Lauren stepped forward, her gaze locked onto Tiana. "If you want to lay a hand on Dr. Lloyd, you'll have to go through me first!"

Tiana's face hardened. "Foolish girl! Do you have any idea what you're doing? This man has no respect for me; worse—he's a direct threat to Rhodes Corporation.

"If I let him live, no one in Jayrodale's younger generation will be able to rival him—not even you. If he ever decides to target you, do you even realize how easily he could manipulate you in your current