Ravenna's furious rejection of Snow's plea, and her subsequent emotional breakdown, solidified the battle lines. For Snow, the confrontation, though agonizing, offered a painful clarity. Her stepmother was not merely evil; she was a deeply wounded, delusional woman trapped in her own version of truth, clinging to a distorted sense of duty. The idea of a collaborative future at White Cosmetics, as stipulated by her father's will, seemed utterly impossible now.
Andreas, having witnessed Ravenna's unhinged fury firsthand, understood the depth of the challenge they faced. This wasn't just about winning a lawsuit; it was about navigating a psychological battlefield against a formidable, unpredictable opponent. He immediately briefed his legal team, adjusting their strategy. The goal was no longer just to win, but to decisively incapacitate Ravenna's ability to harm Snow further, emotionally or professionally, while still respecting the confines of the will. The forced collaboration clause was a significant hurdle.
Meanwhile, the legal proceedings against Ravenna and Alex were gaining rapid momentum. The damning evidence from Cassandra, coupled with Grumpy's revelations about White Industries, created a powerful tidal wave. Public opinion, fueled by careful leaks from Andreas's PR team, began to decisively shift in Snow's favor, painting her as a resilient survivor fighting for her legacy, while exposing Ravenna and Alex as ruthless manipulators.
Alex, reeling from the double blow of Snow and Andreas's relationship and Cassandra's exposure, found himself increasingly isolated. His father, the patriarch of Charm Global, had publicly curtailed his responsibilities, freezing his assets and effectively putting him on ice until the legal storm passed. This enforced inactivity only fueled Alex's festering resentment, turning his desire for revenge into a cold, calculated obsession. He retreated into the shadows, his brilliant, twisted mind plotting a new, more insidious form of attack. He had lost the public battle, but he believed he still held the key to Snow's ultimate downfall: the knowledge of her father's death, though he was unaware of the depth of her recent discovery. He waited, patiently, for the perfect moment to strike.