บททั้งหมดของ The Return Of The Betrayed Bride : บทที่ 261 - บทที่ 270

Stone Industries – Boardroom – MorningThe boardroom felt freezing, but not because of the air conditioning. The cold came from fear.Amelia Stone sat at the head of the long table like a queen under siege. Her executives huddled around her, faces pale, hands fidgeting with folders. Behind her, the giant screens glowed blood-red losses everywhere.“Ms. Stone,” Mr. Harrison began, his voice strained, “Don Eduardo Reyes just announced that his entire shipping line is cutting all ties with any company linked to Stone Enterprises.”Amelia’s jaw clenched so tight it hurt. “How many contracts are we losing?”“Three major ones. All canceled this morning.”The room fell deathly silent. You could hear every heartbeat.Amelia’s voice came out low and dangerous. “Total loss?”“Roughly forty million dollars,” Harrison said quietly. “And that might just be the beginning.”Amelia pushed her chair back and stood. She walked slowly to the huge window and stared out at the city below her city, her emp

STONE INDUSTRIES – BOARDROOM – MORNINGThe boardroom was freezing cold. Not because the air conditioning was broken, but because of the mood. Everyone sitting around the long wooden table looked miserable. Their faces were pale. Their hands shook slightly as they flipped through open folders. On the large screens behind Amelia Stone, red numbers flashed everywhere. Losses. Bad news. Nothing good.Amelia sat at the head of the table like a queen on a broken throne. She looked calm on the outside, but her fingers tapped quietly against the armrest. She was angry. Very angry.Mr. Harrison, an older man with gray hair and a nervous tie, cleared his throat. "Ms. Stone," he said, his voice tight like a rope about to snap. "I have bad news. Don Eduardo Reyes has announced that his shipping line will no longer do business with any company connected to Stone Enterprises."Amelia's jaw tightened. She didn't blink. "How many contracts does that affect?""Three major ones," Mr. Harrison sa

FAVINO PENTHOUSE – THE NEXT MORNINGThe morning sun came through the big windows. Amelia sat at the kitchen table in her bathrobe. The folder Victor had given her lay open in front of her. Photos. Bank records. Secrets.Her younger sister Valentina walked in, yawning. She was still in her pajamas, her hair a mess. She poured herself a cup of coffee and sat down across from Amelia.Valentina pointed at the folder. "What's that?""Insurance," Amelia said quietly.Valentina frowned. "Insurance for what?""For the war. Against Don Eduardo. Against Alexander. Against all of them."Valentina stared at her sister. Her eyes went from Amelia's face to the folder and back again. "You're going to use it? Whatever is in there?"Amelia looked down at the evidence. Pictures of Catalina Reyes with another man. Letters. Proof of money being stolen from her own father."I don't know yet," Amelia admitted.Valentina shook her head. "Yes, you do know. You're just afraid to admit it to yourself."Ameli

No one spoke.Mr. Sterling tried again, careful now. “Belle is winning with younger buyers. TikTok. Influencers. Viral campaigns. We’re still relying on traditional marketing.”Sophia nodded once. “Then we evolve.”She faced the entire room now.“I want a full list of top beauty influencers. Every platform. Every follower count. Who they work with. Who they hate. Who they can be persuaded.”A pause.“We’re going to take them.”Ms. Crystal frowned. “That could cost millions.”Sophia didn’t even blink.“It could cost billions to lose.”Her gaze swept across the table sharp, challenging.“I’m willing to spend whatever it takes.”A beat.“Are you?”No one answered.Another executive spoke up. Ms. Vance. Product Development. "Ms. Langston, the board has concerns about your leadership. The recent firings. The aggressive tactics. People are talking."Sophia walked slowly toward Ms. Vance. Her heels clicked on the floor like gunshots."Let them talk." She stopped in front of her. "I don't ca

STONE INDUSTRIES – THAT AFTERNOONAmelia sat at her desk, staring at her phone.It rang.Rebecca."How did it go?""He peed his pants."Amelia blinked. "What?""He grabbed my arm. I threatened him. He let go. And then he realized he'd wet himself like a frightened old man."Amelia was silent for a moment.Then she laughed. It was tired, but real."You're serious?""I never joke about bodily functions, Amelia. It's unprofessional."Amelia shook her head. "What happens now?""Now we wait. Forty-eight hours. If he doesn't back down, I send everything to Don Eduardo.""You think he'll back down?"Rebecca was quiet for a moment. "I think he's scared. And scared men make mistakes.""Let's hope you're right.""I'm always right." A pause. "By the way. You owe me a new pair of shoes. His floor was sticky."Amelia laughed again. "I'll buy you ten."---FAVINO PENTHOUSE – THAT EVENINGAmelia walked through the door. Valentina was on the couch, watching TV."How was your day?""I made an old man