Aliana sat at her desk, the office in the Velor family mansion’s pavilion cloaked in silence. Her eyes were bfixed /bbintently /bion /iherptop screen, which disyed various financial reports and internal transaction archives from Titan bGroup /bbover /bbthe /bpast three years. Rafe had just sent those files a few minutes ago, the result of his investigation under Aliana’s orders.

    She examined the data one by one, meticulously. Her fingers paused when she found something odd in the financial reports from the past year. She zoomed in on the screen, eyes narrowing sharply, ensuring the information she had bjust /bfound. There were severalrge fund transfers from thepany ount to Bianca’s personal ount–amounts far btoo /bbig to be considered a regr employee bonus.

    “Interesting,” Aliana murmured softly. She immediately opened another file, eager to see if there was additional evidence to strengthen her finding.

    A few minutester, Aliana’s expression hardened. She had discovered supporting data in the form of secret emails between Bianca and two senior Titan Group executives, Peter Choi and Randall Kent. In those emails, Bianca tantly requestedpensation for sessfully persuading Andrian to approve certain projects.

    Aliana took a deep breath, her mind working rapidly. The evidence was clearly strong enough to bring down Bianca and drag her into a major corporate scandal. However, Aliana wouldn’t act rashly. She knew timing was crucial to maximize the impact.

    “Well yed, Bianca,” Aliana whispered coldly, a thin victorious smile forming on her lips. “Unfortunately, you were too

    careless to leave such obvious traces.”

    She picked up her secure phone and immediately called Rafe.

    “There’s something we need to act on immediately,i” /iAliana said as soon as Rafe answered. “Secure this evidence and prepare the best strategy. I want to make sure Bianca can’t escape when the timees.”

    “Yes, Miss,i” /iRafe replied shortly, not asking further questions.

    The call ended, Aliana sat back calmly, resting into her chair with a satisfied smile. Soon, Bianca’s reputation would be ruined–not just because of her now–disfigured face, but also because of her dirty schemes within thepany being

    exposed.

    Across town, Bianca sat restlessly on her hospital bed. Her face was pale, consumed by a blend of anger and nagging curiosity. She was growing impatient waiting for news from the mysterious man who had promised to eliminate Aliana for

    her.

    Her mind kept spinning, trying to guess what the man would do. She didn’t care who he really was, as long as Aliana disappeared from her life. Her fists clenched tightly, cursing Aliana inwardly, convinced the woman was the one

    responsible for destroying her face.

    “Andrian will surely be disgusted seeing me like this,i” /ishe whispered with quiet sorrow mixed with rage. “bAliana/bb, /bif y really are the one behind this, I swear you will pay dearly.”

    Dark thoughts of Andrian drifting toward Aliana deepened her pain. She picked up a small mirror again, staring bat /bbthe /b

    (b21:53/b. Sat, 30 Aud (GVW

    bChapter /b73

    bscars /bon her face that now appeared vividly. Every time she saw them, her hatred for bAna /bintensifiedb. /b

    In the middle of her daze, the hospital room door suddenly burst open. Bianca turned in shock and froze bwhen /bshe saw Andrian step in, looking worried. Derek stood behind him, clearly regretful for reporting Bianca’s earlier boutburst /b

    “What’s going on, Bianca?” Andrian asked firmly yet with concern. He walked slowly closer, his gaze fixed on bBianca’s /bbtear- /bstreaked, disheveled face.

    Seeing him, Bianca immediately covered her face, embarrassed and afraid of his reaction. “Don’t look at me, Andrianb,/bb” /bshe whispered through soft sobs. “I don’t want you to see me like this.”

    Andrian sighed and sat gently on the edge of her bed. His hand softly pulled Bianca’s away from her face, causing her to slowly look at him with hesitation.

    “Bianca, don’t do this. Your wound will heal, I promise,” Andrian said soothingly. “You’re still the same Bianca in my eyes.

    “But what if it doesn’t heal? Will you still love me?” Bianca asked, her voice trembling with worry.

    Andrian’s eyes softened. He fully understood Bianca’s fear. “I’ll find the best doctor. Believe me, this is only temporary. Don’t let it consume your thoughts.”

    Bianca fell silent for a moment, then cautiously asked, “Why didn’t you see me before going home the other day? Did you go to Aliana first?”

    Andrian hesitated, clearly uneasy with her question. But atst, he answered calmly, “Yes, I saw her briefly. I just wanted to make sure everything was fine at home. Nothing more.”

    His answer hurt Bianca deeply. She felt him slowly slipping away, and that thought intensified her anxiety. Yet, Bianca didn’t want to show more weakness. She forced aposed face despite the storm raging inside.

    “Sorry for being overly sensitive,” Bianca finally said, trying to sound strong. “I’m just scared of losing you.”

    “You won’t lose me,” Andrian said, locking eyes with her. “I’ll always be here for you.”

    His words sounded reassuring, but Bianca still had doubts. She realized she couldn’t rely too much on promises alone. Silently, she vowed to eliminate Aliana as soon as possible–before the woman truly seeded in taking Andrian from her.

    Outside the room, Derek–who had stood silently–immediately stepped away as Andrian exited. He avoided his gaze, afraid of being scolded for informing him about Bianca’s outburst.

    “Derek,” Andrian suddenly called, making Derek stop in his tracksb, /bstartled.

    “Yes, sir?” Derek answered nervously.

    “Watch Bianca more closely. I don’t want today’s incident to happen againi,/ii” /iAndrian said coldly and firmly. “bAnd /breport anything suspicious to me.”

    “Yes, sir,” Derek replied quickly, bowing respectfully.

    b2/2 /b

    21:55 Sat, 30 bAur /b

    Andrian walked awayb, /bleaving a relieved Derek behind. But deep inside Andrianb, /bba /bgrowing suspicion babout /bbBianca’s /bcondition began to take root. He sensed something wasn’t right with her behaviortely.

    Unknowingly, the tangled web between himself, Bianca, and Aliana was tightening. Each of them harbored personal agendas that could spark a greater, uncontroble conflict at any moment.

    AD