POV: LAUREN
I pulled my coat tighter around my body, feeling the cold pierce my skin as if it were trying to freeze my bones. My fingers brushed against the discreet earrings, adjusting them before I brought my hand to my ear and whispered.
“Can you hear me?” I asked in a low voice, testing the microphone. My heart was racing so fast it seemed to echo in my ears.
“We hear you, Lauren,” Henry’s voice came through the earpiece, steady but laced with tension and control. “Remember, act natural so Ravi doesn’t suspect anything. One wrong move, and he’ll notice.”
I took a deep breath, trying to keep the air in my lungs. The weight of the vest under my shirt was uncomfortable, growing heavier with every second.
“You’re wearing the vest, right?” Henry asked, his voice deep and protective. “We’re nearby, keeping an eye on you.”
 
POV: LAUREN“Be careful, Lauren,” Henry’s voice came through my earpiece, low, steady, and laced with concern. “At the slightest sign of danger, run. We’re circling around the warehouse.”I took a deep breath, trying to steady the tremor in my hands, and stepped forward, crossing the threshold of the door.“I want to be part of the meeting,” Violet’s whiny, slurred voice came from behind me. She stumbled, her bloodshot eyes glinting and a distorted smile twisting her face. “Let me handle her. It’ll be fun.”I glanced back for a second and saw her state. Her pale skin, uncoordinated movements, and trembling lips made me even more tense.“Violet, pull yourself together,” Ravi’s voice echoed from inside the warehouse, thick with restrained irritation. “How many pills did you take?”
POV: LAURENI pulled my coat tighter around my body, feeling the cold pierce my skin as if it were trying to freeze my bones. My fingers brushed against the discreet earrings, adjusting them before I brought my hand to my ear and whispered.“Can you hear me?” I asked in a low voice, testing the microphone. My heart was racing so fast it seemed to echo in my ears.“We hear you, Lauren,” Henry’s voice came through the earpiece, steady but laced with tension and control. “Remember, act natural so Ravi doesn’t suspect anything. One wrong move, and he’ll notice.”I took a deep breath, trying to keep the air in my lungs. The weight of the vest under my shirt was uncomfortable, growing heavier with every second.“You’re wearing the vest, right?” Henry asked, his voice deep and protective. “We’re nearby, keeping an eye on you.” 
POV: HENRY“Henry,” Lauren called, gripping my arm tightly. Her hand was ice-cold, her fingers trembling against my skin. “He told me to come alone… said if I don’t, he’ll hurt Theodor.”I turned to face her. Rage boiled in my chest.“I’m not putting you in danger,” I replied sharply, my voice cutting like a blade.“And you’re going to risk your nephew’s life?” she shot back firmly, her blue eyes blazing with intensity and unshed tears. Her brow was furrowed, her face etched with anguish. “Henry, he’s just a child. He’s scared, begging for us.” Her voice wavered, but she didn’t back down. “We can’t… or rather, we won’t be reckless.”“Becker’s right, Carter,” Lucian said, taking a few steps toward me with that calculating look only he had. “
POV: HENRY“Mental stability?” Lauren stammered, as if each word was hard to process. “That woman has nothing sane about her, Henry! She’s dangerous, sick!”“I know,” I replied firmly, holding her face with both hands. “But someone’s behind this. Violet doesn’t have the power to get a discharge like that on her own.”“Ravi!” Lauren said through gritted teeth, her voice trembling with nerves, her eyes brimming with anger and fear. “Why do they keep doing this to us? Why can’t they just let us live in peace, let us be happy?”“They’re ambitious and despicable, Lauren,” I answered sharply, my voice thick with hatred. I felt the heat rising up my neck, and my fists clenched tightly. “Don’t try to understand their minds. All they care about is power and money. To get what they want, they won’t hesitate to destroy anyone, even the innocent.”Lauren lowered her head, trying to hold back tears, her shoulders trembling under my hands. The anguish on her face hit me like a blow, but I couldn’t
POV: HENRYThe police officers paced back and forth, talking quickly, asking questions that seemed to multiply by the second. The tension in the room was suffocating. I could barely hear them. Their voices blended into an annoying hum that made my blood boil.Lauren approached, her eyes red and watery, her breathing shaky. Her hands trembled as she clutched her phone.“Henry…” Her voice broke as she called my name. She held the phone out toward me, glancing nervously around as if she were on the verge of collapsing. “I just got this message. It’s from an unknown number.”I took the phone firmly, ignoring the curious stares from the officers. My heart raced, and a chill ran down my spine as I read the message:“Bring a bag of cash. One million dollars in unmarked bills. Come to this location. Don’t dare inform the police or your husband, or Theodor will pay with his life.”My jaw clenched. I gripped the phone so tightly that my knuckles turned white. A wave of rage surged up my throat.
POV: HENRY“So, it’s decided,” I said firmly, crossing my arms in front of the glass table. “The Carter Empire will sever all ties with PharmaCare Industries. We won’t hold onto shares in a company built on threats, intellectual property theft, and misappropriation of funds. Ethan Walker sank that ship with his own hands.”A brief silence spread among the shareholders until one of them leaned slightly forward, his eyes tense.“And what about the investment we all made?” he questioned, trying to maintain his composure. “Those were substantial sums. We can’t just walk away at a loss.”I leaned forward, resting my forearms on the table. My tone didn’t rise, but the weight of my words landed heavily.“Would you rather lose money or your credibility in the financial market?” I shot back without hesitation, lifting m