Chapter 70: Breaking News and Silent ConfessionsThe sunlight streamed through the tall windows of Ethan’s office, casting long shadows on the sleek floor. Olivia sat perched on the edge of his desk, scrolling through her phone, her lips pressed into a thin line.“Are you sure about this?” Ethan asked, leaning against the desk beside her. His usual confidence was slightly marred by a hint of concern.She turned to look at him, her eyes clear and resolute. “Yes. I need to be the one to speak up. This is my life, Ethan. I’m not going to let strangers dictate my story.”Ethan studied her for a moment, his expression softening. “Alright,” he said, nodding. “But I’m coming with you. Whatever happens, we’re in this together.”The press conference was scheduled for later that afternoon, and by the time Olivia arrived at the venue, reporters were already swarming outside. The sound of camera shutters clicking filled the air, and the buzz of whispered speculation grew louder as she stepped out
Chapter 71: Storms of the PastThe quiet morning was shattered by the shrill ring of Ethan’s phone. He groaned, his hand blindly searching the nightstand. Olivia stirred beside him, her hair cascading across the pillow as she mumbled sleepily.“Whoever that is, tell them to stop ruining our mornings,” she muttered, pulling the blanket over her head.Ethan smirked, answering the call with a gruff, “This better be important.”On the other end, Jake’s voice came through, tense and hurried. “Boss, we have a problem. Someone leaked documents about the Wintercrest deal. It’s all over the news.”Ethan sat up, his demeanor instantly shifting to cold and focused. “How bad is it?”“Bad enough,” Jake replied. “The board is in chaos, and the media is running wild with speculations.”Olivia peeked out from under the blanket, sensing the change in his mood. “What’s wrong?”Ethan sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Corporate drama. I need to head to the office.”She frowned. “Do you want me to
Chapter 72: Unmasking the EnemyThe early morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow across the room. Olivia stirred awake to find Ethan already dressed, his tie knotted impeccably, and his expression set in grim determination.“Ethan,” she murmured, propping herself up on one elbow. “You’re leaving early?”He turned to her, his features softening momentarily. “I have a meeting with my security team. We’re narrowing down the suspects behind the leak.”Olivia frowned, her fingers gripping the edge of the blanket. “Do you really think it’s someone close to us?”Ethan’s jaw tightened. “Unfortunately, yes. It’s someone with access to both my personal and professional life. That narrows it down.”“I want to help,” she said firmly, swinging her legs over the side of the bed.He walked over, kneeling before her and taking her hands in his. “Your safety is my priority, Liv. Whoever is behind this has already dragged you into the mess. I can’t risk them doing more.”She c
Chapter 73: Turning the TablesThe morning sun gleamed through the glass windows of Cole Enterprises as Ethan arrived at his office. Today wasn’t just about damage control; it was about making a statement. Chloe’s betrayal had been a blow, but Ethan Cole wasn’t the type to let an attack go unanswered.“Jake,” Ethan barked as he entered his office. “I want her escorted out of the building within the hour. Make it quiet but final. No severance, no niceties.”“Yes, sir,” Jake replied, already pulling out his phone to coordinate security.Ethan poured himself a cup of coffee, his thoughts razor-sharp. Olivia’s support the previous night had grounded him, but his resolve to deal with this swiftly and decisively was unshakable.In the penthouse, Olivia scrolled through her phone, catching up on the news and the social media chaos that had erupted. Photos of her and Ethan from various outings had resurfaced, fueling endless speculation.“Power couple or power trouble?” one headline read.Oli
Chapter 74: The Calm Before the StormEthan awoke to the soft hum of the city outside the penthouse windows. The faint smell of coffee brewing in the kitchen signaled that Olivia was already up. He smiled, stretching lazily. Despite the chaos surrounding Chloe’s dismissal and the media frenzy, the morning felt unusually peaceful.He threw on a shirt and made his way to the kitchen, finding Olivia perched on a stool, scrolling through her tablet. She looked up when she heard him, her face lighting up with a smile.“Good morning, Mr. Cole,” she teased, sliding a cup of coffee toward him.Ethan leaned down, brushing a kiss against her temple. “Morning, Miss Hart. What’s the agenda for today?”“Damage control, as always,” Olivia said with a sigh, holding up her tablet. “The tabloids are relentless. Look at this headline—‘Scorned Ex-Employee or Secret Mistress?’ Can you believe the nerve of these people?”Ethan’s jaw tightened as he scanned the screen. “They’ll print anything for clicks. L
Chapter 75: The Unraveling BeginsThe morning sun filtered through the curtains of the penthouse, casting a golden glow across the room. Olivia stirred awake, finding Ethan already up, pacing the living room with his phone pressed to his ear. His face was a mask of frustration as he barked orders to someone on the other end.She stretched, slipping out of bed and wrapping herself in a silk robe. As she padded toward him, Ethan ended the call and ran a hand through his hair, muttering under his breath.“Bad morning already?” Olivia asked, her voice laced with concern.Ethan turned to her, his expression softening. “Chloe’s making her move. She leaked part of the company’s confidential files to the media. Nothing catastrophic, but enough to create noise.”Olivia frowned, crossing her arms. “Can’t we sue her for that?”“We will,” Ethan assured her. “But it’s a game of chess now. She’s trying to bait me, and I’m not biting. Jake’s already working on tracking the source of her leaks.”Oliv
