The air was thick with tension as Nikolai’s words hung in the air.His smug smile had barely faded when Ethan, still standing beside Lisa, slowly turned toward him.There was no fear in Ethan’s eyes—only determination.Nikolai’s face twisted into an expression of disbelief.“You still think you can get away with this?”Ethan’s lips curled into a calm, knowing smile.“You’re not the only one who can play the game, Nikolai.”Before Nikolai could react, Lisa stepped forward, her presence commanding attention.She wasn’t the vulnerable woman he thought she was, and with every step, she exuded confidence.In her hand, she held a piece of paper, the edges sharp and pristine.The weight of it, the final blow, was clear in her eyes.“Actually, Nikolai,” Lisa began, her voice strong and steady, “we’re not done here. Not by a long shot.”The reporters shifted in their seats, their cameras poised to capture the next move in this escalating drama.Lisa held up the document.“This is a notarized a

Later that evening, Ethan and Lisa sat in their living room, the tension in the air thick. Lisa could see the worry etched on Ethan’s face as he ran a hand through his hair.“Ethan, what’s going on?” she asked, her voice full of concern.“It’s... I can’t believe this is happening,” Ethan muttered, his voice low. “Matthews called. He’s threatening to pull his investment and tell the board about the supposed embezzlement. If I don’t prove myself innocent in three days, I lose everything.”Lisa frowned. “But you didn’t do anything wrong. This has to be a setup.”Ethan nodded, but there was a shadow of doubt in his eyes. “I know. But the documents they showed him looked real. And whoever did this is going after my company, my reputation—everything.”Lisa stood up, walking over to him. She placed a hand on his shoulder, looking him in the eye. “We’ll figure this out. You’re not alone in this.”Ethan gave her a tight smile, grateful for her support. “I don’t know where to start. Whoever did

Ethan stood at the head of the conference table in the sleek, modern boardroom, his eyes sweeping across the room filled with investors, shareholders, and board members.The tension was thick, every person in the room aware that the stakes were high.The rumors, the fabricated documents, the allegations—it all led up to this moment.Lisa sat beside him, her presence a calming anchor as they prepared to confront Nikolai’s schemes head-on.Ethan cleared his throat, and the room fell silent.“Thank you all for coming on such short notice,” Ethan began, his voice firm.“I know there’s been a lot of speculation surrounding the recent accusations against me. Today, we’re here to clear the air and show you the truth. But first, let’s start with a brief summary of our company’s performance over the past quarter.”He clicked the remote in his hand, and the projector flickered to life, displaying the company’s financial reports.Ethan proceeded to present the figures:profits, investments, expe

The glittering lights of the high-profile charity gala illuminated the grand ballroom, where the elite of the city had gathered for an evening of philanthropy.Ethan and Lisa walked hand-in-hand through the crowd, their presence commanding attention.The night had already been buzzing with rumors, whispers about their relationship, the scandal involving Nikolai, and the tumultuous state of the Elliot Group.But despite the media frenzy, Ethan walked with his head held high, his eyes determined.Lisa, as always, was right beside him, her calm demeanor a stark contrast to the storm swirling around them.“Are you sure about this?” Ethan murmured, his hand tightening around Lisa’s.She smiled up at him, her confidence unwavering.“We can’t let them control us. The world is watching, and we’ll show them we’re not afraid. Besides, I know you’ll handle it.”Ethan took a deep breath, nodding.“Let’s do this, then.”They stepped into the gala, the murmurs growing louder as the crowd noticed th

The gala had been a long and draining affair, but it had ended on a high note.The crowd of journalists had finally dispersed, and the tension that had built up throughout the night had dissipated.The hosts had offered their congratulations, and even some old family friends of Lisa’s father, Mr. Waltz, had approached them to praise their courage."I’m really proud of you both," one of Mr. Waltz's old friends, a distinguished woman in her mid-sixties, said as she clinked her glass with theirs."It’s not easy standing up to someone like Nikolai, especially after all the lies he’s been spreading. But you did it with grace and conviction. Well done."Lisa smiled, the warmth of the compliment making her heart swell."Thank you, Margaret. It was a long time coming, but we had to do what was right. Nikolai’s lies were starting to affect more than just us."Another guest, a man in his late fifties, nodded vigorously."Exactly! It’s hard to find people with integrity these days. And you two s