CHAPTER SIXTY NINE – ANSWERS TO THE WORLD

As the nights wore on, sleep became an elusive commodity, with Julian lying awake in their bed, his mind racing with contingency plans and countermeasures. Charlotte's side remained conspicuously empty, a physical manifestation of the growing distance between them. In the depths of those restless hours, Julian couldn't help but wonder if the cost of his ambition was too high, if the sacrifices he was demanding were too great. But then he would remember the sting of his father's betrayal, the humiliation of that fateful board meeting, and his resolve would harden once more. He would not surrender, not to his father, not to anyone. The Preston legacy would be his, no matter the cost. Julian strode through the sleek, modern lobby of one of the city's most influential media conglomerates, his every step exuding a sense of purpose. This was his opportunity to strike back, to shift the narrative and regain control of the public perception. As he was ushered into the gleaming studio, he c