knew she was on the edge. She was a woman who had endured so much in silence, and Kendrick was determined to show her that he would do whatever it took to keep her safe and that included putting her on a pedestal where nothing, not even Julian, could touch her.He made up his mind. It wasn’t just about the wedding anymore. The event had long since stopped being just a celebration of love. It wa
The Peterson estate was alive with activity. The grand dining room was filled with laughter, the clinking of champagne glasses, and the rustle of silk dresses. Kendrick was surrounded by his closest family and friends, a celebratory dinner marking the successful conclusion of another business deal. But tonight, the focus wasn’t on the transactions or corporate takeovers. This evening was about living, indulging, and savoring the wealth and success that came with years of hard work—and the promise of more to come.Bridget stood at his side, her smile more genuine now, as she had slowly begun to relax into the world Kendrick had built for them. The tension in her eyes had softened, though there were still moments when the shadows of the past lingered. But tonight wasn’t for the past. It was for the future—and Kendrick was determined to make sure it was one filled with luxury, safety, and undeniable joy.The estate had been transformed for the occasion. The table was laden with an extrav
The empire had always been a force to be reckoned with, but under Kendrick’s leadership, it had transformed into something even grander. What had once been a series of successful, well-positioned businesses had now become the backbone of an entire economic ecosystem in Texas. From the bustling city of Houston to the expansive hills of Austin, Kendrick's reach stretched farther than he could have ever imagined.As he sat at the head of a conference table in a sleek boardroom on the top floor of the newly acquired Peterson Tower, Kendrick couldn't help but smile. This was his domain, his vision taking shape with every new deal, every partnership, and every expansion into new industries. Texas had always been a land of opportunity, but now, it was Kendrick’s empire.The phone on the table buzzed, snapping him back to the present. He glanced at the screen—it was a message from Olivia.Olivia: I hope you're not too busy to join us tonight. The family’s meeting up for dinner. You should com
The month was coming to an end, it was break at the Color Pole. Kendrick’s home was quieter than usual, a rare calm in the middle of Kendrick’s constant whirlwind of meetings and negotiations. Kendrick leaned back in his sleek, modern chair, the office windows offering an expansive view of Houston’s skyline bathed in the fading glow of late afternoon sunlight. His mind was sharp, focused on the future—the global expansion he had promised his family, the deals he was closing, and the empire he was building. He had no time to look back, no time to waste on past mistakes or distractions.But sometimes, the past has a way of catching up with you.Kendrick's phone buzzed on the polished mahogany desk, dragging his thoughts back to the present. He glanced at the screen. It was Olivia. He swiped to open the message, expecting a note about some upcoming family event or a reminder about his latest business development. Instead, the message from Olivia felt off—a string of urgency hanging in t
Life felt like a constant tug-of-war between business and vengeance. Kendrick had never been one to let emotions cloud his judgement, but the betrayal by Maverick had ignited a fire that wasn’t easily extinguished. Each time he thought about the mansion, the signatures, the cold calculation in Maverick’s eyes, his anger simmered just beneath the surface. But Kendrick had learned long ago that raw emotion wasn’t the weapon of choice in a fight like this. Cold, calculated precision was.That precision, however, required information, and Kendrick was relentless in his pursuit of it.The Peterson Tower had become his command center. The conference rooms and offices had been transformed into war rooms, and every corner buzzed with activity. Olivia and her team of legal experts were in full damage-control mode, gathering evidence, contacting witnesses, and preparing a strategy for the inevitable court battle. But Kendrick wasn’t focused on the courtroom, at least not entirely. He knew tha
Kendrick stood outside the Peterson mansion, his mind racing with the weight of the battle ahead. The air was cool, a breeze cutting through the Texas night as he surveyed the grand estate. He could almost hear the whispers of his ancestors, the long-dead founders of the Peterson legacy, who had built their fortune from the ground up. The mansion wasn’t just a building—it was a symbol of everything they had fought for: family, power, control. Maverick might have thought he could steal it from him, but Kendrick wasn’t about to let that happen.With a deep breath, Kendrick turned and walked toward the black SUV parked at the curb, his phone vibrating in his pocket. It was Olivia.“Anything?” he answered, his voice curt.“I’ve got something,” Olivia replied, her voice low and tense. “Marcos pulled a few strings, and we’ve got confirmation. Vali Sadiq is not just backing Maverick financially—he’s moving into Houston. We’ve been monitoring Uranus Investments, and it’s clear they’re setting
Kendrick’s mind raced as he left the Houston Convention Center that evening. The buzz of the crowd, the endless murmurs of whispered deals and corporate talk, barely registered anymore. All that lingered was Vali Sadiq’s words“Power is meant to be seized, not inherited.” Kendrick’s grip tightened on the steering wheel of the SUV as he thought of his father’s empire, the legacy that was supposed to stay in the family. No one, especially not a foreign tycoon like Sadiq, was going to take it from him!As the lights of Houston faded into the distance and the sprawling Texas countryside stretched out before him, Kendrick’s thoughts turned to his family. His mind flickered to Bridget, his wife, who had been a steady force since the day they had married. They had only been together for a few months, but in that time, she had shown him a side of life he often pushed aside: the importance of family, of balance, of something beyond just the fight for power.By the time he pulled into the esta
The days that followed Kendrick’s decision to redirect his focus were a blur of meetings, phone calls, and relentless strategy sessions. Olivia worked tirelessly, putting together a detailed list of underfunded schools in East Texas, while Kendrick found himself increasingly consumed by the idea of building something that mattered. He spent long hours at his office, but always made sure to check in with Bridget, whose unwavering support seemed to ground him.Though the empire was expanding rapidly, with acquisitions in oil, tech, and aerospace, the scholarship initiative began to take root in a way Kendrick had not anticipated. What started as an idea to safeguard the future of Texas was slowly evolving into a movement, one that had the potential to reshape the way people thought about his family’s legacy.Bridget’s influence on him was undeniable. She had always been the one to bring him back to center when his ambition threatened to drown him in the pursuit of power. He had been so