Empire for Revenge

otional weight still pressed down on him. Every time he saw his step-family or crossed paths with the other wealthy heirs, their co

t moments in the estate's garden, always checking in on how he was feeling. It was easy for William to cling

change the subject if Ethan's name was mentioned, and she often seemed distant, even when she was with him. William tried to push the

e evening for dinner, promising that they could spend some quiet time together. He carried a bouquet of flowers, hoping to surprise he

race, a sick feeling pooling in his stomach. He hesitated for a moment, standi

g from the bedroom at the end of the hall. Voices

oice. An

g him closer to the bedroom door. He could hear them clearly now, t

out eventually, right?" Eth

e. "He's too naive. He trusts me. I could

is mind screamed at him to stop, to leave, to turn away and pretend he hadn't

just enough to see inside-and the sight bef

ndone, a smug grin on his face. They were lying close together, clearly comfortable, clearly intimate. The look on Kate's f

he sudden sting of tears. For a moment, everything felt unreal, l

ith a chuckle. "You should just cut him loose.

ides, I need to keep up appearances for a little longer. My family's counting on me t

ever loved him. She had never cared. Kate had only been with him to secure a connectio

ands me the reins of the family business, you won't ne

she found the whole situation amusing. "I suppose yo

was a knife in his heart, every laugh a slap in the face. His mind reeled, trying to process the betrayal, t

confusion and pain. But eventually, the numbness gave way to something else-something darker.

gh the blur of his tears. The flowers he had brought for Kate fell from his

ing to take its place. This was the moment he truly broke-

ol, and all the others-they would regret what they had done. William didn't know how yet, but the ang