Part 17 –
The world watched.
The media was camped outside Wolfe Enterprises before dawn, their breath frosting in the cold morning air, cameras primed and ready.
They weren't just hunting a scandal anymore.
They were hunting blood.
8:00 A.M. – Wolfe Enterprises Press Hall
The company's rarely-used press hall, built for triumphant mergers and landmark announcements, had been hastily polished and filled with rows of suited reporters and eager shareholders.
In the front row sat Gregory Slate, a faint, calculated smile touching the corners of his mouth.
Beside him, empty seats reserved for the board members including Ethan Wolfe.
But it wasn't Ethan who would be stepping on stage today.
It was Julian.
8:15 A.M. – Ethan's Penthouse
Ethan stood before his mirror, tie loose, expression grim.
He could have stopped it. He could have stormed into the press hall, demanded silence, shattered the illusion before it began.
But that wasn't what the board wanted anymore.
They wanted a show.
And Ethan Wolfe brilliant, ruthless, strategic Ethan knew when to play the long game.
Still, the thought of letting Julian stand before the world as his father's son twisted like a knife in his chest.
Across the room, Lila watched him quietly.
She stepped forward, hands sure as she fixed his tie.
"You're not hiding today," she said gently. "You're watching. Learning."
He caught her hand, holding it to his chest. "You're the only reason I don't tear the whole building apart."
She smiled, fierce and proud. "Good. Save it. You'll need it."
8:30 A.M. – Press Hall
The lights dimmed slightly.
There was a hush a collective breath held tight as Gregory Slate walked to the podium.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Slate said smoothly, "thank you for joining us today for a historic moment."
He gestured to the side.
A young man emerged from the wings.
Julian Wolfe.
He wore a sharply tailored charcoal suit, his dark hair neatly styled, his expression calm but commanding.
He looked, in a word, presidential.
Confident without arrogance.
Handsome without vanity.
He stepped up to the microphone, every movement rehearsed to perfection.
"My name is Julian Wolfe," he said, voice steady. "Today, I stand before you not to divide this great company, but to honor the legacy of my father, Johnathan Wolfe. To bring transparency, accountability, and a future built on unity."
He paused, letting the words sink into the eager room.
Reporters scribbled furiously.
Cameras flashed.
"Though I was kept from the public eye, my heritage is undeniable. DNA results, family records, and sworn affidavits will be made available. I seek only to serve, to strengthen, and to heal."
Another pause.
Another perfect breath.
"And if it is the board's will, I am ready to assume whatever role necessary to ensure Wolfe Enterprises remains a beacon of integrity."
The room erupted in polite, enthusiastic applause.
Gregory Slate beamed like a kingmaker.
And in the back, unnoticed by most, Lila slipped inside, observing every nuance.
It was too perfect.
Lila – The Hunter in Heels
She watched Julian with a trained eye not as a woman charmed, but as a strategist dissecting an opponent.
The way he never looked nervous.
The way he deflected questions about his upbringing.
The way he used words like healing and unity to mask ambition.
And most importantly the way he never once mentioned Ethan by name.
Not once.
This isn't about healing, Lila thought grimly. It's about replacing.
She slipped out before the Q&A session began, heart pounding.
She needed to find proof.
Something to tear the mask off Julian Wolfe before it was too late.
Elsewhere – Gregory Slate's Office
Gregory poured himself a glass of expensive scotch, watching the broadcast replay on his private screen.
His phone buzzed.
A single message.
"All assets in place. Ethan's isolation phase beginning. Final stage ready."
He smiled coldly.
By the time Ethan Wolfe realized what was happening, he'd be powerless to stop it.
And Lila Hart?
She'd be nothing but collateral damage.
Ethan – Standing Still
When Lila returned to the penthouse, Ethan was still by the window, his hands shoved deep into his pockets.
"He's better than I expected," he said quietly.
Lila shook her head. "He's performing, Ethan. He's not here to share Wolfe Enterprises. He's here to take it."
Ethan turned, face hardened. "I know."
"Then fight," she said fiercely. "Because if you don't, he will destroy everything you built. And he'll use your father's sins as the sword."
He stepped toward her, closing the space between them.
"No," Ethan said, voice low. "We'll fight."
Lila looked up at him, her chest tightening.
Together.
No more secrets.
No more walls.
Only battle and each other.