under the shadowed mask

Sophia's determination to adapt to her situation was a testament to her resilience. Within minutes, she learned to ride a bike under Elena's patient guidance. Sitting comfortably, Sophia took to it as though she had practiced for years. Eager to help, she insisted on taking deliveries with Elena. Together, they rode out, laughter ringing through the streets as they raced to their destinations. Despite Sophia's unfamiliarity with the area, she followed closely behind Elena, careful not to take a wrong turn.

By 5 a.m., they had completed all the deliveries. Elena suggested Sophia take a bath while she handled the shop's opening, but Sophia refused. "We'll finish this together," she said firmly, unwilling to leave any task undone. She used the work to keep her mind occupied, refusing to let her thoughts consume her.

Meanwhile, Ethan prepared to meet Mr. Maxwell early that morning. Determined not to cause any delay, he was ready when a knock came at the door.

"Come in," Ethan called out. The door opened to reveal Sam, the driver Mr. Maxwell had assigned to assist him.

"Good morning, sir. Mr. Maxwell asked me to inform you that he's waiting in the sitting room," Sam said with a polite smile.

"Thank you. I'll be there shortly," Ethan replied, returning the smile.

A few moments later, Ethan joined Mr. Maxwell, and together they headed out. Their destination was the house where Ethan's mother, Audrey, stayed.

"Mom!" Ethan exclaimed as he entered the house, only to find her lying on the floor. Her condition had worsened considerably.

Mr. Maxwell acted quickly, ordering the security personnel to call an ambulance. They rushed her to the hospital, where the doctors immediately recommended surgery, warning that the illness had progressed severely. Without hesitation, Mr. Maxwell signaled to Sam, who swiftly arranged for the payment to begin the operation.

As the procedure began, Mr. Maxwell received a call. After hanging up, he turned to Ethan.

"Take care of yourself and your mom," he said, gently patting Ethan's back. "I'll return as soon as I can. I need to handle an urgent matter."

"Thank you, sir. Safe travels," Ethan replied, watching Mr. Maxwell leave.

Before departing, Mr. Maxwell instructed Sam, "Stay with Ethan and update me on anything that happens." Not waiting for a reply, he quickly drove off.

Meanwhile, at the Caldwell estate, Mr. Caldwell sat in the living room when a text message from one of his management team members caught his attention: Check the news.

"Lila, switch the channel to the news," he instructed.

On the screen, James appeared in an interview, making shocking claims.

"The Caldwells don't deserve to run their company," James stated. "Mr. Caldwell exploits people and discards them when he's done. He even imposed a burdensome tax on smaller companies under his wing, making it nearly impossible for them to thrive."

Stunned, Mr. Caldwell's face tightened. "What is he talking about?" he muttered. He quickly called his management team.

"Since when have smaller companies been paying taxes, and who authorized this?" he demanded.

"Sir, the tax was implemented five years ago, amounting to 20% of their production. The order was signed by you," came the reply.

"What? Signed by me? How is that possible?" Mr. Caldwell's voice rose, echoing through the room. He realized then that his trust in James might have been his undoing. He often signed documents James presented without fully reviewing them, trusting James's explanations.

The weight of his mistake pressed heavily on him. "No wonder these companies murmured under their breath and abandoned Caldwell Horizon when it began to collapse," he said bitterly.

On the television, James continued his accusations.

"Mr. Caldwell exploits his workers, discards them without cause, and denies people who once supported Caldwell Horizon any access to the company. His reign has been one of manipulation and greed."

Mr. Caldwell clenched his fists. "This young man… I trusted him, and he's using that against me. What is his endgame? Why destroy what I built instead of working hard to achieve something of his own?"

His mind raced as he realized the full extent of James's betrayal.

Mr. Caldwell sank into his seat, his body trembling as disbelief overtook him. The words he'd just heard on television echoed in his mind, each accusation cutting deeper than the last. How could James—someone he trusted implicitly—have orchestrated such betrayal without his knowledge? His hands gripped the armrests tightly as the realization dawned on him.

If James was capable of pulling this off without my notice, what else might he have done behind my back? Mr. Caldwell's thoughts spiraled. He's been acting strangely, pushing boundaries, and testing my patience. I thought it was arrogance, but it was calculated. He was waiting for me to fire him, knowing that would be his moment to strike.

James's strategy was brilliant, ruthless, and terrifying. Now the public saw James as the hero and Mr. Caldwell as the villain—a manipulative tycoon who crushed others to climb higher. The weight of the false narrative pressed down on him. He had built Caldwell Horizon with his blood, sweat, and sacrifice, yet everything was slipping away, and no one would believe his side of the story.

"I must regain control," Mr. Caldwell muttered to himself, his voice strained but resolute. "If I go to the company tomorrow, I'll take full authority. No more blind trust, no more delegation without verification."

As his gaze wandered to the empty corners of the room, a pang of longing stabbed at his heart. "If only Sophia were here," he whispered, his voice cracking. "She could help me. Together, we could fight for Caldwell Horizon and secure our family's legacy. But she's gone… she's not even home."

Desperation took hold of him. He reached for his phone and called his head of security. "I need you to locate Sophia," he ordered firmly. "Search everywhere you can. Review CCTV footage, speak to anyone who might have seen her. And when you find her, ensure she doesn't run away again. Do not harm her—just convince her to come back. I need to speak to her urgently."

The security team mobilized immediately, piecing together any trace of Sophia's recent movements. They pulled CCTV footage from various locations and interviewed people who had last seen her, trying to form a trail that would lead back to her.

Mr. Caldwell paced the room as the hours stretched on, each tick of the clock gnawing at his patience. His thoughts were a whirlwind of regret and determination. He knew he couldn't undo the damage James had done, but he was resolved to stop him before things worsened.

Yet, in the back of his mind, he couldn't shake the image of Sophia—the one person he trusted completely. Her absence weighed heavily on him. She had been his voice of reason, his partner in navigating crises, and now, when he needed her most, she was nowhere to be found.

As the night deepened, Mr. Caldwell stood by the window, staring into the darkness, his reflection staring back at him—a man haunted by betrayal and guilt. He vowed that when Sophia returned, he would not only mend their fractured bond but fight alongside her to reclaim what was theirs.

And yet, as the security team's search intensified, a chilling realization crept over him: What if she doesn't want to be found? What if it's already too late before she comes back? I can't keep waiting when I don't know how much time I've left to fight for what's mine. Mr Caldwell thought grew louder