Chapter 66 Chapter 66

Chapter 66 Chapter 66
The drive to the Henry estate was dead quiet. AJ sat in the passenger seat of his father’s black sedan, watching the muscles in Adrian Senior’s jaw twitch. His father wasn't a "flowery" man. He was the kind of guy who could fire a board of directors with a single look, and right now, he looked like he was heading into a deposition.

"You don’t have to do this, Dad," AJ said, his voice low as they hit the gravel driveway. "I can handle Caroline. I’ve dealt with worse in the desert."

Adrian Senior didn't even look at him. He just tightened his grip on the wheel. "This isn't just about Caroline’s meddling, AJ. There are things Harold and I need to settle that have been rotting for way too long. You just focus on Katherine. Let me handle the heavy lifting."

The second they stepped into the foyer, the tension was thick enough to choke on. Caroline was there, of course, looking perfect in a dress that probably cost more than a cardiac monitor. She had that fake, practiced smile plastered on her face—until she saw Adrian Senior standing behind AJ. Her glass of wine did a little wobble in her hand. She’d been expecting AJ, the "rebellious son" she could talk circles around. She hadn't expected the shark himself.

"Adrian," she said, her voice tight. "Didn't realize you were coming."

"Harold and I need a word, Caroline," Adrian said, his tone flat and leaving zero room for an argument.

Harold appeared from the living room a second later. He looked like hell—bags under his eyes and a gray tint to his skin. He didn't even say hello. He just caught Adrian’s eye, gave a grim nod, and pointed toward the back of the house. "The study. Now."

The heavy oak door slammed shut behind them, and the click of the lock sounded like a gunshot in the silent house.

The next hour was pure torture. Katherine stood by the fireplace, her eyes darting between the study door and AJ, looking like she wanted to bolt. Lyle was there, too, tucked into a velvet chair and trying to look like he belonged. He kept throwing smug little glances AJ’s way, but AJ didn't give him the satisfaction. He stayed close to Katherine, his hand brushing hers, a silent promise that he wasn't going anywhere this time.

Every now and then, a muffled shout would drift through the walls from the study. It wasn't "catching up." It was a brawl.

Exactly sixty minutes later, the door swung open.

Harold came out first, and he looked like he’d been dragged behind a truck. His tie was crooked, his hair was a mess, and he looked utterly defeated. Adrian Senior followed him out, looking exactly as he had an hour ago—not a hair out of place, but with a look in his eyes that said he’d just finished a successful hunt.

"It’s over," Adrian announced, his voice cutting through the room. He didn't even acknowledge Caroline. He looked straight at AJ and gave a sharp, decisive nod. Then he turned to Katherine, his expression softening just a fraction. "Katherine, we’re expecting you for lunch this Sunday. Don't be late."

Katherine blinked, her mouth hanging open a little. "I... yeah. I’ll be there, Mr. Ross. Thanks."

AJ watched his father’s hands. Adrian was shoving them into his pockets, but AJ saw the slight tremor. The calm was a total act. Whatever had happened in that office wasn't a friendly chat between old pals. There was a vibe of "scorched earth" in the room. Something massive had just been traded, or someone had been threatened into submission.

Lyle, realizing the floor had just dropped out from under him, stood up fast. He looked at Harold, probably waiting for the guy to back him up, but Harold wouldn't even look in his direction.

"I’m leaving," Lyle snapped, his voice cracking with embarrassment. He didn't even say goodbye, just turned and hauled ass toward the front door.

Harold watched the door slam behind him and let out a long, ragged sigh. He rubbed his face with both hands, looking older than he ever had. "God," Harold muttered, his voice gravelly. "I really don’t like that guy. Why the hell did we ever let him in here, Caroline?"

Caroline looked like she’d been slapped. She opened her mouth to argue, but one look from Harold shut her down instantly.

The dinner that followed was weirdly quiet. The massive rift between the families was still there, but it felt like someone had thrown a temporary bridge over it. AJ kept his eyes on Katherine, ignoring the daggers Caroline was staring at him. He could feel the secrets vibrating in the air—was it about the eighteen months of silence? The business deals? Or something darker?

"You okay?" he whispered, leaning in so close he could smell her perfume.

"I think I'm in a parallel universe," she whispered back, her eyes wide. "My dad just grew a spine in front of my mother. That doesn't happen, AJ. What the hell did your father say to him in there?"

"No idea," AJ admitted, watching his dad sip wine with a terrifyingly blank face. "But it worked. The path is clear, Kat. No more Lyle. No more shadows."

He wanted to believe it. He wanted to think they could be the ones to fix whatever rot was eating their families from the inside out. He watched her smile—a real one this time—and felt like he could finally breathe.

But as they left later that night, AJ saw his father staring out the car window, his jaw set like granite. The war wasn't over. Not by a long shot.