Meanwhile, Rachel sat in the back of her black limousine, staring out the window. Her expression didn’t show the anger that usually comes with defeat. Instead, she wore a slight smile. The loss in court was just a small setback in her bigger plan. Rachel glanced at her driver. “Call Jared. I have a job for him.”
The driver nodded silently and quickly grabbed his phone. Jared was one of the best hackers in town. If Rachel couldn’t destroy Gwen through legal means, she would do it from behind the scenes. There was more than one way to ruin someone, and Rachel was ready to use every option at her disposal.
∞
On the other side, Dominic knocked on Gwen’s apartment door, hoping he wouldn’t be ignored again. He needed to talk to her; he had to fix everything. The door opened, and Gwen stood there, her expression cold yet controlled. “Dominic,” she greeted him flatly.
Fiona smiled slightly. "I like your spirit. Alright, I’ll give you a list of simple steps to follow. But most importantly, don’t communicate about this directly on regular digital platforms. We’ll use encrypted channels. I’ll also set a little trap for Jared. If he dares to attack, we’ll be able to trace it back to him."Gwen flinched. "A trap?""Yes, a trap. We’ll make him think he’s successfully infiltrated your system, when in reality, we’re just giving him what he wants to see. Once that happens, I’ll start tracing his tracks."Hearing Fiona's plan made Gwen feel a bit calmer, though adrenaline was still coursing through her. This was a very tactical move that required courage. However, Gwen realized she could no longer wait for an attack to come without fighting back. Rachel needed to be confronted directly, and this was the most effective way to do it.&n
This morning, Gwen sat at her desk, her gaze focused. Fiona sat across from her, reviewing the data they had just obtained from Jared’s cyber attack. The laptop screen in front of them was filled with evidence of suspicious transactions involving Jared and Rachel. Gwen knew this was just the beginning of Rachel’s grand scheme to destroy them, but this time, Gwen wasn’t going to stand by.“How does it look?” Fiona asked, glancing at Gwen. They had spent hours sifting through codes and trackers, untangling the cyber traps Jared had set to cover his tracks.“I’ve traced the source,” Gwen replied firmly. “We’ve got solid evidence now, but I want to take it further. This isn’t just about striking back—we need to expose the entire network that Rachel and Jared built.”Fiona nodded with a small smile. “You’ve changed, Gwen. You used to be
Shocking news erupted across various media outlets. A major scandal involving Dominic and his past dominated the front pages. Rachel had launched her attack, spreading rumors that Dominic had once been involved in unethical business practices to save his family's company. To add more drama, Rachel claimed that Dominic's marriage to Gwen was merely a strategy to repair his family's reputation.Gwen sat stunned in front of her computer screen, the headlines glaring back at her. Her heart raced, and with each sentence she read, the weight of it all began to sink in. This attack was bigger than she had anticipated. It wasn’t just their business at stake, but Dominic’s reputation—and more importantly, Gwen’s trust in her husband.“Dominic!” Gwen called out to her husband, who was getting ready for work. Her voice was tight, almost choking.Dominic came quickly. As soon as he saw the look on
"Alright, we'll go, but we have to be careful," Gwen finally said, steeling herself for whatever they were about to face.Dominic nodded. "I agree. But this is the only lead we have right now."That night, as the clock struck eleven, the two of them prepared to head to the given location. Gwen's heart raced as she walked toward the car. The road they took grew darker, quieter, and Gwen began to feel something strange.At a secluded corner, they arrived at an old building, barely visible from the road. Dominic turned off the engine, and the night seemed even more silent. They cautiously stepped out of the car, eyeing the building warily."Look, over there," Dominic whispered, pointing to a slightly ajar door with dim light seeping out from inside.With careful steps, they approached the door. As they pushed it open slowly, Gwen could feel a cold breeze hit her. But before they cou
After a long, doubt-filled night, Gwen woke up with a heavy head. The message she received the night before still haunted her thoughts. Dominic had left early to deal with the legal issues surrounding the scandal spread by Rachel, but Gwen's heart was still filled with disbelief.That day, Gwen felt increasingly pressured. She needed someone to talk to. Someone who could provide unbiased advice—someone she could trust. Mr. Charles, Dominic’s grandfather, came to mind. The old man was always warm and loving, especially towards her. Although Dominic often clashed with his grandfather, Gwen knew that Mr. Charles genuinely cared for her.Gwen decided to visit Mr. Charles’s house. When she arrived, he was sitting on the porch with a cup of tea, enjoying the calm morning. The old man beamed with a wide smile upon seeing Gwen.“Gwen! What brings you here so early?” Mr. Charles asked with his gentle
