Ethan decided to call for a board meeting early that morning. The announcement alone created tension across the company. Every member of staff hurried through the hallways carrying files, laptops, and prepared presentations. The atmosphere inside the company building became heavy with pressure as workers adjusted their suits and rehearsed their speeches quietly to themselves.Victoria walked through the corridor with confidence written across her face. She held her file tightly against her chest as though it contained the future of the company itself. She had spent sleepless nights working on the proposal, studying every detail together with Ethan before things between them became complicated.“ I have the contract done perfectly. Once Ethan sees this presentation, he will definitely approve it.” Victoria whispered to herself proudly.She entered the boardroom gracefully. The long polished table reflected the bright lights hanging from above. The directors, investors, senior managers,

Ethan felt completely distracted the moment he realized Grace had turned him down.The office suddenly felt too tight for him to breathe properly. His mind refused to settle while Grace’s words repeated endlessly inside his head. Every time he tried to focus on something else, her face appeared again.“She refused my request,” he said quietly to Stephen.Stephen looked at Ethan with deep pity written all over his face. He understood Ethan better than most people did. He knew the kind of man Ethan was whenever emotions became involved.“Did she at least accept to work with you?” Stephen asked carefully.Ethan leaned back against the chair slowly.“That isn't all what I want from Grace,” he admitted honestly. “I need her love. I want her all over me the same way I love defeating Damian. I want her beside me every single moment.”Stephen sighed softly.“I think we should focus on this first. This should be the beginning. Once this works out, I believe we can achieve the rest slowly.”But

Ethan lay weakly on the bed while the pain inside him continued increasing slowly like a dangerous fire spreading through dry grass. His body rested against the soft mattress, but his mind refused to relax. Different thoughts moved endlessly through his head, and every single thing happening around him now felt heavier than before. The betrayal, the confusion, Grace leaving, Jeremiah’s strange message, and Victoria’s silence all felt completely mixed together inside his mind.He closed his eyes for a few seconds while breathing deeply. The room remained quiet except for the sound of the air conditioner moving softly against the walls. His phone rested beside him, but he kept staring at it like someone expecting a miracle.He still wanted to hear Victoria’s voice even after everything. Even after the confusion Jeremiah created. Even after the pain buried deeply inside him. Part of him still wished Victoria would explain herself.But before that, Jeremiah needed to answer for his action

Grace slowly lifted her eyes toward Stephen despite the fear tightening heavily inside her chest.The room remained dark except for the single bulb hanging above them. Shadows stretched across the walls while the cold air from the old fan brushed softly against her skin.Yet even in that frightening moment, Grace refused to cry.She refused to bow.Stephen stared at her carefully, clearly expecting her to panic or beg for mercy.Instead, Grace straightened herself slowly on the chair he had forced her into.Her wrists were tied, but her eyes remained fearless.“You are such a weak lady. I don’t have anything to do with you,” Stephen said coldly before turning away from her.A faint smile suddenly appeared on Grace’s lips.That smile alone irritated him deeply.Stephen stopped walking and glanced back at her.“You are smiling?” he asked with confusion.Grace looked directly into his eyes.“Yes, I am smiling because for the first time I can finally see who you truly are.”Stephen’s expr

The next morning arrived with dark clouds still hanging heavily above the city.Rain continued falling steadily across the streets while the media exploded with endless reports about Grace’s disappearance.Inside Ethan’s mansion, however, the atmosphere had become far more dangerous.Ethan had not slept properly.Not even for an hour.His eyes looked red from exhaustion while tension filled every inch of his face. Papers, surveillance photographs, phone records, and investigation files covered the large table in front of him.Several police officers stood nearby quietly.Nobody dared interrupt him.Because Ethan no longer looked like a calm businessman.He looked like a man slowly losing control.And the deeper the investigation went…The more suspicious Victoria became.Earlier that morning, one of Ethan’s private investigators arrived carrying a tablet.“There’s something you need to see.”Ethan immediately looked up.The investigator hesitated briefly before placing the tablet on t