CHAPTER 65: The Hidden Dangers Elizabeth gently replies, her voice just above a whisper. Her words linger like a prayer, a plea, and a promise. Her eyes meet his, brimming with both dread and will. Though neither can turn away, the quiet between them seems unending.As she grabs his hand, Simeon senses the tremble in her touch and questions whether she has the same significant burden on her shoulders as he does. Should she realise there's no turning back once they take this step? Their life, their world, will never be the same.His throat is stiff as he gazes at her. Exposing everything runs the danger of losing it all. Our safety, my family, all we have created.Her gaze unflinching, her hold tightens. "We must," she claims. The reality is larger than all of that. We both merit it—that much.Simeon's thoughts fly through the hazards, the risks, and the outcomes that lay ahead. His fingers tighten around hers as if clinging to this last security thread before they enter the unknown.
CHAPTER 66: Elizabeth’s Discovery Elizabeth bends over a stack of worn folders, her fingers tracing the edges of ancient papers. Rifling through files, attempting to understand the chaotic jumble of her family's past, she has been looking for hours, seeking the absent parts that have escaped her for so long. But nothing could have prepared her for the find she was about to make.Her eyes are narrow as she retrieves a file she has not seen before. It is tucked between two hefty folders, its edges ragged, and its contents held together with a single, ancient rubber band. She hesitates for a minute, the discomfort settling in her chest. This file was not intended to be discovered. It's weight and apparent throbbing with unasked queries cause her pulse to rise.The crackling sound of paper filling the void prompts her to open it cautiously. The routine for the first few pages is notes and old records, nothing that seems out of place. But then she turns to the last page and finds herself
CHAPTER 67: The Return Of Enemy Flipping through papers, Simeon leans against the desk, his eyes narrowing in search of anything indicating their next move. The unexpected ping of his phone pierces the quiet, its piercing, harsh tone echoing across the room like a bell tolling for something evil.A message from a contact, a little line of text sufficient to make his heart race: "Alex is making his move. He is coming for you.Simeon's fingers freeze across the screen. His neck tightens, and the room appears closed around him briefly. Looking up at Elizabeth, he hardens his features.He is no longer sitting back. Alex is beautiful, and this time it's personal.Elizabeth turns from the window, breathless. What does he intend? What is he doing right now?Simeon grits his teeth and looks at the papers strewn on the table. Everyone is coming together; Alex has been waiting for the appropriate time to start a full offensive. And now it has come. Simeon feels queasy. This time, it's not on
CHAPTER 68: The Gathering Storm Elizabeth says, the words almost escaping her lips, "I can't keep doing this, Simeon." Her voice betrays her frustration, which she can no longer control. Every day, every moment, it's as if we're waiting for the other shoe to drop.Turning to face her, Simeon shows no expression. He starts to talk but then shuts his mouth as though the correct words were imprisoned within him. Elizabeth can see the fight in his eyes—the struggle between his wish to save her and the significant burden of their circumstances.She says, her voice slightly stronger now, "If we don't act soon, we'll lose everything." Waiting longer increases Alex's control over us.Though unspoken yet unquestionable, the truth hovers between them, choking. Simeon looks down to the ground and runs a hand through his hair."I know," he replies, his voice tight. But what if revealing everything makes it worse? What if we are directly entering a trap?Elizabeth advances, her heart pounding. Si
CHAPTER 69: The Final Face OffStill looking at the papers in front of her, she answers, "The clock is ticking." We cannot afford errors.Simeon stops dead and gapes at her. Though her voice is confident, her hands are a little shaky as she sifts through the final elements of their plan. He knows she is as ready as he. They have gone through so much together, but now... this battle will determine all.Simeon exhales sharply. He murmurs, his voice full of desperation, "We have one shot at this." We have to be successful.He gazes at the board strewn with notes, links, and pictures—a map of all Alex has accomplished, all they have found. The image is complete, yet it still feels wanting. Some pieces of the puzzle are missing, and those missing ones are the most dangerous.Elizabeth gets up, her eyes locking with his, and pushes away from the table, her fingers clawing into the wood. I understand, she softly replies. We are, nevertheless, doing this for the right causes. There is more to
CHAPTER 70: The Fall Of a TyrantAlex's most recent action is as quiet as a predator ready to attack. Everything seems to be in Simeon and Elizabeth's favour; thus, they are sure they have finally trapped the guy who has tormented their life. Alex, however, is far from the defeated guy they wanted."Make no mistake," Simeon continues, his voice low but forceful, "we've got him now. It's over now. His eyes find Elizabeth's, a mutual determination between them.But the phone rings, slicing through the tension like a razor. Simeon looks at Elizabeth to respond; he knows it's Alex on the other end. The voice on the line is scornful and frigid. "You believe you have triumphed?" Alex's tone oozes irony. I still have a couple more surprises left. You are not the only one with authority.Elizabeth's eyes narrow, and her heart skips a beat. She is familiar with Alex. Every shadow has revealed his existence; every action he has taken has shown his manipulation. But this time, there's no turning
