Riley’s POV
I reach the company building and step out of the cab.
The driver pulls away imdiately, and for a brief second, I just stand there in front of the glass entrance, staring up at the place I built with my own hands. Sohow, the call earlier still unsettles . Caden’s voice. The warning. The way he said my na like he already knew what I was about to do.
But I don’t care.
I straighten my shoulders and walk inside.
The mont I cross the entrance, everything feels wrong.
Every single person turns to stare at .
Conversations die instantly. Phones slip from hands. Coffee spills. So people freeze like statues, while others actually step back like I’m not supposed to be standing there.
One woman gasps.
Another man whispers sothing and walks away fast as if her feet are burning her.
Soone actually runs.
I slow down, confused and irritated at the sa ti.
Why the hell are they looking at like that?
I keep walking, my heels clicking against the floor, and the staring doesn’t stop. If anything, it gets worse. People keep glancing at like they’re seeing a ghost, like I’m sothing that shouldn’t exist.
Just as I’m about to snap and demand answers, soone crashes straight into .
"Ah—!"
I grab their arms instinctively to steady us both as I look down.
It’s Anna.
Her eyes are wide. Her face is pale. She clutches her chest like she’s about to faint.
"No," she breathes out shakily. "No, tell you aren’t fucking real."
I blink. "I aren’t real how? Are you all alright?"
She staggers back, staring at like she’s seeing sothing impossible.
"Wait," she whispers. "Riley... is that really you? Like it’s you? You?"
I frown. "Yes, Anna. It’s , what the damn hell is going on?"
She stares at for one more second, then suddenly lunges forward and wraps her arms around tightly.
"Oh my God," she cries. "Thank God. Thank goodness. Oh my God, you’re really alive."
Her grip is tight, desperate.
I stiffen slightly. "Anna," I say, pulling back just enough to look at her face. "What is going on? Why is everyone acting like this?"
She doesn’t answer . Instead, she grabs my wrist and yanks forward.
"Co on," she says urgently.
"Anna—"
"No ti," she insists, already dragging toward the elevator.
People we pass freak out even more when they see up close. Soone drops a file. Soone else swears loudly in fright. A woman presses herself against the wall like I might vanish if she looks too hard.
Oh my—what the actual hell is going on?
We reach the elevator.
There are people inside.
The mont they see , their faces drain off color.
One man actually stumbles back.
"Oh my—"
Anna imdiately steps in front of . "It’s fine," she says quickly. "Everything is fine. Please, just get out."
They don’t argue. They rush out like the elevator itself is on fire as the doors close behind them.
The second they do, Anna turns around and hugs again, tighter than before.
Now I’m really really unsettled.
"Okay," I say firmly, pushing her back slightly. "You need to tell what’s going on right now."
She looks up at , eyes shining with tears, and she exhales slowly.
"I’m really happy you’re alive, Riley," she says quietly.
The elevator starts moving upward.
"I know," I say, confused. "But why does everyone keep acting weird like I rose from the dead?"
She wipes her face quickly and takes a deep breath.
"You must be wondering why everyone’s acting scared and dramatic when they see you," she says.
I nod."Of course"
"That’s because," she continues slowly, "we all thought you were dead."
My stomach drops in shock.
"What?"
She nods. "Everyone saw the video."
"What video?" I ask sharply. "Anna, what are you talking about?"
Her face tightens.
"There was a video circulating," she says carefully. "It showed your body... severely crushed by a car. It was bad. Really bad, bad and disturbing Riley."
My throat tightens and I feel nauseous.
"That’s not possible," I say. "I’m right here."
"I know," she says quickly. "I know. But the video looked real. Terribly real and it was you."
I swallow hard. "Who put that out?"
She doesn’t hesitate."Ethan, your husband, the MD."
The word hits like a punch.
"What?" I snap.
"Yes," she says. "He told everyone you were dead."
I feel like the air gets knocked out of .
"He told everyone I was dead?" I repeat.
She nods. "He made an announcent. Sent ssages. Released statents to the dam press."
My hands curl into fists.
"And that’s not even the worst part," she adds.
I look at her sharply. "What now?"
Her voice lowers. "Riley, you need to be fast."
The elevator continues rising.
"He’s in the boardroom right now," she says. "With the main board mbers."
My pulse quickens. "Doing what?"
"He’s changing everything," she says. "He’s rebranding. Removing your na from the company structure. Altering shares. Taking your authority off everything."
I stare at her.
"He’s erasing ," I say slowly.
She nods. "Yes."
A cold calm settles over .
So this is his plan.
Fake my death. Remove completely. Take everything.
I laugh softly.
Anna looks at worried. "Riley—"
"He really wants to play dirty," I say as the elevator dings.
The doors slide open on the seventh floor and I step out.
Anna follows closely behind .
"He thinks I’m gone," I say calmly. "He thinks I can’t fight back."
I smile.
"Well," I add, "let’s play then."
We walk down the hallway toward the boardroom.
Every step feels heavy but focused.
My anger isn’t loud anymore. It’s sharp and cutting.
Reaching the door, I stop. I take a long breath.
Anna looks at nervously. "Are you sure—"
I don’t answer. I push the fucking door open.
Let them et the mad Riley Grayson, CEO today.
My insanity has reached its peak.
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