Chapter 269

EDWIN POV

As my father outlined his plan, a knot formed in my stomach.

He wanted to poison Kendrick.

Poisoning Kendrick seemed extreme... even for us, but as he continued to lay out the details, I couldn't deny the appeal of finally taking control of the family business.

"But isn't that illegal?" I interjected, voicing my concerns. "What if we get caught?"

"Don't be silly, Edwin. We won't get caught."

"But how can you be sure? Kendrick always has security personnel around him at all times."

My father chuckled, a sinister gleam in his eyes. "Leave that to me, Edwin. I have everything under control. We'll make sure Kendrick doesn't suspect a thing."

His assurance did little to ease my growing sense of unease. "But what if someone finds out? What if we're caught? The consequences could be catastrophic."

"We won't be caught," he repeated firmly, his tone brooking no argument. "Besides, I'll take full responsibility if anything goes wrong. You won't be implicated."

His confidence was both reassuring and unsettling. While I wanted nothing more than to reclaim what I believed was rightfully ours, the thought of resorting to such extreme measures filled me with apprehension.

"And what about Lucas?" I asked, the thought of my cousin's reaction weighing heavily on my mind. "What if he finds out?"

My father's expression darkened, a shadow passing over his features. "Lucas is of no concern to us. He's made his choice, and now he must face the consequences."

Despite his words, I couldn't shake the nagging feeling that involving Lucas in our scheme would only complicate matters further.

But in the face of my father's unwavering determination, I knew there was no turning back.

We were committed to seeing this through, no matter the cost.

"I hopw you're right and I hope it all goes smoothly," I said, trying my best to keep my voice calm.

My father waved off my worries with a dismissive gesture. "We'll be smart about it, Edwin. I've been planning this for years. And like I said, don't worry about anything bad happening. It won't fall on you."

His confidence was unnerving, but it also reassured me. If anyone could pull off such a scheme, it was my father. Still, the thought of poisoning my own uncle left a bitter taste in my mouth.

"What about the legal consequences?" I pressed, unable to shake off my doubts.

"We'll handle them when the time comes," my father replied cryptically. "Right now, we need to focus on the bigger picture—taking back what rightfully belongs to us."

I hesitated, torn between my desire for power and my moral reservations. But ultimately, the allure of finally asserting control over the family business won out.

"I've never done anything this... extreme before."

"Edwin, don't tell me you don't trust me?" My father raised his brows at me, and I felt the disappointment radiating off of him.

I hated disappointing my father, and I never wanted him to think I didn't respect him.

"I trust you, Dad," I said, forcing a reassuring smile. "I just... I just need some time to process everything."

My father's expression softened slightly, his features relaxing at my words. "Of course, Edwin. I understand the fear, but we don't have much time to waste. We need to take action now. This is an opportunity we can't afford to miss."

I nodded, trying to push aside my lingering doubts. "I understand. I'll do whatever it takes to ensure our success."

"That's my boy." My father clapped a hand on my shoulder, his grip firm. "I knew you had it in you. It's the preserving Busch spirit... that perseverance and drive will let you achieve wonderful things once you take over the Busch business."

My father's words hit me like a ton of bricks. "Do you mean that? You think I'll achieve greatness?"

My father's smile widened, his eyes gleaming with pride. "Absolutely, Edwin. You have the potential to surpass even my own accomplishments. With your intelligence and ambition, there's no limit to what you can achieve. We won't let Kendrick stop us this time."

His words filled me with a sense of validation and purpose, momentarily overshadowing my doubts.

Maybe this was the opportunity I had been waiting for, a chance to prove myself and carve out my own legacy within the family business.

"Thank you, Dad," I said, gratitude swelling in my chest. "I won't let you down."

"I know you won't, son," my father replied, his voice brimming with confidence. "Kendrick will regret ever betraying us, and I can't wait to see the look on his face when he realizes it all."

A surge of determination coursed through me as I envisioned the downfall of Kendrick and our triumphant rise to power. For too long, Kendrick had held sway over the family business.

But now, with our plan in motion, the tables would finally turn.

Seeing how happy my father was getting over our plan filled me with a desire to please him further.

If I wanted to gain my father's respect, I would need to do whatever he asked of me.

"Alright," I relented, my voice barely above a whisper. "I'll do it."

A triumphant smile spread across my father's face as he clapped me on the shoulder. "Good choice, son. Together, we'll reclaim our family's legacy and show Kendrick what happens when you cross the other side of the Busch family."

It was clear that he relished the prospect of reclaiming what he believed was rightfully ours.

"We must be smart about this," my father cautioned, his tone serious. "We can't afford any missteps. Everything must proceed according to plan."

"I understand," I replied, nodding in agreement. "We'll make sure every detail is meticulously executed. Kendrick won't know what hit him."

"More like he won't know who." My father let out a low, deep laugh.

Seeing the pure glee on my father's face led me to join in on his laughter. I hadn't seen my father this thrilled in a long, long time.

Kendrick had caused him to be a sad man most of the time.

As the echoes of our laughter faded, a sense of purpose washed over me.

This was our chance to right the wrongs that had plagued our family for far too long, and I was determined to see it through to the end.

"We'll speak soon, yes?" My father asked me before I left his house.

"Of course."

"I am proud of you, son. I just want you to know that."

"Thank you, Dad," I replied, my voice thick with gratitude. "I'm proud of you too. You never deserved to be mistreated by Kendrick like this. I'll make things right for you."

With a firm handshake and a knowing look, my father and I parted ways, each of us silently reaffirming our commitment to the cause.

As I made my way home, my mind buzzed with thoughts of the impending upheaval. This was the beginning of a new chapter for the Busch family, and I was ready to tackle it head on.

Little did Kendrick know, his days of dominance were numbered, and soon he would come face to face with the consequences of underestimating the resilience of the Busch family.