She turned back to the crowd, her performance reaching its peak. "I loved him! I gave him everything! And this is how he repays me? By throwing me aside like garbage? By getting violent when I tried to talk to him? By humiliating me in front of all these people?"More employees were nodding now, their expressions sympathetic toward Anna. They saw a successful businesswoman in tears, claiming abuse from her husband. It fit a familiar narrative—powerful woman, resentful husband, relationship gone wrong."Someone should call the police," one employee said."Yeah, he can't just assault people in the parking lot," another agreed."Poor woman. She seems genuinely devastated."Pervis looked around at the growing crowd, at their judgmental expressions, at the way they'd so easily believed Anna's twisted version of events. Some had witnessed the actual confrontation and knew she was lying, but they remained silent, perhaps afraid to contradict someone as influential as Anna Morrison."Anna," P

Pervis stood his ground, his expression unchanging as the crowd surrounded him. He looked around at their angry faces, their clenched fists, their self-righteous fury, and felt nothing but cold contempt."I'm going to make sure you lose your job," one employee threatened, stepping so close that Pervis could see the spittle flying from his mouth. "I have connections in HR. You're getting fired today.""Good luck finding another job after this!" another voice added. "We'll make sure everyone knows what you did!""You're going to regret this for the rest of your pathetic life!"Pervis finally spoke, his voice cutting through the chaos with quiet authority. "I suggest all of you think very carefully about your positions in this company. Think about your jobs. Your careers. Your futures. And then think about whether continuing this confrontation is worth risking all of that."The crowd fell silent for a moment, confused by his calm threat.Then someone burst into laughter—harsh, mocking la

She turned to Rodriguez's two colleagues, who'd been standing frozen behind him. "Escort him off the premises. Immediately. If he resists, call the police and have him removed for trespassing.""Ms. Coleman, please!" Rodriguez dropped to his knees right there in the parking lot, his professional dignity completely abandoned. "Please, I'm begging you! I didn't know! How could I have known? They all said he was violent! They said he attacked someone! I was just trying to protect people!""You were trying to look important," Aria corrected coldly. "You saw a crowd and an opportunity to play the hero, and you didn't bother to think or investigate or use even basic common sense. That kind of stupidity doesn't belong in my company.""I have children!" Rodriguez's voice broke as tears began streaming down his face. "Three children! My wife doesn't work! How am I supposed to—""That's not my concern," Aria said, her expression unchanging. "You should have thought about your family before you

He walked toward Roden's office with steady steps, ignoring the whispers and speculation that erupted behind him.Alicia watched him go with concern etched on her face, her hands clenched into fists on her desk.Meanwhile, across the city, in the sprawling Downey family mansion, a very different scene was unfolding.The main hall of the Downey estate was enormous—a vast space with marble floors, soaring ceilings, and expensive artwork adorning every wall. It was designed to impress, to intimidate, to remind anyone who entered exactly how powerful and wealthy the Downey family was.At the far end of the hall, elevated on a platform that made it look almost like a throne, sat Tony Downey—patriarch of the family, chairman of Downey International, and a man whose word could make or break businesses across multiple industries.He was in his late sixties, but his presence was still commanding. His silver hair was impeccably styled, his suit custom-tailored, and his expression as hard and co

The suggestions came faster now, each family member trying to prove their loyalty to Tony by proposing increasingly harsh punishments for Isabella. Some genuinely believed she deserved severe consequences. Others simply saw an opportunity to eliminate a potential rival for family resources and influence.Isabella knelt there listening to her own family discuss her fate as if she were a problem to be solved rather than a person. Tears continued streaming down her bruised face, but she'd stopped sobbing. There was no point. No one cared."She's always thought she was better than everyone else," someone said."Too beautiful for her own good. It made her vain.""I heard she treated service workers terribly. This was bound to happen eventually.""The apple doesn't fall far from the tree," another voice added, with a pointed look at Mia. "Her mother was just as arrogant when she married into the family."The insults continued, some aimed at Isabella, some at her parents, all contributing to