The words hung between us, a dark cloud over what had been a victorious night. I looked at Michael, my lips parting to say something, but no words came. For the first time that evening, i felt the creeping chill of uncertainty.
We waited for ten minutes, then quickly checked the news.
I reached for my phone reflexively, already bracing myself for another wave of chaos. The words *Breaking News* flashed across the screen, accompanied by a headline that made my stomach drop.
"Hartley Heir and Wife Accused of Fabricating Evidence in High-Stakes Rivalry."
I clenched my jaw as i read further. Victor's latest move was as calculated as it was brutal—a series of fabricated documents and doctored footage meant to discredit everything i and Michael had worked so hard to prove.
"What is it now?" Michael's voice came from the other side of the room, heavy with anxiety.