That morning, the city sky looked gray like a sheet of cold metal pressing down on anyone who gazed at it. From behind the glass windows of Ethan's company skyscraper, sunlight only peeked through faintly thin, as if hesitant to touch the world.
Ethan stood looking out at the city from the top floor.
In his hand was a tablet. The company's financial graphs fluctuated like an unstable heartbeat.
Behind him, the office door slowly opened.
Daniel walked in with quick steps.
"Sir," he said softly, but his voice carried something heavy. "There's a new development."
Ethan did not turn around immediately.
"Is Marcus making his move again?"
Daniel nodded.
"More than just moving."
He placed several documents on the desk.
"Marcus has just bought the majority of minority shares from three international logistics companies that have been our main distribution channels."
Only then did Ethan turn around.
His eyes narrowed.
"He's cutting off our supply lines."
"Not just that," Daniel continued. "He's also starting to pressure our long-time investors. Some of them have already pulled their funds."
The room suddenly felt even quieter.
Ethan walked slowly to the desk, then stared at the open documents.
Marcus's name appeared repeatedly in the reports.
It was as if the man was building a vast web slowly, neatly, and deadly.
Ethan smiled faintly.
"He's finally showing his fangs."
Daniel sighed.
"This attack is quite significant. If it continues, in three months we could lose nearly thirty percent of our distribution channels."
Ethan lifted the tablet, then turned off the screen.
"Marcus isn't the type to attack halfway."
He sat down in his chair.
"If he's starting to play big, that means he's also ready to lose something big."
Daniel frowned.
"What do you mean, sir?"
Ethan leaned back in his chair.
"Prepare a report on all the shell companies Marcus has used over the past ten years."
Daniel looked surprised.
"That's an extremely deep network, sir."
"Exactly why."
Ethan's gaze turned cold.
"If he wants a financial war…"
He tapped the desk slowly.
"We'll burn down its foundation."
On the other side of the city, in a luxurious building that stood like a modern fortress, Marcus was sitting casually in his office.
The room's lights were dim.
In his hand was a glass of red wine.
In front of him, a large screen displayed Ethan's company financial graphs.
The line was slowly declining.
Marcus smiled in satisfaction.
An elderly man stood beside him his long-time advisor.
"The first attack was successful," the man said. "Ethan's company is starting to waver."
Marcus swirled his glass.
"Just wavering?"
His voice sounded cold.
"I want him to fall."
The elderly man nodded.
"We can speed things up by pressuring the bank that's their main creditor."
Marcus stared at the screen for a few seconds before answering.
"Do it."
He stood up from his chair.
"I want to see Ethan start losing his footing."
Marcus's steps slowly moved toward the large window.
From there, the city looked like a giant chessboard.
"He's too confident," he murmured.
"Too sure that he can protect everything."
The elderly man asked softly.
"Including Sophia?"
Marcus did not answer immediately.
His gaze sharpened.
"Sophia is the only reason he hasn't fallen apart since back then."
He took a sip of his wine.
"And now…"
His smile slowly appeared.
"I'll make him choose."
Meanwhile, at Ethan's large house, the atmosphere was much calmer.
Sophia was sitting in the living room with a laptop open on her lap.
But since earlier she hadn't really been reading anything.
Her mind was still stuck on all the events of the past few days.
The business attacks.
The secret from her mother's past.
And Marcus, who had suddenly reappeared like a shadow from an old nightmare.
The front door opened.
Ethan walked in.
Sophia stood up immediately.
"You're home earlier today."
Ethan nodded.
"The meeting ended sooner."
Sophia stared at his face for a few seconds.
"Something else has happened, hasn't it?"
Ethan smiled faintly.
"Marcus attacked our business channels."
Sophia let out a soft sigh.
"I'd already suspected it."
She closed her laptop.
"How bad is it?"
Ethan walked closer.
"Not bad yet."
He sat down on the sofa next to Sophia.
"But he's starting to play seriously."
Sophia stared at her own hands.
"All of this… it's because of me, isn't it?"
Ethan immediately shook his head.
"Never think that way."
Sophia looked at him.
"Marcus wants to destroy you because of my mother's past. If I weren't here.."
Ethan held her hand.
"If you weren't here…"
He looked deeply into Sophia's eyes.
"My life wouldn't even have a reason to fight for."
Sophia fell silent.
There was something in Ethan's voice that made her chest feel warm yet heavy at the same time.
"Ethan…"
But before she could say more, Ethan's phone rang.
Daniel.
Ethan picked it up.
"What is it?"
Daniel's voice sounded tense.
"Sir… Marcus just did something even bigger."
Ethan stood up.
"What?"
"He bought a majority stake in the bank that's our main creditor."
Sophia tensed immediately.
Ethan narrowed his eyes.
"That means he can force them to close all our credit lines."
"That's right."
The room suddenly felt even colder.
Ethan ended the call.
Sophia looked at him anxiously.
"Marcus really wants to bring you down."
Ethan did not answer for a few seconds.
Then he smiled faintly.
"He's made a very bold move."
Sophia looked confused.
"Why are you smiling?"
Ethan looked at her.
"Because now I know something."
"What?"
"Marcus is starting to lose his patience."
Sophia frowned.
"Isn't that even more dangerous?"
Ethan nodded.
"It is."
He picked up his jacket.
"But it also means he's starting to make mistakes."
Sophia stood up.
"Where are you going?"
"To the office."
Ethan looked at her gently.
"I need to prepare something."
Sophia gripped his hand.
"Be careful."
Ethan nodded.
But before leaving, he paused at the door.
"Sophia."
"Yes?"
"If Marcus tries to approach you…"
His gaze turned very serious.
"Never meet him alone."
Sophia felt a bad premonition creeping into her chest.
"Why?"
Ethan did not answer immediately.
A few seconds later he spoke softly.
"Because I believe…"
He opened the door.
"Marcus's next move is no longer about business."
The door closed.
Sophia stood still in the living room.
Her heart felt uneasy.
Somewhere else in the same city, Marcus was sitting in his black car.
In his hand was an old photograph.
A photo of a woman… and a small child.
The woman was Sophia's mother.
Marcus stared at the photo with a faint smile.
"The time has almost come at last."
He closed the photograph.
Then spoke softly to his driver,
"We begin the next phase."
"Your orders, sir?"
Marcus stared out the window.
Toward Ethan's house.
"Bring Sophia to me."
The car slowly drove away from the parking area.
And without anyone realizing it.
The war that had so far only taken place in the business world…
Would soon turn into something far more dangerous.