로그인“My third case against Rocco Lake is a case of murder.”To everyone seated in the room, the words sounded so absurd that for a moment, nobody seemed to know how to respond. Ryder’s face remained cold and unfeeling as he clicked on his laptop, making the next slide appear on the projector behind him.Mr. Bannerman was the first to recover.He leaned forward in his chair, his brows drawn together as he looked across the table at Ryder. “Ryder, stop this ridiculousness. You have already made serious accusations against your father today, but this is going too far. Murder?”Ryder didn't even turn toward him.His attention remained on Rocco.Mr. Bannerman looked around the table as though expecting someone else to intervene, but Ryder had already moved to the next slide. The projector displayed an old photograph, though the quality was poor enough that the woman in it was difficult to make out clearly.Ryder rested one hand against the edge of the table and continued as though nobod
Victoria stared at Serena, barely able to process what she was seeing.After everything that had happened, after being dragged out of Tecna and brought to an unfamiliar place against her will, she had expected almost anyone to be standing in front of her. She had considered Rocco. Maybe even Rita. She had not expected Serena.Victoria slowly pushed herself upright, but the men standing behind her immediately moved closer, making it clear that she was not going anywhere.“What do you want?” Victoria asked, trying to keep her voice steady despite the fear running through her.Serena smiled. She looked completely comfortable standing there, and looking down on Victoria like she were a mere insect. “I want Ryder back,” Serena replied, folding her arms across her chest. “That is all I’ve ever wanted. Ryder and I were supposed to be together, and you came along and ruined everything.”Victoria almost rolled her eyes, if not for the severity of the situation. “So you kidnapped me
Victoria continued struggling as the people carrying her moved through the building, but the cloth covering her head made it impossible to tell where they were taking her. She couldn't see the floor beneath her feet or the faces of the people holding her, and every attempt to free herself only seemed to make them tighten their grip. One person had her arms pinned against her sides while another held her legs, leaving her with very little room to move. She twisted her body, trying to make herself difficult to carry, but they barely seemed affected by her efforts.“Let me go!” she screamed against the hand covering her mouth, the words coming out as muffled sounds. She tried biting the person's palm, but the hand immediately moved away from her mouth and caught her chin instead, forcing her head back.“Stop struggling,” someone muttered impatiently.Victoria ignored the warning and kicked again, hoping to strike whoever was holding her legs. Her foot connected with something
Victoria had been waiting outside the board meeting room, constantly glancing through the glass door to see what was happening.It was a bit tinted, but she could still make out everyone’s sitting position and see the occasional conversation exchange across the table. She couldn’t hear what they were saying, which somehow made the waiting worse. Every time someone moved, Victoria found herself trying to read their expression and guess what had just been said.She had been doing that for several minutes now.“Has he gotten to the main part? He’s been in there for a while...” she muttered.She was worried partly because Ryder had strictly hidden what case he wanted to raise against Rocco. He had told her that he had three cases prepared, but he had refused to tell her what the third one was. Every time she asked, he had simply given her that irritatingly calm look of his and told her she would find out when everyone else did.And also because now he was her husband for real, so o
Rocco’s eyes scanned the room until they clashed with Ryder’s.His gaze was icy cold, but his mouth stretched into his fake business smile as he drew all attention to him.“Why is everywhere as silent as a graveyard? Don’t we have a meeting to start?” He asked.“Guess it’s because someone’s career is about to die here today.” Julius muttered, having appeared out of nowhere.“What are you doing here?” Ryder asked his friend.“Have you forgotten I am a shareholder to Tecna?”“Yes. But you never attended board meetings.”Julius stretched out a hand and exaggeratedly patted Ryder’s back. “Well today I am body. Someone’s gotta support my homeboy.”“Eww.” Ryder wriggled out of his hold, but there was a smile on his face as he took his seat.Without even hesitating, he sat in his usual seat, which was by Rocco’s right hand. Since Rita was absent, there was a seat available for Julius.Rocco watched him for a moment before turning his attention to the rest of the board. There were n
A week later, Ryder Lake walked into Tecna like nothing had happened.That was the first thing everyone noticed.He didn't look like a man who had spent days in a hospital bed after being unconscious. He didn't move carefully, and there was no trace of weakness in his posture as he walked through the main entrance with Victoria beside him.His dark suit was perfectly fitted, his tie was neatly arranged, and his expression carried the same calm confidence that had become so familiar to everyone who worked for him.If anyone had walked into the building that morning without knowing what had happened over the past few weeks, they would have assumed Ryder had simply returned from an ordinary business trip.But nobody in Tecna believed that.The entire building knew.Ryder had filed a formal complaint against Rocco Lake.His father.The chairman of Tecna.And somehow, that single fact had changed the atmosphere of the entire company.Conversations that had once happened openly i







