Page 24 of Billionaire’s Heartbreak

“Let me make this clear. There is no internal conflict. No fracture. Our house stands as it always has. Any stories suggesting otherwise are false—and disrespectful.

“We have long respected the boundaries. Territories agreed upon. Understandings honored.” His eyes settled on the elders. “I expect that respect to continue.”

A younger man behind one of the elders leaned forward. “Then how did Dai Ka Jeh die?”

The bald man beside him gave a slow nod, as though approving the question. The room stirred. Voices rose from every direction, questions overlapping as the men pressed for answers.

Dannie raised one hand. The noise died almost immediately.

“Heart attack.”

No one looked convinced.

Dannie slammed his palm against the table. Porcelain rattled. “You think I haven’t suspected foul play in their deaths?”

The room went still. No one challenged him directly.

“We noticed your absence last year,” he said mildly. The other two nodded. “Young people like this modern idea of…” He raised his hand, making air quotes with his fingers. “Work-life balance.”

His lips curved faintly. “Time off. A softer life. But that doesn’t suit men in our position.”

“I don’t recall my absence causing problems for your people,” Dannie replied. “Squirrel oversaw operations.”

“Squirrel?” The old man scoffed. “That animal? What does he know about running triad affairs?” His walking stick struck the floor. The sound was insignificant. The motion wasn't. A few men at nearby tables looked away.

“It’s not your concern how I run my house,” Dannie said, his voice dropping lower. “Stay in your lane.”

The elders laughed, but there was no humor in it.

“Don’t be naïve, son,” one said. “The moment you left Hong Kong, your people started testing limits.”

Dannie didn’t respond. For the first time, I regretted coming here. This wasn’t just any dinner—it could end in tears.

And blood.

“And have they ever bothered you, Uncle Hong?” Dannie asked at last, his voice calm but edged.

“How dare you!” Hong’s bark was enough to send half the room to its feet. Chairs scraped violently against the floor. Men moved. Hands disappeared beneath jackets. But they froze when Hong lifted one hand.

“You expect us to believe you didn’t know what your people have been doing?”

Dannie lifted both palms slightly, a silent signal.

Slowly, reluctantly, the men sat again.

“Uncles,” Dannie said, his voice low and measured, “you’ve been around long enough to understand how this works. People test the edges. They steal what they can.” His gaze moved across the table. “Whether I’m here or away doesn’t change that.”

“We want new territory,” Hong said.

The demand landed like a verdict.

“Well,” Dannie replied evenly, “we’ll discuss it properly. Just not today. My grandmother just passed. Surely you haven’t forgotten that.”

The elders exchanged murmurs. Frank leaned toward them, whispering. After a moment, he straightened.

“We’ll give you a few days,” he said.

His gaze shifted to me.