The night was unusually quiet, the kind of silence that seemed to prepare the ground for something heavy. In a secluded private hall, Bohemia had gathered a handful of people he trusted. The air in the room was thick with cigar smoke, the curtains drawn to block any curious eyes. Around the table sat Victoria, Sophia, and three of Bohemia’s old allies, men who had followed him long before his father’s death and still owed him their loyalty.Bohemia’s eyes were sharp, restless, and burning with anger as he leaned forward, resting both elbows on the table. “I did not call this meeting for long talk,” he said, his voice low but filled with weight. “We all know why we are here. That man—Michael, is the reason we are in this mess. He is the reason Sophia and Victoria’s mother is in prison. He is the reason their family name is dragged in the mud.""He is the reason Ainsley Group and now PresLead stand under one shadow that is not mine. And worst of all, he is the reason my father is gon

The air inside the boardroom of PresLead Group was unusually heavy. Michael sat at the head of the polished table, his assistant Clarissa beside him, her pen poised over her notepad. Richard Caldwell, the CEO of PresLead, adjusted his glasses and cleared his throat before speaking.“Michael,” Richard began, his voice steady but carrying a weight of caution, “I need to bring something to your attention. Some of our foreign investors are growing restless. They are questioning whether you can handle both your duties as chairman here and still run Ainsley Group effectively.”Michael leaned back in his chair, his jaw tightening. He was not surprised. Ever since he assumed the position of board chairman, whispers of doubt had followed him like shadows. Still, hearing it so plainly from Richard carried a sting.Richard continued, “The problem is not just inside this room. Last night, Bohemia appeared on a television broadcast. He was direct in his criticism. He said you are chasing ghosts

The breaking news came on the television screen, and Sophia froze where she sat. The headline was brief, but the images left no doubt. Their mother, Martha, had been moved to the prison hospital wing after a violent clash with inmates. Sophia’s breath quickened, her eyes watering without control. She grabbed the remote and turned up the volume as if the words would change.Victoria, who had been sitting in the corner scrolling through her phone, looked up reluctantly. The moment her eyes caught the pictures of Martha on a stretcher, her lips parted slightly, but she said nothing.Sophia turned to her sister sharply. “We have to go see her,” she said, her voice unsteady yet determined.Victoria looked down at her phone again, avoiding her sister’s eyes. “I don’t know if I can,” she muttered.“What do you mean you don’t know?” Sophia snapped, rising to her feet. “That is our mother lying there. She may not even make it through the night. What kind of talk is this, Victoria?”Victoria

The news of Martha’s death spread quickly beyond the prison walls. Whispers filled the streets, and soon, everywhere Sophia and Victoria turned, people looked at them with a mix of pity and suspicion. It was as though their family name had now been carved into stone with the word tragedy. For Sophia, it was unbearable. She longed for the storm to quiet, for her mother to be laid to rest without noise or spectacle.Within days, conversations turned to how the burial should be arranged. Sophia sat across from her sister in the small living room, her face pale from sleepless nights. “Victoria,” she said carefully, “I think Mama deserves something simple. Nothing big, nothing loud. A quiet burial is what will honor her best. We do not even have the funds for a grand event.”Victoria shook her head almost immediately, her eyes sharp with determination. “Quiet? No, Sophia. Mama suffered humiliation till her last breath. The world must see her laid to rest with dignity. This burial will

The next morning came in a rush. The sky was still pale when Michael arrived at the headquarters of the Ainsley Group, his steps steady but heavy with the burden of what awaited him. He was dressed sharply as always, but there was something in his eyes that revealed the storm he carried inside. Clarissa, ever composed, was by his side, carrying a file of documents. They walked together down the long hallway that led to the boardroom.When Michael stepped into the conference room, he found it already filling up. Some board members were seated, others were just arriving, their faces set in hard expressions. A few stood to greet him politely, offering handshakes and nods of acknowledgment. But several others refused even to look at him, their eyes fixed on the table or their papers as though his presence irritated them. The air was thick with tension.Michael walked to the head of the table, his assistant following behind to take a seat by his side. He rested his hands on the polish