He signaled Horace to retreat with a casual wave of his hand.

"I'm not going to kill you," he chuckled, “That's too simple. But if you don't cooperate, I can't promise where the next bullet will Land."

Darian could only seethe in silent fury. His stare bore into Theodore, his skin turning a sickly shade of white. His fingers twitched uncontrollably in his rising ire.

In response, Theodore subtly motioned to his bodyguard. Stepping forward, the bodyguard manhandled Darian, forcing him to kneel in front of the coffin.

The priest stood before him, brandishing a cross and murmuring solemn prayers.

“Merciful Father, guide the wayward Darian from the abyss of sin with your divine compassion, let Darian, the sinner—"

“Enough!" Darian cut off his prayer, his mouth twitching with barely restrained irritation. He couldn't bear it.

He attempted to free himself from the grip of the bodyguard, but to no avail. With an upward glance, he shouted, "The Anderson Group is mine.

I am the head of the Anderson family! What audacity to treat me so!

You're all lunatics! I am the master of the Anderson family! You are all traitors!"

His enraged yells echoed in the room when abruptly, the chill of a gun barrel pressed into the back of his skull, cutting him off.

Shock froze him in place.

“I'm not blessed with infinite patience, nor time to squander on you."

Theodore's voice was cold as ice as his finger lingered over the gun's safety catch.

Dread washed over Darian, sending a ripple of goosebumps across his skin. His body shook as the reality of the situation sank in.

He was well aware of Theodore's ruthless side.

Their relationship, once father and son, was now nothing more than a bitter rivalry. Today's events were clear evidence of Theodore's vengeful agenda.

The chilling realization struck Darian that while Theodore might not kill him here, he could inflict enough torment to leave him half-alive, a broken man.

His fists balled tightly, Darian bowed his head towards the coffin in a gesture of fearful submission. Through clenched teeth, he muttered, "I confess. I was wrong to listen to my mistress and abandon you, Aimee."

Even now, Darian wanted to put all the blame on Sharon.