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 state?"

Lauren stood firm. "I don't care if he has ulterior motives. Even if he does, I'd accept them willingly!"

Tiana took a deep breath, suppressing the rage burning inside her. She knew her daughter was already too far gone—too deeply entangled in this mess.

She had been young once too, falling for a man of unparalleled talent, completely losing herself in the process. So on some level, she understood Lauren's stubbornness.

Marvin's carefully cultivated pawn had proven to be far mor