Chapter 29

Ariana sat in a quiet corner of a cafe with Mia, her fingers lightly drumming against the wooden table.

Her phone vibrated, and she quickly checked the message.

"Investor Graham has officially withdrawn from the Golden Luxe Hotels project. Other investors are beginning to waver."

A small, satisfied smile played on her lips.

This was the first strike.

Lucas had poured millions into this hotel project, using it as a stepping stone to strengthen his foothold in the industry.

And now, the first domino had fallen.

Ariana took a slow sip of her coffee, savoring the moment. Mia, sitting across from her, scrolled through her phone, her eyes wide with amazement.

"Holy crap, Ari," Mia whispered. "You really did it."

Ariana smirked. "I told you I would."

"This is insane! Lucas is trending on every business news platform. Investors are dropping him left and right. His reputation is tanking." Mia shook her head in disbelief. "Are you sure he won't figure out it was you?"

Ariana sipped her coffee. "Even if he suspects, he won't have proof. And without proof, all he can do is seethe in silence."

Mia grinned. "Remind me never to get on your bad side."

Ariana chuckled. "As long as you don't betray me, you have nothing to worry about."

By the time Ariana reached home that evening, the internet was buzzing with news of the crumbling Golden Luxe Hotels project.

Breaking news : "Major Investor Pulls Out of Golden Luxe Hotels Amid Uncertain Future!"

"Lucas Turner Faces Setback as Investors Question Resort Project Stability."

"Is This the Beginning of Turner Enterprises' Downfall?"

Ariana scrolled through the articles, her smirk widening.

Lucas must be livid right now.

Lucas paced in his office, his hands clenched into fists as he glared at the news articles flooding the internet. His phone buzzed constantly with calls from investors pulling out of the deal.

Investor Graham has officially withdrawn from the Golden Luxe Hotels project.

This wasn't just a simple investor pulling out—it was a warning sign. Graham was one of his strongest backers, and if he had lost confidence in the project, it wouldn't be long before others followed.

"This is a goddamn nightmare," he muttered under his breath before turning to his assistant, Jonathan. "Find out who leaked this information! I want names, and I want them now."

Jonathan swallowed nervously. "Sir, the leak was anonymous. But… whoever did it had access to very specific details about the offshore company. That kind of information isn't public."

Lucas's face twisted with rage. "Then find someone to take the fall for this! I don't care who. Just fix it!"

As Jonathan scurried away, Lucas sat down heavily, rubbing his temples. He had been so close to securing this deal—so close to a massive profit. Someone had deliberately sabotaged him, and he would find out who.

A thought struck him, and his eyes narrowed. Could it be Ethan? No, that didn't seem right. Ethan had never been the type to interfere so directly. But then who…?

His mind flickered to Ariana for the briefest of moments.

She had changed. He wasn't sure exactly when it happened, but ever since the breakup, there was something different about her. She carried herself with a quiet confidence, a sharpness in her gaze that wasn't there before. And then there was the way she looked at him at the gala—unfazed, as if he were nothing more than an inconvenience.

But no… it couldn't be her.

She wasn't a businesswoman. She had only just started her fashion venture. There was no way she had the connections or knowledge to orchestrate something like this.

Dismissing the thought, Lucas picked up his phone and made a call.

"I want a full report on Investor Graham's withdrawal," he ordered, his voice cold. "Find out if someone is pulling strings behind the scenes."

He refused to let this setback shake him. If someone was trying to undermine him, he would find them. And when he did, he would make them regret it.

Meanwhile, at Blackwood Enterprises, Ethan leaned back in his leather chair, his sharp eyes scanning the latest business reports. His assistant, Daniel, entered the office, carrying a tablet.

"Sir, you might want to take a look at this," Daniel said, placing the device in front of Ethan.

Ethan's gaze flicked to the screen, his brows lifting slightly as he read the breaking news.

"Potential Money Laundering Scandal: Lucas Wright's Investment in Jeopardy?"

A slow, knowing smirk formed on his lips.

"So, it finally happened," Ethan murmured. He had suspected for some time that Lucas was playing a risky game in the business world, but what intrigued him was the timing. The deal had been solid just yesterday. For it to suddenly collapse… it felt deliberate.

"Interesting," Ethan said, his fingers tapping against his desk. "Who do you think could have pulled the strings?"

Daniel hesitated. "Well, the article mentions an anonymous source. Whoever it is had access to some serious inside information."

Ethan leaned forward, deep in thought. "Not just inside information—timing. This wasn't a coincidence. Someone wanted Lucas to suffer." His mind instinctively drifted to the only person he had recently met who had both the intelligence and a reason to go after Lucas.

Ariana.

Ethan didn't believe in coincidences.

Lucas Turner's business troubles had begun right after Ariana's sudden shift in demeanor. And while there was no direct proof of her involvement, Ethan had learned to trust his instincts.

Ariana was playing a dangerous game.

The question was, did she know what she was getting herself into?

Ethan wasn't the type to interfere in others' battles, but he was a firm believer in watching the game unfold. He found intelligence and ambition far more attractive than fleeting beauty, and Ariana had both in abundance.

Still, he had to wonder—what was her endgame?

And more importantly, would she be able to handle the consequences when Lucas inevitably struck back?

Setting his glass down, Ethan reached for his phone.

"Daniel, keep an eye on Ariana Carter," he instructed his assistant. "I want to know everything about what she's been up to lately."

Ariana might think she was in control, but Ethan knew better.

And if she wasn't careful, he might just step into the game himself.

Back in her room, Ariana placed Teddy on her nightstand and stretched out on her bed, feeling satisfied.

Teddy's voice chimed again, "Ding Ding! Mission accomplished! That was a masterful move, boss! Lucas never saw it coming!"

Ariana chuckled, setting her tablet aside. She reached out, gently adjusting Teddy's position so he sat upright. "This is just the beginning," she said softly. "Lucas won't go down easily, and I need to be ready for his retaliation."

Her phone buzzed again, another message flashing on the screen.

"Sophia has been trying to do damage control. She's spinning the investor's withdrawal as a minor setback."

Ariana's smile faded slightly. Sophia was resourceful, she had to admit. But it wouldn't be enough. Ariana wasn't aiming for a single blow—she was setting up a series of calculated attacks that would weaken them both, piece by piece.

Taking a deep breath, she leaned back against the couch. The satisfaction of her small victory warmed her, but she knew better than to celebrate too early.

This wasn't over.

This was just the first blow.