Dora and Kyle broke apart as journalist’s voice cut through the quiet of the living room.Their attention shifted to the television. The screen cast a pale blue glow across their faces as a photograph of Raymond Shaw appeared, his sharp features and cold, calculating eyes unmistakable.The journalist’s voice continued.“Raymond Shaw, brother of Vivian Shaw, the renowned CEO of Vivian Group of Companies, is wanted in connection with the ongoing investigation into the murder of Ms. Catherine Townsend, former personal secretary to Dora Sinclair of Transcorp Inc.“Authorities report that Mr. Shaw is currently on the run. Police are using every available resource to locate him, and a nationwide alert has been issued.”Kyle’s expression hardened a bit. The softness in his eyes disappeared, replaced by a cold detachment as he slowly shook his head.“I hope they catch him,” he said, his voice low and even. “And that justice is finally served.”Dora kept her eyes on the screen for another mome

When he saw no one, James continued along the path, still unable to shake the feeling that he was being followed. His shoulders remained tense as he quickened his steps, glancing over his shoulder every few moments at the empty pavement and the shadows between the streetlights.Nothing moved. There were no footsteps behind him, yet the uneasy sensation refused to fade.He picked up his pace until he reached the next intersection, where a lone taxi idled at the curb. Without hesitation, James crossed the street, opened the rear door, and slid inside.“Take me home,” he said, giving the driver his address.The driver nodded and pulled away. James leaned back, resting his head against the seat. For the first time since leaving the Shaw Estate, he allowed himself to relax. The steady motion of the car and the low hum of the engine helped ease the tension in his body.He closed his eyes and exhaled slowly, hoping his pulse would settle.Then his phone rang, the sound cutting through the

The smile remained on Adrian’s face as he headed toward the glass doors of Transcorp’s main entrance.Kyle fell into step beside him. Then Adrian leaned closer, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper.“I got a new whip.”Kyle’s eyebrows rose. A genuine grin spread across his face.“What?” He let out a short, impressed laugh. “Wow. That’s good, man. Congratulations.”“Thank you.” Adrian’s smile widened.They walked through the lobby together, barely paying attention to the morning crowd around them. As they approached the elevators, Kyle glanced at him with mock disappointment.“So I'm not gonna be having my passenger princess around anymore?”Adrian laughed.The elevator doors to the executive floor opened as they reached them. Kyle stepped inside first, then turned and gave Adrian’s shoulder an approving pat.“I’m proud of you.”The doors closed, and the elevator began its smooth ascent.For a few moments, neither man spoke. Kyle leaned against the mirrored wall with his arms

“Ma’am?”Rosaline’s voice broke gently through the silence. Vivian blinked, pulling herself out of her thoughts as she turned toward the doorway to see Rosaline standing a few paces inside, tablet held at her side, and watching her with quiet concern.“Everything will be fine in the end,” Rosaline said carefully. “You shouldn’t trouble yourself with these thoughts right now.”Vivian managed a faint smile and nodded.“Thank you, Rosaline. I appreciate it. I’d like to be alone now.”Rosaline inclined her head and left. The door closed softly behind her.Vivian waited a moment before rising from her chair. She began pacing the length of the office, her thoughts returning to the question she had tried to dismiss.Why did Harlan really want a failing company like Vivian Group?She had brushed the question aside before, refusing to give it much weight. But now she could no longer ignore it.James had been the one who brought Harlan forward in the first place, presenting him as a major inves

Harlan cleared his throat once more, the sound deliberate and heavy. Then he rose slowly, the scrape of his chair legs against the floor cutting through the last of the murmurs. His face had settled into a mask of calm authority, though the tightness around his eyes betrayed a sharp, controlled satisfaction.“I am not bound to waste any of your time,” he said, voice low and even. “I simply want to show you all something.”He reached for the tablet resting beside his notes, and his thick fingers moved across the screen with practiced efficiency, tapping and swiping while every eye in the room fixed on him. The faint glow of the device lit the hard planes of his face from below.“I have just sent a document to the company’s internal site,” he continued without looking up. “A formal notice from Zintech Group. They are pulling out of the silicon deal. The reason given is the volatility of Transcorp’s stock value.”Vivian’s brows drew together. The frown deepened the fine lines between he