"Exactly! President Vaughan isn''t even married this is just ourpetitors using rumors to attack us in the market!"


    A senior manager couldn''t hold back and spoke up from the corner of the


    conference room.


    "But look, the hospital report has President Vaughan''s name right on it. Even the photo is clearly her. That can''t be faked, can it?"


    At that, every pair of sharp, searching eyes in the room turned to Isadora.


    Isadora knew that news of her pregnancying to light could make waves. But this—unveiling it through rumors of affairs and broken homes-would turn it into a scandal. Someone was clearly pulling strings behind the scenes.


    She quickly gathered herposure and addressed the room, her voice calm and steady. "I''ll give everyone a proper exnation about this matter. Belinda from PR, pleasee to my office in a moment."


    Without waiting for a reply, she strode out of the conference room.


    The executives exchanged uneasy nces.


    "What on earth is going on?"


    "Why isn''t President Vaughan denying it?"


    "Is she really pregnant? And what about those rumors of an affair with that


    married man, Preston? If this is true, what will be of The Vaughan Group?"


    "President Vaughan said she''ll exin. Let''s not jump to conclusions."


    ...


    Throughout The Vaughan Group, whispers spread like wildfire.


    "President Vaughan''s pregnant? If you do the math, she must be three, maybe four months along. But she still looks so slim-you''d never guess."


    "That''s not the point! The real question is, who''s the father? Could it really be Preston? I saw photos of him online he''s in his forties, looks sleazy, and doesn''t match President Vaughan at all."


    "I read online he''s got a wife and kids. If President Vaughan is seeing him, ourpany''s reputation is as good as ruined!"


    Suddenly, the conference room door swung open.


    The moment Isadora appeared, all gossip died. Employees returned to their seats, faces nk and attentive.


    Isadora paused just outside her


    office, nced back at the staff, and said evenly, "If gossip could boost your sales numbers, I''d wee it. Otherwise, as of today, I don''t want to hear another rumor in thispany."


    In her office, Isadora sank into her chair, brow furrowed in deep thought.


    Belinda, the PR director, had worked with Isadora for years-they were once close colleagues. Now, Belinda was the one everyone turned to in a crisis, which was why Isadora had called her in.


    Belinda''s gaze flickered briefly to Isadora''s stomach, but she looked away just as quickly.


    She got straight to the point. "President Vaughan, I have two questions, and I need you to bepletely honest. I can''t handle this crisis otherwise."


    Before Belinda could ask, Isadora answered, her voiceposed. "Yes, I''m pregnant. But there''s nothing between me and Preston."


    Belinda nodded, her mind already racing through possible solutions.


    "Given how suddenly the attacks online have escted, I''d say we''re up against someone


    powerful someone who knows


    exactly how to stir up trouble. m sure you have an idea who it is, President Vaughan."


    "But right now, our priority is containing these rumors, or The Vaughan Group will be buried by this scandal."


    Isadora leaned back, sharp eyes trained on the city skyline outside her window. "I know."


    She nced at her phone. Victor was away on a business trip.


    And the moment he left, someone made their move.


    The prenatal report had gone missing the day she ran into Rowena. Rowena had


    set her up-she''d even orchestrated the meeting with Preston.


    Rowena was certainly behind this. But she didn''t have the money or influence to pull off something this big on her own.


    The only exnation was that Rowena had found herself a powerful ally.


    And the most likely candidate... was Deanna Fitzgerald, the matriarch of the Fitzgerald family.