Chapter 8

Bella's POV

"If you refuse to bend, then I suppose your brothers will have to teach you how." Evander's voice turned ice-cold. "Hold her down. Make her kneel before Marielle."

Adeline fought desperately, but she was no match for several grown security guards. They forced her downward.

Her knees were inches from the hard stage floor when a deafening roar erupted above the hall, drowning out every other sound.

The noise was so powerful that the chandeliers overhead began to tremble. Everyone looked up in alarm.

A second later, the auditorium's massive double doors burst open. A blast of wind tore through the entrance, sending papers flying and whipping curtains into the air.

Outside, more than a dozen black helicopters were descending onto the athletic field.

Each bore a different crest.

The Ashbourne family, the Voss family, the Calder family, and the Ravenscar family—names that carried enormous weight in the country's financial and corporate circles. Any one of those families had enough influence to shake an entire industry. And now, all of them had arrived at once.

Eight men in immaculate tailored suits strode through the open doors, their presence commanding the attention of the entire auditorium.

At their head was Ronan Ashbourne, head of the Ashbourne family. His gaze swept across the stage and immediately locked onto the guards restraining Adeline.

Evander froze when he recognized the newcomers. Then, his surprise gave way to a pleased smile.

He straightened his jacket and hurried forward to greet them. "Mr. Ashbourne, Mr. Voss, I wasn't expecting you here personally."

His smile broadened. "Is this about the Westmere development?"

Of course that was what Evander assumed. In his mind, these men had come because of Vale Group's resources and contracts he controlled.

After years of being entrusted with major projects, he'd apparently started thinking of himself as the true power behind the company.

Ronan didn't even look at him. He strode straight toward the stage.

One of the guards still had a firm grip on Adeline's shoulder. Ronan grabbed the man's arm, tore him away from her, and sent him sprawling across the stage.

The entire auditorium fell silent.

The smile vanished from Evander's face. "Mr. Ashbourne, what are you doing? That man works for the Vale family."

Ronan slowly turned around. There was something chilling in his expression as his gaze swept over the stunned crowd. Then, he looked past them, straight toward the glass of the second-floor control room.

Ronan Ashbourne, David Voss, Callum Calder, Kieran Ravenscar, and the four other men standing behind them…

Eight of the most powerful figures in the country, men whose names carried influence across entire industries.

Then, in full view of the faculty, the students, and my four adopted sons, all eight men dropped to one knee. Eight voices rang through the silent auditorium in perfect unison.

"Greetings, Ms. Vale."

The words hit the room like thunder.

Every trace of color drained from Evander's face. Slowly, almost mechanically, he turned toward the direction the eight men were facing.

I opened the door to the second-floor control room. Then, I started down the stairs.

My heels struck the metal steps with deliberate precision. With every step I took, my four adopted sons seemed to grow paler. By the time I reached the bottom, they looked as though the ground had disappeared beneath their feet.

I stopped in front of Ronan and the others.

Looking down at the eight kneeling men, I allowed the faintest smile to touch my lips. "It's been ten years. At least you still remember the rules."