"Mr. Brunner, you absolutely don't have to submit to him," Christina snapped angrily. "You're the CEO of Glorious Pharmaceuticals, a leading name in the industry! If you stand tall and refuse to be intimidated, no one can oppress you!" Aspen quickly chimed in, "Mr. Brunner, you can't give in to a thug like him. If you stand up to him, I'll back you to the very end!" Stephen rolled his eyes and said impatiently, "You two are rambling too much. Who told you I was being oppressed or forced to submit?" Christina stared at him, dumbfounded. "Mr. Brunner, are you saying you're doing this willingly? But…" Stephen cut her off with a sharp tone. "No 'but'—I'm doing this willingly, alright? Mr. Lloyd let bygones be bygones and gave me a chance to collaborate. If I can't see an opportunity like this and seize it, Glorious Pharmaceuticals would've been destroyed long ago!" Stephen could not understand what was going through these two women's heads. The underground king of Jayrodale was s

"Mr. Brunner, first come, first served. Stevens Corporation approached you first, and we already had an agreement. How can you go back on your word?" Christina tried to stay calm, though her anger simmered just beneath the surface. Aspen's expression hardened as she spoke coldly. "Mr. Brunner, doing business is about trust. Stevens Corporation partnering with you is a win-win deal, but Rhodes Corporation's Pharmaceutical Division is on its last legs. "I heard their formulas were leaked, and the Weller family is squeezing them out. There's no profit there anymore. Are you really going to abandon us for them? Please reconsider!" Stephen sneered. "A bad move? Aspen, I've been through hell and back in the real world while you were still a little girl playing in the dirt. You think you can teach me what's right and wrong?" He continued, "Yes, your pharmaceutical project is impressive, but you've misunderstood something crucial. No matter how good your project is, can it compete with

Marcus had not expected the task of securing a pharmaceutical partner to be handled so easily. "Mr. Lloyd, your moves today have truly impressed me," Marcus said with a grin. "How about I treat you to a night out?" Andrew chuckled. "Mr. Chapman, let's head back to the office first and check on how things are going with Lauren. As for your offer, maybe tomorrow." Marcus nodded enthusiastically. "It's a deal then! You can't back out tomorrow—I insist on helping you unwind and enjoy yourself." Andrew teased, "Mr. Chapman, you always seem so focused on work. I never pegged you as someone who enjoyed going out and having fun. Or is this one of those 'you never really know someone' moments?" Marcus laughed. "You've got it wrong, Mr. Lloyd. Sure, I spend most of my time on work and my daughter, but I know when to take a break and splurge on a good time. What's the point of making all this money if you don't enjoy yourself now and then?" Andrew raised an eyebrow and joked, "Special

Lauren and Michael both fell silent, tension hanging in the air. Tiana gave Lauren a mocking smile. "You really have a knack for siding with outsiders, don't you? What's the matter? Just because Andrew spent a few billion dollars, you feel the need to defend him?" "Listen, Lauren, you're the Rhodes family's heiress. Family interests come before anything else," Tiana continued coldly. "Do you honestly think Andrew threw billions around just because he cares about you? No. He has his own hidden agenda and ambitions." She gave a disdainful scoff. "He wants you. He wants to use you to establish a connection with the Rhodes family. Wake up, Lauren. Don't be so naive." Lauren's face remained emotionless. "I'm fully aware of who truly cares about me. So, I'm sorry, Mom, but I don't agree with you." Tiana's expression hardened. "Whether you agree or not, I don't care anymore. The decision is final. The factories will prioritize Bane and the Pharmaceutical Division's projects. If you

"Hello, Mr. Brunner. This is Michael Rhodes. I wanted to ask you about something," Michael said, forcing a polite tone as the call connected. Stephen's voice came across as indifferent. "Oh, it's you, Mr. Rhodes. I'm busy, so just get to the point." Michael hesitated, then asked, "Well, I heard your Glorious Pharmaceuticals is working with Andrew Lloyd. Is that true?" Stephen responded nonchalantly, "Of course it's true. I'm in the middle of overseeing several factories rushing production for Mr. Lloyd as we speak. Now, unless you have something important, don't waste my time." Michael's jaw dropped in shock. "You're not joking, right? You're actually producing for Andrew?" Stephen sighed impatiently. "Michael, do I sound like I'm joking? I told you—I'm busy making sure things get done for Mr. Lloyd. I don't have time for your nonsense." "Wait a second—" Michael stammered, his voice rising with anger. "What the hell is this? Mrs. Rhodes personally reached out to you before,