2025-07-09 03:19:27
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178
The Sky Lounge glowed like a star atop the city’s tallest tower. Glass walls showed off twinkling lights below, and soft jazz filled the air. Sarah Chen sat in a private booth, her tight black dress hugging her curves. Her prison scars were hidden under makeup, and her red lipstick shone like a warning. She sipped wine, her eyes locked on the door. Victor Grant, the billionaire shipping king, was her ticket to lock in Chen Industries’ comeback. Charles Walker’s dirty money—cocaine and trafficking cash—had revived her company, but she needed Victor’s billions to make it untouchable. Sarah adjusted her hair, practicing a flirty smile. She’d charmed men before—rich ones, dumb ones, all fell for her laugh and promises. Victor would be no different, she thought. Her phone buzzed with a text from Charles: *Get Victor. Factories open tomorrow. Don’t mess up.* Sarah smirked. “Sophia’s going down,” she whispered, thi
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The city skyline glittered like a crown, but Sarah Chen’s office felt like a prison. Her desk was piled with papers about Chen Industries’ new factories. She wore a tight red dress, her prison scars hidden under makeup, but her eyes burned with hunger. Charles Walker’s dirty money—cocaine and trafficking cash—had brought Chen Industries back, and now Sarah needed allies to keep it alive. Sophia Chamberlain’s Woman of the Year win last night stung like a slap, but Sarah was ready to fight. She leaned back in her creaky chair, scrolling through her phone. A news alert popped up: *Sophia Chamberlain Opens New School, Donates $5 Million.* Sarah’s grip tightened, her nails clicking on the screen. “You’re not winning, Sophia,” she muttered. “I’m coming for you.” Her lawyer, Mr. Lee, knocked and shuffled in, his tie crooked. “Sarah, the FBI’s still sniffing around,” he said. “Your bribe sca
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The city’s grand theater glowed with golden lights. The Woman of the Year ceremony was packed with people in fancy clothes. Cameras flashed, and a big screen showed pictures of Sophia Chamberlain handing out laptops to kids. Tonight, she’d be named Woman of the Year for her school donations and leadership at Walker International. Nobody knew Brent Walker was behind it all, plotting from his secret underground mansion.In the mansion’s command center, screens showed Sophia backstage, her blue dress shining like a jewel. Brent sat in his high-tech chair, his grin sharp like a cat’s. His team—Ling, James, Jessica, Tommy, and Adam—watched the live feed, their faces excited.“Sophia’s gonna steal the show,” Jessica said, her tablet glowing with donation numbers. “Lucy’s Phoenix Foundation is breaking records, and Sophia’s the star.”James scrolled through Twitter. “#SophiaSaves is everywhere,” he said. “People love her."<
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The Chen mansion sparkled like a fairy tale castle. Golden lights hung from the ceiling, and fancy music filled the air. Robert Chen and his wife, Mrs. Chen, threw a huge party to celebrate Chen Industries’ comeback. Guests in shiny suits and glittery dresses sipped fancy drinks. Fancy cars packed the driveway, and a big sign outside said: *Chen Industries is Back!* Sarah Chen stood by a sparkling fountain, her new silver dress shining. Her scars from the prison beating were hidden under makeup, and for the first time in months, she smiled wide, like she was queen again.Robert raised his glass, his voice loud. “To our family!” he said. “Chen Industries is stronger than ever, thanks to new money and new deals!” The crowd cheered, clapping like thunder. Sarah’s heart jumped with joy. She thought Sophia Chamberlain had beaten her, but now, with fresh cash, the Chens were winning.Charles Walker, tall with slick hair and a sharp suit, sto
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FIVE MONTHS ON...Five months later, the city was still buzzing about Sarah Chen’s downfall. Jessica’s documentary had changed everything—workers were suing, Chen Industries was bankrupt, and Sarah’s name was a joke. But now, Sarah was out on bail, thanks to a slick lawyer who spun her prison beating into a sympathy story. She walked out of jail, her head high, but her eyes burned with rage.In a small, dusty office she’d rented, Sarah sat at a desk, her face still scarred from Carla’s fists. She wore a cheap suit—her designer clothes were gone, sold to pay legal fees. Her phone buzzed with angry messages from old investors, but she ignored them. “Sophia thinks she’s won,” Sarah muttered. “But I’m back, and I’ll destroy her.”She dialed a number, her voice low. “Chief Daniels,” she said. “It’s Sarah Chen. I need a favor. I’ll pay you $500,000 to drop the charges against me. You can bury the evidence.”Unbeknownst to her, a tin
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The jail was cold and noisy, with clanging doors and shouting voices echoing off the walls. Sarah Chen sat on her hard bunk, her orange jumpsuit scratched and faded. The tiny TV in the common room played Jessica’s documentary, *The Truth Behind Chen Industries*, on repeat. Clips showed workers crying, Sarah yelling, and factories full of unsafe machines. Social media was worse—#ChenCruelty trended with memes calling her a monster. Sarah’s name was trash, and she knew it.She clutched a scrap of paper, scribbling notes about Sophia Chamberlain. “She’s behind everything,” Sarah muttered. “Sophia—she's ruining me.” Her hands shook with anger. She’d lost her companies, her foundation, her money. Now, the world laughed at her.The cellblock door buzzed open, and a tall woman strode in. Her name was Carla, a tough inmate with scars on her knuckles and a mean glare. Everyone called her the “bad girl” of the prison. She stopped
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