Edwin stepped right in front of them, arms outstretched. "If you want to fight, fight

    me. They''re my wife and daughter."

    "You little brat! Where are my men? Get this fool out of here!" Tristan roared, his

    face turning red with rage.

    Within seconds, a dozen burly security guards stormed in and yanked Edwin

    away.

    "Dad! Are you really going to push us this far?" Edwin shouted, his eyes zing.

    "I''m your father! This is my house, not yours to run!" Tristan snapped back. "If you

    don''t admit your mistake today, people will think those two women rule the house.

    Beat them!"

    On hismand, one of the guards grabbed a leather belt handed over by the

    butler.

    Sylvia''s heart sank. There was no escaping this tonight.

    Naomi shoved her aside. "Sylvia, go! I''ll take the fall for you. But don''t you dare

    admit to anything-"

    Before Naomi could finish, Sylvia pulled her away.

    She leveled a cold stare at Tristan. "My mom''s not in good health. If you beat her

    to death, are you nning on spending the rest of your life in prison? I''ll take the

    punishment. I''m sure you won''t object, Tristan?"

    Tristan despised defiance more than anything, and Sylvia had challenged him one

    too many times. He''d had enough of her stubbornness for a lifetime.

    "Do it!"

    "Hold on." Rupert rose from his seat, voice icy. "I''ll do it."

    He slipped off his suit jacket, rolling up his sleeves as he walked. The room fell

    silent as he took the belt from the stunned guard. In the goldenmplight, his

    shadow stretched long and ominous, hovering before Sylvia.

    Their eyes met, and for a heartbeat, time stopped.

    Sylvia coolly brushed her hair behind her ear and turned away, numb and

    resigned.

    Behind her, Rupert''s expression flickered—something broke inside, silent and

    invisible.

    The belt sliced through the air.

    Sylvia shut her eyes, bracing for pain—but it never came.

    Opening her eyes, she saw Lester, who had just left with their friends, now

    blocking her, his hand gripping Rupert''s belt mid-swing.

    Lester shot a nce at Kay, his aunt, annoyance written all over his face. "Aunt

    Kay, since when do you get the final say in Sanford family matters?"

    "Lester, I''m only looking out for Reese," Kay replied, frowning.

    "Aunt, Reese is my little sister. If

    she''s been wronged, I''ll get to the

    bottom of it: But forcing a

    confession? That''s not justice. If

    word gets out that the future Mrs.

    Reese is disciplining Mrs. Naomi,

    who''s going to exin that

    mess—your family or the Garcias?"

    Lester''s words held real weight as Reese''s big brother.

    Kay pressed her lips together, unable to argue.

    Even Tristan had to signal his guards to step back.

    "Lester, the Garcias would never let Reese be treated unfairly."

    "d to hear it, Tristan. But today''s Reese''s engagement party, and I won''t have

    any blood spilled here," Lester said firmly.

    Tristan understood perfectly—Lester hade to save Sylvia.

    It soured Tristan''s mood even more,

    but he forced his face to soften.

    "Since you''ve spoken, I''ll let it go for

    now. But the Garcias won''t tolerate

    such defiance. This isn''t the end of

    it!"

    He gave Sylvia and Naomi a long, meaningful look.

    Without waiting for permission, Lester wrapped an arm around Sylvia, steady and

    protective. "Tristan, I''m taking Sylvia with me."

    Sylvia let herself be led away, numb and hollow.

    It wasn''t until they were in the car that she began to thaw, the warmth sinking

    back into her limbs.

    Lester didn''t get in right away. He stepped aside to make a call, giving her space.

    Inside the car, Zion, Lester''s

    assistant, turned around and handed

    Sylvia a bottle of water. "Ms. Lloyd,

    your mother''s with Mr. Edwin now.

    She''s okay."

    "Thank you."

    Sylvia snapped back to herself, only to realize her hands were shaking so badly

    she couldn''t open the bottle.

    Outside, Lester lowered his voice on the phone. "I honestly didn''t expect you''d

    reach out to me."