Chapter 159
As Alexander emerged from the tunnel, his mind raced. He needed to regroup and figure out his next move. He couldn't shake the feeling that something bigger was at play—something Carolina had planned from the start. The mercenaries, Maxwell's betrayal, and now Ariana taking control—everything was happening too quickly, and the alliances were shifting faster than he could keep up.
Just as he reached the edge of the forest, his phone buzzed. It was Lily, her voice calm but urgent.
"Alexander, the media has just reported that no bodies were found in the car crash. They’ve confirmed that no one was inside the vehicle when it exploded."
Alexander’s heart skipped a beat. "So, Lily wasn’t in the car?"
"No," Lily confirmed. "The authorities think it was staged to cover something up. Whoever set that explosion wanted to make it look like Lily was dead."
Alexander's thoughts immediately turned to Maxwell and Carolina. This had to be part of their plan. But why fake Lily's death? He knew that now, more than ever, he had to find Lily before anyone else did.
---
Meanwhile, back at the mansion, Carolina was growing increasingly frustrated. She hadn’t anticipated Ariana’s bold move, and now her carefully laid plans were in jeopardy. Pacing the floor of her grand office, she snapped at her assistant, who stood nervously by the door.
"Find out where Ariana went!" Carolina barked. "And get me Maxwell. We need to get back on track before everything falls apart."
The assistant nodded and quickly left the room, leaving Carolina to stew in her anger. She had always controlled the narrative, pulling the strings from behind the scenes, but now everything seemed to be unraveling. And it wasn’t just Ariana. Carolina’s instincts told her that something else was coming—something even more dangerous than her own daughter’s betrayal.
As Carolina’s frustration boiled over, her phone buzzed. It was a message from a hidden source, one of her deep contacts within the government.
"Your operation is compromised. Pull out or face the consequences."
Carolina’s eyes widened. For the first time in years, she felt fear creep into her heart. Someone was working against her from the inside.
---
Elsewhere, Ariana and Maxwell had formed a tense partnership. Seated in a dimly lit safe house far from the estate, Maxwell couldn’t help but admire Ariana’s audacity. She had single-handedly disrupted Carolina’s plans and now held the upper hand.
"You’re playing a dangerous game," Maxwell said, leaning back in his chair. "You realize your mother won’t let this go."
Ariana smirked. "She’s had her turn. Now it’s mine. Besides, I know her better than anyone. She’ll try to counter, but I’m already two steps ahead."
Maxwell raised an eyebrow. "And what about Alexander? He’s not the type to sit idly by while you tear everything apart."
Ariana’s smile faded slightly. "Alexander will come looking for answers, but by the time he does, it’ll be too late. He thinks he can stop this, but he doesn’t know what’s really going on."
"And what is really going on?" Maxwell asked, intrigued.
Ariana leaned in closer, her voice lowering. "There’s a bigger game at play here. My mother’s ambitions are small compared to what I have in mind. She’s been manipulating people for years, but I have access to something she doesn’t. A power that can change everything."
Maxwell frowned. "What are you talking about?"
Ariana didn’t answer directly. Instead, she pulled out a small flash drive and slid it across the table. "This holds the key to everything. With it, we can bring down my mother, Alexander, and anyone else who stands in our way."
Maxwell picked up the drive, his curiosity piqued. "What’s on this?"
"Proof," Ariana said, her voice cold. "Proof that Carolina has been involved in far more than just petty power games. She’s tied to a global network that’s been controlling governments and corporations for decades. And with this, we can expose her—and take her place."
Maxwell’s mind raced. This was far bigger than he had anticipated. If Ariana was telling the truth, they were on the verge of toppling not just Carolina, but an entire empire.
---
Back in the forest, Alexander continued moving cautiously, making his way to a rendezvous point where he hoped to meet with Caleb and Lily. The air was tense, and every shadow felt like a potential threat.
Suddenly, his phone buzzed again. It was a message from an unknown number.
"Meet me at the old factory. Come alone if you want answers."
Alexander stared at the message, his mind racing. It could be a trap, but it was also his only lead. He knew that if he didn’t act now, he might lose his chance to uncover the truth behind everything that had been happening.
Without hesitation, Alexander changed direction and headed toward the old factory. As he approached the crumbling structure, his senses were on high alert. He moved quietly, scanning the area for any signs of danger.
Inside the factory, the atmosphere was thick with dust and decay. The beams of light from the setting sun cast long shadows across the floor, giving the place an eerie, abandoned feel. Alexander’s footsteps echoed as he moved deeper into the building.
Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows.
It was Caleb.
"I knew you’d come," Caleb said, his expression grim.
Alexander frowned. "What’s going on? Who sent that message?"
Caleb shook his head. "It wasn’t me. But we need to talk."
"About what?"
"About Ariana," Caleb said, stepping closer. "And the real reason she turned against her mother."
Alexander’s eyes narrowed. "What do you know?"
Caleb sighed. "More than I wanted to. Ariana’s not just after revenge. She’s after something much bigger—a network that controls more than just Carolina’s empire. It’s a global organization, and Ariana’s been in contact with them for years."
Alexander was stunned. "You’re saying Ariana’s been working with them all this time?"
"Not exactly," Caleb explained. "She’s been playing both sides, waiting for the right moment to take control. But now that her mother’s empire is crumbling, she’s making her move."
"So what’s her endgame?" Alexander asked, his mind spinning.
Caleb looked him in the eye. "She wants to take over the network and reshape the world in her image."
Alexander’s heart raced. The stakes were far higher than he had realized. Ariana wasn’t just fighting for power—she was fighting for control over the entire system. And if she succeeded, there would be no stopping her.
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