For several seconds after the video ended, no one spoke.
The room felt frozen.
Elena stared at Alexander.
"Tell me that's fake."
Alexander didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he replayed the video.
Marcus's calm expression. The document. Catherine's signature.
Every detail looked authentic.
Daniel spoke first.
"If she actually transferred her shares…"
Alexander finished the sentence quietly.
"Marcus becomes the largest single shareholder."
Elena's stomach dropped.
"That means he can call a shareholders' vote anytime."
"Yes."
"And your mother just handed him the power to remove you."
Alexander finally looked up.
But instead of anger—
There was calculation.
"That doesn't make sense," he said.
Elena frowned.
"She's been trying to take control from you for weeks."
"Yes," he agreed calmly.
"But she would never hand the company to an outsider."
Daniel nodded slowly.
"He's right. Catherine Hale is ruthless, but she's obsessed with legacy."
Elena folded her arms.
"So either Marcus is lying…"
"Or," Alexander said quietly, "she's playing a different game."
An hour later.
Alexander stood alone in the estate study.
Elena entered silently.
"You think this is a trap."
"I know my mother."
"And she'd never trust Marcus."
"Exactly."
Elena leaned against the desk.
"Then why would she sign anything?"
Alexander's eyes moved to the window.
"To bait him."
The possibility sent a chill through her.
"You think she sold him the shares intentionally… to expose him?"
"Or control him."
Elena shook her head slowly.
"That's a dangerous gamble."
"She thrives on dangerous."
Before Alexander could respond, his phone rang.
Private number.
He answered without hesitation.
"Alexander."
A familiar voice replied.
Catherine.
"I assume you've seen Marcus's little announcement."
Alexander didn't bother with pleasantries.
"Did you sell him your shares?"
A pause.
Then—
"Yes."
Elena's breath caught.
"But not the way he believes," Catherine continued.
Alexander's eyes narrowed.
"Explain."
"He purchased voting rights."
Elena frowned.
"What's the difference?"
Alexander understood immediately.
"You didn't sell ownership."
"No," Catherine said smoothly. "Only temporary voting authority."
Daniel, who had just entered the room, went pale.
"That means—"
Alexander finished.
"If Marcus tries to exercise those votes improperly, the agreement collapses."
Catherine's tone held faint approval.
"Exactly."
Elena blinked.
"So you tricked him?"
"No," Catherine corrected calmly. "I gave him exactly what he wanted."
"Power."
"And just enough rope to hang himself."
Alexander was silent for a moment.
"You're gambling the entire company."
"No," she replied. "I'm forcing him into the open."
Elena felt the tension between them shift.
For the first time since this war began—
Mother and son were on the same side.
Almost.
Alexander's voice remained cool.
"You could have told me."
"That would have ruined the test."
Elena sighed under her breath.
"Of course it's still a test."
Catherine ignored the comment.
"Marcus will attempt to force the shareholders' assembly within twenty-four hours," she continued.
"He believes he controls my votes."
"And when he does?"
"Then we prove he doesn't."
Alexander leaned against the desk.
"You're enjoying this."
"Immensely."
The line went quiet for a moment.
Then Catherine added one more thing.
"There's another detail Marcus doesn't know."
Alexander's eyes sharpened.
"What detail?"
Catherine's voice softened slightly.
"The clause activates if a Hale heir exists."
Elena's hand instinctively moved to her stomach.
"Your child," Catherine said.
"If the heir is recognized, my voting rights revert automatically."
Elena felt the weight of the words.
"Meaning Marcus loses the votes instantly," she whispered.
"Yes."
Alexander's voice dropped.
"You planned this."
"For weeks."
Elena stared at the phone.
"So the entire time… you knew the pregnancy could protect the company?"
Catherine answered calmly.
"I suspected."
Silence filled the room again.
Finally, Alexander spoke.
"You're using our child as leverage."
Catherine didn't deny it.
"I'm protecting the dynasty."
The call ended.
Elena exhaled slowly.
"That woman is terrifying."
Alexander almost smiled.
"Yes."
"But she may have just saved the company."
Elena looked at him carefully.
"So what happens now?"
Alexander's eyes turned sharp again.
"Marcus believes he controls the vote."
"And when he calls it?"
"We let him."
Elena understood.
The trap was set.
Marcus thought he had the winning move.
But in twenty-four hours—
He would discover he had just walked into Catherine Hale's game.
And no one survived that game easily.