Yang Enterprise.

  "I don't understand," Everett said with a cutthroat voice.

  Everett forced a smile, but it never reached his eyes. His hand ticked upon the leather chairs. His blood was beginning to simmer with each passing second.

  "It's just as I said," William stated, leaning back in his chair without a care in the world.

  William still had chills imagining how his niece talked down to him—including her future husband, who offered him an undeniable deal.

  Lina was an ember in the wind who'd spark a wildfire. Kaden was the peak of an iceberg that'd sink a ship. Together, they were the most chaotic clash.

  "Another man beat you to the chase," William mused, giving a shrug of his shoulder.

  As nice as it was to have Leclare Law Firm at his beck and call, William realized Everett was an uncontrollable man. Kaden was the beast that'd never be tamed. But even the greatest monsters had a weakness. William instantly noticed Lina was Kaden's weakness.

  It was in the way Kaden behaved. He hovered over his prey with a grueling glare. Touch her and you'll die. Lina must've thought her husband was a wild man who could not be tamed. All along, she was the one holding the leash.

  "Let me get this straight," Everett seethed, while forcing a laugh to appear calm. He was trying his best to hide his rage, but it was impossible when his prey was snatched right under his nose.

  "You and I had an agreement," Everett managed to say. "Your niece in exchange for shares at my father's company and her freedom—"

  "You see, my niece's freedom wasn't mine to give," William interrupted, lifting a chess piece from the board. His eyes crinkled with amusement when he saw a vein pop on Everett's forehead.

  "You said—"

  "I said what I said, but it's not me who fulfilled the actions," William laughed.

  William knocked down a pawn piece with the Queen, but it didn't feel as satisfying. Playing against himself was boring. He wanted a worthy opponent. Anyone but his father, though. And his niece. Those two were wolves in a sheep's disguise.

  William couldn't forget his genius niece had won a national championship in chess when she was just a kid. Back then, she had made headlines. Her list of accomplishments only grew with age. Then, it all came spiraling down when she went to summer camp.

  The downfall of a genius.

  "What did Kaden DeHaven offer you?" Everett spat out, growing irritated by the taps of the chess pieces.

  Everett could tell William was trying to intimidate him. But with what? Stupid wooden pieces of fake soldiers and knights? What the hell was that going to do?

  "If you're so curious, you should ask him yourself," William responded, fiddling with the chess piece.

  William couldn't help but think of how Lina managed to snag two heirs.

  Lina was supposed to keep her head down and graduate university with a Ph.D. Now, she had the most eligible bachelors in the country vying for her attention and hand in marriage. Not to mention, one of those bastards was studying abroad.

  "You're not a man of your word," Everett spat out. "Do you understand how important that is? If word of this leaks—"

  "Are you trying to threaten your senior with double your age and experience in the field? Don't try to threaten my reputation when yours has barely begun," William coldly stated.

  This babbling little brat.

  Rabbits. To hell with all of the Leclares. William realized his father was right. All these men liked to do was cry and whine, hiding behind empty words. They sure fit the lawyer shoes very well, arguing with words when their fists couldn't speak for them.

  Kaden DeHaven, on the other hand, packed a mean punch with just as lethal a mouth.

  "I am just giving you advice—"

  "The day I need advice from a little man in his early twenties is the day Yang Enterprise falls," William cackled. He was amused by the squabbling boy in front of him.

  It was cute when Lina did it. She was his niece and he watched her grow up. But for Everett, who was supposed to be the man of the house, William nearly rolled his eyes.

  "Isn't that why Yang Enterprise's stocks have been falling with each passing day?" Everett spat out. "All because of your niece, to whom I offer my saving grace."

  "Let it fall," William mused, despite the panic of his investors.

  The more his stocks fell, the more people would buy them. When it rose again in a few days, those who sold would've wished they held. By then, it'd be too late and when their trend continued to increase, people would try to buy before it grew even higher.

  William should've predicted this first. But he didn't. Kaden DeHaven had. Was that why he took advantage of the situation? Kaden had all the power in the world to stop the entire media for a day. But he allowed his photo with Lina to be leaked on the internet. All for the prediction of what was to happen.

  A man with no background, no name, no fame, until five years ago. What could've caused such a change?

  "I hope you remember your own words well," Everett snarled, shooting out of his chair in disbelief.

  Everett could have any woman in the city.

  Any woman would be eager to lick his shoes, kiss the ground he moved on, and stand behind him when they walked. Any damn woman in this world. Yet, the only one he set his eyes on was taken from him.

  Everett was this close to acquiring Lina Yang. She, who possessed an extraordinary name, yet wanted no power or fame. The perfect wife for him.

  "I always do," William teased, leaning back in his chair and abandoning his chess pieces.

  Playing with Lina yesterday reminded him of the good days they'd had. She'd sit on Lawrence's lap, with her tiny feet swinging on the chair, as her tiny fingers won against her uncles in chess.

  "Tch." Everett stormed out of the office, loudly slamming the doors behind him.

  Everett wasn't going to stand for this injustice. He was going to take back what was stolen from him, by force or by will.

  Lina Yang was going to be his by the end of this month. He'd guarantee it.

  "Thank god she didn't marry this brat," William muttered under his breath, feeling like he had just swatted flies away. "They're both immature. Just imagine the kids they'd have."

  William snorted at the idea of children running around his legs, with both of their parents' spoiled attitudes. He'd die before he'd see Lina bear? a child from Everett. Though, mothering a child from Kaden wasn't any better…


  "Now that I think about it," William said to himself. "Maybe he could be the best fit."