Lord Richard stood in the nursery doorway, leaning lightly on his silver cane. His dark eyes were cold and sharp as he looked at Alexander and Clara. Behind him in the shadows, two large security guards blocked the hallway.
"You were always too smart for your own good, Alexander," Lord Richard said, his voice slow and heavy.
Alexander stepped forward, keeping Clara safely behind his back. "What are you doing in my mother's house, Richard?"
"I am protecting my family's future," Lord Richard said calmly. He tapped his cane against the floor. "Thomas was a fool. He thought he could steal everything for himself. But my daughter Victoria was supposed to be the queen of the Vance empire. Not this... penniless girl."
Lord Richard looked past Alexander’s shoulder and stared at Clara with compl
