I leaned back, studying Jake’s expression, but something gnawed at me. His hatred for the Atkins family ran deep. Deeper than mine, even. And it wasn’t just about power or control. No, there was something personal buried beneath his smooth words and calculated plans, something raw and unresolved.
I narrowed my eyes. "Jake… why do you hate them so much? What did they do to you?"
For a split second, his smile faltered before returning sharper this time, more practiced. He let out a slow breath, leaning back in his chair as if weighing whether to let me in.
"It’s not just one thing," he said finally. "It’s years of watching them take and take, leaving nothing but destruction behind. My father worked for the Atkins family. He’s loyal. Hardworking. And what did he get in return? Nothing. The
