#227 "You've Done What?"

Caroline dialed Nelson's number with trembling hands, her heartbeat erratic and loud in her ears. She detested the manipulative plan her son had concocted, yet she knew it was a necessary evil to safeguard his future.

The weight of their shared past, filled with familial blunders and business betrayals, weighed heavily on her conscience. She felt compelled to assist, to somehow right the wrongs that had ensnared her son Alexander in this unsavory situation.

When Nelson Stone's voice crackled through the receiver, it carried a hint of uncertainty, a rare crack in his usually composed demeanor.

"Caroline, is that you?"

"I see you still have my number, Nelson," she replied, her voice steadier than she felt.

His laughter boomed through the phone, rich and unsettling. "I see you haven't forgotten mine either, Caroline."

"That’s just how it turns out."

"If you’re calling because you think you can sway the fate of your son's company..."

At his insinuation, Caroline felt a surge of a