Of course, he knew the young man before him had a vulnerability much more significant than any corporate skyscraper-it wasnât his business acumen that was at stake, but something much closer to home. His family was his Achillesâ heel, a stark contrast to the ruthless persona he cultivated in business circle.
âIf you are not going to play ball,â he mused aloud, âthen I suppose I have no choice. Iâm just curious how your parents and your grandparents would feel if they knew about this.â
Nolanâs face darkened instantly. He could handle confrontations and challenges thrown at him, but he drew the line at his family being dragged into things.
Francis had more up his sleeve than Nolan had anticipated. The man was managing to dig up information on the family Nolan had kept hidden for so long.
Few in the business world knew of his ties to his real family, nor would they suspect someone as young as Nolan came from such a prominent lineage.
âI underestimated you, Mr. Tanner,â Nolan said, his lips curling into a faint smile that didnât reach his eyes, now ablaze with the anger he could barely conceal.
Francis, desperate to achieve his goal, mustered a strained smile, âI just hope Mr. Harris will give my proposal another thought before outright refusal.â
âHasnât anyone ever taught you, Mr. Tanner, to think before you speak? If youâre not familiar with that concept, perhaps you should ask your daughter. She seems to have at good grasp on it.â
Nolan spoke emotionlessly, âAnd if youâre not afraid of dying, feel free to reach out to my family.â
After that, Nolan called his secretary to show the guest out.
As Francis was about to leave, he heard Nolanâs biting remark, âLetâs not let the dogs in next time.â
Francis clenched his fists in humiliation, but he had chosen this path himself. To reach his goals, he knew heâd have to endure some degradation. He was aware that Nolanâs weak spot was off-limits, yet he was determined to make contact with those very people. How else could he fulfill his ambition?
The Tanner Group was on the brink, and without support from the Harris Group, the Tanner family legacy might crumble under his watch. Moreover, now that he had a son, he had to secure a future for him as well.
Once alone, Nolan stood by the panoramic window. He looked at the masses of people underneath who were tinier than ants.
He trusted Regina was not capable of such a scheme, yet many details had been shared during their private calls.
Francisâ confidence in wielding a piece of surveillance footage as blackmail, his intent to marry Regina into the Harris family, suggested he had substantial leverage.
Nolan had yet to see the video, nor did he have any desire to. The mere memory of his panic was unsettling enough, and he couldnât bear to mix it with Francisâ vile countenance.
Frowning, Nolan was troubled.
Where had things gone wrong?
He decided he should visit home, fearing Francis might spew lies to his family.
His grandparents and parents were far more tender-hearted than he was. If they caught wind of the situation, theyâd likely urge Nolan to marry Regina, even without Francisâ prompting. He didnât want their relationship to be bound by such dark manipulations.
But Nolan returned home only to find it was too late; he had underestimated Francisâ
Dinner waited on the table, the servants restless, unsure when to reheat the meal at the familyâs request.
The elders sat clustered on the couch and their faces were etched with upset.