Mei Xing clutched the letter in trembling hands, her mind spinning with questions. Madam Lin—her mother—had been in contact with a corrupt broker before Mei Li ever entered the picture. But why? And what did it mean for the YunTech merger?
Her heart ached. She had grown up trusting Madam Lin implicitly. Though the bond had strained since Mei Li's arrival, Mei Xing never imagined there could be such betrayal buried beneath her mother's gentle exterior.
As she stood in the dim light of the study, the door creaked slightly. Mei Xing froze, quickly sliding the documents back into their place. A shadow moved past the hallway. She held her breath until the footsteps faded.
She slipped out of the study, but her mind remained heavy with what she had uncovered. The world around her felt suddenly unfamiliar—like a stage set with carefully painted backdrops and actors in disguise.
Back in her room, she stared at the letter again. Her gut told her this was bigger than just Mei Li's schemes. There was a deeper game at play—one involving money, manipulation, and maybe even deception at the highest levels of her family.
Later that night, unable to sleep, she stepped out onto the terrace. The cool breeze brushed against her skin as she looked up at the stars. That was when she heard it—voices coming from below.
She followed the sound to the back garden, where the voices grew clearer.
It was Madam Lin and Mei Li.
"…You're moving too fast," Madam Lin whispered sharply. "Zhao Chen is starting to pull away. If he grows suspicious—"
"I know what I'm doing," Mei Li cut in. "But you told me I needed to secure my place. Getting close to him is part of it."
Mei Xing's eyes widened. Madam Lin was helping her?
"You've already stirred enough trouble with that fake business proposal," Madam Lin continued. "If Mei Xing finds out—"
"She already suspects something," Mei Li said, her voice low. "But it doesn't matter. She's emotional. No one will take her seriously."
Mei Xing backed away, her breath caught in her throat.
Everything was falling into place now. The rivalry wasn't accidental. It was orchestrated. Her mother and Mei Li had been working together to isolate her, break her confidence, and eventually push her out completely.
But why?
What could Mei Li offer that would make her own mother choose a stranger over her?
The pain was sharp, but so was her resolve.
She wasn't going to fall apart. Not now.
Mei Xing would gather evidence, find the truth, and expose them—one mask at a time.
She looked out into the darkness, her fists clenched.
If they wanted a war, she was ready.
But this time, she wouldn't just fight to protect herself—she'd fight to reclaim everything they were trying to steal.