The newsroom lights cast a sterile glow on the stack of tabloids spread across Julian’s desk. The headlines screamed accusations of corruption and cruelty, painting him as a man with no soul—an heir to tyranny.
“This isn’t just business,” Julian muttered, slamming his fist on the desk. “This is personal.”
Madeline stepped into the room, holding a small package. Her sharp gaze softened slightly as she studied him. “This arrived an hour ago,” she said, setting it down carefully.
Julian tore the package open, his fingers trembling. Inside was a photograph, yellowed with age, of their fathers standing shoulder to shoulder, their smiles laced with an eerie camaraderie. Tucked beneath it was a note: “You’re paying for his sins.”
He froze, the words slicing deeper than any blade.
Madeline cr
