The moon hung low over the Wyatt villa as Charles paced in his study. The conversation with Theodore had helped clear his mind, but it also sharpened the reality of the danger they faced. Dalia and Rowan Dante weren't enemies to be taken lightly. Rowan’s wealth and connections rivaled even the Wyatt family’s influence, and his hatred for the Wyatts had festered for decades.There was only one person that was truly a match for Rowan. At least that person knew Rowan well. Charles reached for his phone, his hand trembling slightly as he scrolled through his contacts. He stopped at the name he hadn't called in years: Dean Wyatt. His father.Even if he visited his parents every once in a while. It was always because his mother persuaded him to. Dean was the patriarch of the Wyatt family, a man whose legacy cast a long shadow over Charles’s life. He was ruthless, cunning, and unyielding traits that had built the Wyatt empire but had also left scars in the family’s history. Charles had di
Theodore stood on the front steps of the Wyatt villa, the evening breeze brushing against his face as he checked his watch. His grandfather, Dean Wyatt, had always made an entrance, and this time was no exception. Beside him, Charles was pacing slightly, his nerves thinly veiled."You’re fidgeting." Theodore said, a teasing edge to his voice.Charles shot him a glare. "I’m not fidgeting. I’m preparing." Charles said.Theodore smirked."Preparing to explain to Grandfather why you called him into a decades-old feud he thought was finished?" Before Charles could retort, the rumble of a sleek engine echoed down the long driveway. A black luxury car appeared, its polished surface reflecting the villa’s lights. The car came to a halt, and a driver quickly stepped out to open the doors.Dean Wyatt emerged first, his sharp, steely presence commanding attention. Even in his seventies, he exuded the power and precision of a man who had built an empire with his bare hands. His piercing blue ey
Oliver adjusted his earpiece as he scanned through the villa’s security feeds late into the night. His job as Charles Wyatt’s right-hand man was more than just loyalty, it was vigilance. But tonight, something felt off. A faint irregularity in the security network caught his attention.He leaned forward, his brow furrowing as he pulled up an unauthorized feed. It was a live stream, originating from hidden cameras placed in key areas of the villa. The footage revealed intimate conversations, the family’s movements, and, most troubling, the secret discussions held in the study.Oliver’s stomach sank. Someone had infiltrated their security team.He bolted to his feet and stormed down the hallway to Charles’s study. The older Wyatt was seated at his desk, going over documents related to Rowan and Dalia’s movements, his usual calm replaced by a storm of unease."Charles." Oliver said, closing the door behind him.Charles looked up, noting the urgency in Oliver’s tone. "What is it? Somethi
~ At the Wyatt Villa ~Oliver stood in the dimly lit control room, his eyes locked on the name glowing on the screen in front of him. The mole was a guard named Daniel Cox, a recent hire with seemingly impeccable credentials. But as Oliver dug deeper, discrepancies began to surface an alias tied to a series of suspicious transactions, including large deposits from an account linked to Rowan Dante’s network.Oliver clenched his jaw. "Daniel Cox.” he muttered under his breath.He called in two of his most trusted men, giving them a sharp nod. "Find him. Bring him to the interrogation room. Quietly. No alarms." He instructed. The guards moved swiftly, and within minutes, Daniel was sitting in a stark, windowless room, his hands cuffed to the table. He maintained an air of defiance, his eyes narrowing as Oliver entered."You’ve got the wrong guy." Daniel said, leaning back in his chair.Oliver dropped a folder on the table, the contents spilling out, transaction records, screen shots o
As the days passed in the seclusion of the upstate estate, Theodore began to execute his plan. He had already made his intentions clear to his family: the key to drawing Albert out was to make him believe Theodore was vulnerable, a prime target. The bait had to be irresistible.Something everyone can believe they could step on. Theodore had begun circulating rumors that he had returned to the villa alone, without any security detail, and that he was preparing to resume his usual routines. The villa, now seemingly abandoned, was the perfect setting to make Albert think the Wyatts were slipping up. To add more weight to the illusion, Theodore made a public appearance in the city a meeting with a few business associates. He made sure word got out that he was no longer hiding in the shadows.Dean and Charles were hesitant, but they understood Theodore’s calculated risk. "If Albert believes you’re an easy target, he’ll come after you, and we’ll be ready." Dean had said, though his eyes n
~ At Rowan's hideout ~ Back at his hideout, Rowan Dante sat in his office, a glass of whiskey in hand, his knuckles white as he gripped the glass. The latest report from Albert was devastating. Not only had Theodore Wyatt outsmarted him, but the Wyatts had used Albert’s failure to send a message, one that resonated deeply within Rowan’s strategic mind.He slammed the glass down on the table, causing it to shatter. "How could you fail me, Albert?" he muttered, pacing back and forth. "This was supposed to be the moment. Theodore Wyatt was supposed to be mine."Beside him, Dalia stood quietly, her face unreadable. She had been observing her father’s increasing agitation with growing detachment. It was clear to her that the failure was hitting Rowan harder than expected, but she was less concerned about her father’s temper than about what this failure meant for their grand plan.She was worried for her son. But she couldn't or didn't want to act weak. "Rowan, calm down." Dalia said, h
The night had settled over the estate, and the tension between Charles and Dean was still thick in the air. The cold silence between father and son lingered, but it was interrupted when Stella Wyatt, Dean’s wife and Charles’s mother, entered the room.She’d been listening from the hallway, her heart heavy with the weight of the argument that had just unfolded. She knew that both men, despite their pride and stubbornness, were driven by a shared love for their family. But that love was now clouded by suspicion and fear, fear of being betrayed, of being manipulated."Enough!" Stella’s voice rang out, firm and commanding, as she stepped into the room. Both men turned to face her, surprised by the sudden interruption."Mom..." Charles began, but she held up her hand, silencing him."No, Charles. No more of this." she said, her voice steady, but with the unmistakable weight of a mother’s authority. "I’ve spent decades watching both of you. You’re not just father and son; you’re two halves
The grand villa of the Wyatts sat on the outskirts of San Diego, quiet for the first time in days. Inside, the family was gathered in their private study, but there was no tension now. Charles, Dean, and Theodore stood together, united, while Stella and the others watched from the side.They had made it look convincing Dean’s cold distance from Charles, their heated exchanges, and Charles’s almost reluctant reconciliation with his father, all of it. Every word, every look, was carefully calculated. But now, with Rowan believing he was winning, the Wyatts knew they had to turn the tables."Do you think he bought it?" Theodore asked, his eyes scanning the faces of his family.Charles nodded slowly, his face grim. "I’m sure of it. Rowan’s always been predictable when it comes to these things. He thrives on the idea of turning us against each other." He glanced over at Dean. "But we’ve given him exactly what he wanted to see, doubt, discord. I can almost hear him gloating from here."D