The mansion had never felt so hollow. Even though Elisa was not always at home,nor sleep in the same room with him, her absence was felt by the mansion itself.Alex moved across the living room like a man trapped in a cage too large to escape. His footsteps, steady at first, had grown more uneven with every turn. He had long since removed his jacket, draped carelessly over a chair. His tie hung loose, collar open, but sweat still gathered along his brow.In his hand, he clutched a glass of whiskey. He hadn’t touched it, hadn’t even thought of drinking it. Instead, he gripped it like an anchor, something to keep him steady while his thoughts kept circling back to the same unbearable question.Where is she?Alex stopped pacing and turned to the grand double doors just as the lock clicked. His breath hitched in expectation.The door creaked open.Elisa stepped inside. Her hair was slightly tangled, her blouse wrinkled, and though her posture remained straight, her eyes carried exhaustion

The courthouse of the capital had seen its share of historic trials, but the one unfolding today carried an aura in the air that was rare in recent times. Outside, reporters crowded the steps like vultures waiting for the outcome of the sitting and judgement to broadcast. Cameras flashed, microphones pushed forward, and the name on every tongue was the sameVen.Inside the wood-paneled courtroom, every seat was filled. Shareholders, journalists, analysts, and members of rival corporations had all found ways to slip into the gallery. The case was not merely about identity, it was about the fate of the Brown Empire itself.At the front, the three Brown brothers sat together Davis, Victory, and Henry the chairman flanked by their formidable legal team. Their presence radiated power, the quiet arrogance of men who had never known defeat inside a court of law. Beside them, Kate sat stiff-backed, her gaze unyielding. The scandal that had almost drowned her still lingered in whispers and she

Ven sat with his back straight, hands clasped together on the low glass table. His eyes, calm but burning with suppressed fire, traced the map of the empire he had sworn to tear apart.Bryan stood near the window, scrolling through his encrypted tablet, his brows furrowed. Daniella leaned on the arm of the couch, her gaze flicking between Ven and Bryan. Both were waiting for him to speak. They could sense the gravity of the silence.Finally, Ven broke it.“It’s time.”Bryan looked up, hesitant. “Time for the court? Or…”Ven’s lips curved into something between a smile and a blade. “Not the court. The court is a specific matter and I trust the Judge to handle the case with all fairness. The empire won’t crumble on witness stands, it will bleed out in the market.”Daniella straightened, her fingers tightening on the edge of the couch. "You mean…"Ven turned to Bryan. "Fez’s legacy. Every kobo, every dollar, every coin. Deploy it."Bryan blinked. For a moment, he thought he hadn’t heard

The court ruling was barely an hour old when the first headlines began flooding every corner of the media world."Court Declares Ven A True Blood of Late Chairman Brown!""Brown Siblings Lose Court Battle, Empire Faces New Power Shift!""Shock in Business Circles: Brown Family Fraud Allegations Surface."Television anchors spoke with excited urgency, social media ignited with hashtags, and even international outlets broadcasted clips from the court session. The video of Davis passing the briefcase to the forensic officer had already gone viral, shared endlessly across platforms, dissected by analysts, and replayed with commentary.By the time the Browns left the courthouse under a swarm of flashing cameras, their once untouchable reputation was teetering on collapse.The headquarters boardroom was a warzone of noise. Phones buzzed incessantly, assistants rushed in and out carrying urgent updates, and the shareholders’ voices rose to a fever pitch. Henry sat stiffly at the head of the

"I can’t do this anymore, Father,"Alex said, his voice edged with the sharp bitterness of defeat. “This marriage with Elisa… it’s a dead thing. She doesn’t even look at me as her husband. Not once since the wedding night. We don’t share a room, barely exchange words except when she wants to throw some scorn my way. I’ve had enough. I want a divorce.”Across from him, seated in the high-backed chair with the same composure he wore in boardrooms, Alex's Father a man whose authority stretched over half a dozen companies studied his son with a steady, unflinching gaze. Alex threw his hands out. “I’ve tried to be patient. I’ve tried to be the good husband, but she doesn’t care. She hates me, Father, especially now with Ven back” he bit the words off, regretting them instantly. Ven’s name tasted bitter in his mouth, yet it hung there between them, heavy and poisonous.A faint smile tugged at the corner of his father's mouth, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “You speak like a child who’s lo