But now that he had returned, Sloane had no choice but to confront the reality. Outwardly, she was cordial because if Derek could become the family head, it would be beneficial. As a woman, she might not vie for power but at least she could enjoy better treatment. However, if Derek lacked the capacity, she would not concede defeat. Now that her father had brought it up, she had begun to ponder. Fear seemed to creep into her eyes as she gazed at her father. What if their grandfather had deliberately brought a false nephew home as a safeguard against someone? And that someone could only be Andrew - her father! At this thought, Sloane was gripped by fear. Indeed, such was the life of a wealthy family! Suspicion between father and daughter. "Father, have you sent someone to San Francisco for investigation yet?" "Alright, but it seems that my grandfather and the Northern military have sent people there, so no one has a chance to investigate Derek's identity, which is why my father
"Incredible, simply incredible. No wonder you were indifferent to the vice-president position at Orchid Corporation. To think you'd ascend straight to the CEO of Heavenly Emperor Corporation! At first, I thought you were joking! Go wash your hands, Director Wang, and let's eat." Daisy teased. A feast awaited on the table, clearly a product of Daisy's hard work. But with an apologetic expression, Jonathan replied: "I'm afraid I can't join you for dinner today." Taken aback, Daisy asked: "Has someone invited you for dinner?" Thinking about it, it made sense. Now that Jonathan was the CEO of the Heavenly Emperor Corporation and a respected figure in New York, he would undoubtedly be expected at countless social gatherings. "Um, yes. A… friend invited me for dinner, and I've already accepted. Had I known about this delicious spread, I would've declined." Jonathan responded with a touch of guilt. "Fine, don't try to sweet-talk me. If your friend has invited you, you should go." Daisy
It was twenty past nine in the evening. Jonathan arrived at the Kyle residence. As before, Brian was waiting for him in a room on the second floor. After a period of acupuncture and medication, Brian's complexion had become much rosier, almost like a different person compared to before. If a stranger saw him, they wouldn't think that this rosy-cheeked old man was the same patient who was critically ill before. "Have you arrived? Have you been drinking?" Brian's sense of smell was keen, so even though Jonathan had consumed very little, he could still detect it. Jonathan didn't deny it, instead responding: "A rather interesting friend invited me for a couple of beers. You can rest assured, a little beer won't affect the treatment. Moreover, today is the last acupuncture session. From now on, you only need to take the medicine on time, which will definitely prevent a relapse, at least for the next three to five years!" "The last acupuncture session? Is that enough?" Brian was somew
Knock, knock! At ten in the morning, while Jonathan was poring over the reports, he was suddenly interrupted by a knock at the door. "Come in." Jonathan looked up, stretching his neck a bit. Two people walked into the office. One seemed to be in his fifties, while the other was quite young, appearing to be about twenty-five or twenty-six. "Deputy Director Miller, Deputy Director Arrington, you both are here to see me together? You didn't plan this beforehand, did you?" Jonathan teased. These two were the deputy heads of the Heavenly Emperor Group whom Jonathan had met yesterday. According to Augustus, both were Michael's henchmen! The middle-aged man named Shanley Miller had been working there for a long time, holding the position of deputy head for a decade now. The younger man named Wilfred, however, had just recently taken up the role. Wilfred was quite an intriguing character. In the rough rankings of the wealthy families of New York, the Wangs ranked first, the Alexander
After returning to his mansion, Jonathan chatted briefly with Daisy before heading to his bathroom for a rinse. After an hour of pondering, Jonathan finally picked up his phone to make a call. "I thought you would never contact the Southwest again, Young Master." Zachary's playful voice echoed through the phone. Jonathan could sense a strange mix of authority and cold distance in his words. By now, Zachary had been the head of Top-Sky House for a while and naturally carried an aura of grandeur. The alienation Jonathan felt was probably due to his acceptance of the CEO position at Heavenly Emperor. The feud between Top-Sky House and Adonis had persisted for many years, giving rise to deep-seated hatred. The former Young Master of Top-Sky House abandoned his position and fled to New York to manage the Heavenly Emperor Corporation for Adonis; it was a decision no one in Top-Sky House could accept. "I wouldn't have made contact unless it was necessary." Jonathan declared, his tone
Half-past six, at the base of the overpass. Jonathan leaned against the railing, observing the vibrant night scene below the brilliant lights. Esther, wearing blue jeans and a blue shirt, stood dazed at the edge of the bridge, tears glistening in her eyes. Jonathan glanced at her and chuckled: "What, doesn't it seem real?" Esther slowly approached. As she looked at Jonathan from a closer distance, her eyes became heated, she nodded: "Yes, I didn't expect you to be in New York too." She dared not imagine it. Jonathan was busy with myriad responsibilities in the Southwest, how could he possibly be here? But he was here. "I guess I'll be staying here for a while, surprised?" Jonathan asked with a smile. "No, but I want to know why you changed your phone number, were you trying to avoid me?" Esther abruptly asked. If she didn't clarify this issue, she would be constantly bothered. "Why do you think so complexly? I'm not so petty. I changed my number because I had given up all my
