"That's the spirit, honey. You can't let anyone strip you of your territory," Naomi said, her voice lifting with renewed urgency as she leaned closer to Francis, her energy trying to stabilize his shaken state.
I watched the exchange, the pressure in the room thick with competing instincts, before I finally spoke. "Dad… do you know who the acquiring party is?"
Francis' expression darkened instantly. His aura sharpened, anger flaring so intensely it seemed to ripple through the room. His eyes turned bloodshot as he answered through clenched teeth, "An old rival. Someone I've crossed paths with before—ruthless, calculating. I never thought he'd move like this, using underhanded tactics to weaken me and take what's mine."
