Everyone in the hall turned to look. Chad slowly lifted his eyes, his gaze a venomous sh of darkness directed at the entrance.


    There, framed against the golden light of the breaking dawn, stood two towering, imposing figures: Thaddeus and Jareth.


    Jareth was dressed in a sharp ck suit, a little dusty but otherwise pristine. Thaddeus, however, was still in his disheveled, battle-worn clothes. Yet, his posture was as straight and unyielding as bamboo, his expression cold and resolute, radiating an aura of defiant strength that made it difficult to look at him directly.


    "Well, Chad, you really went all out to keep Thaddeus away from this press conference, didn''t you?" Jareth, with the raw, untamed energy of a street-smart tycoon, went straight for the jugr. "You set up ambushes, cornered him in the parking garage, and even sed reporters on us outside. You''re a fucking psychopath. You''d make a great action movie director, but you''re wasted as a CEO!" Chad''s eyes were like dark, damp caves, lined with ice and coated in poison.


    Jareth''s bombshell revtion sent shockwaves through the room. The spotlight, which had been fixed on Chad, now swung dramatically toward Thaddeus. The cuts, bruises, and dried blood on the man''s stoic face served as silent, damning evidence.


    "Damn, Fairhaven has guts, calling out the Abernathy family on their own turf, on a live broadcast. Isn''t he afraid of retaliation? The Abernathy Group is still the biggest yer in Elmsworth!"


    "You forget where Jarethes from. His grandfather was a gangster who fought his way to the top. People like them aren''t afraid of anyone, not even God. They can take the heat and they can afford to lose. And now that Jareth is the undisputed head of the Fairhaven family, he can do whatever he wants."


    "All I can say is, Jareth is a true friend to Thaddeus."


    "And what about the one on stage?"


    "Heh... Power makes brothers of no one. You can figure out the rest."


    Seeing the chaos erupting, all of it broadcast live, Alexia could no longer contain herself. She rushed to the front of the stage to defend Chad. "Gentlemen, you need proof to make such usations. Our Mr. Chad has been here the entire time, preparing for this press conference. How could he possibly have orchestrated all of that? You are speaking to the entire nation, Mr. Fairhaven. Your words have consequences."


    *You lying bitch,* Jareth thought, fighting the urge to leap onto the stage and smash her head in.


    "Mr. Thaddeus, you have made a grave mistake and brought shame upon the Abernathy Group," Alexia said, turning to Thaddeus with a fook of feigned sorrow. "Mr. Chad was about to apologize to the entire country on your behalf. But instead of reflecting on your actions, you bring Mr. Fairhaven here to spread lies and nder Mr. Chad. If you have a problem with your brother you should handle it privately not make a public spectacle at such a serious event. If you won''t think of yourself, at least think of the


    Abernathy Group''s reputation!"


    Thaddeus walked steadily toward the stage, his eyes fixed on Chad. "The Abernathy


    Group''s reputation is the current CEO''s problem. I am no longer part of the


    "You!" Alexia was speechless.


    “But,” Thaddeus''s gaze was like a razor as he locked eyes with Chad, a storm gathering in their depths, "my own reputation, my own innocence-I will clear my name, no matter the cost!"


    His voice boomed through the hall, each word a powerful deration. On the stage, Chad; on the floor, Thaddeus. A killer whale versus a great white shark. The oue was far from certain.


    "I, Jareth Fairhaven, on behalf of myself and the entire Fairhaven Group will vouch for Thaddeus. He did not take drugs. He was framed from the very beginning!" Jareth''s voice thundered through the room.


    A roar of questions erupted from the press. “By whom? Who framed him?!”


    Jareth didn''t name Chad directly. He knew it wouldn''t be that easy to topple this well-dressed demon. If he attacked now without irrefutable proof Chad would find a way to turn it against them. He wasn''t afraid of making enemies, but he couldn''t risk causing any more damage to his friend.


    Another reporter stood up. “Mr. Thaddeus, if, as Mr. Fairhaven ims, you were framed, do you have any evidence?"


    "Yes."


    The voice didn''te from Thaddeus. It came from the back of the room. Before the stunned eyes of the crowd, Cassius and an injured Gordon escorted Mr. Zade into the hall.


    Chad''s expression remained a stony mask, but Alexia''s face went visibly pale, a thin sheen of sweat breaking out on her forehead.


    "Cassius Ashbourne is here, too! Backing Thaddeus! This is getting wild!" another person whispered in shock.