CHAPTER 97

Jessica sat in her car outside the building, her hands gripping the steering wheel so tightly that her knuckles turned white. The confrontation with her father was inevitable now. She had sent the message, drawn her line in the sand, and there was no turning back. But as much as she tried to steel herself for what was to come, she couldn’t shake the gnawing fear in the pit of her stomach.

Andrew Lane was no ordinary adversary. He was a master manipulator, a man who had built his empire on a foundation of ruthlessness and deceit. He had never hesitated to crush anyone who stood in his way, and now his own daughter was daring to defy him. She knew the risks, understood the dangers, but it didn’t make it any easier to face.

Taking a deep breath, Jessica finally stepped out of the car. The cool evening air bit at her skin, but she barely noticed. Her mind was focused entirely on the task ahead. As she walked toward the front door, her thoughts were racing. What would she say? How could sh