“What do you mean, frozen?” Bob asked slowly.

“Their legal office cited a use on reputational damage from

the partnerpanies… they’re initiating a reassessment.”

“What reputational damage?” Madeline snapped.

“The press conference,” I muttered. “The smearing. The public

disaster your side caused.”

The room imploded into murmurs and panic.

Amelia clenched the edge of the table. “They can’t do this

without notice. We’re halfway through the groundwork!”

“It’s Alexander,” bI /bsaid. “He’s behind this.”

The silence that followed was thick and fearful. Even Felix

looked troubled now.

From behind the hallway, I heard heels clicking. Then Chole

appeared, perfectly dressed, though her mascara was slightly

smudged.

She walked up to me with a cruel smile. “So that’s it, huh? You’d

rather destroy two families than be with me?”

I didn’t respond.

“You still think Olivia’s worth it?” Her voice rose. “After

everything? After she spread her legs and had Alexander clean

up her mess like some rich sugar daddy?”

My hands curled into fists.

“There’s nothing going on between them,” I muttered. “He only defended her because he’s not a scumbag!“”

She snorted. “Keep telling yourself that. He took her in. She left

you and went straight to him. Do you think she’s sitting at home

crying over you?” She stepped closer. “He’s everything you’re

not–powerful, loyal, clean.”

Her words hit harder than I expected. I did doubt it. Deep down,

part of me wondered if Olivia had moved on. After what I did,

she had every right. I remembered her eyes when I betrayed

her. And maybe, she could be impressed by Alexander’s recent

activity. If not earlier, maybe now she could fall for him.

Chole’s voice pierced the moment. “She deserves a man like

Alexander. You? You destroyed her. And now you’re trying to

make it look like you care?”

I looked away.

Chole’s voice softened, dangerously sweet. “But if you walk

away from me now… I’ll really have nothing left.”

She reached for the knife on the dinner table. It wasn’t sharp-

but it was pointed.

“Don’t. Felix warned from across the room.

But she ignored him. With trembling hands, she held the de

against her wrist and stared at me.

“I’ll do it,” she whispered. “Right here. I’ll end it.”

Amelia gasped. Madeline screamed. Felix moved forward.

But I stood there.

Unmoved.

I looked at her–not with fear, not with pity–but with a calm numbness that came from finally running out of energy.

“You’ve pulled this card too many times,” I said, my voice t.

“Do what you want.”

Her eyes widened, as if shocked that her trick no longer

worked.

I turned away.

Olivia’s POV

I stared at my phone for a long time before finally tapping the

call icon. My thumb hovered for a few seconds. I didn’t want to

ready to show my face at work yet. Not when my name was

smeared all over the tabloids.

When the call connected, Alexander’s voice came through,

sharp and low. “Yes?”

I cleared my throat, nerves tightening in my chest. “Alpha

Alexander. I—I was wondering if I could speak to you for a

minute.”

Silence.

Then, “You already are.”

Right. Breathe.

“I was scheduled to return to work the day after tomorrow,” I

began, trying to sound professional. “My injuries have mostly healed, but due to a family emergency… I was hoping to request

a short extension. Just another week.”

There was a pause. I could almost see him, sitting somewhere

calm, back straight, one brow raised in annoyance.

“You want another week?” he repeated slowly. “Olivia, are you

nning to milk that leg injury forever?”

His voice cut through me. I flinched.

“No–no, sir,” I said quickly. “I’m not trying to ck off. It’s just… everything with the divorce is messier than I expected, and-

“I need people who show up when they’re needed,” he said

coldly. “Not excuses.”

“I’ll be back after five days,” I pleaded. “I just need a few more days to handle the fallout. If I rush back now, it might make things worse–not just for me, but for you too. You saw what’s happening online.”

Another long silence.

“Your mess is yours, not mine,” he said, but his voicecked the

bite from earlier.

“I understand that,” I said, softer this time. “But if I walk into Green Group headquarters with paparazzi still chasing me and rumors swirling, it’ll be your mess too. You’ll be seen as the boss defending his scandalous female assistant. And we both

know how that’ll be spun.”

There was a long breath on the other end.

“Then what’s your n?” he asked finally. “How do you intend

to clean this up?”

I exhaled. “I’m going to make a scene,” I said tly. “Go to the

Windsor housé. Demand things. Negotiate.”

bChapter /b