He Wants An Open Marriage? Done!

Nicholas’s face flashed with sudden fear, but the emotion vanished almost as quickly as it had appeared.

A cold smirk stretched across his lips as he met Richard’s dark gaze head-on. "Why don’t you step down from your high horse, brother? Or your eventual fall might just be completely irredeemable," he said, his voice quiet but loaded with a sharp threat.

Richard’s jaw hardened, his pulse pounding like a heavy drum in his ears as he struggled to maintain his composure. "And what is that supposed to mean?" he asked, his hands balling into tight fists at his sides.

Nicholas held his brother’s gaze for a lingering second, then peeled his eyes away to address the rest of the silent room. "Since none of you need me here anymore, I will be on my way," he announced, intentionally ignoring Richard’s question.

Richard’s blood ran hot in his veins as he stared at his younger brother, his chest heaving with every breath. Nicholas brushed past him toward the entrance, but before he could take two steps, Richard shot a hand out and grabbed his arm with force, locking him in place.

Audible gasps erupted across the living room.

Nicholas’s smug expression dissolved instantly, replaced by genuine shock. "Let go of me, Richard," he demanded, his voice trembling slightly as he tried to pull away.

Richard did not release his hold. If anything, his fingers dug tighter into the fabric of Nicholas’s suit jacket.

Margaret stood up from the sofa, pressing her palm against her chest. "Richard, let your brother go right now!" she pleaded, her sharp tone laced with rare panic.

"Richard," Henry’s voice echoed firmly across the space. "That is enough. Release him. Now."

Richard’s dark eyes narrowed into thin slits, locked onto the flicker of fear behind Nicholas’s eyes.

"You had better listen to them, because if you lay a hand on me, I will sue you!" Nicholas threatened, his voice shaking despite his best efforts to sound tough.

Richard still said nothing. His jaw remained locked tight, his knuckles white as his pulse raced. Every muscle in his body urged him to throw a punch and shut his brother up, but he forced himself to hold back.

With one sharp shove, he released Nicholas’s arm, sending him staggering back a few paces. Heavy sighs of relief echoed around the room.

"Take that as your final warning," Richard said, his tone low, smooth, and deadly. "Never show your face in any room where you know I am present, unless you are walking in to apologize for being a backstabbing traitor."

Nicholas straightened his coat, trying to regain his stance. "You do not intimidate me, Richard. In fact, I know you are terrified of my success, and I haven’t even reached the height of my career yet."

Richard stared at him in complete silence, his fists clenched tight as he endured the pathetic speech.

Nicholas adjusted his cuffs and met Richard’s stare. "Remember what you always preach about corporate strategy?" he mocked. "The business world is cutthroat, and we must do whatever it takes to win. You always said there is no such thing as playing dirty. So really, I am only following your example—"

"If you dare to launch an attack against me or my family," Richard interrupted through tightly clenched teeth, his eyes dark with fury, "you will quickly find out what happens to anyone who dares to cross my family."

"Good thing I carry that same last name then," Nicholas replied, tilting his head with a mocking smile. "And I would not be afraid of you even if I didn’t."

Richard locked eyes with him, fighting the urge to shatter his brother’s smug smile. He took a slow breath to calm his racing heart. "I am watching every move you make, Nick. And yes, you should be very worried."

Nicholas stared back for a quiet moment, his throat bobbing as he swallowed hard. Then, without uttering another word, he turned on his heel and strode out of the villa, slamming the front door behind him.

As the loud echo faded, Margaret pressed a hand to her forehead. "You two are brothers, for god’s sake! When will this senseless war finally end?"

"That man is not my brother," Richard stated calmly, his voice cold as ice. "He may share my blood, but he stopped being my brother the moment he chose to become our enemy. He is nothing more than a traitor."

Cara scoffed softly from her chair. "I completely agree with Rich—"

Richard turned on his heel before she could finish her sentence. "I am leaving."

"I will walk you out to your car," Henry said, stepping forward from the fireplace.

Richard gave a single nod, and together they left the silent room. Outside, the night air was cool and crisp against Richard’s warm skin. They walked down the stone steps toward Richard’s vehicle.

Standing beside the driver’s door, Henry turned to his son, his experienced eyes scanning Richard’s tight expression.

"What did you find?" Henry asked quietly.

Richard let out a long sigh and shook his head, checking the empty driveway to ensure no one had followed them out. He turned back to face his father. "Thomas is planning a hostile takeover of Vance Enterprises," he revealed, the heavy truth bitter on his tongue. "And Nicholas is helping him pull it off."

Henry’s brows furrowed in immediate shock, his face darkening.

Richard let out a harsh laugh, shaking his head. "Nick volunteered to handle all the dirty work required to make the buyout succeed."

"We cannot allow that to happen," Henry said, his deep voice hardening with cold authority.

"I know," Richard agreed. "The advantage we have is that Nick has no idea I discovered his plan."

Henry nodded slowly, his analytical mind already at work. "Perfect. Then we strike them from the inside out."

"That is the exact plan," Richard agreed, leaning against the car door.

"Then don’t expose him," Henry said, looking directly at Richard.

Richard’s eyes narrowed. "What? I was just going to mention that—"

"Let Nicholas continue believing he has the advantage. If Thomas trusts him, we use that trust against both of them," Henry said, his tone calculating.

Richard looked at Henry, and then he nodded in agreement. "Oh, they will regret this," he said.

Henry looked at his son for a long beat, his expression grave. "Just remember the rule of this family."

Richard’s expression hardened. Never destroy your own blood. It was a rule Henry had drilled into both his sons since they were boys.

"Nick broke the rule first, Father," he said, his voice absolute. "Now, I will do whatever it takes to protect what is ours."

Henry stared at him in silence for a moment, then gave a firm nod. "Do what you have to do."

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