Chapter 76: The Calm Before the StormEthan woke before dawn, his mind already racing with strategies. He watched Olivia sleep peacefully beside him, her face illuminated by the soft glow of the city lights streaming through the window. For a brief moment, he allowed himself to pause, brushing a strand of hair from her face.As much as he craved these quiet moments, reality loomed too heavily. Chloe’s betrayal and Lang’s interference weren’t just personal attacks, they were calculated moves to dismantle everything he had built.Sliding out of bed carefully so as not to wake Olivia, Ethan pulled on a robe and stepped into his study. He poured himself a glass of whiskey, even though the clock hadn’t yet struck six.He was mid-sip when Olivia appeared in the doorway, her sleepy eyes narrowing at the sight of the glass in his hand.“Whiskey? At this hour?” she asked, wrapping a blanket around her shoulders as she approached him.Ethan smirked, setting the glass down. “It’s a power move. H
Chapter 77: Whispers of the PastEthan stared at his reflection in the bathroom mirror, the sound of running water drowning out his thoughts. He had barely slept. Though the chaos of Lang and Chloe's schemes consumed his waking hours, it was the letter he found on his desk last night that haunted him.“The past always finds its way back.”The single line had been scrawled on expensive stationery with no signature or return address. Ethan had dismissed it as another intimidation tactic, but something about it felt... personal.Steeling himself, he splashed cold water on his face. When he walked out, Olivia was curled up on the couch, sipping her morning coffee and scrolling through her tablet.“You look like you didn’t sleep at all,” she remarked without looking up.“Busy night,” he said, sitting down beside her.“Busy thinking or busy brooding?” she teased, poking his shoulder.“Both.”Olivia set the tablet aside, her smile softening. “Talk to me.”He hesitated, a rare crack in his us
Chapter 80: A Date to RememberThe morning sun streamed through the curtains, waking Olivia from her slumber. She stretched lazily, only to realize Ethan was nowhere in sight. A faint sound of clinking dishes came from the kitchen. Curiosity piqued, she padded over to find him flipping pancakes with an unusual amount of concentration.“Two mornings in a row? Who are you trying to impress?” she teased, leaning against the counter.Ethan turned, an apron tied over his dress shirt, a rare playful glint in his eyes. “Just perfecting my skills. Thought you deserved something better than burnt toast.”Olivia chuckled, her heart fluttering at the domestic sight. “Who knew the ruthless Ethan Cole had a soft spot for pancakes?”“Only for you,” he replied smoothly, sliding a perfectly golden pancake onto a plate.Her cheeks warmed as she accepted the breakfast offering. “You’re being unusually charming today. What’s the occasion?”He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a low murmur. “You’ll fi
Chapter 79: Love in ChaosThe following morning, Olivia woke up to the smell of freshly brewed coffee. A rare sight greeted her as she wandered into the kitchen: Ethan, wearing a plain white shirt and pajama pants, was focused on the coffee machine.“Who are you, and what have you done with Ethan Cole?” Olivia teased, leaning against the doorframe.He glanced over his shoulder, a small smirk tugging at his lips. “I figured I’d do something nice before the chaos starts again. Don’t get used to it, though.”She chuckled, moving closer. “Is this your way of buttering me up before you drop more bad news?”Ethan placed a steaming mug in front of her, his expression softening. “No bad news—at least not yet. Just wanted to spend some time with you before things get crazy.”Olivia took a sip, savoring the moment. “You know, you’re not as scary as you think you are.”His eyebrow arched. “Don’t ruin my reputation, Liv. I worked hard for it.”Their quiet moment was interrupted when Ethan’s phone
Chapter 78: Storm Clouds GatherEthan woke before dawn, his arms still wrapped around Olivia. The rhythmic sound of her breathing should have been soothing, but his mind was already racing. The revelations from Victor Hayes still weighed heavily on him, and the names on that list felt like a ticking time bomb threatening to explode beneath his empire.As he carefully slipped out of bed, Olivia stirred.“Where are you going?” she murmured sleepily.“Just to clear my head,” Ethan replied softly, brushing a strand of hair from her face.She opened one eye, her expression a mixture of concern and curiosity. “At this hour?”“Go back to sleep, Liv. I’ll be back soon.”Olivia frowned but nodded, her trust in him evident. “Don’t overthink. You’re stronger than whatever’s bothering you.”Ethan kissed her forehead before stepping out, her words lingering in his mind.At Cole Enterprises, the office was eerily quiet as Ethan entered. Jake was already waiting for him, a laptop open and files spre
