Meanwhile, Silva entered her father's office, and Lucius glanced coldly at her.
"The nerve to actually come to me after making me look like a clown, Silva."
"Isn't that what you are?"
Silva thought, but only said, "My apologies, Father! But I had to."
She sat down.
Lucius chuckled dryly at Silva's nerve. She sat as if she owned the office.
"Just because you're married to him, now you think you're suddenly above me."
Before Silva could respond, he jerked her toward him, grabbing her by the face.
"Don't you dare forget, you're currently in my domain!"
"Lower your head like the obedient daughter you are, before I crack this jaw of yours."
Lucius hissed, tightening his grip on Silva's jaw.
"Father, don't you think your hatred toward me has warped your perception?"
Silva's tone screamed of pain as she lowered her head.
"Besides, I only sat like this because you always told me to."
"Or am I missing something? Because I remember the exact posture you assigned me."
Lucius's eyes slightly widened. Silva was right.
"Ah yes, that's the exact reaction I need from him before making my first move."
Silva thought, a small, satisfied smile forming as Lucius's expression confirmed she was right.
"Damn it!"
Lucius spat, shoving her face away.
"She's right. I guess it's because of her marriage to Christian!"
He thought angrily, walking back to his chair.
"Anyway, I need to calm down. Besides, I still need her alive after Christian's death."
He pushed his hair back in agitation.
"Whatever! Just go on with why you're here!"
He crossed his legs, gazing coldly at her.
"Father, I know this might sound strange, but I'm sorry we started off on bad terms."
Silva began, lowering her head in apology.
"But I had my reasons for defying you regarding my marriage to Christian. I thought it was the only way to stabilize myself, especially after you crossed me off the inheritance list."
She continued, her fingers touching her painful jaw.
"Words that can be interpreted in many ways—it's a tactic many use every day, including him. But what if those words were used in plotting his downfall?"
Silva thought, raising her head to meet his gaze.
"So Why not offer him a hand?" She added mockingly.
"But now, after marrying him, I've decided to help you expand your empire, in exchange for having my name on your inheritance list."
Silva concluded, her tone firm.
Just then, Lucius laughed out loud, his laugh dry and sinister.
"Silva, Lucius!"
"Did you forget who raised you?"
Lucius sneered, his face inches from hers.
"Your pathetic attempt to fool me is so easily seen through. It's sad that I invested all that money into your studies."
Silva smiled coldly, staring directly at her father.
"Oh, dear father, if only you knew what's coming your way."
She whispered beside his ear.
"Christian is plotting to overthrown your Empire, which is why he lent you that 1.2 billion—so you'd be in debt."
Lucius's eyes widened in shock at her words.
"Yes… that's the realization of my words hitting home."
She thought, watching his reaction.
"I overheard that he hates the Lucius family. And you know, father, I only need my name on the inheritance list. So why let your empire fall under the control of a man who hates the Lucius family?"
Lucius processed every bit of the information, a smile slowly spreading across his face.
"I know she's a double-edged weapon, but this? She's smart enough to almost manipulate me into putting her name on the inheritance list."
He met Silva's smiling face.
"I think I've actually nurtured a perfect female. Now, her claws are showing."
Lucius stepped back, his expression thoughtful.
"Though I have my doubts, having you on my side might make killing Christian and securing all his properties under your name easier."
Lucius grinned, his thoughts turning dark.
" perhaps he's plotting against Christian?"
Silva thought, maintaining her smile.
"Alright, fine. How do you plan on helping, exactly?"
Lucius sat back down, his tone skeptical.
"Your ultimate spy toward your goal."
Silva smiled knowingly.
"I'm sure he's going to share it with me later. he's wary of me now, but sooner or later, he'll loosen up. It's a tendency of us humans, regardless of how self-conscious we are."
Silva thought to herself, while her father stared at her in silence, almost as though lost in his own thoughts.
"Father, it's okay to be hesitant. After all, this is all so sudden."
Silva said calmly.
"But once I start delivering your information, you'll believe me. After all, it's normal to yawn for action rather than words!"
"Despite suspecting that most of what she says could be half-true, or that she's plotting something, I can't let my empire, which I've worked so hard for, fall—even if it's just hypothetical scenarios."
Lucius thought, his gaze fixed on Silva.
"Alright, fine. I'll have your name added to the inheritance list, but I hope your words are true."
Lucius conceded.
"Thank you, Father. I certainly won't disappoint you."
Silva replied.
Lucius dismissed her, but his gaze followed her closely as she turned to leave.
"Using her as a spy isn't a bad idea. After all, she's just a temporary spy before his death."
Lucius thought with a smile.
"Once everything's in her name, dealing with her will be easy."
He added, though there was a sense of unease creeping over him.
The energy he sensed from their brief interaction, particularly from her gaze, lingered in his mind.
"Especially those pupils. They certainly remind me of my own ambitious gaze!"
Lucius sigh in frustration torned between two emotions.
"Silva Lucius! If you dare betray me, I'll kill you and sell out your parts to rebuild my empire!"
Lucius thought darkened