For a moment, the noise in the press conference hall faded into the background.
Alexander Hale stared at the screen in his mother's hand, his expression slowly hardening.
The headline glowed like a weapon.
BREAKING: Private medical records of Elena Hale leaked online.
Beside him, Catherine Hale watched his reaction carefully.
"Marcus," she said quietly.
Alexander's jaw tightened.
"Yes."
Around them, reporters continued shouting questions, unaware that the war had just escalated again.
"Mr. Hale! Do you have proof Marcus Vance falsified those documents?"
"Will you be filing charges?"
Alexander stepped away from the podium without answering.
The reporters erupted into louder questions as he exited the stage.
Catherine followed closely behind him.
The moment they entered the private hallway behind the conference room, Alexander pulled out his phone.
The news was already everywhere.
Every major financial outlet was running the story.
And worse—
Elena's medical records were being discussed openly.
Alexander's voice dropped to a dangerous calm.
"Where is she?"
Catherine didn't hesitate.
"At the estate."
Alexander immediately dialed.
The phone rang once.
Twice.
Then the familiar voice answered.
"Alexander?"
Elena Hale sounded confused.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
There was a brief pause.
"Yes… why wouldn't I be?"
Alexander closed his eyes briefly.
She hadn't seen it yet.
"Stay inside the house," he said firmly.
Elena frowned on the other end of the line.
"I wasn't planning to leave."
"Good," Alexander replied. "I'm coming home."
He ended the call and turned to Catherine.
"Handle the press."
Catherine raised an eyebrow.
"You're leaving the battlefield?"
Alexander's eyes turned cold.
"No."
He slipped his phone into his pocket.
"I'm changing the battlefield."
Across the city, inside his penthouse office, Marcus Vance watched the chaos unfolding on television.
Reporters were now discussing the leaked records.
One analyst spoke excitedly.
"This revelation raises serious questions about the Hale family's personal affairs. Sources claim Elena Hale's pregnancy may involve medical complications."
Marcus smiled faintly.
Beside him, his assistant looked uneasy.
"Sir… this might go too far."
Marcus glanced at him.
"Too far?"
The assistant shifted nervously.
"You exposed private medical information. Public sympathy could shift toward them."
Marcus chuckled.
"Sympathy doesn't control stock prices."
He stood and walked toward the window overlooking the city.
"What controls markets…"
He paused.
"…is uncertainty."
Behind him, the television continued replaying the headline.
Meanwhile, at the Hale estate, Elena sat in the living room with a tablet in her hands.
Her face had gone pale.
The article was open on the screen.
Her medical history.
Her pregnancy details.
Information meant only for doctors—
Now public for the entire world to read.
Her hand slowly moved to her stomach.
"How could someone do this…" she whispered.
Just then, the front doors of the estate opened sharply.
Alexander walked in.
The moment he saw her face, he knew.
"You've seen it."
Elena nodded slowly.
Alexander crossed the room in seconds.
"I'm sorry," he said quietly.
Elena looked up at him.
"Why would Marcus do something like this?"
Alexander's expression darkened.
"Because he thinks it will break us."
Elena studied him.
"And will it?"
Alexander knelt in front of her.
His voice was steady.
"No."
He gently took her hand.
"But Marcus just made the worst mistake of his life."
Elena frowned slightly.
"What do you mean?"
Alexander stood slowly.
His eyes had turned colder than she had ever seen before.
"He attacked my family."
Elena's heart beat faster.
"And now?"
Alexander looked toward the window, where the evening sky was beginning to darken.
"Now," he said quietly,
"I stop treating Marcus Vance like a rival…"
His voice hardened.
"…and start treating him like an enemy."