?Chapter 1173:


    She attached a photo of the elegant invitation, her name gleaming across it in gold script.


    At the Cooper Group headquarters, in the president’s office, Kiley scanned a report and nodded at the man standing before her. “Well done. Keep the pressure up.”


    She closed the file and rose from her chair, her heels clicking against the polished floor. “Start leaking the list of celebrity attendees to the press,” she said. “Especially the ones who’ve been quiet online. I want people buzzing about the event by morning.”


    “Yes, Ms. Cooper.”


    Once the man exited, Kiley grabbed her phone and called Raegan. “The ball is the day after tomorrow. I want it wless.”


    “Everything’s under control.”


    “That’s good.” Kiley ended the call and nced at the framed photo on her desk. It was a group picture of her with her younger brother, udius.


    She frowned, noticing udius had been acting oddlytely. He ignored her calls, and his replies were always the same short, cold word: “Busy.”


    It seemed like he was deliberately keeping his distance.


    “udius, I hope you understand the gravity of this,” Kiley murmured, her voice edged with steel. “Losing your im to the Cooper Group over a woman? If you’re too blind to see what’s at stake… I’ll have no choice but to rece you.”


    Beneath the Cooper estate, the basement reeked of dampness and decay.


    In the far corner, udius sat slumped against the wall. His clothes were soiled, his skin pale. Overturned trays of spoiled foody scattered near him, drawing flies by the dozens.


    The iron door groaned open.


    Kolton stepped in, his expression hard as stone. He walked up to the bars, arms crossed.


    “What’s this—some kind of hunger strike?”


    He jabbed a finger through the bars, his voice rising. “You’re pathetic. If you’re trying to starve yourself, I won’t stop you.”


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    udius remained still, eyes closed, his breathing shallow. Kolton’s tone shifted, icy and deliberate. “I came with news. It’s about Maia.”


    At the mention of her name, udius finally stirred. His eyes opened slowly—dull, but alert. Kolton’s fury red at the sight.


    “Her reputation is hanging by a thread,” he hissed. “And I’ll be the one to cut it—piece by piece—until she’s begging for it to end.”


    udius stared at him, eyes burning with fury.


    “And you?” Kolton sneered. “You’re finished. I’ve already got someone acting as your proxy in Otruitho. He’s ying your part so well, no one suspects a thing. And when the time is right, I’ll make sure he dies in a nice little ‘ident.’ After that, everyone will believe udius is gone forever.”


    Kolton turned to leave, muttering as he walked away, “I won’t allow my son to be a disgrace to our family. I’d rather you died.”


    The heavy door mmed shut, plunging the basement back into darkness.


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