Vincent's older brother sat in his private office, surrounded by the wreckage of his own failure.
For years, he had been the Blackwood heir—the chosen one, the future ruler.
But now?
He was nothing.
No matter what he did, no matter how hard he fought, Vincent was always ahead of him.
The advisors once loyal to him had now aligned themselves with Vincent.The business partners who once flattered him now sought Vincent's approval.Even their father, the man who had always supported him, had stopped looking at him the same way.
The Blackwood heir clenched his fists.
Why? Why did it have to be Vincent?
His jealousy burned like acid in his veins.
If Vincent wanted the empire, why didn't he just take it?Why was he still refusing the heir position?
He didn't understand.
And that terrified him more than anything.