Chapter 30 - Striking Back

Battle for Control

Hope sat in her office, her heart pounding as she replayed the betrayal over and over in her mind. James Wellington. A man she had trusted, a man Richard had trusted, had turned against her.

Victoria had manipulated him just like she had manipulated everything else.

But Hope wasn't going to let her win.

Liam paced beside her, tension thick in the air. "We need a strategy. If James is backing Victoria, it's going to be harder to convince the board."

Hope exhaled slowly. "Then we fight fire with fire."

She grabbed her phone and dialed a number she hadn't called in years.

After a few rings, a deep voice answered. "Hope Sinclair. I was wondering when you'd call."

A slow smirk formed on her lips. "Hello, Uncle Raymond. I think it's time for you to come back."

The next morning, Hope walked into the boardroom, head held high. Liam was at her side, but this time, so was someone else.

Raymond Sinclair.

Victoria's smirk faltered for the first time.

Raymond, Richard's younger brother, had once been a key figure in the company. But after a falling-out with Victoria, he had stepped away, retreating into private business.

Now, he was back. And he wasn't happy.

He leaned against the table, his sharp blue eyes scanning the room. "I have to say, it's nice to see some familiar faces." He glanced at Victoria. "And some I was hoping I'd never have to deal with again."

Victoria's smile was tight. "Raymond. To what do we owe this pleasure?"

Raymond tossed a folder onto the table. "I've been keeping an eye on things. And I don't like what I see." He turned to the board. "Richard built this company from the ground up. He chose Hope for a reason. And I have proof that Victoria has been forging documents to keep her out."

Gasps filled the room.

Hope arched a brow. "Still feeling confident, Victoria?"

Victoria's fingers tightened around her chair. "This is nonsense."

Raymond smirked. "Is it? Because I have a team of forensic accountants who say otherwise."

A shift rippled through the board. Some members who had been hesitant before now looked uneasy.

James Wellington frowned. "What exactly are you saying, Raymond?"

Raymond met his gaze. "I'm saying that if we dig a little deeper, we'll find a lot more than a forged will. We'll find embezzlement."

The room fell silent.

Victoria's face paled for just a second before she regained her composure. "You have no proof."

Raymond shrugged. "Yet."

Hope took a step forward. "You've lied, manipulated, and stolen. But this time, Victoria, you won't get away with it."

Victoria's eyes burned with fury. "You think you've won?" She stood abruptly, her chair scraping against the floor. "This isn't over, Hope."

Hope met her gaze, unshaken. "No, it's not. But this time, you're the one who should be afraid."

Victoria's Desperate Move

A War on All Fronts

Victoria stormed out of the boardroom, her heels clicking sharply against the marble floor. Her perfectly composed mask had cracked, and beneath it was pure rage.

Hope had backed her into a corner, and she knew Victoria was dangerous when she had nothing to lose.

Liam turned to Hope. "She won't go down without a fight."

Hope exhaled. "I know."

Raymond crossed his arms. "And that's exactly why we need to hit her harder before she has time to strike first."

Hope nodded. "We need to expose her. Completely."

Raymond smirked. "I already have my people digging. It won't be long now."

But Hope had a feeling Victoria wasn't going to wait for them to make their next move

A Sinister Warning

That night, Hope was walking to her car when she felt it the unmistakable sensation of being watched.

She quickened her pace, her heart pounding. Was she just being paranoid, or…?

A voice stopped her in her tracks.

"You should have walked away."

She spun around. A shadowed figure leaned against a nearby pillar, face obscured by the dim parking lot lights.

Hope's pulse raced. "Who are you?"

The man stepped forward just enough for her to see the smirk on his lips. "A friend of Victoria's."

Fear coiled in her stomach. "Are you threatening me?"

The man chuckled. "I'm giving you a warning. Back off. Because if you don't…" He tilted his head. "You might not like what happens next."

Hope stood her ground. "Tell Victoria she's wasting her time. I'm not afraid of her."

The man's smile widened. "We'll see."

And then, just as quickly as he appeared, he was gone.

Hope exhaled shakily. This was far from over.

