Se connecter“Are you still willing to do my dirty work?” Rose asked Jovan on the other end of the line, her voice made as sweet as possible, though a tone of command lay beneath it, one that could not be refused.Jovan’s laughter came out hoarse and rough. “Of course. Why wouldn’t I? As long as the pay is right, Rose. But do you even have the money to pay me anymore? Aren’t you in serious trouble? Those news reports don’t seem to be lying.”Every word felt like a thorn digging into her skin, but Rose forced herself to suppress the anger threatening to explode. She gripped her phone so tightly her knuckles turned white. “Relax, Jovan. My situation isn’t as bad as those damn media outlets make it look. I still have money to pay you. More than enough.”It was a lie, and a chill spread through her stomach. The money she had left was barely sufficient, maybe just enough to start this game.Of course, she would never tell the truth. Rose had to remain powerful and dignified, even if she was already sta
Still burning with humiliation and bottled-up rage, Rose slammed her phone hard onto the floor of her study. Everyone left in the mansion was too afraid to look at her, let alone speak.Even on her good days, no one dared to cross her. In a state like this, it was unthinkable.“Damn it! Do they really think they’re untouchable now? How dare they toy with me like this! Damn it, damn it!” she cursed viciously. The composed, confident woman she usually was shattered in an instant.A maid who had been about to enter with a tray of tea froze outside the door, her legs trembling.Rose turned sharply, catching a glimpse of a shadow behind the door. She brushed back the loose strands of hair that had fallen out of place during her outburst.“Who’s there? Come in or get lost! Stop eavesdropping!” she snapped.A young woman’s shaky voice answered, “I-it’s me, Ma’am. I brought your tea.”Rose remembered that she had asked for it earlier.“Then come in!” she shouted, turning back toward her desk
Rose Reed’s razor-sharp intellect, honed over decades of corporate warfare, returned quickly once the initial shock subsided. The detectives, though authoritative, were ultimately constrained by procedure. She used every legal trick in her arsenal, every carefully cultivated connection, to buy herself time."Gentlemen," Rose stated, her voice regaining its cold steel as she composed herself, "you have presented a warrant. I fully intend to cooperate with this investigation. However, I will not do so without my legal counsel present. You may conduct your initial search, but I will provide a formal statement only in the presence of my lawyers, in my offices, or at a time convenient to us both."The detectives, bound by the legal necessity of due process, relented slightly. They conducted a swift, focused search of the study and Julian’s old rooms, but Rose successfully delayed her own immediate questioning. The police left the premises, leaving Rose alone, but not victorious. She had me
The Reed mansion was experiencing an unsettling silence. The customary hum of efficient domestic staff and ambitious deals had vanished, replaced by an oppressive stillness that felt like a chokehold. The house had become a tomb, suffocating under the weight of financial ruin and the humiliation unleashed by the morning’s media firestorm.In her vast private study, Rose Reed remained rooted behind her shiny desk. She had not bothered to illuminate the room fully, relying only on the weak, cold light filtering in from the grounds. She was a queen on a collapsing throne, her body rigid in her severe maroon suit, her face a mask of cold hatred directed at the external forces that had dared to challenge her.She picked up her secure phone only to slam it back down; her lawyers were uselessly advising caution, but Rose’s pride demanded vengeance.They think they’ve won the war with a piece of paper and a dead son's letter, she thought, her lips thinning into a venomous line. They are fools
The media firestorm ignited instantly. Across the globe, the revelation of Julian Reed's final moments and Rose Reed's cruelty dominated every headline. Social media became a furious mob.The hashtag #JusticeForJulian trended worldwide, replacing any sympathy Rose had manufactured in the past decade with visceral public rage. The corporate world watched in disbelief as the Reed empire crumbled not just from financial failure, but from moral bankruptcy.At the Knight Mansion, Ashton, Avery, and Sarah remained glued to the television, watching the inevitable implosion unfold. The news anchors, usually composed and professional, looked genuinely shaken as they relayed the latest developments."They're calling Rose a murderer," Sarah murmured, her voice tight with disbelief as she watched an analyst debate the legal implications of Clara's anonymous testimony. "This is beyond anything Rose can control. The witnesses are solid, the evidence is damning."Ashton nodded grimly, his gaze fixed
The silence in Ashton Knight's study was heavy, charged with the weight of their impending actions. Weeks of meticulous planning, covert operations, and strategic leaks had culminated in this single moment, the point of no return.Ashton sat at his desk, his expression unreadable, a formidable mask of control that had seen him through countless battles. Avery sat opposite him, meanwhile Sarah stood by the window, her own gaze distant as she scanned the grounds, a subtle nod to the heightened security.The door to the study opened, admitting Alistair. He entered with a quiet, professional air. The seasoned lawyer radiated an aura of calm efficiency, but his usually placid face now held a trace of gravity."Everything is ready," Alistair announced, his voice carrying a note of serious finality. He placed a sleek, thin laptop on the desk between Ashton and Avery. "The package has been prepared. Katherine Vance is waiting for the final authorization. We only need your final approval, Asht







