Sweet Love 2x: Miss Ruthless CEO for our Superstar Uncle-Chapter 109: Containment

Franz woke up before the estate came to life.

The sky outside the courtyard glass was pale but not yet bright, caught between night and morning. The lamps around the area cast steady circles of light on the stone and gravel, their reflection weak against the inside windows.

The sitting room looked as it had the night before—files arranged on the coffee table, a folded blanket over the arm of the sofa, a glass of water untouched near the edge.

He stood by the window without turning on the lights. The quiet felt ordinary.

When he moved, he walked at the pace he used on set while waiting for cameras. He unlocked his phone and called Daryll right away.

"There’s a freelance image," Franz said. "Taken outside the secured area."

Daryll understood immediately. The tone on the other end sharpened.

"It hasn’t been published yet." A pause. "It won’t be."

He listened, looking at the dark shape of the garden outside the glass.

"Yes," he replied after a moment. "Loop counsel."

He ended the call and stayed where he was. The garden was still dark. He’d made calls at this hour before—too many to count. But this one felt different. Not heavier. Just more his to carry.

He looked at the phone in his hand.

Strange. To carry something for someone else.

He’d spent years only carrying for himself.

The studio’s legal team called before the sky was fully light. He moved to the console table and sat down, resting one hand on the wood as he listened.

They discussed ownership, access logs, breach liability. A notice would go out before anything moved.

"Send it now," Franz said. "Before it starts moving."

He ended the call and put the phone face down for a moment. His fingers stayed on the phone before he sat up.

The estate began to wake slowly. A door opened upstairs. The sound of running water came from the ceiling.

Daryll called back in fifteen minutes.

"The watermark checks are done," Daryll said. "Freelance photographer."

"Good," Franz replied.

"We’ll notify them directly. Studio counsel and insurance will handle it."

Franz nodded even though Daryll couldn’t see it. "Flag the perimeter breach."

"Already pulled the logs."

He ended the call.

The machinery moved faster than most expected. Not intimidation. Just speed.

When the courtyard lights turned off and natural light filled the room, the first notice had already been sent. The photographer would wake to find an email explaining the distance from the restricted area and the legal risks of taking photos in secured zones.

Franz poured himself coffee only after receiving the third confirmation. He hadn’t poured it earlier.

Gio entered a short while later, tablet under his arm, tie not fully straightened. He paused when he saw Franz already seated, with his phone and coffee close to the edge of the table.

"You’re early," Gio said.

Franz glanced up.

"So are you."

Gio stood quietly. Then: "You didn’t have to do this."

Franz looked up. "Do what?"

"Handle it."

"It’s handled. That’s all."

Gio held his gaze. "That’s not all."

Gio stood quietly for a moment, taking in the atmosphere. He watched for what wasn’t there. The house was quiet. Franz didn’t look strained.

"It’s moving," Franz said.

Gio nodded once.

"We contacted the photographer." Franz continued. "Legal flagged liability issues."

Gio moved closer and placed his tablet on the coffee table without sitting down.

"And what about the brothers?" he asked.

"They’ll figure it out soon."

Gio’s phone vibrated while Franz was still speaking.

The sound was soft but clear in the quiet room. Gio looked at the screen and turned it slightly so Franz could see.

You didn’t need to escalate.

The message was shorter than before.

Franz didn’t respond right away. He took his phone from the table and typed carefully.

Further contact will be treated as interference.

He ended it with a single period.

He gave the phone back to Gio.

"That’s enough," he said.

Gio looked at the screen. Then at Franz.

"They’ll stop now."

"Yes."

Gio was quiet. "Thank you."

Franz didn’t answer right away. "You don’t thank family for showing up."

Gio’s jaw tightened. He looked away.

He looked at the sent message for a moment before locking the screen. "They won’t pursue that."

"No."

Mid-morning, Daryll shared the photographer’s first formal response during a short call. Franz stood in the foyer, watching the twins come down the stairs with their tutor.

"He’s withdrawing it," Daryll said. "He doesn’t plan to share it. He will sign the confirmation."

"Good."

"Two outlets have been informed."

It was a warning that the publication would show proof of a breach. No newsroom would spend money on legal fees to defend a violation without clear evidence.

"Monitor," Franz said.

"Seventy-two hours," came the reply.

He ended the call.

The twins walked by him in the hallway. Lily stopped and looked up at him seriously.

"Are you busy right now?" she asked.

"Yes, a little."

She thought about his answer and then nodded, as if satisfied with it. Leo quickly typed something and turned the screen toward him.

WORKING?

"Yes," Franz said.

Leo nodded once.

They continued toward the dining room.

Franz watched them leave and then went back to the sitting room.

Gio stood by the console table, checking a revised document. He held a steady posture but wasn’t rigid.

Franz watched him for a moment.

"You okay?"

Gio didn’t look up. "Yes."

"You’d say that either way."

Gio glanced at him. "So why ask?"

Franz considered that. "Because someone should."

"No new messages," GIo said without looking up.

Franz nodded.

By early afternoon, the pressure had moved outward. The brothers would find that the photo they thought had value no longer did. If they tried to sell it, it would expose the photographer’s mistake and draw attention to where it came from. What began privately now reached the perimeter.

Gio checked his phone again while standing by the window. The messages were still the same.

He put the phone back in his pocket. His shoulders relaxed, not in relief but in release from carrying it alone.

He put the phone back in his pocket.

Franz walked over. "It won’t spread. We cut it off early."

Gio looked out at the garden. "I know."

"You don’t sound relieved."

Gio was quiet. Then: "I’ve never had anyone do this before."

"Do what?"

"Handle something. For me."

Franz stood beside him. "There’s a first time for everything."

In the late afternoon, Franz stepped outside to take another call. The air was cooler. He stood at the stone path, looking toward the outer gate.

"Yes," he said into the phone. "No statement. Not yet."

He paused.

"Change the exit protocol."

He listened.

"Temporary."

He ended the call and stayed there.

The gate was closed. The threat was outside it.

For now.

When he came back inside, Arianne was sitting in the living room with files neatly lined up on the table.

She looked up. "It’s handled?"

"Yes."

She studied him. "You look different."

"Do I?"

"You usually sit down after. You’re still standing."

He hadn’t noticed.

She didn’t ask for details.

He walked over and adjusted the stack of papers slightly because one edge was out of line. She noticed.

"You didn’t finish your coffee this morning," she said.

He glanced toward the kitchen. "I had some."

"You left it behind."

He allowed a small smile. "I forgot."

She returned to her files. Then: "You don’t forget things."

He didn’t answer.

As evening came, Gio stood near the foyer again, his tablet shut this time. The message thread on his phone stayed the same—no new messages, no follow-ups.

Franz joined him without saying anything.

"If they contact us again—"

"They won’t." Franz interrupted him.

Gio looked at him. "How do you know?"

Franz met his eyes. "Because they just learned what happens when they do."

The lamps in the sitting room turned on automatically as it grew darker outside. The house returned to its evening routine—footsteps above, laughter from the twins’ room, the soft sound of dishes in the kitchen.

Franz put his phone face down on the console table.

Gio did the same.

The lamps turned on automatically.

Gio spoke without looking at him. "Franz."

Franz waited.

"I didn’t think anyone would."

"Would what?"

"Show up."

Franz was quiet. Then: "Neither did I. For a long time."

Gio nodded once.

They stood there. The screens stayed dark.

Lamp light spread across the floor while darkness settled beyond the gate.