A Rival ReturnsThe tension in the room lingered long after Emma walked away, leaving Victor to wrestle with his thoughts. Just when he thought things couldn't get worse, his phone buzzed with an incoming call. He hesitated but picked it up, his heart dropping as he recognized the number.“Victor,” a smooth, mocking voice came through the line. “Long time no see.”“Jordan,” Victor replied, irritation bubbling beneath his calm facade. “What do you want?”“Oh, just checking in,” Jordan said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “I heard about your little charity event. Quite the spectacle, wasn’t it? But I think I have something that’ll make things even more interesting.”“What are you talking about?” Victor asked, irritation mixing with dread.“I hear your dear old Grandpa Ben is playing games. I’d hate to see you lose everything because you’re too busy playing the good son. I’m offering you a chance to be part of something much bigger,” Jordan taunted.Victor clenched his jaw, realizing th

The ShowdownThe air crackled with tension as I entered the grand hall, the smell of expensive perfume and expensive suits mixing into a heady cocktail that was almost suffocating. The annual family gala was supposed to be a celebration, but I felt more like a pawn in a dangerous game. I glanced around, spotting Victor across the room, his presence commanding and magnetic as he conversed with a group of business associates. But today, his usual charm was overshadowed by the storm brewing within him.Tonight was the night. It was time for the reckoning.As I moved closer, I could see the clenched jaw and tight shoulders that spoke volumes of his inner turmoil. I knew what was coming, and it sent a shiver of anticipation down my spine. The atmosphere shifted as Grandpa Ben’s voice boomed through the crowd, drawing everyone’s attention.“Ladies and gentlemen!” Grandpa Ben’s voice cut through the chatter like a knife. “Tonight, we celebrate our family’s legacy and the bright future ahead!

Maria’s Revenge Maria’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction as the headlines began to flood the media. She had been patient, biding her time, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Now, she unleashed the storm. One after another, articles sprang up like wildfire, each more damning than the last. Her carefully curated leaks painted Victor as a cold, ruthless businessman who had not only abandoned his own family but betrayed them for the sake of another woman.The press, ever hungry for drama, devoured the story. Photos of Victor and Emma were plastered on every major outlet, followed by sensationalized headlines that painted Emma as the homewrecker who had ruined the Xavier family. "The Mistress Who Destroyed an Empire,"* *” Victor Xavier: Ruthless or Betrayed?" the stories twisted the truth, feeding off the scandal like vultures. In every corner of the city, whispers followed Emma. Social media buzzed with gossip; her name was dragged through the mud by people who had never met her, a

The ConfrontationThe words echoed in Emma's mind, a haunting whisper that held her rooted to the spot. Maria’s ultimatum was clear, but facing Victor now, after everything he’d just said, after seeing the love in his eyes, felt like stepping onto a battlefield. She was trapped between his loyalty and the inescapable shadow of her past.As Victor studied her face, his brows creased with worry, he reached out, gently cupping her face. “Emma, talk to me. Don’t let this poison us. Whatever you’re holding back… let it out. We can face it.”She felt her throat tighten, her resolve wavering. How could she tell him? How could she reveal the darker parts of her life that the media had twisted into ugly, sensationalist stories?Finally, she spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. “Victor… what if I’m not who you think I am?”A shadow of confusion flickered across his face. “What are you talking about?”She turned away, wrapping her arms around herself as if shielding against the blow she was

The Deadly DealVictor paced the length of his office, his fingers pressing against his temples as he tried to make sense of it all. His empire, the one he had built with blood, sweat, and sleepless nights, was hanging by a thread, threatened by an alliance he never saw coming. Maria, the woman who had once been his ally, now aligned herself with his most ruthless competitor, someone powerful enough to crush everything he held dear. The ultimatum replayed in his head like a twisted melody:*Leave Emma, and we’ll leave your business intact. Refuse, and you’ll watch it all burn.*A wave of anger surged through him, mingling with something much darker, a helplessness he hadn’t felt in years. It wasn’t just the business he risked losing; it was Emma. The woman who, in every way, had become his world.The door creaked open, and Emma stepped inside, her eyes softening as they met his troubled gaze. "Victor…" she began, her voice laced with worry. "What happened?"For a moment, he considered