CHAPTER 71: A Corporate Takeover WarIt should be a time for triumph, for relief following everything they have endured. Simeon, however, enters the room and sees the tidy pile of papers on his desk, papers that ought not to be there. His stomach tightens.Standing close by, his assistant Sarah's expression combines worry and bewilderment. Simeon, these arrived just before you. We are being aimed at.Flipping open the first file, Simeon clutches the edge of his desk and clenches his jaw. The names of numerous important corporate clients and partners are in black and white, each now part of a hostile acquisition. Alex had hit and hit quickly."Damn it," Simeon grumbles beneath his breath. It strikes him like a slap. This all-out war was meant to destroy everything he had achieved, not only a corporate strategy. Every contract, every client, and every inch of progress they have achieved is now in danger.Elizabeth walks in after him, the door slamming open. Her face is unreadable, but t
CHAPTER 72: The Corporate War Heats UpThe words are unambiguous: Alex's firm is negotiating a takeover, using unlawful methods to destroy every business. Simeon exhales softly and reclines back in his chair. Reading the names and the dates, everything exactly matches Alex's plot to harm him, which causes his heart to race in his chest.Though the moment's gravity is apparent, Elizabeth enters the room softly, her footsteps light. Not yet, Simeon looks down. His palm glides across the page, the burn of the truth seeping deeper. "If we play it right, this could finish him; he says quietly, his voice low and dangerously calm."His eyes rise to meet hers, and in that instant, they both realise This is their opportunity.Elizabeth approaches closer, her eyes combing the document in Simeon's palm. She knows what that implies without having to read it. "We need proof," she replies, her voice strong. She will match his. Reaching for his hand, she brushes her fingers against his, a quiet prom
CHAPTER 90: The Peace After the War The world had evolved. Though the fight scars remained, the last few months seemed like a distant recollection. Sitting on the balcony next to Simeon, Elizabeth looked over the city they had battled so hard to safeguard. Their silence was pleasant; there were no more pressing meetings or dangers to confront.Resting softly on her knee, Simeon's hand anchored her as her thoughts returned to the mayhem. The long nights, the unending pressure, and the sense that they were always running out of time returned to her. But now, with Alex gone and the firm safe, there was a sense of comfort.Simeon murmured slowly, his voice gentle with a mix of respect and worry, "You have endured so much." You make me proud.Elizabeth looked at him, her lips curling into a faint, knowing smile. "We've been through this together," she said, her voice calm despite the feelings roiling inside her. Without you, I could not have finished it.For a minute, the city stretched i
CHAPTER 89: The Calm After The Storm Simeon moved to the front, eyes scanning the assembled throng, and the room fell silent. The familiar faces, those who had stood with him through the turmoil, the betrayals, and the long nights of uncertainty, now gazed at him with quiet respect. It was not only his triumph; it was theirs.Her fingers nestled inside his, Elizabeth stood beside him. As he was ready to speak to the individuals who had battled so hard for this moment, her touch was a stabilising presence, the calm confidence he required. Though he could feel the journey's weight in his bones, there was something else now: relief. Though it wasn't finished, this was the turning moment.His voice cut through the quietude, resonating around the space. We stand together now as winners, not as survivors. Against all obstacles, we have triumphed over what Alex sought to annihilate. No longer in the hands of a guy who would lie and manipulate for power, our future is now in our control.The
CHAPTER 88: The Final Betrayal Elizabeth whispered, her voice strained, "He's trying to claim everything." We have to move quickly.Simeon stood beside her, his face unreadable as he scanned the room. "We have to turn this around," he added flatly. He never took his gaze off the table's papers. We cannot let him escape this.He was correct. Though calculated, Alex's plan was foolish. His exploited gap was weak; if they could get ahead, they could permanently free his hold on the business. Though the odds were against them, Elizabeth could find a way ahead. They only had to act quickly.Simeon moved on and assembled their legal team with one nod. A low command, his voice pierced the din. "We have him now," he remarked, his grin more frigid than happy. He will fall soon enough.Elizabeth felt a rush of hope as the squad started getting ready to respond; Alex had underappreciated them, and now it was time to use his pride against him. Though the stakes were greater than ever, now was th