If they could be leased out, even at a low price, they could yield more than seven billion in profits in just six months. Moreover, this sum would be required to be paid in a lump sum, a boost of seven billion to the company's capital, the moment the other party agrees to sign the contract. This windfall would plug the deficit for the current month. However, behind the Seven Wonders Corporation was the Top-Sky House, while behind the Heavenly Emperor Corporation was Adonis. These two forces had been battling each other like water and fire, all because of Augustus. How could the Seven Wonders Corporation agree to lease so many entertainment industries? "The Chairman of the Seven Wonders Corporation, Zachary, is on his way here. He should be here in about ten minutes. His intentions are very clear. There's no issue in the grand scheme of things, only the details need further discussion." Jonathan asserted with confidence. Upon hearing this, everyone was abuzz with chatter, utterly a
Jonathan paused for a moment then said: "What are you thinking? I'm not short of money, but your father is. I'm giving you this coupon without any ulterior motive. You can consider it a gift or a loan, but I'm offering this money to help your father overcome his financial difficulties, to see if he can rise again." "Esther, your father is getting old. He doesn't have many years left to struggle. If I'm here, I'll do what I can to make his life more comfortable." Esther was stunned. Only then did she look at the coupon. It had eight zeroes! One hundred million dollars! This amount would be enough for her father to pay off his debts and even revitalize the company. But she felt that if she accepted this coupon, her relationship with Jonathan would change. But she knew well that, given her current situation at Galaxy Media Company, if she did not accept, her father would never be able to repay the colossal debt. "What's the matter, feeling shy? Why do you keep standing on ceremony
At the Moonlight company's neighboring cafe. Jonathan and Juliette sat secluded in a dim corner. Juliette, shedding her pretense, took a sip of coffee before saying: "I've arranged to dine with Feagan tonight. What's our next move?" "How do you find Feagan?" Jonathan inquired earnestly. "Handsome, even more than you. And oozing charisma! If I were Adela, I'd choose him and kick you to the curb." Juliette quipped. Jonathan: "..." "Heh, just teasing!" Seeing Jonathan's knitted brows, Juliette laughed: "But seriously, Feagan seems like another wolf in sheep's clothing. He's no match for you! I entered his office and he stared at me for minutes. I've seen that type of gaze in Crystal Cove all too often. He's not a catch." "You've got the right hunch. Feagan is no pillar to lean on. If your old friend is by his side, she's bound to regret it." Hearing this, Jonathan hesitated: "Tonight, carry a mini-camera. Entice him to reveal his true colors. If you succeed, make a swift exit."
Katherine swiftly dismissed with a flick of her hand, her face etched with profound disagreement. "How can you suggest such a thing? If in the next two years you don't marry her and by some chance you decide to part ways with my dear Juliette, then what?" "If such were to occur, you would've squandered the best years of her youth! Absolutely not! It cannot be so." "Yet, for now, Juliette and I are not in a position to wed." Jonathan feigned discomfort, an aura of unease surrounding him. In a sudden whisper, Katherine interjected: "Even if marriage isn't immediate, there must be some assurance you can provide, mustn't there?" At this, both Andres and Wyatt, father and son, shifted their eager gazes toward Jonathan. Juliette inwardly smirked, thinking to herself, 'Mother is starting her games again.' It was clear the reason her parents were here tonight was solely for this imminent matter. They hadn't raised a daughter, but rather, it seemed, a mere commodity. "What assurance d
Once Tryphena was out of earshot, Juliette burst into giggles: "So Jonathan, that beauty is really your sister-in-law? Are you some kind of beast?" Of course, Juliette was jesting. Initially, she'd assumed the beauty Jonathan had turned down was just a stranger, and his mention of her being his brother's girlfriend was surely playful. But who was she kidding? Being a seasoned veteran in Crystal Cove' entertainment industry, Juliette had encountered countless personalities. Tryphena posed no threat. A few words were all it took to send her packing, all while maintaining her own clandestine identity. "Let's drop it. Since we've met, let's go somewhere." Jonathan said, steering the conversation away from Tryphena. "Agreed." Juliette cheerfully responded. As they strolled through the streets, their charisma was undeniable. The frequency with which heads turned to steal glances was remarkable. "How long are you staying in Elite Summit this time?" Juliette inquired with genuine interes
