bChapter /bb41 /b

Titan Group

Andrian convened another meeting with the board of directors to discuss a new p

project thepany bwas /babout to undertake,

As usual, the boardroom bwas /bfar from peaceful. Andrian sat upright at the head of the long table, his sharp gaze sweeping across the faces of the directors, beach /bwearing a stem and rigid expression.

The scandal that had once shaken thepany was now slowly being forgotten, fading until it was no longer the main topic of discussion. But that didn’t mean the meeting was bcalm/b, Once again, Andrian faced strong opposition from the board regarding the new project he was determined tounch.

“As I’ve exined before, Andrian said firmly, “this project will proceed, regardless of who agrees or disagrees.”

A few of the older directors muttered in discontent. Their eyes narrowed with suspicion, clearly disapproving of what they saw bas /bAndrian’s overly risky approach

“We’ve never run a project bwith /bsuch bold methods,” one senior director said coolly. “Especially not with this level of risk involved.”

“Which is exactly why we need to try it now,” Andrian replied without hesitation. “We’ve been bstuck /bin the old ways for too long. If we don’t take risks, Titan Group will never move forward,”

Some of the directors remained silent, not entirely convinced, but unwilling to confront Andrian directly. However, the atmosphere shifted drastically when Andrian revealed who would lead the project.

“To ensure the project runs optimally, I’m appointing Bianca as the lead,” Andrian announced firmly.

All eyes immediately turned to Biancab, /bAndrian’s trusted deputy seated to his right. Bianca looked surprised, her eyes widening for a moment before she bgave /ba slight smile, Such trust was a significant honor for her.

However, not everyone weed the announcement. Charlotte reacted sharply.

“nca?” she eximed with biting sarcasm. “We’re handing over this crucial project to someone who hasn’t even proven herself capable of managing arge–scale operation? I’m sorry, Mr. Andrian, but I think this decision is reckless,”

The room tensed instantly. Andrian stared coldly at Charlotte. “Bianca has more than enough capability and experience. bI’ve /bthought this decision through carefully,”

Charlotte shook her bhead /bfirmly. “This isn’t personal–it’s about thepany. We ball /bhave the right to weigh in. If this decision is bas /bsolid as you bsay/b, then why don’t we put it to a vote?”

The room fell into a hush. Everyone knew what was happening: Charlotte was trying to btrap /bAndrian in ba /bgame he could hardly win. Andrian realized most of the older board members were content with thepany’s past sesses and resistant to change.

“A vote?” Andrian repeated sarcastically. “Are you sure this bisn’t /bjust a trick to kill the project before it even begins?”

Charlotte gave a cold smile. “If so many people disagree, doesn’t that mean your project isn’t worth pursuing?”

“It’s not that simple,” Andrian countered. “If we vote, we can’t bgo /bby a simple majority. It’s too easy to kill an idea just because bpeople /bare afraid bof /bchange.”

Charlotte met his gaze defiantly. “Then what percentage of support do you think is fair?”

Andrian took a deep breath, his eyes scanning the room. He knew winning a majority would be nearly impossible. But he also didn’t want to back down.

“Twenty percent,” Andrian aid firmly if just 20 percent of the board supports it, the project must go forward,”

The room stirred with murmurs. Charlotte smiled coolly. “Twenty percentb? /bThat’s far too easy for you. How about forty percent? If byou /bcan secure 40-

M

19:47 Wed, 27 Auguм.

percent support, then we move forward”

Andrian’s brow furrowed, annoyed. “You know that’s not realistic. Even twenty percent is a challenge.”

号:68b% /b

“Then thirty–five percent,” Chlotte offered slyly. “A middle ground. If you bdon’t /bbept/b, you can bury your dream ofunching that new project.”

Andrian clenched his fists under the table, frustration band /bemotion boiling. He knew Charlotte was ying him. But he didn’t have much choice. He looked around at the directorsb, /bsome bclearly /bnot on his side.

“Fino,” Andrian said atst, trying to keep his tone controlledb, /b“ept the challenge. If I can secure 35 percent support, the project must be approved without further interference.b” /b

“Agreed,” Charlotte responded swiftly, her toneced with a restrained sense of triumph. She then nced at her watch theatrically before saying, “And to keep everything transparent and structured, the vote will be held this Friday. Three bdays /bshould be enough for you to gather support, right?”

bAndrian /bstared at her, his jaw clenched. He knew the deadline was tight, but refusing would make him look weak.

