Vivian left amid a storm of insults, slipping away with her proposal in hand, humiliated.

She knew very well-what happened in West Ridge was years ago. There was no evidence left. If Zachary wanted to take her down, his only weapon was public opinion. And clearly, he understood that. This entire ambush had been crafted with that in mind.

When it came to morality, people loved to y God. Everyone thought they stood on higher moral ground.

Vivian stared at her phone. The negative press was endless. Article after article, she could barely keep up.

One particrly long post had a video embedded at the bottom.

It was a tour of the abandoned factory in West Ridge. The camera started from the foot of the mountain and slowly moved through the factory gates. The footage was chilling-broken-down machines, rotting beams, and the haunting silence of a ce where too many had died. Their stories, their remains, had be part of the ruin.

The video''s title read: Let Them Come Home.

Nothing could''ve hit harder than that. Even without legal consequences, the public bacsh was overwhelming just like the moment she was kicked out earlier.

"Have PR responded yet?" she asked tightly.

Her assistant shook her head. "Miss Wilson, I can''t get through to anyone at thepany."

"What do you mean, you can''t get through?" Vivian''s voice cracked with disbelief.

The assistant hesitated, then dropped her voice. "I think... Mr. Wilson ordered them not to respond."

Vivian went pale. She didn''t say another word.

News of the failed bid reached Mr. Wilson almost immediately.

The Wilson household sank into dead silence. Not a single servant dared to breathe too loudly. A suffocating tension filled the air.

"What did you just say?" Mr. Wilson turned, stunned, toward his trusted aide.

He understood every word-but strung together, they felt like a foreignnguage. Impossible.

"How is that even possible?" His voice trembled. In that instant, it was like he''d aged a decade. His full head of white hair made him look suddenly frail and worn.

He remembered what Vivian had said to him-her reassurances, her confidence.

If Zachary had only been suspicious, he wouldn''t have chosen this moment to go public with West Ridge.

Now it was clear. Vivian hadn''t told him the full truth.

Because of her, the Wilson Group had lost itsst chance to turn things around.

Fury shot through Mr. Wilson''s head. His breath quickened. He tried to stand, reaching for his cane-but his trembling hand knocked ove instead.  s

Just before losing consciousness, he vaguely heard the panicked cries of his aide and hurried footsteps rushing toward him.

Chaos.

The family doctor arrived shortly after. He examined Mr. Wilson and quickly set up an IV.

"Whatever happens, make sure he''s not hit with any more emotional shocks," the doctor warned. "It''s serious."

After the doctor left, Mr. Wilson had already woken up.

He let out a long, shaky breath and slowly turned his head. His voice was hoarse. "Is Vivian at the office?"

The aide nodded. "She is. But don''t

worry, sir. With Miss Vivian

things are under controlet

focus on resting."

to s

But Mr. Wilson''s cloudy eyes sharpened with sarcasm. "That''s exactly why I''m worried."

He paused for a moment, then spoke again—this time, his tone firm andmanding.

"Send out an email. From me. To Vivian and every senior executive in thepany."

The aide froze in shock.

"Write exactly what I say."

As Mr. Wilson spoke, the aide''s eyes widened. Shock turned to disbelief. And if it weren''t for the discipline he''d built over years of loyal service, he might''ve lost control righthen and there.  sfnb788 The rightful source is f?ndnovel/fnb788