The boardroom at Miller Tech felt charged before the market opened. Polished marble floors reflected the light from the massive screen mounted on the front wall, where the live ticker flickered crimson and gold. The air was layered with expensive cologne, nervous laughter, and the faint tang of champagne already poured too early for victory.
Jason Miller stood near the head of the table, grinning as if he had already won. His navy-blue suit looked like a uniform of triumph, and his gold tie clip sparkled each time he gestured toward the display. Chloe sat farther down, the only one in white. Her back was straight, her expression unreadable, but her hands under the table were tense. Jason tapped his smartwatch. “Markets open in ten minutes,” he said, his voice louder than necessary. “I hope everyone brought their congratulations. We’ve been sitting in the shadows of caution for too long. Today we take Miller Tech into the future.” A few board members murmured approval. Some, like Richard Miller, nodded politely without conviction. Sarah, radiant in a scarlet dress, crossed her legs and gave Jason a bright, smug smile. “You know, Chloe,” Sarah said sweetly, “maybe you’ll thank Jason later. He’s saving this family. He’s got vision. You’ve been far too cautious, always holding back.” Chloe didn’t look at her. “Sometimes holding back keeps things from burning down.” Jason laughed, uncorking another bottle. “You see, that’s the problem. Fear. You play defense while I play offense. That’s why you’re losing your seat today.” He poured champagne into his glass, watching the bubbles rise. “Do any of you know what it feels like to bet on something that’ll change history? Bio-Tech Global isn’t just a company. It’s a revolution in medicine. A cure for diseases that cripple human potential. And we are on the ground floor.” The room erupted in soft applause. Even the older directors clapped, drawn in by his confidence. Only Chloe stayed still. “Jason,” she said quietly, “have you reviewed the lab certificates yourself? The board data? The actual trial numbers?” He looked at her like she had asked if he believed in gravity. “Of course not personally. That’s what experts are for. They’ve all checked out. You think I’d risk fifty million without proof?” Her eyes lingered on him. “You’ve made mistakes before thinking you understood something because someone told you what you wanted to hear.” Jason rolled his eyes. “Save the lectures. You already tried to warn me. But this is bigger than you. You said yourself this company needed a bold move. I made one.” Chloe folded her hands. “Sometimes bold is just another word for blind.” Sarah smirked. “Oh please. If you were any colder, Chloe, you’d freeze the stocks.” The digital clock on the wall changed: 10:29 a.m. Several board members leaned forward. The display switched to the live broadcast feed, where a panel of financial analysts gleefully discussed Bio-Tech Global’s historic morning. One of them compared the company to early-day pharmaceutical giants. A ticker ran across the bottom of the screen showing BTG: 147.32 ▲ 6.1% Pre-market. Jason chuckled under his breath. “Not even open yet and it’s already climbing. Don’t blink, folks.” He took a confident sip of champagne. That instant, the screen flickered. The analyst on television suddenly paused mid-sentence as his earpiece received new information. His expression changed from cheerful to alarmed. “Sorry to interrupt,” the anchor said, “but we’re getting breaking news about Bio-Tech Global. Reports are coming in from the Securities and Exchange Commission regarding an active investigation into falsified medical data…” The words hung heavy. The hum of air conditioning filled the silence. Jason froze, glass halfway to his lips. “…multiple whistle-blowers have come forward, confirming that laboratory results supporting Bio-Tech’s primary drug were fabricated. The company’s financial auditors have reportedly resigned within the last hour. Trading may be suspended pending confirmation.” The analyst’s voice grew faint as the boardroom wall went utterly still. Then the ticker at the bottom blinked red. BTG: 132.00 ▼ 10.4% Pre-market. Chloe did not move. Every head turned toward Jason. He forced a smile, though his face had gone a shade paler. “It’s a temporary dip,” he said quickly. “These reports happen all the time before huge announcements. Panic sellers. Give it five minutes.” The board members looked at each other uneasily. One of them cleared his throat. “Uh, Jason… if this is true—” “It’s not true,” Jason snapped. “Someone’s manipulating the market. Probably that New York group that shorted SolarGen last year.” The television volume climbed again as the broadcast continued. A new headline rolled across the screen in bold red letters: SEC Launches Immediate Probe into Bio-Tech Global Ponzi Allegations. Sarah set her champagne down, the base of the glass clinking against the wood table. “Jason,” she whispered, “what does that mean?” Jason’s mouth opened, but no sound came out. He grabbed his tablet, swiping through the trading app with frantic speed. The share price was plunging faster now—numbers melting like wax: 112.40, 96.00, 72.50. The first scream came from one of the junior associates monitoring the family’s private fund. “Sir! The margin accounts are triggering automatic sell orders! The collateral on your Miller Tech shares—it’s being recalled!” Jason’s composure fractured like glass. “Override it! Stop the trade!” “Sir, we can’t—our brokerage locked us out. The stock is crashing too fast.” On screen, the panelists were now openly debating whether Bio-Tech’s CEO would face criminal charges. Each sentence landed like a nail driven into the coffin. Chloe watched quietly, her fingers intertwined, knuckles white. Her heart was pounding, not with joy, but with confirmation. Somewhere, she knew Alex had predicted this down to the minute. Jason slammed the tablet onto the table so hard it bounced. “This can’t happen! It was supposed to triple!” “Jason,” his father said finally, voice hollow, “how much did you put in?” Jason’s eyes darted around. “Just… my private fund. A little capital. We can recover. It’s just a dip.” The associate spoke again, higher this time, voice cracking. “Sir, it’s not a dip. It’s gone. The fund’s wiped clean.” Jason looked at the screen one more time. BTG: 0.00 ▼ 100%. Trading Halted. The color drained completely from his face. Champagne slipped from his hand, the glass tumbling in slow motion before it shattered across the marble floor. He stared down at the sparkling ruins at his feet, the bubbles fizzing into silence, the echo of his loss filling the boardroom. Fifty million dollars and the family’s private savings—gone.Latest Chapter
