Chapter 31; The Price of SilenceLayla Luxter POVThe tension from the boardroom did not leave me when I stepped out; it followed me down the corridor, settled into my chest, and stayed there like something unfinished that refused to be ignored. Every face I passed carried a different expression now, some cautious, some curious, and a few openly dismissive, as if my position had quietly shifted overnight without anyone needing to announce it.By the time I reached my office, I already knew the day was not going to settle into anything normal.I closed the door behind me and stood still for a moment, letting the silence settle, but even that felt different. The air felt heavier, like the room itself knew something had changed before I did.My phone vibrated against the desk.I glanced at the screen.Unknown number.For a second, I considered ignoring it, but something in me resisted that instinct. I picked it up and answered.“Hello?” I said.There was no immediate reply.Just a faint

Chapter 33; The Name That Should Break HimMichael Krux POVI did not ask the question twice.When a man like him chose his moment, repeating myself would only give him time to reshape the answer, and I had already learned that every word from him carried intention. I stood there with the file still in my hand, the weight of it no longer paper but implication, and waited.My grandfather did not rush.He walked back toward the window, his reflection faint against the glass as the city lights stretched behind him, and for a moment it felt like he was placing himself between me and everything I thought I knew.“Because,” he said slowly, “you are about to make a mistake you cannot reverse.”I let out a quiet breath, not in frustration, but in calculation.“I’ve been making moves, not mistakes,” I replied.“That depends on what you believe you’re correcting,” he said, turning slightly toward me. “If your foundation is wrong, then everything built on it collapses.”The words were calculate

Chapter 35; The Name Nobody MentionedLayla could not sleep.She turned several times on the bed before finally giving up and sitting upright. The digital clock beside her bed showed 12:47 AM, but her mind still replayed everything that happened earlier at the office and later at the mansion.Michael’s face.Her father’s anger.Gabriel’s silence.Nothing about today felt normal.The more she thought about it, the more uncomfortable she became. Everyone reacted too strongly whenever Michael Krux was mentioned, and nobody seemed willing to explain why. It felt like she had walked into the middle of a war that started long before she even realized it existed.After sitting quietly for another few minutes, Layla slipped out of bed and wore a light robe before leaving her room.The mansion was unusually quiet at that hour. Only a few lights remained on downstairs, casting soft shadows across the expensive hallway walls. As Layla approached the staircase, she noticed a faint light coming fr

Chapter 37; The Price of PowerThe sound of the cup shattering against the floor echoed across the dining room.Nobody moved immediately.Dark coffee spread slowly across the polished tiles while broken glass scattered beneath the table, but Layla barely noticed any of it. Her eyes remained fixed on the article displayed on her tablet.Seven percent.Someone had secretly acquired seven percent of Luxter Energy without the board noticing.That alone was terrifying.But Michael Krux being connected to it made the situation far worse.Gabriel collected his phone quickly and refreshed the news page again as if hoping the report would suddenly disappear.It did not.More headlines were already appearing.FINANCIAL EXPERTS QUESTION LUXTER ENERGY’S STABILITYMYSTERY INVESTOR SHAKES BUSINESS MARKETWHO IS BACKING MICHAEL KRUX?Her father looked furious.“No,” he muttered angrily. “No, no, no… this is impossible.”Gabriel stood up immediately. “Sir, we need to calm down first and verify the i

Chapter 39; The Seat He Was Never Supposed to HaveThe entire boardroom fell silent after Michael spoke.“A seat at this table.”Nobody reacted immediately because the statement itself felt unreal.Luxter Energy had always belonged to the Luxter family. Even major shareholders understood the invisible line they were not supposed to cross. They invested, earned profits, attended meetings, then went home.But Michael was not behaving like an ordinary shareholder.He was behaving like somebody who intended to take control.Marcus adjusted his glasses nervously before speaking. “Mr. Krux, with all due respect, seven percent does not automatically guarantee you a board position.”Michael nodded calmly. “Normally, yes.”Layla noticed the slight emphasis on the word normally.Then Aria stepped forward and placed several documents on the table one after another.“But these do,” Michael added.Gabriel immediately collected one of the files while the other board members hurried to open theirs.