Two days later, Lisa Sanders stood before the glass doors of Cole Consortium’s executive wing. Her reflection stared back. a woman composed on the outside but unraveling within. She hadn’t been here since the day she’d broken Ethan publicly, trading him for Daniel Flake and Orbitway’s world of status.Now she was back, sent on a mission she barely understood, her mother’s strained voice echoing in her mind.“Please, Lisa. You owe me this one favor.”The receptionist recognized her instantly. “Miss Sanders,” she greeted warmly. “Mr. Cole is expecting you. His schedule is clear for the next fifteen minutes.”Lisa hesitated before entering. When she did, Ethan was already standing by the window, hands behind his back, posture calm and unreadable.“Lisa,” he said evenly. “It’s been a while.”“Yes,” she managed, forcing a smile. “I… thought maybe we could talk. There’s potential for collaboration between Orbitway’s marketing division and your AI subsidiary.”Ethan turned, his gaze steady.

Ethan Cole stood before the glass wall of his office, hands clasped behind his back, watching the reflection of his empire move below. The news feeds still spoke of Orbitway’s collapse, of Wilson Flake’s sudden silence, of investors retreating. Yet, Ethan’s mind wasn’t on victory.It was on betrayal.The System’s faint hum filled the room. a pulse of awareness, like a silent conscience.[Directive pending: Ethical evaluation . Betrayal response required.][Objective: Determine outcome based on heir’s interpretation of justice.]He exhaled slowly. “So even justice is a test now,” he murmured.Behind him, the elevator doors opened with a soft chime. Lily Harper stepped in, the sound of her heels crisp against the polished floor.She looked radiant … freshly returned from her fashion tour across Europe, dressed in a minimalist white suit that caught the light like silk. But the moment she saw Ethan, her confident smile faltered slightly.“You didn’t tell me you were back early,” Ethan sa

The morning after the first media storm, the city buzzed with speculation.Screens across downtown streamed headlines, the same story repeating with polished venom:COLE CONSORTIUM UNDER ETHICAL REVIEW – SOURCES QUESTION AI TRANSPARENCY.Social feeds spun wild theories. Some accused Ethan of concealing data breaches; others claimed the Formidable System itself was a rogue entity.But through the chaos, Ethan Cole remained silent.Inside the top floor of Cole Tower, the System glowed faintly, processing thousands of mentions per second.[Reputation status: Declining – 18%.][Investor confidence index: Stable.][Public trust variable: Fluctuating.]Ethan stood by the window, calm as ever, as Jonathan Hale read through crisis reports.“Vector Media is coordinating the narrative,” Jonathan said. “Anonymous sources, recycled data, nothing provable…but effective. People love a mystery to hate.”Grayson crossed his arms. “Wilson’s fingerprints are all over it.”Ethan nodded. “He sold Orion t

London’s skyline shimmered beneath a sheet of fine rain, glass and fog folding into each other like secrets. The city was half-asleep, but within the upper floors of Cole Consortium, strategy never slept.Ethan Cole stood before a holographic projection of global stock feeds, his reflection caught between numbers and clouds. Every pulse of light represented movement. the world shifting beneath his touch.But his expression was unreadable, almost detached.Grayson entered quietly, tablet in hand. “Orbitway’s media proxies are bleeding influence. Wilson’s campaign lost three key advertisers overnight.”Ethan didn’t look up. “Intentional leaks?”Grayson nodded once. “From us, through intermediaries. The reports trace back to Vector Media, but not directly. They’re imploding without realizing who set the spark.”A faint smile curved Ethan’s lips. “Good. Let them blame the air.”The System hummed softly from the wall display, its text appearing like whispered thought.[Observation: Strateg

The train slid into Gare du Nord beneath a washed-out sky that looked half asleep. The city of Paris exhaled a long, misty sigh, as if unsure whether to welcome the morning or mourn it. To most travelers, the station was alive. clattering luggage, murmured French announcements, the faint aroma of croissants and diesel. But to Ethan Cole, it felt like stepping into a memory that didn’t belong to him.No digital overlay. No predictive routes. No silent voice guiding his every step. Just air — human, raw, unsupervised.He adjusted his coat as he stepped off the train. For the first time in years, his hands felt oddly empty. No boardroom calls. No System directives. Only the weight of his own breathing.Beside him, Lily dragged her small suitcase, her auburn hair glinting in the dull light. She turned, smiling the way only she could …like she had already forgiven the world for being chaotic.“You look like someone who doesn’t know what to do with peace,” she said.Ethan’s lips twitched in