The Grim Sovereign

Chapter 8

Julan’s entire body shook, knuckles white around his cane. He hadn’t expected Sebastian to be so firm, so unyielding.

Why… why was this man so determined to back Ardenne?

He didn’t understand it. And now was not the time to question. Right now, securing that contract meant everything.

Forcing a stiff smile, Julan turned toward Sebastian, voice tight, slightly trembling. “Mr. Sebastian… there must be some misunderstanding,” he said hurriedly. “Ardenne has always been part of the Lannister family… and an employee of the Lannister Group. She’s not going anywhere.”

Sebastian raised an eyebrow, casual but sharp, his tone cutting through the tension. “Really? That’s not what I heard. Someone told me Ardenne was already fired.”

Julan’s smile froze. His face darkened, veins standing out along his temple. His cane slammed against the marble with a crack that echoed through the hall.

“Who the hell dismissed Ardenne?!” Julan roared. “Kneel!”

The shout shook the room. Violet’s face drained of color. She had never seen her grandfather this angry. Her lips quivered as tears began to form.

“Grandfather… I—I didn’t know about Ardenne,” Violet stammered, voice small, faltering. “I didn’t do it on purpose.”

Julan’s icy gaze cut into her. “Bastard!” he snapped, the word harsh and final. “Why are you apologizing to me? Apologize to Ardenne!”

Violet’s heart twisted painfully. To her, apologizing to Ardenne—that woman—was worse than death itself. But one look at Julan’s murderous glare told her exactly what would happen if she defied him.

Her knees buckled. With a muffled thud, she dropped to the floor beside Gideon.

All eyes turned toward them.

Violet’s face burned with humiliation as she forced the words out.

“Gr… Grandfather, I’m sorry,” she whispered, choking on her pride. “I didn’t know… I really didn’t do it on purpose.”

Julan slammed his cane against the floor again. “You useless mutt! Why are you apologizing to me? Apologize to Ardenne!”

Her nails dug into her palms. She wanted to scream, run, disappear—but the weight of the Lannister name crushed every ounce of rebellion in her.

Finally, tears sliding down her cheeks, she turned toward Ardenne.

“Ardenne… I was wrong,” she stammered. “I’m sorry for what happened.”

The room went still.

Julan turned toward Sebastian with a strained smile. “Chairman Sebastian… are you satisfied now?”

Sebastian didn’t answer immediately. He looked around, his expression unreadable.

The silence stretched. Julan’s chest tightened.

His patience snapped. “Is this supposed to be an apology?!” he roared. “Slap yourself, you i***t!”

Violet’s eyes widened. “Grandfather, I’ve already apologized—”

Bang!

Julan’s cane struck the marble violently. His face was red with fury. “Not going to listen to me, are you? Do you want to defy me now?”

Violet’s entire body trembled. Rage and humiliation churned inside her, but she dared not speak again. She stared at Ardenne, vision blurring with tears of resentment. Closing her eyes tightly, she gritted her teeth and raised her hand.

Slap!

The sound echoed sharply across the room. Her cheek burned instantly. A bruise was already swelling.

Julan’s gaze snapped to Gideon. “And you! Gideon!”

Gideon’s face went pale. Without daring a word, he raised his hands and began slapping himself as well.

Slap! Slap! Slap!

His cheeks reddened, the humiliation unbearable.

Violet was sobbing now, her voice hoarse. “Ardenne… I was wrong,” she cried. “It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have fired you. Please… please come back to the company.”

From behind her, a low, mocking voice cut through the air.

“We can’t even enter the company’s main gate,” Adam said coldly. “How are we supposed to go back?”

Violet jerked her head up, grief twisting into rage. “You—! A useless lunatic like you, what business do you have here?! If it weren’t for Mr. Sebastian backing you up, you’d—”

“Enough!” Julan’s voice boomed again, cutting her short. “Go and beg Ardenne to come back!”

Violet’s whole body stiffened as the order sank in. Pride screamed in agony, but she had no choice.

Tears streamed down her face as she raised her trembling hand and slapped herself again.

