“I noticed something unusual in one of the data streams and had a bad feeling. I dispatched a team to investigate, and it turns out half our internal data has been stolen,” Caden said, his eyes narrowing.

“This has to be Dorian’s work,” he muttered. Dorian had acted some time ago, but kept it concealed until now. Perhaps he waited for this day, aiming to strike Caden hard at his happiest moment, right after the proposal.

Hank sighed. “If only we’d discovered it sooner…”

“I’ve known about Gareth’s betrayal for a while. This is an impasse I cannot resolve,” Caden said, surprisingly calm. “If someone threatened my family, I’d likely make the same choice.”

A deep pang of sorrow struck Hank. He felt he could blame no one. “Mr. Ward, what’s our next course of action?”

Caden’s face hardened. “Continue with the plan I established. Don’t let this unsettle you. Dorian is targeting our overseas headquarters to pressure me into joining him. I will address it when the time is right.”

Hank couldn’t shake the feeling that a confrontation with Dorian was unavoidable. “If we’d gone overseas as soon as we learned about Gareth’s betrayal, maybe we could have salvaged the situation,” he muttered in frustration. But then, Caden’s focus had been entirely on Alicia, delaying everything.

Turning away, Caden lit a cigarette, his voice heavy. “Dorian knows my weakness. He’s doing everything to leave me with no options.”

Hank’s eyes reddened in disbelief. “Mr. Ward, you wouldn’t abandon years of hard work for Ms. Bennett, would you?”

Caden’s movements slowed. A rare flicker of conflict appeared in his eyes. “Money can be regained. Alicia isn’t alone anymore; she’s my fiancée. No amount of money compares to her worth.”

A sharp pain, like a twisting knife, pierced Hank’s chest. Years ago, Caden’s success stemmed from talent and fortunate circumstances, but mostly from countless nights and days of hard work and sacrifice in his early twenties.