Shocking Revelation

The next morning, Hope arrived at Sinclair Holdings only to find the entire building in chaos.

Liam rushed toward her. "Hope you need to see this."

He pulled out his phone and showed her a breaking news article.

"Sinclair Holdings in Turmoil, New Evidence Suggests Hope Sinclair Isn't Who She Claims to Be!"

Hope's blood ran cold. What?

She snatched the phone, scanning the article. It was filled with lies. Claims that she had falsified documents, that she had manipulated Richard into giving her a place in his home, that she was nothing more than a gold-digger who had tricked a billionaire into trusting her.

Hope's stomach churned.

Victoria had just played her most dangerous card yet.

Liam's expression darkened. "She's trying to ruin your reputation. Make you look like the fraud instead of her."

Hope clenched her fists. She should have expected this.

Raymond entered, his face like thunder. "We need to respond fast. If we don't control this narrative, Victoria will win."

Hope inhaled deeply, steadying herself.

Victoria wanted her to break. To panic.

But Hope wasn't going to give her the satisfaction.

She lifted her chin. "Then let's fight back."

Hope Strikes Back

The Damage is Done

Hope sat in her office, her fingers clenched around the news article. Every word was a carefully crafted attack on her character. Victoria had spun a perfect story one designed to make the world question who Hope Sinclair really was.

Her phone buzzed relentlessly. Messages, calls, emails reporters were already circling like vultures.

Liam stormed in, his jaw tight. "This is all over the news. Some board members are already calling for a meeting to discuss whether you should step down."

Hope's chest tightened. This was Victoria's plan. She wasn't just trying to ruin Hope's reputation she wanted to push her out of the company entirely.

Raymond entered behind Liam, a folder in his hand. "I spoke to my contacts in the media. This story was leaked by Victoria's lawyer. If we don't get ahead of it, you'll lose control of the narrative."

Hope exhaled sharply, forcing herself to think strategically.

"Then we fight back," she said firmly.

Liam frowned. "How?"

Hope stood, her mind racing. "Victoria made a mistake she underestimated me. If she wants a war in the public eye, then let's give her one."

Hope's Counterattack

By midday, Hope had launched her own media offensive.

Exclusive interviews. Legal statements. Internal Sinclair Holdings documents proving her legitimacy.

She stood in front of a group of reporters, cameras flashing in her face as she spoke with unwavering confidence.

"Let me be clear, I have nothing to hide. Richard Sinclair was a father to me, and I will not allow his legacy to be tainted by false accusations."

The reporters shouted questions, but Hope held her ground.

"Those attacking me have a personal agenda," she continued. "I ask the public to look at the facts, not the fabricated lies designed to discredit me."

Within hours, the headlines started shifting.

"Hope Sinclair Speaks Out: 'I Have Nothing to Hide'"

"New Evidence Questions the Validity of Victoria Sinclair's Claims"

"Insiders Reveal: The Power Struggle Behind Sinclair Holdings"

Hope sat back, exhaustion settling in. It wasn't over but she had stopped the bleeding.

Then her phone rang.

Unknown Number.

She hesitated before answering. "Hello?"

A smooth, familiar voice spoke. "You've done well, Hope. But you should know Victoria isn't finished."

Her heart pounded. "Who is this?"

The voice chuckled. "Someone who knows what's coming next."

The call ended.

Hope stared at the phone. What was Victoria planning now?

A Family Secret Exposed

The next morning, Hope arrived at work to chaos.

Reporters swarmed the front of Sinclair Holdings. Employees whispered. Security was on high alert.

Liam met her at the entrance, his expression grim. "It's bad."

Hope's stomach twisted. "What happened?"

Liam pulled out his phone and showed her a breaking news article.

"The Sinclair Family Secret: The Truth About Hope Sinclair's Parentage."

Her breath caught in her throat. No.

Her hands shook as she clicked the article. The words blurred together as she read:

Hope Sinclair is not just an adopted daughter of Richard Sinclair she may be his biological child.

The ground felt like it was shifting beneath her.

Liam's voice was tight. "Victoria just played her biggest card."

Raymond approached, his face like stone. "We need to talk. Now."

Hope swallowed hard. Everything had just changed.