Chapter Forty-OneGrandmother Woods, her face lined with the wisdom of years and the weight of countless decisions, made her way towards Zara. The grand hall had quieted, but the tension in the air was almost tangible. Zara was busy packing her things, ready to leave. Grandmother Woods, knowing how much was at stake, could not let her go without answers."Zara," she called softly, trying to mask the urgency in her voice. She put on a calm expression, but underneath, the panic was building. "What's going on? Why are the Hexagon Consortium turning against us? Betraying and embarrassing our family like this?"Zara paused for a moment, but when she turned to face Grandmother Woods, her eyes were cold and resolute. “The deal," she said, her voice firm, "was made with Jasmine Knight, not Mr. Jasper Woods. That means everything your grandson has been doing is invalid, completely void."The words struck like a blow. Grandmother Woods stared, momentarily speechless. She had prided herself on
Chapter Forty-TwoHenry woke up to the soft morning light filtering through the curtains. The empty side of the bed told him Jasmine had already left. He sat up, stretching, when his eyes caught a note left neatly on the nightstand.*Gone to work. Have a great day. Love you.*He smiled, shaking his head in admiration. Even though she had barely slept after yesterday’s chaos, she had still risen early to take on her new responsibilities as chairwoman of Woods Empires. He knew how much this meant to her, but he also knew the toll it would take.Jasmine was determined, no doubt, but the staff at Woods Empires weren’t going to make it easy. He had overheard them yesterday—disrespectful whispers, cold stares, and blatant disregard for her authority. They didn’t see her as the powerful woman she was. But instead of reacting, she had buried herself in her work, focusing on the mountain of documents and laptops that covered her desk.Henry admired that about her. She didn’t let anyone get und
Chapter Forty-ThreeAs the group of wealthy socialites sat in the lavish café, sipping their expensive teas, one of them eyed Henry curiously. She leaned in toward Henry’s mother-in-law, her voice dripping with skepticism."Stop lying," she said, smirking. "Everyone knows your first and only son-in-law is an orphan and a poor nobody. How can he be anything more?"Henry’s mother-in-law’s face flushed with embarrassment. Her mouth opened, and for a second, she was lost for words. The socialite had hit a nerve, and she could feel the weight of the women’s judgmental stares pressing down on her."I am not lying!" she said, her voice rising in defense. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat, trying to maintain her composure. "Actually, Henry can be considered my *ex* son-in-law. My beautiful daughter has found a new match, someone much more worthy."The group leaned in closer, their eyes gleaming with curiosity. One of them, a woman with diamond-studded sunglasses perched on her head, laugh
Chapter Forty-FourThe ride back from the mall had been quiet until Henry’s mother-in-law’s phone rang. She picked it up with a quick, irritated motion, glancing at the screen. When she saw the caller ID, her eyes narrowed."What is it now?" she muttered before pressing the phone to her ear. Her face quickly shifted from annoyance to shock as she listened."You’re telling me all of it is gone?" Her voice cracked. "How could this happen?"Henry kept his eyes on the road, pretending not to listen, but it was impossible to ignore. His mother-in-law’s face drained of color as she continued the conversation, her fingers gripping the phone so tightly her knuckles turned white.It seemed the elite women’s association had just discovered that their overseas investments, which they had poured their money into, had been part of a scam. This was their prized "get-rich-quick" scheme, a way to fund their lavish lifestyles, designer bags, and shoes. The news hit her like a freight train."Turn the
Chapter Forty-FiveThe hum of the luxury car engine announced his arrival before anyone saw it. The Prince of Dubai’s limousine pulled up in front of the bank, its glossy black surface gleaming under the sunlight. It was the kind of vehicle that made people stop and stare—long, sleek, and extravagant, as if it were a mobile palace. The length alone made it look more like a moving apartment than a car. As the doors opened, his chauffeur stepped out with precision, quickly rolling out a long red carpet across the sidewalk. His voice boomed across the entrance as he called out, “The Prince of Dubai is here!”Heads turned in unison, gasps escaping the crowd of women gathered outside. Henry stood silently in the background, watching the spectacle unfold with mild amusement. But the women, especially his mother-in-law and her elite friends, were almost vibrating with excitement. Their eyes were wide with anticipation.The Prince emerged gracefully, his pristine white gown flowing with e
Chapter Forty-SixAs the black limousine returned, the crowd of women perked up, hoping for another chance to be graced by the presence of the Prince of Dubai. But when the door opened, a chubby, middle-aged Arabian man stepped out. His face was round and flushed, and he appeared uncomfortable in his ill-fitting suit. His eyes darted nervously around the crowd, but he tried his best to maintain composure."Good afternoon, ladies," he began, his voice shaky. "The Prince of Dubai sends his deepest apologies. A national issue arose that required his immediate attention, but he has sent me in his place to assist with your concerns."The women exchanged disappointed glances, sighing in unison. One of them muttered, "He’s too nice for that silly behavior, running off like that."Henry’s mother-in-law, however, didn’t miss a beat. Her face morphed back into its usual arrogant expression. She puffed out her chest, standing a little taller, and said with pride, "I told you all! The Prince wi
Chapter Forty-SevenDon Volko’s towering presence seemed to darken the room, his menacing grin spreading as he approached Henry’s mother-in-law. His thick fingers gripped the pliers, and with a lazy flick of his wrist, he motioned for his men to grab her. Two burly guards moved forward without hesitation, grabbing her arms roughly, forcing her to kneel in front of the Don. “You think you can demand your money back?” Don Volko sneered, his voice a low growl. He gripped her hand with the pliers, tightening the jaws of the metal tool just inches away from her fingers. “I didn’t steal your money—I took it. And now I’m going to use it to buy myself a new yacht. And guess what? There’s nothing you or any of your little friends here can do about it.”His words sent shivers down the spines of everyone present, the terror in the room thick and suffocating. He leaned down, his eyes cold and full of malice. “I think it’s time I leave a mark on you all, a reminder. Let this serve as a warning
Chapter Forty-EightThe room had fallen into a tense, frozen silence the moment Mr. Anderson walked in. His presence alone had commanded the kind of respect that even Don Volko couldn’t ignore. Henry immediately understood the signal from Mr. Anderson, glancing toward him for just a second before averting his gaze, pretending not to know him.Don Volko, on the other hand, was visibly rattled. He knew who Mr. Anderson was—everyone in the business world knew. Mr. Anderson was the right-hand man of the most powerful and mysterious figure on the continent, a man whose mere whisper could change the course of a nation’s fate. The man behind the prestigious HEXAGON CONSORTIUM, a multi-billionaire so powerful, rumors swirled that he could pick and choose who became the president of the country with just a phone call. Volko, who considered himself a big player, suddenly realized he was nothing more than a speck of dirt in front of someone like Anderson. His hands began to tremble, and sweat