"That child isn't mine," Jordan said instinctively.
"Cut the act, Jordan!" Lisa wasn't buying any of it.
Howard's expression tightened. "No matter whose child it is, I expect you to take care of the situation."
Jordan felt his palms grow sweaty—Howard was definitely putting the screws on him now.
He wanted to see how Jordan would handle Jasmine, to restore his daughter's dignity.
Lisa watched Jordan with schadenfreude gleaming in her eyes. "Let's see what you'll do about Jasmine and that bastard. Pull it off, and maybe my dad will help your family."
Jordan glared at Lisa, his anger thick in the air as he snorted in contempt and stormed out.
"Dad, why can't I speak?" As soon as Jordan was gone, Lisa pouted and clung to Howard.
"You two, if only you had half the composure and courage of your eldest brother, I'd rest easy," Howard sighed. "What are marriage and love, anyway? You have to grasp people's weaknesses to truly hold sway over them, body and soul."
Lisa smirked. She was actually quite eager to see if Jordan would strike against Jasmine and the child for the sake of the Taylor family business.
"Dad, someone like Jordan, he won't just roll over," Daniel said with a stern face.
Jordan was bold, alright. He dared to mess with his territory back in the day... Well, he was about to pay the price.
The Taylors were facing more than just a minor crisis this time, and Howard was certain that Jordan would come to him for help. Clapping Daniel on the shoulder, he said, "You need to get your act together, Daniel. I'm not happy with your performance at the company, and neither is your brother."
"Dad! With Ethan around, nothing I do is ever good enough," Daniel retorted with a hint of jealousy. He had to admit, though, Ethan was truly capable, and Daniel was somewhat intimidated by him.
"Just follow instructions, and your brother will help you out," Howard tried to instill a sense of domestic unity. "I'll be traveling abroad in a few days, and I expect you two to stay out of trouble while I'm gone."
"Father, I..." Daniel began, wanting to discuss shares and management rights, but he couldn't muster the courage to continue.
Upstairs, Daniel's mother glared at him, visibly upset. How much longer would they wait? Ethan held full control over the company. If things continued this way, there would be no place for her and Daniel in the future.
"Daniel's influence in the company is negligible; even if he had the talent, it's not being utilized. Those veteran employees who own shares make it tough for him," Carmen remarked with a smile, tending to Howard with great caution.
After all, she had married into the Douglas family for a piece of Stellar Enterprises, climbing her way up from being the 'other woman.'
"The shares were passed down directly to Ethan in my father’s will; without him loosening his grip, there's nothing anyone can do," Howard sighed.
"But you're the head of the family... Ethan has to listen to you. If you speak up, he will oblige. Ethan knows what's right," Carmen positioned Ethan as the problem, implying that if Ethan didn't share, it meant he was being unreasonable.
Howard massaged his temples. "I'll find an opportunity to talk to him about it."
...
At the Demolition Zone, Richard had been hit with a bat by one of Daniel’s men and was later found and taken to the hospital.
Despite calling the police, Richard couldn't even get near the neighborhood these days.
"Uncle!"
Richard, who was working on a car, heard Justin's voice and dropped his wrench in excitement, rushing over. "Justin!"
Jasmine, looking pale, gave Richard a smile. "Richard, we're back."
His eyes brimming with tears, Richard nodded. "You must be hungry; I'll go wash up and fix something to eat... I'm sorry I couldn't protect you both."
"Don't say that, Richard," Jasmine shook her head.
Richard had done his best. He had taken care of Justin for five years and had done a wonderful job raising him.
Jasmine found comfort in the small blessing amidst the chaos.
"What happened to your face?" Richard asked, eyes flicking over Jasmine's swollen cheek with a mix of outrage and helplessness.
He realized then how right Daniel had been; he knew nothing of the cutthroat world where power reigned above all else.
How was he supposed to protect Justin and keep Jasmine safe?
"It's nothing," Jasmine choked out, her gaze dropping to the floor.
Richard, unable to bear it, promptly went inside to start cooking. "Let's not talk about it anymore... I'll whip us up something to eat." He washed his hands and began preparing dinner.
A simple bowl of pasta ended up being a feast for Jasmine.
It had been ages since she had savored a warm, filling meal.
"Want more? There's plenty left," Richard smiled, going to refill her bowl.
Jasmine enjoyed a second helping, then smiled at Richard. "Bro, this is really delicious."
"Uncle used to be a chef. He's pretty awesome," Justin bragged, sliding his chicken onto his mom's plate.
"Justin, you keep that for yourself. You're the one who needs to grow," Jasmine insisted, passing it back to him.
"Here, have another, Mom. There's a big one here," Richard said with laughter in his eyes as he dished up another serving for her.
"Richard..." Jasmine's voice trembled; tears welled up as she looked at the steaming bowl. "Thank you."
"Don't be silly; I'm your brother," Richard dismissed the thanks with a wave of his hand. "Justin, go grab Uncle a clove of garlic, will you?"
With Justin out of earshot, Richard leaned in and asked softly, "Still no idea who Justin's father might be?"
Jasmine shook her head; she wasn't certain if it was Jordan.
"Justin was premature and has always been frail. His hemolytic anemia—doctors think it could be genetic. They said we need his biological parents to cooperate for testing to pinpoint the cause," Richard said with a heavy sigh.
Jasmine's grip on her fork tightened, her eyes averted as her teeth caught her lower lip. "I'll... I'll figure something out."
She would have to confront Jordan.