Thaddeus''s mind was clearer than ever before, but his heart was sinking, inch by inch, into a dark abyss. "Or perhaps, you intended to have me killed, but for some unknown reason, you had to change your n at thest minute and let me go?" The further he descended, the closer he came to a monstrous, ugly truth.


    The temperature in the room seemed to drop, the oppressive atmosphere freezing into a palpable tension, sharp and cutting like a de of ice.


    "What do you think?" Chad''s smile widened, his eyes glinting with amusement as he watched the proud, unyielding back of the man before him. He didn''t give him an answer, but the implication was more brutal than any confession.


    "Hah. I understand now." Thaddeus lifted his chiseled chin, his gaze as cold and sharp as a winter star. "One day, you might just regret the choice you made


    twenty years ago."


    Chad''s brow furrowed.


    "You had one chance in your entire life to kill me. It''s a shame you missed it."


    With that, Thaddeus strode out of the office, alone but radiating an indomitable power. Chad stared at the empty doorway, his fingers tightening around his pen, the veins on the back of his hand throbbing.


    ...


    After finishing her work that morning, Evadne learned from a trending topic on Twitter that Thaddeus had been released on bail. At the same time, the Abernathy Group dropped a bombshell announcement that sent shockwaves through the public:


    [Due to issues concerning his personal conduct, and following a resolution by the Board of Directors, the Abernathy Group has decided to remove Thaddeus from his position as President. Furthermore, the Board has voted to appoint Chad as the new President of the Group.]


    The decision was final. The inte exploded with spection.


    [Is Mr. Thaddeus a victim of family infighting, or does he really have a character problem? I heard he''s a drug user. Is that true?!]


    [These powerful tycoons live crazy lives behind the scenes. Drug use is probably the least of it.]


    [Maybe he was set up?]


    [He still gave them the ammunition to use against him. Where there''s smoke, there''s fire!]


    [The new guy is the eldest son, Thaddeus''s half-brother. This has all the makings of a ssic power grab. It happens in all the soap operas!]


    [Even if Thaddeus was framed, there''s noing back from this. His reputation is ruined, and he''s been fired. His career is over. He''s finished!]


    *Crash!*


    Sitting in her office, Evadne


    mmed her teacup down so hard it


    shattered. "You''re finished!" she


    yelled at the screen Your whole


    family is finished!"


    Jason, standing beside her, was just as angry but couldn''t help but be amused by her outburst. He


    carefully started cleaning up the


    broken ceramic


    These trolls are


    cowards in real life and keyboard warriors online. They''re just


    míserable people using the inte as a dumpster for their negativity. Don''t let them get to you."


    "But they''re right about one thing," Evadne said, taking a deep, frustrated breath. "This is a battle Thaddeus can''t easily win. Whether the drug story is true or not, the


    narrative is already set her


    public''s mind, he''s an addict. Even if he''s eventually cleared, the damage is done."


    Just then, her phone rang. It was Aaron. "Evadne, I''ve got everything on Mr. Zade


    —his background, his wife, his son. All of it."