London wasn't new to me, but this version of London felt different.Colder.Heavier.Like the whole city was waiting for me to slip.
I tightened my coat and walked up the marble steps of the Watson headquarters. Security scanned me like I was a stranger, even though the logo on the building was my name. My family's name.
Whatever.I had bigger things to deal with.
The boardroom was already full when I walked in. A dozen executives in suits stiff enough to choke someone. None of them looked happy to see me—not surprising.
"Mr. Watson," the chairman said, not bothering to hide his smirk. "You're late."
I wasn't.They just loved pretending I wasn't good enough.
I sat down, jaw tight. My brothers… they were safe, at least. Keiren was back at the hotel, watching cartoons and eating room-service pancakes. Keigan was with him—restless, pacing, fighting whatever version of himself was trying to surface today.
Leaving them alone made me sick with worry, but bringing them here? Impossible.
The board began listing their "requirements." Which was just their fancy way of saying they wanted to torture me.
"Before you can inherit the Watson Corporation, you will complete:— A six-month leadership rotation— Financial evaluations— Departmental audits— Company-wide performance reviews— And weekly competency assessments."
Six months.Six entire months.
A part of me wanted to walk out. The whole company was mine by birthright. But if I left… my father would swoop in and take everything—including my brothers.
So I stayed.
I swallowed the anger and nodded, keeping my face flat.Not giving them the satisfaction of a reaction.
When the meeting finally ended, I stepped into the hallway—
—and of course, he was there.
My father.
"Long day?" he asked, smiling like a predator who smelled blood. "You look overwhelmed."
"I'm fine." I tried to walk past him.
He blocked me.
"The board tells me you struggled to answer some of their questions."
"I didn't struggle," I said through my teeth.
He laughed softly. "You're not ready. You never were. And once you fail, the company—and your brothers—return to me."
That did it. My hands curled so hard my nails dug crescent moons into my palms.
"If you try to take them," I said quietly, "I will burn this entire company to the ground before I let you."
His smile faded.
Good.
I walked away, pulse pounding, every muscle vibrating with anger.
The hotel room felt warmer but not lighter.Keiren ran to me the second I opened the door, gripping my hoodie like he thought I'd disappear.
"You're back!"
"Yeah." I ruffled his hair. "Were you good?"
He nodded enthusiastically.
Keigan didn't.He stood by the window, shoulders tense, eyes dark—like another personality was already crawling forward inside him.
"Rough day?" he asked without turning around.
"Something like that."
The room went quiet.
Then, without looking at me, he asked, "Did you talk to Jay-Jay?"
My stomach dropped.
I pulled out my phone. Still no message. The last thing I'd told her was: I'll be back soon. Then I'll explain everything.
But I wasn't back.And she was silent.
I called her again.Two rings.Then nothing.
That bad feeling in my chest—yeah, it wasn't going away.
"Maybe she's busy," Keiren said, ever so hopeful.
Maybe.But it didn't feel like that.
I stared out at the city lights, the weight of my family, the company, my brothers, the lies, the secrets—all of it closing in.
I was fighting a war in London.
And the girl I loved…
Was slipping out of my hands.