Chapter 3: Rising to the Top, Looking Out over Ninos

Words : 1744 Updated : Oct 23rd, 2025

Persephone Shadboult looked a little stunned. She hadn't expected this brother-in-law she'd never met to hit so hard. In just seconds, he'd flattened four or five professional bodyguards. How good was this guy? Rumor had it Diego Santee was always a playboy, wrecked by years of booze and women. But reality didn't match up. Whether those five years in prison had changed him, or the rumors were just smoke and mirrors, she couldn't tell. After years of holding up Junos Group by sheer grit, she actually felt a long-lost sense of safety standing behind Diego Santee. ... "This… how is that possible…" Brian Dalton stared wide-eyed as his bodyguards were knocked sprawling, barely able to move. They were clearly badly hurt. These men had been handpicked by the Dalton family. Two of them were even retired special forces. Where had Diego Santee gotten skills like this? Did they teach martial arts in prison? A nagging question ate at him. Smack! "Since you won't play it straight, I have to wonder. Did the fall of Junos Group have anything to do with the Dalton family?" Diego spun, the cold gleam in his eyes making people flinch. "Or was the Dalton family involved in my three brothers' deaths?" Brian had just come to when he realized Diego was already right in front of him. Those eyes bored straight into him. Terror surged up from his gut. He stumbled back and toppled to the floor. "Answer carefully. You get one chance." Diego bent close, his gaze like ice. "N-no!" "I'm only here to acquire Junos Group. I don't know anything else!" Scared out of his wits, Brian clawed at Diego's lapel like a drowning man clutching at straws. "Diego Santee-no, Mr. Santee! You have to believe me!" Diego gave a slight nod. In Brian's state, he probably didn't dare lie. He'd just gotten out of prison today; with his grandfather and sister-in-law right there, Diego didn't want to get blood on his hands. "You'd better not be lying. Otherwise, I'll make you wish you were dead." He straightened, his eyes deep and unreadable. "All right. Get lost." Brian struggled to his feet as the bodyguards huddled him in. He'd been humiliated today-badly. He glared at Diego, jaw working, ready to spit a few threats. The moment his eyes met Diego's cold face, fear washed over him again, uninvited. "We… we're going." With his guards' support, Brian slunk away. He'd barely taken a few steps when a cold, dismissive snort cut him off. "If I remember right, I told you to roll." Diego gave Brian a long, meaningful look. "You gonna roll out on your own, or do I have to make you?" Brian froze, his cheek twitching hard. Walking out wasn't enough. He had to roll? Pampered his whole life, Brian had never swallowed humiliation like this. "Diego Santee, don't go too far!" He clenched his fists so tight his knuckles blanched. If looks could kill, he'd have torn Diego apart. Diego didn't bat an eye. He raised three fingers. "Three." "Two." Brian's knees turned to water. He hunched over, face burning with shame, and rolled forward. Seeing this, Diego nodded in satisfaction. The remaining bodyguards exchanged looks. After a few seconds of silence, they followed suit and rolled out. They kept rolling until they were out of the villa. Only then did Brian dare look back. His cheek still burned and stung, but the humiliation stung worse than the slap. "Diego Santee, you forced my hand." A flash of hatred crossed Brian's eyes. He pulled out his phone and dialed fast. The call connected. A gruff male voice came through. "What is it?" Brian slipped into a deferential tone, eager to please. "Paxton, it's me, Brian Dalton." "You're the Dalton family's third son's boy. I know who you are." Paxton's voice was flat, free of any warmth. Brian didn't find that strange. Even though the Dalton family was a big name in Easton, they were still outclassed by Paxton. "Yes, I didn't expect you to remember me." He lowered himself even further. "Paxton, I need you to teach someone a lesson-cripple him if you can. Money's not a problem." After a brief pause, Paxton spoke like he was reading the weather report. "One hundred thousand dollars." He didn't even ask who the target was before naming his price. That alone showed how absolute his confidence was. "O-okay!" "Thank you, Paxton!" "Send the name, address, and identity." Paxton's voice remained calm. "Two days. Be ready to check the results." "Okay. Okay." When he hung up, Brian's smile cooled to ice. "Diego Santee, this is what you get for crossing me." "For the humiliation just now, I'll make you pay tenfold, a hundredfold." … Upstairs, on the second floor of the villa. Hearing the ruckus outside fade away, Diego turned back and dropped to his knees again. "Grandpa, I didn't know so much had happened at home. I've put you through so much." Guilt and self-reproach roughened Diego's voice. Back then, taking the blame and going to prison had been his own choice. He hadn't told the family. After all, a rape charge against a spoiled rich heir like him didn't sound out of character. He'd never thought that, after he left, the family would go through something this awful. For an old man to bury the young was a cruelty beyond measure, especially to someone well past seventy. "It's all right, my boy." Nathan Santee lifted Diego up himself, his face creasing with relief. "Five years away and you've truly grown up. Good. Like a man." Five years ago, when Diego went to prison, Nathan had been so angry he couldn't eat for days. He even told the outside world he no longer had that grandson. Time had worn down that old frustration at a grandson who wouldn't shape up. Watching the deep affection between grandfather and grandson, Persephone Shadboult furrowed her brow. Diego's display earlier had indeed given her a sense of safety she hadn't felt in a long time. But he still acted too rashly, heedless of consequences. Brian Dalton's crew had already been cowed. Letting them leave would have been enough. Why hound them and even make Brian roll out? The Santee family was already on shaky ground. This would only earn them another enemy. "If he ever ended up running the Santee family, they'd be headed for ruin." She sighed and turned her gaze away. Just then, hearing his grandfather's praise, Diego's eyes grew hot. What he'd longed to hear for years suddenly came from Nathan's own mouth. Diego's heart churned, emotions tangled. "Grandpa, I used to be no good, only cared about partying, making you and the family worry." "That ends now." He drew a deep breath. A fierce confidence surged through him. "I'm going to put the Santee family back on top. Not just in Easton, but in the provincial capital Jeverton, and across all of Chiton." "I'll lift the Santee family to the top and look down on all of Ninos."

Chapter 3: Rising to the Top, Looking Out over Ninos

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