<h4>Chapter 41: Chapter 41 The Truth Is Quite Clear</h4>


    Cecilia’s pov


    "Oh!" I gasped, my voice shaky but full of triumph.?


    "My voice recorder is synced to cloud storage. It uploads everything automatically—every ten minutes. Do you have aputer?"?


    Alpha Sebastian didn’t hesitate. He gave a quick signal to one of the staff, who nodded and rushed out of the room.?


    Leonard’s face turned ashen, resembling that of a corpse. I could see his resolve crumbling before my eyes.?


    Theptop arrived within moments.?


    My fingers trembled as I reached for the keyboard.?


    Every eye in the room was on me, the air so tense it could snap.?


    I logged into my cloud ount, heart pounding in my chest, the silence around us deafening.?


    "Got it," I announced, lifting my gaze to meet Leonard’s terrified stare. I gave him a victorious smile, my finger hovering over the trackpad. "Let’s listen, shall we?"?


    "DON’T PLAY IT!" Leonard lunged forward with surprising speed, snatching theptop from my hands and clutching it to his chest. His oncemanding presence now reduced to desperate pleading. "Miss Cecilia, we can talk about this reasonably."?


    Iughed coldly, the sound cutting through the tense atmosphere. "You tried to force yourself on me and nned to keep me imprisoned. If I hadn’t risked my life jumping from the second floor into the ocean, would I even be sitting here now?"?


    "You’ve misunderstood my intentions," he protested weakly.?


    "Stop the bullshit," I spat. "If you’re so innocent, open theptop and let everyone hear what’s on it!"?


    Sweat poured down his face as he clutched theptop to his chest like it was a shield.?


    "Miss Cecilia, please," he begged, voice trembling. "I have a family—elderly parents, little kids. Please don’t do this. I’ll get on my knees if that’s what it takes."?


    "Mercy?" My voice sliced through the room like a de. "Did you show me mercy when you tried to put your filthy hands on me? I’m my parents’ only daughter. Do you have any idea what it would’ve done to them—knowing their child was nearly vited by a disgusting old dog like you?"?


    I motioned for the guard to grab theptop. My re made it clear—I wasn’t done until this bastard paid.?


    Cornered, Leonard clung to theputer like it could save his soul.?


    "I was trying to help you!" he shouted. "Okay, yeah—I may have said a few things, but it was just a joke! A stupid joke! Can’t you forgive a moment of bad judgment?"?


    "Forgive you?" Iughed, slow and sharp.?


    "Sure. All you have to do is grab a knife, cut your balls off, and let me watch. Then maybe we’ll call it even."?


    His face went pale, his hands trembling. "Cecilia,e on! Don’t go too far. Nothing even happened! I just... happened to be there. I said a few things in the heat of the moment. That’s not a crime, is it?"?


    "Oh, so now it’s just talking?" I stepped forward, voice low and lethal.?


    "Is that what you call sliding your hand up my leg?"?


    "I was checking for injuries!" he choked.?


    "Oh really?" I smirked. "Becausest I checked, your hands weren’t certified in first aid. Or is ’pervert’ your side hustle?"?


    He opened his mouth, but no words came out.?


    I leaned in, voice dropping to a whisper sharp enough to cut.?


    "You should be grateful I’m letting you walk out of here with your teeth still in your mouth. But if you every a finger on another woman again—I’ll make sure you leave the room in a body bag."


    I could see the other executives exchanging nces, initially surprised by my fiery attitude, then realizing with growing horror that Leonard was essentially confessing. ?


    The room filled with looks of disgust directed at the deputy manager.?


    Amara stood frozen,pletely stunned. She hadn’t expected the usations against Leonard to be true.?


    From the speakerphone, Alpha Yardley’s voice suddenly rumbled with authority, "It seems the truth is quite clear now. Sebastian, handle this matter properly. Call the authorities if necessary, deal with it appropriately. Show no leniency."?


    Everything was settled.?


    Leonard copsed onto the floor, all fight gone from him.?


