25. "Nathaniel's Web of Deceit, Brewing for Revenge"

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Aria's heart was pounding in her chest as she sat at her desk, staring at the files in front of her. She knew that she had stumbled upon something significant - something that could change everything. Her uncle's files were a treasure trove of information, that can be use to being a big change to the Novus city.

As she pondered her next move, a sharp knock interrupted her thoughts. "Yes, come in!" she called out, hastily closing the file on her desk. Assistant Mira entered the room, holding a bundle of papers in her hands.

"Director, sorry to disturb you, but we need urgently from you to look into these documents and approve them if they're alright!" Mira's voice was urgent, and Aria could sense that something was amiss.

Without a word, Aria indicated for Mira to place the documents on her desk. She flicked through them quickly, scanning the text for any anomalies. Aria was meticulous in her work, and she prided herself on her attention to detail. As she read through the pages, her mind was racing with the possibilities of what Uncle's files could mean.

After what felt like an eternity, Aria finally reached the end of the documents. She sat back in her chair, taking a deep breath. "They look good," she said, a note of relief in her voice. "I'll sign off on them now."

Mira nodded, a small smile playing at the corners of her lips. "Thank you, Director," she said, turning to leave the room.

As soon as the door clicked shut, Aria's mind was back on the files. She knew that she had to tread carefully - that the wrong move could have disastrous consequences. But she was determined to see this through to the end. The information in Uncle's files was too important to ignore.

Aria knew that she was incapable of doing anything with the information she had in her possession. Despite her determination, she knew that she needed someone who could use this information correctly and bring justice to her uncle - someone who could uncover the truth of what happened that fateful day.

Uncle's disappearance had been a mystery for everyone, and Aria couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to it than met the eye. She couldn't bring herself to believe that he had perished in the fire that destroyed his home, or that he had simply vanished into thin air.

Aria's fingers trembled as she transferred the digital information onto her mini-drive. Every piece of evidence that her uncle has secretly kept hidden, was being carefully collected and stored away, ready for the day when justice would be served. The gravity of the situation weighed heavily on her heart, but she couldn't afford to hesitate.

With the drive safely tucked away, Aria fashioned a simple necklace out of a shining thread and draped it around her neck. It was a precious piece of jewelry now, holding the key to her family's salvation. A small comfort in an otherwise dire situation.

She didn't trust anyone, not when the stakes were this high. The files were too valuable, and she couldn't risk them falling into the wrong hands.

For now, Aria had to bide her time and wait for the right moment to act. She knew that the truth would eventually come out, and when it did, she would be ready.

Uncle's files were the ultimate weapon, a powerful tool that could topple a lot of big families and ruin lives.

Aria was determined to keep it safe until she found someone who could use this information to uncover the truth and bring justice to her family. Her heart swelled with determination as she clutched the mini-drive tightly in her hand, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

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"Grandpa, please save me!"

A pitiful cry echoed in the room as a man in his late thirties fell to his knees before an old man sitting in a comfortable armchair. The old man looked upon him with an indifferent expression, as if he had seen this scene play out a multiple times before.

'This grandson of mine,' he thought to himself, 'even though he is intelligent, sometimes he makes such foolish decisions due to family pampering and the wrong friends.' But he was still his grandson, and the old man couldn't help but feel a sense of obligation to help him.

The old man let out a heavy sigh, the disappointment in his voice palpable. "What did you do this time that you had to come all the way here from the Novus City?" he asked, his tone authoritative.

This man, whose name was Nathaniel Delacroix, knew he had messed up. He had fled from the city to seek refuge in his ancestral home, hoping his grandfather, who is also a old head of Delacroix family, could save him from the consequences of his actions. "It wasn't my fault," he protested, his voice trembling. "It was that wretched woman, Vivienne. She's the one who got me into trouble."

At the mention of Vivienne, the old man's expression darkened. Vivienne was the black sheep of the Delacroix family, and no one spoke of her fondly. "Tell me in detail what exactly happened," he demanded, his voice laced with anger.

Nathaniel knelt before his grandfather, his voice low and smooth as he spun twisted facts about Vivienne's success and her alleged ungratefulness.

Nathaniel's voice dripped with contempt as he spoke to the old man. His words slithered out like venom, coated with lies and manipulations, aimed at tarnishing the reputation of Vivienne and her company.

"I just wanted our Delacroix industry to expand into other fields, so I offered Vivienne a sweet deal," Nathaniel hissed, "but she was ungrateful and decided to cut all ties with our family after achieving a modicum of success in her business. Can you believe it?"

The old man's face twisted with anger at the mention of Vivienne's name. Nathaniel had carefully chosen his words to incite the old man's fury, knowing that it would make him more pliable to his manipulations.

"I decided to teach her a lesson," Nathaniel continued, his voice laced with malice. "But imagine my surprise when I found out that the little slut had gone and married into the Sterling family. Can you believe the audacity of that woman?"

The old man's face turned an alarming shade of red, his hands shaking with anger as Nathaniel continued to spin his tale of deceit.

"Unfortunately, my little plan to teach her a lesson was exposed to the Sterlings," Nathaniel sneered, "and I heard that the head of the family is a decisive and vicious person. He destroyed three companies with millions of market value just to avenge Vivienne's honor. Can you believe the lengths some people will go to protect their own?"

Nathaniel's lies hung heavy in the air, the tension between the two men palpable. The old man seethed with anger, his fists clenched at his sides as he contemplated the fate of Vivienne and her company. Nathaniel, on the other hand, has a smug grin on his face, pleased with the chaos he had wrought.

'Hahaha!' Nathaniel laughed inside his head. 'That ungrateful woman, Vivienne, deserves what's coming to her. You slutty bitch, I will make sure you pay dearly for humiliating me and refusing to hand over your company!'

He kept his head down, hiding the triumphant smile that threatened to spread across his face. He knew that his grandfather was on the verge of exploding, and he relished the feeling of power that came with it.

But even as Nathaniel reveled in his success, a seed of doubt began to grow inside him. He had underestimated Vivienne once before, and it had cost him dearly. What if she had somehow managed to outmaneuver him again?

The thought made Nathaniel's stomach churn, but he pushed it aside. He would deal with Vivienne and her meddling later.

Little did he know that his web of deceit was about to unravel, and the consequences of his actions would come crashing down on him like a ton of bricks.

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