CHAPTER 87: The Fall Of AlexAs she pressed "send," Elizabeth's fingers quivered a little. Alex's reality would soon be known worldwide. The media would go wild, his empire would start to fall apart, and there would be no turning back. She looked at Simeon, whose face was quiet, nearly unreadable. Still, she was aware that, like her, he felt the pressure of this time.For a long beat, the room was quiet; tension hung in the air. A flurry of alerts then inundated their phones. News organisations were already picking up the tale. The headlines shouted Alex's darkest secrets: years of treachery, financial mismanagement, and shady business dealings—enough to destroy him.A sharp phone call shattered the stillness. It was their solicitors.Elizabeth replied, her voice calm. "Yes?""Elizabeth, you have done it," the lawyer's voice crackled. We have sent him into a tailspin. We have to be ready, though. He won't sit back and take this lying down.Elizabeth's heart skipped a beat. She knew th
CHAPTER 86: The Ultimate Showdown The walls seemed to be closing in. Every clock tick reverberated in Elizabeth's ears as she looked at the documents before her. Though Alex had tried all he could to ruin them, this time, they were prepared. The game had evolved, yet the stakes were greater than ever.Simeon sat next to her, steadying her as usual. Though she could see the stress in his jaw and the tightness of his hand grip, his typical calmness remained unaffected. The strain was affecting both of them.Elizabeth said softly, her eyes narrowing, "This is the fight of our lives." Though the last battle was only hours away, the burden of their common goal felt more intense than ever. She was not scared. Not at this time. They would prevail.At first, Simeon remained silent. His eyes were on the papers, his brain already figuring out every conceivable result. His words came with quiet confidence. We have gotten ready for this. We cannot let him succeed.The statements reminded them t
CHAPTER 85 Final Showdown It would either all come together today, or it would all fall apart.Simeon stood next to her, his stance firm and his face blank. But she could sense the storm in him—the same one that had driven every fight they had fought together. The same one that had gotten them thus far."We have all we need," Simeon remarked quietly, his tone final. Our time is now.Elizabeth looked at him, her heart racing in her chest. She had never felt more exposed, never felt the stakes higher. On the line was all she had ever laboured for—her business, her standing, her connection with Simeon. If there is one incorrect move, it will all be finished.The papers in the file were now the key to everything, and she gazed down at them again. They were the last act, the last action to bring Alex down."We make it count," she said softly, a little vow between them, squeezing Simeon's hand firmly.His soft contact grounded her in the tempest of feelings roiling within her as he clasped
CHAPTER 84: The Final Choice In the low light of her office, Elizabeth sat with her fingers lingering above her phone. The screen showed an unanticipated note that caused her heart to stop for a beat. The sender's name was recognised but not welcome: Charles Finch, a top executive from Alex's team.Rereading the note, she attempted to understand what he was providing: private knowledge, a vital component of Alex's plan, sufficient to bring him down finally. Elizabeth's breath caught in her throat. It was too wonderful to be real.Simeon had come in with her head spinning just as she sat back in her chair. One glance at the phone in her palm caused him to frown in worry. What is it?"It's an offer," she answered softly, her voice cautious. Inch had seen him. He says he is sick of Lex and wishes to assist us.Simeon's eyes darted from her to the phone and back, his expression one of bewilderment. Help us? After everything? Elizabeth, we cannot trust him."I know," she said softly, near
CHAPTER 83: The Ultimate Betrayal As Elizabeth read the first headline, the phone buzzed violently on the desk. For a second, the words blended; as they became clear, her heart raced: "Elizabeth Hasting: Corporate Insider with a Dark Past."She choked on her breath. She expected this, but not in this manner. The pictures, the claims, they were personal. The secrets she had laboured so hard to suppress were suddenly on display for the whole world.Her eyes roving the piece, she asked herself, "How?" Every statement meant to kill her made it a brutal assault. At last, Alex had gone for the throat. This was about eradicating her reputation now, not only about business.Simeon walked into the room, his face blank when he saw the quiet. He looked at the screen and didn't have to question."He's out to destroy me," Elizabeth murmured, her voice low but seething with rage. But I will not allow him to prevail.Simeon stood behind her and walked over. A quiet display of support, his hand lay
CHAPTER 82: The Showdown Begins Though papers were strewn over the desk, the last report, hidden in the corner, caught her attention. Finally, the weakness of Alex's empire is exposed. A tiny but significant hole in his financial plan he had missed offered the ideal chance.Though she had been looking at the figures for days, today, something snapped. There it lay—an error in a recent acquisition, an overestimation of assets that, if uncovered, would undermine Alex's standing. This was the gap they had to stab into.Is it sufficient? Low and desperate, Simeon's voice cut through her musings. Standing near the window, he looked tired yet cautiously hopeful.Elizabeth did not respond immediately. Leaning forward, she looked over the paper one more. This was not only about the monetary blunder. It was the sort of error Alex's pride would never allow him to admit. If they played this correctly, it would not only make him withdraw but also destroy his credibility, maybe permanently.We mu