Daniel Royce didn't sleep.
By sunrise, three things had already happened.
First—
Mbeki Holdings' line of credit was suspended.
Second—
A confidential document began circulating online, accusing Ariella of leaking internal company data during her time as CFO.
Third—
A trending tag appeared before noon.
#MbekiScandal
Ariella discovered all of it within thirty minutes.
She sat at the breakfast table, phone in hand, scrolling calmly while her mother paced the room in a panic.
"This is insane," Mrs. Mbeki cried. "Our partners are calling nonstop! The bank wants an explanation! Ariella, what did you do?"
Ariella set the phone down slowly.
Right on schedule.
"They're attacking," she said.
Her mother froze. "Who?"
"Daniel."
Silence fell.
Her mother's face drained of color. "You promised this wouldn't hurt the company."
Ariella stood and took her mother's hands gently. "I promise you something else," she said softly. "I won't let it destroy us."
Just then—
Her phone rang.
Lucien Blackwood.
She stepped aside to answer.
"You're trending," Lucien said without greeting.
"I noticed."
"The accusations are sloppy," he continued. "But effective."
Ariella leaned against the counter. "He's testing how fast I'll break."
"And?" Lucien asked.
She smiled faintly. "He won't enjoy the result."
A low chuckle came through the line.
"Good," Lucien said. "Because this is your first test."
Her smile faded. "Test?"
"Yes," he replied. "I won't step in yet."
Her fingers tightened. "You said you'd be my weapon."
"I am," Lucien said calmly. "But a weapon doesn't protect someone who panics at the first strike."
A beat.
"Handle this," he added. "If you do, I'll erase Daniel so thoroughly he'll doubt his own shadow."
The call ended.
Ariella stared at her phone.
In her past life, this was where she collapsed.
This time—
She straightened.
"Cancel my schedule," she told her assistant an hour later. "And book a press conference."
"What?" the assistant gasped. "Miss Mbeki, that's dangerous—"
"Exactly," Ariella said coolly. "Daniel likes control. Let's take the spotlight away from him."
The press room was packed.
Cameras flashed as Ariella stepped onto the podium in a simple black suit, her expression composed.
Questions exploded immediately.
"Miss Mbeki, did you leak confidential files?"
"Are the rumors about corporate espionage true?"
"Was your engagement called off because of internal misconduct?"
Ariella lifted her hand.
The room quieted.
"I will answer one question," she said evenly. "Did I leak company data?"
She looked straight into the cameras.
"No."
Murmurs rippled through the room.
"Then why are these documents circulating?" a reporter pressed.
Ariella smiled slightly.
"Because someone is afraid."
The room stilled.
"Afraid," she continued, "that I walked away before he could push me."
Gasps.
At the back of the room, a man slowly began to clap.
Once.
Twice.
Lucien Blackwood stepped forward from the shadows.
Cameras whipped toward him instantly.
Ariella's heart skipped—but she didn't look surprised.
Lucien stopped beside her, hands in his pockets.
"For the record," he said calmly, his voice carrying effortlessly, "Blackwood Group has completed a full audit."
The room erupted.
"And," he added, eyes cold, "we found the leaked documents originated from Royce Holdings."
Silence slammed down.
Daniel Royce's name hit the room like a bomb.
Lucien turned slightly toward Ariella.
"Miss Mbeki," he said, "Blackwood Group will be backing you—publicly."
Ariella met his gaze.
This time, she understood the rules.
She smiled.
"Then," she said smoothly into the microphone, "let's see how long lies survive in the light."
Cameras flashed wildly.
And somewhere across the city—
Daniel Royce stared at the live broadcast, his face twisting in rage.
For the first time since Ariella's rebirth—
He realized.
He had underestimated her.