Author's POV:
The once-grand Wang family mansion stood as a shadow of its former glory. Where opulence and power once reigned, an air of desperation now permeated every corner. The financial assault launched by the Wu and Huang families had taken its toll, and the cracks in the Wang dynasty were beginning to show.
In the dimly lit study, Wang Zhenguo sat behind his massive mahogany desk, his weathered face a map of worry lines. The family patriarch had aged years in mere weeks, the stress of their crumbling empire weighing heavily upon him. Before him stood his son, Wang Dazhong, and daughter-in-law, Zhao Yuzhen, their faces etched with concern.
"Father," Wang Dazhong began, his voice tight with barely contained panic, "the latest reports are in. We've lost control of three more subsidiaries. The board is in uproar."
Wang Zhenguo's gnarled hands clenched into fists. "And what of our contacts in the government? Surely they can intervene?"
