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Chapter 9: The Betrayal Within

Author: Gabby
last update Petsa ng paglalathala: 2025-11-28 14:12:12

Amelia's POV

The person in handcuffs wasn't a stranger.

It was Marcus, one of Adrian's assistants. The quiet one who'd been helping with production schedules and factory coordination for weeks.

I'd seen him dozens of times. Never thought twice about him.

And now he was standing in Alexander's office, caught red-handed trying to steal my designs.

"Marcus?" Adrian looked genuinely shocked. "What the hell were you doing?"

Marcus didn't answer. Just stared at the floor, his face pale.

Alexander cir
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