Adrian's pulse hammered in his ears as he sprinted through the dimly lit hallways of Vale Industries' headquarters, Emma close behind. The weight of the ticking clock pressed down on him with every step. He could feel Victor’s presence in the building like a predator closing in, and they had to act fast."Do you think we’ll make it?" Emma asked, her voice tight, her breath coming in short bursts."We have to," Adrian snapped, not sparing a glance back at her. He was too focused on the task ahead. "We can’t let him get away with this."They reached the elevator just as the doors began to close. Adrian shoved his hand between them, forcing the elevator to open again. He stepped inside and hit the button for the top floor. The walls of the sleek elevator were silent, the only sound coming from the soft hum of the machinery as they ascended.Emma stood beside him, her eyes clouded with uncertainty. "If we can't get into the boardroom in time..." she trailed off."We’ll make it," Adrian re

The boardroom was silent as the last of the shareholders filed out, their murmurs barely reaching Adrian’s ears. The vote had ended in a deadlock, and now the weight of the Vale Industries future hung in the air like a storm cloud, ready to burst. Adrian stood at the head of the table, his gaze fixed on Victor across the room, who wore that smug, unshakable grin that had once made Adrian’s blood boil.Victor didn’t speak immediately. He was enjoying the silence, knowing the tension was more powerful than any words could be. Emma, seated beside Adrian, tried to avoid looking at him, but Adrian knew she was struggling. He could feel her nerves radiating off her like heat from a fire. She was still trapped between the devil and the deep blue sea."I suggest we reconvene tomorrow,” Victor’s voice was smooth, like velvet covering a blade. “In the meantime, I trust you’ll all make the right decisions.” He glanced pointedly at Adrian before turning to Emma, his eyes cold but calculating.Adr

Adrian couldn’t stop staring at his phone. The message was too chilling to ignore, too final to dismiss. The death of Emma’s ex-fiancé had turned their world upside down. The police were still investigating, but it was already clear that something wasn’t right. The timing, the method—everything screamed foul play. Emma had taken the news harder than she let on, her face pale as she processed the sudden loss. But behind her grief, Adrian saw the fire burning in her eyes. This wasn’t just about revenge anymore—it was about survival. “I’m sorry, Emma,” Adrian said, his voice barely above a whisper as they stood side by side in his penthouse suite. “I know how much you cared for him, but we have to move forward. This isn’t over.”Emma’s jaw clenched, her hands tightly gripping the railing of the balcony as she stared out over the city. “I don’t believe it was an accident,” she replied, her voice sharp. “Victor has too much at stake. And now, with Michael dead, we’re exposed. It’s a mess

Adrian paced the dimly lit office, his eyes flickering to the sleek glass door that led to the private conference room. Emma stood across from him, her arms crossed tightly against her chest, her gaze fixed on the floor. Both of them were reeling from the weight of what they were about to do. "We can't keep doing this," Adrian said, his voice low, almost hoarse. He stopped his back to her, staring out at the city skyline below. "I can't keep fighting this way. It's destroying us both."Emma took a step forward, her voice trembling. "You think I don’t know that? But what choice do we have? We’ve run out of options, Adrian. Victor won’t stop until we’re both buried under his lies. We need a way out—this is the only way."Adrian clenched his fists, the anger still bubbling beneath his calm exterior. "We don’t even know if we can trust them. This business ally of Victor’s—this so-called ‘mystery partner.’ How do we know they won’t turn on us the moment we give them what they want?"Emma

Adrian’s heart hammered in his chest as he stood at the threshold of the corporate tower that had once been his. He’d spent five long years rebuilding his empire, biding his time, waiting for the perfect moment to strike, but now, with the endgame so close, the stakes felt higher than ever.“Are you ready for this?” Emma’s voice cut through his thoughts, a whisper that sent a shiver down his spine.He turned to her, her eyes a storm of emotions—fear, resolve, and something deeper, something he wasn’t ready to name. It had been a long road to get here, but here they were, standing on the precipice of a battle that could destroy them both. And yet, he didn’t want to imagine life without her. Not now. Not after everything.He placed a hand on her shoulder, his touch firm but gentle. “We don’t have a choice. This ends today.”Victor had played them both long enough. His betrayal had cut deep, and the consequences of their previous actions now echoed through every move they made. But Adria