The morning sky over Ethan Group’s headquarters was sharp and cloudless, the kind of blue that promised clarity — yet the tension inside the boardroom said otherwise. Representatives from the foreign partner company filled the long table, their expressions polite but expectant. Ethan stood at the head of the room, calm and confident, while Alyssa prepared the final slides for their joint presentation.

This project was supposed to be the breakthrough — a collaboration that could elevate Ethan Group to a global scale. Every detail had been refined, cross-checked, and perfected. Alyssa had poured countless hours into the research, coordinating with multiple departments to ensure the proposal was flawless.

Today...