The mansion gates swung open at dawn. At exactly six o’clock, the sleepy calm of the Hayes estate was broken by the thundering rhythm of native drums. Villagers and loyalists had assembled, bearing banners and chanting Nathan’s name as though celebrating the homecoming of a long-exiled prince. The procession marched through the manicured driveway until it gathered before the main entrance, with an unmatched energy.Nathan descended from a sleek black sedan, dressed in a tailored three-piece suit that shimmered faintly in the soft morning light. There was no hesitation in his step—his claim was already carved in law, and now it was time to make it flesh within the house itself. The gates clanged shut behind him, echoing like the finality of judgment.Mr. Hayes, pale and visibly exhausted from a night without sleep, appeared at the mansion’s entrance. He tried to raise his hand, as if to still the crowd, but his voice was swallowed by the chants. “Nathan, let us speak—” he began.Natha

The boardroom of Hayes Telecom buzzed with a mix of tension and curiosity. For decades, it had been Mr. Hayes who presided over the long mahogany table, but now Nathan stood at the head, the weight of majority ownership pressing down like a crown. “From this day forward,” Nathan declared, his tone deliberate and commanding, “every executive decision must run through my office. Contracts, mergers, partnerships—I will have the final word. Liam’s seat,” he motioned toward the empty chair near the end of the table, “is officially removed from board privilege. His duties remain… custodial.”A ripple of unease ran through the room. Nathan’s calculated strike wasn’t just administrative—it was a statement: loyalty would be rewarded, betrayal punished. He ended the meeting swiftly, leaving no room for rebuttal.Later that afternoon, the mansion became the stage for Cassandra’s decisive act. Standing in the grand hall, she addressed both staff and family. With her divorce documents finalized,

The press gathered outside Hayes Telecom headquarters, cameras flashing against the morning sun. Reporters jostled one another, their microphones raised as Nathan and Cassandra stepped out of the sleek black car. Together, they walked toward the entrance.It was no longer a secret. Cassandra, once Liam’s wife and quiet ornament of the Hayes mansion, now stood openly at Nathan’s side. Her divorce was nearly finalized, the paperwork days away from completion, and she no longer saw the need for discretion.Inside the boardroom, Nathan’s presence dominated. He spread documents across the table, each bearing the imprint of his authority.“Effective today,” Nathan announced, “the restructuring of Hayes Telecom’s leadership is complete. Division heads will now report directly to me. Liam Hayes is no longer part of this company’s decision-making chain in any form.”No objections came. The board members, weary of resistance, had seen what happened to those who hesitated. Clarke had attempted c

The conference room shimmered with the blue light of Nathan’s projected charts, yet all Nathan saw was Cassandra. She sat across from him, her brows knitted, her pen tapping lightly against a notepad.“You’re moving too fast on the European acquisitions,” Cassandra said, her tone firm but measured. “West Africa should be the launchpad. Local infrastructure first, regional dominance second. If you stretch yourself into Europe too soon, it might not end well.”Nathan leaned back in his chair, studying her. She was no longer the embittered wife of his rival. She was his advisor, his partner—and increasingly, something more.“You’ve been reading the investor reports again,” Nathan said with a faint smile.“Of course,” Cassandra replied, flipping through her notes. “If I’m going to stand beside you, I won’t do it blindly. I’ve lived in Liam’s shadow long enough. I won’t be anyone’s ornament.”Nathan’s eyes lingered on her longer than necessary. “You’re far from an ornament, Cassandra. You’

The night air at the exclusive Corinthian Club was filled with cigar smoke. The wealthy gathered there never worried about prying eyes. Men like Mr. Hayes, powerful yet elusive, belonged to places like this—where deals were whispered in corners, and secrets had a price.But tonight, Liam wasn’t here for leisure. His pulse beat fast under his tailored suit as he sat in the back lounge, waiting. Mr. Hayes leaned toward him, his silver hair catching the dim amber lights.“You’re certain about this?” Hayes asked, voice low. “Once I vanish, Nathan will be thrust into panic. It has to look real.”Liam nodded firmly. “It will. We’ll make sure he believes. No traces back to us. Just like we planned.”The plan was bold, even reckless: stage Hayes’ disappearance here, in a place where his absence would be instantly noticed but impossible to trace. Mr. Hayes would slip out through a service corridor with Liam’s discreet arrangements, leaving behind a ruffled jacket and a shattered glass that sc