The Tycoon's Odyssey

"It's really delicious."

As the family settled in, the warmth of Evan's meal filled the air. Roy was the first to dig in, his expression shifting from curiosity to admiration. "Evan, this is amazing. Didn't know you had it in you."

Evan chuckled. "Guess there's still a bit you don't know about me."

Claire tasted the tomato-basil soup, her gaze softening. "I always knew you were capable, but this…" She trailed off, savoring the flavor.

Suri, biting into a crispy vegetable fritter, shot him a playful look. "I had my doubts, but this is incredible. I'll leave the cooking to the expert."

As they continued eating, a warm silence settled over them and soon the morning's chaos was forgotten. Claire reached across the table, giving Evan's hand a gentle squeeze, gratitude in her eyes. Roy raised his glass with a smirk. "You've saved us from disaster, but now the bar's high."

Evan grinned, glancing at Suri and Claire. "Just… try not to turn the kitchen into a smokehouse next time, alright?"

They laughed, and for the first time in a while, Evan felt like he was truly at home, surrounded by warmth and laughter.

The atmosphere around the dining table was filled with a lingering warmth, but that changed the moment Suri's phone buzzed sharply beside her.

She reached for it and as she started scrolling it, her face transformed from lighthearted to serious as she took in the caller's words.

Evan and his parents paused, watching her expression carefully.

"Suri?" Evan asked, his brows knitting in concern as he noticed Suri's distorting expressions.

Suri put the call on hold, then looked up, her face clouded with tension. "The news agency… they've started publishing scandals about me."

"What?" Claire and Roy exclaimed in shock, their faces mirroring each other's alarm, while Evan's eyes narrowed as he processed the news.

"What kind of scandal?" Evan asked, trying to gauge the situation's severity. He knew Suri well enough to sense that this wasn't just a typical tabloid article—it felt calculated, something far more insidious.

Suri shook her head. "They've been digging up every bit of dirt on me, waiting for the right moment to launch a full attack. And now that I am away, they are using this to flood the news with everything they could twist into a scandal."

Roy's fist tightened on the table, his jaw clenched in anger. "Don't worry, Suri. I have people who can take care of this. A call from me, and it's handled."

But Suri held up a hand, her tone resolute. "No… let me deal with it. It's better to understand the situation fully before we respond. Erasing it won't solve the root of the problem." She stood, casting an apologetic look around the table. "I need to make a few calls and get to the bottom of this."

As Suri walked away, frustration flared in Evan's chest for disturbing their pleasant family moment.

Fury simmered under his calm expression, his fists clenched tightly.

'Damn! These bastards!'

Not letting his wife enjoy a single meal in peace? The thought of the vultures who had dared to come after her ignited his anger, the desire to set things right within him was growing with each passing second.

After a moment, he turned to his parents, pushing down his emotions to ask something he had been concerned about. "Father… since you've been staying here these past few days, the Mahajan Group's stability is at risk. Are you sure you don't want to return? I can step in if needed."

Chapter Explore:

Roy exchanged a glance with Claire and nodded at her in agreement. "We've thought this through. We've let people know that we're on vacation to stay low-profile. As for the attack on us, it's been kept quiet enough that no one suspects anything serious. This gives us the perfect chance to identify any traitors inside the company. It's time to clean the house."

A dangerous glint appeared in Claire's eyes as she nodded in agreement. "But…," she added, her soft voice hardening into something steely, "this won't be left to Mithal. After everything he's done to keep my son away from me and the pain he caused, he will pay dearly."

Evan's lips curved into a faint smile, admiration gleaming in his eyes. He knew his mother's gentle demeanor belied a ruthless intelligence, a woman who could handle business with iron resolve. Taking a deep breath to cool the heat of his rage, he stood and nodded to his parents.

But as he turned to go, the smile vanished. His expression darkened and a chilling intensity radiated from him making the temperature around him drop slightly. He was furious, his anger cutting through the air like ice. The media didn't dare to publish anything about the dirt he held on politicians, yet they didn't even hesitate to slander Suri.

Striding into his study, he turned to Aurora, his voice steely. "Aurora, did you catch any of this yet? What exactly is going on?"

Aurora's voice sounded immediately.

[I've been tracking it closely. The attacks started at midnight—nothing more than gossip at first, but now it has escalated. They're trying to paint Miss Suri in the worst possible light. It seems to involve several celebrities… men and directors she refused to compromise with, and even the co-stars who couldn't undermine her publicly. But…]

Evan's eyes narrowed at her last word. "But?"

[There's external interference.]

His tone turned deadly. "Who?"

Aurora hesitated before she spoke, [Her stepmother.]

"That bitch?"

Pausing a bit, Evan asked Aurora to display all the headlines. His lenses projected a holographic screen that started displaying images.

[Suri Barrett: The Illegitimate Heiress of Great Royal?

Rumors swirl around Suri Barret's origins, claiming she is the illegitimate daughter of Nathaniel Barret, a result of an affair with a so-called "vixen" who allegedly seduced him to secure her place in high society. Whispers suggest Suri follows a similar path, using her charm to manipulate her way up the social ladder.]

[Hollywood's Dark Secret: Suri's Rise Through the Casting Couch?

Accusations claim Suri exploited Hollywood's dark side, seducing influential figures in the industry to secure roles. A leaked video appears to show directors and producers testifying to her alleged "favors," some even claiming Suri used her allure to gain private access to closed deals, all while maintaining a polished, distant public persona.]

[A Dangerous Diva?

Reports of Suri's so-called "diva" behavior extend beyond Hollywood. She's accused of bullying young actresses and rival celebrities, with a disturbing video allegedly showing her striking a fellow actress with a glass bottle during an argument. The supposed victim stated, "She thinks her influence makes her invincible."]

[Behind Closed Doors: Suri's Shadowy Dealings in High Society.

Additional rumors suggest Suri actively engages in covert maneuvers to silence those who threaten her reputation. Blurred images from exclusive social gatherings depict her in clandestine meetings, which sources claim were set up to orchestrate smear campaigns and squash any negative press from emerging.]

[Family Feud: The Stepdaughter from Hell?

Alleged tensions with her stepmother paint a grim family picture. Some insiders claim Suri's arrogance and selfishness have created rifts within the Barret household, with her stepmother labeling her "calculative" and "manipulative." Rumour has it that Suri's actions have driven a wedge into family affairs, leaving a lingering resentment among her closest relatives.]

BANG!

"What the fuck are these articles? Is this a fucking game for them.?

The phone in Evan's hand was crushed into pieces as soon as he burst into fury upon seeing the follow-up articles.

"Hahaha!"

A crazed laughter escaped him, echoing through the room.

"Good...Good...This played very well but...."

"They have forgotten who they are messing with.."