Enrique paused, the chess piece still between his fingers. He hadn’t intended to get involved, but this unexpected turn—his youngest son messing things up for the sake of a woman—truly caught him off guard.

'Well, that’s a first,' he wondered.

Enrique asked, "What exactly happened?"

Gareth’s face lit up with hope. He immediately put on a pitiful act and wailed, “Enrique, you know how worthless my son is, but he’s my only child. Lately, he took a liking to some girl. Who could’ve known she was under Mr. Turner’s protection? That’s how this whole mess started.”

“After all, our families do have ties. It’s one thing for my son to get beaten up—Mr. Turner disciplining a younger one. But now he wants to put my son behind bars? Isn’t that just blatant bullying?”

Enrique remained impassive. Of the entire Timberlake family, the only decent one had been his eldest son’s wife. Enrique hardly believed a word Gareth said. Gareth only harped on how Bowen bullied Jacob, conveniently omitting any mention of what Jacob did to provoke Bowen.

“My eldest daughter is gone. Now I only have this one son left. I can’t just stand by and watch Mr. Turner ruin him,” Gareth said.

Enrique’s brow twitched. Before he could speak, an icy voice cut through the air. “Mr. Timberlake, how resourceful—going straight to my father."

Gareth turned toward the voice, only to see Bowen approaching, flanked by Ethan and Samson.

Bowen strode forward, the hem of his charcoal gray coat flaring with each step. His strikingly beautiful, almost demonic features radiated a dangerous allure as he closed in.

Gareth’s heart sank. ‘Damn it. I haven’t even convinced Enrique yet. How did Bowen show up so soon?’ he thought to himself.

Seeing his youngest son arrive, Enrique couldn’t be bothered to intervene. Still, out of respect for his eldest daughter-in-law, he threw in a remark, “You’re here just in time. Whatever issues you have, talk it out face to face, and keep this civil.”

The implication was that Bowen should at least cut the Timberlake family some slack.

But Bowen would never listen.

Bowen said coldly, “If it weren’t out of respect for my sister-in-law, I’d have killed that bastard by now. Since you’ve come all the way here, let’s have a proper talk.”

Bowen’s voice was cold, yet every word he spoke cut like a knife.

Bowen demanded, “Wasn’t Jacob tailing a young woman, attempting to violate her?”

Gareth avoided Bowen’s gaze and muttered, “She’s just nobody, after all. Besides, you’ve already punished Jacob. Why make a mountain out of a molehill?"

"A nobody? Go ask Jacob if he didn’t know she was under my protection. He knew full well I was shielding her, yet he still dared to make a move. Was he trying to publicly humiliate me?” Bowen scoffed.

Bowen’s voice turned icy. “And this isn’t the first time. The first time, he got a beating but still didn’t learn his lesson. The second time, he actually tried to get physical. So what’s next? Does he think he can have the audacity to mess with her right under my nose?”

Bowen spoke in a dangerously low voice, his icy gaze piercing through Gareth.

Enrique arched a brow, pondering who the girl they were talking about could be. As far as he knew, Bowen hadn’t shown any interest in a woman recently.

Enrique paused, then thought, “Wait a minute? There is one…”

“I won’t accept your accusation that I’m strong-arming the police to go after Jacob,” Bowen retorted. “Isn’t his continued detention process? Shouldn’t everyone pay the price for their own mistakes?”

Gareth could only mutter weakly, “He’s still just a kid, after all.”

“A twenty-something kid?” Bowen sneered mercilessly.

Behind Bowen, Ethan and Samson snickered.

Gareth’s face burned red with humiliation at their laughter.

Bowen declared coldly, “I’m laying it out right now. No matter who comes begging, it won’t make a damn bit of difference.”

Gareth choked with fury. Their families were tied by marriage, yet Bowen dared to show him absolutely no respect.

Enrique remained utterly unperturbed, making it clear he had no intention of getting involved. With no other choice, Gareth could only slink away, utterly humiliated.

As soon as Gareth left, Enrique placed a chess piece on the board and, with a hint of amusement, asked, “So, who’s this little girl you’re fighting for?”

Bowen said, “Dad, you’ve already figured it out, haven’t you?”

Enrique arched an eyebrow and teased, “You’re really smitten with her, huh?”

Bowen remained noncommittal.

Enrique harrumphed. “I won’t meddle in the Timberlake family’s affairs. Old as I am, I’m not that old-fashioned. If you’re truly serious about her, bring her home to meet me.”

Bowen sighed helplessly, “Dad, what are you even thinking?”

Enrique shot him a knowing glance. He mused, ‘He’s in for it later. Who would’ve thought that in my old age, I’d get to see Bowen finally get his comeuppance?’

Behind Bowen, Ethan and Samson struggled to contain their laughter. Even Enrique could see it clearly, yet Bowen remained oblivious.