The Abandoned one

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💼 Chapter 11 – Enemies in Silk

The car ride back to the city was silent Ethan kept his eyes on the road. Aria sat beside him, holding her mother's envelope in one hand and a storm of thoughts in the other.

Don't trust anyone wearing a mask — even if it's made of love her mother's warning echoed louder than Ethan's excuses.

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Back at her penthouse, Aria didn't sleep.

Instead, she stared at her laptop screen, pulling up names from the Lin Group board, cross-checking them with the documents from the vault.

One name came up again and again:Zhao Yanmei.

Board Director former best friend of her mother now a silent partner in her father's shady investment deals.

Aria's eyes narrowed so the enemy wasn't just men in suits.

It was the women wearing silk smiles too.

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The next morning, Aria did something bold.

She walked straight into the Lin Group headquarters — not as the disowned daughter, but as the rightful shareholder.

The receptionist stammered,M-Miss Lin, you're not cll Zhao Yanmei,Aria said, flashing the board access card she'd recovered tell her I'm in her office now

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Zhao's office was bright and filled with awards. A silver-framed photo of Aria's mother stood on the shelf like a trophy,how brave of you to come, Zhao said, sipping tea does your father know?

Aria didn't sit.

I know about Project Phoenix,she said flatly. I know you were there when the foundation was created,Iknow what you did after my mother died."

Zhao's smile never faded you've grown teeth, I see.

I've grown claws.

Zhao stood, approaching her slowly.

You want revenge? That's cute but this isn't a movie, Aria you're playing with fire the same fire that burned your mother alive.

Aria leaned in, voice low then maybe it's time someone got burned back.

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As Aria turned to leave, Zhao's final words stopped her cold.

Oh, and Aria…she said, voice like velvet. Ask Liam who signed the first Phoenix clearance file you might find the truth… hard to swallow.

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Later that night, Aria sat alone, reading through the old files again.

There it was — hidden in the corner of a scanned page.

Witness Signature:

Liam Chen.

Her blood ran cold.

Was he involved... or just a pawn?

She picked up her phone… but couldn't bring herself to call him.

Not yet.

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Just then, her security alarm beeped.

Motion detected: Balcony camera – 11:34 p.m.

She turned to the screen—a shadow moved past her window.

And on her glass door, in red lipstick, a single message had been written:

Tick tock, little phoenix the nest is cracking.

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❓ Reader Questions:

1. Do you think Zhao Yanmei truly betrayed Aria's mother?

2. Is Liam really part of Project Phoenix… or being framed?

3. Who left the lipstick message — ally or threat?

4. What should Aria's next move be: confront Liam, trap Zhao, or disappear?