Gwen sat in the living room, her eyes scanning every corner of the room, trying to understand the tension hanging in the air. Dominic was on the phone, his face looking serious and focused. Not far away, a man stood, his face shadowed in the dim light.The man suddenly stepped forward, and Gwen felt her heart race. "Gwen, this is Ethan," Dominic said, his voice firm. "He’s... my brother."Gwen was taken aback, her mouth slightly open. "Your brother? But... I didn’t know you had a sibling."Ethan gave a faint smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Yeah, I’m the child from our father's illicit relationship, but Mr. Charles never acknowledged my existence," he said, his voice calm yet tinged with sadness.Dominic looked at Ethan, appearing anxious. "Ethan, we don't have time to discuss that now. We're facing Rachel and Jared.""I know about the scandal," Ethan inter
The room was still filled with tension after Rachel's departure. Gwen clung tightly to Dominic’s arm, trying to calm herself, but her mind kept racing. What would Rachel do now? And could they really trust Ethan?Ethan stepped into the center of the room, his voice calm but weighted with pressure. "We can't wait any longer. Rachel isn't playing games. If she really has proof about our past, she can bring us down."Dominic rubbed his face in frustration. "I know, Ethan. But what kind of counterattack are you planning? We can't just fight fire with fire."Ethan gave a slight smile, his gaze sharp. "You're wrong, Dominic. That's exactly what we need to do. I have a way to take Rachel down before she can do anything."Gwen, who had been silently listening, felt her anxiety growing. "What exactly are you planning, Ethan? And why are you so sure this will work?"Ethan stepped clo
"What do you gain from destroying Rachel?" Gwen added.Ethan glanced at Gwen briefly, and for the first time, his mask seemed to crack. There was a flash of something darker, deeper—hatred. "Rachel has ruined other people's lives. Now, it's time for her to pay."Gwen held her breath, her suspicions slowly forming. But before she could voice her thoughts, Ethan straightened up again, his expression calm once more. "Trust me, this will work. And when the time comes, she won't even see it coming."Dominic nodded, though Gwen knew he still harbored doubts. But in this secret war, Ethan was their best—and only—weapon. The game had begun, and it was only a matter of time before Rachel's world collapsed.∞Ethan stepped out of the room, leaving Dominic and Gwen alone. Once outside, he allowed himself a brief smile. Every step had been calculated, every word craft
The echoing gunshot came from Victor. In an instant, he fired several rapid shots that struck Rachel's men lurking behind the door, causing their bodies to collapse immediately.Wayne breathed a sigh of relief while peeking into the now-silent hallway. “How did you know they were there?”Victor put on a sharp expression and smirked briefly, “I’m always ready for unexpected attacks. Don’t lose focus; we still have other tasks.”Pierre, who had been hiding behind the wall, took a deep breath. “If it weren't for you, Victor, we might have been easy targets.” He wiped the sweat from his forehead, looking a bit shaky. “Are we really safe now?”“Don’t feel too relieved, Pierre,” Wayne said, patting his partner’s shoulder. “It’s not over until we’re really out of here.”Victor's m
Victor stepped out of the building, approaching the white car waiting in the parking lot. Inside, two of his trained subordinates, Pierre and Wayne, were ready, their faces showing determination and seriousness. The car gleamed under the streetlights, as if ready to plunge into the darkness of the night.The car sped quickly down the empty nighttime streets, the tense atmosphere haunting every second of the journey. Victor stared ahead, his mind racing. He wasn’t just carrying a well-crafted plan, but also holding the hope of realizing a long-awaited ambition. I must not fail,” he whispered to himself. Every detail of this plan had to be executed perfectly.Upon arriving at the location believed to be Rachel's new house, Victor felt adrenaline coursing through his veins. Before stepping out of the car, he instructed his men to stay alert. As soon as they got out, they noticed that the surroundings of the house appeared calm. Howe
Theo looked surprised but quickly realized that Victor knew more than he had suspected. “That’s right, Miss Gwen just wanted to make sure everything was alright,” he replied, trying to keep his tone calm.Victor continued, staring intensely into Theo’s eyes. “You need to know that Mr. Charles and I are planning something very secretive to deal with the challenge from Rachel. We can't let this situation get out of control.”Hearing that, Theo's attention was immediately focused. “What do you mean, what plan?”“What do you mean, what plan?” Theo asked again, his curiosity piqued despite knowing the risks involved.Victor nodded, realizing that Theo was the right person to enlist for help, but he also needed to be reminded of the importance of secrecy. “We’re preparing a strategy to deal with her, but this isn’t somethin
