Chapter 136: A Mysterious Man

Somewhere in the other country, a vast mansion surrounded by beautiful greenery...

A tall, well-built man in his mid-twenties, dressed in a perfectly fitted black shirt and pants, stood by the glass wall of the study on the first floor, his hands tucked casually into his pockets. He stared out at the lush garden below, which stretched across the front side of the grand mansion he resided in.

A man in a light gray suit, appearing to be in his forties, entered the study and glanced at the solemn figure standing by the window.

The tall figure by the window acknowledged his arrival with a glance over his shoulder, his sharp, handsome side profile shadowed despite the sunlight pouring in from outside.

"I’ve received word that someone is investigating Aiden Handrix," the newcomer reported.

"Hasn’t that been going on ever since that marriage certificate was sent to its owner, Eric?" the tall figures, deep and firm voice echoed in the study.

"This time, it’s different. It’s serious," Eric continued, his demean or serious. "Before, whoever tried to find it out, they would always hit the dead ends we set up, but now... this person seems to have powerful connections and strong resources. Despite our efforts to erase all traces, they’ve managed to find some clues."

The tall figure remained silent, his gaze still fixed outside, his thoughts hidden behind his composed exterior.

"Ms. Shaw might not be pleased with what you’ve done," Eric added carefully.

"She doesn’t need to know," the tall man replied curtly.

"I’ve kept it from her so far, but I doubt we can hide it much longer. Sooner or later, she’ll find out," Eric insisted. "The news about the marriage and mysterious husband is everywhere."

"I’ll take care of it," the tall man assured, his deep voice devoid of emotion.

Just then, there was a knock on the door, and a servant stepped into the study. "Doctor Inman is here to check on Madam Shaw."

Eric gave a nod, and the servant quietly left.

Turning back to the tall man, Eric added, "I’m not sure how you’ll handle this, but you’d better sort everything out, Aiden." With that he left the study.

He didn’t respond, nor did he show any sign of reaction. He simply stood there, staring out at the garden ahead, as if it were the only thing that held his interest.

----

In Natalie’s office, a serious discussion was underway with everyone present, including Victor and his assistant.

"...We have no idea who leaked the information about Victor’s first project with our company," Ella said, frustration clear in her voice. "The team involved was small, and they’re all trusted members—our own people."

Natalie remained silent in her chair while Dan and Ella exchanged uneasy glances.

Victor, looking entirely unbothered, sat on the couch playing a game on his mobile. "You guys worry too much. One message to my fans, and they’ll understand," he said casually.

"Victor, it’s not just about your fans. It’s about finding out who the traitor is," Ella insisted. "Now that this information has been leaked, we have no idea what else might get exposed in the future."

Victor shrugged, still focused on his game. "Our tigress is here to handle it," he said, referring to Natalie. "Just keep quiet and let me concentrate on my game."

Dan turned to Natalie, his expression serious. "What should we do? The fans are causing chaos outside the office building."

"Let them be for another hour. Once the news has spread everywhere, Victor can step in and address it," Natalie replied calmly. Then, turned to Victor’s manager, "You know what to do."

He nodded and Natalie instructed everyone. "Get back to the work."

"But shouldn’t we look into who—" Ella started, but Natalie cut her off.

Natalie’s gaze shifted briefly to Nora, who had been standing quietly the entire time. "No need," she replied firmly, ending the discussion.

At the same time, in Sephina’s office...

"She doesn’t realize that by hiring Victor for her company, she’s only put herself in trouble," Clara said with a hint of satisfaction. "Her company can’t give him what he deserves. She’ll have to cancel the contract or do something even better, which seems impossible."

Sephina watched the news on the TV screen with a smug expression, a victorious smirk spreading across her lips.

"It’s been more than a few hours. Why hasn’t there been any action or statement from her company?" Clara asked, puzzled.

"They must be contemplating their next move," Sephina replied coolly.

Just then, Briena burst into the office, looking frantic. "Grandma, do you know what happened?"

"Are you referring to what’s going on with Natalie’s—"

"No!" Briena interrupted, her voice trembling as she approached Sephina, nearly on the verge of tears. "Grandma, my movie... they said it’s been canceled."

"What?" Clara exclaimed, while Sephina looked at her in disbelief. "What did you just say?"

"Yes, Chairman Ford," Ana, Briena’s manager, confirmed as she entered the room. "I received a call saying that the movie has been completely canceled and won’t ever be released. I’ve contacted everyone involved, and it’s true."

Slam!

Sephina’s hand came down hard on the table. "What’s going on? Wasn’t the entire movie ready and about to have its launch event? Canceling the entire production just like that—what kind of joke is this?"

"Y-Yes, Chairman Ford," Ana stammered. "I’m not sure why or how it happened, but I heard that it was ordered by someone extremely powerful, someone no one dares to go against."

"Someone powerful?" Sephina repeated, her eyes narrowing. "Who could have offended such a person? It was the biggest production house’s movie with superstars. Who has the authority to command such a company?"

The news on the TV shifted from the chaos outside Natalie’s office to the breaking news about the movie’s cancellation. This confirmed the worst for them.

Briena’s eyes filled with tears. "That was my first movie... and I worked so hard for it."

"Mother, a powerful person?" Clara echoed thoughtfully. "Is this Natalie’s doing again? She seems to have quite a few wealthy men wrapped around her finger. What if she used that mysterious man from the charity gala to make this happen?"

"You’re right, Mother!" Briena cried out. "Yesterday, I was at the hotel with Ivan, and I saw her. She was dressed beautifully and went to meet some rich man."

"Who was that rich man?" Clara demanded, while Sephina, seething with anger, waited silently for the answer.

"The entire area was sealed off, and no one was allowed to wander near it. We couldn’t see who she was with," Briena answered, tears rolling down her cheeks. "But I’m certain it’s her doing. She must have slept with that man and convinced him to cancel my movie just to hurt me."

Clara stood up, pulled her daughter into a comforting hug, and guided her to sit down.

"Mother, what are we going to do now?" Briena asked, her voice shaking. "The news is already on TV, which means it’s not just a rumor."

Sephina turned to her assistant. "Call the producer. Now."

The assistant quickly complied, making multiple calls to different contacts, but each call ended with the same frustrating result.

As Sephina stood in tense silence, Briena looked at her with worried eyes. "Grandma... what now?"

"Nothing can be done," Sephina said, her voice surprisingly calm despite the anger simmering beneath.