Chapter 165: What family?
Lugard.
I stood perfectly still in the corner of the room, my eyes tracking every subtle movement as the scene unfolded.
Watching the cold, calculating way she dismantled her enemy, it became crystal clear that Theresa was a deeply dangerous woman when crossed.
She was not someone you could just push around; no one messed with her and walked away without paying a heavy price.
A fierce, burning pride swelled deep in my chest. This brilliant, ruthless woman was my mate, and she belonged to me.
I stared at the mahogany table, still struggling to process the reality of it all. I never would have imagined, not even in my wildest dreams, that the great and mighty Bloodfang Group would simply cease to exist.
Yet, right before my eyes, its legacy was crumbling into dust. Looking over at Alex’s pale, trembling face, I knew he was regretting the exact day he had ever crossed paths with my Theresa.
A dark anticipation bubbled inside me. I truly could not wait for Theresa to finish tearing him apart. The moment she was done playing with her prey, my brothers and I were fully prepared to step in and deliver the final, crushing blow.
In fact, I had already taken precautions; my fingers tapped the small device in my pocket, confirming that every single word spoken in this boardroom was being recorded.
I did not trust Alex as far as I could throw him. All I needed to do was press a single button to leak the audio and make it go live to the world. The Bloodfang name would be utterly ruined, buried so deep it would never rise again.
The sheer destruction of our rival made me incredibly happy, but a completely different detail made my heart soar even higher.
Theresa had finally thrown away her past and accepted her true identity. Hearing her embrace her real name—Theresa Copper—felt like a massive victory.
"Ella, wait!" Alex burst out suddenly.
He lunged forward, his arm extending as he tried to grab Theresa’s wrist for a second time.
Before his fingers could even brush her sleeve, I stepped into the gap, my massive frame completely blocking his path like a solid brick wall.
"You are taking this too far!" Alex yelled, his voice cracking with desperation as he glared up at me.
A low chuckle bubbled up in my throat, but I clamped my jaw shut and forced myself to remain quiet.
Theresa had given us strict instructions back at the house not to interfere in her business today, and I was absolutely not ready to get on her bad side.
"Taking it too far?" Theresa asked, as she let out a slow, melodious laugh that echoed sharply against the walls of the boardroom.
She tilted her head, her eyes flashing with dangerous amusement. "I am not taking anything too far, Mr. Blake. It is simply that I am far too eager to finally exercise my new power."
"Ella, please, just listen to me!" Alex pleaded.
He took a small step forward, his voice cracking slightly as the words tumbled out in a desperate, breathless rush. His palms were turned upward, practically begging for a single moment of her attention.
But I couldn’t just stand there and keep my mouth shut anymore. Every single time that wrong name rolled off his tongue, it grated on my nerves.
I stepped closer to him, my jaw tight with pure irritation. "You definitely aren’t suffering from amnesia, right?" I asked Alex. I narrowed my eyes, making sure each word cut through the air firmly. "It is Ms. Copper to you!"
"Stay out of this, Mr. Blackwood!" Alex snapped.
He ripped his gaze away from Theresa and locked his eyes onto mine, his pupils dilated with a sudden, fierce hatred. His chest heaved up and down as he glared at me, his hands clenching into tight fists at his sides.
"This is a family matter!" he added.
Lawrence didn’t hesitate. He brought his palms together in a sharp, sudden clap that echoed loudly against the walls. "It really does seem like you are suffering from amnesia," Lawrence said calmly, as his voice was smooth, but his eyes filled with pure annoyance as he stared Alex down. "What family are you even talking about?"
"You—" Alex yelled. He thrust his arm out, his index finger trembling violently as he pointed it straight at Lawrence’s face, his teeth grinding together in rage.
"The woman in front of you is no longer your family, Alex," Leonard said, cutting him off before he could spit out another word.
Leonard took a heavy, commanding step forward, his massive frame drawing every eye in the room.
"It is already all over the news." He paused, letting the heavy truth sink into the silence of the boardroom. "You can go ahead and jog your memory with it."
My smile widened as Alex froze, completely speechless.
He stood there with his mouth open, looking blankly at us, unable to find a single word to defend himself.
How dare he even use the word *family* around Theresa?
He was the one who had ruthlessly forced his way into her life before, and watching him stand there exposed and ruined felt like the perfect punishment for everything he had done.
Theresa drew in a deep, steady breath. She rose smoothly from the grand executive chair, straightening her spine and lifting her head with the flawless grace of a true queen. She looked down at the entire table, her voice ringing out clear and powerful.
"My decision is final," she declared, her eyes sweeping over the silent board members. "And I need it done with immediate effect."
Without waiting for a single reply, she turned on her heel and walked directly out of the room, her high heels clicking a steady, confident rhythm against the floor.
My brothers and I instantly fell into step right behind her, leaving a completely devastated Alex standing alone in the quiet room.