The first sign that Serena life was falling apart was not the phone calls.

For twenty-four years, Vale International had been a name people spoke with respect. Their headquarters stood in the heart of the city, occupying forty floors of polished glass and steel. Serena had grown up believing that the building would always be there.

Her father had built it from nothing and Her mother had helped him turn it into an empire.

And Serena had never once imagined that one day she would walk through those same doors and find people avoiding her eyes.

Yet that was exactly what happened on Monday morning.

She stepped out of the elevator on the thirty-ninth floor, holding her handbag tightly against her side.

The receptionist immediately stood.

“Good morning, Miss Vale.”

The woman was smiling, but it looked forced.

“Good morning, Clara.”

Clara's smile faltered.

Serena noticed. “Is my father in his office?”

“Yes.”

“Has he been there long?”

Clara hesitated.

“Since six. Serena's stomach tightened.

Her father never arrived at six. not unless something was seriously wrong.

“Thank you.”

She continued down the corridor.

The glass walls of the executive floor reflected her image as she walked.

Cream blouse. Black trousers. Hair pulled neatly behind her shoulders.

She looked composed but didn't feel composed

Her phone had been vibrating since she left home.

Banks ,Lawyers, Employees,Unknown numbers

Three messages from her father that all said the same thing. Come to the office. We need to talk. She had called him twice.

He hadn't answered , Now she understood why.

Serena stopped outside his office.

She raised her hand , Before she could knock, she heard voices inside.

“Richard, you don't have another option.” Her father's voice came next. “I said I will handle it.” “You have forty-eight hours.” Serena's hand froze. The first voice belonged to Marcus Reed, the family lawyer. The second belonged to her father.

“I said I'll handle it.” “And I'm telling you that the banks aren't interested in promises anymore.”

Serena slowly lowered her hand. Banks? Forty-eight hours?

She pushed the door open.

Both men turned. Her father looked exhausted. His normally silver-streaked hair was disordered, his tie loosened, and a stack of documents covered almost every inch of his desk.

Marcus Reed immediately stood.

“Serena.” “What is happening?” Richard closed his eyes for a moment.

“Serena, sit down.” “No.” “I heard what you said.”

Marcus exchanged a look with Richard. Serena's heart began beating faster.

“What is happening to the company?”. “Dad....”. “We're having financial difficulties.”

“Financial difficulties?”

“It's more serious than that.” Richard said as he looked away

Serena slowly approached the desk.

“How serious?”

Marcus picked up one of the documents.

“The company has outstanding debts of nearly two hundred million dollars.” Her mouth went dry.

“What?”. “And several major investors have withdrawn their funding.”. “That doesn't make sense.”. “I know.”

“No.” Serena shook her head. “No, it doesn't.” She grabbed the nearest document.

Numbers filled the page, Outstanding payments, Loans,Transfers, She flipped to another page , Then another. “Where did this money go?”. “Dad, where did it go?”

“I don't know.”

Her eyes widened. “You don't know?” “I know what the records show.” “Then what do they show?”

His jaw tightened.

“They show that someone moved money out of the company.”

Serena's fingers tightened around the papers.

“How much?” “Enough to destroy us.” The room seemed to shrink. Serena looked from her father to Marcus. “Who did it?” “We don't know yet,” Marcus said. “But someone does.”

“Yes.” “And the police?” Richard's expression changed.

“We haven't gone to them.” “Why?”

“Because if we accuse the wrong person, the company will collapse before we can recover anything.”

Serena stared at him. “Dad, the company is already collapsing.”. Neither man answered.

She dropped the papers onto the desk. “What else haven't you told me?”

Richard looked at her. “Serena—”. “What else?”

His shoulders sank. “The banks have begun legal proceedings.”

Her breath caught.

“And?”. “The government is reviewing the company's accounts.”

“And?”. “If we can't settle the debts…”

Marcus stopped. “If we can't settle them,” he continued carefully, “your father could be held responsible for financial misconduct.”

Serena felt cold. “You think they'll arrest him?”. “We don't know.”. “But it's possible.”

Marcus didn't answer. That was answer enough.

Serena turned toward the window. “This can't be happening.”

Her father looked at her “I am sorry.”

She turned back. “Don't apologize.”

“Serena—”. “Don't.”. Her voice cracked. She hated that.

She hated even more that her father noticed.

He stood and walked around the desk, For a moment, he wasn't the founder of Vale International, He was simply her father. “I will fix this.” “You said you don't know where the money went.” “I'll find out.” “How?” “I have people working on it.”

“Who?”

Richard hesitated. Serena's eyes narrowed.

“Dad.” “There are people I don't trust.” “Then tell me who they are.”. “I can't.”

“Why?”

“Because the more you know, the more dangerous this becomes.”

Serena stared at him. “Dangerous?”

Richard looked toward the closed door.

His voice dropped , “I think someone wanted this to happen.”

A chill moved through her.

“You mean the company was sabotaged?”

“Yes.” “By who?”

“I don't know.” “Then why are you so certain?”

“Because I've spent thirty years building this company.” His voice hardened. “I know what a normal failure looks like. This isn't one.”

Before Serena could respond, there was a knock , All three turned, The door opened.

Clara stood there.

“Mr. Vale, I'm sorry to interrupt.”. “What is it? , “There are reporters downstairs.” Richard's face went pale.

“Why?” “They're asking about the company's financial situation.”

Serena looked at Marcus. “How did they find out?” Marcus's expression was grim. “Someone leaked it.” Her father slowly sat back down. Serena looked at the documents scattered across the desk.

The missing money, debts , investigation, reporters, someone had planned this and whoever it was had just made their first move. Her phone suddenly rang Serena stared at the screen.

“Don't answer it,” her father said immediately .She looked at him.

“Why?, “I don't know who it is.” The phone continued ringing. Serena's instincts told her not to answer. But something inside her insisted that she should.

She accepted the call. “Hello?” For several seconds, there was only silence.

Then a man's voice came through. Calm, Deep and Unfamiliar. “Serena Vale?”

Her grip tightened around the phone. “Who is this?”

“You don't know me yet.”. Her eyes narrowed.

“What do you want?” , “I'm calling because your father has run out of time.” , Richard stood abruptly.

“Who is it?” , Serena didn't answer him. “By tonight, you'll receive an offer.”

“What offer?” , An offer that can save your family.” Serena's heart pounded. “And what will it cost?”

“Your marriage.” beep...The call ended.

Serena stood completely still as her father stared at her , Marcus had gone pale.

“What did he say?” Serena slowly lowered the phone.

She looked at her father then turned to Marcus , Someone just offered to save Vale International…”

Her voice trembled.

I.. if...…if I marry him.”