"You will turn eighteen soon and our engagement will be official." Anthony said as Faridah looked at him and smiled. She knew that this day will come and since it is for the better cost on the Hamilton's business.
The grand ballroom of the Hamilton estate was aglow with golden chandeliers and the murmur of polite conversation. The air was thick with the scent of fresh roses and the hum of a string quartet playing softly in the corner.
It was an evening of elegance and expectation, and at the heart of it all stood Anthony and Faridah.
Faridah, now eighteen and clad in an ethereal silver gown that shimmered with every step, held her chin high.
Her expression was poised, yet her fingers trembled slightly as she clutched her champagne flute. She could feel the weight of a hundred eyes on her, all scrutinizing, all expecting. Beside her stood Anthony, ever the epitome of composure in his tailored navy suit, his hand resting lightly on the small of her back a gesture meant to reassure, but one that only added to the gravity of the moment.
"To Anthony and Faridah," Mr. Hamilton's booming voice cut through the chatter as he raised his glass high. The room quieted instantly, all attention drawn to the patriarch of the Hamilton family.
"This union signifies not just the bond of two hearts but the merging of two legacies. Together, they will lead us into a prosperous future."
A round of applause erupted, but Faridah's mind was elsewhere. She glanced up at Anthony, whose calm smile betrayed none of the inner calculations she suspected churned within him. He leaned down slightly, his voice low enough for only her to hear.
"You're doing well," he said, his tone warm yet measured. "Just keep smiling. Tonight is ours."
Faridah nodded, but her stomach twisted. She had known this day would come—the day she became not just Faridah, but Faridah Hamilton, the cornerstone of a strategic alliance. It was a role she had been prepared for her entire life, yet one she wasn't sure she truly wanted.
As the speeches ended and the music swelled, Anthony guided her to the center of the room. The spotlight followed them, casting their shadows long and dramatic against the ballroom's gilded walls. They were to share their first dance as an engaged couple—a tradition that sealed their bond in the eyes of their families and the world.
Anthony extended his hand. "Shall we?" he asked, his voice gentle but firm.
Faridah hesitated for only a fraction of a second before placing her hand in his. As they moved together in perfect synchrony, the room faded away. For a moment, it was just the two of them—two young people caught in the tide of family expectations and corporate ambitions.
"You don't have to look so serious," Anthony murmured as he spun her gracefully. "This is a celebration."
"Is it?" she replied, her tone barely audible. "It feels more like a business meeting."
Anthony's lips quirked into a faint smile, but his eyes softened. "It's both, Faridah. But that doesn't mean it can't also be... something more."
She looked up at him, searching for sincerity in his gaze. "Do you really believe that?"
"I do," he said, his voice steady. "And I hope, in time, you will too."
As the dance ended and the applause swelled once more, Faridah allowed herself a small, uncertain smile. The night was far from over, and the path ahead was anything but clear. But for now, she was content to play her part, even as she wondered what her future with Anthony and the Hamilton legacy would truly hold.
The room was bathed in moonlight, its pale beams filtering through the sheer curtains and casting soft shadows across the lavish suite. Faridah stirred awake, the silk sheets slipping from her shoulders. Beside her, Anthony lay soundly asleep, his breathing deep and even. His face was serene, the picture of a man without worries ironic, given the storm that loomed over their lives.
Faridah sat up slowly, careful not to wake him, and rubbed her temples. Something felt... off. It was a nagging feeling, like a whisper in the back of her mind. Her gaze drifted to the ornate desk in the corner of the room, where a stack of papers sat, partially concealed beneath Anthony's leather briefcase.
Curiosity gnawed at her. She slipped out of bed, her bare feet silent against the plush carpet as she crossed the room. The papers were slightly disorganized, as though hastily reviewed and left for later. Faridah hesitated, glancing back at Anthony, who remained motionless in sleep.
With a deep breath, she picked up the papers and began to read.
