The following morning, Isabella stepped into the boardroom of "Vela Lux Holdings," her newest acquisition—a media conglomerate that had been struggling until her intervention.
A dozen executives waited, their faces a mix of awe and uncertainty. None of them could have guessed that the elegant woman in a tailored white suit used to be the ex-wife of the man who nearly destroyed their company.
"I'm not here to make friends," Isabella began, her voice sharp and commanding. "I'm here to rebuild this company into a weapon."
Silence fell.
Her assistant handed out folders containing new directives. "We're cutting unprofitable projects, replacing top-tier leadership, and focusing on investigative journalism with teeth."
One man raised his hand hesitantly. "What kind of… investigations?"
Isabella's gaze sharpened. "Corruption. Corporate fraud. Political collusion. And start with the Whitmore Group."
Gasps echoed through the room.
"You're declaring war?" the man whispered.
She smiled coldly. "No. I'm winning one."
—
Across town, Liam received an unexpected visitor—Evelyn Lang, the elegant, sharp-tongued CEO of the rival Phoenix Tech.
"She's playing you," Evelyn said, tossing a confidential report onto his desk. "Isabella's not just rebuilding herself—she's building an empire."
Liam studied the report. Photos, financial flows, offshore transfers… It was all here.
"What do you want?" he asked.
"I want in," Evelyn replied smoothly. "You can't bring her down alone. But we—together—we can crush her."
Liam considered her words. He knew Evelyn was as ruthless as she was brilliant. Partnering with her meant gaining power… but losing control.
He stared out the window, lost in thought.
Did he want revenge?
Or redemption?
—
Back at home, Isabella received a single message on her phone.
"They're aligning against you. He's scared. That means you're close."
She stared at the words and smiled faintly.
Let them come.
This was her battlefield now.