Chapter 116: Betrayal and Consequences

The phone rang, its shrill tone cutting through the silence of Malia's office like a razor blade. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard, the digital blueprint of her company's future laid out before her. She wasn't ready to be distracted, not now. Not when every decision felt like it could tip the balance between survival and collapse. But the phone kept ringing, louder, demanding her attention.

With a sigh, she picked up the receiver. "Malia Savar."

"Malia, it's Lena. You need to turn on the TV. Now."

Lena's voice was tense, strained—frantic, even. That alone told Malia that something was terribly wrong. She pulled herself from her chair, turning to the wall-mounted television in the corner of the office. The screen flickered to life, and within seconds, the news anchor's voice filled the room.