"It's rare to run into familiar faces in Elite Summit." Tryphena mused, her words a flurry of excitement: "Would you join me for dinner tonight? If you're busy, tomorrow is fine too. Let's exchange numbers and connect on social media first!" Although initially hesitant, Jonathan found himself swayed by the genuine warmth in her eyes: "Tonight it is." With contact details exchanged and plans set, the two bid each other a temporary farewell. That very evening, as the city's lights began to shimmer, Jonathan received an investigation update from Roger. Adela was seeing someone. Moonlight Corp, where she worked in Elite Summit, was primarily managed by her and Deputy CEO Vera. However, recently, a charismatic new CEO named Feagan William, reputedly a returnee from overseas studies and rumored to be the scion of some top executive from M & N, took the helm. Since Feagan's arrival, he seemed relentlessly smitten by Adela. He often accompanied her to business outings and ensured she ret
After a while, Jonathan broke the ice, initiating a topic of discussion. Moonlight, Adela's brainchild, was now the talk of the town. "Our autumn collection has been a great success, both in terms of sales and profits." Adela began: "But to claim the top spot might be premature. Despite the backing of renowned domestic and international fashion houses like Wind & Fire and M & N, we can't be overly confident in becoming the flagbearer of our nation's fashion industry." "We'll truly know our standing after assessing the sales for the next three seasons. Only then can we truly earn national recognition." Truth be told, Adela was not overly concerned about Moonlight's position or its future; her worries had nearly evaporated. But she shared this perspective nonetheless. Jonathan silently rejoiced, noting Adela's growth and maturity. She was no longer the fishmonger he once knew from the market; she had blossomed into a successful businesswoman. In a time not so distant, Adela would,
Tommy shook his head, his words hastening to fill the air between them: "My sister-in-law is doing well; she's thriving in her job. Not too long ago, she even moved to a new house." “But when I visited Curtis last, there was a man at her place.” Tommy, flustered and scrambling for words, replied: "Oh, he must've been just a business partner, discussing some contracts with my sister-in-law. Nothing more.” Jonathan's face darkened in thought. A man? From what he knew about Adela, she would never entertain business at her private residence. Could it be? Had Adela found someone? It was possible. After all, when he had left Elite Summit, she had suggested they take a year apart. This perhaps hinted that their time together might eventually come to an end. Though Jonathan's relationship with Adela had blurred past friendship, their bond, in essence, was only maintained by Curtis. They never really became lovers. So, it was perfectly normal for Adela to have a boyfriend. Yet, the very th
Mammon's lips curled into a gentle smile: "If gratitude is to be given, direct it to Jonathan. While Mr. Moore and I might be acquaintances, our bond isn't as profound. Had it not been for Jonathan's plea, the Moores wouldn’t have found me in their corner." "Yes, indeed!" "Now, Mr. Moore, we must expedite matters. The sooner we seal the agreement, the better." "Let us restart the project and alleviate our shared anxieties." Business attended to, Mammon shared a few parting words before departing in the company of Jonathan. Their venture could truly be described as a fruitful one. Barring unforeseen tribulations, the peril that threatened the Moore family was seemingly defused. Their reputation, however, was something they'd have to mend on their own. Considering their current scenario, evading a declaration of bankruptcy due to piled debts was almost a miracle in itself. To hope for more would be sheer fantasy. All agreements were set in stone. Soon, Mammon would dispatch his
"Come now! Don't be like that! We've been childhood playmates, remember? Regardless of circumstances, our bond persists." Wynstan responded, pouring two glasses of wine with an exaggerated flourish. "This is a vintage from my personal collection. A true delight for the palate. Try it." Given there were just the two of them, the spread wasn't overly grand. Yet, countless esteemed businessmen from Crystal Cove would give an arm and a leg to be part of this dinner. However, to Nora, the invitation felt more burdensome than honorary. A toast always called for full glasses. And business often demanded the libations flow freely. Seeing Nora's thoughtful gaze, Wynstan chuckled: "Finding my wine lacking, are we? I suppose, being the magnate you now are, this might not match your status." Truth be told, the wine wasn't cheap, retailing at over a thousand. Yet to Nora, it was mere triviality. The wine wasn't the issue. Even if Wynstan had offered a commonplace wine worth mere tens, its
Jonathan remained silent, not swayed by Dieter's hollow compliments. For Jonathan knew, of all places, Elite Summit was hardly a theater of illustrious figures. Were it Crystal Cove, perhaps he might've begrudgingly conceded the point. But Elite Summit? What did it offer? Still, empty flattery was better than none; it lent a certain sweetness to the air. "Jonathan, there's a favor I'd like to ask of you." Dieter finally disclosed his intentions. Jonathan wasn't surprised. The Moore family was in a state of disarray, teetering on the brink of bankruptcy. Why else would Dieter squander an evening over dinner with him if not to seek some favor? "Speak, sir." Jonathan invited, his voice tinged with resignation. Though he had stretched himself thin helping the Moores, he couldn't guarantee the extent of the impact he could make. "In recent days, I've tallied up the debts of the Moore Corporation. The sum exceeds 65 billion." Dieter elaborated: "We've acquired raw materials for project