Rowan pushed Lucas's hand away, stepped back calmly, and walked toward the elevator, ending the silent tension between them.
Lucas moved at the same time, trying to get there before Rowan. His mind was racing and all he could think about was Lyra.
"Lucas!" his father barked. "Stay where you are!"
He didn't listen to his father's warning. Oliver rubbed his temple. This son of his was going to be the death of him.
He shot Owen a sharp order with just a look.
Before Lucas could reach the elevator, Owen stepped forward and his fist connected hard with his twin's jaw.
The crack echoed. Lucas hit the floor, dazed, blood at the corner of his lip.
"Idiot!" Owen growled, flipping his long hair back before seizing Lucas by the arm and dragging him away.
Both fathers exhaled in unison, like they had just survived a family disaster. The tension between their sons finally eased, at least until the next round.
Thankfully, Hudson had acted fast.
He had already come clean and apologized for deleting the footage. He hadn't known Lyra was married to Rowan—Lucas had insisted it was nothing more than a rumor.
Hudson honestly thought Lucas was just trying to make peace with her. After all, they'd been in love for three years and had their own way of settling things.
If he had known the truth, he never would've gotten involved.
Whatever it was, Hudson would face punishment for what he'd done. Oliver would deal with that later. Right now, they had a far more important problem to settle.
Now, all attention turned to Lucas's troublesome secretary.
Albert shifted his gaze to Oliver.
"How do you want to handle the secretary? She dared to harm my daughter-in-law."
Nadia flinched, fear flickering across her face before she lowered her head in a practiced, pitiful act.
"I'm sorry... I didn't do anything wrong. I was only trying to correct that woman's behavior."
Albert let out a sharp, disgusted snort. "Correct her behavior? You must think I'm blind."
He pointed up at the CCTV camera. "Everything's recorded. Still want to lie?"
Oliver's expression stayed calm as he stepped closer, meeting Nadia's trembling gaze.
"Go back, pack your things, take your final pay and disappear."
Nadia broke down, crying and pleading, but Oliver didn't even blink. He lifted a hand, a simple gesture.
The guards moved in, seized her by the arms, and dragged her out. Her sobs echoed down the hall until only silence remained.
Oliver turned to Hudson, his voice cold and final. "Inform HR. I want her termination handled at once."
Hudson nodded quickly, understanding the weight behind the order, and rushed to carry it out.
…
Rowan rode the elevator down to the ground floor and headed straight for the hotel entrance.
That was when he noticed his car was gone. His men had already taken Lyra to the hospital.
"I'll take you," Theodore said, brushing past his younger brother without slowing.
A black sports car slid to a stop in front of them. One of the hotel staff hurried out and handed Theodore the keys with both hands, head lowered.
"Hurry, get in."
Rowan didn't answer. A faint smirk tugged at his mouth. Theodore always came through when it mattered.
He went to the passenger side and climbed in. The car growled to life and sped straight toward the hospital.
Theo kept his hands steady on the wheel as he drove, stealing a quick glance at his brother.
Rowan sat rigid, his arms crossed tight, his foot tapping against the floor.
"So, marriage has changed you," he said, a faint smile tugging at one corner of his mouth.
Rowan just shrugged in response.
"Mom told me you tried to push that girl onto me—said she nearly became my wife."
Theo was referring to the time Rowan tried to escape the marriage before he discovered who the bride actually was.
"That was before," Rowan replied quietly. "She's my wife now."
There was a warning in his tone.
When the car rolled to a stop at the red light, Theo leaned to the side, his eyes narrowing as he studied his brother.
"So it's true, then? You did push her before."
Rowan narrowed his eyes. He wondered if Theo was testing him or just teasing him.
"I did. Yet she still became my wife. That's how fate works. What isn't meant to happen never will, and what's meant to happen already has."
Theo laughed.
This rigid brother of his was now talking about fate. He was surprised Rowan had actually fallen in love.
Theo nodded in agreement with Rowan.
"You're right. Fate already decided she'd end up as your wife. I can see it now. Just look at how she slipped right out of Lucas's hands."
"He was never worthy of her. Not even once," he snapped.
"Then tell me. Do you honestly think your wife can forget him? They were together for three years. History like that doesn't vanish."
The question landed exactly where it hurt most, like a blade pressed straight into Rowan's one weak spot, but Rowan said nothing.
From Theodore's point of view, he wasn't trying to offend him. He was testing Rowan, making sure no cracks were already forming.
He didn't want his brother repeating the same mistake he once made. The kind of mistake that allowed a third person to ruin his marriage.