All Chapters of Silent Flame: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

Claudia Drake stepped out of the black sedan with a grace that could only come from decades of wielding power in stilettos. Seoul's late autumn air tugged lightly at the hem of her tailored cashmere coat as she surveyed the Drake Industries headquarters. It had been years since she last set foot in the city, and even longer since she'd involved herself directly in company matters. But recent whispers had drawn her back... whispers about a woman. A woman her son was keeping too close.The elevator ride to the executive lounge was smooth and silent, but Claudia's mind was anything but. The moment the doors slid open, her sharp eyes took in every corner of the room. Her gaze settled on the familiar figure waiting with elegance and purpose.Genevieve stood as Claudia entered, her expression warm but precise. A delicate porcelain cup rested in her hand, red lipstick staining its rim. "Claudia," she said, offering both hands in greeting. "You look spectacular, as always."

Friday brought a rare lull in the usual storm of activity. Evelyn arrived early, the office still hushed, her heels echoing against the marble floors as she made her way to her corner office. The crisp morning light poured through the windows, casting long shadows across her desk.She relished the quiet. For once, she could breathe.Until she noticed the manila folder left on her chair.It wasn't addressed. Inside, a printed spreadsheet bore Drake Industries' letterhead, only the figures were off. Alarmingly so. Projected expenses were inflated. Several line items had been duplicated. And worse: her digital signature sat at the bottom.Evelyn stared at the page, her blood turning cold. She had never seen this file before.A soft knock came at the door.Hana entered, clutching her tablet. "Morning. I was just going to... oh." She saw the folder in Evelyn's hands. "What's that?""Someone's idea of a joke," Evelyn replied, though her voi

Monday morning brought an icy chill to the sleek halls of Drake Industries, despite the warm spring sun outside. Evelyn walked with steady purpose, her heels clicking rhythmically as she moved through the glass double doors of the executive floor. She had spent the entire weekend cross-referencing internal systems, compiling Hana's findings, and running the forensics Noah had secured. Now she was armed.And ready.Across the floor, Genevieve leaned back in her chair, legs crossed, eyes half-lidded as she laughed at something one of the board members said. She looked perfectly composed, chic in a dove-gray pantsuit, a soft wave in her hair, every movement slow and deliberate. The perfect illusion of a woman in control.But Evelyn wasn't fooled.The department meeting was scheduled for ten. By 9:58 a.m., the room was full. Senior managers. Analysts. Even a few from Finance. Alexander hadn't confirmed if he would attend, but his silence didn't mean he wasn't

Evelyn woke in the guest bedroom of Alexander's townhouse, cocooned in luxurious linens and the soft hum of morning Seoul traffic outside. For a brief moment, she forgot the fire, the scheming, and the pressure building at Drake Industries. Then it all came rushing back.She sat up slowly, rubbing sleep from her eyes. Her suitcase, hastily packed by a building supervisor after the fire, sat in the corner with smoke-scented clothes and charred notebooks. Her life, scorched and folded neatly.She padded out into the hallway and found Alexander in the kitchen, already dressed in a dark tailored suit, nursing a mug of coffee and reading something on his tablet."Morning," she said, voice still hoarse from the smoke.He looked up, his expression immediately softening. "Morning. How are you feeling?""Like I've been through a fire," she quipped, earning a smile from him."There's fresh coffee," he said, gesturing to the pot. "I had the housekeeper

Evelyn moved through Thursday like a woman with a target on her back. The audit report had landed in Compliance first thing that morning, and the air around her had grown tense with anticipation. The truth was on paper now, undeniable and damning. All that remained was for the right people to read it.As she walked the corridor toward the executive boardroom for the 10:00 a.m. strategy session, she could feel eyes on her of which some were wary, some curious, others calculating. Let them watch, she thought. Let them guess.She stepped inside to find Alexander already seated at the head of the table, flanked by Claudia and two senior partners. Noah was reviewing printouts, and Genevieve, perfectly composed, stood pouring herself a cup of tea as if she hadn't just been implicated in corporate fraud."Evelyn," Alexander said, motioning her to sit beside him. "We're waiting on the Compliance liaison."Claudia didn't acknowledge her at all.The minutes