Victor stared at Dominic for a moment before averting his gaze, as if trying to avoid Dominic’s intense stare. “I’m sorry, Mr. Dominic,” he replied quietly but firmly. “I’m just doing what Mr. Charles asked. What they talked about… that’s not my place to explain.”Dominic frowned, dissatisfied with the answer. “So you’re just following Grandpa’s orders? Rachel comes to this house late at night, and you don’t feel the slightest need to tell me?”Victor took a breath before responding calmly. “This is all with Mr. Charles’s knowledge, Dominic. I’m just carrying out my duties as instructed by him, and he has the authority to decide what should be shared.”Dominic sighed, feeling frustrated by the overly formal response. “Victor, you’ve been working here for a long time. Is there really nothing you can tel
Theo shook his head, his face filled with concern. "I don't know Rachel's exact intentions. But from the moves she's making, it seems she's getting ready to open the option for 'open warfare.' This is not a usual occurrence; she might be sending a warning or, worse, a direct threat."Dominic looked at Gwen with eyes that reflected his worry. His concern for their Grandpa's safety made him react immediately. He grabbed his phone and, without hesitation, called Christ. There was a long ring before Christ's firm voice answered."Dominic?" Christ asked, his tone attentive.Dominic spoke quickly, his voice filled with urgency. "Christ, we just got word that Rachel is at Grandpa's house. I don't know what her plan is, but I need your help. Send your men there now to secure Grandpa's house. Don't let her cause any trouble."Christ didn't ask many questions, understanding the urgency in Dominic's voice. "Got
Dominic explained about Theo's plan to follow the car that was suspected to belong to Rachel, which had been speeding toward the hospital, and how they arrived without news from the second team. Ethan's expression suddenly turned serious. "You guys need to be careful when you head back.""We'll be fine," Theo interjected, trying to reassure them. "I'll personally ensure Dominic and Gwen's safety.""Then you should leave before it gets too late."Gwen agreed with her brother-in-law's statement, and they said their goodbyes to Ethan. Dominic entrusted his brother to Daniel. "Please take care of my mischievous brother, the situation is getting out of control, and Rachel is getting bolder with us.""Yes, sir. I will take care of Mr. Ethan as best as I can."Dominic and Gwen returned home under tight escort from Theo, even sharing the same car. The atmosphere inside the vehicle was qu
Mr. Charles's thoughts were now filled with plans to retaliate against Rachel's actions without showing his face. "You know what to do, Victor. Prepare everything as quickly as possible. I want to ensure every step we take pushes her further into a corner."As the car continued down the road, Mr. Charles felt a growing determination to defend his family. For him, this wasn’t just about revenge—this was about protecting his family and preserving their honor. And with Victor by his side, he knew that his plans would unfold smoothly, as they always had.∞That night, in the living room of Mr. Charles's house, the warm atmosphere contrasted sharply with the tension rising between Dominic and his grandfather. Dominic stood tall before Mr. Charles, determination visible in his serious gaze. Mr. Charles, sitting in his chair, looked at his grandson with a stern yet gentle expression."Are
Daniel stepped into the emergency room, hearing the steady beep of medical monitors beyond the curtains and the occasional footsteps of nurses. His heart raced with worry for Ethan's condition.As the curtain was drawn back, his gaze locked onto Ethan lying on the bed. But what shocked Daniel was the smile on Ethan’s face. He seemed perfectly fine, showing no signs of having fainted or suffering from poisoning. In an instant, Daniel’s worry was replaced by deep confusion.“Sir…” Daniel spoke softly, still unable to believe what he was seeing. “Are… you alright?”Ethan looked at him casually and shrugged. “Well, yes, I’m fine. Why? Do I look like someone on their deathbed?” he replied.Daniel was stunned. “You look… incredibly healthy. I saw you faint suddenly after drinking Rachel’s drink.”
"Of course, we’ve arrived here. I can’t back down, especially since you’re here to protect me. Right?" Ethan replied. "Now let’s set up a plan: I’ll meet her, and you’ll stay nearby. Make sure no one suspects you. Do you understand?""I'm sorry, sir, but this isn't right. Our agreement was for you to follow my rules," Daniel rejected, unwilling to accept Ethan changing their arrangement."That agreement no longer applies, Daniel. What needs to be agreed upon is my plan," Ethan retorted, turning to open the car door, but Daniel quickly locked it from the driver’s side. This surprised and annoyed Ethan. "Daniel, what are you doing? Open the door.""I'm sorry, sir, but changing the agreement suddenly is not allowed," he said while starting the car."Don't be reckless, Daniel. Turn off the engine. If Rachel finds out I brought someone else, my plan could fall apa