Chapter 212

Horace pressed a trembling hand to his bleeding arm,stumbling through the chaos toward the back door.

He had always prided himself on his wits, but tonight,he had been thoroughly bested-outsmarted by a woman when it mattered most.

He gritted his teeth, swearing to himself that if he made it out alive, he would make her pay for this humiliation.

His wound throbbed with fiery pain, and the blood loss sent dark spots dancing before his eyes.

Suddenly, a familiar silhouette materialized from the shadows near the corner.

It was McCollum.

A surge of relief washed over Horace-finally,someone who could help him.

McCollum had stayed out of the rowdy hall and was surely sober.

Desperation sharpening his voice, Horace called out, "McCollum! Over here-help me out!"

He dangled a promise in the air. "Get me out of this,and I'll make you second-in-command of the Fist Guild!"

Even with his life hanging by a thread, Horace couldn't resist making promises he would never keep.

Despite knowing Eleanor belonged to Nolan, he had tried to take her for himself-either foolish or suicidal.

McCollum's face gave nothing away as he strode toward Horace, looking every bit the loyal rescuer.

But as Horace finally let out a shaky breath, a massive fist came out of nowhere, crashing into his jaw with bone-jarring force.

Horace didn't even manage a sound before his knees buckled and the world went dark.

A moment later, Kaiden appeared with a squad,entering from the hall.

He took in the scene at a glance-Horace sprawled motionless on the ground, McCollum looming nearby,cold and impassive.

Kaiden gave McCollum an approving nod.

"Get him out of here," Kaiden instructed. Two men stepped forward without hesitation, grabbing Horace and hauling him away like he was nothing more than a sack of rubbish.

When Horace finally came to, his head throbbed as if it had been split open, his jaw aching with every breath.

He quickly realized he was bound tight to a chair,ropes biting into his wrists. He was in his own bedroom -at least, it looked like it-but everything felt different now, wrong and unfamiliar.

Across the room, he recognized Darlene's silhouette.She was standing with her back to him, deep in conversation with Kaiden.

"Kaiden, from this moment on, the entire Fist Guild is mine," Darlene declared, her voice ringing with newfound authority.

Horace sat in stunned disbelief.

He had never imagined that his wife knew Kaiden personally.

Darlene continued,her words dripping with contempt,"As for Horace, I'll see to it that he stays in line from now on. You have my word. He won't be a problem again. And if you speak with Mr. Stewart, I'd appreciate you passing along our apologies for what happened with Miss Warren. The Fist Guild will answer to the Stewart Group from this day forward."

Kaiden nodded, clearly pleased, and gave her shoulder an approving pat. "Darlene, you're far shrewder than Horace'll ever be. It's good to see you know where your loyalties belong."

Before stepping out, he cast a glance at Horace-nothing but disdain in his eyes. "Everything in Zerovia revolves around the Stewart family. We'd do well to remember who built this country's reputation."

With that, Kaiden exited, hands clasped behind his back, and shut the door with a quiet finality.

The silence in the room was suffocating.

Darlene finally turned, her eyes blazing with a cold,predatory light.

A cold sweat broke out across Horace's skin, dread creeping up his spine. He shuddered and dropped his gaze, voice quivering as he pleaded, "Baby, please,I messed up-I'm begging you, I'm so sorry."

Darlene's only answer was a sharp slap across his cheek.

She didn't spare him another glance. Instead, she waved to the loyal guards stationed just outside the door. "Take him away," she instructed coolly. "No one is to let Horace out-not for any reason, not even for a breath of fresh air-unless I say so."

"Understood, ma'am!"

Horace's former followers wasted no time. They closed in, seizing him without a hint of hesitation.

In that moment, the reality hit him like a hammer-his grand plans, his schemes, all of it was finished.

Everything he had built was lost in a heartbeat.

His mind reeled, drifting back to a warning Darlene had given him years ago.

She told him his downfall would come at the hands of a woman, but he laughed it off.

All those years, he had played around, convinced he was untouchable, always letting the women pay the price.

But this time, her prediction had come true.

Regret settled in his bones, heavy and suffocating.

But now,regret was useless. It was all over.