Anthony Dante, the formidable and calculating patriarch, sat in his opulent office. His eyes were fixed on the expansive view of the city outside his window, but his thoughts were anything but peaceful.
"That idiotic son of mine," he muttered under his breath, his voice dripping with disdain. "He's getting bolder and bolder. If I don't teach him a lesson, he won't learn. Does he think that because of the small company he's running in this tiny place, he can challenge me, the almighty Dante? When I'm angry, the whole country quakes, and when I'm stepped on, the whole country prepares for war."
Anthony's face contorted with a mix of anger and frustration. He had always prided himself on being in control, on manipulating situations to his advantage. But lately, his son Ethan had been a thorn in his side, refusing to back down or bend to his will.
As he ruminated on Ethan's growing defiance, a bright smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "Finally," he thought, "the brat is growing some backbone. Finally, he's growing into a man." It occurred to him that the presence of the lady, Emily, and his granddaughter, Mia, seemed to be the motivation behind Ethan's newfound strength.
But Anthony's train of thought was disrupted by a fit of coughing, and when he withdrew a bloodied handkerchief, it seemed like a routine occurrence. He sighed, seemingly accustomed to this health issue. "I don't have much time left," he admitted to himself.
His thoughts turned to the future of his empire. "I need someone to take care of my company," he mused aloud. "One is a lazy playboy, James, and the other, a hardworking, spineless brat, Ethan, who hates me.and I can't handover the company to the lazy brat or the spineless Brat as he felt a headache coming
As he weighed his options, he considered giving Ethan a week of preparation before starting his punishments. "Let me see if he's man enough to face the pressure and make the right decisions," he thought. In the world of power and intrigue, Anthony Dante was always one step ahead, and his plans for Ethan were far from over