Chapter 96
Richard Miller’s office was completely quiet. On the wall, the TV screen kept showing Lord Edward’s public apology over and over. Every worker in the building had already seen it. No one dared to speak. Standing by the window, Richard’s face was pale. His grip tightened around his glass until a small crack spread across the glass. "Impossible..." he whispered. A nervous knock broke the silence. "Mr. Miller?" His secretary stepped inside. Her face was full of worry. "There are... people downstairs asking about Lord Edward. The board members want a meeting right now." Richard closed his eyes, forcing his voice to stay calm. "Tell them I have nothing to say. Tell them I am busy." "Yes, sir." She hurried out, shutting the door behind her. As the office fell quiet again, Richard sat down heavily in his chair. His greatest partner, a giant in the shipping world, had been destroyed in just two days. Someone had done this—someone far stronger than Lord Edward. Richard’s eyes narrowed as
Chapter 95
Alex looked at Chloe’s confused face. He kept his voice steady and calm. "I told you before, Chloe. He realized that trying to rob you was a very dangerous choice. Ascendant Holdings saw what he was doing and decided to protect their interests in your company. I’m just glad he did the right thing." Chloe wanted to ask more questions. She opened her mouth, but her phone began to ring loudly. It was her assistant from the home office, screaming with excitement. The stock market was exploding because of the news. She had to step away to answer the call. As soon as Chloe turned her back, Alex felt a strange, warm sensation fill his chest. The air around him seemed to hum with energy. [Ding!] The familiar, crisp electronic sound echoed clearly inside his brain. [System Notification: Mission Completed! You have stopped Lord Edward’s threat. Miller Tech’s energy patent is safe.] [Calculating Rewards...] [Reward: 100% Ownership of the Global Shipping Fleet. All 400 giant cargo ships are
Chapter 94
The big hall in London was packed with reporters. Cameras were flashing everywhere, making the stage look bright white. Dozens of microphones from TV stations around the world were piled on the long wooden desk. Lord Edward walked onto the stage slowly. He did not use his silver cane today, but his legs were shaking. His face looked pale and tired under the hot studio lights. Chloe sat in the front row. She was squeezing her hands together in her lap. Silas had called her early that morning and told her she had to come to this event. Alex sat right next to her. He looked totally relaxed, like a tourist watching a show. "What is this about, Alex?" Chloe whispered. "Why did he invite us?" "Just listen," Alex said quietly. Lord Edward stood behind the microphones. He cleared his throat, and the sound echoed through the room. Suddenly, all the reporters stopped talking. "Thank you for coming," Edward began. His voice was not loud and strong like it usually was. He looked straig
Chapter 93
The clock on the wall showed eleven at night. Alex sat on a small sofa in the corner of the hotel room, looking at his tablet. In the other room, Chloe was finally asleep. She had been under so much stress that she had passed out the moment her head hit the pillow. A quiet knock sounded at the door. Alex stood up and opened it. Silas was standing in the hallway. Behind him was Lord Edward. The old man looked terrible. His expensive coat was messy, his white hair was sticking up, and he was gripping his silver cane so hard his knuckles were blue. His eyes were red from crying or lack of sleep. He looked like a man who had lost everything in a single afternoon. "He insisted on seeing you, sir," Silas said quietly. "He wouldn't talk to anyone else." Alex stepped aside. "Let him in." Edward walked into the room. He didn't look like a powerful lord anymore. He looked like a ghost. He didn't wait for Alex to tell him to sit down; he walked to the center of the room and stared at the fl
Chapter 92
Lord Edward stared at his phone, but the screen stayed dark. He tried to call the bank president again, but the call would not go through. He tried to call the head of the ports, but the line was busy. He was being cut off from the world. Alex stood by the window, his hands in his pockets. He didn't have to say anything. The silence in the room was louder than any shout. Suddenly, Edward’s second phone buzzed. It was his money manager. When Edward answered, he could hear the man breathing fast, sounding like he was about to cry. "Edward! It’s all over the news!" the manager screamed. "The port authority just put out a public statement. They canceled our license for the Rotterdam port. They are saying our ships aren't safe!" "They can’t do that!" Edward yelled back. "They haven't even checked the ships!" "It doesn't matter!" the manager cried. "The news stations like Sky News and the BBC are already reporting it. Everyone thinks our company is in trouble. Our stock price just dropp
Chapter 91
Lord Edward stared at the young man who had just entered his room. Water dripped from Alex's jacket onto the expensive white carpet. The two bodyguards immediately stepped forward. They reached toward their jackets to grab their weapons. "Stop," Edward ordered. His voice shook. He looked at Alex, then at his phone, which was still buzzing from the disconnected call. "Who let you in here? Where are the hotel security guards?" Alex walked to a nearby wooden chair and sat down. He crossed his legs. He did not look at the bodyguards. He only looked at the older man. "The doors were not locked," Alex said. Edward gripped his phone tightly. His fingers turned white. He remembered seeing this man backstage with Chloe Miller. At the time, he thought Alex was just a low-level worker or a useless helper. Now, looking at the calm expression on Alex's face, Edward felt a sudden chill. "You are Chloe's husband," Edward stated. "The one her family calls a failure. Why are you here?" "I am here
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