Chapter 35: The King’s Gambit

Chris had always preferred working in the shadows. He controlled the world from behind the scenes, pulling strings that no one even realized existed.

But this time?

He was going to burn the board and force every piece into the light.

Sitting in his office, he watched as multiple screens flickered with live data feeds. Ethan was on the other side of the room, arms crossed as he monitored the situation.

"We're live," Ethan said, a smirk creeping onto his face. "And Wren's not going to like this."

Chris leaned back in his chair, his eyes locked on the biggest screen. The headlines were breaking—one after another, like a wildfire that no PR team could contain.

"Billionaire Power Broker Nathaniel Wren Under Scrutiny for Shady Offshore Dealings."

"Anonymous Sources Leak Documents Linking Wren to Illegal Asset Laundering."

"Who Really Runs the Elite Circles? Nathaniel Wren's Name Surfaces in Shocking New Reports."

Chris smirked.

Nathaniel Wren wasn't just trending.

He was exposed.

Ethan chuckled as he read through the incoming reports. "I have to admit, even I didn't think it would spread this fast."

Chris tapped his fingers against the desk. "People love a scandal. And when someone like Wren, who's spent his life pretending to be untouchable, suddenly has his name dragged through the dirt? The media feeds on it."

Ethan nodded. "Our sources did their job. The leaked documents were just enough to make them question everything about him. Journalists are already digging deeper, trying to find more dirt." He glanced at Chris. "You really want to go this far?"

Chris's smirk faded, his expression turning unreadable. "Wren thought he could control the narrative. That he could move pieces without anyone knowing. But he made one mistake."

Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Which is?"

Chris's voice was calm, but deadly.

"He underestimated the Blackwood heir."

Nathaniel Wren's Private Estate – Midnight

The walls of Wren's luxurious study were lined with rare books, expensive art, and trophies from decades of wealth accumulation. But tonight, none of that mattered.

Because Wren was pacing furiously, his phone pressed to his ear.

"How the hell did this leak?" he growled, his fingers tightening around the device.

On the other end, his crisis manager stammered, "We—we don't know! The files were too well-timed, too precise. Whoever did this didn't just throw accusations—they had evidence. The media is running wild with it, and—"

Wren cut him off. "Shut it down. Call in every favor we have. I want this buried by morning."

The line went silent for a moment before his crisis manager hesitated. "…Sir, there's a problem."

Wren's eyes darkened. "What problem?"

A deep breath. "The source of the leaks. It wasn't just an anonymous hacker or a rogue journalist."

"Then who?" Wren snapped.

Another pause. Then, the words that sent a chill down his spine.

"Blackwood."

Wren's grip on the phone tightened. "What did you just say?"

"The documents were funneled through sources tied to Blackwood Industries. And from what we've gathered… Ethan isn't the one pulling the strings."

Wren's blood ran cold.

That meant—

His mind raced. The name that he'd overlooked, the one variable he hadn't accounted for.

Christopher Blackwood.

The real heir. The one who never showed his face in the elite circles, who never flaunted his wealth.

A ghost.

A shadow.

And now?

A direct threat.

Wren gritted his teeth, his pulse hammering against his skull.

He had made a mistake.

And now, the entire world was watching him fall.

Back at Blackwood HQ

Chris watched the chaos unfold in real time, his expression as unreadable as ever.

Ethan chuckled, shaking his head. "I almost feel bad for the guy."

Chris smirked. "Don't."

Ethan folded his arms. "This is gonna push Zayne into a corner. With Wren in the spotlight, he's lost his safety net."

Chris nodded. "Exactly. Now, we see what he does next."

Because this wasn't over.

Not yet.

Zayne had played his move.

Chris had just raised the stakes.

And soon?

He would end the game altogether.