Vanessa’s POV The boardroom felt colder than usual, though the air conditioning hummed at its regular low setting. I sat at the head of the table, my manicured nails tapping against the polished wood, listening to the grim financial report being read aloud by Nathan. “Hale Pharmaceuticals’ quarterly earnings have fallen by another 9.6%, bringing our total loss in the past year to nearly 34%. Investors are withdrawing their shares at an alarming rate, and the expansion plans into the Asian market have been delayed indefinitely due to lack of funding,” he said, his voice strained but carefully neutral. I crossed my legs and leaned back, the leather chair creaking slightly under my movement. “And what about the distribution deal Collins’ father helped us secure?” I asked, forcing my voice to remain even. Nathan adjusted his tie, his face paling slightly. “The deal helped cut costs, but it doesn’t change the fact that our products are losing desirability. We’re being undercut by compe

Ethan’s POV The day of the gala had finally arrived.Standing before the massive mirror in my suite, I adjusted the cufflinks on my tailored black tuxedo. The fabric was sleek, the fit perfect, an unmistakable mark of the Sinclair wealth. My reflection stared back at me, steady and composed, but beneath the calm facade, tension simmered. This night wasn’t just a celebration; it was the public announcement of my place in the Sinclair family. After a year of relentless preparation, I was ready to step into the legacy that I had previously never imagined could have been mine.Something inside me somehow managed and felt… off.For the first time in years, I allowed myself to wonder what would it have been like if my parents were still alive? Would my father have clapped me on the shoulder, proud to see his son take his rightful place? Would my mother have smiled, adjusting my tie with those warm, knowing eyes? Would any of these betrayal, the loss, the years of being treated like a nobod

Ethan’s POV The camera flashes were relentless, a rapid-fire assault of white light bursting in every direction. Olivia and I stood at the center of it all, poised yet unyielding as reporters clamored for our attention. The polished marble beneath my feet gleamed under the estate’s golden lights, reflecting the grandeur of the Sinclair gala. Olivia, ever composed, gave a soft smile to the cameras, her fingers resting lightly on my arm as if we had done this a hundred times before.For a moment, I allowed myself to take it in the contrast of where I stood now against the gutter the Hales had once kicked me into. The lavish venue, the elite of the business world mingling in tailored suits and glittering gowns, and me, standing tall amongst them as an equal.“Look at him,” a sneering voice cut through the elegant atmosphere like a rusted blade. “Right back to doing what he does best.”I turned my head slightly, already knowing who it was before my gaze locked onto Nathan Hale. He stood

Ethan’s POVMy name, Ethan Sinclair was now carved into the legacy of one of the most powerful business empires in the world.The press wasted no time. Within minutes, headlines were flooding news websites, television broadcasts, and social media feeds.Ethan Sinclair: From Disgraced Outlaw to Heir of the Sinclair Empire!Sinclair’s Long-Lost Grandson Returns—Hales Left in the Dust!Fraud Accused, Betrayed, and Banished—Now Seated on a Billion-Dollar Throne!I could feel the of dozens of eyes on me, some filled with admiration, others with resentment. But the ones that stood out the most were those of my uncle, Victor Sinclair, and his son, Cole. Across the hall, where the lighting didn’t quite reach, I caught sight of Uncle Victor. He was flanked by two of his private guards, his expression forced into an unreadable mask. But his hands, curled into fists, told me all I needed to know.Uncle Victor was not happy.Cole stood beside him, his jaw tight, his fingers twitching at his sides

Ethan’s POVThe voices drifted through the slightly ajar door, every word like a blade slicing through my last shreds of naivety.I swallowed the bitterness rising in my throat. No matter how much wealth and status I had inherited, I was still a stranger in my own family’s house. Their words pressed down on me like an iron shackle. I turned away, my steps soundless against the marble floor as I retreated from the conversation that had shattered whatever fragile hope I had of belonging.Outside, the cool evening air wrapped around me, carrying the gentle rush of water from the palace’s central waterfall. The cascading silver ribbons glowed under the soft luminescence of the garden lanterns, but their beauty did little to soothe my raging thoughts.I leaned against the stone railing, staring at the water crashing below. This was supposed to be a fresh start, a chance to reclaim the life I had been robbed of. But the reality seemed like, I had only traded one battlefield for another. Onl