The news hit Queen Ravenna like a perfectly aimed missile. The legal documents arrived at White Cosmetics' opulent headquarters, not just for the existing White Industries lawsuit, but a brand-new, even more aggressive filing. This one cited industrial espionage, intellectual property theft, and a deliberate campaign to destabilize EdenTech, directly implicating Cassandra, and by extension, subtly hinting at Ravenna's own long-standing network of compromised loyalties.
Ravenna slammed the papers down on her polished desk, the furious sound echoing in the silence of her office. Her perfect composure, usually unshakeable, fractured into a mask of pure rage. Her eyes blazed, and a low, guttural growl escaped her throat.
"This little viper!" she shrieked, snatching up the papers again, her fingers clenching the legal clauses until they crumpled. "This is another lawsuit? From her?" She paced furiously, her crimson gown swirling around her like a living flame. "After all these years, after everything I did to bury her, she still fights! She won't let go! She clings to this stupid company, this pathetic legacy!"
She had thought Snow was crushed, broken. She had relished in her victory. But now, not only was Snow refusing to stay buried, she was actively fighting back, armed with the formidable legal and financial might of Andreas Charm. And the timing! The revelation of White Industries, the public embarrassment at the Gala, and now this double legal onslaught.
"And Alex!" Ravenna snarled, spitting the name like poison. She had suspected his involvement with Cassandra, seen his manipulative games, but to have it blow up like this, implicating her own past tactics, was a betrayal. He was a loose cannon, and now he was threatening to expose them all.
She stalked to her window, staring out at the city that was once entirely at her command. "She has no idea who she's dealing with," Ravenna hissed, her voice laced with venom. "She thinks she can win against me, against the Charms, against this entire world? She's a naive fool. I will bury her again, for good this time. And anyone who stands with her will fall with her."
Her phone rang, a high-pitched, insistent sound. It was her lead counsel, his voice already strained with the daunting task ahead. Ravenna picked it up, her face a mask of cold, predatory determination. The gloves were off. Snow White, the Charm brothers, the entire city – they were about to witness the true fury of a queen scorned. The fight had escalated to a new, terrifying level, and Ravenna was ready to wage war.