Chapter 116 Past Shadows
Diana’s Next Move
Diana smirked as she leaned back in her chair, watching the news coverage unfold. The reporters were feasting on the scandal like vultures, the headlines a symphony of destruction.
"Watson Group Scandal: Martha Watson’s Alleged Corruption Shocks the Business World!"
She sipped her wine, her fingers tapping lazily against the rim of the glass.
Let Ethan try to claw his way out of this.
Her phone vibrated, and she picked it up.
A distorted voice came through. “It’s done. The evidence is circulating. The board is uneasy.”
Diana smiled. “Good. Now, we move to phase two.”
A beat of silence. “Are you sure? This could push him over the edge.”
Diana’s fingers curled around the stem of her glass. “That’s the point.”
She ended the call, her mind already on the next step.
Because this? This was only the beginning.
The Truth Comes Out
Ethan ran a hand down his face, trying to process what his mother had just told him.
His father… had been involved in dealings even more dangerous than he’d ever imagined.
The offshore accounts weren’t just about hiding money. They were about protecting the Watson empire from an enemy that never disappeared.
“The men your father was dealing with—” Martha hesitated. “They didn’t take his death lightly.”
Ethan’s stomach twisted. “You’re saying someone is still out there? That they still have leverage?”
Martha nodded. “Diana knew exactly what to expose. She didn’t just want to damage your reputation—she wanted to tear apart everything this family has built. And if she’s gone this far…”
Ethan’s jaw locked. “She has more.”
Martha’s eyes darkened. “She always does.”
For the first time, Ethan felt the weight of something heavier than revenge.
Diana wasn’t just fighting to destroy him. She was fighting to erase the Watson name from history.
And if he didn’t stop her, she might just succeed.
The city stretched before Ethan, its glowing skyline a stark contrast to the darkness settling inside him. He stood on the penthouse balcony, his grip tight around a tumbler of whiskey, the burn in his throat doing little to drown out his thoughts.
His mother’s words echoed in his mind. They didn’t take his death lightly.
For years, he had believed his father’s passing was nothing more than an unfortunate accident. A tragic event that had forced him into leadership before he was ready. But now, Martha had peeled back a layer of deception he hadn’t even realized existed.
And Diana—Diana had known all along.
Alea stepped onto the balcony, her presence grounding him in a way nothing else could. She didn’t speak at first, simply watching him, waiting.
“Say it,” Ethan muttered, swirling the amber liquid in his glass.
Alea leaned against the railing beside him, her voice quiet but firm. “You don’t have to do this alone.”
He let out a dry chuckle. “That’s the thing, Alea. I think I always have.”
She turned to face him, her gaze sharp. “Then stop. Let me in.”
Ethan exhaled slowly. “If I do that, I have to tell you everything.”
Alea didn’t hesitate. “Then tell me.”
Diana’s Next Strike
Diana sat in the back of a sleek black car, her fingers drumming against the leather seat. The driver navigated the darkened streets with ease, heading toward an undisclosed location.
The city was on fire with whispers of the Watson family scandal. Investors were uneasy, the board was restless, and Ethan—Ethan was drowning.
Exactly as she had planned.
Her phone buzzed, and she glanced at the screen.
Unknown Number.
She answered. “Is it done?”
A deep voice responded. “It will be soon. But we need confirmation—do you want him ruined, or do you want him gone?”
Diana’s lips curved into a slow smile.
“Both.”
She ended the call, her heart thudding in her chest. This wasn’t just about revenge anymore.
This was about obliteration.
And soon, Ethan Watson wouldn’t just lose his empire. He’d lose everything.
Ethan’s Revelation
Ethan set his glass down, turning to fully face Alea.
“My father wasn’t just a businessman,” he started, his voice low. “He was playing a much more dangerous game. The kind that didn’t just involve corporate power—but the kind that could get people killed.”
Alea’s breath hitched, but she didn’t interrupt.
Ethan ran a hand through his hair, his frustration evident. “The accounts, the offshore holdings, even the backdoor deals—they weren’t about greed. They were about protection. My father built alliances not just in the boardroom, but with people who operate in the shadows.”
Alea’s eyes darkened. “And Diana figured it out.”
Ethan nodded. “She found the cracks and exposed them. But that’s not the worst part.”
Alea tensed. “There’s more?”
Ethan’s jaw tightened. “Diana isn’t working alone.”
Silence.
Alea’s pulse quickened. “You think someone else is pulling the strings?”
Ethan exhaled sharply. “I don’t think—I know.”
He reached into the inside pocket of his suit and pulled out a flash drive.
“This was sent to me earlier today. No sender, no message. Just encrypted files.”
Alea took it, staring at the small device. “What’s on it?”
Ethan’s voice was cold. “Proof that Diana isn’t the real threat.”
Alea met his gaze, a chill running down her spine.
“If it’s not Diana,” she whispered, “then who is?”
Ethan turned toward the city, his expression unreadable.
“Someone who’s been waiting in the shadows for far too long.”