As Tom stepped into the study and shut the door behind him, George thought his cock might explode any minute.

He couldn’t contain his excitement and tried to stand, but then realized he couldn’t do it without crutches.

"Hello, Tom."

Tom brushed off his greeting and walked straight to his desk, placing both hands on it, and leaned forward, "When are you handing over the property file?"

George Mason frowned and then shook his head, "I already told you, Hunter must have..."

Tom clenched his jaw, trying to control his anger. He needed the file before he could take any action against Sienna.

If the Manor property belonged to her mother, then the land could give him huge profits. He stared at George, "Stop playing games with me, George. I know you’re also after that property," he murmured as he rounded the table and reached for George’s seat.

His father-in-law tried to push himself up, using the armrest, but before he could steady himself, Tom gave him a slight shove.

This wasn’t the first time Tom pushed him. But before today, it used to be for pleasure. But today?

Today it was different.

George turned to grab his crutches, but Tom kicked them, making them clatter to the floor.

"Careful," He hissed, "You don’t look like you can afford another fall, George."

Anger flashed in George’s eyes, "You’ve lost your mind, Tom. Have you forgotten what we really are to each other?" He gave him a meaningful glance.

Tom placed his hands on the armrests and leaned forward, "I’ve run out of patience, George. Give me the file, or be ready for the consequences."

George kept looking into his eyes and then let out a sarcastic laugh despite the pain shooting through his arm, "What consequences, Tom? You’ll kill me?"

Several lines appeared between Tom’s brows, and then he chuckled. The amused expression on his face wiped the smirk off George’s face.

"No!" Tom straightened up and started adjusting his cuffs, "Don’t worry. I won’t kill you, George," His voice dropped lower and colder, "I’ll leak our pictures to the media..." he gave him a mocking smile, "Don’t worry. I’ll blur my face," he taunted with a wink.

George’s face drained of color as he realized what his son-in-law was saying.

"You... you bastard..." There was disbelief in his voice, "You’ve been filming us?"

Tom’s lips curved faintly as he casually raised a shoulder, "I plan ahead."

"Y...you... little piece of ..."

"Tsk. No, George," Tom cut him off as his eyes turned hard, "One click," He raised his index finger, "Just one click and everything goes public. Think of it, sweetheart," He placed his finger on George’s sweaty face and then trailed it down along his temple, "Your reputation, your family, your precious image of a crippled father..." He snapped his fingers, "All of it gone overnight."

George thought he would die, his breathing turned uneven as he stared at Tom with a blank face.

His confidence was gone, "You wouldn’t dare," He whispered.

Tom slowly wiped the sweat off his face and took his finger to his lips and licked it, "Try me, George. Try me."

"Bring me the file, George... or I’ll make sure you lose a lot more than a piece of land."

Tom had left the room, but George was still seated there like a statue, not able to move.

***

Mariana went inside the study and froze. Tom wasn’t moving and was staring at something. There was a wild look on his face.

"George... darling?" She rushed to him in panic, "What happened?"

She didn’t miss the dried tears on his face. Dropping near his seat, she wrapped her arms around him.

The moment she touched him, he broke and started crying helplessly like a baby.

"H..he... he’ll kill me," He was choking on his tears, "He’ll destroy me."

"Who?" Mariana moved her neck slightly, wiping his face, "Who are you talking about, George?"

But he didn’t answer and kept shaking in her arms.

***

"Mom? What was so urgent? Why did you call me like that?" Ruby walked in, still holding her phone.

And then she stopped when her eyes landed on her father, who was on the sofa, trembling violently.

"Papa?" She whispered and rushed forward, "What happened? What’s wrong?"

Mariana was sitting on the edge of the sofa while her husband lay there like a corpse.

"Papa," Ruby touched his forehead with the back of her hand. He might not have helped her in her hard times, but still, he was her father, and she loved him.

George was avoiding her gaze, trying to control his shaking hands. Ruby dragged a chair and sank into it, "What is this all about?" she gazed at her father’s pale face, "Tell me, Papa."

George still chose to stay quiet and squeezed his eyes. He didn’t know what to tell them. It was a shame that Tom was blackmailing him for something he used to think was beautiful.

"Papa?" Ruby held his wrinkled hand.

"Tom... your husband..." George frowned, "He’s blackmailing me for something I didn’t do," He kept his gaze down as he told his daughter, who seemed stunned.

"That prick!" Ruby gritted her teeth. She couldn’t go against Tom so openly, or she would lose her job.

"We need help. I’ll call Sienna," Ruby said, running her hand through her freshly styled hair.

"No!" Her parents said in unison, but Ruby was already bobbing her head, "Come on, guys. She’s Sienna, who can be easily manipulated. She’s your daughter, and I know she’ll help. She’s the only one who can fix this."

"She won’t help," He muttered under his breath.

"Papa. Are you serious?" Ruby said with a hint of irritation, "She’s the eldest. She should stand beside her family in times of need."

Neither of them responded. They were too numb to speak.

Ruby pulled out her phone and dialed Sienna’s number.

***

"Hmm?" Sienna received her sister’s call as she busily ran her eyes on her laptop screen, "Blackmail? Who? Tom?"

Hunter, who was sitting across her, stopped working on his laptop as his eyes snapped to her face, "Don’t worry. Let me handle it, Ruby. Hmm. Okay."

She disconnected the call and smiled when her eyes found Hunter’s, "Tom is blackmailing my father. I need to do something about it."

Hunter nodded with a frown, "Let me know what you have in mind."

Sienna smirked as her eyes fell on the table calendar on her desk. Just two days left until her father would fake his own death.

I’ll settle this with you later, Papa. But before that, I’ll do my part as your daughter. Don’t worry, Papa. Just chill!