Her elegant hands shook as she tossed down the remote."When did all this happen? These were just enough for Rhine Corporation to disannul their partnership with Elysian Bloom.She stood abruptly, voice rigid with fury. “I knew it!” she snapped. “The first branch, John’s branch, has been nothing but useless!How could this have come from them so suddenly? I should’ve known. They never amounted to anything!”She picked up her phone and tapped fast.---That evening, John Sullivan arrived at the mansion.He walked through the ornate foyer and entered the living room to find Grandma Sullivan waiting, arms crossed, eyes burning.“John,” she began, her words sharp. “You’ve seen the news—Elysian Bloom is toxic in the eyes of the public! Those allegations stand. How could this happen under Charlotte’s leadership?”John swallowed, already deflated by the day’s revelations. “Mom…” he started.“Don’t ‘mom’ me,” she spat. “If only we’d put Ava in charge of Elysian Bloom, none of this disgra

The clock on Charlotte’s dashboard struck 6:30 p.m. as she parked her white sedan in front of The Vellum Lounge, one of the city’s most prestigious upscale lounges known for its privacy and influential clientele. The golden sun had dipped low, casting a warm amber glow across the glass walls and cascading water fountain at the entrance.Charlotte took a deep breath.She hadn’t told Logan. Deep inside, she knew he wouldn’t approve. He’d asked her to trust him. But how could she sit back, arms folded, while Elysian Bloom was slowly disintegrating before her eyes? Partners were withdrawing, investors pulling out, and the media dragging her father’s legacy through the mud. She had to act.And so, with one last breath, she pushed open the car door and stepped out. Her black blazer clung perfectly to her slender frame, paired with gray slacks and stilettos that clicked softly on the marble pathway.As soon as she entered the luxurious lounge, Charlotte was greeted by a wave of gentle j

Just as Jaxon reached the glass exit doors, another announcement crackled over the hotel’s sound system.> “Attention, guests. The earlier gas detection alarm was a false alert triggered during maintenance work. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your cooperation. All guests may now return to their rooms.”Jaxon paused in his steps. He clenched his jaw.It was too late.He couldn't risk turning back now. Suspicion would rise if anyone saw him near that room again, especially with Charlotte waking up soon. He slipped out into the night, satisfied.---Meanwhile, across the city, chaos bloomed in the Sullivan family household.Charlotte hadn’t returned home.The hour hand on the living room clock ticked past midnight. Logan stood tensely by the window, his phone glued to his ear. His voice was sharp with worry.“No, she didn’t say anything about going out,” he said to her assistant over the phone. “Check again. Call me back the second you find anything.”He hung up, ja

That evening, John and Barbara were wrapped in quiet routine. In the living room, the two sat together on the plush cream couch, a small dinner table between them. A tray of roasted chicken, vegetables, and wine glasses filled the space between husband and wife. The clinking of cutlery and the occasional murmur of a news program on the muted television filled the room.But then—a sharp ping disrupted the air. Barbara reached for her phone without thoughtGlancing down at the screen, her hand froze mid-motion.“What in God’s name…” she breathed.Her eyes widened and her face drained of color.“John,” she whispered, her voice brittle and trembling as she thrust the phone toward him. “Look at this.”John adjusted his glasses and peered at the screen. His jaw tightened, and the fork slipped from his hand, clattering against his plate.There it was—everywhere. Headlines exploding across social media feeds and gossip blogs: “Elysian Bloom’s CEO Caught in Scandal: Charlotte Sullivan Ex

Logan stared at the screen, his jaw clenched and his fists tightening around the phone. The images looped before him of Charlotte… lying on a hotel bed. Disheveled and vulnerable!And then, a man hovering near her. He recognized her dress immediately—it was the same one she had wore earlier that day.Did Jaxon really go this far—even getting intimate with his wife? This was beyond despicable!Now this same video was now circulating online like wildfire!His head turned slowly toward her.“Charlotte…” he whispered.“Is there something you’re not telling me?”Charlotte looked up at him with wide, devastated eyes. She felt as if the ground had vanished beneath her. Her mind was spinning, torn between disbelief and horror.“I…” she began, then hesitated, clutching her chest as her breath hitched. “Logan, I don’t know. I—I don’t remember anything like this happening.”Logan smirked.Charlotte looked down at the video again, forcing herself to watch the worst moment of her life with n