The morning after the incident with Emerson, Oliver’s day started as usual, calm and routine. He was preparing to leave the house for work when his gaze fell on Elena’s shoes near the hallway.Something about them caught his eye—specifically, the broken heel of one of her shoes.He didn’t think much of it at first, but as he stepped closer, his brow furrowed slightly. Elena had always been meticulous about her appearance, so seeing her shoes in such a state—broken and abandoned—felt... different.Yet, it wasn’t his place to ask or probe further. Their marriage, though not one of love, had remained a civil arrangement, and he respected that.Oliver thought about doing something about it.Later that afternoon, after handling several meetings as the president of Hoshier Holdings, Oliver found himself heading to the nearby mall.The day had been quiet, and he needed to clear his head. When he arrived at the parking lot, he spotted an empty space near the entrance—a perfect spot.Just as h

Oliver had just returned from the shopping mall, a neatly wrapped gift bag in his hand.The small box inside contained the shoes he had painstakingly chosen for Elena.As he stepped into the house, his calm demeanor faltered slightly when he noticed the silence.“Elena?” he called, setting the gift bag on a nearby table.The house felt unusually empty. Oliver began searching for her, checking the living room, the backyard, and even the library.But she was nowhere to be found.“Oliver, what are you looking for?”Oliver turned to see Mr. Hoshier, Elena’s father, standing in the doorway of the library.“Oh, Mr. Hoshier,” Oliver said, managing a polite smile. “I was looking for Elena. Hasn’t she returned yet?”Mr. Hoshier shook his head.“No, I don’t think so. She might still be out with some business.”Oliver’s lips pressed into a thin line.“Did something happen?” Mr. Hoshier asked, his brows furrowed.Oliver quickly shook his head, forcing a smile to the corner of his lips.“No, nothi

Elena blinked against the morning light streaming through the windows, her mind still foggy from sleep. But as she turned to her side and saw Oliver lying beside her, the full realization of her situation hit her like a thunderbolt.“What the—” she whispered, her hands flying to her mouth as she took in the sight before her. Oliver was still fast asleep, his face peaceful, and his chest rising and falling with each steady breath. What made her stomach churn with embarrassment was the fact that neither of them was wearing any clothes.Memories from the previous night came flooding back—her drunken state, her brazen boldness, and how she had kissed him, teased him, and urged him not to push her away.Her face turned crimson as she buried her head in her hands. What have I done?Moving with careful precision, Elena slid out of bed, clutching the sheet to cover herself. She avoided looking at Oliver as she retrieved her clothes from the floor, her mind racing. How do I face him? How do I

As the day wore on, the tension in Hoshier Holdings grew palpable. Whispers of the investigation spread like wildfire among the employees, fueled by David’s outburst earlier.Meanwhile, Oliver remained steadfast, his calm demeanor masking the careful calculations running through his mind. He wasn’t one to act rashly, but he also wasn’t one to let potential threats linger.By the time the workday ended, Margaret had delivered the report Oliver had requested.The evidence was clear: the attempted transfer was indeed traced to David’s login, and the activity had been executed from his office computer during a time when David was known to be present.No external breaches or third-party access had been detected.Oliver sat in his office, reading the report with a steady gaze. He was not surprised, but a lingering question gnawed at him.Why would David take such a risk?David might be impulsive, but he wasn’t entirely foolish.The soft knock at his door pulled Oliver from his thoughts.“Co

The media frenzy around Hoshier Holdings gradually began to die down after the company’s latest statement, but internally, the damage lingered. Employees were still wary, and tensions between departments ran high.Oliver knew the company’s culture needed healing. His first step was to address everyone directly, which was why an all-hands meeting was scheduled for the following morning.Standing on the stage in the large conference hall, Oliver faced hundreds of employees, their faces a mix of curiosity and apprehension.He took a deep breath, the calm authority he was known for radiating as he began to speak."Good morning, everyone. I won’t take up too much of your time, but I felt it was important to address you all directly," Oliver said, his voice steady. "These past few days have been difficult for the company, for me personally, and for many of you. I understand that trust has been tested, and uncertainty has taken hold."He paused, scanning the crowd, ensuring he had their atte