Chapter 2: Brothers at War
The third son, Alex, who had exposed Michael’s plot, nursed hopes of winning President Harrison’s favor. But Harrison’s gaze was cold, piercing through any pretense. He saw through Alex’s ambitions and grew even more suspicious of his sons’ motives. To Harrison, his children were no longer sons—they were rivals, each scheming for the family’s power.
At dinner in the formal dining room, the tension was palpable. Silverware scraped against fine china. President Harrison barely looked at his sons. Alex straightened, searching for approval, but received only a glacial glance over a heavy glass of bourbon. The bourbon burned in Harrison’s throat, but his voice stayed ice-cold. His eyes, sharp and calculating, cut through the façades his sons tried to wear. Every word exchanged felt like a negotiation. The brothers locked eyes across the polished mahogany table, each silently calculating their next move, each wondering if a single misstep would cost them everything.