Seated on the sofa was none other than his father, Jonah Thomas.


    “Dad, a prior heads-up would have been appreciated.”


    Bruce’s voice,den with the fatigue of a sleepless night, resonated with depth.


    Only then did Jonah rise, pivoting to face Bruce, having first cast a frigid nce at the woman, whose


    humiliation was palpable.


    “It’s nearly noon, Bruce. You’ve reached an age where focusing on the right path should be your


    priority. If your intent is to frolic with women, could you not defer such indulgences until our objectives


    are met, instead of reckless abandon?”


    The woman hugged herself tighter. While she carried no badge of honor herself, being reprimanded so


    directly brought waves of humiliation.


    Bruce produced a check, filled it out, and extended it to the woman.


    “Take this and depart.”


    Upon glimpsing the figures inscribed on the check, her humiliation was swiftly eclipsed by the sum


    before her. She clutched the check, departing with renewed dignity.


    “Let’s not make a spectacle of it. I simply happened to rise a tadter, and it caused no disruption,”


    Bruce retorted casually,ced with a trace of impatience.


    “These are pivotal moments for us. The acquisition of control over Thomas legacy from Marcus hangs


    in the bnce. Instead of diverting your attention to women, why not engage more with Marcus and


    gather intelligence?” Jonah’s frustration was palpable.


    Bruce’s demeanor took a somber turn in response.


    “Our pivotal period? You’re misconstruing things. It’s your pivotal period alone. I’ve been reluctantly


    ensnared in this chess match of yours, relegated to the role of a mere pawn.”


    Jonah maintained a veneer ofposure, yet within, the mes of power-


    hungry ambition continued to ze. His aspiration toy im to the sumptuous Thomas fortune, an


    emblem of wealth and influence, had never waned.


    Ang’s Library


    He possessed the sagacity to recognize that an overt power struggle would amount to naught, as he’d


    never been the favored heir in the eyes of the family’s matriarch. He bided his time and assumed a low


    profile.


    Bruce couldn’t help but feel a measure of admiration for Jonah. Despite his fervent yearning for the


    family legacy, he presented an image of detachment from fame and fortune. This was in stark contrast


    to his hot-tempered uncle,


    Brock Thomas, whose quick-igniting temper red at the faintest disagreement.


    Nheless, their aims were aligned, diverging merely in their chosen paths.


    Provoked by Bruce’s wry observation, Jonah retorted in exasperation, “You!


    Indeed, once victory graces us, you shallprehend the correctness of my every move. In this realm,


    there exists no soul devoid of the yearning to ascend the apex of the pyramid, to cast a gaze of


    dominion upon the expanse beneath.”Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Certainly, within the heart of each man were ambitions for power and wealth, an innate fire that burned


    bright.


    Yet, if the cost of it all was to stand against the very person Bruce had long held in esteem, he


    pondered whether it was a price worth paying.