THE DISABLED HEIRESS, MY EX-HUSBAND WOULD PAY DEARLY.

At that moment, Robert would narrow his eyes, his chest rising and falling with visible irritation. He slowly turned to face Victoria, folding his arms, his voice calm but laced with something sharp. "Tell me, Victoria… have you completely lost your manner of words? Or is this how you've been trained to talk to your elder brother now? As if we are somehow mates?"

His voice echoed in the quiet room, cold and deliberate. "Because from where I'm standing, it's not just disrespect that's coming out of your mouth it's pure arrogance. And it's honestly starting to show that I should be pitying the man who's going to marry you. I mean, truly pity him. You might be my younger sister, yes, but let's not pretend truth doesn't need to be told where truth is due."

He shook his head slowly, his tone turning even more pointed. "You don't have manners, Victoria. You think too highly of yourself. Way too highly. That attitude of yours it's not pride, it's poison."

Robert took a step forward, eyes locked on hers, unblinking. "And let me just remind you of something just one thing. Don't make the mistake of thinking that the family name will continue to protect you forever. You've done a lot. We both know that. A lot of things the family quietly swept under the rug for your sake. From the bullying you did in the past to the people you tried to silence simply because they didn't bow to you."

Then he exhaled, pausing just enough for his next words to hit harder.

"But not everyone in this world can be bullied, Victoria. And not every mistake can be covered. Sooner or later, you're going to cross someone who doesn't care about your last name. Someone you can't scare, or lie about, or cry your way past."

He took one last glance at her, disappointment dancing behind his glare. "So be weary of the way you carry yourself, because one day you are definitely going to meet who is far bigger than you, bigger than us."

At that moment, hearing her brother words Victoria couldn't help but start laughing at Robert. Her laugh wasn't soft or graceful it was sharp, proud, and laced with scorn. She tilted her head slightly and folded her arms, staring at Robert like he had just told the dumbest joke in the world.

"And that's why you even say something like that," she said with a mocking smirk. "Who else is bigger than me, if not Abigail? Be serious, Robert. Just imagine it me and Abigail joining forces, combining our networks, our influence, our pedigree. Just imagine i join the Golden girls circle under."

She chuckled again, brushing imaginary dust from her expensive blouse. "If I ever decide to join and team up with them officially, Robert, believe me, nobody and I mean nobody in this whole country would even be able to withstand us. Not politically, not socially, not financially. It would be checkmate for everyone else."

Then she rolled her eyes. "So you can keep dreaming if you want. Because that dream of yours it's never going to happen. And if you truly think Cora is capable of standing on that kind of stage? Then you're just deceiving yourself. That girl? That commoner? Please. That is never going to happen. It will never happen."

At that moment, Robert, who had been watching her with quiet restraint, slowly exhaled. He looked her straight in the eyes, not with anger, but with a tired disappointment.

"Well," he said calmly, "it's none of my business who you think you are or who you choose to associate with. That's your life. But let me tell you one thing clearly stay away from what concerns me. Stay away from it."

He paused, then stepped a little closer not threatening, but firm enough that she had to listen.

"This is going to be the last time, Victoria. The last time you go looking for trouble where there isn't any. The last time you go disturbing an innocent person someone who doesn't even know what's going on."

He shook his head, lips pressing into a line of frustration. "And yet, you and your so-called friend Abigail went to her. God knows what you two said to her. I'm not in the mood for any of this now."

Without wasting anymore time he took a step back, voice low but final. "Just... have a nice day."

With that, Robert turned and walked away without sparing her another look. Each step he took only seemed to inflame the fire building in Victoria's chest. She stood there, fists clenched, her eyes burning with a mix of frustration and pride.

How dare he talk to her like that? After everything she did for him! And yet, instead of appreciating it, instead of thanking her like a grateful younger brother should, he stood there ranting, pretending as if he was wise, whereas he was not wise.

**

It was the next day Cora was in her room, lying on her bed, trying to enjoy a moment of peace. But a sudden loud noise outside the house shattered the quiet. Her brows immediately pulled together, her heart skipping a beat. The voice sounded familiar. Too familiar. That voice…

Curious and slightly annoyed, she stood up, slipped into her slippers, and walked toward the front door. As she stepped outside, her eyes widened. Her feet froze on the spot.

It was James, there he was on his knees, crying like a child. And not just crying. He was shouting her name, begging. She blinked twice, trying to make sure it wasn't her imagination. But it was real. James was being held down, one arm gripped by Giovanni and the other by Brown, both of whom looked tense but were clearly trying not to hurt him.

Cora's face instantly hardened.

"What the hell is going on here?" she snapped. "And who the hell allowed him into this place?"

Giovanni quickly bowed her head, her voice low and respectful as she let Brown take the lead. Brown nodded to Cora and calmly explained, "Miss Cora, he forced his way in. We tried to stop him at the gates. But he wouldn't stop yelling. He kept pushing, saying he must see you, that you would want to hear him out. We didn't want to hurt him, so we held him back."

Cora's arms crossed tightly across her chest. She stared at James, who was still breathing heavily, tears streaking his cheeks, his shirt stained with dirt from the struggle.

James looked up the moment she stepped closer. His lips trembled, his hands clutched together as he pleaded, "Cora… please… I'm sorry. I'm really, really sorry for everything."

Cora didn't speak. She just stared at him coldly.

"I know I messed up. I know I hurt you. But please forgive me," James went on, his voice shaking. "It won't happen again, I swear. I promise on everything I have everything I am. That's why I'm here, doing everything I can to prove it. I need you to see how genuine I am. Just look at me, please."