One Night, His Unseen Legacy

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Corporation was bleeding, and Charlton, despite his best efforts, was struggling to stem the tide. Davidson's anonymous email, coupled with ot

harp. I met with lawyers, strategists, and potential allies. But the world, it

Henderson, a man known for his ruthless pragma

d your personal life... well, it's hardly inspiring confidence." He gestured vaguely, his implication clear. My brok

nt to the health of Evans Cor

is publicly humiliated by her brother's dubious deals involving

etort forming on my tongue, the doors

ng attention. His eyes locked onto me, then swept over He

an?" I demanded, my voice shar

oming rather public," he said, his voice cold. "I heard you were a

is lips. "Dr. Burke. To what do we owe this unexp

Evans family's desperate attempts to cling to relevance." He looked at me, his eyes hard. "And to remind Chandler that our 'engagemen

as cutting ties. Publicly. Again. He wa

eye. "Severing ties with Evans Corp now could have... consequences. Especi

And my funding sources are clear. Unlike certain corporate deals that inv

ust outside the boardroom, looking pale and fragile, her hand clutching h

o Hayden. "I have to go," he said, his voice softening, all his previous anger forgotten. "Hayden needs me." He wa

ice shaking with suppressed fury. "His

, Miss Evans. Indeed." He stood up, signaling the end of the me

Julian's public rejection and Hayden's manipulative appearance r

ent of old books and his signature cologne still lingered, a bittersweet reminder. I pour

r, Charlton, and me, years ago, on a family vacation. We were all smili

ck with unshed tears. "I'm so so

damage was too extensive, the sharks too many. I felt a desperate n

mails that had triggered my father' s final stroke. A cold, hard res

uneral: "He knows you drugged him. He force

he sheer desperation of that night. It had been reckless, impulsive, born

den standing in the doorway, her eyes wide, her face pale. She carried a famil

her voice barely audible.

she get in? And why was s

" I retorted, my voice sharp. "An

He must have dropped it." She clutched it tighter, a possessive glea

ger flaring. "He never takes tha

ves me." She deliberately opened the locket, revealing a tiny, faded photograph of Kathryne. "He told me I remind him

t cherished possession, flaunting her victory, daring to compare herse

taunt. So Julian did know.

imate provocation. My father was dead, my company was falling apart, and my sup

hite-hot rage. "Give me that!" I screa

tumbling backwards

reathing heavily, the locket clutched in my hand. Hayden, cowering, her fa

low growl, "What the hell is wrong with you?" He pushed me away from Hayden, his force sending me reeling back, m

my head, the locket still in my hand.

ayden. He cradled her in his arms, his touc

cket was safe, Julian. I found it in your office. I was worried you'd lose it." She gav

es filled with disgust. "Ge

the words raw, tearing at my

and hard. "You're a danger to everyon

er to his grave? What about your darling Hayden's 'accidental' discovery of damaging information

dare try to deflect, Chandler. This has nothi

ars streaming down my face. "She's manip

rabbed my arm, his grip bruising, and dragged me towards

le? You're the one coddling a poisonous snake! You're the one

rength overwhelming. My head throbbed, my body ac

ent sound. Julian paused, annoyed, but the

it. But Hayden, ever the opportunist, spoke up. "Julian

g it to his ear, his face a mask of irritation. He listened for a moment, t

ly sharp with concern. "Data leak

eyes. Her face, usually so composed, was now

. "My K.W. Initiative project data has been leaked. All of it. Con

ith feigned innocence. "Oh, Julia

his gaze as he looked at her. But then, almost imme

oice cold and steady, "you

bout?" I rasped, disbel

with accusation. "You were just here, raging about the company, about h

lian, I

of my father's study, his grip unyielding.

n, his eyes filled with a terrifying mix of protectiveness and m

ata leak. The K.W. Initiative. My father' s s

evastating blow. He was f