Chapter 20  “From the get–go, I’ve been drilling this into you. As the head of the Reyes family, you can’t just do whatever you please. You have to be disciplined, keep yourself in check, and honor our traditions. Have you been ignoring me all this time?”  Davin, having been on the receiving end of his fair share of punishments from Ryan as a kid, knew just how harsh they could be. Worried for his son, he quickly jumped in, “Dad, Chase was just looking out for his step–sister. Sure, he might’ve overstepped, but his heart was in the right place.”  Frustrated, Ryan shot back, “The Reyes family has a clear–cut rule: rewards and punishments. Like father, like son. Step aside, or you’ll get a taste of it too.”  “Take your shirt off,” Ryan ordered, cold as ice.  With no choice, Chase did as he was told, showing the faint scars on his back from that night with Nicole. Time hadn’t erased them completely, but they were faint enough not to raise eyebrows.  Without a hint of mercy, Ryan laid down a vicious lash on Chase’s back, tearing the skin open.  Nicole rushed over, “Grandfather, this is all on me. If someone needs to be punished, let it be me. I shouldn’t have called Chase.” After Mrs. Reyes passed, Davin insisted on bringing Patricia into the family, which drove a wedge between him and his son. Ryan didn’t care much for Patricia, and that extended to Nicole.  “You know whose fault this is. You’re just like your stepmother, nothing but troublemakers.”  Ryan raised his hand to strike Nicole, but Chase quickly shielded her, taking another brutal lash. Suddenly, clapping echoed from behind.  Jack rolled Derek in, who wore a  smug grin  That comment sent shockwaves through the  SO  protective of Nicole. You’d think she was his wife if you didn’t know better.”  It especially hit Chase hard, as if Derek had seen right through him.  Patricia, who’d been indifferent to Chase’s beating, suddenly stepped in. “Derek, you can’t just throw words around like that. Nicole’s of  woman, reputation is everything.” marrying age, and rumors like this could ruin her. For  a  “Oh, so you do get how crucial a woman’s reputation is,” Derek said, his tone dripping with sarcasm, making Chase’s heart race. Patricia knelt in front of Ryan. “It’s my fault for not raising my daughter right. Nicole just relies on Chase too much. If you’re going to blame someone, blame me. Spare the kids.”  Already boiling with anger, Ryan snapped, “Who asked for your opinion? I haven’t even accepted you as part of this family. You don’t deserve to be Davin’s wife!”  “Grandfather, let me take the fall. This has nothing to do with Patricia or Nicole. Punish me instead.”  Derek, sneering, chimed in, “It’s impressive how forgiving you are, even to the woman who caused your mother’s death. No wonder you’re so easily swayed. You can’t even remember your own name.”  “Didn’t you swear you’d never return to the Reyes family, Derek? What changed today?”  Derek gave him a cold, commanding look. “I’ve had a change of heart.“ With a casual tap on his wheelchair’s armrest, Derek added, “The Reyes family fortune should be in my hands than in those of a failure like you.”  “What did you just say?”  Every eye in the Reyes family was locked onto him.  Derek maneuvered his wheelchair closer to Chase, looking down at him. “I’ve had a change of heart, Chase.”  Chase’s face turned ashen, his panic plain to see.  I could sense there was something between Derek and Chase that I didn’t know about.  Derek’s gaze was frigid as he declared, “Since you don’t know to cherish what you have, from now on, I’ll be taking charge of everything related to the Reyes family.”