The free will

Christiana POV

I stormed into the grand hall, my heels clicking sharply against the marble floor. The room was filled with the usual council members—Ethan, Classic, and a few high-ranking officials—but my eyes were fixed only on one person.

Dad.

I threw the report onto the long table, my voice sharp.

"You gave them the cure?"

Chris remained seated, completely unbothered. He didn't even glance at the documents I had just tossed in front of him. Instead, he swirled his glass of wine and took a slow sip.

I clenched my fists. "I spent months ensuring that access to the Blackwood Cure remained exclusive. You're the one who set the rules—only Union members should have it! And now, I wake up to find that entire shipments have been distributed to non-Union nations for free?"

Ethan exhaled sharply, already anticipating my reaction. Classic, on the other hand, stayed quiet, watching Dad like he was waiting for something.

Finally, Chris leaned forward. His expression was calm, but his words were absolute.

"I did."

My nails dug into my palm. "Why?"

Chris placed his glass down with a quiet clink. "Because I can."

Silence.

I felt my pulse hammering in my ears. "You undermined me. This was supposed to be a power play—either they pay, or they suffer. Now, they think they can just wait us out until we have a change of heart?"

Chris tilted his head. "Do you really think I would let them get comfortable?"

Ethan leaned forward. "Then what's the strategy?"

Dad's lips curled into a small, knowing smirk. "Giving them just enough to survive, but not enough to recover."

Realization struck.

"You're keeping them weak."

Chris nodded. "A starving man will fight. A dying man will despair. But a man barely surviving? He will obey."

I inhaled slowly, my anger shifting into cold calculation.

I had wanted control through exclusivity. He was ensuring control through dependence.

Classic finally spoke. "So we control the supply indefinitely?"

Chris smirked. "Exactly."

I exhaled sharply, my frustration cooling. I hated that he was right.

But if this was the game we were playing, then I would make sure they never saw a single drop more than what we dictated.

Dad had shown mercy, b

ut I would remind the world that it came at a cost.