Finally, Ste broke the silence. "Father, Jonathan, the most important thing right now isn''t finding the culprit, but finding a solution. If these rumors continue, thepany''s image will suffer. From what I understand, many of our partners work with us specifically because of Aurora. When they hear this kind of gossip, there''s no guarantee they won''t cancel their contracts."


    As if on cue, Jonathan''s phone rang. His secretary''s panicked voice came through the receiver. "Mr. Jonathan, it''s terrible. Another one of Ms. Williams''s major contracts has been canceled..."


    Lately, severalpanies had terminated their partnerships with The Williams Group. Others that had been eager to sign were now suddenly saying they needed more time to consider. At first, no one thought much of it, as canceled contracts weremon. But the frequency had be rming. Jonathan had asked his secretary to look into recent news but found nothing significant. He was still puzzled when Israel had called him about the current situation.


    The meeting room was silent, and the secretary''s report was audible to everyone. Aurora''s face grew even paler. She could ignore the damage to her personal reputation, but this was now affecting her career. That was her line in the sand. Wasn''t this the very reason she had worked so hard-to reach the top?


    She could forgive Joshua for damaging her Dawnlight violin. She could forgive him for driving a wedge between her and Leonard. But she could not ept being dragged down on her path to sess. They say ruining someone''s livelihood is the deepest of betrayals. What Joshua was doing was no different.


    Aurora had never suffered such a devastating blow at anyone''s hands.


    Just as Jonathan hung up, Aurora''s phone rang. The news was the same: another canceled partnership. All her recent efforts had been for nothing.


    Aurora clenched her fists. She knew she could never match Ste''s performance record, so after joining The Williams Group, she had thrown tersett into negotiating deals and signing contracts to close the gap between them. And she had seeded,nding several major ounts. Now, these vicious rumors were destroying it all.


    Only then did Aurora realize just how terrifying Joshua was. He wasn''t trying to ruin


    her reputation. He was trying to ruin everything she had. He wanted to leave her with nothing.


    Jonathan''s voice pulled her from her thoughts. "Aurora, the rumors are baseless, but we need to know what really happened. Tell us the details so we can figure out a way to help you. He paused then added "Star, have Joshua step out."


    Ste was


    about to ask Joshua to


    leave, not wanting him to be targeted any further, but Aurora


    stopped her there''s no need


    She


    stared coldly at Joshua. Even if he


    leaves, he''ll find out everything


    anyway. It''s pointless."


    Since Aurora didn''t object, Jonathan let it go. Aurora then recounted the events of that night in a calm, t voice, as if she were telling someone else''s story.


    When she finished, Skyler''s brow furrowed. "So it was Leonard and Simone?" His first instinct was the same as Aurora''s: the siblings had conspired against her to stage aeback.