The next morning, news outlets buzzed with rumors of a "scandal" involving Reed Global.
Nothing confirmed.
But whispers were spreading.
Adrian was testing the waters.
Ethan stormed into Ava's office. "We should go public first. Control the narrative."
"And say what?" Ava challenged. "That someone is stalking us?"
Frustration sparked between them — sharp, dangerous.
Stress was doing exactly what Adrian wanted.
Ethan exhaled slowly. "I'm trying to protect you."
Ava softened, but only slightly. "And I'm trying to win."
The tension wasn't romantic.
It was survival.
Meanwhile, Selene uncovered something disturbing.
The hidden investor funding Adrian…
Was Ethan's former mentor.
A man who once helped build Lawson Enterprises.
"He blames Ethan for pushing him out years ago," Selene explained. "He wants revenge too."
The war wasn't just emotional.
It was generational.
Ava realized something chilling:
Adrian wasn't alone in obsession.
He was being encouraged.