color drained from Horace Greg’s face as the realization washed over him. So what? What could he possibly do? 

His daughter’s obsession and behavior towards Daniel Shaw and her confrontation with Daniel’s wife had sown the seeds of this catastrophe. Even if he wanted to beg, how would he start? 

At the time, Horace had been pursuing funding for an investment opportunity, one that promised to generate a windfall of profits from the sale of high–end cybersecurity secrets to foreign buyers. 

He had heard that she was on a wanted list. The 12 guns wanted her. He had already sold so many things under the nose of the Shaw, and it was only a matter of time before he got caught, so he wanted to curry favor with the 12 guns by handing over her information. 

Could it be that the Shaw family had found out? 

He had made sure to hide all traces. He had not even contacted his man on the inside in a while 

because of this. 

How could they find out? Everything went wrong the moment his daughter confronted that girl. Or were the Shaw family watching him long before this? 

Chapter 80 To Face the Music 

These thoughts almost drove him crazy. 

The Dark Hand were severely obsessed with Daniel’s wife for some reason. There was no way he could not use this chip. His daughter hated her, and she was in the way. As long as she disappeared, his daughter would be a Shaw. 

The memory made Horace’s blood run cold. Ray must have discovered the leak, the sale of details that jeopardized the Shaw business, and with the target they had helped place on his precious granddaughter–in–law’s life, it seems he was completely finished this time. 

The Shaws‘ wrath had been slow in coming, but now they clearly intended to extinguish the Greg legacy in one brutal stroke. 

Horace reached for nother crystal glass with a trembling hand, pouring himself a generous portion of scotch into the fresh glass. He drained it in one gulp, savoring the burning trail it blazed down his throat. 

There was only one way to stop the Shaw family before it crushed him entirely. He would have to face the demon himself and throw himself at Ray’s mercy. If he offered enough explanation, Ray would let his company escape. Ray was a jovial old man. He would spare him. 

Anything else would be a death sentence. 

His hands shook violently as he punched in the now all–too–familiar number on his phone. 

once….twice… 

It rang once… twice… then a curt voice answered. 

“Shaw here.” 

Horace swallowed hard, his throat feeling as dry as parchment. “Master Shaw, it’s Horace 

Chapter 30: To Face the Music 

Greg. We…we need to talk.” 

There was a momentary pause on the line, then Ray’s gravelly tone sliced through the static like a honed blade. 

“You talk as though you have not yet realized where you stand.” A humorless chuckle. followed, chilling Horace’s blood. “Very well, Greg, let’s talk. Start by telling me who you sold. my granddaughter–in–law’s information to and why I shouldn’t have my men pull your spine out through your lying mouth. 

Horace flinched at the deep anger in the man’s tone. He licked his dry lips, panic nearly making him lose his mind, but he had made up his mind to confess. 

“It’s a criminal organization called the Dark Hand,” he admitted hoarsely, bracing himself for the wrath to come. “They look as though they are just smuggling guns in, but they actually operate the list. An online board on the dark web to order assassinations and abductions. They seem to have hands in other things too. I swear, I didn’t know what they intended. They turned around and sent us a fake video of you rejecting her as your daughter–in–law and my daughter must have overheard and fallen for it. All this while I thought I was communicating with you.” 

Silence answered him. Long, suffocating seconds of silence drained what little remained of Horace’s hope. 

“Sell out my family for a quick score…and now you beg for the mercy you don’t deserve.” Ray spat the words through the receiver like venom “Give me one good reason I shouldn’t bury you right along with your little criminal empire. 

Horace trembled, hot tears streaming down his cheeks as he took a breath to start pleading. He needs drums to let him live. As long as he was alive. 

Horace’s hands shook violently as he ended the call with Ray. The man’s pointed threat still rang in his ears with sickening clarity. 

“Give me one good reason I shouldn’t bury you right along with your pathetic criminal empire.” He was going to die. He was sure of it. 

He sucked In a ragged breath, panic clawing at his chest.. 

There was no bargaining with such a man, no reasoning or groveling that would stay the Shaw family’s wrath. 

They were a force of implacable vengeance, and Horace had foolishly put a massive target on 

his back. 

Selling out the old man’s granddaughter–in–law’s secrets to the highest bidder was the ultimate sin in the Shaw’s eyes. 

How could he face his wife after this calamity? What would happen to his family? 

What would she think when she learned the terrible truth? They were going to die. Escaping now was worse. If he escaped, his entire family would be hunted down. 

into the circular driveway of their sprawling estate, The drive home passed in a blur. He pulle chest tightening as he took in the sight of his wife Martha out back tending to her beloved rose garden. 

She glanced up as he climbed from the car, her expression one of pleasant surprise that quickly turned into concern. 

Even from a distance, she could read the tension in her husband’s posture, the deep lines of grief etched across his Something was wrong. 

“Horace?” she called, rising and brushing dirt from the knees of her slacks as he approached. Horace, what’s happened? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” 

He opened his mouth to respond, to try and gentle the incoming blow in some feeble way, but no words would come. Horace’s shoulders slumped in defeat as his wife’s brow furrowed. 

“Horace, you’re scaring me,” Martha pressed, taking his hand in both of hers. “What about the company? Were the allegations true? “Are we going to lose everything?” 

Her voice cracked with the last question, terror and confusion warring across her delicate features. 

Horace flinched, unable to meet her probing gaze for more than a few seconds. He had always been somewhat afraid of this wife of his. Now, even more so. 

“Horace! Answer me!” She implored, giving his arm a shake. “What’s happening to us? What have you done?” 

Her words caused the dam to break. How could he take her scolding and blaming? 

“It was the Shaws!” he shouted hoarsely, making Martha recoil in shock. 

“Everything, all of it–it was them, retaliating because of that nanny!” 

Martha’s mouth worked silently as she processed his outburst, confusion filling her face. The… but I thought that was all settled? After the incident with Anya and Daniel Shaw a little while… They gave back Selene…” 

“I wonder why they took her,” Leo asked from on top of the stairs. 

“To force your grandfather to go over to get her. You know your