Director McCartney’s words echoed in the room. They didn’t just silence the lingering murmurs—they reset the entire atmosphere and their thoughts at the same time.

Neville straightened slightly, as if reminded of something he had forgotten. His gaze moved back to Director Elias Cox.

"Director Cox," Neville said, his tone deceptively mild. "I’m curious about something."

Director Cox glanced at him as if to ask, What do you want?

"Why?" Neville continued, not even pretending to soften the edge. "Why would someone in your position risk everything?"

MJ found himself leaning forward before he realized he was doing it.

That was... actually a damn good question.

Director Elias Cox wasn’t some desperate mid-level executive clawing for a position in the company. He was a wealthy, powerful, and well-respected individual in the company. His daughter was married to Chief Operating Officer John Hannel.

Since he was in the same generation as Grayson’s grandfather, he was practically treated like royalty. His position was secure. His legacy was safe.

So why throw all of that away?

The question seemed to crack something in Director Cox. For a fleeting moment, MJ saw something raw in the man’s expression, a kind of bitterness he had tried to bury. But just as quickly, Director Cox slammed a colder mask over it.

Before he could respond, MJ’s mouth operated completely independently of his brain as soon as the thought came.

"No way!" MJ blurted out, far too loud for someone who was trying to minimize his presence. "Is it because the CEO rejected your daughter?"

It was the kind of silence that made MJ acutely aware of his own heartbeat thundering in his ears.

Oh no. What did I just say?

Somewhere to his right, Jake’s eyes had bulged wide, a silent Bro, what the hell? Stamped across his face.

Director McCartney even raised an eyebrow in impressed amusement.

MJ wanted the floor to open up and swallow him right there and then.

He did like attention, that was for sure. But not the attention from people who could end his entire existence with one press on the nuclear red button.

Director Hannel’s face was drained of color. He turned toward his father-in-law with the horrified realization of a man discovering he had married into a family he didn’t actually know.

"Father-in-law..." Director Hannel’s voice trembled. "Tell me that’s not true."

Director Cox’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t deny it.

MJ watched it happen—the slow, painful assembly of puzzle pieces in Director Hannel’s mind. The man had married Loreta Cox Hannel five years ago. He had been absorbed into the Cox family, trusted with its private affairs, its connections, its reputation.

And now he was learning that his father-in-law had potentially committed a corporate crime just because... because Grayson Maxwell didn’t want to marry his daughter?

Damn, this is better than any drama on StarNet.

He shot a glance at Jake, who looked equally enthralled, horrified, and unable to look away.

"Father..." Director Hannel tried again, voice cracking on the word. "Please say—"

"It doesn’t matter now," Director Cox said flatly, his voice hollow. "What’s done is done."

Grayson’s frown deepened, sharp and full of disdain, carved cleanly across features that remained unfairly perfect despite the horrible situation happening in front of him. Some people really had no right to look this good during a scandal.

"Even if that’s the case," Grayson said coldly, "you should not have done anything illegal."

Director Cox let out a laugh—bitter, humorless, bordering on unhinged. He lifted his shoulders in a tiny shrug, and MJ instinctively stepped back, as if expecting the man to snap.

"Illegal?" Director Cox repeated, tasting the word like poison. "You speak of legality as if it means anything. As if rules apply equally to everyone in this world."

He glared directly into Grayson’s eyes.

Then his voice softened in a dangerous tone and made it so that only he and those around Grayson could hear. It was a good thing that MJ knew how to read lips.

He watched Director Cox’s mouth move, watching every shape and movement, catching fragments of the older man’s quiet confession:

"Illegal or not... not going to save you from yourself... should’ve just humored this old man’s greed... agreed to marry my daughter..."

MJ’s eyes widened.

"...and none of this would’ve gone this far."

Holy shit. He was actually admitting it. He wasn’t even spinning it in nonsensical words. He was flat-out confirming the whole disaster was because Grayson Maxwell didn’t want to marry Loreta Cox.

The sheer pettiness of it was almost impressive.

Grayson’s expression didn’t change, but his eyes did. Something dark and razor-sharp settled behind his gaze—something so cold MJ suddenly felt grateful he was on the spectator side of the room.

Neville, who had been quietly observing the exchange, turned slightly. His posture remained composed, but his eyes landed on Director Cox.

"For what it’s worth," Neville said softly, "and whatever reasoning you believed justified this..."

The entire hall seemed to lean in.

"...I had no idea you existed when I joined Maxwell Corporation."

Director Cox’s jaw clenched.

"You could have left me alone," Neville continued, "and I would never have noticed you."

The words weren’t cruel.

They were worse than cruel.

They were brutally honest.

MJ felt the impact like a punch to the chest. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Jake quietly mouthed, Damn.

Director Cox’s face froze, fury and humiliation warring behind his eyes.

But Neville was already turning away, as if the man was no longer worth wasting his breath to speak to. He was already walking back toward the podium, leaving Director Cox bound and seething behind him.

As Neville was about to speak, it was interrupted by another commotion.

George Hewitt, also bound by laser cuffs, was furious and shouting.

"What is the meaning of this?" George demanded, his voice sharp with outrage. "I am the Chairman of HW Corporation! You can’t treat me like some common criminal!"

Keaton Hewitt stood nearby, watching his father with amusement. He was visibly relaxed despite the commotion.