Antony Raymond sat in office that was on the eleventh floor of a multistoried building, as the evening sun glowed through tye window. Holding his expensive red wine on his left hand as he stared at his laptop screen. The engagement announcement had created waves exactly as he wanted. The media frenzy had been relentless, and the pressure on Ariana was starting to pile up.
He has expected Ariana to confront him, but what choice did she have, No matter how much she wanted to escape, society wouldn't allow it. Ariana was the heir of the Camelo family, and breaking off an engagement so publicly would ruin her family's reputation.
He took another slow sip of his red wine. It has been along time in a while now since he felt a sense of control. His business investment had gone south, but he will make sure that his grip on Camelo Corporation remained through the wedding.
Across from him, Rachel Lawrence sat on the edge of his office couch, scrolling through the news on her phone.
"Everything is going according to plan," she murmured, her lips curling into a smug smile. "The public thinks you and Ariana are a golden couple. People are already calling you the next golden business duo."
Antony smirked. "She might try to fight back, but she has no way out. She will be my wife, and soon, Camelo Corporation will be mine."
Rachel looked up at him. "And what if she refuses?"
Antony spoke with confidence. "She won't, she doesn't have a choice."
He was about to take another sip of his drink, his phone buzzed.
A single notification appeared.
Anonymous Message:
"How does it feels like to find out you are not in control as you thought, Check the attached file before celebrating."
His smirk vanished. What could this be, His fingers tightened around the glass as he hesitated, then clicked on the attachment.
A spreadsheet opened on his screen. A familiar set of financial records, the transactions he had made to secretly acquire shares of Camelo Corporation under different shell companies. It was supposed to be a closed deal that no one will ever find out about.
But now someone sent it to him.
And at the bottom of the document, a sentence made his blood cold:
"The authorities will be very interested in these document, don't you think?"
Antony's breath hitched. A cold sweat ran down his spine.
"Rachel," he said, his voice sharp.
Rachel frowned at his tone. "What is it?"
Silently, he turned the screen toward her.
She leaned forward, her eyes scanning through the messages. Slowly, her face drained of color.
"This… this isn't possible," she whispered. "No one sees should know about these transactions. You used offshore accounts, shell companies. How could someone track this?"
Antony clenched his fists. He already knew the answer. There was only one person with the resources and intelligence to uncover something this well-hidden.
Ariana.
But he has control Over Ariana and she doesn't even really care about her father's company then so why now??
Rachel's hands trembled as she looked back at him. "If this gets out, you'll be charged with financial fraud. Not just lose Camelo Corporation, you will be destroyed."
Antony slammed his fist against the table, sending the wine glass crashing to the floor.
"Damn it!" he hissed. He had underestimated her. Again.
_______
Meanwhile, in another part of the city,
In a private lounge of an expensive restaurant that it's only for the elite not everyone get to eat there. Ariana sat beside the window with a calm posture. she stirred her jasmine tea. Across from her, Leo Feng leaned back in his seat, smiling.
"I would say that message will ruin his night," Leo commented, crossing his arms.
Ariana took a slow sip of her tea, the corner of her lips curving into a satisfied smile. "It's just the beginning."
When she remembered what they did to her in her past life, she will make them pay this time.
Leo raised a brow. "So, what's next, Do we strike now?"
She shook her head. "No. Let him live in his fear for now. Let him panic. Fear makes people do some reckless things."
Leo chuckled. "You are enjoying this." He could see that Ariana is taking pleasure in Anthony's pain.
She tilted her head. "He thought he still had control over me for so long. It's time he learns what real power looks like."
Leo smirked. "Remind me to never cross you."
It better not to cross or offend some women if not you won't know how you died. Leo thought.
Ariana placed her cup down, her eyes gleaming with quiet determination. "This isn't about revenge anymore, Leo. This is about ensuring that men like him never get to manipulate others again."
Leo nodded, his head was already spinning, it not about revenge anymore but what kind of sin did Anthony commit against this goddess of revenge that other men will also get hit from it. "So what's our next move?"
Ariana leaned forward. "He is going to start looking for a way to cover his tracks. But he won't realize that every move he makes from now on… will only tighten the trap around his neck."
____
The next morning, Ariana made her first public appearance since the engagement announcement. A charity gala had been scheduled for weeks, and she arrived dressed in an elegant yet understated gown. She wore a long purple simple gown which had slit at the front reaching her knees.
As soon as she stepped out of the car, cameras start flashing.
Reporters rushed toward her, extending their microphone.
"Miss Cameloe, congratulations on your engagement!"
"What do you have to say on Antony Raymond's surprise announcement?"
"Is the wedding date set?"
Ariana's lips curled into a knowing smile. She reached for a reporter's microphone and tilted her head slightly.
"Some people believe they can dictate fate, but fate has a way of surprising us all. Let's see what happens at the party."
The crowd fell silent for a moment, then a wave of murmurs erupted.
What did she mean by that? Was she rejecting the engagement? Was there a scandal brewing?
Watching the live broadcast from his office, Antony gritted his teeth.
"What the hell is she playing at?"
Rachel, pacing behind him, frowned. "She's planning something. We need to be ahead of her."
But no matter how they tried to find out what Ariana is planning they still couldn't find it.
_______
From the top floor of his high-rise office, Jesse Ren watched the broadcast unfold, sipping his tea. His secretary, Lincoln Park, stood beside him.
"She's quite impressive," Lincoln noted. "Most women would crumble under this kind of public pressure. But she's turning the headlines in her favor."
Jesse chuckled, setting down his cup. "That's what makes her interesting."
Lincoln hesitated. "Should we interfere?"
Jesse smirked. "Not yet. Let's see how far she can take this on her own. If she can bring Antony down without help… then she's worth my investment."
Antony was walking straight into Ariana's trap, and he had no idea.
Ariana had already arranged secret meetings with business tycoon who had long despised Antony's underhanded tactics, journalists eager for a career-defining scandal, and even legal experts who had been waiting for Antony to slip up.
When the engagement party arrived, it wouldn't just be a celebration.
It would be the beginning of his downfall.