Despite his weakened state, Hugo maintained a composed posture as he made his way toward the stage.

Each step was measured. But only he knew the strain it placed on his body.

The moment he turned to face the reporters, a wave of murmurs spread across the hall. Confusion was evident on their faces as they whispered among themselves, their eyes darting between him and Norma.

’Alive.’

He was supposed to be in a coma. Yet here he stood.

Meanwhile, seated among them, Collin felt his entire world tilt.

His eyes locked onto Hugo, disbelief flashing uncontrollably across his face.

’H... How is this possible?’ he thought, his fingers tightening subtly against his lap.

This was not part of the plan. He remembered it clearly.

Roseline had assured him, saying Hugo’s condition was critical and the coma that would not break anytime soon.

And yet— there he was standing alive.

Collin’s breathing turned shallow for a brief second.

’Did she lie to me?’ the thought crossed his mind sharply. But just as quickly, he dismissed it.

No.

Roseline was not foolish enough to betray him like that. Not when her own survival depended on Hugo’s condition.

Then what went wrong?

Collin inhaled slowly, forcing his expression back into calm neutrality. He could not afford to lose composure now. Not here. Not when every move mattered.

He leaned back slightly, masking his tension as his eyes sharpened.

But something had shifted. His instincts screamed it. And as if things were not already complicated enough, his gaze caught movement near the front rows.

Anna and Daniel.

They took their seats beside the two elderly figures, their expressions serious, controlled.

Collin’s eyes narrowed. ’So, all of you are here.’

A faint unease settled within him. This was no longer just a press conference. This was something else.

Something that made him feel uneasy.

On the stage, Hugo reached for the microphone.

The hall gradually fell silent.

"I appreciate all of you for showing up on such short notice," he began, his voice steady despite the storm within him.

His eyes scanned the crowd carefully.

Watching.

Searching.

"And I am aware that all of you want to know how I am standing here... alive."

A ripple of tension spread through the room.

Hugo’s grip on the mic tightened slightly.

Because even as he spoke, his mind drifted back—

To that night.

[Flashback]

"I never imagined Roseline would do something like this."

Hugo’s voice had been heavy with disbelief and pain.

He sat upright, still recovering, yet unable to rest after what he had just learned.

Anna stood before him, her expression firm, while Daniel remained by the side, silent but watchful.

The recording had changed everything.

Every word.

Every confession.

It shattered the illusion Hugo had lived in for years.

Roseline.

The woman he trusted.

The woman he defended.

She was never innocent.

"She planned it..." Hugo whispered, his hands trembling slightly. "All of it."

Anna did not interrupt.

She let him process it.

Because the truth was far worse than he imagined.

"It was Roseline and Collin," she confirmed quietly. "They orchestrated Kathrine’s kidnapping."

Hugo’s eyes shut tightly, as if trying to escape the reality.

"And when George found out..." Daniel added, his voice low, "they turned everything on him."

Framed him.

Destroyed him.

Hugo’s chest tightened painfully.

George. The man he had once trusted. The man he later condemned without hesitation.

"They made it look real," Anna continued. "Convincing enough for everyone to believe."

Including you. The unspoken words lingered heavily.

"They threatened Kathrine too," Daniel said. "She was just a child. She did everything they said out of fear."

Daniel had despise Kathrine all this time, but now hearing the truth made him pity her. She wasn’t someone they he could blame. She was just a child who was scared.

Hugo’s breath hitched. He failed everyone.

"How am I supposed to forgive myself?" Hugo’s voice broke, his eyes filling with tears he could no longer hold back.

"I trusted the wrong person," he continued hoarsely. "And punished the one man who was loyal to me till the end."

His mind replayed those moments.

The anger.

The accusations.

The judgment he had passed so easily.

"I believed George kidnapped her for money," Hugo said, his voice trembling. "But... I never even questioned it."

"I didn’t even realize..." he whispered, his hands curling into fists, "that the money I gave... was never found."

Silence filled the room.

Because that alone— was enough to prove everything was wrong.

