Chapter 14: The First Crack

They thought I was finished.

They thought I would crumble under the weight of their betrayal, that Nathaniel's doubt would be enough to break me.

They were wrong.

I may have been forced into silence, but I was never idle. And now, it was time to remind them—

I wasn't someone they could bury.

I was the storm they never saw coming.

The Boardroom, Lancaster Industries Headquarters

The tension in the air was suffocating.

The Lancaster family sat around the long, polished table, their faces a mixture of fury, smug satisfaction, and, in Nathaniel's case, cold indifference.

Daniel lounged back in his chair, a picture of fake sympathy. "Evelyn, I know this has been difficult for you, but the board has made its decision."

I arched a brow. "And what decision would that be?"

Vivian, sitting to his left, smiled sweetly. "We've voted to suspend your access to all company operations until the investigation clears up."

Ah. There it was.

The knife they had been dying to twist.

Nathaniel remained silent, his fingers tapping against the table. He wasn't stopping them.

That stung.

But I pushed the emotion aside. Not now.

I leaned forward, tilting my head. "So let me get this straight—you're cutting me off from the company entirely?"

Daniel's smirk widened. "You could put it that way."

I nodded slowly, as if considering their decision. Then I leaned back in my chair, crossed my legs, and said, "Alright."

Silence.

Daniel blinked. "Alright?"

I shrugged. "If that's what the board wants."

For the first time, I saw a flicker of confusion in his eyes. They had expected me to fight—to beg.

But they didn't understand something crucial.

I never walked into a battle without a weapon.

I turned my gaze to Nathaniel. "But before you finalize that decision, I have something to share."

Nathaniel raised a brow, but before he could speak, I pulled out a sleek folder and slid it across the table.

Daniel frowned. "What's this?"

I smiled. "A report. On Harrington Global. Specifically, their recent illegal acquisitions."

Vivian's face stiffened. "What are you talking about?"

I gestured to the file. "James Harrington has been quietly securing backdoor deals with international investors. Some of which violate trade laws. Others?" I tilted my head. "Let's just say if the media caught wind of it, his empire would be the one going up in flames."

Daniel's expression darkened. "You're bluffing."

I met his glare, unfazed. "Am I?"

I turned to Nathaniel, my voice soft but firm. "You should know, darling, that I didn't spend my time here twiddling my thumbs. I did my own digging." I smiled. "And while I may have been framed for the recent leak, I made sure to keep certain insurance policies—in case something like this happened."

Nathaniel studied me, his expression unreadable. But I saw the way his fingers stopped tapping.

He was listening.

I stood, smoothing down my dress. "Now, of course, I could take this to the media. After all, isn't that what James Harrington tried to do to us?" My eyes flicked to Daniel, watching his jaw clench. "But I thought it would be polite to let my dear husband handle it first."

Vivian's nails dug into the table. "You lying little—"

"Careful," I cut in, my voice sharp. "You wouldn't want to sound threatened."

The boardroom was deathly silent.

I had thrown the first real punch.

And they knew it.

Finally, Nathaniel leaned back in his chair, studying the file. Then, to my absolute satisfaction, he turned his gaze to Daniel and Vivian.

"Leave."

Daniel stiffened. "What?"

Nathaniel's voice was calm. "I need to speak with my wife. Alone."

Vivian opened her mouth to protest, but the look in Nathaniel's eyes made her pause.

One by one, they all stood and left.

Except for me.

I met Nathaniel's gaze, watching as he slowly closed the folder. He exhaled, then leaned forward.

"This doesn't prove your innocence."

I tilted my head. "It doesn't have to."

He smirked slightly. "No. But it does remind me why I married you."

I smiled, victorious.

This was just a small win.

But it was the first crack in their plan.

And soon?

I was going to shatter everything.