Xavier woke to a quiet stillness, a brief reprieve that he knew might not last. The tension of the past few weeks, the confrontation with Thomas, and the constant threat against his leadership had worn on him. Yet as he turned to see Elizabeth lying beside him, he felt a renewed sense of purpose. With her by his side, he could face anything. She was the anchor that kept him grounded, the calm amid the storm of his family's betrayal.
Elizabeth stirred, blinking sleepily as she registered Xavier watching her. A small smile curved her lips. "You're up early."
He nodded, reaching over to brush a stray lock of hair from her face. "Couldn't sleep. Too much on my mind."
She sat up, studying him with concern. "Is it Thomas?"
"It's always Thomas," he admitted with a sigh. "Even with the board on my side, he's not going to give up. He'll keep finding ways to undermine me."
Elizabeth's face hardened. "We'll deal with him together. He might be your brother, but he's also your biggest threat. He knows it, and he won't stop."
Her words grounded him. He knew she was right, and her confidence fortified him. Whatever Thomas had in mind, they would face it together. He wasn't alone in this fight.
Later that morning, Xavier headed to his office, determined to make headway on his plans to solidify his position in the company. He was finalizing a new proposal that would diversify their investments—a strategy he'd discussed with the board to ensure that even in a hostile takeover attempt, their foundation would remain steady.
But before he could fully settle in, his assistant, Karen, appeared at his door with a worried look on her face.
"Xavier, there's someone here to see you," she said, her voice edged with unease.
Xavier frowned, glancing up. "Who is it?"
"It's… Thomas."
A cold wave of dread washed over him. "Tell him I don't have time for his games."
Karen hesitated. "He said he has information he wants to share with you. He insists it's urgent."
Xavier's jaw tightened, but he nodded reluctantly. "Fine. Send him in."
Thomas strolled in moments later, his usual arrogant air firmly in place. He looked around Xavier's office with disdain, as if he were still hoping to take it for himself someday.
"What do you want, Thomas?" Xavier asked coolly, resisting the urge to show any sign of weakness.
Thomas took a seat without being invited, leaning back casually. "Relax, Xavier. I'm just here for a chat."
Xavier gave him a hard stare. "You never show up unless you have an agenda. So let's skip the pleasantries."
Thomas chuckled, but his smile didn't reach his eyes. "Fine. You want the truth? Here it is. I know you've been consolidating your power within the company, making moves to secure your position. And I don't blame you. But you're forgetting one thing."
Xavier raised an eyebrow. "Enlighten me."
Thomas's smirk grew darker. "You may have the board's support, but that doesn't mean the public trusts you. People still remember our father's reputation, the deals he made, the connections he had. And if you try to erase all that in the name of 'reform,' you're going to alienate every major investor we have."
Xavier felt a surge of anger, but he kept his expression neutral. "Our father may have built this company, but he also held it back. His vision was outdated. Times have changed, and I intend to change with them."
"Is that right?" Thomas's voice was laced with sarcasm. "And what about the shareholders, Xavier? Do you think they'll be satisfied with your so-called modern vision? Or do you think they might see your approach as a threat to their profits?"
Xavier met his brother's gaze with icy determination. "I know what I'm doing. The shareholders are aware of the long-term gains my strategy offers. If you think your empty threats will scare me, you're mistaken."
Thomas's expression shifted, his eyes narrowing as he leaned forward. "You're forgetting something, brother. I have leverage of my own. Information. Things that our dear Elizabeth might not want you to know."
At the mention of Elizabeth, Xavier's patience wore thin. "Leave her out of this."
Thomas grinned, sensing that he'd hit a nerve. "Why? She's a part of your life now, isn't she? Surely, you'd want to know if she wasn't being completely honest with you."
Xavier's fists clenched. "Get to the point, Thomas."
Thomas took his time, savoring every second of Xavier's frustration. "Fine. I did some digging. And what I found is that Elizabeth has a little… history. Nothing too serious, of course, but enough to make people wonder if she's really the person you think she is."
Xavier's face remained impassive, though his mind raced. "I don't care about her past, Thomas. Unlike you, I actually trust her."
"Trust," Thomas scoffed. "Such a fragile thing, isn't it? But you should know, Xavier—if you align yourself with someone who's not as pure as you think, the fallout could be… disastrous. Investors want certainty, not scandal."
Xavier's patience snapped. "This conversation is over. If you want to threaten me, do it directly. Leave Elizabeth out of your games."
Thomas stood, his expression gleeful. "We'll see how long that trust lasts, brother. But mark my words—you're in over your head. And when you fall, I'll be there to pick up the pieces."
With that, Thomas turned and strolled out, leaving Xavier seething in the aftermath. He could feel the weight of his brother's words pressing down on him, the fear of what Thomas might try to expose, and the uncertainty that it could plant in the minds of others.
He would have to talk to Elizabeth—soon. He needed her to know that, whatever Thomas was hinting at, he wouldn't let it stand between them.
Later that evening, Xavier found Elizabeth in the study, her expression thoughtful as she leafed through an old book. The sight of her, calm and poised, soothed him, reminding him why he trusted her implicitly.
When she looked up and saw the tension in his face, she immediately set the book aside. "What's wrong?"
He took a deep breath, running a hand through his hair. "Thomas was here today. He's digging into your past, trying to use it against me."
Elizabeth's face remained calm, but he could see a flicker of worry in her eyes. "What did he say?"
"Just enough to hint that he found something he thinks will damage us. He's trying to rattle me, to make me doubt you." Xavier's voice softened as he continued. "But I don't. I don't care what he thinks he's found. I know who you are."
Elizabeth's gaze softened, and she reached out to take his hand. "Xavier… there are things about my past that I haven't told you. Not because I don't trust you, but because they felt like they belonged to another life. But I don't want you to be blindsided by him. If there's anything you need to know, I'll tell you."
He squeezed her hand. "Elizabeth, your past doesn't define you. If there's something you want to share, I'm here to listen. But don't let Thomas force you into anything."
Elizabeth nodded, her gaze steady. "There was a time when I struggled, Xavier. My family wasn't well-off, and I had to make some tough choices to get where I am. It's not something I'm proud of, but I did what I had to. That's what he's trying to use against me."
Xavier took a deep breath, feeling a surge of anger at Thomas for attempting to exploit her past. "That's exactly why he won't win. He thinks people are defined by their mistakes, but I know that's not true. You're more than your past, Elizabeth."
She smiled, relief evident on her face. "Thank you, Xavier. For understanding. For trusting me."
He pulled her into a gentle embrace, his heart steadying as he held her close. "We'll get through this, Elizabeth. Together."
The following days were tense, with Thomas's threats lingering in the background, but with Elizabeth by his side, Xavier felt a renewed strength. Their connection was solid, built on mutual trust and resilience that Thomas couldn't break.
When the time came to face the board once more, Xavier stood confidently, presenting his plans without hesitation. Thomas might have his schemes, but Xavier knew he had something stronger—a vision for the future and a partner he could truly rely on.
With Elizabeth's unwavering support, Xavier found the courage to move forward, determined to leave Thomas's manipulations in the past. Their bond had been tested, but it had emerged even stronger, a foundation for the life they were building together.
As they left the boardroom that day, Elizabeth squeezed his hand, and he knew that, whatever challenges lay ahead, they would face them as one. The future, uncertain as it was, now felt like something he could look forward to—with her by his side.