Lahat ng Kabanata ng Only after I left : Kabanata 41 - Kabanata 50

Victor Harrison sat alone in his private study, the heavy oak desk illuminated by a single lamp. The city lights outside the window did little to ease the irritation building inside him. He had spent the evening reviewing reports, and every line reminded him of the humiliating loss to Silverline. He picked up his phone and dialed Sophia’s number she answered on the second ring.“Victor,” she said, her voice smooth and composed. “I was expecting your callVictor didn’t bother with pleasantries. His disappointment was clear in his tone. “I thought you said you were going to handle her. So what happened? How was she able to win?There was a brief pause on Sophia’s end. When she spoke, her voice was careful, almost apologetic. “She’s really a tough one, Victor. I did everything. I called investors, spread the right rumors, applied pressure where it counted. I thought we had it locked down. But she was a step ahead of us. Silverline’s proposal was sharper than we anticipated. Evelyn… She k

THE BREAKING POINTAdrian sat in his grandmother’s sunlit breakfast room the next morning, a warm cup of tea in his hands. The quiet of the old house usually brought him some comfort, but today it felt heavy. He had barely slept, his mind still replaying the loss of the Global Dynamics contract and the way his father had looked at him with disappointment. Margaret had insisted he stay the night, saying he needed rest. He had agreed, mostly because he didn’t want to face the empty Harrison Estate again.He took a slow sip of tea, staring at the garden outside the window. The peace was short-lived.The television in the corner was playing the morning news on low volume. The anchor’s cheerful voice suddenly caught his attention.“Good morning, New York City. In business affairs today, Silverline Technologies has won a major contract, leaving people wondering how a struggling company was able to beat out Harrison Group. As we all know, Harrison Group Corporation is the most talked-about i

THE Mask Slip Adrian walked into Sophia’s office without knocking. She looked up from her desk, surprised, then quickly put on a soft smile.“Adrian. I wasn’t expecting you.she said He closed the door behind him and stood in front of her desk. His voice was low and controlled, but the anger underneath was clear.“Why did you do it, Sophia?”She tilted her head. “Do what? Don’t play dumb with me. The rumors. The gossip. You made everyone believe I was the father of your child. Evelyn left thinking I cheated on her,the woman I loved with my life walked out of our home believing I betrayed her… all because of your stupid games.Sophia’s smile faded. She stood up slowly. “Why can’t you see me, Adrian? She asked,I’ve been right here, I deserve you, I understand you better than any other woman ever could we’ve known each other since we were kids. You, me, and Daniel. I’ve always loved you. I’ve always wanted you to notice me and loved me but you didn't so what would you have me do Adrian

Sophia I picked up the phone and dialed the number I never saved.“It’s me,” I said when the person answered.“Talk.”“Everything we did is working,” I said. “Adrian is so angry. He’s furious with me. He told me to leave the country after the baby is born. He thinks he can just cut me off and go looking for Evelyn like nothing happened.”I paced across the room.“He made the wrong decision,” I continued. “But I’m going to do whatever it takes to make sure that decision doesn’t work. He still doesn’t understand. He thinks he can just walk away from me and run after her. That’s not going to happen.”The voice on the other end stayed quiet, listening.“Adrian is going to look for every possibility to meet Evelyn,” I said. “He’s determined now. He knows the truth about the rumors. He knows why she left. And he’s not going to stop until he finds her.”I stopped near the window.“There’s a conference coming up,” I said. “It involves Silverline and other companies. Harrison Group will also

the unmasking Ryan," I whispered, my palms slick against the fabric of my silver silk jumpsuit as the low murmur of the ballroom swelled around us. "Everyone is looking. The investors, the press, the entire board, they're all waiting.""Stay right beside me, Evelyn," Ryan murmured back, his calm, steady eyes fixed straight ahead. "Let them look. You earned every inch of this room.""Ladies and gentlemen," the master of ceremonies boomed into the microphone from the raised stage, his voice cutting through the clinking of champagne flutes. "Tonight, before we open the floor to our networking gala, we have a very special introduction. For months, the corporate world has buzzed with questions about the mastermind behind Silverline Technologies' meteoric rise. Tonight, the mystery ends. Please join me in welcoming the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Silverline... E. Carter."A wave of sharp, anticipatory whispers rippled across the grand ballroom, bouncing off the polished marble f