The Hall was lit up in dazzling gold and silver, the chandeliers casting warm light across the ballroom. Music floated through the air, violins blending seamlessly with the deep thrum of the cello. It was a night Laura had dreamt about for weeks, maybe even months. The grand celebration of her and Gale’s wedding anniversary had to be, in her mind, the social event of the year.As guests streamed in—men in sharp tuxedos and women in gowns—Laura stood proudly at Gale’s side, her jeweled necklace glinting with every turn of her head. They were all here: business magnates, politicians, aristocrats, and a smattering of celebrities. It was everything she had envisioned, and more.The master of ceremonies soon announced that the couple of the night should take the floor for their first dance. A hush fell over the room as Gale and Laura stepped forward, his arm slipping around her waist. They moved across the floor in practiced elegance. Laura’s smile didn’t falter for a second as they spun g

Benjamin’s car purred to a stop in front of the sprawling family estate. His father had summoned him today. That alone was unusual. More often than not, he was either ignored in favor of Marcus, or called only when something messy needed to be cleaned up discreetly. But lately… lately things had been different. Marcus had been fumbling, their father’s patience had been thinning, and Benjamin’s presence had been requested more than once. Each time, he could see the irritation building in Marcus’s eyes, and Benjamin relished it quietly.As he neared the doors, a smirk tugged at his lips. This must be about Marcus’s latest failure. The old man has finally begun to see what I’ve known all along—Marcus is incompetent, reckless, and unworthy of carrying the family name forward.He pushed open the door and stepped into the hallway. He moved down the hall toward his father’s study, already imagining the coming exchange.But just as he turned the corner, he nearly collided with Marcus.Marcu

BENJAMIN'S HOUSE The morning light crept slowly into Benjamin’s room. He stirred, his eyes opening lazily as if savoring the victory that still lingered from the previous day. For a few moments, he lay there in silence, staring up at the ceiling, and a slow smirk curled onto his lips.Marcus’s face flashed in his mind—the stunned confusion when Father had turned on him, the shame as the glass shattered against the wall, the way Father’s voice thundered as he stripped him of responsibility and handed it over instead to him. That look of humiliation… Benjamin could drink it like fine wine.“Finally,” he whispered into the empty room, his voice hoarse with sleep but filled with satisfaction. “Finally, things are starting to turn.”He swung his legs over the side of the bed and sat for a moment, elbows on his knees, rubbing his hands together slowly. He could still hear Father’s words echoing—Benjamin should be the one to handle things for now. Those words replayed like music in his hea

Jonathan sat back on the couch, his leg crossed casually over the other and his eyes gleaming faintly.Julian leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees, waiting.He had been patient long enough, waiting for Jonathan to reveal the plan but he just continued staring at him.“Well,” Julian finally said, his voice breaking the silence, “you’ve managed to make me more curious. What exactly is the plan?”Jonathan smiled slightly, that kind of smile that didn’t give anything away. “It’s simple,” he began, his tone smooth and measured. “We’re done waiting for Scott Grayson to realize his mistake. If we want to destroy him, we have to create the conditions ourselves. That’s what Benjamin said. And for once—” he gave a small shrug, “—I agree with him.”Julian tilted his head, “Go on.”Jonathan laced his fingers together. “The idea is infiltration. Not direct attacks, not public humiliation — we’ve seen how he survives that. He’s smart enough to predict power plays now. So we need someone insi

Jonathan was the first to break the silence in the room. “Now that we’ve finally gotten past the emotional part,” he said, tone clipped and dry, “we can actually talk about how to bring Scott Grayson down.”Julian’s jaw tightened slightly, but he said nothing. Freya shifted her gaze between them. “Then let’s start,” she said smoothly. “Tell me the plan — the actual details. I need to know exactly how you expect me to get close to him.”Jonathan nodded slightly, as though pleased she had asked that question. “According to what was discussed in the meeting,” he began, “we can’t afford to make reckless moves. Scott is not naive — he’s learned to protect his assets and guard his circle. We need to get to him through someone he trusts… and no one fits that access better than someone who works closely with him.”“And not just any position either. We’re talking about direct access — someone who would be with him regularly. Privileged. Unquestioned.”“A position that guarantees constant prox