CHAPTER 126: CHAPTER 126

At that moment hearing what Cora just said, Malisa just stood frozen, her mouth slightly open as she processed Cora’s words. She never expected her to go this far, not in this way, not with this level of resolve. Cora was usually the calm strategist, the one who weighed every possible outcome before making a move. But today, the fire in her eyes told a different story. Today, she was done playing defensive.

Then Malisa’s heart raced, not out of pity for Samuel because he deserved every single thing coming his way, but because she feared how brutal the fallout could be. Samuel was popular. He had diehard fans who would defend him even when he was wrong, and once this plan went into motion, the reaction could spiral into something unpredictable.

Still, one look at Cora’s face silenced every argument Malisa considered voicing. There was no turning her back now.

Cora’s voice cut through the thick silence, firm and unrelenting. "Malisa, kick into action. Now. I want everything prepared for tomorrow morning." She stood from her chair, the determination in her posture almost palpable. "If Samuel thinks tomorrow is his big moment, if he really believes signing that new contract will make him untouchable then we’re going to take that moment and flip it on him. Right there. In front of everyone."

Malisa blinked, gripping her phone tighter. "You’re serious about this?"

At that moment Cora turned sharply, her gaze cold and unwavering. "Dead serious. People like him... they don’t stop until someone forces them to. He crossed the line, Malisa. And I warned him. I don’t give second warnings again."

Malisa swallowed hard. "What exactly do you want me to prepare?"

"Everything," Cora replied without hesitation. "Press coverage. Legal teams. Any footage or evidence we can use against him. I want it airtight so that when we strike, there’s no recovery for him. If Samuel wants to play dirty, then fine, I’ll play smarter." Her voice dropped lower, almost like a whisper meant more for herself than Malisa. "He’s an evil man. I don’t have mercy for people like that again."

Immediately Malisa nodded slowly, already pulling out her phone.

***

It was the next day, and the silence inside her father’s grand study felt heavier than usual. Victoria sat stiffly in the high-backed chair, the morning light streaming faintly through the tall windows, glinting off the polished wood of the massive desk between her and her unexpected visitor this morning.

Seated across from her was Abigail Robert’s younger sister. Victoria couldn’t help but notice how different Abigail looked this morning; gone was her usual carefree charm, replaced by a hardened expression. Her jaw was tight, her arms folded firmly across her chest, and her foot tapped against the floor with barely restrained agitation. Whatever had brought her here at this hour was eating her alive from the inside.

At that moment Victoria frowned slightly, her breaking the tense silence.

"What’s going on, Abigail?" she asked, voice calm but edged with concern. "When you called me last night, I knew something wasn’t right. And for you to show up here so early... it must be serious. Something suspicious, right?"

Abigail’s sharp inhale was audible in the stillness of the room. She leaned forward, her tone clipped and direct. "You guessed right," she admitted. "Yes, something is wrong. And it would be so wrong of me not to tell you about it."

Then Victoria felt her chest tighten at Abigail’s words. The way she said it grave, almost accusatory, only deepened her curiosity. She shifted slightly, leaning forward as well, her fingers curling around the armrest of her chair. "Okay," she said quietly but firmly. "Now I’m really curious. I want to know. What’s actually going on?"

Abigail’s eyes flickered, holding Victoria’s gaze before she continued, her voice lowering as though even the walls might be listening.

"I hope you’ve heard about the scandal that’s been everywhere lately," she began. "That love scandal between a certain woman and Samuel, the best actor in the country." Then Abigail paused deliberately, letting the words sink in, before adding coldly, "I didn’t even know the woman’s name until recently... but now I do. Her name is Cora."

At that moment, hearing what Abigail had just said, Victoria slowly nodded her head, her brows furrowing slightly.

"Yes," she admitted softly, leaning back into the leather chair. "I actually saw the news yesterday. The scandal was... interesting, to say the least." Her tone was cautious, neither approving nor condemning, simply observing. "But it was debunked almost immediately. I also heard reports that the lady herself came out to deny everything."

Then Victoria crossed one leg over the other, her posture firm but composed. "From what I know," she added, "that lady is the boss of MK Entertainment. That’s the only thing I’ve heard about her. So tell me, Abigail, what does any of that have to do with you showing up here this morning? The way you were sounding on the phone last night—" Victoria’s gaze sharpened, "—you made it sound like the sky was falling. This is just a celebrity scandal. It doesn’t even concern us."

For a moment, silence lingered between them. Immediately Abigail’s lips curved into a small, humorless smile. Then she let out a quiet, smooth laugh, the kind that made Victoria straighten in her chair instinctively.

"Well," Abigail said finally, her voice low and deliberate, "I’m sorry to disappoint you, Victoria... but this news does concern us. In fact" her gaze sharpened "it concerns you even more than anyone else."

Victoria’s eyebrows raised a little. Her grip on the armrest tightened slightly, though she kept her expression neutral. "Concerns me?" she echoed. "How? From what I can see, this entire mess doesn’t involve me at all."

At that moment Abigail leaned forward, resting her forearms on her knees, her eyes never leaving Victoria’s face. "From my findings," she said slowly, "this isn’t something we should take lightly. Not at all."

Again Victoria’s chest tightened, unease prickling beneath her skin. "What did you see?" she asked, her voice quieter now. "Is there something you know... something that makes you think this is more than just a scandal? Just tell me. What did you see?"