Nicholas's lips twitched, but it wasn't a smile. It was a grimace, a barely concealed snarl. His father's plan wasn't just manipulative—it was repulsive. Elijah was asking him to trade Ava's trust, her friendship, for his own survival.
For a long moment, Nicholas didn't speak. He simply stared at Elijah, the tension radiating from him almost palpable. The man in front of him was so vile that he hated himself for being his son. He knew nothing but his own benefit. He didn't care about anyone.
Nicholas's insides filled with bitterness as he recalled the past. This was the man who had abandoned his mother without a shred of guilt, chasing wealth and power by marrying a rich woman, despite knowing she carried his child.
To him, his success was more important than anyone else. His ambition had always trumped any semblance of humanity. And it was the same as before. Elijah hadn't changed—not one bit.
