Ethan stood in the grand hall of the Elliot estate, his voice clear and resolute as he addressed the gathered family.“I’ve decided to postpone the formal announcement of the heir indefinitely. Lisa’s safety and recovery come first, and I refuse to let her or anyone else become a target in this twisted game.”Gasps rippled through the room.Ethan’s statement landed like a bomb, sending shockwaves through the family.The murmurs of discontent and shock were impossible to ignore. Jonathan, of course, was the loudest.“Postponing the heir? Are you insane?” Jonathan’s laugh was sharp and grating, like nails on a chalkboard.“This family has waited long enough! Or is this just another excuse to keep the crown for yourself?”Ethan’s icy gaze pinned him down.“This is about protecting the family, not stroking your ego, Jonathan. But I understand why you’d be confused—you’ve always been better at whining than thinking.”The room tittered with nervous laughter, but Jonathan puffed up like a ro

After the party, Eliiot went to his office to check the documents of company loss he was talking.The dim light of the Elliot estate’s private office barely illuminated the stacks of papers and ledgers scattered across the polished mahogany desk.Ethan pushed open the heavy door quietly, his instincts guiding him.Something about the muffled sounds from the room had caught his attention.As the door swung wider, Ethan froze.His cousin, Jonathan, was hunched over the desk, rifling through the family’s most sensitive documents.The moment Jonathan saw Ethan, his face turned as pale as the moonlight streaming through the window.“Jonathan,” Ethan said, his voice icy and controlled.“Care to explain what you’re doing here?”Jonathan stammered, dropping the papers as if they’d burned him.“E-Ethan! I didn’t expect you... I mean... I was just…”Ethan stepped into the room, shutting the door behind him.“Just what? Tampering with family documents in the dead of night? That doesn’t exactly s

Gasps rippled through the room.Thomas, Jonathan’s father and Ethan’s uncle, immediately shot to his feet.“What nonsense is this, Ethan? You’ve gone too far!”Ethan remained unfazed.“It’s not nonsense, Thomas. I caught him red-handed. Ask him yourself.”All eyes shifted to Jonathan, who stood trembling, his face pale.“I didn’t mean to… I was forced,” he stammered, his voice barely audible.Thomas stepped forward, his face red with anger.“Forced? That’s ridiculous! Ethan, you’re blowing this out of proportion just to make yourself look good.”Ethan’s jaw tightened.“This isn’t about me. It’s about the integrity of this family. Jonathan’s actions jeopardize everything we’ve worked for.”Thomas scoffed.“You’ve always had a superiority complex, Ethan. Do you think you’re the only one who cares about this family?”Voices erupted from the gathered family members, some siding with Thomas, others murmuring their agreement with Ethan.Chaos threatened to consume the room until Lisa steppe

His face twisted in anger as he glared at Ethan.“This is all a setup! Fake evidence. You’ve got no proof of anything.”Ethan’s eyes were cold as he looked at his uncle.“You’re lying, Thomas. This evidence is as real as it gets. You’ve been working with the enemies who tried to destroy this family. All of it—everything—is right here in black and white.”Lisa’s voice was calm but cutting.“Your betrayal isn’t just a personal issue, Thomas. It’s a betrayal of this entire family. Do you really think you can talk your way out of this?”Uncle Thomas stepped back, eyes darting around the room, hoping for a lifeline, but none came.The other family members sat unmoving, their faces pale as the reality set in.“No one believes you anymore, Thomas,” one of them said, the words harsh but final.“You’ve lost their trust.”Thomas’s face turned red with fury.“You all think you’re so righteous? You think you’ve won, don’t you? Just because you have a few pieces of paper and some photos? You’re al

The air was cool, a gentle breeze rustling the leaves as Ethan and Lisa made their way to the secluded spot by the lake, a place where time seemed to stand still.The setting sun cast a golden hue across the water, its glow reflecting off the surface in a brilliant display of colors.It had been a while since they’d been here, since they’d last stood side by side in this very spot, their lives taking a turn they never could have predicted.Ethan had planned this moment carefully, knowing how much it meant to Lisa—and to himself.Lisa walked beside him, her hand brushing against his, her eyes scanning their surroundings as they approached the area.The memories of their wedding day were still fresh in her mind, despite everything that had happened since.“You brought me here,” Lisa said softly, her voice tinged with nostalgia.“It feels like a lifetime ago.”Ethan’s lips twitched into a half-smile.“It does, doesn’t it?” he replied, his voice gentle. “But some places... some moments, t