Chapter 25: The Breaking Point

The air in Wang Li's office was thick with tension. The normally sleek and orderly space was in chaos—papers scattered across the desk, a half-empty cup of coffee left untouched, and the holographic screen flickering with an urgent notification. He ran a hand through his hair, eyes scanning the latest financial reports. Something was wrong.

Dr. Emily Thompson had promised full transparency, but discrepancies in the funding records of their joint research initiative had surfaced. Billions of yuan were unaccounted for. The numbers didn't add up.

Just as he was about to contact his financial team, his office door burst open. Chen, his most trusted aide, stormed in, his expression grim.

**"Wang Li, we have a major problem,"** Chen said, slamming a folder onto the desk.

Wang Li flipped it open. It contained detailed transaction records, encrypted messages, and a dossier on a shadow organization tied to the missing funds. His heart pounded as he skimmed the contents.

**"Dr. Thompson…"** Wang Li whispered, the realization dawning upon him.

**"She's been siphoning money into offshore accounts. Not just her—there are others involved. Investors, government officials, even some of our own people,"** Chen revealed, his fists clenched. **"And the worst part? Lin Hong's name is all over this."**

Lin Hong. Wang Li's long-time adversary. The man who had tried to sabotage his empire at every turn. How could he have missed this?

Before Wang Li could respond, his assistant, Mei, rushed in, her face pale. **"Sir, Dr. Thompson is here. She's demanding a meeting—now."**

Wang Li exchanged a glance with Chen. **"Let her in."**

---

Dr. Emily Thompson entered with a composed demeanor, but Wang Li could see the flicker of unease in her eyes.

**"Wang Li,"** she greeted, forcing a smile. **"I assume you've heard the news?"**

He gestured toward the documents on the desk. **"I don't like playing games, Emily. Explain this."**

She sighed, rubbing her temple. **"I had no choice. The funding allocations weren't enough. I needed extra resources to complete the research, and Lin Hong was willing to provide financial backing."**

**"At what cost?"** Wang Li snapped, his voice razor-sharp. **"Selling out everything we built? Lining your own pockets while pretending to care about sustainability?"**

Emily stiffened. **"I never stole from you, Wang Li. I diverted funds, yes, but it was for the project."**

Chen scoffed. **"Spare us the lies. Offshore accounts, bribes, connections to known criminals? You're in deep."**

Emily's composure cracked. **"You don't understand the pressure I was under! Lin Hong came to me with an offer I couldn't refuse. He had leverage. If I hadn't accepted, everything we worked for would have been destroyed."**

Wang Li took a deep breath, his voice cold. **"And you didn't think to come to me first?"**

Silence.

Emily lowered her gaze. **"I didn't want to risk losing your trust."**

He laughed bitterly. **"And yet, you lost it anyway."**

---

The confrontation escalated quickly. Emily insisted that Lin Hong was planning something bigger—something that could not only ruin the smart city project but also bring Wang Li down entirely.

**"He's setting you up,"** Emily confessed, her voice laced with desperation. **"You're being framed for financial crimes. The evidence is already in motion. Soon, the authorities will come for you."**

Chen's phone buzzed. He checked the message and swore under his breath. **"She's telling the truth. There's an official investigation being launched against you, Wang Li."**

For the first time in years, Wang Li felt a genuine surge of fury. His empire, his reputation, his son's future—everything was at stake.

**"Emily, if you want to fix this, you'll work with us,"** Wang Li said, his voice unwavering. **"We take Lin Hong down before he can destroy us."**

Emily hesitated but finally nodded. **"I'll do whatever it takes."**

Wang Li met Chen's determined gaze. **"Then let's go to war."