جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 300

Eliana met his gaze with steady eyes, her voice steadfast. "I will be careful. And I will not surrender."Eliana arrived at her family's mansion, a towering building that spoke volumes about the prestige enjoyed by the Thompson family. As soon as she set her foot within, a stuffy icy cold glare welcomed her, and it was from her father, Benedict Thompson. He had already settled into the majestic study, whiskey in one hand and the index finger of the other performing a drumroll on the polished surface of the wood desk."Eliana." His tone was low, menacing. "Speak."She was standing stiffly. "What are you saying?"Benedict's lips thinned into a straight line and he slapped a paper on the table. The title leered at her in block letters:THOMPSON ENTERPRISES AND SABRINA- ULTRA BREAKS ALLIANCES WITH HARPER INDUSTRIES – BUSINESS WAR RAGES ONHer mother, Sabrina, lingered in the background, her face filled with concern. "Eliana, what is it?"Eliana sighed, facing her father. "Nathaniel was un

Saben shifted restlessly in his seat. "So what do we do now? Just sit around and wait for Nathaniel to make the first move?"Eliana smiled. "No, we make the first strike."Lucas snarled. "I knew you would say that."Damian gazed at her for the first time. "You want to strike first?"Eliana nodded. "Nathaniel Harper has sabotaged our projects long enough. I'm sick of explaining ourselves."Gregson, just off the plane, dumped his briefcase onto the table. "So you'll be delighted to hear that we've got enough evidence to initiate a full-scale investigation of Harper Industries. Fraud, violation of contract, industrial sabotage—take your choice, we've got it all."Saben straightened to attention. "You're pulling my leg. We can actually nail him in court?"Gregson nodded. "If you approve, we can initiate the first round of litigation tomorrow morning."Eliana's pen crushed tightly between her fingers. "Do it."Saben went on to remain unhappily restless. "Eliana, you can't possibly believe

Nathaniel Harper gripped the armrests of his chair, the knuckles a sickly white. He heard out William Harper's acidic words."She needs to be taken care of," William explained, stirring the whiskey in his glass. "Eliana Auburn is a threat. And threats need to be eliminated."Nathaniel's jaw groaned shut. "You want her murdered."William rocked back in his chair, serene. "Aren't I?There was a silence between them. Power had always rested in the Harper home, on the basis of cruelty, but this. this Nathaniel would never do."No." He was coldly serene, his fists bunched in his palms. "I have nothing to do with it."William laughed. "When did you ever get all big and get a conscience?""This has nothing to do with conscience," Nathaniel growled. "This is control. I want to destroy her in business, not kill her."His father's laughter as he shook his head. "You are weak, just like your mother was."Nathaniel's countenance burned with anger, but he kept himself in check. "I won't have blood

Wendy came closer, never once looking away from Damian. "What are you proposing, then?Damian's own tone did not shake, his voice pleasant but cold. "We bring him down. We cut him off from resources, expose him for what he's done, and take away any sanctuary for him to be found. By law or otherwise."Benedict's expression wasn't changing, but a fleeting moment of evil crept into his eyes. "And if that is not enough?"Damian's lips didn't move much. "Then we make sure he doesn't try it again."Sabrina gasped unevenly. "This is war."Benedict nodded. "And we win."Gregson took the folder, reading it. "Then we need to act fast."Damian looked at Benedict. "I've already got people waiting. But if we do this, we can't go back."Benedict did not flinch at him. "We weren't going back."Wendy smiled. "Finally, some sense being said."Benedict's phone rang at that time again.Unknown Caller.He winced inwardly. In a moment of quiet, he activated the speaker.Low, silky voice filled the room."

Nathaniel pounded his fists on the desk. "The explosion! You tried to kill them!"William sat back from the desk, adjusting his suit. "And if I had?"Nathaniel's gut roiled. "She doesn't deserve it, Dad. Eliana—she doesn't deserve this."His father's expression hardened. "Innocence is weakness. And if you haven't learned that yet, then you're pitifuler than I think you to be."Nathaniel's own breath was caught in his throat. "And this is the lesson Grandpa Paul taught you? To kill whoever gets in your way?"William's lip twisted into a snarl. "Your grandfather taught you something—you're master of the game or you're someone else's pawn."Nathaniel shook his head, retreating. "You're crazy."His dad grinned, his glass clinking a second time. "No, son. I am a survivor," he said firmly. "You need to pay attention and learn from my experiences."Nathaniel's gut churned at his father's words. Nails against palms scraped as his fists clenched into hard balls. "Learning from you? You're show