~Evric's POV~
Two weeks passed, an agonizing blend of frenetic activity and crippling dread.
The Corporate Defense
My father, in a move that shocked everyone, including me, finally stepped up. He didn't come with his usual frosty lecture; instead, he went on the defensive.
He organized an urgent private meeting with the key partners who had abandoned me after the Draeven announcement. Standing right beside me, he made a public, agonizing confession.
"I know many of you are concerned about the optics of this scandal, and I know my own history regarding my son's life choices hasn't helped," my father announced, his voice steady. "For that, I apologize. I was wrong. I let my prejudice interfere with my role as a father and a CEO, and I plead with you now: Do not visit my poor judgment upon my son."
