Chapter 41 Helena’s Tea CircleThe terrace which had been selected for the afternoon tea, overlooked the marina. There were white umbrellas, crystal teacups, and elite women dressed in controlled elegance.Helena Holt sat at the center of the circle, she was here again, exactly where she liked to be from day one.She was not only commanding, she was admired, and untouchable.“And of course,” she said smoothly, lifting her porcelain cup, “Lucas is expanding internationally as has been the goal. He will start with Dubai first, then spread to Zurich. He doesn’t think small these days, which is why I like him for my Vivian.”A few women murmured approvingly in their midst l, wishing she has such privilege.Helena smiled wider this time, knowing many were wishing to be in her position. “And what about Vivian’s company?” she continued proudly. “It can't even stop surprising me, always thriving. Her engagement to Lucas has elevated everything in her life. From different partnerships, to vis

Chapter 43 The Frozen AccountsThe notification arrived very early, around 9 in the morning. Lucas Reed was halfway whatever file he was going through when his private line lit up. It happened that he almost ignored it, classifying it as one of those unimportant notifications. “Sir,” his overseas finance director said carefully, voice too calm, “one of the Singapore transfers has been flagged down, not long ago.”Lucas didn’t look up from what he was doing, he was rather too focused to even realize how important what happened was. “Flagged how, what do you mean by that?”“It is a temporary freeze, and it's tagged compliance review.”He let out a short laugh, still not understanding him at all. “That’s standard procedure.that must go through.”“Yes,” the man agreed without any argument. “But this is… unusual timing.”Lucas’s smile slowly faded when he said that.“What timing are you talking about?”“There are audit clustering, and several institutions reviewing simultaneously.”Sim

CHAPTER 45 Iris and The PanelThe email had arrived as early as 6:12 a.m. in the morning. It was a Request for Reassessment Meeting, to crosscheck the things that transpired before.Iris stared at the sender’s name for a long time, not knowing what to do. It was actually the same consulting panel that condemned her.The same men and women who had once sat behind polished glass and questioned her competence. Who had dissected her failure like it was entertainment. Who had whispered unstable when her company collapsed under sabotage she couldn’t yet prove.Now they wanted to “revisit her issue.”She let out a slow breath that she didn't realize she had been holding in. “They smell something fishy,” she murmured to no one.*************The conference room hadn’t changed, not even a bit. From the floor-to-ceiling windows, long oak table, and bottled water arranged like silent witnesses. But this time, Iris Nolan didn’t feel small walking in. She felt… rather steady.Her heels clicked so

CHAPTER 47 Vivian’s DreamThe pen scraped mercilessly across the paper, but slowly, more like the writer was enjoying it. Vivian watched it happen in her dream as if she were trapped behind glass doors. Julian sat at the long oak table...the same table from the day their divorce was finalized, and lawyers stood stiffly on both sides, like they had no word of their own. But something was different this time around. Julian wasn’t cold, and he wasn’t silent as before.He was rather smiling this time.No. He wasn't just smiling, he was laughing. The laughter wasn't loudly, and definitely not wildly, but softly, controlled and certain. He signed the final page and slid it across the table toward her.“Thank you,” he said calmly.“For what?” she heard herself ask.“For believing you won.”Then, the laughter deepened after he said that. Soon enough, the room began to distort. The table stretched longer, and even the walls widened. The lawyers also faded like it was a joke.And Julian lean

CHAPTER 49 Iris in HeadlinesThe article wasn’t even front-page to attract much attention. It was just a mid-tier business blog, clean layout, and minimal drama attached.“Former CEO Iris Nolan Quietly Reenters Consulting Scene.”Vivian read it once, then again, before reading the third time. Her manicured nails tapped against the screen as she scrolled slowly, eyes sharpening with every line.She seemed composed, strategic, and resilient after theccorporate sabotage.The words felt like tiny insults to her. Resilient? How possible was that? Iris Nolan had once been the girl everyone resented. Including herself, especially her.Vivian leaned back against her velvet headboard, her phone glowing in the almost dark bedroom.Beside her in the house, Lucas was around, but in the shower, which she barely noticed.The comment section had exploded dangerously, some mocked Iris, while others questioned her integrity, and the annoying ones according to her, praised her intelligence.Vivian read