Idioms: conspire against sth
Definition:If events or conditions conspire against something or conspire to do something, they combine in such a way that they spoil your plans; to join with someone in a plot against someone or something else.
与......作对；背叛；破坏

Example:
1. The CEO conspired with the board of directors against the stockholders.

2. I'd planned a romantic evening together, but circumstances conspired against it—friends arrived unexpectedly and then Dave was called out to an emergency.

Quiz:
Which kind of literary works is more cliffhanger?
A. romantic novel
B. detective fiction
C. fairy tales