“VerdaLife will not beg Ethan Xavier for forgiveness,” Darius repeated from Hilton’s chair.His voice travelled across the private boardroom.Elias remained standing on the opposite side of the long table. The other relatives watched both men carefully. Darius had claimed temporary control of VerdaLife, but the complete board had not yet confirmed his position.Despite that, he already behaved as though Hilton’s empire belonged to him.“Requesting an audience is not begging,” Elias replied. “It is the responsible thing to do.”“Responsible?” Darius asked. “You want us to approach Ethan Xavier and apologise for an attack none of us ordered.”“I want us to understand how much danger this family is facing due to the nature of Ethan Xavier's attack.”Darius leaned back in Hilton’s chair. “We already understand the situation. Ethan survived. His wife survived. The government has not accused this board of anything.”“That does not mean an investigation has not begun.”Several relatives look

Darius pushed the report towards the secretary.“Malcolm Rane is handling this matter, correct?”“Yes. He is working with the central Finance Department.”“Then Malcolm will find another route.”“There is one more development,” the secretary said.Darius stopped.“What now?”“The internal security team completed a deeper examination of the supplier-verification system.”The secretary touched his tablet, opening the access history.“The board already knows that Ethan Ward examined the seven suppliers before the accounts were frozen. What we did not know was how he connected them.”Elias’s attention sharpened.The secretary continued, “The companies have different names and registration numbers. However, Ethan Ward searched an archived commercial code attached to their payment records.”“What code?” Darius asked.“It belonged to an old business network managed by the late Roland Verda.”The room became completely silent.Elias stared at the secretary. “My brother’s network?”“Yes. Offic

Two days after Darius Verda ordered another illegal payment route, the complete VerdaLife board gathered to officially decide who would control the medical empire in Hilton’s absence.Every voting member had been summoned to the Verda family estate.When they entered the private boardroom, they found Darius sitting in Hilton’s chair.He had not yet been appointed acting chairman, but he behaved as though the decision had already been made.A silver Verda emblem rested against his dark suit. Two folders lay before him. One contained VerdaLife’s financial position, while the other listed the senior officials who had promised to support him.Elias entered without greeting him.He took his position on the opposite side of the table and looked at Hilton’s nameplate.“You appear confident about today’s decision,” Elias said.“VerdaLife cannot afford uncertainty,” Darius replied. “Someone must take control.”“That is why the board was called.”“And that is why the board will choose me.”The

The next morning, Ethan returned to VerdaLife’s national procurement division.He passed through the first security gate without difficulty. However, his temporary access card failed when he attempted to enter the supplier-verification department.A red light appeared above the scanner.ACCESS RESTRICTED.Ethan tried once more.The same warning returned.A security officer approached him. “Mr Ward?”“Yes.”“Director Rane has changed your assignment. You are expected on the ninth floor.”“Was a reason provided?”“No.”The officer gestured towards the lift.“I have been instructed to escort you.”Ethan followed him without resistance.He understood what had happened.The people above Malcolm had begun reacting to the frozen payments. They now considered Ethan dangerous enough to watch directly.When the lift opened on the ninth floor, Malcolm’s assistant was waiting.“Director Rane wants to see you.”The assistant led Ethan past Malcolm’s office and into a large financial records room.

Beneath the payment description was a hidden routing code.Ethan opened it.The money was not meant to purchase emergency medical materials for any hospital.Its final destination was:RESEARCH SITE TWELVE.The new company had been created to replace the seven suppliers whose accounts had been frozen.Horizon Medical Distribution had no previous transaction history with VerdaLife. It had never delivered medicine, hospital beds or medical equipment.Despite that, Malcolm’s department was preparing to send several million dollars into its account.Ethan examined the company’s approval documents.Everything appeared complete.Horizon Medical Distribution (HMD) possessed a medical supply licence, a warehouse certificate and permission to handle emergency hospital materials.However, all three documents had been approved that morning.No genuine medical supplier could be created, examined and approved within a few hours.Someone had manufactured an entire company before breakfast.Ethan ad