Episode 17 Empire of LiThe dining hall of the Van Laurent estate was wrapped in cold silence, broken only by the soft clink of silverware against porcelain.
Rain hammered the towering glass windows overlooking the city.
At the center of the long black dining table, Adrian Van Laurent sat with the rigid posture of a man carrying too many wars behind his eyes.
Across from him, Edith Van Laurent broke the silence.
“Dad, I’m joining the office tomorrow.”
Adrian didn’t even look up from his glass.
“No, you won’t.”
Edith’s jaw tightened.
“There are deals waiting for approval. Contracts losing momentum. Important opportunities are slipping through our hands.” Her voice sharpened. “That’s not good for the company.”
“I’m handling everything,” Adrian replied coldly.
“No,” Edith shot back.