“Friday,” Andrian echoed quietly, as if absorbing the sudden pressure. “Fine. I’ll be bready/b.”

Leaning back, Andrian felt the weight pressing on bhis /bbchest/b. He knew the road to convincing 35 percent of the board would bbe /bfull of obstacles. bAnd /bwith only three bdays /bto gather the votes, the challenge bwas /bimmense.

But Andrian’s resolve

was firm. One way or another, the project had to happen. Without it, Titan Group would never break free from itsfort bzone/b.

While the room buzzed with low conversations among the directors, Bianca slowly turned toward Andrian. Her eyes held a mix of anxiety and hope.

She still couldn’t quite believe it–Andrian had entrusted her with such a significant responsibility.

So… he’s not really angry, she thought to herself

All this time, Bianca had assumed Andrian was furious aher discovering that she had intentionally injured herself to sabotage his n to attend the Gama night with Aliana. Since then, he had asked her to stay out of sight–officially for security breasons/b, as the bassassin /bbhad /byet to be bcaught/b. But bdeep /bdown, Bianca always felt that it was merely an excuse to push her away.

Yet now, with bAndrian /bbpublicly /bnaming her bas /bproject lead, Bianca’s unease gradually bfaded/b. He still trusted her. Just like before.

Bianca gave a faint smile, trying to show confidence, even though she knew their struggle was only just beginning

The meeting bgradually /bdispersed, leaving Andrian seated in silence, already strategizing on how to gather support for the project he believed would be a major step forward for Titan bGroup/b.

Once the room had emptied, Bianca rose slowly from her chair. She began tidying the documents before hor, feigning busyness while asionally ncing at Andrian, who remained upright with a hardened expression. bWhen /bthe room was finally quiet, Bianca approached his table and cautiously pulled out her phone.

“I have something I think you need to see,” she said bgently/b, her voice deliberately measured,

Andrian turned, raising an eyebrow. “What is it?b” /b

nca swiped her phone screen, revealing a photo of bAliana/b–wounded on the night of the Game event. Her right shoulder was bleeding, her face contorted in pain–an expression Andrian had never seen before.

Andrian froze. His beyes /bnarrowed. The image looked raw and deeply unsettling.

“Where did you get this?” he asked coldly, voice strained

“I don’t know who senti Bianca breplied /bsoftly, her gaze fixed on Andrian’s now tense face. “The sender just said that Aliana might be more than just s victim that night. Maybe… she’s part of something bigger.”

19:47 Wedb, /b27 Aug

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Andrian stared intensely at the phone screen. Emotions churned inside him. He didn’t want to believe such an busation/b, but the fact that Aliana had never been honest about the injury–along with her consistently closed–off demeanor–sowed doubt. A growing difort settled in his chest.

“I suspect… maybe Aliana is the one who tried to kill you,” Bianca whispered, beginning to nt the seed of suspicion.

“Aliana would never do this,” Andrian muttered, though his tone sounded more like he was trying to convince himself.

Bianca tilted her head slightly, imitated by his response. She spoke bagain/b, her tone soft butced with pressure.

“bAndrian/b, you don’t really know her. I know you want to trust her. But what if she is part of this scheme? We can’t just turn a blind eye. If that’s btrue/bb, /byou could be in serious danger,”

Andrian gritted his teeth. He turned away briefly, trying to calm himself. He had always prided himself on logical thinking, but this time his emotions were overwhelming his reasoning.

“What if… Aliana isn’t the culprit,” he murmured, rejecting Bianca’s usation, though he himself wasn’t sure of his own words. “What if she was the victim? Maybe she got hurt defending herself, Maybe she was attacked by the bassassin /bband /bfled bbehind /bthe building.

Bianca rolled her eyes slowly, holding back frustration. She was annoyed to hear Andrian defending his wife bagain/b.

“If that’s the bcase/b, why didn’t Aliana say anything about the wound? Especially a wound that serious. Does that make any sense to you!”

Andrian fell silent. Bianca’s words lingered in his mind. On one hand, something urged him to trust Aliana. But on the other, the doubt grew stronger, shaking bhis /bconfidence.

Bianca looked at Andrian intently before

“You should investigate everything. There’s no harm in being cautious.

speaking bagain/b. “y

Andrian lowered his head, taking a deep breath. “I’ll think about it,” he said. His eyes regained their sharpness and focus. “Now, go. I need time alone.”

