Chapter 709 Lines in the Sand

    “You-” Dale began, but Dan was already pushing back his chair.

    “I don’t want the bseat /bof Ashen Pact’s ruler anymore. Once I walk out that door, I’ll announce it belongs to Manny.”

    “You dare!” Dale roared.

    He wasn’t stupid. Dering such a thing now would paint a target on Manny’s back, leaving him torn apart by Victor’s faction and the Dawson family both.

    The m of the door was Dan’s only reply.

    Dale nearly burst a vessel from the rage.

    Meanwhile, Tessa sat on a ne with Victor.

    Because he had told her earlier that he’d taken her away with Marie’s knowledge, she had no reason to doubt him. She had no idea Ashen Pact was already boiling over because of her.

    All she could think of was her mother. The worry left her no appetite.

    Victor slipped behind her, lifting her easily into hisp.

    “Don’t,” she muttered, squirming. Her mother’s plight had left her raw, easily irritated.

    “Eat a little,” he said, voice low but firm.

    “I don’t want to.”

    “If you don’t eat, how are you going to face themter?”

    Tessa didn’t reply.

    She wanted to find her mother. She wanted to settle scores.

    In the

    space of a day, she had been pushed onto the opposite side of Ashen Pact. There was no turning back.

    And she didn’t want to turn back.

    Victor raised a spoonful of oats to her lips. “Open.”

    She had no appetite, but under hismanding tendernessb, /bshe obeyed, taking bthe /bbite.

    Twisting against him, she protested, “Let me sit on my own.”

    Why did he have to hold her like this?

    Her restless wriggling only hardened his expression. “Don’t rub against me.”

    Back in Noctarth, Derrick’s bombs had ttened Dan’s estate.

    When Dan returned from ck Mountain and heard the news, his face went ck.

    “This Mr. Derrick is intolerable,” Conan fumed. “After all, Ms. Dawson once-‘

    “Enough.”

    Dan cut him off, expression souring at the thought of Marie’s past devotion.

    Yes, once she had given him everything.

    But now? Nothing.

    She would fight him for Derrick. She would turn on him for Tessa.

    Everyone else mattered to her–everyone but him.

    The ce he had once held in her heart was gone, ripped away and filled by Derrick.

    He snatched up his phone and dialed. The line connected almost immediately.

    Before Derrick could speak, Dan hissed through clenched teeth, “Derrick, you’ll pay for this.”

    His fury boiled–Derrick had infiltrated his circle, blown up his home. How could he swallow that humiliation?

    But on the other end, Derrick was busy coaxing an irate Marie. Already half–annoyed, heughed, a sharp, dismissive sound. “You’ve been promising storms for years, Dan. Still waiting.”

    The insult stung.

    Derrick didn’t stop. “You put on the act of some ruthless strategist, but after all this time, Ashen Pact bis /bstill a mess. What have you even achieved?”

    Dan’s breath grew ragged.

    er Uy Lines in the Sand

    +8 Pearls

    “And now,” Derrick went on, voice biting, “this little rotten Ashen Pact–you sat on its throne for yearsb, /band you’ve got nothing to show for it.”

    Dan’s chest heaved, fury choking him.

    “Trouble after trouble, none of it solved. Even needed Tessa’s mother to do the heavy lifting. Pathetic. And you tell me to wait for you?”

    Beside Derrick, Marie couldn’t help twitching at his ruthless tongue.

    She had always known Derrick was sharp–tongued–she herself and Ste had often been the ones sparring with him. But he never truly got the upper hand back then.

    Now, finally, he had found a foe who couldn’t withstand him. The satisfaction practically radiated off him.

    “You think you’re any better?” Dan spat. “The Tom family’s a shambles too. Haven’t seen you fix that.b” /b

    “How do you know I haven’t?” Derrick shot back smoothly.

    After all, Holt had nothing left to give Mona and that useless Gary.

    Yes–Derrick had already gutted the Tom family.

    Once three years ago, and again after marrying Marie.

    No wonder Mona and Gary were scrambling like cornered rats.

    Enemies were enemies, even if they shared blood.

    If they weren’t driven into desperation, then he would be the one to fall.