Chapter 102The gala was still two hours from starting when Ethan found Mr. Charles.That was deliberate. The room would fill soon enough — the noise, the performances, the careful social choreography of Boston's elite doing what they did best in rooms like this one. He wanted this conversation to happen before all of that, in the quieter margins of the evening when a man's guard was down and his real self was still accessible.Mr. Charles was standing near the far end of the pre-function terrace, a drink in hand, looking out over the city with the ease of someone who had attended enough of these events to have stopped being impressed by the venue and could simply enjoy the view. He turned when he heard footsteps, and the recognition that moved across his face was warm and unhurried."Mr. Cole." He extended his hand. "I had a feeling you'd be here tonight.""As yourself, I notice," Ethan said, shaking it. "Not as anyone's representative."Mr. Charles smiled at that. "I've never been p

Chapter 103“What is he doing here?”The words slipped out of Sarah before she could stop them—half-formed, sharp with disbelief, hanging awkwardly in the air like something that shouldn’t have been said aloud.No one answered her.No one even acknowledged her.Ethan’s gaze brushed over her briefly—calm, detached, as if she were nothing more than a passing inconvenience—before shifting away just as quickly. Whatever recognition had existed between them was gone, buried under something colder, something deliberate.His attention settled fully on Simon.“Simon Stone.”Ethan’s lips curved into a faint smile as he closed the distance between them. He reached out and tapped Simon lightly on the shoulder, casual, almost familiar.“You look bored,” he added, voice laced with easy sarcasm. “Is this how lonely you’ve become?”Simon let out a low chuckle, unbothered. He picked up a glass, poured a drink, and extended it toward Ethan without hesitation.Ethan accepted it like it was the most nat

Chapter 105Drake sat in the conference room across from Victoria Chen, trying his absolute best to look important and intimidating. It wasn't really working.Victoria wasn't even paying him the slightest bit of attention. Her focus was entirely on a stack of documents in front of her and the sleek laptop open on the table, her fingers moving across the keyboard with practiced efficiency. She looked like someone who had actual work to do, unlike certain people in the room who just liked to *talk* about work.Drake shifted in his seat, cleared his throat loudly, tapped his fingers on the table, all the usual attention-seeking behaviors of a man who wasn't used to being ignored.Nothing. Victoria didn't even glance up.Finally, unable to bear being treated like wallpaper any longer, Drake decided to just go for it."Victoria Chen!" he called out, like he was summoning a servant rather than addressing one of the most powerful businesswomen in Boston.She raised her head slowly, her expre

Chapter 107“So what do you want, Ms. Wilson? What will reassure you?”Victoria Chen’s voice was calm, almost too calm, as she leaned back slightly in her chair, her fingers interlocked in front of her.Sarah didn’t hesitate.“Let’s sign an agreement,” she said firmly. “I want your word. Written. No tricks. No manipulation.”Victoria held her gaze for a few seconds.Then she smiled.Slowly.Deliberately.“If we sign this agreement, Ms. Wilson…” she began, her tone measured, “and this assessment is conducted with complete transparency and honesty…”She paused just long enough to let the tension build.“…and the result favors Mr. Ethan Cole—”Sarah’s heart skipped.“—then you will cease to be a partner of B Corporation.”Silence.Sarah’s eyes widened, her breath catching in her throat.“What the—”Her words died halfway.Her heart began to pound violently against her chest.For a brief moment—Doubt crept in.Was this a trap?But then logic kicked in.Impossible. Ethan couldn’t win.The

Chapter 109The moment Ethan walked out, Sarah stood frozen.Her ears rang.Her chest felt hollow.Then it hit her.Simon Stone.Her head snapped up.She remembered the way Simon and Ethan had interacted days ago—the ease, the familiarity, the subtle respect hidden beneath their words.They were connected.Maybe… maybe he could help her.Hope surged through her like a drowning person grabbing at air.Without thinking, she turned and rushed back into the conference room, heels clicking sharply against the polished floor.The door slammed open.Drake Hastings was still inside.He stood in the middle of the room, disheveled, pacing like a madman, his hands gripping his hair as if trying to tear it out.The moment he saw her—Something snapped.“You bitch!”Before Sarah could react, he lunged forward and grabbed her by the neck