Chapter 510
Maddox knew the moment Jonathan got word of this visit, their years of brotherhood were officially over
But the truth was–he hadn’t had a choice.
He had no idea why Victor wanted to visit Wendy’s grave. Standing before her tombstone now, guilt prickled at his chest.
That’s when Victor spoke.
“It’s been a long time. I always thought someone as fiery as you wouldn’t care for a man like Chase”
Not that Chase was terrible–just too indecisive, too soft. Wendy, on the other hand, had always been the type to make swift, ruthless decisions.
Maddox glanced at Victor in surprise, wondering just what sort of history he had with Wendy… and Chase.
Before he could piece anything together, his phone rang.
It was a call from home.
“The Wynn family has cut all business ties with us.”
“So has the Yaeger Group. They’ve already sent a formal notice ending our cooperation.”
Maddox gave a bitter smile. “I figured.”
Talhand’s voice came through the line next. “You need to talk to Jonathan–work things out-
Maddox cut him off. “You know his personality, Grandfather. What is there to work out?”
The moment the family pressured him into hiding things from Jonathan, the outcome had already
been sealed.
Talhand bristled at the tone. “Are you blaming me?”
“I’m busy right now. We’ll talk later,” Maddox said flatly, ending the call.
He hadn’t gone far from Victor, so of course the older man had heard every word.
Victor smiled at him. “Trouble already?”
Before Maddox could respond, Victor continued, “Don’t worry. You’ve helped me plenty. I won’t let you suffer for it.”
“I’ll make sure the Treno family’s losses are compensated.”
“… Thank you, Mr. Victor.”
Maddox forced down his discomfort and thanked him politely, then asked with feigned nonchalance, “Did you know Madam Wendy personally?”
“Yes, we go way back,” Victor replied easily. “Tell me, what was Wendy like in your eyes?”
He sounded genuinely interested. Maddox thought for a moment before answering.
“It was a long time ago, but I remember her as very gentle… She was always kind to Jonathan.”
Back then, they didn’t know Jonathan well, but at public events, they’d see Wendy speaking to him in that gentle tone of hers.
“Gentle?”
Victor tilted his head, puzzled. He couldn’t picture it.
The woman in his memory was fierce to the end–bloodied, defiant, never once lowering her gaze.
Seeing that strange flicker of nostalgia in Victor’s eyes, Maddox narrowed his own slightly, a hint of shock flashing through them.
Victor and Wendy….
No. He forced the thought away. It felt wrong to even speculate, especially here. It was disrespectful to Wendy.
Jonathan had never visited his mother’s grave after her burial. Since then, Maddox and a few others had come each year in his place.
To Maddox, Wendy was truly like a respected elder.
Meanwhile, the Wynn family’s actions had drawn attention across all circles. Word of their break from the Treno family spread quickly.
At the Radeon estate, the old master had summoned both Mateo and Draven to get the full story. They’d known something was off with the Treno family lately, but they hadn’t expected this.
Mr. Errol Radeon turned to his quiet grandson. “What do you think?”
Mateo replied evenly, “What Maddox did was underhanded. No wonder Jonathan lost his temper.”
He’d only just heard–Maddox had taken Victor into the Wynn family’s private cemetery.
Now, Mateo was truly done with him.
He still couldn’t believe Maddox had gone that far.
Seeing that Mateo hadn’t lost his head, Errol nodded in approval.
“As long as you know where you stand. Don’t act foolishly.”
“Our family doesn’t aim to dominate–we just want stability.”
The Treno family had always been ambitious. While they weren’t what they once were, they still held a powerful position in the capital.
Thanks to Maddox’s bond with Jonathan, they’d only been on the rise.
But Talhand wasn’t satisfied. He always wanted more.
Now, in this volatile climate, he still dared to stir the pot.
He wouldn’t even know how he died when the hammer came down.
With a sigh, Errol added, “From now on, stay away from Maddox.”
He shook his head as he spoke.
Maddox used to seem like a decent young man. Now, he just looked like a fool.
The Treno family might have just reached the end of the road.
Mateo didn’t protest. He didn’t need his grandfather to tell him that.
This had nothing to do with the Wynn family’s power.
It was about loyalty. Years of friendship told him exactly where he needed to stand.
Things weren’t easy for the Treno family these days.
They had thought they had enough backing not to be completely cornered.
But that illusion was crumbling fast.