?Chapter 628:


    “I heard you were hospitalized recently,” she remarked, her voice smooth and unhurried.


    “You seem in good spirits now, so I assume your recovery has gone well.”


    For the briefest moment, Carl’s eyes flickered with an unreadable glint. He had gone to great lengths to keep his hospitalization under wraps, wary of unnecessary spection and the unrest it might stir within thepany. Only his immediate family and Quentin had been privy to the truth. But Andromache, who seemed to know everything, had casually thrown it into the open, making a calcted disy of her reach and influence.


    “The Ford family has long maintained its dominance in Lyhaton,rgely thanks to your efforts, Mr. Ford,” she continued, her words precise.


    “But time catches up with all of us, does it not? Perhaps it is time to consider stepping down, letting someone else take the reins. A decision like that would only enhance your reputation for wisdom and foresight.”


    A chill settled over the room. The younger attendees exchanged quick nces, curiosity flickering in their eyes, along with a quiet, unspoken amusement. For decades, the Ford family had ruled Lyhaton, their wealth and power forming an unshakable empire. Some admired them, others envied them, and a few had long waited for the day their reign would begin to wane. Andromache had just voiced what many secretly wished to see.


    “And in your esteemed opinion, Ms. Hopkins, who do you believe is capable of filling my grandfather’s shoes?” Corrine leaned forward, resting her arm on the table. Her slender fingers traced the edge of a silver steak knife, the metal cool beneath her touch. A slow smile curled her lips, yet a faint iciness lingered in her gaze.


    Andromache met Corrine’s stare, her expression unreadable.


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    “Being the wealthiest is nothing more than a fleeting title,” she mused.


    “Today, it belongs to the Ford family. Tomorrow, it could just as easily belong to another. Do you not think so?”


    If her previous words had carried a hint of suggestion, this time, she left no room for ambiguity. She was openly dering that the title of the richest family in Lyhaton was up for the taking.


    Corrine rolled the knife lightly between her fingers. The de caught the glow of the crystal chandelier, shing coldly—though not nearly as cold as the glint in her eyes.


    At that moment, it became painfully clear why Andromache wasn’t popr among most people. She had earned that reputation entirely on her own.


    From his seat, Jules felt his pulse quicken, his mind racing ahead to the worst possibilities. Would Corrine actually lunge across the table and drive that knife straight into Andromache?


    Beside her, Moses watched Corrine with interest. Hershes lowered, shielding her thoughts, but the air around her had shifted. Gone was her usual air of poised elegance. Instead, there was something sharp, something razor-edged—almost predatory.


    For a moment, Moses was reminded of Nate.


    “In Lyhaton, you are in no position to spew such nonsense.” The voice was low, smooth, and ice-cold.


    All heads turned toward the entrance.


    A tall,manding figure stepped into view. Dressed in a sharply tailored ck suit, his features chiseled and aristocratic, the man exuded an aura so powerful it seemed to alter the very air in the room. The tension thickened, the weight of his presence pressing down on the space like a shifting tide.


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