The clock was ticking, each second louder than the last. Agnes could feel the weight of everything pressing on her chest as she stared at her phone screen. The headlines hadn't stopped. The memes hadn't stopped. The public had turned on her, vilifying her for the destruction of her father's legacy. She had gone from a princess in a tower to a target, all because of one act of defiance.
And yet, even in the chaos, Majek remained by her side. He was her constant, the one thing she could cling to in this overwhelming storm.
The Strategy Unfolds
The plan Majek had devised was set into motion, each step more dangerous than the last. The final piece of evidence, a damning video of her father, detailing illegal transactions and alliances with some of the most notorious figures in the business world, was set to be released at noon. It was the nail in the coffin, the one piece that would make it impossible for anyone to deny the truth any longer.
They had been working in the shadows, gathering intel, contacting allies, and preparing for this moment for weeks. It felt as though they had been living in a different reality, suspended in the midst of a hurricane, waiting for the storm to break.
"Everything is set," Majek said, his voice steady despite the chaos that surrounded them. His eyes, however, betrayed the pressure. He wasn't as calm as he seemed. They both knew the risks.
"I just…" Agnes hesitated, her voice cracking. "I just don't know if I can handle what comes next."
"You don't have to handle it alone," Majek replied, stepping closer to her. His presence was a comfort, but his eyes were filled with an urgency that mirrored her own. "You've already done the hardest part. Now, we finish this."
She swallowed hard, the weight of her emotions threatening to overwhelm her. "I'm afraid. Afraid of what happens if this doesn't work. If the backlash is worse than we expect."
"We can't control what comes next. But we can control how we fight back," Majek said, his voice a low, determined murmur. "This is the only way out, Agnes. You're choosing your freedom."
The truth of his words hit her like a blow to the chest. Freedom. That was the one thing she had always wanted but could never truly possess. Now, it was within her grasp, but it required everything—her family, her reputation, even her own sense of identity.
The Choice
The hour approached. Agnes stood by the window, looking out at the city skyline as she wrestled with the storm inside her. She could feel the magnitude of the decision she had made settling deeper into her bones. This wasn't just about exposing her father; this was about cutting the last ties to a life that had never been hers to begin with.
She turned to Majek, who was quietly working at the desk. His focus was intense, but there was a subtle undercurrent of worry in his posture, his shoulders tense as though bracing for impact.
"Majek," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
He looked up, and for a moment, their gazes locked. There was a vulnerability in his eyes that mirrored her own fear. "I'm here," he said, the words almost a promise.
"I don't know if I can go through with this," she admitted, her throat tightening.
Majek stood up slowly, walking over to her. He took her hands in his, his touch firm, grounding her. "You're not backing out now, Agnes. You've come too far."
Tears welled up in her eyes, but she blinked them away, trying to hold onto the resolve she knew she needed. "I'm afraid of what this will do to us. To everything we've built."
He cupped her face gently, his thumb brushing away the tear that had escaped. "We'll build something new. Something real. This isn't about revenge; it's about claiming the life we deserve. The life you deserve."
His words were a lifeline, pulling her out of the whirlpool of self-doubt that had been dragging her under. She wasn't alone in this. No matter how impossible it seemed, they were together.
"Okay," she whispered, her voice steadier now. "Let's do this. Together."
The Countdown Begins
As the clock hit 11:30 AM, Agnes felt the tension rise in her chest. She had made the decision, and now there was no turning back. The video was scheduled to go live in 30 minutes, and they had already sent copies to trusted journalists, ensuring the story would break simultaneously across all major news outlets.
The countdown to freedom had begun.
Just as they prepared to make the final move, a message popped up on Agnes's phone.
It was from her father.
"You don't know what you're about to unleash. If you do this, there's no coming back. The people you care about—especially Majek—will pay the price. I've been patient, but you're making a grave mistake."
The words were cold, calculated. But it wasn't just the message itself that shook her—it was the threat embedded in it.
"Majek," she said, her voice trembling. "He knows."
Majek glanced at her phone, then at her, his expression hardening. "He's trying to scare you. Don't let him."
But Agnes could feel the weight of her father's words gnawing at her. The idea of Majek being dragged into this mess, of him paying the price for her rebellion, terrified her more than anything. She loved him more than she could ever explain, and the thought of him being hurt because of her choices made her heart ache.
"Majek," she began, her voice breaking. "What if he's right? What if this is too much? I can't bear the thought of you getting hurt."
"I'm already in this, Agnes," Majek replied, stepping closer to her, his voice calm yet unwavering. "We're in this together, no matter what. I don't care about the consequences, because I know that the future we're fighting for is worth every risk."
She wanted to believe him. She had to believe him.
But the fear still lingered.
The Moment of Truth
As noon approached, the weight of the world seemed to settle over Agnes's shoulders. She had done the hard work. They had uncovered the truth. But the moment of release—the moment when the video would go live—felt like a precipice she was about to jump off.
Majek stepped behind her, his hand resting on her shoulder. "We're doing this for you, Agnes. For everything you've ever dreamed of."
Agnes took a deep breath, her fingers hovering over the "Send" button.
And then—
The Truth Is Unleashed
The video went live.
It was a floodgate opening, a wave of truth crashing through the carefully constructed lies. It showed her father's darkest secrets—his deals with criminals, his manipulation of the law, his betrayal of his own employees, his exploitation of the very people who had worked to build SMG Conglomerate. And in the final moments, there was her father's voice—cold, unapologetic, confessing to crimes she could never have imagined.
As the video hit the internet, the world reacted immediately.
"Breaking: SMG CEO Smith Lewis exposed in massive corruption scandal!"
"The real story behind the collapse of SMG Conglomerate—read all the shocking details!"
"Daughter of SMG CEO blows the lid off decades of corporate deceit—what's next for Agnes Lewis?"
The notifications flooded in, and the floodgates opened. The media was ablaze. The world was finally seeing the man her father truly was.
But with that truth came consequences.
Her phone rang. Her lawyer's name flashed across the screen.
"Agnes," Tolu said breathlessly. "The backlash is immediate. There are people coming for you. The backlash won't stop here. Your father… He's not going to let this go."