Slap!

“Ardenne…” she choked, sobbing. “I’m sorry. I was wrong. Please come back to the company.”

The irony crushed her. Just minutes ago, she had mocked Cassian for being delusional when he said Ardenne would return in triumph. Now, she was the one on her knees, begging for mercy.

Ardenne stood silently, watching the scene. She couldn’t believe it.

Violet and Gideon—those who humiliated her, trampled her pride—were now kneeling, apologizing.

It felt unreal.

Julan exhaled, forcing calm into his tone as he turned to Ardenne. “Ardenne,” he said, “they’ve admitted their mistakes. In the end, we’re still family.”

Ardenne’s chest ached. A family? Where were they when they spat on her? She swallowed the thought. Surviving this moment meant keeping her job, protecting her daughter. She nodded.

Julan exhaled like a storm had passed. He turned to Sebastian, trying on the conciliatory smile of a man who’d just averted disaster. “Mr. Sebastian… what do you think?” he asked.

Sebastian only shrugged. “Mr. Julan,” he said coolly, “this is a family matter. I don’t meddle in household discipline. I’m a bystander here.” His tone made it clear—his loyalty was to the project, not petty family quarrels.

Sebastian’s brief, half-amused nod felt like a verdict. “Families have problems,” he said lightly. “It’s not easy managing one this big. Ardenne, shall we go upstairs and sign the contract?”

Ardenne lifted her head to answer when Cassian stepped forward, calm but dangerous in the quiet way he moved. “Darling,” he said, voice soft but firm, “you were hurt. The contract can wait. Let’s get you and Anna checked at a hospital first. A full check-up—what do you think?”

Heat flared in Julan’s eyes. He ground his teeth but didn’t explode—not with Sebastian watching. He clenched his jaw, hissed under his breath, loud enough for his aides to catch: Useless bastard. You just make things worse. I’ll skin you alive after this is over.

Then, controlling himself, he barked aloud, sharp and precise: “Reginald! Transfer thirty million to Ardenne’s account right now—medical and settlement. Handle it.”

A trim woman in her thirties stepped forward, phone in hand. Her fingers danced across the screen like a pianist. The device chimed. Ardenne’s phone buzzed. She frowned, checked the notification, and for a wild second, the number made her dizzy: thirty million, marked medical settlement. Obscene. Real.

“That should be enough,” Julan said, voice softening into practiced concern. He tipped his head toward Sebastian. “Mr. Thomas is waiting.”

Ardenne nodded, stunned, motion small. Julan stamped his cane once, then roared: “Out of the way!”

The guards cleared like a dark tide pulled back. Those sprawled on the ground were hauled up and shepherded away. The procession moved toward the elevators.

Gideon and Violet remained at the threshold, watching the retreat like predators watching prey walk free. Violet’s face twisted in fury. “That slut got lucky,” she spat. “Sebastian Thomas took a liking to her—I will not pay for this. Not if my name is Violet Lannister!”

She turned to Gideon, eyes sharp and dangerous. “I’ll need your help. Soon.”

Gideon’s smile was thin and cruel, promising ruin. He squinted, the killing intent in his gaze sharpening. “Heh,” he murmured. “We’ll make them suffer.”

His mind was already calculating—favors, debts, debts turned to violence. He traced the dark veins of the city where power whispered through alleys and boardrooms alike.

“You have a way?” Violet asked, voice small but sharp.

Gideon’s lips curved. “There’s a group I’ve used before—Harrowgate Syndicate. Quiet, efficient. No marks, no headlines, but they make life unbearable.”

He glanced at Ardenne’s back, at Cassian’s calm posture. The cruel smile widened. “They’ll make them beg. They’ll give them a life worse than death.”

Violet’s eyes widened, surprise and a horrible hunger flaring together. “You mean… Harrowgate?” she stammered, the name tasting like promise.

Gideon nodded slowly. “Yes. They’ll take care of it. No noise. No proof. Just slow ruin. We make them plead for mercy, and their world collapses from the inside.”