Chapter 202

FLASHBACK

Gerald sat in the dimly lit study, the echo of the door closing behind his assistant fading into the distance. The room, once a sanctuary of his carefully orchestrated schemes, now felt suffocating, as if the walls were closing in on him. The note with the ominous tree symbol lay on his desk like a coiled serpent, ready to strike. He leaned back in his chair, his mind racing as he tried to make sense of the situation.

Who were these people? The Tree Clan? The name conjured up vague memories of ancient rivalries, long-forgotten bloodlines that were supposed to have faded into obscurity. But the threat in the note was very real, and it sent a chill down Gerald's spine that he hadn’t felt in years.

“Step down?” he muttered to himself, his voice filled with disbelief. “Not in this lifetime.”

His mind, usually so sharp and calculated, felt clouded by the unexpected turn of events. He had underestimated Ethan, assuming the man was too weakened by scandal and betrayal to fight back