Stephen woke up the next morning with a stiff neck from sleeping on the couch. Marianne’s loud snoring had kept him awake most of the night. He sighed, feeling the weight of exhaustion pressing down on him. His stomach growled, reminding him he hadn’t eaten since yesterday.He walked to the dining table, hoping to find something to eat, but the sight made him groan. Plates and leftover food were scattered everywhere. It was a mess, clearly Marianne’s doing. He shook his head, deciding it was better to head to King’s Empire. Even the monotony of business meetings was preferable to dealing with this chaos.Stephen headed to the bathroom to freshen up. When he lifted the toilet lid, he recoiled. Marianne hadn’t flushed. The sight and smell made him gag. He flushed the toilet, muttering to himself, “This is unbelievable.”After showering and dressing, Stephen left the penthouse, escaping the mess and Marianne’s torment. He took the elevator down, the silence giving him a brief respite. As
Stephen's face tightened as he looked back and forth between Victor and Marianne, suspicion hanging in the air like a heavy fog. He didn't waste a moment before speaking with authority, "Victor, we need to talk. Now. In my office." Victor nodded, sensing the urgency in Stephen’s voice. He shot a quick glance at Marianne, hoping she wouldn’t catch onto their conversation. Following Stephen's lead, Victor trailed closely behind as they made their way to Stephen’s office, his mind already racing with anticipation of what was to come. Inside the office, tension filled the room as both men settled into their seats, their eyes locking in a serious exchange. Stephen broke the silence, his tone commanding, "Go on, Victor." Victor, who had been prepared for a different discussion, felt a flood of relief wash over him. "It’s about your brother," he began, recalling their earlier conversation about bringing Stephen’s brother back to the empire. Stephen's demeanor softened slightly as he list
Stephen stood before the mirror, adjusting his suit. He sprayed on his favorite cologne, the scent calming his nerves. Today was the day he'd finally expose Marianne. He smiled to himself as he left the penthouse, ready for the confrontation. Marianne had chosen the hotel's grand hall for their wedding. Music echoed through the building as guests mingled and congratulated Stephen. He forced a smile, hiding his true intentions. Arriving at the entrance, the doors opened to reveal a crowd of familiar and unfamiliar faces. The room was filled with influential and wealthy individuals, all waiting for the ceremony to begin. Stephen smirked as he saw Marianne standing at the altar, dressed in a pristine white gown and holding a bouquet. Her parents stood nearby, looking uneasy. Stephen walked down the aisle, his steps measured and confident. He joined Marianne at the altar, the priest beginning the ceremony. The atmosphere was tense, a sharp contrast to the cheerful facade. When the pri
Victor leaned back in his armchair, his eyes fixed on the television screen. The news anchor’s voice was crisp, cutting through the room's quiet. "In a shocking turn of events, Stephen King, the newly appointed CEO of King's Empire, married and divorced his wife, Marianne Harrington, within three days. Marianne and her parents are now in police custody, charged with conspiracy to commit murder and fraud."He sipped his whiskey, the smooth burn helping him process the events. He had known Marianne for years, and seeing her fall from grace this way was jarring. She could have avoided all this if she had just trusted him with her plans. He sighed, feeling a pang of regret.Just then, the door opened, and Enoch strolled in. "Quite a wedding party," Enoch said with a chuckle, making himself at home by grabbing Victor's whiskey and taking a generous sip.Victor gave him a questioning look. "Did I say you could take that?"Enoch shrugged, unbothered. "You looked like you needed company." He
Gaga leaned back, the lollipop still in her mouth. "We received a call from your company a few days ago," she began. "A complaint from one of your staff." Stephen glanced at Victor, suspecting he might be the one behind the call. "I treat my workers well," Stephen said, folding his arms. "I've increased their salaries. Any complaints might be from someone jealous of me." Victor didn't flinch, maintaining his composed demeanor. Gaga stood up, sauntering over to the table in a seductive manner. "Darling," she said, perching on the edge of the table, "will you explain the financial discrepancies and incompetence in management?" Stephen frowned. "What do you mean?" Gaga's voice turned serious. "We've been monitoring your accounts. There's a significant amount of money there, far more than King's Empire has made recently. And you're risking the company's future by mining all the gold at once, ignoring warnings fro
Stephen stood outside the King's Empire building, frustration consuming him as he attempted once more to activate his system without success. "What's going on?" he muttered to himself, his mind racing. If only the system were functioning, he could uncover the truth before his impending trial. But he couldn't rely on it now. He had to find answers on his own.With determination, he climbed into his car and drove to the mining site. The journey seemed longer than usual, thoughts swirling about who might have framed him. Arriving at the factory, he saw workers in worn-out clothes, sweating profusely under the blazing sun. Armed guards kept watch, vigilant and tense.Exiting his car, Stephen was immediately hit by the heat and dust of the mining operation. The miners, dirty and exhausted, recognized him and stopped their work, watching him with a mix of respect and curiosity."Boss, what brings you here?" asked an elderly man, leaning wearily on his shovel."I'm here for information about
The day before, at King’s Empire, Victor sat at the head of the table with the board of management. The room buzzed with murmurs and impatient whispers. “Victor, why have you called us here? Shouldn’t we be at home?” one of the board members asked, clearly irritated. Victor raised his hand, signaling for silence. “Everyone, please, calm down. There’s no need to worry. I’ve called this meeting for one reason: Stephen.” The murmurs ceased as all eyes focused on Victor. “Stephen doesn’t belong here,” he continued. “He shouldn’t be leading us. The substantial profits we used to see from the empire aren’t coming in like before.” “What do you really want, Victor?” another board member asked sharply. Victor smiled, leaning back in his chair. “I want all of you to denounce Stephen in the court. If we do this, the jury will find him guilty. In return, everyone here will get what they want.” A hush fell over the room as the board members exchanged glances. “I know Stephen has offer
The courtroom hushed as the judge reentered, calling for order. Stephen sat at the defendant's table, his mind racing. He stared blankly at the polished wood, trying to steady his thoughts. His once commanding presence seemed diminished, his shoulders slightly hunched, a stark contrast to his usual confident demeanor. Across the room, Enoch watched him with a slight smirk, a glint of satisfaction in his eyes.Stephen's mind churned with thoughts of betrayal and desperation. He tried accessing the system, a last-ditch effort to find something to defend himself, but nothing worked. Enoch's hack had been successful, cutting him off from the very tools he had relied upon. The realization of his isolation settled heavily on him, a sinking feeling of doom.Enoch glanced at Victor, who was talking with Ms. Daniels. To everyone else, it seemed like Enoch was Victor's ally, but in reality, Enoch had his own agenda. Victor was merely a pawn, someone to clear the path for Enoch's ultimate goal.