Chapter 724 The Ashen Pact in mes

    Tessa’s lips puckered, but she kept quiet.

    She was clearly terrified for her mother, yet didn’t even dare voice it aloud.

    Victor tugged her into hisp. “Don’t worry. Your mother’s fine.”

    “Why are you so sure?”

    “Because Ss is with her.”

    And in truth, Victor doubted Diana’s disappearance was as simple as it appeared.

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    No one could easily touch Ss. If he hadn’t reported back yet, chances were the two of them were working something quietly, as always. Ss preferred silence until the oue was secured.

    Tessa didn’t understand, only stared at him with wide eyes.

    Victor pressed the ss of juice to her lips. “Don’t believe me?”

    “I just realized… I don’t really know my mother at all.”

    In Tessa’s heart, Diana had always been gentle, kind—approachable even in business.

    Yet outside, she was feared as the former master of Ashen Pact. Tessa struggled to reconcile the

    two.

    Three forces pressed at once.

    Ashen Pact exploded into chaos.

    Madam Evelyn struck first, sending people to take over Cyren Mines directly.

    When Dale received word, he–usually so indulgent toward Manny–summoned both Dan and Manny to ck Mountain that very night. Artemis was called in as well.

    “Which of you took Tessa!” Dale’s voice was raw with fury.

    The entire day had been nothing but blow after blow, and now his temper was at its breaking point. He no longer cared about anything else. He only wanted the truth.

    “And Diana,” he roared. “Was it one of you? Do you want her dead? Give me a straight answer,

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    Chapter 724 The Ashen Pact in mes

    damn it!”

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    Each word mmed down with his palm against the desk, the sound like gunfire. The air in the study grew suffocating.

    Manny’s face twisted as he turned on Dan. “It’s you, isn’t it? You brought Diana back to use against me and Father. Don’t tell me neither Tessa nor Diana is with you!”

    He bit down hard, his fury spilling over. Never in his life had his father doubted him like this.

    And now–because of Dan–he was the suspect.

    Spoiled and reckless as he was, his gaze now on Dan was dark, edged with real danger.

    Dan only sneered. “Me?”

    “Who else? You’ve always had ambitions for Ashen Pact. You’ve been waiting for the chance to rip all of Father’s power into your own hands.”

    “And you don’t?” Dan shot back, mocking.

    “I’m not like you!” Manny spat. “Even if I wanted it, I’d never invite outside forces into our family. Dawson, the Toms–you’re practically begging for Ashen Pact to be torn apart! You’re destroying it just because Father wouldn’t give it to you. You’d rather see it burn than let me have it!”

    His voice rose into a roar, echoing against the walls of the study.

    Dan stayed calm, a faint curl of mockery never leaving his lips.

    The more frenzied Manny grew, thezier Dan appeared.

    “Let Tessa and Diana go!” Manny snapped. “I’ll give up Ashen Pact. Fine? Take it all–I don’t want it anymore!”

    Desperation cracked his words.

    Because right now, inheriting Ashen Pact was no prize–it was a death sentence. Whoever sat in that chair would be shredded by the Dawsons, by the Toms, by Victor himself.

    What once had been a bitter fight to the death between him and Dan now felt like a curse passed to whoever held the reins.

    Dale turned to Dan. “You hear that? Your brother says he’ll hand it over to you.”

    His expression was sour. The moment was too dire–if this was the only way forward, then so be it. But he hadn’t thought Dan would stoop to this.

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    Dan exhaled augh. “What a shame. I already announced the position was passed to Manny.”

    Manny shot to his feet. “What did you say?!”

    Passed to him? Now? “Are you trying to kill me? You bastard!”

    He howled in outrage.

    Dale’s face sank deeper into anger. “Dan, how could you? You’ll destroy him like this.”

    Artemis’s eyes filled with wounded sorrow, her gaze heavy with disappointment. “Dan, how could you treat your own brother this way?”

    Dan lit a cigar, smoke curlingzily. “Then have him hand over the mother and daughter. I’ve carried this me long enough. You’ve all had your show–enjoyed it enough yet?”

    He drew deep and let the smoke out slow, his mocking eyes locked on Manny.

    Because as far as Dan was concerned, it was Manny who had taken Diana and Tessa.

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