Chapter 77: Whispers of the PastEthan stared at his reflection in the bathroom mirror, the sound of running water drowning out his thoughts. He had barely slept. Though the chaos of Lang and Chloe's schemes consumed his waking hours, it was the letter he found on his desk last night that haunted him.“The past always finds its way back.”The single line had been scrawled on expensive stationery with no signature or return address. Ethan had dismissed it as another intimidation tactic, but something about it felt... personal.Steeling himself, he splashed cold water on his face. When he walked out, Olivia was curled up on the couch, sipping her morning coffee and scrolling through her tablet.“You look like you didn’t sleep at all,” she remarked without looking up.“Busy night,” he said, sitting down beside her.“Busy thinking or busy brooding?” she teased, poking his shoulder.“Both.”Olivia set the tablet aside, her smile softening. “Talk to me.”He hesitated, a rare crack in his us
Chapter 76: The Calm Before the StormEthan woke before dawn, his mind already racing with strategies. He watched Olivia sleep peacefully beside him, her face illuminated by the soft glow of the city lights streaming through the window. For a brief moment, he allowed himself to pause, brushing a strand of hair from her face.As much as he craved these quiet moments, reality loomed too heavily. Chloe’s betrayal and Lang’s interference weren’t just personal attacks, they were calculated moves to dismantle everything he had built.Sliding out of bed carefully so as not to wake Olivia, Ethan pulled on a robe and stepped into his study. He poured himself a glass of whiskey, even though the clock hadn’t yet struck six.He was mid-sip when Olivia appeared in the doorway, her sleepy eyes narrowing at the sight of the glass in his hand.“Whiskey? At this hour?” she asked, wrapping a blanket around her shoulders as she approached him.Ethan smirked, setting the glass down. “It’s a power move. H
Chapter 75: The Unraveling BeginsThe morning sun filtered through the curtains of the penthouse, casting a golden glow across the room. Olivia stirred awake, finding Ethan already up, pacing the living room with his phone pressed to his ear. His face was a mask of frustration as he barked orders to someone on the other end.She stretched, slipping out of bed and wrapping herself in a silk robe. As she padded toward him, Ethan ended the call and ran a hand through his hair, muttering under his breath.“Bad morning already?” Olivia asked, her voice laced with concern.Ethan turned to her, his expression softening. “Chloe’s making her move. She leaked part of the company’s confidential files to the media. Nothing catastrophic, but enough to create noise.”Olivia frowned, crossing her arms. “Can’t we sue her for that?”“We will,” Ethan assured her. “But it’s a game of chess now. She’s trying to bait me, and I’m not biting. Jake’s already working on tracking the source of her leaks.”Oliv
Chapter 74: The Calm Before the StormEthan awoke to the soft hum of the city outside the penthouse windows. The faint smell of coffee brewing in the kitchen signaled that Olivia was already up. He smiled, stretching lazily. Despite the chaos surrounding Chloe’s dismissal and the media frenzy, the morning felt unusually peaceful.He threw on a shirt and made his way to the kitchen, finding Olivia perched on a stool, scrolling through her tablet. She looked up when she heard him, her face lighting up with a smile.“Good morning, Mr. Cole,” she teased, sliding a cup of coffee toward him.Ethan leaned down, brushing a kiss against her temple. “Morning, Miss Hart. What’s the agenda for today?”“Damage control, as always,” Olivia said with a sigh, holding up her tablet. “The tabloids are relentless. Look at this headline—‘Scorned Ex-Employee or Secret Mistress?’ Can you believe the nerve of these people?”Ethan’s jaw tightened as he scanned the screen. “They’ll print anything for clicks. L
Chapter 73: Turning the TablesThe morning sun gleamed through the glass windows of Cole Enterprises as Ethan arrived at his office. Today wasn’t just about damage control; it was about making a statement. Chloe’s betrayal had been a blow, but Ethan Cole wasn’t the type to let an attack go unanswered.“Jake,” Ethan barked as he entered his office. “I want her escorted out of the building within the hour. Make it quiet but final. No severance, no niceties.”“Yes, sir,” Jake replied, already pulling out his phone to coordinate security.Ethan poured himself a cup of coffee, his thoughts razor-sharp. Olivia’s support the previous night had grounded him, but his resolve to deal with this swiftly and decisively was unshakable.In the penthouse, Olivia scrolled through her phone, catching up on the news and the social media chaos that had erupted. Photos of her and Ethan from various outings had resurfaced, fueling endless speculation.“Power couple or power trouble?” one headline read.Oli
Chapter 72: Unmasking the EnemyThe early morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow across the room. Olivia stirred awake to find Ethan already dressed, his tie knotted impeccably, and his expression set in grim determination.“Ethan,” she murmured, propping herself up on one elbow. “You’re leaving early?”He turned to her, his features softening momentarily. “I have a meeting with my security team. We’re narrowing down the suspects behind the leak.”Olivia frowned, her fingers gripping the edge of the blanket. “Do you really think it’s someone close to us?”Ethan’s jaw tightened. “Unfortunately, yes. It’s someone with access to both my personal and professional life. That narrows it down.”“I want to help,” she said firmly, swinging her legs over the side of the bed.He walked over, kneeling before her and taking her hands in his. “Your safety is my priority, Liv. Whoever is behind this has already dragged you into the mess. I can’t risk them doing more.”She c