Someone Else

Dahlia returned to the company and sat in her large office chair, her fingertips tapping lightly on the smooth desk surface.

On her screen, the briefing from her secretary clearly showed that pressure from Chenfei Group and the Duncan family behind it was spreading rapidly.

After a moment of contemplation, she hesitated no longer. She picked up her phone, found that number she rarely initiated contact with yet knew by heart, and dialed.

The phone rang several times before being answered. From the other end came Natasha's voice, deliberately calm yet unable to hide a trace of coldness and edge: "President Nicholson? What a rare guest. So, have you come to demonstrate the Montgomary Palace's thunderous methods, or to enjoy watching me in chaos?"

Dahlia ignored the barb in her words and got straight to the point: "Natasha, the trouble Chenfei Group is facing—it wasn't me."

"Ha." Natasha let out a contemptuous laugh, the mockery in her voice almost overflowing: "Dahlia, you have the nerve to do it but not admit it? Yesterday at Haidilao, you couldn't compete with me for a man and lost face. So today you resort to these underhanded schemes? Using the Montgomary Palace's name to suppress my company—is this President Nicholson's so-called pride and skill?"

"I admit," Dahlia's voice was cool and steady, carrying an undeniable candor, "I want to win Dustin back. That's a fact. But I'll pursue him in my own way—openly and honestly. These despicable tactics of sabotage from behind, using commercial means for petty revenge—I disdain such things and would never do them. This isn't my style, and it's certainly not how the Montgomary Palace operates."

"If not you, then who?" Natasha's speech quickened, her anger clearly rising. "My people have already traced the leads. All the pressure directives ultimately point to your Montgomary Palace's affiliated channels and several peripheral agents! Dahlia, with evidence right before your eyes, you still want to play innocent?"

Dahlia's brow furrowed. Natasha was so certain—it seemed the fabricated evidence chain was quite complete, almost indistinguishable from the real thing.

This only reinforced her own judgment.

"I walk an upright path and act with integrity. If I had done it, I would never deny it. But this matter truly has nothing to do with me, nor with the Montgomary Palace's will as I know it."

Dahlia paused, her tone growing heavier: "Natasha, think about it calmly. If I really wanted to go after you, would I leave such obvious trails for you to follow? Would I only use such crude methods that harm both sides equally, tearing our families apart publicly in the business world? Apart from becoming a laughingstock and benefiting our true enemies, what good would it do?"

On the other end, Natasha fell silent.

It wasn't that she hadn't considered this possibility, but rage and preconceived suspicion had clouded her judgment.

Now, hearing Dahlia analyze things so calmly, she was truly awakened.

Given Dahlia's character and intelligence, if she truly wanted to strike from the shadows, she would never be so clumsy.

"You mean..." Natasha's voice grew calmer, tinged with inquiry.

"Someone is impersonating the Montgomary Palace to sow discord."

Dahlia spoke decisively: "The target likely isn't either one of us, but rather to make our two families fight and suffer mutual destruction so they can profit. Or it could be a test and frame-up aimed at the Montgomary Palace itself."

Natasha leaned back in her executive chair and rubbed her brow.

The business world is like a battlefield—she had experienced such tactics before, but the ruthlessness and authenticity of this opponent's move still alarmed her.

"I'll tentatively believe what you're saying, but if it's not you, then who? Who could have such power to almost perfectly imitate the Montgomary Palace's directives?" Natasha asked.

"That's exactly what I need to find out. Since the other party dared to use the Montgomary Palace's name, they must have something to rely on, or they're someone extremely familiar with the Montgomary Palace's internal operations. I will personally investigate this matter and use every resource to get to the bottom of it. When the time comes, whoever the mastermind is, I will give you an answer." Dahlia said.

"Fine, I'll trust you this once. I'll also continue digging through my own channels. I hope you keep your word and give me results soon. Also, until the truth comes out, I'll temporarily halt targeted counterattacks against your related businesses, but necessary defenses and investigations will continue." Natasha said.

"Agreed." Dahlia answered decisively. "Let's stay in communication. If either of us discovers anything, we share it immediately."

"That would be best." Natasha finished speaking and hung up.

She looked at the complex business diagram on her screen, her gaze sharp.

If it wasn't Dahlia, then this enemy hiding in the shadows was even more dangerous and unpredictable.

Dahlia set down her phone, her fingertips slightly cold.

Natasha was temporarily placated, but time was pressing—there was no room for complacency.

After thinking it over, Dahlia dialed another number.

"Hello, I need you to investigate something. The more detailed, the better..."

Dahlia quickly explained her suspicions and requested the person on the other end to accelerate the investigation.

Priority was to be given to examining the Montgomary Palace's internal operations for any recent personnel anomalies or information leaks, as well as identifying which external forces had recently had irregular contact with people in the Palace.

Until this mole was rooted out, it would remain a hidden threat.

– Marinien