Transmigrated: Stealing the CEO husband-Chapter 53: Someone has to pay

"Elizabeth..." Ariana mumbled the name under her breath, making a mental note of the woman who had set her in her sights. Her sharp, perceptive eyes scanned the room, taking in the reactions of those present.

Luiss, ever the strategist, played along with the ruse. His expression was unreadable, but he sent a silent, fleeting glare in Ariana’s direction, feigning distance. He knew the truth, but the other members of the team were still grasping at shadows, trying to piece together what was unfolding before them.

David, caught between alliances, struggled to discern what to believe. His furrowed brow and hesitant glances betrayed his inner turmoil. Meanwhile, Steven and the other executives openly glared at Ariana, convinced of her treachery.

Yet, amidst their scrutiny, Ariana remained poised. Her demeanor was the epitome of unshaken confidence—a slight, knowing smile gracing her lips as if she held the trump card in this high-stakes corporate war.

It was at that moment that President Johnathan’s secretary returned, his presence demanding immediate attention. He carried with him important news—news that would shift the entire atmosphere of the room.

"President Voss..." The secretary leaned forward, whispering something into Johnathan’s ear. Whatever he had heard made his eyes widen in surprise.

A ripple of anticipation spread across the room. Every individual present straightened in their chairs, their breaths held in suspension as they awaited the revelation. Gerald and his staff, certain of Luiss’s downfall, braced themselves for the moment they had longed for.

The tension was thick, suffocating.

Then, the secretary lifted his head, his gaze landing on Ariana. Now he understood. That subtle, enigmatic smile of hers made perfect sense.

"The news is..." His voice was steady, but the weight of his words shattered the room’s certainty. "The subsidiary is functioning well. There is no riot. The employees are happy and content. In fact, it is actively growing."

A gasp swept through the conference room. Pin-drop silence followed.

The smug assurance on Gerald’s face melted away into stark disbelief. His team, who had moments ago worn expressions of triumph, now sat in stunned horror.

"Say that again," Gerald finally spoke, his voice laced with disbelief.

The secretary did not waver. "President Gerald, your intel is mistaken."

"How is this possible?" Violet, one of Gerald’s closest allies, demanded, her face a mix of confusion and outrage. "Those were the original documents from Ms. Grey’s printer!"

Ariana finally decided to speak, her voice smooth and confident, laced with a deadly precision. "That is precisely the point—that they were from my printer." She tilted her head slightly, her cool gaze locking onto Violet’s. "Because I was the one who created those fake documents."

A fresh wave of shock washed over the room.

"Why would you do that?" someone managed to ask, their voice barely above a whisper.

Ariana leaned back in her chair, completely unbothered. "To root out the people who prefer using underhanded tactics to destroy their competition rather than winning through merit."

Her blunt words struck like a hammer blow. Realization dawned upon them—Luiss and Ariana had never been at odds. Their apparent detachment had been an act, a carefully crafted deception designed to lure out their enemies.

It was a masterpiece of strategy.

Gerald’s face darkened. His carefully laid trap had turned into his own downfall.

But the worst was yet to come.

A sudden, thunderous sound echoed through the room as Johnathan Voss slammed his hands on the conference table.

"Is this a joke?" His voice was razor-sharp, slicing through the thick atmosphere.

Gerald’s jaw tensed.

"Are we running a circus here?" Johnathan’s piercing gaze bore into him. "President Gerald, how could you present such a bold accusation without verifying your facts first?"

A heavy silence followed, the weight of Johnathan’s words suffocating. The Voss family was no ordinary entity. Their influence stretched far beyond national borders, dominating industries across East Asia. To make an enemy of them was akin to corporate suicide.

Gerald’s team exchanged nervous glances. They had made a grave miscalculation.

Violet, always one to take the fall for her President, stepped forward. "It was my miscalculation," she said, her voice steady.

Johnathan, however, was unmoved. "It doesn’t matter whose mistake it was. The damage has already been done. This entire corporation has shown a complete lack of integrity. Fair competition is encouraged, but self-sabotage?" He shook his head. "That is unacceptable."

"President Voss, we have already invested heavily and prepared our task force for the construction phase. It would be unfair to remove us at this stage," Violet countered, desperation creeping into her tone.

Johnathan folded his arms. "Then you will pay for breaking the contract clause."

Gerald’s team tensed.

"What is your proposition?" Gerald finally asked, though his voice was strained.

"Give up twenty percent of your shares in the profit. They will be redistributed between Luiss Groups and Voss Corporation."

The air in the room shifted again. The demand was severe.

"Twenty percent?" One of Gerald’s executives exclaimed. "That’s absurd! We’d be left with barely any profit!"

Johnathan smirked. "Then I’ll invite another company for the construction phase. The choice is yours."

A heavy, suffocating silence followed. Gerald clenched his fists under the table. He had no choice.

With a deep breath, he admitted defeat. "Fine. We agree to your proposition."

Humiliation. Loss. A bitter taste of failure.

Luiss and Ariana had won.

But Ariana had no idea that in doing so, she had ignited a fury unlike any other.

The Darkness of Gerald’s Wrath

The dimly lit warehouse smelled of blood, sweat, and impending death.

A body hung from chains attached to the ceiling. The man was naked, his skin marred by deep, angry lashes from a whip. His once-pristine flesh was now a canvas of agony—bruises, welts, and fresh cuts painting his suffering.

"Please..." The man’s voice was weak, trembling. "I did what was asked. Please let me go."

Standing before him was Gerald.

His face was void of emotion, his movements cold, mechanical. Without hesitation, he raised the whip and brought it down mercilessly.

The crack of leather against flesh echoed through the vast space. A raw, choked scream followed.

Each lash was fueled by his rage.

Her smile.Her arrogance.The way she had outmaneuvered him.

Ariana.

The name left his lips in a whisper, dark and venomous.

He didn’t just want to defeat her. He wanted to break her.

Violet, watching from the side, observed him with a mix of curiosity and unease.

"President Gerald, if you despise her so much, why not act?" she suggested.

He stopped for a moment, his fingers tightening around the whip.

"I don’t hate her," he admitted. His eyes glowed with something deeper, something more dangerous. "Losses and wins are part of this game. But..." He exhaled slowly. "I cannot tolerate her. I want to destroy her."

"Then we should kidnap her. Bring her here. Let you do as you please."

Gerald smirked bitterly. "I’ve tried. She’s protected. Luiss has her under heavy security."

Once again, she was ahead of him.

And that infuriated him even more.

With another ruthless flick of his wrist, the whip came down, drawing another agonized scream from the battered man.

Someone had to pay.

For his humiliation.

And until he got to Ariana, this poor soul would have to suffice.