"Selena, do you think that all men are like you, willing to betray everything for the sake of their goals or benefits?"
Stunned at my words, Selena fell silent.
"Did you just assume that all you needed to do was put on this pitiful act, drop a few tears, and say a few nice words, and then I'd forget about all that you've done to me and return to your side like a fool? Well, you're wrong."

I stood from my seat and looked down at her.
"The only reason I agreed to this talk was because I wanted to tell you one thing—the game is only just beginning."
With that, I left without looking back, even as Selena's muffled crying sounded from behind me.
I had thought that would be the end of it, but it seemed I had underestimated her stubbornness and craziness.
Just as I assumed I had everything under my control, she and Shane prepared their final attack against me.
…

Gaining the Skynet Project resulted in ATech's name spreading far and wide in the industry, and its net worth skyrocketed.
As I got ready to throw a celebration dinner and announce the company's new financing strategy, a huge storm was silently heading my way.
The night of the celebration dinner, social elites from all over the city and countless reporters attended.
As the central figure of the night, I stood up on the stage, brimming with confidence. However, just as I was about to announce the financing strategy, the large screen dominating the front wall of the hall suddenly lit up.

What played next wasn't the slideshow I had prepared, but a video clip. In it, an honest-looking man had tears streaming down his face as he spoke.
"My name is Howard Weller, and I was Adrian Luther's college classmate. Back then, we worked together to start up our career and formed the foundation for the Hive Protocol.
"However, due to wanting to have the software all to himself, Adrian fabricated evidence and had me imprisoned! He stole all my hard work, and that's how he achieved all he has today!"
The hall erupted into chatter as everyone turned their gazes to me.
My heart sank when I heard the name "Howard Weller". Naturally, I remembered him, as he was indeed my college classmate and had worked with me to develop the Hive Protocol.
However, the truth was that he was the one who had allowed his greed to consume him. Years ago, he attempted to sell the software to our competitors, and once I discovered this, I had him arrested and sent to jail.
I honestly hadn't expected Shane and Selena to actually find him, let alone turn him against me like that.
At that moment, Shane and Selena emerged from the crowd, arm in arm.
Shane had a smug smile as he declared loudly, "Everyone, this is the true face of the prodigy you all celebrate and praise! A despicable man who stabs his friend in the back and steals his hard work!"
Selena was staring at me with a pitying look in her eyes. "Adrian, you have to stop. You've already strayed far from the correct path."
Their cooperation was seamless, and it was as though they were the personification of righteous justice itself.
Camera flashes went off nonstop as the reporters eagerly took photos, ready to pin me to the pillar of shame.
My team members panicked and tried to move forward to explain, but the security guards held them back.
Hence, I stood alone on the stage, with no one to aid me.
As I gazed down at the two rotten humans before me and saw the undeniable satisfaction and delight shining in Selena's eyes, I understood.
This was their final blow, the vilest killing move they could use. They didn't want to just defeat me. They wanted to utterly ruin me. They wanted my reputation destroyed beyond repair, with no hope of ever making a comeback again.
I took a deep breath, feeling the flames of fury burning within me blazing even higher.
Fine. Since they wanted to play it this way and since they were the ones who decided to be this ruthless, then I would happily oblige them and return the favor.
In the dead silence of the hall, I picked up the microphone.
I didn't look mad, nor did I try to explain myself. In fact, I even had a small smile playing on my lips as I said, "Thank you, Mr. Johnson, Ms. Sander, for preparing such a wonderful gift for me."
My calm thoroughly stunned everyone present, including Shane and Selena.
"In regard to Howard's accusation," I paused to sweep a gaze across the crowd, "I admit that he was my ex-partner and that he was sent to prison due to technology patent reasons."
Gasps and exclamations rose from the crowd. Shane's smile widened as he assumed that I was admitting to my crimes.
"However," my voice abruptly turned chilly, "I think there's someone else who knows the truth better than even me."
With a snap of my fingers, the video on the screen changed to another one.