52. The Proposal. Leo pov

It felt like fate—or perhaps a cruel twist of irony—when SakuraTech swooped in to save my company just as it was on the brink of collapse. The market had taken a brutal turn, leaving us scrambling for survival. My parents, ever the pragmatic businesspeople, were adamant that I accept SakuraTech's partnership offer. Refusing wasn't an option. Their disapproval loomed like a storm cloud, making it clear that this was more than a business decision; it was a family mandate.

The board meeting to finalize the partnership went smoothly. We held a grand signing ceremony afterward, with the press capturing every handshake, every smile. It was all polished and perfect on the surface—just the way these corporate events always were. Smiling faces, enthusiastic nods, empty conversations. The headlines the next day would declare a "Promising Alliance for the Future." But beneath the surface, I couldn't shake the gnawing unease in my chest.