    Over the phone, Alpha Yardley continued, "Miss Cecilia, you showed remarkable courage today."


    I caught the hint of appreciation in his voice—he knew. He knew I’d been bluffing, that there was no voice recorder left behind. But he admired how I’d skillfully manipted the situation, step by step, ying on my opponent’s psychology.?


    "Thank you for your praise, Alpha Yardley," I responded respectfully.?


    "Miss Cecilia, wee to Silver Peak Pack," he said firmly before ending the call.?


    My heart fluttered. Being personally weed by the Alpha Yardley was an extraordinary honor. I felt a wave of excitement wash over me, making my head spin.?


    Actually, it wasn’t just excitement making me dizzy. The room truly was starting to spin. The voices and faces around me gradually became distant and blurry.?


    "What’s wrong?" Alpha Sebastian leaned over, gently tapping my cheek.?


    [Thud—]?


    My head dropped straight toward the table.?


    With my eyes closed, I felt myself being lifted into strong arms. That wonderful reassuring scent enveloped me, so warm andforting that made me want to cry. I wanted to hide there, to shed all my armor and just be a vulnerable girl for once.?


    But in the next moment, a familiar voice reached my ears, sending a chill through my fading consciousness. "Cecilia, it’s me..."?


    Alpha Xavier? No, no, no. It had to be a hallucination. A terrible, frightening hallucination.?


    Author’s pov


    At three in the morning, in Singapore’s finest private hospital. ?


    Ceciliay unconscious on the hospital bed, Her hairy loose on the pillow, shifting slightly with each quiet breath. An IV line shimmered in the soft light, feeding strength back into her weakened body. ?


    Alpha Xavier sat stiff-backed in one corner of the guest sofa, his jaw clenched tightly. ?


    Across from him lounged Alpha Sebastian ck. ?


    He looked rxed, arms folded, eyes closed—but everyone knew better. It was the stillness of a wolf ready to strike.?


    Amara perched behind Alpha Xavier, her perfect posture belying the chaos inside. ?


    She watched Alpha Sebastian with a gaze that flickered between longing and loathing. The air between them could’ve frozen hell.?


    Beta Sawyer, clever as always, had found an excuse to vanish ten minutes ago. Something about "urgent paperwork." ?


    It had all started hours earlier, when Cecilia copsed at the factory meeting room.?


    Alpha Xavier had arrived toote—only in time to see Alpha Sebastian carrying her, unconscious but breathing, in his arms. Alpha Xavier went up and grabbed the person in anger, but he failed.


    Now, Alpha Xavier’s voice cut through the silence like a de of ice.?


    "She only joined your diplomatic project to get back at me," he snapped. "I’ve already filed the termination notice. I’m taking her back."?


    Alpha Sebastian didn’t even open his eyes. "That’s for her to say. Not you."?


    Subtext: You don’t speak for her anymore. She’s not yours.?


    Alpha Xavier’s fists curled. He couldn’t forget the way Cecilia had clung to Alpha Sebastian’s shirt earlier, even while unconscious, as if her body knew where she was safe. As if she’d rather stay with another Alpha than return to him.?


    Alpha Xavier’s wolf, Kael snarled inside him. ?


    [You needed to pull them apart.?


    You needed to take back control—before it slipped away for good.]?


    At seven, the first light of dawn spilled into the room. Cecilia’sshes fluttered.?


    She woke slowly. Her head throbbed. Her body ached. But she was alive.?


    Alive—and not alone.?


    "Cecilia, you’re awake!" Alpha Xavier’s voice burst out like a breath he’d been holding for hours.


    She blinked, her vision adjusting—?


    Then froze.?


    Oh no. No, no, no. Moon Goddess, why him??


    Alpha Xavier was already up and moving, his broad frame looming as he rushed to her bedside.He reached out, fingers headed straight for her forehead.?


    Cecilia pushed his hand away, expression cold as stone.?


    "What are you doing here?" Her voice was t. Merciless. "I already gave you the severance papers."?


    Alpha Xavier froze.


    The hand that had touched her fell back like he’d been burned.?