Her heart sank.
Page after page, Anthony's betrayal unraveled before her eyes. The documents detailed a meticulous plan to siphon the Hamilton family's wealth after their marriage, transferring assets and merging the businesses under the Lim name. It wasn't just greed it was a complete erasure of her family's legacy.
Faridah's hands trembled as she flipped through the papers. There were forged signatures, falsified transactions, and contracts implicating other parties individuals she had once trusted. It was all so calculated, so cold.
She clenched her jaw, her chest tightening with fury and disbelief. The man she had agreed to marry, the man she had danced with under the admiring gaze of their families, was nothing more than a parasite.
Faridah's first instinct was to scream, to wake Anthony and confront him. But no this required precision, not emotion. Her family's survival depended on it.
She reached for her phone, her fingers moving with determination as she snapped photos of every damning document. Once she had captured them all, she opened a secure line to Shoji, her trusted attorney and confidant.
The call was brief and hushed.
"S—Shoji, it's Faridah. I need you to act immediately. I'm sending you some files." Her voice was steady, though her heart raced. "Review them and contact Solis and Gab's Assassins. Yes, them. I want this entire operation eradicated—every single person involved."
"Faridah," Shoji's voice was cautious, "are you certain? This is—"
"I'm certain," she snapped, her tone sharper than she intended. "This isn't just about me. It's about my family, those people's families. My legacy. I refuse to let it crumble because of innocence or misplaced trust."
Shoji sighed, but his loyalty was unwavering. "Understood. I'll handle it."
The call ended. Faridah sent the files, watching the progress bar with cold determination. When the confirmation appeared, she exhaled deeply, her resolve hardening.
She turned back to Anthony, who was still blissfully unaware, his features bathed in the soft glow of the moonlight. For a moment, she felt a pang of sorrow—had he ever truly cared for her? Or was she just another pawn in his grand scheme?
Faridah leaned down, her lips brushing his ear as she whispered, "Sleep well, Anthony. By the time you wake up, your empire will be nothing but ashes."
She straightened, her expression now unreadable, and returned to bed. As she lay beside him, her mind raced with plans and contingencies. She would not let her family's name be tarnished.
The Hamiltons had endured for generations, and she would ensure they continued to thrive even if it meant destroying the man she once thought she could love.
The next morning Faridah was waiting for Anthony to wake up as she sips her coffee.
Anthony arrived and was about to kiss her when she drop all the papers that she found on the table as it scattered around.
"I'm breaking the engagement." She said coldly as Anthony cannot believe that he was found out too soon before his plans starts.
"Faridah, We can still do this." he said as he begged on his knees yet Faridah was certain already.
Keteki arrive with all her bags being packed since they were planning to live together. "Ma'am the car is ready." Keteki said as Anthony starts crying.
"I have no choice Faridah, My Dad want it but all I wanted was you." Anthony said as he hold into Faridah's legs.
"Everyone in that organization you made is dead. 30 People lives were gone." Faridah said coldly. "How could you kill them all? You crossed-"
"Your the one crossing the line here Anthony Lim. This is a warning from the Lim's to not mess with me." Faridah said coldly.
Keteki just stared at the situation.
'After all Faridah need to choose between her title and other people's lives.' Keteki whispered to himself as he close his eyes.
'If she shows any mercy then she'll be the one dying.' Keteki added as this is the start of Faridah's raising empire as the first young women who become an astonishing CEO as she strive herself from a going down company.
Faridah arrived home as he's parents cannot even face her directly.
"We're sorry about this Faridah." His father said as Faridah just stared at them blankly.
"The company lost 600,000,000 assets, I will be busy putting back the company to it's usual place so please refrain from talking to me. Keteki, Fetch me up at 7'oclock in the morning, I have tons of things to do after school." she said as she went to her room.
After her door closes so is her tears starts falling. After all she started liking Anthony but love shouldn't blind her up.