"You always acted like leadership belonged to men. Even when I was younger, you never looked at me properly. I was just your daughter. Just a woman who would eventually marry and disappear into another family."

Her smile slowly faded.

"But now look at this place." She gestured lightly around the room. "They listen to me now."

The sounds of distant gunfire continued outside.

Margaret leaned slightly closer toward him.

"You know what’s funny?" she asked softly. "They’re terrified out there. They’re fighting for survival while I finally have everything I want."

Her eyes darkened slightly.

Then her voice turned quieter. "Sadly... you probably won’t live long enough to fully see it."

The door suddenly opened behind her.

One of the soldiers stepped inside before lowering his head respectfully. "Commander Margaret."

Margaret straightened slightly. "What is it?"

"The monsters have reached the outer barricade. Captain Rowan says the laser weapons are working, but the creatures keep advancing... the people are afraid."

Margaret nodded calmly as if hearing about the weather.

The soldier hesitated briefly before continuing. "Enzo’s men are already leading the residents into the underground basement shelters for safety."

Margaret’s expression changed immediately.

The calm look on her face disappeared, replaced by visible irritation as her eyes narrowed sharply. "Why wasn’t I informed first?" she asked coldly. "Or do they now believe they are the ones in charge of this fortress?"

The soldier lowered his head quickly. "No, Commander Margaret, it’s just that the situation outside became dangerous very quickly, so they acted immediately to avoid panic."

Margaret stared at him silently.

The soldier swallowed nervously before lowering his voice even more. "Since... since you don’t really involve yourself with the residents often... the people naturally followed those who usually protect them." He mumbled.

The room went quiet.

Margaret’s eyes slowly shifted toward him. "What did you say?"

The soldier stiffened immediately. "I said... because the situation outside is uncertain, they believed your safety and Patriarch Wayne’s safety should come first."

Margaret’s fingers curled tightly beside her. She felt a strange premonition.

That the control she had barely managed to grasp was starting to slip away from her hands. The soldiers respected Laurel. The residents trusted Enzo. Even Rowan held more influence over the battlefield than she did.

And now they were making decisions without her permission.

Her jaw tightened slightly... No. That could not continue.

Margaret slowly stood from her chair, smoothing her hand over her dress as she looked toward the unconscious old man lying on the bed.

"Enzo is responsible for my father’s condition," she said calmly. "He should be executed."

The soldier’s eyes widened slightly before he lowered his head again. "Commander... he has not gone through trial yet."

Margaret’s head snapped toward him instantly. "Are you questioning my authority?"

Her voice rose sharply through the room, making the soldier tense immediately.

"No! No, Commander Margaret."

Silence filled the room again except for the distant sound of gunfire outside. The low vibration from explosions faintly trembled through the walls of the fortress.

Margaret inhaled slowly.

If she stayed hidden inside this room while others led the people, then the soldiers would never truly acknowledge her authority. Fear alone was not enough to hold power. She needed visible control before Laurel returned.

And Laurel... she would find a way to eliminate that threat... but what worried her more was Alexander and Mr. Lennox. ’I’ll handle them one at a time.’

Margaret could almost feel her shadow hanging over the fortress even while she was gone.

Which was exactly why Enzo and Stefan needed to disappear first.

The more influence Laurel lost inside the fortress, the easier it would become to erase her completely.

Margaret turned toward the soldier again. "Prepare the vehicle. I’m going to the wall to supervise the battle myself."

The soldier looked surprised but quickly nodded. "Yes, Commander."

Margaret took a few steps before stopping midway.

"And bring Enzo and Stefan there as well."

The soldier blinked in confusion. "Commander?"

Margaret’s lips curved faintly. "Since they care so much about this fortress, then they should witness what happens when people fail me."

The soldier felt unease settled heavily in his chest, but he did not dare question her again. "I understand."

After the soldier left, the room became quiet once more.

Margaret slowly walked back toward Grandpa Wayne’s bedside. For a moment, she simply stared at his unconscious face. Tubes remained connected to his body while machines quietly monitored his condition beside the bed.

The once powerful patriarch now looked old and fragile.

Margaret reached down and brushed her fingers lightly against his cheek.

"You should have chosen me from the beginning," she said softly.

She still couldn’t forget the hatred she had nurtured from the moment he chose the young Alexander to be the next successor... even after she had managed to get rid of his parents.

Her heart burned hotter as the memories flashed before her eyes.

Her fingers tapped his cheek gently twice. "See you later, Father."

Then she turned around and walked out of the room.

Soldiers rushed through the hallways carrying ammunition crates while alarms echoed repeatedly through the building. Residents hurried toward the underground shelters with frightened children clinging tightly to their parents.

Some people were crying. Others were praying quietly under their breath.

Margaret drove through all of it without stopping. By the time she reached the elevator leading toward the fortress wall, the sounds of battle had already become much louder.

The elevator doors opened. A cold wind rushed against her immediately.

Margaret stepped onto the tower platform built into the massive wall surrounding the fortress. From that height, the battlefield below spread clearly before her eyes.

Blue-white laser beams rotated rapidly across the dark battlefield.

Every time the beams locked onto movement, a sharp flash burst through the night before a monster’s body exploded apart instantly. Burnt flesh and smoke filled the air while the lasers continued moving with frightening precision.

But the monsters rushed forward endlessly. Their growls mixed together with gunfire until the entire battlefield became deafening.

Captain Rowan stood near the outer barricade with several soldiers positioned around him.

"Reload!"

"Left side!"

"Don’t let them reach the wall!"

Gunfire erupted constantly.

Machine guns sprayed bullets into the incoming creatures while grenades exploded across the battlefield, sending dirt and blood flying into the air.

One monster leapt over the barricade and slammed directly into a soldier.

The man screamed as both of them crashed to the ground.

Another soldier immediately rushed forward and buried an axe into the creature’s skull before dragging his injured comrade backward.