Part 24 –
The storm had passed but the battlefield was far from clear.
With Marissa exposed and in custody, Wolfe Enterprises had a brief moment of silence. But both Lila and Ethan knew better.
Julian Drake was still out there.
And somewhere in the shadows, the mysterious Wolfe heir who had remained hidden for years was preparing their next move.
The war wasn't over.
It was only entering its final stage.
Damage Control
The next morning, Ethan held an emergency press conference.
Dressed in a sharp charcoal suit and standing with his signature calm authority, he addressed the press with calculated precision.
"We've discovered an internal conspiracy to destabilize Wolfe Enterprises," he said. "One that included betrayal at the highest levels."
Lila stood beside him, poised and resolute. Her presence wasn't just symbolic now she was part of the solution. Part of the future.
As reporters fired questions, Ethan reached for her hand under the podium and gave it the smallest squeeze.
We're in this together, the gesture said.
She squeezed back.
They walked off the stage side by side, but before they reached the elevator, Ethan's assistant approached in a rush.
"There's someone here to see you," he said. "They won't leave until you do."
Ethan frowned. "Who is it?"
The assistant hesitated.
Then handed him a card.
Lila read the name over his shoulder and her heart dropped.
Damien Wolfe
The Hidden Heir
They met him in Ethan's private suite.
He stood by the window, hands in his pockets, wearing a midnight-blue suit and a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.
Tall.
Sharp.
Dangerous in a way that reminded Lila of a polished blade.
"Ethan," he said smoothly. "Brother."
Lila froze.
Brother?
Ethan didn't flinch.
"Half-brother," he corrected coolly. "You were never part of the family. You made sure of that."
Damien turned, his smile deepening. "You really think this is about legacy? About revenge? I don't care about the company. I care about the truth. And that truth is our mother lied to both of us."
Lila stepped in, her voice steady.
"Why now? Why show yourself after all this time?"
Damien's gaze flicked to her.
"I had to wait until the queen revealed herself," he said softly. "Until the one person Ethan would protect above all else stood beside him."
Lila's stomach turned.
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying," Damien said, "that it's not Ethan's crown I want it's yours."
Lines in the Sand
Ethan moved in front of Lila in a flash.
"You so much as look at her wrong—"
"Relax," Damien said, amused. "I don't want to hurt her. I want to partner with her. Lila's the future. The press loves her. The employees follow her. Investors would kill to see her at the top."
"You're insane," Ethan spat.
"No," Damien said, deadly calm now. "I'm practical. The board was never going to fully trust you. But her? With the right leverage, she could be unstoppable. And if she comes with me… Wolfe Enterprises becomes ours. Together."
He looked at Lila again.
And for the first time, the chill in his expression turned personal.
"You're not just Ethan's weakness," he said. "You're his blind spot."
Then he walked out, as smoothly as he had entered.
Hearts Under Siege
The silence after Damien's departure was thunderous.
Ethan poured himself a drink with a hand that trembled slightly.
Not from fear.
From fury.
"He's not going to stop," he said. "He's going to keep coming for you, Lila. Not me. You."
Lila stepped closer, cupping his cheek.
"He won't win."
"You don't know what he's capable of."
"I know what we are capable of," she whispered. "You're not alone in this, Ethan. You never have been."
He looked at her really looked at her and something inside him broke free.
He pulled her close, holding her like she was his only anchor in the storm.
"You're everything," he said against her hair. "You're the only thing I'd give it all up for."
She clutched his shirt, her voice thick.
"Then let's take it all back together."