All Chapters of Silent Flame: Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

The morning sun filtered through the tall windows of the townhouse, casting pale golden streaks across the breakfast table. Evelyn sat with her tablet open, sipping green tea while flipping through Hana's compiled reports from the weekend.Alexander entered quietly, dressed in charcoal slacks and a white button-down. He dropped a kiss to her temple before taking the seat opposite her."She added three motions over the weekend," Evelyn said without looking up. "All would consolidate control over board approvals through the Finance subcommittee where Claudia and Genevieve both hold voting power."Alexander frowned. "They're tightening the noose.""We can still loosen it," she said, setting the tablet down. "But we'll need Noah."As if on cue, her phone buzzed. A message from Hana lit the screen: 'Noah found something. URGENT. Meet at his office. Noon.'Evelyn lifted her eyes. "Let's cancel the afternoon briefings. Hana and I are headi

Evelyn didn’t sleep much that night. Even wrapped in Alexander’s arms, her mind spun with Celeste’s revelations, the undercurrents of secrets she’d barely begun to comprehend, and the new questions about the fire that had turned her apartment and the remnants of her independence into smoke.By morning, she was already in the study, reviewing the preliminary investigation report Celeste had delivered in a discreet black folder sealed with the Drake crest. Her hands trembled as she flipped through pages filled with grainy surveillance stills, emails between Genevieve’s assistant and a man identified only as “R. Mun.” According to Celeste’s brother’s security team, “T. Cho” was short for Tae-min Cho, a cousin of the assistant and a known arson-for-hire suspect under quiet investigation.She stared at the final page: a blurry image of Ryun entering her building the night of the fire, wearing a ball cap and gloves.“You’re up early,” Alexander said, appearing in the doorway with two mugs o

The phone call Evelyn made to the Financial Crimes Bureau triggered a chain reaction faster than even she anticipated. Within 48 hours, a discreet but unmistakable inquiry began to make waves inside Drake Industries. Auditors from outside firms began showing up unannounced, and legal counsel received sealed notices requesting access to files thought long buried.By the morning of the emergency board hearing, word had spread through the executive floors like electricity: Genevieve Moreau was under formal investigation.Evelyn stood beside Alexander just outside the boardroom. He adjusted the cuffs of his tailored jacket, but his eyes were fixed on the door like he was staring down a battle line."You sure you want to be in there?" he asked quietly.Evelyn nodded. "I need to see this through."He gave her hand a brief squeeze, and they walked in together.Inside, Celeste already sat at the head of the long table, composed and regal, her signature silver hair twisted into a perfect knot.

The next morning, Evelyn returned to the Drake headquarters with a renewed clarity. Celeste was already back from her legal meetings, and the two women met in the private salon attached to Celeste’s personal office, a space few had ever seen.It was lined with antique shelves, artifacts from half a century of diplomacy, mergers, and discreet negotiations. Celeste stood at the window overlooking Seoul’s skyline, her hands clasped behind her back.“She moved quickly,” Celeste said without turning. “Claudia has always had timing. That much I’ll give her.”Evelyn stepped inside. “She called for your removal as chairwoman.”“I’m aware. She’ll use every whisper of chaos to justify it.” Celeste turned then, her gaze sharp. “But we’ve countered bigger threats than Claudia. And we have something more powerful than her ego.”“What’s that?”

The boardroom at Drake Industries pulsed with unease.Claudia Drake sat at the far end of the table, her posture regal, her smile tight. She was flanked by two of her long-time allies both mid-tier board members who had suddenly found their voices in the past week. Evelyn noted the shift: more murmurs, fewer direct challenges. Claudia was making her move.Alexander sat beside Celeste, who had returned for this “special session” called under the guise of reviewing Q2 projections. Everyone knew it was more than that.Claudia cleared her throat, her tone serene. “Before we begin reviewing the financials, I’d like to bring forth a motion for leadership restructuring. Effective immediately, I propose the board initiate proceedings to relieve Madame Celeste Drake from the chair position.”Silence.Then the expected support, Mr. Park and Ms. Iri, her newfound allies, nodded in agreement.Alexander leaned forward. “And who do you propose replaces he