"If I had just investigated..." Hugo’s voice cracked. "If I had just taken a step back and thought..."

Things would have been different. Lives would have been saved.

Instead—

"I became a part of it," he said, his tone hollow. "A part of something unforgivable."

His eyes lowered. "I didn’t just ruin one life." he pause. "I destroyed everyone close to him."

Daniel watched Hugo with comflicted look in his eyes. He knew the man who was now regretting everything was someone he hated the most. For once he wanted Hugo would not let other’s maniipulate him to the point that the man who devoted his life to him would be made to pay the price.

"You can do one thing to make up for all the mistakes" Daniel spoke seizing Hugo’s attention.

Anna who was present there shared a look with Daniel as he stepped forward to explain everything.

[End of Flashback]

Hugo’s eyes opened slowly.

The weight of guilt had not lessened—not even a fraction. It sat heavy on his chest, suffocating, relentless... a constant reminder of everything he had done, and everything he had destroyed.

But today, he was not here to run from it.

He was here to face it.

And more importantly—he was here to end it.

"To tell the truth... no matter the cost."

The blinding flashes of cameras reflected in his eyes as he adjusted himself in the chair, his fingers curling slightly over the edge of the table before him. For a brief second, his gaze shifted—finding Daniel standing at the side.

Their eyes met.

A silent exchange.

A promise.

Hugo exhaled, steadying himself, before leaning slightly toward the microphone.

"I believe by now, all of you must have understood why this press conference was arranged so suddenly," he began, his voice calm, yet carrying an undeniable weight. "And by being here today, I intend to answer every question you have."

The reporters stirred instantly, the room buzzing with anticipation.

Hands shot up. Voices overlapped.

Then one question cut through the noise.

"Mr. Bennett, is it true that you were mentally harassed by Glorious International, which led you to attempt suicide?"

The entire hall fell silent.

Every eye locked onto Hugo.

Waiting.

Watching.

Judging.

Hugo lowered his gaze for a brief moment, as if gathering the fragments of his courage. Then slowly, he shook his head.

"No."

The single word echoed louder than any shout. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

A ripple of shock passed through the crowd.

Murmurs erupted immediately.

"What—?"

"Did he just deny it?"

"This changes everything..."

Across the hall, Collin’s expression darkened.

"This bastard..." he muttered under his breath, his jaw tightening as his eyes turned cold, sharp like a predator assessing its prey.

"So this is your move..."

His fingers subtly slid into his coat pocket, brushing against the cold metal of the gun hidden within. His grip tightened ever so slightly.

"If you think you can ruin me so easily..."

Back at the podium, Hugo continued, his voice firmer now.

"All the accusations my wife made... were false."

Gasps filled the air.

"I was never harassed by Glorious International," he said clearly, each word deliberate, cutting through the noise like a blade. "In fact..."

He paused.

And this time, when he looked up—there was no hesitation left in his eyes.

"I was the one who, driven by greed, attempted to betray them."

The silence that followed was deafening.

For a split second, no one moved.

No one breathed.

Then—

The hall exploded.

"What?!"

"Are you admitting corporate sabotage?!"

"Was this all staged?!"

"Who else is involved, Mr. Bennett?!"

Cameras flashed wildly. Reporters surged forward, their composure shattering as chaos unfolded.

At the side, Daniel’s fists clenched.

This was it.

There was no turning back now.

And in the crowd—

Collin’s face twisted with fury, his calm façade cracking for the first time.

"You really want to die that badly..." he whispered, his thumb brushing over the safety of the gun.

His gaze locked onto Hugo.

Cold,calculating and dangerous.

The game had just changed.

And this time—there would be blood.

"No one. In fact the one who hurt me making it look like suicide was my wife herself"

Those words left everyone shocked.

Just a few days ago they had seen Roseline cry and confess of all the trauma her husband faced because he was cornered and discarded from the business.

But now that they heard the truth they realise it was all a lie.

"She wanted to hide the sin she committed and in order to save herself, she poisoned me"