Morning did not bring peace.
It brought headlines.
Elara stood in the strategy room, staring at the screen.
BREAKING NEWS:
Arman Holdings files defamation lawsuit against Valentino Group.
Elara Khan named as key conspirator.
Her stomach tightened.
"They're suing?" she whispered.
Luca nodded. "Massive civil suit. Public defamation. Corporate sabotage."
Ares stood by the long glass table, reading the legal document calmly.
"They're not suing to win," he said quietly.
Elara looked at him. "Then why?"
"To drain resources. To make us look unstable. To force you into court."
Her pulse spiked. "Me?"
Ares turned toward her.
"You publicly accused him of criminal activity."
"He is a criminal."
"Yes," Ares agreed. "But criminals with lawyers are dangerous."
Before she could respond, Sofia entered quickly.
"Elara… your father called."
Everything inside her froze.
"He shouldn't contact her directly," Ares said coldly.
"He didn't," Sofia replied softly. "He left a message."
Elara's hands trembled slightly. "What did he say?"
Sofia hesitated.
"He said Arman representatives visited the Khan house this morning."
Silence.
"They offered financial protection," Sofia added quietly. "In exchange for you retracting your statement."
Her chest tightened.
"They're trying to pressure my family…"
"Yes," Ares said calmly. "That's what powerful men do when they feel threatened."
Her jaw clenched.
"I won't retract."
"I know," he replied.
"But they'll hurt my father financially."
"They won't," Ares said simply.
She turned sharply. "How can you be so sure?"
His silver eyes met hers.
"Because I already secured the Khan family assets under a temporary international protection clause."
Her breath caught.
"You what?"
"I anticipated retaliation."
"You moved my family's finances without asking me?"
"I protected them."
"That's not your decision to make!"
The tension between them crackled.
"I don't need permission to prevent collateral damage," he said coldly.
"I am not collateral damage!" she shot back.
Their eyes locked.
Fire and ice.
Then—
Luca's phone buzzed.
He checked it.
His expression shifted.
"Boss… there's more."
The main screen switched automatically.
A live interview.
Rayan Arman.
Sitting in a perfectly tailored suit. Calm. Composed. Smiling.
"I hold no anger toward Miss Khan," Rayan said smoothly into the camera. "She is clearly under psychological pressure."
Elara felt her blood boil.
Psychological pressure?
"She was always emotionally fragile," Rayan continued. "I fear she's being manipulated by dangerous individuals."
The camera zoomed slightly.
He looked sincere.
Concerned.
The perfect victim.
The host asked, "Are you accusing Mr. Valentino of coercion?"
Rayan sighed softly.
"I don't make accusations. I simply want Elara safe."
The performance was flawless.
Elara felt sick.
"He's painting you as unstable," Luca said quietly.
Rayan continued speaking.
"I will withdraw my lawsuit," he said magnanimously, "if Elara returns home and we resolve this privately."
The implication was clear.
She belonged to him.
Ares' jaw tightened slightly.
"He's not attacking us," Elara whispered.
"He's isolating you."
Yes.
That was worse.
Across the City
Rayan leaned back in his chair after the interview ended.
His assistant approached cautiously.
"Sir, the public sympathy rate increased 12%."
Rayan smiled faintly.
"She will break under social pressure."
"And Valentino?"
Rayan's eyes darkened.
"He will make a mistake."
Back at the Mansion
Elara walked toward the balcony, needing air.
Ares followed a few steps behind.
"You can't punch this problem," she said quietly.
"I know."
"He's playing the victim."
"Yes."
"And it's working."
"Temporarily."
She turned toward him.
"You always sound so certain."
He studied her face.
"Because I know men like him."
Her voice lowered.
"Then tell me what he'll do next."
Ares didn't hesitate.
"He'll target your credibility legally."
She frowned. "How?"
"Asking for psychiatric evaluation."
Her stomach dropped.
"He can't—"
"He can," Ares said calmly. "He'll argue trauma from the 'kidnapping' caused instability."
Humiliation washed over her.
"They'll try to declare me mentally unfit?"
"Yes."
Silence fell.
The war had shifted again.
This wasn't violence.
This was dismantling.
Elara inhaled slowly.
"Then we don't let him."
Ares watched her carefully.
"You're not afraid?"
"I am."
Her voice trembled slightly.
"But I'm done letting fear control me."
Something intense flickered in his eyes.
Respect.
And something darker.
"He wants you alone," Ares said quietly.
"I'm not alone."
The words slipped out naturally.
Their eyes locked.
The air shifted.
Slow.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
Before either could move—
Luca rushed in again.
"Boss."
Ares didn't look away from Elara. "What."
"Court summons."
Elara's heart dropped.
"For?" she asked.
Luca swallowed.
"Emergency hearing. Tomorrow morning."
The world felt smaller.
Faster.
Closer.
Rayan wasn't escalating with bullets.
He was tightening a noose.
Ares' expression hardened.
"Prepare the legal team," he ordered.
Luca nodded and left.
Elara looked at Ares.
"This is just the beginning, isn't it?"
He stepped closer.
"Yes."
Her pulse raced.
"And if the court sides with him?"
His silver eyes turned glacial.
"Then I stop playing legally."
A chill ran through her.
She believed him.
Outside, the city lights flickered alive as evening fell.
Inside the mansion, strategy replaced sleep.
Because tomorrow—
The war would enter a courtroom.
And sometimes,
Smiling enemies were far more dangerous than armed ones.