Rain pattered against the towering windows of Damien's private study as Mercer entered with a sealed folder.
"We have a problem."
Damien didn't look up.
"Define it."
"Caldwell shifted his attack. He's targeting Ariana's family her estranged father, specifically."
Damien's eyes darkened.
"Why?"
"Because the man has debts, history, mistakes… and Caldwell's obtained documents that could spin a devastating narrative."
Mercer placed the file on the desk.
"If leaked, it'll frame Ariana as connected to financial fraud through her father's past business failures. Public sympathy would evaporate. Your enemies would exploit it politically."
Damien finally looked up, his voice pure ice.
"Then this ends now."
Across town, Caldwell met with one of his journalists the first domino in his new smear campaign.
"Leak it anonymously," Caldwell ordered.
"By the time Lancaster reacts, the stain will spread. The media will feast on it."
The journalist hesitated.
"Lancaster is dangerous—"
"Lancaster isn't untouchable," Caldwell interrupted, voice sharp.
"And I'm not the one truly orchestrating this."
The journalist froze.
A chill ran through the air.
Later that night, Damien returned home.
Ariana was in the conservatory, staring blankly at the rain outside. She sensed him before hearing his footsteps.
"You know," she whispered.
"Yes."
"They're coming after my father. After my past."
He approached her slowly.
"This isn't your burden, Ariana."
She turned sharply, frustration breaking through her controlled exterior.
"But it is! Because I'm your wife, because my past is now ammunition."
Damien's voice dropped.
"I will not let them break you."
Tears glistened in her eyes.
"But at what cost, Damien? How far will you go for me?"
His answer was instant.
"As far as I have to."
In a dark, remote estate far from their city, the woman in the shadows watched as the media engines began to churn.
The first online articles appeared. Whisper campaigns ignited.
She smiled faintly.
Caldwell's voice echoed through the secured call on her screen.
"We've initiated Phase Two."
Her voice was silk.
"Very good."
"But Lancaster will strike back," Caldwell warned.
The woman's eyes gleamed.
"That's what I want."
She ended the call, her gaze returning to Ariana's image on screen.
"Let's see how far Damien Lancaster can fall for you, my dear."
At dawn, Damien stood before a war room filled with his most trusted operatives Mercer, Elise, and his elite financial strike team.
The large digital screens displayed complex flowcharts of Caldwell's financial empire offshore accounts, shell companies, secret holdings.
"Begin the collapse," Damien ordered coldly.
His commands were executed like synchronized clockwork:
Federal investigations discreetly triggered.
Hidden debts exposed.
False shell companies legally dissolved.
Key business partners blackmailed into withdrawal.
Mercer's voice cut through the tension.
"His liquidity is crashing. Stocks are plunging. Several regulatory agencies just opened formal investigations."
Elise added, "His political allies are abandoning him."
Damien watched without a flicker of emotion.
"This is what happens when you touch what's mine."
Across town, Caldwell stormed through his office as panicked advisors scrambled to contain the disaster.
"HOW?!" he shouted.
"They're freezing everything bank accounts, assets, even the trust funds."
An associate whispered nervously.
"Sir... the agencies moved unusually fast. Someone higher may have pulled strings."
Caldwell froze, realization dawning.
"No... Lancaster couldn't have pulled federal strings this fast..."
His phone buzzed.
A private line.
He answered with a trembling hand.
The woman's voice was smooth as silk.
"You underestimated Lancaster's reach."
"Then help me!" Caldwell growled.
"You promised you'd keep me protected."
"I am protecting you," she replied softly.
"Your role is not over yet."
Caldwell's breath hitched.
"What do you want me to do?"
Her voice lowered to a whisper.
"Trust me."
Back at Lancaster Tower, Mercer returned with new intel.
"We've pushed him into a corner, sir. Caldwell's remaining leverage is thin. But…"
Damien looked up sharply.
"But?"
"We intercepted a coded transaction. He received an emergency financial transfer $300 million from an unknown account outside standard monitoring."
Elise added:
"It wasn't one of his usual backers."
Damien's gaze narrowed dangerously.
"Someone's protecting him."
Mercer's voice dropped.
"This is bigger than Caldwell now."
That night, Ariana stood by the floor to ceiling windows of the penthouse, watching the city's lights flicker beneath the storm clouds.
Damien approached quietly behind her.
"He's weakened," he said.
"But not finished?" she asked softly.
"No. Not yet."
Ariana turned, voice shaking slightly.
"How far will this go, Damien? How many enemies do you really have?"
Damien's voice was calm but heavy.
"More than you know."
In her private estate, the woman smiled as she watched Caldwell temporarily stabilized.
Her assistant spoke quietly.
"He's buying time. Lancaster suspects there's someone else now."
"Good," she whispered.
"Let him suspect."
She raised her glass of wine.
"We need him angry. When men like Damien Lancaster lose control that's when they become vulnerable."
She stared at the frozen image of Damien and Ariana on the screen.
"Now, Phase Three begins."