Bianca nodded slightly, masking her uncase that was slowly turning into a faint sense of satisfaction. She turned and walked out, leaving Andrian alone with bhis /bchaotic thoughts–tom between trust and suspicion

Minutes passed. Then bsuddenly/b, Andrian grabbed his bphone /band called Elric in Ravenska.

The

line connected quickly.

“Elric,” Andrian said coldly, “I bwant /byou to thoroughly examine Aliana’s condition. Make sure she isn’t hiding any serious injuries from me.”

“Serious injuries?” Elric basked/b, confused.

Andrian paused. He recalled having checked on bAliana /bthe night before and found nothing. But the photo Bianca showed him now made him question

that conclusion.

“Check if there’s any wound on her shoulder. Do it yourself. Don’t delegate this to anyone.”

“But sir, Miss Aliana may not approve.”

Andrian clenched his jaw. He knew Elric felt ufortable, But Andrian couldn’t trust anyone else with this–especially since he bhad /balready been deceived onceb, /biling to notice any injury bbefore/b.

*I don’t care what bshe /bbsays/b, Andrian replied firmly “Do as I instructed. Immediately.”

Elric went silent. After a moment, he responded, though his voice wavered with reluctance.

“Yesb, /bsir, I’ll do it right away.

Andrian ended the call with a harsh click and exhaled deeply. He clenched his bfist/b, reying the bImage /bBianca had shown him of na

I hope you’re not involved in this, pa, because if you are won’t bstay /bsilent.”

Yreu, 27 AL

68%

In Ravenska, na stood still after her parents had left. She stood in front of the

window of her room in the homestay, gazing at the fir forest shrouded in a thin mist…

Aliana knew well–the time to act was drawing near. She had to leave to meet her parents at the designated ce.

She pulled out her personal phone, carefully hidden all this time, and bread /bba /bshort message from Rale

“The new meeting point is bready/b, bSir /band Madam are waiting there.”

Aliana let out a short breath. She knew the more steps she took, the greater Andrian’s suspicion toward her would grow. But it was ba /brisk she had to take. She couldn’t stay idle. The investigation binto /bbAlicia’s /bdeath had to continue

From behind the door came the sound of approaching footsteps. Aliana quickly slipped her phone back into her pocket, then turned as someone knocked

“Miss, may I speak with you bfor /bba /bmoment?” Eric’s formal voice called out

Aliana nced at Elena, who stood beside her. With a subtle gesture, she signaled for Elena to handle the man.

Elena nodded slightly and walked over to the door, opening it just a crack. Elric stood there, tall and sharp–eyed.

“Mr. Eric,” Elena greeted cautiously. “I’m sorry, Miss Aliana is resting. She just fell asleep.”

Elric looked slightly hesitant, but replied calmly, “I understand. But there’s something important i need to speak to her about directly”

na looks very exhausted…. I don’t dare wake her right now.”

Elena bowed her head slightly, her tone careful. “I understand, but Miss Aliana looks

Elric was silent for a moment, thinking. Then he gave a short nod. “In that case, please let her know I came and that I’d like to speak with her when she

wakes

“Of course,” Elena responded quickly. “I’ll make sure she gets the message.”

Once Elric turned and walked away, Elena let out a sigh of relief. bShe /bshut the door and turned to Ana, who now stood not far from the window, her bsharp /bgaze following the sound of Elric’s fading footsteps

“I have to go,” Aliana said firmly.

“Go?” Elena tumed quickly, surprised. She was confused why had bAliana /bsent her to send Elric away if she intended to leave the bhomestay/b? A flicker of worry crossed bElena’s /bmind–was Aliana about to do something dangerous?

*Where are you going, Miss? Should I inform Mr. Elric to prepare an escort?”

Aliana shook her head slowly, but firmly. “No. I’ll leave quietly. bThere’s /bsomething I need to take care of on my own.”

Elena’s expression shifted to panic. “But…it might be dangerous out there. Besidesb, /bit’s impossible to leave the homestay without the guards knowing. There are too many patrols. You won’t get out unnoticed.”

“I have a way.” Aliana replied shortly. “All I need from you is one thing–act normal. Don’t do banything /bthat might braise /bsuspicion that I’m gone. They must believe I’m still in this room.”

Elena looked at her uncertainly. “bBut /bif you’re discovered=”

Aliana gave her a sharp, determined look. The intensity in her eyes was enough to silence Elena’s words.

“Wry well…” Elena finally bsaid/bb, /bnodding slowly in resignation. “But you must be careful, Miss.”

Aliana ced a hand gently on Elina’s shoulder, then turned baway/b–She began preparing to leave the room.